Density Functional Theory screening of gas-treatment strategies for stabilization of high energy-density lithium metal anodes

To explore the potential of molecular gas treatment of freshly cut lithium foils in non-electrolyte based passivation of high energy-density Li anodes, density functional theory (DFT) has been used to study the decomposition of molecular gases on metallic lithium surfaces. By combining DFT geometry optimization and Molecular Dynamics, the effects of atmospheric (N2, O2, CO2) and hazardous (F2, SO2) gas decomposition on Li(bcc) (100), (110), and (111) surfaces on relative surface energies, work functions, and emerging electronic and elastic properties are investigated. The simulations suggest that exposure to different molecular gases can be used to induce and control reconstructions of the metal Li surface and substantial changes (up to over 1 eV) in the work function of the passivated system. Contrary to the other considered gases, which form metallic adlayers, SO2 treatment emerges as the most effective in creating an insulating passivation layer for dosages <= 1 mono-layer. The substantial Li->adsorbate charge transfer and adlayer relaxation produce marked elastic stiffening of the interface, with the smallest change shown by nitrogen-treated adlayers

Competition Policy and Regulation in Ports and Shipping

The country's archipelagic configuration requires an efficient maritime transport infrastructure composed of ports and shipping for growth and socioeconomic integration. This paper examines competition policy and the regulatory framework of the port and shipping sectors. It assesses the policies and programs of the government in promoting competition in these sectors and recommends areas for policy and regulatory reform. After a brief description of the analytical underpinnings of competition policy and regulation, the paper reviews the present state of competition and regulation in Philippine ports and interisland shipping to identify emerging issues that call for policy action. It provides specific recommendations for policy and regulatory reform.competition policy, regulatory framework, maritime transport, ports and inter-island shipping, market contestability

Influence of indigestible ingredients on the true metabolizable energy of feedstuffs for poultry

Two series of experiments were performed to determine the effect of an indigestible substance (silica gel) and of dietary fiber, supplied by dehydrated alfalfa meal, on the amount of fecal metabolic energy (FMe) and endogenous urinary energy (UEe) excreted by roosters and laying hens. A third series of experiments was performed to measure the additivity of independently determined true metabolizable energies of specific feed ingredients for laying hens;In the first series (3 experiments), the energy excreted by roosters that were force-fed silica gel (SG), corn or SG-corn mixtures was determined and these data were used to calculate the true metabolizable energy (TME) of corn. The regression coefficient, obtained from multiple regression analysis, indicated that each gram of SG caused the excretion of an extra .47 kcal of FMe+UEe per rooster in 24 hr. The TME of corn was 4.05 kcal per g dry matter when the corn was force-fed alone. The energy excreted by roosters force-fed SG-corn mixtures was corrected for the effect of SG on FMe and UEe excretion. The average corrected TME of corn was 3.97 per g dry matter when this grain was fed in combination with SG;In the second series of experiments, the FMe+UEe energy excreted by pullets fed diets containing 2.70, 3.40, 4.10, 5.00 and 5.70% dietary acid detergent fiber (ADF) were determined. Dehydrated alfalfa meal was used to achieve the dietary ADF levels. The average FMe+UEe energy values among diet treatments and across trials varied from 5.79 to 7.25 kcal per kg body weight during this period. Dietary ADF had no significant effect (P \u3e .05) on FMe+UEe energy excretions and the amounts of FMe+UEe were not related to body weight of pullets;In a third series of experiments, the TME values of seven feedstuffs corn, soybean meal (SBM), animal-vegetable fat blend (A-Vfat), wheat shorts, meat and bone meal (MBM), dehydrated alfalfa meal, and hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) and selected mixtures prepared therefrom were determined by using laying hens. TMEs of ingredient mixtures determined experimentally (observed TMEs) were compared with those expected on the basis of the additive contribution of individual TMEs of each ingredient in the mixture. The results showed that in most instances, the observed TMEs of mixtures of corn and SBM, wheat shorts and MBM, and dehydrated alfalfa meal and HFM did not differ significantly from expected TMEs

Rhodoliths and rhodolith beds

Rhodolith (maërl) beds, communities dominated by free living coralline algae, are a common feature of subtidal environments worldwide. Well preserved as fossils, they have long been recognized as important carbonate producers and paleoenvironmental indicators. Coralline algae produce growth bands with a morphology and chemistry that record environmental variation. Rhodoliths are hard but often fragile, and growth rates are only on the order of mm/yr. The hard, complex structure of living beds provides habitats for numerous associated species not found on otherwise entirely sedimentary bottoms. Beds are degraded locally by dredging and other anthropogenic disturbances, and recovery is slow. They will likely suffer severe impacts worldwide from the increasing acidity of the ocean. Investigations of rhodolith beds with scuba have enabled precise stratified sampling that has shown the importance of individual rhodoliths as hot spots of diversity. Observations, collections, and experiments by divers have revolutionized taxonomic studies by allowing comprehensive, detailed collection and by showing the large effects of the environment on rhodolith morphology. Facilitated by in situ collection and calibrations, corallines are now contributing to paleoclimatic reconstructions over a broad range of temporal and spatial scales. Beds are particularly abundant in the mesophotic zone of the Brazilian shelf where technical diving has revealed new associations and species. This paper reviews selected past and present research on rhodoliths and rhodolith beds that has been greatly facilitated by the use of scuba

Assessment of electron transfer mechanisms during a long-term sediment microbial fuel cell operation

The decentralized production of bioelectricity as well as the bioremediation of contaminated sediments might be achieved by the incorporation of an anode into anaerobic sediments and a cathode suspended in the water column. In this context, a sediment microbial fuel cell microcosm was carried out using different configurations of electrodes and types of materials (carbon and stainless steel). The results showed a long-term continuous production of electricity (>300 days), with a maximum voltage of approximately 100 mV reached after ~30 days of operation. A twofold increase of voltage was noticed with a twofold increase of surface area (~30 mV to ~60 mV vs. 40 cm2 to 80 cm2), while a threefold increase was obtained after the substitution of a carbon anode by one of stainless steel (~20 mV to ~65 mV vs. 40 cm2 to 812 cm2). Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate sediment bacteria electroactivity and to determine the kinetic parameters of redox reactions. The voltammetric results showed that redox processes were limited by the diffusion step and corresponded to a quasi-reversible electron charge transfer. These results are encouraging and give important information for the further optimization of sediment microbial fuel cell performance towards the long-term operation of sediment microbial fuel cell devices.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2019 unit and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 — Programa Operacional Regional doNorte. The authors also acknowledge the fellowship awarded to Gilberto Martins (SFRH/BPD/80528/2011) under the scope of the program POPH/ESF.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phantom cosmologies and fermions

Form invariance transformations can be used for constructing phantom cosmologies starting with conventional cosmological models. In this work we reconsider the scalar field case and extend the discussion to fermionic fields, where the "phantomization" process exhibits a new class of possible accelerated regimes. As an application we analyze the cosmological constant group for a fermionic seed fluid.Comment: 5 pages, version which was accepted for publication in CQ