The jailed opponents of Erdogan's Turkey

Istanbul (AFP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's re-election has dashed hopes for high-profile opposition figures who have been jailed during his rule, where a crackdown on dissent intensified following a failed 2016 coup.

Issued on: 29/05/2023 - 

Selahattin Demirtas, the figurehead of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish HDP party, has been serving a prison sentence since 2016 © Yasin AKGUL / AFP

Secular challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu had pledged to release them as part of an inclusive campaign message seeking to heal the wounds in Turkish society.

The president has given no indication he will offer his rivals an amnesty.

Osman Kavala

Philanthropist and activist Osman Kavala, 65, has been in prison since 2017 on charges of attempting to overthrow the government and financing mass protests in 2013.

The so-called "Gezi" demonstrations, initially sparked by plans to mow down an Istanbul park, morphed into a wider protest movement that rocked Erdogan's government.

Philanthropist and activist Osman Kavala, 65, has been in prison since 2017 © Handout / Anadolu Culture Center/AFP

In 2019, the European Court of Human Rights said Kavala's arrest was aimed at silencing him and deterring other human rights defenders.

A Turkish court confirmed the Paris-born businessman's conviction in a 2022 appeal hearing.

An 18-year prison sentence handed down to seven other defendants has also been maintained, including Tayfun Kahraman, an urban planner and top official at Istanbul's municipal authority.

Film producer Cigdem Mater, researcher Hakan Altinay and lawyer Can Atalay have also been imprisoned in connection with the Gezi movement.

Atalay was elected as an MP in the May 14 parliamentary election and could soon be freed.

Selahattin Demirtas

Selahattin Demirtas, the figurehead of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish HDP party, has been serving a prison sentence since 2016 for spreading "terrorist propaganda".

He also stands accused of dozens of crimes such as insulting the president and having ties to the outlawed PKK group, and risks up to 142 years in jail.

Demirtas has always denied the charges.

Selahattin Demirtas has gained hero status among Turkey's Kurds since his jailing in 2016 © handout / AFP

The PKK has since 1984 waged an insurgency for greater Kurdish autonomy in which tens of thousands have died.

Ankara and its Western allies, including the United States and the European Union, have designated it as a terrorist organisation.

Erdogan's governments and the PKK held peace talks in the 2000s before they broke down and armed conflict resumed in 2015.

The Council of Europe has repeatedly demanded the release of Demirtas in accordance with a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.

The HDP has also demanded the liberation of two former mayors of Diyarbakir, a southeastern city considered Turkey's informal Kurdish capital, and a former party co-president.

Writers, journalists, academics

Erdogan's critics are fighting a years-long crackdown on the freedom of expression and media independence in Turkey.

The offence of "insulting the president" was frequently used during Erdogan's last term to muffle dissident voices, with more than 16,000 such charges in 2022 alone.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), 38 journalists are behind bars and dozens have fled abroad, including the former chief editor of the left-wing Cumhuriyet daily, Can Dundar.

Dundar was convicted in absentia to more than 27 years in prison in 2020 © John MACDOUGALL / AFP

He is now based in Germany after serving a prison term in 2015 for a report on Turkish weapons deliveries to armed jihadist groups in Syria.

Dundar was convicted in absentia to more than 27 years in prison in 2020.

More than a thousand university academics were also targeted in the purge of institutions that followed the 2016 coup attempt.

Their infraction consisted of signing a petition calling for peace and criticising the government for the resumption of fighting between the state and the PKK.

Trial Begins For Iran Journalist Who Reported Mahsa Amini's Death

By AFP - Agence France Presse

May 29, 2023

Iran on Monday held the first trial session for one of the two detained female journalists who reported on Mahsa Amini's death in custody last year, her lawyer said.

Months of nationwide protests erupted after Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died on September 16 following her arrest for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code for women.

The journalists, Niloufar Hamedi, 30, and Elaheh Mohammadi, 36, could face the death penalty after they were detained for covering Amini's death and its aftermath.

The pair are being tried separately by the revolutionary courts behind closed doors in Tehran.

Mohammadi's trial began on Monday and Hamedi's is scheduled to start the following day, according to judiciary spokesman Massoud Setayeshi.

Mohammadi's lawyer, Shahab Mirlohi, described the session as "good and positive", telling AFP that the next court date would be confirmed later.

Mohammadi, a journalist at reformist publication Ham Miham, was taken into custody on September 29 after she travelled to Amini's hometown of Saqez in Kurdistan province to report on her funeral ceremony which turned into a protest.

Hamedi, who works at another reformist paper, Shargh, was detained on September 20 after reporting from the hospital where Amini had spent three days in a coma before her death.

The two women were charged on November 8 with propaganda against the state and conspiring against national security, offences that potentially carry the death penalty.

During last year's protests, which Tehran had labelled foreign-incited "riots", thousands were arrested and hundreds killed, including dozens of security personnel.

Russian 'spy' whale surfaces in Sweden

Stockholm (AFP) – A harness-wearing Beluga whale that turned up in Norway in 2019, sparking speculation it was a spy trained by the Russian navy, has appeared off Sweden's coast, an organisation following him said Monday.

Issued on: 29/05/2023 

A 2019 image from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (Sea Surveillance Service) shows a white whale now observed off Sweden's southwestern coast wearing a harness © Jorgen REE WIIG / NTB Scanpix/AFP/File

First discovered in Norway's far northern region of Finnmark, the whale spent more than three years slowly moving down the top half of the Norwegian coastline, before suddenly speeding up in recent months to cover the second half and on to Sweden.

On Sunday, he was observed in Hunnebostrand, off Sweden's southwestern coast.

"We don't know why he has sped up so fast right now," especially since he is moving "very quickly away from his natural environment", Sebastian Strand, a marine biologist with the OneWhale organisation, told AFP.

"It could be hormones driving him to find a mate. Or it could be loneliness as Belugas are a very social species -- it could be that he's searching for other Beluga whales."

Believed to be 13-14 years old, Strand said the whale is "at an age where his hormones are very high".

The closest population of Belugas is however located in the Svalbard archipelago, in Norway's far north.

The whale is not believed to have seen a single Beluga since arriving in Norway in April 2019.

Norwegians nicknamed it "Hvaldimir" -- a pun on the word "whale" in Norwegian, hval, and a nod to its alleged association to Russia.

When he first appeared in Norway's Arctic, marine biologists from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries removed an attached man-made harness.

The harness had a mount suited for an action camera and the words "Equipment St. Petersburg" printed on the plastic clasps.

Directorate officials said Hvaldimir may have escaped an enclosure, and may have been trained by the Russian navy as it appeared to be accustomed to humans.

Moscow never issued any official reaction to Norwegian speculation he could be a "Russian spy".

The Barents Sea is a strategic geopolitical area where Western and Russian submarine movements are monitored.

It is also the gateway to the Northern Route that shortens maritime journeys between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Strand said the whale's health "seemed to be very good" in recent years, foraging wild fish under Norway's salmon farms.

But his organisation was concerned about Hvaldimir's ability to find food in Sweden, and already observed some weight loss.

Beluga whales, which can reach a size of six metres (20 feet) and live to between 40 and 60 years of age, generally inhabit the icy waters around Greenland, northern Norway and Russia.

© 2023 AFP

Sweden Takes Swift Action Upon Arrival of World Famous ‘Spy Whale’

NEWS PROVIDED BY
OneWhale
May 29, 2023, 


Hvaldimir when he first arrived in Norway wearing a harness


Hvaldimir with Swedish firefighters who immediately came to help

'Russian spy' beluga whale Hvaldimir has now left Norwegian waters for Sweden.

We are impressed by Sweden’s show of care for Hvaldimir. They immediately contacted us upon his arrival, and even closed a bridge to protect him.”
— Regina Haug

KUNGSHAMN, SWEDEN, May 28, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ -- After four years of swimming south down the coast of Norway, Hvaldimir – known worldwide as the ‘Russian spy’ beluga whale – is now in Swedish waters.

The nonprofit organization OneWhale has been working to protect Hvaldimir and advocating for his safety since 2019. Their “Team Hvaldimir” is on site and working side-by-side with the Swedish authorities. Founder Regina Haug says, “We are impressed by Sweden’s show of care for Hvaldimir. They immediately contacted us upon his arrival, and even closed a bridge to protect him.”

Hvaldimir made global news in the past several days when he appeared in Oslo, the capitol city of Norway. Being in an area of one million people with heavy boat traffic and major industry had the OneWhale team extremely concerned for his safety. But the famous beluga skirted around the dangerous waters of Oslo for Sweden.

OneWhale President Rich German says, “Hvaldimir’s situation remains an extremely vulnerable one as Sweden is a highly populated country, but we are very grateful Swedish authorities have quickly taken action to care for the whale.”

Plans are underway to move the whale far north to arctic waters. OneWhale has partnered with the town of Hammerfest and together they are creating the Norwegian Whale Reserve. When finished, the massive 500-acre marine reserve would be a safe place for Hvaldimir to live until an attempt can be made to release him back into a wild beluga population. The reserve will also be a home for other whales who are currently living in captivity.

Hvaldimir first arrived in Hammerfest, Norway in April 2019 wearing a harness that read ‘Equipment St. Petersburg.’ It is believed he was part of a Russian marine mammal military program for several years. He is a friendly, tamed, displaced, formerly captive whale who relies on humans for social interaction. Belugas are highly social whales and he has been living all alone the past four years.

Communication between OneWhale and the Swedish authorities are ongoing as Hvaldimir’s perilous situation continues.

The "spy whale” is back

The well known ‘Whaledimir’ beluga whale has been detected in the waters near Oslo.

‘Whaledimir’ in Norwegian waters back in 2019. Photo: Jørgen Ree Wiig / Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries

Read in Russian | Читать по-русски

Text:
Elizaveta Vereykina

May 24, 2023

This time the arctic waters whale has reached the densely populated area near Oslo. On Tuesday, May 24, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, that has management responsibility for marine mammals, called for people not to interact with the mammal in order not to cause it any harm.  

The beluga ‘Whaledimir’ (Hvaldimir in Norwegian) was first spotted by local fisherman Joar Hesten on Norway’s Barents Sea coast in April 2019 in Måsøy municipality and has since been traveling along the Norwegian coast. 

Fisherman Joar Hesten on Norway’s Barents Sea coast in April 2019 interacting with ‘Whaledimir’. Photo: Jørgen Ree Wiig / Fiskeridirektoratet 

 

When it was first spotted, the whale was wearing a harness that some took for equipment to potentially attach a GoPro camera to. That prompted different speculations about the whales origin - one of the versions was that the sea mammal possibly escaped from one of Russia’s naval bases in the Murmansk region and thus could be “trained to spy” on Norway. 

The Directorate of Fisheries reports that it has rejected multiple inquiries from various organisations to catch the whale and shut it up in a fjord or keep it in captivity in aquariums. 

“We have always communicated that the whale is a free-living animal and we see no reason to capture it and put it behind barriers,” Directorate stated and added that the authorities will monitor the whale’s movements: “We hope it will turn around when it reaches the end of the Oslofjord”, Directorate says. 

The name ‘Whaledimir’, that has a clear resemblance of the Russian male name Vladimir, was chosen for the mammal by Norwegian public when the national broadcaster NRK made a poll asking their audience to name the sea creature.

Former Russian Spy Whale Faces His Greatest Danger

NEWS PROVIDED BY
OneWhale
May 24, 2023



Here's Hvaldimir next to a boat at a salmon farm


Hvaldimir in a very unnatural setting in Oslo

‘Russian spy’ whale lost in Oslo, Norway – city of over one million people. Massive crowds and boat traffic create the ‘perfect storm’ for tragedy to occur.

With swift action Hvaldimir could transition from being a symbol of inhumane animal treatment to a great ambassador of compassion between humans and marine life, but only if we’re able to act quickly.”
— Rich German

OSLO, NORWAY, May 24, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ -- Hvaldimir, known worldwide as the ‘Russian spy’ beluga whale, is now lost in the industrial ports of the capitol city of Oslo – which has a population of over one million people. Massive crowds eager to see the whale, heavy boat traffic and warming weather are creating the ‘perfect storm’ for tragedy to occur.

Hvaldimir first arrived in Hammerfest, Norway in April 2019 wearing a harness that read ‘Equipment St. Petersburg.’ It is believed he was part of a Russian marine mammal military program for several years. He is a friendly, tamed, displaced, formerly captive whale who has been living all alone since his arrival in the country. Hvaldimir seeks out humans for his social needs and due to that behavior has been severely injured multiple times by boat propellers and foreign objects.

To help protect him, the nonprofit organization OneWhale created a public safety program and has been on-site with Hvaldimir since the summer of 2021. OneWhale Founder Regina Crosby Haug recalls, “Because of his incredible charm, his viral fame grew quickly which multiplied the public’s interest to see him in person. Totally understandable, however there were no guardrails around him, just hundreds of people and lots of boats - a risky situation for both the humans and the whale. We put on yellow vests, enlisted volunteers and showed up. This is what Team Hvaldimir still does every day.”

The initiative has been successful in creating safety practices and education around Hvaldimir, however, it cannot prevent the potential disaster he is now facing. According to OneWhale President Rich German, “Without proper intervention it is only a matter of time before Hvaldimir gets seriously injured again or killed. He did not choose to be in this predicament. Hvaldimir needs and deserves help.”

In a measure to provide short term protection, OneWhale is formulating an emergency transport plan to move Hvaldimir far north to arctic waters. OneWhale is in contact with the Norwegian authorities whose permission is required to intervene on behalf of the whale.

“We are very hopeful the authorities will agree to move Norway’s beloved beluga to safety. Norwegians have fallen in love with Hvaldimir and have compassion for his incredible story,” says Haug.

In an effort to provide protection and rehabilitation for Hvaldimir, OneWhale has partnered with the town of Hammerfest and together they are creating the Norwegian Whale Reserve. When finished, the massive 500-acre marine reserve would be a safe place for Hvaldimir to live until an attempt can be made to release him back into a wild beluga population. The reserve will also be a home for other whales who will be released from captivity.

There are presently over 300 belugas and 56 orcas confined in concrete tanks around the world. As laws and attitudes change in favor of whales having freedom, many of these animals will need an ocean home and the Norwegian Whale Reserve can be a solution for many of them. According to German, “With swift action Hvaldimir could transition from being a symbol of inhumane animal treatment to a great ambassador of compassion between humans and marine life, but only if we’re able to act quickly.”

Discussions between OneWhale and the authorities in Oslo continue.

Rich German
OneWhale
rich@onewhale.org

How excessive salt consumption is linked to cognitive disorders and high blood pressure

Japanese researchers identify two key physiological systems involved in high-salt-induced hypertension and emotional/cognitive impairment

Peer-Reviewed Publication

FUJITA HEALTH UNIVERSITY

Dementia is defined as the loss of cognitive functioning—including thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and is very prevalent in Japan. Currently, the treatment satisfaction for dementia is among the lowest and no drug therapy is available to cure the disease. With a rapidly ageing global population, the development of dementia preventive and therapeutic drugs is critical.

Cognitive impairment has been linked to the consumption of excess table salt, a ubiquitous food seasoning. High salt (HS) intake can also lead to hypertension. To prevent adverse health outcomes, the World Health Organization recommends limiting salt intake to less than 5 g per day. The involvement of angiotensin II (Ang II)—a hormone that plays a key role in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance—and its receptor “AT1”, as well as that of the physiologically important lipid molecule prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 and its receptor “EP1” in hypertension and neurotoxicity is well-recognized. However, the involvement of these systems in HS-mediated hypertension and emotional/cognitive impairment remains elusive.

To this end, a recent study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology thoroughly evaluated the aspects of HS-mediated hypertension and emotional/cognitive impairment. The study was performed by a team of collaborating researchers from Japan, and has shown how hypertension, mediated by the crosstalk between Ang II-AT1 and PGE2-EP1 causes emotional and cognitive dysfunction.

Author Hisayoshi Kubota from Fujita Health University’s Graduate School of Health Science comments, “Excessive salt intake is considered a risk factor for hypertension, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. However, studies focusing on the interaction between the peripheral and central nervous system have not sufficiently investigated this association.”

According to the published data, the addition of excessive phosphates to the protein “tau” is primarily responsible for this emotional and cognitive consequences. The findings are particularly noteworthy because tau is a key protein of the Alzheimer's disease.

The team first loaded laboratory mice with an HS solution (2% NaCl in drinking water) for 12 weeks and monitored their blood pressure. “The effects of HS intake on emotional/cognitive function and tau phosphorylation were also examined in two key areas of the mouse brain—the prefrontal cortex  and the hippocampus,” explains Prof. Mouri. Next, they also studied the involvement of the Ang II-AT1 and PGE2-EP1 systems in the HS-induced hypertension and neuronal/behavioral impairment.

The results were remarkable and encouraging:  The brains of the experimental mice had several biochemical alternations. At the molecular level, besides the addition of phosphates to tau, the researchers also observed a decrease in the phosphate groups linked to a key enzyme called “CaMKII”—a protein involved in brain signaling. Moreover, changes in the levels of “PSD95”—a protein that plays a vital role in the organization and function of brain synapses (connection between brain cells)—were also evident. Interestingly, the biochemical changes were reversed after the administration of the antihypertensive drug “losartan.” A similar reversal was observed after knocking out the EP1 gene.         

Overall, these findings suggest that angiotensin II-AT1 and prostaglandin E2-EP1 systems could be novel therapeutic targets for hypertension-induced dementia.

Prof. Mouri concludes by saying, “This study is of particular social and economic importance because the annual social cost of dementia treatment in Japan is surging like never before”. Therefore, developing preventive and therapeutic drugs for dementia seems critical for Japan’s rapidly aging population.”

 

***

 

Reference

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.16093

 

About Fujita Health University
Fujita Health University is a private university situated in Toyoake, Aichi, Japan. It was founded in 1964 and houses one of the largest teaching university hospitals in Japan in terms of the number of beds. With over 900 faculty members, the university is committed to providing various academic opportunities to students internationally. Fujita Health University has been ranked eighth among all universities and second among all private universities in Japan in the 2020 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. THE University Impact Rankings 2019 visualized university initiatives for sustainable development goals (SDGs). For the “good health and well-being” SDG, Fujita Health University was ranked second among all universities and number one among private universities in Japan. The university became the first Japanese university to host the "THE Asia Universities Summit" in June 2021. The university’s founding philosophy is “Our creativity for the people (DOKUSOU-ICHIRI),” which reflects the belief that, as with the university’s alumni and alumnae, current students also unlock their future by leveraging their creativity.

Website: https://www.fujita-hu.ac.jp/en/index.html

 

About Professor Akihiro Mouri from Fujita Health University
Dr. Akihiro Mouri serves as a Professor at Fujita Health University’s School of Health Sciences. He has over 100 well-cited publications and multiple patents to his credit. Prof. Mouri’s research group primarily focuses on epidemiological and genetic findings in humans and creates animal models of psychiatric and neurological disorders to explore various pathological and pathogenic mechanisms. The group conducts behavioral and neurochemical experiments to develop new therapeutic agents, phytochemicals, and diagnostic biomarkers. Prof. Mouri has won several distinguished awards for his outstanding research contributions.  

 

Funding information
This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (17H04252, 20K07931, and 20K16679) and by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) FOREST Program (JPMJFR215H). In addition, this work was supported by a grant from the Education and Research Facility of Animal Models for Human Diseases at Fujita Health University, a research grant from the Smoking Research Foundation, and the Takeda Science Foundation.

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JOURNAL

British Journal of Pharmacology

DOI

10.1111/bph.16093 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

High salt induces cognitive impairment via the interaction of angiotensin II-AT1 and prostaglandin E2-EP1 systems

Groundbreaking study reveals sympatric sloths have developed diverse strategies to adapt to their surroundings, enhancing their chances of survival in the face of environmental fluctuations

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PEERJ

 

IMAGE: SLOTH view more 

CREDIT: THE SLOTH CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Researchers have shed light on the activity patterns and behavioral adaptations of two sympatric sloth species, Bradypus variegatus and Choloepus hoffmanni. This groundbreaking study, conducted in the lowland rainforests of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, offers valuable insights into the ecological dynamics of sloths and their ability to thrive in diverse environmental conditions. 

Faced with the challenge of studying the elusive nature of sloths, Dr. Rebecca Cliffe Founder and Executive Director of The Sloth Conservation Foundation and colleagues employed micro data loggers to continuously monitor the behavior of both three-toed sloths (Bradypus) and two-toed sloths (Choloepus) over extended periods, ranging from days to weeks. By doing so, they were able to explore the influence of fluctuating environmental conditions on sloth activity and its correlation with their unique low-energy lifestyle. 

The findings, published in PeerJ Life & Environment, indicate that both Bradypus and Choloepus sloths exhibit cathemeral activity patterns, characterized by irregular and variable periods of activity throughout the 24-hour cycle. This behavior allows sloths to take advantage of favorable environmental conditions while minimizing the risk of predation. 

One of the key revelations of the study was the substantial variability observed in activity levels both between individuals and within individuals. This flexibility suggests that sloths have developed diverse strategies to adapt to their surroundings, enhancing their chances of survival in the face of environmental fluctuations.

Contrary to expectations, daily temperature did not significantly influence sloth activity. However, Bradypus sloths exhibited increased nocturnal activity on colder nights and the nights following colder days, indicating a potential correlation between temperature variations and their behavior. 

Dr. Cliffe, the lead scientist on the project, emphasized the importance of this research for conservation efforts and understanding the impact of anthropogenic activities and climate change on tropical ecosystems in South and Central America. With the vulnerability of these ecosystems on the rise, unraveling the behavioral ecology of wild sloths becomes crucial for developing effective conservation measures. 

The cryptic nature of sloths has traditionally made long-term observational research challenging. However, the use of micro data loggers has provided unprecedented insights into their behavioral patterns and adaptations. This breakthrough paves the way for further studies and encourages the scientific community to explore the behavioral ecology of other elusive species with innovative approaches. 

The results of this study not only contribute to our understanding of sloth ecology but also highlight the importance of preserving and protecting tropical rainforests and their unique inhabitants. As the global climate changes and human activities continue to impact these fragile ecosystems, the knowledge gained from this research will aid in the development of strategies to safeguard their biodiversity and promote sustainable practices.

 

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JOURNAL

PeerJ

DOI

10.7717/peerj.15430 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

The behaviour and activity budgets of two sympatric sloths; Bradypus variegatus and Choloepus hoffmanni

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

29-May-2023

KRISS ushers in era of green hydrogen

KRISS demonstrated carrier transport mechanism of photoanode with protective film to optimize green hydrogen production, The development can contribute to the realization of carbon-free green hydrogen and artificial photosynthesis

Peer-Reviewed Publication

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

 

IMAGE: HIGHLIGHTING A STUDY ON A MECHANISM OF PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL WATER SPLITTING ON SI PHOTOANODE PASSIVATED WITH TIOX LAYER WITH VARIOUS DEFECT DENSITY FROM THE LABORATORIES OF DR. ANSOON KIM AT KOREA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS & SCIENCE (KRISS). view more 

CREDIT: KOREA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND SCIENCE (KRISS)

Hydrogen has been gaining attention as a clean and efficient energy source. However, is hydrogen really environmentally friendly? Most hydrogen commonly used now is “grey hydrogen” derived from fossil fuels. Since its production process accompanies generation of green house gas, it can be said that grey hydrogen is not environmentally friendly in the strict sense. The era of “green hydrogen” without carbon emissions has not yet begun.

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS, President Hyun-min Park) has demonstrated the key to the longevous and efficient photoanode with protective film, which is used to produce hydrogen via water splitting using solar energy. This is expected to bring forward the era of environment-friendly “green hydrogen.”

Green hydrogen is produced without carbon emissions by using renewable energy sources. A representative method to produce green hydrogen is photoelectrochemical water splitting using photoanode which is directly immersed in electrolyte and can absorb sunlight. As a result, the photoanode directly splits contacting water into hydrogen and oxygen using absorbed solar energy. However, as the photoanode is in direct contact with electrolyte, it is prone to surface corrosion. Surface protective coatings were deposited on the surface to prevent surface corrosion.

Typically, oxide materials such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) are used as protective films for photoanodes. Although oxide materials are poor conductors of electricity, their conductivity can be modulated when oxygen defects, serving as a channel for charge transport, are formed. The key to extending the lifespan of photoanodes is to develop a protective film durable enough to prevent electrode corrosion and capable of maintaining optimal electrical conductivity.

KRISS has developed the world’s first technology for systematically modulating the levels of oxygen defects in a titanium dioxide (TiO2) protective film of photoanode to maximize hydrogen production efficiency. In order to explore the role of oxygen defects in the charge transfer mechanism, the research team determined the optimal levels of defects that maximize photoanode lifespan and hydrogen production by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical analysis

Unlike past studies that relied on spontaneously formed oxygen defects in the protective film during manufacturing process, this research proposes a direct method of production that controls the levels of oxygen defects, enabling mass production. According to the experimental results, the photoanode without a protective film showed a rapid degradation in lifespan within an hour, causing the hydrogen production efficiency to fall below 20 % compared to the initial state. On the other hand, the photoanode with optimized protective film maintained a hydrogen production efficiency of over 85 % even after 100 hours.

This achievement has the potential to enhance the efficiency and lifespan of photoanodes and can be applied to other clean technologies that rely on photoanodes. The artificial photosynthesis technology that captures carbon dioxide and converts it to a chemical energy source using solar energy is one of the examples.

Dr. Ansoon Kim, a principal researcher at KRISS Interdisciplinary Materials Measurement Institute, said, “This approach can improve photoanode lifespan by approximately 10 times and significantly contribute to the commercialization of green hydrogen.”

 

KRISS plans to conduct further research to unveil the optimal levels of oxygen defects and underlying principles that maximize the lifespan of photoanodes.

For the efficient PEC water splitting, it is crucial to balance two factors by systematically controlling the defect density in TiOx passivation layer of n-Si photoanode, which are (1) accessible density of state for carrier transportation in forbidden gap and (2) favorable interface energetics.

CREDIT

Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS)

As the national metrology institute (NMI) of Korea founded in 1975, KRISS (Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science) has developed measurement standards technology and played a pivotal role in upgrading Korea’s main industries to the global level.

Supported by mainly KRISS and partly the Technology Innovation Program of NRF (National Research Foundation of Korea), the study was published on the back cover of Journal of Materials Chemistry A (IF=14.511), an international journal in the field of materials chemistry, on 28th February 2023.

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JOURNAL

Journal of Materials Chemistry A

DOI

10.1039/D2TA07082K 

ARTICLE TITLE

Role of defect density in TiOx protective layer of n-Si photoanode for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

X-ray emissions from black hole jets vary unexpectedly, challenging leading model of particle acceleration

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY

 

IMAGE: EILEEN MEYER IS THE LEAD AUTHOR ON A NEW SURPRISING STUDY IN NATURE ASTRONOMY. THE PAPER APPEARS TO RULE OUT A LEADING THEORY FOR HOW BLACK HOLE JETS FORM X-RAYS. BLACK HOLE JETS ARE KNOWN TO EMIT X-RAYS, BUT HOW THEY ACCELERATE PARTICLES TO THIS HIGH-ENERGY STATE IS STILL A MYSTERY. ONE MODEL OF HOW JETS GENERATE X-RAYS EXPECTS THE JETS’ X-RAY EMISSIONS TO REMAIN STABLE OVER LONG TIME SCALES. HOWEVER, THE NEW PAPER FOUND THAT THE X-RAY EMISSIONS OF A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF JETS VARIED OVER JUST A FEW YEARS. THE FINDINGS OPEN THE DOOR TO REIMAGINING HOW PARTICLE ACCELERATION WORKS. “HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A REAL CALL TO THE THEORISTS,” MEYER SAYS, “TO BASICALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS RESULT AND COME UP WITH JET MODELS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE’RE FINDING.” view more 

CREDIT: MARLAYNA DEMOND/UMBC

Researchers discovered only relatively recently that black hole jets emit x-rays, and how the jets accelerate particles to this high-energy state is still a mystery. Surprising new findings in Nature Astronomy appear to rule out one leading theory, opening the door to reimagining how particle acceleration works in the jets—and possibly also elsewhere in the universe.

One leading model of how jets generate x-rays expects the jets’ x-ray emissions to remain stable over long time scales (millions of years). However, the new paper found that the x-ray emissions of a statistically significant number of jets varied over just a few years.

“One of the reasons we’re excited about the variability is that there are two main models for how x-rays are produced in these jets, and they’re completely different,” explains lead author Eileen Meyer, an astronomer at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “One model invokes very low-energy electrons and one has very high-energy electrons. And one of those models is completely incompatible with any kind of variability.”

For the study, the authors analyzed archival data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the highest-resolution x-ray observatory available. The research team looked at nearly all of the black hole jets for which Chandra had multiple observations, which amounted to 155 unique regions within 53 jets.

Discovering relatively frequent variability on such short time scales “is revolutionary in the context of these jets, because that was not expected at all,” Meyer says.

Rethinking particle acceleration

In addition to assuming stability in x-ray emissions over time, the simplest theory for how jets generate x-rays assumes particle acceleration occurs at the center of the galaxy in the black hole “engine” that drives the jet. However, the new study found rapid changes in x-ray emissions all along the length of the jets. That suggests particle acceleration is occurring all along the jet, at vast distances from the jet’s origin at the black hole.       

“There are theories out there for how this could work, but a lot of what we’ve been working with is now clearly incompatible with our observations,” Meyer says.

Interestingly, the results also hinted that jets closer to Earth had more variability than those much farther away. The latter are so far away, that by the time the light coming from them reaches the telescope, it is like looking back in time. It makes sense to Meyer that older jets would have less variability. Earlier in the universe’s history, the universe was smaller and ambient radiation was greater, which researchers believe could lead to greater stability of x-rays in the jets.

Critical collaboration

Despite Chandra’s outstanding imaging resolution, the data set posed significant challenges. Chandra observed some of the pockets of variability with only a handful of x-ray photons. And the variability in x-ray production in a given jet was typically tens of percent or so. To avoid unintentionally counting randomness as real variability, Meyer collaborated with statisticians at the University of Toronto and the Imperial College of London.

“Pulling this result out of the data was almost like a miracle, because the observations were not designed to detect it,” Meyer says. The team’s analysis suggests that between 30 and 100 percent of the jets in the study showed variability over short time scales. “While we would like better constraints,” she says, “the variability is notably not zero.”

The new findings poke significant holes in one of the major theories for x-ray production in black hole jets, and Meyer hopes the paper spurs future work. “Hopefully this will be a real call to the theorists,” she says, “to basically take a look at this result and come up with jet models that are consistent with what we’re finding.”

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JOURNAL

Nature Astronomy

DOI

10.1038/s41550-023-01983-1 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Data/statistical analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Variability of extragalactic X-ray jets on kiloparsec scales

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

29-May-2023

Medical "microrobots" could one day treat bladder disease, other human illnesses

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER

 

IMAGE: MEDICAL "MICROROBOTS" COULD ONE DAY DELIVER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THROUGHOUT THE HUMAN BODY. view more 

CREDIT: SHIELDS LAB

A team of engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder has designed a new class of tiny, self-propelled robots that can zip through liquid at incredible speeds—and may one day even deliver prescription drugs to hard-to-reach places inside the human body.

The researchers describe their mini healthcare providers in a paper published last month in the journal Small.

“Imagine if microrobots could perform certain tasks in the body, such as non-invasive surgeries,” said Jin Lee, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. “Instead of cutting into the patient, we can simply introduce the robots to the body through a pill or an injection, and they would perform the procedure themselves.”

Lee and his colleagues aren’t there yet, but the new research is big step forward for tiny robots. 

The group’s microrobots are really small. Each one measures only 20 micrometers wide, several times smaller than the width of a human hair. They’re also really fast, capable of traveling at speeds of about 3 millimeters per second, or roughly 9,000 times their own length per minute. That’s many times faster than a cheetah in relative terms. 

They have a lot of potential, too. In the new study, the group deployed fleets of these machines to transport doses of dexamethasone, a common steroid medication, to the bladders of lab mice. The results suggest that microrobots may be a useful tool for treating bladder diseases and other illnesses in people.

“Microscale robots have garnered a lot of excitement in scientific circles, but what makes them interesting to us is that we can design them to perform useful tasks in the body,” said C. Wyatt Shields, a co-author of the new study and assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering.

Fantastic Voyage

If that sounds like something ripped from science fiction, that’s because it is. In the classic film Fantastic Voyage, a group of adventurers travels via a shrunken-down submarine into the body of a man in a coma.

“The movie was released in 1966. Today, we are living in an era of micrometer- and nanometer-scale robots,” Lee said.

He imagines that, just like in the movie, microrobots could swirl through a person’s blood stream, seeking out targeted areas to treat for various ailments.

The team makes its microrobots out of materials called biocompatible polymers using a technology similar to 3D printing. The machines look a bit like small rockets and come complete with three tiny fins. They also include a little something extra: Each of the robots carries a small bubble of trapped air, similar to what happens when you dunk a glass upside-down in water. If you expose the machines to an acoustic field, like the kind used in ultrasound, the bubbles will begin to vibrate wildly, pushing water away and shooting the robots forward. 

Other CU Boulder co-authors of the new study include Nick Bottenus, assistant professor of mechanical engineering; Ankur Gupta, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering; and engineering graduate students Ritu Raj, Cooper Thome, Nicole Day and Payton Martinez.

To take their microrobots for a test drive, the researchers set their sights on a common problem for humans: bladder disease.

Microrobot seen under a scanning electron microscope.

CREDIT

Shields Lab

Bringing relief

Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome, affects millions of Americans and, as its name suggests, can cause severe pelvic pain. Treating the disease can be equally uncomfortable. Often, patients have to come into a clinic several times over a period of weeks where a doctor injects a harsh solution of dexamethasone into the bladder through a catheter. 

Lee believes that microrobots may be able to provide some relief.

In laboratory experiments, the researchers fabricated schools of microrobots encapsulating high concentrations of dexamethasone. They then introduced thousands of those bots into the bladders of lab mice. The result was a real-life Fantastic Voyage: The microrobots dispersed through the organs before sticking onto the bladder walls, which would likely make them difficult to pee out.

Once there, the machines slowly released their dexamethasone over the course of about two days. Such a steady flow of medicine could allow patients to receive more drugs over a longer span of time, Lee said, improving outcomes for patients. 

He added that the team has a lot of work to do before microrobots can travel through real human bodies. For a start, the group wants to make the machines fully biodegradable so that they would eventually dissolve in the body. 

“If we can make these particles work in the bladder,” Lee said, “then we can achieve a more sustained drug release, and maybe patients wouldn’t have to come into the clinic as often.”

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JOURNAL

Small

DOI

10.1002/smll.202300409 

ARTICLE TITLE

Bubble-Based Microrobots with Rapid Circular Motions for Epithelial Pinning and Drug Delivery