batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
A potential negative electrode material (mesoporous nano-Co3O4) is synthesized via a simple thermal decomposition of precursor Co(OH)2 hexagonal nanosheets in the air. The structure and morphology of the samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is found that the nano-Co3O4 is present in mesoporous hexagonal nanoparticles. The average size of holes is about 5–15nm. The electrochemical performances of mesoporous nano-Co3O4 as the active starting negative electrode material for alkaline secondary battery are investigated by galvanostatic charge–discharge and cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. The results demonstrate that the prepared mesoporous nano-Co3O4 electrode displays excellent electrochemical performance. The discharge capacity of the mesoporous nano-Co3O4 electrode can reach 436.5mAhg−1 and retain about 351.5mAhg−1 after 100 cycles at discharge current of 100mAg−1. A properly electrochemical reaction mechanism of mesoporous nano-Co3O4 electrode is also constructed in detail.
To provide good support for user-centered application scenarios in pervasive computing environments, pervasive middleware must react to context changes and prepare services accordingly. At the same time, pervasive middleware should provide extended dependability via self-management capabilities, to conduct self-diagnosis of possible malfunctions using the current runtime context, and self-configuration and self-adaptation when there are service mismatches. In this article, we present an approach to combine the power of BDI practical reasoning and OWL/SWRL ontologies theoretical reasoning in order to improve the intelligence of pervasive middleware, supported by a set of Self-Management Pervasive Service (SeMaPS) ontologies featuring dynamic context, complex context, and self-management rules modeling. In this approach, belief sets are enriched with the results of OWL/SWRL theoretical reasoning to derive beliefs that cannot be obtained directly or explicitly. This is demonstrated with agents negotiating sports appointments. To cope with self-management, the corresponding monitoring, configuration, adaptation and diagnosis rules are developed based on OWL and SWRL utilizing SeMaPS ontologies. Evaluations show this combined reasoning approach can perform well, and that Semantic Web-based self-management is promising for pervasive computing environments.
The chemical mixing strategy involving molten-salt lithiation at 450°C and post-annealing at 800°C on formation of morphological replica of spinel lithium manganese oxides from nanostructured potassium-contained manganese oxides has been discussed in terms of influences of Li/Mn stoichiometry during molten-salt mixing, crystal phases and microstructure of precursory nanostructured MnO2. It is exhibited that α-MnO2 with suitable-sized one-dimensional tunnels in lattices facilitates the formation of chemical-level mixture of Li, Mn and O, and ensuring morphological retention after molten-salt lithiation. Compared to α-MnO2, the interlayer gap in δ-MnO2 crystal lattices is too large to ensure chemical-level mixture or morphology retention. It is suggested that the precursory Li/Mn ratio during molten-salt treatment should be prudently controlled, aiming to restraining excessive surface-absorption of Li and facilitating an effective Li/K exchange process. Also, one-dimensional nanoarchitectured precursory manganese oxide is advantageous over its nanoparticle counterparts on morphological retention after post-annealing process, due to its the enhanced stability against large local strains. Electrochemical measurements show that the prepared phase-pure and highly crystalline spinel-typed lithium manganese oxide nanorods in morphological replica of precursory α-MnO2 nanorods deliver a reversible specific capacity 94mAhg−1 upon 200 times of charge–discharge cycling at a rate of 10C.
Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important vegetable as well as spice crops grown worldwide for its wide usage. Production of chilli is profoundly affected by anthracnose disease which is one of the most serious and destructive fungal diseases of chilli, especially in tropical and subtropical regions causing around 60–80% yield loss under severe infection. In order to understand the pattern of gene expression and development of molecular markers in chilli for management of anthracnose disease, transcriptome analysis of a resistant (IIVRC-452) and susceptible (Pusa Jwala) genotypes was carried out. Transcriptome data yielded a total of 53,921,012 and 50,079,890 reads with HQ bases 5.18 GB and 4.78 GB of FASTAq sequences and were used for de novo assembly of transcriptome for IIVRC-452 and Pusa Jwala, respectively. More than 50 thousand unigenes were identified in each genotype and around 40,000 of them could be annotated with 30% cut off identity. Digital gene expression analysis revealed a total of 3124 transcripts differentially expressed in resistant and susceptible lines. A total of 871 differential transcripts were annotated and 814 differential genes were present in both resistant and susceptible lines. Furthermore, five key candidate genes (CaLOX, CaLAG-1, CaPG, CaCYP76A2, and CaSAP-13) in pathogen-responsive pathway were identified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Transcriptome data generated in the present study is a valuable resource for focused investigation on plant–pathogen-interaction, to study the pathways involved in resistance mechanism and to identify markers for use in resistance breeding programmes.
Diverse efforts have been done to improve the etiologic understanding of mental disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It becomes clear that research in mental disorders needs to move beyond descriptive syndromes. Several studies support recent theoretical models implicating working memory (WM) deficits in ADHD complex neuropsychology. The aim of this study was to examine the association between rs2199161 and rs478597 polymorphisms at MAP1B and NOS1 genes with verbal working memory in children and adolescents with ADHD. A total of 253 unrelated ADHD children/adolescents were included. The sample was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—4th edition criteria. Digit Span from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition was used to assess verbal WM. The raw scores from both forward and backward conditions of Digit Span were summed and converted into scaled scores according to age. The means of scaled Digit Span were compared according to genotypes by ANOVA. Significant differences in Digit Span scores between MAP1B genotype groups (rs2199161: F = 5.676; p = 0.018) and NOS1 (rs478597: F = 6.833; p = 0.009) genes were detected. For both polymorphisms, the CC genotype carriers showed a worse performance in WM task. Our findings suggest possible roles of NOS1 and MAP1B genes in WM performance in ADHD patients, replicating previous results with NOS1 gene in this cognitive domain in ADHD children.
The reduction of Ag+ to Ag0 has been studied electrochemically at glassy carbon electrodes using the techniques of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Ag+ is known to be chemically reduced to form Ag0 nanoparticles by moieties present in the ‘distillable’ room temperature ionic liquid, DIMCARB (synthesised from Me2NH and CO2 in a 1.8:1 ratio) which is defined by the following equilibria: CO2 +Me2NH↔Me2NHCOOH+Me2NH↔[Me2NH2]+[Me2NCOO]−. At short reaction times in DIMCARB and when the contribution of the chemical reaction is small, Ag+ is electrochemically reduced to Ag0 and deposited onto a glassy carbon electrode via a progressive nucleation and growth mechanism. At long reaction times, when Ag0 nanoparticles are present and become attached to the glassy carbon surface, Ag+ also is electrochemically reduced and deposited via a 2D–2D nucleation and growth mechanism onto Ag nanoparticles attached to the electrode surface. Images obtained during the course of the electrodeposition reaction by atomic force microscopy reveal that a compact film of Ag also is deposited onto glassy carbon in the presence of nanoparticles. Calculation of the diffusion coefficient of Ag+ in DIMCARB is complicated by the chemical formation of Ag0 but is estimated to lie in the range of 2.1–3.0×10−7 cm2 s−1.
The ability to comprehend informal arguments is essential for scientific literacy but students often lack structural knowledge about these arguments, especially when the arguments are more complex. This study used a pre-post-test design with a follow-up 4 weeks later to investigate whether a computerised training in identifying structural components of informal arguments can improve university students’ competences to understand complex arguments. The training was embedded in a constructivist learning environment and contents were based on the Toulmin model of argument structure, according to which arguments can be deconstructed into several functional components: Claim, datum, warrant, backing evidence, and rebuttal. Being able to identify the warrant is central for scientific literacy, as the warrant determines whether a conclusion is justified given the data. Results indicate that training in argument structure did not generally improve performance for all students and argument types, but that it was particularly helpful for identifying more complex arguments with a less typical structure and relational aspects between key components (i.e. warrants). High achieving students profited the most from this intervention, and the intervention was also helpful for students with high pretest accuracy scores. Our results suggest that interventions to foster argumentation skills should be included into the curriculum and these interventions should be designed to match learners’ ability level.
Spark Discharge Generation (SDG) was used to produce powders of 10–20nm of Sb and antimony oxides. Different composite materials with different textures were obtained either with an amorphous passive layer of antimony oxide or with crystalline cubic Sb2O3. The composition and shape of the different mixtures, depending on the production and collection conditions, were analysed via XRD and HRTEM coupled with EDX. The effect of the nature and the content of the oxides on the electrode performances were studied using Swagelok cells, cycled galvanostatically with a MACCOR cycler.
Graphene has remarkable electrochemical properties that make it an ideal material for constructing bio-sensors. Herein, we report on a chitosan-modified graphene platform for the electrochemical detection of changes in DNA sequences. For this purpose, graphene synthesized chemically and characterized by Raman spectroscopy and Transmission electron microscopy, was covalently modified with positively charged chitosan to facilitate the immobilization of a single-stranded DNA ‘capture’ oligonucleotide. The covalent attachment of chitosan to graphene was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and then the capture DNA was immobilized on to the chitosan modified graphene electrode. Then, the target DNA (complementary or mismatched ‘mutant’ DNA) was applied to the electrode and cyclic voltammetry was performed. The results of the voltammetric experiments indicate that the chitosan modified graphene electrodes immobilized with ssDNA+complementary DNA exhibit a significantly higher magnitude of redox peak current than the chitosan modified graphene electrodes immobilized with the non-complementary mutant DNAs. Together, these results demonstrate that the chitosan-graphene platform provides a rapid, stable and sensitive detection of mismatched DNA and has the potential to be used for point-of-care diagnostic tests for specific DNA mutations associated with disease conditions.
A choice that reliably produces a preferred outcome can be automated to liberate cognitive resources for other tasks. Should an outcome become less desirable, behavior must adapt in parallel or it becomes perseverative. Corticostriatal systems are known to mediate choice learning and flexibility, but the molecular mechanisms of these processes are not well understood. We integrated mouse behavioral, immunocytochemical, in vivo electrophysiological, genetic and pharmacological approaches to study choice. We found that the dorsal striatum (DS) was increasingly activated with choice learning, whereas reversal of learned choice engaged prefrontal regions. In vivo, DS neurons showed activity associated with reward anticipation and receipt that emerged with learning and relearning. Corticostriatal or striatal deletion of Grin2b (encoding the NMDA-type glutamate receptor subunit GluN2B) or DS-restricted GluN2B antagonism impaired choice learning, whereas cortical Grin2b deletion or OFC GluN2B antagonism impaired shifting. Our convergent data demonstrate how corticostriatal GluN2B circuits govern the ability to learn and shift choice behavior.
This article outlines an instructional paradigm that guides the design of interventions that build skills in computer-mediated communication (CMC). It is applicable to learning at multiple levels of communicative proficiency and aims to heighten awareness, the understanding of the impact of media configurations, the role of cultures and social contexts in mediated communication, and forward research in the service of instructional designs for CMC. This paradigm broadens the scope of Hymes’ (Sociolinguistics, Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972) theory of communicative competence, which is often applied to foreign language learning contexts, to include online interaction. The paradigm addresses the nuances of mediated communication through recognition of the situations and modes that intersect in online spaces. The paradigm is designed for learning situations that provide time and access to mediated environments where learners develop values for communication skill through practical experiences and structured reflection. This approach to creating instruction has at its core certain values, including risk-taking by participating in unfamiliar contexts, appreciating mediated-communication configurations as unique modalities, and placing CMC skills development within larger sets of pedagogical goals. This instructional paradigm does not assume that verbal fluency, grammatical competence, skill in either writing or speaking, nor membership in any age group translates directly to skill in CMC. The methods presented here have been selected because they build tolerance and appreciation for divergent viewpoints. The methods are (1) building interest by having learners select specific media situations, (2) facilitating collaboration by constructing safe spaces, (3) directly teaching CMC reading skills, (4) using examples and matched non-examples, (5) investigating CMC principles in real world examples through structured discussions, (6) showing the process of different communications’ development, and (7) using roles in discussion designs.
Ecological risk assessment (ERA) has followed a taxonomy-based approach, making the assumption that related species will show similar sensitivity to toxicants, and using safety factors or species sensitivity distributions to extrapolate from tested to untested species. In ecology it has become apparent that taxonomic approaches may have limitations for the description and understanding of species assemblages in nature. Therefore it has been proposed that the inclusion of species traits in ERA could provide a useful and alternative description of the systems under investigation. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that the use of mechanistic approaches in ERA, including conceptual and quantitative models, may improve predictive and extrapolative power. Purposefully linking traits with mechanistic effect models could add value to taxonomy-based ERA by improving our understanding of how structural and functional system facets may facilitate inter-species extrapolation. Here, we explore whether and in what ways traits can be linked purposefully to mechanistic effect models to predict intrinsic sensitivity using available data on the acute sensitivity and toxicokinetics of a range of freshwater arthropods exposed to chlorpyrifos. The results of a quantitative linking of seven different endpoints and twelve traits demonstrate that while quantitative links between traits and/or trait combinations and process based (toxicokinetic) model parameters can be established, the use of simple traits to predict classical sensitivity endpoints yields little insight. Remarkably, neither of the standard sensitivity values, i.e. the LC50 or EC50, showed a strong correlation with traits. Future research in this area should include a quantitative linking of toxicodynamic parameter estimations and physiological traits, and requires further consideration of how mechanistic trait-process/parameter links can be used for prediction of intrinsic sensitivity across species for different substances in ERA.
Volatiles from male hindgut extracts of a newly described spruce bark beetle, Ips shangrila Cognato and Sun, from different attack phases were analyzed by GC–MS/FID with both polar and enantioselective columns. The GC–MS/FID analyses showed that unmated males (Phase 1) or males mated with <3 females (Phases 2–4) produced 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol and 99%-(+)-ipsdienol as major components, and (−)-cis-verbenol, (−)-trans-verbenol, myrtenol and 2-phenyl ethanol as minor or trace components. The release of these male-produced compounds was confirmed by the analysis on aeration sample of an I. shangrila infested wind-thrown spruce trunk. The quantities of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, cis-verbenol and trans-verbenol from male hindgut extracts were almost unchanged or even slightly increased during gallery development, while ipsdienol decreased dramatically after mating with three females. No obvious Ips-related aggregation pheromone components were detected in the female hindgut extract. A field trapping bioassay in Qinghai, China, showed that the ternary blends containing 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, (−)-cis-verbenol and 97%-(+)-ipsdienol or (±)-ipsdienol, caught significantly more I. shangrila (♂:♀ = 1:2.14) than did the unbaited control. Replacing 97%-(+)-ipsdienol (close to the naturally produced enantiomeric ratio) with (±)-ipsdienol in the ternary blend seemed to reduce trap catches by 50%, but the difference was not statistically significant. Surprisingly, addition of (−)-trans-verbenol (at 0.2 mg/day) to the active ternary blends significantly reduced traps catches to the level not different from the unbaited control. Our results suggest that the two major components, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol and 99%-(+)-ipsdienol, plus a minor component, (−)-cis-verbenol, produced by fed males, are likely the aggregation pheromone components of I. shangrila.
Electrospun and carbonized 3D nanofiber mats coated with olivine structured lithium cobalt phosphate (LiCoPO4) were formed by a Pechini-assisted sol–gel process as cathode material for lithium ion batteries. 3D nonwoven nanofibers were soaked in aqueous solution containing lithium, cobalt salts and phosphates at 80°C for 2h. Then, the composites were dried and annealed at 730°C for 2 to 12h in nitrogen atmosphere. Crystalline deposits were uniformly distributed on the carbon nanofiber surface. The “loading” of the cathode material on the 3D carbon nanofiber composites reached 300wt%. The electrochemical measurements revealed the discharge specific capacity (measured at a discharge rate of 0.1C and room temperature) reaching a maximum value of 46mAhg−1 after annealing time t =5h.
Chitin/graphene oxide (Ch/GO) composite sponges had been synthesized in 11 wt% NaOH/4 wt% urea aqueous solution by a simple method. The structure, thermal stability and mechanical properties of the composite sponges were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and compressive strength measurements. The results revealed that chitin and GO were mixed homogeneously. Interestingly, the composite sponges showed meso-macroporous structure, which played an important role in improving their adsorption properties. Besides, thermal stability and mechanical properties were significantly improved compared with pure chitin sponges. Taking advantages of these fantastic characteristics, the maximum adsorption capacity of composite sponges for bilirubin was up to 422.9 mg/g under the optimized condition, which was not only significantly higher than the adsorption capacities of pure chitin sponges, but also superior to those of many reported adsorbents for removal of bilirubin. Furthermore, blood compatibility evaluations confirmed that this blended sponges had negligible hemolysis and coagulation. Therefore, this work provided a potential possibility to offer Ch/GO composite sponges for removal of bilirubin.
Performance breakthroughs in rechargeable batteries are regularly reported in academic publications. Here the authors closely examine literature data on aluminium batteries and offer a realistic perspective on the technology.
The SEI layer formed on metallic Li which has been used as an anode in a Li–O2 battery is studied for the first time. We have used XPS to monitor the surface composition of the lithium electrode and have identified the various chemical species present. The XPS results indicated that the composition of the SEI layer is affected by the presence of oxygen and is unstable during cycling. We also observed decomposition products from the binder material used in the cathode on the surface of the lithium anode. This new SEI layer has an increased resistance affecting the lithium deposition which is essential for battery operation.
The electrochemical properties of solvent-free, quaternary polymer electrolytes based on a novel polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) as polymer host and incorporating 1g13TFSI ionic liquid, LiTFSI salt and nano-scale silica are reported. The PIL–LiTFSI–1g13TFSI–SiO2 electrolyte membranes are found to be chemically stable even at 80°C in contact with lithium anode and thermally stable up to 320°C. Particularly, the quaternary polymer electrolytes exhibit high lithium ion conductivity at high temperature, wide electrochemical stability window, time-stable interfacial resistance values and good lithium stripping/plating performance. Batteries assembled with the quaternary polymer electrolyte at 80°C are capable to deliver 140mAhg−1 at 0.1C rates with very good capacity retention.
This study based on in situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) in model cells with Li(Ni, Co, Al)O2 and Li(Ni, Mn, Co)O2 cathodes highlights various influence parameters on CO2 evolution in lithium-ion batteries. The amount of CO2 formation is increased by high temperatures and cell voltages, while the addition of vinylene carbonate (VC) decreases it. Lithium carbonate present in the cathode causes increased CO2 formation in the initial cycles but has little influence during prolonged cycling. Two processes of CO2 formation with different kinetics could be distinguished. The amount of CO2 evolved depends strongly on the type of cathode active material.
A novel hierarchical CoNi2S4 arrays consisting of uniformly coverage of thin sheets and numerous nanobranches on Ni foam has been successfully prepared via a simple one-step hydrothermal route without any surfactant and template. The CoNi2S4 arrays were investigated as electrode material for supercapacitors. The ordered CoNi2S4 arrays self-grown on Ni foam provided an excellent conducting connection with electrode substrates. Meanwhile, the thin sheets on top of the arrays is interconnected, forming a highly specific surface area. The unique architecture has constructed many independent nanospaces to participate in electrochemical reaction. Detailed electrochemical characterization showed the novel structure has an excellent electrochemical capacitance, high rate performance and high areal capacitance. The cost-effective synthesis of CoNi2S4 arrays and remarkable electrochemical performance provided great potential for this type of hybrid hierarchical nanostructures in supercapacitors.