Abstract
The wetting of battery electrodes with electrolyte is a time- and cost-intensive process step. One of the biggest problems is the time it takes for the liquid electrolyte to be absorbed into ...the porous electrode. To reduce this wetting time, laser structured electrodes can be used. The resulting grooves facilitate deeper penetration of the electrolyte during the wetting process, leading to faster wetting. Multiphysics simulations and measurement data will be used to optimize the wetting process and to investigate the influence of the structuring geometry on the wetting time. In addition to modelling the structured electrode, achieving a suitable meshing is crucial. Moreover, the physical behavior of the wetting process will be represented by selecting appropriate and realistic boundary conditions. Capillary effects and fluid flow in porous media will be considered to describe the wetting process. The computer model will be validated using measurement data. In this paper it is shown that the wetting time can be significantly reduced by using structured electrodes. It is also shown that the wetting time is further reduced for smaller distances between the grooves. The software COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS will be used to create the model.
The entatic state denotes a distorted coordination geometry of a complex from its typical arrangement that generates an improvement to its function. The entatic-state principle has been observed to ...apply to copper electron-transfer proteins and it results in a lowering of the reorganization energy of the electron-transfer process. It is thus crucial for a multitude of biochemical processes, but its importance to photoactive complexes is unexplored. Here we study a copper complex-with a specifically designed constraining ligand geometry-that exhibits metal-to-ligand charge-transfer state lifetimes that are very short. The guanidine-quinoline ligand used here acts on the bis(chelated) copper(I) centre, allowing only small structural changes after photoexcitation that result in very fast structural dynamics. The data were collected using a multimethod approach that featured time-resolved ultraviolet-visible, infrared and X-ray absorption and optical emission spectroscopy. Through supporting density functional calculations, we deliver a detailed picture of the structural dynamics in the picosecond-to-nanosecond time range.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the wound complication rate in patients undergoing transumbilical single-incision laparoscopic (SIL) surgery.
BACKGROUND:SIL surgery claims to be less invasive than conventional ...laparoscopy. Small SIL series have raised concerns toward a higher wound complication rate related to the transumbilical incision.
METHODS:In a 44-month period, 1145 consecutive SIL procedures were included. The outcomes were assessed according to the intention-to-treat analysis principle. All procedures were followed for a minimum of 6 months postoperatively, and wound complications were recorded as bleeding, infection (superficial/deep), or hernia. Patients were classified as having a wound complication or not. For all comparisons, significance level was set at P < 0.05.
RESULTS:Pure transumbilical SIL surgery was completed in 92.84%, and additional trocars were used in 7.16%. After a median follow-up of 22.1 (range, 7.67–41.11) months, 29 wound complications (2.53%) had occurred bleeding 0%/infection 1.05% (superficial 0.9%/deep 0.17%)/early-onset hernia 0.09%/late-onset hernia 1.40%, respectively. Factors associated with complications were higher patient body mass index (28.16 ± 4.73 vs 26.40 ± 4.68 kg/m; P = 0.029), longer skin incisions (3.77 ± 1.62 vs 2.96 ± 1.06 cm; P = 0.012), and multiport SIL versus single-port SIL (8.47% vs 2.38%; P = 0.019) in complicated versus uncomplicated procedures. Furthermore, a learning curve effect was noted after 500 procedures (P = 0.015).
CONCLUSIONS:With transumbilical SIL surgery, the incidence of wound complications is acceptable low and is further reduced once the learning curve has been passed.
Molecular solar thermal systems (MOST) represent an auspicious solution for the storage of solar energy. We report silver salts as a unique class of catalysts, capable of releasing the stored energy ...from the promising 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborinine based MOST system. Mechanistic investigations provided insights into the silver catalyzed thermal backreaction, concurrently unveiling the first crystal structure of a 2-aza-3-borabicyclo2.2.0hex-5-ene, the Dewar isomer of 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborinine. Quantification of activation energies by kinetic experiments has elucidated the advantageous energy outcomes associated with Lewis acid catalysts, a phenomenon corroborated through computational analysis. By means of low temperature NMR spectroscopy, mechanistic insights into the coordination of Ag+ to the 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborinine were gained.
Artilysins constitute a novel class of efficient enzyme-based antibacterials. Specifically, they covalently combine a bacteriophage-encoded endolysin, which degrades the peptidoglycan, with a ...targeting peptide that transports the endolysin through the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Art-085, as well as Art-175, its optimized homolog with increased thermostability, are each composed of the sheep myeloid 29-amino acid (SMAP-29) peptide fused to the KZ144 endolysin. In contrast to KZ144, Art-085 and Art-175 pass the outer membrane and kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including multidrug-resistant strains, in a rapid and efficient (∼ 5 log units) manner. Time-lapse microscopy confirms that Art-175 punctures the peptidoglycan layer within 1 min, inducing a bulging membrane and complete lysis. Art-175 is highly refractory to resistance development by naturally occurring mutations. In addition, the resistance mechanisms against 21 therapeutically used antibiotics do not show cross-resistance to Art-175. Since Art-175 does not require an active metabolism for its activity, it has a superior bactericidal effect against P. aeruginosa persisters (up to >4 log units compared to that of the untreated controls). In summary, Art-175 is a novel antibacterial that is well suited for a broad range of applications in hygiene and veterinary and human medicine, with a unique potential to target persister-driven chronic infections.
Introduction
Several studies and meta-analysis showed Single-port or Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SPL) to be superior over Multiport laparoscopic surgery (MPL) mainly in terms of ...postoperative pain and cosmetic result. But very little is known whether these results are only a short-term effect or are persistent on the long run after SPL. We therefore evaluated and compared long-term outcomes regarding cosmesis and chronic pain after SPL and MPL.
Methods
We conducted a comparative study with propensity score matching of all patients undergoing SPL or MPL between October 2008 and December 2013 in terms of postoperative cosmetic results and chronic pain. Follow-up data were obtained from mailed patient questionnaires and telephone interviews. Postoperative cosmesis was assessed using the patients overall scar opinion on a 10-point scale and the Patients scale of the standardized Patient and Observer Scar assessment scale (POSAS). Chronic pain was assessed by 10-point scales for abdominal and umbilical scar pain.
Results
A total of 280 patients were included in the study with 188 patients (67.1%) after SPL and 92 patients (32.9%) following MPL. 141 patients (50.4%) underwent a cholecystectomy and 139 patients (49.6%) underwent an appendectomy. The mean follow-up time was 61.1 ± 19.1 months. The mean wound satisfaction assed by the overall scar and the PSOAS Patients scale score of the patients showed no significant difference between MPL and SPL. Patients after SPL reported more overall complains than after MPL (8.7% vs. 2.5%, respectively), but without statistical significance (
p
= 0.321). Umbilical pain scores were comparable between the two groups (1.4 ± 1.0 vs. 1.4 ± 1.0,
p
= 0.831).
Conclusion
We found no difference in long-term cosmetic outcomes after SPL and MPL. Chronic pain at the umbilical incision site was comparable on the long run.
It is currently still unknown why some drivers with visual field loss can compensate well for their visual impairment while others adopt ineffective strategies. This paper contributes to the ...methodological investigation of the associated top-down mechanisms and aims at validating a theoretical model on the requirements for successful compensation among drivers with homonymous visual field loss.
A driving simulator study was conducted with eight participants with homonymous visual field loss and eight participants with normal vision. Participants drove through an urban surrounding and experienced a baseline scenario and scenarios with visual precursors indicating increased likelihoods of crossing hazards. Novel measures for the assessment of the mental model of their visual abilities, the mental model of the driving scene and the perceived attention demand were developed and used to investigate the top-down mechanisms behind attention allocation and hazard avoidance.
Participants with an overestimation of their visual field size tended to prioritize their seeing side over their blind side both in subjective and objective measures. The mental model of the driving scene showed close relations to the subjective and actual attention allocation. While participants with homonymous visual field loss were less anticipatory in their usage of the visual precursors and showed poorer performances compared to participants with normal vision, the results indicate a stronger reliance on top-down mechanism for drivers with visual impairments. A subjective focus on the seeing side or on near peripheries more frequently led to bad performances in terms of collisions with crossing cyclists.
The study yielded promising indicators for the potential of novel measures to elucidate top-down mechanisms in drivers with homonymous visual field loss. Furthermore, the results largely support the model of requirements for successful compensatory scanning. The findings highlight the importance of individualized interventions and driver assistance systems tailored to address these mechanisms.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In recent years, the exploitation of the nonlinear behavior of ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) chips has gained popularity. This article presents a measurement ...platform for the harmonic characterization of UHF RFID chips. The measurement of the incident and reflected wave at the RFID chip terminals is performed using a digital sampling oscilloscope (DSO). A novel signal-processing methodology is presented to extract time-domain reflection coefficient equivalents from a DSO measurement at the different load modulation states. Using a simultaneous measurement of the reflection coefficient with a vector network analyzer, the obtained measurement results were validated. Furthermore, a comparison to using real-time sampling and a power spectral density analysis is presented.
Obesity is increasingly impacting the overall health status and the global costs for health care. The increase in body mass index (BMI) is also observed in kidney allograft recipients and deceased ...organ donors.
In a retrospective single-center study, we analyzed 1132 deceased donor kidney grafts, transplanted at our institution between 2000 and 2009 for recipient and donor BMI and its correlation with delayed graft function (DGF). Recipients/donors were classified according to their BMI (<18.5, 18.5-24.9, 25-29.9, and >30 kg/m(2)). DGF was defined as requirement for one dialysis within the first week after transplantation.
Overall DGF rate was 32.4%, mean recipient BMI was 23.64 ± 3.75 kg/m(2), and mean donor BMI was 24.69 ± 3.44 kg/m(2). DGF rate was 25.2%, 29.8%, 40.9%, and 52.6% in recipients with BMI less than 18.5, 18.5 to 24.9, 25 to 29.9, and more than 30 kg/m, respectively (P<0.0001). Donor BMI less than 18.5, 18.5 to 24.9, 25 to 29.9, more than 30 kg/m(2) resulted in a DGF rate of 22.5%, 31.0%, 37.3%, and 51.2% (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed recipient BMI and dialysis duration as independent risk factors for DGF. DGF results in inferior 1- and 5-year graft and patient survival.
Recipient and donor BMI correlate with the incidence of DGF. Awareness thereof should have an impact on peri- and posttransplant measures in renal transplant recipients.
Arm use in manual wheelchair (MWC) users is characterized by a combination of overuse and a sedentary lifestyle. This study aimed to describe the percentage of daily time MWC users and able-bodied ...individuals spend in each arm use intensity level utilizing accelerometers. Arm use intensity levels of the upper arms were defined as stationary, low, mid, and high from the signal magnitude area (SMA) of the segment accelerations based on in-lab MWC activities performed by eight MWC users. Accelerometry data were collected in the free-living environments from forty MWC users and 40 sex- and age-matched able-bodied individuals. The SMA intensity levels were applied to the free-living data and the percentage of time spent in each level was calculated. The SMA intensity levels were defined as, stationary: ≤0.67 g, low: 0.671-3.27 g, mid: 3.27-5.87 g, and high: >5.871 g. The dominant arm of both MWC users and able-bodied individuals was stationary for most of the day and less than one percent of the day was spent in high intensity arm activities. Increased MWC user age correlated with increased stationary arm time (R = 0.368,
= 0.019). Five and eight days of data are needed from MWC users and able-bodied individuals, respectively, to achieve reliable representation of their daily arm use intensities.
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