Facile Synthesis to Porous TiO2 Nanostructures at Low Temperature for Efficient Visible-Light Degradation of Tetracycline.

In this study, nanoporous TiO2 with hierarchical micro/nanostructures was synthesized on a large scale by a facile one-step solvothermal method at a low temperature. A series of characterizations was performed and carried out on the as-prepared photocatalysts, which were applied to the degradation of the antibiotic tetracycline (TC). The results demonstrated that nanoporous TiO2 obtained at a solvothermal temperature of 100 °C had a spherical morphology with high crystallinity and a relatively large specific surface area, composed of a large number of nanospheres. The nanoporous TiO2 with hierarchical micro/nanostructures exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation activity for TC under simulated sunlight. The degradation rate was close to 100% after 30 min of UV light irradiation, and reached 79% only after 60 min of visible light irradiation, which was much better than the photodegradation performance of commercial TiO2 (only 29%). Moreover, the possible intermediates formed during the photocatalytic degradation of TC were explored by the density functional theory calculations and HPLC-MS spectra. Furthermore, two possible degradation routes were proposed, which provided experimental and theoretical support for the photocatalytic degradation of TC. In this study, we provide a new approach for the hierarchical micro/nanostructure of nanoporous TiO2, which can be applied in industrial manufacturing fields.

High-Performance Anode Material Based on Zinc Naphthalocyanine/Graphene Composite.

Transition metal oxides are a potential anode material owing to their high theoretical capacity. Nonetheless, their large volume changes and low electrical conductivities lead to poor cycling performance and rate capabilities. In this article, an effective strategy is proposed and developed for preparing a ZnO/N-doped graphene composite (ZnNc/GO-5). The key point of this strategy is to use zinc tetra tert-butyl-naphthalocyanine (ZnNc) as a codoped source of N atoms and zinc ions, and graphene oxide (GO) which is combined with ZnNc by π-π deposition as a carbon matrix. After calcination, ZnO microcrystals coated with N-doped graphene are obtained. The unique features of the composite and synergistic effect between N-doped reduced graphene oxide and ZnO microcrystals enable good electrochemical performance by the composites when used in lithium-ion batteries. As an anode material, the as-synthesized ZnNc/GO-5 composite delivers a high first capacity of 1942.9 mAh g-1 and excellent cyclic stability of 861.4 mAh g-1 after 150 cycles at 100 mA g-1. This strategy may offer a new method of designing the anode materials of lithium-ion batteries and promote the practical use of organic molecules in next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Effectiveness and safety of cefotaxime combined with avibactam for treating multidrug-resistant E coli infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli infections are a global health challenge, notably in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the effectiveness and safety of cefotaxime combined with avibactam, aiming to mitigate these infections' impact and lessen their burden on healthcare systems worldwide. METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and PICO frameworks, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across 4 primary databases on May 6, 2023. Studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of cefotaxime and avibactam were included. Key outcomes included treatment success, adverse effects, and microbiological eradication. Quality assessment utilized the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias instrument. Heterogeneity was analyzed using chi-square statistics and the I2 index. Both fixed- and random-effects models were applied as appropriate. Publication bias was rigorously evaluated using Egger linear regression test and funnel plot analysis, ensuring the study's integrity and reliability. RESULTS: The clinical cure rate derived from 8 studies showed no significant difference between the treatment groups (odds ratio [OR] = 1.97, 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.36, P = .86). Analysis of the bacterial clearance rate from the 5 studies also indicated no significant difference (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.42 to 2.25, P = .36). Notably, a reduced mortality rate favoring the experimental group was observed in 6 studies (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.92, P = .012). Comprehensive sensitivity analyses and the assessment of publication bias strengthened the reliability of the results. CONCLUSIONS: Ceftazidime combined with avibactam significantly reduced mortality among patients with multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli infections, indicating its potential as a therapeutic option, especially for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. However, extensive large-scale clinical trials are required to validate these findings.

2D/2D Phosphorus-Doped g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 Direct Z-Scheme Heterojunction Photocatalytic System for Tetracycline Hydrochloride (TC-HCl) Degradation.

Bi2WO6-based heterojunction photocatalyst for antibiotic degradation has been a research hotspot, but its photocatalytic performance needs to be further improved. Therefore, 2D/2D P-doped g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 direct Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with different composition ratios were prepared through three strategies of phosphorus (P) element doping, morphology regulation, and heterojunction, and the efficiency of its degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) under visible light was studied. Their structural, optical, and electronic properties were evaluated, and their photocatalytic efficiency for TC-HCl degradation was explored with a detailed assessment of the active species, degradation pathways, and effects of humic acid, different anions and cations, and water sources. The 30% P-doped g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 had the best photocatalytic performance for TC-HCl degradation. Its photocatalytic rate was 4.5-, 2.2-, and 1.9-times greater than that of g-C3N4, P-doped g-C3N4, and Bi2WO6, respectively. The improved photocatalytic efficiency was attributed to the synergistic effect of P doping and 2D/2D direct Z-scheme heterojunction construction. The stability and reusability of the 30% P-doped C3N4/Bi2WO6 were confirmed by cyclic degradation experiments. Radical scavenging experiments and electron spin resonance spectroscopy showed that the main active species were •O2- and h+. This work provides a new strategy for the preparation of direct Z-scheme heterojunction catalysts with high catalytic performance.

Evaluation of performance and microbial community successional patterns in an integrated OCO reactor under ZnO nanoparticle stress.

An integrated OCO reactor was used to investigate the performance and microbial community successional changes under long-term exposure to relatively low levels of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). Relatively higher concentrations of ZnO NPs (1.5 mg L-1) could adversely affect the nitrogen and phosphorus removal in the reactor. The diversity and richness of the microbial communities chronically declined with an increasing concentration of ZnO NPs higher than 1.5 mg L-1. With the elevated ZnO NPs, the phyla abundances of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria decreased slightly, whereas those of Bacteroidetes and Acidobacteria increased. Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were the predominant phyla in each phase (with a variation in abundance), together with some common taxa responses to ZnO NP stress as revealed by Venn diagram analysis. Some genera associated with the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus, such as Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas and Pseudomonas, decreased significantly. The present results are significant for expanding our understanding of the functional performance and microbial community successions of activated sludge which has experienced long-term exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of ZnO NPs.