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Applying anodic potential can be an efficient way to re-activate the perovskite oxide surface by incorporating the surface dopant precipitates into the perovskite phase.

Bevacizumab is the only agent that many people can afford, yet there are only limited data on whether it improves macular oedema (MO) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in real-world clinical practice. Here we studied 12-month real-world treatment outcomes of bevacizumab for RVO-related MO.This was a multicentre, observational study analysing 12-month data from the Fight Retinal Blindness! (FRB) database. We studied treatment-naïve eyes with MO secondary to RVO commencing bevacizumab therapy between June 2009 and June 2019. Visual acuity (VA) and central subfield thickness (CST) were measured at baseline, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was a change in VA from baseline to 12 months.Two hundred and twenty treatment naive eyes were analyzed. The baseline VA for BRVO was better than CRVO (55.8 vs. 42.6 LogMAR letters) and this gap widened over the 12-month period, with a 12-month VA change of +14.0 (95% CI 11.1, 16.8) letters for BRVO and + 11.9 (95% CI 6.4, 17.4) for CRVO. The mean CST at baseline was 511 μm for BRVO and 627 μm for CRVO, falling at 12 months by -155 μm (-190, -121) in BRVO and -198 μm (-252, -145) in CRVO. The median number of injections for BRVO and CRVO completers was 7 (5, 9).Bevacizumab can be an effective treatment of RVO-MO in a real-world setting with outcomes approaching those reported by the seminal clinical trials. The functional and anatomical outcomes of intravitreal therapy were better for BRVO than CRVO.

This article explores the use of mens rea terms in the criminal general part. We contend the current law fails properly to conceptualise mens rea for a large category of offences, namely bespoke/substantive inchoate offences, attempt, conspiracy, assisting and encouraging, and the general offence of complicity. These offences involve two conduct events: one in the present and one in future. However, current mens rea terms are defined as if applied to the more conventional category of criminal offence which only involves present conduct—a practice which we term the ‘present-fault paradigm’. We explore the limits of current mens rea terms, defined for present-conduct targets (circumstances and results), when applied to future-conduct ulterior targets within inchoate and complicity offences. We contend that current mens rea definitions and analysis within the general part are inappropriate for targeting elements related to future conduct/offending, and we suggest more appropriate bases for conceptualising such mens rea.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in imminent shortages of personal protective equipment such as face masks. To address the shortage, new sterilization or decontamination procedures for masks are quickly being developed and employed. Dry heat and steam sterilization processes are easily scalable and allow treatment of large sample sizes, thus potentially presenting fast and efficient decontamination routes, which could significantly ease the rapidly increasing need for protective masks globally during a pandemic like COVID-19. In this study, a suite of structural and chemical characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman were utilized to probe the heat treatment impact on commercially available 3M 8210 N95 Particulate Respirator and VWR Advanced Protection surgical mask. Unique to this study is the use of the synchrotron-based In situ and Operando Soft X-ray Spectroscopy (IOS) beamline (23-ID-2) housed at the National Synchrotron Light Source II at Brookhaven National Laboratory for near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (NEXAFS). © 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.

Exsolution generates stable and catalytically active metal nanoparticles via phase precipitation out of a host oxide. An ability to control the size and dispersion of the exsolution particles is desirable for design of nanostructured (electro)catalysts. Here, we demonstrate that tuning point defects by lattice strain affects both the thermodynamics and the kinetics of iron (Feo) exsolution on La0.6Sr0.4FeO3 (LSF) thin film model. By combining in situ surface characterization and ab initio defect modeling, we show oxygen vacancy and Schottky defects to be the primary point defects formed upon Feo exsolution. Lattice strain tunes the formation energy, and thus the abundance of these defects, and alters the amount and size of the resulting exsolution particles. In addition, we find that the density of exsolved nanoparticles matches the concentration of oxygen vacancy pairs, thus pointing to the surface oxygen vacancy pairs as preferential nucleation sites for exsolution. The tensile-strained LSF with a facile formation of these critical point defects results in a higher Feo metal concentration, a larger density of nanoparticles, and a reduced particle size at its surfaces. These results provide important mechanistic insights and highlight the role of point-defect engineering in designing nanostructured catalysts in energy and fuel conversion technologies.

To analyze the 3-year outcomes in a broad population of patients starting VEGF inhibitors for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in routine clinical practice.Observational database study.Overall, 527 treatment-naïve CRVO eyes that commenced VEGF inhibitors between December 1, 2010 and 2018 were tracked in the Fight Retinal Blindness! registry.Longitudinal models were used to plot changes in visual acuity (VA) and central subfield thickness (CST).Mean change in VA from baseline to 36 months, injections, visits, completion, switching, and suspensions of therapy180 days at the final review.Overall (527 eyes) mean VA change (95% confidence interval [CI]) was + 10 (7, 12) letters, 37% had final VA ≥ 70 and 30% ≤ 35 letters, mean CST changed -306 μm. Completers (257/527, 49%) had mean 36-month changes in VA and CST of + 12 letters and -324 μm with a median of 18 injections at 26 visits. The adjusted mean VA change was similar to each VEGF inhibitor (mean, + 11.4 letters) despite a greater reduction in CST with aflibercept (-310 μm) versus ranibizumab (-258 μm) versus bevacizumab (-216 μm; P0.001). Eyes with baseline VA that was trial-eligible (19-73 letters; 356/527, 68%) gained 7 letters, very poor (19 letters; 129/527, 24%) gained 22 letters, or very good (73 letters; 42/527, 8%) lost 7 letters. Switching (160/527, 30%) was most often to aflibercept (79 eyes). By using suspensions and discontinuation reasons, we identified similar proportions had ceased therapy (154/527, 29%) and were still receiving it at 36 months (165/527, 31%). Only 62/527 eyes (12%) had resolution of macular edema without treatment for6 months.Patients with CRVO that commenced VEGF inhibitors in routine care for whom follow-up was available had VA improvements of around 12 letters at 3 years, but with50% lost to follow-up, the VA outcome for the entire group was likely worse. The choice of VEGF inhibitor influenced CST but not VA outcomes. We estimated that around half of the eyes were still receiving injections after 36 months.Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Curved crystals are a simple but powerful approach to bridge the gap between single crystal surfaces and nanoparticle catalysts, by allowing a rational assessment of the role of active step sites in gas-surface reactions. Using a curved Rh(111) crystal, here, we investigate the effect of A-type (square geometry) and B-type (triangular geometry) atomic packing of steps on the catalytic CO oxidation on Rh at millibar pressures. Imaging the crystal during reaction ignition with laser-induced CO2 fluorescence demonstrates a two-step process, where B-steps ignite at lower temperature than A-steps. Such fundamental dissimilarity is explained in ambient pressure X-ray photoemission (AP-XPS) experiments, which reveal partial CO desorption and oxygen buildup only at B-steps. AP-XPS also proves that A-B step asymmetries extend to the active stage: at A-steps, low-active O–Rh–O trilayers buildup immediately after ignition, while highly active chemisorbed O is the dominant species on B-type steps. We conclude that B-steps are more efficient than A-steps for the CO oxidation., We acknowledge financial support from Grant Nos. PID2020-116093RB-C44 and PID2019-107338RB-C6-3, funded by the Spanish MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”, the Basque Government (Grant No. IT-1591-22), Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) project “Atomistic design of new catalysts” (Project No. KAW2015.0058), the Swedish Research Council (Project No. 2018-03434), the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (Project No. ITM17-0045), the Å Forsk Foundation, and the Crafoord Foundation. This research used resources of the 23-ID-2 (IOS) beamline of the National Synchrotron Light Source II, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Brookhaven National Laboratory, under Contract No. DE-SC0012704. Part of these experiments were performed at Circe beamline at ALBA Synchrotron with the collaboration of ALBA staff., Open Access funding is provided by the University of the Basque Country.

Reconstructing the paleoenvironment of Na Duong Basin by using coproecology is significant in understanding the intensive prey-predator relationships, the tropic relationship and the ecosystem evolution within the paleo-locality. A total of 55 measurable coprolites (IVPP V 27941/1 till IVPP V 27491/55) and numerous coprolite fragments from Na Duong fossil site were examined in this study. The putative coprolites were assigned to a crocodilian producer. Ichnosystematic studies further erected a new ichnogenus and species, which is Crococopros naduongensis ichnogen. et ichnosp. nov. for IVPP V 27491/46, based on a set of derived characters. Apart from quantitative analyses, a multi-disciplinary approach was also utilised for biogeochemistry analyses. The study has provided a rare and unique snapshot into the past where we believe an ancient river or lake-like environment has most likely existed in Na Duong Basin and was dominated by crocodilian fauna. We deemed that the Na Duong food chain was indeed ideal and healthy for the survival of the crocodilian species during that particular period of time with sufficient food sources. In addition, the study showed tangible evidence of the richness of ichnofauna, fauna, flora, the suitable climate, and paleoenvironment that supported Na Duong Basin as a fossil-Lagerstätte of Southeast Asia.

Rationally tuning the local structures of single-atomic active sites for the electrocatalytic N2 reduction reaction (NRR) remains an urgent but worthwhile research topic. Herein, we accomplish the ...

We used a combination of ultra-high vacuum surface science techniques, X-ray spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and density functional theory (DFT) to characterize the influence of catalyst morphology...

Purpose To report long-term changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes receiving vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors for various retinal conditions over 12 and 24 months in routine clinical practice. Design Retrospective analysis of data from a prospectively designed observational outcomes registry, the Fight Retinal Blindness! Project. Participants Treatment-naive eyes receiving monotherapy with VEGF inhibitors (ranibizumab [0.5 mg], aflibercept [2 mg], or bevacizumab [1 mg]) with at least 3 injections from December 2013 through December 31, 2018, and at least 12 months of follow-up. Methods Intraocular pressure was measured at each clinical visit for all eyes as part of routine practice. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome was the mean change in IOP (in millimeters of mercury) at 12 months. The following secondary IOP outcome measures were investigated at 12 and 24 months: (1) mean change in IOP from baseline and (2) proportion of clinically significant IOP increase defined as an elevation of at least 6 mmHg to an IOP of more than 21 mmHg at any point during the follow-up. Results We identified 3429 treatment-naive eyes (395 receiving bevacizumab, 1138 receiving aflibercept, and 1896 receiving ranibizumab) with complete IOP data from 3032 patients with 12 months of follow-up data, of which 2125 (62%) had 24 months of follow-up data. The overall mean IOP change was –0.5 mmHg (95% confidence interval CI, –0.6 to –0.3 mmHg) at 12 months and –0.4 mmHg (95% CI, –0.6 to –0.3 mmHg) at 24 months, whereas the proportions of clinically significant IOP increases were 5.6% and 8.8%, respectively. A lower mean IOP change and fewer IOP elevations at 12 and 24 months was observed in eyes receiving aflibercept than in those receiving bevacizumab and ranibizumab (P ≤ 0.01 for both comparisons at each time point and outcome). Eyes with pre-existing glaucoma demonstrated more IOP increases over 12 and 24 months (odds ratio [OR], 2.2 [95% CI, 1.2–3.8; P = 0.012] and 2.1 [95% CI, 1.1–3.8; P = 0.025], respectively). Conclusions Mean IOP did not change significantly from baseline to 12 and 24 months in eyes receiving VEGF inhibitors, whereas clinically significant IOP elevations occurred in a small proportion of eyes. Aflibercept was associated with fewer clinically significant IOP elevations, whereas eyes with pre-existing glaucoma were at a higher risk.

This review assessed the real-world evidence of the management of macular oedema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). A meta-analysis of 2530 eyes from 48 real-world studies of therapies for macular oedema secondary to BRVO was conducted. Baseline characteristics, visual, anatomical and safety outcomes were recorded. The weighted mean and weighted estimates from random-effects models were calculated for visual acuity (VA) and central subfield thickness (CST) changes at 6, 12 and 24 months. Primary outcome was change in VA (logMAR letters) at 12 months. Study quality was assessed using the quality appraisal checklist for case series developed by Institute of Health Economics. The mean baseline VA for the pooled data was 54.0 (51.5, 56.5) letters and the mean baseline CST was 501.3 (483.5, 519.1) µm. The random-effects estimate for mean (95% CI) change in VA was 14.6 (12.5, 16.7) letters at 12 months (n = 1727). The random-effects estimate for mean (95% CI) change in CST was -181.7 (-230.7, -132.7) µm at 12 months (n = 1325). The quality of studies varied considerably. Ocular and systemic adverse events were discussed in 79% and 42% of treatment arms respectively, with possible under-reporting. Visual and anatomical gains achieved in the real-world for anti-VEGF therapy were not as impressive as seminal RCTs, possibly due to reduced injection frequency in the real world and differences in baseline characteristics. There is an urgent need for consensus on the minimum efficacy, treatment burden and safety data to collect to strengthen the real-world evidence base.摘要: 本文评估了视网膜分支静脉阻塞 (branch retinal vein occlusion, BRVO) 继发黄斑水肿的真实世界治疗证据。我们对来自48项BRVO继发黄斑水肿治疗研究的2530只眼进行了荟萃分析, 记录了基线特征、视力、解剖及安全性结果。另外于6、12、24个月时分别计算随机效应模型的视觉敏锐度 (visual acuity, VA) 和黄斑中心区视网膜厚度 (central subfield thickness, CST) 加权平均值及加权估计值的变化。研究的主要疗效指标为12个月时VA(logMAR 字母数)的改变。研究质量采用卫生经济学研究所开发的病例系列质量评估表进行评估。数据集中后平均基线视力为54.0 个(51.5, 56.5)字母, CST平均基线为501.3 (483.5, 519.1) µm。随机效应估计在第12个月 (n = 1727) 时VA平均 (95% CI) 变化的字母数为14.6 (12.5, 16.7) 个字母, 在12个月 (n = 1325) 时随机效应估计CST平均 (95% CI) 变化的值为-181.7 (−230.7, −132.7) µm。这些研究的质量差异很大。分别有79%和42%的治疗组讨论了眼部和全身不良反应, 但可能存在漏报。抗VEGF疗效在真实世界中视力和解剖方面的预后不如随机对照试验, 可能是由于真实世界中注射频率降低以及在基线特征方面存在差异。如今迫切需要在收集最低疗效、治疗负担和安全性数据上达成共识, 以便加强现实世界的证据基础。.

The reaction of CO and O2 with submonolayer and multilayer CoOx films on Pt(111), to produce CO2, was investigated at room temperature in the mTorr pressure regime. Using operando ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high pressure scanning tunneling microscopy, as well as density functional theory calculations, we found that the presence of oxygen vacancies in partially oxidized CoOx films significantly enhances the CO oxidation activity to form CO2 upon exposure to mTorr pressures of CO at room temperature. In contrast, CoO films without O-vacancies are much less active for CO2 formation at RT, and CO only adsorbed in the form of carbonate species that are stable up to 260 °C. On submonolayer CoOx islands, the carbonates form preferentially at island edges, deactivating the edge sites for CO2 formation, even while the reaction proceeds inside the islands. These results provide a detailed understanding of CO oxidation pathways on systems where noble metals such as Pt interact with reducible oxides.

The reducibility of metal oxides, when they serve as the catalyst support or are the active sites themselves, plays an important role in heterogeneous catalytic reactions. Here we present an integr...

This article examines approaches to reforming the mens rea of inchoate offences, focusing in particular on recently published proposals of the Irish Law Reform Commission, and contrasting them with very different recommendations recently adopted by the English Law Commission. Both sets of proposals recommend a departure from the orthodox position which is that for a defendant to be liable for an inchoate offence they must intend that the full offence be committed. In recommending a departure from that approach, each Commission’s proposal involves an expansion of the scope of inchoate criminal liability, though, the Irish Commission goes considerably further in this regard. In exploring the Commissions’ proposals, we are concerned to identify and evaluate the implications of the approaches they suggest. We argue that deciding what the mens rea of inchoate offences should be requires a clear conception of what the wrong is that is inherent in these offences which it is proposed to criminalise. Furthermore, any culpability framework must be rational and coherent, and therefore must consistently accord with whatever wrong it is claimed inchoate liability is there to penalise.

Unlike the wide-ranging dynamic control of electrical conductivity, there does not exist an analogous ability to tune thermal conductivity by means of electric potential. The traditional picture assumes that atoms inserted into a material’s lattice act purely as a source of scattering for thermal carriers, which can only reduce thermal conductivity. In contrast, here we show that the electrochemical control of oxygen and proton concentration in an oxide provides a new ability to bi-directionally control thermal conductivity. On electrochemically oxygenating the brownmillerite SrCoO2.5 to the perovskite SrCoO3–δ, the thermal conductivity increases by a factor of 2.5, whereas protonating it to form hydrogenated SrCoO2.5 effectively reduces the thermal conductivity by a factor of four. This bi-directional tuning of thermal conductivity across a nearly 10 ± 4-fold range at room temperature is achieved by using ionic liquid gating to trigger the ‘tri-state’ phase transitions in a single device. We elucidated the effects of these anionic and cationic species, and the resultant changes in lattice constants and lattice symmetry on thermal conductivity by combining chemical and structural information from X-ray absorption spectroscopy with thermoreflectance thermal conductivity measurements and ab initio calculations. This ability to control multiple ion types, multiple phase transitions and electronic conductivity that spans metallic through to insulating behaviour in oxides by electrical means provides a new framework for tuning thermal transport over a wide range. Unlike dynamic control of electrical conductivity, tuning thermal conductivity by means of electric potential is challenging. Electrochemically induced phase transition control of oxygen and proton concentration in a SrCoOx oxide provides a way to tune bi-directionally thermal conductivity.

The deposition of cesium (Cs) onto the metallic and oxidized surfaces of Cu(111) was investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density func...

The cycling stability of LiCoO2 under high voltages (>4.5 V) was plagued by hybrid anion- and cation-redox (HACR) induced oxygen escape and uncontrolled phase collapse. With DEMS and in situ XANES mapping at the NSLS-II, we demonstrate that oxygen escape triggers irreversible transformations into “bad” surface phases that rapidly propagate inward. Enabling HACR but stopping global oxygen migration is key to a stable high-energy cathode. Therefore, we developed ∼10 μm single crystals with LiCoO2 in the bulk smoothly transitioning to Co-free LiMn0.75Ni0.25O2 at the surface. By means of initial electrochemical formation, a semi-coherent LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 spinel-like shell was established in operando with little oxygen loss to integrally wrap the LiCoO2 bulk. Then we obtained gradient-morph LiCoO2 single crystals to prevent the percolating migration of oxygen out of the particle and achieved enhanced HACR reversibility at high voltages. The gradient-morph HACR cathode undergoes substantially stabilized cycling when charged to above 4.6 V, and hence a stable cyclic volumetric energy density of >3400 W h L−1 has been achieved in a pouch full-cell coupled with a commercial graphite anode and lean electrolyte (2 g A h−1), exhibiting up to 2906 W h L−1 even after 300 cycles.

International audience; PURPOSE: To compare 12-month treatment outcomes of eyes receiving aflibercept or ranibizumab for macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in routine clinical practice. METHODS: 296 treatment-naïve eyes receiving either aflibercept (171 eyes, 2 mg) or ranibizumab (125 eyes, 0.5 mg) for macular oedema secondary to CRVO were recruited retrospectively from centres using the prospectively designed FRB! registry. The primary outcome measure was the mean change in LogMAR letter scores of visual acuity (VA). Secondary outcomes included change in central subfield thickness (CST), injections and visits, time to first grading of inactivity, switching and non-completion from baseline to 12 months. RESULTS: Baseline VA (SD) was somewhat better in aflibercept- versus ranibizumab-treated eyes (42.5 ± 25.5 letters versus 36.9 ± 26 letters; p = 0.07) with similar CST (614 (240) μm versus 616 (234) μm: p = 0.95). The 12-month adjusted mean (95%CI) VA change was +16.6 (12.9, 20.4) letters for aflibercept versus +9.8 (5.5, 14.1) letters for ranibizumab (p = 0.001). The mean (95%CI) adjusted change in CST was significantly greater in aflibercept- versus ranibizumab-treated eyes: -304 (-276, -333) µm versus -252 (-220, -282) µm (p

Journal of materials chemistry / A 10(7), 3485 - 3494 (2022). doi:10.1039/D1TA08853J, A critical bottleneck for developing successful solid-state batteries is minimizing the interfacial impedances between the solid electrolyte and the active electrode materials. Advancing our understanding of the chemically and electro-chemically induced reactions of the cathode–electrolyte interface is important to achieve stable interfaces with desired charge transfer properties. The perovskite Li-solid electrolyte with the general formula Li$_{3x}$La$_{2/3−x}$□$_{1/3−2x}$TiO$_3$ (LLTO) is an interesting candidate for solid-state Li-ion cells due to its superionic Li-ion conductivity. However, the chemical compatibility of LLTO with potential cathode materials is not sufficiently understood, and here we examine the LLTO interface with thin-film LiCoO$_2$ (LCO) cathode layers. We show that elemental mixing, in particular Co diffusion into LLTO, and increased structural ordering of the LCO occurs at moderate temperatures, on-setting around 300 °C in air, even in the absence of any secondary phases. This reaction decreases the LCO|LLTO interface charge transfer resistance by almost 50% after annealing to 500 °C relative to the as-deposited state. Reduction of the interface charge transfer resistance can be attributed to the formation of a mixed electronic and ionic conducting zone near the interface upon Co diffusion into LLTO. This finding can guide the engineering of cathode–solid electrolyte interfaces with fast charge transfer kinetics., Published by RSC, London ˜[u.a.]œ

Lithium-rich transition metal oxide (Li1+XM1−XO2) cathodes have high energy density above 900 Wh kg−1 due to hybrid anion- and cation-redox (HACR) contributions, but critical issues such as oxygen release and voltage decay during cycling have prevented their application for years. Here we show that a molten molybdate-assisted LiO extraction at 700 °C creates lattice-coherent but depth (r)-dependent Li1+X(r)M1−X(r)O2 particles with a Li-rich (X ≈ 0.2) interior, a Li-poor (X ≈ −0.05) surface and a continuous gradient in between. The gradient Li-rich single crystals eliminate the oxygen release to the electrolyte and, importantly, still allow stable oxygen redox contributions within. Both the metal valence states and the crystal structure are well maintained during cycling. The gradient HACR cathode displays a specific density of 843 Wh kg−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2C and 808 Wh kg−1 after 100 cycles at 1C, with very little oxygen release and consumption of electrolyte. This high-temperature immunization treatment can be generalized to leach other elements to avoid unexpected surface reactions in batteries. Critical issues such as oxygen release during battery cycling plague the development of high-energy Li-rich oxide cathodes. Here the authors report a Li-gradient structure of the oxides, obtained by a selective LiO leaching process via a molten salt treatment, displaying virtually zero oxygen loss.