The ambivalent role of graphene oxide in anaerobic digestion: A review.

The capability of graphene oxide (GO) to enhance direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) and improve anaerobic digestion (AD) performance is gaining attention in AD literature. The present review discusses the implications of GO and its ambivalent role in AD. Under anaerobic conditions, GO is rapidly converted to biologically reduced graphene oxide (bioRGO) through microbial respiration.

Two-way photoswitching norbornadiene derivatives for solar energy storage.

Molecular photoswitches of norbornadiene (NBD) derivatives have been effectively applied in molecular solar-thermal energy storage (MOST) by photoisomerization of NBD to a quadricyclane (QC) state. However, a challenge of the NBD-based MOST system is the lack of a reversible two-way photoswitching process, limiting conversion from QC to thermal and catalytic methods. Here we design a series of NBD derivatives with a combination of acceptor and donor units to achieve two-way photoswitching, which can optically release energy by back-conversion from QC to NBD.

Analysis of electrode performance on amplitude integrated electroencephalography in neonates: evaluation of a new electrode aCUP-E vs. liquid gel electrodes.

Background: Neonatologists and clinical neurophysiologists face challenges with the current electrodes used for long-duration amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), limiting the capacity to diagnose brain damage.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to develop methods for comparing the performance of different electrodes to be used in aEEG. The comparison was done between a newly designed neonate-specific electrode, aCUP-E, with commercial liquid gel electrodes used in amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG).

Residential relocation and changes in patterns of environmental exposures by health determinants among children and adolescents in Catalonia, Spain.

Residential relocation leads to environmental changes, besides being likely to be influenced by sociodemographic characteristics. The relationship between them is, however, still not well described. We aimed to investigate changes in patterns of urban, natural and physical environmental exposures due to relocation and related sociodemographic determinants in a population-based cohort study of children and adolescents.

Performance of Recycled Opaque PET Modified by Reactive Extrusion.

A comparative study of the structural integrity of an opaque recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (rPET-O) has been carried out with two types of modified rPET-O by applying reactive extrusion techniques, namely (a) using a multi-epoxide reactive agent (REx-rPET-O) and (b) a 90/10 (wt/wt) rPET-O/polycarbonate (PC) blend. The chemical modifications introduced during reactive extrusion were confirmed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheological dynamic analysis (RDA). For the quantification of the fracture parameters, an instrumented pendulum impact testing machine was used using specimens in SENB configuration.

Alginate Spheres: Influence of Agar and Xanthan Gum Incorporation on Membrane Stability and Permeability.

Calcium alginate spheres with a volume of about 5 mL can be used for important purposes. Those that incorporate oolong tea give, in addition to the recreational aspect, the possibility of drinking small quantities of this tea, because oolong tea can be used as a compound with antioxidant properties. This incorporation can be achieved by reverse spherification (5 mL).

Cu-doped LaNiO perovskite catalyst for DRM: revisiting it as a molecular-level nanocomposite.

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) was extensively studied on Cu-doped LaNiO catalysts. The main findings of this work are as follows: (i) thermal switching of the catalyst phase between the parent perovskite and molecular-level nanocomposite of individual components formed during DRM, (ii) reusability of the catalyst with enhanced activity, and (iii) regeneration of the catalyst phase at a lower temperature than that required for the formation of the parent perovskite. The present investigation provides an extensive analysis and understanding of the DRM reaction using Cu-doped LaNiO compared to the result reported by Moradi , (, 2012, , 797-801) and hence provides new insights into its catalytic activity.

Transit-guided radiation therapy: a novel patient monitoring approach.

Background And Purpose: Transit-Guided Radiation Therapy (TGRT) is a novel technique that uses the transit portal images (TPIs) acquired with Electronic Portal Image Devices (EPID) to quantify patient position errors during the treatment. It has been validated using anthropomorphic phantoms but a validation in a clinical setting was lacking. A pilot clinical study is presented to confirm our previous results.

Non-enzymatic cholesterol biosensor: Electrochemical sensing based on peptide-polylactic acid thin film.

Cholesterol is a fundamental lipid prevalent in eukaryotic cell membranes and circulating in the bloodstream bound to lipoproteins. It serves as a precursor to steroid hormones and is regarded as a biomarker for cardiovascular disease and other metabolic disorders. Numerous cholesterol detection methods predominantly rely on enzymes, which suffer from instability, leading to non-cost-effective biosensors with low sensitivity and poor reusability.

Methodological framework for impact evaluation of Building-Integrated Greenery (BIG-impact).

Building-Integrated Greenery systems, i.e., green roofs, walls, and facades, are Nature-based Solutions that make possible the renaturing of cities when there is no room for traditional greenery solutions.

Investigating mechanical properties of 3D printed polylactic acid / poly-3-hydroxybutyrate composites. Compressive and fatigue performance.

The 3D printing technique known as Material Extrusion (MEX) was initially employed for prototyping, but it has evolved to fit applications in mechanical and biomedical industries. Polylactic acid (PLA) stands out as a commonly used polymer for manufacture pieces by MEX, due to its good properties and organic origins. Pursuing renewable and biodegradable thermoplastics has led to the development materials such as composite of PLA with wood fibers and blends with poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB).

Oxophilic Sn to Promote Glucose Oxidation to Formic Acid in Ni Nanoparticles.

The electrochemical glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) presents an opportunity to produce hydrogen and high-value chemical products. Herein, we investigate the effect of Sn in Ni nanoparticles for the GOR to formic acid (FA). Electrochemical results show that the maximum activity is related to the amount of Ni, as Ni sites are responsible for catalyzing the GOR via the NiOOH/Ni(OH) pair.

Assessing Patient Satisfaction With Metacognitive Training (MCT) for Psychosis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Objectives: Metacognitive training (MCT) for psychosis is a group intervention that combines cognitive-behavioural therapy and psychoeducation. It has proven efficacy in reducing psychotic symptoms and correcting cognitive biases implicated in the development and maintenance of psychotic symptoms. However, other outcomes, such as patient satisfaction with the intervention, have not been well studied despite their importance for adherence and overall success.

Selective separation of light and heavy rare earth elements from acidic mine waters by integration of chelating ion exchange and ligand impregnated resin.

This study addresses the potential of sourcing Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) using Acidic Mine Waters (AMWs) as a secondary resource. AMWs, often viewed as waste, contain valuable metals like zinc and copper, as well as critical metals like magnesium and cobalt. Moreover, recent studies also reported the presence of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) at concentrations (mg/L) that make their extraction both technically and economically viable.

Evaluation of the electrochemical response of aromatic peptides for biodetection of dopamine.

Biologically inspired aromatic peptide-based materials are gaining increasing interest as novel charge transport materials for bioelectronics due to their remarkable electrical response and inherent biocompatibility. In this work, the electrochemical response of ten aromatic amino acids and eleven aromatic peptides has been evaluated to assess the potential of incorporating peptides into electrochemical sensors not as biorecognition elements but as biocompatible electronic materials. While the electrochemical response of amino acids is null in all cases, the hexapeptide of phenylalanine (Phe) capped with eight polyethylene glycol units at the N-terminus and, especially, the cyclic dipeptide formed by two dehydro-phenylalanine residues (cyclo(ΔPhe)), which organize in fibrillary self-assembled structures of nano- and submicrometric size, respectively, are the most electroactive peptides.

Antibacterial and cytocompatible silver coating for titanium Boston Keratoprosthesis.

The Boston Keratoprosthesis (BKPro) serves as a medical solution for restoring vision in complex cases of corneal blindness. Comprising a front plate made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and a back plate of titanium (Ti), this device utilizes the beneficial biomaterial properties of Ti. While BKPro demonstrates promising retention rates, infection emerges as a significant concern that impacts its long-term efficacy.

Carbon quantum dots composite for enhanced selective detection of dopamine with organic electrochemical transistors.

A compact organic electrochemical transistors (OECT) sensor enriched with carbon quantum dots (CQDs) was developed to enhance the transconductance of an electropolymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) film, enabling the precise and selective detection of dopamine (DA). Accurate monitoring of DA levels is critical for diagnosing and managing related conditions. Incorporating CQDs, we have achieved a remarkable up to threefold increase in current at the DA detection peak in differential pulse voltammetry.

The Interaction between Vergence and Accommodation Cues in the Assessment of Fusional Vergence Range.

Fusional vergence range tests are commonly used in optometric practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible contribution of CA/C, AC/A, and proximal cues (PCT) to the magnitude and presence of blur and recovery during the measurement of fusional vergence ranges and to determine whether the occurrence of blur is influenced by these vergence and accommodation cues. A total of 27 participants with normal binocular vision were included and AC/A, CA/C, and PCT ratios were evaluated.