Microwave-Driven Reduction Accelerates Oxygen Exchange in Perovskite Oxides.

Microwave-assisted oxide reduction has emerged as a promising method to electrify chemical looping processes for renewable hydrogen production. Moreover, these thermochemical cycles can be used for thermochemical air separation, electrifying the O generation by applying microwaves in the reduction step. This approach offers an alternative to conventional cryogenic air separation, producing pure streams of O and N.

Squeezing Out Nanoparticles from Perovskites: Controlling Exsolution with Pressure.

Nanoparticle exsolution has emerged as a versatile method to functionalize oxides with robust metallic nanoparticles for catalytic and energy applications. By modifying certain external parameters during thermal reduction (temperature, time, reducing gas), some morphological and/or compositional properties of the exsolved nanoparticles can be tuned. Here, it is shown how the application of high pressure (<100 bar H) enables the control of the exsolution of ternary FeCoNi alloyed nanoparticles from a double perovskite.

New trends in nanoparticle exsolution.

Many relevant high-temperature chemical processes require the use of oxide-supported metallic nanocatalysts. The harsh conditions under which these processes operate can trigger catalyst degradation nanoparticle sintering, carbon depositions or poisoning, among others. This primarily affects metallic nanoparticles created deposition methods with low metal-support interaction.

Impact of an interventional bundle on complications associated with peripheral venous catheters in elderly patients.

Purpose: Elderly patients admitted to geriatrics departments often require peripheral venous catheters (PVC), which should be inserted and maintained following a series of preventive recommendations. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of a training bundle comprising measures aimed at reducing complications associated with the use of PVC in elderly patients admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of patients who received a PVC within 24 h of admission to a geriatrics department.

CoMnO/CeTbO Dual-Phase Membrane Material with High CO Stability and Enhanced Oxygen Transport for Oxycombustion Processes.

Oxygen transport membranes (OTMs) are a promising oxygen production technology with high energy efficiency due to the potential for thermal integration. However, conventional perovskite materials of OTMs are unstable in CO atmospheres, which limits their applicability in oxycombustion processes. On the other hand, some dual-phase membranes are stable in CO and SO without permanent degradation.

Microwave-Driven Exsolution of Ni Nanoparticles in A-Site Deficient Perovskites.

Exsolution has emerged as a promising method for generating metallic nanoparticles, whose robustness and stability outperform those of more conventional deposition methods, such as impregnation. In general, exsolution involves the migration of transition metal cations, typically perovskites, under reducing conditions, leading to the nucleation of well-anchored metallic nanoparticles on the oxide surface with particular properties. There is growing interest in exploring alternative methods for exsolution that do not rely on high-temperature reduction via hydrogen.

Energetics of formation and stability in high pressure steam of barium lanthanide cobaltite double perovskites.

This study concerns energetics of formation and the stability in high water partial pressure of BaLnCoO, (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, and Gd) (BLnC) and BaGdLaCoO, where = 0.2, 0.5, and 0.

Structural properties of mixed conductor BaGdLaCoO.

BaGdLaCoO (BGLC) compositions with large compositional ranges of Ba, Gd, and La have been characterised with respect to phase compositions, structure, and thermal and chemical expansion. The results show a system with large compositional flexibility, enabling tuning of functional properties and thermal and chemical expansion. We show anisotropic chemical expansion and detailed refinements of emerging phases as La is substituted for Ba and Gd.

Nonreentrant atrioventricular nodal tachycardia: The great simulator.

We present the case of a healthy 12-year-old boy without structural heart disease who was followed for several years for an arrhythmia with diverse and incorrect initial diagnoses, refractory to flecainide, metoprolol and verapamil. Thorough reevaluation of the electrocardiographic recordings led to a presumptive diagnosis of a non-reentrant atrioventricular nodal tachycardia, subsequently confirmed with electrophysiology study. Radiofrequency ablation was performed during the procedure and the arrhythmia resolved.

Single-step hydrogen production from NH, CH, and biogas in stacked proton ceramic reactors.

Proton ceramic reactors offer efficient extraction of hydrogen from ammonia, methane, and biogas by coupling endothermic reforming reactions with heat from electrochemical gas separation and compression. Preserving this efficiency in scale-up from cell to stack level poses challenges to the distribution of heat and gas flows and electric current throughout a robust functional design. Here, we demonstrate a 36-cell well-balanced reactor stack enabled by a new interconnect that achieves complete conversion of methane with more than 99% recovery to pressurized hydrogen, leaving a concentrated stream of carbon dioxide.

Evaluation of Er Doped CeO as Oxygen Transport Membrane.

Ceria based materials are robust candidates for a range of applications involving redox reactions and high oxygen activity. The substitution of erbium in the ceria lattice introduces extrinsic oxygen vacancies. Further addition of Co introduces electronic carriers.

Guillain-Barré syndrome as the first presentation of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Aim: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) development has reduced the severity of neurological complications of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but they remain prevalent and need prompt recognition. Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) is a rare complication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection that may appear at any stage of the disease. In this case, AIDP represents a late presentation of HIV infection.

Mortality predictive factors of people living with human immunodeficiency virus and bloodstream infection.

Introduction: Portugal has one of the highest mortality rates for people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in Europe. After antiretroviral therapy introduction, HIV-associated mortality declined, included the one associated with bloodstream infection (BSI). However it is still high, and European data are scarce .

Comparative Study of Epoxy-CsHPO Composite Electrolytes and Porous Metal Based Electrocatalysts for Solid Acid Electrochemical Cells.

Electrochemical cells based on acid salts (CsHPO) have attracted great interest for intermediate temperature, due to the outstanding proton conductivity of acid salts. In this work, electrodes and electrolyte were optimized following different strategies. An epoxy resin was added to the CsHPO material to enhance the mechanical properties of the electrolyte, achieving good conductivity, enhanced stability, and cyclability.

Unravelling the crystal structure of NdWO and NdWMoO mixed ionic electronic conductors.

Mixed ionic electronic conducting ceramics Nd WO (δ is the oxygen deficiency) provide excellent stability in harsh environments containing strongly reactive gases such as CO, CO, H, HO or HS. Due to this chemical stability, they are promising and cost-efficient candidate materials for gas separation, catalytic membrane reactors and protonic ceramic fuel cell technologies. As in La WO, the ionic/electronic transport mechanism in Nd WO is expected to be largely controlled by the crystal structure, the conclusive determination of which is still lacking.

IL-6 serum levels predict severity and response to tocilizumab in COVID-19: An observational study.

Background: Patients with coronavirus disaese 2019 (COVID-19) can develop a cytokine release syndrome that eventually leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Because IL-6 is a relevant cytokine in acute respiratory distress syndrome, the blockade of its receptor with tocilizumab (TCZ) could reduce mortality and/or morbidity in severe COVID-19.

Objective: We sought to determine whether baseline IL-6 serum levels can predict the need for IMV and the response to TCZ.

High-Temperature Structural and Electrical Properties of BaCoO Positrodes.

The application of double perovskite cobaltites BaCoO ( = lanthanide element) in electrochemical devices for energy conversion requires control of their properties at operating conditions. This work presents a study of a series of BaCoO ( = La, Pr, Nd) with a focus on the evolution of structural and electrical properties with temperature. Symmetry, oxygen non-stoichiometry, and cobalt valence state have been examined by means of Synchrotron Radiation Powder X-ray Diffraction (SR-PXD), thermogravimetry (TG), and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS).

Towards Upscaling of LaWO Manufacture for Plasma Spraying-Thin Film Coated Hydrogen Permeable Membranes.

Lanthanum tungstate (LaWO) is a promising material for the development of hydrogen separation membranes, proton ceramic electrolyzer cells and protonic ceramic fuel cells due to its interesting transport properties and stability under different operation conditions. In order to improve the hydrogen transport through the LaWO membranes, thin membranes should be manufactured. This work is based on the industrial production of LaWO (LWO) powder by spray drying and the manufacturing of thin membranes by low-pressure plasma spraying (LPPS-TF) technique.

In Situ Raman Characterization of SOFC Materials in Operational Conditions: A Doped Ceria Study.

The particular operational conditions of electrochemical cells make the simultaneous characterization of both structural and transport properties challenging. The rapidity and flexibility of the acquisition of Raman spectra places this technique as a good candidate to measure operating properties and changes. Raman spectroscopy has been applied to well-known lanthanide ceria materials and the structural dependence on the dopant has been extracted.

Characterization of post-consumer plastic film waste from mixed MSW in Spain: A key point for the successful implementation of sustainable plastic waste management strategies.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a full characterization of post-consumer plastic film recovered from mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment plants in Spain. Currently, this type of plastic waste is not recycled due to technical or economic barriers and is still sent to landfill. Different types of municipal plastic waste (MPW) from manual and automated sorting were studied: i) colour plastic film recovered by ballistic separators and then manual sorting in different seasons; ii) colour plastic film recovered by automated sorting (air suction); and iii) white plastic film from primary manual sorting process.

Robust catalytically-activated LSM-BCZY-based composite steam electrodes for proton ceramic electrolysis cells.

Backbone electrodes based on an electronic conductor and a protonic conductor show advantages for proton ceramic electrolyzer cells (PCECs). This work, aims to shed further light on the nature of the rate determining steps in the anode operation and improve the reaction rate in high steam pressure electrolysis mode by (i) adjusting their catalytic activity through electrode infiltration with catalytic electronic-conducting nanoparticles; and (ii) electrochemical activation of surface species by applying a net current through the electrode. A composite formed by LaSrMnO (LSM) and BaCeZrYO (BCZY27) was deposited on proton-conducting BCZY27 electrolytes and studied in symmetrical cells to investigate the anode microstructure and electrochemical performance.

Mixed proton and electron conducting double perovskite anodes for stable and efficient tubular proton ceramic electrolysers.

Hydrogen production from water electrolysis is a key enabling energy storage technology for the large-scale deployment of intermittent renewable energy sources. Proton ceramic electrolysers (PCEs) can produce dry pressurized hydrogen directly from steam, avoiding major parts of cost-driving downstream separation and compression. However, the development of PCEs has suffered from limited electrical efficiency due to electronic leakage and poor electrode kinetics.

Novel Polymeric Thin-Film Composite Membranes for High-Temperature Gas Separations.

Novel selective polymeric thin-film composite membranes (TFCMs) for applications at elevated temperatures were developed. Thin selective layers of the polyimides Matrimid 5218 and 6FDA-6FpDA were cast on a developed polybenzimidazole (PBI) porous support prepared by a phase inversion process. The TFCM properties were investigated with different gases in a wide temperature range, including temperatures up to 270 °C.

Protonic Conduction of Partially-Substituted CsH₂PO₄ and the Applicability in Electrochemical Devices.

CsH₂PO₄ is a proton conductor pertaining to the acid salts group and shows a phase transition from monoclinic to cubic phase at 232 ± 2 °C under high-steam atmospheres (>30%). This cubic phase gives rise to the so-called superprotonic conductivity. In this work, the influence of the partial substitution of Cs by Ba and Rb, as well as the partial substitution of P by W, Mo, and S in CsH₂PO₄ on the phase transition temperature and electrochemical properties is studied.