Visible light irradiation enhanced sulfidated zero-valent iron/peroxymonosulfate process for organic pollutant degradation.

This study developed a novel process named sulfidated zero-valent iron/peroxymonosulfate/visible light irradiation (S-mZVI/PMS/vis) for enhanced organic pollutant degradation. The S-mZVI/PMS/vis process exhibited remarkable catalytic activity, achieving a 99.6% rhodamine B (RhB) removal within 10 min. The degradation rate constant of RhB by the S-mZVI/PMS/vis process was found to be 6.49 and 79.84 times higher than that by the S-mZVI/PMS and PMS/vis processes, respectively. Furthermore, the S-mZVI/PMS/vis process worked efficiently across a wide pH range (3.0-9.0), and the result of five-cycle experiments demonstrated the excellent reusability and stability of S-mZVI. Radical quenching tests and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis indicated that ·O2-, 1O2, and h+ significantly contributed to the degradation of RhB through the S-mZVI/PMS/vis process. The visible light irradiation increased the Fe2+ concentration, improved the Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle, and consequently enhanced the PMS decomposition, reactive species production, and RhB degradation. This work offers a promising strategy to highly efficiently activate PMS for organic pollutants elimination from aqueous solutions.

Resveratrol triggers autophagy-related apoptosis to inhibit the progression of colorectal cancer via inhibition of FOXQ1.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant health problem with elevated mortality rates, prompting intense exploration of its complex molecular mechanisms and innovative therapeutic avenues. Resveratrol (RSV), recognised for its anticancer effects through SIRT1 activation, is a promising candidate for CRC treatment. This study focuses on elucidating RSV's role in CRC progression, particularly its effect on autophagy-related apoptosis. Using bioinformatics, protein imprinting and immunohistochemistry, we established a direct correlation between FOXQ1 and adverse CRC prognosis. Comprehensive in vitro experiments confirmed RSV's ability to promote autophagy-related apoptosis in CRC cells. Plasmids for SIRT1 modulation were used to investigate underlying mechanisms. Molecular docking, glutathione-S-transferase pull-down experiments and immunoprecipitation highlighted RSV's direct activation of SIRT1, resulting in the inhibition of FOXQ1 expression. Downstream interventions identified ATG16L as a crucial autophagic target. In vivo and in vitro studies validated RSV's potential for CRC therapy through the SIRT1/FOXQ1/ATG16L pathway. This study establishes RSV's capacity to enhance autophagy-related cell apoptosis in CRC, positioning RSV as a prospective therapeutic agent for CRC within the SIRT1/FOXQ1/ATG16L pathway.

Low-cost eggshell-fly ash adsorbent for phosphate recovery: A potential slow-release phosphate fertilizer.

Fly ash (FA) and eggshells (ES) are common solid wastes with significant potential for the recovery of phosphorus from water. This study focuses on synthesizing a low-cost and environmental-friendly phosphate adsorbent called eggshell-fly ash geopolymer composite (EFG) using eggshells instead of chemicals. The CaO obtained from the high-temperature pyrolysis of eggshells provides active sites for phosphate adsorption, and CO2 serves as a pore-forming agent. The phosphate adsorption performance of EFG varied with the eggshell-fly ash ratios and achieved a maximum of 49.92 mg P/g at an eggshell-fly ash ratio of 40 %. The adsorption process was well described by the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir model. EFG also exhibited a good regeneration performance through six-cycle experiments and achieved the highest phosphate desorption at pH 4.0. The results of the column experiment showed that EFG can be used as a filter media for phosphorus removal in a real-scale application with low cost. Soil burial test indicated saturated EFG has a good phosphate slow-release performance (maintained for up to 60 days). Overall, EFG has demonstrated to be a promising adsorbent for phosphorus recovery.

An Ultralow-concentration and Moisture-resistant Electrolyte of Lithium Difluoro(oxalato)borate in Carbonate Solvents for Stable Cycling in Practical Lithium-ion Batteries.

The electrolyte concentration not only impacts the battery performance but also affects the battery cost and manufacturing. Currently, most studies focus on high-concentration (>3 M) or localized high-concentration electrolytes (~1 M); however, the expensive lithium salt imposes a major concern. Most recently, ultralow concentration electrolytes (<0.3 M) have emerged as intriguing alternatives for battery applications, which feature low cost, low viscosity, and extreme-temperature operation. However, at such an early development stage, many works are urgently needed to further understand the electrolyte properties. Herein, we introduce an ultralow concentration electrolyte of 2 wt % (0.16 M) lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) in standard carbonate solvents. This electrolyte exhibits a record-low salt/solvent mass ratio reported to date, thus pointing to a superior low cost. Furthermore, this electrolyte is highly compatible with commercial Li-ion materials, forming stable and inorganic-rich interphases on the lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) cathode and graphite anode. Consequently, the LiCoO2-graphite full cell demonstrates excellent cycling performance. Besides, this electrolyte is moisture-resistant and effectively suppresses the generation of hydrogen fluoride, which will markedly facilitate the battery assembly and recycling process under ambient conditions.

Variations in the concentration, inventory, source, and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of the Lake Chaohu.

In this study, the ecological risk assessment of PAHs pollution, the existing S-T model was improved and applied to this PAHs pollution assessment in surface sediment in Lake Chaohu. The potential sources and contributions of PAHs in the surface sediment were estimated by molecular diagnostic ratio (MDR) and positive matrix factorization (PMF). The results showed that the average concentration of 16 priority PAHs in the surface sediment was 718.16 ng/g in 2009 and 334.67 ng/g in 2020. In 2020, PAHs concentration has decreased compared to 2009 and the dominant composition has changed from high- to low-molecular-weight PAHs. The estimated PAHs mass inventory of the top 2 cm surface sediment was 2712 tons in 2009 and 1263 tons in 2020. Ecosystem risk assessment by improved S-T models suggested that the overall ecosystem risk of the studied regions was acceptable.

Model-Based Feedback Control for an Automated Micro Liquid Dispensing System Based on Contacting Droplet Generation through Image Sensing.

Over the past few decades, micro liquid dispensing technology has been widely used in biology, chemistry, material and environmental sciences due to its efficacy in processing multiple samples. For practical applications, precise and effective droplet generation is very important. Despite numerous droplet generation methods, the implementation of droplet-on-demand still faces challenges concerning system complexity, precision, cost, and robustness. In this work, a novel on-demand contacting droplet generation method incorporated with model-based feedback control with an image processing unit as a sensor was proposed. By studying droplet identification using image processing techniques, the model of droplet formation was simplified. Then model-based feedback control was implemented using volumes of dispensed samples as sensing signals by tuning related parameters adaptively to resist disturbances. The proposed method was integrated and applied to a homebuilt automated micro liquid dispensing system with droplets ranging from 20 nanoliter to 200 nanoliter. The experimental results demonstrated a high degree of accuracy and precision. Additionally, the proposed system's practical utility was evaluated by analyzing mutations in genes associated with sensorineural hearing loss, verifying its effectiveness.

The correlations between C-reactive protein and MRI-detected inflammation in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are widely used to monitor inflammation in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), but the relationship between CRP and MRI-detected inflammation is incompletely understood. The present study was undertaken to assess correlations between CRP and MRI-detected inflammation in axSpA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed (Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library) to identify relevant studies concerning CRP and MRI-detected inflammation in axSpA patients. The MRI-detected inflammation was evaluated by MRI-based disease activity score (DAS). The correlation between CRP and MRI-based DAS was integrated by random-effect models. RESULTS: Eighteen studies reported a total of 1392 axSpA patients which were included in this meta-analysis. CRP was significantly associated with spinal MR DAS (r=0.226, 95%CI [0.149, 0.291], p<0.001, I2=23%). We also found a moderate correlation between CRP change and spinal MR DAS change (r[ASspiMRI-a]=0.354, 95%CI [0.282, 0.422], p<0.001, I2=48%; r[SPARCC]=0.544, 95%CI [0.345, 0.701], p<0.001, I2=19%). CRP at baseline was negatively associated with improvement in spinal MR DAS (r= - 0.327, 95%CI [-0.397, -0.264], p<0.001, I2=0%). However, no significant association was found between CRP and sacroiliac joint (SIJ) MR DAS. CONCLUSIONS: In axSpA patients, CRP is associated with MRI-detected inflammation in the spine but not in SIJ. We speculate that CRP could be a reasonable index to reflect spinal inflammation. Therefore, we suggest it is not essential to repeat spinal MRI in a short term, while SIJ MRI may be necessary to provide additional information on inflammation. Key Points • CRP is associated with MRI-detected inflammation in the spine but not in sacroiliac joints. • CRP at baseline was negatively associated with improvement in spinal MR DAS. • It was not essential to repeat spinal MRI frequently, while SIJ MRI may be necessary to provide additional information on inflammation.

Single-atomic Fe sites decorated N-doped carbon toward oxygen reduction in MFCs.

An atomically dispersed Fe-N-C catalyst has been synthesized and enables high power-out performance in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The influence of Fe doping on the electronic properties of N-doped carbon was investigated, proving that single-atomic Fe sites embedded into N-doped carbon play a significant role in enhancing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance in challenging neutral electrolyte. Density functional theory (DFT) studies indicate that a lower energy barrier for the limiting-potential step (*OH desorption) on Fe-N4 sites is favorable for the ORR process. This work offers new insights into the nature of Fe-N4 sites for the construction of highly active electrocatalysts for use in diverse energy conversion applications.

Mechanisms of gut microbiota-immune-host interaction on glucose regulation in type 2 diabetes.

Intestinal absorption of food is one of the sources of glucose. Insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance caused by lifestyle and diet are the precursors of type 2 diabetes. Patients with type 2 diabetes have trouble controlling their blood sugar levels. For long-term health, strict glycemic management is necessary. Although it is thought to be well correlated with metabolic diseases like obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes, its molecular mechanism is still not completely understood. Disturbed microbiota triggers the gut immune response to reshape the gut homeostasis. This interaction not only maintains the dynamic changes of intestinal flora, but also preserves the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Meanwhile, the microbiota establishes a systemic multiorgan dialog on the gut-brain and gut-liver axes, intestinal absorption of a high-fat diet affects the host's feeding preference and systemic metabolism. Intervention in the gut microbiota can combat the decreased glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity linked to metabolic diseases both centrally and peripherally. Moreover, the pharmacokinetics of oral hypoglycemic medications are also influenced by gut microbiota. The accumulation of drugs in the gut microbiota not only affects the drug efficacy, but also changes the composition and function of them, thus may help to explain individual therapeutic variances in pharmacological efficacy. Regulating gut microbiota through healthy dietary patterns or supplementing pro/prebiotics can provide guidance for lifestyle interventions in people with poor glycemic control. Traditional Chinese medicine can also be used as complementary medicine to effectively regulate intestinal homeostasis. Intestinal microbiota is becoming a new target against metabolic diseases, so more evidence is needed to elucidate the intricate microbiota-immune-host relationship, and explore the therapeutic potential of targeting intestinal microbiota.

Simultaneous adsorption of Cd(II) and degradation of OTC by activated biochar with ferrate: Efficiency and mechanism.

Biochar-supported zero-valent iron nanocomposites have received much attention due to their application potential in environmental pollution remediation. However, in many occasions, zero-valent iron loading improves the electron transfer efficiency and catalytic oxidation capacity of biochar while blocking the original pore structure of biochar, limiting its application potential. In this study, a zero-valent iron composites with large SSA (865.86 m2/g) was prepared in one step using pre-pyrolysis of biochar powder and K2FeO4 grinding for co-pyrolysis. The processes of ZVI generation and SSA expansion during the pyrolysis were investigated. The factors affecting the removal process of Cd and OTC in water by the composites were investigated. The mechanisms of Cd fixation and OTC degradation by the composites were explored by experiments, characterization, and DFT calculations. The OTC degradation pathway was proposed by theoretical predication and LC-MS spectrometry. The results indicate that ion exchange, complexation with oxygen-containing functional groups, electrostatic attraction, and interaction with π-electrons are the main mechanisms of Cd immobilization. The degradation pathways of OTC mainly include dehydroxylation, deamination and dealkylation.

E3 ubiquitin ligase OsPIE3 destabilises the B-lectin receptor-like kinase PID2 to control blast disease resistance in rice.

Previous studies have reported that PID2, which encodes a B-lectin receptor-like kinase, is a key gene in the resistance of rice to Magnaporthe oryzae strain ZB15. However, the PID2-mediated downstream signalling events remain largely unknown. The U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase OsPIE3 (PID2-interacting E3) was isolated and confirmed to play key roles in PID2-mediated rice blast resistance. Yeast two-hybrid analysis showed that the armadillo repeat region of OsPIE3 is required for its interaction with PID2. Further investigation demonstrated that OsPIE3 can modify the subcellular localisation of PID2, thus promoting its nuclear recruitment from the plasma membrane for protein degradation in the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Site-directed mutagenesis of a conserved cysteine site (C230S) within the U-box domain of OsPIE3 reduces PID2 translocation and ubiquitination. Genetic analysis suggested that OsPIE3 loss-of-function mutants exhibited enhanced resistance to M. oryzae isolate ZB15, whereas mutants with overexpressed OsPIE3 exhibited reduced resistance. Furthermore, the OsPIE3/PID2-double mutant displayed a similar blast phenotype to that of the PID2 single mutant, suggesting that OsPIE3 is a negative regulator and functions along with PID2 in blast disease resistance. Our findings confirm that the E3 ubiquitin ligase OsPIE3 is necessary for PID2-mediated rice blast disease resistance regulation.

Preparation and application of chitosan-based medical electrospun nanofibers.

Chitosan is a kind of polysaccharide cationic polymer, which has excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability and biological activity. In recent years, chitosan has been widely used as medical materials because of its non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity and rich sources. This paper reviews chitosan chemistry, the basic principles and influence of electrospinning technology, the blending of chitosan with polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, polycaprolactone, polylactic acid, protein, polysaccharide and other polymer materials, the blending of chitosan with oxides, metals, carbon-based and other inorganic substances for electrospinning, the application of chitosan electrospinning nanofibers in medical field and its mechanism in clinical application. In order to provide reference for the in-depth study of electrospinning technology in the field of medical and health.

Enhanced elimination of Cr(VI) from aqueous media by polyethyleneimine modified corn straw biochar supported sulfide nanoscale zero valent iron: Performance and mechanism.

A novel polyethyleneimine modified corn straw biochar supported sulfide nanoscale zero-valent iron (S-nZVI@PBC) was developed to enhance Cr(VI) removal from aqueous media. The characteristics of morphology, chemical composition, and functional groups of S-nZVI@PBC, as well as its kinetics and mechanism for Cr(VI) removal were explored. Characterization verified S-nZVI was successfully loaded onto PEI modified biochar. The adsorption process was well represented pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.990) and Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.962), indicating it was a monolayer chemical adsorption process. The Cr(VI) removal was affected by pH and achieved the maximum when pH = 3.0, which may be ascribed to the better corrosion of nZVI and release of Fe(II) from the S-nZVI@PBC in acidic condition. The primary mechanisms were adsorption, reduction, and co-precipitation. S-nZVI@PBC exhibited higher stability and reusability than nZVI, which makes it more promising in environmental application. Overall, S-nZVI@PBC is of great potential for treating Cr(VI)-containing wastewater.

Efficient degradation of organic pollutants by S-NaTaO3/biochar under visible light and the photocatalytic performance of a permonosulfate-based dual-effect catalytic system.

Removing large concentrations of organic pollutants from water efficiently and quickly under visible light is essential to developing photocatalytic technology and improving solar energy efficiency. This study used a simple hydrothermal method to prepare a non-metallic, S-doped NaTaO3 (S-NTO) photocatalyst, which was then loaded onto biochar (BC) to form a S-NTO/BC composite photocatalyst. After uniform loading onto BC, the S-NTO particles transformed from cubic to spherical. The photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination probability of the composite photocatalyst was significantly lower than those of the NTO particles. The light absorption range of the catalyst was effectively widened from 310 nm UV region to visible region. In addition, a dual-effect catalytic system was constructed by introducing peroxymonosulfate (PMS) into the environment of the pollution to be degraded. The Rhodamine B, Methyl Orange, Acid Orange 7, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin degradation efficiency at 40 mg/L reached 99.6%, 99.2%, 84.5%, 67.1%, and 70.7%, respectively, after irradiation by a 40 W lamps for 90 min. The high-efficiency visible-light catalytic activity of the dual-effect catalytic system was attributed to doping with non-metallic sulfur and loading of catalysts onto BC. The development of this dual-effect catalytic system provides new ideas for quickly and efficiently solving the problem of high-concentration organic pollution in aqueous environments, rationally and fully utilizing solar energy, and expanding the application of photocatalytic technology to practice.

Charge Transfer Doping of Carbon Nitride Films through Noncovalent Iodination for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance: Combined Experimental and Computational Insights.

To improve the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of photocatalysts, the doping strategy through covalent functionalization is often adopted to adjust material electronic structures. By contrast, this work demonstrates that the noncovalent interaction in the case of iodinated graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) film can also enhance the PEC performance. Through a facile synthesis method of rapid thermal vapor condensation (RTVC), the prepared iodinated g-CN film shows a significantly improved photocurrent density (38.9 µA cm-2 ), three times that of pure g-CN film (13.0 µA cm-2 ) at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Computations reveal that the noncovalent attachment of iodine anion (I- ) on g-CN plays a crucial role in modulating the bandgap states and broadening of the visible-light absorption range as well as the charge carrier separation with the photo-induced hole confined to I- and electron to g-CN film. The fully filled valence orbitals (4d10 5s2 5p6 ) of I- determine its noncovalent attachment on the g-CN film and so do the iodine species of I3 - , I5 - , etc. This work offers a favorable synthesis method to achieve efficient doping through noncovalent charge transfer between thin film and certain dopants and provides a useful modification strategy for the establishment of multi-channel transportation of charge carriers in general photocatalysts.

Eggshell based biochar for highly efficient adsorption and recovery of phosphorus from aqueous solution: Kinetics, mechanism and potential as phosphorus fertilizer.

Development of an efficient and green adsorbent is of great significance for phosphorus removal and recovery from eutrophic water. This work prepared an eggshell modified biochar (ESBC) by co-pyrolysis of eggshells and corn stalk. ESBC exhibited an excellent performance for phosphorus adsorption over a wide pH range (5-13), and achieved a maximum adsorption of 557.0 mg P/g. The adsorption process was well fitted by pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.962) and Sips model (R2 > 0.965), and it was endothermic (ΔH0 > 0) and spontaneous (ΔG0 < 0) according to thermodynamic analysis. The column experiment confirmed the feasibility of ESBC as a filter media for phosphorus removal in flow condition, and obtained a P removal of 460.0 mg/g. Soil burial tests indicated P-laden ESBC has a good P slow-release performance (maintained for up to 25 days). Overall, ESBC has a promising application potential as an efficient adsorbent for phosphorus recovery and subsequently as a slow-release fertilizer.

Disruption of REC8 in Meiosis I led to watermelon seedless.

In triploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), the homologous chromosomes of germ cells are disorder during meiosis, resulting in the failure of seeds formation and producing seedless fruit. Therefore, mutating the genes specifically functioning in meiosis may be an alternative way to achieve seedless watermelon. REC8, as a key component of the cohesin complex in meiosis, is dramatically essential for sister chromatid cohesion and chromosome segregation. However, the role of REC8 in meiosis has not yet been characterized in watermelon. Here, we identified ClREC8 as a member of RAD21/REC8 family with a high expression in male and female flowers of watermelon. In situ hybridization analysis showed that ClREC8 was highly expressed at the early stage of meiosis during pollen formation. Knocking out ClREC8 in watermelon led to decline of pollen vitality. After pollinating with foreign normal pollen, the ovaries of ClREC8 knockout lines could inflate normally but failed to form seeds. We further compared the meiosis chromosomes of pollen mother cells in different stages between the knockout lines and the corresponding wild type. The results indicated that ClREC8 was required for the monopolar orientation of the sister kinetochores in Meiosis I. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis between WT and the knockout lines revealed that the disruption of ClREC8 caused the expression levels of mitosis-related genes and meiosis-related genes to decrease. Our results demonstrated ClREC8 has a specific role in Meiosis I of watermelon germ cells, and loss-of-function of the ClREC8 led to seedless fruit, which may provide an alternative strategy to breed cultivars with seedless watermelon.

Novel approach by natural language processing for COVID-19 knowledge discovery.

BACKGROUND: The impact of COVID-19 on public health has mandated an 'all hands on deck' scientific response. The current clinical study and basic research on COVID-19 are mainly based on existing publications or our knowledge of coronavirus. However, efficiently retrieval of accurate, relevant knowledge on COVID-19 can pose significant challenges for researchers. METHODS: To improve quality in accessing important literature findings, we developed a novel natural language processing (NLP) method to automatically recognize the associations among potential targeted host organ systems, associated clinical manifestations, and pathways. We further validated these associations through clinician experts' evaluations and prioritize candidate drug targets through bioinformatics network analysis. RESULTS: We found that the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a receptor that SARS-CoV-2 required for cell entry, is associated with cardiovascular and endocrine organ system and diseases. Furthermore, we found SARS-CoV-2 is associated with some important pathways such as IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta-induced dyslipidemia, which are related to inflammation, lipogenesis, and oxidative stress mechanisms, suggesting potential drug candidates. CONCLUSION: We prioritized the list of therapeutic targets involved in antiviral and immune modulating drugs for experimental validation, rendering it valuable during public health crises marked by stresses on clinical and research capacity. Our automatic intelligence pipeline also contributes to other novel and emerging disease management and treatments in the future.