Development of New Plastic-Crystal Based Electrolytes using Pyrrolidinium- Bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide Dicationic Salts.

Dicationic organic salts are an interesting class of solid-state electrolyte materials due to their unique structure. Here we present, for the first time, the synthesis and characterization of three dicationic-FSI salts, 1,2-bis(N-methylpyrrolidinium)ethane bi(bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide) ([C2 -Pyrr1][FSI]2 ), 1,2-bis(N-ethylpyrrolidinium)ethane bi(bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide) ([C2 -Pyrr2][FSI]2 ) and 1,2-bis(N-n-propylpyrrolidinium)ethane bi(bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide) ([C2 -Pyrr3][FSI]2 ). The structure and dynamics of the organic salts were probed using variable temperature solid-state NMR and were compared with the thermal and transport properties. The investigation revealed that [C2 -Pyrr1][FSI]2 , with shorter alkyl-side chains on the dication, displayed increased transport properties compared to [C2 -Pyrr2][FSI]2 and [C2 -Pyrr3][FSI]2 . To determine the proficiency of these dicationic-FSI salts as electrolyte materials for battery applications, 10 mol% and 50 mol% lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) was mixed with [C2 -Pyrr1][FSI]2 and [C2 -Pyrr2][FSI]2 . Increased transport properties were observed for [C2 -Pyrr1][FSI]2 /10 mol % LiFSI in comparison to [C2 -Pyrr2][FSI]2 /10 % LiFSI, while pulse field gradient NMR analysis revealed the highest Li+ self-diffusion ratio for [C2 -Pyrr1][FSI]2 /50 % LiFSI out of the four Li-salt-containing mixtures.

Lactational and postnatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls induces sex-specific anxiolytic behavior and cognitive deficit in mice offspring.

The central nervous system is affected by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Previous studies have indicated that developmental exposure to PCBs impairs behavioral performance and alters cognitive abilities. This study assessed the effects of lactational and postnatal exposure to a commercial PCBs mixture, Aroclor 1254 (A1254), on mice performing several neurobehavioral tasks including the open field test, novel object test, elevated plus maze test, Y-maze test, and tail suspension test. In the open field test, PCBs treatment (6 and 18 mg/kg/day) was associated with increased movement, time duration, and frequency in the central zone in female but not male mice. PCBs-treated female mice (6 and 18 mg/kg/day) also showed decreased novel object recognition, indicating impairment in recognition memory. Finally, we performed autoradiographic receptor binding assays for dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptors, dopamine transporter (DAT), and the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor after behavioral tests to examine whether alterations occurred in the dopaminergic and NMDAergic systems of the brain. Our results showed that PCBs treatment did not change D1 and D2 receptors or DAT binding in the dorsal striatum of female mice. However, PCBs treatment significantly decreased NMDA receptor binding in the dorsal striatum, frontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and motor cortex, and CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus in female mice. Collectively, our results suggest that long-term PCBs exposure can induce anxiolytic behavior, cognitive deficits, and changes of NMDA receptors.

Effects of ginseng ingestion on growth hormone, testosterone, cortisol, and insulin-like growth factor 1 responses to acute resistance exercise.

Ginseng, an herbal plant, has been ingested by many athletes in Oriental regions of the world in order to improve stamina and to facilitate rapid recovery from injuries. However, adequate investigation has not been conducted to examine the ergogenic effects of ginseng. To examine the effects of ginseng supplements on hormonal status following acute resistance exercise, eight male college students were randomly given water (control; CON) or 20 g of ginseng root extract (GIN) treatment immediately after a standardized exercise bout. Venous blood samples were drawn before and immediately after exercise and at 4 time points during a 2-hour recovery period. Human growth hormone, testosterone, cortisol, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The responses of plasma hormones following ginseng consumption were not significant between CON and GIN treatments during the 2-hour recovery period. These results do not support the use of ginseng to promote an anabolic hormonal status following resistance exercise.