batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
A new synthetic route including a hydrothermal treatment to produce Al-stabilized α-phase nickel hydroxide with an extremely fine grain size but with good crystallinity has been evaluated. The particle size and morphology were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that α-phase nickel hydroxide with nano-sized, well-crystallized particles exhibits not only a high electrochemical capacity of up to 380–400mAhg−1, but also an excellent rate-capacity performance and long time stability during electrochemical cycling with up to 100% overcharge as well as under a long-term float charge. In contrast, the β-phase nickel hydroxide showed a lower specific capacity and poorer cycling stability under similar overcharge cycling. Except for a lower volumetric energy density than the β-phase, other properties make the Al-stabilized α-phase nickel hydroxide a superior battery material. There is still, however, room to increase the volumetric energy density of the α-phase beyond what is possible to reach by the β-phase via further improvement of the tap density and the specific capacity of the α-phase.
The occurrence of various Vibrio species in water, sediment and shrimp samples from multiple shrimp farm environments from the east and west coast of India was studied. The relative abundance was higher in west coast farms (ca. 104 cfu/ml water) when compared to the east coast (ca. 102 cfu/ml water). Vibrio alginolyticus (3–19%), V. parahaemolyticus (2–13%), V. harveyi (1–7%) and V. vulnificus (1–4%) were the predominant Vibrio species identified by standard biochemical testing. In some cases, V. cholerae could be found, but all isolates were negative for the cholera toxin (ctx) gene that is associated with choleragenic strains. The biochemical identification of V. parahaemolyticus, the other human pathogen among the species mentioned above, was confirmed by PCR targeting the toxR gene and a 387 bp chromosomal locus specific for this species. Furthermore, the presence of the virulence-associated tdh (thermostable direct haemolysin) and trh (TDH-related haemolysin) genes in the V. parahaemolyticus isolates was also detected by PCR. Only 2 out of 47 isolates were tdh positive and one contained the trh gene. However, since V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus species are recognized as a major cause of seafood-borne illness, it is important to pay attention to post-harvest handling and adequate cooking.
Highly activated Co/Mn-1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylate (Co-NTC or Mn-NTC) was prepared from NTCDA, via a simple rheological phase method. This highly activated Co-NTC or Mn-NTC complex could spontaneously combust in air to yield nanosized metal oxide at ambient temperature. Discharge–charge cycling demonstrates that the combustion product (metal oxide) from Co-NTC or Mn-NTC (after heated at 400°C) as anodes for Li-ion batteries delivers high initial discharge and charge capacities, with excellent cycling stability.
We study the relationship between environmental conditions at birth (GDP per capita and infant mortality rate) and adult stature using cohort-state level data in Brazil for the period 1950–1980. We find that GDP per capita, whose annual percentage growth rate was 4.8% during this period, not infant mortality rate, is a robust correlate of population stature in Brazil. Our results are robust to a battery of robustness checks. Using a useful bracketing property of the (state) fixed effects and lagged dependent variables (heights) estimators, we find that an increase in GDP per capita of the magnitude corresponding to that period is associated with 43–68% of the increase in adult height occurring in the same time span. Income, not disease, appears to be the main correlate of Brazilian population heights in the second half of the 20th Century.
Although the high risk of cognitive impairments in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BCECTS) is now well established, there is no clear definition of a uniform neurocognitive profile. This study was based on a neuropsychological model of attention that assessed various components of attention in 21 children with BCECTS and 21 healthy children. All participants were tested with a computerized test battery using the multicomponent model of attention performance. In comparison with healthy participants, the children with BCECTS showed significant impairment in the measure of selectivity and in one measure of intensity of attention (arousal). Our results did not correlate with the electroclinical variables of age at onset of seizures and spike index on sleep EEGs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in which the multicomponent model of attentional function has been used in children with BCECTS to provide a clearer neuropsychological profile of these patients.
High concentration nitrogen-doped coiled carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were directly synthesized from amine flames upon the NiCl2 coated substrates. The microstructures and properties of the CNFs were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical workstation. The results revealed that: (1) the percentage portion of the coiled CNFs reached to 80% in the combustion products, and it exhibited a relatively stable screw-pitch with diameters in a range from 40 to 100nm and length longer than 10μm. (2) The ratio of N(N+C)−−1 proportion within the coiled CNFs was as high as 11% and it was dominated as a ‘graphite-like’ structure with CN bonds (one N atom bonded to three C atoms). (3) After pressing the coiled CNFs onto Ni foam to make an electrode, it showed a larger capacitance and more excellent electrochemical properties than that of the electrode prepared by using conventional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from CVD process. The present high concentration N-doped coiled CNFs will be promising electrode materials for supercapacitors.
In the memory domain, a large body of experimental evidence about subsystems of memory has been collected from classic lesion studies and functional brain imaging. Animal studies have provided information on molecular mechanisms of memory formation. Compared to this work, transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation have made their own unique contribution. Here, we describe how noninvasive brain stimulation has been used to study the functional contribution of specific cortical areas during a given memory task, how these techniques can be used to assess LTP- and LTD-like plasticity in the living human brain, and how they can be employed to modulate memory formation in humans, suggesting an adjuvant role in neurorehabilitative treatments following brain injury.
Spatial working memory (SWM) dysfunction has been suggested as a trait marker of schizophrenia and implicates a diffuse network involving prefrontal, temporal and parietal cortices. However, structural abnormalities in both grey and white matter in relation to SWM deficits are largely unexplored. The current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study examined this relationship in a sample of young first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients using a whole-brain voxel-based method. SWM ability of 21 FES patients and 41 comparable controls was assessed by the CANTAB SWM task. Using an automated morphometric analysis of brain MRI scans, we assessed the relationship between SWM abilities and both grey matter volume and white matter density in both groups. Our findings demonstrated the different directionality of the association between SWM errors and grey matter volume in left frontal regions and white matter tracts connecting these regions with temporal and occipital areas between FES patients and controls. This suggests that the substrate underpinning the normal variability in SWM function in healthy individuals may be abnormal in FES, and that the normal neurodevelopmental processes that drive the development of SWM networks are disrupted in schizophrenia.
Oxidative stress and blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption play important roles in cerebral ischemic pathogenesis and may represent targets for treatment. Earlier studies have shown that osthole, a main active constituent isolated from Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson, could be considered as an attractive therapeutic agent in the treatment of ischemic stroke. However, the mechanism underlying the protective effect remains vague. In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of osthole on transient cerebral ischemia as well as its mechanism(s) in C57 BL/6 J mice. Mice were subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 25 min. Behavioral test was performed at 4 days after ischemia, followed by assessment of neuronal loss in hippocampal CA1 region. Osthole significantly improved the cognitive ability and enhanced the survival of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region of mice after lesion. Further studies showed that osthole attenuated the permeation of BBB, which may contribute to antioxidative effect by increasing the superoxide dismutase activity and decreasing the malondialdehyde level in model mice. Further studies revealed that osthole obviously up-regulated the protein levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase 1 in HT22 cells.
In conclusion, our findings indicated that osthole exerts neuroprotective effects against global cerebral ischemia injury by reducing oxidative stress injury and reserving the disruption of BBB, which may be attributed to elevating the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1.
Highly reduced and ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays have been fabricated using two-step anodization and three-electrode reduction. A proton-electron coupled reduction mechanism has been proposed based on the combined paradigms of a conventional energy-band model and chemical evolution of basic building blocks of TiO2. Under optimized reduction conditions, about 22% of Ti4+ ions in tube surface regions are converted into Ti3+ ions while the morphology of the highly reduced TiO2 nanotube arrays keeps unchanged. The reduced nanotube arrays show superior electrochemical properties such as high areal capacitance, good rate capability, and high cycling stability. The areal capacitance of the reduced electrode is 24.07mFcm−2 at a scan rate of 10mVs−1, much higher than that of the pristine TiO2 nanotube arrays (0.02mFcm−2). This kind of highly reduced one-dimensional oxide nanostructures can find a large array of applications in supercapacitors, photocatalysis, electrochromic display, and Li ion batteries.
Research on VANETs (vehicular ad hoc networks) date back to the beginning of the 2000s. The possibility of enabling communication between vehicles through a wireless network stimulated the creation of new protocols, devices, and diverse utilization scenarios. Due to the intrinsic difficulties of using a real testbed to evaluate these research contributions, several simulators were developed at the time. Recently, with the advent of autonomous vehicles and the emergence of novel technologies (e.g., 5G and edge computing), new research challenges on VANETs are coming into sight. Therefore, revisiting VANET simulators is required to identify if they are still capable of evaluating these new scenarios. This paper presents an updated review of VANET simulators, showing their current state and capabilities to assess novel scenarios in VANET research. Based on this analysis, we identify open research challenges that should be addressed in current and future VANET simulators.
In an effort to develop low-flammability electrolytes for a new generation of Li-ion batteries, we have evaluated physical and electrochemical properties of electrolytes with two novel phosphazene additives. We have studied performance quantities including conductivity, viscosity, flash point, and electrochemical window of electrolytes as well as formation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) films. In the course of study, the necessity for a simple method of SEI characterization was realized. Therefore, a new method and new criteria were developed and validated on 10 variations of electrolyte/electrode substrates. Based on the summation of determined physical and electrochemical properties of phosphazene-based electrolytes, one structure of phosphazene compound was found better than the other. This capability helps to direct our further synthetic work in phosphazene chemistry.
The structure and works of separation of LiFePO4/FePO4 interfaces, interfacial energies, and relevant surface energies are evaluated using ab initio calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT). The calculations concern various modes of separation of (100) and (010) interfaces which result in stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric surfaces. Corresponding interfacial fracture toughnesses are calculated based on the works of separation. The analysis reveals the most stable separation configurations and quantifies the cleavage energies. The findings can be used to explain the fracture behavior observed in experiments.
Increasing energy demand, environmental pollution and global warming are the main factors that increase the tendency towards renewable and clean energy resources. Energy derived from fossil fuels is not sustainable due to limited resources. Climate change and energy security have forced governments around the world to adopt policies to extend the share of clean energies considering greenhouse gas emission reduction and many other policies. In this paper, four scenarios have been considered due to the new legislation for the photovoltaic system utilization in residential sectors. All scenarios have been studied using RETScreen software; furthermore, an economic analysis and the environmental impact of the scenarios have been briefly examined. The fourth scenario, which suggested in this article, is provided to expand the use of PV systems in the household sector, and the result was analyzed on the impact of the economic contribution of the government to set up these systems.
With development of flexible electronics, investigation on flexible supercapacitors is becoming more and more important. How to easily prepare flexible electrodes with high specific capacitance is still challenging. Here, Ni3S2-based flexible positive electrode is obtained by hydrothermally treating the continuous Ni film which has been chemically deposited on flexible organic fibrous substrates with thioacetamide. The structural character, electrochemical properties and the influences of reduced graphene oxide on the microstructure and properties of the electrode are investigated in detail. Results reveal that the formed Ni3S2 shows a neural network-like structure. The presence of reduced graphene oxide makes the Ni3S2 size small, improves the dispersibility of Ni3S2 and increases conductivity of the electrode. The specific capacitance of the optimized electrode can reach to 2.3 F cm−2 (990.1 F g−1 based on the mass of reduced graphene oxide and Ni3S2). In addition to the good flexibility, the asymmetric supercapacitors assembled by using Ni3S2-based positive electrode and reduced graphene oxide negative electrode exhibit high capacitance (680.5 mF cm−2 or 81.9 F g−1), excellent cycle stability (retaining 86.1% of the initial capacitance after 5000 cycles) and high energy density (29.1 Wh kg−1). This strategy may provide new approach for nickel-based flexible electrodes.
Background: Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist shown to produce deficits in humans on cognitive battery of tasks involving attention and memory. Previous work in our laboratory using the odour span task (OST) has shown nicotine to be effective in enhancing cognitive performance in normal animals. The aim of this study was to develop a rodent model of cognitive deficits using ketamine exposure in the OST to evaluate the ability of nicotine to restore performance. Methods: Rats were trained in a non-matching to sample rule, then the full OST, which involved identifying a novel odour from an increasing number of presented odours. Male hooded Lister rats were performance matched and randomly allocated to three treatment groups (n=8). Animals were sub-chronically exposed to ketamine daily (10, 30mg/kg i.p. or vehicle) for 5 consecutive days after reaching a baseline level of performance. Ketamine produced a dose-dependent impairment that was stable over 14days. Animals were therefore tested with acute doses of nicotine (0.025, 0.05 and 0.1mg/kg) and saline in a randomised sequence. Results: Nicotine doses in 0.1 and 0.5mg/kg were effective in restoring performance to baseline levels in both ketamine-treated groups. Similar levels of improvement with nicotine were evident in control subjects, with the most significant effect observed following 0.05mg/kg nicotine. Discussion: These data suggest that ketamine in the OST may be useful in examining novel treatments to restore cognitive impairments associated with neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, and adds to the evidence suggesting that neuronal nicotinic receptors may be viable targets for intervention. Further behavioural work but also in-vitro electrophysiology will be undertaken to elucidate the role of specific receptors involved this process.
The conductivity, the salt diffusion coefficient, the lithium-ion transport number and the thermodynamic factor of the salt and the solvent were reported for LiPF6 in EC:EMC (3:7) at 25°C and for concentrations between 0.2 and 2.0mol/dm3. The mass transport in the electrolyte was fully characterised by combining three types of electrochemical experiments; concentration cells, galvanostatic polarisation experiments and electrochemical impedance measurements with a mathematical description of the mass transport in the electrolyte. The apparent salt diffusion coefficient had a local maximum in the concentration range, while the viscosity-dependent salt diffusion coefficient decreased from 4.1×10−10 m2/s at 0.2mol/dm3 to 4.4×10−11 m2/s at 2.0mol/dm3. Both the thermodynamic factor and the conductivity varied strongly with the concentration. The conductivity had a maximum of 9.5mS/cm at 1.0mol/dm3. The lithium-ion transport number with respect to the room decreased with increasing salt concentration, with a maximum of 0.37 at 0.2mol/dm3 in the concentration range. The Maxwell–Stefan diffusivities and the electrolyte potential drop in a lithium-ion battery at steady state were lastly calculated from the obtained transport properties. An analysis of the characterisation method was also done on the basis of the characterisation results.
Silicon-based nanowires have been grown from commercial silicon powders under conditions with different oxygen and carbon activities. Nanowires grown in the presence of carbon sources consisted of a crystalline SiC core with an amorphous SiO x shell. The thickness of the SiO x shell decreased as the oxygen concentration in the precursor gases decreased. Nanowires grown in a carbon-free environment consisted of amorphous silicon oxide with a typical composition of SiO1.8. The growth rate of nanowires decreased with decreasing oxygen content in the precursor gases. SiO1.8 nanowires exhibited an initial discharge capacity of ∼1300mAhg−1 and better stability than those of silicon powders. A vapor-induced solid–liquid–solid (VI-SLS) mechanism is proposed to explain the nanowire growth (including silicon and other metal-based nanowires) from powder sources. In this approach, both a gas source and a solid-powder source are required for nanowire growth. This mechanism is consistent with experimental observations and also can be used to guide the design and growth of other nanowires.
Neuropeptide S (NPS) is the endogenous ligand of a previously orphan receptor now named NPSR. In the brain NPS regulates several biological functions including anxiety, arousal, locomotion, food intake, learning and memory, pain and drug abuse. Mice lacking the NPSR gene (NPSR(−/−)) represent an useful tool to investigate the neurobiology of the NPS/NPSR system. NPSR(−/−) mice have been generated in a 129S6/SvEv genetic background. In the present study we generated CD-1 congenic NPSR(+/+) and NPSR(−/−) mice and investigated their phenotype and sensitivity to NPS in various behavioural assays. The phenotype analysis revealed no locomotor differences between NPSR(+/+) and NPSR(−/−) mice. The behaviour of NPSR(+/+) and NPSR(−/−) mice in the righting reflex test was superimposable. No differences were recorded between the two genotypes in the elevated plus maze, open field and stress-induced hyperthermia tests, with the exception of rearing behaviour that was reduced in knockout animals. Moreover the behaviour of NPSR(+/+) and NPSR(−/−) mice in the forced swimming, novel object recognition and formalin assays was similar. The stimulatory effects of NPS in the locomotor activity test and its anxiolytic-like actions in the elevated plus maze and open field assays were evident in NPSR(+/+) but not NPSR(−/−) animals. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the NPS/NPSR system does not tonically control locomotion, sensitivity to diazepam, anxiety, depressive-like behaviours, memory and pain transmission in mice. Furthermore our results clearly show that the product of the NPSR gene represents the mandatory protein for all the NPS biological effects so far described.
Lithium-sulfur (Li–S) batteries possess great attention for energy storage owing to its high theoretical capacity and energy density compared to the state-of-the-art lithium-ion technology. However, the commercialization of Li–S battery is still at bottleneck due to the several technical problems, of which polysulfide shuttle effect is the major challenge. To minimize the shuttling of polysulfides by confining them within the cathode compartment, a novel lithium ion conducting organic polymer lithium poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonate) (LPAMPS) coated Celgard separator (LPAMPS@CG) was designed by simple doctor blade coating technique. The negatively charged –SO3̄ groups present in LPAMPS coating works as an electrostatic shield for soluble polysulfide anions through coulombic repulsion without inhibiting the transport of Li+. The Li–S cell containing LPAMPS@CG not only reduces shuttling effect but also enhances the electrolyte wettability, interfacial property and ionic conductivity. The cell with LPAMPS@CG separator delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1486 mAh g−1 at 0.1C, and a discharge capacity of 1061 mAh g−1 was retained after 200 cycles. Furthermore, the cells containing LPAMPS@CG exhibited excellent rate capability and anti-self-discharge rate.
We aimed to determine cognitive drivers, expected to play a role in target reach and/or attrition in obesity programs.
Yak dung is widely used for cooking and heating in Tibet. We measured real-time concentrations of black carbon (BC) and fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) emitted by yak dung burning in six households with different living conditions and stove types in the Nam Co region, Tibet. We observed a much lower average BC/PM2.5 mass ratio (0.013, range 0.006–0.028) from dung combustion in this area than previously reported estimates, ranging between 0.05 and 0.11. Based on our measurements, estimated fuel use, and published emission factors of BC and PM2.5, about 0.4–1.7 Gg/year of BC is emitted by yak dung combustion in Tibet in addition to the previously estimated 0.70 Gg/year of BC for Tibetan residential sources. Our survey shows that most residents were aware of adverse health impacts of indoor yak dung combustion and approximately 2/3 of residents had already installed chimney stoves to mitigate indoor air pollution. However, our measurements reveal that, without adequate ventilation, installing a chimney may not ensure good indoor air quality. For instance, the 6-h average BC and PM2.5 concentrations in a stone house using a chimney stove were 24.5 and 873 μg/m3, respectively. We also observed a change in the BC/PM2.5 ratios before and after a snow event. The impact of dung moisture content on combustion efficiency and pollutant emissions needs further investigation.