Unexpected Improvement Research Articles

Cathode catalyst layer aging of proton exchange membrane fuel cell during emulated start-up/shut-down phases

Start-up and Shut-down phases for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell stacks are known to damage the Cathode Catalyst Layer inducing an irreversible loss of performance. An original Accelerated Stress Test has been designed to mimic the Start-up phase in real-life system conditions. The impact of cathode potential on the degradation mechanisms of the Pt/C components within the Cathode Catalyst Layer by local electrochemical and physicochemical analyses provided a deep understanding of the cathode evolution. An unexpected cell performance improvement is observed between 1.0 and 1.2 V cathode potential, especially at high current density. A beneficial modification of the properties occurs suggesting that fresh Cathode Catalyst Layer exhibits non-optimized carbon support properties. However, a significant structure subsidence appears when the cathode potential is above 1.4 V. In this condition, modification/compaction of cathode layer due to carbon corrosion alters mass transport and empathizes water flooding through the electrode.

Analysis of thermal stability and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline ultra-thin Ni–Co foils

In this study, nanocrystalline ultra-thin (NUT) Ni and Ni–Co foils were prepared using electrodeposition with varying Co content. Their composition and microstructure were characterized. A systematic investigation was conducted to the thermal stability and mechanical properties of NUT foils. The results indicated that with an increase in Co content, there was an increase in the driving force for grain growth and a decrease in grain boundary (GB) energy, resulting in unexpected improvement in the thermal stability despite the decrease in grain size. The incorporation of Co enhanced the strength of the NUT foils. However, the effect of increased Co content on the improvement in strength was relatively small. Due to its extremely thin thickness and nanocrystalline microstructure, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation (EL) of the NUT foil fell below the theoretical strength, while the maximum UTS and EL were observed at a Co content of 17 %, which exhibited a UTS of 1337 MPa and an EL of 8.6 %. The tensile fracture exhibited a clear combination of brittle and ductile modes. With an increase in Co content, the NUT foil transitioned from predominantly brittle to ductile and then back to brittle fracture.

Sharpening Littlewood subordination principle with univalent symbol

AbstractLet be a subharmonic function on the open unit disc , centered at the origin of the complex plane, and let be a holomorphic function such that . A classical result, known as Littlewood subordination principle, states , where and are integral means over the circle of radius centered at the origin, of the functions and , respectively. In this note, we obtain an unexpected improvement of Littlewood subordination principle in the case when the function is univalent, by proving that where . We also list some applications of this result including an improved variant of Rogosinski theorem with univalent symbol.

Digital therapeutics using virtual reality-based visual perceptual learning for visual field defects in stroke: A double-blind randomized trial.

Visual field defects (VFDs) represent a debilitating poststroke complication, characterized by unseen parts of the visual field. Visual perceptual learning (VPL), involving repetitive visual training in blind visual fields, may effectively restore visual field sensitivity in cortical blindness. This current multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial investigated the efficacy and safety of VPL-based digital therapeutics (Nunap Vision [NV]) for treating poststroke VFDs. Stroke outpatients with VFDs (>6 months after stroke onset) were randomized into NV (defective field training) or Nunap Vision-Control (NV-C, central field training) groups. Both interventions provided visual perceptual training, consisting of orientation, rotation, and depth discrimination, through a virtual reality head-mounted display device 5 days a week for 12 weeks. The two groups received VFD assessments using Humphrey visual field (HVF) tests at baseline and 12-week follow-up. The final analysis included those completed the study (NV, n=40; NV-C, n=35). Efficacy measures included improved visual area (sensitivity ≥6dB) and changes in the HVF scores during the 12-week period. With a high compliance rate, NV and NV-C training improved the visual areas in the defective hemifield (>72 degrees2) and the whole field (>108 degrees2), which are clinically meaningful improvements despite no significant between-group differences. According to within-group analyses, mean total deviation scores in the defective hemifield improved after NV training (p=.03) but not after NV-C training (p=.12). The current trial suggests that VPL-based digital therapeutics may induce clinically meaningful visual improvements in patients with poststroke VFDs. Yet, between-group differences in therapeutic efficacy were not found as NV-C training exhibited unexpected improvement comparable to NV training, possibly due to learning transfer effects.

Performance of Phenolic-Epoxy Coatings after Exposure to High Temperatures

Phenolic-epoxy coatings, which are designed to protect substrates from thermal damage, are widely applied in many fields. There remains an inadequate understanding of how such coatings change during their service life after exposure to various temperature conditions. To further elucidate this issue, this case study investigated the effects of high temperatures on carbon steel panels coated with phenolic epoxy and exposed to different heating conditions. A general trend of decreasing barrier performance was observed after exposure to 150 °C for 3 d, as evidenced by the appearance of cracks on the panel surfaces. In contrast, the coating performance improved after exposure to isothermal conditions (120 °C) or thermal cycling from room temperature to 120 °C, as indicated by the increased low-frequency impedance modulus values of the coating. This unexpected improvement was further examined by characterising the coatings using transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), pull-off adhesion tests, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The maximum pull-off adhesion force (24.9 ± 3.6 MPa) was measured after thermal cycling for 40 d.

The role of multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic model of care in Lamb-Shaffer syndrome - case report

This case study illustrates a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic model of care for a 7-year-old male with Lamb–Shaffer syndrome (LAMSHF). LAMSHF is an ultra-rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, caused by heterozygous alterations in the SOX5 gene. An integrative model of therapy of cognitive functions and speech is described. The presented approach allows the development of language competences through stimulation of basic cognitive functions, which allows the learning of the abstract rules of an inflected language. A surprising, unexpected improvement in the cognitive functioning of the child was observed (both in terms of reasoning and speech), as well as an increase in his independence. The clinically important problem of the need for continued stimulation of cognitive development, in spite of the unfavourable prognosis associated with LAMSHF, is highlighted.

Unveiling the Roles of LncRNA MOIRAs in Rice Blast Disease Resistance.

Rice blast disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is a major threat to rice production worldwide. This study investigates the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in rice's response to this destructive disease, with a focus on their impacts on disease resistance and yield traits. Three specific lncRNAs coded by M. oryzae infection-responsive lncRNAs (MOIRAs), MOIRA1, MOIRA2, and MOIRA3, were identified as key regulators of rice's response to M. oryzae infection. Strikingly, when MOIRA1 and MOIRA2 were overexpressed, they exhibited a dual function: they increased rice's susceptibility to blast fungus, indicating a negative role in disease resistance, while simultaneously enhancing tiller numbers and single-plant yield, with no adverse effects on other yield-related traits. This unexpected improvement in productivity suggests the possibility of overcoming the traditional trade-off between disease resistance and crop yield. These findings provide a novel perspective on crop enhancement, offering a promising solution to global food security challenges by developing rice varieties that effectively balance disease resistance and increased productivity.

Yearly motor function changes in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, including a COVID-19 behavioral restriction period.

[Purpose] This study aimed to assess the motor function status of ambulatory patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2020, which included a 3-month period of behavioral restriction due to the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, in comparison to the previous 2 years. [Participants and Methods] A retrospective analysis was conducted on 12 patients (children with mean age: 9.58 ± 3.43 years in 2020). Parameters such as lower leg maximum circumference, 10-m running time, rising-from-the-floor time, ankle joint range-of-motion, 6-min walk distance, and North Star Ambulatory Assessment score were evaluated. [Results] Significant increases in the maximum right thigh circumference and prolonged 10-m running time were observed in 2020. Interestingly, an unexpected improvement in ankle dorsiflexion angle was noted in both ankles. No other statistically significant differences were observed among the assessed time points. [Conclusion] These findings highlight the critical importance of continuous exercise and rehabilitation for ambulatory children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, emphasizing the potential of rehabilitation to mitigate and restore the transient motor function deterioration observed during periods of behavioral restrictions.

A cell-permeable probe for the labelling of a bacterial glycosyltransferase and virulence factor.

Chemical probes for bacterial glycosyltransferases are of interest for applications such as tracking of expression levels, and strain profiling and identification. Existing probes for glycosyltransferases are typically based on sugar-nucleotides, whose charged nature limits their applicability in intact cells. We report the development of an uncharged covalent probe for the bacterial galactosyltransferase LgtC, and its application for the fluorescent labelling of this enzyme in recombinant form, cell lysates, and intact cells. The probe was designed by equipping a previously reported covalent LgtC inhibitor based on a pyrazol-3-one scaffold with a 7-hydroxycoumarin fluorophore. We show that this pyrazol-3-ones scaffold is surprisingly stable in aqueous media, which may have wider implications for the use of pyrazol-3-ones as chemical probes. We also show that the 7-hydroxycoumarin fluorophore leads to an unexpected improvement in activity, which could be exploited for the development of second generation analogues. These results will provide a basis for the development of LgtC-specific probes for the detection of LgtC-expressing bacterial strains.

Unexpected Low Temperature Activity with Low N2 O Emission of Stabilized Al-rich Zeolite Beta for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx.

The low temperature activity of Fe-loaded zeolites as selective catalytic reduction of NOx by NH3 (NH3 -SCR) catalysts is a critical drawback for practical application. Here, we found unexpected improvement of low temperature activity by our proposed post-synthetic treatment. An Al-rich zeolite beta (Si/Al=5) is employed as the catalyst support, and the parent sample is dealuminated for higher hydrothermal stability, followed by the liquid-mediated stabilization treatment and impregnation. It is found that stabilized samples feature excellent low temperature activity and high N2 selectivity even for a long-term operation, along with the ability to maintain high NOx conversion after aging. The improved SCR activity should be attributed to abundant acid sites in Al-rich framework and better stabilization of monomeric iron species after the stabilization treatment. Furthermore, the low yield of side product N2 O is probably due to the absence of the generation of NH4 NO3 during NH3 -SCR catalyzed by Fe-loaded zeolites.

Doxycycline-Induced Intracranial Hypertension Presenting as Unilateral Pulsatile Tinnitus.

Pulsatile tinnitus (PT) is increasingly recognized as a cardinal symptom of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). However, clinicians should remain aware of other causes of nonidiopathic or secondary intracranial hypertension manifesting as PT. We present 2 patients with isolated PT (without accompanying headache, blurred vision, and papilledema) thought to be secondary to tetracycline-induced intracranial hypertension. To our knowledge, these are the first cases of PT as the presenting symptom of this condition. A 41-year-old female (body mass index [BMI] 29 kg/m2) with ocular rosacea was initially treated with minocycline. Shortly after transitioning to oral doxycycline and erythromycin eye ointment, she noted left-sided PT. Her PT resolved after discontinuing doxycycline. In a second case, a 39-year-old female (BMI 19 kg/m2) with acne presented with a three-year history of left-sided PT while on long-term oral doxycycline for many years. She denied visual or auditory changes and atypical headaches. MRI findings were concerning for intracranial hypertension. Three months later, the patient was seen by neuro-ophthalmology, with findings suggesting prior papilledema. The patient reported PT improvement after discontinuing doxycycline. This case series highlights 2 cases of isolated PT as the sole symptom of intracranial hypertension that resolved with tetracycline cessation. The presentation and unexpected improvement following tetracycline discontinuation are atypical compared with previous reports of tetracycline-induced intracranial hypertension. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for all types of intracranial hypertension (idiopathic and secondary), even in patients with a lower BMI. Current and prior medications should be reviewed when considering the etiology of intracranial hypertension.

Fabrication of flame‐retardant wood plastic composites based on wasted bean dregs with recycled PE via mechanochemical crosslinking

AbstractFabricating wood‐plastic composites (WPCs) using recycled plastic and wasted biomass materials is one of the effective approaches to alleviate the global energy crisis and reduce carbon emission. However, the unsatisfactory mechanical properties and fire safety hazards significantly limit the application of WPCs. Herein, recycled high density polyethylene (R‐PE), bean dregs and intumesce flame retardant (IFR) were melt‐blended into flame‐retardant WPC by mechanochemical crosslinking. The results show that the as‐prepared WPC within 22 wt% IFR achieves a satisfactory UL‐94 V‐0 rating and a limiting oxygen index of 31.0%, exhibiting a 40%, 27.6%, and 16.4% reduction in peak heat release rate, total heat release and total smoke production respectively compared to controlled WPC. The results also revealed an unexpected improvement in the mechanical performance of WPCs using the strategy (elevation of 73.6% in the elastic modulus and 75.9% in the breaking elongation, respectively), which can be attributed to the improved interfacial compatibility between R‐PE, bean dregs and IFR. This work offers an innovative and feasible approach for fabrication of high‐performance fire‐retardant WPC based on recycling waste plastics and agriculture wastes, and contributing to the circular economy and sustainability in accordance with the greening strategy in the world.

Engineering phosphorus-containing lignin for epoxy biocomposites with enhanced thermal stability, fire retardancy and mechanical properties

Fabricating a high-performing thermoset using bio-based flame retardant is critical for the sustainable development of engineering materials with superior fire safety and robust mechanical properties. Herein, the epoxy (EP) composites with the industrial requirements are manufactured with a novel high-efficient, lignin-based flame retardant named DAL-x, which is fabricated by grafting 9, 10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaze-10-oxide (DOPO) onto lignin. The resulting DAL-x/EP composite exhibits excellent flame retardancy with a desirable UL-94 V-0 rating and a satisfactory limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 29.8% due to the appropriate phosphorus content of DAL-x with adjustable molecular chain structure. Moreover, the DAL-x/EP composite shows an unexpected improvement in the elastic modulus (∼36%) and well-preserved strength and ductility compared with those of pure EP. This work offers a feasible strategy for creating efficient bio-based flame retardants utilizing industrial waste lignin and preparing high-performance EP composites that meet the demanding requirement of fire retardancy in industries, contributing to the circular economy and sustainability.

Daith Ear Piercing in The Treatment of Migraine

We report the initial results from an ongoing study of Daith ear piercing undertaken in collaboration with experienced piercers at a long-established national chain of piercing studios. Daith piercing passes through the cartilage of the crus helix, an area innervated by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. Historically, Daith piercing was cosmetic, but has become increasingly popular after unexpected improvement in migraine was first noticed in 1992. Since then, many migraine sufferers have sought a Daith piercing from cosmetic piercing studios and their reports of improvements continue. Apart from isolated case histories there has been no medical investigation. Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve is an established treatment for migraine and epilepsy that is recognised by NICE in the UK. We hypothesize that the piercing stimulates the vagus nerve by mechanical or inflammatory irritation.

Assimilation of surface‐sensitive bands' clear‐sky radiance data using retrieved surface temperatures from geostationary satellites

AbstractClear‐sky radiances (CSRs) derived from observations made by imager sensors on board geostationary satellites are widely used in most operational numerical weather prediction systems. CSRs have data on tropospheric water vapour and temperatures, and the products at water vapour bands are generally assimilated into global data assimilation systems. In another band, known as the CO2 band (13.3–13.4 μm), CSRs are not used widely yet, despite having a wealth of information about temperatures in the mid‐ and low troposphere. This is mainly because of the high surface sensitivity of this band, which makes it difficult to accurately simulate brightness temperatures when there are non‐negligible errors in the surface parameters in the models. This article quantitatively investigated the surface sensitivities of CO2 and water vapour bands, which have the sensitivity under dry atmospheric conditions, and developed retrieval of land surface temperature (LST) from window band CSRs to obtain a more accurate simulated brightness temperature. Additionally, it was discovered that the retrieved LST outperformed that from the model in short‐range forecasts for the low‐water‐vapour band (7.3 μm) CSR data assimilation, and throughout the forecasting period, especially in the tropics, for the CO2 band CSR data assimilation. We also examined an unexpected improvement in the low troposphere in the model's LST trials, and we concluded that it was related to the relationship between the LST and atmospheric temperature biases.

Evolution of the pseudogap and excess conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7–δ single crystals in the course of long-term aging

The temperature dependences of both fluctuation conductivity (FLC) σ′(T) and pseudogap (PG) Δ*(T) derived from measurements of resistivity ρ(T) of an optimally doped YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystal subjected to long-term storage have been studied. The as-grown sample S1 exhibits characteristics typical of optimally doped YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals containing twins and twin boundaries. Analysis of both FLC and PG showed an unexpected improvement in all characteristics of the sample after 6 years of storage (sample S2), indicating that the effect of twin boundaries is somehow limited. After 17 years of storage, all characteristics of the sample changed dramatically, which indicates a strong influence of internal defects formed during the aging process. For the first time, the temperature dependences of both FLC and PG were obtained after 17 years of storage.

Air exposure improving hydrogen desorption behavior of Mg–Ni-based hydrides

It is well established that H2O and O2 have an inauspicious influence on hydrogen reactivity of hydrogen storage alloys. In this work, an unexpected improvement of the desorption behavior was discovered by just exposing the magnesium rich Mg–Ni hydrides into the air for a certain period. Upon an exposure duration of 4 months, the dehydrogenation peak and onset temperature were sharply lowered by 150 °C and 130 °C. Furthermore, the air-exposed sample could quickly absorb 3.08 wt% H2 and desorb 2.81 wt% H2 within 400 s at 300 °C. Besides the refinement of the powders due to the spontaneous hydrolysis reaction, the in-situ formed magnesium hydroxide layer and Ni are thought to be responsible for the remarkable improvement. This work gives interesting insights that the self-generating surface passivation is not necessarily harmful in the solid-state hydrogen storage area, especially for the cases where active sites of catalysis are present.

In-situ electrochemical oxidization of V2O3-C cathode for boosted zinc-ion storage performance

In-situ electrochemical activation can bring about unexpected improvement for electrode materials, while the nature behind the structural evolution during this activation remains unclear, which to a great extent limits the applications in searching for efficient cathodes for rechargeable zinc-ion battery (ZIB) with outstanding rate performance. Herein, we report on in-situ electrochemical oxidation of V2O3-C cathode for boosted zinc-ion storage performance. A solvothermal method is implemented to directly synthesize V2O3 nanoparticles coated with a carbon layer. Detailed characterizations reveal that due to co-embedding of H2O and Zn2+, tunnel-like V2O3 undergoes an in-situ electrochemical oxidation to generate layered V5O12·6H2O upon initial cycling. The intercalation of H2O molecules results in an expansion of layer spacing, accelerating the Zn2+ diffusion kinetics. As a consequence, a symmetric cell equipped with activated V2O3-C electrode delivers a high-rate capability (349 mA h g−1 at 1000 mA g−1) and superior specific capacity (260 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles). The strategy of in-situ electrochemical oxidation delivers the guidance to tunnel-like materials as cathode for rechargeable ZIBs.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Suicidal Behaviour.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Suicidal Behaviour.

Humans at the dawn of the in-body electrical nerve stimulation era.

The neuroprosthesis laparoscopic implantation technique for electric pelvic nerve stimulation was introduced to gynaecology over 15 years ago to treat intractable pelvic neuropathic pain. Following this first indication, other applications were developed, particularly in parapleology. The LION procedure developed to assist patients with paraplegia and common problems associated with inertia when confined to a wheelchair could find revolutionary applications in aging medicine and prevention. Spinal cord injured patients who have undergone the Possover's LION procedure. PubMed was systematically searched to identify peer-reviewed articles published in English that reported on LION procedure. Three independent studies published recently (100 patients worldwide) have shown revolutionary recovery of supra-spinal control in patients with chronic spinal cord injury following pelvic nerves stimulation, with 70% of them establishing a walker/crutches-assisted gait. The same studies have also shown significant whole-body muscle-mass building, peripheral vasodilatation, and an unexpected improvement in bone mineral density. These ground-breaking findings could find revolutionary applications in aging medicine and the prevention of osteoporosis, with a huge impact on global public health. Humanity is on the cusp of an exciting new era following the introduction of the in-body electrical nerve stimulation technique. In-body electrical nerve stimulation for recovery and/or control of human peripheral somatic and autonomic nervous systems.