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Currently, ceramic dentures are mainly obtained by using computer-assisted cutting block of material to obtain the shape as the removing a model of patient's mouth. Followed by immersion coloring, porcelain stacking, and sintering to obtain dentures similar to a patients' tooth, this is a large-loss and complex process. In this study, 16 standard tooth samples were successfully reduced by adding Fe 2 O 3 , Pr 6 O 10 , Er 2 O 3 , and MnO 2. After the colorful ceramic powder and photosensitive resin were configured into a slurry, a close to the sample tooth dentures was successfully prepared using digital light processing (DLP). The flexural strength and compressive strength of the ceramic specimens prepared by this method reached 821.01 ± 51.72 MPa and 2.67 GPa ± 0.22 MPa. To verify the biosafety of the prepared ceramics, we performed an in vitro biological evaluation of rat fibroblasts (L929). The resulting showed that the extracts of the prepared ceramic teeth had good biosafety, and the cells could also attach to the surface of the prepared ceramics. Hemolysis experiments confirmed good blood compatibility. Thus, our results show that DLP-printed standard tooth-colored ceramic dentures have good mechanical properties and biocompatibility, and can provide a solution to patients seeking quick access to aesthetic dentures. We present a strategy for the development of standard tooth-colored, high-precision, high-mechanical-property and highly biocompatible ceramic dentures based on DLP light-curing printing technology. Through a large number of experiments to find the law of color adjustment, and achieved the reduction of 16 kinds of tooth color. Adjusting the printing parameters, high precision printing was realized. The samples are structurally stable after sintering and have excellent mechanical properties. Through CCK-8, hemolysis rate, live/dead cell staining, cell adhesion and cytoskeletal staining tests, the prepared denture showed excellent biocompatibility. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) originates from primitive mesenchymal cells and is the most common soft tissue tumor in childhood. 18F‐fluoro‐deoxyglucose (18F‐FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has been reported to be valuable in RMS staging and risk stratification. Paratesticular RMS is a relatively uncommon form of RMS, most of which are of the embryonal histologic type. Paratesticular alveolar RMS is associated with aggressive behavior, high metastatic potential, and poor outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, 18F‐FDG PET/CT imaging findings of paratesticular alveolar RMS have never been described. Here, we report on a 16‐year‐old boy's rare paratesticular alveolar RMS with multiple metastases and its findings on 18F‐FDG PET/CT. This case also demonstrates the potential value of 18F‐FDG PET/CT in RMS staging and treatment decisions, and may aid in the differential diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To comparatively evaluate the lesion-detecting ability of 2-[18F]FDG total-body PET/CT (TB PET/CT) and conventional digital PET/CT. Methods: This study enrolled 67 patients (median age, 65 years; 24 female and 43 male patients) who underwent a TB PET/CT scan and a conventional digital PET/CT scan after a single 2-[18F]FDG injection (3.7 MBq/kg). Raw PET data for TB PET/CT were acquired over the course of 5 min, and images were reconstructed using data from the first 1, 2, 3, and 4 min and the entire 5 min (G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5, respectively). The conventional digital PET/CT scan acquired in 2–3 min per bed (G0). Two nuclear medicine physicians independently assessed subjective image quality using a 5-point Likert scale and recorded the number of 2-[18F]FDG-avid lesions. Results: A total of 241 lesions (69 primary lesions; 32 liver, lung, and peritoneum metastases; and 140 regional lymph nodes) among 67 patients with various types of cancer were analyzed. The subjective image quality score and SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) increased gradually from G1 to G5, and these values were significantly higher than the values at G0 (all p < 0.05). Compared to conventional PET/CT, G4 and G5 of TB PET/CT detected an additional 15 lesions (2 primary lesions; 5 liver, lung, and peritoneum lesions; and 8 lymph node metastases). Conclusion: TB PET/CT was more sensitive than conventional whole-body PET/CT in detecting small (4.3 mm, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 1.0) or low-uptake (tumor-to-liver ratio of 1.6, SUVmax of 4.1) lesions. Clinical relevance statement: This study explored the gain of the image quality and lesion detectability of TB PET/CT, compared to conventional PET/CT, and recommended the appropriate acquisition time for TB PET/CT in clinical practice with an ordinary 2-[18F] FDG dose. Key Points: • TB PET/CT increases the effective sensitivity to approximately 40 times that of conventional PET scanners. • The subjective image quality score and signal-to-noise ratio of TB PET/CT from G1 to G5 were better than those of conventional PET/CT. • 2-[18F]FDG TB PET/CT with a 4-min acquisition time at a regular tracer dose detected an additional 15 lesions compared to conventional PET/CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To observe and assess the diagnostic value of the venous phase enhancement patterns of contrast-enhanced ultrasounds (CEUS) in patients with solid pancreatic lesions that show iso- to hyperenhancement in the arterial phase of the CEUS. Patients who underwent CEUS for pancreatic lesions in the Peking Union Medical Hospital, Beijing, China were identified from the dynamic CEUS imaging database in the hospital. A total of 57 patients with pathologically or clinically diagnosed pancreatic lesions were retrospectively included in this study, and the CEUS images from these patients were evaluated. The enhancement patterns in each phase were analyzed, and each lesion was classified as malignant or benign using a five-point scale of confidence based on morphology, boundary, vascular invasion, blood flow, and enhancement patterns in ultrasound (US) and CEUS images. Rapid washout in the venous phase of CEUS images was detected in 34 malignant lesions and 2 benign lesions with malignant potential. The specificity for determining malignancy was 86.7%. Continuous isoenhancement with normal pancreatic tissues in the venous phase achieved a high specificity of 97.6% for determining benign lesions. Early hyperenhancement in the arterial phase followed by slow washout in the venous phase showed high specificity of 98.1% for determining metastasis. The diagnostic confidence improved after reviewing CEUS scans (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.737 for baseline US and 0.910 for CEUS; P = 0.056). Enhancement patterns in the venous phase of CEUS images were beneficial in the differential diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions with iso- to hyperenhancement in the arterial phase on CEUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of an efficient bio-reductive dechlorination system remains challenging due to the narrow ecological niche and low-growth rate of organohalide-respiring bacteria during field remediation. In this study, a biochar-based organohalide-respiring bacterial agent was obtained, and its performance and effects on indigenous microbial composition, diversity, and inter-relationship in soil were investigated. A well-performing material, Triton X-100 modified biochar (BC 600-TX100), was found to have the superior average pore size, specific surface area and hydrophicity, compared to other materials. Interestingly, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CP-1, which is capable of 2,4,6-TCP dechlorination, showed a 348 times higher colonization cell number on BC 600-TX100 than that of BC600 after 7 d. Meanwhile, the dechlorination rate in soil showed the highest (0.732 d−1) in the BC 600-TX100 bacterial agent than in the other agents. The long-term performance of the BC 600-TX100 OHRB agent was also verified, with a stable dechlorination activity over six cycles. Soil microbial community analysis found the addition of the BC 600-TX100 OHRB agent significantly increased the relative abundance of genus Pseudomonas from 1.53 % to 11.2 %, and Pseudomonas formed a close interaction relationship with indigenous microorganisms, creating a micro-ecological environment conducive to reductive dechlorination. This study provides a feasible bacterial agent for the in-situ bioremediation of soil contaminated organohalides. Halogenated organic compounds are a type of toxic, refractory, and bio-accumulative persistent compounds widely existed in environment, widely detected in the air, water, and soil. In this study, we provide a feasible bacterial agent for the in-situ bioremediation of soil contaminated halogenated organic compounds. The application of biochar provides new insights for "Turning waste into treasure", which meets with the concept of green chemistry. [Display omitted] • TX100 modified biochar was found to be a well-performing biomaterial on OHRB colonization. • Dechlorination activity was greatly accelerated by the BC 600-TX100 bacterial agent in soil. • The added BC 600-TX100 bacterial agent driven a significant increase in the abundance of OHRB. • The long-term experiment revealed synergistic mechanism between OHRB and indigenous microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, multicolor electrochromic devices (ECDs) have attracted much attention due to their application potential for rich color similar to RGB mode. Although organic electrochromic (EC) materials are widely used in multicolor electrochromism because of their multicolor properties, remarkable weatherability remains challenging. Inorganic EC materials especially transition metal oxide are particularly attractive for excellent weatherability in ECD fabrication. Moreover, by selection of electrolytes, better ionic transfer efficiency can be rendered in the EC process. Although the morphology regulation of the EC film and the selection of electrolytes in the ion transmission layer play important roles in optimizing EC performance and have been extensively studied, a systematic and comprehensive review is lacking. In this review, the morphology regulation of the EC film and selection rules of electrolytes in the multicolor ECDs is focused, and the advantages and disadvantages of existing ways are discussed. The current application of multicolor ECDs is also outlined and it is hoped that this review can contribute some inspiration to designing and improving multicolor ECDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

18F-FDG uptake rate constant Ki is the main physiology parameter measured in dynamic PET studies. A model-independent graphical analysis using Patlak plot with plasma input function (PIF) is a standard approach used to estimate Ki. The PIF is the 18F-FDG time activity curve (TAC) in plasma that is obtained by serial arterial blood sampling. The purpose of the study is to evaluate a Patlak plot-based optimization approach with reduced blood samples for noninvasive quantification of dynamic 18F-FDG PET imaging. Eight 60 min rhesus monkey brain dynamic 18F-FDG PET scans with arterial blood samples were collected. The measured PIF (mPIF) was determined by arterial blood samples. TACs of seven cerebral regions of interest were generated from each study. With a given number of blood samples, the population-based PIF (pPIF) was determined by either interpolation or extrapolation method using scale calibrated population mean of normalized PIF. The optimal sampling scheme with given blood sample size was determined by maximizing the correlations between the Ki estimated from pPIF and those obtained by mPIF. A leave-two-out cross-validation method was used for evaluation. The linear correlations between the Ki estimates from pPIF with optimal sampling schemes and those from mPIF were: Ki (pPIF 1 sample at 40 min) = 1.015 Ki (mPIF) − 0.000, R2 = 0.974; Ki (pPIF 2 samples at 35 and 50 min) = 1.052 Ki (mPIF) − 0.001, R2 = 0.976; Ki (pPIF 3 samples at 12, 40, and 50 min) = 1.030 Ki (mPIF) − 0.000, R2 = 0.985; and Ki (pPIF 4 samples at 10, 20, 40, and 50 min) = 1.016 Ki (mPIF)- 0.000, R2 = 0.993. As the sample size became greater or equal to 4, the Ki estimates from pPIF with the optimal protocol were almost identical to those from mPIF. The Patlak plot-based optimization approach is a reliable method to estimate PIF for noninvasive quantification of non-human primate dynamic 18F-FDG PET imaging and is potentially extendable to further translational human studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The downregulation of farnesoid X receptor (FXR; gene name, nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group h member 4), an enteric nuclear bile acid receptor, has been reported in colorectal carcinoma (CRC), and FXR expression has been inversely correlated with CRC stage and clinical outcome. FXR knockdown in chronic colitis mouse models of intestinal tumorigenesis results in early mortality and increased tumor progression via promoting Wnt signaling. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects and mechanism of FXR on the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway in CRC. FXR and β-catenin protein expression levels were detected in an ulcerative colitis mouse model and human colon cancer cell lines (HT-29, Caco-2 and HCT-116). Gain- and loss-of-function studies were conducted by transfecting colon cancer cells with FXR siRNA and treating them with the FXR agonist GW4064. Subsequently, β-catenin transcriptional activity was measured using the dual-luciferase assay, and β-catenin/TCF4 complex levels and β-catenin protein and mRNA expression levels were determined. FXR and β-catenin expression levels were inversely associated in both the animal model and colon cancer cells. The Wnt signaling pathway was activated by increased β-catenin/TCF4 complex levels upon FXR silencing; however, mRNA and protein levels of β-catenin were not significantly affected. The FXR agonist GW4064 significantly inhibited the proliferation of cells but promoted the transcriptional activity of β-catenin. Thus, the present study demonstrated that FXR influences the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, loss of FXR expression promotes the transcriptional activity of β-catenin, whereas FXR activation results in the opposite effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation and functionalization of biomass-based hydrogels that can be used in the field of biomedicine have received an increasing amount of attention. Carbon dots are a kind of fluorescent carbon nanomaterial with stable fluorescence emission and low biotoxicity, therefore the introduction of carbon dots into the biomass-based hydrogel can make it have a broader application prospect. In this work, fluorescent nitrogen-doped carbon dots/cellulose nanofibril composite hydrogel (NCDs/CNF-gel) with exceptional mechanical properties was successfully fabricated by a facile one-pot green hydrothermal treatment. The properties of NCDs/CNF-gel prepared at different temperatures and CNF concentrations were investigated by electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, fluorescence spectroscopy, rheology, and mechanical tests. NCDs/CNF-gel with injectable, pressure-resistance and excellent fluorescence properties can be obtained by controlling the hydrothermal treatment temperature. Furthermore, the self-assembly mechanism of NCDs in the hydrogel network and the improvement mechanism of hydrogel compressive strength were explored. The NCDs/CNF-gel exhibited acid-resistant and alkaline sensitive blue-green fluorescent emission. The outstanding biocompatibility, excellent fluorescence and mechanical properties of NCDs/CNF-gels, and their facile fabrication render these so-prepared gels promising candidates for future biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromatic essential oils (EO) are important plant extracts that have attracted great interest for their various biological activities and their potential to replace chemical preservatives in the field of food preservation. Moreover, the volatility of EOs has further expanded their applications in antibacterial packaging (AP) systems. This review focuses on the contributions of EOs to food packaging by (1) introducing the antibacterial activity of EOs; (2) summarizing the implementation of EO-APs; (3) analyzing the applications of EO-APs in food preservation; and (4) assessing the safety of EOs. Understanding the different combinations of EOs and food packaging will help improve the effectiveness of EO-APs in food preservation and better target their use, which will promote their application in food systems. By combining them with packaging materials, the adverse flavor of EOs can be reduced and their action time prolonged, which will greatly improve their effective utilization rate in food preservation. • Essential oils can be used as ingredients of active food packaging. • Introduced the main active ingredients and antibacterial effects of EOs commonly used in food preservation. • Focused on summarizing the implementation of EOs-AP. • Analyzed the application of EOs-AP in food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Insight into inhibition on dechlorination of gram-negative OHRB by heavy metals. • Dechlorination activity was mostly inhibited by cu (II), and the least inhibited by as (V). • Proteomics revealed the different influenced metabolic pathways by cu (Ⅱ) and as (Ⅴ). • Uncovered the inhibited mechanism on TCA cycle and organohalide respiration catabolism. • Cu(II) and As(V) largely inhibited gene transcription and expression of CprA. Influences of heavy metal exposure to the organohalide respiration process and the related molecular mechanism remain poorly understood. In this study, a non-obligate organohalide respiring bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. strain CP-1, was isolated and its molecular response to the five types of commonly existed heavy metal ions were thoroughly investigated. All types of heavy metal ions posed inhibitory effects on 2,4,6-trichlorophenol dechlorination activity and cell growth with the varied degree. Exposure to Cu (II) showed the most serious inhibitive effects on dechlorination even at the lowest concentration of 0.05 mg/L, while the inhibition by As (V) was the least with the removal kinetic constant k decreased to 0.05 under 50 mg/L. Further, multi-omics analysis found compared with Cu (II), As (V) exposure led to the insignificant downregulation of a variety of biosynthesis processes, which would be one possible account for the less inhibited activity. More importantly, the inhibited mechanisms on the organohalide respiration catabolism of strain CP-1 were firstly revealed. Cu (II) stress severely downregulated NADH generation during TCA cycle and electron donation of organohalide respiration process, which might decrease the reducing power required for organohalide respiration. While both Cu (II) and As (Ⅴ) inhibited substrate level phosphorylation during TCA cycle, as well as electron transfer and ATP generation during organohalide respiration. Meanwhile, CprA-2 was confirmed as the responsible reductive dehalogenase in charge of 2,4,6-TCP dechlorination, and transcriptional and proteomic studies confirmed the directly inhibited gene transcription and expression of CprA-2. The in-depth reveal of inhibitory effects and mechanism gave theoretical supports for alleviating heavy metal inhibition on organohalide respiration activity in groundwater co-contaminated with organohalides and heavy metals. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The concept of non-continuity is established to describe advanced rotor system. • A bending stiffness model for rotor joint based on interface contact is established. • A dynamic model for non-continuous rotor system is developed. • An optimize method is applied to suppress the vibration of non-continuous rotor. Applying a heavy load to the rotor system of aero-engine can drastically reduce the stiffness in rotor joints, which is called "non-continuity" of the rotor and can affect the joint dynamics. Although the dynamics of a rotor system with multiple joints may be negligibly perturbed by a decrease in joint stiffness, this phenomenon is much more striking in advanced, next-generation aero-engines because their rotor structure is lighter and their loads are heavier. We thus investigate the mechanism leading to non-continuity in rotor joints to clarify how joint stiffness deteriorates upon applying a heavy load to rotor joints. This investigation combines a numerical model of joint stiffness with a model of rotor stiffness, which we use to study the dynamic characteristics of a rotor system. The results of the numerical simulation of rotor dynamics reveal that a decrease in joint stiffness leads to a significant concentration of strain energy around the joints when the rotor undergoes bending-mode vibrations, which decreases the critical speed. To avoid loss of joint stiffness and suppress rotor vibration, we develop a method to optimize the support stiffness of the rotor system and demonstrate its effectiveness experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus and often advances to end-stage renal disease. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progress of DN. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is considered as a promising candidate for the management of DN. But the antioxidant effects of H 2 S in DN have not been fully studied. In mouse model induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin, GYY4137, a H 2 S donor, ameliorated albuminuria at weeks 6 & 8 and decreased serum creatinine at week 8, but not hyperglycemia. Renal nitrotyrosine and urinary 8-isoprostane were reduced along with the suppressed levels of renal laminin and kidney-injury-molecule 1. Renal NADPH oxidase (NOX) 2 was lower but heme oxygenase (HO) 2, paraoxonase (PON) 1, PON2 were higher in DN+GYY than DN group. NOX1, NOX4, HO1, superoxide dismutases 1–3 were similar between groups. Except for a rise at HO2, all the affected enzymes were unchanged in mRNA levels. The affected reactive-oxygen-species (ROS) enzymes were mainly located in the renal sodium-hydrogen-exchanger positive proximal tubules with similar distribution but changed immunofluorence in GYY4137 treated DN mice. Kidney morphological alterations in DN mice under light and electrical-microscopes were also improved by GYY4137. Thus, exogenous H 2 S administration may improve the renal oxidative damage in DN by reducing ROS production and enhancing ROS cleavage in kidney via the affected enzymes. This study may shed a light on therapeutic applications in diabetic nephropathy with H 2 S donors in the future. [Display omitted] • Exogenous H2S improves renal oxidative injuries in STZ-HFD diabetic mice. • GYY4137 ameliorates proteinuria and renal dysfunction with reduced oxidative stress. • GYY4137 decreases NOX2 but increases HO2 and PON2 mainly in renal proximal tubules. • GYY4137 improves diabetic morphological abnormalities in kidneys. • GYY4137 lowers nitrotyrosine and NOX2 in high-glucose treated mouse proximal tubule cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bend-defect stirrups reduce the shear strength of an RC beam. • The reduction increases with the debonded length of stirrups' side-legs. • Nominal shear stress carried by bend-defect stirrups increases with section size. • Size effect of shear strength decreases with increasing stirrups' defect severity. • An approach proposed predicts reasonably the shear strength of such beam. The reactive expansion caused by alkali-aggregate reactions and severe corrosion in a saline environment may both lead to fracture or complete section loss at the lower bends of stirrups and localized debonding of side-legs nearby. The effects of such bend fracture and the debonded length on the shear performance of a reinforced concrete beam were explored in laboratory experiments and through a finite element simulation. Bend-defects in the stirrups reduced the beam's shear strength, and the reduction increased with the debonded length. And a parametric analysis indicated that the nominal shear stress carried by the stirrups with a given defect severity increased with section size, and the size effect of shear strength became less significant with increasing defect severity. An approach for predicting the shear strength of such defective beams was proposed based on a transparent and well-understood mechanical and physical model, and published test data confirm its accuracy and safety was confirmed by published test data on 35 beams of various sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary aero-engines aim for enhanced efficiency and weight reduction. They are designed to increase rotor operational speed while reducing rotor bending stiffness. This may result in bending deformation in rotor systems within the operational speed range. Such deformation can change the relative positions of rotor components, potentially causing increased mass asymmetry or unbalance. Traditional rotor dynamic models typically assume a constant rotor state. They approximate unbalance using constant mass eccentricities at certain rotor cross-sections. However, this approach has its limitations. This paper focuses on a high-speed jointed rotor system. A distributed rotational inertia load excitation model is proposed. This model explicitly considers the rotor's variable unbalance state at different operational speeds. The study involves both simulations and experimental investigations. The results show that at high speeds, bending deformation causes the unbalance and rotational inertia load to shift from a concentrated to a distributed state. Notably, the localized rotational inertia moment from thin-disk components like turbine disks becomes significant at high speeds. This results in a rapid increase in bearing load with rotational speed. It also profoundly affects the rotor's joints, causing interfacial slip and sudden changes in rotor vibration characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the efficiency of advanced aero engines improves, the operational speed of their rotors increases. This heightened operational speed makes the rotor dynamics highly sensitive to changes in the rotor's mass asymmetry state, or unbalance state. During the use of a dual-spool turbofan engine, when its supercritical high-pressure rotor (HPR) exceeds a certain operational speed, the rotor's vibration spikes and continues to increase with the operational speed until it drops sharply near the maximum operational speed. Analysis of the bolt joints in the faulty rotor reveals various phenomena such as joint interface damage, changes in bolt loosening torque distribution, and alterations in rotor initial unbalance. This paper proposes that at high operational speeds, the bolt joint of the HPR undergoes sudden angular deformation, resulting in the slanting of the principal axis of inertia of the turbine disk. This slant leads to changes in the unbalanced state of the HPR. The additional unbalance causes a sudden rotational inertia load excitation, triggering the rotor vibration failure. Subsequently, a rotor dynamic model that incorporates the angular deformation of the joints is established to simulate how this joint deformation influences the dynamic response of the rotor. The simulation results align well with the observed failure phenomenon and validate the proposed failure mechanism. Finally, troubleshooting measures are proposed and implemented in the faulty engine, effectively mitigating the vibration fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biochar is considered as multifunctional material for organohalide removal. • Key properties of biochar favor organohalide removal are summarized. • Removal methods, strategies and functional mechanisms via biochar are clarified. • Potential and perspective of biochar application are proposed. Organohalides are typically highly-toxic and refractory contaminants, and the efficient removal of organohalide from environment is urgently required. Biochar is considered as green and economic multifunctional material and shows the great potential to facilitate organohalide removal based on its complex porous matrices and various surface functional groups. This review provides the comprehensive information on the state-of-the-art research progress of biochar-based materials as "generalists" for organohalide removal working in aspects as adsorption, catalyzing chemical oxidation and reduction, and favoring metabolism of microbial degradation. The current status and challenges of multifunctional biochar application for organohalide remediation are also discussed, lie in the deep analysis of the functional mechanism, and the precise design and development of biochar functions adaptive to the different environmental media. The review offers a sustainable route toward carbon resource recycling and reuse of biochar into value-added functional material during organohalide removal in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the potential clinical value of quantitative functional FDG PET and pathological amyloid-β PET with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and clinical assessments in the prediction of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression. Methods: We studied 82 subjects for up to 96 months (median = 84 months) in a longitudinal Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) project. All preprocessed PET images were spatially normalized to standard Montreal Neurologic Institute space. Regions of interest (ROI) were defined on MRI template, and standard uptake values ratios (SUVRs) to the cerebellum for FDG and amyloid-β PET were calculated. Predictive values of single and multiparametric PET biomarkers with and without clinical assessments and CSF biomarkers for AD progression were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and logistic regression model. Results: The posterior precuneus and cingulate SUVRs were identified for both FDG and amyloid-β PET in predicating progression in normal controls (NCs) and subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). FDG parietal and lateral temporal SUVRs were suggested for monitoring NCs and MCI group progression, respectively. 18F-AV45 global cortex attained (78.6%, 74.5%, 75.4%) (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy) in predicting NC progression, which is comparable to the 11C-PiB global cortex SUVR’s in predicting MCI to AD. A logistic regression model to combine FDG parietal and posterior precuneus SUVR and Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) Total Mod was identified in predicating NC progression with (80.0%, 94.9%, 93.9%) (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy). The selected model including FDG posterior cingulate SUVR, ADAS-Cog Total Mod, and Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores for predicating MCI to AD attained (96.4%, 81.2%, 83.6%) (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy). 11C-PiB medial temporal SUVR with MMSE significantly increased 11C-PiB PET AUC to 0.915 (p<0.05) in predicating MCI to AD with (77.8%, 90.4%, 88.5%) (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy). Conclusion: Quantitative FDG and 11C-PiB PET with clinical cognitive assessments significantly improved accuracy in the predication of AD progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to elucidate the importance of grafting in the compatibilization process of silane coupling agents, poplar veneer was treated with silane coupling agents and grafted under different heating conditions. The treated veneers were used composited with PE film to prepare different plywood samples. XPS and WCA were used to analyze the effect of grafting conditions on the surface properties of the silane-treated veneer. The results showed that free silanols can physically be adsorbed onto all silane-treated veneer surfaces, forming hydrogen–Si–O–Si– bonds and therefore increasing the water contact angle. Only under heating conditions could the –Si–O–Si– be converted into covalent –Si–O–C– bonds, which helped to improve the bonding strength. When silane-treated veneer was grafted at 120 °C for 90 min, the tensile shear strength of plywood reached 1.03 MPa, meeting the requirements of GB/T 9846.3-2004 for outdoor materials. Enhanced interlock between silane-modified veneer and PE film was observed under the optimal grafting condition by SEM. The better interface structure allowed improvement of thermal stability. DMA results showed that the retention rate in storage modulus at 130 °C was 60% for the grafted sample, while the retention rate for the ungrafted sample was only 31%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bimetallic MOFs (MIL-53 (Fe, Al)) were successfully fabricated via a facile one-step solvothermal method for the removal of tetracycline (TC) from aqueous solutions. Tetracycline adsorption and photocatalytic experiments indicate that the optimum bimetallic synthetic molar ratio is 3:2 (40%MIL-53(Fe, Al)). The adsorption data are well fitted by the Freundlich model and pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics. 40%MIL-53(Fe, Al) has an adsorption capacity of up to 402.033 mg/g. After the dark adsorption phase, 10 mg of 40%MIL-53(Fe, Al) can remove 94.33% of the tetracycline in a 70 mL aqueous solution (20 mg/L) under 50 min irradiation, while only 71.39% and 81.82% of the tetracycline are removed by MIL-53(Fe) and MIL-53(Al) under the same conditions. In addition, 40%MIL-53(Fe, Al) exhibits a significant adsorption-photocatalytic synergy (under direct irradiation without a dark adsorption phase), in which the pseudo-first-order kinetic constant increases by a factor of 3.11. Quenching experiments and ESR characterization indicate that ·O 2 −, ·OH, and h+ are the main active species in the photocatalytic process. Meanwhile, 40%MIL-53(Fe, Al) demonstrates good stability, with a tetracycline removal rate that still reaches 83.70% after 4 cycles. These results suggest that the prepared 40%MIL-53(Fe, Al) catalyst is a novel adsorption-photocatalytic material that can be used for the efficient treatment of tetracycline. [Display omitted] • MIL-53(Fe, Al) was applied to remove tetracycline for the first time. • MIL-53(Fe, Al) exhibited a significant adsorption and photocatalytic synergy for tetracycline removal. • A possible tetracycline degradation mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• One-pot synthesis of carbon dots cross-linked cellulose nanofibril hydrogel. • The introduction of chitosan by solvent displacement forms IPN hydrogel. • Carbon dots provide visual detection during Cu (II) and Cr (VI) adsorption. • Amphoteric biomass and carbon dots provide adsorption sites for Cu (II) and Cr (VI). • The mechanism of Cu (II) and Cr (VI) sorption and sensing was determined. To address the pollution of heavy metal ions in water resources, a novel self-assembled nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) crosslinked, cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and chitosan (CS) based interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel (NCDs-CNF/CSgel) was prepared for simultaneous fluorescent detection and adsorption of Cu (II) cation and Cr (VI) anion. The NCDs cross-linked CNF hydrogel network was synthesized by an environmentally friendly low-temperature hydrothermal process and subsequently, solvent replacement was used to form the second layer of CS network. The morphology, chemical structure, fluorescent properties, and adsorption behaviors of NCDs-CNF/CSgel were analyzed. The results showed that NCDs-CNF/CSgel exhibited a wide linear range of fluorescence response for Cu (II) (50–1000 mg/L, detection limit of 40.3398 mg/L) and superior sensitivity and selectivity of fluorescence response for Cr (VI) (linear range of 1–50 mg/L, detection limit of 0.7093 mg/L). NCDs-CNF/CSgel showed high adsorption capacities of 148.30 mg/g and 294.46 mg/g for Cu (II) and Cr (VI), respectively, and fitted well to the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir model. The detection of Cu (II) and Cr (VI) and their adsorption mechanisms onto NCDs-CNF/CSgel were further determined. Hence, this work provides a green and sustainable approach for the synthesis of a functional material which can be applied for the detection and adsorption of heavy metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel cellulose based fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) doped ZnO composite, ZnO/CDs-x (x = 10, 20, 30, 40), was developed as a photocatalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of four dyes. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), and transient photocurrent measurements were carried out to study the effects of different concentrations of CDs on the morphology and photocatalytic properties of ZnO/CDs−x (x = 10, 20, 30, 40) composites. When the concentration of CDs increased, the structure of ZnO/CDs−x (x = 10, 20, 30, 40) changed from a peony like structure (x = 10, 20) to a hexagonal prism like structure (x = 30, 40) and assembled into a flower like structure. Flower like ZnO/CDs-20 showed the best photocatalytic performance and good durability under UV light, and three types of excitation effects were observed: mixed light > sunlight > visible light. It was found that the addition of CDs with a concentration of 20 mL in ZnO can significantly enhance the photoabsorption and the separation of photogenerated carriers, which is beneficial to improve the photocatalytic performance. • ZnO/CDs catalyst exhibits a higher catalytic performance. • The concentration of carbon dots affects the microstructure of ZnO. • The concentration of carbon dots affects the catalytic activity. • The catalytic activity is inversely proportional to the wavelength of light and directly proportional to light intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the earliest optimal timing for positron emission tomography (PET) scans after 68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor-04 ([68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04) injection. Methods: This prospective study enrolled patients who underwent 60-min dynamic 68Ga-FAPI-04 total-body PET/CT scans; the images were reconstructed at 10-min intervals (G0-10, G10-20, G20-30, G30-40, G40-50, and G50-60), and the [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 uptake patterns were evaluated. The standardised uptake value (SUV), liver signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and lesion-to-background ratios (LBRs) for different time windows were calculated to evaluate image quality and lesion detectability. The period from 30 to 40 min was then split into overlapping 5-min intervals starting 1 min apart for further evaluation. G50-60 was considered the reference. Results: A total of 30 patients with suspected malignant tumours were analysed. In the images reconstructed over 10-min intervals, longer acquisition times were associated with lower background uptake and better image quality. Some lesions could not be detected until G30-40. The lesion detection rate, uptake, and LBRs did not differ significantly among G30-40, G40-50, and G50-60 (all p > 0.05). The SUVmean and LBRs of primary tumours in the reconstructed images did not differ significantly among the 5-min intervals between 30 and 40 min; for metastatic and benign lesions, G34-39 and G35-40 showed significantly better SUVmean and LBR values than the other images. The G34-39 and G50-60 scans showed no significant differences in uptake, LBRs, or detection rates (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: The earliest optimal time to start acquisition was 34 min after injection of half-dose [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04. Clinical relevance statement: This study evaluated 68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor-04 ([68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04) uptake patterns by comparing the image quality and lesion detection rate with 60-min dynamic [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 total-body PET/CT scans and identified the earliest optimal scan time after [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 injection. Key Points: • A prospective single-centre study showed that the earliest optimal time point to start acquisition was 34 min after injection of half-dose [68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor-04 (68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04). • There were statistically significant differences in standardised uptake value, lesion-to-background ratios, and lesion detectability between scans before and after 34 min from the injection of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04, but these values did not change further from 34 to 60 min after injection. • With a reasonable acquisition time, the image quality could still meet diagnostic requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A fault tree is established to review the gear failure in a turboshaft engine. • Multi-source excitation is considered in the dynamic model of the gear. • A modified Campbell diagram is established to investigate the gear vibration. • The effects of teeth meshing and rotor vibration on the gear failure are revealed. The gas generator rotor of a small turboshaft aircraft engine, which operates at a relatively high speed, may have support stiffness that is weakened by the deliberate reduction of its structural weight, potentially causing a coupling vibration between the gas generator rotor and the engine's central-driven bevel gear (CDBG). The vibrating CDBG can be exposed to a complex pattern of excitation caused by lateral vibration of the rotor and meshing between gear teeth, resulting in possible fatigue damage of the CDBG. In experiments with a typical turboshaft engine, several fatigue fracture failures occurred, and the fatigue cracks were found to propagate radially toward the center of the disk, which is noticeably different from common fatigue failures of gear systems. In this paper, both the gas generator rotor of a turboshaft engine and the CDBG are investigated, and a dynamic model of the rotor-gear system that takes account of multi-source excitation is established. The vibration response of the CDBG, as well as the mechanism by which the fatigue crack is initiated and propagated, were studied. The research shows that in addition to high-frequency excitation arising from gear-teeth meshing, the lateral vibration of the gas generator rotor will also generate a 2× excitation on the CDBG. Thus, under multi-source excitation, the CDBG disc undergoes both a high-frequency 5th nodal diameter mode and a low-frequency swing-shaped vibration mode. The high-frequency excitation causes an initial crack at the root of the gear tooth, and the crack propagates under low-frequency vibration stress, eventually causing fatigue fracture of the CDBG structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution, especially that of heavy metal ions, has always been one of the most important kinds of pollution and has long plagued human production and life. Therefore, how to effectively control pollution of heavy metals in water is an urgent problem for scientists. We have prepared a new carbon quantum dots (CQDs)/nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) composite aerogel using green chemical synthesis and used it for the adsorption and detection of heavy metal ions (Cr3+) in water. At different pH values, the prepared materials adsorb heavy metal ions (Cr3+) in water, and the fluorescence effect of the CQDs in the material decreases with an increase in the amount of heavy metal ions (Cr3+) that are adsorbed. This indicates that the material can be used for real-time monitoring of adsorption behavior. Our research results provide underlying ideas for guiding control of water pollution and extending the applications of aerogels and CQDs. Image 1 • A new type of luminescent aerogel was prepared using naturally occurring polymer—nanofibrillated cellulose. • The aerogel produces a significant fluorescent effect while retaining the original porous structure. • Large specific surface area and good fluorescence performance ensure the adsorption and detection performance of aerogel. • Aerogel adsorbs Cr3+ ions and can characterize the adsorption effect by fluorescence intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, corn porous starch was used as a food grade polymer to microencapsulate essential oil (EO), the effects of temperature on adsorption of EO were investigated, and adsorption kinetics curves were plotted. Using this approach, the sustained‐release antibacterial effects of porous starch microcapsules containing EOs (PSM‐EOs) against Penicillium roqueforti and Aspergillus niger were explored under accelerated volatilization under high temperature conditions, and microencapsulation was successfully applied to bread preservation. The results showed that temperature had a significant effect on the adsorption capacity, and adsorption rate was controlled by both liquid film diffusion and intraparticle diffusion. The activation energy (Ea) of the adsorption process was 7.96 K J/mol as calculated using the Arrhenius equation. The results of antibacterial experiments showed that PSM‐EOs exhibited superior sustained‐release antibacterial effects and significantly prolonged the shelf life of bread, compared with controls. Practical applications: The spoilage caused by mold contamination is a serious challenge for the bread industry. At present, the main preservative used in baking products is calcium propionate, a chemical preservative. However, calcium propionate can be decomposed to produce propionic acid under the action of intestinal microorganisms. Propionic acid is an important factor in inducing diabetes mellitus. Therefore, it is necessary to explore new preservation techniques rather than bread with calcium propionate. In this paper, porous starch microcapsules containing essential oil were prepared, and the adsorption kinetics curve of porous starch to essential oil was plotted. On this basis, the inhibition effect of porous starch microcapsules containing essential oil in high temperature accelerated volatilization on the main mold (P. roqueforti and A. niger) causing bread corruption was investigated. The aim is to provide new ideas for bread preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the role of sugar metabolism in desiccation-sensitive seeds, we performed a natural desiccation treatment on Phoebe chekiangensis seeds in a room and systematically analyzed the changes in seed germination, sugar compounds, malondialdehyde, and relative electrical conductivity during the seed desiccation. The results revealed that the initial moisture content of P. chekiangensis seed was very high (37.06%) and the seed was sensitive to desiccation, the germination percentage of the seed decreased to 5.33% when the seed was desiccated to 22.04% of moisture content, therefore, the seeds were considered recalcitrant. Based on the logistic model, we know that the moisture content of the seeds is 29.05% when the germination percentage drops to 50% and that it is desirable to keep the seed moisture content above 31.74% during ambient transportation. During seed desiccation, sucrose and trehalose contents exhibited increasing trends, and raffinose also increased during the late stage of desiccation, however, low levels of the non-reducing sugar accumulations may not prevent the loss of seed viability caused by desiccation. Glucose and fructose predominated among sugar compounds, and they showed a slight increase followed by a significant decrease. Their depletion may have contributed to the accumulation of sucrose and raffinose family oligosaccharides. Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between the accumulation of sucrose, trehalose, and soluble sugars, and the reduction in seed viability. Sucrose showed a significant negative correlation with glucose and fructose. Trehalose also exhibited the same pattern of correlation. These results provided additional data and theoretical support for understanding the mechanism of sugar metabolism in seed desiccation sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a promising imaging modality in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, a tumor with high mortality. In this study, we proposed a deep-learning-based strategy for analyzing CEUS videos to predict the prognosis of pancreatic cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models were used for binary classification of the chemotherapy as effective or ineffective, with CEUS videos collected before chemotherapy as the model input, and with the efficacy after chemotherapy as the reference standard. We proposed two deep learning models. The first CNN model used videos of ultrasound (US) and CEUS (US+CEUS), while the second CNN model only used videos of selected regions of interest (ROIs) within CEUS (CEUS-ROI). A total of 38 patients with strict restriction of clinical factors were enrolled, with 76 original CEUS videos collected. After data augmentation, 760 and 720 videos were included for the two CNN models, respectively. Seventy-six-fold and 72-fold cross-validations were performed to validate the classification performance of the two CNN models. The areas under the curve were 0.892 and 0.908 for the two models. The accuracy, recall, precision and F1 score were 0.829, 0.759, 0.786, and 0.772 for the first model. Those were 0.864, 0.930, 0.866, and 0.897 for the second model. A total of 38.2% and 40.3% of the original videos could be clearly distinguished by the deep learning models when the naked eye made an inaccurate classification. This study is the first to demonstrate the feasibility and potential of deep learning models based on pre-chemotherapy CEUS videos in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreas cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, such as α-synuclein (α-syn), amyloid beta peptide 1–42 (Aβ1–42), phosphorylated tau (181P) (p-tau), and total tau (t-tau), have long been associated with the development of Parkinson disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. In this investigation, we reported the assessment of CSF biomarkers and their correlations with vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) bindings measured with 18F-9-fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine (18F-AV133) that is being developed as a biomarker for PD. We test the hypothesis that monoaminergic degeneration was correlated with CSF biomarker levels in untreated PD patients. Methods: The available online data from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative study (PPMI) project were collected and analyzed, which include demographic information, clinical evaluations, CSF biomarkers (α-syn, Aβ1–42, p-tau, and t-tau), 18F-AV133 brain PET, and T1 weighted MRIs. Region of interest (ROI) and voxel-wise Pearson correlation between standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) and CSF biomarkers were calculated. Results: Our major findings are: 1) Compared with controls, CSF α-syn and tau levels decreased significantly in PD; 2) α-syn was closely correlated with Aβ1–42 and tau in PD, especially in early-onset patients; and 3) hypothesis-driven ROI analysis found a significant negative correlation between CSF Aβ1–42 levels and VMAT2 densities in post cingulate, left caudate, left anterior putamen, and left ventral striatum in PDs. CSF t-tau and p-tau levels were significantly negatively related to VMAT2 SUVRs in substantia nigra and left ventral striatum, respectively. Voxel-wise analysis showed that left caudate, parahippocampal gyrus, insula and temporal lobe were negatively correlated with Aβ1–42. In addition, superior frontal gyrus and transverse temporal gyrus were negatively correlated with CSF p-tau levels. Conclusion: These results suggest that monoaminergic degeneration in PD is correlated with CSF biomarkers associated with cognitive impairment in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease. The association between loss of dopamine synaptic function and pathologic protein accumulations in PD indicates an important role of CSF biomarkers in PD development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight, ultra-strength, and renewable MXene composite films with excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding characteristics have great application potential in next generation high-tech electronic devices. Herein, multifunctional high performance MXene/densified wood (MXene/DW) films were fabricated by vacuum immersion of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene and Cu2+ solution into delignified wood and then hot-pressing densification. The results show that the composite film has superior mechanical properties, and the tensile strength, tensile modulus, and toughness are 424.7 MPa, 14.6 GPa and 8.0 MJ·m−3, respectively. The MXene/DW film exhibits excellent electrothermal conversion performance, making the film possess promising application in the fields of deicing and infrared stealth. Meanwhile, the wireless charging and electromagnetic induction luminescence application demonstration indicate that the MXene/DW film has great EMI shielding effect. The EMI SE value of MXene/DW films in X band (8.2–12.4 GHz) reaches 48 dB, which is much higher than commercial EMI materials (20 dB). At last, the MXene/DW film also has good electrochemical performances, making it also has potential applications in electrode materials. In summary, this work provides a feasible method for using renewable natural wood and MXene to prepare high-performance and multifunctional composite film, providing a new opportunity for developing sustainable wood as next-generation high-tech electronic devices. [Display omitted] • Processing MXene and natural wood into robust and multifunctional film (MXene/DW). • This approach offers a simple, sustainable, and rapid fabrication for MXene/DW film. • MXene/DW shows ultra-strong tensile strength (425 MPa) in reported wood-based films. • MXene/DW provides exceptional electrothermal and EMI shielding properties (48 dB). • MXene/DW film are expected for micro devices, energy conversion, signal isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Bi2Ti2O7−TiO2 was synthesized in a single step via the sol–gel method, after which its photocatalytic properties and mechanisms were investigated. Moreover, our study proposed and evaluated the use of salicylic acid (SA) and basic magenta (BM) as model contaminants in quenching experiments. When SA was used as the model pollutant, the reaction rates showed negative values. Therefore, the experimental results failed to truly and effectively reflect the actual photocatalytic performance of Bi2Ti2O7−TiO2. However, when BM was used as the model pollutant, the reaction rates were all positive and the experimental results were far more descriptive. Hydroxyl radicals (·OH), superoxide radicals (·O2−), and photogenerated holes (h+) all contribute to the photocatalytic activity of Bi2Ti2O7-TiO2, with ·OH making the largest contribution. Collectively, our findings can serve as a basis to improve the accuracy and efficiency of future photocatalytic mechanism experiments, which could bring great economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nickel and palladium catalysts bearing benzocyclohexan-keto(4-hydroxyethylphenyl)imine were synthesized and grafted to SiO 2 or MWNTs. • MWNTs covalently immobilized nickel catalysts exhibited high activity (3.27 × 104 g polymer mol Ni −1 h−1) and yield (98.2%) in copolymerization of norbornene and 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic ester. • The obtained copolymers exhibited good solubility, excellent thermal stability and high transparency. Nickel and palladium complexes bearing hydroxyl‑functionalized ligand {C 10 H 8 (O)C[4-C 6 H 4 (C 2 H 4 OH)NH]CH 3 } were synthesized, and supported on trimethylaluminum (Me 3 Al) activated nano-silica (SiO 2) or multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The molecular structures of the complexes have been confirmed by NMR and XPS. The effects of homogeneous nickel and palladium catalysts as well as MWNTs/SiO 2 supported nickel and palladium catalysts on the polymerization of norbornene (NB) were systematically investigated. MWNTs covalently immobilized bonded catalysts had the highest activity (3.27 × 104 g polymer mol Ni −1 h −1) and yield (98.2%) in copolymerization for norbornene (NB) with 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic ester (NB-COOCH 3). The NB-COOCH 3 insertion ratio of the obtained copolymer could reach up 40.82% when the NB-COOCH 3 feed ratio was 50%. The vinyl-addition polynorbornene nanocomposites exhibited high thermal stability (T d > 400 °C) and good solubility. The SEM and TEM images of polynorbornene showed that nano-particles were dispersed uniformly in polymers. The processability and mechanical properties of the obtained copolymers were improved effectively. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary purpose of this work is to study the fabrication of a flexible natural cellulosic fiber composite. In this respect, natural cellulosic fiber was obtained by modified poplar wood fiber through sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and γ-Aminopropyl Triethoxysilan. Then, the composites were fabricated by hot-pressing the modified wood fibers and polyurethane following characterization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation results confirmed that some of the hemicellulose and lignin were removed from wood fibers after NaOH modification and successfully grafted with alkoxy structures after KH550 modification. NaOH&KH550 modification improved the interfacial compatibility between poplar wood fibers and polyurethane. The flexibility of the composites was improved (the slenderness value was reduced by 113 %), allowing flexible deformations such as bending, twisting, and knotting. In addition, thermal stability, tensile strength (increased by 105 %), elongation at the break (increased by 125 %), and water resistance were increased. This flexible natural cellulosic fiber composite is expected to be applied in the veneering of curved materials and special-shaped structure furniture, providing a theoretical basis for improving the added value of wood-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution caused by crude oil spills poses significant environmental concerns. In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were dispersed as the carbon network on the elastic wood sponge (WS) and then encapsulated by hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating to form a crude oil adsorbent, PDMS@CNT-WS. It demonstrated an elasticity of up to 90% compressive strain, while the height retention remained at 97% even after 100 cycles at 50% compressive strain. The shape-memory properties and 148°hydrophobic angle of the material allowed it to be repeatedly used. This is the first material to utilize sunlight and microwave as dual stimuli to absorb and recover spilled crude oil. PDMS@CNT-WS absorbed crude oil floating on water within about 80 s under 1 sun illumination. After condensation, the material was heated within only 4 s in a microwave oven at 2450 MHz, and the crude oil in the interior could be recovered by simply squeezing the material. This new approach provided a source of energy conversion for crude oil adsorbents with thermal management capabilities to clean up crude oil spills. [Display omitted] • Crude oil adsorbents with wood sponge based substrate. • PDMS@CNT-WS has superior shape memory properties and hydrophobic properties. • Introduction of microwave heating to the clean-up of crude oil spills in first time. • Fast microwave hot spots effect led temperature reach up to 85.0 ℃ within 4 s. • Combining photothermal and hot spots effect in PDMS@CNT-WS using only MWCNT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Natural biomass material was used to prepare value-added MBC@Cu 2 O/Ag-3 composites. • The renewable wood-based biochar carrier effectively prevented Cu 2 O agglomeration. • The SPR effect of Ag enhanced light absorption and facilitated electron transfer. • MBC@Cu 2 O/Ag-3 exhibited excellent adsorption capacity and photocatalytic activity. • The adsorption/photocatalysis removal mechanism of CR and MO was explored. In order to effectively eliminate organic azo dyes with high concentrations from aqueous environments, novel adsorption/photocatalysis composites were prepared using Cu 2 O/Ag-coated carriers based on renewable wood-based biochar (MBC). The adsorption process of the prepared MBC@Cu 2 O/Ag-3 under electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and complexation effects was conformed to the proposed second-order kinetic model, and the total sorption capacity of Congo red (CR) and methyl orange (MO) reached 264.55 and 178.63 mg g−1, respectively. Moreover, the coordinated interaction of MBC, Cu 2 O, and Ag enhanced the visible light absorptivity, which further facilitated the effective dissociation of light-generated electrons from holes. The removal rates of CR and MO by MBC@Cu 2 O/Ag-3 in the presence of visible light were up to 98.4 % and 97.8 %, respectively. In addition, free radical capture and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy analyses indicated that superoxide (·O 2 -) and hydroxyl (·OH) radicals were major activators during the photocatalytic progression, and the adsorption/photocatalysis mechanism was elucidated through a series of characterization experiments. This work shows that the utilization of natural biomass materials for the preparation of adsorption/photocatalysis composites with high added value can significantly contribute to water environmental protection and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the potential parameters from preoperative 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT that might associate with the World Health Organization/the International Society of Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) grade in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Methods: One hundred twenty-five patients with newly diagnosed ccRCC who underwent 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT prior to surgery or biopsy were retrospectively reviewed. The metabolic parameters and imaging features obtained from 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT examinations were analyzed in combination with clinical characteristics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the predictive factors of WHO/ISUP grade. Results: Metabolic parameters of primary tumor maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), tumor-to-liver SUV ratio (TLR), and tumor-to-kidney SUV ratio (TKR) were significantly different between any two of the four different WHO/ISUP grades, except those between the WHO/ISUP grade 3 and grade 4. The optimal cutoff values to predict high WHO/ISUP grade for SUVmax, TLR, and TKR were 4.15, 1.63, and 1.59, respectively. TLR (AUC: 0.841) was superior to TKR (AUC: 0.810) in distinguishing high and low WHO/ISUP grades (P = 0.0042). In univariate analysis, SUVmax, TLR, TKR, primary tumor size, tumor thrombus, distant metastases, and clinical symptoms could discriminate between the high and low WHO/ISUP grades (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, TLR (P < 0.001; OR: 1.732; 95%CI: 1.289–2.328) and tumor thrombus (P < 0.001; OR: 6.199; 95%CI: 2.499–15.375) were significant factors for differentiating WHO/ISUP grades. Conclusion: Elevated TLR (> 1.63) and presence of tumor thrombus from preoperative 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT can distinguish high WHO/ISUP grade ccRCC effectively. 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT may be a feasible method for noninvasive assessment of WHO/ISUP grade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiobacillus sp. H1 was isolated and made into solid bacterial agent. The Thiobacillus sp. H1 agent was dosed into two reactor (all the agent dosed one-time, and multi-dosing bacteria evenly) and run for 40 days, a start-up with no microbial agent bioreactor as control. We found that the operational performance of multi-dosing inoculum reactor was stable, and the amount of elemental sulfur produced remained stable at 143.2–152.3 mg/L. The amount of elemental sulfur generated in the reactor without the addition of the inoculum was gradually increased, and the amount of elemental sulfur generated in the reactor with the inoculum added at one-time was decreased. Two kinds of Thiobacillus gen. and unclassified betaproteobacteria that coordinated the overall community function in the autotrophic denitrification desulfurization system with high-throughput sequencing. The trend of FccAB gene in each bioreactor was similar with the trend of elemental sulfur in the effluent. On the 5th day, the copy number of FccAB in bioreactor II was the highest among the three bioreactors, reaching 11.8 log copies L/g. This study explores the possibility of artificially synthesized denitrifying desulfurization flora in the future. • Thiobacillus sp. H1 was dosed into three bioreactors. • The operational performance of multi-dosing inoculum reactor was stable. • Amount of elemental sulfur produced remained stable at 143.2–152.3 mg/L. • Thiobacillus gen. and unclassified betaproteobacteria co-existed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale use of ammonia, sulphate, and nitrate in industrial manufacturing has resulted in the generation of industrial wastewater pollutants. However, approaches to eliminate such contamination have not been extensively studied. Accordingly, in this study, we investigated the succession of bacteria under different influent loadings in a mixotrophic denitrification desulphurisation system. Four expanded granular sludge bed reactors were operated simultaneously. The sulphide loading of reactor I was 1.2 kg/m3‧day, the sulphide load of reactor II was 2.4 kg/m3‧day, and the sulphide load of reactor III was 3.6 kg/m3‧day. The molar ratio of carbon versus nitrogen in the influent under each condition was fixed at 1.26:1, and the molar ratio of sulphur versus nitrogen was fixed at 5:6; each reactor was operated for 90 days. Reactor IV was a verification reactor. The three conditions were repeated, and each condition was operated for 90 days. Middle- and late-stage samples under each condition were sequenced using a high-throughput sequencer. Azoarcus , Thauera , Arcobacter , and Pseudomonas were the core genera of the denitrification desulphurisation system under mixotrophic conditions. The genus Azoarcus was a cornerstone genus of mixotrophic conditions, as demonstrated using the random forest model and correlation network analysis. • We investigated bacteria in a mixotrophic denitrification desulphurisation system. • Four expanded granular sludge bed reactors were operated simultaneously. • Azoarcus , Thauera , Arcobacter , and Pseudomonas were the core genera. • Azoarcus was a cornerstone genus of mixotrophic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the photocatalytic efficiency of niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5) for the degradation of organic pollutants, a novel nano-fibriform C-modified Nb 2 O 5 (F–C/Nb 2 O 5) photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by niobium oxalate as precursor and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) as template and carbon source. Vacuum induced self-assembly method was used to form the nano-fibriform morphology. Compared to ordinary C/Nb 2 O 5 and commercial Nb 2 O 5 , F–C/Nb 2 O 5 exhibited a typical three-dimensional nanorod structure with plenty of pores. The specific surface area of F–C/Nb 2 O 5 was 3 times that of C/Nb 2 O 5. The prepared F–C/Nb 2 O 5 exhibited a 3.01 eV bandgap and was able to be activated under visible light while that was unable for commercial Nb 2 O 5 with 3.19 eV bandgap. The F–C/Nb 2 O 5 showed the best photocatalytic efficiency in pH value ≤ 3. After cycling for 5 times, the photocatalytic efficiency of F–C/Nb 2 O 5 was still 2.4 times of the ordinary C/Nb 2 O 5 under visible light. Meanwhile, the self-assembly mechanism and photodegradation mechanism were proposed. This study provides a new strategy to form a special nano-fibriform C-modified niobium pentoxide with extremely high photocatalytic efficiency in aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to illustrate our specific findings for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) lesions on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). In this study, 21 patients at our hospitals with pathologically proven ICC and CEUS data were retrospectively enrolled. General clinical data of the patients, and features of lesions on conventional and contrast-enhanced ultrasound were recorded. Two experienced radiologists retrospectively reviewed all images by consensus. On gray-scale sonography, hypoechoic, isoechoic and hyperechoic lesions accounted for 85.7%, 9.5% and 4.8%, respectively, of all lesions. Hypovascular patterns were found for 95.2% of the lesions on color Doppler flow imaging. During the arterial phase of CEUS, heterogeneous hyperenhancement, homogeneous hyperenhancement, rim-like hyperenhancement, isoenhancement and hypoenhancement were observed for 61.9%, 19.0%, 9.5%, 4.8%, 4.8% of the lesions, respectively. During the portal venous and late phases, 85.7% and 95.2% of the lesions, respectively, exhibited hypoenhancement. In addition, 66.7% of the ICC lesions exhibited washed-out interiors but little decrease in enhancement at the periphery during the portal venous phase, resulting in the formation of a hyperenhanced peripheral rim. In conclusion, the rim sign in the portal venous phase of CEUS could help diagnose ICC. This trait could be related to the infiltrating growth pattern of ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a luminescent material of wood-based carbon quantum dots (CQDs)/Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 with a regular, uniform shape, and a high color purity was synthesized by a facile method. CexZr1−xO2 solid-solution oxides (x = 0.7) were prepared by a hydrothermal method, and CQDs were adsorbed on the as-obtained Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 nanoparticles. The crystal structure was identified by powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. In addition, the effect of adsorbed CQDs on the luminescence properties of Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 was systematically investigated by Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy, as well as decay curve and quantum yield (QY) measurements. Herein, a promising strategy of surface engineering, that is, reduction of the surface defect concentration in Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 by the adsorption of CQDs to decrease the nonradiative transition processes at defect sites was described. As expected, the adsorption of CQDs decreased the Ce–O bond length and the surface defect concentration of Ce0.7Zr0.3O2, thereby effectively decreasing the nonradiative transition processes and suppressing fluorescence quenching. Hence, CQDs/Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 with a perfect cubic structure exhibits a performance improvement in terms of the luminescence and QY value. Furthermore, a light-emitting diode device was fabricated using as-synthesized CQDs/Ce0.7Zr0.3O2, emitting apparent yellow light with a high color purity (93.3%), with International Commission on Illumination coordinates of (0.5239, 0.4531), and a low correlated color temperature (2271 K) under a driven current of 60 mA, suggesting that CQDs/Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 exhibits potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organochlorine pesticides are widely used in agriculture, wood preservation, pulp bleaching and other fields, which increased the pollution risk of cultivated land. In this study, a typical organochlorine pesticides-2,4,6-TCP was conducted as the target pollutants to investigated the migration and transformation characteristics in different cultivated soils in China. The results indicated that the adsorption of 2,4,6-TCP in soil samples was in order: black soil＞laterite＞fluvo-aquic soil, and the maximum adsorption was 71.0870, 27.0575 and 6.1292 mg/kg, respectively. The dispersion coefficient of black soil, laterite and fluvo-aquic soil was 0.0329, 0.0501 and 0.0149, and the hysteretic factor R was 5.381, 1.455 and 2.238, respectively, indicating that the migration ability of 2,4,6-TCP in different cultivated soils samples was in order: black soil＞laterite＞fluvo-aquic soil. The fitting results of one-dimensional migration model indicated that the model well reflected the migration and transformation of 2,4,6-TCP in different cultivated soil samples. Meanwhile, the Two-dimensional migration model fitting results indicated that the maximum concentration of 2,4,6-TCP of different cultivated soil samples were found along the longitudinal flow direction, reaching 40% of the initial pollution concentration at 15 m, corresponding to the center of the pollutant plume. [Display omitted] • The kinetics of 2,4,6-TCP absorption and migration in cultivated soils in China were firstly investigated. • The adsorption of 2,4,6-TCP in three soil samples involved adsorption, diffusion and reaction. • The migration model was established to simulate the migration and transformation of 2,4,6-TCP in cultivated soils. • The findings provide solutions for the treatment of soil contaminated with organochlorine pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Tc-99m- and I-131-labeled arginine-arginine-leucine (RRL) peptides have shown the feasibility of tumor imaging in our previous studies. However, there have been no reports using RRL peptide for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. In this study, RRL was radiolabeled with Ga-68 under optimized reaction conditions to develop a better specific and effective tumor imaging agent.Procedures: RRL was synthesized and conjugated to a bifunctional chelating agent (DOTA-NHS), then radiolabeled with Ga-68. Labeling yield was optimized by varying pH, temperature, and reaction time and the stability was evaluated in human fresh serum. Cellular uptakes of [68Ga]DOTA-RRL and FITC-conjugated RRL in HepG2 cells were evaluated using a gamma counter, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. PET images and biodistribution were performed in HepG2 tumor-bearing mice after injection of [68Ga]DOTA-RRL or [68Ga]GaCl3 at different time points. Further, blocking study was investigated using cold RRL.Results: The labeling yield of [68Ga]DOTA-RRL was 80.6 ± 3.9 % with a pH of 3.5-4.5 at 100 °C for 15 min. The cellular uptake of [68Ga]DOTA-RRL in HepG2 cells was significantly higher than that of [68Ga]GaCl3 (P < 0.05). Moreover, the high fluorescent affinity of FITC-conjugated RRL in HepG2 cells was shown using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. After injection of [68Ga]DOTA-RRL in HepG2 tumor-bearing mice, tumor regions exhibited high radioactive accumulation over 120 min and the highest uptake at 30 min. After blocked with cold RRL, HepG2 tumors could not be visualized. [68Ga]GaCl3 was unable to show tumor images at any time point. The biodistribution results confirmed the PET imaging and blocking results.Conclusions: Our study successfully prepared [68Ga]DOTA-RRL with a high labeling yield under the optimized reaction conditions and demonstrated its potential role as a PET imaging agent for tumor-targeted diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A green low-cost wood-based biochar was prepared from wood powder. • Modified wood-based biochar was used as a carrier to prepare MBC@Cu 2 O. • MBC@Cu 2 O stably removed MO via adsorption-photocatalysis. • The mechanism of adsorption-photocatalytic degradation of MO was explored. To treat dye-containing wastewater, p-type semiconductor Cu 2 O nanoparticles supported by wood-based biochar (MBC@Cu 2 O) were prepared in this work. Benefiting from the synergistic effects of the wood-based biochar skeleton and Cu 2 O, MBC@Cu 2 O efficiently degraded methyl orange (MO) dye via an adsorption-photocatalytic mechanism. A series of analytical results showed that the MO adsorption process was well-described by the pseudo-second-order kinetics model, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 1610 mg/g. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of MO reached 94.5 % under visible light irradiation, and free-radical capture experiments confirmed that superoxide radicals ( · O 2 -) and hydroxyl radicals (OH) were the main active species involved in this process. The photocatalytic efficiency of MBC@Cu 2 O remained above 80 % after five reuse cycles. In addition, the adsorption and photocatalytic mechanisms were explored. The comprehensive results indicate that MBC@Cu 2 O, as a bifunctional adsorption-based photocatalytic composite, has great potential for removing anionic azo dyes from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been considered as important biomarkers for malignant tumors. In this study, we introduced an improved 99mTc labeling method for noninvasive visualization of overexpressed miRNAs in tumor-bearing mice. Anti-miRNA- 21 oligonucleotide (AMO) with partial 2′-O-methyl and phosphorothioate modification was designed and chemically synthesized. After conjugated with NHS-MAG3, AMO was labeled with 99mTc. Optimization was made to shorten reaction time and to improve labeling efficiency. Labeling efficiency was 97%, and specific activity was 2.78 MBq/ng. During 12 h, 99mTc-AMO showed no significant degradation by gel electrophoresis. Its radiochemical purity was stable, between 95.8% and 99.1%. Further, 99mTc-AMO decreased the level of miR-21 and increased the expression of PTEN protein at cellular level, shown by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Fluorescent protein labeled AMO displayed specific distribution and good stability in tumor cells. After the administration in tumor-bearing mice, 99mTc-AMO showed more radioactive uptake in the miR-21 overexpressed tumors than scramble control. Biodistribution results further proved the significant difference of tumor uptake between 99mTc-AMO and 99mTc-control. Therefore, this study presents an improved method with shorten time to prepare a 99mTc radiolabeled AMO. In addition, it supports the role of 99mTc-AMO for noninvasive visualization of miR-21 in malignant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reductive sulfur-containing by-products (S-BPs) released from industrial process mainly exist in the simple form of sulfide and sulfite. In this study, recent advances to remove and make full use of reductive S-BPs to achieve efficient contaminant removal and hydrogen production are critically reviewed. Sulfide, serves as both reductant and nucleophile, can form intermediates with the catalyst surface functional group through chemical interaction, efficiently promoting the catalytic reduction process to remove contaminants. Sulfite assisted catalytic process could be classified to the advanced reduction processes (ARPs) and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), mainly depending on the presence of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the solution. During ARPs, sulfite could generate reductive active species including hydrated electron (e aq -), hydrogen radical (H·), and sulfite radical (SO 3 •−) under the irradiation of UV light, leading to the efficient reduction removal of a variety of contaminants. During AOPs, sulfite could first produce SO 3 •− under the action of the catalyst or energy, initiating a series of reactions to produce oxysulfur radicals. Various contaminants could be effectively removed under the role of these oxidizing active species. Sulfides and sulfites could also be removed along with promoting hydrogen production via photocatalytic and electrocatalytic processes. Besides, the present limitations and the prospects for future practical applications of the process with these S-BPs are proposed. Overall, this review gives a comprehensive summary and aims to provide new insights and thoughts in promoting contaminant removal and hydrogen production through taking full advantage of reductive S-BPs. [Display omitted] • The prospects and challenges treasuring industrial sulfur by-products (S-BPs) are proposed. • Sulfide promotes electron transfer and reduction intermediates with carbon materials. • Active species in advanced reduction processes (ARPs) with S-BPs include e aq -, H·, and SO 3 •−. • Oxysulfur radicals are generated in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) with S-BPs. • Reductive S-BPs promote the photocatalytic and electrocatalytic hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • VIS/sulfite/Fe/g-C 3 N 4 (N 2) system shows promise in contaminant removal and sterilization. • The introduction of sulfite enhances the formation of SO 4 •− and •O 2 –. • The presence of NVs accelerates Fe3+/Fe2+ redox cycle. • Fe/g-C 3 N 4-x with rich NVs exhibits stronger interaction towards HSO 3 −. • A mechanism of synergy between Fe, NVs, and g-C 3 N 4 in sulfite activation is proposed. A novel Fe-modified g-C 3 N 4 with rich N vacancies (NVs) under N 2 calcination was developed to active sulfite for the efficient removal of contaminants and bacterial inactivation under visible light (VIS). The degradation rates of VIS/sulfite/Fe/g-C 3 N 4 (N 2) for acetaminophen (ACT) were 10.94, 4.88, and 2.85 times higher than those of VIS/Fe/g-C 3 N 4 (N 2), VIS/sulfite/g-C 3 N 4 (N 2), and VIS/sulfite/Fe/g-C 3 N 4 (CO 2), respectively. Escherichia coli (E. coli) with an initial concentration of 2.5 × 108 CFU/mL decreased by 6.1 and 8.4 log CFU/mL within 60 min and 80 min of inactivation, respectively. The activation of sulfite led to the generation of oxysulfur radicals, and the consumption of hole (h+) by sulfite inhibited its recombination with electron (e−), promoting the formation of superoxide radical (•O 2 –). The synergistic effect of Fe, NVs, and g-C 3 N 4 in VIS/sulfite/Fe/g-C 3 N 4 (N 2) system promoted the generation of oxysulfur radicals. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that NVs facilitated charge transfer from Fe to g-C 3 N 4 substrate, accelerating the Fe3+/Fe2+ and oxysulfur radical cycles. Fe/g-C 3 N 4 with rich NVs exhibited lower adsorption binding energy, faster charge transfer, and longer S-O bond length than pristine Fe/g-C 3 N 4 during sulfite adsorption. This work unraveled the synergistic mechanism of Fe, NVs, and g-C 3 N 4 , which provides new insights into heterogeneous photocatalysts on sulfite activation for water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • W-BiVO 4-x /rGO exhibited high photocatalytic performance for CIP and CTC removal. • The presence of OVs significantly improved the generation of O 2 −. • BiVO 4 nanoparticles presented oriented growth on rGO surface assisted by microwave. • W doping and OVs brought about stronger interactions between BiVO 4 and rGO. • The synergistic effect of W doping, rGO, and OVs on BiVO 4 was clarified. A novel W doped BiVO 4 with rich oxygen vacancies (OVs) oriented on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) photocatalyst (W-BiVO 4-x /rGO) was developed by a simple one-step microwave hydrothermal method for efficient removal of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and chlortetracycline (CTC) under visible light. The synergistic effect of W doping, BiVO 4 with OVs, and rGO on the enhancement of photocatalytic activity was clarified from experimental and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations results. W doping significantly improved the density of photo-generated charge carriers. The introduction of rGO enlarged the specific surface area, expanded the light absorption range, and promoted the charge transfer of BiVO 4. OVs both narrowed the band gap and enhanced the generation of O 2 −. W doping and OVs both enhanced the interactions between BiVO 4 and rGO. The CIP degradation rate constant of W-BiVO 4-x /rGO photocatalyst was 1.73, 5.32, 6.43, and 10.70 times higher than those of W-BiVO 4 /rGO, BiVO 4 /rGO, W-BiVO 4 , and BiVO 4 , respectively. Besides, W-BiVO 4-x /rGO photocatalyst prepared by microwave hydrothermal method exhibited higher photocatalytic activity and better combination between materials. This study offers a new strategy to address the problem of antibiotic residues in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A dual Z-scheme BiVO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 /NiFe 2 O 4 was developed with good visible light response. • The BiVO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 /NiFe 2 O 4 catalyst presented efficient removal performance of OFL. • This catalyst efficiently separated charge carriers and extended the range of visible light. • The magnetic property of BiVO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 /NiFe 2 O 4 catalyst facilitated the recovery of catalyst. • Transformation products and removal mechanisms of OFL were identified and proposed. Inefficient utilization of photo-induced charge carriers and low recyclability are limitations for photocatalyst to get access to the practical application. A novel ternary BiVO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 /NiFe 2 O 4 composite with dual Z-scheme heterojunction was successfully developed and constructed to enhance the separation of photo-induced charge carriers and the absorption range of visible light. The structure, composition, morphology, magnetic, and optical properties of this photocatalyst were investigated comprehensively. The photocatalytic performance, mechanism, and pathway of ofloxacin degradation under visible light were studied. Results indicated that the internal interaction between different semiconductors presented the successful fabrication of ternary composite, and its red shift of adsorption range of visible light contributed to an enhancement of photocatalytic ability. The as-prepared ternary composite exhibited highest photocatalytic removal rate constant for ofloxacin, which was 3.8, 16.3 and 71.2 times as much as that of the pure BiVO 4 , pure g-C 3 N 4 and pure NiFe 2 O 4 , respectively. The five successive recycling experiments exhibited the high photocatalytic stability of the as-prepared catalyst, with simple recovery operation due to its magnetic property. The holes and superoxide radicals dominated the photocatalytic degradation process of pollutants. A dual Z-scheme heterojunction other than conventional heterojunction was responsible for the enhancement on redox capacity and the separation of charge carriers. Different transformation products during ofloxacin photocatalytic degradation were identified and transformation pathway was put forward. This study provides a promising strategy on the application of visible-light-driven photocatalysts in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]