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As graphene-related technology advances, the benefits of graphene metamaterials become more apparent. In this study, a surface-isolated exciton-based absorber is built by running relevant simulations on graphene, which can achieve more than 98% perfect absorption at multiple frequencies in the MWIR (MediumWavelength Infra-Red (MWIR) band as compared to the typical absorber. The absorber consists of three layers: the bottom layer is gold, the middle layer is dielectric, and the top layer is patterned with graphene. Tunability was achieved by electrically altering graphene's Fermi energy, hence the position of the absorption peak. The influence of graphene's relaxation time on the sensor is discussed. Due to the symmetry of its structure, different angles of light source incidence have little effect on the absorption rate, leading to polarization insensitivity, especially for TE waves, and this absorber has polarization insensitivity at ultra-wide-angle degrees. The sensor is characterized by its tunability, polarisation insensitivity, and high sensitivity, with a sensitivity of up to 21.60 THz/refractive index unit (RIU). This paper demonstrates the feasibility of the multi-frequency sensor and provides a theoretical basis for the realization of the multi-frequency sensor. This makes it possible to apply it to high-sensitivity sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The permeability coefficient of construction materials plays a crucial role in engineering quality and durability. In this study, a microstructure model based on real aggregate shape and digital image technology is proposed to predict the permeability coefficient of concrete. A two-dimensional, three-component finite element model of cement concrete was established considering the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between aggregate and mortar. The permeability coefficient prediction model was developed by the finite element method. The accuracy of the model was verified by experimental data, and the influence of the water−cement ratio on the permeability coefficient of concrete was analyzed. The results show that this method has good prediction accuracy with a relative error of 1.73%. According to the verified model, the influences of aggregate content, aggregate characteristics, aggregate location, ITZ thickness, and other factors on the permeability of concrete were explored. The higher the water−cement ratio, the higher the permeability coefficient. With the increase in aggregate content, the permeability coefficient decreases. Aggregate permeability has a significant influence on the effective permeability coefficient of concrete within a certain range. The greater the roundness of aggregate, the greater the permeability of concrete. On the contrary, the larger aggregate size causes lower permeability. The permeability coefficient of concrete with segregation is lower than that with uniform distribution. At the same time, the permeability increases with the increase of ITZ thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a solid waste from steel making, steel slag can be recycled to replace natural aggregates (NA) for developing steel slag aggregate (SSA) concrete, an environmentally friendly construction material. In order to evaluate the effect of steel slag on the permeability of SSA concrete, which may have a potential impact on the structure durability, this study presented a multi-scale finite element (FE) method for investigating the seepage process and mechanism inside the SSA concrete. The above FE method consisted of a microscale mortar model and a mesoscale concrete model, developed by integrating image processing technique and random aggregate method. The permeability coefficient of SSA concrete was evaluated with the above multi-scale FE method and was validated with experiment. The relative differences between the numerical simulation and experimental mean values of the permeability coefficients are 3.38∼5.94 %. Based on the validated method, the effects of steel slag on the seepage characteristics of concrete were analyzed. Results show that the incorporation of steel slag could decrease the permeability of concrete by reducing the mortar porosity in the microscale and reducing the thickness of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between aggregate and mortar in the mesoscale. Using over-simplified aggregate shapes in numerical simulation may underestimate the permeability coefficient of concrete, which emphasizes the importance of refined modelling. The permeability coefficient of concrete may exhibit anisotropy. When considering lateral water permeation, aggregates with aspect ratios close to one may offer superior resistance to seepage. The analysis findings provide insights for better material design of concrete with recycled materials. • Developed and validated multi-scale model of concrete containing steel slag aggregate for prediction of permeability. • Measured permeability of concrete and aggregate and observed interfacial transition zone of concrete using microscopy imaging. • Analyzed effects of steel slag on seepage characteristics and permeability of concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The FDTD simulation reveals the phenomenon that the absorber has a large bandwidth with high absorptivity and two resonance absorption peaks in the mid-long infrared band, which indicates that the absorber has absorption selectivity. • By changing the geometric structure parameters of the absorber, the absorptivity of the absorber in the middle and long infrared band is adjusted. • The polarization insensitivity and Angle independence of the absorber are determined by simulating the absorption characteristic curves of the absorber at different incident angles and polarization modes. • By adding different kinds of metals and media types, comprehensive selection of better performance combination, to meet our needs. Infrared band occupies a very important position in the electromagnetic wave band. Traditional infrared devices use the inherent properties of natural materials to achieve the regulation of electromagnetic waves, but the limited ability of such devices to regulate electromagnetic waves can't well meet our needs. In this paper, we reported a metamaterial absorber of Cr-Si 3 N 4 -Cr-Si 3 N 4 -Ti based on double-layer metal-insulator-metal (MIM). It is investigated with the optimal structural parameters of 490 nm, 330 nm, 30 nm, 720 nm, 120 nm, in descending order, at which the absorptive properties are studied. When the light wave is incident vertically, it can be obtained from the experimental simulation that this absorber has polarisation insensitivity. Because of the coupling effect of the surface plasmon resonance and the high-loss material, the bandwidth of absorption greater than 90% can reach 9190 nm, and the average absorption in the target long-wave infrared band (9.506∼18.145 μm) is 94.8%. By selecting different geometrical parameters of the structure, the absorption spectrum can be adjusted independently. In addition, the absorber has good incident angle insensitivity in TE and TM modes. Also, the absorber we proposed has a plain structure, is convenient for manufacturing, the material is easier to obtain, which ensures a good absorption bandwidth and average absorptivity, and the study of this metamaterial absorber has important applications in solar cells, satellite radiothermographs, photodetectors, and spectral imaging. In this work, we simulate and calculate the performance of a broadband absorber based on a double-layer MIM structure. The results show that the absorber can achieve an average absorption of 90% in the range of 9.48–18.67 μm and 94.8% in the targeted longwave infrared band (9.506–18.145 μm). In response to the broadband absorption, we designed the schematic structure of the absorber based on the MIM (metal-dielectric-metal) structure. The structure of each cell is composed of a two-layer MIM structure, from top to bottom, Cr, Si 3 N 4 ,Cr,Si 3 N 4 ,Ti.The simulation results show that two resonant modes are generated at 10.25μm and 16.75μm, and the absorption rates are 98.9% and 99.3%, respectively. Then, the geometric parameters of the structure are adjusted respectively to get the best parameter values. In addition, the comparison of several different microstructures proves the advantages of our designed structure. We also simulate the absorption characteristic curves at different incidence angles and different polarization modes. Finally, we compare by changing the type of metal and medium. To sum up, the absorbers designed by us have the characteristics of broadband high absorptivity, no relation between polarization and incidence Angle, and simple structure. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, which often leads to female infertility. Chronic inflammation is a significant factor in the development of PCOS. Our study aimed to explore the impact of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF), a scientifically validated anti-inflammatory factor, on 99 diagnosed PCOS patients. We also investigated its effects on PCOS mice induced with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and KGN cells induced with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Our findings revealed a decrease in serum MANF levels in PCOS patients, which were negatively associated with serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels. The administration of recombinant human MANF (rhMANF) in PCOS mice demonstrated a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines and monocytes/macrophages in both peripheral blood and ovarian tissues. Furthermore, the inclusion of rhMANF notably ameliorated DHEA-induced ovarian dysfunction and fibrosis by negatively regulating the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-NLR family, pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) pathway. Additionally, in vitro experiments showed that the up-regulation of MANF offset DHT-induced inhibition of viability and apoptosis in KGN cells. Collectively, this study highlights the anti-inflammatory properties of MANF in PCOS and suggests its potential as a therapeutic approach for the management of PCOS. • Serum MANF level in PCOS patients is decreased and was negatively correlated with TNF-α and IL-1β levels. • MANF inhibits inflammatory response in mice with PCOS. • MANF alleviates DHT-induced apoptosis and dysfunction of KGN cells. • MANF inhibits the activation of TLR4-NF-κB-NLRP3 signaling pathway in PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random fields are widely used to represent the uncertainty of some parameters in engineering, and numerous simulation approaches have been developed for Gaussian and non-Gaussian random fields. However, the unified methods among them suffer from low computational accuracy and efficiency or discontinuities in the simulated random fields. Therefore, an easy-to-implement general simulation method based on the active learning Kriging model is proposed for a one dimensional(1D) Gaussian or non-Gaussian random field in this paper. In the proposed method, there are two stages. One stage, called the inner loop, is to construct the Kriging approximation of a random field sample with enough accuracy by some samples of the random variables at some discretized locations, in which an active learning strategy based on the error estimation for the Kriging model is introduced to select adaptively the added locations, and a fast sampling method is presented to determine efficiently the samples at the added locations. In the other stage, called the outer loop, some random field samples are represented accurately by their corresponding Kriging approximations through training iteratively. Furthermore, several numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy, effectiveness and generality of the proposed method for 1D Gaussian and non-Gaussian random fields by comparing with the Karhunen–Loève(KL) expansion method. Meanwhile, the effects of the types of correlation function and the scales of fluctuation on the simulation results are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlight • LDH@nZVI composite was prepared via a facile and green method. • Synergistic effects improved the capture ability for U(VI) on LDH@nZVI than single-guest. • O and Fe functional groups play an important role in the immobilization process of U(VI). • Interaction mechanism between U(VI) and LDH@nZVI was adsorption and reduction. Abstract In this study, nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) supported on layered double hydroxide (LDH) composite (LDH@nZVI) was prepared, characterized and applied to U(VI) scavenging in water. Removal of U(VI) as a function of pH, ionic strength, reaction time, initial concentrations of U(VI), and temperature were studied and compared with pure LDH and nZVI, the LDH@nZVI had best U(VI) removal efficiency owning to the excellent synergistic combination of LDH adsorption and nZVI reduction. XPS analysis found that surface oxygen functional groups and surface-bound Fe(II) played a critical role in U(VI) remediation. The large surface areas (334.0 m2/g), abundant functional groups (i.e., M O, C O and OH), rapid kinetics (adsorption equilibrium within 1 h) and excellent adsorption capacities (176 mg/g) indicating that LDH@nZVI can be considered as a potential material for preconcentration of U(VI) from sewage water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • CMN and CCMN were prepared via a single-step hydrothermal technique and calcination process. • The maximal removal capacities of U(VI) on CMN and CCMN were 585.6 and 973.7 mg/g, respectively. • Metal-oxygen functional groups played an important role in the elimination of U(VI). • Interaction mechanism was attributed to strong inner-surface complexation. Abstract Uranium is considered to be a strategic means for the nuclear power as well as a worldwide highly toxic pollutant. For the enhanced U(VI) elimination from wastewater, novel Co-Mo-Ni ternary hydroxide (CMN) and calcined CMN (CCMN) nanocomposites were prepared via a simplistic single-step hydrothermal technique and calcination process. The elimination process and adsorption property of U(VI) on CMN and CCMN were analysed by batch experiment as well as spectroscopy analysis, and the researches showed that U(VI) was formed stable and strong complexes with the surface groups of CMN and CCMN. The maximal removal capacities of U(VI) on CMN and CCMN amounted to be 585.6 and 973.7 mg/g at pH = 5.0 and T = 298 K, correspondingly, that exhibited competitiveness with the majority of the reported adsorbents. The U(VI) uptake was substantially impacted by the tested solution pH and not affected by the ionic strength, which revealed that the interaction mechanism was primarily inner-sphere surface complexation, which received further confirmation by the XPS analysis. Based on the above analyses, the facile synthesis process and excellent U(VI) elimination performance denoted that the ternary (hydr)oxide materials were applicable as an attractive adsorbent for the radionuclides preconcentration and removal from aqueous solutions in natural environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution, a worldwide issue for the human society, has raised global concerns on environmental sustainability, calling for high-performance materials in effective pollution treatments. Boron nitride (BN) with a structure similar to graphene possesses many extraordinary properties such as high surface areas, high oxidization resistance at high temperature, and high chemical stability. This review presents the outstanding removal percentage and environmental restoration of BN-based nanomaterials for the elimination of various pollutants from the last ten years. Notably, recent advances in the removal of organic/inorganic pollutants and interaction mechanism are outlined. BN-based materials can not only preferably remove contaminants, but also can be directly regenerated by burning in air. The BN-based materials have satisfactory sorption capacities for inorganic pollutants (e.g. heavy metal ions) and organic pollutants (e.g. dyes and pharmaceutical molecules). The interaction mechanisms between pollutants and BN-based materials are mainly surface complexation, π-π stacking, and electrostatic interactions. This paper is beneficial to further comprehend the interactions of pollutants with BN-based materials, which is also helpful for the improvement of BN-based materials and potential areas for future applications in environment remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological toxicity and negative environmental effect of graphene oxide (GO) have attracted wide public concern due to its potential risks. To assess the transport behavior and to reduce the environmental hazardous of GO in natural environment, ZnO and MgO were used as coagulant for GO removal from aqueous solutions. The results indicated that GO coagulation on ZnO and MgO were scarcely affected by ionic strength. At neutral pH, the GO removal capacities could reach 232.8 mg/g on MgO and 210.8 mg/g on ZnO. The high removal capacity and short coagulation time showed the enormous advantages for the high-efficiency removal of GO from aqueous solutions, which were important for the real application of MgO and ZnO in reality. The coagulation mechanisms of GO on ZnO and MgO could be attributed to electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bond, which were further demonstrated by DFT calculations. Considering the cost, efficiency, removal capacity and reusability, one can conclude that metal oxides can be promising materials for GO efficient removal by a simple and rapid coagulation process. The findings can provide critical information about the physicochemical behavior of GO in aquatic natural environment, which is significant to decrease the environmental toxicity of GO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aniline is toxic and hard to be degraded, and thereby causes the environmental pollution seriously. Herein, a practical and green hydrothermal method was applied to fabricate terephthalic acid and pyromellitic acid intercalated layered double hydroxides (LDH) (named as TAL and PAL) for aniline efficient removal. The sorption of aniline on LDH-based materials were investigated at different experimental conditions, and the results indicated that aniline sorption on LDH, TAL and PAL were strongly dependent on pH and independent of ionic strength. The maximum sorption capacities of aniline on TAL and PAL at pH 5.0 and 293 K were 90.4 and 130.0 mg/g, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of aniline on LDH (52.6 mg/g). Based on the BET, FTIR and XPS analysis, the higher sorption capacities of TAL and PAL were mainly due to high surface area and basal spacing as well as the abundant functional groups (e.g. –COO − ). The interactions of aniline with TAL and PAL were mainly dominated by hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. Such a facile synthesis method, efficient removal performance and superior reusability indicated that the aromatic acid modified LDH materials had potential application for efficient treatment of organic pollutants in environmental pollution cleanup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncalcined glycerol-modified nanocrystallined Mg/Al layered double hydroxides (named as G-LDH) and calcined G-LDH (named as G-LDO) with molar ratio of Mg:Al = 3:1 were successfully synthesized using an easy and green hydrothermal method, and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N 2 Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurement, Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The as-synthesized G-LDH and G-LDO were applied as adsorbents to remove methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solutions at different experimental conditions, and the results showed that the interaction of MO with G-LDH and G-LDO were strongly pH-dependent and ionic strength-independent. Kinetic study indicated the MO adsorption on G-LDH and G-LDO were well simulated by pseudo-second-order model. The MO adsorption on G-LDH and G-LDO were well simulated by Langmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capacity of G-LDO (q max = 1062.3 mg/g) was much higher than that of G-LDH (q max = 443.5 mg/g) at pH = 4.5. The thermodynamic parameters calculated from temperature-dependent isotherms indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous and exothermal process. The FT-IR and XRD analysis further evidenced that the interaction of MO with G-LDH was mainly dominated by electrostatic interaction, ion exchange, hydrogen bonding and surface complexation, whereas the uptake of MO to G-LDO was mainly attributed to electrostatic interaction and surface complexation. These results suggested that the G-LDO was a promising material for the efficient removal of organic pollutants in real environmental pollution cleanup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the rate and extent of 63 Ni(II) sorption and desorption on/from mineral surfaces are important to predict its mobility performance in the natural environment. We herein systematically investigated the effects of pH, electrolyte cations, humic acid (HA) and temperature on 63 Ni(II) sorption/desorption on/from Na-montmorillonite. The results indicated that the sorption/desorption of 63 Ni(II) on/from Na-montmorillonite were strongly dependent on pH and electrolyte cations. Desorption abilities of 63 Ni(II) were Na + ≈ K + > Ca 2+ ≈ Mg 2+ at the cationic concentration of 0.2 mol/L, which was associated with the clay tactoid size. The kinetic results suggested that 63 Ni(II) sorption/desorption initially increased rapidly and remained constant as time increasing. The presence of HA influenced 63 Ni(II) sorption clearly and promoted 63 Ni(II) desorption as a result of the dissolution of ternary surface complexes. Increasing temperature was favorable for the sorption reaction owing to the formation of strong inner-sphere complexes, however, hampered the desorption reaction because of the increased stability of inner-sphere complexes or the aggregation of montmorillonite. The results are crucial to understand the physicochemical behavior of radionickel in the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of Pb(II) from wastewater by Ca-rectorite was investigated as various environmental factors containing contact time, pH, ionic strength, solid content, coexisting ions, humic acid (HA), and temperature. The kinetic sorption of Pb(II) on Ca-rectorite was well described by the pseudo second-order model. The sorption process was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The results indicated that the presence of HA and coexisting ions influenced the sorption of Pb(II) on Ca-rectorite obviously. Besides, the Langmuir and Freundlich models were employed to simulate the sorption isotherms. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the sorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. It is possible to conclude that Ca-rectorite has a good potential for disposal of lead-contaminated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Clay minerals have been studied extensively due to their strong sorption and complexation ability toward various environmental pollutants. In this study, the sorption of 90 Sr(II) on Na-montmorillonite was studied as a function of various environmental conditions such as pH, ionic strength, humic acid (HA) and temperature. The results indicated that the sorption of 90 Sr(II) on Na-montmorillonite was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The experimental data of 90 Sr(II) sorption was simulated by the diffuse-layer model (DLM) well with the aid of Visual Minteq 3.0. At low pH, the sorption of 90 Sr(II) was dominated by outer-sphere surface complexation and ion exchange with Na + /H + on Na-montmorillonite surfaces, whereas inner-sphere surface complexation was the main sorption mechanism at high pH. The presence of HA enhanced 90 Sr(II) sorption at pH < 7.0 but decreased 90 Sr(II) sorption at pH > 7.0. Langmuir and Freundlich models were used to simulate the sorption isotherms of 90 Sr(II) at three different temperatures of 303, 318 and 333 K. The thermodynamic parameters (Δ H , Δ S and Δ G ) calculated from the temperature-dependent sorption isotherms indicated that the sorption of 90 Sr(II) on Na-montmorillonite was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The thermodynamic parameters calculated from temperature-dependent sorption data were crucial to understand the interaction behavior of 90 Sr(II) with Na-montmorillonite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, an easy, effective, π-π conjugation non-covalent surface functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was achieved by using ball grinding technology between pristine MWCNTs and esterified styrene-maleic anhydride ester (ESMA) copolymer, resulting in the formation of modified E-MWCNTs dispersion with excellent dispersibility and long storage stability in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). The analysis of transmittance spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy, sedimentation photo, and transmittance electron microscopy (TEM) confirms that the modified E-MWCNT dispersion has a homogeneous dispersion in NMP. Results obtained from thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and Raman spectroscopy reveal that ESMA copolymer is successfully coated on pristine MWCNTs surface. Compared with the bad dispersibility of MWCNTs in NMP, the physically modified E-MWCNTs-3 dispersion mixed with 0.12wt% ESMA copolymer under the condition of total 6 h ball grinding time using paint shaker can be easily well-dispersed and has good storage stability, and no sedimentation is observed more than 3 months. Furthermore, the method is simple and economical to operate in industry. An easy, effective, π-π conjugation non-covalent surface functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was achieved by using ball grinding technology between pristine MWCNTs and esterified styrene-maleic anhydride ester (ESMA) copolymer, resulting in the formation of modified E-MWCNTs dispersion with excellent dispersibility and long storage stability reported firstly in N-methylpyrrolidone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although graphene oxide (GO) has been used in multidisciplinary areas due to its excellent physicochemical properties, its environmental behavior and fate are still largely unclear. In this study, batch experiments, spectroscopy analysis and theoretical calculations were addressed to promote a more comprehensive understanding toward the coagulation behavior of GO onto TiO2 under various environmental conditions (pH, co-existing ions, temperature, etc.). The results indicated that neutral pH was beneficial to the removal of GO due to the electrostatic interaction. The presence of cations accelerated GO coagulation significantly owing to the influence of electrical double layer compression. On the contrary, the presence of anions improved the stability of GO primarily because of electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance. Results of XRD, FTIR and XPS analysis indicated that the coagulation of GO on TiO2 was mainly dominated by electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds, which were further evidenced by DFT calculations. The high binding energy further indicated the stability of GO + TiO2 system, suggesting that TiO2 can be used as an effective coagulant for the efficient elimination and coagulation of GO from aqueous solutions. These findings might likely lead to a better understanding of the migration and transformation of carbon nanomaterials in the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 212 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an easy, green, π-π conjugation non-covalent surface modification of pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) was carried out by using ultrasonic technology between pristine SWCNT and anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl benzene cyclate (SDBS) and sodium polynaphthalene sulfonate (SPS)), resulting in the formation of modified SWCNT dispersion with good dispersibility and long storage stability in water. Results obtained from transmittance spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy, zeta potential analyzer, sedimentation photo, and transmittance electron microscopy (TEM) reveals that the modified SWCNT dispersion has a high degree of dispersion. The analysis of thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirm that two kinds of dispersants are successfully decorated on pristine SWCNT surface. More importantly, the pristine SWCNT is insoluble, while the modified S2-SWCNT dispersion mixed with 1.25 wt% SDBS and 1.00 wt% SPS correspondingly under the condition of total 3 h ultrasonic time can be easily well-dispersed in water and has good storage stability, and no sedimentation is observed more than 3 months. More importantly, this strategy is green and economical owing to its easy operation in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal technique and then modified with tetraethyl orthosilicate to form Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 nanospheres through Stöber method. The characterization results of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and magnetic measurements evidenced the successful synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 nanospheres. The as-prepared Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 was applied as adsorbent to remove congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions at different experimental conditions, and the results indicated that CR adsorption on Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 was strongly pH-dependent and weakly ionic strength-dependent at relative low pH values, indicating that the adsorption was mainly dominated by electrostatic interactions. The maximum adsorption capacities of CR on Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 were calculated to be 54.64 mg/g from Sips model and 50.54 mg/g from Langmuir model at T = 308 K and pH = 5.3. The thermodynamic parameters calculated from temperature-dependent isotherms indicated that the adsorption of CR on Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 was an spontaneous and endothermic process. The CR-adsorbed Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 nanospheres could be easily separated from aqueous solutions using magnetic separation technique within 40 s. These results suggested that the Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 nanospheres might be suitable materials for the efficient separation of dye pollutants from aqueous solutions in possible real applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein acetylation and crotonylation are important posttranslational modifications of lysine. In animal cells, the correlation of acetylation and crotonylation has been well characterized and the lysines of some proteins are acetylated or crotonylated depending on the relative concentrations of acetyl‐CoA and crotonyl‐CoA. However, in plants, the correlation of acetylation and crotonylation and the effects of the relative intracellular concentrations of crotonyl‐CoA and acetyl‐CoA on protein crotonylation and acetylation are not well known. In our previous study, PaACL silencing changed the content of acetyl‐CoA in petunia (Petunia hybrida) corollas, and the effect of PaACL silencing on the global acetylation proteome in petunia was analyzed. In the present study, we found that PaACL silencing did not significantly alter the content of crotonyl‐CoA. We performed a global crotonylation proteome analysis of the corollas of PaACL‐silenced and control petunia plants; we found that protein crotonylation was closely related to protein acetylation and that proteins with more crotonylation sites often had more acetylation sites. Crotonylated proteins and acetylated proteins were enriched in many common Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. However, PaACL silencing resulted in different KEGG pathway enrichments of proteins with different levels of crotonylation sites and acetylation sites. PaACLB1‐B2 silencing did not led to changes in the opposite direction in crotonylation and acetylation levels at the same lysine site in cytoplasmic proteins, which indicated that cytoplasmic lysine acetylation and crotonylation might not depend on the relative concentrations of acetyl‐CoA and crotonyl‐CoA. Moreover, the global crotonylome and acetylome were weakly positively correlated in the corollas of PaACL‐silenced and control plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graphene oxides (GOs) have been studied extensively in multidisciplinary areas owing to their excellent physicochemical properties. The high theoretical surface areas and large amounts of oxygen-containing functional groups at the basal planes and the edge sites ensure their high sorption capacity for heavy metal ions and radionuclides from large volumes of aqueous solutions. Herein, the GOs were applied as adsorbents to remove U(VI) from aqueous solutions at different experimental conditions, and the results showed that the sorption of U(VI) on GOs was strongly dependent on pH and was not affected by ionic strength obviously. The sorption capacity of U(VI) on GOs is calculated to be 1330 mg/g at pH 4.5 and T = 20 °C, which is much higher than any other today’s materials. The interaction mechanism of U(VI) on GOs was simulated by the computational DFT calculations, and the results evidenced that the variation in pH values led to significant changes in the circumstance of functional groups on GOs. As the pH value increased, the weak physical sorption/outer-sphere surface complexation between the GOs and U(VI) at low pH turned into strong chemical sorption/inner-sphere surface complexation with the negative charged –O − or –COO − groups induced by the deprotonation of the functional groups at high pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seawater is rich in uranium resources, but the marine environment is complicated and changeable, as well as the presence of a lot of competing ions. These are disturbing factors that cannot be ignored in seawater uranium extraction. The synthesis of adsorbents with good stability, high selectivity and large adsorption capacity has been the focus of attention. The composite adsorbent MXene-AO@LZU1 was prepared using electrostatic self-assembly of transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) with structurally stable covalent organic frameworks (COF-LZU1). The results of characterizations showed that MXene-AO@LZU1 was rich in functional groups and had an effective improvement in specific surface area. MXene-AO@LZU1 exhibited an efficient performance for [UO 2 (CO 3) 3 ]4- with an adsorption saturation capacity of 88.8 mg·g−1. The adsorption amount in the simulated seawater also reached 6.8 mg·g−1. MXene-AO@LZU1 had a good selectivity for uranium and outstanding stability under various extreme conditions. In addition, XPS showed that the adsorption of uranium by MXene-AO@LZU1 relied mainly on the complexation of oxygen/nitrogen-containing functional groups with [UO 2 (CO 3) 3 ]4-. This study explored the great potential of MXenes and COFs in seawater uranium extraction, indicating that MXene-AO@LZU1 was an efficient and stable adsorbent with good development prospects. This finding was of great importance for the application of composite materials in actual environmental cleanup, and could be extended to efficiently remove other pollutants by rational ligands design. [Display omitted] • MXene-AO@LZU1 composite material was obtained by electrostatic self-assembly method. • The saturation adsorption capacity for [UO 2 (CO 3) 3 ]4- was 88.8 mg·g−1. • The adsorption amount in the simulated seawater also reached 6.8 mg·g−1. • Abundant nitrogen/oxygen functional groups promote uranium removal. • Main removal mechanism included surface complexation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lateral instability modes of vehicles on horizontal curves are discovered. • Boundary of each stability index is derived through calculation and analysis. • A theoretical framework for realizing a revised inferred design speed is established. • Previous speed limit strategies cannot fully guarantee the safety of driving. • Considerations in the application of the proposed method are demonstrated. An inferred design speed (IS) is the maximum vehicle speed for which all critical design speed-related criteria are met at a particular location, which is widely recognized as an important speed limit on highways. However, a side friction factor is used as an index for vehicle lateral stability in the calculation of IS for horizontal curves. This condition causes inaccuracies in the value of IS due to the incapability of the index in fully characterizing the steering stability and track-holding capability of vehicles. This paper aims to fill this gap by discovering the lateral instability modes of vehicles on horizontal curves and to determine the boundary of each index beyond which the corresponding mode of instability occurs. Thus, a theoretical framework for realizing a revised IS (RIS) was established. A high-precision seven-degree-of-freedom driver–vehicle–road mathematical model was developed using MATLAB/Simulink. The state of vehicle lateral instability on highway horizontal curves was decoupled, and the boundaries of vehicle stability indices were deduced using the theory of vehicle system dynamics. Accordingly, a procedure for determining RIS was proposed. Case studies were conducted on the three horizontal curves of a two-lane rural highway in China, and existing speed limit methods were compared with RIS. With in-depth consideration of the lateral instability characteristics of vehicles, RIS provides traffic management departments with a precise maximum safe speed on horizontal curves under various pavement friction conditions. It is expected to be a restriction with respect to safety for other speed limit strategies that consider driver expectancy and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Polyurea film was coated by polyvinylidene chloride through casting method. • Water vapor transmission rate of polyurea film is greatly reduced by 74.3%. • Polyvinylidene chloride layer adhered to polyurea film is strong and durable. Polyurea (PUA) is a type of protective coating material with excellent performance. However, the water vapor barrier property of PUA is not very ideal and need to be improved. In this study, PUA film was coated by polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) by casting of PVDC emulsion, to improve its water vapor barrier property. A polydopamine layer was introduced between the PUA and PVDC layers to provide good adhesion performance. The morphology, chemical structure and performance of the films were characterized by scanning electron microscope, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, water contact angle analysis, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) tests. It is indicated that, with the thickness of the PVDC coating increasing, WVTR decreases almost linearly. When the thickness of the PVDC coating is 5.2 μm, WVTR is 12.58 g/m2·day and water vapor permeability (WVP) is 1345.65 g·µm/m2·day·kPa. The WVTR and WVP of PVDC coated PUA is greatly reduced by 74.3% and 73.9% respectively, compared to that of pure PUA film. The adhesion of the PVDC coating on the PUA surface was evaluated through the cross-cut testing method. It is shown that the adhesion is strong enough to resist the pasting and peeling by adhesive tape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of soluble silicate on the sorption of U(VI) to γ -Al 2 O 3 was investigated by batch experiments and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) method. The presence of silicate enhanced the sorption of U(VI) on γ -Al 2 O 3 surface and the sorption was attributed to inner-sphere surface complexation. The structure of the adsorbed U(VI) and silicate on γ -Al 2 O 3 was investigated in the analysis of EXAFS spectra. The fitting of the experimental EXAFS data was obtained by including two uranium coordination shells with 2 axial (O ax ) and 5 equatorial (O eq ) oxygen atoms at 1 . 79 ± 0 . 02 and 2 . 43 ± 0 . 02 Å, respectively, and the third coordination shells with Al atom at ∼3.35 Å. Silicate contributed to the formation of ternary inner-sphere surface complexes, acting as “bridge” between U(VI) and γ -Al 2 O 3 and enhanced the sorption of U(VI). The observations suggested that the interactions between U(VI) and silicate were important in controlling U(VI) retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria may change the physicochemical properties of montmorillonite and further effect the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Therefore, we explored the influence of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 on the elimination of representative radionuclide U(VI) by montmorillonite (MMT). The batch experiments showed that MR-1 significantly enhanced the removal efficiency of U(VI), the adsorption capacity of MMT improved from 8.4 to 16.1 mg/g after addition of MR-1, and the adsorption type changed from Langmuir to Freundlich. FTIR and XPS analysis revealed that hydroxyl, phosphate, carbonyl and amine in MMT + MR-1 were primary actors in the elimination of U(VI). The U 4f high-resolution XPS spectrum of MMT + MR-1 showed U(VI) and U(IV) peaks at the same time, indicating that the adsorption process was accompanied by the reduction reaction, which may be due to the extracellular respiration of MR-1. These investigations are significant to insight the potential significance of microbial processes for the transport and elimination of U(VI) in repositories, which in return will contribute to their safe disposal. [Display omitted] ● Synergetic effect existed in U(VI) sequestration onto MMT + MR-1. ● Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 enhanced the elimination of U(VI) on montmorillonite. ● The adsorbed U(VI) can be reduced to U(IV) by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. ● The main mechanisms between U(VI) and MMT + MR-1 were adsorption and reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, a wide-band solar absorber (WA) is constructed and simulated in this paper. Due to the Fabry-Perot resonance (FPR), the near-field resonance mode, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and gap resonance in different structure, the WA obtains efficient and wide-band absorption. The absorption efficiency in 373–1967 nm band is >90 %, and in 817–1830 nm band is >98 %, and the average absorption efficiency at air mass 1.5 (AM 1.5) reaches 91.10 % (280–2500 nm). The structure is insensitive to the change of incident angle. The reduced absorption efficiency is 9.23 % when the incident angle increases from 0° to 60°. In addition, the structure can work stably at high temperature, and the thermal radiation efficiency at 1500 K is as high as 85.13 %. Due to the efficient and wide-band absorption and high thermal emission efficiency, the WA can be widely used in solar energy collection and energy radiation. [Display omitted] • The bandwidth of the absorption efficiency ≥ 90 % is 1594 nm, and of the absorption efficiency ≥ 98 % is 1013 nm. • The average absorption efficiency of the structure at AM 1.5 is 91.10 %. • The thermal radiation efficiency of the structure is 85.13% % at 1500 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both environment and human beings were menaced by the widespread application of radioactive uranium, high-performance and effective elimination of uranium from wastewater is of important meaning for development of environmental sustainability in the future. In this study, the water-stable MOF material and the highly crystalline COF were compounded by a mild hydrothermal strategy, which achieved efficient removal of U(VI) through the synergistic effect. The composites showed the characteristics of both COFs and MOFs, which will possess higher stability, larger surface area and faster adsorption efficiency that cannot be carried out by a single component. Batch experiments and characterizations (SEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR, BET, XPS, etc.) indicated that UiO-66-NH 2 @LZU1 had more stable and multi-layer pore structure and rich active functional groups. The Langmuir model and the pseudo-second-order kinetics fitting was more suitable for the U(VI) elimination process. The greatest uranium adsorbing capacity of UiO-66-NH 2 @LZU1 (180.4 mg g−1) was observed to exceed the UiO-66-NH 2 (108.8 mg g−1) and COF-LZU1 (65.8 mg g−1), which reached the excellent hybrid effects. Furthermore, FT-IR and XPS analyses confirmed that the most nitrogen-containing group from COF-LZU1 and oxygen-containing group of UiO-66-NH 2 could be combined with U(VI). In addition, electrostatic interaction was also a mechanism during the removal process. This work displayed that UiO-66-NH 2 @LZU1 was a prospective hybrid material for radioactive waste remediation. The compound method and application mentioned in this work had provided a theoretical basis for designing and developing multi-functional composite adsorbents, which contributed to the development of new materials for radioactive wastewater treatment technologies. [Display omitted] • UiO-66-NH 2 @LZU1 composite material was obtained by solvothermal method. • Highly efficient uranium adsorbent, adsorption capacity reached 163.1 mg g−1. • Abundant nitrogen/oxygen functional groups promote uranium removal. • Main removal mechanism included electrostatic interaction and surface complexation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advantages of high atomic utilization, clear and uniform active sites, high catalytic activity, outstanding stability, excellent selectivity and recyclability, iron single-atom materials have shown promising application in the fields of electrocatalysis, hydrogen production, batteries, and sensors. However, the research work on the efficient removal of various toxic and hazardous pollutants from aqueous solutions using iron single-atom materials was still limited. Their properties such as environmental compatibility, high specific surface area and functionality have unrivaled natural advantages in degrading pollutants in aqueous solutions, which deserve in-depth exploration by researchers. However, pure single-atom materials were thermodynamically unstable and tended to aggregate into nanoclusters and particles. Therefore, single-atom materials were often loaded onto different support materials, while the activity of materials depended mainly on the physicochemical properties of the support materials and the coordination mode between the single-atoms and the support materials. In this review, the preparation and physicochemical properties of iron single-atom materials supported by commonly used carrier materials (such as g-C 3 N 4 , MOFs, COFs, biochar, etc.) were summarized firstly. The applications of different materials for organic pollutants degradation and heavy metal ions removal in aqueous environment were further analyzed, and influence factors and reaction mechanisms for pollutants treatment were investigated. The main mechanism of organic pollutants degradation was catalytic degradation, while the mechanism of heavy metal ions removal was adsorption and redox. Finally, prospects and personal insights were provided for the utilization of iron single-atom materials in environmental pollution decontamination. [Display omitted] • The preparation and properties of iron single-atom materials are summarized. • The influencing factors of removing environmental pollutants are introduced. • The mechanisms mainly include catalytic degradation, adsorption and redox. • The possible degradation pathways of typical pollutants are predicted. • The opportunities and challenges of iron single-atom materials are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a medical complication and metabolic disorder associated with pregnancy. Calycosin is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that is used for the treatment of multiple diseases. This study focused on exploring the effects and underlying mechanisms of Calycosin on GDM. The db/+ diabetic mice model of GDM was used to evaluate the effects of calycosin administration on the symptoms of GDM mice. Blood glucose, cytokine production (interleukin 6, IL-6; tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α), and insulin levels were measured by ELISA assay. The expression level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), ring finger protein 38 (RNF38), and SH2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) were determined by Western Blot assay. Beta cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Our data indicated that administration of calycosin significantly improved the GDM symptoms in pregnant db/+ mice as demonstrated by reduced blood glucose, TNF-a, and IL-6 levels as well as increased insulin level, and body weight. Furthermore, we revealed that RNF38/SHP-1/STAT3 signaling should play a critical role in calycosin-promoted beta cell function, and forced expression of RNF38 attenuated the positive effects of calycosin on beta cells. Our study implied that calycosin exerts favorable effects on GDM mice via rebalancing insulin sensitivity and inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The characteristics of novel nanomaterials for uranium extraction are summarized. • The influencing factors for uranium extraction from seawater are introduced. • The mechanisms mainly include electrostatic, coordination, and chelation. • The opportunities and challenges in seawater uranium extraction are presented. There are abundant uranium resources in the ocean, from the perspective of resource utilization and ecological environmental protection, seawater uranium extraction is a way to regenerate uranium resources with high potential value. Due to the advantages of low cost, simple operation, practicality and environmental friendliness, the adsorption method has become one of the most commonly used and effective techniques for uranium extraction from seawater. This review first introduces commonly used adsorbents, mainly including carbon-based materials, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), biopolymers, amidoxime based materials and so on. Then, the main influencing factors of seawater uranium extraction by adsorption are listed, mainly including coexisting metal ions, salinity, pH, temperature and biofouling. Next, some experimental examples of the application of advanced techniques to speculate on reaction mechanisms such as coordination, chelation, electrostatic attraction, and adsorptive photocatalytic synergy are presented. Finally, this review puts forward the opportunities and challenges that still exist in seawater uranium extraction, and looks forward to its development prospects on this basis. The overview will help readers to further understand the key technologies of seawater uranium extraction and to discover more efficient and environmentally friendly materials for seawater uranium extraction, which is significant to support the development of nuclear power industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Dictyophora indusiate -derived biochar supported sulfide NZVI was successfully synthesized. • Sulfidation and supporting technologies could expand a new track for NZVI-based materials. • U(VI) uptake was due to the synergistic effect between adsorptive and reductive reactions. • DI-SNZVI could be a promising scavenger for U(VI) uptake form wastewater. Abstract Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) has been considered as a potential scavenger for U(VI) elimination from aqueous environment. To decrease the aggregation and to improve antioxidation, sulfidation technology and biochar were applied to modify NZVI. In this work, Dictyophora indusiate -derived biochar supported sulfide NZVI (DI-SNZVI) was synthesized and applied for U(VI) elimination. The excellent behaviors of kinetics (3 h for equilibrium), thermodynamic research and maximum removal amounts (427.9 mg·g−1 at pH = 5.0 and 298 K) revealed the outstanding performances of DI-SNZVI in U(VI) removal. The cycle experiments and different water system investigations further illustrated its potential ability for real applications. Moreover, the abundant functional groups and FeS x shell of DI-SNZVI were proved to be responsible for the enhanced removal of U(VI). In the end, the macroscopic and XPS study revealed that U(VI) elimination mechanisms were synergistic attributed to the adsorptive and reductive processes. This paper highlighted the biochar-based sulfide NZVI for efficient U(VI) elimination in environmental pollution management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • UiO-66-AO was derived from UiO-66-CN loaded with amidoxime groups. • The sufficient functional groups endowed UiO-66-AO outstanding Eu(III) sorption capacity. • The structure of UiO-66-AO was highly stable under extremely harsh conditions. • The reaction mechanisms were electrostatic attraction and inner-sphere surface complexation. • Environmental application assessment demonstrated the practical application potential of UiO-66-AO. Abstract Extraction of Eu(III) from wastewater has recently received extensive attention in environmental water pollution improvement because Eu(III) is the chemical analogue of trivalent lanthanides [Ln(III)] and actinides [An(III)]. In this work, UiO-66-AO with remarkable physicochemical properties was designed through introducing amidoxime groups (C(NOH)NH 2) on the surface of UiO-66-CN which was derived from UiO-66-Br through introducing cyano groups (C N). SEM, TEM, BET, FT-IR, XRD, and TGA techniques demonstrated the effective synthesis and excellent structural performances of target materials. The outstanding sorption efficiency of UiO-66-AO (∼253.8 mg/g within 2 h) was verified through kinetic and thermodynamic analyses, showing that the kinetics data were well fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the sorption isotherms were effectively fitted by Langmuir model. Based on macroscopic experiments and spectroscopic analyses (FT-IR and XPS), the removal mechanisms of Eu(III) onto UiO-66-AO were electrostatic interaction and inner-sphere surface complexation. In addition, the environmental application assessment had proved that UiO-66-AO owned excellent stability, outstanding selectivity, and remarkable Eu(III) removal percentage in simulated wastewater systems, demonstrating the great potential of UiO-66-AO to remove radionuclides from the actual wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, polyaniline rafted to the surface of AlOOH (PANI/AlOOH) composites were successfully synthesized and applied for chromium (Cr(VI)) adsorption from aqueous solutions. Cr(VI) adsorption isotherms were described by Langmuir model well and the maximum adsorption capacity was 66.77 mg/g at pH=5 and T=298 K. Cr(VI) adsorption was attributed to chemisorption and outer‐sphere surface complexation. The interaction mechanism was further investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy‐energy dispersive spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques, and the results suggested the partially reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Cr(VI) removal was mainly related with the electrostatic attraction and chelation of different Cr(VI)/Cr(III) species with protonated nitrogen‐containing functional groups (‐NH+, ‐NH‐) on PANI/AlOOH. PANI/AlOOH composites were synthesized and applied as adsorbent for Cr(VI) adsorption from aqueous solutions. Surface adsorbed Cr(VI) could be reduced to Cr(III). Cr(VI) removal was mainly related with the electrostatic attraction and chelation of different Cr(VI)/Cr(III) with protonated nitrogen‐containing functional groups (‐NH+, ‐NH‐) on PANI/AlOOH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) was applied as adsorbent to efficiently eliminate the heavy metal ions from wastewater because of its large amount of functional surface groups and high surface areas. However, the contribution of different functional surface groups on the high preconcentration of heavy metal ions to GO is still unclear. Herein the GO was applied as adsorbent for the efficient preconcentration of Co(II) and the effect of functional surface groups on Co(II) removal was studied by batch sorption experiments. The results showed that the maximum sorption capacities of Co(II) on GO, NGO, MGO and NMGO were 43.6, 27.3, 23.2 and 14.6 mg/g, respectively. The elimination of Co(II) was significantly influenced by ionic strength and pH, indicated that the interaction mechanism was primarily controlled by strong surface complexation. The DFT calculation further evidenced that the oxygen-containing surface groups could form shorter bond distance with Co(II) ions than the nitrogen-containing functional groups, and the calculated adsorption energies ( E ad ) for GO–COOH–Co (44.05 kcal/mol) and GO–OH–Co (16.44 kcal/mol) were much higher than that for NGO–Co (6.33 kcal/mol). The density of states (DOS) and charge density differences of combined complexes further illustrated the strong surface complexes were formed between Co(II) and the oxygen-containing surface groups of GO surfaces. This work highlighted that the oxygen-containing surface groups played a vital role in the formation of surface complexes with Co(II) on GO, which is crucial for the preparation and application of GO in the radioactive pollution cleanup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]