Weifan Liu, Joshua L. Livingston, Li Wang, Zhangxin Wang, Martina del Cerro, Saad A. Younssi, Razi Epsztein, Menachem Elimelech, Shihong Lin
{"title":"Pressure-driven membrane desalination","authors":"Weifan Liu, Joshua L. Livingston, Li Wang, Zhangxin Wang, Martina del Cerro, Saad A. Younssi, Razi Epsztein, Menachem Elimelech, Shihong Lin","doi":"10.1038/s43586-023-00287-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43586-023-00287-y","url":null,"abstract":"Pressure-driven membrane desalination (PMD), such as reverse osmosis or nanofiltration, is an energy-efficient technology that addresses water shortages by using saline waters to augment freshwater supplies. This Primer describes several key methodological aspects of PMD, including membrane fabrication, characterization and performance evaluation; system modelling; process configurations; and applications. Thin-film composite polyamide membranes represent the state of the art in reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes and are the focus of the membrane development discussion. First, thin-film composite polyamide membrane fabrication using interfacial polymerization and alternative methods is discussed, followed by an exploration of techniques for characterizing the morphological, structural and interfacial properties. Experimental procedures and model frameworks for evaluating membrane performance are introduced, noting caveats in data collection, interpretation and reproducibility, with best practices recommended. Additionally, the general method for modelling the module-scale behaviour of PMD processes is introduced, alongside process configurations for existing and emerging applications. Finally, an outlook for the development of PMD is provided, highlighting the most meaningful directions for future research to further advance PMD beyond the current state of the art. Fresh water can be produced from saline water using pressure-driven membrane desalination. This Primer explores how reverse osmosis and nanofiltration are used as energy-efficient desalination methods, with a focus on membrane development, characterization and performance modelling.","PeriodicalId":74250,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Methods primers","volume":" ","pages":"1-22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139710653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Brillouin microscopy","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s43586-024-00295-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43586-024-00295-6","url":null,"abstract":"This PrimeView highlights how multivariate analysis can be used to analyse the entire spectral domain in Brillouin microscopy.","PeriodicalId":74250,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Methods primers","volume":" ","pages":"1-1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s43586-024-00295-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139661857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Brillouin microscopy","authors":"Irina Kabakova, Jitao Zhang, Yuchen Xiang, Silvia Caponi, Alberto Bilenca, Jochen Guck, Giuliano Scarcelli","doi":"10.1038/s43586-023-00286-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43586-023-00286-z","url":null,"abstract":"The field of Brillouin microscopy and imaging was established approximately 20 years ago, thanks to the development of non-scanning high-resolution optical spectrometers. Since then, the field has experienced rapid expansion, incorporating technologies from telecommunications, astrophotonics, multiplexed microscopy, quantum optics and machine learning. Consequently, these advancements have led to much-needed improvements in imaging speed, spectral resolution and sensitivity. The progress in Brillouin microscopy is driven by a strong demand for label-free and contact-free methods to characterize the mechanical properties of biomaterials at the cellular and subcellular scales. Understanding the local biomechanics of cells and tissues has become crucial in predicting cellular fate and tissue pathogenesis. This Primer aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the methods and applications of Brillouin microscopy. It includes key demonstrations of Brillouin microscopy and imaging that can serve as a reference for the existing research community and new adopters of this technology. The article concludes with an outlook, presenting the authors’ vision for future developments in this vibrant field. The Primer also highlights specific examples where Brillouin microscopy can have a transformative impact on biology and biomedicine. Brillouin microscopy is a non-contact method used for mechanical probing of cells and tissues. In this Primer, Kabakova et al. provide a comprehensive overview of the methods and applications of Brillouin microscopy.","PeriodicalId":74250,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Methods primers","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139656173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adaptive immune receptor repertoire analysis","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s43586-024-00292-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43586-024-00292-9","url":null,"abstract":"This PrimeView highlights how the diversity, composition and clonal architecture of the adaptive immune receptor repertoire can be used in identifying disease states and response to treatment.","PeriodicalId":74250,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Methods primers","volume":" ","pages":"1-1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s43586-024-00292-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139555356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vanessa Mhanna, Habib Bashour, Khang Lê Quý, Pierre Barennes, Puneet Rawat, Victor Greiff, Encarnita Mariotti-Ferrandiz
{"title":"Adaptive immune receptor repertoire analysis","authors":"Vanessa Mhanna, Habib Bashour, Khang Lê Quý, Pierre Barennes, Puneet Rawat, Victor Greiff, Encarnita Mariotti-Ferrandiz","doi":"10.1038/s43586-023-00284-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43586-023-00284-1","url":null,"abstract":"B cell and T cell receptor repertoires compose the adaptive immune receptor repertoire (AIRR) of an individual. The AIRR is a unique collection of antigen-specific receptors that drives adaptive immune responses, which in turn is imprinted in each individual AIRR. This supports the concept that the AIRR could determine disease outcomes, for example in autoimmunity, infectious disease and cancer. AIRR analysis could therefore assist the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human diseases towards personalized medicine. High-throughput sequencing, high-dimensional statistical analysis, computational structural biology and machine learning are currently employed to study the shaping and dynamics of the AIRR as a function of time and antigenic challenges. This Primer provides an overview of concepts and state-of-the-art methods that underlie experimental and computational AIRR analysis and illustrates the diversity of relevant applications. The Primer also addresses some of the outstanding challenges in AIRR analysis, such as sampling, sequencing depth, experimental variations and computational biases, while discussing prospects of future AIRR analysis applications for understanding and predicting adaptive immune responses. The adaptive immune receptor repertoire (AIRR) drives adaptive immune responses, which could determine disease outcomes, infectious disease and cancer. Mhanna, Bashour et al. outline the approaches and challenges in AIRR analysis, as well as future developments towards predicting adaptive immune responses.","PeriodicalId":74250,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Methods primers","volume":" ","pages":"1-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139555372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Research institutes from nest eggs: challenges and the way forward","authors":"Rijan Maharjan, Anusa Thapa, Prajwal Rajbhandari, Ashim Dhakal","doi":"10.1038/s43586-023-00288-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43586-023-00288-x","url":null,"abstract":"Small economies with limited financial, technical, governmental and human resources and governance capacity encounter a number of challenges in addressing research and development needs. We share our attempts to face these challenges in Nepal, as well as key policy issues for national and international stakeholders to consider. Maharjan et al. discuss the challenges of establishing a research and development ecosystem in low- and middle-income economies like Nepal.","PeriodicalId":74250,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Methods primers","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139489193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohamed A. Ettabib, Zhen Liu, Michalis N. Zervas, Philip N. Bartlett, James S. Wilkinson
{"title":"Waveguide-enhanced Raman spectroscopy","authors":"Mohamed A. Ettabib, Zhen Liu, Michalis N. Zervas, Philip N. Bartlett, James S. Wilkinson","doi":"10.1038/s43586-023-00281-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43586-023-00281-4","url":null,"abstract":"Waveguide-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (WERS) exploits the electromagnetic enhancement that can be achieved at the surface of suitably designed waveguides to enhance the intensity of the Raman spectra of molecules close to the waveguide surface. This Primer describes practical aspects of WERS implementation including the choice of laser, choice of waveguide material, design and fabrication of the waveguides, coupling of light into and collection of light from the waveguide, and choice of spectrometer and filters. The methods for data collection and quantitative analysis of waveguide-enhanced Raman spectra are also described, together with the applications of WERS to problems in chemistry, materials science and bioscience. Issues of spectral reproducibility and key optimization factors are discussed together with a summary of technical limitations, current challenges and perspectives for future research. In many cases the material presented is supported by further, more detailed, discussion in the accompanying Supplementary Information. Waveguide-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (WERS) exploits the electromagnetic enhancement that can be achieved at the surface of suitably designed waveguides to enhance Raman intensity. In this Primer, Ettabib et al. describe methods for data collection and quantitative analysis of waveguide-enhanced Raman spectra.","PeriodicalId":74250,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Methods primers","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139419838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Waveguide-enhanced Raman spectroscopy","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s43586-024-00290-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43586-024-00290-x","url":null,"abstract":"This PrimeView highlights the different features of dielectric waveguides that can affect the reproducibility of waveguide-enhanced Raman spectroscopy","PeriodicalId":74250,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Methods primers","volume":" ","pages":"1-1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s43586-024-00290-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139419852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}