Thickness Variation of Conductive Polymer Coatings on Si Anodes for the Improved Cycling Stability in Full Pouch Cells.

Si-dominant anodes for Li-ion batteries provide very high gravimetric and volumetric capacity but suffer from low cycling stability due to an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). In this work, we improved the cycling performance of Si/NCM pouch cells by coating the Si anodes with the conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) prior to cell assembly via an electropolymerization process. The thicknesses of the PEDOT coatings could be adjusted by a facile process parameter variation.

Influence of the Silicon-Carbon Interface on the Structure and Electrochemical Performance of a Phenolic Resin-Derived Si@C Core-Shell Nanocomposite-Based Anode.

Silicon is one of the most promising materials when it comes to lithium-ion battery anodes because of its high theoretical capacity and the low working potential Li/Li. However, the drastic volume change during lithiation and delithiation leads to a rapid failure of the electrode. In order to accommodate the large volume change, Si@C core-shell nanocomposites have been investigated, as they efficiently protect the Si surface from being exposed to the electrolyte and thus limit side reactions and improve the cycling stability through a stable solid electrolyte interface layer.

Towards a Greener and Scalable Synthesis of NaTiO Nanorods and Their Application as Anodes in Batteries for Grid-Level Energy Storage.

Grid applications require high power density (for frequency regulation, load leveling, and renewable energy integration), achievable by combining multiple batteries in a system without strict high capacity requirements. For these applications however, safety, cost efficiency, and the lifespan of electrode materials are crucial. Titanates, safe and longevous anode materials providing much lower energy density than graphite, are excellent candidates for this application.

Highly Porous Silicon Embedded in a Ceramic Matrix: A Stable High-Capacity Electrode for Li-Ion Batteries.

We demonstrate a cost-effective synthesis route that provides Si-based anode materials with capacities between 2000 and 3000 mAh·g (400 and 600 mAh·g), Coulombic efficiencies above 99.5%, and almost 100% capacity retention over more than 100 cycles. The Si-based composite is prepared from highly porous silicon (obtained by reduction of silica) by encapsulation in an organic carbon and polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide (C/SiOC) matrix.

Bronchodilator response in patients with persistent allergic asthma could not predict airway hyperresponsiveness.

: Anticholinergics, or specific antimuscarinic agents, by inhibition of muscarinic receptors cause bronchodilatation, which might correlate with activation of these receptors by the muscarinic agonist methacholine. The aim of this study was to determine whether a positive bronchodilator response to the anticholinergic ipratropium bromide could predict airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with persistent allergic asthma. The study comprised 40 patients with mild and moderate persistent allergic asthma.

Transcranial doppler ultrasonography as an early outcome forecaster following severe brain injury.

Knowledge of post-traumatic cerebral haemodynamic disturbances might be beneficial for predicting the management outcome when measuring the basal cerebral arteries blood flow velocity by ultrasonic transcranial Doppler device immediately after severe head injury. Thirty patients who sustained severe brain injury underwent an early blood velocity measuring by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography during a 1-year period of study. The standard technique of measuring the mean blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery was applied.

Physical and histologic properties of substitutes used for the anterior fossa region dural repair.

During the last 10 years, 41 patients with dural tear caused by anterior cranial fossa bone fracture were treated surgically. Those treated conservatively were not included in this series. The patients' mean age was 36 years.

[Clinical predictors correlated to outcome of war missile penetrating brain injury].

Aim Of The Study: The purpose of this retrospective study was to review and discuss the outcome of surgical management and other clinical predictors influencing the prognosis of war missile penetrating brain injuries.

Patients And Methods: To determine clinical predictors that influence the prognosis of war missile penetrating brain injury, 126 surgically treated patients who had sustained such an injury during the two-year period of war in Croatia (1991-1993) were retrospectively analyzed. Investigated clinical features were: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission; extent of brain injury; time between injury and hospital admission; presence of intracranially retained foreign bodies or bone fragments; development of postinjury and posttraumatic complications; and Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) at six-month follow up.

Anatomical cerebellar protection of contrecoup hematoma development. Analysis of the mechanism of 30 posterior fossa coup hematomas.

The aim of this paper is to present the topographical/anatomical conditions that protect the posterior fossa from posterior fossa hematoma (PFH) resulting from contrecoup mechanisms and to point out the value of neuroradiological findings in determining force direction and transition. The biomechanism of this clinical entity also plays an important role in correct forensic interpretation. Generally, PFH are rare.

Intracranial infection as a common complication following war missile skull base injury.

The purpose of this paper is to stress the importance of clinical observation, the appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and early surgery in the management of intracranial infection following war missile penetrating skull base injury. There were 21 skull base missile injuries treated surgically in a 4-year period. Careful removal of devitalised brain tissue with dural closure was performed with all patients to prevent the development of intracranial infection.

Transoral missile removal from the anterior C1 region following transpharyngeal missile wound.

We present a successful treatment result in a rare case of low velocity missile transpharyngeal wound to the upper cervical area in a 33-year-old man. There are very few reports concerning related cases, with some disagreement regarding their treatment. The retained missile was successfully removed from the anterior region of the C1 vertebra through a transoral-transpharyngeal approach using the explosive transpharyngeal wound sustained.

Successful treatment of traumatic acute posterior fossa subdural hematoma: report of two cases.

Background: Acute traumatic subdural hematoma of the posterior cranial fossa after a closed-head injury, excluding those in newborns, is a very rare clinical event. Generally, the outcome is poor and the overall mortality rate is high.

Methods: Acute posttraumatic subdural hematomas of the posterior fossa associated with acute hydrocephalus in two patients were removed by standard suboccipital approach.

Skull osteolysis after mild head trauma: case report.

Background: To our knowledge, there have been only two reported cases of patients with osteolytic skull lesions secondary to head trauma without concomitant skull fracture.

Methods: We present a case of skull bone lysis, not associated with skull fracture in a 20-year-old male, after mild head injury. During surgery, tumorous skull tissue of benign appearance was excised and primary cranioplasty was performed.

Self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head during the war and post-war period.

Thirty-five patients with self-inflicted gunshot brain injury were admitted to our hospital during 1991-96. War conditions and availability of firearms influenced the increase in these injuries, nearly six times greater than in the previous 6-year peace time period (1985-90). Our management protocol consisted of radical debridement of the missile track and evacuation of haematomata.

Early surgery and other indicators influencing the outcome of war missile skull base injuries.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of early surgical management protocol and other important clinical features on the prognosis of patients suffering from war missile skull base injuries.

Methods: Twenty-one patients who suffered from war missile skull base injuries were analyzed in this study. The wounds were mainly caused by shells and/or bullets.

Computed tomography of the spine as an important diagnostic tool in the management of war missile spinal trauma.

Twenty-two patients with spinal injury were evaluated by plain radiography immediately after hospital admission. In 14 patients whose condition was stable, we performed computed tomography (CT) scanning through the involved segments. To provide better planning before neurosurgical management, we divided the vertebral column in thirds.

[Therapeutic outcome in penetrating craniocerebral injuries in children. Personal experiences during war conditions].

During the war period 1991-1992 in Croatia, ten wounded children (16 years of age or younger) with war injuries to the brain were admitted to the Division of Neurosurgery, Osijek Clinical Hospital. Six of them had been wounded by shrapnel and four by pistol or rifle bullets. All but one were managed surgically (i.

Early management of war missile spine and spinal cord injuries: experience with 21 cases.

Between 1991 and 1994, 21 patients with war missile injuries of the spine and spinal cord were treated; there were 17 men and four women, with a mean age 30.7 years; 52.4 per cent were civilians.

Spinal stability after war missile injuries of the spine.

Objective: Spinal stability after surgery for war missile wound to the spine is addressed in this study.

Designs: A retrospective 4-year analysis of 21 patients.

Material And Methods: The most common injuries were of the thoracic and lumbar spine.

Analysis of 127 war inflicted missile brain injuries sustained in north-eastern Croatia.

During the 4-year period (1991-1994) there were 127 consecutive patients with missile brain wound treated at the Division of Neurosurgery. They sustained brain injury in the region of east Slavonia, Baranya and north Bosnia, and were admitted mostly during the homeland defensive war in Croatia (1991-1992). Analysing the wounded, we divided them in two groups: "succumbed" (59 wounded) and "survivors" (68 wounded).

Spinous process-plasty following lumbar laminectomy as a contributing factor to spine stability.

A 10-year retrospective study of 41 consecutive patients who underwent "spinous process-plasty" is presented. We carried out laminectomy of the lumbar spine in cases of spinal stenosis, dorsomedial herniated disc and recurrent disc herniation with firm scars (traumatic and tumour cases are not included). To forestall the development of laminectomy's negative effects on spine stability, we initiated the spinous processes' reconstruction.

[Myelography, CT scan, electromyography and neurologic examination in the diagnosis of herniated lumbar disk].

The research was carried out at the Clinical Hospital Osijek during a three-year period. Sixty-nine patients (34 men and 35 women) with the diagnosis of lumbar slipped disc who underwent surgery were followed up. The main inclusion criterion was the surgical finding of hernia.

Classification of frontal fossa fractures associated with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, pneumocephalus or meningitis. Indications and time for surgical treatment.

The classification of anterior fossa fractures with their sequelae: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, pneumocephalus, or meningitis is presented. This classification is based on five selection criteria which are discussed in this paper. This classification resulted in the table of indications for operative treatment, according to which the appropriate time for operation in urgent cases is immediately, in cases with absolute indication 5 to 6 days after the injury, in long-lasting CSF rhinorrhea or pneumocephalus 10 days after the onset, in intermittent or delayed rhinorrhea and/or pneumocephalus as soon as these signs occur, and in cases of meningitis soon after recovery.