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Supramolecular Gels as Active Tools for Reaction Engineering
Get PDFSupramolecular gels assembled from low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) are fascinating soft materials for use in synthesis, combining aspects of hetero- and homogeneous systems. The unique combination of environments within a gel offers the ability to control reactivity in new ways. For example, self-assembly into a gel network can modify the reactivity of catalytic sites on the LMWG. Controlling the assembly of multiple LMWGs can result in integrated gels with orthogonal activities that could not normally co-exist. Enzymes encapsulated within self-assembled gels can exhibit superactivity, extending their use into solvent media more appropriate for organic synthesis. Highly reactive species, such as ligand-free nanoparticles or moisture/air-sensitive organometallics can be protected within the unique environment of a supramolecular gel, facilitating their use in ambient conditions, potentially opening up the use of such species to non-specialist researchers. Beyond fundamental chemistry, performing reactions in gels leads to the emerging concept of gels as ‘nanoreactors’. Smart chemical engineering methods are enabling the fabrication of materials and devices for use in a variety of synthetic workflows, potentially transforming the way synthesis is done. In summary, this review provides an overview of key concepts and signposts the way towards future developments of gels as active tools for reaction engineering
Review: Opportunities and challenges for the pork industry from circular livestock waste management systems
Get PDFSlurry management is becoming increasingly important as countries work to decarbonise towards Net Zero goals. After feed, slurry management and application is one of the main contributors to the greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution associated with pork production. Whilst traditionally considered a waste product, slurry is rich in nutrients and could be harnessed to reduce environmental impacts and improve on-farm resilience. Along with reducing the environmental impacts of pork production, farmers are increasingly looking to diversify their income streams and pig slurry offers tremendous potential to achieve this. This review identifies the opportunities and challenges to the pork sector from circular, sustainable waste management systems through insect bioconversion or on-farm biogas production, with a focus on the United Kingdom. Insect bioconversion of pig slurry, through the use of Black Soldier Fly larvae, presents opportunities not only to reduce the overall volume of slurry on a farm but also to reduce heavy metal contamination, alter the microbiome and provide a myriad of additional products. These products include fertiliser in the form of insect frass, protein, oils, and chitin from the insect exoskeleton, which has applications in industries such as wastewater treatment, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Through on-farm biogas generation, farmers, particularly those in rural areas, could reduce their reliance upon volatile energy prices and generate electricity and heat to power on-farm activities. With additional infrastructure, biogas could be upgraded to produce biofuel and CO2 could be recovered, recycled, and sold into a variety of industries. Whilst there are still a number of outstanding questions that need to be answered and challenges that need to be addressed before the wide-scale rollout of these technologies, there is huge potential to harness the power of pig slurry. When designing the farm of the future, solutions will likely need to be tailored to an individual farm due to a range of variables including the stage of production, the number of pigs, the pig diet and the availability of co-products. However, despite these potential challenges, there is still considerable opportunity for the pork sector to harness this ‘waste’ product to decarbonise pig production and improve farm resilience
Secondary Electron Hyperspectral Imaging of Carbons: New Insights and Good Practice Guide
Get PDFEnergy storage technologies such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) incorporate carbon components key to their function. Graphite and carbon binder components in LIB electrodes are engineered to deliver critical electrical and mechanical properties, as are the surface chemistry and morphology of carbon blacks (CBs) in LIBs and catalysts. The challenge of relating surface chemistry to morphology is complicated by the numerous forms of carbon bonding and potential for surface functional groups. Furthermore, materials processing can influence bonding and structure of carbon at multiple length scales, as seen in mechanochemical functionalization of CBs. To understand the nature of carbon surfaces, secondary electron hyperspectral imaging (SEHI) is introduced as a spatially resolved analysis bridging the nano to microscale. The ability to provide novel insights is demonstrated three example applications: observation of nanoscale "satellite" particles of amorphous hydrogenated carbon on graphitic CB particles, differentiation between graphitic and amorphous hydrogenated nano-thickness carbon coatings on particles of lithium iron phosphate, and differentiation between graphitic carbon active material and carbon binder domain in a LIB anode material. SEHI analysis using peak fitting models for graphitic and disordered carbons is developed based on reference materials and standard spectroscopic methods: Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Building Pretorsion Theories from Torsion Theories
Get PDFTorsion theories play an important role in abelian categories and they have been widely studied in the last sixty years. In recent years, with the introduction of pretorsion theories, the definition has been extended to general (non-pointed) categories. Many examples have been investigated in several different contexts, such as topological spaces and topological groups, internal preorders, preordered groups, toposes, V-groups, crossed modules, etc. In this paper, we show that pretorsion theories naturally appear also in the “classical” framework, namely in abelian categories. We propose two ways of obtaining pretorsion theories starting from torsion theories. The first one uses “comparable” torsion theories, while the second one extends a torsion theory with a Serre subcategory. We also give a universal way of obtaining a torsion theory from a given pretorsion theory in additive categories. We conclude by providing several examples in module categories, internal groupoids, recollements and representation theory
AgileMultiIdeogram: Rapid Identification and Visualization of Autozygous Regions Using Illumina Short-Read Sequencing Data
Get PDFRare autosomal recessive diseases are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. They occur more frequently in individuals with consanguineous parents, in which case the pathogenic variants are often located within regions of genetic identity by descent. A well-established and effective way of identifying these “autozygous” genomic regions has been to search for runs of homozygous genotypes in microarray SNP data. However, with the widespread use of whole-genome and exome sequencing in both diagnostic and research settings, it has become desirable to be able to both map autozygous regions and identify the deleterious variants using a single dataset. We have developed AgileMultiIdeogram, an application that can identify and visualize autozygous regions in inbred individuals using exome data as well as microarray SNP genotype data. This application has been successfully used in both research and diagnostic settings to map pathogenic mutations
Young migrants, “integration” and the local: critical reflections from European stakeholders
Get PDFThis article examines the complexities of integrating young adult migrants from non-EU countries into European contexts, advocating for a shift toward inclusive, locally informed, and reciprocal integration processes. It critiques state-centric, assimilationist frameworks that emphasize an imagined national identity and Western norms of youth transitions, neglecting local nuances and diverse migrant experiences. Through findings from a European Delphi study engaging 114 stakeholders from seven European countries, including migrant youth organisations, also represented by stakeholders with a migration background, the study highlights the need for a dynamic, process-oriented approach to integration. This approach prioritizes mutual adjustments between migrants and host communities, emphasizing flexibility, responsiveness, and local relevance. The study underscores the role of local actors and contexts in shaping integration policies, contrasting inclusivity at the local level with exclusionary national frameworks. Stakeholders emphasized the harmful impact of state-imposed policies and the importance of youth groups and migrant organizations as active contributors to policy development. The research proposes tailored solutions to address vulnerabilities and calls for long-term, multi-level governance that values the lived experiences of young migrants. Utilizing a two-stage Delphi methodology, the study facilitated anonymous stakeholder dialogue across seven European countries, yielding consensus on key integration challenges and innovative policy recommendations. By integrating diverse perspectives and recognizing young migrants as co-creators of their futures, this article advances debates on migration and integration, advocating for policies that are equitable, inclusive, and grounded in local realities
APTES nanofilm manufacturing using sliding interfaces
Get PDFHarnessing tribochemical reactions at sliding interfaces has been proposed to provide an alternative perspective for manufacturing well-defined nanostructures for applications other than tribology. This approach provides a new notion of employing tribology to create nanofilms for applications such as micro/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). In this study, the ball-on-disc mini traction machine (MTM) was used to manufacture conductive tribofilms by using the 3-Aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) as a precursor. Different rotation speeds were applied to evaluate the tribofilm growth at different lubrication regimes, including boundary and mixed regimes. The results confirmed the ability to manufacture thick tribofilm using APTES on steel surfaces. Tribofilm characterisation using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) confirmed the tribofilms’ formation and thickness. The film thickness of APTES reached up to 300 nm compared to 100 nm of ZDDP tribofilm without damaging the contact surface. The AFM analysis showed the conductivity of the formed APTES tribofilm compared to the nonconductive ZDDP tribofilm
Quantifying the presence and potential of national legal frameworks for global mangrove protection
Get PDFMangroves represent a highly valuable and complex ecosystem that delivers critical ecological services. They protect coastlines from storms and erosion; they purify the air and lock in carbon; and they harbor beautiful species and provide homes for fish and crabs, which in turn provide food and livelihoods. Protecting mangroves is a vital strategy to advance human well-being and mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. National laws are a key tool for mangrove conservation, but studying them can be challenging. In this article, a multidisciplinary team of researchers from around the world analyzes the laws and policies of 116 countries and territories—every jurisdiction in the world that contains mangroves—to understand what kinds of mangrove laws exist and why they are adopted in some places but not in others.
We find more mangrove laws than we expected; more than 80% of the world’s mangroves are subject to some form of explicit legal protection, from direct prohibitions and restrictions on cutting or clearing (60%) to requirements for considering mangroves in environmental impact assessments or coastal planning (75%). Jurisdictions with high-value mangroves supporting fisheries or protecting coastlines or locking in carbon are more likely to have laws and policies protecting mangroves. The types of laws adopted also depend on geographic region and wealth. Lower-income countries are more likely to have frameworks for community management of mangrove areas, while higher-income countries are more likely to integrate mangroves into coastal planning. This highlights the opportunities to leverage existing laws for mangrove conservation, including through investing in community-managed mangrove areas. In addition, countries where mangroves are providing valuable ecosystem services like fisheries and coastal protection may be amenable to legal reform to strengthen mangrove protection
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