IntroductionMild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common in children and adolescents and frequently accompanied by transient cognitive and emotional disturbances. While pediatric mTBI can shape subsequent brain maturation, its impact on neurodevelopmental trajectories remains poorly understood, particularly regarding hippocampal microstructure, a region critical for memory and highly vulnerable to brain injury.MethodsUsing restriction spectrum imaging (RSI) data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study®; n = 4,399), this study aimed to characterize hippocampal microstructural alterations in adolescents (aged 11–12 years) with a history of mTBI and to examine their associations with verbal learning and memory performance on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Sex-stratified analyses were performed considering potential sex differences in vulnerability and responses to brain injury. History of mTBI was assessed using the modified Ohio State University TBI Screen-Short Version, a retrospective parent report.ResultsMale adolescents with a history of mTBI exhibited higher hippocampal restricted normalized diffusion (RND) than their peers without mTBI (Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.02), whereas no group differences were observed in females. Within the male mTBI group, higher hippocampal RND was positively associated with both immediate (p = 0.01) and delayed (p = 0.04) recall scores on the RAVLT, suggesting potential adaptive or reparative neuroplastic processes following injury.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate sex-specific hippocampal microstructural alterations in young adolescents with a history of mTBI, highlighting potential neuroplastic adaptations during development. Although causal inference is limited given the cross-sectional design of the analysis, and mTBI history was based on retrospective parent report, the results underscore the importance of considering sex differences in recovery mechanisms and may inform future efforts to identify neuroimaging biomarkers that predict recovery trajectories and guide targeted interventions.

Background Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are an acute public health issue, particularly among US Veterans. The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide posits that unmet interpersonal needs, specifically thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB) contribute to desire for death by suicide and increased suicidal ideation (SI). However, little is known about the neurochemical correlates of TB and PB. Prior research using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has implicated glutamate (Glu) and glutamine (Gln), as well as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), in SI and related psychiatric disorders. The current study sought to examine the relationship between thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness and concentrations of Gln, Glu, and GABA in US Veterans with and without a history of SI. Methods In this preliminary exploratory study, 25 US Veterans underwent a two-dimensional J-resolved 1H-MRS exam to measure in vivo concentrations of Gln, Glu, and GABA in the anterior cingulate cortex. Veterans also completed the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale to characterize lifetime history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire to measure TB and PB. Results Reduced Gln/water was associated with increased TB and PB scores. Reduced Gln/Glu was associated with increased TB scores. Veterans with a lifetime history of SI also exhibited reduced Gln/water and Gln/Glu. Follow-up regression models showed that neither TB, PB, nor SI history were uniquely associated with Gln, but TB was uniquely associated with Gln/Glu. Conclusion Results provide preliminary evidence that TB and PB may be linked to abnormalities in Gln. This work further integrates biological and psychosocial perspectives on SI.

The increasing demand for Li-ion batteries across various energy storage applications underscores the urgent need for environmentally friendly and efficient direct recycling strategies to address the issue of substantial cathode waste. Diverse reducing agents for Li supplements, such as quinone molecules, have been considered to homogenize the Li distribution in the cathode materials obtained after cycling; however, the detailed reaction mechanism is still unknown. Herein, the ideal electrochemical potential factor and reaction mechanism of the redox mediator 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone (DTBQ) for the chemical relithiation of high-Ni-layered cathodes are elucidated. Here, 100% efficiency of DTBQ-assisted chemical relithiation is achieved by adjusting the direct immersion time of Li-deficient cathode electrodes. The reversible reaction features of the physical and chemical structures of both the regenerated cathodes and the DTBQ molecules are investigated using advanced characterization and density functional theory calculations. These findings emphasize the potential of redox-mediator-assisted chemical relithiation for realizing direct recycling processes and offer a facile and sustainable solution for battery recycling.

Recycling of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries (EoL LIBs) is essential for ensuring the sustainability of the LIB industry. In this study, we present a room-temperature compositional restoration strategy for degraded Li 𝛿 Ni 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 (NCM622) cathodes via spontaneous galvanic corrosion. Conventional lithiation of Li-deficient NCM materials typically requires strong reducing agents with redox potentials lower than 1.6 V (vs. Li/Li⁺), which are often costly and highly reactive. Here, we utilize aluminum (Al), the conventional current collector with a redox potential of 1.37 V (vs. Li/Li⁺), as an effective and economical reducing agent to drive spontaneous restoration. Moreover, through a galvanic reaction design that utilizes Li-ion in the electrolyte of spent LIBs, the additional Li source required to replenish the Li-deficient NCM is minimized. The galvanic corrosion-based restoration mechanism is systematically analyzed, and a spent Li 0.76 Ni 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 is successfully restored to its pristine state (Li 1.05 Ni 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 ). Furthermore, restoration strategies accomplishable in not only the cathode state but also the battery state are presented to ensure applicability in practical recycling processes. The proposed strategy suggests a new insight into the direct cathode recycling technology, possessing economic feasibility, and environmental friendliness.

Objective:Sleep disturbances have been linked to suicide risk, but few studies have explored these effects during the transition from childhood to adolescence. This study examined whether specific trajectories of sleep disturbance across childhood and early adolescence were associated with greater suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) for youth in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ (ABCD) Study. Method:Data from 11,864 participants in the ABCD Study® (Data Release 5.1) were used in this study. Youth STB were assessed by the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children suicidality module. The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children measured sleep disturbance. Latent class growth analysis was used to identify sleep trajectories, and Bayesian ordinal regression models were used to examine whether sleep trajectories were differentially associated with STB during 2-, 3-, and 4-year follow-up. Results:Latent class growth analysis identified 3 latent sleep profiles (low-stable, high-decreasing, and moderate-increasing). Sleep profiles with greater disturbance, including both high-decreasing (odds ratio 1.75, 95% CI [1.06, 2.89], p = .030) and moderate-increasing (odds ratio 2.34, 95% CI [1.72, 3.14], p < .001) profiles, were linked to higher likelihood of more severe STB outcomes compared with the low-stable group. Conclusion:This study identified distinct developmental trajectories of sleep disturbance across childhood and early adolescence linked to STB. Specifically, early high sleep disturbances that improved and moderate disturbances that worsened over time were both associated with greater STB severity. Difficulty falling and staying asleep and excessive sleepiness were common in both patterns. These findings highlight the need to identify and address early and/or worsening sleep problems as a potential target for suicide prevention strategies. Study registration information:Analysis Code for: "Sleep Disturbance Trajectories During Childhood and Early Adolescence Associated with Increased Suicide Risk"; https://osf.io/pf49z.

High-loading electrode engineering is a cost-effective and practical method of increasing the energy density by minimizing the content of inactive materials in the cell. However, sluggish Li-ion intercalation at the graphite anodes during the charging process results in capacity limitations and cycling deterioration. For the first time, we present herein a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) based on F-free styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). When subjected to external pressure calendaring at room temperature, PSA-SBR becomes highly sticky, enabling a solvent-free dry-coating process. This approach results in the formation of flexible, freestanding electrode films and creates an open-channel interface on the graphite surface, thereby reducing interfacial resistance. Additionally, it establishes a low-resistance solid electrolyte interphase, particularly when using a fluoroethylene carbonate additive, leading to a stable cell performance with an areal capacity of 10.6 mAh cm-2. This binder shows potential applicability to other high-loading electrodes with significant interfacial resistances.

IntroductionAn average of 17.5 Veterans died by suicide each day in 2021, highlighting the importance of research and prevention efforts aimed at suicide risk. Attentional processes have emerged as a possible predictor of suicide behaviors (SB), yet associated neural correlates remain understudied, particularly in the Veteran population.MethodsThe current study examines sustained and selective attention performance as indexed by the Ruff 2 & 7 Selective Attention Test and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) volume as they relate to SB in Veterans. A subset of Veterans also completed a structural magnetic resonance imaging protocol. Participants were grouped on history of suicidal ideation (SI), suicide attempt (SA), and no SB (HC).ResultsAnalyses from the Ruff 2 & 7 test showed that Veterans with a history of SA performed more slowly on Automatic Detection Speed (ADS) and Controlled Search Speed (CSS) compared to Veterans with SI and no SB. SI and SA group differences on ADS and CSS remained after Bonferroni correction, and CSS differences remained after controlling for depressive and anxious symptoms. There were no between-group differences on Ruff 2 & 7 Accuracy measures. When analyses were divided by sex, males with a history of SA performed more slowly than SI and HC on ADS and more slowly on CSS and Total Speed than males with a history of SI. Results remained significant after controlling for depressive and anxious symptoms. When Bonferroni corrections were applied, males with a history of SA performed more slowly on ADS, CSS, and Total Speed compared to males with a history of SI. Female Veterans with a history of SA performed more slowly than female HC on CSS only; however, these findings were no longer significant after controlling for depressive and anxious symptoms. No significant differences were found between female groups on ADS or Total Speed. Measures of left rostral ACC gray matter (GM) volume for the combined female and male Veteran sample were positively correlated with ADS and CSS scores in HC but not SA. Conversely, right rostral ACC GM volume negatively correlated with ADS and CSS scores in the SA group but not HC. Right rostral ACC white matter volume correlated positively with ADS and CSS in HC.DiscussionThese findings highlight associations between attention speed, ACC volume, and SB even after controlling for acute mood symptoms, in addition to emphasizing the importance of including sex in analyses.

Aberrant neuronal excitability in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is implicated in cognitive and affective pain processing. Such excitability may be amplified by activated circulating immune cells, including T lymphocytes, that interact with the central nervous system. Here, we conducted a study of individuals with chronic pain using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to investigate the clinical evidence for the interaction between peripheral immune activation and prefrontal excitatory-inhibitory imbalance. In thirty individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain, we assessed markers of peripheral immune activation, including soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (sCD25) levels, as well as brain metabolites, including Glx (glutamate + glutamine) to GABA + ( gamma-aminobutyric acid + macromolecules/homocarnosine) ratio in the ACC. We found that the circulating level of sCD25 was associated with prefrontal Glx/GABA +. Greater prefrontal Glx/GABA + was associated with higher pain catastrophizing, evaluative pain ratings, and anxiodepressive symptoms. Further, the interaction effect of sCD25 and prefrontal Glx/GABA + on pain catastrophizing was significant, indicating the joint association of these two markers with pain catastrophizing. Our results provide the first evidence suggesting that peripheral T cellular activation, as reflected by elevated circulating sCD25 levels, may be linked to prefrontal excitatory-inhibitory imbalance in individuals with chronic pain. The interaction between these two systems may play a role as a potential mechanism underlying pain catastrophizing. Further prospective and treatment studies are needed to elucidate the specific role of the immune and brain interaction in pain catastrophizing.

Zn‐ion batteries are fascinating owing to their inherent safety and high theoretical capacity. However, dendrite‐free growth is challenging, limiting highly stable plating for long‐life batteries. Herein, a new, conceptual ultra‐stable self‐converted scaffold (SCS) Zn anode is reported that enables dendrite‐free plating by guiding the deposition of Zn to specific areas. The SCS is naturally transformed from a zincophilic yet resistive nucleation seed. As a sufficient amount of Zn is plated onto these nucleation seeds, they undergo self‐conversion into a resistive scaffold, thereby losing their Zn affinity, and effectively directing the Zn plating toward the less resistive basal plane by repelling the electrons. The unique electrode demonstrates exceptional stability, effectively controlling dendrite‐free growth for thicknesses of up to 120 µm even in open‐plating environments with an impressive areal capacity of 60 mAh cm−2. Moreover, in full cell configuration, the SCS shows a superior long cycle‐life of 3000 cycles. The newly discovered dendrite‐free plating mechanism is also demonstrated.

Li ion batteries (LiB) offer high energy density, sufficient cycle life with low cost in energy storage industry. However, LIBs are complex systems which are not yet revealed completely for their degradation mechanism. In general, the loss of Lithium and Li plating during cycling, depletion and decomposition of the electrolyte, structural collapse of active materials and resistance increase are the most representative reasons for the degradation of LIBs. Therefore, accurate and fast diagnosis is critical for safe and long term use of batteries. To diagnose LIBs, we have focused to make degradation cells which have referred as reasons during cycling such as Li loss, Li plating. We fabricate various degradation cells as specified value and figure out the characteristic electrochemical proterties.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by a prolonged stress response to potentially life-threatening events long after the event has passed. Understanding factors related to recovery from traumatic life events may inform novel targets for intervention. There is emerging preclinical evidence that creatine (Cr), a molecule critical to brain bioenergetics, may be a neurobiological marker of stress reactivity and recovery. Method: 25 US Veterans (8 female) completed the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5, which assessed different types of traumatic events. Veterans were also asked to rate the subjective stress of each traumatic event on a 1-10 scale currently (Current Stress) and at the time the event occurred (Past Stress). Stress recovery was quantified as the difference between Current and Past Stress. Current PTSD symptoms were also assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Cr concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were measured in the anterior cingulate cortex using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Results: Higher levels of Cr were associated with self-reported stress recovery from participants' most traumatic life event. Cr was not related to number of different types of traumatic life events or current PTSD symptoms. Limitations: The sample size was relatively small. Stress recovery was measured via retrospective self-report. Future experimental work in humans should clarify the protective role of Cr in recovery from trauma. Conclusions: ACC concentrations of Cr may be an important neurochemical factor related to stress recovery. Future work should investigate Cr as a possible protective factor against the effects of traumatic stress.

Solid electrolytes are key materials in all-solid-state batteries because their ionic conductivity and stability determine battery performances, such as energy density and power density. However, most existing superionic-conducting solid electrolytes suffer from structural decompositions in moist environment, mainly due to the instability of the solid electrolytes against water, limiting their use in practical cells. Herein, we report the water stability and water-mediated synthesis of complex hydride solid electrolytes. Lithium complex hydrides containing polyanionic closo-type complex anions are dissociated into lithium cations and complex anions in an aqueous solvent without decomposition and are recrystallized to the pristine structure after the removal of water solvent. Taking advantage of this conspicuous water-stability, we propose a simple aqueous liquid-phase synthesis for lithium superionic-conducting complex hydrides. In addition, high-voltage NCM/Li all-solid-state batteries employing the complex hydride prepared by the aqueous synthesis as an anolyte exhibit good battery performance. The current study suggests that an intrinsic water-stable property of closo-type complex hydrides can be leveraged in material and battery processes under a moisture environment.

BACKGROUND:To investigate relationships among different physical health problems in a large, sociodemographically diverse sample of 9-to-10-year-old children and determine the extent to which perinatal health factors are associated with childhood physical health problems. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ (ABCD) Study (n = 7613, ages 9-to-10-years-old) to determine the associations among multiple physical health factors (e.g., prenatal complications, current physical health problems). Logistic regression models controlling for age, sex, pubertal development, household income, caregiver education, race, and ethnicity evaluated relationships between perinatal factors and childhood physical health problems. RESULTS:There were significant associations between perinatal and current physical health measures. Specifically, those who had experienced perinatal complications were more likely to have medical problems by 9-to-10 years old. Importantly, sleep disturbance co-occurred with several physical health problems across domains and developmental periods. CONCLUSION:Several perinatal health factors were associated with childhood health outcomes, highlighting the importance of understanding and potentially improving physical health in youth. Understanding the clustering of physical health problems in youth is essential to better identify which physical health problems may share underlying mechanisms. IMPACT:Using a multivariable approach, we investigated the associations between various perinatal and current health problems amongst youth. Our study highlights current health problems, such as sleep problems at 9-to-10 years old, that are associated with a cluster of factors occurring across development (e.g., low birth weight, prenatal substance exposure, pregnancy complications, current weight status, lifetime head injury). Perinatal health problems are at large, non-modifiable (in this retrospective context), however, by identifying which are associated with current health problems, we can identify potential targets for intervention and prevention efforts.

The recycling of end-of-life Li-ion batteries (EoL LIBs) is critical for maintaining the sustainable LIB industry. In this study, the compositional restoration method for degraded Li Delta Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode via spontaneous galvanic corrosion, which can be conducted at room temperature, is demonstrated. Achieving the lithiation of spent Li Delta Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 to its pristine state at room temperature requires a strong reducing agent with a redox potential lower than 1.6 V (vs Li/Li+), which is very reactive and expensive. In the designed restoration system, spontaneous restoration can be achieved by using an Aluminum (Al) current collector as a reducing agent which has sufficient reducing power (Al/Al3+, 1.37 V (vs Li/Li+)). Moreover, through a galvanic reaction design that utilizes Li-ion in the electrolyte of spent LIBs, the additional Li source required to replenish the Li-deficient NCM is minimized. The galvanic corrosion-based restoration mechanism is systematically analyzed, and a spent Li0.76Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 is successfully restored to its pristine state (Li1.05Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2). Furthermore, restoration strategies accomplishable in not only the cathode state but also the battery state are presented to ensure applicability in practical recycling processes. The proposed strategy suggests a new insight into the direct cathode recycling technology, possessing economic feasibility, and environmental friendliness.

There has been increasing interest in the role of excitatory-inhibitory balance in inducing a vicious cycle of chronic pain. One possible pathway by which excitatory-inhibitory imbalance may be associated with chronic pain involves inflammation. However, the influence of inflammation on excitatory-inhibitory balance in the central pain-processing system has not been widely explored. The current study examined the association between peripheral inflammation and the excitatory-inhibitory balance in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a key affective pain-processing brain region, in individuals with chronic pain.

Childhood overweight/obesity has been associated with negative consequences related to brain function and may involve alterations in white matter pathways important for cognitive and emotional processing. Aerobic physical activity is a promising lifestyle factor that could restore white matter alterations. However, little is known about either regional white matter alterations in children with overweight/obesity or the effects of aerobic physical activity targeting the obesity-related brain alterations in children. Using a large-scale cross-sectional population-based dataset of US children aged 9 to 10 years (n = 8019), this study explored the associations between overweight/obesity and microstructure of limbic white matter tracts, and examined whether aerobic physical activity may reduce the overweight/obesity-related white matter alterations in children. The primary outcome measure was restriction spectrum imaging (RSI)-derived white matter microstructural integrity measures. The number of days in a week that children engaged in aerobic physical activity for at least 60 minutes per day was assessed. We found that females with overweight/obesity had lower measures of integrity of the fimbria-fornix, a major limbic-hippocampal white matter tract, than their lean peers, while this difference was not significant in males. We also found a positive relationship between the number of days of aerobic physical activity completed in a week and integrity measures of the fimbria-fornix in females with overweight/obesity. Our results provide cross-sectional evidence of sex-specific microstructural alteration in the fimbria-fornix in children with overweight/obesity and suggest that aerobic physical activity may play a role in reducing this alteration. Future work should examine the causal direction of the relationship between childhood overweight/obesity and brain alterations and evaluate potential interventions to validate the effects of aerobic physical activity on this relationship.