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ACS Omega May 2024Platinum nanoparticles loaded on a nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes exhibit a brilliant hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an alkaline solution, but their bifunctional...
Platinum nanoparticles loaded on a nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes exhibit a brilliant hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an alkaline solution, but their bifunctional hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has not been reported due to the lack of a strong Pt-C bond. In this work, platinum nanoparticles bonded in carbon nanotubes (Pt-NPs-bonded@CNT) with strong Pt-C bonds are designed toward ultralow overpotential water splitting ability in alkaline solution. Benefit from the strong interaction between platinum and high conductivity carbon nanotube substrates through the Pt-C bond also the platinum nanoparticles bonded in carbon nanotube can provide more stable active sites, as a result, the Pt-NPs-bonded@CNT exhibits excellent hydrogen evolution in acid and alkaline solution with ultralow overpotential of 0.19 and 0.23 V to reach 1000 mA cm, respectively. Besides, it shows superior oxygen evolution electrocatalysis in alkaline solution with a low overpotential of 1.69 V at 1000 mA cm. Furthermore, it also exhibits high stability over 110 h against the evolution of oxygen and hydrogen at 1000 mA cm. This strategy paves the way to the high performance of bifunctional electrocatalytic reaction with extraordinary stability originating from optimized electron density of metal active sites due to strong metal-substrate interaction.
PubMed: 38764639
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c01662 -
Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.)) Jul 2024Environmental pollution is escalating due to rapid global development that often prioritizes human needs over planetary health. Despite global efforts to mitigate legacy... (Review)
Review
Environmental pollution is escalating due to rapid global development that often prioritizes human needs over planetary health. Despite global efforts to mitigate legacy pollutants, the continuous introduction of new substances remains a major threat to both people and the planet. In response, global initiatives are focusing on risk assessment and regulation of emerging contaminants, as demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to establish the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention. This review identifies the sources and impacts of emerging contaminants on planetary health, emphasizing the importance of adopting a One Health approach. Strategies for monitoring and addressing these pollutants are discussed, underscoring the need for robust and socially equitable environmental policies at both regional and international levels. Urgent actions are needed to transition toward sustainable pollution management practices to safeguard our planet for future generations.
PubMed: 38756954
DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100612 -
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Accurate measurements of limb volumes are important for clinical reasons. We aimed to assess the reliability and validity of two centimetric and two optoelectronic...
BACKGROUND
Accurate measurements of limb volumes are important for clinical reasons. We aimed to assess the reliability and validity of two centimetric and two optoelectronic techniques for limb volume measurements against water volumetry, defined as the gold standard.
METHODS
Five different measurement methods were executed on the same day for each participant, namely water displacement, fixed-height (circumferences measured every 5 (10) cm for the upper (lower limb) centimetric technique, segmental centimetric technique (circumferences measured according to proportional height), optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP, based on a motion analysis system), and IGOODI Gate body scanner technology (which creates an accurate 3D avatar).
RESULTS
A population of 22 (15 lower limbs, 11 upper limbs, 8 unilateral upper limb lymphoedema, and 6 unilateral lower limb lymphoedema) participants was selected. Compared to water displacement, the fixed-height centimetric method, the segmental centimetric method, the OEP, and the IGOODI technique resulted in mean errors of 1.2, 0.86, -16.0, and 0.71%, respectively. The corresponding slopes (and regression coefficients) of the linear regression lines were 1.0002 (0.98), 1.0047 (0.99), 0.874 (0.94) and 0.9966 (0.99).
CONCLUSION
The centimetric methods and the IGOODI system are accurate in measuring limb volume with an error of <2%. It is important to evaluate new objective and reliable techniques to improve diagnostic and follow-up possibilities.
PubMed: 38671803
DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11040382 -
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Multimodal datasets are ubiquitous in modern applications, and multimodal Variational Autoencoders are a popular family of models that aim to learn a joint...
Multimodal datasets are ubiquitous in modern applications, and multimodal Variational Autoencoders are a popular family of models that aim to learn a joint representation of different modalities. However, existing approaches suffer from a coherence-quality tradeoff in which models with good generation quality lack generative coherence across modalities and vice versa. In this paper, we discuss the limitations underlying the unsatisfactory performance of existing methods in order to motivate the need for a different approach. We propose a novel method that uses a set of independently trained and unimodal deterministic autoencoders. Individual latent variables are concatenated into a common latent space, which is then fed to a masked diffusion model to enable generative modeling. We introduce a new multi-time training method to learn the conditional score network for multimodal diffusion. Our methodology substantially outperforms competitors in both generation quality and coherence, as shown through an extensive experimental campaign.
PubMed: 38667874
DOI: 10.3390/e26040320 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024Currently, cutting-edge, high-frequency current sources are limited by switching devices and wire materials, and the output current cannot take into account the demands...
Currently, cutting-edge, high-frequency current sources are limited by switching devices and wire materials, and the output current cannot take into account the demands of a high peak and low rise time at the same time. Based on the output demand of a current source, a non-inductive coil for providing high-frequency, high current sources with low rise times is designed. The coil is appropriately designed according to the principle of the ampere-turn method, where several turns of wire are utilized to linearly synthesize the current to obtain high-frequency currents with amplitudes up to 30 kA. However, the inductance formed after winding the coil could possess a hindering effect on the high-frequency current. In the present investigation, based on the law of energy conservation and utilizing the principle of transformer coupling, the inductor's hindering effect on high-frequency currents is appropriately eliminated by consuming the stored energy of the inductor innovatively. Theoretical calculations and practical tests show that the inductance of a two-layer 28-turn coil is 42 times smaller than that of a two-layer, 28-turn perfect circular spiral PCB coil. The measured inductance is only 6.69 μH, the output current amplitude is calculated to be up to 33 kA with a rise time of 20 ns, and the output waveform corresponding to a 1 MHz square wave is not remarkably distorted. This effective design idea could be very helpful in solving the problem of high peak values and low rise times in high-frequency, high-current source output design.
PubMed: 38610240
DOI: 10.3390/s24072027 -
Light, Science & Applications Apr 2024Laser wakefield acceleration, as an advanced accelerator concept, has attracted great attentions for its ultrahigh acceleration gradient and the capability to produce...
Laser wakefield acceleration, as an advanced accelerator concept, has attracted great attentions for its ultrahigh acceleration gradient and the capability to produce high brightness electron bunches. The three-dimensional (3D) density serves as an evaluation metric for the particle bunch quality and is intrinsically related to the applications of an accelerator. Despite its significance, this parameter has not been experimentally measured in the investigation of laser wakefield acceleration. We report on an electro-optic 3D snapshot of a laser wakefield electron bunch at a position outside the plasma. The 3D shape of the electron bunch was detected by simultaneously performing optical transition radiation imaging and electro-optic sampling. Detailed 3D structures to a few micrometer levels were reconstructed using a genetic algorithm. The electron bunch possessed a transverse size of less than 30 micrometers. The current profile shows a multi-peak structure. The main peak had a duration of < 10 fs and a peak current > 1 kA. The maximum electron 3D number density was ~ 9 × 10m . This research demonstrates a feasible way of 3D density monitoring on femtosecond kilo-ampere electron bunches, at any position of a beam transport line for relevant applications.
PubMed: 38584154
DOI: 10.1038/s41377-024-01440-2 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024Thirty-five women were included in a clinical study to characterize the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the skin during exposure to psychological stress. An...
Thirty-five women were included in a clinical study to characterize the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the skin during exposure to psychological stress. An original silicon-based polymeric phase was used for VOC sampling on the forehead before and after stress induction. Cognitive stress was induced using specialized software that included a chronometer for semantic and arithmetic tasks. Assessment of stress was monitored using a State-trait anxiety inventory questionnaire, analysis of participants' verbal expressions and clinical measurements. Identification and relative quantification of VOCs were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Stress induction was validated by a significant increase in state-anxiety as indicated by the questionnaire, modifications in electrodermal activity measurements and the expression of stress verbatims. In parallel, a sebum production increase and a skin pH decrease were observed. A total of 198 VOCs with different potential sources were identified. They were categorized in 5 groups: probable cosmetic composition, VOCs produced by the body or its microbiota, environmental origin, and dietary intake. In our qualitative statistical approach, three VOCs were found to be correlated with stress induction and 14 compounds showed significance in the paired Wilcoxon test. Fatty-acyls derived from lipids were predominantly identified as well as ethylbenzenes.
Topics: Humans; Female; Volatile Organic Compounds; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Skin; Stress, Psychological; Air Pollutants; Environmental Monitoring
PubMed: 38538690
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57967-2 -
RSC Advances Mar 2024Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent simple devices that harness the metabolic activities of microorganisms to produce electrical energy from diverse sources such as... (Review)
Review
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent simple devices that harness the metabolic activities of microorganisms to produce electrical energy from diverse sources such as organic waste and sustainable biomass. Because of their unique advantage to generate sustainable energy, through the employment of biodegradable and repurposed waste materials, the development of MFCs has garnered considerable interest. Critical elements are typically the electrodes and separator. This mini-review article presents a critical assessment of nanofiber technology used as electrodes and separators in MFCs to enhance energy generation. In particular, the review highlights the application of nanofiber webs in each part of MFCs including anodes, cathodes, and membranes and their influence on energy generation. The role of nanofiber technology in this regard is then analysed in detail, focusing on improved electron transfer rate, enhanced biofilm formation, and enhanced durability and stability. In addition, the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating nanofibers into MFCs are discussed, along with suggestions for future research in this field. Significant developments in MFCs over the past decade have led to a several-fold increase in achievable power density, yet further improvements in performance and the exploration of cost-effective materials remain promising areas for further advancement. This review demonstrates the great promise of nanofiber-based electrodes and separators in future applications of MFCs.
PubMed: 38500621
DOI: 10.1039/d4ra00674g -
IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in... 2024Dynamically monitoring serotonin in real-time within target brain regions would significantly improve the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to a variety of...
Dynamically monitoring serotonin in real-time within target brain regions would significantly improve the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Current systems for measuring serotonin lack immediacy and portability and are bulky and expensive. We present a new miniaturised device, named SmartFSCV, designed to monitor dynamic changes of serotonin using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). This device outputs a precision voltage potential between -3 to +3 V, and measures current between -1.5 to +1.5 μA with nano-ampere accuracy. The device can output modifiable arbitrary waveforms for various measurements and uses an N-shaped waveform at a scan-rate of 1000 V/s for sensing serotonin. Four experiments were conducted to validate SmartFSCV: static bench test, dynamic serotonin test and two artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm tests. These tests confirmed the ability of SmartFSCV to accurately sense and make informed decisions about the presence of serotonin using AI.
PubMed: 38487099
DOI: 10.1109/OJEMB.2024.3356177 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024The interaction of localized light with matter generates optical electrostriction within dielectric fluids, leading to a discernible change in the refractive index of...
The interaction of localized light with matter generates optical electrostriction within dielectric fluids, leading to a discernible change in the refractive index of the medium according to the excitation's light profile. This optical force holds critical significance in optical manipulation and plays a fundamental role in numerous photonic applications. In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of the pump-probe, photo-induced lensing (PIL) method to investigate optical electrostriction in various dielectric liquids. Notably, the thermal and nonlinear effects are observed to be temporally decoupled from the electrostriction effects, facilitating isolated observation of the latter. Our findings provide a comprehensive explanation of optical forces in the context of the recently introduced microscopic Ampère electromagnetic formalism, which is grounded in the dipolar approximation of electromagnetic sources within matter and characterizes electrostriction as an electromagnetic-induced stress within the medium. Here, the optical force density is re-obtained through a new Lagrangian approach.
PubMed: 38454075
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56176-1