Garnet-structured solid electrolytes have been extensively studied for a solid-state lithium rechargeable battery. Previous works have been mostly focused on the materials’ development and basic ...electrochemical properties but not the cathode/electrolyte interface. Understanding the cathode interface is critical to enhance chemical stability and electrochemical performance of a solid-state battery cell. In this work, we studied thoroughly the cathode/electrolyte interface between LiCoO2 and Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO). It was found that the high-temperature process to fuse LiCoO2 and LLZO induced cross-diffusion of elements and formation of the tetragonal LLZO phase at the interface. These degradations affected electrochemical performance, especially the initial Coulombic efficiency and cycle life. In a clean cathode interface without the thermal process, an irreversible electrochemical decomposition at > ∼ 3.0 V vs Li+/Li was identified. The decomposition was able to be avoided by a surface modification of LLZO (e.g., Co-diffused surface layer and/or presence of an interlayer, Li3BO3), and the surface modification was equally important to suppress a reaction during air storage. In a LiCoO2/LLZO interface, it is important to separate direct contacts between LiCoO2 and pure LLZO.
Lithium–oxygen (Li–O2) batteries have been intensively investigated in recent decades for their utilization in electric vehicles. The intrinsic challenges arising from O2 (electro)chemistry have ...been mitigated by developing various types of catalysts, porous electrode materials, and stable electrolyte solutions. At the next stage, we face the need to reform batteries by substituting pure O2 gas with air from Earth’s atmosphere. Thus, the key emerging challenges of Li–air batteries, which are related to the selective filtration of O2 gas from air and the suppression of undesired reactions with other constituents in air, such as N2, water vapor (H2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2), should be properly addressed. In this review, we discuss all key aspects for developing Li–air batteries that are optimized for operating in ambient air and highlight the crucial considerations and perspectives for future air-breathing batteries.
Algal technology has potential to combat the global energy crisis, malnutrition, and production of several value added products useful for the mankind. The cost effective cultivation system is the ...basis to realize this goal. Microalgal production in raceway ponds seems to be most promising, especially in the large scale. Several environmental (location of the cultivation system, rainfall, solar radiation, etc.), engineering (pond depth, CO2 delivery system, methods of mixing, power consumption, etc.), and biological (light, pH, oxygen accumulation, salinity, Algal predators etc.) parameters affect the biomass productivity in the open pond system. Vertical mixing is an important criteria influencing the algal growth compared to axial mixing as it determines the frequency by which cell will travel from bottom (dark zone) to surface (light zone) of the open pond. Therefore, different research works on the various designs of raceway ponds were mostly focused towards enhancing the vertical mixing (e.g. Design of bend and surface geometry, engineering flow field, etc.) and CO2 residence time (e.g. Closed, sump, airlift driven raceway ponds etc.). The present study summarizes the current state of knowledge for the biomass production in raceway ponds.
The use of thick electrodes with high-loading density of active material is one of the most practical strategies to increase the volumetric/specific energy density of lithium-ion battery, while ...taking advantage of the current electrode chemistry. However, their use is accompanied by serious deterioration of electrochemical performance, especially exhibiting poor capacity retention with low power capability. Here, the degradation behavior of the LiNi0·6Co0·2Mn0·2O2, one of widely adopted cathodes, is comparatively investigated under high loading levels as high as 28 mg cm−2 over the extended cycling. It is revealed that the charge transport limitation is cumulatively dominated by the lithium ionic diffusion rather than the electronic conduction in the thick electrode. More importantly, as the cycle proceeds, the thick electrode gets exposed to a serious reaction inhomogeneity because of the negative feedback between the accumulated ion transport limitation and locally increasing resistance. It leads to the generation of current hot spot in the electrode and the corresponding local material degradation, which further inhibit the charge transport, resulting in unavoidable capacity fading. This finding proposes that rational electrode architecture detouring the hot spot generation needs to be considered with respect to the ion transport and the electrode material degradation toward the high-loading electrodes.
•Cycle degradation issue in thick electrode under high current density.•The mass transport limitation gets worse as the cycle progresses.•Permanent mechanical and chemical damages occur at the top layer of the thick electrode.•A comprehensive cycle degradation model of the thick electrode is provided in this study.
Colon targeted drug delivery systems have gained a great deal of attention as potential carriers for the local treatment of colonic diseases with reduced systemic side effects and also for the ...enhanced oral delivery of various therapeutics vulnerable to acidic and enzymatic degradation in the upper gastrointestinal tract. In recent years, the global pharmaceutical market for biologics has grown, and increasing demand for a more patient-friendly drug administration system highlights the importance of colonic drug delivery as a noninvasive delivery approach for macromolecules. Colon-targeted drug delivery systems for macromolecules can provide therapeutic benefits including better patient compliance (because they are pain-free and can be self-administered) and lower costs. Therefore, to achieve more efficient colonic drug delivery for local or systemic drug effects, various strategies have been explored including pH-dependent systems, enzyme-triggered systems, receptor-mediated systems, and magnetically-driven systems. In this review, recent advancements in various approaches for designing colon targeted drug delivery systems and their pharmaceutical applications are covered with a particular emphasis on formulation technologies.
Introduction
Sinonasal organizing hematoma (OH) is a rare, nonneoplastic lesion that often presents with epistaxis, a reddish mass, and destruction of the involved sinonasal structures. Due to its ...rarity, the demographics, diagnostic modalities, treatment strategies, and outcomes have not yet been studied in a large, long‐term study.
Materials and Methods
Retrospect cohort of 112 sinonasal OH patients treated between 1997 and 2020 in a tertiary, university hospital were evaluated. Demographics, systemic comorbidities, sinonasal surgery history, serum laboratory tests, radiological findings, and treatment results were collected. The present study aimed to assess the accuracy of preoperative computed tomography (CT), Gadolinum‐enhanced magnetic resonance (MR), and punch biopsies in detecting sinonasal OH as the most likely diagnosis. In addition, incidental differences by age and year of diagnosis were calculated using the Poisson log‐linear regression model.
Results
The median age was 44, and 58% were male. Fewer than 20% of these cases had a chronic systemic comorbidity, bleeding tendency, or sinonasal surgery history. MR had the highest accuracy of (87%) to detect sinonasal OH as the most likely diagnosis, compared with contrast‐enhanced‐CT (53%), punch biopsy (49%), and non‐enhanced‐CT (16%) (all <0.05). Sinonasal OH incidence did not vary by age, but the yearly rate significantly increased by 1.05 times over 23 years (p < 0.05). Notably, 84% of 112 patients received surgical removal through the assistance of an endoscope, and none had substantial bleeding without preoperative embolization.
Conclusion
Sinonasal OH was observed regardless of age, sex, systemic comorbidities, bleeding tendency, prior sinonasal surgery, or trauma. Preoperative MR gives the highest accuracy for detecting this disease. Sinonasal OH may be safely managed with endoscopic‐assisted surgery removal without embolization.
Level of Evidence
4 Laryngoscope, 134:1581–1590, 2024
Sinonasal organizing hematoma (OH) is an uncommon, nonneoplastic condition that produces epistaxis, a reddish mass, and bony skeletal structural damage, sometimes mistaken for a malignant tumor. Gd‐enhanced‐MR exhibited the highest sensitivity to diagnose sinonasal OH (87%) compared with contrast‐enhanced‐CT (53%), punch biopsy (49%), and non‐enhanced‐CT (16%) (all p 0.05). Fewer than 20% of sinonasal OH patients had persisting systemic comorbidities, bleeding tendencies, or surgery. Sinonasal OH incidence rose by 1.05 patients per year (p 0.05) during the last 23 years, and endoscopic‐assisted surgery can remove it safely and efficiently without embolization in nearly all instances.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease featuring enhanced expression of type I interferon (IFN) and autoantibody production triggering inflammation of, and damage to, multiple ...organs. Continuing research efforts focus on how gut microbes trigger systemic autoimmunity and SLE. The gut microbial communities of mice and humans with lupus have been investigated via high-throughput sequencing. The Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio is consistently reduced in SLE patients, regardless of ethnicity. The relative abundance of
differs from the animal model used (MRL/lpr mice or NZB/W F1 mice). This may indicate that interactions between gut microbes and the host, rather than the enrichment of certain gut microbes, are especially significant in terms of SLE development.
and
, both of which are possible gut pathobionts, become translocated into systemic tissue if the gut epithelial barrier is impaired. The microbes then interact with the host immune systems, activating the type I IFN pathway and inducing autoantibody production. In addition, molecular mimicry may critically link the gut microbiome to SLE. Gut commensals of SLE patients share protein epitopes with the Ro60 autoantigen.
strain cross-reacted with native DNA, triggering an anti-double-stranded DNA antibody response. Expansion of
in SLE patients paralleled an increase in disease activity and lupus nephritis. Such insights into the link between the gut microbiota and SLE enhance our understanding of SLE pathogenesis and will identify biomarkers predicting active disease.
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), featuring ordered nanopores with numerous accessible redox sites, have drawn much attention as promising electrode materials for rechargeable batteries. Thus far, ...however, COF‐based battery electrodes have exhibited limited capacity and unsatisfactory cycling stability due to the unwanted side reactions over their large surface area. Herein, a fluorine‐rich covalent organic framework (F‐COF) as an electrode material with improved stability and performance for potassium‐ion batteries is developed. The fluorinated COF not only stabilizes intercalation kinetics of K+ ions but also reinforces its electron affinity and conductivity, improving the reversibility of bond transitions during discharge–charge cycles. As a result, F‐COF affords a high specific capacity (95 mAh g−1 at fast rates up to 5 C) and excellent cycling stability (5000 cycles with ≈99.7% capacity retention), outperforming the pristine COF‐based electrodes devoid of F atoms. Notably, the experimental capacity of F‐COF approaches its theoretical value, confirming that a large proportion of electroactive sites are being actively utilized. Altogether, this work addresses the significant role of F atoms in improving the K+‐ion storage capability of COFs and provides the rational design principles for the continued development of stable and high‐performance organic electrode materials for energy storage devices.
Fluorinated arenes in covalent organic framework enhance electrochemical activity and stabilize the interface between electrode and electrolyte, resulting in high ion storage capacity and fast ion transport. The unique role of F atoms in potassium ion batteriesis clarified at multiple angles through a pioneering in‐depth study coordinating experimental findings.
We aimed to evaluate the additive value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) to predict clinical outcomes in patients with HCM. We enrolled 373 ...patients with HCM and normal left ventricular systolic function who underwent CPET and CMR. The primary outcome was a clinical composite of all-cause death, cardiac transplantation, stroke, heart failure requiring hospitalization and defibrillator implantation. During a follow-up of 70.70 ± 30.74 months, there were 84 composite clinical events. Peak oxygen consumption during CPET was significantly lower (18.51±13.25 vs. 24.59±13.28 mL/kg/min, p < 0.001) and abnormal hemodynamic response to exercise was more frequently detected (41.7 vs. 20.8%, p<0.001) in the group with composite clinical events. The extent of late gadolinium enhancement was larger in the event group (15.39±10.53 vs. 11.97±9.53%LV, p<0.001). Selective parameters were added stepwise to conventional clinical parameters; the final model, where CPET and CMR parameters were added, was verified to have the highest increment value for clinical outcome prediction (p<0.001). This study demonstrated that CPET and CMR findings may be important clinical tools for risk stratification in HCM. Exercise capacity was an independent predictor of composite outcomes in patients with HCM, with incremental value as a risk factor when added to the alleged parameters. These findings could help physicians monitor and manage patients with HCM in the real clinical field.
We report a high spatial resolution mass spectrometry (MS) system that allows us to image live hippocampal tissue slices under open-air atmospheric pressure (AP) and ambient temperature conditions at ...the subcellular level. The method is based on an efficient desorption process by femtosecond (fs) laser assisted with nanoparticles and a subsequent ionization step by applying nonthermal plasma, termed AP nanoparticle and plasma assisted laser desorption ionization (AP-nanoPALDI) MS method. Combining the AP-nanoPALDI with microscopic sample scanning, MS imaging with spatial resolution of 2.9 µm was obtained. The observed AP-nanoPALDI MS imaging clearly revealed the differences of molecular composition between the apical and basal dendrite regions of a hippocampal tissue. In addition, the AP-nanoPALDI MS imaging showed the decrease of cholesterol in hippocampus by treating with methyl β-cyclodextrin, which exemplifies the potential of AP-nanoPALDI for live tissue imaging for various biomedical applications without any chemical pretreatment and/or labeling process.
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