Fluorinated End‐Groups in Electrolytes Induce Ordered Electrolyte/Anode Interface Even at Open‐Circuit Potential as Revealed by Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy

Fluorine‐based additives have a tremendously beneficial effect on the performance of lithium‐ion batteries, yet the origin of this phenomenon is unclear. This paper shows that the formation of a solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the anode surface in the first five charge/discharge cycles is affected by the stereochemistry of the electrolyte molecules on the anode surface starting at open‐circuit potential (OCP). This study shows an anode‐specific model system, the reduction of 1,2‐diethoxy ethane with lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide, as a salt on an amorphous silicon anode, and compares the electrochemical response and SEI formation to its fluorinated version, bis(2,2,2‐trifluoroethoxy) ethane (BTFEOE), by sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy under reaction conditions. The SFG results suggest that the ? CF₃ end‐groups of the linear ether BTFEOE change their adsorption orientation on the a‐Si surface at OCP, leading to a better protective layer. Supporting evidence from ex situ scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiling measurements shows that the fluorinated ether, BTFEOE, yields a smooth SEI on the a‐Si surface and enables lithium ions to intercalate deeper into the a‐Si bulk.     

A mixed stationary phase containing two versatile cyclodextrin-based selectors for the simultaneous gas chromatographic enantioseparation of racemic alkanes and racemic alpha-amino acid derivatives

In an effort to simultaneously enantioseparate racemic unfunctionalized alkanes and racemic alpha-amino acid derivatives by gas chromatography (GC) in forthcoming experiments related to the search for extraterrestrial homochirality, the two versatile modified cyclodextrin (CD) selectors octakis(6-O-methyl-2,3-di-O-pentyl)-gamma-cyclodextrin (Lipodex G) and heptakis(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-cyclodextrin were dissolved in a polysiloxane and the mixed binary chiral selector system was coated onto a 50m x 0.25 mm i.d. fused silica capillary column. Whereas the former CD selector enantioseparates racemic unfunctionalized alkanes the latter CD selector preferentially resolves N-(O,S)-trifluoroacetyl-alpha-amino acid alkyl esters. With both CD selectors employed as mixed binary chiral selector system present in one chiral stationary phase (CSP), the simultaneous gas chromatographic enantioseparation of racemic alkanes and of racemic derivatized alpha-amino acids is achieved in a single temperature-programmed run. Also for other classes of racemic compounds, the scope of enantioseparation could be extended as compared to the conventional use of the single CD selectors in GC.     

Physiological loading of the mandibular osteosynthesis: development of an improved mandibular load simulator]

Loading conditions physiologically approximating those acting on the normal masticatory system were incorporated into a new mandibular load simulator. Separate tension wires attached to each ramus of the mandible simulated the resultant force vectors of the masticatory musculature. The muscle insertion points were chosen in accordance with the anatomical situation, and the maximum in vivo forces acting on the joint. In a first application, the stability of a 2.4 mm LC-WDCP was compared with that of a 2.7 mm EDCP in plastic mandible models. It was found that under largely physiological loading, the 2.4 mm LC-EDCP exerted a stabilizing effect similar to that of a 2.7 mm EDCP. Although of smaller dimensions, the 2.4 mm LC-EDCP appears to enable an osteosynthesis of similar stability in the treatment of fractures of the mandibular angle.     

GLIMMPSE Lite: Calculating Power and Sample Size on Smartphone Devices

Researchers seeking to develop complex statistical applications for mobile devices face a common set of difficult implementation issues. In this work, we discuss general solutions to the design challenges. We demonstrate the utility of the solutions for a free mobile application designed to provide power and sample size calculations for univariate, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), GLIMMPSE Lite. Our design decisions provide a guide for other scientists seeking to produce statistical software for mobile platforms.     

Passive Recovery of Vegetation after Herbivore Eradication on Santa Cruz Island,California

Understanding how insular ecosystems recover or are restructured after the eradication of an invasive species is crucial in evaluating conservation success and prioritizing island conservation efforts. Globally, herbivores have been removed from 762 islands, most with limited active restoration actions following eradication. Few studies have documented the effects of invasive herbivore removal after multiple decades of passive recovery. Here we evaluate recovery of vegetation on Santa Cruz Island, California, after the removal of feral sheep (Ovis aries) in 1984. We repeat a study conducted in 1980, and examine vegetation changes 28 years after the eradication. Before eradication, grazed areas were characterized by reduced plant cover, high exposure of bare ground, and erosion. After 28 years of passive recovery, transect data showed a 23% increase in woody overstory, whereas analysis of photographs from landscapes photographed pre‐ and post‐eradication showed a 26% increase in woody vegetation. Whole island vegetation maps similarly showed a transition from grass/bare ground (74.3% of cover) to woody plants (77.2% of cover), indicating the transition away from predominantly exotic annual grassland toward a community similar to the overstory of coastal scrubland but with an understory dominated by non‐native annual grasses. We estimate that replacement of grasses/bare ground by native woody vegetation has led to 70 and 17% increases in the stored carbon and nitrogen pools on the island, respectively. Our results demonstrate that these island ecosystems can experience significant recovery of native floral communities without intensive post‐eradication restoration, and results of recovery may take decades to be realized.     

Global analysis of plasticity in turgor loss point,a key drought tolerance trait

Many species face increasing drought under climate change. Plasticity has been predicted to strongly influence species' drought responses, but broad patterns in plasticity have not been examined for key drought tolerance traits, including turgor loss or ‘wilting’ point (π_tlp). As soil dries, plants shift π_tlp by accumulating solutes (i.e. ‘osmotic adjustment’). We conducted the first global analysis of plasticity in Δπ_tlp and related traits for 283 wild and crop species in ecosystems worldwide. Δπ_tlp was widely prevalent but moderate (?0.44 MPa), accounting for 16% of post‐drought π_tlp. Thus, pre‐drought π_tlp was a considerably stronger predictor of post‐drought π_tlp across species of wild plants. For cultivars of certain crops Δπ_tlp accounted for major differences in post‐drought π_tlp. Climate was correlated with pre‐ and post‐drought π_tlp, but not Δπ_tlp. Thus, despite the wide prevalence of plasticity, π_tlp measured in one season can reliably characterise most species' constitutive drought tolerances and distributions relative to water supply.     

Seasonal acclimatization of antioxidants and photosynthesis in Chondrus crispus and Mastocarpus stellatus, two co-occurring red algae with differing stress tolerances

Mastocarpus stellatus and Chondrus crispus are red macroalgae that co-dominate the lower rocky intertidal zones of the northern Atlantic coast. M. stellatus is more tolerant than C. crispus of environmental stresses, particularly those experienced during winter. This difference in tolerance has been attributed, in part, to greater contents or activities of certain antioxidants in M. stellatus. We compared the photosynthetic capacities and activities of three antioxidant enzymes--superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR)--as well as the contents of ascorbate from fronds of M. stellatus and C. crispus collected over a year. Photosynthetic capacity increased in winter, but did not differ between species in any season. The activities of the three antioxidant enzymes and the contents of ascorbate were significantly greater in tissues collected during months with mean air and water temperatures below 7.5 degrees C ("cold" months; December, February, March, April) than in months with mean air temperatures above 11 degrees C ("warm" months; June, July, August, October). Overall, C. crispus had significantly greater SOD and APX activities, while M. stellatus had higher ascorbate contents. Species-specific differences in GR activity depended upon mean monthly temperatures at the time of tissue collection; C. crispus had higher activities during cold months, whereas M. stellatus had higher activities during warm months. Taken together, these data indicate that increased ROS scavenging capacity is a part of winter acclimatization; however, only trends in ascorbate content support the hypothesis that greater levels of antioxidants underlie the relatively greater winter tolerance of M. stellatus in comparison to C. crispus.     

Gas chromatographic enantioseparation of unfunctionalized chiral alkanes: a challenge in separation science (overview, state of the art, and perspectives)

The chromatographic enantioseparation of small unfunctionalized chiral alkanes C*HR(1)R(2)R(3) (R = alkyl) represents a challenge in separation science. Because of the lack of any functional groups, enantiorecognition in the presence of a chiral selector is solely based upon weak enantioselective Van der Waals forces. Racemic alkanes containing seven and eight carbon atoms, i.e. 3-methylhexane (C7), 2,3-dimethylpentane (C7), 3-methylheptane (C8), 3,4-dimethylhexane (C8), 2,4-dimethylhexane (C8), 2,3-dimethylhexane (C8), and 2,2,3-trimethylpentane (C8) have been gas chromatographically enantioseparated on different modified cyclodextrins. The substitution pattern and cavity size of the cyclodextrin selectors have a pronounced effect on the degree of enantiorecognition observed. Thermodynamic parameters of enantiorecognition between four chiral alkanes and octakis(6-O-methyl-2,3-di-O-pentyl)-gamma-cyclodextrin (Lipodex G) have been determined. The possible role of molecular inclusion is indicated by the complete loss of enantioselectivity when the cyclodextrins are replaced by the corresponding linear dextrins ("acyclodextrins"). The enantioseparations of all seven chiral C7-C8 alkanes, six of them simultaneously, has been achieved on mixed binary selector systems whereby two different modified cyclodextrins are present in one gas chromatographic column. The smallest chiral (nonisotopically labeled) allene, i.e., 2,3-pentadiene, has been resolved gas chromatographically on a cyclodextrin selector.