Control of magnesium interfacial reactions in aqueous electrolytes towards a biocompatible battery

A stable magnesium battery has been developed based on a magnesium anode, a poly(dioxyethane thiophene) (PEDOT) cathode and a near-saturated aqueous solution of LiCl, MgCl₂, or mixture of these salts at pH of 11. This combination leads to a low water activity in the electrolyte, which thus suppresses the hydrogen evolution reaction on Mg, as well as producing a stable oxy-hydroxide film which protects the metal surface from freely corroding. The conducting polymer cathode is reduced somewhat during the discharge process, however, appears to be readily re-oxidised (as determined from the resistance) by the oxygen present in the cell. The cell is therefore primarily a Mg/O₂ battery, however, the PEDOT appears to enhance the performance, in particular the discharge voltage.

High rates of oxygen reduction over a vapor phase-polymerized PEDOT electrode

The air electrode, which reduces oxygen (O₂), is a critical component in energy generation and storage applications such as fuel cells and metal/air batteries. The highest current densities are achieved with platinum (Pt), but in addition to its cost and scarcity, Pt particles in composite electrodes tend to be inactivated by contact with carbon monoxide (CO) or by agglomeration. We describe an air electrode based on a porous material coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), which acts as an O₂ reduction catalyst. Continuous operation for 1500 hours was demonstrated without material degradation or deterioration in performance. O₂ conversion rates were comparable with those of Pt-catalyzed electrodes of the same geometry, and the electrode was not sensitive to CO. Operation was demonstrated as an air electrode and as a dissolved O₂ electrode in aqueous solution.

Pennsylvanian brachiopods from the Geumcheon-Jangseong formation, Pyeongan supergroup, Taebaeksan Basin, Korea

We provide the first detailed systematic taxonomy and paleoecological investigation of late Paleozoic brachiopod faunas from Korea. Specifically, we focus on the brachiopods from the Geumcheon-Jangseong Formation, the lower part of the Pyeongan Supergroup in the Taebaeksan Basin. The formation yields a variety of marine invertebrate fossils, including brachiopods, molluscs, echinoderms, corals, fusulinids, and conodonts. Diverse brachiopods are described from six siliciclastic horizons of the formation at three localities, including 23 species belonging to 20 genera with two new species: Rhipidomella parva n. sp. and Stenoscisma wooi n. sp. Three brachiopod assemblages of the late Moscovian (Pennsylvanian) age are recognized based on their species compositions and stratigraphic distributions, namely the Choristites, Rhipidomella, and Hustedia assemblages. The brachiopod faunal composition varies within each assemblage as well as between the Assemblages, most likely reflecting local paleoenvironmental and hence paleoecological differences. The Choristites Assemblage includes relatively large brachiopods represented by Derbyia, Choristites, and Stenoscisma and may have inhabited open marine to partly restricted marine environments, whereas the Rhipidomella and Hustedia Assemblages consist of a small number of small-sized brachiopods living in lagoonal environments. The Choristites Assemblage shows a close affinity with Moscovian brachiopod assemblages in the eastern Paleo-Tethys regions, especially the Brachythyrina lata–Choristites yanghukouensis–Echinoconchus elegans Assemblage of North China, whereas the Rhipidomella and Hustedia assemblages both exhibit strong endemism.

The relevance of the Heart Foundation of Australia's dietary recommendations for adult Australians : a comparison of views of general practitioners, cardiologists and dietitians

PURPOSE: To compare the views of general practitioners, cardiologists and dietitians about the relevance of the Heart Foundation of Australia's dietary recommendations for adult cardiac patients.

BASIC PROCEDURES: Quantitative-cross sectional study. Postal questionnaires were self-completed by 248 Victorian general practitioners (30% response), 189 Australia-wide cardiologists (47% response) and 180 Victorian dietitians (45% response). Responses were represented as percentages and analyses of variance were conducted to explore the impact of the independent variables: age, work status and gender on the dependent variable: dietary recommendation.

MAIN FINDINGS: Approximately half of the recommendations were viewed as strongly important to implement; these related to lean meats, limiting takeaways and cakes/biscuits, and adjusting energy intake. Others of importance were eating fruits, vegetables and fish. However, most of these goals were seen as difficult to achieve. Dietitians appeared to share responses of doctors, except for greater importance of eating fruit and vegetables and a greater difficulty in limiting cakes and biscuits. There was a high level of agreement among the three groups (mean 87%) about patients having difficulty implementing adjusting energy intake.

CONCLUSIONS: There is agreement amongst these professionals that many of the recommendations lack importance, specifically those pertaining to unsaturated oils, low fat dairy products, cholesterol rich foods, intake of legumes and grains and the restriction of salt. This may reflect a need for further nutrition education.

What factors drive takeovers in Australia?

We examine the relationships between the wealth changes associated with a takeover announcement to distinguish between three major competing motives—synergy, hubris, and agency. Empirical tests indicate that the synergy motive is the predominant explanation for the majority of takeovers in Australia; however, the evidence is consistent with the simultaneous presence of hubris in value-creating takeovers. The evidence also suggests agency, not hubris, is the primary motivation for the takeovers which result in value destruction.

Conducting polymer composite materials for hydrogen generation

A novel conducting polymer/non-conducting polymer composite (PEDOT/PEG), produced by vapor phase polymerization of PEDOT in the presence of PEG, shows stable electrocatalytic reduction of protons to hydrogen with conversion currents and over-potential comparable to platinum. The swelling of the composite by PEG and especially its ability to coordinate protons seems to be essential for the catalytic activity of the composite.

In situ photopolymerization of a gel ionic liquid electrolyte in the presence of iodine and its use in dye sensitized solar cells

We report for the first time an in situ photopolymerization of model co-monomers, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and tetra (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (TEGDA), in an IL electrolyte containing I₂ for DSSCs. TiO₂ nanoparticles were used as the photo-initiator and co-gelator in a charge transfer polymerization reaction. The gel-IL polymer obtained was characterized in terms of the diffusion properties of the electrolyte. Preliminary results from DSSCs assembled using the gel-IL electrolyte showed energy conversion efficiency of 3.9% at 1 sun (AM1.5) and 5.0% at 0.39 sun illumination.

Ion effects in REDOX cycling of conducting polymer based electrochromic materials

Conducting polymer based electrochromic devices were assembled with various ionic liquid (IL) based electrolytes to probe the role of the ion structure on electrochromic performance. When the IL contained the same anion as the dopant ion used in the conducting polymers an enhanced electrochromic performance was observed providing high photopic contrast at low applied potential.

Positive conditions for success

This paper reflects material presented by the authors of this article1 at a workshop presented at the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime at Jesus College Cambridge between September 5 and 12, 2010. The impetus for this topic came from Neil Jensen, who had completed a significant body of research on compliance by FATF and non-FATF members with the 40 recommendations and the nine special recommendations.

Evidence-based development of school-based and family-involved prevention of overweight across Europe : the ENERGY-project's design and conceptual framework

Background
There is an urgent need for more carefully developed public health measures in order to curb the obesity epidemic among youth. The overall aim of the "EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth" (ENERGY)-project is the development and formative evaluation of a theory-informed and evidence-based multi-component school-based and family-involved intervention program ready to be implemented and evaluated for effectiveness across Europe. This program aims at promoting the adoption or continuation of health behaviors that contribute to a healthy energy balance among school-aged children. Earlier studies have indicated that school and family environments are key determinants of energy-balance behaviors in schoolchildren. Schools are an important setting for health promotion in this age group, but school-based interventions mostly fail to target and involve the family environment.

Methods
Led by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from eleven European countries and supported by a team of Australian experts, the ENERGY-project is informed by the Environmental Research Framework for Weight gain Prevention, and comprises a comprehensive epidemiological analysis including 1) systematic reviews of the literature, 2) secondary analyses of existing data, 3) focus group research, and 4) a cross European school-based survey.

Results and discussion
The theoretical framework and the epidemiological analysis will subsequently inform stepwise intervention development targeting the most relevant energy balance-related behaviors and their personal, family-environmental and school-environmental determinants applying the Intervention Mapping protocol. The intervention scheme will undergo formative and pilot evaluation in five countries. The results of ENERGY will be disseminated among key stakeholders including researchers, policy makers and the general population.

Conclusions
The ENERGY-project is an international, multidisciplinary effort to develop and test an evidence-based and theory-informed intervention program for obesity prevention among school-aged children.