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[Display omitted] • Laser structuring of LiFePO 4 electrode material. • Effect of the aspect ratio of structured electrodes on wettability and its comparison with unstructured electrodes. • Comparative study of wetting rate with the capillary rise and wetting balance test between structured and Unstructured electrodes. • Usage and comparison of Lucas Washburn model and Zhmud extended model for quantifying the wetting rate. • Electrochemical analysis for cyclic stability, rate capability, and charge–discharge profile. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used for their high energy density, high power density, long lifetime, and safety which are crucial for the environmentally friendly future energy system. Electrodes are the key component of LIBs that determines battery performance. LiFePO 4 is a common electrode used in battery technology due to its long cycle life and good safety. Laser structuring of electrodes has recently been considered a promising approach to increase energy density. In this work, LiFePO 4 electrodes were structured into a grid-type pattern by varying the laser power, resulting in different aspect ratios. To evaluate the effects of the structuring, wettability and electrochemical performance were tested. The wetting property was investigated using spread area, wetting time, and contact angle measurements. Besides, the wetting rate was measured using the wetting balance test and capillary rise test. Lucas Washburn model and Zhmud extended model were used to quantitatively express the wetting rate. The influence of gravity on the wetting performance was also investigated by comparing those models. Furthermore, an electrochemical test was performed to see the cyclic stability, rate capability, and charge–discharge profile with a C rate up to 1C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data regarding prognostic factors for patients with septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) are lacking. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical features of SPE and to ascertain the risk factors for mortality in patients with this condition. Patients with SPE, whose data were retrospectively collected from a tertiary referral center in Korea, were categorized by the presence or absence of in-hospital death into two groups: death and survival groups. The two groups were compared for clinical and radiologic parameters. SPE was community-acquired in most patients (78%). The most common focus of primary infection was that of bone, joint, or soft tissue (33%), followed by liver abscess (17%). The in-hospital mortality was 12%. Multivariate analysis showed that tachypnea (odds ratio [OR] 4.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–20.53, p = 0.038) and segmental or lobar consolidation on computed tomography (CT) scan (OR 10.79, 95% CI 2.51–46.43, p = 0.001) were independent predictors of in-hospital death in SPE patients. Taken together, the primary infectious foci of SPE in Korea are different from those reported in Western countries. Tachypnea and segmental or lobar consolidation on CT scan may be independent risk factors for in-hospital death in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • First, the anti-inflammatory effect of the two natural products is due to curcumin and luteolin, the active ingredients of these two natural products. • Second, cotreatment with CLE and CTE exerted anti-inflammatory activities by suppressing the activation of ERK 1/2 and p38 pathways. • Third, both natural products can regulate innate immunity by regulating the activation of NK cells. The present study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of extracts of Curcuma longa L. (CLE) and Carthamus tinctorius L. (CTE) on inflamed macrophages and immunosuppressed mouse models. RAW 264.7 Macrophage cells were treated with various concentrations of CLE, CTE, and CLE + CTE to observe cell viability and nitric oxide (NO) production. Results showed that all treatments inhibited NO production, with the CLE + CTE treatment showing the strongest inhibitory effect. Furthermore, expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 were more strongly downregulated by treatment with CLE + CTE via regulation of ERK 1/2 and p38 activation. Moreover, CLE + CTE significantly upregulated the viability of peritoneal cavity cells, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and NK cell-related cytokines expression. All treatments (CLE, CTE, CLE + CTE) upregulated body weights and NK cell activity. Taken together, our results provide scientific evidence for the synergic effect between CLE and CTE as a co-treatment for anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, ternary composite composed of Si@N-doped C coupled with 2D MXene nanosheets (Si@NC/MX) is synthesized by a facile solution-based chemical method followed by thermal treatment. In the aqueous solution, polydopamine (PDA)-coated Si nanoparticles were strongly coupled with MXene nanosheets via chemical interactions. Subsequently, the PDA layers were transformed into N-doped amorphous C during the annealing process. As anodes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs), the rational architecture of composites can effectively prevent particle aggregation and restacking between MXene nanosheets during cycling. Also, the dual protection by the C layer and MXene can alleviate the large volume expansion of the Si anode and provide conductive pathways. Accordingly, the Si@NC/MX composites exhibited a high reversible capacity of 953 mA h g−1 after 300 cycles at 1 A g−1. In addition, the electrode exerted a high reversible capacity of 849 mA h g−1 even at a high current density of 10 A g−1. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]