Dark matter is a form of matter that does not emit, absorb or reflect light, so we cannot see it directly; we infer its existence via gravitational effects. It makes up about 27% of the universe’s total mass–energy content, while ordinary (visible) matter is only ~5%. In galaxies, stars orbit at speeds that cannot be explained by visible matter alone; the extra gravitational pull implies unseen mass (dark matter). It doesn’t behave like light-emitting or interacting matter: it’s “electromagnetically neutral” (no strong interaction with light), and probably moves slowly (“cold”) in cosmological terms.

Energy supply on high mountains remains an open issue since grid connection is not feasible. In the past, diesel generators with lead–acid battery energy storage systems (ESSs) were applied in most cases. Recently, photovoltaic (PV) systems with lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery [1][2][3] ESSs have become suitable for solving this problem in a greener way [4]. In 2016, an off-grid PV system with a Li-ion battery ESS was installed in Paiyun Lodge on Mt. Jade (the highest lodge in Taiwan) [5]. After operating for more than 7 years, the aging of the whole electric power system became a critical issue for its long-term usage. In this research, a method is established for analyzing the massive energy data (over 7 million rows), such as daily operation patterns, as well as the C-rate, temperature, and accumulated energy distributions, and estimating the health of the Li-ion battery system [5]. A completed electric power improvement project dealing with power system aging is reported [5]. Based on the long-term usage experience, a simple cost analysis model comparing lead–acid and Li-ion battery systems is built, revealing that expensive Li-ion batteries can compete with cheap lead–acid batteries for long-term usage on high mountains [5]. This case study can provide engineers and researchers with a fundamental understanding of the long-term usage of off-grid PV ESSs and engineering on high mountains [5]. This image is adapted from 10.3390/batteries10060202

Carrageenan, a polysaccharide derived from red seaweeds, is commonly used to induce inflammation in animal models for studying inflammatory diseases. Its pro-inflammatory effects involve several key mechanisms: Activation of the Immune System: Carrageenan stimulates local immune cells, particularly macrophages, leading to an increased release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Disruption of Epithelial Barrier: It causes damage to the intestinal epithelial barrier, increasing intestinal permeability and facilitating the entry of pathogens and toxins, which exacerbates inflammation. Production of Inflammatory Mediators: Carrageenan enhances the production of inflammatory mediators like prostaglandins and leukotrienes, contributing to inflammation and pain. Modulation of Signaling Pathways: It affects important signaling pathways, including NF-κB and MAPK, which are crucial in regulating the inflammatory response. These mechanisms make carrageenan a valuable tool for studying inflammatory processes and evaluating the efficacy of anti-inflammatory treatments in animal models.

(A) The initiation of cell death through various pathways is contingent upon the location of the photosensitizer (PS) and the degree of organelle damage. Photodynamic therapy (PDT)-induced damage to mitochondria results in the loss of membrane permeability and the release of pro-apoptotic factors. Conversely, damage to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leads to the release of stored cellular calcium deposits. Furthermore, lysosomal damage results in the release of proteolytic enzymes upon illumination and can also trigger autophagy. In instances where apoptosis is impaired, necrosis and autophagy may emerge as the primary mechanisms of cell death following PDT. It is noteworthy that multiple PSs may localize in different organelles, potentially leading to the concurrent activation of multiple cell death pathways (adapted from Mroz, P et al. [1]). (B)  Photodynamic therapy has the capacity to induce vascular damage, disrupting the tumor's blood supply and causing its demise through various mechanisms. (C)  Photodynamic therapy can also activate innate and adaptive immunity, eliciting a systemic antitumor immune response and ultimately eradicating tumor cells.

Colored polymers are quite a rarity; indeed, there are a few families of linear polymers showing coloration usually ranging from pale-yellow to dark brown (most polymers are amber colored). These polymers belong to the high performance thermoplastics class (e.g., polyarylsulfones, polyimides, polyamideimides, etc.). The visible coloration is frequently associated with a high optical transparency (i.e., absence of light-scattering phenomena), which occurs for the amorphous nature of these solids. These solids are characterized by a sharp transparency change at a special wavelength, named cut-off. Precisely, they are very transparent at wavelengths higher than the cut-off wavelength and completely opaque at wavelengths below the cut-off wavelength. Since optical absorption of inherently colored polymers extends up to the visible spectral region, these solids are capable to completely absorb ultraviolet photons (that is, UV-C sub-band, like most of plastics do, but also the UV-B and UV-A sub-bands). The absorption coefficient of these polymers is very high and, consequently, they can completely block the ultraviolet radiation unless they are processed in form of thin films or coatings. It must be pointed out that common dyed plastics are obtained by dissolving an organic colorant into a plastic material and consequently the resulting optical absorption comes from the chromophores present in this organic molecule. Intrinsic/inherent coloration has a completely different nature, it is due to a huge bell-shaped absorption band, extending over a wide spectral range, which is generated by photoexcitation of electrons contained in the valence band states to the empty conduction band states. These inherently colored polymeric optical media constitute a niche class of polymeric materials potentially useful in the optical fields for technological applications like optical limiters, UV-shielding optical windows, color filters, etc.