Porous Flower-like alpha-Fe2O3 Nanostructure: A High Performance Anode Material for Lithium-ion Batteries

Porous flower-like alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures have been synthesized by ethylene glycol mediated iron alkoxide as an intermediate and studied as an anode material of Li-ion battery. The iron alkoxide precursor is heated at different temperatures from 300 to 700 degrees C. The alpha-Fe2O3 samples possess porosity and high surface area. There is a decrease in pore volume as well as surface area by increasing the preparation temperature. The reversible cycling properties of the alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures have been evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge discharge cycling, and galvanostatic intermittent titration measurements at ambient temperature. The initial discharge capacity values of 1063, 1168,1183, 1152 and 968 mAh g(-1) at a specific current of 50 mA g(-1) are obtained for the samples prepared at 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 degrees C, respectively. The samples prepared at 500 and 600 degrees C exhibit good cycling performance with high rate capability. The high rate capacity is attributed to porous nature of the materials. As the iron oxides are inexpensive and environmental friendly, the alpha-Fe2O3 has potential application as anode material for rechargeable Li batteries. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ni Nano-particle Encapsulated in Hollow Carbon Sphere Electrocatalyst in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzer

The present study evaluates the synthesis by solvo-thermal method and electrocatalytic activity of nickel nano-particles encapsulated in hollow carbon sphere, in hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction in PEM water electrolyzer. The XRD patterns have ascertained the formation of nickel metal with different planes in face centered cubic (fcc) and hexagonal closed pack (hcp) form. SEM and TEM images have confirmed the nickel nano-particles with diameter of 10-50 nm inside the 0.2 mu m sized hollow carbon spheres. The BET surface area values gradually decreased with greater encapsulation of nickel; although the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) values have been calculated as quite higher. It confirms the well dispersion of nickel in the materials and induces their electrocatalytic performance through the active surface sites. The cyclic voltammetric studies have evaluated hydrogen desorption peaks as five times more intense in nickel encapsulated materials, in comparison to the pure hollow carbon spheres. The anodic peak current density value has reached the highest level of 1.9 A cm(-2) for HCSNi10, which gradually decreases with lesser amount of nickel in the electrocatalysts. These electrocatalysts have been proved electrochemically stable during their usage for 48 h long duration under potentiostatic condition. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Solution processible Cu2SnS3 thin films for cost effective photovoltaics: Characterization

Thin films of Cu2SnS3 (CTS) were deposited by the facile solution processed sol-gel route followed by a low-temperature annealing. The Cu-Sn-thiourea complex formation was analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR). The various phase transformations and the deposition temperature range for the initial precursor solution was determined using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) studies revealed the tetragonal phase formation of the CTS annealed films. Raman spectroscopy studies further confirmed the tetragonal phase formation and the absence of any deterioratory secondary phases. The morphological investigations and compositional analysis of the films were determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) respectively. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to estimate the surface roughness of 1.3 nm. The absorption coefficient was found to be 10(4) cm(-1) and bandgap 1.3 eV which qualifies CTS to be a potential candidate for photovoltaic applications. The refractive index, extinction coefficient and relative permittivity of the film were measured by Spectroscopic ellipsometry. Hall effect measurements, indicated the p type nature of the films with a hole concentration of 2 x 10(18) cm(-3), electrical conductivity of 9 S/cm and a hole mobility of 29 cm(2)/V. The properties of CTS as deduced from the current study, present CTS as a potential absorber layer material for thin film solar cells. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Groups constrain the use of risky habitat by individuals: a new cost to sociality?

Predation risk can strongly constrain how individuals use time and space. Grouping is known to reduce an individual's time investment in costly antipredator behaviours. Whether grouping might similarly provide a spatial release from antipredator behaviour and allow individuals to use risky habitat more and, thus, improve their access to resources is poorly known. We used mosquito larvae, Aedes aegypti, to test the hypothesis that grouping facilitates the use of high-risk habitat. We provided two habitats, one darker, low-risk and one lighter, high-risk, and measured the relative time spent in the latter by solitary larvae versus larvae in small groups. We tested larvae reared under different resource levels, and thus presumed to vary in body condition, because condition is known to influence risk taking. We also varied the degree of contrast in habitat structure. We predicted that individuals in groups should use high-risk habitat more than solitary individuals allowing for influences of body condition and contrast in habitat structure. Grouping strongly influenced the time spent in the high-risk habitat, but, contrary to our expectation, individuals in groups spent less time in the high-risk habitat than solitary individuals. Furthermore, solitary individuals considerably increased the proportion of time spent in the high-risk habitat over time, whereas individuals in groups did not. Both solitary individuals and those in groups showed a small increase over time in their use of riskier locations within each habitat. The differences between solitary individuals and those in groups held across all resource and contrast conditions. Grouping may, thus, carry a poorly understood cost of constraining habitat use. This cost may arise because movement traits important for maintaining group cohesion (a result of strong selection on grouping) can act to exaggerate an individual preference for low-risk habitat. Further research is needed to examine the interplay between grouping, individual movement and habitat use traits in environments heterogeneous in risk and resources. (C) 2015 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sapientia, 1988, Vol. XLIII, nº 167-168 (número completo)

Contenido: El tema de la libertad en Santo Tomás : fuentes y desarrollo / Gustavo E. Ponferrada – Emergencia y sentido del hombre en la reflexión ética de la Suma contra Gentiles / Julio R. Méndez – Azar y contingencia / Juan J. Sanguineti – Indeterminismo y racionalidad : en torno al problema de la causalidad en física / Ramón Queraltó – La tridimensionalidad crítica de la reflexión completa / Stanislavs Ladusans – Humanismo y humanismos / Iulio Brandao – Limitación de la antropología filosófica / José M. de Estrada – Afectividad, obrar humano, moralidad / María C. Donadío de Gandolfi – Naturaleza y ética en Hobbes y Tomás de Aquino / María L. Lukac de Stier – Derecho, pensamiento y lenguaje / Carlos I. Massini-Correas – Derecho natural y positivismo jurídico / Ylves J. de Miranda Guimaraes – La verdad política es el ideal de una sociedad participativa / José P. Galvao de Sousa – Hombre y moral : la “pietas” patriótica / Héctor H. Hernández – Filosofía, teología y cultura cristiana en el pensamiento de San Agustín / Battista Mondin – Amor Ruibal, genial renovador de la filosofía cristiana / Emilio Silva de Castro – La problemática filosófica de las ciencias humanas / Edgardo J. Castro

Aperfeiçoamentos no DL nº 167/67 : emolumentos extrajudiciais e garantias reais em Cédulas de Crédito Rural-CCR e em Cédulas de Crédito Bancário-CCB

Consultoria de Orçamento e Fiscalização Financeira.

Diário da Constituinte [gravação de vídeo] : [programa n. 167]

Começa a primeira sessão dedicada ao debate dos temas mais polêmicos na Constituinte. O Líder do PMDB Mário Covas (PMDB-SP) fez o sorteio dos debatedores do partido que vão ficar encarregados de cada sessão. O primeiro assunto é o regime de governo, presidencialismo ou parlamentarismo. O Conselho de Comunicação também é tema polêmico na Assembleia Nacional Constituinte (ANC). A Deputada Rita Furtado (PFL-RO) informa que seu grupo não aceita a figura do Conselho. O Deputado Bernardo Cabral (PMDB-AM), Relator da Comissão de Sistematização, opta pela existência do Conselho, previsto no substitutivo do Deputado Artur da Távola (PMDB-RJ). O Deputado Arolde de Oliveira (PFL-RJ) informa que o Conselho é desnecessário, pois o Congresso tem função fiscalizadora. Armando Rollemberg, Presidente da Federação Nacional dos Jornalistas, defende o controle público para a concessão de canais de rádio e de televisão. O Deputado Roberto D`Ávila (PDT-RJ) declara que é favorável ao Conselho de Comunicação, com pessoas representativas da sociedade brasileira, de tal forma que o poder de outorga de canais de comunicação não seja mais prerrogativa apenas do Presidente da República. Histórico da ideia de criação do Conselho de Comunicação. O Deputado Jorge Maluly Neto (PFL-SP) declara que a opinião pública há de ser pública e não uma opinião publicada por poucos, porque isso leva a um problema de segurança do país. O Deputado Arolde de Oliveira (PFL-RJ) considera que não tem havido alternância do poder porque, se houvesse, também a distribuição de canais de rádio e de tv seria absolutamente democrática. O Deputado Carlos Alberto Oliveira Caó (PDT-RJ) afirma ser necessário pensar em mecanismos que assegurem a pluralidade de informações, que garanta a qualquer grupo social o acesso aos meios de informação. O Deputado Antônio Brito (PMDB-RS) declara que é certo que nada nesta matéria será da forma como é hoje, o que já significa um avanço.

Review of inspection techniques based on the elastic and inelastic scattering of X-rays and their potential in the food and agricultural industry

C.R. Bull, R. Zwiggelaar and R.D. Speller, 'Review of inspection techniques based on the elastic and inelastic scattering of X-rays and their potential in the food and agricultural industry', Journal of Food Engineering 33 (1-2), 167-179 (1997)

C 167 INST-D 2013. 348 Muestra de diversificación del diseño de sombreros elaborados en fibras de diferentes palmas e ilustraciones de sombreros tradicionales elaborados en fibra vegetal de palma sará.

15 fotografías a color.

CB1 cannabinoid receptor deficiency promotes cardiac remodeling induced by pressure overload in mice

Background: The endocannabinoid system is known to play a role in regulating myocardial contractility, but the influence of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) deficiency on chronic heart failure (CHF) remains unclear. In this study we attempted to investigate the effect of CB1 deficiency on CHF induced by pressure overload and the possible mechanisms involved. Methods and results: A CHF model was created by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in both CB1 knockout mice and wild-type mice. CB1 knockout mice showed a marked increase of mortality due to CHF from 4 to 8 weeks after TAC (p = 0.021). Five weeks after TAC, in contrast to wild-type mice, CB1 knockout mice had a higher left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure, lower rate of LV pressure change (± dp/dt max), lower LV contractility index, and a larger heart weight to body weight ratio and lung weight to body weight ratio compared with wild-type mice (all p < 0.05-0.001). Phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (P38 and ERK) was higher in CB1 knockout mice than that in wild-type mice. In cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, a CB1 agonist reduced cAMP production stimulated by isoproterenol or forskolin, and suppressed phosphorylation of the EGFR, P38, and ERK, while the inhibitory effect of a CB1 agonist on EGFR phosphorylation was abrogated by CB1 knockdown. Conclusion: These findings indicate that cannabinoid receptor 1 inactivation promotes cardiac remodeling by enhancing the activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor and mitogen-activated protein kinases. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.