Gel polymer electrolytes based on sulfonamide functional polymer nanoparticles for sodium metal batteries.

In this work, we investigate the development of polymer electrolytes for sodium batteries based on sulfonamide functional polymer nanoparticles (NaNPs). The synthesis of the polymer NaNPs is carried out by emulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and sodium sulfonamide methacrylate in the presence of a crosslinker, resulting in particle sizes of 50 nm, as shown by electron microscopy. Then, gel polymer electrolytes are prepared by mixing polymer NPs and different organic plasticizers including carbonates, glymes, sulfolanes and ionic liquids.

Internal validation of a convolutional neural network pipeline for assessing meibomian gland structure from meibography.

Significance: Optimal meibography utilization and interpretation are hindered due to poor lid presentation, blurry images, or image artifacts and the challenges of applying clinical grading scales. These results, using the largest image dataset analyzed to date, demonstrate development of algorithms that provide standardized, real-time inference that addresses all of these limitations.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and validate an algorithmic pipeline to automate and standardize meibomian gland absence assessment and interpretation.

Maintaining hexagonal structures through interfacial positioning of crosslinkers for nanofiltration.

Hypothesis: Optimizing interfacial positioning of crosslinkers within a reactive self-assembled hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystals (HLLC) system could assist in retaining the hexagonal structure during polymerization and thereby improving water filtration performances of the as-synthesized nanofiltration membranes.

Experiments: The positioning of the hydrophilic crosslinker, poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), within the reactive HLLC system was systematically investigated using H and C solid nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. The structural variation and water filtration performances of these HLLC systems with/without crosslinkers after polymerization were further studied using grazing incidence SAXS (GISAXS) and crossflow filtration tests, respectively.

Poly(Ionic Liquid) Electrolytes at an Extreme Salt Concentration for Solid-State Batteries.

Polymer-in-salt electrolytes were introduced three decades ago as an innovative solution to the challenge of low Li-ion conductivity in solvent-free solid polymer electrolytes. Despite significant progress, the approach still faces considerable challenges, ranging from a fundamental understanding to the development of suitable polymers and salts. A critical issue is maintaining both the stability and high conductivity of molten salts within a polymer matrix, which has constrained their further exploration.

Structure and Dynamics in Solid Electrolyte Composites of the Organic Ionic Plastic Crystal HMGFSI and Lithium Sulphonamide Functional Acrylate Polymer Nanoparticles.

Solid electrolyte composites between organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs) and polymers can potentially show enhanced mechanical properties and ion conduction. These properties can be determined by the formation of interfacial regions which affect the structure, thermal properties, and ion transport of the composite material. Here we studied the properties of composites between the OIPC hexamethylguanidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (HMGFSI) and acrylate polymer nanoparticles functionalised with lithium, using various techniques including solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Effect of Acute Alcohol Consumption in a Novel Rodent Model of Decision Making.

Background: Alcohol use, especially at high consumption levels, can lead to irrational decision-making. In humans, this can lead to harmful outcomes often seen in the context of driving under the influence and or aggressive behavior. To date, the field is lacking comprehensive animal models to examine the impact of alcohol use on decision making in rodents, particularly to examine sex differences in choice behavior.

Advanced High-Voltage Electrolyte Design Using Poly(ethylene Oxide) and High-Concentration Ionic Liquids for All-Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries.

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are among the most promising materials for solid-state lithium metal batteries (LMBs) due to their inherent safety advantages; however, they suffer from insufficient room-temperature ionic conductivity (up to 10 S cm) and limited oxidation stability (<4 V). In this study, a novel "polymer-in-high-concentrated ionic liquid (IL)" (PiHCIL) electrolyte composed of PEO, -propyl--methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl) imide (CmpyrFSI) IL, and LiFSI is designed. The EO/[Li/IL] ratio has been widely varied, and physical and electrochemical properties have been explored.

A review of brain structural and functional changes using MRI technology in patients who received bariatric surgery.

According to the World Health Organization, obesity is one of the most significant health issues currently because it increases risk for type 2 diabetes and cancer, heart disease, bone health, reproduction, and quality of living and it impacts approximately 500 million adults worldwide. This review analyzed the existing literature focusing on the effects of Metabolic and bariatric surgeries (MBS), including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy on changes in brain function and anatomy using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. A PubMed search using the key words bariatric surgery and MRI conducted in December 2023 resulted in 544 articles.

Model of a striatal circuit exploring biological mechanisms underlying decision-making during normal and disordered states.

Unlabelled: Decision-making requires continuous adaptation to internal and external contexts. Changes in decision-making are reliable transdiagnostic symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders. We created a computational model demonstrating how the striosome compartment of the striatum constructs a mathematical space for decision-making computations depending on context, and how the matrix compartment defines action value depending on the space.

Human relevance of in vivo and in vitro skin irritation tests for hazard classification of pesticides.

Test methods to inform hazard characterization and labeling of pesticides to protect human health are typically conducted using laboratory animals, and for skin irritation/corrosion the rabbit Draize test is currently required by many regulatory agencies. Although the Draize test is generally regarded to provide protective classifications for human health, new approach methodologies (NAMs) have been developed that offer more human relevant models that circumvent the uncertainty associated with species differences that exist between rabbits and humans. Despite wide applicability and use of these test methods across a broad range of chemicals, they have not been widely adopted for testing pesticides and pesticidal formulations.

Enhancing Cycle Life of Rechargeable Zinc Hybrid Batteries in a Low-Cost, Nonfluorinated Dual-Cation Electrolyte.

Rechargeable zinc batteries (RZBs) are highly attractive as energy storage solutions due to their low cost and sustainability. Nevertheless, the use of fluorine-free zinc electrolyte systems to create affordable, ecofriendly, and safe RZBs has been largely overlooked in the battery community. Previously, we showcased the utilization of a fluorine-free, nonaqueous electrolyte comprising zinc dicyanamide (Zn(dca)) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to enable the electrochemical cycling of zinc.

The influence of ovarian hormones on the putative mechanisms that promote female nicotine use.

Nicotine use is driven by pleasurable effects, but following chronic exposure, nicotine use becomes largely driven by the desire need to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Current cessation strategies focusing on alleviating withdrawal, but current cessation interventions are less effective for women than men. Also, hormone fluctuations across the menstrual cycle appear to impact use patterns, withdrawal severity, and treatment efficacy.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Contributing to the Training and Diversity of the Public Health and Health Care Workforce.

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), a Hispanic Serving and Carnegie R1 institution, serves as a pathway for socioeconomically diverse Hispanic/Latino (H/L) health profession students via equal-access strategies. The Center for Institutional Evaluation, Research, and Planning data illustrates UTEP's success in graduating H/L health professionals (i.e.

A case study using spectroscopy and computational modelling for Co speciation in a deep eutectic solvent.

Cobalt has a vital role in the manufacturing of reliable and sustainable clean energy technologies. However, the forecasted supply deficit for cobalt is likely to reach values of 150 kT by 2030. Therefore, it is paramount to consider end-of-life devices as secondary resources for cobalt.

RECORD, a high-throughput, customizable system that unveils behavioral strategies leveraged by rodents during foraging-like decision-making.

Translational studies benefit from experimental designs where laboratory organisms use human-relevant behaviors. One such behavior is decision-making, however studying complex decision-making in rodents is labor-intensive and typically restricted to two levels of cost/reward. We design a fully automated, inexpensive, high-throughput framework to study decision-making across multiple levels of rewards and costs: the REward-COst in Rodent Decision-making (RECORD) system.

Impact of optimised quasi-block structures on the properties of polymer electrolytes.

A set of ionic quasi-block copolymers were investigated to determine the effects of their composition and structure on their performance in their application as solid-state battery electrolytes. Diffusion and electrochemical tests have shown that these new quasi-block electrolytes have comparable performance to traditional block copolymers reaching ionic conductivities of 3.8 × 10 S cm and lithium-ion diffusion of 4.

Understanding Polymerized Ionic Liquids as Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Sodium Batteries.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have emerged as promising candidates for sodium-based batteries due to their cost-effectiveness and excellent flexibility. However, achieving high ionic conductivity and desirable mechanical properties in SPEs remains a challenge. In this study, we investigated an AB diblock copolymer, PS-PEA(BuImTFSI), as a potential SPE for sodium batteries.

Insights into the Carbon Dioxide Separation Performance of Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide-based Plastic Crystal Composite Membranes with Fluorinated Polar Polymers.

Membrane-based gas separation technologies are one solution towards mitigating global emissions of CO. New membrane materials with improved separation performance are still highly sought after. Composite membranes based on organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs) have shown preferential interaction for CO over N, leading in some cases to competitive CO/N selectivities.

Defined approaches to classify agrochemical formulations into EPA hazard categories developed using EpiOcular reconstructed human corneal epithelium and bovine corneal opacity and permeability assays.

Many sectors have seen complete replacement of the rabbit eye test with reproducible and relevant and methods to assess the eye corrosion/irritation potential of chemicals. However, the rabbit eye test remains the standard test used for agrochemical formulations in some countries. Therefore, two defined approaches (DAs) for assessing conventional agrochemical formulations were developed, using the EpiOcular Eye Irritation Test (EIT) [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guideline (TG) 492] and the Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability (OECD TG 437; BCOP) test with histopathology.

Atomic Layer Deposition of the Geometry Separated Lewis and Brønsted Acid Sites for Cascade Glucose Conversion.

Solid acid catalysts with bi-acidity are promising as workhouse catalysts in biorefining to produce high-quality chemicals and fuels. Herein, we report a new strategy to develop bi-acidic cascade catalysts by separating both acid sites in geometry via the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Lewis acidic alumina on Brønsted acidic supports. Visualized by transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy mapping, the ALD-deposited alumina forms a conformal alumina domain with a thickness of around 3 nm on the outermost surface of mesoporous silica-alumina.

Withdrawal from repeated nicotine vapor exposure increases somatic signs of physical dependence, anxiety-like behavior, and brain reward thresholds in adult male rats.

Nicotine vapor consumption via electronic nicotine delivery systems has increased over the last decade. While prior work has shed light on the health effects of nicotine vapor inhalation, its unique effects on the brain and behavior have not been thoroughly explored. In this study we assessed markers of withdrawal following 14 days of nicotine vapor exposure.

Lyotropic Liquid Crystal (LLC)-Templated Nanofiltration Membranes by Precisely Administering LLC/Substrate Interfacial Structure.

Mesoporous materials based on lyotropic liquid crystal templates with precisely defined and flexible nanostructures offer an alluring solution to the age-old challenge of water scarcity. In contrast, polyamide (PA)-based thin-film composite (TFC) membranes have long been hailed as the state of the art in desalination. They grapple with a common trade-off between permeability and selectivity.

New organic ionic plastic crystals utilizing the morpholinium cation.

Organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs) are emerging candidates as safer, quasi solid-state ion conductors for various applications, especially for next-generation batteries. However, a fundamental understanding of these OIPC materials is required, particularly concerning how the choice of cation and anion can affect the electrolyte properties. Here, we report the synthesis and characterisation of a range of new morpholinium-based OIPCs and demonstrate the benefit of the ether functional group in the cation ring.

TFOS Lifestyle: Impact of cosmetics on the ocular surface.

In this report the use of eye cosmetic products and procedures and how this represents a lifestyle challenge that may exacerbate or promote the development of ocular surface and adnexal disease is discussed. Multiple aspects of eye cosmetics are addressed, including their history and market value, psychological and social impacts, possible problems associated with cosmetic ingredients, products, and procedures, and regulations for eye cosmetic use. In addition, a systematic review that critically appraises randomized controlled trial evidence concerning the ocular effects of eyelash growth products is included.