Method to Study the Survival Abilities of Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens Under Food Processing Conditions.

Properly using controllable atmospheric containers can facilitate investigations of the survival abilities and physiological states of key and emerging-foodborne pathogens under recreated applicable food processing environmental conditions. Notably, saturated salt solutions can efficiently control relative humidity in airtight containers. This chapter describes a practical experimental setup, with necessary prerequisites for exposing foodborne pathogens to simulated and relevant food processing environmental conditions. Subsequent analyses for studying cell physiology will also be suggested.

Hydrogen production from dry reforming of methane, using CO2 previously chemisorbed in the Li6Zn1-xNixO4 solid solution.

Li6ZnO4 was chemically modified by nickel addition, in order to develop different compositions of the solid solution Li6Zn1-xNixO4. These materials were evaluated bifunctionally; analyzing their CO2 capture performances, as well as on their catalytic properties for H2 production via dry reforming of methane (DRM). The crystal structures of Li6Zn1-xNixO4 solid solution samples were determined through X-ray diffraction, which confirmed the integration of nickel ions up to a concentration around 20 mol%, meanwhile beyond this value, a secondary phase was detected. These results were supported by XPS and TEM analyses. Then, dynamic and isothermal thermogravimetric analyses of CO2 capture revealed that Li6Zn1-xNixO4 solid solution samples exhibited good CO2 chemisorption efficiencies, similarly to the pristine Li6ZnO4 chemisorption trends observed. Moreover, a kinetic analysis of CO2 isothermal chemisorptions, using the Avrami-Erofeev model, evidenced an increment of the constant rates as a function of the Ni content. Since Ni2+ ions incorporation did not reduce the CO2 capture efficiency and kinetics, the catalytic properties of these materials were evaluated in the DRM process. Results demonstrated that nickel ions favored hydrogen (H2) production over the pristine Li6ZnO4 phase, despite a second H2 production reaction was determined, methane decomposition. Thereby, Li6Zn1-xNixO4 ceramics can be employed as bifunctional materials.

Catalytic detoxification of mitoxantrone by graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) supported Fe/Pd bimetallic nanoparticles.

The overuse of antibiotics and antitumor drugs has resulted in more and more extensive pollution of water bodies with organic drugs, causing detrimental ecological effects, which have attracted attention towards effective and sustainable methods for antibiotics and antitumor drug degradation. Here, the hybrid nanomaterial (g-C3N4@Fe/Pd) was synthesized and used to remove a kind of both an antibiotic and antitumor drug named mitoxantrone (MTX) with 92.0% removal efficiency, and the MTX removal capacity is 450 mg/g. After exposing to the hybrid material the MTX aqueous solution changed color from dark blue to lighter progressively, and LC-UV results of residual solutions show that a new peak at 3.0 min (MTX: 13.2 min) after removal by g-C3N4@Fe/Pd appears, with the simultaneous detection of intermediate products indicating that g-C3N4@Fe/Pd indeed degrades MTX. Detailed mass spectrometric analysis suggests that the nuclear mass ratio decreased from 445.2 (M+1H) to 126.0 (M+1H), 169.1 (M+1H), 239.2 (M+1H), 267.3 (M+1H), 285.2 (M+1H), 371.4 (M+1H) and 415.2 (M+1H), and the maximum proportion (5.63%) substance of all degradation products (126.0 (M+1H)) is 40-100 times less toxic than MTX. A mechanism for the removal and degradation of mitoxantrone was proposed. Besides, actual water experiments confirmed that the maximum removal capacity of MTX by g-C3N4@Fe/Pd is up to 492.4 mg/g (0.02 g/L, 10 ppm).

Raman analysis of aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol and 1,3-propylene glycol: Fundamental and applied aspects.

Aqueous solutions of glycols, on the one hand, are widely used in many applications; on the other hand, they can serve as simple and representative models for studying intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In this work, we analyze the possibilities and limitations of Raman spectroscopy for fundamental and applied researches of such solutions on the examples of ethylene glycol (EG) and 1,3-propylene glycol (1,3-PG). It is shown that Raman spectroscopy is an effective tool for monitoring temporal changes in the structure of glycol solutions deposited on substrates. This study demonstrates that the water content in the solutions on the substrates decreases rapidly with time, and the rate of this decrease depends on the chemical structure of both glycol and substrate. It was found that the reduction in the water content leads to slight decrease in the contents of gauche-conformers in the backbones of EG and 1,3-PG molecules. It is shown that use of the 1064 nm excitation ensures a reliable Raman analysis of automotive antifreezes containing various dyes, in particular determination of the relative contents of water and glycol.

Enhance the Performance of CZTSSe Solar Cells Through Inhibiting the Cu2+, Tu, and (─COOH) Association Reaction.

The Sol-gel precursor solution reaction mechanism has a significant impact on the Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells. It is discovered that in the Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) precursor solution (CZTS-PS) in the preparation, there is an association reaction among Cu2+, thiourea (Tu), and carboxyl (-COOH), which is an important reason for the undesirable CZTSSe solar cells. The strong association reaction generates excessive Cu2+ ions, forming the CuxSe secondary phase on the surface of the CZTSSe absorber. The secondary phase causes a short circuit and deterioration of gadget performance. Following a 6-h aging period for the CZTS-PS, the average photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device is enhanced to 8.02%, and there is also an improvement in device uniformity, as evidenced by a decrease in the standard deviation to less than 1. To inhibit the association reaction and eliminate the aging time phenomenon, a strategy is developed using hydrochloric acid to regulate the CZTS-PS environment. This strategy shifts the REDOX reaction in Cu2++Sn2+ toward the formation of Cu1++Sn4+, leading to a decrease in the defect concentrations of VSn(-/0) and CuSn(-/0), which increases the carrier concentration and reduces the impact of band tailing. The average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the devices improved from 7.45% to 9.26%, the PCE of the best-performing CZTSSe solar cells increased from 9.25% to 9.83%, and the consistency among the devices is further enhanced, as indicated by a reduction in the standard deviation from 0.98 to 0.44. Ultimately, the device performance of the Cu2++Sn2+-DMF system improved by 11.01% (without the MgF2 layer) after optimization. This study serves as a reference for regulating the environment of the CZTS-PS to further enhance the CZTSSe devices' performance, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency is improved by ≈30%.

A bi-component model to assess the rheology of soft cellular aggregates probed using the micropipette aspiration technique.

The micro-pipette aspiration technique is a classical experiment used to characterize the physical properties of inert fluids and biological soft materials such as cellular aggregates. The physical parameters of the fluid, as viscosity and interfacial tension, are obtained by studying how the fluid enters the pipette when the suction pressure is increased and how it relaxes when the suction pressure is put to zero. A mathematical model representative of the experiment is needed to extrapolate the physical parameters of the fluid-like matter; however, for biological materials as cells or cell aggregates these models are always based on strong starting hypotheses that impact the significance of the identified parameters. In this article, starting from the bi-constituent nature of the cell aggregate, we derive a general mathematical model based of a Cahn-Hilliard-Navier-Stokes set of equations. The model is applied to describe quantitatively the aspiration-retraction dynamics of a cell-aggregate into and out of a pipette. We demonstrate the predictive capability of the model and highlight the impact of the assumptions made on the identified parameters by studying two cases: one with a non-wetting condition between the cells and the wall of the pipette (classical assumption in the literature) and the second one, which is more realistic, with a partial wetting condition (contact angle θs = 150°). Furthermore, our results provide a purely physical explanation to the asymmetry between the aspiration and retraction responses which is alternative to the proposed hypothesis of an mechano-responsive alteration of the surface tension of the cell aggregate. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Our study introduces a general mathematical model, based on the Cahn-Hilliard-Navier-Stokes equations, tailored to model micro-pipette aspiration of cell aggregates. The model accounts for the multi-component structure of the cell aggregate and its intrinsic viscoelastic rheology. By challenging prevailing assumptions, particularly regarding perfect non-wetting conditions and the mechano-responsive alteration of cell surface tension, we demonstrate the reliability of the mathematical model and elucidate the mechanisms at play, offering a purely physical explanation for observed asymmetries between the aspiration and retraction stages of the experiment.

An Exceptionally Salt Tolerant Copoly(Maleimide Sulfobetaine) - Structural Requirements for Ultra-Salt Tolerance.

Zwitterionic polymers are an important class of polymers with far-ranging applications. In the widely studied poly(meth)acrylate and poly(meth) acrylamide-based zwitterions, properties can be tuned by changing the nature of substituents attached to ammonium ions. However, these changes influenced salt tolerance of zwitterionic polymers only to a limited extent. Upon adding salt these polymers expanded in solution initially. Further increase in salt concentration caused the polymer chains to shrink similar to the common water soluble, uncharged polymers thereby deteriorating the viscosity of aqueous solutions. In contrast to the conventional poly(meth)acrylate and poly(meth)acrylamide-based zwitterions, zwitterionic copolymaleimides showed substituent dependent salt-tolerant nature. In the absence of any substituent on the polymer backbone such as zwitterionic poly(ethylene-alt-maleimide) (ZI-PEMA) the viscosity of salt solutions increased both with the increasing salt concentration as well as the concentration of polymer. This is likely due to the continuous expansion of polymer coil in salt solutions with increasing salt concentration caused primarily by the rigidity of the polymer backbone. ZI-PEMA also enhanced the saturation limit of mono- and divalent salts like sodium chloride and hydrated calcium bromide in water. This property is useful for various applications like fish curing, for making high-density fluids, refrigeration, etc. across various industrial sectors.

Endo-Encapsulated Multi-Resonance Dendrimers with Through-Space Interactions for Efficient Narrowband Blue-Emitting Solution-Processed OLEDs.

Different from conventional luminescent dendrimers with fluorophore tethered outside to dendron, here we first developed endo-encapsulated luminescent dendrimers with multi-resonance (MR) fluorophore embedded inside of carbazole dendrons by growing dendrons through 1,8-positions of central carbazole moiety to create a cavity for accommodating the fluorophore. This endo-encapsulated structure not only shields the fluorophore to fully resist aggregation-caused spectral broadening, but also induce through-space interactions between dendron and fluorophore via intramolecular π-stacking, giving lowered singlet state energy and reduced singlet-triplet energy splitting to accelerate reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) from triplet to singlet states. The resultant dendrimer containing 1,8-linked second-generation carbazole dendrons and boron, sulfur-doped polycyclic MR fluorophore exhibits narrowband blue emission at 471 nm with FWHM kept at 34 nm even in neat film, together with ~4 times enhancement of RISC rate constant compared to its exo-tethered counterpart. Solution-processed OLEDs based on the endo-encapsulated dendrimer reveal efficient narrowband blue emissions with maximum external quantum efficiency of 22.6%, representing the best device efficiency for blue-emitting multi-resonance dendrimers so far.

Study on pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution of hyperin, astragalin, kaempferol-3-O-ß-D-glucuronide from rats with multiple administrations of Semen Cuscutae processed with salt solution with effect of treating recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Introduction: Semen Cuscutae is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that tonifies the kidneys and prevents miscarriage. According to Chinese medicine theory, kidney deficiency is one of the main causes of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). The previous studies showed that raw product of Semen Cuscutae (SP) and Semen Cuscutae processed with salt solution (YP) have ameliorative effects on RSA, and that YP is superior to SP. However, the active components of YP to ameliorate RSA remain unclear and require further studies. The objective of this study is to investigate the active components of YP in ameliorating RSA. Methods: First, a rat model of RSA was established using hydroxyurea in combination with mifepristone. Aqueous decoction of YP was given by gavage to rats. Second, pregnant rats were sampled on days 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12 during the modelling period. The content of Hyperin (HY), astragalin (AS) and kaempferol-3-O-ß-D-glucuronide (KA) in blood and liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney tissues were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The pharmacodynamic indicators including progesterone (P), chorionic gonadotropin ß (ß-HCG), estradiol (E2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TFN-α), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and tryptophan (TRP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Pearson's correlation analysis and grey relational analysis were used to establish the relationship between the pharmacodynamic indexes and chemical constituents. Results: The pharmacokinetic results showed that the area under curve (AUC) value of KA was the largest. The tissue distribution results showed that astragalin was widely distributed in liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney in the RSA model rats, while HY was detected only in the uterus, and KA was detected only in the kidney. The pearson correlationl analysis showed that KA was significantly and positively correlated with the contents of E2, P, ß-HCG and TRP. Both AS and HY were significantly negatively correlated with the content of TNF-α, respectively. Discussion: This study reveals the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of KA, AS and HY in rats with RSA. It was elucidated that all three were involved in the regulation of progesterone levels and immune function. It initially revealed the mechanism of action of YP in enhancing the improvement of RSA, and it provided a theoretical basis for the quality assessment of YP.

Oral high-carbohydrate solution as an alternative dietary modality in patients with acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Early enteral feeding is crucial in acute pancreatitis (AP) to preserve the intestinal mucosa, prevent bacterial overgrowth, and prevent progression to pancreatic necrosis, multi-organ failure, and death. However, the optimal early diet remains unclear. This study compared an oral carbohydrate solution (OCS) diet versus a conventional diet (CD) in patients with AP. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 538 patients diagnosed with AP in 2018-2022: 346 received a CD and 192 received an OCS diet. Because of differences in AP severity between groups, we performed 1:1 propensity score matching to obtain comparable groups (n = 182 in each). The CD group progressed from a liquid diet to soft foods and finally solid foods. The OCS group followed the same progression but received OCS instead of a liquid diet. Primary outcomes were the rate of recurrent postprandial pain after initiating the dietary intervention and hospital length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit admission, mortality, 28-day hospital readmission, and AP-related complications. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, baseline characteristics of the OCS and CD groups were comparable. The rate of recurrent pain was significantly higher in the CD group than in the OCS group (13.2 % vs. 3.8 %, p < 0.001), but hospital LOS was similar between groups (CD vs. OCS: 9.2 days vs. 8.7 days, p = 0.533). There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AP, OCS diet was associated with a lower rate of recurrent postprandial pain compared to a CD. Thus, OCS appears to be a beneficial dietary alternative for initial management of AP.

Solution-focused approaches for treating self-injurious thoughts and behaviours: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Self-injurious thoughts and behaviours are a major global public health concern, not least because they are one of suicide's strongest predictors. Solution-focused approaches are a psychotherapeutic approach currently being used to treat individuals with self-injurious thoughts and behaviours but there is little published evidence of their use. We conducted a scoping review to provide a comprehensive overview of how solution-focused approaches are being used to treat self-injurious thoughts and behaviours. METHODS: Publications describing a solution-focused approach being delivered to any individuals experiencing any form of self-injurious thought and/or behaviour were eligible for inclusion. Five databases were searched (EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar) from inception to August 2024. Search terms contained keywords relating to both solution-focused and self-injurious thoughts and/or behaviours. Data were analysed using relevant steps from a narrative synthesis approach to summarise the participants, concepts, context and outcomes described in the included publications. RESULTS: Twenty-four publications were included in the review. Publications demonstrated a global reach although the majority were published in the UK and USA. Five publications formally assessed and reported outcomes; two randomised controlled trials, one experimental pilot study, one case study, and one single group study. Only the Beck Depression Inventory was collected in more than one study (n = 4), with a range of other psychopathology and wellbeing-related measures. Three studies reported qualitative data, finding positive perceptions of the approaches by patients and clinicians. Fifty-one unique components were identified within solution-focused approaches. Often specific adaptations were described, or components were introduced, that specifically addressed suicide or self-harm. For example, identifying and working on goals related to reducing or stopping self-harm, or scaling questions that assess how suicidal someone currently feels on a 0 to 10 scale. CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates the application of solution-focused approaches for treating individuals with self-injurious thoughts and behaviours. The findings provide a comprehensive overview of how these approaches are delivered. The lack of outcome data and empirical studies highlights a need for more formalised evidence.

Specific of mechanical alloying of solid-liquid binary system Fe-Ga and effect of different process control agents.

Mechanical alloying allows obtaining nonequilibrium structures in various systems, often possessing unique properties, including magnetic ones. Considering the unusual structural features of the magnetostrictive Fe-Ga alloy, this approach may be promising for this system. In this work, extensive experimental studies were carried out aimed at studying the features of mechanical alloying of Fe-Ga. The object of the study was the system Fe-20 wt% Ga in which disordered solid solution α-Fe(Ga) is formed. It was shown that high-intensity milling is an effective tool for mechanical alloying of solid-liquid binary system Fe-Ga, but a serious problem is a low powder recovery, less than 50 %. To solve this problem, various process control agents were tested. Their influence on powder recovery, process kinetics, particle size, carbon contamination, and magnetic properties was studied using a large set of techniques such as XRD, SEM, EDS, VSM, LIBS, and others. It has been shown that, based on a combination of factors, the optimal process control agent for this system is ethanol in an amount of 1 wt.

Design and implementation of AEM10941 based solar energy system harvester for domestic lighting as a sustainable lighting solution for rural areas.

Lack of access to reliable and affordable electricity in Mbo'o community and the reliance on kerosene lamps for lighting has impacted various aspects of daily life in the area such as education, health, safety and economic productivity. Yields rural exodus and poverty. The aim of this research is to address the challenge of inadequate lighting in the Mbo'o community by developing a sustainable and affordable solution using the AEM10941 solar lamp and thus improving the quality of life for community members and reducing environmental impacts. The methodology involved utilizing the AEM10941 and connecting it with an ATMEGA328pu, switch and LED to construct the lamp. This included configuring the AEM10941, designing the printed circuit board for the lighting and control circuits, and then crafting the lamp casing. The lamp was designed to operate in two modes including indoor and outdoor/security modes. Performance evaluation tests revealed that the AEM10941 effectively charges the battery to full capacity within three hours. Additionally, in indoor mode, a single charge can sustain up to 10 h of lighting, demonstrating the lamp's efficiency and reliability in providing prolonged illumination. At full brightness, the lamp produced an illuminance of 1436 lx. the AEM10941 based solar lamps performance characteristics including illumination intensity, runtime and charging time are in accordance with the standards values and even above. This sustainable way of lighting is the convenient solution to improve the general living standard of the Mbo'o community. The key contribution of this work is the development of a sustainable, affordable and versatile solar lamp tailored to the specific needs of the Mbo'o community. This work provides an innovative solution to address the community's reliance on kerosene lamps, thereby potentially reducing emissions while improving safety and quality of life.

Non-thermal plasma enhances growth and salinity tolerance of bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) in hydroponic culture.

In this study, we aimed to examine the growth, physiological and biochemical status, and responses to salinity stress of bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) cultivated in a hydroponic system with a plasma-treated solution. Plasma gas generated using a cylindrical dielectric barrier discharge or air (control) was injected into Hoagland nutrient solution once a week for different durations (0, 5, and 10 min). After 4 weeks, the length of the shoots and roots, number of leaves, and dry weight of bok choy plants significantly increased in individuals grown with Hoagland solution treated with plasma gas for 10 min. An increase in dry weight of individual plants of approximately 80.5% was observed in plants in the plasma-treated group compared to those in a control group. The levels of chlorophyll, total soluble proteins, and nitrogen uptake, and transcription of genes related to salinity stress tolerance-WRKY2, HHP3, and ABI1- were also significantly elevated in bok choy grown with plasma treated Hoagland solution. Moreover, when exposed to 20 mM NaCl, plant length and leaf number were significantly increased, in the group grown with Hoagland solution treated with plasma gas for 10 min. Level of H2O2 was significantly elevated in the treated nutrient solutions. In plants grown with the treated nutrient solution, intracellular NO was highly detected in the cell division and elongation zone of roots. Our findings suggest that plasma treatment of nutrient solutions in hydroponic culture systems may improve the growth, physiological and biochemical status, and tolerance to salinity stress in plants, and a crucial role of H2O2 generated in the treated nutrient solutions may play in this improvement.

Assessing the persistence of a contaminant plume generated by linear aquifer source depletion and back diffusion from an aquitard.

This study presents analytical solutions for describing contaminant storage and release from an aquitard with linear source depletion (LSD) boundary conditions. We investigated three scenarios for trichloroethylene (TCE) mass exchange before and after the LSD period in an aquifer bounded by an adjacent aquitard based on the LSD dynamics, a resistance coefficient, and the aquitard thickness. The developed analytical solutions showed good agreement with measured profiles and breakthrough curves from a previous study. In three scenarios, the factors delaying the onset of TCE release into the aquifer were a decrease in the resistance coefficient, an increase in LSD period and aquitard thickness. The changes in the duration, mass, and rate of TCE storage in the aquitard during LSD loading process affected the equilibrium of the aquifer-aquitard concentration gradient. After TCE loading, the period maintained above the maximum contaminant level was directly related to the three variables; the longest plume persistence occurred when TCE penetration distance at transition point from storage to release coincided with the aquitard thickness. Overall, the developed analytical solution aids in evaluating the risk of plume persistence, enhancing site management efficiency, and reducing remediation costs.

Highly sensitive and selective anodic stripping voltammetric procedure of As(III) determination following double deposition and double stripping steps mode in combination with a flow system.

Double deposition and double stripping steps mode was used for the first time in combination with a flow system for anodic stripping voltammetric determination of As(III) ions. The proposed way of the voltammetric measurements leads to a decrease of the detection limit as compared to the values obtained using a traditional three-electrode system thanks to an initial preconcentration of the analyte on the first working electrode as well as the significant increase of the selectivity of As(III) determination thanks to the application of a flow system. Optimization of the analytical procedure was performed. The calibration curve of As(III) determination was a straight line in the range from 1 × 10-9 to 5 × 10-8 mol L-1. The estimated detection limit was 4.8 × 10-10 mol L-1 (deposition time of 120 s at both working electrodes). The repeatability of the proposed procedure calculated as RSD% for As(III) at a concentration of 1 × 10-8 mol L-1 was 3.8 % (n = 7). The tolerable limit of Cu(II) excess was significantly increased thanks to the solution exchange after the first deposition step. The correctness of the proposed procedure was confirmed by analysis of a real water sample and lake water certified reference material by obtaining satisfactory recovery values.

Formation of Alloyed Cu2CoxZn1-xSn(S,Se)4 Absorption Layer and Its Application in Solar Cells.

Partial substitution of cations is crucial for suppressing harmful defects in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin-film solar cells. In this study, based on the mixed n-butylammonium and butyrate solution system, the alloyed Cu2CoxZn1-xSn(S,Se)4 phase can be prepared by substituting Zn2+ with Co2+, which can suppress harmful defects and optimize the crystallinity of the Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 absorption layer, and improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of devices. By systematic investigation of the impact of Co content on the performance of devices, the optimal substitution amount of Zn2+ with Co2+ is 0.05. At this time, PCE, the open-circuit voltage (VOC), current density (JSC), and fill factor (FF) of the devices can reach 9.0%, 416 mV, 33.87 mA/cm2, and 64%, respectively. It is the first time that the replacement of Zn2+ with Co2+ is applied to optimize PCE of CZTSSe solar cells. The excellent results also demonstrate that the substitution of Zn2+ with Co2+ can become a new approach for further performance optimization of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cells.

Solution-Crystalized AgBiS2 Films for Solar Cells Generating a Photo-Current Density Over 31 mA cm-2.

In response to the toxic heavy metal absorbers in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), this work focuses on the development of an environmentally friendly simple solution-processed infrared (IR) absorber. In this work, a simple solution-crystallized IR-absorbing AgBiS2 film is reported by spin-coating silver, bismuth nitrates, and thiourea dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) to produce thick AgBiS2 film. Extensive optimization of the precursor concentrations thicknesses and conductive substrates used allow for obtaining 250 nm AgBiS2 film with different crystal sizes. When applied as an absorber in solar cells, solution-crystalized AgBiS2 thick film delivers an extraordinarily high current density of over 31 mA cm-2. The devices show high stability under continuous 100 mW cm-2 illumination and when stored in the dark for more than six months. When the AgBiS2 layer is fabricated in a gradient fashion combining one layer of 0.25 m and three layers of 0.5 m precursor concentrations, the efficiency of 5.15% is registered which is the highest reported for the simple solution-crystallized AgBiS2 films.

[Volume therapy: which preparation for which situation?] / Volumentherapie ­ welches Präparat in welcher Situation?

The most commonly used fluids for volume therapy are crystalloids and colloids. Crystalloids comprise 0.9% sodium chloride and balanced crystalloids (BC). Colloids can be divided into artificial colloids and human albumin (a natural colloid). Large studies show advantages for BC over 0.9% NaCl with respect to renal endpoints, probably due to the unphysiologically high chloride content of 0.9% NaCl. However, other studies, such as the BaSICS and PLUS trials, showed no significant differences in mortality in a heterogeneous population. Despite this, meta-analyses suggest advantages for BC. Therefore, BC should be preferred, especially in patients at increased risk of acute kidney injury, with acidemia and/or hyperchloremia. Except for specific indications (e.g., in patients with cirrhosis, sepsis resuscitation after initial volume therapy with BC), albumin should not be used. There is clear evidence of harm from hydroxyethyl starch in intensive care patients.

Influence of flexoelectricity on coupled electromechanical response of 2D MXene/graphene-based hybrid piezocomposites.

This study investigates the influence of flexoelectricity on the coupled electromechanical behavior of MXene/graphene-based hybrid piezocomposite (MGHPC) plates. We developed an analytical model based on Navier's solution and Kirchhoff's plate theory, as well as an approximate model based on the Ritz method for validation purposes. A three-phase micromechanical modeling is developed for determining the effective properties of MGHPC composed of 2D MXene and graphene nano-reinforcements embedded in an epoxy matrix. These micromechanical models were implemented to predict the static and dynamic electromechanical response of MGHPC plates subject to various edge support and loading conditions. Both the analytical and approximate solutions provided unequivocal evidence of the profound impact of the flexoelectric effect on the bending and modal analysis of MGHPC nanoplates. The flexoelectric effect enhanced the stiffness of the nanoplate, irrespective of the support condition. This implies that MGHPC plates can be tailored for precise resonance frequencies and static deflection within nanoelectromechanical systems. This can be achieved by manipulating parameters such as boundary conditions and geometric attributes, including plate thickness/aspect ratio and graphene/MXene nano-reinforcements volume fractions.