In recognition of Adam Heller and his enduring contributions to electrochemistry

pre-printRecent progress in diverse scientific fields ranging from bioelectrochemistry to battery technology to photoconversion has been deeply influenced by the contributions of Professor Adam Heller of the University of Texas at Austin to electrochemistry and materials science. This focus issue recognizes Prof. Heller's career and works on the occasion of his 80th birthday. It grew from a special symposium in Heller's honor at the 224th Meeting of ECS in San Francisco in the fall of 2013

The Herschel-SPIRE Legacy Survey (HSLS): the scientific goals of a shallow and wide submillimeter imaging survey with SPIRE

A large sub-mm survey with Herschel will enable many exciting science opportunities, especially in an era of wide-field optical and radio surveys and high resolution cosmic microwave background experiments. The Herschel-SPIRE Legacy Survey (HSLS), will lead to imaging data over 4000 sq. degrees at 250, 350, and 500 micron. Major Goals of HSLS are: (a) produce a catalog of 2.5 to 3 million galaxies down to 26, 27 and 33 mJy (50% completeness; 5 sigma confusion noise) at 250, 350 and 500 micron, respectively, in the southern hemisphere (3000 sq. degrees) and in an equatorial strip (1000 sq. degrees), areas which have extensive multi-wavelength coverage and are easily accessible from ALMA. Two thirds of the of the sources are expected to be at z > 1, one third at z > 2 and about a 1000 at z > 5. (b) Remove point source confusion in secondary anisotropy studies with Planck and ground-based CMB data. (c) Find at least 1200 strongly lensed bright sub-mm sources leading to a 2% test of general relativity. (d) Identify 200 proto-cluster regions at z of 2 and perform an unbiased study of the environmental dependence of star formation. (e) Perform an unbiased survey for star formation and dust at high Galactic latitude and make a census of debris disks and dust around AGB stars and white dwarfs

Microbial fuel cells: From fundamentals to applications. A review

© 2017 The Author(s) In the past 10–15 years, the microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has captured the attention of the scientific community for the possibility of transforming organic waste directly into electricity through microbially catalyzed anodic, and microbial/enzymatic/abiotic cathodic electrochemical reactions. In this review, several aspects of the technology are considered. Firstly, a brief history of abiotic to biological fuel cells and subsequently, microbial fuel cells is presented. Secondly, the development of the concept of microbial fuel cell into a wider range of derivative technologies, called bioelectrochemical systems, is described introducing briefly microbial electrolysis cells, microbial desalination cells and microbial electrosynthesis cells. The focus is then shifted to electroactive biofilms and electron transfer mechanisms involved with solid electrodes. Carbonaceous and metallic anode materials are then introduced, followed by an explanation of the electro catalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction and its behavior in neutral media, from recent studies. Cathode catalysts based on carbonaceous, platinum-group metal and platinum-group-metal-free materials are presented, along with membrane materials with a view to future directions. Finally, microbial fuel cell practical implementation, through the utilization of energy output for practical applications, is described

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

Background: The EMPA KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population. Methods: EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110. Findings: Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5–2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62–0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16–1·59), representing a 50% (42–58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1). Interpretation: In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease. Funding: Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council

Mediated Electrode Systems for High-Rate Bioelectrocatalysis

Presented on February 18, 2009, from 4-5 pm in room G011 of the Molecular Science and Engineering Building on the Georgia Tech Campus.Runtime: 53:12 minutesBiocatalysts represent a compelling alternative to precious metals as catalysts for low-temperature, microscale fuel cell power systems. Enzymatic catalysts capable of reducing oxygen or oxidizing small organic molecules can be less expensive, manufacturable, and have favorable reaction selectivity as compared to precious metals. The key barriers to realization of practical biocatalyzed fuel cells are the insufficient current, power, and lifetime achievable with current devices. Our research group studies the performance of enzyme biocatalysts as used in electrodes for fuel cells, focusing on the transport of reactants and electrons within electrode structures. In one collaboration, we have designed a multi-scale carbon material that can be used to efficiently support and achieve electrical contact with enzymes. The material is produced by growing carbon nanotubes on carbon fibers using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). With this technique, an increase of more than two orders of magnitude in the surface area available for enzyme immobilization was obtained, resulting in a ten-fold increase in achievable current density using a glucose oxidase-catalyzed glucose electrode. In a parallel study, we have developed a series of redox polymer mediators based on osmium-complexed poly(Nvinylimidazole). With these mediators we study the effect of mediator structure and redox potential on enzyme-catalysed redox kinetics and current density. We have also used this approach to characterize the activity of biocatalyzed electrodes in the presence of catalyst poisons and competing reactions, with the goal of incorporating biocatalysts into real-world fuel cell devices

Celebrating Plamen Atanassov's 60 th Birthday

This Special Collection is dedicated to Plamen Atanassov to celebrate his 60th birthday. For all those of you that know Plamen, you are well aware of his passion and devotion to science, technology, and history. Plamen is an excellent example of a scientist who combines enthusiasm with the highest level of energy and contribution. During his scientific career, he has distinguished himself not only for his prolific publication record, but also for the most interdisciplinary and highly collaborative character of all his research related to electrochemistry. Plamen has proven to be a critical leader in electrocatalysis and bioelectrochemistry with many well-recog- nized breakthroughs that guide the research directions we travel today. All these accomplishments have been possible thanks to a most fortunate combination of diverse technical preparedness, analytical talent, technical inventiveness, and inter-person organizational skill. In this short celebration, we first briefly describe Plamen’s scientific history, which starts in a beautiful, culturally rich and fascinating country in the East of Europe (Bulgaria) leading to his current employment at the University of California Irvine. Secondly, the four scientists leading this celebrating initiative will briefly describe personal experiences and anecdotes related to the impact that Plamen, as an “older brother”, mentor, colleague, and friend has brought into our nowadays lives

Simulation of Intermediate Channeling by Nanoscale Confinement

Confinement of active sites and reaction intermediates in a physical tunnel is one example of intermediate channeling found in natural reaction cascades. The study of transport properties and their impact on kinetics of these confined systems provides a pathway for implementing confinement strategies in integrated and intensified catalytic systems. In the present study, the effect of geometric, kinetic, and transport parameters on intermediate channeling via confinement is studied via a continuum model in which two reaction sites are confined within a physical tunnel. One site generates an intermediate species that is consumed at the second site to form a product, where the process efficiency may be quantified by product yield. Key geometrical parameters include distance between sites, distance between sites and the tunnel end, and tunnel conical angle. Maximizing the distance between sites and the tunnel end and minimizing the tunnel diameter are demonstrated to be effective approaches to maximizing product yield