Optical and Electrochemical Characterisation of Carbon Anodes with Varying Porosity and Coke Quality

The performance of carbon anodes in aluminium production will depend on both the coke quality (impurities, structure) and the physical properties of the anode (density, permeability, electric resistivity). Here, a set of industrial anodes of different porosity and permeability, and a set of pilot-scale anodes of different calcined petrol cokes (CPC) were evaluated with respect to the anode potential, voltage oscillations, and double-layer capacitance. Electrochemical characterisation of anodes with different permeability showed that the voltage oscillations due to CO2 bubble formation on the horizontal anode surface was inversely correlated to the permeability, with the highest oscillations observed for dense anodes. Evaluating pilot-scale anodes with different source CPC (1.4–5.5 wt% S), no significant differences were observed for the overpotential in the absence of bubbles. The anode made from isotropic coke showed a significantly higher double-layer capacitance than the anisotropic anodes, indicating better wetting properties towards the electrolyte.acceptedVersio

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Evaluation of selected ionic liquids as electrolytes for silicon anodes in li-ion batteries

In this work, four selected ionic liquids (ILs), in combination with lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide salt (LiFSI) were explored as electrolytes for anodes made from micron-sized metallurgical grade silicon. The ionic liquids were based on the cations; pyrrolidinium (PYR13), imidazolium (EMI) and phosphonium (P111i4) and the anions; bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI) and bis(trifluorosulfonyl)imide (TFSI). The cycling stability and rate performance were investigated in pseudo-full cells with silicon anode and commercial LiFePO4, and compared to a carbonate electrolyte. Electrolytes based on PYR13FSI and P111i4FSI exhibit a decent rate performance up to C/5 and showed stable cycling over ∼100 cycles, maintaining a reversible capacity of >1200 mAh gSi-1 at cycle 100 (C/5 rate) and over 2000 mAh gSi-1 at C/20. These electrolytes also had the best oxidation stability (> 5.3 V vs Li/Li). Based on assessment of the limiting current density in symmetrical cells, the Li-ion mobility was determined to be slightly higher for EMIFSI, but differences in Li-ion mobility cannot account for the differences in cycling stability among these electrolytes. While the SEI formed in EMIFSI electrolyte is the most conductive, the highest coulombic efficiency was obtained for PYR13FSI, indicating that the best passivating SEI was formed in this electrolyte

Specialist Nurses in home healthcare : their experiences of elderly patients with typ 1-diabetes

Bakgrund: Äldre patienter med typ 1-diabetes påträffas allt oftare i hemsjukvård då patienterna behöver hjälpinsatser. Vården för typ 1-diabetes har under flera år utvecklats vilket har resulterat i mindre komplikationer och längre överlevnad. Viktigt inom diabetesvården är patientens egenvård, men när andra sjukdomstillstånd tillkommer kan det vara svår att upprätthålla denna själv. Syfte: Syftet är att beskriva specialistsjuksköterskors erfarenheter av att möta äldre patienter med typ 1-diabetes i hemsjukvård där förmågan till egenvård har försämrats. Metod: En kvalitativ intervjustudie med induktiv ansats gjordes. Åtta specialistsjuksköterskor som arbetade inom hemsjukvård intervjuades med semistrukturerade frågor. Datamaterialet analyserades med en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i tre kategorier; Att se skillnaden mellan typ 1- och typ 2-diabetes hos patienten, Att kommunicera kunskap mellan sjukvårdspersonal och Att ta över ansvaret av patientens egenvård. Fynden i studien visade att det fanns skillnader att behandla patienter med typ 1- och typ 2-diabetes. Kunskap saknades om typ 1-diabetes och därmed var det svårt att förmedla information till omvårdnadspersonal. Att ta över ansvaret av patients egenvård beskrevs som en viktig, men svår del för att patienten ska känna sig trygg i relation med omvårdnadspersonal. Slutsats: Specialistsjuksköterskorna upplever en svårighet att ta över patientens egenvård när de inte längre har förmågan att själva utföra den. Utbildning inom diabetesvård är viktigt då specialistsjuksköterskan har som arbetsuppgift att utbilda, handleda och delegera omvårdnadspersonal. Typ 1-diabetes är en sjukdom som kommer att öka inom den äldre populationen, vilket innebär att patienterna kommer att ha ett behov av hemsjukvård i likhet med övrig befolkning. Background: Elderly patients with type 1-diabetes are increasingly found in home healthcare as patients need assistance. Care for type 1-diabetes has developed over several years, which has resulted in fewer complications and longer survival. Important in diabetes care is the patient's self-care, but when other disease states arise, it can be difficult to maintain this yourself. Aim: The aim is to describe specialist nurses' experiences of meeting elderly patients with type1- diabetes in home care where the ability to self-care has deteriorated. Method: A qualitative interview study with inductive approach was performed. Eight specialist nurses who worked in home care were interviewed with semi-structured questions. The data material was analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in three categories; To see the difference between type 1- and type 2-diabetes in the patient, To communicate knowledge between nursing staff and To take over the responsibility of self-care. The findings of the study showed that there were differences in treating patients with type 1- and type 2-diabetes. Knowledge of type 1 -diabetes was lacking and thus it was difficult to convey information to nursing staff. Taking over the patient's responsibility for self-care was described as an important, but hard part to make the patient feel safe in relation to nursing staff. Conclusion: The specialist nurses experience a difficulty in taking over the patient's self-care when the patients no longer are able. Diabetes care training is crucial as the specialist nurse's task is to train, supervise and delegate nursing staff. Type 1 diabetes is a disease that is estimated to increase in the elderly population, which means that patients will have a need for home care similar to the rest of the population

Specialist Nurses in home healthcare : their experiences of elderly patients with typ 1-diabetes

Bakgrund: Äldre patienter med typ 1-diabetes påträffas allt oftare i hemsjukvård då patienterna behöver hjälpinsatser. Vården för typ 1-diabetes har under flera år utvecklats vilket har resulterat i mindre komplikationer och längre överlevnad. Viktigt inom diabetesvården är patientens egenvård, men när andra sjukdomstillstånd tillkommer kan det vara svår att upprätthålla denna själv. Syfte: Syftet är att beskriva specialistsjuksköterskors erfarenheter av att möta äldre patienter med typ 1-diabetes i hemsjukvård där förmågan till egenvård har försämrats. Metod: En kvalitativ intervjustudie med induktiv ansats gjordes. Åtta specialistsjuksköterskor som arbetade inom hemsjukvård intervjuades med semistrukturerade frågor. Datamaterialet analyserades med en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i tre kategorier; Att se skillnaden mellan typ 1- och typ 2-diabetes hos patienten, Att kommunicera kunskap mellan sjukvårdspersonal och Att ta över ansvaret av patientens egenvård. Fynden i studien visade att det fanns skillnader att behandla patienter med typ 1- och typ 2-diabetes. Kunskap saknades om typ 1-diabetes och därmed var det svårt att förmedla information till omvårdnadspersonal. Att ta över ansvaret av patients egenvård beskrevs som en viktig, men svår del för att patienten ska känna sig trygg i relation med omvårdnadspersonal. Slutsats: Specialistsjuksköterskorna upplever en svårighet att ta över patientens egenvård när de inte längre har förmågan att själva utföra den. Utbildning inom diabetesvård är viktigt då specialistsjuksköterskan har som arbetsuppgift att utbilda, handleda och delegera omvårdnadspersonal. Typ 1-diabetes är en sjukdom som kommer att öka inom den äldre populationen, vilket innebär att patienterna kommer att ha ett behov av hemsjukvård i likhet med övrig befolkning. Background: Elderly patients with type 1-diabetes are increasingly found in home healthcare as patients need assistance. Care for type 1-diabetes has developed over several years, which has resulted in fewer complications and longer survival. Important in diabetes care is the patient's self-care, but when other disease states arise, it can be difficult to maintain this yourself. Aim: The aim is to describe specialist nurses' experiences of meeting elderly patients with type1- diabetes in home care where the ability to self-care has deteriorated. Method: A qualitative interview study with inductive approach was performed. Eight specialist nurses who worked in home care were interviewed with semi-structured questions. The data material was analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in three categories; To see the difference between type 1- and type 2-diabetes in the patient, To communicate knowledge between nursing staff and To take over the responsibility of self-care. The findings of the study showed that there were differences in treating patients with type 1- and type 2-diabetes. Knowledge of type 1 -diabetes was lacking and thus it was difficult to convey information to nursing staff. Taking over the patient's responsibility for self-care was described as an important, but hard part to make the patient feel safe in relation to nursing staff. Conclusion: The specialist nurses experience a difficulty in taking over the patient's self-care when the patients no longer are able. Diabetes care training is crucial as the specialist nurse's task is to train, supervise and delegate nursing staff. Type 1 diabetes is a disease that is estimated to increase in the elderly population, which means that patients will have a need for home care similar to the rest of the population

The function of art students' use of studio conversations in relation to their artwork

The article focuses on individual students’ studies within a practicebased MFA program in visual art in Sweden. The individual cases of studying that form the basis for this investigation, represent a particularly autonomous and self-directed kind of studying. Although the kind of autonomy and selfdirection varies between visual art programs, as well as its extent, these are largely qualities that characterize higher education in visual art practice in general. The focus is here on two aspects or dimensions of the development of the studies in visual art: the students’ relations to their artwork, and their relationship to use of studio conversations. The analysis presented is based on two interviews with nine art students during their first and fourth years of study. The starting point for the analysis is the assumption that there is an internal relation between a student’s approach to his/her artwork and his/her use of studio conversations about the work. The precise relation is, of course, unique for each student. However, based on a focus on different functions studio conversations assume in relation to the students’ artwork, five types of relations were discerned. The main difference between the types of relations concerned the expected function of studio conversations in relation to the development of the students’ artwork. The results clearly indicate that there is a more specific relation between the two aspects in each case. Thus, we find a rather close relation between the two aspects, while the exact nature of the relationship varies from case to case. Even if studio conversations are just one part of the education, it is the component that is generally considered most important by the majority of students, and also the part that typically illustrates the character of the education. The results have implications for the understanding of the self-directed character of the studies, and the very free form of curriculum typical of visual art practice-based education

The function of art students' use of studio conversations in relation to their art work

The investigation presented in this article is focused on studies within a practice based MFA program in visual art in Sweden. The analysis presented is based on two interviews each with nine art students: One interview during their first and one during their fourth year of study. The analysis focuses on the relation between two aspects of their studies: The use of studio conversations and the relation to their own artwork. Data are analyzed and results are presented for each student as a case. The cases are compared and grouped based on similarities and differences. A close relationship between use of studio conversations and relation to own artwork is found, varying to its character from case to case. The results have implications for the understanding of the self-directed character of the studies and the very free form of curriculum typical of visual art practice education

Performance and failure analysis of full cell lithium ion battery with LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 and silicon electrodes

The influence of the lithium inventory on the performance and degradation mechanism of NCA||Si cells operating at a third of the theoretical silicon capacity is analysed. The lithium inventory was increased by electrochemical prelithiation to a value of 300 mAhg−1(Si). Full-cells were cycled at harsh conditions with a cut-off of 4.4 V to maximise the capacity. The higher lithium inventory resulted in an increased reversible capacity from 163 to 199 mAhg−1(NCA). The cycle-life was increased by 60% and reached 245 cycles. Three-electrode and post-mortem analyses revealed that the main reason for capacity fade is repeated SEI repair, consuming the lithium inventory. Differential capacity analysis revealed different degradation of silicon anodes cycled in half-cells compared to full-cells. No shifts in the alloying/dealloying peaks are present in full-cell geometry while changes are observed in half-cell geometry. This is expected to be caused by a limited alloying capacity in the full-cell and lithium consumption during cycling, alleviating material stresses. We conclude that the lithium consumption is the main factor causing capacity fade in NCA||Si cells. The decreasing degree of lithiation over cycling due to the lithium consumption is likely to be the reason for the absence of structural degradations of full-cell cycled silicon.publishedVersio

Inside the electrode: Looking at cycling products in Li/O2 batteries

This work investigates the impact of electrochemical reactions and products on discharge capacity and cycling stability with electrolytes based on two common solvents – tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Although the DMSO-based electrolyte exhibits better initial electrochemical properties compared to that based on TEGDME, e.g., higher discharge capacity and potential, the use of TEGDME results in a significantly better cycling stability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigations of the gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) after first discharge reveal a considerable difference in discharge product morphology. With DMSO as solvent one high-potential reduction process leads to the formation of crystalline lithium peroxide (Li2O2) particles on the cathode surface area. SEM imaging of GDE cross-sections depicts that the (non-crystalline) product film formation at lower potentials during discharge with the TEGDME-based electrolyte results in a GDE pore clogging close to the O2 inlet, so that gas transport is hindered and the discharge ends at an earlier point. The higher cycling stability with LiTFSI/TEGDME, however, is attributed to (i) the apparently complete recovery of the GDE active surface by recharge and (ii) different parasitic reactions resulting in the formation of side product particles rather than films.acceptedVersio