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Here, we report a unique core-shell nanocomposite of Fe 2 N@N-doped carbon that coats dopamine-derived carbon shells on porous Fe 2 N nanoparticles via a facile and effective soft chemical method. The feasibility of preparing core-shell structure in the process of polymerization is realized by utilizing the fact that affluent amino and hydroxyl groups in dopamine endow the formidable chelation ability with metal ions. Temperature-dependent volume shrinkage effect of Fe 2 N originates from the lattice transformation in nitridation process, which is the key factor to control the void space inside carbon nanocubes and optimize the electromagnetic performance. Consequently, the as-prepared samples achieve excellent reflection loss (RL) values and effective absorption bandwidth at an even thin thickness of 1.4 mm. The balance between the temperature-dependent conduction loss and the optimization of hole structure impedance matching may be responsible for the excellent microwave behaviors. This work offers an attractive core-shell Fe 2 N@carbon with controllable void space as a promising candidate to handle the electromagnetic interface (EMI) issues. A customized unique core-shell Fe 2 N@Carbon with controllable void space achieved excellent microwave response in thin thickness. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common and invasive histological subtype of all kidney malignancies, with high levels of incidence and mortality. In the present study, long non-coding (lnc)RNA expression profiles of patients with ccRCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were comprehensively analyzed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs). The patients with ccRCC were then divided into training and validation cohorts. Univariate and LASSO regression analyses were performed to select the most significant survival-associated candidate DElncRNAs in the training cohort. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was then performed to develop a risk score formula and a prognostic nomogram for predicting 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS). The accuracies of the nomogram predictions were evaluated by determining the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and a calibration plot. Finally, functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network prediction were implemented to predict the functions and molecular mechanisms of the candidate DElncRNAs in ccRCC. A total of 1,553 DElncRNAs were identified, and 5 candidate DElncRNAs (AC026992.2, AC245041.2, LINC00524, LINC01956 and LINC02080) were included in the nomogram. The AUC values for 3- and 5-year overall survival in the training cohort were 0.768 and 0.814, respectively, which were increased compared with that based on the clinical index (0.760 and 0.694, respectively). Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses revealed that the 521 mRNAs highly associated with 5 DElncRNAs were primarily involved in 17 terms and 25 pathways, respectively. Based on the 5 DElncRNAs, a novel and convenient prognostic nomogram for predicting 3- and 5-year OS for patients with ccRCC was developed. The results of the present study may be conducive to the development of a precise predictive tool for the prognosis of ccRCC and may provide information regarding the molecular mechanisms of ccRCC. However, additional experimental in vitro and in vivo studies investigating lncRNAs may be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incineration is a promising disposal method for sewage sludge (SS), enriching more than 90% of phosphorus (P) in the influent into the powdered product, sewage sludge ash (SSA), which is convenient for further P recovery. Due to insufficient bioavailable P and enriched heavy metals (HMs) in SSA, it is limited to be used directly as fertilizer. Hence, this paper provides an overview of P transformation in SS incineration, characterization of SSA components, and wet-chemical and thermochemical processes for P recovery with a comprehensive technical, economic, and environmental assessment. P extraction and purification is an important technical step to achieve P recovery from SSA, where the key to all technologies is how to achieve efficient separation of P and HMs at a low economic and environmental cost. It can be clear seen from the review that the economics of P recovery from SSA are often weak due to many factors. For example, the cost of wet-chemical methods is approximately 5∼6 €/kg P, while the cost of recovering P by thermochemical methods is about 2∼3 €/kg P, which is slightly higher than the current P fertilizer (1 €/kg P). So, for now, legislation is significant for promoting P recovery from SSA. In this regard, the relevant experience in Europe is worth learning from countries that have not yet carried out P recovery from SSA, and to develop appropriate policies and legislation according to their own national conditions. [Display omitted] • Sewage sludge ash (SSA) is an alternate P source for fertilizer production. • The key to recovering P from SSA is the separation of heavy metals. • Wet-chemical methods are more common in current industrial applications. • Thermochemical methods are more economical for recovering P. • Legislation is significant for promoting P recovery from SSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The coexistence of EDTA and phosphate promoted DCF removal by Fe 3 O 4 /Air process. • High electrostatic repulsion of Fe 3 O 4 played a key role in enhanced degradation. • Fe(Ⅱ)-EDTA on Fe 3 O 4 surface served as main sites for H 2 O 2 activation. • Sufficient surface Fe(Ⅱ) on Fe 3 O 4 was maintained during the degradation reaction. • Low-toxicity products were generated after DCF was degraded. Chelating agents are now frequently used to facilitate Fenton and Fenton-like reactions by building complexes with iron. A series of advantages can be exemplified, such as fast circulation of Fe(Ⅲ)/Fe(Ⅱ), enhanced catalytic performance of Fe-ligand, and iron precipitation inhibition, etc. However, few studies explored whether electrostatic repulsion between nanoparticle catalysts had an influence on catalytic performance in ligand-enhanced Fenton-like reactions. In this study, we discovered that the coexistence of 0.1 mM EDTA and 10 mM phosphate dramatically accelerated diclofenac (DCF) degradation by Fe 3 O 4 /Air (∼95% within 20 h). In-depth explorations demonstrated the enhanced electrostatic repulsion between Fe 3 O 4 caused by the addition of EDTA and phosphate played a key role in the promoted DCF degradation. The enhanced electrostatic repulsion between Fe 3 O 4 led to a notable increase in the percentage of Fe-EDTA, which benefited O 2 activation and DCF degradation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were mainly generated through one-electron activation mechanism of O 2 and •OH were confirmed to be predominant active species responsible for DCF degradation. Fe(Ⅱ)-EDTA on Fe 3 O 4 surface was evidenced to be served as main sites for O 2 and H 2 O 2 activation. During the degradation reaction, sufficient surface Fe(Ⅱ) on Fe 3 O 4 was maintained with the assistance of EDTA. Toxicity analysis showed that DCF was transformed into less toxic intermediates, demonstrating the feasibility of this technology in practical applications. This work for the first time reveals the importance of electrostatic repulsion between nanoparticle catalysts in ligand-enhanced Fenton-like reactions, providing a low-cost and effective advanced oxidation process for contaminants degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to synthesize the high temperature solid lubricating film by gas-phase polymerization at 500 °C with two kinds of gasified monomers for use in airplane and rocket engines, the polymerizing activity of terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) and p-phenylenediamine (PPD) at 500 °C and their polymerized product poly-p-phenyleneterephthamide (PPTA) as well as its decomposed solid residues were researched. It was proved by FT-IR and 1HNMR on the solid residues after the 10 min experiment of the both monomers in muffle furnace at 500 °C and PPTA synthesized by conventional method that at 500 °C the polymerization tendency of these monomers should trump their decomposition tendency. The solid residues after the 10 min experiment mainly consisted of polymerized products which would decline as the experimental period increases, while the content of decomposed and carbonized products would raise. FT-IR and elemental analysis revealed a similar structure of the solid residues after the both monomers or PPTA calcined for 60 min at 500 °C, which further demonstrated the polymerized products would degrade, decompose and carbonize after the prophase polymerization. Finally, effects of experimental temperature and monomers molar ratio on amounts and structures of the solid residues were discussed to propose preliminary mechanisms of polymerization and decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The migration of trace elements during the pyrolysis of Mongolian oil shale is studied at the macroscopic (the porosity change) and microscopic (the occurrence state) levels. Four groups of oil shale (904, 1054, 10513 and 10807) in the Dalai Bulang mining area of Mongolia were studied. Oil shale samples were heated in a tube furnace in argon atmosphere. Final temperatures of pyrolysis varied from 300 °C to 900 °C resulting in different char. The content of eight kinds of heavy metal elements in the oil shale and the pyrolysis semi-coke were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectometry (ICP-MS), through which the distribution and the migration of these elements were analyzed. The specific surface area and pore distribution of different semi-coke were detected by specific surface area analyzer. The influence of surface area and pore distribution on heavy metal element migration was investigated. The sequential chemical extraction (SEC) was carried out on the original oil shale samples. Trace elements in different occurrence models were also detected by ICP-MS. Then the relationship between occurrence models and trace element migration during pyrolysis was also analyzed. The results show that: 1) The concentrations of heavy metal elements in four kinds of oil shale groups are similar, and the occurrence models of the same kind of heavy metal elements in four samples are also similar. 2) The migration amount of Zn and Cu is small at the temperature below 500 °C, while both of the elements escaped rapidly at the temperature above 700 °C. Because Zn and Cu are mainly present in the carbonate which decomposed rapidly at the temperature above 600 °C. 3) The mobility of most of the elements in the sample shows a downward trend during 500–600 °C and 800–900 °C. During these temperature ranges the specific surface area of the semi-coke was increased, because the elements was reabsorbed by the semi-coke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Solid peroxides were demonstrated to have well performance in environmental remediation. • Chemical redox, enhanced bioremediation, adsorption and precipitation were the main mechanisms. • CaO 2 possesses the widest applications due to the high O 2 content and moderate release rate. • More researches are needed for the investigate of knowledge gaps in the present. Due to the effective oxidation performance and slow oxygen release properties, solid peroxides including calcium peroxide (CaO 2), magnesium peroxide (MgO 2), and sodium percarbonate (Na 2 CO 3 ·1.5H 2 O 2) have gained increasing attention as alternative oxidants of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2). This review provides an overview of the recent progress of solid peroxides in environmental remediation and water purification based on the current literature. The physical and chemical properties of solid peroxides, as well as the O 2 and H 2 O 2 release properties, are outlined. A discussion of the latest modifications, that aim to improve the performance of solid peroxides in applications is also provided. Then, the mechanisms involved in the application, including chemical oxidation, bioremediation promotion, and physicochemical reaction are covered. Above all, the applications of solid peroxides across different water and soil mediums in laboratory studies and field applications are reviewed. In particular, this review focuses on the similarities and differences in the properties of the three solid peroxides, and the corresponding advantages and disadvantages in applications. Finally, the knowledge gaps, challenges, and new opportunities in this field are defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the widely used β-lactam antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, are known to be susceptible to oxidation by sulfate radical (SO 4 − ), comprehensive study about SO 4 − -induced oxidation of cephalosporins is still limited, such as the impact of water matrices, and the structure and antibacterial activity of transformation products. Herein, the oxidation of cefalexin (CFX), a most frequently detected cephalosporin, was systematically investigated by thermally activated persulfate (PS). CFX oxidation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, and SO 4 − dominantly contributed to the overall oxidation of CFX. The impact of water matrices, such as Cl − , HCO 3 − and natural organic matter, on CFX degradation was predicted using a pseudo-steady-state kinetic model. The secondary reactive species, such as chlorine and carbonate radicals, were found to contribute to CFX degradation. Product analysis indicated oxidation of CFX to six products (molecular weight of 363), with two stereoisomeric sulfoxides as the primary oxidation products. It was thus suggested that the primary amine on the side chain, and the thioether sulfur and double bond on the six-membered ring were the reactive sites of CFX towards SO 4 − oxidation. Antibacterial activity assessment showed that the biological activity of CFX solution was significantly diminished after treatment by the thermally activated PS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat-activated PDS oxidation (HAPO) has been widely used for in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) of micropollutants in groundwater, whereas the aesthetic demerit of additional SO 4 2− production is largely overlooked. In this study, the sulfidogenic process is used to offset the aesthetic demerit, and the production of SO 4 2− is then employed to recycle heavy metals. The innovative integration technology with PDS oxidation and sulfidogenic process via the bridging role of SO 4 2− was reported to remove micropollutants and heavy metals in groundwater simultaneously. HAPO could completely degrade CBZ, producing 400 mg/L SO 4 2− with the addition of 0.50 g/L PDS. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) utilize SO 4 2− generated from HAPO as the electron acceptor in the sulfidogenic process, removing and recycling Cd(II) via the precipitation of CdS. The SRB tolerance experiment revealed the viability of PDS oxidation coupled with the sulfidogenic process via the bridging role of SO 4 2−. Overall, the integration technology is a green and promising technology for simultaneous micropollutants removal and heavy metals recycling in groundwater. [Display omitted] • The sulfidogenic process offsets the aesthetic demerit (SO 4 2−) of PDS oxidation. • PDS oxidation coupled with sulfidogenic process simultaneously remove CBZ and Cd(II). • SO 4 2− is both potential pollutants and a potential S -source. • The technology implied Yin-Yang Harmony strategy of treating waste with waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An advanced saturated multilayer model was successfully applied. • Steric and energetic parameters were investigated to reveal adsorption mechanism. • Thermodynamics confirm the spontaneous exothermic character of adsorption. • Site energy distribution analyses confirm the nature of reversible physisorption. Copper/graphene nanosheets composites (CGCs) were adopted as multi-gas adsorbents to remove two harmful gases (i.e. , ammonia and sulfur dioxide) in the atmospheric environment, respectively. Methods such as N 2 adsorption/desorption, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were selected to fully characterize CGCs. Under laboratory conditions, the adsorption isotherms of NH 3 and SO 2 onto CGCs at three different temperatures (298.15 K, 308.15 K, and 318.15 K) and different pressures (0 ∼ 1.8 bar) were quantitatively tested. A multilayer model with saturation (M5) was adopted as the best suitable model to explore the adsorption mechanism for SO 2 -CGCs and NH 3 -CGCs adsorption systems from a molecular level. The numerical simulation results demonstrated that the adsorption of NH 3 by CGCs is a multi-anchorage process and a pure parallel adsorption position (298.15 K), a multi-linking process and a mixed adsorption orientation (308.15 K and 318.15 K). In contrast, SO 2 -CGCs adsorption system at 298.15 K, 308.15 K, and 318.15 K, there will be a multi-molecule process and a pure non-parallel adsorption position. Overall, from statistical physical, thermodynamic and SED analyses, the adsorption mechanism of SO 2 and NH 3 on CGCs, which was mainly governed by the density of receptor sites (D m), was a spontaneous exothermic reversible adsorption process driven by physical interaction forces for which van der Waals interactions were responsible, while the high temperature is detrimental to the occurrence of high adsorption capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) causes a systemic skin disorder with hepatitis known as TCE hypersensitivity syndrome (TCE-HS). Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-B*13:01 is its susceptibility factor; however, the immunological pathogenesis of TCE-HS remains unknown. We herein examined the hypothesis that autoantibodies to CYP2E1 are primarily involved in TCE-HS. A case–control study of 80 TCE-HS patients, 186 TCE-tolerant controls (TCE-TC), and 71 TCE-nonexposed controls (TCE-nonEC) was conducted to measure their serum anti-CYP2E1 antibody (IgG) levels. The effects of TCE exposure indices, such as 8-h time-weighted-average (TWA) airborne concentrations, urinary metabolite concentrations, and TCE usage duration; sex; smoking and drinking habits; and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels on the antibody levels were also analyzed in the two control groups. There were significant differences in anti-CYP2E1 antibody levels among the three groups: TCE-TC > TCE-HS patients > TCE-nonEC. Antibody levels were not different between HLA-B*13:01 carriers and noncarriers in TCE-HS patients and TCE-TC. The serum CYP2E1 measurement suggested increased immunocomplex levels only in patients with TCE-HS. Multiple regression analysis for the two control groups showed that the antibody levels were significantly higher by the TCE exposure. Women had higher antibody levels than men; however, smoking, drinking, and ALT levels did not affect the anti-CYP2E1 antibody levels. Anti-CYP2E1 antibodies were elevated at concentrations lower than the TWA concentration of 2.5 ppm for TCE exposure. Since HLA-B*13:01 polymorphism was not involved in the autoantibody levels, the possible mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of TCE-HS is that TCE exposure induces anti-CYP2E1 autoantibody production, and HLA-B*13:01 is involved in the development of TCE-HS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) demonstrate great micropollutant degradation efficiency. In this study, CuFe2O4 was successfully used to activate peracetic acid (PAA) to remove Rhodamine B. Acetyl(per)oxyl radicals were the dominant species in this novel system. The addition of 2,4-hexadiene (2,4-HD) and Methanol (MeOH) significantly inhibited the degradation efficiency of Rhodamine B. The ≡Cu2+/≡Cu+ redox cycle dominated PAA activation, thereby producing organic radicals (R-O˙) including CH3C(O)O˙ and CH3C(O)OO˙, which accounted for the degradation of Rhodamine B. Increasing either the concentration of CuFe2O4 (0–100 mg/L) or PAA (10–100 mg/L) promoted the removal efficiency of this potent system. In addition, weakly acid to weakly alkali pH conditions (6–8) were suitable for pollutant removal. The addition of Humid acid (HA), HCO3−, and a small amount of Cl− (10–100 mmol·L−1) slightly inhibited the degradation of Rhodamine B. However, degradation was accelerated by the inclusion of high concentrations (200 mmol·L−1) of Cl−. After four iterations of catalyst recycling, the degradation efficiency remained stable and no additional functional group characteristic peaks were observed. Taking into consideration the reaction conditions, interfering substances, system stability, and pollutant-removal efficiency, the CuFe2O4/PAA system demonstrated great potential for the degradation of Rhodamine B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution is a major environmental issue with the rapid development of industry. Therefore, advanced technologies and materials are needed to remove pollutants from contaminated waters. The adsorption process displays many advantages such as high adaptability and removal efficiency for water sources of varying quality. Hydrogels have recently attracted attention due to their high adsorption capacity and structural stability, yet several issues remain to be explored, such as the number of reuse and engineering applications. Here, we review hydrogels for the removal of methylene blue from wastewater, with focus on hydrogel preparation and properties, adsorption performance and mechanisms, reusability and comparison with biological and chemical oxidation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a Cu single-atom catalyst with ultrahigh loading of Cu-pyridinic N 4 sites on carbon nanosheets (Cu SA -N-C) is successfully designed and synthesized as an activator for peracetic acid (PAA). The Cu SA -N-C showed the most powerful capacity for PAA activation among the Cu-based catalysts, and even a 48-fold enhancement on sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation compared to homogeneous Cu2+. The scavenging experiments and ESR analysis indicated that singlet oxygen (1O 2) but not conventional radicals play a dominant role in SMX degradation. Theoretical calculations further insights into the generation of 1O 2 in PAA activation. Furthermore, a 'double engine' driving mechanism was proposed, where the electron-rich area around Cu site and the electron-poor area around C site in the saturated Cu-N 4 configuration could efficiently adsorb and activate PAA. The Cu SA -N-C/PAA process exhibited high tolerance towards the common water matrices (e.g., CO 3 2−/HCO 3 − and Cl-), and thus showed excellent performance in the real wastewater. This study advances the understanding of non-radical PAA activation process and provides guidance for the design of smart PAA-active catalysts. [Display omitted] • Cu SA -N-C exhibited excellent activity to activate PAA for SMX degradation. • The 1O 2 but not conventional radicals played a dominant role in SMX degradation. • Cu SA -N-C/PAA process showed high tolerance towards the common water matrices. • The configuration of Cu-pyridinic N 4 moiety in Cu SA -N-C created a 'double engine'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the effect of boron element on liquefied wood carbon fibers and their composites, boric acid and boron carbide were utilized to modify liquefied wood resin through copolymerization and blending methods respectively. Then boric acid-modified liquefied wood carbon fiber (BA-WCF) and boron carbide-modified liquefied wood carbon fiber (BC-WCF) were produced via melt spinning, curing, and carbonization treatments. As expected, this modification approach effectively prevents the formation of skin-core structures and accelerates the evolution of a graphite microcrystalline structure, thereby enhancing the mechanical properties of the carbon fibers. Particularly, the tensile strength and elongation at break of BA-WCF increased to 331.57 MPa and 7.57 % respectively, representing increments of 117 % and 86 % compared to the conventional fibers. Furthermore, the as-fabricated carbon fiber/resin composites (CFPRs), composing of BA-WCF or BC-WCF as fillers and liquefied wood resin as matrix, exhibited excellent interlaminar shear strength, outstanding abrasion resistance, and well thermal conductivity, as well as electrical performance, significantly outperforming the conventional carbon fiber/phenolic resin composites. The friction rate of BC-WP/BA-WCF/CF was 2.37 %, while its thermal conductivity could reach 1.927 W/(m·K). These promising attributes lay the groundwork for the development of high-performance carbon fiber-based materials, fostering their widespread utilization across various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pure carbon materials are constrained in practical applications due to their inability to meet the requirements of broadband and strong absorption. To address this challenge, inspired by the parallel connection structure of hollow straw, this study successfully fabricated a multi-hollow channel parallel carbon fibers (MHCFs) structure by electrospinning and carbonization template methods. Compared with the traditional non-porous carbon fibers (CFs) structure (MHCFs-0), MHCFs-0.2 exhibit more excellent electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance. It exhibits an impressive 5.59 GHz effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) at 1.8 mm. The reflection loss (RL) of MHCFs-1 reaches −52.64 dB. This remarkable enhancement in performance can be attributed to the channel structure, which can effectively introduce air, optimize impedance matching, and greatly promote polarization effects (including interface polarization and dipole polarization). It is worth noting that the integration of computer simulation technology (CST) with material structure design in this study opens up new ideas for the preparation of absorbing materials and the design of micro-nano structures, holding significant practical implications. Inspired by the parallel connection structure of rice straw, this structure can introduce a large number of interfaces and promote the generation of polarization. And the EAB of optimized carbon fibers is as high as 5.59 GHz when the thickness is 1.8 mm. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is a prevalent endocrine disorder that primarily affects children, specifically females, and is associated with various physical and psychological complications. Although Kangzao granules (KZG) are efficacious in managing CPP, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms of KZG using network pharmacology, molecular docking, pharmacodynamics, and pathway validation. A putative compound–target–pathway network was constructed using Cytoscape, before KEGG and Gene Ontology enrichment analyses were conducted. Moreover, molecular docking was performed using AutoDockTools. Quality control of the 10 key components of KZG was carried out using UHPLC-ESI/LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS, and hypothalamic lipids were analyzed using UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS. In total, 87 bioactive compounds that targeting 110 core proteins to alleviate CPP were identified in KZG. Lipidomic analysis revealed 18 differential lipids among the CPP, KZG, and control groups, wherein fatty acids were significantly reduced in the model group; however, these changes were effectively counteracted by KZG treatment. Molecular docking analysis revealed a strong binding affinity between flavonoids and RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT) when docked into the crystal structure. Moreover, a substantial disruption in lipid metabolism was observed in the model group; however, treatment with KZG efficiently reversed these alterations. Furthermore, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT signaling pathway was identified as a pivotal regulator of hypothalamic lipid metabolism regulator. Overall, this study highlights the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary approach that combines network pharmacology, lipidomics, molecular docking, and experimental validation in the elucidation of the therapeutic mechanisms of KZG in CPP treatment. [Display omitted] • Central precocious puberty (CPP) is a common endocrine disorder in girls, with physical and psychological complications. Kangzao Granule (KZG) is effective in treating CPP. • The study used lipidomics, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and various analyses to investigate KZG's therapeutic mechanism. • Lipidomic analysis showed significant differences in lipid metabolism among groups, especially fatty acids were significantly reduced in the model group, with KZG reversing lipid changes. • A total of 87 active compounds in KZG targeted 110 core protein targets to alleviate CPP, flavonoids in KZG had a high binding affinity for AKT. • The PI3K/AKT pathway was implicated in regulating hypothalamic lipid metabolism. • The research demonstrates the effectiveness of combining multiple tools to understand how KZG treats CPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MWCNTs supported RuO 2 catalysts were synthesized. • RM can effectively activate PAA under neutral pH. • SMX was oxidized by CH 3 C(O)O· and CH 3 C(O)OO· in the RM/PAA system. • The electron transfer of ≡Ru3+/≡Ru4+ involved in the PAA activation. Peracetic acid (PAA) as an emerging disinfectant has raised extensive concern due to its high oxidation capacity and low byproducts formation potential. In this work, RuO 2 supported multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) was synthesized and applied to activate PAA to degrade sulfamethoxazole (SMX). PAA could be effectively activated by RuO 2 /MWCNTs (RM). Increasing RM loadings (0.03–0.3 g/L) or PAA dosages (0.25–1.5 mM) generally enhanced the degradation efficiency, the excellent performance in SMX degradation (100%) was achieved at 1 mM PAA, 0.2 g/L RM and neutral conditions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques and radical scavenging experiments indicated acetylperoxy radical (CH 3 C(O)OO·) and acetoxyl radical (CH 3 C(O)O·) as the major reactive radicals responsible for SMX degradation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that the electron transfer of ≡Ru3+/≡Ru4+ involved in the PAA activation. The effect of water matrices was also investigated, HCO 3 – and natural organic matter (NOM) slightly inhibited SMX degradation, while Cl- had little impact on SMX degradation. For the reusability of RM, the SMX removal was still achieved 90% after three consecutive tests. This work provides the potential application of RM/PAA in destructing emerging pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CAMLB was fabricated by carbonizing waste leaves and then activating them with CO 2. • CAMLB effectively recovers P from various urine samples, particularly fresh urine. • CAMLB-P as a slow-release fertilizer promotes seed germination and seedling growth. • Statistical physical models explained molecular-scale adsorption mechanisms. • Modeling and predicting adsorption behavior using artificial neural networks. The global phosphorus crisis necessitates efficient phosphorus recovery, crucial for sustainable practices. This study introduces CAMLB, a CO 2 -activated Magnolia grandiflora leaf-based biochar, as an effective adsorbent for phosphorus capture from artificial urine and subsequently served as a sustainable slow-release fertilizer. Adsorbent characterization results implied the involvement of electrostatic attraction, ligand exchange, ion exchange, pore filling, hydrogen bonding, and surface precipitation in the adsorption process. Statistical physical outcomes reveals that the physical adsorption process is characterized by multi-ion adsorption, an inclined orientation, and an endothermic, reversible nature. Artificial neural network (ANN) models validate adsorption kinetics and isotherm data with high precision (R > 0.99). Additionally, spent biochar proves valuable as a slow-release fertilizer, promoting wheat germination and growth. Overall, this paper offers a circular economy approach for achieving the recycling of urine wastewater and agricultural waste and focuses on unraveling the mechanisms of phosphorus recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Toxicity of aged PVC MPs is greater than that of virgin PVC MPs. • MPs affect the growth and intracellular components of C. pyrenoidosa. • MPs promote nitrate uptake and inhibit photosynthesis of C. pyrenoidosa. • Extracellular polymeric substances increase during exposure to aged MPs. • The toxicity of MPs was associated with intercellular oxidative stress levels. The toxicity of microplastics (MPs) on freshwater plants has been widely studied, yet the influence of aged MPs remains largely unexplored. Herein, we investigated the influence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs, both before and after aging, at different environmentally relevant concentrations on Chlorella pyrenoidosa , a freshwater microalgae species widely recognized as a valuable biomass resource. During a 96-h period, both virgin and aged MPs hindered the growth of C. pyrenoidosa. The maximum growth inhibition rates were 32.40 % for virgin PVC at 250 mg/L and 44.72 % for aged PVC at 100 mg/L, respectively. Microalgae intracellular materials, i.e., protein and carbohydrate contents, consistently decreased after MP exposure, with more pronounced inhibition observed with aged PVC. Meanwhile, the MP aging significantly promoted the nitrogen uptake of C. pyrenoidosa , i.e., 1693.45 ± 42.29 mg/L (p < 0.01), contributing to the production of humic acid-like substances. Additionally, aged PVC induced lower chlorophyll a and Fv/Fm when compared to virgin PVC, suggesting a more serious inhibition of the photosynthesis process of microalgae. The toxicity of MPs to C. pyrenoidosa was strongly associated with intercellular oxidative stress levels. The results indicate that MP aging exacerbates the damage to photosynthetic performance and bioenergy production in microalgae, providing critical insights into the toxicity analysis of micro(nano)plastics on freshwater plants. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of miniaturization and integration of electronic products, its heat dissipation has become the focus of research. In order to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of electronic components, flexible thermal conduction materials are constantly studied. Cellulose has good flexibility and load capacity, which is often used in the preparation of thermal conduction materials. In this paper, carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (C-MWCNTs) were modified by metal ion coordination and hydrothermal synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) to prepare semi-insulating thermal conduction fillers, which were dispersed into regenerated cellulose (RC) to cast to be composite films. The results show that the two modification methods can reduce the probability of phonon scattering and block the electron transport path, so as to improve the thermal conductivity (TC) and electrical insulation properties of the composite films. Especially for the RC/C-MWCNTs@ZnO composite films, when the total filler content is 20 wt%, the in-plane TC can reach 11.89 ± 0.19 (W/(m·K)), and the surface electrical resistivity (ρ s) is (5.24 ± 0.17) × 106 Ω. Compared with the RC/C-MWCNTs composite films, the in-plane TC and ρ s of the RC/C-MWCNTs@ZnO composites films are increased by about 94.92 % and 555 %, respectively. Therefore, the developed RC-based composite film has broad application prospects in thermal management. [Display omitted] • Thermal conductivity of regenerated cellulose-based film was enhanced by ion coordination. • RC/C-MWCNTs@ZnO film has high thermal conductivity and surface resistivity. • The in-plane TC reaches 11.89 W/(m·K), which is about twice than that of RC/C-MWCNTs film. • The surface resistivity is five times higher than that of RC/C-MWCNTs film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the popularity of intelligent electronics and Internet of Things, electromagnetic radiation pollution generated by electronics has become a serious environmental problem, attracted considerable attention from scientific vision. In this regard, developing high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI SE) materials is an essential strategy to solve the existing issue. Herein, we employed environmentally-friendly, sustainable cellulose nanofibers (CNF) as matrix and high-conductive multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as functional additive to fabricate the multi-functional CNF/MWCNTs films, performing high-efficiency EMI shielding, excellent Joule heating capability, and desired flame retardancy, which could be afforded in various electromagnetic environments. In particular, the SE value of the optimum one reached 55.8 dB in the X-band frequency range, corresponding to an extremely low transmittance below to 0.00001 for electromagnetic wave energy, thanks to its excellent electrical conductivity (1.1 × 103 S/m). Moreover, the as-fabricated film also exhibited excellent Joule heating peculiarity, where the surface temperature of film was up to 92 °C only with an input voltage of 2 V. In addition, upon high temperature and high humidity conditions, the electrical conductivity of film remained stable, paving a fundamental guarantee for EMI SE applications. Overall, this work impeccably resolves the issue of multifunctional film suitable for multi-scenarios electromagnetic applications. [Display omitted] • The multifunctional CNF/MWCNTs films with multilayer structure are fabricated. • The film possesses high-efficiency EMI shielding of 55.8 dB. • The film exhibits excellent Joule heating performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • HRAs degradation promoted by PAA was structural dependent. • The values of k 2,app decreased as pH increased. • Oxidation of HRAs by PAA proceeded via a oxygen atom transfer process. • HRAs oxidation by PAA was not affected by water matrices. • The oxidation products are less toxic than the parent compounds. Peracetic acid (PAA) is an emerging substitutive oxidant to chlorine disinfectants owing to the low generation of harmful by-products. Herein, we report PAA-induced oxidation of histamine H 2 -receptor antagonists (HRAs) via non-radical participation for the first time. Results showed that PAA can selectively oxidize HRAs with high reactivity to ranitidine (RNTD), nizatidine (NZTD), cimetidine (CMTD), and famotidine (FMTD), but low reactivity to roxatidine (RXTD). PAA-induced HRAs oxidation followed the second-order kinetic reaction, the apparent second-order reaction rate constants (k 2, app) of RNTD, FMTD, CMTD and NZTD were 18.78 ± (2.4), 37.22 ± (6.1), 36.53 ± (7.8), 30.04 ± (2.4) M−1•s−1, respectively. The value of k 2, app decreased as pH increased. Scavenging experiments indicated that PAA-induced HRAs oxidation proceeded via a non-radical process. The theoretical calculation and product analysis further reveal that the reaction involves the double-electron transfer from thioether sulfur in HRAs to peroxide bond. HRAs oxidation by PAA was not affected by water matrices (Cl-, HCO 3 –, HA), which has good applicability in surface water (SW) and wastewater (WW). Toxicity assessment indicated ecotoxicity of oxidation products was much lower than that of HRAs. This work provided a facile and emerging technology to eliminate the HRAs and their toxicity in the wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The main objective of the paper is to investigate the enhancement of the heat and mass transfer characteristics for a NH3/H2O bubble absorption process using the CNTs-ammonia binary nanofluid as a working medium. Using the surface modification of CNTs, the CNTs-ammonia binary nanofluid is successfully prepared without the addition of any dispersants. The effects of the mass fraction of CNTs, the initial concentration of ammonia in the binary nanofluid and the flow rate of ammonia vapor on NH3/H2O bubble absorption are studied experimentally. The mechanism of the binary nanofluid enhancing bubble absorption is discussed accordingly. The results show that the mass fraction of CNTs has an optimum value to the effective absorption ratio of the binary nanofluid, and the effective absorption ratio increases with the initial concentration of ammonia increasing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Polylactic acid (PLA) is biodegraded rapidly under composting or thermophilic temperature but slowly under natural conditions with substantial microplastics generated. In this study, we examined the feasibility of PLA biodegradation and developed a novel approach for PLA waste management using yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae) to achieve biodegradation and resource recovery simultaneously. Results confirmed PLA biodegradation in mealworms as sole PLA and PLA-bran mixtures (10%, 20%, 30% and 50% PLA, wt/wt). Feeding PLA-bran mixtures supported the larval development with higher survival rates and lower cannibal rates than feeding PLA only at ambient temperature. The PLA conversion efficiency was 90.9% with 100% PLA diet and was around 81.5–86.9% with PLA-bran mixtures. A peak insect biomass yield was achieved at a PLA ratio of 20%. PLA biodegradation was verified via detection of chemical and thermal modifications. Gut microbial community analysis indicated that intestinal communities shifted with PLA biodegradation, resulting in clusters with OTUs unique to the PLA diet. Based on these findings, we propose a circular approach for PLA waste management via resource recovery of used PLA as the feedstock for insect biomass production, management of mealworm excrement waste as fertilizer, and utilization of agricultural products for PLA production. [Display omitted] • Mealworms digested polylactic acid (PLA) to support their life activities. • Biodegradation of PLA in mealworms was confirmed via FTIR and TGA. • A peak biomass yield was achieved at 20% PLA with a co-diet bran (wt/wt). • The removal efficiency of PLA ingested was more than 81.5% in mealworms. • The gut microbiome significantly shifted due to PLA biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • FQs underwent rapid degradation at neutral and slight alkaline pHs. • The k obs of CIP was markedly lower than that of ENR. • 1O 2 acts as the dominant reactive species in FQs degradation. • FQs degradation maintained high efficiency in the real landfill leachate. • The toxicity of FQs was significantly diminished after treatment by SDBC/PAA. Peracetic acid (PAA) has been increasingly used as a disinfectant and oxidant in wastewater treatment. The activation of PAA was crucial for the oxidation of refractory contaminants in the wastewater. Herein, the sludge biochar (SDBC) was fabricated, and then used as the activator for PAA to degrade fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs). Results show that FQs underwent rapid degradation by SDBC/PAA system at neutral pH, and the first-order rate constant (k obs) of enrofloxacin (ENR, 0.0886 min−1) was higher than those of ciprofloxacin (CIP, 0.0313 min−1) and ofloxacin (OFL, 0.0327 min−1). FQs degradation conformed the first order kinetics. Scavenging experiments and EPR analysis indicated both radical and non-radical process contributed to FQs degradation, with non-radical process act as the dominant role. The abundant π electrons and carbon-containing functional groups on the surface of SDBC facilitated electron transfer, resulting in PAA activation for 1O 2 generation; while the iron species on SDBC could also activate PAA to generate the organic radicals, i.e., CH 3 COO· and CH 3 COOO·. The degradation of FQs underwent the defluorination, decomposition and shedding of piperazine rings, and the toxicity of FQs was significantly diminished after treatment by SDBC/PAA. SDBC had excellent activity and reusability in PAA activation, and SDBC/PAA process could resist the interference by the complicated water matrices with wide pH adaptability. Hence, the non-radical dominated degradation of FQs by SDBC/PAA maintained high efficiency in the real landfill leachate. This work provides a promising strategy to eliminate antibiotics and its biological activity in the complicated water matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The degradation of HRAs was structural dependent. • Carbonate species promoted the generation of ·NO in UV/NH 2 Cl system. • The sensitive reactions for ·NO promotion was proposed. • Hydroxylation, nitrosation, Cl substitution and O transfer were the primary pathways. • NDMA formation potential is dependent on the types of amine groups in HRAs. Histamine H 2 -receptor antagonists (HRAs) are a group of widely used gastrointestinal drugs that have been frequently detected in natural environments. UV/chloramine (NH 2 Cl) is a widely used disinfection process in water treatment, while the performance of HRAs degradation by UV/NH 2 Cl is still unclear. In this work, the degradation kinetics, mechanism and disinfection byproducts formation of HRAs by UV/NH 2 Cl were studied. The degradation of HRAs, including ranitidine (RNTD), nizatidine (NZTD), roxatidine (RXTD), cimetidine (CMTD) and famotidine (FMTD) was fast in the UV/NH 2 Cl process, and ·OH, Cl· and ·NO contributed to their degradation. CMTD had the highest rate constants with ·OH, Cl· and ·NO. RXTD, NZTD and FMTD were more reactive with ·OH, while RNTD was more selective towards Cl·. The contribution of ·OH, Cl· and reactive nitrogen species to HRAs degradation in water matrices was further quantified by kinetic modeling. Interestingly, carbonate species were found to promote the yield of ·NO. Further investigation through sensitivity analysis of the modeling reactions concluded the sensitive reactions for ·NO promotion. The structure–activity assessment domenstrated that the reactivity of thioether sulfur, CMTD-C 3 and RXTD-N 48 and piperidine rings resulted in the difference of degradation rates. Hydroxylation, nitrosation, chlorine substitution and oxygen atom transfer were the primary pathways for HRAs degradation. The formation of NDMA might be a prevalent problem along HRAs' degradation in the UV/NH 2 Cl process, and the formation potential of NDMA is dependent on the types of amine groups in HRAs. This work provides an effective strategy to eliminate HRAs, revealed the NDMA formation potential in HRAs, and emphasized the role of carbonate species in ·NO generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the diversity and variability of harmful ions in polluted water bodies, the selective removal and separation for specific ions is of great significance in water purification and resource processes. Capacitive deionization (CDI), an emerging desalination technology, shows great potential to selectively remove harmful ionic pollutants and further recover valuable ions because of the simple operation and low energy consumption. Researchers have done a lot of work to investigate ion selectivity utilizing CDI, including both theoretical and experimental studies. Nevertheless, in the investigation of selective mechanisms, phenomena where carbon materials exhibit entirely opposite selectivity require further analysis. Furthermore, there is a need to summarize the specific chemical reaction mechanisms, including the formation of hydrogen bonds, complexation reactions, and ligand exchanges, within selective electrodes, which have not been thoroughly examined in detail previously. In order to fill these gaps, in this review, we summarized the recent progress of CDI technologies for ion selective separation, and explored the selective separation mechanism of CDI from three aspects: selective physical adsorption, specific chemical reaction, and the utilization of selective barriers. Additionally, this review analyzes in detail the formation process of chemical bonds and ion conversion pathways when ions interact with electrode materials. Finally, some significant development prospects and challenges were offered for the future selective CDI systems. We believe the review will provide new insights for researchers in the field of ion selective separation. [Display omitted] • Pore size distribution and ion dehydration impact sieving effects and ion selectivity. • Target ions exhibit specific coordination with electrode materials. • Selective membrane modifications applied in ED show great potential in CDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single-atom Fe-N-C catalysts (Fe-N-C) was successfully prepared through a facile synthesis route using microalgae to drive hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2)-based Fenton-like reactions. The detailed characterization analyses confirmed the simultaneous presence of Fe/Fe compounds and Fe-N x coordination sites in the optimal catalyst (Fe-N @ MBC) obtained through the pyrolysis of FeCl 3 ·6 H 2 O and Chlorella vulgaris. Surprisingly, when applied in H 2 O 2 -based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), Fe-N @ MBC demonstrated excellent proficiency for both H 2 O 2 and O 2 activation, with the contribution of the original dissolved oxygen for sulfamethoxazole removal reaching up to 47.59%. The experiment and density functional theory (DFT) calculation results indicated that the Fe/Fe compounds significantly boosted the activity of Fe-N x by lowering the energy barrier of the reactive oxygen species formation and promoting the electron transfer between Fe-N x and the oxidants (H 2 O 2 and O 2). These findings provide new insights into the facile synthesis, rational design, and catalytic mechanisms of Fe-N-C used in H 2 O 2 -based AOPs. [Display omitted] • A single-atom Fe-N-C catalyst was prepared facilely using microalgae. • Fe-N @ MBC exhibited excellent activity to activate H 2 O 2 and O 2 for SMX degradation. • The contribution of the original DO for SMX removal reached up to 47.59%. • Key role of the interactions between Fe-N x and Fe/Fe compounds was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface electron transport and transfer of catalysts have important consequences for persulfate (PS) activation in PS system. In this paper, an electron-rich Cu-beta zeolites catalyst was synthesized utilizing a straightforward solid-state ion exchange technique to efficiently degrade sulfadiazine. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results revealed that Cu element substitutes Al element and enters the beta molecular sieve framework smoothly. Furthermore, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements demonstrated that the Cu-beta catalyst is primarily Cu0. Cu-beta zeolites catalyst can exhibit excellent catalytic activity to degrade sulfadiazine with the oxidant of PS. The optimal sulfadiazine removal performance was explored by adjusting reaction parameters, including sulfadiazine concentration, catalyst dosage, oxidant dosage, and solution pH. The sulfadiazine removal efficiency in the Cu-beta zeolites/PS system could reach 90.5% at the optimal reaction condition ([PS] 0 = 0.5 g/L, [Cu-beta zeolites] 0 = 1.0 g/L, pH = 7.0) with 50 mg/L of sulfadiazine. Meanwhile, The degradation efficiency was less affected by anionic interference (Cl−, SO 4 −, HCO 3 −). The surface electron transport and transfer of the Cu-beta zeolites catalyst were significant causes for the remarkable degradation performance. According to electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and quenching studies, the Cu-beta zeolites/PS system was mostly dominated by SO 4 •- in the degradation of sulfadiazine. Furthermore, two possible pathways for sulfadiazine degradation were proposed according to the analysis of intermediate products detected by the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). [Display omitted] • This article proposed an electron-rich Cu-beta zeolites catalyst. • SO 4 •- dominated the Cu-beta zeolites/persulfate system. • Surface electron transfer cycle was an important reason for excellent degradation performance. • Confirmed the sulfadiazine's breakdown process in the Cu-beta zeolites/PS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely understood that microplastics (MPs) can induce various biological stresses in macroinvertebrates that are incapable of biodegrading plastics. However, the biodegradation and physiological responses of plastic-degrading macroinvertebrates toward MPs of different degradability levels remain unexplored. In this study, Tenebrio molitor larvae (mealworms) were selected as a model of plastics-degrading macroinvertebrate, and were tested against three common plastics of different degradability rankings: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polylactic acid (PLA) MPs (size <300 μm). These three MPs were biodegraded with the rate sequence of PLA > PS > PVC, resulting in a reversed order of negative physiological responses (body weight loss, decreased survival, and biomass depletion) of mealworms. Simultaneously, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation were uniformly increased as polymer degradability decreased and intermediate toxicity increased. PVC MPs exhibited higher toxicity than the other two polymers. The oxidative stresses were effectively alleviated by supplementing co-diet bran. The T. molitor larvae fed with PLA plus bran showed sustainable growth without an increase in oxidative stress. The results provide new insights into the biotoxicity of MPs on macroinvertebrates and offer comprehensive information on the physiological stress responses of plastic-degrading macroinvertebrates during the biodegradation of plastics with different degradability levels. [Display omitted] • Microplastics (MPs) degradation rate by mealworms with sequence of PLA > PS > PVC. • Physiological responses were dependent on polymer degradability and intermediate toxicity. • Supplementing nutrient-rich co-diets alleviated oxidative stress by MPs. • Nanoplastics were not detected in frass after microplastics biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PVC ingested in Tenebrio molitor larvae was broadly depolymerized within 12–15 h. • Biodegradation of PVC was confirmed by polymer modification. • PVC was partially mineralized with about 3% to chloride. • Depolymerization was inhibited by gentamicin thus gut microbe dependent. • Gut microbiome shifted significantly after feeding PVC. Tenebrio molitor larvae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are capable of depolymerizing and biodegrading polystyrene and polyethylene. We tested for biodegradation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in T. molitor larvae using rigid PVC microplastic powders (MPs) (70–150 μm) with weight-, number-, and size-average molecular weights (M w , M n and M z) of 143,800, 82,200 and 244,900 Da, respectively, as sole diet at 25 °C. The ingestion rate was 36.62 ± 6.79 mg MPs 100 larvae-1 d-1 during a 16-day period. The egested frass contained about 34.6% of residual PVC polymer, and chlorinated organic carbons. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis indicated a decrease in the M w , M n and M z by 33.4%, 32.8%, and 36.4%, respectively, demonstrating broad depolymerization. Biodegradation and oxidation of the PVC MPs was supported by the formation of O C and O C functional groups using frontier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and by significant changes in the thermal characteristics using thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). Chloride released was counted as about 2.9% of the PVC ingested, indicating limited mineralization of the PVC MPs. T. molitor larvae survived with PVC as sole diet at up to 80% over 5 weeks but did not complete their life cycle with a low survival rate of 39% in three months. With PVC plus co-diet wheat bran (1:5, w/w), they completed growth and pupation as same as bran only in 91 days. Suppression of gut microbes with the antibiotic gentamicin severely inhibited PVC depolymerization, indicating that the PVC depolymerization/biodegradation was gut microbe-dependent. Significant population shifts and clustering in the gut microbiome and unique OTUs were observed after PVC MPs consumption. The results indicated that T. molitor larvae are capable of performing broad depolymerization/biodegradation but limited mineralization of PVC MPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: The eco-friendly shaddock peel-derived carbon aerogels were prepared by a freeze-drying method. Multiple functions such as thermal insulation, compression resistance and microwave absorption can be integrated into one material-carbon aerogel. Novel computer simulation technology strategy was selected to simulate significant radar cross-sectional reduction values under real far field condition.. Eco-friendly electromagnetic wave absorbing materials with excellent thermal infrared stealth property, heat-insulating ability and compression resistance are highly attractive in practical applications. Meeting the aforesaid requirements simultaneously is a formidable challenge. Herein, ultra-light carbon aerogels were fabricated via fresh shaddock peel by facile freeze-drying method and calcination process, forming porous network architecture. With the heating platform temperature of 70 °C, the upper surface temperatures of the as-prepared carbon aerogel present a slow upward trend. The color of the sample surface in thermal infrared images is similar to that of the surroundings. With the maximum compressive stress of 2.435 kPa, the carbon aerogels can provide favorable endurance. The shaddock peel-based carbon aerogels possess the minimum reflection loss value (RLmin) of − 29.50 dB in X band. Meanwhile, the effective absorption bandwidth covers 5.80 GHz at a relatively thin thickness of only 1.7 mm. With the detection theta of 0°, the maximum radar cross-sectional (RCS) reduction values of 16.28 dB m2 can be achieved. Theoretical simulations of RCS have aroused extensive interest owing to their ingenious design and time-saving feature. This work paves the way for preparing multi-functional microwave absorbers derived from biomass raw materials under the guidance of RCS simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To discover immune factors that can predict the progression of COVID-19, we evaluated circulating immune cells and plasma cytokines in COVID-19 patients. We found that T cells, including CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells, were significantly decreased in severe COVID-19 symptoms but not in mild symptoms, in comparison with healthy people. T cells remained at a low level after recovery from severe COVID-19. CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg-enriched cells were significantly increased in either mild or severe COVID-19 patients, regardless of recovery or not. Moreover, in either mild or severe COVID-19 patients, Treg-enriched cells up-regulated CD25 and down-regulated CD127. After recovery, CD25 was partially down-regulated but still higher than the normal level, while CD127 returned to the normal level in mild patients but not severe patients. B cells were decreased in mild patients and further decreased in severe patients, and remained low after recovery. NK cells were decreased only in severe COVID-19, with a tendency to return to the normal level after recovery. Plasma IL-6 and IL-10 were both elevated in severe patients but not in mild patients. After recovery, IL-6 remained higher than its normal level, while IL-10 returned to the normal level. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that CD4+ T cells, B cells, IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity. Therefore, these parameters are indicators of COVID-19 severity. Dynamic monitoring of these parameters would benefit therapy planning and prognosis evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation of organic components and the mechanism of lipid accumulation under stress in an algae–antibiotic system were studied. It was found that the antibiotic norfloxacin (NOR; 5–80 mg/L) had a pronounced effect on the lipid accumulation of the cultured Scenedesmus obliquus. Upon exposure to 80 mg/L NOR, the lipid content of the algae cells increased to 30.8%, which was approximately 2-fold higher than that of the blank control culture. Metabolomics was used to identify the biochemical changes induced by NOR in S. obliquus. The tricarboxylic acid cycle and the metabolic pathways of fatty acids, starch, and amino acids significantly changed under NOR stress. This stress triggered the production of reactive oxygen species, which contributed to intracellular signaling. This led to the shifting of additional common precursors (such as pyruvate and glucose) from the starch pathway to the fatty acid synthesis pathway and resulted in increased lipid accumulation and carbohydrate downregulation. Hence, carbon allocation shifted from carbohydrates to lipids as a storage reserve. Image 1 • Norfloxacin stress on Scenedesmus obliquus lipid accumulation was obviously. • Metabolic pathways of tricarboxylic cycle, fatty acids and starch were altered. • Carbon allocation shifted from carbohydrates to lipids as a storage reserve. • Results are useful for antibiotics wastewater with oleaginous microalgae culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widely used carbamazepine (CBZ) is one of the most persistent pharmaceuticals and suffers insufficient removal efficiency by conventional wastewater treatment. A synthesized Co-based perovskite (LaCoO 3) was used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in order to degrade CBZ. Results showed that LaCoO 3 exhibited an excellent performance in PMS activation and CBZ degradation at neutral pH, with low cobalt leaching. The results of FT-IR and XPS verified the high structurally and chemically stability of LaCoO 3 in PMS activation. Electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis suggested the generation of radical species, such as sulfate radicals (SO 4 - ) and hydroxyl radicals (OH). Radical quenching experiments further revealed the responsibility of SO 4 - as the dominant oxidant for CBZ oxidation. Ten products were detected via the oxidation of CBZ, with the olefinic double bond attacked by SO 4 - as the initial step. Hydroxylation, hydrolysis, cyclization and dehydration were involved along the transformation of CBZ. The toxicity of CBZ solution was significantly reduced after treating by PMS/LaCoO 3. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in high-throughput genomic technologies have nurtured a growing demand for statistical tools to facilitate identification of molecular changes as potential prognostic biomarkers or drugable targets for personalized precision medicine. In this study, we developed a web-based interactive and user-friendly platform for high-dimensional analysis of molecular alterations in cancer (HDMAC) (https://ripsung26.shinyapps.io/rshiny/). On HDMAC, several penalized regression models that are suitable for high-dimensional data analysis, Ridge, Lasso and adaptive Lasso, are offered, with Cox regression for survival and logistic regression for binary outcomes. Choice of a first-step screening is provided to address the multiple-comparison issue that often arises with large-volume genomic data. Hazard ratio or estimated coefficient is provided with each selected gene so that a multivariate regression model may be built based on the genes selected. Cross validation is provided as the method to estimate the prediction power of each regression model. In addition, R codes are also provided to facilitate download of whole sets of molecular variables from TCGA. In this study, illustration of the use of HDMAC was made through a set of data on gene mutations and a set on mRNA expression from ovarian cancer patients and a set on mRNA expression from bladder cancer patient. From the analysis of each set of data, a list of candidate genes was obtained that might be associated with mutations or abnormal expression of genes in ovarian and bladder cancers. HDMAC offers a solution for rigorous and validation analysis of high-dimensional genomic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P2-Na 2/3 Fe 1/2 Mn 1/2 O 2 is successfully synthesized via a facile spray-drying method followed by calcining at low temperature. The obtained material shows excellent discharge capacity, high rate capability and outstanding cycle ability. • P2-types Na 2/3 Fe 1/2 Mn 1/2 O 2 is synthesized by spray-drying method. • The temperature in the calcining process is decreased significantly. • The sample shows high capacity, excellent rate capability and cycle stability. Owing to its high theoretical capacity, P2-type Na 2/3 Fe 1/2 Mn 1/2 O 2 has been considered as a kind of promising cathode material. However, the practical application is limited due to excessively high calcining temperature during traditional preparation processes. Here, we report the synthesis of P2-Na 2/3 Fe 1/2 Mn 1/2 O 2 by using a facile spray-drying method followed by calcining at low temperature. Under the optimal conditions, the well-crystallized P2-Na 2/3 Fe 1/2 Mn 1/2 O 2 material with excellent rate capability and cycle ability is obtained. And the sample exhibits the initial discharge capacities of 217.9, 171.3 and 117.4 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, 0.5 C and 2 C rate, respectively. The developed Na 2/3 Fe 1/2 Mn 1/2 O 2 material, synthesized by a new spray drying-calcining procedure, may potentially be used as a suitable cathode in sodium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In clinical practice, researchers usually categorize continuous variables for risk assessment. Many algorithms have been developed to find one optimal cut point to group variables into two halves; however, there is often need to determine the optimal number of cut points and their locations at the same time. In this paper we proposed a new AIC criterion, where the AIC values were corrected with cross-validation and Monte Carlo method, to select the optimal number of cut points. In addition, the cross-validation and Monte Carlo methods were used to correct the p value and relative risk. To provide the biomedical researchers with an easy tool, we developed an R function that utilized the genetic algorithm to find the location of the optimal cut points. Furthermore, we conducted simulation experiments to study the performance of our proposed method. In the end we applied our method to study the effect of body mass index on cervical cancer survival, which had inconsistent reports in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enhance the decomposition of PAA. • Modified CNTs catalyzed decomposition of PAA proceeds via a free radical process. • The organic free radicals play a dominant role in compounds degradation. • The defects of modified CNTs act as the catalytic sites for PAA decomposition. Peracetic acid (PAA) activated by carbon materials as an environmentally friendly technology has attracted rising attention for compounds degradation. In this work, thermally modified carbon nanotubes were applied to efficiently activate PAA for phenol (PE) degradation. The identification of active sites involved in PAA activation and the contributions of different reactive radicals to the PE degradation were systematically investigated. Excellent removal efficiency of PE was obtained in the CNTs/PAA system within 30 min at neutral conditions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique and radical quenching studies confirmed that organic radicals were the dominant reactive species in the reaction process, while •OH made limited contribution to PE degradation. The material characterization proved that the lattice defects rate of modified CNTs was positively correlated with the catalytic activity. The adsorption models verified that the double-vacancy defects (CNTs-DV) played a major role on the adsorption of PAA and activation process. In contrast to the influence of chlorine and carbonate ions, the PE degradation in CNTs/PAA system was strongly affected by the initial pH and the presence of humic acid. Moreover, modified CNTs could still maintain good catalytic activity after five-cycle runs. Overall, this work not only provides valuable insights for the rational design and directional synthesis of high-performance nano-carbon catalysts, but also proposes a very meaningful oxidation system for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Human manure (HM) is an ideal waste biomass for the production of P fertilizer. • Hydrothermal carbonation was used to recover high-bioavailable P from HM directly. • C and P were preserved in the derived P-rich hydrochars (PHCs) well. • The derived PHCs has a promising application potential. Phosphorus (P) recovery from human manure (HM) is critical for food production security. For the first time, a one-step hydrothermal carbonation (HTC) treatment of HM was proposed in this study for the targeted high-bioavailable P recovery from P-rich hydrochars (PHCs) for direct soil application. Furthermore, the mechanism for the transformation of P speciation in the derived PHCs was also studied at the molecular level. A high portion of P (80.1∼89.3%) was retained in the solid phase after HTC treatment (120∼240°C) due to high metal contents. The decomposition of organophosphorus (OP) into high-bioavailable orthophosphate (Ortho-P) was accelerated when the HTC temperature was increased, reaching ∼97.1% at 210°C. In addition, due to the high content of Ca (40.45±2.37 g/kg) in HM, the HTC process promoted the conversion of low-bioavailable non-apatite inorganic (NAIP) into high-bioavailable apatite inorganic P (AP). In pot experiments with pea seedling growth, the application of newly obtained PHCs significantly promoted plant growth, including average wet/dry weight and plant height. Producing 1 ton of PHCs (210°C) with the same effective P content as agricultural-type calcium superphosphate could result in a net return of $58.69. More importantly, this pathway for P recovery is predicted to meet ∼38% of the current agricultural demand. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term insufficient dissolved oxygen (DO), excessive nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) have become the main causes of the troublesome eutrophication. Herein, a 20-day sediment core incubation experiment was conducted to comprehensively evaluate the effects of two metal-based peroxides (MgO 2 and CaO 2) on eutrophic remediation. Results indicated that CaO 2 addition could increase DO and ORP of the overlying water more effectively and improve the anoxic environment of the aquatic ecosystems. However, the addition of MgO 2 had a less impact on pH of the water body. Furthermore, the addition of MgO 2 and CaO 2 removed 90.31% and 93.87% of continuous external P in the overlying water respectively, while the removal of NH 4 + was 64.86% and 45.89%, and the removal of TN was 43.08% and 19.16%. The reason why the capacity on NH 4 + removal of MgO 2 was higher than that of CaO 2 is mainly that PO 4 3− and NH 4 + can be removed as struvite by MgO 2. Compared with MgO 2 , mobile P of the sediment in CaO 2 addition group was reduced obviously and converted to more stable P. Notably, the microbial community structure of sediments was optimized by MgO 2 and CaO 2 , which showed that the relative abundance of anaerobic bacteria decreased and that of aerobic bacteria increased significantly, especially some functional bacteria involved in the nutrient cycle. Taken together, MgO 2 and CaO 2 have a promising application prospect in the field of in-situ eutrophication management. [Display omitted] • CaO 2 improved the anoxic environment of eutrophic water bodies more effectively. • MgO 2 had less effect on pH of eutrophic water bodies. • MgO 2 was better for simultaneous removal of N and P. • P fractions reshaped by CaO 2 were more stable. • Aerobic functional bacteria were increased by the addition of MgO 2 and CaO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PAA was effective in inactivating AR E. coli and preventing their regrowth. • PAA could induce antibiotic resistant E. coli into viable but nonculturable state. • Amino acids containing thiol, thioether and imidazole groups are inactivation sites. • PAA was poorly reactive with plasmid strands and bases. • PAA-treated plasmid remained high-efficient transformation functionality. The occurrence of a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state in antibiotic-resistant E. coli (AR E. coli) and inefficient degradation of their antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) may cause potential health risks during disinfection. Peracetic acid (PAA) is an alternative disinfectant for replacing chlorine-based oxidants in wastewater treatment, and the potential of PAA to induce a VBNC state in AR E. coli and to remove the transformation functionality of ARGs were investigated for the first time. Results show that PAA exhibits excellent performance in inactivating AR E. coli (over 7.0-logs) and persistently inhibiting its regeneration. After PAA disinfection, insignificant changes in the ratio of living to dead cells (∼4%) and the level of cell metabolism, indicating that AR E. coli were induced into VBNC states. Unexpectedly, PAA was found to induce AR E. coli into VBNC state by destroying the proteins containing reactive amino acids at thiol, thioether and imidazole groups, rather than the result of membrane damage, oxidative stress, lipid destruction and DNA disruption in the conventional disinfection processes. Moreover, the result of poor reactivity between PAA and plasmid strands and bases confirmed that PAA hardly reduced the abundance of ARGs and damaged the plasmid's integrity. Transformation assays and real environment validation indicated that PAA-treated AR E. coli could release large abundance of naked ARGs with high-efficiency transformation functionality (∼5.4 × 10–4 - ∼8.3 × 10–6) into the environment. This study has significant environmental implications for assessing the transmission of antimicrobial resistance during PAA disinfection. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been reported to provide reliable therapies for viral pneumonia, but the therapeutic mechanism remains unknown. As a systemic approach, metabolomics provides an opportunity to clarify the action mechanism of TCMs, TCM syndromes or after TCM treatment. This review aims to provide the metabolomics evidence available on TCM-based therapeutic measures against viral pneumonia. Metabolomics has been gradually applied to the efficacy evaluation of TCMs in treatment of viral pneumonia and the metabolomics analysis exhibits a systemic metabolic shift in lipid, amino acids, and energy metabolism. Currently, most studies of TCM in treatment of viral pneumonia are untargeted metabolomics and further validations on targeted metabolomics should be carried out together with molecular biology technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • ZVI coupled with H 2 O 2 could remove aniline, Sb and Cr simultaneously. • Aniline was degraded by OH but Sb, Cr removal did not depend on Fenton. • Fe(0) corrosion promoted by H 2 O 2 and in-situ generated nano iron(hydr)oxides. • Nano iron(hydr)oxides had abundant adsorption and co-precipitation sites. • Sb and Cr was mainly removed as the states of Sb(III) and Cr(III). Abstract Aniline, antimony (Sb) and chromium (Cr) are typical and regulated co-contaminants in textile wastewater, but their removal was often investigated individually. In this work, simultaneous removal of aniline, Sb and Cr by ZVI coupled with H 2 O 2 was studied. With the dosage of 0.5 g L−1 ZVI and 2 mM H 2 O 2 , aniline, Sb and Cr can be removed completely at pH 3. Experiment with iso -propanol as the radical scavenger confirmed that OH derived from Fenton reaction accounts for aniline degradation, but not for Sb and Cr removal. H 2 O 2 accelerated Fe(0) corrosion and generated the nanoscale iron(hydro)oxides. Aniline was degraded by OH first and then the degradation products were removed by iron(hydro)oxides via adsorption and co-precipitation. Both Fe(0) and iron(hydro)oxides were responsible for Sb and Cr removal, yet iron(hydro)oxides were identified as the major contributor. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis demonstrated that Sb and Cr were removed mainly as the states of Sb(III) and Cr(III). The real textile wastewater investigation confirmed that ZVI coupled with H 2 O 2 can eliminate aniline, Sb and Cr effectively, which has important implications for the advanced treatment of textile wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first shaped-pulse inertial confinement fusion implosion experiments of the deuterium-deuterium (DD) gas-filled plastic (CH) capsules have been done at the SG-III laser facility [He and Zhang, Eur. Phys. J. D 44, 227 (2007); Zheng et al., Matter Radiat. Extremes 2, 243 (2017)]. The measured neutron yield is much lower than that predicted by one-dimensional (1D) simulations, and as the trough duration of the drive source increases, the neutron yield over clean decreases rapidly to less than 1%. To understand the primary reason for this decrease in yield, we numerically simulated the capsule implosion to investigate the effects of the support tent and the various capsule-surface defects on the implosion performance. The validity of the underlying 1D model is supported by the agreement between the results of the 1D simulation and experimental data for the implosion trajectory and fuel areal density. Compared with square-pulse implosions, shaped-pulse implosions exhibit a much larger growth in hydrodynamic instabilities. The numerical neutron yields of the shaped-pulse implosions are much more sensitive to perturbations seeded by inward-facing divots on the outer ablator surface. Yield degradation is mainly caused by a reduction in mechanical power exerted by the distorted shell on the central DD gas, which significantly lowers the fuel temperature and pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cities' area accounts for only 2% of the world's surface area, but the cities' population accounts for 50% of the total population and produces more than 80% of the total CO 2 emissions. So the cities have a key position in solving the global challenge of climate change. In order to estimate the impacts of city size change and industrial structure change on CO 2 emissions, based on the background, the data availability of the CO 2 emissions per person, the economic scale, the size of land use, the industrial concentration degree and the industrial structure change in 50 cities in different sizes (the population size between 0.5 million and 1 million, 1–2 million, 2–4 million and more than 4 million) from 2005 to 2014, the paper studies the impact of the city size change and the industrial structure change on CO 2 emissions. The results show that the increase in the sizes of cities can bring in the rise of CO 2 emissions and the impacts on CO 2 emissions in different city sizes are significant. Meanwhile, both industrial agglomeration and industrial structure change have a significant role in the CO 2 emissions reduction. The paper finds out that (1) the medium-sized cities produce relatively fewer CO 2 emissions than the smaller cities and the bigger cities. As smaller cities are not conducive to save land and also can't play the externalities of industry agglomeration, leading to the reduction in energy efficiency. Bigger cities may produce all kinds of city diseases. The medium-sized cities with the population of 1 million and 2 million can have relatively higher energy efficiency and fewer city diseases, which may produce lower CO 2 emissions. (2) economic growth can increase CO 2 emissions.(3) the industrial structure change has effects on CO 2 emissions, and CO 2 emissions from the secondary industry are the largest in the three industries. So, the government should reasonably give priority development of medium-sized cities with the population between 1 million and 2 million, and adjust energy consumption structure and the industrial structure to give priority to the tertiary industry to reduce CO 2 emissions in China's cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combination of carbon and metal materials is a good strategy to develop lightweight microwave absorbents. Taking advantage of the encapsulation property of carbon nanoflakes, a stable microwave absorber could be achieved. In this study, we managed to achieve sandwich-shaped Ni/C nanoflakes via a simple route involving a one-step hydrothermal method towards Ni(OH)2 nanosheets, followed by a calcination procedure. These sandwiched carbon nanoflakes not only increased the interfacial polarization, but also resulted in the absolute stability of metal nanoparticles. Considering the higher possibility of some support plates to be wrinkled, which would bring about imperfect sandwiched structures, the free-standing sandwiched composites were in a relatively good shape. Furthermore, the intensive conductive loss could be highly responsible for better microwave absorption properties by adjusting the carbonization temperature. The minimum reflection loss (RL) value of Ni/C composites that were obtained with a 25% loading filler ratio could reach −24.3 dB with a matching thickness of only 1.5 mm. Moreover, the effective microwave absorption bandwidth (＜−10 dB) could reach to 4.0 GHz with thicknesses of both 1.3 mm and 1.4 mm. Therefore, the sandwich-shaped Ni/C nanoflakes could be exploited as an effective and lightweight microwave absorber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence for plastic degradation by mealworms has been reported. However, little is known about the residual plastics derived from incomplete digestion during mealworm-mediated plastic biodegradation. We herein reveal the residual plastic particles and toxicity produced during mealworm-mediated biodegradation of the three most common microplastics, i.e., polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). All three microplastics are effectively depolymerized and biodegraded. We discover that the PVC-fed mealworms exhibit the lowest survival rate (81.3 ± 1.5%) and the highest body weight reduction (15.1 ± 1.1%) among the experimental groups by the end of the 24-day experiment. We also demonstrate that the residual PVC microplastic particles are more difficult to depurate and excrete for the mealworms compared to the residual PE and PS particles by using laser direct infrared spectrometry. The levels of oxidative stress responses, including reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation, are also highest in the PVC-fed mealworms. Sub-micron microplastics and small microplastics are found in the frass of mealworms fed with PE, PS, and PVC, with the smallest particles detected at diameters of 5.0, 4.0, and 5.9 µm, respectively. Our findings provide insights into the residual microplastics and microplastic-induced stress responses in macroinvertebrates under micro(nano)plastics exposure. [Display omitted] • PE, PS, and PVC microplastics were rapidly ingested and efficiently biodegraded by mealworms. • The PVC-fed mealworms had the worst physiological performance during the 24-day test. • Undigested microplastics remained in mealworm intestines for a longer time than normal food. • Oxidative stress responses were discovered in the mealworms fed with PE, PS, and PVC microplastics. • Sub-micron microplastics and small microplastics were found in the frass of the mealworms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]