Development and Multifunctional Characterization of a Structural Sodium-Ion Battery Using a High-Tensile-Strength Poly(ethylene oxide)-Based Matrix Composite

Structural batteries are gaining attention and can play a significant role in designing emission-free lightweight defense and transport systems such as aircraft, unmanned air vehicles, electric cars, public transport, and vertical takeoff and landing(VTOL)-urban air traffic. Such an approach of integrated functions contributes to overall mass reduction, high performance, and enhanced vehicle spaciousness. The present work focuses on developing and characterizing multifunctional structural sodium-ion battery components by using a high-tensile-strength structural electrolyte (SE) prepared by incorporating a glass fiber sandwiched between thin solid-state poly(ethylene oxide)-based composite electrolyte layers. The electrochemical and mechanical characterization of the structural electrolyte shows multifunctional performance with a tensile strength of 40.9 MPa and an ionic conductivity of 1.02 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 60 °C. It displays an electrochemicalwindow of 0 to 4.5 V. The structural electrode is fabricated using a heat press by pressing intermediate-modulus carbon fibers (CFs)against the structural electrolyte, and it shows a high tensile strength of 91.3 MPa. The fabricated structural battery CF||SE||Na provides a typical energy density of 23 Wh kg−1 and performs 500 cycles while retaining 80% capacity until 225 cycles. The investigation of sodium structural battery architecture in this preliminary work demonstrates intercalation of sodium ions in intermediate modulus-type carbon fiber electrodes, shows multifunctional performance with excellent cycling stability and structural strength, and provides an alternative path to current structural battery designs

Genetic determinants of telomere length from 109,122 ancestrally diverse whole-genome sequences in TOPMed

Genetic studies on telomere length are important for understanding age-related diseases. Prior GWAS for leukocyte TL have been limited to European and Asian populations. Here, we report the first sequencing-based association study for TL across ancestrally-diverse individuals (European, African, Asian and Hispanic/Latino) from the NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. We used whole genome sequencing (WGS) of whole blood for variant genotype calling and the bioinformatic estimation of telomere length in n=109,122 individuals. We identified 59 sentinel variants (p-value OBFC1indicated the independent signals colocalized with cell-type specific eQTLs for OBFC1 (STN1). Using a multi-variant gene-based approach, we identified two genes newly implicated in telomere length, DCLRE1B (SNM1B) and PARN. In PheWAS, we demonstrated our TL polygenic trait scores (PTS) were associated with increased risk of cancer-related phenotypes

Genetic determinants of telomere length from 109,122 ancestrally diverse whole-genome sequences in TOPMed

Genetic studies on telomere length are important for understanding age-related diseases. Prior GWASs for leukocyte TL have been limited to European and Asian populations. Here, we report the first sequencing-based association study for TL across ancestrally diverse individuals (European, African, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino) from the NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. We used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of whole blood for variant genotype calling and the bioinformatic estimation of telomere length in n = 109,122 individuals. We identified 59 sentinel variants (p < 5 × 10−9) in 36 loci associated with telomere length, including 20 newly associated loci (13 were replicated in external datasets). There was little evidence of effect size heterogeneity across populations. Fine-mapping at OBFC1 indicated that the independent signals colocalized with cell-type-specific eQTLs for OBFC1 (STN1). Using a multi-variant gene-based approach, we identified two genes newly implicated in telomere length, DCLRE1B (SNM1B) and PARN. In PheWAS, we demonstrated that our TL polygenic trait scores (PTSs) were associated with an increased risk of cancer-related phenotypes

CHALLENGES OF INTEGRATING SUPERCAPACITORS INTO STRUCTURES FOR SPACE QUALIFICATION

Weight and volume savings are always an important issue for space structures. The energy system is weight, volume and cost intensive. Because of its important role, it is rarely considered for integration into structure. Due to their physical energy storing process, supercapacitors can endure more than a million cycles and are therefore ideal for being integrated. This paper deals with the development and characterization of thin film supercapacitors, which can easily be integrated into a composite lay-up. They consist of two collectors coated with electrodes separated by an electrically insulating membrane. The electrodes and the separator are wetted by an electrically insulating but ionic conductive ionic liquid. Ideal applications for this energy storage device are peak power systems. Here, a positioning system using a high torque wheel was modified. Several challenges had to be managed to reach a technology readiness level of 5 and to verify the space qualification

CHALLENGES OF INTEGRATING SUPERCAPACITORS INTO STRUCTURES FOR SPACE QUALIFICATION

Weight and volume savings are always an important issue for space structures. The energy system is weight, volume and cost intensive. Because of its important role, it is rarely considered for integration into structure. Due to their physical energy storing process, supercapacitors can endure more than a million cycles and are therefore ideal for being integrated. This paper deals with the development and characterization of thin film supercapacitors, which can easily be integrated into a composite lay-up. They consist of two collectors coated with electrodes separated by an electrically insulating membrane. The electrodes and the separator are wetted by an electrically insulating but ionic conductive ionic liquid. Ideal applications for this energy storage device are peak power systems. Here, a positioning system using a high torque wheel was modified. Several challenges had to be managed to reach a technology readiness level of 5 and to verify the space qualification

Development and Multifunctional Characterization of a Structural Sodium-Ion Battery Using a High-Tensile-Strength Poly(ethylene oxide)-Based Matrix Composite

Structural batteries are gaining attention and can play a significant role in designing emission-free lightweight defense and transport systems such as aircraft, unmanned air vehicles, electric cars, public transport, and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)-urban air traffic. Such an approach of integrated functions contributes to overall mass reduction, high performance, and enhanced vehicle spaciousness. The present work focuses on developing and characterizing multifunctional structural sodium-ion battery components by using a high-tensile-strength structural electrolyte (SE) prepared by incorporating a glass fiber sandwiched between thin solid-state poly(ethylene oxide)-based composite electrolyte layers. The electrochemical and mechanical characterization of the structural electrolyte shows multifunctional performance with a tensile strength of 40.9 MPa and an ionic conductivity of 1.02 × 10–4 S cm–1 at 60 °C. It displays an electrochemical window of 0 to 4.5 V. The structural electrode is fabricated using a heat press by pressing intermediate-modulus carbon fibers (CFs) against the structural electrolyte, and it shows a high tensile strength of 91.3 MPa. The fabricated structural battery CF||SE||Na provides a typical energy density of 23 Wh kg–1 and performs 500 cycles while retaining 80% capacity until 225 cycles. The investigation of sodium structural battery architecture in this preliminary work demonstrates intercalation of sodium ions in intermediate modulus-type carbon fiber electrodes, shows multifunctional performance with excellent cycling stability and structural strength, and provides an alternative path to current structural battery designs

N-aryl-2-aminobenzimidazoles:Novel, efficacious, antimalarial lead compounds

From the phenotypic screening of the AstraZeneca corporate compound collection, N-aryl-2-aminobenzimidazoles have emerged as novel hits against the asexual blood stage of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). Medicinal chemistry optimization of the potency against Pf and ADME properties resulted in the identification of 12 as a lead molecule. Compound 12 was efficacious in the P. berghei (Pb) model of malaria. This compound displayed an excellent pharmacokinetic profile with a long half-life (19 h) in rat blood. This profile led to an extended survival of animals for over 30 days following a dose of 50 mg/kg in the Pb malaria model. Compound 12 retains its potency against a panel of Pf isolates with known mechanisms of resistance. The fast killing observed in the in vitro parasite reduction ratio (PRR) assay coupled with the extended survival highlights the promise of this novel chemical class for the treatment of malaria.No Full Tex

4-Aminoquinolone Piperidine Amides: Noncovalent Inhibitors of DprE1 with Long Residence Time and Potent Antimycobacterial Activity

4-Aminoquinolone piperidine amides (AQs) were identified as a novel scaffold starting from a whole cell screen, with potent cidality on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Evaluation of the minimum inhibitory concentrations, followed by whole genome sequencing of mutants raised against AQs, identified decaprenylphosphoryl-beta-D-ribose 2'-epimerase (DprE1) as the primary target responsible for the antitubercular activity. Mass spectrometry and enzyme kinetic studies indicated that AQs are noncovalent, reversible inhibitors of DprE1 with slow on rates and long residence times of similar to 100 min on the enzyme. In general, AQs have excellent leadlike properties and good in vitro secondary pharmacology profile. Although the scaffold started off as a single active compound with moderate potency from the whole cell screen, structure-activity relationship optimization of the scaffold led to compounds with potent DprE1 inhibition (IC50 < 10 nM) along with potent cellular activity (MIC = 60 nM) against Mtb