Electrochemical water splitting is promising for utilizing intermittent renewable energy. The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), however, is a bottleneck in obtaining high ...efficiency. Only a few OER electrocatalysts have been developed for the use in acidic media despite the importance of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer. IrO2 is the only material that is both active and stable for the OER in highly corrosive acidic conditions. Herein, a facile and scalable synthesis of ultrathin IrO2 nanoneedles is reported with a diameter of 2 nm using a modified molten salt method. The activity and durability for the OER are significantly enhanced on the ultrathin IrO2 nanoneedles, compared to conventional nanoparticles. The ultrathin nanoneedles are successfully introduced to a PEM electrolyzer single cell with the enhanced cell performance.
Ultrathin IrO2 nanoneedles with a diameter of 2 nm are synthesized by a facile molten salt method, which is easy to scale up for industrial applications. Oxygen evolution reaction activity and durability are enhanced significantly on the ultrathin nanoneedles compared to conventional nanoparticles.
The introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the near future will have a significant impact on road traffic. AVs may have advantages in efficiency and convenience, but safety can be compromised ...in mixed operations of manual vehicles and AVs. To deal with the issues associated with mixed traffic and to avoid its negative effects, a special purpose lane reserved for AVs can be proposed to segregate AVs from manual vehicles. In this research, we analyze the effect on efficiency and safety of AVs in mixed traffic and in a situation where an AV-only lane is deployed. In the analysis, we investigate the average speed, the throughput, and the inverse time-to-collision (ITTC). We differentiate the behaviors of manual vehicles and AVs through the reaction time, desired speed, and car-following models. As a result, we observe that the efficiency is improved when the market penetration rate of AVs increases, especially when the highway throughput increases by up to 84% in the case of mixed traffic. However, safety worsens when the market penetration of AVs is under 40%. In this case, the average speed can be improved and the frequency of dangerous situations (ITTC > 0.49) can be reduced drastically in the merging section by making the innermost lane AV-only. Accordingly, we conclude that AV-only lanes can have a significant positive impact on efficiency and safety when the market penetration rate of AVs is low.
This study aimed to detect safety signals of rebamipide and search for adverse events (AEs) of rebamipide that are more common than those of other drugs for peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and ...gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the elderly population. A total of 101,735 AE reports for drugs used to treat PUD and GERD between 2009 and 2018 from the KIDS-KAERS database (KIDS-KD) were used. Disproportionality analysis was performed to calculate the proportional reporting ratio (PRR), reporting odds ratio (ROR), and information component (IC). Drug labels in Korea, Japan, and China were reviewed to identify signals that have been listed. AEs frequently reported in the elderly population were also analyzed. Seriousness and median time to AEs were evaluated for statistically significant AEs. A total of 14 signals were detected, and 4 signals (dry mouth, dermatitis, purpura/petechia, and fluid overload) were not listed on drug labels; however, they may be included as part of other listed AEs. In the elderly population, 11 AEs such as dyspepsia/indigestion/gastrointestinal distress, somnolence, dry mouth, and edema were common. These AEs were not serious and occurred within 2-9 days. This study identified possible AEs of rebamipide, a relatively safe drug.
Water electrocatalytic splitting is considered as an ideal process for generating H2 without byproducts. However, in the water-splitting reaction, a high overpotential is needed to overcome the ...high-energy barrier due to the slow kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, we selected the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation reaction, which is thermodynamically favored, to replace the OER in the water-splitting process. We fabricated three-dimensional hybrid electrocatalytic electrodes via layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly for simultaneous HMF conversion and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to investigate the effect of the nanoarchitecture of the electrode on the electrocatalytic activity. Nanosized graphene oxide was used as a negatively charged building block for LbL assembly to immobilize the two electroactive components: positively charged Au and Pd nanoparticles (NPs). The internal architecture of the LbL-assembled multilayer electrodes could be precisely controlled and their electrocatalytic performance could be modified by changing the nanoarchitecture of the electrode, including the thickness and position of the metal NPs. Even with a composition of the identical constituent NPs, the electrodes exhibited highly tunable electrocatalytic performance depending on the reaction kinetics as well as a diffusion-controlled process due to the sequential HMF oxidation and the HER. Furthermore, a bifunctional two-electrode electrolyzer for both the anodic HMF oxidation and the cathodic HER, which had an optimized LbL-assembled electrode for each reaction, exhibited the best full-cell electrocatalytic activity.
Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an important reaction in energy conversion systems such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Carbon nanomaterials doped with heteroatoms are highly attractive ...materials for use as electrocatalysts by virtue of their excellent electrocatalytic activity, high conductivity, and large surface area. This study reports the synthesis of highly efficient electrocatalysts based on heteroatom-doped graphene nanosheets prepared through covalent functionalization using various small organic molecules and a subsequent thermal treatment. A series of nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (NRGOn) nanosheets exhibited varying degrees and configurations of nitrogen atoms within the graphitic framework depending on the type of precursors used. On the basis of the rotating disk electrode (RDE) and rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) experiments, NRGO3, with a high degree of pyridinic-N content, displayed the desired one-step, quasi-four-electron transfer pathway during ORR, similar to commercial Pt/C. We also demonstrated the potential of covalent functionalization of sulfur and boron-doped graphene nanosheets.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a gastrointestinal disease characterized by diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Recombinant probiotics producing specific proteins with IBD ...therapeutic potential are currently considered novel drug substitutes. In this study, a Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4-SK strain was designed to produce the antioxidant enzymes streptococcal superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lactobacillus catalase (CAT), and a B. bifidum BGN4-pBESIL10 strain was proposed to generate an anti-inflammatory cytokine, human interleukin (IL)-10. In vitro and in vivo efficacy of these genetically modified Bifidobacterium strains were evaluated for colitis amelioration.
In a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated HT-29 cell model, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-8 production was significantly suppressed in the B. bifidum BGN4-SK treatment, followed by B. bifidum BGN4-pBESIL10 treatment, when compared to the LPS-treated control. Synergistic effects on TNF-α suppression were also observed. In a dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model, B. bifidum BGN4-SK treatment significantly enhanced levels of antioxidant enzymes SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and CAT, compared to the DSS-only group. B. bifidum BGN4-SK significantly ameliorated the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis, increased the expression of tight junction genes (claudin and ZO-1), and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α.
These findings suggest that B. bifidum BGN4-SK ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by generating antioxidant enzymes, maintaining the epithelial barrier, and decreasing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although B. bifidum BGN4-pBESIL10 exerted anti-inflammatory effects in vitro, the enhancement of IL-10 production and alleviation of colitis were very limited.
The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10)-related gene polymorphisms and statin-related myotoxicity (SRM).
We retrospectively analyzed prospectively ...collected samples from February to May 2021. To investigate the association between CoQ10-related genetic factors and SRM, we selected 37 single nucleotide polymorphisms from five genes (
, and
). The odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses, respectively.
A total of 688 stroke patients were included in the analysis, including 56 SRM cases. In the multivariable analysis, two models were constructed using demographic factors only in model I, and demographic and genetic factors in model II. Compared to other statins, atorvastatin decreased the SRM risk whereas ezetimibe use increased the SRM risk in model I and model II. Patients with
rs4693075 G allele,
rs11548336 TT genotype, and
rs10849757 A allele had a 2.9-fold (95% CI: 1.6-5.3), 1.9-fold (95% CI: 1.1-3.5), and 3.3-fold (95% CI: 1.5-8.3) higher risk of SRM, respectively.
This study could be utilized to develop a personalized medicine strategy in patients treated with statins.
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•Raw lacquer sap emulsion droplets shrink as ultrasonication intensity increased.•Nano-emulsified lacquer reduces drying time with promoted urushiol polymerisation.•Increased ...urushiol–laccase contact for enzymatic oxidation reduces discoloration.•Reduced light scattering by nano-emulsion aids high transmittance of lacquer film.•Small droplets aid strong urushiol networks and catechol substrate interaction.
Lacquer sap has received much attention as a traditional natural resin because it is a renewable and eco-friendly biopolymer resource unlike artificial coating materials. However, strict drying conditions and long drying times of lacquer sap should be modified to expand its applications. This study presents the first attempt to investigate the effect of different amplitudes of ultrasonic waves on the lacquer sap composed of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion droplets and the mechanical properties of the resultant film by solvent evaporation. Acoustically induced cavitation via batch ultrasonication facilitates the generation of submicron-sized W/O emulsion. The drying time of sonicated lacquer sap was noticeably shortened as the amplitude of acoustic power increased. Interestingly, the transparency of the film cast from lacquer sap consisting of the smallest emulsion droplets increased significantly, weakening the degree of colour change from caramel-like yellow to dark brown as polymerisation progressed. These are attributed to the effective and frequent contact of laccase enzyme with urushiol at the increased interfacial area of nano-emulsified W/O droplets pulverised by ultrasonic waves. The quinone radical-generation in the interface layer and its transfer to the urushiol oil phase through water-insoluble glycoprotein emulsifier are greatly promoted, resulting in highly cross-linked, dense three-dimensional polymer networks, which also increased the lacquer film hardness after drying. As the emulsion droplet size decreased, the mutual interaction between the catechol moiety of urushiol and the substrates increased, resulting in improved adhesion. The nano-emulsification of the lacquer sap by ultrasonic waves can be used in a simple, effective, and eco-friendly way to shorten the drying time and improve the film characteristics of natural resins. This approach could pave the way for its wide range of applications in industrial fields, taking into account green and sustainable chemistry.
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