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Lithium-ion batteries production increase ultimately leads to toxic waste. Today, recycling of the spent lithium-ion batteries becomes extremely important with much attention paid to recycling of cathode materials. Graphite recovery receives less attention due to low economic benefits, high costs of material cleaning and low cycling stability. In fact, regenerating graphite with low-cost technology is of great importance to solve the problem of recycling spent graphite and environmental contamination. This paper presents a variant of graphite recycling using low-cost plasma solution treatment (less than 28 kWh·kg graphite −1), leading to a capacitive and powerful material. The results were confirmed by cycling of cells based on recycled graphite for 500 cycles at 0.3 A·g−1 with excellent stability and high capacity (392 mAh·g−1), which is greater than the graphite theoretical capacity due to the formation of graphene oxide from the surface graphite layers. The treatment duration does not affect the interplanar distance of the obtained graphites. Long cycling shows a change in the shape of the charge curves with a graphene fraction increase. For all samples the kinetic characteristics were also evaluated: the dependence of the diffusion coefficient, SEI resistance and charge transfer resistance on the potential and the intercalation rate constant. [Display omitted] • Low-consumption plasma solution graphite recycling (< 28 kWh·kg graphite −1). • The excellent stability – 500 cycles, 392 mAh·g−1, 0.3 A·g−1. • High diffusion coefficient of about 10–9 - 10–10 cm2·s−1. • Kinetic parameters (D , R ct , R SEI) dependence on plasma solution treatment time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Corticosteroid-induced myopathy is a well known clinical entity, and experimental studies showed decreased rate of protein synthesis and increased rate of protein breakdown in muscles of chronically treated animals. Objective: The present observational study was aimed to evaluate skeletal muscle functions in asthmatics and patients with other chronic respiratory diseases treated by inhaled or oral corticosteroids. Methods: Thirty six patients with respiratory diseases were included into the study. The physician-rated peripheral motor deficits scale, stepper test and ankle/wrist index were used for assessment of muscle functions. The effects of length of glucocorticoids intake on muscle functions were evaluated. Results: Sixty five per cent of patients using corticosteroids daily during 1year and longer reported weakness in legs, and 20% of these patients demonstrated objective signs of the muscle weakness. The performance on the stepper test was significantly worse in patients chronically using corticosteroids in comparison with the control group (10.9±3.4 steps vs 16.1±2.4 steps per 10s, respectively; F =21.6, p <0.001). In addition, a proportion of patients using corticosteroids for at least 18months were characterized by muscle hypotrophy at a dominant leg. Conclusion: Chronic intake of inhaled corticosteroids induces clinically significant decrease of muscle functions at least after 1-year of daily treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Redox polymers bearing stable nitroxyl radical groups, such as poly-TEMPO-methacrylate (PTMA), are attractive candidates for application in power sources of novel kind, which combine the high power output of supercapacitors and high energy of rechargeable batteries. An important advantage of PTMA is the availability and low cost of the starting materials combined with high charging/discharging voltage, fast electron transfer kinetics and good mechanical properties of the polymer. However, low electron conductivity and high solubility in common organic electrolytes hamper the broad application of TEMPO-based compounds as cathode materials. In the present work, we report a simple strategy to overcome these limitations by the use of a practical and polymer-rich electrode based on redox-conducting polymer blends of polymerized nickel complexes with salen-type Schiff bases and PTMA. Electrochemical properties of the material are tested both in thin film systems and in asymmetric supercapacitor prototypes with aqueous electrolyte, which demonstrate high specific capacity (83 mAh g−1 at 1C, 53 mAh g−1 at 5C and 47 mAh g−1 at 10C), high rate capability as well as cycling stability (55% capacity retention after 1000 cycles). Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Novel TEMPO- and Ni-salen polymer composite cathode material is reported. • Synergistic interaction of the components secures good durability and capacity. • TEMPO-based redox polymer increases the specific capacity and stability in water. • Ni-salen allows to overcome the low conductivity typical for redox polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and MDS-UPDRS has not been fully studied so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between all MDS-UPDRS components and HRQoL in a representative international cohort of PD patients.Methods: We collected demographic and disease-related data as well as MDS-UPDRS and PDQ8 scales. Data were analyzed using correlations between PDQ8 and all MDS-UPDRS items, subsequently two hierarchical multiple regressions were performed, first between the scores of the MDS-UPDRS Parts and PDQ8 and second between individual items from those Parts demonstrating significant relationship to PDQ8 scores in the first regression. LASSO regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between PDQ8 and all individual MDS-UPDRS items.Results: A total of 3206 PD patients were included in the study. In the first regression analysis, PDQ8 was significantly related to MDS-UPDRS parts I and II, but not to III and IV. In the second regression model, significant contributions to PDQ8 were found for Part I items Fatigue, Pain, Depressed mood, Apathy; and Part II items Dressing, Doing hobbies, Freezing, Speech and Tremor. In the LASSO analysis, six Part I, seven Part II, three Part III and one Part IV items contributed to PDQ8 scores. The five items most significantly related to the model were Depressed mood, Dressing, Apathy, Pain and Fatigue.Conclusions: This is so far the largest study related to HRQoL issues in PD. Restrictions in activities of daily living and non-motor symptoms significantly contribute to HRQoL in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing transitional metal-based electrocatalysts with outstanding oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance is essential for energy-efficiency alkaline water electrolysis. Herein, a group of heterostructured electrocatalysts constructing of nickel-based hydroxide (NiX(OH) x , X = Co, Fe) nanosheets decorated on copper phosphide nanowires arrays，were fabricated. Both of the as-prepared NiCo(OH) x -CuP/CF and NiFe(OH) x -CuP/CF present outstanding HER and OER activity, with the overpotential of 79 and 202 mV to deliver 10 mA cm−2, respectively, along with considerable long-term stability. Encouragingly, the NiCo(OH) x -CuP/CF ǀǀ NiFe(OH) x -CuP/CF couple enables sustainable alkaline water electrolysis and powered by a solar-powered system. In-depth analyses elucidate that owing to the modulated heterogeneous interfacial states, both of the catalytic kinetics can be optimized targeting HER and OER, respectively. More significantly, a regulated electrode-electrolyte microenvironment induced by unique arrays nanostructure efficiently promote the electron-mass transfer capacity, thereby facilitating the catalytic activity expression. This work demonstrates the desirable catalytic performance by rationally designing of hydroxide-phosphide heterostructure, and highlights the structural features on catalytic performance promotion. • A delicate NiCo(OH) x -CuP/CF and NiFe(OH) x -CuP/CF catalysts were fabricated, in which the heterogeneous interfacial synergy effect between copper phosphide and nickel-based hydroxide enables the catalytic performance breakthrough. • The modulation of current distribution for the HER and OER optimizing the reaction kinetics, is achieved by interfacial synergy effect between Cu 3 P and nickel-based hydroxide. • The arrays nanostructure features high active area, good electrical conductivity, while also regulate the interfacial microenvironment between electrocatalysts and electrolyte that facilitates electro-mass transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric transition metal complexes with salen-type Schiff base ligands are considered as promising materials for modification of electrical double layer capacitor electrodes. Electrochemical properties of these polymers that define their performance in supercapacitors should be influenced by the ligand structure but this influence has never been systematically investigated. This article describes results of a comparative study of capacitance and charge transfer rate in polymeric nickel complexes with six different salen-type ligands using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, analyzes advantages and limitations of this method vs. cyclic voltammetry, and provides some insights into the structure and morphology of nickel-salen type polymers. Analysis of results obtained by different analytical techniques shows that introduction of methoxy-substituents into the phenyl rings of the salen ligand and different substituents to the diamine bridge of the ligand causes noticeable changes in electrochemical properties of corresponding polymeric nickel complexes. Experimentally obtained values of gravimetric and volumetric capacitance, as well as effective charge diffusion coefficient provide guidelines for selection of most suitable nickel-salen type polymers for application in energy storage devices, including supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemically modified electrodes based on complexes of transition metals with N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylimine) (salen) type ligands are reported to act as redox mediators due to axial coordination of exogeneous ligands to metal atom in oxidized form of complex. Thus such electrodes can be used as amperometric and voltammetric detectors of various compounds. However, effects of ligand structure and ligand-analyte specific interactions on the electrochemical response of said complexes have not been studied yet for organic analytes. In this article we demonstrate that some aromatic amines can interact with salen-type ligands by several routes, depending on the ligand and amine structure. It leads to the ligand polarization, and thus to the unique shape of voltammetric curves of chemically modified electrodes, based on polymeric salen complexes, immersed in amines solutions. Such feature allows using the electrodes as sensors for molecular recognition. The same electrodes can act as electron transfer catalysts of the amines oxidation, and may be applicable to the quantitative analysis of amines with the detection limit about 10 μmol l −1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A high-performance amorphous FeOOH-based anode is developed for Li-ion batteries. • One-step atmospheric plasma-assisted synthesis of FeOOH composite with graphite. • A capacity of ∼ 750 mAh g−1 is sustained after 500 cycles at 0.3 A g−1. • A capacity of ∼ 550 mAh g−1 is sustained after 2000 cycles at 1.2 A g−1. Iron oxide derivatives are promising materials for large-scale use as anode materials, owing to their natural abundance, inexpensiveness, and high theoretical capacity. Here, we synthesized amorphous urchin-like FeOOH nanoparticles and their graphite composite (FeOOH/Gr) in a one-step atmospheric plasma-assisted procedure and employed it in anode materials for Li-ion batteries. The obtained FeOOH nanoparticles are up to 300 nm in diameter with a needle thickness of about (3–10) nm, while FeOOH/Gr composite consists of graphite sheets covered with FeOOH needles. The FeOOH and FeOOH/Gr materials show excellent electrochemical performance as anode materials, with 633 mAh g−1 and 740 mAh g−1 at 0.3 A g−1 after 500 cycles, 353 mAh g−1 and 542 mAh g−1 at 1.2 A g−1 after 2000 cycles, respectively. By analyzing the state of the material at various stages of their life, we identify electrochemical milling as the performance-boosting process responsible for the 277% specific capacity increase during charge-discharge cycling after 50 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CV/EQCM and EIS methods elucidate doping mechanism in NiSalen redox polymers. • Polymer oxidation is accompanied by alkali metal cations expulsion. • Pseudo-crown functionality in the methoxylated ligand promotes cationic transport. Polymeric films based on nickel complexes with salen -type ligands have received considerable attention recently owing to electrocatalytic, electrochromic, and charge storing properties. The latter makes them suitable metal-organic materials for electrochemical power sources, i.e., batteries and supercapacitors. Optimization of the properties of electrode materials is closely linked to the understanding of charge storage mechanisms. The introduction of CH 3 O substituent into the molecule results in peculiar ionic transport mechanism, owing to the possibility of alkaline ions coordination. Here we study the recharging mechanism of poly[Ni(CH 3 O salen)] films in various electrolyte solutions. In presence of alkali ions, the electronic effects of methoxy substituent provide mixed anionic and cationic charge compensation mechanism, as cations reversibly coordinate to the present pseudo-crown functionality. By applying the combination of XRD, CV/EQCM and EIS methods to the film in electrolytes containing Li+, Na+, K+, and Et 4 N+ cations, and BF 4 −, ClO 4 − and bistrifluoromethanesulfonimidate (TFSI−) anions, we propose a model that describes the ionic transport in such polymeric films and allows to estimate the anionic and cationic contribution to the total amount of transferred species during charging and discharging. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Poly[Ni(CH 3 Salen)] and composite poly[Ni(CH 3 Salen)]/SWCNT are studied. • The material retains 80% of initial capacitance at −40 °C. • The areal capacitance of the composite reaches 72 mF cm−2. Batteries and supercapacitors dramatically lose both energy and power at low temperatures. One of the possible routes to achieve reasonable low temperature performance is to use "soft" organic energy storage materials. Herein, composite material based on NiSalen-type polymer and single wall carbon nanotubes poly[Ni(CH 3 Salen)]/SWCNT was studied as the cathode material for low temperature batteries and supercapacitors with acetonitrile-based electrolyte. It was demonstrated that the composite performance is stable at temperatures below 0 °C, and the cell is retaining 80% of initial capacity at temperatures as low as −40 °C. The areal capacitance of the electrode, made from poly[Ni(CH 3 Salen)]/SWCNT composite, reaches 72 mF cm−2. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]