batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Objective In this study, we tested the excitability of cortical motor areas in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Because repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) modulates cortical excitability, possibly by inducing a short-term increase in synaptic efficacy, we used rTMS to investigate motor cortex excitability in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods We tested the changes in the size and threshold of motor evoked potential (MEP) and cortical silent period (CSP) duration evoked by focal rTMS delivered in 10 trains of 10 stimuli at 5Hz frequency and 120% rMth intensity in a group of patients with Alzheimer's disease, and age-matched controls. In a further session, rTMS was also delivered at 1Hz frequency (trains of 10 stimuli, 120% rMth). Results Whereas in control subjects, 5Hz-rTMS elicited normal MEPs that progressively increased in size during the train, in patients, it elicited MEPs that decreased in size. The increase in the duration of the CSP was similar in patients and healthy controls. One hertz rTMS left the MEP amplitude unchanged in patients and healthy controls. Conclusions The lack of MEP facilitation reflects an altered response to 5Hz-rTMS in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Significance Our rTMS findings strongly suggest an altered cortical plasticity in excitatory circuits within motor cortex in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Layered manganese oxides containing lithium and/or potassium have been synthesized by the electrochemical reduction of permanganate solutions. The synthesis provides products with manganese near an oxidation state of four. The products as shown by XRD have the rancieite-type structure and crystallite size on the order of 10nm. In this paper, the synthesis and characterization will be presented along with the initial cycling of these materials as positive electrodes in Li-batteries.
Robbins JA, Kays SA, Gangnon RE, Hind JA, Hewitt AL, Gentry LR, Taylor AJ. The effects of lingual exercise in stroke patients with dysphagia. Objective To examine the effects of lingual exercise on swallowing recovery poststroke. Design Prospective cohort intervention study, with 4- and 8-week follow-ups. Setting Dysphagia clinic, tertiary care center. Participants Ten stroke patients (n=6, acute: ≤3mo poststroke; n=4, chronic: >3mo poststroke), age 51 to 90 years (mean, 69.7y). Intervention Subjects performed an 8-week isometric lingual exercise program by compressing an air-filled bulb between the tongue and the hard palate. Main Outcome Measures Isometric and swallowing lingual pressures, bolus flow parameters, diet, and a dysphagia-specific quality of life questionnaire were collected at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Three of the 10 subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging at each time interval to measure lingual volume. Results All subjects significantly increased isometric and swallowing pressures. Airway invasion was reduced for liquids. Two subjects increased lingual volume. Conclusions The findings indicate that lingual exercise enables acute and chronic dysphagic stroke patients to increase lingual strength with associated improvements in swallowing pressures, airway protection, and lingual volume.
Background Current antipsychotic treatments have little impact on the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia. It has been proposed that agents which promote histamine release may enhance cognition. We evaluated whether the H3 inverse agonist MK-0249 might improve cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia. Methods Outpatients (N=55) with schizophrenia between ages 21 and 55 who were clinically stable, experienced no more than mild to moderate overall symptoms (PANSS score total 36–75), and were taking a stable dose of antipsychotic medication were randomized to MK-0249 10mg and placebo in a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, 2-period (4-weeks per period), cross-over study. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean change from baseline at 4-weeks of treatment in the total cognitive score on the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) Battery. Other assessments of cognition were also performed. Results A total of 46 patients completed the study. MK-0249 10mg did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference compared to placebo in the mean change from baseline in the total cognitive score on the BACS battery after 4-weeks of treatment (−0.1, 95% CI: −2.3, 2.1) or with regard to secondary measures of attention/processing speed, episodic memory, or working memory after 4-weeks of treatment. The incidence of adverse events was greater during the MK-0249 treatment period (25/52 patients, 48.1%) compared to the placebo treatment period (15/51 patients, 29.4%). Conclusion MK-0249 10mg once daily was not superior to placebo in the treatment of cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia after 4-weeks. (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00506077)
Electrochemical-calorimetric measurements were employed in this study to disclose the thermo-electrochemical behaviors of LiMn2O4 lithium-ion cells during charge–discharge process at various charge–discharge rates. The results showed that the specific capacity and the amount of heat were strongly affected by the charge–discharge rate. The specific capacity decreased and the amount of heat increased with increased rate. At low rate (0.1C and 0.2C), the cell exhibited smaller polarization and better reversibility, in which both reversible and irreversible heat contributed to the overall heat production, whereas the irreversible heat dominated the overall heat production when the cell cycled at high rate (0.5C, 1.0C, and 2.0C). A series of thermodynamic parameters of lithium-ion cells during the charge–discharge process, such as enthalpy change, entropy change and Gibbs free energy change, were achieved through the study of thermo-electrochemistry. These experimental results provided basic data for the battery thermal management and a new technique for a comprehensive evaluation of the thermal and electric performance of battery materials.
Sn and Sn-based compounds have been attracting a great interest as promising alternative materials for commercial anodes in lithium ion batteries. In this study, the phase evolution of the Li-Sn system during the lithiated processes and the effect of the elastic-strain energies caused by volume change on the phase transition are investigated by means of first-principles calculations. Our calculated results demonstrate that the distorted Li7Sn3 crystal tends to be formed in order to decrease the elastic-strain energy. In addition, our work indicates that the whole lithiated processes under the elastically constrained condition could be classified into two steps. The first step is the two-phase equilibrium process, in which the thermodynamic driving force is large enough to facilitate the phase transition and the plateau voltage could be established. The second step is considered to be the selective equilibrium, in which the thermodynamic driving force is not enough to facilitate the nucleation of the new equilibrium phase due to the elastically constrained conditions and the plateau voltage unformed. Besides, we find that in the Li0.4Sn matrix the nucleation of the αSn is more preferential than the βSn due to the effects of the elastic-strain energies.
A significant level of power generation from an abiotic, air breathing, mediated reducing sugar–air alkaline battery/fuel cell has been achieved in our laboratories at room temperature without complicated catalysis or membrane separation in the reaction chamber. Our prior studies suggested that mass transport limitation by the mediator is a limiting factor in power generation. New and effective mediators were sought here to improve charge transfer and power density. Forty-five redox dyes were studied to identify if any can facilitate mass transport in alkaline electrolyte solution; namely, by increasing the solubility and mobility of the dye, and the valence charge carried per molecule. Indigo dyes were studied more closely to understand the complexity involved in mass transport. The viability of water-miscible co-solvents was also explored to understand their effect on solubility and mass transport of the dyes. Using a 2.0 mL solution, 20% methanol by volume, with 100 mM indigo carmine, 1.0 M glucose and 2.5 M sodium hydroxide, the glucose–air alkaline battery/fuel cell attained 8 mA cm–2 at short-circuit and 800 μW cm–2 at the maximum power point. This work shall aid future optimization of mediated charge transfer mechanism in batteries or fuel cells.
BASF, along with energy company Fortum and mining specialist Nornickel plan to develop a battery recycling cluster in Finland, serving the electric vehicle market. According to the companies, the aim is to create a successful ‘closed loop’ cycle to re-use the critical metals present in used batteries. Using metals from recycled batteries to produce battery materials can help reduce CO2 in the production of electric vehicles, while additional CO2 reduction can be achieved by using electricity from renewable sources in Finland for the recycling process. ‘By recycling valuable metals in lithium-ion batteries we reduce the environmental impact of electric car batteries by complementing the supply of cobalt, nickel and other critical metals from primary sources,’ said Tero Holländer, head of business development at Fortum. BASF intends to use recycled materials from the processes developed by the companies in its planned battery materials precursor plant in Harjavalta, Finland. ‘The combination of battery materials production and recycling enables the circular economy by closing the loop,’ added Tim Ingle, vice president at BASF. ‘To drive electrification, we are focused on bringing solutions for high energy density cathode active materials and high efficiency lithium extraction for battery recycling.’ BASF; www.basf.com The aim is to create a successful ’closed loop’ cycle to re-use the critical metals present in used batteries.
Three-dimensional (3D) nickel electrode structures are prepared by electroless plating of nickel on silicon microchannel plates. The material is characterized by cyclic voltammograms and electrochemical impedance spectra. Compared to the nickel sheet and nickel deposited on the silicon substrate, the effective nickel content in the oxide layer per unit area increases almost 100 times due to the porous nickel structure and 3D architectures of silicon microchannel plates. The larger surface area of the 3D electrode structures exchange the more electrons (one electron) per nickel atom in the redox reaction. However, the redox reaction rate determined by the mass transfer due to the slow ion transfer speed. The results suggest that the electrode structures based on silicon microchannel plates is a promising choice for fabricating 3D Li-ion battery or supercapacitors in a miniature size after the suitable structure design.
An institute of solar technology will be set up at the University of Karachi, according to vice-chancellor Prof Zafar Saeed Saify, funded by former students currently living in Saudi Arabia. A feasibility report of the project is being prepared by Dr Feroze Ahmed of the Department of Geography.
We sought to assess whether epilepsy is associated with a higher risk of emotional reactions to frustrating stimuli, aggressive behavior, apathy, and depression, and whether these psychiatric patterns are specific to the epileptic condition. The study population consisted of referral patients 17 years and older with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy (i.e., epilepsy not caused by a detectable brain lesion) without significant cognitive dysfunction. A first control was selected for each patient among patients with insulin-dependent diabetes and a second among normal blood donors. Aggressiveness in response to stressful stimuli was assessed with the Picture Frustration Study (PFS). Depression was tested by the Beck Depression Inventory. The Aggressive Behavior Scale (assessing irritability and rumination) and the Apathy Scale were also used. Odds Ratios (ORs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) were used as the risk measure. Statistical analysis included between-group comparisons. In patients with epilepsy, the test scores were correlated to the main demographic (age, sex, education, marital status, and occupation) and clinical features (seizure types, disease duration, seizure control, and treatments). The sample included 55 patients with epilepsy, 56 diabetics, and 59 normal individuals. Patients with epilepsy and the two control groups had similar PFS scores and similar aggressiveness. Scores were also similar for the Aggressive Behavior and Apathy Scales, with similar numbers of individuals with aggressive conduct and excess rumination. Patients with epilepsy had higher depression scores. Moderate to severe depression was present in 9 cases (diabetes, 2; blood donors, 1) (P=0.004). Relative to blood donors, the OR for moderate to severe depression (95% CI) was 2.1 (0.1–61.7) for diabetes and 11.3 (1.4–247.8) for epilepsy. No significant correlation was detectable between test scores and patient and disease characteristics.
Batteries and load control devices can increase the value of distributed solar photovoltaics (PV) from multiple perspectives—end-user, utility, and social. This review paper summarizes the end-user economics of battery and load control technologies that increase the value of PV by controlling and temporally shifting PV output, an approach referred to as “solar plus.” Solar plus can increase on-site PV use. The literature shows that these values justify the incremental costs of solar plus devices for a wide variety of technologies, geographies, and customer load profiles, especially for customers in three rate structure contexts: where PV is sold to the grid at a lower value than the customer’s retail rate, in time-of-use rates where peak periods do not coincide with PV output, and in demand charge rates where load peaks do not coincide with PV output. Rate structure and policy reform may be necessary to ensure that increasing solar plus deployment provides both end-user and system-level benefits.
ZnO-supported palladium-based catalysts have been shown in recent years to be both active and selective towards the steam reforming of methanol, although they are still considered to be less active than traditional copper-based catalysts. The activity of PdZn catalysts can be significantly improved by supporting them on alumina. Here we show that the Pd/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts have better long-term stability when compared with commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts, and that they are also stable under redox cycling. The Pd/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts can be easily regenerated by oxidation in air at 420 °C followed by re-exposure to reaction conditions at 250 °C, while the Cu/ZnO based catalysts do not recover their activity after oxidation. Reduction at high temperatures (>420 °C) leads to Zn loss from the alloy nanoparticle surface resulting in a reduced catalyst activity. However, even after such extreme treatment, the catalyst activity is regained with time on stream under reaction conditions alone, leading to highly stable catalysts. These findings illustrate that the nanoparticle surface is dynamic and changes drastically depending on the environment, and that elevated reduction temperatures are not necessary to achieve high CO2 selectivity.
A mathematical model designs and operates a hybrid power system consisting of diesel generators, photovoltaic cells and battery storage to minimize fuel use at remote sites subject to meeting variable demand profiles, given the following constraints: power generated must meet demand in every time period; power generated by any technology cannot exceed its maximum rating; and best practices should be enforced to prolong the life of the technologies. We solve this optimization model in two phases: (i) we obtain the design and dispatch strategy for an hourly load profile, and (ii) we use the design strategy, derived in (i), as input to produce the optimal dispatch strategy at the minute level. Our contributions consist of: combining a year-long hourly optimization procurement strategy with a minute-level dispatch strategy, and using a high-fidelity battery model at the minute-level derived from electrochemical engineering principles that incorporate temperature and voltage transient effects. We solve both phases of the optimization problem to within 5% of optimality and demonstrate that solutions from the minute-level model more closely match the load, more closely capture battery and generator behavior, and provide fuel savings from a few percent to 30% over that provided by the hour-level model for the tested scenarios.
A Photovoltaic system’s output power fluctuates as insolation varies with weather condition. Fluctuating PV power causes frequency deviations when large PV power is penetrated in the isolated utility. In this paper, a fuzzy based method for leveling the fluctuations of PV power in a PV-diesel hybrid power system is proposed. By means of the proposed method, output power control of PV system becomes possible considering power utility conditions and the conflicting objective of output power leveling and maximizing energy capture is achieved. Here, fuzzy control is used to generate the output leveling power command. The fuzzy control has three inputs of average insolation, variance of insolation, and absolute average of frequency deviation. First, the proposed method is compared with the method where captured maximum power is given to the utility without leveling. Second, the proposed method is compared with a conventional method where captured maximum power is leveled by using an energy storage system and is given to the isolated utility. Simulation results show that the proposed method is effective in leveling PV power fluctuations and is feasible to reduce the frequency deviations of the isolated power utility.
In this work, we used tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) phosphite (TTFP), in which the oxidization number of phosphorus was three (III), to formulate nonflammable electrolytes of the Li-ion batteries. Using 1m (mole solute per kilogram solvent) LiPF6 3:3:4 (w) propylene carbonate (PC)/ethylene carbonate (EC)/ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) electrolyte as a baseline, the effect of TTFP on the flammability and conductivity of the electrolytes, as well as the cell performance was evaluated. It is observed that the addition of TTFP can substantially reduce flammability of the electrolytes at a small expense in the ionic conductivity. When the TTFP content reaches 15wt.% versus the solvent, the electrolyte becomes nonflammable. In Li/graphite half-cell, TTFP not only suppresses PC decomposition and graphite exfoliation but also increases Coulombic efficiency (CE) of the lithiation and delithiation cycle. In Li/cathode (a lithium nickel-based mixed oxide cathode) half-cell, TTFP has negligible adverse impact on the cycling performance when the cells are cycled between 2.7 and 4.2V. In graphite/cathode Li-ion cell using PC-based electrolytes, TTFP can improve cycling performance, especially at high temperature (60°C), since its presence favors the formation of solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film on the graphite electrode and increases thermal stability of LiPF6-based electrolytes.
Implantable neural microsystems provide an interface to the nervous system, giving cellular resolution to physiological processes unattainable today with non-invasive methods. Such implantable microelectrode arrays are being developed to simultaneously sample signals at many points in the tissue, providing insight into processes such as movement control, memory formation, and perception. These electrode arrays have been microfabricated on a variety of substrates, including silicon, using both surface and bulk micromachining techniques, and more recently, polymers. Current approaches to achieving a stable long-term tissue interface focus on engineering the surface properties of the implant, including coatings that discourage protein adsorption or release bioactive molecules. The implementation of a wireless interface requires consideration of the necessary data flow, amplification, signal processing, and packaging. In future, the realization of a fully implantable neural microsystem will contribute to both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, such as a neuroprosthetic interface to restore motor functions in paralyzed patients.
The aims of this study were to determine the extent of ocular, motor control problems and the effect of visual therapy on such problems, among seven- to eight-year-old children diagnosed with DCD. Thirty-two, children with a mean age of 95.66 months (SD±3.54) participated in the study. The MABC was used to classify children into DCD categories (<15th, percentile) while the Sensory Input Systems Screening Test and QNST-II, were used to evaluate ocular motor control. A two-group pre-test–post-test, cross-over design was followed with a retention test two years, thereafter to determine the lasting effect of the visual therapy, intervention. The 18-week visual therapy programme was executed once a week, for 40min during school hours, after which the two groups were, crossed over. Percentages of ocular motor control problems ranging, between 6.25% and 93.75% were found in both the groups before participating, in the visual therapy programme, with the highest percentage problems found, in visual pursuit with the left eye. Visual therapy contributed to a, significant improvement of 75–100% in visual pursuit, fixation, ocular, alignment and convergence, with significant lasting effects (p <0.001). Visual therapy is recommended for children with DCD experiencing poor, ocular motor control.
Low-cost and bio-based carbon nanofibrous webs (PL-CNFs) are fabricated from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) – refined lignin (RL) which is extracted from hardwood lignosulfonate via simple eletrospinning followed by stabilization and carbonization. The effects of the PAN/RL mass ratios varying from 9/1,7/3 to 5/5 and heat-treatment temperatures (HTTs) in the range from 800, 1000 to 1300 °C on morphology and structure of PL-CNFs are systematically studied. Due to unique morphology and weakly ordered turbostratic microstructure of the 3-D conductive composite networks, the PL-CNFs anode obtained at 1300 °C with a mass ratio of 5/5 exhibits a high reversible capacity of 292.6 mA h g−1 with an initial efficiency of 70.5% at a constant current density of 0.02 A g−1 when used as free-standing and binder-free anodes for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). The anode also presents high rate capability (210 and 80 mA h g−1 at 0.4 and 1 A g−1, respectively) and excellent cycle stability (247 mA h g−1 reversible capacity with 90.2% capacity retention ratio at 0.1 A g−1 over 200 cycles). It is demonstrated that biomass waste lignin can be applied as a promising precursor to fabricate low-cost-high performance carbon electrode materials for SIBs.
Functional capacity evaluation (FCE) determines a person’s ability to perform work-related tasks and is a major component of the rehabilitation process. The WorkWell Systems (WWS) FCE (formerly known as Isernhagen Work Systems FCE) is currently the most commonly used FCE tool in German rehabilitation centres. Our systematic review investigated the inter-rater, intra-rater and test-retest reliability of the WWS FCE.
The pathophysiology of post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) may be linked to overactive immunity including aberrant activity of the brain’s resident immune cells, microglia. Here we used [11C]DPA-713 and positron emission tomography to quantify the 18 kDa translocator protein, a marker of activated microglia or reactive astrocytes, in the brains of patients with post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms of any duration compared to healthy controls. Genotyping for the TSPO rs6971 polymorphism was completed, and individuals with the rare, low affinity binding genotype were excluded. Data from eight brain regions demonstrated higher [11C]DPA-713 binding in 12 patients relative to 19 controls. [11C]DPA-713 PET is a promising tool to study cerebral glial activation in PTLDS and its link to cognitive symptoms.