bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advanced Characterization Tools for Probing Anionic Redox in Layered Cathode Materials
Authors: Zhang Minghao , Olguin Marco , Wynn Thomas , Li Yixuan , Meng Ying Shirley
Published: February 2020

Rechargeable Li-ion batteries with higher energy density are in urgent demand to address the global challenge of energy storage. In comparison with anode materials, the relatively low capacity of cathode oxides, which exhibit classical cationic redox activity, has become one of the major bottlenecks to reach higher energy density. Recently, anionic activity, such as oxygen redox reaction, has been discovered in the electrochemical processes, providing extra reversible capacity for certain transition-metal oxides. Consequently, a more complete understanding and precise controlling on anionic electrochemical activity in these high-capacity oxides have become a flourishing, yet challenging subject.

Compared to TM cations, oxygen anion electrochemical activity is more challenging to experimentally prove and quantify for the following reasons: First, oxygen participates in the electrochemical activity at highly charged states when the partially delithiated oxides are typically very sensitive to high energy electron beam or X-ray source exposure. Second, peroxo-like species and O-holes resulted from oxygen oxidation are extremely reactive and unstable in air and carbonate based liquid electrolytes. Third, M(nd)−O(np) metal−ligand hybridization and rehybridization make it intricate to quantify and differentiate cation and anion contributions to electronic structure changes as well as their contributions to the extra capacity. Based on the above considerations, a multimodal characterization approach must be established for oxygen anion electrochemical activity.

Here, we select Li1.2Mn0.54Co0.13Ni0.13O2 as the model compound and systematically study its structure response to the oxygen redox activity by combing neutron pair distribution function, X-ray absorption spectrum, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and DFT calculation. An obviously increased short O-O pairs accompanying oxygen redox reactions is for the first time detected, and which should be ascribed to the shrink of the interlayer O-O distance. Also, theoretical analysis indicates that the selective decrease of O-O distance is originated from the different oxygen chemical coordination environment. Further, a coupling relationship between the oxygen redox and transitions metals migration is experimentally demonstrated, which reveals the structural origin of the stable lattice oxygen redox reactions. Based on these understandings in our work, an optimization guidance for anionic acitvity is unambiguously presented: designing a robust layered structure with high-covalency TMs while constructing a flexible local structure with high-ionicity TMs to achieve the reversible high energy density.

Figure 1
Fluoroethylene Carbonate Containing Electrolytes: Origin of Poor Shelf Life and Its Mitigation
Authors: Hernández Guiomar , Xu Chao , Abbrent Sabina , Kobera Libor , Konefal Rafal , Brus Jiří , Edström Kristina , Mindemark Jonas , Brandell Daniel
Published: February 2020

The performance of lithium-ion batteries have been substantially improved in almost all aspects since the initial commercialization.[1] However, cycling stability and safety is still one of the main concerns. In this regard, electrolytes play an important role. Although carbonate electrolytes are reduced at the anode electrode, they are able to form a stable passivating layer called solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). This layer is able to suppress continuous electrolyte degradation improving the cyclability of the batteries. SEI-forming additives such as fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and vinylene carbonate (VC) are found to be particularly effective to stabilise this SEI layer.[2,3] However, K. Kim et al. have recently reported the thermal instability of FEC in LiPF6-based electrolyte for Li-ion batteries.[4] They show that FEC can be defluorinated by Lewis acids such as PF5, generating HF and other acids that are detrimental to the battery.

Herein, we have studied the effect of FEC in LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC)/Li cells at room- and elevated-temperatures. In addition, we have investigated the possible mechanism of such fast degradation of LiPF6- and FEC-based electrolytes and approaches to inhibit it.

At room temperature, NMC/Li cells containing FEC additive in the electrolyte presented longer cycle life than the FEC-free electrolytes. However, both electrolytes showed poor electrochemical performance when cycled at 55°C (Fig. 1a). Interestingly, we observed that the LiPF6-based electrolytes which also contains FEC undergo color change when stored at 55°C precipitating a brown solid (Fig. 1b). Shelf life of LiPF6 in FEC solution was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) confirming the hydrolysis of LiPF6 to phosphoric acid. Furthermore, the obtained solid was identified as a fluorine-based crosslinked polymer derived from FEC. Incorporation of a moisture scavenger compound, such as lithium 2-trifluoromethyl-4,5-dicyanoimidazole (LiTDI), in the electrolyte formulation can slow down the degradation process (Fig. 1b) and improve the battery performance at 55°C (Fig. 1c).

[1] J. Electrochem. Soc. 2017, 164, A5019-A5025. [2] ACS Energy Lett. 2017, 2, 1337−1345. [3] J. Power Sources, 2018, 400, 147–156. [4] Electrochim. Acta, 2017, 225, 358–368.

Figure 1
Study on the Distribution of Polymeric Binder in Lib Composite Electrodes By Measuring Adhesion at Different Depths
Authors: Roh Youngjoon , Byun Seoungwoo , Ryou Myung-Hyun , Lee Yong Min
Published: February 2020

As the loading level or thickness of LIB composite electrodes increases, it becomes more difficult to uniformly distribute all components within the electrode. Because electric conductors are very small and light, they tend to rise upwards during drying process. Especially, to speed up the electrode fabrication process, not only drying temperature but also coating speed is maximized for reducing production costs. In this harsh condition, the polymeric binder tends to be unevenly distributed depending on the depth of electrode. Nevertheless, due to limited analysis tools, it had been left as research area to explore. Meanwhile, since a new tool, surface and interfacial cutting analysis system (SAICAS), was developed, the adhesion properties of the composite electrodes could be measured deliberately while changing the depth.

Herein, we attempted to unveil the polymeric binder distribution by measuring the adhesion strength at different depths. In order to increase the reliability of the analytical results, composite electrode samples having different binder compositions and distributions were prepared and used for this study. At the same time, the compositional analysis with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were also conducted to confirm the binder distribution as a function of electrode depth. Finally, we investigated the effect of binder distribution on the electrochemical properties as well.
Recycling Approaches for Li Ion Batteries
Authors: Slater Peter Raymond
Published: February 2020

The forecasted rapid expansion in Li ion battery use needed for worldwide targets for zero emission cars means that there is a vital need to develop strategies to efficiently recycle used Li ion cells. One of the challenges in terms of delivering commercially viable approaches to recycling spent EV cells is the fact that the battery chemistry is constantly evolving, and that there is no vehicle cell standard.

In this presentation, an overview of the Faraday Institution ReliB: Recycling of lithium ion batteries project will be given. This 8 university interdisciplinary project aim is to establish the technological, economic and legal infrastructure to make possible the recycling of close to 100% of the materials contained in lithium ion batteries from the automotive sector. In addition to the project overview, initial results on the characterisation of automotive cells, and routes for the remanufacture of cathode materials will be presented.
Electrochemical Properties of Low Co-Containing Layered Oxide Cathodes Viewing from Structural, Defect and Processing Variations
Authors: Fung Kuan-Zong , Fung Kenneth , Chang Chia Chin , Tsai Shu-Yi
Published: February 2020

Layered oxides containing transition metal ions are known to exhibit higher capacities than ones with spinel or olivine structures. However, higher charging capacity means the creation of more ionic/electronic defects in both cation and/or anion sublattices of layered structure. As a result, their structural and electrochemical properties are strongly affected by the formation and/or elimination of these defects.

Moreover, the existing defects in layered oxides are typically determined by the condition of fabrication processes, for instance the oxygen partial pressure. The capacity fading observed in layered oxides is typically caused by the phase transformation of cycled layered oxides. In addition, the structural instability of layered oxides may be due to repeated formation/elimination of large amount of defects. Doping of aliovalent ions has been widely used for control of defects through charge compensation mechanism. Thus, the main objective of this work to investigate (i)the structural/electrochemical properties, (ii) charging/discharging/cycling behaviour (ii) effect of aliovalent doping on high Ni/low Co-containing layered oxides.

In this study, the electrical/electrochemical/structural properties of layered oxide containing 80% Ni in transition metal layer are investigated.

Layered oxides are fabricated using either solid state reaction or co-precipitation techniques. Ni content in is fixed at 80% in the transition metal ion layers in these cathode materials, the variation in electrochemical properties will be caused by the minor elements/dopants such as Mn and Al. First, the electrical measurement of layered oxides are conducted using sintered disc. Assembled cells using above-mentioned cathode and Li anode with desired liquid electrolyte will be tested and cycled. XPS, SEM and XRD analyses will be conducted on as-assembled as well as cycled cells. The analysed results will be illustrated based on the chemical characteristics of doping ions and the accompanying defects created.
Novel Poly(ethylene oxide)-Based Polymer Gel Electrolytes for Efficient Electrochemical Energy Conversions
Authors: Lee Ji-Eun , Kang Bo-Sung , Moon Ha-Neul , Lee Ji-Hyeon , Kang Moon-Sung
Published: February 2020

Polymer gel electrolytes (PGEs) have been extensively studied and used in various electrochemical applications such as lithium secondary batteries and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) because of their suitable ionic conductivity and high physical stability. The PGEs should be easily injected into the electrochemical cells to replace the liquid electrolyte and maintain a high ionic conductivity over a wide temperature range. Therefore, in this study, the rheological properties of PGEs have been appropriately controlled by employing various polymer materials derived from poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The optimal PGE composition exhibiting both excellent ion conductivity and electrochemical stability has been determined by investigating the combination of various polymer materials including special functional groups and with various glass transition temperatures and molecular weights. In particular, the PEO-based PGEs developed in this study have the advantage of being easy to inject at room temperature and maintaining physical stability and ionic conductivity at a wide temperature with the help of a thermoreponsive behavior of the polymer material selected in this work. The prepared PEO-based PGEs have been evaluated by application to various electrochemical cells such as lithium secondary batteries, dye-sensitized solar cells, and electrochromic devices. The detailed results will be presented and discussed at the conference. This work was financially supported by the Environmental Industry Advancement Technology Development Project of Korea Environmental Industry & Technology (KEITI) funded by Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) (No. 2017000140002/ RE201702218).
Organic Batteries Operated at -70 oc
Authors: Dong Xiao-Li , Wang Yong-Gang , Xia Yong-Yao
Published: February 2020

Commercialized Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are being widely applied in various portable devices and electric vehicles. However, it is a common phenomenon that LIBs based on intercalation compound electrodes exhibit poor performance when the temperature decreases below 0 oC, for which the insufficient ionic conductivity and freezing of electrolyte are generally considered the main reasons. Various approaches have been developed to overcome this issue, such as developing additives to improve the low-temperature behavior of electrolytes and externally/internally heating and insulating the cells. 1 Although some electrolyte additives can efficiently improve the discharge behavior of LIBs at the low temperature from -20 oC to -40 oC, the corresponding recharge processes at such temperature are still very difficult. Recently reported liquefied gas electrolyte for Li-metal battery that exhibits high performance at low temperature of -60 oC,2 but high-pressure stainless-steel cells had to be used during the electrochemical tests owing to its typically gaseous state under standard conditions.

In addition to the reported liquefied gas electrolyte, an alternative solution is to seek an appropriate solvent with a low freezing point for the electrolyte, which may be used for improving the low-temperature behavior of rechargeable batteries. Herein, an ethyl acetate-based electrolyte with a sufficient ionic conductivity of 0.2 mS cm-1 at the ultra-low temperature of -70 oC is first used to fabricate intercalation compounds-based Li-ion batteries (LIBs) and an organic electrodes-based rechargeable battery, respectively, to clarify their low-temperature behavior. 3 It is demonstrated that the LIBs cannot work at -70 oC because of the sluggish de-solvation of Li+. However, the rechargeable battery using organic electrodes can work well at such low temperature and retains ~70% of capacity at room temperature, owing to the fast kinetics of charge storage on the surface groups or in the large interstitial space of organic solids. These results indicate a new way for developing low-temperature batteries.

Figure 1 Schematical illustration of the organic batteries operated at -70 oC.

Figure 1
Improving Aging Prediction for Electric Vehicle Operation with Combined Electrical, Thermal and Aging Model for Lithium-Ion Battery Packs Using Quantitative Cell Data
Authors: Schoeneberger Ilka , Dechent Philipp , Rücker Fabian , Jakobowski Sven , Sauer Dirk Uwe
Published: February 2020

Electric vehicles (EV) in the power grid are not necessarily an additional burden, but can also act grid relieving. This is possible by storing energy from renewable sources and shaving the volatility of generation. For EV battery owners it is important to predict the aging effects resulting from secondary battery use. For a future energy system, it is therefore important to address the topic of EV battery aging for the group of stakeholders: EV owners, EV manufacturers, energy providers and grid operators.

A physico-chemically motivated, impedance-based lithium-ion battery model has recently been presented in [6] and is available as open source [5]. Additionally, the authors present a new set of quantitative measurement data for parameterization of a battery pack of Daimler’s Smart electric drive. A battery pack was disassembled to gather all information from inside the battery pack. The cells have been aged as part of an extensive aging testing. Therefore, the simulation setup enables in-situ and operando analysis of cell behavior and helps understanding aging effects in electric vehicle operation.

For model parameterization, the research contributions for electrical modeling based on electrical impedance spectroscopy from [1], as well as studies on aging behavior of lithium-ion cells with graphite anode from [2] and [3] are considered and used to adapt the method presented in [4]. The model is parameterized with electrical, thermal and aging parameters for an automotive battery pack that consists of 93 high-energy lithium-ion pouch cells with NMC cathode and graphite anode with a capacity of 50 Ah. A 3D-geometrical representation of the battery pack topology including cooling allows a detailed assessment of the simulated cell temperatures. It therefore helps to generate a better understanding of the incremental battery aging effects that are caused by vehicle-to-grid (V2G) operation.

Controlled charging and discharging of EVs could help the grid in terms of stability and avoid additional cost for grid expansion. At the same time, V2G services could generate additional revenues to the EV battery owners from service payment. Nevertheless, calculation of EV battery aging is one major purpose for EV battery owners before they agree to the active use of their EV battery by third parties.

Sources:

[1] Dissertation H. Witzenhausen, https://doi.org/10.18154/RWTH-2017-03437

[2] Dissertation A. Warnecke, https://doi.org/10.18154/RWTH-2017-09646

[3] Dissertation M. Lewerenz https://doi.org/10.18154/RWTH-2018-228663

[4] Schmalstieg et al., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.02.012

[6] Dissertation F. Hust, “Physico-Chemically Motivated Parameterization and Modelling of Real-Time Capable Lithium-Ion Battery Models - a Case Study on the Tesla Model S Battery”, January 2019

[5] www.openbat.de
Oxygen Reduction at Pt{Hkl} Electrodes in an Alkali Metal Ion Containing Aprotic Solvent
Authors: Hardwick Laurence J. , Galloway Thomas , Attard Gary , Li Jian-Feng , Dong Jin-Chao
Published: February 2020

Metal-oxygen battery cathodes utilise the reversible redox species of oxygen in the presence of metal ions. However the oxygen reduction and evolution reaction mechanisms are yet to be conclusively determined. In order to elucidate the effect of surface structure on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) a method of preparing clean, well-defined Pt{hkl} electrodes for adsorption studies in non-aqueous solvents is described. The ORR in MClO4 (M = Li+, Na+, K+) containing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the electrolyte highlights the structural sensitivity of the ORR under these conditions.

Using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and in situ electrochemical Shell-isolated nanoparticle enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS), the various stages of oxygen reduction as a function of i) potential, ii) metal ion concentration and iii) sweep rate are investigated.

In the sodium system it is found that on Pt{111} and Pt{110}-(1x1) terraces, a long lived surface sodium peroxide species is formed reversibly, whereas on Pt{100} and polycrystalline electrodes, this species is unstable and dissolves into the bulk electrolyte. On all surfaces studied, the initial reduction pathway corresponds to the formation of a surface sodium superoxide phase. In the absence of sodium ions, superoxide formation takes place exclusively followed by superoxide formation into the bulk of the electrolyte with no evidence of peroxide formation.

The discovery that Pt surfaces can control the reaction pathway between superoxide and peroxide species opens up the development of practical electrocatalysts capable of controlling the desired reaction pathway towards Na2O2 to deliver Na-O2 batteries with higher theoretical specific energies.
Mass Transport Characterization in Redox Flow Batteries Using Fluorescence Microscopy in Operando
Authors: Wong Andrew A. , Aziz Michael J. , Rubinstein Shmuel
Published: February 2020

Significant advancements in aqueous organic redox flow battery (RFB) chemistries are generating greater anticipation for grid scale energy storage systems. However, low power densities, driven in part by mass transport limitations within the cell stack, limit the performance of these systems. A detailed understanding of mass transport and electrochemical activity within the porous electrode would benefit all RFB chemistries, particularly those using aqueous organic electrolytes. In this study we use fluorescence microscopy to image fluid flow and electrochemical activity in operando using fluorescent tracer particles and redox-active aqueous-soluble quinones respectively. The fluorescence of the reduced quinone is used as a direct measure of local state of charge and the tracer particles allow measurements of local velocities and fluid streamlines. The combined approach illuminates the influence of the electrode architecture on electrochemical-flow processes, unveiling surprisingly heterogeneous behavior over length scales significantly larger then the average pore diameter. Several electrode styles are compared including papers, cloths and felts with an emphasis on mass transport characteristics impacting their performance. We will discuss further applications for this in operando technique and suggest potential electrode architectures to improve RFB performance as grid scale energy storage systems.

Figure: (left) Strobe imaging of fluorescent tracer particles highlighting fluid streamlines in a woven carbon fiber electrode. (center) Colorized image of a fluorescent quinone electrolyte undergoing electrochemical reduction in operando. Image width is 2 mm highlighting the strikingly heterogeneous mass transport process. (right) particle tracking of fluorescent tracer particles providing insight into local velocity fields and fluid dead zones.

Figure 1
In Situ NMR Studies of Li Microstructure Formation
Authors: Gunnarsdóttir Anna B , Menkin Svetlana , Marbella Lauren E , Best Adam Samuel , Grey Clare P.
Published: February 2020

Lithium metal is an attractive anode for next-generation, high-energy batteries but it suffers from both capacity fading and safety problems associated with microstructural and dendritic growth. A detailed understanding of the fundamental processes that lead to an uneven Li deposition is necessary to develop new and effective strategies to mitigate dendrite growth. The morphology of Li deposits is highly dependent on the choice of electrolyte system with improved cycling performance attributed to a more uniform, robust and conductive solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). [1]

In this work we use in situ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in combination with electrochemical characterisation techniques and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With in situ NMR we are able to monitor and quantify the microstructures that form during lithium deposition. As a result of the ‘skin depth issue’ of metals, that is the electromagnetic RF field excites only the surface of the Li metal, NMR is a sensitive and quantitative method for microstructure formation.[2] Furthermore, the resonance of the microstructural peak gives an indication of the morphology of the growing deposits. [3] This allows for an effective comparison of different electrolyte systems and lithium plating conditions. [2,3] Superconcentrated electrolytes are investigated in detail as their suppression of dendrite growth has been reported in many studies. [1,4] Different electrochemical cycling parameters are investigated including the relatively unexplored method of applying pulsed current as to ascertain the role of the concentration gradients in the SEI layer.

Reference
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[1] Liu, B. et al.
Joule
2, 833–845 (2018).

[2] Bhattacharyya, R. et al.
Nat. Mater.
9, 504–510 (2010).

[3] S. Chandrashekar, et al.
Nat. Mater.
11, 311-315 (2012).

[4] Qian, J. et al.
Nano Energy
15, 135–144 (2015).
Reaction Distribution in Composite Electrodes for All-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries with Sulfide-Based Solid Electrolyte
Authors: Uchimoto Yoshiharu
Published: February 2020

All-solid-state lithium-ion batteries, which use solid phase electrolyte as electrolyte have potentials to realize high safety and larger energy density in comparison with the conventional lithium-ion batteries using a liquid electrolyte. The composite electrodes in the all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries consist of active cathode materials, solid electrolyte, conduction additives, and binder materials. The composite electrodes are obtained by drying slurries, which are pasted on current collector after mixing those materials with a solvent. The binder materials play a role to combine active materials, conductive additives and solid electrolytes, and they are generally used for preparing for the composite electrodes. One of the reasons for the insufficient rate capacity of the all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries is the inhomogeneous reaction distribution in the composite electrodes. In this study, we prepared sheet-type composite electrodes for all-solid-state lithium ion batteries with sulfide-based solid electrolyte using different binder materials with different solvents and investigated the reaction distribution within the electrodes using the 2D-imaging X-ray absorption spectroscopy (2D-XAS).
Book review: Ashutosh Kumar and Yatindra Singh Sisodia (Eds.), How India Votes: A State-By-State Look
Authors: Mallick Sambit
Published: February 2020

Ashutosh Kumar and Yatindra Singh Sisodia (Eds.), How India Votes: A State-By-State Look. Hyderabad: Orient BlackSwan, 2019, 443 pp. (hardback). ISBN: 978-93-5287-461-3.
Knowledge Recombination and Inventor Networks: The Asymmetric Effects of Embeddedness on Knowledge Reuse and Impact
Authors: Schillebeeckx Simon J. D. , Lin Yimin , George Gerard , Alnuaimi Tufool
Published: February 2020

Inventors are triply embedded. They are embedded in a network of knowledge components that they can reuse in future inventions. They are embedded in an inventor network, where internal embeddedness (the strength of relationships between focal inventors and their colleagues upon whose knowledge the team builds) and network centrality influence access to information. Finally, they are embedded in the firm, with its specific routines that favor external or internal knowledge search, what we call search orientation. Using a sample of 39,785 semiconductor patents, we study the pattern of knowledge reuse, or the recombination of technologically similar components, on invention impact. We propose that reuse of internal knowledge affects invention impact in a concave manner and posit that internal embeddedness steepens this relationship while network centrality leads to an inflection point shift. We examine whether these effects differ for subsamples of firms with inward- or outward-looking search orientation. We find that inward-looking firms’ optimal pattern of internal knowledge reuse does not differ markedly from that of outward-looking firms. We find that inward-looking firms are more susceptible to internal embeddedness and that centrality in the collaborative network flattens rather than shifts the relationship between reuse and impact. These findings elevate the theoretical discourse of embeddedness from the effects of network positions on innovation outcomes to similar network positions having asymmetric effects that vary with the firm’s search orientation. Our results contribute to an emergent area in innovation research on how inventor networks shape the inventive process and its outcomes.
Understanding the Safety Impact of Protected Intersection Design Elements: A Driving Simulation Approach
Authors: Deliali Aikaterini , Campbell Nicholas , Knodler Michael , Christofa Eleni
Published: February 2020

Protected intersections are used to facilitate safe crossings for non-motorized users. As a relatively new treatment in North America, it is essential to understand how their design elements, such as bicycle intersection-crossing pavement markings and corner refuge island size, enhance bicyclist safety. A driving simulation experiment was developed to test the effectiveness of different design elements of protected intersections on driver speeds. Participants were exposed to different protected intersection designs that varied with respect to the corner refuge island width and bicycle intersection-crossing pavement marking levels. Their speed at two parts of the right turn, that is, approach and curve speed, was analyzed. A combination of design elements, participant demographics, or bicyclist presence at the intersection affects driver behavior at a protected intersection. The results indicate that the presence of a bicyclist crossing a protected intersection significantly reduces speeds for drivers performing a right turn. Corner refuge islands with larger width were found to reduce speed at the curve as they were accompanied by larger curb extensions which essentially reduce the space for the automobiles. Bicycle intersection-crossing pavement markings influenced only approach speeds prior to the actual turn since that is the location where they were the most visible. Age, gender, and bicycling frequency were observed to affect turning speeds, indicating that design elements alone cannot determine the safety effectiveness of a protected intersection. The findings of this study can guide the implementation of protected intersections.
The (un)intended effects of street-level bureaucrats’ enforcement style: Do citizens shame or obey bureaucrats?
Authors: de Boer Noortje
Published: February 2020

This paper studies the intended and unintended effects of street-level bureaucrats’ enforcement style. More specifically, it answers to what extent street-level bureaucrats’ enforcement style affects citizens’ obedience (i.e. intended effect) during face-to-face encounters and willingness to publicly shame bureaucrats (i.e. unintended effect). Building on insights from street-level enforcement and the social interactionist theory of coercive actions, a trade-off is theorized between the effect of enforcement style on citizens’ on-the-spot obedience and on public shaming. Results of an experiment ( n =  318) and replication ( n =  311) in The Netherlands reveal that (1) neither the legal nor facilitation dimension has an effect on on-the-spot obedience; (2) the legal dimension does not affect public shaming but (3) the facilitation decreases it. These findings are robust across both the experiment and replication.
The value of value: A quantum approach to economics, security and international relations
Authors: Orrell David
Published: February 2020

Money objects, from coins to bitcoins, are used in economic exchange as a way of putting a number on the fuzzy concept of worth or value. They are inherently dualistic in that they combine the properties of abstract numbers with the properties of owned objects. As a result of this duality at its core, the money system exhibits the properties of a macroscopic quantum system, including entanglement, indeterminacy and interference, with money objects playing a special role as a measurement device. This article argues that, by virtue of its dualistic nature, money acts as a vector of transmission that scales up the properties of quantum mind to the global level. By bringing money back into the picture and providing an alternative to the mechanistic vision of mainstream economics, quantum social science promises to change the way we see and treat the economy, with implications for international relations and security.
Planar arrangement of permanent magnets in design of a magneto-solid damper by finite element method
Authors: Amjadian Mohsen , Agrawal Anil K
Published: February 2020

This article studies the energy dissipation mechanism of a proposed magneto-solid damper using a three-dimensional finite element model developed in COMSOL Multiphysics software. The energy dissipation mechanism of the magneto-solid damper dissipates energy through combined actions of friction and eddy current damping. The key components of the magneto-solid damper are a steel plate, two copper plates placed on two sides of the steel plate in parallel, and two planar arrays of permanent magnets each one placed between the steel plate and one of the copper plates. These arrays are kept away from the steel and copper plates through narrow gaps; the gaps between them and the steel plate are filled with thin friction pads made of non-magnetic materials. The attractive magnetic interaction between the permanent magnet arrays and the steel plate provides the normal force for the friction developed between the friction pads and the steel plate when the permanent magnet arrays move relative to the steel plate. The motion of the permanent magnet arrays relative to the copper plates, on the other hand, provides the eddy current damping. The main contribution of this article is to optimize the pole arrangement of the permanent magnets and demonstrate that how the optimum pole arrangement can affect the energy dissipation capacity of the magneto-solid damper. The analysis results show that, for a given number and size of the permanent magnets, alternate arrangement of the poles of permanent magnets along the direction of their motion is the most optimal case resulting in large and smooth hysteresis force–displacement loops. This pole arrangement has also been used to find the optimum size of the steel and copper plates by addressing edge and skin effects in the design of the damper.
Tending, counting and fitting with post-developmental fat(s) in early childhood education
Authors: Land Nicole
Published: February 2020

This article responds to Euro-western conceptions of childhood obesity that understand fat within developmental narratives, as biochemically consequential and as a marker of individualized responsibility. Drawing in multiple fat(s) generated in a pedagogical inquiry with early childhood educators and children, the author articulates ‘post-developmental fat(s)’ as fat(s) that trouble the logics, practices and relationships required to understand fat as obesity. She traces how situated methods of tending fat(s) generated specific possibilities for counting and fitting fat(s). Foregrounding questions of how fat(s) happen and what fat(s) can do in early childhood education, the author takes seriously how fat(s) matter momentarily amid intentional, speculative and deeply politicized pedagogical practices oriented towards doing fat(s) differently in early childhood education.
The protective capability of the laser welded armour steel plates
Authors: Pacek D , Kolodziejczak P , Grzelak K , Torzewski J , Podgorzak P
Published: February 2020

Despite the intensive development of plastics and composite materials in the case of armours employed to protect vehicles, armour steel remains a material commonly and effectively used. This is especially evident in the base armour of armoured vehicles, where the body is made of welded armour steel plates. However, the area of joining both the weld and the heat affected zone are sensitive areas with the reduced protective capability. In the case of laser welding in comparison with methods such as shielded metal arc welding and gas metal arc welding, it is possible to narrow down the above mentioned areas. The paper presents the results of research on the protective capability of welded zone of armour steel plates with a hardness of 500 HB. In the first part of the work, in order to select the proper parameters for the bonding process, different connection variants were made and their microstructure and selected mechanical properties were analysed. After selecting the best variant of the welding process, samples (200 mm × 200 mm) consisting of two welded plates with dimensions 100 mm × 200 mm were made for testing. The thickness of the plates was selected in such a way that in the areas outside the bonding zone, the lack of complete perforation by the projectiles used in the tests is guaranteed. The samples were shot at the weld location and at different distances from the weld to verify, for the chosen method of joining steel plates, if the welded armour loses its protective capability and, possibly, how wide this area may be.
LANDMARC indoor positioning algorithm based on density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise–genetic algorithm–radial basis function neural network
Authors: Ren Jingqiu , Bao Ke , Zhang Guanghua , Chu Li , Lu Weidang
Published: February 2020

In recent years, fifth-generation communication technology has begun to experiment successfully. As an indoor positioning technology of the Internet of things, it changes with each passing day and shows great vitality in the development of smart cities. Aiming at the problem that existing radio frequency identification indoor positioning algorithm is prone to environmental interference and poor positioning accuracy, a LANDMARC indoor positioning algorithm based on density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise–genetic algorithm–radial basis function neural network is proposed. In this article, the signal intensity value is processed by Gaussian filter, and the noise points and boundary points are removed by density-based clustering algorithm. The threshold and weight of radial basis function neural network were optimized by genetic algorithm. With less data information, the relationship between the value of label signal strength and position coordinate could be established to improve the positioning accuracy of LANDMARC positioning algorithm. Experimental research shows that the average positioning error of the proposed LANDMARC algorithm based on density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise–genetic algorithm–radial basis function neural network is about 0.9 m, which is 64% lower than the average positioning error of the traditional LANDMARC algorithm and improves the indoor positioning accuracy.
2D parametric contrast time-density analysis for the prediction of complete aneurysm occlusion at six months’ post-flow diversion stent
Authors: Hussein Ahmed E , Shownkeen Meghana , Thomas Andre , Stapleton Christopher , Brunozzi Denise , Nelson Jessica , Naumgart John , Linninger Andreas , Atwal Gursant , Alaraj Ali
Published: February 2020

Objective

Indications for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms with flow diversion stents are expanding. The current aneurysm occlusion rate at six months ranges between 60 and 80%. Predictability of complete vs. partial aneurysm occlusion is poorly defined. Here, we evaluate the angiographic contrast time-density as a predictor of aneurysm occlusion rate at six months’ post-flow diversion stents.

Methods

Patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms proximal to the internal carotid artery terminus treated with single flow diversion stents were included. 2D parametric parenchymal blood flow software (Siemens-Healthineers, Forchheim, Germany) was used to calculate contrast time-density within the aneurysm and in the proximal adjacent internal carotid artery. The area under the curve ratio between the two regions of interests was assessed at baseline and after flow diversion stents deployment. The area under the curve ratio between completely vs. partially occluded aneurysms at six months’ follow-up was compared.

Results

Thirty patients with 31 aneurysms were included. Mean aneurysm diameter was 8 mm (range 2–28 mm). Complete occlusion was obtained in 19 aneurysms. Younger patients ( P = 0.006) and smaller aneurysms ( P = 0.046) presented higher chance of complete obliteration. Incomplete occlusion of the aneurysm was more likely if the area under the curve contrast time-density ratio showed absolute ( P = 0.001) and relative percentage ( P = 0.001) decrease after flow diversion stents deployment. Area under ROC curve was 0.85.

Conclusion

Negative change in the area under the curve ratio indicates less contrast stagnation in the aneurysm and lower chance of occlusion. These data provide a real-time analysis after aneurysm treatment. If validated in larger datasets, this can prompt input to the surgeon to place a second flow diversion stents.
The nineteenth century liberal tradition and the English School historical narrative
Authors: Green Daniel M
Published: February 2020

This article uses the framework of “traditions of thought” and “dilemmas” to problematize and revise the English School’s Expansion Narrative of international relations history in the crucial nineteenth century, when the forms and practices of “European international society” expanded to dominate the world’s international relations. An exercise in historicizing and contextualizing the broader liberal tradition of international thought brings into focus a period of liberal ideas and policies in the first-half of the nineteenth century, before Expansion and the New Imperialism, and a particular “free trade” liberal order project adopted by Britain in the years 1830–1865 in particular. This brings a different perspective to the ES historical narrative of expansion of the European international society into a “global international society.” The article contextualizes ideas in the nineteenth century liberal tradition by highlighting a British global “unipolar moment” and the order project that accompanied it. It discusses the “dilemmas” that prompted the closing of that era and a shift in British thought and policy during the 1860s. These laid the foundation for the Expansion the English School focuses on after 1870, but also constitute a previous experiment in the engagement of the West with the Rest, with different potentialities, before the final onslaught of global-scale conquest.
A Newly Discovered Genetic Disorder Associated With Life-Threatening Aortic Disease in a 6-Year-Old Boy
Authors: Hamandi Mohanad , Bolin Madison L. , Fan Joy , Lanfear Allison T. , Woolbert Seth K. , Baxter Ronald D. , DiMaio J. Michael , Brinkman William T.
Published: February 2020

Aortic aneurysms in children are rare and when present are usually caused by a connective tissue disorder. In this article, we present a case of multiple aortic aneurysms in an adolescent with a novel finding of a gene variation that is associated with aortic disease.
Selections From the ABC 2019 Annual Conference, Detroit, Michigan: High Horsepower My Favorite Assignment Sessions in the Motor City
Authors: Whalen D. Joel
Published: February 2020

Readers can explore 13 teaching innovations presented at the 2019 Association for Business Communication annual international conference in Detroit, Michigan. These assignments are designed to add fuel to oral and written persuasion, including the practical use of rhetorical tools. Ideas to advance learners’ professional development are presented. Also, clever experiential learning techniques are designed to inculcate team-building skills. This article is the second in a two-part series. The first appeared in the June 2020 issue. Additional teaching materials—instructions to students, stimulus materials, slides, grading rubrics, frequently asked questions, and sample student projects—are posted on the Association for Business Communication website: https://www.businesscommunication.org/page/assignments
How Quantum Ontology and Q Methodology Can Revitalise Agency in IR
Authors: Lehtonen Pinja
Published: February 2020

This article brings Alexander Wendt's (2015) ‘quantum social ontology’ into the realm of empirical International Relations (IR) research by coupling it with Q methodology. It shows how Wendt's ontology and Q methodology share a central interest in complex agency and are inherently allied in terms of principles and purposes. The quantum view has catalysed conversation within IR and social sciences more broadly, but that debate has remained almost exclusively on a theoretical level. This article shows that there is potential for empirical research in this area regardless of whether one considers the quantum view to be an analogy or ontological reality. Q methodology's grounding ideas align with quantum physics and the quantum social ontology, e.g. in the fashion it conceives of subjective states of mind and their measurement. Practical examples of Q methodological work are presented to illustrate the quantum concepts in a social scientific setting. The article argues for a broader study of political subjectivity within IR through a notion of personhood, which opens up vast potentialities for agency as well as for breaking free of determinism, and fixed notions of human nature as well as ostensibly fixed understandings of advantaged or disadvantaged subject positions.
Caracterización molecular de mutantes de Agave tequilana inducidas con radiación gamma Co60 y su efecto en la acumulación de fructooligosacáridos
Authors: Ángeles-Espino Alejandro , Dimas-Estrada Hilda Eréndira , Ramírez-Alvarado David , Cruz-Rubio José Manuel , Palmeros-Suárez Paola Andrea , Gómez Leyva Juan Florencio
Published: February 2020

La variabilidad genética en Agave tequilana es limitada debido a la manera clonal de reproducción en campo. En el presente trabajo se indujeron mutaciones en plantas de Agave tequilana micropropagadas in vitro vía embriogénesis indirecta empleando radiación ionizante con rayos gamma Co60 a las dosis de 10 Gy, 15 Gy, 20 Gy y 25 Gy. Las plántulas regeneradas fueron nuevamente tratadas a 10 Gy y 20 Gy para obtener poblaciones clonales simple y doblemente irradiadas. Se evidenció variabilidad genética de las poblaciones irradiadas mediante marcadores Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) agrupándolas según la dosis de radiación. Las mutantes simples y dobles a 20 Gy aumentaron significativamente el contenido de fructosa y sacarosa en tallo, respecto al control sin irradiar, y la síntesis de fructooligosacáridos con grados de polimerización de 3, 4, 5 incrementó, lo que sugiere la inducción de los genes 1-SST y 1-FFT en las variantes de Agave tequilana.
Tratamiento de agua residual procedente de lavadoras por el método de electrocoagulación para la reutilización en riego de vegetales – Ate Vitarte
Authors: Cuba Tello María Vanessa , Alcocer Meneses Paul , Pacheco Ortíz Mariano
Published: February 2020

La electrocoagulación (EC) en los últimos años está llamando la atención para la eliminación de diferentes contaminantes presentes en diversos efluentes. A través de este trabajo, se verificó la viabilidad de utilizar la técnica de electrocoagulación como una alternativa ante los procesos químicos convencionales, en el tratamiento del agua residual de lavadoras para ser reutilizado en riego de vegetales. Analizadas regularmente. Se analizaron cuatro factores: intensidad, tiempo, distancia y pH; con tres niveles para cada factor. Para optimizar el proceso de electrocoagulación sobre los factores de diseño, se realizaron experimentos de acuerdo al método de Taguchi. Se realizó el análisis de varianza (ANOVA) para ver el efecto de los variables sobre la remoción de la turbiedad y otros parámetros fisicoquímicos. Los resultados arrojaron que los parámetros de mayor influencia en la remoción de la turbiedad fueron tiempo e intensidad a comparación de los demás. La optimización de los factores sobre la alta remoción de los parámetros fisicoquímicos se obtuvo a los niveles de intensidad 5 Amperios, 15 minutos, 2 centímetros y pH 7.5, con una remoción de 99.02% turbiedad, 90.83% DQO y 95.93% SST, el efluente tratado se encuentra en el rango permisible para su uso en riego de vegetales.
Reseña de Libro
Authors: Arias Gallegos Walter Lizandro
Published: February 2020

Montgomery, W. (2018). Conductismo: un análisis paradigmático. Cuestiones teóricas, filosóficas y profesionales. Lima: Saxo. 333 pp. ISBN 978-612-47804-6-2

El profesor William Montgomery, quien labora en la Escuela Profesional de Psicología de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos ha publicado un nuevo libro. Se trata de Conductismo: un análisis paradigmático. Cuestiones teóricas, filosóficas y profesionales, un libro que como en anteriores publicaciones, Montgomery analiza los fundamentos filosóficos del conductismo, pero particularmente de los conductismos de tercera generación, que han tratado de superar las críticas hechas a su postura reduccionista y su enfoque mecanicista. Lo cierto es que, el conductismo como corriente psicológica, ha favorecido el posicionamiento científico de la psicología y le ha dotado de una identidad, principalmente el modelo skinneriano y sus sucedáneos, pues la gran limitación del conductismo de Watson es que toma prestados los métodos reflexológicos de Pavlov, lo cual le resta originalidad y autonomía a su deseo de erigir una psicología como ciencia independiente.