ACS Omega最新文献

Antibiotics used in the swine industry to treat diseases and improve animal growth are poorly absorbed by swine and have been classified as micropollutants due to their occurrence in surface water, wastewater, and soil. This study investigated the capacity of biochar produced from eastern red cedar to remove target antibiotics that have been extensively used in the swine industry. Biochar was produced by pyrolysis from eastern red cedar at 450 °C. The sorption tests were performed by mixing biochar and a solution (1:10 ratio) containing each antibiotic in 100, 300, 600, and 900 μg L^–1 concentrations. The results indicate that red cedar biochar was able to effectively remove up to 99.93% tetracycline, 96.23% oxytetracycline, 98.28% chlortetracycline, 76.4% sulfadiazine, and 78.6% sulfamethazine at the lowest concentrations. The removal efficiencies at higher concentrations declined up to 83.52, 47.23, 64.16, 69.8, and 58.4% for tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, sulfadiazine, and sulfamethazine, respectively. The biochar exhibited stronger adsorption capacity for chlortetracycline and sulfamethazine compared to the other antibiotics. The likely adsorption mechanisms driving the removal of tetracyclines and sulfonamides are hydrogen-bonding and π–π electron-donor–acceptor, supported by FTIR analyses of the biochar itself. Overall, the results highlighted the potential utilization of eastern red cedar biochar for practical applications, mitigating antibiotic residues from swine wastewater in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner due to its relatively low pyrolysis temperature (450 °C) and sustainable repurposing of an invasive tree species.

Ischemeia–reperfusion (I/R) injury is a severe complication after restoring blood perfusion in acute myocardial infarction treatment, in which vascular endothelial cell dysfunction is considered as the key event to exacerbate myocardial injury. We have previously verified the protective function of ZNF580 in endothelial cells, however, the impact of ZNF580 on I/R injury and its underlying mechanisms have not been explored in depth. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the regulatory role of ZNF580 on myocardial I/R injury and confirm that ZNF580 is a potential therapeutic candidate for I/R injury treatment. The potential mechanism of ZNF580 in I/R injury was determined via bioinformatics. A model of I/R injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was subsequently established to confirm whether ZNF580 protects against I/R injury and whether this protective effect is exerted through the regulation of autophagic flow. Our study identified 459 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in I/R injury. ZNF580 increased cell viability and gradually restored cell morphology, the cytoplasm was full, the intracellular structure was clear, and the cell space was significantly reduced in HUVECs exposed to I/R injury. Both Western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the levels of different apoptosis-related proteins, it is shown that the ZNF580 significantly increased lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2) and light chain 3 (LC3) expressions, and markedly decreased protein 62 (P62) expression. Moreover, ZNF580 decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in the supernatant and the rate of apoptosis. ZNF580 promoted autophagosome and lysosome fusion and increased autophagic flux, thereby protecting HUVECs from I/R injury. Its protective effect is possibly related to the activation of the adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway.

This work aims at solving the problem of prevention and control of coal and gas outburst disasters that are dominated by stress in a deep coal seam. It is found that hydraulic slotting and gas extraction lead to double pressure relief for the coal seam stress and gas. A double pressure relief coefficient is proposed. Mechanical seepage experiments of horizontal fracture coal samples with different double pressure relief coefficients are designed (K = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5). This study determined the evolution mechanism and mathematical model of the macro–fine–microstructure of coal seam fracture under the action of stress and gas relief. The results show that the fracture of horizontal slot coal has a tendency to weaken gradually with the increase of the double pressure relief coefficient K. The macrofracture plays a more dominant role than the microfracture. When K = 1.0 (Δσ = ΔP), the macrofracture is the most developed. When K = 0.5 (Δσ = 0.5ΔP), the mesofracture is the most developed. Before and after the experiment, the proportion of micropores and small pores is the largest, followed by the proportion of large pores, and the proportion of middle holes is the smallest. After the experiment, the proportion of medium and large pores increases, while the proportion of micro- and small pores decreases. The relationship between the fracture parameters and the double pressure relief coefficient K is quadratic or cubic. The relationship between pore size and cumulative volume ratio is a logarithmic function. This study provides a scientific basis for double pressure relief and permeability improvement of stress and gas in coal seams, efficient extraction, and effective outburst prevention.

Waste flowers constitute a significant portion of organic waste, offering the potential for sustainable waste management through pyrolysis. This study explores the pyrolysis behavior, kinetic parameters, and biochar production from waste flowers. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to examine thermal degradation characteristics under varying heating rates (10, 20, and 50 °C min^–1). Kinetic analysis was performed using model-free methods such as the Friedman method (FM), Ozawa–Flynn–Wall (OFW), Starink method (STM), Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), and Criado model to determine the pyrolysis kinetic parameters. Further, the biochar was produced in a semibatch reactor at 450 °C with a 10 °C min^–1 heating rate and 100 mL min^–1 nitrogen flow rate. The characterization of the biochar included proximate and elemental analysis, calorific value, bulk density, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, pH, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and water-holding capacity. The decomposition results were confirmed in three stages: moisture removal, active pyrolysis, and residue formation. Kinetic results revealed a multistep reaction mechanism, with average activation energies of 236.35, 232.29, 234.74, and 221.50 kJ mol^–1 derived from KAS, OFW, STM, and FM, respectively. Pyrolysis of marigold flowers (MG) yielded 36.64 wt % biochar at 450 and 10 °C min^–1 heating rate. Further, the biochar exhibited a 57.10% carbon content, 33.57 MJ kg^–1 higher heating value (HHV), 9.96 m² g^–1 BET surface area, and 29.14 mV zeta potential, demonstrating its potential for soil amendment, carbon sequestration, and pollutant adsorption. This study emphasizes the value of MG as a feedstock for biochar production, contributing to circular economy initiatives.

Since their inception in the early 1960s, the use of nanoscale materials has progressed in leaps and bounds, and their role in diverse fields ranging from human health to energy is undeniable. In this report, we utilize the CAS Content Collection, a vast repository of scientific information extracted from journals and patent publications, to identify emerging topics in this field. This involves understanding trends, such as the growth of certain topics over time, as well as establishing relationships among emerging topics. We achieved this by using a host of strategies including a quantitative natural language processing (NLP) approach to identify over 270 emerging topics and subtopics across three major categories─materials, applications, and properties─by surveying over 3 million documents spanning across two decades in the nanoscience landscape. This wealth of information has been condensed into several conceptual Trendscape maps and other data visualizations, providing metrics related to the growth of identified emerging concepts, and grouped into hierarchical classes, and the connections between them have been explored. Our extensive analysis taking advantage of an NLP-based approach along with robust CAS indexing provides valuable insights in the field that we hope can help to inform and drive future research efforts. In a series of interconnected papers, we will present our findings from this project, with a focus on four major applications of nanoscale materials─drug delivery, sensors, energy, and catalysis─to provide a more comprehensive and detailed picture of the use of nanotechnology in these fields.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common healthcare-related infections caused by biofilm formation. This research investigated the efficacy of polypyrrole (PPy), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and their combination (PPy/AgNPs) as water-soluble additives applied in cleaning procedures for preventing the formation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (single and dual-species biofilms) on silicone. Ultraviolet-visible absorption assays, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, FTIR analysis, and dynamic light scattering experiments were conducted to evaluate the structure and physicochemical response of the antibiofilm compounds, with the biofilm prevention concentrations assessed by plate counting, flow cytometry, and SEM images. The composites proved to be dose-dependent agents preventing single- and dual-species biofilms from forming under simulated CAUTI conditions. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays indicated that the materials are non-cytotoxic, supporting their suitability for biomedical applications. These findings pave the way for developing more effective, biocompatible catheter cleaning procedures, ultimately improving patient outcomes and addressing biofilms-related infections in clinical settings.

A novel Sc₂O₃-SiO₂ catalyst was explored and evaluated for the upgrade of ethanol and acetaldehyde to butadiene. Notably, the Sc₂O₃-SiO₂ catalyst with a Sc/Si molar ratio of 0.06 demonstrated exceptional performance, exhibiting the highest selectivity of 81.7% for butadiene alongside a selectivity of 10.2% for butanol. When the Sc/Si ratio was increased to 0.3, the butanol selectivity increased to 30.0%. To elucidate the underlying factors governing these results, detailed characterizations of the catalysts structure and acidic-basic properties were conducted for the Sc₂O₃-SiO₂ materials. The analyses revealed that the higher percentage of strong acidic sites in total acidic sites was conducive to higher butadiene yield, while the increased density of strong basic sites correlated with higher butanol selectivity.

The energy demand of future generations cannot be realized by fossil fuel resources due to their exhaustible nature and the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiesel is a potential renewable energy that can replace petro-diesel. However, it is required to improve cold flow properties, engine performance, and emission characteristics of biodiesel. In this study, a 3-armed glyceryl lactate bioadditive was used with Al₂O₃-NPs simultaneously to enhance engine performance and reduce emissions. 3-Armed Gly-lac can be used as a cold flow improver, oxygenate additive, and dispersant for Al₂O₃-NPs. It was synthesized from glycerol and lactic acid. The biodiesel used in this study was also synthesized from soybean oil and methanol through a trans-esterification reaction. Al₂O₃-NPs were synthesized by a sol–gel method and characterized using UV–vis, FTIR spectroscopy, PSA, and XRD. The effect of Al₂O₃-NP-dispersed 3-armed Gly-lac on the cloud point (CP) and pour point (PP) of biodiesel was studied. The synergetic effects of Gly-lac and Al₂O₃-NPs (various loading rates) on the engine performance and emission characteristics were also investigated. Addition of Gly-lac and Al₂O₃-NPs (3 wt %) into the biodiesel brought a maximum reduction in the CP and PP by 7 and 9.44 °C, respectively, as compared to pure biodiesel. Similarly, the addition of Gly-lac and Al₂O₃-NPs (3 wt %) into B20 brought a maximum improvement in the brake power and brake thermal efficiency by 0.843 kW and 6.837%, respectively, during full load operation. However, the brake-specific fuel consumption was reduced by 25.26%. Maximum reduction in emissions of unburned HC, NO_x, and CO by 61.20%, 24.42%, and 39.52% were obtained, respectively, when 3 wt % Al₂O₃-NP/3-armed Gly-lac was used as an additive compared to B20.

With the advancement of hydrogen energy, hydrogen-blended fuels have gained widespread application in industrial and energy sectors, drawing significant attention to the explosion characteristics and safety risks associated with hydrogen/propane (H₂/C₃H₈) gas mixtures. To effectively mitigate these explosion risks, this study investigates the inerting effects of various nitrogen (N₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) dilution ratios on H₂/C₃H₈ gas mixtures. The CHEMKIN-Pro software was employed to simulate the explosion and inerting properties of these mixtures, analyzing parameters such as adiabatic explosion pressure, flame temperature, concentrations of key radicals, heat release rate, and sensitivity of elementary reactions. The results indicate that an increase in the CO₂ dilution ratio corresponds to a linear decrease in both the adiabatic explosion pressure and the flame temperature. Furthermore, a higher CO₂ dilution ratio leads to a decline in the heat release rate and the generation rates of H, O, and OH radicals, with the generation rate of H radicals experiencing the most notable reduction. Sensitivity analysis of elementary reactions reveals that reaction R1: H + O₂ = O + OH has the most significant promoting effect, while R410: C₃H₈ + H = H₂ + iC₃H₇ exhibits a pronounced inhibitory effect. CO₂ effectively suppresses and transforms key intermediates through specific reaction pathways (such as R52: CH + CO₂ = HCO + CO and R79: CH₂ + CO₂ = CH₂O + CO), thus reducing the overall heat release rate of the reactions. This study offers important theoretical insights into the inhibitory role of inert gases in H₂/C₃H₈ gas mixtures, providing a foundation for safety management and the advancement of clean energy technologies.

Cyclotides are unique cyclic mini proteins derived from plants which are recognized for the distinctive cyclic cystine knot (CCK) structure and the cyclized backbone. To date, more than 760 sequences of cyclotides have been identified across five major families, making them the largest known group of cyclic peptides. These cyclic peptides derived from plants have garnered significant attention due to their remarkable structural stability and diverse bioactivities, including potent insecticidal properties, which offer a promising alternative to conventional pesticides that are often associated with environmental toxicity and resistance development in pests. Advances in transgenic technology have opened new avenues for the sustainable and targeted deployment of cyclotides in pest management. By incorporating cyclotide genes into crops, plants can gain enhanced self-defense mechanisms against insect pests, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and mitigating ecological impact. This review explores the molecular features essential in cyclotides’ insecticidal activity, the latest breakthroughs in transgenic strategies for cyclotide expression in crops, and the potential challenges and future prospects of this innovative approach. By highlighting the synergy between natural bioactive compounds and genetic engineering, this work underscores the potential of cyclotides as next-generation, eco-friendly biopesticides to address global agricultural challenges.