Self-cleaning SERS sensor based on flexible Ni_(3)S_(2)/MoS_(2)@Ag@PDMS composites for label-free multiplex volatile organic compounds detection

Flexible self-cleaning surface-enhanced Raman scattering(SERS)sensors are highly desirable for the detection of various environmental pollutants,including volatile organic compounds(VOCs).However,achieving sensitive detection without labeling and ensuring efficient cyclic use remain significant challenges.Herein,we introduce a direct approach to create a versatile Ni_(3)S_(2)/MoS_(2)@Ag@PDMS(PDMS=polydimethylsiloxane)composite SERS substrate using chemical vapor deposition technology.The produced substrate shows outstanding performance,offering extremely low detection sensitivity(1.0×10^(−12)M 4-aminobenzenethiol)and high enhancement factors(approximately 107).The interactions between the rod-shaped Ni_(3)S_(2)/MoS_(2)@Ag heterostructure and the molecules facilitate the transfer of charge,resulting in an increased electric field enhancement of the exciton resonance.This has the dual benefit of providing a self-cleaning effect and enhancing SERS efficiency.Importantly,the substrate enables sensitive detection of VOCs gas molecules without the need for labels,achieving a minimum detectable concentration as low as 1 ppm for o-dichlorobenzene,due to the preconcentration effect of PDMS.Theoretical calculations further explain the combined effect of electromagnetic and chemical enhancement in this composite substrate.By utilizing the developed visual SERS barcode,quick multiple detection and analysis of mixtures can be accomplished.This flexible and versatile SERS technique has significant potential for on-site detection and analysis of environmental pollutants,opening the doors for the development of a wearable in-situ SERS sensing platform.

Physio-chemical modeling of the NO_(x)-O_(3) photochemical cycle and the air pollutants’ reactive dispersion around an isolated building

A numerical physio-chemical model of the NO_(x)-O_(3) photochemical cycle in the near-wake region of an isolated residential/office building has been presented in this study.The investigation delves into the dispersion of reactive air pollutants through the lens of fluid phenomenology and its impact on chemical reactivity,formation,transport,deposition,and removal.Computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulations were conducted for the ground-point-source(GES)and roof-pointsource(RES)scenarios.Results show that the Damköhler number(Da),which quantifies pollutants’physio-chemical timescales,displays a strong inverse proportionality with the magnitude and spread of NO–increasing Da reduces human exposure to the toxic NO and NO_(2) substantially.When different wind directions were considered,the dispersion range of NO exhibited varying shrinking directions as Da increased.Furthermore,as Da increases,the concentration ratio KNO_(2)/KNO_(x),which quantifies the production of NO_(2) resulting from NO depletion,forms sharp high-low gradients near emission sources.For GES,the dispersion pattern is governed by the fluid’s phenomenological features.For RES,the intoxicated area emanates from the building’s leading-edge,with the lack of shielding inhibiting pollutant interactions in the near-wake,resulting in scant physio-chemical coupling.The NO_(2)/NO_(x) distribution follows a self-similar,stratified pattern,exhibiting consistent layering gradients and attributing to the natural deposition of the already-reacted pollutants rather than in-situ reactions.In the end,building design guidelines have been proposed to reduce pedestrian and resident exposure to NO_(x)-O_(3).

Capacity Allocation of Hybrid Power System with Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy,Thermal Storage,and PV Based on Game Approaches

This study utilizes hot dry rock(HDR)geothermal energy,which is not affected by climate,to address the capacity allocation of photovoltaic(PV)-storage hybrid power systems(HPSs)in frigid plateau regions.The study replaces the conventional electrochemical energy storage system with a stable HDR plant assisted by a flexible thermal storage(TS)plant.An HPS consisting of an HDR plant,a TS plant,and a PV plant is proposed.Game approaches are introduced to establish the game pattern model of the proposed HPS as the players.The annualized income of each player is used as the payoff function.Furthermore,non-cooperative game and cooperative game approaches for capacity allocation are proposed according to the interests of each player in the proposed HPS.Finally,the proposed model and approaches are validated by performing calculations for an HPS in the Gonghe Basin,Qinghai,China as a case study.The results show that in the proposed non-cooperative game approach,the players focus only on the individual payoff and neglect the overall system optimality.The proposed cooperative game approach for capacity allocation improves the flexibility of the HPS as well as the payoff of each game player.Thereby,the HPS can better satisfy the power fluctuation rate requirements of the grid and increase the equivalent firm capacity(EFC)of PV plants,which in turn indirectly guarantees the reliability of grid operation.

Identification of lipid droplets in gut bacteria

Dear Editor,The field of gut microbiota is progressing rapidly and thus,appellations like the last human organ,a separate organ,a forgotten organ,and a new organ have been applied to gut microbiota to emphasize its vital functions in our body(Chang and Kao,2019).Gut microbiota has been shown to play a central role in the regulation of human lipid metabolism and be associated with lipid metabolism disorders when aberrant,through composition and microbial metabolites.

Omic studies reveal the pathogenic lipid droplet proteins in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） is an epidemic metabolic condition driven by an underlying lipid homeostasis disorder. The lipid droplet （LD）, the main organelle involved in neutral lipid storage and hydrolysis, is a potential target for NAFLD therapeutic treat- ment. In this review, we summarize recent progress elucidating the connections between LD-associated proteins and NAFLD found by genome-wide association studies （GWAS）, genomic and proteomic studies. Finally, we discuss a possible mechanism by which the protein 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 13 （17β- HSD13） may promote the development of NAFLD.

A comparative thermodynamic analysis of Kalina and organic Rankine cycles for hot dry rock:a prospect study in the Gonghe Basin

Hot dry rock is a new type of geothermal resource which has a promising application prospect in China.This paper conducted a comparative research on performance evaluation of two eligible bottoming cycles for a hot dry rock power plant in the Gonghe Basin.Based on the given heat production conditions,a Kalina cycle and three organic Rankine cycles were tested respectively with different ammonia-water mixtures of seven ammonia mass fractions and nine ecofriendly working fluids.The results show that the optimal ammonia mass fraction is 82%for the proposed bottoming Kalina cycle in view of maximum net power output.Thermodynamic analysis suggests that wet fluids should be supercritical while dry fluids should be saturated at the inlet of turbine,respectively.The maximum net power output of the organic Rankine cycle with dry fluids expanding from saturated state is higher than that of the other organic Rankine cycle combinations,and is far higher than the maximum net power output in all tested Kalina cycle cases.Under the given heat production conditions of hot dry rock resource in the Gonghe Basin,the saturated organic Rankine cycle with the dry fluid butane as working fluid generates the largest amount of net power.