Significant Enhancement Research Articles

Recent Progress in the Composites of Perovskite Nanocrystals and II-VI Quantum Dots: Their Synthesis, Applications, and Prospects

Abstract: The remarkable photoelectric characteristics of perovskite nanocrystals (NCs), including high fault tolerance, tunable photoluminescence (PL) emission, and high carrier mobility, contribute to making them especially attractive for photonic and optoelectronic applications. Unfortunately, the poor environmental thermal and light stability set obstacles to their industrial applications. Over the past 40 years, II-VI semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have achieved many important photophysics findings and optoelectronic applications. Compared with perovskite NCs, II-VI semiconductor QDs still have a relatively weaker molar absorbance coefficient. Whereas, significant enhancement of both the stability and the optical performance of the composites of perovskite NCs and II-VI QDs are of interest for photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices. The composites of perovskite NCs and II-VI QDs come in two primary types: core/shell structures and heterojunction structures. To better understand the composites of perovskite NCs and II-VI QDs, the approaches of synthesis methods, their optoelectronic properties, carrier dynamics and potential applications in solar cells, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodetectors are summarized. Furthermore, the unmet problems and the potential applications are also presented.

Molecular Insights into the Variability in Infection and Immune Evasion Capabilities of SARS-CoV-2 Variants: A Sequence and Structural Investigation of the RBD Domain.

As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants continuously emerge, an increasing number of mutations are accumulating in the Spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) region. Through sequence analysis of various Variants of Concern (VOC), we identified that they predominantly fall within the ο lineage although recent variants introduce any novel mutations in the RBD. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to compute the binding free energy of these variants with human Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Structurally, the binding interface of the ο RBD displays a strong positive charge, complementing the negatively charged binding interface of ACE2, resulting in a significant enhancement in the electrostatic potential energy for the ο variants. Although the increased potential energy is partially offset by the rise in polar solvation free energy, enhanced electrostatic potential contributes to the long-range recognition between the ο variant's RBD and ACE2. We also conducted simulations of glycosylated ACE2-RBD proteins. The newly emerged ο (JN.1) variant has added a glycosylation site at N-354@RBD, which significantly weakened its binding affinity with ACE2. Further, our interaction studies with three monoclonal antibodies across multiple SARS-CoV-2 strains revealed a diminished neutralization efficacy against the ο variants, primarily attributed to the electrostatic repulsion between the antibodies and RBD interface. Considering the characteristics of the ο variant and the trajectory of emerging strains, we propose that newly developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 RBD should have surfaces rich in negative potential and, postbinding, exhibit strong van der Waals interactions. These findings provide invaluable guidance for the formulation of future therapeutic strategies.

Abstract 2732: NB203: A Novel therapeutic bispecific antibody targeting CEACAM1/VEGF for tumor immunity and angiogenesis modulation in the tumor microenvironment

Abstract The carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) is detected on leukocytes, epithelia and endothelia, and involved in cell adhesion through homophilic or heterophilic binding. In various gastrointestinal cancers, NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer), and melanoma, CEACAM1 is highly expressed on tumor cells and tumor stroma, with its levels increasing as the disease progresses. Notably, CEACAM1 has been found to dampen T and NK cell functions while promoting tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. In this study, we present NB203, a novel CEACAM1/VEGF bispecific antibody developed using Neologics CEACAM-plus, a bifunctional molecule engineering platform designed to target and modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME). NB203 effectively accumulated in the TME and hindered the homophilic or heterophilic interactions of CEACAM1. It demonstrated a significant enhancement in T cell activities and NK cell-mediated killing of CEACAM1-expressing tumor cells, and the inhibition of tumor cell migration and polyploidy through macrophages. More importantly, NB203 was specifically designed to impede tumor angiogenesis. It exhibited an increased binding capacity to both CEACAM1 and VEGF in pro-angiogenic TME, and undermined intratumoral vessel maturation by blocking VEGF and negatively regulating myeloid cell-dependent tumor angiogenesis. In summary, our preclinical data indicate that NB203 exhibits effective anti-tumor activity by mediating NK and cytotoxic T cell activities, improving the immune-suppressive TME, and suppressing tumor angiogenesis. The use of NB203 holds promise in overcoming resistance to anti-VEGF therapy and substantially improving the safety of therapeutic targeting of angiogenesis in cancer treatment. Citation Format: Jinyu Dong, Binbin Wang, Dong Wang, Jie Ni, Tingting Bu, Haojie Wang, Bishnu Nayak, Baiyang Wang, Xin Dong, Yu Zhang. NB203: A Novel therapeutic bispecific antibody targeting CEACAM1/VEGF for tumor immunity and angiogenesis modulation in the tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2732.

Abstract 1909: Advancing a novel tubulin-inhibitor ADC technology: The Adcentrx auristatin platform offers enhanced efficacy and safety profiles compared to vedotin technology

Abstract Auristatins represent an important class of anti-mitotic antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) payloads with potent cytotoxic effects on rapidly dividing cancer cells. Most notably, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) stands as the most extensively validated compound, laying the foundation for the vcMMAE (vedotin) linker-payload technology that has contributed to the approval of several ADCs, including brentuximab vedotin, polatuzumab vedotin-piiq, tisotumab vedotin-tftv, and enfortumab vedotin-ejfv. However, while these first-generation ADCs have paved the way for a paradigm shift in cancer treatment away from traditional chemotherapy, there remains a discernible opportunity for improvement in both efficacy and safety. In this context, we introduce the Adcentrx auristatin platform, which substantially expands the therapeutic window of auristatin-ADCs beyond the vedotin technology. Through systematic exploration, we have synthesized >100 proprietary auristatin analogues with a range of distinctive properties. We identified optimized linker-payloads by strategically pairing lead payload candidates with our proprietary i-ConjugationTM, an irreversible, stable cysteine conjugation technology, and fine-tuned linkers. The resulting ADCs with a drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of 8 were extremely hydrophilic with excellent in vivo pharmacokinetics, and sustained DAR retention for a period of 21-days. Comparative assessments against vedotin-ADCs revealed that Adcentrx-ADCs demonstrated superior efficacy across multiple targets and indications in various mouse xenograft models. In Sprague-Dawley rats, Adcentrx-ADCs exhibited remarkable tolerability, albeit their high drug loading of 8. In summary, our preclinical studies underscore the significant enhancement in the therapeutic index achieved by the Adcentrx auristatin platform. Furthermore, this technology presents a promising alternative mode of action to camptothecins, exhibiting tolerance to targets expressed in non-proliferative normal tissues but without the burden of severe dose-limiting toxicities such as interstitial lung disease. Citation Format: Dong Jun Lee, Sabine Rottmann, Anna Wang, Peter P. Challita, Andrew M. Hau, Wes Sisson, Mario M. Kuo, Kris Zhang, Monica Leung, Alexis Mahloch, Erin Nye, Paul Datta, Sam Janssen, Felipe Acosta, Oscar Betancourt, Maria Shahmoradgoli, Alexander Chu-Kung, MaoJun Guo, Pia M. Challita-Eid, Hui Li. Advancing a novel tubulin-inhibitor ADC technology: The Adcentrx auristatin platform offers enhanced efficacy and safety profiles compared to vedotin technology [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1909.

Dual-TranSpeckle: Dual-pathway transformer based encoder-decoder network for medical ultrasound image despeckling

The majority of existing deep learning-based image denoising algorithms mainly focus on processing the overall image features, ignoring the fine differences between the semantic and pixel features. Hence, we propose Dual-TranSpeckle (DTS), a medical ultrasound image despeckling network built on a dual-path Transformer. The DTS introduces two different paths, named “semantic path” and “pixel path,” to facilitate the parallel transfer of feature information within the image. The semantic path passes a global view of the input semantic features, and the image features are passed through a Semantic Block to extract global semantic information from pixel-level features. The pixel path is employed to transmit finer-grained pixel features. Within the dual-path network framework, two essential modules, namely Dual Block and Merge Block, are designed. These leverage the Transformer architecture during the encoding and decoding stages. The Dual Block module facilitates information interaction between the semantic and pixel features by considering the interdependencies across both paths. Meanwhile, the Merge Block module enables parallel transfer of feature information by merging the dual path features, thereby facilitating the self-attention calculations for the overall feature representation. Our DTS is extensively evaluated on two public datasets and one private dataset. The DTS network demonstrates significant enhancements in quantitative evaluation results in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity (SSIM), feature similarity (FSIM), and naturalness image quality evaluator (NIQE). Furthermore, our qualitative analysis confirms that the DTS has significant improvements in despeckling performance, effectively suppressing speckle noise while preserving essential image structures.

Extraordinary stability of surfactant‐free bubbles suspended in ultrasound

AbstractGravity‐induced drainage is one of the main destabilizing mechanisms for soap bubbles and foams. Here we show that solely through acoustic levitation without introducing any chemical stabilizers, liquid drainage in the bubble film can be completely inhibited, therefore leading to a significant enhancement of bubble lifetime by more than two orders of magnitude and enabling the bubble to survive puncturing by a needle. Based on sound simulation and force analysis, it has been found that acoustic radiation force, exerted on both the inner and outer surfaces of the levitated bubble, acts in opposite directions, thus providing a squeezing effect to the bubble film. The hydrostatic pressure that induces drainage has been balanced by the acoustic radiation pressure exerted on both sides of the film, which is at the origin of the sound stabilization mechanism. This study provides new insights into the interplay between sound and soap bubbles or films, thus stimulating a wide range of fundamental research concerning bubble films and expanding their applications in bio/chemical reactors.

Enhancement of the rheological, dynamic mechanical, and morphological properties of thermoplastic natural rubber based on NR/PP blends using ENR/PP-g-MA as a compatibilizer

This study investigates the effects of incorporating a 50/50 blend of Epoxidized Natural Rubber/Polypropylene-grafted maleic anhydride (ENR/PP-g-MA) as a compatibilizing agent (CA) for a 70/30 Natural Rubber/Polypropylene (NR/PP) thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) on the technical properties such as structural analysis, rheological, dynamic mechanical and morphological properties. Formulations with varying CA concentrations (5 to 15 phr) were prepared using a Brabender plasticorder at 180°C for 10 min. The structural analysis was examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). The rheological behavior was examined using a Rubber Process Analyser (RPA). The dynamic mechanical properties were investigated by DMA. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used for the morphological examination. FTIR analysis confirmed reactions between the MA group in PP-g-MA and the epoxy groups in ENR, resulting in ENR-grafted PP with an ester and acid-based linkage. This reaction was evident during compatibilizer preparation. RPA results showed increased viscosity for both types of CAs compared to their individual values, confirming crosslinking reactions. Higher CA concentrations led to elevated viscosity and storage modulus. DMA results indicated that the compatibilization led to a significant enhancement in the storage modulus of the blends. Moreover, an increase in the glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the blends was produced. AFM examination revealed a more homogenous distribution of the dispersed PP phase for the CA-containing blends compared to the control NR/PP system.

CdS nanorods decorated with non-precious metal Bi spheres for photocatalytic hydrogen production

It is well known that precious metals decoration strategies can effectively improve the charge separation efficiency. Unfortunately, the high price limits their large-scale application. Nevertheless, the cheap transition metal Bi has a similar effect as precious metals. Therefore, we take a simple solvothermal method to reduce and aggregate Bi3+ into bismuth nano-spheres (Bi0). CdS nanorods were modified with Bi spheres to create a hybrid material called x% Bi–CdS, which combines a metal and a semiconductor for photocatalytic hydrogen production. The results of the experiment indicate that the hydrogen evolution rate of the 5% Bi–CdS sample is 1501.52 μmol g−1 h−1, which is 4.2 times greater than that of pure CdS nanorods. This significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the presence of Bi spheres, which induce a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect. This effect boosts the absorption of visible light and enhances the separation efficiency of charge carriers. The study not only provides a solution for the preparation of low-cost CdS-based materials, but also confirms the feasibility of inexpensive Bi metals to replace precious metals as co-catalysts to improve the photocatalytic efficiency.

Combined Covalent and Supramolecular Polymerization to Reinforce Perylenebisimide Photosynthetic "Quantasomes".

PSII-inspired quantasomes have emerged as promising artificial photosystems evolving oxygen from water due to their integrated multi-chromophore asset, hierarchical architecture, and efficient light-harvesting capabilities. In this study, we adopt a combined covalent and supramolecular strategy by implementing a poly-styrene backbone that reinforces proximity and pairing between adjacent perylenebisimide (PBI) quantasome units. The covalent fixation of the quantasome network results in a significant enhancement of the photoelectrocatalytic performance on engineered IO-ITO photoanodes, with up to 290 % photocurrent increase (J up to 100 μA cm-2, λ >450 nm, applied bias <1.23 V vs RHE, F.E.O2 >80 %) compared to the non-polymerized analog. Moreover, the direct PBI-quantasome polymerization on the photoanode surface was performed by light irradiation of the radical initiator 2,2'-Azobis(2-methylpropionamidine), improving the photoelectrode robustness under high solar irradiance (>8 suns) and limiting the photocurrent loss (<20 %) at 1.52 V vs RHE compared to the non-polymerized system.

Suture Net Technique for Mid-face Superficial Fat Compartments Restoration.

Facial fold and groove formation is influenced by the ptosis of the superficial fat compartments in the mid-face region. This study aimed to design a facial rejuvenation technique that targets sagging of the mid-face fat compartments and achieves a youthful facial configuration. A total of 102 patients underwent suture net restoration. Each specific ptosis fat compartment was carefully lifted and held at the regional facial ligaments to effectively restore volume distribution. Patient outcomes were evaluated through preoperative and postoperative photography comparison, 3-D photographic analysis, and postoperative evaluations. Significant mid-cheek rejuvenation was observed. The procedure resulted in a remarkable, 10.89% increase in malar projection. The nasolabial fold improved by at least 1 grade in 61.43% of the patients and by at least 2 grades in 37.14%. A total of 87.65% of the patients expressed high satisfaction or satisfaction with the outcomes of the procedure. By specifically targeting the mid-face ptosis fat compartments, the technique demonstrated significant enhancements of both the nasolabial fold and the malar projection. The results indicate that this novel technique holds promise as an efficient approach for satisfactorily addressing facial aging concerns.

Experimental investigation and optimization of process parameters on digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing process based on Taguchi-grey relational analysis

Additive manufacturing technology, specifically Digital Light Processing (DLP), offers a unique approach to fabricating intricate objects without the need for traditional molds or machining. The technique described entails the incremental construction of layers through the curing process polymer, facilitated by a projection light source. Digital Light Processing 3D printing is particularly suited for creating complex structures with small cross-sections, requiring high surface polish and durability. In this study, DLP-printed test coupons were produced using an Ultraviolet-sensitive resin, and the investigation focused on examining the impact of surface quality and toughness, adhering to guidelines outlined by the ASTM specifications. To optimize the DLP printing process, Taguchi and Grey relational optimization techniques were employed to find the best values for multiple factors. The parameters considered in this study were speed, layer thickness, orientation, and pattern type. By employing these techniques, the optimal parameters were identified as follows: The printing process is conducted at a speed of 3 mm per second, with each layer being 0.05 mm thick and the orientation of the printed object is set at 90 degrees, and the pattern employed is of the square type. Experimental results revealed that utilizing these parameters yielded a surface roughness of 2.58 µm and an impact strength of 9.1J. The results showed that the Grey relational grade improved from 0.6244 to 0.7974, with a deviation of 0.173 and 27.71%, indicating a significant enhancement in the optimization process. Additionally, contour plots depicting the relationships between speed and orientation, speed and layer thickness, and orientation and layer thickness were generated for surface roughness, impact strength, and the Grey relational grade. This research offers valuable insights into optimizing DLP 3D printing processes to achieve enhanced surface quality, toughness, and material efficiency while reducing costs and production time.

Improving water desalination: Sustainable grafted cellulose acetate reverse osmosis membrane from Egyptian cotton

AbstractCellulose diacetate (CDA) and triacetate (CTA) were derived from Egyptian cotton to fabricate reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. The Pphase inversion method was utilized for the production of CDA‐based membranes. Comprehensive characterization of these membranes involved structural, morphologial, and hydrophilic property analyses through techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements. NMR spectra indicated a degree of substitution of 2.9 for CTA and 2 for CDA. The resulting RO membrane demonstrated a water flux of 6.1 L/m2·h and a salt rejection of 90.3%. Annealing led to an enhanced top layer with reduced defects and macrovoids in the support layer. Moreover, grafting the RO membranes with 15 wt% of 2‐acrylamidopropane‐2‐methyl sulphonic acid improved salt rejection to 96.2% and water flux to 8.7 L/m2.h. These findings underscore the significant performance enhancements achieved through both annealing and grafting processes in RO membranes.

Uncovering Structural Evolution during the Dealloying Process in Pt-Based Oxygen-Reduction Catalyst.

The comprehensive understanding toward the dealloying process is crucial for designing alloy catalysts employed in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the specific leaching procedure and subsequent reconstruction of the dealloyed catalyst still remain unclear. Herein, we employ in situ X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy to monitor the dealloying process of a two-dimensional PtTe ordered alloy, known for its enhanced ORR activity. Our findings reveal the unsynchronous evolutions of Pt and Te sites, wherein the Pt component undergoes a structural transformation prior to the complete leaching of Te, leading to the formation of a defect-rich Pt catalyst. This dealloyed catalyst exhibits a significant enhancement in ORR activity, featuring a half-wave potential of 0.90 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode and a mass activity of 0.62 A mgPt-1, outperforming the performance of commercial Pt/C counterpart. This in-depth understanding of the dealloying mechanism enriches our knowledge for the development of high-performance Pt-based alloy catalysts.

Modelling and simulation of MR damper characterization and uncertainty assessment in marine engine vibration isolation with FLPID control

ABSTRACT This paper meticulously examines the magneto-rheological (MR) damper to exploring its application in a semi-active isolator system. The MR damper’s distinctive capability to regulate damping force through an externally applied magnetic field is investigated via extensive experimental testing. Sinusoidal displacement inputs with varying electromagnet currents reveal a direct correlation between higher current levels and augmented MR damper forces. Validation of the experimental results is achieved through the Viscous Plus Dahl Model, showcasing its accuracy in capturing the damper’s hysteresis behavior. The study extends its scope to practical implementation by integrating the MR damper into a marine diesel engine system. A fuzzy logic-based self-tuning PID controller collaborates with the MR damper to establish a semi-active vibration isolator. The integrated model, encompassing primary and secondary masses, the engine, and the isolator with passive and semi-active systems, is rigorously analyzed. Experimental validation and theoretical simulations, aligned with data gathered from experiments, affirm the model’s fidelity in representing the MR damper. Simulation outcomes underscore the significant enhancement in vibration reduction characteristics of the semi-active isolator system compared to its passive counterpart, particularly evident in the improved performance of the 1200 kg engine under diverse operating conditions.

Harvard Medical School Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Course: What is the Global Impact? Three Year’s Results

Purpose: This paper describes and documents an innovative blended learning Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery certificate training course. This course combines a two-week face-to-face training in Orvieto, Italy with a five-month follow-up online virtual training as a learning experience for global health care practitioners. Continuing medical education (CME) accreditation is offered upon completion. This course utilized an innovative blended learning model with a community of practice approach, a combination of lectures and discussions, and online in-depth group case study discussions. Methodology: Data was collected by self-reported anonymous evaluation by participants of three continuous years of the CME Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery certificate training course sponsored by Harvard Medical School. One hundred fifty-five participants (n= 39 in 2011; n = 57 in 2012; n=59 in 2013) underwent a pre- and post-course evaluation to determine sustained confidence in performing medical and psychiatric care to traumatized patients and communities, as well as to determine their learning of the Global Mental Health Action Plan (GMHAP). Results: Over the course of three independent years, a total of 155 participants were evaluated. There was evidence for significant improvement in their confidence levels in all clinical areas (diagnosis; treatment of trauma; use of psychotropic medication) when comparing baseline to completion of the six-month course. All ten dimensions of the GMHAP and nine medical and psychiatric aspects of treatment revealed significant improvement in confidence levels. Regression analysis also indicated similar results after the adjustment of demographic covariates. Physicians and participants with mental health and social work background had significantly higher confidence. Participants who were MD’s or psychiatrists had higher confidence in most of the categories of confidence except for self-care, understanding culture, collaboration, and policy and financing. The model showed no difference in learning based upon gender and level of development of country of origin. Conclusion: The evaluation of this blended learning CME program provides evidence of significant enhancement of clinical practice and planning skills in health care practitioners working with highly traumatized patients and communities worldwide. This successful training over the past 18 years has gone far to achieve the health and mental health capacity building as requested by the Ministers of Health from post-conflict societies in the historic Rome meeting in 2004.

Optimization and Impact Assessment of Technology Management of Solar Energy in Rwanda

There is a rarity of research about technology management in the solar energy industry in Rwanda and very little analysis is available on the effectiveness of the technology used in solar home systems (SHSs). Using a binary logistic regression to primary data collected through Kobo Collect, this study assesses the factors that are involved in SHS business in Rwanda. The findings reveal a difference in successfully collecting money from customers who purchase SHSs on an installment payment plan concerning the type of SHS (i.e. pay-as-you-go (PAYG) and non-pay-as-you-go (non-PAYG)). In terms of the odds ratio concept, a statistical interpretation was provided. If the customer has a non-PAYG SHS, getting a reminder from the solar energy company’s agent will increase by 9.52 times. That means, it is 9.52 times higher for the non-PAYG SHS as compared to a customer with PAYG SHS. The results also show that the multicollinearity assumptions for the economic, social, technological, and management models are not violated and are optimal because each of the variance inflation factors (VIFs) was close to unity. However, only the socialization predictors were not significant enhancements in the goodness-of-fit relative to the intercept-only model. The Nagelkerke R2 indicates only an average (49.5%) relationship between the prediction and grouping of the modified economic pricing model. The Hosmer–Lemeshow measures indicate that the models in this research are optimal and good fits for the data studied. Furthermore, the predicted success overall performance for the economic, social, technological, and managerial models was 73.2% on average. The Wald criterion equally demonstrated that only the monthly installment amount (with and without outliers), type of SHS, and payment channel made significant contributions to the prediction optimization problem. Therefore, the solar energy companies in Rwanda need to rely on the findings of studies like this to successfully manage customers’ accounts optimally.

Achieving Bright and Long-Lived Aqueous Room-Temperature Phosphorescence of Carbon Nitrogen Dots Through In Situ Host-Guest Binding.

The development of bright and long-lived aqueous room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials holds paramount importance in broadening the application scope of RTP material system. However, the conventional RTP materials usually exhibit low efficiency and short lifetime in aqueous solution. Herein, an in situ host-guest strategy is proposed to achieve cyanuric acid (CA)-derived phosphorescent carbon nitrogen dots (CNDs) composite (CNDs@CA) that demonstrates a significant enhancement of both quantum yield (QY) and lifetime mediated by water. Detailed investigations reveal that the robust hydrogen bonding networks between CNDs@CA and water effectively stabilize triplet excitons and suppress nonradiative decays, as well as facilitate efficient energy transfer from CA to CNDs, thereby prolonging the lifetime and enhancing the efficiency of RTP. The phosphorescent QY and lifetime of CNDs@CA can be increased to 26.89% (3.9-fold increase) and 951.25ms (5.5-fold increase), respectively, with the incorporation of 50 wt% water under ambient conditions. Even in fully aqueous environments (with up to 400 wt% water added), CNDs@CA exhibits persistent water-boosted RTP properties, demonstrating exceptional stability. The robust water-boosted RTP property of CNDs@CA in aqueous solutions presents significant potential for high signal-to-noise ratio afterglow bioimaging as well as advanced information encryption.

Hydrothermally Synthesized Z-Scheme Nanocomposite of ZIF-9 Modified MXene for Photocatalytic Degradation of 4-Chlorophenol.

4-Chlorophenol (4CP) is a well-known environmental contaminant often detected in wastewater, generally arising from industrial processes such as chemical manufacture, pharmaceutical production, and pesticide formulation. 4CP is a matter of great concern since it is persistent and has the potential to have harmful impacts on both aquatic ecosystems and human health, owing to its hazardous and mutagenic properties. Hence, degradation of 4CP is of utmost significance. This research investigates the photocatalytic degradation of 4CP using a novel Z-scheme heterojunction nanocomposite composed of MXene and ZIF-9. The nanocomposite is synthesized through a two-step hydrothermal method and thoroughly characterized by using XRD, SEM, UV-visible spectroscopy, zeta potential, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies, confirming successful fabrication with improved surface properties. The comparative photocatalytic degradation studies between pristine materials and the nanocomposite were performed, and significant enhancement in performance was observed. The effect of pH on the degradation efficiency is also explored and correlated with the surface charge. The Z-scheme photocatalysis mechanism is proposed, which is supported by time-resolved photoluminescence studies and scavenger experiments. The reusability of the nanocomposite is also evaluated. The study contributes to the development of efficient and sustainable photocatalysts for wastewater treatment.

Investigating the Ideal Combination of Virgin Cotton Fibre Length with Recycled Fibre for Better Yarn Quality

This study examines the effects of blending virgin cotton fibres of selected lengths with a fixed percentage of recycled fibres on yarn quality. By choosing three different lengths of virgin cotton fibres and incorporating 20% recycled fibre, we investigate the resultant yarn properties through detailed statistical analysis. Our research identifies significant enhancements in yarn quality with increased virgin fibre length, offering new insights into effective fibre blending strategies. This investigation supports the textile industry in refining fibre blend ratios for improved yarn qualities while advocating for sustainable practices through the utilization of recycled fibres. It sets the stage for future exploration aimed at optimizing the balance between virgin and recycled fibres to achieve superior yarn characteristics.

Enhanced Piezoelectric Energy Harvester by Employing Freestanding Single‐Crystal BaTiO3 Films in PVDF‐TrFE Based Composites

AbstractAdvancements in wearable electronics and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors have catalyzed the need for effective micro‐energy harvesting. Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) are ideal due to their high conversion efficiency and durability. However, the contrast between the high piezoelectric coefficients of brittle inorganic ceramics and the lower coefficients of superior flexibility and biocompatibility of organic polymers poses a significant challenge. This work introduces a novel multilayer composite PENG, integrating a single‐crystal BaTiO3 (BTO) film between poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene) (PVDF‐TrFE) layers. The PVDF‐TrFE/BTO/PVDF‐TrFE PENGs demonstrate substantially improved energy harvesting performance, with outputs reaching up to 15.1 V, 2.39 µA, and power density of 17.33 µW cm−2 during bending deformation. This power density represents a significant increase compared to pure PVDF‐TrFE and nanoparticle BTO‐doped PVDF‐TrFE PENGs. Durability tests show consistent performance, with a stable ∼15.0 V output across 2000 bending cycles. Additionally, when attached to the human body, these PENGs efficiently convert body motions into electrical responses. This work demonstrates a significant enhancement in the performance of PENGs using sandwich‐structured composite of PVDF‐TrFE and freestanding single‐crystal BTO films, showing its potential to address the power requirements of wearable and flexible electronic devices.