Material Transport Research Articles

Comparative Study of Cradle-to-Gate Carbon Emissions from Steel and Concrete Structures of Bangladeshi Industrial Projects

Sustainable practice is necessary for the construction industry's environmental impact, particularly carbon footprint. A "cradle-to-gate" Life Cycle Assessment of the embodied carbon emissions of two structural systems, steel and reinforced concrete, is presented for an industrial building in Bangladesh. By quantifying these emissions through BIM modeling and emission factor databases, the analysis shows that steel-framed structures have a significantly higher carbon footprint than their concrete alternatives, mainly because of the energy-intensive steel production processes. Emissions from raw material extraction, transportation, and manufacturing stages are detailed and assessed. The results show that steel structures produce 60% more embodied carbon than reinforced concrete counterparts, primarily due to raw material emissions, with other emissions from aluminum and rebar in both systems. These findings provide a basis for construction material selection and highlight the need for low-carbon approaches to reduce the sector's carbon footprint in rapidly urbanizing areas like Bangladesh. Further research should extend to the end-of-life impacts and more localized emission data to continue to refine sustainable construction strategies.

Building Information Modeling–Life Cycle Assessment: A Novel Technology for Rapid Calculation and Analysis System for Life Cycle Carbon Emissions of Bridges

With the rapid development of bridge construction, environmental concerns have become increasingly prominent. Low-carbon, green, and sustainable bridge engineering has emerged as an inevitable trend. A comprehensive carbon emission calculation system is key to achieving low-carbon bridges. This study proposes a rapid calculation and analysis system for bridge carbon emissions (Building Information Modeling–Life Cycle Assessment, BIM-LCA). This system, using the bridge information model as a carrier, calculates and manages data on material consumption, machinery, transportation, and energy throughout the bridge’s life cycle. It then calculates the carbon emissions for each stage. This system simplifies the complex and cumbersome data collection and analysis processes found in traditional methods while also making the carbon emissions across the full bridge life cycle more accessible and visible. Being applicable to all types of bridges, this system can provide insights and a basis for decision-making in the early design stages and during construction and operation to support carbon reduction. Ultimately, it promotes low-carbon, environmentally friendly, and sustainable bridge engineering development.

Enhancing the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells by Extending the Terminal Conjugation of Spiro‐Type Hole Transport Material

Hole transport materials (HTM) play a vital role in the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Optimizing the molecular structure of HTMs has been proven to be an important method for improving PSCs’ efficiency and stability. Herein, a novel dibenzofuran‐terminated spiro‐type HTM with extending π‐conjugation is designed and developed, named spiro‐BNF. The structure–property relationship is also studied with spiro‐OMeTAD and spiro‐DBF as the reference. The results show that spiro‐BNF has improved hole mobility and glass transition temperature (reaching 198 °C) than spiro‐OMeTAD and spiro‐BDF. spiro‐BNF also exhibits matched highest occupied molecular orbital level with perovskite and superior morphology on the perovskite layer. Accordingly, the PSCs employing spiro‐BNF display a higher power conversion efficiency of 23.65% and improved stability than the device employing spiro‐OMeTAD or spiro‐BDF. The findings provide a new insight for enhancing the performance of PSCs.

A New Method for Analyzing Storm Event Discharge‐Concentration Hysteresis: The Upper Yangtze River as an Example

AbstractThe analysis of hydrological and sediment dynamics during flood events offers a new perspective on material transport within basins and the management of rivers. The literature has highlighted the hysteretic nature of material transport at the event scale, which arises from temporal differences in the transport of materials (flow and sediment). Current hysteresis research methods fall short in effectively assessing the complex events. This study leverages suspended‐sediment and discharge data from the upper Yangtze River to show proof‐of‐concept for hysteresis studies using Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) algorithm, a time series analysis tool. To evaluate the efficacy of the method, extensive assessments were undertaken using a combination of synthetic data and basin data with over 700 flood events. The proposed index effectively captures and quantifies hysteresis relationships associated with flood events, making it a versatile tool for hysteresis studies. We also similarly tested the robustness of the method and the application to complex events, and the results were satisfactory. Furthermore, we explored the hysteretic features of flood events in the studied basin. The results revealed that a proportion ranging from 50% to 60% flood events exhibit sediment peak leading pattern, indicating that in the upper Yangtze River, sediment peaks tend to occur in a leading pattern. The operation of reservoirs profoundly impacts the dynamics of sediment transport, resulting in an increased proportion (from 27% to 54%) of sediment peaks lagging behind discharge peaks. These study findings can be used to improve hysteresis study methods and contribute to the understanding of hydrological and sediment transport characteristics.

Numerical modelling of lead-free perovskite photodetector with GO as ETM and Cz-N as HTM

Photodetectors (PD) are optoelectronic devices that can convert optical signal into electrical signals via the photoelectric effect. A model of CsSn0.5Ge0.5I3 based nip perovskite photodetector (PePd) with graphene oxide (GO) as electron transport material (ETM) and carbazole unit with naphthalene (Cz-N) is used as hole transport material (HTM) are established. The device configuration was analysed using solar cell capacitance simulator-1 dimensional (SCAPS-1D). The effects of absorber thickness, defect density of CsSn0.5Ge0.5I3, metal work function and operating temperature on device architecture have been investigated. For the incident light between 800-820 nm, a maximum responsivity and detectivity 0.65 A/W and 3.6×1013 Jones are obtained respectively. This simulation results will assist in the future research on high-performance lead-free perovskite photodetectors.

Study on Pressure-Induced Band Gap Modulation and Physical Properties of Direct Band Gap Ca3NX3 (X = Cl, Br) for Optoelectronic and Thermoelectric Applications

Utilizing density functional theory, we have comprehensively analyzed the structural, electronic, mechanical, transport, and thermodynamic properties of Ca3NCl3 and Ca3NBr3 photovoltaic materials. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of pressures ranging from 0 to 80 GPa and observed that the applied pressure decreases the atomic distances, resulting in significant changes in the physical properties of both materials. We employed GGA-PBE and TB-mBJ functionals to calculate the band structures and density of states, confirming their semiconducting nature. At 0 GPa, both compounds initially display a direct bandgap (Γ-Γ) of 1.5 eV for Ca3NCl3 and 1.26 eV for Ca3NBr3 based on GGA-PBE calculations. In contrast, the TB-mBJ calculations show an increase in the bandgap to 2.25 eV for Ca3NCl3 and 1.84 eV for Ca3NBr3, respectively. When a pressure of 80 GPa was applied, the direct bandgap of Ca3NCl3 and Ca3NBr3 decreased to 0.23 eV and 0.12 eV with GGA-PBE, and to 0.92 eV and 0.74 eV with TB-mBJ, respectively. It was also observed that the effective mass decreases under applied pressure, making these materials promising candidates for solar cell applications. The mechanical stability of both perovskites was maintained up to 80 GPa. Poisson's ratio and Pugh's ratio indicate that both compounds are brittle at 0 GPa but tend to become more ductile under applied stress. The optical properties reveal that pressure alters the dielectric function, absorption spectra, and optical conductivity, causing a red shift from higher to lower photon energies. Several thermodynamic properties, including heat capacity, Debye temperature, thermal expansion coefficient, and entropy, have been calculated, with their dependencies on temperature and pressure illustrated. Finally, the thermoelectric response of these materials is evaluated by examining how various transport parameters - such as the Seebeck coefficient, electrical and thermal conductivity, and power factor - depend on the temperature.

Exogenous melatonin improves peanut field productivity and quality at reduced nitrogen application

ContextNitrogen (N) plays integral roles in plant growth and yield. Finding ways to increase plant yield with reduced N usage will promote both agricultural and environmental sustainability. Melatonin acts as a multifunctional regulatory molecule in numerous metabolic processes crucial for plant growth and development as well as response to environmental stresses. The effects of melatonin on the material accumulation and transport, source-sink dynamics, as well as its association with yield and quality formation of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) remain unclear, especially at different N levels. ObjectivesWe aim to investigate the response mechanism of melatonin in peanut plants subjected to reduced N application, in order to confirm the hypothesis that melatonin regulates carbon and N accumulation and transport, and coordinates source-sink relationships to increase production and improve quality. MethodsThis study examined the effects of two seed dressing treatments (with or without 0.5μM MT) and three N fertilizer levels (90, 135, and 180kg/ha) using a randomized complete block design with split plots and three biological replications over 2021 and 2022. The evaluation focused on photosynthetic physiology, enzyme activities related to carbon and N metabolism, accumulation and transport of dry matter and N, yield, and quality, while exploring the relationships among these variables. ResultsMelatonin-treated plants had more stable carbon and N metabolism than the untreated ones. This stability was linked to improved photosynthesis, sucrose production, and N assimilation, especially at the reduced N levels (90 and 135kg/ha). Across three N levels and two years of field tests, MT increased peanut dry matter by 23.49% from 455.63g/m2 to 562.66g/m2, enhanced the accumulation and mobilization of dry matter and N to grains by increasing peanut grain mass by 22.41-29.07% at different N levels. This process appears to subsequently elevate the effective pod rate, leading to an average increase in pod yield, fat and protein content by 12.63%, 7.95%, and 10.33%, respectively, over a two-year period and across three N application levels. ConclusionsPlants subjected to melatonin treatment exhibited a coordinated source-sink relationship, which is manifested in high photosynthetic capacity and a high proportion of assimilates transported to pods, thus promoting effective proportions and pod fullness to improve peanut yield and quality under reduced N application. SignificanceOur research provided insights into the response mechanism of melatonin on peanut carbon and N metabolism across various N treatments, contributing to a deeper understanding of how melatonin enhances crop yield and quality.

Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells with a Multifunctional Spiro‐Based Hole Transport Material

AbstractThe widely used spiro‐OMeTAD exhibits moderate interaction with the perovskite layer, which does not decrease the defect on the perovskite surface, thus limiting the photoelectric performance of perovskite solar cells. In this work, the spiro‐OMeTAD structure is functionalized with chlorine (Cl), resulting in a new material labeled spiro‐mCl, which interacts more effectively with the perovskite and passivating interface defects. In addition, the strong electronegativity of Cl lowers the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbitals (HOMO) energy level of spiro‐mCl, resulting in a better match with the valence band of perovskite. Additionally, the asymmetry introduced by Cl enhances the hole mobility and increases the glass transition temperature of spiro‐mCl. As a result, the device incorporating spiro‐mCl achieved an open‐circuit voltage of 1.16 V and a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 25.26% (certified at 24.88%), marking it as one of the highest‐performing spirobifluorene‐based HTMs in PSCs. Importantly, this device also demonstrated significantly improved operational stability compared to the one utilizing spiro‐OMeTAD.

Investigating the performance of Tin-based perovskite solar cell with Cadmium Sulphide as etm and graphene as htm using SCAPS-1D

Solar cells based on lead-free perovskite have demonstrated great potential for renewable energy. The SCAPS-1D simulation software was used in this study to perform device modelling of a lead-free perovskite solar cell of the architecture Glass/FTO/CdS/CH3NH3SnI3/Graphene/Pt. For the performance evaluation, an optimization process of the different parameters such as thickness of the ETM, Absorber, Bandgap energy of the hole transport material was conducted. Extensive discussion on its effect on the performance of the solar cell parameters were stated. An optimal ETM and Absorber layer thickness was achieved at 40nm and 950nm. The Bandgap energy gave an optimal performance of device parameters at 0.9eV. Temperature variations were simulated and it was noted that the device had a minimal decrease in PSC parameters performance with increasing temperature. The final optimized device structure achieved a PCE, Voc, Jsc and FF of 25.65%, 0.9606 V, 33.2491(mA/cm2), and 80.32% respectively. Therefore, we expect that our findings will pave the way for the development of lead-free and highly effective perovskite solar cells.

Solution-processed tungsten diselenide as an inorganic hole transport material for moisture-stable perovskite solar cells in the n-i-p architecture

Some of the obstacles to the commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are their long-term moisture stability and material cost of the constituent layers, such as the commonly used spiro-OMeTAD hole transport layer (HTL). Replacing the spiro-OMeTAD with low-cost inorganic hole transport materials (HTMs) are important to further elevate the attractiveness of PSCs for commercialization. Perovskite-compatible, solution-exfoliated two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are being considered as viable candidates for inorganic HTMs. We consider one such TMDC, WSe2 which was chemically exfoliated using dichlorobenzene (DCB), a perovskite-compatible solvent, as it was integrated with triple cation perovskite absorbers within the solar cell stack. The WSe2 HTL required heat treatment processes to be maintained below 100 °C in order to preserve the integrity of the underlying perovskite; despite this lower temperature post treatment process, the structural morphology of the film revealed its dense and pinhole-free nature. Temperature-dependent transport studies conducted on the WSe2 film provided evidence of its semiconducting character and its ability to extract holes well from the underlying triple-cation Cs0.05FA0.79MA0.16PbI2.45Br0.55 absorber. The inorganic HTL offered better environmental stability in moisture-rich environments of up to 60 % relative humidity, in comparison to spiro-OMeTAD HTL-based devices which degraded faster as a result of pinholes.

The growing, resilient, inclusive and sustainable (GRINS) project for the development of life cycle inventory databases of beef cattle raised in Italy: The statistical datasets and the environmental assessment

Within the framework of the Growing, Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable (GRINS) project (Spoke 1, WP3, Next Generation EU program), this work aims to overcome the absence of Italian beef cattle Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets through a capillary analysis of several parameters. Specifically, the contribution to the environmental impact of livestock breeding of breed features (age, gender, weight, daily weight gain, breeding, feed intake and composition, milk and manure production), as well as stable management and crop cultivation was investigated. Statistical inventory datasets (84 in total) were developed for the predominant (<1 % population cut-off) beef cattle breeds in Italy.A key finding was the quantification of CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation (ranging from0.259 to 0.714 g kg−1 of live weight per day) and its contribution to the overall environmental impact of beef cattle breeding. The composition of feed rations emerged as critical, influencing both cattle emissions and environmental impacts associated with the cultivation and transport of raw materials. Intensive and langer breeds like Aubrac, Blond d'Aquitaine, Blue Belga, Charolaise, and Chianina, exhibited higher eco-indicator values compared to the extensive beef cattle breeds (Podolica, Highland, and Maremmana). The life cycle assessment identified several key impact categories (climate change, water use and ecotoxicity freshwater) mainly contributing to the total eco-indicator. Climate change (22.1 %) represented the greatest impact category, with beef cattle emissions over their lifespan averaging 9.3 Mg CO2-eq. Methane (enteric fermentation) and NH3 (manure management) emissions, as well as irrigation and pesticide use, represented the main hotspots. A comparative analysis evaluated the environmental footprint of Italian beef cattle against benchmarks outlined in the “Made Green in Italy” brand's Product Category Rules. This comparison revealed a 32.4 % reduction in total eco-indicator for Italian beef cattle, due to a significant decrease in freshwater ecotoxicity (−72.5 %), land use (−34.2) and climate change (−7.5 %).

Robotic upcycling and recycling: unraveling the era of sustainable in-space manufacturing

AbstractAdvancements in material science, manufacturing and sensor technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things have paved the way for fabricating new parts using additive manufacturing in microgravity conditions. NASA has successfully demonstrated 3D printing onboard the International Space Station (ISS), though at a minor scale. Nevertheless, the parts built onboard the ISS were returned to Earth for further testing and verification. The logistics of bi-directional transportation of raw materials from Earth to ISS and 3D-printed parts from ISS back to Earth is complex, expensive, and slow. Harnessing materials from space to establish in-orbit manufacturing as a sustainable process is both technically and economically challenging. The potential to reuse, repurpose or recycle space debris is not well studied, though there is an increasing momentum in Active Debris Removal (ADR) missions. Unlike the standard research or review paper, this is a visionary paper in which the authors explicitly address the intersection between space debris removal and in-space manufacturing. This paper defines a pathway towards implementing an operational in-orbit manufacturing and debris removal model. For the first time, the authors introduce the application of Cloud-Based Design and Manufacturing (CBDM) for in-space manufacturing in this paper. The paper aims to define a roadmap towards implementing a space operational model for in-orbit manufacturing and debris removal. Future enabling technologies that will leverage the advances in robotics, automation, and Space 5.0-based solutions to create a new environmentally friendly and economically profitable orbital ecosystem are presented. The authors analyze the pros and cons of robotic ADR, upcycling and recycling space debris for on-demand manufacturing in orbit and present a systematic approach to implementing in-orbit manufacturing as a new frontier. Recommendations are made to establish an imminent Earth-independent space logistics and supply chain system for operating an orbital factory or warehouse that will help realize a suite of in-orbit manufacturing, maintenance, and assembly missions.

Experimental analysis of rock mass transport during dolomite and gas outburst

In this paper, the problem of transporting rock material deep into the working is addressed. In the case of coal, literature reports indicate that sorbed gas is responsible for coal mass transport. As a result of laboratory tests, the marginality of sorption phenomena occurring in dolomite was confirmed. Transport of rock material during rock and gas outburst takes place in several stages. In the first stage, the post-outburst masses by gravity onto the bottom of the excavation and gas is released from the cavern which, after reaching a critical speed, entrains the accumulated material. A study was carried out to estimate the minimum start-up speed for grain transport. On the basis of analyses of the occurring gas-geodynamic phenomena and the conducted experimental tests, it can be concluded that on the basis of the size of the post-throw cavity and the length of the retention of the post-outburst masses, the work of transporting the post-outburst masses can be estimated. Finally, an energy balance of the rock-gas outburst phenomenon was performed based on the rock-gas system parameters estimated after two outbursts in dolomite.

Technology for removing PM2.5 in clean coal processes

Most countries primarily utilize thermal power to meet their energy needs. However, thermal power generation generates a substantial amount of pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), SOX, and NOX. These pollutants not only damage backend turbines and related equipment but also pollute the environment; thus, controlling their emissions is critical.This study developed a system operating under high temperature by integrating heating, pneumatic conveying, dust particulate supply, and filter material transport systems. This setup enables the simulation of the entry of syngas with PM at the output of a gasification unit. The developed composite filtration system was analyzed under various operational parameters, including different temperatures, inlet air velocities, and mass flow rates of filter material, to examine the changes in the dust particulate size distribution at its outlet and its PM2.5 collection efficiency. In a series of tests, the collection efficiency of this system reached at least 95% at operating temperatures between 20°C and 600°C. Each 100°C increase in the operating temperature resulted in a 0.63% decrease in the PM2.5 collection efficiency. The findings of this study lay the foundation for the future development of high-temperature gas purification systems.

Improved identification and tracking of three-dimensional eddies in the Southern Ocean utilizing 3D-U-Res-Net

Oceanic mesoscale eddies are prevalent throughout the global ocean, playing a critical role in material and energy transport while significantly influencing climate change. Accurate characterization of their three-dimensional structures and movement is essential for a quantitative analysis of their transport processes. Traditional eddy detection algorithms have lower successful detection rate and with more limitations, so they fall short in the complex and dynamic ocean environment. The rising trend of applying artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, due to their efficiency, precision, and automation, addresses this challenge. This study employs the 3D-U-Res-Net algorithm to identify the three-dimensional structures of mesoscale eddies in the Southern Ocean using GLORYS12V1 data from 2011 to 2020. A vector geometry-based eddy detection algorithm (VG) initially identified 1587292 eddy snapshots in the Southern Ocean (2011–2019), which were used for training the 3D-U-Res-Net algorithm. Data from 2020 served as the ground truth and validation set. The successful detection rate of 3D-U-Res-Net algorithm is 100%, which means that it identified all 135734 eddy snapshots from the VG dataset in 2020. For eddy tracking, the VG algorithm counted 18168 eddy tracks, whereas the 3D-U-Res-Net counted 18559, reflecting a 2.15% bias. To reduce uncertainty, eddies with lifespans shorter than two weeks were excluded. The average lifespans and traveling distances for eddies detected by the 3D-U-Res-Net (VG) algorithm were 29.35 (29.61) days and 77.78 (37.60) km, respectively, with the 3D-U-Res-Net identifying eddies with longer traveling distances. The mean radius of eddies detected by the VG algorithm was 43.16 km, while the 3D-U-Res-Net detected eddies with a mean radius of 43.74 km, a 0.58 km increase. We categorized eddies into four three-dimensional structures: bowl-shaped, cone-shaped, lens-shaped, and cylindrical. The VG algorithm identified these structures in proportions of 32%, 31%, 25%, and 12%, respectively, whereas the 3D-U-Res-Net algorithm found 19.48%, 19.58%, 0.04%, and 60.9%, respectively. The 3D-U-Res-Net identified more cylindrical eddies and was approximately ten times faster than the VG algorithm. Overall, this algorithm has good performance and higher efficiency. It is an attempt of using AI for oceanic research, and more works can be carried out in the future.

Influence of Tropical Cyclones and Cold Waves on the Eastern Guangdong Coastal Hydrodynamics: Processes and Mechanisms

Influence of Tropical Cyclones and Cold Waves on the Eastern Guangdong Coastal Hydrodynamics: Processes and Mechanisms

Phenothiazine‐Modified PTAA Hole Transporting Materials for Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells: A Trade‐Off Between Performance and Sustainability

AbstractHole Transport Materials (HTMs) are one of the key elements in Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) and specifically polymeric HTMs have recently emerged as one of the most viable options to couple excellent performance and good stability. However, most are processed only in aromatic solvents (e.g., toluene or chlorobenzene), thus negatively impacting the overall sustainability of the device. In this contribution, four novel polymers are synthesized specifically designed to be processable in less harsh, non‐aromatic, and non‐chlorinated solvent (i.e., Tetrahydrofuran – THF): the conventional PTAA scaffold is modified by the insertion of a phenothiazine (PTZ) and by the modulation of the methyl moieties on the peripheral benzene. Alternatively, a benzothiadiazole moiety is also added. The polymers are then implemented in flexible PSCs (F‐PSCs) that have recently attracted increased attention due to their high power‐to‐weight ratio. The THF‐processed P1 (a PTZ‐PTAA copolymer with one methyl group substituted) reaches an overall efficiency of 9.10%, outperforming THF‐processed PTAA (PCE = 8.25%) and approaching the one of toluene‐processed reference (PCE = 9.30%). Furthermore, P1 shows better stability under light soaking conditions. To rationalize these results, different characterizations are presented, including optoelectronic techniques, thermal and surface analyses, and GWAXS measurements.

Research on Bearing Capacity of a Novel Prestressed Concrete Prefabricated Foundation with High Uplift Resistance Characteristic

Unlike traditional building structures, transmission tower foundations endure significant vertical and horizontal loads, with particularly high uplift resistance requirements in complex terrains. Moreover, challenges such as difficult material transport and low construction efficiency arise in these regions. This study, based on practical projects, proposes a novel high uplift resistance prestressed concrete prefabricated foundation (HURPCPF) tailored for transmission line systems in complex terrains. A refined finite element model is developed using ABAQUS to analyze its performance under uplift, compressive, and horizontal loads. Comparative studies with cast-in-situ concrete foundations evaluate the HURPCPF’s bearing capacity, while parametric analysis explores the impacts of foundation depth and dimensions. The results show that the proposed HURPCPF exhibits a linear load–displacement relationship, with uniform deformation and good integrity under compressive and uplift conditions. During overturning, the tilt angle is less than 1/500, meeting safety standards. The design of prestressed steel strands and internal reinforcement effectively distributes tensile stress, with a maximum stress of 290 MPa, well below the yield stress of 400 MPa. Compared to cast-in-situ concrete foundations, the displacement at the top of the HURPCPF’s column differs by less than 7%, indicating comparable bearing performance. As foundation depth and size increase, vertical displacement of the HURPCPF decreases, enhancing its uplift resistance.

Lcs4Foam – An OpenFOAM Function Object to Compute Lagrangian Coherent Structures

To facilitate the understanding and to quantitatively assess the material transport in fluids, a modern characterisation method has emerged in fluid dynamics in the last decades that is based on dynamical systems theory. It allows to examine the most influential material lines which are called Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCS) and order the material transport into dynamically distinct regions at large scales which resist diffusion or mixing. LCS reveal the robust skeleton of material surfaces and are essential to assess material transport in time-dependent flows quantitatively. Candidates of LCS can be estimated and visualised from finite-time stretching and folding fields by calculating the Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponents (FTLE). In this contribution, we provide a function object to compute FTLE during CFD simulation by coupling OpenFOAM to the third-party library libcfd2lcs. This enables the OpenFOAM community to assess the geometry of the material transport in any flow quantitatively on-the-fly using virtually any OpenFOAM flow solver.

Tumor microtubes: A new potential therapeutic target for high-grade gliomas.

High-grade infiltrating gliomas are highly aggressive and fatal brain tumors that present significant challenges for research and treatment due to their complex microenvironment and tissue structure. Recent discovery of tumor microtubes (TMs) has provided new insights into how high-grade gliomas develop in the brain and resist treatment. TMs are unique, ultra-long, and highly functional membrane protrusions that form multicellular networks and play crucial roles in glioma invasiveness, drug resistance, recurrence, and heterogeneity. This review focuses on the different roles that TMs play in glioma cell communication, material transport, and tumor cell behavior. Specifically, non-connecting TMs primarily promote glioma invasiveness, likely related to their role in enhancing cell motility. On the other hand, interconnecting TMs form functional and communication networks by connecting with surrounding astrocytes and neurons, thereby promoting glioma malignancy. We summarize the factors that influence the formation of TMs in gliomas and current strategies targeting TMs. As the understanding of TMs advances, we are closer to uncovering whether they might be the long-sought Achilles' heel of treatment-resistant gliomas. By delving deeper into TMs research, we hope to develop more effective therapeutic strategies for patients with malignant gliomas.