Solute Transfer Research Articles

Views from Multinational Pharmaceutical Companies on Allocation of Clinical Trials in Saudi Arabia-Qualitative Study.

Clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical companies are essential for bridging local research efforts with broader populations, facilitating the transfer of valuable insights and solutions. This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators affecting clinical trials in Saudi Arabia from the perspective of key personnel within the pharmaceutical industry and Contract Research Organizations (CROs). We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with nine participants, which provided a holistic understanding of the intricate dynamics shaping the landscape of clinical trials in the country. The analysis revealed three prominent themes: operational challenges, complexities in navigating approval hurdles, and the unique value proposition for conducting clinical trials in Saudi Arabia. The participants expressed pride in the local infrastructure but acknowledged existing flaws, particularly in regulatory processes that contribute to delays in trial initiation. They emphasized the importance of conducting clinical trials in areas such as diabetes, crowd management during pilgrimages, and rare diseases, which are prevalent in the region. Despite the limited number of clinical trials registered (354 from 2009 to 2020, with only 1% being phase 1 studies), Saudi Arabia's total pharmaceutical market exceeds SAR 13 billion, positioning it as the largest market in the region. Stakeholders recognized the country's potential as a research hub, particularly within the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) region. However, to attract more trials and enhance the medical research landscape, it is crucial to address the identified barriers, streamline processes, and improve stakeholder alignment. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to overcome these challenges and leverage Saudi Arabia's investments in healthcare infrastructure since its transformation program launched in 2010. By enhancing the regulatory environment and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, Saudi Arabia can solidify its role as a key player in international clinical research.

The trifunctional electrocatalytic activity of hierarchically structured porous carbon derived from environmentally malignant Prosopis juliflora

Finding an efficient and affordable multifunctional electrocatalyst with long-term durability has received paramount interest in the recent scenario. The present work attempted to facilitate ecologically threatful invasive biomass – P. juliflora- derived porous carbon as an effectual Pt support for trifunctional electrocatalytic applications. The preparation of Pt decorated P. juliflora -derived porous carbon (Pt/J-600, Pt/J-700, and Pt/J-800) involves simple hydrothermal carbonization, pyrolysis at various temperatures of 600, 700 & 800⁰C and polyol mediated reduction. The obtained XRD results reveal the turbostratic nature of the prepared porous carbon favoring to anchor the Pt NPs. Significantly, the estimated ID/IG ratios of Raman profile substantiates the highly defective structure of Pt/J-800. The TEM images disclose the agglomeration-free dispersion of Pt NPs in the Pt/J-800 electrocatalyst. The EIS analysis demonstrates the relatively low solution and charge transfer resistances (Rs = 0.646 Ω & Rct = 0.312 Ω). The desirable 4e- transfer with an improved limiting current density of -4.44 mA cm-2 signpost better oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of Pt/J-800 than the other prepared electrocatalysts. Additionally, the high electrochemical surface area (652.72 m2 g-1) and good mass activity (49.09 mA mgpt-1) prove the excellent methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) activity. Moreover, a minimal overpotential of 31 mV @ 10 mA/cm2, and a lower Tafel slope of 32 mV/dec with 24 hr stable performance proved the efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance of Pt/J-800. The remarkable electrochemical performance of Pt/J-800 is attributed to the enhanced surface area created by hierarchically porous carbon support and the uniform dispersion of Pt nanoparticles with optimum loading.

Facilitating the transfer and implementation of practices across health and care systems

Abstract The THCS partnership has developed the initial draft of a framework designed to facilitate the transfer and implementation of solutions across health and care systems. During the workshop, we will present this framework along with the preliminary results of its real-world testing in transfer and implementation activities. The goal of this presentation is to gather feedback on the framework and generate ideas for its further development. Choosing to transfer existing solutions rather than developing new ones can offer several advantages in terms of efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Adopting existing solutions can save time and reduce development costs significantly. The THCS framework aims to support, promote, and accelerate the transfer and implementation of solutions across health and care systems. The THCS framework is primarily targeted at individuals involved in planning, coordinating, and executing development activities within health and care organizations. This framework includes: 1) Paradigmatic commitments that underpin its understanding of development activities, transferability, and implementation; 2) Principles for conducting the activities of transferring and adapting solutions developed elsewhere; 3) Guidelines for describing original solutions; and 4) Key development tasks that outline the necessary steps for transferring, adapting, and implementing solutions developed elsewhere.

Hybrid nanofluid flow in chamber containing heated and concentrated internal source under the effectiveness of applied magnetic field

Extensive applications of buoyancy-induced flow owing to temperature and concentration gradients have been found exclusively in diversified industrial and technological processes, such as heat exchange systems, solar collectors, heat sinks, and power plants. Additionally, installation of internal sources in confined configurations is essential in operation performance of many devices relevant to transformers, radiators, air cooling engines, fuel cells, semiconductor instruments and so forth. Furthermore, in recent decades, hybridized nanoparticles have been added to different setups to increase their efficiency. Therefore, the premier motive of current work is to examine mass and heat transport mechanisms in water-based fluids encompassed in a corrugated rectangular chamber with the induction of copper (Cu) and alumina (Al2O3) in a hybrid manner. A horizontally oriented magnetic field is assumed, along with the adjustment of a uniformly heated and concentrated source. The thermal conductivity relation proposed by Maxwell is obliged to scrutinize the performance of hybridized nanoparticles in controlling heat exchange in the domain. In this study, a power-law viscosity model is manifested along with utilization of other conservation laws and model structuring in the form of dimensionless expressions is performed by accomplishsing variables. Finite element simulations are executed by utilizing COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0 to solve developed governing equations system. The quantities of interest, such as average heat and mass fluxex, along with presentation of percentage change versus sundry factors, through graphical and tabular display. From a thorough examination, it is inferred that magnetic field plays an effective significance in controlling the excessive thermosolutal gradients. In addition, inudction of hybridized nanoparticles will positively affect thermal exchange in the base liquid compared to the situation when nanoparticles are not added. It is also deduced that average Nusselt and Sherwood numbers decreased up to 3 % and 2.4 % respectively for hydromagnetic situation (Ha = 0) in comparison to hydrodynamic case (Ha ≠ 0). Decrement in coefficients representing thermosolutal exchange reach up to 55 % and 66 % approximately against increment in number of corrugations. Induction of hybrid nanoparticles resulted in an increase in the coefficients of thermal and solutal transfer up to 14 % and 22 %, respectively, compared to the scenario where the base fluid contained no particles. For shear thinning aspects of non-Newtonain liquid, Nusselt and Sherwood numbers exceeds in comparison to Newtonian case and contrary aspects are observed for shear thickening materials.

Analysis of heat and mass transfer rates in conducting Casson fluid flow over an expanding surface considering Ohmic heating and Darcy dissipation effects

In a recent scenario, the flow of Casson fluid via porous media has practical applications in various engineering processes, such, as the design of cooling systems for electronic devices, oil recovery in porous reservoirs, and polymer extrusion processes, etc. The proposed investigation illustrates the thermal and solutal transfer rates in a conducting Casson fluid flow over an expanding surface. However, the emphasis goes to the behavior of the Ohmic heating and Darcy dissipation when considering the transverse magnetic field and porous matrix. The governing flow phenomena with their dimensional form are altered into a non-dimensional set of equations with the help of suitable similarity rules. Further, an adequate numerical simulation is adopted to solve the transformed equations using the in-house bvp4c function in MATLAB. The physical parameters involved in the flow problem and their behavior on the governing flow phenomena are presented graphically and described briefly. Prior to this investigation, the conformity of the current numerical output obtained for the heat transfer rate was validated with the earlier work with a good correlation. Moreover, the major outcomes are; the non-Newtonian Casson parameter retards the axial and transverse velocity profile and the shear rate also decreases significantly. The Eckert number caused by the inclusion of the dissipative heat encourages the fluid temperature throughout.

Relationship between fill volume and transport in peritoneal dialysis-from bench to bedside.

Larger fill volumes in peritoneal dialysis (PD) typically improve small solute clearance and water removal, and vice versa-but the relationship between intraperitoneal volume and the capacities for solute and water transport in PD has been little studied. Here, it is proposed that this relative relationship is described by a simple ratio (Volumenew/Volumeold)2/3 up to a critical break-point volume, beyond which further volume increase is less beneficial in terms of solute and water removal. To scrutinize this hypothesis, experiments were conducted in a rat model of PD alongside a retrospective analysis of data from a prior clinical study. Rats underwent PD with either three consecutive fills of 8 + 8 + 8 mL (n = 10) or 12 + 12 + 12 mL (n = 10), with 45-minute dwell time intervals. This approach yielded 60 estimations of water and solute transport, characterized by osmotic conductance to glucose and solute diffusion capacities, respectively. Comparative analysis of the predictive efficacy of the two models-the simple ratio versus the break-point model-was performed using Monte Carlo cross-validation. The break-point model emerged as a superior predictor for both water and solute transfer, demonstrating its capability to characterize both experimental data from rats and clinical data from patients. The present analysis indicates that relatively simple calculations can be used to approximate clinical effects on solute and water removal when prescribing a lower or higher fill volume to patients with PD.

Effect of thermal radiation and inclined magnetic field on thermosolutal mixed convection in a partially active wavy trapezoidal enclosure filled with hybrid nanofluid

This work focuses on the examination of the magneto-thermosolutal convection in a lid-driven wavy trapezoidal enclosure in the presence of thermal radiation. The wavy cavity is filled with radiative Fe3O4-Cu-H2O hybrid nanoliquid. In this work, two cases are considered depending on the location of heat and concentration sources. A portion of the vertical walls are kept hot and in high concentration while the remaining parts are in adiabatic condition. The adiabatic flat upper lid is moving towards the right with equal speed. In addition, the lower wavy border is cold and low concentration. The governing Navier–Stokes equations are modeled to describe thermosolutal phenomena within the wavy enclosure. These equations are solved by reconstructing a recently developed compact scheme. Computed outcomes are presented in terms of streamlines, isotherms, iso-concentrations, average Nusselt and Sherwood numbers to evoke the thermosolutal phenomena for various physical parameters. Also, computing in-house code is validated with the published numerical and experimental and literatures. This investigation surveys the roles of several well-defined parameters such as Richardson number (Ri), Lewis number (Le), Buoyancy ratio number (N), Radiation parameter (Rd), Hartmann number (Ha), inclination of angle (γ), undulation of the wavy surface (d) and solid volume fraction (ϕhnp) of the hybrid nanofluid. An increase in the Lewis number (Le) enhances species diffusion within the system but diminishes thermal transport. This work reveal that a change in ϕhnp from 0% to 4%, heat transfer is upgraded up to 4.28% in Case I and 3.93% in Case II while mass transfer is declined by 2.24% in Case I and 1.60% in Case II. Results indicate that Case I performed better than Case II in the case of energy and solutal transfer. This work has many practical applications such as heat exchangers, electronic device cooling, food processing and porous industrial processes.

Sol-gel-based synthesis of high-capacity-NaCoO2 cathode for advanced sodium-ion batteries

This study presents a successful synthesis of phase-pure P2-NaCoO2 by improving the sol-gel-based calcination temperature, yielding a highly crystalline, well-ordered material having P63/mmc hexagonal symmetry, ideal for reversible sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Advanced physicochemical techniques confirm its pure hexagonal crystal structure along with the desired stoichiometry. NaCoO2 in Na/1M-NaClO4/NaCoO2 cell demonstrates multiple redox peaks for Co3+/Co4+ redox couple, signifying stable multiphase transitions during charge/discharge cycles and exhibiting exceptional structural and electrochemical stability. The cell demonstrates a high discharge specific-capacity of 155.85 mAh/g at 0.1C with outstanding discharge capacity retention of 136.98, 100.6, 84.78, 78.31, and 72.46 mAh/g at the C-rates of 0.15, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0C, respectively, outperforming previously reported values. It shows a remarkable discharge-energy density of 466.04 Wh/kg at 0.1C. Additionally, the small solution and charge transfer resistance with extremely low double-layer capacitance signifies its excellent electrolyte conductivity and potential for high energy density and slow discharge application. These results imply that NaCoO2 is a high-performance and high-capacity cathode material for lightweight and compact SIBs.

An adaptive co-evolutionary competitive particle swarm optimizer for constrained multi-objective optimization problems

In constrained multi-objective optimization problems, it is challenging to balance the convergence, diversity and feasibility of the population, especially encountering complex infeasible regions. In order to effectively balance the three indicators, from the aspects of the handling of infeasible solution and the quality of individuals, a multi-population co-evolutionary competitive particle swarm optimization algorithm hybridized with infeasible solution transfer and an adaptive technique (ACCPSO) is proposed. Firstly, the information of feasible and infeasible individuals is fully utilized and the individuals are classified by Hamming distance. Then, a novel constraint handling technique based on learning from the promising feasible direction is designed to make individuals cross large infeasible regions and explore more potential feasible regions. Moreover, aiming to provide robust search capability and consequently further generate high-quality solutions, the genetic operators and the particle swarm optimization operator with the competitive mechanism are introduced as operators with an adaptive mechanism. Finally, compared with the state-of-the-art methods, the performance of the proposed algorithm is verified on LIR-CMOP, MW and DTLZ, as well as two real-world problems. The results indicate that ACCPSO exhibits stronger competitiveness in terms of convergence, the solution quality, and distribution diversity on the feasible Pareto front.

Revealing the intricacies of natural convection: A key factor in aqueous zinc battery design

Aqueous zinc-based batteries offer high safety, abundant resources, low cost, and environmental friendliness, making them a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage markets. However, the natural convection in the electrolyte during operation, which can greatly affect the battery performance, is overlooked for a long time. Through particle tracing experiments, this study demonstrates that in the vertical placement of the battery, natural convection occurs due to the variation of electrolyte density, whereas it does not happen when the cathode is on top. Besides, there is a significant difference in electrochemical performance between these two configurations, with a voltage difference of up to 0.25 V at 10 mA cm⁻² and a peak current difference of up to 3.4 mA in linear sweep voltammetry. Simulation results show that convective mass transfer can be up to 100 times greater than diffusive mass transfer in a bulk solution. This highlights the importance of considering natural convection to improve model accuracy. Further, to increase energy density, batteries are scaled up in practical applications to reduce the weight of the casing. This work simulates mass transfer conditions under various scenarios, illustrating the trade-off between current density and battery size, and offering new guidance for the design of aqueous zinc-based batteries.

Prospects for the Transfer of Intelligent Solutions for a Smart City

An analysis of intelligent solutions for all types of V2X technologies communications was carried out the through patent search and development of the patent landscape. To analyze the patent activity, a domain model was compiled, on the basis of which patenting trends over the past 20 years were determined and the dynamics of patent activity were formed taking into account the legal statuses. The distribution of patents among the leading companies has been identified, and the geography of patenting has been determined.

A novel nucleic acid extraction system integrating a switching valve-assisted microfluidic cartridge and a constant pressure pump

BackgroundNucleic acid extraction (NAE) is essential in molecular diagnostics, genetic engineering, and DNA sequencing. While advances in switching valve-assisted, self-contained microfluidic (S2M) cartridges have improved the NAE processes, challenges persist in streamlining workflows, reducing processing times, and enhancing multi-target detection. Achieving these objectives requires precise control of on-chip fluid dynamics and efficient transfer of nucleic acid solutions (NAS) to detection areas. However, research on novel S2M cartridge designs and compatible fluid control systems is still limited. ResultThis study presented an innovative NAE system that integrated an S2M cartridge, a constant pressure (CP) pump, a metal heating bath, a rotating lever, and a magnet. The S2M cartridge contained the reagents for both NAE and detection, while the CP pump provided stable, precise, and rapid fluid delivery, outperforming traditional peristaltic and injection pumps, especially for handling small volumes and reducing pulsation. A custom rotating lever connects reagent chambers, facilitating mixing, cleaning, elution, and NAS transfer. This system showed advantages over manual methods, achieving all processes in 20 min. The CP pump-assisted S2M cartridge enabled rapid MBs re-suspension with a recovery rate of 80 %. The system's sensitivity, repeatability, and ease of use were also confirmed. The NAE system can extract Escherichia coli DNA (50 CFU mL^-1) from food and serum samples and viral DNA (HBV, HCV, HIV) at 200 copies mL^-1 from serum samples. SignificanceThis study highlighted the need for an efficient fluid system in the S2M cartridge for stable NAE. By streamlining NAE and facilitating on-chip reagent preparation, the system enhanced point-of-care diagnostics. Although manual steps remain, the CP pump effectively managed fluid processes, paving the way for automated pathogen detection. Moreover, when combined with visual detection reagents, the NAE system showed promise as a direct molecular diagnostic tool.

Filter Membrane-Based Colorimetric Approach for Point-of-Care Detection of Biomarkers Using CRISPR-Cas12a.

CRISPR-Cas-based point-of-care testing (POCT) strategies have been widely explored for the detection of diverse biomarkers. However, these methods often require complicated operations, such as careful solution transfer steps, to achieve high sensitivity and accuracy. In this study, we combine a filter membrane-based POCT method with CRISPR-Cas12a for colorimetric detection of biomarkers. For the nucleic acid target, the trans-cleavage activity of CRISPR-Cas12a is directly triggered, cutting the single-stranded DNA linkers on glucose oxidase (GOx)-modified polymer nanoparticles. Due to the size difference between GOx and the polymer nanoparticles, GOx can be separated using a filter membrane. The filtrate containing GOx reacts with the substrate to generate a colorimetric signal. For the non-nucleic acid target, the non-nucleic acid signal is converted into a nucleic acid signal that activates CRISPR-Cas12a, resulting in a colorimetric signal. The entire operation is easy to perform, and the signal can be directly observed via the naked eye, which circumvents the use of costly instruments. The developed strategy holds great promise for accurate and accessible POCT detection of disease biomarkers in resource-limited settings.

Recent advances in the understanding of the peritoneal membrane.

The efficiency of peritoneal dialysis (PD) as a life-sustaining replacement therapy for patients with kidney failure relies on the integrity and function of the peritoneal membrane. Here, we review the most recent advances in the understanding of the peritoneal membrane and its role in PD. A recent update of the ISPD guidelines proposed a revised definition of membrane dysfunction, emphasizing the importance of fluid balance in patients treated with PD and identified three main mechanisms leading to insufficient peritoneal ultrafiltration (UF). The Bio-PD study, the first genomewide association study in PD, demonstrated that 20% of the interindividual variability in the peritoneal solute transfer rate is genetically determined, and identified several loci of potential relevance for peritoneal transport. A candidate-gene approach identified and characterized a common and functional variant in the promoter of the AQP1 gene associated with water transport and clinical outcomes in PD. Innovative strategies to preserve the integrity of the peritoneal membrane and to enhance UF are also discussed, including the use of gliflozins; steady glucose concentration PD; modulation of GLUT proteins; and cytoprotective additives. A comprehensive understanding of the peritoneal membrane and of the mechanisms driving UF may help individualizing PD prescription and improving outcomes in patients treated with PD.

Evaluation of bubble column dehumidifier using magnesium chloride desiccant

With growing emphasis on indoor air quality and energy conservation, the development of sustainable and efficient dehumidification systems has become increasingly crucial across various industries. Liquid desiccant dehumidification system (LDDS) offers a more efficient alternative to conventional methods by utilizing low-grade waste heat. Most direct-contact liquid dehumidification systems use expensive desiccants such as LiCl and LiBr. Our research focuses on exploring MgCl2, prevalent in saltwater bitterns, as a cheaper, less toxic alternative. The core principle of this system involves passing air through a column filled with the MgCl2 aqueous solution, leveraging the hygroscopic properties of MgCl2 to remove moisture from the air stream effectively. Various parameters such as hole size, air flow rate and desiccant concentration are investigated. We further developed a numerical model for the dehumidification process considering the rise time of the bubbles in the desiccant solution and mass transfer in the bubble. After dehumidification, the diluted desiccant solution can be revived using low-grade heat. Use of seawater bitterns, with major component as MgCl2, shows potential for building an environmentally friendly and cost-effective dehumidification system.

Microstructure and improved hydrogen generation performance via hydrolysis of Mg–Ca alloys with TiC and Ni addition

Mg-xCa (x = 3, 7, 11, 14, wt.%) binary hypoeutectic alloys are successfully synthesized via solidification in the present work. The microstructure, phase compositions and hydrogen generation characteristics of as-cast Mg–Ca alloys and ball milled Mg–Ca composites with TiC and Ni addition have been investigated in this work for a new hydrogen supply source application. A lamellar structure with alternately distributed Mg and Mg2Ca is formed in the eutectic regions of as-cast Mg–Ca binary alloys. It is found that as-cast Mg–Ca binary alloys show extremely sluggish hydrolysis kinetics and low hydrogen yield in both tap water and simulated seawater. Mg2Ca phase preferentially reacts with water during hydrolysis process in simulated seawater. Many cracks arise with hydrolysis reaction, meanwhile, the cracks further assist in the hydrolysis of the internal matrix via assisting water solution transfer. After ball milling with TiC and Ni of Mg–Ca binary alloys, the hydrolysis performance is substantially modified. Mg–14Ca-3wt.%TiC-5wt.%Ni composite generates 836.6 mL g−1 of hydrogen within initial 95 min. The conversion rate of Mg–14Ca-3wt.%TiC-5wt.%Ni composite in simulated seawater is as high as 99.4%, indicating a thorough hydrolysis of Mg and Mg2Ca phases with the catalysis of TiC and Ni. This work shows that microstructure refinement, catalysis, Mg(OH)2 exfoliation and water solution transfer account for the complete hydrolysis.

A multi-field couped model for controlling segregation in twin-roll casting

So-called center and edge segregation are formed during twin-roll casting, which cannot be effectively eliminated in subsequent rolling and heat treatment, thus significantly diminishing the quality of final product. Numerous studies have been conducted on such segregations so far, unfortunately, without fully considering conservation of mass, momentum, energy and solute throughout the process, as well as synergy of thermodynamics and kinetics for interfacial migration. Accordingly, a two-phase Eulerian-Eulerian volume-averaged model is herein established to predict the segregation upon twin-roll casting for Al–Si alloys, which, for the first time, addresses effects due to the interfacial migration and the solute diffusion on the solute transfer process, and so-called correlation between thermodynamics and kinetics (i.e., thermo-kinetic correlation). On this basis, the model accurately predicts the flow field upon twin-roll casting, where, the increased casting speed leads to the descended kissing point, thus gradually causing the decreased vortex area and the increased cooling rate. Whereas, the increased heat transfer coefficient leads to the ascended kissing point, thus gradually causing the increased vortex area and the decreased cooling rate. In the modeling, the increased thermodynamic driving force for interfacial migration is always accompanied by the decreased kinetic energy barrier, and vice versa. Furthermore, the model also accurately predicts the segregation upon twin-roll casting, where, the thermodynamic driving force increases with the casting speed, thus decreasing the central segregation, whereas, the heat transfer coefficient increases, thus enhancing the generalized stability and in turn, effectively suppressing the edge segregation. By employing a strategy involving high driving force in the early stage and high generalized stability in the late stage, it was determined that the anticipated center and edge segregation could be effectively suppressed.

Enhanced Electrohydrogenation of Cis,Cis-Muconic Acid to Trans-3-Hexenedioic Acid Using Hybrid Metal/Carbon Fiber Cathodes

Organic electrosynthesis is a long-known technique for diverse product development and efficient synthesis. With the recent rise of biomass as an alternative carbon and energy source, electrochemistry is further gaining popularity due to its inherently green and environmentally benign operating conditions. Electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) reactions are particularly attractive for biomass conversion due to their ability to abstract hydrogen from water, tolerate biogenic impurities, and utilize Earth-abundant base metal electrodes. Moreover, the rate and selectivity of the reaction can be tubed by controlling the electrode material, operating potential/current density, and reactor design. However, the implementation of this decarbonized technology for chemical production is still hampered by low productivity and, as a result, unfavorable economics. cis,cis-Muconic acid (ccMA), a bioderived C6 diunsaturated diacid platform molecule, can be converted into commodity chemicals like caprolactam, adipic acid (AA), and terephthalic acid, with AA being of particular interest for the synthesis of nylon 6,6.1 Apart from various drop-in chemicals, ccMA can also be electrochemically upgraded to trans-3-hexenedioic acid (t3HDA), a potential bio-advantaged substitute for AA as the additional C=C bond in t3HDA can be leveraged to synthesize performance-advantaged polyamides.2,3 In this work, we investigated the electrohydrogenation of ccMA to t3HDA over Pb cathodes. We demonstrate that the reaction follows a radical-based pathway involving sequential electron transfer and hydrogen addition in solution to selectively produce t3HDA (100% selectivity). Next, we contacted the cathode with carbon felts (CF) to increase productivity. CF are often used in fuel cells and H2O2 electrolyzers due to their excellent conductivity, porosity for enhanced turbulence, and ability to tune the gas-liquid-solid three-phase interface. Following similar principles, we placed a CF (3mm. thickness) in contact with the Pb cathode to lower the charge transfer resistance (~3Ω) at the interface. The surface functionalities of carbon allowed us to further tune the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of our hybrid electrode. Molecular dynamics (MD) calculations provided critical insights into the role of surface functionalities and guided the optimal functionalization of CF’s surface. Combining reactor configuration with fine-tuning of the electrode’s microenvironment, we were able to achieve a 50x increase in t3HDA productivity reaching up to 20 g/cm2/day at a current density of 200 mA/cm2. We further replaced the kinetically sluggish oxygen-evolution reaction with the glucose oxidation reaction at the anode, allowing us to operate the electrolyzer at a lower cell potential.Overall, ECH represents a valuable alternative to thermochemical transformations for biomass upgrading. This work provides critical insights into reactor modifications for the scaled-up synthesis of bio-derived performance monomers via hybrid microbial electrosynthesis (HMES).

Reusable Cyclodextrin-Mediated Electrochemical Sensor in Automated Flow Cell for Cortisol Detection

Our focus is on using beta cyclodextrin (βCD) to electrochemically detect cortisol; cortisol is a hydrophobic molecule that is a vital hormone, and cortisol is involved in the immune system, metabolism, heart health, and overall body balance. Cyclodextrins, characterized by a hydrophobic inner cavity and a hydrophilic outer surface, emerge as promising molecular receptors for detecting hydrophobic molecules. Notably, βCD and cortisol can form host/guest inclusion complexes. Building on our success in detecting cortisol with βCD in previous static cell experiments [1], herein we introduce innovations to further improve our methodology by employing an automated flow cell system. The transition to automation offers advantages such as repeated runs for obtaining more reproducible data and the elimination of human interactions and considerations, leading to an increased number of experiments. Our efforts, including the utilization of a ten-way multi-position valve and a pump for solution transfer, were crucial for enhancing the accuracy, stability, and reproducibility of cyclodextrin-mediated biosensors in automated flow cell systems. The automation process did encounter challenges, particularly with pump control, necessitating manual pauses before electrochemical measurements. Additionally, issues related to bubbles arose, prompting the search for the optimal flow rate and the utilization of a degasser. The ultimate goal is to optimize sensor stability, sensitivity, and reproducibility, contributing to the advancement of cortisol detection with the automated cyclodextrin-mediated biosensors.Research supported by New Hampshire- INBRE through an Institutional Development Award (IDeA), P20GM103506, from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH. Support was also provided by a National Science Foundation EPSCoR award (#2119237), BIO-SENS.[1] Z. Panahi, T. Ren, and J. M. Halpern, “Nanostructured Cyclodextrin-Mediated Surface for Capacitive Determination of Cortisol in Multiple Biofluids,” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, vol. 14, no. 37, pp. 42374–42387, Sep. 2022, doi: 10.1021/acsami.2c07701.

Interfacial physico-chemical equilibrium control of lotus-type pore formation in solid

This study presents a challenging analysis of interfacial equilibrium conditions that control the evolution of lotus-type pores in both metals and nonmetals during solidification. It incorporates Henry’s or Sieverts’ law, affecting solute transfer at the cap and top free surface, and pore evolution. The significance of the directional and lightweight characteristics of lotus-type porous materials makes them vitally important in functional heat sinks, energy absorption, biomedical devices, and other applications. The study extends previous solute transfer models based on solute concentration deviations in the liquid from the top surface and convection-affected segregation at the advancing liquid–solid interface by further considering the effects of interfacial equilibrium conditions on pore development. Typical data selected for the dimensionless Henry’s law constant at the cap and top free surface is 0.175, while the Sieverts’ law constant at the cap and top free surface is 0.03. MATLAB Simulink and Simscape (version R2020b) with the solver ode113 are utilized to solve the resulting simultaneous system of unsteady first-order differential equations. The results show that the size of lotus-type pores increases as the Henry’s law constant at the cap decreases while the Henry’s law constant at the top free surface increases. Similar results are observed for Sieverts’ law. Lotus-type pores readily form as the Henry’s law constant at the cap increases while that at the top free surface decreases. The lotus pore length can also be determined and interpreted algebraically using solute content conservation. The model’s predictions closely match analytical findings previously validated by experimental data