batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Single step sol-gel synthesized TiO2 and Mn2O3 decorating the pristine graphene (Gr) and graphene oxide (GO), by traditional physical mixing, for selective dopamine (DA) sensing in the presence of its potential interferences in PBS buffer (pH 5). Resulted binary and ternary composites were characterized by XRD, FTIR, UV-DRS, Raman, FE-SEM and TEM techniques. The ternary (TiO2-Mn2O3-Gr (TMGr)) composite showed higher electrochemical activities compared to the binary (TiO2-Gr (TGr), Mn2O3-Gr (MGr) and TiO2-Mn2O3 (TM)) composite in the presence of K3[Fe(CN)6]/K4[Fe(CN)6] redox probe. The same was observed for dopamine (DA) sensing at pH 5. Due to the presence of intrinsic (hydroxyl, acid and epoxide) functional groups with lesser sp 2 hybridized carbon network, the GO-metal oxide composites showed poor electrochemical activity than the Gr-metal oxide composite. Concentration studies by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) revealed a wide linear range from 0.02 to 100 nM with the lowest detection limit 0.026 nM. The ternary composite was validated for DA sensing by injecting commercial dopamine into the blood serum and urine samples and observed ≥98% signal recovery. The developed sensor showed good stability and reproducibility.
Recent decades are characterized by incredible rapid technological development resulting in the introducing of various new chemicals, materials and processes with various complexities. This, in turn, is associated with release of increased amounts of pollutants into the environment and for this reason their efficient removal is required. Environmental monitoring results show that many pollutants in ground water are at the excess limit which raises concerns on currently employed wastewater treatments. This review summarizes the electrochemical technology used in wastewater treatment covering its advantages such as high removal efficiency, clean energy conversion, low environmental impact, easy operation and compact design. Significant enhancement of electrochemical methods such as electrocoagulation, electroflotation, electrooxidation, electroreduction and electrodisinfection is discussed and these technologies are combined with an advanced photovoltaic (PV) technology. Important design parameters to obtain the highest efficiency from this combined technology are discussed in details. Moreover, it is shown that the combination systems are capable to produce hydrogen gas at high efficiency which can be used as a supplementary source for green energy thus minimizing the entire process cost.
The homogeneous yolk–shell TiO2 hierarchical microspheres (TiO2 HYSHMs) consisting of small nanoparticles have been fabricated through a facile template-free solvothermal reaction followed by calcination. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was found that the microspheres have porous shell (∼100 nm in thickness) composed of small nanoparticles with an average diameter of 10 nm. The interspace between the yolk and shell is ∼150 nm. The BET specific surface area and pore volume of the sample are 151.1 m2 g−1 and 0.23 cm3 g−1, respectively. Ostwald ripening processes are proposed to explain the growth mechanism of the TiO2 HYSHMs based on a series of time-dependent experiments. As the anode materials for the lithium ion batteries, TiO2 HYSHMs exhibit a high initial discharge capacity of 267.6 mAh g−1 at 0.25 C and retain 191 mAh g−1 even after 40 cycles, indicating good electrochemical performance. These good electrochemical performances could be attributed to the short Li-ion and electron pathways, and enough elastic buffer space to accommodate large volume variation of the special yolk–shell hierarchical structure.
Closed-loop glucose control has the potential to improve the glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1. Such an artificial pancreas (AP) should keep the user safe despite all disturbances and faults. The objective of this paper is to analyze those perturbations according to their effects on the glycemic status, and thereby supporting an informed design process of the control system. As suggested by the international standard ISO 14971 for risk management of medical devices, the well proven failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) was chosen as instrument. An FMEA scheme was modified for this purpose and applied to a single-hormone system with subcutaneous and intraperitoneal routes for glucose sensing and insulin administration. Faults that imply urgent danger and thus require fast detection and diagnosis were identified and distinguished from disturbances that can be sufficiently addressed by basic control functions, e.g. by adaptive control algorithms. Requirements and testing criteria for basic control functions as well as fault detection and diagnosis functions can be derived from the provided overview.
In the superior parietal lobule (SPL), the anterior part (area PE) is known to process somatosensory information, while the caudalmost part (areas V6Av and V6) processes visual information. Here we studied the visual and somatosensory properties of the areas PEc and V6Ad located in between the somatosensory and visual domains of SPL. About 1500 neurons were extracellularly recorded in 19 hemispheres of 12 monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Visual and somatosensory properties of single neurons were generally studied separately, while in a subpopulation of neurons, both the sensory properties were tested. Visual neurons were more represented in V6Ad and somatosensory neurons in PEc. The visual neurons of these two areas showed similar properties and represented a large part of the contralateral visual field, mostly the lower part. In contrast, somatosensory neurons showed remarkable differences. The arms were overrepresented in both the areas, but V6Ad represented only the upper limbs, whereas PEc both the upper and lower limbs. Interestingly, we found that in both the areas, bimodal visual–somatosensory cells represented the proximal part of the arms. We suggest that PEc is involved in locomotion and in the control of hand/foot interaction with the objects of the environment, while V6Ad is in the control of the object prehension specifically performed with the upper limbs. Neuroimaging and lesion studies from literature support a strict homology with humans.
A recent concept called the fragmentation-energy fan has been used to analyze drop weight testing (DWT) data and to obtain both the mathematical form of the breakage index equation, i.e., t10 versus impact energy and the parameter values needed for making an actual prediction with it. The fan is visualized by plotting the progeny size corresponding to a set of percent passing values versus scaled drop energy in log–log scale and fitting straight, i.e., linear fan lines with a common focal point to these data. The fan behavior lies inherent in the fact that the DWT sieving data closely follow the Swebrec distribution. A mathematical expression for t10 in closed form follows directly from a functional inversion, and this expression differs from the forms it has been given by the JKMRC. In most cases five fan lines suffice to provide a very accurate t10 equation. When applied to a suite of eight rocks, ores mostly, the coefficient of determination
For the first time, a totally solid state electric double layer capacitor has been fabricated using an alkaline polymer electrolyte and an activated carbon powder as electrode material. The polymer electrolyte serves both as separator as well as electrode binder. The capacitor has a three-layer structure: electrode–electrolyte–electrode with a final thickness of ca. 1.5–2 mm, diameter of 1.8 cm (surface of 2.5 cm2) and a mass of ca. 300–500 mg. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic cycling and impedance spectroscopy have been used for the determination of the electrochemical performance of prototype capacitors and a capacity of ca. 1.7–3.0 F for a 1 V voltage range has been measured.
Solar powered desalination has been the focus of great interest recently worldwide. In the past, majority of the experimental investigations focused on solar coupled thermally driven conventional desalination technologies such as Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) and Multi-Effect Distillation (MED). With the advancement in membrane technology and its advantages such as high Recovery Ratios (RR) and low specific energy requirements Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination has gained popularity. Currently, 52% of the indirect solar desalination plants are RO based with MED and MSF having a 13% and 9% share respectively. Membrane Distillation (MD) based plants represent 16% of the total and have been a focus of recent research efforts. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of all the indirect solar desalination technologies along with plant specific technical details. Efforts assessing the economic feasibility and cost affecting parameters for each desalination technology are also reviewed.
A long chain substituted imidazolium ionic liquid, 1,2-dimethyl-3-octylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (MMOITFSI), is used as the electrolyte for reversible intercalation of Li into LiMn2O4. Ionic conductivity measurements indicate that in spite of the longer chain attached to the imidazolium ring, the conductivity for the pure liquid and with 0.5M LiTFSI present, remains above 1mS/cm. Cyclic voltammetry revealed high reversibility of Li+ into LiMn2O4 in this ionic liquid. Charge/discharge experiments indicated reversible capacity of 115mAHr/g at a discharge rate of C/6 for 0.5M Li in MMOITFSI. Higher discharge rates (C/3) resulted in lower capacities (below 100mAHr/g), most likely due to the higher viscosity of the long chain ionic liquid. Improved discharge rates, of 111mAHr/g at a higher discharge rate of C/3, were observed when 10wt% of a short chain ionic liquid, 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (MMPITFSI), was added to the MMOITFSI. For both the pure MMOITFSI and the ionic liquid blend of MMOITFSI with MMPITFSI, cycle lifetimes showed minimal degradation due to intercalation by the imidazolium cation into the graphite used to enhance the conductivity of the cathode material.
Professor M Stanley Whittingham is a pioneering researcher in the development of lithium-ion batteries at Binghamton University and Kent Snyder leads battery research and development at Ford Motor Company. Nature Energy caught up with both during the Nature Conference on Materials Electrochemistry: Fundamentals and Applications held in China in January 2018.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) causes more rapid and enhanced absorption of alcohol. RYGB patients have also been reported to use more inpatient care for alcohol-related disease than do patients after other bariatric procedures. The present study was designed to evaluate alcohol consumption level before and after gastric bypass using a sensitive and specific alcohol biomarker.
We herein report the synthesis of electrolyte-filled activated carbon (AC) coated with an ion-conducting polymer (AC-N) to achieve a electrode material exhibiting enhanced capacitive properties. The successful formation of the polymer layer was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. In addition, electrochemical characterization was performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at a range of concentrations (i.e., 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75M NaCl or Na2SO4). The specific capacitance obtained for the 0.75M Na2SO4-filled AC-N was 13.5% higher than the bare AC-N at a scan rate of 100mV/s, while the interfacial resistance was reduced by 94.6%. We therefore expect that the electrolyte-filled AC reported herein can improve the performance of the electrosorption based system by reducing cell resistance.
An effective and environmentally friendly recycling process designed for LiCoO2 cathode powders of spent Li-ion batteries using mixture of mild organic acids, citric acid (CA), tartaric acid (TA) and ascorbic acid (AA), to recover the metals. Almost complete dissolution of Li and nearly 90% dissolution of Co occurred in at 80 °C for 6 h. The reducing agent, ascorbic acid (AA), converts the dissolved Co(III) to Co(II) thereby selective recovery of Co as Co(II)-oxalate is possible. The formation of Co(III)–and Co(II) complex is evident from the UV–Vis spectra of the dissolved solution as a function of dissolution time. Thus, the reductive-complexing dissolution mechanism is proposed here. These mild organic acids are environmentally benign unlike the mineral acids.
Individual differences in reward sensitivity along with weakened executive control are characteristic for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Emerging translational models of psychotherapy propose the integration of such neurobiological risk profiles to elucidate the mechanisms underlying behavior change in order to improve intervention efficacy. The primary aim of the study was to investigate whether striatal baseline reward sensitivity can be used as a neurobiological predictor of intervention-specific changes in neural functioning during AUD therapy. Fifty-eight detoxified AUD patients were randomly assigned to either receive cue exposure training (CET + TAU, N = 40) or treatment as usual (TAU only, N = 18). Pre- and post-treatment sensitivity to reward was assessed by a functional magnetic resonance imaging monetary reward paradigm. A moderated multiple regression analysis revealed a positive relationship between striatal baseline reward sensitivity and activation changes in the superior frontal gyrus and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) after CET + TAU in contrast to a negative relationship after TAU only. Over all subjects, a stronger signal change in the superior frontal gyrus and ACC was associated with increased self-efficacy to abstain alcohol. These results provide evidence that reward sensitivity at baseline predicts neural changes in inhibitory networks after receiving CET + TAU. Striatal reward sensitivity might be a promising neurobiological marker to inform therapeutic decisions.
Features of autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are normally distributed within the population, giving rise to the notion of the autism spectrum. One of the hallmark features of ASC is difficulties in social communication, which relies heavily on our ability to empathize with others. Empathy comprises of both cognitive (CE) and emotional (EE) components that, together, allow us to understand another’s emotions and be affected by them appropriately, while maintaining a self-other distinction. Although CE and EE depend on distinct neural and developmental trajectories, it was suggested that the two empathic capacities can influence, balance, and regulate each other. Previous findings regarding the role of emotional and cognitive empathy in ASC have been mixed. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate whether the intra-personal empathy imbalance between the cognitive and emotional components, a measure we termed empathic disequilibrium (ED), can be associated with autism traits at the neurotypical range.
Carbon coated LiFePO4/C cathode material is synthesized with a novel sol–gel method, using cheap FePO4·2H2O as both iron and phosphorus sources and oxalic acid (H2C2O4·2H2O) as both complexant and reductant. In H2C2O4 solution, FePO4·2H2O is very simple to form transparent sols without controlling the pH value. Pure submicrometer structured LiFePO4 crystal is obtained with a particle size ranging from 100 to 500nm, which is also uniformly coated with a carbon layer, about 2.6nm in thickness. The as-synthesized LiFePO4/C sample exhibits high initial discharge capacity 160.5mAhg−1 at 0.1C rate, with a capacity retention of 98.7% after 50th cycle. The material also shows good high-rate discharge performances, about 106mAhg−1 at 10C rate. The improved electrochemical properties of as-synthesized LiFePO4/C are ascribed to its submicrometer scale particles and low electrochemical impedance. The sol–gel method may be of great interest in the practical application of LiFePO4/C cathode material.
The thermodynamic properties of Ca–Sb alloys were determined by emf measurements in a cell configured as Ca(s)|CaF2|Ca–Sb over the temperature range 550–830°C. Activity coefficients of Ca and Sb, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, and entropy of mixing of Ca–Sb alloys were calculated for x Ca <0.55. To explain the connection between short-range order of liquid Ca–Sb alloys and the strong deviation from ideality in the thermodynamic properties, two thermodynamic models were invoked and reconciled: the regular associated solution model, assuming the presence of a CaSb2 associate, and the molecular interaction volume model (MIVM). For the first time, the MIVM was used successfully to model the activity coefficients of a system with high-melting intermetallics, reducing the number of fitting parameters necessary from 5 (regular associated model) to 2 (MIVM). From the interaction parameters optimized by fitting at 800°C, the activity coefficient of Ca was predicted at 650°C, with an average error of less than 0.6% in the emf value.
Statin therapy may cause myopathy, but long-term effects on physical function are unclear.
A convenient chitosan-assisted hydrothermal and postannealing strategy was successfully developed to fabricate 2D ultrathin MoS2/graphene heterostructures. The resultant heterostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. It was found that the ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets were of few-layered structures (3–4 layers) and were well anchored on the large flexible graphene flakes to form heterostructures, which had more uniform mesoporosity and larger surface area than the pristine MoS2. As a result, the obtained MoS2/graphene heterostructure electrode exhibited superior electrochemical lithium-storage performances such as high reversible specific capacity (∼1100mAhg−1), excellent cyclic stability and significantly enhanced rate capability. The prominent electrochemical performance could be attributed to the robust 2D mesoporous heterostructures composed of ultrathin few-layered MoS2 nanosheets and highly conductive graphene as well as the resultant positive synergistic effect between them.
Magnesium–gallium–mercury alloy is one of the new developed anode materials for seawater activated batteries. The potentiodynamic polarization, galvanostatic discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of Mg–4%Ga–2%Hg alloy in seawater are studied and compared with commercial AZ31 and AP65 alloys in this study. The results show that Mg–4%Ga–2%Hg alloy exhibits different discharge behaviors in as-cast, homogenizing, rolling and annealing conditions. The annealing Mg–4%Ga–2%Hg sheet obtains the most negative corrosion potentials in different current densities. And the Mg–4%Ga–2%Hg alloy provides more negative corrosion potentials than AZ31 and AP65 alloys. EIS studies reveal that the Mg–Ga–Hg alloy/seawater interfacial process is determined by an activation-controlled reaction. The Mg3Hg and Mg21Ga5Hg3 phases improve the electrochemical properties of Mg–4%Ga–2%Hg alloy. The assembled prototype battery with Mg–4%Ga–2%Hg alloy as anode and CuCl as cathodes exhibits a satisfactory discharge performance because of the advantages in discharge characterizations and microstructure of the Mg–4%Ga–2%Hg alloy.
Li3.25Ge0.25P0.75S4 solid electrolyte thin films were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method at room temperature. The ionic conductivity of the thin film is 1.7×10−4 Scm−1 at 25°C which is about one-fifth of the conductivity of the bulk target material (0.9×10−3 Scm−1). The decrement of the conductivity is attributed to the increase of Li content from 3.2 in the target to 3.6 in the thin film, which reduces the number of the lithium vacancy in the structure of the thio-LISICON.
Much of what we know about malingering of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been learned from the performance of analog malingerers, typically first-year psychology students given credit for study participation. It is not clear, however, whether their performance is similar to that found in actual clinical settings. Indeed, past research suggests that analog malingerers may overexaggerate deficits relative to real-world malingerers, making them easier to identify in controlled studies. The purpose of the current study was, therefore, to compare the performance of analog malingers to post-secondary students strongly suspected of malingering ADHD on a self-report measure of ADHD symptoms. Their scores were, in turn, compared to those returned by students with genuine ADHD and clinical controls. Results demonstrated that, apart from analog subjects overexaggerating symptoms of hyperactivity, few differences exist between the scores returned by analog malingerers relative to clinical malingerers. While newly devised symptom validity measures show promise in identifying malingered ADHD, neither the analog nor the clinical malingers consistently failed these symptom validity scales. Furthermore, a good portion in both malingering groups failed to endorse high levels of ADHD symptoms in general. Clinical implications are discussed.
Much research intro political trust—its causes, correlates and trends—builds on the twin assumptions that trust in a wide range of political institutions is ultimately an expression of (1) a singular and (2) a cross-nationally equivalent underlying attitude. Yet, the widespread assumptions of unidimensionality and cross-national equivalence of political trust is at odds with the dominant conceptual understanding of political trust as a relational concept, driven by subjects, objects, and their interplay. This paper employs Rasch modelling as a direct, strict test of unidimensionality, equivalence and item hierarchy. We test the fit of the Rasch model on political trust items in seven widely used, cross-national surveys (World Values Survey, Afrobarometer, Arabbarometer, Asian Barometer, Eurobarometer, European Social Survey, and Latinobarometro), covering 161 national surveys in 119 countries across the globe. We find that the unidimensional specification of the Rasch model does not fit the standard political trust question batteries. Political trust is not cross-nationally equivalent; trust in specific political institutions is more than a mere indicator of an underlying attitude. This conclusion does not impede cross-national research into political trust; rather it illustrates the need for consistent robustness checks across a range of objects of political trust. Our findings open up new venues for substantive research questions on specific objects of political trust and their relationships.
Cow dung, an excreta of bovine animal, is a cheap and easily available bioresource on our planet. Many traditional uses of cow dung such as burning as fuel, mosquito repellent and as cleansing agent are already known in India. Cow dung harbours a diverse group of microorganisms that may be beneficial to humans due to their ability to produce a range of metabolites. Along with the production of novel chemicals, many cow dung microorganisms have shown natural ability to increase soil fertility through phosphate solubilisation. Nowadays, there is an increasing research interest in developing the applications of cow dung microorganisms for biofuel production and management of environmental pollutants. This review focuses on recent findings being made on cow dung that could be harnessed for usage in different areas such as medicine, agriculture and industry.