Improving Bulk and Interfacial Lithium Transport in Garnet-Type Solid Electrolytes through Microstructure Optimization for High-Performance All-Solid-State Batteries.

Garnet-type LiLaZrTaO (LLZTO) is regarded as a highly competitive next-generation solid-state electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium batteries owing to reliable safety, a wide electrochemical operation window of 0-6 V versus Li/Li, and a superior stability against Li metal. Nevertheless, insufficient interface contacts caused by pores, along with Li dendrite growth at these voids and grain boundary regions, have hindered their commercial application. Herein, we suggest a method to produce high-quality LLZTO using LiAlO (LAO) as a chemical additive that leads to an improved microstructure with larger grain size (∼25 μm), a high relative density (∼96%), lower porosity (∼3.

Glycerol Triacetate-Based Flame Retardant High-Temperature Electrolyte for the Lithium-Ion Battery.

Rechargeable batteries that can operate at elevated temperatures (>70 °C) with high energy density are long-awaited for industrial applications including mining, grid stabilization, naval, aerospace, and medical devices. However, the safety, cycle life, energy density, and cost of the available high-temperature battery technologies remain an obstacle primarily owing to the limited electrolyte options available. We introduce a flame-retardant electrolyte that can enable stable battery cycling at 100 °C by incorporating triacetin into the electrolyte system.

Hepatoprotective effect of 50% ethanol extract against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in BALB/c mice.

-acetyl--aminophenol (acetaminophen, APAP) is a well-known component of analgesic and antipyretic monotherapy products. However, exceeding the recommended dose can lead to serious injury to the liver. We conducted this study to determine the potential of as a natural substance to protect against APAP-induced liver injury.

Synergistic Effects of Phosphorus and Boron Co-Incorporated Activated Carbon for Ultrafast Zinc-Ion Hybrid Supercapacitors.

The rapid expansion of the development of the electrochemical capacitor appliance and its industry areas has created the need for long cycling stability of over 30 000 cycles along with an ultrafast performance (referred to as ultrafast longevity). In recent years, zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZICs) are considered to be emerging energy storage applications thanks to their high specific capacity and remarkable cycling stability. However, ZICs still face serious challenges in overcoming the ultrafast performance and lifetime limitations related to the cathode materials, activated carbon (AC), due to inadequate electrical properties and poor wettability between the electrolyte and the electrode, which cause reductions in specific capacity and lifetime rapidly at high current densities during cycling.

Correction: Monitoring metal-amyloid-β complexation by a FRET-based probe: design, detection, and inhibitor screening.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C8SC04943B.].

Monitoring metal-amyloid-β complexation by a FRET-based probe: design, detection, and inhibitor screening.

Aggregation of amyloidogenic peptides could cause the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. These amyloidogenic peptides can coordinate to metal ions, including Zn(ii), which can subsequently affect the peptides' aggregation and toxicity, leading to neurodegeneration. Unfortunately, the detection of metal-amyloidogenic peptide complexation has been very challenging.

Identification of sennoside A as a novel inhibitor of the slingshot (SSH) family proteins related to cancer metastasis.

Phospho-cofilin (p-cofilin), which has a phosphate group on Ser-3, is involved in actin polymerization. Its dephosphorylated form promotes filopodia formation and cell migration by enhancing actin depolymerization. Protein phosphatase slingshot homologs (SSHs), known as dual-specificity phosphatases, catalyze hydrolytic removal of the Ser-3 phosphate group from phospho-cofilin.

Does the use of bedside ultrasonography reduce emergency department length of stay for patients with renal colic?: a pilot study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding bedside ultrasonography to the diagnostic algorithm for nephrolithiasis on emergency department (ED) length of stay.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study was conducted from October 2014 to December 2014 with patients with acute flank pain. In the non-ultrasonography group (NUSG), non-contrast computed tomography was selected based on clinical features and hematuria in the urinalysis.

Petatewalide B, a novel compound from Petasites japonicus with anti-allergic activity.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The giant butterbur Petasites japonicus is used to treat asthma and allergic diseases in traditional Korean, Japanese, and Chinese medicine.

Aim Of The Study: To elucidate the anti-allergic effect of Petasites genus, we studied effects of several compounds from Petasites japonicus leaves and found a novel bakkenolide-type sesquiterpine. In the present study, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of the new compound was examined using in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Anti-allergic effect of α-cubebenoate isolated from Schisandra chinensis using in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Aim Of The Study: In Oriental countries, the dried fruits of Schisandra chinensis are extensively used in traditional medicine to treat asthma, gonorrhea, and other diseases. Recently, α-cubebenoate was isolated as an anti-inflammatory component from Schisandra chinensis. In the present study, the authors examined the anti-allergic effect of α-cubebenoate using in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Therapeutic effects of s-petasin on disease models of asthma and peritonitis.

To explore the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of extracts of Petasites genus, we studied the effects of s-petasin, a major sesquiterpene from Petasites formosanus (a butterbur species) on asthma and peritonitis models. In an ovalbumin-induced mouse asthma model, s-petasin significantly inhibited the accumulations of eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar fluids. S-petasin inhibited the antigen-induced degranulation of β-hexosamidase but did not inhibit intracellular Ca(2+) increase in RBL-2H3 mast cells.

Identification of a novel anti-inflammatory compound, α-cubebenoate from Schisandra chinensis.

Aims Of The Study: Extracts of Schisandra chinensis have been used as an anti-fatigue and tonic agent. Because chronic fatigue syndrome is related to inflammatory and oxidative stress, we assessed whether Schisandra chinensis has anti-inflammatory constituents and studied the effect of a novel α-cubebenoate isolated from Schisandra chinensis.

Materials And Methods: α-Cubebenoate was isolated from an extract of Schisandra chinensis fruits.

An analytical study of Mammalian bite wounds requiring inpatient management.

Background: Mammalian bite injuries create a public health problem because of their frequency, potential severity, and increasing number. Some researchers have performed fragmentary analyses of bite wounds caused by certain mammalian species. However, little practical information is available concerning serious mammalian bite wounds that require hospitalization and intensive wound management.

Anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of bakkenolide B isolated from Petasites japonicus leaves.

Aims Of The Study: To elucidate the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of Petasites genus, we studied the effects of several compounds isolated from Petasites japonicas leaves.

Materials And Methods: Bakkenolide B was isolated from Petasites japonicus leaves. Antigen-induced degranulation was measured in RBL-2H3 mast cells by measuring β-hexosamidase activity.

Factors dominating stratification cycle and seasonal water quality variation in a Korean estuarine reservoir.

A comprehensive monitoring program was conducted during 2005-2007 to investigate seasonal variations of hydrologic stability and water quality in the Yeongsan Reservoir (YSR), located at the downstream end of the Yeongsan River, Korea. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify factors dominating the seasonal water quality variation from a large suite of measured data--11 physico-chemical parameters from 48 sampling sites. The results showed that three principal components explained approximately 62% of spatio-seasonal water quality variation, which are related to stratifications, pollutant loadings and resultant eutrophication, and the advective mixing process during the episodic rainfall-runoff events.

Novel membrane bioreactor (MBR) coupled with a nonwoven fabric filter for household wastewater treatment.

Conventional and modified membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are increasingly used in small-scale wastewater treatment. However, their widespread applications are hindered by their relatively high cost and operational complexity. In this study, we investigate a new concept of wastewater treatment using a nonwoven fabric filter bag (NFFB) as the membrane bioreactor.

Factors affecting metal exchange between sediment and water in an estuarine reservoir: a spatial and seasonal observation.

Water quality response in a reservoir has often been assessed using relatively restricted datasets that cannot provide sufficient information, thereby giving rise to a dramatic over- or underestimate of actual figures. In this paper we discuss how the levels of metallic elements between the sediment and overlying water in an estuarine reservoir can be influenced by aquatic parameters in response to spatial and seasonal conditions. To better elucidate the interfacial exchange between sediment and water, statistical analyses are employed to intensive data sets collected from the Yeongsan Reservoir (YSR), Korea, which has undergone widespread deterioration in water quality due to the continuous growth of anthropogenic sources.

Decadal and seasonal scale changes of an artificial lake environment after blocking tidal flows in the Yeongsan Estuary region, Korea.

Artificial lakes, initially built in estuaries for positive purposes such as flood prevention and providing irrigation water, have been found to have negative impacts including blocking tidal cycles, disappearance of brackish water zones, sediment increase, water pollution, change of microbial diversity inhabiting patterns, and a decline in fish diversity. In this study, multidisciplinary field studies including physical, chemical, and biological analyses were performed to demonstrate decadal and seasonal scale changes in the ecological environment in Yeongsan Reservoir (YSR), Korea, since the construction of a 4.35 km-long dam in 1981.

Statistical assessment for spatio-temporal water quality in Angkor, Cambodia.

Comprehensive water quality monitoring was conducted to assess the water quality conditions and to determine the impact of urban infrastructure on ambient water quality in Angkor, Cambodia. During this study, surface water, groundwater, and sediment samples were collected for two distinctive seasons in 2006-2007 at 58 monitoring sites along and near the Siem Reap River, in Tole Sap Lake (TSL), and West Baray, the primary water resources in this region. To assess the seasonal and spatial variability of 27 water quality parameters, multivariate analysis of variance, hierarchical cluster analysis, and the Kruskal-Wallis test were conducted using the obtained data.

Characteristics of wet and dry weather heavy metal discharges in the Yeongsan Watershed, Korea.

A comprehensive water quality monitoring program was conducted in the Yeongsan (YS) River, Korea from 2005 to present to investigate wet and dry weather pollutant discharge in an attempt to establish point and non-point pollution management strategies. As part of this monitoring program, 11 heavy metal species were measured during dry and wet weather conditions in the YS River, where Gwangju City (GJ), a subcatchment of the YS River, was further monitored to clarify the responsibility of different metal species discharged into the mainstream. Monthly grab water samples showed that greater amounts of metals along the YS River were discharged during the wet summer months due largely to storm runoff.