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Fumion (FAA3) is a predominant anion exchange membrane/ionomer (AEM/AEI) widely used in energy storage and energy conversion applications. However, its physicochemical stability and electrochemical performance are still quite low for profitable commercialization. Improving the properties of Fumion membrane via the addition of nanofillers or polymer blends is not being widely studied so far. Therefore, in this study, the Fumion membrane with different wt% of graphene oxide (GO) nanofiller was widely investigated for the fuel cell application. The obtained results indicated that water uptake, ionic conductivity, water contact angle, ion exchange capacity, physicochemical stability, and single-cell performance was improved by the incorporation of GO. Notably, the Fumion/GO nanocomposite membrane with 1.08 wt% of GO reached the highest ionic conductivity of 106.83 mS cm−1 at 90 °C, whereas the pristine Fumion exhibited ionic conductivity of only 29.19 mS cm−1. On top of that, the composite membrane achieved a maximum peak power density of 132 mW/cm2 in an alkaline H 2 /O 2 fuel cell with robust open-circuit voltage (OCV) for 150 h. The overall study demonstrates that an appropriate amount of GO addition could result in a promising Fumion anion exchange membrane for electrolyte applications. [Display omitted] • Novel Fumion/GO nanocomposite membrane was prepared by simple solution casting method. • Addition of GO enhances the various properties of Fumion membrane. • Robust alkaline stability in 5 M NaOH over 200 h at 60 °C was observed. • Enhanced fuel cell performance and open circuit voltage maintain up to 150 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health care workers (HCWs), and in particular anesthesia providers, often must perform aerosol-generating medical procedures (AGMPs). However, no studies have analyzed droplet distributions on the bodies of HCWs during AGMPs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess and analyze droplet distributions on the bodies of HCWs during suction of oral cavities with and without oral airways and during extubations. Using a quasi-experiemental design, we assumed the HCWs perform suction and extubation on intubated patients, and we prepared an intubated mannequin mimicking a patient. This study performed the oral suction and extubation on the intubated mannequin (with or without oral airways in place) and analyzed the droplet distributions. We prepared a mannequin intubated with an 8.0 mm endotracheal tube, assuming the situation of general anesthesia. We designed the body mapping gown, and divided it into 10 areas including the head, neck, chest, abdomen, upper arms, forearms, and hands. We classified experiments into group O when suctions were performed on the mannequin with an oral airway, and into group X when the suctions were performed on the mannequin without an oral airway. An experienced board-certified anesthesiologist performed 10 oral suctions on each mannequin, and 10 extubations. We counted the droplets on the anesthesiologist's gown according to the divided areas after each procedure. The mean droplet count after suction was 6.20 ± 2.201 in group O and 13.6 ± 4.300 in group X, with a significant difference between the two groups (P <.001). The right and left hands were the most contaminated areas in group O (2.8 ± 1.033 droplets and 2.0 ± 0.943 droplets, respectively). The abdomen, right hand, left forearm, and left hand showed many droplets in group X. (1.3 ± 1.337 droplets, 3.1 ± 1.792 droplets, 3.2 ± 3.910 droplets, and 4.3 ± 2.214 droplets, respectively). The chest, abdomen, and left hand presented significantly more droplets in group X than in group O. The trunk area (chest and abdomen) was exposed to more droplets during extubations than during suctions. During suctions, more droplets are splattered from mannequins without oral airways than from those with oral airways. The right and left hands were the most contaminated areas in group O. Moreover, the abdomen, right hand, left forearm, and left hand presented a lot of droplets in group X. In addition, extubations contaminate wider areas (the head, neck, chest and abdomen) of an HCW than suctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Context: Although the surgical corridor used for oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) protects the intrapsoas nerves by causing minimal compression, transient weakness remains the most commonly reported postoperative complication.Purpose: Using a dynamometer to evaluate how the hip flexor strength changes following OLIF.Study Design/setting: A prospective observational study.Patient Sample: Forty-six patients who underwent single or multi-level OLIF for lumbar spondylolisthesis.Outcome Measures: Isokinetic dynamometer values (peak torque, total work, average power), visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for leg pain, hypoesthesia, subjective weakness of the left hip flexor muscle, Oswestry disability index, body mass index, bone mineral density, radiologic findings of the psoas muscle (cross-sectional area, Hounsfield unit (HU), fat portion grade), and psoas retraction time.Methods: The isokinetic muscle strength of the hip flexor was measured five times (preoperatively and postoperatively at 2 days, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months) for both legs. The peak torque was defined as the postoperative strength of the left hip flexor muscles, and was compared to the preoperative baseline value. The strength of the left and right hip flexor muscles were also compared at each time point. For logistic regression analysis, when the peak torque was below the median value, it was defined as lower peak torque.Results: Up to 1 week after surgery, the strength of the left hip flexor muscle decreased significantly (paired difference in peak torque was 22.6%, p<.001). In the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, diabetes (odds ratio [OR]=8.43, p=.020) and the HU of the psoas muscle (OR=0.916, p=.034) were associated with lower peak torque 1 week after surgery. From 1 month after surgery, postoperative weakness of the psoas muscle was not significant. In the questionnaire survey, subjective left hip flexion weakness was reported in 8.5% (4/47) of patients 1 week after surgery, and it remained in only 2.1% (1/47) of patients after 3 months of operation. The frequency of left anterior thigh pain and hypoesthesia decreased from 85.1% (40/47) at 1 week to 2.1% (1/47) at 3 months after surgery. The mean VAS score for left anterior thigh or groin pain decreased significantly at 1 month after surgery (PO2D: 4.04±1.84, PO1M: 1.67±1.10, p<.001).Conclusions: Dynamometer measurement showed that psoas strength declined significantly up to 1 week after OLIF surgery. Patients with diabetes or lower HU of the psoas muscle showed delayed recovery from postoperative weakness of the psoas muscle. However, the weakness was insignificant from 1 month after surgery. At 3 months after surgery, the other psoas-related problems (left anterior thigh pain and hypoesthesia) also disappeared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of highly stable and efficient oxide-based red phosphors is urgently required for next-generation lighting devices. Herein, we report the micro/crystal structures and luminescent properties of single-phase Eu 2 (WO 4) 3 and Eu3+-doped WO 3 -Eu 2 (WO 4) 3 composite phosphors prepared by a one-step conventional solid-state reaction method in air atmosphere. As increasing Eu contents in the mixtures of WO 3 and Eu 2 O 3 , the intensities of the X-ray diffraction peaks of Eu 2 (WO 4) 3 increased while that of WO 3 decreased. The photoluminescence intensity of the synthesized phosphors increased with increase in the Eu content when calcined at 900 °C, while it degraded at a higher temperature. Red-emitting single-phase Eu 2 (WO 4) 3 powders were successfully obtained when the WO 3 and Eu 2 O 3 powders were calcined in the ratio of 3:1. The intensity of the red emission spectra of the Eu 2 (WO 4) 3 phosphor was higher than those of the 6, 12, and 24 at.% Eu-added WO 3 composites at excitation wavelengths of 394 and 465 nm. On the other hand, the intensity of emission from the single-phase phosphor was lower than that of the Eu-doped WO 3 -Eu 2 (WO 4) 3 composites under excitation of UV light at 254 nm. Thus, we propose two prospective phosphors for application as red phosphors at various wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]