Performance Enhancement of Silicon Alloy-Based Anodes Using Thermally Treated Poly(amide imide) as a Polymer Binder for High Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The development of silicon-based anodes with high capacity and good cycling stability for next-generation lithium-ion batteries is a very challenging task due to the large volume changes in the electrodes during repeated cycling, which results in capacity fading. In this work, we synthesized silicon alloy as an active anode material, which was composed of silicon nanoparticles embedded in Cu-Al-Fe matrix phases. Poly(amide imide)s, (PAI)s, with different thermal treatments were used as polymer binders in the silicon alloy-based electrodes.

Carbon Nanofiber/3D Nanoporous Silicon Hybrids as High Capacity Lithium Storage Materials.

Carbon nanofiber (CNF)/3D nanoporous (3DNP) Si hybrid materials were prepared by chemical etching of melt-spun Si/Al-Cu-Fe alloy nanocomposites, followed by carbonization using a pitch. CNFs were successfully grown on the surface of 3DNP Si particles using residual Fe impurities after acidic etching, which acted as a catalyst for the growth of CNFs. The resulting CNF/3DNP Si hybrid materials showed an enhanced cycle performance up to 100 cycles compared to that of the pristine Si/Al-Cu-Fe alloy nanocomposite as well as that of bare 3DNP Si particles.

Rupture of an unscarred uterus in a woman with long-term steroid treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Unscarred uterine rupture in association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and long-term steroid treatment is rare.

Case: A 36-year-old primigravid woman conceived a twin gestation after in vitro fertilization therapy. At 23 weeks of gestation, she was found to have a spontaneous rupture of the uterus.

Extract of buckwheat sprouts scavenges oxidation and inhibits pro-inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages (RAW264.7).

Objective: Buckwheat has been considered as a potential source of nutraceutical components on the world market of probiotic foodstuffs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) sprouts on oxidation and pro-inflammatory mediators.

Methods: The anti-oxidant effects of buckwheat extract (BWE) and rutin were evaluated by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)- and nitric oxide (NO)-scavenging activities, serum peroxidation and chelating assays.

Phytoglycoprotein (75 kDa) suppresses release of histamine and expression of IL-4 and IFN- gamma in BPA-treated RBL-2H3 cells.

The current study investigated whether the phytoglycoprotein (75 kDa) isolated from Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau (CTB glycoprotein) has anti-allergic inflammatory potential. Bisphenol A (BPA) is well known to promote development of allergy-related immune dysfunction. This experiment evaluated the release of histamine, increased intracellular Ca(2+) level, and the activities of protein kinase C alpha (PKC alpha), transcription factors NFkappaB and cytokines (IL-4, and IFN-gamma) in BPA-treated RBL-2H3 cells.

Inhibitory effect of phytoglycoprotein (115 kDa) on the expression of TNF-alpha and interleukin-1beta via inhibition of MAP kinase in primary cultured mouse thymocytes.

The present study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of 115 kDa glycoprotein isolated from Zanthoxylum piperitum DC leaves (ZPDC glycoprotein) in primary cultured mouse thymocytes. To determine whether the ZPDC glycoprotein has inhibitory capacity against inflammation in vitro, we evaluated the activities of inflammation-related factors such as phosphorylations of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and the activities of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetata (PMA, 50 nM)-treated mouse thymocytes. Our results showed that the ZPDC glycoprotein (200 mug/ml) has a suppressive effect on the expression of MAPK (ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK), on mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta), and on protein expression of pro-inflammatory proteins (iNOS and COX-2).

The Fruiting Body Formation of Armillaria mellea on Oak Sawdust Medium Covered with Ground Raw Carrots.

To produce an artificial fruiting body of Armillaria mellea on the oak sawdust medium, seven strains of A. mellea were used. The top surface of oak sawdust medium covered with ground raw carrot was inoculated with each of 7 strains and cultured for 30 days at 25℃ in the dark condition until the mycelia of A.