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The pursuit of high-performance piezo-photocatalysts through structural modifications has been a focal point of investigation within the realm of related scientific disciplines. In this study, we successfully designed Er-doped Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 –BaTiO 3 combined with rare earth ion doping and solid solution modification, and the prepared particles exhibited homogeneous grain sizes and optimized concentrations of oxygen vacancies (O V). The synergistic incorporation of O V (accelerator for catalytic reaction) and Er3+ results in an impressive 12-fold enhancement of the piezo-photocatalytic rate when degrading the Rhodamine B dye. The optimal composition 0.96BNT-0.04BT-Er demonstrates outstanding electrochemical properties, including a superior photocurrent response and minimal impedance, highlighting its exceptional performance in piezo-photocatalysis. The fundamental enhancement in catalytic performance can be attributed to the reconfiguration of the band structure of 0.96BNT-0.04BT-Er, which has been meticulously calculated utilizing DRS and VB-XPS and the internal mechanism was explained in detail. This research serves as a source of inspiration for the investigation of solid solutions among piezo-photocatalysts and sheds light on the vital role of band structure in governing catalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• BiOBr/BTO heterojunction catalysts were prepared by chemical precipitation method. • The catalyst exhibits highly efficient piezo-photocatalysis for degrading multi-pollutant. • Synergistic piezo-photocatalysis was realized under light illumination and ultrasound. • The catalyst shows favorable cycling stability and applicability for multi-pollutant. Piezo-catalysis is a green and effective method for degrading rich and obstinate molecules in wastewater. Yet, the piezo-catalytic performance of frequently-used barium titanate (BTO) is still limited for practical applications, thus it is crucial to construct high-efficiency BTO-based catalysts. Herein, BiOBr/BTO heterojunction-based piezo-photocatalysts were successfully prepared using the chemical precipitation method, and an internal electric field was established via ultrasound to promote the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs through the synergistic effect of piezocatalysis and photocatalysis. Transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the heterojunction. The degradation performance of Rhodamine B (RhB) by BiOBr/BTO is the best among various pollutants, giving a reaction rate constant up to 20.839 × 10−2 min−1, exceeding numerous previously reported catalysts. In addition, the piezo-photocatalytic reaction rate of BiOBr/BTO for Methyl Orange was 9.298 × 10−2 min−1, ≈ 3.3 times than those of pure BTO (2.806 × 10−2 min−1), and also ≈ 15.9 times and 3.3 times than those of single photocatalysis (0.585 × 10−2 min−1) or piezocatalysis (2.848 × 10−2 min−1). Importantly, the BiOBr/BTO heterojunction demonstrates excellent catalytic degradation performance for a broad range of pollutants (e.g., dyes and antibiotics) and their mixtures, as well as favorable cycling stability and repeatability with changed environmental conditions, displaying applicability in actual wastewater treatment. The possible degradation pathways of RhB were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The present work supplies a feasible strategy for the preparation of high-efficiency piezo-photocatalytic BTO-based heterojunctions, which can guide other composites for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezo-catalysis represents a promising and environmentally-friendly technology for dye degradation, but the commonly used BaTiO 3 piezoelectric material still face bottleneck of relative low piezo-catalytic activity. Enhancement of its catalytic activity via diversified means is crucial for improving the degradation efficiency and implementation of water treatment. In this study, we synthesized Ba 1- x Sr x TiO 3 nanoparticles utilizing the sol-gel method. The highest catalytic performance for degrading rhodamine B is at x = 0.15 through the piezo-photocatalytic synergy, displaying a degradation rate of 92.66 % within 18 min and an impressive reaction rate of 14.26 × 10−2 min−1, surpassing most of other BaTiO 3 -based materials. Importantly, the nanoparticles exhibited excellent catalytic degradation performance for a variety of pollutants under different environments. In addition, it is confirmed that Sr2+ doping can enhance the catalytic efficiency via three pathways, i.e. modifying energy band gap, modulating grain size as well as Curie temperature. This work provides a convenient strategy for the rational regulation of catalytic performance in BaTiO 3 -based piezoelectric materials. [Display omitted] • Sr-doping in BaTiO 3 for simultaneous regulation of grain size, T c and energy band. • Piezo-photocatalysis achieves stronger synergic effect than single catalysis. • Various mechanisms work together to improve the catalytic performance. • Maintaining high catalytic activity in various conditions for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the lead-free piezoelectric material Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 (BNT) has been adopted for piezo-catalysis and synergistic catalysis, such as piezo-photocatalysis. Nonetheless, the catalytic effect of single BNT is too weak to degrade multifarious contaminants. Here, BNT and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite were prepared and the catalytic performance of BNT was prominently boosted by introducing MWCNTs as the electron capturer. Particularly, the degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RhB, a typical contaminant) could reach 90% within 30 min, with a high rate constant of 0.0805 min−1. The specific degradation pathway of RhB was analyzed. The formation of oxygen vacancies was confirmed by XPS analysis, and the vital role of oxygen vacancies in the separation of photo-generated carriers was elucidated. Meanwhile, the BNT/MWCNTs composites manifested stronger transient current response compared to single BNT under the action of light irradiation and ultrasonic vibration, respectively. According to impedance analysis, the composites exhibited lower carrier transport resistance. Eventually, the mechanism of enhanced piezo-photocatalysis was explained in detail. This study provides an effective route to break the shackle of carrier recombination and speed up the carrier transport in piezo-photocatalytic materials. [Display omitted] • Simple method was used for synthesizing BNT/MWCNTs composite. • Extremely high degradation rate (92.2% within 30 min) via piezo-photocatalysis. • Boosted transient current response with decreased carrier transport resistance. • Complete degradation pathway for RhB was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN) is characterized by renal fibrosis and tubular necrosis caused by elevated uric acid levels. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent type of cell death, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases. The objective of this study was to explore the role of ferroptosis in HN and the impact of a ferroptosis inhibitor, ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). The study combined adenine and potassium oxonate administration to establish a HN model in mice and treated HK-2 cells with uric acid to simulate HN conditions. The effects of Fer-1 on the renal function, fibrosis, and ferroptosis-associated molecules were investigated in HN mice and HK-2 cells treated with uric acid. The HN mice presented with renal dysfunction characterized by elevated tissue iron levels and diminished antioxidant capacity. There was a significant decrease in the mRNA and protein expression levels of SLC7A11, GPX4, FTL-1 and FTH-1 in HN mice. Conversely, treatment with Fer-1 reduced serum uric acid, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen, while increasing uric acid levels in urine. Fer-1 administration also ameliorated renal tubule dilatation and reduced renal collagen deposition. Additionally, Fer-1 also upregulated the expression levels of SLC7A11, GPX4, FTL-1, and FTH-1, decreased malondialdehyde and iron levels, and enhanced glutathione in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we first found that Fer-1 exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of URAT1, with the IC 50 value of 7.37 ± 0.66 μM. Collectively, the current study demonstrated that Fer-1 effectively mitigated HN by suppressing ferroptosis, highlighting the potential of targeting ferroptosis as a therapeutic strategy for HN. [Display omitted] • Ferroptosis occurs in experimental hyperuricemic nephropathy, and accompanies by iron overload, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. • Ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 protects the kidneys from renal injury and fibrosis by inhibiting ferroptosis in mice with hyperuricemic nephropathy. • Ferrostatin-1 also inhibits URAT1 activity to reduce the intracellular UA and UA-induced ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruption of a key bile acid synthesis enzyme, CYP8B1, results in the absence of cholic acid (CA), increased levels of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and improved glucose metabolism in mice. However, the mechanism by which the BAs affect glucose metabolism remains unclear. We found that the absence of CYP8B1 increases insulin sensitivity in chow-fed mice, making them phenotypically similar to antibiotic-treated wild type mice, suggesting a role for the microbiome in the beneficial effect derived from CYP8B1 depletion. The aim of this study is to determine if the gut microbiome contributes to the increased insulin sensitivity observed in the absence of CYP8B1. Ten to twelve weeks old female CYP8B1-/- and CYP8B1+/+ mice (n=8-10/group) were fed chow diet ad libitum and OGTT, ITT and GSIS were evaluated. The C2C12 mouse myotubes were exposed to either CA or CDCA, and Insr and Tgr5 levels were measured by qPCR. Moreover, 10 to 12 weeks old female CYP8B1-/- and CYP8B1+/+ mice (n=8-10/group) received a cocktail of antibiotics (1 g/L) in drinking water. Plasma bile acids were measured by GC-MS and ITT was evaluated every two weeks. CYP8B1-/- mice showed significantly increased insulin sensitivity compared to wild type littermates (p<0.001) but no differences in OGTT and GSIS. In addition, the in vitro studies show that exposure of the myotubes to CDCA resulted in significant increases in Insr (t-test, p=0.009) and Tgr5 (t-test, p=0.02). We found that the alteration of the gut microbiome by antibiotics in the wild type mice abolished the difference in ITT between CYP8B1-/- and CYP8B1+/+ mice (p=0.08). Furthermore, the antibiotic-treated wild type mice displayed a significant increase in the CA:CDCA ratio (p<0.0001), mimicking the bile acid pool composition of the untreated CYP8B1-/- littermates. Our results suggest that the specific microbiome composition in the absence of CYP8B1 might play a critical role in enhancing the insulin sensitivity, and therefore glucose metabolism in mice. Disclosure: M. Corlianò: None. S. Zhong: None. R.R. Singaraja: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare-earth ion (RE3+) doped materials with upconversion luminescence and photochromic (PC) effect have received widespread attention, but thermal quenching (TQ) at high temperature and energy-demanding PC recovery processes limit their practical applications. Herein, lanthanide ion doped (K 0.5 Nb 0.5)NbO 3 (KNN) based translucent ceramics were prepared, in which Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped one displays optical versatility for potential applications in temperature sensors and anti-counterfeiting. By utilizing the large energy mismatch between Tm3+ and Yb3+, negative thermal quenching (NTQ) feature was achieved with the maximum relative sensitivity of 2.54 %K−1 at 213 K. Furthermore, by constructing appropriate intermediate traps, the ceramic exhibits a rapid PC self-recovery process within 30 min without external stimulation. The bifunctional specialty can expand the applications of KNN-based ceramics in optical area. [Display omitted] • Optical bi-functionality in Ln3+ co-doped KNN ceramics were achieved. • Negative thermal quenching (NTQ) was observed in 1 Tm-4Yb-KNN ceramic. • The 1 Tm-4Yb-KNN ceramic exhibits ∼40.3% transmittance in the visible region. • UCPL emission intensity could self-recover in 30 min without external stimulation. • Temperature sensing method was proposed based on both TQ and NTQ ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are hydrophobic and amphiphilic molecules involved in diverse functions such as membrane structure, energy metabolism, immunity, and signaling. However, altered intra-cellular lipid levels or composition can lead to metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction, as well as lipotoxicity. Thus, intra-cellular lipid homeostasis is tightly regulated by multiple mechanisms. Since most peripheral cells do not catabolize cholesterol, efflux (extra-cellular transport) of cholesterol is vital for lipid homeostasis. Defective efflux contributes to atherosclerotic plaque development, impaired β-cell insulin secretion, and neuropathology. Of these, defective lipid efflux in macrophages in the arterial walls leading to foam cell and atherosclerotic plaque formation has been the most well studied, likely because a leading global cause of death is cardiovascular disease. Circulating high density lipoprotein particles play critical roles as acceptors of effluxed cellular lipids, suggesting their importance in disease etiology. We review here mechanisms and pathways that modulate lipid efflux, the role of lipid efflux in disease etiology, and therapeutic options aimed at modulating this critical process. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]