Though Li-ion batteries offer excellent performance at room temperature, their operation at subzero temperatures is restricted by the capacity and the poor cycling performance due to sluggish ...kinetics. To this end, we have prepared 1 Ah pouch cells composed of high specific capacity silicon (Si) anode, LiNi0·8Co0·15Al0·05O2 (NCA) cathode and low temperature electrolyte and have demonstrated their performance at 20 °C and −40 °C. At −40 °C, Si/NCA pouch cells deliver >700 mAh of discharge capacity (ca. 65% compared to 20 °C) after being charged at the same low temperature without any external heating support. Regarding cycling performance, at 20 °C, after 100 cycles, Si/NCA pouch cells lose around 20% of their initial discharge capacity, whereas at −40 °C, they retain 50% of the initial capacity after 60 charging/discharging cycles at the same temperature. Results indicate that degradation mechanisms of the Si/NCA system when cycled at −40 °C are more severe than when cycled at 20 °C. By analyzing differential capacity and voltage profiles, the capacity degradation at −40 °C is found to be related to the absence of one characteristic redox pair around 4 V. Post-mortem X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation on the NCA cathodes reveals significant structural transformations, more pronounced when cycling at −40 °C, which are responsible for the capacity loss.
Accurate assessment of the prevalence of the human papilloma virus (HPV) in oropharyngeal tumours (OpSCC) is important because HPV-positive OpSCC are consistently associated with an improved overall ...survival. Recently, an algorithm has become available that reliably detects clinically relevant HPV in tumour tissue, however, no complete cohorts have been tested. The aim was to determine the prevalence of active high-risk HPV infection in a complete cohort of OpSCC collected over a 16-year period.
Using a triple algorithm of p16 immunohistochemistry, HPV-BRISH and HPV-PCR, we assessed the prevalence of active HPV infection in all OpSCC diagnosed in our hospital from 1997 to 2012 (n=193) and a random selection of 200 oral tumours (OSCC).
Forty-seven OpSCC (24%) were HPVGP PCR-positive; 42 cases were HPV16+, 1 HPV18+, 3 HPV33+ and 1 HPV35+. Brightfield in situ hybridisation did not identify additional HPV-positive cases. Human papilloma virus-associated tumour proportion increased from 13% (1997-2004) to 30% (2005-2012). Human papilloma virus-positivity was an independent predictor for longer disease-specific survival (HR=0.22; 95%CI:0.10-0.47). Only one OSCC was HPV+.
In our cohort, the incidence of HPV-associated OpSCC is low but increasing rapidly. The strict detection algorithm, analysis of disease-specific survival and the complete cohort, including palliatively treated patients, may influence the reported prevalence and prognostic value of HPV in OpSCC.
Abstract
Introduction
Distal embolization may compromise the results of primary angioplasty. Our aim is to analyze the influence of the speed of deflation of the stent delivery system on the ...myocardial blush ≥2 and on the ST-Segment resolution ≥70%.
Methods
From December 2016 to February 2019, all consecutive patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent urgent coronary angiography at our institution who were susceptible of thrombectomy, IIB-IIIA inhibitors and direct stenting were randomized 1:1 to fast deflation of the stent delivery system (group 1, n=103) or to slow deflation at 1 atm/second (group 2, n=107). Pre- and postdilatation was not allowed per protocol. The primary outcomes were the myocardial blush ≥2 and the ST-Segment resolution ≥70% while the size of myocardial damage, ejection fraction at discharge and at 12 months and total and cardiovascular mortality at 12 months were the secondary outcomes. A multivariate analysis was performed to analyze the influence of the speed of deflation of the stent delivery system in both primary end-points in case of possible imbalances among groups despite the randomization.
Results
Both groups represented 47% of the 447 procedures of primary angioplasty performed in that period. Baseline characteristics of the whole cohort: female gender 46 (21.9%), age 59.5±10.6 years, diabetes 35 (16.7%), Killip class IV 5 (2.4%), total ischemic time 177.5 (124–275) minutes and door to balloon time 84 (66–120.5) minutes. There were not differences in clinical or angiographic characteristics between both groups, although there was a non-significant trend towards larger reference vessel diameter in the slow deflation group (2.74±0.42 vs. 2.86±0.47, p=0.07). The study was prematurely stopped with 50% of the calculated sample size due to futility. The primary endpoint of myocardial blush ≥2 occurred in 77 (74.7%) vs. 79 (75.2%), p=0.93 and ST-Segment resolution ≥70% in 54 (53.9%) vs. 59 (55.5%), p=0.75 in group 1 and 2, respectively, without differences in any of the secondary endpoints. The speed of deflation of the stent delivery system did not show any influence on the MB or ST-Segment resolution ≥70% in the multivariate analysis. Predictors of myocardial blush ≥2 were systolic blood pressure at admission, creatinine clearance <60 ml/min and maximal diameter postprocedure. Diabetes, previous infarction, left anterior descending, TIMI ≥2 before intervention, TIMI 3 after intervention and collateral supply grade ≥2 were predictors of ST segment resolution≥70% with an area under the curve of 0.71 (0.63–0.80) and 0.75 (0.68–0.82), respectively.
Conclusions
In our series, the speed of deflation of the stent delivery system in primary angioplasty did not modified the myocardial blush ≥2 or ST-Segment resolution ≥70% and neither showed any influence in clinical outcomes, size of myocardial infarction by biomarkers and ejection fraction.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Abbott Laboratories
The developed system monitors the humidity levels, moisture content of the soil and surrounding temperature. Parameter values such as maximum and minimum temperature, maximum and minimum humidity ...values can be monitored accordingly by sending an sms to the system using arduino microcontroller, gsm module, moisture sensor and dht11 temperature/humidity sensor. This design maybe used for monitoring and controlling temperature and humidity value via sms. This system monitors and control the water content of the soil using a moisture sensor which runs under the control of a microcontroller, a dht 11 sensor to control and monitor the greenhouse humidity and proper temperature and a short messaging system (sms) to notify the caretaker/ owner on the moisture level content and temperature/humidity of the greenhouse. The system monitored and maintains the proper temperature, humidity and soil moisture content inside the greenhouse. The device has been successfully tested under simulated conditions and showed the ability of controlling temperature, humidity and soil moisture. The system notified the caretaker/farmer via short messaging system (sms) for the notification status (information) and triggering the water pump. The device showed the capability of sending sms holding the latest temperature and humidity information and also the status of the greenhouse.
This study explores the perceptions of five in-service chemistry and mathematics teachers in using productive lesson study as a framework for teaching and learning. Introductory professional ...development workshops on horizontal articulation, productive pedagogy and lesson study were given to teachers at the onset of the project. Teachers were then tasked to produce two research lessons for grade 10 chemistry using the productive lesson study framework. We utilised inductive thematic analysis to identify the themes underpinning the perceptions of the teachers. Findings show that the teachers improved and deepened their knowledge by learning from each other's perspectives. They had also adopted effective strategies for teaching by reflecting on their students' learning, which helped them address the challenges of integrating and relating different topics into one. Furthermore, they became more aware of their students' prior knowledge which enabled them to address misconceptions. Thus, learning was reinforced, broadened and extended. Participating in the study made a transformative intervention in the teachers as they became more focused on the enhancement of their professional practice as teachers.
This work suggests an integration procedure for a ESS (Energy Storage System) control algorithm into optimization control strategies minimizing cost functions for a microgrid system. This approach is ...based on a modification of the optimization strategy for adding absorption and flotation stages after each bulk charge to preserve the battery lifetime. These stages are computed out of the optimization program to reduce both computation complexity and convergence problems. Simulation results have confirmed the feasibility of this procedure at expenses of only a slight cost function increase, which can be assumed to preserve the battery lifetime.
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