Barcoding scientists aspire to adhere to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity by promoting conservation, sustainability, and the equitable sharing of benefits arising from use of genetic resources. (Image: Juan Manuel Escalante, wwww.realitat.com)

Sulfones are polar molecules that can be used as thermally stable electrolyte solvents for Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Li salts form stoichiometric solvates with sulfones in the electrolytes. The melting points of the solvates tend to be higher than room temperature, thereby limiting the operating temperature range of the batteries. In this study, the applicability of ternary eutectic mixtures of LiN­(SO2F)2 (LiFSA), sulfolane (SL), and dimethyl sulfone (DMS) as LIB electrolytes was assessed. Relative to the binary LiFSA–sulfone electrolytes, the ternary eutectic electrolytes remained liquid over a wide temperature range due to the increased entropy of mixing. Sulfone-bridged Li+–sulfone–Li+ and anion-bridged Li+–FSA––Li+ network structures were formed in the eutectic electrolyte with a composition of [LiFSA]/[SL]/[DMS] = 1/1.5/1.5. Pulsed-field gradient NMR measurements revealed that the Li+ ion dynamically exchanges sulfones and anions and diffuses more rapidly than these ligands, resulting in the relatively high Li+ transference number of the electrolyte. Highly reversible charge–discharge processes of the LiCoO2 and graphite electrodes were attained using the ternary eutectic electrolyte. The rate capability of the Li/LiCoO2 cell in the eutectic electrolyte was comparable to that of the cell in the conventional 1 M LiPF6 in an ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate solution despite its lower ionic conductivity.

For endurance exercise in swimming mice, 1.8% VAAM (Vespa amino acid mixtiure) which has the same amino acid components as hornet (Vespa mandarinia) larval saliva, 1.8% casein amino acid mixture (CAAM), 10% glucose, or amino acid mixtures in which the amino acids were varied while maintaining the same molar ratio as VAAM were administered orally to mice. Mice recieving 1.8% VAAM showed significantly longer maximum swimming times than mice receiving other nutrients. Among these nutrients, mixtures of proline, glycine, and essential amino acid mixture (EAAM) from the VAAM component, showed maximum times near those with VAAM. In swimming exercise in mice earring of 0.3g tail weight, mice administered 1.8% VAAM showed lower blood lactate concentrations and higher blood glucose concentrations than mice recieving other nutrients. Mice recieving 1.8% VAAM also had lower lactate concentrations in muscle as well as blood. This suggests that VAAM suppresses lactate production and glucose catabolism during exercise. The effects of hornet larval saliva were stronger than those of VAAM. VAAM therefore showed the major effect of the saliva. The results suggest that VAAM improves physiological condition during endurance exercise. A positive correlation was observed between the blood concentrations of lactate and glucose in exercising mice administered various nutrients (r =0.779). This suggests metabolic equilibration between glucose and lactate during exercise. A positive correlation (r=0.507) was also found between the maximum swimming time and blood glucose concentration. Maximum swimming times were highest at low (Ca. 2.5 mMol) and high (Ca. 4.0 mMol) blood lactate concentrations in high blood glucose concentrations. These facts support that glucose homeostasis is important in prolonged exercise.

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