Nanoplastic release from disposable plastics: Correlation with maximum service temperature.

The potential for bioaccumulation of nanoplastics (NPs, <1 µm) increases as the particle size decreases. Since several disposable plastic products used daily may release NPs, their intake may be unavoidable. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the release patterns of NPs from these products.

Value addition of MXenes as photo-/electrocatalysts in water splitting for sustainable hydrogen production.

The energy transition from fossil fuel-based to renewable energy is a global agenda. At present, a major concern in the green hydrogen economy is the demand for clean fuels and non-noble materials to produce hydrogen through water splitting. Researchers are focusing on addressing this concern with the help of the development of appropriate non-noble-based photo-/electrocatalytic materials.

Effect of 3D-printed polycaprolactone/osteolectin scaffolds on the odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp cells.

Cell-based tissue engineering often requires the use of scaffolds to provide a three-dimensional (3D) framework for cell proliferation and tissue formation. Polycaprolactone (PCL), a type of polymer, has good printability, favorable surface modifiability, adaptability, and biodegradability. However, its large-scale applicability is hindered by its hydrophobic nature, which affects biological properties.

Nanoplastics from disposable paper cups and microwavable food containers.

Nanoplastics (NPs, <1 µm) pose greater risks due to their increased absorption rates in biological systems. In this study, we investigated the release of NPs from paper cups and microwavable food containers coated with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polylactic acid (PLA). For disposable paper cups, we found that LDPE-coated cups released up to 26-fold more NPs (maximum 1.

Photosynthetic responses of large old Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino trees to different growth environments.

Large old trees, which provide ecosystem services and serve as a historical and cultural heritage, are exposed to various environmental threats, such as habitat fragmentation and climate change, necessitating diagnosis of tangible and intangible stresses and their effects on tree growth for effective management. This study investigated the photosynthetic characteristics of 25 large old Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino trees in Chungcheong Province, Korea, and identified the physical environmental factors affecting their physiological responses.

Exsolution of Ru Nanoparticles on BaCe Y O Modifying Geometry and Electronic Structure of Ru for Ammonia Synthesis Reaction Under Mild Conditions.

Green ammonia is an efficient, carbon-free energy carrier and storage medium. The ammonia synthesis using green hydrogen requires an active catalyst that operates under mild conditions. The catalytic activity can be promoted by controlling the geometry and electronic structure of the active species.

A Pilot Study Comparing a Micronized Adipose Tissue Niche versus Standard Wound Care for Treatment of Neuropathic Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the various properties of micronized adipose tissue (MAT), including angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative activities, which can be helpful in wound healing. This exploratory clinical trial aimed to report the efficacy and safety of MAT niche for treating diabetic foot ulcers. Twenty subjects were randomly divided into MAT niche treatment ( = 10) and control groups ( = 10).

A comprehensive investigation of direct ammonia-fueled thin-film solid-oxide fuel cells: Performance, limitation, and prospects.

Ammonia is a promising carbon-free hydrogen carrier. Owing to their nickel-rich anodes and high operating temperatures, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can directly utilize NH fuel-direct-ammonia SOFCs (DA-SOFCs). Lowering the operating temperature can diversify application areas of DA-SOFCs.

Improvements in desorption rate and electrode stability of membrane capacitive deionization systems by optimizing operation parameters.

The operating parameters necessary to improve the desorption rate of a membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) system while controlling the Faradaic reactions were studied. The total charge (Q) accumulated in the carbon electrode was set as the main operating parameter determining the desorption rate of the MCDI system. After adsorption was performed until the preset Q value was reached using the MCDI unit cell, desorption was performed at a cell potential of -0.

Vapor-Mediated Infiltration of Nanocatalysts for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Using Electrosprayed Dendrites.

Electrode architecturing for fast electrochemical reaction is essential for achieving high-performance of low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs). However, the conventional droplet infiltration technique still has limitations in terms of the applicability and scalability of nanocatalyst implementation. Here, we develop a novel two-step precursor infiltration process and fabricate high-performance LT-SOFCs with homogeneous and robust nanocatalysts.

Naturally diffused sintering aid for highly conductive bilayer electrolytes in solid oxide cells.

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are promising sustainable and efficient electrochemical energy conversion devices. The application of a bilayer electrolyte comprising wide electrolytic oxide and highly conductive oxide is essential to lower the operating temperatures while maintaining high performance. However, a structurally and chemically ideal bilayer has been unattainable through cost-effective conventional ceramic processes.

Comparing volumetric and biological aspects of 3D-printed interim restorations under various post-curing modes.

Purpose: This study aims to compare the volumetric change, degree of conversion (DOC), and cytotoxicity of 3D-printed restorations post-cured under three different conditions.

Materials And Methods: 3D-printed interim restorations were post-cured under three different conditions and systems: 5 min, 30 min, and 24 h. Three-unit and six-unit fixed dental prostheses (n = 30 for each case) were printed; ten specimens from each group were post-cured and then scanned to compare their volumetric changes.

Risk Factors for Major Amputation for Midfoot Ulcers in Hospitalized Patients With Diabetes: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors for major amputation in persons hospitalized with diabetic foot ulcers involving the midfoot.

Design: Retrospective study.

Subjects And Setting: Between January 2003 and May 2019, a total of 1931 patients with diabetes were admitted to the diabetic wound center for the management of foot ulcers.

Fast Magneto-Ionic Switching of Interface Anisotropy Using Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Gate Oxide.

Voltage control of interfacial magnetism has been greatly highlighted in spintronics research for many years, as it might enable ultralow power technologies. Among a few suggested approaches, magneto-ionic control of magnetism has demonstrated large modulation of magnetic anisotropy. Moreover, the recent demonstration of magneto-ionic devices using hydrogen ions presented relatively fast magnetization toggle switching, ∼ 100 ms, at room temperature.

Engineering of Charged Defects at Perovskite Oxide Surfaces for Exceptionally Stable Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes.

Cation segregation, particularly Sr segregation, toward a perovskite surface has a significant effect on the performance degradation of a solid oxide cell (solid oxide electrolysis/fuel cell). Among the number of key reasons generating the instability of perovskite oxide, surface-accumulated positively charged defects (oxygen vacancy, V) have been considered as the most crucial drivers in strongly attracting negatively charged defects (Sr) toward the surface. Herein, we demonstrate the effects of a heterointerface on the redistribution of both positively and negatively charged defects for a reduction of V at a perovskite surface.

The Impact of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Microcirculation in Diabetic Feet: A Pilot Study.

Background: Patients with diabetic foot commonly experience vascular insufficiency and compromised tissue perfusion. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) reportedly promotes wound healing and angiogenesis, but clinical studies on the effect of ESWT on angiogenesis are scarce and the exact mechanism remains unclear.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ESWT on cutaneous microcirculation in diabetic feet.

Promotion of Pt/CeO catalyst by hydrogen treatment for low-temperature CO oxidation.

Low temperature CO oxidation reaction is known to be facilitated over platinum supported on a reducible cerium oxide. Pt species act as binding sites for reactant CO molecules, and oxygen vacancies on surface of cerium oxide atomically activate the reactant O molecules. However, the impacts of size of Pt species and concentration of oxygen vacancy at the surface of cerium oxide on the CO oxidation reaction have not been clearly distinguished, thereby various diverse approaches have been suggested to date.

Atomistic Assessments of Lithium-Ion Conduction Behavior in Glass-Ceramic Lithium Thiophosphates.

We determined the interatomic potentials of the Li-[PS] building block in (LiS)(PS) (LPS) and predicted the Li-ion conductivity (σ) of glass-ceramic LPS from molecular dynamics. The Li-ion conduction characteristics in the crystalline/interfacial/glassy structure were decomposed by considering the structural ordering differences. The superior σ of the glassy LPS could be attributed to the fact that ∼40% of its structure consists of the short-ranged cubic S-sublattice instead of the hexagonally close-packed γ-phase.

Comprehensive Understanding of Cathodic and Anodic Polarization Effects on Stability of Nanoscale Oxygen Electrode for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells.

Degradation of oxygen electrode in reversible solid oxide cells operating in both electrolysis and fuel-cell modes is a critical issue that should be tackled. However, origins and mechanisms thereof have been diversely suggested mainly due to the difficulty in precise analysis of microstructural/compositional changes of porous electrode, which is a typical form in solid oxide cells. In this study, we investigate the degradation phenomena of oxygen electrode under electrolysis and fuel-cell long-term operations for 540 h, respectively, using a geometrically well-defined, nanoscale LaSrCoFeO (LSCF) dense film with a thickness of ∼70 nm.

Collateral hydrogenation over proton-conducting Ni/BaZrYO catalysts for promoting CO methanation.

Despite the importance of CO methanation for eco-friendly carbon-neutral fuel recycling, the current technologies, relying on catalytic hydrogenation over metal-based catalysts, face technological and economical limitations. Herein, we employ the steam hydrogenation capability of proton conductors to achieve collateral CO methanation over the Ni/BaZrYO catalyst, which is shown to outperform its conventional Ni/AlO counterpart in terms of CH yield (8% higher) and long-term stability (3% higher for 150 h) at 400 °C while exhibiting a CH selectivity above 98%. Moreover, infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses reveal the appearance of distinct mobile proton-related OH bands during the methanation reaction.

Thermally Induced S-Sublattice Transition of LiPS for Fast Lithium-Ion Conduction.

The ion-transport phenomenon, determined by the interaction of strain and electrostatic energy, is one of the most important examples that confirms the effects of the polymorphism and atomic morphology. We investigated the correlation between the structural morphology and Li-ion conduction characteristics in α-LiPS, a high-temperature phase of the LiPS, using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) calculations. We successfully reproduced the thermal disorder and partial occupancy observed at high temperatures by AIMD and confirmed the Li-ion sites and its migration pathways.

Open-cell voltage and electrical conductivity of a protonic ceramic electrolyte under two chemical potential gradients.

BaZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ, which is a proton-conducting oxide used as an electrolyte for protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs), possesses two mobile ionic charge carriers-oxygen ions and protons-in a crystalline lattice below 500 °C.