Engelmccabe6924

Silicon (Si) particles have emerged as a promising active material for next-generation lithium-ion battery anodes. However, the large volume changes during lithiation/delithiation cycles result in fracture and pulverization of Si, leading to rapid fading of performance. Here, we report a simple, all-aqueous, directed assembly-based strategy to fabricate Si-based anodes that show capacity and capacity retention that are comparable or better than other more complex methods for forming anodes. We use a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), to stabilize Si nanoparticles (SiNPs) in water. This suspension is added to an aqueous suspension of para-amino benzoic acid-terminated carbon black (CB), pH 7. Charge interactions cause the well-dispersed SiNP to bind to the CB, allowing most of the SiNP to be available for lithiation and charge transfer. The CB forms a conducting network when the suspension pH is lowered. The dried SiNP/CTAB/CB anode exhibits a capacity of 1580 mAh g(-1) and efficiency of 97.3% after 50 cycles at a rate of 0.1C, and stable performance at cycling rates up to 5C. The directed spatial organization of the SiNP and CB using straightforward colloidal principles allows good contact between the well-dispersed active material and the electrically conducting network. The pore space in the CB network accommodates volume changes in the SiNPs. When CTAB is not used, the SiNPs form aggregates in the suspension, and do not contact the CB effectively. Therefore, the electrochemical performance of the SiNP/CB anode is inferior to that of the SiNP/CTAB/CB anode. This aqueous-based, room temperature, directed assembly technique is a new, but simple, low-cost scalable method to fabricate stable Si-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries with performance characteristics that match those made by other more sophisticated techniques.We study the mesoscopic effects which modify phase-segregation in LixFePO4 nanoparticles using a multiphysics phase-field model implement on a high performance cluster. We simulate 3D spherical particles of radii from 3 to 40 nm and examine the equilibrium microstructure and voltage profiles as they depend on size and overall lithiation. The model includes anisotropic, concentration-dependent elastic moduli, misfit strain, and facet dependent surface wetting within a Cahn-Hilliard formulation. We find that the miscibility gap vanishes for particles of radius ∼5 nm, and the solubility limits change with overall particle lithiation. Surface wetting stabilizes minority phases by aligning them with energetically beneficial facets. The equilibrium voltage profile is modified by these effects in magnitude, and the length and slope of the voltage plateau during two-phase coexistence.This study describes a spontaneous case of Pierre Robin sequence in a nonhuman animal species. A miniature dachshund with micrognathia developed glossoptosis, respiratory distress, dysphagia, temporomandibular ankylosis, and a misaligned upper jaw. The severity of this condition resulted in death by obstructive apnea at the age of 8 mo. Dogs with Pierre Robin sequence can provide further knowledge and a greater understanding of this abnormality, leading to better management of affected individuals and improvement of therapeutic methods.A 6 yr old castrated male English springer spaniel was evaluated with a 1 mo history of progressive right forelimb lameness with recent swelling around the elbow joint. Physical examination findings included lameness of the right forelimb, muscle atrophy around the right shoulder, grade 2/6 heart murmur, and moderate dental disease. Results of a complete blood cell count and serum biochemical analysis were unremarkable with the exception of a mildly increased alkaline phosphatase (368 U/L; reference range, 128-328 U/L). Radiographs of the right elbow revealed a mixed lytic and proliferative osseous lesion most consistent with either neoplasia or infection. Thoracic radiographs and the echocardiogram were unremarkable. Fine-needle aspiration of the bone lesion was performed. The cytological diagnosis was chondrosarcoma. The right forelimb was amputated and the axillary lymph nodes were collected. Histopathological examination of the bone lesion and axillary lymph nodes revealed chondrosarcoma with metastasis to the lymph nodes. Lymph node metastasis of chondrosarcoma is rare and needs to be further evaluated as a prognostic indicator.A 6 yr old male Yorkshire terrier was presented for an ~6 yr history of progressive cough and dyspnea. Thoracic radiographs revealed a 6 cm diameter mass within the right caudal thorax. Thoracic ultrasound identified an intrathoracic mass ultrasonographically consistent with liver tissue and a chronic diaphragmatic hernia was suspected. Exploratory laparotomy was performed, but no evidence of a diaphragmatic hernia was identified. Thoracic exploration identified abnormal lung parenchyma. The accessory lung lobe was removed using a stapling devise near its base. The consolidated mass had the gross appearance of liver and was histologically identified as ectopic hepatic tissue. Ectopic hepatic tissue, unlike ectopic splenic and pancreatic tissue, is rare and generally has a subdiaphragmatic distribution. This solitary case report demonstrates that ectopic intrathoracic hepatic tissue should be considered a differential diagnosis for a caudal mediastinal mass.A 9 yr old cat was presented with clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities attributed to arterial hypertension (mean systolic arterial pressure, 290 mm Hg). Plasma aldosterone concentration was increased at the time of admission (651 pmol/L), but serum creatinine and potassium concentrations were within the reference range. A second increased aldosterone (879 pmol/L) and normal plasma renin activity (1.85 ng/mL/hr) resulted in an increased aldosterone/renin ratio, which was suggestive of primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA). To further support the diagnosis of PHA, the urinary aldosterone/creatinine ratio was calculated both before and after oral administration of fludrocortisone acetate (0.05 mg/kg q 12 hr for 4 consecutive days). The urinary aldosterone/creatinine ratio was 92.6 × 10(-9) before fludrocortisone administration and 155.8 × 10(-9) 4 days later. Absence of suppression was typical of PHA. The cat had a limited response to antihypertensive medication and died before treatment for PHA could be instituted. A necropsy was not permitted by the owner.This manuscript describes the extended clinical abnormalities that can occur in severe snake envenomation and the clinical signs associated with antivenom hypersensitivity in a 3 yr old dog. Treatment consisted of IV fluid therapy, analgesics, a vasopressor, cardiac antiarrhythmia drugs, and polyvalent pit viper antivenom. Following initial response to treatment, relapse of clinical signs occurred. Most interesting was the recrudescence of clinical signs on day 7 that may have been caused by the release of deposited venom during surgical debridement of necrotic skin. The resulting extensive clinical signs required multiple vials of antivenom (22 vials over a 7 day period). Both F(ab')2 antivenom and antivenin (Crotalidae) polyvalent were used in this dog because of availability logistics. It is thought that this large amount of antivenom resulted in type I (anaphylaxis) and type III hypersensitivity (serum sickness) reactions. The dog made a complete clinical recovery. This description of extended, fluctuating clinical abnormalities that were associated with envenomation together with the development of hypersensitivity reactions that were presumably secondary to antivenom administration is information that can be useful for the management of patients afflicted with severe pit viper envenomation.A Silky terrier weighing 4.7 kg was presented with an airway foreign body after having aspirated a fragment of an orotracheal tube that was identified on radiological examination. Due to the small size of the patient, flexible endoscopy could not be performed through the lumen of a tracheal tube. Following IV induction of general anesthesia, the airway was instrumented with a laryngeal mask airway that was attached via a three-way connector to an anesthesia breathing circuit. A flexible endoscope was passed through the free port of the connector. That arrangement allowed for the passage of an endoscope through the lumen of the laryngeal mask airway and into the trachea without interrupting the continuous supply of O2 and sevoflurane.A 14 mo old female Jack Russell terrier presented with a 12 hr history of vomiting and inappetence. She was subsequently diagnosed with multiple acquired portosystemic shunts during an exploratory celiotomy. Gross and histopathological hepatic abnormalities were consistent with chronic disease, including features suggestive of portal hypertension that was potentially caused by migrating and resident Angiostrongylus vasorum larvae. Fecal analysis and polymerase chain reaction of hepatic tissue confirmed the presence of Angiostrongylus vasorum . The dog recovered clinically following empirical treatment and supportive care. A lack of parasite burden was confirmed 9 wk postdiagnosis; however, serum biochemical analysis at that time was suggestive of ongoing hepatic dysfunction.An 8 yr old spayed female Italian greyhound was presented with a mass in the cranial abdomen. Preliminary evaluation of the dog revealed a large, cavitary, irregularly shaped mass with no definitive association with any abdominal organs. During an exploratory celiotomy, a 16 cm × 12 cm × 6 cm mass was removed. On subsequent histopathology, extraskeletal osteosarcoma induced by a foreign body granuloma was diagnosed. The foreign body granuloma, based on histopathological findings, was suspected to be secondary to a retained surgical sponge from her routine ovariohysterectomy performed 7 yr prior to presentation. Animals with granulomas induced by foreign bodies can remain asymptomatic for years; however, those granulomas can progress to extraskeletal osteosarcomas, which carry a poor prognosis.An 11 yr old castrated male greyhound presented to the Washington State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital (WSU VTH) for evaluation of a 4 day history of pleural effusion. The pleural effusion had a gelatinous appearance, suggestive of mucus, and was characterized cytologically as a pyogranulomatous exudate with some features suggestive of a carcinoma. Postmortem examination identified a pulmonary mass with evidence of carcinomatosis. Pulmonary papillary adenocarcinoma with carcinomatosis was the histologic diagnosis. Abundant mucin production was present, consistent with a mucinous pulmonary adenocarcinoma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a mucinous pulmonary adenocarcinoma with mucus pleural effusion in a dog.The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of an antigen enzyme immunoassay (EIA) on urine samples for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis in dogs. Palbociclib This retrospective medical records review included canine cases with urine samples submitted for Histoplasma EIA antigen assay between 2007 and 2011 from three veterinary institutions. Cases for which urine samples were submitted for Histoplasma antigen testing were reviewed and compared to the gold standard of finding Histoplasma organisms or an alternative diagnosis on cytology or histopathology. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and the kappa coefficient and associated confidence interval were calculated for the EIA-based Histoplasma antigen assay. Sixty cases met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen cases were considered true positives based on identification of the organism, and 41 cases were considered true negatives with an alternative definitive diagnosis. Two cases were considered false negatives, and there were no false positives.