Layer-by-layer thinning of two-dimensional materials.

Etching technology - one of the representative modern semiconductor device makers - serves as a broad descriptor for the process of removing material from the surfaces of various materials, whether partially or entirely. Meanwhile, thinning technology represents a novel and highly specialized approach within the realm of etching technology. It indicates the importance of achieving an exceptionally sophisticated and precise removal of material, layer-by-layer, at the nanoscale. Notably, thinning technology has gained substantial momentum, particularly in top-down strategies aimed at pushing the frontiers of nano-worlds. This rapid development in thinning technology has generated substantial interest among researchers from diverse backgrounds, including those in the fields of chemistry, physics, and engineering. Precisely and expertly controlling the layer numbers of 2D materials through the thinning procedure has been considered as a crucial step. This is because the thinning processes lead to variations in the electrical and optical characteristics. In this comprehensive review, the strategies for top-down thinning of representative 2D materials (e.g., graphene, black phosphorus, MoS2, h-BN, WS2, MoSe2, and WSe2) based on conventional plasma-assisted thinning, integrated cyclic plasma-assisted thinning, laser-assisted thinning, metal-assisted splitting, and layer-resolved splitting are covered in detail, along with their mechanisms and benefits. Additionally, this review further explores the latest advancements in terms of the potential advantages of semiconductor devices achieved by top-down 2D material thinning procedures.

Unraveling the synergism mechanistic insight of O-vacancy and interfacial charge transfer in WO3-x decorated on Ag2CO3/BiOBr for photocatalysis of water pollutants: Based on experimental and density functional theory (DFT) studies.

Photocatalysis has been widely used as one of the most promising approaches to remove various pollutants in liquid or gas phases during the last decade. The main emphasis of the study is on the synergy of vacancy engineering and heterojunction formation, two widely used modifying approaches, to significantly alter photocatalytic performance. The vacancy-induced Ag2CO3/BiOBr/WO3-x heterojunction system has been fabricated using a co-precipitation technique to efficiently abate methylene blue (MB) dye and doxycycline (DC) antibiotic. The as-fabricated Ag2CO3/BiOBr/WO3-x heterojunction system displayed improved optoelectronic characteristic features because of the rational combination of dual charge transferal route and defect modulation. The Ag2CO3/BiOBr/WO3-x system possessed 97% and 74% photodegradation efficacy for MB and DC, respectively, with better charge isolation and migration efficacy. The ternary photocatalyst possessed a multi-fold increase in the reaction rate for both MB and DC, i.e., 0.021 and 0.0078 min-1, respectively, compared to pristine counterparts. Additionally, more insightful deductions about the photodegradation routes were made possible by the structural investigations of MB and DC using density functional theory (DFT) simulations. This study advances the understanding of the mechanisms forming visible light active dual Z-scheme heterojunction for effective environmental remediation.

Recent advances in manipulating strategies of NH2-functionalized metallic organic frameworks-based heterojunction photocatalysts for the sustainable mitigation of various pollutants.

NH2-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (NH2-functionalized MOFs) can abate organic pollutants, predominantly favored by their chemical, mechanical, and thermal stabilities. The present review stated the chemistry of identifying NH2-functionalization and its role in enhancing the properties of bare MOFs. The integration of the amine group bestows several advantages: 1.) enabling band structure modification, 2.) establishing strong metal-NH2 bonds, 3.) preserving MOF structures from reactive oxygen species, and 4.) shielding MOF structures against pH alterations. Consequently, the NH2-functionalized MOFs are promising materials for the photodegradation of organic contaminants. The following section illustrates the two approaches (pre-synthetic and post-synthetic) for NH2-functionalized MOFs. Nevertheless, specific intrinsic limitations, entailing a high recombination rate of charge carriers and inadequate optical adsorption, restrain the applicability of NH2-functionalized MOFs. Accordingly, the succeeding segment presents strategies to elevate the photocatalytic activities of NH2-functionalized MOFs via heterojunction fabrication. The importance of the NH2-functionalized MOFs-based heterojunction has been evaluated in terms of the effect on the enhancement of charge separation, optical adsorption, and redox ability of charge carriers. Subsequently, the potential application for organic pollutant degradation via NH2-functionalized MOFs-based heterojunctions has been scrutinized, wherein the organic pollutants. Eventually, the review concluded with challenges and potential opportunities in engaging and burgeoning domains of the NH2-functionalized MOFs-based heterojunctions.

DFT and experimental studies of the facet-dependent oxygen vacancies modulated WS2/BiOCl-OV S-scheme structure for enhanced photocatalytic removal of ciprofloxacin from wastewater.

The present study explores visible light-assisted photodegradation of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) antibiotic as a promising solution to water pollution. The focus is on transforming the optical and electronic properties of BiOCl through the generation of oxygen vacancies (OVs) and the exposure of (110) facets, forming a robust S-scheme heterojunction with WS2. The resultant OVs mediated composite with an optimal ratio of WS2 and BiOCl-OV (4-WS2/BiOCl-OV) demonstrated remarkable efficiency (94.3%) in the visible light-assisted photodegradation of CIP antibiotic within 1.5 h. The CIP degradation using 4-WS2/BiOCl-OV followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with the rate constant of 0.023 min-1, outperforming bare WS2, BiOCl, and BiOCl-OV by 8, 6, and 4 times, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis aligned well with experimental results, providing insights into the structural arrangement and bandgap analysis of the photocatalysts. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis utilized for identifying potentially degraded products while scavenging experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping analysis elucidated the S-scheme charge transfer mechanism. This research contributes to advancing the design of oxygen vacancy-mediated S-scheme systems in the realm of photocatalysis, with potential implications for addressing water pollution concerns.

Hexavalent Chromium Inhibited Zebrafish Embryo Development by Altering Apoptosis- and Antioxidant-Related Genes.

This study aimed to assess the effects of hexavalent chromium on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo development. The zebrafish embryos were treated with solutions containing chromium at different concentrations (0.1, 1, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 50, and 100 µg/mL). The development of zebrafish embryos was estimated by the determination of survival rate, heart rate, and the measurement of larvae body length. Real time RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to assess the expression of apoptosis- and antioxidant-related genes. The results showed that the reduced survival rate of zebrafish embryos and larvae was associated with an increase in chromium concentration. The exposure of higher concentrations resulted in a decrease in body length of zebrafish larvae. In addition, a marked increase in heart rate was observed in the zebrafish larvae under chromium treatment, especially at high concentrations. The real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that the transcript expressions for cell-cycle-related genes (cdk4 and cdk6) and antioxidant-related genes (sod1 and sod2) were downregulated in the zebrafish embryos treated with chromium. Western blot analysis revealed the upregulation of Caspase 3 and Bax, while a downregulation was observed in Bcl2. These results indicated that hexavalent chromium induced changes in zebrafish embryo development by altering apoptosis- and antioxidant-related genes.

Serological assays to measure dimeric IgA antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Current serological tests cannot differentiate between total immunoglobulin A (IgA) and dimeric IgA (dIgA) associated with mucosal immunity. Here, we describe two new assays, dIgA-ELISA and dIgA-multiplex bead assay (MBA), that utilize the preferential binding of dIgA to a chimeric form of secretory component, allowing the differentiation between dIgA and monomeric IgA. dIgA responses elicited through severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were measured in (i) a longitudinal panel, consisting of 74 samples (n = 20 individuals) from hospitalized cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); (ii) a longitudinal panel, consisting of 96 samples (n = 10 individuals) from individuals with mild COVID-19; (iii) a cross-sectional panel with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection with mild COVID-19 (n = 199) and (iv) pre-COVID-19 samples (n = 200). The dIgA-ELISA and dIgA-MBA demonstrated a specificity for dIgA of 99% and 98.5%, respectively. Analysis of dIgA responses in the longitudinal panels revealed that 70% (ELISA) and 50% (MBA) of patients elicited a dIgA response by day 20 after PCR diagnosis with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Individuals with mild COVID-19 displayed increased levels of dIgA within the first 3 weeks after diagnosis but responses appeared to be short lived, compared with sustained IgA levels. However, in samples from hospitalized patients with COVID-19 we observed high and sustained levels of dIgA, up to 245 days after PCR diagnosis. Our results suggest that severe COVID-19 infections are associated with sustained levels of plasma dIgA compared with mild cases.

Validation of a novel point-of-care test for alanine aminotransferase measurement: A pilot cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) measurement is essential for evaluation of liver disease. We validated a novel rapid point-of-care (POC) test for ALT1 against laboratory ALT. METHODS: Stored plasma samples from adults with chronic liver disease (Test cohort n = 240; Validation cohort n = 491) were analysed using the BioPoint® antigen immunoassay POC ALT1 lateral flow test, which provides quantitative ALT results (Axxin handheld reader) or semi-quantitative results (visual read, cut off 40 IU/ml). The accuracy of POC ALT1 to detect ALT > 40 IU/L was determined by ROC analysis. In patients with chronic hepatitis B, treatment eligibility (EASL criteria) was determined using POC ALT1 and compared to laboratory ALT. RESULTS: POC ALT1 test had good accuracy for laboratory ALT > 40 IU/L: AUROC 0.93 (95% CI: 0.89-0.96) in the Test cohort and AUROC 0.92 (95% CI: 0.88-0.95) in the Validation cohort. POC ALT1 cut off of 0.8 for ALT > 40 IU/L maximised sensitivity (97%) and specificity (71%) in the Test cohort (42% laboratory ALT > 40 IU/L) and yielded PPV 84% and NPV 91% in the Validation cohort (19% laboratory ALT > 40 IU/L). Semi-quantitative POC ALT1 had good accuracy for laboratory ALT in the Validation cohort (AUROC 0.85, 95% CI: 0.81-0.99; sensitivity 77% and specificity 93%). Combined with HBV DNA and transient elastography, both quantitative and semi-quantitative POC ALT1 tests had good accuracy for excluding hepatitis B treatment needs (sensitivity 96%, specificity 78% and NPV 99%). CONCLUSION: The POC ALT1 test had good accuracy for elevated ALT levels and for determining treatment eligibility among people with chronic hepatitis B.

Rational design, structure properties, and synthesis strategies of dual-pore covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for potent applications: A review.

Dual-pore covalent organic frameworks (COFs) offer a molecular scaffold for introducing building blocks into periodically organized polygonal skeletons to produce fascinating structural features. The rapid development of this material has attracted intensive interest from researchers with diverse expertise. This review selects the leading scientific findings about dual-pore COFs and highlights their functions and perspectives on design, structure properties, and synthesis strategies. Dual-pore COFs, as newly hetero-pore COFs by integrating particular pores into one polygonal skeleton, have been compared to conventional COFs. Dual-pore COFs display hierarchical/heterogeneous porosities and homogeneous porosity, which endow them with exceptional features involving mass diffusion, charge transfer, and large surface area with abundant active sites. Additionally, the strategic dual-pore design by opting for different approaches, such as integration of [D2h + C2] symmetries, kagome-type lattices, and other symmetric arrangements of monomers, are inclusively discussed. Identification and construction of dual-pores in COFs via optimal synthetic methods, such as desymmetrization, multiple linking sites, and orthogonal reactions, are highlighted as the primary pore engineering routes to simultaneously regulate the growth and alter the characteristics of COFs for promising applications. Lastly, a focused discussion on various challenges and critical fundamentals of dual-pore engineering is successfully outlined, with potential prospects of introducing dual-pore in COFs.

Recent advances in Metal Organic Framework (MOF)-based hierarchical composites for water treatment by adsorptional photocatalysis: A review.

Architecting a desirable and highly efficient nanocomposite for applications like adsorption, catalysis, etc. has always been a challenge. Metal Organic Framework (MOF)-based hierarchical composite has perceived popularity as an advanced adsorbent and catalyst. Hierarchically structured MOF material can be modulated to allow the surface interaction (external or internal) of MOF with the molecules of interest. They are well endowed with tunable functionality, high porosity, and increased surface area epitomizing mass transfer and mechanical stability of the fabricated nanostructure. Additionally, the anticipated optimization of nanocomposite can only be acquired by a thorough understanding of the synthesis techniques. This review starts with a brief introduction to MOF and the requirement for advanced nanocomposites after the setback faced by conventional MOF structures. Further, we discussed the background of MOF-based hierarchical composites followed by synthetic techniques including chemical and thermal treatment. It is important to rationally validate the successful nanocomposite fabrication by characterization techniques, an overview of challenges, and future perspectives associated with MOF-based hierarchically structured nanocomposite.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) core@shell nanohybrids: Novel nanomaterial support towards environmental sustainability applications.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) based on core@shell nanohybrids have recently received significant attention and have become one of the most promising strategies for improving the stability and catalytic activity of COFs. Compared with traditional core@shell, COF-based core@shell hybrids own remarkable advantages, including size-selective reactions, bifunctional catalysis, and integration of multiple functions. These properties could enhance the stability and recyclability, resistance to sintering, and maximize the electronic interaction between the core and the shell. The activity and selectivity of COF-based core@shell could be simultaneously improved by taking benefit of the existing synergy between the functional encapsulating shell and the covered core material. Considering that, we have highlighted various topological diagrams and the role of COFs in COF-based core@shell hybrid for activity and selectivity enhancement. This concept article provides all-inclusive advances in the design and catalytic applications of COF-based core@shell hybrids. Various synthetic techniques have been developed for the facile tailoring of functional core@shell hybrids, including novel seed growth, in-situ, layer-by-layer, and one-pot method. Importantly, charge dynamics and structure-performance relationships are investigated through different characterization techniques. Different COF-based core@shell hybrids with established synergistic interactions have been detailed, and their influence on stability and catalytic efficiency for various applications is explained and discussed in this contribution. A comprehensive discussion on the remaining challenges associated with COF-based core@shell nanoparticles and research directions has also been provided to deliver insightful ideas for additional future developments.

A concept for the biotechnological minimizing of emerging plastics, micro- and nano-plastics pollutants from the environment: A review.

Plastics, micro- and nano-plastics pollution are undoubtedly a severe and crucial ecological threat due to the durability of plastics and their destructive impacts on humans and wildlife. Most scientific investigations have addressed the classification, types, distribution, ingestion, fate, impacts, degradation, and various adverse effect of plastics. Heretofore, scanty reports have addressed implementing strategies for the remediation and mitigation of plastics. Therefore, in this paper, we review the current studies on the degradation of plastics, micro- and nano-plastics aided by microorganisms, and explore the relevant degradation properties and mechanisms. Diverse microorganisms are classified, such as bacteria, fungi, algae, cyanobacteria, wax worms, and enzymes that can decompose various plastics. Furthermore, bio-degradation is influenced by microbial features and environmental parameters; therefore, the ecological factors affecting plastic degradation and the resulting degradation consequences are discussed. In addition, the mechanisms underlying microbial-mediated plastic degradation are carefully studied. Finally, upcoming research directions and prospects for plastics degradation employing microorganisms are addressed. This review covers a comprehensive overview of the microorganism-assisted degradation of plastics, micro- and nano-plastics, and serves as a resource for future research into sustainable plastics pollution management methods.

Antimicrobial resistome and mobilome in the urban river affected by combined sewer overflows and wastewater treatment effluent.

The dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in the environment is an emerging global health problem. Wastewater treatment effluent and combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are major sources of antimicrobial resistance in urban rivers. This study aimed to clarify the effect of municipal wastewater treatment effluent and CSO on antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), mobile gene elements, and the microbial community in an urban river. The ARG abundance per 16S-based microbial population in the target river was 0.37-0.54 and 0.030-0.097 during the CSO event and dry weather, respectively. During the CSO event, the antimicrobial resistome in the river shifted toward a higher abundance of ARGs to clinically important drug classes, including macrolide, fluoroquinolone, and ß-lactam, whereas ARGs to sulfonamide and multidrug by efflux pump were relatively abundant in dry weather. The abundance of intI1 and tnpA genes were highly associated with the total ARG abundance, suggesting their potential application as an indicator for estimating resistome contamination. Increase of prophage during the CSO event suggested that impact of CSO has a greater potential for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) via transduction. Consequently, CSO not only increases the abundance of ARGs to clinically important antimicrobials but also possibly enhances potential of HGT in urban rivers.

Challenges and effectiveness of nanotechnology-based photocatalysis for pesticides-contaminated water: A review.

Pesticides have been frequently used in agricultural fields. Due to the expeditious utilization of pesticides, their excessive usage has negative impacts on the natural environment and human health. This review discusses the successful implications of nanotechnology-based photocatalysis for the removal of environmental pesticide contaminants. Notably, various nanomaterials, including TiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3, nanoscale zero-valent iron, nanocomposite-based materials, have been proposed and have played a progressively essential role in wastewater treatment. In addition, a detailed review of the crucial reaction condition factors, including water matrix, pH, light source, temperature, flow rate (retention time), initial concentration of pesticides, a dosage of photocatalyst, and radical scavengers, is also highlighted. Additionally, the degradation pathway of pesticide mineralization is also elucidated. Finally, the challenges of technologies and the future of nanotechnology-based photocatalysis toward the photo-degradation of pesticides are thoroughly discussed. It is expected that those innovative extraordinary photocatalysts will significantly enhance the performance of pesticides degradation in the coming years.

Hexavalent chromium removal from aqueous solutions using biogenic iron nanoparticles: Kinetics and equilibrium study.

Green mediated biosynthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles utilising Rosa indica flower petal extracts (RIFP-FeONPs) was used in this investigation. The RIFP-FeONPs were evaluated by the UV-Visible Spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, EDX, XRD, Zeta potentials, and DLS, and been engaged than for the elimination of Cr (VI) from the contaminated environments. At 269 nm, the RIFP-FeONPs surface plasmon vibration bands were observed, which attributed to the Fe3+. XRD patterns of RIFP-FeONPs depicted the intense diffraction peak of face-centered cubic (fcc) iron at a 2θ value of 45.33° from the (311) lattice plane indisputably revealed that the particles are constituted of pure iron. The fabricated nanomaterials are spherical and polydisperse with a diameter of 70-120 nm, and various agglomeration clusters are attributable to intermolecular interaction. Zeta potential measurement and particle size distribution of RIFP-FeONPs showed a mean average size of 115.5 ± 29 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.420. The study aims to analyse the appropriateness of RIFP-FeONPs for removing hexavalent chromium from the aqueous environment and the application of adsorption isotherm and statistical models in the experiment. The sorption of Cr (VI) on RIFP-FeONPs was observed to fit well with the isothermal models (R2 = 0.98). The linear correlation between processing parameters and time demonstrated that the adsorption efficiency of Cr (VI) well correlated with the pseudo-first order kinetic model and isothermal adsorption with the Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal models, so that the RIFP-FeONPs could be a prospective nanosorbent for hexavalent chromium removal from industrial waste.

Toxicity evaluation and oxidative stress response of fumaronitrile, a persistent organic pollutant (POP) of industrial waste water on tilapia fish (Oreochromis mossambicus).

The study was designed to determine the impact of acute toxicity of fumaronitrile exposure through tissue damaging, oxidative stress enzymes and histopathological studies in gills, liver and muscle cells of freshwater tilapia fish (Oreochromis mossambicus). In gill, liver, and muscle cells, biochemical indicators such as tissue damage enzymes (Acid Phosphatase (ACP), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)) and antioxidative enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase (SOD); Catalase (CAT); Glutathione-S-transferase (GST); Reduced Glutathione (GSH); Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were quantified in the time interval of 30, 60 and 90 days exposure to the fumaronitrile. After 90 days, under 6 ppb exposure conditions, the acid phosphatase (ACP) levels of fish increased significantly in the gills (3.439 µmol/mg protein/min), liver (1.743 µmol/mg protein/min), and muscles (2.158 µmol/mg protein/min). After 90 days of exposure to the same concentration and days, ALP activity increased significantly in gills (4.354 µmol/mg protein/min) and liver (1.754 µmol/mg protein/min), but muscle cells had a little decrease in ALP activity (2.158 µmol/mg protein/min). The LDH concentration in gills following treatment with fumaronitrile over a period of 0-90 days was 3.573 > 3.521 > 2.245 µmol/mg protein/min over 30 > 60 > 90 days. However, at the same dose and treatment duration, a greater LDH level of 0.499 µmol/mg protein/min was found in liver and muscle cells. Histopathological abnormalities in the gills, liver, and muscle cells of treated fish were also examined, indicating that fumaronitrile treatment generated the most severe histological changes. The current study reveals that fumaronitrile exposure has an effect on Oreochromis mossambicus survival, explaining and emphasising the risk associated with this POP exposure to ecosystems and human populations.

Using ZrO2 coated sludge from drinking water treatment plant as a novel adsorbent for nitrate removal from contaminated water.

This study aimed to produce a novel efficient absorbent using sludge generated from drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) as a low-cost absorbent and applied to treat nitrate (NO3-) from contaminated water. Before the ZrO2 coating experiment, the drinking water sludge (DWS) from DWTPs was pretreated by thermal treatment (80 °C, 200 °C, and 500 °C). After that, ZrO2 coated drinking water sludge (DWS@ZrO2) was produced by a simple precipitated reaction. The synthesized DWS@ZrO2 was characterized by FTIR, SEM, and EDS with mapping analysis, XRD, and VSM. The results revealed that DWS@ZrO2 could improve the pore filling in the adsorption experiment. The highest nitrate adsorption capacity was achieved (30.99 mg g- 1) at pH 2 with DWS500@ZrO2. Adsorption kinetics indicated that pyrolyzed DWS at 500 °C provided the highest nitrate adsorption capacity, followed by 200 °C, and 80 °C. Thermodynamic results showed that the obtained nitrate removal was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The possible nitrate adsorption mechanism of DWS@ZrO2 could mainly involve pore filling, electrostatic interaction, and ligand exchange. The experimental results suggest that DWS@ZrO2 is a feasible absorbent with high-efficiency, low-cost, high recyclability, and eco-friendly characteristics for treating nitrate in an aqueous solution.

New frontiers in the plant extract mediated biosynthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles and their potential applications: A review.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials nowadays. CuO NPs have numerous applications in biological processes, medicine, energy devices, environmental remediation, and industrial fields from nanotechnology. With the increasing concern about the energy crisis and the challenges of chemical and physical approaches for preparing metal NPs, attempts to develop modern alternative chemistry have gotten much attention. Biological approaches that do not produce toxic waste and therefore do not require purification processes have been the subject of numerous studies. Plants may be extremely useful in the study of biogenic metal NP synthesis. This review aims to shed more light on the interactions between plant extracts and CuO NP synthesis. The use of living plants for CuO NPs biosynthesis is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly process. To date, the findings have revealed many aspects of plant physiology and their relationships to the synthesis of NPs. The current state of the art and potential challenges in the green synthesis of CuO NPs are described in this paper. This study found a recent increase in the green synthesis of CuO NPs using various plant extracts. As a result, a thorough explanation of green synthesis and stabilizing agents for CuO NPs made from these green sources is given. Additionally, the multifunctional applications of CuO NPs synthesized with various plant extracts in environmental remediation, sensing, catalytic reduction, photocatalysis, diverse biological activities, energy storage, and several organic transformations such as reduction, coupling, and multicomponent reactions were carefully reviewed. We expect that this review could serve as a useful guide for readers with a general interest in the plant extract mediated biosynthesis of CuO NPs and their potential applications.

An overview on recent progress in photocatalytic air purification: Metal-based and metal-free photocatalysis.

Air pollution is becoming a distinctly growing concern and the most pressing universal problem as a result of increased energy consumption, with the multiplication of the human population and industrial enterprises, resulting in the generation of hazardous pollutants. Among these, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, Volatile organic compounds, Semi volatile organic compounds, and other inorganic gases not only have an adverse impact on human health both outdoors and indoors, but have also substantially altered the global climate, resulting in several calamities around the world. Thus, the purification of air is a crucial matter to deal with. Photocatalytic oxidation is one of the most recent and promising technologies, and it has been the subject of numerous studies over the past two decades. Hence, the photocatalyst is the most reassuring aspirant due to its adequate bandgap and exquisite stability. The process of photocatalysis has provided many benefits to the atmosphere by removing pollutants. In this review, our work focuses on four main themes. Firstly, we briefly elaborated on the general mechanism of air pollutant degradation, followed by an overview of the typical TiO2 photocatalyst, which is the most researched photocatalyst for photocatalytic destruction of gaseous VOCs. The influence of operating parameters influencing the process of photocatalytic oxidation (such as mass transfer, light source and intensity, pollutant concentration, and relative humidity) was then summarized. Afterwards, the progress and drawbacks of some typical photoreactors (including monolithic reactors, microreactors, optical fiber reactors, and packed bed reactors) were described and differentiated. Lastly, the most noteworthy coverage is dedicated to different types of modification strategies aimed at ameliorating the performance of photocatalysts for degradation of air pollutants, which were proposed and addressed. In addition, the review winds up with a brief deliberation for more exploration into air purification photocatalysis.

The practicality and prospects for disinfection control by photocatalysis during and post-pandemic: A critical review.

The prevalence of global health implications from the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates the innovation and large-scale application of disinfection technologies for contaminated surfaces, air, and wastewater as the significant transmission media of disease. To date, primarily recommended disinfection practices are energy exhausting, chemical driven, and cause severe impact on the environment. The research on advanced oxidation processes has been recognized as promising strategies for disinfection purposes. In particular, semiconductor-based photocatalysis is an effective renewable solar-driven technology that relies on the reactive oxidative species, mainly hydroxyl (•OH) and superoxide (•O2-) radicals, for rupturing the capsid shell of the virus and loss of pathogenicity. However, the limited understanding of critical aspects such as viral photo-inactivation mechanism, rapid virus mutagenicity, and virus viability for a prolonged time restricts the large-scale application of photocatalytic disinfection technology. In this work, fundamentals of photocatalysis disinfection phenomena are addressed with a reviewed remark on the reported literature of semiconductor photocatalysts efficacies against SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, to validate the photocatalysis process on an industrial scale, we provide updated data on available commercial modalities for an effective virus photo-inactivation process. An elaborative discussion on the long-term challenges and sustainable solutions is suggested to fill in the existing knowledge gaps. We anticipate this review will ignite interest among researchers to pave the way to the photocatalysis process for disinfecting virus-contaminated environments and surfaces for current and future pandemics.

Systemic Bile Acids Affect the Severity of Acute Pancreatitis in Mice Depending on Their Hydrophobicity and the Disease Pathogenesis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a major, globally increasing gastrointestinal disease and a biliary origin is the most common cause. However, the effects of bile acids (BAs), given systemically, on the pancreas and on disease severity remains elusive. In this study, we have investigated the roles of different circulating BAs in animal models for AP to elucidate their impact on disease severity and the underlying pathomechanisms. BAs were incubated on isolated acini and AP was induced through repetitive injections of caerulein or L-arginine; pancreatic duct ligation (PDL); or combined biliopancreatic duct ligation (BPDL). Disease severity was assessed using biochemical and histological parameters. Serum cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations were determined via enzyme immunoassay. The binding of the CCK1 receptor was measured using fluorescence-labeled CCK. In isolated acini, hydrophobic BAs mitigated the damaging effects of CCK. The same BAs further enhanced pancreatitis in L-arginine- and PDL-based pancreatitis, whereas they ameliorated pancreatic damage in the caerulein and BPDL models. Mechanistically, the binding affinity of the CCK1 receptor was significantly reduced by hydrophobic BAs. The hydrophobicity of BAs and the involvement of CCK seem to be relevant in the course of AP. Systemic BAs may affect the severity of AP by interfering with the CCK1 receptor.