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Inkjet Printing of Heterostructures: Investigation and Strategies for Control of Interfaces
Get PDFDevelopment of printed electronics requires understanding and control of the interfaces in heterostructure devices. However, investigation of the interfaces between dissimilar materials to achieve control of intermixing presents challenges. Here, we report investigation of interfaces in inkjet printed heterostructures by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis to provide complementary insights into the intermixing phenomena. By examining various heterostructures of 0D (CsPbBr3 nanocrystal), 2D (inkjet printed graphene, iGr), and polymeric (PEDOT:PSS) materials deposited with different printing parameters, we established the effect of ink composition and printing parameters on the intermixing depth. We demonstrated that in the heterostructures where the intermixing is dominated by layer porosity, the intermixing depth does not affect the electrical properties of the device, while intermixing by layer redispersion results in the decrease of the effective layer thickness accompanied by an increase of electrical resistance. The strategy for control over the interfacial composition and morphology in printed heterostructures could enable improved design and performance of printed devices
Material characterization and engineering performance evaluation of phosphogypsum as a high-performance filler for bituminous pavements
Get PDFThe effective recycling of waste materials as alternatives to traditional mineral fillers in asphalt mixtures has both economic and environmental benefits. Phosphogypsum (PG), as one of the industrial solid wastes is a promising alternative to be used in asphalt mixture. However, in terms of the physical nature of PG, its high-absorption and moisture-expansion cause significant deterioration in engineering properties, particularly moisture-induced damage. To address these concerns, this study considered adopting polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (PMDI) to activate asphalt binder with the introduction of active isocyanate (–NCO) groups, to chemically capture and stabilize the treated PG (TPG) fillers in the mixture. Based on this, the moisture-induced properties and other engineering performances of TPG-containing asphalt mixture (PGAM) with various PMDI contents were evaluated through a series of mechanical tests, and the chemical interaction mechanism between PG and PMDI in asphalt mixture was further simulated and analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry–differential thermogravimetry (TG-DTG), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests. The results indicated that PMDI can effectively improve the moisture-induced performance of PGAM, in addition to enhancing the high- and low-temperature stability and reducing rutting and cracking risks. The thermal and microstructural analyses confirmed PMDI in asphalt binder helps consume water released from TPG fillers through promoting the formation of surface coatings, while also enhancing chemical bonding with –OH groups on mineral aggregates. Overall, the recycling approach developed in this study provides an effective solution for improving the engineering performance of PG in asphalt pavement applications
Because I Could Stop for Death: Florida’s Death Row Prisoners in the 1960s and 1970s
Get PDFThis article focuses on Florida’s death row in the 1960s and 1970s when executions stopped, even though juries continued to return capital verdicts for murder and (until 1977) rape. It first challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding the moratorium years as there were no executions in Florida from mid-May 1964 until May 1979. It investigates the overlapping governor-initiated pauses, court-ordered postponements, and U.S. Supreme Court rulings in this period. This article then explores the experiences of male death row prisoners who were held in solitary confinement with limited human contact on a special wing in the Florida State Prison at Raiford, an often violent and unstable maximum security state prison. Prior to the Furman v. Georgia (1972) decision, capital prisoners in Florida waited for up to twelve years for courts and politicians to make crucial death penalty decisions. Death row conditions declined as the number of penalized bodies increased threefold between 1963 and 1972. However, Florida’s death row also became a crucial political, social, and cultural space in which some prisoners directly challenged the biopower of the state prison system, by submitting hand-written legal appeals, offering to participate in military service and medical-scientific research, and engaging in collective petitioning and hunger strike
Evolving insights into viral hepatitis: Advances, evidence, and expert perspectives from the ESCMID Study Group for Viral Hepatitis (ESGVH) – Part 2: hepatitis B, C, and delta
No full textHepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis delta virus (HDV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) remain leading drivers of chronic viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related mortality. This ESCMID Study Group for Viral Hepatitis (ESGVH) narrative review summarizes recent advances and expert perspectives in the field. For HBV, emerging biomarkers such as quantitative HBs antigen, HBV RNA, and hepatitis B core-related antigen offer opportunities to refine monitoring and to individualize treatment. HDV epidemiology is evolving, and is being increasingly studied; in parallel, the approval of bulevirtide represents a major breakthrough in therapy, with further agents in the HDV pipeline. For HCV, direct-acting antivirals provide curative therapy and have made elimination a realistic goal, while identifying remaining gaps in diagnosis, linkage-to-care, and equitable access offers clear opportunities to accelerate progress. Together, these advances bring the goal of a hepatitis-free future closer than ever
Content knowledge attainment in English medium instruction: Does academic English literacy matter?
Get PDFThis study investigates the relationship between students’ English language proficiency, their reported levels of academic English literacy, prior content knowledge and their attainment of content knowledge in English medium instruction (EMI). The study also examines students’ perceptions of difficulties with academic English literacy at different levels of English language proficiency. Pre-course and post-course content tests were administered to 27 EMI students in an introductory Chemistry course at a university in Tokyo, Japan. The test results were triangulated with data from a quantitative measure of reported academic literacy and follow-up interviews to explore perceptions of ease and difficulties for academic language skills (i.e. reading, listening, speaking and writing). The quantitative findings indicated that students’ proficiency statistically significantly predicted post-test scores. Interviews with students corroborated this finding, illustrating the specific difficulties in academic language literacy faced by students with lower proficiency. However, proficiency alone did not determine success as other factors, such as previous exposure to EMI and prior content knowledge, played significant roles. The study found a non-linear relationship between reported difficulties with academic English literacy and test outcomes, indicating that students who reported fewer academic difficulties were not necessarily more successful in gaining content knowledge than those facing significant challenges in academic language tasks. The findings emphasise that academic support in EMI programs should not solely focus on test outcomes but also address the broader challenges students face with academic English literacy. Implications are discussed regarding language support, EMI curriculum planning and future research directions
Dysregulation of lipid mediators in patients with frequent exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Get PDFIntroductionSpecialised pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) are endogenously produced lipid mediators (LMs) that regulate the propagation of inflammation and promote tissue repair. We hypothesised that SPM production is dysregulated in COPD and is associated with disease severity, defined by patients with stable COPD (no exacerbations) versus patients with frequent exacerbations.MethodsLMs were measured in plasma samples from patients with COPD (stable patients and patients with frequent exacerbations) and from healthy controls, matched for age, sex and body mass index, using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The LM profiles of controls were compared with those of stable COPD patients, and the LM profiles of stable COPD patients were compared with those of COPD patients with frequent exacerbations. We explored whether or not there was an association between LM profile and ever having a severe COPD exacerbation over 4.1 years of follow-up. Data are presented as mean±sem in pg·mL−1 for LMs, or mean±sd.Results49 stable COPD patients had increased levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and some SPMs, compared with 28 controls (prostaglandin (PG)D2: 13.97±2.44 versus 0.53±0.13; p<0.001; lipoxins: 226.83±23.84 versus 59.84±20.25; p<0.01, respectively). 52 patients with frequent exacerbations had lower levels of PGD2 (3.07±0.97 versus 13.97±2.44; p<0.01) and SPMs (D-resolvins: 8.73±1.25 versus 34.53±8.95; p<0.01; lipoxins: 53.93±9.23 versus 226.83±23.84; p<0.01) than stable COPD patients, despite having a higher neutrophil count (5.28±2.16×109 L−1 versus 4.28±1.60×109 L−1; p=0.004). Among patients with frequent exacerbations, D-resolvin levels were independently inversely associated with occurrence of severe exacerbation (OR 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79–0.97; p=0.03) during follow-up.ConclusionThese findings demonstrate distinct LM profiles of stable COPD patients and patients with frequent exacerbations. In those with exacerbations, D-resolvins were downregulated, compared with stable COPD patients, and associated with future risk of severe exacerbations during follow-up. Further work is needed to understand these findings
On the design of smoldering reactors for out-of-bed heat recovery
Get PDFSmoldering reactors are thermochemical devices that use the energy from solid fuels to propagate a heat wave with the potential to sustain other thermal and thermochemical processes. This experimental study investigates four reactor designs optimized for processing plastic, human feces, and urine. An overall energy balance framework was refined by disaggregating E loss, distinguishing recoverable from irrecoverable heat losses. The results indicate that 47%–66% of the released energy is recoverable, supporting out-of-bed heat recovery strategies. The conical reactor design demonstrated improved combustion stability by mitigating bed collapse and enhancing vacuum regulation. The bed shrinkage dynamics were analyzed, revealing their impact on combustion front propagation and airflow behavior. In addition, induced airflow dynamics influenced free convection, affecting heat losses and system efficiency. These findings highlight the potential for optimizing smoldering reactor designs to maximize energy recovery and improve sustainability in waste-to-energy applications. The insights presented contribute to the development of scalable and adaptable thermochemical waste treatment systems, facilitating their broader implementation in decentralized sanitation and environmental remediation
Response to call for input for EMRTD Study “Artificial Intelligence, Cultural Rights, and the Right to Development”
Get PDFResponsible AI UK's response to the Call for Input for EMRTD study "Artificial Intelligence, Cultural Rights, and the Right to Development" issued by the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR).https://www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for-input/2025/call-input-emrtd-study-artificial-intelligence-cultural-rights-and-righ
Techno-economic analysis of green hydrogen integration in smart grids: Pathways to sustainable energy systems
No full textThis study conducts a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of green hydrogen integration in smart grids, highlighting its potential to transform energy systems. Green hydrogen, produced via water electrolysis using renewable sources like wind and solar, offers a carbon-neutral alternative to traditional hydrogen production. The paper evaluates electrolysis technologies' efficiency and cost dynamics, including PEM and alkaline systems, and integrates advanced smart grid technologies for real-time monitoring and energy management. Our findings reveal that while green hydrogen reduces carbon emissions and enhances grid flexibility, challenges remain in terms of infrastructure and cost reductions. Policy support through incentives, such as feed-in tariffs for green hydrogen production, and regulatory frameworks, like emission reduction targets, will be crucial to scale the adoption of green hydrogen and make it a viable component of future sustainable energy strategies
Modelling and numerical optimisation of refractive surface patterns for transmissive solar sails
Get PDFTransmissive solar sail designs have been proposed with performance and utility benefits over traditional solar sails, particularly in low Earth orbit. The functional element of these new sails is their refractive or diffractive surface pattern. This paper explores the design of refractive sail patterns using numerical optimisation, and explores the validity of using model-free reinforcement learning algorithms for this purpose. In particular, the performances of triangular prism and semi-cylindrical lightfoil patterns from prior literature are iteratively improved. To do this, a ray tracing optical simulation was developed that models the solar radiation pressure and torque per unit area of illuminated, refractive patterns in a vacuum. Meanwhile, a numerical optimiser was developed to iteratively improve upon simulated patterns according to user-defined fitness functions. Depending on their purpose, patterns were optimised for either tangential-to-sail solar radiation pressure or self-stabilising corrective torque at a Sun-pointing attitude, or range of attitudes. The optimiser was shown to be capable of substantially improving the performance of optical elements, particularly through the harnessing of total internal reflection. In one case, the numerical optimiser was shown to improve the maximum tangential radiation pressure of an analytically optimised polystyrene prism pattern by 58%. In another case, the optimiser improved the peak corrective torque of a pattern of polyethylene terephthalate lightfoils by 74%
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