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Abstract One of the most attractive features of solid oxide fuel cells is their flexibility for fuels so that internal reforming and/or simple external reforming may be possible. In this study, equilibria in various possible fuel gases are considered, and C–H–O diagrams are constructed. Power generation characteristics for these fuels are measured and compared with those for simulated reformed gas in equilibrium compositions. We have succeeded to demonstrate direct-alcohol SOFCs for e.g. methanol, ethanol, and propanol. Mixtures of CH4 and CO2 are used as simulated biogas, and iso-octane (C8H18) and n-dodecane (C12H26) are highlighted as simulated gasoline and kerosene, respectively. Influence of fuel impurities on power generation characteristics is also discussed.

Patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after Mycoplasma pneumoniaeinfection often have antibodies to galactocerebroside (GalC). Electrodiagnosis may show acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP).

Two patients with acute facial diplegia and hyperreflexia are described. Both patients had serologic evidence of preceding Campylobacter jejuniinfection and antiganglioside IgG antibodies as well as other laboratory and electrophysiologic findings suggesting Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). IV immunoglobulin produced recovery. Hyperreflexia does not necessarily exclude the diagnosis of a GBS variant. Antiganglioside antibodies can help with diagnosis in difficult cases.

The authors monitored CSF findings for over 5 months in a patient with a fatal case of scleromyxedema and two episodes of encephalopathy. During both encephalopathy episodes, CSF protein and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were elevated without an increased IgG index or IgG synthesis rate. A CSF-dominant increase in the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) also was noted during encephalopathy. These findings suggest a disruption of the blood-brain barrier and that IL-6 may play some role in mediating the encephalopathy.

A 59 year old man with prostatic carcinoma developed epidural compression of the cauda equina caused by bony expansion from a vertebral osteoblastic metastasis. For medical reasons he could not undergo radiation or surgery. Hormonal therapy alone relieved his low back pain and restored ambulation and urinary function. Postmyelography CT showed that the bony expansion from the vertebra had completely disappeared after treatment. This is the first report of remarkable improvement due to hormonal therapy alone.

The influence of H2Sfuel impurity on power generation characteristics of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has been analyzed by measuring cell voltage at a constant current density, as a function of H2Sconcentration, operational temperature, and fuel gas composition. Reversible cell voltage change was observed around 1000°C, while fatal irreversible degradation occurred at a lower operational temperature, at a higher H2Sconcentration, and at a lower fuel H2∕COratio. Sulfur tolerance of SOFCs was improved by using Sc2O3-doped ZrO2instead of Y2O3-doped ZrO2as electrolyte and/or as electrolyte component in the anode cermets. It has been found that H2Spoisoning consists of at least two stages, i.e., an initial cell voltage drop within a short time period to a metastable cell voltage, followed by a gradual larger cell voltage drop. Possible H2Spoisoning processes are discussed.