Structure, Defect Chemistry, and Lithium Transport Pathway of Lithium Transition Metal Pyrophosphates (Li₂MP₂O₇, M: Mn, Fe, and Co): Atomistic Simulation Study

Lithium transition metal pyrophosphate materials (Li₂MP₂O₇, M: Mn, Fe, and Co) have been proposed as promising novel cathode materials for lithium ion batteries. Using atomistic simulation with empirical potential parameters, which has been validated on various cathode materials by Islam et al. [<i>Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A</i> <b>2010</b>, <i>368</i>, 3255–3267], these new pyrophosphates are investigated to elucidate structure, defect chemistry, and Li⁺ ion transport pathway. The core–shell model with empirical force fields reproduces the experimental unit-cell parameters, and formation energies of intrinsic defects (Frenkel and antisite) are calculated. From migration energy calculation, it is found that the pyrophosphates without partial occupation have a 2D Li⁺ ion pathway. Meanwhile, under the condition of partial occupancies of Li and transition metal atoms, the diffusion pathway of Li⁺ ions is a 3D network

supFig_1 – Supplemental material for Intradermal Acupuncture Along with Analgesics for Pain Control in Advanced Cancer Cases: A Pilot, Randomized, Patient-Assessor-Blinded, Controlled Trial

<p>Supplemental material, supFig_1 for Intradermal Acupuncture Along with Analgesics for Pain Control in Advanced Cancer Cases: A Pilot, Randomized, Patient-Assessor-Blinded, Controlled Trial by Kyungsuk Kim and Sanghun Lee in Integrative Cancer Therapies</p

Comparative Study of Tavorite and Triplite LiFeSO₄F as Cathode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries: Structure, Defect Chemistry, and Lithium Conduction Properties from Atomistic Simulation

To explore the possibility of LiFeSO₄F with two polymorphs (tavorite and triplite) as the cathode material for lithium ion batteries, structure, defect chemistry, and Li⁺ ion conduction properties are studied by atomistic simulation with empirical potential parameters. We investigate the correct structure of tavorite LiFeSO₄F, which was newly determined. The concentration of intrinsic defects in the tavorite form is very low in comparison with the triplite form. Configurations of FeO₄F₂ octahedra in the triplite form are in favor of corner-sharing connections over edge-sharing ones. Even though calculated migration energies prove that both isomorphs are Li⁺ ion conductors, the Li⁺ ions in the triplite LiFeSO₄F move in the restricted migration paths (one- or two-dimensional), whereas the tavorite isomorph has a continuous three-dimensional Li⁺ ion conducting network

Reduced Graphene Oxide-Wrapped Nickel-Rich Cathode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries

The encapsulation of Ni-rich cathode materials (LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂) for lithium ion batteries in reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets is introduced to improve electrochemical performances. Using (3-aminopropyl)­triethoxysilane, the active materials are completely wrapped with several rGO layers of ∼2 nm thickness. By virtue of the great electrical conductivity of graphene, the rGO-coated cathode materials exhibit much enhanced electrochemical performances of cycling property and rate capability. In addition, it is shown that the structural degradation of the active materials, which is from the rhombohedral layered structure (<i>R</i>3̅<i>m</i>) to the spinel (<i>Fd</i>3̅<i>m</i>) or rock-salt phase (<i>Fm</i>3̅<i>m</i>), is significantly reduced as well as delayed due to the protection of the active materials in the rGO layers from direct contact with electrolytes and the consequent suppression of side reactions

Risk Associated with Bee Venom Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Objective</p><p>The safety of bee venom as a therapeutic compound has been extensively studied, resulting in the identification of potential adverse events, which range from trivial skin reactions that usually resolve over several days to life-threating severe immunological responses such as anaphylaxis. In this systematic review, we provide a summary of the types and prevalence of adverse events associated with bee venom therapy.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We searched the literature using 12 databases from their inception to June 2014, without language restrictions. We included all types of clinical studies in which bee venom was used as a key intervention and adverse events that may have been causally related to bee venom therapy were reported.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 145 studies, including 20 randomized controlled trials, 79 audits and cohort studies, 33 single-case studies, and 13 case series, were evaluated in this review. The median frequency of patients who experienced adverse events related to venom immunotherapy was 28.87% (interquartile range, 14.57–39.74) in the audit studies. Compared with normal saline injection, bee venom acupuncture showed a 261% increased relative risk for the occurrence of adverse events (relative risk, 3.61; 95% confidence interval, 2.10 to 6.20) in the randomized controlled trials, which might be overestimated or underestimated owing to the poor reporting quality of the included studies.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Adverse events related to bee venom therapy are frequent; therefore, practitioners of bee venom therapy should be cautious when applying it in daily clinical practice, and the practitioner’s education and qualifications regarding the use of bee venom therapy should be ensured.</p></div

Table_1_VIP1 and Its Homologs Are Not Required for Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation, but Play a Role in Botrytis and Salt Stress Responses.docx

<p>The bZIP transcription factor VIP1 interacts with the Agrobacterium virulence protein VirE2, but the role of VIP1 in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation remains controversial. Previously tested vip1-1 mutant plants produce a truncated protein containing the crucial bZIP DNA-binding domain. We generated the CRISPR/Cas mutant vip1-2 that lacks this domain. The transformation susceptibility of vip1-2 and wild-type plants is similar. Because of potential functional redundancy among VIP1 homologs, we tested transgenic lines expressing VIP1 fused to a SRDX repression domain. All VIP1-SRDX transgenic lines showed wild-type levels of transformation, indicating that neither VIP1 nor its homologs are required for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Because VIP1 is involved in innate immune response signaling, we tested the susceptibility of vip1 mutant and VIP1-SRDX plants to Pseudomonas syringae and Botrytis cinerea. vip1 mutant and VIP1-SRDX plants show increased susceptibility to B. cinerea but not to P. syringae infection, suggesting a role for VIP1 in B. cinerea, but not in P. syringae, defense signaling. B. cinerea susceptibility is dependent on abscisic acid (ABA) which is also important for abiotic stress responses. The germination of vip1 mutant and VIP1-SRDX seeds is sensitive to exogenous ABA, suggesting a role for VIP1 in response to ABA. vip1 mutant and VIP1-SRDX plants show increased tolerance to growth in salt, indicating a role for VIP1 in response to salt stress.</p

Audits and cohort studies on the adverse events of bee venom therapy

<p>AE: adverse event; SR: systemic reaction; LR: local reaction; LLR: large local reaction; VIT: venom immunotherapy; RVIT: rush VIT; SIT: specific immunotherapy; RSIT: rush-specific immunotherapy; CVIT; cluster VIT; IP: induction phase; EP: extension phase; MP: maintenance phase.</p><p>^a If it was not reported in prospective articles, it was considered a retrospective study.</p><p>^b Venom type: bees (family Apidae); wasps (family Vespidae); single (some bee venom or some wasp venom); mix (bee and wasp venom).</p><p>^c Incidence: number of patients with AEs/number of patients of total cases, %</p><p>^d Incidence: number of cases with AEs/number of patients of total cases.</p><p>^e Incidence: number of injections (dose) that resulted in AEs/total number of injections (dose), % (if the number of patients with AEs was not mentioned or precisely presented).</p><p>^f Incidence of AEs caused by BVTs combined with the incidence of AEs from other allergens.</p><p>^g This study was the only report of anaphylaxis related to BVT.</p><p>.</p

Flow diagram of the study selection process.

<p>Flow diagram of the study selection process.</p

Randomized controlled trials and randomized crossover trials reporting adverse events of bee venom therapy.

<p>AE: adverse event; BVT: bee venom therapy; BSA: bee sting acupuncture; BVA: bee venom acupuncture; SBV: sweet bee venom; VIT: venom immunotherapy; YJV: yellow jacket venom. Quality of reporting: good, clear, and well described; moderate, described but not in detail; bad, inappropriately described; not reported, not described at all.</p><p>^a Incidence: number of patient with AEs/number of patients of total cases, %.</p><p>^b CONSORT items for reporting AEs: 1, statement of AEs in title or abstract; 2, statement of BVT related AEs in the introduction; 3, predefined definition of AEs related to the BVT; 4, collection or monitoring method for AEs; 5, statement of the method for analyzing and presenting AEs; 6, statement of any patients who dropped out due to AEs; 7, description of the specific denominator for the analysis of AEs.</p><p>Randomized controlled trials and randomized crossover trials reporting adverse events of bee venom therapy.</p

Relative risk of adverse events in randomized controlled trials with bee venom therapy and saline.

<p>Relative risk of adverse events in randomized controlled trials with bee venom therapy and saline.</p