Regulated Photocatalytic CO2-to-CH3OH Pathway by Synergetic Dual Active Sites of Interlayer.

Herein, composites of nanosheets with van der Waals contacts are employed to disclose how the interlayer-microenvironment affects the product selectivity of carbon dioxide (CO2) photoreduction. The concept of composites of nanosheets with dual active sites is introduced to manipulate the bonding configuration and promote the thermodynamic formation of methanol (CH3OH). As a prototype, the CoNi2S4-In2O3 composites of nanosheets are prepared, in which high-resolution transmission electron microscopy imaging, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra, and zeta potential tests confirm the presence of van der Waals contacts rather than chemical bonding between the In2O3 nanosheets and the CoNi2S4 nanosheets within the composite. The fabricated CoNi2S4-In2O3 composites of nanosheets exhibit the detection of the key intermediate *CH3O during CO2 photoreduction through in situ Fourier transform infrared spectra, while the In2O3 nanosheets and CoNi2S4 nanosheets alone do not show this capability, further verified by the density functional theory calculations. Accordingly, the CoNi2S4-In2O3 composites of nanosheets show the ability to produce CH3OH, whereas the CoNi2S4 and In2O3 nanosheets solely generate carbon monoxide products from CO2 photoreduction.

A Retrospective Observational Study of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer and Colorectal Cancer From a Single Center in the Recent 5 years.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the effect of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) on the progression free survival (PFS) of advanced gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). METHOD: We retrospectively collected all the HIPEC data of GC and CRC in the Chongqing University Cancer Hospital from August 2018 to April 2023. Data were extracted from inpatient records and outpatient examination records. The IBM SPSS statistics 23.0 software was used to analyze the data. We mainly compared the PFS of HIPEC cases with that of non-HIPEC cases (both from our center and from the literature). PFS was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Log Rank (Mantel Cox), Breslow (Generalized Wilcoxon), and Tarone-Ware were used for univariate analyses. RESULT: A total of 342 HIPEC cases were analyzed in this study. Stage IV GC and CRC accounted for 48.5% of the total number of cases. Abdominal pain and distension (47.4%) were the most common side effects from HIPEC. Serious complications were rare (1.8%, including bleeding, perforation, obstruction, and death). The PFS and disease-free survival (DFS) of abdominal malignancy treated with HIPEC were significantly associated with the TNM stage, but not HIPEC numbers nor HIPEC drugs. In stage IV HIPEC cases, adding adjuvant chemotherapy after HIPEC resulted in better PFS. In addition, the association between peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI) and PFS of stage IV HIPEC cases was close to significant. Compared with the 33 stage IV (with peritoneal metastases) GC cases without HIPEC in our center from the last 15 years, the PFS of the 56 stage Ⅳ GC cases with HIPEC was not improved significantly (median PFS: 6 ± 2.92 months vs 7 ± 1.63 months for with vs without HIPEC in stage IV GC, respectively; P ≥ 0.05). Compared with the 58 stage IV (with peritoneal metastases) CRC cases without HIPEC in our center from the last 15 years, the PFS of the 86 stage IV CRC cases with HIPEC was not improved significantly either (median PFS: 7 ± 1.68 months vs 7 ± 0.62 months for with vs without HIPEC in stage IV CRC, respectively; P ≥ 0.05). When comparing our HIPEC data with the non-HIPEC data reported by other scholars for the PFS of advanced GC and CRC, the negative results were similar. CONCLUSION: The PFS/DFS of HIPEC cases was associated with the TNM stage, but not with the HIPEC numbers or HIPEC drugs. PCI may be related to the PFS of stage IV HIPEC cases. Adding chemotherapy or targeted therapy after HIPEC may improve the PFS of stage IV cases. HIPEC did not significantly improve the PFS of stage IV GC or CRC cases in our center.

NUCB2 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and metastasis by activating the E2F4/PTGR1 axis.

Background: The important role of nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) in various cancers has been recently recognized. However, its biological functions and regulatory mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Methods: The expression level of NUCB2 in HCC was assessed using public databases, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. The effects of NUCB2 on cell proliferation and metastasis were investigated using colony formation, EdU, Transwell assays, and an in vivo mouse xenograft model. Regulation of E2F4 by NUCB2 was identified by protein half-life and in vivo ubiquitylation assays. The relationship between E2F4 and prostaglandin reductase 1 (PTGR1) was investigated by qRT-PCR, RT-PCR, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Results: This study found that NUCB2 expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues than in normal liver tissues, and patients with high expression displayed shorter survival rates. Inhibition of NUCB2 reduced the proliferation and metastatic potential of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. NUCB2 depletion reduced PTGR1 expression, which reduced cell proliferation and migration. Our findings suggested that NUCB2 suppressed E2F4 degradation by interacting with E2F4. Additionally, increased E2F4 levels facilitated PTGR1 transcription by directly binding to the PTGR1 promoter. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the oncogenic properties of NUCB2 in HCC and suggested that NUCB2 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression by activating the E2F4/PTGR1 axis.

Effects of Carbon Fiber Content on the Crystallization and Rheological Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polyamide 6.

Carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) composites have an excellent performance, attributed to properties such as light quality, high strength, and vibration reduction, and they are widely used in fields such as aerospace and transportation. Four kinds of carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 6 (CF/PA6) composite pellets with carbon fiber contents of 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt.% were prepared using twin screw extrusion. The results were characterized using a simultaneous thermal analyzer, capillary rheometer, electronic universal material testing machine, and scanning electron microscope (SEM); their crystallization, rheological behavior, mechanical properties, surface structure, etc., were studied. DSC results indicate that an increase in carbon fiber content enhances the thermal stability of CF/PA6 and narrows the crystallization window but has a minor effect on the molecular chain diffusion time. The crystallinity reaches its maximum at a carbon fiber content of 40 wt.%, reaching 55.16%. The steady-state rheological behavior reveals that CF/PA6 behaves as a pseudoplastic fluid, exhibiting shear-thinning behavior. When the carbon fiber content is 40 wt.%, the power law exponent (n) reaches its maximum, and the consistency coefficient (K) decreases by 300 Pa⋅sn compared to the 30 wt.% content. With increasing temperature, n increases while K decreases. SEM observations reveal that samples with carbon fiber contents of 20 wt.% and 40 wt.% exhibit better fiber dispersion and orientation. However, the interfacial bonding strength is superior in the 40 wt.% sample. When the carbon fiber content reaches 50 wt.%, significant injection molding defects occur at the clamping end, leading to extensive matrix tearing during tension testing.

Cemented versus cementless Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis sought to compare the efficacy of cemented versus cementless Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty(UKA) for the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the following databases was conducted: Pubmed, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Embase, the Web of Science, and MEDLINE. The objective was to identify literature comparing cemented versus cementless Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis. Duplicate literature, low-quality literature, literature with incompatible observations, and literature for which the full text was not available were excluded. Two independent researchers employed the Cochrane Risk Assessment Tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to evaluate the quality of the included literature. The data then were extracted and subsequently meta-analyzed using RevMan 5.4. RESULTS: A total of 12 papers were included in the analysis, encompassing a cumulative of 2558 cumulative cases. Of these, 1258 were cemented and 1300 were cementless. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the outcomes of cemented versus cementless Oxford UKA. The Oxford UKA group exhibited a significantly longer surgery time than the cementless Oxford UKA group [mean difference (MD) = 9.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) (7.64,12.17)]. Additionally, the cemented Oxford UKA group demonstrated a significantly lower knee OKS score compared to the cementless Oxford UKA group. The mean difference (MD) was - 1.58 (95% CI: -2.30, -0.86), indicating a significantly lower score for the cemented Oxford UKA group. Similarly, the mean difference (MD) was - 1.8 for the knee KSS clinical score, indicating a significantly lower score for the cemented Oxford UKA group. The results demonstrated that the knee KSS functional score was significantly lower in the cemented Oxford UKA group than in the cementless Oxford UKA group [MD=-1.72, 95% CI (-3.26, -0.37)]. 95% CI (-3.27,-0.17)], the cemented Oxford UKA group exhibited a significantly higher incidence of radiolucent lines around the prosthesis than the cementless Oxford UKA group [ratio of ratios (OR) = 3.62, 95% CI (1.08,12.13)]. The revision rate was significantly higher in the cemented Oxford UKA group than in the cementless Oxford UKA group [OR = 2.22, 95% CI (1.40,3.53)]. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of reoperation rate, five-year prosthesis survival rate, and complication rate. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that, in comparison to cemented Oxford UKA, cementless Oxford UKA resulted in a reduction in surgical time, an improvement in knee OKS score, KSS clinical score, and KSS functional score, and a decrease in the incidence of periprosthetic radiolucent lines and the rate of revisions.

Genome-wide analysis of the ERF Family in Stephania japonica provides insights into the regulatory role in Cepharanthine biosynthesis.

Introduction: Cepharanthine (CEP), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid (bisBIA) extracted from Stephania japonica, has received significant attention for its anti-coronavirus properties. While ethylene response factors (ERFs) have been reported to regulate the biosynthesis of various alkaloids, their role in regulating CEP biosynthesis remains unexplored. Methods: Genome-wide analysis of the ERF genes was performed with bioinformatics technology, and the expression patterns of different tissues, were analyzed by transcriptome sequencing analysis and real-time quantitative PCR verification. The nuclear-localized ERF gene cluster was shown to directly bind to the promoters of several CEP-associated genes, as demonstrated by yeast one-hybrid assays and subcellular localization assays. Results: In this work, 59 SjERF genes were identified in the S. japonica genome and further categorized into ten subfamilies. Notably, a SjERF gene cluster containing three SjERF genes was found on chromosome 2. Yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed that the SjERF gene cluster can directly bind to the promoters of several CEP-associated genes, suggesting their crucial role in CEP metabolism. The SjERFs cluster-YFP fusion proteins were observed exclusively in the nuclei of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Tissue expression profiling revealed that 13 SjERFs exhibit high expression levels in the root, and the qRT-PCR results of six SjERFs were consistent with the RNA-Seq data. Furthermore, a co-expression network analysis demonstrated that 24 SjERFs were highly positively correlated with the contents of various alkaloids and expression levels of CEP biosynthetic genes. Conclusion: This study provides the first systematic identification and analysis of ERF transcription factors in the S.japonica genome, laying the foundation for the future functional research of SjERFs transcription factors.

Unveiling the formation and influence mechanisms of PCDD/F memory effect in wet scrubbers: Fundamental research and field verification.

The "memory effect" of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in wet scrubber (WS) has become a frequent negative phenomenon in waste incineration field. This work focuses on studying the major influence factors and pathways of memory effect of PCDD/Fs in WS from the aspects of PCDD/F carriers and operating conditions. The PCDD/F contents of fillings used for over three years is 0.098 ng I-TEQ/g, which performs as a stable source of PCDD/Fs for thousands of hours with PCDD/F desorption rates ranged in 0.023-0.116 pg I-TEQ/g·h at 65 °C-93 °C. On the one hand, the filling layer has been the biggest PCDD/F storage part in WS (6845.1 µg). On the other hand, the generated yellow wrapping layer in long-term operation can limit the desorption of inner PCDD/Fs. The solubility of PCDD/Fs in scrubbing water (SW) performs a positive correlation with the content of suspended substances, and the increased temperature and pH value of SW both lead to a higher toxic concentration of PCDD/Fs dissolved from the fly ash to solutions. In addition, the built mass balance of PCDD/Fs around WS suggests the incomplete SW refreshing and sludge cleaning also contribute to the memory effect of PCDD/Fs through enhancing the liquid-phase PCDD/Fs in flue gas from SW. Based on this study, three suggestions are propounded on the operation of WS. The results of this study will provide essential evidence and guidelines for optimizing operation and inhibiting the PCDD/F memory effect in WS.

The Ciliate Euplotes balteatus Exhibits Removal Capacity upon the Dinoflagellates Karenia mikimotoi and Prorocentrum shikokuense.

The significant threat posed by the ichthyotoxic dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi to coastal aquaculture, resulting in substantial economic losses, underscores the need for control and mitigation strategies. Bio-mitigation of algal blooms through grazers presents advantages in sustainability compared to methods relying on chemical or physical procedures. This study explored the inhibitory effect of nine Euplotes spp. (Alveolata, Ciliophora) isolates on simulated blooms, with E. balteatus W413 displaying removal capacity for K. mikimotoi and robust growth in co-cultivation. The unique size plasticity in W413 revealed an efficient predation strategy, as an increase in cellular size enables it to shift prey from bacteria to algal cells. The enlarged cell volume facilitates W413 to accommodate more algal cells, bestowing it with a high ingestion rate and removal capacity upon K. mikimotoi. Furthermore, W413 exhibited considerable inhibition towards co-occurring bloom species, specifically Prorocentrum shikokuense and Karenia spp., implying its potential to mitigate mixed-species blooms. The study enhances our understanding of the prey selectivity of Euplotes species and proposes E. balteatus as a potential bio-mitigation candidate for K. mikimotoi blooms, emphasizing the significance of micro-grazers in marine ecosystems.

A haemodialysis catheter misplaced due to central venous stenosis: A case report.

Chronic kidney disease has become a significant global health issue, with some individuals progressing to endstage renal disease (ESRD) and requiring renal replacement therapy. For ESRD patients undergoing haemodialysis, the first step is to establish vascular access. In emergency situations, inserting a haemodialysis catheter (HDC) into the central vein is often the most appropriate approach; the right internal jugular vein (IJV) is considered the optimal site for catheterisation. However, catheter placement in the right IJV can sometimes lead to inadvertent entry into an abnormal position. Herein, we present a unique case in which the tip of the HDC was noted to have misplaced into the left IJV due to the patient's multiple central venous stenosis (CVS). This case highlights the clinical manifestation of HDC misplacement, with CVS being the underlying cause. Therefore, healthcare providers should pay adequate attention to CVS.

Prediction of EGFR-TP53 genes co-mutations in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) by 18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the predictive efficacy of 18F-FDG PET/CT -derived radiomic features concerning the co-mutation status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and TP53 in LUAD. METHODS: A cohort of 150 LUAD patients underwent pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT scans with known mutation status of EGFR and TP53 were collected. The feature extraction based on their PET/CT images utilized the Pyradiomics package based on the 3D Slicer. The optimal radiomic features were selected through correlation analysis and the Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) algorithm, followed by the construction of the radiomic model. The clinical model incorporated meaningful clinical variables, whereas the complex model integrated both the radiomic and clinical models. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) facilitated the comparison of prediction performance across the three models. The DCA gauged the clinical utility of these models. RESULTS: The patient cohort was randomly allocated into a training set (n = 105) and a validation set (n = 45) in a 7:3 ratio. Eleven PET and eleven CT optimal radiomic features were selected to construct the radiomic model. The model showed a good ability to discriminate the co-occurrence of EGFR and TP53, with AUC equal to 0.850 in the training set, and 0.748 in the validation set, compared with 0.750 and 0.626 for the clinical model. The complex model exhibited the highest AUC values, with 0.880 and 0.794 in both sets, but there were no significant differences compared to the radiomic model. The DCA revealed favorable clinical value.

Natriuretic peptide receptor-C perturbs mitochondrial respiration in white adipose tissue.

Natriuretic peptide receptor-C (NPR-C) is highly expressed in adipose tissues and regulates obesity-related diseases; however, the detailed mechanism remains unknown. In this research, we aimed to explore the potential role of NPR-C in cold exposure and high-fat/high-sugar (HF/HS) diet-induced metabolic changes, especially in regulating white adipose tissue (WAT) mitochondrial function. Our findings showed that NPR-C expression, especially in epididymal WAT (eWAT), was reduced after cold exposure. Global Npr3 (gene encoding NPR-C protein) deficiency led to reduced body weight, increased WAT browning, thermogenesis, and enhanced expression of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis. RNA-sequencing of eWAT showed that Npr3 deficiency enhanced the expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex genes and promoted mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in response to cold exposure. In addition, Npr3 KO mice were able to resist obesity induced by HF/HS diet. Npr3 knockdown in stromal vascular fraction (SVF)-induced white adipocytes promoted the expression of proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC1α), uncoupling protein one (UCP1), and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. Mechanistically, NPR-C inhibited cGMP and calcium signaling in an NPR-B-dependent manner but suppressed cAMP signaling in an NPR-B-independent manner. Moreover, Npr3 knockdown induced browning via AKT and p38 pathway activation, which were attenuated by Npr2 knockdown. Importantly, treatment with the NPR-C-specific antagonist, AP-811, decreased WAT mass and increased PGC-1α, UCP1, and mitochondrial complex expression. Our findings reveal that NPR-C deficiency enhances mitochondrial function and energy expenditure in white adipose tissue, contributing to improved metabolic health and resistance to obesity.

Substrate Induced p-n Transition for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

The p- or n-type property of semiconductor materials directly determine the final performance of photoelectronic devices. Generally, perovskite deposited on p-type substrate tends to be p-type, while perovskite deposited on n-type substrate tends to be n-type. Motived by this, a substrate-induced re-growth strategy is reported to induce p- to n-transition of perovskite surface in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). p-type perovskite film is obtained and crystallized on p-type substrate first. Then an n-type ITO/SnO2 substrate with saturated perovskite solution is pressed onto the perovskite film and annealed to induce the secondary re-growth of perovskite surface region. As a result, p- to n-type transition happens and induces an extra junction at perovskite surface region, thus enhancing the built-in potential and promoting carrier extraction in PSCs. Resulting inverted PSCs exhibit high efficiency of over 25% with good operational stability, retaining 90% of initial efficiency after maximum power point (MPP) tracking for 800 h at 65 °C with ISOS-L-2 protocol.

Promoting the OH cycle on an activated dynamic interface for electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis.

Renewable-driven electrocatalytic nitrate conversion offers a promising alternative to alleviate nitrate pollution and simultaneously harvest green ammonia. However, due to the complex proton-electron transfer processes, the reaction mechanism remains elusive, thereby limiting energy efficiency. Here, we adopt Ni(OH)2 as a model catalyst to investigate the dynamic evolution of the reaction interface. A proposed OH cycle mechanism involves the formation of a locally OH-enriched microenvironment to promote the hydrogenation process, which is identified through in-situ spectroscopy and isotopic labelling. By further activating the dynamic state through the implementation of surface vacancies via plasma, we achieve a high Faradaic efficiency of almost 100%. The activated interface accelerates the OH cycle by enhancing dehydroxylation, water dissociation, and OH adsorption, thereby promoting nitrate electroreduction and inhibiting hydrogen evolution. We anticipate that rational activation of the dynamic interfacial state can facilitate electrocatalytic interface activity and improve reaction efficiency.

Machine learning-driven mast cell gene signatures for prognostic and therapeutic prediction in prostate cancer.

Background: The role of Mast cells has not been thoroughly explored in the context of prostate cancer's (PCA) unpredictable prognosis and mixed immunotherapy outcomes. Our research aims to employs a comprehensive computational methodology to evaluate Mast cell marker gene signatures (MCMGS) derived from a global cohort of 1091 PCA patients. This approach is designed to identify a robust biomarker to assist in prognosis and predicting responses to immunotherapy. Methods: This study initially identified mast cell-associated biomarkers from prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) patients across six international cohorts. We employed a variety of machine learning techniques, including Random Forest, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Lasso regression, and the Cox Proportional Hazards Model, to develop an effective MCMGS from candidate genes. Subsequently, an immunological assessment of MCMGS was conducted to provide new insights into the evaluation of immunotherapy responses and prognostic assessments. Additionally, we utilized Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and pathway analysis to explore the biological pathways and mechanisms associated with MCMGS. Results: MCMGS incorporated 13 marker genes and was successful in segregating patients into distinct high- and low-risk categories. Prognostic efficacy was confirmed by survival analysis incorporating MCMGS scores, alongside clinical parameters such as age, T stage, and Gleason scores. High MCMGS scores were correlated with upregulated pathways in fatty acid metabolism and ß-alanine metabolism, while low scores correlated with DNA repair mechanisms, homologous recombination, and cell cycle progression. Patients classified as low-risk displayed increased sensitivity to drugs, indicating the utility of MCMGS in forecasting responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Conclusion: The combination of MCMGS with a robust machine learning methodology demonstrates considerable promise in guiding personalized risk stratification and informing therapeutic decisions for patients with PCA.

Factors affecting suboptimal maturation of autogenous arteriovenous fistula in elderly patients with diabetes:A narrative review.

Autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is considered the preferred vascular access choice for individuals undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and is widely utilized in China, as reported by the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study. Despite its popularity, the significant incidence of poor AVF maturation often leads to the need for central venous catheter insertion, increasing the risk of complications like superior vena cava stenosis and catheter-related infections, which in turn raises the overall mortality risk. With the prevalence of diabetes rising globally among the elderly and diabetic kidney disease being a leading cause of end-stage renal disease necessitating renal replacement therapy, our retrospective review aims to explore the various factors affecting AVF maturation in this specific patient population. While there have been numerous studies examining AVF complications in MHD patients, including issues like failure, patency loss, stenosis, thrombosis, poor maturation, and other influencing factors, there remains a gap in large-scale clinical studies focusing on the incidence and risk factors for immature AVF specifically in elderly diabetic patients. This paper delves into the pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic criteria, and unique considerations surrounding AVF maturation in elderly diabetic patients, distinguishing them from the general population. Our literature review reveals that elderly diabetic patients exhibit a higher risk of AVF immaturity compared to the general population. Additionally, there exists a continuing discourse regarding several aspects related to this group, including the choice of dialysis access, timing of AVF surgery, and surgical site selection. Furthermore, we delve into the management strategies for vascular access within this specific group with the goal of providing evidence-based guidance for the establishment and maintenance of functional vascular access in elderly diabetic patients.

qPrimerDB 2.0: an updated comprehensive gene-specific qPCR primer database for 1172 organisms.

High-quality primer design is essential for the success of all polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based experiments. We previously developed a thermodynamics-based gene-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) primer database for 147 organisms, which has been used extensively in gene expression studies. However, the number of organisms and the imperfection of function in the database limits its potential applications. Here, we improved the functionality of qPrimerDB to create a more comprehensive primer resource. Specifically, we (i) developed an improved primer design tool, qPrimer, building upon the previous qPrimerDB pipeline, to enhance the efficiency and simplicity of genome-scale qPCR primer design; (ii) pre-computed qPCR primer resources from 1 308 genomes of 1172 organisms and (iii) introduced a complete system for identifying, designing, checking, marking, and submitting qPCR primers. qPrimerDB 2.0 is freely available at https://qprimerdb.biodb.org. The qPrimer source code is available at https://github.com/swu1019lab/qPrimer.

Calcium oxide adsorption of gas phase PCDD/Fs and its impact on the adsorption properties of activated carbon.

Calcium oxide (CaO), utilized in semi-dry/dry desulfurization systems at municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) plants, demonstrates some capability to remove polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). This study assessed the gas-phase PCDD/F removal performance of CaO, activated carbon (AC) and CaO-AC mixtures. Alone, CaO achieved removal efficiencies of only 31.9% for mass and 50.8% for I-TEQ concentration. However, CaO-AC mixtures exhibited significantly higher efficiencies, reaching 96.0% and 92.5% for mass and I-TEQ concentrations, respectively, surpassing those of AC alone, which were 74.7% and 58.5%. BET analysis indicated that CaO's limited surface area and pore structure are major constraints on its adsorption performance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the π-π electron donor-acceptor (EDA) interaction enhances the adsorption between AC and PCDD/F, with adsorption energies ranging from -1.02 to -1.24 eV. Additionally, the induced dipole interactions between CaO and PCDD/F contribute to adsorption energies ranging from -1.13 to -1.43 eV. Moreover, with increasing chlorination levels, PCDD/F molecules are more predisposed to accept electron transfers from the surfaces of AC or CaO, thereby facilitating adsorption. The calculation for mixed AC and CaO showed that CaO modifies AC's properties, enhancing its ability to adsorb gas phase PCDD/Fs, with the higher adsorption energy and more electrons transfer, aligning with gas phase PCDD/Fs adsorption experiments. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of how CaO influences the PCDD/F adsorption performance of AC.