batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
The present work aims at testing the hypothesis that carbon use efficiency (CUE) of sunflower, grain sorghum, wheat and chickpea crops, having different photosynthetic pathways (C3, C4) and yield composition (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids), will hold constant over the natural thermal regime occurring during the entire crop cycle in the open field. All crops were well watered. Sunflower and sorghum had two treatments of nitrogen application, while wheat had only one suitable level of nitrogen, and chickpea had no nitrogen at all. Canopy temperature, day-time net photosynthesis (P), and night-time respiration (R) were monitored by closed-system canopy chambers, properly automated for continuous measurements. Night-time respiration response to temperature and noon-time photosynthesis were measured at leaf scale, as well. Results showed a strictly linear relationship (i.e. constant CUE) between cumulative P (∑P) and cumulative R (∑R) over the entire cycle of sorghum (slope=2.28) and wheat (3.35), and up to anthesis of sunflower (2.08) and chickpea (2.83), irrespective of the thermal regimes evolution and nitrogen nutritional levels. The same linearity was maintained when relationships were observed in terms of biomass versus ∑R. In sunflower, significant deviation from linearity is observed after anthesis, with a difference between the two nitrogen treatments. No conclusions could be drawn for post-anthesis chickpea due to the interruption of the experiment caused by an intense thunderstorm. Leaf-scale respiration responses to temperature were insufficient to explain the corresponding behaviour at canopy-level.
The effects of different types and amounts of environmental stimuli (visual and auditory) on microswitch use and behavioral states of three individuals with profound multiple impairments were examined. The individual’s switch use and behavioral states were measured under three setting conditions: natural stimuli (typical visual and auditory stimuli in a recreational situation), reduced visual stimuli, and reduced visual and auditory stimuli. Results demonstrated differential switch use in all participants with the varying environmental setting conditions. No consistent effects were observed in behavioral state related to environmental condition. Predominant behavioral state scores and switch use did not systematically covary with any participant. Results suggest the importance of considering environmental stimuli in relationship to switch use when working with individuals with profound multiple impairments.
A paper published in Energy and Environmental Science by Po-Yen Chen et al. reported on a new route for fabricating perovskite solar cells using “recycled car batteries” (spent lead acid batteries) as starting materials. Multiple lines of evidence show that it was a new lead acid battery and not a recycled one that was used to synthesize lead iodide perovskite materials in this work. As the components of electrodes are different between new batteries and spent ones, this fabricating method would not be applicable for use in recycled car batteries.
To test whether binge eating and emotional eating mediate the relationships between self-reported stress, morning cortisol and the homeostatic model of insulin resistance and waist circumference. We also explored the moderators of gender and age. Data were from 249 adults (mean BMI = 26.9 ± 5.1 kg/m2; mean age = 28.3 ± 8.3 years; 54.2 % male; 69.5 % white) recruited from the community who were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Participants completed a comprehensive assessment panel of psychological and physiological assessments including a morning blood draw for plasma cortisol. We found negative relationships between stress and morning cortisol (r = −0.15 to −0.21; p < 0.05), and cortisol and the homeostatic model of insulin resistance and waist circumference (r = −0.16, −0.25, respectively; p < 0.05). There was not statistical support for binge eating or emotional eating as mediators and no support for moderated mediation for either gender or age; however, gender moderated several paths in the model. These include the paths between perceived stress and emotional eating (B = 0.009, p < 0.001), perceived stress and binge eating (B = 0.01, p = 0.003), and binge eating and increased HOMA-IR (B = 0.149, p = 0.018), which were higher among females. Among women, perceived stress may be an important target to decrease binge and emotional eating. It remains to be determined what physiological and psychological mechanisms underlie the relationships between stress and metabolic abnormalities.
The study presents a quasi-experimental analysis of data on 9,194 offspring (ages 4–11 years old) of women from a nationally representative U.S. sample of households to test the causal hypotheses about the association between family income and childhood conduct problems (CPs). Comparison of unrelated individuals in the sample indicated a robust inverse association, with the relation being larger at higher levels of income and for male offspring, even when statistical covariates were included to account for measured confounds that distinguish different families. Offspring also were compared to their siblings and cousins who were exposed to different levels of family income in childhood to rule out unmeasured environmental and genetic factors confounded with family income as explanations for the association. In these within-family analyses, boys exposed to lower family income still exhibited significantly higher levels of CPs. When considered in the context of previous studies using different designs, these results support the inference that family income influences CPs, particularly in males, through causal environmental processes specifically related to earnings within the nuclear family.
Energy storage is nowadays recognised as a key element in modern energy supply chain. This is mainly because it can enhance grid stability, increase penetration of renewable energy resources, improve the efficiency of energy systems, conserve fossil energy resources and reduce environmental impact of energy generation. Although there are many energy storage technologies already reviewed in the literature, these technologies are currently at different levels of technological maturity with a few already proven for commercial scale application. Most of the review papers in energy storage highlight these technologies in details, however; there remains limited information on the real life application of these technologies for energy storage purpose. This review paper aims to address this gap by providing a detailed analysis of real life application and performance of the different energy storage technologies. The paper discusses the concept of energy storage, the different technologies for the storage of energy with more emphasis on the storage of secondary forms of energy (electricity and heat) as well as a detailed analysis of various energy storage projects all over the world. In the final part of this paper, some of the challenges hindering the commercial deployment of energy storage technologies are also highlighted.
A “dynamic” solar power plant (which consists of a solar collector–thermal engine combination) is proposed as an alternative for the more usual photovoltaic cells. A model for heat losses in a selective flat-plate solar collector operating on Mars is developed. An endoreversible Carnot cycle is used to describe heat engine operation. This provides upper limits for real performances. The output power is maximized. Meteorological and actinometric data provided by Viking Landers are used as inputs. Two strategies of collecting solar energy were considered: (i) horizontal collector; (ii) collector tilt and orientation are continuously adjusted to keep the receiving surface perpendicular on the Sun’s rays. The influences of climate and of various design parameters on solar collector heat losses, on engine output power and on the optimum sun-to-user efficiency are discussed.
The manipulation of growth conditions of microorganisms is a common strategy used by pharmaceutical companies to improve the quantities and spectra of secondary metabolites with potential therapeutic interest. In this work, the effects of fermentation media on secondary metabolite production from a set of Actinomycetes was statistically compared. For this purpose, we created an automated method for comparing the ability of microorganisms to produce different secondary metabolites. HPLC analyses guided the selection of those media in which a wider chemical diversity was obtained from microorganisms inoculated in a wide spectrum of production media. Fermented media yielding a better secondary metabolite profile were included in subsequent drug discovery screening.
In this study, a series of inverse spinel M2SnO4 (M=Mg, Mn, Co) oxides were produced and tested to probe the effect the oxide matrix has on the electrochemical performance of tin oxides. Generally, these new oxides show similar behaviour to SnO2 with the formation of a more complicated mixed metal oxide matrix affecting the potentials of tin reduction and lithium insertion. A reasonable correlation is observed between the potential of the initial reduction of the spinel oxide to metallic tin and the enthalpy of formation of the metal oxide (MO). Amongst the spinels, Mn2SnO4 exhibits the best reversibility and Mg2SnO4 the worst.
Polyvinylidenedifluoride–hexafluoropropylene, (P(VdF–HFP))-based polymer electrolytes, as separators for lithium batteries, were prepared through different polymer/solvent (N,N-dimethylformamide, DMF) ratios and physicochemically investigated. Scanning electron microscopy measurements have shown a homogeneously distributed porosity within the membranes, with moderately tortuous pathways, resulting in a liquid uptake up to 77 wt.% with respect to the overall weight and conduction values above 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature. Prolonged cycling tests, performed on Li/Sn–C and Li/LiFePO4 half-cells based on P(VdF–HFP) polymer electrolyte separator membranes, have evidenced nominal capacities ranging from 70% to 90% of the theoretical value with very good capacity retention and charge/discharge efficiency close at 100% even at high current rates. A capacity decay is observed at high current regime, associated to the diffusion phenomena occurring within the electrode and the polymer electrolyte separator membrane.
Zinc-based batteries offer a safe, inexpensive alternative to fire-prone lithium-based batteries, but zinc-based batteries do not exhibit sufficient rechargeability—yet. Breaking through the centuries-old roadblock to zinc-based rechargeable batteries requires rethinking the electrode structure in order to control how zinc converts to zinc oxide during battery discharge and how the oxide is reversed back to metal upon recharging. We address the problems of inefficient zinc utilization and limited rechargeability by redesigning the zinc electrode as a porous, monolithic, three-dimensional (3D) aperiodic architecture. Utilization approaches 90% (728 mA h gZn−1) when the zinc “sponge” is used as the anode in a primary (single-use) zinc–air cell. To probe rechargeability of the 3D Zn sponge, we cycled Zn–vs.–Zn symmetric cells and Ag–Zn full cells under conditions that would otherwise support dendrite growth, and yet the Zn sponges remain dendrite-free after extensive cycling up to 188 mA h gZn−1. By using 3D-wired zinc architectures that innately suppress dendrite formation, all zinc-based chemistries can be reformulated for next-generation rechargeable batteries.
This study investigated the addition of vanadium phosphate [VO(H2PO4)2] to platinum/carbon (Pt/C) to prepare Pt/C–VO(H2PO4)2 catalyst. Pt/C electrocatalyst was treated with vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) and phosphoric acid concentration to produce VO(H2PO4)2. This combination improved the durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs); nonetheless, the addition of VO(H2PO4)2 did not negatively affect the homogenization and electrochemical activity of the Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, the presence of VO(H2PO4)2 was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction pattern and the energy spectrum. The ideal VO(H2PO4)2 ratio (6 %) was determined, and the VO(H2PO4)2 was imported to reduce oxidation in the weak acid environment of the PEMFCs cathode catalyst. When the fuel cell operates at high potential, VO2+ is oxidized to VO2+. This preferential oxidation protects carbon carriers against oxidation. When the fuel cell returns to normal working potential, the VO2+ is restored to VO2+. VO2+ is a reserve for the protection of carbon carriers at the subsequent instance of high potential. The oxide between the Pt particles coated the surface of the carbon carriers, thus limiting the aggregation and loss of Pt. These two functions enhance the durability of fuel cell electrodes.
Background Movement disorders are common in individuals with schizophrenia, even in those who are not exposed to antipsychotic medications. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) are among the most common abnormal movements in schizophrenia, but their relationship with other features of the illness such as cognition is not well characterized. Methods Three hundred and twenty-five individuals with schizophrenia who were not receiving any antipsychotic or anticholinergic medication and participated in the baseline visit of the Clinical Antipsychotic Treatment of Intervention Effectiveness study were included in the present study. EPSs were assessed using the Simpson-Angus Scale, while cognition was measured with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. The relationship between EPS and cognitive test performance was evaluated both dimensionally and categorically. Results Greater severity of EPS was significantly associated with worse cognitive test performance evaluated using a composite score. Eighty-six patients were identified as having parkinsonism and these patients performed worse on cognitive tests than non-parkinsonian patients. These findings remained significant even after accounting for other variables such as severity of psychopathology, sedation, akathisia and dyskinesia. Conclusions The present results demonstrate that severity of EPS is reliably linked with poorer scores on tests of cognition. While this may reflect a common pathophysiology underlying neuromotor and neurocognitive deficits, it may also be the case that parkinsonian symptoms such as rigidity and bradykinesia impede test taking ability. Regardless of mechanism, inferences regarding cognitive impairment should take into account the presence of EPS, as well as other variables that may mediate cognitive test findings.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates numerous toxic effects following exposure of vertebrate animals to certain aromatic environmental contaminants, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). To investigate possible effects of TCDD on invertebrates, a cDNA encoding an AHR homologue was cloned from the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria. The predicted amino acid sequence contains regions characteristic of vertebrate AHRs: basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and PER-ARNT-SIM (PAS) domains and a glutamine-rich region. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the clam AHR sequence groups within the AHR subfamily of the bHLH-PAS family, in a clade containing AHR homologues from Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. AHR mRNA expression was detected in all tissue types tested: adductor muscle, digestive gland, foot, gill, gonad, mantle, and siphon. The in vitro-expressed clam AHR exhibited sequence-specific interactions with a mammalian xenobiotic response element (XRE). Velocity sedimentation analysis using either in vitro-expressed clam AHR or clam cytosolic proteins showed that this AHR homologue binds neither [3H]TCDD nor [3H]β-naphthoflavone (BNF). Similarly, in vitro-expressed D. melanogaster and C. elegans AHR homologues lacked specific binding of these compounds. Thus, the absence of specific, high-affinity binding of the prototypical AHR ligands TCDD and BNF, is a property shared by known invertebrate AHR homologues, distinguishing them from vertebrate AHRs. Comparative studies of phylogenetically diverse organisms may help identify an endogenous ligand(s) and the physiological role(s) for this protein.
The genotoxicity of river water dissolved contaminants is usually estimated after grab sampling of river water. Water contamination can now be obtained with passive samplers that allow a time-integrated sampling of contaminants. Since it was verified that low density polyethylene membranes (LDPE) accumulate labile hydrophobic compounds, their use was proposed as a passive sampler. This study was designed to test the applicability of passive sampling for combined chemical and genotoxicity measurements. The LDPE extracts were tested with the umu test (TA1535/pSK1002 ± S9) and the Ames assay (TA98, TA100 and YG1041 ± S9). We describe here this new protocol and its application in two field studies on four sites of the Seine River. Field LDPE extracts were negative with the YG1041 and TA100 and weakly positive with the TA98 + S9 and Umu test. Concentrations of labile mutagenic PAHs were higher upstream of Paris than downstream of Paris. Improvement of the method is needed to determine the genotoxicity of low concentrations of labile dissolved organic contaminants.
The aim of this paper is to describe the design and the preliminary validation of a platform developed to collect and automatically analyze biomedical signals for risk assessment of vascular events and falls in hypertensive patients. This m-health platform, based on cloud computing, was designed to be flexible, extensible, and transparent, and to provide proactive remote monitoring via data-mining functionalities. A retrospective study was conducted to train and test the platform. The developed system was able to predict a future vascular event within the next 12 months with an accuracy rate of 84 % and to identify fallers with an accuracy rate of 72 %. In an ongoing prospective trial, almost all the recruited patients accepted favorably the system with a limited rate of inadherences causing data losses (<20 %). The developed platform supported clinical decision by processing tele-monitored data and providing quick and accurate risk assessment of vascular events and falls.
X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to demonstrate that V2O5 is successfully coated on LiNiO2-based materials. The V2O5 layer will react with Li impurities on surface, which will reduce the pH value and rapid moisture uptake ability of LiNiO2-based materials. Cells tests indicate that V2O5-coating layer works as HF inhibitor and/or HF scavenger, which contributes a significant improvement in cycling performance and storage characteristics in electrolyte. In the mean time, V2O5 acts as isolating layer when cathode material contacts with electrolyte especially cycling at high voltage. Structural analysis shows that V2O5-coating layer has more advantage over other oxide coating in delaying Ni3+/Ni2+ transformation and lithium extraction from bulk surface, which benefits from the properties of V2O5 reacting with LiOH/Li2CO3 impurities on surface.
Background Basic and clinical researches have suggested that type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with cognitive impairment, and diabetes mellitus increases the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Recently, some reports found that undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) could affect brain functions, and decreased in patients with T2DM. We aimed to investigate the association of serum ucOC with cognitive impairment in T2DM patients. Methods A total of 196 male T2DM patients without medications known to affect bone metabolism or history of bone fracture, aged ≥18years were recruited and divided into impaired cognition group and normal cognition group. We use the scores of Minimum Mental State Examination (MMSE) to evaluate the subjects' cognitive function. Detailed cognitive performance was also evaluated by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Serum ucOC was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. Results Compared to male T2DM patients with normal cognition, the mean osteocalcin concentrations were significantly lower in male T2DM patients with impaired cognition (P <0.05). RBANS total and all indexes scores were also lower in patients with impaired cognition (all P <0.05). After adjusted effects of confounding factors, serum ucOC was positively correlated with a variety indexes of RBANS except visuospatial/constructional. Conclusions The serum ucOC is positively correlated with RBANS scores in male T2DM patients. It suggests that serum ucOC may be involved in the development and progression of cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients.
Objective Dementia frequently occurs in Parkinson’s disease (PD) but its pathophysiological basis is little known. Comparative EEG studies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) are still rare, but could provide knowledge on the different pathophysiological mechanisms involved. The objective of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the absolute power and coherence on the EEG for patients with AD and PDD. Methods This study assessed 38 adults with AD, 12 with PDD, 31 with Parkinson’s disease without dementia, and 37 controls (CG) by a neurological evaluation, CERAD neuropsychological battery, executive functions tests and qEEG, calculating global absolute powers for the delta, theta, alpha and beta bands and inter- and intra-hemispheric coherences. Results The delta and theta powers were highest in PDD and lowest in CG (p <0.05). The beta frontal-occipital inter-hemispheric coherence was highest in PDD (p <0.05). Whereas, alpha and beta frontal inter-hemispheric coherence was highest in PDD and lowest in AD (p <0.05). Conclusion These results suggest that qEEG power and coherence measures are different in AD and PDD. Significance These qEEG differences must be related to the distinct mechanisms of cortical neural connections in AD and PDD.
Novelty seeking as a behavioral phenomenon emerges as a compromise between approach and avoidance behavior. Although novelty seeking is thought to play a role in drug abuse and in cognition, the biological basis for this construct is poorly understood. At a genetic level, dopamine D4 receptors (D4R) appear to be critical for the behavioral expression of novelty seeking. In humans, polymorphisms of D4R have been associated with novelty-seeking traits in general and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in particular. Similarly, D4R (−/−) mice exhibit less novel object exploration than D4R (+/+) mice. Due to of the paucity of selective D4R ligands for use in behavioral pharmacology studies, few studies have examined the behavioral effects of D4R compounds in animals. The present experiments characterized RO-10-5824, a new, selective D4R partial agonist with minimal affinity for dopamine D2 and D3 receptors, and tested the hypothesis that activation of D4R increases the investigation by mice of a novel object placed in the center of a familiar open field. C57BL/6J and DBA/1J male mice were used in a dose response study of the selective D4R partial agonist RO-10-5824 (0, 1.0, 3.0, or 10.0 mg/kg). While having no effect on the amount of locomotor activity in novel or familiar environments, RO-10-5824 (10.0 mg/kg) increased time spent in the center of the enclosure in the presence of a novel object in C57 but not DBA mice. These results support the hypothesis that stimulation of D4R can enhance novelty seeking in mice and that this effect may be dependent on subtle genetic differences.