Nanoplastics exposure simplifies the network structure of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) gut microbiota and improves cluster randomness.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are abundant in ocean environments, leading to environmental pollution and notable disruptions to the physiological functions of marine animals. To investigate the toxic effects of NPs on echinoderms, specifically sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus), they were exposed to varying concentrations of NPs (0, 10, 10 particles/L) for 14 d. Subsequently, the 10 particles/L exposure group was purified for 35 d to elucidate the impact of both NPs exposure and purification on the intestinal bacteria structure and function.

Enhanced Field Emission and Low-Pressure Hydrogen Sensing Properties from Al-N-Co-Doped ZnO Nanorods.

ZnO nanostructures show great potential in hydrogen sensing at atmospheric conditions for good gas adsorption abilities. However, there is less research on low-pressure hydrogen sensing performance due to its low concentration and in-homogeneous distributions under low-pressure environments. Here, we report the low-pressure hydrogen sensing by the construction of Al-N-co-doped ZnO nanorods based on the adsorption-induced field emission enhancement effect in the pressure range of 10 to 10 Pa.

Disposable Peptidoglycan-Specific Biosensor for Noninvasive Real-Time Detection of Broad-Spectrum Gram-Positive Bacteria in Exhaled Breath Condensates.

Rapidly identifying and quantifying Gram-positive bacteria are crucial to diagnosing and treating bacterial lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). This work presents a field-deployable biosensor for detecting Gram-positive bacteria from exhaled breath condensates (EBCs) based on peptidoglycan recognition using an aptamer. Dielectrophoretic force is employed to enrich the bacteria in 10 s without additional equipment or steps.

Sulfamethoxazole stress endangers the gut health of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) and affects host metabolism.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) is a frequently detected antibiotic in the environment, and there is a growing concern about its potential toxic effects on aquatic organisms. sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicas) is a benthic invertebrate whose gut acts as a primary immune defense and serves critical protective barrier. In this study, growth performance, histology, gut microbiota, and metabolomics analyses were performed to investigate the toxic response in the intestine of sea cucumber effects caused by SMZ stress for 56 d by evaluating with different concentrations of SMZ (0, 1.

High temperature influences DNA methylation and transcriptional profiles in sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius).

Background: DNA methylation plays an important role in life processes by affecting gene expression, but it is still unclear how DNA methylation is controlled and how it regulates gene transcription under high temperature stress conditions in Strongylocentrotus intermedius. The potential link between DNA methylation variation and gene expression changes in response to heat stress in S. intermedius was investigated by MethylRAD-seq and RNA-seq analysis.

Construction of CNT-MgO-Ag-BaO Nanocomposite with Enhanced Field Emission and Hydrogen Sensing Performances.

CNTs and CNT-MgO, CNT-MgO-Ag, and CNT-MgO-Ag-BaO nanocomposites were grown on alloy substrates using an electrophoretic deposition method and their field emission (FE) and hydrogen sensing performances were investigated. The obtained samples were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman, and XPS characterizations. The CNT-MgO-Ag-BaO nanocomposites showed the best FE performance with turn-on and threshold fields of 3.

Nanoplastics affect the growth of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) and damage gut health.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are abundant and widespread throughout the ocean, not only causing severe environmental pollution, but also worsening the aquatic organisms. To elucidate the mechanism of biological toxic effects underlying the responses of marine invertebrates to NPs, Strongylocentrotus intermedius was stressed with three different NPs concentrations (0 particles/L, 10 particles/L and 10 particles/L). Specific growth rates, enzyme activity, gut tissue section observation and structural characteristics of the gut bacterial community were analyzed.

Field Emission of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes from Pt-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were grown directly on a metal substrate with the assistance of Pt using a chemical vapor deposition method. In addition, the growth mechanism of Pt-assisted catalytic CNT was discussed. MWNTs were characterized by SEM, TEM, AFM, Raman, and EDS, and the field emission (FE) properties were investigated, comparing with the direct grown MWNTs.

Performance of a Low Energy Ion Source with Carbon Nanotube Electron Emitters under the Influence of Various Operating Gases.

Low energy ion measurements in the vicinity of a comet have provided us with important information about the planet's evolution. The calibration of instruments for thermal ions in the laboratory plays a crucial role when analysing data from in-situ measurements in space. A new low energy ion source based on carbon nanotube electron emitters was developed for calibrating the ion-mode of mass spectrometers or other ion detectors.

Carbon Nanotube-Graphene Hybrid Electrodes with Enhanced Thermo-Electrochemical Cell Properties.

Carbon nanotube-Graphene (CNT-Gr) hybrids were prepared on stainless steel substrates by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to make the thermo-electrochemical cell (TEC) electrodes. The as-obtained TEC electrodes were investigated by the SEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, tensile, and surface resistance tests. These hybrid electrodes exhibited significant improved TEC performances compared to the pristine CNT electrode.

Directly Grown Multiwall Carbon Nanotube and Hydrothermal MnO Composite for High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes.

MnO-MWNT-Ni foam supercapacitor electrodes were developed based on directly grown multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and hydrothermal MnO nanostructures on Ni foam substrates. The electrodes demonstrated excellent electrochemical and battery properties. The charge transfer resistance dropped 88.

Hydrogen sensing characteristics from carbon nanotube field emissions.

An innovative hydrogen sensing concept is demonstrated based on the field emission from multi-walled carbon nanotubes, where the low emission currents rise in proportion to hydrogen partial pressures above 10(-9) Torr. Experimental and first principles studies reveal that the sensing mechanism is attributed to the effective work function reduction from dissociative hydrogen chemisorption. The embedded Ni catalyst would assist both the hydrogen dissociation and work function reduction.

Wide-range Vacuum Measurements from MWNT Field Emitters Grown Directly on Stainless Steel Substrates.

The field emission properties and the vacuum measurement application are investigated from the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) grown directly on catalytic stainless steel substrates. The MWNT emitters present excellent emission properties after the acid treatment of the substrate. The MWNT gauge is able to work down to the extreme-high vacuum (XHV) range with linear measurement performance in wide range from 10(-11) to 10(-6) Torr.

Thermo-Electrochemical Cells Based on Carbon Nanotube Electrodes by Electrophoretic Deposition.

Drawbacks of low efficiency and high cost of the electrode materials have restricted the wide applications of the thermo-electrochemical cells (TECs). Due to high specific areas and electrical conductivities, the low cost multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are promising alternative electrode materials. In this work, the MWNT films of up to 16 cm were synthesized on stainless steel substrates by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to make the thermo-electrochemical electrodes.