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[Display omitted] • Niobium species in 30Nb-Beta zeolite were anchored into silanol defects in form of (SiO) 2 Nb(OH)(=O). • High-electrophilic 30Nb-Beta could achieve a cyclohexene conversion of 51.1 % and TOF of 188.2 h−1. • H 2 O 2 activation pathway over (SiO) 2 Nb(OH)(=O) sites contains three steps. Dealuminated Beta zeolite has a large amount of silanol defects on its interface, which provides an ideal place for embedding metal species and creating metal active sites in a confined microenvironment. The confined metal sites as well as their surroundings are closely related to the reactant activation and transient state achievement. Hence, unraveling the confined metal sites is of great significance for the catalytic reaction process. Herein, niobium species were incorporated into the silanol defects over dealuminated Beta zeolite with a facile dry impregnation method, co-grinding the niobium precursor with dealuminated Beta zeolite support. The successful incorporation of niobium into the silanol defects for 30Nb-Beta zeolite was verified by DRIFT, 1H MAS NMR, UV–Vis and UV-Raman characterizations. XAS characterization and DFT calculations further disclosed that the confined Nb species existed as (SiO) 2 Nb(OH)(=O), containing two Si−O−Nb bonds, one Nb=O bond as well as one Nb−OH bond. The synthesized 30Nb-Beta zeolite catalyst displayed a superior cyclohexene conversion of 51.1%, cyclohexene oxide selectivity of 83.1% as well as TOF value of 188.2 h−1 ascribed to the inherent electrophilicity of Nb(V) for confined (SiO) 2 Nb(OH)(=O) species as well as the low oxygen transfer energy barrier for NbV−OOH species. Furthermore, the prepared 30Nb-Beta zeolite can be effectively employed to other cyclic alkene epoxidation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Eu(DBM) 3 DETA is a newly synthesized, unreported lanthanide crystal complex. • Eu(DBM) 3 DETA has both excellent photoluminescence and triboluminescence properties. • Eu(DBM) 3 DETA can recover to its original PL and TL properties after recrystallization. • Piezoelectric effect on crystals during breakage provide excellent TL properties. • Eu(DBM) 3 DETA can display stress visualization differences of handwriting signatures. Investigation of photoluminescence (PL) and fracture-induced triboluminescence (TL) is necessary for the development of both fundamental theories and practical applications in mechanical energy conversion; however, most known PL/TL-emitting materials are confined to inorganic systems. In this study, a novel lanthanide-based crystalline complex (LnCC), Eu(DBM) 3 DETA was synthesized via the synergistic coordination of Eu3+ with DBM (Dibenzoylmethane) and DETA (Diethylenetriamine) units, leading to the formation of brighter LnCC with bright red emission, high PL quantum yields (57.19 %) and unique TL characteristics. The key to success in obtaining Eu(DBM) 3 DETA is the utilization of DETA molecule as synergistic ligand, presenting block crystals with higher coordination number of Eu3+ ions via recrystallization. Due to the dense accumulation of cross-linked three-dimensional frameworks through van der Waals interactions, the fracture-induced piezoelectric effect results in charge separation and excitation through the resultant electric field and discharge, triggering a fast TL response of Eu(DBM) 3 DETA and expanding the possibilities of the quantitative stress sensing. Importantly, amorphous powders can still recover to their original PL and TL emission intensities after recrystallization in cyclic crystal-to-amorphous phase transitions. The unique PL and TL characteristics of Eu(DBM) 3 DETA provide promising opportunities to display stress visualization differences of electronic signatures under different forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • D-π-A fluorescent probes were reasonably designed and developed through systematic changes in electron-donor and-acceptor groups. • Probes M−H−SO 3 with a hydrophilic sulfonate group displayed sufficient selectivity for discrimination of HSA from BSA. • Probe M−H−SO 3 can bind to the IB site of HSA, yielding a substantial fluorescent enhancement. • The probe M−H−SO 3 can be used for detecting human serum albumin in urine samples. HSA (human serum albumin), a most abundant protein in blood serum, plays a key role in maintaining human health. Abnormal HSA level is correlated with many diseases, and thus has been used as an essential biomarker for therapeutic monitoring and biomedical diagnosis. Development of small-molecule fluorescent probes allowing the selective and sensitive recognition of HSA in in vitro and in vivo is of fundamental importance in basic biological research as well as medical diagnosis. Herein, we reported a series of new synthesized fluorescent dyes containing D-π-A constitution, which exhibited different optical properties in solution and solid state. Among them, dye M−H−SO 3 with a hydrophilic sulfonate group at electron-acceptor part displayed selectivity for discrimination of HSA from BSA and other enzymes. Upon binding of dye M−H−SO 3 with HSA, a significant fluorescence enhancement with a turn-on ratio about 96-fold was triggered. The detection limit was estimated to be ∼ 40 nM. Studies on the interaction mechanism revealed that dye M−H−SO 3 could bind to site III of HSA with a 1:1 binding stoichiometry. Furthermore, dye M−H−SO 3 has been applied to determine HSA in real urine samples with good recoveries, which provided a useful method for HSA analysis in biological fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Transition metals with catalytic properties were expected to improve the fire resistance of the polymer. In this work, NiMoO 4 nanorods decorated with Co-Ni layered double hydroxide (LDH) were fabricated and incorporated into polyurea (PUA) to improve the flame retardancy during combustion. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the addition of NiMoO 4 @Co-Ni LDH slightly decreased the initial degradation and the maximum degradation temperature. With increasing loading of NiMoO 4 @Co-Ni LDH, the char residue increased obviously. The combustion performance of PUA with 3.0 wt% NiMoO 4 @Co-Ni LDH investigated by cone calorimeter (CCT) showed that the peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR) and smoke factor (SF) decreased by 34.41%, 12.68% and 48.65%, respectively. The existence of well-dispersed NiMoO 4 @Co-Ni LDH effectively enhanced the mechanical properties and flame retardant performances of PUA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CAL and PPy-CAL were prepared using hydrothermal and in situ polymerization methods. • The theoretical adsorption capacity of CAL-PPy for Cr(VI) was nearly twice than that of CAL. • CAL-PPy removed 100 mg/L of aqueous Cr(VI) efficiently and quickly. • Mechanisms included electrostatic attraction, anion exchange, complexation, and reduction. To efficiently remove high concentrations of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), calcium–aluminum-layered double hydroxide (CaAl-LDH, denoted as CAL), and polypyrrole-modified CAL (CAL-PPy) were prepared by hydrothermal and in situ polymerization methods, respectively. The chemical structure, morphology, and elemental results indicated that the chain-like polypyrrole was decorated with hexagonal CAL. The specific surface area of CAL-PPy increased from 8.746 m2/g to 24.24 m2/g. The adsorption performances of CAL and CAL-PPy for aqueous Cr(VI) were investigated using batch equilibrium experiments. The decontamination process of aqueous Cr(VI) (100 mg/L) reached the equilibrium state within 50 min, and the kinetic data met the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation. The Langmuir model described the isothermal data properly, and the obtained theoretical adsorption capacity of CAL for Cr(VI) at 318 K was 34.06 mg/g, while that of CAL-PPy was 66.14 mg/g. The removal mechanisms involved electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, anion exchange, and reduction to low-toxicity Cr(III). Therefore, CAL and CAL-PPy have underlying applications in treating real wastewater containing Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating systems encounter challenges due to their subjectivity, time lag, and inconsistent coverage, which present significant obstacles for investors in the stock market. In contrast, news reporting data, characterized by its objectivity, timeliness, publicity, and sociality, has been a crucial source of quality market information for investors. The potential of ESG-related news as a robust complement to the data sources used in existing ESG rating systems merits further exploration. This study investigates the impact of ESG-related news on the Chinese stock market, with the goal of providing compelling evidence for integrating news media into ESG assessments. By analyzing 32,296 ESG-related news articles covering 3643 companies in the Chinese market from 2015 to 2021, we utilize event study methodology to assess the market's abnormal returns in response to ESG-related news. Our findings suggest a significant market impact from ESG-related news, indicating that investors are increasingly attentive to information pertaining to ESG issues. The study also reveals that different attributes of ESG-related news have diverse effects on the market. Specifically, news with negative sentiments has the most significant impact, and investors demonstrate a stronger reaction to ESG-related news disseminated through unofficial media. Furthermore, the study highlights that enterprise heterogeneity affects the impact of ESG-related news, with companies in the secondary and tertiary industries showing higher sensitivity. Privately-owned enterprises are found to be more influenced by such news compared to state-owned enterprises. This study offers a novel perspective in evaluating corporate ESG performance using news media, proposing a more effective and objective method to assess and manage corporate sustainability in a dynamic market landscape. • Significant impact of ESG-related news on Chinese stock market returns. • Diverse market reactions to varying ESG-related news sentiments and sources. • Stock response differs by company industry and ownership type. • Provides a basis for ESG-related news as a complementary tool in ESG ratings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the green economy efficiency (GEE) is crucial for building a sustainable economy. How can the rapidly advancing digital transformation contribute to this process? The paper empirically examines the direct and spatial spillover effects of digital transformation on cities' GEE in China. This study utilizes the National E-commerce Pilot City (NEPC) policy as a quasi-natural experiment of regional digital transformation and employs the staggered difference-in-differences (DID) method with heterogeneous effects. The findings reveal that (i) implementing the NEPC policy significantly increases urban GEE by 2.6%, corresponding to a 16% increase in the mean of GEE. This effect is particularly pronounced in non-resource-based cities and cities with high Internet penetration. (ii) The mechanism test shows that the pilot policy positively affects GEE by promoting green structural transformation, enhancing green innovation, and strengthening public environmental concerns. (iii) The study highlights a positive spatial spillover effect of the NEPC policy on the GEE of nonpilot cities. (iv) The adoption of the NEPC plays a pivotal role in advancing energy use and carbon emission efficiency. This paper expands the existing knowledge on the green development effects of the digital economy while offering valuable policy insights for building an "Inclusive Green Economy". [Display omitted] • The staggered differences-in-differences method is employed to examine the direct and spatial spillover effects of NEPC on cities' GEE in China. • This paper uses NEPC as a quasi-experiment for digital transformation. • NEPC significantly improves green economic efficiency by 2.6%. • Green structural transformation, innovation, and environmental concerns are main channels. • Positive spillover effect of NEPC on green economy efficiency in non-pilot cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic pollutants are important harmful components in atmospheric fine particulate matters (PM 2.5), health risks of which varied with temporal and spatial distributions. To clarify the characteristics of atmospheric organic pollution, the concentrations, sources, and human health risks of typical organic compositions in PM 2.5 samples from both industrial and urban areas of Nanjing in eastern China were investigated monthly for a year. Results showed that, the concentrations of PM 2.5 -bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes were higher in winter and spring than those in summer and autumn. The organic pollution was slightly higher in industrial than urban area, though the PAHs in autumn and the n-alkanes in warm season (summer and autumn) were higher in urban area. With regards to the pollutant sources, the atmospheric PAHs were dominated by motor vehicle exhaust in the urban area, and combined with coal combustion emission in the industrial area. Airborne n-alkanes were mainly from biological source accompanied by fossil fuel combustion in industrial area. The PM 2.5 -bound PAHs indicated higher risks to adults in industrial area than in urban area with the seasonal patterns: winter > spring > autumn > summer. More attention should be paid to the health risks of exposure to organic pollutants accumulated in PM 2.5 during cold season. Controlling vehicle emissions might be the key measure for alleviating atmospheric PAHs and n-alkanes pollution in megacities, while coal purification can be an effective control method in industrial areas. • Organic pollutants are typical harmful components in PM 2.5 • Concentrations, sources, and health risks of PM 2.5 show spatio-temporal patterns. • PAHs and n-alkanes pollution were serious in cold season and industrial area. • Vehicle emission is a key target for alleviating particulate organic pollution. • Coal purification can be an effective pollution control method in industrial area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new graph-based measure for keyword extraction is proposed, by lever- aging higher-order structural features (e.g. motifs) of word co-occurrence graph. • This method considers the frequency of the words as well as the context information. • Do not need corpus but the document itself. • This method shows superior performance compared to TextRank and TF- IDF based methods. Keyword extraction is a building block of information retrieval. Many techniques have been developed to tackle this problem. However, most of the existing methods suffer from high computational complexity or large corpus dependency, which limits the practical applications. Indeed, given a single document, new visions and strategies are needed for keyword extraction to face the challenges. In this work, we proposed a new graph-based measure for keyword extraction, by leveraging higher-order structural features (e.g. motifs) of word co-occurrence graph. The experiments on real datasets shows superior performance of the proposed method, compared to TF-IDF and PageRank based methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract In this work, the magnetic alginate microsphere of Fe 3 O 4 /MgAl-LDH (Fe 3 O 4 /LDH-AM) was prepared by immobilizing the Fe 3 O 4 /LDH with calcium alginate (CA) and was used to remove Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ from aqueous solutions. The obtained Fe 3 O 4 /LDH-AM was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area determination. The results indicated that the surface groups of the alginate and LDH were retained and so was the crystal structure in the alginate microsphere. The adsorption performance of the Fe 3 O 4 /LDH-AM for Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ in aqueous solutions was evaluated by batch and column adsorption experiments. The effects of adsorption conditions, kinetics, isotherms, mechanisms, and potential applications were investigated. The adsorption kinetic data conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation, and the isotherm data fit well with the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. The adsorption mechanism of Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ by the Fe 3 O 4 /LDH-AM entailed complexation and precipitation. The experimental breakthrough curves were correlated with the Thomas model. Moreover, the Fe 3 O 4 /LDH-AM displayed superior regeneration and reusability. These results suggest that the Fe 3 O 4 /LDH-AM is an efficient adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals and can be effectively employed in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a diffusive predator–prey model of Lotka–Volterra type functional response in which both species obey the logistic growth such that the carrying capacity of the predator is proportional to the prey population and the one for prey is a constant. Both continuous and discrete diffusion are addressed. Our aim is to see whether both species can survive eventually, if an alien invading predator is introduced to the habitat of an existing prey. The answer to this question is positive under certain restriction on the parameter. Applying Schauder's fixed point theory with the help of suitable upper and lower solutions, the existence of traveling wave solutions for this model is proven. Furthermore, by deriving the non-existence of traveling wave solutions, we also determine the minimal speed of traveling waves for this model. This provides an estimation of the invasion speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decades of intensifying human activities have caused dramatic changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in the ecologically fragile areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which have led to significant changes in ecosystem service value (ESV). Taking the ecologically fragile Sanjiangyuan region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as the research object, we focused on understanding the impact of LULC changes on the Sanjiangyuan's landscape pattern and its corresponding ESV, which was combined with a Markov-Plus model to predict LULC changes in 2030. The results showed: (1) from 2000 to 2020, the LULC of Sanjiangyuan has changed to varying degrees, respectively. In the central and southern regions where animal husbandry is the mainstay activity, the area of grass land converted to bareland had expanded; (2) from 2000 to 2010, the total regional ESV increased sharply. However, the total amount of ESV decreased from 2010 to 2020; (3) the overall ESV in the study area was observed to be trending down and is expected to decrease by approximately 4.25 billion CNY by 2030; (4) the fragmentation and complexity of regional landscape patterns will negatively affect local ecosystem stability and biodiversity. Overall, there is a strong temporal and spatial correlation between LULC and ESV. This study will provide a reference for the local government to provide targeted and sustainable land management policies, thereby promoting the improvement of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau regional ecology value. • ESV in ecologically fragile areas was affected by human activities. • ESV had strong spatial and temporal differences in Sanjiangyuan region. • Bareland and artificial surface had expanded in Sanjiangyuan region in the past few decades. • LULC combined with landscape index can explain ESV spatiotemporal changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-resolution nutrient emission inventory can provide reliable and accurate identification of priority control areas, which is crucial for efficient decisions on water quality restoration. However, the inventories widely used in large-scale modeling are usually based on provincial inputs, which induce the challenges of lacking localized parameters and missing localized characteristic when provincial scale inputs are converted to finer scales with the down-scale methods. Based on elaborate investigations and statistical data at the county scale with multi-scale data conversion, the China Emission Inventory of Nutrients (CEIN) was developed with a spatial resolution of a 0.1° grid and sub-basin scales. The Yangtze River Basin was used as a case study to illustrate the potential applications of CEIN. The emissions of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) of Yangtze River Basin is 0.43 Mt and 0.04 Mt for point sources, 11.09 Mt and 4.64 Mt for diffuse sources in 2017. The hotspot analysis for 2606 sub-basins indicated that cropland is the key source of nutrient emissions, accounting for 58.88% and 79.15% of TN and TP, respectively. Industrial sewage and freshwater aquaculture accounted for 27.39% (TN) and 21.98% (TP) of the point sources, which is substantial due to their direct discharge into surface waters. The current results also reveal that, in contrast to CEIN, the previously used common emission factors based on GDP per capita produced considerable overestimations of 2.37 and 2.65 times the actual TN and TP emissions, respectively. Additional advantages of the CEIN have been demonstrated in identifying priority control areas more accurately with reduced bias and quantifying the effects of policies at much smaller scales. For example, the CEIN helps to distinguish hotspots, which was neglected when identifying sources at the level-III sub-basin scale, and indicates that the management of fractional areas (TN: 16.97%; TP: 13.44%) provides the highest nutrient emissions control (TN: 44.34%; TP: 48.65%) for the entire basin. The evaluation of China's toilet revolution policy demonstrates that achieving equitable access to safe sanitation has resulted in a reduction of 7240 t of TN and 833 t of TP, which is extremely critical for rural water quality and health. [Display omitted] • High-resolution China Emission Inventory of Nutrients (CEIN) is developed with 0.1° grid. • Priority control areas were identified for 2606 sub-basins in the Yangtze River Basin. • Previous emission factors with GDP per capita produced considerable overestimations. • CEIN can quantify effects of policies at much smaller scales with reduced bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common chronic lung disease in premature infants, and its pathogenesis has not been clarified. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) have important functions in cell bioactivity. However, their role in developmental lung disease remains unclear. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the role of lncRNA SNHG6 (SNHG6) in BPD and its underlying mechanisms. The blood of patients with BPD were collected, and BPD model of BEAS-2B cells was established by hyperoxia method. SNHG6, miR-335 and KLF5 mRNA expression were detected by RT-qPCR. Western blot was conducted to measure the levels of apoptosis-related proteins' expression and NF-κB pathway related proteins. BEAS-2B cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Assay Kit was applied to detect ROS, MDA and SOD levels, respectively. ELISA was performed to assess the levels of inflammatory factors. The binding site of miR-335 with SNHG6 or KLF5 were predicted by using DIANA or TargetScan, and which was verified by double luciferase reporter assay. Firstly, SNHG6 was highly expressed and miR-335 was lowly expressed in BPD model, SNHG6 knockdown and miR-335 mimics both alleviated hyperoxia-induced lung cell injury, and SNHG6 targeted miR-335. Subsequently, KLF5 was targeted by miR-335, and KLF5 promoted lung cell injury via activating NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, SNHG6 mediated lung cell injury via regulating the miR-335/KLF5/NF-κB pathway. Our research confirmed that SNHG6 mediated hyperoxia-induced lung cell injury via regulating the miR-335/KLF5/NF-κB pathway. These findings suggest that SNHG6 serves as promising targets for the treatment of newborns with BPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the fractional Nirenberg problem on the standard sphere S n with n ≥ 4 . Using the theory of critical points at infinity, we establish an Euler–Hopf type formula and obtain some existence results for curvature satisfying assumptions of Bahri–Coron type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two three-dimensional (3-D) MOFs, [(C 2 H 5 ) 4 N)] 3 [H 3 O] 2 [Cd 6 Br(H 2 -DHBDC) 8 (DMF) 4 ] ( 1 ; H 4 -DHBDC=2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide) and [(CH 3 ) 2 NH 2 ] 2 [Cd 3 (H2-DHBDC) 4 (DMF) 2 ]·2DMF( 2 ), are prepared from the self-assembly reactions between Cd(CH 3 COO) 2 and H 4 -DHBDC, respectively. Both anionic frameworks consist of linear trinuclear Cd units (e.g., 1 : [Cd 3 BrO 2 (CO 2 ) 7 ] and [Cd 3 O 2 (CO 2 ) 8 ]; 2 : [Cd 3 O 2 (CO 2 ) 8 ]) linked by the H 2 -DHBDC ligands. The photoluminescent properties of compound 1 are tunable through cation-exchange with different metal ions. The results demonstrated an effective ion-exchange approach toward the functional modification of MOF materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we prove some inequalities involving the generalized trigonometric and hyperbolic functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Generally, electrospun membranes have high mechanical strength, high porosity and low permeation resistance. Although covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted great interest as advanced membrane materials, few works disclosed that the COFs composite membranes were synthesized on electrospun substrates. In this work, the electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were used as substrates for the preparation of COF composite membranes with graphene oxide and oxidized carbon nanotubes (GO-OCNTs) as an intermediate layer. The COF/GO-OCNTs/PVDF composite membranes were prepared by suction filtering the GO-OCNTs intermediate layer on the electrospun substrate, and then interfacial polymerization of COF layer. After adding the intermediate layer, the water permeance and dye retention rate of the composite COF membrane are both improved. By exploring the reaction parameters in the interfacial polymerization process, the optimized membrane shows that the rejection rate of Coomassle brilliant blue G250 (BBG-250) is about 97.1%, and the water permeability achieves 96.7 L m−2 h−1 bar−1. In addition, the COF/GO-OCNTs/PVDF composite membrane exhibits excellent chemical and mechanical stability. The long-term filtration experiment of the composite membrane shows good water permeation stability. This work provides a method to prepare dense and defect-free COF films on electrospun substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study offers an insightful and detailed examination of microplastic pollution in the Huixian karst wetland's groundwater, providing novel insights into the complex interplay of microplastic characteristics and their seasonal dynamics. We meticulously quantified microplastic concentrations, observing significant seasonal variation with values ranging from 4.9 to 13.4 n·L−1 in the wet season and 0.53–49.4 n·L−1 in the dry season. Our analysis pinpoints human activities and atmospheric deposition as key contributors to this contamination. A critical finding of our research is the pronounced disparity in microplastic levels between open wells and covered artesian wells, highlighting the vulnerability of open wells to higher pollution levels. Through correlation analysis, we unearthed the crucial influence of the karst region's unique hydrogeological characteristics on microplastic migration, distinctively different from non-karst areas. The karst terrain, characterized by its caves and subterranean rivers, facilitates the downward movement of microplastics from surface to groundwater, exacerbating pollution levels. Our investigation identifies agricultural runoff and domestic wastewater as primary pollution sources. These findings not only underscore the urgent need for environmental stewardship in karst regions but also provide a crucial foundation for formulating effective strategies to mitigate microplastic pollution in karst groundwater. The implications of this study extend beyond the Huixian karst wetland, offering a template for addressing microplastic pollution in similar ecosystems globally. [Display omitted] • Provides detailed analysis of microplastic types and properties in the groundwater environment of a karst wetland protection area. • Uncovers distinct seasonal patterns in microplastic concentrations in karst underground waters. • Reveals a close link between surface and underground water microplastics in karst ecosystems. • Highlights the need for targeted strategies to mitigate microplastic pollution's environmental and health impacts. • Local residents may be exposed to 27 microplastic particles daily via drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the limit cycle of the two-dimensional aeroelastic system with hysteresis nonlinearity was obtained by the time-domain minimum residual method. Compared with the existing semi-analytical methods, the proposed approach does not need to extend the hysteresis nonlinearity into smooth functions, so the approximate solutions obtained by this approach have higher accuracy. The method is mainly three-fold. Firstly, the approximate analytical solution of the aeroelastic system is expanded as a trigonometric series with N terms and the unknown coefficients. Then, substituting the approximate solutions into the original aeroelastic system, and the problem of solving the analytical solution is transformed into a nonlinear least-square optimization problem, which is to find a set of trigonometric coefficients to minimize the residual vector over a period. Finally, the unknown coefficients are iteratively solved by the enhanced response sensitivity approach. Moreover, the Tikhonov regularization and the trust-region constraint are called to tackle ill-position and enhance the convergences. Numerical examples show that the approximate analytical solutions obtained by the proposed approach are in good agreement with numerical results, and their accuracy is much higher than that of the IHB method. • The proposed approach can converge to the optimal solution quickly. • The proposed approach does not need multiple integration operations. • TMRM can deal with hysteresis nonlinearity without introducing smoothing procedure. • The accuracy of the approximate analytical solution obtained by TMRM is much higher than that of IHB method. • The symmetry breaking phenomenon can be capture quickly by the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this report, classical swine fever virus (CSFV) NS5A inhibit viral RNA replication when its concentration reached and surpassed the level of NS5B. Three amino acid fragments of CSFV NS5A, 137–172, 224–268 and 390–414 individually were shown to be essential to NS5B binding. The former two fragments were independently necessary for regulation of viral RNA replication and correlated with NS5B and 3′UTR binding activity. We also found that amino acids W143, V145, P227, T246, P257, K399, T401, E406 and L413 of CSFV NS5A were essential to NS5B binding activity. Furthermore, these amino acids were shown to be necessary for viral RNA replication and infection and conserved in NS5A proteins of CSFV, BDV, BVDV and HCV. These results indicated that NS5A may regulate viral RNA replication by binding to NS5B and 3′UTR. NS5A can still regulate viral RNA synthesis through binding to 3′UTR when binding to NS5B is not available. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and magnetic properties of a series of ABO3-perovskites LaFe1−x Cr x O3 (0≤x≤1) are reported. The alkalinity in initial reaction mixtures plays a critical role in controlling the designed stoichiometry of the final compositions. Their magnetic properties are strongly dependent on the compositions and a maximum magnetic moment is found for the sample at x=0.5. Weak ferromagnetic interaction observed for the samples from x=0 to 0.9 arises from the presence of Fe–O–Fe antisymmetric exchange and Fe–O–Cr superexchange interaction. The weak ferromagnetism as well as the linear variation of the lattice parameters implies the possible random distribution of Fe and Cr ions in B sites of the perovskites. The evolution of magnetic ordering transition temperatures has a close relationship with substituent ratios, for the competition of antiferromagnetism and ferromagnetism. The saturated magnetic moment shows a great improvement compared with that for the samples synthesized by solid state method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present the necessary conditions for the existence of the Kolwankar–Gangal local fractional derivatives (KG-LFD) and introduce more general but weaker notions of LFDs by using limits of certain integral averages of the difference-quotient. By applying classical results due to Stein and Zygmund (1965) we show that the KG-LFD is almost everywhere zero in any given intervals. We generalize some of our results to higher dimensional cases and use integral approximation formulas obtained to design numerical schemes for detecting fractional dimensional edges in signal processing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two new supramolecular compounds based on tungsten–vanadium polyoxoanions formulated as [Cu(2,2′-bipy)3]2H14[PW2.2V9.8O40(VO)2[Cu(2,2′-bipy)2H2O]2][PW2.2V9.8O40(VO)2]·10H2O (1) and [Cu4(2,2′-bipy)4(H2O)2(PO4)2]H6.5[PW8.4V3.6O40]·2H2O (2) (2,2′-bipy=2,2′-bipyridine) have been synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by IR, TG, XPS and X-ray diffraction analyses. Crystal structure analyses reveal that compounds 1 and 2 exhibit novel 2D supramolecular layer structures constructed from tungsten–vanadium polyoxoanions and different types of secondary building units (SBUs), respectively, the different SBUs are formed by [Cu(2,2′-bipy)2H2O]2+ and [Cu(2,2′-bipy)3]2+ cations in compound 1 and [Cu4(2,2′-bipy)4(H2O)2(PO4)2]2+ cations in 2, respectively. Study of magnetic properties indicated the presence of antiferromagnetic behaviors for both compound 1 and 2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Let be two idempotents on a Hilbert space. Z.V. Kovarik (Z.V. Kovarik, Similarity and interpolation between projectors, Acta Sci. Math. (Szeged) 39 (1977) 341–351) showed that when is invertible, the formula gives the only idempotent such that , , where and denote the nullspace and the range of a bounded linear operator T on a Hilbert space, respectively. This formula was later extended to the context of Banach algebras and used in 1983 by J. Esterle to show that two homotopic idempotents may always be connected by a polynomial idempotent valued path. In the present paper, we give a simplification of Kovarik''s original formula and one natural generalization of it. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: RMn2O5 (R=La, Pr, Nd, Tb, Bi) crystallites were prepared by a mild hydrothermal method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and magnetic measurement. The formation of manganates was sensitive to the alkalinities and Mn-containing precursors of the reaction mixtures. This family of manganates is isostructural and has a space group of Pbam. The magnetic measurements for RMn2O5 showed an antiferromagnetic transition. The strong irreversibility between the ZFC and FC curves indicated a helicoidally magnetic structure below 40K. The max d.c. susceptibilities of LaMn2O5+ δ (δ=0.01, 0.06, 0.08, 0.16, 0.17) were found to be variable and the excess oxygen (δ) in the compounds was influenced by the alkalinity used in the hydrothermal synthesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The calcium-doped manganates, Pr1− x Ca x MnO3 (x=0.39, 0.46, 0.70, 0.76), were synthesized as cube-shaped crystalline phases under mild hydrothermal conditions for the first time. The crystals could be grown in one step from solutions of metal salts and potassium hydroxide at temperatures ∼240°C, and found to adopt perovskite-like structure (space group Pbnm). Samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma analysis and variable temperature dc/ac magnetic susceptibility. The studies indicate that formation of the materials is dependent on the alkalinity and composition of the initial reaction mixtures. The magnetic properties show spin-glass-like behavior due to competing ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) exchange interactions in Pr1− x Ca x MnO3 with , 0.46. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Eight new sesquiterpenoids (2 , 4 – 6 and 10 – 13) were isolated from the fungus Phomopsis sp. SYSU-QYP-23. • The absolute configuration of the side chain in compound 1 was first defined by modified Mosher's method. • Compounds 1 – 7 exhibited potent inhibitory activities against NO production with IC 50 values ranging from 8.6 to 14.5 μM. • Molecular docking studies implied the probable binding interaction of bioactivity of compounds 1 – 9 with nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Eight new sesquiterpene derivatives (2 , 4 – 6 and 10 – 13), along with five known analogues were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. SYSU-QYP-23. Their structures of new compounds were established by spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configurations were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and comparison of the experimental ECD spectra. The absolute configuration of the side chain in 1 was first defined by modified Mosher's method. Compounds 1 – 7 showed potent inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced RAW 264.7 cells with IC 50 values ranging from 8.6 to 14.5 μM. The molecular docking results implied that the bioactive sesquiterpenes may directly bind with targeting residues in the active cavity of iNOS protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental pollution of water is one of the problems that have plagued human society. The bimetallic nanoscale zero-valent iron (BnZVI) technology has increased wide attention owing to its high performance for water treatment and soil remediation. In recent years, the BnZVI technology based on the development of nZVI has been further developed. The material chemistry, synthesis methods, and immobilization or surface stabilization of bimetals are discussed. Further, the data of BnZVI (Fe/Ni, Fe/Cu, Fe/Pd) articles that have been studied more frequently in the last decade are summarized in terms of the types of contaminants and the number of research literatures on the same contaminants. Five contaminants including trichloroethylene (TCE), Decabromodi-phenyl Ether (BDE209), chromium (Cr(VI)), nitrate and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) were selected for in-depth discussion on their influencing factors and removal or degradation mechanisms. Herein, comprehensive views towards mechanisms of BnZVI applications including adsorption, hydrodehalogenation and reduction are provided. Particularly, some ambiguous concepts about formation of micro progenitor cell, production of hydrogen radicals (H ·) and H 2 and the electron transfer are highlighted. Besides, in-depth discussion of selectivity for N 2 from nitrates and co-precipitation of chromium are emphasized. The difference of BnZVI is also discussed. [Display omitted] • A review of the type of contaminants removed by bimetallic nanoscale zero-valent iron (BnZVI) is made. • The different synthesis and modification methods of BnZVI are reviewed. • The influence factors of contaminants removed by BnZVI are reported. • The multiple mechanisms of BnZVI with contaminants are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Although the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has ended, multiple sporadic cases still exist, posing a request for more antivirals. The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2, a key enzyme for viral replication, is an attractive target for drug development. Here, we report the discovery of a new potent α -ketoamide-containing Mpro inhibitor, N -((R)-1-cyclohexyl-2-(((R)-3-methoxy-1-oxo-1-((1-(2-oxo-2-((thiazol-2-ylmethyl)amino)acetyl)cyclobutyl)amino)propan-2-yl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)-4,4-difluorocyclohexane-1-carboxamide (20j). This compound presented promising enzymatic inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with an IC 50 value of 19.0 nM, and an excellent antiviral activity in cell-based assay with an EC 50 value of 138.1 nM. This novel covalent inhibitor may be used as a lead compound for subsequent drug discovery against SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Five new diterpenoids were isolated from the seeds of Euphorbia peplus. • Compounds 1 – 3 feature a very rare euphoperfoliane 5/11/5-tricyclic skeleton. • Compounds 1 & 3 can significantly induce lysosomal biogenesis by activation of TFEB. The first phytochemical investigation of the seeds of Euphorbia peplus led to the isolation and characterization of five new (1 – 5), named euphopepluanones A–E, and five known diterpenoids (6 – 10). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallographic experiments. Euphopepluanones A–E (1 – 3) feature a very rare 5/11/5-tricyclic skeleton, and euphopepluanones D–E (4 – 5) represent the first report of lathyrane type diterpenoids found in E. peplus. The new compounds 1 – 5 were assessed for their activities to induce lysosomal biogenesis through LysoTracker Red staining, in which compounds 1 and 3 could significantly induce lysosomal biogenesis. In addition, compounds 1 and 3 could promote the nuclear translocation of TFEB, a master transcriptional factor of lysosomal genes, indicating that compounds 1 and 3 induced lysosomal biogenesis through activation of TFEB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, NR/MXene/SiO 2 nanocomposites are fabricated into flexible wearable strain sensors with an island-chain structure, this unique structure promotes the selective distribution of MXene in the NR matrix and greatly improves the sensing performance of the material, which can detect human motions in real-time and provide personal health monitoring. [Display omitted] The demand for flexible strain sensors with high sensitivity and durability has increased significantly. However, traditional sensors are limited in terms of their detection ranges and fabrications. In this work, a space stacking method was proposed to fabricate natural rubber (NR)/ Ti 3 C 2 T x (MXene)/silica (SiO 2) films that possessed exceptional electrical conductivity, sensitivity and reliability. The introduction of SiO 2 into the NR/MXene composite enabled the construction of an "island-chain structure", which promoted the formation of conductive pathways and significantly improved the conductivity of the composite. Specifically, the electrical conductivity of the NR/MXene/10 wt%SiO 2 composite was enhanced by about 200 times compared to that of the NR/MXene composite alone (from 0.07 to 13.4 S/m). Additionally, the "island-chain structure" further enhanced the sensing properties of the NR/MXene/10 wt%SiO 2 composite, as evidenced by its excellent sensitivity (GF = 189.2), rapid response time (102 ms), and good repeatability over 10,000 cycles. The fabricated device demonstrates an outstanding mechanical sensing performance and can accurately detect human physiological signals. Specifically, the device serves as a strain detector, recognizing different strain signals by monitoring the movement of fingers, arms, and thighs. This study provides critical insights into composite manufacturing with exceptional conductivity, flexibility and stability, which are essential properties for creating high-performance flexible sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Six new compounds (±)- 1, (±)- 2, 3 and 8 were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. SYSUQYP-23. • The absolute configurations of (±)- 1 , (±)- 2 and 8 were determined by ECD calculation. • Compounds 3 – 9 exhibited significant inhibitory activities against NO production with IC 50 values ranging from 4.5 to 25.0 μM. • Molecular docking study implied the probable binding interaction of bioactivity compounds 4 and 5 with nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Five new maleimide derivatives, (+)- and (−)- farinomalein F (1), (+)- and (−)- farinomalein G (2), farinomalein H (3) and one new linearly fused prenylated indole alkaloid phomoamide (8), along with five known compounds 4 – 7 and 9 were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. SYSUQYP-23. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by HRESIMS, spectroscopic and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Bioassay results showed that compounds 3 – 9 exhibited significant inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced RAW 264.7 cells, with IC 50 values ranging from 4.5 to 25 μM. Moreover, the molecular docking study implied the probable binding interaction of compounds 4 and 5 with nitric oxide synthase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZSM-5 zeolite was successfully synthesized in an organic template-free system by a dry gel conversion (DGC) method. The influence factors, such as crystallization temperature, crystallization time, water content in the autoclave and the SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio in the dry gel, have been investigated systematically. A series of DGC-ZSM-5 zeolites were characterized by XRD, SEM, XRF, BET and NH 3 -TPD. The results showed that the high crystallinity of ZSM-5 could be obtained without organic template. The content of water in the autoclave and the SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio have a significant effect on the crystallinity and purity of DGC-ZSM-5. Furthermore, a possible formation mechanism was proposed based on the investigation of the crystallization process. Compared with the zeolite synthesized by hydrothermal method, the DGC-ZSM-5 zeolite not only exhibits much shorter crystallization time and smaller particle size, but also retains the synthesis gel SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio in the final materials. The crystallization process of ZSM-5 zeolite by a dry gel conversion method. Image 1 • Highly crystalline ZSM-5 was prepared without any organic template by a DGC method. • The prepared ZSM-5 zeolite needs shorter crystallization time. • The prepared ZSM-5 zeolite has higher acidic sites and smaller particle sizes. • External bulk water in the autoclave plays a crucial role in crystallization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A dual-functional ultrafiltration membrane containing quaternary ammonium and zwitterionic polymers was prepared. • The antifouling and antibacterial behavior of the membrane was studied. • The membrane showed the improved organic-/bio fouling resistance. • The membrane showed high-efficiency broad-spectrum antibacterial performance. To overcome the organic-/bio- fouling of the membrane, a dual-functional ultrafiltration membrane containing quaternary ammonium and zwitterionic polymers via quaternization and surface radical polymerization was designed, and its antifouling and antibacterial behavior was studied. In this work, poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(methyl methacrylate- co -dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate) (PVDF/P(MMA- co -DMAEMA)) blend membrane was quaternized by p -chloromethyl styrene (p -CMS), and the double bonds were introduced onto the membrane surface, which further participated in the polymerization of zwitterionic monomers on the membrane surface. The results indicated that the resultant membrane exhibited obviously improved hydrophilicity and weak positive charge (isoelectric point, 7.49). The membrane presented higher flux recovery ratio and lower protein adhesion compared with the pure PVDF membrane. Meanwhile, the membrane showed high-efficiency broad-spectrum antibacterial performance, that is, the bacteria killing efficiency of S. aureus and E. coli reached 98.2% and 97.0%, respectively. Moreover, the membrane effectively inhibited bacterial adhesion, which is important for the long-term antibacterial properties of membrane. This antifouling and antibacterial PVDF membrane may have potential in the long-term filtration process, especially when dealing with microbiologically contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The catalytic effect of bismuth on Pt(1 0 0) electrodes for the FAOR is linked to the Pt-Bi ensembles. • Bismuth catalyzes the direct path and inhibits the CO formation route. • A mechanism for the reaction that accounts for the experimental results is proposed. The formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) on bismuth-modified Pt(1 0 0) is studied using electrochemical techniques and FITR spectroscopy at different bismuth coverages and formic acid concentrations. The results clearly show that: (1) The measured currents for the Bi-modified Pt(1 0 0) surface contain contributions from both the Pt-Bi ensembles and the Pt sites far from the Bi adatoms. (2) The catalytic effect of bismuth is not linked to the adsorption of formate on Pt sites. (3) The bismuth not only improves the activity of the FAOR through the active intermediate but also inhibits the CO poison by a third-body effect. (4) The experimental results indicate that the catalytic activity is linked to the Pt-Bi ensembles. The active species, formate, adsorbs on the Bi site and the neighboring Pt sites facilitate the cleavage of the C–H bond. (5) From the concentration dependence, the reaction order for formate on bismuth-modified Pt(1 0 0) is 1 at low potentials. In contrast, a reaction order of 0.5 is obtained at higher potentials. These results are in agreement with the proposed mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA formylation (5-formylcytosine, 5fC) is a major epigenetic modification involved in alterations in the DNA double helix structure and protein identification. Due to the low amount in all mammalian tissues and cells, it is necessary to develop a rapid, sensitive and efficient method for detecting 5fC for further understanding the biological functions of 5fC. Thus, a novel PEC biosensor was constructed using P-g-C 3 N 4 -WS 2 nanocomposite as photoactive material. Firstly, AuNPs/P-g-C 3 N 4 -WS 2 /ITO electrode was prepared as substrate electrode. Secondly, the probe DNA and complementary DNA (containing 5fC base) was modified to the electrode surface based on the formation of Au-S bonds between AuNPs and thiol group on the probe DNA and hybridization, respectively. Finally, the amino functionalized MnO 2 nanoflowers were further modified to the electrode surface by covalent interaction between the aldehyde group on the 5fC and the amino group on MnO 2 nanoflowers. The sensitive and specific detection of 5fC can be achieved by oxidizing ascorbic acid with MnO 2 nanoflowers and quenching the photoactivity of P-g-C 3 N 4 -WS 2 nanocomposite. The sensor has a detection range of 0.01–200 nM and a detection limit of 3.8 pM. Moreover, this sensor has excellent detection specificity, stability and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately obtaining the pollution sources and their contribution rates is the basis for refining watershed management. Although many source analysis methods have been proposed, a systematic framework for watershed management is still lacking, including the complete process of pollution source identification to control. We proposed a framework for identification and abatement of pollutants and applied in the Huangshui River Basin. A newer contaminant flux variation method based on a one-dimensional river water quality model was used to calculate the contribution of pollutants. The contributions of various factors to the over-standard parameters of water quality sections at different spatial and temporal scales were calculated. Based on the calculation results, corresponding pollution abatement projects were developed, and the effectiveness of the projects was evaluated through scenario simulation. Our results showed that the large scale livestock and poultry farms and sewage treatment plants were the largest sources of total nitrogen (TP) in Xiaoxia bridge section, with contribution rates of 46.02% and 36.74%, respectively. Additionally, the largest contribution sources of ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 –N) were sewage treatment plants (36.17%) and industrial sewage (26.33%). Three towns that contributed the most to TP were Lejiawan Town (14.4%), Ganhetan Town (7.3%) and Handong Hui Nationality town (6.6%), while NH 3 –N mainly from the Lejiawan Town (15.9%), Xinghai Road Sub-district (12.4%) and Mafang Sub-district (9.5%). Further analysis found that point sources in these towns were the main contributor to TP and NH 3 –N. Accordingly, we developed abatement projects for point sources. Scenario simulation indicated that the TP and NH 3 –N could be significantly improved by closing down and upgrading relevant sewage treatment plants and building facilities for large scale livestock and poultry farms. The framework adopted in this study can accurately identify pollution sources and evaluate the effectiveness of pollution abatement projects, which is conducive to the refined water environment management. • A framework of pollution source identification and abatement is proposed. • Contaminant flux variation method was put forward for quantifying contribution. • Water quality scenarios models provide pollution management strategies. • Point source contributes the biggest for ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus. • Impact from point sources on water quality was greater during the dry season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the electron transporting and suppress the charge recombination at the interface of TiO 2 /perovskite, the smooth and compact yttrium(Y)-doped TiO 2 compact layers were successfully prepared via a hydrolysis-pyrolysis method. The influences of Y-doped on the microstructure, crystal phase, chemical composition, optical absorption of the TiO 2 compact layers were investigated, and the electron transporting and charge recombination at the TiO 2 /perovskite interface of solar cells were systemically analyzed. The planar perovskite solar cells based on the Y-doped TiO 2 compact layers with a Y/Ti molar ratio of 5% obtained a best photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.52%, comparing with a PCE of 14.05% from the undoped devices. When the 200-nm length 3% Y-doped TiO 2 nanorod arrays were introduced between the 5% Y-doped TiO 2 compact layers and the perovskite thin film, the champion cell achieved a PCE of 18.32% under illumination of simulated AM 1.5 sunlight (100 mA cm−2). To improve the electron transporting and suppress the charge recombination between the interface of TiO 2 and perovskite, the smooth and compact Y-doped TiO 2 compact layers were successfully prepared by hydrolysis-pyrolysis method using an acidic titanium isopropoxide solution in isopropanol and yttrium chloride hexahydrate (YCl 3 ·6H 2 O) was used as the yttrium source. And further by introducing 200 nm length Y-doped TiO 2 nanorod arrays on the Y-doped TiO 2 compact layers, the PCE was improved to 18.32% with J sc of 23.55 mA cm−2, V oc of 1.04 V, and FF of 74.83% and the average PCE of 17.55 ± 0.86% with J sc of 22.83 ± 0.78 mA cm−2, V oc of 1.04 ± 0.02 V, and FF of 73.19 ± 1.79%. Image 1 • Y-doped TiO 2 compact layers were successfully prepared by hydrolysis-pyrolysis method. • Investigating the electron transporting and charge recombination of TiO 2 /perovskite. • By introducing Y-doped TiO 2 nanorod arrays, the PCE was further improved to 18.32%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, thermal treatment of 0.2 wt.% Pt 4+ deposited on SiO 2 through vacuum calcination and H 2 reduction is used to synthesize Pt particles less than 1 nm in diameter that are uniformly dispersed on the SiO 2 . Traditional treatments involving air calcination/H 2 reduction on the same 0.2 wt.% Pt 4+ /SiO 2 result in the formation of inhomogeneous Pt particles with an average size of ∼8.4 nm. The tiny Pt particles have an improved reaction rate at ambient temperature and better catalytic stability for formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation. The formation mechanism of tiny Pt particles and the reaction mechanism of HCHO oxidation were investigated. The CO decomposition product from HCHO could be the essential intermediate in the course of HCHO oxidation, and the oxidative reaction pathway should be HCHO → CO → CO 2 . Adsorbed HCHO may bond to the Pt surface in the η 2 configuration and form CO through a decomposition process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The composite showed high activity and stability for BzOH oxidation in water. • The redox cycle of VV/VIV was supposed to be responsible for PMS composition. • S O 4 ∙ - , 1O 2 and mediated electron transfer played a major role in the oxidation. A porous V/SiO 2 sphere composite (VO X @SiO 2) was synthesized using one-step sol-gel method. Benefiting from the redox properties of vanadium and the hydrophilic property, VO X @SiO 2 showed good catalytic performances for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) to benzaldehyde (BzH) in aqueous phase through peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, and performed far better in water than in various organic solvents. The redox cycle of VV/VIV was supposed to be responsible for PMS decomposition in the VO X @SiO 2 /PMS system. The S O 4 ∙ - , 1O 2 and mediated electron transfer were revealed to play a major role in the selective oxidation of BzOH to BzH. The intrinsic kinetics was analyzed to calculate the chemical reaction rate (r a) and reaction order (n = 0.33) with respect to BzOH. This study provided some insights into the development of vanadium-based heterogeneous catalyst for the selective oxidation of BzOH to BzH through PMS activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-arid regions present unique challenges for maintaining aquatic biological integrity due to their complex evolutionary mechanisms. Uncovering the spatial patterns of aquatic biological integrity in these areas is a challenging research task, especially under the compound environmental stress. Our goal is to address this issue with a scientifically rigorous approach. This study aims to explore the spatial analysis and diagnosis method of aquatic biological based on the combination of machine learning and statistical analysis, so as to reveal the spatial differentiation patterns and causes of changes of aquatic biological integrity in semi-arid regions. To this end, we have introduced an innovative approach that combines XGBoost-SHAP and Fuzzy C-means clustering (FCM), we successfully identified and diagnosed the spatial variations of aquatic biological integrity in the Wei River Basin (WRB). The study reveals significant spatial variations in species number, diversity, and aquatic biological integrity of phytoplankton, serving as a testament to the multifaceted responses of biological communities under the intricate tapestry of environmental gradients. Delving into the depths of the XGBoost-SHAP algorithm, we discerned that Annual average Temperature (AT) stands as the pivotal driver steering the spatial divergence of the Phytoplankton Integrity Index (P-IBI), casting a positive influence on P-IBI when AT is below 11.8 °C. The intricate interactions between hydrological variables (VF and RW) and AT, as well as between water quality parameters (WT, NO 3 –N, TP, COD) and AT, collectively sculpt the spatial distribution of P-IBI. The fusion of XGBoost-SHAP with FCM unveils pronounced north-south gradient disparities in aquatic biological integrity across the watershed, segmenting the region into four distinct zones. This establishes scientific boundary conditions for the conservation strategies and management practices of aquatic ecosystems in the region, and its flexibility is applicable to the analysis of spatial heterogeneity in other complex environmental contexts. • XGBoost-SHAP uncovers key drivers in semi-arid aquatic integrity evolution. • Innovative integration of XGBoost-SHAP with FCM maps aquatic spatial patterns. • AT dominates the distribution of aquatic biological integrity. • Distinct north-south trends in aquatic biological integrity of semi-arids revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase of sustainable development goal, the bio-based adsorption materials with high and selective dye removal are important for water treatment in the dyeing industry. In this paper, a bio-based adsorption foam composed of metal-organic frameworks (MOF) and polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified cellulose was prepared by a three-step process, i.e., PEI modification of cellulose fibers (PC), MOF decoration of PEI-modified cellulose (MIL-53@PC), and in-situ foaming with polyurethane. PEI modification provides cellulose fiber with more active sites for both dye adsorption and MOF bonding. We found that MIL-53 crystals were tightly bonded on the surface of PC through hydrogen bonding. Because of the abundant adsorption sites (e.g., amines, iron oxide group), the MIL-53@PC demonstrated high adsorption capacity and selectivity for anionic dye (e.g., 936.5 mg/g for methyl orange) through electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding. Finally, MIL-53@PC particles were blended with a waterborne polyurethane prepolymer to prepare a three-dimensional hydrophilic foam (MIL-53@PC/PUF), which not only maintained high adsorption capacity and selectivity of MIL-53@PC and also improved its recyclability and reusability. The MIL-53@PC/PUF offers a promising solution for dye wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • MIL-53@PC was fabricated via the ultrasonic method. • The maximum adsorption capacity of MIL-53@PC for MO was 936.5 mg/g. • The MIL-53@PC could selectively remove the anionic dyes from wastewater. • The MIL-53@PC/PUF broadened the practical application of powder adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SNHG29 decreases the expression of osteoblast-related factors to inhibit VC. • SNHG29 acts as a negative regulator of miR-200b-3p. • MiR-200b-3p inactivates α-Klotho/FGFR1/FGF23 axis in the process of VC. • SNHG29 downregulates miR-200b-3p to activate α-Klotho/FGFR1/FGF23 axis. Vascular calcification (VC) is characterized by mineral accumulation on the walls of arteries and veins, which is a pathological process commonly found in elderly individuals and patients with atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes. Emerging evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in VC. However, the role of SNHG29 is less clear. The expression of SNHG29, miR-200b-3p, α-Klotho, FGFR1 and FGF23 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was quantified by qRT-PCR and western blot assays. β-GP was used to construct an in vitro calcification model, followed by MTT assay to detect cell viability. Calcification was determined by alizarin red S staining and quantified by calcification assay. ALP activity was investigated by ALP staining. The interactions among SNHG29, miR-200b-3p and α-Klotho were verified by luciferase assay. In the in vitro calcification model, SNHG29 was downregulated, while miR-200b-3p was upregulated. SNHG29 overexpression and miR-200b-3p knockdown significantly suppressed osteoblast-related factors (RUNX2 and BMP2), accompanied by activation of the α-Klotho/FGFR1/FGF23 axis, further inhibiting the formation of calcified nodules. Moreover, miR-200b-3p overexpression and α-Klotho knockdown reversed the SNHG29 overexpression-induced inhibitory effects on calcified VSMCs. Our study is the first to demonstrate that SNHG29 could inhibit VSMC calcification by downregulating miR-200b-3p to activate the α-Klotho/FGFR1/FGF23 axis, suggesting SNHG29 as a novel therapeutic target for VC-associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissociation conditions of methane hydrate in the presence of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mass fraction of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (abbreviated by EMIM-Cl hereafter) were experimentally determined. A high pressure micro-differential scanning calorimeter equipped with a motorized pump was applied to measure the dissociation temperature of the (hydrate + liquid water + vapor) three-phase equilibrium under a constant pressure process with a pressure ranging from (5.0 to 35.0) MPa. The addition of EMIM-Cl would inhibit the methane hydrate formation. The most significant inhibition effect was observed at 0.4 mass fraction of EMIM-Cl in aqueous solution to lower the dissociation temperature by 12.82 K at 20.00 MPa in comparison to that of the (methane + water) system. The Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera equation of state incorporated with COSMO-SAC activity coefficient model and the first order modified Huron–Vidal mixing rule were applied to evaluate the fugacity of vapor and liquid phase. A modified van der Waals and Platteeuw model with an explicit pressure dependence of the Langmuir adsorption constant was applied to determine the fugacity of hydrate phase. The predictive thermodynamic model successfully describes the tendency of phase behavior of methane hydrate in the presence of EMIM-Cl in the range from 0.1 to 0.4 mass fraction with absolute average relative deviation in predicted temperature of 0.70%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The conductive networks for electron hopping and migration constructed by one-dimensional (1D) composite absorbers are highly desirable to improve the electromagnetic (EM) wave attenuation capacity. Herein, the Ni@Co/C@polypyrrole (PPy) composites integrating the advantages of component and microstructure were fabricated. The addition of Co/C and PPy effectively optimized the impedance matching and improved the EM attenuation. Under the comprehensive impacts of multiple reflections/scattering, conduction loss and interface polarization, the Ni@Co/C@PPy composites showed superior EM wave absorption with the reflection loss (RL) value of −48.76 dB and the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.10 GHz at a corresponding thickness of 2.0 mm. The largest EAB could reach 5.54 GHz (7.24–12.78 GHz) at the thickness of 2.2 mm. This work provides a great reference for fabricating 1D novel EM wave absorption materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Nowadays, ferrites/carbon fibers have attracted considerable attention as microwave absorption materials (MA) due to the synergistic effect between dielectric and magnetic loss. Herein, the ZnFe 2 O 4 /C fibers were fabricated via electrospinning and calcination methods, and then polypyrrole (PPy) successfully coated on the fibers via oxidative polymerization. The ZnFe 2 O 4 /C@PPy composites exhibit enhanced EM wave absorption performance with the loading of 25 wt%. The optimal reflection loss (RL) value is up to −66.34 dB (13.80 GHz) and effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) is 5.74 GHz (11.78–17.52 GHz) with a matching thickness of 1.93 mm. Besides, high-efficient absorption performance of the ZnFe 2 O 4 /C@PPy composites is mainly attributed to the dielectric loss and ideal impedance matching. This study reveals a novel approach to development of ferrites/carbon fibers coated with PPy, and the ZnFe 2 O 4 /C@PPy composites exhibit great potential application as the materials with high-efficient absorption properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornidazole (ONZ) capture from water is one of thorny difficulties for water purification. To solve this issue, a series of novel interconnected nano-porous carbons (NPCs) with high adsorption activities toward ONZ has been firstly developed via direct carbonization of Zn-(MOF-74), Co-(MOF-74), and Zn/Co-(MOF-74) self-sacrifice templates. Textural properties of as-prepared NPCs were proven and compared by XRD, SEM, XPS, and N 2 adsorption, etc. The extraordinary 3D porous structure thus fabricated significantly enhanced ONZs capture ability. Inspiring, we observed that Zn/Co-NPC exhibited extraordinarily high ONZs capture capacity as a result of synergistic effects of electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, coordination, and π-π conjugation, displaying a maximum ONZs uptakes capacity of 320 ​mg/g. Moreover, the ONZs capture ability over our prepared NPCs only underwent a slight change after the fifth reuse. Overall, this novel NPC exhibits a promising practical application for ONZs capture from aqueous solutions. [Display omitted] • Novel Zn/Co-(MOF-74) derived porous carbon was achieved. • Zn/Co-NPC exhibits an excellent capture ability towards ONZs. • Zn/Co-NPC still exhibited good ONZs capture ability after fifth round. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new approach is developed for the prediction of the melting curve of gas hydrate with single or multiple additives, including organic inhibitors and electrolytes. This is made possible by combining a predictive equation of state for the fluid phase, the Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera equation of state (PRSV EoS) combined with the COSMO-SAC activity coefficient model through the first order modified Huron–Vidal (MHV1) mixing rule, and a modified van der Waals–Platteeuw model for the hydrate phase. We have examined this method for the change of the melting condition of gas hydrate upon addition of single organic inhibitor, single electrolyte, and a mixture of organic and electrolyte. The absolute average relative deviation in temperature (AARD-T) for these three types of systems are 0.79% (695 data points, T from 230.2K to 294.0K, P from 0.10MPa to 33.9MPa), 0.16% (810 data points, T from 259.5K to 299.1K, P from 0.13MPa to 71.56MPa), and 1.56% (316 data points, T from 248.2K to 292.9K, P from 0.90MPa to 73.28MPa), respectively. We believe that the proposed model is useful for the exploitation of natural or synthetic gas hydrates with multiple additives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]