NiSe and CoSe topological nodal-line semimetals: A sustainable platform for efficient thermoplasmonics and solar-driven photothermal membrane distillation

The control of heat at the nanoscale via the excitation of localized surface plasmons in nanoparticles (NPs) irradiated with light holds great potential in several fields (cancer therapy, catalysis, desalination). To date, most thermoplasmonic applications are based on Ag and Au NPs, whose cost of raw materials inevitably limits the scalability for industrial applications requiring large amounts of photothermal NPs, as in the case of desalination plants. On the other hand, alternative nanomaterials proposed so far exhibit severe restrictions associated with the insufficient photothermal efficacy in the visible, the poor chemical stability, and the challenging scalability. Here, it is demonstrated the outstanding potential of NiSe and CoSe topological nodal-line semimetals for thermoplasmonics. The anisotropic dielectric properties of NiSe and CoSe activate additional plasmonic resonances. Specifically, NiSe and CoSe NPs support multiple localized surface plasmons in the optical range, resulting in a broadband matching with sunlight radiation spectrum. Finally, it is validated the proposed NiSe and CoSe-based thermoplasmonic platform by implementing solar-driven membrane distillation by adopting NiSe and CoSe nanofillers embedded in a polymeric membrane for seawater desalination. Remarkably, replacing Ag with NiSe and CoSe for solar membrane distillation increases the transmembrane flux by 330% and 690%, respectively. Correspondingly, costs of raw materials are also reduced by 24 and 11 times, respectively. The results pave the way for the advent of NiSe and CoSe for efficient and sustainable thermoplasmonics and related applications exploiting sunlight within the paradigm of the circular blue econom

Masters of the Garden: An Environmental History of Nation-Building in Pahlavi Iran

Studies on Iranian nationalism, development, and modernization have yet to fully reflect on the role of the environment. By applying an environmental lens, this dissertation rethinks the history of Pahlavi Iran (1925-79), exploring the ways in which the natural environment shaped, and was shaped by, national and other ideologies. It analyzes major episodes of environmental transformation along a chronological timeline—the construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway in the interwar period; dam and irrigation projects in the early Cold War; policies aimed at curbing deforestation and desertification; the emergence of an environmentalist agenda in the late Pahlavi era; and management of nature-induced disasters. I argue that these episodes were integral to the Pahlavis’ nation-building and national narrative. Moreover, they embodied modern Iran’s distinct historical condition: Iranian state-builders thought of their country in imperial terms, but unlike its de-colonized neighbors, Iran lacked imperial infrastructure in transport, communication, or natural resource extraction. This resulted in hasty and aggressive projects in the environment, meant not only to restore the grandeur of the pre-Islamic Iranian empires, but also to reassert Iran as a central actor within the world order. Most crucially, projects to transform the environment were not geared toward ecologically sound harnessing of natural resources so much as toward expanding state control and exclusion of those marginal to the Pahlavi nationalist project. Vigorous action in fields such as dam building, anti-desertification, and environmentalism at times did grant the Pahlavi dynasty international prestige and a more influential role in the Middle East. At the same time, however, such measures contributed in meaningful—if overlooked—ways to the Pahlavi state’s chronic vulnerability to pressures from the outside as well as from within. The Pahlavis’ environmental legacy has transcended the 1979 revolution, and to understand Iran’s current environmental crisis, we must therefore pay close attention to the ways in which this story unfolded.PhDHistoryUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/177817/1/sadan_1.pd

Nonelective coronary artery bypass graft outcomes are adversely impacted by Coronavirus disease 2019 infection, but not altered processes of care: A National COVID Cohort Collaborative and National Surgery Quality Improvement Program analysisCentral MessagePerspective

Objective: The effects of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and altered processes of care on nonelective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) outcomes remain unknown. We hypothesized that patients with COVID-19 infection would have longer hospital lengths of stay and greater mortality compared with COVID-negative patients, but that these outcomes would not differ between COVID-negative and pre-COVID controls. Methods: The National COVID Cohort Collaborative 2020-2022 was queried for adult patients undergoing CABG. Patients were divided into COVID-negative, COVID-active, and COVID-convalescent groups. Pre-COVID control patients were drawn from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Adjusted analysis of the 3 COVID groups was performed via generalized linear models. Results: A total of 17,293 patients underwent nonelective CABG, including 16,252 COVID-negative, 127 COVID-active, 367 COVID-convalescent, and 2254 pre-COVID patients. Compared to pre-COVID patients, COVID-negative patients had no difference in mortality, whereas COVID-active patients experienced increased mortality. Mortality and pneumonia were higher in COVID-active patients compared to COVID-negative and COVID-convalescent patients. Adjusted analysis demonstrated that COVID-active patients had higher in-hospital mortality, 30- and 90-day mortality, and pneumonia compared to COVID-negative patients. COVID-convalescent patients had a shorter length of stay but a higher rate of renal impairment. Conclusions: Traditional care processes were altered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our data show that nonelective CABG in patients with active COVID-19 is associated with significantly increased rates of mortality and pneumonia. The equivalent mortality in COVID-negative and pre-COVID patients suggests that pandemic-associated changes in processes of care did not impact CABG outcomes. Additional research into optimal timing of CABG after COVID infection is warranted

Inorganic Photovoltaics - Planar and Nanostructured Devices

Since its invention in the 1950s, semiconductor solar cell technology has evolved in great leaps and bounds. Solar power is now being considered as a serious leading contender for replacing fossil fuel based power generation. This article reviews the evolution and current state, and potential areas of near future research focus, of leading inorganic materials based solar cells, including bulk crystalline, amorphous thin-films, and nanomaterials based solar cells. Bulk crystalline silicon solar cells continue to dominate the solar power market, and continued efforts at device fabrication improvements, and device topology advancements are discussed. III-V compound semiconductor materials on c-Si for solar power generation are also reviewed. Developments in thin-film based solar cells are reviewed, with a focus on amorphous silicon, copper zinc tin sulfide, cadmium telluride, as well as nanostructured Cadmium telluride. Recent developments in the use of nano-materials for solar power generation, including silicon and gallium arsenide nanowires, are also reviewed