Stability of Interface between YSZ Electrolyte and GDC Interlayer in Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell

A steam electrolysis method using Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) is re-emerging as the state-of-the art technology since water molecules are easier to split into hydrogen and oxygen molecules at high temperatures. However, delamination problems have been reported between GDC (Gd 0.2 CeO 2-x ) interlayer and YSZ (8mol % yttria-stabilized zirconia) electrolyte under SOEC mode. In this study, Ce 0.43 Zr 0.43 Gd 0.1 Y 0.04 O 2-δ (CGZY) was chosen as a contact layer which was inserted between YSZ and GDC in order to enhance interface stability. SOEC performance was compared with and without contact layer for 100 h. The CZGY contact layer significantly improved the stability of cell and the electrochemical performance

Regulatory gaps between LNG carriers and LNG fuelled ships

Given a number of marine vessels treating the liquefied natural gas either as cargo or fuel, this paper examined the regulatory gaps of two different international Codes – the InternationalCodeof the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk and the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels – from the regulatory standpoint. Results of the gap analysis have identified and discussed the key areas encountered with regulatory discrepancies or ambiguities that might interrupt the proper design, construction and operation of LNG carrier and LNG fuelled ship. A systematic investigation and harmonisation process across the Codes was proposed to mitigate the potential issues that may arise from the discordant regulations. Also, the International Maritime Organization was suggested to take proactive action to improve such dissonances while a general insight into the importance of filling those gaps was provided for rule-makers and stakeholders

Phytoplankton Community Structure Across a Fjord in the West Antarctic Peninsula

The West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is considered vulnerable to warming, yet we still know little about the molecular diversity of the phytoplankton inhabiting WAP fjords. We examined phytoplankton community structure during two WAP expeditions using 16S rRNA gene V1-V2 amplicon sequencing, phylogenetic analyses and flow cytometric cell enumeration. Samples were collected from Andvord Bay in austral spring and fall (2015-2016). While abundant taxa in plastid-derived amplicons included prasinophyte and prymnesiophyte algae, the majority of samples were dominated by either cryptophyte or stramenopile amplicons. The stramenopiles consisted of diatoms, dictyochophytes, pelagophytes, and bolidophytes, and made up the bulk of the phytoplankton amplicons during fall, a period when phytoplankton cell counts were low. In contrast, spring phytoplankton counts ranged up to 10,204 cells/mL and most stations were dominated by cryptophytes (up to 3,088 cells/mL) which formed 12.5% of cytometry-based cell counts at the surface. Cryptophytes within the Geminigera/Teleaulax clade had the highest relative plastid amplicon abundances (up to 90%) at the majority of inner bay stations, with diatoms increasing in the outer bay and strait. Characterization by 16S and 18S full-length gene sequencing and electron microscopy revealed that these cryptophytes are different from cultured taxa and morphologically characterized Antarctic chryptophytes. Both the relative cryptophyte amplicon abundance, as well as the flow cytometric based cryptophyte cell abundance, showed a positive correlation with chlorophyll concentration (r=0.51, p-value< 0.05, and r=0.59, p-value<0.05, respectively). Thus it appears that one of the key phytoplankton taxa in this sensitive environment may be a previously uncharacterized species, who’s ecological and biogeochemical role should further be examined.Fil: Hamilton, Maria. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Jae Choi, Chang. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Charmaine, Cheuk Man Yung. The Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology; Hong KongFil: Mascioni, Martina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Ficología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Vernet, Maria. University of California at San Diego. Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Estados UnidosFil: Worden, Alexandra. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute; Estados UnidosOcean Sciences Meeting 2020Estados UnidosOcean Sciences Meetin

Micro solid oxide fuel cell fabricated on porous stainless steel: a new strategy for enhanced thermal cycling ability

Miniaturized solid oxide fuel cells (micro-SOFCs) are being extensively studied as a promising alternative to Li batteries for next generation portable power. A new micro-SOFC is designed and fabricated which shows enhanced thermal robustness by employing oxide-based thin-film electrode and porous stainless steel (STS) substrate. To deposit gas-tight thin-film electrolyte on STS, nano-porous composite oxide is proposed and applied as a new contact layer on STS. The micro-SOFC fabricated on composite oxide- STS dual layer substrate shows the peak power density of 560 mW cm−2 at 550 °C and maintains this power density during rapid thermal cycles. This cell may be suitable for portable electronic device that requires high power-density and fast thermal cycling.1111Ysciescopu

Selective Uptake of Pelagic Microbial Community Members by Caribbean Reef Corals

Coral reefs are possible sinks for microbes; however, the removal mechanisms at play are not well understood. Here, we characterize pelagic microbial groups at the CARMABI reef (Curaçao) and examine microbial consumption by three coral species: Madracis mirabilis, Porites astreoides, and Stephanocoenia intersepta. Flow cytometry analyses of water samples collected from a depth of 10 m identified 6 microbial groups: Prochlorococcus, three groups of Synechococcus, photosynthetic eukaryotes, and heterotrophic bacteria. Minimum growth rates (µ) for Prochlorococcus, all Synechococcus groups, and photosynthetic eukaryotes were 0.55, 0.29, and 0.45µ day-1, respectively, and suggest relatively high rates of productivity despite low nutrient conditions on the reef. During a series of 5-h incubations with reef corals performed just after sunset or prior to sunrise, reductions in the abundance of photosynthetic picoeukaryotes, Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus cells, were observed. Of the three Synechococcus groups, one decreased significantly during incubations with each coral and the other two only with M. mirabilis. Removal of carbon from the water column is based on coral consumption rates of phytoplankton and averaged between 138 ng h-1and 387 ng h-1, depending on the coral species. A lack of coral-dependent reduction in heterotrophic bacteria, differences in Synechococcus reductions, and diurnal variation in reductions of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus, coinciding with peak cell division, point to selective feeding by corals. Our study indicates that bentho-pelagic coupling via selective grazing of microbial groups influences carbon flow and supports heterogeneity of microbial communities overlying coral reefs. Importance We identify interactions between coral grazing behavior and the growth rates and cell abundances of pelagic microbial groups found surrounding a Caribbean reef. During incubation experiments with three reef corals, reductions in microbial cell abundance differed according to coral species and suggest specific coral or microbial mechanisms are at play. Peaks in removal rates of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus cyanobacteria appear highest during postsunset incubations and coincide with microbial cell division. Grazing rates and effort vary across coral species and picoplankton groups, possibly influencing overall microbial composition and abundance over coral reefs. For reef corals, use of such a numerically abundant source of nutrition may be advantageous, especially under environmentally stressful conditions when symbioses with dinoflagellate algae break down

Silicon carbide-free graphene growth on silicon for lithium-ion battery with high volumetric energy density

Silicon is receiving discernable attention as an active material for next generation lithium-ion battery anodes because of its unparalleled gravimetric capacity. However, the large volume change of silicon over charge-discharge cycles weakens its competitiveness in the volumetric energy density and cycle life. Here we report direct graphene growth over silicon nanoparticles without silicon carbide formation. The graphene layers anchored onto the silicon surface accommodate the volume expansion of silicon via a sliding process between adjacent graphene layers. When paired with a commercial lithium cobalt oxide cathode, the silicon carbide-free graphene coating allows the full cell to reach volumetric energy densities of 972 and 700 Whl(-1) at first and 200th cycle, respectively, 1.8 and 1.5 times higher than those of current commercial lithium-ion batteries. This observation suggests that two-dimensional layered structure of graphene and its silicon carbide-free integration with silicon can serve as a prototype in advancing silicon anodes to commercially viable technology.

Social intelligence and pathological gaming: a longitudinal study of the associations among negative emotions, social intelligence, aggression, and pathological gaming in adolescents

IntroductionPathological gaming continues to be highlighted as one of the most critical issues concerning adolescents. Numerous studies have aimed to elucidate the relationships between adolescents' negative emotions (e.g., peer stress, anxiety, loneliness) and social factors (e.g., social skills and relationships) with pathological gaming. Despite the recognition of social intelligence as a crucial factor related to social factors in adolescents, there is a paucity of research examining pathological gaming and social intelligence through longitudinal analyses.MethodThis study focuses on exploring the factors that induce or inhibit pathological gaming among adolescents by analysing three-year longitudinal data from Korean adolescent gamers (N=968). Using a structural equation model, the study examines the relationships between adolescents' negative emotions (e.g., peer stress, anxiety, loneliness), social intelligence, and pathological gaming to elucidate their associations.ResultsThe results indicate that negative emotions can potentially reduce levels of social intelligence and increase aggression. Increased aggression, in turn, appears to be associated with higher levels of pathological gaming. Social intelligence was found to impact pathological gaming potentially negatively and may exert a significantly stronger influence on aggression compared to negative emotions.DiscussionThe study's findings suggest that bolstering adolescents' social aptitude and addressing mental health concerns could serve as beneficial interventions in tackling issues associated with excessive media engagement among youth. These findings suggest that, within the context of adolescent pathological gaming, social intelligence could significantly affect aggression and emerge as a key variable that may lead to pathological gaming

Indications for open hepatectomy in the era of laparoscopic liver resection: a high volume single institutional study

Background/Aim Since the introduction of laparoscopy for liver resection in the 1990s, the performance of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has been steadily increasing. However, there is currently no data on the extent to which laparoscopy is used for liver resection. Herein, we investigated the extent to which laparoscopy is performed in liver resection and sought to determine whether surgeons prefer laparoscopy or laparotomy in the posterosuperior (PS) segment. Methods For this retrospective observational study, we enrolled patients who had undergone liver resection at the Samsung Medical Center between January 2020 and December 2021. The proportion of LLR in liver resection was calculated, and the incidence and causes of open conversion were investigated. Results A total of 1,095 patients were included in this study. LLR accounted for 79% of the total liver resections. The percentage of previous hepatectomy (16.2% vs. 5.9%, P<0.001) and maximum tumor size (median 4.8 vs. 2.8, P<0.001) were higher in the open liver resection (OLR) group. Subgroup analysis revealed that tumor size (median 6.3 vs. 2.9, P<0.001) and surgical extent (P<0.001) in the OLR group were larger than those in the LLR group. The most common cause of open conversion (OC) was adhesion (57%), and all OC patients had tumors in the PS. Conclusions We investigated the recent preference of practical surgeons in liver resection, and found that surgeons preferred OLR to LLR when treating a large tumor located in the PS

Intraoperative acute brain swelling when performing indirect anastomosis in a patient with moyamoya disease -A case report-

A 6-year-old male patient who was suffering from a cold and a transient ischemic attack was scheduled to undergo encephalo-duro-arterio-synangiosis for treating his moyamoya disease. Acute brain edema occurred just after opening the dura mater. Head elevation, reduction of the head rotation and hyperventilation were done. The inhalational agents were discontinued and total intravenous anesthesia was started. The swelling was reduced after intravenously infusing mannitol. An abrupt return from hypocapnia to normocapnea during the induction of general anesthesia was thought to be the cause of the acute brain swelling. In conclusion, correction of hypocapnea needs to be performed gradually during the induction of anesthesia and when performing an operation for treating a patient with moyamoya disease