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Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage (STIRAP) and its variants, such as M-type chainwise-STIRAP, allow for efficiently transferring the populations in a multilevel system and have widely been used to prepare molecules in their rovibrational ground state. However, their transfer efficiencies are generally imperfect. The main obstacle is the presence of losses and the requirement to make the dynamics adiabatic. To this end, in the present paper, a new theoretical method is proposed for the efficient and robust creation and detection of deeply bound molecules in three-level Λ-type and five-level M-type systems via "Invariant-based shortcut-to-adiabaticity." In the regime of large detunings, we first reduce the dynamics of three- and five-level molecular systems to those of effective two- and three-level counterparts. By doing so, the major molecular losses from the excited states can be well suppressed. Consequently, the effective two-level counterpart can be directly compatible with two different "Invariant-based Inverse Engineering" protocols; the results show that both protocols give a comparable performance and have a good experimental feasibility. For the effective three-level counterpart, by considering a relation among the four incident pulses, we show that this model can be further generalized to an effective Λ-type one with the simplest resonant coupling. This generalized model permits us to borrow the "Invariant-based Inverse Engineering" protocol from a standard three-level Λ-type system to a five-level M-type system. Numerical calculations show that the weakly bound molecules can be efficiently transferred to their deeply bound states without strong laser pulses, and the stability against parameter variations is well preserved. Finally, the detection of ultracold deeply bound molecules is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonging the lifetime of photoinduced hot carriers in lead–halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) is highly desirable because it can help improve the photovoltaic conversion efficiency. Ligand engineering has recently become a promising strategy to achieve this; nevertheless, mechanistic studies in this field remain limited. Herein, we propose a new scenario of ligand engineering featuring Pb2+/Br− site-selective capping on the surface of CsPbBr3 QDs. Through joint observations of temperature-dependent photoluminescence, ultrafast transient absorption, and Raman spectroscopy of the two contrasting model systems of CsPbBr3 QDs (i.e., capping with organic ligand only vs hybrid organic/inorganic ligands), we reveal that the phononic regulation of Pb–Br stretching at the Br-site (relative to Pb-site) leads to a larger suppression of charge–phonon coupling due to a stronger polaronic screening effect, thereby more effectively retarding the hot-carrier cooling process. This work opens a new route for the manipulation of hot-carrier cooling dynamics in perovskite systems via site-selective ligand engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the previous study Wang and Dou [J. Chem. Phys. 158, 224109 (2023)], we have derived a Floquet classical master equation (FCME) to treat nonadiabatic dynamics near metal surfaces under Floquet engineering. We have also proposed a trajectory surface hopping algorithm to solve the FCME. In this study, we map the FCME into a Floquet Fokker–Planck equation in the limit of fast Floquet driving and fast electron motion as compared to nuclear motion. The Fokker–Planck equation is then being solved using Langevin dynamics with explicit friction and random force from the nonadiabatic effects of hybridized electrons and Floquet states. We benchmark the Floquet electronic friction dynamics against Floquet quantum master equation and Floquet surface hopping. We find that Floquet driving results in a violation of the second fluctuation–dissipation theorem, which further gives rise to heating effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient carrier compensation mechanism in semiconductor layers by Fermi-level engineering is demonstrated using the modulation-doping of a deep acceptor and a shallow donor. The punch-through of the depletion region across the whole stack of modulation-doped layers shifts the Fermi level closer toward the midgap position, resulting in the compensation of residual background free carriers. The method represents an alternative to achieve semi-insulating properties in semiconductor materials where a suitable deep acceptor or donor state at the midgap position is not available. We demonstrate the applicability of the concept with a commercially important GaN case study using carbon (deep acceptor) and Si (shallow donor) doping. A strong enhancement of breakdown field strength and reduced charge pileup effects are observed due to the efficient pinning of the Fermi level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tailoring the specific properties to practical applications by structural modification is of vital importance for the envisioned development of two-dimensional ferroelectric materials. Herein, a comprehensive investigation on the effects of single doping on the ferroelectric properties and electronic transport in a monolayer of α-In2Se3 was carried out via the combination of first-principles density functional theory calculations and electron–phonon coupling simulations. Our results show that single-doping in In2Se3 can reduce effective mass of carriers and thereby enhance the high carrier mobility potential of the material. Moreover, the ferroelectric phonon mode in single-doped In2Se2X features a lower scattering rate, associating with the single-doping atom, and indicates reduced hindrance to carrier transport during ferroelectric switching. Compared to pristine In2Se3, the obtained smaller ferroelectric barriers (<1 eV) of single-doped ones promote more promising ferroelectricity from the analysis of the ferroelectric soft mode. Interestingly, the observed variations in ferroelectric behaviors resulting from doping of different elements highlight the significance of single-doping in modifying the ferroelectric properties of monolayers. Furthermore, strain engineering results reveal that single doping obviously affects the dependence of gap on strains: linear relationship for doping ones and nonlinearity for pristine one. Our study provides valuable insights into achieving higher carrier mobility in these critical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the switching energy and improving the switching speed of ferroelectrics remain an important goal in the pursuit of electronic devices with ultralow energy consumption and ultrafast response. Molecular ferroelectrics with concise dipole switching mechanism and facile structural tunability are a good platform for manipulating the ferroelectric domains. A methodology is demonstrated to manipulation of ferroelectric domain switching by tailor-made lattice parameters of molecular ferroelectrics, by following which, we succeeded in lowering the threshold electric field and improving the dynamics of ferroelectric switching. Our findings advance the fundamental understanding of microscopic mechanism and provide important insights in controllable tuning of ferroelectric domain switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated bandgap engineering of spinel-structured Mg B 2O4 (B = Al, Ga, In) alloys. The trend of bandgap change was tunable from approximated 7.8–3.6 eV by substituting group III cation atoms in Mg B 2O4. To evaluate the doping possibility, we have calculated the natural band alignment and doping pinning energy of the normal and inverse spinel structures of Mg B 2O4 alloys. The calculated doping pinning energies show that spinel-structured Mg B 2O4 alloys can potentially control the electron concentration, but hole doping is difficult. Our computational results are expected to provide new insights into the doping control of ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based materials have a broad range of applications. Among various carbon-based materials, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is one of the facile options for supercapacitor (SCs) fabrication. The main reason is that it offers excellent conductance and enhanced surface redox reactivity. Therefore, there is a significant possibility that this material will boost the electrochemical efficiency of pseudocapacitive materials based on transition metals. Using the sonication route, we have synthesized NiO/CoFe 2 O 4 composite and decorated it with rGO. After structural and morphological analysis, the prepared electrode materials were subjected to electrochemical energy storage efficiency studies. The obtained data showed that the NiO/CoFe 2 O 4 @rGO exhibited a higher specific capacitance of 911.25 Fg-1 as compared to other electrode materials (such as NiO/CoFe 2 O 4 , NiO, and CoFe 2 O 4). Moreover, it was observed that NiO/CoFe 2 O 4 @rGO has low equivalence series resistance (ESR) as 0.29 Ω, in comparison to NiO/CoFe 2 O 4 , NiO, and CoFe 2 O 4. The enhanced conductivity of rGO and the good crystallinity of NiO and CoFe 2 O 4 are responsible for the excellent efficiency of the NiO/CoFe 2 O 4 @rGO electrode material. According to the obtained results, the NiO/CoFe 2 O 4 @rGO nanocomposite is an effective capacitive material for supercapacitors fabrication. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vehicular ad-hoc network is a technology that enables vehicles to interact with each other and the surrounding infrastructure, aiming to enhance road safety and driver comfort. However, it is susceptible to various security attacks. Among these attacks, the position falsification attack is regarded as one of the most serious, in which the malicious nodes tamper with their transmitted location. Thus, developing effective misbehavior detection schemes capable of detecting such attacks is crucial. Many of these schemes employ machine learning techniques to detect misbehavior based on the features of the exchanged messages. However, the studies that identify the impact of feature engineering on schemes' performance and highlight the most efficient features and algorithms are limited. This paper conducts a comprehensive literature survey to identify the key features and algorithms used in the literature that lead to the best-performing models. Then, a comparative study using the VeReMi dataset, which is publicly available, is performed to assess six models implemented using three different machine learning algorithms and two feature sets: one comprising selected and derived features and the other including all message features. The findings show that two of the suggested models that employ feature engineering perform almost equally to existing studies in identifying two types of position falsification attacks while exhibiting performance improvements in detecting other types. Furthermore, the results of evaluating the proposed models using another simulation exhibit a substantial improvement achieved by employing feature engineering techniques, where the average accuracy of the models is increased by 6.31–47%, depending on the algorithm used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the construction industry worldwide has shown significant interest in Building Information Modeling (BIM). This study aims to analyze the dissemination of knowledge about BIM in construction engineering applications using Main Path Analysis (MPA). The research sample comprises 3,761 papers related to BIM's application in the construction industry, sourced from the ISI Web of Science database. Initially, we investigate trends in paper publications, conduct country and journal analyses, and examine author statistics. Subsequently, we calculate traversal counts along the search path links to reveal the development trajectory of BIM. The trajectory of BIM's evolution in the construction industry can be divided into four stages as identified through the global key-route main path analysis: 1) BIM standardization; 2) Integration of completed building projects using BIM; 3) BIM applications in precast construction projects; and 4) BIM applications in land management. These findings provide a clear understanding of how BIM has been applied and evolved within the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering identity is a rapidly evolving construct within engineering, primarily due to its link to engineering persistence. Yet, most engineering identity research has been qualitative in nature or has described individuals within the analytical technique as coming from a single population. This study is the first to allow for the detection of different meaningful groups of engineering students demonstrating similarity on the construct using the new technique of Random Intercept Latent Transition Analysis. Through this study we identified three stable classes of engineering identity amongst first-year undergraduate students. Women demonstrated a greater likelihood of advancing to higher engineering identity classes over time than men. Unfortunately, the influence of COVID-19 yielded negative engineering identity developmental patterns for some students. Lastly, descriptive analyses of students' first-year engineering identity class assignments in relation to their selection/non-selection of engineering majors revealed Calculus-readiness upon college entrance might be an important component in these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on laboratory objectives in engineering education research is scattered and inconsistent. Systematic literature reviews identified the need for better understanding. This paper ranks the laboratory learning objectives across the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains to improve scaffolding. It provides an opportunity for reflection, a pathway to confirm assessment alignment, and opens future research areas. To accomplish this, the Laboratory Learning Objectives Measurement (LLOM) instrument is used to survey 160 academics from around the world representing 18 engineering disciplines. The results suggest that the collective ranking order does represent a framework that can be used broadly. However, for greater alignment with consensus thinking, discipline rankings should be used. The cognitive domain was deemed the most important. These results provide the community's opinion and may not necessarily be best practice, providing an opportunity for reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Architectural education shares much in common with engineering, including the use of a culminating capstone experience in the final year. The form of this experience varies, with the research-based thesis and final-year project being most common. This paper explores the literature on traditions of enquiry and the meaning of research in various fields and the evolution of the 'thesis' and 'final year project' approaches over time. It then briefly summarises empirical research conducted on a case study institution struggling to bridge gaps in understandings of these distinct forms of learning and teaching. Throughout, the paper presents a comprehensive set of diagrams to explain various paradigms and positions on research and design education. These diagrams depict processes used in architecture, engineering, and natural sciences to conduct research and generate designs. A new model is proffered to help unify competing conceptions of the final year project and thesis, for the case study institution and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene (GR) has considered to be a promising material to build proficient graphene-doped composites photocatalyst with superior catalytic activities for wastewater treatment. During the past decade, different graphene-doped composites have been constructed and applied in numerous solar and photocatalyst fields. GR-based composites have a sufficient surface area with numerous photocatalytic sites for wastewater treatment applications. In the present study the effect of hetero-atoms Aluminum, Nitrogen, and Boron on bandgap engineering and tuning of electronic and optical properties of GR-doped-composites by density functional quantum computing calculation. Our computed results demonstrate that hetero-atoms-doped-GR composites having direct energy band (Eg) semiconductor nature with an increment from 0.0 to 1.75 eV by the inclusion of hetero-atoms in GR, maybe some extra strong sites are formed in p state into the lifting of the energy bandgap (Eg). An extensive investigation of optical conductivity illustrates that increment in peaks from 2.5 to 4.0. Due to hetero-atoms dopant the absorbance peaks are increased and moved toward higher energy absorption. Our findings reveal that as compared to pure, Al, N,B hetero-atoms, the B-doped-GR surface has a large surface area with strong active sites for wastewater treatment. These theoretical findings can be useful in practical applications for wastewater remediation through hetero-atom-doped graphene composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the carrier separation efficiency plays a decisive role in designing and constructing a high‐efficiency photocatalysis reaction system. Derived from providing a directional transport channel for photogenerated carriers, three‐dimensional (3D) nanostructures greatly improve the charge separation efficiency. Herein, TiO2/ZnO (TZ)/g‐C3N4 3D hierarchical nanostructure was constructed to artificially simulate photosynthesis of green plants. The optimal TZ/g‐C3N4 photoanode exhibits a photocurrent density of 1.46 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode potential, 1.6 times that of pure TiO2 (0.9 mA/cm2). Moreover, under constant illumination (100 mW/cm2), the hydrogen production reached 80 μmol/cm2 within 180 min. It is worth noting that the TZ/g‐C3N4 photoanode shows surprising stability, which is an important indicator for the practical application of the photoelectrode. The excellent photoelectrochemical performance benefits from the following two aspects: TZ nanotree structure provides a directional transport channel for photogenerated carriers, and the modification of TZ by g‐C3N4 extends the response range to the visible region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergy between iron doping and (1 1 1) facet engineering in Fe-NiSe octahedron reinforces catalytic activity for IRR to yield impressive photovoltaic performance of DSSCs. [Display omitted] • The possibility of Fe-NiSe (1 1 1) as CE catalysts was investigated by DFT calculation. • The well-defined Fe-doped NiSe octahedron with (1 1 1) plane was synthesized. • Synergy between doping and facet engineering reinforces electrochemical behavior. • PCE can be further enhanced by introducing Fe heteroatom into NiSe (1 1 1). Reasonable design of cost-effective counter electrode (CE) catalysts for triiodide (I 3 −) reduction reaction (IRR) by simultaneously combining heteroatom doping and facet engineering is highly desired in iodine-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), but really challenging. Herein, the density function theory (DFT) calculations were first conducted to demonstrate that the Fe-doped NiSe (1 1 1) showed an appropriate adsorption energy for I 3 −, increased number of metal active sites, reinforced charge-transfer ability, and strong interaction between 3 d states of metal sites and 5 p state of I 1 atoms in I 3 −, compared to NiSe (1 1 1). Based on this finding, the well-defined Fe-NiSe octahedron with exposed (1 1 1) plane (marked as Fe-NiSe (1 1 1)) and NiSe octahedron with the same exposed plane (named as NiSe (1 1 1)) are controllably synthesized. When the as-prepared Fe-NiSe (1 1 1) and NiSe (1 1 1) worked as CE catalysts, Fe-NiSe (1 1 1) exhibits improved electrochemical performance with higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) than NiSe (1 1 1), providing new opportunity to replace precious Pt for DSSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has gained a lot of interest as a potassium storage material with a high anode capacity. However, the slow reaction kinetics and its highly unstable structure prevent the full realization of its electrochemical performance during the insertion and extraction of K+. Herein, sulfur vacancy-modified MoS2 nanolayers grown coaxially with an external carbon coating and internal carbon nanotube support (denoted as C–MoS2−x@CNTs) are designed as anode materials for potassium storage. This unique structure enables fast K+ reaction kinetics facilitated by S vacancy engineering, uniform growth of MoS2 nanolayers controlled by internal carbon nanotubes, and the stability of the complete electrode preserved by the encapsulation of carbon. Therefore, the prepared C–MoS2−x@CNTs reveal a high rate performance value of 180.9 mA h g−1 (5 A g−1) with a reversible capacity value of 323.8 mA h g−1 (50 mA g−1). It sustains a capacity of 141.2 mA h g−1, exhibiting excellent cycling stability, even after 300 cycles at a current density of 2 A g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic-inorganic methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (MAPbI3) nanowires (NWs) have attracted significant attention in the realm of optoelectronic devices due to their outstanding optoelectronic properties. However, the persistent challenge of high trap densities has been a limiting factor in realizing their full potential in device performance. To address this challenge, we incorporated cesium (Cs) and systematically investigated the impact of Cs concentration on the trap densities and the optoelectronic characteristics of Cs x MA(1− x)PbI3 NWs. Our findings unveiled an initial reduction in trap densities as Cs+ content increased, with the lowest point occurring at x = 0.2. However, beyond this threshold, trap densities began to rise, eventually surpassing those observed in pure MAPbI3 at x = 0.4. Furthermore, we fabricated single NW photodetectors to assess how Cs+ content influenced optoelectronic properties. The results indicated that Cs+ incorporation led to enhancements in photocurrent and response speed, withthe optimal performance observed at x = 0.2. Our study provides valuable insights into the role of Cs+ incorporation in tailoring the optoelectronic properties of perovskite NWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Efforts to increase capacity for oncology treatment in the author's Chemotherapy Day Unit, while allowing staff to treat more patients and offer more flexibility to patients, increased strain on the Aseptic Pharmacy at the author's Trust. Therefore, the possibility of nurse-led drug preparation was explored. Aims: Nurse-led monoclonal antibody (MAb) preparation was piloted to investigate whether a reduction in reliance on Aseptic Pharmacy could co-exist with maintaining optimal treatment capacity. The effectiveness of a closed system transfer device (CSTD) to protect nurses against drug exposure was also explored. Methods: A risk assessment for MAbs considered for nurse-led preparation was created, alongside a procedure for the safe handling of systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) with the use of a CSTD. Findings: The pilot resulted in an 89% reduction in the time patients had to wait for MAbs to be prepared. Seven oncology drugs were included in the new procedure without increasing the risk of exposure for nurses. Conclusion: The pilot successfully reduced demand on Aseptic Pharmacy while enabling efficient capacity use on the Chemotherapy Day Unit. The use of the CSTD minimised the risk of nurse exposure to SACT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To maximize the active sites and accelerate the electron transfer are of significant importance for developing efficient MoS 2 -based catalysts towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we report a facile one-step construction of three-dimensional assembly in which Co doped MoS 2 nanoflowers are attached on partially sulfided nickel foam (Co–MoS 2 /Ni 3 S 2 /Ni). The three-dimensional structure enables maximum exposure of the active sites. Besides, interfacial interaction between MoS 2 and Ni 3 S 2 accelerates the electron transfer kinetics and increases the electrochemically active surface area. Additionally, electronic synergy effect of Co to MoS 2 promotes the formation of 1T-MoS 2 phase. Consequently, the optimized Co–MoS 2 /Ni 3 S 2 /Ni catalyst shows a superior HER performance with low overpotentials of 43 mV and 201 mV to achieve the current densities of 10 mA/cm2 and 100 mA/cm2, as well as an excellent stability of 11 h. Besides, Co–MoS 2 /Ni 3 S 2 /Ni has a small Tafel slope of 53 mV dec−1 which indicates a combined Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism during the HER process. This work provides a novel insight for designing excellent MoS 2 -based HER catalysts through electronic modulation and interfacial engineering. [Display omitted] • One-step construction of three-dimensional Co–MoS 2 /Ni 3 S 2 /Ni assembly was realized. • Interfacial effect and electronic modulation are conducive to improving the HER activity of MoS 2. • Low overpotential of 43 mV to reach current density at 10 mA cm−2 was achieved. • The Co–MoS 2 /Ni 3 S 2 /Ni shows excellent stability in alkaline media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capitalisation on and transfer of technological, engineering and scientific knowledge associated with empirical know-how is an important issue for the sustainability and development of manufacturing. Indeed, certain sectors of industry are facing the increasing ageing of the labour force, recruitment difficulties and high staff turnover, leading to a loss of knowledge and know-how. In a context of numerical and digital transition and the migration of processes to industry 4.0, one of major challenges manufacturers face today is their capacity to build intelligent platforms for acquiring, storing and transferring their know-how and knowledge. It is crucial to create new media and tools for staff training and development capable of capturing knowledge and reusing it to create a project history through expertise and data collection. This paper presents the methodology and guidelines for implementing electronic knowledge books (eK-Books), along with their uses. The eK-Book is a semantic web-based hypertext medium (channel) allowing stakeholders to capitalise on, structure and transfer knowledge by using concept maps, process maps, influence graphs, downloadable documents, web pages and hypermedia knowledge sheets. They are intended for engineers, expert or novice technicians, manufacturers, sector coordinators and plant managers, as well as trainers and learners. They are usable and manageable in all types of environments and with different levels of accessibility. This paper highlights (1) the transfer knowledge capacity of eK-Books and (2) their usability in two agri-food sectors namely (1) the cheese sector with protected designation of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI), and (2) the butchery and cold meat sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of Engineering graduates to function as successful professionals depends not only on technical disciplinary knowledge but also on a wide range of professional competencies. Students’ often react differently to educators attempts to develop professional competencies compared to technical competencies. Understanding the nature of these reactions is important if we are to design the most effective educational approaches to the development of professional competencies. In this paper we report on an exploratory factor analysis that used data from a detailed survey of students (N = 339) to identify underlying factors that provide insights to understand the variations in student reactions. A set of five factors were identified from this analysis: capability; learning experience; learning outcomes; employment experience; environment. Two of these factors (learning experience and environment) also exhibited significant differences in the impact between professional and technical competencies. A number of implications for educational design were explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is a fundamental component of the human diet, owing to its substantial nutritional content. In addition, milk contains nanoparticles called extracellular vesicles (EVs), which have indicated their potential beneficial roles such as cell-to-cell communication, disease biomarkers, and therapeutics agents. Amidst other types of EVs, milk EVs (MEVs) have their significance due to their high abundance, easy access, and stability in harsh environmental conditions, such as low pH in the gut. There have been plenty of studies conducted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of bovine MEVs over the past few years, and attention has been given to their engineering for drug delivery and targeted therapy. However, there is a gap between the experimental findings available and clinical trials due to the many challenges related to EV isolation, cargo, and the uniformity of the material. This review aims to provide a comprehensive comparison of various techniques for the isolation of MEVs and offers a summary of the therapeutic potential of bovine MEVs described over the last decade, analyzing potential challenges and further applications. Although a number of aspects still need to be further elucidated, the available data point to the role of MEVs as a potential candidate with therapeutics potential, and the supplementation of MEVs would pave the way to understanding their in-depth effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ergothioneine (EGT) is a distinctive sulfur-containing histidine derivative, which has been recognized as a high-value antioxidant and cytoprotectant, and has a wide range of applications in food, medical, and cosmetic fields. Currently, microbial fermentation is a promising method to produce EGT as its advantages of green environmental protection, mild fermentation condition, and low production cost. However, due to the low-efficiency biosynthetic process in numerous cell factories, it is still a challenge to realize the industrial biopreparation of EGT. The non-conventional yeast Rhodotorula toruloides is considered as a potential candidate for EGT production, thanks to its safety for animals and natural ability to synthesize EGT. Nevertheless, its synthesis efficiency of EGT deserves further improvement. Results: In this study, out of five target wild-type R. toruloides strains, R. toruloides 2.1389 (RT1389) was found to accumulate the highest EGT production, which could reach 79.0 mg/L at the shake flask level on the 7th day. To achieve iterative genome editing in strain RT1389, CRISPR-assisted Cre recombination (CACR) method was established. Based on it, an EGT-overproducing strain RT1389-2 was constructed by integrating an additional copy of EGT biosynthetic core genes RtEGT1 and RtEGT2 into the genome, the EGT titer of which was 1.5-fold increase over RT1389. As the supply of S-adenosylmethionine was identified as a key factor determining EGT production in strain RT1389, subsequently, a series of gene modifications including S-adenosylmethionine rebalancing were integrated into the strain RT1389-2, and the resulting mutants were rapidly screened according to their EGT production titers with a high-throughput screening method based on ergothionase. As a result, an engineered strain named as RT1389-3 was selected with a production titer of 267.4 mg/L EGT after 168 h in a 50 mL modified fermentation medium. Conclusions: This study characterized the EGT production capacity of these engineered strains, and demonstrated that CACR and high-throughput screening method allowed rapid engineering of R. toruloides mutants with improved EGT production. Furthermore, this study provided an engineered RT1389-3 strain with remarkable EGT production performance, which had potential industrial application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy research emphasizes engineering highly active electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to scale up electrocatalytic water splitting. The factors that govern the intrinsic OER activity of an electrocatalyst such as morphology and active sites can be tuned through appropriate synthesis approach. Herein, we report ZnCo 2 O 4 electrocatalyst synthesized by Solution combustion (ZCO-C), sol-gel (ZCO-SG) and hydrothermal method (ZCO-H) and the effect of different synthesis routes on OER activity is investigated. In 1 M KOH, ZCO-C exhibited excellent OER activity with a low overpotential and Tafel slope of 330 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and 59.7 mV dec−1 respectively which is lower than reported literature on pristine ZnCo 2 O 4. The superior OER activity of ZCO-C can be attributed to its higher crystallinity, enhanced electrochemical active surface area, higher active sites (Co3+/Co2+ ratio) and lower charge transfer resistance (R ct). The study highlights the crucial role of synthesis method in tuning the properties of the electrocatalysts towards OER. [Display omitted] • Electrocatalytic performance of ZnCo 2 O 4 varied through different synthetic approaches. • Combustion-synthesized ZnCo 2 O 4 as an electrocatalyst for OER for the first time. • Combustion-derived ZnCo 2 O 4 performance better than other products. • OER performance dependent on Co3+/Co2+ ratio and crystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral perovskites have emerged as promising next‐generation materials for polarization detection due to their excellent circularly polarized light (CPL) detection capabilities. However, they suffer from a low chiroptical response when fabricated as a polycrystalline thin film, limiting their potential range of applications. Herein, it is demonstrated that antisolvent dripping during the spin‐coating process can effectively improve the chiroptical properties of polycrystalline chiral perovskite thin films. Systematic analysis with different antisolvents reveals that the highly polar antisolvent chloroform interacts with dimethyl sulfoxide molecules via hydrogen bonding. This strong hydrogen bonding suppresses the formation of intermediate and secondary phases and accelerates the crystallization of chiral 1D perovskites, thus reducing the density of the iodine vacancies inside the perovskite thin films. The lower density of iodine vacancies also intensifies the asymmetric tilting inorganic distortion of PbI6 octahedrons, enhancing the chiroptical response of the fabricated chiral perovskite material. Photodetectors based on the chloroform‐treated chiral perovskite films achieve a remarkably high distinguishability of 0.31, outperforming previously reported photodetectors based on the chiral perovskites. The fabricated photodetectors also exhibit outstanding responsivity and detectivity with enhanced operational stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helical nanographenes with high quantum yields and strong chiroptical responses are pivotal for developing circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials. Here, we present the successful synthesis of novel π‐extended double [7]helicenes (ED7Hs) where two helicene units are fused at the meta‐ or para‐position of the middle benzene ring, respectively, as the structural isomers of the reported ortho‐fused ED7H. The structural geometry of these ED7Hs is clearly characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Notably, this class of ED7Hs exhibits bright luminescence with high quantum yields exceeding 40 %. Through geometric regulation of two embedded [7]helicene units from ortho‐, meta‐ to para‐position, these ED7Hs display exceptional amplification in chiroptical responses. This enhancement is evident in a remarkable approximate fivefold increase in the absorbance and luminescence dissymmetry factors (gabs and glum), respectively, along with a boosted CPL brightness up to 176 M−1 cm−1, surpassing the performance of most helicene‐based chiral NGs. Furthermore, DFT calculations elucidate that the geometric adjustment of two [7]helicene units allows the precise alignment of electric and magnetic transition dipole moments, leading to the observed enhancement of their chiroptical responses. This study offers an effective strategy for magnifying the CPL performance in chiral NGs, promoting their expanded application as CPL emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkylamines with different chain lengths including n-butylamine, n-hexylamine, and n-octylamine, are applied to regulate the CsPbIBr2 perovskite film quality by strain engineering. The status of residual strains is controllably modulated, resulting in improved efficiency and stability of carbon-based hole-transport-material free CsPbIBr2 perovskite solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial for a special issue of the journal Pharmaceutics on the topic of engineering and characterizing novel nanomedicine formulations. Nanomedicine involves the use of nanotechnology to improve drug delivery and target specific tissues while minimizing adverse effects. The special issue includes 13 articles covering various nanosystems, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, and metal complexes. The articles discuss the development and evaluation of these nanosystems for applications such as improving drug permeation through the skin, delivering oligonucleotides for cancer treatment, and enhancing the efficacy of antineoplastics in solid tumors. The issue also explores the potential of nanocarriers in vaccine development and the challenges of clinical translation of nanomedicines. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the integration of injection molding technology into secondary level engineering and technology education, focusing on lowering the barrier of entry through 3D printing. It highlights the importance of computer-aided design (CAD) software in engineering classrooms, presenting a lesson/unit for students to design and manufacture plastic components using 3D-printed molds, and emphasizes the use of CAD software and the engineering design process in creating injection molds.

[Display omitted] Colloid science has classically concerned itself with the investigation of the properties of dispersed phases in a bulk medium. This has led to the development of a rich amount of chemistry, physics, and engineering that have facilitated the evolution and maturation of this field. One of the many developments made over the last 30 years is the introduction of particles that are heterogeneous in chemistry and shape. These heterogeneities can introduce behaviors that are not achievable in homogeneous systems and that are specific to the type and class of nonuniformity. This has led to the development of numerous technologies, two of which are Janus micromotors and solid surfactants. This review aims to familiarize the reader with the field of heterogeneous particles. We begin with an overview of various synthetic methods to produce colloidal particles that are heterogeneous in chemistry and shape. We then discuss their use as solid surfactants and autonomous micromotors. We then close by summarizing and providing a future perspective on the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 has found widespread applications in pollutant transformation and bioenergy production, closely tied to its outstanding heme synthesis capabilities. However, this significant biosynthetic potential is still unexploited so far. Here, we turned this bacterium into a highly-efficient bio-factory for green synthesis of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA), an important chemical for broad applications in agriculture, medicine, and the food industries. The native C5 pathway genes of S. oneidensis was employed, together with the introduction of foreign anti-oxidation module, to establish the 5-ALA production module, resulting 87-fold higher 5-ALA yield and drastically enhanced tolerance than the wild type. Furthermore, the metabolic flux was regulated by using CRISPR interference and base editing techniques to suppress the competitive pathways to further improve the 5-ALA titer. The engineered strain exhibited 123-fold higher 5-ALA production capability than the wild type. This study not only provides an appealing new route for 5-ALA biosynthesis, but also presents a multi-dimensional modularized engineering strategy to broaden the application scope of S. oneidensis. • Efficient synthesis of 5-ALA solely relying on the S. oneidensis endogenous C5 pathway was achieved for the first time. • Employ a modular assembly strategy to build production, antioxidant, and inhibition modules for tuning the metabolic flux. • Rational metabolic engineering enhances the 5-ALA yield of S. oneidensis by 123 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It analyzes the behavior of enrollment and academic performance of men and women in careers with low female presence. After creating a set of indexes of gender gaps and internal efficiency, a descriptive and longitudinal statistical analysis of academic registration databases of the programmatic offerings of a public university between 2014 and 2023 was performed. As a result, women apply less to engineering, but once they choose this option, they show a better academic performance. Although female enrollment has expanded, in areas such as engineering there is evidence of lags and gaps. It is women who show higher rates of retention, permanence, approval and timely graduation, in addition to presenting a significantly higher average performance. The argument of lower mathematical competencies of women to explain their professional choices in engineering is questioned. It highlights the importance of socio-educational interventions of attitudinal change that expand their choices to this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the advancements in material science and the challenges they pose for the machining industry. It highlights the unique difficulties in machining materials such as superalloys, memory alloys, and composite materials, and explores innovative machining methods to address these challenges. The document also presents a special issue that showcases the latest research and breakthroughs in advanced machining technologies. It includes contributions on topics such as design theory for specific materials, optimization of cutting parameters, durability of forging tools, and the impact of various factors on the machining process. The document concludes by expressing gratitude to the authors, reviewers, and publisher involved in the special issue. [Extracted from the article]

Terahertz (THz) sensors have attracted great attention in the biological field due to their nondestructive and contact-free biochemical samples. Recently, the concept of a quasi-bound state in the continuum (QBIC) has gained significant attention in designing biosensors with ultrahigh sensitivity. QBIC-based metasurfaces (MSs) achieve excellent performance in various applications, including sensing, optical switching, and laser, providing a reliable platform for biomaterial sensors with terahertz radiation. In this study, a structure-engineered THz MS consisting of a "double C" array has been designed, in which an asymmetry parameter α is introduced into the structure by changing the length of one subunit; the Q-factor of the QBIC device can be optimized by engineering the asymmetry parameter α. Theoretical calculation with coupling equations can well reproduce the THz transmission spectra of the designed THz QBIC MS obtained from the numerical simulation. Experimentally, we adopt an MS with α = 0.44 for testing arginine molecules. The experimental results show that different concentrations of arginine molecules lead to significant transmission changes near QBIC resonant frequencies, and the amplitude change is shown to be 16 times higher than that of the classical dipole resonance. The direct limit of detection for arginine molecules on the QBIC MS reaches 0.36 ng/mL. This work provides a new way to realize rapid, accurate, and nondestructive sensing of trace molecules and has potential application in biomaterial detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a new human-based meta-heuristic algorithm, the Learning Cooking Algorithm (LCA), based on the opposition-based learning (OBL) strategy, namely the Opposition-based Learning Cooking Algorithm (OLCA). The proposed OLCA algorithm consists of four stages: the first stage, where the OBL strategy is implemented to improve the initial population; the second stage, where children learn from their respective mothers; the third stage, where children and mothers learn from chefs; and the fourth stage, where OBL is applied again to update the population. The proposed OLCA has been examined over 23 test functions, and the OLCA outcomes are equated with several popular and top-performing optimization algorithms. The statistical outcomes, such as the average (Ave), standard deviation (Std), Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and t -test, reveal that the outcomes of OLCA may effectively address optimization problems by maintaining a proper balance between exploitation and exploration. Furthermore, the proposed OLCA has been employed to solve three real-world engineering problems, such as the tension/compression spring problem, the gear train problem, and the three-bar truss problem. The results demonstrate the OLCA's superiority and capability over other algorithms in solving engineering problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The X-structure has been used for vibration isolation due to its nonlinear characteristic. Here, the use of an inerter-based X-structure vibration isolator is proposed to improve the dynamic performance of the traditional X-structure vibration isolator by exploiting the mass amplification characteristic of the inerter while satisfying the lightweight design requirement. Based on the arrangement of the inerter and X-structure, transverse-mounted, series-connected and parallel-connected inerter-based X-structure vibration isolators are designed. The relevant dynamic equations for these isolators are established using the Lagrange principle, their dynamic responses are obtained using the harmonic balance method and pseudoarc-length method, and their isolation performances are evaluated by three performance indices and compared with those of the X-structure and traditional linear vibration isolators. The results show that the transverse-mounted inerter-based X-structure vibration isolator has nonlinear inertial, nonlinear conservative forcing and nonlinear stiffness characteristics and that the series-connected and parallel-connected inerter-based X-structure vibration isolators have linear inertial and nonlinear stiffness characteristics. The transverse-mounted and parallel-connected inerter-based X-structure vibration isolators have a smaller relative dynamic displacement peak, absolute dynamic displacement peak, absolute displacement transmissibility peak and resonance frequency and wider isolation frequency band than the X-structure isolator, and only the high-frequency absolute displacement transmissibility is larger for the transverse-mounted and parallel-connected inerter-based X-structure vibration isolators. A series-connected inerter-based X-structure vibration isolator can isolate a relatively low-frequency vibration because of the antiresonance frequency and thus can improve the high-frequency absolute displacement transmissibility, while the relative dynamic displacement peak, absolute dynamic displacement peak and absolute displacement transmissibility peak are larger for the series-connected inerter-based X-structure vibration isolator than for the X-structure isolator. The parallel-connected inerter-based X-structure vibration isolator exhibits the best isolation performance and the transverse-mounted inerter-based X-structure vibration isolator exhibits the best shock performance among the four X-structure and linear vibration isolators studied. In addition, the experimental prototype of the inerter-based X-structure vibration isolator is built to test its performance, the theoretical and experimental results are compared to verify the validity of the theoretical modelling. This paper verifies the benefit of introducing the inerter in the X-structure and offers a better choice for effective vibration isolation in practical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular engineering of drug delivering platforms to provide collaborative biological effects with loaded drugs is of great medical significance. Herein, cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1)‐ and reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐targeting electrosprayed microspheres (MSs) are fabricated by loading with the CB1 agonist arachidonoyl 2′‐chloroethylamide (ACEA) and producing ROS in a photoresponsive manner. The synergistic anti‐tumor effects of ACEA and ROS released from the MSs are assessed. ACEA inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor signaling and altered tumor microenvironment (TME) by activating CB1 to induce tumor cell death. The MSs are composed of glycidyl methacrylate‐conjugated xanthan gum (XGMA) and Fe3+, which form dual molecular networks based on a Fe3+‐(COO−)3 network and a C═C addition reaction network. Interestingly, the Fe3+‐(COO−)3 network can be disassembled instantly under the conditions of lactate sodium and ultraviolet exposure, and the disassembly is accompanied by massive ROS production, which directly injures tumor cells. Meanwhile, the transition of dual networks to a single network boosts the ACEA release. Together, the activities of the ACEA and MSs promote immunogenic tumor cell death and create a tumor‐suppressive TME by increasing M1‐like tumor‐associated macrophages and CD8+ T cells. In summation, this study demonstrates strong prospects of improving anti‐tumor effects of drug delivering platforms through molecular design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring information security has emerged as a paramount concern in contemporary human society. Substantial advancements in this regard can be achieved by leveraging photonic signals as the primary information carriers, utilizing photonic logical gates capable of wavelength tunability across various time and spatial domains. However, the challenge remains in the rational design of materials possessing space‐time‐color multiple‐resolution capabilities. In this work, a facile approach is proposed for crafting metal‐organic halides (MOHs) that offer space‐time‐color resolution. These MOHs integrate time‐resolved room temperature phosphorescence and color‐resolved excitation wavelength dependencies with both space‐resolved ex situ optical waveguides and in situ heterojunctions. Capitalizing on these multifaceted properties, MOHs‐based two‐dimensional (2D) optical waveguides and heterojunctions exhibit the ability to tune full‐color emissions across the spectra from blue to red, operating within different spatial and temporal scales. Therefore, this work introduces an effective methodology for engineering space‐time‐color resolved MOH microstructures, holding significant promise for the development of high‐density photonic logical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of excited‐state charge transfer (CT) in second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) fluorophore proceeds with conformational change that govern fluorescence. Unveiling the relationship between CT dynamics and conformational change in excited state is of great fundamental significance in optimizing NIR‐II fluorescence but remains less explored. This study unveils the pivotal role of large conformational change in promoting the evolution of emissive CT state into nonemissive CT state in NIR‐II fluorophore (CA‐BBT). Spectroscopic and computational results reveal that large conformational rotation/twisting leads to a pronounced increase in the CT character in excited state. This heightened CT character in CA‐BBT enables a rapid evolution of emissive CT state into a nonemissive CT state within 1.4 ps, as observed by ultrafast spectroscopy. Subsequently, this nonemissive state dominates nonradiative decay, resulting in very low NIR‐II fluorescence. Preventing such detrimental evolution by constraining the conformational dynamics of CA‐BBT results in a 10‐fold enhancement of NIR‐II fluorescence, enabling high‐resolution dynamic visualization of vasculature within osteosarcoma. This study offers a profound understanding of the relationship between CT dynamics and conformational changes in NIR‐II fluorescence, presenting innovative perspectives to develop bright NIR‐II fluorophores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emission of cyan light (470‐500 nm) plays a vital role in the visible light spectrum and is essential for applications such as lighting, displays, and optical communication. Inorganic cesium lead bromide perovskite quantum dots (CsPbBr3 PQDs) have made significant progress in the field of luminescence materials and devices, however, the lack of techniques to obtain highly emissive and stable cyan‐emitting CsPbBr3 PQDs has limited their device applications. Here, it is demonstrated that the complete surface passivation by treatment of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and lead bromide, which can enhance the photoluminescence and stability of cyan emitting CsPbBr3 PQDs. In particular, the photoluminescence quantum yield of CsPbBr3 QDs can be greatly improved from 10.5% to 83.8%. Through an effective PMMA passivation, the obtained stable and bright CsPbBr3 PQDs composite films as the cyan color converters can effectively emit the cyan light to fill the "cyan gap" of white light‐emitting diode (WLED). The color rendering index value of such WLED is remarkably enhanced from 73.6 to 82.5. This study paves the way for the application of PQD color converters in the next generation of full‐visible‐spectrum WLED lighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational control of intrinsic defects in materials can significantly enhance their scientific and technological potentials, but it remains a long‐standing challenge in nanocrystal‐in‐glass composites (NGCs). Herein, a defect engineering strategy mediated by the mixed alkali effect is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for NGCs. Interestingly, the hybridization of large alkali ions can effectively increase the barrier of Li+ migration and reduce the Li‐related defects in LiNbO3 NGC. As a result, a novel LiNbO3 NGC with greatly reduced Li‐related defects, high crystallinity of over 60%, and excellent optical transmission are successfully fabricated. This unique NGC configuration facilitates efficient transverse second harmonic generation (TSHG) in a broad wavelength region. Based on the above effects, a standard TSHG device is fabricated and implemented to monitor ultrashort optical pulses with duration in the order of ≈10−13 s over a broad wavelength region, down to 780 nm. The proposed strategy not only provides a new idea for defect engineering in materials science but also has great significance for boosting the practical applications of NGCs in ultrashort optical pulse monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-infrared organic small molecule luminescent materials have the advantages of easy modification, high quantum efficiency, good biological affinity, and color adjustability; thus, have promising application prospects in the fields of photoelectric devices, sensitive detection, photodynamic therapy, and biomedical imaging. However, traditional organic luminescent molecules have the problems of short emission wavelength, aggregation-causing emission quenching, and low quantum yield. Herein, we successfully synthesized four D-π-A-D light-emitting molecules based on electron-withdrawing malonitrile group and different electron-donating arylamine groups. These compounds showed satisfactory solvatochromism, aggregation-induced emission, red and near-infrared fluorescence, high photoluminescence quantum efficiency and temperature response properties. This successful example of molecular engineering provides a valuable reference for the development of advanced NIR materials with AIE and temperature-sensitive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are prevalent among immobile bed or wheelchair-reliant individuals who experience prolonged sedentary positions. Pressure relief and frequent repositioning of body posture help to mitigate complications associated with PUs. Adherence with regular repositioning is difficult to maintain due to nursing labour shortages or constraints of in-home caregivers. Manual repositioning, transferring, and lifting of immobile patients are physically demanding tasks for caregivers. This review aimed to explore and categorize these devices, discuss the significant technical challenges that need addressing, and identify potential design opportunities. In this review, a literature search was conducted using PubMED, Science Direct, Google Scholar and IEEE Xplore databases including studies from 1995 until Feb 2023 with keywords such as pressure ulcer, assistive device, pressure relief, repositioning, transfer, etc. Both commercial and research-level devices were included in the search. 142 devices or technologies were identified and classified into four main categories that were further subcategorized. Within each category, the devices were investigated in terms of their mechanical design, actuation methods, control strategies, sensing technologies, and level of autonomy. Limitations of current technologies are design complexity, lack of patient comfort, and a lack of autonomy requiring caregivers frequent intervention. Several devices have been developed to help with prevention and mitigation of PUs. There remain challenges that hinder the widespread accessibility and use of current technologies. Advancements in assistive technologies for pressure ulcer mitigation could lie at the intersection of robotics, sensors, perception, user-centered design, and autonomous systems. Future advancements in assistive technologies for pressure ulcer mitigation could lie at the intersection of robotics, sensors, perception, user-centered design, and autonomous systems. Most existing technologies for prevention of pressure ulcers are focused on the mechanical advantage rather than user's needs and preferences. Future designers, engineers, and product developers must be educated to conduct user needs studies concurrently with the development of technology to design the devices based on the user's needs to ensure a balanced design outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

English-medium instruction (EMI) has been implemented in higher-education institutions around the world. This study examines the states of EMI-related professional development (PD) for Korean science and engineering professors and their perceptions of such programs. Faculty members at the three major science and engineering schools in Korea participated in a questionnaire survey and the follow-up interviews. The results show that the vast majority of them had not participated in pre- or in-service PD programs and had negative attitudes towards certified EMI-related PD programs mainly due to their institution's strong emphasis on their research performance rather than the quality of their teaching. The study offers suggestions for future directions of EMI-related PD at institutions with a similar tendency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge-based computational adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid design can yield better targeted variants. Machine learning (ML) strategies can significantly reduce experimental costs and predict new variants. Computational approaches can reveal novel gene regulatory elements that enhance cell specificity and expression efficiency. Long-read sequencing uncovers previously undiscovered synergistic relationships in AAV diversification beyond peptide display. Different neural network models are available for gene therapy applications. ML-guided directed evolution can be applied in AAV capsid engineering to increase AAV transduction efficiency. Gene delivery vehicles based on adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are enabling increasing success in human clinical trials, and they offer the promise of treating a broad spectrum of both genetic and non-genetic disorders. However, delivery efficiency and targeting must be improved to enable safe and effective therapies. In recent years, considerable effort has been invested in creating AAV variants with improved delivery, and computational approaches have been increasingly harnessed for AAV engineering. In this review, we discuss how computationally designed AAV libraries are enabling directed evolution. Specifically, we highlight approaches that harness sequences outputted by next-generation sequencing (NGS) coupled with machine learning (ML) to generate new functional AAV capsids and related regulatory elements, pushing the frontier of what vector engineering and gene therapy may achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]