Synthesis of MoS2@MoO3/(Cu+/g-C3N4) ternary composites with double S-scheme heterojunction for peroxymonosulfate activation exposing to visible light.

The construction of semiconductor heterojunction is an effective way for charge separation in photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. In this study, a novel MoS2@MoO3/(Cu+/g-C3N4) ternary composites (MMCCN) was prepared via a simple calcination method. The as-prepared composites exhibited exceptional performance in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). The activity testing results indicated that 99.41 % of RhB (10 mg·L-1, 10 mL) was effectively removed by the synergistic effect of composites photocatalyst (0.1 g·L-1) and PMS (0.1 g·L-1) under visible light irradiation for 40 min. Its reaction rate constant exceeded that of Cu+/g-C3N4, MoO3 and MoS2 by a factor of 3.56, 17.30 and 11.73 times, respectively. The crystal structure, band gap and density of states (DOS) of the semiconductors were calculated according to the density functional theory (DFT). Free radical trapping tests and electron spin resonance spectroscopy validated that 1O2, O2- and h+ are primary reactive species participating in the decomposition of RhB. The ternary composites demonstrated good stability and maintained excellent degradation efficiency even across four reaction cycles. Furthermore, the activation mechanism and the intermediates produced during the decomposition course of RhB by MMCCN/PMS/vis system were analyzed and elucidated. A double S-scheme heterojunctions was responsible for efficient separation of photo-induced electron-hole pairs. This work presents a novel method in the construction of double S-scheme heterojunctions for PMS activation which is expected to find wide applications in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Direct and indirect photodegradation mechanism of ractopamine in aquatic environment.

As a kind of typical lean meat essences and veterinary drugs, ractopamine (RAC) has been frequently detected in agricultural sewage and livestock, posing potential risk to both aquatic ecosystems and human health. Despite its widespread occurrence, the environmental fate of RAC remains unclear. Here, the mechanisms underlying the direct and indirect photodegradation of RAC was investigated under UV light irradiation at wavelengths of 275 and 365 nm, respectively. The effect of pH, initial concentration, and co-existing ions were examined. For direct photodegradation, the quantum yield of RAC increased with increasing pH values. In solutions containing dissolved organic matter (DOM), indirect photodegradation of RAC intensified with increasing pH values, and the initial concentration of DOM accelerated the process. The presence of Cu2+ was found to inhibit both direct and indirect photodegradation of RAC. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry and quenching experiments revealed that direct photodegradation was primarily attributed to the decomposition of the triplet state of RAC. Both the triplet state of DOM (3DOM*) and singlet oxygen contributed to the indirect photodegradation of RAC. LC-MS/MS analysis indicated that oxidation of the phenol group and subsequent decarboxylation were the principal photodegradation processes. The energies of each state of RAC and the active sites of RAC molecules were computed using frontier molecular orbitals and Fukui indices based on density functional theory. Combining the analysis of photoproducts with energy calculation, pathways of the direct and indirect photodegradation of RAC were proposed. These findings unveiled the photochemical behaviors of RAC concerning the removal and attenuation in aquatic environment.

Predicting aeration time and nitrite accumulation rate variations for Partial Nitritation: A model incorporating nitrogen oxidation rate dynamics.

This study aimed to develop a two-step nitrification model to predict variations in aeration time and nitrite accumulation rate (NAR) under fluctuating operational conditions in mainstream partial nitritation (PN) processes. Lab-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were used to evaluate the ammonia oxidation rate (AOR) and nitrite oxidation rate (NOR) under different solids retention times (SRT) (10, 15, 20, 30, and 50 days) and total volumetric nitrogen loadings (TVNL) (20-60 mg N/L per cycle). A static model was developed to predict consistent AOR and NOR values in the steady state, whereas a dynamic model was established to capture the growth dynamics of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) under unsteady-state conditions. The static model accurately predicted the AOR, NOR, and aeration time at steady state. The dynamic model quantified the relationship between specific growth rates (µ) and food-to-microorganism ratios (F/M) through exponential fitting, successfully capturing AOB and NOB growth dynamics. Validation experiments (SRT = 10 d, TVNL = 60 mg/L per cycle) demonstrated the ability of the dynamic model to predict trends in NAR and aeration time accurately. This study emphasizes the importance of accurately modeling AOR and NOR variations to predict aeration time and NAR, thereby providing valuable insights for aeration control and precise management of AOB and NOB populations in mainstream PN processes.

Integrated Pest Management: An Update on the Sustainability Approach to Crop Protection.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) emerged as a pest control framework promoting sustainable intensification of agriculture, by adopting a combined strategy to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides while improving crop productivity and ecosystem health. This critical review synthesizes the most recent advances in IPM research and practice, mostly focusing on studies published within the past five years. The Review discusses the key components of IPM, including cultural practices, biological control, genetic pest control, and targeted pesticide application, with a particular emphasis on the significant advancements made in biological control and targeted pesticide delivery systems. Recent findings highlight the growing importance of genetic control and conservation biological control, which involves the management of agricultural landscapes to promote natural enemy populations. Furthermore, the recent discovery of novel biopesticides, including microbial agents and plant-derived compounds, has expanded the arsenal of tools available for eco-friendly pest management. Substantial progress has recently also been made in the development of targeted pesticide delivery systems, such as nanoemulsions and controlled-release formulations, which can minimize the environmental impact of pesticides while maintaining their efficacy. The Review also analyzes the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of IPM adoption, showcasing its potential to promote biodiversity conservation and ensure food safety. Case studies from various agroecological contexts demonstrate the successful implementation of IPM programs, highlighting the importance of participatory approaches and effective knowledge exchange among stakeholders. The Review also identifies the main challenges and opportunities for the widespread adoption of IPM, including the need for transdisciplinary research, capacity building, and policy support. In conclusion, this critical review discusses the essential role of IPM components in achieving the sustainable intensification of agriculture, as it seeks to optimize crop production while minimizing adverse environmental impacts and enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems to global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

Soil type data provide new methods and insights for heavy metal pollution assessment and driving factors analysis.

Assessing heavy metal pollution and understanding the driving factors are crucial for monitoring and managing soil pollution. This study developed two modified assessment methods (NIPIt and NECI) based on soil type-specific background values and pollution indices, and combined them with the receptor model to evaluate pollution status. Additionally, a structural equation model was used to analyze the driving factors of soil heavy metal pollution. Results showed that the average NIPIt and NECI were 1.48 and 0.92, respectively, indicating a low pollution risk level. In some areas, Cd and Hg were the primary heavy metals contributing to pollution risk, with their highest average concentrations exceeding soil type-specific background values by 2.06 and 2.04 times, respectively. Additionally, in black soils, meadow soils, and chernozems, heavy metals primarily originated from natural sources, accounting for 48.92 %, 45.98 %, and 45.58 %, respectively. In aeolian soils, agricultural sources were predominant, contributing 43.38 %. Soil pH and organic matter were key soil properties affecting NECI and NIPIt, with direct effects of 0.36 and -0.19, respectively. This study aims to provide new methods and insights for the comprehensive assessment and driving factors analysis of soil heavy metal pollution, with the goal of enhancing pollution monitoring and reducing risk.

Advanced development of anion-exchange membrane electrolyzers for hydrogen production: from anion-exchange membranes to membrane electrode assemblies.

Anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) has attracted attention owing to its operation in alkaline environments, which offers the advantage of not requiring the use of precious metals. Additionally, AEMWE exhibits higher kinetics in the hydrogen evolution reaction, enabling higher hydrogen production efficiency. The anion-exchange membrane (AEM) fabrication, catalyst design, and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) are crucial for enhancing the total water electrolysis performance. There is an urgent need to summarize the advances in the development of AEMWE to pave the way for the commercialization of AEMWE. In this review, first, the fundamental principles of AEMWE technology are introduced. Second, the optimization of AEM with high ion conductivity and high stability through innovative synthetic methods are discussed in detail. Third, the designs of catalysts to increase the reaction rates by regulating the OH-adsorption environment and relieving OH blockage are introduced. Last but not least, a systematic summary of the concepts of 3D-ordered MEA, 3D-unified MEA, and 3D-self-supported MEA is presented. This review would be helpful to enhance the overall performance of AEMWE and promote the development of green hydrogen energy.

First-principles molecular dynamics study on the behaviors of Cs in a mixed system of liquid metal and LiCl-KCl molten salt.

The structure and dynamic properties of Cs in the mixed system of LiCl-KCl molten salt and a liquid metal (Bi and Pb) electrode are investigated through first-principles molecular dynamics simulation. It is found that the dynamic properties of different ions in molten salt could be significantly affected when the liquid metal electrode is coupled and this influence varies with the type of liquid metal applied. The microstructures of the mixed systems of molten salt and liquid metal electrode: MS-Cs-Bi, MS-CsCl-Bi, MS-Cs-Pb, and MS-CsCl-Pb, are also investigated by the bond angle distribution function, Voronoi tessellation analysis, five-fold symmetry parameter, and bond-orientational order parameter. The comparison study of the microstructures of the mixed systems when different liquid metal electrodes are applied provides information on the liquid metal electrode selection when conducting electrolysis. The present study represents the first demonstration of the study of a mixed system of salt and liquid electrode for practical applications and would be greatly beneficial to the development of pyroprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.

Nuclei engineering for even halide distribution in stable perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.

Wide-bandgap (WBG) absorbers in tandem configurations suffer from poor crystallinity and weak texture, which leads to severe mixed halide-cation ion migration and phase segregation during practical operation. We control WBG film growth insensitive to compositions by nucleating the 3C phase before any formation of bromine-rich aggregates and 2H phases. The resultant WBG absorbers show improved crystallinity and strong texture with suppressed nonradiative recombination and enhanced resistance to various aging stresses. Perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells achieve power conversion efficiencies of 29.4% (28.8% assessed by a third party) in a 25-square centimeter active area and 32.5% in a 1-square centimeter active area. These solar cells retained 98.3 and 90% of the original efficiency after 1301 and 800 hours of operation at 25° and 50°C, respectively, at the maximum power point (AM 1.5G illumination, full spectrum, 1-sun) when encapsulated.

Visual deterioration outcomes following optic pathway glioma treatment: a 12-year single institution retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The surgical treatment of optic pathway gliomas (OPG) remains controversial, with visual outcomes often unpredictable. The present study explored surgical and clinical factors influencing visual acuity (VA) after OPG treatment and developed anatomical subtypes correlated with clinical symptoms. METHODS: Children with OPG who underwent initial partial tumor resection at Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2011 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression and random forest analyses were performed to identify risk factors for post-treatment VA deterioration and a decision tree model was created based on significant factors. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients were enrolled. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified surgical approach and initial VA as independent predictors of post-treatment VA deterioration (P < 0.05). Surgical approach, initial VA, and extent of tumor resection were the most significant factors for risk assessment and were included in the decision tree model, with surgical approach as the most important "root" node. The model demonstrated good predictive performance, with area under the curve values of 0.75 and 0.66 for the training and test datasets, respectively. A simple anatomical classification was developed, which revealed clinical characteristic differences among OPG types. Meanwhile, a correlation analysis of post-treatment visual deterioration was performed for each of the three anatomical types. CONCLUSION: This study offers a predictive model for visual outcomes following initial tumor-reduction surgery in OPG patients, which may help in visual outcomes risk stratification. Additionally, the anatomical classification effectively indicates OPG growth direction, offering potential insights into clinical symptoms.

A binary 2D perovskite passivation for efficient and stable perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.

To achieve high power conversion efficiency in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, it is necessary to develop a promising wide-bandgap perovskite absorber and processing techniques in relevance. To date, the performance of devices based on wide-bandgap perovskite is still limited mainly by carrier recombination at their electron extraction interface. Here, we demonstrate assembling a binary two-dimensional perovskite by both alternating-cation-interlayer phase and Ruddlesden-Popper phase to passivate perovskite/C60 interface. The binary two-dimensional strategy takes effects not only at the interface but also in the bulk, which enables efficient charge transport in a wide-bandgap perovskite solar cell with a stabilized efficiency of 20.79% (1 cm2). Based on this absorber, a monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell is fabricated with a steady-state efficiency of 30.65% assessed by a third party. Moreover, the tandem devices retain 96% of their initial efficiency after 527 h of operation under full spectral continuous illumination, and 98% after 1000 h of damp-heat testing (85 °C with 85% relative humidity).

A novel framework for predicting glacial lake outburst debris flows in the Himalayas amidst climate change.

The retreat of Himalayan glaciers and the expansion of glacial lakes due to global warming have increased the occurrence of glacial lake outburst debris flow (GLODF), posing a serious threat to downstream communities. However, there are gaps in understanding the changes in GLODF occurrence driven by climate change, which challenges disaster management and cross-border cooperation in the Himalayas. To consider this issue, our study presents a novel framework integrating environmental evolution, a process-driven indicator system, and a hybrid machine learning model to predict Himalayan GLODF occurrence in the 21st century. Our findings indicate ongoing temperature (0.27-0.60 °C/10a) and precipitation (1.30-5.00 %/10a) increases under both SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios. Meanwhile, Himalayan glaciers are projected to lose between 70 % and 86 % of their mass by 2100 compared to 2020. Additionally, 2722 ± 207 new glacial lakes are expected to emerge by 2100. GLODF occurrence probability index is anticipated to rise to 1.27-1.30 times the current levels, with the Western Himalayas and Indus basin as high-incidence areas. Currently and in the future, the China-Nepal border remains a hotspot for cross-border GLODF. Our framework offers valuable long-term insights into Himalayan GLODF occurrence trends in response to climate change.

Carbon monoxide polyhemoglobin improves the therapeutic effect and relieves inflammation in the colon tissue of haemorrhagic shock/resuscitation rats.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to test the therapeutic effect of carbon monoxide polyhemoglobin (polyCOHb) in haemorrhagic shock/resuscitation and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: 48 rats were divided into two experimental parts, and 36 rats in the first experiment and 12 rats in the second experiment. In the first experimental part, 36 animals were randomly assigned to the following groups: hydroxyethyl starch group (HES group, n = 12), polyhemoglobin group (polyHb group, n = 12), and carbon monoxide polyhemoglobin group (polyCOHb group, n = 12). In the second experimental part, 12 animals were randomly assigned to the following groups: polyHb group (n = 6), and polyCOHb group (n = 6). Then the anaesthetised rats were haemorrhaged by withdrawing 50% of the animal's blood volume (BV), and resuscitated to the same volume of the animal's withdrawing BV with HES, polyHb, polyCOHb. In the first experimental part, the 72h survival rates of each groups animals were measured. In the second experimental part, the rats' mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), blood gas levels and other indicators were dynamically monitored in baseline, haemorrhagic shock (HS), at 0point resuscitation (RS 0h) and after 1 h resuscitation (RS 1h). The concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by ELISA kits in both groups of rats at RS 1h. Changes in pathological sections were examined by haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels were detected by immunohistochemical analysis, while myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were detected by immunofluorescence. DHE staining was used to determine reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. RESULTS: The 72h survival rates of the polyHb and polyCOHb groups were 50.00% (6/12) and 58.33% (7/12) respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the 8.33% (1/12) in the HES group (p < 0.05). At RS 0h and RS 1h, the HbCO content of rats in the polyCOHb group (1.90 ± 0.21, 0.80 ± 0.21) g/L were higher than those in the polyHb group (0.40 ± 0.09, 0.50 ± 0.12)g/L (p < 0.05); At RS 1h, the MDA (41.47 ± 3.89 vs 34.17 ± 3.87 nmol/ml) in the plasma, Nrf2 and HO-1 content in the colon of rats in the polyCOHb group were lower than the polyHb group. And the SOD in the plasma (605.01 ± 24.46 vs 678.64 ± 36.37) U/mg and colon (115.72 ± 21.17 vs 156.70 ± 21.34) U/mg and the MPO content in the colon in the polyCOHb group were higher than the polyHb group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In these haemorrhagic shock/resuscitation models, both polyCOHb and polyHb show similar therapeutic effects, and polyCOHb has more effective effects in maintaining MAP, correcting acidosis, reducing inflammatory responses than that in polyHb.

A Soldering Flux Tackles Complex Defects Chemistry in Sn-Pb Perovskite Solar Cells.

Developing tin-lead (Sn-Pb) narrow-bandgap perovskites is crucial for the deployment of all-perovskite tandem solar cells, which can help to exceed the limits of single-junction photovoltaics. However, the Sn-Pb perovskite suffers from a large number of bulk traps and interfacial nonradiative recombination centers, with unsatisfactory open-circuit voltage and the consequent device efficiency. Herein, for the first time, it is shown that abietic acid (AA), a commonly used flux for metal soldering, effectively tackles complex defects chemistry in Sn-Pb perovskites. The conjugated double bond within AA molecule plays a key role for self-elimination of Sn4+-Pb0 defects pair, via a redox process. In addition, C═O group is able to coordinate with Sn2+, leading to the improved antioxidative stability of Sn-Pb perovskites. Consequently, a ten-times longer carrier lifetime is observed, and the defects-associated dual-peak emission feature at low temperature is significantly inhibited. The resultant device achieves a power conversion efficiency improvement from 22.28% (Ref) to 23.42% with respectable stability under operational and illumination situations.

A global perspective of advanced practice nursing research: A review of systematic reviews.

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization (WHO) called for the expansion of all nursing roles, including advanced practice nurses (APNs), nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). A clearer understanding of the impact of these roles will inform global priorities for advanced practice nursing education, research, and policy. OBJECTIVE: To identify gaps in advanced practice nursing research globally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of systematic reviews was conducted. We searched CINAHL, Embase, Global Health, Healthstar, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, DARE, Joanna Briggs Institute EBP, and Web of Science from January 2011 onwards, with no restrictions on jurisdiction or language. Grey literature and hand searches of reference lists were undertaken. Review quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP). Study selection, data extraction and CASP assessments were done independently by two reviewers. We extracted study characteristics, country and outcome data. Data were summarized using narrative synthesis. RESULTS: We screened 5840 articles and retained 117 systematic reviews, representing 38 countries. Most CASP criteria were met. However, study selection by two reviewers was done inconsistently and language and geographical restrictions were applied. We found highly consistent evidence that APN, NP and CNS care was equal or superior to the comparator (e.g., physicians) for 29 indicator categories across a wide range of clinical settings, patient populations and acuity levels. Mixed findings were noted for quality of life, consultations, costs, emergency room visits, and health care service delivery where some studies favoured the control groups. No indicator consistently favoured the control group. There is emerging research related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). CONCLUSION: There is a large body of advanced practice nursing research globally, but several WHO regions are underrepresented. Identified research gaps include AI, interprofessional team functioning, workload, and patients and families as partners in healthcare. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021278532.

The protective effects of Axitinib on blood-brain barrier dysfunction and ischemia-reperfusion injury in acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The pathophysiological features of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) often involve dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), characterized by the degradation of tight junction proteins (Tjs) leading to increased permeability. This dysfunction can exacerbate cerebral injury and contribute to severe complications. The permeability of the BBB fluctuates during different stages of AIS and is influenced by various factors. Developing effective therapies to restore BBB function remains a significant challenge in AIS treatment. High levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the early stages of AIS have been shown to worsen BBB breakdown and stroke progression. Our study aimed to investigate the protective effects of the VEGF receptor inhibitor Axitinib on BBB dysfunction and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury. METHODS: BEnd3 cell exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model was constructed to estimate pharmacological activity of Axitinib (400 ng/ml) on anti-apoptosis and pathological barrier function recovery. In vivo, rats were subjected to a 1 h transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and 23 h reperfusion (tMCAO/R) to investigate the permeability of BBB and cerebral tissue damage. Axitinib was administered through the tail vein at the beginning of reperfusion. BBB integrity was assessed by Evans blue leakage and the expression levels of Tjs claudin-5 and occludin. RESULTS: Our research revealed that co-incubation with Axitinib enhanced the cell viability of OGD-insulted bEnd3 cells, decreased LDH leakage rate, and suppressed the expression of apoptosis-related proteins cytochrome C and Bax. Axitinib also mitigated the damage to Tjs and facilitated the restoration of transepithelial electrical resistance in OGD-insulted bEnd.3 cells. In vivo, Axitinib administration reduced intracerebral Evans blue leakage and up-regulated the expression of Tjs in the penumbra brain tissue in tMCAO/R rats. Notably, 10 mg/kg Axitinib exerted a significant anti-ischemic effect by decreasing cerebral infarct volume and brain edema volume, improving neurological function, and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in the brain. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights Axitinib as a potent protectant of blood-brain barrier function, capable of promoting pathological blood-brain barrier recovery through VEGF inhibition and increased expression of tight junction proteins in AIS. This suggests that VEGF antagonism within the first 24 h post-stroke could be a novel therapeutic approach to enhance blood-brain barrier function and mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The Role of Oxygen Vacancies in Phase Transition and the Optical Absorption Properties within Nanocrystalline ZrO2.

Zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles were synthesized using a solvothermal method under varying synthesis conditions, namely acidic, neutral, and alkaline. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were leveraged to investigate the phase evolution and topographical features in detail. The resulting crystal phase structures and grain sizes exhibited substantial variation based on these conditions. Notably, the acidic condition fostered a monoclinic phase in ZrO2, while the alkaline condition yielded a combination of tetragonal and monoclinic phases. In contrast, ZrO2 obtained under neutral conditions demonstrated a refinement in grain sizes, constrained within a 1 nm scale upon an 800 °C thermal treatment. This was accompanied by an important transformation from a monoclinic phase to tetragonal phase in the ZrO2. Furthermore, a rigorous examination of XPS data and a UV-visible spectrometer (UV-vis) analysis revealed the significant role of oxygen vacancies in phase stabilization. The notable emergence of new energy bands in ZrO2, in stark contrast to the intrinsic bands observed in a pure monoclinic sample, are attributed to these oxygen vacancies. This research offers valuable insights into the novel energy bands, phase stability, and optical absorption properties influenced by oxygen vacancies in ZrO2. Moreover, it proposes an innovative energy level model for zirconia, underpinning its applicability in diverse technological areas.

Effects of fermented sweet potato residue on nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and intestinal microbes in broilers.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different proportions of dietary fermented sweet potato residue (FSPR) supplementation as a substitute for corn on the nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and intestinal microbes of yellow-feathered broilers. Experiment 1 (force-feeding) evaluated the nutrient composition and digestibility of mixtures with different proportions of sweet potato residue (70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%) before and after fermentation. In Experiment 2 (metabolic growth), a total of 420 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly allocated to 4 groups and fed corn-soybean meal-based diets with 0, 5%, 8%, and 10% FSPR as a substitute for corn. The force-feeding and metabolic growth experiments were performed for 9 and 70 d, respectively. The treatment of 70% sweet potato residue (after fermentation) had the highest levels of crude protein, ether extract, and crude fiber and improved the digestibility of crude protein and amino acids (P < 0.05). Although dietary FSPR supplementation at different levels had no significant effect on growth performance and intestinal morphology, it improved slaughter rate, half-chamber rate, full clearance rate, and meat color, as well as reduced cooking loss in the breast and thigh muscles (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 8% and 10% FSPR increased the serum immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G levels in broilers (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 10% FSPR increased the Shannon index and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010 and Romboutsia abundances and decreased Sutterella and Megamonas abundances (P < 0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis showed that meat color was positively correlated with Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 (P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with Megamonas (P < 0.05). Collectively, 70% sweet potato residue (after fermentation) had the best nutritional value and nutrient digestibility. Dietary supplementation with 8% to 10% FSPR as a substitute for corn can improve the slaughter performance, meat quality, and intestinal microbe profiles of broilers. Our findings suggest that FSPR has the potential to be used as a substitute for corn-soybean meals to improve the meat quality and intestinal health of broilers.

Current situation and prospects for the clean utilization of gold tailings.

Gold tailings are characterized by low-grade, complex composition, fine embedded particle size, environmental pollution, and large land occupation. This paper describes the mineralogical properties of gold tailings, including chemical composition, phase composition, particle size distribution, and microstructure; summarizes the recycling and utilization of components such as mica, feldspar, and valuable metals in gold tailings; reviews harmless treatment measures for harmful elements in gold tailings; and adumbrated the research progress of gold tailings in the application fields of building materials, ceramics, and glass materials. Based on these discussions, a new technology roadmap that combines multistage magnetic separation and cemented filling is proposed for the clean utilization of all components of gold tailings.

Sodium alginate/ager colourimetric film on porous substrate layer: Potential in intelligent food packaging.

Colourimetric indicators have potential applications in monitoring food freshness and offer a simple, rapid, effective, and economical approach. Blending sodium alginate (SA) with agar (AG), an ideal choice for solid substrates in colourimetric indicators, can modify mechanical compliance and optical properties. However, the limitations in the water-sustaining capacity and dye migration of hydrogel substrates significantly impede the scalability and commercial application of these indicators. In this study, we designed and prepared a bilayer-structured indicator featuring an SA/AG colourimetric film on a porous Polypropylene fluoride (PVDF)/SiO2 encapsulation film. This design aims to enhance the water-sustaining capacity and reduce dye migration from the SA/AG colourimetric film. The PVDF/SiO2 composite film was prepared using a peeling-assisted phase-conversion process, which enabled the indicator to selectively allow gas, but not water, to pass through its porous substrate. Furthermore, we tested the layered indicator film by monitoring changes in shrimp freshness. The results revealed significant and distinguishable colour changes in the indicators corresponding to the freshness and spoilage of the shrimp.

NIR-Triggered Thermosensitive Nanoreactors for Dual-Guard Mechanism-Mediated Precise and Controllable Cancer Chemo-Phototherapy.

Thermosensitive nanoparticles can be activated by externally applying heat, either through laser irradiation or magnetic fields, to trigger the release of drug payloads. This controlled release mechanism ensures that drugs are specifically released at the tumor site, maximizing their effectiveness while minimizing systemic toxicity and adverse effects. However, its efficacy is limited by the low concentration of drugs at action sites, which is caused by no specific target to tumor sties. Herein, hyaluronic acid (HA), a gooey, slippery substance with CD44-targeting ability, was conjugated with a thermosensitive polymer poly(acrylamide-co-acrylonitrile) to produce tumor-targeting and thermosensitive polymeric nanocarrier (HA-P) with an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) at 45 °C, which further coloaded chemo-drug doxorubicin (DOX) and photosensitizer Indocyanine green (ICG) to prepare thermosensitive nanoreactors HA-P/DOX&ICG. With photosensitizer ICG acting as the "temperature control element", HA-P/DOX&ICG nanoparticles can respond to temperature changes when receiving near-infrared irradiation and realize subsequent structure depolymerization for burst drug release when the ambient temperature was above 45 °C, achieving programmable and on-demand drug release for effective antitumor therapy. Tumor inhibition rate increased from 61.8 to 95.9% after laser irradiation. Furthermore, the prepared HA-P/DOX&ICG nanoparticles possess imaging properties, with ICG acting as a probe, enabling real-time monitoring of drug distribution and therapeutic response, facilitating precise treatment evaluation. These results provide enlightenment for the design of active tumor targeting and NIR-triggered programmable and on-demand drug release of thermosensitive nanoreactors for tumor therapy.