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Aqueous Zn‐ion batteries have emerged as promising candidates for large‐scale energy storage owing to their high safety and low cost. However, dendrite growth and side reactions compromise the stability of the Zn anode in practical applications. Here, a novel Zn anode featuring well‐designed crystal steps along the (002) facets, referred to as Step‐Zn is introduced. The intersections of the (002) and (100) planes in these crystal steps create preferential adsorption sites for Zn2⁺ ions, promoting initial electro‐epitaxial growth of Zn that uniformly covers the crystal steps. This process effectively regulates subsequent Zn deposition, ensuring fast reaction kinetics and smooth morphology without dendrite formation. Consequently, the unique Step‐Zn anode exhibits excellent cycle life over 6000 times at 3 mA cm−2 and low greatly reduced polarization voltage under high areal currents and capacities. Integrated with activated carbon (AC) cathode, the Step‐Zn||AC full cell demonstrates excellent durability over 10 000 cycles at 5 A g−1. This work offers valuable insights into controlling Zn deposition modes by engineering the surface microstructure of Zn anodes with greatly extended cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem that the least mean square (LMS) algorithm cannot balance the convergence rate and steady-state mean square error (MSE) well and require excessive manual adjustment of parameters, this paper proposes a parameter-free variable step-size LMS algorithm based on the hyperbolic tangent function. First, the algorithm uses the hyperbolic tangent function to establish a nonlinear relationship between the error and the step size. Based on this, the average value of the error signal is used to update the step size. Further, the accumulated error value is multiplied by its average value and added to the input signal energy. Then, the algorithm is normalized by using this value to prevent the algorithm divergence due to the sudden increase in the signal power. The convergence proof of the proposed algorithm is provided in this paper. The simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm can automatically adjust the parameters. The convergence rate and the steady-state MSE are better than those of other algorithms for both high and low signal-to-noise ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of the photo catalytic activation of permonosulfate (PMS) for the combined breakdown of pollutants has become a focal point in research. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have a unique layered structure which is conducive to the adsorption and diffusion of reactants, and can provide more active sites for photocatalytic reactions. The anions between the layers can be exchanged with a variety of substances so that specific catalytically active species can be introduced as needed. LDHs themselves have certain catalytic activity, which can produce synergistic catalysis between LDHs and the supported photocatalytic active substances, and further improve the degradation effect of antibiotics. In actual wastewater treatment, LDHs as a catalyst carrier have a good application prospect. However, the poor activation effect is attributed to the low separation efficiency of catalyst carriers and insufficient active sites. In this study, a dual active site system consisting of Co and Fe, known as CoFe-LDHs@MoS2, was developed as a catalyst to facilitate the synergistic degradation of norfloxacin (NOF) by PMS under visible light. The findings demonstrate that the material possesses an effective capacity for the synergistic degradation of NOF. A comprehensive investigation was conducted to assess the impact of different catalysts, PMS dosage, degradation systems (Vis, PMS, or Vis PMS), catalyst dosage, NOF concentration, pH, and cycle times on the degradation performance. The active free radicals, degradation pathways, and intermediate toxicity were elucidated through capture experiments, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometer (ESR) analysis, a liquid mass spectrometry (LC-MS) toxicity assessment, and theoretical calculations. This research offers a novel approach for designing catalysts with exposed high activity sites for the effective removal of NOF from environmental water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As a carcinogenic byproduct in drinking water treatment, bromate has raised global concerns on environmental and health hazard, calling for effective treatments. In the current work, a novel reduced graphene oxide supported polyaniline/WO 2.72 nanobelt-flower (RGO/PANI/WO 2.72) ternary composite was prepared through a solvent volatilization method for photocatalytic reduction of bromate. The prepared sample was characterized, and the influence of aqueous pH, ions and dissolved oxygen on the bromate reduction was explored. As expected, the introduction of RGO and PANI on the WO 2.72 exhibited great synergistic effects on the separation of photogenerated carriers. The calculated reduction rate constant of RGO/PANI/WO 2.72 was about six times as high as that of pure WO 2.72. Specially, the prepared photocatalyst possessed strong optical absorption in a broad range of 250–2500 nm, and thus displaying excellent catalytic performance in utilization of all solar spectrum energy. Moreover, the RGO/PANI/WO 2.72 exhibited stable photocatalytic activity in cycling test. Considered holistically, the present study offered a valuable approach for rational construction of heterogeneous structure in the development of bromate-catalyzed reduction. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The RGO/PANI/WO 2.72 ternary composite was prepared via facile solvent volatilization method. • Full spectrum of light energy could be utilized by RGO/PANI/WO 2.72 for BrO 3 − conversion. • Photocatalytic performance of RGO/PANI/WO 2.72 for BrO 3 − conversion was systematically evaluated. • Mechanism of improvement on BrO 3 − conversion through RGO/PANI/WO 2.72 is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Photocatalysis using solar energy is the most promising green technology for nitrite removal. However, effective photocatalytic performance is often challenged by the limited light absorption, utilization of expensive noble metals and undesired products (nitrate and ammonium). Here, we report for the first time that a full solar light response polyaniline-decorated three dimensional W 18 O 49 composite (PANI@W 18 O 49), a noble metal-free photocatalyst, possesses excellent photocatalytic activity for aqueous nitrite removal with high N 2 selectivity. The prepared sample was thoroughly identified via XRD, Raman, FTIR, SEM, TEM, UV–vis DRS and PL. The catalytic results demonstrated that over 80% N 2 selectivity (initial concentration 1.0 mM) was achieved through the PANI@W 18 O 49 without sacrificial agent under 300 W Xe lamp irradiation for 60 min. Such advantages were attributed to the built-in junction between n-type W 18 O 49 and p-type PANI, offering suitable redox levels of electron-hole pairs for NO 2 − reaction. The modification of PANI also benefited the light harvesting ability and activated carriers migration, the calculated rate constant of PANI@W 18 O 49 is about four times as high as that of W 18 O 49. The current study not only prepared a promising photocatalyst, but also provides new insights into improving the photocatalytic activity and N 2 selectivity for nitrite treatment. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • PANI@W 18 O 49 composite was prepared via facile solvent evaporation method with greatly improved activity towards NO 2 −. • Full spectrum of light source could be utilized for photocatalytic removal of NO 2 − by the prepared PANI@W 18 O 49. • Over 80% N 2 selectivity was achieved through the PANI@W 18 O 49 without sacrificial agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The DBD pretreatment was developed for methane generation from WAS. • The methane generation was significantly improved by DBD pretreatment. • The formed radicals contribute to the WAS hydrolysis. • The DBD pretreatment affects microbial community in anaerobic digestion. A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) pretreatment of waste activated sludge (WAS) was developed for boosting the releasing of organic matter from floc structures and microbial cells. The changes of protein and polysaccharide in different extracellular polymeric substances layers of SCOD releasing from sludge were determined by using three-dimensional fluorescence spectra. Significantly improved cumulative methane production was achieved via enhancing anaerobic digestion, which was 83.5% higher than that of the control. The formed ∙OH radicals play a key role in sludge hydrolysis, thus improving the biodegradability of WAS. Furthermore, high-throughput sequencing analysis showed that DBD pretreatment improved the relative abundances of the main functional microbes with respect to sludge hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion. Therefore, this study verifies the feasibility of DBD pretreatment in sludge hydrolysis and is expected to provide a practical new technology for anaerobic digestion of WAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • p -CIA biodegradation improved by a low external voltage in anaerobic bioreactor. • Acetate is better than glucose in improving biodegradation and current generation. • Functional microbes enriched for degrading p -CIA at long-term operation. • Significant changes in bacterial community on different operational conditions. Abstract This study aimed to illustrate p -Chloroaniline (p -CIA) biodegradation efficiencies in bioelectrochemical reactors under stimulation by a low-voltage electric field (0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl) in the presence of easily-degrading cosubstrates including glucose and acetate. The biodegradation efficiencies of closed-circuit bioreactors were compared with those of open-circuit reactors. Experimental results showed that the six different bioreactors provided different p -CIA biodegradation efficiencies. The highest biodegradation efficiency of 38.5 ± 10.3 mg/l was obtained in a closed-circuit bioreactor with acetate and the lowest biodegradation efficiency of 15.7 ± 9.4 mg/l was obtained in an open-circuit bioreactor. This difference may be attributed to the presence of electrical stimulation and acetate. The results for generated current and biodegradation efficiency indicated that acetate is a better cosubstrate than glucose. High-throughput sequencing technologies were used to characterise the bacterial community structure of the six bioreactors and revealed that different bacterial communities resulted in different treatment efficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we prepared novel polyaniline supported W 18 O 49 (PANI/W 18 O 49 ) nanocomposite by in situ oxidative polymerisation method. We herein focused on enhancing the stability and the photocatalytic performance of W 18 O 49 . The prepared PANI/W 18 O 49 was thoroughly characterized by FTIR, TEM, XRD, BET, UV–vis DRS and PL. The PANI support presented a great effect on the light harvesting and photo-charge transfer of the W 18 O 49 , and the optimum percentage of was found to be 10 wt%. As for treating Cr(VI), the effect of important water quality parameters (such as pH, ions, NOM, DO, temperature and SOAs) on photocatalytic performance was investigated under the visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). SOAs were shown to exert a dramatic accelerating influence on Cr(VI) reduction in the system. The obtained 10%-PANI/W 18 O 49 can completely catalytically reduce 1 mM Cr(VI) in the presence of tartaric acid (1:3) within 50 min. Meanwhile, it can be recycled at ten times without any loss of photocatalytic efficiency, indicating the high stability of the as-prepared photocatalyst. The results of the study demonstrate the potential of the new obtained photocatalyst in efficient utilization of solar energy for treating aqueous Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel DBD reactor was employed for diclofenac degradation. • The DBD showed higher energy efficiency than other AOPs. • The formed radicals contribute to diclofenac degradation. • A possible degradation pathway for diclofenac was proposed. The emerging pharmaceutical wastewater including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has posed a serious threat to the ecological environment and human health, and therefore effective treatment technologies are being urgently needed. Herein, a novel horizontal continuous-flow dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system without catalyst was developed for the highly effective degradation of diclofenac in aqueous solution. The degradation efficiency of 10 mg/L diclofenac reached about 90% in 14 min, and the corresponding energy efficiency was 0.181 g/kWh. Furthermore, the treated water quality was evaluated in terms of TOC, BOD 5 /COD and toxicity. The biodegradability rapidly improved with the increasing of DBD treatment time as be expected, although the mineralization efficiency of diclofenac was still low. To gain insight into the degradation mechanism, short-lived transient and long-lived species have been identified during DBD process, in which transient species (·OH, ·O 2 –) were the major contribution to the oxidation of diclofenac. Furthermore, based on the intermediates identified by LC-MS, a possible degradation pathway of diclofenac by DBD system in aqueous solution was proposed. Therefore, the novel DBD reactor with horizontal continuous-flow appears to be more promising for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,2,4′,4′-Tetrabromodi-phenyl ether (BDE-47) is predominantly concentrated in humans and wildlife and disturbs thyroid hormone homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to characterize the thyroid endocrine disruption induced by life-cycle exposure to BDE-47 in adults and offspring of zebrafish ( Danio rerio ). We exposed zebrafish embryos at the blastula stage to different concentrations of BDE-47 (1, 5, and 10 μg/L). Exposure duration was 180 days until fish reached adulthood. In F0 larvae, exposure decreased survival and increased malformations at 4 dpf. Thyroid hormone concentrations did not differ significantly between the F0 larvae and controls. All exposures significantly up-regulated expression of tshß , pa8 , ugt1 and tg and down-regulated ttr . Significant up-regulation of dio2 and crh was observed in the 10 μg/L BDE-47 group. There was no significant difference in the growth and somatic index between F0 adults and controls. BDE-47 (10 μg/L) significantly decreased whole-body content of thyroxine (T4) but significantly increased triiodothyronine (T3) in both sexes. All exposures up-regulated expression of crh, tshß, pa8, ugt1 and tg and down-regulated ttr . Exposure to 10 μg/L BDE-47 significantly up-regulated dio2 and ugt1 in both sexes. BDE-47 exposure (5 and 10 μg/L) significantly increased the activity of pethoxy-resorufin-O-deethylase and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase. BDE-47 (10 μg/L) significantly increased activity of ethoxy- and methoxy-resorufin-O-deethylase. In F1 offspring without continued BDE-47 (10 μg/L) treatment, T4 significantly decreased and T3 increased. T4 was further decreased and T3 was further increased with continued BDE-47 treatment. Continued BDE-47 exposure decreased hatching and increased malformation compared with those without BDE-47 exposure. Expression of crh, tshß, dio2, pa8, ugt1 and tg was significantly up-regulated without BDE-47 exposure and with continued exposure. With continued BDE-47 exposure, dio1 was significantly up-regulated and ttr was significantly down-regulated. All the genes showed clear differences between continued exposure to 10 μg/L BDE-47 and without BDE-47 exposure. These results suggest that parental exposure to BDE-47 results in thyroid endocrine disruption in adults and offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) are one of the most important nanoparticles in the industry. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the effects of nano-ZnO on oxidative damage to DNA and on apoptosis in zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) embryos, and (2) to identify the underlying molecular mechanism affecting theapoptotic process. In addition to nano-ZnO, we also investigated the toxic effects of the Zn 2+ ion. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 10, 30, 60, 90, or 120 mg/L nano-ZnO for 96 h postfertilization. Nano-ZnO (at concentrations between 10 and 120 mg/L) significantly reduced the rate of embryo hatching. Embryos/larvae exposed to 120 mg/L nano-ZnO had significantly higher heart rates. Increased heart rates could be a physiological mechanism compensating for body hypoxia. Embryos/larvae exposed to nano-ZnO exhibited oxidative stress, due to an excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative stress was evidenced by increased levels of superoxide dismutase, by increased lipid peroxidation, and by increased expression of genes related to the antioxidant defense system ( sod1 , cat , gpx1a , and pparα ), which were altered at different degrees. Upon exposure to nano-ZnO, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased in a dose-dependent manner (0.41% to 4.21%). In addition, altered transcriptional regulation of pro-apoptotic genes ( bax , puma , and apaf-1 ) and anti-apoptotic genes ( bcl-2 ) provided further evidence of the activation of apoptosis. In this study, exposure of zebrafish embryos to nano-ZnO triggered an excessive production of ROS, which was followed by several phenomena: the up-regulation of p53 , a reduction in the bcl-2/bax ratio,a reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential (ψ m ), the release of cytochrome c into the cytosolic fraction, and the activation of caspases 9 and 3. Collectively, our data imply that nano-ZnO induce an excessive production of ROS which then activate the apoptosis pathway mediated by mitochondria and caspases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro (Nano)plastics are ubiquitous in the environment and can potentially affect the toxic effects of other chemicals, such as heavy metals. Although the interaction of micro (nano)plastics and heavy metals as well as their effects on aquatic organisms have been widely investigated, studies on their influence on terrestrial plants are limited. Therefore, in this study, the effects of polystyrene (PS), carboxy-modified PS (CPS) and amino-modified PS (APS) nanoparticles on the accumulation and toxicity of Pb on dandelion (Taraxacum asiaticum Dahlst) were investigated using hydroponic cultivation. The presence of the three PS caused cell damage and destroyed the tertiary structure of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and dehydrogenase (DHA) enzymes, thereby inhibiting Rubisco and root activities, which hindered nutrient uptake and photosynthesis. The inhibition of APS on the biomass of dandelion was greater than that of PS and CPS. Confocal laser scanning microscope and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that APS was more likely to enter the roots of dandelion than PS and CPS. The presence of Pb induced more PS, CPS, and APS to enter dandelion roots, and Pb aggravated PS and CPS toxicities on dandelion rather than APS toxicity. This is because the complex formed by CPS and Pb can affect the structure of Rubisco and DHA through covalent and coordination bonds, and Pb increased the surface positive charge on CPS, according to Gaussian analysis. The presence of both PS and CPS significantly reduced Pb uptake by dandelion, and they did not exacerbate the toxicity of Pb. In contrast, APS slightly inhibited Pb accumulation, but aggravated Pb toxicity in dandelion. Our findings revealed that the changes in the uptake of nanoplastics and Pb by dandelion potentially resulted in a cascade of events that increased the toxicity and inhibited the growth of dandelion seedlings. [Display omitted] • The microplastics entered the dandelion and reduce Rubisco and root activity. • P S-NH 2 had a greater effect on the biomass of dandelion than PS and PS -COOH. • Pb(II) only aggravated toxicity of PS and P S-COOH on dandelion. • Gaussian analysis showed that Pb(II) increased the P S-COOH surface positive charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin (CDDP) is widely used anticancer drug for various solid tumors including lung cancer. However, its indiscriminate distribution causes serious adverse effects and limits its therapeutic effect. In this study, by using hyaluronic acid (HA) we synthesized a complex of CDDP (HA-CDDP), by utilizing ionic interaction between Pt 2+ of CDDP with carboxyl group of HA. The mean HA-CDDP particle size was 208.5 nm in PBS according to dynamic light scattering which was also confirmed by TEM, which could exert tumor-targeting property by enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. The CDDP loading in this preparation was 13% (w/w), and release rate of free CDDP from the HA-CDDP complex at physiological pH (7.4) was ∼20%/day. However, in acidic pH the release was much faster, i.e. , ∼95% of CDDP was released in 72 h at pH 5.5. Moreover, HA-CDDP showed a 2.5-fold higher tumor accumulation than free CDDP whereas no increase of distribution was found in most normal tissues. In addition, because HA receptor CD44 is overexpressed in many tumor cells, we also observed CD44-based endocytosis of HA-CDDP in mouse lung carcinoma LCC cells. These findings together suggest that HA-CDDP may show tumor-selective cytotoxicity by taking advantage of EPR effect, weak acidic environment of tumor tissues ( e.g. , pH 6 ∼ 7), as well as CD44-based intracellular uptake. As expected, HA-CDDP exhibited much improved therapeutic effect than free CDDP in mouse LCC tumor model, whereas no apparent side effect was found. These findings may shed some light on the potential utility of HA for development of tumor-targeted polymeric CDDP drugs, which need further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An aggregation method of heterogeneous distributed energy resources is proposed. • The P2P energy trading between aggregators is considered. • The privacy of the aggregators is preserved. • The distributed optimization method is applied. • The computation efficiency of distributed optimization is enhanced. Distributed energy resources (DERs) can provide flexibility and promote controllability for distribution networks. However, there are still some obstacles in the management of the small-capacity DERs. In this paper, an aggregated operation model of various heterogeneous DERs in peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading is proposed. First, a supervised-learning assisted aggregation model of DERs is presented, which aims at estimating the aggregated parameters of heterogeneous DERs. Second, a P2P trading model is proposed for the aggregated DERs. The aggregators can trade with each other in a distributed manner so that privacy can be protected. Third, the fast alternating direction method of multipliers (F-ADMM) is utilized to accelerate the iteration process between the aggregators. Therefore, a quick decision can be made, and less information exchange is required between aggregators, which can reduce the communication burden. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is verified in case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The narrow light-response range and high electron/hole recombination rate greatly restrict the widespread use of photocatalytic technology. The integration of exposing dominant facet of semiconductor and Z-scheme heterostructures designing is expected to break those barriers. Herein，In this work, hydrothermal and ultrasonic stirring methods were used to selectively exposed the (001) and (110) facet of BiOI to construct the BiOI/CdS heterostructures. The obtained BiOI(001)/CdS material shown the maximum degradation for tetracycline-based antibiotics (Oxytetracycline, Tetracycline and Doxycycline), and excellent reduction of hexavalent chromium. Combining the electron spin resonance and scavenger experiments, the superior photocatalytic capacity was attributed to the generation of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. DFT calculation results shown BiOI(001)/CdS performed high binding energy and adsorption energy for hexavalent chromium, and the different work function between BiOI(001) and CdS confirmed the building of internal electric field, thereby increased the charge separation. Finally, the Gaussian 09 and HPLC-MS program investigated the attack sites of free radicals and degradation pathways in the degradation of antibiotics. This study not only provides a potential photocatalyst, also gives an in-depth understanding of the photocatalytic properties of heterojunctions constructed by different exposed crystal facets. [Display omitted] • Exposing dominant facet BiOI/CdS photocatalyst was prepared by a simple method. • High photocatalytic performance for antibiotic degradation and hexavalent chromium reduction. • The Z-scheme heterojunction was formed between BiOI and CdS in the composite. • Generation of active free radical and stability of heterojunction make major contribution in photocatalytic process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to alleviate the increasingly serious energy problems, the researches and developments of photocatalysts with efficient solar energy utilization, low price and cost, and long-term stability are the critical problem to expand the application technology of photocatalysis. In this work, Co doped Sn 3 O 4 and g-C 3 N 4 were constructed into an S-scheme Co–Sn 3 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction photocatalytic system by simple and feasible solvothermal method for photocatalytic H 2 evolution. And different loading amounts of Co–Sn 3 O 4 /CN-X were obtained by mean of changing the dosage of Co–Sn 3 O 4. The synthesized photocatalysts represented exceptional H 2 evolution performance under visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm), among which Co–Sn 3 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 -3 showed the best performance, and the H 2 yield reached 1793.88 μmol h−1 g−1. This value was significantly higher than that of single catalysts Sn 3 O 4 (294.82 μmol h−1 g−1) and g-C 3 N 4 (1111.28 μmol h−1 g−1). Moreover, the H 2 yield of reused Co–Sn 3 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 -3 sample kept above 1737.67 μmol h−1 g−1 during cyclic test. XPS, UV–vis DRS and a series of photoelectrochemical analysis ascertained the establishment of internal electric field and bending of the energy band between the interface of Co–Sn 3 O 4 and g-C 3 N 4 , which provided the possibility for Co–Sn 3 O 4 and CN to construct Co–Sn 3 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 S-scheme heterostructure. What's more, the mechanism of producing H 2 on the surface of Co–Sn 3 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 by oxidizing H 2 O was proposed. This work demonstrated the application prospect of reasonably designing g-C 3 N 4 based photocatalysts with exceptional stability, sterling functionality and prominent efficiency for H 2 evolution, and provided availed guidance for the research and development of g-C 3 N 4 based photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Synthesis and characterization of two novel 6′-phenyl-2,2′-bipyridine ligands (L1, L2) and their CdL1,2 I2 complexes are presented. [•] Single crystal study indicated that Cd(II) ion is in a distorted tetrahedral structure. [•] Linear absorption and single-photon exited fluorescence properties have been investigated. [•] The results showed that the complex 2 has the longest fluorescence lifetime. [•] Linear absorption spectral features are studied by TD-DFT methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Co-exposure to BDE-47 and PER induced more developmental malformations compared to exposure to only BDE-47. [•] Co-exposure resulted in lower T4 levels compared to exposure to only BDE-47. [•] Co-exposure up-regulated the expression of the NIS, TG, Nkx2.1a genes and down-regulated the expression of the CRH and TSHβ genes compared to exposure to only BDE-47. [•] Co-exposure up-regulated the expression of TG protein and down-regulated the expression of TTR protein compared to exposure to only BDE-47. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Indicating the developmental toxicity of nano-ZnO to zebrafish embryos. [•] Demonstrating the oxidative stress and DNA damage nano-ZnO to zebrafish embryos. [•] Elaborating the molecule mechanism of oxidative stress and DNA damage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Drosophila Cadherin Fat (Ft) has been identified as a crucial regulator of tissue size and Planar Cell Polarity (PCP). However, the precise mechanism by which Ft regulates these processes remains unclear. In order to advance our understanding of the action of Ft, we have sought to identify the crucial Ft effector domains. Here we report that a small region of the Ft cytoplasmic domain (H2 region) is both necessary and sufficient, when membrane localized, to support viability and prevent tissue overgrowth. Interestingly, the H2 region is dispensable for regulating PCP signaling, whereas the mutant Ft lacking the H2 region is fully capable of directing PCP. This result suggests that Ft’s roles in PCP signaling and tissue size control are separable, and each can be carried out independently. Surprisingly, the crucial regions of Ft identified in our structure-function study do not overlap with the previously reported interaction regions with Atrophin, Dco, or Lowfat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A ginseng pathogen, Cylindrocarpon destructans, and five nonpathogens were tested for their sensitivity to a total ginsenoside fraction (T-GF), a protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside fraction (PPD-GF) and a protopanaxatriol-type ginsenoside fraction (PPT-GF) from the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. The results showed that T-GF inhibited growth of the five ginseng nonpathogens, while it promoted growth of the ginseng pathogen C. destructans. PPT-GF and PPD-GF both inhibited the growth of the five ginseng nonpathogens, although the activity of PPT-GF was higher than that of PPD-GF. PPT-GF and PPD-GF exhibited different activities on C. destructans: PPT-GF inhibited its growth, whereas PPD-GF significantly enhanced its growth. The subsequent analysis of enzymatic degradation of ginsenosides by the test fungi showed that C. destructans can consecutively hydrolyze the terminal monosaccharide units from the sugar chains attached at C3 and C20 in PPD-type ginsenosides by extracellular glycosidase activity to yield four major products, gypenoside XVII (G-XVII), compound O, compound Mb and the ginsenoside F2. By contrast, the ginseng nonpathogens Aspergillus nidulans and Cladosporium fulvum have no extracellular glycosidase activity toward sugar chains attached to C3 in PPD-type ginsenosides. These results indicated that ginsenosides might act as host chemical defenses, while the ginseng root pathogenic fungi might counter their toxicity by converting PPD-type ginsenosides into growth or host recognition factors. The ability of ginseng root pathogens to deglycosylate PPD-type ginsenosides may be a pathogenicity factor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: G-I, a highly selective β-glucosidase, was purified from phytopathogenic fungus Cladosporium fulvum (syn. Fulvia fulva). G-I was a monomer with native molecular weight of 85kDa and pI value of 4.2. The maximal activity to p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (pNPG) occurred at pH 6.0 and 45°C at which the K m against pNPG was 0.18mM and V max was 46.7μmolnitrophenol/min/mg. G-I was highly stable within pH 4.0–11.0 and below 40°C. It was inhibited by Co2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ (50mM), but showed resistance to sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS, 250mM). G-I was highly active against β-linked disaccharide cellobiose, gentiobiose and sophorose, but exhibited very low activities against other aryl-glycosides, methyl-α-glycosides and disaccharides trehalose and sucrose. Moreover, G-I specifically hydrolyzed β-(1→6)-glucosidic linkage at the C-20 site of ginsenoside Rb1 to produce ginsenoside Rd, without attack on other β-d-glucosidic linkages. The oligopeptide fragments of G-I were sequenced by nanoESI-MS/MS and showed similarity to the sequences from the glycoside hydrolase family 3. G-I is different to G-II (a glycosidase previously purified from the same fungus) in composition and molecular weight. It shows more stable and higher selectivity than G-II. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel β-glucosidase (G-II) was purified to homogeneity from a culture filtrate of the phytopathogenic fungus Cladosporium fulvum (syn. Fulvia fulva). G-II specifically cleaved the β-(1→6)-glucosidic linkage at the C-20 site of ginsenoside Rb1 to produce ginsenoside Rd, but did not hydrolyze the other β-d-glucosidic linkages in protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides. In specificity tests, G-II was active against pNPG and disaccharides such as cellobiose and gentiobiose, but exhibited very low activities against other aryl-glycosides and methyl-α-glycosides. G-II consisted of two identical subunits with a native molecular mass of 180kDa and a pI of 4.4. The optimal pH of G-II was pH 5.5, and the enzyme was highly stable over a range of pH 5.0–11.0. The optimal temperature was 45°C, and the enzyme became unstable at temperatures above 40°C. The K m and V max values against pNPG were 0.19mM and 57.7μmol/(minmg), respectively. The enzyme was inhibited by Zn2+, Cu2+ (over 50mM) and SDS (250mM). However, the inhibition by SDS was partially reversed by 10mM dithiothreitol. Three oligopeptide fragments obtained after enzymatic digestion of G-II were sequenced by nanoESI-MS/MS. The amino acid sequence homology analysis showed that G-II possessed significant homology with the family 3 β-glucosidases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Ti 3 C 2 /W 18 O 49 (TW) hybrid membrane was prepared by a facile vacuum filtration method. • TW membrane exhibited selective separation of cationic dyes from water. • Electrostatic adsorption and hydrogen bond contributed to the separation of dyes. • TW membrane demonstrated excellent photocatalytic and regeneration performance. • A Schottky junction mechanism was proposed for the photocatalytic performance. Toxic organic dyes are a serious threat to the global environment, and membranes with catalytic properties show great promise as a green water treatment method for removing these pollutants. Herein, Ti 3 C 2 /W 18 O 49 photocatalytic membranes were constructed by vacuum filtrating Ti 3 C 2 and W 18 O 49 to form a hybrid layer on a mixed cellulose ester (MCE) support. The efficient separation of dyes was attributed to the negative charge and abundant –OH groups of Ti 3 C 2 /W 18 O 49 , which can capture cationic dyes by electrostatic adsorption and form hydrogen bonds with the amino groups of dye molecules. Moreover, the Ti 3 C 2 /W 18 O 49 membrane exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance and a dye-contaminated membrane was regenerated under visible light in 120 min. The two component materials complement each other, with the W 18 O 49 providing adsorption sites and photocatalytic ability and the Ti 3 C 2 serving as an electron trap and improving charge separation. Photoinduced electrons in the conduction band of W 18 O 49 are transferred to Ti 3 C 2 to form O 2 –, while holes remain in the valence band of W 18 O 49 to generate OH, and h+. O 2 – and OH are mainly responsible for the degradation of dyes. Therefore, this efficient and easily prepared membrane shows practical potential as a next-generation method for dye removal from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic oxidation using solar energy is a promising green technology to degrade antibiotic contaminants. Herein, a 2D g-C 3 N 4 supported nanoflower-like NaBiO 3 with direct Z-scheme heterojunction was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal approach, and the photocatalytic performance of g-C 3 N 4 /NaBiO 3 was remarkable better than that of g-C 3 N 4 and NaBiO 3 for tetracycline degradation under visible light. Photoinduced electrons accumulated on the conduction band of g-C 3 N 4 and holes gathered on the valence band of NaBiO 3 , which was more suitable for generating superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Meanwhile, the built-in electric field between g-C 3 N 4 and NaBiO 3 was proved by their different work functions based on DFT calculations, which enhanced the charges separation. The formed radicals were determined by ESR, and their role in the degradation of tetracycline was examined by the active species trapping test. Moreover, the sites attacked by free radicals and degradation pathways for tetracycline were inferred by the results of Gaussian 09 program and HPLC-MS. The effects of water matrix and three other organic contaminants was further studied for actual use evaluation. Importantly, the prepared g-C 3 N 4 /NaBiO 3 showed stable photodegradation activity for eight cycles. This work not only provides a promising photocatalyst, but also gets insight into the photocatalytic removal of tetracycline. [Display omitted] • g-C 3 N 4 /NaBiO 3 photocatalyst was prepared by a hydrothermal method. • More than 85% of tetracycline was degraded within 30 min under visible light. • The degradation pathway was explained by Gaussian 09 calculation and LC-MS results. • The Z-scheme heterojunction was formed between g-C 3 N 4 and NaBiO 3 in the composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis is an effective method to degrade ranitidine (RAN), which is a typical precursor of nitrosamine dimethylamine (NDMA), an extremely potent human carcinogen. Herein, MXene-Ti 3 C 2 /MoS 2 composites were prepared by a hydrothermal treatment aiming to use them for the photocatalytic degradation of RAN and the reduction of NDMA formation potential (NDMA-FP) under visible light irradiation for the first time. The analysis of the morphology, chemical composition and structure of these composites as well as the results of electrochemical experiments showed that a heterojunction was formed between MoS 2 and Ti 3 C 2 , which facilitated the separation of electron-hole pairs and charge transfer, and thereby the photocatalytic performance. The MXene-Ti 3 C 2 /MoS 2 composite (MT-4) exhibited the best photocatalytic performance in 60 min, with the highest RAN degradation and mineralization efficiencies of 88.4% and 73.58%, and the lowest NDMA-FP of 2.01%. Active species, including •O 2 - radicals, h+ and •OH radicals, all contributed to the degradation of RAN, among which •OH radicals were the main active species involved in the photocatalytic activity. The mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation of RAN over MXene-Ti 3 C 2 /MoS 2 photocatalyst under visible light irradiation was proposed. This work opens up a new perspective on the applications of MXene-based materials for photocatalytic degradation of challenging pollutants. [Display omitted] • MXene-Ti 3 C 2 /MoS 2 composites were prepared by a hydrothermal method. • A heterojunction was formed between MoS 2 and Ti 3 C 2 in the composite. • The highest RAN degradation and mineralization efficiencies were 88% and 74%. • The lowest NDMA formation potential of only 2.01% was achieved. • •OH radicals contributed most to the photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Paternal transfer of TDCIPP and NPPs was observed in zebrafish offspring. • NPPs enhance bioaccumulation and transfer of TDCIPP to offspring. • Thyroid hormones were further decreased by co-exposure in F0 and F1 generations. • Most thyroid-toxic biomarker expressions down-regulate in the co-exposure group. • Parental coexposure impaired survival and growth of offspring larvae. Plastic is a globally recognized superwaste that can affect human health and wildlife when it accumulates and is amplified in the food chain. Microplastics (plastic particles < 5 mm) and nanoplastics (plastic particles < 100 nm) can interact with organic pollutants already present in the aquatic environment, potentially acting as carriers for pollutants entering organisms and thus influencing the bioavailability and toxicity of those pollutants. In this study, we investigated the transfer kinetics and transgenerational effects of exposure to tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in F1 offspring. At 90 days postfertilization, zebrafish (Danio rerio) strain AB was exposed to either TDCIPP (0, 0.47, 2.64, or 12.78 μg/L) or PS-NPs (10 mg/L) or their combination for 120 days. The results showed that TDCIPP and PS-NPs accumulated in the gut, gill, head, and liver of the zebrafish in a sex-dependent manner. The presence of PS-NPs promoted the bioaccumulation of TDCIPP in the adult fish and increased the parental transfer of TDCIPP to their offspring. We demonstrate that parental exposure to TDCIPP alone or in combination with PS-NPs induces thyroid disruption in adults, and then leads to thyroid endocrine disruption in their larval offspring. Reduced thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3) levels contributed to the observed transgenerational thyroid dysfunction, which inhibited developmental growth and disturbed the transcription of genes and expression of proteins involved in the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis in the F1 larvae. The increased transfer of TDCIPP to the offspring in the presence of PS-NPs also enhanced transgenerational thyroid endocrine disruption, demonstrated by a further reduction in T4 and the upregulation of thyroglobulin (tg), uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (ugt1ab), thyroid-stimulating hormone (tshβ), and thyroid hormone receptor (trα) expression in the F1 larvae compared with the effects of parental TDCIPP exposure alone. Overall, our results indicate that the presence of PS-NPs modifies the bioavailability of TDCIPP and aggravates transgenerational thyroid disruption in zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bi 4 O 5 Br 2 /g-C 3 N 4 heterostructure are prepared by a facile self-assembled method. • Bi 4 O 5 Br 2 /g-C 3 N 4 heterostructure exhibit an impressive production of H 2 O 2. • A Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism is proposed for H 2 O 2 production. • The e−, ·O 2 − and h+ govern the photocatalytic production of H 2 O 2. Photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide from water and oxygen is a promising technique due to the green and sustainable solar-to-chemical energy conversion. However, in the absence of organic sacrificial agents as electron donors, the relatively low photocatalytic H 2 O 2 productivity is still far from satisfactory. Herein, we present a Z‐scheme photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide over Bi 4 O 5 Br 2 /g-C 3 N 4 heterostructure under visible light without additive organics. The obtained Bi 4 O 5 Br 2 /g-C 3 N 4 heterostructure exhibited a highest H 2 O 2 production of 124 μM in 60 min by a Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism. The photoinduced electrons of Bi 4 O 5 Br 2 combine with the holes of g-C 3 N 4 at the contact interface, and the e− and h+ of the heterostructure are mainly derived from the conduction band of g-C 3 N 4 and valence band of Bi 4 O 5 Br 2 , respectively. As such, more e− and h+ of Bi 4 O 5 Br 2 /g-C 3 N 4 heterostructure are available to reduce oxygen and oxidize water, respectively, with more ·O 2 − and ·OH generated and thus more H 2 O 2 produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• BDE-47 induced development inhibition, oxidative stress and apoptosis in zebrafish. • Acute co-exposure BDE-47 and MWCNTs resulted in developmental toxicity in zebrafish. • BDE-47 and MWCNTs have an antagonistic effect on developing zebrafish. In natural environments, organisms are often exposed to several environmental pollutants at any one time, and the potential effects of such co-exposures on human and environmental health are of considerable concern. It is thought that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) may interact with other pollutants in aquatic systems and induce considerably different effects compared with exposure to a single contaminant. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential acute combined effects of mixtures of MWCNTs and 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) on embryonic development stages, oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA damage in developing zebrafish (Danio rerio). The embryos were treated with BDE-47 (5, 10, and 50 μg/L) and MWCNTs (50 mg/L), either combined or individually, for 96 h. Following exposure, BDE-47 induced significant acute toxicity, while the MWCNTs exhibited slight toxicity. When compared with BDE-47-only exposure, the inhibited growth induced by BDE-47 was weakened in the presence of MWCNTs. Similarly, the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase, catalase activities and malondialdehyde), apoptosis (apoptosis rate, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities) and DNA damage (comet assay and comet olive tails) decreased in the presence of MWCNTs compared to those exposed to BDE-47 alone. These results demonstrate that MWCNTs can weaken the developmental inhibition, oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA damage induced by BDE-47 in the early stages of zebrafish development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Developments on TiO 2 -based photocatalytic reduction of oxyanions are presented. • The TiO 2 -based photocatalysts for oxyanions reduction are summarized. • Operational parameters and reduction mechanisms are discussed in detail. • The perspectives of TiO 2 -based photocatalytic reduction of oxyanions are proposed. Nowadays, an increasing discharge of oxyanions to the natural environment has been attracting worldwide attention. TiO 2 -based photocatalysis is regarded as one of the most promising technologies for the conversion of toxic oxyanions (such as chromate, nitrate, nitrite, bromate, perchlorate and selenate) to harmless and/or less toxic substances in contaminated waters. Various types of TiO 2 -based catalysts have been developed, and each of them exhibits its own advantages in catalytic reduction of oxyanions. However, the application of these nanostructured TiO 2 in real water bodies remains a challenge, with limitations associated with sunlight harvesting abilities, production costs, reuse stability and exposure risks. Herein, we aim to present a critical review on reported TiO 2 -based photocatalytic reduction of aqueous oxyanions, provide a comprehensive understanding of the possible reaction pathways of formed active species, and evaluate the reduction performance of different types of TiO 2 -based catalysts. In addition, the impact of operating parameters (such as solution pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and coexisting substances) on catalytic reduction performance is discussed. Furthermore, the perspectives of TiO 2 -based photocatalytic reduction of oxyanions are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonic hedgehog subgroup of medulloblastoma (SHH-MB) is characterized by aberrant activation of the SHH signaling pathway. An inhibition of the positive SHH regulator Smoothened (SMO) has demonstrated promising clinical efficacy. Yet, primary and acquired resistance to SMO inhibitors limit their efficacy. An understanding of underlying molecular mechanisms of resistance to therapy is warranted to bridge this unmet need. Here, we make use of genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens in murine SMB21 and human DAOY cells, in order to unravel genetic dependencies and drug-related genetic interactors that could serve as alternative therapeutic targets for SHH-MB. Our screens reinforce SMB21 cells as a faithful model system for SHH-MB, as opposed to DAOY cells, and identify members of the epigenetic machinery including DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) as druggable targets in SHH-dependent tumors. We show that Dnmt1 plays a crucial role in normal murine cerebellar development and is required for SHH-MB growth in vivo. Additionally, DNMT1 pharmacological inhibition alone and in combination with SMO inhibition effectively inhibits tumor growth in murine and human SHH-MB cell models and prolongs survival of SHH-MB mouse models by inhibiting SHH signaling output downstream of SMO. In conclusion, our data highlight the potential of inhibiting epigenetic regulators as a novel therapeutic avenue in SMO-inhibitor sensitive as well as resistant SHH-MBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonic hedgehog subgroup of medulloblastoma (SHH-MB) is characterized by aberrant activation of the SHH signaling pathway. An inhibition of the positive SHH regulator Smoothened (SMO) has demonstrated promising clinical efficacy. Yet, primary and acquired resistance to SMO inhibitors limit their efficacy. An understanding of underlying molecular mechanisms of resistance to therapy is warranted to bridge this unmet need. Here, we make use of genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens in murine SMB21 and human DAOY cells, in order to unravel genetic dependencies and drug-related genetic interactors that could serve as alternative therapeutic targets for SHH-MB. Our screens reinforce SMB21 cells as a faithful model system for SHH-MB, as opposed to DAOY cells, and identify members of the epigenetic machinery including DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) as druggable targets in SHH-dependent tumors. We show that Dnmt1 plays a crucial role in normal murine cerebellar development and is required for SHH-MB growth in vivo. Additionally, DNMT1 pharmacological inhibition alone and in combination with SMO inhibition effectively inhibits tumor growth in murine and human SHH-MB cell models and prolongs survival of SHH-MB mouse models by inhibiting SHH signaling output downstream of SMO. In conclusion, our data highlight the potential of inhibiting epigenetic regulators as a novel therapeutic avenue in SMO-inhibitor sensitive as well as resistant SHH-MBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hedgehog pathway plays important roles in embryonic development and oncogenesis, but how it affects metabolism is less clear. D’Amico et al. (2015) now demonstrate that the Hedgehog pathway regulates translation of ornithine decarboxylase, thereby enhancing polyamine biosynthesis and cell proliferation in neural precursor cells and in brain tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study for the first time proposed an efficient microbial electrolyte/UV system for Methyl Orange decomposition. With an external applied voltage of 0.2 V and cathode aeration of 20 mL/min, H 2 O 2 could be in-situ generated from two-electron reduction of oxygen in cathode, reaching to 8.1 mg/L in 2 hr and continued to increase. The pollutant removal efficiency of approximate 94.7% was achieved at initial neutral pH, with the activation of •OH in the presence of UV illumination. Although the nature of its guiding principles remain on the vista of practical exploration, this proof-of-concept study provides an alternative operation pattern of solar–microbial hybrid technology for future wastewater treatment from a basic but multidisciplinary view. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Zebrafish was used as a model to evaluate the toxicity of TDCIPP and its parental transfer. • Paternal exposure to TDCIPP could cause thyroid endocrine disruption in offspring. • Parental exposure to TDCIPP caused developmental toxicity in the offspring. • Perturbation of HPT and GH/IGF axis might be responsible for developmental impairment to offspring. Abstract Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) is a re-emerging environmental contaminant used as a suitable substitute for brominated flame retardants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of TDCIPP on thyroid disruption and growth inhibition in zebrafish (Danio rerio) offspring after chronic parental exposure, and to examine the possible molecular mechanisms involved. When adult zebrafish (4 months old) were exposed to 5.66, 25.55, or 92.8 μg TDCIPP/L for 90 days, bioconcentration of TDCIPP and its metabolic product [bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, BDCIPP] was observed in 7-day postfertilization (dpf) F1 larvae, which suggests the transfer of this compound from adult fish to their offspring. Our results demonstrated that parental exposure to TDCIPP induced thyroid disruption in the offspring, demonstrated by significantly decreased thyroxine (T4) and increased 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3) levels, and disruption of the transcription of several genes and expression of proteins involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in F1 larvae. Parental exposure to TDCIPP resulted in developmental abnormalities in offspring; the smaller body length that was recorded might be partly the result of the perturbation of the HPT axis. In addition, the results revealed that growth inhibition also resulted from the downregulation of the transcription of genes and expression of proteins involved in the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis. Our study provides a new set of evidence showing that parental exposure to TDCIPP can induce thyroid disruption and inhibition of growth in offspring, and that perturbation of the HPT axis and GH/IGF axis contribute to these adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small intestinal stromal tumor (SIST) is a common gastrointestinal tumor. Currently, SIST diagnosis relies on clinical radiologists reviewing CT images from medical imaging sensors. However, this method is inefficient and greatly affected by subjective factors. The automatic detection method for stromal tumors based on computer vision technology can better solve these problems. However, in CT images, SIST have different shapes and sizes, blurred edge texture, and little difference from surrounding normal tissues, which to a large extent challenges the use of computer vision technology for the automatic detection of stromal tumors. Furthermore, there are the following issues in the research on the detection and recognition of SIST. After analyzing mainstream target detection models on SIST data, it was discovered that there is an imbalance in the features at different levels during the feature fusion stage of the network model. Therefore, this paper proposes an algorithm, based on the attention balance feature pyramid (ABFP), for detecting SIST with unbalanced feature fusion in the target detection model. By combining weighted multi-level feature maps from the backbone network, the algorithm creates a balanced semantic feature map. Spatial attention and channel attention modules are then introduced to enhance this map. In the feature fusion stage, the algorithm scales the enhanced balanced semantic feature map to the size of each level feature map and enhances the original feature information with the original feature map, effectively addressing the imbalance between deep and shallow features. Consequently, the SIST detection model's detection performance is significantly improved, and the method is highly versatile. Experimental results show that the ABFP method can enhance traditional target detection methods, and is compatible with various models and feature fusion strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) and idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) are the most common glomerular diseases. Immunofluorescence (IF) tests of renal tissues are crucial for the diagnosis. We developed a multiple convolutional neural network (CNN)-facilitated diagnostic program to assist the IF diagnosis of IgAN and IMN. Methods The diagnostic program consisted of four parts: a CNN trained as a glomeruli detection module, an IF intensity comparator, dual-CNN (D-CNN) trained as a deposition appearance and location classifier and a post-processing module. A total of 1573 glomerular IF images from 1009 patients with glomerular diseases were used for the training and validation of the diagnostic program. A total of 1610 images of 426 patients from different hospitals were used as test datasets. The performance of the diagnostic program was compared with nephropathologists. Results In >90% of the tested images, the glomerulus location module achieved an intersection over union >0.8. The accuracy of the D-CNN in recognizing irregular granular mesangial deposition and fine granular deposition along the glomerular basement membrane was 96.1% and 93.3%, respectively. As for the diagnostic program, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing suspected IgAN were 97.6%, 94.4% and 96.0%, respectively. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing suspected IMN were 91.7%, 88.9% and 95.8%, respectively. The corresponding areas under the curve (AUCs) were 0.983 and 0.935. When tested with images from the outside hospital, the diagnostic program showed stable performance. The AUCs for diagnosing suspected IgAN and IMN were 0.972 and 0.948, respectively. Compared with inexperienced nephropathologists, the program showed better performance. Conclusion The proposed diagnostic program could assist the IF diagnosis of IgAN and IMN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A van der Waals heterostruction formed by combaied the graphene and MoS 2 nanosheets was fabricated. The optical characteristics of MoS 2 -graphene heterojuncture were reported. By using this saturable absorber, passively Q-switched mode-locked operation with 306 ps pulses was obtained. With simpler manufacturing progress and better optical properties, the heterojunction saturable absorbers have great potential used in solid state and fiber lasers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A practical model of crystalline silicon-wafer solar cells is proposed in order to enhance the light absorption and improve the conversion efficiency of silicon solar cells. In the model, the front surface of the silicon photovoltaic film is designed to be a textured-triangular-grating (TTG) structure, and the ITO contact film and the antireflection coating (ARC) of glass are coated on the TTG surface of silicon solar cells. The optical absorption spectrum of solar cells are simulated by applying the finite difference time domain method. Electrical parameters of the solar cells are calculated using two models with and without carrier loss. The effect of structure parameters on the performance of the TTG cell is discussed in detail. It is found that the thickness ( t g ) of the ARC, period ( p ) of grating, and base angle ( θ ) of triangle have a crucial influence on the conversion efficiency. The optimal structure of the TTG cell is designed. The TTG solar cell can produce higher efficiency in a wide range of solar incident angle and the average efficiency of the optimal TTG cell over 7:30–16:30 time of day is 8% higher than that of the optimal plane solar cell. In addition, the study shows that the bulk recombination of carriers has an influence on the conversion efficiency of the cell, the conversion efficiency of the actual solar cell with carrier recombination is reduced by 20.0% of the ideal cell without carrier recombination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional porous β-cyclodextrin/chitosan functionalized graphene oxide hydrogel (3D-GO/CS/β-CD) was synthesized by a simple and facile chemical reduction method in the presence of sodium ascorbate which acted as a reducing agent, and its application as an adsorbent for MB removal was investigated. The unique 3D structure enabled the rapid reuse and recyclability of 3D-GO/CS/β-CD without a complicated filtration system. The adsorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and the results of the characterization indicated the successful synthesis of 3D-GO/CS/β-CD. The 3D-GO/CS/β-CD showed an ultrahigh adsorption capacity (1134 mg/g) for MB. The investigation of the adsorption behavior demonstrated that the adsorption was well fitted with the pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich model. The simulation of the intra-particle diffusion model illustrated that both film diffusion and intraparticle diffusion were involved in the adsorption process. The thermodynamics analysis suggested that the adsorption process of MB onto 3D-GO/CS/β-CD was spontaneous and endothermic. Furthermore, the regeneration study showed that the 3D-GO/CS/β-CD can be reused in the wastewater treatment application. All these findings demonstrated that the 3D-GO/CS/β-CD could be a cost-effective and promising adsorbent for MB removal from the aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of industrial organic waste instead of coal by high temperature gasification to produce syngas is a promising way to reduce carbon emissions. The distinct property of industrial hazardous waste is characterized as high content of chlorine and volatile organics, which is significantly different from coal-water slurry. Herein, novel numerical models were established to simulate to the formation and control of HCl in the Texaco gasifier, where the chlorine-containing substances were simplified as dichloromethane to describe the mass transfer during the gasification. The models presented a good accuracy with the minimum error of 0.55% in syngas components prediction. The simulation demonstrated that HCl was generated near the nozzle, and the increasing of CaO amount and the decreasing of its particle size had positive effect on dechlorination. However, excessively reducing the size of CaO below 0.1 mm decreased its promoting effect, and high temperature in flame zone inhibited the dechlorination reaction. Therefore, the models developed in this work provided the feasibility of the general numerical simulation method to optimize the operating conditions in order to reduce the corrosion of chlorine to equipment and improve the stability of operation during the gasification process of organic hazardous waste. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate whether BP is related to postbiopsy bleeding in patients undergoing native percutaneous kidney biopsy (PKB) and to evaluate the dynamic changes in blood pressure (BP) pre- and post-kidney biopsy. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. The whole-procedural systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP for patients undergoing ultrasound-guided native PKB from October 2017 to December 2020 were recorded in the study. Propensity score matching was used to minimize selection bias. SBP and DBP were analyzed as the main risk factors for bleeding complications. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to explore the optimal BP thresholds to differentiate between bleeding and nonbleeding. The rates of major bleeding complications were analyzed according to BP thresholds through logistic analysis. Results: Of 1146 biopsies, 432 (37.7%) patients suffered from postbiopsy bleeding, 88 (7.7%) patients had major bleeding complications, and 344 (30.0%) patients had minor bleeding complications. In the original data, for patients with SBP ≥ 160 mmHg before PKB, the rate of major bleeding complications was 17.6% (7.5% for SBP < 160 mmHg), and the rate of major bleeding complications was 19.0% in patients with DBP ≥ 100 mmHg (7.5% for DBP < 100 mmHg). For patients with DBP ≥ 85 mmHg to 100 mmHg after PKB, the rate of major bleeding complications ranged from 9.5 to 17.5%. The rate of major bleeding complications was lower (6.6–7.3%) in patients with DBP < 100 mmHg to 85 mmHg. Conclusion: Patients who have high-level BP during the native PKB perioperative period are at higher risk for postbiopsy bleeding. High-level BP here does not refer to traditional hypertension according to the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, but rather BP above a certain threshold related to bleeding risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate phosphate removal from aqueous solutions by a CaAl-Cl layered double hydroxide (Cl-hydrocalumite). Cl-hydrocalumite was prepared by co-precipitation and was characterized by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). SEM demonstrated that a crystalline structure was synthesized and PXRD or FTIR spectra revealed that the structure was Cl-hydrocalumite. Adsorption experiments were performed as a function of contact time and initial phosphate concentration. Phosphate adsorption reached equilibrium within 10 h, followed by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model with R 2 = 0.999. The experimental data followed the Langmuir and Fedlich-Peterson isotherm models, and showed a maximum adsorption capacity of ~ 182.5 mg g − 1 . The Freundlich constant n = 3.18 > 1, represented a favorable phosphate adsorption process. SEM-EDS, PXRD, and FTIR analyses of P-hydrocalumite (after adsorption) were used to elucidate adsorption mechanisms. EDS results indicated that chloride was topotactic, exchanged by phosphate to generate P-hydrocalumite, and partial Cl-hydrocalumite was dissolved. The PXRD and FTIR spectra indicate that P-hydrocalumite was a mixture with a new precipitate, brushite. Phosphate adsorption by Cl-hydrocalumite was topotactic anion exchange combined with dissolution–precipitation. Cl-hydrocalumite was a cost-effective and excellent phosphate adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased levels of p-aminobenzoic acid in aquatic environments, primarily utilized as UV filter in sunscreens, poses a serious threat to human and ecosystem health, while there is a dearth of exhaustive researches pertaining to the efficient and cost-effective elimination of p-aminobenzoic acid. Herein, a Ti/SnO 2 -Sb/CNT-α-PbO 2 /CNT-Ce-β-PbO 2 , referred to Ti/CNT/CNT-Ce-PbO 2 electrode was constructed by incorporating CNTs into the middle layer of PbO 2 electrode, and simultaneously doping CNTs and Ce in the active layer. A series of tests signify that the target electrode is successfully fabricated, which exhibits higher particle density and smaller particle size, as well as exceptional degradation performance for p-aminobenzoic acid with a degradation rate of 99.7% within 30 min coupling with peroxymonosulfate activation. The optimal degradation performance was observed at a PMS dosage of 0.07 g, Na 2 SO 4 concentration of 0.05 mol L−1, current density of 120 mA cm−2, and initial pH value of 6.94. Capture experiments, electron spin resonance test, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, toxicity assessment and theoretical calculation were performed to clarify the main activate radicals, degradation pathways and intermediate toxicity. This study provides a new anode material, and conducted the first exploration of electrocatalysis integrating peroxymonosulfate activation for degradation p-aminobenzoic acid. • A new Ti/CNT/CNT-Ce-PbO 2 electrode was constructed. • Electrode exhibits higher particle density, smaller particle size and lower EIS. • Synergy PMS activation can electro-degrade 99.7% of PABA within 30 min. • Radicals capture, ESR, LC-MS and DFT clarified degradation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of organic anions from saline solution is important for enhancing wastewater treatment efficiencies and advancing resource recovery methodologies. This study introduces an efficient electrodialysis (ED) system with anion exchange membranes (AEMs) for the selective separation of organic anions from inorganic anions in high-salt waste solutions. The effects of organic anionic species and variations in current density were comprehensively investigated. A detailed investigation of thirteen organic anions was both experimentally assessed and theoretically modeled to elucidate mechanisms on affecting selective separation. Remarkably, it achieved superior recovery rates for two kinds of organic anions including cephalosporin antibiotics and sulfonated surfactants with efficiencies surpassing 85 % and 90 %, respectively. The contribution of each physicochemical characteristics was quantified leveraging machine learning techniques. It demonstrated that molecular size and charge density are critical factors affecting organic anions separation dynamics, both of which had an influence weight of more than 18 %. Additionally, the deployment of a multi-membrane reactor facilitated the deep separation process, achieving separation degree exceeding 20. This research not only offers fresh perspectives on the differential separation of organic and inorganic anions but also delineates the critical factors influencing the separation phenomena, thereby contributing valuable insights into the advancement of electrodialysis technologies. [Display omitted] • An electrodialysis system was studied for separating organic and inorganic anions. • The effect of organic properties on separation performance were investigated. • Machine learning was explored to unveil the key factors for separation behavior. • An improved multi-membrane reactor was studied for deep separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fe doping increases the 3D orbital density of Ni foam heterostructures. • The adsorption of H* is enhanced by the increase of Fermi level density. • Efficient nitrate removal (99.4%) was achieved with Ni-Fe/Ni foam cathode. • Nearly 100% TN removal efficiency was achieved in the presence of Cl−. The electrochemical nitrate (NO 3 −) reduction (ENR) in wastewater, a promising remediation strategy, is often impeded by the essential use of costly noble metals. This study introduces an innovative non-noble Ni-Fe/Ni foam cathode fabricated via one-step electrodeposition technique. Efficient nitrate removal (99.4 %) was achieved with the selectivity of 83.6 % to NH 3. The exceptional performance can be ascribed to the augmented active sites and the synergistic interaction between Ni and Fe. The leftward shift of the 3d orbitals density of Ni and the elevation of density at the Fermi level on Ni foam heterostructures, consequent to Fe doping, enhance the adsorption of H*. The addition of reactive chlorine species, generated through anodizing in Cl− mediated system, further improves N 2 selectivity by oxidizing intermediate NH 4 + product. The coupled anodic oxidation method employed herein achieves nearly 100 % removal efficiency of total nitrogen (TN) for initial concentration of 100 mg/L within 180 min, under the conditions of 1.5 g/L Cl− concentration and a current density of 25 mA cm−2. The findings underscore the potential of the Ni-Fe/Ni foam cathode within a Cl− mediated electrocatalytic framework for nitrate wastewater treatment, providing novel insights into the design of cathode catalysts and anodic coupling strategies for efficient TN removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two water soluble 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine derivatives (TPYOH and O3TPY) with a di(hydroxyethyl)amino or a long (2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)benzyl group, respectively, were designed and synthesized. The two terpyridine ligands and their Zn(ii) complexes display strong one-photon fluorescence. An unusually large solvatochromism effect in ethanol and water was found, which was ascribed to their interactions with the solvent through hydrogen bonds. All the four compounds show evident two-photon absorption ability when evaluated by Z-scan technology. The free ligands could give distinct two-photon excited fluorescence, and the emission of O3TPY responded linearly with Zn2+ under the excitation of a 780 nm femtosecond laser. Only the complex ZnO3TPY, which possesses a large π conjugation system and suitable election-donating groups, displayed emission maxima at 595 nm when excited by a 680–880 nm laser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corona-generated audible noise (AN) and radio noise (RN) of the long-term operating conductors with two bundle types was investigated and compared based on a corona cage measurement system. The surface morphologies of eight conductors were measured and the average surface roughness ( R a ) was calculated. With the raise of conductor bundles, the maximum electric field distortion level ( β 4 ), the relative difference of ionization intensity ( γ 4 ) between long-term operating conductors and new conductors decreased. Adding the number of sub-conductors turned out to be an effective method to improve AN and RN of long-term operating conductors in the contaminated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we synthesized Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles with distinct morphologies, including nanocube, nanotruncated octahedron, and nanopolyhedron with featured exposure of (001), (111), and (112) facets, respectively. The Co 3 O 4 -NC/CNTs-PMS (peroxymonosulfate) system demonstrated a significantly higher steady-state 1O 2 concentration of 8.84×10⁻¹⁰ M with 99.5 % selectivity, marking a 462-fold increase compared to Co 3 O 4 -NP/CNTs-PMS. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the (001) facet facilitates 1O 2 production by lowering the energy barrier for the rate-determining step from *OH to *O. Furthermore, we introduced the sum of Hammett sigma-para constants (∑σ p) as a predictive descriptor, capable of estimating degradation rates with 87 % accuracy. This study systematically elucidates the influence of Co 3 O 4 crystal facets on 1O 2 generation, providing valuable insights into the design of catalysts and optimization of PMS activation strategies for the efficient degradation of recalcitrant pollutants in complex water matrices. [Display omitted] • Co 3 O 4 with different morphologies were successfully loaded on carbon nanotubes. • Nanocube structured Co 3 O 4 exhibited best catalytic performance for PMS activation. • 1O 2 production selectivity was tuned by Co 3 O 4 facet engineering. • DFT calculations revealed (001) facet of Co 3 O 4 showed lowest energy barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]