The lithium-ion secondary battery is mainly used as the power source for a variety of portable electronic equipment because of its high energy density. However, many efforts have been made to improve its performance even after it was marketed in 1990. 1 One technical issue is that the capacity decreases during cycling or storage.Solvent decomposition on the electrode is considered a major reason for the capacity decrease. [2][3][4][5] Therefore, many studies have been carried out on the decomposition mechanisms of electrolytic solutions on the negative or positive electrode.In the negative electrode, the reduction of the electrolyte irreversibly forms a surface film on it. 6,7 This film is called the solidelectrolyte interphase (SEI). [7][8][9] The SEI has been studied by analytical techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) [10][11][12] and infrared spectroscopy. [13][14][15][16][17][18] In past studies, reaction gas products like alkane, alkene, H 2 , CO 2 , and CO are produced and have been observed by gas chromatography. [19][20][21] Many decomposition mechanisms of the electrolytic solutions on the negative electrode surface were suggested from observations of the final decomposition products. Radical species of an intermediate state in this reaction mechanism were observed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). 22 Research continued to elucidate the reaction between the electrolytic solution and the negative electrode.In parallel with the above work, CO 2 and ROCOOLi-type compounds have been observed as reaction products of the electrolytic solutions on the positive electrode by infrared spectroscopy, 23-27 mass spectroscopy, 26,27 and ESR. 28 Studying the reaction between the positive electrode and the electrolyte solution is important because an oxidation of the electrolytic solution on the positive electrode is regarded as a major cause of self-discharge. 3,[29][30][31] This oxidation can be expressed by the following equation 29,30 Electrolytic solution ϩ Li x MO 2 ϩ yLi ϩ r oxidized species of electrolytic solution ϩ Li xϩy MO 2 [1] In this reaction, passing through cation radical species, the electrolytic solution is decomposed into gas species, soluble species in the electrolytic solution, and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) components on the electrode.In this work, we use ESR to observe the reactive intermediate radical species in the reaction between the positive electrode and the electrolytic solution. Furthermore, we discuss the intermediate radical structure and these radical quantities. ExperimentalNonaqueous solvents [ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC)], lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6 ), and LiCoO 2 , of which the grade were used by the marketing battery, were used. The LiCoO 2 was oxidized by charging to the potential of 4.3 V vs. Li/Li ϩ .Samples for the ESR measurement were prepared as follows. A charged positive electrode of 2 ϫ 25 mm with 19 mg of an active mate...

Interleukin (IL)-1beta induces a prolonged hypoglycemia in mice that is not caused by a reduction in food intake and is dissociable from insulin effects. There is a peripheral component in the hypoglycemia that the cytokine induces resulting from an increased glucose uptake, an effect that can be exerted in a paracrine fashion at the site where IL-1 is locally produced. However, the maintenance of hypoglycemia is controlled at brain levels because the blockade of IL-1 receptors in the central nervous system inhibits this effect to a large extent. Furthermore, there is evidence that the cytokine interferes with counter regulation to hypoglycemia. Here we report that administration of IL-1 or long-lasting insulin results in different changes in food intake and in neuroendocrine mechanisms 8 h following induction of the same degree of hypoglycemia (40-45% decrease in glucose blood levels). Insulin, but not IL-1, caused an increase in food intake and an endocrine response that tends to reestablish euglycemia. Conversely, a decrease in noradrenergic and an increase in serotonergic activity in the hypothalamus occur in parallel with a reduction of glucose blood levels only in IL-1-treated mice, effects that can contribute to the maintenance of hypoglycemia. These results are compatible with the proposal that IL-1 acting in the brain can reset glucose homeostasis at a lower level. The biologic significance of this effect is discussed.

No abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this work was to report on the performance of medial blepharosynechioplasty (MBSP), a newly devised technique for treating severe dry eye.MethodsIn this retrospective, nonrandomized clinical trial, three cases with severe dry eye (Sjögren’s syndrome) associated with repeated punctal plug loss were treated using MBSP to create a synechia between the upper and lower lid medial borders of the puncta to suppress the lacrimal pump.ResultsPostoperative follow-up showed improvement in the corneal condition in all three cases that persisted for 12–35 months. None of the patients had visual impairment.ConclusionMBSP is a promising treatment for severe dry eye and merits further study.

No abstract