Single-ion-conducted covalent organic framework serving as Li-ion pump in polyethylene oxide-based electrolyte for robust solid-state Li-S batteries.

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based electrolytes are widely used for building solid-state lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries but suffer from poor lithium-ion (Li+) transportation kinetics. Here, a lithium-sulfonated covalent organic framework (TpPa-SO3Li) was synthesized and functionalized as a Li+ pump in a PEO-based solid-state electrolyte to fabricate robust Li-S batteries. The designed TpPa-SO3, Li with its porous skeleton and abundant lithium sulfonate groups not only provided iontransport channels but also enhanced the fast migration of Li+. The PEO composite electrolyte containing 5 %-TpPa-SO3Li exhibited a notable ionic conductivity of 6.28 × 10-4 S cm-1 and an impressive Li+ transference number of 0.78 at 60 °C. As a result, Li-Li symmetric batteries with the optimized PEO/TpPa-SO3Li composite electrolyte stably cycled for 300 h, with a minimal overpotential of only 100 mV at 0.5 mA cm-2. Moreover, the customized solid-state Li-S batteries based on PEO/TpPa-SO3Li were stable for 600 cycles at 60 oC with a high Coulombic efficiency of approximately 98 %. This study provides a promising strategy for introducing covalent-organic-framework (COF)-based Li+ pumps to build robust solid-state Li-S batteries.

[Simultaneous determination of ethylene oxide, 2-chloroethanol and ethylene glycol residues in medical device products by gas chromatography].

A gas chromatography-based method was developed for the simultaneous and rapid determination of ethylene oxide (EO), 2-chloroethanol (ECH), and ethylene glycol (EG) residues in medical devices after EO sterilization. A sample weighing 2.5 g was added with 5 mL of ethanol as the extraction medium, and the residual substances in the sample were extracted at 40 ℃ for 4 h. The samples were separated on a DB-WAX capillary column (30 m×0.53 mm×1.0 µm) and determined using a hydrogen flame ionization detector. The temperature was maintained at 40 ℃ for 5 min, increased to 120 ℃ at a rate of 40 ℃/min, held for 5 min, and then increased to 200 ℃ at a rate of 6 ℃/min, held for 2 min. The flow rate of the nitrogen gas was 3 mL/min. The split ratio was 5∶1. The inlet and detector temperatures were 200 and 300 ℃, respectively. The changes in the chromatographic peak areas over time (0.5-10 h) under different temperatures (20, 30, 40, and 50 ℃) were investigated, and the optimal extraction condition was determined to be 40 ℃ for 4 h. In the experiments, quantification was performed using an external standard method. EO, ECH, and EG exhibited good peak shapes and separation effects as well as good linearity within their respective ranges. The linear correlation coefficients for EO, ECH, and EG were greater than 0.99. The limits of detection (LODs) for EO, ECH, and EG were in the range of 0.10-0.40 µg/g, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were in the range of 0.30-1.20 µg/g. The average recoveries under different spiked levels were in the range of 91.08%-116.08%, and the relative standard deviations (n=6) were in the range of 0.56%-8.45%. EO, ECH, and EG residues were found to exist at different levels in the medical devices tested. In particular, disposable infusion sets must be paid careful attention. ECH and EG were not detected in disposable sterile medical devices made of non-polyvinyl chloride materials, which may be due to the fact that the products themselves did not contain chloride ions, they were not exposed to chlorine-containing substances during their production, sterilization, storage, transportation, use, etc. This study established a method to detect EO residues in disposable medical devices, and has the advantages of simple operation, excellent specificity, accurate quantification, and good reproducibility. It can simultaneously detect three residual substances in medical devices while meeting the actual detection requirements for EO, ECH, and EG residues. The method can be used to scientifically and effectively evaluate the risk of EO residues in single-use medical devices sterilized with EO, and will be helpful for improving the quality of medical devices, ensuring the safety of device use, and providing a reference for regulatory supervision and testing.

Waterborne Polyurethane Micelles Reinforce PEO-Based Electrolytes for Lithium Metal Batteries.

Although solid polymer electrolytes have been developed for several decades, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) or polymers with ethoxy (EO) segments are still one of the most promising candidates for advanced batteries. The low ionic conductivity and lithium-ion transference number as well as the deterioration of mechanical properties after coupling with lithium salts restrict its further adoption. Herein, a serial of PEO-based composite electrolytes optimized by waterborne polyurethane are prepared via blend method. With the assistance of H2O, ionic type waterborne polyurethane assembles into flexible micelles, in which hydrophobic segments as the core and hydrophilic groups as the shell. Utilizing this feature of waterborne polyurethane, PEO and Li salt (LiTFSI) aqueous solution is slowly added to the organic solution of waterborne polyurethane to compound in situ, and polymer composite electrolytes are fabricated. The multilevel (hydrogen bonds with different binding energy) and multiscale (deformation of flexible micelles) dynamic interaction endows the composite electrolyte with attractive mechanical properties. The assembled Li|Li symmetric battery with the molar ratio of EO to Li salts of 8:1 exhibits excellent cycling stability up to 800 h at 0.1 mA cm-2, and the assembled Li|LiFePO4 battery can be stably cycled at 1C for >400 cycles.

Ethylene oxide exposure, inflammatory indicators, and depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study and mediation analysis based on a non-institutionalized American population.

Background: Ethylene oxide (EO) is a volatile compound positively correlated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, evidence suggests that environmental exposure may contribute to depressive symptoms. This study evaluated the correlation between EO exposure and depressive symptoms and investigated whether inflammatory indicators had a mediation effect on this correlation. Methods: Patients were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2013-2016, and 2,764 (49.67% male and 50.33% female) participants were ultimately included. EO exposure was determined by measuring hemoglobin-EO adduct (Hb-EO) concentration due to its long half-life, which was log2-transformed. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify any correlations before and after covariate adjustment. Sensitivity analysis, subgroup analyses, and interaction tests were performed to further evaluate identified correlations. Mediation analysis was conducted to reveal whether specific inflammatory indicators mediated the correlation. Results: A high prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed in quartiles with increased levels of EO exposure, and male individuals exhibiting higher Hb-EO levels than female individuals. A positive correlation was observed between EO exposure and depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 1.439, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.310, 1.581), which remained stable even after covariate adjustment (OR: 1.332, 95% CI: 1.148, 1.545). Interaction tests showed significant effects of sex (p < 0.001) and thyroid diseases (p = 0.048) on this correlation. In the mediation analysis, white blood cell (p = 0.010) and neutrophil counts (p = 0.010) exerted a mediating effect, accounting for 13.6 and 11.9%, respectively. Conclusion: Increased exposure to EO is associated with an elevated risk of depressive symptoms, where white blood cell and neutrophil counts exert a significant mediating effect. Further prospective studies are required to investigate the potential link among EO, other environmental pollutants, and human mental health.

C-H Functionalization of Poly(ethylene oxide) - Embracing Functionality, Degradability, and Molecular Delivery.

This study presents an organocatalytic C-H functionalization approach for postpolymerization modification (PPM) of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Most of PEO PPM is previously processed at the end hydroxy group, but recent advances in C-H functionalization open a way to modify the backbone position. Structurally diverse carboxylic acids are attached to PEO through a cascade process of radical generation by peroxide and oxidation to oxocarbenium by tertiary butylammonium iodide. Attaching carboxylic acids yields a series of functionalize PEO with acetal units (2-5 mol%) in a backbone, which is not accessible via conventional copolymerization of epoxides. The optimized conditions minimizes the uncontrolled degradation or crosslinking from the highly reactive radical and oxocarbenium intermediate. The newly introduced acetal units bring degradability of PEO as well as delivery of carboxylic acid molecules. Hydrolysis studies with high molecular weight functionalization PEO (Mn = 13.0 kg mol-1) confirm the steady release of fragmented PEO (Mn ∼ 2.0 kg mol-1) and carboxylic acid over days and the process rate is not sensitive to pH variation between pH 5 and 9. The presented method offers a versatile and efficient way to modify PEO with potential energy and medical applications.

Optimized Approach for Measuring Ethylene Oxide in Mobile Source Exhaust.

There is a growing awareness of the health impacts of ethylene oxide (EtO) and its role as a carcinogenic and mutagenic air contaminant of concern. Given the need to better understand EtO emissions and associated health effects, it is imperative to overcome the significant challenges associated with EtO measurement in complex air matrices, such as combustion emissions. This work focused on addressing these challenges by evaluating the utility of widely used canister-based EtO ambient measurement approaches, EPA Methods TO-15 and TO-15A, to investigate the presence of EtO in heavy-duty diesel vehicle (HDDV) exhaust. Chassis dynamometer testing was performed on two HDDVs and emissions samples were collected and analyzed following TO-15/TO-15A. Initial testing utilizing TO-15 led to the identification of a diesel exhaust constituent, ethyl nitrite, that coeluted with EtO during analysis and contributed large positive bias. An optimized TO-15A analytical approach was developed and utilized to measure EtO in diesel exhaust from two HDDVs in additional dynamometer tests. Using this optimized approach, EtO was not detected in HDDV exhaust in these tests. This work highlights the importance of utilizing this optimized approach to accurately quantify EtO in mobile source exhaust and may also be needed for testing other combustion sources.

Diblock Copolymers of Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide) Stabilize a Blood-Brain Barrier Model under Oxidative Stress.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly restrictive barrier at the interface between the brain and the vascular system. Even under BBB dysfunction, it is extremely difficult to deliver therapies across the barrier, limiting the options for treatment of neurological injuries and disorders. To circumvent these challenges, there is interest in developing therapies that directly engage with the damaged BBB to restore its function. Previous studies revealed that poloxamer 188 (P188), a water-soluble triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO), partially mitigated BBB dysfunction in vivo. In the context of stabilization of the damaged BBB, the mechanism of action of PEO-PPO block copolymers is unknown, and there has been minimal exploration of polymers beyond P188. In this study, a human-based in vitro BBB model under oxidative stress was used to investigate polymer-BBB interactions since oxidative stress is closely linked with BBB dysfunction in many neurological injuries and disorders. PEO-PPO block copolymers of varied numbers of chemically distinct blocks, PEO block length, and functionality of the end group of the PPO block were assessed for their efficacy in improving key physiological readouts associated with BBB dysfunction. While treatment with P188 did not mitigate damage in the in vitro BBB model, treatment with three diblock copolymers improved barrier integrity under oxidative stress to a similar extent. Of the considered variations in the block copolymer design, the reduction in the number of chemically distinct blocks had the strongest influence on therapeutic function. The demonstrated efficacy of three alternative PEO-PPO diblock copolymers in this work reveals the potential of these polymers as a class of therapeutics that directly treat the damaged BBB, expanding the options for treatment of neurological injuries and disorders.

Introducing Molecular Sieve into Activated Carbon to Achieve High-Effective Adsorption for Ethylene Oxide.

Presently, ethylene oxide (EtO) is posing a significant threat to both human health and the environment due to occasional or deliberate emissions. However, few works so far have focused on this issue. It is urgent to explore novel and effective technology to protect against the threat of EtO. Herein, a series of AC/ZSM-5 composites were prepared to improve the adsorption performance for EtO, evaluated by dynamic breakthrough experiments. Particularly, the AC/ZSM-20% composite demonstrated a more excellent adsorption capacity of 81.9 mg/g at 25 °C and 50% RH than that of pristine AC and ZSM-5 with 32.5 and 52.3 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of the AC/ZSM-20% composite remained constant even after five adsorption-desorption cycles. The adsorption mechanism of EtO on the composite is further revealed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Synergistic Enhancement of Biaxial Stretching and Multilayer Composites in All-Solid-State Polymer Electrolytes.

As an important component of lithium-ion batteries, all-solid-state electrolytes should possess high ionic conductivity, excellent flexibility, and relatively high mechanical strength. All-solid-state polymer electrolytes (ASSPEs) based on polymers seem to be able to meet these requirements. However, pure ASSPEs have relatively low ionic conductivity, and the addition of inorganic fillers such as lithium salts will reduce their flexibility and mechanical strength. To address the above issues, in this paper, the solvent-free method was used to prepare a poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)/lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide/poly(ethylene oxide) all-solid-state polymer electrolyte, which was then subjected to 4 × 4 magnification synchronous bidirectional stretching. Subsequently, it was multilayered with PEO-based composite polymer electrolytes to obtain multilayered composite polymer electrolytes (MCPEs). Bidirectional stretching provides superior in-plane and out-of-plane mechanical properties to MCPEs by inducing molecular chain orientation, which suppresses the growth of lithium dendrites. Concurrently, it facilitates the formation of the ß-crystal form of PVDF-HFP, thereby weakening the ion solvation effect and reducing the lithium-ion migration energy barrier. Multilayered compounding improves the interfacial contact between MCPEs and electrodes, thereby reducing the interfacial impedance. Experiments have demonstrated that the MCPEs prepared in this paper exhibit high ionic conductivity at room temperature (1.83 × 10-4 S cm-1), low interfacial resistance (547 Ω cm-2), excellent mechanical properties (26 MPa), and excellent cycling rate performance (a capacity retention rate of 90% after 110 cycles at 0.1 C), which can meet the performance requirements of lithium-ion batteries for ASSPEs.

Interfacial Stabilization of Organic Electrochemical Transistors Conferred Using Polythiophene-Based Conjugated Block Copolymers with a Hydrophobic Coil Design.

The recent interest in developing low-cost, biocompatible, and lightweight bioelectronic devices has focused on organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), which have the potential to fulfill these requirements. In this study, three types of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)-based block copolymers (BCPs) incorporating different insulating blocks (poly(nbutyl acrylate) (PBA), polystyrene, and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)) were synthesized for application in OECTs. The morphological, crystallographic, and electrochemical properties of these BCPs are systematically investigated. Accordingly, P3HT-b-PBA demonstrates superior performance in the KCl-based aqueous electrolyte, with a higher product of mobility and capacitance (µC*) at 170 F s-1 cm-1 V-1 than that of the P3HT homopolymer at 58 F s-1 cm-1 V-1. P3HT-b-PBA exhibits better stability over 50 ON/OFF switching cycles than do other BCPs and P3HT homopolymers. With regard to the performance in the KPF6-based aqueous electrolyte, P3HT-b-PBA outperforms with a higher µC* of 9.2 F s-1 cm-1 V-1 than that of 8.6 F s-1 cm-1 V-1 observed from P3HT. Notably, both polymers exhibited almost no decay in device performance over 110 ON/OFF switching cycles. The strongly different performance of polymers in these two electrolytes is due to the side chain's hydrophobicity and interdigitated lamellar structures, thereby retarding the doping kinetics of the highly hydrated Cl- ions compared with the slightly hydrated PF6- ions. Concerning the improved performance of P3HT-b-PBA, this is attributed to its soft and hydrophobic backbone. Our morphological and crystallographic analyses reveal that P3HT-b-PBA experiences minimal structural disorder when swelled by the electrolyte, maintaining its original structure better than the P3HT homopolymer and the hydrophilic BCP of P3HT-b-PEO. The hydrophobic nature of P3HT-b-PBA contributes to the stability of its backbone structure, ensuring enhanced capacitance during the operation of the OECT operation. These findings provide reassurance about the stability and performance of P3HT-b-PBA in the field of OECT applications. In summary, this study represents the first exploration of P3HT-based BCPs for OECT applications and investigates their structure-performance relationships in mixed ionic-electronic conductors.

Association Between Ethylene Oxide Exposure and Cognitive Function in US Older Adults: NHANES 2013-2014.

Background: Ethylene oxide (EO) is a common organic compound associated with many adverse health outcomes. However, studies exploring the association between EO exposure and cognitive function are limited. Objective: This study aims to examine this relationship between EO exposure and cognition in older adults. Methods: This study enrolled 438 older adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014 cycle. EO exposure was quantified by the measurements of blood hemoglobin adducts of ethylene oxide (HbEO) concentrations. Cognitive function was measured by the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease battery (CREAD), the Animal Fluency test (AFT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Linear regression model, generalized additive model, and smooth curve fitting were applied to examine the linear and nonlinear relationship between EO exposure and cognitive function. We used a two-piecewise linear regression model to detect the threshold effect of EO exposure on cognitive function. Results: Participants with higher HbEO levels had lower AFT and DSST scores than those with lower HbEO levels. After adjusting for all confounding factors, log2-transformed HbEO levels were negatively associated with AFT score. The smooth curve fitting demonstrated the nonlinear relationship between EO exposure and DSST scores. When log-2 transformed HbEO levels >4.34 pmol/g Hb, EO exposure was negatively associated with DSST score. Conclusions: This study indicated that high levels of HbEO were associated with cognitive decline in US older adults. Future cohort studies are needed to verify our findings.

Encapsulation of photosensitizer worsen cell responses after photodynamic therapy protocol and polymer micelles act as biomodulators on their own.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a photochemical therapeutic modality used clinically for dermatological, ophthalmological and oncological applications. Pheo a was used as a model photosensitizer, either in its free form or encapsulated within poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEO-PCL) polymer micelles. Block copolymer micelles are water-soluble biocompatible nanocontainers with great potential for delivering hydrophobic drugs. Empty PEO-PCL micelles were also tested throughout the experiments. The goal was to conduct an in vitro investigation into human colorectal tumor HCT-116 cellular responses induced by free and encapsulated Pheo a in terms of cell architecture, plasma membrane exchanges, mitochondrial function, and metabolic disturbances. In a calibrated PDT protocol, encapsulation enhanced Pheo a penetration (flow cytometry, confocal microscopy) and cell death (Prestoblue assay), causing massive changes to cell morphology (SEM) and cytoskeleton organization (confocal), mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of integrity (TEM), rapid and massive ion fluxes across the plasma membrane (ICP-OES, ion chromatography), and metabolic alterations, including increased levels of amino acids and choline derivatives (1H NMR). The detailed investigation provides insights into the multifaceted effects of encapsulated Pheo-PDT, emphasizing the importance of considering both the photosensitizer and its delivery system in understanding therapeutic outcomes. The study also raises questions as to the broader impact of empty nanovectors per se, and encourages a more comprehensive exploration of their biological effects.

Effect of Sterilization Methods on Chemical and Physical-Mechanical Properties of Cotton Compresses.

The aim of this work was to determine the changes in the chemical and physical-mechanical properties of gauze compresses under the influence of various sterilizations. Gauze compresses are made of cotton; therefore, all methods used focused on cotton. The methods used to test possible damage to cotton materials (pH value (pH paper, KI starch paper), yellowing test, Fehling reaction, reaction to the formation of Turnbull blue (Berlin blue), microscopic staining with methylene blue and swelling reaction with Na-zincate) did not show that the sterilizations affected the cotton compresses. The morphological characteristics were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM images showed that there were no morphological changes in the cotton fibers. FTIR-ATR spectroscopy revealed that the sterilization processes did not alter the characteristic bands of the cotton. The length of the macromolecules was increased (DP), showing that the sterilization processes had affected the cotton. The results of the wet strength test followed. The samples showed values below 100%, with the exception of two samples. It is known from theory that the relative wet strength is less than 100% when the material is damaged. The t-test performed on the strength results showed that the p-value was greater than 0.05 for all samples tested, with the exception of one sample. The degree of swelling capacity was determined, with non-sterilized samples having the highest capacity, followed by samples sterilized with ethylene oxide and then samples sterilized by steam sterilization. The results obtained are a contribution to the innovation of the topic of this work and a scientific confirmation for manufacturers and anyone interested in the influence of the sterilization process on natural fibers (cotton).

Research on Using K-Means Clustering to Explore High-Risk Products with Ethylene Oxide Residues and Their Manufacturers in Taiwan.

Considering the frequency of ethylene oxide (EtO) residues found in food, the health effects of EtO have become a concern. Between 2022 and 2023, 489 products were inspected using the purposive sampling method in Taiwan, and nine unqualified products were found to have been imported; subsequently, border control measures were enhanced. To ensure the safety of all imported foods, the current study used the K-means clustering method for identifying EtO residues in food. Data on finished products and raw materials with EtO residues from international public opinion bulletins were collected for analysis. After matching them with the Taiwan Food Cloud, 90 high-risk food items with EtO residues and 1388 manufacturers were screened. The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration set up border controls and grouped the manufacturers using K-means clustering in the unsupervised learning algorithm. For this study, 37 manufacturers with priority inspections and 52 high-risk finished products and raw materials with residual EtO were selected for inspection. While EtO was not detected, the study concluded the following: 1. Using international food safety alerts to strengthen border control can effectively ensure domestic food safety; 2. K-means clustering can validate the risk-based purposive sampling results to ensure food safety and reduce costs.

Associations between Ethylene Oxide Exposure and Liver Function in the US Adult Population.

BACKGROUND: Ethylene oxide, a reactive epoxy compound, has been widely used in various industries for many years. However, evidence of the combined toxic effects of ethylene oxide exposure on the liver is still lacking. METHODS: We analyzed the merged data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2016. Ultimately, 4141 adults aged 18 and over were selected as the sample. We used linear regression to explore the association between blood ethylene oxide and LFT indicators. RESULTS: The weighted linear regression model showed that HbEO is positively correlated with ALP (ß = 2.61, 95% CI 1.97, 3.24, p < 0.0001), GGT (ß = 5.75, 95% CI 4.46, 7/05, p < 0.0001), ALT (ß = 0.50, 95% CI 0.09, 0.90, p = 0.0158), and AST (ß = 0.71, 95% CI 0.44, 0.98, p < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with TBIL (ß = -0.30, 95% CI -0.43, -0.16, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Ethylene oxide exposure is significantly associated with changes in liver function indicators among adults in the United States. Future work should further examine these relationships.

Customized Li+ Solvation Sheath at the Poly(ethylene oxide)-Based Electrolyte/Ultrahigh-Nickel Cathode Interface toward Room-Temperature Solid-State Lithium Batteries.

The matching of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based electrolytes with ultrahigh-nickel cathode materials is crucial for designing new-generation high-energy-density solid-state lithium metal batteries (SLMBs), but it is limited by serious interfacial side reactions between PEO and ultrahigh-nickel materials. Here, a high-concentration electrolyte (HCE) interface with a customized Li+ solvation sheath is constructed between the cathode and the electrolyte. It induces the formation of an anion-regulated robust cathode/electrolyte interface (CEI), reduces the unstable free-state solvent, and finally achieves the compatibility of PEO-based electrolytes with ultrahigh-nickel cathode materials. Meanwhile, the corrosion of the Al current collector caused by lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) ions is prevented by lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) ions. The synergistic effect of the double lithium salt is achieved by a well-tailored ratio of TFSI- and DFOB- in the first solvation sheath of Li+. Compared with reported PEO-based SLMBs matched with ultrahigh-nickel (Ni ≥ 90%) cathodes, the SLMB in this work delivers a high discharge specific capacity of 216.4 mAh g-1 (0.1C) even at room temperature. This work points out a direction to optimize the cathode/electrolyte interface.

Ethylene oxide suppresses boar sperm function during capacitation.

Ethylene oxide (E.O) is an epoxide compound, and it has been utilized as a sterilizer or production of ether compounds in several industries. Although the toxic effects of E.O on bacteria and mammals have been reported, its effects on male reproductive toxicity during sperm capacitation are not fully understood. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of E.O exposure during sperm capacitation. Boar spermatozoa were treated with various E.O concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µÐœ). After exposure, sperm motility, motion kinematics, capacitation status, intracellular ATP levels, cell viability, expression levels of protein kinase A (PKA) activation, and tyrosine phosphorylation were evaluated. Results revealed that E.O exposure significantly decreased sperm motility, motion kinematics, and intracellular ATP levels but significantly increased the capacitated spermatozoa. In addition, the PKA activation and tyrosine phosphorylation were abnormally changed. According to our results, E.O may cause toxic effects on sperm function during capacitation, which induces male reproductive toxicity. Consequently, we suggest that male reproductive toxicity should be considered when using E.O.

Positive association of ethylene oxide levels with young stroke: a population-based study.

Background: Ethylene oxide (EtO), a highly reactive organic compound with extensive industrial applications, poses significant health risks. The association between EtO exposure and stroke was not well established. This study examined the association between EtO exposure and stroke among US adults using data from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: We used appropriately weighted multifactorial logistic regression models to analyze the data and validated the findings with smoothed curve fitting. Stratified analysis and interaction assessments were performed to evaluate the robustness of the findings. Results: The study included 5,071 participants, balanced between men and women, with a stroke prevalence of 4.1%. Higher EtO levels were associated with rising rates of stroke (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.06-1.42). Individuals in the top 25% group displayed a stroke prevalence 1.6 times higher than those in the bottom 25% group (OR = 1.60, 95%CI: 1.03-2.48). Stratified analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between EtO and stroke in individuals under 50 years (OR = 1.94, 95%CI: 1.38-2.72), while no significant association was found in those aged 50 and above (OR = 0.97, 95%CI: 0.83-1.14). Conclusion: This study identified a significant association between EtO exposure and stroke occurrence in young adults in the United States.

Poly(ethylene) Oxide Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries Using Microsized Silicon/Carbon Anodes with Enhanced Rate Capability and Cyclability.

Silicon (Si) has been widely studied as one of the promising anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of its ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity and low working voltage. However, the poor interfacial stability of silicon against conventional liquid electrolytes has largely impeded its practical use. Therefore, the combination of silicon-based anodes and solid electrolytes has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. Here, we demonstrate three types of microsized porous silicon/carbon (Si/C) electrodes (i.e., pristine, prelithiated by liquid electrolyte, and preinfiltrated by polymer electrolyte) that are paired with poly(ethylene) oxide (PEO)-based electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). We found that when compared with ionic conductivity, the mechanical stability of the PEO electrolyte dominates the electrochemical performance of ASSLBs using Si/C electrodes at elevated temperature. Additionally, both prelithiated and preinfiltrated Si/C electrodes show higher specific capacity in comparison to the pristine electrode, which is attributed to continuous lithium-ion conducting pathways within the electrode and thus improved utilization of active material. Moreover, owing to good interfacial lithium-ion transport in the electrode, a solid-state half-cell with preinfiltrated Si/C electrode and PEO-lithium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide electrolyte delivers a specific capacity of ∼1,000 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles under 800 mA g-1 at 60 °C with average Coulombic efficiency >98.9%. This work provides a strategy for rationally designing the microstructure of silicon-based electrodes with solid electrolytes for high-performance all-solid-state lithium batteries.

The association between ethylene oxide and testosterone in the United States population: a cross-sectional study based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2016.

PURPOSE: Ethylene oxide (EO) is a prevalent industrial contaminant found in the environment and is related to various diseases such as cancers and hypertension. To the best of our knowledge, the association between EO and testosterone has not been explored. The aim of this article was to evaluate the relationship between EO and total testosterone (TT) in the United States population. METHODS: In this study, hemoglobin ethylene oxide (HbEO) levels were utilized to evaluate the exposure to EO. The data of this study were collected from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2016. A total of 3300 participants were enrolled in this study and were separated into 5 groups based on the quintile of HbEO. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between HbEO and TT. Subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate the connection between HbEO and TT in different stratifications. RESULTS: In the results, there was a positive relationship between log10-transformed HbEO and TT in the fully adjusted model [ß = 37.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 18.15-56.01, p = 0.004]. After log10-transformed HbEO transferred into a categorical variable based on the quintiles (Q1-Q5), the positive association remained in the highest group (Q5) compared to the lowest group (Q1) [ß = 46.09, 95%CI: 12.29-79.90, p = 0.013]. Moreover, subgroup analysis demonstrated that the positive connection between log10-transformed HbEO and TT was stronger in males than females. CONCLUSION: The level of HbEO was positively related to TT in the U.S. population and the relation was more obvious in men compared to women.