Redox properties of alluaudite sodium cobalt manganese sulfates as high-voltage electrodes for rechargeable batteries.

Alluaudite sulfates are predicted to be high-voltage electrodes for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries. Herein, we provide the first experimental evidence for the operation of sodium cobalt-manganese sulfate, Na2+2δ(Co0.63Mn0.37)2-δ(SO4)3, at potentials higher than 4.0 V vs. Li/Li+. This fact comes as a result of the reduced cationic deficiency, redox properties of Co and Mn and stability of the alluaudite structure during alkali ion intercalation.

Fast in situ phase and stress analysis during laser surface treatment: a synchrotron x-ray diffraction approach.

An in situ stress analysis by means of synchrotron x-ray diffraction was carried out during laser surface hardening of steel. A single exposure set-up that based on a special arrangement of two fast silicon strip line detectors was established, allowing for fast stress analysis according to the sin(2)ψ x-ray analysis method. For the in situ experiments a process chamber was designed and manufactured, which is described in detail. First measurements were carried out at the HZG undulator imaging beamline (IBL, beamline P05) at the synchrotron storage ring PETRA III, DESY, Hamburg (Germany). The laser processing was carried out using a 6 kW high power diode laser system. Two different laser optics were compared, a Gaussian optic with a focus spot of ø 3 mm and a homogenizing optic with a rectangular spot dimension of 8 × 8 mm(2). The laser processing was carried out using spot hardening at a heating-/cooling rate of 1000 K/s and was controlled via pyrometric temperature measurement using a control temperature of 1150 °C. The set-up being established during the measuring campaign allowed for this first realization data collection rates of 10Hz. The data evaluation procedure applied enables the separation of thermal from elastic strains and gains unprecedented insight into the laser hardening process.

Fournier's Gangrene: a clinical and bacteriological study.

Bacteriological studies were conducted in patients presenting with Fournier's Gangrene (FG) in our Department during a period of 11 years. These studies showed high numbers of anaerobes (96%) and the ratio of aerobes to anaerobes was reported to be 1.4: 3.2. Among the anaerobes,Peptostreptococci, Bacteroides and Prevotella were more frequently isolated. The predominant facultative aerobic microorganisms were Streptococci and Escherichia coli. Clinical investigation showed necrotic cellulitis and fasciitis of the scrotum due to mixed aerobic-anaerobic infection. Patients with complicated paraproctitis and periurethral abscesses and urinary phlegmones who also presented with symptoms of FG were treated during this same period. Microbiological studies gave similar results and clinical studies showed that the process had spread to the scrotum. The question was then raised whether FG should be diagnosed as an independent nosological entity in cases where the underlying cause of the disease was obscure or if FG should be the result of different pathological processes which occurred within the scrotal surfaces. In other cases, FG is secondary and occurred after reaching the scrotum per continuitatem.

In vitro and in vivo studies of the effect of the concentration of plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on the blood compatibility of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) drain tubes.

Evaluation of the effect of the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been carried out on the properties of blood compatibility of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) through an in vitro registering of the amount of total protein in relation to the amount of DEHP. The influence of DEHP on the properties of blood compatibility has also been evaluated in vivo by tracing through a modified method of Gott (LV Gott and A Feruse, Bull NY Acad Med 1972; 48(2): 482-491) the presence of a thrombus and the patency of tubes made from the material tested, as well as the patency of tubes made from the same material having surfaces coated with paraffin and complexone. For all implanted samples the changes in coagulation time and the amount of haemoglobin after their stay inside a blood vessel in the abdominal cavity of a dog have been registered.

[Anaerobic nonclostridial soft-tissue infection]. / Anaerobna neklostridialna infektsiia na melkite tukani.

Over the period 1985 through 1994, observations are conducted on forty-eight patients, 35 men and 13 women, with age ranging from 11 to 56 years, presenting anaerobic non-spore-forming infection of the soft tissues (necrotizing fasciitis (3), postinjection nonclostridial myositis (7), crepitant cellulitis in diabetic gangrene (21), neck phlegmon (5), perineal phlegmon (9), and progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene against the background of chronic osteomyelitis (3). Infection development is characterized by local necrotic processes, intoxication, crepitations, fetor, fever, and in part of the patients--septic shock and DIC syndrome. The microbiological study shows presence of anaerobes, as mono- and polyinfection, aerobic-anaerobic associations, and gram-negative aerobes--in one patient alone. Invariably, the general condition is rather serious. Lethality amounting to 12.5 percent is ascribed to the late detection and unspecified and inadequate treatment protocol in the initial period of observation. The treatment is complex: incisions with successive many-staged necrectomies, antibiotics, metronidazole, hyperbaric oxygenation and hemadsorption. If several (2-3) of the aforementioned symptoms are present, evidence of anaerobic flora should be mandatory and purposefully seeked.

[Anaerobic surgical infection]. / Vurkhu anaerobnata khirurgichna infektsiia.

The study covers 125 patients with anaerobic surgical infection, aged 7 to 82 years. Of the total 27 cases are operated for acute cholecystitis, four--diffuse acute peritonitis, seventeen--acute appendicitis, and three--acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. In acute cholecystitis and acute appendicitis microbiological study is carried out of the content, organic wall and periorganic space. In acute cholecystitis patients anaerobic flora is found in 39.01 per cent, and gram-negative--in 44.9 per cent, and in those presenting acute appendicitis--in 28.3 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively. The clinical analysis results point to a severer clinical course in the patients presenting anaerobic flora. The letter becomes manifest as mono infection in 37.2 per cent. It is pointed out that in the presence of two or more signs, characteristic of anaerobic infection, namely: destructive early process, offensive odor and intoxication, anaerobic bacterial flora should be invariably considered. At each microbiological examination the results of staining according to Gram should be also demanded from the laboratory.

[The effect of acetic acid and furfural on yeast growth]. / Izsledvane vliianieto na otsetnata kiselina i furfurala vurkhu rastezha na drozhdi.

Acetic acid and furfural are normal components of the yeast hydrolysates. The influence of acetic acid in different concentrations (from 2 to 10 g/dm3) and furfural (from 0.2 to 0.8 g/dm3) on the growth of 8 yeast strains from the genus Candida under cultivation in synthetic nutrient media has been studied. It was established that some yeast strains absorb acetic acid better at pH 4.0-5.0, while others--only at pH 6.0 and at different concentrations of the acid in the nutrient media. Acetic acid in concentrations from 2 to 4 g/dm3 suppresses growth entirely in some strains, while in others growth was established. Acetic acid in concentrations over 8 g/dm3 inhibits growth in all 8 strains of the studied yeasts. Furforal in concentration to 0.4 g/dm3 in the synthetic nutrient media inhibits the growth in the 8 strains to a certain extent, while in concentration over 8 g/dm3 it stops the growth in all 8 yeast strains.