A review of experimental and numerical studies of lithium ion battery fires

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are used extensively worldwide in a varied range of applications. However, LIBs present a considerable fire risk due to their flammable and frequently unstable components. This paper reviews experimental and numerical studies to understand parametric factors that have the greatest influence on the fire risks associated with LIBs. The LIB chemistry and the state of charge (SOC) are shown to have the greatest influence on the likelihood of a LIB transitioning into thermal runaway (TR) and releasing heats which can be cascaded to cause TR in adjacent cells. The magnitude of the heat release rate (HRR) is quantified to be used as a numerical model input parameter (source term). LIB chemistry, the SOC, and incident heat flux are proven to influence the magnitude of the HRR in all studies reviewed. Therefore, it may be conjectured that the most critical variables in addressing the overall fire safety and mitigating the probability of TR of LIBs are the chemistry and the SOC. The review of numerical modeling shows that it is quite challenging to reproduce experimental results with numerical simulations. Appropriate boundary conditions and fire properties as input parameters are required to model the onset of TR and heat transfer from thereon

The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (congenital absence of uterus and vagina) – phenotypic manifestations and genetic approaches

The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome affects at least 1 out of 4500 women and has for a long time been considered as a sporadic anomaly. Congenital absence of upper vagina and uterus is the prime feature of the disease which, in addition, is often found associated with unilateral renal agenesis or adysplasia as well as skeletal malformations (MURCS association). The phenotypic manifestations of MRKH overlap various other syndromes or associations and thus require accurate delineation. Since MRKH manifests itself in males, the term GRES syndrome (Genital, Renal, Ear, Skeletal) might be more appropriate when applied to both sexes. The MRKH syndrome, when described in familial aggregates, seems to be transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait with an incomplete degree of penetrance and variable expressivity. This suggests the involvement of either mutations in a major developmental gene or a limited chromosomal deletion. Until recently progress in understanding the genetics of MRKH syndrome has been slow, however, now HOX genes have been shown to play key roles in body patterning and organogenesis, and in particular during genital tract development. Expression and/or function defects of one or several HOX genes may account for this syndrome

Discrete sliding mode control of magnetic bearings

Bibliography: p. 95-98

Successful post-exposure prophylaxis of Ebola infected non-human primates using Ebola glycoprotein-specific equine IgG

International audienceHerein we describe production of purified equine IgG obtained from horses immunized with plasmid DNA followed by boosting with Kunjin replicon virus-like particles both encoding a modified Ebola glycoprotein. Administration of the equine IgG over 5 days to cynomolgus macaques infected 24 hours previously with a lethal dose of Ebola virus suppressed viral loads by more than 5 logs and protected animals from mortality. Animals generated their own Ebola glycoprotein-specific IgG responses 9-15 days after infection, with circulating virus undetectable by day 15-17. Such equine IgG may find utility as a post-exposure prophylactic for Ebola infection and provides a low cost, scalable alternative to monoclonal antibodies, with extensive human safety data and WHO-standardized international manufacturing capability available in both high and low income countries

The future of osteoarthritis therapeutics: targeted pharmacological therapy

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common forms of degenerative joint disease and a major cause of pain and disability affecting the aging population. It is estimated that more than 20 million Americans and 35 to 40 million Europeans suffer from OA. Analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the only therapeutic treatment options for OA. Effective pharmacotherapy for OA, capable of restoring the original structure and function of damaged cartilage and other synovial tissue, is urgently needed, and research into such disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) is in progress. This is the first of three reviews focusing on OA therapeutics. This paper provides an overview of current research into potential structure-modifying drugs and more appropriately targeted pharmacological therapy. The challenges and opportunities in this area of research and development are reviewed, covering the most up-to-date initiatives, trends, and topics

Elucidating mechanisms in haem copper oxidases: The high-affinity Q(H) binding site in quinol oxidase as studied by DONUT-HYSCORE spectroscopy and density functional theory

The Cytochrome bo(3) ubiquinol oxidase (QOX) from Escherichia coli (E. coli) contains a redox-active quinone, the so-called "high-affinity'' Q(H) quinone. The location of this cofactor and its binding site has yet to be accurately determined by X-ray crystallographic studies. Based on site-directed mutagenesis studies, a putative quinone binding site in the protein has been proposed. The exact binding partner of this cofactor and also whether it is stabilised as an anionic semiquinone or as a neutral radical species is a matter of some speculation. Both Hyperfine Sub-level Correlation (HYSCORE) and Double Nuclear Coherence Transfer Spectroscopy (DONUT-HYSCORE) spectroscopy as well as density functional theory (DFT) have been applied to investigate the QH binding site in detail to resolve these issues. Use is made of site-directed variants as well as globally N-15/(14) N-exchanged protein. Comparison of computed and experimental C-13 hyperfine tensors provides strong support for the binding of the semiquinone radical in an anionic rather than a neutral protonated form. These results are compared with the corresponding information available on other protein binding sites and/or on model systems and are discussed with regard to the location and potential function of QH in the overall mechanism of function of this family of haem copper oxidases