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Bismuth-based photocatalytic materials have been widely used in the field of photocatalysis in recent years due to their unique layered structure. However, single bismuth-based photocatalytic materials are greatly limited in their photocatalytic performance due to their poor response to visible light and easy recombination of photogenerated charges. At present, constructing semiconductor heterojunctions is an effective modification method that improves quantum efficiency by promoting the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. In this study, the successful preparation of an In2O3/Bi2WO6 (In2O3/BWO) II-type semiconductor heterojunction composite material was achieved. XRD characterization was performed to conduct a phase analysis of the samples, SEM and TEM characterization for a morphology analysis of the samples, and DRS and XPS testing for optical property and elemental valence state analyses of the samples. In the II-type semiconductor junction system, photogenerated electrons (e−) on the In2O3 conduction band (CB) migrate to the BWO CB, while holes (h+) on the BWO valence band (VB) transfer to the In2O3 VB, promoting the separation of photoinduced charges, raising the quantum efficiency. When the molar ratio of In2O3/BWO is 2:6, the photocatalytic degradation degree of rhodamine B (RhB) is 59.4% (44.0% for BWO) after 60 min illumination, showing the best photocatalytic activity. After four cycles, the degradation degree of the sample was 54.3%, which is 91.4% of that of the first photocatalytic degradation experiment, indicating that the sample has good reusability. The XRD results of 2:6 In2O3/BWO before and after the cyclic experiments show that the positions and intensities of its diffraction peaks did not change significantly, indicating excellent structural stability. The active species experiment results imply that h+ is the primary species. Additionally, this study proposes a mechanism for the separation, migration, and photocatalysis of photoinduced charges in II-type semiconductor junctions.

Safety monitoring of hydraulic structures is a critical task in the field of hydraulic engineering construction. This study developed a method for preprocessing and classifying monitoring data for the identification of gross errors in hydraulic structures. By utilizing linear regression and wavelet analysis techniques, it effectively differentiated various waveform characteristics in data sets, such as Sinusoidal Wave Cyclical, Triangular Wave Cyclical, Seasonal Cyclical, and Weakly Cyclical growth types. In the experiments for gross error identification, the 3σ algorithm, K-medoids algorithm, and Isolation Forest algorithm were applied to test the data. The results showed that the K-medoids algorithm excelled in processing Sinusoidal Wave Cyclical Data Sets; the 3σ algorithm adapted better to Triangular Wave Cyclical Data Sets; the Isolation Forest algorithm performed well in handling data sets with significant anomalies or atypical fluctuations and excelled in scenarios with strong seasonality and large data fluctuations; and for complex Weakly Cyclical Growth Data Sets, all three algorithms were less effective, indicating the potential need for more advanced analysis methods or a combination of multiple techniques. Testing on actual engineering data further confirmed the importance of using specific gross error identification techniques for special data types after data set pre-classification, providing a more effective technical solution for the safety monitoring of hydraulic structures.

Green space improves outdoor thermal comfort and promotes the residents’ physical and mental health. Currently, many cities are using green volume indicators to evaluate the quality of residential green space and to help form the latest evaluation standards. However, from the perspective of plant green volume, the impact of green space structures on thermal mitigation has not been emphasized. Furthermore, the cost of green space will change with the green space structures. Therefore, we evaluate the impact of changes in green space structures on thermal mitigation and costs from the perspective of plant green volume and aim to find suitable allocations of plant green volume, which balance thermal mitigation with cost savings. This study analyzed the regional climate and residential green space structures. Then, we discussed the relationship between thermal mitigation and the costs of different structures. The analytical results indicated that thermal comfort improves as the green volume of trees increases, with costs also increasing. Where the green volume exceeds 70%, no “extreme heat stress” moments occur for the whole day. When the green volume of trees increases from 20% to 60%, the thermal mitigation is 3.62 °C. However, the mitigation is only 1.74 °C when the green volume increases from 60% to 100%, which is less than half of the former, numerically. This study suggests that the green volume of trees in residential green spaces should be controlled at 60%–70% and the corresponding green volume of shrubs should be 30%–40%. This study rationally balances the thermal mitigation and costs of residential green space, which will directly guide residential green space planning in real situations.

The rapid growth of the horticultural industry has increased demand for soilless cultivation substrates. Peat, valued for its physical and chemical properties, is widely used in soilless cultivation. However, peat is non-renewable, and over-extraction poses serious ecological risks. Therefore, sustainable alternatives are urgently needed. Ammonium incubation, a novel method to reduce phytotoxicity, offers the potential for green waste, a significant organic solid waste resource, to substitute peat. This study optimized the ammonium incubation process to reduce green waste phytotoxicity. It systematically examined different nitrogen salts (type and amount) and environmental conditions (temperature, aeration, duration) affecting detoxification efficiency. Results show a significant reduction in phytotoxicity with ammonium bicarbonate, carbonate, and sulfate, especially carbonate, at 1.5%. Optimal conditions were 30 °C for 5 days with regular aeration. Under these conditions, ammonium salt-treated green waste significantly reduced total phenolic content and stabilized germination index (GI) at a non-phytotoxic level (127%). Using treated green waste as a partial peat substitute in lettuce cultivation showed promising results. This low-cost, low-energy method effectively converts green waste into sustainable peat alternatives, promoting eco-friendly horticulture and environmental conservation.

Every year, approximately 2 billion tons of plant-derived waste (such as straw and crop residues) are generated globally, most of which are either incinerated, dumped, or landfilled without proper planning, leading to severe environmental pollution and resource wastage. Plant-derived waste exhibits potential advantages as a growing media component in various aspects. However, numerous studies have also indicated that plant-derived waste generally possesses strong phytotoxicity, which must be removed or reduced before being utilized as a growing media component. Therefore, accurately assessing their phytotoxicity and appropriately modifying it to ensure their support for plant growth when used as a growing media component is crucial. This paper reviews the manifestation and assessment methods of phytotoxicity in plant-derived waste; systematically summarizes the phytotoxicity sources of three common types of plant-derived waste (garden waste, crop straw, and spent mushroom substrate), as well as the toxic mechanisms of two representative phytotoxic substances (phenolic compounds and organic acids); and proposes some insights into further research directions. By consolidating insights from these studies, this review aims to deepen our understanding of phytotoxicity and its implications, and offer valuable references and guidance for future research endeavors and practical applications.

Peat-based substrates have been widely used in greenhouse vegetable production (GVP). However, peat is a non-renewable resource, and there is a problem with N2O emissions when it is used in greenhouse vegetable production due to the application of large quantities of nutrient solutions. Sphagnum (SP) is a precursor substance and a renewable resource for peat formation, and it has good physical and chemical properties. However, there has been no study on the effect of using sphagnum to replace peat in greenhouse vegetable production on N2O emissions. Therefore, this study used a peat substrate as the control treatment (CK), with sphagnum replacing peat at 25% (25SP), 50% (50SP), 75% (75SP), and 100% (100SP) in six treatment groups. Moreover, lettuce was used as the experimental subject in potting experiments, and the physicochemical properties, N2O emissions, N2O isotope δ value, and N2O-related microbial activity and community structures were determined using different treatments. Compared with the CK treatment, the 25SP treatment significantly reduced N2O emissions by 55.35%, while the 75SP treatment significantly increased N2O emissions by 67.76%. The 25SP treatment reduced N2O to N2 to the highest extent and demonstrated the lowest contribution of fungal denitrification (FD) and bacterial nitrification (BN) processes, thereby resulting in lower N2O emissions. In contrast, NH4+ and NO3− were the main substrates for N2O emissions; the 75SP treatment had higher NH4+ and NO3− contents and a lower relative abundance of the nosZ gene, thereby resulting in higher N2O emissions. In addition, N2O production and reduction were dominated by bacterial denitrification for all treatments. Thus, this study analyzed the community composition of denitrifying bacterial genera and their association with physicochemical properties. The results indicated that the dominant denitrifying genus in the peat substrate was Rhodanobacter and that sphagnum replacement reduced the relative abundance of Rhodanobacter. The dominant genus was Massilia at 100% sphagnum replacement. More importantly, Rhodanobacter was correlated with C/N and electrical conductivity (EC), whereas Massilia was affected by NH4+ and the water-filled pore space (WFPS). Therefore, different denitrification-dominant genera were affected by different environmental factors, which indirectly affected N2O emission. In summary, the 25SP treatment was able to improve nitrogen use efficiency and had no significant effect on lettuce yield. Therefore, 25% sphagnum replacement is the most suitable percentage for peat replacement.

Adsorptive atmospheric water harvesting systems (AWHs) represent an innovative approach to collecting freshwater resources from the atmosphere, with a hygroscopic agent at their core. This method has garnered significant attention due to its broad applicability, strong recycling capacity, and sustainability. It is being positioned as a key technology to address global freshwater scarcity. The core agent’s hygroscopic properties play a crucial role in determining the performance of the AWHs. This article provides a comprehensive review of the latest advancements in hygroscopic agents, including their adsorption mechanisms and classifications. This study of hygroscopic agents analyzes the performance and characteristics of relevant porous material composite polymer composites and plant composites. It also evaluates the design and preparation of these materials. Aiming at the problems of low moisture adsorption and desorption difficulty of the hygroscopic agent, the factors affecting the water vapor adsorption performance and the method of enhancing the hygroscopic performance of the material are summarized and put forward. For the effect of hygroscopic agents on the volume of water catchment devices, the difference in density before and after hygroscopicity is proposed as part of the evaluation criteria. Moisture absorption per unit volume is added as a performance evaluation criterion to assess the effect of hygroscopic agents on the volume of water collection equipment. The article identifies areas that require further research and development for moisture absorbers, exploring their potential applications in other fields and anticipating the future development direction and opportunities of moisture-absorbing materials. The goal is to promote the early realization of adsorptive atmospheric water harvesting technology for large-scale industrial applications.

In response to the challenge of resource recycling, this review investigates the removal of phytotoxicity from agricultural waste for its application as a growing media component. Agricultural waste typically exhibits high phytotoxicity due to the presence of substances such as phenols, organic acids, ammonia, nitrogen, and heavy metals. These substances hinder seed germination and plant growth, posing a significant barrier to the use of agricultural waste as a growing media component. Thus, it is imperative to mitigate or eliminate phytotoxicity before effectively utilizing agricultural waste. This review rigorously analyzes an extensive array of recent studies, scrutinizing diverse technologies for the mitigation of phytotoxicity in agricultural wastes. The methods investigated include the four most common methods—composting, heat treatment, washing, and aging, and a recently introduced method, ammonium incubation. Each method was assessed considering its underlying principles, effects in application, and respective advantages and disadvantages. This review suggests that successful phytotoxicity mitigation in agricultural waste hinges on reducing the content or activity of phytotoxic substances. Moreover, this study emphasizes that future phytotoxicity mitigation efforts should aim for economic efficiency while maximizing the preservation of the original material volume and weight. This study offers insightful guidance for technical professionals aiming to mitigate the phytotoxicity of agricultural waste, thereby fostering sustainable agricultural practices.

Assessing the spatiotemporal changes in forest aboveground biomass (AGB) provides crucial insights for effective forest carbon stock management, an accurate estimation of forest carbon uptake and release balance, and a deeper understanding of forest dynamics and climate responses. However, existing research in this field often lacks a comprehensive methodology for capturing tree-level AGB dynamics using multitemporal remote sensing techniques. In this study, we quantitatively characterized spatiotemporal variations of tree-level AGB in boreal natural secondary forests in the Greater Khingan Mountains region using multitemporal light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data acquired in 2012, 2016, and 2022. Our methodology emphasized improving the accuracy of individual tree segmentation algorithms by taking advantage of canopy structure heterogeneity. We introduced a novel three-dimensional metric, similar to crown width, integrated with tree height to calculate tree-level AGB. Moreover, we address the challenge of underestimating tree-level metrics resulting from low pulse density, ensuring accurate monitoring of AGB changes for every two acquisitions. The results showed that the LiDAR-based ΔAGB explained 62% to 70% of the variance of field-measured ΔAGB at the tree level. Furthermore, when aggregating the tree-level AGB estimates to the plot level, the results also exhibited robust and reasonable accuracy. We identified the average annual change in tree-level AGB and tree height across the study region, quantifying them at 2.23 kg and 0.25 m, respectively. Furthermore, we highlighted the importance of the Gini coefficient, which represents canopy structure heterogeneity, as a key environmental factor that explains relative AGB change rates at the plot level. Our contribution lies in proposing a comprehensive framework for analyzing tree-level AGB dynamics using multitemporal LiDAR data, paving the way for a nuanced understanding of fine-scale forest dynamics. We argue that LiDAR technology is becoming increasingly valuable in monitoring tree dynamics, enabling the application of high-resolution ecosystem dynamics products to elucidate ecological issues and address environmental challenges.

Assessing the changes in forest carbon stocks over time is critical for monitoring carbon dynamics, estimating the balance between carbon uptake and release from forests, and providing key insights into climate change mitigation. In this study, we quantitatively characterized spatiotemporal variations in aboveground carbon density (ACD) in boreal natural forests in the Greater Khingan Mountains (GKM) region using bi-temporal discrete aerial laser scanning (ALS) data acquired in 2012 and 2016. Moreover, we evaluated the transferability of the proposed design model using forest field plot data and produced a wall-to-wall map of ACD changes for the entire study area from 2012 to 2016 ​at a grid size of 30 ​m. In addition, we investigated the relationships between carbon dynamics and the dominant tree species, age groups, and topography of undisturbed forested areas to better understand ACD variations by employing heterogeneous forest canopy structural characteristics. The results showed that the performance of the temporally transferable model (R2 ​= ​0.87, rRMSE ​= ​18.25%), which included stable variables, was statistically equivalent to that obtained from the model fitted directly by the 2016 field plots (R2 ​= ​0.87, rRMSE ​= ​17.47%). The average rate of change in carbon sequestration across the entire study region was 1.35 ​Mg·ha−1·year−1 based on the changes in ALS-based ACD values over the course of four years. The relative change rates of ACD decreased as the elevation increased, with the highest and lowest ACD growth rates occurring in the middle-aged and mature forest stands, respectively. The Gini coefficient, which represents forest canopy surface structure heterogeneity, is sensitive to carbon dynamics and is a reliable predictor of the relative change rate of ACD. This study demonstrated the applicability of bi-temporal ALS for predicting forest carbon dynamics and fine-scale spatial change patterns. Our research contributed to a better understanding of the influence of remote sensing-derived environmental variables on forest carbon dynamic patterns and the development of context-specific management approaches to increase forest carbon stocks.

In this study, the Co(3-x)MnxO4@TiO2 core-shell catalysts prepared by sol-gel and external kinetic coating method were investigated for DeNOx by response surface methodology (RSM) using 3-factor with 5-level experiments. Compared with CoMn2O4 sample, the CoMn2O4@TiO2 catalyst was optimized to obtain almost 100% NOx conversion at 125°C to 225°C that also maintained above 80% SCR activity with 100 ppm SO2 and 10 vol.% H2O in the testing time within 24 h. The XRD and Raman show a clear distinction of that CoMn2O4 spinel phase was well-dispersed on anatase TiO2 over CoMn2O4@TiO2 catalyst, which exhibited a core-shell structure with obvious distribution boundary of CoMn2O4 core coated by TiO2 shell confirmed by TEM images. This intact catalyst presented complete TiO2 coating structure due to the detected bonds Mn-O, Co-O and particular Ti-O via FT-IR analysis. NH3-TPD and H2-TPR profiles indicated that the CoMn2O4@TiO2 catalyst owned more acid sites, stronger acidity and enhanced redox capacities benefiting from its core-shell structure after TiO2 coating. According to XPS analysis, higher content of (Mn3++Mn4+)/(Mn2++Mn3++Mn4+) (77.7%), Co3+/ (Co2+ + Co3+) (53.5%) and surface oxygen (26.1%) were in favour of valence electron interaction (Mn4++Co2+↔Mn3++ Co3+, Mn3++Ti4+↔Mn4++ Ti3+). The NH3-SCR reaction pathways over CoMn2O4 and CoMn2O4@TiO2 catalysts were compared and proposed through DRIFTS experiments, which mainly follows the typical Eley-Rideal (E-R) mechanism, while the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) mechanism is weak at 225 °C. This study opens up a new avenue for designing efficient and environment-friendly NH3-SCR catalysts and looks promising for practical application.

Abstract Raising rice seedlings in flat trays has become the main method for mechanized transplanting of rice in China. However, seedling blocks raised by this method were easily cracked in practice, and this problem can be solved by padding a thin ramie fiber nonwoven film on the bottom surface of seedling tray. This study was conducted to determine the effects of this film on root-zone environment of rice seedlings. The results showed that on the 10th day after sowing, the soil inorganic nitrogen, especially nitrate nitrogen, content in the root-zone of the film treatment were considerably higher than in the no-film treatment, in contrast, the soil organic matter content was lower in the film treatment, and by the 20th day, the gap between treatments was enlarged. After applying the film, the Chao 1 index and Shannon index values for the soil bacterial community diversity decreased, and the rice seedlings were shorter, had higher root/shoot ratios, lower nitrate contents, and higher soluble sugar contents. We conclude that application of the ramie fiber nonwoven film resulted in substantial changes in the soil nutrient and bacterial community in root-zone in a short time, which significantly impacted the growth and development of rice seedlings.

Bacteria and fungi are good indicators for soil health as well as soilless growing media (SGM) health. However, there is very limited information about the fungal and bacterial communities for SGM. In the present study, coir substrate and peat-based substrate were used as typical SGM under drip irrigation and tidal irrigation to understand the situation of fungal and bacterial communities by high-throughput sequencing technology. In this study, both environmental factors and microbial communities were significantly affected by SGM type and irrigation pattern, in which SGM type played a major role and irrigation pattern played a minor role. The bacterial phyla Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria and the fungal phyla Ascomycota were more closely related to environmental factors including EC, pH, NO3−, NH4+ and ω as well as urease and phosphatase. The bacterial and fungal communities in the two SGM had some similarities with those in soil. In addition, the functions of the soil, including key soil organisms, carbon mineralization, wood decomposition, nitrification, denitrification, carbon fixation, nitrogen fixation and methanotrophy, could be basically performed by the two SGM. In general, the SGM should possess common soil capabilities according to bacterial and fungal analyses, but there are numerous fungi of unknown function that need be addressed in the future. Meanwhile, these results improve our understanding of the correlation between the environmental factors and the microbiome, and provide basic guidance for management and research on SGM in the future.

Camptothecin (CPT) is a cytotoxic quinoline alkaloid isolated from the bark and branches of the Chinese tree Camptotheca acuminata. CPT inhibits topoisomerase I. It possesses various antitumor activities and is mainly used in the treatment of colon, ovarian, liver, and bone cancers as well as leukemia. CPT inhibits the expressions of inflammatory genes and can prevent death from chronic inflammation. Therefore, we investigated the effect of CPT treatment in ulcerative colitis (UC) using DSS-induced UC mouse model; after that, we explored its potential mechanisms. Here, we found that CPT exerted protection on DSS-induced UC in rats. In addition, the administration prominently reduced the disease activity index as well as colon length of the model rats and remarkably reduced the inflammatory cytokines. Further, CPT significantly reduced several vital proinflammatory proteins in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. In summary, our findings demonstrate that CPT is hopefully to act as a therapeutic agent for UC.

Biostimulants can enhance horticultural crop production. However, their application in hydroponically grown lettuce is still limited, and information regarding their relative efficacy is lacking. A greenhouse trial was conducted to address this issue. Five nutrient solution treatments were evaluated on two lettuce cultivars: butterhead and red oak-leaf. The treatments included a half-strength modified Hoagland solution (Hs-H); a full-strength modified Hoagland solution (Fs-H); and Hs-H supplemented with 50 mg L−1 fulvic acid (FA), 334 mg L−1 seaweed extract (SE), or 5 mL L−1 gamma polyglutamic acid (PGA). The results indicated that the shoot biomass observed after biostimulant supplementation was significantly greater than or comparable to that observed with Fs-H. Nutrient solutions supplemented with SE and PGA led to a greater increase in the root biomass than that realized with Hs-H and Fs-H treatments. The Hs-H + FA treatment resulted in the lowest root-to-shoot ratio on a fresh weight basis among all treatments. The nitrate concentration in the shoot was significantly reduced following biostimulant supplementation compared to that realized with Fs-H and Hs-H treatments. Nutrient solutions supplemented with SE and PGA also decreased soluble sugar concentrations compared to that achieved using Hs-H and Fs-H treatments. FA and SE improved nutrient uptake for both cultivars, but PGA had a minimal effect on nutrient uptake. The two cultivars varied in their responses to biostimulant supplementation with regard to biomass, quality traits, and nutrient uptake. This study supports using fulvic acid and seaweed extract, rather than γ-PGA, in hydroponic lettuce production systems.

Rooting ability of rice seedling for mechanical transplanting has a large impact on grain yield. This study explored the relationship between endogenous soluble sugar content and rooting ability of rice seedlings. We placed 15-day-old rice seedlings in controlled environment cabinets with stable light and sampled after 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours of light to measure their soluble sugar content, nitrate content, starch content, soluble protein content and rooting ability. The soluble sugar content of the rice seedlings before rooting increased rapidly from 65.1 mg g-1 to 126.3 mg g-1 in the first 9 hours of light and then tended to stabilize; however, few significant changes in the other physiological indices were detected. With the light exposure time increasing from 3 hours to 12 hours, the rooting ability measured with fresh weight, dry weight, total length, and number of new roots increased by 91.7%, 120.0%, 60.6% and 30.3%, respectively. Rooting ability was related more closely to soluble sugar content than to nitrate-nitrogen content of rice seedlings before rooting and their correlation coefficients were 0.8582-0.8684 and 0.7045-0.7882, respectively. The stepwise regression analysis revealed that the soluble sugar content before rooting explained 73.6%-75.4% of the variance, and the nitrate-nitrogen content explained an additional 7.3%-14.2% of the variance in rooting ability, indicating that compared with nitrate-nitrogen content, soluble sugar content of rice seedlings before rooting was more dominant in affecting rooting ability. This study provides direct evidence of the relationship between the rooting ability and endogenous soluble sugar content of rice seedlings.

Background/Aims: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), acting as a newly found ‘danger-associated molecular patterns’ (DAMPs), is released into circulation upon tissue injury and performs as a considerable activator of inflammation and immune response. However, the role of circulating mtDNA in experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) as well as Toll like receptor4 (TLR4) mediated cardiac inflammation and injury remains unknown. Methods: A model of EAM was established in BALB/c mice by immunization with porcine cardiac myosin. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to stimulate TLR4 activation in EAM mice and H9C2 cells. Results: LPS stimulation significantly aggravated cardiac inflammation and tissue injury in EAM, as demonstrated by increased myocardium inflammatory cell infiltration, and up-regulated inflammatory cytokines and troponin I(TnI) level in serum. Circulating mtDNA level was increased in EAM and TLR4 activation led to a greater elevation, which may be related to Reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress involved mtDNA damage characterized by reduced mtDNA copy number in myocardium tissue. In addition, the expression of Toll like receptor9 (TLR9), a ligand of mtDNA, was significantly up-regulated in the myocardium of EAM and EAM LPS group; meanwhile, TLR9 inhibition by ODN 2088 caused an inhibited apoptosis in LPS treated H9C2 cells. Moreover, in EAM and EAM LPS group, simultaneously giving ODN 2088 treatment significantly ameliorated cardiac inflammation and tissue injury compared with untreated group. Conclusion: Increased circulating mtDNA combined with upregulated TLR9 expression may corporately play a role in EAM as well as TLR4 activation mediated cardiac inflammation and injury.

To mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) and release the low carbon potential of green walls, we analyzed the cooling and energy-saving performance of different green wall designs. Envi-met was applied as the main simulation tool, and a pedestrian street named Yuhou Street was selected as the study object. Four designs of walls were summarized and simulated, demonstrating the living wall system (LWS). Super soil had superiority in cooling and energy saving. Outdoor air temperature, indoor air temperature, outside wall surface temperature, and inside wall surface temperature were analyzed. Apart from the outdoor air temperature, the other three temperatures were all significantly affected by the design of green walls. Finally, energy savings in building cavities were determined. The indoor energy saving ratio of the LWS based on super soil reached 19.92%, followed by the LWS based on boxes at 15.37%, and green facades wall at 6.29%. The indoor cooling powers on this typical day showed that the cooling power of the LWS based on super soil was 8267.32 W, followed by the LWS based on boxes at 6381.57 W, and green facades wall at 2610.08 W. The results revealed the difference in cooling and energy-saving performance of different green walls in this typical hot summer area.

Camptothecin (CPT) exhibits potent antitumor activity; however, its clinical application is limited by significant gastrointestinal adverse effects (GAEs). Although the severity of GAEs associated with CPT derivatives has decreased, the incidence rate of these adverse effects has remained high. CPT multifunctional nanoparticles (PCRHNs) have the potential to increase the efficacy of CPT while reducing side effects in major target organs; however, the impact of PCRHNs on the GAEs from CPT remains uncertain. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effects of PCRHNs and different doses of CPT and examined their impacts on the intestinal barrier and the intestinal microbiota. We found that the therapeutic efficacy of PCRHNs + Laser treatment was superior to that of high-dose CPT, and PCRHNs + Laser treatment also provided greater benefits by helping maintain intestinal barrier integrity, intestinal microbiota diversity, and intestinal microbiota abundance. In summary, compared to high-dose CPT treatment, PCRHNs + Laser treatment can effectively balance therapeutic effects and GAEs. A high dose of CPT promotes the enrichment of the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia-Shigella, which may be attributed to diarrhea caused by CPT, thus leading to a reduction in microbial burden; additionally, Escherichia-Shigella rapidly grows and occupies niches previously occupied by other bacteria that are lost due to diarrhea. PCRHNs + Laser treatment increased the abundance of Lactobacillus (probiotics), possibly due to the photothermal effect of the PCRHNs. This effect increased catalase activity, thus facilitating the conversion of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen within tumors and increasing oxygen levels in the body, which is conducive to the growth of facultative anaerobic bacteria.

Biomaterials play an integral role in treatment of external auditory canal (EAC) diseases. Regarding the special anatomic structure and physiological characteristics of EAC, careful selection of applicable biomaterials was essential step towards effective management of EAC conditions. The bioactive materials can provide reasonable biocompatibility, reduce risk of host pro-inflammatory response and immune rejection, and promote the healing process. In therapeutic procedure, biomaterials were employed for covering or packing the wound, protection of the damaged tissue, and maintaining of normal structures and functions of the EAC. Therefore, understanding and application of biomaterials was key to obtaining great rehabilitation in therapy of EAC diseases. In clinical practice, biomaterials were recognized as an important part in the treatment of different EAC diseases. The choice of biomaterials was distinct according to the requirements of various diseases. As a result, awareness of property regarding different biomaterials was fundamental for appropriate selection of therapeutic substances in different EAC diseases. In this review, we firstly introduced the characteristics of EAC structures and physiology, and EAC pathologies were summarized secondarily. From the viewpoint of biomaterials, the different materials applied to individual diseases were outlined in categories. Besides, the underlying future of therapeutic EAC biomaterials was discussed.

Immunosuppression tumor microenvironment (TME) seriously impedes anti-tumor immune response, resulting in poor immunotherapy effect of cancer. This study develops a folate-modified delivery system to transport the plasmids encoding immune stimulatory chemokine CKb11 and PD-L1 inhibitors to tumor cells, resulting in high CKb11 secretion from tumor cells, successfully activating immune cells and increasing cytokine secretion to reshape the TME, and ultimately delaying tumor progression. The chemokine CKb11 enhances the effectiveness of tumor immunotherapy by increasing the infiltration of immune cells in TME. It can cause high expression of IFN-γ, which is a double-edged sword that inhibits tumor growth while causing an increase in the expression of PD-L1 on tumor cells. Therefore, combining CKb11 with PD-L1 inhibitors can counterbalance the suppressive impact of PD-L1 on anti-cancer defense, leading to a collaborative anti-tumor outcome. Thus, utilizing nanotechnology to achieve targeted delivery of immune stimulatory chemokines and immune checkpoint inhibitors to tumor sites, thereby reshaping immunosuppressive TME for cancer treatment, has great potential as an immunogene therapy in clinical applications.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, characterised by a short survival period, high malignancy, strong invasiveness, and high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Due to its unique molecular phenotype, TNBC is insensitive to endocrine therapy or molecular targeted therapy. The conventional treatment approach involves systemic chemotherapy for overall management; however, adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery has shown poor efficacy as residual lesions can easily lead to tumour recurrence. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find more effective treatment strategies. Herein, we designed a gold nanocluster coated with a metal-phenol formaldehyde network structure (AuNCs@PDA-Mn) for tumour Photothermal therapy and chemodynamic therapy (PTT and CDT), which induces systemic immune responses to suppress tumour metastasis. Experimental results show that after continuous irradiation for 10 min under an 808 nm laser (1.0W/cm2), AuNCs@PDA-Mn not only exhibits better tumour inhibition both in vitro and in vivo but also triggers stronger immune effects systemically. Therefore, this combined PTT and CDT treatment approach has great potential and provides a clinically relevant and valuable option for triple-negative breast cancer.

Abstract Cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles possess inherent advantages derived from their membrane structure and surface antigens, including prolonged circulation in the bloodstream, specific cell recognition and targeting capabilities, and potential for immunotherapy. Herein, we introduce a cell membrane biomimetic nanodrug platform termed MPB-3BP@CM NPs. Comprising microporous Prussian blue nanoparticles (MPB NPs) serving as both a photothermal sensitizer and carrier for 3-bromopyruvate (3BP), these nanoparticles are cloaked in a genetically programmable cell membrane displaying variants of signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) with enhanced affinity to CD47. As a result, MPB-3BP@CM NPs inherit the characteristics of the original cell membrane, exhibiting an extended circulation time in the bloodstream and effectively targeting CD47 on the cytomembrane of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Notably, blocking CD47 with MPB-3BP@CM NPs enhances the phagocytosis of CRC cells by macrophages. Additionally, 3BP, an inhibitor of hexokinase II (HK2), suppresses glycolysis, leading to a reduction in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and lactate production. Besides, it promotes the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) towards an anti-tumor M1 phenotype. Furthermore, integration with MPB NPs-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) enhances the therapeutic efficacy against tumors. These advantages make MPB-3BP@CM NPs an attractive platform for the future development of innovative therapeutic approaches for CRC. Concurrently, it introduces a universal approach for engineering disease-tailored cell membranes for tumor therapy.

Local oxidative stress in diseases or injury severely hinders cell homeostasis and organ regeneration. Antioxidant therapy is an effective strategy for oxidative stress treatment. Biomaterials with good biocompatibility and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability are good choices for antioxidant therapeutics. However, there are few natural biomaterials that are identified with both biocompatibility and strong antioxidant activity. Here, we show, for the first time, that silk fibroin (SF) is a strong antioxidant, which can eliminate ROS in both cells and zebrafish. We further demonstrate that the β-sheet structures turn into a random coiled structure when SF is treated with hydrogen peroxide. The content of β-sheet structures can be increased by heating, thus enhancing the antioxidation properties of SF. Therefore, SF can serve as a good antioxidant biomaterial for therapeutics, and its β-sheet structure-based antioxidation mechanism provides a novel theoretical basis, which could be a new cue for more antioxidant biomaterial discovery and identification.

Total cholesterol (TC) and the cholesterol oxidation product 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) are both increased in the elderly. Accumulating evidence has linked 27-OHC to glucose metabolism in the brain, while docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to positively regulate the 27-OHC levels. However, it is unclear whether DHA may affect glucose metabolism in the brain by regulating 27-OHC levels. In this study, we hypothesized that DHA supplementation would modulate TC levels and reduce 27-OHC levels, thereby improving brain glucose metabolism in SAMP8 mice. The mice were assigned into the Control group and DHA dietary supplementation group. The study evaluated cholesterol levels, 27-OHC levels, and glucose metabolism in the brain. The results showed that DHA supplementation decreased serum levels of TC, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and increased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C); and improved the glucose-corrected standardized uptake value of cortex, hippocampus, and whole brain regions in SAMP8 mice. In conclusion, supplementation of DHA could regulate the cholesterol composition and reduce the level of 27-OHC, thereby improving brain glucose metabolism in SAMP8 mice.

Abstract The treatment of colorectal cancer is always a major challenge in the field of cancer research. The number of estimated new cases of colorectal cancer worldwide in 2020 is 1 148 515, and the estimated number of deaths is 576 858, revealing that mortality accounted for approximately half of the disease incidence. The development of new drugs and strategies for colorectal cancer treatment is urgently needed. Thermosensitive injectable hydrogel PDLLA‐PEG‐PDLLA (PLEL) loaded with cabazitaxel (CTX) is used to explore its anti‐tumor effect on mice with orthotopic colorectal cancer. CTX/PLEL is characterized by a solution state at room temperature and a hydrogel state at physiologic temperature. The excipients MPEG‐PCL and PDLLA‐PEG‐PDLLA have good biocompatibility and biodegradability. The simple material synthesis and preparation process renders this system cost‐effective and more conducive to clinical transformation. An orthotopic colorectal cancer model is established by transplantation subcutaneous tumors onto the cecum of mice. According to the results of experiments in vivo, CTX/PLEL significantly inhibits orthotopic colorectal cancer and liver metastasis in mice. The results indicate that CTX/PLEL nanoparticle preparations have high security and excellent anti‐tumor effects, and have great application potential in colorectal cancer therapy.

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, Cn-3, 22:6) are essential in improving cognitive function and protecting neurocytes. This study explored the effects of the combined intervention of MCTs and DHA on inhibiting neurocyte apoptosis of the brain and improving cognitive function in senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8). Four-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into four treatment groups (12 mice/group): DHA, MCT, DHA + MCT, and control groups, which intervened for seven months. Twelve age-matched male senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) was used as the natural aging group. TUNEL assay and HE staining were used to assess neurocyte apoptosis and damage in the brain of mice. Moreover, the cognitive function was analyzed using the Morris water maze (MWM) and open field (OF) tests. The results showed that the cognitive function of 11-month-old SAMP8 mice decreased with age, and further pathological examination revealed the damaged neurocyte structure, karyopyknosis, cell atrophy, and even apoptosis. MCTs combined with DHA supplementation could increase octanoic acid (C8:0), decanoic acid (C10:0), and DHA levels in the serum, inhibit neurocyte apoptosis, improve neurocyte damage, moreover delay age-related cognitive decline after seven-month treatment. Furthermore, combining MCTs and DHA was significantly more beneficial than MCTs or DHA alone. In conclusion, MCTs combined with DHA could delay cognitive decline by inhibiting neurocyte apoptosis of the brain in SAMP8 mice.

Atherosclerosis is a significant contributor to global cardiovascular disease. Reducing the formation of atherosclerotic plaque effectively can lead to a decrease in cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, controlling macrophage function is crucial. This study presents the creation of a bifunctional nanoparticle that is specific to macrophages to achieve intracellular and extracellular synergistic therapy for restoring macrophage functions. The nanoparticle is conjugated with anti-CD47 antibody to modulate extracellular CD47-SIRPα phagocytic signaling axis on the outer surface of macrophages and encapsulates the NLRP3 inhibitor (CY-09) to regulate intracellular inflammation response of macrophages. The results showed that the nanoparticles accumulate in the atherosclerotic plaque, alter macrophage phagocytosis, inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and decrease the plaque burden in Apoe−/− mice whilst ensuring safety. Examination of single-cell RNA sequencing indicates that this multifunctional nanoparticle decreases the expression of genes linked to inflammation and manages inflammatory pathways in the plaque lesion. This study proposes a synergistic therapeutic approach that utilizes a bifunctional nanoparticle, conjugated with anti-CD47, to regulate the microenvironment of plaques.

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Abstract Myocardial infarction (MI) is a critical global health challenge, with current treatments limited by the complex MI microenvironment, particularly the excessive oxidative stress and intense inflammatory responses that exacerbate cardiac dysfunction and MI progression. Herein, a mannan‐based nanomedicine, Que@MOF/Man, is developed to target the inflammatory infarcted heart and deliver the antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory agent quercetin (Que), thereby facilitating a beneficial myocardial microenvironment for cardiac repair. The presence of mannan on the nanoparticle surface enables selective internalization by macrophages rather than cardiomyocytes. Que@MOF/Man effectively neutralizes reactive oxygen species in macrophages to reduce oxidative stress and promote their differentiation into a reparative phenotype, reconciling the inflammatory response and enhancing cardiomyocyte survival through intercellular communication. Owing to the recruitment of macrophages into inflamed myocardium post‐MI, in vivo, administration of Que@MOF/Man in MI rats revealed the specific distribution into the injured myocardium compared to free Que. Furthermore, Que@MOF/Man exhibited favorable results in resolving inflammation and protecting cardiomyocytes, thereby preventing further myocardial remodeling and improving cardiac function in MI rats. These findings collectively validate the rational design of an inflammation‐targeted delivery strategy to mitigate oxidative stress and modulate the inflammation response in the injured heart, presenting a therapeutic avenue for MI treatment.