Background: Fibrinogen is suggested to play an important role in managing major bleeding. However, clinical evidence regarding the effect of fibrinogen concentrate (derived from human plasma) on transfusion is limited. The authors assessed whether fibrinogen concentrate can reduce blood transfusion when given as intraoperative, targeted, first-line hemostatic therapy in bleeding patients undergoing aortic replacement surgery. Methods: In this single-center, prospective, placebocontrolled, double-blind study, patients aged 18 yr or older undergoing elective thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic replacement surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized to fibrinogen concentrate or placebo, administered intraoperatively. Study medication was given if patients had clinically relevant coagulopathic bleeding immediately after removal from cardiopulmonary bypass and completion of surgical hemostasis. Dosing was individualized using the fibrin-based thromboelastometry test. If bleeding continued, a standardized transfusion protocol was followed. Results: Twenty-nine patients in the fibrinogen concentrate group and 32 patients in the placebo group were eligible for the efficacy analysis. During the first 24 h after the administration of study medication, patients in the fibrinogen concentrate group received fewer allogeneic blood components than did patients in the placebo group (median, 2 vs. 13 U; P < 0.001; primary endpoint). Total avoidance of transfusion was achieved in 13 (45%) of 29 patients in the fibrinogen concentrate group, whereas 32 (100%) of 32 patients in the placebo group received transfusion (P < 0.001). There was no observed safety concern with using fibrinogen concentrate during aortic surgery.

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use of solar energy, e.g., solar collectors, and concentrated solar thermal systems, as well as solar cells. Due to increasing manufacturing capacities and lower costs, the installed capacities of solar cells has grown massively in recent years. In 2012, the capacity of installed solar cells rose over the level of 100 GW worldwide. [ 10 ] The major drawback of solar power is that electricity generation is directly coupled to the availability of the sun (e.g., day and night, weather). This dependence of solar energy does not comply with the actual energy demand and requires a solution. The key technology is the combination of solar cells and effective energy storage systems, e.g., batteries or supercapacitors, to create independent electrical energy sources. [ 8,[11][12][13][14][15] Usually, the generated photovoltaic energy is stored by external batteries (e.g., Li ion or nickel/metal hydride batteries), which are directly connected to the solar cells by wires. [ 13,16,17 ] As a consequence, the relatively long distance between both parts lowers the energy storage effi ciency. [ 13 ] One approach to avoid this problem is the integration of the photo conversion system and the energy storage part within one device, for an effective storage of the excess energy. [ 6,18 ] The stored energy can be released and used throughout the day, and at different places, even if the sun is not shining. [ 18,19 ] Different possibilities for storing large amounts of energy are available, e.g., pumped hydroelectric energy storage or compressed air energy storage as large-scale, centralized systems. [ 19 ] Moreover, photo generated electricity can be stored as chemical energy. The best known system for conversion and storage of solar energy as chemical energy is the photosynthesis of plants, algae and bacteria, in which organic material and oxygen are generated by water and carbon dioxide under sunlight illumination. [ 20 ] Water splitting represents an artifi cial way, [ 19,21 ] where hydrogen and oxygen are produced by utilization of photo catalysts [ 22 ] or semiconducting electrodes. [ 23 ] Photo-electrochemical energy can be effi ciently stored by using two vanadium based redox couples. [ 24 ] Other possibilities for storage of solar energy are molecular energy storage systems, where new chemical bonds are formed; phase change materials, where the energy is stored as thermal energy; as well as electrochemical storage systems. [ 20,25 ] Many types of electrochemical storage applications such as rechargeable batteries (e.g., lithium ion batteries, hightemperature sodium batteries, or lead acid batteries), organic radical batteries, redox fl ow batteries, as well as electrochemical supercapacitors are available. [ 4,19,26 ] A solar rechargeable battery uses the solar light to generate electric energy, which is directly stored by an integrated storage The global energy demand is increasing at the same time as fossil fuel resources are dwindling. Consequently, the search for alternative energy sources is a major topic worldwide. Sol...

A novel redox-active polymer based on a 9,10-di(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-9,10-dihydroanthracene (exTTF) system in combination with a conjugated backbone was synthesized via rhodium (Rh)-catalyzed polymerization of 2-ethynyl(exTTF), leading to polymers with low polydispersities. Composite electrodes containing this polymer exhibited chemically reversible two-electron oxidation in aqueous media. The application of these electrodes as active cathode materials in hybrid zinc-organic batteries using an aqueous electrolyte enabled the production of air-stable charge storage systems with a theoretical capacity of 133 mAh g − 1. These batteries featured high performance, charge/discharge rates of up to 120 C (30 s) and an ultra-long lifetime, of over 10 000 charge/discharge cycles (accompanied by a minor capacity loss of 14%). Finally, the polymer was compared with its nonconjugated derivative, revealing the positive influence of the conjugated backbone on the material activity owing to improved electron transfer within the polymer chain.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier no. NCT01475669; EudraCT trial no. 2011-002685-20.