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Herein we report encapsulation approaches for Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) encapsulated zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-8 (CdS@ZIF-8), such as “bottle-around-the-ship” and “ship-in-the-bottle.” In this study, these composites were evaluated for antibacterial and DNA-binding properties. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis of CdS nanoparticles using ZIF-8 as a capping agent. The as-synthesized nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Characterization studies revealed that both encapsulation approaches provided different morphologies to the encapsulated framework. The antibacterial activity of the as-fabricated nanocomposite, in which ZIF-8 acts as a capping agent, was more effective against Escherichia coli (E. coli) than Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis). Furthermore, DNA-binding studies of nanocomposites performed by UV absorption spectroscopic titration method in E. coli genomic DNA indicated that DNA binding occurs along with cleavage. Therefore, the designed nanocomposites demonstrate great promise for future anticancer research.

To achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, Thailand has focused on reducing CO2 emissions in the energy sector. Small modular reactors (SMRs) and renewable energy such as wind and solar represent an interesting alternative for the decarbonization of the energy sector. This study aims to investigate the possibility of establishing a grid-connected hybrid energy system (Grid/Solar PV/Wind Turbine/BESS/SMRs) to fulfill the energy demand of Phuket Island in Thailand and to minimize net present cost (NPC), levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions. A grid-connected hybrid renewable generation system was simulated using HOMER. Four combinations of grid-connected and renewable energy sources were developed based on the electricity demand and renewable resources available at the site. The simulation results indicate that the most optimal scenario is the Grid/PV/WT/SMR system, which offers a 28% reduction in NPC and LCOE compared to the grid-only system and reduces CO2 emissions by over 58% compared to the total emissions from the utility grid. The simulation results demonstrate that the grid-connected and hybrid energy system is the most viable option to meet electricity demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on Phuket Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates resource adequacy and renewable energy integration in the United States, European Union, and Pakistan amid global energy market liberalization and greenhouse gas reduction efforts. It explores how these regions are adapting to the surge in renewable sources like wind and solar, which, despite their financial and environmental benefits, challenge resource adequacy and the economic viability of traditional energy sources. In the US and EU, significant improvements have been introduced in wholesale electricity markets and capacity accreditation mechanisms, which enhanced the large-scale deployment of renewables. This shift has prompted a reevaluation of resource adequacy, leading to the increased deployment of battery storage and demand response. Presently, gas-based generation is largely upholding resource adequacy; however, future trends indicate a move towards greater consumer participation, energy efficiency, and utility-scale storage, with a decline in fossil fuel use. Pakistan aims to adopt a liberalized market structure by balancing competitive markets with legacy contracts. Public pressure is driving a shift from costly fossil-based generation to renewables. Similarly, a trend in the rise of behind-the-meter solar generation can be witnessed. In the future, Pakistan may also experience resource adequacy challenges. It will likely need to implement battery storage, demand response, and modern capacity accreditation tools, by drawing lessons from developed markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al-Si alloys are vital in the aerospace and automotive industries due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent ductility, and superior corrosion resistance. These properties, along with good thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, and enhanced wear resistance due to silicon, make them ideal for lightweight, high-performance components like engine parts exposed to harsh conditions and thermal cycling. In recent years, the development of aluminium metal matrix composites using Al-Si alloys as the base material has gathered significant attention. These composites are engineered by integrating various reinforcing particles into the aluminium matrix, which results in remarkable improvements in the wear resistance, hardness, and overall mechanical performance of the material. The stir casting process, a well-established and cost-effective method, is frequently employed to ensure a uniform distribution of these reinforcing particles within the matrix. This review delves into the influence of different types of reinforcing particles on the properties of Al-Si alloy-based AMCs. The incorporation of these reinforcements has been shown to significantly enhance wear resistance, reduce friction, and improve the overall strength and toughness of the composites, making them ideal candidates for high-performance applications in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Moreover, this review highlights the challenges associated with the fabrication of these composites, such as achieving a homogeneous particle distribution and minimizing porosity. It also discusses the latest advancements in processing techniques aimed at overcoming these challenges. Additionally, this review addresses the potential environmental and economic benefits of using natural reinforcements, which not only reduce material costs but also contribute to sustainable manufacturing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about human and machine speaker discrimination ability when utterances are very short and the speaking style is variable. This study compares text-independent speaker discrimination ability of humans and machines based on utterances shorter than 2 s in two different speaking styles (read sentences and speech directed towards pets, characterized by exaggerated prosody). Recordings of 50 female speakers drawn from the UCLA Speaker Variability Database were used as stimuli. Performance of 65 human listeners was compared to i-vector-based automatic speaker verification systems using mel-frequency cepstral coefficients, voice quality features, which were inspired by a psychoacoustic model of voice perception, or their combination by score-level fusion. Humans always outperformed machines, except in the case of style-mismatched pairs from perceptually-marked speakers. Speaker representations by humans and machines were compared using multi-dimensional scaling (MDS). Canonical correlation analysis showed a weak correlation between machine and human MDS spaces. Multiple regression showed that means of voice quality features could represent the most important human MDS dimension well, but not the dimensions from machines. These results suggest that speaker representations by humans and machines are different, and machine performance might be improved by better understanding how different acoustic features relate to perceived speaker identity.