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Marine Pollution Bulletin Jun 2024Microplastics (MPs) are the pollutants, found widely across various environmental media. However, studies on the MP pollution in urban rivers and the necessary risk...
Microplastics (MPs) are the pollutants, found widely across various environmental media. However, studies on the MP pollution in urban rivers and the necessary risk assessments remain limited. In this study, the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in a typical urban river were examined to evaluate their distribution, sources, and ecological risks. It was observed that the abundance of MPs in sediments (220-2840 items·kg dry weight (DW)) was much higher than that in surface water (2.9-10.3 items·L), indicating that the sediment is the "sink" of river MPs. Surface water and sediment were dominated by small particle size MPs (< 0.5 mm). Fiber and debris were common shapes of MPs in rivers and sediments. The microplastics in river water and sediments were primarily white and transparent, respectively. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were the major polymers found.
PubMed: 38950516
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116656 -
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Jun 2024Si-air batteries have a high energy density, high theoretical voltage, and long lifetime, but they present a low anode utilization rate in a potassium hydroxide...
Si-air batteries have a high energy density, high theoretical voltage, and long lifetime, but they present a low anode utilization rate in a potassium hydroxide electrolyte. In this work, a ZIF-8 protective layer was prepared and modulated by a secondary growth method and then applied to protect the Si flat and Si nanowire (NW) anodes of a Si-air battery. By adjusting the conversion ratio, particle size, and crystallinity of ZIF-8 on the Si surface, the contact mode of the Si anode with water and OH was controlled, thus achieving long-term corrosion and passivation resistance. Si NWs@ZIF-8 exhibited the highest average discharge voltage of 1.16 V, and the Si flat@ZIF-8 anode achieved the longest discharge time of 420 h. This work confirms that ZIF-8 acts as an anode protective layer to improve the properties of Si-air batteries and also provides valuable insights into the protection of Si anodes by MOFs.
PubMed: 38950471
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.06.134 -
Optics Letters Jul 2024We propose a new, to the best of our knowledge, rainbow technique called three-dimensional rainbow refractometry (TDRR), with a cylindrical lens in the signal collecting...
We propose a new, to the best of our knowledge, rainbow technique called three-dimensional rainbow refractometry (TDRR), with a cylindrical lens in the signal collecting system. With a TDRR model based on the ray transfer matrix developed, it is proved that the tilt angle of the rainbow signal is related to the axial position of the droplet, which helps to obtain the 3D position. By converting rainbow scattering angle calibration into the system parameter calibration, a new rainbow data processing program is written in combination with the model to obtain the refractive index and the particle size. With TDRR, we measured a monodisperse droplet stream of deionized water at room temperature for experimental validation and obtained the refractive index with an absolute error of less than 0.0015, the droplet size with an error within ±5%, and the axial position with an error within ±3%, which demonstrated a high accuracy of TDRR.
PubMed: 38950261
DOI: 10.1364/OL.525009 -
International Journal of... Jul 2024Green synthesis of nanomaterials is advancing due to their ease of synthesis, cheapness, nontoxicity, and renewability. An environmentally friendly biogenic method has...
Green synthesis of nanomaterials is advancing due to their ease of synthesis, cheapness, nontoxicity, and renewability. An environmentally friendly biogenic method has been developed for the green synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) using phytochemical-rich bioextract. They are rich in bioextract phenolics, flavonoids, and berberine. These phytochemicals successfully reduce and stabilize NiNO into NiO NPs. In this study, NiO NPs were synthesized by the green synthesis method from Lupinus Albus. Characterization of NiO NPs was carried out by TEM, XRD, SEM, UV, XRF, BET, and EDX analyses. According to XRD analysis, TEM results also support this, where the NiO NPs particle size diameter is 5 nm. It was determined by the Tauc equation that the band energy gap of NiO NPs is 1.69 eV. It was determined that the BET surface area of NiO NPs was 49.6 m/g. NiO nanoparticles synthesized from Lupinus Albus extract by the green synthesis method were used as catalysts in the photocatalytic reduction of methylene blue with NaBH. In the photocatalytic reduction of methylene blue with NaBH, it was determined that there was no color change in 48 h without a catalyst, and in the presence of NiO nanoparticle catalyst, methylene blue was reduced by 97% in 8 min. The kinetics of the photocatalytic reduction of methylene blue with NaBH is a pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the kinetic rate constant is determined as 0.66 min, indicating that the catalytic effect of NiO NPs is very high at this value. NiO NPs were used five times in the photocatalytic reduction of methylene blue with NaBH and it was determined that the reduction of methylene blue was over 90% in each use.
PubMed: 38949210
DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2024.2371914 -
Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi =... Jul 2024To investigate the therapeutic effect of methotrexate loaded vesicles on experimental periodontitis in mice. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were isolated from human...
To investigate the therapeutic effect of methotrexate loaded vesicles on experimental periodontitis in mice. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were isolated from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSC). Methotrexate loaded vesicles (MTX-EVs) were constructed, whose morphology and size were analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy and particle size analyzer. Western blotting was used to identify their surface specific proteins. C57BL/6J male mice of 4-5 weeks (provided by Experimental Animal Center of the Fourth Military Medical University) were selected, among which 8 were randomly selected by blind grasp method without treatment and fed normally as normal group, and others were induced to periodontitis models by local injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the periodontium. The LPS was injected once every day with a concentration of 2 g/L and a volume of 5 μl, lasting for two weeks. The mice with successfully induced periodontitis were randomly divided into 4 groups by blind grasping method, with 8 mice in each group. The LPS group was with no treatment, and the other three groups were treated with periodontal local injection of MTX, EVs or MTX-EVs, respectively. Two weeks later, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expressions of inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in gingival tissue. The amount of alveolar bone resorption of four groups was detected by using micro-CT scanning and HE staining. The expression proportion of the inflammatory factor in gingival tissue was analyzed by using flow cytometry. The scanning electron microscopy results showed that EVs and MTX-EVs were circular or elliptical in shape. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) particle size analysis showed that the particle size of EVs was around 200 nm, while that of MTX-EVs was around 300 nm. The ELISA results showed IL-1β levels in the normal group, LPS group, LPS+MTX group, LPS+EVs group and LPS+MTX-EVs group were (28.86±2.76), (51.50±2.04), (35.26±2.40), (45.49±2.04) and (35.77±3.49) ng/L. That is, the IL-1β concentrations in the LPS+MTX group, LPS+EVs group and LPS+MTX-EVs group were significantly lower than that in the LPS group (0.05); the mass concentration of IL-1β in the LPS +MTX-EVs group was significantly lower than that in the LPS+EVs group (0.05). The concentrations of IL-6 in the normal group, LPS group, LPS+MTX group, LPS+EVs group and LPS+MTX-EVs group were (125.44±4.12), (221.64±10.59), (178.16±16.90), (181.09±18.22) and (170.15±9.04) ng/L, among which the concentration of IL-6 in the last three groups were significantly lower than that in the LPS group (0.05). The mass concentration of IL-6 in the LPS+MTX-EVs group was significantly lower than those in the LPS+MTX group and LPS+EVs group (0.05). The concentrations of TNF-α in the normal group, LPS group, LPS+MTX group, LPS+EVs group and LPS+MTX-EVs group were (320.27±38.68), (479.62±40.94), (342.18±25.89), (415.88±12.01) and (325.75±30.83) ng/L, among which the concentrations of last three groups were significantly lower than the LPS group (0.05); the mass concentration of TNF-α in the LPS+MTX-EVs group was significantly lower than those in the LPS+EVs group and LPS+MTX group (0.05). The micro-CT results showed that the distance of cement-enamel junction-alveolar bone crest (CEJ-ABC) of the first molar and root (M1R1) in the normal group, LPS group, LPS+MTX group, LPS+EVs group and LPS+MTX-EVs group of mice were (0.11±0.03), (0.28±0.02), (0.23±0.03), (0.20±0.04), and (0.18±0.03) mm, respectively. Compared with the LPS group, the CEJ-ABC of the M1R1 in the LPS+MTX group, LPS+EVs group and LPS+MTX-EVs group were inhibited to varied degrees with statistically significant differences (0.05). Among them, LPS+MTX-EVs group had the best bone resorption inhibitioin effect compared to LPS+MTX group and LPS+EVs group, and the differences were statistically significant (0.05). The flow cytometry results indicated that the proportion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) positive cells was (11.77±1.02)% in the LPS group, (6.87±0.65)% in the LPS+EVs group, and (4.15±0.92)% in the LPS+MTX-EVs group, respectively. The proportions of IFN-γ positive cells in the LPS+EVs group and LPS+MTX-EVs group were significantly lower than that in the LPS group (0.05), while the ratio of IFN-γ positive cells in the LPS+MTX-EVs group was found significantly lower than that in the LPS+EVs group (0.05). MTX-EVs can effectively alleviate the periodontal local inflammatory environment and reduce bone resorption of alveolar bone in periodontitis model mice.
PubMed: 38949136
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112144-20231114-00249 -
Journal of Separation Science Jul 2024Glycosylation and phosphorylation rank as paramount post-translational modifications, and their analysis heavily relies on enrichment techniques. In this work, a facile...
One-step enrichment and stepwise elution of glycoproteins and phosphoproteins by hydrophilic Ti-immobilized dendrimer poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microparticles functionalized with polyethylenimine and phytic acid.
Glycosylation and phosphorylation rank as paramount post-translational modifications, and their analysis heavily relies on enrichment techniques. In this work, a facile approach was developed for the one-step simultaneous enrichment and stepwise elution of glycoproteins and phosphoproteins. The core of this approach was the application of the novel titanium (IV) ion immobilized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microparticles functionalized with dendrimer polyethylenimine and phytic acid. The microparticles possessed dual enrichment capabilities due to their abundant titanium ions and hydroxyl groups on the surface. They demonstrate rapid adsorption equilibrium (within 30 min) and exceptional adsorption capacity for β-casein (1107.7 mg/g) and horseradish peroxidase (438.6 mg/g), surpassing that of bovine serum albumin (91.7 mg/g). Furthermore, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was conducted to validate the enrichment capability. Experimental results across various biological samples, including standard protein mixtures, non-fat milk, and human serum, demonstrated the remarkable ability of these microparticles to enrich low-abundance glycoproteins and phosphoproteins from biological samples.
Topics: Glycoproteins; Phosphoproteins; Polyethyleneimine; Dendrimers; Humans; Titanium; Polymethacrylic Acids; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Surface Properties; Animals; Particle Size; Adsorption; Cattle
PubMed: 38948935
DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202400154 -
PeerJ 2024In the present study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized using neem leaf aqueous extracts and characterized using transmission electron microscopy...
In the present study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized using neem leaf aqueous extracts and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Then compare its efficacy as anticancer and antibacterial agents with chemically synthesized ZnO-NPs and the neem leaf extract used for the green synthesis of ZnO-NPs. The TEM, UV-vis, and particle size confirmed that the developed ZnO-NPs are nanoscale. The chemically and greenly synthesized ZnO-NPs showed their optical absorbance at 328 nm and 380 nm, respectively, and were observed as spherical particles with a size of about 85 nm and 62.5 nm, respectively. HPLC and GC-MS were utilized to identify the bioactive components in the neem leaf aqueous extract employed for the eco-friendly production of ZnO-NPs. The HPLC analysis revealed that the aqueous extract of neem leaf contains 19 phenolic component fractions. The GC-MS analysis revealed the existence of 21 bioactive compounds. The antiproliferative effect of green ZnO-NPs was observed at different concentrations (31.25 µg/mL-1000 µg/mL) on Hct 116 and A 549 cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 111 µg/mL for A 549 and 118 µg/mL for Hct 116. On the other hand, the antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was estimated. The antibacterial result showed that the MIC of green synthesized ZnO-NPs against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were 5, and 1 µg/mL. Hence, they could be utilized as effective antibacterial and antiproliferative agents.
Topics: Zinc Oxide; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Plant Extracts; Humans; Plant Leaves; Antineoplastic Agents; Azadirachta; Metal Nanoparticles; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Green Chemistry Technology; Particle Size; Cell Line, Tumor
PubMed: 38948224
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17588 -
ACS Omega Jun 2024This study aimed to increase the stability and solubility of the Algerian L. (ASHO) essential oil through nanoencapsulation. Nanoemulsions of ASHO (MF-ASHEO) were...
This study aimed to increase the stability and solubility of the Algerian L. (ASHO) essential oil through nanoencapsulation. Nanoemulsions of ASHO (MF-ASHEO) were developed to evaluate their antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, stability, and cytotoxicity using microfluidization at 150 MPa for five cycles. MF-ASHO showed 8 compounds (99.56%) vs ASHEO's 26 compounds (95.46%). Carvacrol increased to 94.51%, replacing γ-terpinene, which decreased to 0.43%. The MF-ASHEO nanoemulsion had a mean particle size of 41.72 nm, a monomodal size distribution pattern, a mean ζ-potential of -39.4 mV, and a polydispersity index (PDI) mean value of 0.291. Micrographs showed spherical nanoparticles with varying diameters in nm. ASHEO was more toxic than MF-ASHEO against HepG2, Vero, and WI-38, according to the MTT and WST-1 assays. ASHEO demonstrated antiradical and antibacterial activity and inhibited biofilm formation. It also had an enhanced antifungal effect and reduced mycotoxin production. The MF-ASHEO sample showed no activity except in reducing mycotoxin production, where it performed better than ASHEO. and ADME results confirmed the inhibitory action of carvacrol on the key enzymes of the aflatoxin biosynthetic mechanism and the target proteins associated with bactericidal/bacteriostatic effects. The microfluidization process dramatically affects not only the oil's volatile content but also its biological activity.
PubMed: 38947844
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00315 -
ACS Omega Jun 2024Fast pyrolysis technology can reduce the secondary reactions, improve the volatile product yield, and reduce the semicoke yield. Still, the high proportion of heavy tar...
Fast pyrolysis technology can reduce the secondary reactions, improve the volatile product yield, and reduce the semicoke yield. Still, the high proportion of heavy tar components affects the development of fast pyrolysis industrialization. Therefore, this paper put forward a catalytic upgrading method of coal based on the solid waste bauxite residue (BR) as a catalyst. This study investigated the impact of varying particle sizes of pulverized coal and the addition of the BR catalyst on the product distribution and kinetics of coal fast pyrolysis. The results found that the tar yield was the highest at 600 °C when the particle size of pulverized coal was 75-150 μm, which was 19.44%. In the range of 550-650 °C, the relative content of benzene and toluene xylene (BTX) in liquid products increased with the temperature. With the increase of the proportion of the BR catalyst, the yield of semicoke in coal pyrolysis products increased, the yield of the gas phase also increased, and the yield of the liquid phase decreased.
PubMed: 38947833
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09083 -
Heliyon Jun 2024The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the hydraulic coefficient of coarse aggregate grain size beds and hydraulic parameters under random and perpendicular...
The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the hydraulic coefficient of coarse aggregate grain size beds and hydraulic parameters under random and perpendicular bed configurations, as well as to explore the discharge coefficient for rectangular weirs. The research objectives were to compare flow resistance coefficients, evaluate the discharge coefficient for rectangular weirs, investigate the relationship between roughness coefficient and hydraulic parameters, and validate the theoretical hydraulic equation for the rectangular weir. This was achieved by analysing different bed configurations, bed slopes, and 20 and 30-mm bed materials. Sieve analysis was conducted on bed materials using American-standard sieves to determine their particle size distribution. The experiment was performed in a rectangular flume measuring 12 m in length, 0.31 m in width, and 0.45 m in depth. In a laboratory experiment, water was pumped into a flume using centrifugal pumps, and a rectangular weir was attached downstream for discharge measurement. The experiment investigated factors such as Manning roughness coefficient, bed material geometry, bed slope, and weir shapes. Approximately 1680 tests were conducted to analysed the impact of these factors on discharge and the coefficient of discharge. The average Manning's roughness coefficients for a grain size of 20 mm were 0.019 (with weir) and 0.019 (without weir) in a random bed configuration, and 0.028 (with weir) and 0.027 (without weir) in a perpendicular flow bed configuration. For a grain size of 30 mm, the coefficients were 0.023 (with weir) and 0.022 (without weir) in a random bed configuration, and 0.033 (with weir) and 0.026 (without weir) in a perpendicular flow bed configuration. The presence of a weir has affected Manning's roughness coefficients and discharge coefficients. With a weir, the roughness coefficients have generally been higher compared to without a weir, indicating increased roughness in the channel. The discharge coefficient for a rectangular weir with a grain size of 20 mm ranged from 0.39 to 0.84 (random bed) and 0.27 to 0.68 (perpendicular flow bed), while for a grain size of 30 mm it ranged from 0.31 to 0.81 (random bed) and 0.23 to 0.48 (perpendicular flow bed). The discharge coefficients have varied depending on the grain size and bed configuration, reflecting different flow efficiencies over the weir. Rough particles influenced flow and Manning's roughness coefficient value, then reduced discharge and velocity values. Under two bed configurations and slopes, beds with a grain size of 30 mm have higher roughness coefficients compared to those with a grain size of 20 mm. The models have shown that the roughness coefficient is inversely proportional to the discharge and directly proportional to the tailgate water levels. The coefficient of roughness and discharge coefficient are mainly influenced by the channel slopes, bed roughness, bed grain size, and bed configuration. A randomly configured bed with a 20 mm grain size gravel bed is preferred over a perpendicular bed configuration to handle high discharges. Using a 20 mm grain-size gravel bed in open-channel flow is more suitable than a 30 mm grain-size bed. Relying on the constant friction factor, Manning's n, is not recommended as it may result in design errors. These findings have the potential to improve hydraulic engineering design practices, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of open-channel flow systems.
PubMed: 38947461
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32162