White matter hyperintensities and dynamics of postural control

Background

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on MRI have been associated with age, cardiovascular risk factors and falls in the elderly. This study evaluated the relationship between WMHs and dynamics of postural control in older adults without history of falls.

Methods

We studied 76 community-living subjects without history of falls (age 64.5±7.3 years). Brain and WMH volume calculations and clinical rating were done on fluid-attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) and MP-RAGE MR images on 3 T. Balance was assessed from the center of pressure displacement using the force platform during 3 min of quiet standing using traditional and dynamic measures (using stabilogram-diffusion analysis). Gait speed was measured from 12-min walk.

Results

Age-adjusted periventricular and focal WMHs were associated with changes in certain dynamic balance measures, including reduced range of postural sway in anteroposterior direction (fronto-temporal WMHs, P=.045; parieto-occipital WMHs, P=.009) and more irregular long-term mediolateral fluctuations (P=.046). Normal walking speed was not affected by WMHs.

Conclusions

Periventricular and focal WMHs affect long-term dynamics of postural control, which requires engagement of feedback mechanisms, and may contribute to mobility decline in the elderly.     

Study of the charging circuit of a pulsed solid-state laser power supply: A new concept of high charging efficiency and realization

Based on physical theory, a new concept for achieving high efficiency in a solid-state laser power supply charging circuit is first introduced in this paper that is, from the fact that when an electron from a power source enters the energy storage capacitor, a potential drop would occur in this process. This potential drop is the essence of the energy loss in a charging circuit. If the potential drop is small, or even negligible, power supply with a higher efficiency can be achieved. According to this design theory, a highly efficient charging circuit can be obtained if a power source with a single continuous increased voltage slightly higher than that of the energy storage capacitor is employed. With the use of this proposed technique, a prototype of a pulsed YAG laser power supply with high charging efficiency and high voltage charging precision is implemented. The design idea and the experimental results are described and discussed in detail.     

Structure and magnetostriction of RFex (1.6 ? x ? 2.0) and R(Fe1−yTiy)1.8 (y ? 0.2) alloys (RDy0.65Tb0.25Pr0.1)

Structure, Curie temperature and magnetostriction of RFe_x (1.6 ? x ? 2.0) and R(Fe_1−yTi_y)_1.8 (y ? 0.2) alloys (RDy_0.65Tb_0.25Pr_0.1) have been investigated using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, AC initial susceptibility and standard strain gauge techniques. The homogenized RFe_x alloys are found to be essentially single phase in the range of 1.8 ? x ? 1.85. The second phase is a rare-earth-rich phase when x ? 1.8, and (Dy, Tb, Pr)Fe₃ phase when x ? 1.85. X-ray diffraction indicates that the R(Fe_1−yTi_y)_1.8 alloys contain a small amount of Fe₂Ti phase when y ? 0.05, which increases with the increment of Ti content. The Curie temperature of R(Fe₁−_yTi_y)_1.8 alloys slightly enhances with increasing Ti concentration when y ? 0.05, then remains almost unchanged in the range of 0.05 ? y ? 0.20. The magnetostriction of RFe_x alloys is improved when x ? 1.80 and reduced by increasing Fe content when x ? 1.85. The magnetostriction of R(Fe_1−yTi_y)_1.8 alloys is lowered by increasing Ti content.     

KH2PO4晶体的太赫兹-紫外光谱

实验测量了室温下磷酸二氢钾KH2PO4(KDP)晶体0.2～1.6THz的时域光谱,以及50～4000cm-1范围内的远红外光谱,200～2000nm的紫外-可见-红外光谱。KDP晶体的禁带宽度是5.91eV。在测量范围内有一个很宽的声子吸收带。从0.2～205.5THz吸收系数在35～80cm-1,声子吸收的低频端小于0.2THz。最高的纵光学模声子的频率νLO大约是205.5THz,由此求出这支声子的H—O键的力常数为13.13N·cm-1。     

Meson Effect in the Proto Neutron Star PSR J0348+0432

The effect of mesons f ₀(975) (named as f), ?(1020) (named as ?) and δ on the moment of inertia of the PNS PSR J0348+0432 is examined in the framework of the relativistic mean field theory considering the baryon octet. It is found that the energy density ε and pressure p will increase considering the mesons δ whereas will decrease as the mesons f and ? being considered. When the mesons f,? and δ are considered, the energy density and pressure will all decrease. It is also found that the contribution of mesons f, ? and δ to the central energy density is only the central energy density’s 0.06 ～0.6% whereas the contribution of mesons f, ? and δ to the central pressure is the central pressure’s 4 ～7%. For the radius, it will decrease when the contributions of mesons f, ? and δ are considered. The moment of inertia I will increase considering the mesons δ whereas will decrease as the mesons f and ? being considered. When the mesons f, ? and δ are all considered, the moment of inertia will decrease. It is found that the contribution of mesons f and ? to moment of inertia is 4 ～9 times larger than that of mesons δ. Our results show that the mesons f, ? and δ contribute to the moment of inertia’s 2 ～5%.     

High-Power Diode-End-Pumped Slab Composite Tm:YLF Compact Laser

We design a continuous-wave Tm:YLF laser with a composite slab crystal end-pumped by two fiber-coupled laser diodes at room temperature. We achieve a maximum continuous wave output power of 105 W for the bonded slab Tm:YLF laser; the corresponding slope efficiency is 47.7% and the optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is 42.0% with respect to the incident pump power. The laser operated at 1,907.5 nm with a beam quality factor of M² ～3.2 at the highest output power.     

Estimating the thickness of diffusive solid electrolyte interface

The solid electrolyte interface (SEI) is a hierarchical structure formed in the transition zone between the electrode and the electrolyte. The properties of lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, such as cycle life, irreversible capacity loss, self-discharge rate, electrode corrosion and safety are usually ascribed to the quality of the SEI, which are highly dependent on the thickness. Thus, understanding the formation mechanism and the SEI thickness is of prime interest. First, we apply dimensional analysis to obtain an explicit relation between the thickness and the number density in this study. Then the SEI thickness in the initial charge-discharge cycle is analyzed and estimated for the first time using the Cahn-Hilliard phase-field model. In addition, the SEI thickness by molecular dynamics simulation validates the theoretical results. It has been shown that the established model and the simulation in this paper estimate the SEI thickness concisely within order-of-magnitude of nanometers. Our results may help in evaluating the performance of SEI and assist the future design of Li-ion battery.     

Ionic liquid-based electrolyte with dual-functional LiDFOB additive toward high-performance LiMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> batteries

Manganese oxide-based cathodes are one of the most promising lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathode materials due to their cost-effectiveness, high discharge voltage plateau (above 4.0 V vs. Li/Li⁺), superior rate capability, and environmental benignity. However, these batteries using conventional LiPF₆-based electrolytes suffer from Mn dissolution and poor cyclic capability at elevated temperature. In this paper, the ionic liquid (IL)-based electrolytes, consisting of 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfon)imidate (PYR_1,4-TFSI), propylene carbonate (PC), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfon)imide (LiTFSI), and lithium oxalyldifluoroborate (LiDFOB) additive, were explored for improving the high temperature performance of the LiMn₂O₄ batteries. It was demonstrated that LiTFSI-ILs/PC electrolyte associated with LiDFOB addition possessed less Mn dissolution and Al corrosion at the elevated temperature in LiMn₂O₄/Li batteries. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy implied that this kind of electrolyte also contributed to the formation of a highly stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI), which was in accordance with the polarization measurement and the Li deposition morphology of the symmetric lithium metal cell, thus beneficial for improving the cycling performance of the LiMn₂O₄ batteries at the elevated temperature. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy implied that the cells using this kind of electrolyte exhibited better interfacial stability, which was further verified by the polarization measurement and the Li deposition morphology of the symmetric lithium metal cell, thus beneficial for improving the cycling performance of the LiMn₂O₄ batteries at the elevated temperature. These unique characteristics would endow this kind of electrolyte a very promising candidate for the manganese oxide-based batteries.