scholarly journals Designing artificial photosynthetic devices using hybrid organic–inorganic modules based on polyoxometalates

Author(s):  
Mark D. Symes ◽  
Richard J. Cogdell ◽  
Leroy Cronin

Artificial photosynthesis aims at capturing solar energy and using it to produce storable fuels. However, while there is reason to be optimistic that such approaches can deliver higher energy conversion efficiencies than natural photosynthetic systems, many serious challenges remain to be addressed. Perhaps chief among these is the issue of device stability. Almost all approaches to artificial photosynthesis employ easily oxidized organic molecules as light harvesters or in catalytic centres, frequently in solution with highly oxidizing species. The ‘elephant in the room’ in this regard is that oxidation of these organic moieties is likely to occur at least as rapidly as oxidation of water, meaning that current device performance is severely curtailed. Herein, we discuss one possible solution to this problem: using self-assembling organic–polyoxometalate hybrid structures to produce compartments inside which the individual component reactions of photosynthesis can occur without such a high incidence of deleterious side reactions.

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford K. Madsen ◽  
John M. Geringer ◽  
Katia Madsen

Attention to subtle changes in music, whether inadvertent or purposeful, occupies a great deal of practice and rehearsal time for the performer. Regardless of the extremely subtle acoustic changes that have been found to be perceptible within almost all studies, it is the total overall effect that most occupies the individual listener. This study investigated perception of digitally edited performances of Johann Strauss's Blue Danube Waltz, all performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra with various conductors across an 18-year period. Two groups of string musicians in grades 7 through 12 participated ( N = 104). One group was an intact class; the second was a group of summer camp students. All participants listened to two conditions: (a) audio only and (b) audio-video combination. Results indicated that there were no significant differences between groups and that no one was able to identify correctly that there were five different conductors in the audio-only condition. Results were much the same as earlier research with college students. In addition, many students indicated that there were differences in the audio portions of the two conditions when in fact there were not.


1975 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 607-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vernon Van Dyke

In A Theory of Justice, John Rawls assumes that the principles of justice are for individuals in a society, and in general he assumes that the society is an ethnically homogeneous state. He thus follows the tradition associated with the dominant form of the social contract theory, which focuses on the individual and the state. His assumptions neglect the fact that almost all states are ethnically plural or heterogeneous, and that many of them confer special status and rights on ethnic groups as collective entities; for example, many of them confer special status and rights on indigenous groups, on groups disadvantaged by prior discrimination, and on minorities and other groups conceded a right to survive as distinct cultural entities. Status and rights for groups necessarily mean differentiation among individuals depending on their membership; and this in turn means that a theory of justice that focuses on the individual and neglects the group both fails to account for existing practices and fails to give guidance where the practices are at issue.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen-Chih Chen ◽  
Ai-Mei Chang ◽  
Ming-Shan Tsai ◽  
Yen-Hua Huang ◽  
Kurtis Jai-Chyi Pei ◽  
...  

AbstractSince 2013, a high incidence of bilateral symmetrical alopecia has been observed in free-ranging Formosan macaques (Macaca cyclopis) in Mt. Longevity, Taiwan. We hypothesized that stress induces alopecia in this population. To verify our hypothesis, we evaluated the histopathological characteristics of skin biopsy and used a validated enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) analysis, which act as an indicator of stress experienced by the individual. Follicular densities were lower (2.1–3.0 mm2) in individuals with symmetrical alopecia than in those with normal hair conditions (4.7 mm2). Furthermore, anagen to catagen/telogen ratios were lower in individuals with alopecia (0–1.4) than in those with normal hair (4.0). The histopathological characteristics of alopecia were similar to those of telogen effluvium, which indicates that stress is one of the possible etiologies. On the basis of the analytical and biological validation of EIAs for FGM analysis, 11β-hydroxyetiocholanolone was considered suitable for monitoring adrenocortical activity in both sexes of Formosan macaques. The mean concentrations (standard error; sample size) of 11β-hydroxyetiocholanolone were 2.02 (0.17; n = 10) and 1.41 (0.10; n = 31) μg/g for individuals with and without alopecia, respectively. Furthermore, the results of logistic regression analysis show that 11β-hydroxyetiocholanolone (p = 0.012) concentration was positively associated with alopecia. Thus, stress was the most likely to trigger symmetrical alopecia in Formosan macaques in Mt. Longevity. Although stress can decrease the fitness of an individual, considering the population status of Formosan macaques in Taiwan is stable and alopecia was only observed in our study area, which is isolated from other populations, the impact on the total population of Formosan macaque in Taiwan is limited. Nonetheless, stress-induced immunosuppression and alopecia might affect the local abundance and increase zoonosis risk due to frequent human–macaque contact in Mt. Longevity. Future studies are suggested to focus on the causative factor of stress and the effects of stress and alopecia on the health and welfare in the Formosan macaques.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A-Young Kim ◽  
Florian Strauss ◽  
Timo Bartsch ◽  
Jun Hao Teo ◽  
Jürgen Janek ◽  
...  

AbstractWhile still premature as an energy storage technology, bulk solid-state batteries are attracting much attention in the academic and industrial communities lately. In particular, layered lithium metal oxides and lithium thiophosphates hold promise as cathode materials and superionic solid electrolytes, respectively. However, interfacial side reactions between the individual components during battery operation usually result in accelerated performance degradation. Hence, effective surface coatings are required to mitigate or ideally prevent detrimental reactions from occurring and having an impact on the cyclability. In the present work, we examine how surface carbonates incorporated into the sol–gel-derived LiNbO3 protective coating on NCM622 [Li1+x(Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2)1–xO2] cathode material affect the efficiency and rate capability of pellet-stack solid-state battery cells with β-Li3PS4 or argyrodite Li6PS5Cl solid electrolyte and a Li4Ti5O12 anode. Our research data indicate that a hybrid coating may in fact be beneficial to the kinetics and the cycling performance strongly depends on the solid electrolyte used.


Author(s):  
N.M. Dignard ◽  
M.I. Boulos

Abstract An experimental study of the spheroidization efficiency of induction plasma processes was completed. The main objective being to obtain models which could be subsequently used for the prediction of the spheroidization efficiency for various powders and plasma operating conditions. Silica, alumina, chromium oxide and zirconia powders were treated during the experimentation. For the plasma treatment of the powders the installation used had a maximum available power of 50 kW with an operating frequency of 3 MHz. Operating conditions were varied such to minimize side reactions and the evaporation of powders. The resulting powders did show the presence of cavities and a slight change in the mean diameters. The maximum energy efficiency based semi-empirical model did predict the spheroidization efficiency of the particles beyond a defined critical point known as the maximum energy efficiency point. For the model, the maximum energy efficiency is distinct for the individual powders but remain within a defined range which is reflected in the small variations in the Z constant.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Habibi ◽  
Panagiotis K. Karyofyllis ◽  
Aggeliki Nikolakopoulou ◽  
Panagiotis Papagiannis ◽  
Pantelis Karaiskos ◽  
...  

The effect of the reportedly low ionizing radiation doses, such as those very often delivered to patients in interventional cardiology, remains ambiguous. As interventional cardiac procedures may have a significant impact on total collective effective dose, there are radiation protection concerns for patients and physicians regarding potential late health effects. Given that very low doses (<100 mSv) are expected to be delivered during these procedures, the purpose of this study was to assess the potency and suitability of current genotoxicity biomarkers to detect and quantitate biological effects essential for risk estimation in interventional cardiology. Specifically, the biomarkers γ-H2AX foci, dicentric chromosomes, and micronuclei, which underpin radiation-induced DNA damage, were studied in blood lymphocytes of 25 adult patients before and after interventional cardiac procedures. Even though the mean values of all patients as a group for all three endpoints tested show increased yields relative to baseline following medical exposure, our results demonstrate that only the γ-H2AX biomarker enables detection of statistically significant differences at the individual level (p < 0.001) for almost all patients (91%). Furthermore, 24 h after exposure, residual γ-H2AX foci were still detectable in irradiated lymphocytes. Their decline was found to vary significantly among the individuals and the repair kinetics of γ-H2AX foci was found to range from 25 to 95.6% of their maximum values obtained.


2021 ◽  
Vol 201 (3) ◽  
pp. 547-560
Author(s):  
D. N. Yuriev ◽  
G. V. Zhukovskaya

Research and commercial trawl catches of humpback shrimp Pandalus hypsinotus from the Tatar Strait (Japan Sea) in 2004–2020 were investigated, with bioanalysis of about 45 thousand specimens. Average timing of group molting, spawning, and eggs laying are determined, terms of gonads and eggs development are estimated. Prespawning and molting of the females occur between January-April, with the peaks in early February and middle February, respectively. All oviparous females have 30–40 days to lay eggs, and molt during 50–55 days; the peak of the eggs laying occurs in late June. The males molt in July-August, afterwards the largest individuals change gender and new intersexes are formed. The males have the second molting in October-December, with the peak in late November. In January, after finish of the males molting, a new annual reproduction cycle starts from the prespawning molting of females. Both vitellogenesis and embryogenesis are observed through the year, though females with developing gonads prevail from August to January (because of a long time span between winter and summer moltings while the egg carrying continued 15 months) but oviparous females — from February to July. The individual reproductive cycle of Pandalus hypsinotus in the Tatar Strait lasts 24 months, with 9 months of vitellogenesis (quick growth of gonads) and 15 months of embryogenesis. During the 2-year reproductive cycle, most of females pass through the following stages: i) gonads development (just after eggs laying) when almost all oviparous females (up to 95 % in May) have green gonads under carapace that corresponds to the stage of development «eggs laid — gonads weakly developed»; ii) summer molting from August when females lose hairs on pleopods and the gonads growth accelerates; iii) respawning in January-March (together with the firstly spawning intersexes, with slight delay of the latter); iv) initial developing of eggs during summer; v) stage of «eyed eggs» from December to March; and vi) eggs laying and molting from late March to late May; then the 2-year reproductive cycle repeats.


Blood ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-522
Author(s):  
K Kidoguchi ◽  
M Ogawa ◽  
JD Karam ◽  
JS McNeil ◽  
MS Fitch

We cultured human umbilical cord blood erythropoietic precursors in methyl cellulose clonal assay and analyzed the synthetic rates of Hb A and Hb F in individual erythropoietic bursts. Hemoglobin was labeled with 14C-amino acids in culture, separated by slab gel isoelectric focusing techniques, and quantitated by fluorographic methods. Almost all bursts exhibited both Hb A and Hb F in varying ratios. Frequencies of the individual bursts differing in percentage Hb F biosynthesis had normal distributions. Natal erythropoietic precursors appeared to be randomly committed to Hb F synthesis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gergely Dobszay

Stone roof coverings have existed for hundreds of years now, but their application in contemporary representative architecture is quite different than it was in former times, and accordingly the underlying constructional details are much more complicated. The main role of the roof in today's architecture is to emphasize the abstract building volume and its homogeneity. The design (visual appearance) has priority over constructional considerations, while at the same time requirements for thermal insulation and the watertight buildup of the building envelope are rising. This is a big challenge for the design of the constructional details, since traditional methods do not apply anymore: almost all of the water gets under this exterior cladding where a completely waterproof underlayer is needed. Therefore a new type of constructions is borne. In this article I try to present innovative constructional alternatives for stone cladded roofs and try to define guidelines for their planning. These alternatives were created and refined based on analysis of historical and contemporary examples, the examination of the specific conditions and requirements that affect cladded roofs, their expected performance over their life-span, the difficulties that arise under construction and my work experience. I created seven groups, according to the method for fixing the individual stone elements, since this is the detail that most affects the buildup of the underlying structure. A new approach is needed with these unconventional constructions, with a much more detailed inventory of every little feature of the building in question. But since these features vary violently with the architectural conception the exact constructional solutions are usually unique as well.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (18) ◽  
pp. 8693-8704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashima Rawat ◽  
Nityasagar Jena ◽  
Dimple Dimple ◽  
Abir De Sarkar

Artificial photosynthesis in group VI B transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers.


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