Different effects of selenium speciation on selenium absorption, selenium transformation and cadmium antagonism in garlic

Currently, planting selenium-rich crops using inorganic selenium such as selenate and selenite is used to address human selenium deficiency problems. In this paper, besides the above two traditional inorganic selenium speciation, we chose a new organic selenium speciation of potassium selenocyanoacetate to investigate the different effects of selenium speciation on selenium absorption, selenium transformation and cadmium antagonism via foliar application. Plantingexperiments showed that the selenium content of garlic bulbs treated with organic selenium was 1.8-3.9 times higher than that of inorganic selenium. Additionally, the absorption and transformation efficiency of organic selenium in garlic was also the highest, reaching over 95 %. Importantly, it was noteworthy that the cadmium content in bulbs treated with organic selenium was significantly lower than the Chinese food safety standard (0.2 mg/kg). Hence, this study provides an efficient organic selenium speciation which is beneficial to meet human selenium requirements and ensure safe utilization of cadmium-contaminated soils.

A cancer cell nanotherapy method based on GHz film bulk acoustic resonator and nanoscale CaO2

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is an emerging cancer treatment method in recent years. However, the ultrasound signal utilized for SDT is usually located at a low-frequency spectrum (<2 MHz), and in the field of SDT research, few studies have focused on the exploration and development of ultrasound frequency. Studies have shown that the GHz-level ultrasound can increase cell membrane permeability and have a negligible effect on cell vitality. Herein, we reported the study of a GHz thin film bulk acoustic resonator as an ultrasound source for synergistic treatment with nanoscale calcium peroxide (CaO2). It was discovered that this ultrasound source ultimately achieved an efficient therapeutic outcome on mouse breast cancer cell line 4T1. Such GHz-level ultrasound application in SDT is of high significance to broaden the cognition and application scope of SDT.

Self-acclimation mechanism of pyrite to sulfamethoxazole concentration in terms of degradation behavior and toxicity effects caused by reactive oxygen species

Pyrite has been extensively tested for oxidizing contaminants via the activation of water molecule or dissolved oxygen, while the changing of oxidation species induced by contaminant's concentration has been largely underestimated. In this study, we revealed a self-acclimation mechanism of pyrite in terms of •OH conversion to 1O2 during the sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation process under oxic conditions. Two reaction stages of SMX degradation by pyrite were observed. The SMX concentration decreased by 70% rapidly in the first 12 h after the reaction was initiated, then, the removal rate began to decrease as the SMX concentration decreased. Importantly, •OH and O2•- were the dominant oxidizing species in stage one, while 1O2 was responsible for the further degradation of SMX in stage two. The self-acclimated mechanism of pyrite was proven to be caused by the conversion of oxidative species at the surface of pyrite. This process can overcome the shortages of •OH such as ultrashort lifetime and limited effective diffusion in the decontamination of micropollutant. Moreover, different reactive oxygen species will lead to different degradation pathways and environmental toxicity while degrading pollutants. This finding of oxidizing species' self-acclimation mechanism should be of concern when using pyrite for water treatment.

Unravelling the impacts of soluble Mn(III)-NOM on arsenic immobilization by ferrihydrite or goethite under aquifer conditions

The environmental fate of arsenic (As) relies substantially on its speciation, which occurs frequently coupled to the redox transformation of manganese. While trivalent manganese (Mn(III)), which is known for its high reactivity, is believed to play a role in As mobilization by iron (oxyhydr)oxides in dynamic aquifers, the exact roles and underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Using increasingly complex batch experiments that mimick As-affected aquifer conditions in combination with time-resolved characterization, we demonstrate that Mn(III)-NOM complexes play a crucial role in the manganese-mediated immobilization of As(III) by ferrihydrite and goethite. Under anaerobic condition, Mn(III)-fulvic acid (FA) rapidly oxidized 31.8% of aqueous As(III) and bound both As(III) and As(V). Furthermore, Mn(III)-FA exerted significantly different effects on the adsorption of As by ferrihydrite and goethite. Mn(III)-FA increased the adsorption of As by 6-16% due to the higher affinity of oxidation-produced As(V) for ferrihydrite under circumneutral conditions. In contrast, As adsorption by crystalline goethite was eventually inhibited due to the competitive effect of Mn(III)-FA. To summarize, our results reveal that Mn(III)-NOM complexes play dual roles in As retention by iron oxides, depending on the their crystallization. This highlights the importance of Mn(III) for the fate of As particularly in redox fluctuating groundwater environments.

Measurement and analysis of leakage neutron spectra from Lead slab samples with D-T neutrons

The leakage neutron spectra from three different sizes of Lead samples were measured by a TOF technique at 60° and 120°. The essential characteristic properties of the experimental measurement spectra can be reproduced well by MCNP code simulations with the ENDF/B-VIII.0, CENDL-3.2, JENDL-5.0, JEFF-3.3 and TENDL-2021 evaluated nuclear data libraries. The calculated results of JENDL-5.0 and JEFF-3.3 libraries agree better with the experimental data in the whole energy range. The results from ENDF/B-VIII.0 and CENDL-3.2 are overestimated in the 4-9 MeV range at 60° and in the 4-12.5 MeV range at 120°. The differences of the leakage neutron spectra by MCNP simulations using five evaluated nuclear data libraries mainly originate from the differences of the spectrum distributions of neutron reaction channels in these libraries. And the secondary neutron energy distribution and angular distribution from the five libraries have been present to explain it.

Simultaneous detection of As(III/V), Cr(III/VI), and Fe(II/III) by a sensor array based on the morphology regulation of CeO2 oxidase

To develop a convenient method for simultaneous detection of As(III/V), Cr(III/VI), and Fe(II/III), three morphologies of CeO2 oxidase have been prepared. Based on the difference in oxidase activity and binding ability with substrate TMB of CeO2 of different morphologies, a 3 (Signal unit) × 6 (Target number) × 5 (Repetition) sensor array was constructed to realize simultaneous detection of six variable valence metal ions As(III/V), Cr(III/VI), and Fe(II/III). The lowest detection limit of the array for metal ions was 1.68 µg/L. The analysis of environmental samples with multiple metal ions (binary and ternary mixtures) co-existing has confirmed that the sensor array can achieve simultaneous qualitative and quantitative results for composite samples. This study not only revealed the influencing factors of crystal morphology regulation on oxidase activity, but also provided a scheme for the morphology detection of easily convertible metal ions in the field through the construction of the sensor array.

Enhancement of the Peroxidase Activity of g-C3N4 with Different Morphologies for Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Antibiotics

The classes and forms of antibiotics directly determine their ecotoxicity and environmental chemical behavior, and developing a sensor array for simultaneous and in situ detection of antibiotics is highly anticipated. In this study, different morphologies of g-C3N4 with different fluorescence properties and peroxidase activity were prepared by regulating the degree of interlayer stacking and planar connectivity. Subsequently, in order to enhance its enzyme activity and amplify the differences in response signals to different antibiotics, three morphologies of g-C3N4/MIL-101(Fe) were prepared by in situ growth of equivalent amounts of MIL-101(Fe) on g-C3N4, respectively. The sensor array constructed based on the cross-response signals between g-C3N4/MIL-101(Fe) and antibiotics not only realized the simultaneous detection of quinolones, furans, tetracyclines, and lincomamides but also could efficiently identify their seven different forms. In the range of 0.2-0.8 ppm, the minimum detection limit for antibiotics was 12 ppb. In addition, the recovery experiments of multicomponent-mixed antibiotics in environmental samples show that the recovery rate remained at 91.42-107.59%, confirming the reliability and practicality of the sensor array. This study not only revealed the influence of crystal morphology regulation on the optical properties and enzyme activities of nanozymes, but also provided support for tracing, ecological remediation, and in situ environmental chemical behavior research of antibiotics.

Simultaneous visual detection of multiple heavy metal ions by a high-throughput fluorescent probe

To develop simultaneous and in-situ detection techniques towards Cr(VI) and Mn(II), Eu/Tb@CDs with white fluorescence were prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. With the increase of Cr(VI), all fluorescence channels of Eu/Tb@CDs exhibited obvious quenching, and the detection limit (LOD) was 0.10 μM. In the presence of Mn(II), only the fluorescence from Tb and Eu was quenched, while the fluorescence of CDs was not effected. The LOD for Mn(II) was 0.16 μM. More importantly, in the actual water samples where Cr(VI) and Mn(II) coexist, Eu/Tb@CDs can realize their rapid and simultaneous detection by simple spectral calculation. The selective and competitive experiments have also confirmed that the detection of Cr(VI) and Mn(II) was not interfered by common pollutants in groundwater. It is undeniable that the simultaneous detection of multiple targets by one probe not only greatly improves the detection efficiency, but also has important significance for the field monitoring of water quality parameters.

A portable and intelligent logic detector for simultaneous and in-situ detection of Al3+ and fluoride in groundwater

To develop a convenient and intelligent detector for simultaneous and in-situ detection of Al³⁺ and F^- in groundwater, a novel organic probe called RBP has been prepared. With the increase of Al³⁺, RBP showed a significant fluorescence enhancement at 588 nm, and the detection limit was 0.130 mg/L. After combining with fluorescent internal standard CDs, the fluorescence of RBP-Al-CDs at 588 nm was quenched due to the replace of F^- for Al³⁺, while the CDs at 460 nm remained unchanged, and the detection limit was 0.0186 mg/L. For convenient and intelligent detection, an RBP-based logic detector has been developed for simultaneous detection of Al³⁺ and F^-. Within the ultra-trace, low concentration, and high concentration range of Al³⁺ and F^-, the logic detector can achieve rapid feedback on their concentration levels ("U", "L" and "H") through different output modes of the signal lamps. The development of logical detector is of great significance for studying the in-situ chemical behavior of Al³⁺ and F^- and for daily household detection.

Colloidal iron species driven enhanced H2O2 decomposition into hydroxyl radicals for efficient removal of methylene blue from water

Colloids are wide-spread in natural waters and colloid-facilitated transport via adsorption was established as the most important mechanism for the mobilization of aqueous contaminants. This study reports another possible, but reasonable, role of colloids for the contaminants driven by redox reactions. Under the same conditions (pH 6.0, 0.3 ml 30% H₂O₂, and 25 °C), the degradation efficiencies of methylene blue (MB) at 240 min over Fe colloid, Fe ion, Fe oxide and Fe(OH)₃ were 95.38%, 42.66%, 4.42% and 9.40%. We suggested that, Fe colloid can promote the H₂O₂ based in-situ chemical oxidation process (ISCO) compared with other iron species such as Fe(Ⅲ) ion, Fe oxide and Fe(OH)₃ in natural water. Furthermore, the MB removal via adsorption by Fe colloid was only 1.74% at 240 min. Hence, the occurrence, behavior and fate of MB in Fe colloid containing natural water system mainly depends on the reduction-oxidation rather than adsorption-desorption process. Based on the mass balance of colloidal iron species and characterization of iron configurations distribution, Fe oligomers were the active and dominant components for Fe colloid-driven enhanced H₂O₂ activation among three types of Fe species. The quick and steady conversion of Fe(III) to Fe(II) was proven to be reason why Fe colloid can efficiently react with H₂O₂ to produce hydroxyl radicals.

Chalcogen Elements in Regulating the Local Electron Density of Cu2X for an Efficient Heterogeneous Fenton-like Process

In this work, a novel strategy for Fenton activity improvement of Cu₂X was reported, in which the local electron density of Cu sites was regulated via manipulation of simple chalcogen elements (O, S, and Se). Among them, Cu₂Se catalysts show excellent catalytic activity to activate H₂O₂ for the complete removal of ofloxacin (10 mg/L) at an initial pH of 6.5 within 120 min. Radical scavenger experiments and electron spin resonance spectroscopy confirm that ^•OH radicals are the primary oxygen reactive species to drive ofloxacin degradation. In addition, density functional theory calculations further proved that electrons would migrate from X and accumulate on Cu active sites in the order Se > S > O. Compared with Cu₂O and Cu₂S, the highly concentrated electron density of Cu atoms in Cu₂Se not only decreased the activation energy of the Fenton-like reaction but also boosted the Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ cycle with the generation of more ^•OH radicals (18-66 μm) and the maintenance of high stability of catalysts, leading to excellent catalytic activity and application potential. We believe this work will lay the foundation for designing excellent Fenton catalysts for practical applications since developing a heterogeneous Fenton system with the highest oxidation efficiency has always been the long-term goal in this field.

Boric Acid Functional Fluorescent Covalent-Organic Framework for Sensitive and Selective Visualization of CH3Hg. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2023;15:9524-9532. [PMID: 36757912 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c23302]

Methylmercury (CH3Hg+) recognition remains a challenging and imperative task due to its high toxicity and wide existence in the ecosystem. Herein, a novel fluorescent covalent-organic framework containing a boric acid functional group (COF-BA) was prepared by a postmodification strategy for CH3Hg+ detection. COF-BA served as a sensing platform for CH3Hg+ with fluorescence static quenching accompanied by fluorescence color changing from intense blue to colorless, and the detection limit was determined as 1.68 μM in a relatively narrow concentration range. COF-BA also exhibited superior selectivity toward CH3Hg+ detection. Furthermore, the spiked and recovery test in real water samples showed its efficient detection practicality. The detection mechanism of COF-BA toward CH3Hg+ was investigated. The recognitive boric acid group in COF-BA was first replaced by CH3Hg+. Then, the quinoline structure that served to limit the rotation of the imine bond was disrupted, leading to dramatic fluorescence quenching. The boric acid functional COF fluorescent probe can be a promising sensing platform for the detection of methylmercury and also provides new ideas for the construction of new fluorescent COF materials.

Ultra-trace detection and efficient adsorption removal of multiple water-soluble volatile organic compounds by fluorescent sensor array

Due to the extremely low concentration, complex composition and easy to be converted into each other in water and air of water-soluble volatile organic compounds (VOCs), it is a great challenge to the traditional detection technology, pollution control and traceability, etc. Therefore, developing a convenient, swift and on-site detection method for simultaneous quantification of multiple VOCs is highly anticipated. In this paper, a multifunctional sensor array with adsorption and sensing of VOCs has been constructed by four fluorescence channels of small-sized Eu@Uio-66 and Tb@Uio-66. Due to the obvious cross-reactive characteristics between 4 fluorescence channels and VOCs, the sensor array could detect 8 VOCs simultaneously with all detection limits as low as ppb level. In addition, the detection results of sensor array for actual water samples coexisting with multiple VOCs confirmed that it has strong anti-interference performance and could be used for simultaneous detection of multiple VOCs in real water. The construction of sensor array with VOC adsorption function not only helps to reduce the detection limit of VOCs benefiting from the pre-concentration of materials, but also has significant value to reduce the harmfulness of pollutants. Predictably, this work is of great significance for VOC traceability, analysis of ecotoxicological effects and monitoring of pollution distribution characteristics.

New method for morphological identification and simultaneous quantification of multiple tetracyclines by a white fluorescent probe

The threat of tetracycline antibiotics to the environment and human health is attracting widespread attention. The development of morphological analysis and quantitative techniques of multiple tetracyclines is of great significance for the evaluation of biochemical toxicity, wide-spectrum antibacterial property and degradation cycle between different tetracyclines. In this study, the white fluorescent Eu/Tb@CDs was synthesized and applied successfully to the identification and detection of the most widely used tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OC), chlortetracycline (CC) and doxycycline (DC)) with detection limits all below 1 nM. For the actual water samples with coexistence of the above 4 tetracyclines, their simultaneous morphology identification and accurate quantitative detection can also be realized through simple spectrometric measurement. In addition, the selective and competitive experiments have been carried out on the pollutants widely present in water, and the results have also confirmed that other pollutants could not interfere with the detection of the above 4 tetracyclines. It is undeniable that this work will conveniently and visually reveal the existence information and geographical distribution characteristics of different tetracycline antibiotics in the environment and their action mechanism on organisms.

Film-based fluorescent sensor for visual monitoring and efficient removal of aniline in solutions and gas phase

Aniline has attracted much concern for its long degradation half-life and huge toxicity to the environment and human beings. Therefore, the development of a multi-functional device for visual detection and efficient removal of aniline was highly anticipated. In our work, the small-size Eu@UiO-66(COOH) was obtained by post-synthesis modification (PSM), and then the film-based fluorescent sensor was prepared by crosslinking reaction. The films not only showed incredible mechanical stability and potential for large-scale preparation, but also have excellent fluorescence response to aniline in solutions and gas phase. As the concentration of aniline increased, the fluorescence of films gradually increased at 350 nm, while the fluorescence gradually quenching at 620 nm, and the detection limits (LOD) of aniline in water and air were 0.27 ppb and 0.086 ppb, respectively. In addition, the adsorption performance of the film for aniline has also been confirmed and the maximum adsorption capacity was 32.6 mg/g, which is a strong guarantee for the realization of ultra-trace detection and toxicity reduction of aniline. In summary, the multi-functional film sensor has been designed for ultra-trace detection and efficient removal of aniline in solutions and gas phase, and have significant value for pollutant treatment, ecological restoration and early prevention.

New Insight into a Fenton-like Reaction Mechanism over Sulfidated β-FeOOH: Key Role of Sulfidation in Efficient Iron(III) Reduction and Sulfate Radical Generation

Sulfidation can greatly improve the efficiency of utilization of reducing equivalents for contaminant removal; however, whether this method benefits Fenton-like reactions or not and the possible mechanism are not well understood. In this study, we revealed that surface sulfidation can greatly promote the heterogeneous Fenton activity of β-FeOOH (Fe₃S₄@β-FeOOH) by 40 times, in which not only the ^•OH formation was enhanced but also SO₄^•- as a new oxidation species was generated. Moreover, their contribution to metronidazole (MTZ) degradation was 52.5 and 37.1%, respectively. In comparison, almost no HO₂^•/O₂^•- was detected in the Fe₃S₄@β-FeOOH/H₂O₂ system. These results were different from some previously reported Fenton counterparts. Based on the characterization and probe experiments, sulfur species, including S^2-, S⁰, and S_n^2-, as an electron donor and electron shuttle were responsible for efficient conversion of Fe(III) into Fe(II) other than via the Haber-Weiss mechanism, leading to excellent ^•OH generation via a Fenton-like mechanism. Most importantly, HSO₅^- can be generated from SO₃^2- oxidized by ^•OH, and its scission into SO₄^•- was not dependent on the extra electric potential or Fe-O₂-S(IV) intermediate. These findings provided new insight for utilizing sulfidation to improve the activity of iron-based Fenton catalysts.

Insight into enhanced Fenton-like degradation of antibiotics over CuFeO2 based nanocomposite: To improve the utilization efficiency of OH/O2- via minimizing its migration distance

In Fenton or Fenton-like processes, the key step is to catalyze H₂O₂ and produce highly reactive OH radicals. More efforts are then focus on designing efficient heterogeneous Fenton catalysts by activating H₂O₂ to generate OH at the highest possible steady state concentration. In this study, using the antibiotic ofloxacin as target organic pollutant, we firstly demonstrate a point of view for improving OH utilization efficiency by regulating surface chemical reactions to minimizing its migration distance to the target pollutant. C doped g-C₃N₄ incorporated CuFeO₂ (CCN/CuFeO₂) exhibited almost ten times higher ofloxacin degradation rate constant than our previously reported CuFeO₂ {012} catalyst (0.1634 vs 0.0179 min^-1). Since similar amount of OH was generated, the different inhibition effect of tert-butyl alcohol and nitrobenzene on the ofloxacin degradation confirmed that the much-enhanced ofloxacin degradation was attributed to the surface Fenton reaction process. According to XPS and EXAFS characterization, the C-O-Cu bond between g-C₃N₄ and CuFeO₂ established a closed-circuit surface Fenton reaction mechanism. H₂O₂ was adsorbed and decomposed into OH/O₂^- over ≡Cu ⁺ site in CuFeO₂. The successful construction of CCN/CuFeO₂ creates a negative surface potential and benefits the enrichment of target antibiotics from water, which greatly reduces the migration distance of OH/O₂^•- to adjacent pollutant and then increases the OH/O₂^- utilization efficiency by avoiding the unwanted quenching. Hence, CCN/CuFeO₂ possesses superior Fenton catalytic activity and long-term stability.

Identification and manipulation of active centers on perovskites to enhance catalysis of peroxymonosulfate for degradation of emerging pollutants in water

Perovskites (the general formula of ABO₃) with versatile substrates can serve as desirable catalysts to initiate advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for environmental remediation. However, the knowledge regarding the active centers remains piecemeal and unclear, such as how the redox metal centers of B site, inert metals of A site, oxygen vacancies, and direct oxidation of catalysts govern the chemical degradation of aqueous pollutants. This study aimed to identify principal alternations in physicochemical and electrical properties of ABO₃-based perovskites modified with partial/overall substitution at A/B sites and synthesized at different conditions. In order to probe varied catalytic activity of these catalysts, ofloxacin (OFX) was used as a model micro-pollutant. Results showed that the OFX degradation by activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) with LaFeO₃ perovskite was favored by the Sr substitution at A site, Cu substitution at B site, and increasing calcination temperature. Evolution of ¹O₂, ^•OH and SO₄^•- have proven for efficient OFX oxidation, as evidenced by results from in-situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analyses and quenching tests. Specifically, the introduction of Sr at A site can facilitate PMS self-decomposition to produce more ¹O₂ due to the increased abundance of surface oxygen vacancies. In contrast, the Cu substitution at B site improved the surface oxygen vacancies, as well as the electrical conductivity, which can further accelerate ^•OH and SO₄^•- generation for the OFX degradation. This study provides deeper insights into the underlying mechanisms governing the catalytic activity of perovskites. These findings build a basis for better decontamination of hazardous environmental organic pollutants.

Rapid and sensitive screening of multiple polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a reusable fluorescent sensor array

Simple and rapid sensing of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) remains a great technical challenge due to their chemical stability and structural similarity. Here, a simple, sensitive and cost-effective sensing strategy is proposed to detect multiple PAHs by utilizing the inner filter effect (IFE) and a reusable fluorescent sensor array consisting of four polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite carbon quantum dots (CDs) film sensors. The CDs/PVA films have a wide and tunable excitation range, which provide sufficient spectral overlap with PAHs and ensure the efficient occurrence of IFE. Under different excitations, the diverse UV absorption capacities of PAHs resulted in diverse spectral responses, enabling a unique chemical fingerprint for each PAH. Upon multivariate pattern recognition analysis, the array rendered high-throughput discrimination and sensitive quantification of 16 priority PAHs with 100% classification accuracy and detection limit as low as 57 nM. Moreover, the rapid and accurate screening of multiple environmental samples were also realized with the results consistent with high-performance liquid chromatography. This IFE-based reusable array is readily prepared, green and feasible, which exhibits great potential in environmental analysis and brings an advanced strategy to high-throughput sensing of more pollutants with similar structures and lack of recognition sites.

[Comparison of single incision robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with and without extraperitoneal special channel device]

Objective: To compare the clinical effects of single-incision robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) with and without extraperitoneal special channel device. Methods: The clinical data of 70 patients who had undergone RARP in the Robotic Minimally Invasive Surgery Center of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from September 2020 to February 2021 were analyzed retrospectively, including 29 cases who were operated on without special channel device (group A) and 41 cases with special channel device (group B). All operations were performed by robot-assisted single-incision retrograde bladder neck exfoliation via extraperitoneal approach in patients by the same operator. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, the bladder neck urethral anastomosis time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative exhaust time, positive rate of incisal margin, indwelling time of urinary catheter, retention rate of postoperative erectile function, satisfaction rate of immediate postoperative urine control, positive rate of postoperative lymph node pathology, incision length, treatment cost and the rate of prostate specific antigen (PSA)lower than 0.2 μg/L at 6 weeks after operation were compared between the two groups. Results: All 70 cases were operated successfully. The difference of age[ (68.9±3.9) vs (69.4±5.4) years], preoperative PSA level[14.1(6.3, 19.8)vs13.7(5.8, 18.1)μg/L], prostate volume[44.8(30.7,172.6)vs 56.3(40.9,163.4)ml ] of the two groups was not statistically significant(all P>0.05). The difference of operation time [ (59.1±18.5) vs (59.6±18.0) min ], intraoperative blood loss [93(66,198)vs 95(68,203) ml ], bladder neck urethral anastomosis time [ (12.6±1.3) vs (13.7±2.8) min ], postoperative hospital stay [ (8.1±2.3) vs (9.1±1.3) d], postoperative exhaust time [ (1.4±0.6) vs (1.3±0.6) d], positive rate of incisal margin (20.7% vs 19.5%), indwelling time of the urinary catheter after operation [ (6.8±1.5) vs (7.1±2.0) d ], the retention rate of postoperative erectile function (31.0% vs 27.0%), the satisfaction rate of immediate postoperative urine control (79.3% vs 75.6%), the positive rate of postoperative lymph node pathology (17.2% vs 14.6%), the length of incision [ (5.1±0.5) vs (6.1±0.4) cm ], the rate of PSA lower than 0.2 μg/L at 6 weeks after operation (86.2% vs 83.0%) of the two groups was not statistically significant(all P>0.05). The operation cost of group A[(62 000±4 000) yuan]was lower than group B[(68 000±4 000) yuan] (P<0.05). Conclusion: Extraperitoneal non-special channel device single-incision RARP is safe and feasible.

Natural alumina/silica suspended particles in water to enhance ofloxacin degradation with UVA-H2O2 driven by surface chemistry

UV-H₂O₂ is the most widely used oxidizing system with established effectiveness and a high level of technical development for practical application. However, little attention was paid on the effect of suspended particles in natural water on organic contaminants removal via UV-H₂O₂ technique. In this study, this effect of suspended particles to enhance the contaminant degradation was explored using silica/alumina-based oxides (MCM-41 and Al@MCM-41) as the representative. The results showed that MCM-41 had no effect on OFX degradation compared with UV-H₂O₂. While the degradation efficiency and reaction rate were greatly enhanced at a pH range of 3.0-9.0 especially at acidic pH values (3.0-5.0) in the presence of Al@MCM-41. The probe experiments proved that OFX adsorption followed by surface reaction process played an important role to enhance the performance of UV-H₂O₂. Based on the characterization results, the positive effect of suspended particles was not related to their surface area and pore size distribution, but dependent on the chemical composition and surface acid-base property. The suspended particles can provide an active surface composed of acid and base sites. The base site can create a local basic micro-environment by producing more ^•OH et al. While the dissociated acid sites in Al@MCM-41 with a negative charged surface favor OFX adsorption and then reaction with produced ROS. Our findings suggest that the enhanced performance of UVA-H₂O₂ induced by suspended particles should be concerned.

Smartphone as a simple device for visual and on-site detection of fluoride in groundwater

Developing a portable device for visual and on-site detection of fluoride in groundwater is highly anticipated. In this paper, 2-(tert-butyl-diphenylsilanyloxy)-5-nitro-1H-benzoimidazole (1) has been rationally designed via a silanization reaction for self-calibration detection of fluoride, and the detection limit was calculated as 0.11 μM. The contact of 1 with fluoride would induce the cleavage of Si-O bond and trigger the emergence of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process, and then the enol-like emission at 437 nm decreased accompanying with the increase of keto-like tautomerism emission at 550 nm. More importantly, considering the demand of field detection for fluoride in groundwater and combining the function of smartphone to obtain the chroma of photos. The chroma value of the fluorescence color changes from blue to yellow could be conveniently determined through a color recognizer application installed in smartphone. The device can accurately reflect the concentration of fluoride by analyzing the chroma value. The test in actual water samples confirmed that the simple device based on smartphone could be used efficiently for visual, on-site and accurate detection of fluoride in groundwater.

Copper in LaMnO3 to promote peroxymonosulfate activation by regulating the reactive oxygen species in sulfamethoxazole degradation

Perovskites with flexible texture structures and excellent catalytic properties have attracted considerable attention in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation for addressing organic contaminants in water. In this study, the role of copper to promote PMS activation performance of LaMnO₃ was investigated. 100% sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation and 34% mineralization were achieved over copper doped LaMnO₃ while only 60% SMX was removed without TOC removal by LaMnO₃. Especially, compared with LaMnO₃, the pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant was increased by 8.30 times when the atomic ratio of Cu/Mn was 1:3. It proved that only ¹O₂ was generated in LaMnO₃ while ¹O₂, especially •OH and SO₄•^- were all detected in Cu-LaMnO₃/PMS system. The characterization results showed that Cu induced the formation of LaMnO₃ and La₂CuO₄ heterostructure with enhanced content of relatively low-valence Mn and Cu and abundant oxygen vacancies (OVs). Hence, the efficient PMS activation by Cu-LaMnO₃ was due to regulating the produced reactive oxygen species (ROS). A radical dominant instead of ¹O₂ involved PMS activation mechanism over LaMnO₃-La₂CuO₄ was proposed for efficient degradation of SMX. Finally, the possible degradation pathways of SMX were discussed based on HPLC-MS analysis. This study provided a new insight of improving the catalytic activity of perovskites in PMS activation in water treatment.

A versatile logic detector and fluorescent film based on Eu-based MOF for swift detection of formaldehyde in solutions and gas phase

Due to the huge threat of formaldehyde (FA) on human beings, the development of chemical sensors for swift detection of FA in solutions and gas phase is highly anticipated. In this paper, a versatile logic detector and a portable fluorescent film based on small-scaled Eu-based MOF were applied successfully to detect FA in solutions and gas phase, respectively. For FA in aqueous solution, the design of logic detector will efficiently identify FA in different concentration ranges: when the FA concentration are 0-500 ppb, 500-1000 ppb and >1000 ppb, the output signals of logic detector are the concentration level of FA ("L", "H" and "VH"), and accompanied by red, purple and blue signal lamps to remind, respectively. For FA in the air, the color of rigid film sensor will gradually change from red to blue with the increase of FA under UV lamp, and the detection limit of gaseous FA is 11.8 ppb. Through the preparation of logic devices and fluorescent films, Eu-based MOF realized swift detection of FA in solutions and gas phase, which will be very helpful to improve the human response level to FA from different emission sources.

More reactive oxygen species generation facilitated by highly dispersed bimodal gold nanoparticle on the surface of Bi2WO6 for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of ofloxacin in water

An essential strategy to eliminate emerging contamination in water is to initiate more reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the catalytic systems. 0.14 wt.% Au loaded Bi₂WO₆ (Bi₂WO₆/Au-400 °C) was fabricated after 400 °C annealing with the assistance of glutathione for Au atom anchoring and stabilization on Bi₂WO₆ surface. Bimodal Au size distribution of highly dispersed small size clusters (0.5 ± 0.1 nm) and large size nanoparticles (6.3 ± 1.0 nm) simultaneously existed on Bi₂WO₆ nanosheets in Bi₂WO₆/Au-400 °C, which were verified through high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). 95% of ofloxacin (OFX) was degraded over Bi₂WO₆/Au-400 °C in 180 min under visible light irradiation with a reaction constant of 24.5 × 10^-3 min^-1, which showed 3.0 and 2.5-fold enhancement compared with bare Bi₂WO₆ and unimodal Bi₂WO₆/Au-500 °C (annealed at 500 °C, Au NPs (8.6 ± 1.0 nm)), respectively. The enhanced catalytic activity originated from the additional ROS production that initiated by photo-induced electron transported from small Au clusters to large Au NPs through the conduction band of Bi₂WO₆. Moreover, it still maintained a good stability after five cycling performance and the total cost of 10 g Bi₂WO₆/Au-400 °C was estimated to be 6.78 $. Lower-content of bimodal Au NPs decorated Bi₂WO₆ catalyst possesses high efficiency to degrade pollutant and lower cost, which provides a promising alternative in practical environmental remediation by photocatalysis.

[The prognostic value of myoglobin difference in sepsis related chronic critical illness]

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of myoglobin (Mb) for the prognosis of sepsis related chronic critical illness (CCI). Methods: Retrospective study was conducted on septic patients with the length of ICU stay equal or greater than 14 days, and sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA) score equal or greater than 2 on the 14th day in ICU in the First Department of Critical Care Medicine at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2017 to March 2020. Patients' clinical and laboratory data were collected on the 1st and 14th day in ICU. The survival on day 28 in ICU was recorded. According to the myoglobin levels on day 1 and day 14, all subjects were divided into myoglobin elevation group and decline group. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to compare the cumulative survival rate at day 28. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors of mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the prognostic value of myoglobin. Results: A total of 131 patients with sepsis related CCI were recruited, including 58 patients in the elevation group and 73 in the decline group. The Mb level in elevation group on day 1 was significantly lower than that in decline group [172.40(59.99, 430.53) μg/L vs. 413.60(184.40, 1 328.50) μg/L, Z=3.749, P=0.000], and the Mb level on day 14 was the opposite change in two groups [483.65(230.38, 1 471.75)μg/L in elevation group vs. 132.20(76.86, 274.35)μg/L in decline group, Z=5.595, P=0.000]. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the 28-day cumulative survival rate of the elevation group was significantly lower than that of decline group (χ²=7.051, P=0.008). Cox ratio regression analysis suggested that elevated myoglobin was an independent risk factor for 28-day mortality in septic patients with CCI (OR=2.534, 95%CI 1.212-5.295, P=0.013). ROC curve analysis suggested that the sensitivity of myoglobin elevation in predicting mortality related to CCI within 28 days was 64.5%, and the specificity was 32.0% with area under the curve(AUC) 0.661(95%CI 0.550-0.773,P=0.007) and Jorden Index was 0.325. Conclusion: Elevated myoglobin, an independent risk factor for mortality within 28 days in ICU, can predict the prognosis of sepsis related chronic critical illness.

Hydroxyl Radical-Involving p-Nitrophenol Oxidation during Its Reduction by Nanoscale Sulfidated Zerovalent Iron under Anaerobic Conditions

Sulfidated zerovalent iron (S-ZVI) has been extensively used for reducing pollutants. In this study, the oxidation process in the reductive removal of p-nitrophenol (PNP) by S-ZVI was confirmed under anaerobic conditions. We revealed that a PNP oxidation process involving ^•OH resulted from the H₂O₂ activation by surface-bound Fe(II) in S-ZVI, in which H₂O₂ was generated via a surface-mediated reaction between water and FeS₂. Only the PNP reduction process occurred for ZVI. Herein, efficient PNP degradation by S-ZVI resulted from two functions: reduction into p-aminophenol due to enhanced electron transfer and PNP oxidation into p-benzoquinone by ^•OH radicals from the interaction of surface-bound Fe(II) and in situ generated H₂O₂, the contributions of the oxidation and reduction processes to PNP degradation over S-ZVI were 10 and 90%, respectively. Sulfur in S-ZVI suppressed the pH increase in the reaction media and produced more surface-bound Fe(II) than ZVI for ^•OH generation via the heterogeneous Fenton reaction process. Since different degradation pathways could lead to different effects on the water environment, such as toxicity, our findings suggest that the oxidizing process induced by S-ZVI during groundwater decontamination should be considered.

Surface acidity and basicity of Mg/Al hydrotalcite for 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid degradation with ozone: Mineralization, mechanism, and implications to practical water treatment

The Mg/Al hydrotalcite (Mg/Al HT) was firstly used as a heterogeneous ozonation catalyst and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was efficiently degraded by Mg₃/Al HT with a COD removal of 68 %. It was higher than that of α-FeOOH with a COD removal of 50 %. The effects of Mg/Al atomic ratio, phosphate and pyrrole on the ozonation performance of Mg/Al HTs were also investigated. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorption-desorption experiment and temperature programmed desorption of adsorbed CO₂ or NH₃ were used to characterize the surface properties of Mg/Al HT. The surface acidity and basity was proven to be responsible to the excellent ozonation activity of Mg/Al HT. The results of electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis and probe experiments confirmed that OH, O₂^- and ¹O₂ were involved in the 2,4-D degradation process and their contributions are as followed: OH > O₂- > ¹O₂. The synergistic effect of surface acid (ozone adsorption center) and base sites (catalytic center) determines Mg/Al HT in the enhanced catalytic ozone decomposition into reactive species. More important, the transition metal free based Mg/Al HTs is steady, non-toxic, naturally abundant and environment friendly, which provided a promising alternative in practical water treatment by catalytic ozonation.

Broad-spectrum pesticide screening by multiple cholinesterases and thiocholine sensors assembled high-throughput optical array system

Accurate screening of organophosphorus and carbamates pesticides from the complex real sample is crucial for water quality analysis and food safety control. Herein, a simple, low-cost and accurate pesticides screening method based on a high-throughput optical array system assembled by multiple cholinesterases (ChE) and thiocholine (TCh) sensors is described. The detection mechanism is that the inhibition of ChE activity by pesticides reduces the TCh produced by the hydrolysis of butyryl/acetylthiocholine iodide, thus changing the fluorescence intensity of TCh sensor. The diverse response of ChEs to pesticides and different affinity of sensors to TCh ensure the high-throughput and distinguishable signal output, which allow the establishment of high discrete pesticide database with intra-cluster agglomeration and inter-cluster dispersion. By using the database, the screening of unknown real contaminated samples were successfully operated, and the screened pesticide species and concentrations were consistent with high-performance liquid chromatography. This screening strategy demonstrates the feasibility of replacing existing complex mass spectrometry-based screening strategy with simple optical analysis, providing a new idea for the development of simple accurate screening technologies for widespread organic pollutants including pesticides.

Reinjection flow field-flow fractionation method for nanoparticle quantitative analysis in unknown and complex samples

An analytical challenge that arises in environmental and food analysis is to quantify heterogeneous nanoparticles especially in polydisperse and complex samples. The method stated herein based on the reinjection asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4 × AF4) coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and statistical deconvolution allowed for identifying the molecular weight (Mw) and selenium abundance of the low Mw protein fractions (ca. < 132 kDa) in an unknown and complex sample (e.g., selenium-rich soybean protein isolates (Se-SPI)). A non-linear decay crossflow program was also developed to get better resolution and shorter elution time for both low and high Mw components. The concept of the reinjection method was based on the excellent ability for reducing sample complexity regarding the size fractionation, and peak reproducibility under the identical conditions of AF4 system. The standard protein mixture was used as a proof-of-principle sample. The results showed the underlying peaks predicted by the reinjection method were agreed with the separation result using the standard mixture (the relative standard deviation of peak locations < 1%), which indicated the reinjection method could provide an accurate assessment of the underlying peak number and location, and was promising to minimize the overfitting problem for statistic deconvolution. Interestingly, significant differences of Se abundance in protein fractions were observed in the low Mw range for Se-SPI, ranging from 0.28 to 1.66 cps/V with the Mw ranging from 13.75 kDa to 104.17 kDa, which indicated significant differences in the ability of binding Se for these selenium-rich proteins in Se-SPI.

Carbon dots-MnO2 nanocomposites for As(III) detection in groundwater with high sensitivity and selectivity

As(iii) pollution has caused increasing concern due to its significant impact in environmental safety and human health. Carbon dots (CDs)-MnO2 nanocomposites were prepared and characterized for As(iii) detection. The intense blue fluorescence of CDs can be greatly quenched by functionalization with MnO2 nanosheets due to the existence of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) effect. CDs-MnO2 nanocomposites were then used as a fluorescence sensor for As(iii) detection with high detection sensitivity and selectivity. The redox reaction between As(iii) and MnO2 nanosheets can induce the decomposition of MnO2 and termination of the FRET process. Then the blue fluorescence originating from CDs can be recovered. The detection limit of CDs-MnO2 nanocomposites toward As(iii) was calculated to be 16.8 nM (1.40 ppb) in a linear concentration range of 0-200 nM. CDs-MnO2 nanocomposites were also found to possess highly selective ability toward As(iii) detection. In addition, the spiked and recovery test also confirmed the practicality and reliability of CDs-MnO2 nanocomposites toward As(iii) detection in real water samples, such as groundwater etc. Our research has provided a reliable tool and strategy for visual detection of As(iii) with outstanding sensing ability.

Portable smartphone-integrated paper sensors for fluorescence detection of As(III) in groundwater

Arsenic contamination in groundwater is a supreme environmental problem, and levels of this toxic metalloid must be strictly monitored by a portable, sensitive and selective analytical device. Herein, a new system of smartphone-integrated paper sensors with Cu nanoclusters was established for the effective detection of As(III) in groundwater. For the integration system, the fluorescence emissive peak of Cu nanoclusters at 600 nm decreased gradually with increasing As(III) addition. Meanwhile, the fluorescence colour also changed from orange to colourless, and the detection limit was determined as 2.93 nM (0.22 ppb) in a wide detection range. The interfering ions also cannot influence the detection selectivity of As(III). Furthermore, the portable paper sensors based on Cu nanoclusters were fabricated for visual detection of As(III) in groundwater. The quantitative determination of As(III) in natural groundwater has also been accomplished with the aid of a common smartphone. Our work has provided a portable and on-site detection technique toward As(III) in groundwater with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Efficient fenton-like degradation of ofloxacin over bimetallic Fe-Cu@Sepiolite composite

An effective method for increasing the utilization efficiency of active components in heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts was provided. 1.5 at.% Fe-Cu bimetal on 1D sepiolite (Sep) (D-FeCu@Sep) with high dispersion and reduced chemical valence was prepared via complexation-carbonization process of glutathione. 93% of ofloxacin (OFX, a typical antibiotic of emerging concern) was degraded over D-FeCu@Sep without any extra energy input at the optimum conditions (100 mL 10 mg/L OFX, pH 5.0, 3.0 g/L catalyst and 0.03 M H₂O₂), which was enhanced by 2.3, 3.0 and 1.7 times compared with aggregated Fe-Cu on Sep (A-FeCu@Sep), monometallic Fe on Sep (D-Fe@Sep) and Fe-Cu on blocky Celite (D-FeCu@Celite), respectively. Moreover, it exhibited an excellent performance at a wide working pH range from acidic to neutral conditions (pH 3.2-7.2) with a satisfied stability. Based on the characterizations of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), the proposed complexation-carbonization process of glutathione played an important role in the good Fenton performance of D-FeCu@Sep. The complexation of Fe and Cu ion by glutathione favors the high dispersion of Fe-Cu active component, afterward the reduced chemical valence results from carbonization process of glutathione. Moreover, the 1D nanofibrous structure of D-FeCu@Sep could greatly increase the surface electron transfer efficiency compared with D-FeCu@Celite. This study provides a method alternative to the heterogeneous Fenton chemistry by increasing the utilization efficiency of active components.

Fe3O4@S-doped ZnO: A magnetic, recoverable, and reusable Fenton-like catalyst for efficient degradation of ofloxacin under alkaline conditions

In this study, an efficient and reusable heterogeneous Fenton catalyst Fe₃O₄@S-doped ZnO magnetic composite was synthesized for the degradation of ofloxacin (OFX) under alkaline conditions without external energy input. The Fe₃O₄@S-doped ZnO exhibited excellent catalytic activity toward ofloxacin degradation within 120 min. Using 0.25 g/L of catalyst and 5.0 mL/L of H₂O₂ under optimized conditions, the catalyst was effective in pH values ranging from 5.2 to 9.0. The catalytic performance at optimal conditions was in accordance with a pseudo-first-order kinetics model. The reaction constant of Fe₃O₄@S-doped ZnO (0.0354 min^-1) was three times than that of Fe₃O₄@ZnO (0.0124 min^-1) under alkaline conditions (pH 8.2). The reactive oxygen species were the ·OH and O₂^·-, with ·OH dominating in the degradation of OFX. It is proposed that the catalyst acts as a Lewis acid, creating an acidic microenvironment on the catalyst's surface and widening the pH range of the Fenton reaction to alkaline conditions. Additionally, the catalyst was stable and reusable after six cycles of use. The Fenton-like Fe₃O₄@S-doped ZnO catalyst overcomes the problem of the narrow pH of the reaction system, thus providing promising environmental applications.

Significant enhancement of photo-Fenton degradation of ofloxacin over Fe-Dis@Sep due to highly dispersed FeC6 with electron deficiency

An efficient strategy for enhancing iron efficiency in heterogeneous Fenton reaction via the pyrolysis of ferrocene chemically modified sepiolite (Sep) was proposed in this study. Highly dispersed FeC₆ on sepiolite (Fe-Dis@Sep) was synthesized as an efficient photo-Fenton catalyst for the visible light degradation of ofloxacin (OFX). It exhibits an excellent Fenton activity and stability towards OFX degradation. The pseudo-first order reaction rate constant of Fe-Dis@Sep was 5.1-fold higher than that of the supported catalyst with aggregated iron oxides prepared by traditional impregnation method (Fe-Agg@Sep). Based on TEM images and density functional theory (DFT) calculation, the enhanced Fenton activity of Fe-Dis@Sep was attributed to the unique incorporation of FeC₆ on Sep via Si-O-C-Fe bond which not only favor the high dispersion of FeC₆ with an electron deficiency but also promote Fe(III) to Fe(II) cycle via the formation of surface Fe-H₂O₂ complex. OH and O₂^- were identified as active species for OFX degradation in Fe-Dis@Sep-H₂O₂-Vis system. 98.7% of F and 97.0% of N in OFX was converted into F^- and NO₃^- with a TOC removal efficiency of 89.35%. The possible degradation pathway of OFX was also proposed according to HPLC-MS results. Finally, the Fenton reaction mechanism over Fe-Dis@Sep was discussed.

Retrospective analysis of defect reconstruction after abdominal wall tumor resection in 30 patients

PURPOSE

It is difficult to manage the full-thickness defect that is created by radical resection of an abdominal wall tumor. This report aimed to review our institutional experience with immediate reconstruction using mesh reinforcement after abdominal wall tumor resection.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined patients who underwent abdominal wall tumor resection with immediate mesh-reinforced reconstruction between April 2014 and November 2018. The patients' records were reviewed to collect data regarding their demographic characteristics, surgical procedures, and complications.

RESULTS

We identified 30 eligible patients, including 5 who underwent simultaneous resection of affected intra-abdominal organs or tissues. The median size of the resulting abdominal wall defect was 60 cm² (interquartile range: 32-127.5 cm²) and the median mesh size was 150 cm² (interquartile range: 150-225 cm²). The median operative time was 85 min (interquartile range: 60-133.8 min), the mean hospital stay was 19.4 ± 9.0 days, and the mean follow-up period was 28.6 ± 16.0 months. The complications included seroma (n = 4), infection (n = 2), massive hematoma (n = 1), and abnormal sensation (n = 3). Tumor recurrence was observed in two patients, and three patients died because of cancer progression. No patient developed a ventral hernia or abdominal bulging.

CONCLUSION

Immediate mesh-reinforced reconstruction is feasible and effective for patients who require abdominal wall tumor resection.

Surface and interfacial study of atomic layer deposited Al2O3 on MoTe2 and WTe2

The atomic layer deposition (ALD) of high-k dielectrics could build an efficient barrier against moisture and O₂ adsorption. Such a barrier is highly needed for MoTe₂ and WTe₂ transition metal dichalcogenides because of the poor structural stability and the fast oxidization in ambient air. In situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ex situ atomic force microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy were employed to report a comparative study between the growth of Al₂O₃ on MoTe₂ and WTe₂ by means of traditional thermal ALD and plasma-enhanced ALD (PEALD). Similar to what has been observed on other 2D materials such as MoS₂ and Graphene, the thermal ALD results in an islanding growth of Al₂O₃ on MoTe₂ due to the dearth of dangling bonds, whereas, a uniform coverage of Al₂O₃ on WTe₂ is observed and likely contributed to the high concentration of intrinsic structural defects. The PEALD behavior is consistent between MoTe₂ and WTe₂ providing a conformal and linear growth rate (∼0.08 nm/cycle), which correlates with the creation of Te-O and metal-O nucleation sites. However, a thin layer of interfacial Mo or W oxides gradually forms, resulting from the plasma-induced damage in the topmost (1-2) layers. Attempts to enhance the Al₂O₃/MoTe₂ interfacial quality by physically evaporating an Al₂O₃ seed layer are investigated as well. However, the evaporated Al₂O₃ process causes thermal damage on MoTe₂, necessitating a more 'gentle' ALD technique for the surface passivation.

Safe and efficient degradation of metronidazole using highly dispersed β-FeOOH on palygorskite as heterogeneous Fenton-like activator of hydrogen peroxide

In this study, the highly dispersed β-FeOOH on palygorskite (H-β-FeOOH/PAL) was prepared and investigated as Fenton catalyst for H₂O₂ activation towards metronidazole (MTZ). Based on electron spin resonance and probe techniques, hydroxyl radicles (^•OH) as main reactive oxygen species was confirmed, and much more ^•OH were generated over H-β-FeOOH/PAL than T-β-FeOOH/PAL using traditional impregnation method. The enhanced Fe(III) to Fe(II) cycle due to the highly dispersed β-FeOOH leads to the fast degradation of metronidazole over H-β-FeOOH/PAL. 92.8% of MTZ degradation efficiency was achieved within 180 min by adding 17 mmol/L H₂O₂ and 40 mg/L of H-β-FeOOH/PAL at pH 6.0. The bacterial cytotoxicity during MTZ degradation process also decreased with reaction time and achieved zero at 66 min, indicating MTZ was not only efficiently degraded but also safely transformed. Besides, the possible MTZ degradation pathway was further proposed based on the intermediates identified by HPLC-MS.

P5496Sex differences in the association between diabetes and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 5,016,608 participa

Background

Previous meta-analyses, through internal, within-study comparisons of women and men participants, have observed that women with diabetes are at substantially higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and gastric cancer compared with affected men. However, the magnitude of the excess risk of these and other cause-specific outcomes that is conferred by diabetes for men and women is unknown.

Purpose

To estimate the relative effect of diabetes on risk of all-cause, cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), infectious disease and respiratory disease mortality in women compared with men.

Methods

Studies published from their inception to April 1, 2018, identified through a systematic search of PubMed and EMBASE and review of references. We used the sex-specific RRs to derive the women-to-men ratio of RRs (RRR) and 95% CIs from each study. Subsequently, the RRR for each outcome was pooled with random effects meta-analysis weighted by the inverse of the variances of the log RRRs.

Results

Forty-eight studies with 85 prospective cohorts met the inclusion criteria and were eligible for analysis. The pooled women to men RRR showed a 13% greater risk of all-cause mortality associated with diabetes in women than in men (RRR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.19; P<0.001, Figure 1). The pooled multiple-adjusted RRR indicated a 30% significantly greater excess risk of CVD mortality in women with diabetes compared with men (RRR: 1.30 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.49; P<0.001). Compared with men with diabetes, women with diabetes had a 58% greater risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality, but only an 8% greater risk of stroke mortality (RRRCHD: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.32 to 1.90; P<0.001; RRRstroke: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.15; P<0.001). However, no sex differences were observed among the population with or without diabetes, for all-cancer (RRR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.06; P=0.21), infectious (RRR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.90 to 1.38; P=0.33) and respiratory mortality RRR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.95 to 1.23; P=0.26).

Conclusions

Compared with men with the same condition, women with diabetes have a 58% and 13% greater risk of CHD and all-cause mortality, respectively. This points to an urgent need to develop sex and gender specific risk assessment strategies and therapeutic interventions that target diabetes management for CHD prevention.