Paradoxical Embolic Stroke Following Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in a Hemodialysis Patient.

Paradoxical embolism is a medical condition characterized by the migration of an embolus from a venous source into the systemic circulation. This occurs through a specific cardiac abnormality known as a right-to-left shunt, ultimately resulting in the possibility of arterial embolism. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is the most common cause of intracardiac shunting. We reported a rare case of a 56-year-old man on hemodialysis with PFO and arteriovenous fistula dysfunction who suffered a paradoxical embolic ischemic stroke after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. This case emphasized the potential risk of paradoxical embolism in hemodialysis patients with vascular access problems. We aimed to highlight the importance of searching for PFO, as it may serve as a possible source of embolism in these patients.

Wet etching technique for fabrication of a high-quality plastic optical fiber sensor.

In this study, a simple wet etching technique is developed by employing aqueous solutions of acetic acid and ultrasonic irradiation for the fabrication of a high-quality plastic optical fiber (POF) sensor. The effects of acetic acid concentration and temperature and ultrasonic power on the etching rate and surface morphology of the etched POFs are investigated. The transmission spectrum and sensitivity of the etched POF sensors are evaluated using glucose solutions. We discovered that the POF sensors, which are fabricated using an aqueous solution of acetic acid with a concentration of 80 vol. % under an ultrasonic power of 130 W and temperature of 25°C, exhibit good light transmission and a high sensitivity of 9.10 [(RIU)(g/L)]-1 in the glucose solutions.

In Situ Detection of Lithium-Ion Battery Pack Capacity Inconsistency Using Magnetic Field Scanning Imaging.

One of the main obstacles for the reliability and safety of a lithium-ion battery pack is the difficulty in guaranteeing its capacity consistency at harsh operating conditions, while the key solution is accurate detection of cell capacity inconsistency within the battery pack without taking it apart for destructive testing. Here, an in situ and nondestructive technology is proposed for this purpose, by imaging the magnetic field of the battery pack during its operation, the minor current imbalance within the pack can be identified without strong interference of the magnetic susceptibility due to state of charge change, and the corresponding location can also be determined. The feasibility of employing this technique in the battery pack with multicells is also demonstrated, which is beneficial in practical systems for evaluating the battery pack reliability, with which mitigation and maintenance can be taken to extend its remaining useful life.