Discharge Duration Research Articles

Performance of a high-temperature transcritical pumped thermal energy storage system based on CO2 binary mixtures

Pumped thermal energy storage is a novel energy storage technology with features of high efficiency, geographical independence and suitable for bulk capacity energy storage. As a subset of pump thermal energy storage system, the transcritical CO2 arrangements have received widespread attention due to their excellent thermodynamic performance. However, the high cost and low efficiency of heat exchange progress caused by CO2 phase transition hinder the transformation of this system from scientific theory to practical application. CO2 binary mixtures is innovatively employed as working fluid in proposed system. The temperature of mixture is variable rather than remaining constant during the evaporation and condensation progresses. R134a, R290, R600 and R601 are selected respectively to mix with CO2 to form the new working fluids. Advanced thermodynamic and economic models are established to investigate the performance of novel systems. Results indicate that the system driven by CO2/R134a with a refrigerant mass fraction of 0.15 exhibits the optimal overall performance. At the optimal point of the 10 MW/8h system, the round trip efficiency and levelized cost of storage are 66.18 % and 0.146 $/kWh, respectively. Moreover, the investigation of system performance with various energy storage capacities is put forward. It is shown that when the energy system capacity reaches 300 MW, the levelized cost of storage can be reduced to 0.122 $/kWh. To adapt to different peak and valley periods in different regions, systems with different charge and discharge times are investigated and it is found that the charge duration should better be equal to the discharge duration.

Assessing the efficacy of a graded pulmonary rehabilitation protocol in mechanically ventilated patients following brainstem hemorrhage.

The objective of this study is to assess the impact of an early-graded pulmonary rehabilitation training program on patients undergoing mechanical ventilation due to brainstem hemorrhage. Eighty patients receiving mechanical ventilation due to brainstem hemorrhage at our hospital's neurosurgery department between August 2022 and October 2023 were enrolled as participants. A sampling table was generated based on the order of admission, and 80 random sequences were generated using SPSS software. These sequences were then sorted in ascending order, with the first half designated as the control group and the second half as the intervention group, each comprising 40 cases. The control group received standard nursing care for mechanical ventilation in brainstem hemorrhage cases, while the intervention group underwent early-graded pulmonary rehabilitation training in addition to standard care. This intervention was conducted in collaboration with a multidisciplinary respiratory critical care rehabilitation team. The study compared respiratory function indices, ventilator weaning success rates, ventilator-associated pneumonia incidence, mechanical ventilation duration, and patient discharge duration between the 2 groups. The comparison between patients in the observation group and the control group regarding peak expiratory flow and maximum inspiratory pressure on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 revealed statistically significant differences (P < .05). Additionally, there was a statistically significant interaction between the main effect of intervention and the main effect of time (P < .05). The success rate of ventilator withdrawal was notably higher in the observation group (62.5%) compared to the control group (32.5%), with a statistically significant difference (P < .05). Moreover, the incidence rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was significantly lower in the observation group (2.5%) compared to the control group (17.5%) (P < .05). Furthermore, both the duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization were significantly shorter in the observation group compared to the control group (P < .05). Early-graded pulmonary rehabilitation training demonstrates effectiveness in enhancing respiratory function, augmenting the ventilator withdrawal success rate, and reducing both the duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization in mechanically ventilated patients with brainstem hemorrhage. These findings suggest the potential value of promoting the application of this intervention in clinical practice.

Dense Contaminants Mixing Into the Saltwater Wedge in Coastal Aquifers: Laboratory and Numerical Investigations

AbstractThe saltwater‐freshwater mixing zones in coastal aquifers can host complex physical exchange and biogeochemical transformations. The land‐sourced dense contaminant plumes could be transferred into the mixing zone of the saltwater wedge due to the density effect prior to discharge to the sea. However, the mixing process between dense contaminants and the saltwater wedge has not received much attention, largely due to the lack of physical evidence. This study used laboratory experiments and numerical simulations to investigate the transport and discharge behaviors of variable‐density contaminant plumes in tidally influenced unconfined coastal aquifers. Results demonstrate that the highly dense contaminants mix with the underlying saltwater and finally merge with the saltwater wedge. This process significantly extends the contaminant discharge durations, thereby reducing the peak value of contaminant efflux. The dense contaminants are elongated along the landward margin of the saltwater wedge, leading to a larger spreading area (Ms) than that of constant‐density contaminants. The sensitivity analysis indicates that the high density of contaminants acts as a trigger to induce the mixing of them and wedges. The higher hydraulic conductivity, lower dispersivities and reduced inland freshwater flux significantly increase the residence times (Rt) and discharge duration (Dt) by enhancing the mixing of dense contaminants with seawater. In contrast, both Rt and Dt values are not only non‐monotonic functions of tidal amplitudes but also less sensitive to tidal effects. Compared with the non‐tidal condition, however, the addition of tides significantly increases both Rt and Ms values of dense contaminant plumes. The results presented herein provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of dense contaminants mixing into saltwater wedges, which could guide practitioners in designing effective strategies to protect coastal environments from land‐sourced contaminants.

Identification of Possible Incoming Runoff using Different Combinations of Extreme Rainfall Events in a Semi-arid Context: Banas River, Bisalpur Dam Catchment

ABSTRACT Event-based hydrologic models are very useful to predict peak flow and flood volume, particularly in semi-arid regions. In HEC-HMS software methods selected for loss, transformation, routing and base flow were soil conservation service (SCS) curve number (CN), SCS unit hydrograph (UH), Muskingum and recession, respectively. A total of six extreme events from the year 2011 to 2019 were selected, out of which four were used for calibration, one each for validation and application. The developed model can identify the peak discharge and flood volume satisfactorily at 2-hour intervals. During validation performance statistical viz. percent difference in runoff volume (DV%), percent difference in peak flow (DP%), Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), percent bias (%BIAS), coefficient of determination (R2) and ratio of the root mean square error to the standard deviation (RSR) were −3.68, −25.93, 0.52, 3.52, 0.53 and 0.69, respectively. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the CN is the highest sensitive parameter followed by the storage time constant (K), which affects the peak discharge. Whereas, for flood volume, CN is the highest sensitive parameter followed by the recession constant (Rc). The relative sensitivity of CN for peak flow and flood volume were 2.11 and 1.73, respectively. Out of center maximum rainfall (CeMR) and cumulative maximum rainfall (CuMR) distribution, CeMR distribution has given higher peak discharge for all rainfall duration. The rainfall characteristics of the 2016 flood event suggest a hypothetical 9-day rainfall duration can be considered. The 9-day event with CeMR gives 70.64% higher discharge as compared to the observed peak discharge during the 2016 flood.

Topical or oral antibiotics in childhood acute otitis media and ear discharge: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

Current guidance suggests oral antibiotics can be considered for children with acute otitis media (AOM) and ear discharge, but there is an absence of evidence regarding the relative effectiveness of antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops. To establish whether antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops are non-inferior to oral antibiotics in children with AOM and ear discharge. Open randomized controlled non-inferiority trial set in Dutch primary care. Children were randomized to hydrocortisone-bacitracin-colistin eardrops (five drops, three times per day in the discharging ear(s)) or amoxicillin suspension (50mg per kilogram of body weight per day, divided over three doses administered orally) for 7 days. The primary outcome was the proportion of children with resolution of ear pain and fever at day 3. Between December 2017 and March 2023, 58 of the planned 350 children were recruited due to slow accrual for various reasons. Children assigned to eardrops (n = 26) had lower resolution rates of ear pain and fever at 3 days compared to those receiving oral antibiotics (n = 31): 42% vs 65%; adjusted risk difference 20.3%, 95% confidence interval -5.3% to 41.9%), longer parent-reported ear discharge (6 vs 3 days; P = .04), and slightly higher mean ear pain scores (Likert scale 0-6) over days 1-3 (2.1 vs 1.4, P = .02), but received fewer oral antibiotic courses in 3months (11 for 25 children vs 33 for 30 children), and had less GI upset and rash (12% vs 32% and 8% vs 16%, respectively). Early termination stopped us from determining non-inferiority of antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops. Our limited data, requiring confirmation, suggest that oral antibiotics may be more effective than antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops in resolving symptoms and shortening the duration of ear discharge.

An Efficient Pulse Circuit Design for Magnetic Stimulation with Diversified Waveforms and Adjustable Parameters.

As a noninvasive neuromodulation technique, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has important applications both in the exploration of mental disorder causes and the treatment of mental disorders. During the stimulation, the TMS system generates the intracranial time-varying induced E-field (E-field), which alters the membrane potential of neurons and subsequently exerts neural regulatory effects. The temporal waveform of the induced E-fields is directly related to the stimulation effect. To meet the needs of scientific research on diversified stimulation waveforms and flexible adjustable stimulation parameters, a novel efficient pulse magnetic stimulation circuit (the EPMS circuit) design based on asymmetric cascaded multilevel technology is proposed in this paper. Based on the transient analysis of the discharge circuit, this circuit makes it possible to convert the physical quantity (the intracranial induced E-field) that needs to be measured after magnetic stimulation into easily analyzable electrical signals (the discharge voltage at both ends of the stimulation coil in the TMS circuit). This EPMS circuit can not only realize monophasic and biphasic cosine-shaped intracranial induced E-fields, which are widely used in the market, but also realize three types of new intracranial induced E-field stimulation waveform with optional amplitude and adjustable pulse width, including monophasic near-rectangular, biphasic near-rectangular and monophasic/biphasic ladder-shaped stimulation waveform, which breaks through the limitation of the stimulation waveform of traditional TMS systems. Among the new waveforms produced by the EPMS circuit, further research was conducted on the dynamic response characteristics of neurons under the stimulation of the biphasic four-level waveform (the BFL waveform) with controllable parameters. The relationship between TMS circuit parameters (discharge voltage level and duration) and corresponding neural response characteristics (neuron membrane potential change and neuronal polarizability ratio) was explained from a microscopic perspective. Accordingly, the biological physical quantities (neuronal membrane potential) that are difficult to measure can be transformed into easily analyzable electrical signals (the discharge voltage level and duration). Results showed that compared with monophasic and biphasic cosine induced E-fields with the same energy loss, the neuron polarization ratio is decreased by 54.5% and 87.5%, respectively, under the stimulation of BFL waveform, which could effectively enhance the neuromodulation effect and improve the stimulation selectivity.

Effects of discharge current and discharge duration on the crater morphology in single-pulse arc machining of Ti6Al4V

Effects of discharge current and discharge duration on the crater morphology in single-pulse arc machining of Ti6Al4V

Solar Heating Modulated by Evaporative Cooling Provides Intermittent Temperature Gradients for Ionic Thermoelectric Supercapacitors

AbstractSolar heating is important for many applications but less attractive for concepts requiring intermittent heating, such as ionic thermoelectric supercapacitors (ITESCs). However, the heating process even at constant solar illumination can be converted to temperature oscillations through water infiltration and evaporation. Here, this process is demonstrated for a carbon nanotube‐cellulose membrane and used to induce temporally varying temperature gradients across an ITESC, which enables continuous operation through repeated charge and discharge cycles. A temperature variation of 10 K can be generated on the top electrode, which leads to a variation in the temperature difference across the ITESC of 7.5 K. Precise control over charge and discharge durations can be achieved by adjusting the volume and interval of the added water. The concept of temporarily adjusting temperatures by evaporative cooling may be extended to create intermittent heating also for other heat sources that are typically constant.

Increased incidence of the type 1 diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis severity in children during COVID-19 pandemic

AimThe effect of COVID-19 on the occurrence of type 1 diabetes and ketoacidosis in children and adolescent.MethodsIn this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, the records of all children and adolescents hospitalized due to type1 diabetes for two years ago and during the COVID-19 pandemic and its peaks were investigated (January 2018–2022). Also, the desired variables including the frequency of hospitalized patients (known and new cases), the frequency of DKA, the severity of DKA, the duration of discharge from DKA, age, body mass index, duration of hospitalization, clinical symptoms including cerebral edema, laboratory data and the total daily dose insulin required at the time of discharge were compared and statistically analyzed.ResultsOut of the 334 hospitalized T1DM patients, the rate of new T1DM patients was significantly higher (P = 0.006) during the pandemic. Clearly, there were more cases of DKA during the pandemic (P = 0.007). The higher severity of DKA (0.026) and the need for higher doses of insulin (P = 0.005) were also observed. The hospitalization rate was higher during the corona peaks, particularly peaks 1 and 4, compared to the non-peak days of COVID-19. ConclusionThe increase in the incidence of diabetes (new cases) in the pandemic can suggest the role of the COVID-19 virus as an igniter. Also, as a trigger for the higher incidence of DKA with higher severities, which is probably caused by more damage to the pancreatic beta cells and requires higher doses of insulin.

Rapid Estimation of Static Capacity Based on Machine Learning: A Time-Efficient Approach

With the global surge in electric vehicle (EV) deployment, driven by enhanced environmental regulations and efforts to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, managing the life cycle of Li-ion batteries becomes more critical than ever. A crucial step for battery reuse or recycling is the precise estimation of static capacity at retirement. Traditional methods are time-consuming, often taking several hours. To address this issue, a machine learning-based approach is introduced to estimate the static capacity of retired batteries rapidly and accurately. Partial discharge data at a 1 C rate over durations of 6, 3, and 1 min were analyzed using a machine learning algorithm that effectively handles temporally evolving data. The estimation performance of the methodology was evaluated using the mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), and root mean squared error (RMSE). The results showed reliable and fairly accurate estimation performance, even with data from shorter partial discharge durations. For the one-minute discharge data, the maximum RMSE was 2.525%, the minimum was 1.239%, and the average error was 1.661%. These findings indicate the successful implementation of rapidly assessing the static capacity of EV batteries with minimal error, potentially revitalizing the retired battery recycling industry.

Focal cooling: An alternative treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy in a mesial temporal lobe epilepsy primate model-A preliminary study.

Focal cooling is emerging as a relevant therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). However, we lack data on its effectiveness in controlling seizures that originate in deep-seated areas like the hippocampus. We present a thermoelectric solution for focal brain cooling that specifically targets these brain structures. A prototype implantable device was developed, including temperature sensors and a cannula for penicillin injection to create an epileptogenic zone (EZ) near the cooling tip in a non-human primate model of epilepsy. The mesial temporal lobe was targeted with repeated penicillin injections into the hippocampus. Signals were recorded from an sEEG (Stereoelectroencephalography)lead placed 2 mm from the EZ. Once the number of seizures had stabilized, focal cooling was applied, and temperature and electroclinical events were monitored using a customized detection algorithm. Tests were performed on two Macaca fascicularis monkeys at three temperatures. Hippocampal seizures were observed 40-120 min post-injection, their duration and frequency stabilized at around 120 min. Compared to the control condition, a reduction in the number of hippocampal seizures was observed with cooling to 21°C (Control: 4.34 seizures, SD 1.704 per 20 min vs Cooling to 21°C: 1.38 seizures, SD 1.004 per 20 min). The effect was more pronounced with cooling to 17°C, resulting in an almost 80% reduction in seizure frequency. Seizure duration and number of interictal discharges were unchanged following focal cooling. After several months of repeated penicillin injections, hippocampal sclerosis was observed, similar to that recorded in humans. In addition, seizures were identified by detecting temperature variations of 0.3°C in the EZ correlated with the start of the seizures. In epilepsy therapy, the ultimate aim is total seizure control with minimal side effects. Focal cooling of the EZ could offer an alternative to surgery and to existing neuromodulation devices.

Fast synthesis of gold nanoparticles by cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet in the presence of Au+ ions and a capping agent

Homogeneous gold nanoparticles were synthesized under atmospheric pressure using a non-thermal helium plasma jet in a single-step process. A current power supply was used to generate the plasma discharge rich in diverse reactive species. These species induce rapid chemical reactions responsible for the reduction of the gold salts upon contact with the liquid solution. In this study, spherical and monodispersed gold nanoparticles were obtained within 5 min of plasma exposure using a solution containing gold (III) chloride hydrate (HAuCl4) as a precursor and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping agent to inhibit agglomerations. The formation of these metal nanoparticles was initially perceptible through a visible change in the sample’s color, transitioning from light yellow to a red/pink color. This was subsequently corroborated by UV-vis spectroscopy, which revealed an optical absorption in the 520‒550 nm range for Au NPs, corresponding to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band. An investigation into the impact of various parameters, including plasma discharge duration, precursor and capping agent concentrations, was carried out to optimize conditions for the formation of well-separated, spherical gold nanoparticles. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to measure the size of these nanoparticles, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe their morphology and X-ray diffraction (XRD) was also employed to determine their crystallographic structure. The results confirm that homogeneous spherical gold nanoparticles with an average diameter of 13 nm can be easily synthesized through a rapid, straightforward, and environmentally friendly approach utilizing a helium atmospheric pressure plasma.

Enhanced supercapacitor performance through synergistic electrode design: Reduced graphene oxide-polythiophene (rGO-PTs) nanocomposite

In this investigation, we introduce an innovative method for the fabrication of a 2D/2D nanocomposite, involving the in-situ functionalization of graphene oxide (GO) with thiophene monomer. This approach employs a modified surfactant-based bi-solvent swollen liquid crystalline lamellar mesophase (SLCLM) nanoreactor system, utilizing dimethyl sulfoxide and water as primary solvents. The nanocomposite is formed via simultaneous reactions at both the edge and basal plane of GO with thiophene monomers, resulting in polymerization and reduction to generate graphene oxide-polythiophene (rGO-PTs) nanocomposite.We assess the pseudocapacitive properties of rGO-PTs in a 2 M HCl electrolyte. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) investigations reveal distinctive redox curves, indicative of the materials capacitive behaviour. In the galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) study, the rGO-PTs exhibits a discharge duration of 169.50 s within a potential window of −0.2 to 1 V at a current density of 7.5 A/g. This performance corresponds to a significantly higher specific capacitance of 1412 F/g, sustained over 10000 cycles as asymmetric capacitor. Notably, the rGO-PTs nanocomposite retains 106 % of its initial capacitance even after a number cycles, tested at a scan rate of 50 mV/s. The exceptional durability and electrochemical performance of the rGO-PTs nanocomposite position it as a promising alternative to conventional materials such as metals, metal oxides, pure carbonaceous substances, and polymers. The simplicity of the synthesis process, coupled with the nanocomposites outstanding electrochemical characteristics, underscores rGO-PTs potential for advancing in the field of energy storage and supercapacitor technology.

The Pattern of Bacterial Infections Among Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media Cases at a Tertiary Care Centre in North-East India.

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a chronic inflammation of the mucoperiosteal lining of the middle ear cleft, presenting with recurrent ear discharge through a tympanic membrane perforation. The present study aims to assess the spectrum of bacterial infection among CSOM cases and detect the isolated organism's antibiotic sensitivity pattern. The prospective hospital-based observational study was conducted from June 2021 to June 2022 and included 94 CSOM cases. An aural swab of the ear discharge was collected from each patient under aseptic precautions. The swab was utilized for Gram's staining and the aerobic bacterial pathogen culture. The organisms isolated were tested for antibiotic sensitivity using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The most affected age group was the second decade of life (27.7%, n=26), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.35:1. The mean duration of ear discharge was 24.0±14.7 months, mostly mucoid ear discharge (39.4%, n=37). Among gram-positive bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 16 (17.0%) cases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most isolated gram-negative bacteria strain in 26 (27.7%) cases. Cotrimoxazole (67.7%, n=21) had the highest sensitivity towards gram-positive bacteria isolates. Amongst gram-negative bacteria, amikacin and ciprofloxacin were the most sensitive, with 78.0% (n=39) susceptibility. Evaluating the spectrum of infecting organisms of CSOM and their antibiotic sensitivity may help initiate prompt treatment with the appropriate antibiotic regimen, thereby preventing future complications.

Fabrication of surface nanoscale axial photonics structures with electric arc discharge

The fabrication of surface nanoscale axial photonics (SNAP) microresonators, utilizing the approach of electric arc discharge (EAD), is accomplished, achieving a precision at the angstrom level. This paper thoroughly investigates the effects that discharge intensity and discharge duration have on SNAP microresonators, respectively, through the manipulation of relevant discharge parameters. The results indicate that, within a specified range of discharge intensity, a linear relationship is observed between the effective radius variation (ERV) and the discharge intensity, characterized by a slope of 0.325 nm/intensity unit. As the discharge duration is extended, the ERV gradually increases, eventually reaching a saturation value, which is inherently determined by the discharge intensity. Additionally, as the discharge intensity (or time) continues to increase, a “convex–concave–convex” shape is observed on the fiber, providing a method for fabricating bat microresonators. These discoveries derived from our study contribute toward providing a strong foundation for the progressive enhancement and refinement of EAD-based SNAP fabrication techniques.

Modeling hydrogen storage at room temperature: Adsorbent materials for boosting pressure reduction in compressed H2 tanks

Energy storage systems are required for an efficient integration of renewables into the grid to achieve a net zero energy system. Hydrogen compressed at 700 bar, is one of the key energy storage technologies. This study evaluates the effectiveness of solid-state hydrogen storage, particularly physisorption in porous materials, to enhance storage performance and safety at room temperature by reducing the operating tank pressure. We model dynamically the entire storage system, comparing adsorbent materials to traditional compression in terms of maximum tank pressure and round-trip storage efficiency. Different energy system applications with varied cycle frequencies and discharge durations were examined. Results indicate that porous material-based systems exhibit higher efficiency for long-duration energy storage services than the compressed hydrogen. Notably, bulk density plays a pivotal role in storage performance. For instance, IRMOF-1 with a bulk density of 500 kg/m3, shows a 70 % pressure reduction compared to compressed hydrogen systems. In contrast, when its bulk density is reduced to 130 kg/m3, the maximum tank pressure is even 30 % higher than the compressed tank. We emphasize the need for comprehensive material characterization, highlighting the significance of parameters like bulk density for determining the most performing hydrogen adsorbent material in terms of maximum tank pressure and efficiency. As general outcome, the best performing material depends on the specific target or system requirements, such as pressure, volume, cost, or weight.

Effects of Bacillus subtilis supplementation on reproductive parameters during late gestation in multiparous sows.

Probiotics are used at different stages of gestation to promote reproductive performance in sows. This study investigated the effect of Bacillus subtilis QST 713 supplementation during late gestation in multiparous sows on different reproductive parameters. On day 85 of gestation, 115 multiparous healthy Landrace Yorkshire sows were randomly assigned to two groups with equal parity numbers. The control group (58 sows) was fed with basal diets, and the probiotic group (57 sows) was fed with basal diets +1010 colony-forming unit (CFU) B. subtilis QST 713 from day 85 to parturition. Back fat thickness on days 85 and 110, number of total born, number of born alive, stillbirth and mummy rates, individual birth weight, litter birth weight, within-litter variation of piglet birth weight, and postpartum vaginal discharge duration were recorded and compared between the two groups. The number of total born, number born alive, back fat thickness of sows before farrowing, litter weight, within-litter variation of piglet birth weight, and postpartum vaginal discharge duration were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Dietary supplementation with B. subtilis QST 713 decreased the stillbirth rate (3.96 vs. 6.39%, p = 0.046) and born dead rate (5.12 vs. 8.57%, p = 0.035) and increased the birth weight of piglets (1552.78 vs. 1506.15 g, p = 0.049). Daily supplementation with 1010 CFU of B. subtilis QST 713 during late gestation in multiparous sows could increase reproductive performance by increasing birth weight and decreasing stillbirth rate.

Respiration and Cough in Pompe Disease: Results from a neuromechanical computational model of the respiratory control system

Late Onset Pompe Disease (LOPD) is an incurable, rare progressive genetic disease. It is characterized by glycogen build-up, due to mutations in the gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha glucosidase, throughout muscle and neural regions. This accumulation is associated with cell death and muscle fiber swelling, eventually leading to respiratory insuffciency and airway clearance (i.e. cough) deficiency. Impairments in effective airway clearance result from the inability to clear normal pulmonary volume. Emerging evidence indicates significant respiratory neuron dysfunction, altering pulmonary function in humans and animal models. It has been suggested that respiratory and airway clearance insuffciency observed in LOPD may be attributed to medullary motoneurons potentially associated with the respiratory and cough pattern generators (Fuller et al., 2013; DeRuisseau et al., 2009). However, the precise neural mechanisms that suppress breathing and cough are not fully understood. One possible target for LOPD respiratory insuffciencies may be reduced medullary inspiratory neuron activity within this network, which could result in decreased phrenic motoneuron output. Using a stochastic neural network simulator that consisted of discrete “integrate and fire” populations, we simulated a systematic decrease in three medullary inspiratory neuron populations: inspiratory driver (I-Driver), inspiratory decrementing (I-Dec), or inspiratory augmenting (I-Aug) neurons. We simulated breathing and three cough trials. By targeting these populations, we expected global decreased neural bursts, suppressed inspiratory motor drive, and/or suppressed expiratory motoneuron output. Simulations indicated that when the I-Dec motoneuron population decreased by 25%, it resulted in apnea and abolished cough. Reducing the I-Aug motoneuron population by 20% resulted in longer inspiratory phase durations (TI) and a decreased respiratory rate. During cough, there was a decrease in the duration and amplitudes of the expiratory motoneuronal activity associated with decreased cough receptor and pulmonary stretch receptor afferent feedback. When the I-Driver motoneuron population was reduced by 25%, TI decreased and I amplitude increased during respiration. During cough, lumbar and phrenic motoneuron discharge duration and amplitude decreased. These results are consistent with previously reported in vivo data. Overall, our simulation data support the plausibility of glycogen storage dysfunction impairing medullary neuronal and premotoneuronal excitability within the inspiratory network. Our results also suggest that some neurons may be more sensitive to glycogen storage than others within the brainstem inspiratory network. Supported by NHLBI L30HL165496, NIH T32 HL 134621 and 3OT2OD023854. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Effect of Gamma-Irradiation on Electrochemical Properties of Nicos for Supercapacitor Application

We used an elementary hydrothermal approach to create this NiCoS nanohybrid. Analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) verified that the creation of this nanomaterial was successful. The material underwent cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), testing in preparation for its use as a supercapacitor electrode. The innovative aspect of this work was researching how electrodes’ supercapacitor qualities were affected by gamma-irradiation with an average energy of 1.25 MeV. The manufactured samples endured gamma radiation exposure with 5, 10, 15, 25, and 50 kGy dosages. Following 5000 consecutive cycles, the sample subjected to the most significant dose of gamma radiation exhibited the lowest charge transfer resistance, maximum stability, and highest specific capacity of 253 Cg−1. Compared to the non-irradiation sample, the gamma-ray exposed NiCoS (50 kGy) had an 85 s longer discharge duration at a current density of 0.1 Ag−1. These data indicate that gamma radiation has a positive influence on electrode performance rather than a negative one. For this reason, NiCoS may be used as an electrode material for gamma radiation medium supercapacitors.

Evaluation of the operational curve for heat storage technology using n-octacosane/low-density as a binding material

Heat storage technology has a critical role for a number of applications involving renewable thermal energy (such as solar water heater). The application of wax (n-octacosane/OCT) as a medium for storing heat brings many positive influences for the system. However, the operational curve is undesirable for the OCT-based energy storage, which makes it necessary to use a binding material. The present work employed LD-class polymer (LDPE) and linear-LDPE as binding materials for OCT. The mixture is prepared through mechanical hot stirring, which comes into two categories: SOCT1 (OCT/LD) and SOCT2 (OCT/LLD). The assessment through the calorimetry method shows an increment in transition temperature for SOCT with a value of 2.1 °C and 5.5 °C. This contributes to the variation of fusion energy for solid-liquid change for both materials, which amounted to 132.05 J/g (SOCT1) and 113.4 J/g (SOCT2). Another assessment related to its chemical and structural phase demonstrates that SOCT has an identical structure to OCT, indicating that SOCT is mixed physically. At the operational level, SOCT is more optimal than OCT according to the indicator related to charge and discharge duration for energy exchange. SOCT1 demonstrates a short plateau line as the indication of a steady transition between 65.4–67.9 °C, while SOCT2 indicates the average heating rate, which is higher than for single OCT. The heat releasing curve for SOCT1 varies at a lower value between 1.92 °C/min and 0.77 °C/min, while SOCT2 has the lowest variation, which is only 0.17 °C/min. Moreover, the self-insulation for SOCT2 has the lowest rate, which is only 0.3 °C/min. The evaluation and analysis from this work show that SOCT is reliable to increase the operational curve of OCT and can be implemented for thermal systems