Gradient Nitrogen Doping in the Garnet Electrolyte for Highly Efficient Solid-State-Electrolyte/Li Interface by N2 Plasma.

Solid-state lithium batteries (SSBs) have been widely researched as next-generation energy storage technologies due to their high energy density and high safety. However, lithium dendrite growth through the solid electrolyte usually results from the catastrophic interface contact between the solid electrolyte and lithium metal. Herein, a gradient nitrogen-doping strategy by nitrogen plasma is introduced to modify the surface and subsurface of the garnet electrolyte, which not only etches the surface impurities (e.g., Li2CO3) but also generates an in situ formed Li3N-rich interphase between the solid electrolyte and lithium anode. As a result, the Li/LLZTON-3/Li cells show a low interfacial resistance (3.50 Ω cm2) with a critical current density of about 0.65 mA cm-2 at room temperature and 1.60 mA cm-2 at 60 °C, as well as a stable cycling life for over 1300 h at 0.4 mA cm-2 at room temperature. A hybrid solid-state full cell paired with a LiFePO4 cathode exhibits excellent cycling durability and rate performance at room temperature. These results demonstrate a rational strategy to enable lithium utilization in SSBs.

Areal measures of healthy adults' hippocampal formation on brain magnetic resonance imaging.

This study measured the area of the hippocampal structure using brain magnetic resonance imaging. We rebuilt a three-dimensional reconstruction of the brain and selected specific sections on the coronal plane, the cross section, and the sagittal plane and then measured the areas of the hippocampus using a software on the computer. In different sections, the left and right hippocampal areas were significantly different (P < 0.05), but the hippocampal areas of males and females are not concordant. There is no significant difference in the area in those aged 20 to 60 years. The hippocampal area is not correlated with the brain area in the same section. In conclusion, the standardization of the hippocampus is not suitable to judge the difference between males and females. The hippocampal area of healthy adults provides the criteria for atrophy of the hippocampus and a brief approach instead of the volumetric measures to apply in clinical diagnosis.

[The effect of soy isoflavones on ATP binding cassette A1 expression level in rats without ovaries with atherosclerotic plaque].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of soy isoflavones (SI) on ATP binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) expression in rats without ovary with atherosclerosis. METHODS: After they were raised for a week by given basic feed, the ovaries of 50 12-week old SPF rats were removed. The rats were randomly divided into groups by weight. Ten rats were selected as the basic control group (A) that basic feed was given all through the research. The other 40 rats were given high-fat diets and at the end of 4 weeks, these rats were randomly divided into four groups by blood lipid level: atherosclerotic model group (B) that was given high-fat diets through the research, low isoflavones group (C) that was given high-fat diets plus 30 mg/kg SI, middle isoflavones group (D) that was given high-fat diets plus 90 mg/kg SI, and high isoflavones group (E) that was given high-fat diets plus 270 mg/kg SI. After 22 weeks, all rats were executed to measure morphological change on the aorta wall, assessing the ABCA1 gene expression in aorta wall by real-time PCR and protein expression by Western blotting in aorta wall, small intestine and liver. RESULTS: Serum lipid level of A, B, C, D, E groups: TC levels were (6.82 +/- 0.22), (15.73 +/- 1.51), (10.77 +/- 1.12), (9.95 +/- 1.18), (9.11 +/- 1.12) mmol/L respectively (F = 72.882, P < 0.01); TG levels were: (2.49 +/- 0.24), (0.78 +/- 0.13), (0.39 +/- 0.08), (0.29 +/- 0.09), (0.24 +/- 0.09) mmol/L respectively (F = 378.515, P < 0.01); LDL-C levels were (1.29 +/- 0.08), (14.76 +/- 1.23), (8.18 +/- 0.80), (7.85 +/- 0.72), (7.16 +/- 0.64)mmol/L respectively (F = 320.936, P < 0.01); HDL-C levels were (1.94 +/- 0.18), (1.04 +/- 0.10), (1.55 +/- 0.14), (1.88 +/- 0.17), (2.11 +/- 0.22) mmol/L respectively (F = 49.450, P < 0.01). ABCA1 protein expression in intestine, liver and aorta: for A, B, C, E groups in intestine were 96.577 +/- 9.743, 5.218 +/- 2.048, 18.060 +/- 5.179, 54.725 +/- 8.960, respectively (F = 172.272, P < 0.01); ABCA1 protein expression in liver of groups of A, B, C, E were: 13.657 +/- 2.397, 1.361 +/- 0.266, 7.069 +/- 2.264, 11.793 +/- 2.515 respectively (F = 37.383, P < 0.01); ABCA1 protein expression in aorta of groups A, B, C, E were: 6.756 +/- 1.310, 0.027 +/- 0.006, 0.035 +/- 0.002 and 7.479 +/- 1.520 respectively (F = 91.999, P < 0.01). Compared to basic control group, atherosclerotic plaque could be observed in atherosclerotic model group, and it could be partially reversed by isoflavones addition. CONCLUSION: Soy isoflavones treatment might inhibit atherosclerotic progression by lowering the level of blood lipid and increasing ABCA1 expression.