Solid state lithium conductors are attracting much attention for their potential applications to solid-state batteries and supercapacitors of high energy density to overcome safety issues and irreversible capacity loss of the currently commercialized ones. Recently, we discovered a new class of lithium super ionic conductors based on lithium borohydride (LiBH(4)). LiBH(4) was found to have conductivity as high as 10(-2) Scm(-1) accompanied by orthorhombic to hexagonal phase transition above 115 degrees C. Polarization to the lithium metal electrode was shown to be extremely low, providing a versatile anode interface for the battery application. However, the high transition temperature of the superionic phase has limited its applications. Here we show that a chemical modification of LiBH(4) can stabilize the superionic phase even below room temperature. By doping of lithium halides, high conductivity can be obtained at room temperature. Both XRD and NMR confirmed room-temperature stabilization of superionic phase for LiI-doped LiBH(4). The electrochemical measurements showed a great advantage of this material as an extremely lightweight lithium electrolyte for batteries of high energy density. This material will open alternative opportunities for the development of solid ionic conductors other than previously known lithium conductors.

Cancer is a multifactorial disease that most commonly affects people ≥50 years of age. However, evidence indicates that the incidence of cancers of various organs (including those of the breast, colorectum, endometrium, oesophagus, extrahepatic bile duct, gallbladder, head and neck, kidney, liver, bone marrow (multiple myeloma (MM)), pancreas, prostate, stomach and thyroid) has been rising in adults <50 years of age in many parts of the world 1-13 . This trend is also observed in analyses using Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN; https://gco.iarc.fr/) data (Fig. 1 provides data on selected countries; more comprehensive data are provided in Supplementary Table 1). We herein use the term 'early-onset' to describe cancers diagnosed in adults <50 years of age, and a contrasting term, 'later-onset' , for cancers diagnosed in those ≥50 years of age. Cancers diagnosed during childhood and adolescence (<20 years of age) are out of the scope of this Review.The rise of early-onset cancer has considerable personal, societal and economic implications. Survivors of early-onset cancers have a higher risk of long-term health problems such as infertility, cardiovascular disease and secondary cancers [14][15][16] . Owing to this increasing cancer burden among young adults, which might be referred to as the 'early-onset cancer epidemic' , the US National Cancer Institute listed this phenomenon as a research priority in one of its 'Provocative Questions' for 2020-2021 (reF. 17).Differences in epidemiology and clinical, pathological, and molecular characteristics clearly exist between early-onset and later-onset cancers, although these features are not likely to change dramatically at exactly 50 years of age 18 . Furthermore, early-onset cancer in any given organ is not a homogeneous entity but rather encompasses a variable range of clinical and pathological features 18,19 . We acknowledge the limitations of applying a dichotomy at 50 years of age, although we selected this cut-off point to enable consistent collection and interpretation of current evidence on early-onset cancers. In reality, we also need to consider heterogeneity within Is early-onset cancer an emerging global epidemic? Current evidence and future implications

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[structure: see text] This paper describes the cyclotrimerization reaction of di(2-azulenyl)acetylenes (2a,b) catalyzed by Co2(CO)8 to produce hexa(2-azulenyl)benzene derivatives (1a,b). The cyclooligomerization of 2a and 2b utilizing CpCo(CO)2 as a catalyst produced (eta5-cyclopentadienyl)[tetra(2-azulenyl)cyclobutadiene]cobalt complexes (3a,b). The redox behavior of hexakis(6-octyl-2-azulenyl)benzene (1b), bis(6-octyl-2-azulenyl)acetylene (2b), and the cobalt complexes 3a and 3b along with 6-octyl-2-phenylazulene (19) was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The reduction of compound 1b exhibited multiple-electron transfers in one step upon CV with a reduction potential similar to that of compound 19. However, the CVs of compounds 2b, 3a, and 3b were characterized by stepwise waves because of the reduction of each azulene ring. The mesomorphic behaviors of 1b, 2b, and 19 were also studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. A new series of azulene derivatives, 1b, 2b, and 19, substituted by a long alkyl chain at the 6-position shows mesomorphism with crystalline polymorphs. Compound 1b showed a large temperature range of hexagonal columnar mesophases (Col(ho)) from 115.5 to 199.9 degrees C. Compound 2b has rectangular columnar (Col(ro)), smectic E (S(E)), and nematic (N) mesophases. Compound 19 exhibited an S(E) mesophase.