batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
The reuse of tertiary wastewater for crop irrigation presents itself as an alternative to the scarcity of quality water suffered by many countries in the Mediterranean region. Furthermore, this resource can provide an important saving of fertilizers as well as benefits to the environment, as it avoids the discharge of contaminated water into public waterways. This study focuses on the effect of irrigation with ozonized wastewater on the melon crop. In this study, melon crops were irrigated with either ozonized wastewater or ground water commonly used in the agricultural area (control treatment). Fertigation, by means of drip irrigation, was delivered according to the crop’s needs, evaluating the fertilizers contributed by each of the waters and that added in mineral form. Throughout the crop’s development, the characteristics of the water, soil and plant (leaf and fruit) were studied from a chemical, physicochemical and microbiological perspective. The results obtained show that irrigation with ozonized wastewater, in these conditions of crop growth, produces similar effects as ground water on the soil properties, on the concentration of macroelements in the leaf and fruit and on the yield of melon fruit. Furthermore, the reuse of this effluent leads to a greater saving in nitrogenous and potassium fertilizers compared to fertigation of the crop with ground water.
Polyaniline nanofibres of high conductivity were prepared by interfacial polymerization. The polyaniline nanofibres were used as an active cathode material in lithium-polymer cells. Gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) based on the porous poly(vinylidene-co-hexafluoropropylene) P(VdF-co-HFP), membrane was prepared and used as an electrolyte material in assembling Li/GPE/polyaniline cells. The electrochemical properties of the cells were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and charge–discharge cycling tests. The cell delivered a maximum discharge capacity of 69mAhg−1 at 20th cycle and 48mAhg−1 at 100th cycle with 97% coulombic efficiency.
A novel dimethyl sulfoxide/1,3-dioxolane (DMSO/1,3-DO) based electrolyte is proposed for lithium/carbon fluorides (Li/CFx) batteries to enhance the discharge voltage plateau and energy density. Conductivities of the electrolyte of 1molL−1 LiBF4/DMSO+1,3-DO with different volume ratios are not identical, which have a maximum of 14.85mScm−1. From the tests of galvanostatic discharge, the discharge voltage plateau of the Li/CFx battery with an electrolyte of 1molL−1 LiBF4/DMSO+1,3-DO (5:5, v:v) can reach 2.69V at 0.1C, delivering a maximum discharge capacity of 831mAhg−1 and the highest energy density of 2196Whkg−1. Compared to Li/CFx batteries with an electrolyte of 1molL−1 LiBF4/PC+DME (5:5, v:v), the energy density of Li/CFx batteries with an electrolyte of 1molL−1 LiBF4/DMSO+1,3-DO (5:5, v:v) has been improved more than 12%. With the help of XRD, SEM, TEM, EIS, FT-IR and GC-MS analysis, the results of this work suggest that DMSO/1,3-DO based electrolyte can significantly improve the discharge performance of Li/CFx batteries and keep a good electrochemical stability during discharge. The main reason for improvement of discharge performance is decreasing of both the overpotential of electrochemical polarization of CFx cathodes during discharge and the overpotential of ohmic polarization by increasing the ion conductivity of electrolyte.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that have the potential to differentiate into the neuronal cell lineage. Here, we describe the highly efficient and specific induction of cells with neuronal characteristics, without glial differentiation, from human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by NRSF silencing. Cells that have the characteristics of MSCs were obtained from human bone marrow. Lentiviral vectors were used to deliver small interference NRSF RNA (siNRSF) into MSCs. After being infected with lentivirus containing siNRSF, MSCs were successfully induced to differentiate into neuronal cells, which exhibited neuron-like morphology and formed nissl bodies. These differentiated cells expressed multiple neuron-specific genes including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurogenin 1 (NGN1), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), synaptophysin (SYP), and neuron-specific growth-associated protein (SCG10), as well as expressing mature neuronal marker proteins, such as β-tubulin III, NSE, microtubule-associated protein type 2 (MAP-2), and neurofilament-200 (NF-200), yet did not express the glial markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2), as verified by immunofluorescence staining. The whole cell patch-clamp technique recorded TTX-sensitive Na+ currents and action potential from these differentiated cells. Thus, our results demonstrate that NRSF silencing can activate some neuronal genes and induce neuronal differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.
Olivine-structured LiMnPO4 with uniform cluster-like and rod-like morphologies have been synthesized via a simple solvothermal process in water–organic solvent mixtures. The cluster-like LiMnPO4 microstructures are composed of numerous nanoplates in thickness of ca. 35nm and width of ca. 400nm. Carbon is coated on the LiMnPO4 surfaces by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) from methylbenzene and ball milling with acetylene black, respectively. The hierarchical LiMnPO4 nanoplates deliver much higher discharge capacity and rate capability than the nanorods due to the larger interfacial area for electrochemical reaction and shorter lithium ion diffusion depth. Furthermore, carbon-coating via CVD approach leads to a significant improvement in the electrochemical performances compared to the ball milling process.
Recently developed classes of ultraminiaturized wireless devices provide powerful capabilities in neuroscience research, as implantable light sources for simulation/inhibition via optogenetics, as integrated microfluidic systems for programmed pharmacological delivery and as multimodal sensors for physiological measurements. These platforms leverage basic advances in biocompatible materials, semiconductor device designs and systems engineering concepts to afford modes of operation that are qualitatively distinct from those of conventional approaches that tether animals to external hardware by means of optical fibers, electrical cables and/or fluidic tubing. Neuroscience studies that exploit the unique features of these technologies enable insights into neural function through targeted stimulation, inhibition and recording, with spatially and genetically precise manipulation of neural circuit activity. Experimental possibilities include studies in naturalistic, three dimensional environments, investigations of pair-wise or group related social interactions and many other scenarios of interest that cannot be addressed using traditional hardware.
Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are becoming one of the promising alternative metal-ion battery systems to lithium-ion batteries due to the abundance and low cost of potassium. Among the anode materials for the metal-ion battery systems, phosphorus-based materials are attractive due to the low cost and their high theoretical-specific capacity. Herein, for the first time, we report the selenium -phosphorous-carbon (Se–P–C) amorphous composites prepared by the plasma-assisted ball milling method as the high-performance anode material for PIBs. In particular, when the amorphous Se–P composite anode with the molar ratio of 1:2 and the P-milling time of 30 h (Se–2P/C@30 h), the associated PIB delivers a high reversible capacity of 634 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.05 A g−1 and excellent rate capability of 248.6 mA h g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. Furthermore, the experimental characterization and analysis reveal the reaction mechanisms that K–P (K2P3) and K–Se (KSe) phases are formed during the potassiation process. The present work provides a facile approach to achieve a promising anode material for K-ion batteries, and the preparation route can be viewed as a reference for the further development of phosphorous-based anodes with high capacity and long cycle life for PIBs.
Background In schizophrenia, neurocognitive deficits associated with the illness are modulated by tobacco smoking. However, little is known about how smoking status modulates the relationships between neurocognitive measures in schizophrenia and healthy control subjects. Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sensorimotor gating assessed by prepulse inhibition (PPI) and executive cognitive function using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in schizophrenia and controls as a function of smoking status. Method We studied PPI and neuropsychological function in four groups (N =50); smokers with schizophrenia (SS; n =15), control smokers (CS; n =13), non-smokers with schizophrenia (SNS; n =11) and control non-smokers (CNS; n =11). Results SNS demonstrated the poorest PPI, while SS showed comparably high levels of PPI to CNS. Non-psychiatric controls outperformed patients on WCST outcomes irrespective of smoking status. Several prefrontal outcome measures on the WCST (categories completed, percentage perseverative and non-perseverative errors) correlated significantly with PPI at the 60 and 120 ms prepulse intervals. In contrast, there were no significant correlations between PPI and any WCST outcomes in SNS, CS or CNS, and few significant correlations between PPI and other neuropsychological measures. Discussion Our preliminary data suggests that the correlation between sensorimotor gating (PPI) and prefrontal executive cognitive functioning (WCST) is enhanced by acute cigarette smoking in schizophrenia.
Mixed vanadium pentoxide xerogel (VXG)/polypyrrole (PPy) films were assembled onto fluorine doped thin oxide glass electrodes (FTO), according to three different sequential coating procedures, as represented by A=FTO/VXG/PPy, B=FTO/(VXG+PPy) and C=FTO/PPy/VXG. Type A films exhibited maximum conductivity in the 500–1000 mV range and relatively fast electrochemical response. No memory effect was observed by chronoamperometry, after alternating their exposition to reducing species such as ferrocene, and then to the pure electrolyte solution. Type B films consisted of a composite material where PPy was generated inside the interlamellar space of VXG. The electrochemical response in this case was intermediary fast, and the conduction window was shifted to the 0–500 mV range. This type of film exhibited a good memory, responding to ferrocene ions in open circuit. Type C films consisted of VXG deposited onto an electropolymerized film of PPy. The conductivity properties in this case exhibited a narrow window around 500 mV and a much slower electrochemical response, with little memory effect. In this case the charging of the external VXG layer is controlled by the intermediate PPy film.
A series of anatase TiO2 nanowires (TiO2-NWs) and Ag-modified TiO2 nanowires (TiO2@Ag-NWs) film electrodes with hierarchical 3D nano-network structure are successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal process followed by the traditional silver mirror reaction. Successful modification of silver nanoparticles onto the TiO2-NWs surface is confirmed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and inductively coupled plasma technique. The electrochemical performances of the TiO2-NWs and TiO2@Ag-NWs film electrodes are also investigated in this work. Compared with the pristine TiO2-NWs, the TiO2@Ag-NWs nanomaterial exhibits a higher rate capability and better reversibility. At charge/discharge rates of 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3350mA/g, the discharge capacities of the TiO2@Ag-NWs electrodes are 237, 219, 198, 179, 159, 139 and 120mAh/g, respectively. After 120 cycles at 200mA/g, its capacity retention was as high as 99.1% with little capacity fading.
In this paper, we introduce a two-stage stochastic refueling station location model, where the first stage locates permanent stations and the second locates portable stations. The portable alternative fuel stations are an innovative feature in transportation network. The models are applied to an intercity network for Arizona. Computational results show that the permanent stations locate in and around heavily populated nodes. In addition, the results obtained for the portable stations can be utilized to set up permanent stations when the investor intends to increase the number of such stations. The computational results of the exact and greedy approach are reported.
In this paper, in order to enhance the thermal performance of sodium acetate trihydrate (SAT) in thermal storage, novel composite phase change materials (CPCMs) that contains SAT (as PCM) and silicon carbide (SC), bentonite (as additives) were prepared. The microstructures, chemical structures, leakage performances, phase change properties, thermal stability and thermal energy storage performances of the CPCMs were investigated. The experimental results indicate that the bentonite is helpful to solve the leakage problem. The supercooling phenomenon and thermal conductivity of SAT are improved by adding SC. In addition, compared with those of pure SAT, the heat storage time and release time of SAT/bentonite/SC CPCMs are shorten by 25.44% and 78.5% respectively when the mass fractions of bentonite and SC of the CPCMs are 26 wt.% and 10 wt.%. The research results exhibit a reference value for improving the thermal performance of SAT in thermal energy storage process.
The composition and biodegradability of streamwater dissolved organic matter (DOM) varies with source material and degree of transformation. We combined PARAFAC modeling of fluorescence excitation–emission spectroscopy and biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) incubations to investigate seasonal changes in the lability of DOM along a soil-stream continuum in three soil types: bog, forested wetland and upland forest. The percent BDOC ranged from 7 to 38% across all sites, and was significantly greater in soil compared to streamwater in the bog and forested wetland, but not in the upland forest. The percent BDOC also varied significantly over the entire sampling period in soil and streamwater for the bog and forested wetland, as BDOC peaked during the spring runoff and was lowest during the summer months. Moreover, the chemical quality of DOM in wetland soil and streamwater was similar during the spring runoff and fall wet season, as demonstrated by the similar contribution of protein-like fluorescence (sum of tyrosine and tryptophan fluorescence) in soil water and in streams. These findings suggest that the tight coupling between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is responsible for the delivery of labile DOM from wetland soils to streams. The contribution of protein-like fluorescence was significantly correlated with BDOC (p < 0.001) over the entire sampling period indicating DOM is an important source of C and N for heterotrophic microbes. Taken together, our findings suggest that the production of protein-rich, labile DOM and subsequent loss in stream runoff might be an important loss of labile C and N from coastal temperate watersheds.
Ultrathin MoSe2/graphene hybrids have been successfully synthesized through a facile ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal approach. The resultant hybrids are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). It is revealed that the MoSe2 nanosheets in the hybrids exhibit a graphene-like few-layered structural characteristic of 2–3 layers and are well dispersed and anchored on the large flexible graphene sheets. When evaluated as an anode for LIBs, the obtained MoSe2/graphene hybrid electrode demonstrates preferable electrochemical performances with high reversible lithium-storage capacity of ∼1100 mAh g−1, superior cyclic stability and excellent rate capability. The extraordinary electrochemical properties can be ascribed to the novel hybrid structures composed of ultrathin few-layered MoSe2 nanosheets and highly conductive graphene as well as the resultant maximized synergistic effect between MoSe2 and graphene.
Increasing the energy storage capability of lithium-ion batteries necessitates maximization of their areal capacity. This requires thick electrodes performing at near-theoretical specific capacity. However, achievable electrode thicknesses are restricted by mechanical instabilities, with high-thickness performance limited by the attainable electrode conductivity. Here we show that forming a segregated network composite of carbon nanotubes with a range of lithium storage materials (for example, silicon, graphite and metal oxide particles) suppresses mechanical instabilities by toughening the composite, allowing the fabrication of high-performance electrodes with thicknesses of up to 800 μm. Such composite electrodes display conductivities up to 1 × 104 S m−1 and low charge-transfer resistances, allowing fast charge-delivery and enabling near-theoretical specific capacities, even for thick electrodes. The combination of high thickness and specific capacity leads to areal capacities of up to 45 and 30 mAh cm−2 for anodes and cathodes, respectively. Combining optimized composite anodes and cathodes yields full cells with state-of-the-art areal capacities (29 mAh cm−2) and specific/volumetric energies (480 Wh kg−1 and 1,600 Wh l−1).
The smokestack vs the tail pipe argument over the source of auto emissions looks set to intensify as hybrid and electric car markets become established. The new technologies will produce more opportunities for PM as novel solutions are brought to bear, says Joe Capus…
A holistic model was developed and applied to anodic alumina films galvanostatically grown in sulphuric acid solution at different anodising conditions thus characterised by different structural characteristics. The O2− and Al3+ species transport numbers near the metal|oxide interface were determined that depended on both temperature and current density. The rate of film thickness growth was found to be proportional to the O2− anionic current through the barrier layer near the metal|oxide interface. The results introduced a new growth mechanism theory embracing the rarefaction of barrier layer oxide lattice towards the metal|oxide interface. The oxide density near the metal|oxide is closely independent of anodising conditions and is related to the transformation of Al lattice to a transient oxide lattice about 37% rarer than that of γ-Al2O3 that is further suitably transformed to denser, amorphous or nanocrystalline material as this oxide is shifted to the oxide|electrolyte interface and becomes the pore wall material. This gradual lattice density variability can explain many peculiar properties of anodic alumina films.
Advances in technological development have resulted in high consumption of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), amongst which are cell phones, which have LCD (liquid crystal display) screens as one of their main components. These multilayer screens are composed of different materials, some with high added value, as in the case of the indium present in the form of indium tin oxide (ITO, or tin-doped indium oxide). Indium is a precious metal with relatively limited natural reserves (Dodbida et al., 2012), so it can be profitable to recover it from discarded LCD screens. The objective of this study was to develop a complete process for recovering indium from LCD screens. Firstly, the screens were manually removed from cell phones. In the next step, a pretreatment was developed for removal of the polarizing film from the glass of the LCD panels, because the adherence of this film to the glass complicated the comminution process. The choice of mill was based on tests using different equipment (knife mill, hammer mill, and ball mill) to disintegrate the LCD screens, either before or after removal of the polarizing film. In the leaching process, it was possible to extract 96.4wt.% of the indium under the following conditions: 1.0M H2SO4, 1:50 solid/liquid ratio, 90°C, 1h, and stirring at 500rpm. The results showed that the best experimental conditions enabled extraction of 613mg of indium/kg of LCD powder. Finally, precipitation of the indium with NH4OH was tested at different pH values, and 99.8wt.% precipitation was achieved at pH 7.4.
Nano-sized (nO-Co3O4, 387nm) and micron-sized (mO-Co3O4, 6.65μm) Co3O4 octahedra enclosed by {111} facets have been both synthesized through a wet chemical method followed by thermal treatment, and served as anode material of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Electrochemical results demonstrate that the nO-Co3O4 shows excellent long cyclability and rate capability. The nO-Co3O4 can deliver a stable charge capacity as high as 955.5mAhg−1 up to 200 cycles without noticeable capacity fading at a charge/discharge current density of 0.1Ag−1 (ca. 0.11C). The excellent electrochemical performance is ascribed to the nano-size and the {111} facets that enclose the octahedra. While the mO-Co3O4 could only maintain 288.5mAhg−1 after 200 cycles, illustrating very poor cycling performance, which is ascribed to the large particle size that may cause huge volume change during repeated charging/discharging process. The results reveal that the Co3O4 nano-octahedra would be a promising anode material for the next-generation of LIBs.
An electro-deposition method was used for the preparation of nano-structured lead dioxide. The lead dioxide films prepared were used as positive electrodes of lead acid batteries. Different parameters such as pulse time (t on), pulse height, and relaxation time (t off) were optimized to obtain higher capacity. Depend on the pulse conditions, a range of different morphologies of various porosities and connectivity was obtained. The resulting batteries were discharged to a cut off voltage of 1.75V by a pulsed current method. The energy storage ability of the prepared lead acid batteries shows a close relation with the morphology of cathode materials. Maximum capacity was observed when pulse and relaxation time was equal to 0.1 and 5s, respectively, at a current density of 25mAcm−2. A change in morphology of lead dioxide from aggregated globular structure to nanofiber was occurred. It was found that the high surface area as well as high connectivity between particles resulted in increased discharge capacity. Analysis of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data revealed that the charge transfer resistance is decreased by a change in morphology from bulk globular to nanofiber as the energy storage test showed. The time dependence of impedance behavior of a sample prepared at t on =0.1s and t off =5s at 25mAcm−2 was investigated and the results are discussed.
Solvent-free polymer electrolytes based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) including lithium trifluoromethane sulfonate (LiCF3SO3) were prepared. All measurements were performed on samples with various salt contents between 0 and 70wt.%. Interactions between ion and polymer or interion were are investigated by using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction measurement was also used for the analysis of aggregation states of polymer matrix and salt complex. By analysis of υ s(SO3) mode, it was confirmed that larger ion clusters were formed quickly above salt concentration of 50wt.% and ionic conductivity increased dramatically in this composition region.
Many nations seek to control or prevent the inflow of waste electronic and electrical equipment, but such flows are difficult to track due to undocumented, often illegal global trade in e-waste. We apply wireless GPS location trackers to this problem, detecting potential cases of non-compliant recycling operations in the United States as well as the global trajectories of exported e-waste. By planting hidden trackers inside discarded computer monitors and printers, we tracked dozens of devices being sent overseas to various ports in Asia, flows likely unreported in official trade data. We discuss how location tracking enables new ways to monitor, regulate, and enforce rules on the international movement of hazardous electronic waste materials, and the limitations of such methods.