RegTech Evolution: The TrustChain

Integrity is a lifelong duty. Credit is not only given to natural persons but also to corporate citizens. In this work, we propose a blockchain-based RegTech system which helps to track the credit of organizations. The creditability of tender entity, participants and subcontractors altogether comprise the long-lasting undeniable TrustChain. The framework is scalable to all elements deemed necessary to corporate score card and referral to the developing RegTech. We expect the consistency and honesty of corporate citizens lay the foundation of a Trust society

Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Surfaces on Aluminum Alloy Via Electrodeposition of Copper Followed by Electrochemical Modification

Superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces have been prepared by means of electrodeposition of copper on aluminum surfaces, followed by electrochemical modification using stearic acid organic molecules. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that the electrodeposited copper films follow "island growth mode" in the form of microdots and their number densities increase with the rise of the negative deposition potentials. At an electrodeposition potential of -0.2 V the number density of the copper microdots are found to be 4.5x10^4 cm-2 that are increased to 2.9x10^5 cm-2 at a potential of -0.8 V. Systematically, the distances between the microdots are found to be reduced from 26.6 μm to 11.03 μm with the increase of negative electrochemical potential from -0.2 V to -0.8 V. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses have confirmed the formation of copper stearate on the stearic acid modified copper films. The roughness of the stearic acid modified electrodeposited copper films is found to increase with the increase in the density of the copper microdots. A critical copper deposition potential of -0.6 V in conjunction with the stearic acid modification provides a surface roughness of 6.2 μm with a water contact angle of 157◦, resulting in superhydrophobic properties on the aluminum substrates­

Fabrication of corrosion resistance micro-nanostructured superhydrophobic anodized aluminum in a one-step electrodeposition process

The formation of low surface energy hybrid organic-inorganic micro-nanostructured zinc stearate electrodeposit transformed the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) surface to superhydrophobic, having a water contact angle of 160°. The corrosion current densities of the anodized and aluminum alloy surfaces are found to be 200 and 400 nA/cm2, respectively. In comparison, superhydrophobic anodic aluminum oxide (SHAAO) shows a much lower value of 88 nA/cm2. Similarly, the charge transfer resistance, Rct, measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows that the SHAAO substrate was found to be 200-times larger than the as-received aluminum alloy substrate. These results proved that the superhydrophobic surfaces created on the anodized surface significantly improved the corrosion resistance property of the aluminum alloy

A Solid-State Battery Cathode with a Polymer Composite Electrolyte and Low Tortuosity Microstructure by Directional Freezing and Polymerization

Solid‐state Li metal batteries (SSLMBs) combine improved safety and high specific energy that can surpass current Li ion batteries. However, the Li^{+} ion diffusivity in a composite cathode—a combination of active material and solid‐state electrolyte (SSE)—is at least an order of magnitude lower than that of the SSE alone because of the highly tortuous ion transport pathways in the cathode. This lowers the realizable capacity and mandates relatively thin (30–300 μm) cathodes, and hence low overall energy storage. Here, a thick (600 μm) hybrid cathode comprising vertically aligned LiNi_{0.8}Mn_{0.1}Co_{0.1}O_{2} (NMC811)‐rich channels filled with a [LiTFSI+PEGMA+MePrPyl TFSI] polymer composite electrolyte is fabricated by an innovative directional freezing and polymerization method. X‐ray micro‐computed tomography, ion mobility simulations, and DC depolarization show that the cathode structure improves Li^{+} ion diffusivity in the cathode from 4.4 × 10^{-9} to 1.4 × 10^{-7} cm^{2} s^{−1}. In a SSLMB full cell at 25 oC, the cathode provides gravimetric capacities of 199 and 120 mAh g^{−1}, and ultra‐high areal capacities of 16.7 and 10.1 mAh cm^{−2} at 0.05 and 1 C, respectively. The work demonstrates a scalable approach to realizing composite cathode structures with kinetically favorable ion transport characteristics in SSLMBs

Corrosion resistance properties of superhydrophobic copper surfaces fabricated by one-step electrochemical modification process

Superhydrophobic copper surfaces have been prepared by a one-step electrochemical modification process in an ethanolic stearic acid solution. In this work, the corrosion properties of hydrophobic copper surface and superhydrophobic copper surfaces were analyzed by means of electrochemical analyses and compared with that of as-received bare copper substrate. The decrease of corrosion current density (icorr) as well as the increase of polarization resistance (Rp) obtained from potentiodynamic polarization curves revealed that the superhydrophobic film on the copper surfaces improved the corrosion resistance performance of the copper substrate

Gain-of-function mutations in the UNC-2/CaV2α channel lead to excitation-dominant synaptic transmission in C. elegans

Mutations in pre-synaptic voltage gated calcium channels can lead to familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1). While mammalian studies indicate that the migraine brain is hyperexcitable due to enhanced excitation or reduced inhibition, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance are poorly understood. We identified a gain-of-function (gf) mutation in the Caenorhabditis elegans CaV2 channel α1 subunit, UNC-2, which leads to increased calcium currents. unc-2(zf35gf) mutants exhibit hyperactivity and seizure-like motor behaviors. Expression of the unc-2 gene with FHM1 substitutions R192Q and S218L leads to hyperactivity similar to that of unc-2(zf35gf) mutants. unc-2(zf35gf) mutants display increased cholinergic-and decreased GABAergic-transmission. Moreover, increased cholinergic transmission in unc-2(zf35gf) mutants leads to an increase of cholinergic synapses and a TAX-6/calcineurin dependent reduction of GABA synapses. Our studies reveal mechanisms through which CaV2 gain-of-function mutations disrupt excitation-inhibition balance in the nervous system.Fil: Huang, Yung Chi. University of Massachussets; Estados UnidosFil: Pirri, Jennifer K.. University of Massachussets; Estados UnidosFil: Rayes, Diego Hernán. University of Massachussets; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Gao, Shangbang. Mount Sinai Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Mulcahy, Ben. Mount Sinai Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Grant, Jeff. University of Massachussets; Estados UnidosFil: Saheki, Yasunori. The Rockefeller University; Estados UnidosFil: Francis, Michael M.. University of Massachussets; Estados UnidosFil: Zhen, Mei. University of Toronto; Canadá. Mount Sinai Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Alkema, Mark J.. University of Massachussets; Estados Unido