A panoramic view of Li7P3S11 solid electrolytes synthesis,structural aspects and practical challenges for all-solid-state lithium batteries

The development of an inorganic electrochemical stable solid-state electrolyte is essentially responsible for future state-of-the-art all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). Because of their advantages in safety, working temperature, high energy density, and packaging, ASSLBs can develop an ideal energy storage system for modern electric vehicles (EVs). A solid electrolyte (SE) model must have an economical synthesis approach, exhibit electrochemical and chemical stability, high ionic conductivity, and low interfacial resistance. Owing to its highest conductivity of 17 mS·cm^-1, and deformability, the sulfide-based Li₇P₃S₁₁ solid electrolyte is a promising contender for the high-performance bulk type of ASSLBs. Herein, we present a current glimpse of the progress of synthetic procedures, structural aspects, and ionic conductivity improvement strategies. Structural elucidation and mechanistic approaches have been extensively discussed by using various characterization techniques. The chemical stability of Li₇P₃S₁₁ could be enhanced via oxide doping, and hard and soft acid/base (HSAB) concepts are also discussed. The issues to be undertaken for designing the ideal solid electrolytes, interfacial challenges, and high energy density have been discoursed. This review aims to provide a bird's eye view of the recent development of Li₇P₃S₁₁-based solid-state electrolyte applications and explore the strategies for designing new solid electrolytes with a target-oriented approach to enhance the efficiency of high energy density all-solid-state lithium batteries.     

Simulated Microgravity Inhibits the Proliferation of Chang Liver Cells by Attenuation of the Major Cell Cycle Regulators and Cytoskeletal Proteins

Simulated microgravity (SMG) induced the changes in cell proliferation and cytoskeleton organization, which plays an important factor in various cellular processes. The inhibition in cell cycle progression has been considered to be one of the main causes of proliferation inhibition in cells under SMG, but their mechanisms are still not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of SMG on the proliferative ability and cytoskeleton changes of Chang Liver Cells (CCL-13). CCL-13 cells were induced SMG by 3D clinostat for 72 h, while the control group were treated in normal gravity at the same time. The results showed that SMG reduced CCL-13 cell proliferation by an increase in the number of CCL-13 cells in G0/G1 phase. This cell cycle phase arrest of CCL-13 cells was due to a downregulation of cell cycle-related proteins, such as cyclin A1 and A2, cyclin D1, and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (Cdk6). SMG-exposed CCL-13 cells also exhibited a downregulation of α-tubulin 3 and β-actin which induced the cytoskeleton reorganization. These results suggested that the inhibited proliferation of SMG-exposed CCL-13 cells could be associate with the attenuation of major cell cycle regulators and main cytoskeletal proteins.     

Long-term performance of cement paste during combined calcium leaching-sulfate attack: kinetics and size effect

This paper presents experimental results obtained on cement paste samples (water/cement ratio of 0.4) subjected to a low-concentration (15 mmol/l) external sulfate attack during several weeks. Chemical and microstructural analyses include the continuous monitoring of calcium loss and sulfate consumption within the cement paste, periodic layer by layer X-ray diffraction (XRD)/energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analyses of the solid constituents of the cement matrix (ettringite, portlandite, gypsum) within the calcium-depleted part of the samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and visual observations are used to follow the crack pattern evolution during the external sulfate attack. The relation between the size of the specimen and crack initiation/development is investigated experimentally by performing tests on samples with different thickness/diameter ratios.     

Sintering of Pt/Al2O3 reforming catalysts: EXAFS study of the behavior of metal particles under oxidizing atmosphere

The effect of an oxidative atmosphere (300 °C) is studied on fresh and sintered unchlorinated naphtha reforming catalysts containing 0.6–1% Pt. The TPR profiles show that only one species is formed using our experimental conditions, regardless of the mean crystallite size of the metal particles. The structural information supplied by EXAFS compared with cuboctahedral particle modeling, implies that such species is a surface platinum oxide, the structure of which is close to that of PtO₂, but largely distorted. This is true whether the catalyst is sintered or not.     

Objective classification of vehicle seat discomfort

The objective of this study was to identify how physiological measures relate to self-reported vehicle seating discomfort. Twelve subjects of varied anthropometric characteristics were enrolled in the study. Subjects sat in two seats over a 2-h period and were evaluated via three physiological measures (near-infrared spectroscopy, electromyography and pressure mapping) yielding six testing sessions. Subjective discomfort surveys were recorded before and after each session for nine regions of the body. Conditional classification discomfort models were developed through dichotomised physiological responses and anthropometry to predict subjective discomfort in specific body locations. Models revealed that subjects taller than 171 cm with reduced blood oxygenation in the biceps femoris or constant, low-level muscle activity in the trapezius tended to report discomfort in the lower extremities or neck, respectively. Subjects weighing less than 58 kg with reduced blood oxygenation in the biceps femoris or unevenly distributed pressure patterns tended to report discomfort in the buttocks. The sensitivities and specificities of cross-validated models ranged between 0.69 and 1.00.     

Effects of physical refining on contents of waxes and fatty alcohols of refined olive oil

Changes in the contents of waxes and fatty alcohols during deodorization/physical refining of bleached olive oil were studied. Experiments were carried out with 1.85% acidity oil, which was physically refined in a discontinuous deodorizer of 250-kg maximum capacity using nitrogen as stripping gas instead of steam. The variables studied were load and temperature of oil in the deodorizer as well as N₂ flow. Analyses of waxes and alcohols were carried out at different operation times. The maximum content of wax was always observed when the oil reached the deodorization temperature. The variation in the wax content depended on temperature and N₂ flow. Wax decomposition started and continued during the operating time, and a progressive decrease, which was pronounced between 3 and 4 h, was observed. Small changes in waxes were observed between 4 and 5 h. Total content of fatty alcohols diminished throughout the operating time, and changes did not depend on the variables studied.     

The effect of reaction conditions on montmorillonite-catalysed peptide formation

Oligomerization of glycine (gly) and diglycine (gly₂) on montmorillonite was performed as cyclic, drying-wetting process at temperatures below 100°C, under varying reaction conditions. The influence of substrate/clay ratio, temperature and pH was found to be different for amino acid (AA) dimerization, cyclic anhydride (CA) formation and peptide chain elongation. High temperatures and neutral pH favour CA formation over diglycine production. An AA/catalyst ratio of 0.2 mmol/g leads to optimal yields. This supports the assumption that amino acid dimerization and CA formation take place at the edges of clay particles. Peptide chain elongation, starting from gly₂, produces higher yields at higher temperatures and neutral pH.     

Experimental and theoretical analysis of the operation of a natural gas cogeneration system using a polymer exchange membrane fuel cell

This paper reports experimental and numerical results of an investigation of five identical cogeneration systems using PEM (Polymer Exchange Membrane) fuel cells and running on natural gas. The natural gas is reformed locally to produce hydrogen. The accuracy of numerical results is validated by comparison with experimental data and the system performances are analysed in terms of electrical, thermal and total efficiencies. It appears that the energetic performances are low, particularly at low current. Simple solutions for enhancing the system electrical performances by modifying control laws are proposed.     

Personalized identification of abdominal wall hernia meshes on computed tomography

An abdominal wall hernia is a protrusion of the intestine through an opening or area of weakness in the abdominal wall. Correct pre-operative identification of abdominal wall hernia meshes could help surgeons adjust the surgical plan to meet the expected difficulty and morbidity of operating through or removing the previous mesh. First, we present herein for the first time the application of image analysis for automated identification of hernia meshes. Second, we discuss the novel development of a new entropy-based image texture feature using geostatistics and indicator kriging. Third, we seek to enhance the hernia mesh identification by combining the new texture feature with the gray-level co-occurrence matrix feature of the image. The two features can characterize complementary information of anatomic details of the abdominal hernia wall and its mesh on computed tomography. Experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed study. The new computational tool has potential for personalized mesh identification which can assist surgeons in the diagnosis and repair of complex abdominal wall hernias.     

Analytical and numerical study of the densification of carbon/carbon composites by a film-boiling chemical vapor infiltration process

The film-boiling chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process is a fast process developed for composite material fabrication, and especially carbon/carbon composites. In order to help define optimal conditions, a local 1D model has been developed to study the densification front which establishes itself during the processing of a carbon/carbon fibrous preform. The model features heat conduction, precursor gas diffusion, densification reactions and structural evolution of the porous medium. The effects of total mass flux, Thiele modulus, porous medium geometry on front behavior parameters such as width, velocity and residual porosity are presented as semi-analytical correlations. An existence criterion is produced, which involves a minimal heat flux. Comparison between process-scale experiments and simulation is then possible by inserting the semi-analytical results achieved in the local study of the front into a light numerical model involving the entire preform. The model has been validated with respect to previous experimental and numerical data.