Atomic-Scale Insights into the Phase Behavior of Carbon Dioxide and Water from 313 to 573 K and 8 to 30 MPa.

We performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of CO2 + H2O systems by employing widely used force fields (EPM2, TraPPE, and PPL models for CO2; SPC/E and TIP4P/2005 models for H2O). The phase behavior observed in our MD simulations is consistent with the coexistence lines obtained from previous experiments and SAFT-based theoretical models for the equations of state. Our structural analysis reveals a pronounced correlation between phase transitions and the structural orderliness. Specifically, the coordination number of Ow (oxygen in H2O) around other Ow significantly correlates with phase changes. In contrast, coordination numbers pertaining to the CO2 molecules show less sensitivity to the thermodynamic state of the system. Furthermore, our data indicate that a predominant number of H2O molecules exist as monomers without forming hydrogen bonds, particularly in a CO2-rich mixture, signaling a breakdown in the hydrogen bond network's orderliness, as evidenced by a marked decrease in tetrahedrality. These insights are crucial for a deeper atomic-level understanding of phase behaviors, contributing to the well-grounded design of CO2 injection under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions, where an atomic-scale perspective of the phase behavior is still lacking.

Flexible High Lithium-Ion Conducting PEO-Based Solid Polymer Electrolyte with Liquid Plasticizers for High Performance Solid-State Lithium Batteries.

Lithium-ion secondary batteries (LIB) with high energy density have attracted much attention for electric vehicle (EV) applications. However, LIBs have a safety problem because these batteries contain a flammable organic electrolyte. As such, all-solid secondary batteries that are not flammable have been extensively reported recently. In this study, we have focused on polymer electrolytes, which is flexible and is expected to address the safety problem. However, the conventional polymer electrolytes have low electrial conductivity at room temperature. Various attempts have been made to solve this problem, such as the addition of inorganic fillers and ionic liquids; however, these composite polymer electrolytes have not yet reached a practical level of lithium-ion conductivity. In this study, high electrical conductivity and lithium dendrite formation-free PEO based composite electrolytes are developed with both a filler of Li6,4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 and liquid plasticizers of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether and 1,2 dimethoxyethane. The proposed flexible polymer electrolyte shows a high electrical conduciviy of 6.01×10-4 S cm-1 at 25 °C.

Selective transarterial embolization for arterial hemorrhage after upper third molar extraction: illustrative cases.

BACKGROUND: The present report describes 2 cases of arterial bleeding after removal of the upper third molar that were successfully treated with selective transarterial embolization. OBSERVATIONS: The first patient underwent removal of the left upper third molar. A few hours later, facial swelling and massive bleeding appeared near the extraction socket involving the posterolateral wall of the maxillary sinus. Angiography showed a pseudoaneurysm involving the posterior superior dental artery, and the lesion was selectively embolized with an N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA)-lipidiol mixture. The second patient underwent removal of the left upper third molar, and massive bleeding occurred from the extraction socket involving the greater palatine foramen. Angiography revealed the pseudoaneurysm of the greater palatine artery, and the lesion was selectively embolized with an NBCA-lipiodol mixture. Both patients were discharged uneventfully, and no recurrent bleeding was observed during the 82- and 5-month follow-up periods. LESSONS: Massive arterial bleeding after a third molar extraction occurs from either the posterior superior dental artery or the greater palatine artery, which is associated with the location of the extraction socket. Selective transarterial glue embolization is a useful option for the treatment of arterial bleeding after the removal of the upper third molars.

Vitronectin regulates the axon specification of mouse cerebellar granule cell precursors via αvß5 integrin in the differentiation stage.

Vitronectin, an extracellular matrix protein, controls the differentiation of cerebellar granule cell precursors (CGCPs) via αvß5 integrin, particularly in the initial stage of differentiation to granule cells. In this study, we determined whether vitronectin regulates axon specification in this initial differentiation stage of CGCPs. First, we analyzed whether vitronectin deficiency, ß5 integrin knockdown (KD), and ß5 integrin overexpression affect axon specification of primary cultured CGCPs. Vitronectin deficiency and ß5 integrin KD inhibited axon formation, while vitronectin administrated- and ß5 integrin overexpressed-neurons formed multiple axons. Moreover, KD of ß5 integrin suppressed vitronectin-induced multiple axon formation. These findings indicate that vitronectin contributes to regulating axon specification via αvß5 integrin in CGCPs. Next, we determined the signaling pathway involved in regulating vitronectin-induced axon specification. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), inhibited vitronectin-induced multiple axon specification, and lithium chloride, an inhibitor of glyocogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3ß), attenuated the inhibitory effect of vitronectin-KO and ß5 integrin KD on the specification of CGCPs. In addition, vitronectin induced the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and GSK3ß in neuroblastoma Neuro2a cells. Taken together, our results indicate that vitronectin plays an important factor in axon formation process in CGCPs via a ß5 integrin/PI3K/GSK3ß pathway.

αvß5 integrin mediates the effect of vitronectin on the initial stage of differentiation in mouse cerebellar granule cell precursors.

Vitronectin (VN), one of the extracellular matrix proteins, controls the maturation of cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) through the promotion of the initial differentiation stage progress. However, the receptors of VN in the initial differentiation stage of CGC precursors (CGCPs) have not been clarified. In this study, we characterized the receptor candidates for VN in CGCPs. First, we confirmed that αvß3 and αvß5 integrins, which are receptor candidates for VN, were co-localized with VN in the developing cerebellum and primary cultured CGCPs. Next, the knockdown (KD) of αv, ß3, and ß5 integrins with small interference RNA (siRNA) for each integrin reduced the ratio of Tuj1, a final differentiation marker, -positive CGCPs. We further studied whether αvß3 and αvß5 integrins control the initial differentiation stage. The KD of αv and ß5, but not ß3, integrins significantly increased the ratio of transient axonal glycoprotein 1 (TAG1), an initial differentiation marker, -positive CGCPs, whereas the KD of αv and ß3 integrins, not ß5 integrin, stimulated the proliferation of CGCPs. Overexpression of ß5 integrin stimulated the progress of the initial differentiation stage as well. To confirm the interaction between αvß5 integrin and VN, VN was added to ß5 integrin-KD CGCPs. The promotion of the progress of initial differentiation by VN was abrogated by ß5 integrin KD using small hairpin RNA (shRNA). Taken together, our results indicated that αvß5 integrin, as the very receptor of VN, is responsible for the progress of the initial differentiation stage in mouse CGCPs.

Importance of absorbable surgical sutures for the prevention of stitch abscess after surgery in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: To elucidate the significance of absorbable surgical sutures in the occurrence of stitch abscess after surgery in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The subjects were 251 patients who underwent excision and/or reconstruction and/or neck dissection for oral SCC using absorbable surgical sutures. Detection rates and characteristics of patients with stitch abscess were retrospectively evaluated by comparing between our present and previous data. RESULTS: There was only one stitch abscess among the 251 patients. A significant difference in the incidence of stitch abscess was found between the present data and our previous data. Of course, no significant correlations were found between the occurrence of stitch abscess using absorbable surgical sutures and the various factors seen in our previous analysis. CONCLUSIONS: A complete switch of surgical sutures from silk to absorbable surgical sutures is needed for surgery in patients with oral SCC