Interface synergism and engineering of Pd/Co@N-C for direct ethanol fuel cells.

Direct ethanol fuel cells have been widely investigated as nontoxic and low-corrosive energy conversion devices with high energy and power densities. It is still challenging to develop high-activity and durable catalysts for a complete ethanol oxidation reaction on the anode and accelerated oxygen reduction reaction on the cathode. The materials' physics and chemistry at the catalytic interface play a vital role in determining the overall performance of the catalysts.

The Effect of Omega-9 on Bone Viscoelasticity and Strength in an Ovariectomized Diet-Fed Murine Model.

Few studies have investigated the effect of a monosaturated diet high in ω-9 on osteoporosis. We hypothesized that omega-9 (ω-9) protects ovariectomized (OVX) mice from a decline in bone microarchitecture, tissue loss, and mechanical strength, thereby serving as a modifiable dietary intervention against osteoporotic deterioration. Female C57BL/6J mice were assigned to sham-ovariectomy, ovariectomy, or ovariectomy + estradiol treatment prior to switching their feed to a diet high in ω-9 for 12 weeks.

A novel approach for the prevention of ionizing radiation-induced bone loss using a designer multifunctional cerium oxide nanozyme.

The disability, mortality and costs due to ionizing radiation (IR)-induced osteoporotic bone fractures are substantial and no effective therapy exists. Ionizing radiation increases cellular oxidative damage, causing an imbalance in bone turnover that is primarily driven heightened activity of the bone-resorbing osteoclast. We demonstrate that rats exposed to sublethal levels of IR develop fragile, osteoporotic bone.

Omega-9 Modifies Viscoelasticity and Augments Bone Strength and Architecture in a High-Fat Diet-Fed Murine Model.

The influence of diet on the development of osteoporosis is significant and not fully understood. This study investigated the effect of diets of varying lipid profiles and ω-3, ω-6 and ω-9 composition on the structural and mechanical properties of bone. The hypothesis studied was that a diet high in saturated fat would induce osteoporosis and produce an overall increased detrimental bony response when compared with a diet high in unsaturated ω-6, or ω-9.

Strength Analysis and Stress-Strain Deformation Behavior of 3 mol% Y-TZP and 21 wt.% AlO-3 mol% Y-TZP.

The mechanical behavior of 3 mol% YO-ZrO ceramic and 21 wt.% AlO-3 mol% YO-ZrO ceramic composite with submicron grain size was studied. Mechanical properties, such as hardness, Young's modulus, four-point bending strength, and fracture toughness of both materials were measured.

Dual-Doping and Synergism toward High-Performance Seawater Electrolysis.

Hydrogen (H ) production from direct seawater electrolysis is an economically appealing yet fundamentally and technically challenging approach to harvest clean energy. The current seawater electrolysis technology is significantly hindered by the poor stability and low selectivity of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to the competition with chlorine evolution reaction in practical application. Herein, iron and phosphor dual-doped nickel selenide nanoporous films (Fe,P-NiSe NFs) are rationally designed as bifunctional catalysts for high-efficiency direct seawater electrolysis.

Effect of Loading and Heating History on Deformation of LaCoO.

The aim of this work was to study cyclic stress-strain deformation behavior of LaCoO as a function of loading and heating history. The ferroelastic hysteretic deformation of LaCoO at different stresses and temperatures was characterized using effective Young's modulus, hysteresis loop area and creep strain shift parameters. The deformation behavior of LaCoO was not significantly affected by the previous loading and heating history when tested at constant temperature.

Do polyunsaturated fatty acids protect against bone loss in our aging and osteoporotic population?

Age-related bone loss is inevitable in both men and women and there will soon be more people of extreme old age than ever before. Osteoporosis is a common chronic disease and as the proportion of older people, rate of obesity and the length of life increases, a rise in age-related degenerating bone diseases, disability, and prolonged dependency is projected. Fragility fractures are one of the most severe complications associated with both primary and secondary osteoporosis and current treatment strategies target weight-bearing exercise and pharmacological intervention, both with limited long-term success.

Spark Plasma Sintered BC-Structural, Thermal, Electrical and Mechanical Properties.

The structural, thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of fully dense BC ceramics, sintered using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), were studied and compared to the properties of BC ceramics previously published in the literature. New results on BC's mechanical responses were obtained by nanoindentation and ring-on-ring biaxial strength testing. The findings contribute to a more complete knowledge of the properties of BC ceramics, an important material in many industrial applications.

Periodically Patterned Au-TiO Heterostructures for Photoelectrochemical Sensor.

Periodically patterned Au nanorods in TiO nanocavities (Au NRs@TiO) were fabricated via magnetron sputtering followed by a thermal dewetting process. This innovative Au NRs@TiO heterostructure was used as a plasmonic sensing platform for photoelectrochemical detection of glucose and lactose. This Au NRs@TiO patterned heterostructure possesses superior sensing properties to other Au nanoparticle-based sensors because (i) localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) generated at Au/TiO interfaces enhanced sensitivity of glucose (lactose) amperometric detection; (ii) periodic Au nanocrystals in TiO nanocavities accelerated charge separation and transfer rate, especially under monochromatic blue light irradiation; (iii) discrete planar architectures comprising Au NRs immobilized on TiO substrates significantly improved stability and reusability of the sensors.

Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Reduction of Oxygen Using Au@TiO Plasmonic Film.

Novel Au@TiO plasmonic films were fabricated by individually placing Au nanoparticles into TiO nanocavity arrays through a sputtering and dewetting process. These discrete Au nanoparticles in TiO nanocavities showed strong visible-light absorption due to the plasmonic resonance. Photoelectrochemical studies demonstrated that the developed Au@TiO plasmonic films exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic activities toward oxygen reduction reactions with an onset potential of 0.

Size controlled mechanochemical synthesis of ZrSi2.

Mechanochemical metathesis reactions were utilized to synthesize nanocrystalline ZrSi(2) ranging from 9-30 nm in size. Size was controlled through dilution with CaCl(2). A linear relationship was found between diluent concentration and crystallite size.

Structural characterization combined with the first principles simulations of barium/strontium cobaltite/ferrite as promising material for solid oxide fuel cells cathodes and high-temperature oxygen permeation membranes.

Mixed ionic-electronic conducting perovskite type oxides with a general formula ABO(3) (where A = Ba, Sr, Ca and B = Co, Fe, Mn) often have high mobility of the oxygen vacancies and exhibit strong ionic conductivity. They are key materials that find use in several energy related applications, including solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), sensors, oxygen separation membranes, and catalysts. Barium/strontium cobaltite/ferrite (BSCF) Ba(0.