Performances of Solid Oxide Cells with La0.97_{0.97}Ni0.5_{0.5}Co0.5_{0.5}O3−δ_{3-\delta} as Air-Electrodes

Based on previous studies of perovskites in the quasi-ternary system LaFeO$_{3}$–LaCoO$_{3}$–LaNiO$_{3}$, La$_{0.97}$Ni$_{0.5}$Co$_{0.5}$O$_{3}$ (LNC) is chosen as the most promising air-electrode material in the series for solid oxide cells (SOCs). The properties of the material itself have been investigated in detail. However, the evaluation of LNC97 air electrodes in practical SOCs is still at a very early stage. In the present study, SOCs were prepared based on LNC97 air electrodes. The I-U performance of the SOCs in both solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) modes, i.e. reversible SOCs (r-SOCs), was investigated systematically for different air-electrode designs, temperatures and fuel gases. In general, the performance of the r-SOCs tested in the present study is higher than the published results of other LaFeO$_{3}$–LaCoO$_{3}$–LaNiO$_{3}$-based SOCs and is comparable to or even better than state-of-the-art La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$Fe$_{1-y}$Co$_{y}$O$_{3}$ (LSCF)-based SOCs. Mid-term operation of about 1000 h for SOCs in both SOFC and SOEC modes primarily proved the stability of LNC97-based air electrodes. Impedance spectra were systematically applied to understand the polarization processes of the SOCs

Perinatal preterm brain injury. Risk assessment, antenatal surveillance and managing

This work reports the results of two different lines of research: 1. On the employment of ultrasound in the management of fetuses with intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR); 2. On management of preterm birth for prevention of neurological impairment in high-risk pregnancies and low risk pregnancies. Pre-natal flow data and post-natal neurological outcome in IUGR fetuses have been evaluated. Doppler ultrasound in obstetrics has allowed the detection of the early signs of fetal demise, involving the management of pregnancies at risk of fetal hypoxia. The second line of research focuses on the need to identify strategies to predict preterm birth in asymptomatic low-risk women as well as in those presenting with threatened preterm labor (symptomatic high risk women) and underlines the importance to prevent brain injury and long-term neurological sequelae related to preterm deliveries. Neurological insults result in significant immediate and longterm physical, emotional, and financial costs. Advances in obstetrical and neonatal care have led to survival at earlier gestational ages and consequently increasing numbers of periviable infants who are at significant risk for long-term neurological deficits. Therefore, efforts to decrease and prevent cerebral insults attempt not only to improve neurological outcomes in infants delivered preterm but also primarily to decrease preterm delivery