Precursor: I categorized this post under "Business" and not "Social Media" because my intent is to present using your blog to help sell your business. Just making sure.
Actually, my philosophy in blogging is never to distract my visitor from reading my blog articles. No Google ads and other pop-up or animated advertising. None of that "Like my Facebook Page" – and in your face – crap. But I did incorporate small boxes on the side with the label, "Click My Friends," which is precisely what those boxes were – businesses of my real-life friends because they are my friends and "in real life" I like their company, product or service. And none of them are paying me.
If I have a lot of visitors – not page views but actual people – how much do you really earn from that?
If you don't have a lot of visitors, how can you attract more people to read your blog?
In present time, I've realized that many bloggers think that being a "successful blogger" means attending media events of companies which ask bloggers to write about its organization, products and services in exchange for something. In reality, the blogger is being paid to write everything or specific things about the company. If the blogger wants to continue being on the company's list of preferred bloggers, he or she needs to make sure everything they write favors the company. Everything needs to be positive.
Payment is given in cash (hardly), a gift certificate (sometimes) or in kind (most of the time). For the first two types of payment, I'd guess the usual minimum is around ₱500 (or roughly $10) and a usual maximum of ₱2,000 or $40 thereabouts. So, ₱1,250 or $25 is the median. However, often times you have to find a way to convert payments in kind into cash and often that is difficult to do so. So, let's place payment in kind as a sort of "icing on the cake" and only consider what is left to the blogger – ₱1,250 or $25 per event attended.
Note: I am considering the least amount or the least favorable situation. I know popular bloggers make more than $40 but that's not true for the average blogger. So, please don't hit me on the numbers; rather, the way things are today.
Going back, remember I wrote that most of the time, payment in kind are difficult to convert to cash. Let us consider a blogger attending at least one media event each weekday but bet on the least expectation that the blogger gets paid the median every other event. So, a blogger will earn ₱3,750 or $78 per week, or ₱16,125 per month ($335).
For a single guy or girl living with the parents, that's not bad. For someone planning for the future, that's bad. I know – there are better days when a blogger receives more than my calculation but "Hope is Not a Method"; rather, let's be realistic and consider a floor estimate than anything up in the sky. And "Cash is King"; things paid in kind do not relate to cash unless they are hot-selling consumer items you can easily sell but for a huge discount.
My primary mission is to make money USING my blog.
My blog is my tool or channel. I am the product and the service, not my blog.
It was 365 days after I started blogging that I finally hit the blinding glimpse of the obvious, and my mission in blogging began to exist. The point being, my blog should not be the one earning an income; I, me and myself had to be the one making money. So, I had to make sure I am using my blog to create revenue.
I have shifted some of my cold calling efforts from traditional ways to social media. But social media isn't at all social – it is a gigantic bunch of words and phrases, photos and images that someone has to cull through in order to get an idea – just an idea – of who you are. Then chance of a new connection in social media generally understanding who you are or what makes you tick is very low. So, I use my blog to allow the stranger to understand more of who I am, how I think, how I work and many other things in my personal and professional life.
There is a big chance my prospective client and new connection will browse (not read) a few blogs I have written if they are curious about me. There is a big chance he or she suddenly gets my point of view, how I tick, how I've worked, my successes and failures, and many more conclusions about me. There is a big chance that this person will want to work with me or hire me. Why? Because the stranger barrier just went crumbling down.
My blog posts eliminated the need to go through a long process of getting to know me, a face-to-face meeting that allows both of us to understand each other more. Yes, It's my turn to get to know my prospective client but that is a better deal than having to go through a monologue about myself. When people are asked to tell their stories, they are both humbled and proud to do so. So, my other job is to make the other person feel comfortable to tell his or her story – questions that are simple, comfortable, convenient, professional, agreeable and courteous. Don't make it feel like an interview; ask for stories to tell.
How much money have I gotten because my blog posts was selling me? From a low of $50 for about a day's work up to $15,000 for a 90-day stint. Sky's the limit, people!
Use your blog to sell yourself so that the actual activity of selling yourself doesn't have to be difficult. And the solution to make it less difficult (or not at all) is to bring down the stranger barrier as fast as possible. Allowing my new connection to browse through my blog posts at his or her convenience and free time is one of the best methods to easily sell myself.
There's a big chance to network with people who may be good prospects or referrers. The payment becomes icing on the cake. The moment you stop expecting payment, lo and behold! You feel better especially if you're only given small tokens.
How about real friends? Those who already know me? Well, they don't know the entire "you." They may know your personal life but usually very little about your professional credentials.
I also get invited to speak. Now, here's the thing. I never really planned to become a fulltime, professional public speaker. But I love to share my thoughts, experience and wisdom, sort of like a "Pay It Forward" creed. So, I don't make large sums when I'm asked to speak – sometimes, I accept freebies. I just make sure I like the topic that's assigned to me, I like the type of attendees (also assuming I can probably network with them) and I have fun! I've gotten good, small projects from public speaking about one out of 5 times. Not bad.
Freelance Services – I do this!
Coaching – I also do this!
Consulting – And this, too!
Services – Broad term but, yeah! This, too!
Membership Program – Talk to Janette Toral about this!
Courses – I've done a few webinars but all for free!
Unless you are planning to compete with large media firms who are well established digitally, chances are you will make a paltry income through blogging., One blogger had 83,132 visitors in a month and made $194 from Google ads. Egad! That's bad! What's great about her blog is its awesome content, precise subject matter, great writing style, nice blog format or theme, and so on. But $194 in a month? She barely made a half-a-cent per visitor.
You can also build an e-commerce site and blog about BOTH your new products AND articles relating to the theme or category of your products. Sky's the limit!
Anyway, I'm not going to talk about SEO, writing style and techniques, consulting tips, do's and don'ts when meeting your clients, presentations, etc. But I coach and consult if you need help. Remember, I already have more than 30 years of business experience. So, 'been there, 'done that!
Reference: This blog started when I landed on "The Truth About Making Money With Your Blog" by Sue Anne Dunlevie.
Right on Raffy. Use your blog as a tool to communicate and do it in such a way that reflects the highest value you add to others.
Aww. Thanks, Janette. It's been what this blog was and is all about. I hope the other independent bloggers out there understand that making money isn't about Google Adsense, cheap advertising, and loot bags; it's about communicating properly what you (the blogger) is capable of doing. Cheers!


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Q: How to make custom album view ? OR how to store RSS feed Image in album hey i get lots of image from RSS Than i have to display all that image as album and i have no idea hot set all in album...
i think make custom album using Table View is that proper way but i am little bit confuse than after how to get proper click of particular image from one row...
in my custom cell i put three imageView...
-(UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {
appDeleg = (NewAshley_MedisonAppDelegate *)[[UIApplication sharedApplication] delegate];
static NSString *CellIdentifier = @"Cell";

MyCustomCell *cell = (MyCustomCell *)[tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];

if (cell == nil) {
    [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:@"MyCustomCell"
                                  owner:self options:nil];

    cell = mycustomcell;
    self.mycustomcell = nil;
}

int index = indexPath.row;
imageData *objImage = [appDeleg.downloadImageData objectAtIndex:index];
[[cell imgView1] setImage:objImage.image1];

imageData *objImage = [appDeleg.downloadImageData objectAtIndex:index + 1];
    [[cell imgView2] setImage:objImage.image2];

    imageData *objImage = [appDeleg.downloadImageData objectAtIndex:index + 2];
    [[cell imgView3] setImage:objImage.image3];

return cell;

}
// in Next loop i got index 1 so for that i find way add each time series like 1,3,5,7... so i got but i don`t get idea how to i set that (how to perform this logic in objective C)

A: - (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:                   (NSIndexPath *)indexPath {

      static NSString *CellIdentifier = @"Cell";

// CustomCell *cell = (CustomCell *) [tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
 UITableViewCell *cell = [tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
if (cell == nil) {

      cell = [[[UITableViewCell alloc]        initWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleDefault reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier] autorelease];

}
// Configure the cell...
ImageData * objImage1 = [[ImageData alloc] init];

cell.selectionStyle = UITableViewCellSelectionStyleNone;
int n = indexPath.row * 2;

button1 = [UIButton buttonWithType:UIButtonTypeCustom];

button1 = [[UIButton alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(11.0f, 0.0f,145.0f, 100.0f)];

objImage1 = [appDelg.imageArray objectAtIndex:n];
[button1 setImage:objImage1.imgData forState:UIControlStateNormal];
[button1 addTarget:self action:@selector(buttonPressedAction:)      forControlEvents:UIControlEventTouchUpInside];
[cell addSubview:button1];

if(n+1 < [appDelg.imageArray count]){
button2 = [UIButton buttonWithType:UIButtonTypeCustom];
objImage1 = [appDelg.imageArray objectAtIndex:n+1];

button2 = [[UIButton alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(162.0f, 0.0f,145.0f, 100.0f)];
[button2 setImage:objImage1.imgData forState:UIControlStateNormal];
//[button1 setTitle:@"Do Stuff" forState:UIControlStateNormal];
[button2 addTarget:self action:@selector(buttonPressedAction:) forControlEvents:UIControlEventTouchUpInside];
[cell addSubview:button2];
}
else {
    button2 = [UIButton buttonWithType:UIButtonTypeCustom];
    button2 = [[UIButton alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(162.0f, 0.0f,145.0f, 100.0f)];
    [button2 setImage:[UIImage imageNamed:@"white.png"] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
    [button2 setEnabled:YES];
    [button2 setSelected:NO];
    button2.alpha = 1.0;
    [cell addSubview:button3];
}

return cell;
}

And My Two Method for Images....
- (void)buttonPressedAction:(id)sender
 {
    button1 = (UIButton *)sender;

    UITableViewCell *cell = (UITableViewCell*)[button superview];
    int row = [tblView indexPathForCell:cell].row;
     int n = row * 2;
    NSLog(@"Button Pressed %d", n);
    NSString *str = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%d",n+1];
    objImage = [[ShowImage alloc] initWithNibName:@"ShowImage" bundle:nil];
   [objImage imageSelect:n :str];
   [self.view.window addSubview:objImage.view];

 }

I tried this with UIIMage view but in that case i don`t get button id in my Tap action....
  button2 = (UIButton *)sender;

  UITableViewCell *cell = (UITableViewCell*)[button2 superview];
  int row = [tblView indexPathForCell:cell].row;

my application Crash on second line of above code .....
BUT no Problem with button application goes smooth....

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
HomeNewsCity of Timmins crossing the road to manage crossing guards on its...
City of Timmins crossing the road to manage crossing guards on its own
By Bob McIntyre
Tuesday, Jul. 12th, 2022
(Mohamed Hasan/pixabay.com)
All 32 school crossing guards across Timmins have to re-apply for their jobs.
City Hall is taking over management of the school year service, after bids for the contract came in $500,000 over budget.
Municipal clerk Steph Palmateer says the enforcement department shouldn't need more staff to handle the crossing guard file.
"Right now," he remarks. "we're trying to use our existing staff but yes, if we need additional staff, we may have to bring some staff in later."
NEED FOR CROSSING GUARDS IS HIGHER
"I believe there are 32 crossing guards," says Palmateer, "but we're looking for 35 because we've had some requests for additional spots. As well, we'd like to have a roster of people who might be able to fill in when other crossing guards are sick or ill or can't attend for other reasons."
The job pays $18.00 an hour. Details and applications are available from the city's human resources department.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Is there such a thing as the testing of automation? I know that it's possible perform automation of testing. That is, take tests that are manual, and make them automatic.
However, is there such a thing as the testing of automation? That is, checking if an automation process is working correctly or not?
I came across a job ad talking about "testing automation", and I'm 95% sure it means the automation of testing, but I wanted to check whether the testing of automation is a thing.

A: Of course it's a thing (it's just unsearchable, because search engines don't handle meaningful differences in word order well).
Automation is code that does things you would otherwise have to do by hand. Spoken loosely, that covers all computer programs, so we usually use it to mean "code that generates other computer-readable assets". And of course it's testable - the same principles of unit testing apply as everywhere else.
Example: If your code generates images, you specify properties of the images you want, e.g. "this image has the same color balance as the other, but is smaller and lower-resolution".  If it's log files, you run it and then verify that the log contains the info you wanted to log. And if the output is other computer programs, you an either analyse them statically (without running them) or dynamically (by running them and testing their output). By definition, if that output is satisfactory, then the automation was successful, and that's what you want to ensure.

A: Test Automation is the process of automating testing, you guessed correct.
However, your misunderstanding is actually the more interesting question: can you test automation? Well, it turns out that the question isn't so interesting after all: an automation script is just another program, so you can test it like any other program. Okay, sure, its primary purpose is to have a side-effect (say restarting a server, updating a software package, etc., editing a config file), and it interacts with an environment largely outside of its control (server daemons, computers on another network, the filesystem, the OS), both of wich make it harder to test than a pure function, but it's testable nonetheless.


text:
Little Land of Giants: 7-Day Ring Road Trip in Iceland
On 2nd Aug 2022 6th Jan 2023 By calibre321In Travel
Cheap flights and a renowned nightlife have transformed the former fishing village of Reykjavik into a growing hipster tourist mecca, capitalizing on "layover" traffic to Europe's more popular destinations. But of the more than one million overnight visitors to Iceland last year, fewer than 50% left the confines of the Golden Circle, and only a third left the south-west coast beyond Jokulsarlon — meaning that even now the vast windswept wilds and isolated fjords of Iceland remain relatively unknown to foreign travelers.
Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Roughly the size of Newfoundland, and with just over half its inhabitants, Iceland is Europe's most sparsely populated nation. This makes it a nature lover's dream of lava fields, glacial mountains, tumultuous rivers, slumbering volcanoes, and thunderous waterfalls. Deluxe adventures in a tiny package. And while the interior highlands of this far-flung island remain inhospitable and uninhabited, many of the nation's natural wonders are only a road trip and a stone's throw away.
Encircling the island since 1974, the Ring Road — or Route 1 — connects many of the country's national treasures. The road clocks in at 1332km in length, but a true Ring Road trip will take you off the beaten path at various junctures, not the least of which is the Golden Circle, adding to the total distance traveled.
In August of 2016, my wife and I trundled over 2027km of highway, paved and otherwise, to complete our own 7-Day Ring Road adventure — an experience which left us drunk on skyr and supermarket sandwiches, impossible vistas, and midnight sun.
We flew to Iceland and picked up our campervan from Go Iceland (Campervan Iceland), conveniently located within walking distance of Keflavik Airport. It was a Renault Kangaroo Camper with two seats up front and a double bed in the rear. Sleeping bags, camp stove and furniture, dishes, and a refrigerator/cooler, were included in the rental. Storage was ample.
There are several camper providers in Iceland, and while we experienced issues on our journey (elaborated elsewhere), the company was ultimately helpful and understanding, and we were very satisfied with the vehicle.
Hallgrimmskirkja. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
We arrived just before 5am local time and were on the road by 6:30. We began our trip with the forty-five minute jaunt into Reykjavik through the lava fields of Keflavik. Icelanders stay up late and sleep in later. Most stores and shops (outside of gas stations) are not open anywhere in Iceland before 10am. As such we strolled through the Midtown area around Andalstraeti and Hafnarstraeti — a funky mix of tourist shops and resto-bars, tour providers and wool stores. We ate an expensive breakfast at the Grai Kotturinn (The Gray Cat) — $60 for two salmon bagels and coffee — and then headed uphill for a view of the iconic Hallgrimskirkja (church), which is modeled after a volcanic eruption with hexagonal "basalt" columns.
Aside from the newish office buildings fronting the harbour, Reykjavik is a collection of two and three story structures, often colourfully painted, hunkered down stoically on the hillside, cynically awaiting the North Atlantic to batter them with wind and rain. But on this morning, the skies were clear and the air crisp and cool.
Historic Harbour. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
As the city slowly awakened, we wandered back down to the Historic Harbour to see the tour boats and the whaling fleet. Many tourists were eagerly booking puffin tours on the busy docks, but we were simply killing time as we awaited the opening of Baejarins Beztu Pylsur.
No Ring Road trip is complete without the consumption of at least one Icelandic hotdog (pylsur), and Baejarins is the most famous. Take one with "the works" — crispy fried onions, remoulade, ketchup and mustard.
Once we had satisfied this desire, we pointed the camper east toward the Golden Circle. Seven days is not a lot of time to see the entire island; in fact, a visit to the Western Fjords is probably not feasible if you hope to circumnavigate the Ring Road. If you want to enjoy the various stops as more than photo ops, you have to keep moving. Hikes, both short and long, are an essential treat in Iceland — and necessary to view many of the sites — but they are time-consuming, as well.
The best knife is the one you carry everyday
In fact, the lynchpin of a seven-day Ring Road experience is the incredibly long summer day. In August, the sun does not set until after midnight, and it is up again before 3am. This allows RingRoaders hours of extra travel time at day's end. If you elect to rent a car and use guesthouses instead, you may sleep in greater comfort, but you will lose the advantage of mobility.
Thingvellir National Park was our first destination, approximately an hour northwest of Reykjavik. It was threatening rain as we entered the park — stark banks of bruised clouds, scudding low over desolate plains and the bright spark of Lake Thingvallavatn. Backing onto these plains are the distant peaks of the Langjokull Glacier — all of which contribute to the sort of dramatic landscape that would come to characterize Iceland for us.
There are several short hikes here that are musts. The shorter is the walk through the Almannagja, a steep cliff-lined scar that is evidence of the continental plates which are slowly tearing Iceland apart, to the Logberg — a rock outcrop where the Vikings held biannual gatherings to pass laws and settle disputes. The second is a hike to Oxararfoss, a waterfalls where executions took place during the Middle Ages. The combination of historical significance and geological wonder is typical of Iceland's sights.
Almannagja. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Expect a lot of tourists here, and at all stops in the Golden Circle. Bus tours leave nearby Reykjavik several times a day for the layover crowd.
Strokkur. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Further west are the Geysir Hotsprings. More than a dozen blowholes percolate on the surface here. Strokkur, though smaller than Geysir, is the most active and impressive. It explodes from the earth every 8-10 minutes, sending a belch of steaming water 30 metres into the air. You can attain a better sense of the hot-springs by hiking the small nearby peak. Be sure to take in the far side of the mountain as well. Its bucolic green valley is dotted with ubiquitous Icelandic sheep and horses.
It was nearing supper hour when we pulled off Route 35 to visit Gullfoss. We were sensing the lack of sleep, but the sun was still high in the Icelandic sky, urging us on. Gullfoss is a two-tier waterfalls that booms out of a glacial river into a steep canyon. The sheer power of the falls can be experienced from several vantage points, but you will need rain gear when exploring close to the racket. The strength and height of the falls are reminiscent of Niagara, if not as large; but the landscape is far more awe-inspiring than its North American counterpart.
Gullfoss. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
There is a nearby cafe which sells a delicious lamb soup for about $20 a bowl (which is decent in Iceland), but allows you a "free" refill. It comes with homemade bread.
As we crept south toward Selfoss, our intended camping spot for the night, we passed the Kerith Crater, which is actually a deep volcanic lake lined with steep red and black rock walls, and made a nice quick pic before turning in for the night.
Use Selfoss as a provisions stop. There is a Bonus on the edge of town. It doesn't open until 10am, so it would be best to stock up on sandwiches and skyr the night before. I find RingRoaders tend to sleep in, but we were always on the road before 9am, around the time most others were taking their showers.
The Hvolsvollur Saga Centre was our first stop on day two, and it was the only museum we visited in Iceland. It is a classic museum with a lot of text to read, but it will give you a strong understanding of the Viking culture from which modern Iceland has emerged. I read Njall's Saga when I was in university, and the Saga Centre essentially rehashes this same Medieval Period in Iceland's history, when the island converted to Christianity.
Seljalandsfoss. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
This stretch of the Ring Road will take you past both Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull — two small ice caps that provide for several dramatic waterfalls along the route. Seljalandsfoss is the first of these. You can see it from the road several kilometres away before you arrive, a white ribbon against glowing verdant cliffs. It pours over a rock ledge and plunges into the meadow below. Here you can walk in behind the falls, if you don't mind getting wet.But as impressive as it is, a short walk upstream will lead you to a more intimate site — a hidden cave where a smaller falls drops into its dark belly. Fewer tourists venture this far away from the main attraction, and if you are lucky, you can even find yourself alone here.
A few kilometres later, right off the Ring Road is an opportunity to pull off for a picture of Eyjafjallajokull, which in addition to being a snow capped glacier, is also a volcano. The vent erupted in 2010 sending smoke and ash so far into the atmosphere that it disrupted air travel in Continental Europe and North America.
But the real destination — also frequented by tour buses from Reykjavik — is just a little farther east. Skogafoss is one of Iceland's most popular waterfalls. Its waters leap over the cliff edge and tumble 60m to the gravel plain and then out to sea. You can climb the cliff face for a better vantage point, but even more beautiful — and less frequented — is the hike along the river and above the falls. Eyjafjallajokull is visible over the sheep dappled hills here, and among the cataracts of the river you can see rock islands shaped and carved away by the steady flow.
Skogafoss. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Skogafoss Hike. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
A half hour down the road will lead you to Vik. But just before arriving, there are a series of side roads which will take you to amazing coastal views. Dyrholaey is one of the best. Here you will come face to face with puffin colonies and also catch stunning views of an enormous stone sea arch. Vik's Troll Rocks are also visible from here, as is the Myrdallsandur black lava desert.
Dyrholaey. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
It is possible to sleep in or around Vik at the end of the day. There is a supermarket and a campground. Many guidebooks will suggest you do just that. But I would suggest that you picnic and then strike out for Skaftafell and Vatnajokull National Park. This is a long drive at the end of a day, but it will take you through some of the most desolate and strikingly beautiful stretches of the Ring Road, and it will allow you to enjoy all Skaftafell has to offer the next morning without rush. The camp ground at the base of Skaftafell is also surrounded by glorious mountains and is well appointed. Make sure, however, that you have a full tank of diesel and plenty of food before you leave Vik.
You will be compelled to pull over and take pictures of the bizarre lava formations all along the way. There are also examples of turf houses at Nupsstadur if you are not too late in passing.
Although I am hard-pressed to choose, if pushed on the subject, I might say day three of the Ring Road is my favourite, even though day five is also spectacular.
Black Falls. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Waking up at Skaftafell means that you have the time to hike two different loops, which, when combined, make for a 10km trek to two very different but rewarding sites. The first is a hike to the Svartifoss, the Black Falls. This is a steep hike up behind the Visitor Centre and then back down into a valley where Svartifoss cascades over dark hexagonal basalt columns. The Vatnajokull Glacier — the largest in all of Europe — follows you the entire way over your shoulder to the east. The second is a trek to Skaftafell itself — one of the glacier's tongues which protrudes onto a gravel plain amid kettle lakes, moraines and glacial runoff. There are very few places in the world where you can so easily access a glacier. And it is awesome.
Skaftafell. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
About an hour away is another awesome sight — the Iceberg Lagoon of Jokulsarlon. I spent several summers in Newfoundland as a child, and I remember watching icebergs float by in the distance. But at Jokulsarlon the icebergs drop off the snout of the glacier and are packed into a 5km stretch of bay, jostling each other in the crystal blue waters as they make their way to the ocean. Some are washed up on the black volcanic sand and left to melt into twisted sculptures. The presence of herring in the bay also draws seals, who fight their way up the significant current in search of food. The whole scene is magical.
Iceberg Lagoon. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
West of Jokulsarlon by another hour and a half is the seaside town of Hofn, and a good place to bed down for the night. If you intend to splurge at any point on your travels, this is the place. Icelandic lobster — langoustine — is fresh off the boat here, as is trout and a number of seafish. A dinner for two at Hofn's Pakkus, a converted warehouse, will easily set you back $200CAN. But it is a welcome change from sandwiches and hotdogs. Here we experienced incredible winds throughout the night and into the morning. Unfortunately, our on board heater also ceased to function. The south is normally warmer and wetter than the north, but it can experience gale-force winds, although normally these do not occur until October. In spite of Go Iceland's efforts to help us, the heater was lost for the duration of the trip. I will say, however, that the company quickly agreed to a 15% discount on the rental, and that otherwise our little Renault was a trooper. The only night our sleeping bags were truly put to the test anyway was in Grimsstadir when temperatures plunged to -5 degrees Celsius. Thankfully, they did not skimp on sleeping bags. Sometimes you really can tell the difference quality makes.
Hot Pots of Hoffel
Because our vehicle came equipped with WiFi, I was able to do a little last minute digging around when we awakened to the same sustained winds we had experienced the night before. An Australian blogger clued me in to a "wild hot pot" no more than fifteen minutes from Hofn in a little place called Hoffel. Most people are aware of Iceland's geothermal baths. The Blue Lagoon and Jardbodin are two popular examples of these. But there are also wild hot pots speckled across the country, which are little frequented by tourists. Hoffel was one such place, and we were glad to come across it in a farmer's field, shielded from the wind by a cliff face. We were alone there, soaking in the outdoor tubs for almost an hour. A good way to start the day.
Rejuvenated, by mid-morning we reached Djupivogur, a small picturesque town in the eastern fjords. Aside from its pretty harbour, offering boat trips to Papey Island, there is a wonderful property next to the ferry landing, where a former fisherman has opened a gallery featuring entire whale skeletons, rock sculptures and jewelry designed from reindeer antler and bone. The owner is a character, and his home is worth a stop, even if only to sneak a peak.
From here you can follow the Ring Road farther east around Breithdalsvik, and then cut inland toward Egilsstadir. Or…you can take the more dramatic direct route over the mountains by way of a road that doesn't even appear on Google Maps. Honestly, I took this route by mistake. Now it's a story. The side road at the end of the fjord careens up from sea level to dizzying heights in only a few short kilometres. The road becomes gravel and drops off hundreds of feet without barriers. I drove white-knuckled the entire way. The views: incredible. The risk in a Renault Kangaroo: limitless. Would I do it again? No. But I'm glad I did it once and lived to tell the tale.
Gunnar Gunnarson's Villa. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Egilsstadir is a good service centre to refuel and restock your refrigerator, but it is the drive around Lake Logurinn that draws visitors. At its south end, there is a beautiful villa once owned by the Icelandic writer Gunnar Gunnarsson, and on the plain below it are the interesting ruins of a Catholic Cloister from the 15th century. From here you can also see the country's tallest peak, Snaefell. As you begin your drive up the west bank of Logurinn, you will also pass the multi-leveled Helgifoss as it spills through a split in the hillside. Egilsstadir is also a jumping off spot for the northern fjord towns like Seydisfjodur, perhaps even more charming than Djupivogur, with a small collection of artisan shops and restaurants around a placid bay.
Seydisfjordur. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Once again, guidebooks will suggest that you bunk down here, but it would be much more worth your while to drive on to Grimsstadir. Again, while far to travel at the end of the day, it is essential to set you up nicely for Dettifoss and Lake Myvatn in the morning. And the scenery here in the evening with the sun slanting in over the hills is stunning. This high valley is a much gentler landscape than the heart-stopping hills of the fjords. It is green and lush and dappled with farms and sheep and horses, before rising to a plateau of lava fields and distant views of the Arctic Ocean.
Grimmsstadir. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
So. Day five. Incredible. Leave the campground at Grimsstadir early. The road to Dettifoss is bad. Really bad. Drive fast if you don't want the corduroy gravel to shake you senseless. It is also farther than you think. The falls is among the country's most spectacular. If you arrive before 10am, you can catch rainbows in the ample mist. Dettifoss is the third highest of the waterfalls in Iceland, and it also rivals Gullfoss in power and flow. The canyon into which it spills is simply awesome. And when you approach it from the east, you can practically sit next to it as it roars past.
Dettifoss. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Canyon North of Dettifoss. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Dettifoss
Not far away is Lake Myvatn which is just as packed with sites as the Golden Circle outside Reykjavik. Some of the most marvelous are the sulfurous mud pots of Namaskard. These bubbling vents do not erupt like the geysers, but they are hotter and are rumoured to be 1000m deep. You have to be careful here and stick to marked paths. The colours of the runoff are fantastic, but the smell…not so much.
Just five minutes to the north are a series of volcanic craters. The Krafla eruption site of Viti is the most stunning with its blue waters and high red banks, but to the west there are further and larger sulfur blisters that still let off steam. Leave yourself enough time to hike a few kilometres here.
Viti Crater. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Krafla Sulfur Blister. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Grjotagja. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Just over the mountains, on the shores of Lake Myvatn, you can also see the subterranean hot springs of Grjotagja — a collection of caves into which you can descend for a view of the eerie warm blue waters. And not far away are the Dimmuborgir — an extensive field of contorted lava formations that look like wet sand castle droppings, or the construction efforts of trolls. Paths have been hewn through the park, allowing you to pick a loop that suits your itinerary, from twenty minutes to half a day.
Dimmuborgir. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Save the Nature Baths at Jardbodin for last. Unlike the Blue Lagoon outside Reykjavik, Jardbodin's baths are naturally occurring. They are also half the price to enter with commanding views over Lake Myvatn and the volcanic hills to the east. We spent two glorious hours in the baths and steam room, sipping local beer, which you can order in advance when you buy your bracelet upon entry. Even better, the beer is delivered by staff. You don't even have to leave the baths.
Guides will direct you north to Husavik when you are through with Lake Myvatn. Whale-watching is the big draw. But if you stay the night there and take a three hour tour in the morning, your last day on the Ring Road will be a five and a half hour marathon back to Reykjavik without stops. I would suggest that you continue on to Akureyri instead. You can whale watch from there should you desire, and the town has a much more developed city centre with shops and restaurants at much better economy than elsewhere. Akureyri was our favourite town, and there is an excellent campground just outside the city, called Hamrar — a perfect place for families with creative water playgrounds on site and horses nearby.
On the way, be sure to stop at Godafoss. You may think that you have seen enough waterfalls by this point…but you would be wrong.
Godafoss. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Spillwaters of Godafoss. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
Sunset over Akureyri Fjord.Photo by Caroline Bergeron
We booked a whale-watching tour in Akureyri with Ambassador Tours. It was about $130CAN/person. This is more expensive than Husavik, but the experience was tremendous. During our three hours in the north end of the fjord, at the mouth of the Arctic Ocean, we had more than thirty whale sightings — at least a dozen of which were within 10m of our boat. All of the sightings were of humpbacks feeding in the bay.
We ate a rare restaurant lunch at Kaffi Ilmur which was located on a hill above the downtown area. For only $25CAN/person you could have a buffet-style traditional Icelandic meal of lamb stew, potatoes, salad, and homemade bread. This was a steal by Icelandic standards.
After a pleasant afternoon in the shops, we drove 300km south to a campground just outside Reykjavik, stopping at will for photos, especially of the farmers who were rounding up there Icelandic horse herds, arriving around 9:30pm.
The Sun Voyager. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
The Blue Lagoon is only twenty minutes from the airport in Keflavik, but almost an hour outside Reykjavik. We returned to the capital for some last minute shopping in the morning. Geysir, the Icelandic clothing company, has an outlet store in Midtown, selling wool sweaters and the like for a fraction of the price elsewhere. We had booked our entrance to the Blue Lagoon at 1pm. Prebooking is a must. We arrived early to ensure we passed through the long lines in advance of our booking.
Runoff from Blue Lagoon. Photo by Caroline Bergeron
The Blue Lagoon is a wonderful luxury. It costs almost $100CAN to get in, but it is beautiful in a spooky way. The standard package includes a silica mask that you can apply yourself at a station once in the bath. Your bracelet also acts as a credit card should you wish to purchase drinks at the swim up bar. It was overcast and rainy on the day we were there, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. The lagoon looked otherworldly with its blue silica water and black lava walls — steam rising into the mist. But actually, although it is the most popular attraction in Iceland, the Blue Lagoon is not a naturally occurring hot-spring. Its mineral waters are heated by the runoff from the nearby geothermal plant. This fact does not taint the experience, but you might argue that it is the only thing about Iceland which is not entirely genuine.
Iceland is a little island of vast spaces. A landscape of extremes. A juxtaposition of hot and cold. A tiny country of superlatives. One of nature's true wonders.
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
Caroline Bergeron considers herself a jack of all trades and a master of none. She is an educator, a gardener, a beekeeper, a photographer, a leather crafter, a recycling artist, and a Great Dane dog mom. She says, "Life is too short not to try everything!" You can follow her @backwater_chic and at @odin_le_danois on Instagram.
Please understand that using any links to products on this site might result in us making money.
7 day ring road itineraryadventure travelbudget travelcamping icelandgolden circleicelandring roadtoad trip icelandtravel iceland
Off the Cuff: Retter 22
Off the Cuff: RZE Valour 38


It is February the month for love and that means going out with the person you love. Here is the 2nd Day of February Date Night Style.
Tonight you and your lover should have a romantic dinner by the lake.
There should be candles ,wine and music. Start your 2nd day of romance off right.


Turtle cookies are the best Christmas cookies. The recipe uses a chocolate cookie dough, crushed pecans and gooey caramel making each bite taste like the candy!
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt. Set aside.
With a stand mixer (or hand mixer), beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla and mix until combined, one more minute. Scrape down sides of the bowl if necessary. Reduce speed to low and slowly add flour mixture until just combined.
Once dough is chilled, preheat oven to 350° F. Lined a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Place egg whites in one small bowl and chopped pecans in a separate small bowl. Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls, dip in egg whites, and then roll in pecans. Place balls about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Using a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon, make an indentation in the center of each dough ball.
Bake until set, about 12 minutes. Once cookies are removed from the oven, gently re-press the indentations. Prepare caramel filling immediately.
Place unwrapped caramels and cream in a bowl. Microwave together, stirring occasionally, until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Transfer cookies to a wire rack and fill each cookie indentation with about 1/2 teaspoon of the caramel mixture (it's okay if the cookies are still warm).
Place chocolate and shortening in a small bowl. Microwave together, stirring occasionally, until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer melted chocolate to a ziplock bag. Snip a very small hole in the corner of the plastic bag. Drizzle chocolate over the cooled turtle cookies.
*I put the pecans in a food processor and pulsed for 20 seconds.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.


How do you know if your website is usable? More companies are testing the same way their clients are buying; remotely. In your quest to improve conversion rates, crowd sourcing can save you the money and time you'd otherwise spend building your own test environment. Here are 5 options for remote website usability testing for under £31, and the benefits of each.
Benefits: Over 1100 professional testers from 111 different countries, many with over 6 years of experience reviewing websites and apps. You'll receive a concise list of issues from a testing team who gathered data on website functionality, localisation and usability. A potential drawback is a limited choice in the demographics of your testers, despite a very broad test pool.
Cost: About £30 per platform/ per tester.
Benefits: You receive the choice of a wide range of tester demographics, (which you can broaden with additional requirements,) who reveal their thought process in an audio recording. You also receive a video of the user screen, mouse and keystrokes during the test. You'll even get to write a questionnaire for your testers to fill out upon completion, and can even pay for a license that allows you to run your own test with your own unlimited testers.
Cost: About £20 per test, with deals on further testing for your own users and co-branding options.
Benefits: Joining as a tester allows you to use it at no cost. You can also purchase a plan for 100-1000 responses. At this point you'll be able to request demographics, and run three types of tests on the platform; a five-second, click and nav flow test. Potential drawbacks are the testing pool's demographics, which consist of professional web developers and builders. This may or may not match your own demographic requirements.
Cost: From £12 per month for up to 100 testers, and free for testers.
Benefits: A video of the tester as they complete the entire test. Choose between a group Userlytics creates from your preferred demographics, or the option to choose your own group among their testers. For an upgrade, you'll also receive a summary of the test results and quality assurance for each project.
Cost: From £30 per respondent depending on the length of session, demographics, and whether respondents are provided.
Benefits: User Testing boasts more than 1 million testers and most results are promised in under an hour. You can choose from demographic filters or even use your own customers as testers. It offers highly sophisticated testing that includes focus groups, one on one interviews and detailed reports. User Testing also allows its clients to question respondents at the conclusion of the test.
Cost: Approximately £30 per user, or £20 for the purchase of three or more users.
Usability testing is a critical part of designing a successful website, and remote testing is becoming more and more standard than the creation of independent test labs. What's more, with options like demographic filters, working from your own customer base, and worldwide focus groups, the practice of remote testing may provide a more personalised sampling of testers than most companies have realistic access to. Either way, it's one option that's worth pricing.


Take control of your health with easy, accurate BP readings anytime, anywhere on your smartphone or tablet. Doctor trusted and FDA approved, the iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor gives you fast, reliable results you can count on. The design and cutting-edge technology let you view results, monitor trends, and share your data with your doctor or caregiver right from your touchscreen. Every reading is stored on our secure, HIPPA compliant, iHealth Cloud and charted with past readings to give you a clear overview of your blood pressure trends.
Measurements evaluated and interpreted using Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure guidelines.
FDA approved for accurate systolic/diastolic blood pressure and heart rate results.
Wireless, lightweight, blood pressure monitor and easy to use interactive app.
One touch saving and data sharing on secure iHealth Cloud to track results and trends.
I am buying second one for my friend.
Amazingly device, Very useful and accurately check BP.
It's easy to use and carry, Very handy and the best part it's wireless.


text:
AbstractIntroductionResultsDiscussionMaterials and MethodsConflicts of InterestAuthors' ContributionsAcknowledgmentsSupplementary MaterialsReferencesCopyright
Han Yu, Jian Xie, Na Shu, Fei Pan, Jianglin Ye, Xinyuan Wang, Hong Yuan, Yanwu Zhu, "A Sponge-Driven Elastic Interface for Lithium Metal Anodes", Research, vol. 2019, Article ID 9129457, 10 pages, 2019. https://doi.org/10.34133/2019/9129457
A Sponge-Driven Elastic Interface for Lithium Metal Anodes
Han Yu ,1 Jian Xie ,1 Na Shu,1 Fei Pan,1 Jianglin Ye ,1 Xinyuan Wang,1 Hong Yuan,1 and Yanwu Zhu 1,2
1Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Department of Materials Science and Engineering and CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
2iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
Received30 May 2019
Accepted29 Jul 2019
Published15 Sep 2019
The lithium (Li) metal is one promising anode for next generation high-energy-density batteries, but the large stress fluctuation and the nonuniform Li deposition upon cycling result in a highly unstable interface of the Li anode. Herein, a simple yet facile engineering of the elastic interface on the Li metal anodes is designed by inserting a melamine sponge between Li and the separator. Driven by the good elasticity of the sponge, the modified Li anode maintains a Coulombic efficiency of 98.8% for 60 cycles and is cyclable at 10 mA cm-2 for 250 cycles, both with a high capacity of 10 mA h cm-2. We demonstrate that the sponge can be used to replace the conventional polypropylene as a porous yet elastic separator, showing superior cycling and rate performance as well. In addition to the efficiency of the elastic interface on the cycling stability, which is further confirmed by an in situ compression-electrochemistry measurement, the porous structure and polar groups of the sponge demonstrate an ability of regulating the transport of Li ions, leading to a uniform deposition of Li and the suppression of Li dendrites in cycling.
Although lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have attained a huge success over the past few decades, state-of-the-art anodes based on graphite are unable to meet the growing demands for energy storage capability. Due to the high specific capacity (3860 mA h g-1), low density (0.534 g cm-3), and low electrochemical potential (-3.04 V versus standard hydrogen electrode), metallic lithium (Li) has been considered as the optimal anode, especially in recently developed batteries such as Li-sulfur batteries and Li-air batteries [1]. Compared to graphite anodes that store Li ions via an intercalation reaction, the Li metal anode boosts the energy density with direct plating/stripping across the anode-electrolyte interface [2]. The high reactivity of the Li metal leads to an instantaneous formation of a heterogeneous and fragile solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the Li surface [3–5]. During Li plating, the dramatic volume expansion and nonuniform stress may bring cracks in SEI [6]. Subsequently, part of the Li metal comes into direct contact with the electrolyte, and the reactions continuously consume Li and the electrolyte, resulting in low Coulombic efficiency (CE) [7, 8]. In addition, the Li ions tend to deposit on the cracked SEI due to the lower energy barrier, causing the intensified inhomogeneous Li deposition [9] and the dendrite formation [10, 11]. In Li stripping, on the other hand, the dendrites may be broken, which expedites the formation of "dead Li" [3, 12]. The repeated formation/breaking of SEI and the accumulation of "dead Li" further deteriorate CE, and the dendrite growth also causes a short circuit and significant problems related to safety [3, 13].
Considerable efforts have been devoted to overcoming these challenges related to the unstable interface. One strategy is to modify the properties of the anode-electrolyte interface with additives in electrolytes to form a more stable SEI [14–16]. For instance, dense and insoluble components of Li2O and LiF were formed by the addition of a small amount of HF, which could improve the CE during cycling [16]. But the volume change upon cycling remains a problem. Another strategy involves optimizing the electrodes for minimizing the volume change and inhibiting the development of Li dendrites. To do this, conductive or insulating frameworks with three-dimensional (3D) structures have been used to provide larger surface areas and volumes [11, 17–20]. As the Sand's law indicates that the time needed for dendrite growth is inversely proportional to the square of the local current density and the anionic mobility [21], designing a high-surface-area anode composite is considered beneficial for the suppression of dendrite growth [17, 22]. However, these porous structures may reduce the packing density, leading to a lowered volumetric capacity incomparable to those densely-packed materials [23]. Introducing interlayer materials or modifying separators, on the other hand, also shows a potential to stabilize the Li metal. For example, glass fibers have been reported as the interlayer between the separator and Cu, in which the polar functional groups on the fibers may adsorb Li ions to compensate for the preferential deposition of Li on the rough Cu surface, thus leading to a more uniform Li deposition [20]. Similarly, a membrane consisting of submicron α-Si3N4 wires has been proposed as an interface to prolong the lifetime of Li metal batteries, in which the tortuous pores were thought to extend the physical path of growing dendrites and thus effectively suppress the dendrite growth towards the separator [24]. The nonelastic interface, however, still suffers from the loose interfacial contact and fluctuating stress during the repeated plating/stripping, which increases the interface instability [25].
Recently, a stress-driven dendrite growth model has been proposed to explain the drastic difference in Li growth behavior on hard versus soft substrates; the mitigation of dendrite growth was observed on soft substrates in electrodeposition [6]. Benefitting from flexibility, polymers are of intense interest as elastic interfaces on Li metal anodes [26–29]. For example, a porous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film obtained by HF etching [29] and a flexible artificial interphase layer fabricated by a chemical reaction between the Li metal and polyacrylic acid [30] have resulted in a more stable interface and more uniform Li deposition than the unmodified electrodes. With such an elastic interface, the distribution of Li deposition could be regulated and the volume change minimized as these polymers can provide a conformal contact with the Li metal. In this sense, a nonchemical and scalable manufacturing of an elastic interlayer is valuable. In another report, an enhanced CE of 94.7% after 50 cycles of measurement at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 was achieved by placing a porous poly(melamine-formaldehyde) (PMF) on a Cu foil in a half cell (Li‖separator/PMF‖Cu), which has been attributed to homogenized Li distribution and reduced volume change in the PMF host [28]. In the measurements, however, prestoring Li (20 mA h cm-2) by electrodeposition in PMF is required before the cycling, which is time consuming and complicated in practical applications. In addition, cycling at the higher areal capacity (>5 mA h cm-2) is needed to verify the effect of such elastic interface for a higher capacity; the interfacial stability with such an interface remains insufficiently understood. Therefore, a strategy using a more practical preparation technique towards superior cycling ability under simultaneously high areal capacity and high current density is highly desired [6, 17].
In this work, an elastic yet porous interface for Li metal anodes is designed by a simple compression of the malleable Li metal with a melamine sponge (noted as MS-Li). With the good elasticity of the sponge, the obtained elastic interface enables a more sufficient interfacial contact during cycling and a more compact deposition of Li in plating, resulting in a CE of 98.8% for a high capacity of 10 mA h cm-2. Besides, it was found that the melamine sponge (noted as MS) can be applied independently as an elastic separator in symmetric cells to replace the conventional polypropylene (PP) separator, showing superior cycling and rate performance as well. The effect of the elastic interface on cycling stability is also confirmed by an in situ compression-electrochemistry measurement.
The manufacturing procedure of the MS-Li composite anode is briefly illustrated in the inset of Figure 1(a), and the detailed experimental description is provided in Supporting Information. Briefly, the composite anode was obtained by the axial compression of a melamine sponge (MS) with a malleable Li foil. As shown in Figure 1(a), the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image shows that MS has a three-dimensional (3D), cross-linked porous structure consisting of interconnected fibers. The pore size of MS is mainly distributed in the range of 50~100 μm (Figure S1a, Supporting Information). After compression, the optical photograph (inset of Figure 1(b)) of the free-standing MS-Li composite shows that one side of the Li metal is uniformly covered by MS, and the compressed MS has a much smaller pore size due to the deformation of big pores (Figure S1b, Supporting Information). The SEM image in Figure 1(b) further shows that the 3D porous structure of MS is preserved, and the skeleton of MS penetrates into the surface of the Li foil (Figure 1(b)) due to the malleable nature of Li and the high elasticity of MS. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR, Figure 1(c)) spectrum of MS shows vibration peaks corresponding to C-O at 1163 cm-1, C-H at 1342 cm-1, C-N at 1463 cm-1, C=N at 1690 cm-1, and N-H at 3347 cm-1 [31], respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement (Figure S2a, Supporting Information) indicates that MS is composed of N (27.57 at.%), C (58.09 at.%), and O (14.34 at.%). The XPS N1s spectrum (Figure S2b, Supporting Information) of MS can be deconvoluted into peaks of pyridinic-N (N-6, ~398.5 eV), pyrrolic-N (N-5, ~399.9 eV), and quaternary-N (Q-N, ~401.1 eV) [32], respectively. The XPS C1s spectrum (Figure S2c, Supporting Information) also shows the existence of C-O, which is consistent with FTIR. It has been reported that the polar groups (amine and ether) of MS have strong affinity with Li ions and may promote the uniform deposition of Li ions in plating [27, 28]. As can be seen from the mechanical compression testing in Figure 1(d), MS is elastic up to a compressive strain of 95% and the excellent consistency among curves indicates the potential ability of MS as an elastic interface to relieve strain upon cycling. Figure S3 in Supporting Information shows that MS demonstrates a dimensional shrinkage much lower than the conventional polypropylene (PP) separator when both were heated at 150°C for 1 h, indicating the better thermal stability of MS.
Schematic of the preparation and characterization of MS and MS-Li. (a) Typical SEM image of MS. Inset shows the schematic of the manufacturing method. (b) Cross-sectional SEM image of the MS-Li interface, showing the integrated structure of the composite anode. Inset shows an optical image of the MS-Li composite anode. (c) The FTIR spectrum of MS and (d) stress-strain curves of MS with compression strain varying from 0% to 95%.
The Coulombic efficiency (CE) of MS-Li anodes has been systemically compared to that of bare Li via galvanostatic discharge/charge profiles of half cells with bare Cu as the cathode and PP as the separator in between. As shown in Figure S4a in Supporting Information, the elastic MS-Li anode shows a CE of 98.5% for over 200 cycles at 1 mA cm-2 for an areal capacity of 1 mA h cm-2, while the bare Li anode shows a rapidly decaying and fluctuating CE after 53 cycles. When the areal capacity is increased to 3 mA h cm-2, the MS-Li anode exhibits a CE of 99.1% for over 170 cycles at 1 mA cm-2, but the bare Li shows large oscillation and faster fading after 10 cycles (Figure S4b). Figures S4c and S4d further indicate that the MS-Li anode possesses a more stable stripping capacity upon cycles compared with the bare Li anode. More impressively, when the areal capacity is further increased to 5 mA h cm-2 (Figure 2(a)) or 10 mA h cm-2 (Figure 2(b)), the MS-Li anode still maintains a CE of 98.7% for 90 cycles or 98.8% for 60 cycles. In contrast, the bare Li anode displays fluctuating CE and increased instability for such high capacities, consistent with previous reports [33, 34]. It is worth noting that most CE measurements reported before were performed under [35, 36]. The CE cycling of the MS-Li anode is comparable or superior to previous reports in terms of areal capacity, current density, and CE lifetime (Table S1 in Supporting Information) [6, 17, 28, 33, 36–38].
Electrochemical evaluation of cells with MS-Li or bare Li as anodes. Coulombic efficiencies of MS-Li and bare Li anodes measured at the current of 1 mA cm-2 for (a) a capacity of 5 mA h cm-2 and (b) a capacity of 10 mA h cm-2. Voltage profiles in the cycling of Li‖MS-Li and Li‖Li symmetric cells for (c) a capacity of 1 mA h cm-2 at a current of 1 mA cm-2 and (d) a capacity of 10 mA h cm-2 at a current of 10 mA cm-2. (e) Cycling performance of LFP‖MS-Li and LFP‖Li full cells at 0.5 C. (f) Charge and discharge voltage profiles of LFP‖MS-Li and LFP‖Li full cells of the 1st, 50th, and 100th cycle. Insets show the corresponding structures of all the cells, respectively.
To further evaluate the cycling performance, the voltage variation has been monitored during Li plating and stripping in symmetrical cells (configurations shown in insets). Figure 2(c) shows the voltage profiles of MS-Li and bare Li anodes at 1 mA cm-2 for a capacity of 1 mA h cm-2, in which the MS-Li anode exhibits a very low overpotential of ~25 mV for 311 h, while the bare Li anode shows a larger overpotential of ~45 mV with fluctuations and a dramatic increase of voltage after 250 h, indicating the depletion of electrolytes or the failure of the electrode/electrolyte interface [36, 37]. For the simultaneously high current of 10 mA cm-2 and a high areal capacity of 10 mA h cm-2 (Figure 2(d)), the MS-Li anode still shows a stable overpotential of ~250 mV for 256 h, while the bare Li anode behaves like random oscillation and eventually experiences a sudden voltage drop after 138 h. Full cells were also fabricated by using the bare Li metal or MS-Li as anodes and commercial LiFePO4 as cathodes (denoted by LFP‖Li and LFP‖MS-Li, respectively) to explore the potential for practical applications. As shown in Figure 2(e), both full cells deliver similar initial discharge capacities and high initial CEs at 0.5 C (158 mA h g-1 with a CE of 98.7% for LFP‖MS-Li and 157 mA h g-1 with a CE of 97.9% for LFP‖Li). After 100 cycles, however, the capacity retention of LFP‖MS-Li is 91.1%, while that of LFP‖Li is only 79.2%. The voltage profiles shown in Figure 2(f) also support the superior cycling performance of LFP‖MS-Li as the LFP‖MS-Li demonstrates a smaller polarization of curves than LFP‖Li between the 1st and 100th cycles under the same conditions.
Furthermore, we demonstrate that the porous and insulating MS can be used to replace the conventional PP separator; that is, a cell can be directly assembled by stacking Li and MS-Li together, as shown in the inset of Figure 3(a). The voltage profiles of Li‖MS-Li and Li‖Li at 10 mA cm-2 for 10 mA h cm-2 are compared in Figure 3(a). As we can see, Li‖MS-Li shows a low overpotential of 200 mV and a stable cycling for 208 h, while Li‖Li exhibits fluctuating overpotentials and eventually a short circuit after 138 h. Figure 3(b) shows the rate performances of the two cells evaluated by cycling the cells under current densities from 0.5 to 10 mA cm-2 for 1 h in each half cycle. For the current densities of 0.5, 1, 4, 8, and 10 mA cm-2, the overpotential of Li‖MS-Li is 11, 21, 89, 189, and 229 mV, respectively. As shown in the inset of Figure 3(b), the overpotential of Li‖MS-Li shows a nearly linear dependence on the current density and remains relatively low and stable during cycling compared to Li‖Li, which further demonstrates the effectiveness of MS-Li in LMBs. The stability for the elastic interface was further investigated by SEM before or after 10 mA h cm-2 of Li is stripped in a symmetric cell. Figures S5a and S5b in Supporting Information show that after 10 mA h cm-2 of Li (corresponding to a pure Li thickness of ~50 μm) is stripped, MS is still attached to the Li metal with a part penetrating into the upper surface of Li and the thickness of residual Li in the MS-Li anode is reduced to ~410 μm from the original ~460 μm. That is, the self-adapting feature of the elastic interface helps to maintain the pressure on the Li metal upon cycling, resulting in less Li residue and higher cycling stability for a high areal capacity with MS on the Li metal [28, 39].
Electrochemical performance of using MS as an independent separator. (a) Voltage profiles of a symmetrical cell directly using MS as a separator (Li‖MS-Li), compared to a conventional cell with a PP separator (Li‖Li). Inset shows the structure of Li‖MS-Li. (b) Rate performances of two cells at currents from 0.5 to 10 mA cm-2. Inset shows the evolution of overpotential of Li‖MS-Li depending on the current.
To further understand the role of the MS elastic interface in the cycling performance, an in situ compression-electrochemistry testing was carried out at a current of 2 mA cm-2 and a capacity of 2 mA h cm-2. Figure 4(a) shows the optical photograph and the schematic of the cell for electrochemical testing. With such a device, the pressure applied on the anodes could be changed via a spring by the screw on the top. Figure 4(b) shows that the MS-Li anode could achieve a stable CE of 97.1% with an overpotential of ~270 mV for 25 cycles under the initial state (no obvious deformation of the spring). When the axial pressure is increased by another ~0.2 MPa (estimated by the deformation degree of the spring, which is calibrated with a known weight), the CE remains at 96.4% with a much lower overpotential of 85.6 mV till the 43rd cycle, when axial pressure is further increased by ~0.4 MPa. After that, the MS-Li anode maintains a CE of 97.5% with an overpotential of 68.2 mV till the end of the measurement. The lower overpotential under higher axial pressures indicates the better electrical contact and more compact Li deposition under more compression of the elastic interface [34, 39]. The effect of compression has also been confirmed by the cycling of a symmetrical cell using a thinner MS while keeping all other components the same. As shown in Figure S6 (Supporting Information), the cell with 1 mm MS delivers the higher overpotential and shorter cycling, compared to the cell with 2.5 mm MS (Figure 1(d)) under the same measurement conditions. This can be explained by the effect that the thinner MS would have the larger pore size and smaller strain under the same compression force in the assembled cell. The role of the elastic interface upon cycling is more clearly illustrated by the schematic in Figure 4(c). In the process of Li stripping, the elastic interface could enable more sufficient interfacial contact and reduce the formation of isolated Li [30, 40]. In the Li plating process, the gradually increased thickness of the Li layer leads to the higher compression of the sponge and more compact deposition of Li. Thus, the 3D porous elastic interface performs as a self-adapting layer to provide a suitable pressure and alleviate the volume change by forming a dense and uniform Li during the dynamic process of charging and discharging [39, 40].
In situ compression-electrochemistry evaluation. (a) Optical photograph and schematic of the cell for applying pressure during cycling. (b) In situ compression-electrochemistry evaluation and voltage profiles of MS-Li at 2 mA cm-2 for 2 mA h cm-2. (c) Schematic showing the changes of a sponge-driven elastic interface in the process of Li stripping and plating.
The morphological investigation for MS-Li and bare Li anodes was performed by disassembling the half cells after 30 cycles carried out at the current of 1 mA cm-2 for the capacity of 1 mA h cm-2. As can be seen from Figure 5(a), an obvious tendency to pulverization is observed on bare Li, which could further accelerate the heterogeneous plating and stripping of Li ions in return [13, 41]. Meanwhile, the rough morphology of deposited Li with numerous protrusions on the surface of Cu is also observed from Figure 5(a), indicating the nonuniform deposition of Li and the loose contact between Li particles on Cu in bare Li‖Cu [28, 42]. In contrast, Figure 5(b) shows a relatively more compact and smoother surface of Li in MS-Li (after MS was peeled off), suggesting that the elastic interface favors the more homogeneous distribution of Li ions and also provides a suitable pressure to suppress the volume change during the dynamic process, eventually forming an even and dense Li layer [13]. The measurement performed at a higher current density and higher capacity (e.g., 5 mA cm-2 and 5 mA h cm-2) also results in the similar observation (Figure S7, Supporting Information). Moreover, a compact and dendrite-free morphology on the Cu foil has also been achieved with the elastic MS-Li anode, which further demonstrates the role of regulating the deposition of Li ions by MS in MS-Li‖Cu. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of half cells using MS-Li or the bare Li anode (Figures 5(c) and 5(d)) was performed to evaluate the ion transportation and interfacial stability before and after cycling, as shown in Figure 5(c). The semicircle at the high frequency range in Nyquist plots indicates the interfacial resistance and that at the low frequency range indicates the ion diffusion-limited process contributing to the Warburg impedance response [22, 43]. By fitting the EIS curves, the resistances were estimated and listed in Table S2 (Supporting Information). As can be seen from Figure 5(c), the MS-Li and bare Li anodes display a similar interfacial resistance (~100 Ω) under a fresh state. After 20 cycles were performed with a capacity of 1 mA h cm-2 and a current of 1 mA cm-2, however, the MS-Li anode displays a much lower interfacial resistance of 22.7 Ω, compared to 38.9 Ω for the bare Li anode. The performance of the MS-Li anode is also comparable to the previous reports on interface engineering [11, 28], suggesting that the stable interface and better contact can be achieved by the elastic MS.
Characterizations of the interface in MS-Li and bare Li anodes. Schematic illustration of electrochemical deposition and SEM images of (a) the bare Li anode and (b) the MS-Li anode after 30 cycles. The electrodes were taken from half cells with a cycling capacity of 1 mA h cm-2 and a current density of 1 mA cm-2. The surface morphology of the corresponding Cu foils has also been shown, respectively. Nyquist plots of half cells using MS-Li and bare Li anodes measured at (c) a fresh state and (d) after 20 cycles under the capacity of 1 mA h cm-2 and current of 1 mA cm-2. Insets show the corresponding fitting model.
In summary, we have fabricated an elastic interface on the Li anode to stabilize the reaction by inserting a melamine sponge between Li and the separator; superior CE and cycling stability have been achieved at a high current density of 10 mA cm-2 and a high capacity of 10 mA h cm-2. The outstanding performance has been attributed to the elastic interface since more sufficient interfacial contact during Li plating and stripping shall prevent the formation of isolated Li and fractioned SEI. A homogeneous distribution of Li ions has also been obtained due to the regulation of the porous structure and the polar groups of the melamine sponge, resulting in a compact and smooth Li layer stable for long cycles. This simple, facile, yet effective method may shed light on further research on Li metal anodes by rationally designing self-adapting elastic interfaces.
4. Materials and Methods
4.1. Materials and Preparation of MS-Li
In a typical procedure, a piece of as-purchased melamine sponge (Puyang En-World New Material Co. Ltd., China) was cut into slices with a relaxed thickness of 2.5 mm and punched into round electrodes with a diameter of 16 mm and a mass of 5 mg. Then, the sponge was compressed with a Li metal (Wuhan Newthree Technology Co. Ltd., China) with a diameter of 14 mm by axial compression for the MS-Li composite. Based on the exponential fitting of the stress-strain curves, the thickness of MS was estimated as ~25 μm, comparable to that of commercial PP (~24 μm).
4.2. Structural Characterizations
The morphology of the samples was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (JEOL JSM-6700F and FEI Sirion 200). The composition of samples was evaluated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR, Nicolet 8700) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS, ESCALAB 250). The mechanical property of the samples was measured by a compression test (Instron 5565A) with the compressive strain from 0 to 95% in each cycle.
4.3. Electrochemical Measurements
Coin batteries (CR2032 type) were assembled for all electrochemical measurements in an argon-filled glove box (Vacuum Technology Inc., USA), in which H2O and O2 contents were below 0.1 and 0.1 ppm, respectively. 1 M lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide in 1,3-dioxolane (DOL)/1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) (1 : 1 /) with 2 wt.% lithium nitrate was used as an electrolyte, as a previous study has shown that it can protect the Li metal anode and enable the long-term cycling stability [44]. A porous polypropylene membrane (Celgard 2400) served as a separator in a conventional structure. Typically, ~105.75 mg electrolyte was used in MS-Li cells. The electrochemical measurements were executed using a LAND multichannel battery test system (Wuhan, China). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were performed on a PARSTAT 4000 electrochemical workstation (USA) with a voltage amplitude of 5 mV and a frequency range of 10-1-105 Hz. To evaluate the Coulombic efficiency (CE), a certain amount of Li (1, 3, 5, and 10 mA h cm-2) was deposited onto a Cu substrate and then charged to 1.0 V (versus Li+/Li) to strip the Li at the same current density of 1 mA cm-2 in each cycle. The CE was calculated based on the ratio of the amount of stripping Li versus the amount of depositing Li [13]. Full batteries were assembled with MS-Li or bare Li metal as anodes and using LiFePO4 (was purchased from Suzhou Aimeide New Energy Material Co. Ltd., China) as cathodes, both under the same experimental conditions. The cathodes were made by LiFePO4, acetylene black, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) (8 : 1 : 1), which were mixed in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to form a homogeneous slurry and pasted on an Al foil, then dried at 80°C under vacuum overnight. The mass loading of LFP is about 2.5 mg cm-2. All the full cells were cycled in a galvanostatic mode with a voltage range of 2.2 to 4.0 V.
Yanwu Zhu proposed the concept and supervised this work. Han Yu and Jian Xie performed the experiments and data analysis. Han Yu and Yanwu Zhu wrote the paper. All authors contributed to the discussion. Han Yu and Jian Xie contributed equally to this work.
This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (51772282) and funding from the Hefei Center for Physical Science and Technology.
Figure S1: typical SEM images of (a) relaxed and (b) compressed MS. Figure S2: (a) elemental analysis of MS and high-resolution XPS spectra of (b) N1s and (c) C1s with deconvolution. Figure S3: thermal stability test of MS and conventional polypropylene membrane at 150°C for 1 h. Figure S4: Coulombic efficiency evaluation of MS-Li and bare Li anodes measured at the current density of 1 mA cm-2 for (a) the areal capacity of 1 mA h cm-2 and (b) the areal capacity of 3 mA h cm-2. Voltage profiles of Li plating/stripping on (c) the MS-Li anode and (d) the bare Li anode in different cycles with a capacity of 3 mA h cm-2 at a current of 1 mA cm-2. Figure S5: cross-sectional SEM images of (a) a fresh Li anode before being paired with MS and (b) the MS-Li anode after stripping Li for a capacity of 10 mA h cm-2. Figure S6: cycling of MS with a lower compression ratio due to the thinner MS used in a symmetrical cell. Figure S7: SEM images of (a) the bare Li and (b) the MS-Li anode after 30 cycles performed at 5 mA cm-2 and for 5 mA h cm-2. Table S1: comparison with recent literatures regarding lithium metal anodes in the CE test. Table S2: EIS fitting parameters of half cells before and after cycling. (Supplementary Materials)
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2021-12-11MMMM DD YYYY
Sarclisa® (isatuximab) trial is first Phase 3 study to meet primary endpoint of minimal residual disease negativity in transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma
Sarclisa combination therapy is first to demonstrate superiority to standard of care lenalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (RVd) in a Phase 3 trial
50.1% of patients achieved undetectable levels of disease after 18 weeks of induction treatment with Sarclisa-RVd
GMMG will share the results as an oral presentation, and as part of the press program, at ASH 2021
The Phase 3 HD7 trial, conducted by the German-Speaking Myeloma Multicenter Group (GMMG), met the primary endpoint, the rate of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity after induction therapy and before transplant in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) treated with Sarclisa® (isatuximab) in combination with lenalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (RVd). This is the first Phase 3 trial to evaluate MRD negativity at the end of induction as a primary endpoint, and to demonstrate statistically significant improvement in rates of MRD negativity in this patient population by adding an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody to RVd. MRD negativity is an important clinical endpoint associated with better patient outcomes, which is meaningful for MM where most patients relapse.1
"It is unprecedented for half of patients to achieve MRD negativity this early in treatment with this regimen," said Hartmut Goldschmidt, M.D., President of GMMG, Professor of Medicine at the Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Germany and principal investigator of the study. "We know that achieving deeper responses earlier in treatment may translate to longer periods of progression free survival and are excited about these results."
After an induction phase of 18 weeks, the rate of MRD negativity for patients receiving Sarclisa combination therapy (n=331) was 50.1% versus 35.6% for those who received RVd (n=329) (odds ratio OR=1.83; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.34-2.51; p<0.001). The safety and tolerability of Sarclisa observed in this trial was consistent with the observed safety profile of Sarclisa in other clinical trials, with no new safety signals observed. Rates of all adverse events observed were 63.6% for the Sarclisa combination versus 61.3% for RVd and serious adverse effects and discontinuations were similar in both study arms (34.8% versus 36.3%, respectively). However, the number of deaths were higher in the RVd arm (1.2% versus 2.4%) during the induction period. The trial is ongoing, following the second randomization to evaluate progression free survival (PFS) for Sarclisa and lenalidomide combination as maintenance therapy.
"The results of this trial reinforce our belief in Sarclisa's potential to become the anti-CD38 of choice," said Peter C. Adamson, Global Development Head, Oncology at Sanofi. "To observe such a high proportion of patients who have MRD negative disease following a relatively brief induction period is highly encouraging. We look forward to our continued collaborative efforts with GMMG to deliver a potential treatment option to transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma."
MRD negativity is defined as the absence of myeloma cells in the bone marrow after treatment, as measured by diagnostic techniques that must have a sensitivity of at least 1 in 100,000 cells.2 This assessment is the most sensitive tool to measure the depth of response to treatment in patients with MM.3
This GMMG initiated clinical trial was conducted in close collaboration with Sanofi based on jointly defined research. Sanofi provided financial support to GMMG for this study.
The use of Sarclisa in combination with RVd is investigational and has not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.
About the trial
The pivotal, randomized, open-label, multicenter, Phase 3 GMMG-HD7 trial is a two-part study that enrolled 662 patients with newly diagnosed, transplant-eligible MM across 67 sites in Germany. In the first part of the study, all participants were equally randomized to receive three 42-day cycles of RVd in both arms of the trial, while Sarclisa was added to only one trial arm. During the trial, Sarclisa was administered through an intravenous infusion at a dose of 10 mg/kg once weekly for the first four weeks of cycle one, then every other week for the rest of the induction period.
MRD negativity was assessed by next-generation flow cytometry (cut off 1x10-5) after induction. An odds ratio was used to measure this endpoint to determine the association between adding Sarclisa to standard of care and participants achieving MRD negativity.
The primary endpoints are MRD negativity after induction treatment for the first part of the study, and PFS following the second randomization after transplant for part two of the study, in which Sarclisa is added to lenalidomide maintenance. Secondary endpoints include rates of complete response after induction, overall survival after maintenance therapy and safety.
About Sarclisa
Sarclisa is a monoclonal antibody that targets a specific epitope on the CD38 receptor on MM cells. It is designed to work through multiple mechanisms of action including programmed tumor cell death (apoptosis) and immunomodulatory activity. CD38 is highly and uniformly expressed on the surface of MM cells, making it a potential target for antibody-based therapeutics such as Sarclisa.
Based on the Phase 3 ICARIA-MM study, Sarclisa is approved in a number of countries in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with relapsed refractory MM (RRMM) who have received ≥2 prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor. Based on the Phase 3 IKEMA study, Sarclisa is also approved in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with RRMM who have received 1–3 prior lines of therapy and in the European Union for patients with MM who have received at least 1 prior therapy. In the U.S., the generic name for Sarclisa is isatuximab-irfc, with irfc as the suffix designated in accordance with Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products Guidance for Industry issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Sarclisa continues to be evaluated in multiple ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in combination with current standard treatments across the MM treatment continuum. It is also under investigation for the treatment of other hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The safety and efficacy of these additional uses have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority worldwide.
For more information on Sarclisa clinical trials, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About multiple myeloma
MM is the second most common hematologic malignancy,4 with more than 130,000 new diagnoses of MM worldwide yearly.5 Despite available treatments, MM remains an incurable malignancy and is associated with significant patient burden. Since MM does not have a cure, most patients will relapse. Relapsed MM is the term for when the cancer returns after treatment or a period of remission. Refractory MM refers to when the cancer does not respond or no longer responds to therapy.
About the German-Speaking Myeloma Multicenter Group (GMMG)
GMMG is the largest study group focusing on MM in Germany, with headquarters based in Heidelberg. Within the last 20 years, the GMMG study group has performed numerous trials including five randomized, multicenter Phase 3 clinical trials with 4,000 patients enrolled from about 90 participating and co-treating centers throughout Germany. The overall goal of GMMG is to generate improved therapies for myeloma patients through the development and testing of novel and personalized, genome- and signaling-driven treatment strategies.
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1 Kostopoulos. Minimal Residual Disease in Multiple Myeloma: Current Landscape and Future Applications with Immunotherapeutic Approaches. Front Oncol. 2020; 10: 860. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00860.
2 Romano, A., Palumbo, G. A., Parrinello, N. L., Conticello, C., Martello, M., & Terragna, C. (2019). Minimal Residual Disease Assessment Within the Bone Marrow of Multiple Myeloma: A Review of Caveats, Clinical Significance and Future Perspectives. Frontiers in oncology, 9, 699. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2019.00699
3 Oliva. Minimal residual disease assessment by multiparameter flow cytometry in transplant-eligible myeloma in the EMN02/HOVON 95 MM trial. Blood Cancer Journal. 2021; 11(106). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-021-00498-0.
4 Kazandjian. Multiple myeloma epidemiology and survival: A unique malignancy. Semin Oncol. 2016;43(6):676-681. doi:10.1053/j/seminoncol.2016.11.004.
5 International Myeloma Foundation. Myeloma Action Month. https://mam.myeloma.org/learn-more-about-multiple-myeloma/. Accessed December 2021.
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