Loss Of Contact Research Articles

Combined Impedance and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for Investigating the Dynamics of Li / Solid Li‐ion Conductor Interfaces

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a widely used tool for the electrochemical characterization of all‐solid‐state batteries (ASSBs) with Li‐metal anodes. However, an unambiguous interpretation of the observed impedance response often requires additional independent information on the actual interfacial phenomena obtained. The measurement methodology presented in this study allows to conduct electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and EIS concurrently. Therefore, the informative power of EIS can be significantly improved via monitoring of structural changes of paramagnetic lithium at the electrochemical interface. As the solid‐electrolyte‐lithium interface is a critical part of all‐solid‐state batteries, this study employs a model oxide solid electrolyte in contact with lithium metal. During the polarization of the cell with evaporated lithium electrodes, the ratio between positive and negative peaks (a/b) of the EPR signal rises, which indicates an accumulation of lithium on one side of the electrolyte. The peak ratio a/b then drops abruptly, accompanied by current irregularities. Both are indicative of a diminishing contact area, and as a result, finer lithium morphologies form. Shortly after that, a contact loss is observed. The change of the EPR signal shape before cell breakdown can be associated with the worsening Li‐electrolyte contact, providing a tool for physical in‐situ cell diagnostics.

Cancer prevention in people experiencing homelessness: feasibility of the Health Navigator Model

Abstract Background The Health Navigator Model (HNM) is a newly developed skill-mixed model that may improve access to cancer prevention services for over 895,000 People who are currently Experiencing Homelessness (PEH) in Europe. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and implementation of the model in European settings. Methods A co-designed pilot implementation study was undertaken in Austria, Spain, Greece and the United Kingdom. A total of 20 trained health navigators were appointed at support centres for PEH and facilitated PEH’s access to cancer prevention activities based on a comprehensive and tailored needs assessment. The study duration was 19 months, with two follow-ups. Feasibility data (recruitment/retention/participation rates, barriers, facilitators) were monitored throughout the study. Results More than 1,981 PEH were informed about the study and 652 of them participated. Most participants were male (64%), with low or no income (42%) and had previously experienced homelessness (51.7%). The mean age of participants was 47.4 years old. Overall, 69% of participants completed the first, and 42.5% completed the second follow-up. Main dropout reasons were loss of contact, loss of interest or having other priorities. Participants undertook a range of cancer prevention activities, including education (n = 494), workshops (n = 280), health consultations (n = 251), referrals for specialist care (n = 212) and cancer screening tests (n = 169). Difficulties in accessing the healthcare system, de-prioritising cancer and PEH’s complex needs were identified as the main barriers. Building trusting relationships with PEH, increasing cancer awareness and coordinating social and health services were identified as the main facilitators. Conclusions Implementing the Health Navigator Model was a feasible and dynamic process leading to improved equity and inclusion of people experiencing homelessness in cancer preventive services. Key messages • The Health Navigator Model is a feasible model to enhance cancer prevention among people experiencing homelessness following a person-centred, destigmatising approach. • Effective liaison between health and social services under the Health Navigator Model plays a critical role in facilitating access to cancer preventive care among people experiencing homelessness.

Synthesis Methods of Si/C Composite Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Silicon anodes present a high theoretical capacity of 4200 mAh/g, positioning them as strong contenders for improving the performance of lithium-ion batteries. Despite their potential, the practical application of Si anodes is constrained by their significant volumetric expansion (up to 400%) during lithiation/delithiation, which leads to mechanical degradation and loss of electrical contact. This issue contributes to poor cycling stability and hinders their commercial viability, and various silicon–carbon composite fabrication methods have been explored to mitigate these challenges. This review covers key techniques, including ball milling, spray drying, pyrolysis, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and mechanofusion. Each method has unique benefits; ball milling and spray drying are effective for creating homogeneous composites, whereas pyrolysis and CVD offer high-quality coatings that enhance the mechanical stability of silicon anodes. Mechanofusion has been highlighted for its ability to integrate silicon with carbon materials, showing the potential for further optimization. In light of these advancements, future research should focus on refining these techniques to enhance the stability and performance of Si-based anodes. The optimization of the compounding process has the potential to enhance the performance of silicon anodes by addressing the significant volume change and low conductivity, while simultaneously addressing cost-related concerns.

Permeable void-free interface for all-solid-state alkali-ion polymer batteries.

All-solid-state batteries suffer from a loss of contact between the electrode and electrolyte particles, leading to poor cyclability. Here, a void-free ion-permeable interface between the solid-state polymer electrolyte and electrode is constructed in situ during cycling using charge/discharge voltage as the stimulus. During the charge-discharge, the permeation phase fills the voids at the interface and penetrates the electrode, forming strong bonds with the cathode and effectively mitigating the contact problem. Our all-solid-state potassium ion polymer batteries maintain high Coulombic efficiency more than 2000 cycles at a high operating voltage of 4.5 volt and stably cycle more than 500 cycles even at 4.6 volt. Our rational design for mitigating the contact problem is versatile, as demonstrated by the scalability of all-solid-state graphite-based polymer potassium-ion pouch cells and all-solid-state lithium-ion polymer batteries.

Effect of endodontically treated teeth on prosthetically guided orthodontics with clear aligners: a case series

BackgroundProsthetically guided orthodontics (PGO) can correct the malocclusion for better prosthetic rehabilitation in esthetic rehabilitation. Unlike conventional orthodontic treatment, only minor tooth movement is designed in PGO according to the requirement of subsequent restoration. For better appearance during the treatment, PGO is often performed with clear aligners, which have no metal brackets. It has been proven that the PGO with clear aligners can achieve generally satisfactory outcomes. However, its risk has not been fully known due to the paucity of relevant studies.Case presentationThree patients who needed esthetic rehabilitation with mild malocclusion were included in this study. After evaluation, a prosthetic solution alone was considered insufficient to provide optimal outcomes. Thus, they were treated using PGO with clear aligners (Invisalign Go, Align Technology, Santa Clara, California, USA) and accomplished prosthetic rehabilitation subsequently. Dental history and X-ray examination revealed that endodontically treated teeth (ETT) existed in all the cases. Intraoral photographs were collected to compare the pre-treatment and post-treatment dentition. After PGO, posterior ETT did not maintain their position as scheduled and lost occlusal contacts, while all the anterior teeth, including anterior ETT, were moved to the designed position. Corresponding prosthetic rehabilitation was used to solve it after consulting with the patients.ConclusionsOcclusal contact loss of posterior ETT is a potential risk in PGO with clear aligners, affecting the orthodontic result.

Homogenized contact in all-perovskite tandems using tailored 2D perovskite.

The fabrication of scalable all-perovskite tandem solar cells is considered an attractive route to commercialize perovskite photovoltaic modules1. However, The certified efficiency of 1-cm2 scale all-perovskite tandem solar cells lags behind their small-area (~0.1 cm2) counterparts2,3. This performance deficit originates from inhomogeneity in wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) at a large scale. The inhomogeneity is known to be introduced at the bottom interface and within the perovskite bulk itself4,5. Here we uncover another crucial source for the inhomogeneity - the top interface formed during the deposition of the electron transport layer (ETL, C60). Meanwhile, the poor ETL interface is also a significant limitation of device performance. We address this issue by introducing a mixture of 4-fluorophenethylamine (F-PEA) and 4-trifluoromethyl-phenylammonium (CF3-PA) to create a tailored two-dimensional perovskite layer (TTDL), in which F-PEA forms a two-dimensional perovskite at the surface reducing contact losses and inhomogeneity, CF3-PA enhances charge extraction and transport. As a result, we demonstrate a high open-circuit voltage of 1.35 V and an efficiency of 20.5% in 1.77-eV WBG PSCs at a square centimeter scale. By stacking with a narrow-bandgap perovskite sub-cell, we report 1.05 cm2 all-perovskite tandem cells delivering 28.5% (certified 28.2%) efficiency, the highest among all reported so far. Our work showcases the importance of treating the top perovskite/ETL contact for upscaling perovskite solar cells.

The role of markers of endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease

Aim. To study the potential of non-invasive biomarkers in the diagnosis of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) and prediction of the course of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in non-obstructive coronary artery disease.Materials and methods. The 12-month observational study included 118 consecutive patients (6 patients dropped out of the study due to contact loss) with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and HFpEF (62 [59; 64]%). At the beginning of the study, serum levels of several biomarkers were assessed using the enzyme immunoassay: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and endothelin-1. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) was examined using dynamic single photon emission computed tomography. In the absence of obstructive CAD, CMD was defined as a global decrease in CFR ≤ 2. Echocardiography was used to determine parameters of hemodynamics, LV diastolic dysfunction, and myocardial stress. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was assessed using 2D speckle tracking.Results. The patients were divided into groups depending on the presence of CMD: group 1 included patients with CMD (n = 43), group 2 included those without it (n = 75). In patients in group 1, serum levels of endothelin-1 were 1.9 times higher (p = 0.012), levels of VEGF were 2.16 times higher (p = 0.008), and the concentration of NT-proBNP was 2.6 times higher (p = 0.004) than in patients in group 2. According to the ROC analysis, the concentrations of endothelin-1 ≥ 6.9 pg / ml (AUC = 0.711; p = 0.040) and VEGF ≥ 346.7 pg / ml (AUC = 0.756; p = 0.002) were considered as markers associated with the presence of CMD in patients with non-obstructive CAD. The multivariate regression analysis showed that only the presence of CMD (odds ratio (OR) 2.42; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.26–5.85; p < 0.001) and an increase in NT-proBNP ≥ 760.5 pg / ml (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.08–3.19; p = 0.023) were factors associated with adverse events, and their combination increased the risk of HFpEF progression by more than 3 times (OR 3.18; 95% CI 2.76–7.98; p < 0.001), whereas markers of endothelial dysfunction were not independent predictors. Conclusion. Endothelin-1 ≥ 6.9 pg / ml and VEGF ≥ 346.7 pg / ml can be used as non-invasive markers for the diagnosis of CMD. However, markers of endothelial dysfunction were not independent predictors of HFpEF progression in patients with non-obstructive CAD during 12-month follow-up.

Loss of Cell-Cell Contact Inhibits Cellular Differentiation of α-Catenin Knock Out P19 Embryonal Carcinoma Cells and Their Colonization into the Developing Mouse Embryos.

Cadherin-catenin cell-cell adhesion complexes, composed of cadherin, β-catenin or plakoglobin, and α-catenin (α-cat) molecules, are crucial for maintaining cell-cell contact and are commonly referred to as "adherens junctions (AJs)." Inactivating this system leads to loss of cell-cell contact and developmental arrest in early embryos. However, it remains unclear whether the loss of cell-cell contact affects the differentiation of embryonic cells. In this study, we explored the use of a murine embryonal carcinoma cell line, P19, as an in vitro model for early embryogenesis. P19 cells easily form embryoid bodies (EBs) and are susceptible to cellular differentiation in response to retinoic acid (RA) and teratoma formation. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to disrupt the endogenous α-cat gene in P19 cells, we generated α-cat knockout (KO) cells that exhibited a loss of cell-cell contact. When cultivated on non-coated dishes, these α-cat KO cells formed EBs, but their structures were labile. In the RA-containing medium, the α-cat KO EBs failed to produce differentiated cells on their outer layer and continued to express SSEA-1, an antigen specific to pluripotent cells. Teratoma formation assays revealed an absence of overt differentiated cells in tumors derived from α-cat KO P19 cells. Aggregation assays revealed the inability of the KO cells to colonize into the zona pellucida-denuded 8-cell embryos. These findings suggest that the AJs are essential for promoting the early stages of cellular differentiation and for the colonization of early-developing embryos.

The Optejet Technology Minimizes Preservative-Mediated Cytotoxicity of Conjunctival Epithelial Cells Treated with Latanoprost In Vitro.

Purpose: Benzalkonium chloride (BAK) is a commonly used preservative to maintain sterility for multiuse eye drops such as latanoprost. One option to minimize the deleterious effects of BAK in eye drops may be to reduce the volume administered. The aim of this study was to assess the response of cells from the ocular surface to latanoprost+BAK administered by the Optejet technology, which dispenses a microdose (∼8 µL) ophthalmical spray. Methods: Cultured human conjunctival epithelial cells were exposed to the following treatments: (1) no treatment, (2) drop form of latanoprost without BAK (∼35 µL), (3) drop form of latanoprost with 0.01% BAK (∼35 µL), (4) ophthalmical spray form of latanoprost with 0.01% BAK delivered by the Optejet technology (∼8 µL). After 5 h, cells were assessed for changes in cytotoxicity, morphology, and inflammatory marker expression. Results: Latanoprost+BAK delivered by a drop induced cytotoxicity, cytoplasmic shrinkage, and loss of cell-cell contact, and expression of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 and interleukin-6. In contrast, latanoprost+BAK delivered by the Optejet technology was both well tolerated and similar to no treatment controls and BAK-free latanoprost treatment. Conclusions: A microdose of latanoprost+BAK ophthalmical spray administered with the Optejet technology prevented the cytotoxicity associated with larger volumes found in eye drops. Precision dosing by the Optejet technology has the potential to decrease ocular surface disorder typically associated with eye drops containing preservatives.

Effects of Contact Loss at Electrolyte/Negative Electrode Interface on Current Density Distribution in Solid-State Batteries

Cyclic volume changes and non-uniform electrodeposition/stripping, among other cycling-induced chemo-mechanical degradation of lithium metal and lithium-alloy solid state batteries, lead to contact loss between the anode and the solid electrolyte separator. Operando experiments have shown accelerated short-circuiting behavior due to contact loss in “anode-free” solid-state batteries. Simulations have shown the relationship between active area fraction and the ratio of effective conductivities in regular-shape active area configurations. Through modeling experiments using imputed active contact area of lithium-metal negative electrode batteries, we quantify the effects of this contact loss. Specifically, we (1) quantify the interfacial resistance due to this contact loss, (2) show non-uniform local current density distribution such that evaluation of what area fraction has current exceeding critical current densities is possible, and (3) show non-uniform reaction distribution at the positive electrode. This work sheds light on the tradeoffs in the design of solid state batteries within the context of contact loss.

Design and performance analysis of carbon brush collector ring end-face contact for hydro generator

Abstract In hydro generators, the conventional radial contact method often results in unstable contact between carbon brush collector rings due to collector ring deflection. This paper presents a novel end-face contact method designed to enhance stability. The trajectory equations of the brush/ring contact are established when the collector ring swings and the “loss of contact” gaps of the two contact methods are compared. Further comparative analysis is conducted on the current-carrying friction wear of carbon brushes and collector rings in two contact modes. The results show that compared with the radial contact method, the brush/ring in the end-face contact method has a smaller gap and shorter time, the carbon brushes are less susceptible to spark erosion, the increase in friction coefficient and wear rate is small, and the contact resistance is lower and more stable. Scanning electron microscope analysis also shows that the spark erosion on the surface of the carbon brushes in the end contact mode is significantly weaker than that in the radial contact mode.

Solidarity, marginalised groups, and COVID-19 lockdowns: censoriousness and penal exceptionalism in Norwegian and Danish prisons during the pandemic

Some of the most marginalised and exposed populations during the COVID-19 pandemic have been those incarcerated in penal institutions. In the present article we compare how Norway and Denmark handled the pandemic in their prison systems and analyse these efforts through the lens of how the authorities tried to invoke specific national cultures of social solidarity during the crisis. In both countries we find that increased isolation, inactivity, lack of information, and loss of trust and contact with the outside world aggravated the prison experience. However, in Norway a bigger effort was made, compared to Denmark, to lower the prison population, as well as to create possibilities for maintaining contact with friends and families through video-visits. We then analyse the pandemic prison policies in the context of how both governments through very specific national terminologies appealed to an alleged community spirit. We examine the role and situation of prisoners in connection with these national and cultural projects of social solidarity, and find that in several cases prisoners reacted to the restrictive pandemic regimes by displaying a censorious attitude towards prison staff and authorities much in the manner originally described by Thomas Mathiesen (1965). Prisoners, in other words, held the authorities accountable to their call for community spirit and the values of social solidarity they claimed to represent. This also raises a question concerning the degree to which Danish and Norwegian policies and practices live up to the notion of Nordic penal exceptionalism, or whether the crisis unveiled different penal values.

Impact of Self-Assembled Monolayer Structural Design on Perovskite Phase Regulation, Hole-Selective Contact, and Energy Loss in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Recent studies have shown that self-assembled molecule (SAM)-based hole-selective contacts (HSCs) offer a promising solution to the challenges faced by perovskite solar cells (PVSCs), including minimal material consumption, scalable production, high interface stability, and the use of environmentally friendly solvents. In this study, the efficacy of two designs of SAMs (Cz and PA) as HSCs in inverted PVSCs was investigated by comparing them with the conventional MeO-2PACz (MeO) SAM. Surface analyses showed that the surface of PA is smoother than that of Cz, which helps to reduce interfacial defects. Subsequent perovskite deposition exhibited a reduced formation of the PbI2 phase, incidiating that its phase modulation ability is superior to that of MeO. Further analyses demonstrate the superior charge extraction ability of PA as a result of reduced interfacial defects and non-radiative recombination at the HSC/perovskite interface. By further coupling with phenethylammonium iodide (PEAI) surface passivation, both interfaces of the perovskite film were optimized and the inverted ((FAPbI3)0.85(MAPbBr3)0.15)0.95(CsPbI3)0.05 (bandgap = 1.62eV) PVSC achieves a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.3% and a very high open-circuit voltage of 1.227V due to the largely reduced energy loss. In addition, the PA PVSC exhibits enhanced long-term thermal stability at 85°C in a nitrogen atmosphere.

Prevalence of Decay and Tooth Condition Changes Adjacent to Restored Dental Implants: A Retrospective Radiographic Study.

This study examined the association between a dental implant and changes in adjacent teeth over time. Electronic health records of 1818 patients who received a dental implant were retrospectively evaluated over 14 years (2005-2019) in a university setting. The status of the adjacent tooth and vertical and horizontal distance from the implant platform to adjacent teeth were determined using digital intraoral radiographs taken at baseline and the last follow-up visit (1-14 years, median 4 years). In total, 1085 dental implants were evaluated. There were 234 instances of a change in the adjacent tooth. Decay was observed in 83 (7.6%) of adjacent teeth; the mean time to development was 4 years (range 1-14 years). Approximately 9% of adjacent teeth received direct restorations, 4.8% received indirect restorations, 1% received endodontic root canal treatment, and 5.6% were extracted. The mean horizontal distance between the implant platform and the adjacent teeth was 3.56 mm; the mean vertical distance from the contact point to the alveolar crest on the tooth side was 6.2 mm at the first time of the reported decay on X ray. These distances did not significantly influence the occurrence of caries. The prevalence of interproximal contact loss was higher on the mesial of the implant crown at 63% compared with 20% on the distal side. This large retrospective analysis identified that teeth adjacent to a dental implant were at risk of decay and changes in their condition. In addition, the implant-to-tooth distance and inadequate emergence profile may contribute as caries risk factors in addition to hygiene and a high sugar level diet. These findings appear essential for clinicians when making treatment decisions and discussing outcomes with patients.

High-efficiency and thermally stable FACsPbI3 perovskite photovoltaics.

α-FA1-xCsxPbI3 is a promising absorber material for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs)1,2. However, the most efficient α-FA1-xCsxPbI3 PSCs require the inclusion of methylammonium chloride (MACl) additive3,4, which generates volatile organic residues (i.e., MA) that limit device stability at elevated temperatures5. To date, the highest certified power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of α-FA1-xCsxPbI3 PSCs without MACl was only ~24% (ref.6,7), and has yet to exhibit any stability advantages. Here, we identify interfacial contact loss caused by the Cs+ accumulation for the conventional α-FA1-xCsxPbI3 PSCs, which deteriorates the device performance and stability. Through in-situ GIWAXS analysis and DFT calculations, we demonstrate an intermediate phase-assisted crystallization pathway enabled by acetate surface coordination to fabricate high-quality α-FA1-xCsxPbI3 film, without using MA-additive. We herein report a certified stabilized power output (SPO) efficiency of 25.94% and a reverse-scanning PCE of 26.64% for α-FA1-xCsxPbI3 PSCs, exhibiting negligible contact losses and enhanced operational stability. The devices retain >95% of their initial PCEs after over 2,000 hours operating at maximum power point under 1 sun, 85 °C, and 60% relative humidity (ISOS-L-3).

Is Microporous Carbon Confined Nano Si Composite the Best Anode Choice for High-Energy-Density Lithium-Ion Batteries?

Microporous carbon confined nano silicon composites (Si/m-C) are considered to be the best anode materials for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries compared with the other Si-based materials such as SiO, due to high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and capacity, as well as good cycling stability. However, there is a lack of multilevel comprehensive evaluation of Si/m-C, which poses potential risks to the commercial application. Herein, combined with quantitative titration, mechanical characterization, and bulk/interface evolution analysis, a systematic evolution of commercialized Si/m-C from the particle level to the cylindrical cell level is conducted, revealing the decay mechanism and proposing corresponding solutions. Among them, it is well demonstrated that the Si/m-C still withstands huge volume expansion of over 200% with poor mechanical strength, causing the electrical contact loss of active LixSi and severe interfacial side reactions. Moreover, even blending more than 90% graphite cannot completely suppress its volumetric strain, and the combination of highly flexible single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) is necessary. In response to this, the 32700-type cylindrical cell with a designed capacity of 9.5 Ah is assembled by mixing Si/m-C with 90% graphite and SWCNT as anode, achieving a long-term cycling stability over 300 cycles at 0.5C with a capacity retention of 94.8%.

A multiscale model to understand the interface chemistry, contacts, and dynamics during lithium stripping

A reversible Li-metal electrode, paired with a solid electrolyte, is critical for attaining higher energy density and safer batteries beyond the current lithium-ion cells. A stable stripping process may be even harder to attain as the stripping process will remove Li-atoms from the surface, and naturally reduce surface contact area, if not self-corrected by other mechanisms, such as diffusion and plastic deformation under an applied external stack pressure. Here, we capture these mechanisms occurring at multiple length- and time- scales, i.e., interface interactions, vacancy hopping, and plastic deformation, by integrating density functional theory (DFT) simulations, kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC), and continuum finite element method (FEM). By assuming the self-affine nature of multiscale contacts, we predict the steady-state contact area as a function of stripping current density, interface wettability, and stack pressure. We further estimate the exponential increase of overpotential due to contact area loss to maintain the same stripping current density. We demonstrate that a lithiophilic interface requires less stack pressure to reach the same steady-state contact area fraction than a lithiophobic interface. A “tolerable steady-state” contact area loss for maintaining stable stripping is estimated at 20 %, corresponding to a 10 % increase in overpotential. To constrain contact loss within the tolerance, the required stack pressure is 0.1, 0.5, and 2 times the yield strength of lithium metal for three distinct interfaces, lithiophilic Li/lithium oxide(Li2O), Li/lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide(LLZO), and lithiophoblic Li/lithium fluoride(LiF), respectively. The modeling results agree with experiments on the impact of the stack pressure quantitatively, while the discrepancy in stripping rate sensitivity is attributed to the simplifying interface interaction in our simulations. Overall, this multiscale simulation framework demonstrates the importance of electrochemical-mechanical coupling in understanding the dynamics of the Li/SE interface during stripping.

Role of grain-level chemo-mechanics in composite cathode degradation of solid-state lithium batteries

Solid-state Li-ion batteries, based on Ni-rich oxide cathodes and Li-metal anodes, can theoretically reach a high specific energy of 393 Wh kg−1 and hold promise for electrochemical storage. However, Li intercalation-induced dimensional changes can lead to crystal defect formation in these cathodes, and contact mechanics problems between cathode and solid electrolyte. Understanding the interplay between cathode microstructure, operating conditions, micromechanics of battery materials, and capacity decay remains a challenge. Here, we present a microstructure-sensitive chemo-mechanical model to study the impact of grain-level chemo-mechanics on the degradation of composite cathodes. We reveal that crystalline anisotropy, state-of-charge-dependent Li diffusion rates, and lattice dimension changes drive dislocation formation in cathodes and contact loss at the cathode/electrolyte interface. These dislocations induce large lattice strain and trigger oxygen loss and structural degradation preferentially near the surface area of cathode particles. Moreover, contact loss is caused by the micromechanics resulting from the crystalline anisotropy of cathodes and the mechanical properties of solid electrolytes, not just operating conditions. These findings highlight the significance of grain-level cathode microstructures in causing cracking, formation of crystal defects, and chemo-mechanical degradation of solid-state batteries.

Progressive Loss of Sensitivity to Electrical Stimulation After Cochlear Implantation in X-Linked Incomplete Partition Type III Deafness.

Patients with X-linked incomplete partition type III (IP3) deafness treated with cochlear implants exhibit higher "Most Comfortable Loudness" (MCL) levels of stimulation and more electrode deactivation than patients with normal morphology. We endeavored to analyze the progression of the MCL levels and electrode deactivation over time and assess those factors that could have led to deactivation. Furthermore, we aimed to assess whether speech perception was affected by a progressive loss of neural contact. All 13 patients with the IP3 malformation in our clinical database were analyzed retrospectively with regard to impedance, stimulation levels, deactivated electrodes, and speech perception. A control group of patients with normal anatomy was included. MCL levels increased over time by 2.5 charge units (qu) per year, which was not seen in the control group. Electrode deactivation was more common in IP3 malformation, and it was estimated that 25% of electrodes would be deactivated by 15 years of age. Impedance was stable but higher in the study population. Speech perception was lower in IP3 malformation generally and was correlated to the number of deactivated electrodes. Patients diagnosed with IP3 malformation deafness may suffer a greater risk of cochlear implant discontinuation compared with those with normal anatomy. A progressive loss of sensitivity to electrical stimulation may indicate a form of neural degradation in the abnormal cochlea. With time, patients in this group, even with cochlear implant technology, may experience gradual deterioration of speech perception. This has clinical implications for the counseling of parents.

Protein Supplement Tolerability and Patient Satisfaction after Bariatric Surgery

PurposeDisproportional fat-free mass loss often occurs post-bariatric surgery, partly due to insufficient protein intake during the post-surgery recovery phase. We compared five protein-enhancing strategies (PES) on patient tolerability, satisfaction and protein intake.Materials and MethodsNinety-four participants, scheduled for bariatric surgery, were enrolled and allocated to either of the following: (1) whey powder, (2) hydrolysed collagen powder, (3) plant-based powder, (4) protein-rich products, (5) protein gel, or control. PES groups were instructed to add 30 g of powder or 2 gels or protein products to their diet. Patient satisfaction and tolerability were evaluated with questionnaires. Dietary intake was assessed prior to and during PES use.ResultsSeven patients dropped out (i.e. loss of contact, personal reasons or post-surgery complications) yielding an analytical cohort of 87 participants. The majority of patients (61%) did not experience dietary complaints from PES and could use PES ≥ 5 days of the week. PES non-usage was mainly related to taste dislike (58%). Hydrolysed collagen scored highest on tolerability and satisfaction: 86% of the participants could use HC ≥ 5 days and 71% were satisfied with the product. PES increased protein intake from 54.7 ± 21.5 g/day to 64.7 ± 23.4 g/day during the intervention (p = 0.002), which differed from the control group (+ 10.1 ± 24.5 g/day vs. − 6.3 ± 23.8 g/day for controls, p = 0.019). Whey showed the highest increase, namely + 18.3 ± 16.3 g/day (p = 0.009).ConclusionPES were tolerated by the majority of participants, and an improved protein intake with PES use was seen. However, the taste of the products could be improved to further enhance satisfaction and tolerability.Graphical