Rapid Surface Reconstruction of In2S3 Photoanode via Flame Treatment for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance.

Surface reconstruction, re-organizing the surface atoms or structure, is a promising strategy to manipulate materials' electrical, electrochemical, and surface catalytic properties. Herein, we demonstrate a rapid surface reconstruction of indium sulfide (In2S3) via a high-temperature flame treatment to improve its charge collection properties. The flame process selectively transforms the In2S3 surface into a diffusionless In2O3 layer with high crystallinity. Additionally, it controllably generates bulk sulfur (S) vacancies within a few seconds, leading to surface-reconstructed In2S3 (sr-In2S3). When using those sr-In2S3 as photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting devices, these dual functions of surface In2O3/bulk In2S3 reduce the charge recombination in the surface and bulk region, thus improving photocurrent density and stability. With optimized surface reconstruction, the sr-In2S3 photoanode demonstrates a significant photocurrent density of 8.5 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), marking a 2.5-fold increase compared to pristine In2S3 (3.5 mA/cm2). More importantly, the sr-In2S3 photoanode exhibited an impressive photocurrent density of 7.3 mA/cm2 at 0.6 V versus RHE for iodide oxidation reaction (IOR). We also showcase a practical and scalable surface reconstruction via flame treatment. Our work provides new insights for surface reconstruction engineering in sulfide-based semiconductors, making a breakthrough in developing efficient solar-fuel energy devices. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Microstructural Evolution, Hardness and Wear Resistance of WC-Co-Ni Composite Coatings Fabricated by Laser Cladding.

This study investigated how process parameters of laser cladding affect the microstructure and mechanical properties of WC-12Co composite coating for use as a protective layer of continuous caster rolls. WC-Co powders, WC-Ni powders, and Ni-Cr alloy powder with various wear resistance characteristics were evaluated in order to determine their applicability for use as cladding materials for continuous caster roll coating. The cladding process was conducted with various parameters, including laser powers, cladding speeds, and powder feeding rates, then the phases, microstructure, and micro-hardness of the cladding layer were analyzed in each specimen. Results indicate that, to increase the hardness of the cladding layer in WC-Co composite coating, the dilution of the cladding layer by dissolution of Fe from the substrate should be minimized, and the formation of the Fe-Co alloy phase should be prevented. The mechanical properties and wear resistance of each powder with the same process parameters were compared and analyzed. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the laser cladding layer depend not only on the process parameters, but also on the powder characteristics, such as WC particle size and the type of binder material. Additionally, depending on the degree of thermal decomposition of WC particles and evolution of W distribution within the cladding layer, the hardness of each powder can differ significantly, and the wear mechanism can change.

Optical and quantitative detection of cobalt ion using graphitic carbon nitride-based chemosensor for hydrometallurgy of waste lithium-ion batteries.

A hydrometallurgy is one of the most important techniques for recycling waste LIBs, where identifying the exact composition of the metal-leached solution is critical in controlling the metal extraction efficiency and the stoichiometry of the regenerated product. In this study, we report a simple and selective optical detection of high-concentrated Co2+ using a graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN)-based fluorescent chemosensor. g-CN is prepared by molten salt synthesis using dicyandiamide (DCDA) and LiI/KI. The mass ratio of LiI/KI to DCDA modifies the resulting g-CN (CNI) in terms of in-plane molecular distances of base sites including cyano functional groups (─CN) and fluorescent emission wavelength via nucleophilic substitution. The fluorescent sensing performance of CNIs is evaluated through photoluminescence (PL) emission spectroscopy in a broad Co2+ concentration range (10-4-100 M). The correlation between the surface exposure of hidden nitrogen pots (base sites) and PL intensity change is achieved where the linear relationship between the PL quenching and the logarithm of Co2+ concentration in the analyte solution is well established with the regression of 0.9959. This study will provide the design principle of the chemosensor suitable for the fast and accurate optical detection of Co2+ present in a broad concentration range for hydrometallurgy for the recycling of waste LIBs.

A Multivalent Vaccine Based on Ferritin Nanocage Elicits Potent Protective Immune Responses against SARS-CoV-2 Mutations.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created a global public crisis and heavily affected personal lives, healthcare systems, and global economies. Virus variants are continuously emerging, and, thus, the pandemic has been ongoing for over two years. Vaccines were rapidly developed based on the original SARS-CoV-2 (Wuhan-Hu-1) to build immunity against the coronavirus disease. However, they had a very low effect on the virus' variants due to their low cross-reactivity. In this study, a multivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was developed using ferritin nanocages, which display the spike protein from the Wuhan-Hu-1, B.1.351, or B.1.429 SARS-CoV-2 on their surfaces. We show that the mixture of three SARS-CoV-2 spike-protein-displaying nanocages elicits CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and B-cell immunity successfully in vivo. Furthermore, they generate a more consistent antibody response against the B.1.351 and B.1.429 variants than a monovalent vaccine. This leads us to believe that the proposed ferritin-nanocage-based multivalent vaccine platform will provide strong protection against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs).

Macroscopic graphitic carbon nitride monolith for efficient hydrogen production by photocatalytic reforming of glucose under sunlight.

Large particulate photocatalysts allow efficient recovery or installation into the substrate, while limiting possible light-catalyst interaction or mass/charge-transfer. In this study, we developed monodisperse organic single-crystal monoliths with controllable dimensions in the range of 10-100 µm. These were prepared on a 10-g scale by a solution-processed molecular cooperative assembly between melamine (M) and trithiocyanuric acid (TCA) and then transformed into the corresponding g-CN (MTCA-CN) by thermal polycondensation. Molecular precursors that are tightly bound in the crystal undergo polycondensation without losing their macroscopic properties depending on the dimensions of MTCA, thereby changing the microstructure, electronic structure, and photocatalytic activity. Such dimensional tunability enables the fulfillment of various catalytic requirements such as particle size, light absorption, charge separation, band edge potential, and mass transfer. As a proof-of-concept, it was shown that MTCA-CN is tailored to have a high rate of evolution of hydrogen (3.19 µmol/h) from glucose via photoreforming under AM1.5G by using MTCA-100 crystals, leading to the formation of g-CN with the more positive highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level. This study highlights the possibility of developing photocatalysts for practical use and obtaining value-added products (VAPs) without losing the photocatalytic activity relevant for wastewater treatment.

Neutralizing Human Antibodies against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Isolated from a Human Synthetic Fab Phage Display Library.

Since it was first reported in Wuhan, China, in 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a pandemic outbreak resulting in a tremendous global threat due to its unprecedented rapid spread and an absence of a prophylactic vaccine or therapeutic drugs treating the virus. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is a key player in the viral entry into cells through its interaction with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor protein, and the RBD has therefore been crucial as a drug target. In this study, we used phage display to develop human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that neutralize SARS-CoV-2. A human synthetic Fab phage display library was panned against the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SARS-2 RBD), yielding ten unique Fabs with moderate apparent affinities (EC50 = 19-663 nM) for the SARS-2 RBD. All of the Fabs showed no cross-reactivity to the MERS-CoV spike protein, while three Fabs cross-reacted with the SARS-CoV spike protein. Five Fabs showed neutralizing activities in in vitro assays based on the Fabs' activities antagonizing the interaction between the SARS-2 RBD and ACE2. Reformatting the five Fabs into immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs) greatly increased their apparent affinities (KD = 0.08-1.0 nM), presumably due to the effects of avidity, without compromising their non-aggregating properties and thermal stability. Furthermore, two of the mAbs (D12 and C2) significantly showed neutralizing activities on pseudo-typed and authentic SARS-CoV-2. Given their desirable properties and neutralizing activities, we anticipate that these human anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs would be suitable reagents to be further developed as antibody therapeutics to treat COVID-19, as well as for diagnostics and research tools.

Hierarchical Porous, N-Containing Carbon Supports for High Loading Sulfur Cathodes.

The lithium-polysulfide (LiPS) dissolution from the cathode to the organic electrolyte is the main challenge for high-energy-density lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Herein, we present a multi-functional porous carbon, melamine cyanurate (MCA)-glucose-derived carbon (MGC), with superior porosity, electrical conductivity, and polysulfide affinity as an efficient sulfur support to mitigate the shuttle effect. MGC is prepared via a reactive templating approach, wherein the organic MCA crystals are utilized as the pore-/micro-structure-directing agent and nitrogen source. The homogeneous coating of spherical MCA crystal particles with glucose followed by carbonization at 600 °C leads to the formation of hierarchical porous hollow carbon spheres with abundant pyridinic N-functional groups without losing their microstructural ordering. Moreover, MGC enables facile penetration and intensive anchoring of LiPS, especially under high loading sulfur conditions. Consequently, the MGC cathode exhibited a high areal capacity of 5.79 mAh cm-2 at 1 mA cm-2 and high loading sulfur of 6.0 mg cm-2 with a minor capacity decay rate of 0.18% per cycle for 100 cycles.

Boron Nitride Nanotube-Based Separator for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

To prevent global warming, ESS development is in progress along with the development of electric vehicles and renewable energy. However, the state-of-the-art technology, i.e., lithium-ion batteries, has reached its limitation, and thus the need for high-performance batteries with improved energy and power density is increasing. Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are attracting enormous attention because of their high theoretical energy density. However, there are technical barriers to its commercialization such as the formation of dendrites on the anode and the shuttle effect of the cathode. To resolve these issues, a boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)-based separator is developed. The BNNT is physically purified so that the purified BNNT (p-BNNT) has a homogeneous pore structure because of random stacking and partial charge on the surface due to the difference of electronegativity between B and N. Compared to the conventional polypropylene (PP) separator, the p-BNNT loaded PP separator prevents the dendrite formation on the Li metal anode, facilitates the ion transfer through the separator, and alleviates the shuttle effect at the cathode. With these effects, the p-BNNT loaded PP separators enable the LSB cells to achieve a specific capacity of 1429 mAh/g, and long-term stability over 200 cycles.

Microporous Carbon Nanoparticles for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are emerging as some of the most promising next-generation battery alternatives to state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high gravimetric energy density, being inexpensive, and having an abundance of elemental sulfur (S8). However, one main, well-known drawback of LSBs is the so-called polysulfide shuttling, where the polysulfide dissolves into organic electrolytes from sulfur host materials. Numerous studies have shown the ability of porous carbon as a sulfur host material. Porous carbon can significantly impede polysulfide shuttling and mitigate the insulating passivation layers, such as Li2S, owing to its intrinsic high electrical conductivity. This work suggests a scalable and straightforward one-step synthesis method to prepare a unique interconnected microporous and mesoporous carbon framework via salt templating with a eutectic mixture of LiI and KI at 800 °C in an inert atmosphere. The synthesis step used environmentally friendly water as a washing solvent to remove salt from the carbon-salt mixture. When employed as a sulfur host material, the electrode exhibited an excellent capacity of 780 mAh g-1 at 500 mA g-1 and a sulfur loading mass of 2 mg cm-2 with a minor capacity loss of 0.36% per cycle for 100 cycles. This synthesis method of a unique porous carbon structure could provide a new avenue for the development of an electrode with a high retention capacity and high accommodated sulfur for electrochemical energy storage applications.

Inhibition of VEGF-dependent angiogenesis and tumor angiogenesis by an optimized antibody targeting CLEC14a.

The C-type lectin-like domain of CLEC14a (CLEC14a-C-type lectin-like domain [CTLD]) is a key domain that mediates endothelial cell-cell contacts in angiogenesis. However, the role of CLEC14a-CTLD in pathological angiogenesis has not yet been clearly elucidated. In this study, through complementarity-determining region grafting, consecutive deglycosylation, and functional isolation, we generated a novel anti-angiogenic human monoclonal antibody that specifically targets CLEC14a-CTLD and that shows improved stability and homogeneity relative to the parental antibody. We found that this antibody directly inhibits CLEC14a-CTLD-mediated endothelial cell-cell contact and simultaneously downregulates expression of CLEC14a on the surface of endothelial cells. Using various in vitro and in vivo functional assays, we demonstrated that this antibody effectively suppresses vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent angiogenesis and tumor angiogenesis of SNU182 human hepatocellular carcinoma, CFPAC-1 human pancreatic cancer, and U87 human glioma cells. Furthermore, we also found that this antibody significantly inhibits tumor angiogenesis of HCT116 and bevacizumab-adapted HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells. These findings suggest that antibody targeting of CLEC14a-CTLD has the potential to suppress VEGF-dependent angiogenesis and tumor angiogenesis and that CLEC14a-CTLD may be a novel anti-angiogenic target for VEGF-dependent angiogenesis and tumor angiogenesis.

Toxoplasmic Encephalitis in Patient with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is an opportunistic infection found in immunocompromised patients and TE related cerebral mass lesion is often reported in acquired immunodeficiency acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. However, incidence of TE related AIDS in Korea is still rare and is unfamiliar to neurosurgeons. Differential diagnosis is needed to rule out other brain lesions. A 39-year-old man visited the emergency room with rapid progressive left hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a ring-enhanced mass lesion in his right frontal lobe. Human immunodeficiency virus and Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G were tested positive by a serologic test. We report here a rare case of patient with TE related AIDS.

Endovascular treatment of the distal internal carotid artery large aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: According to the development of endovascular technique and devices, larger aneurysms on the distal internal carotid artery (ICA) can be treated using a less invasive method. The authors report on clinical and angiographic outcomes of these aneurysms treated using an endovascular technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on 21 patients with large aneurysms at distal ICA treated by endovascular method between January 2005 and December 2012 were included in this retrospective analysis. RESULTS: Clinical outcome of patients showed strong correlation with the initial neurologic status (p < 0.05). Aneurysm morphology showed saccular, fusiform, and wide-neck in 12, six and three patients. Six patients underwent stent assisted coiling and the other 15 patients underwent simple coiling. Aneurysm occlusion was performed immediately after embolization with near-complete (Raymond class 1-2) in 20 patients (95.2%) and incomplete (Raymond class 3) in one patient (4.8%). Delayed thrombotic occlusion occurred in two patients and their clinical result was fatal. Another five patients died in the hospital, from massive brain edema and/or increased intracranial pressure due to initial subarachnoid hemorrhage. Overall mortality was 30% (seven out of 21). Fatal complication related to the endovascular procedure occurred in two patients with thrombosis at middle cerebral artery (one with stent, the other without it). CONCLUSION: Recent developed endovascular device and technique is safe enough and a less invasive method for distal large or giant aneurysms. Based on our analysis of the study, we suspect that coil embolization of large distal ICA aneurysms (with or without stenting) is effective and safe.

Dynamic stepping information process method in mobile bio-sensing computing environments.

Recently, the interest toward human longevity free from diseases is being converged as one system frame along with the development of mobile computing environment, diversification of remote medical system and aging society. Such converged system enables implementation of a bioinformatics system created as various supplementary information services by sensing and gathering health conditions and various bio-information of mobile users to set up medical information. The existing bio-information system performs static and identical process without changes after the bio-information process defined at the initial system configuration executes the system. However, such static process indicates ineffective execution in the application of mobile bio-information system performing mobile computing. Especially, an inconvenient duty of having to perform initialization of new definition and execution is accompanied during the process configuration of bio-information system and change of method. This study proposes a dynamic process design and execution method to overcome such ineffective process.

Rapid Spontaneous Resolution of Acute Subdural Hematoma in a Patient with Liver Cirrhosis.

Acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) constitutes one of the most critical emergencies in neurosurgery and rapid spontaneous resolution of ASDH is an infrequent phenomenon. Several mechanisms have been attributed to explain this phenomenon including redistribution of subdural blood, dilution by cerebral spinal fluid and brain atrophy. Rapid resolution of ASDH related to coagulopathy is a rare phenomenon; to our knowledge, only one case has been reported. We report on a patient who showed rapid resolution of ASDH with coagulopathy and also discuss such a rare case with speculation of the coagulopathy as a factor to promote this phenomenon.

Thirteen-year Experience of 44 Patients with Adult Hemorrhagic Moyamoya Disease from a Single Institution: Clinical Analysis by Management Modality.

Our objective was a retrospective assessment of the management modalities that provided the most beneficial treatment in hemorrhagic moyamoya disease during the last 13 years at our institution. The clinical results of 44 patients with hemorrhagic moyamoya disease were investigated, comparing revascularization surgery (direct, indirect, and combined bypass) or conservative treatment. Angiographic features, rebleeding, and clinical outcome were investigated. Six of the 35 patients (17.1%) with revascularization surgery experienced rebleeding, as did 4 of 9 patients (44.4%) with conservative treatment. However, patients who underwent bypass surgery had a lower chance of rebleeding. No significant difference in chance of rebleeding was observed between bypass surgery and non surgery groups (p > 0.05). Cerebral angiography performed after bypass surgery showed that for achieving good postoperative revascularization, direct and combined bypass methods were much more effective (p < 0.05). While the risk of rebleeding in the revascularization group was generally lower than in the conservative treatment group, there was no statistically significant difference between treatment modalities and conservative treatment. Although statistical significance was not attained, direct and combined bypass may reduce the risk of hemorrhage more effectively than indirect bypass.

Early superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery bypass in acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects and safety of superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis in the early stage after an acute ischemic event and the improvement of present symptoms in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic occlusive disease with stroke/stroke in progress. METHODS: From 2006 to 2010, 20 patients (15 males and five females) with atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease were treated with an STA-MCA bypass. All of the patients presented with an acute ischemic stroke or stroke in progress despite maximal medical treatment. The patients underwent an STA-MCA bypass within 7 days from symptom onset. The clinical outcome and hemodynamic study of the 20 patients were preoperatively and postoperatively investigated. A pooled analysis was performed, and the results were compared with those obtained from other delayed STA-MCA bypass studies. RESULTS: Among the 20 patients who underwent an early STA-MCA bypass, fourteen (70%) patients achieved a good functional outcome (mRS 0, n=3; mRS 1, n=9; mRS 2, n=2). Prior to surgery, the mean basal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cerebrovascular reserve capacity (CVR) in the symptomatic hemisphere were 37.3±4.3 ml/100 g/min and -1.68±2.9%. The mean basal rCBF and CVR had significantly increased postoperatively, and no reperfusion-induced hemorrhage had occurred. In the pooled analysis, no significant differences were observed in the clinical outcome (P=0.328) or in the incidence of postoperative complications (P=0.516) between patients who underwent an early STA-MCA bypass and in patients who underwent a delayed STA-MCA bypass in previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, which consisted of 20 carefully selected patients with acute ischemic stroke, an early STA-MCA bypass was safely and effectively performed, and in some cases, an early STA-MCA bypass resulted in rapid neurological improvement. An early STA-MCA bypass was beneficial in select patients who had acute ischemic stroke with imaging evidence of a small infarction.

AdHTS: a high-throughput system for generating recombinant adenoviruses.

The need for efficient high-throughput gene delivery system for mammalian cells is rapidly increasing with the growing request for functional genomics studies and drug discoveries in various physiologically relevant systems. However, plasmid-based gene delivery has limitations in transfection efficiency and available cell types. Viral vectors have great advantages over plasmid-based vectors, but construction of recombinant viruses remains to be a big hurdle for high-throughput applications. Here we demonstrate a rapid and simple high-throughput system for constructing recombinant adenoviruses which have been used as efficient gene delivery tools in mammalian systems in vitro and in vivo. By combining Gateway-based site-specific recombination with Terminal protein-coupled adenovirus vector, the adenovirus high-throughput system (AdHTS) generates multiple recombinant adenoviruses in 96-well plates simultaneously without the need for additional cloning or recombination in bacteria or mammalian cells. The AdHTS allows rapid and robust cloning and expression of genes in mammalian cells by removing shuttle vector construction, bacterial transformation, or selection and by minimizing effort in plaque isolation. By shortening the time required to convert whole cDNA library into desired viral vector constructs, the AdHTS would greatly facilitate functional genomics and proteomics studies in various mammalian systems.

Long-term follow-up results in 142 adult patients with moyamoya disease according to management modality.

BACKGROUND: To clarify the most beneficial treatment of the management modality based on our experience with adult moyamoya disease (MMD). METHODS: From 1998 to 2010, clinical results of 142 patients (ischemic, 98; hemorrhagic, 44) with adult MMD were investigated according to management modality. Revascularization surgery (direct, indirect, and combined bypass) was performed in 124 patients. We observed the clinical course of 18 patients who were treated conservatively. Clinical outcome, angiographic features, hemodynamic change, and incidence of recurrent stroke were investigated pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: In patients with ischemic MMD, direct and combined bypasses were more effective treatments to prevent recurrent ischemic stroke than indirect bypass surgery (P < 0.05). In patients with hemorrhagic MMD, rebleeding was less likely to occur in patients who had undergone bypass surgery. However, no significant difference was observed in the rebleeding rate between patients with and without revascularization surgery (P > 0.05). An angiogram after bypass surgery comparing the extent of revascularization and reduction of moyamoya vessels in patients treated with direct, indirect, and combined bypass showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in favor of direct and combined bypass. Postoperative angiographic changes and SPECT results demonstrated significant statistical correlation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Revascularization surgery was effective in further ischemic stroke prevention to a statistically significant extent. Direct and combined bypasses were more effective to prevent recurrent ischemic stroke than indirect bypass. However, there is still no clear evidence that revascularization surgery significantly prevents rebleeding in adult MMD patients. More significant angiographic changes were observed in direct and combined bypasses compared with indirect bypass.