Promising Applications Research Articles

Advancing urban agriculture and air quality in edge computing environments through integrated small-scale plant-based filtration systems

This paper introduces the integrated Small-Scale Plant-Based Air Filtration (SPAF) system, a novel integration of air filtration and urban agriculture, specifically designed for edge computing free cooling in urban environments. The SPAF's modular design enables extensive customization to meet various air quality requirements and agricultural needs. Through evaluation across different scenarios, the system has proven its effectiveness in particulate matter reduction, with a single unit showcasing substantial initial filtration efficiency, and even greater performance when multiple units are utilised in series. Beyond its air filtration capabilities, the SPAF system also contributes to urban agriculture, expanding planting areas and supporting the growth of local produce, thereby aligning with global sustainability objectives. Despite its promising applications, challenges such as the variability in filtration performance across different plant species, external climates, and the inability to ensure complete particulate matter removal, underscore the need for further research and potential integration with other purification technologies.

Blockchain for social good: A review of applications in humanitarian aid and social initiatives

Blockchain technology has emerged as a revolutionary force with the potential to address pressing social challenges and transform traditional paradigms in humanitarian aid and social initiatives. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the diverse applications of blockchain in fostering social good, particularly in the realms of humanitarian aid and social initiatives. The decentralized and transparent nature of blockchain offers a paradigm shift in the way charitable organizations operate and deliver aid. Smart contracts on blockchain enable transparent and tamper-resistant transactions, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and reach intended beneficiaries. The elimination of intermediaries reduces the risk of corruption and ensures a more direct and accountable flow of funds. In the context of humanitarian aid, blockchain facilitates the creation of decentralized identity systems, ensuring secure and verifiable identities for displaced populations. This aids in the efficient delivery of aid, as well as financial inclusion for those without access to traditional banking services. Moreover, blockchain enhances supply chain transparency, enabling the tracking of donations from inception to distribution, reducing fraud and ensuring the authenticity of goods. Social initiatives, too, benefit from blockchain's transformative capabilities. Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) enable communities to collectively make decisions and manage resources. This fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment among participants, promoting sustainable social development. Additionally, blockchain-based token economies incentivize positive behaviors, encouraging individuals to contribute to social causes in meaningful ways. Despite these promising applications, challenges such as scalability, regulatory uncertainties, and technological literacy remain. This paper calls for continued research and collaboration to unlock the full potential of blockchain for social good, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions that can address the unique challenges faced by humanitarian and social initiatives.

CuInS2-Decorated Perovskite Nanoarchitecture: Halide-Driven Energy and Electron Transfer.

Perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are an emergent and game-changing entrant in semiconductor research, yet the research on the corresponding nanoheterostructures remains in its infancy. In this work, we fabricate a type II nanoarchitecture of CsPbX3 NCs (where X = Cl, Br, or I) and CuInS2 quantum dots to investigate the energy and charge transfer (ET and CT, respectively) processes. Optical measurements of CsPbX3/CuInS2 show efficient photoluminescence (PL) quenching when X = Br or I, while the PL quenching efficiency of the X = Cl compound is 2 orders of magnitude lower. We argue the drastic PL quenching in the X = I compound is solely due to the CT process, while for the X = Br compound, a predominantly ET process is active. In contrast to the driving force (-ΔG) for the CT process, we observe the reverse order of the electron transfer process, for which we propose the electron transfer occurs in the Marcus inverted region. Our halide-dependent controlled regulation of CT and ET processes in these nanoarchitectures may find promising optoelectronic applications.

Sophorolipid‐mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial starch nanocomposite films

AbstractThis study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles with sophorolipids (AgNP‐SL) and develop starch nanocomposite films with improved properties to be explored in food packaging applications. AgNP‐SL were spherical and highly stable, with an average size of 61.46 nm. They also demonstrated potent antibacterial action against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, revealing its promising application for antimicrobial packaging. The addition of AgNP‐SL into films resulted in color changes, which could contribute to a better UV‐barrier capacity. Nanoparticles and tartaric acid incorporation resulted in a heterogeneous matrix, suggesting chemical interactions between the compounds and the biopolymer. The nanocomposite films presented thermal stability, enhanced flexibility, and antimicrobial action against E. coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, and S. aureus. The combination of AgNP‐SL and tartaric acid resulted in pronounced bactericidal properties. The results demonstrate the great potential of these nanocomposite films as an effective packaging material against foodborne pathogens.

A back propagation neural network-based approach for inverting layered seabed acoustic parameters in shallow waters

IntroductionExisting methods primarily focus on earth acoustic parameters inversion under specific layered structures. However, they face challenges with experimental data from unknown seabed stratification, hindering accurate parameter inversion.MethodsTo address this, a novel algorithm combines Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) for distinguishing seabed stratification and inverting acoustic parameters. Simulated sound pressure data disturb seabed parameters as input, enabling feature recognition for training the neural network inversion model. Acoustic parameters are then estimated under identified stratification using the sound field model.ResultsThe inversion model is validated using simulation and pool shrinkage data. Results show the neural network model effectively stratifies simulation and experimental data, providing accurate inversion results for acoustic parameters corresponding to distinct layers.DiscussionThe neural network model's accuracy and practicality are confirmed through hierarchical judgment of scale test data and acoustic parameter inversion. This approach introduces a new perspective for shallow sea acoustic parameter inversion, offering a promising application scenario.

Changes in water temperature: The effect of triploid performance in Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai)

The triploid Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) has significant economic value and promising application prospects. However, the optimal cultural conditions that maximize the advantages of triploidy in the abalone have yet to be determined. This study examined the properties of triploid Pacific abalone after 3 months of culture under three constant temperatures (18 °C, 22 °C, and 26 °C) to fill up this information gap. The results showed that the survival rate of triploids in the 26 °C group was significantly higher than that of diploids (P < 0.05), while the survival rate of triploids in the other two groups was similar to that of diploids (P > 0.05). Except for the shell width of the 22 °C group and the shell length of the 26 °C group, triploid Pacific abalone exhibited significantly superior growth traits compared to diploids at all temperatures (P < 0.05). The most notable improvement was observed in the foot muscle weight trait, where there were triploid advantage rates of 81.44% (18 °C), 76.21% (22 °C), and 54.96% (26 °C). The specific growth rate and the ratio of shell length and body weight indicated that triploids grew the fastest in the 22 °C group. Furthermore, the thermal resistance of diploids and triploids was evaluated through the Arrhenius break temperature (ABT) of cardiac performance. The results demonstrated that the ABT of triploids was significantly higher than that of diploids (P < 0.05, ABT2N = 30.81 ± 0.43 °C, ABT3N = 31.38 ± 0.72 °C). Both diploid and triploid foot adhesion forces were measured, and the results showed that triploid foot adhesion force was stronger than that of diploids (P < 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between foot adhesion force and meat yield traits (foot muscle weight, fullness index (FI) and foot muscle-soft tissue index (FMSI)) (P < 0.05). In summary, this study confirmed the triploid advantage in meat yield of Pacific abalone and identified a temperature range that maximizes their growth rate. Moreover, triploids exhibited improved thermal resistance and adhesion capacity compared to diploids, with an increase in meat yield. The results of this study could serve as a reference for identifying a culture model suitable for triploid Pacific abalone and thus could promote the development of the triploid aquaculture industry.

Cascading defenses: A multifaceted narrative of immune responses in head and neck physiology

This scholarly investigation provides an exhaustive exploration of the intricate landscape governing immune responses within the physiology of the head and neck, with a specific emphasis on the concept of cascading defenses. The introduction underscores the paramount significance of comprehending immune responses within this distinctive anatomical context, illuminating the multifaceted nature of the immune system. The initial section scrupulously examines the primary line of defense, elucidating the pivotal role of physical and chemical barriers, including the skin, mucous membranes, and antimicrobial secretions. Transitioning to the subsequent section, the study delves into the realm of innate immune responses, offering insights into the activation mechanisms of phagocytes, the release of inflammatory mediators, and the functioning of the complement system. The third section provides a closer examination of adaptive immune responses, furnishing detailed insights into the activation processes of B and T cells, as well as the establishment of immunological memory. The intricate interplay between the innate and adaptive immune systems is thoroughly explored in the fifth section, with a particular emphasis on the coordination, communication, and feedback loops characterizing their dynamic relationships. To address the unique challenges posed by the distinctive anatomical features of the head and neck, including the presence of specialized immune structures, the sixth section contributes valuable insights. The article further ventures into the realm of immunopathology in head and neck disorders in the subsequent section, shedding light on potential dysregulation, autoimmune implications, and prospective immunotherapy approaches. Section eight extends its focus to future perspectives and research directions, encompassing emerging technologies, therapeutic interventions, and implications for personalized medicine. In conclusion, this study successfully recapitulates the multifaceted narrative surrounding immune responses in head and neck physiology, underscoring the ongoing significance of research in advancing clinical approaches. The dynamic and interconnected nature of immune defenses in this anatomical context serves as a foundation for future investigations and holds promising applications in the field of clinical medicine.

Mussel-inspired superhydrophilic and antibacterial membranes for effective gravity-driven separation of oil-in-water emulsions

Substantial discharge of industrial oily wastewater calls for an efficient and sustainable treatment for resource recovery. Superwetting membranes offer a feasible approach to fractionate oil species and water from oily wastewater for addressing this technical challenge. In this study, we proposed a useful strategy for constructing a superhydrophilic membrane with superior antibacterial properties through rapid co-deposition of dopamine and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) initiated by ammonium persulfate on the Cu nanoparticles-loaded porous PVDF substrate. The resultant superhydrophilic membrane yielded an underwater oil contact angle of 163.5°, enabling a fast and robust gravity-driven filtration for various oil-in-water emulsions with a separation efficiency of >99.9 %. Additionally, incorporating of Cu nanoparticles and polydopamine endowed the superhydrophilic membrane with superior antibacterial activity (100 % inhibition efficiency against Escherichia coli), and thereby remarkably enhancing the anti-biofouling performance. This study provides a viable approach to design high-performance membranes for separation of oil-in-water emulsions, with promising applications in the industrial and environmental sectors.

Construction of a New Probe Based on Copper Chaperone Protein for Detecting Cu2+ in Cells.

Biomacromolecular probes have been extensively employed in the detection of metal ions for their prominent biocompatibility, water solubility, high selectivity, and easy modification of fluorescent groups. In this study, a fluorescent probe FP was constructed. The probe FP exhibited high specificity recognition for Cu2+. With the combination of Cu2+, the probe was subjected to fluorescence quenching. The research suggested that the probe FP carried out the highly sensitive detection of Cu2+ with detection limits of 1.7 nM. The fluorescence quenching of fluorescamine was induced by Cu2+ perhaps due to the PET (photoinduced electron transfer) mechanism. The FP-Cu2+ complex shows weak fluorescence, which is likely due to the PET quenching effect from Cu2+ to fluorescamine fluorophore. Moreover, the probe FP can be employed for imaging Cu2+ in living cells. The new fluorescent probe developed in this study shows the advantages of good biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. It can be adopted for the targeted detection of Cu2+ in cells, and it has promising applications in the mechanism research and diagnosis of Cu2+-associated diseases.

Single-pixel p-graded-n junction spectrometers.

Ultra-compact spectrometers are becoming increasingly popular for their promising applications in biomedical analysis, environmental monitoring, and food safety. In this work, we report a single-pixel-photodetector spectrometer with a spectral range from 480 nm to 820 nm, based on the AlGaAs/GaAs p-graded-n junction with a voltage-tunable optical response. To reconstruct the optical spectrum, we propose a tailored method called Neural Spectral Fields (NSF) that leverages the unique wavelength and bias-dependent responsivity matrix. Our spectrometer achieves a high spectral wavelength accuracy of up to 0.30 nm and a spectral resolution of up to 10 nm. Additionally, we demonstrate the high spectral imaging performance of the device. The compatibility of our demonstration with the standard III-V process greatly accelerates the commercialization of miniaturized spectrometers.

A comparative untargeted metabolomic analysis and assessment of antiplasmodial potential of nine Albizia species.

The genus Albizia is one of the richest genera in phenolics besides other classes of secondary metabolites including saponins, terpenes, and alkaloids with promising medicinal applications. In the current study, UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS-based metabolic profiling of leaves of Albizia lebbeck, Albizia julibrissin, Albizia odoratissima, Albizia procera, Albizia anthelmintica, Albizia guachapele, Albizia myriophylla, Albizia richardiana, and Albizia lucidior resulted in the tentative identification of 64 metabolites, mainly flavonoids, phenolic acids, saponins, and alkaloids. Some metabolites were identified in Albizia for the first time and could be used as species-specific chemotaxonomic markers, including: apigenin 7-O-dihydroferuloyl hexoside isomers, apigenin 7-O-pentosyl hexoside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside 7-O-deoxyhexoside, quercetin 3,7-di-O-hexoside deoxyhexoside, quercetin 7-O-feruloyl hexoside, methyl myricetin 7-O-deoxyhexoside, kaempferol di-3-O-di-deoxyhexoside-7-O-hexoside, and kaempferol 3-O-neohesperidoside 7-O-hexoside. Comparative untargeted metabolomic analysis was undertaken to discriminate between species and provide a chemotaxonomic clue that can be used together with morphological and genetic analyses for more accurate classification within this genus. Moreover, the in vitro antiplasmodial activity was assessed and correlated to the metabolic profile of selected species. This was followed by a molecular docking study and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) prediction of the identified budmunchiamine alkaloids, revealing promising interactions with the active site of lactate dehydrogenase of Plasmodium falciparum and good pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, which could help in designing novel antimalarial drugs.

A solid-shell model of hard-magnetic soft materials

Hard-magnetic soft materials (HMSMs) consisting of an elastomer matrix filled with high remnant magnetic particles can exhibit flexible programmability and rapid shape changing under non-contact activation, showing promising potential applications in soft robotics, biomedical devices and flexible electronics. Precise predictions of large deformations of hard-magnetic soft materials would be a key for relevant applications. Here, we develop a magneto-mechanical theoretical framework to model large deformations of magneto-active elastomers by applying solid-shell formulations based on the variational principle. Within the 3D geometric description, the complete Green–Lagrange strain tensors are considered and thus 3D nonlinear material laws can be employed straightforwardly, without presupposing Kirchhoff–Love hypothesis and plane stress constraints. In addition, the solid-shell model avoids introducing rotational degrees of freedom in computation and thus does not require complex finite-rotation update, which also works well for thick shells at large strains. We adopt the enhanced assumed strain (EAS) and assumed natural strain (ANS) methods to overcome locking effects. Several representative examples with various deformed configurations are explored, showing precise predictions of morphological transformations of HMSMs based on our model, in good agreement with experiments. Our model provides a versatile tool to harness large deformations of magneto-elastic structures, and could be used for rational designs of active flexible devices and robots.

Gyroid Liquid Crystals as Quasi-Solid-State Electrolytes Toward Ultrastable Zinc Batteries.

The potential for optimizing ion transport through triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures renders promising electrochemical applications. In this study, as a proof-of-concept, we extend the inherent efficiency and mathematical beauty of TPMS structures to fabricate liquid-crystalline electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and superior structural stability for aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries. The specific topological configuration of the liquid-crystalline electrolytes, featuring a Gyroid geometry, enables the formation of a continuous ion conduction pathway enriched with confined water. This, in turn, promotes the smooth transport of charge carriers and contributes to high ionic conductivity. Meanwhile, the quasi-solid hydrophobic phase assembled by hydrophobic alkyl chains exhibits notable rigidity and toughness, enabling uniform and compact dendrite-free Zn deposition. These merits synergistically enhance the overall performance of the corresponding full batteries. This work highlights the distinctive role of TPMS structures in developing high-performance, liquid-crystalline electrolytes, which can provide a viable route for the rational design of next-generation quasi-solid-state electrolytes.

Performance and mechanism of biochar@FeMg-LDH for efficient activation of persulfate for degradation of 2, 4-dichlorophenol in groundwater.

Groundwater environments are complex, and traditional advanced oxidation technologies mainly based on free radicals have limitations such as poor selectivity and low interference resistance, making it difficult to efficiently degrade target pollutants in groundwater. Therefore, we developed a sludge-based biochar-supported FeMg-layered double hydroxide catalyst (BC@FeMg-LDH) for the catalytic degradation of 2, 4-dichlorophenol (2, 4-DCP) using persulfate (PDS) as an oxidant. The removal efficiency of the catalyst exceeded 95%, showing high oxidation activity in a wide pH range while being almost unaffected by reducing substances and ions in the environment. Meanwhile, under neutral conditions, the leaching of metal ions from BC@FeMg-LDH was minimal, thereby eliminating the risk of secondary pollution. According to quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, the main active species during BC@FeMg-LDH/PDS degradation of 2, 4-DCP is 1O2, indicating a non-radical reaction mechanism dominated by 1O2. Characterization techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, revealed that the carbonyl (C = O) and metal hydroxyl (M-OH) groups on the material surface were the main reactive sites mediating 1O2 generation. The 1O2 generation mechanism during the reaction involved ketone-like activation of carbonyl groups on the biochar surface and complexation of hydroxyl groups on the material surface with PDS, resulting in the formation of O2·- and further generation of 1O2. 1O2 exhibited high selectivity toward electron-rich organic compounds such as 2, 4-DCP and demonstrated strong interference resistance in complex groundwater environments. Therefore, BC@FeMg-LDH holds promising applications for the remediation of organic-contaminated groundwater.

Sustainable bioelectric activation of periodate for highly efficient micropollutant abatement

The periodate (PI)-based advanced oxidation process is valued for environmental remediation, but current activation methods involve high costs, secondary contamination risks, and limited applicability due to external energy inputs (e.g., UV), catalyst incorporation (e.g., Fe2+), or environmental modifications (e.g., freezing). In this work, novel bioelectric activation of PI using the electrons generated by electroactive bacteria was developed and investigated for rapid removal of carbamazepine (CBZ), achieving 100 %, 100 %, and 76 % removal efficiency for 4.22 µM of CBZ in 20 min at pH 2, 120 min at pH 6.4, and HRT of 30 min at pH 8.5, respectively, with a 1 mM PI dose and without an input voltage. It was deduced that electrons derived from bacteria could directly activate PI using Ti mesh electrodes and generate •IO3 via single electron transfer under strongly acidic conditions (e.g., pH 2). Nevertheless, under weak alkaline conditions (e.g., pH 8.5), biogenic electrons indirectly activated PI by generating OH−via 4e−reduction at the Ti mesh cathode, resulting in the formation of •O2− and 1O2. In addition to the metal cathode, a carbon-based cathode finely modulates the 2e−reduction, yielding H2O2 and activating PI to mainly form •OH. Moreover, primarily non-toxic IO3− was produced during treatment, while no detectable reactive iodine species (HOI, I2, and I3−) were observed. Furthermore, the bioelectric activation of PI demonstrated its capability to remove various micropollutants present in secondary-treated municipal wastewater, showcasing its broad-spectrum degradation ability. This study introduces a novel, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly PI activation technique with promising applicability for micropollutant elimination in water treatment.

An efficient fluorescence sensor based on chitosan-modified graphitic carbon nitride for selective determination of Cu2+ ions

An effective, feasible and novel fluorescence sensor based on modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was constructed for the detection of Cu2+ ions. Carbon nitride nanosheets were obtained by liquid exfoliation in an acid solution and then modified by chitosan with an abundance of active sites. The as-prepared material was characterized by various methods including SEM, FT-IR, XRD, Raman, UV–vis and XPS. The modification material emitted enhanced fluorescence at 433 nm under the excitation of 368 nm and exhibited fluorescence quenching behaviors in the presence of Cu2+. The fluorescence intensity decrement was proportional to the concentration of Cu2+ ions ranging from 0 to 4.0 μM and 4.0 to 50.0 μM with a detection limit as low as 9 nM under optimal conditions. As a result of the improved sensing performance, the as-prepared g-C3N4-based material presented strong affinity, sensitivity, specificity and stability for metal ions and had a promising application for fluorescence detection.

Robustness of remediation measures against liquefaction induced manhole uplift under mainshock-aftershock sequence

Earthquakes generally consist of one mainshock and subsequent aftershocks. Although effects of aftershocks following the mainshock on surface structures has been studied extensively, similar studies on underground structures are rarely reported in the literature. With the fast advances in underground space development, robustness of remediation measures against underground structures uplift induced by soil liquefaction shall be examined to ensure their functioning subject to not only the mainshock but also the subsequent aftershocks. This paper studies the uplift behaviour of a conventional manhole subjected to the mainshock-aftershock sequence. It was found that, in the ground that becomes liquefied during the mainshock, manholes become more vulnerable when faced with aftershocks. Due to this reason, some of the previously proposed remediation measures, such as increasing the manholes’ self-weight, roughening the sidewalls, were examined using centrifuge modeling in this study. It was found that such measures had little effect in the aftershocks despite their effectiveness in the precedent mainshock. In contrast, the methods that mitigates manhole uplift by enhancing the manhole’s base permeability, demonstrated better performance in the aftershock than in the mainshock, indicating its promising application potential in future mitigation design.

Pressure-induced metallization and enhanced photoelectric activity in layered tin disulfide

Two-dimensional layered metal dichalcogenides have given rise to considerable interest in electronics and optoelectronics fields because of their excellent physical and chemical properties and promising applications. Tin disulfide (SnS2) is an important member of them due to its environment-friendly and resource-rich characteristics. Here, a series of in situ electrical transport experiments and photocurrent measurements under high pressure have been performed to investigate the electrical and opto-electrical properties of 4H-SnS2. With increasing pressure, the electrical resistivity of 4H-SnS2 decrease significantly, leading to a transition from semiconducting to metallic state above 58.6 GPa. The increase in pressure results in a substantial enhancement in photoelectric activity, indicating the extensive potential of utilizing pressure as a trigger for in situ optoelectronic applications. Combined with our previous results of x-ray diffraction and optical absorption at high pressure, pressure-induced structural distortion, bandgap narrowing, metallization, and enhancement of photoelectric activity of 4H-SnS2 are tunable and reversible, which are of great significance for both fundamental research and device design.

Preparation of functionalized boron nitride nanosheets by one-step method for improving the thermal conductivity of polymers

Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) with high thermal conductivity (TC) have promising applications in the thermal conduction. However, the preparation of BNNSs is cumbersome and BNNSs are prone to aggregation in the polymer matrix, which reduces the efficient enhancement for the TC of BNNSs/polymer composite. Herein, we propose a one-step method for the simultaneous exfoliation and functionalization of BNNSs with polymer latex as an agent. The obtained WPU-BNNSs displayed as few-layers with sizes of 100-500 nm and were mixed with WPU matrix as filler. The results demonstrated that the BNNSs/WPU composites have higher TC than the h-BN/WPU with the same filler content. When the filler content reached 50%, its TC was 251.4% higher than that of pure WPU. The excellent TC arose from the outstanding dispersion uniformity of WPU-BNNSs in the matrix. This study provides an economical and efficient method of fabricating BNNSs-based thermal conductive composite materials.

Nanocomposites and their application in antimicrobial packaging.

The advances in nanocomposites incorporating bioactive substances have the potential to transform the food packaging sector. Different nanofillers have been incorporated into polymeric matrixes to develop nanocomposite materials with improved mechanical, thermal, optical and barrier properties. Nanoclays, nanosilica, carbon nanotubes, nanocellulose, and chitosan/chitin nanoparticles have been successfully included into polymeric films, resulting in packaging materials with advanced characteristics. Nanostructured antimicrobial films have promising applications as active packaging in the food industry. Nanocomposite films containing antimicrobial substances such as essential oils, bacteriocins, antimicrobial enzymes, or metallic nanoparticles have been developed. These active nanocomposites are useful packaging materials to enhance food safety. Nanocomposites are promising materials for use in food packaging applications as practical and safe substitutes to the traditional packaging plastics.