•A new DEMS system incorporating microreactor and ion-exchange membrane was constructed.•The constructed DEMS system can quantitatively analyze CO2 evolution reactions of catalyst-loaded carbon ...electrodes in alkaline electrolyte solutions.•The corrosion behavior of a Pt-loaded carbon is similar to that in the acidic electrolytes except for the onset of the carbon corrosion.•La0.6Ca0.4CoO3 and Ca2FeCoO5 show electrochemical carbon corrosion activity, while La0.4Sr0.6MnO3 does not show distinct electrochemical carbon corrosion activity.
CO2 evolution is involved in various main and side reactions of electrochemical systems, such as carbon corrosion reactions and alcohol oxidation reactions. Differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy (DEMS) has been intensively applied to analyze the partial current of the CO2 evolution reaction in acidic and neutral electrolyte solutions. However, the quantitative analysis of the CO2 evolution reaction in alkaline electrolyte solutions has not been successful when catalyst-loaded carbon electrodes were applied, due to the high solubility of CO2 in the electrolyte. In this study, we develop a new DEMS system combining microreactor and ion exchange membrane to quantitatively analyze CO2 evolution reactions of catalyst-loaded carbon electrodes in alkaline electrolyte solutions. The calibration constant, which correlates the mass signal of m/z = 44 to the partial current of the CO2 evolution reaction, is successfully obtained from the Faradaic current and the mass signal of CO stripping voltammetry. We analyze carbon corrosion reactions of Pt and metal oxide-loaded carbon electrodes to demonstrate the effectiveness of the constructed system. The corrosion behavior of the Pt-loaded carbon is similar to that in the acidic electrolytes except for the onset potential of the carbon corrosion. La0.6Ca0.4CoO3 and Ca2FeCoO5 show electrochemical carbon corrosion activity, while La0.4Sr0.6MnO3 does not show distinct electrochemical carbon corrosion activity.
Pediatric epilepsy has a wide variety of etiology and severity. A recent epidemiological study suggested that surgery might be indicated in as many as 5% of the pediatric epilepsy population. Now, we ...know that effective epilepsy surgery can result in seizure freedom and improvement of psychomotor development. Seizure control is the most effective way to improve patients neurologically and psychologically. In this review, we look over the recent evidence related to pediatric epilepsy surgery, and try to establish the optimal surgical timing for patients with intractable epilepsy. Appropriate surgical timing depends on the etiology and natural history of the epilepsy to be treated. The most common etiology of pediatric intractable epilepsy patients is malformation of cortical development (MCD) and early surgery is recommended for them. Patients operated on earlier than 12 months of age tended to improve their psychomotor development compared to those operated on later. Recent progress in neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies provide the possibility of very early diagnosis and comprehensive surgical management even at an age before 12 months. Epilepsy surgery is the only solution for patients with MCD or other congenital diseases associated with intractable epilepsy, therefore physicians should aim at an early and precise diagnosis and predicting the future damage, consider a surgical solution within an optimal timing.
Composite electrodes containing active materials, carbon and binder are widely used in lithium-ion batteries. Since the electrode reaction occurs preferentially in regions with lower resistance, ...reaction distribution can be happened within composite electrodes. We investigate the relationship between the reaction distribution with depth direction and electronic/ionic conductivity in composite electrodes with changing electrode porosities. Two dimensional X-ray absorption spectroscopy shows that the reaction distribution is happened in lower porosity electrodes. Our developed 6-probe method can measure electronic/ionic conductivity in composite electrodes. The ionic conductivity is decreased for lower porosity electrodes, which governs the reaction distribution of composite electrodes and their performances.
Among the various disorders that manifest with gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, and urinary incontinence in the elderly population, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is becoming ...of great importance. The first edition of these guidelines for management of iNPH was published in 2004, and the second edition in 2012, to provide a series of timely, evidence-based recommendations related to iNPH. Since the last edition, clinical awareness of iNPH has risen dramatically, and clinical and basic research efforts on iNPH have increased significantly. This third edition of the guidelines was made to share these ideas with the international community and to promote international research on iNPH. The revision of the guidelines was undertaken by a multidisciplinary expert working group of the Japanese Society of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus in conjunction with the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare research project. This revision proposes a new classification for NPH. The category of iNPH is clearly distinguished from NPH with congenital/developmental and acquired etiologies. Additionally, the essential role of disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid-space hydrocephalus (DESH) in the imaging diagnosis and decision for further management of iNPH is discussed in this edition. We created an algorithm for diagnosis and decision for shunt management. Diagnosis by biomarkers that distinguish prognosis has been also initiated. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of iNPH have entered a new phase. We hope that this third edition of the guidelines will help patients, their families, and healthcare professionals involved in treating iNPH.
NR4A3/NOR1 belongs to the NR4A subfamily of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, which is activated in a ligand-independent manner. To examine the role of NR4A3 in gene expression of dendritic ...cells (DCs), we introduced NR4A3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) into bone marrow-derived DCs and determined the expression levels of mRNA and proteins of cytokines, cell surface molecules, NF-κB signaling-related proteins, and transcription factors. The expression level of NR4A3 was markedly upregulated by TLR-mediated stimulation in DCs. NR4A3 knockdown significantly suppressed LPS, CpG, or poly(I:C)-mediated upregulation of CD80, CD86, IL-10, IL-6, and IL-12. Proliferation and IL-2 production levels of T cells cocultured with NR4A3 knocked-down DCs were significantly lower than that of T cells cocultured with control DCs. Furthermore, the expression of IKKβ, IRF4, and IRF8 was significantly decreased in NR4A3 siRNA-introduced bone marrow-derived DCs. The knockdown experiments using siRNAs for IKKβ, IRF4, and/or IRF8 indicated that LPS-induced upregulation of IL-10 and IL-6 was reduced in IKKβ knocked-down cells, and that the upregulation of IL-12 was suppressed by the knockdown of IRF4 and IRF8. Taken together, these results indicate that NR4A3 is involved in TLR-mediated activation and gene expression of DCs.
Power characteristics become one of the important performance measures of lithium-ion batteries as high-power applications such as electric vehicles are emerging. Among several electrochemical steps ...that limit the power characteristics, phase transition kinetics is known as the limiting step for two-phase coexisting (biphasic) materials. In this study, we used LiFePO4 as a model biphasic material and investigated the intrinsic factor that limits the phase transition behavior. When the same LiFePO4 electrodes were tested in non-aqueous and aqueous electrolytes, the activation energy for the aqueous system was lower. In addition, impedance measurements using 4-electrode cells show that the charge-transfer resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface in the aqueous media is also lower than that in the non-aqueous media, suggesting more facile solvation/de-solvation process in the aqueous media. This indicates that the rearrangement of the phase transition boundary (LiFePO4/FePO4) is sufficiently fast and other factors such as charge-transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface affects the whole reaction rate.
Lateral wall paraclinoid aneurysms (LPA) are a rare type of aneurysm located on the lesser curve side of the internal carotid artery (ICA) bend, at the level of the anterior clinoid process. The ...objective of this study was to assess the influence of flexion of the ICA on the morphology of aneurysms and outcome of endovascular treatment. Between 2003 and 2018, we treated 643 cases of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms with endovascular therapy in our institution. Of those cases, aneurysms projecting laterally on preoperative angiography were defined as LPA. The degree of bending of the ICA (ICA angle) was measured and statistically analyzed in relation to the aneurysm characteristics and the occlusion status after treatment. In all, 43 aneurysms were identified. ICA angle was positively correlated with the maximum dome size of the aneurysm (P <0.01) and the aspect ratio (P <0.01), and negatively correlated with the volume coil embolization ratio (P <0.01). Complete occlusion (CO) was achieved in 23 cases (53.5%) immediately after treatment, and in 35 cases (81.4%) at follow-up. The mean ICA angle in the incomplete occlusion group was significantly larger than in the CO group (P = 0.01). Larger ICA angle resulted in recurrence, whereas smaller ICA angle was more likely to obtain progressive thrombosis (P = 0.02). Endovascular treatment for LPA was safe and effective. The degree of flexion of the ICA may contribute to the level of hemodynamic stress on the aneurysm, its morphology, and the embolization effect.
Objective
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FFluciclovine (
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FFACBC) has demonstrated diagnostic efficacy for cancers of the brain where
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Ffludeoxyglucose has limitations. We conducted a phase IIa study of
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...FFACBC to assess its accumulation pattern and safety in patients with malignant glioma.
Methods
Five patients with glioma scheduled for brain tumor resection received
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FFACBC. Brain positron emission tomography (PET) was performed following intravenous administration of
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FFACBC, and subsequently, preoperative gadolinium contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (CE-T1W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed for surgery. Specimens for histopathological evaluation were collected during surgery, and their location was precisely determined on CE-T1W MRI and
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FFACBC PET/CT images. In addition, tumor extent defined on the MRI and PET/CT images was compared. To determine time–activity curves for
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FFACBC uptake in brain tumor and normal tissues, regions of interest were set in the brain tumor, contralateral normal tissue and the cerebellum, and their standardized uptake values (SUV) were calculated. The safety of
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FFACBC was assessed based on subjective symptoms and objective findings, electrocardiograms, vital signs, laboratory results, and the incidence of adverse events.
Results
Anti
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FFACBC accumulated in the malignant gliomas of all patients. CE-T1W MRI detected gliomas in all patients, but
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FFACBC PET/CT generally delineated wider regions of tumor extent than CE-T1W MRI. Two of the histopathologically confirmed tumors were located in regions that were defined using
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FFACBC PET/CT, but not using CE-T1W MRI. Two patients experienced three mild adverse events: one complained of a dull headache and later a mild headache, and the other showed general malaise. These symptoms resolved spontaneously without treatment. Only the mild headache could not be ruled out from having a causal relationship with
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FFACBC. Favorable
T
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ratios regarding
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FFACBC uptake between tumors and normal control tissues were demonstrated in this trial.
Conclusions
It is suggested that
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FFACBC PET/CT has the ability to delineate glioma spread that is undetectable using CE-T1W MRI.
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FFACBC is safe in patients with malignant glioma.
This study was registered in the Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center Clinical Trials Information, which is one of the World Health Organization registries (registration number: JapicCTI-111387).
Here, we report remarkable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic activity of brownmillerite (BM)‐type Ca2FeCoO5. The OER activity of this oxide is comparable to or beyond those of the ...state‐of‐the‐art perovskite (PV)‐catalyst Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ (BSCF) and a precious‐metal catalyst RuO2, emphasizing the importance of the characteristic BM structure with multiple coordination environments of transition metal (TM) species. Also, Ca2FeCoO5 is clearly advantageous in terms of expense/laboriousness of the material synthesis. These facts make this oxide a promising OER catalyst used in many energy conversion technologies such as metal–air secondary batteries and hydrogen production from electrochemical/photocatalytic water splitting.
A winning combo: We report remarkable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic activity of brownmillerite (BM)‐type Ca2FeCoO5 in alkaline media. The combination of tetrahedral and octahedral sites in the BM structure plays a crucial role in the observed OER activity, which is comparable to or beyond those of the state‐of‐the‐art perovskite catalysts and a precious‐metal catalyst RuO2.
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