Flux Synthesis of Alkaline-Earth Lanthanide Borates as Potential Nuclear Waste Forms.

Neodymium is typically considered the best surrogate for trivalent americium and can be used to identify Am containing materials that are likely to form. We have explored the alkaline-earth lanthanide borate phase space using alkaline-earth halide/carbonate fluxes. This resulted in the synthesis of new compounds AELn(BO)X (AE = Ca, Sr; Ln = Pr, Nd, Eu, Tb; X = Cl, Br) and AELn(BO) (AE = Sr, Ba; Ln = Pr, Nd) as well as the synthesis of two compounds of BaLn(BO)(BO) (Ln = Eu, Tb) crystallizing in a new structure type.

A novel cyclopentyl methyl ether electrolyte solvent with a unique solvation structure for subzero (-40 °C) lithium-ion batteries.

1 M LiFSI in cyclopentyl methyl ether is shown as a novel electrolyte with a unique solvation structure to form a thin robust multilayer solid electrolyte interface with an inorganic LiF-rich inner layer. Aggregates and contact ion pairs are actively formed in the solvation shell and reduced on the graphite anode during lithiation. This EC-free electrolyte provides 86.

Comparison of Nafcillin and Cefazolin for the Treatment of Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

Background: Traditionally, the antibiotic of choice for Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus related blood stream infections (MSSA-BSI) are the antistaphylococcal penicillins. Cefazolin is considered an alternative agent, with recent evidence showing similar clinical efficacy. This study further evaluates the utility of nafcillin versus cefazolin in MSSA bacteremia including high disease burden sources of infection and its impact on treatment failure.

Quantification of nitrate fate in a karst conduit using stable isotopes and numerical modeling.

Nitrate (NO⁻) fate estimates in turbulent karst pathways are lacking due, in part, to the difficulty of accessing remote subsurface environments. To address this knowledge and methodological gap, we collected NO⁻, δN, and δO data for 65 consecutive days, during a low-flow period, from within a phreatic conduit and its terminal end-point, a spring used for drinking water. To simulate nitrogen (N) fate within the karst conduit, the authors developed a numerical model of NO⁻ isotope dynamics.

Effect of Metal Substrate on Electrocatalytic Property of Palladium Nanowire Array for High Performance Ethanol Electro-Oxidation.

In this research, a high performance, ionomer-free electrocatalyst based on vertically aligned palladium (Pd) nanowire array was developed as an anode electrode toward ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in an alkaline environment. Using a one-step electrodeposition method, the Pd nanowires with controlled length were obtained by varying the electrodeposition current density and the synthesis time. Scanning electron microcopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) were employed to characterize the morphology, chemical composition, and crystal structure of the Pd nanowires.

A novel modified-indirect ELISA based on spherical body protein 4 for detecting antibody during acute and long-term infections with diverse Babesia bovis strains.

Background: Cattle persistently infected with Babesia bovis are reservoirs for intra- and inter-herd transmission. Since B. bovis is considered a persistent infection, developing a reliable, high-throughput assay that detects antibody during all stages of the infection could be pivotal for establishing better control protocols.

Validation of an improved competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect Equine arteritis virus antibody.

The objective of the present study was to validate a previously described competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) to detect antibody to Equine arteritis virus (EAV) based on GP5-specific nonneutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) 17B7(9) using the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)-recommended protocol, which includes the following 5 in-house analyses. 1) The assay was calibrated with the OIE-designated reference serum panel for EAV; 2) repeatability was evaluated within and between assay runs; 3) analytical specificity was evaluated using sera specific to related viruses; 4) analytical sensitivity was evaluated with sera from horses vaccinated with an EAV modified live virus (MLV) vaccine; and 5) the duration of cELISA antibody detection following EAV vaccination was determined. The positive cELISA cutoff of ≥35% inhibition (%I) was confirmed by receiver operating characteristic plot analysis.

Comparison of an improved competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with the World Organization for Animal Health-prescribed serum neutralization assay for detection of antibody to Equine arteritis virus.

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) causes contagious equine viral arteritis, characterized by fever, anorexia, conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, dependent edema, abortion, infrequent death in foals, and establishment of the carrier state in stallions. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) defines a horse as seropositive if the serum neutralization (SN) antibody titer is ≥1:4 to EAV. However, determining the SN titer is time-consuming and requires specific laboratory facilities, equipment, and technical expertise to perform.