Passive radiative cooling using nanophotonic structures is limited by its high cost and poor compatibility with existing end uses, whereas polymeric photonic alternatives lack weather resistance and effective solar reflection. We developed a cellular ceramic that can achieve highly efficient light scattering and a near-perfect solar reflectivity of 99.6%. These qualities, coupled with high thermal emissivity, allow the ceramic to provide continuous subambient cooling in an outdoor setting with a cooling power of >130 watts per square meter at noon, demonstrating energy-saving potential on a worldwide scale. The color, weather resistance, mechanical robustness, and ability to depress the Leidenfrost effect are key features ensuring the durable and versatile nature of the cooling ceramic, thereby facilitating its commercialization in various applications, particularly building construction.

Infection risk assessment is very useful in understanding the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases and in predicting the risk of these diseases to the public. Quantitative infection risk assessment can provide quantitative analysis of disease transmission and the effectiveness of infection control measures. The Wells-Riley model has been extensively used for quantitative infection risk assessment of respiratory infectious diseases in indoor premises. Some newer studies have also proposed the use of dose-response models for such purpose. This study reviews and compares these two approaches to infection risk assessment of respiratory infectious diseases. The Wells-Riley model allows quick assessment and does not require interspecies extrapolation of infectivity. Dose-response models can consider other disease transmission routes in addition to airborne route and can calculate the infectious source strength of an outbreak in terms of the quantity of the pathogen rather than a hypothetical unit. Spatial distribution of airborne pathogens is one of the most important factors in infection risk assessment of respiratory disease. Respiratory deposition of aerosol induces heterogeneous infectivity of intake pathogens and randomness on the intake dose, which are not being well accounted for in current risk models. Some suggestions for further development of the risk assessment models are proposed. This review article summarizes the strengths and limitations of the Wells-Riley and the dose-response models for risk assessment of respiratory diseases. Even with many efforts by various investigators to develop and modify the risk assessment models, some limitations still persist. This review serves as a reference for further development of infection risk assessment models of respiratory diseases. The Wells-Riley model and dose-response model offer specific advantages. Risk assessors can select the approach that is suitable to their particular conditions to perform risk assessment.

Adaptive control of solar and thermal radiation through windows is of pivotal importance for building energy saving. However, such synchronous passive regulations are challenging to be integrated into one thermochromic window. Here, we develop a solar and thermal regulatory (STR) window by integrating poly( N -isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) and silver nanowires (AgNWs) into pNIPAm/AgNW composites. A hitherto unexplored mechanism, originating from the temperature-triggered water capture and release due to pNIPAm phase transition, is exploited to achieve simultaneous regulations of solar transmission and thermal emission. The STR window shows excellent solar modulation (58.4%) and thermal modulation (57.1%) and demonstrates effective regulation of indoor temperatures during both daytime and nighttime. Compared to other thermochromic technologies, the STR window reduces heat loss in cold environment while promotes heat dissipation in hot conditions, achieving efficient energy saving in all weathers. This dual solar and thermal regulation mechanism may provide unidentified insights into the advancement of smart window technology.