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In this study, a signal-on photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor for the ultrasensitive determination of kanamycin (KANA) was constructed using WO 3 /CdS heterojunction as photoactive material. Firstly, WO 3 /CdS heterojunction with excellent photoelectric response was successfully prepared by simple co-precipitation method, resulting in a strong and stable initial photocurrent. In addition, amino modified aptamers were immobilized on the electrode surface by glutaraldehyde as biological recognition components. In the presence of the target KANA, it is specifically recognized and captured by the aptamers. More importantly, KANA can act as a signal amplifier to enhance the photocurrent due to the oxidation of KANA by photogenerated holes. Therefore, a signal-on PEC aptasensor based on WO 3 /CdS heterojunction with high selectivity was obtained for the detection of KANA. Under optimized experimental conditions, the PEC aptasensor demonstrated a wide linear range of 10 pM to 400 nM, with a detection limit of 6.77 pM. Meanwhile, the designed PEC aptasensor had been successfully utilized for the analytical examination of milk, fish, serum, and water samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) nanoparticles (WO 3 NPs) were prepared using beetroot (Beta vulgaris) extract. The synthesis was optimized by evaluating the effect of pH during the reduction of the WO 3 precursor and sintering temperature. Physicochemical characterization of the formed nanoparticles was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-visible diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy. Furthermore, the prepared WO 3 NPs were employed as photocatalyst for rhodamine B removal over the photocatalytic oxidation mechanism. Synthesis optimization revealed that a single phase of WO 3 NPs obtained by reduction at pH 4 and a sintering temperature of 550 °C. XRD and XPS measurements revealed that the single-phase WO 3 NPs was obtained with a crystallite size of 26.4 nm. SEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated polymorphic forms, predominantly as nanorods, with a mean particle size of 24 nm. The WO 3 NPs have a band gap energy of 2.9 eV, supporting their performance as a photocatalyst. Evaluation of the photocatalytic activities of WO 3 NPs represents high activity and reusability of the material. A removal efficiency of 99.67% was achieved during 30 min of treatment under UV light illumination. A study on the effect of scavengers revealed the important role of hydroxy radicals in the photocatalysis mechanism. WO 3 NPs can be recycled and reused for photocatalysis, maintaining photoactivity for five cycles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Dead-time loss is reported to be non-negligible for some patients with a high tumor burden in Lu-177 radionuclide therapy, even if the administered activity is 7.4 GBq. Hence, we proposed a simple method to shorten the apparent dead time and reduce dead-time loss using a thin lead sheet in previous work. The collimator surface of the gamma camera was covered with a lead sheet in our proposed method. While allowing the detection of 208-keV gamma photons of Lu-177 that penetrate the sheet, photons with energies lower than 208 keV, which cause dead-time loss, were shielded. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of tungsten functional paper (TFP) for the proposed method using Monte Carlo simulation., Methods: The count rates in imaging of Lu-177 administered to patients were simulated with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 110 phantom using the GATE Monte Carlo simulation toolkit. The simulated gamma cameras with a 0.5-mm lead sheet, 1.2-mm TFP, or no filter were positioned closely on the anterior and posterior sides of the phantom. The apparent dead times and dead-time losses at 24 h after administration were calculated for an energy window of 208 keV ± 10%. Moreover, the dead-time losses at 24-120 h were analytically assessed using activity excretion data of Lu-177-DOTATATE., Results: The dead-time loss without a filter was 5% even 120 h after administration in patients with a high tumor burden and slow excretion, while those with a lead sheet and TFP were 0.22 and 0.58 times less than those with no filter, respectively. The count rates with the TFP were 1.3 times higher than those with the lead sheet, and the TFP could maintain primary count rates at 91-94% of those without a filter., Conclusions: Although the apparent dead time and dead-time loss with the lead sheet were shorter and less than those with TFP, those with TFP were superior to those without a filter. The advantage of TFP over the lead sheet is that the decrease in primary count rates was less., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The neuronal tau peptide serves as a key biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases, specifically, Alzheimer's disease, a condition that currently has no cure or definitive diagnosis. The methodology to noninvasively detect tau levels from body fluids remains a major hurdle for a rapid and simple diagnostic approach. Thus, developing new detection methods for sensing tau protein levels is crucial. In this work, we report an immunoprobe based on anti-tau antibody (mAb-tau)-conjugated fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) quenched with tungsten disulphide nanosheets (WS 2 NS) for the detection of tau protein in human serum samples. The mAb-tau conjugated probe is designed to provide a specific binding site for the tau peptide by strong antigen-antibody interface. The WS 2 NS surface quenches the fluorescence of mAb-tau@AuNCs, which is subsequently recovered by the addition of tau peptide in a linear concentration range (63.3-615.38 pg mL -1 ). The enhancement in fluorescence of WS 2 NS@mAb-tau@AuNCs enables the quantification of tau peptide in concentrations pertinent to human serum tau levels in Alzheimer's patients. The developed probe achieves a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 6.54 pg mL -1 and 21.8 pg mL -1 for tau peptide in PBS buffer. The study is further extended in spiked human serum samples, with satisfactory recovery percentages in the range of 94.37-117.53%. The technique holds promise as an immunoprobe for tau peptide detection and has potential in developing an economically viable probe for the clinical diagnosis of tau-related neurodegenerative disorders.

The anomalous gas sensing behavior has garnered significant attention from researchers, prompting a re-evaluation of the gas sensing theory. This work focuses on inversion gas sensing behavior induced by element doping. W/Mo/Cr-doped VO 2 (M1) samples are synthesized, and their sensing behaviors are investigated. The results show that the elements can modulate the sensing behavior with an opposite orientation. The sensing behavior in the opposite orientation is attributed to the extent of the reduced Fermi level of VO 2 (M1) after doping. W-doped VO 2 (M1) maintains a resistance-decreased sensing behavior (-n). In contrast, the decrease in Fermi level results in the formation of a Schottky barrier between the gas-absorbed Mo/Cr-doped VO 2 (M1) and the electrode. The formation of Schottky barriers leads to the inversion sensing behavior, which feedbacks as an increased resistance (-p). This study offers a novel perspective on the gas sensing theory.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) exhibit promising photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) for anti-tumour treatment. Herein, we proposed an engineering strategy to regulate the lattice structure of tungsten-doped molybdenum selenide (Mo x W 1-x Se 2 ) transformed conformational nanoarchitectonics using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method for enhancing peroxidase (POD)-like catalytic performance by adjusting the ratio of molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W). Furthermore, the optimised Mo 0.8 W 0.2 Se 2 nanoflakes surface was modified with chitosan (CHI) for improved biocompatibility and nanocatalytic efficacy, then the obtained CHI-Mo 0.8 W 0.2 Se 2 subsequently loaded the chemotherapeutic drug mitoxantrone (MTO) for enhanced 4 T1 cells killing ability, shortly denoted as CHI-Mo 0.8 W 0.2 Se 2 -MTO for PTT-augmented CDT and chemotherapy (CT). A series of performance validations successfully showed that electrons tend to transfer from W to Mo in CHI-Mo 0.8 W 0.2 Se 2 , which resulted in superior POD-like activity (Km = 0.038 mM) of CHI-Mo 0.8 W 0.2 Se 2 compared with that of horseradish peroxidase. Furthermore, CHI-Mo 0.8 W 0.2 Se 2 -MTO with excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE=63.2 %) in the near-infrared (NIR) region could further promote endogenous •OH generation and MTO controlled release within solid tumours. In vivo studies confirmed the successful achievement of synergistic therapeutic effects (tumour inhibition rate of over 90 %) with minimised side effects. Versatile therapeutic nanoagents hold great potential for personalised therapy of breast cancer and will find their way to the pharmaceutical field., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

With the increasing demand for food safety monitoring, the development of efficient, convenient, and green gas sensors has become a current research hotspot. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) as a triethylamine sensor is a cutting-edge strategy for detection without the need for an additional power source. In this study, synthesized WO 3 /MXene materials were prepared and bilayer thin films of carbon quantum dots (CPDs)-WO 3 /MXene TENG. WO 3 provides more active sites for improved material charge transfer efficiency. TENG achieved a maximum open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 30 V. The CPDs-WO 3 /MXene-3 TENG can also be used as a self-powered gas sensor (SPGS). As a charge-trapping layer, CPDs exhibit excellent charge trapping. The SPGS has a 53% response to 200 ppm TEA, and low detection at ppb level (139 ppb). The presence of WO 3 improves the gas-sensing performance. Additionally, CPDs possess excellent conductivity and moisture resistance. Finally, it was studied to see how it reacts to TEA in fish meat under different conditions of spoilage. It provides approach to solving the transportation and preservation problems of fish meat.

Developing the chemistry of octahedral chalcogenide molybdenum and tungsten cluster complexes in the context of applications in biology and medicine, in this work a series of water-soluble neutral cluster complexes [{M 6 Q 8 }(P(C 2 H 4 CONH 2 ) 3 ) 6 ] (M = Mo, W; Q = S, Se) have been obtained by simultaneous replacement of inner and terminal halide ligands in [{M 6 I 8 }I 6 ] 2- with chalcogenide and organic phosphine ligands and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, 1 H and 31 P NMR spectroscopies, elemental analysis, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The amide groups of the organic ligands, on the one hand, contribute to the solubility of the resulting clusters in water and, on the other hand, are able to form an extensive network of hydrogen bonds, leading to the crystallization of the complexes from aqueous solutions. Despite this fact, the complexes have sufficient solubility and stability in aqueous solutions, which made it possible to demonstrate their low cytotoxicity on Hep-2 cells (IC 50 were not reached even at concentration up to 4 mM). The resulting clusters are among the most biocompatible of the octahedral clusters studied to date and are the starting point for the development of a new family of X-ray contrast agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There are no conflicts to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Heterojunctions are widely used in energy conversion, environmental remediation, and photodetection, but have not been fully explored in regenerative medicine. In particular, piezoelectric heterojunctions have never been examined in tissue regeneration. Here the development of piezoelectric heterojunctions is shown to promote bone regeneration while eradicating pathogenic bacteria through light-cellular force-electric coupling. Specifically, an array of heterojunctions (TiO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 ), made of piezoelectric nanocrystals (Bi 2 WO 6 ) decorating TiO 2 nanowires, is fabricated as a biocompatible implant. Upon exposure to near-infrared light, the piezoelectric heterojunctions generate reactive oxygen species and heat to kill bacteria through photodynamic and photothermal therapy, respectively. Meanwhile, the mechanical forces of the stem cells grown on the implant trigger the heterojunctions to produce electric fields that further promote osteogenesis to achieve osteointegration. The heterojunctions effectively suppress postoperative recurrent infections while promoting osseointegration through the local electric fields induced by cells. Therefore, the piezoelectric heterojunctions represent a promising antibacterial tissue-regenerative implant., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The enhancement effect of Ce modification on V 2 O 5 -WO 3 /TiO 2 catalysts at low temperatures was investigated for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO x with NH 3 (NH 3 -SCR). By adding 9% CeO 2 to 0.5%V 2 O 5 -3%WO 3 /TiO 2 catalyst, the low-temperature denitrification performance of Ce 9 V 0.5 W 3 Ti catalyst after Ce modification was significantly improved, achieving a NO conversion above 90% within a broad temperature range of 200-350℃, with catalytic activity comparable to that of 3% V 2 O 5 -3% WO 3 /TiO 2 . The catalysts were characterized by XPS, H 2 -TPR, NH 3 , and NO-TPD. The results indicated that the Ce additive could enhance the adsorption of NO x on Ce 9 V 0.5 W 3 Ti catalyst due to the synergetic interaction among the Ce and V, W species. The interaction between V and Ce also promoted the formation of V 5+ and Ce 3+ on the surface of the catalyst, which was conducive to enhancing the adsorption and oxidation capacity of the catalyst for NO. Additionally, the introduction of Ce led to a substantial deposition of nitrate species on the surface of the catalyst, especially the increase of nitrite species, which was beneficial to the NH 3 -SCR reaction process, resulting in a significant enhancement of the catalyst's low-temperature catalytic activity., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Herein, biocompatible pure tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) and zirconium-doped tungsten oxide (Zr-doped WO 3 ) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared via a green approach from moringa plants with different doping concentrations (3, 5, and 7 %). The as-synthesized materials were morphologically and optically characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The FTIR spectra clearly showed that two distinguishing bands at 603 and 674 cm -1 of WO 3 were shifted to a higher wavenumber upon doping with zirconium. EDX analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of pure WO 3 and Zr-doped WO 3 by the green approach. The UV-Vis study exhibited that the bandgap of pure WO 3 is blue-shifted upon Zr doping due to the Burstein-Moss effect. The XRD pattern revealed that the crystalline nature of WO 3 is increased by increasing the Zr content. Further, the as-synthesized materials were evaluated for enzymatic, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities. The enzymatic results showed that 7 % of Zr-doped WO 3 NPs have a higher activity for the α-amylase enzyme. Additionally, 7 % Zr-doped WO 3 also showed better antioxidant activity, up to 85 % for free radical scavenging. The antibacterial performance of 7 % Zr-doped WO 3 is higher as compared to other corresponding samples for different strains of bacteria. These results demonstrated that this facile and novel synthetic route will open a new door for designing an efficient nanomaterial for biomedical applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The metal-oxide-based gas sensors show great potential in exhaled breath analysis owing to their simple, fast, and noninvasive characteristics. However, the exhaled breath contains moisture, and the surface-active sites of metal oxides are easily poisoned by water molecules, leading to degradation of the sensor performance, particularly the gas response and selectivity. Therefore, it is essential to develop oxide sensors that can reliably sense target gases over a wide humidity range without sacrificing the gas response. In this study, a facile strategy was proposed to incorporate hydrophobic La into an oxide sensor to simultaneously improve the humidity-stability and sensitivity of NH 3 detection for early prediction of kidney failure. WO 3 sensors doped with various concentrations of La were successfully synthesized, and their gas-sensing performances under various humid conditions were systematically investigated. Interestingly, a small amount of La doping (1 at. %) effectively prevented water poisoning and improved the gas response simultaneously. This sensor was able to selectively detect NH 3 up to 200 ppb with a limit of detection (LOD) of ∼780 ppt over a wide range of humidity. The concurrent enhancement in gas response and humidity-immunity was attributed to the surface hydrophobicity and increased specific surface area caused by the incorporation of La.

Highlight . Electron beam treatment often requires bolus to augment surface dose to nearly 100%. There are no optimum bolus materials and hence a high-Z based clothlike material is investigated to reduce air column in treatment that provides optimum surface dose. This material is well suited as it can be used multiple times and can be sanitized. Characteristics of W-Si material is provided. Purpose /Objective(s) . Electron beams are frequently used for superficial tumors. However, due to electron beam characteristics the surface dose is 75-95% of the prescribed dose depending on beam energy thus requiring placement of bolus to augment surface dose. Various types of boluses are commonly used in clinics, each having it's own unique limitation. Most bolus devices do not conform to the skin contour and create airgaps that are known to produce dose perturbations creating hot and cold spots. A cloth-like high-Z materials; Tungsten, (Z = 74) and Bismuth, (Z = 83) impregnated in silicone gel is investigated for electron bolus. Materials/Methods . Super soft silicone-gel based submillimeter thin tungsten and bismuth sheets were investigated for bolus for 6-12 MeV. Parallel plate ion chamber measurements were performed in a solid water phantom on a Varian machine. Depth dose characteristics were measured to optimize the thickness for surface dose to be 100% for selected electron therapy and validated with Monte Carlo simulations. Results . Silicone-gel tungsten and bismuth sheets produce significant electrons thus increasing surface dose. Based on measured depth dose, our data showed that tungsten sheets of 0.14 mm, 0.18 mm and 0.2 mm and Bismuth sheets of 0.42 mm, 0.18 mm and 0.2 mm provide 100% surface dose for 6, 9 and 12 MeV beams, respectively without any significant changes in depth dose except increasing surface dose. Conclusions . The new high-Z clothlike sheets are extremely soft but high tensile metallic bolus materials that can fit flawlessly on any skin contour. Only 0.2 mm thick sheets are needed for 100% surface dose without degradation of the depth dose characteristics. These materials are reusable and ideal for bolus in electron beam treatment. This investigation opens a new frontier in designing new bolus materials optimum for patient treatment., (Creative Commons Attribution license.)

Enhancing adsorption ability of photocatalyst by vacancy is a fascinating strategy. Thus, Bi 2 WO 6 /BiOCl with millefeuille-like was successfully prepared via multi-pots method. Experimental results discern that BOW-10 can degraded 75.19% doxycycline hydrochloride (DOC, 20 mg/L) in 1 h, which is 1.3 and 3.5-fold larger than Bi 2 WO 6 and BiOCl, respectively. The mechanism revealed that OVs (oxygen vacancies) not only promote the adsorption of DOC and O 2 but also augment the activation ability of molecular oxygen. Therefore, photo-induced electrons can rapidly transfer from BiOCl to Bi 2 WO 6 via carrier transport channels formed by interface oxygen vacancies (IOVs) under interfacial electric field (IEF) to reduce the adsorbed O 2 . Finally, DOC was eliminated by O 2 ˙ - and h + . Moreover, the relationship of surface areas, OVs concentration and the separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers was constructed. Meanwhile, the degradation paths of DOC and the toxicity of the intermediates were comprehensively investigated through DFT theoretical calculation. This research provides an innovation approach to regulate the capability of pollution adsorption and molecular oxygen activation by vacancy engineering and heterostructure engineering., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Effective cancer treatment relies on the precise deployment of clinical imaging techniques to accurately treat tumors. One highly representative technology among these is multi-imaging guided phototherapy. This work introduces a new and innovative theranostic drug that combines near-infrared (NIR) irradiation-induced photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) to treat malignancies. Moreover, it can be utilized as a contrasting substance for X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to aid in the administration of therapy., Methods: Cesium tungsten bronze nanobubbles (Cs x WO 3 @NBs) were constructed via a water-controlled solvothermal synthesis and thin film hydration of phospholipid. Various methods, including dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were used to analyze and describe the size, shape, and chemical characteristics of the nanoparticles. In this study, hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and HUH7 were employed in vitro, and xenotransplantation mouse models were used to assess their antitumor effects. A series of in vitro and in vivo trials were conducted to assess the effectiveness of combining photodynamic and photothermal therapies, as well as using CEUS and CT imaging., Results: The Cs x WO 3 @NBs exhibit photothermal effects and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under laser irradiation, thereby enabling effective photothermal and photodynamic combinatorial therapy. Following combined treatment, the activity and invasive capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells were markedly diminished, the development rate of the tumor was noticeably reduced, and the level of biological toxicity was low. Additionally, Cs x WO 3 @NBs possess the capacity to serve as both a CT imaging agent and a contrast-enhanced ultrasound agent., Conclusion: Cs x WO 3 @NBs represent a promising theranostic agent for image-guided cancer therapy., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Wang et al.)

Tungsten (W), a toxic and hazardous pollutant, poses substantial risks to both aquatic life and human health. However, the available understanding of the migration properties of W in lake sediments under various habitats is still limited. This study was designed to evaluate variations in the concentrations of soluble W, manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) in the summer season by applying a high-resolution Peeper sampling device. According to the results, soluble W concentrations and release fluxes were higher in the pore water of sediments in algae-dominated lake areas than in areas dominated by aquatic plants. This result indicates that the competition for adsorption between algae-derived dissolved organic matter and W, as well as the reductive dissolution caused by dissolved organic matter on Fe (III)/Mn (IV) (hydroxyl) oxides, contributes to the release of W from lake sediments. W uptake by aquatic plants and in-situ formation of Fe (III)/Mn (IV) (hydroxyl) oxides might be the primary factor that controls W release from lake sediments. Aquatic plants can effectively control W release from sediments. The findings of this work provide a scientific basis for the effective control of W release from shallow lake sediments., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To advance cervical cancer diagnostics, we propose a state-of-the-art label-free electrochemical immunosensor designed for the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarker proteins (p16 INK4a , p53, and Ki67). This immunosensor is constructed using a polyethyleneimine-coated gold nanoparticles/2D tungsten disulfide/graphene oxide (PEI-AuNPs/2D WS 2 /GO) composite-modified three-screen-printed carbon electrode (3SPCE) array. The 2D WS 2 /GO hybrid provides a large specific surface area for supporting well-dispersed PEI-AuNPs and adsorbed redox-active species, enhancing overall performance. The PEI-AuNPs-decorated 2D WS 2 /GO composite not only improves electrode conductivity but also increases the antibody loading capacity. Redox-active species, including Cd 2+ ions, 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP), and methylene blue (MB), serve as distinct signaling compounds to quantitatively detect the cervical cancer biomarkers p16 INK4a , p53, and Ki67, respectively. Additionally, the immunosensor demonstrates the detection with high sensitivity, good storage stability, high selectivity, and acceptable reproducibility. This immunosensor demonstrates a good linear relationship with the logarithm of protein concentrations. Additionally, the immunosensor also demonstrates high sensitivity, good storage stability, high selectivity, and acceptable reproducibility. Our promising results and the successful application of the immunosensor in detecting three tumor markers in human serum highlight its potential for clinical diagnosis of cervical cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Co-20Cr-15W-10Ni (mass%, CCWN) alloy is extensively used as a platform material for balloon-expandable stents. In this study, the mechanical properties of CCWN alloy are improved following the addition of Fe, and the effects of Fe addition on the mechanical and corrosive properties of the alloy are investigated. As-cast specimens were fabricated by adding pure Fe to a commercially available CCWN alloy (base alloy) such that the resulting alloys contained 4, 6, and 8 mass% Fe. The as-cast specimens were subjected to homogenization heat treatment at 1523 K for 7.2 ks and then hot-forged at 1473 K (as-forged specimens). The as-forged specimens were cold-rolled at a reduction rate of 30% and heat-treated at 1473 K for 300 s (recrystallized specimens). The matrix of the recrystallized base- and Fe-containing alloys consisted of a single γ (face-centered cubic)-phase. The Fe-added alloys revealed precipitates composed of the η-phase (M 6 X-M 12 X-type phase, M: metallic element, X: C and/or N). The average grain size of the recrystallized base and Fe-added alloy specimens was approximately 34 μm and the amount of added Fe had no significant effect on the static recrystallization behavior of the resulting alloys. Alloys containing 6 mass% or more Fe showed improvements in strength and ductility compared with the base alloy. When the Fe-added alloys were compared, their strength decreased whereas their ductility increased when the added Fe increased. Because Fe acts as a γ-phase-stabilizing element for Co, Fe addition increases the stacking fault energy of the base alloy, resulting in the formation of the ε (hexagonal close-packed)-phase owing to the suppression of strain-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT), and improvements in ductility. No deterioration in corrosion resistance was observed following the addition of up to 8 mass% Fe to the base alloy. Based on these results, the addition of Fe to CCWN alloy may be considered an effective method to improve its mechanical properties, especially ductility, without impairing its corrosion resistance. The results of this study will be useful for the future development of Ni-free Co-Cr alloys for next-generation, small-diameter stents., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Kosuke Ueki reports financial support was provided by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Kosuke Ueki reports financial support was provided by TANAKA Memorial Foundation. Kosuke Ueki reports financial support was provided by Kubota Corporation. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Herein, the intricate molecular interplay between human serum albumin (HSA) and tungsten disulfide quantum dots (WS 2 QDs) was probed using spectroscopic techniques and sophisticated molecular simulation methods. Fluorescence spectroscopy demonstrated that under physiological conditions, WS 2 QDs forge a non-fluorescent ground-state complex with HSA, facilitated by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, ultimately resulting in the static quenching of the protein's intrinsic fluorescence. Complementary site competition experiments and molecular docking simulations reinforced a precise 1: 1 binding stoichiometry, predominantly targeting HSA's Site I. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that WS 2 QDs perturb the HSA polypeptide backbone, subtly modifying the microenvironment surrounding aromatic amino acid residues. This alteration was further corroborated by circular dichroism spectroscopy, marked by a decrease in helical content and a transition towards irregular peptide conformations. Thermal stability assays illuminated the reduced thermal resilience of the HSA - WS 2 QD complex. Laser confocal microscopy coupled with thioflavin T staining yielded compelling evidence that WS 2 QDs effectively inhibit amyloid fibril formation in both HSA and lysozyme, underscoring their potential as potent anti-amyloidogenic agents. This comprehensive study offers pivotal insights into multifaceted impact of WS 2 QDs on protein structure and function, thereby expanding their horizon of potential applications within the burgeoning field of nanomedicine., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

It is highly desirable to develop a low-cost and rapid detection method for trace levels of carbendazim fungicide residues, which would be beneficial for improving human health and mitigating environmental issues. Herein, isolated single tungsten atoms were implanted onto well-organized metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived N-doped carbons to form W-N-C single-site heterojunctions with ultrahigh electrocatalytic activity. The coupling of W-N-C with Cu 3 (HHTP) 2 , an electronically conductive MOF with a large surface area and porous structure, exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic performance for the oxidation of carbendazim (CBZ) when they were used for decorating graphene nanoplatelet flexible electrode arrays fabricated via template-assisted scalable filtration. A wide linear range (3.0 nM-50 μM) with an ultra-low detection limit of 0.97 nM and fast response was achieved for CBZ analysis. Moreover, the sensing platform has been utilised to monitor CBZ levels in vegetable samples with satisfactory recovery rates of 97.2-102% and a low relative standard deviation of 1.9%., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the photocatalytic mineralization and degradation of Diclofenac (DCF) using Mn-WO 3 /LED in a photoreactor setup. The study analyzed the impact of operational variables, such as the initial concentration of DCF, pH level, reaction time, and catalyst dosage, on the degradation of DCF in the Mn-WO 3 /LED process. The characteristics of Mn-WO 3 nanoparticles (NPs) were analyzed using a variety of techniques, including BET, TEM, XRD, TGA, FTIR, and FESEM. The results showed that the optimal conditions for achieving complete degradation of DCF were a pH of 7, a reaction time of 70 min, and a photocatalyst dosage of 2.2 g/L. To assess the toxicity of DCF and its degraded products, Daphnia Magna was used for toxicity analysis. It was determined that the degradation of DCF was primarily mediated by the presence of free HO· radicals. Under optimal conditions, the degradation of DCF reached a mineralization rate of 74% within 90 min and 88% within 180 min. The presence of aqueous anions did not significantly impact the degradation of DCF, demonstrating the stability of the process. Intermediate products of the degradation of DCF included simpler compounds such as phenol and maleic acid. Toxicity analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in the toxicity of the aqueous sample after DCF degradation compared to the control, demonstrating the efficacy of the treatment process. Furthermore, the process proved to be energy efficient, with a lower energy consumption than previously reported methods. Overall, the Mn-WO 3 /LED process presents itself as a promising, feasible, and cost-effective solution for the degradation and mineralization of emerging contaminants such as DCF., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: The authors would like to thanks Health and Environment research center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Serious acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a tremendous threat to global public health. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use of volatile organic components as detection biomarkers for COVID-19, ushering in a new era of portable, simple, and rapid epidemiological screening based on breath diagnosis. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important biomarker indicating the degree of inflammation in the respiratory tract. In this study, a hollow multishelled structured WO 3 (HoMSs-WO 3 )-based waveguide microwave gas sensor (MGS) was fabricated to detect trace levels of NO in exhaled breath for the preliminary diagnosis of COVID-19. The sensor showed excellent reusability and selectivity and efficiently detected NO in the 10-100 ppb, with a sensitivity of 39.27 dB/ppm and a detection limit of 2.52 ppb. In addition, a sound correlation was observed in the measurement results between the MGS and the Sunvou detector for detecting NO from the exhaled breath of clinical COVID-19 patients. The difference between the two measurements was within 1.96 standard bias, and the consistency range was -12 to 17 ppb, thus fully demonstrating the significant potential of the sensor in COVID-19 screening.

The efficacy of sensors, particularly sensor arrays, lies in their selectivity. However, research on selectivity remains notably obscure and scarce. In this work, indoor pollutants (C 7 H 8 , HCHO, CH 4 , and NO 2 ) were chosen as the target gas. Following the screening of six oxides from previous work, temperature-programmed desorption/reduction experiments were conducted to delve into the origins of selectivity. The results explicate the superiority of NiO in detecting toluene and unveil the distinctive NO 2 sensing mechanism of WO 3 sensors. Based on the sensor array comprising these oxides, it can clearly detect low concentrations of C 7 H 8 ( S = 1.6 to 50 ppb), HCHO ( S = 1.4 to 50 ppb), and NO 2 ( S = 3.3 to 50 ppb), which satisfies the requisites of indoor air monitoring. Meanwhile, three machine learning models (Extreme Gradient Boosting, Support Vector Machine, and Back Propagation Neural Network) are employed for gas classification. The classification accuracies of these models are 95.45%, 100%, and 100%, while the R 2 values of the concentration prediction are 99.65%, 94.9%, and 98.04%, respectively, indicating the rationality of material selection. Furthermore, it can still achieve relatively high accuracy in gas classification (94.12%) and concentration prediction (89.36%), even for gas mixtures of four gases. Finally, an indoor air quality monitoring system is developed, which enables real-time monitoring of indoor gas quality through the Internet of Things.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a well-known type of over-the-counter painkillers and is frequently found in surface waterbodies, causing hepatotoxicity and skin irritation. Due to its persistence and chronic effects on the environment, innovative solutions must be provided to decompose APAP, effectively. Innovative catalysts of tungsten-modified iron oxides (TF) were successfully developed via a combustion method and thoroughly characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, a porosimetry analysis, Mössbauer spectroscopy, VSM magnetometry, and EPR. With the synthesis method, tungsten was successfully incorporated into iron oxides to form ferrites and other magnetic iron oxides with a high porosity of 19.7 % and a large surface area of 29.5 m 2 /g. Also, their catalytic activities for APAP degradation by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) were evaluated under various conditions. Under optimal conditions, TF 2.0 showed the highest APAP degradation of 95 % removal with a catalyst loading of 2.0 g/L, initial APAP concentration of 5 mg/L, PMS of 6.5 mM, and pH 2.15 at room temperature. No inhibition by solution pHs, alkalinity, and humic acid was observed for APAP degradation in this study. The catalysts also showed chemical and mechanical stability, achieving 100 % degradation of 1 mg/L APAP during reusability tests with three consecutive experiments. These results show that TFs can effectively degrade persistent contaminants of emerging concern in water, offering an impactful contribution to wastewater treatment to protect human health and the ecosystem., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In order to solve the problem of significantly shortened storage time of bananas in hot and humid environment (e.g., 30 °C and 90 % relative humidity), this paper reports the preparation of ZnO-TiO 2 -Bi 2 WO 6 (ZTB) ternary heterojunction antimicrobial photocatalysts composite carboxymethyl chitosan film (ZTB/CMCS). ZTB were prepared by hydrothermal method and composited with CMCS by surface deposition method to construct ZTB/CMCS edible nano-preservation film. It is noteworthy that the ZTB/CMCS composite film exhibited excellent antibacterial efficiency (>99.99 %) against E. coli and S. aureus suspensions (10 6  CFU/mL) after 24 h of incubation at 37 °C. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy showed that the incorporation of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) into the ZTB structure led to a decrease in fluorescence lifetime. Moreover, the interfacial interaction between ZnO and TiO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, promoting carrier separation and improving photocatalytic activity. The combination of high antibacterial activity, photocatalytic degradation of ethylene and inhibition of gas exchange provided multiple protections for fruit preservation. Therefore, this work provides a novel, effective and safe method for prolonging the preservation of bananas in hot and humid environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Jianwei Guo reports was provided by Guangdong University of Technology. Janwei Guo reports a relationship with Guangdong University of Technology that includes: employment. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The photoelectrocatalytic advanced oxidation process (PEAOP) necessitates high-performing and stable photoanodes for the effective oxidation of complex pollutants in industrial wastewater. This study presents the construction of 2D WO 3 /MXene heteronanostructures for the development of efficient and stable photoanode. The WO 3 /MXene heterostructure features well-ordered WO 3 photoactive sites anchored on micron-sized MXene sheets, providing an increased visible light active catalytic surface area and enhanced electrocatalytic activities for pollutant oxidation. Phenol, a highly toxic compound, was completely oxidized at an applied potential of 0.8 V vs. RHE under visible light irradiation. Systematic optimization of operational conditions for the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of phenol was conducted. The phenol oxidation mechanism was elucidated via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis and the identification of intermediate compounds. Additionally, a mixed model of phenol and arsenic (III) in polluted water demonstrated the capability of WO 3 /MXene photoanode for the simultaneous oxidation of both organic and inorganic pollutants, achieving complete conversion of phenol and As(III) to non-toxic As(V). The WO 3 /MXene photoanode facilitated water oxidation, generating a substantial amount of O 2 •- and • OH oxidative species, which are crucial for the concurrent oxidation of phenol and arsenic. Recyclability tests demonstrated a 99% retention of performance, confirming the WO 3 /MXene photoanode's suitability for long-term operation in PEAOPs. The findings suggest that integrating WO 3 /MXene photoanodes into water purification systems can enhance economic feasibility, reduce energy consumption, and improve efficiency. This PEAOP offers a viable solution to the critical issue of heavy metal and organic chemical pollution in various water bodies, given its scalability and ability to preserve ecosystems while conserving clean water resources., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, bio-citric acid/tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) (BCAWO) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by using Solanum lycopersicum fruit extract as a reducing as well as a capping agent. The photocatalysts were characterized by UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy techniques. Diffraction peaks in the XRD spectrum were identified as the crystal planes of crystalline tungsten oxide. The BCAWO had an average size of 23.14 nm. For W-O bonds, the Fourier transform infrared spectrum displays the vibrational peak at 671.23 cm -1 . A prominent absorption band was observed at 268 nm, indicating the 1.2 eV bandgap. Under xenon (Xe) lamp irradiation, the synthesized BCAWO nanoparticles showed notable photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), with a degradation rate of 96%. With BCAWO concentrations of 2.5 g/L, pH of 4, reaction period of 180 min, and 2,4 DCP concentration of 10 mg/L, the degradation of 2,4-DCP had the highest efficacy, 96%. The degradation of phenols in wastewater may be facilitated by using the green WO 3 nanoparticles as a photocatalyst, according to the results., Competing Interests: The authors declare there is no conflict., (© 2024 The Authors This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC BY 4.0), which permits copying, adaptation and redistribution, provided the original work is properly cited (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Acebutolol (ACE) is commonly used to treat hypertension and high blood pressure. Large doses of ACE can have adverse effects with potentially life-threatening consequences. It is, therefore, essential to develop a simple, low-cost, reliable, and reproducible device for detecting ACE in biofluids. This study explores the potential of unique two-dimensional nano-flakes, such as tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ). Graphene oxide (GO) typically exhibits lower electrical conductivity than pristine graphene due to the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups that interfere with the π-conjugated structure. Functionalizing GO with tannic acid (TA) can partially reinstate the π-conjugation and limit the amount of oxygen, resulting in enhanced electrical conductivity. Ultrasonic techniques were utilized to create WO 3 NFs@TA-rGO, and a range of spectroscopic and microscopic methods were applied to examine the formation of the resulting WO 3 NFs@TA-rGO nanocomposites. Under optimal conditions, modified sensors resulted in lower limits of detection (0.0055 μM) and good sensitivity (0.40 μA μM -1  cm -2 ). They also exhibited a broad linear range spanning from 0.009 to 568.6 μM. Fabricated sensors have significant anti-interference properties with high specificity and excellent storage stability (RSD = 4.3 %), reproducibility (RSD = 3.9 %), and repeatability (RSD = 3.3 %). Ultimately, the sensor's efficacy was confirmed through the successful detection of ACE in biological samples (with recoveries ranging from 99.1 to 99.6 %). Lastly, this study highlights the substantial potential of ACE detection and extends its applications in biomedical diagnostics and pharmaceutical research., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Photocatalysis has been widely used as one of the most promising approaches to remove various pollutants in liquid or gas phases during the last decade. The main emphasis of the study is on the synergy of vacancy engineering and heterojunction formation, two widely used modifying approaches, to significantly alter photocatalytic performance. The vacancy-induced Ag 2 CO 3 /BiOBr/WO 3-x heterojunction system has been fabricated using a co-precipitation technique to efficiently abate methylene blue (MB) dye and doxycycline (DC) antibiotic. The as-fabricated Ag 2 CO 3 /BiOBr/WO 3-x heterojunction system displayed improved optoelectronic characteristic features because of the rational combination of dual charge transferal route and defect modulation. The Ag 2 CO 3 /BiOBr/WO 3-x system possessed 97% and 74% photodegradation efficacy for MB and DC, respectively, with better charge isolation and migration efficacy. The ternary photocatalyst possessed a multi-fold increase in the reaction rate for both MB and DC, i.e., 0.021 and 0.0078 min -1 , respectively, compared to pristine counterparts. Additionally, more insightful deductions about the photodegradation routes were made possible by the structural investigations of MB and DC using density functional theory (DFT) simulations. This study advances the understanding of the mechanisms forming visible light active dual Z-scheme heterojunction for effective environmental remediation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mine waste can be transformed into technosol as an ecological strategy. Despite its importance to soil functions, biological activity is often overlooked. Biopolymers can serve as innovative tools for bioremediation, facilitating chemical reactions and creating networks to encapsulate contaminants. This work aims to assess the use of bioleached and stabilised residues from a tungsten mine for technosol production. The first objective was to evaluate mine tailings for their bioleaching potential by biostimulation or bioaugmentation with strain Diaphorobacter polyhydroxybutyrativorans B2A2W2. The second was to evaluate the effect of Portland cement or biopolymers such as Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) or Xanthan Gum (XG) on the stabilisation of bioleached residues. The impact of biopolymers on residues' characteristics, such as metal leaching, number of cultivable microorganisms, compression strength and ecotoxicity was evaluated using flow systems. Over time, bioleached metallic elements decreased, except for iron (Fe). Biostimulated and stabilised residues exhibited similar trends; both CMC and cement showed low leaching rates and viable microorganisms in the same order (10 6 CFU × ml -1 ). However, bioaugmented residue stabilised with XG showed 10 6 CFU × ml -1 viable microorganisms and increased 2.2-fold Fe leaching than BA_Control. CMC addition to bioaugmented residue reduced 5.9-fold Fe leaching and increased 100-fold viable microorganisms. By utilising both biological and engineering approaches to characterise the technosol, this study contributes to advancing knowledge of technosol production. The residues biostimulated and stabilised with CMC produced a material useful for bio-applications, with low toxicity and metal leaching, useful for bio-applications. XG was the best stabiliser for geotechnical engineering applications, with improved compression strength. In conclusion, the study demonstrates the usefulness of biopolymer treatment for residues and emphasises the importance of selecting the appropriate biopolymer for the intended function of technosols., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Transition metal oxide semiconductors have great potential for use in H 2 sensors, but in recent years, the strange phenomena about gas-sensitive performance associated with their special properties have been more widely discussed in research. In some cases, the resistance of transition metal oxide gas sensors will emerge with some changes contrary to their intrinsic semiconductor characteristics, especially in gas sensor research of WO 3 . Based on the hydrothermal synthesis of WO 3 , our work focuses on the abnormal change of tungsten oxide resistance to different gases at low temperature (80-200 °C) and high temperature (above 200 °C). Through in situ FT-IR and in situ XPS, combined with density functional theory calculations, a new reasonable explanation of WO 3 is proposed for the abnormal resistance change caused by temperature and the strange response due to gas concentration. The occurrence of these findings can be attributed to the synergistic effect resulting from the presence of two contributing factors. One of them is attributed to the alteration in the surface valence state of WO 3 induced by gas, resulting in the reduction of W 6+ . The other one is due to the reaction between gas and adsorbed oxygen on the surface of WO 3 . This work presents a novel and rational concept for addressing the reaction mechanism between gas and transition metal oxide semiconductors, thereby paving the way for the development of highly efficient gas sensors based on transition metal oxide semiconductors.

Detecting hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) odor gas in the environment at parts-per-billion-level concentrations is crucial. However, a significant challenge is the rapid deactivation caused by SO 4 2- deposition. To address this issue, we developed a sensing material comprising Fe 2 O 3 -decorated WO 3 nanowires (FWO) with strong interfacial interaction. During the H 2 S sensing process, important oxygen vacancies (OVs) are generated in situ and are recyclable on the surface of the Fe 2 O 3 cluster. This sensor achieves a response of 140 (Ra/Rg) toward 50 ppm of H 2 S at 250 °C, with an experimentally measured detection limit of 1 ppb. It also exhibits remarkable stability, with no significant change observed over a long period of 150 days. Based on a combination of in situ DRIFT and DFT calculations, we have identified that the overactivation of O 2 is the key step in the formation of SO 4 2- . This overactivation can be partially modulated by the synergistic effect of Fe 2 O 3 decoration and the in situ generated OVs, regulating the oxidation product to SO 2 rather than the toxic SO 4 2- . Furthermore, the continuous generation of OVs compensates for the loss of active sites pertaining to SO 4 2- deposition, thereby contributing to the excellent stability of the sensor. This study underscores the beneficial impact of in situ OV generation in FWO for H 2 S sensing, offering a dynamic strategy to enhance sensor performance, particularly in terms of stability.

Selective and sensitive sarcosine detection is crucial due to its recent endorsement as a prostate cancer (PCa) biomarker in clinical diagnosis. The reduced graphene oxide-cobalt nickel tungsten boron oxides (CoNiWBO/rGO) nanocomposite is developed as a non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor for sarcosine detection in PCa patients' serum. CoNiWBO/rGO is synthesized by the chemical reduction method via a one-pot reduction method followed by calcination at 500 °C under a nitrogen environment for 2 h and characterized by UV-Vis, XRD, TGA, and SEM. CoNiWBO/rGO is then deposited on a glassy carbon electrode, and sarcosine sensing parameters are optimized, including concentration and pH. This non-enzymatic sensor is employed to directly determine sarcosine in serum samples. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) are employed to monitor the electrochemical behavior where sarcosine binding leads to oxidation. Chronoamperometric studies show the stability of the developed sensor. The results demonstrate a wide linear range from 0.1 to 50 µM and low limits of detection, i.e., 0.04 µM and 0.07 µM using DPV and LSV respectivel. Moreover, the calculated recovery of sarcosine in human serum of prostate cancer patients is 78-96%. The developed electrochemical sensor for sarcosine detection can have potential applications in clinical diagnosis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to investigate how alloying tungsten (W) with molybdenum (Mo) and local strain affect the primary defect formation and interstitial dislocation loops (IDLs) in W-Mo alloys. While the number of Frenkel pairs (FPs) in the W-Mo alloy is similar to pure W, it is half that of pure Mo. The W-20% Mo alloy, chosen for further analysis, showed minimal FP variance after collision cascades induced by primary knock-on atoms (PKAs) at 10 to 80 keV. The research examined hydrostatic strains from -1.4% to 1.6%, finding that higher strains correlated with increased FP counts and cluster formation, including IDLs. The following two types of IDLs were identified: majority ½ <111> loops as well as <100> IDLs that formed within the initial picoseconds of the simulations under higher tensile strain (1.6%) and larger PKA energies (80 keV). The strain effects also correlated with changes in threshold displacement energy (TDE), with higher FP formation under tensile strain. This study highlights the impact of strain and alloying on radiation damage, particularly in low-temperature, high-energy environments.

Artificial visual system empowered by 2D materials-based hardware simulates the functionalities of the human visual system, leading the forefront of artificial intelligence vision. However, retina-mimicked hardware that has not yet fully emulated the neural circuits of visual pathways is restricted from realizing more complex and special functions. In this work, we proposed a human visual pathway-replicated hardware that consists of crossbar arrays with split floating gate 2D tungsten diselenide (WSe 2 ) unit devices that simulate the retina and visual cortex, and related connective peripheral circuits that replicate connectomics between the retina and visual cortex. This hardware experimentally displays advanced multi-functions of red-green color-blindness processing, low-power shape recognition, and self-driven motion tracking, promoting the development of machine vision, driverless technology, brain-computer interfaces, and intelligent robotics., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this work, chemical modification of the chitosan with ethyl acetoacetate was performed through a base-catalyzed reaction in which epichlorohydrin facilitated the insertion as well as nucleophilic substitution reaction to graft the 1,3-dioxo moiety across the linear chains of the base biopolymer to establish specificity and selectivity for U(VI) removal. The modified chitosan (EAA-CS) was intercalated into phosphate rich alginate matrix (PASA). Later on, the WO 3 -doped composites with different WO 3 to PASA mass ratio were prepared and characterized using FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDS, XRD, and elemental mapping analysis. WO 3 significantly contributed to chemically stable inorganic-organic composites with improved porous texture. Among the prepared composites, MCPS-3 microspherical beads, having mass ratio of 30.0 % w/w, exhibited excellent sorption capacity for U(VI) at an optimal pH 4.5. The successful U(VI) sorption was validated by the existence of two U4f peaks at 392.25 and 381.36 eV due to U4f 5/2 and U4f 7/2 sub-peaks with an intensity ratio of 3:4, respectively. Batch mode sorption kinetics followed pseudo-second-order rate equation (R 2  ≈ 0.99, q e,th  ≈ 116.88 mg/g, k 2  = 0.86 × 10 -4  g/mg.min -1 ) and equilibrium sorption data aligns with Langmuir (R 2  = 0.99, q m  = 343.85 mg/g at 310 K and pH = 4.5, K L  = 2.00 × 10 -2  L/mg) and Temkin models (R 2  ≈ 0.99). Thermodynamic parameters ΔH o (30.51 kJ/mol), ΔS o (0.19 kJ/mol.K) and ΔG o (-25.64, -26.89, and - 27.91 kJ/mol) at 298, 305, and 310 K, respectively, suggested that the uptake process is feasible, endothermic and spontaneous. Based on these findings, it is reasonable to conclude that MCPS-3 could be a better hydrogel-based biomaterial for appreciable uranium recovery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Radiotherapy (RT) is often administered, either alone or in combination with other therapies, for most malignancies. However, the degree of tumor oxygenation, damage to adjacent healthy tissues, and inaccurate guidance remain issues that result in discontinuation or failure of RT. Here, a multifunctional therapeutic platform based on Ir@WO 3-x is developed which simultaneously addresses these critical issues above for precision radiosensitization. Ir@WO 3-x nanoreactors exhibit strong absorption of X-ray, acting as radiosensitizers. Moreover, ultrasmall Ir enzyme-mimic nanocrystals (NCs) are decorated onto the surface of the nanoreactor, where NCs have catalyst-like activity and are sensitive to H 2 O 2 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) under near infrared-II (NIR-II) light stimulation. They efficiently catalyze the conversion of H 2 O 2 to O 2 , thereby ameliorating hypoxia, inhibiting the expression of HIF-1α, and enhancing RT-induced DNA damage in cancerous tissue, further improving the efficiency of RT. Additionally, in response to high H 2 O 2 levels in TME, the Ir@WO 3-x nanoreactor also exerts peroxidase-like activity, boosting exogenous ROS, which increases oxidative damage and enhances ROS-dependent death signaling. Furthermore, Ir@WO 3-x can serve as a high-quality computed tomography contrast agent due to its high X-ray attenuation coefficient and generation of pronounced tumor-tissue contrast. This report highlights the potential of advanced health materials to enhance precision therapeutic modalities., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Due to the unique properties of heterojunction interfaces, heterojunction materials have broad application prospects in gas sensors. In this work, a facile and economical two-step synthesis method was employed to fabricate h-BN/WO 3 heterojunctions, exhibiting excellent performance in triethylamine (TEA) detection. The results indicate that compared to pure WO 3 sensors, h-BN/WO 3 sensors exhibit superior TEA sensing capabilities, with an excellent response of 281.45 to 20 ppm TEA at 100 °C, which is 3.4 times higher. Moreover, h-BN/WO 3 sensors demonstrate favorable response times, low detection limits, and good stability. These significant enhancements are attributed to the increase in oxygen vacancies and the establishment of heterojunctions between h-BN and WO 3 . Heterojunctions can regulate the concentration and transport rate of charge carriers, as well as the interface potential barrier, thereby affecting the gas sensing processes. This work may promote the further development of sensing materials and the practical application of WO 3 sensors in TEA detection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bioactive NAD + mediated multiple biocatalytic pathways in metabolic networks. Refining the structure of NADH oxidase-like (NOX) mimics to efficiently replenish NAD + has been promising but challenging in NAD + -dependent dehydrogenase electrochemical cascade biosensing. Herein, we discovered that PtO x structures, formed via lattice oxygen translocation from WO 3 to Pt NPs at the interface, potentially activate and modulate the NOX-like functionality in Pt@WO 3 nanosheets. Incorporating PtO x leads to a more positive valence of Pt species within Pt/PtO x @WO 3- x , where the PtO 2 species serve as preeminent reaction sites for NADH coordination, activation, and dehydrogenation. Consequently, such nanozymes display enhanced NOX-like activity towards NADH oxidation in comparison to Pt@WO 3 . Ultimately, the 650-Pt/PtO x @WO 3- x nanozyme is employed in an electrochemical cascade biosensor for β-hydroxybutyrate (HB) detection, achieving a calculated detection limit of 25 μM. This study offers insights into PtO x activation in Pt-based NOX mimics and supports the future development of NAD + /NADH-dependent electrochemical biosensors.

The large-scale utilization of antibiotics has opened a separate chapter of pollution with the generation of reactive drug-resistant bacteria. To deal with this, in this work, different mass ratios of CoFe 2 O 4 /WO 3 nanocomposites were prepared following an in situ growth method using the precursors of WO 3 and CoFe 2 O 4 . The structure, morphology, and optical properties of the nanocomposite photocatalysts were scrutinized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS), photoluminescence spectrum (PL), etc. The experimental data signified that the loading of CoFe 2 O 4 obviously changed the optical properties of WO 3 . The photocatalytic performance of CoFe 2 O 4 /WO 3 composites was investigated by considering tetracycline as a potential pollutant. The outcome of the analyzed data exposed that the CoFe 2 O 4 /WO 3 composite with a mass ratio of 5% had the best degradation performance for tetracycline eradication under the solar light, and a degradation efficiency of 77% was achieved in 20 min. The monitored degradation efficiency of the optimized photocatalyst was 45% higher compared with the degradation efficiency of 32% for pure WO 3 . Capturing experiments and tests revealed that hydroxyl radical (·OH) and hole (h + ) were the primary eradicators of the target pollutant. This study demonstrates that a proper mass of CoFe 2 O 4 can significantly push WO 3 for enhanced eradication of waterborne pollutants.

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and nitrogen (N 2 ) to value-added products is a substantial area of research in the fields of sustainable chemistry and renewable energy that aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the production of alternative fuels and chemicals. The current work deals with the synthesis of pyrochlore-type europium stannate (Eu 2 Sn 2 O 7 : EuSnO), tungsten disulfide (WS 2 :WS), and novel EuSnO/WS heterostructure by a simple and facile co-precipitation-aided hydrothermal method. Using different methods, the morphological and structural analyses of the prepared samples were characterized. It was confirmed that a heterostructure was formed between the cubic EuSnO and the layered WS. Synthesized materials were used for photocatalytic CO 2 and N 2 reduction under UV and visible light. The amount of CO and CH 4 evolved due to CO 2 reduction is high in EuSnO/WS (CO = 104, CH 4  = 64 μmol h -1 g -1 ) compared to pure EuSnO (CO = 36, CH 4  = 70 μmol h -1 g -1 ) and WS (CO = 22, CH 4  = 1.8 μmol h -1 g -1 ) under visible light. The same trend was observed even in the N 2 fixation reaction under visible light, and the amount of NH 4 + produced was found to be 13, 26, and 41 μmol h -1 g -1 in the presence of WS, EuSnO and EuSnO/WS, respectively. Enhanced light-driven activity towards CO 2 and N 2 reduction reactions in EuSnO/WS is due to the efficient charge separation through the formation of type-II heterostructure, which is in part associated with photocurrent response, photoluminescence, and electrochemical impedence spectroscopic (EIS) results. The EuSnO/WS heterostructure's exceptional stability and reusability may pique the attention of pyrochlore-based composite materials in photocatalytic energy and environmental applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Iron-based catalysts for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation hold considerable potential in water treatment. However, the slow conversion of Fe(III) to Fe(II) restricts its large-scale application. Herein, an iron phosphate tungsten boride composite (FePO 4 /WB) was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method to facilitate the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycle and realize the efficient degradation of neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs). Based on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) characterization, scavenging experiments, chemical probe approaches, and quantitative tests, both radicals (HO • and SO 4 ⋅- ) and non-radicals ( 1 O 2 and Fe(IV)) were produced in the FePO 4 /WB-PMS system, with relative contributions of 3.02 %, 3.58 %, 6.24 %, and 87.16 % to the degradation of imidacloprid (IMI), respectively. Mechanistic studies revealed that tungsten boride (WB) promoted the reduction of FePO 4 , and the generated Fe(II) dominantly activated PMS through a two-electron transfer to form Fe(IV), while a minority of Fe(II) engaged in a one-electron transfer with PMS to produce SO 4 ⋅- , HO • , and 1 O 2 . In addition, four degradation pathways of NEOs were proposed by analyzing the byproducts using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Besides, seed germination experiments revealed the biotoxicity of NEOs was significantly reduced after degradation via the FePO 4 /WB-PMS system. Meanwhile, the recycling experiments and continuous flow reactor experiments showed that FePO 4 /WB exhibited high stability. Overall, this study provided a new perspective on water remediation by Fenton-like reaction. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are a type of insecticide used widely around the world. They've been found in many aquatic environments, raising concerns about their possible negative effects on the environment and health. Iron-based catalysts for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation hold great promise for water purification. However, the slow conversion of Fe(III) to Fe(II) restricts its large-scale application. Herein, iron phosphate tungsten boride composite (FePO 4 /WB) was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method to facilitate the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycle and realize the efficient degradation of NEOs. The excellent stability and reusability provided a great prospect for water remediation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bacterial infections claim millions of lives every year, with the escalating menace of microbial antibiotic resistance compounding this global crisis. Nanozymes, poised as prospective substitutes for antibiotics, present a significant frontier in antibacterial therapy, yet their precise enzymatic origins remain elusive. With the continuous development of nanozymes, the applications of elemental N-modulated nanozymes have spanned multiple fields, including sensing and detection, infection therapy, cancer treatment, and pollutant degradation. The introduction of nitrogen into nanozymes not only broadens their application range but also holds significant importance for the design of catalysts in biomedical research. The synergistic interplay between W and N induces pivotal alterations in electronic configurations, endowing tungsten nitride (WN) with a peroxidase-like functionality. Furthermore, the introduction of N vacancies augments the nanozyme activity, thus amplifying the catalytic potential of WN nanostructures. Rigorous theoretical modeling and empirical validation corroborate the genesis of the enzyme activity. The meticulously engineered WN nanoflower architecture exhibits an exceptional ability in traversing bacterial surfaces, exerting potent bactericidal effects through direct physical interactions. Additionally, the topological intricacies of these nanostructures facilitate precise targeting of generated radicals on bacterial surfaces, culminating in exceptional bactericidal efficacy against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains along with notable inhibition of bacterial biofilm formation. Importantly, assessments using a skin infection model underscore the proficiency of WN nanoflowers in effectively clearing bacterial infections and fostering wound healing. This pioneering research illuminates the realm of pseudoenzyme activity and bacterial capture-killing strategies, promising a fertile ground for the development of innovative, high-performance artificial peroxidases.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) which include antibiotics such as tetracycline (TC) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), etc., have attracted increasing attention worldwide due to their potential threat to the aquatic environment and human health. In this work, a facile sol-gel method was developed to prepare tungsten-doped TiO 2 with tunable W 5+ /W 6+ ratio for the removal of PPCPs. The influence of solvents in the synthesis of the three different tungsten precursors doped TiO 2 is also taken into account. WCl 6 , ammonium metatungstate (AMT), and Na 2 WO 4 ●2H 2 O not only acted as the tungsten precursors but also controlled the tungsten ratio. The photocatalyst prepared by WCl 6 as the tungsten precursor and ethanol as the solvent showed the highest photodegradation performance for ciprofloxacin (CIP) and tetracycline (TC), and the photodegradation performance for tetracycline (TC) was 2.3, 2.8, and 7.8 times that of AMT, Na 2 WO 4 ●2H 2 O as the tungsten precursors and pristine TiO 2 , respectively. These results were attributed to the influence of the tungsten precursors and solvents on the W 5+ /W 6+ ratio, sample crystallinity and surface properties. This study provides an effective method for the design of tungsten-doped TiO 2 with tunable W 5+ /W 6+ ratio, which has a profound impact on future studies in the field of photocatalytic degradation of PPCPs using an environmentally friendly approach.

Herein, coupling of noble metal-free plasmonic copper nanoparticles with tungsten suboxide and supporting on zeolite nanoclay (Cu/WO 3-x @ZNC) composite will be introduced for bi-functional photocatalytic ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation and water photothermal evaporation under visible/infrared (Vis/IR) exposure. Reduced band-gap of WO 3-x via oxygen vacancies creation and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) formation by Cu nanoparticles contributed significantly the extension and intensification of composite's photo-absorption range. Furthermore, small mesoporous structure of ZNC enhanced CIP adsorption and charge carriers separation where the reported photocatalytic efficiencies were 88.3 and 81.7% upon IR and Vis light exposure respectively. It was evidenced that plasmonic hot electrons (e - .s) and hydroxyl radicals (OH •- ) performed the basic functions of the photocatalytic process. At the other side, oxygen vacancies existence, plasmonic effect, and confining thermal characteristics of WO 3-x , Cu, and ZNC correspondingly induced water photothermal evaporation with efficiencies up to 97.5 and 72.8% under IR and Vis illumination respectively. This work introduces synthesis of a novel bi-functional photocatalytic-photothermal composite by metal sub-oxide and non-noble metal plasmonic coupling and supporting on naturally-derived carrier for water restoration under broad spectral exposure., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No competing financial interests or personal relationships could influence this paper work to be declared., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Water pollution has been made worse by the widespread use of organic dyes and their discharge, which has coincided with the industry's rapid development. Piezoelectric catalysis, as an effective wastewater purification method with promising applications, can enhance the catalyst activity by collecting tiny vibrations in nature and is not limited by sunlight. In this work, we designed and synthesized intriguing WS 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 heterojunction nanocomposites, investigated their shape, structure, and piezoelectric characteristics using a range of characterization techniques, and used ultrasound to accelerate the organic dye Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation in wastewater. In comparison to the pristine monomaterials, the results demonstrated that the heterojunction composites demonstrated excellent degradation and stability of RhB under ultrasonic circumstances. The existence of heterojunctions and the internal piezoelectric field created by ultrasonic driving work in concert to boost catalytic performance, and the organic dye's rate of degradation is further accelerated by the carriers that are mutually transferred between the composites., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The widespread usage of levofloxacin (LVF) intake is executed for several urinary and respiratory systems infections in human. But, its over intake leads to severe damage to humans and the environment by its exposure. Hence the detection of LVF is concerned and we herein developed an electrocatalyst, strontium tungsten oxide nanospheres and later decorated onto the functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (SrWO 4 /f-MWCNT) to perform effective electrochemical recognition of LVF in aquatic and biological samples. Binary metal oxide with carbon composite SrWO 4 /f-MWCNT was developed due to its specific features as nanostructures. Various methods of investigation have been examined to identify the physiochemical characteristics like X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and morphological characteristics including field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The synthesized SrWO 4 /f-MWCNT sample crystalline size was around 32.9 nm. The SrWO 4 /f-MWCNT modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) has been subjected to electrochemical investigation with a wide linear range of 0.049 μM-574.73 μM with good sensitivity 2.86 μA μM -1 cm 2 , the limit of detection at 14.9 nM for LVF sensing. Furthermore, the designed LVF detection exhibited excellent anti-interference, stability, reproducibility, and repeatability. The as-developed sensor's electrochemical outcomes indicate the superior performance inherent in the developed composite., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The incidence of esophageal cancer is positively associated with fumonisin contamination. It is necessary to develop methods for the rapid detection of fumonisins. In this work, a self-powered photoelectrochemical aptamer sensor based on ZnIn 2 S 4 /WO 3 photoanode and Au@W-Co 3 O 4 photocathode is proposed for the sensitive detection of fumonisin B1 (FB1). Among them, under visible light irradiation, the Z-type heterostructure of ZnIn 2 S 4 /WO 3 acts as a photoanode to improve the electron transfer rate, which contributes to the enhancement of the photocathode signal and lays the foundation for a wider detection range. The Au@W-Co 3 O 4 photocathode as a sensing interface reduces the probability of false positives (comparison of anode sensing platforms). The PEC sensor has a good working performance in the detection range (10 pg/mL-1000 ng/mL) with a detection limit of 2.7 pg/mL (S/N = 3). In addition, the sensor offers good selectivity, stability and excellent recoveries in real sample analysis. This work is expected to play a role in the field of analyzing environmental toxins., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Characterization and evaluation of hazardous spent V 2 O 5 -WO 3 /TiO 2 catalysts are critical to determining their treatment or final disposal. This study employs a thermal approach to simulate the preparation of spent catalysts derived from commercial V 2 O 5 -WO 3 /TiO 2 catalysts and investigate the structure-activity relationship of the carrier changes during the deactivation process. The results indicate that the catalyst carrier undergoes two processes: an increase in grain size and a transformation in crystal structure. Both structural and catalytic investigations demonstrate that the grain size for catalyst deactivation is 24.62 nm, and the formation of CaWO 4 occurs before the crystalline transformation. The specific surface area is susceptible to an increase in grain size. The reactions of selective catalytic reduction involve the participation of both Brønsted acid and Lewis acid sites. The deactivation process of the carrier initially affects Brønsted acid sites, followed by a reduction in Lewis acid sites, resulting in a decline in NH 3 adsorption capacity and oxidation. Correlation analysis reveals that changes in the physicochemical properties of the catalyst reduce the NO conversion, with the order being The grain size > Total acid amount > The surface area. It is recommended to recycle the spent catalyst if the carrier grain size is less than 25 nm. The findings of this investigation contribute to expanding the database for evaluating and understanding the physicochemical properties of spent catalysts for disposal., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we investigated the degradation of the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) using platinized tungsten oxide (Pt/WO 3 ), synthesized via a simple photodeposition method, under visible light. The results of degradation experiments show a significant enhancement in TBBPA degradation upon surface platinization of WO 3 , with the degradation rate increasing by 13.4 times compared to bare WO 3 . The presence of Pt on the WO 3 surface stores conduction band electrons, which facilitates the two-electron reduction of oxygen and enhances the production of valence band holes (h VB + ) and hydroxyl radicals ( ● OH). Both h VB + and ● OH are significantly involved in the degradation of TBBPA in the visible light-irradiated Pt/WO 3 system. This was verified through fluorescence spectroscopy employing coumarin as a chemical probe and oxidizing species-quenching experiments. The analysis of degradation products and their toxicity assessment demonstrate that the toxicity of TBBPA-contaminated water is significantly reduced after Pt/WO 3 photocatalysis. The degradation rate of TBBPA increased with increasing Pt/WO 3 dosage, reached an optimum at a Pt content of 0.5 wt%, but decreased with increasing TBBPA concentration. The decrease in degradation efficiency of Pt/WO 3 was minor, both in the presence of various anions and after repeated use. This study proposes that Pt/WO 3 is a viable photocatalyst for the degradation of TBBPA in water under visible light., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)