CONDUCTING POLYMER MICROSTRUCTURES AND COMPOSITES FOR SUPERCAPACITORS

Increasing power demands associated with electronic devices, transportation and renewable energy systems require new energy storage technologies with higher specific capacitance, faster charge-discharge rates and long-term cycle stability. Supercapacitors offer an alternative to conventional batteries and capacitors, with the potential to deliver high energy and power density. Of the different materials used as electrodes, electrochemically conducting polymers (ECPs) have emerged as a low cost alternative with tremendous synthetic and structural versatility. The focus of our research is to utilize various processing and synthesis methods to increase the performance of ECP electrodes by controlling ion-transport and electron transfer processes. First, we show how to synthesize ECP microtubes with tunable dimensions using stainless steel mesh substrates with varying wire diameters and spacing. Second, we investigated the use of polymer dopants to directly affect key performance metrics. For example, we integrated poly(4-styrene sulfonic acid), a known proton conductor, to increase the ion transport within the polymer structures. We also investigated the use of lignin, a non-conductive polymer with moderate redox activity, to improve the redox capacitance of the ECP film. Through this work, we demonstrate how electrode composition and morphology influence key metrics of polymer electrodes to design new materials for high-energy supercapacitors

A seroprevalence study of poliovirus antibody in the population of northern Greece

ABSTRACTThis study assessed immunity to poliomyelitis in a representative sample of 1064 persons living in northern Greece. Antibody prevalences in the individuals tested were 91.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 89.4–92.8), 92.1% (95% CI: 90.5–93.7) and 83.1% (95% CI: 80.8–85.4) for poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3, respectively. For poliovirus type 3, a gap in immunity was found in individuals aged 10–29 years. Re-vaccination of adolescents living in northern Greece is suggested to ensure herd immunity and to minimise the risk of importation of wild poliovirus from endemic countries

Pediatric Visceral Leishmaniasis in Albania: A Retrospective Analysis of 1,210 Consecutive Hospitalized Patients (1995–2009)

Albania is a developing country that is rapidly improving in social, economic and sanitary conditions. The health care system in still in progress and the impact of some infectious diseases remains poorly understood. In particular, little information is available on incidence, clinical features and response to treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in childhood. We performed a retrospective analysis of data recorded from 1995 to 2009 at the national pediatric reference hospital of Tirana where any child suspected for VL is referred for specific diagnosis and treatment. Epidemiology, clinical features and management of the disease were considered. The main findings can be summarized as follows: i) The incidence of the disease in Albanian children (25/100,000 in the age group 0–6 years) is much higher than in developed Mediterranean countries endemic for VL; ii) The disease is associated with poor sanitary conditions as suggested by the high rate of severe clinical features and frequency of co-morbidities; iii) The cheapest drug available for Mediterranean VL treatment (meglumine antimoniate) is highly effective (99% full cure rate) and well tolerated. Limitations were identified in the low standard laboratory diagnostic capability and unsatisfactory medical surveillance in less urbanized areas. An improvement is warranted of a disease-specific surveillance system in Albania

Borrelia valaisiana resist complement-mediated killing independently of the recruitment of immune regulators and inactivation of complement components

Spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato complex differ in their resistance to complement-mediated killing, particularly in regard to human serum. In the present study, we elucidate the serum and complement susceptibility of B. valaisiana, a genospecies with the potential to cause Lyme disease in Europe as well as in Asia. Among the investigated isolates, growth of ZWU3 Ny3 was not affected while growth of VS116 and Bv9 was strongly inhibited in the presence of 50% human serum. Analyzing complement activation, complement components C3, C4 and C6 were deposited on the surface of isolates VS116 and Bv9, and similarly the membrane attack complex was formed on their surface. In contrast, no surface-deposited components and no aberrations in cell morphology were detected for serum-resistant ZWU3 Ny3. While further investigating the protective role of bound complement regulators in mediating complement resistance, we discovered that none of the B. valaisiana isolates analyzed bound complement regulators Factor H, Factor H-like protein 1, C4b binding protein or C1 esterase inhibitor. In addition, B. valaisiana also lacked intrinsic proteolytic activity to degrade complement components C3, C3b, C4, C4b, and C5. Taken together, these findings suggest that certain B. valaisiana isolates differ in their capability to resist complement-mediating killing by human serum. The molecular mechanism utilized by B. valaisiana to inhibit bacteriolysis appears not to involve binding of the key host complement regulators of the alternative, classical, and lectin pathways as already known for serum-resistant Lyme disease or relapsing fever borreliae

LeishVet guidelines for the practical management of canine leishmaniosis

The LeishVet group has formed recommendations designed primarily to help the veterinary clinician in the management of canine leishmaniosis. The complexity of this zoonotic infection and the wide range of its clinical manifestations, from inapparent infection to severe disease, make the management of canine leishmaniosis challenging. The recommendations were constructed by combining a comprehensive review of evidence-based studies, extensive clinical experience and critical consensus opinion discussions. The guidelines presented here in a short version with graphical topic displays suggest standardized and rational approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, control and prevention of canine leishmaniosis. A staging system that divides the disease into four stages is aimed at assisting the clinician in determining the appropriate therapy, forecasting prognosis, and implementing follow-up steps required for the management of the leishmaniosis patient

Chemokine CXCL-1 expression in the subretinal fluid during rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Purpose: To investigate the expression of chemokine CXCL-1 in the subretinal fluid (SRF) during rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and identify potential correlations with number of quadrants involved and duration of the detachment. Methods and Results: Inclusion criteria were patients aged 18 years or older and primary RRD possibly complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). CXCL-1 levels were measured in 36 SRF samples from 36 RRD patients. Mean CXCL-1 levels (102±37pg/mL) were significantly higher (p=0.050) compared to controls. CXCL-1 levels correlated significantly with age (p=0.001) and RRD duration (p=0.002). Maximum CXCL-1 levels coincided with total RRD, 29- to 60-day duration and PVR grade C. Conclusions: The findings of this study may contribute to increased understanding regarding the role of CXCL-1 during the onset and progression of the wound healing process in the context of RRD and PVR. © 2014 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc

EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR DISEASE PREVENTION

A(H5N1): an overview of the current situation