batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
This research is an extension of a previous research [1] on the different effects of sensor location that is relatively suitable for heart rate sensing. This research aimed to elucidate the causes of wide variations in heart rate measurements from the same sensor position among subjects, as observed in previous research [1], and to enhance designs of the inductive textile electrode to overcome these variations. To achieve this, this study comprised two parts: In part 1, X-ray examinations were performed to determine the cause of the wide variations noted in the findings from previous research [1], and we found that at the same sensor position, the heart activity signal differed with slight differences in the positions of the heart of each subject owing to individual differences in the anatomical heart location. In part 2, three types of dual-loop-type textile electrodes were devised to overcome variations in heart location that were confirmed in part 1 of the study. The variations with three types of sensor designs were compared with that with a single-round type of electrode design, by using computer simulation and by performing a t-test on the data obtained from the experiments. We found that the oval-oval shaped, dual-loop-type textile electrode was more suitable than the single round type for determining morphological characteristics as well as for measuring appropriate heart activity signals. Based on these results, the oval-oval, dual-loop-type was a better inductive textile electrode that more effectively overcomes individual differences in heart location during heart activity sensing based on the magnetic-induced conductivity principle.
An attempt to obtain conductive carbon layer (CCL) on the LiMn2O4 and LiMn2O4−y S y spinels, using the radical precipitation polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) and styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN) in water suspension of the spinels followed, by pyrolysis of the composed precursors was made. In the case of PAN–spinel precursors the CCL on spinel particles was effectively formed. Phase transitions, as well as thermal and electrical properties of the carbon-sulphided spinel composites were characterized. An attempt with SAN copolymer failed due to the reaction between SAN and the spinels during pyrolysis, even in the argon stream.
Objective Cognition predicts functional competence among individuals with schizophrenia across the lifespan. However, as these individuals age, increasing levels of medical burden may also contribute to functional deficits both directly and indirectly through cognition. Thus, we assessed the relationship among, cognition, medical burden, and functional competence in older individuals with schizophrenia. Methods We analyzed data obtained from 60 community-dwelling participants with schizophrenia and 30 control participants aged 50 or above. Cognition was assessed using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), functional competence was assessed using the USCD Performance-Based Skills Assessment (UPSA), and medical burden was assessed using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G). Group differences were assessed using independent samples t-tests or chi-square tests. Mediation analyses using bootstrapping techniques were used to assess whether cognition mediated the effects of medical burden on functional competence. Results Participants with schizophrenia had higher levels of medical burden, cognitive deficits, and functional impairments. In participants with schizophrenia, cognition, but not medical burden, predicted functional competence after adjusting for age, education, gender, clinical symptoms, and anticholinergic burden of medications. In control participants, cognition and medical burden both predicted functional competence after adjusting for age, education, and gender. Further, cognition was found to fully mediate the association between medical burden and functional competence in control participants. Conclusion Cognition is a robust predictor of functional competence among older individuals with schizophrenia, regardless of medical burden. Cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia may mask any further cognitive impairment associated with medical burden and its impact on function.
Carbon dioxide is understood as a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. The search for an effective and efficient method for CO2 capture and utilization has become a priority task on a global scale. For Mars exploration missions, the ability to use the CO2 in the atmosphere (96%) could offer great benefits in terms of energy storage. The Li–CO2 battery is considered a promising platform for CO2 capture, with its ability to utilize the captured CO2 for energy storage. However, the Li–CO2 battery still suffers various inadequacies, including the slow kinetics of CO2 reduction, the high charge/discharge hysteresis, the ultra-stable discharge product, and the slow transport of CO2 gas and electrolyte. In this work, we introduce a high-capacity, long-life Li–CO2 battery based on a flexible wood cathode architecture. Mother nature has produced the most efficient ion and gas transport architectural system in the form of wood. The unique channel structure of the wood-based cathode separates the transport of CO2 and the electrolyte into specific pathways, leading to facilitated transport. The improvements in mass transport, combined with faster kinetics as a result of the use of Ru nanocatalyst supported on carbon nanotubes that reside in the microchannels, contribute to substantially improved electrochemical performance. Stable cycling for over 200 cycles with both a low overpotential and an ultrahigh discharge capacity of 11 mA h cm−2 is achieved with the flexible wood-based Li–CO2 battery. Such a long cycle life and high capacity is unprecedented for a Li–CO2 battery. Additionally, the cathode exhibits excellent mechanical flexibility imparted by the flexible wood scaffold, holding great promise for wearable device applications. The high capacity and the long cycle life make the flexible wood cathode Li–CO2 battery a promising candidate for combining CO2 capture and utilization.
PbO2 nanowires were obtained by template electrodeposition in polycarbonate membranes and tested as positive electrode for lead-acid battery. Nanowires were grown on the same material acting as current collector that was electrodeposited too. The nanostructured electrodes were assembled in a zero-gap configuration using commercial negative plate and separator. Cell performance was tested by galvanostatic charge/discharge cycles in a 5 M H2SO4 aqueous electrolyte. PbO2 nanostructured electrodes were able to deliver at 1C rate an almost constant capacity of about 190 mAh g−1 (85% of active material utilization), close to the theoretical value (224 mAh g−1). The nanowire array provides a very large surface area (about 70 times higher than the geometrical one) that enhances the specific capacity of the battery. SEM images of the as-prepared and cycled electrodes showed that nanowires morphology changes significantly after the initial cycles. Change of morphology led to the formation of very spongy structure, characterized by the presence of macro-voids, which ensured penetration of the electrolyte in the inner areas of the electrode. Besides, PbO2 nanowires showed a very good cycling stability, maintained for more than 1000 cycles. These findings indicate that this new type of electrode might be a promising substitute of positive plates in lead-acid battery.
Microglia are dependent upon colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) signaling for their survival in the adult brain, with administration of the dual CSF1R/c-kit inhibitor PLX3397 leading to the near-complete elimination of all microglia brainwide. Here, we determined the dose-dependent effects of a specific CSF1R inhibitor (PLX5622) on microglia in both wild-type and the 3xTg-AD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.
Macroporous polymer separators based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) and several VdF copolymers were prepared by a phase inversion process using acetone as a solvent. The resulting macroporous separators were characterized in terms of morphology, swelling behaviour, thermal and mechanical properties and ionic conductivity. The PVdF separator had a highly porous structure (80%) and exhibited good mechanical properties. Once filled by a molar solution of tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEABF4) in acetonitrile (AN) it provided enhanced conductivity (18mScm−1 at 25°C) compared with commercial cellulose and Celgard™ separators.
In this paper a part of the researches which have been carried out to verify the feasibility of the sodium–sulphur (Na–S) secondary cell installations in the Italian high voltage network is presented. The three installations are located in South Italy and have a total power of 34.8MW. Their function in the grid is charging and discharging in long intervals so that they have been called “energy intensive” installations. More in detail, the battery environmental and prescriptive compatibility with the Italian grid has been assessed and is here presented by means of a risk assessment which is absent in technical literature. Safety tests performed by NGK on the new Italian battery module are shown. Moreover, novel safety features used in Italian cell, module and unit are thoroughly presented in the paper.
Cognitive impairment, particularly in attention, memory and executive function domains, is commonly present and associated with poor functional outcomes in schizophrenia. In healthy adults, environmental noise adversely affects many cognitive domains, including those known to be compromised in schizophrenia. This pilot study examined whether environmental noise causes further cognitive deterioration in a small sample of people with schizophrenia. Eighteen outpatients with schizophrenia on stable doses of antipsychotics and 18 age and sex-matched healthy participants were assessed on a comprehensive cognitive battery including measures of psychomotor speed, attention, executive functioning, working memory, and verbal learning and memory under three different conditions [quiet: ~30dB(A); urban noise: building site noise, 68–78dB(A); and social noise: background babble and footsteps from a crowded hall without any discernible words, 68–78dB(A)], 7–14days apart, with counter-balanced presentation of noise conditions across participants of both groups. The results showed widespread cognitive impairment in patients under all conditions, and noise-induced impairments of equal magnitude on specific cognitive functions in both groups. Both patient and healthy participant groups showed significant disruption of delayed verbal recall and recognition by urban and social noise, and of working memory by social noise, relative to the quiet condition. Performance under urban and social noise did not differ significantly from each other for any cognitive measure in either group. We conclude that noise has adverse effects on the verbal and working memory domains in schizophrenia patients and healthy participants. This may be particularly problematic for patients as it worsens their pre-existing cognitive deficits.
Solution casting method is used to prepare solid polymer electrolyte films composed of Na2TeO3/PVA (x wt% of Na2TeO3; x = (0.0, 1.1, 3.3, 4.4, 8.9 and 17.8). The description of crystalline nature parameters of the solid polymer electrolyte films has been confirmed by adding salt by XRD analysis. The average inter-crystallite separation and stacking fault is reduced as the dislocation density increments with a rising salt concentration in the polymer matrix. The decrease in the indirect optical energy gap and the observed increase in refractive index (n) of Na2TeO3/PVA samples with the increasing Na2TeO3 salt compared with the pure PVA suggest the possibility of their use in optical device applications. Moreover, the materials' refractive index values were determined from Moss, Reddy, Anani, and Kumar-Singh relationships. In terms of equivalent circuits, the impedance spectra were fitted and explained. The optical limiting of prepared films with different salt content was investigated by continuous laser beam waves operated at 532.8 nm. The findings showed that the films attenuate the laser beam. The obtained dielectric parameters supposed that the Na2TeO3 salt embedded within the PVA as a matrix conveys faster charge transfer and acts as a non-ideal capacitor. The conductivity–frequency dependence was investigated using empirical Jonscher’s power law. The produced polymeric electrolyte films can be widely relevant to electronic and optoelectronic, and biomedical applications.
A one-of-a-kind high speed optical multichannel spectrometer was designed and built at NIH and described in this journal in 1997 [J.W. Cole, R.W. Hendler, P.D. Smith, H.A. Fredrickson, T.J. Pohida, W.S. Friauf. A high speed optical multichannel analyzer. J Biochem Biophys Methods 1997;35:16–174.]. The most unique aspect of this instrument was the ability to follow an entire time course from a single activation using a single sample. The instrument has been used to study rapid kinetic processes in the photon-driven bacteriorhodopsin photocycle and electron transport from cytochrome c to cytochrome aa3 and from cytochrome aa3 to oxygen. The present paper describes a second generation instrument with a number of important enhancements which significantly improve its capabilities for multichannel kinetic studies. An example application is presented in which the kinetics of photon-induced proton flow across the biological membrane is measured simultaneously with the individual steps of the photocycle determined optically. Matching the time constants for the two processes indicates which molecular transformations are associated with major proton movements.
Avicins, a family of plant triterpene electrophiles, can trigger apoptosis-associated tumor cell death, and suppress chemical-induced carcinogenesis by its anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and antioxidant properties. Here, we show that tumor cells treated with benzyloxycarbonylvalyl-alanyl–aspartic acid (O-methyl)–fluoro-methylketone, an apoptosis inhibitor, and Bax−/−Bak−/− apoptosis-resistant cells can still undergo cell death in response to avicin D treatment. We demonstrate that this non-apoptotic cell death is mediated by autophagy, which can be suppressed by chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, and by specific knockdown of autophagy-related gene-5 (Atg5) and Atg7. Avicin D decreases cellular ATP levels, stimulates the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and S6 kinase activity. Suppression of AMPK by compound C and dominant-negative AMPK decreases avicin D-induced autophagic cell death. Furthermore, avicin D-induced autophagic cell death can be abrogated by knockdown of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2), a key mediator linking AMPK to mTOR inhibition, suggesting that AMPK activation is a crucial event targeted by avicin D. These findings indicate the therapeutic potential of avicins by triggering autophagic cell death.
In this study, the structure and stability of acid phosphatase in its interaction with Co3O4 nanoparticles are evaluated through absorbance, enzyme activity assay, fluorescence, thermal stability, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. It had been found that with the enhancement of Co3O4 nanoparticle concentration, the intensity of the enzyme’s ultraviolet spectrum was increasing. In fact, under these conditions (pH 4.8, T = 310 K), the activity of acid phosphatase was raised too. Also, it was revealed that by enhancing the concentration of the nanoparticles, the enzyme thermal stability increased from 342.0 to 346.0 K. Also, far-UV CD investigations illustrated that the Co3O4 nanoparticles could alter the secondary structure of acid phosphatase through an increase in the value of the α-helix structure (from 10.8 to 13.9%) and a decrease in the β-sheet (from 30.2 to 28.0%). By raising the temperature from 298 to 308 K, the Stern–Volmer constant decreased from 5.72 × 104 to 4.39 × 104 M−1. Also, it was found which Co3O4 nanoparticles quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of acid phosphatase by the static quenching mechanism. Therefore, the thermodynamic parameters showed that the binding process was spontaneous because the value of ∆G was negative. Also, van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding interactions had the main effects on the interaction of Co3O4 nanoparticles with acid phosphatase because the values of ∆H and ∆H were negative. So, Co3O4 nanoparticles increased the stability and activity of acid phosphatase.
Several tetra-alkyl ammonium hydroxides have been proposed and testified as novel inhibitors of Zn dendrite to replace the well-known tetra-alkyl ammonium bromides. In order to assess the efficacy of these hydroxides, current–time technique using potentiostatic electrodeposition, conductivity measurement, cycling test and scanning electron microscopy were undertaken. The ability to inhibit Zn dendrite was found dependent on the size of alkyl groups and the added concentration. Except tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide, significant dendrite inhibition occurs with the other four proposed compounds. Cathodic current profile and morphology of the deposits are found governed by the additives. Conductivity of the electrolyte was not deteriorated by the addition of these additives. From the charge/discharge cycling tests of the Ni–Zn testing cells, it was shown that the rechargeability of Zn anode is highly improved by the introduction of the proposed additives. The mechanism of such inhibition was elucidated. Tetra-alkyl ammonium hydroxides are cleaner and safer as compared to the conventionally used bromide compounds of the same alkyl group, thus they are more promising.
The kinetics of intercalation are discussed using a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) film electrode and electrochemical impedance analysis. Films of LiNi0.8Co0.2O2, deposited on single crystal substrates, were used for the study. The films have intercalative or blocking orientations on different crystal surfaces of the substrates. Impedance spectra show that there are at least three elemental processes in intercalation. Two processes at higher frequencies suggest that they occur at the electrode surface and are influenced by the orientation of the film. The third process appearing at low frequencies below 1Hz indicates lithium motion in the bulk structure and shows the largest resistance among the three processes. This lithium conduction in a thin PLD film shows a semicircular response and is considered to be influenced more by the structure due to the nanometer-scale thickness.
The free radical hypothesis of aging postulates that senescence is due to an accumulation of cellular oxidative damage, caused largely by reactive oxygen species that are produced as by-products of normal metabolic processes. Recently, we demonstrated that the control of cytosolic and mitochondrial redox balance and the cellular defense against oxidative damage is one of the primary functions of cytosolic (IDPc) and mitochondrial NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDPm) by supplying NADPH for antioxidant systems. In this paper, we demonstrate that modulation of IDPc or IDPm activity in IMR-90 cells regulates cellular redox status and replicative senescence. When we examined the regulatory role of IDPc and IDPm against the aging process with IMR-90 cells transfected with cDNA for IDPc or IDPm in sense and antisense orientations, a clear inverse relationship was observed between the amount of IDPc or IDPm expressed in target cells and their susceptibility to senescence, which was reflected by changes in replicative potential, cell cycle, senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, expression of p21 and p53, and morphology of cells. Furthermore, lipid peroxidation, oxidative DNA damage, and intracellular peroxide generation were higher and cellular redox status shifted to a prooxidant condition in the cell lines expressing the lower level of IDPc or IDPm. The results suggest that IDPc and IDPm play an important regulatory role in cellular defense against oxidative stress and in the senescence of IMR-90 cells.
Graphene–metal oxide composites as anode materials for Li-ion batteries have been investigated extensively, but these attempts are mostly limited to moderate rate charge–discharge applications. Here, graphene–nickel oxide nanostructures have been synthesised using a controlled hydrothermal method, which enabled in situ formation of NiO with a coralloid nanostructure on graphene. Graphene/NiO (20%), graphene/NiO (50%) and pure NiO show stable discharge capacities of 185mAh/g at 20C (1C=300mA/g), 450mAh/g at 1C, and 400mAh/g at 1C, respectively. High rate capability and good stability in prolonged charge–discharge cycling permit the application of the material in fast charging batteries for upcoming electric vehicles. To the best of our knowledge such fast rate performance of graphene/metal oxide composite as anode and such stability for pure NiO as anode have not been reported previously.
Capacity retention of succinonitrile (SCN)-plasticized solid polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) in lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) half-cells has been investigated at an elevated temperature of 60°C with or without lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB) modification. The electrochemical and chemical stabilities of several symmetric cells and half-cells were examined under different thermal and electrochemical conditions. At ambient temperature, the unmodified PEM in the LiFePO4 half-cell appeared stable up to 50 cycles tested. Upon cycling at 60°C, the capacity declined rapidly while the cell resistance increased. Spectroscopic characterizations on the chemical compositions of the solid PEM surfaces on both cathode and anode sides reveal possible occurrence of nucleophilic side reactions on the unmodified PEM surface of the lithium anode side. This reaction product is seemingly mobile, capable of shuttling between the Li anode and the LiFePO4 cathode during the charge/discharge cycling, which eventually has led to drastic capacity fading in the half-cell as well as reduction in Coulombic efficiency. This side reaction can be effectively suppressed upon doping LiBOB additive (0.2–1.0wt%) into the PEM, contributing to capacity retention improvement at 60°C. Plausible mechanisms of the high temperature side reactions and suppression of the side reactions by LiBOB have been proposed. It may be inferred that the present chemical probing methodology on both sides of the PEM surfaces is feasible only because of the ‘solid’ nature of the polymer electrolyte membrane as opposed to their liquid counterpart.
We develop a facile one-step hydrothermal method to directly grow interconnected Co0.85Se nanosheets on nickel foam as electrode for supercapacitors. The Co0.85Se electrodes exhibit a high specific capacitance (1528 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 and 715 F g-1 at 20 A g-1), excellent cycling stability (92% retention after 5000 cycles) and good conductivity. Moreover, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) is fabricated using Co0.85Se nanosheets as the positive electrode and active carbon (AC) as the negative electrode. The ASC also exhibits excellent electrochemical performance with high energy density (∼45 Wh kg−1), high power density (16 kW kg-1) and remarkable cycling stability (∼10.9% loss after 5000 cycles). Furthermore, two ASCs connected in series are capable of lighting a red LED at least for 5 min after being charged for only 15 s to 3.2 V. This work demonstrates that the interconnected Co0.85Se nanosheets with three-dimensional porous structures are promising electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors with large energy density.