Search Results (557)

Faced with a global energy crisis and ecological degradation, overall water splitting (OWS) is a pivotal approach for renewable energy conversion and storage. However, its industrial application is hindered by the high energy barriers/sluggish kinetics of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), as well as the scarcity of precious metal catalysts limiting large-scale deployment. Herein, a cobalt-based layered double hydroxide (Co-LDH) was used as the precursor, and a multi-strategy synergistic modification (hydrothermal synthesis, Fe doping, sulfurization, and external magnetic field magnetization) was applied to fabricate the Fe-Co₃S₄-MS-20 min electrocatalyst. This strategy establishes Fe-Co bimetallic synergistic active centers, and magnetic treatment modulates the electron configuration of Fe 3d orbitals without changing the material’s lattice spacing or morphology. Structural characterizations and electrochemical measurements were used to investigate the effects of combined modifications on the catalyst’s phase structure, morphology, electronic structure, and trifunctional catalytic performance toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), OER, and urea oxidation reaction (UOR). The Fe-Co₃S₄-MS-20 min catalyst exhibits a larger electrochemical active surface area, lower charge transfer resistance, and smaller Tafel slope in 1 M KOH, it achieves overpotentials of 165 mV for HER (10 mA·cm⁻²) and 310 mV for OER (100 mA·cm⁻²), along with superior UOR performance and long-term stability. In situ impedance and Raman spectroscopy confirm that magnetization accelerates charge transfer and promotes in situ reconstruction. Synergistic multi-strategy regulation optimizes the electronic structure of active centers, reducing electrocatalytic energy barriers. This work provides new insights into designing high-performance non-precious metal electrocatalysts and offers experimental support for external magnetic field regulation in electrocatalyst modification. Full article

Locally advanced rectal cancer is commonly treated using total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), which integrates radiotherapy with systemic chemotherapy to improve tumor downstaging, local control, and long-term oncologic outcomes. Despite its central role in treatment, responses to radiotherapy remain highly heterogeneous. While some tumors undergo complete regression, others exhibit intrinsic or acquired treatment resistance, resulting in incomplete tumor control while experiencing treatment-related toxicity. Understanding the biological determinants that govern radiation sensitivity in rectal cancer, therefore, represents a major clinical challenge. Ionizing radiation induces tumor cell death primarily through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage, particularly DNA double-strand breaks. In addition to nuclear DNA injury, radiation-induced oxidative stress can initiate lipid peroxidation within cellular membranes. When lipid peroxide accumulation exceeds the capacity of cellular antioxidant systems, this process can trigger ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by phospholipid oxidation. Ferroptotic susceptibility is regulated by interconnected metabolic pathways, including cystine transport through system Xc⁻ (SLC7A11/SLC3A2), glutathione synthesis, glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX4) activity, iron metabolism, and membrane lipid remodeling. Recent evidence further indicates that ferroptosis intersects with antitumor immunity. Ferroptotic tumor cells release oxidized lipid mediators and damage-associated molecular signals that can influence immune activation, while interferon-γ produced by activated CD8⁺ T cells during immune checkpoint blockade suppresses SLC7A11 expression, limiting cystine uptake and promoting ferroptotic tumor cell death. These findings suggest that ferroptosis represents a mechanistic interface between tumor metabolic vulnerability and immune-mediated cytotoxicity. This interaction is particularly relevant in colorectal cancer biology, where immune checkpoint inhibitors demonstrate clinical benefit primarily in tumors with deficient mismatch repair or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) status. The vast majority of rectal cancers are microsatellite stable (MSS) and exhibit limited responsiveness to immunotherapy due to reduced immunogenicity and immune exclusion within the tumor microenvironment. Strategies capable of increasing tumor immunogenicity in this setting are therefore of considerable interest. In this review, we examine the molecular mechanisms linking radiation-induced oxidative stress to ferroptosis and tumor immunity in colorectal cancer, while focusing on the clinical context of radiotherapy in rectal cancer. We discuss how lipid metabolism, iron homeostasis, cysteine-dependent antioxidant systems, and immune signaling pathways converge to regulate ferroptotic vulnerability and radiation response. We further explore the therapeutic potential of integrating radiotherapy, ferroptosis-targeting strategies, and immunotherapy to overcome radioresistance and improve treatment outcomes in colorectal cancer. Full article

Low-temperature pyrolysis around 250 °C represents a mild carbonization that differs from conventional high-temperature biochar production, and the role of pyrolysis duration under mild thermal conditions remains insufficiently understood. In this study, plant residues, including rice straw, sorghum leaves and stems, barley straw, and mixed woodchips, were converted into charred materials under low-temperature pyrolysis at 250 °C (4 h, 12 h) and compared with those produced at 500 °C (4 h). Pyrolysis at 250 °C (4 h) resulted in higher solid yields (51.9–72.8%) and higher recovery of carbon and nitrogen, whereas yields declined to 27.2–31.6% at 500 °C. Materials produced at 250 °C preserved abundant oxygen-containing functional groups, exhibited lower pH, and showed significantly higher cation exchange capacity (up to 93.68–119.91 cmol_c/kg at 12 h). Prolonged treatment at 250 °C enhanced humification, increasing the carbon extracted from humic acid by 25.3–237.9%, whereas humic substances were largely decomposed at 500 °C. Structural analyses indicated that low-temperature chars maintained reactive surface chemistry, while high-temperature chars showed greater aromaticity and porosity, particularly for wood-derived materials (378.5 m²/g). Overall, low-temperature pyrolysis produces functionally active carbon materials suitable for saline-sodic soil amendment and nutrient management, whereas 500 °C pyrolysis generates more aromatic and porous materials better suited for long-term carbon stability and physical soil conditioning. Full article

Accurate prediction of wastewater influent quality is critical for optimizing treatment plant operations, minimizing environmental impact, and enabling proactive management under dynamic conditions. However, the complex, nonlinear, and temporally dependent nature of influent processes poses significant challenges to traditional modeling approaches. This study introduces a robust stacked ensemble learning framework that integrates Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) to forecast three key influent quality parameters: biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), total phosphorus (TP), and total solids (TS) at a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Canada. Through sequential backward feature selection and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), the model achieves both high predictive accuracy and interpretability, providing insights into temporal, environmental, and process-based drivers of influent variability. The ensemble consistently outperforms individual models, delivering high generalization performance across all three influent quality targets. This work demonstrates that stacked ensemble models, when coupled with explainable AI techniques, can bridge the gap between black-box performance and operational transparency in wastewater forecasting. The proposed framework lays the groundwork for more resilient, data-driven decision-making in municipal WWTPs. Full article

The Iulia Felix is a 2nd-century AD Roman shipwreck that was discovered off the coast of Grado in 1986. Following its recovery, the hull was dismantled and treated with high concentrations of PEG 4000 at elevated temperatures. This process was completed in 2003. The elements were then stored for over 20 years. During this prolonged storage period, salt efflorescence developed on some surfaces, raising concerns about ongoing degradation and prompting an investigation into the composition of the wood and how environmental conditions influence it. The efflorescence was analysed using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). To evaluate the impact of environmental factors, samples were exposed to controlled humidity levels of 35% and 85% until equilibrium was achieved. The analyses identified iron- and sulphur-based compounds, including hydrated ferrous sulphates, calcium sulphate and hydrated iron oxides. These findings suggest a corrosion-related degradation process that originates in a marine burial environment and progresses in humid, oxygen-rich conditions after recovery. The presence of PEG within the efflorescence indicates that environmental conditions after treatment promoted its gradual migration to the surface. Climate testing revealed that PEG 4000 significantly reduced hygroscopic exchange with the environment. Under dry conditions, dimensional changes were minimal, with less than 1% variation in mass and surface area. In contrast, prolonged exposure to high humidity resulted in a 11% increase in mass due to moisture uptake, as well as a roughly 5% increase in surface area. This was accompanied by minor cracking and, in some cases, structural failure. This study highlights the long-term conservation challenges posed by waterlogged archaeological wood treated with high-molecular-weight PEG. It emphasises the importance of continuous environmental monitoring to mitigate degradation processes and preserve structural integrity, providing valuable insights for future museum conservation strategies. Full article

Carbon dots (CDs), including carbon quantum dots (CQDs), are ultra-small carbon-based nanomaterials, typically below 10 nm, with tunable photoluminescence, high aqueous dispersibility, favorable biocompatibility, low toxicity, and abundant surface functional groups. These properties make CDs promising multifunctional platforms for nanomedicine, particularly in bioimaging, biosensing, targeted drug/gene delivery, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), antimicrobial treatment, and theranostic applications. This review critically examines recent advances in CD fabrication, including top-down, bottom-up, green biomass-derived, microwave-assisted, hydrothermal, and emerging hybrid strategies, with emphasis on how precursor selection, heteroatom doping, surface passivation, and polymer/ligand functionalization regulate optical performance, biological interaction, and therapeutic efficiency. The review discusses structural classification, including CQDs, graphene quantum dots (GQDs), carbon nanodots, and carbonized polymer dots (CPDs), together with major characterization approaches such as ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Particular attention is given to red/near-infrared (NIR) emission, renal clearance, drug-loading behavior, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, toxicity mechanisms, biodistribution, and long-term biosafety. This review also highlights key translational barriers, including batch-to-batch variability, limited standardization, scalable manufacturing, regulatory uncertainty, and incomplete pharmacokinetic evaluation. It considers artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) as emerging tools for reproducible CD design. CDs represent versatile and clinically promising nanoplatforms, but their translation requires standardized synthesis, rigorous safety assessment, and application-specific regulatory validation. Full article

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation has attracted increasing research attention as a strategy for advanced wastewater polishing; yet the recent literature has advanced the attribution of non-radical pathways at a pace that has outstripped rigorous demonstration of their practical process advantage. This article constitutes an evidence-centered critical review—rather than a formal systematic review—organized around a central evaluative question: under what conditions are non-radical mechanistic claims in catalytic ozonation sufficiently persuasive, wastewater-relevant, and defensible to warrant consideration for process translation. Recent studies, drawn primarily from the period 2023–2026, are evaluated through an explicit evidence-grading framework that distinguishes among radical, singlet-oxygen-mediated, surface-bound oxygen-transfer, direct electron-transfer, and high-valent metal-oxo pathways. The review further examines whether reported parent-compound removal is corroborated by complementary lines of evidence encompassing bromate formation, transformation product characterization, effluent toxicity assessment, catalyst leaching quantification, operational durability, and reactor-scale performance. The synthesis reveals that single-atom catalysts currently provide the most robust active-site mechanistic evidence; however, even these systems remain constrained by their reliance on simplified aqueous matrices, incomplete transformation byproduct accounting, and unresolved long-term stability. Accordingly, the article proposes standardized reporting protocols and benchmark performance metrics—including a bromate-normalized treatment benefit index—to delineate mechanistic elegance from process realism. Full article

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is highly prevalent worldwide and is the third leading cause of death. While some aspects of the disease were known since the Enlightenment, Laennec’s work in the 19th century began the process of our current understanding of this disease. In this narrative review, 13 clinicians and scientists with over three centuries of cumulative experience treating and studying COPD give their perspectives on the science underpinning our modern concept of this disease and its management. These include (1) the challenges of coming up with a name for what is a complex syndrome; (2) the evolution of our thinking on the natural history of the disease; (3) the importance of particulate matter inhalation in its pathogenesis; (4) the often-overlooked but important—and often treatable—systemic effects of the disease that contribute to its morbidity and mortality; (5) the changes in our perspective of not just addressing pathologic or physiologic abnormalities but also measuring outcomes, such as breathlessness or health-related quality of life, that are of considerable importance to the patient; (6) the role of pharmacologic therapy in not only providing symptomatic relief by increasing airway caliber but also in disease modification, especially by reducing exacerbation frequency; (7) lung hyperinflation as an essential feature of COPD pathophysiology, driving symptom burden, exercise limitation, and mortality risk; (8) long-term oxygen therapy, despite being demonstrated to prolong survival in a defined set of hypoxemic patients with COPD, still having unanswered questions regarding its application and delivery; and (9) pulmonary rehabilitation, a major component of the non-pharmacologic treatment of COPD patients and prominently situated in clinical guidelines for this disease. While this, by necessity, must be a brief review of a very complex disease, the perspectives of these esteemed clinicians and scientists should be of use to other clinicians in understanding and managing this disease. Full article

To alleviate the eutrophication in the Wuliangsuhai watershed and evaluate the pollutant reduction performance of ecological drainage ditches in the Hetao Irrigation District, a controlled field simulation experiment was conducted using synthetic agricultural return-flow water formulated from long-term monitoring data. Three leguminous plant treatments, two microbial substrate treatments, and one control were established to compare the migration and transformation of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in overlying water, sediment, and plants under different hydraulic retention time intervals (0–6 h, 6–12 h, and 12–18 h). The results showed that plant treatments generally improved conventional water quality indicators, with increased pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) and decreased electrical conductivity, salinity, and total dissolved solids, whereas microbial substrate treatments tended to reduce DO. Pollutant reduction performance differed among treatments. Medicago sativa showed the strongest TN removal from overlying water, Microbial biological rope exhibited the best TP removal from overlying water, and Melilotus suaveolens performed best in COD reduction. Among all plant treatments, Astragalus laxmannii exhibited the most stable overall performance and a relatively strong integrated capacity for nitrogen and phosphorus retention. Most TN and TP reduction in overlying water and sediment occurred during the initial hydraulic retention time interval of 0–6 h, whereas TN plant uptake became more evident during 12–18 h. These findings suggest that ecological drainage ditches vegetated with locally adapted leguminous species have potential to mitigate agricultural non-point source pollution in arid irrigation districts. In particular, Astragalus laxmannii appears to be a promising candidate for ecological ditch design in the Hetao Irrigation District. However, this study was conducted under controlled synthetic return-flow conditions rather than with actual field drainage water, and no tracer-based hydrodynamic verification was performed; therefore, the reported hydraulic retention time effects and treatment efficiencies should be interpreted cautiously. Further field-scale validations under real drainage, seasonal variation, and long-term operation conditions are still needed. Full article

The challenge of attaining energy–efficient nitrogen removal at low carbon–to–nitrogen (C/N) ratios is a fundamental issue in the sustainable management of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study investigates a pilot–scale Anaerobic–Swing–Anoxic–Oxic (ASAO) system coupled with an AvN (Ammonia versus NOx⁻–N)–based aeration control strategy. A systematic evaluation of the system’s performance, nitrogen removal mechanisms, and microbial communities under a 350–day long–term pilot–scale operation using real municipal sewage is presented. The results reveal that the AvN control strategy can optimize aeration intensity and enhance nitrogen removal efficiency. Even under low influent C/N conditions, the ASAO system maintained stable operation with low dissolved oxygen levels (0.5–1.5 mg L⁻¹), and the AvN control strategy effectively optimized aeration intensity and stabilized nitrogen conversion, achieving a total nitrogen (TN) removal rate of 83% and an average effluent TN concentration of 4.9 ± 2.6 mg L⁻¹. Mechanistic analysis indicated that AvN regulation could alleviate over–nitrification and enhance intracellular carbon storage, thereby creating conditions that support the coordinated operation of multiple nitrogen removal routes, such as simultaneous nitrification–denitrification (SND), endogenous denitrification (EnD), and potentially anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). These findings suggest that the AvN–controlled ASAO process offers a robust and scalable strategy for achieving high–efficiency nitrogen removal with reduced aeration demand, providing a promising technological pathway toward energy–neutral and sustainable municipal wastewater treatment. Full article

Kidney stone disease is a common urinary system disorder with a continuously rising global incidence, posing a major public health challenge. As a classic traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of kidney stones, Lysimachia christinae Hance (LCH) has not yet been fully elucidated in terms of its pharmacological mechanism. In this study, a rat model of calcium oxalate kidney stones and a calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM)-induced injury model of human renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells were established. Combined with transcriptomic analysis and experimental verification, the therapeutic effect and underlying molecular mechanism of LCH against kidney stones were systematically explored. Results demonstrated that LCH extract significantly reduced serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr), as well as renal tissue levels of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and cystatin-C (Cys-C) in rats with calcium oxalate crystal-induced renal injury, and diminished calcium oxalate crystal deposition and adhesion in rat renal tissues as well as HK-2 cells, thus exerting a robust renoprotective effect. Mechanistically, transcriptome sequencing indicated that the anti-nephrolithiasis effect of LCH was closely related to the inhibition of oxidative stress and ferroptosis. LCH extract reversed CaOx crystal-induced upregulation of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) and downregulation of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), reduced intracellular oxygen species (ROS) levels, downregulated the expression of transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1) and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) while upregulating that of ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and diminished intracellular iron accumulation, thereby effectively ameliorating crystal-mediated renal injury. The present study demonstrates that the therapeutic effect of LCH on kidney stones is closely related to the regulation of the NOX2/ROS signaling axis and ferroptosis, providing novel theoretical evidence for its clinical application. Full article

Candida albicans is a common opportunistic pathogen. Long-term use of azole antifungals faces challenges like resistance, necessitating novel agents. Tea tree oil (TTO), a natural broad-spectrum antimicrobial, shows promise, but its molecular mechanisms, particularly concerning novel cell death pathways, require clarification. This study comprehensively evaluated the antifungal mechanism of TTO against C. albicans using transcriptomics. Antifungal susceptibility assays were conducted to assess the effects of TTO and its components (4-terpineol, terpenes, and γ-pinene) on the growth of C. albicans hyphae and biofilms. Fluorescent labeling and biochemical analysis were employed to detect ferroptosis markers. Transcriptomic results indicate that TTO induces 423 differentially expressed genes and systematically inhibits the development of C. albicans hyphae through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, iron homeostasis disruption, disruption of cell wall integrity, and interference with ergosterol metabolism. Notably, the significant enrichment of redox enzyme activity and iron ion binding functions, along with changes in the glutathione metabolic pathway, suggest that ferroptosis may be involved in this process. Subsequent studies revealed that the compound 4-pinene most effectively inhibits the pathogenicity of C. albicans by suppressing its adhesion, hyphae formation, and biofilm formation, whereas terpinene induces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increases lipid peroxidation in C. albicans; furthermore, following treatment with an iron-mediated apoptosis inhibitor, terpinene enhances the viability of the treated C. albicans cells. Full article

(1) Background: Calcium transfer between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria through the IP3R–VDAC1 complex at mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs) is essential for cellular homeostasis. Alterations in this signalling axis have been implicated in ageing and cellular senescence. (2) Methods: We developed an in vitro human dermal fibroblast (HDF) model combining replicative senescence and acute oxidative stress to investigate the role of ER–mitochondria coupling in skin ageing and to enable biomolecule screening. (3) Results: In situ proximity ligation assays revealed that replicative senescence significantly increased the number of VDAC1/IP3R complexes per cell (+85% and +72%, p < 0.01), together with elevated cellular reactive oxygen species (+47% and +74%, p < 0.05). Consistently, acute oxidative stress (50 µM t-BHP, 30 min) rapidly increased VDAC1/IP3R complexes (+48%, p < 0.001) and intra-mitochondrial calcium levels (+19%, p < 0.001). These effects persisted for 24 h post-treatment and were associated with impaired mitochondrial function (−27% in the Bioenergetic Health Index, p < 0.05). We also established a flexibility index capturing both acute and long-term adaptations and detecting the protective effects of an orchid extract. (4) Conclusions: ER–mitochondria coupling disruption via the IP3R–VDAC1 complex may contribute to oxidative stress-induced senescence and represent a key mechanism in extrinsic skin ageing. Full article

The Fenton reaction remains one of the most widely investigated advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment due to its ability to generate highly reactive oxygen species capable of degrading persistent organic pollutants. However, classical homogeneous Fenton systems suffer from significant limitations, including narrow pH applicability, iron sludge generation, and poor catalyst reusability. In response, extensive research has focused on the development of heterogeneous and advanced Fenton-like catalysts aimed at overcoming these challenges while enhancing catalytic efficiency and operational stability. This review provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the evolution of Fenton catalysis, from classical homogeneous systems to advanced materials, including nanostructured catalysts, carbon-based Fe–N–C systems, metal–organic frameworks, and single-atom catalysts. A unified evaluation framework is proposed, integrating key performance parameters such as catalytic activity, manufacturability, stability, and catalyst lifespan. Comparative analysis reveals that improvements in activity are often accompanied by trade-offs in cost and scalability, indicating that the most advanced materials do not necessarily provide the best practical performance. A life cycle-oriented perspective is incorporated, emphasizing catalyst reuse, lifespan, and iron leaching, and providing quantitative insight into cumulative catalytic performance. The results demonstrate that long-term efficiency is governed not only by intrinsic activity but also by durability and operational stability under realistic conditions. Finally, current challenges and future directions are discussed, including scalable synthesis, improved mechanistic understanding, and integration into hybrid treatment systems. This review bridges the gap between fundamental research and practical application by highlighting the importance of balancing performance, stability, and sustainability in the design of next-generation Fenton catalysts. Full article

Glass bottles remain ideal for wine marketing and long-term storage, but they also represent a major contributor to the overall carbon footprint of wine production. Although aluminum and plastic are emerging as alternative packaging, these materials can influence wine quality. The impact of wine packaging on the composition, color, and total phenolics of red wine and white wine was evaluated at 0, 6, and 12 months of storage at 15 °C in 2022 and 2023. Chambourcin and Vignoles (Vitis hybrids) grapes were harvested, produced into wine, then bottled in different packaging. Eight wine packaging treatments were evaluated for the 2022 wines, including three glass treatments (250 mL, 375 mL, and 750 mL) and five 250 mL containers of aluminum (AL), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP). Ten wine packaging treatments were evaluated for the 2023 wines, including three glass treatments (250 mL, 375 mL, and 750 mL), three aluminum treatments (250 mL, 375 mL, and 500 mL), three PET treatments (two 250 mL and 750 mL), and one 750 mL flexible pouch. In both years, the packaging treatment significantly impacted dissolved oxygen, free sulfur dioxide, L*, Delta E, and chroma at 6- and 12 months of storage in the red and white wines. As expected, the wine in glass packaging (375 and 750 mL) had the best color and phenolic stability during storage. Regardless of packaging treatment, Delta E (where values >5 indicate noticeably different color compared to wines in Glass 750 at bottling) for these wines increased during storage. For alternative packaging, aluminum and PET had potential for wine stored up to 6 months but less at 12 months of storage. Alternative packaging can lower the wine industry’s carbon footprint but does not provide the extended shelf-life of wine offered by glass packaging. However, alternative packaging remains a promising option for wines intended to be consumed within six months of bottling. Full article