Strong Concentration Research Articles

DIVERSIFICATION OF POLISH AGRI-FOOD EXPORTS

The aim of the article is to present the changes in the degree of geographical and product diversification of Polish agri-food exports in the years 2004-2022. The agri-food sector is a very important part of the Polish economy. It is also one of the few branches of the national economy that obtains a positive trade balance. The value of Polish agri-food exports reaches record levels every year. The strong concentration of Polish exports on the EU market, which accounts for over 70% of foreign sales, initially supported its development, currently is increasingly perceived as a threat to the agri-food sector in Poland. One of the most important ways to reduce risk in exports is to diversify them. The study assessed the product and geographical diversification of Polish agri-food exports based on the analysis of trade flows, the indicator of decomposition of export growth into intensive and extensive activities (based on the Amsoff matrix) and Herfindahla-Hirschmana (HHI) concentration indicators. The results of the analysis showed that the current increase in Polish agri-food exports was generated through intensive activities, i.e. increasing share of existing products in the existing market by acquiring new customers. In practice, it most often came down to lowering prices and taking advantage of the economies of scale. Currently, however, the possibilities of further competition on price are very limited. Therefore, entrepreneurs should strive to look for new markets for their products, but also to expand their offer with new or modified products with greater added value.

Carbon addition and temperature dependent tensile deformation resistance and capacity of a low-cost 3rd-generation Ni-based single crystal superalloy

A balance between the mechanical performance and castability of Ni-based single crystal superalloys is expected to be achieved by doping with appropriate carbon content. In this study, the influences of carbon content on the tensile properties of a novel low-cost 3rd-generation Ni-based single crystal superalloy at 760 °C and 1120 °C were investigated. Results showed that minor carbon addition could slightly increase the strength and plasticity of the experimental alloy at 760 °C, whereas it led to the decrease of strength and plasticity at an elevated temperature of 1120 °C. This variability was discussed in terms of the microscopic resistance for dislocation movement and the macroscopic deformation capacity associated with damage accumulation. It was found that the solid solution strength and interface strength were enhanced with increasing carbon content, however, the strength at high temperature was compromised by the enormous consumption of refractory elements, even though the precipitation of blocky M6C carbides provided additional hindrance. As for the macroscopic deformation capacity, interdendritic carbides could hinder the extension and/or trigger the activation of slip bands at 760 °C. Nonetheless, the initiation tendency and propagation behavior of microcracks at 1120 °C were facilitated due to the strong stress concentration and severe deformation incompatibility of interdendritic carbides. Overall, future compositional optimization should focus on reducing the formation of Ta-enriched MC carbides to minimize the loss of refractory element reinforcement and the reduction of deformability at high temperatures.

Spatial Scales of Kinetic Energy in the Arctic Ocean

AbstractDespite the importance of the Arctic Ocean for the large‐scale circulation and climate, there is still a knowledge gap in our understanding of the spatial characteristics of the Arctic Ocean circulation, especially for the mesoscale. This paper investigates the spatial characteristics of the Arctic Ocean circulation using a simulation with 1 km horizontal resolution. We revealed that there are two peaks in the kinetic energy (KE) spectral density at the 400 m depth, one at the gyre scale of the Arctic Circumpolar Boundary Current (centered at 1,700–2,000 km), and the other associated with the mesoscale (at about 60 km). However, at the 70 m depth, the boundary currents tend to mask the spectrum peak associated with the mesoscale. The KE spectrum exhibits a power‐law scaling typical for ocean eddies. We found that about 80% (50%) of the KE is on scales smaller than 100 km (30 km). The maximum KE content is in the 10–20 km scale band in most of the eddy‐rich regions of the abyssal ocean. The seasonality of the KE spectrum and KE content inside the Arctic Ocean follow the seasonality of eddy activity and baroclinicity, with low values in spring and maxima in late summer to autumn, and the seasonal variation is stronger at the 70 m depth than the 400 m depth. The strong concentration of KE on the very small spatial scales warrants future studies on energy transfer between scales in the Arctic Ocean.

Climate variability, trend, and associated risks: Tana sub-basin, Ethiopia

Abstract The study focused on analyzing the variability and trends of climate parameters in the Tana sub-basin. Various statistical methods and indices were employed to assess precipitation and temperature patterns in the region. The findings indicated a statistically non-significant increasing trend in rainfall across the sub-basin, with values ranging from 1.64 to 5.37 mm/year. In terms of temperature, there was an increasing trend observed, but it was also not statistically significant. The seasonality index ranged between 0.87 and 1.03, indicating different rainfall distribution patterns. In 36.69% of the sub-basin, rainfall occurs in marked seasonal patterns with a long dry season, and the remaining (63.31%) is concentrated in 3 or fewer months, indicating a different rainfall distribution pattern. In addition, the study assessed the precipitation concentration and found that 57.5% of the rainfall data exhibited a strong irregular concentration, 41.5% showed an irregular concentration, and 1% exhibited a moderate concentration. The study underscores the presence of climate variability and trends in the Tana sub-basin, emphasizing the need to align agricultural and water resource management practices with the observed climate variability.

Assessment of the Polluting Status of Sludge from a Physicochemical Water Purification Unit and Their Impacts on the Soil: Case of the Yato Station (Littoral-Cameroon)

The Yato physicochemical water purification station is located in Dibombari District Council in the Littoral-Cameroon region. It is one of the largest drinking water production stations in the Central African sub-region. This work aims to evaluate, through the quantification of the concentrations of Trace Metal Elements (TMEs), the polluting status of the sludge from this drinking water production station and their impacts on the soil. To achieve this objective, mixed samples of sludge from sludge treatment ponds (taken according to the technique described in GIDS-A003 point 6 as explained in the Solid and pasty waste sampling strategy of Code of Good Practice No. 2) and samples of sludge from primary settling basins (taken in transparent bottles in polyethylene terephthalate of 1.5L) were analysed. Likewise, three soil wells were carried out and soil samples were taken on two levels of alteration then sent to the laboratory where physicochemical and TME analyses were carried out. The characteristics of the samples that were analysed are: particle size, texture (sand, silt, clay), physiochemistry (pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, phosphorus, nitrogen) and TME (chromium, copper, zinc, manganese). The results obtained show that the polluting status of the sludge from the Yato station is proven because their pollution index by heavy metals is greater than 1. The pollution index greater than 1 in the sludge from the treatment basins is due to the strong concentrations of TME originating from the accumulation of waste of all kinds in this location. Overall, TME concentrations in soils decrease for the most part from the surface towards depth. All the TMEs studied (Zn, Mn, Cu, Cr) are present in all horizons. There is multiple contamination of sludge by TMEs because their pollution index is greater than 1 (IP>1). Although the sludge pollution indices are greater than 1, those of the different horizons are much lower than 1. Thus, since the TMEs decrease with depth, the subsurface horizons would be less affected by the pollutants contained in the station sludge. marking a real pollution of the surface layers.

Hematological Analysis of Red Bader Fish (Barbonymus altus) as a Biomarker in Assessing Pollution Status in Brantas River, Surabaya, East Java

The Brantas River has many functions for both humans and the aquatic organisms in it. The type of fish that is often found in the Brantas River in Surabaya is the red bader fish (Barbonymus altus). Hematology is a sensitive parameter and can be used as a marker in assessing water conditions. The aim of this research is to analyze the hematological profile of red bader fish (Barbonymus altus) to assess the condition of the Brantas River, Surabaya. The research was carried out at 3 locations on the Brantas River in Surabaya with 3 sampling times with an interval of 1 month starting in January – March 2022. The parameters observed were water quality (temperature, TSS, TDS, pH, DO, BOD, ammonia and heavy metals Hg) and hematological parameters (erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocytes and micronuclei). Analysis of the relationship between water quality parameters and hematology using the Correspondence Correlation Analysis (CCA) method. The results show that there are water quality parameters that do not meet quality standards and there are abnormal hematological parameters. CCA analysis shows that there is a correlation between water quality and hematological parameters with moderate concentrations (erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit) and strong concentrations (leukocytes and micronuclei).

Targeting of essential mycobacterial replication enzyme DnaG primase revealed Mitoxantrone and Vapreotide as novel mycobacterial growth inhibitors.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading cause of mortality after COVID-19, with a global death toll of 1.6 million in 2021. The escalating situation of drug-resistant forms of TB has threatened the current TB management strategies. New therapeutics with novel mechanisms of action are urgently required to address the current global TB crisis. The essential mycobacterial primase DnaG with no structural homology to homo sapiens presents itself as a good candidate for drug targeting. In the present study, Mitoxantrone and Vapreotide, two FDA-approved drugs, were identified as potential anti-mycobacterial agents. Both Mitoxantrone and Vapreotide exhibit a strong Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of ≤25μg/ml against both the virulent (M.tb-H37Rv) and avirulent (M.tb-H37Ra) strains of M.tb. Extending the validations further revealed the inhibitory potential drugs in ex vivo conditions. Leveraging the computational high-throughput multi-level docking procedures from the pool of ~2700 FDA-approved compounds, Mitoxantrone and Vapreotide were screened out as potential inhibitors of DnaG. Extensive 200 ns long all-atoms molecular dynamic simulation of DnaGDrugs complexes revealed that both drugs bind strongly and stabilize the DnaG during simulations. Reduced solvent exposure and confined motions of the active centre of DnaG upon complexation with drugs indicated that both drugs led to the closure of the active site of DnaG. From this study's findings, we propose Mitoxantrone and Vapreotide as potential anti-mycobacterial agents, with their novel mechanism of action against mycobacterial DnaG.

Influence of a large commercial airport on the ultrafine particle number concentration in a distant residential area under different wind conditions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Exposure to ultrafine particles has a significant influence on human health. In regions with large commercial airports, air traffic and ground operations can represent a potential particle source. The particle number concentration was measured in a low-traffic residential area about 7 km from Frankfurt Airport with a Condensation Particle Counter in a long-term study. In addition, the particle number size distribution was determined using a Fast Mobility Particle Sizer.The particle number concentrations showed high variations over the entire measuring period and even within a single day. A maximum 24 h-mean of 24,120 cm−3 was detected. Very high particle number concentrations were in particular measured when the wind came from the direction of the airport. In this case, the particle number size distribution showed a maximum in the particle size range between 5 and 15 nm. Particles produced by combustion in jet engines typically have this size range and a high potential to be deposited in the alveoli. During a period with high air traffic volume, significantly higher particle number concentrations could be measured than during a period with low air traffic volume, as in the COVID-19 pandemic.A large commercial airport thus has the potential to lead to a high particle number concentration even in a distant residential area. Due to the high particle number concentrations, the critical particle size, and strong concentration fluctuations, long-term measurements are essential for a realistic exposure analysis.

A Theoretical Analysis of DeepWalk and Node2vec for Exact Recovery of Community Structures in Stochastic Blockmodels.

Random-walk-based network embedding algorithms like DeepWalk and node2vec are widely used to obtain euclidean representation of the nodes in a network prior to performing downstream inference tasks. However, despite their impressive empirical performance, there is a lack of theoretical results explaining their large-sample behavior. In this paper, we study node2vec and DeepWalk through the perspective of matrix factorization. In particular, we analyze these algorithms in the setting of community detection for stochastic blockmodel graphs (and their degree-corrected variants). By exploiting the row-wise uniform perturbation bound for leading singular vectors, we derive high-probability error bounds between the matrix factorization-based node2vec/DeepWalk embeddings and their true counterparts, uniformly over all node embeddings. Based on strong concentration results, we further show the perfect membership recovery by node2vec/DeepWalk, followed by K-means/medians algorithms. Specifically, as the network becomes sparser, our results guarantee that with large enough window size and vertex number, applying K-means/medians on the matrix factorization-based node2vec embeddings can, with high probability, correctly recover the memberships of all vertices in a network generated from the stochastic blockmodel (or its degree-corrected variants). The theoretical justifications are mirrored in the numerical experiments and real data applications, for both the original node2vec and its matrix factorization variant.

Exposure assessment during paint spraying and drying using PTR-ToF-MS.

Spraying is a common way to distribute occupational products, but it puts worker's health at risk by exposing them to potentially harmful particles and gases. The objective of this study is to use time-resolved measurements to gain an understanding of spray applications at the process level and to compare them to predictions of exposure models. We used proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) at 1-s time resolution to monitor the gas phase concentration of the solvents acetone, ethanol, butyl acetate, xylene and 1-methoxy-2-propy acetate during outdoor spraying and indoor drying of metal plate under various conditions of outdoor air supply. We found that during spraying, gas-phase exposure was dominated by the more volatile solvents acetone and ethanol, which exhibited strong concentration variations due to the outdoor winds. During drying, exposure strongly depended on the strength of ventilation. Under conditions with high supply of outdoor air, our measurements show a near-exponential decay of the solvent concentrations during drying. Conversely, under conditions without outdoor air supply, the drying process required hours, during which the less volatile solvents passed through a concentration maximum in the gas phase, so that the exposure during drying exceeded the exposure during spraying. The concentrations measured during spraying were then compared for each of the substances individually with the predictions of the exposure models ECETOC TRA, Stoffenmanager, and ART using TREXMO. For these conditions, ECETOC TRA and Stoffenmanager predicted exposures in the measured concentration range, albeit not conservative for all solvents and each application. In contrast, ART largely overestimated the exposure for the more volatile solvents acetone and ethanol and slightly underestimated exposure to 1M2PA for one spraying. ECETOC TRA and ART do not have options to predict exposure during drying. Stoffenmanager has the option to predict drying together with spraying, but not to predict the drying phase independently. Our study demonstrates the importance of considering both the spray cloud and solvent evaporation during the drying process. To improve workplace safety, there is a critical need for enhanced exposure models and comprehensive datasets for calibration and validation covering a broader range of exposure situations.

A novel electrochemical flow-cell for operando XAS investigations in X-ray opaque supports.

Improvement of electrochemical technologies is one of the most popular topics in the field of renewable energy. However, this process requires a deep understanding of the electrode-electrolyte interface behavior under operando conditions. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is widely employed to characterize electrode materials, providing element-selective oxidation state and local structure. Several existing cells allow studies as close as possible to realistic operating conditions, but most of them rely on the deposition of the electrodes on conductive and X-ray transparent materials, from where the radiation impinges the sample. In this work, we present a new electrochemical flow-cell for operando XAS that can be used with X-ray opaque substrates, since the signal is effectively detected from the electrode surface, as the radiation passes through a thin layer of electrolyte (∼17 μm). The electrolyte can flow over the electrode, reducing bubble formation and avoiding strong reactant concentration gradients. We show that high-quality data can be obtained under operando conditions, thanks to the high efficiency of the cell from the hard X-ray regime down to ∼4 keV. We report as a case study the operando XAS investigation at the Fe and Ni K-edges on Ni-doped γ-Fe2O3 films, epitaxially grown on Pt substrates. The effect of the Ni content on the catalytic performances for the oxygen evolution reaction is discussed.

Interfacial vorticity dynamics for Navier–Stokes–Korteweg system: General theory and application to two-dimensional near-wall cavitation bubble

A theory of interfacial vorticity dynamics is developed for the single-component liquid–vapor flows described by the Navier–Stokes–Korteweg equations. The non-ideal equation of state and surface capillarity are collectively considered via the chemical potential gradient force. Explicit formulas of the interfacial enstrophy and chemical potential fluxes are derived to elucidate their generation mechanisms from the interface, which are expressed by using the fundamental surface physical quantities. Then, the transport equation of the Lamb dilatation (namely, the Lamb vector divergence) is rigorously derived, generalizing the previous results of the Lamb-vector dynamics for single-phase incompressible viscous flows. The derived results are evaluated in a near-wall cavitation bubble combined with the van der Waals equation of state. The roles of surface shear stress and vorticity, surface chemical potential gradient, surface acceleration, surface stretching-shrinking motion and dilatational waves are emphasized in generating the interfacial enstrophy and chemical potential fluxes, featured by the strong vorticity concentration, interface deformation and inward-propagating microjet due to the longitudinal pressure difference. These distinct dynamical features observed near the bubble interface are well captured by the spatial distribution of the Lamb dilatation. Analyzing the dynamics of the Lamb dilatation based on the transport equation demonstrates the significance of the high-curvature rotating surface region and its vicinity in view of their dominance to the unsteady diffusion effect of the Lamb dilatation. The present exposition could provide new physical insights into liquid–vapor flows from the perspective of interfacial vorticity dynamics.

EC conversion for 1:5 extracts and standard saturated soil–water pastes in the assessment of arid land salinization: Classical methodologies revisited

The common assessment of soil salinity posits a linear function, which transfers the electrical conductivity (EC) of highly diluted extracts to the standard state of soil paste. Our study examines this assumption and explains its limitations in a wide range of EC for highly saline soils of the Aral region in Uzbekistan. For a comparative EC assessment in the liquid phase from standard soil pastes and 1:5 aqueous extracts we used portable EC–meters. The dependences of EC, total dissolved solids (TDS), and soil–water potential on the pore water content were evaluated using centrifugation to separate the liquid phase from the soil matrix. The non-linearity of the relationship between the EC of water from soil pastes and 1:5 water extracts for both average and median data over a broad (0.4–160 dS/m) range of their variation is detected. A strong retention and concentration of electrolytes in fine pores and water films resistant to vacuum extraction, as well as the nonlinear EC versus TDS relationship in highly saline soils are attributed to this nonlinearity. A comprehensive statistical analysis showed that despite the general non-linearity, in the EC range from 0 to 30–35 dS/m, the results for 1:5 extract can be reliably converted to the standard state using the dilution model for the liquid phase of the soil with one basic parameter of soil bulk density. For hypersaline soils (EC > 30–35 dS/m), conversion based on the dilution theory is unacceptable due to a strong underestimation of TDS.

Solar driven thermal responsive polyionic liquid/PDDA semi-IPN hydrogel for near-room temperature membrane-free osmotic desalination

The designed thermally responsive polyionic liquid (TPIL)/ poly (diallyl dimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) hydrogel with a semi-interpenetrating (semi-IPN) structure, containing highly charged chloride anions, was fabricated to explore the comprehensive capabilities of solar driven membrane-free osmotic desalination. Introducing linear PDDA polyelectrolyte with higher charge density has effectively excluded salt ions from entering the TPIL hydrogel matrix due to the strong charge concentration gradient established between the hydrogel and the saline reservoir. Meanwhile, the thermo-sensitivity of the polyionic liquid/PDDA semi-IPN (PNCl) hydrogel enabled the release of absorbed salt-depleted water at a temperature above the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST). The multiple purification process established by partial submersion of PNCl hydrogel in saline enabled continual reduction of the salt ion concentration during the upwards transportation of water along the polyelectrolyte network. Moreover, a mushroom-shaped hydrogel demonstrated enhanced the effectiveness in long-term cyclic desalination. The “mushroom cap” was loaded with photo-thermal conversion fillers (Ti3C2Tx MXene) to achieve higher photo-thermal conversion efficiency for water recovery. A record high salt rejection rate of more than 93% was obtained for membrane-free osmotic desalination. More importantly the whole desalination/water absorption/release process was solely supported by gently heating the PNCl hydrogel under the illumination of renewable solar energy.

Evaluation of Antifungal Resistance in Candida albicans Associated to Vaginal Candidiasis

Introduction: Candida albicans is one of the opportunistic pathogenic fungi that cause candidiasis in women between the ages of 20 and 35. This infection is commonly observed, particularly in pregnant individuals and those with weakened immune systems. Candida have the ability to create a biofilm on mucous membranes, which reduces the effectiveness of antifungal medications. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of antifungal medications in inhibiting the production of biofilms by C. albicans.
 Methods: Candida albicans was obtained from 40 female patients diagnosed with candidiasis, specifically married women between the ages of 20 and 40, at Jayapura General Hospital in Indonesia. The antifungal medicines utilized in this investigation include amphotericin at a concentration of 10% and fluconazole at a dosage of 50 mg. Antifungal susceptibility was assessed using the microdilution technique on Mueller-Hinton agar. The crystal violet assay (CV) was used in microtiter plates to measure how much biofilm was formed.
 Results: Indicative inhibitory halo diameters of 1 cm and 1.5 cm from the antifungal susceptibility test show that C. albicans demonstrated reduced sensitivity to fluconazole and amphotericin B at low concentrations. At high concentrations, the inhibitory halo diameter was between 0.08 cm and 2.3 cm.
 Conclusion: C. albicans demonstrated reduced sensitivity to fluconazole and amphotericin B at low concentrations and had moderate biofilm formation and antifungal susceptibility against all tested products at lower and stronger concentrations.

A bioengineered anti-VEGF protein with high affinity and high concentration for intravitreal treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration.

Intravitreal (IVT) injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) has greatly improved the treatment of many retinal disorders, including wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), which is the third leading cause of blindness. However, frequent injections can be difficult for patients and may lead to various risks such as elevated intraocular pressure, infection, and retinal detachment. To address this issue, researchers have found that IVT injection of anti-VEGF proteins at their maximally viable concentration and dose can be an effective strategy. However, the intrinsic protein structure can limit the maximum concentration due to stability and solution viscosity. To overcome this challenge, we developed a novel anti-VEGF protein called nanoFc by fusing anti-VEGF nanobodies with a crystallizable fragment (Fc). NanoFc has demonstrated high binding affinity to VEGF165 through multivalency and potent bioactivity in various bioassays. Furthermore, nanoFc maintains satisfactory chemical and physical stability at 4°C over 1 month and is easily injectable at concentrations up to 200 mg/mL due to its unique architecture that yields a smaller shape factor. The design of nanoFc offers a bioengineering strategy to ensure both strong anti-VEGF binding affinity and high protein concentration, with the goal of reducing the frequency of IV injections.

Metagenomic insight into the acidophilic functional communities driving elemental geochemical cycles in an acid mine drainage lake

Acidophiles play a key role in the generation, evolution and attenuation of acid mine drainage (AMD), which is characterized by strong acidity (pH<3.5) and high metal concentrations. In this study, the seasonal changes of acidophilic communities and their roles in elemental cycling in an AMD lake (pH∼3.0) in China were analyzed through metagenomics. The results showed eukaryotic algae thrived in the lake, and Coccomyxa was dominant in January (38.1%) and May (33.9%), while Chlorella in July (9.5%). The extensive growth of Chlamydomonas in December (22.7%) resulted in an ultrahigh chlorophyll a concentration (587 μg/L), providing abundant organic carbon for the ecosystem. In addition, the iron-oxidizing and nitrogen-fixing bacterium Ferrovum contributed to carbon fixation. Ammonia oxidation likely occurred in the acidic lake, as was revealed by archaea Ca. Nitrosotalea. To gain a competitive advantage in the nutrient-poor environment, some acidophiles exhibited facultative characteristics, e.g. the most abundant bacterium Acidiphilium utilized both organic and inorganic carbon, and obtained energy from organic matter, inorganic sulfur, and sunlight simultaneously. It was suggested that sunlight, rather than chemical energy of reduced iron-sulfur was the major driver of elemental cycling in the AMD lake. The results are beneficial to the development of bioremediation strategies for AMD.

Fabrication of an Azithromycin Sensor.

Azithromycin (AZY) is a well-known top-prioritized antibiotic and is used by humans in strong concentrations. However, the side effects of the AZY antibiotic may cause some serious and significant damage to humans and the environment. Thus, there is a need to develop effective and sensitive sensors to monitor accurate concentrations of AZY. In the last decade, electrochemistry-based sensors have received enormous attention from the scientific community because of their high sensitivity, selectivity, cost-effectiveness, fast response, rapid detection response, simple fabrication, and working principle. It is important to mention that electrochemical sensors rely on the properties of electrode modifiers. Hence, the selection of electrode materials is of great significance when designing and developing efficient and robust electrochemical sensors. In this study, we fabricated an AZY sensor by utilizing a molybdenum disulfide/titanium aluminum carbide (MoS2@Ti3AlC2) composite as the electrode material. The MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite was synthesized via a simple sonication process. The synthesized MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite was characterized using a powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) method to examine the phase purity and formation of the MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the surface morphological features of the prepared MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite, whereas energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) was adopted to determine the elemental composition of the prepared MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite. The glassy carbon (GC) electrode was modified with the prepared MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite and applied as the AZY sensor. The sensing performance of the MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite-modified GC electrode was studied using linear sweep voltammetry. The sensor demonstrated excellent performance when determining AZY and showed a good detection limit of 0.009 µM with a sensitivity of 6.77 µA/µM.cm2.

Optical absorption driven by efficient refraction and light concentration for photovoltaic applications

Broadband absorption of the solar spectrum is a prerequisite to any photovoltaic technology. Subwavelength arrays are known to provide various mechanisms for broadband and omnidirectional absorption of the solar spectrum. In the current work we examine optical absorption in NP arrays decorated with SiO2 quasi-nanolenses (qNL arrays), which numerically exhibit 10–15 % increase in broadband absorption. Specifically, near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) is employed to probe the underlying optical absorption mechanisms. Two NSOM methods are employed for the investigation: 1) far-field imaging using near-field excitation which allows the determination as to the origin of the reflected far-field photons, and 2) far-field excitation and near-field scanning to measure the lateral optical propagations in the arrays. We show that the enhanced optical absorption in qNL arrays is due to combination of three mechanisms: 1) each qNL serves as an effective anti-reflection coating, 2) the presence of qNLs increases the optical interactions between the adjacent dielectrics to conclude elevated levels of light trapping, and 3) the presence of qNL induces strong light concentration of the incoming radiation into the dielectric structures.

Presence and consequences of positive words in scientific abstracts

s are the showcase of scientific studies, crafted to make an impression on the reader within a limited space and to determine the amount of attention each study receives. Systemic conditions in the sciences may change the expressive norm and incentive scientists to hype abstracts to promote their work and career. Previous studies found that terms such as “unprecedented”, “novel” and “unique” have been used increasingly in recent history, to describe one’s own research findings. The present study investigates the use of valence-loaded scientific jargon in the abstracts of scientific articles. Sentiment analysis with dictionaries specifically attuned to detect valence-loaded scientific jargon was employed to analyze more than 2,300,000 MEDLINE abstracts from the fields of psychology, biology, and physics. Results show that over the last four decades, abstracts have contained an increasing amount of valence-loaded scientific jargon, as previously observed in earlier studies. Moreover, our results reveal that the positive emotional content of abstracts is increasing in a way that cannot be accounted for by the increase in text length, which has also been observed in the same time period. There were small differences between scientific disciplines. A detailed analysis of the distribution of valence-loaded scientific jargon within abstracts reveals a strong concentration towards the end of the text. We discuss these results in light of psychological evidence relating positive emotions with the propensity to overestimate the value of information to inform judgment and the increase in the competition for attention due to a pressure to publish.