Poetics of Interplay and Interferences of Potentiodynamic Sweeps and Peaks in Electrocatalysis for Oxygen Electrode Reactions

Strong irreversible adsorptive monolayer growth of the surface (Pt=O→1), out of the reversible primary (Pt−OH→0) oxides, imposes typical highly pronounced reaction polarization, and that way prevents, at least partially, the reversible electrocatalytic properties and behavior of even all plain and non-interactive supported noble metals (Pt, Pt/C) for oxygen electrode reactions, within closed loop of potentiodynamic spectra between hydrogen and oxygen evolving limits. Substantially quite another type of assembly afford nanostructured hyper-d-electronic-metals (Pt,Au,Ru), interactive grafted upon hypo-d-(f)-oxide supports, in particular of mixed and higher alter-valence values (W,Mo,Ta,Nb), well and for longer known in heterogeneous catalysis as SMSI (Strong Metal-Support Interaction, the ones of strongest in the entire chemistry). The most promising being Magneli phases (MPs, TinO(2n−1), or Ti4O7 in average, and as the optimum in catalytic activity), which arise after simple thermal recrystallization (pure entropy change contribution) yield effect, out of anatase and/or rutile titania (TiO2). The main accompanying achievements of substantial significance then have been: (i) Prevailing percentage in spontaneous adsorptive dissociation of molecular water upon hypo-d-(f)-oxide surfaces, or the corresponding latent storage and spillover of the yielding primary oxides (Pt−OH); (ii) Extra high stability MPs, (Plate type electrodes of MPs are straightforward employed in industrial chlorate cell production, and/or Li-batteries); (iii) Spontaneously adsorptive dissociated water molecules (or, hydroxide ions), then undergo membrane type ionic transfer all along hypo-d-(f)-oxide supports, until approaching catalytic metal surface, when the latter takes the prevailing amount of electron charge, and that way creates the primary oxide dipole species (Pt−OH); (iv) these undergo spillover by repulsion upon metallic, hypo-d-(f)-oxide and even over the suboxide MPs surfaces; (v) while the Magneli phases themselves feature a rather high n-type electron conductivity (up to and even above 1,000 S/cm). The wetness impact factor and effect have been introduced as the lowest threshold level associated with the Pt−OH (Au−OH), bellow which there is no (electro)catalytic oxidation reaction taking place, such as the CO tolerance. The overall result of the present study has then been the development and achievement of the reversible electrocatalysts for the oxygen electrode reactions (ORR, OER), primarily for L&MT PEMFCs. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Thermal radiation antennas made of multilayer structures containing negative index metamaterials

We investigate the thermal antenna behavior of emissive/absorptive substrates coated by passive optical multilayer systems that contain negative refractive index metamaterials (NIM). Spectral and angular distributions of the thermal radiation emittance for periodic defect-containing multilayer with NIM is addressed. We analyze realistic finite structures and took into account dispersion and losses in the NIM part. The application of NIM-containing 1D structures offers new degrees of freedom for the design, thus opening a path to obtain spectrally and spatially selective thermal emitters that could lead to improvements in the existing systems for thermal radiation control

The impact of different methods of drying and preparation method ration method on the basic chemical composition of hay

The paper presents the results of three different ways of storing the dried mass of hay: bulk, small bales and large roll bales, as well as the impact of three drying methods: natural in the field, artificial drying with cold air and drying with dehumidification (warm air). In the tested meadow in the first swath, the results of chemical analyses showed differences in the method of drying hay. Regarding the tested drying method, the content of dry matter (DM) had significant differences between the storage methods as well as all variants with pre-heated air drying, where the average value of DM was in the interval of 86.18-93.01%. The content of mineral substances for certain methods of preparation and drying ranged from 5.77% to 7.72% on average. The highest content of crude proteins was in all variants of artificial drying and it ranged from 98.6 to 165.7 g/kg DM and had a statistically significant difference. Both methods of artificial post-drying had a significant impact on the cellulose content (33.76% to 28.86%) compared to drying in the traditional way because postponing the mowing time increases the cellulose content. The drying method had a statistically high significant difference on the content of neutral detergent fibres (NDF) and acidic detergent fibres (ADF), while the method of storage had no major impact. Knowledge of changes in the quality of hay during the growing season is of particular importance form the aspect of ruminant nutrition and balanced rations. The amount and quality of obtained hay is significantly affected by the time of mowing, height of mowing, swath, fertilization, floristic composition and weather conditions during drying of the green mass

Age, Successive Waves, Immunization, and Mortality in Elderly COVID-19 Haematological Patients: EPICOVIDEHA Findings

Introduction: elderly patients with haematologic malignancies face the highest risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. The infection impact in different age groups remains unstudied in detail. Methods: We analysed elderly patients (age groups: 65-70, 71-75, 76-80 and >80 years old) with hematologic malignancies included in the EPICOVIDEHA registry between January 2020 and July 2022. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were conducted to identify factors influencing death in COVID-19 patients with haematological malignancy. results: the study included data from 3,603 elderly patients (aged 65 or older) with haematological malignancy, with a majority being male (58.1%) and a significant proportion having comorbidities. The patients were divided into four age groups, and the analysis assessed COVID-19 outcomes, vaccination status, and other variables in relation to age and pandemic waves.tThe 90-day survival rate for patients with COVID-19 was 71.2%, with significant differences between groups. The pandemic waves had varying impacts, with the first wave affecting patients over 80 years old, the second being more severe in 65-70, and the third being the least severe in all age groups. factors contributing to 90-day mortality included age, comorbidities, lymphopenia, active malignancy, acute leukaemia, less than three vaccine doses, severe COVID-19, and using only corticosteroids as treatment. Conclusions: These data underscore the heterogeneity of elderly haematological patients, highlight the different impact of COVID waves and the pivotal importance of vaccination, and may help in planning future healthcare efforts