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Aqueous Rechargeable Manganese/Iodine Battery
No full textCarbon neutralization has promoted the identification of new types of energy storage devices. Aqueous iodine batteries (AIBs) with reversible iodine redox activity are considered a viable candidate for stationary energy storage units and thus have recently drawn extensive research interest. Herein, we introduce an aqueous manganese iodine battery (AMIB), utilizing sodium iodide (NaI) as a redox-active additive in the Mn(ClO4)2 (NMC) electrolyte, activated carbon (AC) as a redox host and Mn ions as the charge carrier. Taking advantage of enhanced kinetics facilitated by I2/2I− redox activity, our suggested AMIBs can be electrochemically charged/discharged with only a 6 % loss in capacity after 2,000 cycles at a low current density of 0.3 A g−1 in an AC||AC coin cell configuration. Moreover, the AC||Zn−Mn hybrid full-cell configuration is also established with AC and a Zn−Mn anode involving the NMC electrolyte, which retains a high energy of 185 Wh kg−1 at a specific power of 2,600 W kg−1. Overall, the AMIBs in this study preferred I2/I− conversion chemistry, yielding stable cycle stability, rate performance, and low capacity loss per cycle when compared to Manganese Ion Batteries (MIBs) which are based on Mn2+ intercalation chemistry
Particle MCMC and the correlated particle hybrid sampler for state space models
No full textParticle Markov Chain Monte Carlo (PMCMC) is a powerful approach to Bayesian computation for general state space models. Our article enables PMCMC to handle a larger number of observations and parameters compared to previous approaches by generating the parameters that are highly correlated with the states in a pseudo-marginal step(s) with the states ‘integrated out’; the rest of the parameters are generated conditional on the states. We make the pseudo-marginal step much more efficient than previous approaches by positively correlating the numerator and denominator in the Metropolis–Hastings acceptance probability in a novel way by expressing the target density of the PMCMC in terms of the basic uniform or normal random numbers used in the sequential Monte Carlo algorithm, instead of the standard way which expresses the target density in terms of the state particles. We also show that the new sampler combines and generalizes two separate particle MCMC approaches: particle Gibbs and the correlated pseudo-marginal Metropolis–Hastings. We investigate the performance of this hybrid sampler empirically by applying it to univariate and multivariate stochastic volatility models having both a large number of parameters and a large number of latent states and show that it is much more efficient than competing PMCMC methods. An online supplement to the article and computer code are available online
Wastewater-Based Surveillance of Mpox (Monkeypox): An Early Surveillance Tool for Detecting Hotspots
No full textPurpose of Review: This study aims to review recent literature reporting wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) with a major focus on sample collection, processing, and public health safety issues. Recent Findings: Various studies revealed the presence of MPXV genetic markers in sewage, wastewater treatment plants, and drainage systems of hospitals in multiple countries. Summary: Mpox (formally monkeypox) has been identified in more than a hundred countries, confirming at least 93,937 cases from 06 May 2022 to 03 February 2024. The MPXV, the causative agent for mpox, is a zoonotic virus having genome DNA. Major symptoms of the disease are rash, fever, headache, and chills with lymph pain. It has about a 10% case fatality rate, without any approved vaccine, but researchers are investigating the development of therapeutic vaccines. The virus DNA signature has been long reported in urine, stool, saliva, semen, and spit samples of clinical patients, make feasible for tracking the virus in wastewater. Furthermore, recent studies have reported MPXV DNA from environmental samples. As MPXV is a zoonotic virus with possible multiple hosts (e.g., small mammals and rodents), their detection in environmental samples might indicate the possible circulation of the virus including non-human hosts. The persistence of the infective virus particles in the ambient environment has not been fully investigated. Also, their possible risks of transmission through the contaminated milieu are unknown. The WBS can be an effective tool for identifying their hotspots and trends in communities. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.
Environmental plastics in the context of UV radiation, climate change, and the Montreal Protocol
No full textThe abstract for this item has not been populate
New Recipe for Enhancing the Thermoelectric Performance in Topological Materials Carrying Single-Pair Weyl Points Fermions and Phonons
No full textThe emergence of various topological semimetal states presents a novel opportunity for enhancing the efficiency of thermoelectric transport. This study introduces a recipe to improve the thermoelectric (TE) performance in topological materials containing single-pair Weyl points (SP WPs) fermions and phonons. The recipe focuses on two key factors contributing to the enhancement of TE performance: the increase in the density of states to achieve a high power factor, and the introduction of additional phonon scattering to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity. The proposed recipe is confirmed in a half-metallic SP WPs material BaNiIO6 through first-principles methods. An enhanced density of states arises near the energy of the SP WPs in BaNiIO6, leading to a peak power factor connected to the complex Fermi surface due to the degeneracy of Weyl pockets in energy. Furthermore, it is shown that the SP WPs phonons in BaNiIO6 possess a high scattering rate and can likely contribute to the low lattice thermal conductivity, especially when two crossing points in SP WPs do not degenerate in frequency. The new recipe can be used for discovering high-performance thermoelectric materials in the future by utilizing the transport advantages of degenerate-in-energy SP WPs fermions and non-degenerate-in-frequency SP WPs phonons
Low-Temperature Sodium-Ion Batteries: Challenges and Progress
No full textAs an ideal candidate for the next generation of large-scale energy storage devices, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have received great attention due to their low cost. However, the practical utility of SIBs faces constraints imposed by geographical and environmental factors, particularly in high-altitude and cold regions. In these areas, the low-temperature (LT) performance of SIBs presents a pressing technological challenge that requires significant breakthroughs. In LT environments, the electrochemical reaction kinetics of SIBs are sluggish, the electrode/electrolyte interface is unstable, and the diffusion of sodium ions in electrode materials is slow, leading to a decrease in battery performance. Therefore, the reasonable design of electrolyte and electrode materials is of great significance for optimizing the LT performance of SIBs. In this review, the research progress of LT SIBs electrolytes, cathode, and anode materials, as well as sodium metal batteries and solid-state electrolytes is systematically summarized in recent years, aiming to understand the design principles of LT SIBs, clarify the basic research and development of high-performance SIBs in practical applications, and promote the development of SIBs technology in the full temperature range
Developing high-power Li||S batteries via transition metal/carbon nanocomposite electrocatalyst engineering
No full textThe activity of electrocatalysts for the sulfur reduction reaction (SRR) can be represented using volcano plots, which describe specific thermodynamic trends. However, a kinetic trend that describes the SRR at high current rates is not yet available, limiting our understanding of kinetics variations and hindering the development of high-power Li||S batteries. Here, using Le Chatelier’s principle as a guideline, we establish an SRR kinetic trend that correlates polysulfide concentrations with kinetic currents. Synchrotron X-ray adsorption spectroscopy measurements and molecular orbital computations reveal the role of orbital occupancy in transition metal-based catalysts in determining polysulfide concentrations and thus SRR kinetic predictions. Using the kinetic trend, we design a nanocomposite electrocatalyst that comprises a carbon material and CoZn clusters. When the electrocatalyst is used in a sulfur-based positive electrode (5 mg cm−2 of S loading), the corresponding Li||S coin cell (with an electrolyte:S mass ratio of 4.8) can be cycled for 1,000 cycles at 8 C (that is, 13.4 A gS−1, based on the mass of sulfur) and 25 °C. This cell demonstrates a discharge capacity retention of about 75% (final discharge capacity of 500 mAh gS−1) corresponding to an initial specific power of 26,120 W kgS−1 and specific energy of 1,306 Wh kgS−1
Lack of population structure in an important fishery species of mud shrimp, <i>Trypaea australiensis</i>
No full textFrom a conservation standpoint, species that are managed without consideration of their population sizes and connectivity have the potential to be over-exploited and/or incur population decline. The burrowing shrimp, Trypaea australiensis, is an important ecosystem engineer and fishery resource caught in large numbers for which population information is unknown for properly managing the species. Here, we determined the level of population structure of T. australiensis across three locations along the East Coast of New South Wales, Australia, using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained through double digest Restriction-site Associated DNA-sequencing (ddRAD-seq). Analysis of population structure, including pairwise Fst (−0.003 to −0.001), STRUCTURE (K = 2) and Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC) showed no evidence of structure among locations. Our findings provide crucial preliminary population genetic data for a key cryptic species, that also suggests gene flow among sampling locations enables the management of fisheries throughout the study area as a single unit.</p
Return on investment of fracture liaison services: a systematic review and analysis
No full textFracture liaison services (FLS) have been proven clinically effective and cost-effective in preventing subsequent fractures among patients with an existing fragility fracture. Little is known about their monetary benefits such as their return on investment (ROI). This systematic review aimed to investigate the ROI of FLS and identify the FLS characteristics with better ROI. Studies on the cost-effectiveness of FLS published between January 2000 and December 2022 were searched from MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Central. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection and data extraction. ROI was calculated based on the difference between monetary benefits and FLS costs divided by the FLS costs. Subgroup analysis of ROI was performed across FLS types and FLS design details. A total of 23 FLS were included in this review. The majority of them were targeting patients aged over 50 years having fractures without identified sites. The mean ROI of these FLS was 10.49 (with a median ROI of 7.57), and 86.96% of FLS had positive ROI. FLS making treatment recommendations yielded the highest ROI (with a mean ROI of 18.39 and a median of 13.60). Incorporating primary care providers (with a mean ROI of 16.04 and a median of 13.20) or having them as program leaders (with a mean ROI of 12.07 and a median of 12.07) has demonstrated a high ROI. FLS for specific fracture sites had great monetary return. Intensive FLS such as type A and B FLS programs had higher ROI than non-intensive type C and D FLS. This review revealed a 10.49-fold monetary return of FLS. Identified characteristics contributing to greater economic return informed value-for-money FLS designs. Findings highlight the importance of FLS and the feasibility of expanding their contribution in mitigating the economic burden of osteoporotic fracture and are conducive to the promotion of FLS internationally
Utilisation of Chronic Disease and Mental Health Management Services and Cardioprotective Medication Prescriptions in Primary Care for Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study
No full textBackground: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among cancer survivors. Mental health is considered an important risk factor affecting the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about the use of secondary prevention strategies for CVD in patients with both cancer and CVD. This study aimed to compare the utilisation of primary care chronic disease management plans, mental health care and guideline-indicated cardioprotective medications among CVD patients with and without cancer. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study utilising clinical data of patients with CVD from 50 Australian primary care practices. Outcomes included the use of chronic disease management plans, mental health care, guideline-indicated cardioprotective medications and influenza vaccination. Logistic regression, accounting for demographic and clinical covariates and clustering effects by practices, was used to compare the two groups. Results: Of the 15,040 patients with CVD, 1,486 patients (9.9%) concurrently had cancer. Patients with cancer, compared to those without, were older (77.6 vs 71.8 years, p<0.001), more likely to drink alcohol (62.6% vs 55.7%, p<0.001), have lower systolic (130.3±17.8 vs 132.5±21.1 mmHg, p<0.001) and diastolic (72.2±11 vs 75.3±34 mmHg, p<0.001) blood pressure. Although suboptimal for both groups, patients with cancer were significantly more likely to have general practice management plans (GPMPs) (51.4% vs 43.2%, p<0.001), coordination of team care arrangements (TCAs) (46.2% vs 37.0%, p<0.001), have a review of either GPMP or TCA (42.8% vs 34.7%, p<0.001), have a mental health treatment consultation (15.4% vs 10.5%, p=0.004) and be prescribed blood pressure-lowering medications (70.1% vs 66.0%, p=0.002). However, there were no statistical differences in the prescription of lipid-lowering or antiplatelet medications. After adjustments for covariates and multiple testing, patients with cancer did not show a difference in GPMPs, TCAs, and a review of either, but were more likely to receive mental health treatment consultations than those without cancer (odds ratio 1.76; 95% confidence interval 1.42–2.19). Conclusions: Less than half of patients with CVD had a GPMP, TCA or review of either. Although those patients with cancer were more likely to receive these interventions, still around half the patients did not. Medicare-funded GPMPs, TCAs and a review of either GPMP or TCA were underutilised, and future studies should seek to identify ways of improving access to these services