A novel flexible hydrogel electrode with a strong moisturizing ability for long-term EEG recording

Objective: A novel flexible hydrogel electrode with a strong moisturizing ability was prepared for long-term electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring. Approach: The hydrogel was synthesized by polymerizing the N-acryloyl glycinamide (NAGA) monomer. And a proper amount of glycerin was added to the hydrogel to increase the moisture retention ability of the electrodes. The hydrogel shows high mechanical properties, and the liquid in the hydrogel produces a hydrating effect on the skin stratum corneum, which could decrease the contact impedance between skin and electrode. In addition, the installation of hydrogel electrode is very convenient, and the skin of the subject does not need to be abraded. Main results: SEM images show that there are a large number of micropores in the hydrogel, which provide storage space for water molecules. The average potential drift of the hydrogel electrode is relatively low (1.974 ± 0.560 µV min-1). The average contact impedance of hydrogel electrode in forehead region and hair region are 6.43 ± 0.84 kΩ·cm2 and 13.15 ± 3.72 kΩ·cm2, respectively. The result of open/closed paradigm, steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP), and P300 visual evoked potential show that hydrogel electrode has excellent performance. Compared with the hydrogel without glycerol, the moisture retention ability of hydrogel with glycerol was greatly improved. Significance. Compared with standard Ag/AgCl wet electrode, hydrogel electrode is more convenient to install and has strong moisture retention ability, which makes it have great potential in daily life for long-term EEG recording.

Characterizing telemedicine use in clinical immunology and allergy in Canada before the COVID-19 pandemic

Rationale There exists a geographic barrier to access CIA care for patients who live in rural communities; telemedicine may bridge this gap in care. Herein we characterized the use of telemedicine in CIA at a population-based level and single centre. Methods Before the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine care was provided via the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) in Ontario, Canada. Descriptive data were collected from the OTN administrative database and from electronic medical records at a single academic centre during 2014 to 2019. The potential distance travelled and time saved by telemedicine visits were calculated using postal codes. Results A total of 1298 telemedicine visits was conducted over OTN, with an average of 216 visits per year. Only 11% of the allergists/immunologists used telemedicine to provide care before the COVID-19 pandemic. In the single centre that provided the majority of the telemedicine care, 66% patients were female and the overall mean age was 46. The most common diagnosis was immunodeficiency (40%), followed by asthma (13%) and urticaria (11%). Most patients required at least one follow-up via telemedicine. The average potential two-way distance travelled per visit was 718 km and the average potential time travelled in total was 6.6 h. Conclusion Telemedicine was not widely used by allergists/immunologists in Ontario, Canada before the COVID-19 pandemic. It could offer a unique opportunity to connect patients who live in remote communities and allergists/immunologists who practice in urban centres in Canada. Independent of the current pandemic, our study further highlights the need for more physicians to adopt and continue telemedicine use as well as for healthcare agencies to support its use as a strategic priority once the pandemic is over.

High Voltage Redox-Meditated Flow Batteries with Prussian Blue Solid Booster

This work presents Prussian blue solid boosters for use in high voltage redox-mediated flow batteries (RMFB) based on non-aqueous electrolytes. The system consisted of sodium iodide as a redox mediator in an acetonitrile catholyte containing solid Prussian blue powder. The combination enabled the solid booster utilization in the proposed systems to reach as high as 66 mAh g−1 for hydrated Prussian blue and 110 mAh g−1 for anhydrous rhombohedral Prussian blue in cells with an average potential of about 3 V (vs. Na+/Na). Though the boosted system suffers from capacity fading, it opens up possibilities to develop non-aqueous RMFB with low-cost materials.

Estimation of Fish Production Potential with Benthos Biomass Approach in Sumani and Ombilin River of Singkarak Lake West Sumatra

The potential for fish production is very important as a necessary material for WPP PD in making policies. Estimation of fishery production potential is adjusted to aquatic ecosystem. The method used differs between running and stagnant water based on the shape of the water. Fishery resources in Indonesia, especially inland fisheries, still cannot be managed and utilized optimally and sustainably. The method used in estimating fishery stocks in the watershed is the Leger-Huet method. Research to estimate fish production potential using the benthic biomass approach using the Leger-Huet method was carried out in February, June, and October 2019 in the Sumani River and Ombilin River, Singkarak Lake. The research objective was to determine the estimated value of fish production potential through the benthic biomass approach in the Sumani River (Inlet) and Ombilin River (Outlet), Singkarak Lake. The calculation of benthic biomass and fish production potential was carried out at the Testing Laboratory of the Research Institute for Inland Fisheries and Extension in Palembang. This system is expected to be able to provide alternative solutions for decision-making and agencies to determine the potential for fish production in an area. The determination of the potential for fish production using the benthic biomass approach is highly dependent on the width of the river. The results showed that the types of benthos in the Sumani and Ombilin rivers were 5 classes and 17 families. The benthos found by the Ombilin River are more varied than those in the Sumani River, and the estimated fish production potential of the Ombilin River is greater than that of the Sumani River. The highest yield of benthic biomass was found in the Ombilin River (159.06 gr/m2) compared to the Sumani River (76.06 gr/m2). Meanwhile, the average potential fish production in the Batang Sumani River (573.8 (kg/ha) is higher than in the Ombilin River (244.74 kg/ha).

Elektroplating Grafena-Polianilina pada Stainless Steel sebagai Elektroda pada Elektrolisis Air untuk Produksi Hidrogen

Hydrogen production by water electrolysis can be optimalized by improve the working electrode. Stainless steel as working electrode was coated with graphene and polyaniline by using cyclic voltammetry method with Ag/AgCl as reference electrode and Pt as counter electrode. Coated electrodes were characterized by SEM-EDS and cyclic voltammetry method. Furthermore, the synthesized electrode was applied for water electrolysis by adding 1- 5 g/L NaHCO3. The characterization data showed that Stainless steel/Graphene-Polyaniline electrode can be synthesized by using cyclic voltammetry. The coating process was conducted at sweeping rate 10 mV/s on voltage -0.2 to 0.8 V for 10 cycles. The voltammograms showed that the highest cathodic peak current of electrolysis obtained at 0.491 mA by addition 2 g NaHCO3 on SS/G-PANi0,5 electrode, and the highest anodic peak current obtained at 0.191 mA by addition 2 g NaHCO3 on SS/G-PANi0,5 electrode. Based on the overpotential data, the smallest average potential difference of H+ adsorption obtained by SS/G-PANi1,0 electrode, and the smallest average potential difference of H+ desorption obtained by SS/G-PANi0,5 electrode. Keywords: Stainless steel, hydrogen production, electroplating, electrocatalyst, electrolysis

Parental selection based on molecular information under a population genetics approach

The correct choice of parents that will compose optimal segregating populations is the key to success for breeding programs. It was postulated the hypothesis that this choice of these parents could be made based on information of molecular markers analyzed in the context of population structure. Ten parental populations were simulated and 45 hybrid combinations were obtained from the dialel crosses. Each population consisted of 200 individuals with 50 independent loci. The populations were evaluated for the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE), Coefficient of Inbreeding (F), Heterozygosity (H), and the Polymorphic Information Content (PIC). Genetic diversity between pairs of parental populations was evaluated using five dissimilarity measures. Values of Mantel correlation were obtained for the pairs of the dissimilarity matrices, and the PIC, H, and F values ​​were obtained in the hybrid combinations. All parental populations were under HWE, and the combination that emerged from this condition was the hybrid 3x5, with only 26% of the loci manifesting HWE. This same hybrid was among those with lower F estimates and higher values ​​of H, which indicated the existence of greater divergence between their parentals. There was agreement on the indication of the more and less divergent hybrid combinations for the dissimilarity measures. This fact is important because the variability, associated with the good average potential, are important criteria for the formation of an initial population in breeding programs of any kind, involving sexual processes.

A Practical Algorithm for Calculating the Impulse Earthing Resistances of Vertical Earthing Electrodes

An algorithm is proposed in this paper for calculating the impulse earthing resistances of vertical earthing electrodes. The proposed algorithm employs the average potential method to derive the formula of the low current earthing resistance. Unlike the previous algorithm, the soil ionization effect under high impulse current is taken into account by introducing a nonlinear characteristic to represent the relationship between the electric field and current density in the ionization zone around the earthing electrode. On the basis of the nonlinear characteristic, the effective radius is evaluated for the equivalent earthing electrode. Then, the impulse earthing resistance can be calculated by substituting the effective radius into the formula of the low current earthing resistance. A comparison is also made between calculated and measured results to confirm the validity of the proposed algorithm. Keywords: Earthing Resistance; Vertical Earthing Electrode; Average Potential Integral; Soil Ionization; Current Density;

A Red Phosphorus-Graphite Anode for K-ion Batteries

<div><div><div><p>Red phosphorus (RP) is a promising anode material for potassium-ion batteries because of its theoretical capacity of 865mAhg–1 delivered at an average potential of 0.5V vs K+/K. However, its alloy reaction</p><p>to form KP entails a volume expansion of 162% resulting in severe stresses that lead to SEI and electrode fracture, loss of electric contact, and ultimately reduced cycle life. Moreover, its low electronic conductivity (10^-14Scm–1) limits rate capability. Here, we report a RP-graphite composite prepared by a two step ball milling procedure to control particle size and optimize carbon coating. Electrodes prepared with the composites achieve high capacity (723mAhg–1) at C/20 and retaining 75% at 5C. It also shows very good cycling stability, retaining more than 96% of the capacity after 100 cycles at 1C.</p></div></div></div>

A Red Phosphorus-Graphite Anode for K-ion Batteries

<div><div><div><p>Red phosphorus (RP) is a promising anode material for potassium-ion batteries because of its theoretical capacity of 865mAhg–1 delivered at an average potential of 0.5V vs K+/K. However, its alloy reaction</p><p>to form KP entails a volume expansion of 162% resulting in severe stresses that lead to SEI and electrode fracture, loss of electric contact, and ultimately reduced cycle life. Moreover, its low electronic conductivity (10^-14Scm–1) limits rate capability. Here, we report a RP-graphite composite prepared by a two step ball milling procedure to control particle size and optimize carbon coating. Electrodes prepared with the composites achieve high capacity (723mAhg–1) at C/20 and retaining 75% at 5C. It also shows very good cycling stability, retaining more than 96% of the capacity after 100 cycles at 1C.</p></div></div></div>

Method for calculating the loss asymmetric vibrators with a remote power point

Existing software tools such as Altair FEKO, Ansys HFSS do not allow correct optimization of asymmetrical vibrators, the design of which includes grounding and counterweights. Meanwhile, counterweights often have large dimensions and high cost, comparable to the cost of antenna radiating elements. These circumstances make the development of a method for calculating the input impedance of an asymmetrical vibrator with a partially recessed base urgent. The proposed method for calculating the input resistance was built in the electrostatic approximation, which made it possible to exclude the radiation resistance from the calculation, leaving only heat losses in the underlying surface. The combination of the mirror image method and the average potential method allows one to take into account the influence of the interface between the media. The calculations performed using the developed technique allow making recommendations for determining the grounding depth and the need to install counterweights, depending on the type of soil and the electric length of the vibrator