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Abstract New multi-featured adsorbent beads were fabricated through impregnation of sulfonated graphene (SGO) oxide into cellulose acetate (CA) beads for fast adsorption of cationic methylene blue (MB) dye. The formulated SGO@CA composite beads were thoroughly characterized by several tools including FTIR, TGA, SEM, XRD, XPS and zeta potential. The optimal levels of the most significant identified variables affecting the adsorption process were sequential determined by the response surface methodology (RSM) using Plackett–Burman and Box–Behnken designs. The gained results denoted that the surface of SGO@CA beads displayed the higher negative charges (− 42.2 mV) compared to − 35.7 and − 38.7 mV for pristine CA and SGO, respectively. In addition, the floated SGO@CA beads demonstrated excellent floating property, fast adsorption and easy separation. The adsorption performance was accomplished rapidly, since the adsorption equilibrium was closely gotten within 30 min. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity was greatly improved with increasing SGO content from 10 to 30%. The obtained data were followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model and agreed with Langmuir adsorption isotherm model with a maximum adsorption capacity reached 234.74 mg g−1. The thermodynamic studies designated the spontaneity and endothermic nature of MB dye adsorption. Besides, the floated beads exposed acceptable adsorption characteristics for six successive reuse cycles, in addition to their better adsorption selectivity towards MB dye compared to cationic crystal violet and anionic Congo red dyes. These findings assume that the formulated SGO@CA floated beads could be used effectively as highly efficient, easy separable and reusable adsorbents for the fast removal of toxic cationic dyes.

Winter Storm Uri was a disaster that impacted much of the United States during February of 2021. During and after the storm, Texas and Oklahoma experienced massive power grid failures. This led to cascading impacts, including water system disruptions and many boil water notices (BWNs). The breakdown of some communication channels and the inability to enact protective actions due to power outages, as well as travel limitations on public roads, complicated the dissemination and implementation of notifications. This research examined individuals' perceptions of risk, water quality, and BWNs during Uri. Additionally, this study sought to understand if previous experience with a BWN influenced compliance during Uri and how perceived efficacy impacted these variables. Surveying 893 Texans and Oklahomans revealed that most Uri-affected respondents believed the risks associated with BWNs were severe. Income and race were two factors that influenced BWN compliance. Age, gender, and level of education did not influence compliance. Previous experience with BWNs did not increase risk perceptions. Higher levels of perceived efficacy correlated to higher levels of compliance, perceptions of risk, and water quality, much of which support propositions of the Extended Parallel Process Model. Results suggest that pre-disaster planning and communication are imperative to helping reduce risk(s) and enhancing efficacy during a disaster, especially for novel disasters that have cascading risks, like Winter Storm Uri., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A poor outcome for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients is still a clinical challenge. CCA is typically recognized by the desmoplastic nature, which accounts for its malignancy. Among various extracellular matrix proteins, laminin is the most potent inducer for CCA migration. Herein, we accessed the expression profiles of laminin gene family and explored the significance of the key laminin subunit on CCA aggressiveness. Of all 11 laminin genes, LAMA3, LAMA5, LAMB3 and LAMC2 were concordantly upregulated based on the analysis of multiple public transcriptomic datasets and also overexpressed in Thai CCA cell lines and patient tissues in which LAMA3A upregulated in the highest frequency (97%) of the cases. Differential expression genes (DEGs) analysis of low and high laminin signature groups revealed LAMA3 as the sole common DEG in all investigated datasets. Restratifying CCA samples according to LAMA3 expression indicated the association of LAMA3 in the focal adhesion pathway. Silencing LAMA3 revealed that it plays important roles in CCA cell proliferation, adhesion, migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Taken together, this research signifies the roles of dysregulated ECM homeostasis in CCA malignancy and highlights, for the first time, the potential usage of LAMA3 as the diagnostic biomarker and the therapeutic target to tackle the CCA stromal., (© 2023. The Author(s).)