A draft reference genome of the red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, for conservation genomics.

Red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, are herbivorous marine gastropods that primarily feed on kelp. They are the largest and longest-lived of abalone species with a range distribution in North America from central Oregon, United States, to Baja California, MEX. Recently, red abalone have been in decline as a consequence of overharvesting, disease, and climate change, resulting in the closure of the commercial fishery in the 1990s and the recreational fishery in 2018. Protecting this ecologically and economically important species requires an understanding of their current population dynamics and connectivity. Here, we present a new red abalone reference genome as part of the California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP). Following the CCGP genome strategy, we used Pacific Biosciences HiFi long reads and Dovetail Omni-C data to generate a scaffold-level assembly. The assembly comprises 616 scaffolds for a total size of 1.3 Gb, a scaffold N50 of 45.7 Mb, and a BUSCO complete score of 97.3%. This genome represents a significant improvement over a previous assembly and will serve as a powerful tool for investigating seascape genomic diversity, local adaptation to temperature and ocean acidification, and informing management strategies.

Deep Eutectic Solvent Based on Lithium Bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl] Imide (LiTFSI) and 2,2,2-Trifluoroacetamide (TFA) as a Promising Electrolyte for a High Voltage Lithium-Ion Battery with a LiMn2O4 Cathode.

To design safe and electrochemically stable electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries, this study describes the synthesis and the utilization of new deep eutectic solvents (DESs) based on the mixture of 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide (TFA) with a lithium salt (LiTFSI, lithium bis[(trifluoromethane)sulfonyl]imide). These prepared DESs were characterized in terms of thermal properties, ionic conductivity, viscosity, and electrochemical properties. Based on the appearance of the product and DSC measurements, it appears that this system is liquid at room temperature for LiTFSI mole fraction ranging from 0.25 to 0.5. At χLiTFSI = 0.25, DESs exhibited favorable electrolyte properties, such as thermal stability (up to 148 °C), relatively low viscosity (42.2 mPa.s at 30 °C), high ionic conductivity (1.5 mS.cm-1 at 30 °C), and quite large electrochemical stability window up to 4.9-5.3 V. With these interesting properties, selected DES was diluted with slight amount of ethylene carbonate (EC). Different amounts of EC (x = 0-30 %wt) were used to form hybrid electrolytes for battery testing with high voltage LiMn2O4 cathode and Li anode. The addition of the EC solvent into DES expectedly aims at enhancing the battery cycling performance at room temperature due to reducing the viscosity. Preliminary results tests clearly show that LiTFSI-based DES can be successfully introduced as an electrolyte in the lithium-ion batteries cell with a LiMn2O4 cathode material. Among all of the studied electrolytes, DES (LiTFSI: TFA = 4:1 + 10 %wt EC) is the most promising. The EC-based system exhibited a good specific capacity of 102 mAh.g-1 at C/10 with the theoretical capacity of 148 mAh.g-1 and a good cycling behavior maintaining at 84% after 50 cycles.

Single- and multiple-dose bioequivalence of two once-daily tramadol formulations using stereospecific analysis of tramadol and its demethylated (M1 and M5) metabolites.

OBJECTIVE: To assess bioequivalence of two once-daily formulations of tramadol (T) as well as delineate pharmacokinetics of its enantiomers and those of its main metabolites after single- and multiple-dose administration. METHODS: Single- and multiple-dose studies were conducted separately each in 48 healthy volunteers using an open-label, randomized, crossover design. Subjects received the 200 mg test (Tramadolor) and reference (Ultram ER) formulations in a randomized manner separated by a 7-day washout period once (single-dose study) or once daily for 7 days (multiple-dose study). Blood was sampled on days 1-2 (single-dose) or days 4-7 (multiple-dose), and plasma samples were analyzed using a stereospecific assay for quantitation of individual enantiomers of T and its active O-demethylated (M1) and N,O-demethylated (M5) metabolites. Bioequivalence was assessed using log-transformation and 90% confidence intervals. RESULTS: All analytes showed stereoselectivity after single and multiple doses of both products, with average concentrations of (+)-T, (-)-M1, and (-)-M5 exceeding those of their respective antipode. However, a decrease in steady-state oral clearance of T relative to single dose was not stereoselective. In both studies, the formulations were bioequivalent with regard to AUG and Cmax for both enantiomers of all analytes. The Tmax for the reference (10-12 h) was significantly (p < 0.05) longer than that for the test (5-6 h). Degree of fluctuation of T enantiomers after the test was greater than the reference. Both formulations were tolerated relatively well. CONCLUSIONS: Tramadolor and Ultram ER were bioequivalent for both enantiomers of T, M1 and M5. It is unlikely there would be any significant clinical differences between the two formulations.