Synergetic Effect Research Articles

Chiral Electrochemical Sensing Platform Constructed by Chiral Chitosan Materials for Enhanced Electrochemical Chiral Analysis

AbstractPolysaccharide materials have wide applications in the field of chiral recognition. Herein, a new series of chiral materials based on chiral polysaccharide were synthesized for electrochemical enantioselective recognition of tryptophan (Trp) enantiomers. Chiral recognition was investigated via differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Among poly (L‐lactide) La/hydroxyapatite chitosan (PLLHC‐X) series materials (PLLHC‐0, PLLHC‐1, PLLHC‐3, PLLHC‐7 PLLHC‐9 and PLLHC‐5), PLLHC‐5 has the best recognition efficiency. And the results reveal that the PLLHC‐5 displays a stronger interaction with L‐Trp than to that of D‐Trp. The synergetic effect of chiral recognition from chitosan and signal amplification from poly (L‐lactide) (PLLA) offered an easy‐handling and effective electrochemical approach for isomers discrimination to realize the chiral recognition of Trp enantiomers. The synergetic effect results in highly efficiency and thus opens up new directions in the field of chiral materials.

Tailoring Dynamic Chains of Cross‐Linked PDMS to Hinder Oil Penetration

AbstractPolydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the most studied organosilicon polymer, finding broad applications in soft lithography of microfluidic devices, wearable electronics insulation, medical tubing, shielding coatings, and sealant elements. However, their cross‐linked forms swell severely in nonpolar oils due to the comparable solubility parameters. Here, an oil‐stable cross‐linked PDMS discovered by grafting flexible PDMS chains onto its polymeric networks is reported, which enables surface‐exposed chains with high dynamics. It is found that the synergetic effect of mobile nanopore filling and quasi‐liquid lubrication of PDMS brushes endows the cross‐linked matrix with a reduced oil absorption ratio of up to 91.7% without altering its surface composition. Moreover, stretching polymeric networks can be re‐arranged with an adequate grafting of PDMS chains, further enhancing the antipenetration performance. This discovery of the oil‐stable surface configuration of cross‐linked PDMS breaks the constraint of siloxane elastomers not being applicable in nonpolar soluble liquid, opening a new era of research in organosilicon chemistry.

Thread-Filler: A Standardized Combination Therapy

Advanced technology and increasing knowledge about aging faces have combined to create the illusion of thread lifting to replace surgical interventions. However, results that came far beyond expectations led to a heavy suspicion of these tools. However, combined treatments with fillers would have better outcomes with a synergetic effect. In this study, 52 patients were treated with a specific thread, whereas soft tissue support was added to supervene the lifting effect of the threads. With a mean age of 48 years, these patients were treated with 3 pairs of mid and lower facial areas, and one for eyebrows. With a median amount of 5 mL fillers were added simultaneously at the same treatment plan. The follow-up period was 32 months. Assessment with a Likert Scale questionnaire revealed most of the patients (n = 42) were delighted, whereas only one patient was unsatisfied. The only unsatisfied patient experienced the most frustrating complication, which was thread removal due to infection. The literature shows unauthorized, unspecialized applications of such medical devices cause failure and loss of reliability. Therefore, the most important point of this technique is the sterile setting. Other issues that are discussed in this paper also aim to direct the reader to achieve the most benefit of these 2 techniques.

A W/Al Co-doped Na0.44MnO2 Cathode Material for Enhanced Sodium-Ion Storage.

The Na0.44MnO2 cathode has attracted enormous interest owing to its low cost, low toxicity, and stable structure, but its practical application is still hindered by the limited sodium storage sites. Element doping is widely used to improve its capacity. However, cation and anion substitution could barely reach a satisfactory compromise between the structural stability and reversible capacity. Herein, we show that the above issue could be overcome via the synergetic effect of W and Al substitution. Combining the electrochemical and in situ X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) measurements, we reveal that the substitution of W effectively facilitates the tunnel-to-layered phase transformation, while the further substitution of Al eliminates the Na+/vacancy ordering during the extraction/insertion of Na+ ions, resulting in a layered Na0.44Mn0.94W0.01Al0.05O2 (NMO-1W5Al) with negligible Na+/vacancy ordering upon cycling. In addition, NMO-1W5Al represents a wider Na+ interlayer spacing to accelerate the diffusion of Na+, which improves the rate performance. The high specific capacity, remarkable rate performance, and high cycling stability of NMO-1W5Al are promising for large-scale energy storage systems.

A Quantified Analysis of Lean First Then Automate for a Synergetic Effect

ABSTRACTLean manufacturing has become a buzzword for the past few years due to its capability to reduce waste and make the system more efficient. To meet the numerous demands of consumers, companies are moving toward Industry 4.0, which can be accomplished through automation. Prior research demonstrated a conceptual integration of lean tools' effects into automation, but it lacked a quantitative analysis. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the effects of implementing lean tools prior to automation. To get real‐time data for the analysis of applying lean and automation, an empirical study was conducted on a manufacturing line. Using ARENA simulation software, four distinct simulation models were created using the data: the current assembly line model, the model with a lean tool (Inline Quality Check), the model with only automation, and the model with lean applied first and automation applied later. The productivity of the assembly line is used to compare the results. The comparative analysis demonstrated that applying lean tools prior to automation increases productivity in automated lines. This study could assist businesses understand that, before implementing automation, they should use lean technologies to improve system efficiency. An effective system can become considerably more efficient by being automated.

Study on the synergism mechanism of composite surfactants for oily sludge treatment using microemulsion method

The nonionic surfactant was considered to be the most effective surfactant for the treatment of oily sludge. In this paper, Tween20 and Span80 (T/S) composite surfactant was chosen as emulsifier for the preparation of microemulsion, and their synergistic effect was explored. Clint equation and molecular dynamics simulation was used to interpret the formation of mixed micelles and the results showed that T/S composite surfactant with the mass ratio of 11:1 exhibited the good synergetic effect. Then, the microemulsion prepared using composite surfactants was applied for the treatment of oily sludge. Under the optimal conditions of solid-liquid ratio of 1:1(g: mL), stirring temperature of 40 °C, stirring time of 30 min and stirring speed of 400 rpm, the residual oil rate was reduced to 0.25%, which was much lower than other reported results using chemical methods. Interface tensiometer and quartz crystal microbalance measurement showed that the interfacial tension decreased significantly after the addition of composite surfactant. This work provides a feasible strategy for oily sludge treatment using microemulsion, which promoted the development of oily sludge treatment processes based on microemulsion in practical industry.

Selective Self‐Assembly of Atomically Dispersed Iron and Cobalt Dual Atom Catalyst on Anisotropic Mesoporous Carbon Particles for High Performance Seawater Batteries

AbstractNa‐seawater batteries (SWBs) are environmentally friendly energy storage system that utilizes abundant seawater as an electrolyte alternative to conventional distilled water‐based and organic electrolytes. To achieve high energy efficiency in Na‐SWBs, it is necessary to enhance the activity of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts. In this study, an atomically dispersed iron and cobalt dual‐atom nitrogen‐doped lens‐shaped mesoporous carbon (FeCo‐LMC) particles is synthesized as a SWB cathode material using the spinodal decomposition of the polymer blend and selective precursor positioning. The well‐aligned mesoporous structure and synergetic effect of the dual‐atom site realize FeCo‐LMC as a comparable bifunctional oxygen catalyst with the lowest overpotential difference (EOER−EORR) among the other catalysts with natural seawater electrolyte. When applied to the SWB system, the FeCo‐LMC shows a highly improved charge/discharge performance compared to Pt/C and a stable cycling performance for 200 h. Density functional theory calculations reveal the enhanced oxygen catalytic activity of FeCo‐LMC owing to electron delocalization and d‐band center adjustment of FeN4–CoN4 structure.

Defective biological activities of high-density lipoprotein identify patients at highest risk of recurrent cardiovascular event.

Low cholesterol efflux capacity and elevated levels of Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) are both associated with residual cardiovascular risk in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and may be used as new biomarkers to identify patients at higher cardiovascular risk. We evaluated potential synergetic effect of cholesterol efflux capacity and IL-1ß on recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at one-year in 2012 patients with acute ST- segment elevation MI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. In addition, we evaluated the contribution to residual risk of HDL biological functions from 20 patients of the two extreme subgroups, focusing on cholesterol efflux capacity and anti-inflammatory properties. Patients with MACE during the first year after the MI had significantly lower serum cholesterol efflux capacity as compared to those without recurrent events and higher level of IL-1ß, both associations were confirmed after multivariate analysis. We found an inverse relationship between CEC and circulating levels of the inflammatory markers IL-1ß, defining a very high risk (Low CEC/High IL-1ß) and a low risk (High CEC/Low IL-1ß) group of patients. Patients combining Low CEC/High IL-1ß exhibited the highest risk of recurrent MACE at one year showing an additive prognostic value of these biomarkers, regardless of all the other clinical or biological factors. In this very high-risk subgroup, patients exhibited reduced HDL-efflux capacity and defective ABCA1 and SR-BI with enhanced pro-inflammatory activity as a potential explanation for our clinical findings. Impaired cholesterol efflux capacity and elevated IL-1β synergistically increase the residual cardiovascular risk in MI patients, which could be explained by reduced HDL-efflux capacity and enhanced HDL pro-inflammatory activity.

Bilayer Boost to UV Assisted Supercapacitors: Enhanced Performance with Transparent TiO2/MoO3 Heterojunction Electrode

Photo‐assisted supercapacitor is a promising smart device component for achieving both energy conversion and storage. The photo‐assisted functionality in a supercapacitor is realized through the choice of photo responsive electrode material under suitable illumination conditions. The well‐known electrochemically active electrode materials are wide band gap semiconductors which absorb strongly in UV light. However, most of the prior studies on photo‐assisted supercapacitors used visible light. Herein, we present a transparent TiO2/MoO3 bi‐layer heterojunction made by simple solution process as an efficient electrode for photo‐assisted supercapacitors under UV light illumination. The electrochemical performance of the electrode is significantly enhanced even with a less intense (0.05mW/cm2) UV light, compared to dark as well as the single layer electrode under same illumination condition. The highest areal capacitance of 63.25 mF/cm2 at 0.1 mA/cm2 is achieved, that surpasses most of the recent relevant reports. The synergetic effect of UV illumination and the built‐in potential at the type II heterojunction interface encourages ion insertion and better collection of the photo‐generated carriers. The unique bi‐layer design also leads to better rate capability features. Thus, the work presents a new prospect for the development of transparent energy storage devices to be used in future smart technologies.

Exploring Pt-Cu synergistic effects on porous SiO2 support with different Pt loadings for low-temperature oxidation of CO and C3H6

To address the high cost of noble metals, this study aims to optimize Pt loading and the synergistic effect of Cu on porous SiO2 support for low-temperature oxidation of CO and C3H6. A simulated test bench system was used to evaluate the performance of PtxCu1/SiO2 (where x= 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1 wt%), Cu1/SiO2 and Ptx/SiO2 (where x= 0.5 and 1 wt%) catalysts with varying Pt loadings. Comprehensive characterization, including BET, XRD, SEM, TEM, and XPS was conducted to assess particle size, structure, and surface morphology. The effects of Pt incorporation on reduction and oxidation properties were further examined using H2-TPR and CO-TPD techniques. Results demonstrated a significant enhancement in catalytic activity with the addition of Cu confirming a synergistic interaction between Pt and Cu. This synergy was particularly pronounced in lower Pt loadings, where PtxCu1/SiO2 composites outperformed Ptx/SiO2 in catalytic activity. Pt addition reduced the particle size, which resulted in the creation of PtCu alloy, with 1 and 0.7 % wt Pt loading exhibiting comparable effects in CO conversion and 0.7 % Pt loading exhibiting better activity at higher temperatures in C3H6 oxidation indicating that catalytic activity was maintained even with a reduced Pt loading. Additionally, minimal difference in activity for C3H6 oxidation was observed among PtxCu1/SiO2 catalysts with 0.7, 0.5, and 0.3 wt% Pt loadings as indicated by T50 and T80 values. Reducing Pt loading from 0.7 wt% had minimal impact on catalytic efficiency for C3H6 oxidation with catalysts maintaining high activity. 0.7 wt% Pt loadings provide sufficient active sites for effective CO and HC oxidation. The enhanced catalytic activity and stability of bimetallic catalysts over monometallic Cu/SiO2 and Pt/SiO2 result from the simultaneous presence of active sites created by the synergetic effect of PtCu alloy formation with optimal ratio and well-optimized surface. These findings demonstrate the potential to optimize Pt usage without compromising catalytic performance, offering a cost-effective approach to catalyst design.

Enhancement of Water Productivity and Energy Efficiency in Sorption-based Atmospheric Water Harvesting Systems: From Material, Component to System Level.

To address the increasingly serious water scarcity across the world, sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) continues to attract attention among various water production methods, due to it being less dependent on climatic and geographical conditions. Water productivity and energy efficiency are the two most important evaluation indicators. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively and systematically summarize and discuss the water productivity and energy efficiency enhancement methods for SAWH systems based on three levels, from material to component to system. First, the material level covers the characteristics, categories, and mechanisms of different sorbents. Second, the component level focuses on the sorbent bed, regeneration energy, and condenser. Third, the system level encompasses the system design, operation, and synergetic effect generation with other mechanisms. Specifically, the key and promising improvement methods are: synthesizing composite sorbents with high water uptake, fast sorption kinetics, and low regeneration energy (material level); improving thermal insulation between the sorbent bed and condenser, utilizing renewable energy or electrical heating for desorption and multistage design (component level); achieving continuous system operation with a desired number of sorbent beds or rotational structure, and integrating with Peltier cooling or passive radiative cooling technologies (system level). In addition, applications and challenges of SAWH systems are explored, followed by potential outlooks and future perspectives. Overall, it is expected that this review article can provide promising directions and guidelines for the design and operation of SAWH systems with the aim of achieving high water productivity and energy efficiency.

Ni Nanoparticles Supported on Graphene-Based Materials as Highly Stable Catalysts for the Cathode of Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells.

Ni nanoparticles supported on graphene-based materials were tested as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to be used in anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). The introduction of N into the graphene structure produced an enhancement of electrocatalytic activity by improving electron transfer and creating additional active sites for the ORR. Materials containing both N and S demonstrated the highest stability, showing only a 3% performance loss after a 10 h stability test and therefore achieving the best overall performance. This long-term durability is attributed to the synergetic effect of Ni nanoparticles and bi-doped (S/N)-reduced graphene oxide. The findings suggest that the strategic incorporation of both nitrogen and sulphur into the graphene structure plays a crucial role in optimising the electrocatalytic properties of Ni-based catalysts.

Cholecalciferol Exhibits no Antibacterial Effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli: an in-vitro Study.

The pleiotropic effect of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) has gained significant momentum and has been explored widely. The study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effect of cholecalciferol against S. aureus and E. coli. An in-vitro study was performed for the antimicrobial effect of cholecalciferol against S. aureus and E. coli. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined following the broth microdilution method. The MIC value of cholecalciferol against both S. aureus and E. coli was 0.312 mg/ml, and the MBC for both organisms was 1.25 mg/ml. However, we also observed a significant antimicrobial effect in the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) control at 12.5% (v/v). Therefore, the observed antimicrobial effect may be attributed to DMSO, indicating cholecalciferol does not directly inhibit S. aureus and E. coli. This study indicates that cholecalciferol does not directly inhibit S. aureus and E. coli. Hence, we suggest exploring the antibacterial properties of other vitamin D analogs, such as calcitriol or its synergetic effect with other antimicrobial agents.

Hydrogen bonding-stabilized bipolar organic cathode achieved all-round enhancement in zinc batteries

Bipolar organic small molecules with dual advantages of n/p-type redox reactions can achieve high-capacity-voltage zinc-organic batteries (ZOBs), but are plagued by inevitable dissolution in aqueous electrolytes. Here a hydrogen bonding-stabilized bipolar quinacridone (QA) molecule with synergetic coupling effects of two redox-active centers of n-type carbonyl moieties and p-type amine sites is proposed towards superior ZOBs. Compared with unipolar organics, bipolar QA molecule delivers low-energy-barrier redox kinetics and strong resistance to dissolution in aqueous electrolytes to avoid capacity decay due to the stable H-bond structure and extended π-conjugated aromatic plane. Consequently, Zn||QA battery harvests a high capacity of 212 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1, an outstanding energy density (161 Wh kg−1), along with superior electrochemical stability (20,000 cycles). The high-kinetics hybrid anion-cation two-electron co-coordination mechanism in QA cathode is the root of excellent electrochemical metrics. This study opens novel insights to design multielectron bipolar cathodes for high-performance ZOBs.

The synergetic collecting effect of N-oleoyl sarcosine (N-OSS) and dodecylamine (DDA) on the selective flotation of spodumene from albite

In this study, N-OSS combined with DDA was examined as an novel collector. The collecting performances and their synergetic interaction mechanisms were investigated comprehensively. The micro-flotation results illustrated it exhibited excellent selectivity on separation without pre-activation. Contact angle tests revealed N-OSS/DDA could selectively enhance the hydrophobicity of spodumene, whereas, it barely affected that of albite. FTIR, SEM-EDS and Zeta potential revealed N-OSS/DDA might co-adsorb on spodumene surface rather than that of albite. XPS analysis and DFT calculations inferred the O1 2p orbitals of COO within N-OSS could bond with Al 3s orbitals and the NH3+ groups of DDA adsorbed onto the surface of spodumene via hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attraction. Meanwhile, the hydrogen bonding between N-OSS and DDA promoted the co-adsorption on spodumene surface. While N-OSS/DDA weakly adsorbed on the surface of albite through physical adsorption. N-OSS/DDA exhibited outstanding floatability, which maybe a good substitute for conventional collectors in future.

Subsurface drainage and nitrogen management affects soil properties in upstate Missouri U.S.

Enhanced efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilizer management may reduce environmental N losses and increase grain yields. The effect of N fertilizer management practices on soil properties is uncertain. In this 5-year study, we evaluated different N fertilizer management [non-treated control (NTC), fall applied anhydrous ammonia (AA) 190 kg N ha−1 with nitrapyrin (fall AA + NI), preplant AA at 190 kg N ha−1 (spring AA), top-dressed urea (TD urea) as 42 kg N ha−1 SuperU and 126 kg N ha−1 ESN as a 25:75 % granular blend] practices in free drained (FD) and non-drained (ND) soils for their impact on soil properties. In FD soils, N fertilization significantly (P > 0.05) increased soil pH, CEC, cations, and Bray I P compared to the NTC. Improved soil aeration and increased plant growth with TD urea and spring AA fertilizer treatments in FD soils increased soil organic matter (OM) 10–13 % and total organic carbon (TOC) 27–35 % compared to the NTC. Increased clay content and reduced silt content were observed in FD soils with N fertilizer treatments compared to NTC. However, fertilizer applications in ND soils had no effect on soil properties. Increased crop production with FD and 4R N fertilizer applications can improve soil properties with increased soil OM and TOC content. This suggests that a synergetic effect of N fertilization and soil drainage can improve soil health by increasing soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), OM, and TOC content.

Navigating highly reversible Zn metal anodes via a multifunctional corrosion inhibitor-inspired electrolyte additive

Uncontrolled dendrites growth and irreversible side reactions on the Zn anode have greatly shorten the lifespan of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), thereby hindering their application as promising energy storage devices. Herein, inspired by the use of corrosion and scale inhibitors in metal industry, sodium gluconate (SG) is proposed as a multifunctional electrolyte additive to improve the reversible plating/stripping behavior on Zn metal anodes by simultaneously modulating Zn anode-electrolyte interface and the Zn deposition behaviors. Combining theoretical calculations and experimental characterizations, it shows that SG can protect the Zn anode against the corrosion side reactions and suppress the random growth of dendritic Zn by absorbing on the Zn anode surface to form an artificial interface layer. Concomitantly, the gluconate anion reshapes the solvation shell of Zn2+, influencing the desolvation process of Zn2+ and disrupting the formation of active water. Furthermore, Na+ originating from SG suppresses the dendritic Zn development in the light of electrostatic shielding mechanism. Benefiting from these synergetic effects of SG additive, Zn metal anodes achieve exceptional reversibility with prolonged running lifetime and increased coulombic efficiency and the Zn||V2O5 full cell demonstrates outstanding cycle stability. This strategy is scalable and low-cost, developing a promising approach to advance high-performance ZIBs.

Synergetic effect of Hexaferrite and reduced Graphene oxide (rGO) in Photothermal therapy and Hyperthermia applications

This research article describes the synthesis of composite materials by combining T-type hexagonal ferrite and reduced Graphene Oxide using the standard ceramic process. The Calcium-based T-type hexagonal ferrite was synthesized by using the sol-gel auto-combustion method whiles the reduced graphene oxide by adopting the Hummer method. The crystallite size varied in the range of 34.11 to 42.07nm as calculated from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. Consequently, the lattice parameters 'a' and 'c' decreased from 5.9 to 5.1Å and from 29.92 to 28.32Å, respectively. The use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed a range of particle sizes at the surface, varying from 1.70nm to 3.85nm. Moreover, the saturation and remanence magnetization values demonstrated an increasing trend with T-type hexaferrites concentration whereas the coercivity decreased. The UV-vis near-infrared spectra exhibited substantial light absorption, characterized by a wide absorption range in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) region (700 to 1100nm) which indicates its use in Photothermal therapy (PTT). The Calcium T- type hexaferrite exhibited clear peaks in the blue, green, violet, and yellow spectra in its photoluminescence (PL) properties. These peaks are believed to be caused by oxygen vacancies and defects. The synthesized samples displayed a lossy behavior in the polarization-electric field (P-E) loop, with saturation polarization levels exceeding remnant polarization, which is an amenable condition for lossy behavior. Most importantly, the synthesized materials had significant thermal responses when exposed to an alternation (AC) magnetic field, indicating their potential use in magnetic hyperthermia applications.

Remarkable improvement in radiation shielding efficiency, thermal insulation performance and compressive strength of rigid polyurethane foam composites by synergetic effect of PbO and colemanite fillers

Remarkable improvement in radiation shielding efficiency, thermal insulation performance and compressive strength of rigid polyurethane foam composites by synergetic effect of PbO and colemanite fillers

Synergetic Effects of Alkaline and Sulfate-Based Waste Binders on Undrained Triaxial Behavior of Cement-Admixed Soft Clay

Synergetic Effects of Alkaline and Sulfate-Based Waste Binders on Undrained Triaxial Behavior of Cement-Admixed Soft Clay