batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Mirror neurons (MNs) are a class of cells originally discovered in the monkey ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and inferior parietal lobule (IPL). They discharge during both action execution and action observation and appear to play a crucial role in understanding others’ actions. It has been proposed that the mirror mechanism is based on a match between the visual description of actions, encoded in temporal cortical regions, and their motor representation, provided by PMv and IPL. However, neurons responding to action observation have been recently found in other cortical regions, suggesting that the mirror mechanism relies on a wider network. Here we provide the first description of this network by injecting neural tracers into physiologically identified IPL and PMv sectors containing hand MNs. Our results show that these sectors are reciprocally connected, in line with the current view, but IPL MN sectors showed virtually no direct connection with temporal visual areas. In addition, we found that PMv and IPL MN sectors share connections with several cortical regions, including the dorsal and mesial premotor cortex, the primary motor cortex, the secondary somatosensory cortex, the mid-dorsal insula and the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, as well as subcortical structures, such as motor and polysensory thalamic nuclei and the mid-dorsal claustrum. We propose that each of these regions constitutes a node of an “extended network”, through which information relative to ongoing movements, social context, environmental contingencies, abstract rules, and internal states can influence MN activity and contribute to several socio-cognitive functions.
Significant data suggest that soluble Aβ oligomers play an important role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but there is great confusion over what exactly constitutes an Aβ oligomer and which oligomers are toxic. Most studies have utilized synthetic Aβ peptides, but the relevance of these test tube experiments to the conditions that prevail in AD is uncertain. A few groups have studied Aβ extracted from human brain, but they employed vigorous tissue homogenization which is likely to release insoluble Aβ that was sequestered in plaques during life. Several studies have found such extracts to possess disease-relevant activity and considerable efforts are being made to purify and better understand the forms of Aβ therein. Here, we compared the abundance of Aβ in AD extracts prepared by traditional homogenization versus using a far gentler extraction, and assessed their bioactivity via real-time imaging of iPSC-derived human neurons plus the sensitive functional assay of long-term potentiation. Surprisingly, the amount of Aβ retrieved by gentle extraction constituted only a small portion of that released by traditional homogenization, but this readily diffusible fraction retained all of the Aβ-dependent neurotoxic activity. Thus, the bulk of Aβ extractable from AD brain was innocuous, and only the small portion that was aqueously diffusible caused toxicity. This unexpected finding predicts that generic anti-oligomer therapies, including Aβ antibodies now in trials, may be bound up by the large pool of inactive oligomers, whereas agents that specifically target the small pool of diffusible, bioactive Aβ would be more useful. Furthermore, our results indicate that efforts to purify and target toxic Aβ must employ assays of disease-relevant activity. The approaches described here should enable these efforts, and may assist the study of other disease-associated aggregation-prone proteins.
The demand for fossil derivate fuels and chemicals has increased, augmenting concerns on climate change, global economic stability, and sustainability on fossil resources. Therefore, the production of fuels and chemicals from alternative and renewable resources has attracted considerable and growing attention. Ethanol is a promising biofuel that can reduce the consumption of gasoline in the transportation sector and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising feedstock to produce bioethanol (cellulosic ethanol) because of its abundance and low cost. Since the conversion of lignocellulose to ethanol is complex and expensive, the cellulosic ethanol price cannot compete with those of the fossil derivate fuels. A promising strategy to lower the production cost of cellulosic ethanol is developing a biorefinery which produces ethanol and other high-value chemicals from lignocellulose. The selection of such chemicals is difficult because there are hundreds of products that can be produced from lignocellulose. Multiple reviews and reports have described a small group of lignocellulose derivate compounds that have the potential to be commercialized. Some of these products are in the bench scale and require extensive research and time before they can be industrially produced. This review examines chemicals and materials with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of at least 8, which have reached a commercial scale and could be shortly or immediately integrated into a cellulosic ethanol process.
To develop solar cells with high power conversion efficiencies is critical for the sustainable development of human society, but remains a challenge. It is well recognized that rapid charge separation, transport, and collection are beneficial for highly efficient solar cells and require the optimization of the microscopic structures and morphologies. One-dimensional nanomaterials favor charge transport and collection obtained from large specific surface areas and a one-dimensional configuration, which are properties widely used in the fabrication of solar cells. In this review, the recent progress in high-performance solar cells based on one-dimensional nanomaterials is comprehensively described, with an emphasis on the most explored metals, metal oxides, carbon and conductive polymers. The impact of the one-dimensional structure on device performance is highlighted to elucidate the advantages of such nanomaterials. The future development of one-dimensional nanomaterials towards next-generation solar cells is finally summarized.
Building on past work seeking to value emerging energy storage technologies in grid-based applications, this paper introduces a dynamic model-based framework to value a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) participating in Texas’ organized electricity market. Our model describes the dynamic behavior of a VRFB system’s voltage and state of charge based on the instantaneous charging or discharging power required from the battery. We formulate an optimization problem that incorporates the model to show the potential value of a VRFB used for frequency regulation service in Texas. The optimization is implemented in Matlab using the large-scale, interior-point, nonlinear optimization algorithm, with the objective function gradient, nonlinear constraint gradients, and Hessian matrix specified analytically. Utilizing market prices and other relevant data from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), we find that a VRFB system used for frequency regulation service could be worth approximately $1500/kW.
In this paper, carbon coated Li5Cr9Ti4O24 is prepared by using cystine as carbon source, which results in the formation of carbon co-doped with nitrogen/sulfur (CNS) coating layer after pyrolysis. Compared with carbon free Li5Cr9Ti4O24, the resulting Li5Cr9Ti4O24@CNS exhibits enhanced lithium storage capability. Cycled at 500mAg−1, it can be found that carbon free Li5Cr9Ti4O24 can only deliver the reversible capacity of 97.8mAhg−1 with capacity retention of 80.7% after 200 cycles. In contrast, Li5Cr9Ti4O24@CNS can maintain the reversible lithium storage capacity of 111.4mAhg−1 with capacity retention of 91.9% after 200 cycles. This improvement is attributed to the introduction of nitrogen/sulfur dual-doped carbon coating layer, which significantly enhances the electronic/ionic conductivity and reduces the charge-transfer resistance of Li5Cr9Ti4O24. Hence, Li5Cr9Ti4O24@CNS may be a promising anode candidate for lithium-ion batteries.
There is growing interest in the effects of antidepressant drug treatment on measures of emotional processing. Such actions may help us understand the role of monoamines in emotional dysfunction in depression and how antidepressant drug treatments work. Recent studies suggest that decreasing central serotonin function with tryptophan depletion can reinstate negative biases in recovered depressed patients, even at doses insufficient to induce changes in mood. Conversely, antidepressant drug administration increases the processing of positive emotional information in healthy volunteers and acutely depressed patients early in treatment. This increase in positive bias may provide a platform for subsequent cognitive restructuring and learning which contributes to the evolution of symptom change in depression. Functional neuroimaging studies suggest that these early antidepressant effects involve fronto-limbic and extra-striate circuitry suggestive of actions on both the initial appraisal and attentional processing of affective stimuli. This approach may therefore provide a framework for linking psychological and biological processes in emotional disorders and their treatment. Antidepressants may not directly modulate mood and anxiety but rather allow a different perspective for our ongoing evaluation of our self, the world and the future.
Despite the impressive progress in the development of sodium-air batteries for energy storage, the current sodium-air batteries are still far from practical application in electric vehicles. A proposed sodium-air battery was successfully constructed using a NASICON structured solid electrolyte and a liquid anode, which demonstrated low voltage gap, reversibility, and high safety. The liquid anode was fabricated by dissolving sodium metal into a mixed solution of biphenyl and ethers. Due to the fantastic conductivity of the liquid anode, the battery exhibits a high discharge voltage of 2.88 V and a low voltage gap of 0.14 V at a current density of 0.1 mA cm−2, which leads to a high round trip efficiency of 95.3%. In addition, due to the high ionic conductivity of the liquid anode and low interfacial resistance between the liquid anode and solid electrolyte, the battery demonstrated a power density of 39 mW cm−2, the highest value to date for alkaline metal-air batteries. Furthermore, the battery exhibited good cycling performance, and no significant degradation in energy efficiency was observed during the whole charge-discharge process. More importantly, no strong reaction was observed between the liquid anode and water, which significantly improved the safety of the battery. The highly conductive liquid anode can be extended to other sodium-based batteries. Therefore, this work provides an avenue for exploring new types of highly safe liquid anode batteries, which is a potential candidate for next-generation energy storage technology.
This paper presents a novel hybridized flexible electromagnetic-triboelectric generator that consists of a round/square shaped coil and magnet, and also, highly flexible, mechanically and thermally durable, and cost-effective polymeric materials. The reported hybridized nano generator is capable of converting external mechanical load to electricity. Using a systematic optimization approach results in an optimal configuration and size for the electromagnetic components of the self-powered sensor. Combination of the electromagnetic and triboelectric components provides several advantages for the proposed self-powered device including high resolution and power density even in low frequency and small amplitude of the excitations. We probe the sensitivity of the fabricated self-powered sensor considering different amplitude and frequency of excitations as well as external resistors. After providing a general performance analysis for the proposed self powered sensor, we show its potential for different specific applications including human motion based energy harvesting and sensing, tire condition monitoring, and pressure sensing. The utilization of the proposed self-powered sensor can provide a sustainable energy source for wireless sensor nodes, and also overcomes the battery capacity limitation that restricts the life time durability of mobile electrical devices.
An increase in the number of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) might negatively affect the performance of Microgrid (MG) such as, reducing power quality and efficiency, increasing power losses and voltage variations, and increasing customers' energy prices. An effective selection of the capacity and location of charging stations helps in reducing such negative impact. This paper proposes a method for finding the optimal location and capacity of PHEVs charging stations along with the optimal location of renewable energy sources (RESs). A multi-objective function including charging/discharging costs, losses, and voltage profile is adopted to formulate the paper problem. Differential Evolution algorithm is used to solve the proposed objective function. By applying the proposed method into a 69-bus network its performance is assessed. The simulation results support the effectiveness of the proposed method.
We provide a brief summary of advanced battery technologies and a framework (i.e., a simple model) for assessing electric-vehicle (EV) architectures and associated costs to the customer. The end result is a qualitative model that can be used to calculate the optimal EV range (which maps back to the battery size and performance), including the influence of fast charge. We are seeing two technological pathways emerging: fast-charge-capable batteries versus batteries with much higher energy densities (and specific energies) but without the capability to fast charge. How do we compare and contrast the two alternatives? This work seeks to shed light on the question. We consider costs associated with the cells, added mass due to the use of larger batteries, and charging, three factors common in such analyses. In addition, we consider a new cost input, namely, the cost of adaption, corresponding to the days a customer would need an alternative form of transportation, as the EV would not have sufficient range on those days.
CuO nanoribbons array (NRA) electrode was fabricated by developing a one-step synthesis route, which consists of advantages of large-scale, fast, and without using any surfactant or template. The structure and electrochemical properties of the CuO NRA electrode were examined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic cycling. The results demonstrated that the CuO NRA electrode can deliver a reversible capacity as high as 608mAhg−1 up to 275th cycle. The excellent cycleability, the high capacity retention and the high rate-capability of the CuO NRA electrode is attributed to its peculiar nanostructure with large surface area, numerous interspaces of the CuO nanoribbons, and the solid adhesion of the active material to Cu current collector.
Li[Ni0.2Li0.2Mn0.6]O2 nanoparticles are fabricated using a combustion method in which three different dispersing agents, gelatin, urea and Pluronic® P-123 (P123), are introduced as dispersing agents. The dispersing agents are used in order to disperse the primary particles during the sol–gel thermolysis process and reduce the sizes of the powder particles. Reducing the size of the particles is effective in improving the rate capability of the Li[Ni0.2Li0.2Mn0.6]O2 electrode. However, the cyclic performance deteriorates due to vigorous side reactions with the electrolyte. In order to avoid this, the surfaces of the Li[Ni0.2Li0.2Mn0.6]O2 nanoparticles, prepared using dispersing agents, are modified by a ZrO2 surface coating. A novel precoating of polydopamine is used to aid the ZrO2 coating of the nanosized particles. The surfaces of the coated Li[Ni0.2Li0.2Mn0.6]O2 particles are homogeneously covered with the ZrO2, demonstrating the effectiveness of the polydopamine precoating as a binding agent between the nanosized cathodic particles and the coating material. The cyclic performance and thermal stability of the coated Li[Ni0.2Li0.2Mn0.6]O2 nanoparticles are significantly enhanced, showing that the ZrO2 coating layer successfully protected the nanoparticles from the reactive electrolyte.
Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been extensively applied in fields such as gas separation, catalysis, and energy, owing to their unique porous structure. However, the poor conductivity and chemical instability have limited their application in electrochemical energy such as lithium-ion batteries. Herein, we report self-supported nanorod arrays of multicomponent CPO-27 MOF grown on Ni foams as an efficient binder-free anode for lithium storage. The unique three-dimensional architecture design and multiple components endow the CPO-27 nanoarray with improved electron and ion transport, thus enabling a remarkable lithium storage performance. The CPO-27 array exhibits a high reversible capacity of 834 mA h g−1 at a rate of 50 mA g−1, and retains a capacity of 456 mA h g−1 at 1000 mA g−1 after 500 cycles. The architecture also shows a remarkable rate capability, affording a capacity of 440 mA h g−1 at a rate of 2000 mA g−1. This work offers innovative insights to design high-performance electrode materials of MOF compounds.
The diagnosis of Pott’s disease is mostly based on clinicoradiological observations substantiated by the bacterial culture, staining and histopathology Since, no single technique is enough to conclude Pott’s disease in diagnosis, the present study was undertaken to correlate the clinicoradiological, microbiological, histopathological and molecular method to evaluate the effectiveness in diagnosis of Pott’s disease.
Solar-powered electrochemical production of hydrogen through water electrolysis is an active and important research endeavor. However, technologies and roadmaps for implementation of this process do not exist. In this perspective paper, we describe potential pathways for solar-hydrogen technologies into the marketplace in the form of photoelectrochemical or photovoltaic-driven electrolysis devices and systems. We detail technical approaches for device and system architectures, economic drivers, societal perceptions, political impacts, technological challenges, and research opportunities. Implementation scenarios are broken down into short-term and long-term markets, and a specific technology roadmap is defined. In the short term, the only plausible economical option will be photovoltaic-driven electrolysis systems for niche applications. In the long term, electrochemical solar-hydrogen technologies could be deployed more broadly in energy markets but will require advances in the technology, significant cost reductions, and/or policy changes. Ultimately, a transition to a society that significantly relies on solar-hydrogen technologies will benefit from continued creativity and influence from the scientific community.
Development of advanced supercapacitors which provide greater energy density while retaining high power density can revolutionize energy storage solutions for both civilian and military applications. Herein, we present fabrication and characterization of nanostructured supercapacitor electrodes using manganese dioxide and carbon nanotubes (MnO2/CNTs) on flexible graphite foil substrate for integration into a supercapacitor prototype cell, without any additives or binders. Low-cost, thermal chemical vapor deposition process in a tube furnace was used to synthesize CNTs, acting as the current conductors, directly on both sides of the flexible, conducting graphite foil current collector. Thin-film MnO2 deposition on the CNTs was achieved by electrochemical technique using in situ reduction of potassium permanganate (KMnO4), without any supporting electrolyte, which provides excellent bonding between the two for enhanced stability. Eight electrodes were assembled in a stack with polypropylene separators and packaged in a pouch cell with organic electrolyte (1 M tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile) yielding a total capacitance of nearly 2.8 F at 2.5 V and a corresponding specific capacitance of 388 F g−1 was calculated for MnO2. High cell capacitance and a low DC resistance yield a maximum specific power value of 36.1 kW kg−1 and a maximum specific energy of 48.5 Wh kg−1 at 2.5 V when considering the total mass including that of CNTs and MnO2. Cycling data showed nearly 100% capacitance retention over 3000 charge discharge cycles. To the best of our knowledge, a supercapacitor prototype cell in this configuration has not been fabricated and/or reported previously.
The deposition of Al2O3 on LiCoO2 electrodes using a low-temperature atomic layer deposition has been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy confirms that Al2O3 films can be homogeneously deposited on LiCoO2 particles of porous electrodes at 120°C. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy show that the Al2O3 preferentially deposits on the LiCoO2. Furthermore, the results of cycling stability tests show that the cells with Al2O3-coated LiCoO2 electrodes have enhanced performance.
A novel fluorinated alkyl phosphonate - bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) methylphosphonate (TFMP) were synthesized as flame retardant to reduce the flammability of the electrolyte with minimal impact on the electrochemical performance of the electrode. The flammability and electrochemical properties of TFMP with various contents were evaluated using self-extinguishing time (SET), conductivity test, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and glavanostatic charge and discharge test. The experimental results demonstrated that the addition of 20vol% TFMP can make the electrolyte be hardly flammable, exhibiting high-efficiency flame retardant. Moreover, the 20vol% TFMP-containing electrolyte also exhibited insignificant influence on graphite anode with high initial capacity of 346 mAh g−1 and excellent capacity retention of 93% over 100 cycles. For LiFePO4 cathode, the excellent electrochemical performance was observed including gradually increasing reversible capacity from 128 to 139 mAh g−1 over 100 cycles in the 20vol% TFMP-containing electrolyte. The results imply that TFMP is a promising option as highly flame-retardant and electrochemically compatible electrolyte additive for safe lithium-ion batteries.
Androgens have been linked to visuospatial ability. We examined the relationship between serum free testosterone (T) levels and spatial visualization ability in a population-based sample of 450 healthy men between the ages of 35 and 80 years. They were tested on block design and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) draw-a-figure, as well as tasks assessing episodic memory, semantic memory, procedural memory, and verbal fluency. Blood was analyzed for free T and estradiol. Participants were grouped into high or low free T based on age-specific median values. Participants with low free T performed at a superior level on both the block design task and draw-a-figure task as compared to participants with high free T. The results are discussed within the scant body of research on androgens and cognition in men.