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[Display omitted] • The dual S-scheme Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /Bi 2 WO 6 /C 3 N 4 heterojunction with interlaced lattice was constructed. • Efficient removal of ciprofloxacin was achieved in Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /Bi 2 WO 6 /C 3 N 4 heterojunction. • The fully blossomed flower-like structure promoted light harvesting and charge transfer. • The role of the interlaced lattice interface in the charge transfer mechanism was revealed. The internal electric field induced by the lattice interfaces in a heterojunction can facilitate charge transfer, thereby improving the photocatalytic performance. However, the details of the relationship between the lattice interfaces and the charge transfer mechanism in heterojunctions remain unclear. In this study, a Bi 2 WO 6 /Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /C 3 N 4 heterojunction (BBC) with an interlaced lattice was prepared, and the role of the interlaced lattice in charge transfer was revealed. Compared to pristine Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 , Bi 2 WO 6, and C 3 N 4 , BBC exhibited an increased ciprofloxacin degradation rate constant (0.0573 min−1). A series of experiments were performed to reveal the role of the interlaced lattice interface in the enhanced photocatalytic performance. The results show that the driving force provided by the interlaced lattice interface changes the charge transfer mechanism from a dual Ⅱ-scheme to a dual S-scheme. This work provides profound insights into the effects of lattice interfaces in heterojunctions and the design of efficient photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-component droplet evaporation has received significant attention in recent years due to the broad range of applications such as material science, environmental monitoring, and pharmaceuticals. The selective evaporation induced by the different physicochemical properties of components is expected to influence the concentration distributions and the separation of mixtures, thereby leading to rich interfacial phenomena and phase interactions. A ternary mixture system containing hexadecane, ethanol, and diethyl ether is investigated in this study. The diethyl ether exhibits both surfactant-like and co-solvent properties. Systematic experiments were performed using acoustic levitation technique to achieve a contact-less evaporation condition. The evaporation dynamics and temperature information are acquired in the experiments, using high-speed photography and infrared thermography technologies. Three distinct stages, namely, 'Ouzo state', 'Janus state', and 'Encapsulating state', are identified for the evaporating ternary droplet in acoustic levitation. A self-sustaining periodic freezing & melting evaporation mode is reported. A theoretical model is developed to characterize the multi-stage evaporating behaviors. We demonstrate the capability to tune the evaporating behaviors by varying the initial droplet composition. This work provides a deeper understanding of the interfacial dynamics and phase transitions involved in multi-component droplets and proposes novel strategies for the design and control of droplet-based systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovalbumin (OVA), a major allergen in egg-induced food allergy, is widely used in the food industry. This study investigated the structural and antigenic changes of OVA after covalent conjugation with rosmarinic acid (RA). The SDS-PAGE and RA binding equivalent analysis confirmed that both the radical and alkaline methods successfully prepared the OVA-RA conjugates. LC-MS/MS assay identified 20 and 15 modified sites of RA on OVA in the radical and alkaline OVA-RA conjugates, respectively. The structural changes of OVA were indicated by fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), and ultraviolet absorption (UV) spectrometry. Following conjugation with RA, the antioxidant capacities of OVA for scavenging DPPH• and ABTS•+ showed significant enhancement. Subsequently, the impact of RA on the antigenicity of OVA was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. The ELISA analysis revealed a notable reduction in the binding capacity of OVA to IgG and IgE after covalent conjugation with RA. Additionally, the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) assay demonstrated lower allergenicity in radical and alkaline OVA-RA conjugates compared to native OVA. These findings collectively suggest that OVA-RA conjugates hold promise for the development of hypoallergenic food. • The covalent interaction between rosmarinic acid and ovalbumin was investigated. • The protein structure of ovalbumin underwent changes following covalent conjugation with rosmarinic acid. • The allergenicity of ovalbumin was diminished following covalent conjugation with rosmarinic acid. • The functional properties of ovalbumin were extended following covalent conjugation with rosmarinic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling the pollutant removal performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) plays a crucial role in regulating their operation, mitigating effluent anomalies and reducing operating costs. Pollutants removal in WWTPs is closely related to microbial activity. However, there is extremely limited knowledge on the models accurately characterizing pollutants removal performance by microbial activity indicators. This study proposed a novel specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR ATP) with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as biomass. Firstly, it was found that SOUR ATP and total nitrogen (TN) removal rate showed similar fluctuated trends, and their correlation was stronger than that of TN removal rate and common SOUR MLSS with mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) as biomass. Then, support vector regressor (SVR), K-nearest neighbor regressor (KNR), linear regressor (LR), and random forest (RF) models were developed to predict TN removal rate only with microbial activity as features. Models utilizing the novel SOUR ATP resulted in better performance than those based on SOUR MLSS. A model fusion (MF) algorithm based on the above four models was proposed to enhance the accuracy with lower root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.25 mg/L/h and explained 75% of the variation in the test data with SOUR ATP as features as opposed to other base learners. Furthermore, the interpretation of predictive results was explored through microbial community structure and metabolic pathway. Strong correlations were found between SOUR ATP and the proportion of nitrifiers in aerobic pool, as well as between heterotrophic bacteria respiratory activity (SOUR ATP_HB) and the proportion of denitrifies in anoxic pool. SOUR ATP also displayed consistent positive responses with most key enzymes in Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway (EMP), tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and oxidative phosphorylation cycle. In this study, SOUR ATP provides a reliable indication of the composition and metabolic activity of nitrogen removal bacteria, revealing the potential reasons underlying the accurate predictive result of nitrogen removal rates based on novel microbial activity indicators. This study offers new insights for the prediction and further optimization operation of WWTPs from the perspective of microbial activity regulation. [Display omitted] • A novel microbial activity indicator SOUR ATP with ATP as biomass was proposed. • Predictive model of nitrogen removal rate based on microbial activity was conducted. • The SOUR computed by ATP instead of MLSS can obtained higher accuracy. • Biological interpretation was given for the predictive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactant-free microemulsion (SFME), an emerging phenomenology that occurs in the monophasic zone of a broad category of ternary mixtures 'hydrophobe/hydrotrope/water', has attracted extensive interests due to their unique physicochemical properties. The potential of this kind of ternary fluid for solubilization and drug delivery make them promising candidates in many industrial scenarios. Here the thermodynamic behavior of these multiscale nanodomains formed in the ternary trans -anethol/ethanol/water system over a wide range of temperatures is explored. The macroscopic physical properties of the ternary solutions are characterized, with revealing the temperature dependence of refractive index and dynamic viscosity. With increasing temperature, the ternary system shows extended areas in the monophasic zone. We demonstrate that the phase behavior and the multiscale nanodomains formed in the monophasic zone can be precisely and reversibly tuned by altering the temperature. Increasing temperature can destroy the stability of the multiscale nanodomains in equilibrium, with an exponential decay in the scattering light intensity. Nevertheless, molecular-scale aggregates and mesoscopic droplets exhibit significantly different response behaviors to temperature stimuli. The temperature-sensitive nature of the ternary SFME system provides a crucial step forward exploring and industrializing its stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel S-scheme Ni-doped β-Bi 2 O 3 /ACN heterojunction with superior enhanced photoactivity was successfully prepared via two-step methods. The degradation efficiency of target pollutant ciprofloxacin (CIP) by the 7%Ni-doped β-Bi 2 O 3 /3%ACN composite (3A@BN7) within 1 ​h is as high as 95.93%, which is 5.54 times than β-Bi 2 O 3 and 2.83 times than ACN. Moreover, the heterojunction composites synthesized in this work exhibited extraordinary removal effects on various pollutants. Meanwhile, the 3A@BN7 composites possess the ability to evolution hydrogen under visible-light irradiation with an efficiency reached 3099.1 ​μmol H 2 within 4 ​h, while the pure β-Bi 2 O 3 does not show any hydrogen evolution capability. The characterization results manifest that the enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of the heterojunction composites is attributed to more abundant reactive sites, higher utilization rate of visible light, lower interfacial charge transfer resistance than pure β-Bi 2 O 3. Staggered energy level structure of the composites cooperating with Ni doping led to lower recombination rate of hole-electron pairs and narrower band-gap are also reflected in improved photoactivity. A possible mechanism of the S-scheme heterojunction for the enhancing photocatalytic activity is proposed combined with the results of all characterization and experiments. This work puts forward a novel heterostructure constructing method for β-Bi 2 O 3 , which may provide a reference for application in industrial removal of organic pollution from water due to its excellent stability and wide selectivity. The flower-like Ni -doped β-Bi 2 O 3 /ACN microsphere composite was successfully prepared through the solvothermal method, the composite shows high improvement of photocatalytic activity and stability for antibiotics CIP degradation and H 2 evolution under simulated sunlight irradiation. [Display omitted] • The flower-like Ni -doped β-Bi 2 O 3 /ACN microspheres is successfully synthesized. • The Ni -doped β-Bi 2 O 3 /ACN microspheres shows superior activity for CIP degradation. • The charge transfer rate and redox ability of charge carriers are greatly improved. • The possible mechanism of the S-scheme heterojunction is proposed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Isobaric (vapor+liquid) equilibrium (VLE) data for the binary system (methanol+dimethyl carbonate) and the ternary system (methanol+dimethyl carbonate+tetramethylammonium bicarbonate) have been measured at p =(34.43, 67.74)kPa using a modified Rose–Williams still. The experimental data for the binary system were well correlated by Wilson, NRTL, and UNIQUAC activity-coefficient models at the two reduced pressures. All the experimental results of the binary system passed the thermodynamic consistency test by the area test of Redlich–Kister and the point test of Van Ness et al. The experimental results of ternary system show that the salt tetramethylammonium bicarbonate has a salting-in effect on methanol. And this effect enhances when the salt concentration increases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The dynamics of urinary trace elements in patients with COVID-19 still remains to be investigated. A retrospective study was performed on a cohort of 138 confirmed COVID-19 patients for their urinary levels of essential and/or toxic metals including chromium, manganese, copper, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, mercury, thallium and lead according to the different disease severity (severe or non-severe) and outcome (recovered or deceased). Urinary concentrations of chromium, manganese, copper, selenium, cadmium, mercury and lead after creatinine adjustment were found to be higher in severe patients than the non-severe cases with COVID-19. And among the severe cases, these elements were also higher in the deceased group than the recovered group. When the weeks of the post-symptom onset were taken in account, the changes of these urinary elements were existed across the clinical course since the disease onset. These urinary elements were found to be mostly positively inter-correlated, and further positively correlated with other laboratory inflammatory parameters including serum cytokines (IL-1B, IL2R, IL6, IL8, IL10, TNFα), ferritin, and neutrophil count and white blood cell count. As a independently predictive factor, urinary creatinine-adjusted copper of ≥25.57 μg/g and ≥99.32 μg/g were associated with significantly increased risk of severe illness and fatal outcome in COVID-19, respectively. These results suggest abnormities in urinary levels of the trace metals were tightly associated with the severe illness and fatal outcome of COVID-19. • Cr, Mn, Cu, Se, Cd, Hg, Pb were higher while As, Tl were lower in severe cases. • The changes of the urinary elements were existed across the clinical course. • The urinary elements correlated with laboratory inflammatory parameters. • Cu ≥ 25.57 μg/g creatinine as an independent risk factor for severe illness. • Cu ≥ 99.32 μg/g creatinine as an independent risk factor for fatal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that the immune tolerance can be naturally established in the intestine, while the mechanism by which the immune tolerance development in the intestine is not fully understood yet. Vasoactive intestinal peptides (VIP) has the immune regulatory functions. This study aims to investigate the role of VIP in the immune tolerance development in the intestine. Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)-derived exosomes were prepared. The exosomes carried IL-10 and antigen/MHC II complexes. VIP-deficient (VIPd) mice and wild type mice were employed to test the role of VIP in the development of immune tolerance in the intestine. VIPd mice failed to induce type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1 cells) in the intestine and retarded the establishment of antigen (Ag)-specific immune tolerance. Exposure to VIP in the culture induced IL-10 expression in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Exosomes derived from ovalbumin (OVA, used as a specific Ag)/VIP-primed IECs carried IL-10 and OVA/MHC II complexes; these exosomes were designated IL10CARs (IL-10/chimeric antigen receptor-carrying exosomes). IL10CARs could recognize OVA-specific CD4+ T cells and converted OVA-specific CD4± T cells to OVA-specific Tr1 cells. Administration of IL10CARs suppressed experimental food allergy. The data show that IL10CARs are capable of suppressing experimental FA by inducing antigen-specific Tr1 cells, which has the translation potential for FA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PDI-g-C 3 N 4 /g-C 3 N 4 (CPH) has been fabricated via multiscale modification strategy. • CPH exhibited excellent photocatalytic atrazine removal efficiency. • The mesoporous morphology of CPH enhanced the accessibility of contaminant. • The PDI decoration of CPH promoted light-harvesting and π-conjugation. • The construction of homojunction suppressed the recombination of photocarrier. Herein, PDI-g-C 3 N 4 /g-C 3 N 4 homojunction has been fabricated via the multiscale modification strategy to enhance photocatalytic atrazine degradation. The morphological scale modification was realized by multistep thermal condensation, where the released gas could act as templates to form the porous structure. The molecular scale modification was achieved by the pyromellitic diimide (PDI) decoration, which could distort the planar nanosheet to induce a porous structure and provide more chromophores for better light absorption. The electronic scale modification was realized by the built-in electric field between the PDI-g-C 3 N 4 /g-C 3 N 4 homojunction interfaces, which suppressed the recombination of photocarriers. The PDI-g-C 3 N 4 /g-C 3 N 4 strengthened photocatalytic atrazine degradation was well-adapted to different environmental influence interference. The optimum atrazine degradation rate within one hour reached 90% in a strong acidic condition (pH = 3.09). It was found that the highly pH-dependent ATZ removal is related to the H 2 O 2 generation during photocatalysis. Within one hour, the PDI-g-C 3 N 4 /g-C 3 N 4 could generate 147.38 μM H 2 O 2. In addition, 1 O 2 ,  · O 2 - , h+, and  · O H were found to have contributed to the ATZ decomposition. During photocatalysis, 14 intermediates and three pathways for atrazine degradation have been found. Hopefully, this study could pave a way for the development of the multiscale modification for the photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PDI-g-C 3 N 4 /g-C 3 N 4 (CPH) has been fabricated via multiscale modification strategy. • CPH exhibited excellent photocatalytic atrazine removal efficiency. • The mesoporous morphology of CPH enhanced the accessibility of contaminant. • The PDI decoration of CPH promoted light-harvesting and π-conjugation. • The construction of homojunction suppressed the recombination of photocarrier. Herein, PDI-g-C 3 N 4 /g-C 3 N 4 homojunction has been fabricated via the multiscale modification strategy to enhance photocatalytic atrazine degradation. The morphological scale modification was realized by multistep thermal condensation, where the released gas could act as templates to form the porous structure. The molecular scale modification was achieved by the pyromellitic diimide (PDI) decoration, which could distort the planar nanosheet to induce a porous structure and provide more chromophores for better light absorption. The electronic scale modification was realized by the built-in electric field between the PDI-g-C 3 N 4 /g-C 3 N 4 homojunction interfaces, which suppressed the recombination of photocarriers. The PDI-g-C 3 N 4 /g-C 3 N 4 strengthened photocatalytic atrazine degradation was well-adapted to different environmental influence interference. The optimum atrazine degradation rate within one hour reached 90% in a strong acidic condition (pH = 3.09). It was found that the highly pH-dependent ATZ removal is related to the H 2 O 2 generation during photocatalysis. Within one hour, the PDI-g-C 3 N 4 /g-C 3 N 4 could generate 147.38 μM H 2 O 2. In addition, 1 O 2 ,  · O 2 - , h+, and  · O H were found to have contributed to the ATZ decomposition. During photocatalysis, 14 intermediates and three pathways for atrazine degradation have been found. Hopefully, this study could pave a way for the development of the multiscale modification for the photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Polydatin exerts its effects on spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury through multiple targets and pathways. • Polydatin showed different affinities with multiple protein targets, but it had the strongest affinity with MAPK3. • Molecular dynamics simulation of polydatin with MAPK3 suggested that the combination of the two was stable. • MAPK3 may be a potential critical link in pharmacological effect pathways of polydatin. Polydatin has shown considerable pharmacological activities in ischemia–reperfusion injuries of various organs. However, its effects and mechanisms in spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury have not been fully established. In this study, the mechanisms of polydatin against spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury were investigated via network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. Spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards database, while polydatin-related action targets were obtained from the CTD and SwissTarget databases. A protein–protein interaction network of potential targets was constructed using the String platform. After selecting the potential key targets, GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed via the Metascape database, and a network map of "drug-target-pathway-disease" constructed. The relationships between polydatin and various key targets were assessed via molecular docking. Molecular dynamics simulation was conducted for optimal core protein–compound complexes obtained by molecular docking. Topological analysis of the PPI network revealed 14 core targets. GO functional enrichment analysis revealed that 435 biological processes, 12 cell components and 29 molecular functions were enriched while KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed 91 enriched signaling pathways. Molecular docking showed that polydatin had the highest binding affinity for MAPK3, suggesting that MAPK3 is a key target of polydatin against spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed good binding abilities between polydatin and MAPK3. Polydatin exerts its effects on spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury through multiple targets and pathways. MAPK3 may be a key target of polydatin in spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]