The Search for High-Impact Diagnostic and Management Tools for Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Self-Powered Low-Cost Blood Pressure Measurement Device Powered by a Solid-State Vibration Energy Harvester

The World Health Organization has established recommendations for blood pressure measurement devices for use in low-resource venues, setting the triple A expectations of Accuracy, Affordability, and Availability. Because of issues related to training and assessment of proficiency, the pendulum has swung away from manual blood pressure devices and auscultatory techniques towards automatic oscillometric devices. As a result of power challenges in the developing world, there has also been a push towards semiautomatic devices that are not dependent on external power sources or batteries. Beyond solar solutions, disruptive technology related to solid-state vibrational energy harvesting may be the next iterative solution to attain the ultimate goal of a self-powered low-cost validated device that is simple to use and reliable

Loofah activated carbon with hierarchical structures for high-efficiency adsorption of multi-level antibiotic pollutants

For antibiotic contaminants, biochar adsorbents have been regarded as one of the most suitable materials due to their safety for human health and good adsorption performance. In this study, loofah activated carbon (LAC) was prepared by a simple high temperature carbonization process, while mixing LAC with agarose solution under stirring at 90 °C, after which LAC-loaded agarose aerogel (LAC-AA) adsorbents could be obtained by freeze-dried under a vacuum condition. The LAC is consisted of hierarchical laminae-trestle-laminae (L-T-L) microstructure with highly ordered, whose surfaces are fully covered by nanoscale protrusions. The unique hierarchical structures possessing high specific surface areas (~736.86 m2 g−1) and abundant active surface sites, which contribute significantly to the adsorption of antibiotics (to name a few, tetracycline (TC), ofloxacin (OFO) and norfloxacin (NFO)). The results indicate that the capacity of adsorption towards TC, NFO and OFO (1–40 ppm) by the LAC-loaded agarose aerogel (LAC-AA) adsorbents is 537.6, 434.8 and 581.4 mg g−1, respectively, which is significantly greater than that of currently-available adsorbents. In parallel, the atomic adsorption model’s simulation further confirms that the OFO is prone to be adsorbed on the LAC with the lowest adsorption energy that resulted in the largest adsorption capacity

Realizing optimal hydrogen evolution reaction properties via tuning phosphorous and transition metal interactions

Hydrogen is one of the most attractive renewables for future energy application, therefore it is vital to develop cost-effective and highly-efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to promote the generation of hydrogen from mild methods. In this work, Co–Mo phosphide nanosheets with the adjustable ratio of Co and Mo were fabricated on carbon cloth by a facile hydrothermal-annealing method. Owing to the unique nanostructures, abundant active surfaces and small resistance were achieved. Excellent electrocatalytic performances are obtained, such as the small overpotential of ∼67.3 mV to realize a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 69.9 mV dec−1. Rapid recovery of the current response under multistep chronoamperometry is realized and excellent stability retained after the CV test for 2000 cycles. The change of electronic states of different elements was carefully studied which suggested the optimal electrochemical performance can be realized by tuning phosphorous and metal interactions

Analizing of control system model of two-modular nuclear power plant with generation 4 reactors type HTR

Проведено аналіз технологічної частини АЕС з модульним реактором типу HTR. Виявлено основні проблеми дослідження маневреності та стабільної роботи АЕС з модульними реакторами. Створена динамічна модель в середовищі MATLAB/Simulink для АЕС типу HTR-PM з двома реакторними модулями для дослідження основних законів управління реакторними модулями та координації модулів. Отримані результати моделювання підтверджують стабільну роботу мультимодальної АЕС під час поетапного зниження потужності першого та другого модулів.The analysis of the technological part of the nuclear power plant with a modular reactor of the HTR type was carried out. The main problems of studying the mobility and stable operation of nuclear power plants with modular reactors are revealed. A dynamic model was created in the MATLAB/ Simulink environment for the HTR-PM type nuclear power plant with two reactor modules for studying the basic laws governing reactor modules and coordinating modules. The obtained simulation results confirm the stable operation of the multi-module nuclear power plant during the stage-by-stage reduction of the power of the first and second modules. The high-temperature gas-cooled reactor is a reliable concept for the fourth generation modular reactor, which can be considered as the basic option for further development of the nuclear energy sector of Ukraine

Functional bowel disorders with diarrhoea: Clinical guidelines of the United European Gastroenterology and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility

Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D) and functional diarrhoea (FDr) are the two major functional bowel disorders characterized by diarrhoea. In spite of their high prevalence, IBS-D and FDr are associated with major uncertainties, especially regarding their optimal diagnostic work-up and management. A Delphi consensus was performed with experts from 10 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 31 statements. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation criteria. Consensus (defined as >80% agreement) was reached for all the statements. The panel agreed with the potential overlapping of IBS-D and FDr. In terms of diagnosis, the consensus supports a symptom-based approach also with the exclusion of alarm symptoms, recommending the evaluation of full blood count, C-reactive protein, serology for coeliac disease, and faecal calprotectin, and consideration of diagnosing bile acid diarrhoea. Colonoscopy with random biopsies in both the right and left colon is recommended in patients older than 50 years and in presence of alarm features. Regarding treatment, a strong consensus was achieved for the use of a diet low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols, gut-directed psychological therapies, rifaximin, loperamide, and eluxadoline. A weak or conditional recommendation was achieved for antispasmodics, probiotics, tryciclic antidepressants, bile acid sequestrants, 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 antagonists (i.e. alosetron, ondansetron, or ramosetron). A multinational group of European experts summarized the current state of consensus on the definition, diagnosis, and management of IBS-D and FDr

INS-1 Cells Undergoing Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis Enhance the Regenerative Capacity of Neighboring Cells

Our results suggest that apoptosing INS-1 cells shed microparticles that may stimulate PSP/reg induction in neighboring cells, a mechanism that may facilitate the recovery of β-cell mass in HNF1A-MODY

Worldwide impacts of climate change on energy for heating and cooling

The energy sector is not only a major contributor to greenhouse gases, it is also vulnerable to climate change and will have to adapt to future climate conditions. The objective of this study is to analyze the impacts of changes in future temperatures on the heating and cooling services of buildings and the resulting energy and macro-economic effects at global and regional levels. For this purpose, the techno-economic TIAM-WORLD (TIMES Integrated Assessment Model) and the general equilibrium GEMINI-E3 (General Equilibrium Model of International-National Interactions between Economy, Energy and Environment) models are coupled with a climate model, PLASIM-ENTS (Planet-Simulator - Efficient Numerical Terrestrial Scheme). The key results are as follows. At the global level, the climate feedback induced by adaptation of the energy system to heating and cooling is found to be insignificant, partly because heating and cooling-induced changes compensate and partly because they represent a limited share of total final energy consumption. However, significant changes are observed at regional levels, more particularly in terms of addi- tional power capacity required to satisfy additional cooling services, resulting in increases in electricity prices. In terms of macro-economic impacts, welfare gains and losses are associated more with changes in energy exports and imports than with changes in energy consumption for heating and cooling. The rebound effect appears to be non-negligible. To conclude, the coupling of models of different nature was successful and showed that the energy and economic impacts of climate change on heating and cooling remain small at the global level, but changes in energy needs will be visible at more local scale