We study the tropical dualities and properties of exchange graphs for the totally sign-skew-symmetric cluster algebra under a condition. We prove that the condition always holds for acyclic cluster ...algebras, then all results hold for the acyclic case.
Layered LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NMC) is a promising cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, but structural instability and rapid capacity decay at high voltages and elevated temperatures preclude ...its large-scale commercialization. Lattice doping and surface coating can address these problems, but the different mechanisms between them are still unclear. Herein, two kinds of cathode materials (Zr-doped NMC and ZrO2-coated NMC) are synthesized and the effects of doping and coating on the structural stability and electrochemical performance of NMC are systematically investigated. Zr-doped NMC exhibits superior electrochemical performance with 98% capacity retention after 50 cycles between 3.0 and 4.5 V at 55 °C. In contrast, pristine and ZrO2-coated NMC suffer continual capacity decay during cycling. Ex situ analyses reveal that the performance improvement originates from the structure stabilizing effects of Zr doping and the robust interfacial film on the cathode surface during cycling. The results suggest that lattice doping is a key factor in obtaining excellent cycling performance at high temperatures. This study provides further insight into the different effects of Zr doping/coating and can be extended to investigate other cathode materials.
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•The effects of Zr doping and coating on LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 are investigated.•Zr-doped LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 exhibits superior cycling stability at 55 °C.•Zr modification alleviates surface structural degradation.•Zr modification facilitates the formation of a robust interfacial film.
Different fuel range alkanes can be synthesized from hydroprocessing castor oil by Ni supported on different acidic zeolites, and bio-aviation fuel can be obtained by Ni supported on moderate acidic ...strength zeolites. Display omitted
•Bio-aviation fuel was firstly synthesized by hydroprocessing castor oil.•Castor oil was converted into aviation fuel by the two-step process and a one-pot process respectively.•The degree of hydrodeoxygenation and hydrocracking could be adjusted by Ni supported on moderate acidic zeolites.
Bio-aviation fuel was firstly synthesized by hydroprocessing castor oil in a continuous-flow fixed-bed microreactor with the main objective to obtain the high yield of aviation fuel and determine the elemental compositions of the product phases as well as the reaction mechanism. Highest aviation range alkane yields (91.6wt%) were achieved with high isomer/n-alkane ratio (i/n) 4.4–7.2 over Ni supported on acidic zeolites. In addition, different fuel range alkanes can be obtained by adjusting the degree of hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and hydrocracking. And the observations are rationalized by a set of reaction pathways for the various product phases.
In cognitive radio networks, the secondary (unlicensed) users need to find idle channels via spectrum sensing for their transmission. Cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) is a promising technology in ...spectrum sensing with an admirable performance. In CSS, multiple secondary users individually sense the idle channels and send their decisions to the network center, and then the center will do a final decision. In this paper, we focus on the optimal sensing settings of the CSS to maximize the channel throughput under some constraints on the interference to cognitive radio network. Particularly, we consider two scenarios in this paper. In the first scenario, only one channel is sensed at one time, and we aim at maximizing an individual channel capacity. Some simple algorithms are also derived to calculate the optimal solution for the first scenario. In the second scenario, multiple channels are jointly sensed simultaneously, and our objective is to maximize the overall channel capacity. We prove that the optimization problem in the second scenario can be converted into a convex-optimization problem, which can be solved efficiently and reliably. Simulation results show a significant improvement of the channel capacity by using the proposed optimal CSS in cognitive radio networks.
The IRE1α/XBP1 branch of unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway has a critical function in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) expansion in plasma cells via unknown mechanisms; interestingly, another UPR ...branch, PERK, is suppressed during plasma cell development. Here we show that Ufbp1, a target and cofactor of the ufmylation pathway, promotes plasma cell development by suppressing the activation of PERK. By contrast, the IRE1α/XBP1 axis upregulates the expression of Ufbp1 and ufmylation pathway genes in plasma cells, while Ufbp1 deficiency impairs ER expansion in plasma cells and retards immunoglobulin production. Structure and function analysis suggests that lysine 267 of Ufbp1, the main lysine in Ufbp1 that undergoes ufmylation, is dispensable for the development of plasmablasts, but is required for immunoglobulin production and stimulation of ER expansion in IRE1α-deficient plasmablasts. Thus, Ufbp1 distinctly regulates different branches of UPR pathway to promote plasma cell development and function.
The cathode−electrolyte interface (CEI) is a key factor that affects the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries. However, considerable ambiguity still exists with regard to the ...composition and properties of the CEI at different potentials during cycling. In this study, we investigate the dynamic evolution behavior of the CEI between the LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode and organic carbonate electrolytes by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and synchrotron soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (soft XAS). XPS results reveal the continuous formation and decomposition of the CEI components during the initial charge and discharge process. Lithium alkyl carbonates and lithium fluoride (LiF) form during charging at low voltages, decompose at high voltages, and regenerate during discharging. In addition, soft XAS highlights the formation of electrochemically inactive species on the cathode surface, which generates extra barrier for Li+ diffusion and also decreases active sites for Li+ intercalation. The surface Ni undergoes incomplete oxidation during the charging process and exhibits partial reduction after discharging. These results are consistent with impedance variation in the first cycle and morphology changes on the cathode surface. These findings underscore the value of investigating and regulating the interfacial properties of lithium-ion batteries.
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•The composition of CEI is correlated with potentials.•CEI undergoes a dynamic evolution during initial charge-discharge process.•Electrochemically inactive Ni-based species are formed on the cathode surface.•The properties of CEI affect the electrochemical performance of NCM.
Changes in land use and landscape caused by human activities, rapid socioeconomic development and climate change disturb the water cycle process and impact the runoff. This study analyzed the runoff ...responses to different driving factors in a typical basin in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region of North China combined with methods such as geographically and temporally weighted regression, landscape pattern indexes and Budyko theory. The results indicated that the runoff and runoff depth were higher in the central and south part and were lower in the northwest of the basin. Furthermore, the average runoff increased at the later stage of the study period. Artificial surface and land use intensity exerted positive impacts on runoff and runoff depth in most areas. The complex and diverse landscape with a high shape index blocked runoff to some extent. Moreover, runoff depth would increase by 0.724 mm or decrease by 0.069 mm when the rainfall or potential evaporation increased by 1 mm. In addition, population density and the economic development in both rural as well as urban areas put a heavy burden on runoff and water resource in this basin. From above it could be concluded that the impacts on runoff due to environmental change brought by human activities could not be neglected though the runoff was also greatly affected by climate change. This study reflected the runoff responses to driving factors in a typical basin of North China, which will provide reference for water resource protection and give enlightenment to water management.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common disorder in critically ill hospitalized patients. Its main pathological feature is the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin ...system (RAS). This disease shows a high fatality rate. The reason is that only renal replacement therapy and supportive care can reduce the impact of the disease, but those measures cannot significantly improve the mortality. This review focused on a generalization of the interaction between acute kidney injury and the central nervous system (CNS). It was found that the CNS further contributes to kidney injury by regulating sympathetic outflow and oxidative stress in response to activation of the RAS and increased pro-inflammatory factors. Experimental studies suggested that inhibiting sympathetic activity and RAS activation in the CNS and blocking oxidative stress could effectively reduce the damage caused by AKI. Therefore, it is of significant interest to specify the mechanism on how the CNS affects AKI, as we could use such mechanism as a target for clinical interventions to further reduce the mortality and improve the complications of AKI.
www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier registration number.
Mobile edge computing (MEC) has become an effective solution for insufficient computing and communication problems for the Internet of Things (IoT) applications due to its rich computing resources on ...the edge side. In multi-terminal scenarios, the deployment scheme of edge nodes has an important impact on system performance and has become an essential issue in end–edge–cloud architecture. In this article, we consider specific factors, such as spatial location, power supply, and urgency requirements of terminals, with respect to building an evaluation model to solve the allocation problem. An evaluation model based on reward, energy consumption, and cost factors is proposed. The genetic algorithm is applied to determine the optimal edge node deployment and allocation strategies. Moreover, we compare the proposed method with the k-means and ant colony algorithms. The results show that the obtained strategies achieve good evaluation results under problem constraints. Furthermore, we conduct comparison tests with different attributes to further test the performance of the proposed method.
Kounis syndrome is an acute coronary syndrome triggered by allergic mediators that induce coronary vasoconstriction and thrombosis, leading to further myocardial damage and anaphylactic shock. Kounis ...syndrome is also a rare but severe adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine, a phenomenon that underscores the importance of collecting and analyzing similar cases to improve treatment and prognosis. Through comprehensive searches of the Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed databases, this study aimed to gather detailed patient data on patients who developed Kounis syndrome after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and to further investigate the possible underlying mechanisms using currently available studies. A total of 15 patients (8 females, 7 males) were found. We analyzed comprehensive patient data, including demographics, vaccination details, time of onset of illness after vaccination, clinical manifestations, treatment and outcomes, duration of illness, and relevant examination results. Analysis of these data combined with known allergy-related mechanisms indicated that, regardless of the vaccine type, the first dose of the vaccine was more likely to cause Kounis syndrome than subsequent doses. Therefore, early diagnosis and clinical symptomatic treatment are particularly crucial for managing the severity of Kounis syndrome and preventing further cardiac complications. Additionally, when an unusual and severe allergic reaction occurs within a few hours after vaccination, it is important to closely monitor the development of cardiac-related symptoms and prepare clinically for the potential onset of Kounis syndrome.
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