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The osmotic heat engine represents a new and promising technology for the harvesting of low-grade waste heat from various sources. However, the lack of an adequate semipermeable membrane hinders the technology's advancement. In this study, we investigated the application of a freestanding graphene oxide membrane (GOM) for energy generation in an osmotic heat engine. The synthesized GOM has a water permeability coefficient of 4.4 L m h bar (LMH-bar). The internal concentration polarization in the osmosis filtration system can be minimized because no membrane support layer is needed for the freestanding GOM. As a result, high water flux and high power density are obtained. For example, under an applied hydraulic pressure of 6.90 bar, with a 2 M draw solution of ammonium bicarbonate solution, a power density of 20.0 W/m is achieved. This study shows that the freestanding GOM is promising for application in the osmotic heat engine. Future research regarding improving the mechanical properties and water stability of the GOM is beneficial for further advancing the technology.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.8b02101 | DOI Listing |
Int J Biol Macromol
September 2025
College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China; Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China. Electronic address:
The thermosensitive transient receptor potential (Thermo-TRP) channel proteins comprise TRPA1, TRPV1-V4, and TRPM8. TRP channels are mainly situated on cellular surfaces and react to a range of external factors, including heat, cold, acidity, osmotic pressure, chemical signals, and flavors, as well as intracellular signals such as Ca, Na, and cytokines. The thermo-TRP channels are associated with many physiological signal pathways, with their distinct molecular structure making them promising drug targets for respiratory diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPestic Biochem Physiol
November 2025
School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China; Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China; Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing, China. Electronic add
Metarhizium acridum is a typical filamentous fungus that has been widely used to control grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets. Genetic engineering is a common strategy to enhance its virulence, conidiation, and stress tolerance. Here, we report that the M.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFungal Biol
October 2025
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China. Electronic address:
Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are essential regulators of various biological processes, including growth, development, and stress responses in eukaryotes. Despite their importance, the specific roles of bHLH factors in entomopathogenic fungi remain inadequately understood. In this study, we identified and characterized the bHLH transcription factor MrbHLH2 in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii, which is widely used in biological control.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Microbiol Biotechnol
September 2025
Environmental Diseases Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
Shiga toxin (Stx) is a virulence factor produced by serotype 1 and Stx-producing (STEC). It causes severe renal damage, leading to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The main target organ of Stx, the kidney, plays a role in maintaining water homeostasis in the body by increasing an osmotic gradient from the cortex to the medulla.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Endocrinol Invest
September 2025
Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Exercise associated hyponatremia (EAH) is a medical condition that can occur during physical exertion. Initially, EAH was considered to be restricted to extreme endurance activities, such as ultramarathons and Ironman triathlons. However, it has been more recently recognized in a variety of sports, including team sports and in shorter-duration events.
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