Perspectives For Applications Research Articles

Polymetallic MnW/Co3O4 porous composites derived from polyoxometalate-induced “cage-within-cage” zeolitic imidazolate frameworks with high efficiency towards NOx reduction

Exploitation of highly active, economical and environmentally friendly catalysts is the primary imperative for addressing the pivotal concerns confronting NOx pollution. Transition metal oxides have shown good application prospects in NOx purification due to their plentiful availability and affordable pricing. Herein, a confinement-pyrolysis strategy for preparation of MnW/Co3O4 composites with porous structures and high dispersion of active components transformed from polyoxometalate (POM)-encapsulated zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) was showcased. The strong interaction of Mn and Co contributes to the production of rich Mn3+ and Co3+ content (Mn4+ + Co2+ → Mn3+ + Co3+; Mn2+ + Co3+ → Mn3+ + Co2+). Compared with W/Co3O4, the Mn addition can increase the accessibility of active sites, induce more oxygen vacancies, acid sites and defects formation at the interfacial regions, promote the adsorption and activation of NH3 and NO, resulting in a 10–50 % higher NOx conversion at the 100−300 °C under 40,000 h−1. More encouragingly, experimental results suggested that the Mn-containing catalyst also exhibits much better tolerance against SO2, H2O, and HC than the Mn-free catalyst. This work demonstrates that guest@host POM@ZIF-functionalized derivative materials possess promising application perspective for low-temperature NOx reduction.

Dynamic polysaccharide/platelet-rich plasma hydrogels with synergistic antibacterial activities for accelerating infected wound healing

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been recognized as an effective therapy in regenerative medicine and surgery, which can reduce the risk of antibiotic abuse and promote the healing of infected wounds. Recent advances in PRP-based treatments have focused on the controlled release of growth factors in PRP with biocompatible hydrogels and antimicrobial promotion by introducing hydrogel components or antibiotics, while the inherent antimicrobial activity of PRP is mostly neglected or sacrificed. Here, we demonstrate the combination of an antimicrobial polysaccharide, carboxymethyl chitosan, and PRP to construct an antimicrobial hydrogel via dynamic bonding with oxidized chondroitin sulfate. Significant inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (95 % of inhibition rate) are achieved through the synergistic contributions of the polysaccharide and PRP. Additionally, the resulting hydrogel promotes the migration of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and collagen deposition by approximately 1.7 and 1.8 times, respectively, thereby accelerating the healing process of infected wounds. This work may bring new perspectives for potent applications of PRP-based hydrogel dressings for antibiotic-free management of infected wounds.

Radioligand therapy in sympathetic-adrenal-medullary axis tumors: state of art and perspectives.

The approval in 2017 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and in 2018 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of radioligand therapy (RLT) led to its wide application in therapeutic management of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). However, the indications are currently limited to certain specific histotypes belonging to the broader NEN's family, mainly advanced well-differentiated gastro-entero-pancreatic NENs. As a consequence, several other tumors of the NEN spectrum that can potentially benefit, due to their biological characteristics, from RLT are still ineligible and can be considered "RLT-orphans". Among those, the subgroup of NENs originating from the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) axis can be listed. This paper discusses the state of art and perspectives of the theragnostic applications in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, considering both the traditional theragnostic model - with radiolabelled metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) - and the innovative one with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs (SSAs), that will hopefully become available for these patients in the near future.

Catalytic Deprotection of Alkyne Dicobalt Hexacarbonyl Complexes using Near-Infrared Photocatalysis.

Dicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes are well-known for their applications in the Nicholas reaction or simply as a protecting group for alkynes. To recover the alkyne, demetalation is necessary, which usually involves a stoichiometric amount of an oxidizing agent or a strong ligand. This article reports a demetalation methodology based on a photocatalytic process. This approach employs a photocatalyst under aerobic conditions, and the optimal results were achieved using mild near-infrared irradiation. A mechanistic investigation is also presented to elucidate how the photocatalytic system promotes this deprotection. This tool is compatible with the one-pot reaction and orthogonal deprotection of alkynes, offering new perspectives for further applications.

Influence of slip conditions and applied magnetic field on peristaltic propulsion of ellis fluid flow in a homogeneous conduit: a parametric analysis

The peristaltic mechanism has recently garnered significant attention in biological and biomedical engineering fields. This study investigates the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) peristaltic propulsion of an Ellis fluid through a uniform channel, incorporating slip boundary conditions. Both magnetic field presence and slip effects modulate the peristaltic motion, with various factors influencing the sinusoidal waves along the channel walls. Through appropriate assumptions and simplifications, we derive governing equations for the flow and magnetic field. The resulting nonlinear system of differential equations is solved using a perturbation technique. We thoroughly examine three key metrics: velocity, pressure gradient, and streamlines. Findings indicate that magnetic field presence and slip conditions significantly impact flow behaviour. Slip coefficients positively influence velocity and pressure difference, while the magnetic field tends to decelerate the velocity profile. A comparative analysis between Newtonian and non-Newtonian models reveals notable differences in velocity profiles. These insights have potential applications across a wide spectrum of industrial and biological contexts. This study contributes to the understanding of complex fluid dynamics in peristaltic systems, offering valuable perspectives for both theoretical advancement and practical applications in biomedical and industrial fields.

Zebrafish Maintenance Conditions Affect Behavioral and Biochemical Biomarkers: A Possible Interfering Factor on the Research Results.

Over the years, scientific research with fish models has grown at a rapid pace, and issues such as animal welfare are becoming increasingly important in various areas of animal husbandry and experimentation. Here, we evaluated whether Danio rerio behavior is affected by long-term maintenance (75 days) in an enriched environment or a chronic stress (CS) situation. In addition, we evaluated some biochemical parameters related to redox status. We concluded that long-term maintenance of zebrafish in enriched environment might induce an anxiety-like behavior pattern when these fish are faced with an acute subsequent stressor. These anxiety results, the increased school cohesion, and the absence of oxidative damage allow us to hypothesize that the fish maintained in environmental enrichment (EE) situation is more reactive, showing a strong protective reaction to the stress. From an applicable perspective, we show that both too much stress and too little stress are not ideal for zebrafish stocks. In CS situations, fish can habituate and might not respond optimally to test conditions. In opposite, the low stress promoted by environmental enrichment also renders the fish incapable of dealing with occasional stressors optimally, because now even normal conditions appear stressful to them and may elicit fear behaviors they normally would not exhibit.

Pioneering computational insights into the structural, magnetic, and thermoelectric properties of A3XN (A=Co, Fe; X=Cu, Zn) anti-perovskites for advanced material applications

This study pioneers the utilization of computer-controlled simulations to elucidate the structural, elastic, electronic, and thermoelectric properties of A3XN anti-perovskites (A = Co, Fe; X = Cu, Zn). Starting with the development of a detailed structural model, structural optimization calculations identify the stable Pm-3m cubic phase, aligning with experimental findings. Also, these optimizations indicate the ferromagnetic phase stability of A3XN anti-perovskites, further supported by positive Curie-Weiss constants of 60 K, 80 K, and 100 K for Co₃CuN, Co₃ZnN, and Fe₃CuN, respectively. The spin-dependent electronic properties, including band structure and density of states, are explored using multiple exchange-correlation (XC) functionals—GGA, GGA + U, and GGA + mBJ. The results uphold the metallic nature of the materials, accompanied by significant spin magnetic moments. Specifically, the calculated values of magnetic moments for Co3CuN, Co3ZnN, and Fe3CuN are 5.08 μB, 3.70 μB, and 7.61 μB, respectively. Furthermore, we compute the Curie temperatures for each compound, 942.48 K for Co3CuN, 692.7 K for Co3ZnN, and 1400.41 K for Fe3CuN, which are substantially elevated, indicating robust ferromagnetic behavior that persists well above ambient conditions. Mechanical properties, including stability, deformation behavior, and ductility, are validated through elastic calculations, with various mechanical anisotropy factors examined. From an application perspective, the thermoelectric characteristics of Co3CuN, Co3ZnN, and Fe3CuN are meticulously evaluated, focusing on parameters like the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, power factor and figure of merit (zT). The analysis highlights promising power factor values of 3.0×1011(W/cm.K2), 4.0×1011(W/cm.K2), and 6.0×1011(W/cm.K2) for Co3CuN, Co3ZnN, and Fe3CuN, respectively, suggesting potential for enhanced efficiency in thermopower generation, particularly in waste heat recovery applications. Furthermore, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of the ground-state optical properties of A3XN, including the dielectric constant, photoconductivity, reflectivity, refractive index, absorption coefficient, and extinction coefficient. The reflectivity spectra demonstrate high reflectivity of 45 % across visible and ultravioletregions, suggesting suitability for applications in coatings designed to mitigate solar heating effects.

Nanoscale Chemical Imaging of Amyloid Fibrils in Water Using Total-Internal-Reflection Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

Total-internal-reflection tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TIR-TERS) imaging of amyloid-β (Aβ1-42-L34T) fibrils is performed with nanoscale spatial resolution in water, using TERS tips fabricated by bipolar electrodeposition. Ideal experimental parameters are corroborated by both theoretical simulations and TIR-TERS measurements. TIR-TERS imaging reveals the predominant parallel β-sheet secondary structure of Aβ1-42-L34T fibrils as well as the nanoscale spatial distribution of tyrosine, histidine, and phenylalanine aromatic amino acids. Their proportion in TERS spectra can be qualitatively explained by the combined effect of their localization in the Aβ1-42-L34T fibril structure and their molecular orientation with respect to the excitation laser light polarization. Conclusions drawn from the TERS experiments in water corroborate and significantly enrich our previous study in ambient air, thus confirming that hydration has only a marginal impact on the structure of such amyloid fibrils. This first TIR-TERS study in liquid opens fascinating perspectives for future applications in biology.

Tartaric acid anion intercalated layered double hydroxides constructed a CO2-favorable transport channel in PIM-1 mixed matrix membranes for CO2/N2 separation

As a unique polymer of intrinsic microporosity, PIM-1 has great potential in mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for gas separation with ultra-high permeability. However, the separation performance, e.g. CO2/N2 separation, is still limited by its poor selectivity. In this work, PIM-1-based MMMs containing tartaric acid anion intercalated layered double hydroxides (TA-LDH) nanofillers are successfully prepared. The uniformly dispersed TA-LDH in the PIM-1 matrix contributes to optimizing the stacking of polymer chains for accessible pores, which is conducive to CO2 diffusion. In addition, the assistant experiment and theoretical calculation point out that the -COO-, –OH between the TA-LDH layers had an affinity for CO2, creating a two-dimensional fast transport channel between the enlarged interlayer space. Compared with the pristine PIM-1 membrane, the CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity of 0.7 % TA-LDH/PIM-1 membrane is increased by 43.19 % and 105.48 %. The excellent gas separation performance with CO2 permeability of 8343.18 Barrer and CO2/N2 selectivity of 39.02 exceeds the 2019 Robson upper limit. This paves a new way to improve the gas separation performance of PIM-1-based MMMs and suggests high perspectives for real applications.

A Regional-Scale Assessment-Based SARS-CoV-2 Variants Control Modeling with Implications for Infection Risk Characterization.

The emergence and progression of highly divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants have posed increased risks to global public health, triggering the significant impacts on countermeasures since 2020. However, in addition to vaccination, the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as social distancing, masking, or hand washing, on different variants of concern (VOC) remains largely unknown. This study provides a mechanistic approach by implementing a control measure model and a risk assessment framework to quantify the impacts of control measure combinations on the transmissions of five VOC (Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Omicron), along with a different perspective of risk assessment application. We applied uncontrollable ratios as an indicator by adopting basic reproduction number (R 0) data collected from a regional-scale survey. A risk assessment strategy was established by constructing VOC-specific dose-response profiles to implicate practical uses in risk characterization when exposure data are available. We found that social distancing alone was ineffective without vaccination in almost all countries and VOC when the median R 0 was greater than two. Our results indicated that Omicron could not be contained, even when all control measure combinations were applied, due to its low threshold of infectivity (~3×10-4 plague-forming unit (PFU) mL-1). To facilitate better decision-making in future interventions, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of how combined control measures impact on different countries and various VOC. Our findings indicate the potential application of threshold estimates of infectivity in the context of risk communication and policymaking for controlling future emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant infections.

Transferability and Explainability of Deep Learning Emulators for Regional Climate Model Projections: Perspectives for Future Applications

Abstract Regional climate models (RCMs) are essential tools for simulating and studying regional climate variability and change. However, their high computational cost limits the production of comprehensive ensembles of regional climate projections covering multiple scenarios and driving Global climate models (GCMs) across regions. RCM emulators based on deep learning models have recently been introduced as a cost-effective and promising alternative that requires only short RCM simulations to train the models. Therefore, evaluating their transferability to different periods, scenarios, and GCMs becomes a pivotal and complex task in which the inherent biases of both GCMs and RCMs play a significant role. Here, we focus on this problem by considering the two different emulation approaches introduced in the literature as perfect and imperfect, that we here refer to as perfect prognosis (PP) and model output statistics (MOS), respectively, following the well-established downscaling terminology. In addition to standard evaluation techniques, we expand the analysis with methods from the field of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), to assess the physical consistency of the empirical links learnt by the models. We find that both approaches are able to emulate certain climatological properties of RCMs for different periods and scenarios (soft transferability), but the consistency of the emulation functions differs between approaches. Whereas PP learns robust and physically meaningful patterns, MOS results are GCM dependent and lack physical consistency in some cases. Both approaches face problems when transferring the emulation function to other GCMs (hard transferability), due to the existence of GCM-dependent biases. This limits their applicability to build RCM ensembles. We conclude by giving prospects for future applications. Significance Statement Regional climate model (RCM) emulators are a cost-effective emerging approach for generating comprehensive ensembles of regional climate projections. Promising results have been recently obtained using deep learning models. However, their potential to capture the regional climate dynamics and to emulate other periods, emission scenarios, or driving global climate models (GCMs) remains an open issue that affects their practical use. This study explores the potential of current emulation approaches incorporating new explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) evaluation techniques to assess the reliability and transferability of the emulators. Our findings show that the different global and regional model biases involved in the different approaches play a key role in transferability. Based on the results obtained, we provide some prospects for potential applications of these models in challenging problems.

Experimental study of cross-correlation algorithm based on background schlieren quantization in natural thermal convection field

Abstract The background shading technology has shown a wide application potential in many fields. This study aims to study the thermal convection field above the flame. In this study, we established a large field shading system, which is used to observe the flow field distribution and the high temperature probe at the corresponding position above the flame flow field, and then the temperature change map of the corresponding position of the flow field is obtained. The experimental results show the advantages of the large field of view shading system based on background shading technology in the temperature distribution image of the flow field, and make up for the vacancy and deficiency of the application in the optical field. This study is also helpful to better reveal the nature of the combustion process. The development of research will provide a new perspective for the further application of background shading technology.

A review of pathogen removal from municipal wastewater using advanced oxidation processes: Agricultural application, regrowth risks, and new perspectives

Pathogen removal in wastewater offers a chance to recover water and nutrients for crop production, reducing environmental contamination and public health risks. However, the risk of pathogens regrowing in treated effluents can endanger public health if reused in agriculture, attracting stringent reuse standards. While advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) promise to reduce pathogens, eliminating regrowth potential in AOP-treated effluents requires further scrutiny. This review aimed to summarize the available evidence on understanding pathogen reduction and regrowth potential in AOP-treated effluents, following best practices for scoping reviews like the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA). It covers recent pathogen studies under AOPs, current AOP investigations, the impact of AOP dosage and retention time on pathogen control, and challenges in reusing AOP-treated effluents for crop production. Additionally, it identifies areas needing improvement or complementary treatments for pathogen-free effluents with no regrowth potential. The review concludes by summarizing key findings and suggesting research areas for further exploration.

Contemporary Applications and Future Perspectives of Robots in Endodontics: A Scoping Review.

In the era of modern advanced endodontics, the reduction of reliance on human hands and shifting towards robotics could benefit the precision and accuracy of endodontic treatment. This scoping review aims to describe current and emerging trends in the applications of robots in endodontics and highlight their limitations and future perspectives. This review followed the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) standards. A comprehensive search of internet databases was conducted until February 2024. Studies that specifically examined robots in the field of endodontics were included. The studies focused on root canal cleaning, shaping, surgical procedures, and other applications. Robotic systems demonstrated improved accuracy, precision, reduced errors, and time savings compared with manual techniques. Robotics in endodontics show promise, especially in surgical procedures, with AI integration enhancing accuracy and efficiency. Challenges such as cost, physical limitations, and absence of tactile feedback require further research and investment.

Potential harnessing of the semi-organic single crystal of l-alanine potassium bromide (LAPB) from a structural, optical, and thermal perspective for application in optoelectronic devices

Potential harnessing of the semi-organic single crystal of l-alanine potassium bromide (LAPB) from a structural, optical, and thermal perspective for application in optoelectronic devices

Evaluation of four-bar mechanisms for bicycle pedals

As the Global Warming destroys gradually the life on the earth, vehicles driven by clean energy are of importance. Therefore, in this paper, mechanisms for bicycle drivetrain are scrutinized starting from its initial invention to attract attentions of the people in the field of mechanism. Some recent health problems caused by design of modern bicycles are highlighted. Optional several mechanisms such as crank rocker, double crank, double rocker, slider crank, and inverted slider crank for the drivetrain of bicycle are evaluated. Each of them was assessed in the perspective of applicability by using shelf-ready products. A double-rocker mechanism is schematically designed by using GeoGebra. An analysis for the geometric constraints of the design and torque are presented. Finally, the double rocker was concluded to design a pedal drivetrain. An optimization was carried out by using Microsoft Excel. The optimal dimensions were delivered. The maximum torque 90 Nm. The maximum energy can be produced is 600W.

Structure-Activity Relationships in Oxygen Electrocatalysis.

Oxygen electrocatalysis, as the pivotal circle of many green energy technologies, sets off a worldwide research boom in full swing, while its large kinetic obstacles require remarkable catalysts to break through. Here, based on summarizing reaction mechanisms and in situ characterizations, the structure-activity relationships of oxygen electrocatalysts are emphatically overviewed, including the influence of geometric morphology and chemical structures on the electrocatalytic performances. Subsequently, experimental/theoretical research is combined with device applications to comprehensively summarize the cutting-edge oxygen electrocatalysts according to various material categories. Finally, future challenges are forecasted from the perspective of catalyst development and device applications, favoring researchers to promote the industrialization of oxygen electrocatalysis at an early date.

Detorsional guided growth — modern concepts and perspectives of clinical application: a review

Background. Torsional deformities of the long bones in children are usually treated using correcting detorsional osteotomies with different types of osteosynthesis. However, this method is highly traumatic and can cause severe complications. Guided growth is the gold standard for frontal and sagittal planes deformities treatment in growing children. The technique is effective, minimally invasive, enables early weight-bearing and has lower complication rate. Recently, application of guided growth technique has been actively studied for horizontal plane deformities correction as well. The aim of the review — based on a scientific literature analysis, to present possibilities of using guided growth technique for correcting torsional deformities of the long bones, as well as to define the ways of its improvement for further clinical application. Methods. The search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar and eLIBRARY databases. For review, we included 8 articles (five animal experimental studies and three clinical studies), which were published from 2013 to 2023. Results. Analyzed studies demonstrated the possibility of applying detorsional guided growth for horizontal plane deformities correction in growing children. Three main surgical techniques were suggested. Correction efficiency mainly depends on the interplate angle, proper plate positioning and longitudinal growth potential. Limitations of these studies were: a small group number; absence of preoperative CT scans in animal studies; torsional profile measurement using computed tomography was performed only in one of three clinical studies. There was also no preoperative planning of deformity correction/creation amount, so it was not possible to evaluate the accuracy of the suggested methods. The main complications were secondary deformities and limb length discrepancy. Conclusions. Further clinical application of detorsional guided growth in children may be possible after solving the problem of secondary deformities and shortening and providing preoperative planning of the deformity correction amount.

Recent Applications and Future Perspectives of Heterojunction Phototransistors Based on Amorphous Oxide Semiconductors

Recent Applications and Future Perspectives of Heterojunction Phototransistors Based on Amorphous Oxide Semiconductors

Mobile-integrated SRR-based four-port MIMO antenna for broadband mm-wave 5G applications

ABSTRACT A low-profile, single-layered, compact-size, highly-isolated four-port MIMO antenna integrated within a 5 G smartphone has been proposed for a futuristic mm-wave broadband communication system. The proposed MIMO antenna configuration has been derived from a conventional inset-fed rectangular microstrip patch by introducing two parallel I-shaped slots on the patch surface for operating over a wide bandwidth of 4.91 GHz, that is, from 26.78 to 31.69 GHz. The antenna geometry has an overall dimension of 20.9 mm x 20.9 mm x 0.787 mm. The proposed configuration attained a maximum gain of 8.11 dBi and radiation efficiency of 90% at 28 GHz resonating frequency. The integration of the square-shaped SRR structure among closely packed antenna elements has significantly enhanced the overall isolation by 13 dB without compromising the antenna’s physical dimensions. The realisation of the S-parameters has also been carried out from the equivalent circuit model to agree with the results obtained from the electromagnetic simulation through CST software. The measured radiation patterns assured the minimal variation with simulated characteristics along the E and H planes. A comprehensive safety investigation of the proposed MIMO antenna has been carried out to assess power densities (<10 W/ m 2 ) across different usage modes, including data, reading, and talking in a mobile application perspective. Several diversity parameters, including ECC (<0.0001), DG (>9.999 dB), CCL (<0.12 bits/sec/Hz), MEG, and TARC, have also been evaluated as performance metrics. Furthermore, the linear transmission property of the proposed MIMO antenna has been validated through the variation of group delay (<0.5 ns) over operating frequency bands in the far-field region.