Flattening of Lithium Plating in Carbonate Electrolytes Enabled by All-In-One Separator.

The uncontrollable dendritic growth of metallic lithium during repeated cycling in carbonate electrolytes is a crucial obstacle hindering the practical use of Li-metal batteries (LMBs). Among numerous approaches proposed to mitigate the intrinsic constraints of Li metal, the design of a functional separator is an attractive approach to effectively suppress the growth of Li dendrites because direct contact with both the Li metal surface and the electrolyte is maintained. Here, a newly designed all-in-one separator containing bifunctional CaCO3 nanoparticles (CPP separator) is proposed to achieve the flattening of Li deposits on the Li electrode. Strong interactions between the highly polar CaCO3 nanoparticles and the polar solvent reduces the ionic radius of the Li+ -solvent complex, thus increasing the Li+ transference number and leading to a reduced concentration overpotential in the electrolyte-filled separator. Furthermore, the integration of CaCO3 nanoparticles into the separator induces the spontaneous formation of mechanically-strong and lithiophilic CaLi2 at the Li/separator interface, which effectively decreases the nucleation overpotential toward Li plating. As a result, the Li deposits exhibit dendrite-free planar morphologies, thus enabling excellent cycling performance in LMBs configured with a high-Ni cathode in a carbonate electrolyte under practical operating conditions.

Synthesis of freestanding binder- and additive-free carbon nanofiber with graphene-wrapped Nb2O5composite anode for lithium-ion batteries.

Niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5)-based materials have attracted significant interest for application in diverse fields. Unfortunately, the employment of these materials as electrodes of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is limited by several inherent drawbacks. The present study demonstrated the synthesis of composites comprising homogeneous graphene-wrapped niobium pentoxide (GNbO) encapsulated in carbon nanofibers (CNFs) for utilization as binder- and additive-free anodes in LIBs. The composites were synthesized via electrospinning and subsequent carbonization; the presence of graphene (G) ensured the homogenous dispersion of the Nb2O5particles in the CNF matrix. The CNFs formed a highly conductive network that resulted in high physical flexibility, electrical conductivity, and structural stability during charge-discharge cycles, thereby facilitating rapid ion/electron transmission. Consequently, the CNF/GNbO composite anodes exhibited outstanding electrochemical performances. CNF/GNbO_5 (one of the synthesized composites with an Nb2O5concentration of 5 wt% relative to GO) delivered a specific capacity of 361 mAh g-1after 100 cycles, corresponding to a capacity retention of 58.3%. In addition, it exhibited an excellent rate capability with a capacity of 317 mAh g-1at 10 C. The outcomes of the present study will facilitate the extensive application of the synthesized composites as high-performance anodes in next-generation LIBs.

Distinct amyloid precursor protein processing machineries of the olfactory system.

Processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) occurs through sequential cleavages first by ß-secretase and then by the γ-secretase complex. However, abnormal processing of APP leads to excessive production of ß-amyloid (Aß) in the central nervous system (CNS), an event which is regarded as a primary cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In particular, gene mutations of the γ-secretase complex-which contains presenilin 1 or 2 as the catalytic core-could trigger marked Aß accumulation. Olfactory dysfunction usually occurs before the onset of typical AD-related symptoms (eg, memory loss or muscle retardation), suggesting that the olfactory system may be one of the most vulnerable regions to AD. To date however, little is known about why the olfactory system is affected so early by AD prior to other regions. Thus, we examined the distribution of secretases and levels of APP processing in the olfactory system under either healthy or pathological conditions. Here, we show that the olfactory system has distinct APP processing machineries. In particular, we identified higher expressions levels and activity of γ-secretase in the olfactory epithelium (OE) than other regions of the brain. Moreover, APP c-terminal fragments (CTF) are markedly detected. During AD progression, we note increased expression of presenilin2 of γ-secretases in the OE, not in the OB, and show that neurotoxic Aß*56 accumulates more quickly in the OE. Taken together, these results suggest that the olfactory system has distinct APP processing machineries under healthy and pathological conditions. This finding may provide a crucial understanding of the unique APP-processing mechanisms in the olfactory system, and further highlights the correlation between olfactory deficits and AD symptoms.

Charge-Spin Correlation in van der Waals Antiferromagnet NiPS_{3}.

Strong charge-spin coupling is found in a layered transition-metal trichalcogenide NiPS_{3}, a van der Waals antiferromagnet, from studies of the electronic structure using several experimental and theoretical tools: spectroscopic ellipsometry, x-ray absorption, photoemission spectroscopy, and density functional calculations. NiPS_{3} displays an anomalous shift in the optical spectral weight at the magnetic ordering temperature, reflecting strong coupling between the electronic and magnetic structures. X-ray absorption, photoemission, and optical spectra support a self-doped ground state in NiPS_{3}. Our work demonstrates that layered transition-metal trichalcogenide magnets are useful candidates for the study of correlated-electron physics in two-dimensional magnetic materials.

Charge Transfer in Iridate-Manganite Superlattices.

Charge transfer in superlattices consisting of SrIrO3 and SrMnO3 is investigated using density functional theory. Despite the nearly identical work function and nonpolar interfaces between SrIrO3 and SrMnO3, rather large charge transfer was experimentally reported at the interface between them. Here, we report a microscopic model that captures the mechanism behind this phenomenon, providing a qualitative understanding of the experimental observation. This leads to unique strain dependence of such charge transfer in iridate-manganite superlattices. The predicted behavior is consistently verified by experiment with soft X-ray and optical spectroscopy. Our work thus demonstrates a new route to control electronic states in nonpolar oxide heterostructures.

Morphometric analysis for evaluating the relation between incisal guidance angle, occlusal plane angle, and functional temporomandibular joint shape variation.

OBJECTIVE: The correlations between morphology of the temporomandibular joint structure, the anterior guidance angle, and occlusal plane were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cone beam computed tomography analysis was performed in 158 patients (86 women and 72 men). 3D software was employed to obtain the coordinates of the shape of the incisal guidance angle, occlusal guidance angle, articular fossa, and mandibular condyle. Generalized Procrustes analysis including principal components analysis (PCA) were performed and produced principal components (PCs) scores of each shape and their centroid size (CS). RESULTS: A significant Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.3451 (p < .001) was observed between the incisal guidance angle and occlusal plane. The CS also showed a correlation with the incisal guidance angle, but not with the occlusal plane angle. The PCA results revealed that there were no significant correlations between the temporomandibular joint structure (TMJ) shape (fossa and condyle) and the incisal guidance angle. CONCLUSIONS: Incisor guidance angle and occlusal plane angle were correlated. In addition, there was a correlation between CS and incisal guidance angle. In the PCA, It can be concluded that the size is more related to the incisor guidance angle than the morphological factors of the constituent components of the TMJ.

Spin-Orbit Coupling and Interband Transitions in the Optical Conductivity of Sr_{2}RhO_{4}.

The prototypical correlated metal Sr_{2}RhO_{4} was studied using optical and photoemission spectroscopy. At low energies and temperatures, the optical data reveal a complex, multicomponent response that on the surface points to an unconventional metallic state in this material. Via a comparison with photoemission, the anomalous optical response may be attributed to an unexpectedly strong interband transition near 180 meV between spin-orbit coupled bands that are nearly parallel along ΓX. This spin-orbit coupling effect is shown to occur in a number of related metallic ruthenates and explains the previously puzzling optical properties reported for these materials.

Phosphoinositide and Erk signaling pathways mediate activity-driven rodent olfactory sensory neuronal survival and stress mitigation.

Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) are the initial site for olfactory signal transduction. Therefore, their survival is essential to olfactory function. In the current study, we demonstrated that while odorant stimulation promoted rodent OSN survival, it induced generation of reactive oxygen species in a dose- and time-dependent manner as well as loss of membrane potential and fragmentation of mitochondria. The MEK-Erk pathway played a critical role in mediating these events, as its inhibition decreased odorant stimulation-dependent OSN survival and exacerbated intracellular stress measured by reactive oxygen species generation and heat-shock protein 70 expression. The phosphoinositide pathway, rather than the cyclic AMP pathway, mediated the odorant-induced activation of the MEK-Erk pathway. These findings provide important insights into the mechanisms of activity-driven OSN survival, the role of the phosphoinositide pathway in odorant signaling, and demonstrate that odorant detection and odorant stimulation-mediated survival proceed via independent signaling pathways. This mechanism, which permits independent regulation of odorant detection from survival signaling, may be advantageous if not diminished by repeated or prolonged odor exposure. We investigated the role of odorant stimulation in generating cellular stress and the molecular mechanisms mitigating such stress and promoting neuronal survival. Odorant stimulation promoted olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) survival and also induced intracellular oxidative stress, which was exacerbated when MEK/Erks pathway was inhibited. Sensory stimulation simultaneously activated at least two parallel pathways, the AC/cAMP cascade responsible for odorant detection, and phosphoinositide hydrolysis to promote odorant stimulation-dependent neuronal survival odorants may activate parallel signaling cascades to mediate sensory detection and sensory stimulation-dependent survival. AC, adenylyl cyclase; cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate; Erk, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; MEK, MAPK/ERK kinase.

Parents' beliefs and intentions toward supporting physical activity participation for their children with disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to examine validity and reliability evidence of a questionnaire regarding parents' beliefs and intentions toward supporting physical activity (PA) participation of their children with disabilities (CWD). A total of 220 parents of CWD in South Korea completed a questionnaire that was developed using the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Exploratory factor analysis revealed that behavioral, control, and normative beliefs accounted for 31.13%, 20.45%, and 19.63% of the total variance of the intention, respectively. Reliability of entire scale was .85 using Cronbach's alpha. Reliabilities of the 3 beliefs were .86, .82, and .87, respectively. Standard multiple-regression analysis indicated that behavioral and normative beliefs significantly predicted parents' intention, p < .01. Intention was a significant predictor of parents' behavior, p < .01. The results of this study indicated that the TPB can be useful to examine parental support for PA participation of their CWD.

Effect of the Inter-Tooth Distance and Proximal Axial Wall Height of Prepared Teeth on the Scanning Accuracy of Intraoral Scanners.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of the height of the proximal axial wall of the prepared tooth and the distance between the adjacent tooth and the prepared tooth on the scan accuracy of intraoral scanners. Ten working casts with maxillary first molars prepared to receive zirconia crowns were randomly obtained from a dental clinic. Each of the 10 casts was scanned using two intraoral scanners (i700; MEDIT and CS3600; Carestream; computer-aided design [CAD] test model, CTM; N = 15 per working cast) 15 times per scanner. Individual dies of the prepared teeth were fabricated, and high-precision scan data were acquired using a laboratory scanner (CAD reference model, CRM; N = 1). CTMs were aligned relative to the prepared tooth of CRMs by using three-dimensional inspection software (Ver 2018.1.0; Control X; 3D Systems). Data were statistically analyzed using an independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance for between-group comparisons (α = 0.05). The inaccuracy in the proximal regions (mesial or distal) of the prepared tooth was higher than that in the buccal and lingual regions (p < 0.05). The scan accuracy was not correlated with the variables when the distance between the adjacent tooth and the prepared tooth was ≥2.0 mm and the height of the proximal axial wall of the prepared tooth was <3.0 mm (p > 0.05). Therefore, an excellent scan accuracy can be obtained using an intraoral scanner when the distance between the adjacent tooth and the prepared tooth is ≥2.0 mm and the proximal axial wall height of the prepared tooth is <3.0 mm.

Prediction of learning curves of wired and wireless intraoral scanners.

This clinical study aimed to predict the learning curve of wireless and wired intraoral scanners (IOSs) and to compare the reduction patterns of working time. Overall, 14 participants were enrolled in the study. The intraoral scanning procedure was repeated four times, each using wireless and wired IOSs (i700; MEDIT). The work time from the first to the 600th iterations was predicted using the Wright model. Regarding statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U-test was performed for comparison between wireless and wired IOSs and between groups with and without an IOS usage experience, and the Friedman test was performed to evaluate the time reduction (α = 0.05). There was a significant difference between wireless and wired IOSs in the first (P = 0.008) and the third (P = 0.035) iterations. Moreover, the time for 600 iterations was statistically significantly different between wireless and wired IOSs (P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference after the sixth iteration (e.g., seventh iteration: P = 0.062). In wireless IOS, no significant difference was found between participants with and without an IOS usage experience after the 34th iteration (P = 0.053). The difference in the learning effect between wireless and wired IOSs can be overcome by initial learning; however, an IOS usage experience can affect the learning time of wireless IOSs.

Three-dimensional morphometric analysis of facial units in virtual smiling facial images with different smile expressions.

PURPOSE: Accuracy of image matching between resting and smiling facial models is affected by the stability of the reference surfaces. This study aimed to investigate the morphometric variations in subdivided facial units during resting, posed and spontaneous smiling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The posed and spontaneous smiling faces of 33 adults were digitized and registered to the resting faces. The morphological changes of subdivided facial units at the forehead (upper and lower central, upper and lower lateral, and temple), nasal (dorsum, tip, lateral wall, and alar lobules), and chin (central and lateral) regions were assessed by measuring the 3D mesh deviations between the smiling and resting facial models. The one-way analysis of variance, Duncan post hoc tests, and Student's t-test were used to determine the differences among the groups (α = .05). RESULTS: The smallest morphometric changes were observed at the upper and central forehead and nasal dorsum; meanwhile, the largest deviation was found at the nasal alar lobules in both the posed and spontaneous smiles (P < .001). The spontaneous smile generally resulted in larger facial unit changes than the posed smile, and significant difference was observed at the alar lobules, central chin, and lateral chin units (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The upper and central forehead and nasal dorsum are reliable areas for image matching between resting and smiling 3D facial images. The central chin area can be considered an additional reference area for posed smiles; however, special cautions should be taken when selecting this area as references for spontaneous smiles.

Dental diagnosis for inlay restoration using an intraoral optical coherence tomography system: A case report.

PATIENTS: The patient was a 32-year-old man who underwent amalgam restoration of the mandibular right second molar. An amalgam restoration fracture was diagnosed by intraoral optical coherence tomography (OCT), and pulp exposure was examined during cavity preparation. Subsequently, a definitive ceramic restoration was fabricated, and the marginal fit in the oral cavity was evaluated using the OCT system. DISCUSSION: The existing OCT system cannot acquire images inside the oral cavity because of the large probe size. However, the proposed intraoral OCT system can access the prostheses in the mandibular right second molar. Therefore, dental diagnosis for restoration treatment with dental prosthesis fracture, marginal gap, and pulp exposure after tooth preparation is possible using the proposed intraoral OCT system. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the intraoral OCT system improved dental diagnosis by allowing the dentist to confirm quantitative values through cross-sectional images, rather than that by determining a treatment plan after visual dental diagnosis.

Direct measurement of extracellular electrical signals from mammalian olfactory sensory neurons in planar triode devices.

An artificial nose was developed to mimic aspects of sensory transduction of the peripheral mammalian olfactory system. We directly cultured and differentiated rat olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) on indium-tin oxide electrodes of planar triode substrates without a coupling agent. Direct voltage (~50 µV) and current (~250 nA) signals were measured simultaneously when OSNs on the planar triode substrates were exposed to odorant mixtures. The response signals were sensitive to the concentration of the odorant mixture, with a typical lifetime, shape, and adaptation profile as seen in responses upon repeated stimulation in vivo. We found that the rising time to the peak current was ~161 ms, while the signal back to baseline was in 1.8 s, which are in agreement with the natural intracellular electrophysiological responses. These results provide the first evidence that mature OSNs grown in a planar triode device are able to detect direct electrophysiological responses to odorants.

Long-term impact of psychological factors and social interactions on obesity of female nationals in the United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVE: Along with rapid economic growth, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has undergone enormous sociocultural changes. Consequently, sociocultural and psychological factors, along with malnutrition and physical inactivity, have contributed to the high obesity rate. The objective of this study is to assess the long-term impact of these new emerging factors on obesity among women in the UAE via mathematical modeling. METHODS: A differential equation model was developed considering psychological/social factors in population dynamics. It predicts the long-term prevalence of obesity among women in the UAE under these factors by 2070. Computer simulations and a sensitivity analysis of the model were conducted to measure the impact of these factors on obesity. RESULTS: The model predicts the following: 80.07% of female UAE nationals will become overweight or have obesity and 60.19% will have obesity by 2070, and the population with abnormal eating behavior will increase to 15% by 2070. Psychological/social factors aggravate the obesity problems and can cause abnormal eating behavior to develop with little effect on weight reduction. CONCLUSIONS: The obesity rate of female UAE nationals will continue to rise by 2070. Rising abnormal eating behavior caused by psychological/social factors is an emerging issue and should be recognized as a sign of escalating obesity problems in the UAE.

Comparison of Wear of Interim Crowns in Accordance with the Build Angle of Digital Light Processing 3D Printing: A Preliminary In Vivo Study.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the wear volume of interim crowns fabricated using digital light processing 3D printing according to the printing angle. A total of five patients undergoing the placement of a single crown on the mandibular molar were included. Interim crowns were fabricated directly in the oral cavity using the conventional method. A digital light processing 3D printer was then used to fabricate crowns with build angles of 0, 45, and 90 degrees. Therefore, four fabricated interim crowns were randomly delivered to the patients, and each was used for one week. Before and after use, the intaglio surfaces of the interim crowns were scanned using a 3D scanner. The volume changes before and after use were measured, and changes in the height of the occlusal surface were evaluated using the root mean square value. Data normality was verified by statistical analysis, and the wear volume in each group was evaluated using a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's honestly significant difference test (α = 0.05). Compared with the RMS values of the conventional method (11.88 ± 2.69 µm) and the 3D-printing method at 0 degrees (12.14 ± 2.38 µm), the RMS values were significantly high at 90 degrees (16.46 ± 2.39 µm) (p < 0.05). Likewise, there was a significant difference in the change in volume between the groups (p = 0.002), with a significantly higher volume change value at 90 degrees (1.74 ± 0.41 mm3) than in the conventional method (0.70 ± 0.15 mm3) (p < 0.05). A printing angle of 90 degrees is not recommended when interim crowns are fabricated using digital light processing 3D printing.

Tailoring the Surface of Natural Graphite with Functional Metal Oxides via Facile Crystallization for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Graphite is the most popular anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to its high reversibility and stable cycling performance. With the rapid growth of the global electric vehicle (EV) market, it has become necessary to improve the quick-charge performance of graphite to reduce the charging time of LIBs. Therefore, from a structural viewpoint, it is crucial to control interfacial reactions and stabilize the surface of graphite to improve the sluggish interfacial kinetics. Herein, we propose a facile approach for integrating functional metal oxides on the surface of natural graphite (NG) via a surface-coating technique in combination with a facile-crystallization process. The functionality of the metal oxides, i.e., MoO2 and Fe3O4, on the surface of NG was thoroughly investigated based on various structural and electrochemical analyses. The results demonstrate that the metal oxides play critical roles in stabilizing the surface of NG and facilitating faster Li+ migration at the interface between NG and the electrolyte during cycling. In particular, the full cell configured with the c-Fe3O4-NG anode shows remarkably improved charging behavior (3 C charging-1 C discharging) without any significant loss of reversible capacity during 300 cycles. This study has conclusively established that tailoring the surface of NG with functional metal oxides would be a utilitarian way to improve the charging capability of NG. We are confident that the study results would provide utilitarian insights into the development of advanced LIBs for successful implementation in EV applications in the future.

Nanoarchitectonics of the cathode to improve the reversibility of Li-O2 batteries.

The strategic design of the cathode is a critical feature for high-performance and long-lasting reversibility of an energy storage system. In particular, the round-trip efficiency and cycling performance of nonaqueous lithium-oxygen batteries are governed by minimizing the discharge products, such as Li2O and Li2O2. Recently, a metal-organic framework has been directly pyrolyzed into a carbon frame with controllable pore volume and size. Furthermore, selective metallic catalysts can also be obtained by adjusting metal ions for outstanding electrochemical reactions. In this study, various bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-derived carbons were designed by varying the ratio of Zn to Co ions. Moreover, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are added to improve the electrical conductivity further, ultimately leading to better electrochemical stability in the cathode. As a result, the optimized bimetallic ZIF-carbon/CNT composite exhibits a high discharge capacity of 16,000 mAh·g-1, with a stable cycling performance of up to 137 cycles. This feature is also beneficial for lowering the overpotential of the cathode during cycling, even at the high current density of 2,000 mA·g-1.

The Relationship Between Workplace Burnout and Male Depression Symptom Assessed by the Korean Version of the Gotland Male Depression Scale.

Screening for depression in males is important because their symptoms differ from those of females, ranging from indications of aggression to attempts at suicide. Men and women differ in their responses to job stress. There are no tools that have been verified, developed, or translated for screening male depression in Korea. Our team translated the Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS) into Korean. The Korean version of GMDS (K-GMDS) and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) were administered to 277 office workers in one public institution. Gender differences in each scale score were measured along with the correlation between the K-GMDS and the MBI-GS. There was no significant difference in the K-GMDS score between males and females, whereas females scored significantly higher on the MBI-GS (p < .001). The correlation between the K-GMDS total score and the MBI total score (male: r = .702, p < .001, female: r = .375, p < .001) and MBI subscale scores were higher in males than females. Gender moderated the relationship between total K-GMDS and total MBI scores (p < .001). The Korean version of the GMDS is suitable for screening male depression symptoms in the workplace. The results of the K-GMDS demonstrated a strong correlation between depressive symptoms and work-related burnout among men. This study can be used as a basis for studying male depression symptoms in Korea, which has not been studied extensively. This will prove beneficial for work environments.

Impact of scanning strategy on the accuracy of complete-arch intraoral scans: a preliminary study on segmental scans and merge methods.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the accuracy of full-arch intraoral scans obtained by various scan strategies with the segmental scan and merge methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy intraoral scans (seven scans per group) were performed using 10 scan strategies that differed in the segmental scan (1, 2, or 3 segments) and the scanning motion (straight, zigzag, or combined). The three-dimensional (3D) geometric accuracy of scan images was evaluated by comparison with a reference image in an image analysis software program, in terms of the arch shape discrepancies. Measurement parameters were the intermolar distance, interpremolar distance, anteroposterior distance, and global surface deviation. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey honestly significance difference post hoc tests were carried out to compare differences among the scan strategy groups (α = .05). RESULTS: The linear discrepancy values of intraoral scans were not different among scan strategies performed with the single scan and segmental scan methods. In general, differences in the scan motion did not show different accuracies, except for the intermolar distance measured under the scan conditions of a 3-segmental scan and zigzag motion. The global surface deviations were not different among all scan strategies. CONCLUSION: The segmental scan and merge methods using two scan parts appear to be reliable as an alternative to the single scan method for full-arch intraoral scans. When three segmental scans are involved, the accuracy of complete arch scan can be negatively affected.