Next Generation of Concentrated Solar Power Technologies

<h3>Introduction</h3> High-quality palliative and end-of-life care (PEOLC) research is essential to meet the needs of changing populations with increasingly complex care requirements. Despite this, the UK palliative care research workforce faces persistent barriers. Understanding these and identifying strategies to build capacity is essential to ensure the future growth of the field. <h3>Aims</h3> To examine the characteristics of the UK PEOLC research workforce and explore factors influencing its capacity and sustainability. <h3>Methods</h3> A mixed-Methods online survey of UK-based self-identified PEOLC researchers (PhD level and above). Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and framework analysis. <h3>Results</h3> Overall, 256 researchers responded (80% female, 85% white, 83% aged over 35). Overall, 79% worked at a university, 67% were full-time, 47% had a permanent contract and 9% were clinical academics. While 90% wished to continue PEOLC research for the next five years, only 69% believed this was likely. Perceived barriers included lack of funding (56%), heavy workload (42%), job insecurity (39%), and limited career opportunities (33%). To sustain and grow research activity, participants identified the need for: (i) Greater recognition and visibility of PEOLC as a critical research field; (ii) A range of funding opportunities to support researchers across career stages and disciplines, alongside investment in larger PEOLC research networks; (iii) Dedicated research time for clinical-academics and lecturers, alongside pathways to permanent contracts for those on fixed-term contracts; (iv) Increased opportunities for mentorship, networking, and collaboration; (v) Structural support to build a more diverse research community. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Despite their commitment, researchers working on PEOLC research face barriers to remaining research active. Greater investment in career development and research workforce infrastructure, alongside promotion of PEOLC as a critically important interdisciplinary research field, is necessary to sustain and grow the research workforce. <h3>Impact</h3> These findings inform strategies to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of UK PEOLC research.

2020 marked the 10th anniversary of the State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials (SKLSSM), Jilin University. This special issue is dedicated to this occasion by highlighting the diverse polymer research activities at SKLSSM. SKLSSM was officially established in 2010 with a history dating back to 1978, when Prof. Au-chin Tang first brought into existence the Structure Chemistry Laboratory at Jilin University. The Structure Chemistry Laboratory then evolved over the years into SKLSSM under the leaderships of Profs. Jiacong Shen, Xi Zhang and Bai Yang. During the past decade, directed first by Prof. Bai Yang and now by Prof. Junqi Sun, SKLSSM has developed a dynamic range of research programs spanning the fields of polymer nanocomposites, self-healing and recyclable polymer materials, macromolecular assembly, optoelectronic materials and devices, green polymerization, computer simulation and experimental characterization of macromolecular systems. Central to these research fields is the emphasis of supramolecular interactions at molecular, macromolecular and materials levels. At SKLSSM, molecular force spectroscopy and computer modeling are the representative powerful tools employed for fundamental supramolecular studies. Supramolecular research has led to important findings in supramolecular polymers, carbonized polymer dots, optoelectronic materials, and healable/recyclable materials. SKLSSM now has 65 faculty members with diverse research backgrounds, including four academicians of the Chinese Academy of Science, seven awardees of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, as well as many others with various distinctions. The cutting-edge research at SKLSSM is well supported by state-of-the-art facilities and experienced staff members. The multidisciplinary research programs, collaborative environment, and modern research facilities provide a unique platform for innovation as well as for scientific training of young scholars. This special issue of Macromolecular Rapid Communications assembles a collection of 22 papers, comprising one Review, four Feature Articles, and 17 Communications, covering research topics ranging from supramolecular chemistry and materials, polymer (nano)composites, healable and reusable materials, biomaterials, polymer synthesis and functions, nanomechanical studies, to computer simulation. With these publications, we hope to showcase the research activities of SKLSSM and stimulate opportunities for future collaborations. This special issue has been organized with manuscripts prepared, reviewed, and revised during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic. We sincerely thank all the authors for contributing their work, the reviewers for their precious time, and the editors for putting together this special issue. Looking ahead, in the upcoming decade of the post COVID-19 era, SKLSSM, working together with other related sciences at Jilin University, will continue to conduct creative research to tackle challenges we are facing today for a more healthy, sustainable, and intelligent society of tomorrow. Zesheng An obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry from Shandong University in 1997 and 2000, and his Ph.D. in chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2005. After a postdoctoral position at the University of California, Santa Barbara, he joined Shanghai University in 2008 and became a professor of chemistry in 2010. In 2019, he moved to the State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Jilin University, where his research is focused on controlled radical polymerization, enzymatic catalysis and self-assembly. Wenke Zhang obtained his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from Jilin University in 1997 and 2002. During 2001 and 2002 he worked as a joint-training Ph.D. student at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Munich. After a postdoctoral position at the University of Nottingham (UK), he joined the State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Jilin University and became a professor of chemistry in 2007. His research is focused on single molecule study of molecular interactions in polymer materials, bio-macromolecular structure and interactions, and polymer mechanochemistry. Junqi Sun obtained his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from Jilin University in 1996 and 2001. During 2000 and 2001, he worked as a joint-training Ph.D. student at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Munich. He conducted postdoctoral research at RIKEN, Japan, from January 2002 to August 2003. In September 2003, he joined the faculty of Jilin University as a professor of chemistry. He has been serving as the director of the State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials since 2015. His research is focused on novel interfacial assembly methods to the fabrication of composite films; self-healing polymer materials; recyclable supramolecular polymer composites.

The Experimental Geophysics Group of the Earth Sciences Department at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, Calif., has experimental equipment that measures a variety of physical properties and phase equilibria and kinetics on rocks and minerals at extremes of pressure (to 500 GPa) and temperature (from 10 to 2800 K). These experimental capabilities are tabulated in this report, and some of the experimental equipment is described in detail.Experimental geophysics began at the LLNL in the early 1960s as an outgrowth of the Plowshare program, whose purpose was to develop peaceful applications for nuclear explosives. Research activity in rock mechanics expanded rapidly shortly thereafter when underground nuclear testing began. We needed to know the mechanical properties of specific Nevada Test Site rocks at high pressure in order to contain our own texts, and of rocks in general in order to interpret the seismic information emanating from nuclear tests by other countries. Several large testing frames, pressure vessels, and pumping capabilities were acquired at this time. The equipment base left behind by the nuclear test containment and seismic‐monitoring programs allowed us to broaden our research horizons, in turn allowing us to further expand our research capabilities. We now pursue a very diverse program of study of the physical and chemical behavior of rocks and minerals under extremes of pressure and temperature for a wide variety of Earth‐science applications.

Strategies for the valorization of soil waste by geopolymer production: An overview

From the Ground Up-Materials Science in Singapore.

The STARnet Gateway Federation is a unique example of a federated network of science gateways based on WS-PGRADE/gUSE technologies, and explicitly designed and tuned to the needs of the astronomical and astrophysical (A&A) community in Europe. The use of a federated gateway infrastructure allows scientists to explore new collaboration opportunities and advancing the scientific research activity within A&A. STARnet Gateways share a common authentication system, a distributed computing infrastructure, data archives, portlets, and workflow repositories. Building upon these technologies, a number of challenging applications from different A&A domains have been successfully prototyped and tested.

Energy harvesting is emerging as a viable method for electronic devices to pull ambient energy from their surrounding environment (e.g., solar power, thermal energy, wind energy, salinity gradients, and kinetic energy, also known as ambient energy) and convert it into electrical energy for stored power. This coveted technology has the potential to serve as an alternative power supply for batteries that are ubiquitous in small, mobile, and autonomous wireless electronic devices, like those used in wearable electronics and wireless sensor networks. The discipline of energy harvesting is a broad topic that includes established methods and materials such as photovoltaics, and thermoelectrics, as well as emerging technologies that convert mechanical energy, magnetic energy, and waste heat to electricity. Innovative materials are vital to the development of all these energy-harvesting technologies. There are several promising micro- and nano-scale energy-harvesting materials (including ceramics, single crystals, polymers, and composites) and technologies currently being developed, such as thermoelectric materials, piezoelectric materials, pyroelectric materials, and magnetic materials. This chapter will review various state-of-the-art materials and enabled devices for direct energy harvesting and conversion, and also highlight the nanostructured materials underlying energy-harvesting principles and devices, in addition to traditional bulk processes and devices as appropriate and synergistic; innovative device-design and fabrication that leads to higher efficiency energy-harvesting or conversion technologies ranging from the cm/mm scale down to MEMS/NEMS (micro- and nano-electromechanical systems) devices; new developments in experimental methods, and device performance measurement techniques.

One of the most important goals in the field of renewable energy is the development of original solar cell schemes employing new materials to overcome the performance limitations of traditional solar cell devices. Among such innovative materials, nanostructures have emerged as an important class of materials that can be used to realize efficient photovoltaic devices. When these systems are implemented into solar cells, new effects can be exploited to maximize the harvest of solar radiation and to minimize the loss factors. In this context, carrier multiplication seems one promising way to minimize the effects induced by thermalization loss processes thereby significantly increasing the solar cell power conversion. In this work we analyze and quantify different types of carrier multiplication decay dynamics by analyzing systems of isolated and coupled silicon nanocrystals. The effects on carrier multiplication dynamics by energy and charge transfer processes are also discussed.

This review focuses on the integration of renewable energy, advanced materials, and civil engineering to foster urban resilience in future cities. As urban populations continue to grow, the demand for sustainable solutions to mitigate environmental impact and enhance quality of life becomes increasingly urgent. This review explores how the convergence of renewable energy sources, innovative materials, and civil engineering practices can contribute to the development of resilient cities capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century. The integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, offers opportunities to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Advancements in renewable energy technologies allow for the generation of clean, reliable energy within urban environments, promoting energy independence and reducing carbon footprints. Additionally, the utilization of advanced materials in urban infrastructure can enhance durability, efficiency, and sustainability. Nanotechnology, for example, enables the development of high-performance materials with superior strength, flexibility, and resilience. These materials can be used in construction, transportation, and water management systems to improve infrastructure resilience and longevity. Furthermore, civil engineering plays a crucial role in designing and implementing sustainable urban infrastructure. From green building practices to resilient urban planning, civil engineers are instrumental in creating cities that can withstand environmental hazards and adapt to changing conditions. By integrating renewable energy, advanced materials, and innovative engineering solutions, cities can enhance their resilience to climate change, natural disasters, and other challenges. This review examines case studies and examples of successful integration of renewable energy, advanced materials, and civil engineering in urban development projects worldwide. It also discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing these solutions, including technological barriers, financial considerations, and policy frameworks. The integration of renewable energy, advanced materials, and civil engineering is essential for building resilient and sustainable cities of the future. By embracing innovation and collaboration across disciplines, cities can enhance their capacity to thrive in the face of environmental, social, and economic challenges, ultimately improving the quality of life for urban residents while preserving the planet for future generations.

The International Conference on Mathematics: Pure, Applied and Computation (ICoMPAC) 2020 is an international conference held by the Department of Mathematics - ITS, which is held annually. ICoMPAC 2020 has entered the holding of the conference in the 6th year. This conference has statistics on researchers, scientists, academics, practitioners from various countries, including Indonesia, Japan, UK, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Taiwan.I am confident that ICoMPAC 2020 will play an important role in encouraging activities in research and development of science and applied mathematics in Indonesia, and give excellent opportunities for collaboration between research institutions both within the country and with international partners. The broad scope of this event, which includes theoretical aspects of mathematics and practical, the applied experience of developing mathematics, provides a unique meeting ground for researchers spanning the whole spectrum of our discipline. I hope from over the day, some fruitful collaboration can be established.The theme of ICoMPAC 2020 is “Essential Mathematics in Data Science”. This theme means that everything discussed in the 2020 ICOMPAC will benefit the development of data science. It is because mathematics is the bedrock of any discipline of science. ICoMPAC 2020 is divided into several activity schedules, namely plenary speech and parallel sessions. Participants present and discuss scientific developments and applications of mathematics, which become a medium for exchanging ideas between conference participants.Some of the topics discussed in ICoMPAC 2020 are:• Algebra and its applications• Approximation theory• Artificial intelligence• Biometrics• Coding theory• Control theory• Complex variables• Computational fluid dynamics• Cryptology and cryptography• Database and information theory/system• Data mining and its applications• Decision support systems• Discrete mathematics• Dynamical systems• Educations• Financial mathematics• Fourier and wavelet transforms• Functional analysis• Fuzzy and rough set theory• Game theory• Graph theory and its applications• Group and module theory• Image and signal processing• Integral equations• Lattices, algebraic structures• Linear algebra• Mathematical biology• Mathematical modelling• Matrix theory and its applications• Mathematical physics• Max-plus/max-min algebra• Measure theory and integration• Number theory• Numerical methods and analysis• Operation research and optimizations• Operator theory• Ordinary and partial differential equations• Real analysis• Statistics and its applications• Theory of parallel and distributed computing• Topology• Web and mobile computingI would like to thank all the committee who handled the correspondence, finance, publication team, invitation, IOP proceeding publication, documentation team, technical implementation team, and the review team. I realized that the success of this conference depends ultimately on the many people who have worked with us in planning and organizing this conference. This event can take place with the help of people who are responsible, extra patience, discipline, and hard workers.Dr. Rinurwati, M.Si.Conference Chair

Our current understanding of environmental micro(nano)plastic (MNP) pollution is driven by field and lab-based studies performed predominantly by and in wealthier countries. However, mismanaged waste and its consequences affect low- and middle-income countries over-proportionately. Evidence suggests that studies on MNP pollution in Africa are critically limited by the scientific infrastructure available, restricting research activities to opportunities for external collaboration with established research laboratories in the Global North. The development of Pan-African research networks and analytical nodes, is required to support intra-African research exchange and training, and drive evidence-based policy relevant to an African context. This can facilitate more inclusive conversations around the harmonization and standardization of methods currently mainly available to the Global North.

In 2007 Forintek Canada Corp merged with the other forest research institutes—Paprican, FERIC and the newly formed Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC)—to become FPInnovations. This merger offers opportunities for synergies across a range of research activities from the forest to final product markets, and the first step to achieving these synergies is to provide a better understanding of past and current research roles. This paper chronicles delivered results from the Resource Program in response to Forintek member priorities. Of necessity due to limited resources, the Resource Assessment Program at Forintek was built on both internal and external collaboration. It was also built on a legacy of wood quality research inherited from the Eastern and Western Wood Product Laboratories of the Canadian Forest Service from which it was formed through privatization in 1979. FPInnovations now has custody of this legacy. This paper was prepared as a contribution to a workshop organized by the CWFC to promote better understanding of research capabilities residing within FPInnovations. It is aimed at identifying opportunities for future collaboration by describing Forintek's resource characterization program and our members' priorities for future wood quality research in Canada. Key words: resource characterization, wood quality, stand management, future forests, present forests, CT imaging, product Recovery

This is an introductory seminar about the cleantech-to-market pathway with a focus on material innovation in Concentrated Solar Power. This seminar will first lay out the business model of cleantech companies to identify the players in technical innovation. With a summary of the desires of the major player, this seminar will dive into the possibility, potential, and challenges of next-generation Concentrated Solar Power to answer these desires, followed by a detailed discussion on the material challenges. The scope of our project “Scalable, Infiltration-Free Ceramic Matrix Composite for the molten salt receiver” will be presented as one potential way to solve these challenges. In the end, this seminar will present some job opportunities to inspire the audience to participate in cleantech innovation.

This chapter explores the challenges of designing a networked approach to problem-based learning, encouraging students to engage in collaborative and interdependent learning online. The chapter reports on a blended design for a postgraduate law programme following a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum, which introduced group wiki and blogging tools for students to use in a series of unguided group research activities. Evaluation focused on the online stage of the PBL process, looking at the reception of the study methods for the research activity and the effectiveness of the web tools in supporting the unguided group research tasks. This study highlights the challenges for instructional support in the management of the learning process for these tasks—specifically in addressing students’ anxiety over their performance and a perceived need for individual and collective feedback in support of the unguided research task. The chapter discusses how far we can ‘design in’ and support collaborative learning within a problem-based networked learning context and explores the role and responsibilities of the PBL tutor in facilitating unguided group research tasks.

We present the results from a workshop on interdisciplinary research on design of engineering material systems, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The workshop was prompted by the need to foster a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration between the engineering design and materials communities. The workshop addressed the following: (i) conceptual barriers between materials and engineering design research communities; (ii) research questions that the interdisciplinary field of materials design should focus on; (iii) processes and metrics to be used to validate research activities and outcomes on materials design; and (iv) strategies to sustain and grow the interdisciplinary field. This contribution presents a summary of the state of the field—elicited through extensive guided discussions between representatives of both communities—and a snapshot of research activities that have emerged since the workshop. Based on the increasing level of sophistication of interdisciplinary research programs on design of materials it is apparent that the field is growing and has great potential to play a key role in a vibrant interdisciplinary materials innovation ecosystem. Sustaining such efforts will contribute significantly to the advancement of technologies that will impact many industries and will enhance society-wide health, security, and economic well-being.