batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Contamination by Cd is a significant environmental problem. Therefore, we examined Cd removal from an environmental perspective. Ureolysis-driven calcium carbonate precipitation has been proposed for use in geotechnical engineering for soil remediation applications. In this study, 55 calcite-forming bacterial strains were newly isolated from various environments. Biomineralization of Cd by calcite-forming bacteria was investigated in laboratory-scale experiments. A simple method was developed to determine the effectiveness of microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP). Using this method, we determined the effectiveness of biomineralization for retarding the flow of crystal violet through a 25-mL column. When the selected bacteria were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer, high removal rates (99.95 %) of Cd were observed following incubation for 48 h. Samples of solids that formed in the reaction vessels were examined using a scanning electron microscope. The CdCO3 compounds primarily showed a spherical shape. The results of this study demonstrate that MICP-based sequestration of soluble heavy metals via coprecipitation with calcite may be useful for toxic heavy metal bioremediation.
Objective The primary objective was to identify specific groups of patients with a first-episode psychosis based on family history, obstetric complications, neurological soft signs, and premorbid functioning. The secondary objective was to relate these groups with cognitive variables. Method A total of 62 first-episode psychoses were recruited from adult and child and adolescent mental health services. The inclusion criteria were patients between 7 and 65years old (real range of the samples was 13–35years old), two or more psychotic symptoms and less than one year from the onset of the symptoms. Premorbid functioning (PAS), soft signs (NES), obstetric complications and a neuropsychological battery (CPT, TMTA/TMTB, TAVEC/TAVECI, Stroop, specific subtest of WAIS-III/WISC-IV) were administered. Results We found three clusters: 1) higher neurodevelopment contribution (N=14), 2) higher genetic contribution (N=30), and 3) lower neurodevelopment contribution (N=18). Statistical differences were found between groups in TMTB, learning curve of the TAVEC, digits of the WAIS and premorbid estimated IQ, the cluster 1 being the most impaired. Conclusions A cluster approach could differentiate several groups of patients with different cognitive performance. Neuropsychological interventions, as cognitive remediation, should be addressed specifically to patients with more impaired results.
Lead ion and tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) have been testified as inhibitors of spongy zinc electro-growth from flowing alkaline zincate solutions. To assess the efficacy of the two additives, current–time technique using potentiostatic electro-deposition, scanning electron microscopy and cycling test were undertaken. The results show that the growth of spongy zinc in flowing alkaline zincate solutions can be effectively inhibited by the addition of 10−4 M Pb(II) or TBAB at the cathodic potential (η =−100mV), respectively. But, the dual addition of 10−4 M Pb(II) and 5×10−5 M TBAB produces more effective suppression on spongy zinc growth. Obvious synergistic effect of Pb(II) and TBAB on the inhibition of spongy zinc deposits is found. From the charge/discharge cycling tests of the single flow Zn–Ni test cells, it is shown that the rechargeability of Zn anode is highly improved by the mixed introduction of 10−4 M Pb(II) and 5×10−5 M TBAB.
Electrode microstructure and processing can strongly influence lithium-ion battery performance such as capacity retention, power, and rate. Battery electrodes are multi-phase composite structures wherein conductive diluents and binder bond active material to a current collector. The structure and response of this composite network during repeated electrochemical cycling directly affects battery performance characteristics. We propose the fabric tensor formalism for describing the structure and evolution of the electrode microstructure. Fabric tensors are directional measures of particulate assemblies based on inter-particle connectivity, relating to the structural and transport properties of the electrode. Fabric tensor analysis is applied to experimental data-sets for positive electrode made of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide, captured by X-ray tomography for several compositions and consolidation pressures. We show that fabric tensors capture the evolution of inter-particle contact distribution and are therefore good measures for the internal state of and electronic transport within the electrode. The fabric tensor analysis is also applied to Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations of electrode microstructures using spherical particles with size distributions from the tomography. These results do not follow the experimental trends, which indicates that the particle size distribution alone is not a sufficient measure for the electrode microstructures in DEM simulations.
The N1 component of the auditory evoked potential (AEP) is a robust and easily recorded metric of auditory sensory-perceptual processing. In patients with schizophrenia, a diminution in the amplitude of this component is a near-ubiquitous finding. A pair of recent studies has also shown this N1 deficit in first-degree relatives of schizophrenia probands, suggesting that the deficit may be linked to the underlying genetic risk of the disease rather than to the disease state itself. However, in both these studies, a significant proportion of the relatives had other psychiatric conditions. As such, although the N1 deficit represents an intriguing candidate endophenotype for schizophrenia, it remains to be shown whether it is present in a group of clinically unaffected first-degree relatives. In addition to testing first-degree relatives, we also sought to replicate the N1 deficit in a group of first-episode patients and in a group of chronic schizophrenia probands. Subject groups consisted of 35 patients with schizophrenia, 30 unaffected first-degree relatives, 13 first-episode patients, and 22 healthy controls. Subjects sat in a dimly lit room and listened to a series of simple 1,000-Hz tones, indicating with a button press whenever they heard a deviant tone (1,500 Hz; 17% probability), while the AEP was recorded from 72 scalp electrodes. Both chronic and first-episode patients showed clear N1 amplitude decrements relative to healthy control subjects. Crucially, unaffected first-degree relatives also showed a clear N1 deficit. This study provides further support for the proposal that the auditory N1 deficit in schizophrenia is linked to the underlying genetic risk of developing this disorder. In light of recent studies, these results point to the N1 deficit as an endophenotypic marker for schizophrenia. The potential future utility of this metric as one element of a multivariate endophenotype is discussed.
Metal determination in human tissues is the most common application of biological monitoring for screening, diagnosis and assessment of metal exposures and their risks. Various biopsy-materials may be used. This paper deals with the quantitative determination of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn concentrations in nails of male subjects exposed to these metals alongwith their respective controls, while working in locomotive, carriage and roadways workshops, and lead battery factories. The levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn in fingernails, assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, were compared with their respective controls by student ‘t’ test. All the obtained values were correlated to the personal and medical history of the subjects under study. Significantly high levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn were present in smokers, compared to nonsmokers. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn and Fe were not significantly high in vegetarian subjects. It was also observed that there is no contribution of liquor towards nail-metal concentration. Significant correlations were observed between skin disease and Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu; hypertension and Cd, Mn, Cu; mental stress and Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn; diabetes and Cr, Mn, Ni; chest pain and Pb; respiratory trouble and Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn; tuberculosis and Zn; acidity and Cd; and ophthalmic problems and Mn, Fe, Ni, and Zn
Instantaneous internal temperature monitoring of a commercial 18650 LiCoO2 lithium-ion battery was performed using a single-point EIS measurement. A correlation between the imaginary impedance, –Zimag , and internal temperature at 300Hz was developed that was independent of the battery’s state of charge. An Arrhenius-type dependence was applied, and the activation energy for SEI ionic conductivity was found to be 0.13eV. Two separate temperature-time experiments were conducted with different sequences of temperature, and single-point impedance tests at 300Hz were performed to validate the correlation. Limitations were observed with the upper temperature range (68°C< T <95°C), and consequently a secondary, empirical fit was applied for this upper range to improve accuracy. Average differences between actual and fit temperatures decreased around 3-7°C for the upper range with the secondary correlation. The impedance response at this frequency corresponded to the anode/SEI layer, and the SEI is reported to be thermally stable up to around 100°C, at which point decomposition may occur leading to battery deactivation and/or total failure. It is therefore of great importance to be able to track internal battery temperatures up to this critical point of 100°C, and this work demonstrates an expansion of the single-point EIS diagnostic to these elevated temperatures.
Mesoporous carbon materials were prepared through atmospheric pressure impregnation at room temperature using attapulgite as hard template and maltose as carbon source. N2 absorption–desorption, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the construction and morphology of the materials. The results showed that the prepared carbon materials possessed chain-layered structures whose surfaces were filled with ample nanoscale apertures. The materials also exhibited partial fasciculus with specific surface area and total pore volume of 628.6 m2 g−1 and 1.31 cm3 g−1, respectively. Constant current charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry, and AC impedance tests were performed to evaluate the electrochemical performance of the materials. The constant current charge/discharge tests showed that the materials have excellent energy storage capacity. When the current density was 600 mA g−1, the specific capacitance value reached 171 F g−1. The materials showed quasi-rectangular features of typical cyclic voltammetry curve even at high scan rate (200 mV s−1), indicating that they possess excellent rate capacity. The AC impedance tests showed that the materials were typical porous electrode materials with combination resistance of 0.82 Ω. The specific capacitance of the materials reached 79 % after 1,000 constant current charge/discharge cycles, indicating that they have superior cyclic stability.
Si/carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites are ideal anode materials for lithium ion batteries with high specific capacities. However, it has been a significant challenge to fabricate uniform Si/CNT nanocomposite anodes with high areal capacities, say above 0.4 mA h cm−2. In this paper, we demonstrate a layer-by-layer assembling technique as a facile and scalable method to prepare a multilayer Si/CNT coaxial nanofiber anode which possesses an areal storage capacity above 1 mA h cm−2. In addition, the prepared Si/CNT coaxial nanofiber anodes show an excellent cyclability. The excellent performance of the Si/CNT coaxial nanofiber multilayer anodes is attributed to the unique nanostructure. The CNT network matrix offers mechanical support to accommodate the stress associated with the large volume change of Si coating and the nanoporous multilayer structure provides continuous paths for Li ion and electron transport.
Sensitivity of anode materials to humidity is an important factor for the performance of lithium ion batteries. Here it is demonstrated for the first time that the sensitivity of composite anode materials of silver and natural graphite can be strikingly lowered. The composites are prepared by depositing silver ions onto the surface of natural graphite. After the following heat-treatment, silver ions turn into metallic silver and carbide Ag x C by covering and/or removing active sites that absorb water very easily. Under high humidity condition (about 1000ppm H2O), the composite materials absorb strikingly less water resulting in still good electrochemical performance. In comparison, natural graphite without this treatment shows fast fade in capacity under high humidity even though it is good in cycling under low humidity (<100ppm H2O). Silver is a good matrix for lithium storage, and is assumed to contribute to reversible capacity since it enhances with the amount of deposited silver. This method can effectively lower the sensitivity of anode materials to humidity, and is promising in manufacturing lithium ion batteries under less critical conditions.
The reversible intercalation of solvated Na-ions into graphite and the concomitant formation of ternary Na–graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) are studied using several in operando techniques, such as X-ray-diffraction (XRD), electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscopy (EC-STM) and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance techniques (EQCM). Linear ethylene glycol dimethyl ether homologues (“glymes”) Gx with x + 1 O-atoms were used as solvents, where x is 1–4. The intercalation mechanism of Na+(Gx)y-complexes was investigated with a focus on the phase transitions and diffusion rates of the Na+(Gx)y-complexes inside the graphite lattice. For the four shortest glymes (G1 to G4), it is found using XRD that an intermediate stage 2 Na–GIC (NaC48) is formed upon the partial sodiation of the graphite electrode. At full sodiation stage 1 Na–GIC (NaC18, 112 mA h g−1) is obtained for G1, G2 and G4, while the G3 system also forms a stage 1 Na–GIC but with less Na incorporated (NaC30, 70 mA h g−1). The phase transitions of a battery electrode upon ion-intercalation are visualised using STM on the atomic scale for the first time. In addition, the local diffusion rates of the intercalated species inside the electrode were determined, a unique approach for determining kinetic effects in batteries on the atomic scale. The formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is observed with STM as well as with an EQCM, while the latter technique is used for novel in situ hydrodynamic spectroscopy, giving further insight into the intercalation mechanism.
We report a new Ce-rich family of active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts composed of earth abundant elements, discovered using high-throughput methods. High resolution inkjet printing was used to produce 5456 discrete oxide compositions containing the elements nickel, iron, cobalt and cerium. The catalytic performance of each of these compositions was measured under conditions applicable to distributed solar fuels generation using a three-electrode scanning drop electrochemical cell. The catalytic activity and stability of representative compositions (Ni0.5Fe0.3Co0.17Ce0.03Ox and Ni0.3Fe0.07Co0.2Ce0.43Ox) from 2 distinct regions were verified by resynthesizing these compositions on glassy carbon rods for electrochemical testing. The activity of the new Ce-rich catalysts was further verified using an unrelated synthetic method to electrodeposit a pseudo-ternary composition Ni0.2Co0.3Ce0.5Ox, which produced a catalyst with 10 mA cm−2 oxygen evolution current at 310 mV overpotential. The unique Tafel behavior of these Ce-rich catalysts affords the opportunity for further improvement.
The present study evaluated the rickettsial infection in Amblyomma parvum ticks collected in Northwestern Córdoba Province, Argentina. Each tick was subjected to DNA extraction and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting fragments of the rickettsial genes gltA and ompB. Nine (69.2%) out of 13 adult ticks yielded expected PCR products for the two rickettsial genes. Products from the ompB PCR were sequenced, generating DNA sequences 100% identical for the nine PCR-positive ticks. Three of these ticks were tested in another battery of PCR targeting fragments of the rickettsial genes gltA, htrA, and ompA. Products from the gltA, htrA, and ompA PCRs were sequenced generating DNA sequences 100% identical for the three PCR-positive ticks. The rickettsia detected in the A. parvum ticks was designated as Rickettsia sp. strain Argentina. Phylogenetic analyses performed with partial sequences of the rickettsial genes gltA, htrA, ompB, and ompA showed that Rickettsia sp. strain Argentina belonged to the spotted fever group, being distinct from all known Rickettsia species and genotypes available in GenBank, representing possibly a new Rickettsia species. This was the first evidence of rickettsial infection in the tick A. parvum, and the third report of rickettsial infection among the Argentinean tick fauna. The role of Rickettsia sp. strain Argentina as a human pathogen is unknown. Further studies are needed to obtain tissue-cultured isolates of Rickettsia sp. strain Argentina, in order to better characterize it and to determine its taxonomic status as a new species.
A novel three-dimensional (3D) porous structured Co3O4 was prepared by electrodeposition combined with thermal-treatment method. The electrochemical properties of as-prepared 3D porous Co3O4 were closely related to its morphology and structure which can be modified by various thermal-treatment temperatures. The 3D porous Co3O4 prepared at 300°C exhibited smaller crystallite size and higher capacity compared to 400°C as well as 500°C. As used in lithium-ion batteries, the porous Co3O4 anodes delivered a high reversible capacity of about 1100mAhg−1 with no obvious capacity fading up to 50 cycles and exhibited higher rate capability compared with Co3O4 foil anodes. The enhanced electrochemical performances of 3D porous Co3O4 anodes are attributed to its unique 3D porous structure which can offer a large materials/electrolyte contact area and accommodate the strain induced by the volume change during cycling.
Enhanced flooded batteries were studied by means of spatially resolved Raman spectroscopy. Negative plate sulfation as an important failure mode in partial state of charge cycling was characterized. Raman spectroscopy turned out to be an appropriate method for sulfation analysis. The data were correlated with results from elementary analysis and EDX. A lead sulfate specific mapping along electrode cross-section was possible with a spatial resolution of ∼50μm.
Research on corruption has made substantial progress in recent years. Yet, most studies still treat corruption as a homogenous phenomenon. This article argues that private-sector corruption can be distinguished conceptually from public-sector corruption, which has been in the spotlight of empirical research. We introduce the first indicator of private-sector corruption covering a large cross-section of countries. This new indicator is used to extend a recent empirical study on the cultural determinants of public-sector corruption (Kong and Volkema in Soc Indic Res 127(1):139–152, 2016). We find that self-serving leadership in high-income countries is associated with more corruption in both the public and the private sector. Furthermore, individualistic leadership in low-income countries is linked to reduced private-sector corruption. Next, we test a number of alternative cultural explanations for differences in private-sector corruption across countries. Overall, our results suggest that specific forms of corporate leadership culture matter for private-sector corruption, but also religious identity and trust play an important role.
The influence of pH on the electrochemical behaviour of conducting polymer films electrosynthesised from aminobenzoic acids and aminobenzenesulphonic acids was investigated by voltammetric and electrochemical impedance studies in sulphuric acid solution, acetate buffer and neutral phosphate buffer. The change in electrochemical behaviour with increasing pH is significantly less for poly(aminobenzenesulphonic acid)s and poly(aminobenzoic acid)s than for polyaniline. Polymer films made by electrosynthesis of mixtures of these monomers with aniline have also been analysed by the same techniques. Experimental results obtained over this pH range are interpreted in the light of previous studies carried out on these polymers in strong acid solution.
DeLuca J, Schultheis MT, Madigan NK, Christodoulou C, Averill A. Acquisition versus retrieval deficits in traumatic brain injury: implications for memory rehabilitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:1327-33. Objective: To examine whether impaired memory in persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by impaired initial acquisition or compromised retrieval from long-term storage. Design: Prospective matched controlled trial. Setting: Postacute rehabilitation institute. Participants: Patients with moderate to severe TBI (n = 28) and 21 matched, healthy controls (HCs). Main Outcome Measures: Patients with TBI and HC subjects were equated on initial acquisition on a verbal list-learning task. Recall and recognition performance was then evaluated at 30- and 90-minutes after learning. Results: All HC subjects and 20 subjects with TBI (TBI-MET) were able to meet the learning criterion, but the TBI-MET group took significantly more trials than HC subjects to do so. However, after equating groups on acquisition, the TBI-MET group did not differ from controls on recall and recognition at both the 30- and 90-minute delays. Eight TBI subjects showed severe learning deficits (TBI-NOT MET) because they never learned the task, and showed significantly impaired recall and recognition performance. The 2 TBI groups did not differ on measures of severity of injury, but the TBI-NOT MET group performed significantly below the TBI-MET group on executive functioning. Rate of forgetting did not differ across the 3 groups. Conclusions: Results suggest that memory impairment after TBI is caused primarily by deficiencies in initial acquisition of verbal information rather than in compromised retrieval. The findings have significant implications for the rehabilitation and treatment of individuals with TBI. © 2000 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
A composite film consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT) and poly(4-styrenesulphonate) (PSS), obtained by anodic polymerisation on a gold substrate electrode, has been characterised by electrochemical quartz microbalance (EQCM) measurements and impedance spectroscopy (IS), in a non-aqueous electrolyte containing LiClO4 in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (CH3OCH2CH2OCH3). The value of the capacitance was found to be over 25 F cm−3 (5 mF cm−2 for a 2 μm thick film). This confirms the possibility of the use of PEDT/PSS films in electrochemical capacitors. It has been established that lithium ions are sorbed and desorbed reversibly in a potential range corresponding to the oxidised form of the material (+0.4 to −0.2 V vs. Ag|AgCl|0.1 M KClaq). The ionic transport characterised by an effective diffusion coefficient (D eff) was found to be the highest reported for electronically conducting polymers. D eff decreases linearly from 6.5×10−7 to 2.4×10−7 cm2 s−1 in the potential range from +0.4 to −0.2 V vs. Ag|AgCl|0.1 M KClaq while the amount of lithium ions inserted in the film increases. The ionic conductivity equals 1.1×10−5–1.2×10−5 Ω−1 cm−1. The composite films are very stable, being polarised as a cathode in a lithium cell. The open circuit voltage of a cell with a lithium anode and a cathode made of the PEDT/PSS film is 3.37 V.