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

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

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

Background. Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is one of the most common types of lung carcinoma and has specific clinicopathologic characteristics. In this study, we screened novel molecular biomarkers relevant to the prognosis of LUSC to explore new diagnostic and treatment approaches for this disease. Methods. We downloaded GSE73402 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. GSE73402 contains 62 samples, which could be classified as four subtypes according to their pathology and stages. Via weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), the main module was identified and was further analyzed using differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis. Then, by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), hub genes were screened for potential biomarkers of LUSC. Results. Via WGCNA, the yellow module containing 349 genes was identified, and it is strongly related to the subtype of CIS (carcinoma in situ). DEGs analysis detected 180 genes that expressed differentially between the subtype of CIS and subtype of early-stage carcinoma (Stage I and Stage II). A PPI network of DEGs was constructed, and the top 20 genes with the highest correlations were selected for GEPIA database to explore their effect on LUSC survival prognosis. Finally, ITGA5, TUBB3, SCNN1B, and SERPINE1 were screened as hub genes in LUSC. Conclusions. ITGA5, TUBB3, SCNN1B, and SERPINE1 may have great diagnostic and prognostic significance for LUSC and have great potential to be new treatment targets for LUSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered Fe II –Fe III hydroxides (green rusts, GRs) are efficient reducing agents against oxidizing contaminants such as chromate, nitrate, selenite, and nitroaromatic compounds and chlorinated solvents. In this study, we adopted a buffered precipitation approach where glycine (GLY) was used in the synthesis of sulfate-interlayered GR (GR SO4 ) by aerial oxidation of Fe II or co-precipitation by adding Fe III salt to an aqueous solution of Fe II at constant pH. In both the oxidation and the co-precipitation methods pure crystalline GR SO4 was precipitated in the presence of 70 mM GLY (pH 8.0), whereas in the absence of GLY, synthesis failed under similar conditions. Gycine functions as both a pH buffer and a ligand; Fe II -GLY complexes serve as a source of base (Fe II -GLY + H 2 O → Fe II + H-GLY + OH − ) during GR formation, supplying about 45% of the total base required for the synthesis. The GLY buffer decreases pH fluctuations during base addition and hence allows for fast GR SO4 precipitation, minimizing byproduct formation. The use of other pH buffers [4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid and 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol] was also tested but failed. Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, and Fe II measurements confirmed the purity, stoichiometry, and pyroaurite-type structure of the obtained GR SO4 . The formula of GR SO4 was found to be Fe II 4.08 Fe III 1.98 (OH) 11.6 (SO 4 ) 1.00 , and the tabular GR crystals had a lateral size of 100–500 nm and a thickness of about 40 nm. Upscaling of the synthesis by either 25 times in volume or 20 times in Fe II concentration resulted in pure GR SO4 products. Compared with the conventional unbuffered GR SO4 synthesis method, the present method can provide pure products with a controllable, fast, and low-cost process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered iron oxide nanosheet material is a new efficient adsorbent which is here developed and investigated for removing the eutrophicant phosphate from water. The layered FeIII nanosheets are synthesized by anion exchanging layered FeII/FeIII hydroxide chloride (green rust; GR) with dodecanoate, followed by solid state oxidation and exfoliation, by which the yield of the product can be easily scaled up. The obtained product exhibits a distinct platy structure with a minimal FeIII oxide sheet thickness of 1 nm and lateral size of 100 to 200 nm as observed by means of high resolution transmission electronic microscopy, selected area electronic diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The FeIII nanosheets can be well dispersed and stable in aqueous solution, showing a low tendency of aggregation. The performance of the obtained nanosheets to remove phosphate has been evaluated in kinetic and batch experiments under different environmental conditions (i.e. interfering anions and pH). The kinetic study shows that phosphate removal by the iron oxide quickly reaches a plateau with the rate constant k2 ranging from 5.2 × 10−4 to 1.4 × 10−3 g (μmol−1 min−1) for the initial phosphate concentrations of 40 and 80 μmol L−1 (1.2 to 2.4 mg P per L) at pH 7. The maximum phosphate adsorption capacity of the layered FeIII nanosheets is 2540 μmol g−1 (about 77 mg g−1; 4006 μmol P per g Fe) at pH 5, showing excellent potential for phosphate removal from wastewater. Our results also indicate that the performance of the layered FeIII nanosheets for phosphate removal is selective. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analyses of O 1s, Fe 2p and P 2p spectra provide evidence for phosphate removal by forming inner-sphere Fe–O–P surface complexes. The cost-effective, environmentally friendly and highly efficient layered FeIII nanosheet material is a promising material for the removal of phosphate or other oxyanions in future water treatment technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of dyeing wastewater by iron-rich montmorillonite (MMt) under a 25 W low-pressure mercury lamp (λ = 254 nm, I = 48.4 μW/cm2). Exposing MMt to UV irradiation worked to catalyze the photobleaching of wastewater used in the dyeing process. COD removal efficiencies of 65.0% and 74.0% were achieved in 1 g/L MMt suspensions at a pH of 3 in the absence and presence of 30 min of UV irradiation, respectively. A decolorization efficiency of 71.4% was reached with 1 g/L MMt suspensions at a pH of 3 after 30 min of UV irradiation, while only 4.9% decolorization was attained in darkness. These results indicate that iron-rich MMt is a good photocatalyst for decolorization and COD removal in wastewater from dyeing processes. A low pH value is beneficial to the decolorization of dyeing wastewater. A preliminary photocatalytic mechanism is proposed: the iron in the MMt is responsible for the decolorization of the wastewater because it produces a highly oxidative species of hydroxyl radicals (•OH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of membrane technology is central to fields ranging from resource harvesting to medicine, but the existing designs are unable to handle the complex sorting of multiphase substances required for many systems. Especially, the dynamic multiphase transport and separation under a steady-state applied pressure have great benefits for membrane science, but have not been realized at present. Moreover, the incorporation of precisely dynamic control with avoidance of contamination of membranes remains elusive. We show a versatile strategy for creating elastomeric microporous membrane-based systems that can finely control and dynamically modulate the sorting of a wide range of gases and liquids under a steady-state applied pressure, nearly eliminate fouling, and can be easily applied over many size scales, pressures, and environments. Experiments and theoretical calculation demonstrate the stability of our system and the tunability of the critical pressure. Dynamic transport of gas and liquid can be achieved through our gating interfacial design and the controllable pores' deformation without changing the applied pressure. Therefore, we believe that this system will bring new opportunities for many applications, such as gas-involved chemical reactions, fuel cells, multiphase separation, multiphase flow, multiphase microreactors, colloidal particle synthesis, and sizing nano/microparticles.