Potential Power Research Articles

Development of gallic acid loaded composite nanovesicles for the topical treatment of acne: optimization, characterization, and clinical investigation

Gallic acid (GA) proved to produce desired effects topically in the treatment of acne, through its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. In the current work, nanovesicular systems; aspasomes loaded with GA were prepared, and evaluated on in-vitro and ex-vivo levels. Formulations were coated with chitosan due to its mucoadhesive properties. Results indicated that the size of the formulations ranged between 273.20 and 855.00 nm, with positively charged zeta potential ranging between 30.60 and 34.40 mV, EE% ranging between 57.651% and 95.20% and good stability after 3-months storage. The formulae provided a sustained drug release of 98.22% over 24 h, 5.4-fold higher ex-vivo skin deposition compared to GA solution, and powerful antioxidant potential compared to the control solution and appeared as spherical bilayer vesicles on being examined using transmission electron microscope. A clinical study was carried out on patients suffering from acne, where the reduction percent of comedones, inflammatory, total acne lesions and infiltrate was calculated. Results revealed that aspasomes exhibited reduction percentages of 72.35%, 80.33%, 77.95% and 90.01% ± for comedones, inflammatory lesions, total lesions, and infiltrate, respectively compared to control solution providing an effective topical delivery system for the management of acne.

Evolution of the Human Brain and the Myth of its Ten-Percent Use

The human brain is a complex organ that controls nearly every function of the human body. As science believes, humans evolved from apes but over time, humans achieved domain specification and maturation in the nervous system due to which they gained sensory, language, and other social cognition functions, called higher-level cognitive functions. Neurogenesis, or brain development, is an organized process that starts from the early weeks of pregnancy to early childhood. During development, brain parts connect to each other directly and indirectly to process information. As the brain is a mysterious organ so many theories and myths are linked to its development and its use. A widespread misconception, a claim, is that most people use only about 10 % of their potential brain power. But there is no room for this myth because we have now mapped almost every region of the brain. Furthermore, PET scans and fMRI clearly show that almost all parts of the brain are connected to each other and all parts are functionally active. And if the parts of the brain are unnecessary and unused, then they must be removed or disappear, according to the rule of the theory of evolution. Now it is the time to put the myth to rest even though it has survived for a whole century.

Antioxidant and antimalarial properties of hot aqueous leaf extracts of Setaria megaphylla, Ageratum conyzoides and Chromolaena odorata

This study investigated the antioxidant and antimalarial properties of leaf extracts of Setaria megaphylla, Ageratum conyzoides Linn, and Chromolaena odorata Linn, plants used in folkloric treatment of malaria. The plants were assessed for phenolic profile, antioxidant capacity and radical scavenging activities using standard methods. Single, binary and ternary combinations of the processed leaves were subjected to hot aqueous extraction, and evaluated for in vivo antiplasmodial efficacy against Plasmodium berghei NK 65 using Swiss albino mice. The plants’ total phenolic profile varied as S. megaphylla (Sm; 118.06 µg/ml) > C. odorata (Co; 116.58 µg/ml) > A. conyzoides (Ac; 73.01 µg/ml), with catechin, dihydrocytisine and tannin being the most abundant phenolics. Total antioxidant capacities (TAC) and reducing power potentials (RPP) of the plants increased with increase in extract concentrations with Sm showing highest TAC (1.49 ± 0.02 mgAAE/g) and RPP (0.47 ± 0.01 mgAAE/g) values. A similar trend was observed for the hydroxyl, nitric oxide and DPPH radicals scavenging potentials, showing dose-dependent increases in scavenging potentials but with no observed significant (p<0.05) differences in activities at the highest extract dose of 400 µg/ml. The in vivo antimalarial study demonstrated that the combination of A. conyzoides and S. megaphylla was the most effective, significantly reducing parasitemia without causing mortality in the mice. This research highlights the potential of S. megaphylla, A. conyzoides, and C. odorata, especially the combination of their extracts as source of effective anti-malarial agents, and further confirms the folkloric use of hot aqueous extracts of the plants in malaria treatment.

Ethnopharmacology and current conservational status of Cordyceps sinensis.

Cordyceps sinensis, known as the caterpillar fungus, constitutes an invaluable and irreplaceable part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is now gaining widespread global recognition and dedicated attention owing to both highly promising characteristics as well as grave dangers that are suggestive of an impending doom. C.sinensis possibly holds the key to the treatment of many human ailments with minimal side effects due to a wide array of biologically active chemical constituents. The powerful potential harbored by this fungus has led to a meteoric rise in its prices in the domestic and international markets which has caused the involvement of an increasing number of harvesters, traders, and buyers and unchecked overexploitation of this bioresource thus threatening its long-term survival in its natural habitat of the Himalayan region. This review focuses on the ethnopharmacology of C.sinensis, and various aspects related to its conservation, such as natural distribution, sale and revenue, decline in population density, and conservational practices prevalent in the current scenario of fungal depletion. The paper concludes with a comprehensive evaluation of the discrete therapeutic capabilities possessed by C.sinensis, the mechanistic insights into the remarkable treatment of chronic ailments using the fungus or its derivatives, and a suggested strategic roadmap that may be adopted for fruitful conservation of this natural miracle.

Design and Experimental Verification of Electric Vehicle Battery Charger Using Kelvin-Connected Discrete MOSFETs and IGBTs for Energy Efficiency Improvement

This research investigates the advantages of Kelvin-connected 4-pin discrete transistors, both MOSFETs and IGBTs, in onboard battery chargers for electric vehicles. The study compares the standard 3-pin and the extended 4-pin packages based on averaged data collected from leading manufacturers. The investigation shows significant potential power loss reduction, thermal operation mitigation, and reduced gate-drive oscillation for the 4-pin package. The benefits have been quantified by analysing the operation of actual switches in an automotive battery charger based on Boost-PFC and DC-DC LLC converters. The converters’ practical design demonstrates a procedure for integrating the Kelvin-connected package into the design methodology. The results have been verified experimentally.

Zachowując wspólne więzi: dyplomacja publiczna Turcji w Azji Środkowej

This article aims to analyse and assess the effectiveness of activities undertaken by Turkish public diplomacy organisations in Central Asia. Since the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in Turkey in 2002, the state’s foreign policy doctrine has changed profoundly. The new government has adopted a program of active and multifaceted diplomacy, seeking to improve mutual relations with neighbouring regions (i.e. Middle East, North Africa, Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia). Historical, social and cultural references play an extremely important role in the AKP’s political strategy, and numerous public diplomacy organisations promote Turkish regional cooperation initiatives on behalf of the authorities in Ankara. In Central Asia, institutions such as the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, the International Organisation of Turkic Culture, the Yunus Emre Institute, the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, ensure that ties between Turkey and countries of the region are being preserved. By utilising Turkish soft power potential, these organisations support traditional diplomatic services in implementing Turkey’s foreign policy objectives.

Effect of ignition timing on combustion characteristics and emissions of an X-type rotary engine with the high efficiency hybrid cycle

X-type rotary engines (XREs), using the high efficiency hybrid cycle, possess advantages of simple structure, high power-to-weight ratio, and high theoretical efficiency, making XREs as potential power sources in hybrid vehicles and small unmanned aerial vehicles. Typically, ignition timing has a promising potential to improve the combustion performance of spark ignition engines. In this work, the effects of ignition timing on flame propagation, combustion characteristics, and pollutants formation were studied adopting a three-dimensional simulation method. The results showed that at different engine speeds, significantly different flow forms and flow velocities in the larger chamber recess of the XRE were formed, resulting in large differences in flame propagation velocities at leading side and trailing side of the combustion chamber. Advancing ignition timing increased the flame propagation velocity at the given engine speed. Ignition timing had a more significant effect on peak pressure at medium-high speeds compared to low engine speeds. At 3000 RPM and 5000 RPM, the peak pressure was increased significantly with advancing ignition timing, but when ignition timing was advanced to -30 °CA, the increment in the in-housing pressure was minimal. As ignition timing was retarded, the ignition delay was slowly reduced. The effect of ignition timing on ignition delay was more significant for low speeds than for medium-high speeds. However, the influence of ignition timing on combustion duration showed the opposite trend. Delayed ignition showed a slight increase in indicated thermal efficiency and indicated mean effective pressure at low speeds, while the opposite was true at medium-high speeds. Nevertheless, the effect of ignition timing and engine speed on indicated specific fuel consumption is opposite to the trend of the above laws. With the increase of ignition timing, the NOx mass fraction first increased and then decreased at low speeds, with the maximum occurred at -30 °CA, but the NOx mass fraction continued to increase at high speeds. Soot and CO productions were slightly affected by ignition timing. To sum up, this XRE, setting the ignition timing of -30 °CA, achieved better flame propagation and engine performance at the price of a smaller increment of NOx emissions.

Definition of regulatory elements and transcription factors controlling porcine immune cell gene expression at single cell resolution using single nucleus ATAC-seq

The transcriptome of porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) at single cell (sc) resolution is well described, but little is understood about the cis-regulatory mechanism behind scPBMC gene expression. Here, we profiled the open chromatin landscape of porcine PBMC that define cis-regulatory elements and mechanism contributing to the transcription using single nucleus ATAC sequencing (snATAC-seq). Approximately 22 % of the identified peaks overlapped with annotated transcription start sites (TSS). Using clustering based on open chromatin pattern similarity, we demonstrate that cell type annotations using snATAC-seq are highly concordant to that reported for sc RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). The differentially accessible peaks (DAPs) for each cell type were characterized and the pattern of accessibility of the DAPs near cell type markers across cell types was similar to that of the average gene expression level of corresponding marker genes. Additionally, we found that peaks identified in snATAC-seq have the potential power to predict the cell type specific transcription starting site (TSS). We identified both transcription factors (TFs) whose binding motif were enriched in cell type DAPs of multiple cell types and cell type specific TFs by conducting transcription factor binding motif (TFBM) analysis. Furthermore, we identified the putative enhancer or promoter regions bound by TFs for each differentially expressed gene (DEG) with a DAP that overlapped with its TSS by generating cis-co-accessibility networks (CCAN). To predict the regulators of such DEGs, TFBM analysis was performed for each CCAN. The regulator TF-target DEG pairs predicted in this way were largely consistent with the results reported in the ENCODE Transcription Factor Targets Dataset (TFTD). This snATAC-seq approach provides insights into the regulation of chromatin accessibility landscape of porcine PBMCs and enables discovery of TFs predicted to control DEG through binding regulatory elements whose chromatin accessibility correlates with the DEG promoter region.

Is there a ubiquitous spectrolaminar motif of local field potential power across primate neocortex?

Mendoza-Halliday, Major et al., 2024 ("The Paper")1 advocates a local field potential (LFP)-based approach to functional identification of cortical layers during "laminar" (simultaneous recordings from all cortical layers) multielectrode recordings in nonhuman primates (NHPs). The Paper describes a "ubiquitous spectrolaminar motif" in the primate neocortex: 1) 75-150 Hz power peaks in the supragranular layers, 2) 10-19 Hz power peaks in the infragranular layers and 3) the crossing point of their laminar power gradients identifies Layer 4 (L4). Identification of L4 is critical in general, but especially for The Paper as the "motif" discovery is couched within a framework whose central hypothesis is that gamma activity originates in the supragranular layers and reflects feedforward activity, while alpha-beta activity originates in the infragranular layers and reflects feedback activity. In an impressive scientific effort, The Paper analyzed laminar data from 14 cortical areas in 2 prior macaque studies and compared them to marmoset, mouse, and human data to further bolster the canonical nature of the motif. Identification of such canonical principles of brain operation is clearly a topic of broad scientific interest. Similarly, a reliable online method for L4 identification would be of broad scientific value for the rapidly increasing use of laminar recordings using numerous evolving technologies. Despite The Paper's strengths, and its potential for scientific impact, a series of concerns that are fundamental to the analysis and interpretation of laminar activity profile data in general, and local field potential (LFP) signals in particular, led us to question its conclusions. We thus evaluated the generality of The Paper's methods and findings using new sets of data comprised of stimulus-evoked laminar response profiles from primary and higher-order auditory cortices (A1 and belt cortex), and primary visual cortex (V1). The rationale for using these areas as a test bed for new methods is that their laminar anatomy and physiology have already been extensively characterized by prior studies, and there is general agreement across laboratories on key matters like L4 identification. Our analyses indicate that The Paper's findings do not generalize well to any of these cortical areas. In particular, we find The Paper's methods for L4 identification to be unreliable. Moreover, both methodological and statistical concerns, outlined below and in the supplement, question the stated prevalence of the motif in The Paper's published dataset. After summarizing our findings and related broader concerns, we briefly critique the evidence from biophysical modeling studies cited to support The Paper's conclusions. While our findings are at odds with the proposition of a ubiquitous spectrolaminar motif in the primate neocortex, The Paper already has, and will continue to spark debate and further experimentation. Hopefully this countervailing presentation will lead to robust collegial efforts to define optimal strategies for applying laminar recording methods in future studies.

The chemical diversity of the metal-poor Milky Way

ABSTRACT We present a detailed study of the chemical diversity of the metal-poor Milky Way using data from the GALAH DR3 survey. Considering 17 chemical abundances relative to iron ([X/Fe]) for 9923 stars, we employ principal component analysis (PCA) and extreme deconvolution (XD) to identify 10 distinct stellar groups. This approach, free from chemical or dynamical cuts, reveals known populations, including the accreted halo, thick disc, thin disc, and in situ halo. The thick disc is characterized by multiple substructures, suggesting it comprises stars formed in diverse environments. Our findings highlight the limited discriminatory power of magnesium in separating accreted and disc stars. Elements such as Ba, Al, Cu, and Sc are critical in distinguishing disc from accreted stars, while Ba, Y, Eu, and Zn differentiate disc and accreted stars from the in situ halo. This study demonstrates the potential power of combining a latent space representation of the data (PCA) with a clustering algorithm (XD) in Galactic archaeology, in providing new insights into the Galaxy’s assembly and evolutionary history.

High-Resolution Laminar Identification in Macaque Primary Visual Cortex Using Neuropixels Probes.

Laminar electrode arrays allow simultaneous recording of activity of many cortical neurons and assignment to layers using current source density (CSD) analyses. Electrode arrays with 100-micron contact spacing have been used to estimate borders between layer 4 versus superficial or deep layers, but in macaque primary visual cortex (V1) there are far more layers, such as 4A which is only 50-100 microns thick. Neuropixels electrode arrays have 20-micron spacing, and thus could potentially discern thinner layers and more precisely identify laminar borders. Here we show that laminar distributions of CSDs lack consistency and the spatial resolution required for thin layers and accurate layer boundaries. To take full advantage of high density Neuropixels arrays, we have developed approaches based on higher resolution electrical signals and analyses, including spike waveforms and spatial spread, unit density, high-frequency action potential (AP) power spectrum, temporal power change, and coherence spectrum, that afford far higher resolution of laminar distinctions, including the ability to precisely detect the borders of even the thinnest layers of V1.

Planning of Uwe River PLTMH Jayawijaya Regency Capacity 2 X 750 KW

Indonesia has great potential to develop renewable energy, especially through Micro Hydro Power Plants (MHP) that utilize river flow. The Papua region, including Jayawijaya Regency, has significant water resources potential but has not been optimally utilized to meet local energy needs. This study aims to evaluate the technical feasibility of building an MHP in Uwe River, Jayawijaya Regency, with a capacity of 2 x 750 kW as an effort to increase the electrification ratio in Papua Mountains. The research uses a quantitative approach with field survey methods and primary data collection, such as water discharge measurements and interviews with relevant parties. The data were analyzed using the FJ Mock method for water discharge estimation and hydraulic power calculation to assess the technical feasibility of MHP development. The results showed that Uwe River has a potential hydraulic power of 2063.965 kW with a capacity factor of 88%, which is able to support the operation of two turbines with a capacity of 733.76 kW each. The conclusion of this study shows that the construction of an MHP in Sungai Uwe is technically feasible and has great potential to increase the electrification ratio, support local economic development, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels in remote areas. The implication of these results is the importance of investment and policy support in the development of renewable energy projects in Papua to achieve national electrification targets.

Assessing China's solar power potential: Uncertainty quantification and economic analysis

Solar power is vital for China's future energy pathways to achieve the goal of 2060 carbon neutrality. Previous studies have suggested that China's solar energy resource potential surpass the projected nationwide power demand in 2060, yet the uncertainty quantification and cost competitiveness of such resource potential are less studied. Therefore, we applied an integrated framework to simulate China's solar photovoltaic (PV) technical potential, and incorporated potential uncertainty stemming from climate change, land use dynamics, and technological advancements. In addition, we constructed the solar energy supply curve for each province and calculated the economic potential. According to our results, approximately 78.6 % and 99.9 % of China's technical solar PV potential are priced lower than the benchmark price of coal-fired energy in pessimistic and optimistic scenario. These findings highlight the significant technical and economic potential of solar PV as a cost-effective alternative to coal-fired electricity to meet China's growing electricity demands.

Engineered Enucleated Mesenchymal Stem Cells Regulating Immune Microenvironment and Promoting Wound Healing.

Persistent excessive inflammation caused by neutrophil and macrophage dysfunction in the wound bed leads to refractory response during wound healing. However, previous studies using cytokines or drugs often suffer from short half-lives and limited targeting, resulting in unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. Herein, the enucleated mesenchymal stem cell is engineered by aptamer bioorthogonal chemistry to modify the cell membrane and mRNA loading in the cell cytoplasm as a novel delivery vector (Cargocyte) with accurate targeting and sustained cytokine secretion. Cargocytes can successfully reduce NETosis by targeting the nuclear chromatin protein DEK protein with aptamers and sustaining interleukin (IL)-4 expression to overcome the challenges associated with the high cost and short half-life of IL-4 protein and significantly prevent the transition of macrophages into the M1 phenotype. Therapeutic effects have been demonstrated in murine and porcine wound models and have powerful potential to improve wound immune microenvironments effectively. Overall, the use of engineered enucleated mesenchymal stem cells as a delivery system may be a promising approach for wound healing.

Exploration of the Antibacterial Potential from Rice Eel Skin Mucus (Monopterus albus) Against Bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus

The skin mucus of the rice eel (Monopterus albus) contains various antibacterial compounds and has the potential as a synthetic antibiotic. This research was conducted to explore the potential antibacterial power of the rice eel skin mucus against some pathogenic bacteria in freshwater fish. The bacteria were isolated from five samples of rice eel cultivation ponds belonging to Mr. Sabwan and then challenged with the mucus of the eel's skin through diffusion tests using paper discs. The rice eel skin mucus tested its antibacterial activity against three species of freshwater bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, by testing sensitivity and inhibitory zones. The inhibitory zones of each bacterium were measured using Vernier caliper which refers to the standardization of the inhibitory zone: < 4 mm no activity, 5-9 mm weak, 10- 14 mm medium, and > 15 mm strong. Test results showed that the eels' skin mucus could inhibit the growth of bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Towards safe, efficient long-reach manipulation in nuclear decommissioning: a case study on fuel debris retrieval at Fukushima Daiichi

ABSTRACT The potential of nuclear power in tackling the global energy crisis hinges on the development of effective decommissioning strategies. While the use of human workforce is still common practice, robotics has the potential to revolutionise decommissioning tasks. However, the restricted access, crammed environments, and harsh environmental conditions of nuclear power plants are not suited for conventional robots. In this scenario, the slender design and overall length of long-reach manipulators represent a promising solution. Yet, the same features that make these manipulators a suitable candidate, also introduce significant engineering challenges in design and control. The key challenges and hazards of nuclear decommissioning are summarized using the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as a representative use case, in which a manipulator over 20 m long with 18 degrees of freedom is planned to be used for fuel debris retrieval. Critical research gaps on the state-of-the-art of long-reach manipulators for nuclear decommissioning are presented to summarise the focused key research areas ongoing and foster further research engagement within the community.

Increasing power in screening trials by testing control-arm specimens: application to multicancer detection screening.

Cancer screening trials have required large sample sizes and long time-horizons to demonstrate cancer mortality reductions, the primary goal of cancer screening. We examine assumptions and potential power gains from exploiting information from testing control-arm specimens, which we call the "intended effect" (IE) analysis that we explain in detail herein. The IE analysis is particularly suited to tests that can be conducted on stored specimens in the control arm, such as stored blood for multicancer detection (MCD) tests. We simulated hypothetical MCD screening trials to compare power and sample size for the standard vs IE analysis. Under two assumptions that we detail herein, we projected the IE analysis for 3 existing screening trials (National Lung Screening Trial [NLST], Minnesota Colon Cancer Control Study [MINN-FOBT-A], and Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial-colorectal component [PLCO-CRC]). Compared with the standard analysis for the 3 existing trials, the IE design could have reduced cancer-specific mortality P values 6-fold (NLST), 33-fold (MINN-FOBT-A), or 260 000-fold (PLCO-CRC) or, alternately, reduced sample size (90% power) by 25% (NLST), 47% (MINN-FOBT-A), or 63% (PLCO-CRC). For potential MCD trial designs requiring 100 000 subjects per arm to achieve 90% power for multicancer mortality for the standard analysis, the IE analysis achieves 90% power for only 37 500-50 000 per arm, depending on assumptions concerning control-arm test-positives. Testing stored specimens in the control arm of screening trials to conduct the IE analysis could substantially increase power to reduce sample size or accelerate trials and could provide particularly strong power gains for MCD tests.

Use of Triboelectric Nanogenerators in Advanced Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for High Efficiency in Sustainable Energy Production: A Review

Renewable energy is the best choice for clean and sustainable energy development. A single renewable energy system reveals an intermittent disadvantage during the energy production process due to the effects of weather, season, day/night, and working environment. A generally hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) is an energy production scheme that is built based on a combination of two or more single renewable energy sources (such as solar energy, wind power, hydropower, thermal energy, and ocean energy) to produce electrical energy for energy consumption, energy storage, or a power transmission line. HRESs feature the outstanding characteristics of enhancing energy conversion efficiency and reducing fluctuations during the energy production process. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology transduces wasted mechanical energies into electrical energy. The TENG can harvest renewable energy sources (such as wind, water flow, and ocean energy) into electricity with a sustainable working ability that can be integrated into an HRES for high power efficiency in sustainable renewable energy production. This article reviews the recent techniques and methods using HRESs and triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) in advanced hybrid renewable energy systems for improvements in the efficiency of harvesting energy, sustainable energy production, and practical applications. The paper mentions the benefits, challenges, and specific solutions related to the development and utilization of HRESs. The results show that the TENG is a highly potential power source for harvesting energy, renewable energy integration, application, and sustainable energy development. The results are a useful reference source for developing HRES models for practical applications and robust development in the near future.

Impact of Nickel on Iridium-Ruthenium Structure and Activity for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction under Acidic Conditions.

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a promising technology to produce hydrogen directly from renewable electricity sources due to its high power density and potential for dynamic operation. Widespread application of PEMWE is, however, currently limited due to high cost and low efficiency, for which high loading of expensive iridium catalyst and high OER overpotential, respectively, are important reasons. In this study, we synthesize highly dispersed IrRu nanoparticles (NPs) supported on antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) to maximize catalyst utilization. Furthermore, we study the effect of adding various amounts of Ni to the synthesis, both in terms of catalyst structure and OER activity. Through characterization using various X-ray techniques, we determine that the presence of Ni during synthesis yields significant changes in the structure of the IrRu NPs. With no Ni present, metallic IrRu NPs were synthesized with Ir-like structure, while the presence of Ni leads to the formation of IrRu oxide particles with rutile/hollandite structure. There are also clear indications that the presence of Ni yields smaller particles, which can result in better catalyst dispersion. The effect of these differences on OER activity was also studied through rotating disc electrode measurements. The IrRu-supported catalyst synthesized with Ni exhibited OER activity of up to 360 mA mgPGM -1 at 1.5 V vs RHE. This is ∼7 times higher OER activity than the best-performing IrO x benchmark reported in the literature and more than twice the activity of IrRu-supported catalyst synthesized without Ni. Finally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to further elucidate the origin of the observed activity enhancement, showing no improvement in intrinsic OER activity for hollandite Ir and Ru compared to the rutile structures. We, therefore, hypothesize that the increased activity measured for the IrRu supported catalyst synthesized with Ni present is instead due to increased electrochemical surface area.

Assessing the current situation of constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells as an alternative power generation and wastewater treatment in developing countries

Developing countries facing population growth and increased energy demand present simultaneous challenges regarding wastewater treatment and electricity supply. Constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells (CW-MFCs) offer a dual solution to the challenges of insufficient electricity and wastewater treatment by integrating indigenous plant species. CW-MFCs provide sustainable power generation and wastewater treatment. This approach can enhance sustainability and foster a circular economy by utilising plant-derived byproducts as an added product. Current research indicates various novel designs for effective wastewater treatment and potential power generation. Future studies focusing on rural settings and upscaling operations can apply advanced techniques like mass spectrophotometry and metagenomics to refine the technology for grid use. Developing CW-MFC technology will catapult the idea of developing a robust strategy for addressing power supply and sanitation issues in developing regions. This will also aid in continuous research into system optimisation and microbial communities, aiding long-term viability.