URBAN STUDIES

To what extent are pharmaceutical and illicit drugs contaminating city rivers?

WILEY

In research published in Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, investigators sampled water from 19 locations across the Hudson and East Rivers in 2021 and 2022 to identify and quantify the prescribed pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse that are making their way into New York City’s rivers and to determine the source of these pollutants.

Metoprolol and atenolol (blood pressure medications), benzoylecgonine (the main metabolite of cocaine), methamphetamine (a stimulant), and methadone (an opioid) were the most prevalent drugs, present in more than 60% of water samples.

More drugs and higher concentrations were detected in water contaminated by Enterococci (bacteria that live in the intestinal tract) and after rainfall, indicating an impact from sewer overflow. However, the presence of drugs in clean water and during periods of dry weather indicated that wastewater treatment plant discharge may also contribute to the presence of drugs in rivers.

“This study shows how pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse enter the New York City aquatic environment, highlighting the necessity of improving the current water management system,” said corresponding author Marta Concheiro-Guisan, PharmD, PhD, of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.5891

 

Additional Information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.

About the Journal
Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (ET&C) publishes papers describing original experimental or theoretical work that significantly advances understanding in the area of environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, and hazard/risk assessment. ET&C is interdisciplinary in scope and integrates the fields of environmental toxicology; environmental, analytical, and molecular chemistry; ecology; physiology; biochemistry; microbiology; genetics; genomics; environmental engineering; chemical, environmental, and biological modeling; epidemiology; and earth sciences.

About Wiley
Wiley is a knowledge company and a global leader in research, publishing, and knowledge solutions. Dedicated to the creation and application of knowledge, Wiley serves the world’s researchers, learners, innovators, and leaders, helping them achieve their goals and solve the world's most important challenges. For more than two centuries, Wiley has been delivering on its timeless mission to unlock human potential. Visit us at Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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JOURNAL

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI

10.1002/etc.5891 

ARTICLE TITLE

The impact of combined sewer overflows on pharmaceutical and illicit drug levels in New York/New Jersey waterways

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

29-May-2024

Living with risk: Building the future of resilient cities

HIGHER EDUCATION PRESS

 

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ACTION MODEL FOR MULTIPLE AGENCIES IN GENERAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK FOR RESILIENT MANAGEMENT OF FLOOD DISASTERS IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
 

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CREDIT: URBAN PLANNING FORUM

The disasters frequently happened these years made the term “resilience” gained increasing attention. Since the end of the 20th century, the way of responding to disaster risks has evolved from disaster prevention to reduction, and now to resilience governance, shifting from the pursuit of “zero risk” to living with risk.

Professor Guofang Zhai currently serves as the Director of the Center for Urban Safety and Development at Nanjing University was interviewed. His main research interests and practice include territorial spatial planning, urban public safety planning, and particularly focuses on the development and evaluation of resilient city construction both in China and abroad.

He highlighted the primary task is to enhance infrastructure resilience. Facing the issue of spatial imbalance of urban resilience, it is essential to give full play to the role of territorial spatial planning, with whole-process, multi-factor, multisystem research on urban resilience as an important reference for planning and design, and take disaster scenario simulation as a crucial technical approach. It is necessary to implement both engineering and non-engineering measures, to increase public awareness of risks and to encourage individual participation into the building of resilient cities. Planners and designers should also have a deeper understanding of the possible disasters and be prepared for emergency responses to disasters that exceed standard defense levels. 

The work entitled “Living With Risk: Building the Future of Resilient Cities” was published on the journal of Landscape Architecture Frontiers (February 15, 2024).

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JOURNAL

Landscape Architecture Frontiers

DOI

10.15302/J-LAF-1-030051 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Living With Risk: Building the Future of Resilient Cities

 

Emotional context in decision-making: Challenging Lewin's motivational conflicts theory

THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM

A new study reviewed and challenged Kurt Lewin’s long-standing motivational conflicts theory with new findings that suggest the difficulty of resolving conflicts depends on the emotional context. The study found that avoidance-avoidance conflicts are more challenging in positive and neutral contexts, while no significant difference was found in negative contexts. The results of this study expand our understanding of decision-making conflicts.

A recent series of experiments conducted by PhD student Maya Enisman and Dr. Tali Kleiman from the Psychology department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, challenges the longstanding theory of motivational conflict resolution introduced by Kurt Lewin. According to Lewin, conflicts between two undesirable outcomes (avoidance-avoidance conflicts) are typically harder to resolve than those between two desirable ones (approach-approach conflicts).

Lewin posited that avoidance-avoidance conflicts, where individuals must choose between two undesirable outcomes, are typically more challenging to resolve compared to approach-approach conflicts, which involve choosing between two desirable options. In avoidance-avoidance conflicts, the intensity of negative feelings associated with both choices and the difficulty in decision-making often lead to heightened psychological distress. Unlike approach-approach conflicts, where decision-making may involve selecting the option with the most benefits, avoidance-avoidance conflicts require navigating between two undesirable outcomes or finding a compromise to minimize negative consequences.

Maya Enisman and Dr. Tali Kleiman’s  new study, which includes five experiments, argues that the difficulty of resolving these conflicts is not solely the result of the type of conflict, but rather depends on the compatibility between the conflicts and the emotional context in which they occur. The findings suggest that avoidance-avoidance conflicts are notably more challenging in positive affective contexts, but show no significant difference in resolution difficulty from approach-approach conflicts in negative contexts.

The study also introduces a neutral condition to provide a baseline for these effects, contrasting with previous research which did not account for the impact of the affective context. These insights test the boundaries of the accepted wisdom that has prevailed since Lewin’s theory was first proposed in 1931.

The researchers also pointed out the social influence of these conflicts, noting how avoidance-avoidance dilemmas are often depicted in idioms like “between a rock and a hard place,” reflecting the deep-seated nature of such conflicts in human experience. In contrast, approach-approach conflicts are less likely to be expressed in similarly vivid terms, suggesting a social representation that aligns with Lewin’s original findings.

“This study revisits a foundational theory in Social Psychology and opens new pathways for understanding decision-making conflicts under various contextual influences.” stated PhD student Maya Enisman, lead researcher of the study.

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JOURNAL

Emotion

DOI

10.1037/emo0001353 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

The relative difficulty of resolving motivational conflicts is affective context-dependent

Scent detection dogs discern odour molecules better than previously thought

UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

 

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SCENT DOG KÖSSI

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CREDIT: EGIL BJÖRKMAN

According to a recent study, dogs trained to detect scent may be able to identify significantly lower concentrations of odour molecules than has previously been documented.

A study carried out by the University of Helsinki's DogRisk research group, the University of Eastern Finland and Wise Nose – Scent Discrimination Association in Finland investigated the threshold for scent detection in dogs. 

The study revealed that dogs can learn to identify concentrations of eucalyptus hydrolate that are clearly below the detection threshold of sophisticated analytical instruments used today. The concentrations were also far below previously reported levels. Dogs’ extraordinary sense of smell can be exploited, for example, in search and rescue operations and in medical detection.

The 15 dogs that participated in the study had different training backgrounds. Some dogs had experience of nose work, which is a hobby and competitive dog sport, while some had been trained to identify diseases, mould or pests.

In the study, the dogs were to differentiate samples containing low concentrations of eucalyptus hydrolate from samples containing only water. The focus was on determining the lowest concentration that the dogs could detect for certain. The study included three different tests where the concentrations of the hydrolate were diluted gradually until the dogs could no longer identify the scent.  This determined the threshold for their scent detection ability. 

“The dogs’ scent detection threshold initially varied from 1:10⁴–1:10²³ but narrowed down to 1:10¹⁷–1:10²¹ after a training period. In other words, the dogs needed 1 to 10 molecules per millilitre of water to detect the right sample. For perspective, a single yeast cell contains 42 million molecules,” describes the principal investigator of the study, Anna Hielm-Björkman from the University of Helsinki. 

In addition, the researchers found that there was great variation between the eucalyptus hydrolate products commonly used in nose work. They analysed ten commercial products and detected, for instance, different concentrations of eucalyptol and lower alcohols.

“This explains why many dogs used to commercial eucalyptus hydrolates showed unexpectedly poor results in the study. Their sense of smell is so precise that they did not identify the eucalyptus hydrolate used in the study to be same substance that they were familiar with. This demonstrates the importance of using standardised nose work products in both training and sports competitions,” concludes Visiting Researcher Soile Turunen from the University of Eastern Finland. 

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JOURNAL

Animals

DOI

10.3390/ani14071083 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Scent Detection Threshold of Trained Dogs to Eucalyptus Hydrolat

 

Nuclear waste to be scanned before final disposal

The final disposal operations of spent nuclear fuel are being prepared to start next year in Finland as the first place in the world.

UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

 

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THE CROSS-SECTION IMAGE OF A FUEL ROD ASSEMBLY SHOWS INDIVIDUAL RODS, LIKE A HANDFUL OF PENCILS SEEN FROM ABOVE.

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CREDIT: RIINA VIRTA

At Olkiluoto in Eurajoki, preparations are underway to start the disposal of spent nuclear fuel in the Finnish bedrock next year – as the first place in the world.

After use, nuclear fuel becomes strongly radiating and dangerous waste. It contains a large amount of uranium and plutonium, which are building blocks for nuclear weapons. All these materials must be intact when the fuel rods are stored in their final deposit. This is why they must be meticulously and dependably measured before depositing them.

“This way, we can be sure of what is being deposited in the bedrock, and that all nuclear materials will remain in peaceful use,” says visiting researcher Riina Virta at the University of Helsinki.

All the important information must be gathered before the final disposal. The measurements must also be stored in a way that will be accessible and understandable to human beings for thousands, even hundreds and thousands of years.

For her doctoral thesis, Riina Virta has studied measuring methods for nuclear waste at the University of Helsinki in cooperation with the Helsinki Institute of Physics (HIP). Virta also works as an inspector in the nuclear materials safeguards section of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.

Gamma camera sees inside assembly

In her thesis work, Riina Virta developed a PGET device, i.e. an imaging method called passive gamma emission tomography, which measures the gamma radiation emitted by spent nuclear fuel. Nuclear fuel consists of rods, a few metres long and containing uranium, which are gathered into an assembly to act as a fuel element. The PGET instrument can produce an exact cross-section image of the fuel assembly.

The cross-section image allows us to check that the assembly still retains all the rods. The challenging thing with this method is that the fuel dampens the radiation very efficiently.

“In practice, the radiation from the middle of the assembly just barely reaches the detector, i.e. the ‘camera’. We wanted to fix this problem in our research.”

The image quality was improved e.g. by developing the collection of data and using that data more wisely. The method was also developed so that the instrument can be used, not just in water, but in air, as well. This makes it adaptable to the Finnish plants taking care of the final disposal. The research also developed software tools to make the operative application of the method easier.

The performance of the method was proven with the help of an extensive library of field measurements carried out in Finnish nuclear power plants.

“This means the method has been studied in detail and found to work well, and now we are just waiting for the operations of final disposal to start in Olkiluoto,” says Virta.

M.Sc.(Tech.) Riina Virta will defend her doctoral dissertation “Gamma tomography of spent nuclear fuel for geological repository safeguards” on 4 June 2024 at 12 noon at the Faculty of Science at the University of Helsinki. The public examination will be held at Physicum E204, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2. More details on the dissertation.

More information

 

Riina Virta

riina.virta@stuk.fi

+358 50 4713 550

Final information of disposed spent nuclear fuel with Finnish methods

 

Traditional characteristics of Meiyu-Baiu disappeared due to global warming

SCIENCE CHINA PRESS

 

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FIGURE 1. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF HOW THE TRADITIONAL MEIYU HAS SHAPED THE UNIQUE ORIENT FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS. THE MOST IMPORTANT SOCIOECONOMIC ASPECTS IN THE YANGTZE RIVER BASIN ARE AGROECOSYSTEM, CULTURE, AND ARCHITECTURE. THE ARROWS INDICATE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS, AND THE ROUNDED ARROWS INDICATE INCREASES IN PARAMETERS.

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CREDIT: ©SCIENCE CHINA PRESS

During early summer, a unique and far-reaching meteorological phenomenon occurs in China’s Yangtze River Basin and the main islands of Japan, known as Meiyu in China and Baiu in Japan. Traditional Meiyu-Baiu with significantly misty features has a long course in Asian history and has shaped the unique Orient civilization over thousands of years (Figure 1).

Although the traditional Meiyu-Baiu is closely linked to moldy damage, its continuous and gentle rain moistens the paddy rice at the jointing and booting stage. Meanwhile, the warm and moist conditions also promote the growth of organisms and algae in lakes and rivers, which provide an abundance of food to fisheries. Hence, the Meiyu region is often called “the land of fish and rice” (Figure 1). In addition, rain like thin smoke and fog has shaped the behavioral traits of local inhabitants to be more sensitive, implicit, and elegant. The beauty of the traditional Meiyu became a frequently used literary image. Numerous oriental poems, ink-and-wash paintings, and historical documents have consistently expressed feelings about “misty rains” (Figure 2), which can date back to at least the Jin Dynasty (265–420 AD).

However, in recent decades, both the Meiyu and Baiu have seldom exhibited their traditional misty features. But owing to the lack of quantitative metrics applicable to misty rains, there is still no consensus on whether the traditional Meiyu-Baiu has been declining significantly. Although there have been studies on the detection and attribution of extreme Meiyu events (rainstorms or heatwaves), traditional Meiyu is not an extreme event, and the existing conclusion cannot be directly transferred to its changes. There is no robust understanding of whether and to what extent the changes in the traditional Meiyu-Baiu can be attributed to global warming.

Professors Huijun Wang and Zhicong Yin et al constructed a three-dimensional deviation degree of misty rain (D2MR) for the first time, and found that the D2MR showed a significant upward trend both in Meiyu and Baiu region (Figure 3). This indicates that Meiyu-Baiu in East Asia has gradually lost its traditional characteristics of misty rain, especially in the Meiyu region.

82.5% (75.2-87.2%) and 81.1% (42.6-96.1%) of the D2MR trend in the Meiyu and Baiu regions, respectively, can be attributed to human activities, in which greenhouse gas forcing is the main factor, while the influence of aerosols is relatively insignificant. In a warmer future, the Meiyu-Baiu will continue to further away from its traditional characteristics and enter the "new normal".

The authors, from the Center for Climate System Prediction Research (CCSP), further state that: (1) Human activity is much more active than in ancient times. Whether the suspension of the traditional misty rain is enough to promote and how it will promote the change of human social civilization in East Asia is still worthy of further discussion. (2) The ecosystem, energy system, and transportation network in East Asia may suffer huge losses due to the inability to adapt to the rapid transformation of Meiyu-Baiu to its extreme state, which requires the integration of more disciplines and government departments to tackle and respond.

 

Figure 2. Ancient Chinese poetry with Meiyu as cultural image or theme, and Misty Rain in Suzhou Western Hill (西山雨观图 in Chinese) drawn by Zhou Shen in ~1487 AD of the Ming Dynasty, now is collected by The Palace Museum

Changes of Meiyu-Baiu features.

 

Figure 3. (a) 3D plots of three sub-indexes of deviation degree of misty rain (D2MR) in Nanjing during 1961–2023. The blue and green dots indicate years when D2MR was greater or less than ±0.2 standard deviations. The yellow rhombus indicates standard misty rain. Red, blue and black years represent hot–dry, heavy rain and traditional Meiyu years, respectively. (b) Variation in D2MR (bars) averaged in the Meiyu and Baiu regions from 1961 to 2023 and their quadratic trends (black curves). The linear trend of D2MR at sites (scatter) is also shown, and the grey and black crosses indicate that the trend is higher than the 90% and 95% significance level.

CREDIT

©Science China Press

See the article:

Traditional Meiyu-Baiu has been suspended by global warming

https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwae166

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JOURNAL

National Science Review

DOI

10.1093/nsr/nwae166 

 

Some species may better tolerate climate change than expected

UNIVERSITY OF LAUSANNE

 

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A NEW MODEL, DEVELOPED BY IFREMER AND LAUSANNE UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS AND published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, REASSESSES THE PROPORTION OF TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE SPECIES THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

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CREDIT: OLIVIER DUGORNAY © CC-BY IFREMER

A new model, developed by Ifremer and Lausanne University researchers and published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, reassesses the proportion of terrestrial and marine species threatened with extinction by climate change. While the forecasts of traditional models estimate that the diversity of terrestrial species in tropical areas could decrease by 54% between now and 2041-2060, this model is more moderate, predicting a decrease of 39%. Nevertheless, this proportion remains alarming and confirms the importance of taking urgent measures to mitigate climate change and its impact on biodiversity. 

Today, temperatures on Earth vary from around -70°C in Antarctica to +48°C at the equator. These "climatic limits" that currently exist on our planet have always evolved. For example, 130,000 years ago, during the last interglacial period, the climate was warmer and similar to what we could expect by the end of the century. The species that evolved during this period could therefore be "pre-adapted" to the changes to come. However, until now, statistical models predicting the response of species to climate change did not take this potential pre-adaptation into account, which could lead to inaccurate predictions.

Take the example of a tropical marine or terrestrial species: traditional statistical models predict that it will disappear in places where the temperature exceeds the current warm limit of 48°C. But this view could be too restrictive, as our knowledge is limited by the study of current climatic conditions. Could this species live with an air temperature of 50°C? Or in warmer or saltier water? Under the effect of climate change, such conditions could reappear and lead to an expansion of the climatic niche of certain species", explains Mathieu Chevalier, marine ecology researcher at Ifremer.

When a species is 'marked' by climatic conditions, it retains a pre-adaptation to these conditions that can last for thousands or even millions of years. If its habitat evolves towards a climate that the species has already experienced in the past, this pre-adaptation will provide it with a tolerance to these new climatic conditions", adds Antoine Guisan, professor of spatial ecology at the University of Lausanne.

The scientists from Ifremer and the University of Lausanne have applied their model to almost 25,000 terrestrial and marine species - including animals and plants - from around the world for which the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides geographical distribution maps. By cross-referencing this data in their model with scenarios of future climate change (IPCC/CMIP5), they found that 49% of these species currently live in climate niches that are contiguous ("stuck") to the limits of current climate conditions, and that 86% of them could have a niche potentially extending beyond current climate limits. This figure rises to 92% for marine species.

The most striking result concerns tropical areas, for terrestrial and marine species. It is widely accepted that climate change will lead to a massive loss of biodiversity in these areas, up to 54% of tropical terrestrial species by 2041-2060 according to traditional models. Our model puts this prognosis into perspective and predicts a reduction of 'only' 39% in species diversity," says Mathieu Chevalier, a marine ecology researcher at Ifremer.

Does that mean this is good news? Clearly not. Scientists are advising us to remain prudent: this estimate of threatened biodiversity remains alarming, and climate is not the only variable to take into account for a realistic prediction of species extinction risk. We also need to consider other anthropogenic pressures, such as habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation or biological invasions. It is clear, for example, that even if certain species are pre-adapted to future conditions, they will not be able to survive if their habitat disappears. Ideally, all these aspects should be taken into account, but here the scientists have concentrated on the climatic aspects, for which knowledge on past and future conditions is available.

Our study shows that it is important to constantly refine our models, and develop new hypotheses about the possible response of certain species. If it is likely that tropical species could better tolerate climate change than previously thought, the old estimates remain valid for species in cold, alpine and polar regions, and to a large extent for species in temperate zones, because the climate that currently prevails in these areas will no longer exist by 2041. These species are already living at the limit of their climatic niche and will not be able to tolerate significantly warmer temperatures. That is a sure thing! warns Olivier Broennimann, a researcher in spatial ecology at the University of Lausanne.

Read the article:

Chevalier M. (Ifremer), Broennimann O. and Guisan A. (Université de Lausanne), « Climate change may reveal currently unavailable parts of species ecological niches », May 2024, Nature Ecology & Evolution: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02426-4 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02426-4

 

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JOURNAL

Nature Ecology & Evolution

DOI

10.1038/s41559-024-02426-4 

ARTICLE TITLE

Climate change may unleash parts of past species’ ecological niches

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

29-May-2024

 

Controlling ion transport for a blue energy future

Researchers from Osaka University show the control of ion passage through a nanopore membrane by applying a voltage to a gate electrode, paving the way for sustainable blue energy harvesting

OSAKA UNIVERSITY

 

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SCHEMATIC ILLUSTRATION DEPICTING GATE VOLTAGE CONTROL OF ION SELECTIVITY IN A NANOPORE.

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CREDIT: MAKUSU TSUTSUI

Osaka, Japan – Blue energy has the potential to provide a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. In simple terms, it involves harnessing the energy produced when the ions in a salt solution move from high to low concentrations. A team including researchers from Osaka University has probed the effect of voltage on the passage of ions through a nanopore membrane to demonstrate greater control of the process.

In a study recently published in ACS Nano the researchers looked at tailoring the flow of ions through the array of nanopores that make up their membrane, and how this control could make applying the technology on a large scale a reality.

If the membranes are made from a charged material, nanopores can cause a current to flow through them by attracting solution ions with the opposite charge. The ions with the same charge can then move through the pore generating the current. This means that the pore material is very important and choosing it has been the means of controlling the flow and current to date.

However, producing the exact same pore structures in a range of different materials to understand their comparative performances is challenging. The researchers therefore decided to investigate another way of tailoring the flow of ions across nanopore membranes.

“Instead of simply using the basic surface charge of our membrane to dictate the flow, we looked at what happens when voltages are applied,” explains study lead author Makusu Tsutsui. “We used a gate electrode embedded across the membrane to control the field through voltage in a similar way to how semiconductor transistors work in conventional circuits.”

The researchers found that with no voltage applied there was no charge generated by the flow of cations—positively charged ions—because they were attracted to the negatively charged membrane surface.

However, if different voltages were applied, this performance could be tuned to allow cations to flow, even providing complete selectivity for cations. This led to a six-fold increase in the osmotic energy efficiency.

“By enhancing the charge density at the surface of the nanopores that make up the membrane, we achieved a power density of 15 W/m2,” says senior author Tomoji Kawai. “This is very encouraging in terms of progressing the technology.”

The study findings reveal the potential for scaling nanopore membranes for everyday application. It is hoped that nanopore osmotic power generators will provide a means of bringing blue energy to the mainstream for a more sustainable energy future.

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The study, “Gate-All-Around Nanopore Osmotic Power Generators,” was published in ACS Nano at https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c01989.

About Osaka University
Osaka University was founded in 1931 as one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and is now one of Japan's leading comprehensive universities with a broad disciplinary spectrum. This strength is coupled with a singular drive for innovation that extends throughout the scientific process, from fundamental research to the creation of applied technology with positive economic impacts. Its commitment to innovation has been recognized in Japan and around the world. Now, Osaka University is leveraging its role as a Designated National University Corporation selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to contribute to innovation for human welfare, sustainable development of society, and social transformation.
Website: https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en

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JOURNAL

ACS Nano

DOI

10.1021/acsnano.4c01989 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Gate-all-around nanopore osmotic power generators

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

28-May-2024

 

Structural inequities amplify homelessness challenges for pregnant people in Washington DC

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

WASHINGTON -- New research conducted with Washington, DC, residents who experienced homelessness during pregnancy sheds light on the intersection of homelessness, pregnancy, and racial inequities. The findings underscore the urgent need for policy and practice changes to support vulnerable populations.

The study, published May 30, 2024 in the journal Health Equity (DOI: 10.1089/heq.2023.0235), is grounded in a reproductive justice framework and delves into the lived experiences of 20 DC residents who faced homelessness while pregnant.

Homelessness during pregnancy is a symptom of broader structural inequities in access to safe and stable housing, and exacerbates adverse health outcomes for birthing people and infants. Conducted by researchers aiming for an action-oriented recommendations, the findings emphasized three key areas for policy and practice improvements:

• Timely Access to Safe Housing: One of the foremost recommendations is ensuring pregnant individuals have timely and meaningful access to safe and stable housing. The lack of secure housing not only impacts immediate health but also sets the stage for long-term challenges in child-rearing and family stability.
• Comprehensive Care Coordination: The study advocates for improved care coordination encompassing services and referrals that support physical, mental, and social well-being. Housing insecurity often intertwines with other complex needs, necessitating a holistic approach to healthcare and social support systems.
• Economic Justice and Affordable Housing: Access to a living wage and affordable housing emerged as critical components. Economic disparities, compounded by lack of affordable housing, disproportionately affect marginalized communities, amplifying the cycle of homelessness and health disparities.

The study’s lead researcher says stable housing is critical to health outcomes for the child and parents.

"Pregnant and parenting people in Washington, DC, must have a stable home as early in pregnancy as possible,” says Christina X. Marea, PhD, MA, MSN, FACNM, assistant professor of nursing at Georgetown’s School of Nursing. “That stability can improve health outcomes for birthing people and infants, support their ability to plan for the postpartum period, and enable them to enjoy this incredible life transition without the unrelenting stress and fear of homelessness.”

The study's insights have directly influenced strategic policy and practice recommendations, paving the way for a new model of collaboration across sectors. Initiatives like the DC Calling All Sectors Initiative (CASI), spearheaded by the DC Health Office of Health Equity, exemplify the commitment to bridging structural gaps and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.

“The perspectives of people with lived experience has led directly to new initiatives at Community of Hope to support people who are pregnant and experiencing homelessness, says Kelly Sweeney McShane, CEO at Community of Hope, a community health center and homeless services provider who supported the study. “ The perinatal period is such an important one, and stable housing and access to healthcare are important components for both parent and baby during that critical period.”

The study's recommendations align with broader efforts to promote health equity and dismantle systemic injustices. Sustained political will and collaborative endeavors are essential to effectuating tangible improvements in housing accessibility and perinatal care.

The authors stress that as the nation grapples with ongoing challenges in housing insecurity and healthcare disparities, initiatives rooted in community based participatory research, that are intentionally informed by the lived experience of impacted residents, offer a beacon of hope for transformative change. The voices and experiences of those navigating homelessness during pregnancy serve as catalysts for a more inclusive and equitable future.

The work was supported by a grant from the Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

C. Anneta Arno, PhD, MPH, Chief Health Equity Officer at DC Health, says, “The Office of Health Equity is appreciative of the grant, which enabled us to tangibly demonstrate the importance of proactive engagement of non-traditional partners, including impacted residents, government agencies, community-based organizations, as well as academia, to inform equity-driven collaborative practice change, by applying a health in all policies framework to address persistent structural barriers to health.”

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In addition to Marea, Arno, and McShane, collaborating researchers include Andrew Lozano, MPH, and Makeda Vanderpuije, MPH CPH,  DC Health Office of Health Equity; Kelley N. Robinson, PhD, CNM, CNE, University of Maryland; Karen Trister Grace, PhD, MSN, CNM, FACNM, George Mason University School of Nursing; and Noelene K. Jeffers, PhD, CNM, IBCLC, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

The authors report having no personal financial interests related to the study.

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JOURNAL

Health Equity

DOI

10.1089/heq.2023.0235 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Navigating Homelessness Assistance While Pregnant: A Rapid Qualitative Research-to-Policy Collaboration in Washington DC

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

30-May-2024