Low-dimensional(LD)halide perovskites have attracted considerable attention due to their distinctive structures and exceptional optoelectronic properties,including high absorption coefficients,extended charge carrier ...Low-dimensional(LD)halide perovskites have attracted considerable attention due to their distinctive structures and exceptional optoelectronic properties,including high absorption coefficients,extended charge carrier diffusion lengths,suppressed non-radiative recombination rates,and intense photoluminescence.A key advantage of LD perovskites is the tunability of their optical and electronic properties through the precise optimization of their structural arrangements and dimensionality.This review systematically examines recent progress in the synthesis and optoelectronic characterizations of LD perovskites,focusing on their structural,optical,and photophysical properties that underpin their versatility in diverse applications.The review further summarizes advancements in LD perovskite-based devices,including resistive memory,artificial synapses,photodetectors,light-emitting diodes,and solar cells.Finally,the challenges associated with stability,scalability,and integration,as well as future prospects,are discussed,emphasizing the potential of LD perovskites to drive breakthroughs in device efficiency and industrial applicability.展开更多
The original online version of this article (Kitadokoro, K., Matsui, S., Osokoshi, R., Nakata, K. and Kamitani, S. (2018) Expression, Purification and Crystallization of Thermostable Mutant of Cutinase Est1 from Therm...The original online version of this article (Kitadokoro, K., Matsui, S., Osokoshi, R., Nakata, K. and Kamitani, S. (2018) Expression, Purification and Crystallization of Thermostable Mutant of Cutinase Est1 from Thermobifida alba. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 9, 215-223. https://doi.org/10.4236/abb.2018.95015) unfortunately contains some mistakes. The author wishes to correct the errors.展开更多
This paper introduces the Integrated Security Embedded Resilience Architecture (ISERA) as an advanced resilience mechanism for Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT) environments. The ISERA f...This paper introduces the Integrated Security Embedded Resilience Architecture (ISERA) as an advanced resilience mechanism for Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT) environments. The ISERA framework integrates security by design principles, micro-segmentation, and Island Mode Operation (IMO) to enhance cyber resilience and ensure continuous, secure operations. The methodology deploys a Forward-Thinking Architecture Strategy (FTAS) algorithm, which utilises an industrial Intrusion Detection System (IDS) implemented with Python’s Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) library. The FTAS algorithm successfully identified and responded to cyber-attacks, ensuring minimal system disruption. ISERA has been validated through comprehensive testing scenarios simulating Denial of Service (DoS) attacks and malware intrusions, at both the IT and OT layers where it successfully mitigates the impact of malicious activity. Results demonstrate ISERA’s efficacy in real-time threat detection, containment, and incident response, thus ensuring the integrity and reliability of critical infrastructure systems. ISERA’s decentralised approach contributes to global net zero goals by optimising resource use and minimising environmental impact. By adopting a decentralised control architecture and leveraging virtualisation, ISERA significantly enhances the cyber resilience and sustainability of critical infrastructure systems. This approach not only strengthens defences against evolving cyber threats but also optimises resource allocation, reducing the system’s carbon footprint. As a result, ISERA ensures the uninterrupted operation of essential services while contributing to broader net zero goals.展开更多
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA),as a chronic autoimmune disease,damages the bone and cartilage of patients,and even leads to disability.Therefore,the diagnosis and treatment of RA is particularly important.However,due to the...Rheumatoid arthritis(RA),as a chronic autoimmune disease,damages the bone and cartilage of patients,and even leads to disability.Therefore,the diagnosis and treatment of RA is particularly important.However,due to the complexity of RA,it is difficult to make effective early diagnosis of RA,which is detrimental to RA treatment.Besides,long-term intake of anti-RA drugs can also cause damage to patients' organs.The emergence of nanotechnology provides the new train of thoughts for the diagnosis and treatment of RA.And the combination of diagnosis and therapy is an ideal method to solve the problem of disease management of RA patients.In this review,we summarize the mechanism and microenvironment of RA,discuss the commonly used diagnostic techniques and therapeutic drugs for RA,and review their advantages and disadvantages.New nanotherapy strategies such as drug-carrying nanoparticles,PTT,PDT are listed,and their applications in RA treatment are also summarized.In addition,multimodal imaging,combined therapy and responsive diagnosis and treatment are also summarized as important contents.At last,we also review typical nanocarriers that can be used in the integration of diagnosis and therapy,and discussed their potential applications in RA theranostics.展开更多
Objective:To identify the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis(STH)among school-age children in the Cagayan Valley,the Philippines,assess their level of awareness on the disease,and determine predisposing fact...Objective:To identify the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis(STH)among school-age children in the Cagayan Valley,the Philippines,assess their level of awareness on the disease,and determine predisposing factors of the disease.Methods:A total of 478 GradesⅢ-Ⅴschool-age children in Pamplona and Sanchez-Mira School Districts in the Cagayan Valley answered the questionnaire assessing their knowledge,attitude,and practices on STH,subjected to anthropometric measurements,and provided faecal samples for parasitologic assessment(direct smear,Kato-Katz,and formol-ether concentration techniques).Results:The participants of the study,with 55.86%females,were 8 to 14 years old.Their nutritional status was assessed‘normal’(84.31%),‘severely wasted’(6.49%),‘wasted’(5.23%),‘overweight’(2.72%),and‘obese’(1.26%).The prevalence of infection with at least 1 STH species was 25.99%in Pamplona and 19.40%in SanchezMira.Overall,the prevalence of heavy intensity was 7.11%for Ascaris lumbricoides and 1.67%for Trichuris trichiura.All hookworm infections had light intensities.The majority of the school-age children had a low score in the KAP test.In knowledge of STH,‘stunted growth as a symptom of infection’was associated with a lower risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection(OR 0.448;95%CI 0.212,0.945;P=0.035)while‘playing with soil as a mode of transmission’was associated with an increased risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection(OR 2.067;95%CI 1.014,4.212;P=0.046).In attitude towards STH,‘I think I have intestinal worm now’was associated with a higher risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection(OR 1.681;95%CI 1.061,2.662;P=0.027).Conclusions:The prevalence rate of Ascaris lumbricoides among the school-age children in the Cagayan Valley shows the need to further intensify intervention in the area to meet the threshold set by the World Health Organization.The identified predictors of infection,which concerns the school-age children’s knowledge and attitude toward STH,can be used in augmenting intervention programs in the future.展开更多
Theoretically,blue phosphorescent materials are capable of achieving 100%internal quantum effi-ciency.Nevertheless,the mutual constraints among efficiency,color purity,and stability remain one of the key bottlenecks i...Theoretically,blue phosphorescent materials are capable of achieving 100%internal quantum effi-ciency.Nevertheless,the mutual constraints among efficiency,color purity,and stability remain one of the key bottlenecks in the industrialization of organic light-emitting diodes(OLEDs).In addition,the design and application of host materials also exert a significant impact on the overall performance of blue light-emitting de-vices.To address this issue,this study constructs a series of host materials with high triplet energy levels by designing different connection modes,based on 9-phenylcarbazole and benzimidazole units.Through a combi-nation of theoretical and experimental approaches,the correlation between the chemical structure and perfor-mance has been unraveled.It is found that the designed and synthesized blue phosphorescent bipolar host ma-terials based on different biphenyl linking sites,i.e.,9-(3'-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1'-bi-phenyl]-3-yl)-9H-carbazole(mCzmBI),9-(2'-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-9H-carbazole(mCzoBI)and 9-(3'-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl)-9H-carbazole(oCzmBI).The three compounds have a similar triplet energy level of 2.70 eV,accompanied with the glass transition temperatures of 92℃,103℃,and 93℃respectively.mCzmBI,mCzoBI and oCzmBI are regioiso-mers,but differ in the linking sites of carbazole and benzimidazole on the biphenyl linker.This difference in linking positions enables effective regulation of the host materials’properties.Constructed with the blue phos-phorescent material bis(4,6-difluorophenylpyridinato-N,C2)picolinatoiridium(Ⅲ)(FIrpic)as the vip,the influence of the three hosts on device performance is clarified.Overall,the device using mCzmBI,a host linked by biphenyl at double meta-positions,achieved a maximum current efficiency of 24.9 cd·A^(-1)and a max-imum external quantum efficiency exceeding 12.8%,it also demonstrates low efficiency roll-off under highbrightness conditions.This work offers an effective strategy to the development of high-efficiency blue phospho-rescent hosts.展开更多
Background Three-dimensional terrain models are essential in domains such as video game development and film production.Because surface color is often correlated with terrain geometry,capturing this relationship is cr...Background Three-dimensional terrain models are essential in domains such as video game development and film production.Because surface color is often correlated with terrain geometry,capturing this relationship is critical for generating realistic results.However,most existing methods synthesize either a heightmap or a texture without adequately modeling their inherent correlation.Methods We propose a method that jointly generates terrain heightmaps and textures using a latent diffusion model.First,we train the model in an unsupervised manner to randomly generate paired heightmaps and textures.Then,we perform supervised learning on an external adapter to enable user control via hand-drawn sketches.Results Experiments demonstrate that our approach supports intuitive terrain generation while preserving the correlation between heightmaps and textures.Conclusion Our method outperforms the two-stage and GAN-based baselines by ensuring structural coherence,in which textures naturally align with geometry,successfully accommodating both realistic landscapes and extreme user-defined shapes.展开更多
Background:Accurate complication reporting in endourology remains challenging,with the Clavien-Dindo Classification and Comprehensive Complication Index being the most commonly used systems.This study aimed to compare...Background:Accurate complication reporting in endourology remains challenging,with the Clavien-Dindo Classification and Comprehensive Complication Index being the most commonly used systems.This study aimed to compare surgical outcomes and complication reporting in ureterolithotripsy(URL),percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL),and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy(ESWL)using both systems.Methods:This prospective,single-center,non-interventional study included 473 patients undergoing URL,PCNL,or ESWL from October 2022 to October 2024.Demographic,stone-related,and procedural variables were recorded.Complications were classified using the CDC,and cumulative morbidity was assessed using CCI.Statistical analyses,including univariate and multivariate regression,were performed to identify predictors of higher CCI scores.Results:PCNL was associated with the highest complication rates,including an 11%transfusion rate.ESWL had the lowest complication burden,while URL demonstrated intermediate risk.CCI scores correlated positively with length of stay(LOS;r=0.47),highlighting its ability to capture overall morbidity.Multivariate analysis identified stone size,operating time,and positive urine culture as significant predictors of higher CCI scores.The CCI provided a more comprehensive representation of morbidity compared to the CDC.Conclusions:CCI demonstrates superior sensitivity in evaluating postoperative morbidity compared to CDC,particularly in more invasive procedures such as PCNL.Standardized reporting frameworks incorporating CCI may enhance surgical outcome assessment in endourology.展开更多
Taking a widely contaminated yet abundant waste,such as poultry feathers,and extracting keratin from this struc-ture appears to be a real challenge whenever the preservation of the secondary structure of the protein i...Taking a widely contaminated yet abundant waste,such as poultry feathers,and extracting keratin from this struc-ture appears to be a real challenge whenever the preservation of the secondary structure of the protein is desired.This process would allow exploiting it in ways(e.g.,in the biomedicalfield)that are inspired by a structure that is primarily designed forflight,therefore capable specifically of withstandingflexure and lateral buckling,also with very low thicknesses.The preservation of the structure is based on disulfide crosslinks,and it is offered with pre-ference by some chemical treatments,mainly those based on ionic liquid and on a reduction process.However,the degree of preservation cannot always be precisely assessed;however,beyond chemical characterization,the forma-tion of homogeneous gels can also suggest that the process was successful in this sense.An extraction respectful of nature’s intentions,considering that the secondary structure builds up according to the very function of the feath-ers in the animal,can be deemed to be biomimetic.In particular,biomimetic extractions comply with the very characteristics the protein was designed for to serve in the specific environmental and mechanical situation in which it is inserted.This review tries to elucidate in which cases this aim is achieved and for which specific appli-cations a chicken feather keratin that has preserved its secondary structure can be suited.展开更多
The thermal conversion process known as biomass gasification has the potential to produce environmentally friendly fuels such as hydrogen.However,tar generation during the gasification remains an issue,affecting opera...The thermal conversion process known as biomass gasification has the potential to produce environmentally friendly fuels such as hydrogen.However,tar generation during the gasification remains an issue,affecting operational efficiency and environmental health.Biochar has been confirmed as an inexpensive and efficient catalyst for tar removal.The challenge lies in creating a highly reactive biochar which can be applied for different types of biomass with varying properties.This review discusses the factors that affect biochar’s reactivity as a catalyst for tar reforming.Additionally,incorporating biochar into a gasification scenario with raw biomass offers a practical solution by leveraging the synergistic behavior.However,this synergy could be either positive or negative:the positive synergy enhances tar removal while the negative synergy has the opposite effect.The numerous factors affecting the results of gasification are presented in this review.It is concluded that the positive synergistic effect resulted from the balance between the available reactants from biomass and biochar,the optimal gas flowrate and the active sites on the carbon surface.Understanding these interactions is crucial for optimizing biochar performance for tar removal.Ultimately,this research provides insights into biochar’s role in biomass gasification and suggests improvements for future studies to enhance the feasibility of biomass gasification with the assistance of biochar.展开更多
In this study,a pair of dicarboxylic acids as cis-trans isomerism—citraconic acid(CA)and mesaconic acid(MA),was incorporated into polymeric networks of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM)-based core-shell microgels v...In this study,a pair of dicarboxylic acids as cis-trans isomerism—citraconic acid(CA)and mesaconic acid(MA),was incorporated into polymeric networks of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM)-based core-shell microgels via semi-batch precipitation polymerization.We demonstrated that the pH-temperature dual responsiveness of the core-shell microgels is highly correlated with the structure and position of the acid isomers.Both the cis-trans molecular structure and the crosslinking position of the dicarboxylic acids significantly influenced the hydration capacity and surface charge density of the core-shell microgels.These diverse properties first influenced the swelling behavior,further affecting the interfacial behavior of the microgels,including the oil-water dynamic interfacial tension and air-water compression isotherms.Furthermore,the rheological behavior of the microgel suspensions also displayed distinct dependences on the frequency and temperature,illustrating that the cis-trans molecular structure and crosslinked position of the dicarboxylic acids also significantly influenced the interparticle clustering in the bulk solution.Our results suggest that the pH sensitivity of the cis-trans dicarboxylic acid isomer affects the ionization and surface charge distribution of the core or shell layers of individual microgels,which further determines the interparticle interaction and cooperative rearrangement at interfaces and in the bulk.展开更多
The undercurrent research survey explores the roles of nonlocality and strain gradient size dependencies in nonlinear asymmetric buckling of shallow nanoscale arches having dissimilar end conditions through a numerica...The undercurrent research survey explores the roles of nonlocality and strain gradient size dependencies in nonlinear asymmetric buckling of shallow nanoscale arches having dissimilar end conditions through a numerical analysis.The arches,made from a functionally graded graphene nanofiller reinforced composite(FG-GNRC),are subjected to discretional radial concentrated loads along with converting of temperature.To account for the size dependencies,the exploration is carried out stemming from the nonlocal strain gradient theory(NSGT)in the sense of a quasi-2D parabolic shear flexible concept of curved beam.The material properties of the contemplated FG-GNRC sandwich are determined using the modified Halpin-Tsai micromechanics model.Subsequently,an extended isogeometric analysis(XIGA)is manipulated comprising insertion plus multiplication of knots to achieve the demanded lower continuity allocated to the integration between flexural and tangential reflexes.It is perceived that the both softening and stiffening concomitants assigned to the salient concentrated radial loads obtained by the developed NSGT-based XIGA diminish from the first upper limit to the second one,and then likewise from the first lower limit to the second one.Although,by becoming the upsurge in temperature higher,these softening and stiffening concomitants get more remarkable.展开更多
Emerging contaminants in water sources present serious environmental and health risks,creating an urgent need for efficient and reliable treatment strategies.Photocatalytic advanced oxidation processes(AOPs)provide ra...Emerging contaminants in water sources present serious environmental and health risks,creating an urgent need for efficient and reliable treatment strategies.Photocatalytic advanced oxidation processes(AOPs)provide rapid reaction rates and strong oxidation capabilities,however,comprehensive evaluations of wastewater treatment,including degradation pathways,toxicity assessments and mechanistic insights,remain underexplored in the literature.This study presents novel S-scheme Mn_(0.5)Cd_(0.5)S/In_(2)S_(3)(MCS/IS)photocatalysts for efficient degradation of antibiotic pollutants,with a particular focus on tetracycline hydrochloride(TCH).The optimized MCS/IS photocatalyst demonstrates exceptional degradation efficiency and robust resistance to inorganic anions.Additionally,a continuous-flow wastewater treatment system,using an MCS/IS membrane,demonstrates outstanding stability in TCH photodegradation.Utilizing response surface methodology and Fukui function analysis,the effects of various parameters on photocatalytic degradation rates,along with the associated pathways and intermediate products,have been thoroughly investigated.Toxicity assessments confirm the environmental safety of the treated effluents.Mechanistic studies show that the S-scheme heterojunction in the MCS/IS photocatalyst improves electron-hole separation,thereby enhancing photocatalytic performance.It is expected that this study will serve as a model for advancing the removal of emerging contaminants,further enhancing photocatalytic AOPs as sustainable water purification technologies.展开更多
The Kunene Complex(KC)represents a very large Mesoproterozoic igneous body,mainly composed of anorthosites and gabbroic rocks that extends from SW Angola to NW Namibia(outcropping 18,000 km^(2),NE-SW trend,and ca.350 ...The Kunene Complex(KC)represents a very large Mesoproterozoic igneous body,mainly composed of anorthosites and gabbroic rocks that extends from SW Angola to NW Namibia(outcropping 18,000 km^(2),NE-SW trend,and ca.350 km long and up to 50 km wide).Little is known about its structure at depth.Here,we use recently acquired aerogeophysical data to accurately determine its hidden extent and to unravel its morphology at depth.These data have been interpreted and modelled to investigate the unexposed KC boundaries,reconstructing the upper crustal structure(between 0 and 15 km depth)overlain by the thin sedimentary cover of the Kalahari Basin.The modelling reveals that the KC was emplaced in the upper crust and extends in depth up to ca.5 km,showing a lobular geometry and following a large NE-SW to NNE-SSW linear trend,presumably inherited from older Paleoproterozoic structures.The lateral continuation of the KC to the east(between 50 and 125 km)beneath the Kalahari Cenozoic sediments suggests an overall size three times the outcropping dimension(about 53,500 km^(2)).This affirmation clearly reinforces the economic potential of this massif,related to the prospecting of raw materials and certain types of economic mineralization(Fe-Ti oxides,metallic sulphides or platinum group minerals).Up to 11 lobes have been isolated with dimensions ranging from 135.5 to 37.3 km in length and 81.9 to 20.7 km in width according to remanent bodies revealed by TMI mapping.A total volume of 65,184 km3 was calculated only for the magnetically remanent bodies of the KC.A long-lasting complex contractional regime,where large strike-slip fault systems were involved,occurred in three kinematic pulses potentially related to a change of velocity or convergence angle acting on previous Paleoproterozoic inherited sutures.The coalescent magmatic pulses can be recognized by means of magnetic anomalies,age of the bodies as well as the lineations inferred in this work:(i)Emplacement of the eastern mafic bodies and granites in a stage of significant lateral extension in a transtensional context between 1500 Ma and 1420 Ma;(ii)Migration of the mantle derived magmas westwards with deformation in a complex contractional setting with shearing structures involving western KC bodies and basement from 1415 Ma to 1340 Ma;(iii)NNW-SSE extensional structures are relocated westwards,involving mantle magmas,negative flower structures and depression that led to the formation of late Mesoproterozoic basins from 1325 Ma to 1170 Ma.Additionally,we detect several first and second order structures to place the structuring of the KC in a craton-scale context in relation to the crustal structures detected in NW Namibia.展开更多
Herein,the effect of the Ru:Ni bimetallic composition in dual-function materials(DFMs)for the integrated CO_(2)capture and methanation process(ICCU-Methanation)is systematically evaluated and combined with a thorough ...Herein,the effect of the Ru:Ni bimetallic composition in dual-function materials(DFMs)for the integrated CO_(2)capture and methanation process(ICCU-Methanation)is systematically evaluated and combined with a thorough material characterization,as well as a mechanistic(in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared fourier-transform spectroscopy(in-situ DRIFTS))and computational(computational fluid dynamics(CFD)modelling)investigation,in order to improve the performance of Ni-based DFMs.The bimetallic DFMs are comprised of a main Ni active metallic phase(20 wt%)and are modified with low Ru loadings in the 0.1-1 wt%range(to keep the material cost low),supported on Na_(2)O/Al_(2)O_(3).It is shown that the addition of even a very low Ru loading(0.1-0.2 wt%)can drastically improve the material reducibility,exposing a significantly higher amount of surface-active metallic sites,with Ru being highly dispersed over the support and the Ni phase,while also forming some small Ru particles.This manifests in a significant enhancement in the CH_(4)yield and the CH_(4)production kinetics during ICCU-Methanation(which mainly proceeds via formate intermediates),with 0.2 wt%Ru addition leading to the best results.This bimetallic DFM also shows high stability and a relatively good performance under an oxidizing CO_(2)capture atmosphere.The formation rate of CH_(4)during hydrogenation is then further validated via CFD modelling and the developed model is subsequently applied in the prediction of the effect of other parameters,including the inlet H_(2)concentration,inlet flow rate,dual-fu nction material weight,and reactor internal diameter.展开更多
The waste management sector plays a vital role in environmental sustainability and public health.However,it faces significant challenges due to a multi-dimensional skills gap that hinders the effective management,proc...The waste management sector plays a vital role in environmental sustainability and public health.However,it faces significant challenges due to a multi-dimensional skills gap that hinders the effective management,processing and disposal of waste.Effective waste management requires increasing levels of technical expertise,analytical proficiency,behavioural skills and digital competence.However,one critical point of concern is the lack of requisite technical skills required for the optimal operation and maintenance of equipment and machinery used for waste management and disposal.Using desk research and focus group interviews of stakeholders in Nigeria and Ghana,we analyzed the skills gap in the sector in order to identify the skills that are currently short in supply in both countries.Our study revealed three broad skills need areas:(1)Skill requirements for youth employment in the waste management sector;(2)Machineries,technologies and tools used for waste management;and(3)Technical skills requirements for green waste management.The study concludes with a mapping of technologies and skills in the waste management sector while highlighting the impact of the existing skills deficit on the sector’s effectiveness and how it can be addressed through structured technical training programs for stakeholders in the sector.展开更多
Traffic at urban intersections frequently encounters unexpected obstructions,resulting in congestion due to uncooperative and priority-based driving behavior.This paper presents an optimal right-turn coordination syst...Traffic at urban intersections frequently encounters unexpected obstructions,resulting in congestion due to uncooperative and priority-based driving behavior.This paper presents an optimal right-turn coordination system for Connected and Automated Vehicles(CAVs)at single-lane intersections,particularly in the context of left-hand side driving on roads.The goal is to facilitate smooth right turns for certain vehicles without creating bottlenecks.We consider that all approaching vehicles share relevant information through vehicular communications.The Intersection Coordination Unit(ICU)processes this information and communicates the optimal crossing or turning times to the vehicles.The primary objective of this coordination is to minimize overall traffic delays,which also helps improve the fuel consumption of vehicles.By considering information from upcoming vehicles at the intersection,the coordination system solves an optimization problem to determine the best timing for executing right turns,ultimately minimizing the total delay for all vehicles.The proposed coordination system is evaluated at a typical urban intersection,and its performance is compared to traditional traffic systems.Numerical simulation results indicate that the proposed coordination system significantly enhances the average traffic speed and fuel consumption compared to the traditional traffic system in various scenarios.展开更多
Parkinson’s disease(PD)is a debilitating neurological disorder affecting over 10 million people worldwide.PD classification models using voice signals as input are common in the literature.It is believed that using d...Parkinson’s disease(PD)is a debilitating neurological disorder affecting over 10 million people worldwide.PD classification models using voice signals as input are common in the literature.It is believed that using deep learning algorithms further enhances performance;nevertheless,it is challenging due to the nature of small-scale and imbalanced PD datasets.This paper proposed a convolutional neural network-based deep support vector machine(CNN-DSVM)to automate the feature extraction process using CNN and extend the conventional SVM to a DSVM for better classification performance in small-scale PD datasets.A customized kernel function reduces the impact of biased classification towards the majority class(healthy candidates in our consideration).An improved generative adversarial network(IGAN)was designed to generate additional training data to enhance the model’s performance.For performance evaluation,the proposed algorithm achieves a sensitivity of 97.6%and a specificity of 97.3%.The performance comparison is evaluated from five perspectives,including comparisons with different data generation algorithms,feature extraction techniques,kernel functions,and existing works.Results reveal the effectiveness of the IGAN algorithm,which improves the sensitivity and specificity by 4.05%–4.72%and 4.96%–5.86%,respectively;and the effectiveness of the CNN-DSVM algorithm,which improves the sensitivity by 1.24%–57.4%and specificity by 1.04%–163%and reduces biased detection towards the majority class.The ablation experiments confirm the effectiveness of individual components.Two future research directions have also been suggested.展开更多
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances（PFASs） are ubiquitous in sludge and water from waste water treatment plants, as a result of their incorporation in everyday products and industrial processes. In this study, we mea...Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances（PFASs） are ubiquitous in sludge and water from waste water treatment plants, as a result of their incorporation in everyday products and industrial processes. In this study, we measured several classes of persistent PFASs,precursors, transformation intermediates, and newly identified PFASs in influent and effluent sewage water and sludge from three municipal waste water treatment plants in Sweden, sampled in 2015. For sludge, samples from 2012 and 2014 were analyzed as well.Levels of precursors in sludge exceeded those of perfluoroalkyl acids and sulfonic acids（PFCAs and PFSAs）, in 2015 the sum of polyfluoroalkyl phosphoric acid esters（PAPs） were 15–20 ng/g dry weight, the sum of fluorotelomer sulfonic acids（FTSAs） was 0.8–1.3 ng/g,and the sum of perfluorooctane sulfonamides and ethanols ranged from non-detected to 3.2 ng/g. Persistent PFSAs and PFCAs were detected at 1.9–3.9 ng/g and 2.4–7.3 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The influence of precursor compounds was further demonstrated by an observed substantial increase for a majority of the persistent PFCAs and PFSAs in water after waste water treatment. Perfluorohexanoic acid（PFHxA）, perfluorooctanoic acid（PFOA）, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid（PFHxS）, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid（PFOS）had a net mass increase in all WWTPs, with mean values of 83%, 28%, 37% and 58%,respectively. The load of precursors and intermediates in influent water and sludge combined with net mass increase support the hypothesis that degradation of precursor compounds is a significant contributor to PFAS contamination in the environment.展开更多
Flexible microelectronic devices have seen an increasing trend toward development of miniaturized,portable,and integrated devices as wearable electronics which have the requirement for being light weight,small in dime...Flexible microelectronic devices have seen an increasing trend toward development of miniaturized,portable,and integrated devices as wearable electronics which have the requirement for being light weight,small in dimension,and suppleness.Traditional three-dimensional(3D)and two-dimensional(2D)electronics gadgets fail to effectively comply with these necessities owing to their stiffness and large weights.Investigations have come up with a new family of one-dimensional(1D)flexible and fiber-based electronic devices(FBEDs)comprising power storage,energy-scavenging,implantable sensing,and flexible displays gadgets.However,development and manufacturing are still a challenge owing to their small radius,flexibility,low weight,weave ability and integration in textile electronics.This paper will provide a detailed review on the importance of substrates in electronic devices,intrinsic property requirements,fabrication classification and applications in energy harvesting,energy storage and other flexible electronic devices.Fiber-and textile-based electronic devices for bulk/scalable fabrications,encapsulation,and testing are reviewed and presented future research ideas to enhance the commercialization of these fiber-based electronics devices.展开更多
基金funding from FCT(Fundagao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia,I.P.)under the projects LA/P/0037/2020,UIDP/50025/2020 and UIDB/50025/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute of Nanostructures,Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication-i3Nby the projects FlexSolar(PTDC/CTM-REF/1008/2020),and SpaceFlex(2022.01610.PTDC,DOI:10.54499/2022.01610.PTDC)+1 种基金supported by the project M-ECO2-Industrial Cluster for advanced biofuel production,Ref.C644930471-00000041,R2U Technologies and Befunding from the European Union via the project X-STREAM(Horizon EU,ERC CoG,No 101124803)the support of a fellowship from the"la Caixa"Foundation(ID 100010434)。
文摘Low-dimensional(LD)halide perovskites have attracted considerable attention due to their distinctive structures and exceptional optoelectronic properties,including high absorption coefficients,extended charge carrier diffusion lengths,suppressed non-radiative recombination rates,and intense photoluminescence.A key advantage of LD perovskites is the tunability of their optical and electronic properties through the precise optimization of their structural arrangements and dimensionality.This review systematically examines recent progress in the synthesis and optoelectronic characterizations of LD perovskites,focusing on their structural,optical,and photophysical properties that underpin their versatility in diverse applications.The review further summarizes advancements in LD perovskite-based devices,including resistive memory,artificial synapses,photodetectors,light-emitting diodes,and solar cells.Finally,the challenges associated with stability,scalability,and integration,as well as future prospects,are discussed,emphasizing the potential of LD perovskites to drive breakthroughs in device efficiency and industrial applicability.
文摘The original online version of this article (Kitadokoro, K., Matsui, S., Osokoshi, R., Nakata, K. and Kamitani, S. (2018) Expression, Purification and Crystallization of Thermostable Mutant of Cutinase Est1 from Thermobifida alba. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 9, 215-223. https://doi.org/10.4236/abb.2018.95015) unfortunately contains some mistakes. The author wishes to correct the errors.
基金funded by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets(Ofgem)and supported by De Montfort University(DMU)and Nottingham Trent University(NTU),UK.
文摘This paper introduces the Integrated Security Embedded Resilience Architecture (ISERA) as an advanced resilience mechanism for Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT) environments. The ISERA framework integrates security by design principles, micro-segmentation, and Island Mode Operation (IMO) to enhance cyber resilience and ensure continuous, secure operations. The methodology deploys a Forward-Thinking Architecture Strategy (FTAS) algorithm, which utilises an industrial Intrusion Detection System (IDS) implemented with Python’s Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) library. The FTAS algorithm successfully identified and responded to cyber-attacks, ensuring minimal system disruption. ISERA has been validated through comprehensive testing scenarios simulating Denial of Service (DoS) attacks and malware intrusions, at both the IT and OT layers where it successfully mitigates the impact of malicious activity. Results demonstrate ISERA’s efficacy in real-time threat detection, containment, and incident response, thus ensuring the integrity and reliability of critical infrastructure systems. ISERA’s decentralised approach contributes to global net zero goals by optimising resource use and minimising environmental impact. By adopting a decentralised control architecture and leveraging virtualisation, ISERA significantly enhances the cyber resilience and sustainability of critical infrastructure systems. This approach not only strengthens defences against evolving cyber threats but also optimises resource allocation, reducing the system’s carbon footprint. As a result, ISERA ensures the uninterrupted operation of essential services while contributing to broader net zero goals.
基金The financial support from Shenzhen Basic Research Program(No.JCYJ20170307140752183)Guangdong Natural Science Foundation(Nos.S2017A030313076,2020A1515010661)is gratefully acknowledged。
文摘Rheumatoid arthritis(RA),as a chronic autoimmune disease,damages the bone and cartilage of patients,and even leads to disability.Therefore,the diagnosis and treatment of RA is particularly important.However,due to the complexity of RA,it is difficult to make effective early diagnosis of RA,which is detrimental to RA treatment.Besides,long-term intake of anti-RA drugs can also cause damage to patients' organs.The emergence of nanotechnology provides the new train of thoughts for the diagnosis and treatment of RA.And the combination of diagnosis and therapy is an ideal method to solve the problem of disease management of RA patients.In this review,we summarize the mechanism and microenvironment of RA,discuss the commonly used diagnostic techniques and therapeutic drugs for RA,and review their advantages and disadvantages.New nanotherapy strategies such as drug-carrying nanoparticles,PTT,PDT are listed,and their applications in RA treatment are also summarized.In addition,multimodal imaging,combined therapy and responsive diagnosis and treatment are also summarized as important contents.At last,we also review typical nanocarriers that can be used in the integration of diagnosis and therapy,and discussed their potential applications in RA theranostics.
基金Commission on Higher Education,K to 12 Transition Program Management Unit,under Discovery Applied Research and Extension for Trans/Interdisciplinary Opportunities(DARE TO)Grant-in-Aid 2017(Project Number:DARETO2-043)
文摘Objective:To identify the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis(STH)among school-age children in the Cagayan Valley,the Philippines,assess their level of awareness on the disease,and determine predisposing factors of the disease.Methods:A total of 478 GradesⅢ-Ⅴschool-age children in Pamplona and Sanchez-Mira School Districts in the Cagayan Valley answered the questionnaire assessing their knowledge,attitude,and practices on STH,subjected to anthropometric measurements,and provided faecal samples for parasitologic assessment(direct smear,Kato-Katz,and formol-ether concentration techniques).Results:The participants of the study,with 55.86%females,were 8 to 14 years old.Their nutritional status was assessed‘normal’(84.31%),‘severely wasted’(6.49%),‘wasted’(5.23%),‘overweight’(2.72%),and‘obese’(1.26%).The prevalence of infection with at least 1 STH species was 25.99%in Pamplona and 19.40%in SanchezMira.Overall,the prevalence of heavy intensity was 7.11%for Ascaris lumbricoides and 1.67%for Trichuris trichiura.All hookworm infections had light intensities.The majority of the school-age children had a low score in the KAP test.In knowledge of STH,‘stunted growth as a symptom of infection’was associated with a lower risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection(OR 0.448;95%CI 0.212,0.945;P=0.035)while‘playing with soil as a mode of transmission’was associated with an increased risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection(OR 2.067;95%CI 1.014,4.212;P=0.046).In attitude towards STH,‘I think I have intestinal worm now’was associated with a higher risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection(OR 1.681;95%CI 1.061,2.662;P=0.027).Conclusions:The prevalence rate of Ascaris lumbricoides among the school-age children in the Cagayan Valley shows the need to further intensify intervention in the area to meet the threshold set by the World Health Organization.The identified predictors of infection,which concerns the school-age children’s knowledge and attitude toward STH,can be used in augmenting intervention programs in the future.
文摘Theoretically,blue phosphorescent materials are capable of achieving 100%internal quantum effi-ciency.Nevertheless,the mutual constraints among efficiency,color purity,and stability remain one of the key bottlenecks in the industrialization of organic light-emitting diodes(OLEDs).In addition,the design and application of host materials also exert a significant impact on the overall performance of blue light-emitting de-vices.To address this issue,this study constructs a series of host materials with high triplet energy levels by designing different connection modes,based on 9-phenylcarbazole and benzimidazole units.Through a combi-nation of theoretical and experimental approaches,the correlation between the chemical structure and perfor-mance has been unraveled.It is found that the designed and synthesized blue phosphorescent bipolar host ma-terials based on different biphenyl linking sites,i.e.,9-(3'-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1'-bi-phenyl]-3-yl)-9H-carbazole(mCzmBI),9-(2'-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-9H-carbazole(mCzoBI)and 9-(3'-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl)-9H-carbazole(oCzmBI).The three compounds have a similar triplet energy level of 2.70 eV,accompanied with the glass transition temperatures of 92℃,103℃,and 93℃respectively.mCzmBI,mCzoBI and oCzmBI are regioiso-mers,but differ in the linking sites of carbazole and benzimidazole on the biphenyl linker.This difference in linking positions enables effective regulation of the host materials’properties.Constructed with the blue phos-phorescent material bis(4,6-difluorophenylpyridinato-N,C2)picolinatoiridium(Ⅲ)(FIrpic)as the vip,the influence of the three hosts on device performance is clarified.Overall,the device using mCzmBI,a host linked by biphenyl at double meta-positions,achieved a maximum current efficiency of 24.9 cd·A^(-1)and a max-imum external quantum efficiency exceeding 12.8%,it also demonstrates low efficiency roll-off under highbrightness conditions.This work offers an effective strategy to the development of high-efficiency blue phospho-rescent hosts.
文摘Background Three-dimensional terrain models are essential in domains such as video game development and film production.Because surface color is often correlated with terrain geometry,capturing this relationship is critical for generating realistic results.However,most existing methods synthesize either a heightmap or a texture without adequately modeling their inherent correlation.Methods We propose a method that jointly generates terrain heightmaps and textures using a latent diffusion model.First,we train the model in an unsupervised manner to randomly generate paired heightmaps and textures.Then,we perform supervised learning on an external adapter to enable user control via hand-drawn sketches.Results Experiments demonstrate that our approach supports intuitive terrain generation while preserving the correlation between heightmaps and textures.Conclusion Our method outperforms the two-stage and GAN-based baselines by ensuring structural coherence,in which textures naturally align with geometry,successfully accommodating both realistic landscapes and extreme user-defined shapes.
文摘Background:Accurate complication reporting in endourology remains challenging,with the Clavien-Dindo Classification and Comprehensive Complication Index being the most commonly used systems.This study aimed to compare surgical outcomes and complication reporting in ureterolithotripsy(URL),percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL),and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy(ESWL)using both systems.Methods:This prospective,single-center,non-interventional study included 473 patients undergoing URL,PCNL,or ESWL from October 2022 to October 2024.Demographic,stone-related,and procedural variables were recorded.Complications were classified using the CDC,and cumulative morbidity was assessed using CCI.Statistical analyses,including univariate and multivariate regression,were performed to identify predictors of higher CCI scores.Results:PCNL was associated with the highest complication rates,including an 11%transfusion rate.ESWL had the lowest complication burden,while URL demonstrated intermediate risk.CCI scores correlated positively with length of stay(LOS;r=0.47),highlighting its ability to capture overall morbidity.Multivariate analysis identified stone size,operating time,and positive urine culture as significant predictors of higher CCI scores.The CCI provided a more comprehensive representation of morbidity compared to the CDC.Conclusions:CCI demonstrates superior sensitivity in evaluating postoperative morbidity compared to CDC,particularly in more invasive procedures such as PCNL.Standardized reporting frameworks incorporating CCI may enhance surgical outcome assessment in endourology.
文摘Taking a widely contaminated yet abundant waste,such as poultry feathers,and extracting keratin from this struc-ture appears to be a real challenge whenever the preservation of the secondary structure of the protein is desired.This process would allow exploiting it in ways(e.g.,in the biomedicalfield)that are inspired by a structure that is primarily designed forflight,therefore capable specifically of withstandingflexure and lateral buckling,also with very low thicknesses.The preservation of the structure is based on disulfide crosslinks,and it is offered with pre-ference by some chemical treatments,mainly those based on ionic liquid and on a reduction process.However,the degree of preservation cannot always be precisely assessed;however,beyond chemical characterization,the forma-tion of homogeneous gels can also suggest that the process was successful in this sense.An extraction respectful of nature’s intentions,considering that the secondary structure builds up according to the very function of the feath-ers in the animal,can be deemed to be biomimetic.In particular,biomimetic extractions comply with the very characteristics the protein was designed for to serve in the specific environmental and mechanical situation in which it is inserted.This review tries to elucidate in which cases this aim is achieved and for which specific appli-cations a chicken feather keratin that has preserved its secondary structure can be suited.
基金supported by JST Grant Number JPMJPF2104,Japan.Az Zahra and Alahakoon gratefully acknowledge MEXT of Japan for the scholarship.
文摘The thermal conversion process known as biomass gasification has the potential to produce environmentally friendly fuels such as hydrogen.However,tar generation during the gasification remains an issue,affecting operational efficiency and environmental health.Biochar has been confirmed as an inexpensive and efficient catalyst for tar removal.The challenge lies in creating a highly reactive biochar which can be applied for different types of biomass with varying properties.This review discusses the factors that affect biochar’s reactivity as a catalyst for tar reforming.Additionally,incorporating biochar into a gasification scenario with raw biomass offers a practical solution by leveraging the synergistic behavior.However,this synergy could be either positive or negative:the positive synergy enhances tar removal while the negative synergy has the opposite effect.The numerous factors affecting the results of gasification are presented in this review.It is concluded that the positive synergistic effect resulted from the balance between the available reactants from biomass and biochar,the optimal gas flowrate and the active sites on the carbon surface.Understanding these interactions is crucial for optimizing biochar performance for tar removal.Ultimately,this research provides insights into biochar’s role in biomass gasification and suggests improvements for future studies to enhance the feasibility of biomass gasification with the assistance of biochar.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22303033)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(No.JUSRP123017)+1 种基金Wuxi“Taihu Light”Science and Technology Project-Basic Research(No.K20231063)the Research Matching Grant Scheme at CUHK(No.8601309)。
文摘In this study,a pair of dicarboxylic acids as cis-trans isomerism—citraconic acid(CA)and mesaconic acid(MA),was incorporated into polymeric networks of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM)-based core-shell microgels via semi-batch precipitation polymerization.We demonstrated that the pH-temperature dual responsiveness of the core-shell microgels is highly correlated with the structure and position of the acid isomers.Both the cis-trans molecular structure and the crosslinking position of the dicarboxylic acids significantly influenced the hydration capacity and surface charge density of the core-shell microgels.These diverse properties first influenced the swelling behavior,further affecting the interfacial behavior of the microgels,including the oil-water dynamic interfacial tension and air-water compression isotherms.Furthermore,the rheological behavior of the microgel suspensions also displayed distinct dependences on the frequency and temperature,illustrating that the cis-trans molecular structure and crosslinked position of the dicarboxylic acids also significantly influenced the interparticle clustering in the bulk solution.Our results suggest that the pH sensitivity of the cis-trans dicarboxylic acid isomer affects the ionization and surface charge distribution of the core or shell layers of individual microgels,which further determines the interparticle interaction and cooperative rearrangement at interfaces and in the bulk.
基金supported by projects VEGA 1/0307/23 and APVV-23-0204 of Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education,Research,Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic.
文摘The undercurrent research survey explores the roles of nonlocality and strain gradient size dependencies in nonlinear asymmetric buckling of shallow nanoscale arches having dissimilar end conditions through a numerical analysis.The arches,made from a functionally graded graphene nanofiller reinforced composite(FG-GNRC),are subjected to discretional radial concentrated loads along with converting of temperature.To account for the size dependencies,the exploration is carried out stemming from the nonlocal strain gradient theory(NSGT)in the sense of a quasi-2D parabolic shear flexible concept of curved beam.The material properties of the contemplated FG-GNRC sandwich are determined using the modified Halpin-Tsai micromechanics model.Subsequently,an extended isogeometric analysis(XIGA)is manipulated comprising insertion plus multiplication of knots to achieve the demanded lower continuity allocated to the integration between flexural and tangential reflexes.It is perceived that the both softening and stiffening concomitants assigned to the salient concentrated radial loads obtained by the developed NSGT-based XIGA diminish from the first upper limit to the second one,and then likewise from the first lower limit to the second one.Although,by becoming the upsurge in temperature higher,these softening and stiffening concomitants get more remarkable.
文摘Emerging contaminants in water sources present serious environmental and health risks,creating an urgent need for efficient and reliable treatment strategies.Photocatalytic advanced oxidation processes(AOPs)provide rapid reaction rates and strong oxidation capabilities,however,comprehensive evaluations of wastewater treatment,including degradation pathways,toxicity assessments and mechanistic insights,remain underexplored in the literature.This study presents novel S-scheme Mn_(0.5)Cd_(0.5)S/In_(2)S_(3)(MCS/IS)photocatalysts for efficient degradation of antibiotic pollutants,with a particular focus on tetracycline hydrochloride(TCH).The optimized MCS/IS photocatalyst demonstrates exceptional degradation efficiency and robust resistance to inorganic anions.Additionally,a continuous-flow wastewater treatment system,using an MCS/IS membrane,demonstrates outstanding stability in TCH photodegradation.Utilizing response surface methodology and Fukui function analysis,the effects of various parameters on photocatalytic degradation rates,along with the associated pathways and intermediate products,have been thoroughly investigated.Toxicity assessments confirm the environmental safety of the treated effluents.Mechanistic studies show that the S-scheme heterojunction in the MCS/IS photocatalyst improves electron-hole separation,thereby enhancing photocatalytic performance.It is expected that this study will serve as a model for advancing the removal of emerging contaminants,further enhancing photocatalytic AOPs as sustainable water purification technologies.
基金supported by the subsidiary programme“Ayudas Extraordinarias Menciones Excelencia Severo Ochoa”of the CN IGME-CSIC(project AECEX2021,grant 15903)the University of Minnesota and National Science Foundation(award NSF-EAR 2153786)+1 种基金the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology(FCT)support,Geosciences Center project UIDB/00073/2020(doi:10.54499/UIDB/00073/2020)University of Coimbra and and GeoBioTec project UIDB/04035/2020(doi:10.54499/UIDB/04035/2020),Nova School of Science and Technology.
文摘The Kunene Complex(KC)represents a very large Mesoproterozoic igneous body,mainly composed of anorthosites and gabbroic rocks that extends from SW Angola to NW Namibia(outcropping 18,000 km^(2),NE-SW trend,and ca.350 km long and up to 50 km wide).Little is known about its structure at depth.Here,we use recently acquired aerogeophysical data to accurately determine its hidden extent and to unravel its morphology at depth.These data have been interpreted and modelled to investigate the unexposed KC boundaries,reconstructing the upper crustal structure(between 0 and 15 km depth)overlain by the thin sedimentary cover of the Kalahari Basin.The modelling reveals that the KC was emplaced in the upper crust and extends in depth up to ca.5 km,showing a lobular geometry and following a large NE-SW to NNE-SSW linear trend,presumably inherited from older Paleoproterozoic structures.The lateral continuation of the KC to the east(between 50 and 125 km)beneath the Kalahari Cenozoic sediments suggests an overall size three times the outcropping dimension(about 53,500 km^(2)).This affirmation clearly reinforces the economic potential of this massif,related to the prospecting of raw materials and certain types of economic mineralization(Fe-Ti oxides,metallic sulphides or platinum group minerals).Up to 11 lobes have been isolated with dimensions ranging from 135.5 to 37.3 km in length and 81.9 to 20.7 km in width according to remanent bodies revealed by TMI mapping.A total volume of 65,184 km3 was calculated only for the magnetically remanent bodies of the KC.A long-lasting complex contractional regime,where large strike-slip fault systems were involved,occurred in three kinematic pulses potentially related to a change of velocity or convergence angle acting on previous Paleoproterozoic inherited sutures.The coalescent magmatic pulses can be recognized by means of magnetic anomalies,age of the bodies as well as the lineations inferred in this work:(i)Emplacement of the eastern mafic bodies and granites in a stage of significant lateral extension in a transtensional context between 1500 Ma and 1420 Ma;(ii)Migration of the mantle derived magmas westwards with deformation in a complex contractional setting with shearing structures involving western KC bodies and basement from 1415 Ma to 1340 Ma;(iii)NNW-SSE extensional structures are relocated westwards,involving mantle magmas,negative flower structures and depression that led to the formation of late Mesoproterozoic basins from 1325 Ma to 1170 Ma.Additionally,we detect several first and second order structures to place the structuring of the KC in a craton-scale context in relation to the crustal structures detected in NW Namibia.
基金support of this work by the project“Development of new innovative low carbon energy technologies to improve excellence in the Region of Western Macedonia”(MIS 5047197),which is implemented under the Action“Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructure”funded by the Operational Program“Competitiveness,Entrepreneurship and Innovation”(NSRF 2014-2020)co-financed by Greece and the European Union(European Regional Development Fund)+4 种基金the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation(HFRI)for supporting this research work under the 3~(rd)Call for HFRI PhD Fellowships(Fellowship Number:6033)the support of ELECMI-LMA nodeNanbiosis ICTSsfunded by the Swiss National Science Foundation(Grant:206021_189629)the Research Council of Norway(Grant:296087)。
文摘Herein,the effect of the Ru:Ni bimetallic composition in dual-function materials(DFMs)for the integrated CO_(2)capture and methanation process(ICCU-Methanation)is systematically evaluated and combined with a thorough material characterization,as well as a mechanistic(in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared fourier-transform spectroscopy(in-situ DRIFTS))and computational(computational fluid dynamics(CFD)modelling)investigation,in order to improve the performance of Ni-based DFMs.The bimetallic DFMs are comprised of a main Ni active metallic phase(20 wt%)and are modified with low Ru loadings in the 0.1-1 wt%range(to keep the material cost low),supported on Na_(2)O/Al_(2)O_(3).It is shown that the addition of even a very low Ru loading(0.1-0.2 wt%)can drastically improve the material reducibility,exposing a significantly higher amount of surface-active metallic sites,with Ru being highly dispersed over the support and the Ni phase,while also forming some small Ru particles.This manifests in a significant enhancement in the CH_(4)yield and the CH_(4)production kinetics during ICCU-Methanation(which mainly proceeds via formate intermediates),with 0.2 wt%Ru addition leading to the best results.This bimetallic DFM also shows high stability and a relatively good performance under an oxidizing CO_(2)capture atmosphere.The formation rate of CH_(4)during hydrogenation is then further validated via CFD modelling and the developed model is subsequently applied in the prediction of the effect of other parameters,including the inlet H_(2)concentration,inlet flow rate,dual-fu nction material weight,and reactor internal diameter.
基金supported by the European Commission(EC)under EC grant agreement 101092386 for the Green-VETAfrica project.
文摘The waste management sector plays a vital role in environmental sustainability and public health.However,it faces significant challenges due to a multi-dimensional skills gap that hinders the effective management,processing and disposal of waste.Effective waste management requires increasing levels of technical expertise,analytical proficiency,behavioural skills and digital competence.However,one critical point of concern is the lack of requisite technical skills required for the optimal operation and maintenance of equipment and machinery used for waste management and disposal.Using desk research and focus group interviews of stakeholders in Nigeria and Ghana,we analyzed the skills gap in the sector in order to identify the skills that are currently short in supply in both countries.Our study revealed three broad skills need areas:(1)Skill requirements for youth employment in the waste management sector;(2)Machineries,technologies and tools used for waste management;and(3)Technical skills requirements for green waste management.The study concludes with a mapping of technologies and skills in the waste management sector while highlighting the impact of the existing skills deficit on the sector’s effectiveness and how it can be addressed through structured technical training programs for stakeholders in the sector.
基金supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS)Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C)23K03898.
文摘Traffic at urban intersections frequently encounters unexpected obstructions,resulting in congestion due to uncooperative and priority-based driving behavior.This paper presents an optimal right-turn coordination system for Connected and Automated Vehicles(CAVs)at single-lane intersections,particularly in the context of left-hand side driving on roads.The goal is to facilitate smooth right turns for certain vehicles without creating bottlenecks.We consider that all approaching vehicles share relevant information through vehicular communications.The Intersection Coordination Unit(ICU)processes this information and communicates the optimal crossing or turning times to the vehicles.The primary objective of this coordination is to minimize overall traffic delays,which also helps improve the fuel consumption of vehicles.By considering information from upcoming vehicles at the intersection,the coordination system solves an optimization problem to determine the best timing for executing right turns,ultimately minimizing the total delay for all vehicles.The proposed coordination system is evaluated at a typical urban intersection,and its performance is compared to traditional traffic systems.Numerical simulation results indicate that the proposed coordination system significantly enhances the average traffic speed and fuel consumption compared to the traditional traffic system in various scenarios.
基金The work described in this paper was fully supported by a grant from Hong Kong Metropolitan University(RIF/2021/05).
文摘Parkinson’s disease(PD)is a debilitating neurological disorder affecting over 10 million people worldwide.PD classification models using voice signals as input are common in the literature.It is believed that using deep learning algorithms further enhances performance;nevertheless,it is challenging due to the nature of small-scale and imbalanced PD datasets.This paper proposed a convolutional neural network-based deep support vector machine(CNN-DSVM)to automate the feature extraction process using CNN and extend the conventional SVM to a DSVM for better classification performance in small-scale PD datasets.A customized kernel function reduces the impact of biased classification towards the majority class(healthy candidates in our consideration).An improved generative adversarial network(IGAN)was designed to generate additional training data to enhance the model’s performance.For performance evaluation,the proposed algorithm achieves a sensitivity of 97.6%and a specificity of 97.3%.The performance comparison is evaluated from five perspectives,including comparisons with different data generation algorithms,feature extraction techniques,kernel functions,and existing works.Results reveal the effectiveness of the IGAN algorithm,which improves the sensitivity and specificity by 4.05%–4.72%and 4.96%–5.86%,respectively;and the effectiveness of the CNN-DSVM algorithm,which improves the sensitivity by 1.24%–57.4%and specificity by 1.04%–163%and reduces biased detection towards the majority class.The ablation experiments confirm the effectiveness of individual components.Two future research directions have also been suggested.
基金funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
文摘Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances（PFASs） are ubiquitous in sludge and water from waste water treatment plants, as a result of their incorporation in everyday products and industrial processes. In this study, we measured several classes of persistent PFASs,precursors, transformation intermediates, and newly identified PFASs in influent and effluent sewage water and sludge from three municipal waste water treatment plants in Sweden, sampled in 2015. For sludge, samples from 2012 and 2014 were analyzed as well.Levels of precursors in sludge exceeded those of perfluoroalkyl acids and sulfonic acids（PFCAs and PFSAs）, in 2015 the sum of polyfluoroalkyl phosphoric acid esters（PAPs） were 15–20 ng/g dry weight, the sum of fluorotelomer sulfonic acids（FTSAs） was 0.8–1.3 ng/g,and the sum of perfluorooctane sulfonamides and ethanols ranged from non-detected to 3.2 ng/g. Persistent PFSAs and PFCAs were detected at 1.9–3.9 ng/g and 2.4–7.3 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The influence of precursor compounds was further demonstrated by an observed substantial increase for a majority of the persistent PFCAs and PFSAs in water after waste water treatment. Perfluorohexanoic acid（PFHxA）, perfluorooctanoic acid（PFOA）, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid（PFHxS）, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid（PFOS）had a net mass increase in all WWTPs, with mean values of 83%, 28%, 37% and 58%,respectively. The load of precursors and intermediates in influent water and sludge combined with net mass increase support the hypothesis that degradation of precursor compounds is a significant contributor to PFAS contamination in the environment.
基金National Funds through FCT–Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the projects PTDC/CTM-CTM/1571/2020(All-Fi BRE),LA/P/0037/2020,UIDP/50025/2020 and UIDB/50025/2020(CENIMAT/I3N)by ERC-Co G-2014,CapTherPV,647596。
文摘Flexible microelectronic devices have seen an increasing trend toward development of miniaturized,portable,and integrated devices as wearable electronics which have the requirement for being light weight,small in dimension,and suppleness.Traditional three-dimensional(3D)and two-dimensional(2D)electronics gadgets fail to effectively comply with these necessities owing to their stiffness and large weights.Investigations have come up with a new family of one-dimensional(1D)flexible and fiber-based electronic devices(FBEDs)comprising power storage,energy-scavenging,implantable sensing,and flexible displays gadgets.However,development and manufacturing are still a challenge owing to their small radius,flexibility,low weight,weave ability and integration in textile electronics.This paper will provide a detailed review on the importance of substrates in electronic devices,intrinsic property requirements,fabrication classification and applications in energy harvesting,energy storage and other flexible electronic devices.Fiber-and textile-based electronic devices for bulk/scalable fabrications,encapsulation,and testing are reviewed and presented future research ideas to enhance the commercialization of these fiber-based electronics devices.
