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The escalating global plastic pollution crisis poses an unprecedented threat to ecosystems and human well-being. Plastic waste that has accumulated over decades remains undegraded and continuously leaches toxic additives and microplastics into the environment. Harnessing the metabolic diversity of microorganisms and their complex enzyme systems can be a sustainable, rapid and cost-effective alternative to conventional plastic waste management. Microbial enzymes that can cleave polymeric chains into valuable biochemicals or monomers opened an encouraging footing to provide a promising foundation for promoting a circular plastic economy. This review outlines the major milestones in enzymatic plastic biodegradation, emphasising the underlying mechanisms, enzyme discovery strategies, and existing challenges and opportunities in this emerging field. Particular focus is given to recent trends in computational, in silico, machine and AI-assisted enzyme discovery. Furthermore, we evaluated current literature on the enzymatic degradation of the most widely used commercial plastics, including polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride. The review ends with a critical analysis of the scope and challenges of the enzymatic degradation of plastics.

CRISPR-Cas12a-driven nucleic acid diagnostics offer considerable potential for highly specific and rapid detection. However, their practical applications are limited by the necessity for pre-amplification of target DNA to enhance sensitivity. To overcome this limitation, we developed Auto-catalyst, a novel one-pot, amplification-free DNA detection platform employing a two-stage autocatalytic Cas12a cascade. This approach integrates a positive feedback amplification mediated by a circular crRNA-DNA nanostructure with an asymmetric CRISPR reaction driven by split crRNA. Without external amplification, this system detects DNA fragments at concentrations as low as 80 aM within 30 min at room temperature and maintains high specificity, accurately distinguishing single-base mutations down to 1 fM. Clinical validation demonstrated successful detection of pathogenic DNA in cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with intracranial infections, highlighting its potential for rapid bedside diagnostics essential for timely clinical decision-making. Additionally, Auto-catalyst accurately identified the clinically significant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) gene R132H mutation from glioma tissue samples. This integrated two-stage autocatalytic Cas12a strategy represents a powerful, convenient, and promising diagnostic tool suitable for point-of-care applications.

Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), introduced by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), refer to areas outside formal protected-area networks that deliver effective and enduring in situ biodiversity conservation. This scoping review systematically examined global approaches to identifying and evaluating potential OECMs. Analysing 99 studies covering 694 case studies and 237 000 potential sites, we found that potential OECMs are widespread, particularly in Asia and terrestrial environments, with most initiatives led by the environmental sector. Assessments relied largely on qualitative expert knowledge, with limited application of analytical methods. Although CBD criteria were commonly applied, contributions of related to ecosystem services and socio-cultural values were often overlooked. Effectiveness evaluations showed considerable uncertainty, with over one-third of case studies reporting inadequate evidence of conservation outcomes. The review emphasises the need for standardised assessment methodologies, improved decision-support tools, and socio-cultural integration to enhance OECM recognition, particularly under the 30 × 30 conservation biodiversity target.

In this study, TiO₂@hydrochar composite catalysts were prepared using solvothermal (ST), sol-gel (SG), and impregnation (I) methods for Acid Red 97 (AR97) degradation in aqueous solutions. Hydrochar (HC) was derived from wastewater of the ice cream industry via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). This approach presents a sustainable strategy for transforming waste into resources by converting industrial wastewater into a valuable material. The prepared catalysts were characterized and then applied in photocatalytic tests. The results showed that [TiO₂@HC]_(SG), [TiO₂@HC]_(ST), and [TiO₂@HC]_(I) composites showed significantly improved catalytic activity compared to pure TiO₂, with [TiO₂@HC]_(ST) showing the highest activity, achieving 98.88% degradation efficiency under optimal conditions. After five cycles, this catalyst maintained 88.8% of its efficiency. Quenching experiments confirmed that the ^•OH radical played a crucial role in AR97 photodegradation. Overall, the findings reveal a promising eco-friendly strategy for environmental protection, utilizing industrial wastewater-derived hydrochar to improve the photocatalytic performance of TiO₂.

Background: Cutting-edge dual process health behavior theories propose micro-temporal within-person processes to be critical drivers of physical activity participation. Self-efficacy is the pivotal motivation-oriented correlate of physical activity, a key component across the most prominent health behavior change theories, and has predominantly been researched as stable interpersonal 'trait' factor. However, the micro-temporal within-person 'state' perspective on self-efficacy remains uncharted.

Objectives: To tackle this research gap, we conducted a scoping review and examined (1) time-sensitive (i.e., assessment time span) and (2) theory-conform operationalization of self-efficacy measures as well as (3) within-person variance reports from ecological momentary assessment studies in the physical activity context among healthy adults.

Methods: A scoping review of English articles using PsycINFO, PsycArticles, PSYNDEX, SPORTDiscus and PubMed was conducted up to September 2025. Eligible studies focused on (1) physical activity in (2) healthy adults aged + 18 years and (3) applied multiple within-day, daily or weekly assessments of self-efficacy. Findings were summarized through quantitative analysis of the evidence.

Results: A total of 13 studies was included. Most studies assessed self-efficacy through multiple assessments per day and with a focus on the near future (i.e., next few hours post ecological momentary assessment). The 13 identified self-efficacy items were operationalized according to self-efficacy theory, but varied in semantics, psychometrics, and source. Five studies reported intraclass correlation coefficients that revealed self-efficacy within-person variance to range between 51% and 89%.

Conclusions: Given the pivotal role of self-efficacy across various health-behavior theories and the recent relevance attributed to micro-temporal within-subject processes, thus far surprisingly few studies researched how self-efficacy unfolds within-persons across time. However, the few studies identified provide initial evidence that self-efficacy varies within individuals across time in everyday life, including a tendency towards higher within-person variance for momentary versus day level assessments, and thereby empirically supporting dual process models. Items were assessed dynamically using repeated measures per day and according to theory but differed in conceptual and semantic features. Future research is encouraged to further investigate how self-efficacy unfolds across time, by testing various sampling strategies and applying advanced designs to shed light on the precise timing of effects and to inform adaptive and expedient intervention development.

Cyanide is extensively used in hydrometallurgical leaching due to its strong metal-chelating ability, yet its acute toxicity raises major environmental concerns. This study evaluates photoactivated BiVO₄ synthesized by the sol-gel method and combined with ozone for the degradation of metal-cyanide complexes in alkaline matrices (pH 10.5) containing silver, copper, iron, lead, and zinc, representative of effluents from silver leaching in the Mexican mining industry. Synthetic solutions were prepared and characterized to reproduce these conditions. Thermodynamic stability diagrams indicated that free cyanide and complexes such as Ag(CN)₂⁻, Cu(CN)₃²⁻, and Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ persist at alkaline pH, while lead and zinc showed no tendency to form stable cyanide complexes. Oxidative treatments favored complex dissociation, with cyanate predicted as the main by-product; experimentally, ammonium was identified as the dominant degradation product. The BiVO₄/ozone system under irradiation demonstrated superior performance compared to individual processes, achieving faster cyanide abatement and improved efficiency. Kinetics followed a modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood model that accounted for both surface-mediated photocatalysis and bulk-phase ozone reactions. Complete cyanide removal was achieved in two consecutive cycles, though partial deactivation occurred in the third cycle due to BiVO₄ surface poisoning by adsorbed metals, confirmed by SEM/EDS and atomic absorption. Despite gradual loss of activity, the coupled process consistently removed both free and complexed cyanide while reducing ozone demand compared with conventional ozonation. These findings highlight photocatalytic ozonation with BiVO₄ as a promising and sustainable strategy for the treatment of metallurgical effluents, offering efficient pollutant degradation and lower oxidant consumption in comparison with conventional approaches.

L-asparaginase (ASNase) is one of the most clinically relevant biopharmaceuticals but proteolysis impairs the enzyme half-life. ASNase P40S/S206C was developed to overcome proteolysis and in addition pegylation can be used to improve half-life and thermostability. Here Cys206 and N-terminal residues were explored as pegylation sites for a potential new biobetter. Optimal mono-pegylation of Cys (Cys-PEG-ASNase) provided similar yields compared to N-terminal mono-pegylation (NT-PEG-ASNase) but at lower PEG concentration. Specific activity was higher for Cys-PEG-ASNase than NT-PEG-ASNase. The role of pegylation site in activity was confirmed by activation energy (Ea) and enthalpy variation (ΔH_70ºC) of the ASNase-catalysed reaction. Pegylation in both sites increased enzyme thermostability and consequently shelf-life stability. The variation of Gibbs free-energy of enzyme thermo-inactivation (ΔG_d) showed higher stabilization by Cys conjugation, while enthalpy (ΔH_d) and entropy (ΔS_d) evidenced an increase in aggregation upon thermo-inactivation, higher for Cys-PEG-ASNase.

As a far-reaching initiative in China's air pollution control and energy transition efforts, the clean heating policy has sparked considerable debate in both academia and practice regarding its effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions. This study uses panel data from 15 prefecture-level cities in northern China from 2013 to 2023 and constructs a multi-period difference-in-differences model to empirically examine the impact of the clean heating policy on regional carbon emissions. The results are summarized as follows: (1) The policy effectively promotes the reduction of regional unit GDP and per capita carbon emission intensity in Northern China, but it has no evident effect on regional total carbon emissions. (2) The policy can exert the multiplier effect of the central government funds and structural effect to facilitate regional low-carbon transformation, but no significant Porter effect has been observed. (3) The carbon reduction effects exhibit significant regional heterogeneity. The policy has a more significant effect on carbon emissions of nonprovincial capital cities, coal-resource cities, and regions without coal power output, but it may significantly increase emissions in coal power-exporting regions. The clean heating policy should continue to be vigorously implemented, but its implementation strategy should be optimized by strengthening the transmission mechanism and addressing regional differences.