The extent of dimerization in radical trap-assisted atom transfer radical coupling (RTA-ATRC) was studied as a function of solvent composition, with accelerated rates of coupling observed in solvent mixtures consisting of THF and hydrocarbons compared to either pure solvent. Aggregation of the nitroso radical trap was speculated to be responsible for the trend in coupling rates of RTA-ATRC reactions, with less polar solvents such as hydrocarbons favoring the active, monomeric form. The mixed solvent system of THF and cyclohexane was found to be transferrable to the synthesis of macrocyclic PS by intramolecular RTA-ATRC, with 50/50 (v/v) THF:cyclohexane reaction medium giving higher yields of cyclic product compared to reactions performed in the pure solvents.

Food insecurity correlates with poor physical and mental health in older individuals, but has not been studied in a laboratory animal model. This explorative study developed a laboratory mouse model for analyzing the impact of food insecurity on food consumption, stress coping mechanisms, exploratory behavior, and memory. 18-month-old CD-1 female mice were assigned to either the food insecurity exposure condition (31 mice, 8 cages) or the control condition (34 mice, 8 cages) by cage. Over four weeks, the mice that were exposed to food insecurity received varied, unpredictable portions of their baseline food consumption (50%, 75%, 125%, 150% of baseline) for four days, followed by ad libitum access for three days, to approximate the inconsistent access to food observed in households experiencing food insecurity. Behavioral tasks were conducted before and after food insecurity exposure. Mice in the food insecurity exposure condition ate less compared to control mice during food insecurity (two-way ANOVA: group x time interaction: F7,93 = 10.95, P < 0.01) but ate more when given access to high fat food (two-way ANOVA, group x time interaction: F1,14 = 11.14, P < 0.01). Mice exposed to food insecurity increased active escaping behaviors in the forced swim test (repeated measures two-way ANOVA, group x time interaction: F1,63 = 5.40, P = 0.023). Exploratory behaviors were unaffected by food insecurity. Mice exposed to food insecurity showed a reduction in memory (repeated measures two-way ANOVA, group x time interaction: F1,61 = 4.81, P = 0.037). These results suggest that exposure to food insecurity is associated with differences in food consumption patterns, active coping mechanisms, and memory. The behavioral changes associated with food insecurity may inform research on food insecurity’s impact on health in elderly humans.