Two newly emerging materials for application in all‐solid‐state batteries, namely, single‐crystalline Ni‐rich layered oxide cathode and halide solid electrolyte (SE), are of utmost interest because ...of their superior properties (good microstructural integrity and excellent electrochemical oxidation stability, respectively) to conventional polycrystalline layered oxides and sulfide SEs. In this work, four electrodes employing single‐ or polycrystalline LiNi0.88Co0.11Al0.01O2 (NCA) and Li3YCl6 or Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5 are rigorously characterized by complementary analyses. It is shown that the synergy of employing cracking‐free single‐crystalline NCA and oxidation‐tolerable Li3YCl6 can be achieved by considering intercoupled engineering factors that are prone to overlook, such as size, lightness, and mixing of particles. Accordingly, the highest level of performances in terms of discharge capacity (199 mA h g−1 at 0.1C), initial Coulombic efficiency (89.6%), cycling performance (96.8% of capacity retention at the 200th cycle), and rate capability (130 mA h g−1 at 4C) are demonstrated at 30 °C. Severe side reactions occurring at the Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5/NCA interfaces are also quantified and probed. Importantly, an overlooked but significant contribution of the side reaction of Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5 to the detrimental electrochemo‐mechanical degradation of polycrystalline NCA is revealed for the first time by postmortem scanning electron microscopy and operando electrochemical pressiometry measurements.
The application of two newly emerging materials of cracking‐free single‐crystalline Ni‐rich layered oxide cathode and oxidation‐tolerable halide solid electrolyte for all‐solid‐state batteries leads to the highest level of performance in terms of cycling performance, capacity, and initial Coulombic efficiency. The detrimental electrochemo‐mechanical effects originating from side reactions of sulfide solid electrolytes are also revealed.
Aligned films of a semiconducting DPP‐based copolymer exhibit highly anisotropic charge transport with a band‐like temperature dependence along the alignment direction and hole mobilities of up to ...6.7 cm2 V−1 s−1. X‐ray diffraction measurements reveal an exceptional degree of in‐plane alignment, high crystallinity, and a dominant face‐on orientation of the polymer backbones. The surprising charge‐transport properties are interpreted in a tie‐chain model consistent with anisotropic activation energies.
Aim
To determine the tensile load capacity (TLC) and the tearing characteristics for interrupted and vertical mattress sutures with different insertion points from the wound margin, and the effect of ...the bite size when using vertical mattress sutures.
Materials and Methods
A total of 120 gingiva and lining mucosa samples obtained from pig jaws were divided into groups according to the suturing technique (interrupted and vertical mattress sutures), distance of the insertion points from the wound margin (margin, 1, 3, and 5 mm) and bite size (1, 3, and 5 mm). The TLC of the suture and the tearing characteristics were evaluated using a tensile tester device.
Results
The TLC was significantly higher for vertical mattress sutures than for interrupted sutures regardless of the distance of the insertion points from the wound margin (intergroup p < .001). This distance significantly influenced the TLC for vertical mattress sutures (p < .05) but not for interrupted sutures (p > .05). Testing the tearing characteristics revealed that no tissue tearing occurred in groups when the insertion points were more than 3 mm from the wound margin.
Conclusion
The TLC is higher for vertical mattress sutures than for interrupted sutures, and it increases when the insertion points are farther from the wound margin.
This study aimed to estimate overreporting (the false positive) and underreporting (false negative) rates in self-reported IGD assessment compared with clinical diagnosed IGD. The study population ...consisted of 45 with IGD and 228 without IGD based on clinical diagnosis from the Internet User Cohort for Unbiased Recognition of Gaming Disorder in Early Adolescence (iCURE) study. All participants completed self-reported IGD assessments. Clinical interviews were conducted blindly by trained mental health professionals based on DSM-5 IGD criteria. Self-assessed average daily amount of gaming time and game genre were measured. Psychological characteristics, including anxiety, suicidality, aggression, self-control, self-esteem, and family support, were obtained from the baseline survey. The false-negative rate for self-reported IGD assessment was 44%. The false-negative group reported less time playing online games than the IGD group, though their psychological characteristics were similar to those of the IGD group. The false-positive rate was 9.6%. They reported more time playing online games than non-IGD group, though their psychological characteristics were similar to those of non-IGD group except self-control. The discrepancy of IGD diagnoses between self-reports and clinical diagnosis revealed limitations of self-measurements. Various strategies are required to overcome the methodological shortfalls of self-reports for the assessment of IGD.
Objective
To compare the outcome after extensive lateral guided bone regeneration using deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) with or without autogenous bone chips in a canine model of chronic ...horizontal alveolar ridge defect.
Materials and Methods
The second, third and fourth lower premolars of both sides were extracted, and the buccal bone walls were completely removed in five beagle dogs. After 4 weeks, DBBM particles mixed with autogenous bone chips at a ratio of 1:1 were grafted at one side (DBBM/Auto group), while DBBM particles alone were grafted at the contralateral side (DBBM group). The graft materials on both sides were covered by a resorbable collagen membrane and fixation pins. Microcomputed tomographic volume and histomorphometric analyses were performed at 16 weeks post‐surgery.
Results
The ridges of both groups were recovered horizontally, but new bone formation beyond the original ridge contour at the defect site was not found. The DBBM group exhibited a larger total radiographic augmented volume and new bone volume compared with the DBBM/Auto group, but the differences were minimal (p > .05). Histologically, the regenerated area and new bone area were also slightly larger without any statistical significance in the DBBM group than in the DBBM/Auto group (p > .05).
Conclusion
The addition of autogenous bone chips to DBBM for lateral ridge augmentation may confer no advantage over grafting DBBM alone with respect to both space maintenance and de novo bone formation in dogs.
Charge transport in conjugated polymer semiconductors has traditionally been thought to be limited to a low-mobility regime by pronounced energetic disorder. Much progress has recently been made in ...advancing carrier mobilities in field-effect transistors through developing low-disorder conjugated polymers. However, in diodes these polymers have to date not shown much improved mobilities, presumably reflecting the fact that in diodes lower carrier concentrations are available to fill up residual tail states in the density of states. Here, we show that the bulk charge transport in low-disorder polymers is limited by water-induced trap states and that their concentration can be dramatically reduced through incorporating small molecular additives into the polymer film. Upon incorporation of the additives we achieve space-charge limited current characteristics that resemble molecular single crystals such as rubrene with high, trap-free SCLC mobilities up to 0.2 cm
/Vs and a width of the residual tail state distribution comparable to k
T.
Because of the complexity of cancer, an ideal anticancer strategy is better to target both cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. In this study, for the first time, we demonstrated that zinc ...oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were able to target multiple cell types of cancer, including cancer cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs), and macrophages, and simultaneously perform several key functions, including inhibition of cancer proliferation, sensitization of drug-resistant cancer, prevention of cancer recurrence and metastasis, and resuscitation of cancer immunosurveillance. As a nanocarrier, the chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin (Dox), could be loaded to ZnO NPs and the Dox-loaded ZnO NPs (ZnO/Dox) possessed excellent physicochemical and pH-responsive drug release properties. ZnO/Dox could be effectively internalized by both drug-sensitive and multidrug resistant (MDR) cancer cells and penetrate more efficiently through three-dimensional (3D) cancer cell spheroids compared with free Dox. As a cytotoxic agent, ZnO NPs were more efficient to kill MDR cancer cells. Interestingly, neither ZnO nor Dox showed high cytotoxicity in the 3D cancer cell spheroids, whereas ZnO/Dox showed remarkable synergistic anticancer effects. More importantly, we demonstrated that ZnO NPs could effectively downregulate CD44, a key CSC surface marker, and decrease the stemness of CSCs, leading to the sensitization of the Dox treatment, inhibition of the cancer cell adhesion and migration, and prevention of the tumor (3D cancer cell spheroid) formation. As an immunomodulator, ZnO NPs could protect macrophages from the Dox-induced toxicity and boost the Dox-induced macrophage polarization toward an M1-like phenotype. The macrophage-conditioned medium could promote the cancer cell apoptosis in both cancer cell monolayers and 3D spheroids. The findings in this study indicated that ZnO NPs were a multifunctional and multitarget nanocarrier and nanomedicine that would have more profound effects on cancer treatment.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can protect against cartilage breakdown in osteoarthritis (OA) via their immunomodulatory capacities. However, the optimization strategy for using MSCs remains ...challenging. This study's objective was to identify the in vivo effects of metformin-stimulated adipose tissue-derived human MSCs (Ad-hMSCs) in OA. An animal model of OA was established by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate into rats. OA rats were divided into a control group and two therapy groups (treated with Ad-hMSCs or metformin-stimulated Ad-hMSCs). Limb nociception was assessed by measuring the paw withdrawal latency and threshold. Our data show that metformin increased IL-10 and IDO expression in Ad-hMSCs and decreased high-mobility group box 1 protein, IL-1β, and IL-6 expression. Metformin increased the migration capacity of Ad-hMSCs with upregulation of chemokine expression. In cocultures, metformin-stimulated Ad-hMSCs inhibited the mRNA expression of RUNX2, COL X, VEGF, MMP1, MMP3, and MMP13 in IL-1β-stimulated OA chondrocytes and increased the expression of TIMP1 and TIMP3. The antinociceptive activity and chondroprotective effects were greater in OA rats treated with metformin-stimulated Ad-hMSCs than in those treated with unstimulated Ad-hMSCs. TGF-β expression in subchondral bone of OA joints was attenuated more in OA rats treated with metformin-stimulated Ad-hMSCs. Our findings suggest that metformin offers a promising option for the clinical application of Ad-hMSCs as a cell therapy for OA.
Objectives
This study histologically analyzed biopsy samples obtained from sites of damaged extraction socket grafting using deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) or deproteinized porcine bone ...mineral (DPBM) with coverage by a collagen membrane.
Material and methods
One hundred patients participated in this randomized controlled clinical trial of extraction socket grafts performed in cases of periodontally compromised teeth. All participants were blinded to their group allocations, and each material was grafted with coverage by collagen membranes after extraction of the tooth and removal of granulation tissue. At implant placement at 4 months, a biopsy was harvested at the implant site using a trephine was analyzed histologically.
Results
Eighty‐five biopsy samples were acquired, of which 81 were finally included in the histologic analysis (42 in DBBM and 39 in DPBM group). Both DBBM and DPBM groups showed comparable proportions of residual biomaterial (12.37 ± 5.67% and 12.21 ± 5.75%, respectively), newly formed bone (15.07 ± 10.52% and 18.47 ± 11.47%, respectively), and nonmineralized tissue (72.56 ± 10.07% and 71.55 ± 15.47%, respectively). There were no significant differences in these histologic parameters between the two groups with different biomaterials.
Conclusion
Comparable histologic bone formation was found in both socket grafted groups with DBBM or DPBM covered by collagen membranes in periodontally damaged extraction sockets. However, a wide variation in new bone formation was found after 4 months of postsurgical healing and a tendency of higher new bone formation was shown at damaged sockets that had an intact unilateral residual wall regardless of buccal or lingual side.
Breaking the thermoelectric (TE) trade‐off relationship is an important task for maximizing the TE performance of polymeric semiconductors. Existing efforts have focused on designing high‐mobility ...semiconductors and achieving ordered molecular doping, ignoring the critical role of the molecular orientation during TE conversion. Herein, the achievement of ZT to 0.40 is reported by fine‐tuning the molecular orientation of one diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)‐based polymer (DPP‐BTz). Films with bimodal molecular orientation yield superior doping efficiency by increasing the lamellar spacing and achieve increased splitting between the Fermi energy and the transport energy to enhance the thermopower. These factors contribute to the simultaneous improvement in the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity in an unexpected manner. Importantly, the bimodal film exhibits a maximum power factor of up to 346 µW m−1 K−2, >400% higher than that of unimodal films. These results demonstrate the great potential of molecular orientation engineering in polymeric semiconductors for developing state‐of‐the‐art organic TE (OTE) materials.
Bimodal orientation of diketopyrrolopyrrole‐based polymer films exhibits a figure of merit of 0.40, which is more than 400% superior to the corresponding values of face‐on/edge‐on unimodal films.
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