The Zn anode in secondary aqueous batteries suffers from dendrite formation and corrosion. In this work, dendrite formation was suppressed by using a simple but new gel electrolyte containing fumed ...silica and an additive. The dendrite suppression was evidenced by chronoamperometry and ex situ scanning electron microscopy examinations. Pyrazole was implemented as the additive in the electrolyte. It was found that the presence of 0.2 wt % pyrazole in the electrolyte helped minimize both corrosion and dendrite formation. The Zn/LiMn2O4 battery using pyrazole‐containing gel electrolytes exhibited high cyclability up to 85 % capacity retention after 500 charge–discharge cycles at 4C. This was 8 % higher than the performance of the reference battery (using aqueous electrolyte containing 2 m Li2SO4 and 1 m ZnSO4). Furthermore, self‐discharge of the battery with the pyrazole‐containing gel electrolyte was suppressed, as evidenced by an open‐circuit voltage loss that was 20 % lower than for the reference battery after 24 h monitoring. Float‐charge current density under constant voltage (2.1 V) also significantly decreased from approximately 8.0 to 3–6 μA.
No dendrites, no problems: The performance of the hybrid rechargeable aqueous Zn/LiMn2O4 battery increases when a low‐corrosive and dendrite‐inhibitive gel electrolyte is used. Less self‐discharge and higher cyclability are observed.
Dexterous manipulation using an under-actuated hand has been a challenging task due to its non-linear dynamical characteristics. For a linkage-based under-actuated hand designed to be used to grasp ...and manipulate large, heavy, and rigid objects stably, precision grasping is necessary, which makes the task even more difficult to deal with. While approaches based on external sensors have been introduced throughout the years, to create a robotic hand that can be used for various tasks in unstructured environments, this paper takes the standpoint that control techniques that do not fully depend on utilizing additional sensing elements need to be further developed. This paper applies the hybrid method using analytics models and data-driven-based approaches to analyze internal sensors' data during the operation of the robot and introduces novel data-driven-based techniques to compensate for the limitations of controlling a linkage-based under-actuated hand with a self-locking mechanism. Then, a within-hand object position manipulation framework with proposed methodologies is presented and experimented with to show its effectiveness.
A multi-walled carbon nanotube and polypyrrole composite (PPy/MWNT) was synthesized by in situ polymerization of pyrrole monomer on the surface of MWNT. As-prepared PPy/MWNT composite was mixed with ...an aqueous suspension of nanosized sulfur particle, followed by heat-treatment to obtain an S/PPy/MWNT ternary composite. High resolution transmission electronic microscopy shows the formation of a highly developed core–shell tubular structure consisting of PPy/MWNT composite with uniform sulfur coating on its surface. Polypyrrole, with its high adhesion ability to MWNT, acts as a binder to connect sulfur and MWNTs, as well as absorbs polysulfides into its porous structure to improve the cyclability of the S/PPy/MWNT composite in Li/S batteries. The MWNT core provides a highly conductive and mechanically flexible framework, enhancing the electronic conductivity and consequently the rate capability of the material. This ternary composite cathode sustains 960.7mAh g−1 reversible specific discharge capacity after 40cycles at 0.1C, and 523.2mAh g−1 at 0.5C.
•Sulfur was composited with polypyrrole and multi-walled carbon nanotube.•The S/PPy/MWNT composite develops into a core–shell tubular structure.•Polypyrrole acts as a binder to connect sulfur and MWNT, and absorbs polysulfides.•MWNT provides a conductive and flexible framework.•The Li/S battery shows enhanced capacity, cyclability and rate performance.
Abstract
Social scientists increasingly are using experiments to examine causal processes and mechanisms in their research. Yet, experiments work much better for some research aims than others. Some ...goals that are of great interest to family scholars, such as testing theoretical arguments, are well‐suited to experimental approaches; other goals, such as documenting real‐world experiences, may be best served by another research design. Our aim in this article is to discuss the power and limits of experimental methods for the study of family, with an emphasis on describing the types of topics and approaches that work best in an experimental framework. We begin by briefly reviewing the current state of the literature and the types of experiments that are commonly used to study families and intimate relationships. We discuss recent examples and “best practices” to illustrate the potential strengths of experiments for the study of family. After walking through an in‐depth example of an experimental research design, we describe some unresolved theoretical puzzles in the family literature from the previous mid‐decade review that seem ripe for experimental study. In doing so, we demonstrate that experiments, when used appropriately, can provide powerful evidence of causal mechanisms that resonate with scholarly audiences and the public.
Hypertension is uncontrolled in over 50% hypertensive population in Vietnam which indicated a compelling need for new hypertension guidelines. The highlights were composed of three parts: the ...diagnosis of arterial hypertension, the recommendation of home blood pressure monitoring, and the treatment of hypertension. Our guideline applied flexibility based upon the “essential” and “optimal” concepts in the diagnosis and management of hypertensive patients according to the socio‐economic status of Vietnam. Hypertension is defined as an office systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg which is equivalent to a 24‐hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring average of ≥130/80 mmHg or home blood pressure monitoring average of ≥135/85 mmHg. We established an integrated hypertensive diagnostic algorithm for adults with the optimal option by the role of out‐of‐office blood pressure measurement, especially home blood pressure monitoring, which is fully recommended in this guideline. The threshold and target of hypertension treatment were individualized in safety range and effective evidence‐based medicine. We also update for the management of resistant hypertension, hypertension in diabetic patients, hypertension with heart failure, and with other comorbidities. Vietnam has tried on the best strategy for improving the control of hypertension and recently received several achievements in the world, especially in the Asian region. Because the conditions for conducting our national data have not been fully conducted, we have to adapt from existing guidelines so there are still certain limitations that need to be supplemented and adjusted in the upcoming version.
In this study, we found that the hexane fraction of Danshen, the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Lamiaceae), exerted antiproliferative effects on human leukemia cells. Phytochemical investigation ...of the hexane fraction achieved the isolation of the tanshinone diterpenes: dihydrotanshinone I (1), trijuganone C (2), trijuganone B (3), cryptotanshinone (4), tanshinone IIA (5), and tanshinone I (6). Compound 2 showed significant antiproliferative activities against human leukemia cells HL‐60, Jurkat, and U937. The antiproliferative activities of 2 against human cancer and normal cells indicated that 2 exhibited potent antiproliferative activities with IC50 values less than 10 μM against HL‐60 and Jurkat cells as well as on the colon cancer cells DLD‐1, COLO 205, and Caco‐2. Compound 2 induced chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, activation of caspase‐3, ‐8, and ‐9, and the cleavage of poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) in HL‐60 cells. Moreover, 2 activated Bid and Bax, leading to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and 2 induced the cytochrome c release from mitochondria into cytosol. In contrast, Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐xL were unaffected by 2. These results suggest that 2 exerts antiproliferative effects via apoptosis induction mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase activation. Compound 2 may serve as a candidate of potential chemotherapeutic agent for human leukemia.
