Inherent Potential Research Articles

Reinforced Li/Garnet Interface by Ceramic Metallization‐Assisted Room‐Temperature Ultrasound Welding

ABSTRACTSolid‐state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs), heralded as a promising next‐generation energy storage technology, have garnered considerable attention owing to inherent high safety and potential for achieving high energy density. However, their practical deployment is hindered by the formidable interfacial challenges, primarily stemming from the poor wettability, (electro) chemical instability, and discontinuous charge/mass transport between solid‐state electrolytes and Li metal. To overcome these obstacles, taking garnet‐based electrolyte (Li6.5La3Zr1.5Ta0.5O12, LLZTO) as a pathfinder, the ceramic metallization‐assisted room‐temperature ultrasound werlding (UW) has been developed to reinforce the Li/LLZTO interface. This ultrasound welding approach constructs a compact interface that facilitates rapid Li+/e− transport, while the formation of Li−M (M = Au, Ag, and Sn) alloy homogenizes the distribution of Li+/e− at the interface. By optimization, the atomic‐level contact achieved by ultrasound welding, coupled with a nanosized Au modification layer, significantly reduces the Li/LLZTO interfacial resistance to 5.4 Ω cm2, a marked decrease compared to the resistance achieved by static pressing methods (1727 Ω cm2). The symmetric cell exhibits a high critical current density of 1 mA cm−2 and sustains long‐term stability for over 1600 h at 0.3 mA cm−2, with a Li plating/stripping overpotential of < 45 mV. By incorporating a robust anode‐side interface into solid‐state lithium metal batteries, the LiFePO4‐based full battery contributes 118.4 mAh g⁻1 after 600 cycles at 1 C (capacity: ∼100%). This study offers a facile and effective approach to bolster the interfacial stability between Li and solid‐state electrolytes, paving the way for the development of high‐performance solid‐state lithium metal batteries.

Freedom from infection: enhancing decision-making for malaria elimination

Assessing elimination of malaria locally requires a surveillance system with high sensitivity and specificity to detect its presence without ambiguity. Currently, the WHO standard criteria of observing the absence of...

Novel approach for biomaterial assessment: utilizing the Ex Ovo quail cam assay for biocompatibility pre-screening

In recent years, the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) has emerged as a crucial component of biocompatibility testing for biomaterials designed for regenerative strategies and tissue engineering applications. This study explores angiogenic potential of an innovative acellular and porous biopolymer scaffold, based on polyhydroxybutyrate and chitosan (PHB/CHIT), using the ex ovo quail CAM assay as an alternative to the conventional chick CAM test. On embryonic day 6 (ED6), we placed the tested biomaterials on the CAM alone or soaked them with various substances, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), saline, or the endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor Angiostatin. After 72 h (ED9), we analyzed blood vessels formation, a sign of ongoing angiogenesis, in the vicinity of the scaffold and within its pores. We employed marker for cell proliferation (PHH3), embryonic endothelium (WGA, SNA), myofibroblasts (α-SMA), and endothelial cells (QH1) for morphological and histochemical analysis. Our findings demonstrated the robust angiogenic potential of the untreated scaffold without additional influence from the angiogenic factor VEGF-A. Furthermore, gene expression analysis revealed an upregulation of pro-angiogenic growth factors, including VEGF-A, ANG-2, and VE-Cadherin after 5 days of implantation, indicative of a pro-angiogenic microenvironment. These results underscore the inherent angiogenic potential of the PHB/CHIT composite. Additionally, monitoring of CAM microvilli growing to the scaffold provides a methodology for investigating the biocompatibility of materials using the ex ovo quail CAM assay as a suitable alternative model compared to the chicken CAM platform. This approach offers a rapid screening method for biomaterials in the field of tissue repair/regeneration and engineering.

Biosynthesis and Properties of Bismuth Nanoparticles: A Review.

Today, nanotechnology is becoming increasingly important among researchers around the world by helping them diagnose and treat various diseases that can threaten human life. Bismuth nanoparticles are among the numerous metal nanoparticles widely used due to their potential therapeutic applications. Variety of studies displayed the high potentials of bismuth nanoparticles in extraordinary antibacterial, antibiofilm, anticancer, and antioxidant effects, and it seems that these potentials can be used to address the challenges in the treatment of many diseases. They are among the metal nanoparticles biosynthesized by the green synthesis method in many studies. The use of green synthesis of nanoparticles has attracted the interest of many investigators because of its environmental friendliness, non-toxicity, and high stability. Microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, yeasts, actinomycetes, viruses, marine algae, and plants have been found to have the inherent potential to create metal nanoparticles intracellularly or extracellularly and are recognized as viable biofactories for the green synthesis of nanoparticles. The goal of this review article was to assess synthesized bismuth nanoparticles based on their green synthesis methods; properties in terms of shape, size, synthesis origin, and structure; and biological applications, including their antibacterial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and cytotoxic uses.

Numerical investigation of soil arching and integral abutment bridge in a pile-supported railway embankment

ABSTRACT Rail transport plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable mobility and tackling environmental challenges. However, the construction of a railway track on soft soil poses significant challenges due to the inherent instability and potential for excessive settlement. To address these issues, this study numerically assessed a pile-supported embankment and an integral abutment bridge. Two different numerical models are simulated in two-dimensional (2D) plane strain conditions. Findings from numerical analyses of the pile-supported embankment revealed that soil arching is significantly influenced by embankment height and pile spacing. The maximum settlement of the embankment decreases with an increase in embankment modulus and friction angle. Furthermore, a correlation among soil arching indicators was established. Conversely, the analysis of integral abutment railway bridges (IARBs) indicates that the performance of the transition zone is significantly influenced by factors such as approach slab geometry and multiple axle passages.

Alterations in maternal–fetal gut and amniotic fluid microbiota associated with fetal growth restriction

BackgroundFetal growth restriction (FGR) is typically characterised as the fetus’ inability to reach its inherent growth potential. A growing body of evidence points to the important role of the maternal gut microbiota in FGR development. However, comprehensive research on changes in maternal–fetal gut and intrauterine microbiota related to FGR is lacking.MethodsIn this case–control study, we sequenced bacterial 16S rRNA from 35 maternal faecal, 35 meconium, and 31 amniotic fluid samples collected from 19 pregnant women diagnosed with FGR and 16 healthy controls. We identified putative bacterial taxonomic and functional characteristics associated with FGR by comparing these to control samples.ResultsWe identified 34 differential operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in amniotic fluid, seven differential OTUs in maternal faecal matter, and two differential OTUs in meconium. Compared to controls, FGR subjects exhibited enriched bacterial OTUs of the genus Bacteroides in the maternal gut. They also had depleted OTUs of the order Enterobacterales and genus Pseudomonas in the amniotic fluid and genus Stenotrophomonas in the fetal gut. These altered bacterial OTUs showed a significant correlation with neonatal weight and fetal ultrasonographic indexes. Additionally, we identified differential microbial functional pathways related to glycan and lipid metabolism in the maternal gut. We developed diagnostic biomarkers for FGR based on the maternal–fetal gut and amniotic fluid microbiota.ConclusionsThis study offers a comprehensive overview of the shifts in microbial composition and functional pathways in the maternal–fetal gut and amniotic fluid microbiota related to FGR, and present novel insights into the development and screening of FGR. However, the assessment of contamination’s impact on meconium and amniotic fluid remains inconclusive, necessitating further rigorous experimentation to address this scientific inquiry in future studies.

Exploring the Current Potential of Snake Venom Disintegrins as Chemotherapeutic Agents: A Narrative Update on their Clinical Translational Potential

A potential source of multiple enzymatic and nonenzymatic molecules that protect the host is snake venom. In these venoms, several kinds of peptides that have significant beneficial effects were discovered and characterized. Disintegrins act by blocking integrins on transmembrane cell surfaces, inhibiting tumor cells from adhering, migrating, forming new blood vessels, and spreading. This has an important effect on delaying the development, neovascularization, and growth of tumors. These cells are ideal candidates for novel therapies for the management of malignancies due to their tumor selectivity and decreased size. As research findings in various <i>in vivo</i> & <i>in vitro</i>, disintegrin proteins are low-molecular-weight polypeptides that are found in the venom of vipers and rattle snakes. They act by blocking the β1 and β3 integrin receptors. Angiogenesis and metastatic processes in cancer are mediated through β1 and β3 integrins. Hence, blocking β1 and β3 integrin receptors plays a prominent role in blocking the progression of cancer, and disintegrins seem to be promising candidates for antineoplastic therapies. The disintegrins with anticancer properties include Crotatroxin 2, Alternagin-C, Rubistatin, Leucurogin, Mojastin- 1, Contortrostatin, Acostatin, Vicrostatin, Tzabcan, Eristostatin, Purpureomaculatus, Saxatilin, Lebein, Salmosin, and Rhodostomin. The above mentioned disintegrins were considered in this study. This review is based on the origins of these disintegrins, their modes of targeting, their categorization, and their inherent anticancer potential.

Turing patterns on discrete topologies: from networks to higher-order structures

Nature is a blossoming of regular structures, signature of self-organization of the underlying microscopic interacting agents. Turing theory of pattern formation is one of the most studied mechanisms to address such phenomena and has been applied to a widespread gallery of disciplines. Turing himself used a spatial discretization of the hosting support to eventually deal with a set of ODEs. Such an idea contained the seeds of the theory on discrete support, which has been fully acknowledged with the birth of network science in the early 2000s. This approach allows us to tackle several settings not displaying a trivial continuous embedding, such as multiplex, temporal networks and, recently, higher-order structures. This line of research has been mostly confined within the network science community, despite its inherent potential to transcend the conventional boundaries of the PDE-based approach to Turing patterns. Moreover, network topology allows for novel dynamics to be generated via a universal formalism that can be readily extended to account for higher-order structures. The interplay between continuous and discrete settings can pave the way for further developments in the field.

Revolutionizing cancer treatment: an in-depth exploration of CAR-T cell therapies.

Cancer is a leading cause of fatality worldwide. Due to the heterogeneity of cancer cells the effectiveness of various conventional cancer treatment techniques is constrained. Thus, researchers are diligently investigating therapeutic approaches like immunotherapy for effective tumor managements. Immunotherapy harnesses the inherent potential of patient's immune system to achieve desired outcomes. Within the realm of immunotherapy, CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T) cells, emerges as a revolutionary innovation for cancer therapy. The process of CAR-T cell therapy entails extracting the patient's T cells, altering them with customized receptors designed to specifically recognize and eradicate the tumor cells, and then reinfusing the altered cells into the patient's body. Although there has been significant progress with CAR-T cell therapy in certain cases of specific B-cell leukemia and lymphoma, its effectiveness is hindered in hematological and solid tumors due to the challenges such as severe toxicities, restricted tumor infiltration, cytokine release syndrome and antigen escape. Overcoming these obstacles requires innovative approaches to design more effective CAR-T cells, which require a competent and diverse team to develop and implement. This comprehensive review addresses numerous therapeutic issues and provides a strategic solution while providing a deep understanding of the structural intricacies and production processes of CAR-T cells. In addition, this review explores the practical aspects of CAR-T cell therapy in clinical settings.

Inherent carbon burial potential of lakes across China

Eutrophication is one of the most important factors for the increasing production of organic carbon in inland waters. Variations in primary productivity across lakes due to eutrophication complicate predictions regarding future carbon burial and management of carbon sequestration in lakes. Phosphorus, an essential nutrient for plants and notorious for eutrophication, often limits primary productivity in lakes. It is crucial to normalize organic carbon burial to the content of total phosphorus (TP) in the water column to compare the inherent carbon burial capacity across lakes. However, the absence of long-term observational data of TP in lake water columns has hindered the ability to do so. In this study, we first verified that TP in sediments of Chinese lakes could substitute for that in the water column to reflect the annual primary productivity of lakes. Then we defined the inherent carbon burial potential of lakes as the total organic carbon to TP atomic ratio (TOC/TP) in the sediments. We quantified the inherent carbon burial potential of 90 lakes across China, exploring its spatial distribution, temporal trends, and potential controlling factors. The inherent carbon burial potential, based on surface sediments, decreased from western to eastern China, ranging from 466.1 to 24.3 with a mean of 137.0 ± 87.4. Mean annual precipitation was negatively related, while mean lake depth was positively related to the inherent carbon burial potential of the lakes across China. Analysis of sediment cores revealed that the mean inherent carbon burial potential of the lakes across China increased from 75.1 to 122.9 since the 1950s. Inherent carbon burial potential of the lakes in southwestern and eastern China, however, decreased since the 1990s. Changes in the extent of cultivated land in the watersheds were positively related to variations in the inherent carbon burial potential of Chinese lakes in the past few decades.

The Bodhisattva in T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land”: A Journey through Spiritual Desolation

T.S. Eliot's seminal modernist poem "The Waste Land" has long been recognized for its intricate web of literary and philosophical allusions, including references to Mahayana Buddhism. This paper aims to examine the presence and significance of the Bodhisattva, a central figure in this tradition, within the poem. By leveraging Sallie B. King's theory of Buddha Nature (1992), which posits the inherent potential for enlightenment within all beings, this analysis seeks to shed new light on Eliot's portrayal of spiritual desolation, disillusionment and the quest for transformation. Through the lens of Buddha Nature, the fragmented characters and desolate landscapes depicted in "The Waste Land" are re-examined, revealing hidden layers that resonate with the notion of inherent enlightenment in apparent spiritual crisis. The paper explores how Eliot's engagement with Buddhist philosophy, as reflected through the concept of Buddha Nature, bridges eastern and western worldviews, offering a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and interpretation. By synthesizing King's scholarly insights with literary analysis, this paper sheds light on the transcendent potential embedded within the poem. It seeks to unravel Eliot's nuanced exploration of human suffering, the quest for enlightenment, and the interplay between spiritual emptiness and the inherent Buddha Nature. The Bodhisattva's commitment to guiding others toward enlightenment echoes the potential for transformation and renewal embedded within Eliot's desolate world. Through this analysis, the paper aims to contribute to the ongoing scholarly discourse surrounding Eliot's masterpiece, offering fresh perspectives on the poem's engagement with Buddhist philosophy and its universal themes of suffering, enlightenment and the human condition. By illuminating the presence and significance of the Bodhi-sattva and Buddha Nature in "The Waste Land", this paper hopes to inspire further exploration of the transcendent potential within Eliot's work and its enduring relevance in the modern world.

Bismuth oxyiodide-based composites for advanced visible-light activation of peroxymonosulfate in pharmaceutical mineralization

The presence of pharmaceutical pollutants in water bodies represents a significant environmental and public health concern, largely due to their inherent persistence and potential to induce antibiotic resistance. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) that employ peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation have emerged as an effective means of degrading these contaminants. Bismuth oxyiodides (BiOI), which are known for their visible-light photocatalytic properties, demonstrate considerable potential for removal of pharmaceutical pollutants. This study examines the synthesis and performance of BiOI-based composites with barium ferrite (BFO) nanoparticles for enhanced PMS activation under visible light. BiOI and Bi5O7I were synthesized via solvothermal and electrodeposition methods, respectively, and their morphologies and crystalline structures were observed to exhibit distinctive characteristics following annealing. The formation of the composite with BFO resulted in an improvement in the catalytic properties, which in turn enhanced the surface area and availability of active sites. The objective of the photocatalytic studies was to evaluate the degradation and mineralization of tetracycline (TC) under visible light, PMS, and combined conditions. The Bi5O7I(ED)-BFO catalyst was identified as the optimal candidate, achieving up to 99.8% TC degradation and 99.4% mineralization within 90 min at room temperature. The synergistic effect of BFO in BiOI-based composites significantly enhanced performance across all conditions, indicating their potential for efficient remediation of pharmaceutical pollutant. The material's performance was further evaluated in tap water, where the degradation efficiency decreased to 56.4% and mineralization to 38.2%. These results reflect the challenges posed by complex water matrices. However, doubling the PMS concentration to 5 mM led to improved outcomes, with 93.8% degradation and 81.4% mineralization achieved. These findings demonstrate the material's robust potential for treating pharmaceutical pollutants in real-world conditions, advancing sustainable water treatment technologies.

Isolation and Structural Characterization of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent Lignin from Brewer's Spent Grains.

Brewer's spent grains (BSG) offer valuable opportunities for valorization beyond its conventional use as animal feed. Among its components, lignin-a natural polymer with inherent antioxidant properties-holds significant industrial potential. This work investigates the use of microwave-assisted extraction combined with acidic natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs) for efficient lignin recovery, evaluating three different NaDES formulations. The results indicate that choline chloride-lactic acid (ChCl-LA), a NaDES with superior thermal stability as confirmed via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), is an ideal solvent for lignin extraction at 150 °C and 15 min, achieving a balance of high yield and quality. ChCl-LA also demonstrated good solubility and cell disruption capabilities, while microwaves significantly reduced processing time and severity. Under optimal conditions, i.e., 150 °C, 15 min, in the presence of ChCl-LA NaDES, the extracted lignin achieved a purity of up to 79% and demonstrated an IC50 (inhibitory concentration 50%) of approximately 0.022 mg/L, indicating a relatively strong antioxidant activity. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 2D-HSQC NMR (heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy confirmed the successful isolation and preservation of its structural integrity. This study highlights the potential of BSG as a valuable lignocellulosic resource and underscores the effectiveness of acidic NaDESs combined with microwave extraction for lignin recovery.

Unlocking the Synergy: Increasing productivity through Human-AI collaboration in the industry 5.0 Era

The prevailing trajectory of technological evolution emphasizes the sustainable development of human-AI collaboration. In this study, we employ the coupling coordination degree model to evaluate the dynamics of human-AI collaboration in China and match it with listed companies. Through panel models, the study not only quantifies the contribution of such collaboration to enhancing company input–output efficiency but also explores how it serves as a catalyst for technological catch-up. Our findings indicate that the integration of human capital with AI emerges as a potent driver of company efficiency, with the extent of the impact also tied to organizational characteristics. Furthermore, the scale of investment and organizational size play a crucial role in the effectiveness of HIC, underscoring the adaptability of human-AI collaboration strategies to various organizational contexts and the importance of tailored implementation. Our research highlights the inherent collaborative potential of AI within the Industry 5.0 framework, advocating for the fusion of human creativity with AI precision to foster a development paradigm that is resource-efficient, cost-effective, and human-centric.

Questions of (un)framedness in the post-cinematic road movie/travelogue

Image of the Road and Virtual Realis (Pruciak 2023) are travelogue video projects selected as a vantage point from which to examine our understanding of image since the disappearance of the frame and collapse of the cinematic form in VR video. Exploring the concept ‘frame’ in dialogue with theories of cinema and VR and an analysis of VR video’s characteristics, we question whether it may effect changes of perception and new understandings of the road as a virtual site/sight explored by travellers. We suggest that VR video’s ‘unframedness’ gives the unlimited freedom that allows a cognitive shift in the experience of non-narrative travelogues. This allows an inherent potential for an experience of transcendence akin to the overview effect. VR video gives spectators the opportunity of making autonomously their own journey and thus encountering new understandings and experiences in the travelogues presented to them.

Verifying Finger-Fitts Models for Normalizing Subjective Speed-Accuracy Biases

Previous studies on the Finger-Fitts law (FFitts law) are lacking in sufficient experiments to verify its inherent potential. Since the FFitts law is originally a modified version of the effective width method to normalize speed-accuracy biases, the model fit would improve if multiple biases were mixed together and the throughputs would be more stable than using the nominal target width. In this study, we conduct an experiment in which participants tap 1D-bar and 2D-circular targets under three subjective biases: balancing the speed and accuracy, emphasizing speed, and emphasizing accuracy when they perform the tasks. The results showed that applying the effective width to Ko et al.'s refined FFitts law, which represents the touch ambiguity with a free parameter, was the most successful in normalizing biases. Reanalyzing another dataset on ray-casting pointing also led to the same conclusion. We thus recommend using Ko et al.'s model with effective width when researchers compare several experimental conditions such as devices and user groups.

Toxicity Potential of Nutraceuticals.

During the past few decades and especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of nutraceuticals has become increasingly popular in both humans and animals due to their easy access, cost-effectiveness, and tolerability with a wide margin of safety. While some nutraceuticals are safe, others have an inherent toxic potential. For a large number of nutraceuticals, no toxicity/safety data are available due to a lack of pharmacological/toxicological studies. The safety of some nutraceuticals can be compromised via contamination with toxic plants, metals, mycotoxins, pesticides, fertilizers, drugs of abuse, etc. Knowledge of pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic studies and biomarkers of exposure, effect, and susceptibility appears to play a pivotal role in the safety and toxicity assessment of nutraceuticals. Interaction studies are essential to determine efficacy, safety, and toxicity when nutraceuticals and therapeutic drugs are used concomitantly or when polypharmacy is involved. This chapter describes various aspects of nutraceuticals, particularly their toxic potential, and the factors that influence their safety.

Facilitating microplastic ingestion in aquatic models: A verified protocol for daphnia magna as a trojan horse vector

Microplastic pollution poses a significant environmental threat due to its persistence, widespread distribution, and inherent toxic potential. Despite the increasing number of publications in this field, a standardized protocol for the laboratory intake of microplastics by Daphnia magna has yet to be established. In this study, we introduce a verified protocol designed to facilitate the ingestion of microplastic particles (MPs) by D. magna, ranging in size from 5–55 µm. This protocol can be further applied to evaluate the toxicity of MPs on D. magna, a crucial organism model in ecotoxicology. Furthermore, this protocol can be used to assess toxicity of MPs in other aquatic species, such as fish, by using daphnids as a vehicle for ensuring the ingestion of these particles. Consequently, this protocol can be applied to study also one of the most pressing concerns regarding exposure to MPs, the transfer of MPs through different trophic levels, which has a great potential for ecotoxicological studies.•The influence of MPs concentration, duration and exposure dynamics and D. magna age/size in MPs intake were tested.•We have determined the optimal conditions for promoting microplastic ingestion by D. magna.

INTEGRATING MULTIMODAL ADAPTATION INTO TRANSLATOR TRAINING: A THEORETICAL RATIONALE

With evolving multimedia communication, traditional translation studies focusing on fidelity are being transformed by the need for multimodal and intersemiotic approaches. Extending this discussion to translator training, this study argues for the necessity of teaching adaptation skills in the training of future translators in line with the needs of the multimedia age. By viewing translation as a process of re-creation, the study stresses the often-overlooked creative potential of translation. At this point, the inclusion of adaptations in translator training offers the opportunity to experience the inherent creative potential of translation and emphasizes the intersemiotic dimension. The paper first offers a theoretical justification for this approach, then discusses methods of implementation as well as potential benefits. Integrating adaptation into translator training can be approached theoretically, analytically, and practically. It offers advantages such as broadening the scope of translation beyond language, bridging the gap between training and market needs, and enhancing interdisciplinary knowledge.

Strategy to enhance the performance of spin field effect transistors-insert effective intermediate layer graphene

Abstract Novel spin field effect transistors (FETs) with metal contacts are designed to reduce the high Schottky barrier height (SBH) due to Fermi pinning, reducing energy consumption and increasing their performance. Herein, we effectively enhance the conductivity (106 orders of magnitude) and current threshold of the FETs by introducing interlayer graphene in the contact interface between the semiconductor blue phosphorus and the metal, thereby reducing the interlayer resistance. Electronic structure analysis shows that Blue Phosphorus–Graphene–Cu modulates the lowest SBH, yielding a larger FETs conductance compared to other metal systems. The spin injection further enhances the efficiency of FETs as rectifiers (enhanced 13%). This theoretical work provides rational guidance for realizing innovations in next-generation high-performance transistor technology, demonstrating the inherent potential of the regulatory mechanism.