Perspective Article Research Articles

Graphene going green—Today’s energy scenarios

Nowadays, mainstream research on graphene trends towards employing environmentally friendly or green synthesis routes and precursors, and ensuing green graphene nanomaterials are shown to be highly beneficial for a range of scientific applications, from energy/electronics to engineering to biomedical arenas. Specifically, graphene has emerged as a leading contender for designing green or ecological energy conversion (solar cells, fuel cells) and energy storage (supercapacitors, batteries) devices/systems. In this perspective article, we basically aim to highlight state-of-the-art advancements of green-sourced graphene and related nanomaterials in today’s energy sectors. According to scientific endeavors so far on green graphene, its successful design, real-world energy conversion/storage device application, and commercialization depend upon resolving underlying challenges of synthesis/performance. We observe notable applications of green graphene in the fields of photovoltaics, fuel cells, capacitors, and batteries. Herein, we suggest comprehensive future surveys for advanced fabrication techniques and sustainable sources/techniques to develop next-generation green graphene-derived energy systems with superior energy storage capacities and power outputs.

Valuing patients’ high unmet need to drive innovative therapies for inherited retinal degenerations: insights from the RIWC 2024 workshop on value

The importance of patient involvement in the therapeutic development ecosystem is being increasingly recognized, however not all stakeholders are fully aware of the unique perspective that patients can bring to these platforms. In this perspective article that is based on a workshop organized at the Retina International World Congress (RIWC) in Dublin in June 2024, we discuss the interpretation of value from patient’s perspective, challenges in the development of innovative medicines such as cell and gene therapies for Inherited Retinal Degenerations, the resources required to bring a drug to market, and the need to incorporate patient voice throughout the drug development pathway from pre-clinical studies to clinical trial designs, regulatory and health technology assessments decisions. We hope that this article will increase awareness among all relevant stakeholders including patients, clinicians, scientists, developers, regulators, decision makers and industry representatives on the importance of involving patients in the developmental lifecycle of novel therapies so that therapies are developed that make a meaningful improvement in patients’ lives.

Hypochlorous acid: A multifaceted and promising therapeutic perspective against human immunodeficiency virus

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a naturally occurring antimicrobial agent produced by neutrophils during the respiratory burst, has emerged as a potential candidate for antiviral intervention. This perspective article explores its possible therapeutic application in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, leveraging its well-documented oxidative properties. HOCl exerts its antiviral effects through targeted oxidative modifications of key viral components, including disulfide bonds in envelope glycoproteins (gp120 and gp41), thiol-dependent viral enzymes, and lipid membranes. These modifications disrupt viral entry, replication, and maturation, potentially limiting HIV infectivity. In addition, HOCl plays a pivotal role in modulating innate immune responses by enhancing phagocytic activity and cytokine signaling, which may contribute to immune-mediated viral suppression. While existing evidence suggests that HOCl could serve as a complementary or alternative approach to conventional antiretroviral therapy, its therapeutic application in HIV remains speculative. Critical aspects such as optimal dosing, delivery mechanisms, host specificity, and long-term safety require further investigation before clinical translation can be considered. This article provides a scientific perspective on HOCl’s antiviral potential, advocating for further research to assess its feasibility and efficacy in HIV treatment.

Aggression and Justice Involvement: Does Uric Acid Play a Role?

The search for biological markers that can be reliably linked to aggression and antisocial behavior has been central to the work of biological criminology. One such marker, uric acid, has long been suspected to play a causative role in promoting anger, irritability, aggression, and violence. Here, in this perspective article, we revisit some of the historical interest in uric acid as a compound relevant to brain and behavior, and reflect these early accounts off emergent scientific research. Advances in brain sciences, including neuropsychiatry and neuromicrobiology, have allowed for a more sophisticated understanding of potential mechanistic pathways linking uric acid with cognition and behavior. The updated science suggests that some of the early ideas surrounding uric acid and criminology had credibility. The available research strongly suggests that uric acid, as a potential biomarker of risk, is worthy of further research and close scrutiny. Informed by emergent gut–brain–microbiome research, we argue that certain aspects of early-to-mid-20th-century biological criminology were prematurely abandoned. From a legalome perspective, further advances surrounding uric acid and other gut–brain biomarkers can aid in shaping more humane, scientifically grounded policies that recognize the interplay between biology and environment.

How is health considered in urban transport planning? A review of the literature.

How is health considered in urban transport planning? A review of the literature.

The Role of Social Determinants in Racial and Ethnic Mental Health Disparities: Getting It Right.

Despite increased research on and attention to mental health, significant racial and ethnic disparities in this area persist. We propose that racial and ethnic disparities in mental health should be examined through the lens of social determinants of mental health (SDoMH). In this perspective article, we review current definitions and frameworks of SDoMH, discuss their strengths and shortcomings, and provide recommendations for a framework to better capture the causal pathways of mental health for racially and ethnically minoritized populations. We also discuss efforts to address SDoMH, focusing on policy-level SDoMH interventions, and review progress and challenges in integrating SDoMH approaches into mental health care.

From specialization to broad adoption: Key trends in droplet microfluidic innovations enhancing accessibility to non-experts

Droplet microfluidics has emerged as a versatile and powerful tool for various analytical applications, including single-cell studies, synthetic biology, directed evolution, and diagnostics. Initially, access to droplet microfluidics was predominantly limited to specialized technology labs. However, the landscape is shifting with the increasing availability of commercialized droplet manipulation technologies, thereby expanding its use to non-specialized labs. Although these commercial solutions offer robust platforms, their adaptability is often constrained compared to in-house developed devices. Consequently, both within the industry and academia, significant efforts are being made to further enhance the robustness and automation of droplet-based platforms, not only to facilitate technology transfer to non-expert laboratories but also to reduce experimental failures. This Perspective article provides an overview of recent advancements aimed at increasing the robustness and accessibility of systems enabling complex droplet manipulations. The discussion encompasses diverse aspects such as droplet generation, reagent addition, splitting, washing, incubation, sorting, and dispensing. Moreover, alternative techniques like double emulsions and hydrogel capsules, minimizing or eliminating the need for microfluidic operations by the end user, are explored. These developments are foreseen to facilitate the integration of intricate droplet manipulations by non-expert users in their workflows, thereby fostering broader and faster adoption across scientific domains.

Qualitative Research in North American Journals: A Promising Trajectory and an Invitation

SYNOPSIS This perspectives article reflects on fostering an informed and diverse ecosystem in qualitative accounting research, with a particular focus on promoting openness to qualitative research in North American accounting journals. Drawing on personal accounts, discussions with editors, extant literature, and published research, we offer suggestions that collectively aim to help qualitative accounting research thrive. We highlight the significant investment required for informed qualitative research and provide guidance for those new to this landscape, urging North American business schools to allocate space for qualitative research and researchers. While acknowledging positive trends in publishing qualitative research, we recognize the need for additional progress and call for increasing diversity, drawing on the critical paradigm, and promoting a broader use of methods such as focus groups, vignettes, observations, case studies, and (net)ethnographies across all paradigms. These suggestions have implications for the broader qualitative research community and, importantly, for publishing in North American accounting journals. Data Availability: Data are available upon request from the authors.

Toward the consensus of definitions for the phenomena of antifungal tolerance and persistence in filamentous fungi.

Antifungal drug tolerance and persistence are being increasingly recognized in fungal pathogens. Accordingly, more and more research is being carried out to characterize and understand these phenomena. However, the terminology and methodology employed in the fungal community lack consensus, particularly for filamentous fungi, as they present further complexities when compared to single-celled microorganisms. Hence, with the aim to ensure consistency in the literature, in this Perspective article, we propose tailored definitions for tolerance and persistence in filamentous fungi and suggest methods to detect and investigate these phenomena in the laboratory.

Valley polarization in two-dimensional zero-net-magnetization magnets

Valleytronics in two-dimensional (2D) zero-net-magnetization magnets exhibits ultradense and ultrafast potential due to their intrinsic advantages of zero stray field and terahertz dynamics. The zero-net-magnetization magnets mainly include PT-antiferromagnet [the joint symmetry (PT) of space inversion symmetry (P) and time-reversal symmetry (T)], altermagnet, and fully compensated ferrimagnet. In these magnets, achieving controllable valley polarization is extremely important to the application of valleytronics. In this perspective article, we provide some possible design strategies to achieve valley polarization and spin-splitting in 2D zero-net-magnetization magnets. Furthermore, the anomalous valley Hall effect can be achieved in these zero-net-magnetization magnets. These proposed design strategies can encourage more theoretical and experimental works to explore valley polarization in these eminent magnets.

Updated Views on Vestibular Physical Therapy for Patients with Vestibular Disorders

Background/Objectives: Vestibular Physical Therapy (VPT) plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation of patients with vestibular disorders by promoting vestibular compensation through adaptation, habituation, and substitution mechanisms. While traditional VPT approaches have demonstrated effectiveness in restoring balance and gaze stability, some patients with chronic vestibular dysfunction continue to experience persistent deficits. Methods: review of recent advancements in neuroplasticity research suggest the need for updated rehabilitation strategies that integrate sensorimotor substitution, saccadic training, optokinetic stimulation, and cognitive–motor dual-task training to optimize vestibular compensation. Results: This perspective article explores innovative VPT approaches aimed at improving dynamic gaze and postural stability in a more challenging way. We emphasize the importance of personalized rehabilitation strategies that leverage multisensory integration to enhance neuroplastic recovery. Conclusions: By refining VPT interventions, we can maximize functional outcomes and improve the quality of life for individuals with vestibular disorders.

CASSETTE TAPES AND SOUNDSCAPES: Creating Poetic Soundscapes Using C90 Cassette Tape Recordings as Performative Props and Memory Machines

As a performance poet, I like to combine spoken performance and visual storytelling and use an array of visual props that often recycle my personal past archive of artworks as an artist from the last twenty-five years into the present. Conversely, this Perspective article is a reflective account of how I make use of sound during my live solo performances by way of C90 cassette tape recordings I have made spanning the course of 30–40 years. Whilst the article refers to a selection of live (poetry) performance works that I have made, the article concentrates discussion on three works which use cassette tape recordings in different ways to create soundscapes that often transport the listener to the past and/or the listener is unsure of how many voices there are in the performance space. The first performance I discuss is How Can I Get My Partner To Be My Finger? (2019) which presents a conversation between a couple – one present, one technologically distant – my partner Alex and I and refer to and discuss how Alex ‘speaks through’ my finger via a tape-recording. In discussion of the second performance, SEE ME: A Walk Through London’s Gay Soho 1994 and 2020 (2021), I refer to how I make performative use of a mixtape compilation that I made in 1994. Lastly, in discussion of the third performance, Tackle (2022), I refer to my usage of a cassette recording in 1996 of a football match I attended with my Dad between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Menstrual Cups: R—Evolutionary Devices for Overcoming Wrong Views About Life

This Perspectives article is informed by an ongoing practice-as-research that examines the empowering effects and creative potential of menstrual cups and discs in challenging menstruation taboos and promoting gender equity and equanimity. Beginning with a personal introduction that traces the roots of my fascination with menstrual products, the text explores the archaeology of menstrual devices to uncover reasons behind their delayed commercial success. In the second part, I describe how menstrual cups have inspired a growing number of artists to create transformative artworks that critique and dismantle historical discrimination against people who menstruate. Drawing on selected case studies of my own artworks employing blood, specifically menstrual blood, I argue that engaging with bodily fluids, porosity, and menstruation can rekindle a deep appreciation for what I call 'the compassionate beauty of life'. I suggest that embracing life in all its facets supports a quiet yet resilient resistance to contemporary necropolitics—those power structures that, as Achille Mbembe writes, 'express sovereignty as the capacity to dictate who may live and who must die' (Mbembe 2003).

Perspective: How complex in vitro models are addressing the challenges of predicting drug-induced liver injury

Predicting which drugs might have the potential to cause drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is highly complex and the current methods, 2D cell-based models and animal tests, are not sensitive enough to prevent some costly failures in clinical trials or to avoid all patient safety concerns for DILI post-market. Animal-based methods are hampered by important species differences in metabolism and adaptive immunity compared to humans and the standard 2D in vitro approaches have limited metabolic functionality and complexity. On 24 April 2023 the Alliance for Human Relevant Science (https://www.humanrelevantscience.org/) hosted a workshop at the Royal Society, London entitled Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI): Can Human-Focused Testing Improve Clinical Translation? The conclusion was that complex in vitro models (CIVMs) provide a significant step forward in the safety testing paradigm. This perspective article, written by the participants, builds on those discussions to provide a ‘state of play’ on liver CIVMs with recommendations for how to encourage their greater uptake by the pharmaceutical industry.

Debunking the Myth of Excitatory and Inhibitory Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Cognitive Neuroscience Research.

Repetitive TMS (rTMS) is a powerful neuroscientific tool with the potential to noninvasively identify brain-behavior relationships in humans. Early work suggested that certain rTMS protocols (e.g., continuous theta-burst stimulation, intermittent theta-burst stimulation, high-frequency rTMS, low-frequency rTMS) predictably alter the probability that cortical neurons will fire action potentials (i.e., change cortical excitability). However, despite significant methodological, conceptual, and technical advances in rTMS research over the past few decades, overgeneralization of early rTMS findings has led to a stubbornly persistent assumption that rTMS protocols by their nature induce behavioral and/or physiological inhibition or facilitation, even when they are applied to nonmotor cortical sites or under untested circumstances. In this Perspectives article, we offer a "public service announcement" that summarizes problems with these assumptions, highlighting limitations of seminal studies that inspired them and results of contemporary studies that violate them. Next, we discuss problems associated with holding these assumptions, including making brain-behavior inferences without confirming the locality and directionality of neurophysiological changes. Then, we emphasize results of recent studies showing that the effects of rTMS on neurophysiological metrics and their associated behaviors can be caused by mechanisms other than binary changes in excitability of the stimulated brain region or network. Finally, we provide recommendations for researchers to eliminate the misguided assumption that specific rTMS protocols are inherently excitatory or inhibitory when designing and interpreting their own work. Collectively, we contend that no rTMS protocol is by its nature either excitatory or inhibitory, and that researchers must use caution with these terms when forming experimental hypotheses and testing brain-behavior relationships.

Tailored chemical processes: opportunities and challenges in shaping a sustainable future

AbstractThe chemical industry is at a critical juncture, where traditional mass production is increasingly being challenged by the need for more flexible, efficient and sustainable approaches. This perspective article explores the viability of tailored chemical production as a future model for the industry, focusing on the opportunities and challenges inherent in moving towards a more personalized, customer‐driven production paradigm. Tailored chemical processes have the potential to revolutionize how we meet rapidly evolving societal demands, adapt to shifting political landscapes such as the 2030 and 2050 sustainability agendas, and leverage technological advances in digitalization and automation. By critically analyzing the economic and environmental aspects, as well as the implications of advanced technologies such as process intensification, modular reactors and artificial intelligence, this article aims to provide a comprehensive view of whether a future of tailored chemical production is both viable and desirable. We also discuss the importance of aligning these processes with the principles of the circular economy and propose concrete steps the industry should take—including fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government—to transition successfully towards this promising future. This perspective seeks to inspire a deeper consideration of the role that personalized chemical production can play in advancing sustainability, adaptability and resilience in the chemical sector. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Cortical excitability and the aging brain: toward a biomarker of cognitive resilience.

This perspective article addresses the potential use of cortical excitability (CE) as an indicator of cognitive health in aging people. Changes in CE may be considered a sign of resilience to cognitive decline in old age. The authors describe research on CE and its link to cognitive function in older adults and emphasize that it is a promising, non-invasive measure of healthy aging. They also address the current challenges in its implementation, the need for standardized measurement protocols and possible future avenues of research. If properly considered, CE could pave the way for early detection of cognitive decline and facilitate targeted interventions to promote cognitive resilience.

Artificial intelligence and science of patient input: a perspective from people with multiple sclerosis.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can play a vital role in achieving a shift towards predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine, provided we are guided by the science with and of patient input. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) represent a unique opportunity to capture experiential knowledge from people living with health conditions and make it scientifically relevant for all other stakeholders. Despite this, there is limited uptake of the use of standardized outcomes including PROMs within the research and healthcare system. This perspective article discusses the challenges of using PROMs at scale, with a focus on multiple sclerosis. AI approaches can enable learning health systems that improve the quality of care by examining the care health systems presently give, as well as accelerating research and innovation. However, we argue that it is crucial that advances in AI - whether relating to research, clinical practice or health systems policy - are not developed in isolation and implemented 'to' people, but in collaboration 'with' them. This implementation of science with patient input, which is at the heart of the Global PROs for Multiple Sclerosis (PROMS) Initiative, will ensure that we maximize the potential benefits of AI for people with MS, whilst avoiding unintended consequences.

Human-Centric, Three Dimensional Micro Light-Emitting Diodes for Cosmetic and Medical Phototherapy.

Phototherapy based on micro light-emitting diodes (µLEDs) has gained enormous attention in the medical field as a patient-friendly therapeutic method due to its advantages of minimal invasiveness, fewer side effects, and versatile device form factors with high stability in biological environment. Effective cosmetic and medical phototherapy depends on deep light penetration, precise irradiation, and simultaneous multi-site stimulation, facilitated by three-dimensional (3D) optoelectronics specifically designed for complex human matters, defined here as 3D µLEDs. This perspective article aims to present the functionalities and strategies of 3D µLEDs for human-centric phototherapy. This study investigates the effectiveness of phototherapy enabled by three key functionalities such as shape morphing, self-adaptation, and multilayered spatiotemporal mapping of 3D µLEDs. Finally, this article provides future insights of 3D µLEDs for human-centric phototherapy applications.

Exploring the Ascorbate Requirement of the 2-Oxoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenases.

In humans, the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (2-OGDDs) catalyze hydroxylation reactions involved in cell metabolism, the biosynthesis of small molecules, DNA and RNA demethylation, the hypoxic response and the formation of collagen. The reaction is catalyzed by a highly oxidizing ferryl-oxo species produced when the active site non-heme iron engages molecular oxygen. Enzyme activity is specifically stimulated by l-ascorbic acid (ascorbate, vitamin C), an effect not well mimicked by other reducing agents. In this perspective article we discuss the reliance of the 2-OGDDs on ascorbate availability. We draw upon findings from studies with different 2-OGDDs to piece together a comprehensive theory for the specific role of ascorbate in supporting enzyme activity. Our discussion centers on the capacity for ascorbate to act as an efficient radical scavenger and its propensity to reduce and chelate transition metals. In addition, we consider the evidence supporting stereospecific binding of ascorbate in the enzyme active site.