Efficient pathways to improve electrode performance of P'2 NaMnO for sodium batteries.

A Mn-based sodium-containing layered oxide, P'2-type NaMnO, is revisited as a positive electrode material for sodium-ion batteries, and factors affecting its electrochemical performances are examined. The cyclability of NaMnO is remarkably improved by increasing the lower cut-off voltage during cycling even though the reversible capacity is sacrificed. Furthermore, the use of highly concentrated electrolytes, in which the presence of free solvent molecules is eliminated, effectively suppresses the dissolution of Mn ions, thus enabling stable cycling with >85% capacity retention for 300 continuous cycles.

Accumulation of mitochondrial DNA with a point mutation in tRNA gene induces brain dysfunction in mice.

Brain functions are mediated via the complex interplay between several complex factors, and hence, identifying the underlying cause of an abnormality within a certain brain region can be challenging. In mitochondrial disease, abnormalities in brain function are thought to be attributed to accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) with pathogenic mutations; however, only few previous studies have directly demonstrated that accumulation of mutant mtDNA induced abnormalities in brain function. Herein, we examined the effects of mtDNA mutations on brain function via behavioral analyses using a mouse model with an A2748G point mutation in mtDNA tRNA.

Fatal posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome after blood transfusion in a patient with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is known as a transfusion-related complication with typically favorable prognosis and no report fatalities. Pathological evaluation of PRES is also scarce.

Case Report: An 88-year-old female with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) attended our hospital because of a compression fracture and chronic heart failure with chronic anemia.

Novel approach for detecting classical swine fever virus from swabs of wild boar cut tails using nested real-time PCR.

We devised a method to detect the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) in tail-wiped swabs from wild boars. The CSFV gene in swabs was detected with high sensitivity using nested real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is a combination of reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR. We compared CSFV gene detection from boar tissue using the conventional and our tail-wiped swab method.