Oxygen‐redox‐based cathode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted considerable attention in recent years owing to the possibility of delivering additional capacity in the ...high‐voltage region. However, they still suffer from not only fast capacity fading but also poor rate capability. Herein, P2‐Na0.75Li0.15Ni0.15Mn0.7O2 is introduced, an oxygen‐redox‐based layered oxide cathode material for SIBs. The effect of Ni doping on the electrochemical performance is investigated by comparison with Ni‐free P2‐Na0.67Li0.22Mn0.78O2. The Na0.75Li0.15Ni0.15Mn0.7O2 delivers a specific capacity of ≈160 mAh g−1 in the voltage region of 1.5–4.6 V at 0.1 C in Na cells. Combined experiments (galvanostatic cycling, neutron powder diffraction, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (7Li NMR)) and theoretical studies (density functional theory calculations) confirm that Ni substitution not only increases the operating voltage and decreases voltage hysteresis but also improves the cycling stability by reducing Li migration from transition metal to Na layers. This research demonstrates the effect of Li and Ni co‐doping in P2‐type layered materials and suggests a new strategy of using Mn‐rich cathode materials via oxygen redox with optimization of doping elements for SIBs.
The role of Ni substitution on the structure and electrochemical properties of oxygen‐redox‐based P2‐type Na0.67Li0.22Mn0.78O2 layered cathode materials is investigated. Ni provides not only an increase of the operating voltage and decrease of voltage hysteresis, but also improves the cycling stability by reducing Li migration from transition metal to Na layers.
Aim
The effectiveness of resistance training in improving cognitive function in older adults is well demonstrated. In particular, unconventional high‐speed resistance training can improve muscle ...power development. In the present study, the effectiveness of 12 weeks of elastic band‐based high‐speed power training (HSPT) was examined.
Methods
Participants were randomly assigned into a HSPT group (n = 14, age 75.0 ± 0.9 years), a low‐speed strength training (LSST) group (n = 9, age 76.0 ± 1.3 years) and a control group (CON; n = 7, age 78.0 ± 1.0 years). A 1‐h exercise program was provided twice a week for 12 weeks for the HSPT and LSST groups, and balance and tone exercises were carried out by the CON group.
Results
Significant increases in levels of cognitive function, physical function, and muscle strength were observed in both the HSPT and LSST groups. In cognitive function, significant improvements in the Mini‐Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were seen in both the HSPT and LSST groups compared with the CON group. In physical functions, Short Physical Performance Battery scores were increased significantly in the HSPT and LSST groups compared with the CON group. In the 12 weeks of elastic band‐based training, the HSPT group showed greater improvements in older women with mild cognitive impairment than the LSST group, although both regimens were effective in improving cognitive function, physical function and muscle strength.
Conclusions
We conclude that elastic band‐based HSPT, as compared with LSST, is more efficient in helping older women with mild cognitive impairment to improve cognitive function, physical performance and muscle strength. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 765–772.
Addition of 1–4 wt.% lithium into a conventional Al–Cu–Mg alloy allows lower density and higher mechanical properties, which are attractive for aerospace applications. In this study, fundamental ...investigations including phase and microstructure evolution, resulting in strengthening, of the AA2195 are conducted to observe a possibility of production with commercial level. Precipitation sequence and kinetics during post-annealing were evaluated with variations of temperature and holding time. Microstructures revealed formation and evolution in representative precipitates including θ (Al2Cu), ß′ (Al3Zr), and T (AlxLiyCu) series. Aluminum alloys have low hardness, modulus, and strength before aging, but precipitates such as θ′ (Al2Cu), ß′ (Al3Zr), and T1 (Al2LiCu) show enhanced mechanical properties of AA2195 tempered because of their interaction with dislocation. However, longer holding time and higher annealing temperature result in significant decreases in mechanical properties due to the presence of incoherent precipitates (θ phase) and coarsening of the precipitates via grain-boundary diffusion. In the current study, the tensile strength of 560 MPa was obtained with post-heat treatment without work hardening. This value has never been achieved in other studies. The maximum strength was reported as 500 MPa without a work hardening process.
•A relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties to post annealing AA2195.•A formation and dissolution of the precipitates were observed for various treatment.•An optimum post-annealing condition was obtained.
ABSTRACT
Introduction
Exercise‐induced apelin as a myokine is believed to play a role in the improvement of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and capillarization. In this study, we evaluated the ...association between exercise‐induced apelin and muscle capillarization.
Methods
Zucker rats underwent a treadmill exercise program. Body composition, muscle strength, muscle size, muscle capillarization, and insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment HOMA‐IR) were measured. Apelin levels of skeletal muscle and plasma were then analyzed.
Results
Exercise improved body composition (P < 0.05), HOMA‐IR (P < 0.05), and grip strength (P < 0.001). In the soleus, the fiber size of T2DM was decreased (P < 0.001), but it increased in fiber size and capillarization after exercise (P < 0.001) occurred. We identified an increase in plasma apelin (P < 0.05) and a decrease in soleus apelin (P < 0.01), as well as an association between soleus apelin and angiogenesis (P < 0.01).
Discussion
A role for exercise‐induced apelin in improving metabolism indicates the possibility of a new drug target for the treatment of metabolic diseases and repairing skeletal muscle damage. Muscle Nerve 56: 1155–1163, 2017
In this study, the investigation of the electrochemical behavior and passivation process of Al metal as a current collector for non-aqueous sodium-ion and potassium-ion batteries is performed. ...Electrochemical polarization in dynamic mode,
in situ
scratch polarization in transient mode, and surface analysis using time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) are applied to understand the passivation of aluminum in fluorine-containing non-aqueous alkyl carbonate solutions. Polarization toward the cathodic direction does not result in the formation of alloys between Na or K metals and aluminum even at 0 V
vs.
Na
+
/Na or K
+
/K, respectively. For anodic polarization, the passivation of aluminum in the electrolyte is associated with the occurrence of an anodic reaction. ToF-SIMS surface analysis reveals that the passive layer is composed of an outer AlF
3
layer on the Al
2
O
3
layer. The formation of the AlF
3
layer occurs
via
the reaction of Al
2
O
3
with HF, Al
2
O
3
+ 6HF → 2AlF
3
+ 3H
2
O, as HF is produced as a byproduct of the oxidative decomposition of NaPF
6
or KPF
6
salts at high potential. The AlF
3
passive layer is stable up to 5 V
vs.
Na
+
/Na or K
+
/K, with improved stability observed in the Na solution relative to that in the K electrolyte.
The AlF
3
layer on the surface of aluminum foil is stable up to 5 V
vs.
Na
+
/Na or K
+
/K.
Photomorphogenesis, light-mediated development, is an essential feature of all terrestrial plants. While chloroplast development and brassinosteroid (BR) signaling are known players in ...photomorphogenesis, proteins that regulate both pathways have yet to be identified. Here we report that DE-ETIOLATION IN THE DARK AND YELLOWING IN THE LIGHT (DAY), a membrane protein containing DnaJ-like domain, plays a dual-role in photomorphogenesis by stabilizing the BR receptor, BRI1, as well as a key enzyme in chlorophyll biosynthesis, POR. DAY localizes to both the endomembrane and chloroplasts via its first transmembrane domain and chloroplast transit peptide, respectively, and interacts with BRI1 and POR in their respective subcellular compartments. Using genetic analysis, we show that DAY acts independently on BR signaling and chlorophyll biogenesis. Collectively, this work uncovers DAY as a factor that simultaneously regulates BR signaling and chloroplast development, revealing a key regulator of photomorphogenesis that acts across cell compartments.
The major drawbacks of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), a remarkably accurate transcriptome profiling method, is its high cost and poor scalability. Here, we report a highly scalable and cost-effective ...method for transcriptomics profiling called Bulk transcriptOme profiling of cell Lysate in a single poT (BOLT-seq), which is performed using unpurified bulk 3'-end mRNA in crude cell lysates. During BOLT-seq, RNA/DNA hybrids are directly subjected to tagmentation, and second-strand cDNA synthesis and RNA purification are omitted, allowing libraries to be constructed in 2 h of hands-on time. BOLT-seq was successfully used to cluster small molecule drugs based on their mechanisms of action and intended targets. BOLT-seq competes effectively with alternative library construction and transcriptome profiling methods.
Most inspection and repair works are performed with robots in a nuclear power plant, as a human operator cannot access the facility due to radiation. In order to ensure the integrity of the reactor ...vessel, the reactor nozzle welds should be inspected periodically. The inspections have been performed using a conventional inspection machine with a large sturdy column; however, these machines are so large and heavy that their handling and maintenance requires much effort. In order to resolve these kinds of problems, the authors have developed a mobile robotic manipulator, which is very small and light and easy to handle. The underwater mobile robot with magnetic wheels is guided by a laser beam for its accurate positioning. Even though the inspection system is light and simple, its accurate positioning for reactor nozzle weld inspection is much more difficult and complex. This article explains how to position our laser-guided mobile robot manipulator at the reactor vessel wall and determines the pan and tilt angle of the laser pan-tilt device to guide the robot along a specified path around the nozzle. We derive the path planning of the mobile robotic manipulator when inspecting nozzle welds on the upper shell of the vessel, and we experimented the whole robotic system to identify position accuracy of the robot movements through the inspection scanning of reactor nozzle.
The edible flowers of marigold (Tagetes spp.) are cultivated for their aesthetic appeal and high utility as functional health food ingredients. Carotenoid and flavonoid contents in marigold petals ...highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate cultivar and its processing methods for their industrial applications. The comparative understanding of the effects of dry processing on functional components across different marigold cultivars is still lacking. Therefore, this study investigated functional compound changes in the dry processing effect on four marigold cultivars with distinct flower shapes (Durango, Inca) and colors (yellow, orange). The petals in hot air drying (HAD) with 30, 60, and 90 °C applications were analyzed for the measurement of their individual secondary metabolite contents, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activities. In freeze drying (FD), the lutein content varied significantly based on flower color, exhibiting higher levels in cultivars with orange petals. Otherwise, the levels of quercetin derivatives displayed distinct differences based on varieties other than color, with Inca cultivars demonstrating higher levels of quercetin 7-O-glucoside (Q7G) than Durango cultivars. In HAD, the lutein levels show a tendency to increase above 60 °C regardless of the cultivar. The content of quercetin glycosides decreased, while the aglycone increased in HAD treatments, regardless of the temperatures. Correlation and PCA results highlighted the impact of phenol compounds on antioxidant activity. Overall, these findings underscore the significance of variety and color in determining the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of marigold flowers.
Fully analytic mesh-based computer generated hologram enables efficient and precise representation of three-dimensional scene. Conventional method assigns uniform amplitude inside individual mesh, ...resulting in reconstruction of the three-dimensional scene of flat shading. In this paper, we report an extension of the conventional method to achieve the continuous shading where the amplitude in each mesh is continuously varying. The proposed method enables the continuous shading, while maintaining fully analytic framework of the conventional method without any sacrifice in the precision. The proposed method can also be extended to enable fast update of the shading for different illumination directions and the ambient-diffuse reflection ratio based on Phong reflection model. The feasibility of the proposed method is confirmed by the numerical and optical reconstruction of the generated hologram.
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