Review on Multi-Scale Models of Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Formation

Electrolyte reduction products form the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) on negative electrodes of lithium-ion batteries. Even though this process practically stabilizes the electrode-electrolyte interface, it results in continued capacity-fade limiting lifetime and safety of lithium-ion batteries. Recent atomistic and continuum theories give new insights into the growth of structures and the transport of ions in the SEI. The diffusion of neutral radicals has emerged as a prominent candidate for the long-term growth mechanism, because it predicts the observed potential dependence of SEI growth.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Compact nonlinear model of an implantable electrode array for spinal cord stimulation (SCS)

We describe the construction of a model of the electrode-electrolyte interface and surrounding electrolyte in the case of a platinum-electrode array intended for spinal-cord stimulation (SCS) application. We show that a finite, two dimensional, resistor array provides a satisfactory model of the bulk electrolyte, and we identify the complexity required of that resistor array. The electrode-electrolyte interface is modelled in a fashion suitable for commonly-available, compact simulators using a nonlinear extension of the model of Franks et al. that incorporates diodes and a memristor. The electrode-electrolyte interface model accounts for the nonlinear current-overpotential characteristic and diffusion-limiting effects. We characterise a commercial, implantable, electrode array, fit the model to it, and show that the model successfully predicts subtle operational characteristics

Social referencing in the domestic horse

Dogs and cats use human emotional information directed to an unfamiliar situation to guide their behavior, known as social referencing. It is not clear whether other domestic species show similar socio-cognitive abilities in interacting with humans. We investigated whether horses (n = 46) use human emotional information to adjust their behavior to a novel object and whether the behavior of horses differed depending on breed type. Horses were randomly assigned to one of two groups: an experimenter positioned in the middle of a test arena directed gaze and voice towards the novel object with either (a) a positive or (b) a negative emotional expression. The duration of subjects’ position to the experimenter and the object in the arena, frequency of gazing behavior, and physical interactions (with either object or experimenter) were analyzed. Horses in the positive condition spent more time between the experimenter and object compared to horses in the negative condition, indicating less avoidance behavior towards the object. Horses in the negative condition gazed more often towards the object than horses in the positive condition, indicating increased vigilance behavior. Breed types differed in their behavior: thoroughbreds showed less human-directed behavior than warmbloods and ponies. Our results provide evidence that horses use emotional cues from humans to guide their behavior towards novel objects

Cell-Probe Lower Bounds from Online Communication Complexity

In this work, we introduce an online model for communication complexity. Analogous to how online algorithms receive their input piece-by-piece, our model presents one of the players, Bob, his input piece-by-piece, and has the players Alice and Bob cooperate to compute a result each time before the next piece is revealed to Bob. This model has a closer and more natural correspondence to dynamic data structures than classic communication models do, and hence presents a new perspective on data structures. We first present a tight lower bound for the online set intersection problem in the online communication model, demonstrating a general approach for proving online communication lower bounds. The online communication model prevents a batching trick that classic communication complexity allows, and yields a stronger lower bound. We then apply the online communication model to prove data structure lower bounds for two dynamic data structure problems: the Group Range problem and the Dynamic Connectivity problem for forests. Both of the problems admit a worst case $O(\log n)$-time data structure. Using online communication complexity, we prove a tight cell-probe lower bound for each: spending $o(\log n)$ (even amortized) time per operation results in at best an $\exp(-\delta^2 n)$ probability of correctly answering a $(1/2+\delta)$-fraction of the $n$ queries

Single-phase feeding and compensatory growth in growing and finishing pigs (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract)

• Limit the supply of essential amino acids during early growth and utilise the pigs’ capacity to fully compensate for the restriction by increased protein retention and faster growth during later growth phases. • Crude protein and lysine contents can be substantially reduced, below common standards (i.e. crude protein to 16.5% and digestible lysine between 0.70-0.80 g standardised ileal digestible (SID) lysine/MJ NE), in well-balanced diets. • A reduction in crude protein content, from 15.5 to 14.5 g SID/g SID lysine can lower the nitrogen output by approximately 10%. • Formulate diets on a digestible amino acid basis rather than on a total amino acid or crude protein basis. • High-quality protein feed ingredients such as faba beans, peas, oil seed-, dairy- and cereal-based by-products, aquatic resources, etc., or a combination of them, can be used. • At the pig level, this practice can reduce soya bean cake utilisation (14%) and increase pea utilisation (22%). • Careful follow-up of the pigs' feed consumption, growth and health status is recommended

Detection of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Rs2013162 of IRF6 Gene in Patient with Cleft Lip and Palate

Background: Cleft lip and palate are congenital disorders which induce affected individuals medically, socially and psychologically. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism(SNP); rs2013162 of IRF6 Gene in Patient with Cleft Lip and Palate. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with non-syndromic CL/P were included in present study alongwith fifty individuals with no psychiatric history as controls. In all of the these individuals, search for Single nucleotide polymorphism was carried out by designing sequence specific primers. The sequence was amplified by using Real time PCR and products were investigated by visualizing high resolution melting curve upon HRM-PCR. Results: The logistic regression and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were applied to investigate the association of IRF6 SNP rs2013162 with disease. Results revealed no association of this polymorphism with non-syndromic CL/P. Conclusion: We found no association of IRF6 SNP rs2013162 in patients with non-syndromic CL/P. Further study is required with larger sample size to validate the findings of the present study in Pakistani population and along with this SNP other polymorphisms of the same gene should be analyzed to find out the association with the non-syndromic CL/P

A Novel Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Exon 4 of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Associated with Production Traits in Bali Cattle

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is one of the gene candidates that can be used in selection strategy by using DNA markers (marker assisted selection). Gene candidate strategy is a molecular biology techniques to identify quantitative trait loci directly, with the assumption that genetic variation associated to quantitative trait variation. This study was designed to identify any new mutations in exon 4 that can cause the IGF-1 gene polymorphism and then affect the production traits on Bali cattle. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery was conducted by using the direct sequencing technique. Genetic variation of the genes candidate was identified by using PCR-RFLP technique. The results of this study indicate the presence of a new SNP in exon 4 of IGF-1 gene caused by the T/C transition, which can be identified using Rsa1 restriction enzyme. Genotypic polymorphism of IGF-1/Rsa1 has a significant influence on birth weight, weaning weight and average daily gain of Bali cattle. CC genotype had a birth weight rate, weaning weight and average daily gain of: 15.64±1.83; 83.15±9.00, and 0.439±0.07 respectively, higher than the TT and CT genotype. IGF-1/Rsa1 can be used as a genetic marker for selection of birth weight, weaning weight, and daily body weight gain

An evolutionary perspective on the co-occurrence of social anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) commonly co-occurs with, and often precedes, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). In this paper, we address the relationship between SAD and AUD by considering how natural selection left socially anxious individuals vulnerable to alcohol use, and by addressing the underlying mechanisms. We review research suggesting that social anxiety has evolved for the regulation of behaviors involved in reducing the likelihood or consequences of threats to social status. The management of potential threats to social standing is important considering that these threats can result in reduced cooperation or ostracism – and therefore to reduced access to coalitional partners, resources or mates. Alcohol exerts effects upon evolutionarily conserved emotion circuits, and can down-regulate or block anxiety (or may be expected to do so). As such, the ingestion of alcohol can artificially signal the absence or successful management of social threats. In turn, alcohol use may be reinforced in socially anxious people because of this reduction in subjective malaise, and because it facilitates social behaviors – particularly in individuals for whom the persistent avoidance of social situations poses its own threat (i.e., difficulty finding mates). Although the frequent co-occurrence of SAD and AUD is associated with poorer treatment outcomes than either condition alone, a richer understanding of the biological and psychosocial drives underlying susceptibility to alcohol use among socially anxious individuals may improve the efficacy of therapeutic interventions aimed at preventing or treating this comorbidity

Reticular dysgenesis-associated AK2 protects hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development from oxidative stress.

Adenylate kinases (AKs) are phosphotransferases that regulate the cellular adenine nucleotide composition and play a critical role in the energy homeostasis of all tissues. The AK2 isoenzyme is expressed in the mitochondrial intermembrane space and is mutated in reticular dysgenesis (RD), a rare form of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) in humans. RD is characterized by a maturation arrest in the myeloid and lymphoid lineages, leading to early onset, recurrent, and overwhelming infections. To gain insight into the pathophysiology of RD, we studied the effects of AK2 deficiency using the zebrafish model and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from fibroblasts of an RD patient. In zebrafish, Ak2 deficiency affected hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) development with increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. AK2-deficient iPSCs recapitulated the characteristic myeloid maturation arrest at the promyelocyte stage and demonstrated an increased AMP/ADP ratio, indicative of an energy-depleted adenine nucleotide profile. Antioxidant treatment rescued the hematopoietic phenotypes in vivo in ak2 mutant zebrafish and restored differentiation of AK2-deficient iPSCs into mature granulocytes. Our results link hematopoietic cell fate in AK2 deficiency to cellular energy depletion and increased oxidative stress. This points to the potential use of antioxidants as a supportive therapeutic modality for patients with RD