Three-Dimensional mesoporous TiO2 scaffolds of anatase phase possess inherent eximious optical behavior that are beneficial in designing photoelectrodes for solar energy conversion applications. However, substantial efforts have been devoted in maximizing the UV and/or visible light absorption efficiency, and suppressing the annihilation of photogenerated charged species in pristine mesoporous TiO2 structure for improved solar illumination conversion efficiencies. This study provides the fundamental insights into Mxene functionalized mesoporous TiO2 as photoelectrode for the first time. This novel combination of Mxene functionalized TiO2 electrodes with and without TiCl4 treatments have been successfully optimized to intensify the process of photon absorption, charge segregation and photocurrent, resulting in superior photoelectrode performance. The photocurrent measurements of prepared photoelectrodes are significantly enhanced upon increased contents of Mxene due to improved absorption efficiency within the visible region as verified by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. Moreover, as evident through structural analysis, the anatase phase of TiO2 is well grown due to increased contents of Mxene and post-deposition heat treatments. Consequently, an appreciable coverage of well-developed grains on FTO surface observed in SEM images. Thereby, the newly fabricated conductive mesoporous TiO2 photoelectrodes are potential candidates for photoinduced energy conversion and storage purposes.

Hybrid manufacturing processes that combine additive and machining operations are gaining relevance in modern industry thanks to the capability of building complex parts with minimum material and, many times, with process time reduction. Besides, as the additive and subtractive operations are carried out in the same machine, without moving the part, dead times are reduced and higher accuracies are achieved. However, it is not clear whether the direct material deposition after the machining operation is possible or intermediate cleaning stages are required because of the possible presence of residual cutting fluids. Therefore, different LMD tests are performed on a part impregnated with cutting fluid, both directly and after the removal of the coolant by techniques such as laser vaporizing and air blasting. The present work studies the influence of the cutting fluid in the LMD process and the quality of the resulting part. Resulting porosity is evaluated and it is concluded that if the part surface is not properly clean after the machining operation, deficient clad quality can be obtained in the subsequent laser additive operation.

Based on electromagnetic heat transfer and metal phase transformation co-simulations, we modeled an AISI 1045 specimen under high-frequency heat treatment. Hardening zone predictions were confirmed through cooling and metal phase transformation simulations after obtaining the results from electromagnetic heat transfer simulations. The cooling process was modeled by applying the cooling coefficient of the cooling water in the same way as the actual heat-treatment process. To obtain the current flowing through the coil during high-frequency induction heating, the voltage was measured and applied using the resistance–inductance–capacitance circuit calculation method. Experimental and simulated results of the heating temperature and curing depth of an AISI 1045 specimen with a carbon content of 0.45% were compared; the comparison indicated good agreement between the two. Using the simulation results, we established a method for obtaining the current flowing through the induction coil for predicting the extent and depth of the hardening zone during high-frequency induction heat treatment.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent the largest class of materials among the crystalline porous materials ever developed and have attracted attention as core materials for separation technology. Their extremely uniform pore aperture and nearly unlimited structural and chemical characteristics have attracted great interest and promise in applying MOFs to adsorptive and membrane–based separations. This paper reviews the recent research and development of MOF membranes for gas separation. Strategies for polycrystalline membranes and mixed matrix membranes are discussed, with a focus on separation systems involving hydrocarbon separation and CO2 capture. Challenges and opportunities for the industrial deployment of MOF membranes are also be discussed, providing guidance for the design and fabrication of future high-performance membranes. The contributions of the underlying mechanism to separation performances, and the adopted strategies and membrane processing technologies for breaking the selectivity/permeability trade–off are discussed.

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of metal foam employment within polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and compares it with conventional serpentine channels from both experiment viewpoints and computational fluid dynamics simulation. The experiments are designed to study the effects of material, area density, compression ratio, and final thickness of metal foam. Additionally, the influence of housing plate material and relative humidity (RH) is also tested for the first time. The results reveal that at RH=75-100%, the best distributor design is nickel foam with a compression ratio of 70%, a final thickness of 0.5mm, and SS-304 housing plate, which delivers 3110 mA cm^-2 as limiting current density that is scarce in the literature. The PEFC with this foam distributor shows a 10% improvement in maximum power density and 45% in limiting current density compared to the serpentine channel case. While at RH=30%, the same foam flow field with a final thickness of 1mm is a superior option. The experiments also indicate that maximum power density increases by 23% as the compression ratio rises from 0 to 70%, while reducing final thickness from 1 to 0.5 mm causes a 19% enhancement in cell performance. Simulation results reveal that metal foam is more successful in evenly reactant distribution so that the average oxygen mass fraction at the cathode catalyst layer is increased by 38% in the metal foam case compared to the serpentine channel.

Monitoring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) places a crucial role in environmental pollutants control and indoor air quality. In this study, a metal-oxide (MOx) sensor detector (used in a commercially available monitor) was employed to delineate the composition of air containing three common VOCs (ethanol, acetone and hexane) under various concentrations. Experiments with a single component and double components were conducted to investigate how the solvents interact with the metal oxide sensor. The experimental results revealed that the affinity between VOC and sensor was in the following order: acetone > ethanol > n-hexane. A mathematical model was developed, based on the experimental findings and data analysis, to convert the output resistance value of the sensor into concentration values, which in turn can be used to calculate a VOC-based air quality index. Empirical equations were established based on inferences of vapor composition versus resistance trends, and on an approach of using original and diluted air samples to generate two sets of resistance data per sample. The calibration of numerous model parameters allowed matching simulated curves to measured data. As such, the predictive mathematical model enabled quantifying not only the total concentration of sensed VOCs, but also estimating the VOC composition. This first attempt to obtain semi-quantitative data from a single MOx sensor, despite remaining selectivity challenges, is aimed at expanding the capability of mobile air pollutants monitoring devices.

Due to the difficult metallurgical conditions during production, advanced processing techniques are required to produce functionally graded metal matrix composites. In this study, we explored a novel approach by using a combination of two different methods to produce Functionally Graded 7075 Al / SiCp composites. First process was direct semi-solid stirring that was used to prevent particle agglomeration, brittle reaction products, floating or settling of the reinforcements and poor wettability for the production of SiCp (wt. 5-20%) reinforced aluminum matrix composites. In the direct semi-solid mixing process, the matrix material remains in a semi-solid state until the reinforcement addition process is completed. The second novel process was sequential squeeze casting to provide liquid diffusion between two composite layers that were used to produce functionally graded aluminum matrix composite. The microstructure and interlayer zones were characterized by using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The resulting functionally graded material was subjected to spectrometer analyses, density measurements, and metallographic examinations in order to determine the characteristics of its layers and interfacial zones, as well as to assess the formation of the graded structure. The results obtained from this research provide the potential to use this new combined manufacturing method, which is relatively inexpensive, efficient and easily applicable, in order to produce functionally graded SiCp reinforced aluminum composites.

With metal oxide semiconductors being a promising candidate for accurate indoor air quality assessments, multiple drawbacks of the gas sensors prevent their widespread use. Examples include poor selectivity, instability over time, and sensor poisoning. Complex calibration methods and advanced operation modes can solve some of those drawbacks. However, this leads to long calibration times, which are unsuitable for mass production. In recent years, multiple attempts to solve calibration transfer have been made with the help of direct standardization, orthogonal signal correction, and many more methods. Besides those, a new promising approach is transfer learning from deep learning. This article will compare different calibration transfer methods, including direct standardization, piecewise direct standardization, transfer learning for deep learning models, and global model building. The machine learning methods to calibrate the initial models for calibration transfer are feature extraction, selection, and regression (established methods) and a custom convolutional neural network TCOCNN. It is shown that transfer learning can outperform the other calibration transfer methods regarding the root mean squared error, especially if the initial model is built with multiple sensors. It was possible to reduce the number of calibration samples by up to 99.3 % (from 10 days to approximately 2 hours) and still achieve an RMSE for acetone of around 18 ppb (15 ppb with extended individual calibration) if six different sensors were used for building the initial model. Furthermore, it was shown that the other calibration transfer methods (direct standardization and piecewise direct standardization) also work reasonably well for both machine learning approaches, primarily when multiple sensors are used for the initial model.

Methane and carbon dioxide are the main contributors to global warming, being the methane effect twenty-five times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Although the sources of methane are diverse, it is a very volatile and explosive gas. One way to store the energy content of methane is its conversion to methanol. Methanol is liquid under ambient conditions, easy to transport and, apart from its use as an energy source, it is a chemical platform that can serve as a starting material for the production of various higher value-added products. Accordingly, the transformation of methane to methanol has been extensively treated in the literature, using traditional catalysts as different types of zeolites. However, in the last years, a new generation of catalysts have emerged to carry out this transformation with higher conversion and selectivity, and more importantly, under mild temperature and pressure conditions. These new catalysts typically involve the use of a highly porous supporting material such as zeolite, or more recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and graphene, and metallic nanoparticles or a combination of different types of nanoparticles that are the core of the catalytic process. In this review, the characteristics, the catalytic mechanisms, reactors, and the main results of these catalysts are presented as a way to overcome the challenges found in traditional catalysts.

Fungal infection of grape berries (Vitis vinifera) by Botrytis cinerea frequently coincides with harvest, impacting both the yield and quality of grape and wine products. A rapid and non-destructive method for identifying B. cinerea infection in grapes at an early stage prior to harvest is critical to manage loss. In this study, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) crystal was applied as an absorbent material for volatile extraction from B. cinerea-infected and healthy grapes in a vineyard followed by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The performance of ZIF-8 to absorb and trap targeted volatiles was evaluated with a standard solution of compounds and with a whole bunch of grapes enclosed in a glass container to maintain standard sampling conditions. Results from sampling methods were then correlated to B. cinerea infection in grapes as measured and determined by Genus specific antigen quantification. Trace levels of targeted compounds reported as markers of grape B. cinerea infection were successfully detected with in-field sampling. Peak area counts for volatiles 3-octanone, 1-octen-3-one, 3-octanol, and 1-octen-3-ol extracted using ZIF-8 were significantly higher than values achieved using Tenax®-TA from field testing and demonstrated good correlation with B. cinerea infection severities determined by B. cinerea antigen detection.

Transition metal alloys have emerged as promising electrocatalysts due to their ability to modulate key parameters such as d-band electron filling, Fermi level energy, and interatomic spacing, thereby influencing their affinity towards reaction intermediates. However, the structural stability of alloy electrocatalysts during alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) remains a subject of debate. In this study, we systematically investigate the structural evolution and catalytic activity of the c-Co/Co3Mo electrocatalyst under alkaline HER conditions. We reveal that the instability of the Co3Mo alloy and H0.9MoO3 during alkaline HER leads to the destruction of the crystal structure, resulting in the formation of hexagonal cobalt (h-Co) from hexagonal Co(OH)2 as an intermediate species. Furthermore, we explore the re-adsorption and surface coordination of the Mo element, which enhances the catalytic activity for alkaline HER. This work provides valuable insights into the dynamic behavior of alloy-based electrocatalysts, shedding light on their structural stability and catalytic activity during electrochemical reduction processes

The response of plasmonic metal particles to an electromagnetic wave undergoes significant features at the nanoscale level. Different properties of the internal composition of a metal, such as its ionic background and the free electron gas, begin to manifest more prominently. As the dimensions of the nanostructures decrease, the classical local theory gradually becomes inadequate. Therefore, Maxwellʹs equations need to be supplemented with a relationship determining the dynamics of current density which is the essence of nonlocal plasmonic models. In this field of physics, the standard (linearized) hydrodynamic model (HDM) has been widely adopted with great success, serving as the basis for a variety of simulation methods. However, ongoing efforts are also being made to expand and refine it. Recently, the GNOR (general nonlocal optical response) modification of the HDM has been used, with the intention of incorporating the influence of electron gas diffusion. Clearly, from the classical description of fluid dynamics, a close relationship between viscosive damping and diffusion arises. This offers a relevant motivation for introducing the GNOR modification in an alternative manner. The standard HDM and its existing GNOR modification also do not include the influence of interband electron transitions in the conduction band and other phenomena that are part of many refining modifications of the Drude‐Lorentz and other models of metal permittivity. In this article, we present a modified version of GNOR‐HDM that incorporates the viscosive damping of the electron gas and a generalized Drude‐Lorentz term. In the selected simulations, we also introduce Landau damping which corrects the magnitude of the standard damping constant of the electron gas based on the size of the nanoparticle. We have chosen a spherical particle as a suitable object for testing and comparing HD models and their modifications because it allows finding precise analytical solutions for the interaction and, simultaneously, it is a relatively easily fabricable nanostructure in practice. Our contribution also includes our own analytical method for solving the HDM interaction of a plane wave with a spherical particle. This method forms the core of calculations of the characteristic quantities, such as the extinction cross‐sections and the corresponding components of electric fields and current densities.

With a growing number of PCMs and new, suitable PCM candidates, an overview is not only important, but also increasingly complex. Classification of PCM was thus changed significantly in the past decades. A review of classification of PCMs from recent years shows that not only different classification criteria are used, but more important that they are often mixed, used inconsistently, even without a clear goal. Focusing on the main goal of current classification schemes, to give an overview of the material options for the search for new, suitable PCM candidates, including already established PCMs, a consistent classification is developed in a desktop study. For this, first, the general options for classification criteria are reviewed, and then the appropriate ones selected. Then, based on them a new, revised PCM classification is suggested. It is specifically detailed with regard to mixtures; for binary mixtures it is based on a literature review performed within the study. The result also stresses the importance of specific R&D: for pure substances the sources and the chemical modification, and for mixtures their optimization by new compositions, additives, etc.

Chitosan is a biodegradable polymer derived from chitin, that is a versatile material for various biological applications for its attractive properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. Furthermore, chitosan possesses Second Harmonic Generation properties, that are useful for bio-sensing applications. In this work we explored the possibility to exploit chitosan-based nanospheres as SHG-based bio-sensors, and also as carriers of 89Sr radionuclide, an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient for radiopharmaceutical treatments in cancer therapy. To load opportunely the Sr ion on the nanospheres, we used a fructose-based Metal Organic Framework, of formula [Sr(C6H12O6)2(H2O)2]Cl2·H2O, because the sugar was able to drive the Sr ions on the chitosan matrix. The Sr-loaded chitosan nanospheres were synthetized, characterized, and their SHG response was measured. The results encouraged us to propose the nanospheres for theranostic purposes, i.e. at the same time valuable for both therapy and diagnostic applications.

Metal halide perovskites have shown excellent optoelectronic properties, including high photoluminescence quantum yield, tunable emission wavelength, narrow full-width at half-maximum and low-cost solution-processed fabrication, which make it exhibit great potential as the emission layer materials of light emitting diodes. With the joint efforts of researchers from different disciplines, there has been a significant progress in the improvement of external quantum efficiency (EQE) and stability of perovskite light emitting diodes (PeLEDs) in recent few years, especially in green PeLEDs with EQE over 30%. In this review, we firstly introduce the basic device structure of PeLEDs, as well as the factors influencing EQE and stability of PeLEDs. Secondly, the development of lead-based and lead-free PeLEDs are summarized systematically. Thirdly, challenges of PeLEDs are discussed in detail, including low EQE of blue PeLEDs, poor device stability and EQE roll-off. Finally, some suggestions and perspectives of the future research directions for PeLEDs are proposed.

The CMT (Cold Metal Transfer) arc welding process is a convenient instrument for the assembly of thin sheets [1], [2]. More particularly, it permits the decrease of the amount of heat transferred to the parts to-be assembled, thus reducing their subsequent deformations. The present work aims at simulating the CMT welding of thin stainless-steel sheets in order to develop an approach that allows the prediction of temperature fields, as well as final deformations induced by the welding process. For that purpose, instrumented tests and numerical simulations were set aiming at comparing the experiments with simulations. Butt-welding of stainless-steel sheets was considered, with a thickness ranging from 1 to 1.2 mm. The weld seam samples were observed in order to set an equivalent heat source for each configuration. Moreover, the electric current and voltage were surveyed, and temperature measurements were performed using K-type thermocouples. In addition, displacement measurements were obtained using the DIC (Digital Image Correlation) technique. Thermomechanical simulations were then carried out using an equivalent heat source approach, considering the phase changes of elements, i.e. the transitions from solid to liquid and from liquid to solid. These simulations also consider the actual geometry of seams induced by addition of a filler material.

The increading emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere has urged the scientific community to investigate alternatives to alleviate such emissions being the principal contributor to the greenhouse gas effect. One major alternative is carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) towards the production of value-added chemicals using diverse technologies. This work aims at the study of the catalytic potential of different cobalt-derived nanoparticels for methanol syntheis from carbon dioxide hydrogenation. Thanks to its abundance and cost-efficacy, cobalt can serve as an economical catalyst compared to noble-metal-based catalysts. In this work, we present a systematic comparison among different cobalt and cobalt oxide nanocomposites in terms of their efficiency as catalysts for carbon dioxide hydrogenation to methanol as well as how different supports can enhance their catalytic capacity. The oxygen vacancies in the cerium oxide act as carbon dioxide adsorption and activation sites, which facilitates a higher methanol production yield.

Evidence of the efficacy and safety of colorectal stent placement for palliation remains insufficient. This single-arm, prospective, multicenter study with WallFlex enteral colonic stent included 200 consecutive patients with malignant large bowl obstruction in the palliation cohort. The technical and clinical success, as well as stent patency and complications as short-term (≤ 7 days) and long-term (> 7days) outcomes, of high axial force self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement was evaluated. The technical and clinical success rates were 98.5% and 94.5%, respectively. Non recurrent colorectal obstruction at 1 year was 63.9%, and 71.2% of the patients remained free of recurrent colorectal obstruction until death or the last follow-up. Fifty-six patients (28.0 %) received chemotherapy and five patients were administered bevacizumab after stent placement. The overall complication rate was 47%, including four (2.0%) early-onset and ten (5.0%) late-onset perforations, mostly due to stent-edge injury. Only the use of a long SEMS was a risk factor for perforation. In conclusion, endoscopic colorectal stenting using high axial force SEMS is an effective and safe procedure for palliation in patients with malignant colorectal obstruction. However, care should be taken to avoid perforation at the stent edge when using a long SEMS.

To study the influence of electrothermal effect of ESD protection device on the reliability of inte-grated circuit,a theoretical model of ESD protection device thermal resistance is constructed in the paper based on the Conservation of Energy Principle. By analyzing the temperature relativity between electricity parameter and thermology parameter of ESD protection device characterized by self-heating thermal resistance, the quantitative relationship expression of physical parameter and geometric parameter is obtained, which can be used to improve ESD protection device elec-tro-thermal effect. The simulation testing and the real tape-out testing of ESD protection device self-heating thermal resistance based on ggNMOS are shown and compared. It is concluded that self-heating thermal resistance is an effective index for the protection device electrothermal char-acterization. Based on the established model, the self-heating thermal resistance could be decreased to improve the homogeneity of the heat transference. The uneven distribution of device temperature can be reduced, and the overall reliability of chips can be improved.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is an alternative to surgery for acute cholecystitis (AC) in poor operative candidates. However, the role of EUS-GBD in non-cholecystitis (NC) indications has not been well studied. We compared clinical outcomes of EUS-GBD for AC and NC indications. Consecutive patients undergoing EUS-GBD for all indications at a single center were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-one patients underwent EUS-GBD during the study period. Thirty-nine (76%) patients had AC while 12 (24%) had NC indications. NC indications included malignant biliary obstruction (n = 8), symptomatic cholelithiasis (n = 1), gallstone pancreatitis (n = 1), choledocholithiasis (n = 1), and Mirizzi’s syndrome (n = 1). Technical success was noted in 92% (36/39) for AC and 92% (11/12) for NC (p > 0.99). Clinical success rate was 94% and 100%, respectively (p > 0.99). There were 4 adverse events in the AC group and 3 in the NC group (p = 0.62). Procedure duration (median 43 vs 45 minutes, p = 0.37), post-procedure length of stay (median 3 vs 3 days, p = 0.97), and total gallbladder related procedures (median 2 vs 2, p = 0.59) were similar. EUS-GBD for NC indications is similarly safe and effective as EUS-GBD in AC.

We have detected a large Nernst effect in the CDW state of the multiband organic metal α−(BEDT−TT)2KHg(SCN)4. We find that there exists a significant gradient of charge relaxation processes that can generate a sizeable contribution adding especially to the transverse thermoelectric signal. Apart from the phonon drag, the energy relaxation processes governing the electron-phonon interactions and the momentum relaxation processes governing the charge mobility of the q1D group of carriers have a significant role in observing the large Nernst signal in the CDW state. The emphasised momentum relaxation dynamics in the low field CDW state is a clear indicator of a significant carrier mobility that can lead to the largest Nernst signal in this state. The momentum relaxation is reduced with increasing angle and magnetic field, i.e., in the high field CDW state which is reflected in the smaller Nernst effect amplitude. In this case only the phonon drag and electron-phonon interactions are contributing to the transverse thermoelectric signal. Our findings advance and change the previous observations on the complex properties of this organic metal.

How to effectively suppress thermal cracks in the metal laser additive manufacturing process is still one of the key issues to be solved in the field of laser additive manufacturing. Metal tin, with wide liquid phase working temperature range, high boiling point, low viscosity, high thermal conductivity and excellent electrical conductivity. The use of tin as an auxiliary thermal management material in the metal additive manufacturing process is expected to achieve effective regulation of the temperature field and stress field of the formed part, thereby inhibiting the initiation of cracks and obtaining formed parts with the target grain structure and high reliability. This paper presented a novel liquid metal-assisted laser additive manufacturing method (LMAAM). A numerical model for the laser additive manufacturing of tin-assisted titanium alloys was established. The differences of the flow field, temperature field and stress field of the formed parts with tin and without tin were compared and analyzed. The influence of the interaction position between the tin liquid level and the forming part on the temperature field and stress field of the forming part was deeply studied. The laser additive manufacturing experiment of tin-assisted titanium alloy was carried out, and the experimental results were basically consistent with the simulation results, which verified the validity of the model. LMAAM technology has proven to be an effective method for additive manufacturing of highly reliable formed parts.

The screening and treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) using Na₂FeO₄ has been explored. Elemental composition was performed using an ICP-OES for the raw and treated AMD. The AMD samples were collected from three different sampling sites (RTW1, RTW2 and RTW3) in Pretoria, South Africa with acidic pH ranging between 2.50 and 3.13. Total dissolved solids and Electrical Conductivity of AMD samples ranged between 960 and > 1000 mg. L^-1, 226 and 263 µS. cm^-1, respectively. The final pH of treated water samples increased up to ≥ 9.5 after treatment with Na₂FeO₄. Sodium ferrate showed dual functions by removing metals and raising the pH of the treated water. Concentrations of most trace elements were not complying with WHO and DWAF guideline standards in raw AMD while after treatment with Na₂FeO₄ the concentrations were below guidelines for domestic and irrigation purposes.

A series of polycaprolactones (PCLs) with molecular weights of 950–10,100 g mol−1 and Ð of 1.10–1.87 have been synthesized via one-pot, solvent-free ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) using a heterogeneous double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst. Various initiators such as polypropylene glycol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and sorbitol are employed to tune the number of hydroxyl end groups and properties of the resultant PCLs. Kinetic studies indicate that the DMC-catalyzed ROP of CL proceeds via a coordination mechanism. Branched PCLs copolymers are also synthesized via the DMC-catalyzed copolymerization of CL with glycidol. The α,ω-hydroxyl functionalized PCLs were successfully used as telechelic polymers to produce thermoplastic poly(ester-ester) and poly(ester-urethane) elastomers with well-balanced stress and strain properties.

Aiming the characterization of road dusts on the surrounding villages of an active mine and to assess metal(loids) bioaccessible fractions, a dust samples survey was undertaken. To achieve these objectives, pseudototal element concentration, mineralogical composition, Enrichment factor and in vitro extraction UBM assay for both gastric (G) and gastrointestinal (GI) phases, were determined. Results obtained revealed that arsenic represents the higher risk to humans, with mean pseudototal values higher than the maximum reference value range. Enrichment factor points to As significant to very high enrichment in all villages. Particles enriched in As, Ca, Fe, Cu, Al, Ti were identified by SEM-EDS in weathered agglomerates, linked to mine wastes and long-distance transport, both by wind and/or traffic. Arsenic bioaccessibility fraction (%BAF) presents low values in the studied samples, possibly due to low Fe complexes solubility with adsorbed As, limiting arsenic release and reducing its bioaccessibility. Concentrations of Cd bioaccessible G and GI phases are within the reference values range, while for Cu are above and for Pb are lower, than reference value range. Results show that the pseudototal fraction risk is overestimated when comparing to BAF (bioaccessible fraction), nevertheless, total G and GI risk are above the carcinogenic target risk (1.00E-06) in most samples. Carcinogenic risk of the bioaccessible contaminants shows that As is the element that represents higher risk for developing cancer over a lifetime, being ingestion the main risk route.

The paramagnetic gadolinium(III) ion is used as contrast agent in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to improve the lesion detection and characterization. It generates a signal by changing the relaxivity of protons from associated water molecules and creates a clearer physical distinction between the molecule and the surrounding tissues. New gadolinium-based contrast agents displaying larger relaxivity values and specifically targeted might provide higher resolution and better functional images. We have synthesized the gadolinium(III) complex of formula [Gd(thy)2(H2O)6](ClO4)3·2H2O (1) [thy = 5-methyl-1H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione or thymine], which is the first reported compound based on gadolinium and thymine nucleobase. 1 has been characterized through vis-IR, SEM-EDAX and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, and its magnetic and relaxometric properties have been investigated by means of SQUID magnetometer and MR imaging phantom studies, respectively. On the basis of its high relaxivity values, this gadolinium(III) complex can be considered a suitable candidate for contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

In this article, it is proposed to use aluminum breakage scraps to obtain Green Hydrogen through the aluminum-water reaction with caustic soda as a catalyst. From this exothermic reaction, both hydrogen and the heat generated can be used. Due to the low price of aluminum chips, this allows us to produce Green hydrogen below the current price that is obtained using renewable energy sources and electrolyzers. On the other hand, we have developed a process that is sustainable since it is obtained as alumina and caustic soda waste that can be reused. This alumina obtained, once filtered, has high purity which allows us to produce high-quality primary aluminum without the need to use bauxite and reducing the production of red sludge. A comparative study-analysis has been carried out of two of the types of forms in which the most common aluminum is presented in the industry to analyze which one performs better by studying key factors such as the hydrogen produced, and the waste generated during the process. Finally, the mathematical model has been defined to be able to control the flow based on different key parameters such as temperature, molarity, and geometry. Undoubtedly, the study that we present represents a milestone for the recovery of metallic aluminum waste and may be of great interest to industries that use aluminum in their processes, such as recuperators, but also the vehicle or aerospace industry.

In recent years, the class of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials emerged. These materials' unique properties can be assigned to their structure, containing inorganic nodes connected with organic linkers. Due to their porosity and flexibility, MOFs have become suitable for various energy-related applications, including gas storage, hydrogen production and heterogeneous catalysis, and photocatalysis. Using DFT+U calculations, we show that the substitution of metal centers in inorganic nodes and the strain engineering of UiO-66 alters the electronic and optical properties of this material. We show that applying mechanical strain on UiO-66 enables the control of absorption coefficient in the UV-Vis spectrum and the photocatalytic processes' selectivity when reactants for several photocatalytic processes are present. The presented findings could lead to general strategies for designing novel MOFs for sustainable energy conversion applications.

: TiAl6V4 alloy is widely used in selective laser melting and direct laser melting. In turn, works devoted to the issue of how the track stacking scheme affects the value of mechanical properties is not enough. The influence of the Ti6Al4V alloy track trajectories on the microstructure and mechanical properties during direct laser deposition is studied in this article for the first time. The results were obtained on the influence of «parallel» and «perpendicular» technique of laying tracks in direct laser synthesis. All studied samples have a microstructure typical of the hardened two-phase condition titanium. It is shown that the method of laying tracks and the direction of load application during compression testing relative to the location of the tracks leads to a change in the ultimate strength of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy from 1794 to 1910 MPa. The plasticity of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy obtained by direct laser alloying can vary from 21.3 to 33.0% depending on the direction of laying the tracks and the direction of the compression test. The hardness of alloys varies in the range from 409 to 511 HV and depends on the method of laying the tracks and the direction of hardness measurements.

Metal 3D printing technology is a promising manufacturing method. The quality of the printed product can pass for mechanical application, if the anisotropy of the microstructure, imperfections, deformation, and residual stress of the printed sample could be lower than the appropriate level or if they are fully illuminated. Thermal stress is one of the significant reasons for deformation in the 3D printed samples. Thermal stresses are the direct consequence of the local temperature gradient. In this research, the effect of the temperature printer’s chamber (from room temperature to 900 C) was studied on thermal stress and subsequent total deformation in the printed sample. The printed sample is a six-layers-printed walk, which could be considered as a building block of other complex shapes and give us inside about deformation. The computational results show a meaningful reduction in thermal stress and deformation at the higher temperature of the printer’s chamber. The lower final deformation of the printed sample is an important subject, especially for samples with complex shapes.

Highly sensitive multicomponent materials designed for the recognition of hazardous compounds request control over interfacial chemistry. The latter is key parameter in the construction of the sensing (macro)molecular architectures. In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (in short, CNTs) were deposited on diazonium-modified flexible ITO electrodes prior to electropolymerization of pyrrole. This three step process, including diazonium electroreduction, deposition of CNTs and electropolymerization, provided adhesively bonded polypyrrole-wrapped CNT composite coatings on aminophenyl-modified flexible ITO sheets. The aminophenyl (AP) groups were attached to ITO by electroreduction of the in situ generated aminobenzenediazonium compound in aqueous, acidic medium. For the first time, polypyrrole (PPy) was electrodeposited in the presence of both benzenesulfonic acid (dopant) and ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) which acts as a chelator. The flexible electrodes were characterized by XPS, Raman and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which provided strong supporting evidence for the wrapping of CNTs by the electrodeposited PPy. Indeed, the CNT average diameter increased from 182.6 nm to 274.8, 35.65.9 and 17520.1 after 1, 5 and 10 of electropolymerization of pyrrole. The PPy/CNT/NH2-ITO films generated by this strategy exhibit significantly improved stability and higher conductivity compared to a similar PPy coating without any embedded CNTs as assessed by from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. The potentiometric response was linear in the 10-83×10-7 mol.L-1 Pb(II) concentration range and the detection limit was 2.9×10-9 mol.L-1 at S/N=3. The EGTA was found to drastically improve selectivity for Pb(II) over Cu(II). To account for this improvement, density functional theory (DFT) was employed to calculate the EGTA-metal ion interaction energy which was found to be -374.6 and -116.4 kJ/mol for Pb(II) and Cu(II), respectively, considering solvation effects. This work demonstrates the power of a subtle combination of diazonium coupling agent, CNTs, chelators and conductive polymers to design high-performance electrochemical sensors for environmental applications.

The development of sensors for monitoring Carbon Monoxide (CO) in a large range of temperature is of crucial importance in areas as monitoring of industrial processes or personal tracking using smart objects. Devices integrating GaN/Ga₂O₃ core/shell nanowires (NWs) is a promising solution allowing combining the high sensitivity of the electronic properties to the states of GaN-core surface; and the high sensitivity to CO of Ga₂O₃-shell. Because the performances of sensors primarily depend on the material properties composing the active layer of the device, it is essential to control these properties and in first time its synthesis. In this work, we investigate the synthesis of GaN/Ga₂O₃ core-shell NWs with a special focus on the formation of the shell. The GaN NWs grown by Plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy, are post-treated following thermal oxidation to form Ga₂O₃-shell surrounding the GaN-core. We establish that the Ga₂O₃-shell thickness can be modulated from 1 up to 14 nm by changing the oxidation conditions, and follows the diffuse-controlled reaction. By combining XRD-STEM and EDX analysis, we also demonstrate that the oxide shell formed by thermal oxidation is crystalline and presents the β-Ga₂O₃ crystalline phase, and is synthesized in epitaxial relationship with the GaN-core.

Food preservatives are compound that are used for the treatment of food to improve the shelf life. In the food industry, is necessary to monitor all processes, for both safety and quality of the product. An electronic nose (or e-nose) is a biomimetic olfactory system that could find numerous industrial applications, including food quality control. Commercial electronic noses are based on sensor arrays composed by a combination of different sensors, which include conductometric metal oxide devices. Metal oxide nanowires are considered among the most promising materials for the fabrication of novel sensing devices, which can enhance the overall performances of e-noses in food applications. In the present work, is reported the fabrication of a novel sensor array based on SnO2, CuO and WO₃ nanowires deposited on top of commercial μHPs, provided by ams Sensor Solutions Germany GmbH. The array was tested for the discrimination of four typical compounds added to food products or used for their treatment to increase the shelf life: ethanol, acetone, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. Results are very promising: the sensors array was able to operate for long time consuming less than 50mW for each single sensor, and PCA analysis confirms that the device was able to discriminate between different compounds.

Light sources tend to affect images captured in any automatic optical inspection (AOI) system. In this study, the effectiveness of metal-halide lamps, quartz-halogen lamps, and LEDs as the light sources in AOI systems for the detection of the 3rd and 4th layers electrodes of thin-film-transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs) is examined experimentally. The results show that the performance of LEDs is generally comparable or better than that of metal-halide and quartz-halogen lamps. The best optical performance is by the blue LED due to its spectrum compatibility with the time-delay-integration charged-coupled device (TDI CCD) sensor and its better spatial resolution. The images revealed by the blue LED are sharper and more distinctive. Since current LEDs are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, using LEDs as the light source for AOI is very beneficial. As the blue LED performs the best, it should be adopted for AOI using TDI CCD sensors.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a subclass of porous materials that have unique properties such as varieties of structures from different metals and organic linkers, tunable porosity from a structure or framework design, etc. Moreover, modification/functionalization of the material structure could optimize the material properties and demonstrate high potential for a selected application. MOF materials exhibit exceptional properties and make these materials widely applicable including in energy storage and heat transformation applications. This review aims to give a broad overview of MOFs and their development as adsorbent materials having the potential for heat transformation applications. We summarize current investigations, developments, and possibilities of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) especially the tuning of the porosity and hydrophobic/hydrophilic design required for this specific application. These materials applied as adsorbent are promising in the thermal driven adsorption for heat transformation using water as working fluid and related application.

To remove sulfur-containing compounds (SCC) from the diesel fraction 200-360 °C extraction systems have been created based on coordinating organic solvents - dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide and chlorides (CoCl2, CuCl2, CdCl2, MnCl2 and CrCl3) and metal trifluoroacetates (Co (TFA)2, Cu(TFA)2 and Mn(TFA)2). Using PMR spectroscopy the coordination of chloride and metal trifluoroacetate on the oxygen atom in the carbonyl group of DMFA was shown to redistribute electron density in the solvent molecule and to enhance properties of the acceptor center localized on the nitrogen atom. The removal of sulfur-containing compounds from the diesel fraction proceeded under mild conditions - at the temperature of 25 °C and atmospheric pressure. The degree of SCC removal from the diesel fraction in 30 minutes extraction was more than 90%. The interaction of organic solvents with metal salts and sulfur-containing compounds of the diesel fraction was considered within the framework of the concept of "hard and soft acids and bases" (HSAB). The most complete SCC extraction was carried out by "DMFA - Mn(TFA)2, MnCl2 and CrCl3 systems, that was probably connected with the implementation of the" hard base - hard acid "system.

1) Background: Bipolar or manic-depressive disorder is a malign mental disease that frequently faces social stigma. Educational and thinking models are needed to increase people’s awareness and understanding of the disorder. The arts have potential to achieve this goal. 2) Methods: This paper builds on the recent use of heavy metal music as a thinking and education model. It emphasizes the artistic component of heavy metal and its potential to characterize the symptomatology during the episodes of (hypo)mania and depression and the recurrence of these episodes. Heavy metal music has diversified into subgenres that become allegorical to both the symptoms of episodes and the recurrence of bipolar cycles. 3) Results: Examples of songs are given that mirror distinct facets of the disorder. 4) Conclusion: Although the links drawn between art (music) and science (psychiatry) are inherently subjective, such connections might be used to trigger a learning process, facilitate judgment and decision-making, and induce affective reactions and memory formation in the listener. The approach may facilitate collaborative efforts and serve healthcare professionals and educators as a communication tool to aid the public’s comprehension of the disease and an associated social paradox: On one hand, bipolar disorder incurs substantial costs to society. On the other hand, it benefits from the creative artistic and scientific endeavors of bipolar individuals from which cultural and political gains may ensue.

This article presents, for the first time, the efficacy and curing depth analysis of photo-thermal dual polymerization in metal (Fe) polymer composites for 3D printing of a 3-component (A/B/M) system based on the proposed mechanism of our group, in which the co initiators A and B are Irgacure-369, and charge-transfer complexes (CTC), respectively; and the monomer M is filled by Fe. Our formulas show the depth of curing (Zc) is an increasing function of the light intensity, but a decreasing function of the Fe and photoinitiator concentrations. Zc is enhanced by the additive [B] which produces extra thermal radical for polymerization under high temperature. The heat (or temperature) increase in the system has two components : (i) due to the light absorption of Fe filler, and (ii) heat released from the exothermic photopolymerization of the monomer. The heat is transported to the additive (or co-initiator) [B] to produce extra radical R' and enhance the monomer conversion function (CF). The Fe filler leads to temperature increase, but also limits the light penetration leading to lower CF and Zc, which could be overcome by the additive initiator [B] in thick polymers. Optimal Fe for maximal CF and Zc are explored theoretically.

Non steady applied magnetic field impact on a liquid metals has good prospects for industry. For a better understanding of heat and mass transfer processes under these circumstances, numerical simulations are needed. A combination of finite elements and volumes methods was used to calculate the flow and solidification of liquid metal under electromagnetic influence. Validation of numerical results was carried out by means of measuring with ultrasound Doppler velocimetry technique, as well as with neutron radiography snapshots of the position and shape of the solid/liquid interface. As a result of the first part of the work, a numerical model of electromagnetic stirring and solidification was developed and validated. This model could be an effective tool for analyzing the electromagnetic stirring during the solidification process. In the second part, the dependences of the velocity pulsation amplitude and the melt velocity maximum value on the magnetic field pulsation frequency are obtained. It was found numerically the ability of the pulsating force action to develop higher values of the liquid metal velocity at a frequency close to the MHD resonance. Obtained characteristics give a more detailed description of the electrically conductive liquid behaviour under action of pulsating traveling magnetic field.

Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to investigate the interaction between nucleation and the rates of chemical reduction in Au/Ag, Au/Pt and Au/Pd nanoparticles prepared in microemulsions using a one-pot method. The impact of nucleation on final nanostructure depends on the critical nucleus size value: at a high critical nucleus size, nucleation becomes the main factor in determining the final nanostructure, even with very large difference in reduction rates, as seen in the Au/Pd pair. However, when the critical nucleus size is small, the difference in reduction rates of the two metals becomes the key parameter determining the final nanostructure. Furthermore, the relevance of heteroatomic nucleation on the mechanism of nanoparticle formation depends on the difference between the reduction rates of the two metals. Smaller differences, such as in the Au/Ag or Au/Pt pairs, result in a greater impact of heteroatomic nucleation on the final nanostructure. In contrast, in the Au/Pd pair, heteroatomic nucleation becomes less important due to the low availability of Pd until late stages of synthesis. This study provides deeper insight into the complex mechanisms that govern reactions in microemulsions.

Various iron oxides have been proven to be promising anode materials for metal-ion batteries due to their natural abundance, high theoretical capacity, ease of preparation, and environmental friendliness. However, the synthesis of iron oxide-based composites requires complex approaches, especially when it comes to composites with intrinsically conductive polymers. In this work we propose a one-step microplasma synthesis of a polyaniline-coated urchin-like FeOOH nanoparticles (FeOOH/PANI) for application as anode in lithium-ion batteries. The material shows excellent electrochemical characteristics, providing initial capacity of ca. 1600 mA∙h∙g−1 at 0.05 A∙g−1 and 900 mA∙g−1 at 1.2 A∙g−1. Further cycling lead to capacity decrease to 150 mA∙h∙g−1 by the 60th cycles, followed by a recovery that maintained the capacity at 767 mA∙h∙g−1 after 2000 cycles at 1.2 A∙g−1 and restored full initial capacity of 1600 mA∙h∙g−1 at low current density of 0.05 A∙g−1. Electrochemical milling of the material caused such interesting behavior of the material, and we confirmed this phenomenon by a combination of physico-chemical and electrochemical techniques. The anodes also exhibit high performance in a full cell with NMC532. NMC532//FeOOH/PANI full cell provided energy density of 224 Wh∙kg−1 which is comparable to the reference cell with graphite anode (264 Wh∙kg−1).

The combination of organic matter, iron oxide, and clay minerals is of great significance for the adsorption of copper ions (Cu). The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics of Cu adsorption and laws governing Cu complexation to organic–inorganic, organic–clay mineral, and iron-oxide–clay mineral complexes in the sediments in the estuary of plateau fault and sinking lake——Dianchi Lake. In this study, Cu adsorption tests were performed on the three complexes, in order to study the kinetic behavior of adsorption, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used. The samples before and after adsorption were characterized via scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Our results show that, the Freundlich isotherm models model was able to describe adsorbent behavior in comparison to the Langmuir models. During the Cu adsorption process, the iron-oxide–clay mineral complex is able to adsorb Cu, via coordination exchange, through the –OH contained therein. Organic-matter–clay mineral complexes bonded to the surfaces of clay minerals by replacing the hydroxyl groups with functional groups (carboxyl groups or phenolic hydroxyl groups) contained in the organic matter. Organic–inorganic composites then adsorbed Cu through the coordination exchange of –OH in the polar functional groups of alcohols, phenols, and carboxylic acids. The adsorption capacity of Cu in these three sediment complexes was observed to have the following order: organic–inorganic complex > organic-matter–clay mineral complex > iron-oxide–clay mineral complex. The semi-quantitative analysis results of Fourier Infrared Spectroscopy show that the organic matter (changes in the peak area of functional groups such as carboxyl groups) in the organic-inorganic composite material has an important effect on the amount of copper ions adsorbed by clay minerals.

Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) are a group of Zn(II)-dependent enzymes that pose a major threat to global health. They are linked to an increasing number of multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens, but no clinically useful inhibitor is yet available. Since β-lactam antibiotics, which are inactivated by MBLs, constitute ~65% of all antibiotics used to treat infections, the search for clinically relevant MBL inhibitors is urgent. Here, derivatives of a 2-amino-1-benzyl-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile (1a) were synthesised and their inhibitory effects assessed against representatives of each of the three subgroups of MBLs (B1, B2, B3). Several compounds are potent inhibitors of each MBL tested, making them excellent candidates for the development of broad-spectrum drug leads. In particular, compound 5f is highly potent across the MBL subfamilies, with Ki values in the low µM range. Furthermore, this compound also dis-plays synergy in combination with antibiotics such as penicillin G, cefuroxime or meropenem. This molecule thus represents one of the most promising compounds developed yet to combat MBLs.

Penicillium digitatum is the major postharvest pathogen of citrus fruit under Mediterranean climate conditions. In the present work, we have addressed the study of the role of P. digitatum’s proteases in virulence following two complementary approaches. In a first approach, we have undertaken the functional characterization of the P. digitatum prtT gene, which codes for a transcription factor previously shown to regulate extracellular proteases in other filamentous fungi. Deletion of prtT caused a significant loss in secreted protease activity during in vitro growth assays. However, there was no effect on virulence. Gene expression of the two major secreted acid proteases was barely affected in the ΔprtT deletant during infection of citrus fruit. Hence, no conclusion could be drawn on the role of these secreted acidic proteases on the virulence of P. digitatum. In a second approach, we have studied the effect of different protease inhibitors and chelators in virulence. Co-inoculation of citrus fruit with P. digitatum conidia and a cocktail of protease inhibitors resulted in almost a complete absence of disease development. Analysis of individual inhibitors revealed that the metalloprotease inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline was responsible for the observed effect. The application of metal ions reverted the protective effect caused by the metallopeptidase inhibitor. These results may set the basis for the development of new alternative treatments to combat this important postharvest pathogen.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of plasma treated metal contaminated water, used for irrigation, on plant growth. Zinc (Zn) is one of the more commonly used metals. It can enter the environment from industrial processes as particles released into the atmosphere or as wastewater discharged into waterways or the ground. Exposure to large amounts of zinc, even for a short time, can seriously affect human health. In this experiment, three different DBD O2 plasma treated zinc contaminated water and a control (tap water) were used, with Arabidopsis thaliana as the model plant. The treatments were: i) Control, ii) Zn water, iii) Zn+O3(30 min), and iv) Zn+O3(60 min). Arabidopsis plant exhibited maximum growth in the Zn+O3(30 min) treatment. All growth parameters, except leaf area, followed this trend: Zn+O3(30 min) > Control > Zn water > Zn+O3(60 min). Gene expression analysis revealed that reduced metal ion stress and controlled oxidation due to active oxygen species contributed to favorable/improved growth of Arabidopsis in the Zn+O3(30 min) treatment. Therefore, 30 minutes of DBD O2 plasma treated zinc contaminated water [Zn+O3(30 min)] can mitigate the adverse effects of excess zinc ions and promote the growth of Arabidopsis plants.

The field of fluorescence sensing, leveraging various supramolecular self-assembled architectures constructed from macrocyclic pillar[n]arenes, has seen significant advancement in recent decades. This review comprehensively discusses, for the first time, the recent innovations in the synthesis and self-assembly of pillar[n]arene-based supramolecular architectures (PSAs) containing metal coordination sites, along with their practical applications and prospects in fluorescence sensing. Integrating hydrophobic and electron-rich cavities of pillar[n]arenes into these supramolecular structures endow the entire system with self-assembly behavior and stimulus responsiveness. Employing the host–guest interaction strategy coupled with complementary coordination forces, PSAs exhibiting both intelligent and controllable properties are successfully constructed. This provides a broad horizon for advancing fluorescence sensors capable of detecting environmental pollutants. This review aims to establish a solid foundation for the future development of fluorescence sensing applications utilizing PSAs. Additionally, current challenges and future perspectives in this field are discussed.

Crystalline silicon nanomembrane (Si NM) is promising in wearable and implantable bioelectronics due to its electrical and mechanical performances. However, the current explorations are not enough to firmly bridge ultrathin encapsulation strategies with high performance crystalline Si NM based transistors. In this work, we utilized Al2O3/alucone as the ultrathin encapsulation strategies aim to thoroughly investigate the effect of gate dielectric surface area on the electrical performance of crystalline Si NM based metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors (MOSCAPs). The comparative analysis was implemented on the three types of diameters (Ø) MOSCAPs with and without Al2O3/alucone encapsulation under planar and concave/convex bending conditions. Benefited from the Al2O3/alucone ultrathin encapsulations, the stability of gate leakage current density, and interfacial characteristics were maintained and improved under mechanical bending deformations for MOSCAPs with predefined Ø of 160, 240, and 320 μm compared to the bare MOSCAPs. Combined with the Ø-related mechanical analysis on the maximum strain in the critical layers and the practical measurements, the encapsulated MOSCAPs with Ø 160 μm showed the most stable electro-mechanical performances. The variations for encapsulated MOSCAPs with three types of Ø emerged in the oxide layer and the interface at dielectric/Si NM that were carefully evaluated according to the bending deformations. These findings are significant for leveraging the practical applications in the ultrathin encapsulation strategies for reliable operations of crystalline Si NM based integrated circuits (ICs).

Deep eutectic solvents are a mixture of two or more components, that at a particular composition become liquids at room temperature. When the compounds that constitute the DES are primary metabolites, namely, amino acids, organic acids, sugars, or choline derivatives, the DES are so called natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). NADES fully represent green chemistry principles. These solvents are highly welcome, as they are obtained from renewable resources, and gratifyingly biodegradable and biocompatible. They are an alternative to room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). From the pharmaceutical industry point of view, they are highly desirable, but unfortunately have been rarely used despite their enormous potential. In this review, we will look at their impact on the asymmetric catalytic synthesis of key target molecules, via metal-based catalysis, biocatalysis and organocatalysis. In many cases the NADES that have been used are chiral and can even promote enantioselective reactions, this crucial and very exciting aspect will also be discussed and analysed.

Urban gardens have important social, environmental and economic roles in big cities, contributing to their sustainability. However, food production in urban gardens may be compromised due to soil pollution that resulted from decades of industrial non-regulated environmental activity and mobile transport. In this study, 12 soils from the urban agricultural area of Rome (Italy) were analyzed for the metals Be, Ba, Pb, Co, Ni, V, Zn, Hg, Cd, As, Cu, and Cr. All but one of the soils under analysis were characterized by at least one metal concentration above the threshold limit defined by the Italian Legislative Decree 152/2006 (ILD) for agricultural soils. Multivariate analysis showed that the soils could be classified into five clusters: clusters I and II had relatively lower mean metal concentrations; clusters III, IV, and V had relatively higher mean metal concentrations with several metal concentrations above the threshold proposed by ILD. Three factors contributing to the variability of the metal’s concentration in the soils under investigation were identified: geological factor, related with metals As, Ba, Be, and V; anthropogenic factor, related with Pb and Cu; and, a mixed factor related with Co, Cr, Ni, and Zn. High metal content may limit the utilization of urban soils as urban gardens for food production.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have been observed to exclusively eliminate dyes confined within their respective pores. In this investigation, the synthesis of a breathable MOF structure, MIL-88B(Fe), was pursued with the objective of circumventing restrictions on pore size to en-hance its adsorption capabilities. The synthesis of MIL-88B(Fe) was carried out via the assisted solvothermal method at 373 K using inexpensive yet environmentally benign FeCl3.6H2O, 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid and DMF as metal precursor, as linker and solvent, respectively. Furthermore, MOF was subjected to extensive analytical characterization using XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy, N2 gas sorption, TGA, and SEM. The experimental data showed that the utilization of MIL-88B(Fe) with a dose level of 5 mg for 180 mins at pH of 9 led to the highest levels of ad-sorption for both dyes with 162.82 mg g-1 for Methylene Blue (MB) and 144.65 mg g-1 for Rho-damine B (RhB), as a result of contrast molecular size between each dye. The Langmuir and Freundlich models demonstrate a correlation with isotherms, while the thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that MIL-88B(Fe) exhibits distinct endothermic and breathable properties. The ef-ficacy of MIL-88B(Fe) adsorbent for MB and RhB in aqueous solutions indicated exceptional performance, stability, and noteworthy reusability performance.

Platinum group metals (PGMs) high-grade ore tonnage from Merensky reef keeps on depreciating forcing the metallurgical industry to explore beneficiating PGMs from upper group 2 (UG2) ore which has up to 60% content of chromite and from secondary sources. The PGMs are naturally associated with base metal sulphides and the efficacy of the PGMs extraction processes is dependent on the processing of PGMs-bearing base metal sulphides. These processes include concentrating PGMs-bearing base metal sulphides through flotation, oxidation, etc. prior the metal extraction processes. The evolving mineralogy of PGMs ores has necessitated the use of multiple reagents to enhance the efficiency of the concentration process. This has led to an increased amount of inor-ganic chemicals disposal to the environment and the processing of PGMs to be less economic. Bio-technology has been investigated as a potential low cost, ecologically safe substitute for many current minerals processing methods. The metabolites produced by microorganisms have been used for many years with great success in the leaching and flotation of metals from medium and low-grade sulphide minerals. The possible application of microorganism mainly Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) in the metallurgical processing of PGMs-bearing base metal sulphides is systematically reviewed in this paper. The main emphasis is on the use of A. ferrooxidans in bio-oxidation and bioleaching, as well as their potential to substitute inorganic reagents in the flo-tation of PGMs-bearing base metal sulphides from primary and secondary sources

Date palm trees generate large amounts of various types of waste, including leaf sheath fibers which can be used as a low-cost, precursor for production of biochar including activated carbon (AC) that can be employed for adsorption of contaminants. In the current study, activated carbon was made from leaf sheath fibers of date palm (LSDPFAC) by use of chemical activation with K2CO3, combined with microwave irradiation, characterized and evaluated for its adsorptive capacity of lead ions (Pb2+). The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, Langmuir surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter of LSDPFAC were 560.20 m2/g, 744.31 m2/g, 0.29 cm3/g and 2.47 nm respectively. When the initial concentrations of Pb2+ were increased from 1 to 10 mg/L, Pb2+ adsorption increased from 0.97 to 8.76 mg/g, dry mass (dm) while the percent of Pb2+ removed decreased from 96.70 to 87.60%. The greatest removal of Pb2+ occurred at pH 13 with adsorption capacity of 9.15 mg/g, dm. Results of isotherm and kinetic studies demonstrated that adsorption of Pb2+ onto LSDPFAC was best described by the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second order (PSO) models. Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity, Qm was 14.10 mg/g. Thermodynamic parameters of H°, S°, G° and Ea were 6.39 kJ/mol, 0.12 kJ/mol.K, -31.28 kJ/mol and 15.90 kJ/mol, respectively, which demonstrated that adsorption of Pb2+ by LSDPFAC was endothermic, spontaneous and governed by physisorption.

Abstract Aims: In recent years, electro kinetic (EK) remediation has become more popular as a novel method for removing chromium contamination from soil. This approach, however, is ineffective since it uses both cationic and anionic forms of chromium. In this work, a membrane –based technique was employed to increase the efficiency of the electro kinetic removal of chromium. Methods: Chromium removal from polluted sludge was studied in four bench-scale experiments, two of which used distilled water (EK-1, EK2 & Membrane) and two of which used acetic acid as a catholyte (EK-3, EK4 &Membrane). Results: The pH, total chromium, and fractionation of chromium in the sludge were measured after remediation. In the EK-1, EK-2 & Membrane and EK-3, EK-4 & Membrane trials, the average removal efficiency of total chromium was 47.6%, 58.6%, and 74.4%, 79.6%, respectively. Conclusion: In contrast to the electro kinetic remediation strategy, which left approximately 80% of the sludge neutral or alkaline after treatment, the use of the membrane created acidic soil conditions throughout the sludge. For example, the high field intensity used in the membrane tests may have helped to facilitate chromium desorption, dissolution and separation from the sludge, as well as enhance chromium mobility. The findings show that the membrane can improve the effectiveness of chromium removal from sludge when utilized in the EK remediation process.

Nanostructured transition metal nitrides (TMNs) have been considered a promising substitute for precious metal catalysts toward ORR due to their multi-electron orbitals, metallic properties, and low cost. To design TMNs catalysts with high catalytic activity toward ORR, the intrinsic features of the influencing factor on the catalytic activity toward ORR of nanostructured TMNs need to be investigated. In the paper, titanium nitride (TiN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), and hafnium nitride (HfN) nanoparticles (NPs) are high-efficiency and one-step synthesized by the direct current arc plasma. TiN, ZrN, and HfN NPs with an oxidation layer are applied as the catalysts of hybrid sodium-air batteries (HSABs). The effect of composition and structure attributes of TMNs on ORR catalysis is defined as follows. (ⅰ) Composition effect. With the increase of the oxygen content, the catalytic ORR capability of TMNs decreases progressively due to the reduction of oxygen adsorption capacity; (ⅱ) Structure effect. The redistribution of the density of states (DOS) of ZrN indicates higher ORR activity than TiN and HfN. HSABs with ZrN exhibit an excellent cyclic stability up to 137 cycles (about 140 h), an outstanding rate performance, and a specific capacity of 2817 mAh·g−1 at 1.0 mA·cm−2.

In interceptive treatments in which impacted teeth (incisor or first permanent molar) should be included into the dental arch, the main clinical problem is the provision of an anchorage area and a suitable appliance. The use of laser sintered metal orthodontic grids, designed and printed digitally, has expanded the boundaries of orthodontic treatment, especially in its interceptive phase. Our aim is to describe a digital model for providing anchorage during orthodontic-surgical traction of impacted teeth in the mixed dentition period. We present the treatment of three clinical cases with digitally projected and printed metal grids used for anchorage. In the described clinical cases, individually designed anchorage systems were used. They were created through design software and after that the metal grids were printed. The devices are placed in the oral area and don’t disturb the aesthetics of the patient in any way. The advantages of individual designed metal support grids allow to accommodate the features of relief of the hard palate and alveolar bone. This makes the grids comfortable for the patient and rigid enough to perform orthodontic tractions at the same time. The printed additional grids are applicable in mixed dentition and in complicated clinical cases in permanent dentition. Their individuality allows segmental treatments or treatments in cases requiring additional anchorage further from the active force.

Oxygen evolution reaction is a momentous part of electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices such as rechargeable metal-air batteries. It is particularly urgent to develop low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reactions. As a potential substitute for noble metal electrocatalysts, transition metal selenides are still challenging in improving the activity of oxygen evolution reaction and the research of reaction intermediates. In this study, a simple one-step solvothermal method was used to prepare a polymetallic compound carbon matrix composite (Co9Se8/Ni3Se4/Fe3O4@C) with a multilayered nanosheets structure. It exhibited good OER activity in an alkaline electrolyte solution with an overpotential of 268 mV at 10 mA/cm2 in an alkaline medium. Besides, this catalyst also showed excellent performance in the 24 hours stability test. The composite presents a multi-layer sheet structure, which effectively improves the contact between the active site and the electrolyte. The selenide formed by Ni and Co has a synergistic effect, Fe3O4 and Co9Se8 form a heterojunction structure, which can effectively improve the reaction activity by initiating the electronic coupling effect through the interface modification. In addition, carbon quantum dots have rich heteroatoms and electron transferability, which improves the electrochemical properties of the composites. This work provides a new strategy for the preparation of highly efficient OER electrocatalysts utilizing the multimetal synergistic effect.

The reckless use of non-replenishable fuels by the growing population for energy and the resultant incessant emission of hazardous gases and waste products into the atmosphere insisted scientists to fabricate materials capable of managing these global threats at once. In recent studies, photo-catalysis employed focus on utilizing renewable solar energy to initiate chemical processes with the aid of semiconductors and highly selective catalysts. A wide range of nanoparticles have showcased promising photocatalytic properties. Ultrasmall metal nanoclusters (MNCs) with sizes below 2 nm, stabilized by ligands shows discrete energy levels, exhibits unique optoelectronic properties which are vital to photocatalysis. In this review, we intend to compile information on varying photocatalytic efficiency of metal NCs with respect to changes in their properties. Review discusses about the photocatalytic activity of atomically precise ligand-protected MNCs and its hybrids in the domain of in energy conversion processes like photodegradation of dyes, Oxygen Evolution Reaction (ORR), Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and CO2 Reduction Reaction (CO2RR), and photosensitizer in solar cell.

By drilling periodic thru-holes in a suspended film, the phonon system can be modified. Being motivated by the BCS theory, the technique, so-called phonon engineering, was applied to a niobium sheet. The newly emergent high-T_c superconductivity, however, cannot be accounted for by the BCS theory. Rather, its exposed configuration, namely a square-lattice oxygen network, is reminiscent of the copper--oxygen plane in cuprate high-T_c superconductors. It turns out that its magnetic result is consistent with the principle of giant atom, which was developed by another heroes of superconductivity, Fritz London and John Slater, in the 1930s, several decades earlier than the propagation of BCS theory. The superconducting transition feature is discussed on the basis of a comprehensive theory of the giant atom---the theory of hole superconductivity.

As one of the representatives of emerging metallic transition metal dichalcogenides, niobium ditelluride (NbTe₂) has attracted intensive interest recently due to its distorted lattice structure and unique physical properties. Here, we report on the ultrafast carrier dynamics in NbTe₂ measured using time-resolved pump-probe transient reflection spectroscopy. A thickness-dependent carrier relaxation time is observed, exhibiting a clear increase in the fast and slow carrier decay rates for thin NbTe₂ flakes. In addition, pump power dependent measurements indicate that the carrier relaxation rates are power-independent, with the peak amplitude of the transient reflectivity increasing linearly with pump power. Isotropic relaxation dynamics in NbTe₂ is also verified by performing polarization-resolved pump-probe measurements. These results provide an insight into the light-matter interactions and charge carrier dynamics in NbTe₂ and will pave the way for its applications to photonic and optoelectronic devices.

Description of redox reactions is critically important for understanding and rational design of materials for electrochemical technologies including metal-ion batteries, catalytic surfaces, or redox-flow cells. Most of these technologies utilize redox-active transition metal compounds due to their rich chemistry and their beneficial physical and chemical properties for these types of applications. A century since its introduction, the concept of formal oxidation states (FOS) is still widely used for rationalization of the mechanisms of redox reactions, but there exists a well-documented discrepancy between FOS and the electron density-derived charge states of transition metal ions in their bulk and molecular compounds. We summarize our findings and those of others which suggest that density-driven descriptors are in certain cases better suited to characterize the mechanism of redox reactions, especially when anion redox is involved, which is the blind spot of the FOS ansatz.

Copper is a heavy metal used in many industries and known for its negative impacts on the environment and human’s health. A novel structured metal organic framework (MOF) was used for copper adsorption for this work. SEM, EDAX, XRD and FTIR were done to confirm the structure of MOF prepared. MOF of 0.05 gm was used to examine its ability in Cu+ 2 removals with different initial concentrations of Cu+2 and pH values (5, 7 and 9). The prepared MOF was able to achieve Cu removal with 94.6%, 93%, 91.5%, and 92.5 % for the initial concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20 ppm respectively. It also performed very well for pH 5 and 7 with average removal ranging from 93.9%-95% for pH 5 and 7 for the initial concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 respectively which indicate that the prepared MOF is of high ability in Cu+ 2 removal.

The response of a single tin oxide nanowire was collected at different temperatures to create a virtual array of sensors working as a nano-electronic nose. The single nanowire, acting as a chemiresistor, was first tested with pure ammonia and then used to determine the freshness status of trout fish (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a rapid and non-invasive way. The gas sensor reacts to total volatile basic nitrogen, detecting the freshness status of the fish samples in less than 30 seconds. The sensor response at different temperatures correlates well with the total viable count (TVC), demonstrating that it is a good (albeit indirect) way of measuring the bacterial population in the sample. The nano-electronic nose is able to classify the samples according to their degree of freshness, but also to quantitatively estimate the concentration of microorganisms present. The system was tested with samples stored at different temperatures, managing to classify them perfectly (100%) and estimating their log(TVC) with an error lower than 5%.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is an emerged layer-by-layer manufacturing process. However, its broad adoption is still hindered by limited material options, different fabrication defects, and inconsistent part quality. Material extrusion (ME) is one of the most widely used AM technologies, and, hence, is adopted in this research. Low-cost metal ME is a new and AM technology used to fabricate metal composite parts using sintered metal infused filament material. Since the involved materials and process are relatively new, there is a need to investigate the dimensional accuracy of ME fabricated metal parts for real-world applications. Each step of the manufacturing process, from the material extrusion to sintering, might significantly affect the dimensional accuracy. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of dimensional changes of metal samples fabricated by the ME and sintering process, using statistical and machine learning algorithms. Machine learning (ML) methods can be used to assist researchers in sophisticated pre-manufacturing planning and product quality assessment and control. This study compares linear regression to neural networks in assessing and predicting the dimensional changes of ME made components after 3D printing and sintering process. The prediction outcomes using a neural network performed the best with the highest accuracy as compared to regression. The findings of this study can help researchers and engineers to predict the dimensional variations and optimize the printing and sintering process parameters to obtain high quality metal parts fabricated by the low-cost ME process.

The development of numerical simulations is potentially useful in predicting the most suitable manufacturing process and ultimately improving product quality. Seamless pipes are manufactured by rotary piercing process in which round bars are fed between two rolls and pierced by a stationary plug. During this process, the material undergoes severe deformation which renders it impractical to be modelled and analysed with conventional finite element methods. In this paper, three dimensional numerical simulations of the piercing process are performed with Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) Formulation in LS DYNA software. Details about the material model as well as the elements formulations are elaborated here and mesh sensitivity analysis was performed. The results of the numerical simulations are in good agreement with experimental data found in the literature and the validity of the analysis method is confirmed. The effects of varying workpiece velocity, process temperature, and wall thickness on the maximum stress levels of the product material/pipes are investigated by performing simulations of sixty scenarios. Three dimensional surface plots are generated which can be utilized to predict the maximum stress value at any given combination of the three parameters.

Objective: To examine the burnout syndrome among the healthcare personnel in Puerto Rico during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Descriptive study that pursues to understand burnout syndrome in the clinical personnel in Puerto Rico. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was sent via email to healthcare professionals around the island. Furthermore, open questions were asked to the participants. Results: The overall burnout level on the clinical personnel was found to be moderate. Nonetheless, in physicians, 12.1% had severe burnout levels compared to a 13.1% score in nurses. Additionally, 92.4% of physicians and 100% of nurses had moderate to severe burnout. In the three subscales, nurses scored high levels in all of them, and physicians were high in Emotional Exhaustion and moderate level in Depersonalization and Personal Accomplishment at Work. There were high levels of burnout syndrome of the clinical personnel in Puerto Rico. Conclusion: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 90% of healthcare professionals in Puerto Rico have been working with moderate to severe burnout syndrome, being the nurses the most affected. Key Words: Burnout syndrome, MBI, Clinical personnel, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2

An electrochemical sensing platinum nanoparticle in the tantalum electrode is provided by means of an Ion Beam Sputtering Deposition (IBSD). The electrode was made with a Pt solution, sputtered simultaneously with hydrochloric acid corrosion on tantalum substrate. In the study of heavy metal ions, for example, the platinum nanoparticle electrodes as prepared were used Square wavelength voltammetry (OSWV) Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ag²⁺. The porous electrodes were observed in a broader range by the Pt nanostructure electrode for heavy metal ions. Furthermore, the susceptibility to detection has been shown to be saturated as the thickness of the layer electrode exceeded 50 nm. For Hg²⁺ 0,003-1 M, for Cu²⁺ 0,005-3 M and for Ag²⁺ the linear detection scale is 0,009-4 M. There has also been good reusability and repeatability. In addition, a scan electron microscope (SEM) used to study platinum electrode forming process and nanostructure. This electrode will have interesting applications in sensing systems.

Today, contamination from heavy metals in the atmosphere is a global concern. Efficient detection techniques are therefore necessary if heavy metal exposure levels in different media are to be determined. The voltammetry method for in situ detection of heavy metal ions is a very sensitive electrochemical method. This thesis explores emerging developments in electrode alteration, materials production and experimental optimization. An electrochemical sensing platinum nanoparticle in the tantalum electrode is provided by means of an Ion Beam Sputtering Deposition (IBSD). The electrode was made with a Pt solution, sputtered simultaneously with hydrochloric acid corrosion on tantalum substrate. In the study of heavy metal ions, for example, the platinum nanoparticle electrodes as prepared were used Square wavelength voltammetry (OSWV) Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ag²⁺. The porous electrodes were observed in a broader range by the Pt nanostructure electrode for heavy metal ions. Furthermore, the susceptibility to detection has been shown to be saturated as the thickness of the layer electrode exceeded 50 nm. For Hg²⁺ 0,003-1 M, for Cu²⁺ 0,005-3 M and for Ag²⁺ the linear detection scale is 0,009-4 M. There has also been good reusability and repeatability. In addition, a scan electron microscope (SEM) used to study platinum electrode forming process and nanostructure. This electrode will have interesting applications in sensing systems.

Pyrochlore group minerals are the main raw phases in granitic rocks of the Katugin complex-ore deposit that stores Nb, Ta, Y, REE, U, Th, Zr, and cryolite. They are of three main generations: primary magmatic (I), early postmagmatic (II), and supergene (III) pyrochlores. The primary magmatic phase (generation I) is fluornatropyrochlore with high concentrations of Na2O (to 10.5 wt.%), F (to 5.4 wt.%) and REE2O3 (to 17.1 wt.%) but low CaO (0.6-4.3 wt.%), UO2 (to 2.6 wt.%), ThO2 (to 1.8 wt.%), and PbO (to 1.4 wt.%). Pyrochlore of this type is very rare in nature and limited to a few occurrences, such as rare-metal deposits of Nechalacho in syenite and nepheline syenite (Canada) and Mariupol in nepheline syenite (Ukraine). It may have crystallized synchronously with or slightly later than melanocratic minerals (aegirine, biotite, and arfvedsonite) at the late magmatic stage when Fe from the melt became bound making impossible the formation of columbite. Second generation pyrochlore formed at the early postmagmatic stage of the Katugin deposit. It differs from that of first generation in lower Na2O concentrations (2.8 wt.%), relatively low F (4 wt.%), and les occupancy of the A and Y sites at similar contents of other components. Generation III pyrochlore is a product of supergene alteration processes. It is compositionally heterogeneous and contains K, Ba, Pb, Fe, and significant Si concentrations but low Na and F. Its compositions mostly fall within the filed of hydro- and kenopyrochlore.

We review the latest developments in the field of the metal-insulator transition in strongly-correlated two-dimensional electron systems. Particular attention is given to recent discoveries of a sliding quantum electron solid and interaction-induced spectrum flattening at the Fermi level in high-quality silicon-based structures.

Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising field for sustainable energy production using hydrogen. Development of efficient catalysts is essential for resourceful hydrogen production. The most efficient catalysts reported to date have been extremely precious rare-earth metals. One of the biggest hurdles in this research area is the difficulty of developing highly efficient catalysts comparable to the noble metal catalysts. Here, we report that non-noble metal dichalcogenide (Co₃Se₄) catalysts made using a facile one-pot electrodeposition method, showed highly efficient photoelectrochemical activity on a Si photocathode. To enhance light collection and enlarge its surface area even further, we implemented surface nano-structuring on the Si surface. The nano-structured Si photoelectrode has an effective area greater than that of planar silicon and a wider absorption spectrum. Consequently, this approach exhibits reduced overvoltage as well as increased photo-catalytic activity. Such results show the importance of controlling the optimized interface between the surface structure of the photoelectrode and the electrodeposited co-catalyst on it to improve catalytic activity. This should enable other electrochemical reactions in a variety of energy conversion systems.

The chemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) by using an environmentally friendly methodology for their preparation is presented. Thus, considering that plants possess components that can act as reducing agents and stabilizers in the nanoparticles production, in this work, the synthesis of Ag-NPs by using a solution of grape waste extract as reducing and capping agent is studied. First, the total polyphenols content and reducing sugars in extracts produced at different conditions are characterized. After that, Ag-NPs are synthesized regarding the interaction of Ag ions (from silver nitrate) and the grape waste extract. The effect of temperature, contact time, extract/metal solution volume ratio and pH solution in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles are studied too. Different sets of nanoparticle samples are fully characterized by means of Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-Ray for qualitative chemical identification. Ag-NPs with an average diameter of 27.7 ± 0.6 nm are selected to proof their suitability for sensing purposes. Thus, screen-printed electrodes modified with Ag-NPs are tested for the simultaneous voltammetric stripping determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II). Results indicate good reproducibility, sensitivity and limits of detection around 2.7 µg L⁻¹ for both metal ions.

Geothermal energy is a weather-independent, permanently available renewable energy source. In addition to producing heat and electricity, geothermal energy can be used to extract critical raw materials dissolved in the heat-carrying fluid. Researchers working on the frontiers of geothermal energy utilisation may be able to transform ultra-deep metallic mineral formations into “orebody-Enhanced Geothermal Systems”. In the planned technology, the metal-containing geological formation would be manipulated in such a way that cogeneration of energy and metals is possible and can be optimised in the future according to market needs. The potential of geothermal energy for sustainable mineral extraction and energy production aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. This new technology could substantially decrease Europe’s dependency on importing critical metallic minerals (such as lithium and tungsten) and energy; over and above, it has a small environmental footprint, including very low carbon emissions

In the present work, we report on a 3D MOF of {[Pb5(3-OH)(3-NO3)3(6-pmdc)3·H2O}n formula (pmdc = pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylate) synthesized by an oven-heated solvent-free procedure. The large connectivity afforded by the three ligands in their coordination to lead(II) ions grows cubic building units characterized by a central Pb atom with an unusual coordination index of 12 and six pmdc ligands occupying the faces. These cubic units are linked one another giving rise to a quite condensed structure that represents an unprecedented topology showing the (4.62)6(43)2(45.610)3(45.68.82)6(46.69)6(612.83) point symbol. The crystalline material has been characterized by routine physico-chemical techniques to confirm its purity and its thermal behaviour has been also studied by thermogravimetric and thermodiffractometric analyses. The solid presents greenish blue photoluminescent emission based on pmdc ligands, as revealed time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations, by that is substantially more intense than in free H2pmdc ligand according to its improved quantum yield. The emissive capacity of the material is further analysed according to decreasing temperature of the polycrystalline sample, finding that sizeable long-lasting phosphorescence is present.

Addressing global environmental problem, water splitting to produce hydrogen fuel by solar energy is getting so much attention. In the water splitting, the essential problem to solve is the development of efficient　catalysts for oxygen production. In this paper, having the prospect for a practical application of photocatalysts to artificial photosynthesis, molecular mechanisms in the current literature are briefly reviewed. At first, recent progress in the function of Mn cluster at the natural photosystem II is briefly described. The kinds of devices in which oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts are used were designated; water electrolyzers, photoelectrodes, and photocatalysts. Some methods for analyzing molecular mechanism in OER catalysis, emphasized by FTIR method, are shown briefly. After describing common OER mechanisms, the molecular mechanisms are discussed for TiO2 and BiVO4 photoelectrodes with our novel data, followed by presenting of co-catalysts IrO2, RuO2, NiO2, and other metal oxides for OER catalysts. Recent reports describing OER catalysts of perovskites, layered double hydroxides (LDH), metal-organic frameworks (MOF), single atom catalysts, as well as metal complexes are reviewed. Finally, by comparing with natural photosystem, the requiring factors to improve the activity of the catalysts for artificial photosynthesis will be discussed.

The flavin derivatives 10‐methyl‐isoalloxazine (MIA) and 6-fluoro-10-methyl-isoalloxazine (6F-MIA) were encapsulated in two alternative metal-organic frameworks, (MOFs) MIL53(Al) and MOF5, using a post-synthetic, diffusion-based incorporation into microcrystalline MIL-53 powders and an in-situ approach during the MOF-5 synthesis. The flavin@MOF composites were analyzed by powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), N2-sorption studies and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy. The maximum amount of flavin dye incorporation is 3.9 wt% for MIA@MIL-53(Al) and 1.5 wt% for 6F-MIA@MIL-53(Al), 0.85 wt% for MIA@MOF-5 and 27.6 wt% for 6F-MIA@MOF-5. The emission wavelengths of all flavin@MOF composites mostly correspond to the wavelengths of the flavins in solution. Time-resolved spectroscopy showed that the fluorescence lifetime of flavin@MOF of 2-4.7 ns also corresponds to those in solution but is significantly prolonged compared to the solid flavin dyes with less than 1 ns, thereby confirming the concept of "solid solutions" for dye@MOF composites. The fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF) of the flavin@MOF composites is about half of the solution but is significantly higher compared to the solid flavin dyes. Both the fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield of flavin@MOF decrease with the flavin loading in MIL-53. Theoretical calculations using plane-wave and QM/MM methods are in good correspondence with the experimental results and explain the electronic structures as well as the photoluminescence/photophysical properties of crystalline MIA and the flavin@MOF composites. In the solids flavins π-stacking interactions of the molecules lead to a charge transfer state with low oscillator strength resulting in aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) with low lifetimes and quantum yields. In the MOF pores the flavin molecules are separated and the computed MIA@MOF structures do not find π-stacking interactions to the pore walls but only weak van-der-Waals contacts which reasons the enhanced fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield of the flavins in the composites compared to their neat solid state. The flexible MOF MIL-53(Al) was optimized essentially to the experimental large-pore form in the guest-free state with QuantumEspresso (QE) and with MIA molecules in the pores the structure contracted to close to the experimental narrow-pore form which was also confirmed by PXRD. In summary, the incorporation of flavins in MOFs yields solid-state materials with enhanced rigidity, stabilized conformation and reduced aggregations of the flavins, leading to increased fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield as controllable photo-luminescent and photo-physical properties.

There is much interest in effective copper chelators to correct copper dyshomeostasis in neurodegenerative and oncological diseases. In this study, a recombinant fusion protein for expression in E. coli cells was constructed from glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and the N-terminal domain (ectodomain) of human high affinity copper transporter CTR1 (hNdCTR1), which has three metal-bound motifs. Several biological properties of the GST-hNdCTR1 fusion protein were assessed. It was demonstrated that in cells, the protein was prone to oligomerization, formed inclusion bodies and displayed no toxicity. Treatment of E. coli cells with copper and silver ions reduced cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cells expressing GST-hNdCTR1 protein demonstrated resistance to the metal treatments. These cells accumulated silver ions and formed nanoparticles that contained AgCl and Ag0. In this bacterial population, filamentous bacteria with length about 10 μm were often observed. The possibility for the fusion protein carrying extracellular metal binding motifs to integrate into the cell’s copper metabolism and its chelating properties are discussed.

Metal complexes feature a wide range of available geometries, diversified lability, controllable hydrolytic stability, and easily available rich redox activity. These characteristics combined with the specific properties of the coordinated organic molecules result in many different mechanisms of biological action, making each of the myriads of the classes of metal coordination compounds unique. This focused review presents combined and systematized results of the studies of a group of copper(I) (pseudo)halide complexes with aromatic diimines and tris(aminomethyl)phosphines of a general formula [CuX(NN)PR₃], where X = I^- or NCS^-, NN = 2,2’-bipyridyl, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2’-biquinoline, and PR₃ = Air-stable tris(aminomethyl)phosphines. The structural and electronic properties of the phosphine ligands and luminescent complexes are discussed. The complexes with 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, apart from being air- and water-stable, exhibit a very high in vitro antimicriobial activity against the Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Moreover, some of the complexes also show a strong in vitro antitumor activity against human ovarian carcinoma cell lines: MDAH 2774 and SCOV 3, CT26 (mouse colon carcinoma), and A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma) cell lines. The tested complexes are moderately able to induce DNA lesions through free radical processes, however the trends do not reflect observed differences in biological activity.

The research paper investigates the synthesis of metal matrix composites (MMCs) through the amalgamation of aluminum and silicon carbide particles, employing a two-step mixing methodology called the stir casting method. Metal matrix composites are materials that enhance the capabilities of a metallic matrix by incorporating another material. This leads to better characteristics such as tensile and shear moduli, fatigue and fracture properties, thermal expansion coefficient, and more. Aluminum-matrix composites are a class of materials that possess distinct characteristics that may be modified by altering factors such as the type of reinforcing material, the amount of reinforcement, and the fabrication technique employed to produce the composite. The concept aims to combine the desirable properties of metals and ceramics by incorporating durable refractory particles into a malleable metal structure. The fabrication process employs the stir casting technique, where reinforcing phases are mechanically stirred into a molten matrix to create cast composites with reinforcement volume percentages of up to 30%. The study utilizes Response Surface Methodology to enhance the mechanical properties of the composites through the optimization of manufacturing parameters, including stirring temperature, time, and speed. The study entails analyzing the correlation between different casting conditions and the resulting changes in hardness and tensile strength.

Heavy metal pollution poses a significant threat to global populations, particularly impacting human health. Developing countries, characterized by chemical engineering and mining industrial activities, often contribute to diverse heavy metal contaminants. Consumption of water contaminated with heavy metals, prevalent in such regions, can lead to severe health risks, including gastric cancer. Addressing the urgent issue of heavy metal pollution, this paper employs a bibliographic approach to explore the latest literature on heavy metal pollution. The study discusses recent research findings and potential methods for the treatment and mitigation of heavy metal pollution, emphasizing the pressing need for effective solutions to safeguard public health.

Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) predominantly consists of compounds comprising elements such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, sodium, and others. Additionally, it encompasses a complex mixture of heavy metals, chlorides, sulfates, organic pollutants, and other constituents. The effective and economically viable treatment of MSWI FA poses a formidable challenge for the current stage of resource cycling. In this research report, we will adopt a novel low-temperature sintering method called "Cold Sintering Process" (CSP) as a means to immobilize heavy metals within the fly ash. By utilizing a Taguchi orthogonal array, we will adjust five control factors in the CSP, including sintering temperature, uniaxial pressure, sintering time, initial water addition, and sodium carbonate dosage. The leaching of cadmium element from the fly ash, as measured by TCLP, will serve as the quality indicator. Through the application of CSP, the MSWI FA will be transformed into structurally stable ceramic blocks, effectively immobilizing the heavy metals within the blocks. The results of the experiments showed that MSWI FA under the conditions of a temperature of 300℃, uniaxial pressure of 312 MPa, sintering time in 60 minutes, 25 wt% water addition, and 9 wt% Na2CO3 addition could effectively reduce the leaching of cadmium by 77.71%, lead by 21.14%, zinc by 42.37%, and chromium by 99.99%, as compared to the original MSWI FA TCLP results.

This paper presents a novel approach of welding thick steel plates that offers time and energy savings compared with conventional techniques. The combination of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and hot-wire technology simplifies the joint configuration and enhances the process tolerance. In this study, a square butt joint was prepared with as-cut edges and a thickness of 15 mm. The relationship between the welding current and the deposition rate of solo GMAW showed limitations and low process tolerance. Increasing the welding current led to a larger deposited volume with unnecessary weld penetration. An independent deposition volume due to hot-wire insertion was used to improve process tolerance. This approach provided an additional volume without increasing the welding current and reduced unnecessary penetration. With optimized parameters, full-penetration single-pass welding was achieved. Compared with the formation of a typical single-v butt joint at a similar welding speed of 30 cm/min, the proposed process reduced the minimum arc time and power consumption by approximately 83% and 62%, respectively. Moreover, a single pass at a travel speed of 60 cm/min was achieved with approximately 91% and 81% less arc time and power consumption, respectively. In summary, the combined process simplifies the joint configuration, enables full-penetration single-pass welding, and reduces time and energy requirements.

The global context of research for new sustainable energy storage technologies makes it a very active sector with significant scientific and economic challenges. Indeed, due to the irregular development of renewable energies and the shutdown of traditional power facilities, it is difficult to maintain a stable balance in terms of supply and demand: energy storage can help in particular for substantial changes in the latter. Metal air batteries have a higher energy density and are safer than other available energy storage devices. Based on the existing and proven lead-acid battery technology, this paper proposed an open cell foam manufactured by the Excess Salt Replication process for use as an anode for lead-air battery cellsies with sulphuric acid as the electrolyte. This will save lead and reduce the battery weight. A 25% antimonial lead alloy was used to produce open cell foams with a cell diameter between 2 mm and 5 mm for the antimonial lead-air battery. Preliminary results of the effective electrical conductivity of self-discharged primary battery cells, measured experimentally, showed that all antimonial lead foam-air battery cellsies performed better than that made from the same dense non porous antimonial lead alloy. This is generally due to their important specific surface area where oxidation-reduction reactions took place. A correlation between the effective electrical conductivity and the cell diameter has been established and the highest conductivity was obtained with a cell diameter of 5mm. The feasibility of such an electrical system has been demonstrated.

Gold-centered carbene-metal-amides (CMAs) containing cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs) are promising emitters for thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). Aiming at design and optimization of new TADF emitters, we report a density functional theory study of over 60 CMAs with various CAAC ligands, systematically evaluating computed parameters in relation to photoluminescence properties. We demonstrate that the efficiency of TADF of CMAs, arising from a compromise of exchange energy and oscillator strength, is governed by the overlap of HOMO and LUMO orbitals, where HOMO is localized on amide and LUMO on Au-carbene. The S0 ground states and excited T1 states of the CMAs adopt approximately coplanar geometries of carbenes and amides, but rotate perpendicular in the excited S1 states, resulting in degeneracy or near-degeneracy of S1 and T1, accompanied with lowering of the S1-S0 oscillator strength from its maximum at coplanar geometries to near zero at rotated geometries. Based on computations, promising new TADF emitters are proposed and synthesized. Bright CMA complex (Et2CAAC)Au(carbazolide) is obtained and fully characterized to demonstrate that high radiative rates up to 106 s-1 can be obtained for the gold-CMA complexes with small CAAC-carbene ligands.

A formula for the turbulent Prandtl number is derived in terms of local variables available from two-equations turbulence models. The derivation is a direct consequence of the expected square additivity of the molecular and turbulent parameters defining the effective viscosity and the effective conductivity. The formula does not degenerate and leads to a Kays like formulation if approximated. Its utility and its limitation are discussed.

The outdoor sculpture of the first Portuguese king, D. Afonso Henriques (~1109 – 1185 AD), placed in Guimarães (North Portugal) is one of the most emblematic national sculptures. Created in 1887 by António Soares dos Reis, it possesses a remarkable symbolic value in the presumed birthplace of the king. In addition to the artistic and heritage importance of the monument, it is one of the few sculptures cast by a Portuguese industrial foundry in the 19th-century. This study obtained data on the sculpture's elemental composition and corrosion products, gathering important historical and technical information. For this purpose, a multi-analytical approach consisting of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) was carried out to characterise the bulk metal and corrosion layers. The data revealed a ternary alloy of Cu, Sn, Zn with Pb, Fe, As, Bi and Mn as minor elements. The alloy matches that of other sculptures cast in that period. In terms of corrosion, it is characterised by the presence of oxides. These results represent the first step for applying an appropriate conservation strategy for bronze sculptures with similar characteristics.

The energy crisis and environmental problems are becoming more and more severe due to the long-term consumption of fossil fuels. Therefore, energy conversion devices with high energy density and environmental friendliness (such as fuel cells, metal-air batteries, etc.) have been ex-pected to be reliable alternatives to traditional fossil energy. However, due to the inevitable use of precious metals as the electrode catalysts for these devices, the popularization of these alternatives is seriously hindered. Transition metal nitrides (TMNs) exhibit similar surface and adsorption properties to noble metals since the atomic distance between metal atoms increases and the d-band center of metal atoms downshift after the nitrogen atoms enter the metal lattice. TMNs have become one of the best electrode materials to replace noble metal electrocatalysts in energy storage and conversion devices. In this review, the latest development in the electrocatalytic ap-plication of TMNs nanocrystalline is covered. Firstly, we briefly discuss the structure and activity origin of TMNs and introduce the common physical and chemical methods for the preparation of TMNs. Subsequently, we illustrate the applications of unary TMNs and multivariate TMNs in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Finally, we summarize the challenges and problems of TMNs encountered at the present stage, and expect its future de-velopment.

The use of cow bones for biomaterial is still limited; accordingly, the cow bones waste has low economic value. Basically, a human’s and a cow’s bones are the same in terms of their forming compound. Aluminum (Al) has the potential to combine with hydroxyapatite (HAp) to make metal matrix composites (MMC) that have the potential for biomaterials. Compatible elements to be combined with Al and HAp are magnesium (Mg), titanium (Ti), and Copper (Cu), used self-high propagating temperatures synthesis (SHS). MMC can be processed to be a useful, solid product. Applying pressure to the SHS reaction and heating process may result in biomaterial composite product consisting of some matrix materials such as Al come from cans materials used in the experiment was HAp that was processed from cow bones calcination, added by can that contained aluminum and wetting agent, namely magnesium. The exothermic temperature was 800-900°C. The compaction process was done to allow materials to be bound. Based on the ASTM F138 standard for element of biomaterials, the porosity value was below 30% and hardness level above 40 HV. Cow bones and can-based composite sample with the composition of HAp-Al-Mg: 85%-10%-5% met the standard since the hardness value was: 73.3 HV with a porosity value of 29.88%.

Liquid metal alloy, incorporated with microfluidic manipulation, has become a promising candidate for flexible resistive sensor array (RSA) that can imitate the functions of human skin. One advantage of RSA with shared rows and shared columns is to reduce the number of wires from M × N to M + N (rows: M and columns: N) and hence to greatly lessen the complexity and burden on the electrical system. The associated drawback is the crosstalk effect between adjacent elements during measurement. Although many literatures have reported several methods to resolve this limitation, almost all of them focus only on the high resistance value (≥100 Ω) RSA. There is a lack of detailed experimental data that addresses low resistance RSA with sensing elements below 100 Ω. Here, we aim to fill the gap of this field. We established two common RSA readout systems, i.e. zero potential methods (ZPM) (setting non-scanned-sampling-electrode zero potential (S-NSSE-ZP) and setting non-scanned-sampling-electrode zero potential with amplifier (S-NSSE-ZP-A)) and to compare their performances in low resistance value (≤100 Ω) RSA. For ideal resistor RSA, the measurement results show that S-NSSE-ZP has at least one time higher error than S-NSSE-ZP-A.

Efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts are highly desired in the field of water electrolysis and rechargeable metal-air batteries. In this study, a chelate polymer, composed of copper (II) and dithiooxamide, was used to derive an efficient catalytic system for OER. Upon potential sweep in 1M KOH, copper (II) centers of the chelate polymer were transformed to CuO and Cu(OH)2. The carbon-dispersed CuO nanostructures formed a nanocomposite which exhibits an enhanced catalytic activity for OER in alkaline media. The nanocomposite catalyst has overpotential of 280 mV (at 1 mA/cm2) and a Tafel slope of 81 mV/dec in 1M KOH solution. It has a seven-fold higher current than IrO2/C electrode, per metal loading. A catalytic cycle is proposed, in which, CuO undergoes electrooxidation to Cu2O3 that further decomposes to CuO with releasing oxygen. This work reveals a new method to produce an active nanocomposite catalyst for OER in alkaline media using a non-noble metal chelate polymer and a porous carbon. This method can be applied to the synthesis of transition metal oxide nanoparticles used in the preparation of composite electrodes for water electrolyzers and can be used to derive cathode materials for aqueous-type metal-air batteries.

This study examines whether gas is emitted from the materials used in the fabrication of metal vacuum panels or not and if emitted, their degree as time goes by. As experimental materials, metal sheets, foamed concrete as a core material, and polymer materials as a sealing material between metal sheets were selected. Experiments on the type and the degree of bending of metal materials showed that aluminum’s vacuum reaching time of 0.001 torr was at least 40 sec to 90 sec in its flat plate, but its vacuum reaching time increased from 3 times to 4.5 times in case of 90 ° and 135 ° bending state. For this reason, it is judged that stainless steel or steel material is suitable because aluminum is inadequate in terms of processability at the time of fabricating the metal vacuum panel. Also, vacuum arrival times and weight changes with increasing foam content of inorganic foamed concrete increased from 22,000 sec to 42,000 sec with increasing foaming rate and also, the weight change increased from 1.7% to 8%. Also, the experimental results on the type of honeycomb materials, the PE (polyethylene) with a vacuum reaching time of 30,000 sec and with a weight change of 0.5% and the PTFE (Poly-tetrafluoro ethylene) with a vacuum reaching time of 29,000 sec and with a weight change of 2.2% showed the optimum value.

The distribution of noble metal nanoparticles in hydrogels are influencing their nanoplasmonic response and signal used for biosensor purposes. By controlling the particle distribution, it is possible to obtain new nanoplasmonic features with new sensing modalities. Particle distributions can be characterized by using volume-imaging methods such as the focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) and the serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) techniques . Since the pore structure of hydrogels is contained by the water absorbed in the polymer network it may pose challenges for volume-imaging based on electron microscope techniques since the sample must be in a vacuum chamber. The structure of hydrogels can be conserved by choosing appropriate preparation methods, which also depends on the composition of the hydrogel used. In this paper, we have prepared low-weight percentage hydrogels, with and without gold nanorods (GNR) for conventional SEM imaging by using two different drying techniques; (1) the critical point drying (CPD) technique and (2) hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) drying of hydrogels. A qualitative characterization of the GNR-hydrogels was carried out to study the GNRs positioned in the polymer network. The effect of the two different drying methods on the hydrogel morphology were also compared. The use of HMDS as an alternative to the CPD has several advantages involving less parametrical variables for drying, involving less effort, being cost-effective, and requires no equipment use. In addition, choosing an optimized sample preparation method for SEM with optimized imaging parameters is highly important for obtaining accurate information about materials that is not correlated to artifacts. Hence, the results obtained from the preparation methods and SEM imaging parameters in this paper are useful for developing methods for mapping the metal particle distributions in micro-hydrogels by using FIB-SEM and SBFSEM techniques.

The efficiency of cold steel rolling depends mainly on the quality of the metal-working coolant (MWC) and its cost. In this connection, it is actual to search for new compositions of lubricants and emulsions, which provide the lowest values of the friction coefficients in deformation zone and are obtained by waste recycling in other industries. In this study we have developed new compositions of the MWC on basis of mono- and diglycerides and their esters of boric acid synthesized from the wastes of sunflower oil production. The new compositions of MWC were tested in DSEA on laboratory rolling mill 100x100 with a roll diameter of 100 mm. The efficiency of new MWC during cold rolling of brass L63 samples was determined by factor of metal stretch forming λ. We found the new metal-working coolants to show the most efficiency under higher cobbing that provides the highest metal stretch forming. The composition with 30 % of mono- and diglycerides is the most effective because it provides the minimum coefficient of friction that leads to increase of factor of metal stretch forming. Thereby the metal-working coolants on basis of mono- and diglycerides obtained from the wastes of sunflower oil production can be recommended for use in strip rolling of copper-zinc alloys because of a low cost, availability and high efficiency.

In this paper a perspective on the application of spatially- and Angle- Resolved PhotoEmission Spectroscopy (ARPES) for the study of two-dimensional (2D) materials is presented. ARPES allows the direct measurement of the electronic band structure of materials generating extremely useful insights into their electronic properties. The possibility to apply this technique to 2D materials is of paramount importance because these ultrathin layers are considered fundamental for future electronic, photonic and spintronic devices. In this review an overview of the technical aspects of spatially localized ARPES is given along with a description of the most advanced setups for laboratory and synchrotron-based equipment. This technique is sensitive to the lateral dimensions of the sample, therefore a discussion on the preparation methods of 2D material is presented. Some of the most interesting results obtained by ARPES are reported in three sections including: graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and 2D heterostructures. Graphene has played a key role in ARPES studies because it inspired the use of this technique with other 2D materials. TMDCs are presented for their peculiar transport, optical and spin properties. Finally, the section featuring heterostructures highlights a future direction for research into 2D material structures.

Fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) such as Kevlar reinforced aluminum laminate (ARALL), Carbon reinforced aluminum laminate (CARALL), and Glass reinforced aluminum laminate (GLARE) offer great potential for weight reduction applications in automobile and aerospace construction. In order to investigate the feasibility for utilizing such materials in the form of laminates, sheet hydro-bulging tests are studied under the condition of uniform blank holder force for three-layered aluminum and aluminum-composite laminates using orthogonal carbon and Kevlar as well as glass fiber in the middle. The experimental results validate the finite element results and they exhibited that the forming limit of glass fiber in the middle is the highest among the studied materials, while carbon fiber material performs the worst. Furthermore, the crack modes are different for the three kinds of fiber materials investigated in the research. This study provides fundamental guidance for the selection of multi-layer sheet materials in the future manufacturing field.

Substituted bis(iminophosphoranyl)methanes are CH acidic compounds that can form complexes with formally dianionic central carbon centres. The reaction of H₂C(Ph₂P=NDip)₂ (≡ H₂L), Dip = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, with one equivalent of di-n-butylmagnesium afforded the methanide complex [HLMgnBu] 1. Treatment of complex 1 with phenylsilane in aromatic solvents at elevated temperatures afforded the methanediide complex [(LMg)₂] 2 presumably via the MgH intermediate [(HLMgH)_n] (n = 1 or 2). The reaction of 1 with LiAlH₄ in diethyl ether yielded the AlH complex [HLAlH₂] 3. Alternatively, this complex was also obtained from the reaction of H₂L with AlH₃∙NMe₃. The molecular structures of [HLMgnBu] 1, [(LMg)₂] 2, and [HLAlH₂] 3 are reported. Complex 3 shows no sign of H₂ elimination to a methanediide species at elevated temperatures in contrast to the facile elimination of the putative reaction intermediate [(HLMgH)_n] (n = 1 or 2) to form [(LMg)₂] 2. The chemical properties of complex 2 were investigated and this complex appears to be stable against coordination with strong donor molecules.

From 2020 to 2023 many people around the world were forced to wear masks for large proportions of the day based on mandates and laws. We aimed to study the potential of face masks for the content and release of inanimate toxins. A scoping review of 1003 studies was performed (database search in PubMed/MEDLINE, qualitative and quantitative evaluation). Twenty-four studies were included (experimental time 17 min to 15 days) evaluating content and/or release in 631 masks (273 surgical, 228 textile and 130 N95 masks). Most studies (63%) showed alarming results with high micro- and nanoplastics (MPs and NPs) release and exceedances could also be evidenced for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), xylene, acrolein, per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates (including di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate, DEHP) and for Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Sb and TiO₂. Of course, masks filter bacteria, dirt and plastic particles and fibers from the air we breathe and have specific indications, but according to our data they also carry risks. Depending on the application, a risk-benefit analysis is necessary. However, mask mandates during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have been generating an additional source of potentially harmful exposition to toxins at population level with almost zero distance to the airways.

Graphene materials synthesized using direct laser writing (laser-induced graphene; LIG) are fa-vorable sensor materials because of their large surface area, ease of fabrication, and cost effec-tiveness. In particular, LIG decorated with metal nanoparticles (NPs) has been used in various sensors, including chemical sensors and electronic and electrochemical biosensors. However, the effect of metal decoration on LIG sensors remains controversial; hypotheses based on computa-tional simulations do not always match experimental results, and even experimental results re-ported by different researchers have not been consistent. In the present study, we explored the effects of metal decorations on LIG gas sensors, with NO2 and NH3 gases as representative oxi-dizing and reducing agents, respectively. To eliminate unwanted side effects arising from metal salt residues, metal NPs were directly deposited by vacuum evaporation. Although the gas sen-sitivities of the sensors deteriorate upon metal decoration irrespective of the metal work function in the case of NO2 gas, they improve upon metal decoration in the case of NH3 exposure. A careful investigation of the chemical structure and morphology of the metal NPs in the LIG sensors shows that the spontaneous oxidation of metal NPs with a low work function changes the be-havior of the LIG gas sensors and that the sensor behaviors under NO2 and NH3 gases follow different principles.

The blue sepal color of hydrangea is due to a metal complex anthocyanin composed of 3-O-glucosyldelphinidin (1) and an aluminum ion with the co-pigments 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (2) and/or 5-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid (3). The three components, namely, anthocyanin, Al³⁺ and 5-O-acylquinic acids, are essential for blue color development, but the complex is unstable and only exists in aqueous solution. Furthermore, the complex did not give analyzable NMR spectra or crystals. Therefore, many trials to determine the detailed chemical structure of the hydrangea-blue complex have failed to date. Instead, via experiments mixing 1, Al³⁺ and 2 or 3 in a buffered solution at pH 4.0, we obtained the same blue solution derived from the sepals. However, the ratio was not stoichiometric but fluctuated. To determine the composition of the complex, we tried direct observation of the molecular ion of the complex using electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry. In a very low-concentration buffer solution (2.0 mM) at pH 4.0, we reproduced the hydrangea-blue color by mixing 1, 2 and Al³⁺ in ratios of 1:1:1, 1:2:1 and 1:3:1. All solution gave the same molecular ion peak at m/z = 843, indicating that the blue solution has a ratio of 1:1:1 for the complex. By using 3, the observed mass number was m/z = 827 and the ratio of 1, 3 and Al³⁺ was also 1:1:1. A mixture of 1, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4) and Al³⁺ did not give any blue color but instead was purple, and the intensity of the molecular ion peak at m/z = 843 was very low. These results strongly indicate that the hydrangea blue-complex is composed of a ratio of 1:1:1 for 1, Al³⁺ and 2 or 3.

While traditional AC mechanical circuit breakers have been competent for protecting AC circuits, high penetration of DC power distribution technologies like DC microgrids (MGs) obligate better disruption performance features such as quick and reliable switch-ing speeds. However, a DC circuit breaker (DCCB) novel design is challenging due to the need to quickly break high currents within milliseconds, caused by the high fault current rise in DC grids compared to AC grids. In DC grids, the circuit breaker must provide zero current crossing and be designed for absorbing surges since the arc is not naturally extinguished by the system. Additionally, the DC breaker must mitigate the magnetic energy stored in the system inductance and withstand residual over-voltages after current interruption. These challenges require a fundamentally different topology for DCCBs, which are typically made using solid-state semiconductor technology, metal oxide varistors (MOV), and ultra-fast switches. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review on development, design, and performance description of DCCBs in parallel with a specific concentration on analysis of internal topology, energy absorption path and sub-circuits in Solid-State (SS)-based DCCBs. The research explores various novel designs that introduce different structures for energy dissipation solution. The classification of these designs is based on the fundamental principles of surge mitigation and a detailed analysis of the techniques employed in DCCBs. In addition, our framework offers an advantageous reference point for the future evolution of SS-circuit breakers in numerous developing power delivery systems.

The interlaminar strength of mechanically interlocked polymer-metal-interfaces is strongly dependent on the surface structure of the metal component. Therefore, this contribution assesses the suitability of the fractal dimension for quantification of the surface structure as well as interlaminar strength prediction of aluminum/polyamide 6 polymer-metal-hybrids. Seven different surface structures, manufactured by blasting, combined blasting and etching, thermal spraying and laser ablation, are investigated. The experiments are carried out on a novel butt-bonded hollow cylinder testing method that allows shear and tensile strength determination with one specific specimen geometry. The fractal dimension of the metal surfaces is derived from cross-sectional images. For comparison, the surface roughness slope is determined and related to the interlaminar strength. Finally, a fracture analysis is conducted. For the investigated material combination, the experimental results indicate that the fractal dimension is an appropriate measure for predicting the interlaminar strength