P2-type Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2 Cathode Material with Excellent Rate and Cycling Performance for Sodium-Ion Batteries

P2-type Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2 is an air-stable cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. However, it suffers irreversible P2-O2 phase transition in 4.2-V plateau and shows poor cycling stability and rate capability within this plateau. To evaluate the practicability of this material in 2.3–4.1 V voltage range, single-crystal micro-sized P2-type Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2 with high rate capability and cycling stability is synthesized via polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-combustion method. The electrochemical performance is evaluated by galvanostatic charge-discharge tests. The kinetics of Na+ intercalation/deintercalation is studied detailly with potential intermittent titration technique (PITT), galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The discharge capacity at 0.1 C in 2.3–4.1 V is 87.6 mAh g−1. It can deliver 91.5% capacity at 40 C rate and keep 89% after 650 cycles at 5C. The calculated theoretical energy density of full cell with hard carbon anode is 210 Wh kg−1. The moderate energy density associated with high power density and long cycle life is acceptable for load adjustment of new-energy power, showing the prospect of practical application

Quantum Reciprocity Conjecture for the Non-Equilibrium Steady State

By considering the lack of history dependence in the non-equilibrium steady state of a quantum system we are led to conjecture that in such a system, there is a set of quantum mechanical observables whose retarded response functions are insensitive to the arrow of time, and which consequently satisfy a quantum analog of the Onsager reciprocity relations. Systems which satisfy this conjecture can be described by an effective Free energy functional. We demonstrate that the conjecture holds in a resonant level model of a multi-lead quantum dot.Comment: References revised to take account of related work on Onsager reciprocity in mesoscopics by Christen, and in hydrodynamics by Mclennan, Dufty and Rub

Statistical analysis on spatial correlation of ionospheric day-to-day variability by using GPS and Incoherent Scatter Radar observations

In this paper, the spatial correlations of ionospheric day-to-day variability are investigated by statistical analysis on GPS and Incoherent Scatter Radar observations. The meridional correlations show significant (>0.8) correlations in the latitudinal blocks of about 6 degrees size on average. Relative larger correlations of TEC's day-to-day variabilities can be found between magnetic conjugate points, which may be due to the geomagnetic conjugacy of several factors for the ionospheric day-to-day variability. The correlation coefficients between geomagnetic conjugate points have an obvious decrease around the sunrise and sunset time at the upper latitude (60°) and their values are bigger between the winter and summer hemisphere than between the spring and autumn hemisphere. The time delay of sunrise (sunset) between magnetic conjugate points with a high dip latitude is a probable reason. Obvious latitude and local time variations of meridional correlation distance, latitude variations of zonal correlation distance, and altitude and local time variations of vertical correlation distance are detected. Furthermore, there are evident seasonal variations of meridional correlation distance at higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere and local time variations of zonal correlation distance at higher latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. These variations can generally be interpreted by the variations of controlling factors, which may have different spatial scales. The influences of the occurrence of ionospheric storms could not be ignored. Further modeling and data analysis are needed to address this problem. We suggest that our results are useful in the specific modeling/forecasting of ionospheric variability and the constructing of a background covariance matrix in ionospheric data assimilation

Metallic state in La-doped YBa2_2Cu3_3Oy_y thin films with nn-type charge carriers

We report hole and electron doping in La-doped YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$(YBCO) thin films synthesized by pulsed laser deposition technique and subsequent \emph{in-situ} postannealing in oxygen ambient and vaccum. The $n$-type samples show a metallic behavior below the Mott limit and a high carrier density of $\sim2.8$ $\times$ 10$^{21}$ cm$^{-3}$ at room temperature (\emph{T}) at the optimally reduced condition. The in-plane resistivity ($\rho$$_{ab}$) of the $n$-type samples exhibits a quadratic \emph{T} dependence in the moderate-\emph{T} range and shows an anomaly at a relatively higher \emph{T} probably related to pseudogap formation analogous to underdoped Nd$_{2-x}$Ce$_x$CuO$_4$ (NCCO). Furthermore, $\rho$$_{ab}$(T), \emph{T}$_c$ and \emph{T} with minimum resistivity (\emph{T}$_{min}$) were investigated in both $p$- and $n$-side. The present results reveal the $n$-$p$ asymmetry (symmetry) within the metallic-state region in an underdoped cuprate and suggest the potential toward ambipolar superconductivity in a single YBCO system.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Spin dynamics from Majorana fermions

Using the Majorana fermion representation of spin-1/2 local moments, we show how it is possible to directly read off the dynamic spin correlation and susceptibility from the one-particle propagator of the Majorana fermion. We illustrate our method by applying it to the spin dynamics of a non-equilibrium quantum dot, computing the voltage-dependent spin relaxation rate and showing that, at weak coupling, the fluctuation-dissipation relation for the spin of a quantum dot is voltage-dependent. We confirm the voltage-dependent Curie susceptibility recently found by Parcollet and Hooley [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 66}, 085315 (2002)].Comment: Small modifications added to figure and tex

Evaluation of probiotic strain Bacillus subtilis C-3102 as a feed supplement for koi carp (Cyprinus carpio)

In this study, the effects of dietary probiotic Bacillus subtilis C-3102 (Calsporin®) on the growth performance, predominant intestinal microbiota, expression of cytokines genes in three organs (liver, intestine and kidney) and protection against Aeromonas hydrophila infection of koi carp were investigated. Fish were fed two different diets, 1-control diet (non-supplemented) and 2-experimental diet (supplemented with 1 g/kg Calsporin®) for five weeks. Tissue samples were collected at days 0, 10, 20 and 35. The results showed that the weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly improved by dietary Bacillus subtilis C-3102 (P < 0.01). Dietary probiotic did not affect the body skin colouration of koi carp (P > 0.05). Variation of intestinal bacterial communities were studied by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) which revealed that even though Bacillus subtilis C-3102 was not detected as a prominent component in the intestinal tract of koi carp at any time point, it could affect the intestinal microbiota community at the early stages of the trial, becoming weaker in the later stages. Concerning the gene expression results, the expression of HSP70 gene was up-regulated at day 10 and 35 the liver; no effects were observed in the intestine and kidney. A general trend of upregulation of cytokines expression (IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-α and TGF-β) was observed in liver the (except IL-1β) and intestine, but unchanged in the kidney (except IL-10). The intraperitoneal injection challenge demonstrated that there was no positive effect of dietary B. subtilis C-3102 supplementation against A. hydrophila. These results suggested that B. subtilis C-3102 can provide beneficial effects on growth, feed utilization and modulating intestinal microbiota community