Electrolyte-cathode interactions in 5-V lithium-ion cells

The electrolyte/electrode interactions on the anode side of a lithium-ion cell and the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) have been investigated intensively in the past and are fairly well understood. Present knowledge about the reactions on the cathode side and the resulting cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) is less detailed. In this study, the electrolyte/electrode interactions on the surface of the high-voltage cathode material LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ (LNMO), both bare and FePO₄-coated, were investigated. The gases evolving upon first time charging of the system were investigated using a GC/MS combination. The degradation products included THF, dimethyl peroxide, phosphor trifluoride, 1,3-dioxolane and dimethyl difluor silane, formed in the GC’s column as its coating reacts with HF from the experiments. Although these substances and their formation are in themselves interesting, the absence of many degradation products which have been mentioned in the existing literature is of equal interest. Our results clearly indicate that coating a cathode material can have a major influence on the amount and composition of the gaseous decomposition products in the formation phase.     

Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) Reaction Derived Nitroallylic Alcohols,Acetates and Amines as Synthons in Organocatalysis and Heterocycle Synthesis

The Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction is one of the most useful and efficient protocols for constructing new carbon–carbon bonds between an activated olefin and electrophiles in the presence of a tertiary amine/phosphine. Herein, we present the use of MBH alcohols, which are obtained from the reaction of nitrostyrenes with aldehydes, as well as acetates and amines derived thereof in several organocatalytic transformations. Densely functionalised MBH adducts can also be used to synthesise substituted heteroaromatic compounds, such as furan, pyrrole, pyrazole and imidazole derivatives.     

Diversity through a branched reaction pathway: generation of multicyclic scaffolds and identification of antimigratory agents

A library of 91 heterocyclic compounds composed of 16 distinct scaffolds has been synthesized through a sequence of phosphine-catalyzed ring-forming reactions, Tebbe reactions, Diels-Alder reactions, and, in some cases, hydrolysis. This effort in diversity-oriented synthesis produced a collection of compounds that exhibited high levels of structural variation both in terms of stereochemistry and the range of scaffolds represented. A simple but powerful sequence of reactions thus led to a high-diversity library of relatively modest size with which to explore biologically relevant regions of chemical space. From this library, several molecules were identified that inhibit the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells and may serve as leads for the development of antimetastatic agents.     

Complexes of ditopic carbo- and thio-carbohydrazone ligands--mononuclear, 1D chain, dinuclear and tetranuclear examples

Ligands based on carbo- and thio-carbohydrazone cores, modified with pyridine, carboxylate and oxime ends, have been examined. They display a tautomeric versatility based on the flexible nature of the hydrazone linkages, leading to varied coordination motifs. Examples of mononuclear (Co(II), Ni(II)), dinuclear (Co(III)), 1D chain (Cu(II)) and square [2 × 2] grid (Ni(II)) complexes are obtained. Ferromagnetic (Cu(II)) and antiferromagnetic (Ni(II)) exchange is observed, with spin coupling in the Ni(II)(4) square grids propagated through the μ-O and μ-S bridges. Weak antiferromagnetic exchange (J = -6.0 cm(-1)) is observed for the μ-O bridged grid, despite the large Ni-O-Ni angles (137-141°), while for the μ-S bridged grids much stronger exchange is observed (J = -148 cm(-1), -198 cm(-1)). This is much larger than expected based on the Ni-S-Ni bridge angles (151-169°), and is associated with the soft (less polarizing than oxygen) nature of the sulfur bridge, which would allow for much more efficient transmission of spin exchange than observed in the μ-O bridged case. Structures and variable temperature magnetic data are included, and spin exchange is analyzed using normal Heisenberg exchange models. No examples involving oxime (NO) bridging are reported, which reflects the positioning of the N,O and N,S donor combinations in each ligand, and the preferred coordination through these donor atoms.     

Multiplicative linear search for a brownian target motion

This paper investigates a search problem for a brownian target motion on one of n-intersected real lines in which any information of the target position is not available to the searchers all the time. We have n-searchers start searching for the target from the origin that is the intersection point of these lines. Each of the searchers moves continuously along his line in both directions of the starting point. The purpose of this paper is to formulate a search model and find the condition under which the expected value of the first meeting time between one of the searchers and the target is finite. Also, we show the existence of the optimal search plan which minimizes the expected value of the first meeting time and find it.     

On $$\gamma $$ γ - and local $$\gamma $$ γ -vectors of the interval subdivision

Journal of Algebraic Combinatorics - We show that the $$\gamma $$ -vector of the interval subdivision of a simplicial complex with a nonnegative and symmetric h-vector is nonnegative. In...     

Design of fiber Bragg grating-based Fabry–Perot sensor for simultaneous measurement of humidity and temperature

A new sensor for simultaneous measurement of humidity and temperature is proposed. The sensor consists of Fabry–Perot cavity formed by two identical uniform fiber Bragg gratings. To make the cavity serves as humidity sensor, moisture sensitive polymer, which is polyimide, is coated on the FBG and on the cavity with different thickness. When the sensor is exposed to the relative humidity change, the polyimide will expand and stretch the fiber and induces strain on the FBG and on the cavity. The induced strain alters the grating period, cavity length and effective refractive index of fiber. The simulation results show that the humidity sensitivity and thermal sensitivity are 1.92 pm/%RH and 8.87 pm/°C, respectively, for polyimide coating thickness of 10 μm on the FBG and 15 μm on the cavity.     

Can Natural Products Targeting EMT Serve as the Future Anticancer Therapeutics?

Cancer is the leading cause of death and has remained a big challenge for the scientific community. Because of the growing concerns, new therapeutic regimens are highly demanded to decrease the global burden. Despite advancements in chemotherapy, drug resistance is still a major hurdle to successful treatment. The primary challenge should be identifying and developing appropriate therapeutics for cancer patients to improve their survival. Multiple pathways are dysregulated in cancers, including disturbance in cellular metabolism, cell cycle, apoptosis, or epigenetic alterations. Over the last two decades, natural products have been a major research interest due to their therapeutic potential in various ailments. Natural compounds seem to be an alternative option for cancer management. Natural substances derived from plants and marine sources have been shown to have anti-cancer activity in preclinical settings. They might be proved as a sword to kill cancerous cells. The present review attempted to consolidate the available information on natural compounds derived from plants and marine sources and their anti-cancer potential underlying EMT mechanisms.     

Propolis: Its Role and Efficacy in Human Health and Diseases

With technological advancements in the medicinal and pharmaceutical industries, numerous research studies have focused on the propolis produced by stingless bees (Meliponini tribe) and Apis mellifera honeybees as alternative complementary medicines for the potential treatment of various acute and chronic diseases. Propolis can be found in tropical and subtropical forests throughout the world. The composition of phytochemical constituents in propolis varies depending on the bee species, geographical location, botanical source, and environmental conditions. Typically, propolis contains lipid, beeswax, essential oils, pollen, and organic components. The latter include flavonoids, phenolic compounds, polyphenols, terpenes, terpenoids, coumarins, steroids, amino acids, and aromatic acids. The biologically active constituents of propolis, which include countless organic compounds such as artepillin C, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, apigenin, chrysin, galangin, kaempferol, luteolin, genistein, naringin, pinocembrin, coumaric acid, and quercetin, have a broad spectrum of biological and therapeutic properties such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstruct pulmonary disorders, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract-related diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, as well as neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and immuno-inflammatory agents. Therefore, this review aims to provide a summary of recent studies on the role of propolis, its constituents, its biologically active compounds, and their efficacy in the medicinal and pharmaceutical treatment of chronic diseases.     

Effect of an Exit-Wedge Angle on Pinch-off and Mass Entrainment of Vortex Rings in Air

The effects of exit-wedge angle on evolution, formation, pinch-off, propagation and diffusive mass entrainment of vortex rings in air were studied using digital particle image velocimetry. Vortex rings were generated by passing a solenoid-valve-controlled air jet through a cylindrical nozzle. Experiments were performed over a wide range of exit-wedge angles (10° ≤ α ≤ 90°) of the cylindrical nozzle, initial Reynolds numbers (450 ≤ Re ≤ 4,580) and length-to-diameter ratios (0.9 ≤ L/D ≤ 11) of the air jet. For sharp edges (α ≤ 10°), a secondary ring may emerge at high Reynolds numbers, which tended to distort the vortex ring if ingested into it. For blunt edges (α ≥ 45°), by contrast, stable vortex rings were produced. The formation phase of a vortex ring was found to be closely related to its evolution pattern. An exit-wedge angle of 45° was found to be optimal for rapid pinch-off and faster propagation and better stability of a vortex ring. Diffusive mass entrainment was found to be between 35% and 40% in the early stages of a vortex ring propagation and it gradually increased throughout the course of vortex ring propagation. Entrainment fraction was found to be sensitive to the L/D ratio of the initial jet and decreases when the L/D ratio is increased.