A novel Z-scheme system of CeO2–Ag/AgBr heterostructure photocatalyst exhibits excellent ability to eliminate ciprofloxacin under visible light irradiation.
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•Novel Z-scheme ...CeO2–Ag/AgBr photocatalysts were prepared.•Superior photocatalytic activity for the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) refractory pollutants was obtained.•The factors affecting the photocatalytic performance were investigated.•A plausible degradation pathway for CIP was proposed.•A Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism was proposed.
In this study, CeO2–Ag/AgBr composite photocatalysts with a Z-scheme configuration were fabricated by in situ interspersal of AgBr on CeO2 and subsequent photoreduction process. The CeO2–Ag/AgBr composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) under visible light irradiation. The effects of initial CIP concentration and various inorganic salts were investigated in detail. Three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix fluorescence spectra were used to further monitor the CIP molecule degradation. Plausible degradation pathways for CIP were proposed based on LC-MS instruments. Photoluminescence, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and photocurrent tests indicated the rapid transfer and migration of electrons–holes can be achieved in this ternary photocatalytic system. The enhanced photocatalytic performances of CeO2–Ag/AgBr could be credited to the accelerated interfacial charge transfer process and the improved separation of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs. The existence of a small amount of metallic Ag is conducive to the formation of a stable Z-scheme photocatalytic system. This work would pave the route for the design of novel Z-scheme photocatalytic systems for application in solar-to-fuel conversion and photocatalytic water treatment.
Background and Aim
Remimazolam tosilate (RT) is a new short‐acting GABA(A) receptor agonist, having potential to be an effective option for procedural sedation. Here, we aimed to compare the efficacy ...and safety of RT with propofol in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Methods
This positive‐controlled, non‐inferiority, phase III trial recruited patients at 17 centers, between September 2017 and November 2017. A total of 384 patients scheduled to undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomly assigned to receive RT or propofol. Primary endpoint was the success rate of sedation. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded to evaluate safety.
Results
The success rate of sedation in the RT group was non‐inferior to that in the propofol group (97.34% vs 100.00%; difference in rate −2.66%, 95% CI −4.96 to −0.36, meeting criteria for non‐inferiority). Patients in the RT group had longer time to adequate sedation (P < 0.0001) but shorter time to fully alert (P < 0.0001) than that in the propofol group. The incidences of hypotension (13.04% vs 42.86%, P < 0.0001), treatment‐related hypotension (0.54% vs 5.82%, P < 0.0001), and respiratory depression (1.09% vs 6.88%, P = 0.0064) were significantly lower in the RT group. AEs were reported in 74 (39.15%) patients in the RT group and 114 (60.32%) patients in the propofol group, with significant difference (P < 0.0001).
Conclusion
This trial established non‐inferior sedation success rate of RT compared with propofol. RT allows faster recovery from sedation compared with propofol. The safety profile is favorable and appears to be superior to propofol, indicating that it was feasible and well tolerated for patients.
The upland agricultural soils in North China are distributed north of a line between the Kunlun Mountains, the Qinling Mountains and the Huaihe River. They occur in arid, semi-arid and semi-humid ...regions and crop production often depends on rain-fed or irrigation to supplement rainfall. This paper summarizes the characteristics of gross nitrogen（N） transformation, the fate of N fertilizer and soil N as well as the N loss pathway, and makes suggestions for proper N management in the region. The soils of the region are characterized by strong N mineralization and nitrification, and weak immobilization and denitrification ability, which lead to the production and accumulation of nitrate in the soil profile. Large amounts of accumulated nitrate have been observed in the vadose-zone in soils due to excess N fertilization in the past three decades, and this nitrate is subject to occasional leaching which leads to groundwater nitrate contamination. Under farmer＇s conventional high N fertilization practice in the winter wheat-summer maize rotation system（N application rate was approximately 600 kg ha–1 yr–1）, crop N uptake, soil residual N, NH_3 volatilization, NO_3~– leaching, and denitrification loss accounted for around 27, 30, 23, 18 and 2% of the applied fertilizer N, respectively. NH_3 volatilization and NO_3~– leaching were the most important N loss pathways while soil residual N was an important fate of N fertilizer for replenishing soil N depletion from crop production. The upland agricultural soils in North China are a large source of N_2O and total emissions in this region make up a large proportion（approximately 54%） of Chinese cropland N_2O emissions. The “non-coupled strong ammonia oxidation” process is an important mechanism of N_2O production. Slowing down ammonia oxidation after ammonium-N fertilizer or urea application and avoiding transient high soil NH4＋ concentrations are key measures for reducing N_2O emissions in this region. Further N management should aim to minimize N losses from crop and livestock production, and increase the recycling of manure and straw back to cropland. We also recommend adoption of the 4 R（Right soure, Right rate, Right time, Right place） fertilization techniques to realize proper N fertilizer management, and improving application methods or modifying fertilizer types to reduce NH_3 volatilization, improving water management to reduce NO_3~– leaching, and controlling the strong ammonia oxidation process to abate N_2O emission. Future research should focus on the study of the trade-off effects among different N loss pathways under different N application methods or fertilizer products.
Prevention and management of lung cancer in China Hong, Qun‐Ying; Wu, Guo-Ming; Qian, Gui‐Sheng ...
Cancer,
September 1, 2015, 2015-Sep-01, 2015-09-00, 20150901, Letnik:
121, Številka:
S17
Journal Article
Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent regulated cell death marked by excessive oxidative phospholipids (PLs). The polyunsaturated fatty acids-containing phospholipids (PUFA-PLs) are highly susceptible to ...lipid peroxidation under oxidative stress. Numerous pulmonary diseases occurrences and degenerative pathologies are driven by ferroptosis. This review discusses the role of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases including asthma, lung injury, lung cancer, fibrotic lung diseases, and pulmonary infection. Additionally, it is proposed that targeting ferroptosis is a potential treatment for pulmonary diseases, particularly drug-resistant lung cancer or antibiotic-resistant pulmonary infection, and reduces treatment-related adverse events.
Synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer has played a key role in enhancing food production and keeping half of the world's population adequately fed. However, decades of N fertilizer overuse in many parts ...of the world have contributed to soil, water, and air pollution; reducing excessive N losses and emissions is a central environmental challenge in the 21st century. China's participation is essential to global efforts in reducing N-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions because China is the largest producer and consumer of fertilizer N. To evaluate the impact of China's use of N fertilizer, we quantify the carbon footprint of China's N fertilizer production and consumption chain using life cycle analysis. For every ton of N fertilizer manufactured and used, 13.5 tons of CO₂-equivalent (eq) (tCO₂-eq) is emitted, compared with 9.7 t CO₂-eq in Europe. Emissions in China tripled from 1980 131 terrogram (Tg) of CO₂-eq (Tg CO₂-eq) to 2010 (452 Tg CO₂-eq). N fertilizer-related emissions constitute about 7% of GHG emissions from the entire Chinese economy and exceed soil carbon gain resulting from N fertilizer use by several-fold. We identified potential emission reductions by comparing prevailing technologies and management practices in China with more advanced options worldwide. Mitigation opportunities indude improving methane recovery during coal mining, enhancing energy efficiency in fertilizer manufacture, and minimizing N overuse in field-level crop production. We find that use of advanced technologies could cut N fertilizer-related emissions by 20-63%, amounting to 102-357 Tg CO₂-eq annually. Such reduction would decrease China's total GHG emissions by 2-6%, which is significant on a global scale.
SrTiO3/BiOI heterostructure photocatalysts were successfully fabricated through a facile chemical bath method with assistant of the ethylene glycol, which exhibit an efficient charge separation and ...excellent catalytic ability in removing different refractory pollutants.
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•Novel SrTiO3/BiOI heterojunction photocatalysts were fabricated.•A wider application in the degradation of refractory pollutants.•The factors affecting the photocatalytic performance were investigated.•The degradation process of MO and OTTCH was monitor by 3D EEMs.•The in-depth mechanisms insight of charge separation.
Novel SrTiO3/BiOI heterostructure photocatalysts were successfully fabricated through a facile chemical bath method with assistant of the ethylene glycol. The photocatalysts were applied to minimize methyl orange (MO), bisphenol A (BPA), antibiotic oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTTCH) under visible light irradiation. The SrTiO3/BiOI composites exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance towards the different refractory pollutants. Especially, the sample of STB-22.12 possessed the best photocatalytic performance in all the obtained catalysts. Several reaction parameters affecting degradation such as initial concentration, ion species were investigated systematically. Three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (3D EEMs) was used to further investigate the MO and OTTCH molecule degradation process. The photocatalytic mechanism over composite photocatalyst is systematically investigated by active species trapping experiments, ESR technique and Mott–Schottky measurements. Moreover, the energy band alignments of SrTiO3/BiOI heterostructure were confirmed via combining DRS and XPS analysis, which provided strong support for the proposed mechanism. This work could provide a deeper insight for the heterojunction catalyst.
Recently, visible-light-driven photocatalysts have been widely used in environmental pollutant remediation. In the present study, BiOI/CeO
2
p-n junction photocatalysts were successfully fabricated ...using a facile
in situ
chemical bath method. The BiOI/CeO
2
p-n junction photocatalysts exhibited excellent photoactivity for the decomposition of the refractory pollutant bisphenol A (BPA) and methylene orange (MO) under visible light illumination. The sample with a 1 : 1 mole ratio of BiOI : CeO
2
possessed the highest photocatalytic performance out of all of the as-obtained catalysts. Mott-Schottky plots indicated that p-n junctions were successfully constructed between BiOI and CeO
2
. The optical and electrical properties of the materials demonstrate that the introduction of BiOI can broaden the visible-light absorption region of CeO
2
, and the transfer rate of the electron-hole pairs dramatically improves through forming a p-n junction. Furthermore, the BPA degradation efficiency exhibited excellent photostability after four consecutive cycles. These features show that the BiOI/CeO
2
p-n junction has great application potential for refractory pollutant removal from wastewater.
A novel BiOI/CeO
2
photocatalyst with high photocatalytic performance was successfully synthesized
via
a facile
in situ
precipitation method. The enhanced photocatalytic performance is ascribed to the formation of a p-n junction, which promotes carrier separation.
Electrospun fibrous membranes have the potential to be effective wound dressings for promoting wound healing. However, the fabrication and application of the common electrospun fibrous wound ...dressings are usually complicated and separated. Here, electrospun zein/clove essential oil (CEO) fibrous membranes are fabricated and applied as a potential wound dressing through in situ electrospinning process by a portable electrospinning device. The in situ electrospinning process can directly electrospin zein/CEO membranes onto a wound site to cover the wound well and improve the convenience and comfort in use. The as‐spun zein/CEO membranes show a porous structure and exhibit higher gas permeability at 168.2 ± 43.3 mm s−1, with superhydrophilicity to absorb the wound exudate and good biocompatibility as well as antibacterial effects to protect from infection. Moreover, the mice wound model study suggests that in situ electrospun zein/CEO promotes the wound healing process.
By a portable electrospinning device, zein/clove essential oil fibrous meshes are fabricated in situ and directly deposited onto a wound site as a wound dressing. The as‐spun fabric wound dressing shows porous structure and good antibacterial activity to promote wound healing.
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•New ternary AgBr/CeO2/Ag2CO3 photocatalysts were fabricated.•Superior photocatalytic activity for the degradation of LVF refractory pollutants.•A plausible degradation pathway for ...LVF was proposed.•High mineralization ability for LVF degradation.•An accelerated interfacial charge transfer process was proposed.
Construction of highly efficient ternary photocatalytic systems is strongly attracting the attention of researchers. In this study, a novel ternary Ag2CO3/CeO2/AgBr photocatalyst with a double Z-scheme configuration was fabricated by in situ loading of Ag2CO3 onto CeO2 spindles and subsequently via an acid corrosion process. The ternary Ag2CO3/CeO2/AgBr composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of levofloxacin (LVF) under visible light irradiation. Three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix fluorescence spectra revealed that the structure of LVF could be destroyed from the fluorescence point of view; liquid chromatograph–mass spectrometer tests indicated that LVF can be degraded via different pathways; a total organic carbon study showed that LVF could be effectively mineralized. Transient photocurrent response, photoluminescence, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated that ternary Ag2CO3/CeO2/AgBr composites had fast photoinduced charge separation efficiency. Active-species-trapping experiments and an electron spin resonance technique confirmed that h+, O2−, and OH all participated in a photodegradation process. On the basic of various performance characterization and experimental results, a double Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. It is expected that the ternary Ag2CO3/CeO2/AgBr composites can be used as a promising photocatalyst for energy conversion and environmental remediation. This work could provide a new approach to constructing ternary hybrid photocatalysts and a comprehensive understanding of the degradation pathways for LVF.
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