Interfaces, interphases, and other material interactions in lithium ion batteries

Performance and long-term cycle stability of composite battery electrodes depends on interactions of active materials with electrolyte, binders and conductive additives. This thesis investigates how such interactions affect the performance of Li-ion battery electrodes using state of the art characterization techniques. First, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer in commercial and novel Li-ion battery chemistries. Ar+ ion etching was investigated as a method of measuring the thickness of the SEI, and compared with Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) and Focus Ion Beam (FIB) etching. The chemistry of the SEI decomposition was also analyzed via the chemical shifts in the detailed XPS spectra. A similar analysis was also performed on a new electrolyte chemistry for Li-S cells. Next, phosphorus-carbon (P-C) composite anodes were synthesized and systematically investigated. In particular, the chemical and mechanical interactions between the conductive carbon additives, binders, P-C composite, and solvents in electrolyte and slurry were investigated. Selected binders showed superior performance on the basis of strength, hardness and adhesion. In addition, complete removal of n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent from the electrodes were found to be critical for stability improvements.Ph.D

Effects of the anti-RANKL antibody denosumab on joint structural damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DESIRABLE study): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of denosumab in suppressing joint destruction when added to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD) therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsThis was a multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase 3 study in Japan. Patients with RA aged ≥20 years receiving csDMARDs were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to denosumab 60 mg every 3 months (Q3M), denosumab 60 mg every 6 months (Q6M) or placebo. The change in the modified total Sharp score (mTSS) and effect on bone mineral density (BMD) at 12 months was evaluated.ResultsIn total, 654 patients received the trial drugs. Denosumab groups showed significantly less progression of joint destruction. The mean changes in the mTSS at 12 months were 1.49 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.99) in the placebo group, 0.99 (95% CI 0.49 to 1.49) in the Q6M group (p=0.0235) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.41 to 1.03) in the Q3M group (p=0.0055). The mean changes in bone erosion score were 0.98 (95% CI 0.65 to 1.31) in the placebo group, 0.51 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.80) in the Q6M group (p=0.0104) and 0.22 (95% CI 0.09 to 0.34) in the Q3M group (p=0.0001). No significant between-group difference was observed in the joint space narrowing score. The per cent change in lumbar spine (L1-L4) BMD in the placebo, Q6M and Q3M groups were -1.03%, 3.99% (p<0.0001) and 4.88% (p<0.0001). No major differences were observed among safety profiles.ConclusionsDenosumab inhibits the progression of joint destruction, increases BMD and is well tolerated in patients with RA taking csDMARD

Straight sinus thrombosis during neurosurgical operation.

BACKGROUND:Perioperative straight sinus thrombosis is extremely rare.CASE DESCRIPTION:A 59-year-old female was admitted to our department because of incidentally found small anterior cerebral artery (A1) aneurysm with microbleeding. After clipping the cerebral aneurysm, she had delayed emergence from anesthesia, total aphasia, and right hemiparesis. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head showed hyperintensity in the bilateral caudate nuclei, putamina, and thalami, and computed tomography of the head showed a hyperdense straight sinus, suggesting straight sinus thrombosis. Her neurologic symptoms improved gradually, and she achieved a full clinical recovery, with radiological evidence of recanalization of the straight sinus at follow-up.CONCLUSION:The possibility of straight sinus thrombosis should be considered in postoperative patients with unexplained postoperative deficits when MRI demonstrates hyperintensity in the bilateral basal ganglia and thalami on FLAIR signal images

Electrodeposition of Nanostructured Magnesium Coatings

In this work, we report on the electroplating of ultrafine and uniform magnesium (Mg) films on copper (Cu) and carbon nanotube (CNT) paper substrates. By controlling the process parameters and utilizing the pulsed deposition method, the average grain size of Mg was reduced to nanodimensions. Surface pretreatment of the substrates by depositing a seed layer was found to be an efficient strategy for reducing the energy barrier for nucleation, thus improving nucleation density and the uniformity of deposited coatings. This work provides important guidance for the fabrication of smooth nanostructured Mg films on different substrates for a wide variety of applications

Recurrent subdural hematoma secondary to headbanging: A case report.

BACKGROUND:"Headbanging" is the slang term used to denote violent shaking of one\u27s head in time with the music. This abrupt flexion-extension movement of the head to rock music extremely rarely causes a subdural hematoma.CASE DESCRIPTION:A 24-year-old female was admitted to our department because of right sided partial seizure and acute or subacute subdural hematoma over the left cerebral convexity. She had no history of recent head trauma but performed headbanging at a punk rock concert at 3 days before admission. Since, she had a previous acute subdural hematoma on the same side after an accidental fall from a baby buggy when she was 11 months old, the present was recurrent subdural hematoma probably due to headbanging.CONCLUSIONS:Headbanging has the hazardous potential to cause a subdural hematoma

mTORC1 signaling in primary central nervous system lymphoma.

BACKGROUND:Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) acts as a downstream effector of phosphatidyl-inositol-3 kinase, which is frequently hyperactivated in glioblastoma multiforme and links to cell signaling in cellular proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and survival. Although many studies have suggested the importance of mTORC1 in tumorigenesis, its role remains unclear in brain tumors other than glioblastoma.METHODS:In the present study, we evaluated the activation of mTORC1 in 24 cases of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL).RESULTS:Immunohistochemical analysis showed overexpression of Rheb, which is immediately upstream of mTORC1, in 20 cases of PCNSL. Immunohistochemical analysis also showed overexpression of phospho-4E-BP1 (Thr37/46) and phospho-S6 (Ser235/236), which are increased after mTORC1 activation as mTORC1 downstream effectors in 17 and 21 cases, respectively.CONCLUSION:Our data suggest that abnormal activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway may cause tumor growth in patients with PCNSL

Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the choroid plexus: A case report and review of the literature.

Background:Primary lymphomas in the choroid plexus are much less frequent than primary lymphomas in the brain parenchyma.Case Description:A 66-year-old male patient was referred to our department with a right intraventricular mass that had been diagnosed by biopsy at another hospital as anaplastic ependymoma. The patient underwent subtotal removal of the tumor via a transcortical inferior temporal gyrus approach. The mass was attached to the choroid plexus in the right atrium. Histopathological examination showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Ophthalmological examination, blood tests, computed tomography of the whole body, and bone marrow biopsy did not show any other lesion, leading to the diagnosis of primary choroid plexus lymphoma. The patient underwent chemotherapy with three courses of high-dose methotrexate and one course of carboplatin and etoposide followed by whole-brain irradiation (1.8 Gy × 22).Conclusion:We present a rare case of primary choroid plexus lymphoma, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of choroid plexus tumors