Effect of Cobalt Substitution on the Activation of the LiNiO2 Discharge Reaction.

Cobalt (Co) has been introduced to most of the practical Ni-rich layered positive electrode materials owing to its ability to stabilize the layered structure and lessen cation-mixing. However, it has been unclear whether a highly ordered structure is essential or Co addition itself has some effects. In this study, we synthesized Co-substituted LiNiO2 (LNO) with and without the introduction of cation-mixing to investigate the detailed effects of Co on crystal/local structures and electrochemical properties. It was found that the charge-discharge reversibility of LNO was enhanced by Co substitution with an additional discharge capacity at around 3.5 V, showing that the reaction at the end of discharge was activated. This behavior was observed in Co-substituted LNO even if cation-mixing was largely introduced, implying the intrinsic effect of Co on reversibility. Solid-state NMR results showed that the local structure in LNO with cation-mixing significantly changed after charge-discharge, whereas that of Co-substituted LNO hardly changed even when cation-mixing was introduced, which seems to be responsible for better reversibility. Density functional theory calculation also supports the positive effect of Co on lithium transportation at the end of discharge.

Three stepwise pH progressions in stratum corneum for homeostatic maintenance of the skin.

The stratum corneum is the outermost skin layer with a vital role in skin barrier function. It is comprised of dead keratinocytes (corneocytes) and is known to maintain its thickness by shedding cells, although, the precise mechanisms that safeguard stratum corneum maturation and homeostasis remain unclear. Previous ex vivo studies have suggested a neutral-to-acidic pH gradient in the stratum corneum. Here, we use intravital pH imaging at single-corneocyte resolution to demonstrate that corneocytes actually undergo differentiation to develop three distinct zones in the stratum corneum, each with a distinct pH value. We identified a moderately acidic lower, an acidic middle, and a pH-neutral upper layer in the stratum corneum, with tight junctions playing a key role in their development. The upper pH neutral zone can adjust its pH according to the external environment and has a neutral pH under steady-state conditions owing to the influence of skin microbiota. The middle acidic pH zone provides a defensive barrier against pathogens. With mathematical modeling, we demonstrate the controlled protease activation of kallikrein-related peptidases on the stratum corneum surface that results in proper corneocyte shedding in desquamation. This work adds crucial information to our understanding of how stratum corneum homeostasis is maintained.

Single-Crystal-like Durable LiNiO2 Positive Electrode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Cobalt-free, nickel-rich positive electrode materials are attracting attention because of their high energy density and low cost, and the ultimate material is LiNiO2 (LNO). One of the issues of LNO is its poor cycling performance, which needs to be improved. Referring to a current study to show the improved stability of single-crystal-like high-nickelate materials, we fabricated single-crystal-like (SC-) LNO and the counterpart polycrystalline (PC-) LNO samples and examined their electrochemical properties. SC-LNO was nearly single-crystal-like, as proved by electron backscattering diffraction, and had more cation mixing than PC-LNO. Cycle tests under 2.5-4.2 V, a 2C rate, and 45 °C conditions showed that the capacity retention of SC-LNO after 500 cycles (63.5%) was significantly better than that of PC-LNO (36.1%) under the same conditions and even better than that of PC-LNO cycled between 2.5 and 4.15 V (50.7%) with the same initial capacity as SC-LNO. The derivative dQ/dV profile of PC-LNO became featureless during a long cycling time, suggesting the progress of cation mixing in PC-LNO, whereas that of SC-LNO was better maintained, in accordance with the serious particle cracking in PC-LNO and no particle cracking found in SC-LNO as the result of post-mortem analysis after 500 cycles. The electrode impedance increase of PC-LNO was considerably larger than that of SC-LNO, corresponding to the formation of rock-salt phases at the surface and the cracked interface of the PC-LNO and the formation of scattered spinel-like phases with a thick cathode electrolyte interphase at the surface of SC-LNO. Accordingly, SC-LNO is shown to be less degraded in both the bulk nature (stable dQ/dV profile and no cracking) and the surface characteristics (high rate capacity maintenance and less impedance increase), suggesting the importance of single-crystal-like particles as durable electrode materials.

Severe graft-versus-host disease-like enterocolitis accompanied with cytomegalovirus-reactivation in drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms.

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS)/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe drug adverse reaction with skin eruption and visceral organ involvement. The characteristic clinical features of DIHS/DRESS are reactivation of human herpesviruses (HHV) and the development of autoimmune diseases, but their pathogenesis and associations are not yet understood. Here, we report a 66-year-old man who presented with fever, generalized erythema, diffuse lymphadenopathy, and diarrhea after 3 weeks of treatment with zonisamide. Reactivation of HHV-6 and cytomegalovirus (CMV) was detected during the clinical course. The patient was diagnosed with DIHS/DRESS and treated with systemic prednisolone, i.v. immunoglobulin therapy, and ganciclovir. However, severe enterocolitis persisted for 6 months. A series of examinations revealed features of both CMV enterocolitis, as indicated by identification of a few CMV-positive cells on immunohistochemical analysis, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-like enterocolitis indicated by orange-peel appearance on endoscopic examination and histopathological loss of goblet cells. Intractable enterocolitis continued and the patient finally died of pneumonia. An autoimmune predisposition in DIHS/DRESS patients in combination with CMV reactivation was considered to trigger the severe enterocolitis of this case that showed GVHD-like features of the gastrointestinal tract. GVHD-like organ damage is a pathological condition rarely observed in DIHS/DRESS but should be recognized as one of the most severe complications of the disease.

A unique mode of keratinocyte death requires intracellular acidification.

The stratum corneum (SC), the outermost epidermal layer, consists of nonviable anuclear keratinocytes, called corneocytes, which function as a protective barrier. The exact modes of cell death executed by keratinocytes of the upper stratum granulosum (SG1 cells) remain largely unknown. Here, using intravital imaging combined with intracellular Ca2+- and pH-responsive fluorescent probes, we aimed to dissect the SG1 death process in vivo. We found that SG1 cell death was preceded by prolonged (∼60 min) Ca2+ elevation and rapid induction of intracellular acidification. Once such intracellular ionic changes were initiated, they became sustained, irreversibly committing the SG1 cells to corneocyte conversion. Time-lapse imaging of isolated murine SG1 cells revealed that intracellular acidification was essential for the degradation of keratohyalin granules and nuclear DNA, phenomena specific to SC corneocyte formation. Furthermore, intravital imaging showed that the number of SG1 cells exhibiting Ca2+ elevation and the timing of intracellular acidification were both tightly regulated by the transient receptor potential cation channel V3. The functional activity of this protein was confirmed in isolated SG1 cells using whole-cell patch-clamp analysis. These findings provide a theoretical framework for improved understanding of the unique molecular mechanisms underlying keratinocyte-specific death mode, namely corneoptosis.