Influence of Polypyrrole on Phosphorus- and TiO2-Based Anode Nanomaterials for Li-Ion Batteries

Phosphorus (P) and TiO2 have been extensively studied as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high specific capacities. However, P is limited by low electrical conductivity and significant volume changes during charge and discharge cycles, while TiO2 is hindered by low electrical conductivity and slow Li-ion diffusion. To address these issues, we synthesized organic–inorganic hybrid anode materials of P–polypyrrole (PPy) and TiO2–PPy, through in situ polymerization of pyrrole monomer in the presence of the nanoscale inorganic materials. These hybrid anode materials showed higher cycling stability and capacity compared to pure P and TiO2. The enhancements are attributed to the electrical conductivity and flexibility of PPy polymers, which improve the conductivity of the anode materials and effectively buffer volume changes to sustain structural integrity during the charge and discharge processes. Additionally, PPy can undergo polymerization to form multi-component composites for anode materials. In this study, we successfully synthesized a ternary composite anode material, P–TiO2–PPy, achieving a capacity of up to 1763 mAh/g over 1000 cycles

Primary Calcified T-Cell Lymphoma of the Urinary Bladder: A Case Report

Primary malignant lymphoma of the urinary bladder is extremely rare, and to our knowledge, no case described in the radiologic literature has been accompanied by calcification. We report a case in which the condition was associated with calcification, and describe the pelvic CT and MR imaging findings

Sensitivity of Simulated PM2.5 Concentrations over Northeast Asia to Different Secondary Organic Aerosol Modules during the KORUS-AQ Campaign

A numerical sensitivity study on secondary organic aerosol formation has been carried out by employing the WRF-Chem (Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry). Two secondary organic aerosol formation modules, the Modal Aerosol Dynamics model for Europe/Volatility Basis Set (MADE/VBS) and the Modal Aerosol Dynamics model for Europe/Secondary Organic Aerosol Model (MADE/SORGAM) were employed in the WRF-Chem model, and surface PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 mu m in size) mass concentration and the composition of its relevant chemical sources, i.e., SO42-, NO3-, NH4+, and organic carbon (OC) were simulated during the Korea-United States Air Quality (KORUS-AQ) campaign period (1 May to 12 June 2016). We classified the KORUS-AQ period into two cases, the stagnant period (16-21 May) which was dominated by local emission and the long-range transport period (25-31 May) which was affected by transport from the leeward direction, and focused on the differences in OC secondary aerosol formation between two modules over Northeast Asia. The simulated surface PM2.5 chemical components via the two modules showed the largest systematic biases in surface OC, with a mean bias of 4.5 mu g m(-3), and the second largest in SO42- abundance of 2.2 mu g m(-3) over Seoul. Compared with surface observations at two ground sites located near the western coastal Korean Peninsula, MADE/VBS exhibited the overpredictions in OC by 170-180%, whereas MADE/SORGAM showed underpredictions by 49-65%. OC and sulfate via MADE/VBS were simulated to be much higher than that simulated by MADE/SORGAM by a factor of 2.8-3.5 and 1.5-1.9, respectively. Model verification against KORUS-AQ aircraft measurements also showed large discrepancies in simulated non-surface OC between the two modules by a factor of five, with higher OC by MADE/VBS and lower IC by MADE/SORGAM, whereas much closer MADE/VBS simulations to the KORUS-AQ aircraft measurements were found. On the basis of the aircraft measurements, the aggregated bias (sum of four components) for PM2.5 mass concentrations from the MADE/VBS module indicated that the simulation was much closer to the measurements, nevertheless more elaborate analysis on the surface OC simulation performance would be needed to improve the ground results. Our findings show that significant inconsistencies are present in the secondary organic aerosol formation simulations, suggesting that PM2.5 forecasts should be considered with great caution, as well as in the context of policymaking in the Northeast Asia region

Non-Dipper Pattern is a Determinant of the Inappropriateness of Left Ventricular Mass in Essential Hypertensive Patients

Background and Objectives: Inappropriately high left ventricular mass (iLVM) is known to be related to cardiovascular prognosis. A non-dipper pattern has a greater mean left ventricular (LV) mass than the dipper pattern in hypertensive patients. However, the appropriateness of LV mass in dipper or non-dipper patterns has not been adequately investigated. The aim of this study was to define the relationship between nocturnal dipping and the appropriateness of LV mass. Subjects and Methods: Using the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) database, the data of 361 patients who underwent ABPM and echocardiography was analyzed retrospectively. Appropriateness of LV mass was calculated as observed/predicted ratio of LV mass (OPR) using a Korean-specified equation. Nocturnal dipping was expressed as percent fall in systolic blood pressure (BP) during the night compared to the day. Results: Daytime, nighttime and 24 hours BP in hypertensive patients was 140.4 +/- 14.8 mmHg, 143.7 +/- 15.2 mmHg and 129.4 +/- 20.0 mmHg, respectively. OPR was 106.3 +/- 19.9% and nocturnal dipping was 10.2 +/- 10.9 mmHg. In a multiple linear regression model, 24 hours systolic BP (beta=0.097, p=0.043) and nocturnal dipping (beta=-0.098, p=0.046) were independent determinants of OPR as well as age (beta=0.130, p=0.025) and body mass inde

The Relationship Between Coronary Artery Calcification and Bone Mineral Density in Patients According to Their Metabolic Syndrome Status

Background and Objectives: The extent of coronary artery calcification (CAC) is closely related to total atherosclerotic plaque burden. However, the pathogenesis of CAC is still unclear. Conditions such as diabetes mellitus, renal failure, smoking, and chronic inflammation have been suggested to link vascular calcification and bone loss. In the present study, we hypothesized that bone loss can contribute to the pathogenesis of CAC in patients with the chronic inflammatory condition that accompanies metabolic syndrome (MetS). The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between CAC and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with MetS and in patients without MetS, by using coronary multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). Subjects and Methods: Data from 395 consecutive patients was analyzed retrospectively. From the MDCT database, only those patients who underwent both coronary MDCT and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry within an interval of one month, were selected. The presence of MetS was determined by the updated criteria as defined by the Third Adult Treatment Panel Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program. Results: In patients with MetS, a significant correlation was found between CAC and age {odds ratio (OR)=1.139, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.080 to 1.201, p<0.001}, CAC and male sex (OR=3.762, 95% CI 1.339 to 10.569, p=0.012), and CAC and T-score of L-spine (OR=0.740, 95% CI 0.550 to 0.996, p=0.047) using a forward multiple logistic regression analysis model including clinical variables of gender, age, lipid profile, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, and BMD. But in patients without MetS, BMD by itself was not found to contribute to CAC. Conclusion: BMD was inversely correlated with CAC only in patients with MetS. This finding suggests that low BMD accompanied by MetS, may have significant clinical implications

The Relationship Between Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index and Blood Pressure Variability in Hypertensive Patients

Background and Objectives: Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) is well known as a predictor of cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive patients. Mathematically, AASI reflect the standard deviation (SD) of blood pressure (BP) variation. AASI is measured higher levels in non-dipper than dipper. Thus, AASI has a possibility of not only reflecting arterial stiffness but also BP variability and/or autonomic nervous dysfunction. Subjects and Methods: Consecutive data from 418 untreated hypertensive patients were analyzed retrospectively. We examined the association between the 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) parameters and AASI. Results: AASI had a simple correlation with age (R=0.189, p<0.001), relative wall thickness (RWT) (R=0.115, p=0.019), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (R=0.192, p<0.001), average systolic BP (SBP) (R=0.232, p<0.001), average pulse pressure (PP) (R=0.363, p<0.001), SD of diastolic BP (DBP) (R=-0.352,p<0.001), SD of PP (R=0.330, p<0.001), SD of heart rate (HR) (R=-0.268, p<0.001), and nocturnal dipping (R=-0.137, p=0.005). In multiple linear regression analysis model including clinical parameters and 24 hour-ABPM parameters, independent predictors of AASI were SD of PP (beta=1.246, p<0.001), SD of DBP (beta=-1.067, p<0.001), SD of SBP (beta=-0.197, p<0.001), and non-dipper (beta=0.054, p=0.033). Conclusion: AASI is closely correlated with BP variability. The result of this study shows that AASI is not only a parameter for arterial stiffness, but also a parameter for BP variability

Vertical distributions of organic matter components in sea ice near Cambridge Bay, Dease Strait, Canadian Archipelago

Ice algae thriving within sea ice play a crucial role in transferring energy to higher trophic levels and influencing biogeochemical processes in polar oceans; however, the distribution of organic matter within the ice interior is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the vertical distribution of organic matter, including chlorophyll a (Chl-a), particulate organic carbon and nitrogen (POC and PON), carbohydrates (CHO), proteins (PRT), lipids (LIP), and food material (FM), within the sea ice. Samples were collected from the bottom, middle, and top sections of the sea ice column near Cambridge Bay during the spring of 2018. Based on the δ13C signature, biochemical composition, and POC contribution of biopolymeric carbon (BPC), the organic substances within the sea ice were predominantly attributed to marine autotrophs. While the highest concentrations of each parameter were observed at the sea ice bottom, notable concentrations were also found in the upper sections. The average sea ice column-integrated Chl-a concentration was 5.05 ± 2.26 mg m−2, with the bottom ice section contributing 59% (S.D. = ± 10%) to the total integration. The column-integrated concentrations of FM, BPC, POC, and PON were 2.05 ± 0.39, 1.10 ± 0.20, 1.47 ± 0.25, and 0.09 ± 0.03 g m−2, respectively. Contributions of the bottom ice section to these column-integrated concentrations varied for each parameter, with values of 20 ± 6, 21 ± 7, 19 ± 5, and 28 ± 7%, respectively. While the bottom ice section exhibited a substantial Chl-a contribution in line with previous studies, significantly higher contributions of the other parameters were observed in the upper sea ice sections. This suggests that the particulate matter within the interior of the sea ice could potentially serve as an additional food source for higher trophic grazers or act as a seeding material for a phytoplankton bloom during the ice melting season. Our findings highlight the importance of comprehensive field measurements encompassing the entire sea ice section to better understand the distribution of organic carbon pools within the sea ice in the Arctic Ocean

Clinical characteristics of apixaban prescription in AF patients with single dose-reduction criterion: the ASPIRE (efficAcy and safety of aPixaban in rEal-world practice in Korean frail patients with atrial fibrillation) study

BackgroundData on off-label reduced dose risk among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who qualify for a single-dose reduction of apixaban is scarce.ObjectivesWe prospectively assessed apixaban dosing and clinical characteristics in AF patients meeting a dose reduction criterion.MethodsThe multicentre, prospective cohort study, the efficAcy and Safety of aPixaban In REal-world practice in Korean frail patients with AF (ASPIRE), encompasses patients with AF who met the criteria for a single-dose reduction of apixaban and were given varying doses of apixaban, either the on-label standard dose or the off-label reduced dose.ResultsOf 2,000 patients (mean age 74.3 ± 7.9 years, 55.8% women), 29.7% were ≥80 years, 62.6% weighed ≤60 kg, and 7.8% had serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL. Of these, 51.3% were prescribed an off-label reduced dose of apixaban. The off-label group was characterized with older age, more comorbidities, and antiplatelet agents, while the on-label group had more prior strokes. Physicians preferred off-label reduced dose in the “marginal zone,” defined as age 75–80 years, weight 60–65 kg, and creatinine levels 1.2–1.5 mg/dL.ConclusionsIn real-world clinical setting of the Korean population, off-label reduced dose apixaban was administered to nearly half of the patients who qualified for a single dose reduction. This reduced dosage was more commonly prescribed to patients with frail characteristics, while patients with a history of stroke were more often given the standard dose as per the label. A future study is planned to contrast the safety and effectiveness of the standard dose against the reduced dose of apixaban in this population