Intermediate temperature proton electrolytes based on cesium dihydrogen phosphate and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)

Proton conductivity, morphology, phase composition and mechanical properties of (1-x)CsH₂PO₄-xp(VDF/HFP) (x?=?0.05–0.25, weight ratio) polymer electrolytes were investigated for the first time. The chemical interaction of the organic matrix and acid salt was not observed and crystal structure of CsH₂PO₄ was preserved. A method for the synthesis of thin membranes with uniform distribution of the components was proposed. Thin flexible membranes with uniform distribution of sub-micrometer CsH₂PO₄ particles in the polymer membranes and improved hydrolytic stability were obtained firstly by using a bead mill. The mechanical strength of the hybrid polymer compounds was determined using the Vickers microhardness measurements. Proton conductivity in the (1-x)CsH₂PO₄-xp(VDF/HFP) electrolytes decreases monotonically with x increase due to the «conductor–insulator» percolation. Nevertheless, the values of proton conductivity remain sufficiently high, and along with small thickness, flexibility, improved mechanical and hydrophobic properties, it makes polymer electrolytes based on CsH₂PO₄ promising for membranes of medium-temperature fuel cells.

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Regional diversity in experiences of cohesion policy: The cases of Emilia-Romagna and Calabria

This paper aims to provide new evidence on the role played by the local contexts in the implementation of Cohesion Policy, by means of a comparative analysis of the experiences of the Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna and Calabria. Through a deep examination of the 2007–2013 programming period, focus groups with the Cohesion Policy practitioners complemented with document analysis, this work shows how political (in)stability, political entrepreneurship and administrative (in)capacity shaped the patterns of Cohesion Policy implementation in the two regions, thus supporting the idea that institutional arrangements of Cohesion Policy should better account for the diversity of local contexts.     

Electrostatic Control of the Thermoelectric Figure of Merit in Ion-Gated Nanotransistors

Semiconductor nanostructures have raised much hope for the implementation of high-performance thermoelectric generators. Indeed, they are expected to make available reduced thermal conductivity without a heavy trade-off on electrical conductivity, a key requirement to optimize the thermoelectric figure of merit. Here, a novel nanodevice architecture is presented in which ionic liquids are employed as thermally-insulating gate dielectrics. These devices allow the field-effect control of electrical transport in suspended semiconducting nanowires in which thermal conductivity can be simultaneously measured using an all-electrical setup. The resulting experimental data on electrical and thermal transport properties taken on individual nanodevices can be combined to extract ZT, guide device optimization and dynamical tuning of the thermoelectric properties.     

Smartphone use during the leisure theme park visit experience: The role of contextual factors

Recent studies indicate the increasingly important role of smartphones in the customer experience. This research proposes and empirically validates a conceptual framework capturing the influence of five contextual factors on the types and intensity of smartphone use and therefore on the leisure experience during a theme park visit. A mixed research protocol combining an ethnographic approach, leisure experience narratives, and phenomenological interviews is constructed. Because of the secluded nature of theme parks, smartphones play a key role during downtime periods and thus allow visitors to enhance their leisure experience through relational and hedonic use.     

InAs nanowire superconducting tunnel junctions: Quasiparticle spectroscopy,thermometry, and nanorefrigeration

We demonstrate an original method based on controlled oxidation for creating high-quality tunnel junctions between superconducting Al reservoirs and InAs semiconductor nanowires (NWs).We show clean tunnel characteristics with a current suppression by ＞4 orders of magnitude for a junction bias well below the Al gap of A0 ≈ 200 μeV.The experimental data agree well with the BardeenCooper-Schrieffer theoretical expectations for a superconducting tunnel junction.The studied devices employ small-scale tunnel contacts functioning as thermometers as well as larger electrodes that provide proof-of-principle active cooling of the electron distribution in the NWs.A peak refrigeration of approximately δT =10 mK is achieved at a bath temperature of Tbath ≈ 250-350 mK for our prototype devices.This method introduces important perspectives for the investigation of the thermoelectric effects in semiconductor nanostructures and for nanoscale refrigeration.     

Controlling DNA Bundle Size and Spatial Arrangement in Self-assembled Arrays on Superhydrophobic Surface

Nano-Micro Letters - The use of superhydrophobic surfaces (SHSs) is now emerging as an attractive platform for the realization of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures with potential applications in...     

Impact of Soluble HLA-G Levels and Endometrial NK Cells in Uterine Flushing Samples from Primary and Secondary Unexplained Infertile Women

The aim of this research was to determine the levels of human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) and endometrial Natural Killer ((e)NK) cell percentages in uterine flushing samples from primary and secondary infertile women. sHLA-G levels were lower in the uterine flushing samples from primary infertile women in comparison with women with secondary infertility. Lower CD56⁺KIR2DL4⁺ (e)NK cell percentages were detected in primary infertile women compared with secondary infertile women. This is the first study demonstrating that primary and secondary unexplained infertilities are characterized by different basal sHLA-G levels and CD56⁺KIR2DL4⁺ (e)NK cell percentages.     

Expression of PD-1 Molecule on Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Patients with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoreactive T cells that destroy pancreatic beta cells. Animal models suggested that a CD4⁺CD25⁺ population has a regulatory function capable of preventing activation and effector functions of autoreactive T cells. However, the role of CD4⁺CD25^high T cells in autoimmunity and their molecular mechanisms remain the subject of investigation. We therefore evaluated T regulatory cell frequencies and their PD-1 expression in the peripheral blood of long-standing diabetics under basal conditions and after CD3/CD28 stimulation. Under basal conditions, the percentages of T regulatory cells were significantly higher while that of T effector cells were significantly lower in patients than in controls. The ratio of regulatory to effector T cells was higher in patients than that in controls, suggesting that T regulatory cells were functional in patients. Percentages of total PD-1⁺, PD-1^low and PD-1^high expressing T regulatory cells did not change in patients and in controls. After stimulation, a defect in T regulatory cell proliferation was observed in diabetics and the percentages of total PD-1⁺, PD-1^low and PD-1^high expressing cells were lower in patients. Our data suggest a defective activation of T regulatory cells in long-standing diabetics due to a lower expression of PD-1 on their surface.     

Effects of Two Sublethal Concentrations of Mercury Chloride on the Morphology and Metallothionein Activity in the Liver of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Mercury (Hg) is a highly hazardous pollutant widely used in industrial, pharmaceutical and agricultural fields. Mercury is found in the environment in several forms, elemental, inorganic (iHg) and organic, all of which are toxic. Considering that the liver is the organ primarily involved in the regulation of metabolic pathways, homeostasis and detoxification we investigated the morphological and ultrastructural effects in Danio rerio liver after 96 h exposure to two low HgCl₂ concentrations (7.7 and 38.5 μg/L). We showed that a short-term exposure to very low concentrations of iHg severely affects liver morphology and ultrastructure. The main effects recorded in this work were: cytoplasm vacuolization, decrease in both lipid droplets and glycogen granules, increase in number of mitochondria, increase of rough endoplasmic reticulum and pyknotic nuclei. Pathological alterations observed were dose dependent. Trough immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and real-time PCR analysis, the induction of metallothionein (MT) under stressor conditions was also evaluated. Some of observed alterations could be considered as a general response of tissue to heavy metals, whereas others (such as increased number of mitochondria and increase of RER) may be considered as an adaptive response to mercury.     

What should we expect from innovation? A model-based assessment of the environmental and mitigation cost implications of climate-related R&D

This paper addresses two basic issues related to technological innovation and climate stabilization objectives: can innovation policies be effective in stabilizing climate? To what extent can innovation policies complement carbon pricing (taxes or permit trading) and improve the economic efficiency of a mitigation policy package? To answer these questions, we use an integrated assessment model with multiple externalities and an endogenous representation of the technical progress in the energy sector. We evaluate a range of innovation policies, both as stand-alone and in combination with other mitigation policies. Our analysis indicates that innovation policies alone are unlikely to stabilize global concentration and temperature. As for the benefits of combining climate and innovation policies, we find efficiency gains of 10% (6 USD Trillions in net present value terms) for a stringent climate policy, and 30% (3 USD Trillions) for a milder one. However, such gains are reduced when more plausible (sub-optimal) global innovation policy arrangements are considered.