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New graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) containing N,N-n-alkyl substituted pyrrolidinium cation intercalates (Pyn.m, n, m = alkyl chain lengths) are obtained via cationic exchange from stage-1 donor-type GIC [Na(ethylenediamine)1.0]C15. Powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses are used to determine the GIC structures and compositions. [Py4.8]C47·0.71DMSO and [Py8.8]C48 with intercalate monolayers are obtained as stage-1 GICs with gallery expansions of 0.48 nm, whereas [Py1.18]C47 and [Py12.12]C80·0.25DMSO form stage-1 GICs with intercalate bilayers and gallery expansions of 0.81 nm. The gallery dimensions require that alkyl chain substituents orient parallel to the encasing graphene sheets. Smaller intercalate cations such as Py1.4, Py4.4, and Py1.8 either form high-stage GICs or do not form stable intercalation compounds. These results, along with those reported for graphite intercalation of other quaternary ammonium cations, indicate trends in graphite chemistry where larger intercala...

The electric vehicle and energy storage industries will generate over one-million tons per annum of lithium-ion for recycling in the next decade. There are significant technology gaps in the recovery of lithium-ion battery materials that threaten the sustainability of these industries. Cathode healing is introduced here as a new approach to produce low cost (i.e.

Polydactyly is a common congenital deformity of the foot that can be categorized as preaxial, central, or postaxial. Current treatments involve resecting the supernumerary toe(s) and repairing the normal toe(s) and soft tissue. Here, we present the first published report describing a very rare case of polydactyly of the foot, in which the supernumerary toe originated from a deformed calcaneus, which formed an abnormal bony bump. Preoperatively, 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography reconstruction images revealed the morphology of the deformed toe and calcaneus, and gait analysis showed an abnormal weightbearing zone in the left foot. The 3D printing technology and a specially designed 3D-printed guiding plate were used for osteotomy. Postoperatively, x-ray showed that the calcaneus had a normal shape and surface, whereas gait analysis showed that the left foot was uniformly loaded and the area of pain was eliminated. Our findings should raise awareness among clinicians that a 3D-printed guiding plate is useful in the treatment of such an unusual deformity.

Background Antibiotics impregnated calcium phosphate cement (CPC) has emerged as a local treatment of osteomyelitis. However, there is no study investigating the optimal concentrations of vancomycin (VCM) included in CPC to obtain prolonged drug release (≥ 8 weeks) and also with enough compressive strength (> the normal cancellous bone, 11 MPa) for osteomyelitis therapy. Therefore, we bring forward two questions: 1) Was antibiotic activity of the eluates correlated to the load of antibiotics within the cement? 2) Were the mechanical properties of CPC affected by VCM-loading? Hypothesized There was an optimal concentrations of vancomycin (VCM) loaded in CPC which could provide sufficient effective antibacterial time (≥ 8 weeks) and enough compressive strength (> 11 MPa). Materials and methods CPC specimens were obtained by incorporating different doses (weigh ratios of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25 and 30%) of injectable VCM into CPC. The antibacterial effect of released VCM solution against Staphylococcus aureus was assessed by inhibition ring assays. The physicochemical properties such as compressive strengths were characterized and compared among these specimens. Results Drug release profiles showed only 5 and 10% VCM-loaded CPC displayed a long enough drug release time (at least 8 weeks) and maintained the eluate concentrations (> 4 μg/mL) with effective antibacterial ability. The concentration of VCM in 10% group at 8th week was twice higher than 5% group. Compressive strength test showed that the proportional increase of VCM/CPC ratios resulted in a significant decrease of compressive strength (r = −0.906, p Conclusion 10% VCM-loaded CPC offered the optimal physicochemical properties and drug releasing profile and appears as the most suitable concentration for clinical use. Level of evidence III.

The implementation of the Grain for Green Program is a great breakthrough in the history of China’s ecological environment construction, which can control soil erosion effectively, increase land productivity and improve the ecological environment. To investigate the eco-environmental benefits brought by the Grain for Green Program, the spatiotemporal variations of vegetation cover in the growing season from 2000 to 2010 across the Hekou-Longmen (He-Long) region were analyzed by using remote sensing information, meteorological data and land use data. Moreover, the impacts of climate and human activities on vegetation change were evaluated objectively. Annual vegetation cover in the growing season increased very significantly. Increased vegetation cover occurred in 98.7% of the region, of which the area for vegetation cover improved slightly constituted 79.8% of the whole area. Vegetation moderately improved was mainly distributed in the south of the He-Long region, covering 9.6% of the area, and the area for vegetation basically unchanged concentrated in the middle and upper reaches of the Wuding River. Precipitation was found to be an important natural factor influencing vegetation cover change. The area of vegetation cover showing a significantly positive correlation with precipitation occupied 22.14% of the region. As driven by policies from the Grain for Green Program, forestland increased significantly and land use structure became more intensive. Human activities played a positive and effective role in the protection, restoration and improvement of vegetation in the places where vegetation cover was basically unchanged, even though precipitation declined greatly, and vegetation improved moderately with massive increases of forestland and grassland.

Crown ethers are well established as cointercalates in many layered hosts, but there are no reports of crown ethers incorporated into graphite. Here, we describe the preparation of the first graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) containing crown ethers. These GICs are obtained either by reductive intercalation of an alkali metal-amine complex followed by cointercalate exchange or by the direct reaction of graphite with a crown ether, alkali metal, and an electrocatalyst. Structural and compositional characterization of these new GICs using powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and GC/MS indicates the formation of well-ordered, stage-1 bilayer galleries.

Layered host-polymer nanocomposites comprising polymeric guests between inorganic sheets have been prepared with many inorganic hosts, but there is limited evidence for the incorporation of polymeric guests into graphite. Here we report for the first time the preparation, and structural and compositional characterization of graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) containing polyether bilayers. The new GICs are obtained by either (1) reductive intercalation of graphite with an alkali metal in the presence of an oligo or polyether and an electrocatalyst, or (2) co-intercalate exchange of an amine for an oligo or polyether in a donor-type GIC. Structural characterization of products using powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and thermal analyses supports the formation of well-ordered, first-stage GICs containing alkali metal cations and oligo or polyether bilayers between reduced graphene sheets.

There has been a major effort recently to develop new rechargeable sodium-ion electrodes. In lithium ion batteries, LiC6 forms from graphite and desolvated Li cations during the first charge. With sodium ions, graphite only shows a significant capacity when Na+ intercalates as a solvated complex, resulting in ternary graphite intercalation compounds (GICs). Although this chemistry has been shown to be highly reversible and to support high rates in small test cells, these GICs can require >250% volume expansion and contraction during cycling. Here we demonstrate the first example of GICs that reversibly sodiate/desodiate without any significant volume change. These pillared GICs are obtained by electrochemical reduction of graphite in an ether/amine co-solvent electrolyte. The initial gallery expansion, 0.36 nm, is less than half of that in diglyme-based systems, and shows a similar capacity. Thermal analyses suggest the pillaring phenomenon arises from stronger co-intercalate interactions in the GIC galleries.

Monetary authorities rarely disclose the true reasons behind their policy reactions. A tracing of the policy reaction function to see if the monetary authority is applying simple rules holds the potential to offer profound insight into the past behavioral relationship between the monetary authority and economic agencies. A reasonable body of knowledge about the direction of monetary policy would, moreover, assist economic agencies in forming their expectations, which would in turn, be useful for the monetary authority in anticipating the likely trends of the overall economy. The main objective of this study is to track de Brouwer and Gilbert (2005) from the Australian financial deregulation era (from 1983 to 2002) to the present. Empirical findings show that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is more forward-looking when formulating monetary policy rather than backward-looking, and that inflation targeting plays a significant role in stabilizing the output of the economy.

Securities margin trading is a form of credit trading that is used extensively in mature securities markets. With the rapid development of its securities market, China introduced securities margin trading to its A-share market on 31st March 2010 for the purpose of reducing A-share market volatility. Owing to the fact that the introduction of securities margin trading in 2010 only applied to part of the A-share transaction targets, it can be treated as a natural experiment. This paper uses difference-in-differences analysis to investigate whether the introduction of securities margin trading in 2010 decreased China’s A-share market volatility. By selecting 50 underlying stocks of securities margin trading as a ‘treatment group’ and 50 non-underlying stocks as a ‘control group’, this paper utilizes a panel dataset comprising 100 stocks for the period 31st March 2009 – 31st March 2011. Results indicate that the introduction of securities margin trading in 2010 significantly decreased China’s A-share market volatility. In conclusion, this paper recommends that China reduces the barriers and transaction costs of securities margin trading, extends the supply of underlying stocks for securities lending, and enhances the capital supply of margin trading.

Non-layered chalcopyrite-type CuInSe(2) nanoplatelets, with thickness down to 2 nm, have been synthesized for the first time. The ultrathin nanoplatelets are of benefit for low-cost and high performance flexible photodetectors.

ACRP30 gene was located nearby the QTL affecting the marbling, ribeye muscle area and fat thickness on the BAT1 in Angus. In this study, a 5bp deletion mutation within the bovine ACRP30 gene was firstly detected and confirmed in 991 cattle by PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and direct PCR amplification. The deletion mutation was appeared in Qinchuan, Nanyang, Jiaxian and Hasake, but was not found in Jinnan, Chinese Holsteins and Angus. The association of the deletion polymorphism with growth traits (including birth weight, body weight, average daily gain and body sizes in different growth periods (6/12/18/24 month-old)) was analyzed in 224 Nanyang cattle. No signification association of the deletion polymorphism with growth traits were observed (P > 0.05). The deletion was located in the promoter region and it resulted in a new putative CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-β response element (C/EBP-RE).

Developing a novel, aligned super-long nanobelt film electrode is essential for achieving outstanding electrical transport properties. However, pursuing a convenient way to fabricate an aligned super-long nanobelt film electrode has been a challenge so far. Herein, the aligned super-long barnesite Na2V6O16·3H2O nanobelt film electrode is realized as a dense and thick film for the first time by a convenient solution route, providing a new strategy to synthesize aligned nanobelt film electrodes. The Na2V6O16·3H2O nanobelts with lengths of 100–200 μm growing along [010] are fabricated successfully, and the super-long single nanobelt enables the first investigation of electrical transport property. Encouragingly, the individual nanobelt with aspect ratios exceeding 1000 has a high conductivity of ∼100 S m−1. Furthermore, the synthetic aligned super-long barnesite Na2V6O16·3H2O nanobelt film electrode displays an enhanced anisotropic electrical transport property and good electrical conductivity, presenting an ideal candidate as a nanoelectrode.