Superior electrocatalytic negative electrode with tailored nitrogen functional group for vanadium redox flow battery

Development of electrodes with high electrocatalytic activity and stability is essential for solving problems that still restrict the extensive application of vanadium redox flow batteries(VRFBs).Here,we designed a novel negative electrode with superior electrocatalytic activity by tailoring nitrogen functional groups,such as newly formed nitro and pyridinic-N transformed to pyridonic-N,from the prenitrogen-doped electrode.It was experimentally confirmed that an electrode with pyridonic-N and nitro fuctional groups(tailored nitrogen-doped graphite felt,TNGF) has superior electrocatalytic acivity with enhanced electron and mass transfer.Density functional theory calulations demonstrated the pyridonic-N and nitro functional groups promoted the adsorption,charge transfer,and bond formation with the vanadium species,which is consistent with expermental results.In addition,the V2+/V3+redox reaction mechanism on pyridonic-N and nitro functional groups was estabilised based on density functional theory(DFT) results.When TNGF was applied to a VRFB,it enabled enhanced-electrolyte utilization and energy efficiencies(EE) of 57.9% and 64.6%,respectively,at a current density of 250 mA cm^(-2).These results are 18.6% and 8.9% higher than those of VRFB with electrode containing graphitic-N and pyridinicN groups.Interestingly,TNGF-based VRFB still operated with an EE of 59% at a high current density of300 mA cm^(-2).The TNGF-based VRFB exhibited stable cycling performance without noticeable decay of EE over 450 charge-discharge cycles at a current density of 250 mA cm^(-2).The results of this study suggest that introducing pyridonic-N and nitro groups on the electrode is effective for improving the electrochemical performance of VRFBs.

Effect of Process Parameters on Porosity in Aluminum Lost Foam Process

Porosity is a main defect in aluminum alloy castings, which is also thought to be severe in aluminum alloy castings produced by lost foam process due to the pyrolysis of the polystyrene foam pattern during pouring. Fundamental experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of process parameters such as the melt treatment, the cooling rate and the density of expanded polystyrene （EPS） foam on porosity in A356.2 bar casting. The effect of melt treatment including degassing and refining was investigated. The effect of cooling rate was also evaluated by changing the mold packing material such as the silica sand, the zircon sand and the steel shots. Gas entrapment due to the turbulent metal flow during mold filling in conventional molding process results in porosity. Mold filling sequence in lost foam process is different from that in conventional molding process. The effect of molten metal flow was estimated by comparing the density of the casting by conventional sodium silicate molding with that by lost foam process. Density measurement was conducted to analyze the extent of porosity in the casting. Source of the porosity in lost foam process can be divided into two factors, i.e. turbulence in molten metal flow and entraining residue or gas from the pattern during pouring.

Density and Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Lost Foam Casting by Pressurization during Solidification

孔被认为在失去的泡沫过程在流期间由于聚苯乙烯泡沫模式的热分解生产的铝合金铸造物严重，它在机械性质导致有害效果。慢团结率支持热坡度罐头原因的 gassing 大头针洞，和相对软弱的形成微收缩如果部分的轮廓复杂化在扔的失去的泡沫喂。消除孔是把高压力用于熔融的金属的方法之一喜欢在团结期间的均衡说的前进。基本实验被执行在扔的失去的泡沫在孔和 A356.2 合金酒吧的机械性质上评估外部压力的效果。团结时间和孔与在团结期间增加应用压力减少了。使用外部压力在减少是有效的孔并且增加扔的失去的泡沫的延伸。

Deneddylase 1 regulates deneddylase activity of the Cop9 signalosome in Drosophila melanogaster

NEDD8 conjugation of Cullin has an important role in ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. The COP9 signalosome, of which CSN5 is the major catalytic subunit, is a major Cullin deneddylase, Another deneddylase, Deneddylase 1, has also been shown to process the Nedd8 precursor. In Drosophila, the DEN1 mutants do not have increased levels of Cullin neddylation, but instead show a significant decrease in neddylated Cullin. This characteristic decrease in neddylated Cullins in the DEN1^null background can be rescued by UAS-dDEN1^WT overexpression but not by overexpression of mature NEDDS, indicating that this phenotype is distinct from the NEDD8-processing function of DENI. We examined the role of DEN 1-CSN interaction in regulating Cullin neddylation. Overexpression of DEN1 in a CSN5^hypo background slightly reduced unneddylated Cullin levels. The CSN5, DEN1 double mutation partially rescues the premature lethality associated with the CSN5 single mutation. These results suggest that DEN1 regulates Cullin neddylation by suppressing CSN deneddylase activity.