Development of practical lithium(Li)metal batteries(LMBs)remains challenging despite promises of Li metal anodes(LMAs),owing to Li dendrite formation and highly reactive surface nature.Polyolefin separators used in LM...Development of practical lithium(Li)metal batteries(LMBs)remains challenging despite promises of Li metal anodes(LMAs),owing to Li dendrite formation and highly reactive surface nature.Polyolefin separators used in LMBs may undergo severe mechanical and chemical deterioration when contacting with LMAs.To identify the best polyolefin separator for LMBs,this study investigated the separator-deterministic cycling stability of LMBs under practical conditions,and redefined the key influencing factors,including pore structure,mechanical stability,and chemical affinity,using 12 different commercial separators,including polyethylene(PE),polypropylene(PP),and coated separators.At extreme compression triggered by LMA swelling,isotropic stress release by balancing the machine direction and transverse direction tensile strengths was found to be crucial for mitigating cell short-circuiting.Instead of PP separators,a PE separator that possesses a high elastic modulus and a highly connected pore structure can uniformly regulate LMA swelling.The ceramic coating reinforced short-circuiting resistance,while the cycling efficiency degraded rapidly owing to the detrimental interactions between ceramics and LMAs.This study identified the design principle of separators for practical LMBs with respect to mechanical stability and chemical affinity toward LMAs by elucidating the impacts of separator modification on the cycling performance.展开更多
Cyberattacks targeting industrial control systems(ICS)are becoming more sophisticated and advanced than in the past.A programmable logic controller(PLC),a core component of ICS,controls and monitors sensors and actuat...Cyberattacks targeting industrial control systems(ICS)are becoming more sophisticated and advanced than in the past.A programmable logic controller(PLC),a core component of ICS,controls and monitors sensors and actuators in the field.However,PLC has memory attack threats such as program injection and manipulation,which has long been a major target for attackers,and it is important to detect these attacks for ICS security.To detect PLC memory attacks,a security system is required to acquire and monitor PLC memory directly.In addition,the performance impact of the security system on the PLC makes it difficult to apply to the ICS.To address these challenges,this paper proposes a system to detect PLC memory attacks by continuously acquiring and monitoring PLC memory.The proposed system detects PLC memory attacks by acquiring the program blocks and block information directly from the same layer as the PLC and then comparing them in bytes with previous data.Experiments with Siemens S7-300 and S7-400 PLC were conducted to evaluate the PLC memory detection performance and performance impact on PLC.The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system detects all malicious organization block(OB)injection and data block(DB)manipulation,and the increment of PLC cycle time,the impact on PLC performance,was less than 1 ms.The proposed system detects PLC memory attacks with a simpler detection method than earlier studies.Furthermore,the proposed system can be applied to ICS with a small performance impact on PLC.展开更多
Dear Editor,In treating autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis(RA),the ultimate goals are resolving inflammation and establishing peripheral tolerance.These processes are closely associated with efferocytosis,t...Dear Editor,In treating autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis(RA),the ultimate goals are resolving inflammation and establishing peripheral tolerance.These processes are closely associated with efferocytosis,the clearance of apoptotic cells and debris by phagocytes in inflamed tissue,which fosters the reprogramming of efferocytic cells to an anti-inflammatory and repair-oriented phenotype while silencing inflammatory signaling cues and antigen presentation.Thus,efferocytosis-modulatory molecules have emerged as therapeutic targets to boost immune resolution.Salt-inducible kinases(SIKs)regulate intracellular signaling and transcriptional machinery.However,the roles of SIKs in efferocytosis and RA immune responses have not been investigated.展开更多
In this study,we introduce and experimentally validate,to our knowledge,a new type of terahertz(THz)fiber waveguide.The waveguide features a core made from petroleum jelly(commonly known as Vaseline)and a cladding mad...In this study,we introduce and experimentally validate,to our knowledge,a new type of terahertz(THz)fiber waveguide.The waveguide features a core made from petroleum jelly(commonly known as Vaseline)and a cladding made of holey polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE),also known as Teflon.Since the core is biocompatible and the cladding is safe for human use,this design has promising applications for biocompatible probes in the THz range.We rigorously analyzed the transmission properties of the waveguide using the finite element method(FEM)and followed up with experimental validation using a THz time-domain spectroscopy(THz-TDS)system.The fiber supports single-mode operation for frequencies below 0.9 THz and demonstrates low-loss transmission of THz waves,even when tightly bent.For instance,with a bending radius as small as 1.61 cm,the fiber exhibited minimal losses of 0.23 dB/cm at 0.2 THz and 0.27 dB/cm at 0.5 THz,surpassing previous technical limitations.Another key advantage is the strong confinement of the THz waves within the petroleum jelly core,which helps maintain low dispersion and ensures stable pulse transmission,even under tight bends.The exceptional stability and flexibility of this biocompatible THz fiber make it highly suitable for sensing and imaging applications in confined,flexible environments,including potential uses within the human body.展开更多
The infarcted heart undergoes irreversible pathological remodeling after reperfusion involving left ventricle dilation and excessive inflammatory reactions in the infarcted heart,frequently leading to fatal functional...The infarcted heart undergoes irreversible pathological remodeling after reperfusion involving left ventricle dilation and excessive inflammatory reactions in the infarcted heart,frequently leading to fatal functional damage.Extensive attempts have been made to attenuate pathological remodeling in infarcted hearts using cardiac patches and anti-inflammatory drug delivery.In this study,we developed a paintable and adhesive hydrogel patch using dextran-aldehyde(dex-ald)and gelatin,incorporating the anti-inflammatory protein,ANGPTL4,into the hydrogel for sustained release directly to the infarcted heart to alleviate inflammation.We optimized the material composition,including polymer concentration and molecular weight,to achieve a paintable,adhesive hydrogel using 10%gelatin and 5%dex-ald,which displayed in-situ gel formation within 135 s,cardiac tissue-like modulus(40.5 kPa),suitable tissue adhesiveness(4.3 kPa),and excellent mechanical stability.ANGPTL4 was continuously released from the gelatin/dex-ald hydrogel without substantial burst release.The gelatin/dex-ald hydrogel could be conveniently painted onto the beating heart and degraded in vivo.Moreover,in vivo studies using animal models of acute myocardial infarction revealed that our hydrogel cardiac patch containing ANGPTL4 significantly improved heart tissue repair,evaluated by echocardiography and histological evaluation.The heart tissues treated with ANGPTL4-loaded hydrogel patches exhibited increased vascularization,reduced inflammatory macrophages,and structural maturation of cardiac cells.Our novel hydrogel system,which allows for facile paintability,appropriate tissue adhesiveness,and sustained release of anti-inflammatory drugs,will serve as an effective platform for the repair of various tissues,including heart,muscle,and cartilage.展开更多
Distinct neutrophil populations arise during certain pathological conditions.The generation of dysfunctional neutrophils during sepsis and their contribution to septicemia-related systemic immune suppression remain un...Distinct neutrophil populations arise during certain pathological conditions.The generation of dysfunctional neutrophils during sepsis and their contribution to septicemia-related systemic immune suppression remain unclear.In this study,using an experimental sepsis model that features immunosuppression,we identified a novel population of pathogenic CD200R^(high) neutrophils that are generated during the initial stages of sepsis and contribute to systemic immune suppression by enhancing regulatory T(T_(reg))cells.Compared to their CD200R^(low)counterparts,sepsis-generated CD200Rhigh neutrophils exhibit impaired autophagy and dysfunction,with reduced chemotactic migration,superoxide anion production,and TNF-αproduction.Increased soluble CD200 blocks autophagy and neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow during experimental sepsis,and recombinant CD200 treatment in vitro can induce neutrophil dysfunction similar to that observed in CD200R^(high) neutrophils.The administration of anα-CD200R antibody effectively reversed neutrophil dysfunction by enhancing autophagy and protecting against a secondary infection challenge,leading to increased survival.Transcriptome analysis revealed that CD200R^(high) neutrophils expressed high levels of Igf1,which elicits the generation of Treg cells,while the administration of anα-CD200R antibody inhibited Treg cell generation in a secondary infection model.Taken together,our findings revealed a novel CD200R^(high) neutrophil population that mediates the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced systemic immunosuppression by generating Treg cells.展开更多
Volumetric muscle loss(VML)frequently results from traumatic incidents and can lead to severe functional disabilities.Hydrogels have been widely employed for VML tissue regeneration,which are unfortunately ineffective...Volumetric muscle loss(VML)frequently results from traumatic incidents and can lead to severe functional disabilities.Hydrogels have been widely employed for VML tissue regeneration,which are unfortunately ineffective because of the lack of intimate contact with injured tissue for structural and mechanical support.Adhesive hydrogels allow for strong tissue connections for wound closure.Nevertheless,conventional adhesive hydrogels exhibit poor tissue adhesion in moist,bleeding wounds due to the hydration layer at the tissue–hydrogel interfaces,resulting in insufficient performance.In this study,we developed a novel,biocompatible,wet tissue adhesive powder hydrogel consisting of dextran-aldehyde(dex-ald)and gelatin for the regeneration of VML.This powder absorbs the interfacial tissue fluid and buffer solution on the tissue,spontaneously forms a hydrogel,and strongly adheres to the tissue via various molecular interactions,including the Schiff base reaction.In particular,the powder composition with a 1:4 ratio of dex-ald to gelatin exhibited optimal characteristics with an appropriate gelation time(258 s),strong tissue adhesion(14.5 kPa),and stability.Dex-ald/gelatin powder hydrogels presented strong adhesion to various organs and excellent hemostasis compared to other wet hydrogels and fibrin glue.A mouse VML injury model revealed that the dex-ald/gelatin powder hydrogel significantly improved muscle regeneration,reduced fibrosis,enhanced vascularization,and decreased inflammation.Consequently,our wet-adhesive powder hydrogel can serve as an effective platform for repairing various tissues,including the heart,muscle,and nerve tissues.展开更多
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF),Government of Korea(MSIT)(2020R1A4A4079810 and 2020R1C1C1009159).
文摘Development of practical lithium(Li)metal batteries(LMBs)remains challenging despite promises of Li metal anodes(LMAs),owing to Li dendrite formation and highly reactive surface nature.Polyolefin separators used in LMBs may undergo severe mechanical and chemical deterioration when contacting with LMAs.To identify the best polyolefin separator for LMBs,this study investigated the separator-deterministic cycling stability of LMBs under practical conditions,and redefined the key influencing factors,including pore structure,mechanical stability,and chemical affinity,using 12 different commercial separators,including polyethylene(PE),polypropylene(PP),and coated separators.At extreme compression triggered by LMA swelling,isotropic stress release by balancing the machine direction and transverse direction tensile strengths was found to be crucial for mitigating cell short-circuiting.Instead of PP separators,a PE separator that possesses a high elastic modulus and a highly connected pore structure can uniformly regulate LMA swelling.The ceramic coating reinforced short-circuiting resistance,while the cycling efficiency degraded rapidly owing to the detrimental interactions between ceramics and LMAs.This study identified the design principle of separators for practical LMBs with respect to mechanical stability and chemical affinity toward LMAs by elucidating the impacts of separator modification on the cycling performance.
基金supported by the Korea WESTERN POWER(KOWEPO)(2022-Commissioned Research-11,Development of Cyberattack Detection Technology for New and Renewable Energy Control System Using AI(Artificial Intelligence),50%)the Institute of Information&Communications Technology Planning&Evaluation(IITP)grant funded by the Korea government(MSIT)(No.2021-0-01806,Development of Security by Design and Security Management Technology in Smart Factory,40%)the Gachon University Research Fund of 2023(GCU-202110280001,10%).
文摘Cyberattacks targeting industrial control systems(ICS)are becoming more sophisticated and advanced than in the past.A programmable logic controller(PLC),a core component of ICS,controls and monitors sensors and actuators in the field.However,PLC has memory attack threats such as program injection and manipulation,which has long been a major target for attackers,and it is important to detect these attacks for ICS security.To detect PLC memory attacks,a security system is required to acquire and monitor PLC memory directly.In addition,the performance impact of the security system on the PLC makes it difficult to apply to the ICS.To address these challenges,this paper proposes a system to detect PLC memory attacks by continuously acquiring and monitoring PLC memory.The proposed system detects PLC memory attacks by acquiring the program blocks and block information directly from the same layer as the PLC and then comparing them in bytes with previous data.Experiments with Siemens S7-300 and S7-400 PLC were conducted to evaluate the PLC memory detection performance and performance impact on PLC.The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system detects all malicious organization block(OB)injection and data block(DB)manipulation,and the increment of PLC cycle time,the impact on PLC performance,was less than 1 ms.The proposed system detects PLC memory attacks with a simpler detection method than earlier studies.Furthermore,the proposed system can be applied to ICS with a small performance impact on PLC.
基金supported by the Basic Science Research Program Planning(NRF-2018R1A5A2024418,RS-2020-NR046219,NRF-2021R1I1A1A01053114,RS-2024-00456194)through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by the Ministry of Science,ICT,and Future Planningby the Research Grant(860-20240137)funded by School of Dentistry,Seoul National University.
文摘Dear Editor,In treating autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis(RA),the ultimate goals are resolving inflammation and establishing peripheral tolerance.These processes are closely associated with efferocytosis,the clearance of apoptotic cells and debris by phagocytes in inflamed tissue,which fosters the reprogramming of efferocytic cells to an anti-inflammatory and repair-oriented phenotype while silencing inflammatory signaling cues and antigen presentation.Thus,efferocytosis-modulatory molecules have emerged as therapeutic targets to boost immune resolution.Salt-inducible kinases(SIKs)regulate intracellular signaling and transcriptional machinery.However,the roles of SIKs in efferocytosis and RA immune responses have not been investigated.
基金Institute of Information Communications Technology Planning Evaluation(2022-0-01029,RS-2022-II221044)National Research Foundation(2023R1A2C1007165)。
文摘In this study,we introduce and experimentally validate,to our knowledge,a new type of terahertz(THz)fiber waveguide.The waveguide features a core made from petroleum jelly(commonly known as Vaseline)and a cladding made of holey polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE),also known as Teflon.Since the core is biocompatible and the cladding is safe for human use,this design has promising applications for biocompatible probes in the THz range.We rigorously analyzed the transmission properties of the waveguide using the finite element method(FEM)and followed up with experimental validation using a THz time-domain spectroscopy(THz-TDS)system.The fiber supports single-mode operation for frequencies below 0.9 THz and demonstrates low-loss transmission of THz waves,even when tightly bent.For instance,with a bending radius as small as 1.61 cm,the fiber exhibited minimal losses of 0.23 dB/cm at 0.2 THz and 0.27 dB/cm at 0.5 THz,surpassing previous technical limitations.Another key advantage is the strong confinement of the THz waves within the petroleum jelly core,which helps maintain low dispersion and ensures stable pulse transmission,even under tight bends.The exceptional stability and flexibility of this biocompatible THz fiber make it highly suitable for sensing and imaging applications in confined,flexible environments,including potential uses within the human body.
基金supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by the Ministry of Science,ICT,and Future Planning(NRF-2021M3H4A1A04092882 and NRF-2021R1A4A3025206).
文摘The infarcted heart undergoes irreversible pathological remodeling after reperfusion involving left ventricle dilation and excessive inflammatory reactions in the infarcted heart,frequently leading to fatal functional damage.Extensive attempts have been made to attenuate pathological remodeling in infarcted hearts using cardiac patches and anti-inflammatory drug delivery.In this study,we developed a paintable and adhesive hydrogel patch using dextran-aldehyde(dex-ald)and gelatin,incorporating the anti-inflammatory protein,ANGPTL4,into the hydrogel for sustained release directly to the infarcted heart to alleviate inflammation.We optimized the material composition,including polymer concentration and molecular weight,to achieve a paintable,adhesive hydrogel using 10%gelatin and 5%dex-ald,which displayed in-situ gel formation within 135 s,cardiac tissue-like modulus(40.5 kPa),suitable tissue adhesiveness(4.3 kPa),and excellent mechanical stability.ANGPTL4 was continuously released from the gelatin/dex-ald hydrogel without substantial burst release.The gelatin/dex-ald hydrogel could be conveniently painted onto the beating heart and degraded in vivo.Moreover,in vivo studies using animal models of acute myocardial infarction revealed that our hydrogel cardiac patch containing ANGPTL4 significantly improved heart tissue repair,evaluated by echocardiography and histological evaluation.The heart tissues treated with ANGPTL4-loaded hydrogel patches exhibited increased vascularization,reduced inflammatory macrophages,and structural maturation of cardiac cells.Our novel hydrogel system,which allows for facile paintability,appropriate tissue adhesiveness,and sustained release of anti-inflammatory drugs,will serve as an effective platform for the repair of various tissues,including heart,muscle,and cartilage.
基金supported by Basic Science Research Program(NRF-2020M3A9D3038435,NRF-2017R1A5A1014560)the Korea Initiative for Fostering the University of Research and Innovation Program(NRF-2020M3H1A1077095)+1 种基金through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by the Ministry of Science,ICT and Future Planning and by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute(KHIDI)funded by the Ministry of Health&Welfare,Republic of Korea(grant number:HI22C2004).
文摘Distinct neutrophil populations arise during certain pathological conditions.The generation of dysfunctional neutrophils during sepsis and their contribution to septicemia-related systemic immune suppression remain unclear.In this study,using an experimental sepsis model that features immunosuppression,we identified a novel population of pathogenic CD200R^(high) neutrophils that are generated during the initial stages of sepsis and contribute to systemic immune suppression by enhancing regulatory T(T_(reg))cells.Compared to their CD200R^(low)counterparts,sepsis-generated CD200Rhigh neutrophils exhibit impaired autophagy and dysfunction,with reduced chemotactic migration,superoxide anion production,and TNF-αproduction.Increased soluble CD200 blocks autophagy and neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow during experimental sepsis,and recombinant CD200 treatment in vitro can induce neutrophil dysfunction similar to that observed in CD200R^(high) neutrophils.The administration of anα-CD200R antibody effectively reversed neutrophil dysfunction by enhancing autophagy and protecting against a secondary infection challenge,leading to increased survival.Transcriptome analysis revealed that CD200R^(high) neutrophils expressed high levels of Igf1,which elicits the generation of Treg cells,while the administration of anα-CD200R antibody inhibited Treg cell generation in a secondary infection model.Taken together,our findings revealed a novel CD200R^(high) neutrophil population that mediates the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced systemic immunosuppression by generating Treg cells.
基金supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by the Ministry of Science,ICT,and Future Planning(2021M3H4A1A04092882 and 2023R1A2C2002802).
文摘Volumetric muscle loss(VML)frequently results from traumatic incidents and can lead to severe functional disabilities.Hydrogels have been widely employed for VML tissue regeneration,which are unfortunately ineffective because of the lack of intimate contact with injured tissue for structural and mechanical support.Adhesive hydrogels allow for strong tissue connections for wound closure.Nevertheless,conventional adhesive hydrogels exhibit poor tissue adhesion in moist,bleeding wounds due to the hydration layer at the tissue–hydrogel interfaces,resulting in insufficient performance.In this study,we developed a novel,biocompatible,wet tissue adhesive powder hydrogel consisting of dextran-aldehyde(dex-ald)and gelatin for the regeneration of VML.This powder absorbs the interfacial tissue fluid and buffer solution on the tissue,spontaneously forms a hydrogel,and strongly adheres to the tissue via various molecular interactions,including the Schiff base reaction.In particular,the powder composition with a 1:4 ratio of dex-ald to gelatin exhibited optimal characteristics with an appropriate gelation time(258 s),strong tissue adhesion(14.5 kPa),and stability.Dex-ald/gelatin powder hydrogels presented strong adhesion to various organs and excellent hemostasis compared to other wet hydrogels and fibrin glue.A mouse VML injury model revealed that the dex-ald/gelatin powder hydrogel significantly improved muscle regeneration,reduced fibrosis,enhanced vascularization,and decreased inflammation.Consequently,our wet-adhesive powder hydrogel can serve as an effective platform for repairing various tissues,including the heart,muscle,and nerve tissues.
