Usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage in suspect COVID-19 repeatedly negative swab test and interstitial lung disease

The diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relies on nasopharyngeal swab, which shows a 20–30% risk of false negativity [1]. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is reported to be useful in patients with pulmonary interstitial infiltrates on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). We investigated the usefulness of BAL in symptomatic patients with positive HRCT and a repeatedly negative swab test (‘grey zone’)

Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2/Al2O3 as advanced materials for three-way catalysts. Part 1. Catalyst characterisation, thermal stability and catalytic activity in the reduction of NO by CO

Pd-loaded Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 solid solutions supported on Al2O3 are investigated as catalysts for the reduction of NO by CO. The attention is focused on the role of the Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 and of the Pd dispersion on the catalytic activity. The system shows a very high activity below 500 K, which is almost independent on the Pd dispersion. The high activity is attributed to a promoting effect of the Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 on the NO conversion. Investigation of the influence of high temperature treatments disclosed a thermal stabilisation of both Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 and Al2O3 in the Ce0.6Zr0.4O2/Al2O3 system. Pd-loaded Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 solid solutions supported on Al2O3 are investigated as catalysts for the reduction of NO by CO. The attention is focused on the role of the Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 and of the Pd dispersion on the catalytic activity. The system shows a very high activity below 500 K, which is almost independent on the Pd dispersion. The high activity is attributed to a promoting effect of the Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 on the NO conversion. Investigation of the influence of high temperature treatments disclosed a thermal stabilization of both Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 and Al2O3 in the Ce0.6Zr0.4O2/Al2O3 system

Mn²⁺ electron paramagnetic resonance study of a sodium borosilicate glass prepared by the sol-gel method

Sodium borosilicate glasses were prepared by the sol-gel method and doped with a paramagnetic manganese probe. X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments, carried out on powdered samples, showed that even for molar ratios higher than 10%, manganese can be inserted in the glass. EPR results obtained on different doped silica glasses showed that the ability of Mn2+ to be inserted in the glassy network is connected with the presence of alkali species. The bulk location of the probe was confirmed by 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance investigations. EPR results indicated that manganese is located in distorted sites in an octahedral silica environment.</p

Electron paramagnetic resonance study of Mn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ spin probes in (Ag₂S) _x(GeS₂)_1-x glasses

Mn2+ and Cu2+ spin probes have been introduced in glassy (Ag2S)x(GeS2)1-x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8). The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra related to Mn2+ show a poorly resolved hyperfine structure at g = 2 and a characteristic line at g = 4.3 ascribed to the presence of Mn2+ in the center of GeS4 tetrahedra. For small contents of Mn2+, hyperfine structure is resolved as x increases to the limit x = 0.55 and not resolved when x ≥ 0.6. The Cu2+ probe leads to a well resolved signal when x = 0.4. No signal is observed for x &lt; 0.3. These results seem to confirm the presence of a phase separation domain for x &lt; 0.3 and the changes of the local structure of the probes with the appearance of micro-crystallinity due to the Ag8GeS6 phase when x ≥ 0.55.</p

ESR study and dc conductivity of binary glasses of the system (V₂O₅)_x(B₂O₃) _1-x

Glasses of the system (V2O5)x(B2O3) 1-x were prepared by melting and quenching in the domain 0&lt;x&lt;1. Electron spin resonance of V4+ species was investigated at room temperature. Two different VO2+ sites were identified and spin Hamiltonian parameters have been determined for these two sites. Variations of these parameters with composition were studied and dc conductivity measurements were performed on the same samples. DC transport properties were ascribed to thermally activated hopping between localised sites.</p

A rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of a sodium–cadmium metal–organic framework having improved performance as a CO2 adsorbent for CCS

We report on a facile and rapid microwave-assisted method for preparing a sodium–cadmium metal–organic framework (having coordinatively unsaturated sodium ions) that considerably shortens the conventional synthesis time from 5 days to 1 hour. The obtained (Na,Cd)-MOF showed an excellent volumetric CO2 adsorption capacity (5.2 mmol cm−3 at 298 K and 1 bar) and better CO2 adsorption properties than those shown by the same metal–organic framework when synthesized following a more conventional procedure. Moreover, the newly prepared material was found to display high selectivity for adsorption of carbon dioxide over nitrogen, and good regenerability and stability during repeated CO2 adsorption–desorption cycles, which are the required properties for any adsorbent intended for carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CSS) from the post-combustion flue gas of fossil fuelled power stations.The Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) and the European Funds for Regional Development (FEDER) are gratefully acknowledged for financial support through Project CTQ2013-47461-R. Financial support from Programa Pont la Caixa per a grups de recerca de la UIB is also acknowledged. C.P. acknowledges the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (pre-doctoral fellowship).Peer reviewe