batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Li1.075V0.925−x M x O2 (M = Cr or Fe, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.025) compounds are investigated as new anode materials for secondary lithium batteries. Previous research suggests Li1+x V1−x O2 (0.075 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) samples exhibit the first discharge capacities of 240–250 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C-rate. Although the lithiation of Li1+x V1−x O2 (0.075 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) offer high initial capacities, a major difficulty for the anode application lies in the cycle life. In an attempt to improve Li1.075V0.925O2, doping with chromium and iron are systemically carried out to investigate its effect on the crystal structures, valence state of vanadium ions, electrical conductivities, mechanical strengths, and electrochemical properties. Li1.075V0.925−x M x O2 samples are successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction in a reducing atmosphere and the products give a single phase of the hexagonal layered structure with a space group of R-3m. Compared to Li1.075V0.925O2, iron-doped materials give improved electrical conductivities and electrochemical properties. Li1.075V0.9Fe0.025O2 sample exhibits the highest discharge capacity, an excellent rate capability, and an improved cyclability due to the high strength of the individual particles.
Cathodic electrocatalyst is critical to the performance of microbial fuel cells. Developing cost-effective and efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction is therefore an important step towards wider application of microbial fuel cells. Herein, we report a cost-effective and environment-friendly strategy for synthesis of nitrogen-doped hierarchically porous carbon with watermelon rind as a nitrogen-rich and high stability precursor and the biochar is used as cathode catalyst in air cathode microbial fuel cells. In this study, the pyrolysis derivative, WRC-700, achieves a current density of redox peak of 0.19 mA cm−2, which is comparable to the Pt/C catalyst. There are more CN bonds and higher concentrations of pyridinic nitrogen and graphitic nitrogen in the carbon framework of WRC-700 catalyst resulting in an outstanding electrochemical active area of 658.90 m2 g−1, functioning through a four-electron pathway toward oxygen reduction reaction process. The charge transfer resistance of 20.63 Ω is achieved by WRC-700 cathode, which is slightly smaller than Pt/C cathode (37.56 Ω). With experimental validation, we find that carbon from watermelon rind biomass can be considered as a superior alternative to non-metal catalyst in microbial fuel cell applications and envisage an enhanced power output from microbial fuel cells using the catalyst-modified cathodes.
Cognitive impairment has been found independently among individuals with schizophrenia and individuals with alcohol use disorders. Less is known about the nature and severity of cognitive impairment in patients with a dual diagnosis, though the co-occurrence of these disorders may further exacerbate cognitive impairment. The study investigates the possible additive effect of alcohol use disorder and schizophrenia on cognitive impairment among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Participants were inpatients with schizophrenia (n =30), inpatients with a dual diagnosis of schizophrenia and alcohol use disorder (n =30), and matched controls (n =30): all completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Both patient groups were significantly impaired, relative to controls, across the battery. Dual diagnosis patients were significantly more impaired than schizophrenia patients on delayed verbal memory, and executive functioning, primarily set-shifting, working memory, and planning, and had higher psychiatric morbidity scores. The findings provide support for an additive effect of the two disorders on cognitive impairment. These cognitive deficits may affect capacity to engage in treatment, increase risk of relapse, and adversely affect treatment outcomes. An understanding of the cognitive profile of people with dual diagnosis may help to tailor treatment delivery to meet their specific needs, enhance cognitive strengths, accommodate deficits and improve treatment outcomes.
Levetiracetam (LEV) is a structurally novel antiepileptic drug (AED) which has demonstrated a broad spectrum of anticonvulsant activities both in experimental and clinical studies. Previous experiments in the kindling model suggested that LEV, in addition to its seizure-suppressing activity, may possess antiepileptogenic or disease-modifying activity. In the present study, we evaluated this possibility by using a rat model in which epilepsy with spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS), behavioral alterations, and hippocampal damages develop after a status epilepticus (SE) induced by sustained electrical stimulation of the basal amygdala. Two experimental protocols were used. In the first protocol, LEV treatment was started 24h after onset of electrical amygdala stimulation without prior termination of the SE. In the second protocol, the SE was interrupted after 4h by diazepam, immediately followed by onset of treatment with LEV. Treatment with LEV was continued for 8weeks (experiment #1) or 5weeks (experiment #2) after SE, using continuous drug administration via osmotic minipumps. The occurrence of SRS was recorded during and after treatment. In addition, the rats were tested in a battery of behavioral tests, including the elevated-plus maze and the Morris water maze. Finally, the brains of the animals were analyzed for histological lesions in the hippocampal formation. With the experimental protocols chosen for these experiments, LEV did not exert antiepileptogenic or neuroprotective activity. Furthermore, the behavioral alterations, e.g., behavioral hyperexcitability and learning deficits, in epileptic rats were not affected by treatment with LEV after SE. These data do not support the idea that administration of LEV after SE prevents or reduces the long-term alterations developing after such brain insult in rats.
Introduction In the past decade, the use of the Internet as a forum for communication has exponentially increased, and research indicates that excessive use is associated with psychiatric symptoms. The present study examined the rate of Internet use in adolescents with personality disorders, with a focus on schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), which is characterized by marked interpersonal deficits. Because the Internet provides an easily accessible forum for anonymous social interaction and constitutes an environment where communication is less likely to be hampered by interpersonal deficits, it was hypothesized that SPD youth will spend significantly more time engaging in social activities on the Internet than controls. Methods Self-reports of daily Internet use in adolescents with SPD (n =19), a control group with other personality disorders (n =22) and a non-psychiatric control group (n =28) were collected. Results Analyses revealed that the SPD participants reported significantly less social interaction with ‘real-life’ friends, but used the Internet for social interaction significantly more frequently than controls. Chat room participation, cooperative Internet gaming, and to a lesser degree, e-mail use, were positively correlated with ratings of SPD symptom severity and Beck Depression Inventory scores. Discussion Findings are discussed in light of the potential benefits and risks associated with Internet use by socially isolated SPD youth.
Thermal effects on batteries, both due to external variations and internal fluctuations, significantly impact their performance. Ajayan and colleagues survey recent advances in understanding the thermal effects on individual battery components.
Hierarchically porous carbons (HPCs) with 1D to 3D network are attracting vast interest due to their potential technological application profile ranging from electrochemical capacitors, lithium ion batteries, solar cells, hydrogen storage systems, photonic material, fuel cells, sorbent for toxic gas separation and so on. Natural raw-materials such as biomass-biopolymer derived hierarchical nanostructured carbons are especially attractive for their uniform pore dimensions which can be adjustable over a wide range of length scales. Good electrical conductivity, high surface area, and excellent chemical stability are unique physicochemical properties which are responsible for micro/nanostructured porous carbon to be highly trusted candidate for emerging nanotechnologies. This review focuses on the ‘out-of-the-box’ synthetic techniques capable of deriving HPC with superior application profiles. The article presents the promising scope of accessing HPCs from (1) hard-templating, soft-templating, and non-templating routes, (2) biopolymers with a major focus on non-templating strategies. Subsequently, emerging strategies of hetero-atom doping in porous carbon nanostructures are discussed. The review will highlight the contribution of synergistic effect of macro–meso–micropores on a range of emerging applications such as CO2 capture, carbon photonic crystal sensors, Li–S batteries, and supercapacitor. Mechanism of ion transport and buffering, electrical double layer enhancement have been discussed in the context of pore structure and shapes. We will also show the differences of HPC and ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) in terms of their synthesis strategies and choices of template for self-assembly. How the remarkable mechanical strength of the HPCs can be achieved by selecting self-assembling template, whereas collapse of mesostructure via decomposition of framework occurs due to poor thermal stability or high N-content of the carbon source will be discussed.
The results of an international collaborative program of research have shed new light on the mechanisms limiting the life of valve-regulated lead–acid (VRLA) batteries under different duty cycles. Management of the internal oxygen cycle is a central issue and improvements in materials selection and cell design show promise of significant extension in battery life.
A critical challenge for the commercialization of layer-structured nickel-rich lithium transition metal oxide cathodes for battery applications is their capacity and voltage fading, which originate from the disintegration and lattice phase transition of the cathode particles. The general approach of cathode particle surface modification could partially alleviate the degradation associated with surface processes, but it still fails to resolve this critical barrier. Here, we report that infusing the grain boundaries of cathode secondary particles with a solid electrolyte dramatically enhances the capacity retention and voltage stability of the cathode. We find that the solid electrolyte infused in the boundaries not only acts as a fast channel for lithium-ion transport, it also, more importantly, prevents penetration of the liquid electrolyte into the boundaries, and consequently eliminates the detrimental factors, which include cathode–liquid electrolyte interfacial reactions, intergranular cracking and layered-to-spinel phase transformation. This grain-boundary engineering approach provides design ideas for advanced cathodes for batteries.
Porous tin films as anode for lithium-ion batteries are electrodeposited on graphite paper. Homogeneous tin films with significant void space accommodate the volume change during tin lithiation/delithiation. Through adjusting the electrodeposition currents and time, the morphologies and void space of tin films on graphite paper are controllable. At fixed electrodeposition current densities, the prolonged electrodeposition time plays the role in growing big tin particles and resulting the disappearance of void space among tin particles. The increased electrodeposition current plays the role to increase the quantity of tin seeds in thickness of tin film, and the void space among tin particles remains but the thick film limits its electrochemical performance. The tin films electrodeposited at an optimized current densities and for an optimized electrodeposition time, present the best electrochemical performance, because the tin nanoparticles are well dispersed on graphite substrate including void space. The tin film electrodeposited at 0.2Acm−2 for 2min shows the capacity of 1.0mAhcm−2 after 50 charge/discharge cycles. The void space of tin film is very important for the best capacity and cyclic ability. The metallic tin film produced at 0.4Acm−2 for 3min remains the uniform and microporous structure after charge/discharge for 50 cycles.
Mesoporous molecular sieves were prepared with montmorillonite and kaolinite as silica sources, respectively, (denoted as P-M and P-K) by a hydrothermal method. The two prepared materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR and N2 adsorption–desorption. The results indicated that both P-M and P-K are typical mesoporous molecular sieves with high specific surface areas. Sorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution to P-M and P-K was studied by using a batch technique. The effect of contact time, pH and temperature on the sorption of Pb(II) to P-M and P-K was investigated. A simplified surface complexation model was used to simulate the complexation of Pb(II) ions onto molecular sieves. The results suggested that sorption of Pb(II) was strongly dependent on pH values. Kinetics of sorption showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model held for the sorption process. Equilibrium modeling showed that the sorption of Pb(II) was fitted well by the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG°) were calculated from the sorption of Pb(II) at three different temperatures of 283K, 303K and 333K. The sorption reaction was endothermic and the process was favored at high temperature. The results indicated that both P-M and P-K are suitable materials for removal of Pb(II) from large volumes of aqueous solutions.
To study the mechanism of material particle size effects on the electrochemical properties of LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2, two kinds of materials with particle size of 300nm and 1μm were prepared, based on the electrospinning method and sol-gel method, respectively. The capacity differences of the two materials at 20mA/g discharge current were unapparent, in the potential range of 2.8V–4.3V, but become gigantic at 1000mA/g discharge current. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed to analysis the differences caused by particle size, and frequency responses of every electrochemical process were analyzed in detail through Bode plots, which proved the electrospinning material had an excellent performance caused by a shorter lithium ion and electron diffusion distance.
Background: Cognitive impairment is an important target for novel therapies in schizophrenia, but measuring cognitive effects in schizophrenia trials raises practical and theoretical challenges. The MATRICS programme produced a consensus cognitive battery which is now in use in clinical trials in schizophrenia; however other cognitive assessments may be equally suitable. Methods: We review advantages and disadvantages of one such alternative, the computerized CANTAB schizophrenia battery, using MATRICS criteria including psychometric properties, relationship to functional outcome, sensitivity to pharmaceutical agents, and practicality. Following CNTRICS recommendations we also consider the utility of CANTAB in translational research. Results: CANTAB has been used in more than 70 peer-reviewed publications in psychotic disorders. The tests' neural bases have been mapped through patient, lesion and neuroimaging studies. The nonverbal nature of the CANTAB aids use in multinational trials and the tests are also available in directly translational forms for rodents and non-human primates. More work is required regarding the psychometric properties of CANTAB tests, especially in patient populations, and on the relationship of each test to functional outcomes. Computerized cognitive assessment may help improve the statistical power of cognitive trials by reducing measurement error and between-site variability, minimising practice effects, and decreasing patient attrition through increased tolerability. Discussion: Effective cognitive assessment in schizophrenia trials may be a major barrier to the development of new treatments for cognitive dysfunction. The CANTAB and MATRICS batteries assess the same cognitive domains but differ in their ease of use, psychometric validation, and translational use.
Long-term monitoring studies are needed to understand changes in ecosystem status when restoration measures are implemented. A long-term data series (1996–2007) of the Tagus estuary (Portugal) intertidal and subtidal benthic communities was collected in a degraded area where mitigation measures were implemented. Multivariate analysis was used to analyze spatial and temporal patterns in benthic community composition and trends in five benthic community metrics (i.e., taxonomic richness, density, biomass, Shannon–Wiener diversity and the AMBI index) were also examined. The results revealed a clear separation between intertidal and subtidal assemblages, although they had 50% of taxa in common, including the most abundant. Significant positive trends were found for all metrics showing that both intertidal and subtidal communities responded to the restoration measures implemented. Nevertheless, biotic indices need some adaptation before being universally applied to intertidal and subtidal habitats.
Listening to music through personal listening devices (PLDs) has become more prevalent during last decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate music listening habits through PLDs in adolescents with a smartphone application, and to assess the accuracy of self-reported listening habits.
Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) have been attracting much attention as promising next-generation energy storage devices for large-scale applications. The major safety issue with SIBs, which arises from the flammability and volatility of conventional organic solvent-based electrolytes, is resolved by adopting an ionic liquid (IL) electrolyte. However, there are only a few reports on the study of negative electrodes in ILs. Here, we report the electrochemical performance of a hard carbon (HC) negative electrode in Na[FSA]-[C3C1pyrr][FSA] (FSA=bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide, C3C1pyrr= N-methyl-N-propylpyrrolidinium) IL over a wide temperature range of −10°C to 90°C. High-temperature operation, which is realized for the first time by using an IL, can take full advantage of the high capacity of HC even at a very high discharge rate of 1000mA (g-HC)−1: the discharge capacity is 230mAh (g-HC)−1 at 90°C and 25mAh (g-HC)−1 at 25°C. Moreover, surprisingly stable cycleability is observed for the HC electrode at 90°C, i.e. a capacity retention ratio of 84% after 500 cycles. Finally, a high full-cell voltage of 2.8V and stable full-cell operation with Coulombic efficiency higher than 99% are achieved for the first time when using NaCrO2 as the positive electrode at 90°C.
Joint pain is a highly prevalent condition in the older population. Only a minority of the older adults consult the general practitioner for joint pain, and during consultation joint pain is often poorly recognized and treated, especially when other co-existing chronic conditions are involved. Therefore, older adults with joint pain and comorbidity may have a higher risk of poor functional outcome and decreased quality of life (QoL), and possibly need more attention in primary care. The main purpose of the study is to explore functioning in older adults with joint pain and comorbidity, in terms of mobility, functional independence and participation and to identify possible predictors of poor functional outcome. The study will also identify predictors of decreased QoL. The results will be used to develop prediction models for the early identification of subgroups at high risk of poor functional outcome and decreased QoL. This may contribute to better targeting of treatment and to more effective health care in this population.
Si-based electrodes are being designed for use in Lithium-ion batteries with an aim at attaining large energy density and long and stable cycle life. In view of its high theoretical capacity (4200mAhg−1), Si has huge potential as anode material. In this study, we report improvement in the cycling performance of the cell designed with electrode having Si-nanopowder contained in the TiO2 nanotube array, which is not a composite material. Si-nanopowder is incorporated on the nanotube arrays by three different protocols. The Si-nanopowder electrode prepared by using the facile brushing method, proposed in this study, followed by the surface coating with binder exhibited high cycling behavior. Especially, the cell made with the anode material fabricated by brushing of Si-nanopowder into the TiO2 nanotube array, having diameter of 150nm, yield high capacity retention of 1824.9mAhg−1 up to 300 cycles in the lithiation process at 0.1 C-rate.
Health-related physical fitness is an important risk factor of cardiovascular disease. While previous studies have identified children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) to be less physically fit than typically developing (TD) peers, there is limited longitudinal research in this area. This study was undertaken to evaluate concomitant changes in motor coordination and health-related physical fitness of Taiwanese children with and without DCD over a three-year period. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement ABC) test was used to evaluate motor coordination, while health-related physical fitness included several core components: (1) body mass index (BMI), (2) sit and reach forward, (3) long jump, (4) sit-ups, and (5) 800-m run. Both the Movement ABC and fitness tests were implemented once each a year for three years. Twenty-five children with DCD and 25 TD children, matched by age and gender participated in this study. The TD group showed significant long-term changes in BMI and long jump while the DCD group showed significant increases in BMI values and decreases in flexibility, measured by the sit and reach task. In general, children with DCD performed worse on the items of flexibility, muscle strength and muscle endurance after the first year. Compared to age- and gender-matched norms, children with DCD not only were less physically fit, but showed a significant long-term decline in flexibility and abdominal or core strength (sit-ups). In years two and three, there was a significant negative correlation between poor fitness and motor coordination. Based on the results of this longitudinal study, greater attention should be paid to monitoring and improving physical fitness of children with DCD to prevent further health-related problems while intervention.