Resources time footprint indicator extension for evaluating human interventions in provisioning ecosystem services supply.

The growing emphasis on ecosystem services (ES) has enhanced evaluation of their capacity. However, intensive human intervention in the provisioning ecosystem service (P-ES) supply driven by widening spatial gaps between supply sources and demand locations, compromises the long-term ES supply potential. The Resources Time Footprint (RTF) indicator provides numerical insights into these impacts in the form of occupancy rates by comparing resource utilization to allocated capacities over a person's lifespan. Nonetheless, its applicability to major P-ES is currently restricted due to the lack of water and water pollutant occupancy rates concepts. This study attempts to broaden the scope and robustness of RTF by introducing these missing aspects for enhanced P-ES management. Furthermore, by evaluating changes in RTF value around technological and social dynamics, resources requiring management interventions are identified. The extended RTF's potential is finally demonstrated through case studies involving consumable rice, water flow utilized for generating electricity via hydropower (HP), and sugarcane yielding consumable sugar and molasses with bagasse used to generate electricity. Based on prevailing resource conditions, all cases exhibited resource utilization within the allocated capacity. However, potential strain on specific resources such as land and water use in rice (24.63 and 18.69 years), copper in HP (8.46 years), and land and phosphate-potash minerals use in bagasse (22.66 and 23.56 years) highlights the need for interventions to ensure sustained benefits. The precise influence of water and water pollutants is inherently case and location specific; however, this study emphasized the necessity of integrating water use and availability factors into rice and HP supply-flow assessments. Overall, the enhanced RTF proved to be replicable across P-ESs, quantifying pressures, and guiding management strategies to maintain nature's regenerative capacity while meeting human needs.

Scattering/Fluorescence Dual-Mode Imaging in MnO2-Coated Silicon Nanospheres for Cancer Cell Detection.

A tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive nanoprobe composed of a fluorescent dye-decorated silicon (Si) nanosphere core and a thin MnO2 shell is proposed for simple and intelligent detection of cancer cells. The Si nanosphere core with diameters of 100-200 nm provides environment-independent Mie scattering imaging, while, simultaneously, the MnO2 shell provides the capability to switch the on/off state of the dye fluorescence reacted to the glutathione (GSH) and/or H2O2 levels in a cancer cell. Si-MnO2 core-shell nanosphere probes are fabricated in a solution-based process from crystalline Si nanosphere cores. The fluorescence switching under exposure to GSH is demonstrated, and the mechanism is discussed based on detailed optical characterizations including single-particle spectroscopy. Different types of human cells are incubated with the nanoprobes, and a proof of concept experiment is performed. From the combination of the robust scattering images and GSH- and H2O2-sensitive fluorescence images, the feasibility of cancer cell detection by the multimodal nanoprobes is demonstrated.

Universal Click-Chemistry Approach for the DNA Functionalization of Nanoparticles.

Nanotechnology has revolutionized the fabrication of hybrid species with tailored functionalities. A milestone in this field is the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) conjugation of nanoparticles, introduced almost 30 years ago, which typically exploits the affinity between thiol groups and metallic surfaces. Over the last decades, developments in colloidal research have enabled the synthesis of an assortment of nonmetallic structures, such as high-index dielectric nanoparticles, with unique properties not previously accessible with traditional metallic nanoparticles. However, to stabilize, integrate, and provide further functionality to nonmetallic nanoparticles, reliable techniques for their functionalization with DNA will be crucial. Here, we combine well-established dibenzylcyclooctyne-azide click-chemistry with a simple freeze-thaw method to achieve the functionalization of silica and silicon nanoparticles, which form exceptionally stable colloids with a high DNA surface density of ∼0.2 molecules/nm2. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these functionalized colloids can be self-assembled into high-index dielectric dimers with a yield of over 50% via the use of DNA origami. Finally, we extend this method to functionalize other important nanomaterials, including oxides, polymers, core-shell, and metal nanostructures. Our results indicate that the method presented herein serves as a crucial complement to conventional thiol functionalization chemistry and thus greatly expands the toolbox of DNA-functionalized nanoparticles currently available.

Validation of upper thermal thresholds for outdoor sports using thermal physiology modelling.

Thermal safety guidelines with upper thresholds aim to protect athletes' health, yet evidence-based sport-specific thresholds remain unestablished. Experimenting with athletes in severely hot conditions raises ethical concerns, so we used a thermo-physiological model to validate the thresholds of guidelines for outdoor sports. First, the reproducibility of the joint system thermoregulation model (JOS-3) of core temperature has been validated for 18 sports experiments (n = 213) and 11 general exercise experiments (n = 121) using the Bland - Altman analysis. Then, core temperatures were predicted using the JOS-3 in conditions corresponding to the upper thresholds, and if the 90th-99.7th percentile core temperature value (corresponding to 0.3%-10% of the participants) exceeded 40°C, the thresholds were judged as potentially hazardous. Finally, we proposed revisions for sports with potentially hazardous thresholds. As a result, the JOS-3 could simulate core temperature increases in most experiments (27/29) for six sports and general exercises with an accuracy of 0.5°C. The current upper thresholds for marathons, triathlons, and football are potentially hazardous. Suggested revisions, based on specified percentiles, include: Football: revise from wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) 32°C to 29-31°C or not revise. Marathon: revise from WBGT 28°C to 24-27°C. Triathlon: revise from WBGT 32.2°C to 23-26°C. If conducting sports events under the revised upper thresholds proves difficult, taking measures for a possible high incidence of heat illness becomes crucial, such as placing additional medical resources, assisting heat acclimatization and cooling strategies for participants, and rule changes such as shorter match times and increased breaks.

Photoluminescence from FRET pairs coupled with Mie-resonant silicon nanospheres.

Optically resonant nanoparticles decorated with donor-acceptor molecular pairs have been attracting attention for applications as nanoprobes in bioimaging and biosensing. We produced composite nanoparticles composed of donor-acceptor molecular pairs and silicon nanospheres (Si NSs) with diameters of 100-200 nm exhibiting Mie resonances in the visible range and studied the effect of Mie resonances on their photoluminescence properties. We showed that the photoluminescence spectra are strongly modified by Mie resonances and the spectral shape is controlled in a wide range by the Si NS size; by controlling the size, we can achieve the photoluminescence maximum from that of a donor molecule to that of an acceptor molecule almost continuously. From the photoluminescence decay properties in combination with theoretical calculations, we showed that the observed strong modification of the spectral shape is mainly due to the Purcell effect on donor and acceptor molecules, and the effect of Mie resonances on the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) rate is relatively small. We also showed that because of the large Purcell effect and the small FRET rate enhancement, Mie resonances decrease the FRET efficiency.

Photosensitizing Metasurface Empowered by Enhanced Magnetic Field of Toroidal Dipole Resonance.

Photochemical reaction exploiting an excited triplet state (T1 ) of a molecule requires two steps for the excitation, i.e., electronic transition from the ground (S0 ) to singlet excited (S1 ) states and intersystem crossing to the T1  state. A dielectric metasurface coupled with photosensitizer that enables energy efficient photochemical reaction via the enhanced S0 →T1 magnetic dipole transition is developed. In the direct S0 →T1 transition, the photon energy of several hundreds of meV is saved compared to the conventional S0 → S1 →T1 transition. To maximize the magnetic field intensity on the surface, a silicon (Si) nanodisk array metasurface with toroidal dipole resonances is designed. The surface of the metasurface is functionalized with ruthenium (Ru(II)) complexes that work as a photosensitizer for singlet oxygen generation. In the coupled system, the rate of the direct S0 →T1 transition of Ru(II) complexes is 41-fold enhanced at the toroidal dipole resonance of a Si nanodisk array. The enhancement of a singlet oxygen generation rate is observed when the toroidal dipole resonance of a Si nanodisk array is matched with the direct S0 →T1 transition wavelength of Ru(II) complexes.

Helicity-Preserving Optical Metafluids.

A colloidal suspension of photonic nanostructures exhibiting optical magnetism is dubbed an optical metafluid. A promising constituent of a metafluid is a nanosphere of high-refractive index dielectrics having the magnetic-type Mie resonances in the optical frequency. At the Kerker conditions, a dielectric nanosphere satisfies the electromagnetic duality symmetry condition and preserves the handedness of circularly polarized incident light. A metafluid of such dielectric nanospheres thus preserves the helicity of incident light. In the helicity-preserving metafluid, the local chiral fields around the constituent nanospheres are strongly enhanced, which improves the sensitivity of enantiomer-selective chiral molecular sensing. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that a solution of crystalline silicon nanospheres can be "dual" and "anti-dual" metafluids. We first theoretically address the electromagnetic duality symmetry of single silicon nanospheres. We then produce solutions of silicon nanospheres with narrow size distributions and experimentally demonstrate the "dual" and "anti-dual" behaviors.

Visualizing the Nanoscopic Field Distribution of Whispering-Gallery Modes in a Dielectric Sphere by Cathodoluminescence.

A spherical dielectric particle can sustain the so-called whispering-gallery modes (WGMs), which can be regarded as circulating electromagnetic waves, resulting in the spatial confinement of light inside the particle. Despite the wide adoption of optical WGMs as a major light confinement mechanism in salient practical applications, direct imaging of the mode fields is still lacking and only partially addressed by simple photography and simulation work. The present study comprehensively covers this research gap by demonstrating the nanoscale optical-field visualization of self-interference of light extracted from excited modes through experimentally obtained photon maps that directly portray the field distributions of the excited eigenmodes. To selectively choose the specific modes at a given light emission detection angle and resonance wavelength, we use cathodoluminescence-based scanning transmission electron microscopy supplemented with angle-, polarization-, and wavelength-resolved capabilities. Equipped with semi-analytical simulation tools, the internal field distributions of the whispering-gallery modes reveal that radiation emitted by a spherical resonator at a given resonance frequency is composed of the interference between multiple modes, with one or more of them being comparatively dominant, leading to a resulting distribution featuring complex patterns that explicitly depend on the detection angle and polarization. Direct visualization of the internal fields inside resonators enables a comprehensive understanding of WGMs that can shed light on the design of nanophotonic applications.

Fluorophore-Decorated Mie Resonant Silicon Nanosphere for Scattering/Fluorescence Dual-Mode Imaging.

Inorganic nanoparticles with multiple functions have been attracting attention as multimodal nanoprobes in bioimaging, biomolecule detection, and medical diagnosis and treatment. A drawback of conventional metallic nanoparticle-based nanoprobes is the Ohmic losses that lead to fluorescence quenching of attached molecules and local heating under light irradiation. Here, metal-free nanoprobes capable of scattering/fluorescence dual-mode imaging are developed. The nanoprobes are composed of a silicon nanosphere core having efficient Mie scattering in the visible to near infrared range and a fluorophore doped silica shell. The dark-field scattering and photoluminescence images/spectra for nanoprobes made from different size silicon nanospheres and different kinds of fluorophores are studied by single particle spectroscopy. The fluorescence spectra are strongly modified by the Mie modes of a silicon nanosphere core. By comparing scattering and fluorescence spectra and calculated Purcell factors, the fluorescence enhancement factor is quantitatively discussed. In vitro scattering/fluorescence imaging studies on human cancer cells demonstrate that the developed nanoparticles work as scattering/fluorescence dual-mode imaging nanoprobes.

Mode Hybridization in Silicon Core-Gold Shell Nanosphere.

A dielectric core-metal shell nanosphere has attracted scientific and technological interests due to the unique optical resonances arising from the hybridization of surface plasmon modes and cavity modes. The previous studies focus on a low-index dielectric core without its own optical resonances. Here, optical resonances of a core-shell nanosphere with a high refractive index (n ≈ 4) core with the lowest order Mie resonances in the visible range are investigated theoretically and experimentally. Scattering and absorption spectra of a core-shell nanosphere for different values of the core refractive index are first analyzed, and there is a transition of the hybridization scheme around n ≈ 2. Above the value, a characteristic hybridized mode with strong absorption and weak scattering emerges in the near-infrared range. A core-shell nanosphere composed of a silicon core and a gold shell is prepared, and the resonance modes are studied by single particle scattering spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a transmission electron microscope. The core-shell nanospheres exhibit the hybridized modes depending on the core diameter. The hybridized mode as well as the higher order one that is not observable in the scattering spectroscopy is observed in the EELS.

Feasibility of the Olympic marathon under climatic and socioeconomic change.

There are concerns about the impact of climate change on Olympic Games, especially endurance events, such as marathons. In recent competitions, many marathon runners dropped out of their races due to extreme heat, and it is expected that more areas will be unable to host the Games due to climate change. Here, we show the feasibility of the Olympic marathon considering the variations in climate factors, socioeconomic conditions, and adaptation measures. The number of current possible host cities will decline by up to 27% worldwide by the late twenty-first century. Dozens of emerging cities, especially in Asia, will not be capable of hosting the marathon under the highest emission scenario. Moving the marathon from August to October and holding the Games in multiple cities in the country are effective measures, and they should be considered if we are to maintain the regional diversity of the Games.

Resonance Couplings in Si@MoS2 Core-Shell Architectures.

Heterostructures of transition metal dichalcogenides and optical cavities that can couple to each other are rising candidates for advanced quantum optics and electronics. This is due to their enhanced light-matter interactions in the visible to near-infrared range. Core-shell structures are particularly valuable for their maximized interfacial area. Here, the chemical vapor deposition synthesis of Si@MoS2 core-shells and extensive structural characterization are presented. Compared with traditional plasmonic cores, the silicon dielectric Mie resonator core offers low Ohmic losses and a wider spectrum of optical modes. The magnetic dipole (MD) mode of the silicon core efficiently couples with MoS2 through its large tangential component at the core surface. Using transmission electron microscopy and correlative single-particle scattering spectroscopy, MD mode splitting is experimentally demonstrated in this unique Si@MoS2 core-shell structure. This is evidence for resonance coupling, which is limited to theoretical proposals in this particular system. A coupling constant of 39 meV is achieved, which is ≈1.5-fold higher than previous reports of particle-on-film geometries with a smaller interfacial area. Finally, higher-order systems with the potential to tune properties are demonstrated through a dimer system of Si@MoS2 , forming the basis for emerging architectures for optoelectronic and nanophotonic applications.

Disentangling Cathodoluminescence Spectra in Nanophotonics: Particle Eigenmodes vs Transition Radiation.

Cathodoluminescence spectroscopy performed in an electron microscope has proven a versatile tool for analyzing the near- and far-field optical response of plasmonic and dielectric nanostructures. Nevertheless, the transition radiation produced by electron impact is often disregarded in the interpretation of the spectra recorded from resonant nanoparticles. Here we show, experimentally and theoretically, that transition radiation can by itself generate distinct resonances that, depending on the time-of-flight of the electron beam inside the particle, can result from constructive or destructive interference in time. Superimposed on the eigenmodes of the investigated structures, these resonances can distort the recorded spectrum and lead to potentially erroneous assignment of modal characters to the spectral features. We develop an intuitive analogy that helps distinguish between the two contributions. As an example, we focus on the case of silicon nanospheres and show that our analysis facilitates the unambiguous interpretation of experimental measurements on Mie-resonant nanoparticles.

Optical spin sorting chain.

Transverse spin angular momentum of light is a key concept in recent nanophotonics to realize unidirectional light transport in waveguides by spin-momentum locking. Herein we theoretically propose subwavelength nanoparticle chain waveguides that efficiently sort optical spins with engineerable spin density distributions. By arranging high-refractive-index nanospheres or nanodisks of different sizes in a zigzag manner, directional optical spin propagation is realized. The origin of efficient spin transport is revealed by analyzing the dispersion relation and spin angular momentum density distributions, being attributed to guided modes that possess transverse spin angular momenta. In contrast to conventional waveguides, the proposed asymmetric waveguide can spatially separate up- and down-spins and locate one parity inside and the other outside the structure. Moreover, robustness against bending the waveguide and its application as an optical spin sorter are presented. Compared to previous reports on spatial engineering of local spins in photonic crystal waveguides, we achieved miniaturization of the entire footprint down to the subwavelength scale.

Direct Excitation of Triplet State of Molecule by Enhanced Magnetic Field of Dielectric Metasurfaces.

Efficient excitation of a triplet (T1 ) state of a molecule has far-reaching effects on photochemical reaction and energy conversion systems. Because the optical transition from a ground singlet (S0 ) to a T1 state is spin-forbidden, a T1 state is generated via intersystem crossing (ISC) from an excited singlet (S1 ) state. Although the excitation efficiency of a T1 state can be increased by enhancing ISC utilizing a heavy atom effect, energy loss during S1 →T1 relaxation is inevitable. Here, a general approach to directly excite a T1 state from a ground S0 state via magnetic dipole transition, which is boosted by enhanced magnetic field induced by a dielectric metasurface, is proposed. As a dielectric metasurface, a hexagonal array of silicon (Si) nanodisks is employed; the nanodisk array induces a strongly enhanced magnetic field on the surface due to the toroidal dipole (TD) resonance. A proof-of-concept experiment is performed using ruthenium (Ru) complexes placed on a metasurface and demonstrates that the phosphorescence is 35-fold enhanced on a metasurface when the TD resonance is tuned to the wavelength of the direct S0 →T1 transition. These results indicate that photon energy necessary to excite the T1 state can be reduced by more than 400 meV compared to the process involving the ISC. By combining optical measurements with numerical simulations, the mechanism of the phosphorescence enhancement is quantitatively discussed.

Colloidal Mie resonant silicon nanoparticles.

Nano- and microstructures of silicon (Si) exhibit electric and magnetic Mie resonances in the optical regime, providing a novel platform for controlling light at the nanoscale and enhancing light-matter interactions. In this Review, we present recent development of colloidal Si nanoparticles (NPs) that have wide range of applications in nanophotonics. Following brief summary of synthesis methods of amorphous and crystalline Si particles with high sphericity, optical responses of single Si particles placed on a substrate are overviewed. Then, the capability as a nanoantenna to control light-matter interactions is discussed in different systems. Finally, collective optical responses of Si NPs in solution are presented and the application potentials are discussed.

Solution-processed silicon quantum dot photocathode for hydrogen evolution.

The photoelectrochemical response of a photocathode made from a colloidal solution of boron (B) and phosphorus (P) codoped silicon (Si) quantum dots (QDs) 2-11 nm in diameters is studied. Since codoped Si QDs are dispersible in alcohol and water due to the hydrophilic surface, a photoelectrode with a smooth surface is produced by drop-coating the QD solution on an indium tin oxide substrate. The codoping provides high oxidation resistance to Si QDs and makes the electrode operate as a photocathode. The photoelectrochemical response of a Si QD photoelectrode depends strongly on the size of QDs; there is a transition from anodic to cathodic photocurrent around 4 nm in diameter. Below the size, anodic photocurrent due to self-oxidation of Si QDs is observed, while above the size, cathodic photocurrent due to electron transfer across the interface is observed. The cathodic photocurrent increases with increasing the size, and in some samples, it is observed for more than 3000 s under intermittent light irradiation.

Optimizing plasmon enhanced luminescence in silicon nanocrystals by gold nanorods.

The great application potential of photoluminescent silicon nanocrystals, especially in biomedicine, is significantly reduced due to their limited radiative rate. One of the possible ways to overcome this limitation is enhancing the luminescence by localized plasmons of metallic nanostructures. We report an optimized fabrication of gold nanorod - silicon nanocrystal core-shell nanoparticles with the silica shell as a tunable spacer. The unprecedented structural quality and homogeneity of our hybrid nanoparticles allows for detailed analysis of their luminescence. A strong correlation between dark field scattering and luminescence spectra is shown on a single particle level, indicating a dominant role of the longitudinal plasmonic band in luminescence enhancement. The spacer thickness dependence of photoluminescence intensity enhancement is investigated using a combination of experimental measurements and numerical simulations. An optimal separation distance of 5 nm is found, yielding a 7.2× enhancement of the luminescence intensity. This result is mainly attributed to an increased quantum yield resulting from the Purcell enhanced radiative rate in the nanocrystals. The ease of fabrication, low cost, long-term stability and great emission properties of the hybrid nanoparticles make them a great candidate for bio-imaging or even targeted cancer treatment.

Color Toning of Mie Resonant Silicon Nanoparticle Color Inks.

An ink of silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) having the lowest-order Mie resonance in the visible range can generate noniridescent and nonfading structural colors in a wide area through a painting process. However, the strong wavelength dependence of the radiation pattern and the extinction coefficient make the multiple reflection behavior very complicated, and thus, a reliable tool is necessary to predict the hue, saturation, and brightness of the reflection color. In this work, a Monte Carlo simulation to predict the reflection color of Si NP inks is first developed. The simulation takes into account the scattering and absorption cross-sections, a radiation pattern of an individual NP, and multiple scattering in NP dispersion. The simulation shows that the reflection color of a Si NP ink depends strongly on the concentration because of the wavelength dependence of the multiple scattering behavior. To extend the controllable range of the hue, saturation, and brightness of Si NP inks, a mixture ink with light-absorbing carbon black (CB) NPs is developed. It is experimentally demonstrated that the combination of the Kerker-type back scattering of a Si NP and a broad absorption by a CB NP allows us to control the hue, saturation, and brightness in a wide range and to realize vivid reflection colors under room light.

Greenhouse gas emission mitigation potential from municipal solid waste treatment: A combined SD-LMDI model.

Fast urbanization and economic prosperity generate huge amount of municipal solid waste (MSW). It is therefore critical to identify the determinants of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from MSW treatment and prepare potential GHG mitigation measures. A combined System Dynamics - Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index model is developed to identify the driving forces of GHG emission generated from MSW treatment and explore the mitigation potentials. Shanghai, a typical megacity in China is selected as a case study. Results showed that economic development, population scale and emission intensity were driving forces to induce GHG emissions from MSW treatment, while generation intensity and treatment structure were the factors to mitigate GHG emissions from MSW during 2000-2017. Scenario analysis further revealed that landfill gas utilization and MSW separation improvement were the most effective measures in reducing GHG emissions from MSW treatment, leading to about 88.07% and 85.48% of reduction compared with the business-as-usual scenario in 2050. Scenarios of improving incineration rate, reducing per capita MSW generation and restricting population growth will reduce GHG emissions by 72.29%, 30.06% and 0.30%, respectively. Utilizing landfill gas, improving MSW separation and promoting green behaviors are suggested to mitigate GHG emissions from MSW treatment.