Adam F. G. Leontowich

Matching the mechanical properties of repair materials to tissue‐specific demands remains a major challenge in soft‐tissue repair. Here we report bioinspired anisotropic gelatin hydrogels formed by directional freezing and mechanically programmed through subsequent ionic treatment. By regulating intermolecular interactions while preserving the aligned, hierarchical porous architecture, this approach spans stiffnesses relevant to brain, kidney, tendon, and cartilage. Ion identity and treatment duration enable coordinated tuning of Young's modulus from 9.7 kPa to 3.59 MPa and tensile strength from 6 kPa to 14.25 MPa, together with broad regulation of viscoelasticity, extensibility, and fracture resistance. Multiscale SAXS/WAXS characterization, molecular simulations, and finite‐element analysis reveal that ion‐regulated chain association and hierarchical anisotropic organization collectively govern directional load transfer and mechanical reinforcement. Sodium citrate‐treated AGE‐SC 36H reaches a Young's modulus of 3.59 MPa, a tensile strength of 14.25 MPa, and a fracture energy of 413,305 J m ^{− 2} , while subsequent microbial transglutaminase (MTG) stabilization improves cyclic mechanical retention and resistance to swelling and enzymatic degradation under aqueous conditions. In a rat Achilles tendon model, AGE‐SC 36H (MTG) promotes organized collagen remodeling and improves functional recovery over surgical repair alone. Overall, ionic regulation offers a general strategy for programming anisotropic hydrogel mechanics across material classes.

Bullets, shot, and other projectiles from firearms can fragment inadvertently when they strike a target. The fragmentation process is concerning for hunting, where the projectiles are often lead-based, and the targets are animals that will likely be ingested by people and/or scavenging wildlife. Medical radiography (lab-based polychromatic X-ray imaging instruments routinely used in hospitals and for dental exams) has been the most widespread and accepted method to reveal these fragments within thick, hydrated tissue sections. It is also deployed at some food banks to screen packages of donated game meat for lead contamination in the form of projectile fragments. We present the first synchrotron-based X-ray images of rifle and shotgun wounds in biological tissue from hunted wild game animals, and contrast them against medical radiographs. Micro- and nanoscale fragments, undetectable in medical radiographs, were directly observed within tissue for the first time and conclusively identified as lead using X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies. The mass of just those lead fragments that were below the detection limit of medical radiography was quantified and found to exceed levels set by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for protection of human health.

In‐situ synthesis X‐ray diffraction is conducted at the Canadian Light Source to probe phase changes during the all‐dry synthesis of LiNi _0.6 Mn _0.3 Co _0.1 O ₂ (NMC631) and LiNi _0.7 Mn _0.3 O ₂ (NM73) made using either LiOH·H ₂ O or Li ₂ CO ₃ . All materials are heated up to 950 °C and held for one hour at 950 °C under flowing oxygen. The pathway to a layered phase is similar for all samples. First, a lithiated manganese oxide phase is formed at low temperature, then cations are incorporated into a rock salt phase from ≈420 °C. A spinel intermediary phase is formed before cation ordering occurs between Li and transition metal ions above 800 °C, giving rise to the intended layered hexagonal structure. Amongst the three materials tested, the layered phase of NMC631 (made using LiOH·H ₂ O) evolves at the lowest temperature of ≈820 °C and refines rapidly during the high temperature hold. The melting of LiOH coincides nicely with the oxidation of Ni, which forms the basis for the rock salt structure. It is postulated that the molten LiOH facilitates cation diffusion into the rock salt phase, allowing for an earlier formation of the layered phase in comparison to using Li ₂ CO ₃ , which has a higher decomposition temperature.

Reliability, scalability, and excellent film properties with large crystals and low grain boundaries are essential for successfully commercializing perovskites in optoelectronic applications. Our previous reports introduced meniscus-guided blade coating, or shearing, which is referred to as one-step blade coating in the present study, as a promising method for depositing scalable perovskite films with millimetre-sized crystals, fulfilling two of the essential criteria. As a subsequent study, we investigated the stability of the films in response to humidity by employing a readily accessible hydrophobic molecule, oleic acid (OA), through surface passivation. We compared the quality of the surface treatment on films produced via one-step and two-step deposition methods utilizing spin and blade coating techniques while subjecting them to continuous exposure to high humidity levels. Initially, we applied OA to the films using spin-coating, which is the standard method for surface passivation. Our results prove that the film properties resulting from the deposition technique determine the effectiveness of the passivation process. A quick surface treatment using OA via spin coating can be highly effective for perovskite films with smooth surfaces and smaller grain sizes, in contrast to textured films with larger crystal sizes. By tailoring the surface treatment method from spin coating to dip coating, we demonstrated that OA can prolong the stability of perovskites for months under continuous high-humidity exposure.

The design, performance, and capabilities of the High Energy beamline at the Brockhouse Sector of the Canadian Light Source are described. The beamline uses a single bent silicon wafer as a side-bounce Laue monochromator, using the (111), (422), or (533) hkl reflections to access energies ranging from 25 to 90 keV. The cryogenically cooled crystal serves as the only optical element in the beamline providing a simple, convenient, and reliable configuration. The bending provides a vertical focus as small as 20 µm. The flux ranges from 1 × 10¹⁰ to 1 × 10¹³ photons s⁻¹, depending on the energy, with typical pre-monochromator slit settings. A large translation table in the hutch moves to follow the beam as the energy is changed. Data are collected using large area detectors. Common uses include rapid collection of powder diffraction data, penetration of thick samples and devices, high pressure diffraction, and pair distribution function measurements.

Conventional microporous zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) face limitations in mass transfer and pore accessibility when dealing with large guest molecules. Here, we describe a technique for the synthesis of mesoporous ZIFs (MesoZIFs) using a strategy we term directed reticular chemistry. MesoZIF-8 was prepared through solvent evaporation-induced coassembly of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO), ZIF-8 building blocks, and acetic acid (AcOH), followed by amine-facilitated crystallization of ZIF-8 in the interstices of PS-b-PEO micelles. AcOH prevents the fast coordination of ZIF-8 building blocks, avoiding phase separation during coassembly. The employed amine plays a crucial role in neutralizing the crystallization environment and further deprotonating the 2-methlyimizale linker to coordinate with zinc ions. Ink bottle-shaped mesopores with tunable mesopore sizes were created by adjusting the molecular weight of PS-b-PEO. Compared to microporous ZIF-8, MesoZIF-8 exhibited enhanced performance in Knoevenagel condensation reactions involving large reactants and hydrogen storage capacity. With this study, we establish an efficient approach for synthesizing MesoZIFs with highly accessible mesopores to enhance ZIF performance in targeted applications.