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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ultra-fine nanofibres can be produced by manipulating polymer solutions, melts or suspensions with a strong electric field. This electrospinning process enables the properties of nanofibres to be tuned. In this Primer, electrospinning technology is explored, including the underlying principles, experimental techniques, characterization and applications in biomedicine, wearables and environmental purification.
This PrimeView highlights the utility of designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) in neuroscience to study neuronal activity and signalling in cells, rodents and non-human primates.
Chemogenetics is a technique for modulating engineered proteins using small molecules. In this Primer, Kang et al. describe the key aspects of designing receptors and small molecules and their use in neuroscience applications.
In vivo NMR spectroscopy of whole, living multicellular organisms involves maintaining live organisms within an NMR spectrometer and analysing their metabolic profiles in real time. In this Primer, Lysak and colleagues describe experimental approaches for in vivo NMR, including solution-state and magic-angle spinning NMR.
Arrays of element antennas in radio interferometry enable the study of celestial objects with angular resolutions comparable with, or surpassing, optical imaging at wavelengths thousands of times shorter. In this Primer, Asaki et al. describe aperture synthesis, the basic instrumental components and data calibration.
Muography takes advantage of the high penetrating power and relativistic nature of cosmic-ray muons for imagery; positioning, navigation, timing; and secured communications. This Primer provides an overview of muography techniques, describing how they are used in Earth and planetary sciences, computer science and social science.
Using multiple liquid chromatography columns can improve separations and enable complex samples to be analysed. This Primer introduces comprehensive 2D chromatography, including instrument setups for different applications.
