batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Hydrothermal processing, a thermochemical approach, is an excellent method of converting energy-rich biomass into useful products. This approach offers the advantage of handling biomass with relatively high moisture content by precluding an energy-intensive pretreatment step. Hydrothermal processing is of world-wide interest in view of depleting fossil-fuel reserves and increased environmental greenhouse gas emissions. There is potential to develop this novel technology at demonstration scale. This paper reviews the three hydrothermal technologies, namely hydrothermal liquefaction, gasification and carbonization, to provide insight into the likelihood of commercialization. The study discusses the role of different process parameters that have key impacts on the quality and yield of the desired products. This study also identifies the gaps in the literature including the need to establish a baseline to develop key process models and to perform a techno-economic assessment to get a better sense of the viability of the technology in future.
Morphological features of the protective layer on the graphitic electrodes, formed by reduction of electrolytic solution components during the first cycle, are investigated by SEM and common electrochemical techniques. As expected, the interaction between electrode and solution is very important, leading to quite different results for different solutions. Here, results for solution of various solvents ratio are reported. It appears that the performances of the electrodes are strongly dependent on their surface chemistry in solutions. We can conclude that the nature of the surface film plays a key role for the electrode stability or to capacity decrease always related to an increase of the electrode itself impedance.
In most mobile video encoding systems, long battery life and high performance video encoding are competing design goals. This paper proposed a Macroblock (MB) level perceptual energy scalable video encoding method noted as PMP-ESVE, in which just noticeable distortion (JND) model is introduced as the perceptual cue. PMP-ESVE includes three parts, first, PMP-ESVE can dynamic adapt the variable energy resource budget in MB level, second, PMP-ESVE jointly consider the available energy resource and the perceptual feature in order to provide a MB level scalable video encoding method under variable energy consumption budget. Third, JND model, which refers to the maximum distortion that human visual system cannot perceive, is extended from spatial domain to temporal domain so as to determine perceptual cue in unit of MB. This provides the guideline of resource allocation in MB's. Finally, both objective and subjective quality evaluations are given to evaluate the proposed method. These experimental results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.
The 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (10-item CD-RISC) is an instrument for measuring resilience that has shown good psychometric properties in its original version in English. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the 10-item CD-RISC in young adults and to verify whether it is structured in a single dimension as in the original English version.
A microstructure-based modeling method is developed to predict the mechanical behaviors of lithium-ion battery separators. Existing battery separator modeling methods cannot capture the structural features on the microscale. To overcome this issue, we propose an image-based microstructure Representative Volume Element (RVE) modeling method, which facilitates the understanding of the separators' complex macro mechanical behaviors from the perspective of microstructural features. A generic image processing workflow is developed to identify different phases in the microscopic image. The processed RVE image supplies microstructural information to the Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Both mechanical behavior and microstructure evolution are obtained from the simulation. The evolution of microstructure features is quantified using the stochastic microstructure characterization methods. The proposed method successfully captures the anisotropic behavior of the separator under tensile test, and provides insights into the microstructure deformation, such as the growth of voids. We apply the proposed method to a commercially available separator as the demonstration. The analysis results are validated using experimental testing results that are reported in literature.
Sn–Fe/carbon nanocomposites were synthesized by the mechanochemical treatment of Sn with various amounts of an Fe/C composite through the pyrolysis of Fe(III) acetylacetonate. The composites were then evaluated as alternative anode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries. Based on the obtained ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) data, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) results, and differential capacity plots (DCPs), a reaction mechanism was suggested. It was found that increasing the amounts of the SnFe phase and pyrolyzed carbon in the composite improved its electrochemical characteristics in terms of its capacity retention.
Benefiting from high volumetric energy density and generally dendrite-free growth of Mg metal, rechargeable magnesium batteries (MBs) become a promising next-generation energy storage system. Organic electrode materials, with characteristic of sustainable resource and flexible structure, have been widely studied in alkali metal ion batteries, but are rarely reported in MBs. Herein, we demonstrate that 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) serves as a cathode material for MBs in non-aqueous system, which realizes a fast diffusion kinetics and remarkable Mg-storage performance through a salt-dissolution inhibition approach for the electrolyte. The PTCDA exhibits a reversible capacity of 126 mAh g−1 (at 200 mA g−1), excellent rate performance, and good cycling stability (100 mAh g−1 even after 150 cycles). Furthermore, the evolution mechanism of the PTCDA electrode based on the transformation between carbonyl groups (CO) and enolate groups (C–O) is revealed by ex-situ phase characterization and functional group analysis. Besides, the dissolution inhibition of the PTCDA could also be realized through the incorporation of other soluble salt (KCl or NaCl) into all phenyl complex (APC) electrolyte, resulting in an enhanced cycling capacity. Considering the designable configuration of the organic materials, this work would pave way for their utilization on multi-valent ion batteries and provide efficient strategy to realize high voltage and satisfied cycle life.
In this study the structure and evolution of vacancy type defects in lithium ion batteries are investigated in respect of crystallographic properties. The relation between positron annihilation and electronic structure is discussed in terms of structural dynamics during the lithiation process. Samples of Li1−x Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC-111) electrodes with decreasing lithium content (x = 0–0.7) covering the whole range of state of charge were electrochemically prepared for the non-destructive analysis using positron coincidence Doppler broadening spectroscopy (CDBS). The positron measurements allowed us to observe the evolution of the defect structure caused by the delithiation process in the NMC-111 electrodes. The combination of CDBS with X-ray diffraction for the characterization of the lattice structures enabled the analysis of the well-known kinetic-hindrance-effect in the first charge-discharge cycle and possible implications of vacancy ordering. In particular, CDBS revealed the highest degree of relithiation after discharge to 3.0 V at 55 °C. For the first time, we report on the successful application of CDBS on NMC-111 electrodes yielding new insights in the important role of defects caused by the delithiation process and the kinetic hindrance effect.
Electrodes made of purified and open single walled carbon nanotubes behave like metal hydride electrodes in Ni–MH batteries, showing high electrochemical reversible charging capacity up to 800 mAh g−1 corresponding to a hydrogen storage capacity of 2.9 wt% compared to known AB5, AB2 metal hydride electrodes.
Analysis of the evolution in solar heated drying kilns in recent decades shows that there have been a series of modifications to optimize their thermal and drying efficiency. Using an analysis method based on product design, we report on existing solar timber kilns. The different dryers and their component units are studied, developments are noted, focusing on changing trends in technological systems. As a result of this analysis we suggest some future adaptations.
In this paper we describe the role of national election studies in voting behavior research in Europe and the United States. We begin with an overview of the organizational development of election studies emphasizing those elements that have influenced design and data collection over time. We then consider the theoretical influences reflected in the several sub-fields of electoral behavior research that have been incorporated into the studies and their implications for the nature of inference. The treatment of time in both theoretical and practical terms is given special attention because of its crucial implications for research design and inference. In the final section, we illustrate how these considerations have affected the selection of variables in national election studies and discuss prospects for a greater comparative focus in the future.
The aim of this paper is to examine strategic niche management theory applied to green technology industries in a number of different geographical and economic settings. This is aided by a further quest, to establish firm groundwork for a neo-Schumpeterian theory of economic geography based upon his theorisation of the key roles of innovation and entrepreneurship in regional development. These two perspectives fit together rather seamlessly conceptually and in the empirical case material drawn from the USA and Europe. The results point to the centrality of geographical space in the formation not only of paradigms of regime change in industrial organisation but also of more thoroughgoing transitions from one socio-technical landscape, within which many technological regimes may have been subject to ‘creative destruction’, to another coevolutionary landscape that may be the setting for the next set of, in this case, successive post-hydrocarbon technological regimes. Observation of potential landscape change of the kind in focus in the paper is rare, and the conclusions do not go much beyond the identification of the first key elements from which the grander regime and landscape transitions may be consequent.
Using a sample of 21,608 firm-years from 34 countries during 1998–2004, this study evaluates the impact of voluntary adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on a firm’s implied cost of equity capital. We find that the implied cost of equity capital is significantly lower for the full IFRS adopters than for the non-adopters even after controlling for potential self-selection bias and firm-specific and country-level factors that are known to affect the implied cost of capital. This result holds irrespective of institutional infrastructure determining a country’s governance and enforcement mechanisms. We also find that the implied cost of equity capital decreases with the efficacy of institutional infrastructure. Moreover, we provide evidence that the cost of capital-reducing effect of IFRS adoption is greater when IFRS adopters are from countries with weak institutional infrastructures than when they are from countries with strong infrastructures. The above results are robust to a battery of sensitivity checks.
A unique S@TiO2/Ti2C nanoarchitecture was firstly synthesized as cathodes for lithium-sulfur batteries, in which TiO2 hollow nanospheres encapsulating sulfur were embedded into MXene Ti2C interlayers. The as-prepared S@TiO2/Ti2C composites exhibited an excellent electrochemical performance. The initial discharge specific capacity was 1408.6 mAh g−1 at 0.2C with a high sulfur content of 78.4 wt.%. At a high current rate of 2C and 5C, the batteries still maintained a capacity up to 464.0 and 227.3 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles, respectively. The enhanced electrochemical properties of S@TiO2/Ti2C composites was attributed mainly to the synergistic effect between the encapsulation and adsorption of TiO2 for active sulfur, and the conductivity and relieving the volumetric expansion of Ti2C for cathode materials. This structure strategy was an attractive route for restraining the shuttle effect and improving the rate capability of sulfur cathodes for lithium-sulfur batteries.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid that attracted a great attention for its therapeutic potential against different pathologies including skin diseases. However, although the efficacy in preclinical models and the clinical benefits of CBD in humans have been extensively demonstrated, the molecular mechanism(s) and targets responsible for these effects are as yet unknown. Herein we characterized at the molecular level the effects of CBD on primary human keratinocytes using a combination of RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectrometry (SWATH-MS). Functional analysis revealed that CBD regulated pathways involved in keratinocyte differentiation, skin development and epidermal cell differentiation among other processes. In addition, CBD induced the expression of several NRF2 target genes, with heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) being the gene and the protein most upregulated by CBD. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, RNA interference and biochemical studies demonstrated that the induction of HMOX1 mediated by CBD, involved nuclear export and proteasomal degradation of the transcriptional repressor BACH1. Notably, we showed that the effect of BACH1 on HMOX1 expression in keratinocytes is independent of NRF2. In vivo studies showed that topical CBD increased the levels of HMOX1 and of the proliferation and wound-repair associated keratins 16 and 17 in the skin of mice. Altogether, our study identifies BACH1 as a molecular target for CBD in keratinocytes and sets the basis for the use of topical CBD for the treatment of different skin diseases including atopic dermatitis and keratin disorders.
Molybdenum and tungsten chalcogenides have attracted tremendous attention in energy storage and conversion due to their outstanding physicochemical and electrochemical properties. There are intensive studies on molybdenum and tungsten chalcogenides for energy storage and conversion, however, there is no systematic review on the applications of WS2, MoSe2 and WSe2 as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), except MoS2. Considering the importance of these contents, it is extremely necessary to overview the recent development of novel layered WS2, MoSe2 and WSe2 beyond MoS2 in energy storage. Here, we will systematically overview the recent progress of WS2, MoSe2 and WSe2 as anode materials in LIBs and SIBs. This review will also discuss the opportunities, and perspectives of these materials in the energy storage fields.
Three-dimensional (3D) porous amorphous SnO2 thin films were deposited on Ni foam substrates by Electrostatic Spray Deposition (ESD) technique as anodes for Li-ion batteries. These films display good capacity retention of 94.8% after 100 cycles at 0.5C and rate capability of 362mAh/g at 10C. The improved performance originates from the fact that the 3D porous structure offers a “buffer zone” to accommodate the large volume change during cycling, and the foam-like substrate maximizes the contact area between electrode and electrolyte. The facile ESD method can be potentially extended to prepare other 3D porous functional materials.
Achieving high accuracy in orthology inference is essential for many comparative, evolutionary and functional genomic analyses, yet the true evolutionary history of genes is generally unknown and orthologs are used for very different applications across phyla, requiring different precision–recall trade-offs. As a result, it is difficult to assess the performance of orthology inference methods. Here, we present a community effort to establish standards and an automated web-based service to facilitate orthology benchmarking. Using this service, we characterize 15 well-established inference methods and resources on a battery of 20 different benchmarks. Standardized benchmarking provides a way for users to identify the most effective methods for the problem at hand, sets a minimum requirement for new tools and resources, and guides the development of more accurate orthology inference methods.
Histone modification, which affects the rate of transcription without altering DNA sequence, occurs in response to various psychiatric drugs and in several models of psychiatric disease. As increases in histone acetylation have been seen after treatment with antidepressants, we investigated whether directly increasing histone acetylation using a histone deacetylase inhibitor would have antidepressant effects. We administered sodium butyrate (NaB, 100 mg/kg, i.p.) to mice acutely (3 injections over 24 h) or chronically (twice daily for 21 days) and subjected them to a number of behavioral tests of antidepressant response. This dose of NaB had no effect on overall locomotor activity after either acute or chronic treatment. Acutely treated mice showed an increase in immobility in the forced-swim test (FST) and an increase in latency to consume in the novel environment of the novelty-induced hypophagia (NIH) paradigm, an anxiogenic effect. The effect of NaB on anxiety did not generalize to another test, the elevated zero maze, where it had no effect. Chronic treatment with NaB had no effect on latency to consume in the NIH or immobility in the FST. However, this dose did alter histone acetylation in the hippocampus. While H4 acetylation increased in the hippocampus 30 min following acute NaB, chronic treatment caused a decrease in AcH4. There were no changes in AcH3 following either treatment. While changes in chromatin structure may be involved in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs, these data suggest that increasing histone acetylation pharmacologically is not sufficient to produce antidepressant effects.
Recent years have witnessed a revolution in Graphene and its applications. Presently, it is a hot subject in science and engineering circles, and gathering more and more interest. This one-atom-thick crystal of carbon has distinctive physicochemical properties, tremendous mechanical performance and outstanding electrical and thermal conductivities. These characteristics are making Graphene as an alternative to replace many traditional materials for many applications. There are different methods to fabricate and characterize 2D Graphene, some of these methods are currently scalable and others still on the lab scale. This state-of-the-art, aimed to achieve three goals: (1) provide a background that is easy to follow, (2) to make a short survey on Graphene history, properties, and different preparation methods, and (3) Current and future applications of Graphene and Graphene-based materials. This survey can help motivate and guide scientific community and the public that are interested in Graphene and its applications.
It has been demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) is integrally involved in the neuronal degeneration of the central nervous system by promoting glial activation, neuronal apoptosis and damage to the brain–blood barrier. However, whether MMP3 also contributes to the neuronal degeneration induced by retinal ischemia/reperfusion is still uncertain. In the present study, we detected the cellular localization of MMP3 in adult rat retinae and explored the relationship of its expression with neuronal loss in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) in retinal ischemia/reperfusion. We found that MMP3 was widely expressed in many cells throughout the layers of the rat retinae, including Vertebrate neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN)-, parvalbumin-, calbindin-, protein kinase C-α-, glial fibrillary acidic protein-, glutamine synthetase- and CD11b-positive cells. Furthermore, all rats were treated with high intraocular pressure (HIOP) for 1 h (h) and sacrificed at 6 h, 1 day (d), 3 d, and 7 d after HIOP. Compared to the normal control, the expression of both proenzyme MMP3 and active MMP3 were significantly up-regulated after HIOP treatment without alteration of the laminar distribution pattern. Moreover, inhibiting MMP3 ameliorated the loss of NeuN-positive cells in the GCL following HIOP. In summary, our data demonstrates that MMP3 is expressed in multiple types of neurons and glial cells in normal rat retinae. Simultaneously, the up-regulation of its expression and activity are closely involved in neuronal loss in the GCL in retinal ischemia/reperfusion.
Transgenic rodents expressing Cre recombinase cell specifically are used for exploring mechanisms regulating behavior, including those mediated by cholinergic signaling. However, it was recently reported that transgenic mice overexpressing a bacterial artificial chromosome containing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) gene, for synthesizing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, present with multiple vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) gene copies, resulting in altered cholinergic tone and accompanying behavioral abnormalities. Since ChAT::Cre+ rats, used increasingly for understanding the biological basis of CNS disorders, utilize the mouse ChAT promotor to control Cre recombinase expression, we assessed for similar genotypical and phenotypical differences in such rats compared to wild-type siblings. The rats were assessed for mouse VAChT copy number, VAChT protein expression levels and for sustained attention, response control and anxiety. Rats were also subjected to a contextual fear conditioning paradigm using an unconditional fear-inducing stimulus (electrical foot shocks), with blood samples taken at baseline, the fear acquisition phase and retention testing, for measuring blood plasma markers of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal gland (HPA)-axis activity. ChAT::Cre+ rats expressed multiple mouse VAChT gene copies, resulting in significantly higher VAChT protein expression, revealed anxiolytic behavior, hyperlocomotion and deficits in tasks requiring sustained attention. The HPA-axis was intact, with unaltered circulatory levels of acute stress-induced corticosterone, leptin and glucose. Our findings, therefore, reveal that in ChAT::Cre+ rats, VAChT overexpression associates with significant alterations of certain cognitive, motor and affective functions. Although highly useful as an experimental tool, it is essential to consider the potential effects of altered cholinergic transmission on baseline behavior in ChAT::Cre rats.