Materials Science Research Articles

Education, propaganda, and visual discourse in socialist Romania (1948–1989)

ABSTRACT The official discourse during the communist regime in Romania (1948–1989) has not been paid much attention by researchers and the official visual discourse, addressing adults and children, even less so. My study aims to address this research gap and identify the identity markers of the Romanian territory during socialism by exploring spatial representations and the territorial identity that were produced through official visual imagery. Using qualitative discourse analysis and critical visual methodology, I analyse the visual construction, through discourse, of themes and places created starting with the 1950s and were featured repeatedly during the 1970s and 1980s Romania (the period of national communism), and which constructed and highlighted traits of the country’s territorial identity. To achieve the research aim, I explore three types of research materials and ways of realising spatial education and socialisation through (propaganda) images or a visual pedagogy of space: (1) photographs in three textbooks about the Geography of Romania – a tool in educating people’s representations of their homeland, (2) official (state-produced and distributed) picture postcards reflecting progress during socialist Romania, and (3) comics about work and class identities in Cutezătorii [The Daring Ones] youth magazine – a tool in the edutainment of Romanian communist pioneers. These three official visual discourses were part of a coherent cultural visual discourse about the socialist nation, pervading representations about Romania, about its urban area, and about who the Romanians were meant to have been. This plural discourse was constructed through the visual intertextuality of these three widely distributed media.

Atomically resolved imaging of the conformations and adsorption geometries of individual β-cyclodextrins with non-contact AFM

Glycans, consisting of covalently linked sugar units, are a major class of biopolymers essential to all known living organisms. To better understand their biological functions and further applications in fields from biomedicine to materials science, detailed knowledge of their structure is essential. However, due to the extraordinary complexity and conformational flexibility of glycans, state-of-the-art glycan analysis methods often fail to provide structural information with atomic precision. Here, we combine electrospray deposition in ultra-high vacuum with non-contact atomic force microscopy and theoretical calculations to unravel the structure of β-cyclodextrin, a cyclic glucose oligomer, with atomic-scale detail. Our results, established on the single-molecule level, reveal the different adsorption geometries and conformations of β-cyclodextrin. The position of individual hydroxy groups and the location of the stabilizing intramolecular H-bonds are deduced from atomically resolved images, enabling the unambiguous assignment of the molecular structure and demonstrating the potential of the method for glycan analysis.

Enhancing Water Lubrication in UHMWPE Using Mesoporous Polydopamine Nanoparticles: A Strategy to Mitigate Frictional Vibration.

Establishing a persistent lubrication mechanism and a durable tribo-film on contact surfaces is identified as crucial for improving the tribology and vibration characteristics of polymer materials under water-lubricated conditions. This study focuses on enhancing tribological performance and reducing frictional vibrations in ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) through the incorporation of mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) nanoparticles. In the experiments, MPDA nanoparticles were synthesized and blended with UHMWPE to create UHMWPE/MPDA composites. The interactions between these composites and zirconia (ZrO2) ceramic balls under water lubrication were examined. The results show that when the MPDA content of the composite is 1.5 wt %, the coefficient of friction and wear rate are reduced by 40% and 52% compared with those of pure UHMWPE, respectively. This notable enhancement helped to mitigate friction-induced vibrations, particularly those caused by intermittent sticking and slipping motions. MPDA nanoparticles were shown to act as reservoirs for water, releasing and replenishing water based on the loading conditions, which sustained continuous water-based lubrication at the composite surfaces. Additionally, the surface deformation behavior of the composite material is significantly weakened, which provides a more stable friction surface. This work introduces a novel approach to enhance the interface stability of polymers in water-lubricated environments, offering guidance for developing advanced materials and reducing friction and wear in engineering applications.

Review of Surface Treatment Technology for Improving Wear Resistance of Magnesium Alloys

Background: As the lightest metal structural material in engineering, magnesium alloy has excellent mechanical properties, such as high specific strength, high specific stiffness, good damping performance, and good machinability. It is widely used in the fields of precision parts, automobiles, aerospace, and military. However, poor friction and wear performance are significant magnesium defects of the alloys, which make its use limited in some areas with high working conditions, so it is essential to improve the wear resistance of the magnesium alloy surface. Objective: The aim of this study was to summarize the technology of improving the wear resistance of magnesium alloy in recent year. The influence of different surface treatment technology for enhancing friction and wear properties was also analyzed, which could provide a reference for related scholars and researchers. Method: In this paper, the literature related to friction and wear properties of magnesium alloys in recent years were reviewed, the principles of various surface treatment technology of magnesium alloys were explained, and the advantages and disadvantages of each technology were analyzed. Results: Based on the literature analyses related to the wear resistance of magnesium alloys, the problems existing in the surface treatment technology for improving the wear resistance of magnesium alloys are summarized, and future development directions are put forward. Conclusion: Among the technologies to improve the wear resistance of magnesium alloys, the combination of various techniques can better meet the working demands. The environmentally friendly and efficient manner has a good prospect for development.

Recent Progress for the Synthesis of Pyrrole Derivatives – An Update

Abstract: Pyrrole is a versatile heterocyclic moiety exhibiting a wide range of pharmacological actions with high therapeutic value. The importance of pyrrole in the pharmaceutical field lies in its versatility, selectivity, and biocompatibility, and these properties make it a valuable tool for drug design and development. The pyrrole moiety is a fundamental building block for many biologically active molecules and has gathered significant attention in the fields of medicinal and organic chemistry; hence, its synthesis has been a crucial area for research. There are various conventional as well as modern approaches to acquiring a series of pyrrole scaffolds, with a wide range of attractive features and drawbacks pertaining to each approach. An extensive amount of literature must be studied to compare the best synthetic routes. This article highlights the applications of pyrrole derivatives in various fields, such as drug discovery, material science, and catalysis, and provides an overview of modern synthetic pathways that include metals, nanomaterials, and complex heterogeneous catalysed methods for pyrrole derivatives. Special emphasis is given to the use of green chemistry principles like green solvent-based methods, microwave-aided methods, and solvent-free methods in the synthesis of pyrroles, with the recent developments and prospects in the synthetic and organic chemistry fields. Overall, this review article provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis of pyrroles and complies with all the possible developments in the synthetic routes for pyrroles within 2015– 2022. Among all, the reactions catalysed by proline, copper oxides, and oxones have been shown to be the most effective synthetic route for pyrrole derivatives at mild reaction conditions and with excellent yields. This information will be helpful for researchers interested in the development of new pyrrole-based compounds. The categorization in this review provides an easy means for the reader to rationally select the best possible synthetic method for pyrrole derivatives.

Transport-of-intensity differential phase contrast imaging: defying weak object approximation and matched-illumination condition

Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) has emerged as a promising label-free imaging technique with growing importance in biomedical research, optical metrology, materials science, and other fields. Partially coherent illumination provides resolution twice that of the coherent diffraction limit, along with improved robustness and signal-to-noise ratio, making it an increasingly significant area of study in QPI. Partially coherent QPI, represented by differential phase contrast (DPC), linearizes the phase-to-intensity transfer process under the weak object approximation (WOA). However, the nonlinear errors caused by WOA in DPC can lead to phase underestimation. Additionally, DPC requires strict matching of the illumination numerical aperture (NA) to ensure the complete transmission of low-frequency information. This necessitates precise alignment of the optical system and limits the flexible use of objective and illumination. In this study, the applicability of the WOA under different coherence parameters is explored, and a method to defy WOA by reducing the illumination NA is proposed. The proposed method uses the transport-of-intensity equation through an additional defocused intensity image to recover the lost low-frequency information due to illumination mismatch, without requiring any iterative procedure. This method overcomes the limitations of DPC being unable to recover large phase objects and does not require the strict illumination matching conditions. The accurate quantitative morphological characterization of customized artifact and microlens arrays that do not satisfy WOA under non-matched-illumination conditions demonstrated the precise quantitative capability of the proposed method and its excellent performance in the field of measurement. Meanwhile, the phase retrieval of tongue slices and oral epithelial cells demonstrated its application potential in the biomedical field. The ability to accurately recover phase under a concise and implementable optical setup makes it a promising solution for widespread application in various label-free imaging domains.

Comments: Running Hot and Cool for a Power Boost

_ Have data center operators become the major proponents of nuclear power? A flurry of recent announcements suggests so. But three major industry players are leveraging their oil and gas expertise to offer another process to help data center operators run their sites more sustainably—immersion cooling liquids. Nuclear power took top billing in the past 2 months with Amazon and nuclear reactor company X-Energy announcing a collaboration to bring online more than 5 GW of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the US by 2039. Google and Kairos Power will collaborate to deploy 500 MW with SMRs by 2030. Kairos will build them, then sell energy and ancillary services to Google under power purchase agreements (PPA). Microsoft has an eye on the restart of the retired 835-MW Three Mile Island Unit 1 and signed a 20-year PPA with Constellation Energy which owns the plant and plans to finance the work required with the PPA, its largest ever. These early plans could boost the available power supply while lowering carbon emissions, but hurdles remain. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must approve commercial deployment; SMRs are in relatively early stages and regulatory frameworks are evolving; the need for public acceptance; and the NRC comes into play again to regulate the management and disposal of radioactive nuclear waste. In other words, this will not be a speedy solution. Immersion Cooling for Data Centers—Shell, ExxonMobil, and BP Although the practice of liquid cooling isn’t a new concept in the oil and gas industry which uses water, oil, cooling towers, seawater, and engineered liquids to handle heat in various processes and plants, data center operators are exploring the use of a muscle car version—immersion cooling. Immersion cooling is gaining broader attention and consideration. Data Center Frontier called it “ready for its big moment.” The Cleantech Group forecasts that the market for immersion cooling could grow from $270 million to $2.54 billion by 2032. The process entails submerging servers with modified hardware into a bath of nonconductive liquid (e.g., fans are removed, protective coatings are applied, a controlled temperature range of the liquid is maintained) to allow the heat generated by components to be transmitted into the fluid and cooled using either a single-phase or two‑phase method. In the single-phase process, a thermally conductive dielectric liquid is used. It is circulated through immersion tanks, using pumps, to an external heat exchanger, then it is returned to the tanks. The two-phase method is more complicated. The dielectric fluid is one that will change from a liquid to a gas at a relatively low temperature (lower than the operating temperature of the electronic components). Because the immersion fluid has a low boiling point, the boiling causes the fluid to change state, from liquid to gas. This phase change is an efficient method of removing heat due to the vaporization process. As immersion cooling gains traction as a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional air cooling, major energy companies are stepping in to drive innovation in this technology. Shell, ExxonMobil, and BP, each with their own specialized immersion cooling fluids and collaborative ventures, are helping to advance the commercial adoption of immersion cooling in data centers worldwide. Shell Lubricants joined Green Revolution Cooling (GRC), one of the first companies to develop immersion cooling, as one of the first members in GRC’s ElectroSafe Fluid Partner Partner Program in 2022 and has deployed GRC Immersion Cooling Systems in its Houston data center and with partner Asperitas in a high-performance cluster (HPC) in its Amsterdam facilities. Shell’s single-phase, synthetic immersion fluid is based on its proprietary gas-to-liquids technology. It is conducting pilot programs with Microsoft and Alibaba in China and working with Infosys to create an integrated immersion cooling system. ExxonMobil launched its “portfolio of synthetic and nonsynthetic fluid” last October. In April 2024, the company announced it is working with Intel to develop new liquid cooling technologies for data centers. BP’s lubricant subsidiary, Castrol, is offering a range of single-phase immersion cooling fluids. It is working with Submer on future fluids and has set up a UK test center for potential customers at its headquarters. Castrol joined the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) to study thermal management and materials science using RISE’s data center test bed. Immersion cooling may deliver efficiency gains and lower power demand at a lower cost than newbuild nuclear power, but will it be enough? Or is it a stopgap until power generation ramps up? Note: I’m pleased to announce that Trent Jacobs has been promoted to the position of JPT managing editor and will be this column’s new voice starting with our December issue.

Invariant solutions, lie symmetry analysis, bifurcations and nonlinear dynamics of the Kraenkel-Manna-Merle system with and without damping effect

This work investigates the Kraenkel-Manna-Merle (KMM) system, which models the nonlinear propagation of short waves in saturated ferromagnetic materials subjected to an external magnetic field, despite the absence of electrical conductivity. The study aims to explore and derive new solitary wave solutions for this system using two distinct methodological approaches. In the first approach, the KMM system is transformed into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) via Lie group transformation. The resulting ODEs are then solved analytically using a similarity invariant approach, leading to the discovery of various types of solitary wave solutions, including bright, dark, and exponential solitons. The second approach involves applying wave and Galilean transformations to reduce the KMM system to a system of two ODEs, both with and without damping effects. This reduced system is further analyzed to investigate its bifurcation behavior, sensitivity to initial conditions, and chaotic dynamics. The analysis reveals the presence of strange multi-scroll chaotic dynamics in the presence of damping and off-boosting dynamics without damping. In addition to these approaches, the study also applies the planar dynamical theory to obtain further new soliton solutions of the KMM system. These solitons include bright, kink, dark, and periodic solutions, each of which has been visualized through 3D and 2D graphs. The results of this research provide new insights into the dynamics of the KMM system, with potential applications in magnetic data storage, magnonic devices, material science, and spintronics.

Peptaloid: A Comprehensive Database for Exploring Peptide Alkaloid.

Peptaloid is the first dedicated database for peptide alkaloid molecules, a unique class of naturally derived compounds known for their structural diversity and significant biological activities. Despite their promising potential in drug discovery and therapeutic development, research on peptide alkaloids has been limited by the absence of a comprehensive and centralized resource. Fragmented data across various sources have posed a significant challenge, underscoring the need for a specialized database to facilitate more efficient research and application. Peptaloid addresses this critical gap by providing a database with over 161,000 peptide alkaloid entries, each detailed with structural, physicochemical, and pharmacological properties. By leveraging advanced computational tools and machine learning, Peptaloid generates ADMET profiles, aiding in identifying and optimizing therapeutic candidates. Designed for versatility, the database supports various applications beyond drug discovery, including ecology and material sciences. Peptaloid (as a specialized database for peptide alkaloids) will play a crucial role in innovation and collaboration across scientific disciplines. Peptaloid is accessible at https://peptaloid.niser.ac.in.

Electronic, thermodynamic, NLO, and spectroscopic properties of OAFLC compounds via DFT: A focus on 1F6B, 1F6Bi, 1F6BiN, and 1F6BN

This study presents a comprehensive quantum mechanical investigation of four novel liquid crystalline compounds: 1F6B, 1F6Bi, 1F6BiN, and 1F6BN. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) with the B3LYP functional and 6-311G(d,p) basis set, we optimized the molecular geometries and analyzed their electronic and vibrational properties. Atomic Polar Tensor (APT) charge analysis showed significant charge distributions. Electrostatic potential (ESP) mapping identified potential reactive sites, while Electron Localization Function (ELF) and Localized Orbital Locator (LOL) analyses depicted the electron density distributions. Thermodynamic parameters indicated the compounds’ vibrational stability and responsiveness to thermal changes. Non-linear optical (NLO) properties were characterized by significant dipole moments and polarizabilities, suggesting potential in optoelectronic applications. Frontier molecular orbital analysis indicated stability with HOMO-LUMO gaps ranging from 4.15 to 4.64 eV. UV–Vis spectra revealed key electronic transitions, while Raman spectroscopy detailed various vibrational modes. The study offers valuable insights into the molecular behavior of these compounds, laying the groundwork for their future applications in material science and advanced technologies.

Heat transfer analysis of hybrid nanofluid under the effects of surface roughness along with velocity and thermal slips

AbstractSurface roughness has a great impact on the peristaltic motion of nanofluid flow and plays an important role in engineering, manufacturing, and material sciences. During tissue engineering, imaging techniques, implant surface finish, surgical instrument texture, and tissue engineering, and so forth. This study explores the effects of electrical double layers, surface roughness, velocity slip, and thermal slip to investigate the heat transfer rate of cobalt and alumina nanoparticles with water through uniform and nonuniform horizontal tubes. In the present study, the Jeffrey nanofluid flow model is chosen to investigate the heat transfer phenomenon of hybrid nanofluids based on alumina and cobalt nanoparticles suspension in water. The effects of electroosmosis, surface roughness, viscous dissipation, heat source/sink parameter, velocity, and thermal slips are also under consideration during the peristaltic motion of hybrid nanofluid in uniform and nonuniform tubes. The mathematical software MATHEMATICA 13.3 is utilized to find the exact solution and graphical results to investigate the complicated flow behavior. It is noticed that the velocity near the walls of the tube is lower for the surface roughness parameter and higher in the core part. The behavior of velocity for the remaining parameter is the opposite. The temperature of the current fluid flow increases for all parameters except the surface roughness parameter. The effects of velocity for hybrid nanofluid are prominent as compared with nanofluid in the core part. The temperature profile and heat transfer rate for hybrid nanofluids are lower as compared with nanofluids, which shows the cooling effects. This study is beneficial for hyperthermia, gene therapy, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.

Asymmetric Carbene Insertion into Se-S Bonds by Synergistic Rh(II)/Guanidine Catalysis Involving Chalcogen-Bond Assistance.

The efficient construction of chalcogen-atom-based chiral compounds remains a challenge, despite the importance of organoselenium and organosulfur compounds in life and materials science. Chalcogen atoms can form net attractive interactions called chalcogen bonds, but it is an undeveloped tool to assist asymmetric catalysis. Herein, we report an enantioselective insertion platform to install a stereogenic center bearing selanyl and thiocyano functional groups. Our method operates by synergistic catalysis by a chiral guanidine and an achiral dirhodium complex in a three-component or four-component reaction, through Se-S bond insertion into carbene species, competing successfully with the spontaneous racemic process and showing high regioselectivity. As elucidated by spectroscopic experiments and computational studies, a unique mechanism involving chalcogen as well as hydrogen bonding was established to account for the enantiocontrol. The high stereoselectivity holds for a broad array of selanylthiocyanatopropanoates, which showed excellent anti-inflammatory toward IL-1β and low cytotoxicity.

Formal meta-C-H-Fluorination of Pyridines and Isoquinolines through Dearomatized Oxazinopyridine Intermediates.

Organofluorine compounds, including fluorinated pyridines and isoquinolines, play a crucial role in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials science. However, step-economic selective C-H-functionalization to access these fluorinated azaarenes is still underexplored, with selective meta-C-H-fluorination proving to be especially elusive. Here we present a practical method for formal meta-C-H-fluorination of pyridines and isoquinolines. By applying an oxazinoazaarene-based temporary pyridine dearomatization strategy with Selectfluor as an electrophilic F-source, fluorination of pyridines was achieved with exclusive C3-selectivity in moderate to good yields. The same strategy can also be applied to the formal meta-C-H-fluorination of isoquinolines. Late-stage-functionalization of drugs, drug precursors, and ligands as well as a large-scale one-pot dearomatization-fluorination-rearomatization reaction further demonstrate the synthetic utility of this approach.

Synergetic Interplay of MnNi-MOF Composite with 2D MXene for Improved Supercapacitor Application

The growing demand for high-performance energy storage systems has driven the development of advanced materials to improve supercapacitor efficiency. In this study, MXene-MnNi nanocomposites are synthesized and evaluated for their potential as next-generation supercapacitor electrodes. The MnNi alloy, known for its excellent pseudocapacitive properties, is combined with MXene, a two-dimensional material recognized for its exceptional conductivity, mechanical robustness, and large surface area. The uniform dispersion of MnNi and MXene achieved through a straightforward hydrothermal method, optimizes charge transfer and enhances electrochemical performance. Electrochemical testing demonstrates that the 100 MX-MN nanocomposite exhibits a high specific capacity of 1028 C g-1 at 1 A g-1, along with excellent rate capability and long-term stability, outperforming many conventional materials. This outstanding performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of MnNi’s redox activity and MXene’s high conductivity, which together increase active site availability, accelerate ion diffusion, and maintain structural integrity. Additionally, a hybrid aqueous device is assembled using 100 MX-MN as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode. The device delivers a maximum energy density of 87.35 W h kg-1 at a power density of 1.98 kW kg-1 and exhibits excellent capacity retention of 88 % after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles. These findings highlight the potential of MXene-MnNi nanocomposites as advanced materials for supercapacitor applications, offering a promising path for more efficient energy storage solutions in modern electronic devices.

The development and perspectives of fundamental research on chemistry of energetic materials

The development and perspectives of fundamental research on chemistry of energetic materials

Metal-organic frameworks based on pyrazolates for the selective and efficient capture of formaldehyde

Indoor air pollution is one of the major threads in developed countries, notably due to high concentrations of formaldehyde, a harmful molecule difficult to eliminate. Addressing this purification challenge while adhering to the principles of sustainable development requires the use of innovative, advanced sustainable materials. Here we show that by combining state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques with density-functional theory molecular simulations, we have developed an advantageous mild chemisorption synergistic mechanism using porous metal (III or IV) pyrazole- di-carboxylate based metal-organic framework (MOF) to trap formaldehyde in a reversible manner, without incurring significant energy penalties for regeneration. A straightforward, environmentally friendly, and scalable synthesis protocol was established for the porous, water-stable aluminum pyrazole dicarboxylate known as Al-3.5-PDA or MOF-303, capable of functioning as a highly efficient and reusable filter. It demonstrates selectivity and high storage capacity for formaldehyde under conditions typical of severe indoor use, such as in housing or vehicle cockpits, including varying VOC mixtures and concentrations, humidity, and temperature, without any accidental release. Furthermore, we have successfully regenerated this sorbent using a simple domestic protocol, ensuring the material reusability for at least 10 cycles.

Liquid crystal phase behavior of oxalated cellulose nanocrystal and optical films with controllable structural color induced by centripetal force

Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) is a sustainable bio-nanomaterial. The distinctive left-handed polarization properties render cellulose nanocrystal a promising candidate for optical film. Due to eco-friendliness, reliability, mildness and simplicity, the oxalate hydrolysis method stands out among various preparation methods for CNC. This study delved into the liquid crystal phase behavior of oxalated cellulose nanocrystal derived from pulp, and discovered the influences of CNC concentration and pH on suspension stability and phase transition, and evaluated its optical properties. The results demonstrated that oxalated CNC presented two different liquid crystal phases, the nematic phase and the cholesteric phase. The stability mechanism of CNC suspension and the regulatory principle of the liquid crystal phase transition were revealed. A novel CNC film-forming technology, the multilayer spin-coating technique, was developed for cellulose nanocrystal optical films. Driven by centrifugal force, cellulose nanocrystals were induced to self-assembly and formed the optical film with circular dichroism and structural color. This simple and efficient film-forming technology promised rapid processing (1 h) and controllable film structure and optical properties compared to traditional technologies. This work provided a theoretical understanding and practical prospects for integrating oxalated cellulose nanocrystal into sustainable advanced optical film materials.

Ultra-high-rate Manufacturing of Thermoplastic Window Plug using Hybrid Overmolding

Highly loaded complex parts are machined from a solid block of metal by removing material through cutting, boring, drilling, and grinding to obtain the three-dimensional shape. Most cases, this involves removing as much as 80 percent of the material from a billet, which is time-consuming and inefficient considering the cost of the materials. Alternatively, these complex parts can be manufactured using hybrid overmolding process which involves injecting plastics over a reinforced substrate with continuous fiber-reinforcement eliminating subtractive machining or joining of multiple parts. The substrate is typically heated using an infrared (IR) oven and preformed over a solid mold to a three-dimensional shape using thermoforming. Injection overmolding material can also be reinforced with discontinuous fibers based on the design requirements. Both thermoforming and injection molding are matured automotive ultra-high-rate manufacturing processes. Adopting these technologies to aerospace requires advanced aerospace-grade thermoplastic material systems and developing the hybrid overmolding process that combines both thermoforming and injection molding processes. Material compatibility is one of the key enablers for the fusion across the overmolded interfaces. To demonstrate the overmolding technology for an aerospace application, Victrex AE250 low-melt polyaryletherketone (LM-PAEK) system reinforced with AS4 fibers and a 30% carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) were used to overmold aircraft window plugs to be used for cargo conversion of passenger aircraft. The fully automated overmolding process was demonstrated using KraussMaffei multi-robotic thermoforming and injection molding system. Thermal and mechanical test evaluations were employed to assess the material compatibility and overall part quality. Photomicrographs and flexure tests conducted on test samples extracted from the window plugs indicated satisfactory fusion across the overmolded interface and optimized holding of PEEK materials.

Cu2SnS3/rGO nanocomposites with optimized pore structure for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Developing advanced anode materials is essential for enhancing the rate performance and stability of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which is critical for meeting the demands for next-generation energy storage solutions. In this research, Cu2SnS3/rGO nanocomposites were synthesized via a rapid microwave-assisted one-step method, followed by post-synthetic annealing. The incorporation of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) not only significantly improves its electrical conductivity, but also effectively inhibits the agglomeration of CTS nanoparticles. The nanocrystal size in the CTS/rGO nanocomposites has been dramatically downsized, transitioning from the pristine CTS dimensions of 0.9–1.5 μm to a mere 100 nm. This downsizing is a critical advancement in the electrode, as it enhances the surface area and reactivity of the composite. The subsequent high-temperature annealing process shrinks the pore size in the CTS/rGO nanocomposite, decreasing from an average of 42.13 nm to a more confined range of 7.81 to 8.77 nm, depending on the annealing temperatures. Electrochemical testing reveals that the CTS/rGO-A nanocomposite annealed at 300 °C exhibits superior electrochemical performance to the unmodified CTS and non-annealed CTS/rGO composite. The performance is evidenced by an initial capacity of 1856.97 mAh g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and retains a capacity of 1250.32 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms governing the lithium ion diffusion kinetics, capacitance and diffusion behavior of the CTS/rGO-A electrode, advanced techniques such as galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) and rate cyclic voltammetry (CV) were utilized. These analyses revealed that the synergistic effect of an increased Li+ diffusion coefficient (DLi+), coupled with a notable capacitive contribution, is demonstrated to the enhanced electrochemical performance observed. Furthermore, the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation also indicates improved structural stability of CTS/rGO-A, attributed to minimized stress from volume expansion during discharge. The CTS/rGO-A nanocomposites, featuring enhanced electrochemical performance, coupled with a straightforward and efficient fabrication method, emerge as a promising material for scalable and practical energy storage solutions.

Recent advancements and future directions in fracture related infections: A scoping review.

Fracture-related infections (FRIs) are complex challenges in orthopedic and trauma surgery, driving ongoing advancements in diagnostics, therapeutics, and management strategies. This scoping review examines recent progress and future directions in FRI management. Diagnostic enhancements encompass standardized definitions, improved biomarkers, advanced microbiological techniques, and innovative imaging modalities. Promising future diagnostics may include point-of-care testing, advanced imaging with enhanced specificity, and machine learning algorithms. Advancements in implant technology emphasize materials science, surface modifications, and personalized 3D printing, enhancing durability and antimicrobial efficacy. Immunomodulatory therapies targeting T cell dysfunction offer potential in addressing FRI chronicity. Enzybiotics and phages present promising alternatives to combat antibiotic resistance, with enzybiotics demonstrating effectiveness against biofilm-associated infections. Patient optimization, multidisciplinary approaches and specialized reference centers play vital roles in comprehensive FRI management, particularly crucial in resource-constrained settings. Collaboration and investment in research and technology are imperative for harnessing the full potential of these advancements and improving global FRI management outcomes. Addressing these complexities necessitates a multifaceted approach integrating clinical expertise, technological innovation, and global cooperation to optimize patient care and mitigate the burden of FRI worldwide.