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Dyslipidemia may be a potential mechanism linking fine particulate matter (PM

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can promote chronic diseases through the fundamental mechanism of inflammation; however, systemic information is lacking on the inflammatory PM2.5 components. To decipher organic components from personal PM2.5 exposure that were associated with respiratory and circulatory inflammatory responses in older adults, we developed an exposomic approach using trace amounts of particles and applied it on 424 personal PM2.5 samples collected in a panel study in Beijing. Applying an integrated multivariate and univariate untargeted strategy, a total of 267 organic compounds were filtered and then chemically identified according to their association with exhaled nitric oxide (eNO)/interleukin (IL)-6 or serum IL-1β/IL-6, with monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic compounds (i.e., MACs and PACs) as the representatives. Indoor-derived species with medium volatility including MACs were mainly associated with systemic inflammation, while low-volatile ambient components that originate from combustion sources, such as PACs, were mostly associated with airway inflammation. Following ambient component exposure, we found an inverted U-shaped relationship on change of eNO with insulin resistance, suggesting a higher risk of cardiopulmonary dysfunction for individuals with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels > 2.3. Overall, this study provided a practical untargeted strategy for the systemic investigation of PM2.5 components and proposed source-specific inflammatory effects.

Nowadays, transition-metal phosphides have been reported to function well in photocatalytic water splitting and possess great potential to substitute traditional noble-metal cocatalysts in the future. Herein, p-type cobalt phosphide (CoP-Co2P) nanomaterials were synthesized by phosphating the solvothermally prepared Co(OH)2 nanoflowers at a low temperature (300 °C). Then, we combined the phosphides with commercial TiO2 through facile mechanical mixing to fabricate a useful noble-metal-free photocatalyst. The phosphating time that had an influence on the composition of phosphides was tuned, and 3 h was an ideal condition after comparison. The cobalt phosphide-modified TiO2 at the optimal weight percentage (nominal 0.5%) exhibited the highest photocatalytic hydrogen rate of approximately 824.5 μmol g-1 h-1 under simulated sunlight irradiation, which was nearly equal to 160 times that of bare TiO2 and 1.7 times that of single CoP-modified TiO2. The CoPx/TiO2 heterojunction interfaces were studied using photoluminescence (PL), time-resolved PL, and photoelectrochemical methods, which revealed that the effective charge separation and transfer accelerated by the built-in electric field of p-n junction contributed significantly to the photocatalytic performance.

Fluidized bed retorting of oil shale is a potential technology with high shale oil yield. However, there are few studies on the composition distribution of the products of this technology. In this ...

Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with kidney dysfunction. However, few studies have investigated acute effects of PM2.5 elemental constituents on renal function. We evaluated associations between personal PM2.5 and its elemental constituents and kidney function, assessed by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Biomarkers of Air Pollutants Exposure in the Chinese aged 60-69 study. Seventy one older individuals were visited monthly between September 2018 and January 2019. Each participant wore a PM2.5 monitor for 72 h, responded to a questionnaire, and underwent a physical examination with blood sampling. Linear mixed-effect models were used to estimate associations between personal PM2.5 elemental constituents and eGFR. We found that significant changes in eGFR from -1.69% [95% confidence interval (CI): -3.34%, -0.01%] to -3.27% (95% CI: -5.04%, -1.47%) were associated with interquartile range (IQR) increases in individual PM2.5 exposures at various lag periods (7-12, 13-24, 0-24, 25-48, and 49-72 h). An IQR increase in 72 h moving averages of copper, manganese, and titanium in personal PM2.5 corresponded to -2.34% (95% CI: -3.67%, -0.99%) to -4.56% (95% CI: -7.04%, -2.00%) changes in eGFR. Personal PM2.5 and some of its elemental constituents are inversely associated with eGFR in older individuals.

Ambient particulate matter (PM) is often used as a proxy of personal exposure in epidemiological studies of PM-induced health effects, yet whether this proxy biases the estimates of health effects ...

Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) is a one-dimensional semiconductor stacking (Sb4S6)n ribbons with van der Waals force, which shows anisotropic features along different orientations. Controlling the grain orientation is an efficient strategy to enhance the PEC performance of Sb2S3 photocathodes. Here, we successfully fabricated a photocathode employing Sb2S3 as an absorber material with [hk1] orientation, which is suitable for sufficiently harvesting sunlight and efficient solar energy conversion. After sequentially depositing n-type CdS as a buffer layer, TiO2, and Pt, the completed Sb2S3-based photocathode yielded a record-high photocurrent density of −6.0 mA cm–2 at 0 V versus RHE in a near-neutral electrolyte (pH = 6.0) and an onset potential of +0.5 VRHE. In the stability testing, it could maintain ∼92% of the initial photocurrent density of 5.3 mA cm–2 after the continuous illumination of 60 min. Our experimental investigation confirmed that Sb2S3 is indeed a promising light-absorbing material for water splitting, which will promote further developments of Sb2S3-based photocathodes.

There is a rising concern that fine particle (PM(2.5)) compositions may play an important role in explaining PM(2.5)-related mortality risks. However, PM(2.5) constituents responsible for these risks have not yet been determined. To date, there are few PM(2.5) constituent health studies in developing countries. We adopted a time-series approach, using generalized linear regression models to examine associations between short-term exposure to PM(2.5) constituents and mortality. We analyzed data stratified by sex and by age groups (74) from 2013 to 2015 in Beijing, China. We also investigated seasonal patterns of such associations. For a 0 day lag, interquartile range increases in potassium, calcium, magnesium, and organic carbon were associated with 0.51% (95% CI: 0.17–0.85), 2.07% (95% CI: 0.71–3.44), 0.26% (95% CI: 0.08–0.44), and 2.65% (95% CI: 0.18–5.18) increases in respiratory mortality, and sulfate with a 1.57% (95% CI: 0.04–3.12) increase in cardiovascular mortality. In the season-stratified analysis, the association of some constituents (potassium, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, sulfate, and organic carbon) with respiratory mortality appeared to be stronger in cold seasons than in warm seasons. Older adults (65–74) may be susceptible to certain compositions. Our findings provide evidence that link PM(2.5) constituents with mortality and suggest that adverse effects vary among constituents in different seasons.

Two-dimensional imine-linked covalent organic frameworks with hydroxyl groups, TAPT-DHTA-COFHX and TAPT-DHTA-COFDMF, were respectively constructed by the condensation of 1,3,5-tris-(4-aminophenyl)triazine and 2,5-dihydroxyl-terephthalaldehyde under solvothermal and reflux conditions. Both COFs possess excellent thermal stability and a similar eclipsed stacking structure verified by XRD patterns. However, TAPT-DHTA-COFHX presented a larger surface area (2238 m2/g) and higher crystallinity than TAPT-DHTA-COFDMF. Significantly, copper ions are efficiently incorporated into the pores of these two COFs via the coordination interaction with hydroxyl groups and imine linkers. The obtained copper-containing COFs (Cu-COFHX and Cu-COFDMF) were employed in the selective oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde. Cu-COFHX with superior surface area (1886 m2/g) and pore volume (1.11 cm3/g) exhibited excellent catalytic performance and recyclability. This strategy not only provides a convenient approach to design imine-link...

China's South to North Water Diversion (SNWD) project connects portions of the Yangtze River in the south to the Yellow River system in the north, overcoming biogeographic barriers to water movement. The diversion will supply potable water to over 110 million people and provide multiple other socioeconomic benefits. However, an inadvertent negative impact of this connection includes creation of conduits for species invasions. Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) are the only aquatic plant species on China's shortlists for special control. These species are mainly invasive in the Yangtze River basin. If these species are able to invade the SNWD and further spread via the SNWD, they have the potential to alter water supply, including water quantity and quality, as well as local ecology and agriculture, threatening the goals of the diversion. Understanding the full potential for these species to invade northern China is critical to early management decisions to avoid costly negative impacts. We used Maxent modeling to evaluate the probability that each of these species might become invasive in the receiving water regions. The models predict that all three species will be able to expand their ranges northward, with alligator weed and water hyacinth having the greatest potential for range expansion. These results suggest the need for prevention, monitoring, and management strategies for these species to reduce the risk and costs of impacts.

A polyol-mediated synthetic method has been developed to prepare ultrafine anatase TiO2 nanocrystals of about 2−5 nm in size, which, when connected, form a network with porous structure. The physio...