Biochar made from and applied as a bifunctional electrocatalyst in Zn-air batteries.

Biochar has been prepared by pyrolysis of (the vegetable sponge produced by ) and activated by mixing the pyrolyzed powder with KOH and pyrolyzed again. Non-activated and activated biochar have both been structurally and then electrochemically characterized to record their differences and assess their suitability as bifunctional oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts in Zn-air batteries. Non activated biochar carries several functional groups; however, the activation procedure led to a material with mainly O and Mg groups.

Visible-light-activated antibacterial and antipollutant properties of biocompatible Cu-doped and Ag-decorated TiO nanoparticles.

Optical and photocatalytic restrictions of anatase TiO nanoparticles (Nps) limit their potential applications, as antipollutant and antibacterial agents for sanitary applications, to the UV spectral region. While modification with transition metals extends the absorption capacity to the visible light spectrum, often undermines the photocatalysts' biocompatibility due to toxic ion leaching. In this study, we synthesized Cu-doped and Ag-decorated TiO photocatalysts by employing solvothermal (TiO:Cu) and sol-gel synthetic procedures (TiO:Ag), respectively.

Electrochemical Promotion of CO Hydrogenation Using a Pt/YSZ Fuel Cell Type Reactor.

The hydrogenation of CO is a reaction of key technological and environmental importance, as it contributes to the sustainable production of fuels while assisting in the reduction of a major greenhouse gas. The reaction has received substantial attention over the years within the catalysis and electrocatalysis communities. In this respect, the electrochemical promotion of catalysis (EPOC) has been applied successfully to the CO hydrogenation reaction to improve the catalytic activity and selectivity of conductive films supported on solid electrolytes.

The Hydrogenation of Crotonaldehyde on PdCu Single Atom Alloy Catalysts.

Recyclable PdCu single atom alloys supported on AlO were applied to the selective hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde to elucidate the minimum number of Pd atoms required to facilitate the sustainable transformation of an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl molecule. It was found that, by diluting the Pd content of the alloy, the reaction activity of Cu nanoparticles can be accelerated, enabling more time for the cascade conversion of butanal to butanol. In addition, a significant increase in the conversion rate was observed, compared to bulk Cu/AlO and Pd/AlO catalysts when normalising for Cu and Pd content, respectively.

Acid-fast bacteria as causative agents of skin and soft tissue infections: case presentations and literature review.

Acid-fast bacteria can be implicated in skin and soft tissue infections. Diagnostic identification can be challenging or not feasible by routine laboratory techniques, especially if there is no access to the Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technology. Here, we present two cases of skin and soft tissue infections caused by two different acid-fast bacteria, Nocardia brasiliensis and Mycobacterium marinum.

Don't worry about a thing … every little thing gonna be all right (except for acral lentiginous melanoma).

Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and musician, considered one of the pioneers of reggae. In July 1977, he was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma on his right great toe, which presented as a pigmented subungual lesion. Marley was advised to have his digit amputated, but he refused and opted for less invasive solutions.

The interplay between acid-base properties and Fermi level pinning of a nano dispersed tungsten oxide - titania catalytic system.

A series of WO/TiO catalysts were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for the NO selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with NH. Based on a wide range of characterization techniques, a detailed model was developed that describes the interfacial electron transfer between WO and TiO and defines a relationship between the acid-base properties of the catalytic surface and electronic structure modification. The electronic interactions at the WO/TiO interface were quantified using variations in the system's electronic structure.

Support Induced Effects on the Ir Nanoparticles Activity, Selectivity and Stability Performance under CO Reforming of Methane.

The production of syngas (H and CO)-a key building block for the manufacture of liquid energy carriers, ammonia and hydrogen-through the dry (CO2-) reforming of methane (DRM) continues to gain attention in heterogeneous catalysis, renewable energy technologies and sustainable economy. Here we report on the effects of the metal oxide support (γ-AlO, alumina-ceria-zirconia (ACZ) and ceria-zirconia (CZ)) on the low-temperature (ca. 500-750 ∘C) DRM activity, selectivity, resistance against carbon deposition and iridium nanoparticles sintering under oxidative thermal aging.

Synophrys: The societal implications of the bad ol' unibrow.

The complete or partial meeting of medial eyebrows at midline above the bridge of nose, forming a single band of hair, is known as synophrys or unibrow. With a few rare exceptions, when it may serve as a cutaneous marker lesion of several genetic disorders, with Cornelia De Lange syndrome being the commonest, synophrys is usually a normal variation. Although various cultures have prized synophrys as an attractive physical trait throughout history, in modern Western culture, the unibrow is frequently regarded as an undesirable and unappealing feature with negative connotations.

Widow's peak: a usually overlooked, yet significant morphogenetic trait.

Originally believed to be an omen for early widowhood, widow's peak, a V-shaped descending extension of the anterior hairline at the center of the forehead is now known to be a morphogenetic trait. Although in the majority of cases, widow's peak is a normal variant, its presence has also been associated with several genetic syndromes.

The impact of osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures on mortality and association with pulmonary function in COPD: A meta-analysis.

Objective: Osteoporosis is highly prevalent among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and most commonly presents as a vertebral compression fracture (VCF). Our objective was to quantify the effect of osteoporosis and VCFs on the mortality and pulmonary function tests (PFTs), such as forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV) and forced vital capacity (FVC), of patients with COPD.

Methods: A PubMed/Medline search was conducted using the search terms "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease", "osteoporosis" and "vertebral compression fracture".

Skin in the game: Video-game-related cutaneous pathologies in adolescents.

Background: Following the inception of video games and the subsequent development of progressive innovations in videogame technology, many reports of videogame-related dermatologic conditions soon emerged in literature. Children and adolescents, in particular, are among the most avid consumers of online digital entertainment.

Methods: In an effort to better detail the impacts of these cutaneous manifestations and provide recommendations for injury prevention as it relates to video games, we performed an extensive systems-based literature review pertaining to the clinical features, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of reported cases of dermatoses resulting from the misuse of video games.

More than meets the eye(brow): Dermatologic imagery in Frida Kahlo's self-portraiture.

Renowned for her self-portraiture that acts as her visual autobiography, Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is one of the leading woman painters of all time and an enduring feminist icon. Aside from the personal and societal commentary, both subtle and overt, that is evident within her artwork, the use of medical imagery shifts the viewer's perspective beyond Kahlo's self-portraits to offer accurate interpretations of her own singular history. The incorporation of dermatologic iconography within Kahlo's self-portraiture to record her skin, as well as its unique features, have rebuked conventional standards of beauty and exploded preconceptions of what is permissible in high art.

Born in the Purple: An Exceptional Case of Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita.

A full-term, 2-day-old female neonate with a congenital non-tender reticular patch that did not disappear with local warming was referred to our department for consultation. The family history as well as the antenatal course and delivery were unremarkable. On examination, we evidenced a fixed, marbled, bluish to deep purple lesion with a fishnet appearance extending over the right side of her body, face, and scalp.

Multiple Primary Melanomas in a Young Patient.

A 45-year-old HIV-negative Caucasian man with no reported past medical history was referred to our Department with a large (7 cm in diameter) oozing nodule on the occipital region of the scalp with spontaneous periodical bloody or purulent discharge. The lesion had appeared over a period of six months, had an irregular color, non-specific dermoscopic features, and resembled squamous cell carcinoma. The physical examination revealed three more atypical melanocytic lesions (on the abdomen, back, and buccal mucosa), and multiple swollen occipital, postauricular, as well as superficial and deep cervical lymph nodes.

Bronchoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic: effect on current practices and strategies to reduce procedure-associated transmission.

: Bronchoscopy and related procedures have unambiguously been affected during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus-2 (SARS COV-2). Ordinary bronchoscopy practices and lung cancer services might have changed over this pandemic and for the years to come.: This manuscript summarizes the utility of bronchoscopy in COVID-19 patients, and the impact of the pandemic in lung cancer diagnostic services, in view of possible viral spread during these We conducted a literature review of articles published in PubMed/Medline from inception to November 5th, 2020 using relevant terms.

Occlusive treatment enhances efficacy of tacrolimus 0.1% in a pediatric patient with severe alopecia areata: Case report and literature review.

Tacrolimus is an immunomodulatory drug, available for topical and systemic treatment of several dermopathies that are characterized by immune dysregulation. In the case of alopecia areata, standard application has proven insufficient to yield satisfactory results. Herein, we present a 6-year-old patient with Down syndrome who was treated with topical tacrolimus 0.