Sodium- and Potassium-Hydrate Melts Containing Asymmetric Imide Anions for High-Voltage Aqueous Batteries.

Aqueous Na- or K-ion batteries could virtually eliminate the safety and cost concerns raised from Li-ion batteries, but their widespread applications have generally suffered from narrow electrochemical potential window (ca. 1.23 V) of aqueous electrolytes that leads to low energy density. Herein, by exploring optimized eutectic systems of Na and K salts with asymmetric imide anions, we discovered, for the first time, room-temperature hydrate melts for Na and K systems, which are the second and third alkali metal hydrate melts reported since the first discovery of Li hydrate melt by our group in 2016. The newly discovered Na- and K- hydrate melts could significantly extend the potential window up to 2.7 and 2.5 V (at Pt electrode), respectively, owing to the merit that almost all water molecules participate in the Na+ or K+ hydration shells. As a proof-of-concept, a prototype Na3 V2 (PO4 )2 F3 |NaTi2 (PO4 )3 aqueous Na-ion full-cell with the Na-hydrate-melt electrolyte delivers an average discharge voltage of 1.75 V, that is among the highest value ever reported for all aqueous Na-ion batteries.

[Usefulness of Determining Acquisition Time by True Count Rate Measurement Method for Delivery 18F-FDG PET/CT].

A stable quality of delivery 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) requires suitable acquisition time, which can be obtained from an accurate true count of 18F-FDG. However, the true count is influenced by body mass index (BMI) and attenuation of 18F-FDG. In order to remove these influences, we have developed a new method (actual measurement method) to measure the actual true count rate based on sub-pubic thigh, which allows us to calculate a suitable acquisition time. In this study, we aimed to verify the acquisition count through our new method in terms of two categories: (1) the accuracy of acquisition count and (2) evaluation of clinical images using physical index. Our actual measurement method was designed to obtain suitable acquisition time through the following procedure. A true count rate of sub-pubic thigh was measured through detector of PET, and used as a standard true count rate. Finally, the obtained standard count rate was processed to acquisition time. This method was retrospectively applied to 150 patients, receiving 18F-FDG administration from 109.7 to 336.8 MBq, and whose body weight ranged from 37 to 95.4 kg. The accuracy of true count was evaluated by comparing relationships of true count, relative to BMI or to administered dose of 18F-FDG. The PET/CT images obtained by our actual measurement method were assessed using physical index. Our new method resulted in accurate true count, which was not influenced by either BMI or administered dose of 18F-FDG, as well as satisfied PET/CT images with recommended criteria of physical index in all patients.

Whole-Genome Sequences of Three Psychrotolerant Mycolicibacterium sp. Strains Isolated from Antarctic Soil.

We report the whole-genome sequences of three psychrotolerant Mycolicibacterium strains, TUM20983, TUM20984, and TUM20985, isolated from Antarctic soils. Taxonomic analyses indicate that these strains are putative new species. These genome sequences may provide insight into the cold adaptation mechanisms of Mycolicibacterium spp. through future comparative genomic studies.

Whole-Genome Sequencing of the Novel Pseudomonas Strain TUM22785 Harboring blaPAM-1, Isolated from a Patient with Urinary Tract Infection in Japan.

Pseudomonas species are Gram-negative aerobic bacteria that cause opportunistic infections. Here, we report the whole-genome sequence of the Pseudomonas sp. strain TUM22785, isolated from an outpatient with a urinary tract infection at a medical institution in Japan. This strain harbors a metallo-ß-lactamase (MBL) blaPAM-1 gene.

Complete Genome Sequence of Polynucleobacter sp. Strain TUM22923, Isolated from Antarctic Lake Sediment.

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Polynucleobacter sp. strain TUM22923, isolated from Antarctic lake sediment. This strain has a genome of 1,860,127 bp, comprising 1,848 protein-coding sequences. These sequence data could contribute to the elucidation of genome streamlining and low-temperature adaptation in members of Polynucleobacter, a cosmopolitan group of ultramicrobacteria.

[Reducing the rate of radiation exposure of technicians through lateral-surface contact with patients undergoing radionuclide examination].

During examinations using radionuclide methods, technicians sometimes need to interact directly with patients. The initial point of contact is when they assist patients onto the examination table, the second is when the patients are positioned for radionuclide examination, and the third occurs if the patients experience a sudden change in condition and assistance is deemed necessary. The dose of radiation increases proportionately to the size of the area being treated. Therefore, we verified that the lateral area received a lower dose of radiation than the anterior areas because of their smaller surface area. The doses in the anterior and lateral areas of the patients were measured following administration of (99m)Tc-hydroxymethyl enebisphosphonic acid (HMDP), (131)I, (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ((18)F-FDG), and (99m)Tc-galactosyl-human serum albumin-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (GSA). The lateral/anterior (L/A) ratio was defined as an approximation of the ratio of measured values of the lateral and anterior areas; it was calculated as follows: L/A (%)=[(lateral dose-BG)/(anterior dose-BG)]×100. In all patients, the radiation dose rate from the lateral areas was lower than from the anterior areas. L/A was 52% with (99m)Tc-HMDP, 51% with (131)I, 58% with (18)F-FDG, and 33% with (99m)Tc-GSA, and radiation doses were found to be reduced by approximately 50% when interaction with patients was from the lateral side rather than the anterior side. Therefore, we confirmed that when interacting closely with patients undergoing radionuclide examinations, it is best to approach the patients from the lateral side in order to reduce radioactive exposure of the technicians.