3D lithium ion batteries—from fundamentals to fabrication

3D microbatteries are proposed as a step change in the energy and power per footprint of surface mountable rechargeable batteries for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and other small electronic devices. Within a battery electrode, a 3D nanoarchitecture gives mesoporosity, increasing power by reducing the length of the diffusion path; in the separator region it can form the basis of a robust but porous solid, isolating the electrodes and immobilising an otherwise fluid electrolyte. 3D microarchitecture of the whole cell allows fabrication of interdigitated or interpenetrating networks that minimise the ionic path length between the electrodes in a thick cell. This article outlines the design principles for 3D microbatteries and estimates the geometrical and physical requirements of the materials. It then gives selected examples of recent progress in the techniques available for fabrication of 3D battery structures by successive deposition of electrodes, electrolytes and current collectors onto microstructured substrates by self-assembly methods

Slabs in the Alpine region: inferences down to 300 km depth from surface wave tomography and receiver functions

Mountain building in the Alps is driven by a complex interplay between (i) subduction of oceanic lithosphere and/or continental mantle lithosphere and (ii) exhumation of crustal material. A major challenge represents passive seismic imaging of the various slab segments crucial for shaping the Alpine orogen. AlpArray and Swath-D provide the necessary dense station distribution for high-resolution surface wave tomography using earthquake and ambient noise data as well as for detailed P-to-S and S-to-P receiver function analyses. Absolute shear-wave velocity models of the crust and upper mantle down to 300 km depth have been obtained from stochastic particle‐swarm‐optimization inversion of a large data set of more than 200,000 Rayleigh wave phase velocity curves (4 -300 s period). This allows for imaging the slabs and their connection to the forelands with a lateral resolution of about 50 km to 75 km in the Alpine area. Moreover, about 300,000 P-to-S and about 80.000 S-to-P receiver functions have been obtained for the wider Alpine area. The common conversion point stacks of the P-to-S and S-to-P waveforms, concentrated in the Eastern Alps, provide high resolution images of the crustal structure as well as velocity discontinuities in the mantle at the interface between the European, Adriatic, and Pannonian domains. Moho topography indicating the tops of slabs as well as negative velocity gradients in the mantle beneath the Moho have been imaged. Thermochemical modelling provides evidence that the bottom of the negative velocity gradient causing S-to-P conversions is located close to the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary. These conversions are thus hinting at the geometry of the bottom of mantle lithosphere and slabs, respectively. Beneath the northern Apennines, Adriatic lithosphere is subducting nearly vertically southwards down to at least 200 km depth as supported by the spatial distribution of a few intermediate-depth earthquakes. A short Eurasian slab subducting eastwards down to about 150 km depth and a slab gap beneath are present beneath the western Alps. Interestingly, the Eurasian slab is almost colliding with the east-west oriented Adriatic slab beneath the southwestern Po Basin. An attached Eurasian slab subducting to at least 250 km depth is imaged beneath the central Alps, whereas beneath the eastern Alps a short Eurasian slab is found down to only about 150 km depth. A short slab of continental mantle lithosphere is also present beneath the northern Dinarides. It is extending towards the Alps east of the Guidicaria fault. Broken-off Eurasian or Adriatic lithosphere may be indicated by high-velocity anomalies at depth larger than 250 km beneath the south-eastern Alps and the Adriatic Sea. Next, digital slab interface models are to be set up accounting for the various geophysical observations in order to create realistic input models for numerical geodynamic forward modelling of observed deformation rates

Prediction of first cardiovascular disease event in 2.9 million individuals using Danish administrative healthcare data:a nationwide, registry-based derivation and validation study

AIMS: The aim of this study was to derive and validate a risk prediction model with nationwide coverage to predict the individual and population-level risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS AND RESULTS: All 2.98 million Danish residents aged 30–85 years free of CVD were included on 1 January 2014 and followed through 31 December 2018 using nationwide administrative healthcare registries. Model predictors and outcome were pre-specified. Predictors were age, sex, education, use of antithrombotic, blood pressure-lowering, glucose-lowering, or lipid-lowering drugs, and a smoking proxy of smoking-cessation drug use or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Outcome was 5-year risk of first CVD event, a combination of ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, stroke, or cardiovascular death. Predictions were computed using cause-specific Cox regression models. The final model fitted in the full data was internally-externally validated in each Danish Region. The model was well-calibrated in all regions. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and Brier scores ranged from 76.3% to 79.6% and 3.3 to 4.4. The model was superior to an age-sex benchmark model with differences in AUC and Brier scores ranging from 1.2% to 1.5% and −0.02 to −0.03. Average predicted risks in each Danish municipality ranged from 2.8% to 5.9%. Predicted risks for a 66-year old ranged from 2.6% to 25.3%. Personalized predicted risks across ages 30–85 were presented in an online calculator (https://hjerteforeningen.shinyapps.io/cvd-risk-manuscript/). CONCLUSION: A CVD risk prediction model based solely on nationwide administrative registry data provided accurate prediction of personal and population-level 5-year first CVD event risk in the Danish population. This may inform clinical and public health primary prevention efforts

Simplified Models for LHC New Physics Searches

This document proposes a collection of simplified models relevant to the design of new-physics searches at the LHC and the characterization of their results. Both ATLAS and CMS have already presented some results in terms of simplified models, and we encourage them to continue and expand this effort, which supplements both signature-based results and benchmark model interpretations. A simplified model is defined by an effective Lagrangian describing the interactions of a small number of new particles. Simplified models can equally well be described by a small number of masses and cross-sections. These parameters are directly related to collider physics observables, making simplified models a particularly effective framework for evaluating searches and a useful starting point for characterizing positive signals of new physics. This document serves as an official summary of the results from the "Topologies for Early LHC Searches" workshop, held at SLAC in September of 2010, the purpose of which was to develop a set of representative models that can be used to cover all relevant phase space in experimental searches. Particular emphasis is placed on searches relevant for the first ~50-500 pb-1 of data and those motivated by supersymmetric models. This note largely summarizes material posted at http://lhcnewphysics.org/, which includes simplified model definitions, Monte Carlo material, and supporting contacts within the theory community. We also comment on future developments that may be useful as more data is gathered and analyzed by the experiments.Comment: 40 pages, 2 figures. This document is the official summary of results from "Topologies for Early LHC Searches" workshop (SLAC, September 2010). Supplementary material can be found at http://lhcnewphysics.or

Molecular identification of CTX-M and blaOXY/K1 β-lactamase genes in Enterobacteriaceae by sequencing of universal M13-sequence tagged PCR-amplicons

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plasmid encoded ^<it>bla</it>CTX-M enzymes represent an important sub-group of class A β-lactamases causing the ESBL phenotype which is increasingly found in <it>Enterobacteriaceae </it>including <it>Klebsiella </it>spp. Molecular typing of clinical ESBL-isolates has become more and more important for prevention of the dissemination of ESBL-producers among nosocomial environment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Multiple displacement amplified DNA derived from 20 <it>K. pneumoniae </it>and 34 <it>K. oxytoca </it>clinical isolates with an ESBL-phenotype was used in a universal CTX-M PCR amplification assay. Identification and differentiation of ^<it>bla</it>CTX-M and ^<it>bla</it>OXY/K1 sequences was obtained by DNA sequencing of M13-sequence-tagged CTX-M PCR-amplicons using a M13-specific sequencing primer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Nine out of 20 <it>K. pneumoniae </it>clinical isolates had a ^<it>bla</it>CTX-M genotype. Interestingly, we found that the universal degenerated primers also amplified the chromosomally located K1-gene in all 34 <it>K. oxytoca </it>clinical isolates. Molecular identification and differentiation between ^<it>bla</it>CTX-M and ^<it>bla</it>OXY/K1-genes could only been achieved by sequencing of the PCR-amplicons. <it>In silico </it>analysis revealed that the universal degenerated CTX-M primer-pair used here might also amplify the chromosomally located ^<it>bla</it>OXY and K1-genes in <it>Klebsiella </it>spp. and K1-like genes in other <it>Enterobacteriaceae</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The PCR-based molecular typing method described here enables a rapid and reliable molecular identification of ^<it>bla</it>CTX-M, and ^<it>bla</it>OXY/K1-genes. The principles used in this study could also be applied to any situation in which antimicrobial resistance genes would need to be sequenced.</p

Assessment of GFRP bond behaviour for the design of sustainable reinforced seawater concrete structures

Freshwater is an increasingly scarce resource. Its use in the production of concrete is one important contributor to its fast depletion. Alternatively, the use of seawater for reinforced concrete production, combined with the use of glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) as reinforcement, may represent an interesting solution to increase concrete sustainability. The objective of this paper is to explore this promising solution through the development of concrete compositions with seawater. Additionally, it is also an objective to assess the bond behaviour between GFRP rods and concrete, in a design perspective. The influence of concrete age, rod diameter and anchorage length were also investigated. An analytical model capable of determining the local bond stress-slip laws was used. Results demonstrated that the use of seawater had no relevant effects on neither concrete mechanical properties nor bond behaviour.The study presented in this paper is a part of the research project “NEXT-SEA: Next Generation Monitoring of Coastal Systems in a Scenario of Global Change”, financed by CCDRN and FEDER funds in the scope of the Next-sea project (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000032). The authors acknowledge all the companies that have been involved supporting and contributing for the development of this study, mainly: S&P Clever Reinforcement Ibérica Lda., Burgoparaíso – Unipessoal Lda., Secil, Sika Portugal – Produtos Construção e Indústria S.A. The first and the last authors wishes also to acknowledge the grants SFRH/BD/131913/2017 and SFRH/BSAB/150266/2019, respectively, provided by FCT, financed by European Social Fund and by national funds through the FCT/MCTES

Improving Ethical Review of Research Involving Incentives for Health Promotion

Alex London and colleagues propose new ethical frameworks for evaluating the risks associated with research in which financial or other incentives are used to promote healthy behavior

Tropical-cyclone-driven erosion of the terrestrial biosphere from mountains

The transfer of organic carbon from the terrestrial biosphere to the oceans via erosion and riverine transport constitutes an important component of the global carbon cycle. More than one third of this organic carbon flux comes from sediment-laden rivers that drain the mountains in the western Pacific region. This region is prone to tropical cyclones, but their role in sourcing and transferring vegetation and soil is not well constrained. Here we measure particulate organic carbon load and composition in the LiWu River, Taiwan, during cyclone-triggered floods. We correct for fossil particulate organic carbon using radiocarbon, and find that the concentration of particulate organic carbon from vegetation and soils is positively correlated with water discharge. Floods have been shown to carry large amounts of clastic sediment. Non-fossil particulate organic carbon transported at the same time may be buried offshore under high rates of sediment accumulation. We estimate that on decadal timescales, 77–92% of non-fossil particulate organic carbon eroded from the LiWu catchment is transported during large, cyclone-induced floods. We suggest that tropical cyclones, which affect many forested mountains within the Intertropical Convergence Zone, may provide optimum conditions for the delivery and burial of non-fossil particulate organic carbon in the ocean. This carbon transfer is moderated by the frequency, intensity and duration of tropical cyclones

How informed is consent in vulnerable populations? Experience using a continuous consent process during the MDP301 vaginal microbicide trial in Mwanza, Tanzania

BACKGROUND: HIV prevention trials conducted among disadvantaged vulnerable at-risk populations in developing countries present unique ethical dilemmas. A key concern in bioethics is the validity of informed consent for trial participation obtained from research subjects in such settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a continuous informed consent process adopted during the MDP301 phase III vaginal microbicide trial in Mwanza, Tanzania. METHODS: A total of 1146 women at increased risk of HIV acquisition working as alcohol and food vendors or in bars, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses have been recruited into the MDP301 phase III efficacy and safety trial in Mwanza. During preparations for the trial, participatory community research methods were used to develop a locally-appropriate pictorial flipchart in order to convey key messages about the trial to potential participants. Pre-recorded audio tapes were also developed to facilitate understanding and compliance with gel-use instructions. A comprehension checklist is administered by clinical staff to all participants at screening, enrolment, 12, 24, 40 and 50 week follow-up visits during the trial. To investigate women's perceptions and experiences of the trial, including how well participants internalize and retain key messages provided through a continuous informed consent process, a random sub-sample of 102 women were invited to participate in in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted immediately after their 4, 24 and 52 week follow-up visits. RESULTS: 99 women completed interviews at 4-weeks, 83 at 24-weeks, and 74 at 52 weeks (a total of 256 interviews). In all interviews there was evidence of good comprehension and retention of key trial messages including that the gel is not currently know to be effective against HIV; that this is the key reason for conducting the trial; and that women should stop using gel in the event of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Providing information to trial participants in a focussed, locally-appropriate manner, using methods developed in consultation with the community, and within a continuous informed-consent framework resulted in high levels of comprehension and message retention in this setting. This approach may represent a model for researchers conducting HIV prevention trials among other vulnerable populations in resource-poor settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN64716212