Abstract Uterine adenomyosis and/or adenomyoma is characterized by the presence of heterotopic endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium, >2.5 mm in depth in the myometrium or more than one ...microscopic field at 10 times magnification from the endometrium–myometrium junction, and a variable degree of adjacent myometrial hyperplasia, causing globular and cystic enlargement of the myometrium, with some cysts filled with extravasated, hemolyzed red blood cells, and siderophages. Hysterectomy is a “gold standard” and definitive therapy for uterine adenomyosis, and many cases of adenomyosis have been diagnosed by pathological review retrospectively. As such, the diagnosis of adenomyosis is difficult, and this subsequently results in difficulty in the management of these patients, especially those who are symptomatic but have a strong desire to preserve their uterus. In our previous review, we found that the use of uterine-sparing surgery in the management of uterine adenomyosis and/or adenomyoma is still controversial, although some data support its feasibility. Conservative treatment is still needed in the group of patients that requires preservation of fertility and improvement of quality of life. However, studies focusing on the topic of medical treatment for adenomyosis are rare. In this article, current knowledge regarding the use of medical therapy for uterine adenomyosis, partly based on the understanding of endometriosis, is reviewed.
Sodium secondary batteries are attracting considerably renewed interest as new battery systems owing to the high and uniform abundance and cost advantages of Na. However, their performance is still ...far from optimal as compared to the well-developed Li-ion technology. Herein, Na secondary batteries with unprecedented rate capability and a long life has been achieved by using a highly concentrated bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide anion (FSA–)-based ionic liquid electrolyte (3.3 mol dm−3 NaFSA) and a Na2FeP2O7 positive electrode, in a targeted operating temperature range from room to intermediate. Nearly full discharge capacity is obtained at 4000 mA g−1, and 79% of the capacity is retained at a discharge rate as high as 20000 mA g−1 at 363 K. Stable cycling (>300 cycles) with satisfactory coulombic efficiency (>99.5%) is found at an intermediate rate (100 mA g−1) over 298–363 K. A high-rate cycling test (1000 mA g−1) at 363 K reveals that the cell could retain 93% of its initial capacity after 1500 cycles.
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•Ionic liquids at high Na+ fraction derive high performance of Na2FeP2O7 at 363 K.•High rate capability of 40000 mA g−1 at 363 K is attained.•The structure of ionic liquids plays a dominant role in the high rate capability.•A long cycle life over 1500 cycles at 1000 mA g−1 at 363 K is confirmed.
•Significant differences in crude concentrations of endocrine disruptors between regions.•Adjustment for creatinine and molar weight reduced differences between income groups.•<10 % of study ...population bore 50 % of exposure to parabens, BPA and LMW phthalates.•26 % of population from the poorest areas bore 50 % exposure to LMW phthalates.•Income-attributed inequalities in LMW phthalates exposure in the East and South regions.
Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is being rigorously studied in associations with various health outcomes, however less attention has been paid to its socio-economic determinants. This study investigated how EDCs exposure levels in pregnant women could differ on individual- and area- level income in Taiwan.
Urinary measurements of phthalates, nonylphenol, bisphenol A, parabens and individual socio-economic variables (income, education, etc.) of pregnant women from Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study (TMICS) were linked via residence to area-level average annual household income. EDCs concentrations were compared between the four main Taiwan regions (North, Central, South and East) and between individual income groups. Lorenz curves were plotted to describe inequalities in EDCs exposure, and EDCs exposure related to income. Concentration indexes (CIx) were calculated and compared between the four regions.
No significant differences between EDCs concentrations adjusted for molar mass and creatinine across individual-level income groups were detected. Exposure inequalities were highest for parabens (CIx = 73.6 %), BPA (CIx = 73.6) and low molecular weight (LMW) phthalates (CIx = 63.3 %). Lorenz curve for LMW phthalates distribution across area-level income was significantly above the equality line (CIx = -21.9 %, p-value < 0.05). Stratification showed significant differences in inequality (p = 0.046) in LMW phthalates exposure across area-level income between South (CIx = -23.1 %), East (CIx = -35.3 %), North (CIx = -3.3 %) and Central (CIx = -6.5 %) regions.
Inequalities in LMW phthalates exposure related to area-level income in East and South regions suggest target areas for public health interventions in terms of environmental regulations and health promotion. Using Lorenz curves and CIx to describe inequalities can be useful in case of inadequate sample sizes in costly human biomonitoring studies, however this method needs to be further developed and validated using human biomonitoring datasets in more diverse populations with larger socio-economic inequalities.
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Electropolymerizable carbazole-functionalized imidazolium and pyridinium-based ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized and characterized using 1 H, 13 C, 19 F NMR, and ESI-MS. They were ...electropolymerized onto indium tinoxide (ITO) electrodes via cyclic voltammetric polymerization in several selected room temperature ILs (RTILs) as well as in conventional organic solvents. Two redox couples, corresponding to the monomer and polymer, respectively, of the carbazole-functionalized ILs, were observed during the cyclic voltammetric polymerization. It was found, as common ILs, that the anionic components exhibit crucial effects on the physicochemical properties of the carbazole-functionalized ILs. The anions of which were replaced by the anions of the electrolytes in which the monomers were dissolved. The RTILs used for the electropolymerization thus determined the electrochemical behavior of the monomers, the surface morphologies and the physicochemical properties of the poly(ILs) films. After the modification of ITO electrodes with poly(ILs), the electrochemical performance of the semiconducting electrodes was significantly improved towards uric acid oxidation. The poly(ILs) show adjustable properties ( via counter anions), and exhibit a wide range of solubility in organic solvents, and electrochromic and solvatochromic properties.
Light harvesting by indium oxide nanowires (InO NWs) as an antireflection layer on multi‐crystalline silicon (mc‐Si) solar cells has been investigated. The low‐temperature growth of InO NWs was ...performed in electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma with an O2–Ar system using indium nanocrystals as seed particles via the self‐catalyzed growth mechanism. The size‐dependence of antireflection properties of InO NWs was studied. A considerable enhancement in short‐circuit current (from 35.39 to 38.33 mA cm−2) without deterioration of other performance parameters is observed for mc‐Si solar cells coated with InO NWs.
A comprehensive understanding of the charge/discharge behaviour of high-capacity anode active materials, e.g., Si and Li, is essential for the design and development of next-generation ...high-performance Li-based batteries. Here, we demonstrate the in situ scanning electron microscopy (in situ SEM) of Si anodes in a configuration analogous to actual lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with an ionic liquid (IL) that is expected to be a functional LIB electrolyte in the future. We discovered that variations in the morphology of Si active materials during charge/discharge processes is strongly dependent on their size and shape. Even the diffusion of atomic Li into Si materials can be visualized using a back-scattering electron imaging technique. The electrode reactions were successfully recorded as video clips. This in situ SEM technique can simultaneously provide useful data on, for example, morphological variations and elemental distributions, as well as electrochemical data.
Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are a promising post-lithium-ion battery (LIB), as their resources are abundant and low-cost and may have a higher voltage than LIBs. However, the high operating ...voltage and extremely high reactivity of potassium metal require a chemically safe electrolyte with oxidative and reductive stabilities. In this study, a potassium single cation ionic liquid (K-SCIL), which contains only K+ as the cationic species and has a high electrochemical stability, low flammability, and low vapor pressure, is developed as an electrolyte for PIBs. The mixture of potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide and potassium (fluorosulfonyl)(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide at a molar ratio of 55:45 had the lowest melting point of 67 °C. The K+ concentration in this K-SCIL is high (8.5 mol dm–3 at 90 °C) due to the absence of solvents and bulky organic cations. In addition, the electrochemical window is as wide as 5.6 V, which enables the construction of PIBs with a high energy density. A high current density can be achieved with this K-SCIL, owing to the absence of a K+ concentration gradient. The electrolyte was successfully used with a graphite negative electrode, enabling the reversible intercalation/deintercalation of K+, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction.
In this study, we reported the synthesis and structural characterization of a triphos-CoII complex (κ3-triphos)CoII(CH3CN)22+ (1) and a triphos-CoI-H complex (κ2-triphos)HCoI(CO)2 (4). The facile ...synthetic pathways from 1 to (κ3-triphos)CoII(κ2-O2CH)+ (1′) and (κ3-triphos)CoI(CH3CN)+ (2), respectively, as well as the interconversion between (κ3-triphos)CoI(CO)2+ (3) and 4 have been established. The activation energy barrier, associated with the dehydrogenation of a coordinated formate fragment in 1′ yielding the corresponding 2 accompanied by the formation of H2 and CO2, was experimentally determined as 23.9 kcal/mol. With 0.01 mol % loading of 1, a maximum TON ∼ 1735 within 18 h and TOF ∼ 483 h–1 for the first 3 h could be achieved. Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) values of 2.25 (k HCOOH/k DCOOH) and 1.36 (k HCOOH/k HCOOD) for the dehydrogenation of formic acid and its deuterated derivatives, respectively, implicate that the H–COOH bond cleavage is likely the rate-determining step. The catalytic mechanism proposed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations coupled with experimental 1H NMR and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis unveils two competing pathways for H2 production; specifically, deprotonating a HCOO–H bond by a proposed Co–H intermediate C and homolytic cleavage of the CoII–H moiety of C, presumably via a dimeric Co intermediate D containing a Co2(μ-H)22+ core, to yield the corresponding 2 and H2.
Based on electron microscope techniques developed for ionic liquids (ILs), which have both high stability under vacuum and an antistatic nature, specially-designed Li battery cells with all ...components contained in actual Li batteries were fabricated for in situ electron microscope observation. Various interesting anode behaviors in the Li battery were observed. For example, Si thin flake active material can store Li(I) electrochemically, causing the morphology to change into a ribbon-like or isotropic expanded structure. Surprisingly any damage to the Si material was not recognized by nanoscale imaging because of the thin layer structure that can release internal stress spontaneously during lithiation. In addition, the Li metal deposition process was directly observed and a similar approach can be applied to in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis.
Abstract Objective Because of the increased risk of uterine rupture and other morbidities, instances of trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) have decreased in number each year. Nevertheless, under ...careful assessment and advanced medical care, TOLAC is still a safe option for delivery. The objective of this study is to find the factors that impact the success rate for TOLAC and to compare the results with Taiwan national registry data. Materials and Methods A longitudinal cohort study that includes a total of 254 cases of women receiving TOLAC in a tertiary medical center over a period of 10 years. Results A total of 254 participants who underwent TOLAC, which accounts for 1.67% of total labor instances (254/15,166), were enrolled for analysis. The success rate of TOLAC was found to be 80.70% (205/254), including 146 (57.5%) normal deliveries, 45 (17.7%) vacuum-assisted deliveries, and 14 (5.5%) forceps-assisted deliveries. The conversion rate to cesarean section was 19.3%. There were no uterine rupture cases in our study, and there were only two suspected cases, which turned out to have no actual rupture. When analyzing the factors affecting the results of TOLAC, we found that a successfully spontaneously delivered baby had a lower birth weight than the failed TOLAC cases that were converted to cesarean delivery (mean, 2989 g vs. 3379 g; p < 0.001). Among the patients who were converted to cesarean section, the most common reason was dysfunctional labor (79.6%), followed by fetal distress (14.3%). Conclusion Under intensive care and observation, TOLAC section may still be a feasible choice. Nevertheless, the body weight of the baby has been shown to be a factor that can influence the success rate.
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