Developmental Risk: Evidence from Large Nonrighthanded Samples

The aim of the present study is twofold. First, we tested the view that individuals who do not develop a typically strong behavioral laterality are distributed differentially among the two genders across age. Second, we examined whether left handedness and mixed handedness are associated with an elevated risk of some developmental or cognitive deficits. A special recruitment procedure provided norms of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) copy from large samples of left-handed ( = 420) and mixedhanded ( = 72) compared to right-handed ( = 420) schoolchildren and adults ( = 545). This graphic task was considered as reflective of the growth of visual-spatial skills and impairment at copying as a developmental risk. Subjects' hand preference was assessed by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. Data analysis indicated that (1) the trend towards consistent right handedness is sex related. Girls are clearly ahead of boys in this lateralization process, and boys are overrepresented in mixed-handed subjects. The greater prevalence of mixed-handed boys compared to girls decreases with age. (2) Performance on drawing the ROCF varies according to age and handedness groups.Mixed-handed subjects scoredworse in all age groups.The results are discussed in relation to the hormonal-developmental, neuropathological, and learning theories of lateralization

Ultrasound-Assisted Preparation Methods of Nanoparticles for Energy-Related Applications

Ultrasound (US) technology is already into the research field providing a powerful tool of producing nanomaterials or being implicated in decoration procedures of catalyst supports for energy applications and material production. Toward this concept, low or/and high-frequency USs are used for the production of nanoparticles, the decoration of catalytic supported powders (carbon-based, titania, and alumina) with nanoparticles, and the production of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MOFs are porous, crystalline materials, which consist of metal centers and organic linkers. Those structures demonstrate high surface area, open metal sites, and large void space. All the above produced materials are used in heterogeneous catalysis, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and energy storage. Batteries and fuel cells are popular systems for electrochemical energy storage, and significant progress has been made in nanostructured energy materials in order to improve these storage devices. Nanomaterials have shown favorable properties, such as enhanced kinetics and better efficiency as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)

"deus-Ex-Machina" reconstruction in the Athens theater of Dionysus

The intervention of a divinity in the action of a drama to resolve a conflict and, often, to bring the action to a conclusion was accomplished with ancient stagecraft, in which an actor playing the deity would be physically lowered by an elaborate piece of equipment into the stage area. This "god from the machine" was literally a Deus-Ex-Machina. Detailed information on stage scenery and machinery in the ancient theater are given by Vitruvius (1st Century BC) and Pollux (3rd Century AD). From the numerous references to such machines in extant tragedies or comedies and vase paintings, information about its design and operation is available, and efforts to reconstruct such mechanisms have been reported in the literature. Based on archeological evidence from the theater of Dionysus Eleuthereus in the western slope of the hill of the Acropolis, and previous reconstruction efforts, a new reconstruction attempt of the mechanism is presented. Analytical and numerical methods were incorporated to analyze the most conceivable loading situations of the different structural elements of the mechanism, as well as kinematics and dynamics, along with theater reconstruction. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd

Investigation of alternative materials as bifunctional catalysts for electrochemical applications

Received: 25.10.2019. Accepted: 18.11.2019. Published: 30.12.2019.A lab-scale custom made Zinc-Air battery cell was manufactured and tested with a variety of cathode catalysts. MnO2 has been examined both as an Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) and Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) catalyst, with more promising results as an ORR catalyst. MnO2 as well as a combination of MnO2 and MWCNTs (MOCN-10) has been examined in this work. In addition, two different Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs), specifically HKUST-1 and MOF-74, based on Cu and Ni, respectively, were investigated as an alternative and novel cathode catalyst directly on the battery cell. A power output of 20 mW · cm–2 was achieved by using MOCN-10, along with stability in prolonged discharge cycling at 5 mA · cm–2. Furthermore, MOF-loaded battery demonstrated astonishing performance in pulse cycling for more than 120 hours. Moreover, no dendrite formation was observed during long term pulse cycling

Model Reduction of 2-D Systems via Orthogonal Series

In this article, the problem of model reduction of 2-D systems is studied via orthogonal series. The algorithm proposed reduces the problem to an overdetermined linear algebraic system of equations, which may readily be solved to yield the simplified model. When this model approximates adequately the original system, it has many important advantages, e.g., it simplifies the analysis and simulation of the original system, it reduces the computational effort in design procedures, it reduces the hardware complexity of the system, etc. Several examples are included which illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method and gives some comparison with other model reduction techniques

Research Progress in Metal-Organic Framework Based Nanomaterials Applied in Battery Cathodes

Metal-Organic Frameworks have attracted profound attention the latest years for use in environmental applications. They can offer a broad variety of functions due to their tunable porosity, high surface area and metal activity centers. Not more than ten years ago, they have been applied experimentally for the first time in energy storage devices, such as batteries. Specifically, MOFs have been investigated thoroughly as potential materials hosting the oxidizing agent in the cathode electrode of several battery systems such as Lithium Batteries, Metal-Ion Batteries and Metal-Air Batteries. The aim of this review is to provide researchers with a summary of the electrochemical properties and performance of MOFs recently implemented in battery cathodes in order to provide fertile ground for further exploration of performance-oriented materials. In the following sections, the basic working principles of each battery system are briefly defined, and special emphasis is dedicated to MOF-based or MOF-derived nanomaterials, especially nanocomposites, which have been tested as potential battery cathodes

Key Points of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for Wastewater, Organic Pollutants and Pharmaceutical Waste Treatment: A Mini Review

Advanced oxidation procedures (AOPs) refer to a variety of technical procedures that produce OH radicals to sufficiently oxidize wastewater, organic pollutant streams, and toxic effluents from industrial, hospital, pharmaceutical and municipal wastes. Through the implementation of such procedures, the (post) treatment of such waste effluents leads to products that are more susceptible to bioremediation, are less toxic and possess less pollutant load. The basic mechanism produces free OH radicals and other reactive species such as superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, etc. A basic classification of AOPs is presented in this short review, analyzing the processes of UV/H2O2, Fenton and photo-Fenton, ozone-based (O3) processes, photocatalysis and sonolysis from chemical and equipment points of view to clarify the nature of the reactive species in each AOP and their advantages. Finally, combined AOP implementations are favored through the literature as an efficient solution in addressing the issue of global environmental waste management

Key Points of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for Wastewater, Organic Pollutants and Pharmaceutical Waste Treatment: A Mini Review

Advanced oxidation procedures (AOPs) refer to a variety of technical procedures that produce OH radicals to sufficiently oxidize wastewater, organic pollutant streams, and toxic effluents from industrial, hospital, pharmaceutical and municipal wastes. Through the implementation of such procedures, the (post) treatment of such waste effluents leads to products that are more susceptible to bioremediation, are less toxic and possess less pollutant load. The basic mechanism produces free OH radicals and other reactive species such as superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, etc. A basic classification of AOPs is presented in this short review, analyzing the processes of UV/H2O2, Fenton and photo-Fenton, ozone-based (O3) processes, photocatalysis and sonolysis from chemical and equipment points of view to clarify the nature of the reactive species in each AOP and their advantages. Finally, combined AOP implementations are favored through the literature as an efficient solution in addressing the issue of global environmental waste management