Ultrafast transient liquid assisted growth of high current density superconducting films.

The achievement of high growth rates in YBa2Cu3O7 epitaxial high-temperature superconducting films has become strategic to enable high-throughput manufacturing of long length coated conductors for energy and large magnet applications. We report on a transient liquid assisted growth process capable of achieving ultrafast growth rates (100 nm s-1) and high critical current densities (5 MA cm-2 at 77 K). This is based on the kinetic preference of Ba-Cu-O to form transient liquids prior to crystalline thermodynamic equilibrium phases, and as such is a non-equilibrium approach. The transient liquid-assisted growth process is combined with chemical solution deposition, proposing a scalable method for superconducting tapes manufacturing. Additionally, using colloidal solutions, the growth process is extended towards fabrication of nanocomposite films for enhanced superconducting properties at high magnetic fields. Fast acquisition in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) become crucial measurements in disentangling key aspects of the growth process.

Estudio multicéntrico de los empiemas en la Comunidad de Madrid / Multicenter study of empyemas in the community of Madrid

Resumen. El aumento de los microorganismos resistentes a los antibióticos, de las infecciones por anaerobios y nosocomiales, así como de los pacientes inmunodeprimidos, hacen del empiema un problema clínico frecuente con una mortalidad y morbilidad significativas. En este estudio multicéntrico y prospectivo, el Grupo de Trabajo de Pleura de Neumomadrid ha realizado un análisis descriptivo de los datos epidemiológicos, etiológicos, características del líquido pleural (LP), microbiología y evolución en función de estos hallazgos, de los empiemas de nuestro medio. Durante dos años se identificaron 82 empiemas procedentes de Servicios de Neumología o Cirugía Torácica de siete hospitales de la Comunidad de Madrid. En un tercio de nuestros pacientes se pudo identificar algún factor predisponente, destacando la diabetes, el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana y el carcinoma broncogénico. La neumonía fue la etiología más frecuente. Las características bioquímicas del LP no mostraron diferencias significativas entre los pacientes con cultivo del LP positivo y negativo. En más de la mitad de los cultivos del LP se aisló algún germen, con predominio del género Streptococcus y de los cultivos unimicrobianos. Tras la toracocentesis diagnóstica, se modificó el tratamiento en casi la mitad de los casos. Un tercio de los pacientes requirieron cirugía, identificándose entre ellos un mayor número de mujeres, antecedentes de cirugía previa, causas extrapulmonares y gérmenes Gram positivos. Los pacientes cuyo empiema se desarrolló a raíz de procedimientos quirúrgicos recientes presentaron peor evolución (AU)

Abstract. The increase of antibiotic resistant microorganisms, of infections due to anaerobes and nosocomial infections and of immunodepressed patients is making empyema a frequent clinical problem having significant mortality and morbidity. In this multicenter and prospective study, the Neumomadrid Pleura Work Group has made a descriptive analysis of the epidemiological and etiological data that are characteristics of pleural fluid (PF), microbiology and evolution based on these findings, of the empyemas of our setting. During two years, 82 empyemas coming from the Pneumology or Thoracic Surgery Services of 7 hospitals of the Community of Madrid were identified. It was possible to identify some predisposing factors in one third of our patients, diabetes, human immunodeficiency and bronchogenic carcinoma standing out. Pneumonia was the most frequent etiology. The biochemistry characteristics of PF did not show any significant differences between the patients with positive and negative PF culture. In over half of the PF cultures, some germ was isolated, with predominance of the Streptococcus genus and of unimicrobial cultures. After the thoracocentesis diagnosis, treatment was modified in almost half of the cases. One third of the patients required surgery, identifying among them a greater number of women, background of previous surgery, extrapulmonary causes and Gram positive germs. The patients whose empyema developed due to recent surgical procedures had a worse evolution (AU)

Kinetic aspects of ion exchange in KhFek[Fe(CN)6]l*mH2O compounds: a combined electrical and mass transfer functions approach.

The present paper quantifies and develops the kinetic aspects involved in the mechanism of interplay between electron and ions presented elsewhere(1) for K(h)Fe(k)[Fe(CN)(6)](l)*mH(2)O (Prussian Blue) host materials. Accordingly, there are three different electrochemical processes involved in the PB host materials: H(3)O(+), K(+), and H(+) insertion/extraction mechanisms which here were fully kinetically studied by means of the use of combined electronic and mass transfer functions as a tool to separate all the processes. The use of combined electronic and mass transfer functions was very important to validate and confirm the proposed mechanism. This mechanism allows the electrochemical and chemical processes involved in the K(h)Fe(k)[Fe(CN)(6)](l)*mH(2)O host and Prussian Blue derivatives to be understood. In addition, a formalism was also developed to consider superficial oxygen reduction. From the analysis of the kinetic processes involved in the model, it was possible to demonstrate that the processes associated with K(+) and H(+) exchanges are reversible whereas the H(3)O(+) insertion process was shown not to present a reversible pattern. This irreversible pattern is very peculiar and was shown to be related to the catalytic proton reduction reaction. Furthermore, from the model, it was possible to calculate the number density of available sites for each intercalation/deintercalation processes and infer that they are very similar for K(+) and H(+). Hence, the high prominence of the K(+) exchange observed in the voltammetric responses has a kinetic origin and is not related to the amount of sites available for intercalation/deintercalation of the ions.

Thermodynamic aspects of ion intercalation in KhFek[Fe(CN)6]l*mH2O compounds: application to the Everit's Salt/Prussian blue transition.

The K(+) reversible processes for ion exchange in K(h)Fe(k)[Fe(CN)(6)](l)*mH(2)O host compounds (Prussian Blue) were thermodynamically analyzed. A thermodynamic approach was established and developed based on the consideration of a lattice-gas model where the electronic contribution to the chemical potential is neglected and the ion-host interaction is not considered. The occupation fraction of the intercalation process was calculated from the kinetic parameters obtained through ac-electrogravimetry in a previous paper. In this way, the mass potential transfer function introduces a new way to evaluate the thermodynamic aspect of intercalation. Finally, based on the thermodynamic approach, the energy used to put each K(+) ion into the host material was calculated. The values were shown to be in good agreement with the values obtained through transient techniques, for example, cyclic voltammetry. As a result, this agreement between theory and experimental data validates the thermodynamic approach considered here, and for the first time, the thermodynamic aspects of insertion were considered for mixed valence materials.

Mechanism for interplay between electron and ionic fluxes in KhFek[Fe(CN)6]l.mH2O compounds.

This paper develops a framework for the interpretation of ionic insertion/deinsertion reactions in an aqueous environment taking place in transition-metal hexacyanoferrates of the general formula K(h)[Fe(2+) (CN)(6)](l).mH(2)O, also called Prussian Blue. Three different processes were fully separated in the electrochemistry of these films. It was clearly identified that one of these electrochemical processes involves the insertion/deinsertion of H(3)O(+) (hydrated protons) through the channels of the K(h)[Fe(2+) (CN)(6)](l).mH(2)O structure to reach the film electroneutrality during the electron transfer between Everitt's Salt and Prussian Blue. The other electrochemical processes involve K(+) or H(+) (proton) exchange through the water crystalline structure existing in the channels of the K(h)[Fe(2+)(CN)(6)](l).mH(2)O structure.

Graphical analysis of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of two consecutive irreversible electron transfers. 2. Zinc anodic dissolution in acid media.

The graphical analysis of the impedance plots is used in the study of the electrodic systems that take place through two consecutive single electron transfers. The zinc anodic dissolution is studied by using this procedure. The characteristic points easily allow us to explain and to simulate the impedance behavior of this electrodic system according to the steady-state potential and the roughness of the working electrode. The direct procedure for parametrical identification from the graphical analysis allows us to reduce the time needed for an impedance experiment. This graphical analysis is suggested for studying thin coated galvanized steels.

Graphical analysis of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of two consecutive irreversible electron transfers. 1. Theoretical study of the anodic dissolution of metals.

A general function for the faradaic impedance associated to a two consecutive single electron transfer mechanism followed by a irreversible first-order step has been obtained on the basis of formal kinetics. Kinetic parameters associated to this reaction mechanism can be obtained from the different kind of plots of the impedance function: Nyquist, Cole-Cole, and different Bode plots. A strategy for obtaining all parameters is suggested and analyzed on a detailed flowchart.

Estudio doble ciego sobre la eficacia de elcatonina nasal intermitente a largo plazo en mujeres postmenopáusicas recientes / Long-term double-blind study of the efficacy intermitent nasal elcatonin in recent

Fundamentos: Tratamientos continuos con calcitonina (CT) han mostrado incremento de la densidad mineral ósea (DMO) durante los primeros 18 meses, para disminuir después parcialmente. Al objeto de mejorar el resultado obtenido se propone una pauta de tratamiento cíclico durante el 50 a 66 porciento del tiempo de seguimiento en mujeres postmenopáusicas recientes. Método: Estudio piloto, doble ciego, aleatorizado de dos años de duración, en ciclos de 60 días cada 3 meses con 40 U de elcatonina (ELC) intranasal o placebo (PL) en 60 mujeres osteopénicas con menos de 5 años de menopausia. Basalmente y cada 3 meses se evaluaron cumplimento y seguridad del tratamiento, dolor espontáneo y grado de incapacidad, y al inicio y semestralmente se determinó la DMO lumbar y femoral con DXA. Resultados: De las inicialmente incluídas concluyeron el estudio 41 pacientes (21 ELC y 20 PL) sin diferencias basales. El tratamiento fué realmente empleado durante el 59 porciento del tiempo de observación con ELC y en el 58 porciento con PL. El T-score basal fué -2,29DE en las PL y -2,42DE en las ELC. Las densitometrías mostraron aumento de DMO en las tratadas con ELC hasta los 18 meses en ambos territorios y pérdida en las que recibieron PL. Conclusión: 40 U de elcatonina durante algo más del 50 porciento del tiempo de observación evita a largo plazo (2 años) la progresiva pérdida de DMO en postmenopáusicas recientes (AU)

[Double-blind study on the efficacy of long-term intermittent nasal elcatonin in recent postmenopausal women]. / Estudio doble ciego sobre la eficacia de elcatonina nasal intermitente a largo plazo en mujeres postmenopáusicas recientes.

FUNDAMENTALS: Continuous treatment with calcitonin (CT) has caused an increase of bone mineral density for the first 18 months, followed by a partial decrease of it. In order to obtain a better result in a two year follow-up, it is proposed a schedule treatment during 50% to 66% of the time in recent postmenopausal women. METHODS: Pilot, double-blind, randomised, two years follow-up study. 60 women with osteopenia less than 5 years from menopause received 40 U of intranasal elcatonin (ELC) or placebo (PL) 2 months ON, one month OFF. Compliance, safety, pain and the degree of incapacity were evaluated at baseline and every 3 months. At the start and every six months lumbar and femoral BMD were assessed with DXA. RESULTS: 41 patients completed the study (21 ELC and 20 PL). There were no basal differences. The treatment was actually used during 59% of the follow-up time in the ELC group and during 58% of the time in the PL group. Basal T-scores were -2.29 SD in the PL group and -2.42 SD in the ELC group. Bone densitometry showed an increase of BMD in the group of patients treated with ELC up to 18 months (lumbar and femoral) but a loss in those patients that received PL. CONCLUSION: 40 U of nasal elcatonin for more than 50% of the observation time prevents in the long-term (2 years) the progressive loss of bone mineral density in recent postmenopausal women.