Detecting Li Dendrites in a Two‐Electrode Battery System

The use of high‐energy‐density Li metal anodes in rechargeable batteries is not possible because of dendrite formation that can potentially result in a battery fire. Although so‐called dendrite‐free Li metal anodes have been reported in many recent publications, Li dendrite growth is still kinetically favorable and it remains a severe safety concern in mass production. Here, a detection system capable of alerting for Li dendrite formation in a two‐electrode battery with no additional electrodes required is reported. When dendrites contact a red phosphorous‐coated separator, dendrite growth is revealed by a significant voltage change. This can activate a signal through the battery management system, warning of the presence of Li dendrites and leading to shutdown of the battery before the dendrites become dangerous.     

Porcine plasma as polyphosphate and caseinate replacer in frankfurters

The aim was to replace polyphosphate and caseinate by porcine blood plasma as functional ingredients in frankfurters. Three trials, each consisting of one control, formulated with caseinate and tripolyphosphate, and one test, formulated with plasma, were carried out in a pilot plant. The frankfurters with plasma were compared to their respective controls by determining the composition, water holding capacity, cooking losses, internal colour, texture, microstructure, sensorial characteristics, and overall acceptance. No significant differences were found in proximate analysis, WHC, and cooking losses. Texture was not affected by the replacement, according to both sensorial and instrumental measurements. Nevertheless, the panellists detected the presence of animal taste and odour in plasma-containing sausages. Despite this, their overall acceptance was scored as 6.3 in a 10 maximum scale, so plasma could be considered as an interesting alternative to produce healthier and cheaper frankfurters.     

A facile co-precipitation synthesis of heterostructured ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>|ZnO nanoparticles as efficient photocatalysts for wastewater treatment

ZrO₂-decorated ZnO (ZrO₂|ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by a facile co-precipitation method in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant. The ZrO₂ amount in the NPs has been varied from 1.0, 2.0, 4.9, to 9.3% by weight. The resulting NPs are heterostructured and consist of a crystalline ZnO core (wurtzite phase) surrounded by an amorphous ZrO₂ layer. X-ray diffraction analyses support this observation. The NPs show a narrow size distribution and are slightly elongated. Compared to pure ZnO NPs, the hybrid ZrO₂|ZnO ones show enhanced photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of Rhodamine B under UV–Vis light. Such enhancement has been partly attributed to the increased amount of oxygen vacancies when ZrO₂ is incorporated into the NPs, as shown by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses.     

Negligible depletion solid-phase microextraction with radiolabeled analytes to study free concentrations and protein binding: an example with [3H]estradiol

A new method is presented that enables sensitive measurement of free concentrations of radiolabeled ligands. Additionally, protein binding of radiochemicals in complex matrixes can be determined with this new technique that combines negligible depletion solid-phase microextraction (nd-SPME) with liquid scintillation counting (LSC) as detection. [3H]Estradiol was taken as an example compound. Possible matrix effects of protein on fiber uptake kinetics were studied. No matrix effect was found, either by fouling of the fiber, or by changed uptake kinetics. The validity of the method was shown in the determination of the affinity constant (Ka) of estradiol for human serum albumin (HSA). The Ka was estimated at 8.9 x 10(4) M(-1), which corresponds well with literature values. This study shows that nd-SPME is suitable to study the free concentration and protein binding of [3H]estradiol. The method described in this paper combines the advantages of nd-SPME with the advantages of radiolabeled analytes, creating a timesaving, simple, and sensitive analytical tool that will be particularly useful in complex matrixes containing many potential interferences for chromatographic methods.     

Historiography of psychology in Spain: The last decade.

History of Psychology has been an extremely active field for many years in Spain. Both the great expansion of psychological studies and the inclusion of history as a compulsory subject in the psychology curriculum are crucial factors helping to understand the current state of affairs. The aim of this paper is to provide a survey of the work done in this area over the last decade, covering research, teaching, and institutional developments. The study includes consideration of aspects such as main research lines, major theoretical and methodological trends, teaching materials, relevant archives and exhibits, and significant websites. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of essential oils from chemotypes of Thymus vulgaris in Catalonia

Essential oils from aerial parts of Thymus vulgaris have been obtained by hydrodistillation. Their components have been identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Samples were collected in Catalonia (northeastern Iberian peninsula), specifically in four locations along the Llobregat river basin. Such locations have different altitudes with respect to sea level (1500 m; 700 m; 300 m; 100 m), and have differences in pluvial regime and mean temperature. At 700 m, samples were collected from a transplanted specimen from 1500 m, in order to check the influence of the change in environmental conditions. Two different chemotypes have been characterized. Samples collected at 300 m have a dominant chemotype 1,8‐cineole, with 20% (approx.) essential oil content. The other samples have linalool as dominant chemotype with a 40–70% content, according to vegetative stage. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Utilisation of protein fractions from porcine spleen as technofunctional ingredients in emulsified cooked meat sausages

Spleen is a low commercial value meat by-product from industrial slaughterhouses that is mostly underutilised. In this study, porcine spleens were processed to obtain two protein fractions (i.e. soluble and insoluble extracts in sodium citrate buffer 0.1 m pH 5) and the potential of using them to replace functional ingredients in cooked sausages was assessed. Specifically, a pasteurised insoluble protein extract was used as soy protein replacer in mortadella-type sausages, whereas spray-dried soluble proteins were used instead of sodium caseinate in Frankfurt-type sausages. Both splenic extracts performed well as functional ingredients since no differences in proximate composition, emulsion stability, water-holding capacity or texture were found. The only differences were found in the colour of the sausages containing the soluble protein extract, because of the haem and myoglobin content in this ingredient. The results showed that spleens could be a suitable source of non-allergenic functional proteins for meat products.