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Sustainability is critical in addressing global challenges posed by prolonged pandemics that impact health, economies, and the environment. Here, we introduce a molecular engineering approach for thermoregulated antimicrobial management inspired by firewalking rituals. The study uses in situ spectroscopy and multi-scale modeling to validate a hierarchical design. Efficient light-to-thermal energy conversion is achieved by engineering the molecular band structure. Rapid nanoscale hyperthermia is facilitated through thermal engineering. This approach significantly reduces the half-life of pathogens such as Escherichia coli, influenza A, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to 1.4 min while maintaining a low perceived temperature on human skin. Standard disease infection and epidemic models show this technology's potential to flatten outbreak curves and delay peak infection rates, which is crucial during the early stages of pandemics when developing vaccines and antiviral drugs takes time. The scalable manufacturing and broad antimicrobial applicability hold great promise for controlling emerging infectious diseases and diverse bioprotective applications.
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Vaccines represent one of the most significant inventions in human history and have revolutionized global health. Generally, a vaccine functions by triggering the innate immune response and stimulating antigen-presenting cells, leading to a defensive adaptive immune response against a specific pathogen's antigen. As a key element, adjuvants are chemical materials often employed as additives to increase a vaccine's efficacy and immunogenicity. For over 90 years, adjuvants have been essential components in many human vaccines, improving their efficacy by enhancing, modulating, and prolonging the immune response. Here, we provide a timely and comprehensive review of the historical development and the current status of adjuvants, covering their classification, mechanisms of action, and roles in different vaccines. Additionally, we perform systematic analysis of the current licensing processes and highlights notable examples from clinical trials involving vaccine adjuvants. Looking ahead, we anticipate future trends in the field, including the development of new adjuvant formulations, the creation of innovative adjuvants, and their integration into the broader scope of systems vaccinology and vaccine delivery. The article posits that a deeper understanding of biochemistry, materials science, and vaccine immunology is crucial for advancing vaccine technology. Such advancements are expected to lead to the future development of more effective vaccines, capable of combating emerging infectious diseases and enhancing public health.
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Adjuvantes de Vacinas , Humanos , Adjuvantes de Vacinas/química , Vacinas/imunologia , Animais , Adjuvantes ImunológicosRESUMO
Twisted van der Waals materials featuring Moiré patterns present new design possibilities and demonstrate unconventional behaviors in electrical, optical, spintronic, and superconducting properties. However, experimental exploration of thermal transport across Moiré patterns has not been as extensive, despite its critical role in nanoelectronics, thermal management, and energy technologies. Here, the first experimental study is conducted on thermal transport across twisted graphene, demonstrating a phonon polarizer concept from the rotational misalignment between stacked layers. The direct thermal and acoustic measurements, structural characterizations, and atomistic modeling, reveal a modulation up to 631% in thermal conductance with various Moiré angles, while maintaining a high acoustic transmission. By comparing experiments with density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, mode-dependent phonon transmissions are quantified based on the angle alignment of graphene band structures and attributed to the coupling among flexural phonon modes. The agreement confirms the dominant tuning mechanisms in adjusting phonon transmission from high-frequency thermal modes while having negligible effects on low-frequency acoustic modes near Brillouin zone center. This study offers crucial insights into the fundamental thermal transport in Moiré structures, opening avenues for the invention of quantum thermal devices and new design methodologies based on manipulations of vibrational band structures and phonon spectra.
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Global greenhouse gas emission, major factor driving climate change, has been increasing since nineteenth century. STIRPAT and CEVSA models were performed to estimate the carbon emission peaks and terrestrial ecosystem carbon sinks at the provincial level in China, respectively. Utilizing the growth characteristics and the peak time criteria for the period 1997-2019, the patterns of energy consumption and CO2 emissions from 30 Chinese provinces are categorized into four groups: (i) one-stage increase (5 provinces), (ii) two-stage increase (10 provinces), (iii) maximum around 2013 (13 provinces), and (iv) maximum around 2017 (2 provinces). According to the STIRPAT model, the anticipated time of peak CO2 emissions for Beijing from the third group is ~ 2025 in both business-as-usual and high-speed scenarios. For Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region from the first group and Zhejiang province from the second group, the expected peak time is 2025 to 2030. Shaanxi province from the fourth group is likely to reach carbon emission peak before 2030. The inventory-based estimate of China's terrestrial carbon sink is ~ 266.2 Tg C/a during the period 1982-2015, offsetting 18.3% of contemporary CO2 emissions. The province-level CO2 emissions, peak emissions and terrestrial carbon sinks estimates presented here are significant for those concerned with carbon neutrality.
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The loss of active components, weak acid resistance, and low recover efficiency of common Ca-based catalysts limited its further development and application. In this study, to effectively produce biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO), a green and recyclable magnetic acid-base bifunctional CoFe/biochar/CaO catalyst was prepared from sargassum and river snail shell waste via hydrothermal method. The catalysts' structure and properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), CO2/NH3 temperature programmed desorption (CO2/NH3 TPD), etc., The prepared catalyst mainly consisted of the carbon skeleton, CoFe alloy, and CaO. CoFe alloy provided catalyst's ferromagnetism for magnetic separation as well as acid sites for transesterification of WCO. Ca and other metal species with nanoscale (â¼5.64 nm) were dispersively anchored on sargassum biochar surface, thereby leading to good catalytic activity (99.21% biodiesel yield) and stability (91.70% biodiesel yield after the 5th cycle). In addition, response surface methodology-Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD) revealed the optimal operational conditions were 16:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, 3 wt% catalyst dosage, 73 °C for 157 min. The maximum biodiesel yield predicted value was 98.29% and the experimental value was 99.21%, indicating good satisfaction of the established model. Moreover, the quality of WCO biodiesel met the ASTM D6751 standards. This study benefits magnetic waste-derived acid-base bifunctional catalysts for the disposal of WCO towards sustainable biodiesel production.
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Biocombustíveis , Carvão Vegetal , Óleos de Plantas , Óleos de Plantas/química , Biocombustíveis/análise , Dióxido de Carbono , Esterificação , Culinária , Catálise , Ligas , Fenômenos MagnéticosRESUMO
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a prevalent malignancy of the head and neck region associated with high recurrence rates and poor prognosis under current diagnostic and treatment methods. The development of nanomaterials that can improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy is of great importance for OSCC. In this study, a redox-activatable nanoarchitectonics is designed via the construction of dual-valence cobalt oxide (DV-CO) nanospheres, which can serve as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and exhibit enhanced transverse and longitudinal relaxivities through the release and redox of Co3+ /Co2+ in an acidic condition with glutathione (GSH), resulting in self-enhanced T1 /T2 -weighted MR contrast. Moreover, DV-CO demonstrates properties of intracellular GSH-depletion and hydroxyl radicals (â¢OH) generation through a Fenton-like reaction, enabling strengthened chemodynamic (CD) effect. Additionally, DV-CO displays efficient near-infrared laser-induced photothermal (PT) effect, thereby exhibiting synergistic PT-CD therapy for suppressing OSCC tumor cells. It further investigates the tumor-specific self-enhanced MR imaging of DV-CO both in subcutaneous and orthotopic OSCC mouse models, and demonstrate the therapeutic effects of DV-CO in orthotopic OSCC mouse models. Overall, the in vitro and in vivo findings highlight the excellent theranositc potentials of DV-CO for OSCC and offer new prospects for future advancement of nanomaterials.
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Carcinoma de Células Escamosas , Cobalto , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço , Neoplasias Bucais , Óxidos , Animais , Camundongos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/diagnóstico por imagem , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/terapia , Oxirredução , Diagnóstico por Imagem , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeça e Pescoço , GlutationaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Computer-assisted surgery is widely used in mandibular reconstruction, but the process is not well described for cases using the deep circumflex iliac artery flap (DCIA) as the donor site. This study aimed to present a DCIA-based three-component surgical template system (3-STS) in patients with a mandibular Brown class I defect. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study compared clinical outcomes of mandibular reconstruction with DCIA flap using 3-STS or conventional surgical templates. The primary outcome of the study was the accuracy of reconstruction, and the secondary outcomes included surgical time and bone flap ischemia time. Surgery-related parameters and functional outcomes were also recorded and compared. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (23 in the 3-STS group and 21 in the control group) between 2015 and 2021 were included. Compared with the control group, the 3-STS group had higher accuracy of reconstruction, indicated by lower deviation in absolute distance (1.45 ± 0.76 mm versus 2.02 ± 0.89 mm; P = 0.034), and less deviation in coronal and sagittal angles (0.86 ± 0.53 degree versus 1.27 ± 0.59 degrees, P = 0.039; and 2.52 ± 1.00 degrees versus 3.25 ± 1.25 versus, P = 0.047) between preoperative and postoperative computed tomographic imaging. Surgical time and bone flap ischemia time were significantly reduced in the 3-STS group compared with the control group (median time, 385 minutes versus 445 minutes and 32 minutes versus 53 minutes, respectively; P < 0.001). In addition, masseter attachment was preserved in the 3-STS group but not in the control group. No differences were found in adverse events or other clinical variables. CONCLUSION: The 3-STS can improve accuracy, simplify intraoperative procedures to increase surgical efficiency, and preserve functionality in mandibular reconstruction for Brown class I defects. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.
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Reconstrução Mandibular , Procedimentos de Cirurgia Plástica , Humanos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Artéria Ilíaca/cirurgia , Mandíbula/cirurgia , Isquemia/cirurgia , ÍlioRESUMO
Controlling heat flow is a key challenge for applications ranging from thermal management in electronics to energy systems, industrial processing, and thermal therapy. However, progress has generally been limited by slow response times and low tunability in thermal conductance. In this work, we demonstrate an electronically gated solid-state thermal switch using self-assembled molecular junctions to achieve excellent performance at room temperature. In this three-terminal device, heat flow is continuously and reversibly modulated by an electric field through carefully controlled chemical bonding and charge distributions within the molecular interface. The devices have ultrahigh switching speeds above 1 megahertz, have on/off ratios in thermal conductance greater than 1300%, and can be switched more than 1 million times. We anticipate that these advances will generate opportunities in molecular engineering for thermal management systems and thermal circuit design.
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MXenes are a rapidly growing family of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides that are promising for various applications, including energy storage and conversion, electronics, and healthcare. Hydrofluoric-acid-based etchants are typically used for large-scale and high-throughput synthesis of MXenes, which also leads to a mixture of surface terminations that impede MXene properties. Herein, a computational thermodynamic model with experimental validation is presented to explore the feasibility of fluorine-free synthesis of MXenes with uniform surface terminations by dry selective extraction (DSE) from precursor MAX phases using iodine vapors. A range of MXenes and respective precursor compositions are systematically screened using first-principles calculations to find candidates with high phase stability and low etching energy. A thermodynamic model based on the "CALculation of PHAse Diagrams" (CALPHAD) approach is further demonstrated, using Ti3 C2 I2 as an example, to assess the Gibbs free energy of the DSE reaction and the state of the byproducts as a function of temperature and pressure. Based on the assessment, the optimal synthesis temperature and vapor pressure are predicted and further verified by experiments. This work opens an avenue for scalable, fluorine-free dry synthesis of MXenes with compositions and surface chemistries that are not accessible using wet chemical etching.
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A digital workflow was used to design and prefabricate a 3-dimensionally printed, esthetic obturator prosthesis for immediate placement after a partial maxillectomy. The approach involved simultaneous reciprocation and support of the maxillary defect during the surgery and minimized the incidence of cicatricial contracture of the soft tissue, preventing permanent facial deformity and dysfunction.
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OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of progressive internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) by head and neck contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) in 45 patients who underwent neck dissection for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 45 patients who underwent head and neck contrast-enhanced CT before and after surgery for OSCC by the Hu Yongjie team at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head & Neck Oncology of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital in 2016 and were followed up for 5 years. RESULTS: Comparison of the current CT with previously obtained head and neck contrast-enhanced CT images revealed progressive ICAS in 3 patients with a mean age of 50.0 years. All 3 patients were male, and their OSCC sites were the tongue in 2 patients and the buccal in 1 patient. Tumor resection and neck dissection were performed for all 3 patients. Two patients underwent radiotherapy. In all 3 patients, the ICAS had occurred on the same side as the tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that neck dissection with cervical sheath removal might increase the incidence of ICAS, but this result may need the support of a larger sample size study.
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Carcinoma de Células Escamosas , Estenose das Carótidas , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço , Neoplasias Bucais , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Feminino , Neoplasias Bucais/cirurgia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeça e Pescoço/cirurgia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/cirurgia , Esvaziamento Cervical , Estenose das Carótidas/cirurgia , Incidência , China , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/cirurgiaRESUMO
In general, vibrational physics has been well described by quantum perturbation theory to provide footprint characteristics for common crystals. However, despite weak phonon anharmonicity, the recently discovered cubic crystals have shown anomalous vibrational dynamics with elusive fundamental origin. Here, we developed a non-perturbative ab initio approach, in together with spectroscopy and high-pressure experiments, to successfully determine the exact dynamic evolutions of the vibrational physics for the first time. We found that the local fluctuation and coupling isotopes significantly dictate the vibrational spectra, through the Brillouin zone folding that has been previously ignored in literature. By decomposing vibrational spectra into individual isotope eigenvectors, we observed both positive and negative contributions to Raman intensity from constitutional atoms (10B, 11B, 75As or 31P). Importantly, our non-perturbative theory predicts that a novel vibrational resonance appears at high hydrostatic pressure due to broken translational symmetry, which was indeed verified by experimental measurement under a pressure up to 31.5 GPa. Our study develops fundamental understandings for the anomalous lattice physics under the failure of quantum perturbation theory and provides a new approach in exploring novel transport phenomena for materials of extreme properties.
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OBJECTIVE: Unicystic ameloblastomas are a variant of ameloblastoma with a definite recurrence rate because of the biological behaviours of the tumour. The risk factors associated with disease recurrence were analysed in this retrospective study. METHODS: A total of 132 patients with primary unicystic ameloblastoma reported in a tertiary hospital from 2005 to 2015 were analysed to identify the clinic-pathological and radiological factors associated with recurrence using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean volume was 30.54cm3 ± 12.55 cm3 , and this value differed significantly according to recurrence (p < 0.001). Root resorption and bone cortex/soft tissue invasion were also significantly associated with recurrence among unicystic ameloblastoma patients (p = 0.017 vs. p < 0.001, respectively). A new stage classification system was developed to predict disease recurrence of patients. The multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the new stage classification system was the only predictor of disease recurrence in unicystic ameloblastoma patients (p < 0.001), regardless of root resorption, position and site characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Volume, root resorption and bone cortex/soft tissue invasion were risk factors for disease recurrence among unicystic ameloblastoma patients. The new stage classification was an independent predictor of disease recurrence in patients with unicystic ameloblastoma.
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High pressure represents extreme environments and provides opportunities for materials discovery1-8. Thermal transport under high hydrostatic pressure has been investigated for more than 100 years and all measurements of crystals so far have indicated a monotonically increasing lattice thermal conductivity. Here we report in situ thermal transport measurements in the newly discovered semiconductor crystal boron arsenide, and observe an anomalous pressure dependence of the thermal conductivity. We use ultrafast optics, Raman spectroscopy and inelastic X-ray scattering measurements to examine the phonon bandstructure evolution of the optical and acoustic branches, as well as thermal conductivity under varied temperatures and pressures up to 32 gigapascals. Using atomistic theory, we attribute the anomalous high-pressure behaviour to competitive heat conduction channels from interactive high-order anharmonicity physics inherent to the unique phonon bandstructure. Our study verifies ab initio theory calculations and we show that the phonon dynamics-resulting from competing three-phonon and four-phonon scattering processes-are beyond those expected from classical models and seen in common materials. This work uses high-pressure spectroscopy combined with atomistic theory as a powerful approach to probe complex phonon physics and provide fundamental insights for understanding microscopic energy transport in materials of extreme properties.
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A hydrothermal oxygen uncoupling (HTOU) method which combines aqueous phase reforming (APR) and oxygen uncoupling was proposed to treat biogas slurry (BS). Based on Le Chatelier's principle, this novel approach was constructed and realized by Cu-α-Fe2O3·α-MoO3 catalyst with van der Waals heterojunction-redox property. Additionally, the catalyst was synthesized by integrating a simple one-pot sol-gel method and thermal hydrogenating. Results indicated that the optimal removal efficiencies of non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC) (76.29%), total nitrogen (TN) (45.56%), and ammonia nitrogen (AN) (29.03%) were achieved on the Cu-α-Fe2O3·α-MoO3 catalyst at 225.00 °C for 30.00 min, respectively. The significant performance of Cu-α-Fe2O3·α-MoO3 could be attributed to three aspects. (1) The α-MoO3 nanosheets with van der Waals heterostructures obtained at the calcination temperature of 600.00 °C, which can provide the superior performance of APR for hydrogen generation. (2) The adsorbed oxygen species were eliminated by thermal hydrogenating which had a surface passivation effect. (3) The effect of oxygen uncoupling in the lattice oxygen and gaseous oxygen release reaction was beneficial to the degradation of organic matter. Moreover, the reuse of catalysts studies further revealed that the deactivation of catalysts originated from carbon deposition of aromatic polymers and heavy metals oxides pollution. Overall, these findings disclosed that the HTOU could be a promising alternative to the treatment of high-concentration organic wastewater.
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Biocombustíveis , Oxigênio , Carbono , Catálise , Nitrogênio , ÁguaRESUMO
PURPOSE: This study investigated the stability and quality of life (QoL) outcomes of patients who received mandibular reconstructions with the anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTF) following tumor resection. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with oral tumors that were resected and reconstructed with ALTF were included in this study. Volumetric analyses of each ALTF were performed at 6 to 18 months postoperatively. A QoL survey was also conducted 2 years postoperatively and compared by means of an independent-sample t test with 28 patients who had mandibular reconstructions with free fibula flap. RESULTS: There were no significant volumetric changes in the ALTF or the QoL results of either group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with advanced oral cancers have a higher risk of recurrence that mandates closer radiographic surveillance. This may be impaired by artifacts from metallic implants required in free fibula flap reconstructions. Anterolateral thigh perforator flap may be a viable alternative because it is easier for secondary resection, amenable for direct repairs, has volumetric stability, has a lower cost and results in a comparable QoL outcome.
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Reconstrução Mandibular , Neoplasias Bucais , Retalho Perfurante , Procedimentos de Cirurgia Plástica , Humanos , Neoplasias Bucais/cirurgia , Satisfação do Paciente , Retalho Perfurante/cirurgia , Qualidade de Vida , Procedimentos de Cirurgia Plástica/métodos , Coxa da Perna/cirurgiaRESUMO
PURPOSE: The periosteum of bone segments can be destroyed during the installation of a dental implant distractor (DID) device, resulting in bone defects on the exposed side of the distraction gap. The purpose of this animal experiment is to explore the application of concentrated growth factor (CGF) in DID surgery, which can induce angiogenesis and osteogenesis and improve osteogenesis defects caused by periosteum loss on the exposed side of bone segments. METHODS: CGF is the latest generation of platelet concentrate. Twenty-four DID devices inserted into the tibias of 8 goats were evenly divided into the CGF and control groups. Following 10 days of distraction and a 12-week consolidation period, all 8 animals were euthanized to retrieve their tibias. The distraction gap between each segment was measured at 5 points, and the average value was taken as the computed tomography (CT) value of the distraction gap at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after distraction. The vascular density and trabecular bone volume of each DID distraction gap were determined and statistically compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The CT value of the distraction gap increased gradually in control groups at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after distraction to 319.3 ± 14.6, 449.3 ± 34.4, and 614.0 ± 15.6 HU in the control group and 368.3 ± 8.8, 544.5 ± 12.3, and 661.0 ± 8.1 HU in the CGF group. The trabecular bone volume was 281.7 ± 16.5 and 209.7 ± 21.6 µm2 in the CGF group and control group. The vascular density was 17.7 ± 2.1 and 11.7 ± 1.9 in the CGF group and control group. Statistically significant differences were observed in the CT value (P = .002), vascular density (P = .023), and trabecular bone volume (P = .010) between the CGF and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The application of an autogenous CGF membrane in DID surgery repaired bone defects caused by osteolysis around osteotomy segments.
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Implantes Dentários , Osteogênese por Distração , Animais , Humanos , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular , Osteogênese , Osteogênese por Distração/métodos , PeriósteoRESUMO
ABSTRACT: Intraosseous benign lesions rarely involve the zygoma, and intraosseous venous malformation is most commonly reported condition in the previous literature. A neurofibroma (NF) arising from the zygoma has not been reported before. Here, the authors present a 37-year-old female who developed solitary NF of the right zygoma. Surgical intervention is usually required for the treatment of a solitary NF. However, the complex three-dimensional (3D) anatomy of the zygoma increases the difficulty of the reconstruction for the operating surgeon. In this case, a preoperative digital surgical design was used to promote the efficiency of the surgery. A 3D printing surgical guide plate was used intraoperatively, and the defect was reconstructed by a patient-specific polyetheretherketone implant. Postoperative computed tomography imaging confirmed the accuracy of the reconstruction and that there was no recurrence of the tumor. The authors believe that the 3D print guide plate-assisted accurate resection combined with polyetheretherketone implant reconstruction is an ideal methodology for benign lesions of the zygoma.
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Implantes Dentários , Neurofibroma , Procedimentos de Cirurgia Plástica , Cirurgia Assistida por Computador , Feminino , Humanos , Adulto , Zigoma/cirurgia , Polímeros , Cirurgia Assistida por Computador/métodos , Impressão Tridimensional , Cetonas , Procedimentos de Cirurgia Plástica/métodos , Polietilenoglicóis , Neurofibroma/cirurgia , Imageamento Tridimensional/métodosRESUMO
Recent advances in machine learning (ML) have impacted research communities based on statistical perspectives and uncovered invisibles from conventional standpoints. Though the field is still in the early stage, this progress has driven the thermal science and engineering communities to apply such cutting-edge toolsets for analyzing complex data, unraveling abstruse patterns, and discovering non-intuitive principles. In this work, we present a holistic overview of the applications and future opportunities of ML methods on crucial topics in thermal energy research, from bottom-up materials discovery to top-down system design across atomistic levels to multi-scales. In particular, we focus on a spectrum of impressive ML endeavors investigating the state-of-the-art thermal transport modeling (density functional theory, molecular dynamics, and Boltzmann transport equation), different families of materials (semiconductors, polymers, alloys, and composites), assorted aspects of thermal properties (conductivity, emissivity, stability, and thermoelectricity), and engineering prediction and optimization (devices and systems). We discuss the promises and challenges of current ML approaches and provide perspectives for future directions and new algorithms that could make further impacts on thermal energy research.
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This paper presents a novel sol-gel method to synthesize large and thick silica aerogel monoliths at near ambient conditions using a commercial aqueous solution of colloidal silica nanoparticles as building blocks. To achieve slabs with high visible transmittance and low thermal conductivity, the method combines the strategies of (i) synthesizing gels on an omniphobic perfluorocarbon liquid substrate, (ii) aging at temperatures above room temperature, and (iii) performing solvent exchange with a low-surface-tension organic solvent prior to ambient drying. The omniphobic liquid substrates were used to prevent cracking and ensure an optically-smooth surface, while nanoparticle building blocks were small (<10 nm) to limit volumetric light scattering. Gels were aged at temperatures between 25 and 80 °C for up to 21 days to make them stronger and stiffer and to reduce shrinkage and cracking during ambient drying. Ambient drying was achieved by first exchanging water in the gel pores for octane, followed by drying in an octane-rich atmosphere to decrease capillary forces. The synthesized nanoparticle-based silica aerogel monoliths had thicknesses up to 5 mm, diameters up to 10 cm, porosities exceeding 80%, and thermal conductivities as low as 0.08 W m-1 K-1. Notably, the slabs featured visible transmittance exceeding 75% even for slabs as thick as 5 mm. The as-synthesized aerogel monoliths were exposed to TMCS vapor to induce hydrophobic properties resulting in a water contact angle of 140° that prevented water infiltration into the pores and protected the aerogels from water damage. This simple synthesis route conducted at near ambient conditions produces hydrophobic aerogel monoliths with promising optically transparent and thermally insulating properties that can be adhered to glass panes for window insulation and solar-thermal energy conversion applications.