Fast Ionic Conductivity in the Most Lithium-Rich Phosphidosilicate Li14SiP6.

Solid electrolytes with superionic conductivity are required as a main component for all-solid-state batteries. Here we present a novel solid electrolyte with three-dimensional conducting pathways based on "lithium-rich" phosphidosilicates with ionic conductivity of σ > 10-3 S cm-1 at room temperature and activation energy of 30-32 kJ mol-1 expanding the recently introduced family of lithium phosphidotetrelates. Aiming toward higher lithium ion conductivities, systematic investigations of lithium phosphidosilicates gave access to the so far lithium-richest compound within this class of materials. The crystalline material (space group Fm3m), which shows reversible thermal phase transitions, can be readily obtained by ball mill synthesis from the elements followed by moderate thermal treatment of the mixture. Lithium diffusion pathways via both tetrahedral and octahedral voids are analyzed by temperature-dependent powder neutron diffraction measurements in combination with maximum entropy method and DFT calculations. Moreover, the lithium ion mobility structurally indicated by a disordered Li/Si occupancy in the tetrahedral voids plus partially filled octahedral voids is studied by temperature-dependent impedance and 7Li NMR spectroscopy

PSCP: A Scalable Parallel ASIP Architecture for Reactive Systems

We describe a Codesign approach based on a parallel and scalable ASIP architecture, which is suitable for the implementation of reactive systems. The specification language of our approach is extended statecharts. Our ASIP architecture is scalable with respect to the number of processing elements as well as parameters such as bus widths and register file sizes. Instruction sets are generated from a library of components covering a spectrum of space/time trade-off alternatives. Our approach features a heuristic static timing analysis step for statecharts. An industrial example requiring the real-time control of several stepper motors illustrates the benefits of our approach

Fast Lithium ion conduction in Lithium phosphidoaluminates

Solid electrolyte materials are crucial for the development of high‐energy‐density all‐solid‐state batteries (ASSB) using a nonflammable electrolyte. In order to retain a low lithium‐ion transfer resistance, fast lithium ion conducting solid electrolytes are required. We report on the novel superionic conductor Li9AlP4 which is easily synthesised from the elements via ball‐milling and subsequent annealing at moderate temperatures and which is characterized by single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction. This representative of the novel compound class of lithium phosphidoaluminates has, as an undoped material, a remarkable fast ionic conductivity of 3 mS cm−1 and a low activation energy of 29 kJ mol−1 as determined by impedance spectroscopy. Temperature‐dependent 7Li NMR spectroscopy supports the fast lithium motion. In addition, Li9AlP4 combines a very high lithium content with a very low theoretical density of 1.703 g cm−3. The distribution of the Li atoms over the diverse crystallographic positions between the [AlP4]9− tetrahedra is analyzed by means of DFT calculations

Summertime precipitation deficits in the southern Peruvian highlands since 1964

Precipitation deficits remain a concern to the rural population in the southern Peruvian highlands and knowledge about their occurrence is lacking because of scarce data availability. For mountainous regions with sparse station networks, reanalyses can provide valuable information; however, known limitations in reproducing precipitation are aggravated due to unresolved topographical effects. In this study, we assess in a first step the representation of precipitation during the rainy season (January–February–March) in seven reanalysis data sets in comparison to a newly generated gridded precipitation data set for Peru. In a second step, we assess summer precipitation deficits in Peru during the second half of the 20th century. In the reanalyses data sets, we find biases strongly influenced by the topography of the models and low correlations for the rainy season. Thus, reanalyses do not solve the problem of data scarcity for this region either. Furthermore, we confirm that El Niño is not a sufficient stratification criterion for precipitation deficits during the rainy season (JFM) in the southern Peruvian highlands. Based on observational records and reanalyses, a considerable fraction of inter-annual variability of precipitation can be explained through upper-tropospheric zonal wind anomalies. Westerly wind anomalies, often related to the warming of the troposphere during an El Niño event, lead to dry conditions, but not all El Niño events produce these westerly wind anomalies. Atmospheric simulations indicate differences between precipitation deficits in central Pacific and eastern Pacific El Niño flavours, which cannot be addressed in observations due to reduced record length: Droughts in the southern Peruvian Andes during eastern Pacific El Niño events seem to be related to a stronger warming in the troposphere above the central Pacific ocean, whereas this is not the case for droughts during central Pacific El Niño events. These results, however, need to be further corroborated by model studies and palaeoclimatological research

Summertime precipitation deficits in the southern Peruvian highlands since 1964

Precipitation deficits remain a concern to the rural population in the southern Peruvian highlands and knowledge about their occurrence is lacking because of scarce data availability. For mountainous regions with sparse station networks, reanalyses can provide valuable information; however, known limitations in reproducing precipitation are aggravated due to unresolved topographical effects. In this study, we assess in a first step the representation of precipitation during the rainy season (January–February–March) in seven reanalysis data sets in comparison to a newly generated gridded precipitation data set for Peru. In a second step, we assess summer precipitation deficits in Peru during the second half of the 20th century. In the reanalyses data sets, we find biases strongly influenced by the topography of the models and low correlations for the rainy season. Thus, reanalyses do not solve the problem of data scarcity for this region either. Furthermore, we confirm that El Niño is not a sufficient stratification criterion for precipitation deficits during the rainy season (JFM) in the southern Peruvian highlands. Based on observational records and reanalyses, a considerable fraction of inter‐annual variability of precipitation can be explained through upper‐tropospheric zonal wind anomalies. Westerly wind anomalies, often related to the warming of the troposphere during an El Niño event, lead to dry conditions, but not all El Niño events produce these westerly wind anomalies. Atmospheric simulations indicate differences between precipitation deficits in central Pacific and eastern Pacific El Niño flavours, which cannot be addressed in observations due to reduced record length: Droughts in the southern Peruvian Andes during eastern Pacific El Niño events seem to be related to a stronger warming in the troposphere above the central Pacific ocean, whereas this is not the case for droughts during central Pacific El Niño events. These results, however, need to be further corroborated by model studies and palaeoclimatological research

APOA5 variants and metabolic syndrome in caucasians

Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) gene variants were reported to be associated with two components of metabolic syndrome (MetS): higher TG levels and lower HDL levels. Moreover, a recent Japanese case-control study found variant -1131T>C associated with MetS itself. Thus, our study systematically analyzed the APOA5 gene for association with lipid parameters, any other features of MetS, including waist circumference, glucose-related parameters, blood pressure, uric acid, and MetS itself in Caucasians. Ten polymorphisms were analyzed in a large fasting sample of the population-based Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) survey S4 (n = 1,354; southern Germany) and in a second fasting sample, the Salzburg Atherosclerosis Prevention Program in Subjects at High Individual Risk (SAPHIR) study (n = 1,770; Austria). Minor alleles of variants -1131T>C, -3A>G, c.56C>G, 476G>A, and 1259T>C were significantly associated with higher TG levels in single polymorphism (P < 0.001) and haplotype (P G was associated with higher risk for MetS [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.43 (1.04, 1.99), P = 0.03 for KORA and 1.48 (1.10, 1.99), P = 0.009 for SAPHIR). Our study confirms the association of the APOA5 locus with TG and HDL levels in humans. Furthermore, the data suggest a different mechanism of APOA5 impact on MetS in Caucasians, as variant c.56C>G (not analyzed in the Japanese study) and not -1131T>C, as in the Japanese subjects, was associated with MetS