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Adsorbents from Ni functionalized MCM-41 (Ni-MCM-41) were prepared for methyl blue (MB) removal from aqueous solution. The mesoporous structure of Ni-MCM-41 is confirmed by XRD technique. Surface area, pore size and wall thickness are calculated from BET equation and BJH method by nitrogen sorption technique. FT-IR studies show that Ni has been loaded on the hexagonal mesoporous structure of MCM-41. It is found that the MCM-41 structure remains unaltered after the loading of Ni, but its surface area and pore diameter decrease due to pore blockage. The effects of Ni content, adsorbent dosage, initial MB concentration, contact time, pH and temperature on adsorption were investigated. The results indicate that a much higher MB adsorption capacity is achieved by Ni-MCM-41 than MCM-41, and the optimum conditions are identified as: the MB initial concentration of 50 mg/L, 0.02 g Ni-MCM-41 with Ni content of 1 wt. % at 25 °C and pH value of 6.32. Adsorption of MB on Ni-MCM-41 can be well described by pseudo-second-order kinetics and intra-diffusion model, and equilibrium data is well fitted by Langmuir model. Thermodynamic parameters suggest that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous. The possible adsorption mechanisms might be electrostatic interactions between sulfonic acid groups of MB and the positive Si–O–Ni + of Ni-MCM-41, and π-complexation mechanism resulting from the interaction between aromatic cycles of MB and Ni functionality of Ni-MCM-41 might also be plausible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Ce/MCM-41 was prepared and used as a heterogeneous catalyst in ozonation process. [•] Ce/MCM-41 exhibited highly catalytic activity on ozonation of p-CBA in water. [•] Higher conversion rate of organic chlorine was observed in Ce/MCM-41/O3 process. [•] There was a synergetic effect between O3 and Ce/MCM-41/O3 adsorption. [•] Mechanism of p-CBA degradation and generation of hydroxyl radicals was proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] BFO enhanced control of R. mucilaginosa to Rhizopus and blue mold decay of peaches. [•] R. mucilaginosa grew in a medium with BFO reduced the natural decay of peaches. [•] BFO enhanced the growth of R. mucilaginosa in peach wounds. [•] BFO increased chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activity of R. mucilaginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Ce/SBA-15 was first used as a heterogeneous catalyst for ozonation of DMP. [•] Cerium leaching was less than 0.1mgL−1 (pH 5.7) after Ce/SBA-15 reused. [•] There was a synergetic effect for DMP mineralization in catalytic ozonation. [•] The mechanism of DMP degradation and hydroxyl radicals’ generation was suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: MCM-41and iron-substituted MCM-41 (Fe-MCM-41) were synthesized successfully and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption–desorption and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mesopores of the sample remained well ordering and of hexagonal structure. Fe-MCM-41 samples possessed high BET surface areas, high pore volumes and narrowed pore size distribution. Their catalytic activities were compared in terms of p-chlorobenzoic acid (p-CBA) and TOC removal. Ozonation catalyzed by Fe-MCM-41 exhibited extraordinarily high catalytic performance over other studied processes. 100% conversion of p-CBA and 91.3% TOC were achieved in 10min and 60min, respectively. Fe-MCM-41 as a novel heterogeneous catalyst in ozonation process was addressed. The presence of tert-butanol (TBA) inhibiting the degradation of p-CBA in the Fe-MCM-41/O3 process verified that the hydroxyl radicals derived from ozone decomposition were responsible for the improvement of catalytic ozonation. The mechanism explaining the formation of hydroxyl radicals on Fe-MCM-41 surface was proposed. Negative centers or Brönsted acid sites developed by the substitution of trivalent iron into the walls of MCM-41 and the hydroxyl groups formed as a result of coordinative unsaturation were found to be the active sites enhancing catalytic performance. The superior stability of iron ions in Fe-MCM-41 catalyst during the ozonation process was also examined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Novel mesoporous carbon has been synthesized using rod-like nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) particles as templates, sucrose as carbon precursor by polymerizing, carbonizing and the removal of templates with HCl solution. In the process, HA not only acted as an endotemplate but also an exotemplate producing micropores and mesopores. Subsequently, mesoporous carbon was modified by HNO3 solution with different concentration. The morphology, pore structure, and surface functional groups of the as-obtained samples are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance for electrochemical capacitors is evaluated in a 1M H2SO4 aqueous solution. The results manifest that the structrue of resultant carbon with a high surface area (719.7m2 g−1) and large pore volume (1.51cm3 g−1) is the replica of HA. After modification, the surface area and pore volume mesoporous carbons slightly decrease, while their electrochemical performance have been significantly improved with the increase of the capacitance from 125.7 to 170.1Fg−1 and a non-decayed cycle life over 5000 cycles for HA-C-0.15N. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cerium-doped MCM-41 (Ce-MCM-41) was prepared by a hydrothermal method and its catalytic activity for ozonation of p-chlorobenzoic acid (p-CBA) in aqueous solution was studied. For comparison, cerium-loaded MCM-41 (Ce/MCM-41) was prepared by a dipping method. Ce-MCM-41 was characterized by the low and wide angle X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectrum (UV–vis DRS). The results showed that the material retained the highly ordered mesopore structure of MCM-41 and had a surface area of 852m2 g−1. Cerium was incorporated into the framework of MCM-41, locating at tetrahedrally coordinated sites. The cerium doping content, initial pH of aqueous solution and reaction temperature played important roles in catalytic ozonation of p-CBA. Under the chosen conditions (1.39mgl−1 ozone dosage, 10mgl−1 p-CBA solution and 1gl−1 catalyst dosage), the high mineralization rate (86%) was achieved by Ce-MCM-41/O3 process at 60min reaction time, only 52% by O3 alone. The combination of Ce-MCM-41 and O3 exhibited a significant synergetic effect. Ce-MCM-41 showed the better activity and stability than cerium-loaded MCM-41(Ce/MCM-41) during catalytic ozonation of p-CBA, its cerium leaching was greatly reduced (only 0.085mgl−1) and below detection limit after being reused, compared with that of Ce/MCM-41 (0.44mgl−1) with the presence of the same theoretical cerium content. TOC removal rate slightly decreased from 86% to 81% and kept stable after Ce-MCM-41 being re-utilized two times, which illustrated that Ce-MCM-41 was a kind of promising catalyst for ozonation of p-CBA. The addition of Ce-MCM-41 significantly improved ozone decomposition into HOus solution and reduced ozone concentration in equilibrium. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mesoporous MCM-41 and Fe loaded MCM-41 (Fe/MCM-41), which were prepared by hydrothermal and dipping method respectively, were applied as heterogeneous catalysts for the ozonation of p-chlorobenzoic acid (p-CBA) in aqueous solution. MCM-41 and Fe/MCM-41 were characterized by low and wide angle XRD, atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) and N2 adsorption–desorption techniques. Due to the synergetic effect, Fe/MCM-41/O3 process significantly improves p-CBA and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency compared to ozonation alone. Under the experimental condition, TOC removal efficiency of Fe/MCM-41/O3 process is over 94.5% at 60min oxidation time, only 61.5% by MCM-41/O3 process, 62.3% by O3 alone process. Fe/MCM-41/O3 process follows apparent first-order kinetics, while ozonation alone, MCM-41/O3 and Fe2O3/O3 processes follow apparent second-order kinetics. The presence of tert-butanol (TBA) in the Fe/MCM-41/O3 process indicated that the oxidation mechanism of p-CBA occurs via liquid bulk. Fe/MCM-41 is a promising catalyst for the ozonation process of p-CBA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The catalytic activity of iron-loaded SBA-15 (Fe/SBA-15) for ozonation of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) in aqueous solution was investigated. SBA-15 was synthesized by a hydrothermal method and Fe/SBA-15 was prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation method. The materials were characterized by a low and wide angle X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption, and atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Under the chosen conditions (50mgh−1 ozone dosage, 10mgl−1 DMP solution and 0.20gl−1 catalyst dosage), Fe/SBA-15/O3 process obviously improved DMP and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency due to the generation of hydroxyl radical (HOwas approved by tert-butanol (TBA). The mineralization of DMP followed an apparent first-order kinetics. The rate constant in Fe/SBA-15/O3 was 0.0058min−1, 3.9 times higher than that of O3 alone, 3.4 and 1.9 times higher than those of SBA-15/O3 and Fe2O3/O3 processes respectively. The iron content, reaction temperature and initial pH of DMP solution played important roles in Fe/SBA-15/O3 process, while chloride ion exhibited the slight influence. The synergetic effect between O3 and Fe/SBA-15 adsorption illustrates that Fe/SBA-15 is a promising catalyst for ozonation process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The UV/O3-BAC (biological activated carbon) process was employed to treat secondary effluents and compared to the O3-BAC process. The effects of ozone dosage and empty bed contact time (EBCT) in BAC unit on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal were investigated. The results showed that the presence of UV improved ozone utilization and biodegradability of the effluent. DOC removal increased with ozone dosage and EBCT in BAC, however, 3 mg/L ozone dosage with 15 min oxidation time and 15 min EBCT in BAC were more economical and efficient. The synergetic effect in UV/O3-BAC process is more than that in O3-BAC process for DOC removal. Except for organic pollutants with MW >10,000 Da, those of other MW range were decomposed much more by UV/O3 process than by O3 process. GC/MS analysis showed dibutyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 4-bromo-3-chloroaniline and other phenol derivatives were prevalent organic pollutants found in the secondary effluent. After UV/O3 treatment, some aromatic compounds including 2,4-dichloro-benzenamine, 4-bromo-3-chloroaniline and 3,5-dimethoxy-acetophenone disappeared and some small molecules were formed, but the kinds and concentration of organic pollutants including phthalate esters were greatly reduced by the subsequent BAC unit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Granular activated carbon (AC)/O3-biological activated carbon (BAC) process was employed to treat raw water and compared to O3-BAC process in its optimum parameters (3mg/L ozone dosage with 15min oxidation time and 15min empty bed contact time in BAC). The results showed that the presence of AC improved ozone utilization and biodegradability of the effluent. For dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal, AC/O3-BAC was more efficient than O3-BAC and its synergetic effect could be noticed. It was showed that small molecules with molecular weight (MW)<3kDa predominated in the raw water accounting for more than 56% DOC, and their amount increased after oxidation, accounting for more than 64% DOC. Except for organic pollutants with MW>10kDa, those of other MW range were decomposed better by AC/O3 process than by O3 process alone. GC/MS analysis showed that AC/O3-BAC process was effective in removing phthalate esters (PAEs) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). PAEs’ removal ratio reached more than 93% and reduced with the increase of the length of the alkyl side chains and the alkyl branch chains. POPs-polybromobiphenyls’ removal reached more than 94% except for 2,2′,4,5′,6-pentabromophenyl and decreased with the substitutional bromines increase except for 2,2′,5,5′-tetrabromobiphenyl, which could be completely removed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tip-decorated ZnO/Bi 2 S 3 photoelectrode was synthesized on a FTO substrate from chemical bath deposition and electrochemical deposition to investigate the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). XRD, SEM, UV–vis and PL techniques were employed to evaluated the crystal structure, surface morphology, light absorbance properties and efficiency of carriers' separation of the obtained electrode, respectively. The ZnO/Bi 2 S 3 photoelectrode yielded a photocurrent density of 15.3 mA/cm2 upon ultraviolet and visible light irradiation, which was 6.6 and 10.9 times that of the original ZnO and Bi 2 S 3 , respectively. The enhanced photoelectrochemical properties is due to the improved light absorption of Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles and accelerated electron‐transfer pathway of ZnO nanorods. The stability of the photoelectrode was evaluated by recycling degradation experiments for 3 times. The intermediates of TBBPA degradation were also identified and a possible pathway was proposed. • Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles were covered on the tips of ZnO nanorods by electrochemical deposition. • ZnO/Bi 2 S 3 composite film yielded a photocurrent density of 15.3 mA/cm2 with promoting photocarriers separation. • ZnO/Bi 2 S 3 composite film degraded 71.9% of Tetrabromobisphenol A in 30 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenoid hypertrophy can lead to adenoidal mouth breathing, which can result in "adenoid face" and, in severe cases, can even lead to respiratory tract obstruction. The Fujioka ratio method, which calculates the ratio of adenoid (A) to nasopharyngeal (N) space in an adenoidal-cephalogram (A/N), is a well-recognized and effective technique for detecting adenoid hypertrophy. However, this process is time-consuming and relies on personal experience, so a fully automated and standardized method needs to be designed. Most of the current deep learning-based methods for automatic diagnosis of adenoids are CNN-based methods, which are more sensitive to features similar to adenoids in lateral views and can affect the final localization results. In this study, we designed a local attention-based method for automatic diagnosis of adenoids, which takes AdeBlock as the basic module, fuses the spatial and channel information of adenoids through two-branch local attention computation, and combines the downsampling method without losing spatial information. Our method achieved mean squared error (MSE) 0.0023, mean radial error (MRE) 1.91, and SD (standard deviation) 7.64 on the three hospital datasets, outperforming other comparative methods., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Objective: This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the development of low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) following anus-preserving surgery for rectal cancer, and to assess the impact of a rapid rehabilitation surgical nursing intervention on patient outcomes. LARS is a significant issue for patients undergoing these surgeries, as it can severely impact quality of life. Understanding the risk factors for LARS is crucial to develop targeted interventions to improve post-operative recovery., Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 78 rectal cancer patients who underwent anus-preserving radical resection. The occurrence of LARS was assessed using the LARS score scale. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors that may affect the development of LARS, including distance of the anastomosis from the anal verge, preoperative chemoradiotherapy, and postoperative anastomotic leakage. Additionally, the study compared outcomes between two patient groups - a control group receiving routine surgical nursing care, and an experimental group receiving a rapid rehabilitation surgical nursing intervention. This intervention included preoperative patient education, optimized anesthesia and surgical techniques, and intensive postoperative rehabilitation. Key outcomes measured included time to first flatus, time to first defecation, duration of pain-free days, length of hospital stay, and total hospitalization costs., Results: The univariate regression analysis showed that the distance from the anastomosis to the anal verge (OR=4.364, P < .001, 95% CI 2.732-7.257), preoperative chemoradiotherapy (OR=9.135, P = .004, 95% CI 1.963-40.316), and postoperative anastomotic leakage (OR=2.636, P < .001, 95% CI 1.641-4.245) were significant risk factors for the development of LARS. The multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that a shorter distance between the anastomosis and anal margin, preoperative radiotherapy, and postoperative anastomotic leakage were independent predictors of LARS (all P < .05). Comparison of the two patient groups showed that the rapid rehabilitation surgical nursing intervention had a significant positive impact. Patients in the experimental group (group E) had a significantly shorter time to first exhaust (62.19±7.43 minutes vs. 96.18±10.62 minutes in group C, P < .001) and first defecation (85.26±8.41 minutes vs. 130.26±12.38 minutes in group C, P < .001). Group E also experienced a longer duration of 0 pain score days (3.57±0.72 days vs. 5.42±1.05 days in group C, P < .001), shorter hospital stays (10.15±2.05 days vs. 15.33±1.23 days in group C, P < .001), and lower total hospitalization costs (31.80±3.70 thousand Yuan vs. 42.80±5.60 thousand Yuan in group C, P < .001)., Conclusion: This study identified the distance between the anastomosis and anal margin, preoperative radiotherapy, and postoperative anastomotic leakage as independent risk factors for the development of LARS in patients undergoing anus-preserving surgery for rectal cancer. These findings can inform preoperative risk assessment and guide surgical planning to mitigate the risk of LARS. Patients identified as high-risk may benefit from more intensive preoperative counseling and targeted nursing interventions to optimize postoperative bowel function. Notably, the rapid rehabilitation surgical nursing intervention demonstrated significant benefits in accelerating patient recovery, reducing complications, and lowering overall healthcare utilization. This comprehensive nursing approach, encompassing preoperative education, optimized perioperative management, and intensive postoperative rehabilitation, offers a promising model to improve standards of care for rectal cancer patients undergoing anus-preserving surgeries. Widespread adoption of such targeted nursing interventions has the potential to enhance patient outcomes, quality of life, and healthcare resource efficiency in this patient population.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), with the strong toxicity and carcinogenicity, has been reported to great toxicity to the liver and other organs of animals. It cause huge economic losses to breeding industry, including the aquaculture industry. Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis), as one of important species of freshwater aquaculture in China, are deeply disturbed by it. However, the molecular and metabolic mechanisms of hepatopancreas and ovary in crabs underlying coping ability are still unclear. Hence, we conducted targeted injection experiment with or without AFB1, and comprehensively analyzed transcriptome and metabolomics of hepatopancreas and ovary. As a result, 210 and 250 DEGs were identified in the L-C vs. L-30 m and L-C vs. L-60 m comparison, among which 14 common DEGs were related to six major functional categories, including antibacterial and detoxification, ATP energy reaction, redox reaction, nerve reaction, liver injury repair and immune reaction. A total of 228 and 401 DAMs in the ML-C vs. ML-30 m and ML-C vs. ML-60 m comparison both enriched 12 pathways, with clear functions of cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, purine metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, ABC transporters and tryptophan metabolism. Integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptome in hepatopancreas discovered three Co-enriched pathways, including steroid biosynthesis, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and sphingolipid metabolism. In summary, the expression levels and functions of related genes and metabolites reveal the regulatory mechanism of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) adaptability to the Aflatoxin B1, and the findings contribute to a new perspective for understanding Aflatoxin B1 and provide some ideas for dealing with it., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Yang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

In this study, the catalytic activity of bifunctional SiO 2 /Zr catalysts prepared by template and chelate methods using potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHF) for crude palm oil (CPO) hydrocracking to biofuels was investigated. The parent catalyst was successfully prepared by the sol-gel method, followed by the impregnation of zirconium using ZrOCl 2 ·8H 2 O as a precursor. The morphological, structural, and textural properties of the catalysts were examined using several techniques, including electron microscopy energy-dispersive X-ray with mapping, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, particle size analyzer (PSA), N 2 adsorption-desorption, Fourier transform infrared-pyridine, and total and surface acidity analysis using the gravimetric method. The results showed that the physicochemical properties of SiO 2 /Zr were affected by different preparation methods. The template method assisted by KHF (SiO 2 /Zr-KHF2 and SiO 2 -KHF catalysts) provides a porous structure and high catalyst acidity. The catalyst prepared by the chelate method assisted by KHF (SiO 2 /Zr-KHF1) exhibited excellent Zr dispersion toward the SiO 2 surface. The modification remarkably enhanced the catalytic activity of the parent catalyst in the order SiO 2 /Zr-KHF2 > SiO 2 /Zr-KHF1 > SiO 2 /Zr > SiO 2 -KHF > SiO 2 , with sufficient CPO conversion. The modified catalysts also suppressed coke formation and resulted in a high liquid yield. The catalyst features of SiO 2 /Zr-KHF1 promoted high-selectivity biofuel toward biogasoline, whereas SiO 2 /Zr-KHF2 led to an increase in the selectivity toward biojet. Reusability studies showed that the prepared catalysts were adequately stable over three consecutive runs for CPO conversion. Overall, SiO 2 /Zr prepared by the template method assisted by KHF was chosen as the most prominent catalyst for CPO hydrocracking., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

In this study, we summarize recent advances in the synthesis of magnetic catalysts utilized for biodiesel production, particularly focusing on the physicochemical properties, activity, and reusability of magnetic mixed metal oxides, supported magnetic catalysts, ionic acid-functionalized magnetic catalysts, heteropolyacid-based magnetic catalysts, and metal-organic framework-based magnetic catalysts. The prevailing reaction conditions in the production of biodiesel are also discussed. Lastly, the current limitations and challenges for future research needs in the magnetic catalyst field are presented., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Zhang, Li, Wang, Jin, Zhang, Cheng and Zhang.)

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have widespread application prospects in the field of catalysis owing to their functionally adjustable metal sites and adjustable structure. In this minireview, we summarize the current advancements in zirconium-based metal-organic framework (Zr-based MOF) catalysts (including single Zr-based MOFs, modified Zr-based MOFs, and Zr-based MOF derivatives) for green biofuel synthesis. Additionally, the yields, conversions, and reusability of Zr-based MOF catalysts for the production of biodiesel are compared. Finally, the challenges and future prospects regarding Zr-based MOFs and their derivatives for catalytic application in the biorefinery field are highlighted.

Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation has emerged as an effective alternative for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), but ablation lesions will result in swelling and hematoma of local surrounding tissue, triggering inflammatory cell infiltration and increased release of inflammatory cytokines. Some studies have shown that the inflammatory response may be related to the early occurrence of AF. The most direct way to inhibit perioperative inflammation is to use anti-inflammatory drugs such as glucocorticoids. Here, we prepared polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with budesonide (BUD) and delivered them through irrigation of saline during the onset of ablation. Local high temperature promoted local rupture of PLGA nanoparticles, releasing BUD, and produced a timely and effective local myocardial anti-inflammatory effect, resulting in the reduction of acute hematoma and inflammatory cell infiltration and the enhancement of ablation effect. Nanoparticles would also infiltrate into the local myocardium and gradually release BUD ingredients to produce a continuous anti-inflammatory effect in the next few days. This resulted in a decrease in the level of inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and an increase of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. This study explored an extraordinary drug delivery strategy to reduce ablation-related inflammation, which may prevent early recurrence of AF., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Ye Liu et al.)

The persistence of antibiotics in sewage treatment plants in recent years has become a serious problem. Meanwhile, humic acid and ammonia nitrogen are widely distributed in natural reservoirs and might influence the sorption, migration and transformation of antibiotics. In this study, natural zeolite (NZ) was evaluated as an adsorbent for the removal of levofloxacin (LEV). The physical and chemical properties of NZ before and after adsorption were characterized by various analytical techniques to develop the mechanism. The effects of ammonia nitrogen and humic acid (HA) on the interfacial behavior of LEV on NZ were explored. Comparative experiments revealed that LEV adsorption on NZ involved electrostatic interactions and ion exchange, and the adsorption processes were well fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudosecond-order kinetic model. The maximum experimental adsorption capacity of LEV was 22.17 mg·g -1 at pH 6.5. The presence of ammonia nitrogen and HA significantly suppressed the adsorption of LEV due to competitive adsorption, and the adsorption capacity decreased 58 and 46%, respectively. It is obvious that low concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and HA are conducive to improving the treatment effect of sewage. This study demonstrates that NZ is a promising and efficient material for LEV adsorption.

Background: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a critical disease with a high fatality rate. Immune dysfunction and inflammatory responses are key risk factors in ACLF. Pyroptosis is a form of programmed cell death characterized by the release of inflammatory cytokines, which causes the strong inflammatory responses. High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) could induce pyroptosis and is closely related to ACLF. However, the role of HMGB1-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis in ACLF has never been proposed; whether HMGB1-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis participates in the development of ACLF and the mechanisms involved are barely understood., Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the roles of HMGB1-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis in ACLF and the molecular mechanisms involved., Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, viz.: Normal, ACLF model, HMGB1 inhibitor, Caspase-1 inhibitor, and HMGB1 inhibitor+Caspase-1 inhibitor groups. The ACLF rat model was established using 40% carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis, followed by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide joint acute attacks. The liver function, coagulation function and pathological damage of rats in each group were evaluated. The biological mechanisms of HMGB1-induced pyroptosis and the release of inflammatory cytokines were investigated using Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay., Results: The liver function and coagulation function of ACLF rats were seriously impaired; liver tissue showed massive or submassive necrosis, accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration; the percentage of pyroptotic hepatocytes significantly increased, and a large number of inflammatory cytokines were released. The expression levels of pyroptosis-related genes and proteins in liver tissues and serum significantly increased. But these phenomenons were improved by the inhibition of HMGB1, and the dual inhibition of HMGB1 and Caspase-1 showed a stronger effect., Conclusion: The findings indicate, for the first time, that pyroptosis is a crucial pathophysiological event of ACLF involved in its pathogenesis, and HMGB1-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis expands inflammatory responses to aggravate ACLF, suggesting that it may be a potential therapeutic target for ACLF treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest in relation to this work., (© 2021 Hou et al.)

Biomass, the only globally available, renewable feedstock of organic carbon, is considered a viable alternative to fossil fuels. It can be efficiently utilized to produce various building blocks in accordance with green and sustainable chemistry principles. In this review, recent progress, such as the transformation of carbohydrates (C5 or C6 sugar, inulin, and cellulose) and their derivatives (furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural) into significant platform chemicals over polyoxometalates, zeolites, non-noble metals, and ionic liquids in single or multiphase, is evaluated., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Liu, Yu, Yang, Zhang, Wu and Li.)

Background: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a severe, complicated human disease. E2F1-mediated apoptosis plays an important role in ACLF development. Jieduan-Niwan (JDNW) formula, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has shown remarkable clinical efficacy in ACLF treatment. However, the hepatoprotective mechanisms of the formula are barely understood., Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of JDNW formula in ACLF treatment by specifically regulating E2F1-mediated apoptotic signaling pathways in rats., Methods: The JDNW components were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The ACLF rat model was established using human serum albumin immune-induced liver cirrhosis, followed by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide joint acute attacks. The ACLF rat was treated with JDNW formula. Prothrombin time activity was measured to investigate the coagulation function. Liver pathological injury was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and reticular fiber staining. The hepatocyte apoptosis index and apoptosis rate were determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Additionally, the expression of key genes and proteins that regulate E2F1-mediated apoptosis was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot., Results: Seven major components of JDNW formula were detected. The formula ameliorated the coagulation function, decreased the hepatocyte apoptosis index and apoptosis rate, and alleviated liver pathological damage in ACLF rats. The down-regulation of the expression of genes and proteins from p53-dependent and non-p53-dependent apoptosis pathways and the up-regulation of the expression of genes from blocking anti-apoptotic signaling pathways indicated that JDNW formula inhibited excessive hepatocyte apoptosis in ACLF rats via E2F1-mediated apoptosis signaling pathways., Conclusion: The findings indicate that JDNW formula protects livers of ACLF rats by inhibiting E2F1-mediated apoptotic signaling pathways, implying that these pathways might be a potential therapeutic target for ACLF treatment., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in relation to this work., (© 2021 Hou et al.)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most prevalent liver disease in China. Sinisan (SNS) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been widely used in treating chronic liver diseases, including NAFLD. However, its underlying biological mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we employed a network pharmacology approach consisting of overlapped terms- (genes or pathway terms-) based analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network-based analysis, and PPI clusters identification. Unlike the previous network pharmacology study, we used the shortest path length-based network proximity algorithm to evaluate the efficacy of SNS against NAFLD. And we also used random walk with restart (RWR) algorithm and Community Cluster (Glay) algorithm to identify important targets and clusters. The screening results showed that the mean shortest path length between genes of SNS and NAFLD was significantly smaller than degree-matched random ones. Six PPI clusters were identified and ten hub targets were obtained, including STAT3, CTNNB1, MAPK1, MAPK3, AGT, NQO1, TOP2A, FDFT1, ALDH4A1, and KCNH2. The experimental study indicated that SNS reduced hyperlipidemia, liver steatosis, and inflammation. Most importantly, JAK2/STAT3 signal was inhibited by SNS treatment and was recognized as the most important signal considering the network pharmacology part. This study provides a systems perspective to study the relationship between Chinese medicines and diseases and helps to discover potential mechanisms by which SNS ameliorates NAFLD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wei, Hou, Liang, Fang, Dou, Wang, Sai, Xu, Ma, Zhang, Cheng, Wang and Wang.)

Metal-modified adsorbent had appreciable adsorption capacity and fast rate toward norfloxacin (NOR), but limited studies focused on the influence of metal species on adsorbents' performance. In this study, Fe and Cu were chosen to be loaded on mesoporous silicon SBA-15 for absorbing NOR and investigating the key function of metal species. An obvious synergy effect was found between active species and supporter. A high adsorption capacity (44.8 mg g -1 for Fe/SBA-15 and 78.3 mg g -1 for Cu/SBA-15) and short equilibration time (< 2 h) were obtained. NOR adsorptions on two processes were described well by pseudo-second-order kinetics, particle diffusion equation, and Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption processes were spontaneous, but NOR adsorption on Cu/SBA-15 was endothermic while its adsorption on Fe/SBA-15 was exothermic. HA had dual effect on the adsorption efficiency, with a promotion at low HA concentration but an inhibition at high concentration. NOR removal increased first and then decreased with pH ascension from 3 to 9 for both Fe/SBA-15 and Cu/SBA-15, achieving maximum at pH = 7. Comparative characterizations and experiments suggested that NOR adsorption processes were dominated by electrostatic interactions, n-π EDA interactions, hydrogen bonds, and surface complex. The greater n-π EDA and complex efficiency of Cu with NOR resulted in the superior performance of Cu/SBA-15. Graphical abstract.

Doping heteroatom in phosphor can effectively improve luminescent properties, which has attracted great attention recently. GdAlO3 phosphors (GAP) doped with Er 3+ /Yb 3+ /Tm 3+ were prepared via the co-precipitation method. Upon 980 nm excitation, strong blue, green, and red up-conversion (UC) emissions centered at 476, 524, 546, and 659 nm were observed, which could be successfully combined to form pure white light. It was found that changing the doping concentration of Er 3+ and Yb 3+ ions, the calcination temperature of the precursor, the laser power of the excitation light source, and doping Li+ could systematically adjust red/green/blue colors of GdAlO3:Er3+/Yb3+/Tm3+ phosphors to optimize the white emitting luminescence. When the Er3+ doping concentration of the phosphors increased, each color distribution successfully moved, making the maximum shift of the CIE coordinate. Finally, the influence of each factor on adjusting the UC white light performance and its mechanism were explored., (Copyright © 2020 Deng, Jiang and Zhang.)

The transcriptomic response of green microalga Chlorella sorokiniana exposure to environmentally relevant concentration of cadmium(II) (Cd) and 4-n-nonylphenol (4-n-NP) was compared in the present study. Cd and 4-n-NP exposure showed a similar pattern of dys-regulated pathways. The photosystem was affected due to suppression of chlorophyll biosynthesis via down-regulation of Mg-protoporphyrin IX chelatase subunit ChlD (CHLD) and divinyl chlorophyllide a 8-vinyl-reductase (DVR) in Cd group and via down-regulation of DVR in 4-n-NP group. Furthermore, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) could be induced through down-regulation of solanesyl diphosphate synthase 1 (SPS1) and homogentisate phytyltransferase (HPT) in Cd group and via down-regulation of HPT in 4-n-NP group. Additionally, Cd and 4-n-NP would both cause the dys-regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and protein synthesis. On the other hand, there are some different responses or detoxification mechanism of C. sorokiniana to 4-n-NP stress compared to Cd exposure. The increased ROS would cause the DNA damage and protein destruction in Cd exposure group. Simultaneously, the RNA transcription was dys-regulated and a series of changes in gene expressions were observed. This included lipid metabolism, protein modification, and DNA repair, which involved in response of C. sorokiniana to Cd stress or detoxification of Cd. For 4-n-NP exposure, no effect on lipid metabolism and DNA repair was observed. The nucleotide metabolism including pyrimidine metabolism and purine metabolism was significantly up-regulated in the 4-n-NP exposure group, but not in the Cd exposure group. In addition, 4-n-NP would induce the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and proteasomal degradation to diminish the misfolded protein caused by ROS and down-regulation of heat shocking protein 40. In sum, the Cd and 4-n-NP could cause the same toxicological effects via the common pathways and possess similar detoxification mechanism. They also showed different responses in nucleotide metabolism, lipid metabolism, and DNA repair.

Background: Aroma is an important organoleptic quality for fruit and has a large influence on consumer preference. Kiwifruit esters undergo rapid and substantial changes contributing to the flavor during fruit ripening. Part of enzymes and their coding genes have been indicated potential candidates for flavor-related esters synthesis. However, there still exist obvious gaps in the biosynthetic pathways of esters and the mechanisms regulating ester biosynthesis in kiwifruit remain unknown., Results: Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), volatile compounds of kiwifruit were quantified in response to ethylene (ETH, 100 μl/l, 24 h, 20 °C) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, 1 μl/l, 24 h, 20 °C). The results indicated that esters showed the most substantial changes enhanced by ethylene and were inhibited by 1-MCP. Correlations between RNA-seq results and concentrations of esters, constructed using Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) indicated that three structural genes (fatty acid desaturase, AdFAD1; aldehyde dehydrogenase, AdALDH2; alcohol acyltransferase, AdAT17) had similar expression patterns that paralled the changes in total ester content, and AdFAD1 transcripts exhibited the highest correlation. In order to search for potential regulators for ester biosynthesis, 14 previously reported ethylene-responsive transcription factors (TFs) were included in the correlation analysis with esters and their biosynthetic genes. Using dual-luciferase assay, the in vivo regulatory activities of TFs on ester biosynthetic gene promoters were investigated and the results indicated that AdNAC5 and AdDof4 (DNA binding with one finger) trans-activated and trans-suppressed the AdFAD1 promoter., Conclusions: The present study advanced the molecular basis of ripening-related ester biosynthesis in kiwifruit by identifying three biosynthetic related genes AdFAD1, AdALDH2 and AdAT17 by transcriptome analysis, and highlighted the function of two TFs by transactivation studies.

Background: Taste and aroma, which are important organoleptic qualities of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) fruit, undergo rapid and substantial changes during ripening. However, the associated molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The goal of this study was to identify candidate genes for flavor compound metabolism and to construct a regulatory transcriptional network., Results: We characterized the transcriptome of the 'Jianali' apricot cultivar, which exhibits substantial changes in flavor during ripening, at 50 (turning), 73 (commercial maturation) and 91 (full ripe) days post anthesis (DPA) using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that four of 19 modules correlated highly with flavor compound metabolism (P < 0.001). From them, we identified 1237 differentially expressed genes, with 16 intramodular hubs. A proposed pathway model for flavor compound biosynthesis is presented based on these genes. Two SUS1 genes, as well as SPS2 and INV1 were correlated with sugar biosynthesis, while NADP-ME4, two PK-like and mitochondrial energy metabolism exerted a noticeable effect on organic acid metabolism. CCD1 and FAD2 were identified as being involved in apocarotenoid aroma volatiles and lactone biosynthesis, respectively. Five sugar transporters (Sweet10, STP13, EDR6, STP5.1, STP5.2), one aluminum-activated malate transporter (ALMT9) and one ABCG transporter (ABCG11) were associated with the transport of sugars, organic acids and volatiles, respectively. Sixteen transcription factors were also highlighted that may also play regulatory roles in flavor quality development., Conclusions: Apricot RNA-Seq data were obtained and used to generate an annotated set of predicted expressed genes, providing a platform for functional genomic research. Using network analysis and pathway mapping, putative molecular mechanisms for changes in apricot fruit taste and aroma during ripening were elucidated.

There is limited study to simultaneously determine the relative bioavailability of heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr(VI), and Ni in soil samples. In the present study, the bioaccessibility of heavy metals using in vitro assay was compared with the relative bioavailability of heavy metals using in vivo mouse model. The bioaccessibility of heavy metals ranged from 9.05 ± 0.97 % (Cr) to 42.8 ± 3.52 % (Cd). The uptake profile of heavy metals in soil and solution samples in mouse revealed that the uptake kinetics could be fitted to a two-compartment model. The relative bioavailability of heavy meals ranged from 34.8 ± 7.0 % (Ni) to 131 ± 20.3 % (Cu). Poor correlation between bioaccessibility and relative bioavailability of heavy metals was observed (r (2) = 0.11, p > 0.05). The relative bioavailability of heavy metals was significantly higher than the bioaccessibility of heavy metals (p < 0.05). The present study indicated that the in vitro digestion method should be carefully employed in risk assessment.

The composition and content of sugars, organic acids, volatiles and carotenoids, in the pulps of six grapefruit cultivars, were examined by HPLC and GC-MS. The results showed that sucrose was the dominant sugar in grapefruit, making up 40.08-59.68% of the total sugars, and the ratio of fructose to glucose was almost 1:1. Citric acid was the major organic acid and represented 39.10-63.55% of the total organic acids, followed by quininic acid. The ratios of individual sugars and organic acids play an important role in grapefruit taste determination. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were the predominant volatiles in grapefruit, in particular d-limonene and caryophyllene. Caryophyllene, α-humulene, humulen-(v1), β-linalool and tert-butyl 2-methylpropanoate are the characteristic aroma compounds of grapefruit. Although β-carotene is the primary carotenoid in grapefruit, the pulp color is mainly determined by the ratios of zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene. Our results provide the first complete chemical characterization of the taste, aroma and color of grapefruit., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We quantified the levels of polyphenols, carotenoids and polysaccharides in fruits of the eight Chinese native goji genotypes, antioxidant activities of these fruit extracts were also evaluated by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. Quercetin-rhamno-di-hexoside (435-1065 μg/g) and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (159-629 μg/g) were found to be the predominant flavonoids. Chlorogenic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid (113-526 μg/g), while zeaxanthin (17-9306 μg/g) was the major carotenoid. The total antioxidant activities (TAA) of the berry extracts were significantly correlated with the total polysaccharide and phenolic contents, but not with total carotenoid (TC) levels. Overall, fruits of the Ningxia goji (Lycium barbarum L.) genotypes, DM (Damaye), NJ1 (Ningji No.1), BH (Baihua) and NH (Ningxiahuangguo) were not only rich in polyphenols, carotenoids and polysaccharides, but had significantly higher TAA than those of the other genotypes, suggesting that they represent an excellent source of antioxidants for human nutrition., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Three-dimensional (3D) titanates hierarchical macro/nano-architectures constructed by one-dimensional (1D) nanobelts are successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal-calcining process using metal Ti particles as a precursor. Their morphology and structure are characterized, and their photocatalytic reactivity to tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) is evaluated under visible-light irradiation. The results show that the 1D nanobelts are formed through hydrothermal reaction, and then those 1D nanobelts encircle the metal Ti particles precursor to form 3D macro/nano-architectures. The products with different phase composition, from hydrated titanium oxides to sodium titanates, are obtained by increasing the post-calcining temperatures from 200 degrees C to 800 degrees C. The photocatalytic degradation of TC is observed for all samples under visible-light irradiation, and the sample calcined at 600 degrees C achieves the best photocatalytic reactivity. The visible-light performance of as-synthesized catalysts is considered as a charge-transfer mechanism initiated by the photoexcitation of the surface-complex between TC molecules and titanates, and then followed by the photosensitization mechanism. Two intermediates are identified in the photodegradation process using liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. In addition, the as-synthesized titanates are stable and can be used repeatedly, showing their promising prospect in the practical applications.