Circularly Polarized Phosphorescence Energy Transfer Combined with Chirality-Selective Absorption for Modulating Full-Color and White Circularly Polarized Long Afterglow.

Circularly polarized long afterglow (CPLA) attracts great interests in multi-disciplinary fields with significant potentials in optical multiplexing applications, but achieving full-color and white CPLA is still challenging. The present contribution reports the first success in utilizing circularly polarized phosphorescence energy transfer (CPP-ET) combined with chirality-selective absorption (CSA) to construct full-color and white CPLA materials. Blue CPLA with luminescence dissymmetry factor (glum) of 3×10-2 is firstly obtained via the CSA effect of chiral helical polyacetylene and blue ultralong afterglow of inorganic phosphor BP. Significantly, full-color and white CPLA films are prepared by simply blending different fluorophores into the blue-CPLA films via CPP-ET. Benefited from the persistent luminescence of BP, the lifetimes of the fluorophores increase from nanoseconds to minutes, and ultralong full-color CPLA emissions lasting for more than 20 min are realized with glum of 10-3. Also noticeably, chiral optoelectronic devices, multi-dimension information encryption and chiral logic gate are developed based on the full-color tunable CPLA-active materials. The established strategy provides a universal platform for future development of CPLA-active materials with great applications.

First real-time imaging of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction by electrical impedance tomography.

BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) with one-way endobronchial valves (EBV) has better outcomes when the target lobe has poor collateral ventilation, resulting in complete lobe atelectasis. High-inspired oxygen fraction (FIO2) promotes atelectasis through faster gas absorption after airway occlusion, but its application during BLVR with EBV has been poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the real-time effects of FIO2 on regional lung volumes and regional ventilation/perfusion by electrical impedance tomography (EIT) during BLVR with EBV. METHODS: Six piglets were submitted to left lower lobe occlusion by a balloon-catheter and EBV valves with FIO2 0.5 and 1.0. Regional end-expiratory lung impedances (EELI) and regional ventilation/perfusion were monitored. Local pocket pressure measurements were obtained (balloon occlusion method). One animal underwent simultaneous acquisitions of computed tomography (CT) and EIT. Regions-of-interest (ROIs) were right and left hemithoraces. RESULTS: Following balloon occlusion, a steep decrease in left ROI-EELI with FIO2 1.0 occurred, 3-fold greater than with 0.5 (p < 0.001). Higher FIO2 also enhanced the final volume reduction (ROI-EELI) achieved by each valve (p < 0.01). CT analysis confirmed the denser atelectasis and greater volume reduction achieved by higher FIO2 (1.0) during balloon occlusion or during valve placement. CT and pocket pressure data agreed well with EIT findings, indicating greater strain redistribution with higher FIO2. CONCLUSIONS: EIT demonstrated in real-time a faster and more complete volume reduction in the occluded lung regions under high FIO2 (1.0), as compared to 0.5. Immediate changes in the ventilation and perfusion of ipsilateral non-target lung regions were also detected, providing better estimates of the full impact of each valve in place. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Boosting the Performance of Aluminum-Air Batteries by Interface Modification.

The large-scale application of aqueous Al-air batteries is highly restricted by the performance of Al anodes. The severe self-corrosion and hydrogen evolution of the Al anode in a concentrated alkaline electrolyte are the main reason. Here, aimed at relieving side reactions and enhancing the utilization of metal Al, we propose a hybrid electrolyte additive of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and ZnO to form a protective film at the anode/electrolyte interface and to decrease the hydrogen evolution active site. The strong absorption capability of MBT on the metal surface, along with the reduced Zn-containing layer, enables a compact protective film with high hydrogen evolution potential on the Al surface. With this benefit, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) inhibition efficiency is up to 83.58%, endowing a superior Al-air battery with an energy density of 2376.71 Wh kgAl-1 under a current density of 25 mA cm-2. The conception of constructing a hybrid protective film on the metal surface not only favors the development of metal-air batteries but also facilitates metal corrosion protection.

Adjustable Ultra-Light Mechanical Negative Poisson's Ratio Metamaterials with Multi-Level Dynamic Crushing Effects.

Mechanical metamaterials with multi-level dynamic crushing effects (MM-MLs) are designed in this study through coordinate transformation and mirror arrays. The mechanical effects of the diameter and length ratio of the struts and connecting rods, the Euler angles, and the cell numbers on the mechanical properties are investigated separately. MM-ML can exhibit significant two-level platform stress, and the local cells in the first platform stress stage undergo rotational motion, while the second platform stress stage mainly involves collapse compression and bending. Although increasing the length of the connecting rods can increase the range of Poisson's ratio, it will reduce the level of platform stress and energy absorption. Increasing the Euler angle will reduce the strain interval of the first platform stress and can improve the energy absorption capacity. In addition, increasing the cell number while maintaining a constant relative density can effectively enhance energy absorption. MM-ML has significant parameter controllability, can achieve different platform stress regions, different ranges of Poisson's ratios, and energy absorption requirements according to the application scenario, and can demonstrate functional diversity compared to existing research. The design scheme can provide ideas for adaptive crushing protection requirements.

Psyllium fiber improves hangovers and inflammatory liver injury by inhibiting intestinal drinking.

Introduction: Excessive alcohol intake often results in hangovers and inflammatory liver damage, posing a significant health concern. Current treatment options for hangovers are still insufficient, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. Psyllium fiber (PF) is well-known for its gastrointestinal benefits, but its effect on hangovers is less explored. Methods: We utilized a mouse model with a single binge drinking (4 g/kg) to induce hangover and inflammatory liver injury. Intestine and liver injury were serologically and histologically estimated. Hangover symptoms were assessed using cylinder and footprint tests to objectively quantify hangover symptoms in mice. Results: Binge drinking significantly activated alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in the small intestine and liver, leading to inflammatory damage. Concurrently, there was a rise in alcohol metabolites such as acetaldehyde and acetone, which exhibited a positive correlation with hangover symptoms in mice. Interestingly, the oral administration of PF (100 mg/kg) alongside alcohol consumption significantly reduced the activity of these enzymes and lowered the levels of alcohol metabolites. Mice treated with PF exhibited a considerable improvement in hangover symptoms and a reduction in hepatic inflammation, compared to control groups. Furthermore, in vitro experiments using HepG2 cell lines and semipermeable membranes demonstrated that PF effectively inhibits alcohol absorption into the body. Discussion: In conclusion, PF demonstrates a potential protective effect against alcohol-induced hangover and liver injury by inhibiting the absorption of alcohol and lowering hangover-related alcohol metabolites. This study suggests that PF could serve as an effective therapeutic option for mitigating the adverse effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

Control of Anisotropy and Magnetic Hyperthermia Effect by Addition of Cobalt on Magnetite Nanoparticles.

Magnetic hyperthermia (MH) has emerged as a promising technology with diverse applications in medical and technological fields, leveraging the remote induction of temperature elevation through an alternating magnetic field. While Fe3O4 nanoparticles with an average size around 12-25 nm are commonly employed in MH systems, this study introduces a strategy to produce smaller particles (less than or equal to 10 nm) with enhanced heating efficiency, as measured by specific power absorption (SPA). We conducted an exhaustive and detailed investigation into the morphological and magnetic properties of CoxFe3-xO4 nanoparticles, aiming to optimize their MH response. By varying the Co content, we successfully tuned the effective magnetic anisotropy while maintaining saturation magnetization nearly constant. The MH analysis indicates that these nanoparticles predominantly heat through the Néel mechanism, demonstrating robust reproducibility across different concentrations, viscosity mediums, and ac field conditions. Notably, we identified an optimal anisotropy or Co concentration that maximizes SPA, crucial for developing magnetic systems requiring particles with specific sizes. This work contributes to advancing the understanding and application of MH, particularly in tailoring nanoparticle properties for targeted and efficient heat generation in various contexts.

A Theoretical Investigation for Exploring the Potential Performance of Non-Fullerene Organic Solar Cells Through Side-Chain Engineering Having Diphenylamino Groups to Enhance Photovoltaic Properties.

The development of ecofriendly fabrication phenomenon is essential requirement for commercialization of non-fullerene acceptors. Recently, end-capped modeling is employed for computational design of five non-fullerene acceptors to elevate various photovoltaic properties. All new molecules are formulated by altering the peripheral acceptors of CH3-2F and DFT methodology is employed to explore the opto-electronic, morphological and charge transfer analysis. From the computational investigation, all reported molecules manifested red shifted absorption with remarkable reduced band gap. Among investigated molecules, FA1-FA3 evinced effectively decreased value of band gaps and designed molecules have low excitation energy justifying proficient charge transference. The lower values of binding energy of FA1 and FA2 suggest their facile exciton dissociation leading to improved charge mobility. By blending with J61 donor, FA4 have sufficiently enhanced value of VOC (1.72 eV) and fill factor (0.9228). Energy loss of the model (R) is 0.57 eV and statistical calculation demonstrate that all our modified molecules except FA3 has profoundly reduced energy loss compelling in its pivotal utilization. From accessible supportive outcomes of recent investigation, it is recommended that our modified chromophore exhibit remarkable noteworthy applications in solar cells for forthcoming innovations.

A Tetracarbene Iron(II) Complex with a Long-lived Triplet Metal-to-ligand Charge Transfer State due to a Triplet-Triplet Barrier.

Mixed N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) / pyridyl iron(II) complexes have attracted a great deal of attention recently because of their potential as photocatalysts and light sensitizers made from Earth-abundant elements. The most decisive challenge for their successful implementation is the lifetime of the lowest triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer state (3MLCT), which typically decays via a triplet metal-centered (3MC) state back to the ground state. We reveal by variable-temperature ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy that the tripodal iron(II) bis(pyridine) complex isomers trans- and cis-[Fe(pdmi)2]2+with four NHC donors show 3MLCT→3MC population transfers with very different barriers and rationalize this by computational means. While trans-[Fe(pdmi)2]2+possesses an unobservable activation barrier, the cis isomer exhibits a barrier of 492 cm-1, which leads to a nanosecond 3MLCT lifetime at 77 K. The kinetic and quantum chemical data were analyzed in the context of semi-classical Marcus theory revealing a high reorganization energy and small electronic coupling between the two triplet states. This highlights the importance of detailed structural control and kinetic knowledge for the rational design of photosensitizers from first row transition metals such as iron.

Click Synthesis of Tweezer Dyads for H-Bond Assisted Cooperativity in Tandem Uncaging Systems.

"Tandem" uncaging systems, in which a photolabile protecting group (PPG) is sensitized by an energy-harvesting antenna, may increase the photosensitivity of PPGs by several orders of magnitude for two-photon (2P) photorelease. Yet, they remain poorly accessible because of arduous multi-step synthesis. In this work, we design efficient tandem uncaging systems by (i) using a convenient assembly of the building blocks relying on click chemistry, (ii) H-bonding induced proximity thus facilitating (iii) photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) as a cooperative mechanism. A strong two-photon absorber electron-donating quadrupolar antenna and various electron-accepting PPGs (mDEAC, MNI or MDNI) were clicked stepwise onto a "tweezer-shaped" pyrido-2,6-dicarboxylate platform whose H-bonding and p-stacking abilities were exploited to keep the antenna and the PPGs in close proximity. The different electron acceptor ability of the PPGs led to dyads with wildly different behaviors. Whilst the MDNI and MNI dyads showed poor dark stability or no photo-uncaging ability due to their too high electron accepting character, the mDEAC dyad benefited from optimum redox potentials to promote PeT and slow down charge recombination, resulting in enhanced uncaging quantum yield (Fu=0.38) compared to mDEAC (Fu=0.014). The unique resulted in large 2P photo-sensitivity in the near-infrared window (240 GM at 710 nm).

A Self-foaming Strategy to Construct Small Mo2C Nanoparticles Decorated 3D Carbon Foams as Superior Electromagnetic Wave Absorbing Materials with Strong Corrosion Resistance.

3D macroporous carbon-based foams are always considered as promising candidates for high-performance electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbing materials due to the collaborative EM contribution and salutary structure effect. However, the uneven distribution of heterogeneous EM components and the cumbersome preparation process have become key issues to hinder their performance improvement and practical popularity. Herein, the fabrication of 3D carbon foam decorated with small and highly dispersed Mo2C nanoparticles is realized by an innovative self-foaming strategy. The foaming mechanism can be attributed to the decomposition of nitrate during the softening process of organic polymers. The good dispersion of Mo2C nanoparticles boosts interfacial polarization significantly. After regulating the content of Mo2C nanoparticles, the optimal Mo2C/CF-x exhibits good EM absorption performance, whose minimum reflection loss intensity value can reach up to -72.2 dB, and effective absorption bandwidth covers 6.7 GHz with a thickness of 2.30 mm. Very importantly, the resultant Mo2C/CF-x exhibits hydrophobicity and strong acidic anticorrosion, and a long-time treatment in HCl solution (6.0 mol L-1) produces negligible impacts on their EM functions. It is believed that this extraordinary feature may render Mo2C/C foams as qualified and durable EM wave absorbing materials (EWAMs) under rigorous conditions.

Petal-Shaped Graphene Porous Films with Enhanced Absorption-Dominated Electromagnetic Shielding Performance and Mechanical Properties.

The absorption-dominated graphene porous materials, considered ideal for mitigating electromagnetic pollution, encounter challenges related to intricate structural design. Herein, petal-like graphene porous films with dendritic-like and honeycomb-like pores are prepared by controlling the phase inversion process. The theoretical simulation and experimental results show that PVP K30 modified on the graphene surface via van der Waals interactions promotes graphene to be uniformly enriched on the pore walls. Benefiting from the regulation of graphene distribution and the construction of honeycomb pore structure, when 15 wt % graphene is added, the porous film exhibits absorption-dominated electromagnetic shielding performance, compared with the absence of PVP K30 modification. The total electromagnetic shielding effectiveness is 24.1 dB, an increase of 170%; the electromagnetic reflection coefficient reduces to 2.82 dB; The thermal conductivity reaches 1.1 W/(m K), representing a 104% increase. In addition, the porous film exhibits improved mechanical properties, the tensile strength increases to 6.9 MPa, and the elongation at break increases by 131%. The method adopted in this paper to control the enrichment of graphene in the pore walls during the preparation of honeycomb porous films by the phase inversion method can avoid the agglomeration of graphene and improve the overall performance of the porous graphene porous films.

Management of methyl mercaptan contained in waste gases - an overview.

Methyl mercaptan is a typical volatile organosulfur pollutant contained in many gases emitted by urban waste treatment, various industries, natural gas handling, refining processes, and energy production. This work is a comprehensive overview of the scientific and practical aspects related to the management of methyl mercaptan pollution. The main techniques, including absorption, adsorption, oxidation, and biological treatments, are examined in detail. For each method, its capability as well as the technical advantages and drawbacks have been highlighted. The emerging methods developed for the removal of methyl mercaptan from natural gas are also reviewed. These methods are based on the catalytic conversion of CH3SH to hydrocarbons and H2S.

The Intermode Polariton Parametric Scattering Laser in a Strong Coupled Microcavity Via Two-Photon Absorption.

Exciton-polaritons, hybrid quasiparticles from the strong coupling of excitons and cavity photons in semiconductor microcavities, offer a platform for exploring quantum coherence and nonlinear optical properties. The unique polariton parametric scattering (PPS) laser is of interest for its potential in quantum technologies and nonlinear devices. However, direct resonant excitation of polaritons in strong-coupling microcavities is challenging. This study proposes an innovative two-photon absorption (TPA) pump mechanism to address this. We observe TPA-driven PPS lasing in a strongly coupled microcavity at room temperature. High K-value exciton injections promote coherent stimulated emission of polariton scattering through intermode channels. Angle-resolved spectra confirm a TPA process, showing evolution from pump-state to signal-state. Hanbury Brown-Twiss measurement of second-order correlation g2(τ) of signal state indicates a phase transition from a classical thermal state to a quantum coherent state. Theoretical modeling provides insights into the physical mechanisms of PPS. Our work advances nonlinear phenomena exploration in strongly coupled light-matter systems, contributing to quantum polaritonics and nonlinear optics.

Optimization using central composite design for continuous absorption of CO2 gas with green sodium silicate in a packed bed column.

If absolutely nothing is taken to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide will rise to 550 parts per million by 2050, which will have disastrous effects on the world's climate and food production. An apparatus has been designed and setup to convert CO2 into a useful and vital product which was silica. The effect of different experimental factors on the compositions by weight percent of SiO2 and Na2CO3 were studied including the CO2 gas flow rate (1.037, 1.648 and 2.26 L/min), initial concentration of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) solution (5, 7.5 and 10 %wt) and the packing size (15.95, 20.175, and 24.4 mm). An optimization process was performed using the Design Expert software program to achieve the optimum experimental conditions at which the maximum weight percent of SiO2 (main product), the minimum weight percent of (Na2CO3) (side product) and the minimum reaction time were determined. From the optimization process, the maximum weight percent of SiO2 (25.63 %), the minimum weight percent of (Na2CO3) (9.62 %) and the minimum reaction time (7.59 min) were achieved at the following optimum experimental conditions of CO2 gas flow rate = 1.648 L/min, packing size = 24.4 mm and initial concentration of sodium silicate solution = 10 %wt.

Investigation and performance analysis of eco-friendly coco fiber concrete hybridized with CNT blend.

With the development of the technical trend, concrete using waste alternate material instead of sand material found economic potential for good structural behaviour. Besides, the susceptible crack, low strength-to-weight ratio, and low compressive strength are the reasons for shrinkage. Due to this reason, the investigation aims to limit the shrinkage under live load and increase the compression and flexural strength by the introduction of coconut waste chopped fiber (wCF), waste fly ash (wFA), and carbon nanotube powder (CNT) blended with conventional Portland paste. The developed concrete consists of 5 wt% wCF, 10 wt% wFA, and 0, 5, 10, and 15 wt% of CNT and is subjected to X-ray diffraction analysis, bulk density, compression and flexural strength, and water absorption studies. The X-ray diffraction pattern revealed the wCF, wFA, CNT, and matrix compositions. The concrete developed with 5 wt% wCF, 10 wt% wFA, and 15 wt% CNT cured within 28 days recorded maximum behaviour of compression strength (47 ± 1.8 MPa), flexural strength (4.9 ± 0.19 MPa), and water absorption of (2.8 ± 0.05 %).

Investigating the Impact of Superabsorbent Polymer Sizes on Absorption and Cement Paste Rheology.

This study aims to understand the water retention capabilities of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs) in different alkaline environments for internal curing and to assess their impact on the rheological properties of cement paste. Therefore, the focus of this paper is on the absorption capacities of two different sizes of polyacrylic-based Superabsorbent Polymers : SAP A, with an average size of 28 µm, and SAP B, with an average size of 80 µm, in various solutions, such as pH 7, pH 11, pH 13, and cement filtrate solution (pH 13.73). Additionally, the study investigates the rheological properties of SAP-modified cement pastes, considering three different water-to-cement (w/c) ratios (0.4, 0.5, and 0.6) and four different dosages of SAPs (0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5% by weight of cement). The results showed that the absorption capacity of SAP A was higher in all solutions compared to SAP B. However, both SAPs exhibited lower absorption capacity and early desorption in the cement filtrate solution. In contrast to the absorption results in pH 13 and cement filtrate solutions, the rheological properties, including plastic viscosity and yield stress, of the cement paste with a w/c ratio of 0.4 and 0.5, as well as both dry and wet (presoaked) SAPs, were higher than those of the cement paste without SAP, indicating continuous absorption by SAP. The viscosity and yield stress increased over time with increasing SAP dosage. However, in the mixes with a w/c ratio of 0.6, the values of plastic viscosity and yield stress were initially lower for the mixes with dry SAPs compared to the reference mix. Additionally, cement pastes containing wet SAP showed higher viscosity and yield stress compared to the pastes containing dry SAP.

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing of Aluminum Foams Using TiH2-Laced Welding Wires.

Composite materials made from aluminum foam are increasingly used in aerospace and automotive industries due to their low density, high energy absorption capacity, and corrosion resistance. Additive manufacturing processes offer several advantages over conventional manufacturing methods, such as the ability to produce significantly more geometrically complex components without the need for expensive tooling. Direct Energy Deposition processes like Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) enable the additive production of near-net-shape components at high build rates. This paper presents a technology for producing aluminum foam structures using WAAM. This paper's focus is on the development of welding wires that are mixed with a foaming agent (TiH2) and produce a foamed weld metal as well as their processing using MIG welding technology.

Energy Absorption and Failure Modes of Different Composite Open-Section Crush Elements under Axial Crushing Loading.

In order to study the energy absorption characteristics of the open-section thin-walled composite structures with different cross-sections, axial compression tests were carried out at loading speeds of 0.01 m/s, 0.1 m/s, and 1 m/s. Finite element models were built to predict the crushing response and energy absorption behaviors of these open-section structures. The effects of the cross-section's shape, cross-section aspect ratio, trigger mechanism, and loading speed on the energy absorption characteristics of the composite structures were analyzed. The results show that the average crushing loads of the hat-shaped and Ω-shaped open-section structures are 14.1% and 14.6% higher than those of C-shaped open-section structures, and the specific energy absorption (SEA) values are 14.3% and 14.8% higher than that of C-shaped open-section structures, respectively. For the C-shaped open-section structures, a 45° chamfer trigger is more effective in reducing the initial peak load, while a 15° steeple trigger is more appropriate for the hat-shaped open-section structures. The average crushing loads and SEA of C-shaped, hat-shaped, and Ω-shaped open-section structures are reduced when the loading speed is increased from 0.01 m/s to 1 m/s. The increase in loading speed leads to the splashing of debris and thus reduces the loading area and material utilization of open-section structures, leading to a decrease in energy absorption efficiency.

Experimental Dust Absorption Study in Automotive Engine Inlet Air Filter Materials.

The purpose of this study was to empirically evaluate the performance of fibrous materials that meet the criteria for inlet air filtration in internal combustion engines. The characteristics of filtration efficiency and accuracy, as well as the characteristics of flow resistance, were determined based on the mass of dust accumulated in the filter bed during the filtration process. Single-layer filter materials tested included cellulose, polyester, and glass microfiber. Multilayer filter media such as cellulose-polyester-nanofibers and cellulose-polyester were also examined. A new composite filter bed-consisting of polyester, glass microfiber, and cellulose-and its filtration characteristics were evaluated. Utilizing specific air filtration quality factors, it was demonstrated that the composite is characterized by high pre-filtration efficiency (99.98%), a short pre-filtration period (qs = 4.21%), high accuracy (dpmax = 1.5-3 µm) for the entire lifespan of the filter, and a 60-250% higher dust absorption coefficient compared to the other tested materials. A filtration composite bed constructed from a group of materials with different filtration parameters can be, due to its high filtration efficiency, accuracy, and dust absorption, an excellent filter material for engine intake air. The composite's filtration parameters will depend on the type of filter layers and their order relative to the aerosol flow. This paper presents a methodology for the selection and testing of various filter materials.

Color Centers in BaFBr Crystals: Experimental Study and Theoretical Modeling.

This study presents theoretical and experimental investigations into the electron and hole color centers in BaFBr crystals, characterizing their electronic and optical properties. Stoichiometric BaFBr crystals grown by the Steber method were used in the experiments. Radiation defects in BaFBr crystals were created by irradiation with 147 MeV 84Kr ions with up to fluences of 1010-1014 ions/cm2. The formation of electron color centers (F(F-), F2(F-), F2(Br-)) and hole aggregates was experimentally established by optical absorption spectroscopy. Performed measurements are compared with theoretical calculations. It allows us to determine the electron transition mechanisms and investigate the processes involved in photoluminescence emission in Eu-doped BaFBr materials to enhance the understanding of the fundamental electronic structure and properties of electron and hole color centers formed in BaFBr crystals.