The emergence of quantum energy science Metzler, Florian; Sandoval, Jorge I; Galvanetto, Nicola
JPhys Energy,
10/2023, Letnik:
5, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Abstract
Quantum engineering seeks to create novel technologies based on the exploitation of distinctly nonclassical behaviors such as quantum coherence. The vast majority of currently pursued ...applications fall into the domain of quantum information science, with quantum computing as the most visible subdomain. However, other applications of quantum engineering are fast emerging. Here, we review the deployment of quantum engineering principles in the fields of solar energy, batteries, and nuclear energy. We identify commonalities across quantum engineering approaches in those apparently disparate fields and draw direct parallels to quantum information science. We find that a shared knowledge base is forming, which de facto corresponds to a new domain that we refer to as ‘quantum energy science’. Quantum energy science bears the promise of substantial performance improvements across energy technologies such as organic solar cells, batteries, and nuclear fusion. The recognition of this emerging domain may be of great relevance to actors concerned with energy innovation. It may also benefit active researchers in this domain by increasing visibility and motivating the deployment of resources and institutional support.
Aims
This study looks whether the response of soil management (liming and nitrogen fertilization) on the incidence of Fusarium wilt (Foc Race 1) in Gros Michel banana (
Musa
AAA) varies with ...different soil properties.
Methods
The effect of inoculation with Foc Race 1 was studied in a factorial greenhouse trial with soil samples from eight representative soil types from the Costa Rican banana region, two pH levels; and three levels of N-fertilization. After an 8-week period, plant biomass and a disease index were measured.
Results
There were significant effects of soil pH and N, and their interactions on disease expression. Low pH levels and high N-fertilization increased the disease expression. The response to changes in soil pH and N-fertilization differed considerably between the different soils.
Conclusions
Although soil pH and N influence Fusarium wilt in banana, each soil differs in its response to these soil properties. This complicates the development of standard soil management strategies in terms of e.g., N-fertilization and liming to mitigate or fight the disease.
Graphene could replace widely used transparent conductors (TC) like tin oxides due to its high transparency and electrical conductivity. This work focuses on the technical feasibility of graphene ...produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to replace tin oxides in the photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This is the first study in which graphene is used as photoanode TC in a tin oxide-free DSSC with ZnO as mesoporous semiconductor. The stability of graphene towards hybridization with ZnO was investigated using electrical measurements and Raman spectroscopy. A thorough comparison of performance between FTO- and graphene-DSSCs fabricated with otherwise identical methods was performed with linear voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electron lifetime calculations. The higher optical transmittance of graphene resulted in larger open circuit voltage and short circuit current density than FTO devices. However, the larger sheet resistance of graphene caused a lower fill factor in the graphene-DSSCs. Graphene- and FTO-DSSCs yielded similar power conversion efficiencies of 0.4%, despite graphene being ∼250 times thinner than FTO. The findings have important cost and environmental implications for large scale production, not only for DSSCs, but for the photovoltaic technologies derived from them, such as perovskites and quantum dot-SSCs, and other photoelectrochemical devices. Tin oxides replacement with graphene is promising for development of lighter, and more flexible, sustainable and resilient PV technology.
Display omitted
•High-quality, large area CVD-graphene optimized for transparent conductor in PV.•4 L-graphene more transparent than FTO in all sun spectrum, higher VOC and JSC.•50X larger sheet resistance of 4 L-graphene increases series resistance of device.•4 L-graphene 250 times thinner than FTO layer results in similar DSSC efficiency.•Ar annealing necessary to prevent graphene oxidation shortens electron lifetime.
This research aims to develop biofilms based on starch isolated from chachafruto (Erythrina edulis) grown in Colombia. The physicochemical, functional, and morphometric properties of chachafruto ...starch are characterized. Edible biofilms are developed using chachafruto starch, glycerol, oil, and Tween 80. The films are characterized in terms of their physical, mechanical, and barrier properties. The data show a high starch yield of 28.59% with high purity (95.92%) and 0.21% phosphorous, and 14.14% amylose content. Chachafruto starch granules have a bimodal distribution of circular and oval shapes; longitudinal sizes varied from 25.86 to 119.82 µm, and transverse sizes ranged from 40.14 to 45.86 µm. The gelatinization pasting temperature (PT), peak viscosity (PV), and final viscosity (cool paste viscosity, CPV) of starch were 74.7°C, 2602, and 3171 cP, respectively. The addition of oil (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%) and Tween 80 (0.4%) increase the moisture content of the starch and decrease the water vapor permeability (WVP) of the film. Additionally, the oil significantly reduces the tensile strength and elongation at break but has no effect on the percent elongation. The data show that chachafruto seeds are a potential new and unconventional source of starch that shows feasibility for applications in starch‐based edible films.
Films based on chachafruto starch are developed and analyzed. According to the results, chachafruto is an unconventional starch source that could be used as a new material to develop biofilms and edible coatings. The chachafruto starch properties are interesting. Which could stimulate the chachafruto starch extraction industry and its uses in a wide range of products.
Maternal diet during pregnancy is relevant for fatty acid supply during fetal life and lactation. Arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids are also relevant for the normal growth and ...development of brain and visual system. AA and DHA provided by the mother to the fetus and infant are directly associated with maternal dietary intake and body stores. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of maternal diet, specially referring to the quality of fatty acid intake, in a sample of Chilean women during last stage of pregnancy and across the lactation period. Fifty healthy pregnant women (age range 20⁻33 years) were studied from the 6th month of pregnancy and followed until 6th month of lactation period. Diet characteristics were evaluated through food frequency questionnaires. Fatty acids composition of erythrocyte phospholipids and breast milk samples was assessed by gas-liquid chromatography. Overall, women had high saturated fatty acids intake with sufficient intake of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Diet was high in
-6 PUFA and low in
-3 PUFA (mainly DHA), with imbalanced
-6/
-3 PUFA ratio. Erythrocytes and breast milk DHA concentration was significantly reduced during lactation compared to pregnancy, a pattern not observed for AA. We concluded that is necessary to increase the intake of
-3 PUFA during pregnancy and lactation by improving the quality of consumed foods with particular emphasis on its DHA content.
This study evaluates plant growth promotion and the suppressive effect of the burrowing nematode (
Radopholus similis
) in banana
Musa
AAA cv Grande Naine, by two ensilaged biostimulants (EBSs) in ...two greenhouse trials and in two different commercial farms. Conductive (CS) and suppressive (SS) soils to plant parasitic nematodes were used for EBSs production. The EBSs were incorporated in the growth substrate at 10% w/w before planting the in vitro banana plants and before
R. similis
inoculation in the greenhouse trials. In commercial banana plantations, the treatments were applied every four months by incorporating 500 g of the EBS into the soil in front of the successional sucker of each banana plant. The results showed that both EBSs were effective, stimulating the root growth and reducing
R. similis
. The EBS with CS reduced
R. similis
consistently in greenhouse and field evaluations. The data suggests the potential of EBSs to promote unfavorable conditions for the burrowing nematode reproduction and more favorable conditions to the development and production of the crop, which could contribute to promote more sustainable banana production.
Abstract
A randomized complete block design experiment was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of supplementation of increasing concentrations of a novel, bacterial fermentation-derived ...vitamin D source on growth performance and tissue deposition of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD3) in growing swine. Dietary treatments were as follows: commercial control with vitamin D3 (CON) at NRC recommended concentrations and three diets composed of CON + increasing inclusions (25, 50, and 250 µg/kg equivalent) of 25OHD3 from a novel source (CON + 25; CON + 50; and CON + 250, respectively). Pigs (n = 144) were assigned to 24 pens which were allotted to one of the four dietary treatments and fed for 42 d. Blood samples were collected for 25OHD3 concentration determination and individual body weights (BW) were measured on experimental day 0, 39, and 63. On day 42, tissues from 48 pigs (12 pigs per dietary treatment) were analyzed for 25OHD3 concentration. No differences were observed in growth performance. Day 39 serum 25OHD3 concentrations were greatest in CON + 250-fed pigs and linearly decreased as dietary 25OHD3 inclusion decreased (P < 0.0001). On day 42, tissue 25OHD3 concentrations increased linearly as 25OHD3 increased in the diet (P < 0.0001). On day 63, 21 d after dietary 25OHD3 withdrawal, serum 25OHD3 concentrations of all 25OHD3-fed pigs decreased to that of or within 2.76 ± 0.89 ng/mL of CON-fed pigs which demonstrates that feeding 250 µg/kg 25OHD3 is well tolerated by growing pigs and will clear the body within 21 d.
Feeding high concentrations (250 µg/kg of feed) of a novel 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD3) source resulted in linear improvements in circulating vitamin D status and tissue deposition of 25OHD3 but did not improve growth performance. Importantly, after 21 d without 25OHD3 supplementation, circulating concentrations returned to that of pigs fed only vitamin D3, indicating that feeding high concentrations of this vitamin D source to growing swine is safe.
Lay Summary
Pigs require several essential nutrients to meet their needs for maintenance, growth, reproduction, and other functions. It is important to provide these nutrients to the animals properly to assure their health and wellbeing as well as the profitability of production. Vitamin D is a nutrient that plays an important role in bone development and mineralization since it regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Vitamin D has also been reported to aid in additional functions including immunity. Vitamin D can be synthetized in plants and is also produced in humans and animals when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and lead to vitamin D synthesis. In pigs, vitamin D requirements can also be satisfied by dietary sources. The objective of this experiment was to determine the efficacy and safety of supplementation of a novel, bacterial fermentation-derived vitamin D source on growth and tissue accumulation in growing swine. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that concentrations of vitamin D in serum and tissue samples increased as dietary vitamin D supplementation increased, but did not alter growth performance, nor did there appear to be any safety issues with feeding up to 250 µg per kg feed of this vitamin D source to growing pigs.
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous cell population with potent immunosuppressive functions. They play major roles in cancer and many of the pathologic conditions associated ...with inflammation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are untranslated functional RNA molecules. The lncRNAs are involved in the control of a wide variety of cellular processes and are dysregulated in different diseases. They can participate in the modulation of immune function and activity of inflammatory cells, including MDSCs. This mini review focuses on the emerging role of lncRNAs in MDSC activity. We summarize how lncRNAs modulate the generation, recruitment, and immunosuppressive functions of MDSCs and the underlying mechanisms.
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