In Situ Hydrothermal Synthesis of LiFePO₄ Studied by Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction

The development of high capacity, safe lithium battery materials requires new tools to better understand how reaction conditions affect nucleation and crystallization, particle size, morphology, and defects. We present a general approach for studying the synthesis of Li battery electrode materials in real time. The formation of LiFePO₄ was investigated by time-resolved in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction under hydrothermal conditions, and the reaction kinetics were determined by changes of the Bragg reflections. We provide the first evidence in support of a dissolution–reprecipitation process for the formation of LiFePO₄, which occurs at temperatures as low as 105 °C and appears to be a three-dimensional diffusion-controlled process. Lattice parameters and their evolution were monitored in situ, as well as the formation of antisite defects and their subsequent elimination under various synthesis conditions. The ability to characterize and tailor synthesis reactions in situ is essential for rapid optimization of the synthesis procedures and, ultimately, the development of new battery electrodes

sj-pdf-1-ppo-10.1177_07439156231224731 - Supplemental material for The “Dark Side” of General Health and Fitness-Related Self-Service Technologies: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Directions for Future Research

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-ppo-10.1177_07439156231224731 for The “Dark Side” of General Health and Fitness-Related Self-Service Technologies: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Directions for Future Research by Haiyan Chen, Klaus Schoefer, Danae Manika and Effy Tzemou in Journal of Public Policy & Marketing</p

Data_Sheet_1_Association between dietary inflammatory index and anemia in US adults.PDF

Background and aimsAnemia is a widespread global health concern, and recent research has unveiled a link between anemia and inflammation. The Dietary Inflammation Index (DII) is a novel tool used to assess the overall inflammatory potential of an individual’s diet. However, until now, there have been no studies demonstrating a connection between DII and anemia. This study aimed to explore the relationship between DII and the risk of anemia among Americans, as well as to examine the influence of other risk factors on this association.MethodsData from 32,244 patients were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database spanning from 1999 to 2018. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the correlation between DII and anemia. Subgroup analyses and smoothed curve analyses were conducted to further investigate the association between DII and anemia.ResultsThe analysis revealed a significant positive association between higher DII scores and increased anemia risk in the American population (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.06, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.03 to 1.09, p ConclusionOur findings underscore a positive correlation between the inflammatory potential of one’s diet and the risk of anemia, especially when coupled with other risk factors. Consequently, reducing the consumption of pro-inflammatory foods may serve as one of the effective measures against the development of anemia. Given the variations in gender, age, BMI, and chronic diseases observed in our study, tailored policies could better cater to the specific needs of diverse populations.</p

Leaching assessments of toxic metals in waste plasma display panel glass

<div><p>The plasma display panel (PDP) is rapidly becoming obsolete, contributing in large amounts to the electronic waste stream. In order to assess the potential for environmental pollution due to hazardous metals leached from PDP glass, standardized leaching procedures, chemical speciation assessments, and bioavailability tests were conducted. According to the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), arsenic in back glass was present at 4.46 ± 0.22 mg/L, close to its regulation limit of 5 mg/L. Zn is not available in the TCLP, but its TCLP leaching concentration in back glass is 102.96 ± 5.34 mg/L. This is because more than 90% of Zn is in the soluble and exchangeable and carbonate fraction. We did not detect significant levels of Ag, Ba, or Cu in the TCLP leachate, and the main fraction of Ag and Ba is residual, more than 95%, while the fraction distribution of Cu changes SEP by SEP. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)- and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Ag, As, Ba, Cu, Zn, and Ni indicate a lower biohazards potential. These results show that, according to the EPA regulations, PDP glass may not be classified as hazardous waste because none of the metals exceeded their thresholds in PDP leachate. However, the concentrations of As and Zn should be lowered in the manufacturing process and finished product to avoid potential pollution problems.</p><p>Implications: <i>The plasma display panel is rapidly becoming obsolete because of the liquid crystal display. In this study, the leachability of heavy metals contained in the waste plasma display panel glass was first examined by standardized leaching tests, typical chemical speciation assessments, and bioavailability tests, providing fundamental data for waste PDP glass recovery, recycling, and reuse.</i></p></div

CoSn₅ Phase: Crystal Structure Resolving and Stable High Capacity as Anodes for Li Ion Batteries

Tin alloys form a class of interesting high-energy-density anode materials for Li ion batteries, but the improvement of their cycling stability is elusive. Here, we provide new insight on this fatal issue by synthesizing novel CoSn₅-phase nanospheres via a conversion chemistry route and directly comparing their cell behavior with that of recently found FeSn₅-phase nanospheres. The CoSn₅ phase is absent in previous Co–Sn phase diagrams. Co_0.83Sn₅ nanospheres show a much longer cycle life, which partially is related to milder evolution of their cycling profiles over time

Cobalt–Salen Complexes as Catalyst Precursors for Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation at Low Overpotential

Water oxidation is an important half-reaction to achieve overall water splitting. In this present study, we show that a series of molecular cobalt–salen complexes can serve as catalyst precursors to form nanostructured and amorphous cobalt-based thin films during electrodeposition, which can catalyze the water oxidation reaction at low overpotentials. Cyclic voltammetry and bulk electrolysis using the cobalt-based film electrodes demonstrated obvious catalytic currents in 0.1 M KBi solution at pH 9.2. The onset catalytic potentials of the catalyst films are at ∼0.84 V (vs Ag/AgCl) with a film made by electrodeposition of cobalt–salen complex <b>2</b> on FTO and at ∼0.85 V for complex <b>4</b>. Oxygen gas bubbles were clearly seen on the FTO electrode when the applied potential was above the onset potential. The Tafel plots using a catalyst film made of complex <b>4</b> showed that appreciable catalytic current was observed starting at η = 0.26 V for the film (a current density of 0.01 mA/cm² required η = 290 mV), accompanied by a Faradaic efficiency >93% at 1.2 V. The catalyst film was further characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

Solvothermal Synthesis of LiMn_1–<i>x</i>Fe_<i>x</i>PO₄ Cathode Materials: A Study of Reaction Mechanisms by Time-Resolved in Situ Synchrotron X‑ray Diffraction

We applied time-resolved in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) to study the reaction processes and pathways during the solvothermal synthesis of the olivine-structured LiFePO₄, LiMnPO₄, and LiFe_0.4Mn_0.6PO₄ with ethylene glycol C₂H₆O₂ (EG) as the solvent by following the evolution of the crystal structures of the Fe/Mn-containing phases. We identified a stable intermediate phase in the synthetic reaction process of LiFePO₄, viz., a ferrous oxalate EG complex (FeC₂O₄·C₂H₆O₂), and resolved its structure; thus, we established a two-step reaction mechanism involving dissolution–precipitation followed by interface-coupled dissolution–reprecipitation for the synthesis of LiFePO₄. The synthetic reactions in an LiFe_0.4Mn_0.6PO₄ solid solution also followed a two-step process via the formation of a metastable intermediate phase bearing a structural similarity to FeC₂O₄·C₂H₆O₂ that, however, has a slightly larger unit-cell, indicating that the substitution of Fe by Mn occurred at the intermediate stage. In contrast, the reaction in the synthesis of LiMnPO₄ proceeds through a simple process of precipitation. Our findings provide important information for optimizing the synthesis of olivine cathode materials. The in situ XRD method we developed in this work offers a new way of exploring a wide range of solvothermal synthesis reactions, which is valuable for the rational design of new batteries

Start codon selectivities at haloarchaeal transcripts in the presence and absence of short 5’-UTR.

<p>(A) The 203-bp DNA sequence preceding the <i>bgaH</i> ORF in plasmid pTMJ was identical to the upstream sequence of <i>hsp70</i> ORF in <i>Natrinema</i> sp. J7. The bases at the 5’-end of transcripts were shown schematically. Their start codons were underlined and the mutations were in grey. The <i>β</i>-galactosidase specific activities (BgaH activities), the <i>bgaH</i> transcript levels and the translational efficiencies of <i>Hfx</i>. <i>volcanii</i> transformants were tabulated. (B) The translational efficiencies of (A) were shown schematically after normalization to that of <i>Hfx</i>. <i>volcanii</i> DS70/pTMJ. (C) The expression of the BgaH protein. Western blot analysis of the BgaH protein in total proteins was performed using anti-BgaH antibody. The <i>Hfx</i>. <i>volcanii</i> transformants were cultivated for 5 days at 45°C and then sprayed with X-Gal. The constructs present in each transformant were indicated under the colonies.</p

The echocardiographic parameters between responders and non-responders.

<p>*<i>p</i><0.05 compared to that before CRT;</p>†<p><i>p</i><0.05 compared to non-response group.</p><p>The echocardiographic parameters between responders and non-responders.</p

Skeletal phenotypes of Mx1-Cre-driven PR inactivation <i>in vivo</i>.

<p>(A) A distal femur from non-pI-PC treated Mx1-Cre;mT/mG mouse. (B—C) Mx1-Cre;mT/mG mice were injected with pI-pC intraperitoneally to induce Cre at one month of age and then sacrificed one (B) or two (C) months later. The distal femurs (D.F.) were collected and sectioned to observe the GFP (green) and tdTomato (red) fluorescence. Green indicates the Mx1+ cells that expressed Cre, and red indicates the Cre-negative cells. The nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). The femoral trabecular bones from the Col1a1-CreERT2;mT/mG mice that received 4 days of tamoxifen injections were used as a positive control and are shown in the insert in (B). The white arrows indicate the green osteocytes that were observed in the trabecular bone in the Col1a1-mT/mG mice but were absent in the trabecular or cortical bone of the Mx1-mT/mG mice (the white arrowheads indicate the GFP-/tdTomato+ osteocytes). There were no green osteocytes observed in the Mx1-mT/mG bones on either day 30 or 60. (D) Bone marrow cells were collected from 1-month-old Mx1-Cre;mT/mG mice. Some multinuclear cells turned green indicating Mx1-Cre activation in these cells (yellow arrows). (E) Serum osteocalcin and (F) serum CTX1 levels were measured by ELISA two months post pI-pC injection (n = 8/group). (G) Five-week-old male and female Mx1-Cre;PR-flox/flox or PR-flox/flox (control) mice were injected with pI-pC intraperitoneally to induce Cre activity. Baseline microCT scans (BL) of the distal femurs were performed on five-week-old mice without receiving the pI-pC injection. The animals were sacrificed at one, two or five months post-pI-pC injection, and the hind limbs were collected for microCT analysis (n = 8/group).</p