Global Challenges最新文献

The cover image is based on the Article IoT-Based Hand Hygiene Compliance Monitoring System and Validation of Its Effectiveness in Hospital Environments by Ju-Yu Wu et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202400124.

Sub-Saharan Africa's adoption of inorganic fertilizer lags behind other developing nations, creating limitations for small-holder cocoa producers. Using the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) Theory, articles assessing inorganic fertilizer (non)adoption by cocoa producers in Sub-Saharan Africa are reviewed. Factors influencing adoption fell into two major categories: socioeconomic characteristics of the potential adopter and characteristics of the innovation itself. Farm income, access to credit, labor requirements, and fertilizer price/availability are especially influential. Future studies and outreach efforts to consider the interplay of many personal, agronomic, and technological factors when promoting fertilizer adoption in cocoa farming are encouraged.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as the predominant form of primary liver cancer, characterized by a dismal prognosis. Therapeutic options for advanced HCC remain sparse, with efficacy significantly hampered by the emergence of drug resistance. In parallel with research into novel pharmacological agents, advances in drug delivery systems represent a promising avenue for overcoming resistance. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have demonstrated considerable efficacy in the delivery of nucleic acid-based therapeutics and hold potential for broader applications in drug delivery. This review describes the development of LNPs tailored for HCC treatment and consolidates recent investigations using LNPs to target HCC.

Porous structures offer several key advantages in energy harvesting, making them highly effective for enhancing the performance of piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators (PENG and TENG). Their high surface area-to-volume ratio improves charge accumulation and electrostatic induction, which are critical for efficient energy conversion. Additionally, their lightweight and flexible nature allows for easy integration into wearable and flexible electronics. These combined properties make porous materials a powerful solution for addressing the efficiency limitations that have traditionally restricted nanogenerators. Recognizing these benefits, this review focuses on the essential role that porous materials play in advancing PENG and TENG technologies. It examines a wide range of porous materials, including aerogels, nano-porous films, sponges, and 2D materials, explaining how their unique structures contribute to higher energy harvesting efficiency. The review also explores recent breakthroughs in the development of these materials, demonstrating how they overcome performance challenges and open up new possibilities for practical applications. These advancements position porous nanogenerators as strong candidates for use in wearable electronics, smart textiles, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. By exploring these innovations, the review underscores the importance of porous structures in driving the future of energy harvesting technologies.

Cattail (Typha), a wetland plant, is emerging as a sustainable materials resource. While most of the Typha species are proven to be a fiber-yielding crop, Typha latifolia exhibits the broadest leaf size (5-30 mm), yields highest amount of fiber (≈190.9 g), and captures maximum CO₂ (≈1270 g). Alkaline retting is the most efficient degumming process for cattail fibers to achieve maximum fiber yield (30%-46%). Cattail leaves exhibit a distinctive bionic structural model consisting of epidermis and leaf blade at macro level and non-diaphragm aerenchyma, fiber cables, partitions, and diaphragms at micro level. Cattail fibers hold promise to be utilized as a high-performance composite part and as efficient energy storage devices in clean energy vehicles. The former is attributed to their lower density (≈1.26-1.39 gm/cm³) and higher tensile modulus (≈66.1 GPa after treatment), while the latter is attributed to their porous structure and chemical stability. Therefore, integrating the knowledge of plant biology and materials chemistry is crucial for enhancing fiber characteristics and producing engineered bioproducts. The environmental benefits of cattails, degumming methods, leaf and fiber structures, their properties and applications is reviewed. Finally, it discussed future research directions aimed at developing bioengineered, biodegradable products from it with minimal environmental impact.

The present perspective accentuates the synthesis of PANI-CuFe₂O₄ (PCF) nanocomposite, and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye using a synthesized composite. The stable PCF is confirmed and characterized by analytical techniques, namely, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) analysis. The synthesized PCF nanocomposites are significantly crystalline in nature, having magnetic saturation of 10.47 emu g⁻¹, and monoclinic crystalline structure as well as the size of nanocomposite is 39.54 nm verified by XRD pattern. SEM analysis revealed a regular porous and rough surface of nanocomposite. In addition, the nanocomposite divulged the remarkable efficient elimination of MB dye with maximum removal of 96% with good fitting of Langmuir isotherm, indication of monolayer formation on the catalyst surface through the interaction between nanocomposite and dye molecule. The adsorption kinetics bolstered the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting the adsorption process proceeded by chemisorption. The most notable feature of the nanocomposite is the reusability and good stability after several cycles, maintaining 90% after five cycles.

Phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation is the primary treatment for cataract. Although this treatment strategy benefits patients with cataracts, posterior capsule opacification (PCO) remains a common complication that impairs vision and affects treatment outcomes. The pathogenesis of PCO is associated with the proliferation, migration, and fibrogenesis activity of residual lens epithelial cells, with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) serving as a key mechanism underlying the condition. Transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-β2) is a major promotor of EMT, thereby driving PCO development. Most studies have shown that drugs and miRNAs mitigate EMT by inhibiting, clearing, or eliminating LECs. In addition, targeting EMT–related signaling pathways in TGF-β2–stimulated LECs has garnered attention as a research focus. This review highlights potential treatments for PCO and details the mechanisms by which drugs and miRNAs counter EMT.

Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is the most common adverse medical event that affects patients. Internationally, healthcare workers (HCWs) are monitored for hand hygiene compliance to reduce HAI risk. While direct observation is considered the gold standard for monitoring, it has several disadvantages. To address this, the study focused on developing a comprehensive hand hygiene system that integrates the Internet of Things (IoT) hand hygiene with soap and water (HHW) and alcohol-based formulation (HHA) monitoring, incorporates real-time data visualization on a web interface to track HCWs' hand hygiene practices, and provides instant calculations of compliance and accuracy rates. This IoT system uses Bluetooth for HCW positioning and HHW detection, ultrasonic sensors for handwashing duration, and pressure sensors for HHA detection. Furthermore, a cloud server, database, and website are established to manage and display the data received by the IoT devices. To reduce HAI in Taiwan, hospitals must provide both HHW and HHA systems, and HCWs can choose either method when hand hygiene is necessary. The system achieved 72% accuracy in clinical practice within an adult intensive care unit (ICU).

As countries worldwide race toward a green transition, the demand for electric vehicles is surging, and with it comes a growing need for batteries. However, the push for increased domestic mining to secure these materials raises significant concerns about environmental sustainability. Even with stringent regulations, the environmental impact of mining can be profound, posing risks such as biodiversity loss, water pollution, and broader ecological damage. Furthermore, geopolitical tensions could arise as countries whose economic interests are threatened by these initiatives may react adversely. Local communities might also resist mining projects due to concerns over environmental degradation, health risks, and disruptions to their livelihoods. Given the critical importance of metals in the ecological transition, this challenge must be approached with the same urgency and global coordination as a pandemic response. Just as the world mobilized unprecedented resources to tackle COVID-19, a similarly robust approach is necessary to ensure the availability of critical metals for a sustainable future. This paper suggests potential pathways for academic, technological, and societal advancements within the framework of a circular economy for lithium, aiming to secure a sustainable supply of this essential resource.