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For example, annealing a metal catalyst in a reducing atmosphere can create surface vacancies that can act as active sites for catalytic reactions [[10]]. Thermal Analysis techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) can be used to analyze the thermal stability and reactivity of the defective catalyst material with surface oxides, carbonaceous species, and other adsorbed species. Chemical synthesis: Defective catalysts have also shown promising results in chemical synthesis and reaction engineering applications, such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO SB x sb and olefin polymerization. Preparation Strategies for Defective Catalysts There are several methods to prepare defects on catalysts, and the choice of method depends on the type of defect and the specific catalyst adopted. [Extracted from the article]

Flexible triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have attracted increasing interest since their advent in 2012. In comparison with other flexible electrodes, hydrogels possess transparency, stretchability, biocompatibility, and tunable ionic conductivity, which together provide great potential as current collectors in TENGs for wearable applications. The development of hydrogel‐based TENGs (H‐TENGs) is currently a burgeoning field but research efforts have lagged behind those of other common flexible TENGs. In order to spur research and development of this important area, a comprehensive review that summarizes recent advances and challenges of H‐TENGs will be very useful to researchers and engineers in this emerging field. Herein, the advantages and types of hydrogels as soft ionic conductors in TENGs are presented, followed by detailed descriptions of the advanced functions, enhanced output performance, as well as flexible and wearable applications of H‐TENGs. Finally, the challenges and prospects of H‐TENGs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging cryoprotectant replacement method endows hydrogels with nondrying and antifreezing properties, but the low conductivity still limits wider electronic applications. In this work, the Hofmeister effect and electrostatic interaction are introduced to improve the conductivity of organohydrogels and their enhancement mechanism are studied in depth. The Hofmeister effect mainly influences the physical properties, such as the pore structure and mechanical strength, which subsequently impacts ion transfer during the solvent replacement process. The lithium and sodium bonds formed by the electrostatic interaction play a more important role in the conductivity of organohydrogels and an overall picture is presented based on the synergistic enhancement of the Hofmeister effect and electrostatic interaction to achieve highly ionic conductive organohydrogels. The champion organohydrogels are applied as soft ionic conductors and antireflective layers in triboelectric, photovoltaic, and thermoelectric applications. The proposed mechanism advances the understanding of the contribution of ions to organohydrogels for wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The transportation sector consumes a large amount of fossil fuels consequently exacerbating the global environmental and energy crisis. Fuel‐cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEVs) are promising alternatives in the continuous transition to clean energy. This article summarizes the recent advances pertaining to the optimization and cutting‐edge design of fuel‐cell hybrid electric vehicles, especially the fuel cell + battery hybrid topology, and discusses current technological bottlenecks hindering the commercialization of FCHEVs. The development of HEVs, markets, environmental and economic benefits, components, topologies, energy management strategies, degradation mechanisms, and safety standards of FCHEVs are reviewed. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells constitute the mainstream and most mature fuel cell technology for automobile applications. Battery hybridization is currently favored among the available FCHEV topological designs to improve the dynamic response and recover the braking energy. Energy management strategies encompassing logic rule‐based simple methods, intelligent control methods, global optimization strategies, and local optimization strategies are described, and issues and challenges encountering FCHEVs are discussed. In addition to promoting the construction of hydrogen supply facilities, future efforts are expected to focus on solving problems such as the high cost, durability of fuel cells, cold start, lifetime of batteries, security and comfort, system optimization, energy management systems, integration, and diagnosis of faults. This review serves as a reference and guide for future technological development and commercialization of FCHEVs. Highlights: Advances of the optimization and cutting‐edge design of FCHEVs are reviewed.Battery hybridization is currently favored among the available topological designs.Benefits, components, topologies, and energy management strategies are described.Markets, degradation mechanisms, and safety standards of FCHEVs are introduced.Technological bottlenecks hindering the commercialization of FCHEVs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporation of additives into silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics in low temperature, atmospheric pressure sintering is challenging because uniform mixing of additives and raw SiC powders is quite difficult. Herein, an impregnation coating process in which a precise amount of Al 2 O 3 is introduced to raw SiC granules on the nanoscale is described and high-performance SiC ceramics can be processed by atmospheric pressure sintering. The uniform coating promotes densification of SiC via enhanced liquid mass transfer and inhibits grain growth and recombination during sintering. The effects of the doping content on the ceramic structure and mechanical properties are studied. Coating a single layer of Al 2 O 3 nano-particles on SiC particles yield the best interfacial activity, sintering density, and mechanical properties. The SiC sample with 7.5 wt% Al 2 O 3 possesses the best properties such as a relative density of 97.98%, flexural strength of 434.40 MPa, fracture toughness of 5.23 MPa·m1/2, and Vickers hardness of 28.21 GPa. The sintering kinetics analyzed by the isothermal sintering method fits the Singh model with an apparent activation energy of 574.64 kJ/mol. The sintering rate is governed by both the interface reaction and diffusion and the model and experimental results provide insights with respect to materials design and commercial batch production. Unlabelled Image • A facile Al 2 O 3 coating technique for SiC powders is described. • Raw SiC granules are evenly coated with a precise amount of Al 2 O 3 on the nanoscale. • High-quality SiC ceramic samples are prepared by atmospheric pressure sintering. • The sintering kinetics is analyzed by the isothermal method. • The sintering rate is determined by the interface reaction and diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) has a high potential for using as the cathode material for lithium–ion batteries (LIBs) for electric vehicles owing to its high energy density and low cost. However, its poor rate capability and cycling performance have significantly hindered its application. In this study, we successfully design a uniform magnesium oxide (MgO) coating on NCM811 via a wet-chemical coating followed by heat treatment using magnesium ethoxide [Mg (OEt)2] dissolved in ethanol as the Mg source. The effects of MgO coating on the surface states, crystal structure, and electrochemical performances of NCM811 cathode material are studied in detail. After 100 cycles, the capacity retention of MgO-coated NCM811 is 90.1% at room temperature at 1 C, whereas the pristine NCM811 is only 74.5%. Besides, the MgO-coated NCM811 delivers a better rate property than pristine NCM811. Prominent improvements in electrochemical performances are attributed to the fact that the formation of MgO coating layer helps to suppress deleterious side reactions, lower the overpotential on the surface, and facilitate lithium–ion diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Low-temperature sintering properties and mechanism of BCTZY NFs were clarified. • BCTZY NFs displayed a high T C owing to its discontinuous physical property. • Vertical alignment and donor doping of Y3+ greatly enhanced electrical properties. • BCTZY NF-based NGs showed great potential in tiny energy harvesting application. Abstract Flexible lead-free (Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15)(Ti 0.9 Zr 0.1)O 3 -0.2 mol%Y nanofibers (BCTZY NFs) were synthesized by electrospinning and their corresponding nanogenerators (NGs) with vertical alignments were fabricated. The low-temperature sintering properties of BCTZY NFs were investigated, to optimize their synthesis path and minimize the thermal energy consumption during the sintering process. The continuity, flexibility, and stability of the BCTZ-based NFs were improved by adding Y3+. Moreover, the temperature-evolved Raman spectra displayed a high Curie temperature of 280 °C for BCTZY NFs, which was far higher than that of about 90 °C for BCTZ-based ceramic bulks, owing to the discontinuous physical property of NFs. The dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of the vertically aligned BCTZY NFs/PDMS were estimated and compared with those of BCTZ NFs/PDMS composites, to verify the advantages of vertical alignments and the donor doping effect of Y3+. Vertically aligned BCTZY NF-based NGs showed an average V OC of 3.0 V and I SC of 85 nA by finger tapping, suggesting their potential applications in tiny energy harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BCZT-CuY/rGO/PDMS composites with excellent elasticity and flexibility, and their nanogenerators (NGs) with favorable electrical properties, were fabricated. The impact of rGO on the dispersion of BCZT-CuY, the mechanical properties of BCZT-CuY/rGO/PDMS, and electrical performance of BCZT-CuY/rGO-based NGs were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the distribution of BCZT-CuY in PDMS with added rGO was much more uniform than that without rGO. Moreover, its elastic modulus and elongation at the break increased to 4.6 MPa and 250%, respectively, with the introduction of rGO. Apart from a high d 33 at the percolation threshold, the average V OC (1.36 V) and I SC (35nA) achieved by finger tapping BCZT-CuY/rGO-based NGs suggested their considerable potential in harvesting tiny energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free (Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15 )(Ti 0.9 Zr 0.1 )O 3 -xwt%CuOywt%Y 2 O 3 (BCZT-Cu x Y y ) ceramics with high piezoelectricity were synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The role of Cu and Y (Cu/Y) in sintering, phase transition, and electrical properties of such ceramics was systematically studied. The results indicated that the sintering temperatures of BCZT-Cu x Y y decreased by at least 100 °C due to the low melting point of CuO. The promotion effect of Cu/Y on phase transition lied in the improvement of T C by 5–15 °C and the coexistence of O+T phase near room temperature. The contribution of Cu/Y to electrical properties was mainly ascribed to the grains growth, the formed oxygen vacancies and lattice distortions, and the donor doping effect of Y 3+ . Adding 0.10 wt% Cu 2+ and 0.06 wt% Y 3+ into BCZT dramatically improved the electrical properties as following: d 33 = 552 pC/N, ε m = 10175, ε r = 4546, tanδ = 0.016, T C = 100 °C, k p = 0.475, Q m = 157.2, P r = 10.82 μC/cm 2 and E C = 2.33 kV/cm. A plausible mechanism was obtained to explain the reaction process and the favorable performances of BCZT-Cu x Y y . Co-doping Cu 2+ and Y 3+ into BCZT could be a promising method to improve and balance the sintering, phase transition, and electrical properties for potential practical applications of lead-free piezoceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have highlighted the poor prognosis of liver cancer, and treatment effects are overall limited. We aimed to confirm the biological roles of SIAH2 in liver cancer and provide potential therapeutic targets. Differential analysis was conducted based on public datasets and found that SIAH2 expressed lowly in HCC samples relative to normal tissues, which was demonstrated in tumor samples via immunohistochemistry (IHC). Besides, SIAH2 overexpression could significantly suppress HCC proliferation. SIAH2 deficiency induced cell proliferation, migration and self-renewal abilities in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, SIAH2 could interact with WNK1, and trigger the ubiquitination and degradation of WNK1 proteins. In addition, low SIAH2 depended on elevated WNK1 proteins to drive HCC malignant features, including proliferation, migration and stemness. Meanwhile, we further found that CBX2 could regulate SIAH2 expressions. CBX2 cooperated with EZH2 to mediate the H3K27me3 enrichment on the promoter region of SIAH2 to suppress its transcriptional levels. High CBX2/EZH2 levels in HCC correlated with poor prognosis of patients. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) further implicated that WNK1 correlates tightly with glycolytic process in HCC samples. WNK1 overexpression was found to notably enhance glycolytic activity, whereas WNK1 deficiency could significantly suppress the HCC glycolysis activity. Lastly, the subcutaneous tumor model further demonstrated that targeting WNK1 was effective to inhibit the in vivo tumor growth of SIAH2low HCC. Collectively, down-regulated SIAH2 expressions induced by CBX2/EZH2 could drive progression and glycolysis via accumulating WNK1 proteins, indicating that CBX2/SIAH2/WNK1 axis is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic vulnerability for human HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Spatial distribution of nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs) and nonylphenol (NP) was investigated in a field study in Lanzhou Reach of the Yellow River. NPEOs and their metabolites were found in the river, with the maximum dissolved concentrations of 6.38 nmol/L for NPEOs, 0.19 nmol/L for nonylphenol ethoxy acetic acids (NPECs) and 0.79 nmol/L for NP, respectively. The maximum concentrations in the sediment and suspended particle samples were 1.50 and 5.09 nmol/g for NPEOs and NP, respectively. The effects of particles, light and microorganism on the dissipation of NPEOs in the river water were investigated based on lab-scale experiments. When natural particles were removed, 72% and 22% degradation of NPEOs were achieved at 120 h in non-sterile and sterile conditions with light, respectively. Different concentrations of NPECs were also observed in these experiments. When suspended particle matters (SPMs) were present, about 38–50% of NPEOs were sorbed to the particulate phase in only 1 h. As a result, the degradation of NPEOs and production of NPECs were inhibited. However, the combined sorption and degradation in the presence of SPMs resulted in lower dissolved NPEO concentrations than those in the absence of SPMs. Biodegradation was the most important pathway for NPEOs degradation in the river water, while NPECs seemed to be produced through both biological and abiological pathways. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Three shrinking cylinder models are proposed. • The new models are suitable for materials with a high aspect ratio. • Some suggestions to the kinetic analysis in uncatalyzed reactions are provided. The shrinking unreacted core model has been one of the most widely used models for the uncatalyzed reaction kinetics between the liquid/gas and the solid phases. However, the classical shrinking unreacted core model (CSUC model) is only applicable to spherical particles. Currently, the CSUC model has been used in many studies regardless of its applicable conditions. For example, Wang et al. (2016) investigated the decomposition kinetics of a rod-like residue and deduced the rate-controlling step using the CSUC model. The purpose of this comment is to propose a modified shrinking unreacted core model (shrinking cylinder model) suitable for materials with a high aspect ratio. The authors hope that this work will be helpful for kinetic analysis of rod-shaped and fiber-shaped materials in the uncatalyzed liquid/gas-solid reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A MoS 2 /rGO heterojunction is introduced to a graphite felt electrode. • The electrode utilizes both dissolved O 2 and gaseous O 2 in 2e− ORR. • The MoS 2 /rGO heterojunction is a nanoscale p-n junction. • Gaseous O 2 adsorbing onto sulfur vacancies is reduced by electrons from rGO. • OH generated by autocatalysis of HAFA promotes As(III) and Cr(III)oxidization. Accumulation of high-arsenic fly ash (HAFA) poses a serious environmental threat due to the toxicity of As and release of other heavy metals especially Cr. In this work, a novel graphite felt (GF) cathode modified with the nanoscale MoS 2 /reduced graphene oxide (rGO) heterojunction is prepared by blending with PTFE emulsion for efficient synergistic oxidative dissolution of As(III) and Cr(III) in HAFA. By taking advantage of the p-n junction characteristics of the heterojunction and appropriate hydrophobicity of the PTFE coating, the modified GF efficiently utilizes both dissolved O 2 and gaseous O 2 in the 2e− oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Our theoretical assessment indicates that gaseous O 2 adsorbs stably on sulfur vacancies and is reduced by electrons transmitted from rGO. Experimentally, the modified GF shows superior ORR catalytic activity as exemplified by a high peak current density of 8.41 mA cm−2 and onset potential of 0.53 V vs. RHE. OH generated by the Cr and Fe-triggered autocatalysis mechanism promotes oxidization of As(III) and Cr(III) in detoxification of HAFA resulting in 96.1% As removal as well as 70.74% Cr removal in 135 min. The modified GF with excellent stability and durability has immense industrial prospect in detoxification of HAFA and treatment of other types of As-containing hazardous wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li- and Mn-rich materials have high capacities but serious voltage attenuation, whereas Ni-rich materials LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (NCM) have good rate characteristics but poor stabilities, and they readily to oxidize organic electrolytes. The core–shell strategy with Ni-rich materials as the core and Li- and Mn-rich materials as the shell was expected to balance these merits and drawbacks. In this work, simple and concentration-gradient Li- and Mn-rich shell were successfully synthesized on NCM and critically compared. As expected, a distinct core–shell interface was observed for the simple core–shell cathode, which causes the shell to crack during cycling and exhibits worse electrochemical performance than the single Li- and Mn-rich cathodes and Ni-rich cathodes. In contrast, the fabricated concentration-gradient core–shell cathode shows the uniform fusion of the core and shell at the atomic level, and the overall electrochemical performance is far superior to that of the simple core–shell and pristine cathodes. In addition, it delivers an initial reversible capacity of 226.6 mAh g−1 at a C-rate of 0.1C and 120.2 mAh g−1 at 10.0C, and it retains 86.9% of its capacity after 100 cycles to 4.6 V at 1.0C. Differential capacity versus potential (d Q /d V versus V) and EIS analyses show that the concentration-gradient core–shell cathode has a stable impedance and very stable average voltage. Obviously, the concentration-gradient coating of the Li- and Mn-rich shell can maximize the merits of the core and shell. • Both simple and concentration gradient Li- and Mn-rich shell coated samples increase the capacity of LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2. • A distinct core-shell interface was observed in simple core-shell cathode. • Simple core-shell structure exhibits a negative effect on cycling stability, rate capability and Li-ion diffusivity. • The concentration gradient Li- and Mn-rich shell is able to relieve side reactions and largely improved cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quartz and clay are substituted gradually by fly ash using a triaxial ceramic formulation under simulated industrial conditions and the effects of fly ash substitution on the macroscopic properties and microstructures of the sintered ceramics are evaluated systematically. With the substitution of 35 wt% (1250 °C), the ceramic sample exhibited optimal properties, including linear shrinkage of 15.61%, bulk density of 2.39 g cm-3, water absorption of 0.62% and flexural strength of 41.70 MPa, due to the accelerated densification and fly ash-spurred needle-shaped mullite. The microstructure analysis shows that the sintered matrix consists of three types of particles, quartz-, clay- and feldspar-like particles showing sintering behavior with respect to filling the glassy matrix with preserved morphology, precipitating mullite crystals, and fusing with the surrounding glassy matrix, respectively. The strength of the fly ash - containing ceramics is analyzed by the dispersion-strengthening mechanism and porosity and the results indicate that the fly ash particles affect the mechanical strength due to Griffith flaws when the total porosity is less than 25% and pores at higher total porosity. This study provides a viable strategy to recycle industrial fly ash in the production of architectural ceramics. [Display omitted] • Quartz and clay are substituted by fly ash in a triaxial ceramic formulation. • The ceramic preparation is under simulated industrial conditions. • The substitution effects on macro-properties and microstructures are evaluated. • Three types of particles exist acting as quartz, clay, and feldspar, respectively. • The strength is analyzed by the dispersion strengthening mechanism and porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The importance of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in Chinese hospitals is not clearly delineated. Thus we sought to assess the prevalence of MDRO in Chinese intensive care units (ICUs).Methods: Prospective study of inpatients admitted consecutively to eight ICUs in four Chinese cities in 2009-10. Admission and weekly screenings were performed by using selective media for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For the two latters, resistance to ceftazidime defined MDRO. Backward logistic regression models were designed to assess factors independently associated with MDRO carriage on admission and MDRO acquisition within ICUs.Results: 686 patients were included, and the MDRO prevalence rate on admission was 30.5 % (32.7 % for ESBL-positive Enterobacteriaceae, 3.2 % for MRSA). Antibiotic treatment prior to ICU admission was independently associated with carriage on admission (OR: 1.4) in multivariate analysis. A total of 104 patients acquired ≥1 MDRO in ICU (overall attack rate: 23.7 %; 14.9 % for ESBL-positive Enterobacteriaceae, and 5.1 % for MRSA). The MDRO attack rate increased from 13.2 % in the first week to 82.1 % for ICU stay > 3 weeks. Duration of antibiotic exposure (OR: 1.16; 1.1-1.2) and prior antibiotic treatment before ICU (OR: 2.1; 1.1-3.3) were associated with MDRO acquisition in multivariate analysis. The MDRO prevalence rate on ICU discharge was 51.2 % and the global prevalence density rate 71 per 1000 hospital-days.Conclusion: More than one out of two patients was MDRO carrier on ICU discharge in Chinese hospitals. This is the result of the combination of a high MDRO prevalence rate on ICU admission and a high MDRO acquisition rate within ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although HBr promotes Hg 0 oxidation over the V 2 O 5 -WO 3 /TiO 2 catalyst, it possibly influences the catalyst DeNO x activity. NH 3 -SCR experiments were conducted over a commercial V 2 O 5 -WO 3 /TiO 2 catalyst in the presence of HBr. NO conversion obviously decreases in the low temperature range (i.e., < 300 °C). XPS analysis suggests that HBr reacted with the surface vanadium species, increasing the amount of Br species and V 4 + species. In-situ FTIR study reveals that HBr adsorbed on the catalyst surface and subsequently reacted with V = O species which served as active sites in the SCR reaction, thus resulting in the inhibition effect for the DeNO x activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously established that lentils were able to significantly attenuate the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), but the mechanism was not investigated. The current study was therefore designed to examine the effect of lentils on arterial function in relation to arterial stiffness, lipid biochemistry and activation of select aortic proteins. Seventeen-week-old male SHRs were randomly assigned to groups (n=10/group) fed (a) 30% w/w green lentils, (b) 30% red lentils, (c) 30% mixed lentils (red and green) or (d) no lentils for 8 weeks. Normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) groups (n=10/group) received either the mixed lentil or no lentil diet. Blood pressure, pulse wave velocity and serum lipids were measured at baseline and 8 weeks, while pressure myography, arterial morphology and aortic proteins were measured after termination. There were no dietary-related changes in pulse wave velocity or blood pressure for any SHR or WKY group. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly lower in only SHR red lentil and WKY mixed lentil groups compared to their controls. The lentil diets reduced the media:lumen ratio of SHRs relative to control-fed SHRs but had no effect on WKYs. Both red and green lentils reduced arterial stiffness of SHRs but not WKYs. SHR lentil groups showed lower aortic p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) phosphorylation, thus implying that p38MAPK activation is suppressed with lentil feeding. Lentil-based diets suppress pathological vascular remodeling in SHRs, while green lentils maintain the vascular function of SHRs similar to normotensive WKYs despite the presence of high blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to severe environmental and energy crises, the world is increasingly focusing on electric vehicles (EVs) and related emerging technologies. Emerging technologies for EVs have great potential to accelerate the development of smart and sustainable transportation and help build future smart cities. This paper reviews new trends and emerging EV technologies, including wireless charging, smart power distribution, vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems, connected vehicles, and autonomous driving. The opportunities, challenges, and prospects for emerging EV technologies are systematically discussed. The successful commercialization development cases of emerging EV technologies worldwide are provided. This review serves as a reference and guide for future technological development and commercialization of EVs and offers perspectives and recommendations on future smart transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanoplastics result in significant hepatic immune toxicity in zebrafish larvae. • Nanoplastic accumulation contributes to the ROS generation and the immunotoxicity. • Nanoplastics activate steroid hormone biosynthesis. • Immune transgenic zebrafish is sensitive to the immunotoxicity of nanoplastics. Nanoplastics in aquatic environments may induce adverse immunotoxicity effects in fish. However, there is insufficient evidence on the visible immunotoxicity endpoints in the larval stages of fish. The liver plays an important role in systemic and local innate immunity in the fish. In this study, the hepatic inflammatory effects of polystyrene (PS) nanoplastic particles (NPs: 100 and 50 nm) and micron PS particles on transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae were estimated using fluorescent-labeled neutrophils, macrophages, and liver-type inflammatory binding protein (fabp10a). Particles with smaller size induced higher aggregations of neutrophils and apoptosis of macrophages in the abdomen of the larvae, corresponding to greater hepatic inflammation in the larvae. NPs increased the expression of fabp10a in the larval livers in a dose- and size-dependent manner. PS particles of 50 nm at a concentration of 0.1 mg·L−1 increased the expression of fabp10a in the larval liver by 21.90% (P < 0.05). The plausible mechanisms of these effects depend on their distribution and the generation of reactive oxygen species in the larvae. Metabonomic analysis revealed that the metabolic pathways of catabolic processes, amino acids, and purines were highly promoted by NPs, compared to micron PS particles. NPs also activate steroid hormone biosynthesis in zebrafish larvae, which may lead to the occurrence of immune-related diseases. For the first time, the liver was identified as the target organ for the immunotoxicity effects of NPs in the larval stage of fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) can improve the effectiveness with which agricultural waste is utilized. This study described the potent AA9 family protein Ms LPMO3, derived from Morchella sextelata. It exhibited strong binding to phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC), and had the considerable binding ability to Cu2+ with a K d value of 2.70 μM by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Ms LPMO3 could also act on PASC at the C1 carbon via MALDI-TOF-MS results. Moreover, Ms LPMO3 could boost the hydrolysis efficiency of corncob and wheat bran in combination with glycoside hydrolases. Ms LPMO3 also exhibited strong oxidizing ability for 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (2,6-DMP), achieving the best V max value of 443.36 U·g−1 for pH 7.4 with a H 2 O 2 concentration of 300 µM. The structure of Ms LPMO3 was obtained using AlphaFold2, and the molecular docking results elucidated the specific interactions and key residues involved in the recognition process between Ms LPMO3 and cellulose. Altogether, this study expands the knowledge of AA9 family proteins in cellulose degradation, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms of synergistic degradation of lignocellulose with cellulases. • Ms LPMO3 was a novel AA9 family protein and could tightly bind with copper ions. • Ms LPMO3 possessed strong oxidizing ability for 2, 6-DMP. • Ms LPMO3 could oxidize PASC at the C1 site. • Ms LPMO3 exhibited synergistic effects on natural substrates with glycoside hydrolase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effect of sorbed nonylphenol (NP) at low levels on phenanthrene sorption onto the mineral surfaces (organic-removed sediment, kaolinite) and a natural sediment with low organic content was investigated in this study. NP could be sorbed on the sediment and the minerals, and part of sorbed NP interacted with the solid surface stably. At very low concentrations, sorbed NP was observed to inhibit the sorption of phenanthrene on the hydrophilic mineral surfaces (organic-removed sediment and kaolinite) based on the change of phenanthrene apparent solid–liquid distribution coefficients. When the amount of sorbed NP increased to higher levels, enhancement of phenanthrene sorption occurred. Similar result was also obtained in isotherm experiments. On the mineral sorbents contacting with 1.0mg/L NP solution previously, the K d values were lower compared with those on the sorbents without sorbed NP. On the sorbents with higher levels of sorbed NP (contacting with 10mg/L NP solution previously), the K d values increased, while the isotherm tended to be more nonlinear. Concentrations of sorbed NP determined its orientation on the surface, which could presumably affect the water film above the sorbents, or contribute more adsorption sites for phenanthrene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The direct preparation of LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (LNCM811) cathode materials from the hydrochloric acid leaching of laterite are promising; however, there are Cl− ions and other impurities in the hydrochloric acid leaching solution, thereby limiting the commercial application of LNCM811. In this study, we compared the LNCM811 prepared from Cl−- and SO 4 2−- ion precursor solutions, and observed that the existence of Cl− ions could result in agglomerate disjointed and the primary particles grew separately during the sintering process, further deteriorating the electrochemical performance. Therefore, the initial raw Ni/Co solid residues were washed with deionised water and leached with 25 wt% H 2 SO 4 solution to obtain an enriched Ni/Co solution with SO 4 2− anions. Furthermore, considerable impurities in the enriched Ni/Co solution caused primary particle separation during the sintering process and led to the LNCM811 having poor electrochemical properties. Therefore, it was further purified by extraction with Cyanex272 to obtain a pure NiSO 4 solution. The impurities in the NCM811 precursor prepared from this pure NiSO 4 solution were below standard limits, the corresponding lithiated cathode delivers an initial reversible capacity of 192.1 mAh g−1 at 0.1C with an initial Coulombic efficiency of 86.5%; it retains 85.1% of its capacity after 100 cycles at 1.0C in 2.8–4.3 V, thereby achieving the standard of commercial LNCM811. On this basis, combined with the previous research of our group, high-value utilisation of laterite for preparing cathode materials includes the following processes: hydrochloric acid leaching, preliminary purification, alkaline oxidation precipitation, conversion of the Cl− solution system to the SO 4 2− ion solution system, extraction, solution-phase synthesis, and calcination. Moreover, compared with the conventional process of preparing NCM811 from metal sulfates, the cost saving through the proposed process was found to be approximately 265.8 $/ton. • Cl− ions result in disjointed agglomeration of LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2. • Mg could lead to poor particle morphology and layered structure. • Extracting impurities via Cyanex272 shortened the production of pure NiSO 4 solution. • LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 was synthesised from hydrochloric acid leaching of laterite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of novel pyrethrin derivatives containing an 1,3,4‐oxadiazole thioether moiety were designed and synthesized. Bioassay results revealed that some of the target compounds possessed excellent insecticidal activities against Plutella xylostella (P. xylostella), Vegetable aphids (V. aphids), and Empoasca vitis (E. vitis), respectively. In particular, compound 4l revealed the best insecticidal activities against P. xylostella and V. aphids, with the 50% lethal concentration (LC50) values of 1.78 and 1.61 mg/L, respectively, meanwhile, compound 4k revealed the best insecticidal activity against E. vitis, with the LC50 value of 1.06 mg/L, which were superior to those of the commercial insecticidal agents of chlorpyrifos, beta cypermethrin, spinosad, and azadirachtin. These results indicated that novel pyrethrin derivatives containing an 1,3,4‐oxadiazole thioether moiety could effectively inhibit P. xylostella, V. aphids, and E. vitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) not only bring additional medical cost to the patients but also prolong the length of stay (LOS). 2119 HAI case-patients and 2119 matched control-patients were identified in 68 hospitals in 14 primary sampling provinces of 7 major regions of China. The HAI caused an increase in stay of 10.4 days. The LOS due to HAI increased from 9.7 to 10.9 days in different levels of hospitals. There was no statistically significant difference in the increased LOS between different hospital levels. The increased LOS due to HAI in different regions was 8.2 to 12.6 days. Comparing between regions, we found that the increased LOS due to HAI in South China is longer than other regions except the Northeast. The gastrointestinal infection (GI) caused the shortest extra LOS of 6.7 days while the BSI caused the longest extra LOS of 12.8 days. The increased LOS for GI was significantly shorter than that of other sites. Among 2119 case-patients, the non-multidrug-resistant pathogens were detected in 365 cases. The average increased LOS due to these bacterial infections was 12.2 days. E. coli infection caused significantly shorter LOS. The studied MDROs, namely, MRSA, VRE, ESBLs-E. coli, ESBLs-KP, CR-E. coli, CR-KP, CR-AB, and CR-PA were detected in 381 cases (18.0%). The average increased LOS due to these MDRO infections was 14 days. Comparing between different MDRO infections, we found that the increased LOS due to HAI caused by CR-PA (26.5 days) is longer than other MDRO infections (shorter than 19.8 days). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare associated infection (HAI) is known to increase the economic burden of patients while the medical cost due to MDRO HAI is even higher. Three hundred eighty-one multidrug resistance organisms (MDROs) healthcare associated infection (HAI) case-patients and three hundred eighty-one matched control-patients were identified between January and December in 2015. The average total hospitalization medical cost of the case group was $6127.65 and that of the control group was $2274.02. The difference between the case group and the control group was statistically significant (t = 21.07; P < 0.01). The attributable cost of MDRO HAI was $3853.63. The direct medical costs due to different MDRO infections were different. The increased medical costs of CR-AB, CR-KP, and CR-PA were significantly higher than that of MRSA, MRSE, ESBL E. coli, and ESBL Kp (P < 0. 05). Among the subitem expenses, the drug cost increased the most (the average cost was $1457.72), followed by the treatment fee and test fee; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections and are associated with substantial healthcare costs, with increased morbidity and mortality. To investigate the effects of the antibiotic stewardship program on prevention and control of SSI during clean surgery, we investigated this situation in our institution.Patients and Methods: We performed a quasi-experimental study to compare the effect before and after the antibiotic stewardship program intervention. During the pre-intervention stage (January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011), comprehensive surveillance was performed to determine the SSI baseline data. In the second stage (January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2016), an infectious diseases physician and an infection control practitioner identified the surgical patients daily and followed up on the duration of antimicrobial prophylaxis.Results: From January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2016, 41,426 patients underwent clean surgeries in a grade III, class A hospital. The rate of prophylactic antibiotic use in the 41,426 clean surgeries was reduced from 82.9% to 28.0% after the interventions. The rate of antibiotic agents administered within 120 minutes of the first incision increased from 20.8% to 85.1%. The rate at which prophylactic antimicrobial agents were discontinued in the first 24 hours after surgery increased from 22.1% to 60.4%. Appropriate antibiotic selection increased from 37.0% to 93.6%. Prophylactic antibiotic re-dosing increased from 3.8% to 64.8%. The SSI rate decreased from 0.7% to 0.5% (p < 0.05). The pathogen detection rate increased from 16.7% up to 41.8% after intervention. The intensity of antibiotic consumption reduced from 74.9 defined daily doses (DDDs) per 100 bed-days to 34.2 DDDs per 100 bed-days after the interventions.Conclusion: Long-term and continuous antibiotic stewardship programs have important effects on the prevention and control of SSI during clean surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron and steel production is one of the most significant anthropogenic sources of atmospheric mercury emission. However, there is little information about this source in China. In this study, we focused on three typical Chinese sintering furnace processes. Mercury in flue gas was sampled using the EPA Method 30B and Ontario Hydro Method, and solid samples were also analyzed. We found that 1.12–4.66% of mercury input in sintering furnace processes was emitted into the atmosphere. The total mercury concentrations in the sintering furnace flue gas were 17.773, 31.765 and 18.275 μg/m 3 ; the major mercury species was oxidized form, which accounted for 73.4– 94.7% of the total mercury. The mercury concentrations in the stack flue gas were 0.373, 0.533 and 0.465 μg/m 3 , while its removal efficiencies by air pollution control devices (APCDs) were 97.5%, 81.1% and 96.8%, and its emission factors were 2.49, 2.71 and 1.28 mg/t sinter. The main mercury inputs were iron ore, coal, coke and lime, where the iron ore input was 74.84– 92.22% of the total mercury quantity. Moreover, mercury was distributed in fly ash (19.22– 81.54%), gypsum (13.29– 46.00%), iron ore sinter (0– 11.45%), and flue gas (1.12– 4.66%). An approximate mercury mass balance could be obtained from various samples in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorpyrifos is a widely used organophosphorus pesticide that efficiently protects crops against pests. However, recent studies suggest that severe exposure to chlorpyrifos may present adverse health effects in human. To analyze the exposure level and metabolic characteristics of chlorpyrifos pesticide in urban adults and farmers with/without occupation pesticide contact, the occurrence of urinary chlorpyrifos and methyl chlorpyrifos (CP-me), as well as their metabolite, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), was determined in farmers of an agricultural village in China, and in urban adults of a nearby town. The geometric mean (GM) concentrations of TCPy, which is the major marker of chlorpyrifos exposure, were 4.29 and 7.57 μg/g-creatinine in urban adults and farmers before pesticide application, respectively. Chlorpyrifos spraying significantly increased the concentrations of urinary TCPy. In the first day after spraying, a GM concentration of 43.7 μg/g-creatinine was detected in the urine specimens from farmers, which decreased to 38.1 and 22.8 μg/g-creatinine in the second and third day after chlorpyrifos spraying. The ratio of TCPy and its parent compounds, i.e. chlorpyrifos and CP-me, was positively associated with the sum concentration of urinary chlorpyrifos, CP-me, and TCPy, suggesting the increasing metabolic efficiency of chlorpyrifos to TCPy at higher chlorpyrifos exposure levels. To estimate the farmers’ occupational exposure to chlorpyrifos pesticide, a new model based on the fitted first-order elimination kinetics of TCPy was established. Occupational chlorpyrifos exposure in a farmer was estimated to be 3.70 μg/kg-bw/day (GM), which is an exposure level that is higher than the recommended guideline levels. Significant increase of urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was observed on the first day after chlorpyrifos spraying, which indicates a potential oxidative damage in farmers. However, urinary 8-OHdG returned to its baseline level within two days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, chemiluminescence (CL) behaviour of Luminol-H2O2in the presence of the different concentrations of four surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and polyoxyethylene dodecyl ether (Brij-35), was investigated. A novel method for the direct determination of critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactants using flow-injection CL is described. Under the optimum conditions, the luminescence intensity of the Luminol-H2O2system increased gradually with increasing concentration of the surfactants before the CMC, but rapidly reached to the emission maximum at the CMC, followed by a decrease after the CMC. The concentrations of the surfactants corresponding to the luminescence maximum are in agreement with the literature CMC values. The main factors affecting the determination of CMC are discussed. The mechanistic studies show that the luminescence peaks observed in the experiment were mainly because of the protective effect of the micelle against the transition of the excited species and the retarding effect of the micelle structures on the CL reaction rate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces indicators of early renal disease progression and the associated elevated cyclooxygenase (COX) levels in young obese rats with obesity-associated nephropathy (OAN). Therefore, renal function and injury and COX and its metabolites were assessed in obese fa/fa Zucker rats with more advanced renal disease. Obese rats at 16 weeks of age were provided with either cis (c)9, trans (t)11 ( fa/fa -9,11) or t10,c12 ( fa/fa -10,12) CLA for 8 weeks, and compared to lean (lean-CTL) and obese ( fa/fa -CTL) rats provided the control diet without CLA. Obese rats displayed significantly reduced renal function and increased renal injury compared to lean rats. In the obese rat groups, glomerular hypertrophy was reduced in both CLA-supplemented groups. While all other measures of renal function or injury were not different in fa/fa -9,11 compared to fa/fa -CTL rats, the fa/fa -10,12 rats had greater renal hypertrophy, glomerular fibrosis, fibrosis, tubular casts and macrophage infiltration compared to the fa/fa -CTL and fa/fa -9,11 groups. The fa/fa -10,12 group also had elevated levels of renal COX1, which was associated with increased levels of two oxylipins produced by this enzyme, 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1α , and thromboxane B 2 . Renal linoleic acid and its lipoxygenase products also were lower in obese compared to lean rats, but CLA supplementation had no effect on these or any other lipoxygenase oxylipins. In summary, supplementation with c9,t11 CLA did not improve more advanced OAN and t10,c12 CLA worsened the renal pathology. Altered production of select COX1 derived oxylipins was associated with the detrimental effect of the t10,c12 isomer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road vehicles are responsible for air pollution in Hong Kong, and electric vehicles (EVs) are a promising alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles as the city is transitioning to clean energy. In this work, EV adoption in Hong Kong is investigated and analyzed, including the global EV markets, present EV status in Hong Kong, local challenges facing EV development, suggestions for EV promotion in Hong Kong, emerging technologies, and decommissioning of batteries and EVs. The challenges of EVs include insufficient charging infrastructures, inadequate management of public charging facilities, difficulties in EV repair and maintenance, "dead mileage" during charging, unacceptable long charging times, and limited commercial EV models. Strategies such as providing incentives and bonuses for commercial EVs, offering high-power quick-charging facilities, actively developing commercial EVs, installing more charging infrastructures for private EVs, building connections among stakeholders, encouraging the participation of the private sector to promote fee-based services, and supporting the development of innovative technologies should be implemented to promote EVs in Hong Kong. Emerging technologies for EVs such as wireless charging, smart power distribution, vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home systems, connected vehicles, and self-driving are discussed. Eco-friendly decommissioning of EV batteries can be realized by recycling and second-life applications. This paper serves as a reference and guide for the sustainable and smart evolution of the transportation sector in Hong Kong and other global large cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]