Ternary composite solid-state flexible supercapacitor based on nanocarbons/manganese dioxide/PEDOT:PSS fibres

Flexible fibre supercapacitors were fabricated by wet-spinning from carbon nanotube/carbon black dispersions, followed by straightforward surface treatments to sequentially deposit MnO2 and PEDOT:PSS to make ternary composite fibres. Dip coating the fibres after the initial wet-spinning coagulation creates a simple solutionbased continuous process to produce fibre-based energy storage. Well-controlled depositions were achieved and have been optimised at each stage to yield the highest specific capacitance. A single ternary composite fibre exhibited a specific capacitance of 351 F g-1. Two ternary composite fibre electrodes were assembled together in a parallel solid-state device, with polyvinyl alcohol/H3PO4 gel used as both an electrolyte and a separator. The assembled flexible device exhibited a high specific capacitance of 51.3 F g-1 with excellent both chargedischarge cycling (84.2% capacitance retention after 1000 cycles) and deformation cycling stability (82.1% capacitance retention after 1000 bending cycles).Peer ReviewedPreprin

Co-Ni-carbon flexible composite fibres for directional magnetic actuation

Flexible microcomponents are being widely employed in the microelectronic industry; however; they suffer from a lack of complex movement. To address this problem, we have developed flexible, electrically conductive, magnetic composite fibres showing complex motion in three dimensions with the capacity to be selectively actuated. Flexible carbonbased fibres were prepared by wet-spinning and were subsequently modified by electrodepositing Co-Ni. The high aspect ratio of the fibre (40 μm diameter, 3.5 cm length) causes a directional dependence in the magnetostatic energy, which will allow for anisotropic actuation of the composite. Thus, the application of magnetic fields allows for a precise control of the movement with high reproducibility and accuracy

Informe final del programa Ejercicio Profesional Supervisado realizado en la clínica dental del Centro de Atención Permanente Dionisio Gutiérrez, en San Cristobal, Totonicapán, Guatemala, período junio a octubre 2016-febrero a mayo 2017.

Programa de Actividades Comunitarias: consistieron en el entechado del escenario de la Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta, La Ciénaga, así como la remodelación de la Clínica Dental del Centro de Atención Permanente Dionisio Gutiérrez, ambos del municipio de San Cristóbal, Totonicapán, considerando este último, la pintura de paredes internas y externas, cambio de sillón y succión, así como la reparación del lavamanos. Programa de Prevención: El programa de Enjuagatorios de Fluoruro de Sodio abarcó la población escolar urbana y rural de San Cristóbal, Totonicapán donde se desarrolló el Programa EPS, se cubrió a la población de las siguientes 3 escuelas del municipio: Escuela Oficial Urbana Mixta Juan Bautista Gutiérrez, Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta J.M. La Ciénaga y Escuela Oficial Urbana Mixta La Independencia, con una atención promedio de 1,117 escolares al mes. Se realizaron 65 actividades en salud bucal beneficiando a 6,310 niños y niñas. En el subprograma de prevención se atendió a un total de 160 niños con Sellantes de Fosas y Fisuras (SFF) y se colocaron un total de 1,028 SFF. Programa de Atención Integral a Escolares: Se atendió un total de 57 escolares, a quienes se les realizaron un total de 60 profilaxis y aplicaciones tópicas de flúor, 453 sellantes de fosas y fisuras, 8 ionómeros de vidrio, 24 tratamientos periodontales, 105 amalgamas, 279 resinas, 6 pulpotomías, 4 tratamientos de conductos radiculares, 6 coronas de acero y 39 extracciones dentales. A los pacientes de población general se les realizaron 30 exámenes dentales. Investigación Única: Se realizó un estudio en una muestra de 20 estudiantes de las escuelas anteriormente mencionadas. Administración del Consultorio: Abarca capacitación del personal auxiliar. Durante los 8 meses se desarrollaron las capacitaciones semanales

Textile-based non-invasive lithium drug monitoring: A proof-of-concept study for wearable sensing

Flexible wearable chemical sensors are emerging tools which target diagnosis and monitoring of medical conditions. One of the potential applications of wearable chemical sensors is therapeutic drug monitoring for drugs that have a narrow therapeutic range such as lithium. We have investigated the possibility of developing a fibre-based device for non-invasive lithium drug monitoring in interstitial fluid. A flexible cotton-based lithium sensor was coupled with a carbon fibre-based reference electrode to obtain a potentiometric device. In vitro reverse iontophoresis experiments were performed to extract Li+ from under porcine skin by applying a current density of 0.4 mA cm-2 via two electrodes. Carbon fibre-based reverse iontophoresis electrodes were fabricated and used instead of a conventional silver wire-based version and comparable results were obtained. The fibre-based Li+ sensor and reference electrodes were capable of determining the Li+ concentration in samples collected via reverse iontophoresis and the results compared well to those obtained by ion chromatography. Additionally, biocompatibility of the used materials have been tested. Promising results were obtained which confirm the possibility of monitoring lithium in interstitial fluid using a wearable sensor

Role of drug adsorption onto the silica surface in drug release from mesoporous silica systems.

Factors contributing to incomplete drug release from a number of mesoporous silica formulations are not well understood. This study aims to address this gap in knowledge by exploring the role of drug adsorption onto silica substrates during the drug release process in dissolution media. Adsorption isotherms were generated to understand drug adsorption behavior onto the silica surface. Two silica materials were selected (SBA-15 (mesoporous) and Aerosil 200 (nonporous)) to investigate the influence of porous architecture on the adsorption/dissolution processes. The ability of the dissolution medium to wet the silica surface, particularly the porous network, was investigated by the addition of a surfactant to the dissolution medium. The results demonstrated that a larger amount of drug was bound/m2 to the nonporous surface than to the mesoporous material. Adsorption isotherms proved useful in understanding drug adsorption/release behavior for the nonporous silica formulation. However, the quantity of drug remaining on the mesoporous silica surface after dissolution was significantly higher than the amount predicted using adsorption isotherm data. These results suggest that a fraction of loaded drug molecules were tightly bound to the silica surface or attached to sites which are inaccessible for the dissolution media. The presence of surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate, in the media enhanced drug release from the silica surface. This behavior can be attributed to both the improved wetting characteristics of the media and adsorption of the surfactant to the silica surface. The findings of this study reinforce the significance of the role that silica porous architecture plays in the dissolution process and indicates that accessible surface area is an important parameter to consider for mesoporous systems in relation to drug release

Textile-based non-invasive lithium drug monitoring: A proof-of-concept study for wearable sensing

Flexible wearable chemical sensors are emerging tools which target diagnosis and monitoring of medical conditions. One of the potential applications of wearable chemical sensors is therapeutic drug monitoring for drugs that have a narrow therapeutic range such as lithium. We have investigated the possibility of developing a fibre-based device for non-invasive lithium drug monitoring in interstitial fluid. A flexible cotton-based lithium sensor was coupled with a carbon fibre-based reference electrode to obtain a potentiometric device. In vitro reverse iontophoresis experiments were performed to extract Li + from under porcine skin by applying a current density of 0.4 mA cm −2 via two electrodes. Carbon fibre-based reverse iontophoresis electrodes were fabricated and used instead of a conventional silver wire-based version and comparable results were obtained. The fibre-based Li + sensor and reference electrodes were capable of determining the Li + concentration in samples collected via reverse iontophoresis and the results compared well to those obtained by ion chromatography. Additionally, biocompatibility of the materials used have been tested. Promising results were obtained which confirm the possibility of monitoring lithium in interstitial fluid using a wearable sensor. </p

In vitro dissolution models for the prediction of in vivo performance of an oral mesoporous silica formulation

Drug release from mesoporous silica systems has been widely investigated in vitro using USP Type II (paddle) dissolution apparatus. However, it is not clear if the observed enhanced in vitro dissolution can forecast drug bioavailability in vivo. In this study, the ability of different in vitro dissolution models to predict in vivo oral bioavailability in a pig model was examined. The fenofibrate-loaded mesoporous silica formulation was compared directly to a commercial reference product, Lipantil Supra®. Three in vitro dissolution methods were considered; USP Type II (paddle) apparatus, USP Type IV (flow-through cell) apparatus and a USP IV Transfer model (incorporating a SGF to FaSSIF-V2 media transfer). In silico modelling, using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling and simulation software package (Gastroplus™), to generate in vitro/in vivo relationships was also investigated. The study demonstrates that the in vitro dissolution performance of a mesoporous silica formulation varies depending on the dissolution apparatus utilised and experimental design. The findings show that the USP IV transfer model was the best predictor of in vivo bioavailability. The USP Type II (paddle) apparatus was not effective at forecasting in vivo behaviour. This observation is likely due to hydrodynamic differences between the two apparatus and the ability of the transfer model to better simulate gastrointestinal transit. The transfer model is advantageous in forecasting in vivo behaviour for formulations which promote drug supersaturation and as a result are prone to precipitation to a more energetically favourable, less soluble form. The USP IV transfer model could prove useful in future mesoporous silica formulation development. In silico modelling has the potential to assist in this process. However, further investigation is required to overcome the limitations of the model for solubility enhancing formulations

Research Progress Reports: Fruit and Vegetable Processing and Technology Division, Department of Horticulture [1969]

Blueberry cultivars for frozen pies / J. F. Gallander, W. A. Gould, and H. Stammer -- Grape cultivars for jelly making / J. F. Gallander, W. A. Gould and G. A. Cahoon -- Evaluation of various grape cultivars for processing. III. Table wines / J. F. Gallander -- Evaluation of snap bean cultivars for processing / William Hildebolt and W. A. Gould -- Kraut snacks / J. R. Geisman -- Mechanical harvesting and bulk handling evaluation of tomato cultivars for processing / W. A. Gould, Jonnie Budke, Carol Foglesong and Louise Howiler --The effects of lye peeling variables upon tomato cultivars / Loren Lucas and W. A. Gould -- Amino acids in canned tomato juice / Jenia D. Dormitorio and W. A. Gould -- Factors affecting the viscosity of tomato juice / David E. Crean and W. A. Goul

Polyaniline nanofibres as templates for the covalent immobilisation of biomolecules

The attachment of antibodies onto polyaniline nanofibres using covalent chemistry was investigated for the first time. Polyaniline nanofibres were functionalised post-polymerisation to attach either amide or carboxylic acid side-groups. These templates could then be further modified to attach antibodies, specifically in this instance mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG). The resultant conjugates were characterised using a variety of techniques including infrared, UV–vis and Raman spectroscopy. Conjugates were then used to detect secondary antibodies (anti-IgG). Results from enzyme-linked immunoassay studies indi- cate successful binding of the antibody to the polyaniline nanofibres. Carboxyl functionalised polyaniline nanofibres are shown in particular to decrease non-specific binding in the immunoassay. Direct electri- cal communication between polyaniline nanofibres covalently linked to peroxidase-labelled antibodies was observed during cyclic voltammetry, which demonstrates their potential for further development as nano-dimensional immunosensors

2021 roadmap on lithium sulfur batteries

Abstract: Batteries that extend performance beyond the intrinsic limits of Li-ion batteries are among the most important developments required to continue the revolution promised by electrochemical devices. Of these next-generation batteries, lithium sulfur (Li–S) chemistry is among the most commercially mature, with cells offering a substantial increase in gravimetric energy density, reduced costs and improved safety prospects. However, there remain outstanding issues to advance the commercial prospects of the technology and benefit from the economies of scale felt by Li-ion cells, including improving both the rate performance and longevity of cells. To address these challenges, the Faraday Institution, the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage science and technology, launched the Lithium Sulfur Technology Accelerator (LiSTAR) programme in October 2019. This Roadmap, authored by researchers and partners of the LiSTAR programme, is intended to highlight the outstanding issues that must be addressed and provide an insight into the pathways towards solving them adopted by the LiSTAR consortium. In compiling this Roadmap we hope to aid the development of the wider Li–S research community, providing a guide for academia, industry, government and funding agencies in this important and rapidly developing research space