Adsorption behavior and mechanism of lead by starch/tobermorite composite hydrogel.

Tobermorite (TOB) is a synthetic inorganic mineral material with a montmorillonite-like layered structure that removes heavy metals from water, and its incorporation into starch-based hydrogels can optimize the stability and adsorption properties of the hydrogels; it can also significantly reduce the storage pressure of fly ash (FA) and reduce environmental pollution. This study utilized starch/tobemolite/acrylic acid (LR/TOB/AA) as the raw material, successfully synthesizing a starch-tobemolite composite hydrogel (LR-TOB/AA) using aqueous solution polymerization. The hydrogel exhibits excellent water absorption and retention capabilities, as well as a significant adsorption effect on Pb(II).

Enhancement mechanism of xanthan gum production in Xanthomonas campestris induced by atmospheric and room-temperature plasma (ARTP) mutagenesis.

Xanthan gum, produced by the aerobic fermentation of carbohydrates by Xanthomonas campestris, is a significant natural and industrial biopolymer known for its exceptional properties. Enhancing the yield of xanthan gum production remains a critical challenge. This study employed atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) technology to induce mutagenesis in X.

Experimental and simulation study on compressive failure of rock with pre-Y-shaped cracks.

A large number of joints and fissures are prevalent in the rock mass, which has an important influence on the mechanical properties of the rock mass. To study the failure mechanical characteristics of Y-cracked rocks, the paper analyzes the influence of different angles of prefabricated Y-cracked rocks on the mechanical strength characteristics of the rocks and the crack extension evolution through uniaxial compression indoor tests and discrete element PFC2D numerical simulation. The results indicate that the stress-strain curves of rocks containing prefabricated cracks exhibit five stages: the initial pore-fracture compaction stage, the elastic stage, the crack stable development stage, the crack unstable development stage, and the post-peak rupture.

Urban travel carbon emission mitigation approach using deep reinforcement learning.

The urbanization process has led to a significant increase in energy consumption and carbon emissions, which can be mitigated through scientific urban planning and management. This research proposes a bottom-up urban carbon emission mitigation strategy based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL). Using Ningbo City as a case study, multi-source urban data, including points of interest (POI) data and urban transportation system data, are utilized, along with varying carbon emission coefficients for different travel modes, to construct a comprehensive carbon emission environment for urban areas.

Green Streets, Healthy Hearts: Exploring the Roles of Urban Nature and Walkability in Cardiovascular Health.

With the growing evidence that connects urban environments with public health outcomes, the role of urban planning has become increasingly critical in addressing public health challenges. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality in urban areas and worldwide and are impacted by characteristics of the built environment, such as walkability and nature exposure. In this literature view, we explore the influence of the physical built environment, specifically green spaces and walkability, on cardiovascular health.

Feminism in the borderscape: Juarense women against injustice.

This article critically examines the feminist movement in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, highlighting the struggles and activism of Juarense women against social injustices, particularly those exacerbated by machismo, the Narco War, and the manufacturing industry. The analysis explores the roots of machismo in Mexican culture, the impact of the maquiladora industry on women's lives, and the rise of feminist activism in response to these challenges. Emphasizing the intersection of gender violence and legal frameworks, the article incorporates feminist legal theory to argue for substantial legal reforms to combat the normalization of machismo and feminicide.

Development of an approach to forecast future takeaway outlet growth around schools and population exposure to takeaways in England.

Background: Neighbourhood exposure to takeaways can contribute negatively to diet and diet-related health outcomes. Urban planners within local authorities (LAs) in England can modify takeaway exposure through denying planning permission to new outlets in management zones around schools. LAs sometimes refer to these as takeaway "exclusion zones".

Fluorescent carbon quantum dots for heavy metal sensing.

Many heavy metals pose significant threats to the environment and human health. Traditional methods for detecting heavy metals are often limited by complex procedures, high costs, and challenges in field monitoring. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), a novel class of fluorescent carbon nanomaterials, have garnered significant interest due to their excellent biocompatibility, low cost, and minimal toxicity.

Influence of S(IV) reduction on the reaction mechanisms and the generation of reactive oxygen species in B-Cu@Fe/PPS system.

Heterogeneous sulfite-based advanced oxidation process is extremely promising for the removal of various industrial pollutants owing to its generation of multiple reactive oxygen species (ROS), while the unclear mechanism of S(IV) conversion and ROS generation hinder its practical applications. Here, the iron-copper bimetallic was synthesized for potassium pyrosulfate catalysis, which was designed for insight into the mechanism of micropollutant degradation driven by sulfur species conversion. Experimental and theoretical calculations have shown that the reaction process and corresponding mechanisms can be significantly distinguished into three different stages.

Mechanically Induced Green Targeted Conversion of Ammonia Nitrogen to N: Based on Cavitation Effects and ROS Oxidation.

Addressing the mounting challenge of ammonia nitrogen pollution in aquatic ecosystems necessitates the selective oxidation of ammonia nitrogen to nitrogen gas, a pivotal aspect of eco-friendly nitrogen removal processes. Ultrasound cavitation, renowned for its capacity to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), has garnered considerable attention in environmental remediation. This study reveals a highly synergistic mechanism in ultrasound coupled stirring (US-ST), establishing optimal coupling conditions through sound field monitoring and quantification of ROS.

Long-Term Passenger Flow Forecasting for Rail Transit Based on Complex Networks and Informer.

With the continuous growth of urbanization, passenger flow in urban rail transit systems is steadily increasing, making accurate long-term forecasting essential for optimizing operational scheduling and enhancing service quality. However, passenger flow forecasting becomes increasingly complex due to the intricate structure of rail transit networks and external factors such as seasonal variations. To address these challenges, this paper introduces an optimized Informer model for long-term forecasting that incorporates the influences of other stations based on complex network theory.

Massive Point Cloud Processing for Efficient Construction Quality Inspection and Control.

The construction of large-scale civil infrastructures requires massive spatiotemporal data to support the management and control of scheduling, quality control, and safety monitoring. Existing artificial-intelligence-based data processing algorithms rely heavily on experienced engineers to adjust the parameters of data processing, which is inefficient and time-consuming when dealing with huge datasets. Limited studies have compared the performance of different algorithms on a unified dataset.

Aerobic granular sludge enhances start-up and granulation in single-stage partial nitritation anammox granular sludge systems: Performance, mechanism, and shifts in bacterial communities.

The rapid start-up and granulation of a single-stage partial nitritation anammox granular sludge (PN/AnGS) system under limited seed sludge conditions is crucial for its practical application. This study proposed an aerobic granular sludge (AGS) - based strategy, enhanced the enrichment of anammox bacteria (AnAOB), and shortened the start-up time of PN/AnGS system by 20.5%.

Integration of ecological restoration and landscape aesthetics: Mechanisms of microplastic retention by optimization of aquatic plants landscape design in urban constructed wetlands - A case study of the living water park in Chengdu.

Microplastic (MP) pollution is prevalent in urban water environments, with increasing evidence of its negative environmental impacts. This study examines the role and mechanisms of aquatic plant landscapes in the ecological remediation of MP (0.05-5 mm) in urban constructed wetland parks, using the Living Water Park in Chengdu as a case study.

The Nature of Molecular Hybridizations in Nanodiamonds for Boosted Fe(III)/Fe(II) Circulation.

Reducing agents have been frequently utilized as electron donors for Fe(II) generation to resolve the sluggish Fe(III) reduction in Fenton-like reactions, while their irreversible consumption necessitates a robust catalytic system that utilizes green electron donors such as HO. In this study, we used annealed nanodiamonds (NDs) as a collection of model catalysts with different sp/sp ratios to investigate the roles of the molecular structure in boosting the Fenton-like reactions. The annealed NDs acted as an electron mediator to transfer electrons from HO to surface-adsorbed Fe(III) for Fe(II) generation as well as an electron donor for direct Fe(III) reduction, driving Fe(II)-catalyzed HO decomposition to produce massive hydroxyl radicals, demonstrating potential in the real-water matrixes.

Trends in Timely Access to High-Quality and Affordable Surgical Care in the United States.

Objective: To quantify recent trends in access to timely, high-quality, affordable surgical care in the US.

Background: Insufficient access to surgical care remains an ongoing concern in the US. Previous attempts to understand and quantify barriers in access to surgical care in the US lack a comprehensive, policy-relevant lens.

Matrix scenario-based urban flooding damage prediction via convolutional neural network.

This study introduces a cutting-edge, high-resolution tool leveraging the predictive prowess of convolutional neural networks to advance the field of hazard assessment in urban pluvial flooding scenarios. The tool uniquely accounts for the high heterogeneity of urban space and the potential impact of complex climate scenarios, which are often underestimated by traditional data-reliant methods. Employing Shenzhen as a case study, the model showcased superior accuracy, resilience, and interpretability, illuminating potential flood hazards.

An ingenious chemiluminescence sensing strategy for recalcitrant triphenyl phosphate based on oxidant-free UV-activated MIL-100(Fe) gel system.

Background: Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are notorious emerging contaminants threatening the environment and human health. Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), which has an extremely serious biotoxicity, is a typical harmful OPFR. Due to its wide use, TPHP has been discovered in various environmental mediums.

Proteomic analysis identified proteins that are differentially expressed in the flavonoid and carotenoid biosynthetic pathways of Camellia Nitidissima flowers.

Background: Camellia nitidissima Chi is a popular ornamental plant because of its golden flowers, which contain flavonoids and carotenoids. To understand the regulatory mechanism of golden color formation, the metabolites of C. nitidissima petals at five different developmental stages were detected, a proteome map of petals was first constructed via tandem mass tag (TMT) analysis, and the accuracy of the sequencing data was validated via parallel reaction monitoring (PRM).

Revealing the essence of anion ligands in regulating amorphous MnOx to activate peracetic acid for micropollutant removal.

How the anion ligands of manganese precursors affect the catalytic activity of amorphous manganese oxides (MnOx) in Fenton-like process is poorly understood. Here, five amorphous MnOx synthesized by Mn(II) precursors with different ligands were characterized and adopted to activate peracetic acid (PAA) for bisphenol A (BPA) degradation. Although > 90 % BPA removal was achieved in the five MnOx/PAA processes via both adsorption and oxidation, the oxidation k greatly differentiates by the ligands types with the order of MnOx-N > MnOx-S > MnOx-Cl > MnOx-AA > MnOx-OA.

Deciphering the role of nonylphenol adsorption in soil by microplastics with different polarities and ageing processes.

In the soil environment, microplastics (MPs) commonly coexist with organic pollutants such as nonylphenol (NP), affecting the migration of NP through adsorption/desorption. However, few studies have focused on the interaction between NP and MPs in soil, especially for MPs of different types and ageing characteristics. In this study, non-polar polypropylene (PP) and polar polyamide (PA) MPs were aged either photochemically (144 h) or within soil (60 days), then used to determine the effect of 5 % MPs on the adsorption behaviour of NP (0.

An integrated approach of support vector machine (SVM) and weight of evidence (WOE) techniques to map groundwater potential and assess water quality.

This study addresses the critical need for effective groundwater (GW) management in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, amidst challenges posed by rapid urbanization and population growth. By integrating Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Weight of Evidence (WOE) techniques, this study aimed to delineate GW potential zones and assess water quality. This study fills the gap in applying advanced machine learning and geostatistical methods for accurate GW potential mapping.

Research on the restorative effects and perception of privacy driven activities in Chinese classical gardens-Case studies of three Suzhou gardens.

The need for privacy, recognized as a fundamental psychological requirement, has garnered increasing attention as researchers explore the restorative effects of privacy driven activities (PDA). This study employs quantitative experiments and analyses to assess the restorative benefits of PDA within three classical Chinese gardens, demonstrating their superiority over conventional leisure activities in promoting emotional recovery, reducing stress, and restoring attention. The experiment quantifies the restorative effects of PDA versus standard leisure activities using a classic restorative scale and physiological indicators reflecting emotional relief.

[Advances in nanostructured surfaces for enhanced mechano-bactericidal applications].

The issue of bacterial drug resistance has remained unresolved, and in recent years, biomimetic nanostructured surfaces inspired by nature have garnered significant attention due to their bactericidal properties demonstrated through mechanical mechanisms. This article reviewed the main research progress in the field of nanostructured mechanical bactericidal surfaces, including various preparation methods for nanostructured surfaces with mechanical bactericidal properties, as well as the basic mechanisms and related physical models of the interaction between bacteria and nanostructured surfaces. In addition, the application of nanostructured surfaces in biomedicine was introduced.

Boosted direct electrochemical reduction of As(III) from arsenic wastewater via Cu(II)-assisted codeposition on a CuIn alloy electrode.

Arsenic contamination is a severe environmental problem. A promising strategy for addressing this issue is the direct conversion of highly toxic As(III) to less toxic elemental arsenic (As(0)) using electrochemical reduction technology. In this study, a novel CuIn alloy nanoparticles-modified copper foam (CuIn NPs/CF) was prepared as an efficient cathode for the electrocatalytic reduction of highly mobile As(III) to solid As(0).