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The objective of this paper is to address the issue of the production cost of second generation biofuels via the thermo-chemical route. The last decade has seen a large number of technical–economic studies of second generation biofuels. As there is a large variation in the announced production costs of second generation biofuels in the literature, this paper clarifies some of the reasons for these variations and helps obtain a clearer picture. This paper presents simulations for two pathways and comparative production pathways previously published in the literature in the years between 2000 and 2011. It also includes a critical comparison and analysis of previously published studies. This paper does not include studies where the production is boosted with a hydrogen injection to improve the carbon yield. The only optimisation included is the recycle of tail gas. It is shown that the fuel can be produced on a large scale at prices of around 1.0–1.4 € per l. Large uncertainties remain however with regard to the precision of the economic predictions, the technology choices, the investment cost estimation and even the financial models to calculate the production costs. The benefit of a tail gas recycle is also examined; its benefit largely depends on the selling price of the produced electricity.
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Ametek Edax has introduced the OIM Matrix software package, which brings dynamic diffraction-based electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) pattern simulations and dictionary indexing capabilities to the EBSD market. The OIM Matrix package allows users to simulate EBSD patterns based on the physics of dynamical diffraction of electrons. This approach more accurately describes the behavior of the electron interactions within a sample and produces more realistic pattern simulations compared with traditional kinematic-diffraction-based approaches. These simulated patterns can then be more easily and accurately compared with experimentally collected EBSD patterns.
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Undoped SnO2 thin films have been deposited on amorphous glass substrates with different precursor solution volume (10, 15, 20 and 25 ml) using simple and cost-effective nebulized spray pyrolysis technique. The influence of precursor solution on structural, optical, photoluminescence and electrical properties had been studied. The X-ray diffraction spectra prove the polycrystalline nature of SnO2 with tetragonal structure. All the films show a preferred growth orientation along (110) diffraction plane. The average transmittance of SnO2 thin films varied between 82 and 75% in the visible as well as IR region. The band gap energy decreases from 3.74 to 3.64 eV corresponding to direct transitions with the precursor solution volume had increased from 10 to 20 ml and then increased as 3.72 eV for 25 ml. SEM pictures demonstrated polyhedrons like grains. EDX confirmed the existence of Sn and O elements in all the prepared SnO2 thin films. Photoluminescence spectra at room temperature revealed that the four emission bands in all the samples such as sharp dominant peak at 361 nm with shoulder peak at 377 nm (UV region), a broad and low intensity peak at 492 nm (blue region) and 519 nm (green region). The electrical parameters were examined by Hall effect measurements, which demonstrated that the film prepared at 20 ml precursor solution volume possess minimum resistivity 2.76 × 10−3 Ω-cm with activation energy 0.10 eV and maximum figure of merit 1.54 × 10−2 (Ω/sq)−1.
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Three-dimensional compressible flow simulations were conducted to develop a Hyperloop pod. The novelty is the usage of Gamma transition model, in which the transition from laminar to turbulent flow can be predicted. First, a mesh dependency study was undertaken, showing second-order convergence with respect to the mesh refinement. Second, an aerodynamic analysis for two designs, short and optimized, was conducted with the traveling speed 125 m/s at the system pressure 0.15 bar. The concept of the short model was to delay the transition to decrease the frictional drag; meanwhile that of the optimized design was to minimize the pressure drag by decreasing the frontal area and introduce the transition more toward the front of the pod. The computed results show that the transition of the short model occurred more on the rear side due to the pod shape, which resulted in 8% smaller frictional drag coefficient than that for the optimized model. The pressure drag for the optimized design was 24% smaller than that for the short design, half of which is due to the decrease in the frontal area, and the other half is due to the smoothed rear-end shape. The total drag for the optimized model was 14% smaller than that for the short model. Finally, the influence of the system pressure was investigated. As the system pressure and the Reynolds number increase, the frictional drag coefficient increases, and the transition point moves toward the front, which are the typical phenomena observed in the transition regime.
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This paper describes a facile, single-step hydrothermal method to prepare ruthenium sulfide/thermally reduced graphene oxide (RuS2/TRGO) nanocomposites. In this synthesis procedure, aqueous solutions of RuCl3, l-cysteine, and graphene oxide are employed as the metal, sulfur, and graphene sources, respectively. The chemical structures and morphologies of the nanocomposites are characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are used to examine their electrochemical performances. The RuS2 nanoparticles (∼10 nm) uniformly disperse on the surfaces of the TRGO layers to form the RuS2/TRGO composite, which adequately inhibits aggregation of the RuS2 to fully exploit its impressive electrochemical activity and capacitance as a pseudocapacitive electrode material. The combination of the TRGO interconnected conductive networks and uniformly anchored RuS2 generates a specific capacitance of 193 F g−1 at a 5 mV s−1 scan rate, 150 F g−1 at a 0.5 A g−1 current density, good rate capability (57.3% retention at 6.25 A g−1), and reasonable cycle stability (90% retention of capacitance over 2000 cycles at a current density of 0.75 A g−1). Further, the RuS2/TRGO-30 composite electrode achieves energy densities of 20.84 and 6.11 Wh kg−1 at power densities of 250 and 3666.7 W kg−1, respectively. The RuS2/TRGO composites are promising for high-level energy storage applications because of their superior electrochemical activities.
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Big data have become an important asset due to its immense power hidden in analytics. Every organization is inundated with colossal amount of data generated with high speed, requiring high-performance resources for storage and processing, special skills and technologies to get value out of it. Sources of big data may be either internal or external to organization, and big data may reside in structured, semi-structured or unstructured form. Artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and social media are contributing to the growth of big data. Analytics is the use of statistics, maths, and machine learning to derive meaningful insights from data to make timely decisions and enable data-driven organization of the future. This paper sheds light upon big data, taxonomy of data, and hierarchical journey of data from its original form to the high level understanding in terms of wisdom. The paper also focuses on key characteristics of big data and challenges of handling big data. In addition, big data storage systems have also been briefly covered to get the idea on how storage systems help to accommodate the requirements of big data. This paper scrupulously articulates the eras of evolution of analytics varying from descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics. Process models used for inferring information from data have been compared and their applicability for analyzing big data has also been sought. Finally, recent developments carried in the domain of big data and analytics are compared based on the state-of-the-art approaches.
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Lithium-ion is increasingly the technology of choice for battery-powered systems. Current cell performance monitoring, which relies on measurements of full cell voltage and sporadic surface temperature, does not provide a reliable information on the true internal battery state. Here, we address this issue by transforming off the shelf cells into smart systems by embedding flexible distributed sensors for long-term in-situ and operando thermodynamic data collection. Our approach, which enables the monitoring of the true battery state, does not impact its performance. In particular, our results show that this unprecedented methodology can be used to optimise the performance and map the safety limits of lithium-ion cells. We find that the cell core temperature is consistently and significantly higher than the surface temperature, and reveal a breach of safety limits during a rapid discharge test. We also demonstrate an application of a current considerably higher than the manufacturers’ specification, enabling a significant decrease in charging time, without compromising the cell’s thermal stability. Consequently, this work on cell instrumentation methodology has the potential to facilitate significant advances in battery technology.
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The present work aims at testing the hypothesis that carbon use efficiency (CUE) of sunflower, grain sorghum, wheat and chickpea crops, having different photosynthetic pathways (C3, C4) and yield composition (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids), will hold constant over the natural thermal regime occurring during the entire crop cycle in the open field. All crops were well watered. Sunflower and sorghum had two treatments of nitrogen application, while wheat had only one suitable level of nitrogen, and chickpea had no nitrogen at all. Canopy temperature, day-time net photosynthesis (P), and night-time respiration (R) were monitored by closed-system canopy chambers, properly automated for continuous measurements. Night-time respiration response to temperature and noon-time photosynthesis were measured at leaf scale, as well. Results showed a strictly linear relationship (i.e. constant CUE) between cumulative P (∑P) and cumulative R (∑R) over the entire cycle of sorghum (slope=2.28) and wheat (3.35), and up to anthesis of sunflower (2.08) and chickpea (2.83), irrespective of the thermal regimes evolution and nitrogen nutritional levels. The same linearity was maintained when relationships were observed in terms of biomass versus ∑R. In sunflower, significant deviation from linearity is observed after anthesis, with a difference between the two nitrogen treatments. No conclusions could be drawn for post-anthesis chickpea due to the interruption of the experiment caused by an intense thunderstorm. Leaf-scale respiration responses to temperature were insufficient to explain the corresponding behaviour at canopy-level.
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The effects of different types and amounts of environmental stimuli (visual and auditory) on microswitch use and behavioral states of three individuals with profound multiple impairments were examined. The individual’s switch use and behavioral states were measured under three setting conditions: natural stimuli (typical visual and auditory stimuli in a recreational situation), reduced visual stimuli, and reduced visual and auditory stimuli. Results demonstrated differential switch use in all participants with the varying environmental setting conditions. No consistent effects were observed in behavioral state related to environmental condition. Predominant behavioral state scores and switch use did not systematically covary with any participant. Results suggest the importance of considering environmental stimuli in relationship to switch use when working with individuals with profound multiple impairments.
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A paper published in Energy and Environmental Science by Po-Yen Chen et al. reported on a new route for fabricating perovskite solar cells using “recycled car batteries” (spent lead acid batteries) as starting materials. Multiple lines of evidence show that it was a new lead acid battery and not a recycled one that was used to synthesize lead iodide perovskite materials in this work. As the components of electrodes are different between new batteries and spent ones, this fabricating method would not be applicable for use in recycled car batteries.
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To test whether binge eating and emotional eating mediate the relationships between self-reported stress, morning cortisol and the homeostatic model of insulin resistance and waist circumference. We also explored the moderators of gender and age. Data were from 249 adults (mean BMI = 26.9 ± 5.1 kg/m2; mean age = 28.3 ± 8.3 years; 54.2 % male; 69.5 % white) recruited from the community who were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Participants completed a comprehensive assessment panel of psychological and physiological assessments including a morning blood draw for plasma cortisol. We found negative relationships between stress and morning cortisol (r = −0.15 to −0.21; p < 0.05), and cortisol and the homeostatic model of insulin resistance and waist circumference (r = −0.16, −0.25, respectively; p < 0.05). There was not statistical support for binge eating or emotional eating as mediators and no support for moderated mediation for either gender or age; however, gender moderated several paths in the model. These include the paths between perceived stress and emotional eating (B = 0.009, p < 0.001), perceived stress and binge eating (B = 0.01, p = 0.003), and binge eating and increased HOMA-IR (B = 0.149, p = 0.018), which were higher among females. Among women, perceived stress may be an important target to decrease binge and emotional eating. It remains to be determined what physiological and psychological mechanisms underlie the relationships between stress and metabolic abnormalities.
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The study presents a quasi-experimental analysis of data on 9,194 offspring (ages 4–11 years old) of women from a nationally representative U.S. sample of households to test the causal hypotheses about the association between family income and childhood conduct problems (CPs). Comparison of unrelated individuals in the sample indicated a robust inverse association, with the relation being larger at higher levels of income and for male offspring, even when statistical covariates were included to account for measured confounds that distinguish different families. Offspring also were compared to their siblings and cousins who were exposed to different levels of family income in childhood to rule out unmeasured environmental and genetic factors confounded with family income as explanations for the association. In these within-family analyses, boys exposed to lower family income still exhibited significantly higher levels of CPs. When considered in the context of previous studies using different designs, these results support the inference that family income influences CPs, particularly in males, through causal environmental processes specifically related to earnings within the nuclear family.
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Energy storage is nowadays recognised as a key element in modern energy supply chain. This is mainly because it can enhance grid stability, increase penetration of renewable energy resources, improve the efficiency of energy systems, conserve fossil energy resources and reduce environmental impact of energy generation. Although there are many energy storage technologies already reviewed in the literature, these technologies are currently at different levels of technological maturity with a few already proven for commercial scale application. Most of the review papers in energy storage highlight these technologies in details, however; there remains limited information on the real life application of these technologies for energy storage purpose. This review paper aims to address this gap by providing a detailed analysis of real life application and performance of the different energy storage technologies. The paper discusses the concept of energy storage, the different technologies for the storage of energy with more emphasis on the storage of secondary forms of energy (electricity and heat) as well as a detailed analysis of various energy storage projects all over the world. In the final part of this paper, some of the challenges hindering the commercial deployment of energy storage technologies are also highlighted.
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A “dynamic” solar power plant (which consists of a solar collector–thermal engine combination) is proposed as an alternative for the more usual photovoltaic cells. A model for heat losses in a selective flat-plate solar collector operating on Mars is developed. An endoreversible Carnot cycle is used to describe heat engine operation. This provides upper limits for real performances. The output power is maximized. Meteorological and actinometric data provided by Viking Landers are used as inputs. Two strategies of collecting solar energy were considered: (i) horizontal collector; (ii) collector tilt and orientation are continuously adjusted to keep the receiving surface perpendicular on the Sun’s rays. The influences of climate and of various design parameters on solar collector heat losses, on engine output power and on the optimum sun-to-user efficiency are discussed.
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The manipulation of growth conditions of microorganisms is a common strategy used by pharmaceutical companies to improve the quantities and spectra of secondary metabolites with potential therapeutic interest. In this work, the effects of fermentation media on secondary metabolite production from a set of Actinomycetes was statistically compared. For this purpose, we created an automated method for comparing the ability of microorganisms to produce different secondary metabolites. HPLC analyses guided the selection of those media in which a wider chemical diversity was obtained from microorganisms inoculated in a wide spectrum of production media. Fermented media yielding a better secondary metabolite profile were included in subsequent drug discovery screening.
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In this study, a series of inverse spinel M2SnO4 (M=Mg, Mn, Co) oxides were produced and tested to probe the effect the oxide matrix has on the electrochemical performance of tin oxides. Generally, these new oxides show similar behaviour to SnO2 with the formation of a more complicated mixed metal oxide matrix affecting the potentials of tin reduction and lithium insertion. A reasonable correlation is observed between the potential of the initial reduction of the spinel oxide to metallic tin and the enthalpy of formation of the metal oxide (MO). Amongst the spinels, Mn2SnO4 exhibits the best reversibility and Mg2SnO4 the worst.
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Polyvinylidenedifluoride–hexafluoropropylene, (P(VdF–HFP))-based polymer electrolytes, as separators for lithium batteries, were prepared through different polymer/solvent (N,N-dimethylformamide, DMF) ratios and physicochemically investigated. Scanning electron microscopy measurements have shown a homogeneously distributed porosity within the membranes, with moderately tortuous pathways, resulting in a liquid uptake up to 77 wt.% with respect to the overall weight and conduction values above 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature. Prolonged cycling tests, performed on Li/Sn–C and Li/LiFePO4 half-cells based on P(VdF–HFP) polymer electrolyte separator membranes, have evidenced nominal capacities ranging from 70% to 90% of the theoretical value with very good capacity retention and charge/discharge efficiency close at 100% even at high current rates. A capacity decay is observed at high current regime, associated to the diffusion phenomena occurring within the electrode and the polymer electrolyte separator membrane.
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Zinc-based batteries offer a safe, inexpensive alternative to fire-prone lithium-based batteries, but zinc-based batteries do not exhibit sufficient rechargeability—yet. Breaking through the centuries-old roadblock to zinc-based rechargeable batteries requires rethinking the electrode structure in order to control how zinc converts to zinc oxide during battery discharge and how the oxide is reversed back to metal upon recharging. We address the problems of inefficient zinc utilization and limited rechargeability by redesigning the zinc electrode as a porous, monolithic, three-dimensional (3D) aperiodic architecture. Utilization approaches 90% (728 mA h gZn−1) when the zinc “sponge” is used as the anode in a primary (single-use) zinc–air cell. To probe rechargeability of the 3D Zn sponge, we cycled Zn–vs.–Zn symmetric cells and Ag–Zn full cells under conditions that would otherwise support dendrite growth, and yet the Zn sponges remain dendrite-free after extensive cycling up to 188 mA h gZn−1. By using 3D-wired zinc architectures that innately suppress dendrite formation, all zinc-based chemistries can be reformulated for next-generation rechargeable batteries.
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This study investigated the addition of vanadium phosphate [VO(H2PO4)2] to platinum/carbon (Pt/C) to prepare Pt/C–VO(H2PO4)2 catalyst. Pt/C electrocatalyst was treated with vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) and phosphoric acid concentration to produce VO(H2PO4)2. This combination improved the durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs); nonetheless, the addition of VO(H2PO4)2 did not negatively affect the homogenization and electrochemical activity of the Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, the presence of VO(H2PO4)2 was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction pattern and the energy spectrum. The ideal VO(H2PO4)2 ratio (6 %) was determined, and the VO(H2PO4)2 was imported to reduce oxidation in the weak acid environment of the PEMFCs cathode catalyst. When the fuel cell operates at high potential, VO2+ is oxidized to VO2+. This preferential oxidation protects carbon carriers against oxidation. When the fuel cell returns to normal working potential, the VO2+ is restored to VO2+. VO2+ is a reserve for the protection of carbon carriers at the subsequent instance of high potential. The oxide between the Pt particles coated the surface of the carbon carriers, thus limiting the aggregation and loss of Pt. These two functions enhance the durability of fuel cell electrodes.
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Background Movement disorders are common in individuals with schizophrenia, even in those who are not exposed to antipsychotic medications. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) are among the most common abnormal movements in schizophrenia, but their relationship with other features of the illness such as cognition is not well characterized. Methods Three hundred and twenty-five individuals with schizophrenia who were not receiving any antipsychotic or anticholinergic medication and participated in the baseline visit of the Clinical Antipsychotic Treatment of Intervention Effectiveness study were included in the present study. EPSs were assessed using the Simpson-Angus Scale, while cognition was measured with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. The relationship between EPS and cognitive test performance was evaluated both dimensionally and categorically. Results Greater severity of EPS was significantly associated with worse cognitive test performance evaluated using a composite score. Eighty-six patients were identified as having parkinsonism and these patients performed worse on cognitive tests than non-parkinsonian patients. These findings remained significant even after accounting for other variables such as severity of psychopathology, sedation, akathisia and dyskinesia. Conclusions The present results demonstrate that severity of EPS is reliably linked with poorer scores on tests of cognition. While this may reflect a common pathophysiology underlying neuromotor and neurocognitive deficits, it may also be the case that parkinsonian symptoms such as rigidity and bradykinesia impede test taking ability. Regardless of mechanism, inferences regarding cognitive impairment should take into account the presence of EPS, as well as other variables that may mediate cognitive test findings.
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The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates numerous toxic effects following exposure of vertebrate animals to certain aromatic environmental contaminants, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). To investigate possible effects of TCDD on invertebrates, a cDNA encoding an AHR homologue was cloned from the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria. The predicted amino acid sequence contains regions characteristic of vertebrate AHRs: basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and PER-ARNT-SIM (PAS) domains and a glutamine-rich region. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the clam AHR sequence groups within the AHR subfamily of the bHLH-PAS family, in a clade containing AHR homologues from Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. AHR mRNA expression was detected in all tissue types tested: adductor muscle, digestive gland, foot, gill, gonad, mantle, and siphon. The in vitro-expressed clam AHR exhibited sequence-specific interactions with a mammalian xenobiotic response element (XRE). Velocity sedimentation analysis using either in vitro-expressed clam AHR or clam cytosolic proteins showed that this AHR homologue binds neither [3H]TCDD nor [3H]β-naphthoflavone (BNF). Similarly, in vitro-expressed D. melanogaster and C. elegans AHR homologues lacked specific binding of these compounds. Thus, the absence of specific, high-affinity binding of the prototypical AHR ligands TCDD and BNF, is a property shared by known invertebrate AHR homologues, distinguishing them from vertebrate AHRs. Comparative studies of phylogenetically diverse organisms may help identify an endogenous ligand(s) and the physiological role(s) for this protein.
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The genotoxicity of river water dissolved contaminants is usually estimated after grab sampling of river water. Water contamination can now be obtained with passive samplers that allow a time-integrated sampling of contaminants. Since it was verified that low density polyethylene membranes (LDPE) accumulate labile hydrophobic compounds, their use was proposed as a passive sampler. This study was designed to test the applicability of passive sampling for combined chemical and genotoxicity measurements. The LDPE extracts were tested with the umu test (TA1535/pSK1002 ± S9) and the Ames assay (TA98, TA100 and YG1041 ± S9). We describe here this new protocol and its application in two field studies on four sites of the Seine River. Field LDPE extracts were negative with the YG1041 and TA100 and weakly positive with the TA98 + S9 and Umu test. Concentrations of labile mutagenic PAHs were higher upstream of Paris than downstream of Paris. Improvement of the method is needed to determine the genotoxicity of low concentrations of labile dissolved organic contaminants.
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The aim of this paper is to describe the design and the preliminary validation of a platform developed to collect and automatically analyze biomedical signals for risk assessment of vascular events and falls in hypertensive patients. This m-health platform, based on cloud computing, was designed to be flexible, extensible, and transparent, and to provide proactive remote monitoring via data-mining functionalities. A retrospective study was conducted to train and test the platform. The developed system was able to predict a future vascular event within the next 12 months with an accuracy rate of 84 % and to identify fallers with an accuracy rate of 72 %. In an ongoing prospective trial, almost all the recruited patients accepted favorably the system with a limited rate of inadherences causing data losses (<20 %). The developed platform supported clinical decision by processing tele-monitored data and providing quick and accurate risk assessment of vascular events and falls.
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X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to demonstrate that V2O5 is successfully coated on LiNiO2-based materials. The V2O5 layer will react with Li impurities on surface, which will reduce the pH value and rapid moisture uptake ability of LiNiO2-based materials. Cells tests indicate that V2O5-coating layer works as HF inhibitor and/or HF scavenger, which contributes a significant improvement in cycling performance and storage characteristics in electrolyte. In the mean time, V2O5 acts as isolating layer when cathode material contacts with electrolyte especially cycling at high voltage. Structural analysis shows that V2O5-coating layer has more advantage over other oxide coating in delaying Ni3+/Ni2+ transformation and lithium extraction from bulk surface, which benefits from the properties of V2O5 reacting with LiOH/Li2CO3 impurities on surface.
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Background Basic and clinical researches have suggested that type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with cognitive impairment, and diabetes mellitus increases the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Recently, some reports found that undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) could affect brain functions, and decreased in patients with T2DM. We aimed to investigate the association of serum ucOC with cognitive impairment in T2DM patients. Methods A total of 196 male T2DM patients without medications known to affect bone metabolism or history of bone fracture, aged ≥18years were recruited and divided into impaired cognition group and normal cognition group. We use the scores of Minimum Mental State Examination (MMSE) to evaluate the subjects' cognitive function. Detailed cognitive performance was also evaluated by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Serum ucOC was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. Results Compared to male T2DM patients with normal cognition, the mean osteocalcin concentrations were significantly lower in male T2DM patients with impaired cognition (P <0.05). RBANS total and all indexes scores were also lower in patients with impaired cognition (all P <0.05). After adjusted effects of confounding factors, serum ucOC was positively correlated with a variety indexes of RBANS except visuospatial/constructional. Conclusions The serum ucOC is positively correlated with RBANS scores in male T2DM patients. It suggests that serum ucOC may be involved in the development and progression of cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients.
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Objective Dementia frequently occurs in Parkinson’s disease (PD) but its pathophysiological basis is little known. Comparative EEG studies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) are still rare, but could provide knowledge on the different pathophysiological mechanisms involved. The objective of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the absolute power and coherence on the EEG for patients with AD and PDD. Methods This study assessed 38 adults with AD, 12 with PDD, 31 with Parkinson’s disease without dementia, and 37 controls (CG) by a neurological evaluation, CERAD neuropsychological battery, executive functions tests and qEEG, calculating global absolute powers for the delta, theta, alpha and beta bands and inter- and intra-hemispheric coherences. Results The delta and theta powers were highest in PDD and lowest in CG (p <0.05). The beta frontal-occipital inter-hemispheric coherence was highest in PDD (p <0.05). Whereas, alpha and beta frontal inter-hemispheric coherence was highest in PDD and lowest in AD (p <0.05). Conclusion These results suggest that qEEG power and coherence measures are different in AD and PDD. Significance These qEEG differences must be related to the distinct mechanisms of cortical neural connections in AD and PDD.
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The World Health Organization estimates that smoking poses one of the greatest global health risks in the general population. Rates of current smoking among people living with HIV (PLHIV) are 2–3 times that of the general population, which contributes to the higher incidence of non-AIDS-related morbidity and mortality in PLHIV. Given the benefit of smoking cessation, strategies to assist individuals who smoke to quit should be a primary focus in modern HIV care. Tobacco harm reduction focuses on reducing health risk without necessarily requiring abstinence. However, there remains uncertainty about the safety, policy and familiarity of specific approaches, particularly the use of vaporised nicotine products. Evidence suggests that vaporised nicotine products may help smokers stop smoking and are not associated with any serious side-effects. However, there is the need for further safety and efficacy data surrounding interventions to assist quitting in the general population, as well as in PLHIV specifically. In addition, official support for vaping as a harm reduction strategy varies by jurisdiction and this determines whether medical practitioners can prescribe vaporised products and whether patients can access vaporised nicotine products. When caring for PLHIV who smoke, healthcare workers should follow general guidelines to assist with smoking cessation. These include: asking the patient about their smoking status; assessing the patient’s readiness to quit and their nicotine dependence; advising the patient to stop smoking; assisting the patient in their attempt to stop smoking through referral, counselling, pharmacotherapy, self-help resources and/or health education; and arranging follow-up with the patient to evaluate their progress.
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Novelty seeking as a behavioral phenomenon emerges as a compromise between approach and avoidance behavior. Although novelty seeking is thought to play a role in drug abuse and in cognition, the biological basis for this construct is poorly understood. At a genetic level, dopamine D4 receptors (D4R) appear to be critical for the behavioral expression of novelty seeking. In humans, polymorphisms of D4R have been associated with novelty-seeking traits in general and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in particular. Similarly, D4R (−/−) mice exhibit less novel object exploration than D4R (+/+) mice. Due to of the paucity of selective D4R ligands for use in behavioral pharmacology studies, few studies have examined the behavioral effects of D4R compounds in animals. The present experiments characterized RO-10-5824, a new, selective D4R partial agonist with minimal affinity for dopamine D2 and D3 receptors, and tested the hypothesis that activation of D4R increases the investigation by mice of a novel object placed in the center of a familiar open field. C57BL/6J and DBA/1J male mice were used in a dose response study of the selective D4R partial agonist RO-10-5824 (0, 1.0, 3.0, or 10.0 mg/kg). While having no effect on the amount of locomotor activity in novel or familiar environments, RO-10-5824 (10.0 mg/kg) increased time spent in the center of the enclosure in the presence of a novel object in C57 but not DBA mice. These results support the hypothesis that stimulation of D4R can enhance novelty seeking in mice and that this effect may be dependent on subtle genetic differences.
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Externalizing and internalizing behavior problems are known to often co-occur, but mechanisms underlying this co-occurrence remain unclear: whether the associations are due to causal influences of one domain on the other or due to common risk processes influencing both domains. This study aimed to better understand the sources of co-occurring behavior problems by disentangling within- and between-child levels of associations between the two across the five years of childhood, from pre-kindergarten to Grade 3. We analyzed a longitudinal sample of 1060 children from non-urban settings in the U.S. using random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) as an alternative to the commonly-used standard CLPMs. Results indicate that co-occurring externalizing and internalizing problems can be explained partly by a unidirectional influence from externalizing to internalizing problems operating within children and partly by stable differences between children that influence both domains of problems. Further analyses indicate that an executive function deficit in early childhood is an important shared risk factor for both problems, suggesting the utility of executive function interventions in preventing or addressing externalizing and internalizing problems in childhood.
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The formation and growth of surface film on AZ63 (Mg–6Al–3Zn) magnesium alloys were studied in 2 M MgSO4 aqueous solution using electrochemical methods. Surface examinations were carried out using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and microscopic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Experimental results show that the corrosion current decreases with prolonged immersion time, the three stages of hydrogen evolution rate correspond with the growth processes of the surface film on AZ63 magnesium alloys, and charge transfer resistance increases with the accumulation of corrosion products. A layer of MgO with sulfate salt grains underneath seems smooth at first. However, a few surface micro-cracks caused by inner stress appear on the smooth base film after 5 h of immersion, followed by the aggregation of spherical grains and the formation of cracks after 12 h. It is suggested that sulfate salt, carbonate salt, and hydroxide of magnesium should be the main composition of the surface film.
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In this work, double layered LiFePO4 materials with different content of conductive carbon black are proposed for evaluating systematically the influence of imparity distribution of conductive additive on the electrochemical behaviors of cathode material for lithium ion batteries. Their polarization effects and electrochemical performances were investigated and compared in detail. It was found that there exists a simple empirical rule correlating the distribution of the conductive additive and the depolarization effect under the premise that the total content of the conductive additive is kept constant. The electrochemical performance of LiFePO4/C electrode tends to get better with increasing the conductive additive loading in the lower layer. This can be attributed to that the more conductive additive content in the lower layer could provide more available paths for electronic transmission, and markedly decrease the interfacial impedance between LiFePO4/C cathode material and current collector, thus improving the ability of collecting electron and maintaining a reliable electron transport system, especially under high current densities. This finding can enlighten us to design a more rational optimization of the electrode by controlling the distribution of conductive additive in the cathode material for high performance lithium ion batteries.
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In Gratzel’s cell, the electrons injected by the photo-excitation of dye molecules, anchored to a mesoporous TiO2 film, efficiently diffuse to the back contact achieving solar energy conversion at efficiencies exceeding 10%. The mesoporous TiO2 surface constituted of randomly arranged nanocrystallites with a roughness factor of the order 1000 is heavily populated with traps, defects and adsorbed species which act as recombination centers. Nevertheless, the cell functions, mitigating recombination expected to occur via the interaction electrons at the surface. Evidence based mainly on 1/f noise measurements is presented to show that dye bonded to the TiO2 surface passivates recombination centers. Furthermore the suppression of trapping–detrapping events at the surface increases the diffusion coefficient of the electrons through the nanocrystalline matrix facilitating electron transport to the back contact. The Gratzel cell is also unique, none of the high bandgap oxide materials other than TiO2 yield energy conversion and quantum efficiencies as high as that of the cells based on TiO2. 1/f noise measurements also reveal a distinct difference between TiO2 and ZnO mesoporous films suggesting that the films made from the latter material are more intensely populated with surface states that mediate recombination.
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To clarify the behavior of 14C in terrestrial ecosystems, 14C abundance in soil respiration was evaluated in an urban forest with a new method involving a closed chamber technique and 14C measurement by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Soil respiration had a higher Δ14C than the contemporary atmosphere. This indicates that a significant portion of soil respiration is derived from the decomposition of soil organic matter enriched in 14C by atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, with a notable time lag between atmospheric 14C addition and re-emission from soil. On the other hand, δ14C in soil respiration demonstrated that 14C abundance ratio itself in soil-respired CO2 is not always high compared with that in atmospheric CO2 because of the isotope fractionation during plant photosynthesis and microbial decomposition of soil organic matter. The Δ14C in soil respiration was slightly lower in August than in March, suggesting a relatively high contribution of plant root respiration and decomposition of newly accumulated and/or 14C-depleted soil organic matter to the total soil respiration in August.
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Rechargeable lithium-oxygen (Li–O2) batteries have been considered as the most promising candidates for energy storage and conversion devices because of their ultra high energy density. Until now, the critical scientific challenges facing Li–O2 batteries are the absence of advanced electrode architectures and highly efficient electrocatalysts for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which seriously hinder the commercialization of this technology. In the last few years, a number of strategies have been devoted to exploring new catalysts with novel structures to enhance the battery performance. Among various of oxygen electrode catalysts, carbon-based materials have triggered tremendous attention as suitable cathode catalysts for Li–O2 batteries due to the reasonable structures and the balance of catalytic activity, durability and cost. In this review, we summarize the recent advances and basic understandings related to the carbon-based oxygen electrode catalytic materials, including nanostructured carbon materials (one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers, 2D graphene nanosheets, 3D hierarchical architectures and their doped structures), and metal/metal oxide-nanocarbon hybrid materials (nanocarbon supporting metal/metal oxide and nanocarbon encapsulating metal/metal oxide). Finally, several key points and research directions of the future design for highly efficient catalysts for practical Li–O2 batteries are proposed based on the fundamental understandings and achievements of this battery field.
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Endophenotypes mediate pathways between genetic variations and the psychiatric phenotype, or share genetic risk with the psychiatric phenotype. Identifying endophenotypes is an important step to unravel disease pathways underlying complex psychiatric phenotypes such as ADHD. Potential viable endophenotypes for ADHD across the lifespan are neurocognitive measures of basic attention functions, such as sustained attention, and executive attention functions (EF), such as inhibition. The present study evaluated the endophenotype criteria of familiality and state-independency for measures of basic attention and EF in affected- and unaffected parents of children with ADHD (N = 139), and typically developing children (N = 60). In addition, the added value of neurocognitive measures relative to questionnaire data in genetically informed designs was explored by comparing the intergenerational transmission of neurocognitive measures to those of ADHD symptom scores. Results revealed small-to-medium-sized familial effects of ADHD for reaction time measures of EF components and state-independency given familial effects. Parent–child correlations as estimates of intergenerational transmission of those neurocognitive measures were not higher than those of behavioral ADHD symptom ratings. Taken together, our results argue against neurocognitive measures as pivotal endophenotypes for ADHD across the lifespan. If studied as neurocognitive endophenotypes of ADHD in adults, reaction time measures of executive—rather than basic attention function—seem to be more sensitive.
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This paper deals with a compact system developed to assure energy independence to buildings located in inner rural areas: the Off-Grid Box. This system features a combination of techniques that assure the use of several renewable energy sources, their storage and the rationalization of consumption. This research studies the base model of the Off-Grid Box, which entails the presence of photovoltaic panels as the energy capture system. The aim of this research is to evaluate the opportunity of realizing a system to ensure energy autonomy of rural residential buildings. To achieve energy independence, for an isolated dwelling, this paper assesses the optimal storage systems that may be combined with a photovoltaic system. To this end, an Off-Grid Box has been installed in a residential unit in central Italy. Starting from the real case, two alternative energy storage scenarios were constructed. The results can be applied to a variety of geographical settings and prove the feasibility and strategic importance of total off-grid systems for individual residential units, when they are designed in integrated terms in the area to implement small-scale-smart-grids. In rural areas, these grids should also cater for small farming businesses that feature a different consumption distribution compared to dwellings.
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New generations of materials are necessary to provide practical and economical solutions for electrode fabrication in lithium ion batteries. To this end, in the present work we propose a negative electrode based on a SiO2/C interconnected composite able to charge/discharge at high current regimes while maintaining a very good capacity. In order to have a better understanding of the phenomena that occur in the charge/discharge process, we combined experimental techniques (XPS, DRX, EIS, etc.) with theoretical calculations based on DFT to obtain the thermodynamics of the formation of the reaction products as a function of the cell potential. These results were combined with our experiments and results from the literature to demonstrate the different reactions that could occur. The present material provides a superior performance compared with analogous materials from the literature and may thus be an important tool for obtaining practical solutions in both stationary and mobile electrical devices.
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Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is performed based on the multiple sourced data collection, communication, management and analysis from the industrial environment. The data can be generated at every point in the manufacturing production process by real-time monitoring, connection and interaction in the industrial field through various data sensing devices, which creates a big data environment for the industry. To collect, transfer, store and analyse such a big data efficiently and economically, several challenges have imposed to the conventional big data solution, such as high unreliable latency, massive energy consumption, and inadequate security. In order to address these issues, edge computing, as an emerging technique, has been researched and developed in different industries. This paper aims to propose a novel framework for the intelligent IIoT, named Industrial Internet of Learning (IIoL). It is built using an industrial wireless communication network called Low-power wide-area network (LPWAN). By applying edge computing technologies in the LPWAN, the high-intensity computing load is distributed to edge sides, which integrates the computing resource of edge devices to lighten the computational complexity in the central. It cannot only reduce the energy consumption of processing and storing big data but also low the risk of cyber-attacks. Additionally, in the proposed framework, the information and knowledge are discovered and generated from different parts of the system, including smart sensors, smart gateways and cloud. Under this framework, a pervasive knowledge network can be established to improve all the devices in the system. Finally, the proposed concept and framework were validated by two real industrial cases, which were the health prognosis and management of a water plant and asset monitoring and management of an automobile factory.
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In this work, thin films of Li x NiO y were deposited by rf reactive magnetron sputtering, from a LiNiO2 target. The composition of the films was analyzed by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. The electronic structure was analyzed by photoelectron spectroscopy, using either X-ray (Al Kα) or synchrotron light (120eV). X-ray diffraction showed a clear presence of Li2CO3 in the target material, after some deposition runs. The presence of superficial lithium carbonate was also evidenced, for all films.
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A considerable portion of patients has residual positional obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) after upper airway surgery. Those patients could benefit from additional treatment with positional therapy (PT). The objective of this prospective study was to assess the additional effect of PT in patients with residual POSA after upper airway surgery for sleep apnea.
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We report on the synthesis and characterization of a solid polymer electrolyte for aluminum ion conduction. The solid polymer electrolyte is produced via the copolymerization of a low molecular weight polytetrahydrofuran and a cycloaliphatic epoxy. The crosslinked copolymer is swollen in THF solutions of different concentrations of aluminum nitrate as the aluminum ion source. The conductivity as a function of concentration is measured via AC impedance spectroscopy over a temperature range of 20–110 °C. We attain conductivities that increase with salt loading, reaching a value of 2.86 × 10−5 S·cm−1. Thermogravimetric analysis shows the electrolytes are stable up to 150 °C. Raman spectroscopy reveals complete dissociation of the aluminum nitrate salt in the electrolyte over the concentration range explored. This study establishes a polymer system and synthetic route towards solid polymer electrolytes for aluminum ion conduction, for the development of all solid-state aluminum ion batteries.
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This research paper evolves from problems related to the environment as the result of today's product-based society and especially the end-of-life management of cars. The purpose is to identify key elements in car-scrapping approaches with the potential to meet the following three goals: • containing the environmental damage from end-of-life cars, • improvement of current end-of-life car management from an environmental and resource utilization standpoint, and • fostering manufacturing of scrap-adapted/recycled cars. An attempt is made to analyze how financial resources could be organized for the ELV recycling system. A few suggestions have been made in order to foster attainment of the above-mentioned goals through an extended producer responsibility through requisite market oriented financial support. In short, this paper takes a look at the economic feasibility and ingredients for success of a market for recyclables. It lays emphasis on some kind of transparency at the economic and technical levels.
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Novel hollow Ni0.2Mn0.8O1.5 twin microspheres were synthesized through a facile solvothermal reaction followed by calcination. The prepared hollow twin microspheres were composed of a large number of aggregated nanoparticles, with many pores homogeneously distributed across the whole of the twin microspheres. Benefiting from such structural advantages, such as the void core and high porosity, the prepared hollow Ni0.2Mn0.8O1.5 twin microspheres, as an electrode for supercapacitors, exhibited remarkable electrochemical performance with a large specific capacitance (491 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1), desirable rate capability (81% of capacity retention at 5 A g−1), and excellent cycling stability (94.6% of the initial capacity after 2000 cycles). Moreover, a fabricated asymmetric supercapacitor cell based on Ni0.2Mn0.8O1.5 and active carbon demonstrated an energy density of 19.5 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 799 W kg−1, suggesting a promising practical application for these microspheres in supercapacitors.
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A miscible blend solution of poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PEGDA)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was crosslinked on polypropylene (PP) separator by UV-irradiation. PEGDA/PVdF/PMMA(E/V/M)-coated electrolytes showed much better liquid electrolyte uptaking and retention than PEGDA/PP composite electrolyte because viscous ternary blend solution was more compatible with electrolyte system. Gel-coated membranes (GCE) containing a mixed lithium salts of LiPF6/LiCF3SO3 (10/1 (w/w)) showed slightly lower maximum conductivity than those containing only LiPF6, but their interfacial resistance much more stable than other salt compositions. In addition, it was found that γ-Al2O3 filler improved interfacial stability. As a result, 8cm × 13cm MCMB/LiCoO2 cells composed of E/V/M-coated composite matrix and LiPF6/LiCF3SO3 (10/1 (w/w)) delivered 99.6% initial capacity after 100 cycles at C/2 rate.
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Due to the limited range and long charging time for electric vehicles, proper utilization of the stored battery energy is crucial. Current methods for electric vehicle range estimation do not help the driver to formulate a driving strategy based on trip parameters (e.g., trip speed) related to power savings. This can be done by predicting the driving range based on optimal trip parameters prior to the trip enabling the driver to formulate a suitable driving strategy. This study proposes a novel strategy that presents a number of optimal trip speeds to the driver, along with the total trip time corresponding to a predicted range. The optimal speeds were obtained by solving a multi-objective optimization problem that maximized electric motor efficiency and minimized power consumption. Two approaches to calculate the objective functions were considered: using constant battery voltage and using battery voltage as a function of the state-of-charge. Pareto-optimal fronts were obtained and a plot of the predicted range and trip times for optimal speeds was created. It was found that the shape of the fronts was not affected by the approach; however, the range was overestimated when a constant battery voltage was used.
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Silicon electrode with sandwich structure as anode of lithium ion batteries is fabricated by adding a carbon layer between current collector and active coating. The prepared silicon electrode with the sandwich structure can exhibit high reversible capacity of 2500mAhg−1 for 30 cycles, which is much higher than that of bare silicon electrode with normal structure. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrode morphologies characterizations show that the improved performance of sandwich electrode is attributed to the carbon layer, which not only enhances the electric conductivity at the current collector/active coating interface but also releases the rigid stress caused by volume change of silicon. The results demonstrate that such sandwich structure is a potential facile method for performance improvement of silicon-based anode compared with the previous reports.
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A phosphorous-doped graphite felt (PGF) is fabricated and examined as electrode for vanadium flow battery (VFB). P doping improves the electrolyte wettability of GF and induces more defect sites on its surface, resulting in significantly enhanced activity and reversibility towards VO2+/VO2 + and V2+/V3+ couples. VFB with PGF electrode demonstrates outstanding performance such as high-rate capability under 50–400 mA cm−2, wide-temperature tolerance at −20 °C–60 °C, and excellent durability over 1000 charge–discharge cycles. These merits enable PGF a promising electrode for the next-generation VFB, which can operate at high-power and all-climate conditions.
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In this work, we report the formation of porous Li2MTi3O8 (M = Zn, Co) flakes (hereafter referred to as f-Li2MTi3O8) via a facile one-step solution-combustion in less than 10 min. As anodes for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the synthesized f-Li2MTi3O8 exhibits high reversible charge–discharge capacity, great cycling stability and high rate performance. These results can be attributed to the intrinsic characteristics of spinel Li2MTi3O8 flakes, in which a porous framework could provide a diffusion space for lithium ion insertion into and extraction from the anode material, resulting in excellent cycle performance, even cycling at high rate of 2000 mA g−1.
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Developing high-performance anode materials is a crucial research target of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Transition metal oxides (TMOs) have attracted great interest as potential anodes, but their applications are still hindered by slow reaction kinetics and large volume changes. Herein, Mo-aniline nanorods (Mo-ANRs) are prepared as precursors by a simple self-polymerized method in acid condition. After the in-situ phase transformation during annealing, multistage composites (N-CNRs@g-MoO2) are formed, with N-doped carbon nanorods (N-CNRs) converted from polymeric aniline ligands, on which granular molybdenum dioxide (g-MoO2) are uniformly precipitated and residual MoO2 nanodots are remained. As anode materials for SIBs, N-CNRs@g-MoO2 electrode is benefited from the shortened ion/electron diffusion length caused by steady g-MoO2 and residual nanodots, and the enhanced electrical conductivity and relieved volume changes introduced by N-CNRs and unique architecture. Thus, N-CNRs@g-MoO2 electrode delivers high discharge capacity (497.5 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1), excellent rate performance and ultra-long cycling stability (165.6 mAh g−1 at 10.0 A g−1 after 12000 cycles), and 122% capacity retention is obtained at 1.0 A g−1 over 500 cycles even after the rate test. The significant enhancements in sodium-ion storage are mainly attributed to the multistage architecture and synergistic advantages among MoO2 nanodots, N-CNRs and g-MoO2. These results indicate that the in-situ phase transformation route has great potential in constructing novel composites with unique architecture for high-performance SIBs.
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In this paper, the electrochemical reactions of sulfur cathode during discharge–charge process were investigated by EIS technique combining with XRD, SEM and EDS methods. The discharge process of the sulfur cathode could be divided into two discharge regions. These are the first discharge region (2.5–2.05V) where the reduction of elemental sulfur to form soluble polysulfides and further reduction of the soluble polysulfides occurs, and the second discharge region (2.05–1.5V) where the soluble polysulfides are reduced to form a Li2S solid film covered over the carbon matrix. It was found that the EIS can distinguish the individual contributions of charge transfer resistances, ion diffusion impedance and properties originating from Li2S film in the frequency domain of 100kHz to 100mHz. During the upper voltage plateau, the impedance of interfacial charge transfer dominates the reduction reaction, while during the lower voltage plateau, the mass transport in the cathode is a control step. It was also proved that the solid Li2S appeared at the beginning of the lower voltage plateau region and became denser during the following discharge process.
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Experimental evidence has shown that composites comprised Si and Sn nanoparticles embedded inside a matrix are the most promising next generation anodes for Li-ion batteries. This is due to the ability of the matrix material to constrain/buffer the up to 300% volume expansion that Sn and Si undergo upon the formation of lithium rich alloys. Damage still occurs at the nanoparticle/matrix interface, and hence further materials design is required in order to commercialize such anodes. Initial theoretical works have predicted that low volume fractions and high aspect ratios of the nanoparticles result in a greater mechanical stability and hence better capacity retention. The most important design parameters, however, such as particle size and spacing have not been considered theoretically. In the present study, therefore, a gradient enhanced damage model will be employed to predict that damage during Li-insertion, is negligible when the particle size is 20nm, and the interparticle half-spacing greater then 1.5 times the particle diameter. Furthermore, from the matrix materials considered herein graphene is predicted to be the most promising matrix, which is consistent with recent experimental data.
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Genotoxicity is one of the important endpoints for risk assessment of environmental chemicals. Many short-term assays to evaluate genotoxicity have been developed and some of them are being used routinely. Although these assays can generally be completed within a short period, their throughput is not sufficient to assess the huge number of chemicals, which exist in our living environment without information on their safety. We have evaluated three commercially available in silico systems, i.e., DEREK, MultiCASE, and ADMEWorks, to assess chemical genotoxicity. We applied these systems to the 703 chemicals that had been evaluated by the Salmonella/microsome assay from CGX database published by Kirkland et al. [1]. We also applied these systems to the 206 existing chemicals in Japan that were recently evaluated using the Salmonella/microsome assay under GLP compliance (ECJ database). Sensitivity (the proportion of the positive in Salmonella/microsome assay correctly identified by the in silico system), specificity (the proportion of the negative in Salmonella/microsome assay correctly identified) and concordance (the proportion of correct identifications of the positive and the negative in Salmonella/microsome assay) were increased when we combined the three in silico systems to make a final decision in mutagenicity, and accordingly we concluded that in silico evaluation could be optimized by combining the evaluations from different systems. We also investigated whether there was any correlation between the Salmonella/microsome assay result and the molecular weight of the chemicals: high molecular weight (>3000) chemicals tended to give negative results. We propose a decision tree to assess chemical genotoxicity using a combination of the three in silico systems after pre-selection according to their molecular weight.
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Iron oxide has been considered as one of the most promising anode materials due to its high theoretical capacity, low cost and environmental friendliness. However, few simple and effective method is explored for preparing iron oxides with high electrochemical performance via alleviating the volume change and agglomeration of active particles. In this work, FeO x /carbon/graphene composites are fabricated by a facile solution combustion synthesis within several minutes in one step. Characterization demonstrates that FeO x nanoparticles are well-dispersed in the graphene matrix. The presence of graphene effectively alleviates the agglomeration of FeO x nanoparticles, and accommodates the volume changes during the cycling process, thereby resulting in the excellent electrochemical performance. FeO x /carbon/graphene (31.4wt.% graphene) delivers a higher discharge capacity of 824mAhg−1 after 100 cycles at 0.4Ag−1, in comparison to the value of 301mAhg−1 for the composite without graphene. This easily prepared FeO x /carbon/graphene composite with excellent electrochemical performance can be considered as one promising anode material used for lithium-ion batteries.
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A widely used oxyanion corrosion inhibitor (Li2CrO4) was used as electrolyte additive (3.5 wt% NaCl solution was used as electrolyte solution) for Mg–air battery. The potentiodynamic polarization tests showed that the presence of 0.1 wt% Li2CrO4 in the NaCl electrolyte reduced enormously the corrosion current density of the tested AZ31 Mg alloys. According to the intermittent discharge tests, the use of 0.1 wt% Li2CrO4 as electrolyte additive increased the anode efficiency of the Mg–air battery by 28.4%. The addition of 0.1 wt% Li2CrO4 reduced the anode self-corrosion rate of the battery in the intermittent stage effectively. The product film after discharge was observed by scanning electron microscope, and the Mg–air battery containing 0.1 wt% Li2CrO4 has a loose product film, which is beneficial to its discharge performance. So using Li2CrO4 as electrolyte additive could improve the intermittent discharge performance of Mg–air battery. And the use of oxyanion corrosion inhibitor as electrolyte additive may be an excellent way to improve the intermittent discharge performance of Mg–air battery.
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Definition, evaluation and management of concussion are contentious issues in sports medicine, and evidence-based guidelines on these issues are urgently needed. An updated practice parameter on sport-related concussion from the AAN is, therefore, timely. However, these new guidelines fail to meet the needs of clinicians in this field.
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Experimental work was performed with the aim of evaluating the Ce4+/Ce3+ redox couple in sulfuric acid electrolyte for use in redox flow battery (RFB) technology. The solubility of cerium sulfates in 0.1–4.0M sulfuric acid at 20–60°C was studied. A synergistic effect of both sulfuric acid concentration and temperature on the solubility of cerous sulfate was observed. The solubility of cerous sulfate significantly decreased with rising concentration of sulfuric acid and rising temperature, while the solubility of ceric sulfate goes through a significant maximum at 40°C. Redox potentials and the kinetics of the cerous/ceric redox reaction were also studied under the same temperature–concentration conditions. The redox potentials were measured using the combined redox electrode (Pt–Ag/AgCl) in equimolar Ce4+/Ce3+ solutions (i.e.[Ce3+]=[Ce4+]) in sulfuric acid electrolyte. The Ce3+/Ce4+ redox potentials significantly decrease (i.e. shift to more negative values) with rising sulfuric acid concentration; a small maximum is observed at 40°C. Cyclic voltammetric experiments confirmed slow electrochemical kinetics of the Ce3+/Ce4+ redox reaction on carbon glassy electrodes (CGEs) in sulfuric acid solutions. The observed dependencies of solubilities, the redox potentials and the kinetics of Ce3+/Ce4+ redox reaction on sulfuric acid concentration are thought to be the result of inequivalent complexation of the two redox species by sulfate anions: the ceric ion is much more strongly bound to sulfate than is the cerous ion. The best temperature–concentration conditions for the RFB electrolytes appear to be 40°C and 1M sulfuric acid, where the relatively good solubility of both cerium species, the maximum of redox potentials, and the more or less satisfying stability of CGE s were found. Even so, the relatively low solubility of cerium salts in sulfuric acid media and slow redox kinetics of the Ce3+/Ce4+ redox reaction at carbon indicate that the Ce3+/Ce4+ may not be well suited for use in RFB technology.
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The ability to generate complex hierarchical structures is a crucial component of human cognition which can be expressed in the musical domain in the form of hierarchical melodic relations. The neural underpinnings of this ability have been investigated by comparing the perception of well-formed melodies with unexpected sequences of tones. However, these contrasts do not target specifically the representation of rules generating hierarchical structure. Here, we present a novel paradigm in which identical melodic sequences are generated in four steps, according to three different rules: The Recursive rule, generating new hierarchical levels at each step; The Iterative rule, adding tones within a fixed hierarchical level without generating new levels; and a control rule that simply repeats the third step. Using fMRI, we compared brain activity across these rules when participants are imagining the fourth step after listening to the third (generation phase), and when participants listened to a fourth step (test sound phase), either well-formed or a violation. We found that, in comparison with Repetition and Iteration, imagining the fourth step using the Recursive rule activated the superior temporal gyrus (STG). During the test sound phase, we found fronto-temporo-parietal activity and hippocampal de-activation when processing violations, but no differences between rules. STG activation during the generation phase suggests that generating new hierarchical levels from previous steps might rely on retrieving appropriate melodic hierarchy schemas. Previous findings highlighting the role of hippocampus and inferior frontal gyrus may reflect processing of unexpected melodic sequences, rather than hierarchy generation per se.
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While the textile based stretchable supercapacitors have been demonstrated as efficient charge storage devices, challenges in developing self powered wearable devices still exist. The present work describes a screen printed flexible and stretchable supercapacitor that can act as an energy buffering element for powering wearable fitness monitoring devices. The supercapacitor possesses interdigitated shaped intrinsically stretchable electrodes with free-standing serpentine interconnects. The symmetric supercapacitor relies on carbon nanotube and poly(aniline) as active materials and polyurethane as a stretch enduring binder. Such in-plane supercapacitors are realized by initially printing on a paper substrate, pre-coated with a water soluble layer, and then transferred onto a pre-strained elastomeric substrate. The supercapacitor showed excellent mechanical resiliency even though subjected to intense mechanical deformations. The electrode possessed highest areal capacitance of 167 mF/cm2 at a current density of 0.4 mA/cm2 and showed appreciable areal energy and power density of 14.9 μWh/cm2 and 0.29 mW/cm2, respectively. The supercapacitor showed conformal integration with the stretchable sweat band and which (3 devices, in series) can independently power a red light emitting diode. In combination with a flexible solar cell and a custom-made low power booster, the supercapacitor can continuously powers the wearable pulse rate sensor even in the presence of poor sunlight intensity.
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The effects of increasing levels of metals (10 and 20 mg of Cr kg-1 and 25 and 50 mg of Cd, Pb, and Ni kg-1 soil) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus intraradices on the yield, chemical composition of volatile oil, and metal accumulation in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were investigated in a pot experiment. The shoot yield, content of essential oil, and root yield of sweet basil were increased by the application of low dose of Cd, Pb, and Ni as compared to control. The application of high level of metals had deleterious effect on the yield. In soil with low dose of metal applied, AM fungi inoculation significantly enhanced the metal concentration in shoots and had adverse effect on the yield, whereas in soil with high dose of metal applied, AM fungal inoculation reduced the metal concentration in shoot and had beneficial effect on the yield. The content of linalool in basil oil was decreased and that of methyl chavicol was increased by the application of Cr, Cd, and Pb in soil as compared to control. Similarly, the level of linalool and methyl chavicol was decreased and that of methyl eugenol was increased by the application of Ni as compared to control. However, AM fungal inoculation led to maintain the content of linalool, methyl chavicol, and methyl eugenol in volatile oil, which were either increased or decreased by the application of metals. We conclude that the AM–sweet basil symbiosis could be used as a novel approach to enhance the yield and maintain the quality of volatile oil of sweet basil under metal-contaminated soils.
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Evolution of the chemical bonding nature and electrochemical activity of indium selenide upon the composite formation with carbon species is systematically investigated. Nanocomposites of In4Se2.85@graphene and In4Se2.85@carbon-black are synthesized via a solid state reaction between In and Se elements, and the following high energy mechanical milling of In4Se2.85 with graphene and carbon-black, respectively. The high energy mechanical milling (HEMM) of In4Se2.85 with carbon species gives rise to a decrease of particle size with a significant depression of the crystallinity of In4Se2.85 phase. In contrast to the composite formation with carbon-black, that with graphene induces a notable decrease of (InSe) bond covalency, underscoring significant chemical interaction between graphene and In4Se2.85. Both the nanocomposites of In4Se2.85@graphene and In4Se2.85@carbon-black show much better anode performance for lithium ion batteries with larger discharge capacity and better cyclability than does the pristine In4Se2.85 material, indicating the beneficial effect of composite formation on the electrochemical activity of indium selenide. Between the present nanocomposites, the electrode performance of the In4Se2.85@graphene nanocomposite is superior to that of the In4Se2.85@carbon-black nanocomposite, which is attributable to the weakening of (InSe) bonds upon the composite formation with graphene as well as to the better mixing between In4Se2.85 and graphene. The present study clearly demonstrates that the composite formation with graphene has strong influence on the chemical bonds and electrode activity of indium selenide and the HEMM process with graphene nanosheet is fairly useful in exploring excellent electrode materials of metal chalcogenide–carbon nanocomposite for lithium ion batteries.
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Olivine LiFePO4 is synthesized by a carbothermal reduction method (CTR) using industrial raw materials with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a reductive agent and carbon source. A required amount of acetone is added to the starting materials for the ball milling process and the precursor is sintered at 973K for 8h to form crystalline phase LiFePO4. The structure and morphology of the LiFePO4/C composite samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and magnetic susceptibility. Electrochemical measurements show that the LiFePO4/C composite cathode delivers an initial discharge capacity of 150mAhg−1 at a 0.2C-rate between 4.0 and 2.8V, and almost no capacity loss is observed for up to 50 cycles. Remarkably, the cell can sustain a 30C-rate between 4.6 and 2.0V, and this rate capability is equivalent to charge or discharge in 2min. The simple technique, low-cost starting materials, and excellent electrochemical performance make this process easier to commercialize than other synthesized methods.
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We consider the setting of a device that obtains its energy from a battery and some regenerative source such as a solar cell. We consider the speed scaling problem of scheduling a collection of tasks with release times, deadlines, and sizes, so as to minimize the energy recharge rate of the regenerative source. This is the first theoretical investigation of speed scaling for devices with a regenerative energy source. We show that the problem can be expressed as a polynomial sized convex program. We show that, using the KKT conditions, one can obtain an efficient algorithm to verify the optimality of a schedule. We show that the energy optimal YDS schedule is 2-approximate with respect to the recharge rate. We show that the online algorithm BKP is O ( 1 ) -competitive with respect to recharge rate.
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Ethylene glycol bis (propionitrile) ether (EGBE) is used as an electrolyte additive to improve the cycling stability and rate capability of Li/Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 cells at high operating voltage (4.8 V). After 150 cycles, cells with 1.0 wt% of EGBE containing electrolyte have remarkable cycling performance, 89.0% capacity retention; while the cells with baseline electrolyte only remain 67.4% capacity retention. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and computation results demonstrate that EGBE preferably oxidizes on the cathode surface compared to the LiPF6/carbonate electrolyte. In order to further understand the effects of EGBE on Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 cathode upon cycling at high voltage, electrochemical behaviors and ex-situ surface analysis of Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 are investigated via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductive coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The improved cycling performance can be attributed to more stable and robust surface layer yield via incorporation of EGBE, which mitigates the oxidation of electrolyte on the cathode electrode, and also inhibits the dissolution of bulk transition metal ions as well upon cycling at high voltage.
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One of the most prominent symptoms of schizophrenia is thought disorder, which manifests itself in language production difficulties. In patients with thought disorders the associations are loosened and sentence production is impaired. The determining behavioral and neural mechanisms of sentence production are still an important subject of recent research and have not yet been fully understood. The aim of the current study was to examine the influence of associative relations and distractor modalities on sentence production in healthy participants and participants with schizophrenia. Therefore, reaction times and neural activation of 12 healthy subjects and 13 subjects with schizophrenia were compared in an adapted picture word interference paradigm (PWI). No significant group differences were found, neither on the behavioral nor on the neural level. On the behavioral level, for the entire group incremental sentence processing was found, i.e. processing of the second noun only starts after the first noun was processed. At the neural level, activation was discovered in the bilateral caudate nuclei and the cerebellum. Those activations could be related to response enhancement and suppression as well as to the modulation of cognitive processes.
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The research, development and application of high energy density lithium ion batteries are strictly restricted by several challenges, particularly the severe capacity degradation of the batteries at high voltage and elevated temperature. In this work, beneficial surface films are simultaneously formed on both electrodes of a 4.5 V graphite│LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 pouch cell via reduction and oxidation polymerizations of a novel multifunctional additive Tripropargyl Phosphate (TPP). The results demonstrate that the addition of 1.0 wt% TPP into the pouch cell not only improves its initial coulombic efficiency by 4.4%, but also remarkably enhances its cycling stability at both 25 °C and 55 °C. The enhanced cycling stability at high temperature can be attributed to the capture of acidic corrosive species in the electrolyte and the construction of robust protective films on the surface of the electrodes. These two effects significantly mitigate the decomposition of Ethyl Methyl Carbonate (EMC), reduce the dissolution of transition metal from cathode, and eliminate the formation of cracks inside the LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 and graphite particles.
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Global positioning systems (GPS) and mobile phone networks make it possible to track individual users with an increasing accuracy. It is natural to ask whether this information can be used to maintain social networks. In such a network each user wishes to be informed whenever one of a list of other users, called the user’s friends, appears in the user’s vicinity. In contrast to more traditional positioning based algorithms, the computation here depends not only on the user’s own position on a static map, but also on the dynamic position of the user’s friends. Hence it requires both communication and computation resources. The computation can be carried out either between the individual users in a peer-to-peer fashion or by centralized servers where computation and data can be collected at one central location. In the peer-to-peer model, a novel algorithm for minimizing the number of location update messages between pairs of friends is presented. We also present an efficient algorithm for the centralized model, based on region hierarchy and quadtrees. The paper provides an analysis of the two algorithms, compares them with a naive approach, and evaluates them on user motions generated by the IBM City Simulator system.
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The piezoelectric transformers reach densities of power more significant than their magnetic counterparts. However, one of the principal factors limiting the density of power is the acceptable maximum deformation by material constituting the transformer. The heating of the piezoelectric transformers is mainly of mechanical origin. This heating generates a degradation of the characteristics which in its turn generates an additional heating being able to lead to a phenomenon of thermal avalanche. In this work, two nonlinear methods [synchronized switch harvesting on inductor (SSHI) and SSHI-max] have been explored to improve the performance of the Rosen transformer basing on the tension generated by the secondary so as to increase the capacity of mechanic-electric conversion. The simulation results show that SSHI and SSHI-max techniques significantly increase the capacity of mechanic-electric conversion of inserts stuck on a vibrating structure and consequently, the power recovered in electric form. The comparative results of voltage gain, efficiency and the transmitted power of the transformer, before and after SSHI-max and SSHI control are given. These ones indicated that the two nonlinear techniques are promising as applications to improve the performances of the piezo-transformers.
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Background Single nucleotide polymorphisms in TCF4 gene have been consistently associated with schizophrenia in genome wide association studies, including the C allele of rs9960767. However, its exact role in modulating the schizophrenia phenotype is not known. Aims To comprehensively investigate the relationship between rs9960767 risk allele (C) of TCF4 and cognitive performance in patients with first episode psychosis (FEP). Methods 173 patients with FEP received a comprehensive neurocognitive evaluation and were genotyped for rs9960767. Carriers of the risk allele (CA/CC) were compared to non-carriers (AA) using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance MANCOVA. Ethnicity, negative symptoms and substance abuse were included as covariates. Results Carriers of the risk allele had a statistically significant lower performance in the cognitive domain of Reasoning/Problem-Solving compared to non-carriers (F1,172 =4.4, p=.038). There were no significant genotype effects on the other cognitive domains or general cognition. This effect on the Reasoning/Problem-Solving domain remained significant even when controlling for IQ (F1,172 =4.3, p=.039). Conclusions rs9960767 (C) of TCF4 appears to be associated with neurocognitive deficits in the Reasoning/Problem-Solving cognitive domain, in patients with FEP. A confirmation of this finding in a larger sample and including other TCF4 polymorphisms will be needed to gain further validity of this result.
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γ-phase LiV2O5, which shows superior electrochemical performance as cathode material in Li-ion batteries, was prepared by annealing the polyoxovanadate cluster Li7 [V15O36(CO3)]. The reaction mechanism was studied using operando X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and XPS results reveal that γ-LiV2O5 undergoes two-electron redox reaction per V2O5 pyramid unit, resulting in a large reversible capacity of 260 Ah/kg. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and PXRD analyses also suggest that the V-V distance slightly increases, due to the reduction of V5+ to V4+ during Li ion intercalation as the material structure is maintained. As a result, γ-LixV2O5 shows highly reversible electrochemical reaction with x = 0.1–1.9.
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This paper attempts to formalise, solve and optimise (S/O) the Assembly Sequence Planning Problem (ASPP), a large scale, highly constrained combinatorial problem. Due to the complexity of the subject and the number of related matters to be considered/adapted/solved prior to S/O the ASPP, the paper is split in two, self-contained, parts: Part I—Automatic Generation of Feasible Assembly Sequences and Part II—optimisation of assembly sequences using Genetic Algorithms. The first part deals with formalising the ASPP—modelling and representation issues—and generating feasible assembly sequences (solving the ASPP). The second part is concerned with the optimisation of the ASPP and will present in detail the Genetic Algorithm designed to optimise it, the genetic operators that compose the algorithm and the definition of the fitness function (optimisation function). The ASPP is considered here as a full-scale, unabridged problem.
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Harvesting mechanical energy from our living environment is an effective approach for self-powered electronics. One of the key issues is how to extract more electricity from one mechanical motion. Here, we report a hybrid energy cell that consists of a single-electrode based triboelectric nanogenerator (S-TENG) and an electromagnetic generator (EMG), which can be utilized to simultaneously scavenge mechanical energy from one mechanical motion. Due to the contact/separation between the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film and the polyamide (PA) film, the S-TENG delivers an open-circuit voltage (peak to peak) of about 600V, a short-circuit current of about 3.5μA with a largest output power of about 0.25mW (power per unit mass: 0.48mW/g), which can directly light up tens of commercial light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in series. From the same mechanical motion, the EMG can produce an open-circuit voltage of about 3V, a short-circuit current of about 1mA with a largest output power of 0.58mW (power per unit mass: 5.31μW/g), which can directly light up tens of LEDs in parallel. Moreover, the hybrid energy cell exhibits a better charging performance than that of S-TENG or EMG for charging a capacitor. This work presents a hybrid energy cell technology to simultaneously scavenge mechanical energy from one mechanical motion for self-powered electronics.
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Summary The discovery of natural resources across the African continent brings hope for millions of poor people, but there are long-standing fears that the resources will be a curse rather than a blessing. One of the most frequently claimed effects is that gender inequality in economic opportunities may increase with mining. This paper is the first multi-country quantitative analysis of the local employment impacts for men and women of large-scale mining in the African continent. Using exact mine locations, we merge survey data for 800,000 individuals with data on all mine openings and closings across the continent, which enables a highly localized analysis of spillover effects. We employ a geographic difference-in-difference estimation exploiting the spatial and temporal variation in mining. We show that industrial mine opening is a mixed blessing for women. It triggers a local structural shift, whereby women shift from agricultural self-employment (25% decrease) to the service sector (50% increase), and are 16% more likely to earn cash. However, overall female employment decreases by 8% as agriculture is a larger sector than services. Male partners shift to skilled manual labor, and some find jobs in the mining sector. The effects of mine openings diminish with distance and are close to zero at 50km from a mine. Mine closure causes the service and skilled sectors to contract. The results are robust to a wide battery of robustness checks, such as using different measures of distance and excluding migrants from the sample. This paper shows that large-scale mining can stimulate nonagricultural sectors in Africa, although it creates local boom-bust economies with transient and gender-specific employment effects.
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Airborne 210Pb, daughter of 222Rn, is frequently used as a tracer in different studies concerning atmospheric transport, sedimentation, soil erosion, dating, etc. Concentration of 210Pb was measured in 40 soil samples collected in urban and industrial areas in order to get evidence of possible influence of some factors on accumulation of airborne 210Pb in soil. Different soil properties such as the content of organic matter, free CaCO3, and available phosphorus (P2O5) were measured to explore their possible correlation with the amount of 210Pb. Special attention was given to the correlation between 210Pb and stable lead accumulated in the soil. Several samples were taken near a battery manufacturer to check if extremely high concentrations of lead can affect the uptake of the airborne 210Pb in soil. Soil samples were also taken at different depths to investigate the penetration of lead through the soil.
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The tremendous amount of research that has been carried out in the two closely related fields of semiconductor photoelectrochemistry and photocatalysis during the past three decades continues to provide fundamental insights and practical applications. The present review paper will attempt to describe some of the progress and resulting achievements in these two areas and to briefly discuss the future prospects. In order to provide a focal point, we will highlight work carried out in Japan over the last 5 years. However, we will try as much as possible to put this work into a global and historical context by tracing some of the key developments that have occurred outside this relatively narrow scope. We should note at the outset that we have made no attempt to cover the underlying theory or physics of photoelectrochemistry. Several excellent reviews have appeared during this same time period that cover fundamental and general aspects of photoelectrochemistry and photocatalysis.
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In sensor research community, the advances in materials are main strategy for driving developments in the field, with an ultimate objective to enhance three interrelated analytical parameters that are sensor sensitivity, selectivity and response time. Herein, we demonstrate the design and fabrication of highly sensitive and selective amperometric sensor to detect ascorbic acid (AA) with rapid and reproducible response behavior. The sensor based on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) that initially modified with novel TiO2/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites synthesized by simple chemical and calcination processes. The as-synthesized nanocomposite was fully characterized by XRD, FTIR-Raman, SEM-EDS and TEM, which revealed wrinkled wave like 2-D graphene nano-sheets with crystalline anatase phase of TiO2 nanoparticles anchored on the surface. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed enhanced electrochemical activity of TiO2/rGO nanocomposite modified GCE compared to either bare GCE or TiO2 modified electrode. Sensor analytical parameters derived from amperometric measurements indicated outstanding sensing performance, giving a superior sensitivity 1.061μAμM−1 cm−2, low limit of detection (LOD) 1.19μM at (S/N=3) within a linear range of AA concentration (25 to 725μM) with a correlation coefficient R 2 =0.9888 and a rapid response time <5s. The newly proposed sensor electrode exhibits unique electrochemical stability, repeatability and high selectivity in the presence of common interfering species of glucose, dopamine, citric acid or uric acid. The kinetic study indicated the electrode reaction proceeds via a diffusion-controlled process. The current TiO2/rGO nanocomposite modified GCE gives acceptable detection result towards a commercially available vitamin C supplement.
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P2-type Na2/3−xCaxCoO2 is synthesized via a conventional solid–state reaction. The substituted calcium ions occupy the sodium ion layer and eliminate the lattice mismatches of the two phases in Na2/3−xCaxCoO2. Several voltage steps typically observed in the voltage profiles of NaxCoO2 are mostly disappeared associated with the expansion of single-phase regions, because the substituted calcium ions hinder the ordering of sodium ions and vacancies. Furthermore the Na2/3−xCaxCoO2 shows improved cycling performance especially at high charging–discharging rate. During the cycling test, the calcium-free Na0.74CoO2 shows phase separation to form an inactive sodium poor phase, while the Na5/8Ca1/24CoO2 maintained the single phase, suggesting that the calcium substitution suppress the structural change of the P2-type NaxCoO2 to prevent the phase separation, resulting in the improved cycling performance.
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There is an intensive effort to develop stationary energy storage technologies. Now, Yi Cui and colleagues develop a Mn–H battery that functions with redox couples of Mn2+/MnO2 and H2/H2O, and demonstrate its potential for grid-scale storage.
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The pervasive and ubiquitous computing has motivated researches on multimedia adaptation which aims at matching the video quality to the user needs and device restrictions. This technique has a high computational cost which needs to be studied and estimated when designing architectures and applications. This paper presents an analytical model to quantify these video transcoding costs in a hardware independent way. The model was used to analyze the impact of transcoding delays in end-to-end live-video transmissions over LANs, MANs and WANs. Experiments confirm that the proposed model helps to define the best transcoding architecture for different scenarios.
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Solid electrolyte with stable and fast Na+ ionic conductivity is of central importance in the development of all-solid-state sodium batteries. Here we present a novel Na+ conductor based on complex hydrides with composition of Na3NH2B12H12. It exhibits remarkable thermal stability up to 593 K and excellent electrochemical stable window up to 10 V (vs. Na+/Na). It demonstrates a high Na+ conductivity of 1.0 × 10−4 S cm-1 at a temperature of 372 K, which is much higher than those of its precursors NaNH2 and Na2B12H12. All-solid-state Na-ion batteries were constructed by employing the obtained Na3NH2B12H12 as electrolyte, TiS2 as cathode and sodium foil as anode, which can reversibly discharge/charge for over 200 cycles with more than 50% capacity retention at temperature of 353 K and a rate of 0.1 C. This work opens the gate to develop advanced solid electrolytes via combination of metal amides with closo borates.
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Crystalline echinus-like SnO2@SnS2 shell-shell-structured nanospheres (SSN) are fabricated by a hydrothermal method based on nanoscale Kirkendall Effect. Single crystal SnS2 nanorods with length of approximately 50nm and width of approximately 8-15nm are arranged regularly on the surface of the nanospheres. When the echinus-like SnO2@SnS2 SSN are used as anode materials for Li-ion batteries, the initial capacity is 1558mA h g−1, and the reversible capacity after 100 cycles of the products is 548mA h g−1. The SnO2@SnS2 nanocomposites also display excellent rate capability with a reversible capacity of 443.4mA h g−1 even at the current rate of 5C. The high electrochemical performance is attributed to the synergistic effect of the hierarchical hollow nanostructure: (1) fast ion diffusion and electron transport at electrode/electrolyte interface, (2) sufficient space to minimize the damage to the electrode caused by the volume expansion of tin-based materials during charge-discharge process. The encouraging experimental results suggest that the novel echinus-like hollow shell-shell structured nanospheres have great potential for practical applications of Li-ion batteries.
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Caring for people with dementia at home requires a significant amount of time, organization, and commitment. Therefore, informal caregivers, mainly relatives, of people with dementia often feel a high burden. Although on-site support groups are known to have positive effects on the subjective well-being (SWB) and perceived social support of informal caregivers, there are cases in which relatives have either no time or no opportunity to leave the person alone or in which there are no support groups nearby. The TALKING TIME project aims to close this supply gap by providing structured telephone-based support groups in Germany for the first time. International studies have shown benefits for informal caregivers.
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The practical application of Sn, a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries, is hindered primarily by its huge volume change (up to 260%) upon lithiation. To tackle this obstacle, here we report a facile one-pot method, i.e., pyrolysis of a mixture of GO, SnCl4, and cyanamide at elevated temperatures to create in situ a novel mesoporous structure of Sn@N-doped graphene (Sn@NG). In the constructed architecture, the ultrasmall Sn nanoparticles (2–3 nm) are uniformly embedded in the NG network while the crumpled NG provides good electronic conductivity, abundant defects, high surface area, and large mesopore volume. Due to the combination of these merits, Sn@NG exhibits extremely long-term cycling stability, even at high rates, retaining a capacity of 568 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 (90% retention) and 535 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1 (91.6% retention) after 1000 and 900 cycles, respectively. This performance is superior to that of Sn@G (without N-doping) and Sn//NG prepared using a two-step process with large particle sizes (>30 nm) and uneven dispersion of Sn. The findings from this work will shed light on the design of efficient and stable Sn and other metal-based materials for energy storage and conversion.
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Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a device using microorganisms as biocatalysts for transforming chemical energy into bioelectricity. As soil is an environment with the highest number of microorganisms and diversity, we hypothesized that it should have the potential for energy generation. The soil used for the study was Mollic Gleysol collected from the surface layer (0–20 cm). Four combinations of soil MFC differing from each other in humidity (full water holding capacity [WHC] and flooding) and the carbon source (glucose and straw) were constructed. Voltage (mV) and current intensity (μA) produced by the MFCs were recorded every day or at 2-day intervals. The fastest and the most effective MFCs in voltage generation (372.2 ± 5 mV) were those constructed on the basis of glucose (MFC-G). The efficiency of straw MFCs (MFC-S) was noticeable after 2 weeks (319.3 ± 4 mV). Maximal power density (Pmax = 32 mW m−2) was achieved by the MFC-G at current density (CD) of 100 mA m−2. Much lower values of Pmax (10.6–10.8 mW m−2) were noted in the MFC-S at CD of ca. 60–80 mA m−2. Consequently, soil has potential for production of renewable energy.
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Cortical excitability changes induced by tDCS and revealed by TMS, are increasingly being used as an index of neuronal plasticity in the human cortex. The aim of this paper is to summarize the partially adverse effects of 567 tDCS sessions over motor and non-motor cortical areas (occipital, temporal, parietal) from the last 2 years, on work performed in our laboratories. One-hundred and two of our subjects who participated in our tDCS studies completed a questionnaire. The questionnaire contained rating scales regarding the presence and severity of headache, difficulties in concentrating, acute mood changes, visual perceptual changes and any discomforting sensation like pain, tingling, itching or burning under the electrodes, during and after tDCS. Participants were healthy subjects (75.5%), migraine patients (8.8%), post-stroke patients (5.9%) and tinnitus patients (9.8%). During tDCS a mild tingling sensation was the most common reported adverse effect (70.6%), moderate fatigue was felt by 35.3% of the subjects, whereas a light itching sensation under the stimulation electrodes occurred in 30.4% of cases. After tDCS headache (11.8%), nausea (2.9%) and insomnia (0.98%) were reported, but fairly infrequently. In addition, the incidence of the itching sensation (p =0.02) and the intensity of tingling sensation (p =0.02) were significantly higher during tDCS in the group of the healthy subjects, in comparison to patients; whereas the occurrence of headache was significantly higher in the patient group (p =0.03) after the stimulation. Our results suggest that tDCS applied to motor and non-motor areas according to the present tDCS safety guidelines, is associated with relatively minor adverse effects in healthy humans and patients with varying neurological disorders.
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Sponsorship: Canadian International Development Agency through Micronutrient Initiative, UNICEF Malawi, World Vision Malawi. SmithKline Beecham donated albendazole.
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High density, three-dimensional (3D) cultures present physical similarities to in vivo tissue and are invaluable tools for pre-clinical therapeutic discoveries and development of tissue engineered constructs. Unfortunately, the use of dense cultures is hindered by intra-culture transport limits allowing just a few layer thick cultures for reproducible studies. In order to overcome diffusion limits in intra-culture nutrient and gas availability, a simple scalable microfluidic perfusion platform was developed and validated. A novel perfusion approach maintained laminar flow of nutrients through the culture to meet metabolic need, while removing depleted medium and catabolites. Velocity distributions and 3D flow patterns were measured using microscopic particle image velocimetry. The effectiveness of forced convection laminar perfusion was confirmed by culturing 700 µm thick neural-astrocytic (1:1) constructs at cell density approaching that of the brain (50,000 cells/mm3). At the optimized flow rate of the nutrient medium, the culture viability reached 90% through the full construct thickness at 2 days of perfusion while unperfused controls exhibited widespread cell death. The membrane aerated perfusion platform was integrated within a miniature, imaging accessible enclosure enabling temperature and gas control of the culture environment. Temperature measurements demonstrated fast feedback response to environmental changes resulting in the maintenance of the physiological temperature within 37 ± 0.2°C. Reproducible culturing of tissue equivalents within dynamically controlled environments will provide higher fidelity to in vivo function in an in vitro accessible format for cell-based assays and regenerative medicine.
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Phonological recoding, orthographic knowledge, and rapid automatized naming (RAN) are three major contributors to word identification. However, the interrelations between these components remain somewhat unclear. The current analyses focus on how phonological recoding and alphanumeric versus non-alphanumeric RAN contribute to different components of orthographic knowledge (word specific vs. general). Results indicate that alphanumeric and non-alphanumeric RAN contribute to orthographic knowledge components differently. Alphanumeric RAN relates more to word-specific orthographic knowledge, whereas non-alphanumeric RAN relates more to general orthographic knowledge. Furthermore, phonological recoding is more closely related to word-specific orthographic knowledge than to general orthographic knowledge.
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As the largest developing country, China has abundant wind, biomass and solar energy resources. Under the large demand for electricity and the shortage of fossil energy, it is essential to develop renewable energy generation in China. This paper analyzes the resources, scale, market operation, profitability and policies of China’s wind, biomass and solar power generation and gives a discussion of the investment risks in the current situation. It is expected that the analysis in this paper could be helpful for the potential investors to make decision.
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Several factors must be considered before adopting a full-phase power generation system based on renewable energy sources. Long-term necessary data (for one year if possible) should be collected before making any decisions concerning implementation of such a systems. To accurately assess the potential of available resources, we measured solar irradiation, wind speed, and ambient temperature at two high-altitude locations in Nepal: the Lama Hotel in Rasuwa District and Thingan in Makawanpur District. Here, we propose two practical, economical hybridization methods for small off-grid systems consisting entirely of renewable energy sources—specifically solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and micro-hydro sources. One of the methods was tested experimentally, and the results can be applied to help achieve Millennium Development Goal 7: Ensuring environmental sustainability. Hydro, wind, and solar photovoltaic energy are the top renewable energy sources in terms of globally installed capacity. However, no reports have been published about off-grid hybrid systems comprised of all three sources, making this implementation the first of its kind anywhere. This research may be applied as a practical guide for implementing similar systems in various locations. Of the four off-grid PV systems installed by the authors for village electrification in Nepal, one was further hybridized with wind and hydro power sources. This paper presents a novel approach for connecting renewable energy sources to a utility mini-grid.
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A comprehensive study on high temperature cycling (80 °C) of industrial manufactured Li-ion pouch cells (NMC-111/Graphite) filled with different electrolytes is introduced. Ageing processes such as capacity fade, resistance increase and gas generation are reduced by the choice of appropriate electrolyte formulations. However, even by using additive formulations designed for elevated temperatures a large resistance increase is observed after 200 cycles and more (which does not happen at 55 °C). Symmetrical EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) shows that the cathodic charge transfer resistance is the main reason for this behaviour. Nonetheless most of the active Li is still available when cycling with suitable additives. No change of the cathode crystalline structure or a growth of the cathodic surface reconstruction layer is observed post cycling at 80 °C. Therefore a disintegration of NMC secondary particles is believed to be the main reason of the cell failure. A separation of single grains is leading to new decomposition and reconstruction layers between primary particles and an increased charge transfer resistance. Further approaches to improve the high temperature cycle stability of NMC based materials should therefore be aimed at the cathode particles morphology in combination with similar electrolyte formulations as used in this study.
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A series of Li2Fe1-x V x SiO4/C (x =0.00, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07) composites have been synthesized via a refluxing-assisted solid-state reaction. XRD results confirm the monoclinic structure with space group P21 for Li2Fe1-x V x SiO4/C compounds. TEM and Raman spectroscopy demonstrate V-doping can increase the graphitization degree of residual carbon. XPS confirms that V-incorporation does not change the divalent state of Fe, and the oxidation state of V in V-doped Li2FeSiO4/C is +3. Combined Ar-ion sputtering with XPS, it is found that V has been successfully doped into the crystal lattice of Li2FeSiO4. Electrochemical tests show that LFS/C-5V delivers the highest initial discharge capacity of 220.4mAhg−1 and the biggest Li-ion diffusion coefficient of 1.60×10−11 cm2 s−1. In addition, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations predict that V-doping decreases the electronic band gap of Li2FeSiO4, thus leads to significant improvement in the electrical conductivity of Li2FeSiO4. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to the increased electronic conductivity, the decreased charge transfer impedance, and the improved Li-ion diffusion coefficient. Our results clarified the nature of V doping into Li2FeSiO4 and demonstrated that V-doping is a promising approach to improve the electrochemical performance of Li2FeSiO4.
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Solidified lithium conducting hybrid electrolyte is designed and processed to realize the large scale and flexible solid state Li battery satisfying energy capability and safety issue. This paper presents a solidified inorganic-organic hybrid electrolyte to obtain commercially-acceptable ionic conductivity and a stable electrochemical window to prevent electrolyte decomposition in Li ion batteries. Li3PO4 coated with solidified [Li][EMI][TFSI] ionic liquid is developed as hybrid electrolyte material. The material has high electrochemical stability on a high-voltage cathode and metallic anode, and the solid electrolyte has high ionic conductivity. This Li3PO4-[Li][EMI][TFSI] hybrid electrolyte has the advantages of long-term operation, safety and flexibility, so it may be suitable for use in high-voltage cathodes and Li anode.
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Background Ketamine has been used to probe the biology of psychosis and cognitive dysfunction in humans. High levels of ketamine abuse are associated with persisting psychosis (KPP) in a minority of users. However, relatively little is known about cognitive function among KPP patients and whether the cognitive impairments associated with KPP resemble those of schizophrenia (SZ). Methods We recruited 149 treatment-seeking patients, including nonpsychotic ketamine users (KNP, n=51), KPP (n=23), and SZ (n=75) patients. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to evaluate psychopathology and the Cogstate Brief Battery to assess cognitive function including psychomotor processing speed, attention, working memory, verbal and visual learning and memory, spatial problem solving, and social-emotional cognition. Results Ketamine-dependent patients had an extensive history of ketamine use (average duration=7.1±4.2years, average consumption=3.8±2.7g per day). Although KPP patients used relatively less average ketamine daily dose than KNP patients, KPP patients exhibited significantly greater total PANSS score and subscale scores, while these scores in KPP and SZ patients did not differ significantly. After adjusting for demographic characteristics and antipsychotic dose, KPP and SZ patients showed impairments in spatial problem solving and verbal memory compared to KNP patients, but KPP and SZ patients did not significantly differ from each other. Conclusion These data suggest that the symptom profile and cognitive impairments associated with persisting psychosis due to chronic heavy ketamine abuse resemble those of schizophrenia, while KNP patients showed significantly less severe symptom profile and cognitive impairment than KPP and SZ.
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The largest applied convertors in passenger cars are the internal combustion engines – gasoline, diesel, adapted also for operating on alternative fuels and hybrid modes. The number of components that are necessary to realize modern future propulsion system is inexorably increasing. The need for efficiency improvement of the vehicle energy system induces the search for an innovative methodology during the design process. In this article the compressed air is investigated as an innovative solution for hybridization of small gasoline engine. The combination of a conventional IC engine and a pneumatic short-term storage system is an interesting approach to achieve lower fuel consumption. Instead of using a battery, a hybrid pneumatic vehicle uses a robust and inexpensive air pressure tank for energy storage. The fuel consumption benefit of the hybrid air system is assessed and the vehicle usages leading to the maximal fuel consumption benefits of the hybrid pneumatic powertrain are investigated. The hybrid pneumatic concept is applied on a largely deployed C Segment commercial vehicle with 3 cylinder gasoline engine. The lowest fuel consumption results are investigated on the usage of this vehicle.
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The aim of this project is studying the effect of thermal operation parameters on the graphitization of self-diffused ethane-based catalytic coke. The novelty of this study refers to self-diffused metals that had given unique properties to the catalytic coke and had improved the graphitization degree at low temperatures. The main feature of this research is presenting a remarkable energy saving approach that uses low-cost installations for production of graphitized carbon. The experiments were performed in two steps including preparation of self-diffused ethane-based catalytic coke and then low-temperature graphitization of coke samples below 1500 °C. Characteristic tests were performed by determination of electrical resistivity and XRD pattern of graphitized samples including graphitization degree, aromaticity, coke rank, number of carbon rings, graphene thickness and length. The results revealed that the blanket atmosphere, final temperature and exposure time had the greatest impact on the aforementioned criteria, while the role of thermal ramp and sulfur content of catalytic coke was negligible. The electrical resistivity tests on the graphitized sample showed how the electrical resistivity of graphitized samples is a function of graphitization degree.
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Concerns about risks associated with new conceptual designs of surface warships have led many decision-makers to rely on the parent-design approach. For example, the design of the Oliver Hazard Perry Class (FFG-7) became the standard of surface warship design for 71 subsequent vessels in three Navies, e.g. Australia, Spain and Taiwan, even though the FFG-7 was initially considered under-armed and vulnerable. This paper finds that following warship designs remain derivations primarily of limited parent designs and that generally warship design is now increasingly costly, yet mostly stagnant, and with fleet numbers in steady decline. By contrast, submarine-build programmes generally show regularly refreshed conceptual designs, new modularised build and construction, usually improving affordability and proliferation. Approaching a modern Synthetical Age, this paper submits that a reconceptualisation of the surface warship design space, shipyards and build techniques are arguably at a critical design juncture. As such a revolution in warship design, like the FFG-7 design was, is overdue. This paper provides insights into the ship designs that are necessary and possible from today's emerging technologies. Such revolutionary design could inject greater usability and affordability to naval surface fleets and build more political, economic and military affordability of ships and potential warfare losses. This new approach is called ‘Versatile modularisation’.
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In this paper, we propose an advanced Levelised Cost of Storage (LCOS) model to compare electricity and thermal energy storage for cooling applications. The proposed model is applied to evaluate the LCOS for Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery, chilled water and ice storage for Photovoltaic (PV) powered cooling for an office, a hotel, and a refrigerated warehouse scenario in Singapore. Parametric energy simulations varying the storage size were carried out to analyse the optimal storage size for different applications and technologies. The thermal energy storages were found to cause a lower chiller plant Coefficient of Performance (COP), which leads to an increased energy consumption. As a result, the battery can achieve a better performance in terms of self-sufficiency. The LCOS for the thermal energy storages are generally lower than that of the battery, at 23–47 USD ct / kWh el for all the analysed storage sizes. However, a well-sized battery can only achieve LCOS of 55 USD ct / kWh el for the office scenario, 71 USD ct / kWh el for the hotel scenario, and 55 USD ct / kWh el for the refrigerated warehouse, due to high investment cost. This work also highlights that thermal energy storage has a better potential for applications that require a larger shift of energy, such as in the investigated hotel and refrigerated warehouse scenario.
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battery
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Spontaneous reactions have been observed between LiCoO2 and electrolyte solvent for lithium ion batteries by characterizing the structural and/or components of the generated species in their gas, liquid and solid states. It is shown that surface coating cannot prevent the dissolution of Li and Co ions from LiCoO2 or the structural degradation of LiCoO2. However, surface modification can suppress the loss of oxygen from LiCoO2. Based on these results, another important aspect of the performance improvement mechanism by surface modification to LiCoO2 and the limitation of surface modification are proposed.
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battery
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An optimization of the specific capacity exhibited by the best layered lithiated cobalt nitride Li2.20Co0.40N is proposed by using a conditioning electrochemical oxidation up to 1.1V before cycling in the 1.1V–0.02V potential range. This initial charge process allows the Co3+/Co2+ redox couple to be involved in the cycling process in addition to the Co2+/Co+ couple as in the 1V–0.02V voltage range. A new electrochemical fingerprint is obtained with a single step at 0.4/0.8V for the discharge-charge process and a specific capacity of 300mAhg−1 at C/5 which constitutes a huge improvement compared to 130mAhg−1 recovered in the conventional 1V–0.02V potential window. This high capacity value and the excellent capacity retention of 100% over at least 75 cycles make Li2.20Co0.40N a promising anode material for Li-ion batteries.
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battery
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Biodegradable matrixes obtained from natural renewable resources have received increasing attention in the field of gel polymer electrolyte for lithium ion batteries. However, the inferior mechanical property, low uptake ability for liquid electrolytes and the poor lithium ion transference are the obvious drawbacks nowadays. Here, a mechanically robust and environmentally friendly cellulose gel membrane is prepared by the facile solution casting and one-step crosslinking method. This study showed that the GPE based on this cellulose membrane with 5% crosslinker not only possessed good tensile fracture strength of 14.61 MPa, but also presented remarkable electrochemical performance, including high electrolyte uptake of 540%, high ionic conductivity of 6.34 × 10−3 S cm−1, high lithium ion transference number of 0.82 at room temperature, excellent compatibility with lithium electrode and good electrochemical stability. In addition, the assembled cell showed a discharge capacity of 145 mA h g−1 after first cycle at 0.2 C-rate and a high capacity retention of 90% after 50 cycles. We anticipate that this natural polymer membrane will be applied as a high safety, low cost and environmental friendly GPE of lithium-ion batteries.
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battery
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