Combinatorial synthesis of Li-ion batteries has proven extremely powerful in screening complex compositional spaces for next-generation materials. To date, no Na-ion counterpart exists wherein Na-ion cathodes can be synthesized in such a way to be comparable to that obtained in bulk synthesis. Herein, we develop a synthesis route wherein hundreds of milligram-scale powder samples can be made in a total time of 3 days. We focus on materials in the Na−Fe−Mn−O pseudoternary system of high immediate interest. Using a sol−gel method, developed herein, yields both phase-pure combinatorial samples of Na 2/3 Fe 1/2 Mn 1/2 O 2 and NaFe 1/2 Mn 1/2 O 2 , consistent with previous reports on bulk samples of interest commercially. By contrast, the synthesis route used for Li-ion cathodes (namely coprecipitations) does not yield phase pure materials, suggesting that the sol−gel method is more effective in mixing the Na, Fe, and Mn than coprecipitation. This has important consequences for all attempts to make these materials, even in bulk. Finally, we demonstrate that these milligram-scale powder samples can be tested electrochemically in a combinatorial cell. The resulting cyclic voltammograms are in excellent agreement with those found on bulk samples in the literature. This demonstrates that the methodology developed here will be effective in characterizing the hundreds of samples needed to understand the complex ternary systems of interest and that such results will scale-up well to the gram and kilogram scale.

Recent studies in educational psychology highlight the role of motivational variables such as trait-like perseverance. Studies have linked such variables (e.g., grit and mindset) to academic performance. However, research has reported inconsistent findings in explaining academic achievement differences. Drawing from a sample of pre-university students (N = 309), the present study assesses the efficacy of both grit and mindset in predicting academic achievement. The results suggest that neither grit, nor mindset was predictive of academic achievement. These findings have significant theoretical and practical implications.

Despite progress in global health, the general disease burden still disproportionately falls on low- and middle-income countries. The health needs of these countries’ populations are unmet because there is a shortage in drug research and development, as well as a lack of access to essential drugs. This health disparity is especially problematic for diseases associated with poverty, namely neglected tropical diseases and microbial infections. Currently, the pharmaceutical landscape focuses on innovations determined by profit margins and intellectual property protection. To expand drug accessibility and catalyze research and development for neglected diseases, a team of researchers proposed the Health Impact Fund as a potential solution. However, the fund is predominantly considering partnerships with pharmaceutical giants in high-income countries. This commentary explores the limitations and benefits in partnering with pharmaceutical companies based in Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC), with the goal of expanding the Health Impact Fund’s vision to incorporate long-term, local partnerships. Identified limitations to a BRIC country partnership include lower levels of drug development expertise compared to their high-income pharmaceutical counterparts, and whether the Health Impact Fund and the participating stakeholders have the financial capability to assist in bringing a new drug to market. However, potential benefits include the creation of new incentives to fuel competitive local innovation, more equitable routes to drug discovery and development, and a product pipeline that could involve stakeholders in lower- and middle-income countries. Our commentary explores how partnership with pharmaceutical firms in BRIC countries might be advantageous for all: The Health Impact Fund, pharmaceutical companies in BRIC economies, and stakeholders in low- and middle- income countries.

Background Imbalances in global health authorship have previously been documented, but the extent of the problem has yet to be examined longitudinally across many journals. This paper investigates the gender (2002-2020) and geographic distribution (2014-2020) of authors publishing in peer-reviewed global health journals. We also examined the amount of global health research collaboration among different income groups and continents. Methods This cohort study analyzes articles published in 46 peer-reviewed global health journals. Gender-API assigned genders to 190,809 individuals who authored a combined 33,854 articles. The country affiliations of authors were categorized by continent and World Bank income groups. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess collaboration between first and last authors belonging to different World Bank income groups and continents. Findings Women made up 39.3% of global health authors, and there was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of women authors between 2002 and 2020. The proportion of all global health authors who are women was highest in high income countries (45.9%) and lowest in low income countries (28.2%). Authors from middle income countries comprised of an increasing proportion of global health authors between 2014 and 2020. For articles with multiple authors, 16.0% and 24.1% have first and last authors from different income groups and continents, respectively. Conclusions While women and LMIC researchers are increasingly represented in global health publications, authorship gaps continue to persist. More research on structural determinants is necessary to elucidate how we improve authorship equity and support underrepresented global health expertise.

The prevalence of lung disease caused by Mycobacterium abscessus is increasing among patients with cystic fibrosis. M. abscessus is a multidrug resistant opportunistic pathogen that is notoriously difficult to treat due to a lack of efficacious therapeutic regimens. Currently, there are no standard regimens, and treatment guidelines are based empirically on drug susceptibility testing. Thus, novel antibiotics are required. Natural products represent a vast pool of biologically active compounds that have a history of being a good source of antibiotics. Here, we screened a library of 517 natural products purified from fermentations of various bacteria and fungi against M. abscessus ATCC 19977. Lysobactin and sorangicin A were active against the M. abscessus complex and drug resistant clinical isolates. These natural products merit further consideration to be included in the M. abscessus drug pipeline.