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The electrochemical properties and thermal stabilities of a new positive electrode material for Li-ion batteries, Li[Ni0.55Co0.15Mn0.30]O2, were investigated over a wide potential window. This electrode material was synthesized via a coprecipitation method. X-ray diffraction studies indicated that the synthesized material crystallized into an a-NaFeO2 layered structure (R¯3m). The Li[Ni0.55Co0.15Mn0.30]O2 positive electrode has a discharge capacity of 202 mAh g-1 in the voltage range of 2.7-4.5 V. This high capacity was retained throughout cycling. The thermal stability of Li[Ni0.55Co0.15Mn0.30]O2 was measured by differential thermal calorimetry and found to be comparable to that of Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O2. This positive electrode material was also characterized in a full cell configuration (graphite negative electrode) by. the hybrid pulse power characterization tests following the FreedomCAR battery test manual for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The pulse power capability and available energy met the goals for PHEVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cambodia, a lower middle-income country of about 16 million individuals in southeast Asia, endures a high burden of both tuberculosis and other lower respiratory infections. Differentiating tuberculosis from other causes of respiratory infection has important clinical implications yet may be challenging to accomplish in the absence of diagnostic microbiology facilities. Furthermore, co-infection of tuberculosis with other bacterial lower respiratory infections may occur. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and etiologies of tuberculosis and other bacterial co-infection and to analyze the clinical and radiographic characteristics of patients presenting with respiratory infection to a provincial referral hospital in Cambodia., Methods: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of laboratory and clinical data, on patients presenting with respiratory symptoms to a chest clinic of a 260-bed provincial referral hospital in Cambodia. We analyzed mycobacterial and bacterial sputum test results, and demographics, medical history and chest radiography., Results: Among 137 patients whose treating clinicians ordered sputum testing for tuberculosis and other bacteria, the median age was 52 years, 54% were male, 3% had HIV infection, and 26% were current smokers. Nearly all had chronic respiratory symptoms (> 96%) and abnormal chest radiographs (87%). Sputum testing was positive for tuberculosis in 40 patients (30%) and for bacteria in 60 patients (44%); 13 had tuberculosis and bacterial co-infection (9% overall; 33% of tuberculosis patients). Clinical characteristics were generally similar across pulmonary infection types, although co-infection was identified in 43% of patients with one or more cavitary lesions on chest radiography. Among those with bacterial growth on sputum culture, Gram negative bacilli (Klebsiella and Pseudomonas spp.) were the most commonly isolated., Conclusions: Among patients with symptoms of respiratory infections whose treating clinicians ordered sputum testing for tuberculosis and other bacteria, 9% of all patients and 33% of tuberculosis patients had tuberculosis and bacterial co-infection. Greater availability of microbiologic diagnostics for pulmonary tuberculosis and bacterial infection is critical to ensure appropriate diagnosis and management.