Structure and electrochemical properties of carbon nanostructures derived from nickel(II) and iron(II) phthalocyanines.

Mesoporous carbons containing up to 3.6 at.% N and 4.4 at.% O and exhibiting graphitic character have been prepared from Ni(II) and Fe(II) phthalocyanines by direct pyrolysis or by HTC + pyrolysis, and subsequently applied as supercapacitor materials. No mesoporous templates or doping post-treatments were used, and the catalytic effect of Ni(II) and Fe(II), naturally present in the precursor molecules, allowed obtaining graphitic carbons at temperatures ≤ 900 °C. Metals were encapsulated in the core of onion-like structures with no contact with the electrolyte, so that electrodes were prevented from degradation during device operation. The materials exhibited high rate capabilities up to 1 V s-1, higher interfacial capacitances than a wide variety of materials possessing higher surface areas, and high capacitance retentions up to 99% at 5 A g-1 current density throughout 10 000 charge-discharge cycles. The electrochemical performances of the phthalocyanine-derived carbons are due to their graphitic character and to the pseudocapacitance contribution of the surface groups through Faradaic reactions. This work opens a new way to obtain carbon materials from a great family of metal phthalocyanines, since the central metal and the radicals of the latter can be varied to tune the carbon properties for specific applications.

Nanostructured tin oxide materials for the sub-ppm detection of indoor formaldehyde pollution.

Interesting sensing performances of indoor formaldehyde pollution were obtained when small amounts of zinc were introduced in tin oxides. Nanostructured Sn oxide-based porous materials doped with Zn or not, were synthesized using hydrothermal routes. The physicochemical properties of the as-prepared metal-oxide materials were characterized using nitrogen adsorption, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Gas sensors were prepared using the aforementioned tin oxide materials and they exhibited a high sensitivity to formaldehyde at 230 °C, as well as a good repeatability over the time. Their limit of formaldehyde detection was as low as 8 ppb in dry air and 50 ppb in air with 60% RH at 25 °C. These results were much better that those reported in the open literature and they were attributed to both higher area BET, around 180 m2/g, and smaller crystallite size, 3.1 nm.

Novel Porous Carbons Derived from Coal Tar Rejects: Assessment of the Role of Pore Texture in CO2 Capture under Realistic Postcombustion Operating Temperatures.

Activated carbons (ACs) are among the most commonly used sorbents for CO2 capture because of their high surface areas and micropore volumes, which depend on precursor and activation methods. In this study, we evaluated different ACs obtained from a low-value fraction of liquid-derived coal pyrolysis, namely phenolic oil, which was used as gel precursor before carbonization and KOH activation. CO2 capture performances were determined at temperatures between 25 and 120 °C, with CO2 concentrations ranging from 5 to 90 vol %. The most efficient sample captured 2.86 mmol of CO2/g AC at 25 °C and 1 bar, which is a highly competitive capture capacity, comparable to previously reported values for ACs without any modification/functionalization. Finally, their thermal stability and cyclability (i.e., for a minimum of six adsorption-desorption cycles) were evaluated. CO2 uptake was not affected by desorption temperature after six adsorption-desorption cycles. On the basis of the results obtained in this work, the role of the textural properties into the CO2 capture at realistic postcombustion temperatures and partial pressures was elucidated. In particular, we concluded that CO2 adsorption performance was more related to the volume of the narrowest pores and to the average pore size than to the surface area.

Three-Dimensional Printed Model and Virtual Reconstruction: An Extra Tool for Pediatric Solid Tumors Surgery.

Introduction Three-dimensional (3D) technology is increasingly applied for planning challenging surgical interventions. We report our experience using 3D printing and virtual reconstruction for surgical planning of complex tumor resections in children. Methods Data were obtained from preoperative magnetic resonance. imaging analysis and 3D virtual recreations were performed using specialized computer software. 3D real-scale geometry models, including tumor, adjacent organs, and relevant vascularization, were printed in colorimetric scale and different materials for optimal structures discrimination. Results Four complex cases were selected. The first case was a bilateral Wilms tumor. The volumetric reconstruction proved the presence of enough healthy renal tissue, allowing bilateral nephron-sparing surgery. In the second case, reconstruction contributed to the location of pulmonary metastases. The third case was an abdominal neuroblastoma stage L2. The 3D model was of high value for planning and as a reference during the intervention. The last case is a cervico-thoracic neuroblastoma with an anatomopathological diagnosis of ganglioneuroma, located at the cervico-mediastinal juncture, in close relationship with the cervical vessels. Conclusions 3D reconstruction and the full-scale printing models are a useful tool in cases of complex tumor resections as they contribute to a better understanding of the relationships between the tumor and adjacent organs, helping to anticipate certain surgical complications. They also provide additional information to conventional imaging tests, being able to influence therapeutic decisions and facilitate the understanding by the family, improving doctor-patient communication.

Evaluación funcional y estética de los teratomas sacrococcígeos. No todo termina con la cirugía / Functional and aesthetic evaluation of sacrococcygeal teratomas. Not everything ends with surgery

Introducción: El teratoma sacrococcígeo es el tumor neonatal sólido más frecuente. El aumento de la supervivencia de estos pacientes ha permitido diagnosticar y tratar secuelas posquirúrgicas. Evaluamos el resultado funcional y estético a largo plazo de los pacientes intervenidos en nuestro centro. Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo de los teratomas sacrococcígeos intervenidos en nuestro hospital desde 1977 hasta 2014. Se recogieron datos personales de los pacientes y se realizó encuesta telefónica sobre hábito intestinal, urinario y autoevaluación estética y social. Resultados: En el período de estudio se intervino a 14 pacientes, 11 mujeres y 3 varones, con una edad mediana en el momento de la encuesta de 17 años (8 meses-37 años). Se encuestó a 8 pacientes (57,1%). La edad mediana de esos 8 pacientes fue de 23 años (4-37 años). El 37,5% se intervino por un teratoma sacrococcígeo tipo I, 25% tipo II, 25% tipo III y 12,5% tipo IV. De los pacientes estudiados, 2 (25%) presentan estreñimiento y uno (12,5%) incontinencia fecal. Dos pacientes (25%) presentan infecciones urinarias recurrentes y 3 (37,5%) incontinencia urinaria. Cinco pacientes (62,5%) presentan alterada su percepción física con limitación en su vida social. Conclusiones: En nuestra serie, se ha encontrado un porcentaje similar a la literatura en la incidencia de estreñimiento. La incontinencia fecal está levemente disminuida respecto a series publicadas. Sin embargo, la frecuencia de infecciones y de incontinencia urinarias es mayor en nuestra serie. Cinco pacientes presentan problemas psicosociales según el cuestionario DAS-59. Los pacientes con teratoma sacrococcígeo requieren asesoramiento urológico, digestivo y psicológico, para poder adquirir un completo desarrollo funcional y emocional (AU)

Introduction: Sacrococcygeal teratoma is the most common solid neonatal tumour. The improvement in survival has meant that postoperative sequelae can be diagnosed and treated. The aim of this article is to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients treated in our centre. Material and methods: Records of patients treated for a sacrococcygeal teratoma in our hospital from 1977 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Personal data was collected and a telephone questionnaire was used to assess long-term bowel and urinary habits, as well as an aesthetic and functional self-assessment. Results: A total of 14 patients were treated during the study period, of whom 11 were females and 3 males, with a mean age at the time of the survey of 17 years (8 months-37 years). Eight patients completed the questionnaire (57.1%). The mean age of the 8 patients was 23 years (4-37 years), of whom 37.5% were operated on due to a sacrococcygeal teratoma type I, 25% type II, 25% type III, and 12.5% type IV. Two of them (25%) had constipation, and one (12.5%) had faecal incontinence. Two (25%) patients suffered from recurrent urinary tract infections, and 3 (37.5%) patients had urinary incontinence. Five patients (62.5%) had a perception of being physically impaired, with limitation of their social life. Conclusions: The incidence of constipation does not differ from that found in the literature. Faecal incontinence is slightly improved compared to what has been published. However, urinary tract infections and incontinence are more prevalent in our series. Five patients out of the eight that responded suffered from psychosocial problems, according to DAS-59 questionnaire. Patients with SCT require urological, bowel, and psychological counselling, until they have a complete functional and emotional development (AU)

[Functional and aesthetic evaluation of sacrococcygeal teratomas. Not everything ends with surgery]. / Evaluación funcional y estética de los teratomas sacrococcígeos. No todo termina con la cirugía.

INTRODUCTION: Sacrococcygeal teratoma is the most common solid neonatal tumour. The improvement in survival has meant that postoperative sequelae can be diagnosed and treated. The aim of this article is to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients treated in our centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Records of patients treated for a sacrococcygeal teratoma in our hospital from 1977 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Personal data was collected and a telephone questionnaire was used to assess long-term bowel and urinary habits, as well as an aesthetic and functional self-assessment. RESULTS: A total of 14 patients were treated during the study period, of whom 11 were females and 3 males, with a mean age at the time of the survey of 17 years (8 months-37 years). Eight patients completed the questionnaire (57.1%). The mean age of the 8 patients was 23 years (4-37 years), of whom 37.5% were operated on due to a sacrococcygeal teratoma type i, 25% type ii, 25% type iii, and 12.5% type iv. Two of them (25%) had constipation, and one (12.5%) had faecal incontinence. Two (25%) patients suffered from recurrent urinary tract infections, and 3 (37.5%) patients had urinary incontinence. Five patients (62.5%) had a perception of being physically impaired, with limitation of their social life. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of constipation does not differ from that found in the literature. Faecal incontinence is slightly improved compared to what has been published. However, urinary tract infections and incontinence are more prevalent in our series. Five patients out of the eight that responded suffered from psychosocial problems, according to DAS-59 questionnaire. Patients with SCT require urological, bowel, and psychological counselling, until they have a complete functional and emotional development.

The severity factor as a useful tool for producing hydrochars and derived carbon materials.

The main purpose of this study was to understand the effect of time and temperature during the hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) of olive stones (OS). For that purpose, the severity factor was introduced, by which the effect of the HTC conditions on the resultant products could be described. HTC was carried out at various temperatures (160, 180, 200, 220 and 240 °C) and times (3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h) for producing 25 hydrochars. The yield to hydrochar varied from 70 to 50%. Hydrochars were all submitted to thermogravimetric and elemental analysis. The liquid fractions were also recovered and analysed in order to valorise OS as completely as possible. Thus, highly added-value products such as furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural were detected. At the highest temperature and time, the hydrochar elemental composition was similar to that of lignite coals. Hydrochars were further carbonised at 900 °C, leading to materials with surface areas as high as 1200 m2 g-1 and with narrow pore size distributions centred on 0.5 nm. The severity factor allowed finding clear tendencies in the production of hydrochars and derived carbons in terms of yield, composition, and surface area, which would have been hardly analysed if the effects of temperature and time had to be considered separately. We proved that the severity factor, which use is quite uncommon in studies dealing with materials production, is a valuable tool for studying the effects of HTC experimental conditions.

Piocele como complicación de peritonitis en un preescolar / Pyocele as a complication peritonitis in an preschooler

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Hollow Superparamagnetic Microballoons from Lifelike, Self-Directed Pickering Emulsions Based on Patchy Nanoparticles.

Herein, the formation of hollow microballoons derived from superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with silica patches is reported. Depending on the experimental conditions, single- or multishelled superparamagnetic microballoons as well as multivesicular structures were obtained. We show how such structural changes follow a lifelike process that is based on self-directing Pickering emulsions. We further demonstrate that the key toward the formation of such complex architectures is the patchy nature of the nanoparticles. Interestingly, no well-defined ordering of patches on the particles surface is required, unlike what theorists formerly predicted. The resultant hollow microballoons may be turned into hollow carbonaceous magnetic microspheres by simple pyrolysis. This opens the way to additional potential applications for such ultralightweight (density: 0.16 g·cm-3) materials.

Influence of porous texture and surface chemistry on the CO2 adsorption capacity of porous carbons: acidic and basic site interactions.

Doped porous carbons exhibiting highly developed porosity and rich surface chemistry have been prepared and subsequently applied to clarify the influence of both factors on carbon dioxide capture. Nanocasting was selected as synthetic route, in which a polyaramide precursor (3-aminobenzoic acid) was thermally polymerized inside the porosity of an SBA-15 template in the presence of different H3PO4 concentrations. The surface chemistry and the porous texture of the carbons could be easily modulated by varying the H3PO4 concentration and carbonization temperature. Porous texture was found to be the determinant factor on carbon dioxide adsorption at 0 °C, while surface chemistry played an important role at higher adsorption temperatures. We proved that nitrogen functionalities acted as basic sites and oxygen and phosphorus groups as acidic ones toward adsorption of CO2 molecules. Among the nitrogen functional groups, pyrrolic groups exhibited the highest influence, while the positive effect of pyridinic and quaternary functionalities was smaller. Finally, some of these N-doped carbons exhibit CO2 heats of adsorption higher than 42 kJ/mol, which make them excellent candidates for CO2 capture.