Direct Transfer Research Articles

Two-Impulse Transfers from Lunar Distant Retrograde Orbits to Resonant Orbits

As unique types of orbits in the cislunar space, distant retrograde orbits (DROs) and resonant orbits (ROs) are of great significance in future cislunar explorations, and the transfer between them deserves special attention. The design of transfer trajectories between these two kinds of orbits remains a challenge due to their stability. In this study, a novel transfer pathway from DROs and ROs is constructed based on a search and optimization methodology, which could offer an alternative for mission design related to these two orbits. Two-impulse transfers for both planar and nonplanar cases are designed in the circular restricted three-body problem, and three types of transfer orbits are obtained and characterized, including the direct transfer, the lunar gravity assisted transfer, and the external transfer. Planar transfers are also refined in the bicircular restricted four-body problem in consideration of the solar gravity. Furthermore, representative transfer orbits are transitioned into the ephemeris model to validate the preliminary design, and the result indicates that the transfer cost fluctuates with different departure epochs for all types of transfers.

Efficient Size-Dependent Hot Electron Transfer from Au to TiO2 Nanoparticles.

Harvesting of plasmon-induced hot carriers at the metal/semiconductor interface offers a promising and innovative avenue for solar energy conversion. However, their practical implementation is often hampered by their limited efficiencies. Herein, we have demonstrated a highly efficient plasmonic hot electron transfer with a quantum efficiency (QE) of up to 57 ± 4% from 5.25 nm Au nanoparticles (NPs) to TiO2 films under 400 nm ultrafast laser excitation. The observed hot electron transfer QEs decrease at larger particle sizes, to 20% for 9.1 nm Au, and show negligible changes with excitation wavelengths at 400, 500, and 600 nm. Analysis of the size and excitation wavelength dependent hot electron transfer QEs suggests they contain contributions of interband absorption, indirect plasmon-induced hot electron transfer (PHET), and direct plasmon-induced interfacial charge transfer transition (PICTT) pathways, and QEs of all three pathways increase at smaller Au size. Our result suggests that reducing plasmon particle sizes is a promising approach for efficient plasmonic hot-carrier extraction.

Biomimetic Enzyme-Micelle Self-Assembled Systems for Semi-Artificial Photosynthesis.

Supramolecular surfactants provide a versatile platform to construct systems for solar fuel synthesis, for example via the self-assembly of amphiphilic photosensitizers and catalysts into diverse supramolecular structures. However, the utilization of amphiphilic photosensitizers in solar fuel production has predominantly focused on yielding gaseous products, such as molecular hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide (CO), and methane (CH4) with turnover number (TON) of synthetic catalysts typically in the range of hundreds to thousands. Inspired by biological lipid-protein interactions, we present herein a novel bio-hybrid assembly strategy that utilizes photosensitizers as surfactants to form micellar scaffolds that interface with enzymes, namely hydrogenases and formate dehydrogenases, for semi-artificial photosynthesis. Specifically, surfactants with a [ruthenium tris(2,2'-bipyridine)]2+ head group provide high photocatalytic activity upon association with the enzymes as their positively charged [Ru]2+ center electrostatically interacts with the enzymes favorably to enable direct electron transfer at the micelle-enzyme interface. Time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy support the beneficial charge carrier dynamics of the reductively quenched [Ru]+ species when the enzymes are introduced in the micellar solution. Thus, a new concept is introduced for solar fuel synthesis using a biomimetic enzyme-micellar system, providing also a platform for other photocatalytic transformations using enzymes in the future.

Metabolic Crosstalk between Platelets and Cancer: Mechanisms, Functions, and Therapeutic Potential.

Platelets, traditionally regarded as passive mediators of hemostasis, are now recognized as pivotal regulators in the tumor microenvironment, establishing metabolic feedback loops with tumor and immune cells. Tumor-derived signals trigger platelet activation, which induces rapid metabolic reprogramming, particularly glycolysis, to support activation-dependent functions such as granule secretion, morphological changes, and aggregation. Beyond self-regulation, platelets influence the metabolic processes of adjacent cells. Through direct mitochondrial transfer, platelets reprogram tumor and immune cells, promoting oxidative phosphorylation. Additionally, platelet-derived cytokines, granules, and extracellular vesicles drive metabolic alterations in immune cells, fostering suppressive phenotypes that facilitate tumor progression. This review examines three critical aspects: (1) the distinctive metabolic features of platelets, particularly under tumor-induced activation; (2) the metabolic crosstalk between activated platelets and other cellular components; and (3) the therapeutic potential of targeting platelet metabolism to disrupt tumor-promoting networks. By elucidating platelet metabolism, this review highlights its essential role in tumor biology and its therapeutic implications.

Enhanced anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge using magnetite-modified sludge ceramsite: Performance and microbial dynamics.

The effect of magnetite-modified sludge ceramsite on anaerobic digestion of sludge was systematically investigated in this study. The results revealed that the addition of magnetite significantly altered the properties of the ceramsite, while magnetite-modified ceramsite significantly altered the sludge anaerobic digestion process. Biochemical methane production potential experiments demonstrated that the cumulative methane production of the experimental group with moderate ceramsite addition was enhanced by 17.8% compared to the control group without ceramsite. This enhancement was attributed primarily to the favorable pore structure and biocompatibility of the modified ceramsite. The incorporation of magnetite facilitated the enrichment of microorganisms and the reduction of Fe(III), thereby promoting anaerobic digestion. Moreover, the ceramsite exhibited strong buffering capacity, contributing to the enhanced stability of the digestive system. Microbiological analyses revealed that the addition of ceramsite significantly altered the microbial community. Appropriate ceramsite addition resulted in the enrichment of bacteria associated with organic matter degradation and methanogenesis. Furthermore, potential iron-reducing bacteria (Clostridium_sensu_stricto) and bacteria capable of direct interspecies electron transfer (Syntrophomonas) were also enriched in the anaerobic system. This study demonstrates a viable approach for the efficient resource utilization of sludge.

An Analysis of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (Pmjdy): Financial Inclusion and its Impact on the Indian Economy

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched in 2014, is a flagship initiative designed to promote financial inclusion by offering essential banking services to economically disadvantaged households. This study investigates the implementation of PMJDY, focusing on its impact on financial inclusion, socio-economic empowerment, and the challenges encountered by local communities. Through a combination of primary surveys and secondary data, analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, the study finds significant progress in financial inclusion, particularly among women and marginalized communities. However, it also identifies challenges such as low financial literacy and inadequate digital infrastructure. The study concludes with recommendations for improving PMJDY’s effectiveness, especially in urban-rural settings. Keywords: Financial Inclusion, PMJDY, Socio-Economic Empowerment, Direct Benefit Transfers, Financial Literacy

Research on Methane-Rich Biogas Production Technology by Anaerobic Digestion Under Carbon Neutrality: A Review

Amid the pressing challenge of global climate change, biogas (marsh gas) has garnered recognition as a clean and renewable energy source with significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable energy production. Composed primarily of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), enhancing the CH4 content in biogas is essential for improving its quality and expanding its high-value applications. This review examines the mechanisms underlying CH4 and CO2 production in anaerobic digestion (AD) processes; investigates the effects of raw material types, process routes, and fermentation conditions on biogas production and CH4 content; and proposes feasible technical pathways for producing CH4-rich biogas. Research indicates that CH4-rich biogas can be produced through various strategies. Raw material pretreatment technologies and co-digestion strategies can enhance substrate performance, stabilize the AD process, and boost CH4 production. Process optimizations, such as multiphase AD and CH4 co-production techniques, significantly improve carbon utilization efficiency. Introducing exogenous reinforcement materials, including biochar and zero-valent iron nanoparticles, fosters microbial interactions and facilitates direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). Furthermore, microbial regulation through genetic engineering and microbial community design presents promising prospects. By reviewing the mechanisms of gas production, influencing factors, and feasible pathways, this work aims to provide valuable insights for the technical research of AD to produce CH4-rich biogas.

Excited states of mono- and biruthenium(II) complexes adsorbed on nanocrystalline titanium dioxide studied by electroabsorption spectroscopy

Comprehensive characterization of the lowest energy electronic excited states for mono- and binuclear Ru(II) complexes containing bipyridine ligands has been performed by electroabsorption (EA) spectroscopy. The EA spectra of Ru complexes sensitizing a TiO2 semiconductor were compared with the spectra of these complexes in the form of solid neat films, both of which parametrized within the Liptay theory. The extracted values of relevant parameters, relating to molecular dipoles after optical MLCT (metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer) excitation, exhibit a clearly noticeable increase for Ru complexes adsorbed on TiO2, but they are too small to be attributed to excitation associated with the direct transfer of an electron from the dye adsorbate to the TiO2 semiconductor. Due to the difficulties arising from standard analysis based on Liptay formalism, we have for the first time successfully reproduced the EA spectra of the Ru/TiO2 systems using the time-dependent density functional (TDDFT) calculations, incorporating into the Hamiltonian a term describing the interaction of a molecule with the local electric field it experiences from the TiO2 structure and the neighboring Ru complex molecules, without additional assumptions about the lineshape of the EA signal. The implications of these results are briefly discussed in the context of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Mitigating ammonia inhibition in anaerobic digestion with lignin-based carbon materials synthesized by hydrothermal carbonization

Ammonia inhibition poses a significant challenge to the efficient and stable operation of anaerobic digestion (AD) systems by leading to the inhibition of volatile fatty acid conversion and reduced methane production. This study explores the utilization of lignin-based hydrochar (LHC) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) produced via hydrothermal carbonization of alkali lignin to alleviate ammonia inhibition in AD processes. The results showed that both LHC and CQDs help counter the decline in methane yield and production rate typically associated with ammonia inhibition. Notably, the addition of 1 g/L CQDs significantly increased methane production by 24.25% compared to the control group. While LHC showed limited ammonia adsorption, its primary impact was enhancing direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) through improved redox capacity and promoting humic acid-like organics formation. In contrast, CQDs reduced charge transfer resistance, significantly enhancing system redox capacity. Optimizing the hydrothermal carbonization temperature of LHC to 250 °C further optimized its redox properties, boosting methane production by 30.53% at a concentration of 3 g/L. Microbial community and metabolic pathway analyses indicated that LHC and CQDs enriched hydrolytic and acidifying bacteria, as well as DIET-associated microorganisms, facilitating efficient volatile fatty acid production and conversion. This process enabled the sustained operation of both acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenic pathways, effectively mitigating the adverse effects of high ammonia nitrogen concentrations.Graphical

How prepared is Nigeria digital payment for health workers? A landscape analysis

IntroductionStakeholders in the health sector have advocated for the optimization of digital payment channels in low-and-middle-income countries in order to improve program outcomes. We conducted a landscape analysis of the local context, challenges, and opportunities for digitized health worker payments in Nigeria.MethodsThis study was an exploratory qualitative case study with mixed-methods approach to data collection including; i) desk review, ii) interview of key informants and iii) engagement of stakeholders. In the desk review, the databases searched were MEDLINE (PubMed), Google Scholar and Google. For the qualitative interviews, 17 stakeholders were interviewed between May and July 2022. Audio recordings of interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic approach with the Nvivo software. At the stakeholders’ (n = 15) engagement, findings from the desk review and interviews were discussed and additional data collected.ResultsDigital payment systems for health personnel described in the reviewed documents included the direct disbursement mechanisms, direct bank transfers and mobile money. Among these-payment methods, direct bank transfer was the most prominent digital payment method. Also, there is a high level of acceptability of digitized means of payment of health workers among stakeholders in the Nigerian health sector. From the regulatory point of view, the Nigerian government has initiated a number of digital payment policies including the cashless policy. Other incentives for digitization of payments were: availability of credible financial institutions, improved financial accountability and transparency, previous experience of under-payment or non-payment of end beneficiaries, to avoid delays in payment and ensure timely retirement of funds. Challenges of digital payments included: delayed resolution of problems associated with digital payment such as failed transactions, cyber security, double payments, and unfriendly bank policies.ConclusionDigital payment system is being utilized, accepted and would be beneficial for payments for the Nigerian healthcare system. Harnessing its benefits of improved health workers’ performance and program outcomes by enacting appropriate policies is recommended.

Chemical Energy Lights Up Europium‐Based Ultra‐bright Afterglow for Bioanalysis Application

Photochemical afterglow materials are gaining great attention for the property to continuously emit light after the excitation source is removed. However, their limited luminescence quantum yield (QY) and brightness hinder the use in biological applications. In this study, we introduce a novel photochemical afterglow system that combines a newly designed photoenergy cache unit (PCU) with an emitter through coordination covalent bonds. The PCU boasts a dark state to significantly emit photons only through chemiexcitation in the process of photochemical reactions, facilitating direct energy transfer to the emitter and resulting in bright afterglow. The related mechanisms further guided us to achieve the highest reported afterglow luminescence quantum yield of 27.5%. The system can be encapsulated and dispersed in aqueous solutions for in vivo bioimaging in living mice under mild and simple conditions (low concentration, low excitation power, short excitation time, short exposure time), and also for in vitro diagnostic through lateral flow immunoassay, enabling the highly sensitive detection of the inflammatory biomarker serum amyloid A (SAA) and demonstrating excellent correlation with clinical test results. This study offers new insights into enhancing luminescence QY and brightness of afterglow, highlighting the potential of such systems for further biomedical applications.

Chemical Energy Lights Up Europium-Based Ultra-bright Afterglow for Bioanalysis Application.

Photochemical afterglow materials are gaining great attention for the property to continuously emit light after the excitation source is removed. However, their limited luminescence quantum yield(QY)and brightness hinder the use in biologicalapplications. In this study, we introduce a novel photochemical afterglow system that combines a newly designedphotoenergy cache unit (PCU) with an emitter throughcoordination covalent bonds. The PCU boastsa dark state to significantly emit photons onlythrough chemiexcitationin the process of photochemicalreactions, facilitating direct energy transfer to the emitter and resulting in bright afterglow. The related mechanisms further guided us to achieve thehighest reported afterglow luminescencequantum yieldof 27.5%. The systemcan be encapsulated and dispersed in aqueous solutions for in vivobioimaging inlivingmiceundermild and simple conditions(low concentration, low excitation power, short excitation time, short exposure time), and also forin vitrodiagnostic throughlateral flow immunoassay, enablingthe highly sensitive detection of the inflammatory biomarker serum amyloid A(SAA)anddemonstrating excellent correlation with clinical test results.This study offers new insights into enhancing luminescence QY and brightnessof afterglow, highlighting the potential of suchsystems for further biomedical applications.

Intra/extracellular transmembrane electron transfer for bioelectric enhancement mediated by in-situ bio-FeS and polypyrrole coating

Intra/extracellular transmembrane electron transfer for bioelectric enhancement mediated by in-situ bio-FeS and polypyrrole coating

Metagenomic insight into the diffusion signal factor mediated social traits of anammox consortia after starvation.

Biomass starvation is common in biological wastewater treatment. As a social trait of microbial community, how quorum sensing (QS) regulated bacterial trade-off through interactions after starvation remains unclear. This study deciphered the mechanism of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) consortia in response to starvation, including reducing extracellular electron transfer (EET), adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) content and amino acid metabolism. Metagenomic analysis has shown that the addition of the diffusion signal factor (DSF) resulted in a high abundance of antioxidant genes, which contributed to achieving redox balance in anammox bacteria. There was an enrichment of Geobacter and Methanosarcina, which were QS-responsive direct interspecific electron transfer participants. Furthermore, DSF stimulated the nitrogen and carbon metabolism of Ca. Kuenenia_stuttgartiensis, promoting syntrophy of metabolic intermediates within microbial community. This study highlighted the effect of DSF on the microbial interaction patterns and deciphered the QS-based social traits of anammox consortia after starvation, facilitating the stable operation of the anammox process.

Temperature regulating the directional catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis of lignin over a in situ topologically prepared NiRu/Al2O3

Temperature regulating the directional catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis of lignin over a in situ topologically prepared NiRu/Al2O3

H2 production from the photocatalytic reforming of ethylene glycol: Effect of TiO2 crystalline phase on photo-oxidation mechanism

H2 production from the photocatalytic reforming of ethylene glycol: Effect of TiO2 crystalline phase on photo-oxidation mechanism

Advanced environmental remediation using enhanced performance of hollow ZnO@SnIn4S8 core-shell nanorod arrays for hazardous ion and organic pollutant removal.

Herein, novel hollow ZnO and ZnO@SnIn4S8 core-shell nanorods (NRs) with controlled shell thickness were developed via a facile synthesis approach for the efficient photocatalytic remediation of organic as well inorganic water pollutants. The introduction of SnIn4S8 shell layer coating over ZnO enhances visible light absorption, efficient exciton-mediated direct charge transfer, and reduces the band gap of ZnO@SnIn4S8 core-shell nanorods. The ZnO@SnIn4S8 core-shell nanorods show efficient solar-light driven catalytic efficiency for the disintegration of industrial dye (orange G), degradation of tetracycline, and reduction of hazardous Cr (VI) ions in aquatic systems. The measured photocurrent density of ZnO@SnIn4S8 core-shell NRs under illumination of simulated solar light was about nine times higher than ZnO NRs. It has been revealed that charge transfer resistance (RCT) of ZnO@SnIn4S8 core-shell NRs was doubled after the illumination of solar light. The developed ZnO@SnIn4S8 core-shell NRs photocatalyst efficiently decontaminate about 99.8±02, 99.98±0.01, and 99.8% of methyl orange, tetracycline, and Cr(VI), respectively. Notably, under similar conditions, ZnO was able to display efficiencies of 29.3±0.6, 27.08±1.1 and 31.1±6.3 % of methyl orange, tetracycline, and Cr(VI), respectively. It was also noted that •O2‾, •OH radical, and holes were majorly contributed in the photocatalysis process for disintegration of industrial dye (orange G), tetracycline and finally transform to water and carbon dioxide. Overall, this work explores an intense insight and a novel idea for a hollow core-shell nanocomposite for photocatalytic reduction of diverse pollutants.

Impact of carbon-based conductive materials on performance and microbial community composition during anaerobic digestion of butanol-octanol wastewater.

Butanol-octanol wastewater (BOW) from coal syngas conversion with hazardous and high salinity could hinder anaerobic digestion (AD). The carbon-based conductive materials (CCM) appear viable for enhancing the AD capability of BOW. Nevertheless, the potential mechanisms of different CCM types on AD of BOW remain unclear. The three different morphologies of CCM, powdered activated carbon (PAC), granular activated carbon (GAC), and carbon fiber cloth (CFC), were employed to improve methane conversion rate in AD of actual BOW. Results indicated that, compared to other carbon materials, more aromatic functional groups on the surface of GAC promoted electron transfer and notably increased degradation of 3-heptanone in BOW and methanogenic. Microbial community structure analysis showed Geobacter on GAC increased to 30.99%, while Syntrophomonas and Methanosaeta in the sludge increased by 5.05% and 7.7%, respectively. The methane conversion rate of BOW was increased by promoting direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) through GAC.

EIS equivalent circuit modeling of direct ammoniafuel cell (DAFC) and mass transfer characteristics for anode diffusion layers with different hydrophobicity

EIS equivalent circuit modeling of direct ammoniafuel cell (DAFC) and mass transfer characteristics for anode diffusion layers with different hydrophobicity

Anodic oxidation using 3D carbon felt/PbO2 anode: a electron transfer-mediated system for degradation of Rhodamine B

ABSTRACT This study investigates the use of porous structured carbon felt (CF) as a substrate for the preparation a lead dioxide (CF/PbO2) anode for the electrochemical oxidation of Rhodamine B (RhB). Compared to traditional titanium-based lead dioxide (Ti/PbO2) and graphite sheet-based lead dioxide (GS/PbO2) anodes, the CF/PbO2 anode exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity, achieving a RhB degradation efficiency exceeding 99%. After 10 cycles, the electrocatalytic activity of CF/PbO2 anode remained robust, with a degradation efficiency of over 97%. Fluorescence spectroscopy, quenching experiments, and electrochemical tests indicate that the electrochemical oxidation behaviour on CF/PbO2 and GS/PbO2 anodes was governed by direct electron transfer, while indirect oxidation via •HO radicals was pivotal for the Ti/PbO2 anode. LC-MS analysis identified the intermediates of RhB degradation, contributing to the proposed degradation pathway. This study provides an efficient anode for the electrochemical degradation of organic pollutants in water.