Extensional rheology of anode slurries for li-ion batteries containing natural and synthetic graphite.

Processing of electrode slurry, which is highly non-Newtonian fluid, is a critical step in the mass production of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). While extensional flow plays an important role in the electrode slurry processes such as coating, most previous studies have focused only on the shear rheology, due to the lack of a reliable method to measure the extensional rheological properties of the slurry. Here, it is demonstrated that the extensional rheological properties of the anode slurries can be successfully characterized using the stop-flow-dripping-onto-substrate/capillary break-up rheometry (SF-DoS/CaBER). Using this system, it is observed that the extensional rheology of the anode slurry is significantly affected by the blend ratio of the natural and synthetic graphite, as well as the binder and conductive concentrations. Furthermore, the shear rheology-based model predicts much shorter pinch-off times than those measured experimentally, indicating that the yield-stress of the anode slurry is much larger in extensional flow than in shear flow.

Nanotopology-Enabled On-Site Pathogen Detection for Managing Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a prevalent skin condition often complicated by microbial infection, poses a significant challenge in identifying the responsible pathogen for its effective management. However, a reliable, safe tool for pinpointing the source of these infections remains elusive. In this study, a novel on-site pathogen detection that combines chemically functionalized nanotopology with genetic analysis is proposed to capture and analyze pathogens closely associated with severe atopic dermatitis. The chemically functionalized nanotopology features a 3D hierarchical nanopillar array (HNA) with a functional polymer coating, tailored to isolate target pathogens from infected skin. This innovative nanotopology demonstrates superior pathogenic capture efficiency, favorable entrapment patterns, and non-cytotoxicity. An HNA-assembled stick is utilized to directly retrieve bacteria from infected skin samples, followed by extraction-free quantitative loop-mediated isothermal amplification (direct qLAMP) for validation. To mimic human skin conditions, porcine skin is employed to successfully capture Staphylococcus aureus, a common bacterium exacerbating AD cases. The on-site detection method exhibits an impressive detection limit of 103 cells mL-1. The HNA-assembled stick represents a promising tool for on-site detection of bacteria associated with atopic dermatitis. This innovative approach enables to deepen the understanding of AD pathogenesis and open avenues for more effective management strategies for chronic skin conditions.

Art Therapy in Patients with Terminal Cancer and Their Families: A Multiple Case Study.

Purpose: The study explored the meaning of experiences within a family art therapy process among terminal cancer patients and their families. Methods: Ten participants, including four terminal cancer patients currently admitted to the hospice ward at an inpatient hospice facility in S City and four caregiving family members, engaged in four cycles of family art therapy sessions. The sessions were conducted weekly or bi-weekly, and each lasted approximately 50 minutes. Results: Nine cross-case themes emerged "feeling unfamiliar and intimidated by the idea of expressing my thoughts through art," "trying to accept the present and positively overcome sadness," "expressing hope through emotional bonds during the process of parting," "conveying and preserving personal and family beliefs," "feeling upset about family imbalances caused by deteriorating health," "valuing togetherness and striving for stability amidst the current challenges," "art as a medium of empowerment for patients and facilitator of family conversations, even amidst difficulties," "sharing a range of emotions-not just joy, but concerns and sorrow-through art," and "gratitude for art's role in improving family communication and connection through artwork. Conclusion: The findings of this study lead to several conclusions. First, patients and their families faced psychological challenges when confronted with impending death, yet they strove to remain optimistic by seeking meaning in their struggles. Second, families practiced open and expressive communication, sharing a spectrum of complex emotions with one another. Third, even as the patient's condition worsened, resulting in family fatigue, their support and cohesion strengthened.

Charge-shifting polyplex as a viral RNA extraction carrier for streamlined detection of infectious viruses.

The recent outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has highlighted the need for rapid, user-friendly nucleic acid testing that involves simple but efficient RNA extraction. Here, we present a charge-shifting polyplex as an RNA extraction carrier for advanced diagnosis of infectious viral diseases. The polyplex comprises poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl acrylate) (pDMAEA) electrostatically conjugated with RNA. The pDMAEA film can rapidly dissolve in the viral RNA solution, promoting immediate binding with RNA to form the polyplex, which enables the efficient capture of a substantial quantity of RNA. Subsequently, the captured RNA can be readily released by the quick hydrolysis of pDMAEA at the onset of quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), streamlining the entire process from RNA extraction to analysis. The developed method requires only 5 min of centrifugation and enables the detection of RNA in a one-pot setup. Moreover, the proposed method is fully compatible with high-speed qRT-PCR kits and can identify clinical samples within 1 h including the entire extraction to detection procedure. Indeed, the method successfully detected influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, and their delta and omicron variants in 260 clinical samples with a sensitivity of 99.4% and specificity of 98.9%. This rapid, user-friendly polyplex-based approach represents a significant breakthrough in molecular diagnostics.

Prevalence of cancer-related fatigue based on severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) affects therapeutic compliance and clinical outcomes including recurrence and mortality. This study aimed to comprehensively and comparatively assess the severity-based prevalence of CRF. From two public databases (PubMed and Cochrane Library), we extracted data containing information on both prevalence and severity of fatigue in cancer patients through December 2021. We conducted a meta-analysis to produce point estimates using random effects models. Subgroup analyses were used to assess the prevalence and severity by the organ/system tumor development, treatment phase, therapeutic type, sex and assessment method. A total of 151 data (57 studies, 34,310 participants, 11,805 males and 22,505 females) were selected, which indicated 43.0% (95% CI 39.2-47.2) of fatigue prevalence. The total CRF prevalence including 'mild' level of fatigue was 70.7% (95% CI 60.6-83.3 from 37 data). The prevalence of 'severe' fatigue significantly varied by organ/system types of cancer origin (highest in brain tumors 39.7% vs. lowest in gynecologic tumors 3.9%) and treatment phase likely 15.9% (95% CI 8.1-31.3) before treatment, 33.8% (95% CI 27.7-41.2) ongoing treatment, and 24.1% (95% CI 18.6-31.2) after treatment. Chemotherapy (33.1%) induced approximately 1.5-fold higher prevalence for 'severe' CRF than surgery (22.0%) and radiotherapy (24.2%). The self-reported data for 'severe' CRF was 20-fold higher than those assessed by physicians (23.6% vs. 1.6%). Female patients exhibited a 1.4-fold higher prevalence of 'severe' fatigue compared to males. The present data showed quantitative feature of the prevalence and severity of CRF based on the cancer- or treatment-related factors, sex, and perspective of patient versus physician. In the context of the medical impact of CRF, our results provide a comparative reference to oncologists or health care providers making patient-specific decision.

The demographic features of fatigue in the general population worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Fatigue is one of the most common subjective symptoms that impairs daily life and predict health-related events. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of fatigue in the global population. Methods: PubMed and the Cochrane Library were used to search for relevant articles from inception to December 31, 2021. Studies with prevalence data of fatigue in the general population were selected and reviewed by three authors independently and cross-checked. Regarding subgroups, adults (≥18 years), minors (<18 years), and specific occupation population (participants in each study being limited to a specific occupational group), and fatigue types and severity, meta-analysis was conducted to produce point estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: From the initial 3,432 studies, 91 studies accounting for 115 prevalence data points (623,624 participants) were finally selected. The prevalence of general fatigue (fatigue lasting < 6 months, or fatigue of unspecified duration) was 20.4% (95% CI, 16.7-25.0) in adults, 11.7% (95% CI, 5.2-26.6) in minors, and 42.3% (95% CI, 33.0-54.2) in specific occupations. Chronic fatigue (fatigue lasting more than 6 months) affected 10.1% (95% CI, 8.2-12.5) of adults, 1.5% (95% CI, 0.5-4.7) of minors, and 5.5% (95% CI, 1.4-21.6) of subjects in specific occupations. There was an overall female-predominant prevalence for all subgroup analyses, with a total odds ratio of 1.4 (95% CI, 1.3-1.6). Regarding the severity and presence of medical causes, the total prevalence of moderate fatigue [14.6% (95% CI, 9.8-21.8)] was 2.4-fold that of severe fatigue [6.1% (95% CI, 3.4-11.0)], while unexplained fatigue (fatigue experienced by individuals without any underlying medical condition that can explain the fatigue) was ~2.7-fold that of explained fatigue (fatigue experienced by individuals with a medical condition that can explain the fatigue); as proportion of 40.0% of physical, 8.6% of mental, and 28.4% of mixed cause. Conclusions: This study has produced the first comprehensive picture of global fatigue prevalence in the general population, which will provide vital reference data contributing to fatigue-related research, including the prevention of diseases. Systematic review registration: Identifier: CRD42021270498.

Polyaniline-based 3D network structure promotes entrapment and detection of drug-resistant bacteria.

Sensitive and accurate capture, enrichment, and identification of drug-resistant bacteria on human skin are important for early-stage diagnosis and treatment of patients. Herein, we constructed a three-dimensional hierarchically structured polyaniline nanoweb (3D HPN) to capture, enrich, and detect drug-resistant bacteria on-site by rubbing infected skins. These unique hierarchical nanostructures enhance bacteria capture efficiency and help severely deform the surface of the bacteria entrapped on them. Therefore, 3D HPN significantly contributes to the effective and reliable recovery of drug-resistant bacteria from the infected skin and the prevention of potential secondary infection. The recovered bacteria were successfully identified by subsequent real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis after the lysis process. The molecular analysis results based on a real-time PCR exhibit excellent sensitivity to detecting target bacteria of concentrations ranging from 102 to 107 CFU/mL without any fluorescent signal interruption. To confirm the field applicability of 3D HPN, it was tested with a drug-resistant model consisting of micropig skin similar to human skin and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (KPC-CRE). The results show that the detection sensitivity of this assay is 102 CFU/mL. Therefore, 3D HPN can be extended to on-site pathogen detection systems, along with rapid molecular diagnostics through a simple method, to recover KPC-CRE from the skin.

Electrospun Fe doped TiO2 fiber photocatalyst for efficient wastewater treatment.

Water pollution caused by industrial wastewater is the most critical environmental problem in the world. Synthetic dyes are commonly used in various industries such as paper, plastic, printing, leather and textile for their ability to impact color. Complex composition, high toxicity and low biodegradability of dyes make them difficult to degrade which causes a substantial negative impact on overall ecosystems. To address this issue we synthesized TiO2 fibers photocatalyst using the combination of sol-gel and electrospinning techniques to be used in the degradation of dyes which causes water pollution. We doped Fe in TiO2 fibers to enhance the absorption in the visible region of the solar spectrum which will also help to increase the degradation efficiency. As synthesized pristine TiO2 fibers and Fe doped TiO2 fibers were analyzed using different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. 5% Fe doped TiO2 fibers show excellent photocatalytic degradation activity for rhodamine B (99% degradation in 120 min). It can be utilized for degradation of other dye pollutants such as methylene blue, Congo red and methyl orange. It shows good photocatalytic activity (97%) even after 5 cycles of reuse. The radical trapping experiments reveals that holes, •O2- and •OH has a significant contribution in the photocatalytic degradation. Due to the robust fibrous nature of 5FeTOF the process of collection of photocatalysts was simple and without loss as compared to powder photocatalysts. This justifies our selection of electrospinning method of synthesis of 5FeTOF which is also useful for large scale production.

Therapeutic Effects of Gleditsia sinensis Thorn Extract Fermented by Lactobacillus casei 3260 in a Type II Collagen-Induced Rheumatoid Arthritis Mouse Model.

This study aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of Lactobacillus casei 3260 (LC) alone and LC-fermented Gleditsia sinensis thorn (GST) extract in mouse model of type II collagen induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In our previous work, we confirmed the anti-inflammatory effects of LC and GST against LPS-induced inflammation in vitro. In this study, LC and GST were fermented and their effects were assessed in an animal model of RA. Both LC and fermented GST (fGST) treatment reduced mice serum nitrite and total cholesterol and triggered myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. In addition, both LC and fGST reduced inflammation-related serum biomarkers such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and IL-1ß. As per the morphological analysis, both LC and fGST protected hind paw joints against RA, and its related mRNA markers improved. Finally, arthritis scores were measured as an indicator of RA of the whole experimental period; the scores suggested that both LC and fGST protect against collagen-induced RA-related inflammation in a mouse model.

Reliable screening and confirmation of 156 multi-class illegal adulterants in dietary supplements based on extracted common ion chromatograms by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight-mass spectrometry.

An analytical method for the reliable screening and confirmation of 156 illegal drugs (58 erectile dysfunction drugs, 49 synthetic steroids, 26 anabolic steroids, and 23 anti-histamine drugs) in supplementary diets using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS) was developed. Various types of supplements (liquid, capsule, powder, pill and tablet) with complicated matrices were pretreated by simple liquid-liquid extraction. The wide scope of 156 target compounds was effectively determined within 15min in the positive ion mode, detecting the compounds at a sub-ppb level. Their MS/MS spectra were preferentially investigated to find diagnostic common ions according to the structural similarity of diverse adulterants. For the rapid screening of multiple classes of the target adulterants, extracted common ion chromatograms (ECICs) based on specific fragments of similar molecular moieties were attempted. A database including the elemental compositions, retention times, and MS/MS spectra was built for the confirmation of adulterants. The established method was validated in terms of the linearity, limits of detection (LOD), precision, and accuracy. The linear correlation coefficient and limit of detection ranged from 0.9880 to 1 and from 0.02 to 16.04ng/mL, respectively. The precision and accuracy of intra- and inter-day experiments for the spiked samples at the range of 0.2 and 16.0ng/mL were from 0.16 to 13.50% and 0.19-11.48%, respectively, with relative standard deviation. Mean recoveries ranged from 81.6 to 124.7%, and relative standard deviation was less than 9.20%. The screening and confirmation method demonstrated the usefulness of UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS combined with ECICs as a promising approach for the analysis of multi-class adulterants. Finally, the established method was successfully applied for the monitoring of several types of dietary supplements in routine analysis.

Comprehensive profiling analysis of bioamines and their acidic metabolites in human urine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry combined with selective derivatization.

A comprehensive analytical method was developed for the profiling of biogenic amines in human urine using GC/MS in SIM mode. Biogenic amines and their acidic metabolites were converted into their volatile O-trimethylsilyl/N-heptafluorobutyryl (OTMS/-NHFBA) derivatives for GC/MS analysis. Dual hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS)/-N-methyl-bis-heptafluorobutyramide (MBHFBA) derivatizations have been shown to be quite effective, with high derivatization yields and the absence of side products for primary biogenic amines. In this study, selective derivatization conditions by HMDS/MBHFBA were optimized in terms of the reagent amount, reaction temperature and reaction time period. The highest derivatization reaction yield was obtained at 40°C for 10min for OTMS derivatization and 80°C for 5min for N-HFBA derivatization. The use of MCX SPE cartridges with different SPE elution solvents was effective for the pre-concentration and selective cleanup of the biogenic amines and their acidic metabolites in human urine. The selection of appropriate ions in SIM mode provided reliable quantification and identification and a reduction in background effects. The established method was validated in terms of linearity, limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantification (LOQ), precision, and accuracy. The present method was linear (r(2)>0.996), reproducible (relative standard deviation range 1.1-6.9%), and accurate (range 87.9-111.9%), with LOQs of 0.17-17.84ng/mL. The biogenic amine profiling of human urine was successfully accomplished by GC/MS in SIM mode combined with selective HMDS/MBHFBA derivatization and MCX SPE cleanup.

Comparison of GC/MS and LC/MS methods for the analysis of propofol and its metabolites in urine.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) were compared for their capacity to metabolite identification, sensitivity, and speed of analysis for propofol and its metabolites in urine samples. Acidic hydrolysis, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), and trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatization procedures were applied for GC/MS analysis. The LC/MS analysis used a simple sample pretreatment based on centrifugation and dilution. Propofol and four metabolites were successfully analyzed by GC/MS following TMS derivatization. One compound, di-isopropanolphenol was tentatively characterized as a new metabolite observed for the first time in human urine. The TMS derivatization greatly improved the chromatographic properties and detection sensitivity, especially for hydroxylated metabolites. The lower limits of quantitation (LLOQ) of propofol were about 325 and 0.51 ng/mL for the GC/MS scan mode and selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, respectively. In addition, five conjugated propofol metabolites were successfully analyzed by LC-MS/MS in negative ion mode. The detection sensitivity for these conjugated metabolites could be greatly enhanced by the addition of triethylamine to the mobile phase without any loss of LC resolution capacity. The LLOQs of propofol-glucuronide (PG) were about 1.17 and 2.01 ng/mL for the LC-MS-selected ion monitoring (SIM) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, respectively. Both GC/MS and LC/MS methods sensitively detected nine metabolites of propofol and could be used to provide complementary data for the reasonable propofol metabolism study. Urinary excretion profiles for propofol and its metabolites following administration to human were suggested based on the total ion chromatograms obtained by GC/MS and LC/MS methods, respectively.

Organosolv pretreatment with various catalysts for enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis of pitch pine (Pinus rigida).

Three different types of catalysts were evaluated for organosolv pretreatment with pitch pine (Pinus rigida). Sulfuric acid, magnesium chloride, and sodium hydroxide for acid, neutral and base catalysts, respectively, were used, and ethanol was the organic solvent. The pretreatment process was conducted at different temperatures and times. The enzymatic hydrolysis process followed to estimate the digestibility of the biomass. The digestibility of pitch pine by pretreatment process with 1% sulfuric acid at the optimal condition was approximately 55-60%, and that by 1% magnesium chloride was nearly 60%. The pretreatment with 1% sodium hydroxide had no effect on digestibility at 10%, but the digestibility improved by more than 80% when the concentration was increased to 2%. Theoretical ethanol yield was the highest at organosolv pretreatment with sulfuric acid at 70% and the lowest with sodium hydroxide at 45%.