Heliyon最新文献

When dumping coloured effluent into the ecosystem, methylene blue dye contributes significantly to environmental health problems. In this investigation, Schoenoplectus species, commonly known as Bulrush, underwent modification using a Fenton reagent to enhance its effectiveness in adsorbing methylene blue (MB) from effluent. The Fenton-treated Bulrush was analysed using SEM, FTIR, BET, and TGA techniques, while various operational parameters were systematically explored to optimise the adsorbent. The FTIR results revealed an increase in the intensity of chemical compounds (-OH, C=C, and C-O, etc.). The FTIR data showed an increase in the intensity of chemical compounds (-OH, C=C, and C-O, among others) and aromatic structures on the exterior of the adsorbent, which aided in MB removal. The results exhibited conformity with the Langmuir model, with an R² value of 0.9904 with an optimal adsorption capacity of 41.23 mg/g achieved for the Fenton-treated Bulrush. Kinetic analysis indicated adherence to the pseudo-second-order model (R² = 1), with chemical bonding adsorption primarily governing the adsorption rate. Optimal adsorption conditions were determined to be 26 °C, pH 8, a reaction time of 60 min, a dosing amount of 2 g, and a preliminary concentration of 100 mg/L. Enhanced pH and increased dosing of Fenton-treated Bulrush led to improved adsorption capacity. Crystal structural characteristics and surface functional groupings of Fenton-treated Bulrush emerged as crucial factors influencing adsorption, describing the three main processes that control MB absorption by the adsorbent: physical adsorption, electrostatic attraction, and π-π interaction. These processes demonstrated the economical, efficient, and environmentally friendly attributes of Fenton-treated Bulrush, which shows promise for eliminating dye contaminants from aquatic environments.

In this study, Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃ NPs) were synthesized using iron chloride hexahydrate (FeCl₃·6H₂O) and ammonia solution through a straightforward co-precipitation method. The nanoparticles were annealed at temperatures of 100 °C, 300 °C, 500 °C, 700 °C, and 900 °C, with one sample left unannealed. Comprehensive analyses were performed using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta potential, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis Spectrophotometry. The XRD patterns confirmed the presence of both Maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) and Hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) phases, with a phase transition observed between 100 °C and 300 °C, and the most pronounced transition occurring at 500 °C. At this optimal temperature, the crystallite size was 19.14 nm, the average particle size was 37.36 nm, and the band gap energy was measured at 1.76 eV. SEM images revealed that nanoparticles formed clusters as the annealing temperature increased. The zeta potential measurements showed a range from 6.12 mV at 100 °C to -1.9 mV at 900 °C, indicating changes in particle stability. DLS analysis indicated a size increase from 86.81 nm at 300 °C to 1577 nm at 900 °C, reflecting aggregation trends. The reduction in band gap energy with higher temperatures is attributed to enhanced crystallinity and increased particle size. The magnetic properties of Fe₂O₃ NPs were evaluated using a Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS), revealing an increase in magnetic response with rising annealing temperatures. The transition from superparamagnetic γ-Fe₂O₃ to weakly ferromagnetic α-Fe₂O₃ was confirmed through changes in the hysteresis loop area and shape. These findings suggest that 500 °C is the optimal annealing temperature for producing Fe₂O₃ NPs with desirable properties for applications in targeted drug delivery, MRI contrast enhancement, and environmental remediation. This research advances the engineering of Fe₂O₃ NPs, paving the way for their use in various technological applications.

Aim: To evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of ceramic and metallic orthodontic brackets bonded to lithium disilicate ceramics or hybrid ceramics and subjected to different surface conditioning treatments.

Materials and methods: In total, 300 specimens were fabricated from GC LiSi (lithium disilicate) and GC Cerasmart (hybrid) ceramic blocks. The specimens were divided into four groups according to the following surface treatments: hydrofluoric acid (HF); sandblasting with 50 μm aluminum oxide; Monobond Etch and Prime; and erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er-YAG) laser. Metal (Victory Series) and ceramic (Clarity) brackets were bonded using an orthodontic adhesive resin (Transbond XT; 3M Unitek, CA, USA). The specimens were then stored in three different mediums (artificial saliva, mouth rinse, and gastric juice) and thermocycled. An SBS test was performed after 1 week. The surface morphology was examined after the conditioning treatments using a scanning electron microscope. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, t-test, and Duncan test.

Results: The SBS data revealed that the type of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) block and surface conditioning method significantly affected the SBS. The highest SBS was recorded (10.112 MPa) for the HF-treated hybrid ceramic blocks stored in the saliva medium, while the lowest SBS (1.862 MPa) was reported for the Er-YAG laser-treated lithium disilicate ceramic blocks stored in the gastric juice medium. GC Cerasmart exhibited better bond strength than that of GC LiSi; however, no significant difference was observed between the ceramic and metal brackets.

Conclusion: The CAD/CAM material, surface conditioning method, and medium affect the SBS.

This study explores the synergistic effects of gas composition and electric field modulation on beetroot seed germination using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma. The investigation initially focuses on the impact of air plasma exposure on germination parameters, varying both voltage and treatment duration. Subsequently, the study examines how different gas compositions (argon, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide) affect germination outcomes under optimal air plasma conditions. Results indicate that plasma treatment significantly enhances germination rates and seedling growth relative to untreated controls. Notably, plasma exposure alters seed surface morphology and chemistry, increasing roughness, porosity, and hydrophilicity due to the formation of new polar functional groups. The highest germination rate (a 54.84 % increase) and germination index (a 40.11 % increase) were observed at the lowest voltage and shortest duration, whereas higher voltages and prolonged exposure reduced germination, likely due to oxidative stress. Among the tested gas environments, air plasma was most effective in enhancing water uptake and electrical conductivity, while oxygen plasma resulted in the highest germination index and marked improvements in root and shoot length. Conversely, carbon dioxide plasma treatment exhibited inhibitory effects on both germination and subsequent growth metrics. The results highlight the potential of DBD plasma technology to enhance agricultural productivity by optimizing seed germination and early growth. The study emphasizes the importance of precise parameter tuning, particularly gas composition and plasma exposure conditions, to maximize benefits while minimizing adverse effects, offering a refined approach to seed priming in agricultural practices.

This study focused on developing and evaluating a continuous flow photoreactor with an immobilized photocatalyst. The titanium dioxide powder was deposited on glass beads and packed into sequentially connected columns surrounded by LED lamps. The volume of the reactor without beads is 2.4 L, and with beads, 0.8 L. The photocatalytic efficiency of the reactor was evaluated by observing the degradation of Plasmocorinth B pollutant and selected pharmaceuticals (ibuprofen, sulfamethoxazole and diclofenac) at different flow rates under illumination of varying number of lights in deionized water and ISO medium. CFD simulations were performed to analyze the velocity and radiation field. The relationship between mass transfer and reaction kinetics was quantitatively evaluated by calculating the Peclet number, Damköhler number, and mass transfer coefficients. Total organic carbon (TOC) was also measured in the resulting solutions to determine the rate of mineralization. The toxicity tests were performed by exposing the solutions to the planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna for 48 h. The results showed that the number of lights directly and the flow rate inversely affected the degradation of the parent compound. At lower flow rates, total degradation of 87-97 % of the contaminants was observed in one flow and halving the light intensity resulted in a 10-15 % decrease in overall degradation. The toxicity tests showed that toxic transformation products were formed and were present until the complete degradation of the parent compound, after which they were also degraded. This study shows that the continuous flow photoreactor presents a potential solution for large-scale wastewater treatment.

Background: Endothelial cell dysfunction and microcirculatory disturbances play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of sepsis. This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the relationship of the plasma levels of the key endothelial proteins intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) with clinical outcomes in patients with sepsis.

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through November 28, 2023. ICAM1 and VCAM1 levels and patient outcomes were evaluated. The primary outcome was the relationship of sepsis with ICAM1 or VCAM1. The secondary outcomes were the relationships of septic shock and multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) with ICAM1 and VCAM1. Variables were compared using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Forty-one studies were included. ICAM1 (SMD = 1.12, 95 % CI = 0.67, 1.57; P < 0.00001) and VCAM1 (SMD = 0.65; 95 % CI = 0.17, 1.13; P = 0.008) were associated with sepsis. Similarly, both ICAM1 (SMD = 2.30; 95 % CI = 1.30, 3.31; P < 0.00001) and VCAM1 (SMD = 0.93; 95 % CI = 0.27, 1.59; P = 0.006) were associated with MODS. ICAM1 was associated with septic shock (SMD = 1.93; 95 % CI = 0.55, 3.30; P = 0.006), overall mortality (SMD = -1.18; 95 % CI = -1.76, -0.61; P < 0.0001), and sepsis-related mortality (SMD = -0.64; 95 % CI = -0.88, -0.39; P < 0.00001). VCAM1 was associated with overall mortality (SMD = -0.71; 95 % CI = -1.02, -0.40; P < 0.00001), sepsis-related mortality (SMD = -0.62; 95 % CI = -1.14, -0.10; P = 0.02), and MODS-related mortality (SMD = -0.55; 95 % CI = -0.89, -0.21; P = 0.002).

Conclusion: Elevated plasma ICAM1 and VCAM1 levels could increase the risks of sepsis, septic shock, MODS, and mortality.

Against the backdrop of increasingly severe global climate change, it has become an inevitable choice to promote the transformation of agriculture oriented to climate smart agriculture. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate realistic problem faced by China's agricultural transformation and identify key factors affecting agricultural development under the background of climate change. The paper constructs a linear econometric model and employes time series data from 1990 to 2019 to empirically test the impact of climate change and agricultural investment on agriculture in China. The results indicate that climate change has a negative impact on agriculture, while agricultural investment has a positive impact. Therefore, it is necessary to promote agricultural transformation oriented to climate smart agriculture. To this end, China must vigorously promote agricultural system reform, accelerate agricultural technological innovation, accelerate the development of agricultural big data and informatization, and strengthen financial support for agriculture.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered daily routines and lifestyle behaviors worldwide, potentially significantly impacting physical activity levels, especially among adolescents. Understanding these changes is crucial for developing targeted interventions to promote health and well-being in this vulnerable population. This paper will explore longitudinal trends of physical activities (PA) in Korean adolescents, focusing on changes between the pre and late-COVID-19 pandemic periods.

Methods: The data used were from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey for consecutive years from 2009 to 2022. In this study, we have separated data into the pre-COVID-19 pandemic (2009-2019) and the pandemic. Following the World Health Organization (WHO)'s guideline, we analyzed adolescent self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Results: A total of 890,941 adolescents, people aged between 12 and 18 years old. The 14-year trends in MVPA showed an upward trend both before the pandemic (β, 0.005; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.004-0.005) and during the pandemic (β, 0.004; 0.002-0.006). Furthermore, the prevalence of MVPA recovered/increased in 2022 (5.61 % in 2020, 5.22 % in 2021, and 6.34 % in 2022). Similar to the MVPA patterns, the mean metabolic equivalent task (MET) score increased during before the pandemic (β, 15.392; 12.523-18.261) and during the pandemic (β, 49.518; 41.948-57.088). However, unlike MVPA patterns, the MET slope changed positively (β_diff, 34.126; 26.031-42.221).

Conclusion: Present findings suggest that Korean adolescents achieving the recommended PA levels by the WHO remained steady despite the pandemic. This stability in PA levels during a significant disruption (i.e. the COVID-19 pandemic) is noteworthy and warrants further investigation into the factors that may have contributed to this resilience, including potential influences from various societal and environmental elements.

Unexplainable gastrointestinal complaints occasionally occur after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surgery. We therefor investigated the impact of microbiota composition and metabolites on gastrointestinal complaints after RYGB. In the BARICO study (Bariatric surgery Rijnstate and Radboudumc neuroimaging and Cognition in Obesity), microbiota and metabolites were measured before surgery, and 6, and 24 months after surgery. Gastrointestinal complaints were assessed with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) questionnaire 24 months after surgery. 65 participants (86.2 % female) with a mean age of 46.2 ± 6.0 years, and mean BMI of 41.2 ± 3.6 kg/m² were included. According to the IBS-SSS questionnaire, 32.3 % had moderate/severe gastrointestinal complaints 24 months after surgery. Microbiota alpha diversity remained stable, while beta diversity significantly changed over time. Bile acids and short-chain fatty acids were significantly higher, and inflammatory markers significantly lower after surgery. Barnesiella sp., Escherichia/Shigella sp., and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii correlated positively, while Akkermansia sp correlated inversely with gastrointestinal complaints. Patients with mild and moderate/severe gastrointestinal complaints showed higher levels of GLC-3S. These findings suggest involvement of microbiota and metabolite changes in gastrointestinal complaints after surgery. However, it remains unclear whether bacteria influence gastrointestinal complaints directly or indirectly. Further exploration is required for development of interventions against gastrointestinal symptoms after surgery.