A redox-active organic cage as a cathode material with improved electrochemical performance.

Organic cages offer numerous opportunities for creating novel materials suitable for a wide range of applications. Among these, energy-related applications are beginning to attract attention. We report here the synthesis of a [3 + 6] trigonal prismatic cage constituted by three redox-active dibenzotetraazahexacene subunits.

Surface and Conductivity Characterization of Layered Organic Ionic Plastic Crystal (OIPC)-Polymer Films.

Organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs) are attractive solid electrolyte materials for advanced energy storage systems owing to their inherent advantages (e.g., high plasticity, thermal stability, and moderate ionic conductivity), which can be further improved/deteriorated by the addition of polymer or metal oxide nanoparticles.

Bio-Based Polyhydroxyanthraquinones as High-Voltage Organic Electrode Materials for Batteries.

Organic materials have gained much attention as sustainable electrode materials for batteries. Especially bio-based organic electrode materials (OEMs) are very interesting due to their geographical independency and low environmental impact. However, bio-based OEMs for high-voltage batteries remain scarce.

Polyimides as Promising Cathodes for Metal-Organic Batteries: A Comparison between Divalent (Ca, Mg) and Monovalent (Li, Na) Cations.

Ca- and Mg-based batteries represent a more sustainable alternative to Li-ion batteries. However, multivalent cation technologies suffer from poor cation mass transport. In addition, the development of positive electrodes enabling reversible charge storage currently represents one of the major challenges.

Dual redox-active porous polyimides as high performance and versatile electrode material for next-generation batteries.

Energy storage will be a primordial actor of the ecological transition initiated in the energy and transport sectors. As such, innovative approaches to design high-performance electrode materials are crucial for the development of the next generation of batteries. Herein, a novel dual redox-active and porous polyimide network (MTA-MPT), based on mellitic trianhydride (MTA) and 3,7-diamino--methylphenothiazine (MPT) monomers, is proposed for applications in both high energy density lithium batteries and symmetric all-organic batteries.

Single-Ion Conducting Polymer Nanoparticles as Functional Fillers for Solid Electrolytes in Lithium Metal Batteries.

Composite solid electrolytes including inorganic nanoparticles or nanofibers which improve the performance of polymer electrolytes due to their superior mechanical, ionic conductivity, or lithium transference number are actively being researched for applications in lithium metal batteries. However, inorganic nanoparticles present limitations such as tedious surface functionalization and agglomeration issues and poor homogeneity at high concentrations in polymer matrixes. In this work, we report on polymer nanoparticles with a lithium sulfonamide surface functionality (LiPNP) for application as electrolytes in lithium metal batteries.

Macrophase-Separated Organic Ionic Plastic Crystals/PAMPS-Based Ionomer Electrolyte: A New Design Perspective for Flexible and Highly Conductive Solid-State Electrolytes.

A material design approach was taken for the preparation of an organic ionic plastic crystal (OIPC)-polymer electrolyte material that exhibited both good mechanical and transport properties. Previous attempts to form this type of electrolyte material resulted in the solvation of the OIPC by the ionomer and loss of the plastic crystal component. Here, we prepared, in situ, a macrophase-separated OIPC-polymer electrolyte system by adding lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) to a (PAMPS-N) ionomer.

Toward High-Energy-Density Lithium Metal Batteries: Opportunities and Challenges for Solid Organic Electrolytes.

With increasing demands for safe, high capacity energy storage to support personal electronics, newer devices such as unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as the commercialization of electric vehicles, current energy storage technologies are facing increased challenges. Although alternative batteries have been intensively investigated, lithium (Li) batteries are still recognized as the preferred energy storage solution for the consumer electronics markets and next generation automobiles. However, the commercialized Li batteries still have disadvantages, such as low capacities, potential safety issues, and unfavorable cycling life.

Innovative Electrolytes Based on Ionic Liquids and Polymers for Next-Generation Solid-State Batteries.

Electrolytes based on organic solvents used in current Li-ion batteries are not compatible with the next-generation energy storage technologies including those based on Li metal. Thus, there has been an increase in research activities investigating solid-state electrolytes, ionic liquids (ILs), polymers, and combinations of these. This Account will discuss some of the work from our teams in these areas.

Characterization of the phase behaviour of a novel polymerizable lyotropic ionic liquid crystal.

The development of new polymerizable lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) utilizing charged amphiphilic molecules such as those based on long chain imidazolium compounds, is a relatively new design direction for producing robust membranes with controllable nano-structures. Here we have developed a novel polymerizable ionic liquid based LLC, 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium acrylate (C16mimAcr), where the acrylate anion acts as the polymerizable moiety. The phase behaviour of the C16mimAcr upon the addition of water was characterized using small and wide angle X-ray scatterings, differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy.

[Promoting sexual and reproductive health as part of an educational program among Romani women].

In 2012, the "Centre d'Accueil, de Soins et d'Orientation" run by Médecins du Monde in Bordeaux (France) developed an educational program aimed at promoting sexual and reproductive health among Romani women from Bulgaria and Romania. A preliminary study was conducted using a qualitative methodology involving focus groups and individual interviews. A close relationship was found between the participants' cultural beliefs about sexual and reproductive health and their precarious living conditions.

A comparative review of measurement instruments to inform and evaluate effectiveness of disability inclusive development.

Purpose: A review of existing measurement instruments was conducted to examine their suitability to measure disability prevalence and assess quality of life, protection of disability rights and community participation by people with disabilities, specifically within the context of development programs in low and middle-income countries.

Methods: From a search of PubMed and the grey literature, potentially relevant measurement instruments were identified and examined for their content and psychometric properties, where possible. Criteria for inclusion were: based on the WHO's International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF), used quantitative methods, suitable for population-based studies of disability inclusive development in English and published after 1990.

Inducing alignment of cyclic peptide nanotubes through the use of structured ionic liquids.

We describe a convenient route to the alignment of cyclic peptide nanotubes (CPNs). The key lies in the use of nanostructured ionic liquids. An ionic liquid supported membrane with orientated domains is demonstrated, leading to aligned CPNs within a solid membrane.

A qualitative study on knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of mothers and health care providers toward pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.

Unlabelled: Due to the high burden of pneumonia in Indonesia, the inclusion of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) into Indonesia's National Immunization Program (NIP) is recommended by World Health Organization. Prior to the introduction of new vaccines, it is imperative to assess the perceptions of the public and medical community about the disease and the vaccine. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of mothers and health care providers (HCPs) toward PCV in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.

Applications of piezoelectric materials in oilfield services.

Piezoelectric materials are used in many applications in the oilfield services industry. Four illustrative examples are given in this paper: marine seismic survey, precision pressure measurement, sonic logging-while-drilling, and ultrasonic bore-hole imaging. In marine seismics, piezoelectric hydrophones are deployed on a massive scale in a relatively benign environment.

Near-vision impairment and unresolved vision problems in Indigenous Australian adults.

Background:   To describe near-vision impairment, self-reported unresolved vision problems and barriers to having near-vision correction in Indigenous Australians.

Design:   A nationwide population-based study designed to determine the causes and prevalence of vision loss and utilization of eye care services.

Participants:   Indigenous Australians aged ≥40 years.

Regenerated silk fibroin using protic ionic liquids solvents: towards an all-ionic-liquid process for producing silk with tunable properties.

We have shown that protic ionic liquids, pILs, are effective coagulation solvents for the regenerated of silk fibroin, RSF. We show that the choice of pIL has a dramatic effect on the composition of the RSF. Additionally the use of pILs as the coagulator eliminates the need for volatile organic solvents in silk processing.

Prevalence of self-reported diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in indigenous Australians: the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey.

Background: To assess the prevalence of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in indigenous Australians aged ≥40 years.

Design: The National Indigenous Eye Health Survey used a stratified, multistage cluster probability sampling frame to provide a representative sample of the indigenous Australian population.

Participants: One thousand one hundred and eighty-nine eligible indigenous adults were examined using standardized procedures.

Cataract in indigenous Australians: the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey.

Background: To determine the prevalence of vision loss due to cataract in indigenous Australians.

Methods: A national, stratified, random cluster sample was selected in 30 communities across Australia. Data collection was undertaken in 2008.

Self-reported vision and health of indigenous Australians.

Purpose: To describe the self-reported vision, history of eye disease and general health of indigenous Australian participants in the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey.

Methods: Using a multistage cluster sampling methodology, 30 geographic areas, stratified by remoteness, were selected to provide a representative population of indigenous Australians aged 5-15 years and 40 years and over. Before an eye examination, participants completed a questionnaire about their eye health and eye care facilities consulted, satisfaction with their vision and general health.