Regulation of the phenolic release and conversion in oats (Avena sativa L.) by co-microbiological fermentation with Monascus anka, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis.

Microbial fermentation is an effective method to improve the functional activity of oats (Avena sativa L.), while there are some limitations to the advantages of single microbial fermentation. In this study, a microbial co-culture fermentation system with Monascus anka, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis to release and conversion oat phenolics was established.

Omnipotent antibacterial cotton fabrics with superhydrophobic and photothermal properties.

Due to the outbreak of global public health emergency, antibacterial fabrics such as face masks are in great demand. However, common antibacterial fabrics cannot kill bacteria in minutes and they are easy to be contaminated and lost biological activity. In this work, omnipotent antibacterial cotton fabrics with superhydrophobic and photothermal properties are developed by the combination of dopamine with copper sulfide (CuS) and silver nanoparticles on cotton fabrics, and post-modification with PDMS.

Enhanced Pb immobilization by CaO/MgO-modified soybean residue (okara) in phosphate mining wasteland soil: Mechanism and microbial community structure.

Lead (Pb) contamination is an inevitable consequence of phosphate mining, necessitating the development of effective remediation strategies. This study investigated the use of CaO/MgO-modified okara (CMS) as an eco-friendly approach to remediate Pb-contaminated soils from phosphate mining wastelands. In the present study, following 30 d of CMS application, the exchangeable Pb content was significantly decreased to 10.

Near-Infrared Light Driven Reversible Photoelectrochemical Bioassay by S-Scheme All-Polymer Blends for Acetylcholinesterase Activity Monitoring.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensing, recognized for its heightened sensitivity, faces limitations in its application for diagnosis due to the inefficiency of UV-visible light-driven photoactive materials in nontransparent biological samples. In this study, we investigate the potential of an S-scheme all-polymer heterojunction comprising a prototype nonfullerene polymeric acceptor (PYIT) and carbon nitride to develop a near-infrared (NIR) light-driven PEC biosensor for monitoring acetylcholinesterase activity in nontransparent human whole blood. The distinct molecular structure of PYIT enables efficient light absorption in the NIR region, enhancing sensitivity in nontransparent biological samples.

Discrimination of the Synergistic Effect of Different Zinc Active Sites with a Brønsted Acid in Zeolite for Dehydrogenation Cracking of -Octane and Ethane Dehydroaromatization.

The synergetic effect of different zinc active sites with a Brønsted acid site (BAS) in Zn-MCM-22 for -octane dehydrogenation cracking and ethane dehydroaromatization was investigated. Zn-MCM-22 catalysts containing ZnO were prepared via incipient wetness impregnation (IM) using liquid ion grafting, whereas those containing [ZnO] were prepared via atom-planting (AP) using the gas dechlorination reaction. The synergetic effects of BAS with micropore incorporated [ZnO] and external surface ZnO species on the dehydrogenation of different molecule size reactants -octane and ethane were compared.

A Three-Stage Cellular Automata Model of Complex Large Roundabout Traffic Flow, with a Flow-Efficiency- and Safety-Enhancing Strategy.

Intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) present new opportunities for enhanced traffic management by leveraging advanced driving behavior sensors and real-time information exchange via vehicle-based and cloud-vehicle communication technologies. Specifically, onboard sensors can effectively detect whether human-driven vehicles are adhering to traffic management directives. However, the formulation and validation of effective strategies for vehicle implementation rely on accurate driving behavior models and reliable model-based testing; in this paper, we focus on large roundabouts as the research scenario.

Femtosecond Laser Introduced Cantilever Beam on Optical Fiber for Vibration Sensing.

An all-fiber vibration sensor based on the Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) is proposed and experimentally evaluated in this study. The sensor is fabricated by introducing a Fabry-Perot cavity to the single-mode fiber using femtosecond laser ablation. The cavity and the tail act together as a cantilever beam, which can be used as a vibration receiver.

Metasurface with all-optical tunability for spatially-resolved and multilevel thermal radiation.

Manipulating the thermal emission in the infrared (IR) range significantly impacts both fundamental scientific research and various technological applications, including IR thermal camouflage, information encryption, and radiative cooling. While prior research has put forth numerous materials and structures for these objectives, the significant challenge lies in attaining spatially resolved and dynamically multilevel control over their thermal emissions. In this study, a one-step ultrafast laser writing technique is experimentally demonstrated to achieve position-selective control over thermal emission based on the phase-change material GeSbTe (GST).

Machine Learning Approach for the Prediction of Biomass Waste Pyrolysis Kinetics from Preliminary Analysis.

In the present work, artificial neural network (ANN)-based machine learning models are developed to predict biomass pyrolysis kinetics. Data sets of thermogravimetric analysis and feedstock characterization from a diverse range of biomasses were used to build and test the networks. The composition of the raw biomass material was classified and used as input parameters of ANN models.

WFUMB Commentary Paper on Artificial intelligence in Medical Ultrasound Imaging.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is defined as the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally associated with human intelligence. At present, AI has been widely used in a variety of ultrasound tasks, including in point-of-care ultrasound, echocardiography, and various diseases of different organs. However, the characteristics of ultrasound, compared to other imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), poses significant additional challenges to AI.

Amino-functionalized cellulose beads supporting laccase: A dual-function catalyst for simultaneous adsorption and enzymatic conversion of tetracycline.

In this study, a novel cellulose-derived support of amino-functionalized cellulose beads (ACBs) for laccase immobilization was successfully developed using cellulose beads (CBs) and polyethyleneimine by glutaraldehyde crosslinking reaction. The covalent immobilization of laccase on ACBs was achieved via a Schiff base reaction. The obtained enzyme catalysts (Lac-ACBs) were applied for simultaneous adsorption and enzymatic conversion of tetracycline (TC) from water.

Visual screening of butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors by a cellulose membrane biosensor with amide-bonded immobilization of butyrylcholinesterase in a solid-phase enzyme-catalyzed reaction.

The rapid discovery of highly active butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitors is key to the treatment of the late stages of Alzheimer's disease. Herein, a colorimetric cellulose membrane (CM)-based biosensor was developed. The CM was employed as a carrier, which can be immobilized with the BChE and 5,5'-dithio-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) to prepare the biosensor for the solid-phase enzyme-catalyzed reaction.

Confined growth of ultrasmall monodisperse gold nanoparticles in amino functionalized cellulose beads as effective catalysts for 4-nitrophenol reduction.

This study aims to prepare a monodisperse catalyst with a space-confined strategy, employing cellulose beads (CBs) as a carrier. Amino functionalized cellulose beads (ACBs) were prepared by grafting polyethyleneimine into the space of CBs via glutaraldehyde cross-linking. The in-situ reduction method was successfully employed to confine monodisperse ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within the amino functionalized cellulose beads (AuNPs@ACBs) matrix.

Visible-Light-Induced Markovnikov Hydroalkoxylation of α-Trifluoromethyl Alkenes with -Diketones.

We report, for the first time, a visible-light-promoted Markovnikov hydroalkoxylation of α-trifluoromethyl alkenes with 1,2-diketones. This transformation proceeded smoothly in the presence of a tertiary amine (EtN), providing a series of enol ethers containing the trifluoromethylated tetrasubstituted center in moderate to excellent yields. In this protocol, hydrogen atom transfer between this amine and 1,2-diketone substrate affords a ketyl radical and an α-aminoalkyl radical, which engages in the formation of a radical anion of the α-CF alkene via a single electron transfer.

The application obstacles of BIM technology in green building project and its key role path analysis.

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the application barriers and internal mechanisms of BIM technology in green building projects. It is found that BIM technology can effectively integrate information and optimize management, but its application still faces economic externalities and requires government intervention to promote its development. Through the analysis of five aspects of technology, economy, management, policy and environment, we identified 16 influencing factors and focused on nine key factors, such as insufficient technology maturity and high-cost issues.

Chitosan-BODIPY fluorescent composite materials for photodynamical antibacterial and therapy.

Chitosan-based fluorescent copolymers containing borodipyrromethene (BODIPY) were synthesized and investigated. In this work, fluorescent compound (BOD-4) containing -C ≡ CH was synthesized firstly. Subsequently, chitosan (CS)-based polymer CS-I was obtained through the -NH/-C ≡ C click reaction between BOD-4 and CS.

Dual Additive Strategy with Quasi-Planar Heterojunction Architecture Assisted in Morphology Optimization for High-Efficiency Organic Solar Cells.

Achieving high-performance and stable organic solar cells (OSCs) remains a critical challenge, primarily due to the precise optimization required for active layer morphology. Herein, this work reports a dual additive strategy using 3,5-dichlorobromobenzene (DCBB) and 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) to optimize the morphology of both bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) and quasi-planar heterojunction (Q-PHJ) based on donor D18 and acceptor BTP-eC9. The systematic results reveal that the dual additive strategy significantly promotes phase separation while inhibiting excessive aggregation, which, in turn, improves molecular order and crystallization.

Cost-Effective Synthesis of FeC Catalyst From Nanosized Zero-Valent Iron to Achieve Efficient Photothermocatalytic CO Hydrogenation to Light Olefins.

Fe-based catalysts are commonly applied in the process of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) to olefins, with Hägg iron carbide (FeC) recognized as the primary active phase. However, iron carbonyls, the raw materials for wet chemical synthesis of FeC, are expensive and toxic, which limits large-scale preparation. Here, a cost-effective and versatile method is proposed for the synthesis of FeC nanoparticles (NPs) with nanosized zero-valent iron (abbreviated as NZVI, prepared by reducing iron salts or ball-milling iron powder) instead of iron carbonyls, achieving a cost reduction of 76.

Flooding increases plant-derived carbon accumulation in soils of aquatic-terrestrial ecotone.

Soils in the aquatic-terrestrial zone undergo periodic flooding and act as significant carbon sinks. However, the mechanisms governing soil organic carbon (SOC) formation in these zones are not well understood. This study elucidates the effects of periodic flooding on SOC accumulation at the water level drawdown zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, using lignin phenols and amino sugars as indicators of plant- and microbial-derived carbon.

Antibacterial and antifungal pyrazoles based on different construction strategies.

The growing prevalence of microbial infections, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stemming from the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, call for novel therapeutic agents, particularly ones targeting resistant microbial strains. Scientists are striving to develop innovative agents to tackle the rising microbial infections and abate the risk of AMR. Pyrazole, a five-membered heterocyclic compound belonging to the azole family, is a versatile scaffold and serves as a core structure in many drugs with antimicrobial and other therapeutic effects.