Reaction Behavior of a Silicide Electrode with Lithium in an Ionic-Liquid Electrolyte

Silicides are attractive novel active materials for use in the negative-electrodes of next-generation lithium-ion batteries that use certain ionic-liquid electrolytes; however, the reaction mechanism of the above combination is yet to be clarified. Possible reactions at the silicide electrode are as follows: deposition and dissolution of Li metal on the electrode, lithiation and delithiation of Si, which would result from the phase separation of the silicide, and alloying and dealloying of the silicide with Li. Herein, we examined these possibilities using various analysis methods. The results revealed that the lithiation and delithiation of silicide occurred

Unveiling the role of differential growth in 3D morphogenesis: An inference method to analyze area expansion rate distribution in biological systems

The three-dimensional (3D) morphologies of many organs in organisms, such as the curved shapes of leaves and flowers, the branching structure of lungs, and the exoskeletal shape of insects, are formed through surface growth. Although differential growth, a mode of surface growth, has been qualitatively identified as 3D morphogenesis, a quantitative understanding of the mechanical contribution of differential growth is lacking. To address this, we developed a quantitative inference method to analyze the distribution of the area expansion rate, which governs the growth of surfaces into 3D morphology. To validate the accuracy of our method, we tested it on a basic 3D morphology that allowed for the theoretical derivation of the area expansion rate distribution, and then assessed the difference between the predicted outcome and the theoretical solution. We also applied this method to complex 3D shapes and evaluated its accuracy through numerical experiments. The findings of the study revealed a linear decrease in error on a log-log scale with an increase in the number of meshes in both evaluations. This affirmed the reliability of the predictions for meshes that are sufficiently refined. Moreover, we employed our methodology to analyze the developmental process of the Japanese rhinoceros beetle Trypoxylus dichotomus, which is characterized by differential growth regulating 3D morphogenesis. The results indicated a notably high rate of area expansion on the left and right edges of the horn primordium, which is consistent with the experimental evidence of a higher rate of cell division in these regions. Hence, these findings confirm the efficacy of the proposed method in analyzing biological systems

A Study of Production/Injection Data from Slim Holes and Large-Diameter Wells at the Takigami Geothermal Field, Kyushu, Japan

Production and injection data from nine slim holes and sixteen large-diameter wells at the Takigami Geothermal Field, Kyushu, Japan were analyzed in order to establish relationships (1) between injectivity and productivity indices, (2) between productivity/injectivity index and borehole diameter, and (3) between discharge capacity of slim holes and large-diameter wells. Results are compared with those from the Oguni and Sumikawa fields. A numerical simulator (WELBOR) was used to model the available discharge rate from Takigami boreholes. The results of numerical modeling indicate that the flow rate of large-diameter geothermal production wells with liquid feedzones can be predicted using data from slim holes. These results also indicate the importance of proper well design

Developmental Link between Sex and Nutrition; \u3ci\u3edoublesex\u3c/i\u3e Regulates Sex-Specific Mandible Growth via Juvenile Hormone Signaling in Stag Beetles

Sexual dimorphisms in trait expression are widespread among animals and are especially pronounced in ornaments and weapons of sexual selection, which can attain exaggerated sizes. Expression of exaggerated traits is usually male-specific and nutrition sensitive. Consequently, the developmental mechanisms generating sexually dimorphic growth and nutritiondependent phenotypic plasticity are each likely to regulate the expression of extreme structures. Yet we know little about how either of these mechanisms work, much less how they might interact with each other. We investigated the developmental mechanisms of sex-specific mandible growth in the stag beetle Cyclommatus metallifer, focusing on doublesex gene function and its interaction with juvenile hormone (JH) signaling. doublesex genes encode transcription factors that orchestrate male and female specific trait development, and JH acts as a mediator between nutrition and mandible growth. We found that the Cmdsx gene regulates sex differentiation in the stag beetle. Knockdown of Cmdsx by RNA-interference in both males and females produced intersex phenotypes, indicating a role for Cmdsx in sex-specific trait growth. By combining knockdown of Cmdsx with JH treatment, we showed that female-specific splice variants of Cmdsx contribute to the insensitivity of female mandibles to JH: knockdown of Cmdsx reversed this pattern, so that mandibles in knockdown females were stimulated to grow by JH treatment. In contrast, mandibles in knockdown males retained some sensitivity to JH, though mandibles in these individuals did not attain the full sizes of wild type males. We suggest that moderate JH sensitivity of mandibular cells may be the default developmental state for both sexes, with sex-specific Dsx protein decreasing sensitivity in females, and increasing it in males. This study is the first to demonstrate a causal link between the sex determination and JH signaling pathways, which clearly interact to determine the developmental fates and final sizes of nutrition-dependent secondary-sexual characters

大根山湿地(岐阜県恵那市飯地町)の植生

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Novel BiS2-based layered superconductor Bi4O4S3

Exotic superconductivity has often been discovered in materials with a layered (two-dimensional) crystal structure. The low dimensionality can affect the electronic structure and can realize high transition temperatures (Tc) and/or unconventional superconductivity mechanisms. As standard examples, we now have two types of high-Tc superconductors. The first group is the Cu-oxide superconductors whose crystal structure is basically composed of a stacking of spacer (blocking) layers and superconducting CuO2 layers.1-4 The second group is the Fe-based superconductors which also possess a stacking structure of spacer layers and superconducting Fe2An2 (An = P, As, Se, Te) layers.5-13 In both systems, dramatic enhancements of Tc are achieved by optimizing the spacer layer structure, for instance, a variety of composing elements, spacer thickness, and carrier doping levels with respect to the superconducting layers. In this respect, to realize higher-Tc superconductivity, other than Cu-oxide and Fe-based superconductors, the discovery of a new prototype of layered superconductors needs to be achieved. Here we show superconductivity in a new bismuth-oxysulfide layered compound Bi4O4S3. Crystal structure analysis indicates that this superconductor has a layered structure composed of stacking of Bi4O4(SO4)1-x and Bi2S4 layers; the parent compound (x = 0) is Bi6O8S5. Band calculation suggests that Bi4O4S3 (x = 0.5) is metallic while Bi6O8S5 (x = 0) is a band insulator with Bi3+. Furthermore, the Fermi level for Bi4O4S3 is just on the peak position of the partial density of states of the Bi 6p orbital within the BiS2 layer. The BiS2 layer is a basic structure which provides another universality class for layered superconducting family, and this opens up a new field in the physics and chemistry of low-dimensional superconductors.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Does physiotherapy after rotator cuff repair require supervision by a physical therapist?: a meta-analysis

Background A supervised physiotherapy program (SPP) is a standard regimen after surgical rotator cuff repair (RCR); however, the effect of a home-based exercise program (HEP), as an alternative, on postoperative functional recovery remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the functional effects of SPP and HEP after RCR. Methods We searched electronic databases including Central, Medline, and Embase in April 2022. The primary outcomes included the Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, University of California Los Angeles shoulder score, and pain score. Secondary outcomes included range of motion, muscle strength, retear rate, and patient satisfaction rate. A meta-analysis using random-effects models was performed on the pooled results to determine the significance. Results The initial database search yielded 848 records, five of which met our criteria. Variables at 3 months after surgery were successfully analyzed, including the Constant score (mean difference, −8.51 points; 95% confidence interval [CI], −32.72 to 15.69; P=0.49) and pain score (mean difference, 0.02 cm; 95% CI, −2.29 to 2.33; P=0.99). There were no significant differences between the SPP and HEP. Other variables were not analyzed owing to the lack of data. Conclusions Our data showed no significant differences between SSP and HEP with regard to the Constant and pain scores at 3 months after RCR. These results suggest that HEP may be an alternative regimen after RCR. Level of evidenceI