MgH2–CoO: a conversion-type composite electrode for LiBH4-based all-solid-state lithium ion batteries

Several studies have demonstrated that MgH₂ is a promising conversion-type anode toward Li. A major obstacle is the reversible capacity during cycling. Electrochemical co-existence of a mixed metal hydride-oxide conversion type anode is demonstrated for lithium ion batteries using a solid-state electrolyte. 75MgH₂·25CoO anodes are obtained from optimized mixing conditions avoiding reactions occurring during high-energy ball-milling. Electrochemical tests are carried out to investigate the cycling capability and reversibility of the on-going conversion reactions. The cycling led to formation of a single-plateau nanocomposite electrode with higher reversibility yield, lowered discharge–charge hysteresis and mitigated kinetic effect at high C-rate compared to MgH₂ anodes. It is believed that reduced diffusion pathways and less polarized electrodes are the origin of the improved properties. The designed composite-electrode shows good preservation and suitability with LiBH₄ solid electrolyte as revealed from electron microscopy analyses and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

The findings point to a means of guided formation of MgH₂–CoO conversion-type nanocomposite electrode for all-solid-state Li-ion batteries.     

An evaluation of a high‐pressure 11CO carbonylation apparatus

[¹¹C]Carbon monoxide (¹¹CO) is a versatile building block for the synthesis of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radioligands. However, the difficulty of trapping ¹¹CO in a small solvent volume has limited its utility. We here report an evaluation of a simple, fully automated high‐pressure synthesizer prototype for the use in ¹¹C‐carbonylation reactions. [¹¹C]Carbon monoxide was easily prepared by online reduction of [¹¹C]carbon dioxide using either Mo(s) or Zn(s) as the reducing agent. The conversion yield of ¹¹CO was >99% when zinc was used as the reducing agent, and the corresponding value for Mo was approximately 71%. When the Zn or Mo column was constantly kept under inert atmosphere, no significant decrease in reducing properties was observed for more than 100 ¹¹CO productions. However, in our hands, Mo reductant was much easier to service. A total of nine functional groups were successfully radiolabeled using the ¹¹CO synthesizer prototype. All measured radiochemical yields exceeded 37%, and the ¹¹CO trapping efficiency was generally above 90%, except for the Suzuki coupling where the trapping efficiency was 80%. This high‐pressure synthesizer using [¹¹C]carbon monoxide as the labeling precursor is easy to operate allowing for ¹¹C‐carbonylation reactions to be performed in a high yield and in a routinely fashion.     

Association of acidosis with coagulopathy and transfusion requirements in liver transplantation

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - The relationship between acidosis and coagulopathy has long been described in vitro and in trauma patients, but not yet in orthotopic liver transplantation...     

An Experimental Study of the Effects of Patient Race,Sexual Orientation,and Injection Drug Use on Providers’ PrEP-Related Clinical Judgments

AIDS and Behavior - Social biases may influence providers’ judgments related to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and patients’ consequent PrEP access. US primary and HIV care providers...     

Simian AIDS-related lymphoma growth in severe combined immunodeficiency mice is independent of karyotypic abnormalities or Bcl-6 mutations

Simian AIDS-related lymphomas (sARL) of cynomolgus monkeys infected with a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVsm) were studied in relation to growth in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, karyotype abnormalities, and DNA sequence of the first noncoding region of the Bcl-6 gene. The tumors were diffuse large B cell lymphomas and expressed a simian homolog to Epstein-Barr virus (HVMF-1) in 12 of 13 primary tumors and corresponding cell lines. A tested cell line was tumorigenic in SCID mice. Tumors in the SCID mice showed cell growth features similar to those in the original lymphoma, suggesting that no subpopulation with growth advantage was selected for in the mice. Spectral karyotype analysis of sARL cell lines showed normal cytogenetic features except for a trisomy of monkey chromosome 2 (corresponding to human chromosomes 7 and 21) in two of five sARL lines, which was not recovered in SCID tumors established from the same cell line. Sequence analysis of a Bcl-6 gene fragment showed sequence variations indicative of population polymorphism(s) in 10 of 13 sARLs, and no evidence of Bcl-6 mutations. Thus Bcl-6 mutations in the first noncoding region are irrelevant for sARL development in cynomolgus monkeys and for tumorigenicity of sARL cell lines. We also demonstrate that no cytogenetic alterations are needed for the development of highly aggressive lymphomas in the SIV-immunosuppressed host.     

Modulation of anti-idiotypic immune response by immunization with the autologous M-component protein in multiple myeloma patients

Multiple myeloma is characterized by a proliferation of clonal B lymphocytes and plasma cells. The idiotypic structure of clonal immunoglobulin (Ig) expressed on the tumour B-cell surface can be regarded as a tumour-specific antigen and, as such, a potential target for anti-idiotypic T and B cells in an immune regulation of the tumour-cell clone. Active immunization using the autologous monoclonal Ig as a 'vaccine' was shown to induce tumour-specific immunity in murine B-cell tumours and in human B-cell lymphoma. With the aim to induce or amplify an anti-idiotypic response in multiple myeloma, five stage I–III patients were repeatedly immunized with the autologous monoclonal IgG. Induction of idiotype-specific cellular immunity was analysed in vitro by an enzyme-linked immunospot assay (interferon-γ and interleukin-4 secreting cells). B cells secreting anti-idiotypic IgM antibodies were also analysed. An anti-idiotypic T-cell response was amplified 1.9–5-fold in three of the five patients during immunization. The number of B cells secreting anti-idiotypic antibodies also increased in these three patients. In two of the patients induction of idiotype-specific immunity was associated with a gradual decrease of blood CD19⁺ B cells. The induced T-cell response was eliminated during repeated immunization. Further studies are warranted to optimize the immunization schedule in order to achieve a long-lasting T-cell immunity against idiotypic determinants on the tumour clone. A role for immunity in controlling the tumour clone remains to be established.     

Thyroid hormone resistance in hibernating ground squirrels, Spermophilus richardsoni. II. Reduction of hepatic nuclear receptors

Hepatic nuclear triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) receptors were studied to investigate the mechanism of thyroid hormone resistance in Richardson's ground squirrels, Spermophilus richardsoni, during the hibernation phase of the annual cycle. The cycle is divided into an active phase and a hibernation phase, the latter composed of alternating dormancy and arousal bouts. In addition to animals in these three states, a group of cold-exposed animals was also examined (those animals held at 6 degrees which showed no indications of entering hibernation). Binding of T3, to squirrel hepatic nuclei from all groups, was characterized as high affinity, Kd ranging from 111 to 267 pM, and low capacity, 50 to 314 fmol T3/mg DNA. Based on these data, other criteria examined, and models established in the literature for other species, this binding site has been tentatively identified as a T3 receptor. Receptor concentrations in nuclei from dormant and aroused squirrels were only 15-20% of the concentration in active animals. There were no differences in the affinity of the T3 receptor over the annual cycle estimated by the in vitro assay at 24-26 degrees. The reduction in nuclear T3 receptors, together with the previously reported increase in serum binding of thyroid hormone, provides an explanation for thyroid hormone resistance during the hibernation phase in S. richardsoni.