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Plastic waste poses a profound threat to ecosystems and human health, necessitating novel strategies for effective degradation in nature. Here, we present a novel approach utilizing upconversion phosphors as additives to significantly accelerate plastic photodegradation in nature via enhancing ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Pr-doped Li2CaGeO4(LCGO:Pr) upconversion phosphors readily converting blue light into deep-UV radiation, dramatically improve photodegradation rates for polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics. In situ spectroscopic studies show that upconversion fluorescence initiates the photophysical cleavage of C–C and C–O bonds in the backbones of PE and PET, resulting in plastic degradation. Moreover, incorporating LCGO:Pr into polypropylene (PP) sheets realizes markedly enhanced photodamage, with the cracking area increasing by nearly 38-fold under simulated sunlight for 10 days. This underscores the potential of employing this approach for the construction of light-driven destructible polymers. Further optimization and exploration of material compatibility hold promise for developing sustainable photodegradable plastics.

Effectively, economically and long-term stably real-time suppressing the fluctuation of microcharacter spotting accuracy (mCSA) for a submillimeter-level distributed feedback laser (DFB) chip in the complex industrial environment (CIE) is an essential but challenging task in optical device packaging. This article develops an end-to-end micro-optical character recognition net (MOCRNet) with a one-stage framework (OSF), data enhancement, and defect preprocessing. Specifically, by embedding the proposed text defect detector (TDD) and the text flip detection (TFD), the OSF has replaced the previous traditional multistage frameworks for improving long-term accuracy and efficiency. Moreover, a data enhancement technique called the environmental noise revivification method (ENRM) is applied to obtain expanded sample images with environmental noise to suppress small fluctuations by training the model; additionally, large and small fluctuations caused by defects in the character area and on characters are effectively suppressed by the background defect removal module (BDRM) and TDD, respectively. Experiments from a real-world optical device packaging line based on the proposed MOCRNet industrial intelligent microscope system reached an mCSA of better than 99.6% and accordingly decost the labor to 86% compared to 98.8% and 72% in the latest previous work, respectively. The results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed MOCRNet to the state-of-the-art models, as well as the effectiveness and accuracy, and stability for handling a great fluctuation of mCSA from submillimeter-level chips with defects and noise during the optical device packaging in the CIE.

Macrophages are professional phagocytic cells that play a critical role in initiating immune responses by presenting antigen and phagocytic clearance. The macrophages can be targeted for immunomodulation by beneficial microbes, such as probiotics. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of Saccharomyces boulardiiagainst Clostridium perfringensinfection in avian macrophage cell line HD11. In this study, HD11 macrophages were prestimulated with S. boulardiifor 6 h and then infected with C. perfringensfor 3 h. Results showed that S. boulardiienhanced phagocytosis and bactericidal capacity against C. perfringensby HD11 cells. The S. boulardiieffectively promoted the mRNA expression of CD80, CD83, and CD197 cell-surface molecules in C. perfringens-infected HD11 cells. Moreover, we found that prestimulation with S. boulardiireduced the mRNA expression of CD40, toll-like receptor [TLR] 4, and TLR15 induced by C. perfringensand thereby downregulated the mRNA expression of myeloid differentiation primary response 88, TNF receptor associated factor 6, nuclear factor kappa-B p65 subunit, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase genes in HD11 cells. The upregulation of cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-10) and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression in C. perfringens-infected HD11 cells were noticeably inhibited by S. boulardiipretreatment. Conclusively, these results might provide a new insight into the role of S. boulardiiin regulating avian immune defense against C. perfringensinvasion and immune escape.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciensis a well-accepted probiotic, with many benefits for both humans and animals. The ability of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) to develop into several intestinal epithelial cell types helps accelerate intestinal epithelial regeneration. Limited knowledge exists on how bacteria regulated ISCs proliferation and regeneration. Our study investigated the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefacienssupplementation on ISC proliferation and regeneration and intestinal mucosal barrier functions in piglets exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Eighteen piglets (male, 21 days old) were randomly split into 3 clusters: CON cluster, LPS cluster, and SC06+LPS cluster. On day 21, 100 μg/kg body weight of LPS was intraperitoneally administered to the SC06+LPS and LPS groups. We found SC06 supplementation maintained the intestinal barrier integrity, enhanced intestinal antioxidant capacity, reduced generation of inflammatory response, and suppressed enterocyte apoptosis against the deleterious effects triggered by LPS. In addition, our research indicated that the SC06 supplementation not only improved the ISC regeneration, but also resulted in upregulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in LPS-challenge piglets. Further studies showed that SC06 also induced ISC differentiation toward goblet cells and inhibited their differentiation to intestinal absorptive cells and enterocytes. The coculture system of SC06 and ileum organoids revealed that SC06 increased the growth of ISCs and repaired LPS-induced organoid damage through activating the AhR/STAT3 signaling pathway. These findings showed that SC06, possibly through the AhR/STAT3 pathway, accelerated ISC proliferation and promoted epithelial barrier healing, providing a potential clinical treatment for IBD. Our research demonstrated that SC06 is effective in preventing intestinal epithelial damage after pathological injury, restoring intestinal homeostasis, and maintaining intestinal epithelial regeneration.

As a promising new type of X-ray scintillator, lead-free metal halide materials have attracted extensive attention in recent years. Here, a blue emitter Cs3Cu2Br5is successfully synthesized by simply mixing CsBr aqueous solution and CuBr acid solution. Due to the self-trapped excitons emission, it has a large Stokes shift and negligible self-absorption. The light yield of Cs3Cu2Br5powder is calculated for the first time to be 22,000 ± 4000 photons/MeV. By using a new type of ultraviolet curable adhesive, the prepared Cs3Cu2Br5@UV films exhibit a high spatial resolution of 2.7 lp mm–1in X-ray imaging, making it a promising candidate for high spatial X-ray imaging detectors. The prepared scintillator powder can change color at low temperatures (under 254 nm UV lamp), and photoluminescence emissions are 460 nm@300 K and 595 nm@240 K. The temperature-induced reversible fluorescence discoloration phenomenon of Cs3Cu2Br5is speculated to be due to the decrease of energy level degeneracy. Additionally, owing to the distinctive property of exhibiting noticeable color changes in response to temperature variations, Cs3Cu2Br5has the potential to become a thermochromic fluorescence material.

Developing efficient recycling technologies for large-scale spent batteries is the key to build a zero-waste city. Herein, a [Al8.5Fe0.5P12O48]·[C24H72N16]·[Li·4H2O]·[12H2O] (AlFePO-Li) zeolite, crystallizing in space group I4̅3mwith a= 16.6778(3) Å, has been constructed via the hydrothermal treatment of spent LiFePO4battery. Benefiting from the three-dimensional 12-member-ring channels in its structure and chemical adsorption, excellent Pb2+removal capacity up to 723.8 mg g–1has been achieved. Detailed adsorption mechanism study revealed that the cation exchange capacity is significantly contributed by ion exchange of the protonated organic amine cations in the zeolite channel and the protons from the framework dangling phosphate group. This work demonstrates a novel method of reutilizing spent LIBs to construct zeolite for heavy metal removal. It is of great importance to achieve sustainable development based on the “resource utilization” and “trash-to-treasure” strategy.

With the ever-growing strict prohibitions on antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in animal production, in-feed probiotics are becoming attractive alternatives to antibiotics in the poultry industry. To investigate the effects of Paenibacillus polymyxa10 and Lactobacillus plantarum16 on the growth performance and intestinal health of broilers, 540 male Cobb 500 broilers of 1 d old were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 replicates per group and 30 chicks per replicate. Broilers were fed with either a basal diet or basal diets supplemented with 1 × 108 colony-forming units (CFU)/kg P. polymyxa10 (BSC10) or L. plantarum16 (Lac16) for 42 d. Results showed that Lac16 treatment improved (P < 0.05) the growth performance (body weight and feed conversion) of broilers at the starter phase, while BSC10 treatment slightly improved (P > 0.05) the growth performance of the starter phase broilers. The increased villus height (P < 0.05) at d 14, 21 and 42 and villus height to crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05) at d 14 and 21 were observed in the ileum of the 2 probiotic groups. Besides, transmission electron microscopy results showed that the 2 probiotics enhanced the intestinal epithelial barrier. Both probiotic treatments up-regulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression of fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1) and sodium-dependent glucose transporters-1 (SGLT-1) in the ileal mucosa of broilers at d 21. In addition, BSC10 and Lac16 treatments significantly (P < 0.05) increased the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acids-producing bacteria, such as Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Lachnospiraand Coprococcu, and significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the relative abundance of enteric pathogens (Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilisand Shigella sonnei). Furthermore, the 2 probiotic treatments also increased the positive connection among the intestinal microbes and the carbohydrate metabolism-related pathways of the intestinal bacteria (P < 0.05), with decreasing (P < 0.05) nucleotides biosynthesis-related pathways of the intestinal bacteria. Overall, these results suggest that the 2 probiotics, especially Lac16, have a potential beneficial effect on the growth performance and intestinal health of starter phase broilers.

Bandgap engineering through single-atom site binding on semiconducting photocatalyst can boost the intrinsic activity, selectivity, carrier separation, and electron transport. Here, we report a mixed-valence Ag(0) and Ag(I) single atoms co-decorated semiconducting chalcopyrite quantum dots (Ag/CuFeS2QDs) photocatalyst. It demonstrates efficient photocatalytic performances for specific organic dye (Rhodamine B, denoted as RhB) as well as inorganic dye (Cr(VI)) removal in water under natural sunlight irradiation. The RhB degradation and Cr(VI) removal efficiencies by Ag/CuFeS2QDs were 3.55 and 6.75 times higher than those of the naked CuFeS2QDs at their optimal pH conditions, respectively. Besides, in a mixture of RhB and Cr(VI) solution under neutral condition, the removal ratio has been elevated from 30.2% to 79.4% for Cr(VI), and from 95.2% to 97.3% for RhB degradation by using Ag/CuFeS2QDs after 2 h sunlight illumination. The intrinsic mechanism for the photocatalytic performance improvement is attributed to the narrow bandgap of the single-atomic Ag(I) anchored CuFeS2QDs, which engineers the electronic structure as well as expands the optical light response range. Significantly, the highly active Ag(0)/CuFeS2and Ag(I)/CuFeS2effectively improve the separation efficiency of the carriers, thus enhancing the photocatalytic performances. This work presents a highly efficient single atom/QDs photocatalyst, constructed through bandgap engineering via mixed-valence single noble metal atoms binding on semiconducting QDs. It paves the way for developing high-efficiency single-atom photocatalysts for complex pollutions removal in dyeing wastewater environment.