We previously reported gut dysbiosis in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).
The aim of this study is to examine whether gut dysbiosis correlates with the progression of PD.
We examined changes in ...gut microbiota and demographic features in 2 years in 36 PD patients.
A change of total UPDRS scores in 2 years was predicted by the counts of Bifidobacterium and Atopobium cluster at year 0 with a correlation coefficient of 0.52. Correlation analysis additionally revealed that low counts of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides fragilis at year 0 were associated with worsening of UPDRS I scores in 2 years. In addition, low counts of Bifidobacterium at year 0 were associated with worsening of hallucinations/delusions in 2 years. Similarly, low counts of B. fragilis at year 0 were associated with worsening of motivation/initiative in 2 years. The patients were evenly divided into the deteriorated and stable groups based on the degree of worsening of total UPDRS scores. The deteriorated group had lower counts of Bifidobacterium, B. fragilis, and Clostridium leptium than the stable group at year 0 but not at year 2, suggesting that the deteriorated group may demonstrate accelerated lowering of these bacteria at year 0.
The total counts of intestinal bacterial decrease in the course of PD progression. Temporal profiles of lowering of bacterial counts are likely to be different from bacteria to bacteria, and also between the deteriorating and stable groups, which may be able to be exploited to differentiate patients with rapidly and slowly progressive PD pathology.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface of all-solid-state lithium batteries were studied for combinations of sulfide-based solid electrolytes with various Li4-xGe1-xPxS4 and Liy-M (M=Sn, ...Si) alloys as the negative electrodes, using ac impedance, X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The solid electrolyte at the interfacial region was found to decompose with the application of a current through the cells, resulting in the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. Resistivity changes at the interface varied depending on the electrolyte composition and the redox potential (vs. Li/Li+) of the negative electrode material. Lower resistances were observed with lower Ge contents in the solid electrolyte and the use of a Li–M alloy with a higher redox potential due to the formation of an electrochemically stable SEI layer during battery operation. In contrast, a combination of higher Ge content and an alloy with a lower redox potential led to a rapid increase in the SEI resistance and increase in its thickness. The presence of a Li–P–S compound with low ionic conductivity in the interfacial region was found to be related with the increase of interfacial resistance, leading to poor cycling characteristics. The formation of a suitable SEI layer is an important factor in the future development of all-solid-state batteries and this study serves to clarify the relationships between the formation of the SEI phase, the redox potential of the electrode and the sulfide-based solid electrolyte composition.
•Interfacial resistances in all-solid-state lithium batteries were investigated.•AC impedance method clarified the changes of the resistance during battery operation.•Sulfide solid electrolytes were decomposed at lower voltage region (vs. Li/Li+).•Lower resistances were observed with lower Ge proportion in the Li4-xGe1-xPxS4.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
No design rules have yet been established for producing solid electrolytes with a lithium-ion conductivity high enough to replace liquid electrolytes and expand the performance and battery ...configuration limits of current lithium ion batteries. Taking advantage of the properties of high-entropy materials, we have designed a highly ion-conductive solid electrolyte by increasing the compositional complexity of a known lithium superionic conductor to eliminate ion migration barriers while maintaining the structural framework for superionic conduction. The synthesized phase with a compositional complexity showed an improved ion conductivity. We showed that the highly conductive solid electrolyte enables charge and discharge of a thick lithium-ion battery cathode at room temperature and thus has potential to change conventional battery configurations.
The intestine is one of the first affected organs in Parkinson's disease (PD). PD subjects show abnormal staining for Escherichia coli and α-synuclein in the colon.
We recruited 52 PD patients and 36 ...healthy cohabitants. We measured serum markers and quantified the numbers of 19 fecal bacterial groups/genera/species by quantitative RT-PCR of 16S or 23S rRNA. Although the six most predominant bacterial groups/genera/species covered on average 71.3% of total intestinal bacteria, our analysis was not comprehensive compared to metagenome analysis or 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.
In PD, the number of Lactobacillus was higher, while the sum of analyzed bacteria, Clostridium coccoides group, and Bacteroides fragilis group were lower than controls. Additionally, the sum of putative hydrogen-producing bacteria was lower in PD. A linear regression model to predict disease durations demonstrated that C. coccoides group and Lactobacillus gasseri subgroup had the largest negative and positive coefficients, respectively. As a linear regression model to predict stool frequencies showed that these bacteria were not associated with constipation, changes in these bacteria were unlikely to represent worsening of constipation in the course of progression of PD. In PD, the serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein levels were lower than controls, while the levels of serum diamine oxidase, a marker for intestinal mucosal integrity, remained unchanged in PD.
The permeability to LPS is likely to be increased without compromising the integrity of intestinal mucosa in PD. The increased intestinal permeability in PD may make the patients susceptible to intestinal dysbiosis. Conversely, intestinal dysbiosis may lead to the increased intestinal permeability. One or both of the two mechanisms may be operational in development and progression of PD.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The mortality rates of COVID-19 vary widely across countries, but the underlying mechanisms remain unelucidated. We aimed at the elucidation of relationship between gut microbiota and the mortality ...rates of COVID-19 across countries. Raw sequencing data of 16S rRNA V3-V5 regions of gut microbiota in 953 healthy subjects in ten countries were obtained from the public database. We made a generalized linear model (GLM) to predict the COVID-19 mortality rates using gut microbiota. GLM revealed that low genus Collinsella predicted high COVID-19 mortality rates with a markedly low p-value. Unsupervised clustering of gut microbiota in 953 subjects yielded five enterotypes. The mortality rates were increased from enterotypes 1 to 5, whereas the abundances of Collinsella were decreased from enterotypes 1 to 5 except for enterotype 2. Collinsella produces ursodeoxycholate. Ursodeoxycholate was previously reported to inhibit binding of SARS-CoV-2 to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6; have antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects; and increase alveolar fluid clearance in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Ursodeoxycholate produced by Collinsella may prevent COVID-19 infection and ameliorate acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19 by suppressing cytokine storm syndrome.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Perovskite-type lithium ionic conductors were explored in the (LixLa1−x/3)ScO3 system following their syntheses via a high-pressure solid-state reaction. Phase identification indicated that a solid ...solution with a perovskite-type structure was formed in the range 0 ≤ x < 0.6. When x = 0.45, (Li0.45La0.85)ScO3 exhibited the highest ionic conductivity and a low activation energy. Increasing the loading of lithium as an ionic diffusion carrier expanded the unit cell volume and contributed to the higher ionic conductivity and lower activation energy. Cations with higher oxidation numbers were introduced into the A/B sites to improve the ionic conductivity. Ce4+ and Zr4+ or Nb5+ dopants partially substituted the A-site (La/Li) and B-site Sc, respectively. Although B-site doping produced a lower ionic conductivity, A-site Ce4+ doping improved the conductive properties. A perovskite-type single phase was obtained for (Li0.45La0.78Ce0.05)ScO3 upon Ce4+ doping, providing a higher ionic conductivity than (Li0.45La0.85)ScO3. Compositional analysis and crystal-structure refinement of (Li0.45La0.85)ScO3 and (Li0.45La0.78Ce0.05)ScO3 revealed increased lithium contents and expansion of the unit cell upon Ce4+ co-doping. The highest ionic conductivity of 1.1 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 623 K was confirmed for (Li0.4Ce0.15La0.67)ScO3, which is more than one order of magnitude higher than that of the (LixLa1−x/3)ScO3 system.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Gaining a thorough understanding of the reactions on the electrode surfaces of lithium batteries is critical for designing new electrode materials suitable for high-power, long-life operation. A ...technique for directly observing surface structural changes has been developed that employs an epitaxial LiMn2O4 thin-film model electrode and surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD). Epitaxial LiMn2O4 thin films with restricted lattice planes (111) and (110) are grown on SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition. In situ SXRD studies have revealed dynamic structural changes that reduce the atomic symmetry at the electrode surface during the initial electrochemical reaction. The surface structural changes commence with the formation of an electric double layer, which is followed by surface reconstruction when a voltage is applied in the first charge process. Transmission electron microscopy images after 10 cycles confirm the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on both the (111) and (110) surfaces and Mn dissolution from the (110) surface. The (111) surface is more stable than the (110) surface. The electrode stability of LiMn2O4 depends on the reaction rate of SEI formation and the stability of the reconstructed surface structure.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
The novel lithium-ion conductor Li7Ge3PS12 was synthesized by slow cooling from the ternary Li2S–GeS2–P2S5 system, and was shown to exhibit a cubic argyrodite-type structure. The phase composition ...was determined by varying the ratio of starting materials; the observed monophasic properties were close to those for the Li7Ge3PS12 composition. The lattice parameter (a =9.80192(3) Å) of Li7Ge3PS12 was slightly smaller than that of Li7PS6 (a =9.993Å), indicating that substitution of a Li cation by the smaller Ge cation contracted the cubic lattice. In addition, the novel structure consisted of a framework composed of four isolated (Ge/P)S4 tetrahedra. Li+ ions occupied tetrahedral sites within the framework, forming a three-dimensional conduction pathway. Finally, Li7Ge3PS12 exhibited a high ionic conductivity of 1.1×10−4 S cm−1 at 25°C and an activation energy of 25kJmol−1.
A novel Li7Ge3PS12 solid lithium ion conductor, with cubic argyrodite strucuture, shows high ion conductivity of 1.1×10–4 S cm–1 with an activation energy of 25kJmol–1. The argyrodite structure consists of (Ge/P)S4 tetrahedra units along with partial occupation of lithium and germanium at 48h site. Display omitted
•A novel lithium-ion conductor Li7Ge3PS12 was detected.•This was achieved through slow cooling of the ternary Li2S–GeS2–P2S5 system.•This novel conductor revealed a cubic argyrodite-type structure.•Li7Ge3PS12 exhibited a high ionic conductivity of 1.1×10−4 S cm−1 at 25°C.•These properties will aid in the design of superior lithium-ion conductors.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
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