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Elemental mercury (Hg0) removal is a crucial target for mercury pollution control in flue gas. This article focuses on Hg0 removal in flue gas using corona discharge (CD) and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) technologies, and provides a mechanistic perspective on the development and influencing factors of non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology for Hg0 removal. The influence factors include reactor configurations, power supplies, energy density, residence time, oxidation methods, gas composition, and the synergy between NTP and catalysis/adsorption, etc. This study reveals that the use of a pulsating electrical power supply significantly increases electron densities in both CD and DBD systems, thereby ensuring high energy efficiency and economic viability. Cl 2 proves to be more effective than HCl as a chlorine source for Hg0 removal. NO significantly reduces Hg0 oxidation efficiency, while the effects of SO 2 and H 2 O remain unclear. Energy density distribution is closely related to plasma devices, power supplies, and overall reactor configurations. Direct oxidation proves to be more effective than indirect oxidation for Hg0 removal. The combination of NTP with adsorption/catalysis technologies shows significantly better Hg0 removal efficiency compared to using NTP alone. This study can provide theoretical support for enhancing Hg0 removal mechanisms and optimizing process control parameters in industrial applications of NTP technology. [Display omitted] • Non-thermal plasma (NTP) can effectively remove Hg0 from flue gas. • Insights into the mechanism of flue gas Hg0 removal are offered. • NTP with chemical catalysis/adsorption shows higher Hg0 removal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mariculture stands as a pivotal enterprise aimed at enhancing the quality of human existence. However, the utilization of antibiotics and pesticides in the mariculture process poses threats to both the environment and human well-being. Therefore, it is of great significance to investigate the occurrence, distribution and risk of antibiotics and pesticides in mariculture areas. In this study, 11 kinds of antibiotics and 12 kinds of pesticides were screened in four mariculture areas around Liaodong Peninsula in China. The pollution characteristics of pollutants were investigated in three different mariculture stages. The pollution in the reproduction stage was the most serious, indicating that mariculture may have a potential impact on the surrounding seawater. Health risk assessment results indicate that the pollutants have a significant risk to human health, therefore it is necessary to strengthen the control of chemicals used in mariculture in future. • 11 antibiotics and 12 pesticides were detected in mariculture areas around Liaodong Peninsula. • The Aps showed higher levels in reproduction period. • High risk of the Aps from the mariculture area should not be neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Evidence from the field of cognitive interventions indicates that nonpharmaceutical interventions seem more promising in enhancing cognition. The number of clinical trials that examine the cognitive benefits of combined physical exercise with cognitive intervention on older adults has recently increased. Tai Chi (TC) has been recommended as an effective and safe exercise for older adults aged 60 and over. However, there is a lack of conclusion about whether combined TC with cognitive interventions can show more benefits than a single intervention for older adults. Thus, this review aimed to evaluate the effects of combined TC and cognitive interventions on older adults.Methods: PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched for English peer-reviewed papers from inception until November 12, 2021. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers.Results: A total of 1524 records were generated and nine studies were included. The pooled results showed that combined TC and cognitive interventions showed significantly large gains on memory [standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): (0.01, 1.74), P 0.05], moderate gains on cognition [SMD = 0.74, 95% CI:(0.19, 1.29), P 0.05], and small size effects on balance. No statistically significant difference was found in executive function, depression, risk of falls, or well-being.Conclusion: Combined TC and cognitive interventions have positive effects on improving cognition and balance in older adults, but their superiority over the single intervention, as well as their additional effects on the physical and psychological function, are required further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to assort with the relationship between the urban construction and the maintenance of ecological security is a hot issue during the process of urbanization. The purpose of this study is to identify the key ecological land maintaining ecological security and to put forward some measures for environmental management. Based on the GIS technology, from the view of water security, biodiversity conservation, disaster protection, natural recreation security, and human disturbance, an integrated index is put forward to evaluate the ecological importance of regional space. Then, a GIS-based approach for evaluating ecological importance was created, with Xingguo county of China as a case study. The results show that the area of core eco-space in the study area accounts for 30% of the total area. These areas mainly consist of the core areas of regional river systems, wetlands, nature reserves, forest parks, and scenic spots and the endangered and protected zone of geological hazards. According to the spatial characteristics of ecological importance for different regions, this study proposes some zoning regulations and measures for environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Dysconnectivity hypothesis posits that schizophrenia relates to abnormalities in neuronal connectivity. However, little is known about the alterations of the interhemispheric resting-state functional connectivity (FC) in patients with paranoid schizophrenia. In the present study, we used a newly developed voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) method to investigate the interhemispheric FC of the whole brain in patients with paranoid schizophrenia at rest. Methods: Forty-nine first-episode, drug-naive patients with paranoid schizophrenia and 50 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy subjects underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. An automated VMHC approach was used to analyze the data. Results: Patients exhibited lower VMHC than healthy subjects in the precuneus (PCu), the precentral gyrus, the superior temporal gyrus (STG), the middle occipital gyrus (MOG), and the fusiform gyrus/cerebellum lobule VI. No region showed greater VMHC in the patient group than in the control group. Significantly negative correlation was observed between VMHC in the precentral gyrus and the PANSS positive/total scores, and between VMHC in the STG and the PANSS positive/negative/total scores. Conclusions: Our results suggest that interhemispheric resting-state FC of VMHC is reduced in paranoid schizophrenia with clinical implications for psychiatric symptomatology thus further contribute to the dysconnectivity hypothesis of schizophrenia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective Anatomical and functional alterations of the default-mode network (DMN) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, no study is engaged to explore whether structural and functional abnormalities of the DMN overlap in schizophrenia. This study was undertaken to examine whether anatomical and functional abnormalities are present in similar or different brain regions of the DMN in first-episode, drug-naive schizophrenia. Methods Forty-nine first-episode, drug-naive schizophrenia patients and 50 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls underwent structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning. The voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) methods were used to analyze imaging data. Results The patients exhibited significantly decreased gray matter volume (GMV) in the left medial prefrontal cortex (orbital part) and increased fALFF in the left posterior cingulate cortex compared with the controls. No overlap of brain regions with anatomical and functional abnormalities was observed in the patient group. There was also no correlation between decreased GMV/increased fALFF and clinical variables in patients. Conclusions A dissociation pattern of brain regions with anatomical and functional changes within the DMN is revealed in schizophrenia patients. Significance Our findings suggest that brain functional and anatomical abnormalities within the DMN might contribute independently to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fe doped NiSe 2 on carbon cloth (CC) catalysts were synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal method. • Ni 0.8 Fe 0.2 Se 2 /CC is evidenced by the overpotential of 257 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2, and Tafel slope of 43 mV dec−1. • Doping engineering strategy makes Ni 0.8 Fe 0.2 Se 2 /CC manifest a superb performance for OER. • Ni 0.8 Fe 0.2 Se 2 transforms into NiFe-based (oxy)hydroxides, which serves as "real" active phase. Transition metal selenides (TMSes) have attracted increasing attention for electrocatalysts due to fascinating properties, such as low cost, intrinsic metallic properties, and high catalytic activities. In addition, bimetallic selenides exhibit more excellent performance in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) process than monometallic selenides via synergistic effect. Herein, we synthesized Fe doped NiSe 2 on carbon cloth (CC) employed as electrodes for boosting OER by a facile two-step hydrothermal method. These electrodes display excellent electrocatalytic activity for OER in alkaline electrolytes, in which Ni 0.8 Fe 0.2 Se 2 /CC is evidenced by the overpotential of 257 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2, and Tafel slope of 43 mV dec−1. The synthesized three-dimensional structure with the aid of carbon cloth helps for the mass and charge transfer. Furthermore, Fe doping not only induces stronger electron interaction but tunes electronic structure, thus improving the OER performance. After a long-term OER process, Ni 0.8 Fe 0.2 Se 2 transforms into NiFe-based (oxy)hydroxides, which may serve as "real" active phase. Doping engineering strategy makes TMSes manifest a superb performance for OER and expands ways for designing effective OER electrodes. Herein, we synthesized Fe doped NiSe 2 on carbon cloth (CC) employed as electrodes for boosting OER by a facile two-step hydrothermal method. These electrodes display excellent electrocatalytic activity for OER in alkaline electrolytes, in which Ni 0.8 Fe 0.2 Se 2 /CC is evidenced by the overpotential of 257 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2, and Tafel slope of 43 mV dec−1. Fe doping not only induces stronger electron interaction but enlarges Ni3+/Ni2+ ratio, thus improving the OER performance. Ni 0.8 Fe 0.2 Se 2 transforms into NiFe-based (oxy)hydroxides, which serve as "real" active phase in OER process. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital X-ray images are the most frequent modality for both screening and diagnosis in hospitals. To facilitate subsequent analysis such as quantification and computer aided diagnosis (CAD), it is desirable to exclude image background. A marker-based watershed segmentation method was proposed to segment background of X-ray images. The method consisted of six modules: image preprocessing, gradient computation, marker extraction, watershed segmentation from markers, region merging and background extraction. One hundred clinical direct radiograph X-ray images were used to validate the method. Manual thresholding and multiscale gradient based watershed method were implemented for comparison. The proposed method yielded a dice coefficient of 0.964±0.069, which was better than that of the manual thresholding (0.937±0.119) and that of multiscale gradient based watershed method (0.942±0.098). Special means were adopted to decrease the computational cost, including getting rid of few pixels with highest grayscale via percentile, calculation of gradient magnitude through simple operations, decreasing the number of markers by appropriate thresholding, and merging regions based on simple grayscale statistics. As a result, the processing time was at most 6s even for a 3072×3072 image on a Pentium 4 PC with 2.4GHz CPU (4 cores) and 2G RAM, which was more than one time faster than that of the multiscale gradient based watershed method. The proposed method could be a potential tool for diagnosis and quantification of X-ray images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many efforts have been made for the developments of aptamers due to their wide applications for various targets. In this work, we tried to use an abasic site (AP site) that was embeded in a double-stranded DNA as a binding pocket for fisetin. With the AP site being wholly opposed and flanked by thymines (named T-T aptamer), the aptamer exhibits high binding selectivity and sensitivity for fisetin over the other flavonoids such as morin, rutin, apigenin, kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin, luteolin, baicalin, naringenin, genistein, chrysin, and galangin. Upon binding to the AP site, fisetin experiences a significant enhancement in fluorescence emisson by favoring the occurrence of its excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction. The detection limit is about 50nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Therefore, the realization for fisetin''s selective analysis is beneficial from the novel aptamer design without any fluorophore modification. Thus, the almost negligible fluorescence background from the aptamer is achieved in our method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]