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A Comparative Study of Agarose and Sodium Alginate-Based Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Zn-Based Batteries With CaV6O16·3H2O Cathode
Get PDFAqueous zinc-based batteries (ZIBs) are considered promising energy storage solutions, particularly targeting low-cost applications needed for levelling electricity production from renewable energy sources. However, numerous challenges need to be overcome to bring the technology to the market, chiefly including cathode dissolution, dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution reaction, and zinc corrosion. The optimisation of the electrolyte, particularly the use of gel-polymer electrolytes (GPEs), is demonstrated as a viable approach to solve or mitigate such issues. In this respect, a comparative study of two GPEs based on biopolymers, agarose and sodium alginate, is presented here. Despite the fast and facile preparation procedure, the GPEs demonstrate to be strongly effective in suppressing dendrite and byproduct formation on zinc metal anodes, due to the abundant ─OH groups along the chains in polymeric matrices. The electrochemical behaviour of GPEs is evaluated in terms of galvanostatic cycling in laboratory-scale zinc metal cells with a CaV6O16·3H2O cathode at low and high active material loadings of 2.5 and 5 mg cm−2, respectively. Resulting cycling performances in terms of specific capacity and rate capability are comparable (low loading electrodes) and even outperform (high loading electrodes) those obtained with a standard liquid electrolyte (2M ZnSO4) laboratory-scale cell, thus accounting for the promising prospects of the bio-polymer GPEs as an alternative green, sustainable electrolyte for next-generation Zn-based batteries
Molecular Drivers of Self-Assembly in RNA-Loaded lipid nanoparticles Revealed by Coarse-Grained simulations
Get PDFThe development of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) has revolutionised RNA-based biopharmaceuticals, enabling efficient delivery of mRNA for therapeutic applications. LNPs consist of an ionisable lipid, a neutral phospholipid, cholesterol, and a PEG-ylated lipid (PL). The mixing of an aqueous solution containing mRNA with an ethanol solution containing the lipids leads to the spontaneous formation of mRNA-LNP complexes. However, the mechanisms underlying this process and the behaviour of each component under variable conditions remain partially unclear. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics was here employed to simulate the formation of RNA-loaded LNPs under various conditions, with a specific focus on ethanol. Following exposure to a polar solvent, non-polar forces prevailed, and lipids formed spherical aggregates. Due to Coulombic and hydrophilic interactions, aggregates settled on mRNA surface until they completely cover it. Finally, lipids rearranged depending on their affinity with the surrounding environment. The variation in the ethanol content did not affect the behaviour of lipids, except for the PL: when ethanol was added, the PL tended to migrate toward the inner region of the LNPs. The decrease in PLs on the external surface of LNPs could decrease their ability to regulate particle aggregation, leading to the formation of larger particles at higher ethanol content. Furthermore, higher ethanol fractions resulted in larger, less ordered nanoparticles. Together, these two phenomena could explain the experimental evidence of larger particle produced at higher ethanol content. These findings provide a detailed molecular understanding of LNP self-assembly, offering pivotal insights for designing more stable lipidic carriers for RNA encapsulation
Proposal of indicator-based dashboard for identifying value components and impacts generated by preventive and planned conservation processes.The system of Maisons de plaisance within the Residences of Royal House of Savoy/Dashboard di indicatori per l’individuazione delle componenti di valore e degli impatti generati dai processi di conservazione preventiva e programmata. Una proposta per il sistema delle Residenze Sabaude extraurbane
Get PDFGiven the critical issues and problems associated with identifying resources for the conservation and enhancement of architectural heritage, the adoption of a participatory governance model, in which beneficiaries, local communities and Third Sector institutions are actively included in decision-making processes, can
offer concrete and sustainable opportunities in the long term. For this reason, today, the need to identify ‘domains’ and qualitative-quantitative indices for assessing heterogeneous impacts appears particularly compelling. Starting from this reflection, with the aim of defining possible strategies for implementing process innovation in the planning of conservation activities, the study examines the Maisons de plaisance within the system of Royal House of Savoy outside the city, which currently lacks strategic plans and comprehensive
operational tools. In light of the results emerging from the mapping of current policies, the research proposes a dashboard of indicators, in which the issues emerging from field surveys are systematised to assess, at a preliminary stage, both the potential impact generated at different scales by the preventive and
planned conservation strategy and the return on investment for the parties involved. Finally, the reflection presented is part of the new regulatory framework on public-private partnerships. It takes into account the input
provided by the State Accounting Office, which aims to complement economic and monetary value with non-financial information, thus including qualitative, environmental, cultural, and social aspects in the assessment
Direct MT data transform into 1-D resistivity models: a new approach based on cumulative resistance models
Get PDFMagnetotelluric (MT) data inversion seeks to recover resistivity models of the subsurface. Solving the inversion problem is a non-trivial task, as multiple plausible solutions can be recovered due to the nonlinearity of the problem. To reduce this nonlinearity, we propose a data-driven approach where a 1-D cumulative resistance model is estimated from MT data via a direct data transformation. We define the cumulative representation of layered models as the weighted sum of layer thickness divided by resistivity from surface to any depth level, which is the cumulative conductance. Its inverse, cumulative resistance, is directly related to the real part of the impedance computed from MT data. We train a neural network to transform the MT impedance into a resistance model. The corresponding 1-D resistivity model is obtained without a priori information. We validate our approach using synthetic and real data, opening the discussion for future developments of this new perspective
Beyond linearity: Quantifying SDG saturation in complex national innovation ecosystems
Get PDFThis study investigates the complex, nonlinear dynamics of the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within national innovation ecosystems (NIEs), addressing a critical gap in understanding SDG saturation. Studying this topic is crucial because, despite the growing importance of sustainability issues in innovation ecosystem research driven by social and economic pressure, the literature remains fragmented and undecided, lacking a clear understanding of complex governance and operational frameworks in NIEs. Employing the Bass diffusion model, we analyze 22 years of SDG Index score data (2000-2021) from 177 countries or regions. The model quantifies SDG saturation time, accounting for complex interdependencies and threshold effects overlooked by traditional linear models. Findings reveal characteristic S-shaped adoption curves for most countries, indicating initial slow progress, acceleration driven by imitation, and eventual saturation. Geographical and socioeconomic clustering analyses highlight distinct patterns in SDG progress that depend on the peculiarities of complex systems in national contexts. High-income countries exhibit greater innovation efforts but lower saturation potential due to the proximity to SDG ceilings, while lower-income countries face complex structural constraints. The Bass model proves effective for forecasting SDG saturation and informing policy interventions in complex systems like NIEs, emphasizing the need for context-dependent governance and resource allocation to accelerate equitable sustainable development across the globe
Regular Pairings for Nonquadratic Lyapunov Functions and Contraction Analysis
No full textRecent studies on stability and contractivity have highlighted the importance ofsemi-inner products, which we refer to as ``pairings,"" associated with general norms. A pairing isa binary operation that relates the derivative of a curve's norm to the radius vector of the curveand its tangent. This relationship, known as the curve norm derivative formula, is crucial whenusing the norm as a Lyapunov function. Another important property of the pairing, used in stabilityand contraction criteria, is the so-called Lumer inequality, which relates the pairing to the inducedlogarithmic norm. We prove that the curve norm derivative formula and Lumer's inequality are, infact, equivalent to each other and to several simpler properties. We then introduce and characterizeregular pairings that satisfy all of these properties. Our results unify several independent theoriesof pairings (semi-inner products) developed in previous work on functional analysis and controltheory. Additionally, we introduce the polyhedral max pairing and develop computational tools forpolyhedral norms, advancing contraction theory in non-Euclidean space
The vaulting systems of the early Carthusian churches in Italy (twelfth–fourteenth centuries). Construction techniques and European comparisons
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Phenotype-structured integro-differential models: derivation and qualitative analysis
Get PDFL'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen