Predicting the effect of silicon electrode design parameters on thermal performance of a lithium-ion battery

The present study models the role of electrode structural characteristics on the thermal beha­viour of lithium-ion batteries. Preliminary modelling runs have employed a 1D lithium-ion battery, coupled to a two-dimensional axisymmetric model using silicon as the battery anode material. The two models are coupled by the heat generated and the average temperature. Our study is focused on the silicon anode particle sizes, and it is observed that silicon anodes with nano sized particles reduced the heating of the battery under charge/discharge cycles when compared to anodes with larger particles. These results are discussed in context of the relationship between particle size and thermal transport properties in the electrode

Region-based Convolutional Neural Network Driven Alzheimer’s Severity Prediction

It's important to note that Alzheimer's disease can also affect individuals over the age of 60, and in fact, the risk of developing Alzheimer's increases with age. Additionally, while deep learning approaches have shown promising results in detecting Alzheimer's disease, they are not the only techniques available for diagnosis and treatment. That being said, using Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (RCNN) for efficient feature extraction and classification can be a valuable tool in detecting Alzheimer's disease. This new approach to identifying Alzheimer's disease could lead to a more accurate and personalized diagnosis. It can also help in early treatment and intervention. However, it's still important to continue developing new methods and techniques for this disorder. Considering this our work proposes an innovative Region-based Convolutional Neural Network Driven Alzheimer’s Severity Prediction approach in this paper. The exhaustive experimental result carried out, which proves the efficacy of our Alzheimer prediction system

Feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a novel device for self-collecting capillary blood samples in clinical trials in the context of the pandemic and beyond

Introduction: Les dispositifs d'auto-prélèvement sanguin permettent des échantillonnages à distance. L'étude explore (i) l'influence des sites de prélèvement et de l'analgésie topique sur le volume sanguin capillaire et la douleur, et (ii) la faisabilité, la sécurité et l'acceptabilité de l'autoprélèvement capillaire avec le dispositif Tasso-SST chez les adultes et les enfants. Méthodes: L'étude comportait deux phases avec la phase expérimentale comprenant deux études transversales conduit sur place, chez des adultes en santé (> 12 ans) et enfants (< 18 ans) en dyades enfant-parent. Les issues principales étaient: le volume capillaire sanguin et la perception de la douleur. La phase de mise en oeuvre portait sur deux essais multicentriques et ciblait les participants ayant opté pour des visites à distance. L’issu principal était le volume capillaire sanguin. Les issues secondaires des études incluaient l’échec du dispositif, les événements indésirables, la satisfaction et la volonté de réutiliser le dispositif. Résultats: L'étude a recruté 90 adultes et 9 enfants avec 7 parents (dyades) dans la phase expérimentale et 15 adultes et 2 enfants en phase de mise en oeuvre. Durant la phase expérimentale chez l'adulte, le dispositif a collecté une médiane (25%, 75%) de 450 (250, 550) μl de sang, sans différence significative entre les sites de ponction et l'usage ou non d’analgésie topique. L'analgésie topique a réduit la perception de la douleur de 0,61 (IC à 95 %: 0,97, 0,24 ; P <0,01) points sur l'échelle de 11 points, avec une réduction plus importante au bas du dos. Le volume médian collecté chez les enfants était de 450 μl avec un score médian de douleur de 0,5. En combinant toutes les études et phases, le volume médian collecté était de 425 (250, 500) μl, avec un taux d’échec de 4,4 % et des effets indésirables mineurs signalés chez 8,9 % des participants. Tous étaient prêts à réutiliser l'appareil. Conclusion: L'auto-prélèvement capillaire, avec un rendement d’un peu moins de 500 μl, est peu douloureux avec un bon profil d’innocuité, un haut degré de satisfaction et peu d'échec chez les adultes et les enfants. Le site de ponction et l'analgésie topique n'influent pas significativement sur le volume sanguin. L'utilisation d'une analgésie topique au bas du dos réduit légèrement la douleur, mais l’importance clinique de la réduction reste incertaine.Introduction: Blood self-collection devices offer an opportunity to provide remote sampling. The study aimed to explore (i) the impact of puncture sites and topical analgesia on capillary blood volume and pain perception and (ii) the feasibility (volume, failure rate), safety, and acceptability of capillary self-collection using the Tasso-SST blood collection device among adults and children. Methods: The study consisted of two phases, with the investigational phase involving on-site cross-sectional studies in healthy adults (>12 years) and children (<18 years) as child-parent dyads. The primary outcomes were capillary blood volume and pain perception. The implementation phase involved two multicentre trials in participants opting for remote visits. Where the primary outcome was blood volume. Secondary outcomes of the study included device failure, adverse events, satisfaction, and willingness to re-use the device. Results: The study enrolled: 90 adults and 9 children with 7 parents (dyads) in the investigational phase and 15 adults and 2 children in the implementation phase. During the adult investigational phase, the device collected a median of 450 (interquartile range: 250, 550) μl of blood with no significant difference between puncture sites and topical analgesia. Topical analgesia reduced pain perception by 0.61 (95% CI: 0.97, 0.24; P <0.01) points on the 11-point scale, with a magnitude of reduction varying by puncture site, with the lower back showing the most decrease. The median volume collected among children in the dyads was 450 (400, 475) μl with a median pain score of 0.5. During the implementation phase, both participants and research staff expressed willingness to use the device again. Overall, combining all studies and phases, the median volume collected was 425 (250, 500) μl, and the device failure rate was 4.4%; minor adverse effects were reported in 8.9% of the participants, all were willing to use the device again. Conclusion: Capillary blood self-collection, yielding slightly less than 500 μl, proves to be minimally painful with a good safety profile, high satisfaction, and low failure rates for both adults and children. The puncture site and topical analgesia don't significantly affect blood volume, but using topical analgesia on the lower back slightly reduces pain, with unclear clinical importance

Mischmetal substitution in Nd2Fe14B sintered permanent magnets

Neodymium-iron-boron based permanent magnets are the preferred magnets for motor applications because of their high energy production. However, the supply of neodymium is subject to high risks due to geopolitical and economical conflicts of interests. Cerium, lanthanum, and Mischmetal can be potential substitutes of neodymium as they have similar electronic structures as the neodymium, and more importantly, they are abundant and low-cost. One of the important properties of permanent magnets is coercivity, which defines the ability of the magnet to work in a demagnetization field. Coercivity depends on magneto crystalline anisotropy and microstructure. The microstructure at the grain boundaries in sintered 2:14:1 type magnet helps to remove defects and improve coercivity by reducing magnetostatic interactions between grains. Addition of nonmagnetic, low melting point alloys like PrCu to the magnetic material may prevent magnetic coupling of adjacent grains by forming continuous grain boundary layer. The microstructure can be further optimized through heat treatment. In this work, the effect of PrCu on the coercivity of Mischmetal substituted Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets, influence of sintering temperature on microstructure and magnetic properties are studied and the maximum amount of Mischmetal that can be utilized to achieve optimum energy production was identified

Predicting Capacity Fade in Silicon Anode-Based Li-Ion Batteries

While silicon anodes hold promise for use in lithium-ion batteries owing to their very high theoretical storage capacity and relatively low discharge potential, they possess a major problem related to their large volume expansion that occurs with battery aging. The resulting stress and strain can lead to mechanical separation of the anode from the current collector and an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), resulting in capacity fade. Since capacity loss is in part dependent on the cell materials, two different electrodes, Lithium Nickel Oxide or LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA) and LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC 111), were used in combination with silicon to study capacity fade effects using simulations in COMSOL version 5.5. The results of these studies provide insight into the effects of anode particle size and electrolyte volume fraction on the behavior of silicon anode-based batteries with different positive electrodes. It was observed that the performance of a porous matrix of solid active particles of silicon anode could be improved when the active particles were 150 nm or smaller. The range of optimized values of volume fraction of the electrolyte in the silicon anode were determined to be between 0.55 and 0.40. The silicon anode behaved differently in terms of cell time with NCA and NMC. However, NMC111 gave a high relative capacity in comparison to NCA and proved to be a better working electrode for the proposed silicon anode structure

Canonical Stimulation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome by Fungal Antigens Links Innate and Adaptive B-Lymphocyte Responses by Modulating IL-1β and IgM Production

The NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in response to different bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens and serves as modulator of different pattern recognition receptors signaling pathways. One of the main functions of NLRP3 is to participate in IL-1β maturation which is important in the host defense against Pneumocystis and other fungal infections. However, dysregulation of NLRP3 and IL-1β secretion are also implicated in the pathophysiology of many auto-inflammatory disorders. Often time’s inflammatory flares are preceded by infectious illnesses questioning the role of infection in autoimmune exacerbations. However, we still do not fully understand the exact role that infection or even colonization plays as a trigger of inflammation. Herein, we investigated the role of NLRP3 in circulating B-lymphocytes following activation with two major microbial antigens (β-glucan and CpG). NLRP3 was determined essential in two independent B-lymphocytes processes: pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and antibody regulation. Our results show that the β-glucan fungal cell wall carbohydrate stimulated B-lymphocytes to secrete IL-1β in a process partially mediated by Dectin-1 activation via SYK and the transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1. This IL-1β secretion was regulated by the NLRP3 inflammasome and was dependent on potassium efflux and Caspase-1. Interestingly, B-lymphocytes activated by unmethylated CpG motifs, found in bacterial and fungal DNA, failed to induce IL-1β. However, B-lymphocyte stimulation by CpG resulted in NLRP3 and Caspase-1 activation and the production and secretion of IgM antibodies. Furthermore, CpG-stimulated IgM secretion, unlike β-glucan-mediated IL-1β production, was mediated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Inhibition of NLRP3 and the mTOR pathway in CpG activated B-lymphocytes resulted in impaired IgM secretion suggesting their participation in antibody regulation. In conclusion, this study describes a differential response of NLRP3 to β-glucan and CpG antigens and identifies the NLRP3 inflammasome of human circulating B-lymphocytes as a modulator of the innate and adaptive immune systems

Development of Dy-free sintered NdFeB magnet through grain boundary engineering by diffusion of PrCu alloys

Dy-free sintered magnets were fabricated by blending Neo powder with different amount of PrCu powder. With increasing PrCu from 0-10 wt.%, Hcj of the magnets gradually increases from the original 14.5 kOe to 18.6 kOe. The highest (BH)max achieved was 35.0 MGOe with 7.5 wt.% PrCu. It was found that PrCu was mainly distributed at grain boundary and triple junctions, leading to a reduced coupling among grains, thus an enhanced Hcj. The grain boundary engineering by the diffusion of PrCu alloy is an effective method to improve Hcj of Dy-free magnets.This is a manuscript of a conference proceeding published as Tang, Wei, Gaoyuan Ouyang, Jing Wang, Harika Dasari, Matthew J. Kramer, Jun Cui, and Iver E. Anderson. "Development of Dy-free sintered NdFeB magnet through grain boundary engineering by diffusion of PrCu alloys." Intermag 2023. Sendai, Japan, May 15-19, 2023. Copyright 2023 IEEE. Posted with permission

The effects of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundWhile the association between vitamin D and several inflammatory biomarkers in asthma patients has been extensively reported, it remains unclear whether supplementation modifies these biomarkers. This review aims to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers measured in vivo in individuals with asthma.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until November 2022 in six electronic databases evaluating the impact of vitamin D supplementation (any dose, form, administration route, frequency, or duration) compared to placebo in children or adults. The two co-primary outcomes were serum IgE and blood eosinophils reported at the endpoint. Secondary outcomes included other markers of type 2 inflammation (e.g., sputum eosinophils, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, etc.), anti-inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., interleukin (IL)-10, etc.), markers of non-type 2 inflammation (e.g., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, etc.), and non-specific biomarkers (e.g., macrophages, etc.). Data were aggregated using fixed or random effect models.ResultsThirteen RCTs (5 in adults, 5 in pediatric patients, and 3 in mixed age groups) testing doses of vitamin D supplementation ranging from 800 to 400,000 IU over periods of 6 weeks to 12 months were included. Eight studies provided data on serum IgE and four on blood eosinophils. As secondary outcomes, three studies reported on sputum eosinophils, four on FeNO, five on serum IL-10, and two on airway IL-10. Compared to placebo, vitamin D supplementation had no significant effect on serum IgE (Mean difference [MD] [95% CI]: 0.06 [-0.13, 0.26] IU/mL), blood eosinophils (MD [95% CI]: - 0.02 [-0.11, 0.07] 103/μL), or FeNO (MD [95% CI]: -4.10 [-10.95, 2.75] ppb) at the endpoint. However, the vitamin D supplementation group showed higher serum IL-10 levels compared to placebo (MD [95% CI]: 18.85 [1.11, 36.59] pg/ml) at the endpoint. Although data could not be aggregated, narrative synthesis suggested no significant effect of supplementation on sputum eosinophils and IL-10 in both sputum and exhaled breath condensate, at the endpoint.ConclusionVitamin D supplementation in individuals with asthma was not associated with lower inflammatory biomarkers related to type 2 inflammation. However, it was significantly associated with higher serum IL-10 compared to placebo.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022365666