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Using the colloidal solution combustion approach, a three-dimensional mesoporous 5%Ni-CeO2-M catalyst was developed, with Ni incorporated into the pores, and applied in the dry reforming of methane. Comprehensive characterization revealed that the 5%Ni-CeO2-M catalyst had a large specific surface area and a three-dimensional mesoporous structure. A rich Ni-CeO2 interface was formed by closely spaced tiny CeO2 and NiO nanoparticles within the spherical pore wall. With very little carbon deposition over a 100 h period at 700 °C, the catalyst showed excellent activity and stability. The tiny Ni nanoparticles, along with the substantial Ni-CeO2 interfaces that make up this three-dimensional in-form mesoporous catalyst, are responsible for the outstanding effectiveness of this 5%Ni-CeO2-M catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment poses a significant threat to biological survival and human health. However, our understanding of the toxic effects of MPs on the kidneys remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of the toxic effects of MPs on the kidneys using an ischemia–reperfusion (IR) mouse model. Four‐week‐old ICR mice were exposed to 0.5 μm MPs for 12 weeks prior to IR injury. The results showed that MPs exposure could aggravate the IR‐induced damage to renal tubules and glomeruli. Although there were no significant changes in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels 7 days after IR, MPs treatment resulted in a slight increase in both parameters. In addition, the expression levels of inflammatory factors (MCP‐1 and IL‐6) at the mRNA level, as well as macrophage markers (CD68 and F4/80), were significantly higher in the MPs + IR group than in the Sham group after IR. Furthermore, MPs exposure exacerbated IR‐induced renal fibrosis. Importantly, the expression of pyroptosis‐related genes, including NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD, cleaved caspase‐1, and IL‐18, was significantly upregulated by MPs, indicating that MPs exacerbate pyroptosis in the context of renal IR. In conclusion, our findings suggest that MPs exposure can aggravate renal IR‐induced pyroptosis by activating NLRP3‐GSDMD signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, microplastics (MPs) have gained significant attention as a persistent environmental pollutant resulting from the decomposition of plastics, leading to their accumulation in the human body. The liver, particularly of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is known to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of environmental pollutants. Therefore, to investigate the potential impact of MPs on the liver of diabetic mice and elucidate the underlying toxicological mechanisms, we exposed db/db mice to 0.5 μm MPs for 3 months. Our results revealed that MPs exposure resulted in several harmful effects, including decreased body weight, disruption of liver structure and function, elevated blood glucose levels, impaired glucose tolerance, and increased glycogen accumulation in the hepatic tissue of the mice. Furthermore, MPs exposure was found to promote hepatic gluconeogenesis by perturbing the PP2A/AMPK/HNF4A signaling pathway. In addition, MPs disrupt redox balance, leading to oxidative damage in the liver. This exposure also disrupted hepatic lipid metabolism, stimulating lipid synthesis while inhibiting catabolism, ultimately resulting in the development of fatty liver. Moreover, MPs were found to induce liver fibrosis by activating the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, MPs influenced adaptive thermogenesis in brown fat by modulating the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and genes associated with mitochondrial oxidative respiration thermogenesis in brown fat. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that MPs induce oxidative damage in the liver, disturb glucose and lipid metabolism, promote hepatic fibrosis, and influence adaptive thermogenesis in brown fat in diabetic mice. These findings underscore the potential adverse effects of MPs on liver health in individuals with T2DM and highlight the importance of further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method for simultaneous determination of eight organochlorine pesticides in solidification of floating organic drop coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was established. A mixture of extractant (n-hexadecane) and dispersive agent (acetone) at the ratio of 1/5 (v/v) was injected into aqueous sample to form an emulsion and an extraction process was accomplished. The demulsifier (750 microL acetone) was then injected to break up the emulsion. The two phases were separated quickly without centrifugation. After being solidified in an ice-bath, the upper layer (n-hexadecane) was transferred into an Eppendorf tube and analyzed by GC-MS after melted at room temperature. Factors affecting extraction efficiency such as the type and volume of extractant, dispersive agent and demulsifier, also ionic strength and pH value of extraction system were studied. Under the optimized conditions, the working curve of the proposed method provided a good linearity in the range of 0.025-2.00 microg/L (r = 0.999 5-0.999 9). The detection limits of the organochlorine pesticides calculated by Hubaux-Vos method were 0.012-0.024 microg/L and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged from 3.15% to 4.53%. The enrichment factors (EF) were 96-101. When the method was applied to the determination of farmland water, the average spiked recoveries were 96.77%-102.93% with the relative standard deviations of 2.68%-4.86%. The proposed method is sensitive and fast. It also has the advantage of little organic solvent consumption so that it is friendly to environment and suitable for batch analysis of organochlorine pesticides in aqueous samples. Meanwhile, it provides technical and methodological support for achieving the automation of sample pretreatment.