Applicability of an Ionic Liquid Electrolyte to a Phosphorus‐Doped Silicon Negative Electrode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

We investigated the applicability of an ionic liquid electrolyte to a phosphorus‐doped Si (P‐doped Si) electrode to improve the performance and safety of the lithium‐ion battery. The electrode exhibited excellent cycling performance with a discharge capacity of 1000 mA h g-1 over 1400 cycles in the ionic liquid electrolyte, whereas the capacity decayed at the 170th cycle in the organic electrolyte. The lithiation/delithiation reaction of P‐doped Si occurred a localized region in the organic electrolyte, which generated a high stress and large strain. The strain accumulated under repeated charge‐discharge cycling, leading to severe electrode disintegration. In contrast, the reaction of P‐doped Si proceeded uniformly in the ionic liquid electrolyte, which suppressed the electrode disintegration. The P‐doped Si electrode also showed good rate performance in the ionic liquid electrolyte; a discharge capacity of 1000 mA h g-1 was retained at 10 C

Electrochemical Lithiation and Delithiation Properties of FeSi2/Si Composite Electrodes in Ionic-Liquid Electrolytes

We investigated the applicability of ionic-liquid electrolytes to FeSi2/Si composite electrode for lithium-ion batteries. In conventional organic-liquid electrolytes, a discharge capacity of the electrode rapidly faded. In contrast, the electrode exhibited a superior cycle life with a reversible capacity of 1000 mA h g(Si)−1 over 850 cycles in a certain ionic-liquid electrolyte. The difference in the cycle life was explained by surface film properties. In addition, the rate performance of the FeSi2/Si electrode improved in another ionic-liquid electrolyte. Remarkably, lithiation of only Si in FeSi2/Si composite electrode occurred whereas each FeSi2- and Si-alone electrode alloyed with Li in the ionic-liquid electrolyte. FeSi2 certainly covered the shortcomings of Si and the FeSi2/Si composite electrode exhibited improved cycle life and rate capability compared to Si-alone electrode

Effect of Film-Forming Additive in Ionic Liquid Electrolyte on Electrochemical Performance of Si Negative-Electrode for LIBs

1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (EMI-TFSA) is one of the promising ionic liquids as electrolyte solvent to enhance the electrochemical performance of Si electrode for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) because of its low viscosity and high conductivity. However, it has low stability against reduction and its reductive decomposition product inhibits Li+ insertion to electrodes, leading to poor cycling stability. To exert a potential of EMI-TFSA, we employed vinylene carbonate (VC) as film-forming additive. Si electrode exhibited very high cycling stability and rate capability in 20 vol.% VC-added EMI-TFSA-based electrolyte. In addition, by replacing TFSA anion with bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide (FSA) for Li salt and ionic liquid solvent, an excellent cycling performance and outstanding rate capability was achieved. VC cannot only fabricate a good surface film but also lower the interaction between Li+ and FSA-, providing smooth desolvation of FSA- to obtain better high-rate performance. Non-flammability of the VC-added electrolytes was confirmed by fire resistance test in closed-system: no ignition was observed even at 300°C. Consequently, we found that mixture electrolyte consisted of EMI-based ionic liquid and VC, especially 1 M LiFSA/EMI-FSA with 20 vol.% VC, is a prospective candidate for simultaneously enhancing the electrochemical performance of Si electrode as well as safety of LIBs

生涯にわたる健康づくりを志向した、管理栄養士養成課程の学生の食物摂取状況の実態と評価

飽食時代といわれる現代の日本にあって、生活習慣病の増加や欠食、近年では若年者におけるダイエット志向の高まりなど、食に関わる問題が多数存在している。そのような状況の中、これらを改善していく指導者を目指し学習している管理栄養士養成課程の女子大学生において適切な食生活が営まれ、得た知識や技術が生かされているか食物摂取状況を調査し、平成12年度の国民栄養調査結果と比較し検討した。摂取した栄養素では鉄が不足していたが、その他についてはほぼ適正であった。食品群では砂糖類、菓子類、油脂類、その他の食品が望ましい摂取目標量を上回り、種実類、いも類、その他の野菜、きのこ類は目標量を下回った。国民栄養調査結果で低値であった海藻類については、対象女子大生では高値、乳類についてはほぼ適正であった。エネルギー充足率を中心に見た栄養素摂取の評価結果より、管理栄養士課程の学生、とりわけ高学年(4年生)では、4年間にわたる栄養士教育の中で学習した知識が生かされ、日常生活において自然に栄養バランスが良くなるように食品を選び、組み合わせていくといったように、学生の食事に対する考えが変容されることが示唆された

Von Willebrand Factor Antigen Levels Predict Poor Outcomes in Patients With Stroke and Cancer: Findings From the Multicenter, Prospective, Observational SCAN Study

Kawano T., Gon Y., Sakaguchi M., et al. Von Willebrand Factor Antigen Levels Predict Poor Outcomes in Patients With Stroke and Cancer: Findings From the Multicenter, Prospective, Observational SCAN Study. Journal of the American Heart Association 13, e032284 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.123.032284.BACKGROUND: Patients with acute ischemic stroke and active cancer have more severe neurological symptoms, elevated risks of stroke recurrence, and death compared with the general population. We examined whether von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen levels at stroke onset were associated with the poor outcomes of patients with stroke and cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using data from 90 patients with acute ischemic stroke and active cancer who were registered in the SCAN (Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Cancer and Neoplasia) study, a prospective multicenter, observational study in Japan, we divided patients into 2 groups according to their median vWF antigen levels (high, n=46; or low, n=44). The high-vWF group had a significantly higher initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (median, 7 [interquartile range, 3-11.25] versus 3 [interquartile range, 1-8.5]; P<0.05) and a significantly higher incidence of cryptogenic stroke (32 [70%] versus 16 [36%]; P<0.01) and venous thromboembolism (7 [15%] versus 0 [0%]; P<0.01), as well as multiple lesions (28 [62%] versus 12 [27%]; P<0.001), than the low-vWF group. We observed no significant difference in the rate of stroke recurrence within 1 year between the groups. However, increased vWF levels were an independent predictor of death within 1 year of stroke onset, after adjusting for potential confounders (odds ratio, 6.77 [95% CI, 1.49-30.78]; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated vWF antigen levels were associated with adverse outcomes in patients with cancer-associated stroke and may represent a useful biomarker to guide future therapeutic interventions

Predictors of Survival in Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Active Cancer: A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on the prognostic factors for patients with ischemic stroke and active cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational study in Japan, including patients with acute ischemic stroke and active cancer, to investigate the prognostic factors. We followed up the patients for 1 year after stroke onset. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to cryptogenic stroke and known causes (small-vessel occlusion, large-artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, and other determined cause), and survival was compared. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for mortality were calculated using Cox regression models. We identified 135 eligible patients (39% women; median age, 75 years). Of these patients, 51% had distant metastasis. A total of 65 (48%) and 70 (52%) patients had cryptogenic stroke and known causes, respectively. Patients with cryptogenic stroke had significantly shorter survival than those with known causes (HR [95% CI], 3.11 [1.82–5.32]). The multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that distant metastasis, plasma D-dimer levels, venous thromboembolism (either deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) complications at stroke onset were independent predictors of mortality after adjusting for potential confounders. Cryptogenic stroke was associated with prognosis in univariable analysis but was not significant in multivariable analysis. The plasma D-dimer levels stratified the prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke and active cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke and active cancer varied considerably depending on stroke mechanism, distant metastasis, and coagulation abnormalities. The present study confirmed that coagulation abnormalities were crucial in determining the prognosis of such patients.Gon Y., Sakaguchi M., Yamagami H., et al. Predictors of Survival in Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Active Cancer: A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study. Journal of the American Heart Association 12, e029618 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.123.029618

鉄存在下HepG2細胞におけるTNF-α/actinomycin D処理による肝障害モデルの構築

We examained the contribution of iron to the cytotoxicity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a combined with actinomycin D (ActD) as a model of hepatocyte injury in Hep G2 cells. In general,hepatocytes are resistant to TNF-a. However,a transcriptional inhibitor such as ActD can sensitize then to TNF-a. In the present study, we show that low levels of ActD (0.5nM) sensitized HepG2 cells to the cytotoxic effects of TNF-a (20 ng/mL) for 48h. Iron plays a critical role in catalyxing the formation of potent oxidants. To acsses the toxicological significance of this TNF-a/ActD interaction,ferric-nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA,2uM) was added to the cells. Treatment with Fe-NTA significantly increased the sensitivity to the TNF-a/ActD-mediated cell death. TNF-a/ActD-mediated cell death in the presence of a lower concentration of iron did not result in DNA fragmentation. We suggest that iron increased the sensitivity to the cytotoxicity of TNF-a/ActD in HepG2 cells. It is likely that TNF-a/ActD/Fe-NTA-mediated cell death contributes to the non-apoptotic death of cells via oxidative stress caused by iron. Our experimental model may be useful for studying hepatic drug metabolism using TNF-a as a hepatocyte injury,especially in HepG2 cells