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Abstract: The performance of full cells featuring high-voltage LiNi0.4Mn1.6O4 cathode and graphite anode with carbonate-based electrolytes, ethylene carbonate (EC) -dimethyl carbonate (DMC) with conventional LiPF6 and non-conventional Li[(C2F5)3PF3] (LiFAP) lithium salts with and without SEI-forming additives 1-fluoro ethylene carbonate (F1EC) and succinic anhydride (SA) is investigated. The results evidence the beneficial impact of EC-DMC-1M LiFAP electrolyte (LF30), with respect to EC-DMC-1M LiPF6 electrolyte (LP30), also in presence of 1.6% F1EC-2% SA additives, on charge retention over cycling and on self-discharge of full cells. After the 25 cycles of the charge capability test, the charge retention reached values up to 70% with LF30 and 87% with LF30 and additives, and fully charged cells with LF30-additives delivered 53% of the stored charge after one week in OCV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Power generation and storage in electronics require flexible, thin micro-electrochemical energy storage/conversion systems. Micro-supercapacitors (μSCs) with double-layer capacitance carbon electrodes are attracting much attention for their capability of delivering short power pulses with high stability over repeated charge/discharge cycling. Supersonic Cluster Beam Deposition (SCBD) is an effective strategy for the development of nanostructured, binder-free porous carbon electrodes on temperature sensitive substrates including polymers. We exploited SCBD for the development of a flexible, planar μSC featuring nanostructured carbon (ns-C) electrodes deposited on a plastic Mylar substrate and N-trimethyl-N-propyl-ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (N 1113 TFSI) ionic liquid electrolyte. The electrochemical performance at different temperatures of the μSC which operates at 3 V above RT up to 80 °C with a capacitance density approaching 10 F cm −3 and delivering maximum specific energy and power densities of 10 mWh cm −3 and 8-10 W cm −3 with long cycling stability over 2 × 10 4 cycles is here reported and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite/LiNi0.4Mn1.6O4 cells assembled with a new reinforced polyvinylidene fluoride (pVDF)–nano crystalline cellulose (NCC) separator and EC–DMC 1 M LiFAP electrolyte with additives were tested by deep charge/discharge cycles at different C-rates and by the FreedomCAR DOE protocol to simulate the dynamic functioning of the batteries in power-assist full hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The results of this study evidence the beneficial impact of the pVDF–NCC macroporous membrane with respect to the polypropylene monolayer Celgard®2400 separator on the high C-rate cell performance. The deep charge/discharge of the cell with pVDF–NCC at C/1 effective rate provided 101 W h kg−1 to be compared with 85 W h kg−1 of the cell with Celgard®2400 (the cell weight was considered twice the composite electrode weight of both electrodes). Also hybrid pulse power characterization tests based on the FreedomCAR protocol at 5 C and 10 C demonstrated the superior performance of the cells with pVDF–NCC with respect to that of the cells with Celgard®2400 even if both cells exceed the FreedomCAR goals of power and energy for minimum and maximum power-assist HEV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this project was to evaluate the Cozart® RapiScan Oral fluid Drug Testing System as an on-site screening tool for vitreous humor samples collected during post-mortem examinations. Vitreous humor is easy to collect and as it is contained within the eye it is almost completely unaffected by post-mortem redistribution. The ability to carry out an initial drug screen on vitreous humor at the earliest stage of the death investigation process could contribute significantly to the assessment of the role drugs may have played prior to confirmation with toxicological analyses at the laboratory. Vitreous humor (n =146) was collected from autopsy examinations (111 males and 35 females) with a specific focus on cases where death occurred following a road traffic accident or where an overdose was suspected. All samples were screened using the five-panel methadone Cozart® RapiScan Cartridge with an overall positive rate of 29%. Of the positive results, 43% screened positive for benzodiazepines, 17% for cocaine, 7% for methadone and 33% for opiates. Positive samples, with the exception of benzodiazepines, and 20% of negative samples were analysed by GC/MS. This is the first reported use of this system as an on-site forensic tool in death investigation and for screening for drugs of abuse in vitreous humor. The conclusions from this study show that the Cozart® RapiScan System could play an important role in obtaining information on the toxicological state of the person at the time of death. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

MT-45 is a synthetic opioid that was developed in the 1970s as an analgesic compound. However, in recent years MT-45 has been associated with multiple deaths in Europe and has been included in the class of novel psychoactive substances known as novel synthetic opioids (NSOs). Little is known about the pharmaco-toxicological effects of MT-45. Therefore, we used a dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assay to investigate the pharmacodynamic profile of this NSO in vitro compared with morphine. We then used in vivo studies to investigate the effect of the acute systemic administration of MT-45 (0.01–15 mg/kg i.p.) on motor and sensorimotor (visual, acoustic and tactile) responses, mechanical and thermal analgesia, muscle strength and body temperature in CD-1 male mice. Higher doses of MT-45 (6–30 mg/kg i.p.) were used to investigate cardiorespiratory changes (heart rate, respiratory rate, SpO 2 saturation and pulse distention). All effects of MT-45 were compared with those of morphine. In vitro DMR assay results demonstrated that at human recombinant opioid receptors MT-45 behaves as a potent selective mu agonist with a slightly higher efficacy than morphine. In vivo results showed that MT-45 progressively induces tail elevation at the lowest dose tested (0.01 mg/kg), increased mechanical and thermal antinociception (starting from 1 to 6 mg/kg), decreased visual sensorimotor responses (starting from 3 to 6 mg/kg) and reduced tactile responses, modulated motor performance and induced muscle rigidity at higher doses (15 mg/kg). In addition, at higher doses (15–30 mg/kg) MT-45 impaired the cardiorespiratory functions. All effects were prevented by the administration of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. These findings reveal the risks associated with the ingestion of opioids and the importance of studying these drugs and undertaking more clinical studies of the current molecules to better understand possible therapeutic interventions in the case of toxicity. • MT-45 behaves as a potent selective mu agonist in DMR assay. • MT-45 and morphine dose-dependently increased mechanical and thermal analgesia. • MT-45 progressively impaired the motor-sensorimotor responses in mice as morphine. • MT-45 altered cardiorespiratory responses in mice at higher doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]