Ionic liquids at electrified interfaces

Until recently, “room-temperature” (<100–150 °C) liquid-state electrochemistry was mostly electrochemistry of diluted electrolytes(1)–(4) where dissolved salt ions were surrounded by a considerable amount of solvent molecules. Highly concentrated liquid electrolytes were mostly considered in the narrow (albeit important) niche of high-temperature electrochemistry of molten inorganic salts(5-9) and in the even narrower niche of “first-generation” room temperature ionic liquids, RTILs (such as chloro-aluminates and alkylammonium nitrates).(10-14) The situation has changed dramatically in the 2000s after the discovery of new moisture- and temperature-stable RTILs.(15, 16) These days, the “later generation” RTILs attracted wide attention within the electrochemical community.(17-31) Indeed, RTILs, as a class of compounds, possess a unique combination of properties (high charge density, electrochemical stability, low/negligible volatility, tunable polarity, etc.) that make them very attractive substances from fundamental and application points of view.(32-38) Most importantly, they can mix with each other in “cocktails” of one’s choice to acquire the desired properties (e.g., wider temperature range of the liquid phase(39, 40)) and can serve as almost “universal” solvents.(37, 41, 42) It is worth noting here one of the advantages of RTILs as compared to their high-temperature molten salt (HTMS)(43) “sister-systems”.(44) In RTILs the dissolved molecules are not imbedded in a harsh high temperature environment which could be destructive for many classes of fragile (organic) molecules

Supplementary Material for: Anxiety and Coping Strategy Changes in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Initiating Fingolimod: The GRACE Prospective Study

<p>The objective of this prospective study was to assess the changes in anxiety levels, and their relationship with coping strategies over the first four months of fingolimod treatment in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Data were collected at the inclusion visit (Visit 1) and 4 months later (Visit 2). We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess the level of anxiety and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations scale to assess the coping strategies used when engaged with stressful situations. The HADS anxiety scores were compared between Visits 1 and 2, according to the preferred coping strategy. At Visit 1, half of the 198 patients included were considered to be anxious (doubtful or in a certain way). The same proportion preferentially used an avoidance-oriented strategy and one-third preferentially used an emotion-oriented strategy. The mean HADS anxiety score decreased significantly (p = 0.001) at Visit 2 (8.1 ± 4.0) compared to Visit 1 (8.8 ± 4.3), particularly in the group of patients who used an emotion-oriented strategy (p = 0.002). In conclusion, the initiation of fingolimod in patients with RRMS is followed by a decrease of anxiety levels which vary according to the coping strategy used.</p

Un arbre au désert

Cet ouvrage réunit les résultats de recherches menées sur Acada raddiana, l'un des principaux taxons spontanés du genre Acada en Afrique, et qui, malgré sa large distribution et son importance dans l'économie rurale, n'a jusqu'à présent fait l'objet d'aucune synthèse spécifique. Différentes disciplines (écologie, écophysiologie, génétique, microbiologie, entomologie, physiologie et foresterie) ont été associées pour préciser la taxonomie et la répartition géographique de ce taxon, analyser la diversité aussi bien de la plante-hôte que des micro-organismes qui lui sont associés, caractériser son fonctionnement et les interactions en milieu naturel en réponse aux facteurs eau, azote et phosphore, enfin pour réunir les éléments nécessaires à son utilisation dans les opérations de réhabilitation. Cet ouvrage, qui s'adresse aux chercheurs et aux enseignants, ainsi qu'aux organismes de développement, est divisé en cinq parties : diversités, écologie, usages; fonctionnement hydrique, phénologie ; micro-organismes associés : diversités, physiologie ; interactions Acacia-milieu ; multiplication de l'espèce : aspects fondamentaux et appliqués