batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Automated homecage monitoring systems are now widely recognized and used tools in cognitive neuroscience. However, few of these studies cover pharmacological interventions. Scopolamine, an anticholinergic memory disrupting agent is frequently used to study learning behavior. We studied the impact of scopolamine treatment in a relevant dose-range on activity, drinking behavior and reversal learning of C57BL/DJ mice in a homecage-like, social environment, using the IntelliCage. Naïve mice were first habituated to the IntelliCage, where they learned to nosepoke in any of the four corners in order to gain access to the water reward. Visits, nosepokes, lick numbers and durations were recorded. Mice were then trained to distinguish between a rewarded correct corner and punished, incorrect corners. Later, in the reversal learning phase, the assigned correct corner was rotated clockwise every 24 h. Upon s.c. administration of scopolamine general activity represented by visit and nosepoke numbers increased, but their durations were shorter. Surprisingly, general activity and lick behavior were drastically altered. Scopolamine also significantly reduced the ability to perform a reversal learning task. We not only found significant decline in reversal learning due to scopolamine treatment, but studied the method specific underlying behaviors: the general activity and lick behavior as well.
Background The neuropsychological literature on preterm-born children with spastic diplegia due to periventricular leukomalacia is convergent in reporting deficits in non-verbal intelligence and in visuo-spatial abilities. Nevertheless, other cognitive functions have found to be impaired, but data are scant and not correlated with neuroimaging findings. Aims This study analyzes the neuropsychological strengths and weaknesses in preterm-born children with spastic diplegia (pSD) and their relationships with neuroanatomical findings, investigated by a novel scale for MRI classification. Methods and procedures Nineteen children with pSD, mild to moderate upper limb impairment and Verbal IQ>80, and 38 normal controls were evaluated with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery (NEPSY-II), assessing Attention/Executive Functioning, Language, Memory, Sensorimotor, Social Perception and Visuospatial Processing domains. The MRIs were quantitatively scored for lesion severity. Outcomes and results The results showed that, beyond core visuo-spatial and sensory-motor deficits, impairments in attention and executive functions were present in more than half of the sample, particularly in children with damage to the anterior corpus callosum. Conclusions and implications The findings are discussed in terms of clinical and rehabilitative implications tailored for pSD subgroups diversified for neuropsychological and neuroanatomical characteristics.
A new tool (OpenGo, Moticon GmbH) was introduced to continuously measure kinetic and temporospatial gait parameters independently through an insole over up to 4 weeks. The goal of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of this new insole system in a group of healthy individuals.
The factor structure of a parent-report measure of child homework problems, the Homework Problems Checklist (HPC), was examined in a geographically and ethnically diverse sample of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This measure was completed by the parents of 579 children ages 7.0–9.9 diagnosed with ADHD Combined Type as part of the multimodal treatment study of children with ADHD (MTA). Results replicated previous work showing two salient factors that measure homework completion behaviors (Factor I) and homework management behaviors (Factor II). This two-factor solution remained consistent when examined across child sex and ethnicity subgroups. Analysis of patterns revealed that homework problems are greater for children in higher grades and that children with ADHD and comorbid learning disabilities experience significantly more homework problems than children with ADHD alone. This study also replicated previous work showing that homework problems and ADHD inattentive symptoms are highly correlated whereas correlations between homework problems and hyperactivity and impulsivity are low to moderate. Implications of the findings for the assessment of homework problems in children with ADHD and for intervention are discussed.
Nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 is successfully synthesized via a facile and rapid mechanochemical reaction with subsequent annealing in different atmospheres. Transmission electron microscopy observation and X-ray diffraction peak broadening reveal the average crystallite size to be about 11nm. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic discharge–charge tests at various current densities are carried out to explore electrochemical properties of the synthesized materials. The first discharge and charge capacities can reach 325mAhg−1 and 234mAhg−1, respectively. Moreover, nanocrystalline TiO2 also exhibits good rate capability and excellent capacity retention for over 700 cycles.
A facile one-step wet chemical method for preparing SnO2@OCNTs composite was described in this paper. The formation of composite is dried by the capillary force and electrostatic interaction. The results reveal that the Open-tips CNTs (OCNTs) are filled with ultrafine SnO2 nanoparticles (4–6nm) and with a few SnO2 nanoparticles on the outside surface. The composite delivers a capacity of 848 mAh g−1 (based on the mass of composite) in the first cycle and keeps 83.5% of the original capacity after 300 cycles at the current density of 70mAg−1. Furthermore, the composite still releases a capacity of 398 mAh g−1 at the current density of 3000mAg−1.
Porous polyethylene (PE) or nonwoven poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) separator-supported gel polymer electrolytes are realized by thermal polymerization of a precursor solution consisting of poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate (PEGDA) and an electrolyte solution (1M LiPF6 in an equal-volume mixture of ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate). The polymerization conditions are optimized to include a PEGDA content of 3wt.% in the precursor solution and subsequent heat treatment at 80°C for 10min. Even though the gelled PEGDA electrolyte has a lower ionic conductivity than the electrolyte solution, a Li x CoO2/graphite full-cell that has a gel electrolyte with optimized PEGDA content on the PVdF separator achieves a battery performance superior to the one with PE. The best battery performances achieved are a high discharge capacity (116 mAh g−1), a good high-rate capability (95 mAh g−1 at 5.0 C-rate), and a high capacity retention ratio (90%) after the 100th cycle. This enhancement is due to the incorporation of a polar electrolyte solution that is entrapped by the polar PEGDA matrix within the nonwoven PVdF separator, which is a more suitable host that is able to well absorb and preserve the gel electrolyte.
In this prospective study we analyzed the prognostic value of topographical quantitative EEG (qEEG) in poststroke aphasia. Twenty-three right-handed patients (ages 56±12 years) with different types of aphasia were studied. Quantitative EEG under resting conditions and an aphasia test battery were applied twice, 2 and 8 weeks after a stroke. EEG power fast Fourier transform was performed for delta (2–3.5Hz), theta (4–7.5Hz), alpha (8–13Hz), and beta (13.5–20Hz) frequency bands. EEG abnormalities within and outside speech relevant areas are related to restitution of poststroke aphasia. In the ischemic regions they indicate local disturbances; outside they reflect failures in neuronal networks involved in the generation and propagation of the alpha rhythm.
This prospective study was performed to investigate whether verbal memory deficits are present in patients with a first unprovoked seizure irrespective of significant lesions in the brain and whether symptoms of depression were experienced by those patients in the week before the seizure. After having given informed consent, patients who presented with a first unprovoked seizure were investigated with a psychometric battery consisting of a verbal memory test, a figural memory test, a test following the Stroop paradigm, and a self-rating scale for depression in addition to the routine diagnostic work-up with EEG and MRI. The data of 53 patients aged 45years on average (33 males and 20 females) were available. Verbal memory deficits were present in 60% of the patients, and 21% of the patients delivered a self-rating that was suggestive of at least minor depression in the week before the seizure. Neither verbal memory deficits nor symptoms of depression were associated with a significant lesion of the brain. There was a significant negative correlation between immediate recall in the verbal memory test and the score in the self-rating scale for depression. Our data suggest that even at the time of the first unprovoked seizure, there is an epileptic condition of the brain, which facilitates the occurrence of verbal memory deficits and depression in the presence of an epileptogenic focus irrespective of its localization.
The GreenScreen GADD45α indicator assay has been assessed for its concordance with in vitro genotoxicity and rodent carcinogenicity bioassay data. To test robustness, sensitivity, and specificity of the assay, 91 compounds with known genotoxicity results were screened in a blinded manner. Fifty seven of the compounds were classified as in vitro genotoxic whereas 34 were non-genotoxic. Out of the 91 compounds, 50 had been tested in 2-year carcinogenicity assays, with 33 identified to be rodent carcinogens and 17 non-carcinogens. Gadd45α assay sensitivity and specificity for genotoxicity was 30% and 97%, respectively (17/57 and 33/34), whereas its sensitivity and specificity for rodent carcinogenicity was 30% and 88%, respectively (10/33 and 15/17). Gadd45α assay genotoxicity results from this validation study exhibited a high concordance with previously published results as well as for compound test results generated at two different sites (91%, 19/21), indicating that the assay is both robust and reproducible. In conclusion, results from this blinded and independent validation study indicate that the GreenScreen GADD45 indicator assay is reproducible and reliable with low sensitivity and high specificity for identifying genotoxic and carcinogenic compounds.
In this paper, we report graphene nanoscrolls bridged by crumpled graphene nanosheets as an effective conductive framework for confining SnS2 nanosheets for lithium-ion battery (LIB) applications. The nanoscroll/nanosheet hybrid aerogels (GNAs) with confined SnS2 nanosheets are facilely prepared via fast quenching, freeze-drying and thermal annealing. During quenching, wrapping SnS2 nanosheets in the nanoscrolls and bridging the one-dimensional nanoscrolls by the two-dimensional nanosheets occur simultaneously, and the ratio of nanoscrolls/nanosheets can be controlled by simply adjusting quenching conditions. The optimized SnS2/GNA is highly porous with a large specific surface area of 127.1 m2 g−1 and multi-scale pore structure, which can effectively prevent SnS2 aggregation to provide abundant lithiation/delithiation sites, and buffer volumetric change and pulverization of SnS2 nanosheets. Moreover, the three-dimensional conductive network formed in the hybrid aerogels can remarkably improve its electrical conductivity while providing sufficient channels for the transportation of lithium ions and charges. As a result, the optimized SnS2/GNA nanocomposite exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance with a high initial reversible capacity (1514.8 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1), excellent rate capacity (665.4 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1) and good cyclic stability (1050 mA h g-1 at the 50th cycle). This may provide an efficient generic approach for encapsulation of transition metal dichalcogenide materials in conductive nano/micro confined spaces for fabrication of high-performance LIB anodes.
Nanostructured electrodes have significant potential for enhancing the kinetics of lithium storage in secondary batteries. A simple and economical manufacturing approach of these electrodes is crucial to the development and application of the next generation lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries. In this study, nanostructured α-Fe2O3 electrode is fabricated by a novel one-step flame combustion synthesis method, namely Reactive Spray Deposition Technology (RSDT). This process possesses the merits of simplicity and low cost. The structure and morphology of the electrode are investigated with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrochemical performance of the nanostructured α-Fe2O3 electrodes as the anodes for Li-ion batteries is evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in coin-type half-cells. The as-prepared electrodes demonstrate superior cyclic performance at high current rate, which delivers a high reversible capacity of 1239.2 mAh g−1 at 1 C after 500 cycles. In addition, a discharge capacity of 513.3 mAh g−1 can be achieved at 10 C.
Substituting the ramsdellite compound Li2Ti3O7 has been considered in order to improve the structure stability and performances for its use as electrode material for Li-ion accumulators. Two substitutions have been carried out, Ti/Fe and (Ti, Li)/(Fe,Ni). The presence of 57Fe as a local Mössbauer probe is interesting for studying its local environment and the electrochemical mechanisms induced by lithium insertion.
The microstructure evolution and the corrosion feature of Al–xCu–yLi–Mg alloys (x:y = 0.44, 1.65 and 4.2) were systematically investigated under the same artificial aging conditions. The relationships between types of precipitates and mechanical performance, as well as electrochemical behaviors, were discussed. Our results show that different types of precipitates can be obtained in alloys with different Cu/Li mass ratios, which significantly influences the mechanical performance of the alloys and substantial corrosion behaviors. Specifically, the analogous corrosion evolution in the aging Al–xCu–yLi–Mg alloys was first ascertained to be derived from the growth mechanism of the precipitates at the grain boundary (GB). Moreover, a small number of GB precipitates can be obtained in the aged alloy with the lowest Cu/Li mass ratio, thereby resulting in the largest intergranular corrosion resistance. A higher proportion of the GB T1 phase in the continuous precipitates induces higher corrosion sensitivity in alloy with a high Cu/Li mass ratio.
Metal oxide nanostructures are widely used in energy applications like super capacitors and Li-ion battery. Smaller size nanocrystals show better stability, low ion diffusion time, higher-ion flux and low pulverization than bigger size nanocrystals during electrochemical operation. Studying the distinct properties of smaller size nanocrystals such as quantum dots (QDs) can improve the understanding on reasons behind the better performance and it will also help in using QDs or smaller size nanoparticles (NPs) more efficiently in different applications. Aqua stable pure SnO2 QDs with compositional stability and high surface to volume ratio are studied as an electrochemical super capacitor material and compared with bigger size NPs of size 25nm. Electron energy-loss spectroscopic study of the QDs revealed dominant role of surface over the bulk. Temperature dependent study of low frequency Raman mode and defect Raman mode of QDs indicated no apparent volume change in the SnO2 QDs within the temperature range of 80–300K. The specific capacitance of these high surface area and stable SnO2 QDs has showed only 9% loss while increasing the scan rate from 20mV/S to 500mV/S. Capacitance loss for the QDs is less than 2% after 1000 cycles of charging discharging, whereas for the 25nm SnO2 NPs, the capacitance loss is 8% after 1000 cycles. Availability of excess open volume in QDs leading to no change in volume during the electro-chemical operation and good aqua stability is attributed to the better performance of QDs over bigger sized NPs.
To determine if Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is more sensitive than the commonly used Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in detecting cognitive abnormalities in patients with probable progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) compared with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this multicenter observational study, MMSE and MoCA were administered in a random order to 130 patients: 35 MSA, 30 PSP and 65 age, and education and gender matched-PD. We assessed between-group differences for MMSE, MoCA, and their subitems. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated. The mean MMSE was higher than the mean MoCA score in each MSA (27.7 ± 2.4 vs. 22.9 ± 3.0, p < 0.0001), PSP (26.0 ± 2.9 vs. 18.2 ± 3.9, p < 0.0001), and PD (27.3 ± 2.0 vs. 22.3 ± 3.5, p < 0.0001). MoCA total score as well as its letter fluency subitem differentiated PSP from MSA and PD with high specificity and moderate sensitivity. More specifically, a cut-off score of 7 F-words or less per minute would support a diagnosis of PSP (PSP vs. PD: 86 % specificity, 70 % sensitivity; PSP vs. MSA: 71 % specificity, 70 % sensitivity). By contrast, MMSE presented an overall ceiling effect for most subitems, except for the pentagon scores, where PSP did less well than MSA or PD patients. These preliminary results suggest that PSP and MSA, similar to PD patients, may present normal MMSE and reduced MoCA performance. Overall, MoCA is more sensitive than MMSE in detecting cognitive impairment in atypical parkinsonism and together with verbal fluency would be a useful test to support PSP diagnosis.
In the context of global climate warming, spring thaw period had been changed in the permafrost regions, which significantly affect heat and water dynamics, along with soil microbial community structure and diversity, and microbially-mediated nitrogen cycle changes. However, in-situ N2O emission research is scarce in the permafrost regions and the drivers of N2O emission during spring thaw period remain unclear. We selected three type of swamp forests in the permafrost region to investigate the N2O emissions during spring thaw period from 17 March to 23 May 2017. We found that N2O emission ranged from −35.75 to 74.17 μg m−2 h−1 in the permafrost region during spring thaw period, and there was no significant large burst of N2O emissions as observed in other ecosystems. The N2O emission during spring thaw period were lower than those from growing season, which were significant affected by soil temperature. During spring thaw period, swamp forest types had no significantly influence on N2O emissions, which mainly limited by NO3 −-N content. Stepwise multiple linear regression indicated that the air temperature, thawing depth, soil temperature, soil moisture, pH, NH4 +-N, NO3 −-N, TOC, TN, and C/N ratio were the environmental factors which significant effecting the N2O emissions. In the field campaign, cumulative N2O emissions were mainly controlled by thawing depth, soil moisture, pH, NH4 +-N, NO3 −-N and TN during spring thaw period. Overall, the results demonstrate that in the permafrost ecosystems spring thaw period is an important source of N2O emissions.
Synthesis of new nanohybrid materials and exploration of their synergistic behaviours are of high importance in the field of electrocatalysis mainly for their potential applications in sensing and energy conversion. Here, MoS2 nanopetal stacks bearing partial negative charge were decorated with positively charged gold nanoparticles (with mercaptoalkylammonium functionalities of two different lengths) via droplet deposition of individual components on indium tin oxide. The higher coverage density of gold nanoparticles with shorter alkyl chain functionalities on MoS2 nanopetal stacks was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. IR spectra of these hybrid materials is typical for gold nanoparticles. Synergistic electrocatalytic properties of these hybrid materials towards the oxidation of biologically relevant compounds such as cysteine, glutathione and glucose were demonstrated by significant shifts of the onset oxidation potentials and higher current densities.
This paper focuses on an understanding of the influence of paper thickness on the electrochemical performances of graphene papers as an anode for lithium ion batteries. Three types of graphene papers, with thickness of ∼1.5, 3 and 10μm, respectively, were fabricated by vacuum-assisted filtration of reduced graphene nanosheets suspended in water. These papers deliver evidently different lithium storage capacities, with thinner papers always outperform thicker ones. The 1.5μm paper gives rise to initial reversible specific capacities (the first 10 cycles) of ∼200mAhg−1 at a current density of 100mAg−1, while the 10μm paper only presents ∼80mAhg−1 at a current density of 50mAg−1. After 100 cycles, a specific capacity of ∼180mAhg−1 is retained for the 1.5μm paper; in contrast, only ∼65mAhg−1 remains for the 10μm paper. The capacity decline with the paper thickness is associated with the dense restacking of graphene nanosheets and a large aspect ratio of the paper. The effective Li+ diffusion distance in graphene paper is mainly controlled by the thickness of the paper, and the diffusion proceeds mainly in in-plane direction, cross plane diffusion is restrained. As such, the effective contact of graphene nanosheets with electrolyte is limited and the efficiency of carbon utilization is very low in the thick papers.
Free and total limit dextrinase (LD) activity was measured in four barley varieties of differing malting quality. LD activity was not detected until 2 days after completion of steeping, at which point, total LD activity was 4–5 fold higher in Static and Chariot than in Optic or Hart. Free LD rose to higher levels in Static and Chariot than in Optic and Hart during malting. In addition, the proportion of free to total LD approached 35% in Static and Chariot whereas it did not reach 15% for Optic and Hart. Lower free LD activity was not reflected in a higher total content of branched dextrins in hot water extracts of the different varieties, but may have contributed to the persistence of branched dextrins of higher degree of polymerisation persisting in the hot water extracts of Hart and Optic. The variation in the proportion of free to total LD activity between varieties was not explained by differences in total LD activity and may be related to the presence of inhibitors of LD. Protein extracts made from the malts following steeping inhibited exogenous partially purified LD activity by >80%. After 3 days germination, Chariot, Optic and Static lost much of their inhibitory activity whereas it was retained in Hart. The increase in free LD activities during malting appeared to mirror the disappearance in inhibitory activity. Inhibitors of LD activity were also present in hot water extracts of Chariot and Hart malts. Chariot lost inhibitory activity after 3 days malting and hot water extracts from Chariot after 4 days malting caused apparent activation of LD. By contrast, hot water extracts from Hart retained inhibitory activity up to 5 days malting. These findings are discussed with reference to the availability and effectiveness of LD during malting.