Recently, a consensus has been reached that using lithium metal as an anode in rechargeable Li‐ion batteries is the best way to obtain the high energy density necessary to power electronic devices. ...Challenges remain, however, with respect to controlling dendritic Li growth on these electrodes, enhancing compatibility with carbonate‐based electrolytes, and forming a stable solid–electrolyte interface layer. Herein, a groundbreaking solution to these challenges consisting in the preparation of a Li2TiO3 (LT) layer that can be used to cover Li electrodes via a simple and scalable fabrication method, is suggested. Not only does this LT layer impede direct contact between electrode and electrolyte, thus avoiding side reactions, but it assists and expedites Li‐ion flux in batteries, thus suppressing Li dendrite growth. Other effects of the LT layer on electrochemical performance are investigated by scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique analyses. Notably, LT layer‐incorporating Li cells comprising high‐capacity/voltage cathodes with reasonably high mass loading (LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4, and LiMn2O4) show highly stable cycling performance in a carbonate‐based electrolyte. Therefore, it is believed that the approach based on the LT layer can boost the realization of high energy density lithium metal batteries and next‐generation batteries.
The ex situ‐formed artificial layer of Li2TiO3, which is characterized by having a 3D pathway that enables Li ions to migrate through it, is developed to improve Li‐ion flux uniformly and suppress indiscriminate Li dendrites in Li metal batteries. The synergetic effects of the layer realize high‐energy full cells combined with high‐capacity and high‐voltage cathodes.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Anode‐free Li metal batteries are one of the finest prospects for increasing energy density beyond that of standard lithium‐ion batteries. Conversely, the absence of Li reservoir generates ...unwarranted volume expansion, permitting electrolyte depletion and rapid cathode capacity consumption. To address this issue, an anode‐free Li metal battery with an ion‐conductive layer coated Cu current collector Ag/L in typical carbonate‐based electrolytes is presented. The ion‐conducting layer causes stable solid electrolyte interphase development and allows for minimal volume expansion when utilizing stable Li hosts. Via density functional theory calculation and experimental measurements and analysis, the beneficial effect of Li hosting behavior of the ion‐conductive layer is demonstrated. Furthermore, anode‐free electrochemical performance with high discharge capacity retention, which is exceptional in a traditional carbonate electrolyte with LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 based cathode (4.2 mAh cm−2) and high current density (2.1 mA cm−2) is shown. To prove material compatibility, argyrodite sulfide solid electrolytes instead of liquid electrolytes, which show Coulombic efficiency of 97% at 50 cycles in all‐solid‐state Li half‐cells are used.
The ion‐conducting layer coated Cu current collector (BPEI‐Ag/LiNO3) causes stable solid electrolyte interphase development and allows for minimal volume expansion when utilizing stable Li hosts. Furthermore, the BPEI‐Ag/LiNO3 electrode significantly enhances the cycling stability of anode‐free batteries in the carbonate‐based electrolytes with high areal capacity (4.2 mA h cm−2) and high current density (2.1 mA h cm−2).
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Cerebrovascular disease is a potential risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although acute cerebral hypoperfusion causes neuronal necrosis and infarction, chronic cerebral hypoperfusion induces ...apoptosis in neurons, but its effects on the cognitive impairment are not clear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion on AD pathology and cerebral glucose metabolism. A model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion was established by ligating the common carotid arteries bilaterally in adult male rats (CAL group). Sham-operated rats underwent the same procedures without artery ligation (control group). At 12 weeks after ligation, expression levels of amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau), as well as the regional cerebral glucose metabolism, were evaluated using Western blots and positron emission tomography with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose, respectively. The expression levels of Aβ in the frontal cortex and hippocampus and of p-tau in the temporal cortex were significantly higher in the CAL group than those in the control group. The cerebral glucose metabolism of the amygdala, entorhinal cortex, and hippocampus was significantly decreased in the CAL group compared to that in the control. These results suggest that chronic cerebral hypoperfusion can induce AD pathology and may play a significant role in AD development.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Mesoporous CuO particles threaded with carbon nanotubes are suggested as a novel class of nanocomposite material for a high‐performance anode in the lithium‐ion batteries. The nanocomposite electrode ...exhibits a highly reversible capacity (650 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C rate) and an excellent C rate capability (580 mA h g−1 at 5 C, and 500 mA h g−1 at 10 C).
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Three‐dimensional porous silicon particles can be produced via the combination of a galvanic displacement reaction and a metal‐assisted chemical etching process. This simple synthetic route can be ...applied to make high‐performance anode materials, including high specific capacity, stable cycling retention, and high rate capability, in lithium‐ion batteries.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective
This clinical trial was conducted to investigate whether discontinuing methotrexate (MTX) for 1 week after seasonal influenza vaccination is noninferior to discontinuing for 2 weeks after ...vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods
In this multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel‐group noninferiority trial, RA patients receiving a stable dose of MTX were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to discontinue MTX for 1 week or for 2 weeks after they received the quadrivalent 2021–2022 seasonal influenza vaccine containing H1N1, H3N2, B/Yamagata, and B/Victoria strains. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with a satisfactory vaccine response, which was defined as ≥4‐fold increase in antibody titers, as determined with the hemagglutination inhibition assay, against ≥2 of the 4 vaccine strains at 4 weeks after vaccination.
Results
The modified intent‐to‐treat population included 90 patients in the 1‐week MTX hold group and 88 patients in the 2‐week MTX hold group. The mean ± SD MTX doses were 12.6 ± 3.4 mg/week in the 1‐week MTX hold group and 12.9 ± 3.3 mg/week in the 2‐week MTX hold group. The proportion of satisfactory vaccine responses did not differ between the groups (68.9% versus 75.0%; P = 0.364). The rate of seroprotection and the fold increase in antibody titers for each of the 4 influenza antigens were similar between the groups.
Conclusion
A temporary discontinuation of MTX for 1 week after vaccination was noninferior to a discontinuation of MTX for 2 weeks after vaccination, regarding induction of a satisfactory vaccine response to a seasonal influenza vaccine in patients with RA receiving a stable dose of MTX.
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Glaucoma is considered a chronic disease that requires lifelong management. Chronic diseases are known to be highly associated with psychological disturbances such as depression and anxiety. There ...have also been many studies on association between anxiety or depression and glaucoma. The majority of these studies explained that the glaucoma diagnosis causes anxiety or depression. However, It is also necessary to evaluate whether the psychological disturbance itself affect glaucoma. Therefore, we investigated the association of anxiety and depression with glaucoma progression, and elucidate mechanisms underlying that. We included 251 eyes with open angle glaucoma who were followed up for at least 2 years in this retrospective case-control study. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depressive Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used to assess anxiety and depression in glaucoma patients. Patients were classified into groups (high-anxiety group; HA-G, low-anxiety group; LA-G, high-depression group; HD-G, low-depression group; LD-G) according to their score on the BAI or BDI-II (separately). In logistic regression analysis, disc hemorrhage, peak intraocular pressure (IOP) and RNFL thickness loss rate were significantly associated with high anxiety (p = 0.017, p = 0.046, p = 0.026). RNFL thinning rate and disc hemorrhage were significant factors associated with anxiety in multivariate models (p = 0.015, p = 0.019). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the rate of RNFL thickness loss and BAI score (B = 0.058; 95% confidential interval = 0.020-0.097; p = 0.003), and RNFL loss and IOP fluctuation (B = 0.092; 95% confidential interval = 0.030-0.154; p = 0.004). For the depression scale, visual field mean deviation and heart rate variability were significantly associated with high depression in multivariate logistic regression analysis (p = 0.003, p = 0.006). We suggest that anxiety increase the risk of glaucoma progression and they are also associated with IOP profile and disc hemorrhage.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Treatment planning is essential for in silico particle therapy studies. matRad is an open-source research treatment planning system (TPS) based on the local effect model, which is a type of relative ...biological effectiveness (RBE) model.
This study aims to implement a microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM) in matRad and develop an automation algorithm for Monte Carlo (MC) dose recalculation using the TOPAS code. In addition, we provide the developed MKM extension as open-source tool for users.
Carbon beam data were generated using TOPAS MC pencil beam irradiation. We parameterized the TOPAS MC beam data with a double-Gaussian fit and modeled the integral depth doses and lateral spot profiles in the range of 100-430 MeV/u. To implement the MKM, the specific energy data table for Z = 1-6 and integrated depth-specific energy data were acquired based on the Kiefer-Chatterjee track structure and TOPAS MC simulation, respectively. Generic data were integrated into matRad, and treatment planning was performed based on these data. The optimized plan parameters were automatically converted into MC simulation input. Finally, the matRad TPS and TOPAS MC simulations were compared using the RBE-weighted dose calculation results. A comparison was made for three geometries: homogeneous water phantom, inhomogeneous phantom, and patient.
The RBE-weighted dose (D
) distribution agreed with TOPAS MC within 1.8% for all target sizes for the homogeneous phantom. For the inhomogeneous phantom, the relative difference in the range of 80% of the prescription dose in the distal fall-off region (R80) between the matRad TPS and TOPAS MC was 0.6% (1.1 mm). D
between the TPS and the MC was within 4.0%. In the patient case, the difference in the dose-volume histogram parameters for the target volume between the TPS and the MC was less than 2.7%. The relative difference in R80 was 0.7% (1.2 mm).
The MKM was successfully implemented in matRad TPS, and the RBE-weighted dose was comparable to that of TOPAS MC. The MKM-implemented matRad was released as an open-source tool. Further investigations with MC simulations can be conducted using this tool, providing a good option for carbon ion research.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The conductivity of graphite oxide films is modulated using reducing agents. It is found that the sheet resistance of graphite oxide film reduced using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is much lower than ...that of films reduced using hydrazine (N2H4). This is attributed to the formation of CN groups in the N2H4 case, which may act as donors compensating the hole carriers in reduced graphite oxide. In the case of NaBH4 reduction, the interlayer distance is first slightly expanded by the formation of intermediate boron oxide complexes and then contracted by the gradual removal of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups along with the boron oxide complexes. The fabricated conducting film comprising a NaBH4‐reduced graphite oxide reveals a sheet resistance comparable to that of dispersed graphene.
Reduced graphite oxide films obtained using NaBH4 exhibit much lower sheet resistance than films obtained using N2H4 because the latter results in the formation of C–N groups, which may act as donors compensating the hole carriers in the film and increasing resistivity. A transparent conducting film prepared using optimized NaBH4 reduction reveals a sheet resistance comparable to that observed in dispersed graphene.
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