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Abstract Background Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the treatment options for lung nodules. However, the need for exact delivery of the rigid metal electrode into the center of the target mass often leads to complications or suboptimal results. To overcome these limitations, a concept of conforming electrodes using a flexible material has been tested in this study. Methods A bronchoscopy-guided RFA (CAROL) under a temperature-controlled mode was tested in in-vivo and ex-vivo porcine lungs. Gallium-based liquid metal was used for turning the bronchial tree into temporary RF electrodes. A customized bronchoscopy-guided balloon-tipped guiding catheter (CAROL catheter) was used to make the procedure feasible under fluoroscopy imaging guidance. The computer simulation was also performed to gain further insight into the ablation results. Safety was also assessed including the liquid metal remaining in the body. Results The bronchial electrode injected from the CAROL catheter was able to turn the target site bronchial air pipe into a temporally multi-tined RF electrode. The mean volume of Gallium for each effective CAROL was 0.46 ± 0.47 ml. The ablation results showed highly efficacious and consistent results, especially in the peripheral lung. Most bronchial electrodes were also retrieved by either bronchoscopic suction immediately after the procedure or by natural expectoration thereafter. The liquid metal used in these experiments did not have any significant safety issues. Computer simulation also supports these results. Conclusion The CAROL ablation was very effective and safe in porcine lungs showing encouraging potential to overcome the conventional approaches.

The article reports the first recorded predation of a recently discovered species, Dryophytes flaviventris, by an invasive species, Lithobates catesbeianus, indicating the influence of the invader on the native species.

The granulation of bismuth oxide (BO) by alginate (Alg) and the iodide adsorption efficacy of Alg–BO for different initial iodide concentrations and contact time values were examined. The optimal conditions for Alg–BO granulation were identified by controlling the weight ratio between Alg and BO. According to the batch iodide adsorption experiment, the Alg:BO weight ratio of 1:20 was appropriate, as it yielded a uniform spherical shape. According to iodide adsorption isotherm experiments and isotherm model fitting, the maximum sorption capacity (qm) was calculated to be 111.8 mg/g based on the Langmuir isotherm, and this value did not plateau even at an initial iodide concentration of 1000 mg/L. Furthermore, iodide adsorption by Alg–BO occurred as monolayer adsorption by the chemical interaction and precipitation between bismuth and iodide, followed by physical multilayer adsorption at a very high concentration of iodide in solution. The iodide adsorption over time was fitted using the intraparticle diffusion model. The results indicated that iodide adsorption was proceeded by boundary layer diffusion during 480 min and reached the plateau from 1440 min to 5760 min by intraparticle diffusion. According to the images obtained using cross-section scanning electron microscopy assisted by energy-dispersive spectroscopy, the adsorbed iodide interacted with the BO in Alg–BO through Bi–O–I complexation. This research shows that Alg–BO is a promising iodide adsorbent owing to its high adsorption capacity, stability, convenience, and ability to prevent secondary pollution.

Arsenic is a toxic element that is often found in drinking water in developing countries in Asia, while arsenic poisoning is a serious worldwide human health concern. The objective of this work is to remove arsenic (V) (As(V)) from water by using an adsorbent material prepared from mine waste, called MIRESORBTM, which contains Fe, Al. The performance of the MIRESORBTM adsorbent was compared with granular ferric hydroxide (GFH), which is a commercial adsorbent. Adsorbents were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and N2 sorption with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The kinetics, isotherms, and pH-dependency of arsenic adsorption were interrogated to gain insights into arsenic adsorption processes. The maximum adsorption capacity of MIRESORBTM was 50.38 mg/g, which was higher than that of GFH (29.07 mg/g). Moreover, a continuous column test that used environmental samples of acid mine drainage was conducted to evaluate the MIRESORBTM material for practical applications. The column could be operated for more than 5840 bed volumes without a breakthrough. Successful operation of a pilot plant using MIRESORBTM adsorbent was also reported. Thus, these studies demonstrate MIRESORBTM as a highly efficient and economical adsorbent derived from recycled mine sludge waste.