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Titanium doping on LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode material is performed in a bid to improve its electrochemical and thermal properties at high voltage. The particle hardness is measured in order to verify the structural stability, and is found to improve from 104 to 143 MPa as a result of the Ti doping. Thus, high electrode density is obtained with less cracked particles in the electrode. Electrode density of 3.9 g cm−3 is employed in order to confirm the effect of particle hardness on the electrochemical performance. The cycle performance is evaluated at 4.5 V and high temperature of 60 °C, and the obtained capacity retention after 50 cycles is found to be significantly improved via Ti doping. The cycled electrodes show that the generation of crack inside particles are suppressed for Ti-doped LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2. The thermal stability of the charged electrode is also improved via Ti doping, because of the enhanced structural stability. On the basis of these results, Ti is considered to be a viable dopant for improving particle hardness, which is an important factor as regards improving the electrochemical and thermal properties of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2.

Although the disturbance observer (DOB)-based controller has been extensively applied and various theoretical results on the DOB have been presented, the exclusive, user-friendly, and unified tool for the computer-aided design of DOB has not been developed yet. In this paper, the MATLAB toolbox DO-DAT (Disturbance Observer - Design & Analysis Toolbox) is introduced. Particularly, we explain the way of using the toolbox and present the applications of main functions in terms of the stabilization of the system and the time-domain performance analysis.

Ce3+–Mn2+–Tb3+ cooperative barium–yttrium-orthosilicate phosphors composed of Ba9-3m/2-n-3p/2CemMnnTbpY2Si6O24 (m = 0.005–0.4, n = 0–0.5, p = 0–0.5) were prepared using a solid-state reaction. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the resultant phosphors were examined to index the peak positions. The photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra of the Ce3+–Mn2+–Tb3+ activated phosphors were clearly monitored. The dependence of the luminescent intensity of the Mn2+–Tb3+ co-doped Ba9-3m/2CemY2Si6O24 host lattices on Ce3+ content (m = 0.025, 0.1) was also investigated. Co-doping Mn2+ into the Ce3+–Tb3+ co-doped host structure enabled energy transfer from Ce3+ to Mn2+; this energy transfer mechanism is discussed. The phosphors of Ce3+–Mn2+–Tb3+ doped Ba9Y2Si6O24 host lattice were prepared for efficient white-light emission under NUV excitation. With these phosphors, the desired CIE values including white region of the emission spectra were achieved.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clonal disorder of hematopoietic progenitor cell. In AML, a mutation in FLT3 is commonly occurs and is associated with poor prognosis. We have previously reported that thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivative compound 1 exhibited better antiproliferative activity against MV4-11 cells which harbor mutant FLT3 than AC220, which is a well-known FLT3 inhibitor, and has good microsomal stability. However, compound 1 had poor solubility. We then carried out further structural modification at the C2 and the C6 positions of thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine scaffold. Compound 13b, which possesses a thiazole moiety at the C2 position, exhibited better antiproliferative activity than compound 1 and showed increased solubility and moderate microsomal stability. These results indicate that compound 13b could be a promising potential FLT inhibitor for AML chemotherapy.

In this study, manganese orthophosphate (Mn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ) is investigated as a new coating material for the Ni-rich LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 cathode with the aim of improving its thermal properties. A sol–gel process is employed to achieve a uniform coating of nano–sized crystalline Mn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 . The coated electrode is found to exhibit an improved rate capability at high current drain, and cycle performance is enhanced at a high temperature of 60 °C. The effect of the Mn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 coating thus formed is further investigated by AC impedance spectroscopy, the results of which confirm that interfacial impedance is significantly decreased even in the initial cycles, and the growth of impedance is successfully suppressed during progressive cycles. The thermal stability of LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 is also improved by the Mn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 coating, because of the high structural stability attributed to strong PO 4 covalent bonds. On the basis of these results, the Mn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 coating is proposed as a viable surface modification method for the enhancement of the electrochemical and thermal properties of LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 .

Monthly rhythms in the body core temperature of women during sleep can provide significant information concerning hormonal fluctuations. The purpose of the present study was to examine and evaluate auditory canal temperature (Tauditory), measured with a newly-developed wearable and wireless device, as a practical index to estimate body core temperature variations during a 7-h sleep period. Comparisons with rectal temperature (Tre) at different depths were conducted. Nine young females slept in a climate chamber at an air temperature of 27 °C with 50% relative humidity. Rectal temperatures at 6, 10 and 14 cm depths, as well as partially insulated Tauditory were simultaneously measured every 5 s during sleep. The results showed that Tauditory was, on average, 0.32 °C lower than Tre at 14 cm depth (P = 0.010), while significant relationships between Tauditory and Tre at 10 cm (r2 = 0.634, P = 0.010), and at 14 cm depths were also found (r2 = 0.826, P = 0.001). Rectal temperatures at 6 cm and 10 cm depths fell between those of Tauditory and Tre at 14 cm. We concluded that Tauditory, as measured using the newly-developed wearable device, can be a reliable, practical and continuous estimate of body core temperature during sleep.

Typical Pickering emulsions accumulate particles to form a robust colloidal layer at an immiscible liquid–liquid interface. However, if the particles are smaller than tens of nanometers, they have a tendency toward coming off from the interface, thereby destabilizing emulsion drops. To solve this problem, a technique that can make the adsorbed nanoparticles stay at the interface should be developed. This study introduces a practical method that allows us to obtain a mechanically stable Pickering emulsions; n-decane was emulsified to form an oil-in-water emulsion of which interface was stabilized with a complex colloidal layer consisting of 12 nm-sized silica nanoparticles, a poly(vinyl alcohol) binder, and an alkyl-chained silane coupling agent. We have found that in the conditions of high salinity, the emulsion drops attract each other and form an emulsion gel phase. However, even in such harsh conditions, the complex silica layer maintains its original structure at the interface, thus stabilizing the emulsion drop against coalescence.

In the present study, the aqueous potassium salts of 16 common amino acids and some blends with piperazine (PZ) were experimentally screened. Critical solution concentration and surface tension were measured to assess the aqueous solutions as CO2 absorbents for membrane-gas absorption (MGA). Cyclic CO2 absorption and desorption were conducted on the prepared absorbent solution, at 40 °C with a continuous feed of 15 kPa CO2 (N2 balance) and at 80 °C with a N2 feed, respectively. The cyclic CO2 absorption performances were evaluated by computing and comparing net cyclic capacity as well as initial rates of absorption and desorption. From the experimental results, it was found that (i) longer distance between amino group-CO2-binding site-and other functional group and (ii) bulkier functional group of amino acid, would result in higher net cyclic capacity as well as faster CO2 desorption. Of the 16 amino acids, the alanine (ALA), serine (SER), and α-aminobutyric acid (AABA) salts had relatively fast initial rates of absorption and desorption, resulting in high net cyclic capacity. A small amount of PZ added as a rate promoter to the ALA, SER, and AABA salts increased net cyclic capacity by more than 25%. This result indicates that such salts could be energy-efficient alternates for monoethanolamine (MEA). Due to their high surface tension values, thus lower membrane pore wettability, ALA and SER salt solutions with PZ addition could be utilized as CO2 absorbing liquids in membrane contactors.

A CO-tolerant PtRuxSny/C electrocatalyst, with an optimal x/y ratio of 0.8/0.2, was prepared by selectively depositing Sn on the metallic surface of PtRu0.8/C for use as the anode in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The CO tolerance of the catalyst was greater when Sn was added by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) than by a conventional precipitation method because most of the Sn added by CVD was located in the vicinity of Pt and Ru surfaces, on which CO molecules were strongly adsorbed. Accordingly, the bi-functional mechanism of CO oxidation, which involved the migration of oxygenated species from the Sn to the adsorbed CO, was expected to be promoted to greater extents in the catalysts prepared by Sn-CVD than those prepared by Sn-precipitation. On the other hand, the ligand-effect mechanism of CO oxidation, which was facilitated by the Pt-Ru alloy formation, was not much affected by the added Sn because the Pt-Ru alloy remained unchanged, particularly when y ≤ 0.2. Among PtRuxSny/C catalysts prepared by Sn-CVD, one prepared by partially substituting Sn for Ru in the PtRu1.0/C catalyst, e.g., PtRu0.8Sn0.2/C, showed higher CO tolerance than one prepared by simply adding Sn to the PtRu1.0/C catalyst, e.g., PtRu1.0Sn0.2/C, which demonstrated the importance of an optimum x/y ratio in the design of the ternary PtRuxSny/C catalysts.

Sn-promoted Pt-based catalysts were prepared by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Sn on commercial Pt/C and PtRu/C catalysts using Sn(CH3)4 as an Sn precursor. The prepared catalysts showed higher CO tolerance than those prepared by adding Sn using an impregnation (IMP) method. This result was obtained because Sn added by CVD was selectively deposited on the Pt and Ru surfaces, instead of on a carbon support, such that the interfacial contact between Pt and Sn was greater in the Sn-CVD catalyst than in the others, as confirmed by in-situ infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic observations of the catalysts.

Objectives We retrospectively analyzed our experience to determine the optimum management of complete duplex system complicated with ureterocele. Materials and methods Between 1994 and 2003, we reviewed 15 patients treated with bladder surgery for complete duplex system complicated with ureterocele. The associated anomalies were seven vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) of the lower pole ureter and one of both poles. All patients had ureterocele (11 intravesical, 4 extravesical) and a functioning upper moiety. Initial treatment was transurethral incision of ureterocele (TUI) (14) or common sheath reimplantation (1). The median follow-up was 30 (13–48) months. Results There were no requirements for secondary procedures, with a significant improvement or conservation of ipsilateral renal function and no reflux, in 10 patients (67%). Five patients (33%) with ureterocele (1 intravesical, 4 extravesical) who initially underwent TUI required additional operative management due to moderate to severe VUR, recurrent urinary tract infection or decreased function of upper moiety. The secondary operation performed was lower pole nephrectomy with ureteral reimplantation (1), ureteroureterostomy with ureteral reimplantation (2) or common sheath reimplantation (2). One patient who underwent common sheath reimplantation as secondary operation needed a nephrectomy due to breakthrough febrile urinary tract infection and decreased renal function. Conclusion TUI is recommended as the first-line treatment of complete duplex system with intravesical ureterocele and well-conserved renal function.

In this study, Co-modified Pt/C catalysts were prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Co on Pt/C. The performance of these catalysts as a cathode in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), evaluated by a half-cell test, was compared with that of catalysts prepared using the conventional impregnation (IMP) method. The activity of the catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) changed showing a maximum with the amounts of added Co and temperatures used for annealing the catalysts. The amount of Co needed to produce the maximum activity was smaller for the catalysts prepared by CVD ((Co/Pt) CVD = 0.2) than those prepared using the IMP method ((Co/Pt) IMP = 1.0). Furthermore, the maximum activity of the catalysts prepared by CVD was 1.5 times higher than for the catalysts prepared by IMP. The ORR activity of the IMP catalyst was degraded by 65% after the corrosion test for 6000 s, which was largely attributed to Co dissolution in the acidic solution, whereas the CVD catalyst showed only 36% degradation. The higher corrosion resistance of the CVD catalyst was attributed to the more intimate Co interactions with the Pt surface than in the catalyst produced using the IMP method.

Cr-modified Pt/C catalysts were prepared by the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of Cr on Pt/C, and their performance as a cathode of phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) was compared with the case of catalysts containing Cr added by impregnation (IMP). The catalyst prepared by CVD showed a higher activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) than one prepared by IMP. There was an optimum amount of Cr that yielded the maximum mass activity of the catalyst because the gain in the intrinsic activity due to the promotional effect of Cr was counterbalanced by the loss of exposed Pt surface area as a result of the Cr introduction. Nevertheless, the activity increase at the optimum amount of Cr was greater for the CVD catalyst than for the IMP catalyst. Also, the optimum amount of Cr to yield the maximum activity was smaller for the former catalyst [Cr/Pt] CVD = 0.6, than for the latter, [Cr/Pt] IMP = 1.0. The enhancement of the Pt catalyst activity by Cr addition is attributed to two factors: changes in the surface Pt–Pt spacing and the electronic modification of the Pt surface. The formation of a Pt–Cr alloy, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction, decreased the lattice parameter of Pt, which was beneficial to the catalyst activity for ORR. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that the binding energies of Pt electrons were shifted to higher energies due to Cr modification. Accordingly, the electron density of Pt was lowered and the Pt–O bond became weak on the Cr-modified catalysts, which was also beneficial to the catalyst activity for ORR. The promotion of oxygen reduction on Cr-modified catalysts was confirmed by measuring the cyclic voltammograms of the catalysts. All the above changes were made more effectively for catalysts prepared by CVD than for those prepared by IMP because the former method allowed Cr to interact more closely with the Pt surface than the latter, which was demonstrated by the characterization of catalysts in this study.

TREATMENT EFFECTS OF 5% MYRISTYL NICOTINATE ON THE INTEGRITY OF THE STRATUM CORNEUM IN ATOPIC PATIENTS Myron K Jacobson, PhD, University of Arizona & Niadyne, Inc, Tucson, AZ, United States, Elaine Jacobson, PhD, University of Arizona & Niadyne, Inc, Tucson, AZ, United States, Hyuntae Kim, PhD, University of Arizona & Niadyne, Inc, Tucson, AZ, United States, Moonsun Kim, PhD, University of Arizona & Niadyne, Inc, Tucson, AZ, United States