Design Multifunctional Catalytic Interface: Toward Regulation of Polysulfide and Li2S Redox Conversion in Li–S Batteries

The polysulfide shuttle effect and sluggish reaction kinetics hamper the practical applications of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. Incorporating a functional interlayer to trapping and binding polysulfides has been found effective to block polysulfide migration. Furthermore, surface chemistry at soluble polysulfides/electrolyte interface is a crucial step for Li–S battery in which stable cycling depends on adsorption and reutilization of blocked polysulfides in the electrolyte. A multifunctional catalytic interface composed of niobium nitride/N‐doped graphene (NbN/NG) along the soluble polysulfides/electrolyte is designed and constructed to regulate corresponding interface chemical reaction, which can afford long‐range electron transfer surfaces, numerous strong chemisorption, and catalytic sites in a working lithium–sulfur battery. Both experimental and theoretical calculation results suggest that a new catalytic interface enabled by metal‐like NbN with superb electrocatalysis anchored on NG is highly effective in regulating the blocked polysulfide redox reaction and tailoring the Li₂S nucleation–growth–decomposition process. Therefore, the Li–S batteries with multifunctional NbN/NG barrier exhibit excellent rate performance (621.2 mAh g^?1 at 3 C) and high stable cycling life (81.5% capacity retention after 400 cycles). This work provides new insights to promote Li–S batteries via multifunctional catalytic interface engineering.     

A Longitudinal Examination of Male College Students' Perpetration of Sexual Assault.

Self-administered surveys were completed by 197 men in college at 2 time points, 1 year apart. Men who committed sexual assault at multiple time points (repeat assaulters) had the most extreme scores on measures of hostility toward women, past sexual experiences, drinking in sexual situations, and adolescent delinquency. Nonassaulters had the least extreme scores and men who committed sexual assault at only 1 time point had scores that tended to fall in between. Repeat assaulters also expressed significantly less remorse when they described their sexual assault at Time 1 than did past assaulters who committed sexual assault only at the initial time point. These findings demonstrate the importance of initiating prevention and treatment programs in early adolescence, before longstanding attitudes and behaviors tolerant of sexual assault are established. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Collaborative Problem Solving Through Creativity in Problem Definition: Expanding the Pie

The classic models of two party problem solving in situations of potential conflict are reviewed and the growing impetus for a process that would encourage collaborative win‐win solutions is summarized. In is demonstrated that in‐win collaboration requires innovative thinking, and that a four stage process of deliberate creativity with a track record of success is described. The process, called Simplex, emphasizes ‘out of the box’ thinking in problem defining (before solving) as the key to making a perceived ‘fixed pie’ larger, moving beyond the shackles of zero‐sum, win‐lose, compromise thinking. If a problem can be conceptualized from a new angle in such a way that each party believes its resolution would provide a high level of satisfaction, then the parties will be more likely to work together collaboratively. This process uses four specific creative thinking skills. A case study is described in which the Simplex process was used in union management bargaining. In the case study, when the creative process was deliberately applied, success was achieved in building trust and developing expanded pies and new solutions. However, when the process was abandoned, the trust was lost, no creative solutions were developed, and a sub‐optimal lose‐lose situation resulted. A two‐dimensional diagnostic model which shows the relationship between skill level in the process and motivation to use it is provided. This model defines four modes of pure and mixed distributive and integrative bargaining.     

Internet Usage Monitoring in the Workplace: Its Legal Challenges and Implementation Strategies

ABSTRACT

With the introduction of any new technology, there is also the potential for its misuse, yet no U.S. federal or state statute currently prohibits employers from monitoring their electronic workplace. In this article, we review surveillance technologies and discuss the related federal and state laws along with U.S. judicial decisions. Implementation strategies to help employers defuse or avoid the negative aspects of monitoring are provided.     

Jamming of cellulose ether solutions in porous medium

The flow of aqueous cellulose ether solutions through a bead packing is investigated using magnetic resonance imaging and filtration measurements. A rather complex behavior dominated by jamming (clogging) and unjamming phenomena in time is observed. With the help of several characterization techniques (laser grain sizing, dynamic light scattering, optical microscopy, and rheometry), we find that the particular methyl(hydroxyethyl) cellulose prepared with a specific protocol, tends to form aggregates in water, even at the lowest achievable concentration. These aggregates are highly polydisperse, ranging from 100 nm to 100 μm in size, and are deformable. Their origin appears to be the hydrophobic links among molecules and the related local crystallization. It is suggested that these features play a key role in the observed jamming/unjamming during filtration tests. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 3923–3935, 2015     

Behaviour of embedded steel plate in composite coupling beams

Plate-reinforced composite (PRC) coupling beam is fabricated by embedding a vertical steel plate into a conventional-reinforced concrete coupling beam to enhance its strength and ductility. Shear studs are welded on the steel plate surfaces to allow for proper load transfer between the concrete and steel plate. The present study focuses on the evaluation of internal load distributions and load sharing on the embedded steel plate as well as at the shear studs in composite coupling beams using the nonlinear finite element package ATENA. The proposed two-dimensional finite element model is able to simulate the overall load-deflection behaviour and internal load distributions of coupling beams subjected to bending and shear forces. The reliability of the model is demonstrated by comparisons with the available experimental results. This is followed by an extensive and carefully planned parametric study using the calibrated finite element model. Numerical results on the effects of steel plate geometry, span-depth ratio of beams and steel reinforcement ratios at beam spans and in wall regions are presented and discussed in this paper. The finite element model provides a better understanding of the behaviour of shear studs as well as plate anchorage in the wall regions and embedded beam region. Based on the numerical results, equations for quantifying the shear stud forces are established and a set of non-dimensional design charts for determining the internal forces of the embedded steel plates is constructed. Both of them are useful for engineers to design PRC coupling beams.