Aluminium Chloride instead of Ferric chloride for inducing superior sagittal sinus thrombosis to reduce ferromagnetic artifacts on MRI-imaging in experimental models.

Using ferric chloride (FeCl3) to induce experimental superior sagittal sinus (SSS) thrombosis might interfere with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-assisted visualization and evaluation of the thrombus, the brain parenchyma, and the quality of the occlusion. The aim of this study was to investigate whether aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced thrombosis of the SSS has comparable properties to those of FeCl3 without causing artifacts in MRI. SSS thrombosis was induced in 14 male Wistar rats by exposure of the SSS and subsequent topical application of a filter paper strip soaked in AlCl3 (n = 7) or FeCl3 (n = 7) over a period of 15 min. The animals with AlCl3-induced SSS thrombosis showed a constant and complete occlusion with in histological analysis large thrombi. Blood flow measurements indicated a significant reduction on the first and seventh postoperative day compared to preoperative measurements. MRI enabled visualization and subsequent evaluation of the thrombus and the surrounding parenchyma. In comparison, FeCl3-induced SSS thrombosis could not be evaluated by MRI due to artifacts caused by the paramagnetic properties and increased susceptibility of FeCl3. The occluded sinus and the surrounding area appeared hypointense. The quality of SSS occlusion by AlCl3 was comparable to that of FeCl3. AlCl3 therefore represents a significant alternative substance in experimental SSS thrombosis ideally suited for studies using MRI.

Comparing Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound to contrast-enhanced CT and MRI for differentially diagnosing renal lesions: a prospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced (CE) ultrasound using Sonazoid (SNZ-CEUS) by comparing with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) for differentiating benign and malignant renal masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 306 consecutive patients (from 7 centers) with renal masses (40 benign tumors, 266 malignant tumors) diagnosed by both SNZ-CEUS, CE-CT or CE-MRI were enrolled between September 2020 and February 2021. The examinations were performed within 7 days, but the sequence was not fixed. Histologic results were available for 301 of 306 (98.37%) lesions and 5 lesions were considered benign after at least 2 year follow-up without change in size and image characteristics. The diagnostic performances were evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and compared by McNemar's test. RESULTS: In the head-to-head comparison, SNZ-CEUS and CE-MRI had comparable sensitivity (95.60 vs. 94.51%, P = 0.997), specificity (65.22 vs. 73.91%, P = 0.752), positive predictive value (91.58 vs. 93.48%) and negative predictive value (78.95 vs. 77.27%); SNZ-CEUS and CE-CT showed similar sensitivity (97.31 vs. 96.24%, P = 0.724); however, SNZ-CEUS had relatively lower than specificity than CE-CT (59.09 vs. 68.18%, P = 0.683). For nodules > 4 cm, CE-MRI demonstrated higher specificity than SNZ-CEUS (90.91 vs. 72.73%, P = 0.617) without compromise the sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: SNZ-CEUS, CE-CT, and CE-MRI demonstrate desirable and comparable sensitivity for the differentiation of renal mass. However, the specificity of all three imaging modalities is not satisfactory. SNZ-CEUS may be a suitable alternative modality for patients with renal dysfunction and those allergic to gadolinium or iodine-based agents.

Harnessing solar power for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of coloured pollutants using novel Mg-doped-ZnFe2O4/S@g-C3N4 heterojunction: A facile hydrothermal synthesis approach.

The ability of heterogeneous photocatalysis to effectively remove organic pollutants from wastewater has shown great promise as a tool for environmental remediation. Pure zinc ferrites (ZnFe2O4) and magnesium-doped zinc ferrites (Mg@ZnFe2O4) with variable percentages of Mg (0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 mol%) were synthesized via hydrothermal route and their photocatalytic activity was checked against methylene blue (MB) taken as a model dye. FTIR, XPS, BET, PL, XRD, TEM, and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used for the identification and morphological characterization of the prepared nanoparticles (NPs) and nanocomposites (NCs). The 7% Mg@ZnFe2O4 NPs demonstrated excellent degradation against MB under sunlight. The 7% Mg@ZnFe2O4 NPs were integrated with diverse contents (10, 50, 30, and 70 wt.%) of S@g-C3N4 to develop NCs with better activity. When the NCs were tested to degrade MB dye, it was revealed that the 7%Mg@ZnFe2O4/S@g-C3N4 NCs were more effective at utilizing solar energy than the other NPs and NCs. The synergistic effect of the interface formed between Mg@ZnFe2O4 and S@g-C3N4 was primarily responsible for the boosted photocatalytic capability of the NCs. The fabricated NCs may function as an effective new photocatalyst to remove organic dyes from wastewater.

Lack of physiological evidence for cytochrome filaments functioning as conduits for extracellular electron transfer.

Extracellular cytochrome filaments are proposed to serve as conduits for long-range extracellular electron transfer. The primary functional physiological evidence has been the reported inhibition of Geobacter sulfurreducens Fe(III) oxide reduction when the gene for the filament-forming cytochrome OmcS is deleted. Here we report that the OmcS-deficient strain from that original report reduces Fe(III) oxide as well as the wild-type, as does a triple mutant in which the genes for the other known filament-forming cytochromes were also deleted. The triple cytochrome mutant displayed filaments with the same 3 nm diameter morphology and conductance as those produced by Escherichia coli heterologously expressing the G. sulfurreducens PilA pilin gene. Fe(III) oxide reduction was inhibited when the pilin gene in cytochrome-deficient mutants was modified to yield poorly conductive 3 nm diameter filaments. The results are consistent with the concept that 3 nm diameter electrically conductive pili (e-pili) are required for G. sulfurreducens long-range extracellular electron transfer. In contrast, rigorous physiological functional evidence is lacking for cytochrome filaments serving as conduits for long-range electron transport. IMPORTANCE: Unraveling microbial extracellular electron transfer mechanisms has profound implications for environmental processes and advancing biological applications. This study on Geobacter sulfurreducens challenges prevailing beliefs on cytochrome filaments as crucial components thought to facilitate long-range electron transport. The discovery of an OmcS-deficient strain's unexpected effectiveness in Fe(III) oxide reduction prompted a reevaluation of the key conduits for extracellular electron transfer. By exploring the impact of genetic modifications on G. sulfurreducens' performance, this research sheds light on the importance of 3-nm diameter electrically conductive pili in Fe(III) oxide reduction. Reassessing these mechanisms is essential for uncovering the true drivers of extracellular electron transfer in microbial systems, offering insights that could revolutionize applications across diverse fields.

Cathepsin K deficiency prevented stress-related thrombosis in a mouse FeCl3 model.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to chronic psychological stress (CPS) is a risk factor for thrombotic cardiocerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs). The expression and activity of the cysteine cathepsin K (CTSK) are upregulated in stressed cardiovascular tissues, and we investigated whether CTSK is involved in chronic stress-related thrombosis, focusing on stress serum-induced endothelial apoptosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight-week-old wild-type male mice (CTSK+/+) randomly divided to non-stress and 3-week restraint stress groups received a left carotid artery iron chloride3 (FeCl3)-induced thrombosis injury for biological and morphological evaluations at specific timepoints. On day 21 post-stress/injury, the stress had enhanced the arterial thrombi weights and lengths, in addition to harmful alterations of plasma ADAMTS13, von Willebrand factor, and plasminogen activation inhibitor-1, plus injured-artery endothelial loss and CTSK protein/mRNA expression. The stressed CTSK+/+ mice had increased levels of injured arterial cleaved Notch1, Hes1, cleaved caspase8, matrix metalloproteinase-9/-2, angiotensin type 1 receptor, galactin3, p16IN4A, p22phox, gp91phox, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, TNF-α, MCP-1, and TLR-4 proteins and/or genes. Pharmacological and genetic inhibitions of CTSK ameliorated the stress-induced thrombus formation and the observed molecular and morphological changes. In cultured HUVECs, CTSK overexpression and silencing respectively increased and mitigated stressed-serum- and H2O2-induced apoptosis associated with apoptosis-related protein changes. Recombinant human CTSK degraded γ-secretase substrate in a dose-dependent manor and activated Notch1 and Hes1 expression upregulation. CONCLUSIONS: CTSK appeared to contribute to stress-related thrombosis in mice subjected to FeCl3 stress, possibly via the modulation of vascular inflammation, oxidative production and apoptosis, suggesting that CTSK could be an effective therapeutic target for CPS-related thrombotic events in patients with CCVDs.

Efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose on haemoglobin response among older patients with gastrointestinal bleeding: a randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Acute gastrointestinal bleeding (AGIB) is common in older patients but the use of iron in this context remains understudied. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate prospectively the efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose to treat anaemia in older patients after AGIB. METHODS: This randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 10 French centres. Eligible patients were 65 years or more, had controlled upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding and a haemoglobin level of 9-11 g/dl. Patients were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive either one intravenous iron injection of ferric carboxymaltose or one injection of saline solution. The primary endpoint was the difference in haemoglobin level between day 0 and day 42. Secondary endpoints were treatment-emergent adverse events, serious adverse events, rehospitalisation and improvement of quality of life (QOL) at day 180. RESULTS: From January 2013 to January 2017, 59 patients were included. The median age of patients was 81.9 [75.8, 87.3] years. At day 42, a significant difference in haemoglobin level increase was observed (2.49 g/dl in the ferric carboxymaltose group vs. 1.56 g/dl in the placebo group, P = 0.02). At day 180, QOL, measured on European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, improved by 10.5 points in the ferric carboxymaltose group and by 8.2 points in the placebo group (P = 0.56). Rates of adverse events and rehospitalisation were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous iron seems safe and effective to treat anaemia in older patients after AGIB and should be considered as a standard-of-care treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01690585).

Spatially confined CuFe2O4 nanosphere in N/O-codoped porous carbon mimetics for triple-mode sensing of antibiotics and visual detection of neurotransmitters in biofluids.

BACKGROUND: Carbon-based nanozymes have recently received enormous concern, however, there is still a huge challenge for inexpensive and large-scale synthesis of magnetic carbon-based "Two-in-One" mimics with both peroxidase (POD)-like and laccase-like activities, especially their potential applications in multi-mode sensing of antibiotics and neurotransmitters in biofluids. Although some progresses have been made in this field, the feasibility of biomass-derived carbon materials with both POD-like and laccase-like activities by polyatomic doping strategy is still unclear. In addition, multi-mode sensing platform can provide a more reliable result because of the self-validation, self-correction and mutual agreement. Nevertheless, the use of magnetic carbon-based nanozyme sensors for the multi-mode detection of antibiotics and neurotransmitters have not been investigated. RESULTS: We herein report a shrimp shell-derived N, O-codoped porous carbon confined magnetic CuFe2O4 nanosphere with outstanding laccase-like and POD-like activities for triple-mode sensing of antibiotic d-penicillamine (D-PA) and chloramphenicol (CPL), as well as colorimetric detection of neurotransmitters in biofluids. The magnetic CuFe2O4/N, O-codoped porous carbon (MCNPC) armored mimetics was successfully fabricated using a combined in-situ coordination and high-temperature crystallization method. The synthesized MCNPC composite with superior POD-like activity can be used for colorimetric/temperature/smartphone-based triple-mode detection of D-PA and CPL in goat serum. Importantly, the MCNPC nanozyme can also be used for colorimetric analysis of dopamine and epinephrine in human urine. SIGNIFICANCE: This work not only offered a novel strategy to large-scale, cheap synthesize magnetic carbon-based "Two-in-One" armored mimetics, but also established the highly sensitive and selective platforms for triple-mode monitoring D-PA and CPL, as well as colorimetric analysis of neurotransmitters in biofluids without any tanglesome sample pretreatment.

Fe3+-activated magnetoplumbite persistent luminescence phosphor by modulating the oxygen vacancy.

Broadband near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has gained significant attention due to its versatile application in various fields. In the realm of NIR phosphors, Fe3+ ion is an excellent activator known for its nontoxic and harmless nature. In this study, we prepared an Fe3+-activated SrGa12O19 (SGO) NIR phosphor and analyzed its phase and luminescence properties. Upon excitation at 326 nm, the SGO:Fe3+ phosphor exhibited a broadband emission in the range 700-1000 nm, peaking at 816 nm. The optical band gap of SGO:Fe3+ was evaluated. To enhance the long-lasting phosphorescence, an oxygen vacancy-rich SGO:Fe3+ (VO-SGO:Fe3+) sample was prepared for activation. Interestingly, the increase in the oxygen-vacancy concentration indeed contributed to the activation of persistent luminescence of Fe3+ ions. The VO-SGO:Fe3+ sample has a long duration and high charge storage capacity, allowing it to perform efficiently in various applications. This work provides the foundation for further design of Cr3+-free PersL phosphors with efficient NIR PersL.

Effect of Morphology Modification of BiFeO3 on Photocatalytic Efficacy of P-g-C3N4/BiFeO3 Composites.

This current study assessed the impacts of morphology adjustment of perovskite BiFeO3 (BFO) on the construction and photocatalytic activity of P-infused g-C3N4/U-BiFeO3 (U-BFO/PCN) heterostructured composite photocatalysts. Favorable formation of U-BFO/PCN composites was attained via urea-aided morphology-controlled hydrothermal synthesis of BFO followed by solvosonication-mediated fusion with already synthesized P-g-C3N4 to form U-BFO/PCN composites. The prepared bare and composite photocatalysts' morphological, textural, structural, optical, and photocatalytic performance were meticulously examined through various analytical characterization techniques and photodegradation of aqueous rhodamine B (RhB). Ellipsoids and flakes morphological structures were obtained for U-BFO and BFO, and their effects on the successful fabrication of the heterojunctions were also established. The U-BFO/PCN composite exhibits 99.2% efficiency within 20 min of visible-light irradiation, surpassing BFO/PCN (88.5%), PCN (66.8%), and U-BFO (26.1%). The pseudo-first-order kinetics of U-BFO/PCN composites is 2.41 × 10-1 min-1, equivalent to 2.2 times, 57 times, and 4.3 times of BFO/PCN (1.08 × 10-1 min-1), U-BFO, (4.20 × 10-3 min-1), and PCN, (5.60 × 10-2 min-1), respectively. The recyclability test demonstrates an outstanding photostability for U-BFO/PCN after four cyclic runs. This improved photocatalytic activity exhibited by the composites can be attributed to enhanced visible-light utilization and additional accessible active sites due to surface and electronic band modification of CN via P-doping and effective charge separation achieved via successful composites formation.

Suitability of inorganic coagulants for algae-laden water treatment: Trade-off between algae removal and cell viability, aggregate properties and coagulant residue.

Inorganic coagulants could effectively precipitate algae cells but might increase the potential risks of cell damage and coagulant residue. This study was conducted to critically investigate the suitability of polyaluminum (PAC), FeCl3 and TiCl4 for algae-laden water treatment in terms of the trade-off between algal substance removal, cell viability, and coagulant residue. The results showed that an appropriate increase in coagulant dosage contributed to better coagulation performance but severe cell damage and a higher risk of intracellular organic matter (IOM) release. TiCl4 was the most destructive, resulting in 60.85% of the algal cells presenting membrane damage after coagulation. Intense hydrolysis reaction of Ti salts was favorable for the formation of larger and more elongated, dendritic structured flocs than Al and Fe coagulants. TiCl4 exhibited the lowest residue level and remained in the effluents mainly in colloidal form. The study also identified charge neutralization, chemisorption, enmeshment, and complexation as the dominant mechanisms for algae water coagulation by metal coagulants. Overall, this study provides the trade-off analyses between maximizing algae substance removal and minimizing potential damage to cell integrity and is practically valuable to develop the most suitable and feasible technique for algae-laden water treatment.

Decoration of dandelion-like manganese-doped iron oxide microflowers on plasma-treated biochar for alleviation of heavy metal pollution in water.

Carbon-based biowaste incorporated with inorganic oxides as a composite is an enticing option to mitigate heavy metal pollution in water resources due to its more economical and efficient performance. With this in mind, we constructed manganese-doped iron oxide microflowers resembling the dandelion-like structure on the surface of cold plasma-treated carbonized rice husk (MnFe2O3/PCRH). The prepared composite exhibited 45% and 19% higher removal rates for Cu2+ and Cd2+, respectively than the pristine CRH. The MnFe2O3/PCRH composite was characterized using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, EDX, HR-TEM, XPS, BET, TGA, and zeta potential, while the adsorption capacities were investigated as a function of pH, time, and initial concentration in batch trials. As for the kinetics, the pseudo-second-order was the rate-limiting over the pseudo-first-order and Elovich model, demonstrating that the chemisorption process governed the adsorption of Cu2+ and Cd2+. Additionally, the maximum adsorption capacities of the MnFe2O3/PCRH were found to be 122.8 and 102.5 mg/g for Cu2+ and Cd2+, respectively. Based on thorough examinations by FESEM-EDS, FTIR, and XPS, the possible mechanisms for the adsorption can be ascribed to surface complexation by oxygen-containing groups, a dissolution-precipitation of the ions with -OH groups, electrostatic attraction between metal ions and the adsorbent's partially charged surface, coordination of Cu2+ and Cd2+ with π electrons by aromatic/graphitic carbon in the MnFe2O3/PCRH, and pore filling and diffusion. Lastly, the adsorption efficiencies were maintained at about 70% of its initial adsorption even after five adsorption-desorption cycles, displaying its remarkable stability and reusability.

Effects of foliar iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) application on photosynthetic parameters, distribution of mineral elements, magnetic behaviour, and photosynthetic genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) plants.

This study aims to examine the effect of foliar magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (IONP) application on the physiology, photosynthetic parameters, magnetic character, and mineral element distribution of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). The IONP suspension (500 mg L-1) was sprayed once (S1), twice (S2), thrice (S3), and four times (S4) a week on seedlings. Upon 21 days of the treatments, photosynthetic parameters (chlorophyll, carotenoids, photosynthetic yield, electron transport rate) were elucidated. Inductively-coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to determine the mineral elements and abundance of magnetic power in the seedlings. In addition, the RT-qPCR method was performed to quantify the expressions of photosystem-related (PsaC, PsbP6, and PsbQ) and ferritin-coding (Fer-1 and Fer-2) genes. Results revealed that the physiological and photosynthetic indices were improved upon S1 treatment. The optimal dosage of IONP spraying enhances chlorophyll, carotenoid, electron transport rate (ETR), and effective photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Y(II)) but substantially diminishes non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). However, frequent IONP applications (S2, S3, and S4) caused growth retardation and suppressed the photosynthetic parameters, suggesting a toxic effect of IONP in recurrent treatments. Fer-1 and Fer-2 expressions were strikingly increased by IONP applications, suggesting an attempt to neutralize the excess amount of Fe ions by ferritin. Nevertheless, frequent IONP treatment fluctuated the mineral distribution and caused growth inhibition. Although low-repeat foliar applications of IONP (S1 in this study) may help improve plant growth, consecutive applications (S2, S3, and S4) should be avoided.

Sustained oxidation of Tea-Fe(III)/H2O2 simultaneously achieves sludge reduction and carbamazepine removal: The crucial role of EPS regulation.

Establishing an economic and sustained Fenton oxidation system to enhance sludge dewaterability and carbamazepine (CBZ) removal rate is a crucial path to simultaneously achieve sludge reduction and harmless. Leveraging the principles akin to "tea making", we harnessed tea waste to continually release tea polyphenols (TP), thus effectively maintaining high level of oxidation efficiency through the sustained Fenton reaction. The results illustrated that the incorporation of tea waste yielded more favorable outcomes in terms of water content reduction and CBZ removal compared to direct TP addition within the Fe(III)/hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) system. Concomitantly, this process mainly generated hydroxyl radical (•OH) via three oxidation pathways, effectively altering the properties of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and promoting the degradation of CBZ from the sludge mixture. The interval addition of Fe(III) and H2O2 heightened extracellular oxidation efficacy, promoting the desorption and removal of CBZ. The degradation of EPS prompted the transformation of bound water to free water, while the formation of larger channels drove the discharge of water. This work achieved the concept of treating waste with waste through using tea waste to treat sludge, meanwhile, can provide ideas for subsequent sludge harmless disposal.

Ascorbic acid enhanced the circulation between Fe(II) and Fe(III) in peroxymonosulfate system for fluoranthene degradation.

In this research, ascorbic acid (AA) was used to enhance Fe(II)/Fe(III)-activated permonosulfate (PMS) systems for the degradation of fluoranthene (FLT). AA enhanced the production of ROS in both PMS/Fe(II) and PMS/Fe(III) systems through chelation and reduction and thus improved the degradation performance of FLT. The optimal molar ratio in PMS/Fe(II)/AA/FLT and PMS/Fe(III)/AA/FLT processes were 2/2/4/1 and 5/10/5/1, respectively. In addition, the experimental results on the effect of FLT degradation under different groundwater matrixes indicated that PMS/Fe(III)/AA system was more adaptable to different water quality conditions than the PMS/Fe(II)/AA system. SO4·- was the major reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for FLT removal through the probe and scavenging tests in both systems. Furthermore, the degradation intermediates of FLT were analyzed using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the probable degradation pathways of FLT degradation were proposed. In addition, the removal of FLT was also tested in actual groundwater and the results showed that by increasing the dose and pre-adjusting the solution pH, 88.8 and 100% of the FLT was removed for PMS/Fe(II)/AA and PMS/Fe(III)/AA systems. The above experimental results demonstrated that PMS/Fe(II)/AA and PMS/Fe(III)/AA processes have a great perspective in practice for the rehabilitation of FLT-polluted groundwater.

Facile fabrication of Ag decorated MnFeO3 catalyst: Comparative analysis of visible light driven antibiotic reduction and antibacterial performance.

Photocatalysis is an effective method with the potential to eliminate pharmaceutical compounds from water sources. Manganese ferrite (MnFeO3), a type of multiferroic perovskite catalyst, has attracted significant attention due to its small band gap, however its application was limited due to its high recombination rate and low quantum efficiency. It was therefore aimed to improve the properties of MnFeO3 by doping silver (Ag)-particles. In this study, Ag-MnFeO3 photocatalysts with different Ag content (1-3 mmol%) were synthesized by performing a facile hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, showing successful addition of Ag-particles with the MnFeO3 structure. Then, the as-synthesized materials were investigated as: (i) photocatalysts for degradation tetracycline (TC) antibiotic and (ii) antibacterial agents for bacteria. The Ag-MnFeO3 catalyst demonstrated superior catalytic performance (95.7%), which was 1.6 times higher than that of pristine MnFeO3 (59.7%). The positive effect was ascribed to oxygen vacancies, enhanced light absorption ability, and lower recombination rate. The Ag-MnFeO3 catalyst also showed satisfactory removal performances in real water matrices. Furthermore, radical trapping tests depicted that the superoxide radicals played a dominant role in the photodegradation system. In addition, Box-Behnken design (BBD) was performed to determine the optimum conditions, which were determined as catalyst dosage of 0.45 g/L, initial TC concentration of 5.10 mg/L, and initial solution pH value of 3.69. In terms of antibacterial tests, the incorporation of Ag into the MnFeO3 structure greatly increased the antimicrobial resistance against bacteria. Our findings disclose that the incorporation of Ag into the MnFeO3 structure can be regarded as a feasible and promising approach to improve both photocatalytic degradation and antibacterial performances.

Coagulation in combination with anaerobic digestion for enhancement of resource recovery from faecal sludge.

Poorly managed faecal sludge (FS) poses significant challenges to public health and the environment. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of FS provides an effective method for energy recovery while reducing FS associated threats. Recognizing the critical role of the dewatering process before AD, this study investigates the synergistic application of chemical coagulation and mesophilic AD for synthetic FS treatment. FeCl3, AlCl3, Fe2(SO4)3, poly ferric sulfate (PFS) and poly aluminium ferric chloride (PAFC) were utilized at varying dosages to examine their impact on FS properties and subsequent biogas production from the dewatered FS. It was found that coagulation enhances sedimentation efficiencies and dewaterability through mechanisms such as charge neutralization, charge patching and bridging, thereby improving the FS feasibility for AD. Notably, polymer coagulant PFS showed good performance in balancing pollutant removal and methane recovery, contributing to facilitating the hydrolysis and acidogenesis microorganisms involved in the AD process. Optimal dosage was identified at 150 mg/g TS (1.7 g/L FS), achieving prominent removal efficiencies for total COD (67%), turbidity (85%), and total phosphorus (60%), while simultaneously enhancing AD performance with specific CH4 production reaching 517 ml CH4/g VS or 24.8 ml CH4/g AD wet feedstock compared to 309 ml CH4/g VS or 2.7 ml CH4/g AD wet feedstock in untreated FS.

Insight into the role of reactive species on catalyst surface underlying peroxymonosulfate activation by P-Fe2MnO4 loaded on bentonite for trichloroethylene degradation.

In this study, bentonite supporting phosphorus-doped Fe2MnO4 (BPF) was synthesized and applied for PMS activation to degrade TCE. Morphology and structure characterization results indicated the successfully synthesized of BPF, and the BPF/PMS system not only featured high TCE removal (97.4%) but also high reaction rate constant (kobs = 0.0554 min-1) and PMS utilization (70.4%, kobs = 0.0228 min-1). According to the results of various experiments, massive oxygen vacancies on P-Fe2MnO4 alter its charge balance and facilitate the electron transfer process named adjacent transfer (direct electron capture by adsorbed PMS from adjacent TCE). Mn(III) is the main adsorption site for PMS, and the hydroxyl groups on the catalyst (Fe sites of P-Fe2MnO4, Si and Al sites of bentonite) can also offer binding sites for PMS. The hydrogen-bonded PMS on Fe(III) and Mn(III) sites will subsequently accept the discharged electrons to generate free radicals and high-valent metal species. Meanwhile, electron loss of HSO5- that chemically bonded to hydroxyl groups on bentonite will generate SO5•-, which will further produce 1O2 through self-bonding. the active species on the catalyst surface contribute 65% of TCE degradation in the heterogeneous catalytic oxidation system.

The utility of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. to prepare metal oxides NPs for clinical application on osteoporosis supported by theoretical study.

Green synthesis of metal oxides as a treatment for bone diseases is still exploring. Herein, MgO and Fe2O3 NPs were prepared from the extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. to study their effect on vit D3, Ca+2, and alkaline phosphatase enzyme ALP associated with osteoporosis. Computational chemistry was utilized to gain insight into the possible interactions. These oxides were characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM, FTIR, and AFM. Results revealed that green synthesis of MgO and Fe2O3 NPs was successful with abundant. MgO NPs were in vitro applied on osteoporosis patients (n = 35) and showed a significant elevation of vit D3 and Ca+2 (0.0001 > p < 0.001) levels, compared to healthy volunteers (n = 25). Thus, Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is a good candidate to prepare MgO NPs, with a promising enhancing effect on vit D3 and Ca+2 in osteoporosis. In addition, interactions of Fe2O3 and MgO NPs with ALP were determined by molecular docking study.

Vortex-assisted dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction using silica-supported Fe2O3-modified khat (Catha edulis) biochar nanocomposite followed by GC-MS for the determination of organochlorine pesticides in juice samples.

In this paper, dispersive micro-solid phase extraction technique was developed for the purpose of extracting and preconcentrating organochlorine pesticide residues in juice samples before their separation and quantitative analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A sorbent composed of a silica-supported Fe2O3-modified khat leftover biochar nanocomposite (SiO2-Fe2O3-KLBNC) was implemented in the process. To improve the dispersion of the sorbent in the solution, vortex mixer was employed. Experimental parameters influencing the performance of the method were optimized, and the optimal conditions were established. With these conditions, linear dynamic ranges ranged from 0.003 to 100.0 ng/mL were achieved, with a correlation coefficient (r2) ≥ 0.9981. The limits of detection and quantification, determined by signal-to-noise ratios of 3 and 10, respectively, were found to be in the ranges of 0.001-0.006 ng/mL and 0.003-0.020 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day precision, values ranging from 0.3-4.8% and 1.7-5.2% were obtained, respectively. The matrix-matched extraction recoveries demonstrated favorable outcomes, falling within the range of 83.4-108.3%. The utilization of khat leftover as an adsorbent in contemporary sample preparation methodologies offers a cost-effective alternative to the currently available, yet expensive, adsorbents. This renders it economically viable, particularly in resource-constrained regions, and is anticipated to witness widespread adoption in the coming future.

Ultrasmall catechol-PEG-anchored ferrite nanoparticles for highly sensitive magnetic resonance angiography.

Highly sensitive iron oxide nanoparticles with stable, safe and efficient surface functionalization, as potential substitutes for gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) with increasing biosafety concerns, exhibit great potential for high-performance magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Herein, we developed ultrasmall catechol-PEG-anchored ferrite nanoparticles (PEG-UMFNPs) for highly sensitive MRA. The obtained nanoprobe has a high T1 relaxivity value (7.2 mM-1 s-1) due to its ultrasmall size and Mn doping. It has a suitable hydrodynamic size of 20 nm, which prevents rapid vascular extravasation and renal clearance and prolongs its blood circulation time. In vivo MRA at 3.0 T using the nanoprobe shows that the arteries and veins of rats, even blood vessels as small as 0.32 mm, are distinctly visible, and the contrast enhancement can last for at least 1 h. In addition, due to the outstanding contrast enhancement and long circulation time, the stenosis and recanalization process of the rat's carotid artery can be continuously monitored with a single injection of the nanoprobe. Our study indicates that PEG-UMFNPs are outstanding MR imaging nanoprobes that can be used to diagnose vascular diseases without the biosafety issues of GBCAs.