bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Techno-Economic Analysis of the Reclamation of Drinking Water and Valuable Minerals from Acid Mine Drainage
Authors: Shingwenyana Rhulani , Shabalala Ayanda N. , Mbhele Ryneth , Masindi Vhahangwele
Published: December 2021

The concept of circular economy in wastewater treatment has recently attracted immense interest and this is primarily fueled by the ever-growing interest to minimise ecological footprints of mining activities and metallurgical processes. In light of that, countries such as the Republic of South Africa, China, Australia, and the United States are at the forefront of water pollution due to the generation of notorious acid mine drainage (AMD). The disposal of AMD to different receiving environments constitutes a severe threat to the receiving ecosystem thus calling for prudent intervention to redress the prevailing challenges. Recent research emphasises the employment of wastewater treatment, beneficiation and valorisation. Herein, the techno-economic evaluation of the reclamation of clean water and valuable minerals from AMD using the Magnesite Softening and Reverse Osmosis (MASRO) process was reported. The total capital expenditure (CAPEX) for the plant is ZAR 452,000 (USD 31,103.22) which includes ZAR 110,000 (USD 7569.37) for civil works on a plant area of 100 m2. The operational expenditure (OPEX) for the pilot is 16,550,000 ZAR (South African Rand) or USD 1,138,845.72 in present value terms (10 years plant life). The plant reclaimed drinking water as specified in different water quality standards, guidelines, and specifications, including Fe-based minerals (goethite, magnetite, and hematite), Mg-gypsum, and calcium carbonate. These minerals were verified using state-of-the-art analytical equipment. The recovered valuables will be sold at ZAR 368/kL (USD 25.32), ZAR 1100/t (USD 75.69), and ZAR 2000/t (USD 137.62) for water, gypsum, and limestone, respectively. The project has an NPV of ZAR 60,000 (USD 4128.75) at an IRR of 26%. The payback period for this investment will take 3 years. The total power consumption per day was recorded to be 146.6 kWh, and 103,288 kWh/annum. In conclusion, findings of this work will significantly contribute to improving the sustainability of the mining sector by proposing economically feasible solutions for wastewater streams treatment, beneficiation, and valorisation.
Editorial for Special Issue “Gravity Concentration”
Authors: Sampaio Carlos Hoffmann , Ambrós Weslei Monteiro
Published: December 2021

Gravity concentration is the process by which particles of different densities, sizes, and shapes separate from each other when under the action of gravity or centrifugal forces [...]
Spatial Contamination and Potential Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soil around Nonferrous Metal Smeltery in North China
Authors: Han Dongmei , Li Xiliang , Wang Menglu , Liang Shuxuan
Published: December 2021

Nonferrous metallurgy is an important source of heavy metal in the environment and consequently poses potential risks to ecosystems. The impact of smelting on the surrounding envi-ronment is a concern. In this work, the content levels of selected heavy metals—chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As)—were investigated separately in soil samples collected around two nonferrous metal smelteries using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The spatial distribution characteristics of soil metal pollutants was studied by ArcGIS methods and the potential ecological risks were assessed by the Hakanson potential eco-logical hazard index. The results show that soils were heavily polluted by Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and As. Their mean contents in soil around Smeltery A were 88, 62, 103, 1200, 1.4, 146, and 69 mg/kg, respectively, and those around Smeltery B were 86, 59, 83, 117, 0.53, 57, and 65 mg/kg, respectively. Their contents were obviously higher than the background values of soil Cr (68 mg/kg), Ni (31 mg/kg), Cu (22 mg/kg), Zn (78 mg/kg), Cd (0.09 mg/kg), Pb (22 mg/kg), and As (14 mg/kg). The distribution pattern in soil and risk assessment results show that the pollution surrounding the two smelteries reached intense and moderate ecological hazard and that the contribution of Cd and As was up to 87.05% and 82.59%, respectively. These results suggest that metal smelting makes a considerable contribution to soil pollution.
A Pilot Study of Rare Renal Amyloidosis Based on FFPE Proteomics
Authors: Meng Shuang , Xia Wenwen , Xia Li , Zhou Li , Xu Jing , Pan Xiaoxia , Meng Liyuan
Published: December 2021

Renal amyloidosis typically manifests albuminuria, nephrotic-range proteinuria, and ultimately progresses to end-stage renal failure if diagnosed late. Different types of renal amyloidosis have completely different treatments and outcomes. Therefore, amyloidosis typing is essential for disease prognosis, genetic counseling and treatment. Thirty-six distinct proteins currently known to cause amyloidosis that have been described as amyloidogenic precursors, immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunofluorescence (IF), can be challenging for amyloidosis typing especially in rare or hereditary amyloidosis in clinical practice. We made a pilot study that optimized the proteomics pre-processing procedures for trace renal amyloidosis formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples, combined with statistical and bioinformatics analysis to screen out the amyloidosis-related proteins to accurately type or subtype renal amyloidosis in order to achieve individual treatment. A sensitive, specific and reliable FFPE-based proteomics analysis for trace sample manipulation was developed for amyloidosis typing. Our results not only underlined the great promise of traditional proteomics and bioinformatics analysis using FFPE tissues for amyloidosis typing, but also proved that retrospective diagnosis and analysis of previous cases laid a solid foundation for personalized treatment.
Ciprofloxacin-Loaded Gold Nanoparticles against Antimicrobial Resistance: An In Vivo Assessment
Authors: Nawaz Afrah , Ali Syed Mohsin , Rana Nosheen Fatima , Tanweer Tahreem , Batool Amna , Webster Thomas J. , Menaa Farid , Riaz Sundus , Rehman Zahra , Batool Farhat , Fatima Misha , Maryam Tuba , Shafique Iqra , Saleem Abida , Iqbal Arfa
Published: December 2021

Metallic nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), have been extensively studied as drug delivery systems for various therapeutic applications. However, drug-loaded-AuNPs have been rarely explored in vivo for their effect on bacteria residing inside tissues. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a second-generation fluoroquinolone with a broad-spectrum of antibiotic properties devoid of developing bacteria resistance. This research is focused on the synthesis and physical characterization of Ciprofloxacin-loaded gold nanoparticles (CIP-AuNPs) and their effect on the colonization of Enterococcus faecalis in the liver and kidneys of mice. The successfully prepared CIP-AuNPs were stable and exerted enhanced in vitro antibacterial activity against E. faecalis compared with free CIP. The optimized CIP-AuNPs were administered (500 µg/Kg) once a day via tail vein to infected mice for eight days and were found to be effective in eradicating E. faecalis from the host tissues. Moreover, unlike CIP, CIP-AuNPs were non-hemolytic. In summary, this study demonstrated that CIP-AuNPs are promising and biocompatible alternative therapeutics for E.-faecalis-induced infections resistant to conventional drugs (e.g., beta-lactams and vancomycin) and should be further investigated.
Melting Enhancement in a Triple-Tube Latent Heat Storage System with Sloped Fins
Authors: Mahmoud Mustafa , Mohammed Hayder , Mahdi Jasim , Bokov Dmitry , Ben Khedher Nidhal , Alshammari Naif , Talebizadehsardari Pouyan , Yaïci Wahiba
Published: December 2021

Due to the potential cost saving and minimal temperature stratification, the energy storage based on phase-change materials (PCMs) can be a reliable approach for decoupling energy demand from immediate supply availability. However, due to their high heat resistance, these materials necessitate the introduction of enhancing additives, such as expanded surfaces and fins, to enable their deployment in more widespread thermal and energy storage applications. This study reports on how circular fins with staggered distribution and variable orientations can be employed for addressing the low thermal response rates in a PCM (Paraffin RT-35) triple-tube heat exchanger consisting of two heat-transfer fluids flow in opposites directions through the inner and the outer tubes. Various configurations, dimensions, and orientations of the circular fins at different flow conditions of the heat-transfer fluid were numerically examined and optimized using an experimentally validated computational fluid-dynamic model. The results show that the melting rate, compared with the base case of finless, can be improved by 88% and the heat charging rate by 34%, when the fin orientation is downward–upward along the left side and the right side of the PCM shell. The results also show that there is a benefit if longer fins with smaller thicknesses are adopted in the vertical direction of the storage unit. This benefit helps natural convection to play a greater role, resulting in higher melting rates. Changing the fins’ dimensions from (thickness × length) 2 × 7.071 mm2 to 0.55 × 25.76 mm2 decreases the melting time by 22% and increases the heat charging rate by 9.6%. This study has also confirmed the importance of selecting the suitable values of Reynolds numbers and the inlet temperatures of the heat-transfer fluid for optimizing the melting enhancement potential of circular fins with downward–upward fin orientations.
Anticancer Potential of L-Histidine-Capped Silver Nanoparticles against Human Cervical Cancer Cells (SiHA)
Authors: Mohammed Asik Rajmohamed , Manikkaraja Chidhambaram , Tamil Surya Karuppusamy , Suganthy Natarajan , Priya Aarthy Archunan , Mathe Domokos , Sivakumar Muthusamy , Archunan Govindaraju , Padmanabhan Parasuraman , Gulyas Balazs
Published: December 2021

This study reports the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using amino acid L-histidine as a reducing and capping agent as an eco-friendly approach. Fabricated L-histidine-capped silver nanoparticles (L-HAgNPs) were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic studies. Spherical shaped L-HAgNPs were synthesized with a particle size of 47.43 ± 19.83 nm and zeta potential of −20.5 ± 0.95 mV. Results of the anticancer potential of L-HAgNPs showed antiproliferative effect against SiHa cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 18.25 ± 0.36 µg/mL. Fluorescent microscopic analysis revealed L-HAgNPs induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to activation of apoptotic pathway and DNA damage eventually causing cell death. To conclude, L-HAgNPs can act as promising candidates for cervical cancer therapy.
Full 360° Terahertz Dynamic Phase Modulation Based on Doubly Resonant Graphene–Metal Hybrid Metasurfaces
Authors: Wang Binxu , Luo Xiaoqing , Lu Yalin , Li Guangyuan
Published: December 2021

Dynamic phase modulation is vital for tuneable focusing, beaming, polarisation conversion and holography. However, it remains challenging to achieve full 360° dynamic phase modulation while maintaining high reflectance or transmittance based on metamaterials or metasurfaces in the terahertz regime. Here, we propose a doubly resonant graphene–metal hybrid metasurface to address this challenge. Simulation results show that by varying the graphene Fermi energy, the proposed metasurface with two shifting resonances is capable of providing dynamic phase modulation covering a range of 361° while maintaining relatively high reflectance above 20% at 1.05 THz. Based on the phase profile design, dynamically tuneable beam steering and focusing were numerically demonstrated. We expect that this work will advance the engineering of graphene metasurfaces for the dynamic manipulation of terahertz waves.
Enhancement of Temperature Fluorescence Brightness of Zn@Si Core-Shell Quantum Dots Produced via a Unified Strategy
Authors: Almomani Mohammad S. , Ahmed Naser M. , Rashid Marzaini , Ali M. K. M. , Akhdar H. , Aldaghri O. , Ibnaouf K. H.
Published: December 2021

Despite many dedicated efforts, the fabrication of high-quality ZnO-incorporated Zinc@Silicon (Zn@Si) core–shell quantum dots (ZnSiQDs) with customized properties remains challenging. In this study, we report a new record for the brightness enhancement of ZnSiQDs prepared via a unified top-down and bottom-up strategy. The top-down approach was used to produce ZnSiQDs with uniform sizes and shapes, followed by the bottom-up method for their re-growth. The influence of various NH4OH contents (15 to 25 µL) on the morphology and optical characteristics of ZnSiQDs was investigated. The ZnSiQDs were obtained from the electrochemically etched porous Si (PSi) with Zn inclusion (ZnPSi), followed by the electropolishing and sonication in acetone. EFTEM micrographs of the samples prepared without and with NH4OH revealed the existence of spherical ZnSiQDs with a mean diameter of 1.22 to 7.4 nm, respectively. The emission spectra of the ZnSiQDs (excited by 365 nm) exhibited bright blue, green, orange-yellow, and red luminescence, indicating the uniform morphology related to the strong quantum confinement ZnSiQDs. In addition, the absorption and emission of the ZnSiQDs prepared with NH4OH were enhanced by 198.8% and 132.6%, respectively. The bandgap of the ZnSiQDs conditioned without and with NH4OH was approximately 3.6 and 2.3 eV, respectively.
Atomistic Simulations on Metal Rod Penetrating Thin Target at Nanoscale Caused by High-Speed Collision
Authors: Wu Yong-Chao , Liu Jin-Ming , Xie Wei , Yin Qing , Shao Jian-Li
Published: December 2021

The penetration process has attracted increasing attention due to its engineering and scientific value. In this work, we investigate the deformation and damage mechanism about the nanoscale penetration of single-crystal aluminum nanorod with atomistic simulations, where distinct draw ratio (∅) and different incident velocities (up) are considered. The micro deformation processes of no penetration state (within 2 km/s) and complete penetration (above 3 km/s) are both revealed. The high-speed bullet can cause high pressure and temperature at the impacted region, promoting the localized plastic deformation and even solid-liquid phase transformation. It is found that the normalized velocity of nanorod reduces approximately exponentially during penetration (up < 3 km/s), but its residual velocity linearly increased with initial incident velocity. Moreover, the impact crater is also calculated and the corresponding radius is manifested in the linear increase trend with up while inversely proportional to the ∅. Interestingly, the uniform fragmentation is observed instead of the intact spallation, attributed to the relatively thin thickness of the target. It is additionally demonstrated that the number of fragments increases with increasing up and its size distribution shows power law damping nearly. Our findings are expected to provide the atomic insight into the micro penetration phenomena and be helpful to further understand hypervelocity impact related domains.
Effect of Step Gate Work Function on InGaAs p-TFET for Low Power Switching Applications
Authors: Azam Sayed Md Tariful , Bakibillah Abu Saleh Md , Hasan Md Tanvir , Kamal Md Abdus Samad
Published: December 2021

In this study, we theoretically investigated the effect of step gate work function on the InGaAs p-TFET device, which is formed by dual material gate (DMG). We analyzed the performance parameters of the device for low power digital and analog applications based on the gate work function difference (∆ϕS-D) of the source (ϕS) and drain (ϕD) side gate electrodes. In particular, the work function of the drain (ϕD) side gate electrodes was varied with respect to the high work function of the source side gate electrode (Pt, ϕS = 5.65 eV) to produce the step gate work function. It was found that the device performance varies with the variation of gate work function difference (∆ϕS-D) due to a change in the electric field distribution, which also changes the carrier (hole) distribution of the device. We achieved low subthreshold slope (SS) and off-state current (Ioff) of 30.89 mV/dec and 0.39 pA/µm, respectively, as well as low power dissipation, when the gate work function difference (∆ϕS-D = 1.02 eV) was high. Therefore, the device can be a potential candidate for the future low power digital applications. On the other hand, high transconductance (gm), high cut-off frequency (fT), and low output conductance (gd) of the device at low gate work function difference (∆ϕS-D = 0.61 eV) make it a viable candidate for the future low power analog applications.
MXene-Based Materials for Solar Cell Applications
Authors: Shi Zhe , Khaledialidusti Rasoul , Malaki Massoud , Zhang Han
Published: December 2021

MXenes are a class of two-dimensional nanomaterials with exceptional tailor-made properties, making them promising candidates for a wide variety of critical applications from energy systems, optics, electromagnetic interference shielding to those advanced sensors, and medical devices. Owing to its mechano-ceramic nature, MXenes have superior thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties. Recently, MXene-based materials are being extensively explored for solar cell applications wherein materials with superior sustainability, performance, and efficiency have been developed in demand to reduce the manufacturing cost of the present solar cell materials as well as enhance the productivity, efficiency, and performance of the MXene-based materials for solar energy harvesting. It is aimed in this review to study those MXenes employed in solar technologies, and in terms of the layout of the current paper, those 2D materials candidates used in solar cell applications are briefly reviewed and discussed, and then the fabrication methods are introduced. The key synthesis methods of MXenes, as well as the electrical, optical, and thermoelectric properties, are explained before those research efforts studying MXenes in solar cell materials are comprehensively discussed. It is believed that the use of MXene in solar technologies is in its infancy stage and many research efforts are yet to be performed on the current pitfalls to fill the existing voids.
Growth Study of Hierarchical Pore SSZ-13 Molecular Sieves with Improved CO2 Adsorption Performance
Authors: Han Runlin , Tao Yuxuan , Zhou Liang
Published: December 2021

SSZ-13, with a unique pore structure and excellent thermal stability, showed a potential application in the adsorption and catalysis industry. In this work, Al(NO3)3 was used as an Al source to study the performance and morphology of the zeolite. The zeolite was prepared with an unconventional process by adding an Al source before the structure-directing agent and base. When inorganic oxygen-containing anions were introduced into the unconventional synthesis system, the crystals of the zeolite conform to the unconventional growth mode. The zeolites with large crystals were assembled from small unit nanocrystals. Extending the reaction time, aging time and adding fluoride ions introduced a multistage pore structure on the surface of the molecular sieve, which improved the CO2 adsorption performance. When aging for 24 h, reaction for 96 h, and the amount of fluorine added was 0.05 (F/Si), the sample had the best hierarchical pore structure. The SSZ-13 molecular sieve with an added amount of 0.1 (F/Si) has the highest CO2 adsorption performance. The adsorption amount was 4.55 mmol/g at 1 bar, which is 20.4% higher than that of zeolite SSZ-13 prepared by the conventional process.
Computational Study of the Curvature-Promoted Anchoring of Transition Metals for Water Splitting
Authors: Liu Weiwei , Kong Youchao , Wang Bo , Li Xiaoshuang , Liu Pengfei , Santiago Alain R. Puente , He Tianwei
Published: December 2021

Generating clean and sustainable hydrogen from water splitting processes represent a practical alternative to solve the energy crisis. Ultrathin two-dimensional materials exhibit attractive properties as catalysts for hydrogen production owing to their large surface-to-volume ratios and effective chemisorption sites. However, the catalytically inactive surfaces of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) possess merely small areas of active chemical sites on the edge, thus decreasing their possibilities for practical applications. Here, we propose a new class of out-of-plane deformed TMD (cTMD) monolayer to anchor transition metal atoms for the activation of the inert surface. The calculated adsorption energy of metals (e.g., Pt) on curved MoS2 (cMoS2) can be greatly decreased by 72% via adding external compressions, compared to the basal plane. The enlarged diffusion barrier energy indicates that cMoS2 with an enhanced fixation of metals could be a potential candidate as a single atom catalyst (SAC). We made a well-rounded assessment of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which are two key processes in water splitting. The optimized Gibbs free energy of 0.02 for HER and low overpotential of 0.40 V for OER can be achieved when the proper compression and supported metals are selected. Our computational results provide inspiration and guidance towards the experimental design of TMD-based SACs.
Bright Silicon Carbide Single-Photon Emitting Diodes at Low Temperatures: Toward Quantum Photonics Applications
Authors: Khramtsov Igor A. , Fedyanin Dmitry Yu.
Published: December 2021

Color centers in silicon carbide have recently emerged as one of the most promising emitters for bright single-photon emitting diodes (SPEDs). It has been shown that, at room temperature, they can emit more than 109 photons per second under electrical excitation. However, the spectral emission properties of color centers in SiC at room temperature are far from ideal. The spectral properties could be significantly improved by decreasing the operating temperature. However, the densities of free charge carriers in SiC rapidly decrease as temperature decreases, which reduces the efficiency of electrical excitation of color centers by many orders of magnitude. Here, we study for the first time the temperature characteristics of SPEDs based on color centers in 4H-SiC. Using a rigorous numerical approach, we demonstrate that although the single-photon electroluminescence rate does rapidly decrease as temperature decreases, it is possible to increase the SPED brightness to 107 photons/s at 100 K using the recently predicted effect of hole superinjection in homojunction p-i-n diodes. This gives the possibility to achieve high brightness and good spectral properties at the same time, which paves the way toward novel quantum photonics applications of electrically driven color centers in silicon carbide.
Interactions of Coated-Gold Engineered Nanoparticles with Aquatic Higher Plant Salvinia minima Baker
Authors: Mahaye Ntombikayise , Thwala Melusi , Musee Ndeke
Published: December 2021

The study investigated the interactions of coated-gold engineered nanoparticles (nAu) with the aquatic higher plant Salvinia minima Baker in 2,7, and 14 d. Herein, the nAu concentration of 1000 µg/L was used; as in lower concentrations, analytical limitations persisted but >1000 µg/L were deemed too high and unlikely to be present in the environment. Exposure of S. minima to 1000 µg/L of citrate (cit)- and branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI)-coated nAu (5, 20, and 40 nm) in 10% Hoagland’s medium (10 HM) had marginal effect on biomass and growth rate irrespective of nAu size, coating type, or exposure duration. Further, results demonstrated that nAu were adsorbed on the plants’ roots irrespective of their size or coating variant; however, no evidence of internalization was apparent, and this was attributed to high agglomeration of nAu in 10 HM. Hence, adsorption was concluded as the basic mechanism of nAu accumulation by S. minima. Overall, the long-term exposure of S. minima to nAu did not inhibit plant biomass and growth rate but agglomerates on plant roots may block cell wall pores, and, in turn, alter uptake of essential macronutrients in plants, thus potentially affecting the overall ecological function.
Laser Irradiation of a Bio-Waste Derived Carbon Unlocks Performance Enhancement in Secondary Lithium Batteries
Authors: Curcio Mariangela , Brutti Sergio , Caripoti Lorenzo , De Bonis Angela , Teghil Roberto
Published: December 2021

Pyrolyzed carbons from bio-waste sources are renewable nanomaterials for sustainable negative electrodes in Li- and Na-ion batteries. Here, carbon derived from a hazelnut shell has been obtained by hydrothermal processing of the bio-waste followed by thermal treatments and laser irradiation in liquid. A non-focused nanosecond pulsed laser source has been used to irradiate pyrolyzed carbon particles suspended in acetonitrile to modify the surface and morphology. Morphological, structural, and compositional changes have been investigated by microscopy, spectroscopy, and diffraction to compare the materials properties after thermal treatments as well as before and after the irradiation. Laser irradiation in acetonitrile induces remarkable alteration in the nanomorphology, increase in the surface area and nitrogen enrichment of the carbon surfaces. These materials alterations are beneficial for the electrochemical performance in lithium half cells as proved by galvanostatic cycling at room temperature.
NIR-to-NIR Imaging: Extended Excitation Up to 2.2 μm Using Harmonic Nanoparticles with a Tunable hIGh EneRgy (TIGER) Widefield Microscope
Authors: Vittadello Laura , Klenen Jan , Koempe Karsten , Kocsor Laura , Szaller Zsuzsanna , Imlau Mirco
Published: December 2021

Near-infrared (NIR) marker-based imaging is of growing importance for deep tissue imaging and is based on a considerable reduction of optical losses at large wavelengths. We aim to extend the range of NIR excitation wavelengths particularly to values beyond 1.6 μm in order to profit from the low loss biological windows NIR-III and NIR-IV. We address this task by studying NIR-excitation to NIR-emission conversion and imaging in the range of 1200 up to 2400 nm at the example of harmonic Mg-doped lithium niobate nanoparticles (i) using a nonlinear diffuse femtosecond-pulse reflectometer and (ii) a Tunable hIGh EneRgy (TIGER) widefield microscope. We successfully demonstrate the existence of appropriate excitation/emission configurations in this spectral region taking harmonic generation into account. Moreover, NIR-imaging using the most striking configurations NIR-III to NIR-I, based on second harmonic generation (SHG), and NIR-IV to NIR-I, based on third harmonic generation (THG), is demonstrated with excitation wavelengths from 1.6–1.8 μm and from 2.1–2.2 μm, respectively. The advantages of the approach and the potential to additionally extend the emission range up to 2400 nm, making use of sum frequency generation (SFG) and difference frequency generation (DFG), are discussed.
Synthesis of SAPO-34 Nanoplates with High Si/Al Ratio and Improved Acid Site Density
Authors: Alam Syed Fakhar , Kim Min-Zy , Rehman Aafaq ur , Arepalli Devipriyanka , Sharma Pankaj , Cho Churl Hee
Published: December 2021

Two-dimensional SAPO-34 molecular sieves were synthesized by microwave hydrothermal process. The concentrations of structure directing agent (SDA), phosphoric acid, and silicon in the gel solution were varied and their effect on phase, shape, and composition of synthesized particles was studied. The synthesized particles were characterized by various techniques using SEM, XRD, BET, EDX, and NH3-TPD. Various morphologies of particles including isotropic, hyper rectangle, and nanoplates were obtained. It was found that the Si/Al ratio of the SAPO-34 particles was in a direct relationship with the density of acid sites. Moreover, the gel composition and preparation affected the chemistry of the synthesized particles. The slow addition of phosphoric acid improved the homogeneity of synthesis gel and resulted in SAPO-34 nanoplates with high density of acid sites, 3.482 mmol/g. The SAPO-34 nanoplates are expected to serve as a high performance catalyst due to the low mass transfer resistance and the high density of active sites.
Biodegradable 3D Printed Scaffolds of Modified Poly (Trimethylene Carbonate) Composite Materials with Poly (L-Lactic Acid) and Hydroxyapatite for Bone Regeneration
Authors: Kang Honglei , Jiang Xudong , Liu Zhiwei , Liu Fan , Yan Guoping , Li Feng
Published: December 2021

Biodegradable scaffolds based on biomedical polymeric materials have attracted wide interest in bone transplantation for clinical treatment for bone defects without a second operation. The composite materials of poly(trimethylene carbonate), poly(L-lactic acid), and hydroxyapatite (PTMC/PLA/HA and PTMC/HA) were prepared by the modification and blending of PTMC with PLA and HA, respectively. The PTMC/PLA/HA and PTMC/HA scaffolds were further prepared by additive manufacturing using the biological 3D printing method using the PTMC/PLA/HA and PTMC/HA composite materials, respectively. These scaffolds were also characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), automatic contact-angle, scanning electronic micrographs (SEM), diffraction of X-rays (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry (TG). Subsequently, their properties, such as mechanical, biodegradation, cell cytotoxicity, cell compatibility in vitro, and proliferation/differentiation assay in vivo, were also investigated. Experiment results indicated that PTMC/PLA/HA and PTMC/HA scaffolds possessed low toxicity, good biodegradability, and good biocompatibility and then enhanced the cell multiplication ability of osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1). Moreover, PTMC/PLA/HA and PTMC/HA scaffolds enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and enabled the bone cell proliferation and induction of bone tissue formation. Therefore, these composite materials can be used as potential biomaterials for bone repatriation and tissue engineering.
Optoelectronic Properties of Atomically Thin MoxW(1−x)S2 Nanoflakes Probed by Spatially-Resolved Monochromated EELS
Authors: Pelaez-Fernandez Mario , Lin Yung-Chang , Suenaga Kazu , Arenal Raul
Published: December 2021

Band gap engineering of atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials has attracted a huge amount of interest as a key aspect to the application of these materials in nanooptoelectronics and nanophotonics. Low-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy has been employed to perform a direct measurement of the band gap in atomically thin MoxW(1−x)S2 nanoflakes. The results show a bowing effect with the alloying degree, which fits previous studies focused on excitonic transitions. Additional properties regarding the Van Hove singularities in the density of states of these materials, as well as high energy excitonic transition, have been analysed as well.
Nanoantennas Inversely Designed to Couple Free Space and a Metal–Insulator–Metal Waveguide
Authors: Han Yeming , Lin Yu , Ma Wei , Korvink Jan G. , Duan Huigao , Deng Yongbo
Published: December 2021

The metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide, which can directly couple free space photons, acts as an important interface between conventional optics and subwavelength photoelectrons. The reason for the difficulty of this optical coupling is the mismatch between the large wave vector of the MIM plasmon mode and photons. With the increase in the wave vector, there is an increase in the field and Ohmic losses of the metal layer, and the strength of the MIM mode decreases accordingly. To solve those problems, this paper reports on inversely designed nanoantennas that can couple the free space and MIM waveguide and efficiently excite the MIM plasmon modes at multiple wavelengths and under oblique angles. This was achieved by implementing an inverse design procedure using a topology optimization approach. Simulation analysis shows that the coupling efficiency is enhanced 9.47-fold by the nanoantenna at the incident wavelength of 1338 nm. The topology optimization problem of the nanoantennas was analyzed by using a continuous adjoint method. The nanoantennas can be inversely designed with decreased dependence on the wavelength and oblique angle of the incident waves. A nanostructured interface on the subwavelength scale can be configured in order to control the refraction of a photonic wave, where the periodic unit of the interface is composed of two inversely designed nanoantennas that are decoupled and connected by an MIM waveguide.
Electrospun Ceramic Nanofibers for Photocatalysis
Authors: Xing Yan , Cheng Jing , Li Heping , Lin Dandan , Wang Yuting , Wu Hui , Pan Wei
Published: December 2021

Ceramic fiber photocatalysts fabricated by electrospinning hold great potential in alleviating global environmental and energy issues. However, many challenges remain in improving their photocatalytic efficiencies, such as the limited carrier lifetime and solar energy utilization. To overcome these predicaments, various smart strategies have been invented and realized in ceramic fiber photocatalysts. This review firstly attempts to summarize the fundamental principles and bottlenecks of photocatalytic processes. Subsequently, the approaches of doping, surface plasmon resonance, and up-conversion fluorescent to enlarge the light absorption range realized by precursor composition design, electrospinning parameter control, and proper post heat-treatment process are systematically introduced. Furthermore, methods and achievements of prolonging the lifetime of photogenerated carriers in electrospun ceramic fiber photocatalysts by means of introducing heterostructure and defective composition are reviewed in this article. This review ends with a summary and some perspectives on the future directions of ceramic fiber photocatalysts.
Ambient Climate Influences Anti-Adhesion between Biomimetic Structured Foil and Nanofibers
Authors: Meyer Marco , Buchberger Gerda , Heitz Johannes , Baiko Dariya , Joel Anna-Christin
Published: December 2021

Due to their uniquely high surface-to-volume ratio, nanofibers are a desired material for various technical applications. However, this surface-to-volume ratio also makes processing difficult as van der Waals forces cause nanofibers to adhere to virtually any surface. The cribellate spider Uloborus plumipes represents a biomimetic paragon for this problem: these spiders integrate thousands of nanofibers into their adhesive capture threads. A comb on their hindmost legs, termed calamistrum, enables the spiders to process the nanofibers without adhering to them. This anti-adhesion is due to a rippled nanotopography on the calamistrum. Via laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS), these nanostructures can be recreated on artificial surfaces, mimicking the non-stickiness of the calamistrum. In order to advance the technical implementation of these biomimetic structured foils, we investigated how climatic conditions influence the anti-adhesive performance of our surfaces. Although anti-adhesion worked well at low and high humidity, technical implementations should nevertheless be air-conditioned to regulate temperature: we observed no pronounced anti-adhesive effect at temperatures above 30 °C. This alteration between anti-adhesion and adhesion could be deployed as a temperature-sensitive switch, allowing to swap between sticking and not sticking to nanofibers. This would make handling even easier.
Electrode–Electrolyte Interactions in an Aqueous Aluminum–Carbon Rechargeable Battery System
Authors: Smajic Jasmin , Alazmi Amira , Wehbe Nimer , Costa Pedro M. F. J.
Published: December 2021

Being environmentally friendly, safe and easy to handle, aqueous electrolytes are of particular interest for next-generation electrochemical energy storage devices. When coupled with an abundant, recyclable and low-cost electrode material such as aluminum, the promise of a green and economically sustainable battery system has extraordinary appeal. In this work, we study the interaction of an aqueous electrolyte with an aluminum plate anode and various graphitic cathodes. Upon establishing the boundary conditions for optimal electrolyte performance, we find that a mesoporous reduced graphene oxide powder constitutes a better cathode material option than graphite flakes.
Hierarchical TiO2 Layers Prepared by Plasma Jets
Authors: Zouzelka Radek , Olejnicek Jiri , Ksirova Petra , Hubicka Zdenek , Duchon Jan , Martiniakova Ivana , Muzikova Barbora , Mergl Martin , Kalbac Martin , Brabec Libor , Kocirik Milan , Remzova Monika , Vaneckova Eva , Rathousky Jiri
Published: December 2021

Heterogeneous photocatalysis of TiO2 is one of the most efficient advanced oxidation processes for water and air purification. Here, we prepared hierarchical TiO2 layers (Spikelets) by hollow-cathode discharge sputtering and tested their photocatalytic performance in the abatement of inorganic (NO, NO2) and organic (4-chlorophenol) pollutant dispersed in air and water, respectively. The structural-textural properties of the photocatalysts were determined via variety of physico-chemical techniques (XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, FE-SEM. DF-TEM, EDAX and DC measurements). The photocatalysis was carried out under conditions similar to real environment conditions. Although the abatement of NO and NO2 was comparable with that of industrial benchmark Aeroxide® TiO2 P25, the formation of harmful nitrous acid (HONO) product on the Spikelet TiO2 layers was suppressed. Similarly, in the decontamination of water by organics, the mineralization of 4-chlorophenol on Spikelet layers was interestingly the same, although their reaction rate constant was three-times lower. The possible explanation may be the more than half-magnitude order higher external quantum efficacy (EQE) compared to that of the reference TiO2 P25 layer. Therefore, such favorable kinetics and reaction selectivity, together with feasible scale-up, make the hierarchical TiO2 layers very promising photocatalyst which can be used for environmental remediation.
Homing Peptide-Based Targeting of Tenascin-C and Fibronectin in Endometriosis
Authors: Simón-Gracia Lorena , Kiisholts Kristina , Petrikaitė Vilma , Tobi Allan , Saare Merli , Lingasamy Prakash , Peters Maire , Salumets Andres , Teesalu Tambet
Published: December 2021

The current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for endometriosis are limited. Although endometriosis is a benign condition, some of its traits, such as increased cell invasion, migration, tissue inflammation, and angiogenesis are similar to cancer. Here we explored the application of homing peptides for precision delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic compounds to endometriotic lesions. First, we audited a panel of peptide phages for the binding to the cultured immortalized endometriotic epithelial 12Z and eutopic stromal HESC cell lines. The bacteriophages displaying PL1 peptide that engages with angiogenic extracellular matrix overexpressed in solid tumors showed the strongest binding to both cell lines. The receptors of PL1 peptide, tenascin C domain C (TNC-C) and fibronectin Extra Domain-B (Fn-EDB), were expressed in both cells. Silver nanoparticles functionalized with synthetic PL1 peptide showed specific internalization in 12Z and HESC cells. Treatment with PL1-nanoparticles loaded with the potent antimitotic drug monomethyl auristatin E decreased the viability of endometriotic cells in 2D and 3D cultures. Finally, PL1-nanoparticless bound to the cryosections of clinical peritoneal endometriotic lesions in the areas positive for TNC-C and Fn-EDB immunoreactivities and not to sections of normal endometrium. Our findings suggest potential applications for PL1-guided nanoparticles in precision diagnosis and therapy of endometriosis.
Sustainable Preparation of Nanoporous Carbons via Dry Ball Milling: Electrochemical Studies Using Nanocarbon Composite Electrodes and a Deep Eutectic Solvent as Electrolyte
Authors: Brandão Ana T. S. C. , Costa Renata , Silva A. Fernando , Pereira Carlos M.
Published: December 2021

The urgent need to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels drives the demand for renewable energy and has been attracting the interest of the scientific community to develop materials with improved energy storage properties. We propose a sustainable route to produce nanoporous carbon materials with a high−surface area from commercial graphite using a dry ball−milling procedure through a systematic study of the effects of dry ball−milling conditions on the properties of the modified carbons. The microstructure and morphology of the dry ball−milled graphite/carbon composites are characterized by BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) analysis, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), ATR−FTIR (attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and Raman spectroscopy. As both the electrode and electrolyte play a significant role in any electrochemical energy storage device, the gravimetric capacitance was measured for ball−milled material/glassy carbon (GC) composite electrodes in contact with a deep eutectic solvent (DES) containing choline chloride and ethylene glycol as hydrogen bond donor (HBD) in a 1:2 molar ratio. Electrochemical stability was tracked by measuring charge/discharge curves. Carbons with different specific surface areas were tested and the relationship between the calculated capacitance and the surface treatment method was established. A five−fold increase in gravimetric capacitance, 25.27 F·g−1 (G40) against 5.45 F·g−1, was found for commercial graphene in contact with DES. Optimal milling time to achieve a higher surface area was also established.
Complementary Feeding and Iron Status: “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” Infants
Authors: Miniello Vito Leonardo , Verga Maria Carmen , Miniello Andrea , Di Mauro Cristina , Diaferio Lucia , Francavilla Ruggiero
Published: December 2021

The complementary feeding (CF) period that takes place between 6 and 24 months of age is of key importance for nutritional and developmental reasons during the transition from exclusively feeding on milk to family meals. In 2021, a multidisciplinary panel of experts from four Italian scientific pediatric societies elaborated a consensus document on CF, focusing in particular on healthy term infants. The aim was to provide healthcare providers with useful guidelines for clinical practice. Complementary feeding is also the time window when iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are most prevalent. Thus, it is appropriate to address the problem of iron deficiency through nutritional interventions. Adequate iron intake during the first two years is critical since rapid growth in that period increases iron requirements per kilogram more than at any other developmental stage. Complementary foods should be introduced at around six months of age, taking into account infant iron status.
Parents’ Experiences Regarding School Meals during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Beitane Ilze , Iriste Sandra , Riekstina-Dolge Rita , Krumina-Zemture Gita , Eglite Marta
Published: December 2021

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic required not only the reorientation of learning to remote form but also a change in the form of state-funded school lunches. One of the forms of school catering allowance was food packs, which obligated parents to prepare a warm lunch for the pupil from products included in food packs. As the responsibility for providing a warm lunch for the pupil was transferred to the parents, it was important to understand the parents’ experience. The survey was used to gather parents’ experiences of school catering allowance received during the pandemic using survey administration software—Google forms; 5166 respondents from different regions of Latvia took part in the survey. The school catering allowance in the form of food packs (83.7%) can be considered successful as over 70% of respondents rated it as positive, giving a rating of 7 (good) or above. Parents from Vidzeme and Latgale had the most positive experience with food packs. The parents appreciated the support they received, stating that it provided a certain sense of security during the crisis. Parental dissatisfaction was related to the composition of food packs, lack of local products and unacceptable products, such as canned meat and fish.
Pea Proteins Have Anabolic Effects Comparable to Milk Proteins on Whole Body Protein Retention and Muscle Protein Metabolism in Old Rats
Authors: Salles Jérôme , Guillet Christelle , Le Bacquer Olivier , Malnero-Fernandez Carmen , Giraudet Christophe , Patrac Véronique , Berry Alexandre , Denis Philippe , Pouyet Corinne , Gueugneau Marine , Boirie Yves , Jacobs Heidi , Walrand Stéphane
Published: December 2021

Plant proteins are attracting rising interest due to their pro-health benefits and environmental sustainability. However, little is known about the nutritional value of pea proteins when consumed by older people. Herein, we evaluated the digestibility and nutritional efficiency of pea proteins compared to casein and whey proteins in old rats. Thirty 20-month-old male Wistar rats were assigned to an isoproteic and isocaloric diet containing either casein (CAS), soluble milk protein (WHEY) or Pisane™ pea protein isolate for 16 weeks. The three proteins had a similar effect on nitrogen balance, true digestibility and net protein utilization in old rats, which means that different protein sources did not alter body composition, tissue weight, skeletal muscle protein synthesis or degradation. Muscle mitochondrial activity, inflammation status and insulin resistance were similar between the three groups. In conclusion, old rats used pea protein with the same efficiency as casein or whey proteins, due to its high digestibility and amino acid composition. Using these plant-based proteins could help older people diversify their protein sources and more easily achieve nutritional intake recommendations.
A Mixed-Lipid Emulsion Containing Fish Oil for the Parenteral Nutrition of Preterm Infants: No Impact on Visual Neuronal Conduction
Authors: Binder Christoph , Schned Hannah , Longford Nicholas , Schwindt Eva , Thanhaeuser Margarita , Thajer Alexandra , Goeral Katharina , Tardelli Matteo , Berry David , Wisgrill Lukas , Seki David , Berger Angelika , Klebermass-Schrehof Katrin , Repa Andreas , Giordano Vito
Published: December 2021

Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and essential for neuronal myelination and maturation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of a mixed-lipid emulsion composed of soybean oil, medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil (SMOF-LE) compared to a pure soybean oil-based lipid emulsion (S-LE) for parenteral nutrition had an impact on neuronal conduction in preterm infants. This study is a retrospective matched cohort study comparing preterm infants <1000 g who received SMOF-LE in comparison to S-LE for parenteral nutrition. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were assessed longitudinally from birth until discharge. The latencies of the evoked peaks N2 and P2 were analyzed. The analysis included 76 infants (SMOF-LE: n = 41 and S-LE: n = 35) with 344 VEP measurements (SMOF-LE: n= 191 and S-LE n = 153). Values of N2 and P2 were not significantly different between the SMOF-LE and S-LE groups. A possible better treatment effect in the SMOF-LE group was seen as a trend toward a shorter latency, indicating faster neural conduction at around term-equivalent age. Prospective trials and follow-up studies are necessary in order to evaluate the potential positive effect of SMOF-LE on neuronal conduction and visual pathway maturation.