Revisiting the markers interleukin-6 and glucagon-like peptide-1 for targeting low-grade inflammation in type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis and our lab experience.

Aim: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) manifests as pancreatic disorder as a consequence of low-grade systemic inflammation, attributed to upregulated levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6). This in turn is associated with a reduced incretin effect with lower circulatory GLP-1 levels. Therefore, its important to monitor the circulating IL-6 and GLP-1 levels for better management and outcomes in T2DM patients.

Polymeric ionic liquids containing copper(I) and copper(II) ions as gas chromatographic stationary phases for olefin separations.

Copper(I) ions (Cu) are used in olefin separations due to their olefin complexing ability and low cost, but their instability in the presence of water and gases limits their widespread use. Ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as stabilizers of Cu ions and prevent their degradation, providing high olefin separation efficiency. There is limited understanding into the role that polymeric ionic liquids (PILs), which possess similar structural characteristics to ILs, have on Cu ion-olefin interactions.

Degree of Cure, Microstructures, and Properties of Carbon/Epoxy Composites Processed via Frontal Polymerization.

The frontal polymerization (FP) of carbon/epoxy (C/Ep) composites is investigated, considering FP as a viable route for the additive manufacturing (AM) of thermoset composites. Neat epoxy (Ep) resin-, short carbon fiber (SCF)-, and continuous carbon fiber (CCF)-reinforced composites are considered in this study. The evolution of the exothermic reaction temperature, polymerization frontal velocity, degree of cure, microstructures, effects of fiber concentration, fracture surface, and thermal and mechanical properties are investigated.

The impact of mobility costs on cooperation and welfare in spatial social dilemmas.

From over-exploitation of resources to urban pollution, sustaining well-being requires solving social dilemmas of cooperation. Often such dilemmas are studied assuming that individuals occupy fixed positions in a network or lattice. In spatial settings, however, agents can move, and such movements involve costs.

Enlarged fistulotomy of the papilla as access to the biliary tract during ERCP.

Background: Demonstration of access to the bile duct through Enlarged Papillary Fistulotomy, a method different from conventional fistulotomy.

Aims: Demonstration of the EFP technique with dissection in layers of the papilla for accessing the common bile duct, its efficiency and safety, rescue of cases of failure in cannulation and cases of access failure by EFP in the first attempt, facilitating cannulation in the second attempt.

Methods: Cross-sectional study, with retrospective data collection from 2233 ERCP exams with 528 EFP procedures, analysis of success and complications.

Bio-based ether solvent and ionic liquid electrolyte for sustainable sodium-air batteries.

Sodium-air batteries (SABs) are receiving considerable attention for the development of next generation battery alternatives due to their high theoretical energy density (up to 1105 W h kg). However, most of the studies on this technology are still based on organic solvents; in particular, diglyme, which is highly flammable and toxic for the unborn child. To overcome these safety issues, this research investigates the first use of a branched ether solvent 1,2,3-trimethoxypropane (TMP) as an alternative electrolyte to diglyme for SABs.

Enhancing CO Transport Across a PEEK-Ionene Membrane and Water-Lean Solvent Interface.

Efficient direct air capture (DAC) of CO will require strategies to deal with the relatively low concentration in the atmosphere. One such strategy is to employ the combination of a CO -selective membrane coupled with a CO capture solvent acting as a draw solution. Here, the interactions between a leading water-lean carbon-capture solvent, a polyether ether ketone (PEEK)-ionene membrane, CO , and combinations were probed using advanced NMR techniques coupled with advanced simulations.

Comparison of olefin/paraffin separation by ionic liquid and polymeric ionic liquid stationary phases containing silver(I) ion using one-dimensional and multidimensional gas chromatography.

Silver(I) ions have been used in various studies as components within polymer membranes or ionic liquids (ILs) to enable separation of olefins from paraffins. Polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) are a class of polymers synthesized from IL monomers and typically possess higher thermal and chemical stability than the ILs from which they are formed. Until now, very little is known about the difference in strength of silver(I) ion-olefin interactions when they take place in an IL compared to a PIL.

Sex-related differences in motor control strategies during isometric contractions in the Sorensen test posture with different external loading.

Background: There is a sex-related difference in strength and endurance in trunk muscles: males have more strength while females have more endurance.

Objective: Investigate sex-related differences in motor control strategies in back muscles during isometric contractions (IC) in the Sorensen test posture.

Methods: Thirty-six healthy and young volunteers performed different tasks: three maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) tests recorded with a bio-feedback force sensor, and followed by five loaded IC (LIC) tests using bodyweight and loads of 0 to 8 kg with a 2-kg step.

1-Propyl-4(5)-Methylimidazole Isomers for Temperature Swing Solvent Extraction.

Temperature swing solvent extraction (TSSE) utilizes an amine solvent with temperature-dependent water solubility to dissolve water at a lower temperature to concentrate or crystallize the brine and the phases are separated. Then, the water in solvent mixture is heated to reduce water solubility and cause phase separation between the solvent and water. The solvent and de-salted water phases are separated, and the regenerated solvent can be recycled.

Molecular simulation of glycerol-derived triether podands for lithium ion solvation.

Solvate ionic liquids (ILs) are promising candidates for several applications due to their stability, high coulombic efficiency, and low volatility. In this work, we investigate the solvation of lithium-bistriflimide by different glycerol-derived triether solvents, using molecular dynamics simulations. Very strong interactions between Li and the solvent oxygen sites are found, leading to significant conformational changes in the solvent.

Poly(ionic liquid)s with Dicationic Pendants as Gas Separation Membranes.

Poly(norbornene)s and poly(ionic liquid)s are two different classes of attractive materials, which are known for their structural tunability and thermal stabilities, and have been extensively studied as gas separation membranes. The incorporation of ionic liquids (ILs) into the poly(norbornene) through post-polymerization has resulted in unique materials with synergistic properties. However, direct polymerization of norbornene-containing IL monomers as gas separation membranes are limited.

Blue ears: a clue to diagnosis of alkaptonuria identified via telemedicine consultation.

Alkaptonuria is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder with wide systemic involvement including pigment deposition. We present an unusual case diagnosed by an image obtained via telemedicine showing pigment deposition in the earlobe. We highlight how this clue may allow prompt diagnosis of alkaptonuria and prevent disease progression.

Emerging iongel materials towards applications in energy and bioelectronics.

In the past two decades, ionic liquids (ILs) have blossomed as versatile task-specific materials with a unique combination of properties, which can be beneficial for a plethora of different applications. The additional need of incorporating ILs into solid devices led to the development of a new class of ionic soft-solid materials, named here iongels. Nowadays, iongels cover a wide range of materials mostly composed of an IL component immobilized within different matrices such as polymers, inorganic networks, biopolymers or inorganic nanoparticles.

Understanding Gas Solubility of Pure Component and Binary Mixtures within Multivalent Ionic Liquids from Molecular Simulations.

Understanding the molecular-level solubility of CO and its mixtures is essential to the progress of gas-treating technologies. Herein, we use grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations to study the single-component gas absorption of SO, N, CH, and H and binary mixtures of CO/SO, CO/N, CO/CH, and CO/H of varying mole fractions within multivalent ionic liquids (ILs). Our results highlight the importance of the free volume effect and the anion effect when interpreting the absorption behavior of these mixtures, similar to the behavior of CO found in our previous study ( 20618-20633).

Design and Gas Separation Performance of Imidazolium Poly(ILs) Containing Multivalent Imidazolium Fillers and Crosslinking Agents.

This work introduces a series of vinyl-imidazolium-based polyelectrolyte composites, which were structurally modified via impregnation with multivalent imidazolium-benzene ionic liquids (ILs) or crosslinked with novel cationic crosslinkers which possess internal imidazolium cations and vinylimidazolium cations at the periphery. A set of eight [Cvim][TfN]-based membranes were prepared via UV-initiated free radical polymerization, including four composites containing di-, tri-, tetra-, and hexa-imidazolium benzene ILs and four crosslinked derivatives which utilized tri- and tetra- vinylimidazolium benzene crosslinking agents. Structural and functional characterizations were performed, and pure gas permeation data were collected to better understand the effects of "free" ILs dispersed in the polymeric matrix versus integrated ionic crosslinks on the transport behaviors of these thin films.

Screening Ionic Liquids Based on Ionic Volume and Electrostatic Potential Analyses.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are known to have tunable solvation properties, based on the pairing of different anions and cations, but the compositional landscape is vast and challenging to navigate efficiently. Some computational screening protocols are available, but they can be either time-consuming or difficult to implement. Herein, we perform a detailed investigation of the fundamental role of electrostatic interactions in these systems.

Solubility Behavior of CO in Ionic Liquids Based on Ionic Polarity Index Analyses.

Ionic liquids (ILs) can serve as effective CO solvents with an appropriate selection of different anions and cations. However, due to the large library of potential IL compositions, rapid screening methods are needed for characterizing and ranking the expected properties. We have recently proposed the ionic polarity index (IPI) parameter, effectively connecting volume-based approaches and electrostatic potential analyses and providing a single metric that can potentially be used to rapidly screen for desirable IL properties.

Molecular insight into the anion effect and free volume effect of CO solubility in multivalent ionic liquids.

For many years, experimental and theoretical studies have investigated the solubility of CO2 in a variety of ionic liquids (ILs), but the overarching absorption mechanism is still unclear. Currently, two different factors are believed to dominate the absorption performance: (a) the fractional free volume (FFV) accessible for absorption; and (b) the nature of the CO2 interactions with the anion species. The FFV is often more influential than the specific choice of the anion, but neither mechanism provides a complete picture.

Designing Imidazolium Poly(amide-amide) and Poly(amide-imide) Ionenes and Their Interactions with Mono- and Tris(imidazolium) Ionic Liquids.

Here we introduce the synthesis and thermal properties of a series of sophisticated imidazolium ionenes with alternating amide-amide or amide-imide backbone functionality, and investigate the structural effects of mono(imidazolium) and unprecedented tris(imidazolium) ionic liquids (ILs) in these ionenes. The new set of poly(amide-amide) (PAA) and poly(amide-imide) (PAI) ionenes represent the intersection of conventional high-performance polymers with the ionene archetype-presenting polymers with alternating functional and ionic elements precisely sequenced along the backbone. The effects of polymer composition on the thermal properties and morphology were analyzed.

Valorization of Plastic Wastes for the Synthesis of Imidazolium-Based Self-Supported Elastomeric Ionenes.

Imidazolium-based ionenes are known to be high-performance materials for a great variety of applications. The preparation of these polymers requires the use of bis-imidazole starting monomers, which are commonly prepared by using toxic chloride reagents. In this study, bis-imidazole monomers are synthesized by organocatalytic chemical recycling of discarded plastics through chemical depolymerization.

Synthesis and Performance of Aromatic Polyamide Ionenes as Gas Separation Membranes.

Here, we report the synthesis and thermophysical properties of seven primarily aromatic, imidazolium-based polyamide ionenes. The effects of varied -, -, and -connectivity, and spacing of ionic and amide functional groups, on structural and thermophysical properties were analyzed. Suitable, robust derivatives were cast into thin films, neat, or with stoichiometric equivalents of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-benzy-3-methylimidazolium bistriflimide ([Bnmim][TfN]), and the gas transport properties of these membranes were measured.

Design and Synthesis of Imidazolium-Mediated Tröger's Base-Containing Ionene Polymers for Advanced CO Separation Membranes.

It is highly desirable to integrate the CO solubility benefits of ionic liquids (ILs) in polymeric membrane systems for effective CO separations. Herein, we are exclusively exploring a series of four novel imidazolium-mediated Tröger's base (TB)-containing ionene polymers for enhanced CO separation. The two diimidazole-functionalized Tröger's base monomers synthesized from "ortho"- and "para"-substituted imidazole anilines were polymerized with equimolar amounts of two different aromatic and aliphatic comonomers (α,α'-dichloro--xylene and 1,10-dibromodecane, respectively) via Menshutkin reactions to obtain four respective ionene polymers ([Im-TB(&)-Xy][Cl] and ([Im-TB(&)-C][Br], respectively).

Molecular Transport Behavior of CO in Ionic Polyimides and Ionic Liquid Composite Membrane Materials.

Ionic polyimides (i-PI) are a new class of polymer materials that are very promising for CO capture membranes, and recent experimental studies have demonstrated their enhanced separation performance with the addition of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs). However, there is very little known about the molecular-level interactions in these systems, which give rise to interesting gas adsorption and diffusion characteristics. In this study, we use a combination of Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the equilibrium and transport properties of CO molecules in the i-PI and i-PI + IL composite materials.

Phenotypic Characterization of Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells and Derived Stromal Cell Populations from Human Iliac Crest, Vertebral Body and Femoral Head.

(1) In vitro, bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs) demonstrate inter-donor phenotypic variability, which presents challenges for the development of regenerative therapies. Here, we investigated whether the frequency of putative BMSC sub-populations within the freshly isolated mononuclear cell fraction of bone marrow is phenotypically predictive for the in vitro derived stromal cell culture. (2) Vertebral body, iliac crest, and femoral head bone marrow were acquired from 33 patients (10 female and 23 male, age range 14-91).