The oxidative stability of glyme molecules is enhanced by the complex formation with alkali metal cations. Clear liquid can be obtained by simply mixing glyme (triglyme or tetraglyme) with lithium ...bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (LiTFSA) in a molar ratio of 1:1. The equimolar complex Li(triglyme or tetraglyme)1TFSA maintains a stable liquid state over a wide temperature range and can be regarded as a room-temperature ionic liquid consisting of a Li(glyme)1+ complex cation and a TFSA− anion, exhibiting high self-dissociativity (ionicity) at room temperature. The electrochemical oxidation of Li(glyme)1TFSA takes place at the electrode potential of ∼5 V vs Li/Li+, while the oxidation of solutions containing excess glyme molecules (Li(glyme) x TFSA, x > 1) occurs at around 4 V vs Li/Li+. This enhancement of oxidative stability is due to the donation of lone pairs of ether oxygen atoms to the Li+ cation, resulting in the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level lowering of a glyme molecule, which is confirmed by ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The solvation state of a Li+ cation and ion conduction mechanism in the Li(glyme) x TFSA solutions is elucidated by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrochemical methods. The experimental results strongly suggest that Li+ cation conduction in the equimolar complex takes place by the migration of Li(glyme)1+ cations, whereas the ligand exchange mechanism is overlapped when interfacial electrochemical reactions of Li(glyme)1+ cations occur. The ligand exchange conduction mode is typically seen in a lithium battery with a configuration of Li anode|Li(glyme)1TFSA|LiCoO2 cathode when the discharge reaction of a LiCoO2 cathode, that is, desolvation of Li(glyme)1+ and insertion of the resultant Li+ into the cathode, occurs at the electrode–electrolyte interface. The battery can be operated for more than 200 charge–discharge cycles in the cell voltage range of 3.0–4.2 V, regardless of the use of ether-based electrolyte, because the ligand exchange rate is much faster than the electrode reaction rate.
A new pyrophosphate compound Li2FeP2O7 was synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction, and its crystal structure was determined. Its reversible electrode operation at ca. 3.5 V vs Li was ...identified with the capacity of a one-electron theoretical value of 110 mAh g−1 even for ca. 1 μm particles without any special efforts such as nanosizing or carbon coating. Li2FeP2O7 and its derivatives should provide a new platform for related lithium battery electrode research and could be potential competitors to commercial olivine LiFePO4, which has been recognized as the most promising positive cathode for a lithium-ion battery system for large-scale applications, such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that osteoclasts appear after or at the same time as the initiation of bone mineralization in developing intramembranous bones. We examined ...mineral deposition via Von Kossa staining to determine when bone mineralization begins, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and cathepsin K immunoreactivity to identify the presence of osteoclasts, and their mRNA expression levels to assess osteoclastic differentiation in the embryonic mouse mandible. Cathepsin K-immunopositive cells were detected around the same time as the onset of bone mineralization, whereas TRAP-positive cells appeared prior to bone mineralization. Cathepsin K protein was expressed only in multinucleated osteoclasts, whereas TRAP activity was identified in both mono- and multinucleated cells. During bone development, TRAP-positive cells altered their morphology, which was related to the number of their nuclei. The elevated mRNA levels of TRAP and cathepsin K were consistent with the increased percentage of multinucleated osteoclasts and the progression of bone development. Our study revealed that TRAP-positive cells appear prior to bone mineralization, and TRAP- and cathepsin K-positive multinucleated osteoclasts appear at the same time as the initiation of bone mineralization in embryonic mouse mandibles, suggesting that osteoclasts contribute to bone matrix maturation during intramembranous ossification.
Piezosurgery is an innovative technique widely used for osteotomies in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. The surgical technique has been clinically supposed to cut mineralized bone ...selectively with reducing the risk of damage to adjacent soft tissues. However, none of the previous literature has reported any evidence of scientific experiments to examine performance of the piezoelectric device, i.e. the time required for cutting bone and the effect on soft tissues under the standardized conditions. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that cutting time of the piezoelectric device is longer than that of rotary instruments while the cut surface of bone is smoother and soft tissues are less damaged with piezosurgery under the standardized experimental system. We measured the time for cutting bone and soft tissues of rats with the piezoelectric device and rotary instruments. Damage to soft tissues was examined histologically, and the cut surface of bone was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Our study demonstrated experimentally that piezosurgery provides a smooth cut bony surface with no damage to soft tissues and takes longer time to cut bone than conventional drillings. We propose that piezosurgery is beneficial for medical safety and usability.
Febrile seizures are frequently accompanied by stress-induced hyperglycemia. Herein, we report the case of a 1.5-yr-old girl with hyperglycemia during febrile seizures who was subsequently diagnosed ...with glucokinase (GCK) maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), considering its distinction from stress hyperglycemia. Following the development of febrile seizures owing to adenovirus infection, the patient presented a casual blood glucose level was 185 mg/dL. She had a multigenerational family history of diabetes and a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 6.4%. Owing to the persistent glucose intolerance until the age of 5 years, genetic testing was performed, which revealed a heterozygous mutation in GCK, and the patient was diagnosed with GCK-MODY. Precise diagnosis of GCK-MODY individuals is important to avoid administering unnecessary antidiabetic medications. Even during hyperglycemia under stress, multigenerational diabetes and mildly elevated HbA1c levels can suggest GCK-MODY.
For the development of next‐generation wearable and implantable devices that connect the human body and machines, the adhesion of a conductive hydrogel is required. In this study, a conductive ...hydrogel is adhered using an electrophoretic approach through polyion complex formation at the interface of the hydrogels. Cationic and anionic conductive hydrogels adhere to anionic and cationic hydrogels, respectively. Moreover, the cationic and anionic conductive hydrogels adhere strongly to each other and the adhered conductive hydrogels exhibit conductivity. De‐adhesion is possible by adding a salt and re‐adhesion is demonstrated under aqueous conditions. It is believed that this innovative adhesion strategy for conductive hydrogels will be a fundamental technology for the connecting “soft” people and “hard” machines.
Conductive hydrogels can be adhered strongly using an electrophoretic approach through polyion complex formation at the interface of the hydrogels. The adhesive process is reversible, and de‐adhesion is possible by adding a salt and re‐adhesion is demonstrated under aqueous conditions.
Mice devoid of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 due to gene targeting have been reported to show articular cartilage destruction in the knee joint; however, the phenotype of the mandibular condylar ...cartilage remains unknown. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the mandibular condyle in Mmp2
mice. We obtained and bred Mmp2
mice from the same source as the previous study, and performed genotyping using genomic DNA extracted from finger snips. The mandibular condyle of Mmp2
mice and wild-type (WT) mice was immunohistochemically examined for the localization of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (type I and II collagen, and aggrecan), and MMP-9 and MMP-13. No cartilage destruction was observed in the mandibular condyle of Mmp2
mice, and no difference was found in the localization of the ECM proteins between the Mmp2
mice and WT mice. However, the bone marrow cavity in the subchondral bone of the mandibular condyle was more distinct in Mmp2
mice than in WT mice at the age of 50 weeks. Of note, MMP-9 characteristically localized in multinucleated cells in the mandibular condyle in 50-week-old Mmp2
mice. MMP-2 may be involved in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation and the formation of the bone marrow cavity in aged mice.
An accelerating aging society and rise in serious illnesses has led to an increase in deaths and made the demand for palliative care even greater. An integrated review was conducted to identify the ...impact of interprofessional education (IPE) on palliative/end of life (EOL) care for unlicensed health care students with a multidisciplinary approach. The databases searched included MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library’s CENTRAL. Fifteen studies were included. Participants’ disciplines included medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, chaplain, public health and psychology. Nine were pre-post design and others were post course evaluations. One research study was an interventional trial with a comparative group. The selected studies included a variety of teaching strategies such as simulation or role play, clinical experience, case study, and TOSCE training. The importance of an interprofessional approach to palliative/EOL care has been highlighted, and our review suggests that combined IPE and palliative/EOL interventions can potentially impact palliative/EOL patient outcomes. More studies are needed to clarify the effectiveness of interprofessional palliative/EOL educational interventions including facilitators, learning outcomes, variable methods or teaching strategy, and the level of students.
To determine whether the combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and immunostaining would visualize the mineral and protein distribution in ...the same histological sections.
Paraffin sections of fixed rat hindlimbs were processed for SEM-EDX and subsequently for immunofluorescence staining.
The localization of calcium, phosphorus, and carbon with type II collagen could be visualized in the same region of calcified growth plate cartilage on the same section.
The combination of SEM-EDX and immunostaining is effective for visualizing mineral and protein distribution in the same histological sections.
We cryopreserved mouse tooth germs with widely open cervical margins of the enamel organ to overcome difficulties in cryoprotectant permeation and tested their efficacy by transplanting them into ...recipient mice. The upper right first molar germs of 8-day-old donor mice were extracted and categorized into the following four groups according to cryopreservation time: no cryopreservation, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. The donor tooth germs were transplanted into the upper right first molar germ sockets of the 8-day-old recipient mice. The upper left first molars of the recipient mice were used as controls. The outcome of the transplantation was assessed at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after transplantation. Stereomicroscopic evaluation revealed that most of the transplanted teeth erupted by 3 weeks after transplantation. Micro-computed tomography analysis revealed root elongation in the transplanted groups as well as in the controls. There was no significant difference between the cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved transplanted teeth, but the roots of the cryopreserved teeth were significantly shorter than those of the control teeth. Histological examination revealed root and periodontal ligament formations in all the transplanted groups. These results suggest that the transplantation of cryopreserved tooth germs facilitates subsequent root elongation and tooth eruption.
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