Oxygen-rich microporous carbons with exceptional hydrogen storage capacity

Porous carbons have been extensively investigated for hydrogen storage but, to date, appear to have an upper limit to their storage capacity. Here, in an effort to circumvent this upper limit, we explore the potential of oxygen-rich activated carbons. We describe cellulose acetatederived carbons that combine high surface area (3800 m2 g-1) and pore volume (1.8 cm3 g-1) that arise almost entirely (> 90%) from micropores, with an oxygen-rich nature. The carbons exhibit enhanced gravimetric hydrogen uptake (8.1 wt% total, and 7.0 wt% excess) at -196 ºC and 20 bar, rising to a total uptake of 8.9 wt% at 30 bar, and exceptional volumetric uptake of 44 g l-1 at 20 bar, and 48 g l-1 at 30 bar. At room temperature they store up to 0.8 wt% (excess) and 1.2 wt% (total) hydrogen at only 30 bar, and their isosteric heat of hydrogen adsorption is above 10 kJ mol-1

Using a community-based definition of poverty for targeting poor households for premium subsidies in the context of a community health insurance in Burkina Faso

Background: One of the biggest challenges in subsidizing premiums of poor households for community health insurance is the identification and selection of these households. Generally, poverty assessments in developing countries are based on monetary terms. The household is regarded as poor if its income or consumption is lower than a predefined poverty cut-off. These measures fail to recognize the multi-dimensional character of poverty, ignoring community members? perception and understanding of poverty, leaving them voiceless and powerless in the identification process. Realizing this, the steering committee of Nouna's health insurance devised a method to involve community members to better define `perceived? poverty, using this as a key element for the poor selection. The community-identified poor were then used to effectively target premium subsidies for the insurance scheme. Methods: The study was conducted in the Nouna's Health District located in northwest Burkina Faso. Participants in each village were selected to take part in focus-group discussions (FGD) organized in 41 villages and 7 sectors of Nouna's town to discuss criteria and perceptions of poverty. The discussions were audio recorded, transcribed and analyzed in French using the software NVivo 9. Results: From the FGD on poverty and the subjective definitions and perceptions of the community members, we found that poverty was mainly seen as scarcity of basic needs, vulnerability, deprivation of capacities, powerlessness, voicelessness, indecent living conditions, and absence of social capital and community networks for support in times of need. Criteria and poverty groups as described by community members can be used to identify poor who can then be targeted for subsidies. Conclusion: Policies targeting the poorest require the establishment of effective selection strategies. These policies are well-conditioned by proper identification of the poor people. Community perceptions and criteria of poverty are grounded in reality, to better appreciate the issue. It is crucial to take these perceptions into account in undertaking community development actions which target the poor. For most community-based health insurance schemes with limited financial resources, using a community-based definition of poverty in the targeting of the poorest might be a less costly alternative

Association Between Advanced Maternal Age and Maternal and Neonatal Morbidity: A Cross-Sectional Study on a Spanish Population

Background and objective: Over recent decades, a progressive increase in the maternal age at childbirth has been observed in developed countries, posing a health risk for both women and infants. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between advanced maternal age (AMA) and maternal and neonatal morbidity. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study of 3,315 births was conducted in the north of Spain in 2014. We compared childbirth between women aged 35 years or older, with a reference group of women aged between 24 and 27 years. AMA was categorized based on ordinal ranking into 35-38 years, 39-42 years, and >42 years to estimate a dose-response pattern (the older the age, the greater the risk). As an association measure, crude and adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) were estimated by non-conditional logistic regression and 95% Confidence Intervals (95%CI) were calculated. Results: Repeated abortions were more common among women of AMA in comparison to pregnant women aged 24-27 years (reference group): adjusted OR = 2.68; 95%CI (1.52-4.73). A higher prevalence of gestational diabetes was also observed among women of AMA, reaching statistical significance when restricted to first time mothers: adjusted OR = 8.55; 95%CI (1.12-65.43). In addition, the possibility of an instrumental delivery was multiplied by 1.6 and the possibility of a cesarean by 1.5 among women of AMA, with these results reaching statistical significance, and observing a dose-response pattern. Lastly, there were associations between preeclampsia, preterm birth (<37 weeks) and low birthweight, however without reaching statistical significance. Conclusion: Our results support the association between AMA and suffering repeated abortions. Likewise, being of AMA was associated with a greater risk of suffering from gestational diabetes, especially among primiparous women, as well as being associated with both instrumental deliveries and cesareans among both primiparous and multiparous women

Electron tomography of DJANGOS.

<p><b>A.</b> Tomographic slice of an EM thick section showing a nuclear pore-associated structure formed in HeLa cells expressing B12-HA. Cytoplasm and nucleus are labeled with “C” and “N,” respectively. The thick arrow points to an atypical nuclear pore structure in cross-section at the junction with the nuclear envelope; the thin arrow points to a classic nuclear pore in the double membrane inside the nucleus. <b>B.</b> End-on view of the atypical nuclear pore at the neck of the double-membrane structure. <b>C.</b> 3D rendering of the tomogram shows the NPCs in blue. Also see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0094322#pone.0094322.s004" target="_blank">Movie S1</a>.</p

O uso de enxerto homólogo na revisão de artroplastias do quadril com cimentação do componente acetabular Use of homologous graft in hip arthroplasty reviews with acetabular component cementation

A artroplastia total do quadril representa um grande avanço no tratamento das enfermidades ortopédicas que acometem o quadril. A soltura asséptica desta prótese pode causar lesões e perdas ósseas, representando um grande desafio para a reconstrução cirúrgica destas artroplastias. Uma das alternativas para a reconstrução é o uso do enxerto ósseo de banco de ossos, podendo este ser usado em bloco ou na forma picada. Este estudo, baseado em uma revisão da literatura sobre enxertos ósseos, teve como objetivo uma análise quanto à reconstrução com enxertos em bloco e picado e sua integração. O enxerto picado mostrou melhores resultados quanto à integração quando se consegue estabilidade da reconstrução. Quando não conseguimos uma boa estabilidade, o enxerto em bloco associado aos anéis de reforço sobressai como a melhor opção.<br>Hip total arthroplasty represents a breakthrough in the treatment of orthopaedic illnesses affecting the hip. The aseptic loosening of this prosthesis may cause injuries and bone losses, representing a great challenge for the surgical reconstruction of those arthroplasties. One alternative to reconstruction is the use of bone graft sourced by bone bases, which may be used as a block or in pieces. This study, based on a literature review addressing bone grafts, had as an objective to analyze reconstruction with grafts in blocks and in pieces and its union. The graft in pieces showed better results concerning union when reconstruction stability is achieved. When a good stability cannot be achieved, the graft in block combined with reinforcement rings is highlighted as the best option