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[Display omitted] • Preparation of NC-Co(PO 3) 2 adopted facile gas-solidified phosphating strategy. • NC-Co(PO 3) 2 electrode was used for the first time in the field of CDI. • NC-Co(PO 3) 2 showed better electrosorption capacity of 95.41 mg g−1. • NC-Co(PO 3) 2 had excellent selectivity in various ion-competitive environments. • Real copper-containing wastewater confirmed the great potential of NC-Co(PO 3) 2. The increasing amount of heavy metal copper ions (Cu2+) in industrial emissions, poses a serious threat to human health, biological environment, and resource scarcity. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is considered as a green and efficient method for desalination. It is crucial to develop high-performance electrodes for efficient operation of CDI that go beyond conventional carbon and yield considerable environmental benefits. Here, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) derived carbon-loaded cobalt metaphosphate (NC-Co(PO 3) 2) was prepared by low-temperature gas–solid phosphating for Cu2+ removal as CDI electrode for the first time. NC-Co(PO 3) 2 demonstrated superior electrode structure and function due to the synergistic effects of electric double layer coupling P-O bonds, the binding tendency of metaphosphate groups with Cu2+, and interfacial redox reactions induced by the labile valence state of cobalt. The optimal electrosorption capacity of NC-Co(PO 3) 2 was 95.41 mg g−1 at 1 V in 50 mL Cu2+ solution with splendid cyclic regeneration capability. Moreover, NC-Co(PO 3) 2 exhibited excellent selectivity and outstanding electrosorption performance in the presence of multiple coexisting ions and this CDI system realized the purification of actual copper-containing wastewater. A series of characterizations further revealed the specific mechanism of Cu2+ in adsorption–desorption process. Our finding strongly supported NC-Co(PO 3) 2 electrode can extend the CDI platform's capability for effectively removing and retrieving Cu2+ from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The effect of hydroxyl protonation and deprotonation on the adsorption process was discussed in conjunction with density functional theory. • More than 60 % retention of adsorption capacity after five cycles of regeneration test. • Efficient adsorption processes allow for maximum fluoride adsorption capacity of up to 40.5 mg/g. • Complex mechanism of chemisorption process revealed based on XPS and DFT calculations. Due to fluoride pollution in the global water, the development of economical and efficient adsorption materials is urgent. In this study, schwertmannite were successfully synthesized by a low-cost chemical method, and the complex mechanism of fluoride adsorption process was analyzed in depth by combining experiments and theoretical calculations. The fluffy cauliflower-like morphology contributed to increasing the specific surface area of adsorbent (193.4 m2/g) and exposing active sites. The effect of pH on the adsorption process was discussed in conjunction with density functional theory. The experiment found that higher temperature improved fluoride removal, best performance at 318 K with 40.5 mg/g. In addition, fitting results showed that the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models could better describe the adsorption behavior. Coexisting anions and adsorption regeneration experiments demonstrated the high selectivity and reusability of schwertmannite. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to determine the mechanism of adsorption and fluoride removal. Combined with theoretical calculations, three adsorption configurations and the corresponding binding energies were obtained. The stability of different adsorption modes specifically showed OH-F > SO 4 -HF > OH-HF. Density of states analysis revealed the formation of resonance peaks and stable bonding interactions, further confirming the chemical adsorption mechanism. It provides the foundation for future industrial applications by using schwertmannite to deal with fluoride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ketogenic diet (KD) is characterized by fat as a substitute of carbohydrates for the primary energy source. There is a large number of overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while this study aims to observe periodic ketogenic diet for effect on overweight or obese patients newly diagnosed as T2DM. Methods: A total of 60 overweight or obese patients newly diagnosed as T2DM were randomized into two groups: KD group, which was given ketogenic diet, and control group, which was given routine diet for diabetes, 30 cases in each group. Both dietary patterns lasted 12 weeks, and during the period, the blood glucose, blood lipid, body weight, insulin, and uric acid before and after intervention, as well as the significance for relevant changes, were observed. Results: For both groups, the weight, BMI(body mass index), Waist, TG (triglyceride), TC(cholesterol), LDL (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), FBG (fasting glucose), FINS (fasting insulin), HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin) were decreased after intervention (P < 0.05), while the decrease rates in the KD group was more significant than the control group. However, UA(serum uric acid) in the KD group showed an upward trend, while in the control group was not changed significantly (P > 0.05).The willingness to adhere to the ketogenic diet over the long term was weaker than to the routine diet for diabetes. Conclusion: Among the overweight or obese patients newly diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus, periodic ketogenic diet can not only control the body weight, but also control blood glucose and lipid, but long-term persistence is difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities have caused environmental metal contamination in urban areas. Biomonitoring using organisms such as invertebrates can evaluate metal pollution, supplementing chemical monitoring, which cannot comprehensively reflect how metals influence organisms in the urban environment. To assess metal contamination in Guangzhou urban parks and its source, Asian tramp snails (Bradybaena similaris) were collected from ten parks in Guangzhou in 2021. The metal concentrations (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) were measured by ICP–AES and ICP–MS. We evaluated the metal distribution characteristics and correlations among metals. The probable sources of metals were determined by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. The metal pollution levels were analysed using the pollution index and the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index. The mean metal concentrations were ranked Al > Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cd > Pb; metal pollution level in the snails was ranked Al > Mn > Cu Fe > Cd > Zn > Pb. Pb–Zn–Al–Fe–Mn and Cd–Cu–Zn were positively correlated in all samples. Six major metal sources were identified: an Al–Fe factor corresponding to crustal rock and dust, an Al factor related to Al-containing products, a Pb factor indicative of traffic and industries, a Cu–Zn–Cd factor dominated by the electroplating industry and vehicle sources, an Mn factor reflecting fossil fuel combustion, and a Cd–Zn factor related to agricultural product use. The pollution evaluation suggested heavy Al pollution, moderate Mn pollution, and light Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn pollution in the snails. Dafushan Forest Park was heavily polluted; Chentian Garden and Huadu Lake National Wetland Park were not widely contaminated. The results indicated that B. similaris snails can be used as effective biomarkers for monitoring and evaluating environmental metal pollution in megacity urban areas. The findings show that snail biomonitoring provides a valuable understanding of the migration and accumulation pathways of anthropogenic metal pollutants in soil‒plant–snail food chains. [Display omitted] • Asian tramp snails trace environmental contamination of elements in urban areas. • High Cd and Zn concentrations were accumulated by Asian tramp snails. • Geogenic source and industrial emissions were the most dominant contaminant. • The pollution evaluation showed that Al contamination was heavy in snails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Silicon (Si)‐based dopant‐free heterojunction solar cells (SCs) featuring carrier‐selective contacts (CSCs) have attracted considerable interest due to the extreme simplifications in their device structure and manufacturing procedure. However, these SCs are limited by the unsatisfactory contact properties on both sides of the junction, and their efficiencies are not comparable with those of commercially available Si SCs. In this report, a high‐performance silicon‐oxide/magnesium (SiOx/Mg) electron‐selective contact (ESC) design is described. Combining an ultrathin SiOx and a low work function Mg layer, the novel ESC simultaneously yields low recombinative and resistive losses. In addition, deposition of Mg on SiOx relaxes the restriction on the threshold thickness of the SiOx for electron tunneling and therefore broadens the optimization space for rear‐sided passivation. Meanwhile, hole‐selective contact with boosted light harvesting and suppressed interfacial recombination is achieved by forming a fully conformal contact between the conducting poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) and periodic Si pyramid arrays. With the double‐sided carrier‐selective contact designs, PEDOT: PSS/Si/SiOx/Mg SCs with efficiency of 15% are finally obtained via a totally dopant‐free processing. Subsequent calculations further indicate a pathway for the improvement of these contacts toward an efficiency that is competitive with conventionally diffused pn junction SCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs rarely in children and adolescents (C&A), and its clinical characteristics, prognostic factors, and treatment were rarely explored.Methods: This retrospective study focused on 65 HCC patients aged ≤20 years from August 1994 to August 2012. Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to investigate prognostic factors and compare overall survival (OS), respectively.Results: We found 61.5% of patients to have multiple tumors, 30.8% to have portal vein tumor thrombus, and 16.9% to have distant metastasis. Diameter of tumors was 10.2 ± 4.1 cm. OS at 5 years was 15.8%. Multivariate analyses showed initial treatment (P < 0.001) to be a predictor for OS. For moderate-stage HCC, the median OS of patients who underwent resection was longer than that of patients who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or supportive treatment (ST) (P < 0.001). For advanced-stage HCC, the median OS of patients who underwent TACE was longer than that of patients who underwent ST (P = 0.045).Conclusions: HCC in C&A tends to be more advanced than that in adults, and resection remains the mainstay of treatment for those patients. Moreover, compared with ST, TACE may benefit C&A with moderate- and advanced-stage HCC, which needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental toxicity of antimony (Sb) is significantly increased through the widespread industrial application. The extended release of Sb above the regulatory level became a risk to humans habituated in the ecosystem. Conventional methods to remediate Sb demand high energy or resource input, which further leads to secondary pollution. The bio-electrochemical system offers a promising bioremediation strategy to remove or reduce toxic heavy metals. Thus, this research explores the possibilities of simultaneous metal sulfide (MeS) precipitation and electricity production using a full biological Microbial fuel cell (MFC). A non-conventional sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) Citrobacter freundii SR10 was used for this investigation, where the MFC was operated for lactate utilization in the bio-anode and Sb reduction at the bio-cathode. This study observed 81% of coulombic efficiency (bio-anode) and 97% of sulfate reduction with 99.3% Sb (V) reduction (bio-cathode), and it was concluded that the MeS precipitation entirely depends on sulfide concentration via SR10 sulfate reduction. The MFC-SR10 offers a maximum power density of 1652.9 ± 32.1 mW/m3, and their performance was depicted using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The Sb reduction was evaluated through fluorescence spectroscopy, and the Sb (V) MeS precipitation was confirmed as stibnite (Sb 2 S 3) by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Furthermore, the matured anodic and cathodic biofilm formation was confirmed by Scanning electron microscopy with Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Thus the MFC with SRB bio-cathode can be used as an alternative to simultaneously remove sulfate and Sb from the wastewater with electricity production. [Display omitted] • Full biological Microbial fuel cell (MFC) was developed with the strain of SRB. • Enhanced sulfate reduction (97%) was achieved in dual-chambered MFC. • Power density of 1652.9 ± 32.1 mW/m3 was attained with Antimony (Sb) reduction. • Stibnite is the key compound obtained after 99.3% Sb (V) reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The capacity of water hyacinth for remediating contaminated sites was evaluated. • Water hyacinth could increase heavy metal uptake in the more contaminated sites. • Translocation of heavy metals from the roots to the leaves was low (TF < 1). • The leaves can be safely used as animal feed (c.f. guideline levels), except sheep. • Water hyacinth is a good candidate to remediate sites contaminated with heavy metals. Abandoned e-waste recycling sites can still cause heavy metal pollution in the nearby aquatic environment, where the heavy metals in sediment can be remobilized and dispersed by water current. Water plants may be used to prevent the dispersal of heavy metals and remediate contaminated sites without substantially disturbing the environment. Here, we examined the degree of heavy metal contamination in sediment along a river (Lian River, South China) previously influenced by e-waste recycling activities, and evaluated the capacity of water hyacinth for remediating contaminated sites by measuring the accumulation and translocation of heavy metals. We found that the sediment adjacent to the abandoned e-waste recycling site was still heavily contaminated (I geo > 3) with various heavy metals (Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Sn and Zn), which can disperse to the nearby region via water current. Water hyacinth not only accumulated a variety of heavy metals (i.e. non-selective uptake), but also increased their uptake and translocation in the more contaminated sites, indicating its good capacity to remove heavy metals from water. Nevertheless, the concentrations of heavy metals in the edible part of water hyacinth (i.e. leaves) were still far below the maximum tolerable levels as animal feed (except Cu for sheep) due to the limited translocation. This study provides important insights into the possibility of using water hyacinth as the natural resource for multiple purposes (e.g. animal feed and biofuel) in addition to remediation of contaminated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the output control issues of a lithium ion battery wireless charging system, a primary side control method based on load characteristic identification is proposed. The primary side impedance is calculated by detecting the effective value of the primary side voltage and current, and the mapping relationship between the equivalent load and the primary side impedance is established based on the AC impedance model. Using this mapping relation, the output of the secondary side can be regulated indirectly by controlling the input voltage of the inverter. Compared with the traditional control methods, the proposed control method not only eliminates the communication requirement between the primary side and secondary side, but also simplifies the hardware circuit design, reduces the complexity of the control circuit and also reduces the volume and cost of the system. In the paper, the impedance characteristics of the lithium ion battery at constant current and constant voltage stage are analyzed. The principle of the primary side control method is expounded and the realization method is given. The feasibility of the proposed control method is verified by simulation and experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]