This study presents a tannic acid (TA)-mediated strategy to engineer the structure and functionality of chitosan/ polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA) packaging films by simultaneously crosslinking polymers and integrating nanoparticles. TA served as a multifunctional structuring agent, forming extensive hydrogen-bonding networks within the CS/PVA matrix and coordinating with MgO-TiO2 nanoparticles to generate stable metal-phenolic interfaces. This dual interaction produced a more compact, integrated film network with enhanced interfacial compatibility and reduced polymer chain mobility. Consequently, the composite film showed a 79% increase in tensile strength (29.3 MPa), along with significant reductions in water vapor permeability (21%) and oxygen permeability (36.4%), indicating improved barrier performance through increased network density and tortuous diffusion pathways. TA-mediated coordination further modified the optical properties of MgO-TiO2, enabling visible-light responsiveness and promoting reactive oxygen species generation, which contributed to strong antibacterial activity, with bacterial reduction exceeding 5 log CFU mL- 1 against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus within 24 h. In addition, the films exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity and complete UV shielding. When applied to banana preservation, the optimized film effectively delayed ripening, extending shelf life by approximately four days while maintaining acceptable quality. Overall, this work highlights a synergistic approach to tailoring hybrid film networks via polyphenol-mediated crosslinking and metal-phenolic coordination, providing insights into structure-property relationships for the design of advanced active packaging materials.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are recognized as major sinks for microplastics (MPs), transferring a substantial proportion of particles from wastewater to sewage sludge. However, nationwide assessments of MP contamination in sewage sludge remain scarce. This study investigated the occurrence, characteristics, diversity, and environmental risks of MPs in sewage sludge collected from 65 municipal WWTPs across Taiwan. MP concentrations ranged from 76 × 103 to 519 × 103 items/kg dry weight, with an average concentration of 224 × 103 ± 104 × 103 items/kg. Polyethylene (4.3–99.1 %) and polypropylene (0–87.5 %) dominated the polymer composition, while fragments (46.9–94.2 %) and particles between 51 and 300 μm represented the predominant morphological fractions. Microplastic abundance was positively correlated with the smallest particle size fraction (25–50 μm), overall particle diversity, ash content, and Pb and Mn concentrations, indicating the co-accumulation of particulate contaminants and increasing heterogeneity with higher contamination levels. Environmental risk assessment demonstrated that all sewage sludge samples were classified as polluted, with most WWTPs falling into heavily or extremely polluted categories according to the Pollution Load Index. Furthermore, elevated Polymeric Hazard Index and Potential Ecological Risk values highlighted considerable environmental risks associated with sewage sludge. These findings demonstrate that sewage sludge represents an important reservoir of microplastics and associated contaminants. As Taiwan continues to promote circular economy strategies and resource recovery from sewage sludge, future sludge management should incorporate microplastic abundance and polymer-specific hazards alongside conventional pollutants to ensure environmentally sustainable sludge reuse.
Transit-oriented development (TOD) promotes compact urban form, public-transport accessibility, and reduced automobile dependence, but conventional TOD models insufficiently address the growing flood risks associated with climate change. This study aims to develop an integrated and scenario-sensitive planning framework that reconciles TOD objectives with flood-resilience (FR) requirements in high-density urban environments. An initial set of 17 TOD and FR indicators was identified from the literature. A double-triangle fuzzy Delphi procedure involving experts from academia, government, and industry was used to establish consensus and screen the indicators, after which the analytic network process (ANP) was applied to capture their interdependencies and determine priorities under three decision scenarios. The framework was empirically examined in the Banqiao Station area of New Taipei City, Taiwan, a high-density multimodal TOD area exposed to typhoon-related and urban flood risk. Nine indicators exceeded the consensus threshold of 7.41 and were retained. When TOD and FR were considered simultaneously, rainwater drainage and sewerage facilities received the highest weight (0.16), followed by public transportation accessibility (0.13), permeable surface area (0.12), road area (0.12), and landuse diversity (0.11). When TOD was prioritized, the principal FR interventions were drainage and sewerage facilities (0.32), permeable surfaces (0.27), road area (0.21), and waterproof building design (0.20). When FR was prioritized, the leading TOD factors were public transportation accessibility and land-use diversity (both 0.24), followed by mixed land use (0.19). Theoretically, the study advances TOD research by incorporating climate adaptation directly into an interdependent transport-land-use planning framework. Practically, it provides a scenario-sensitive decision-support approach for coordinating development intensity, transit accessibility, stormwater management, green infrastructure, building adaptation, and emergency access in flood-prone station areas. Theoretically, this study extends conventional TOD thinking by embedding climate adaptation and flood resilience within the interdependent structure of transport-land-use planning rather than treating resilience as an external environmental consideration.
This study introduces a CO2-driven in situ chemical conversion strategy to fabricate a dense dual-layer coating on 316 L stainless steel, comprising a (Mg,Ni,Fe, Cr)-CO3 layered double hydroxide (LDH) top layer and a Cr(OH)(3)-enriched passive interfacial region. CO2 is bubbled into an acidic Fe3+/Mg2+ solution to generate a reactive metal-oxyhydroxide precursor, which subsequently crystallizes in an alkaline carbonate medium (pH 9.5) at 70 degrees C. Acting as both a controllable carbonate source and a pH buffer, CO2 enables rapid nucleation, enhanced cation incorporation, and long-range structural ordering. Increasing the CO2 partial pressure from 2 to 4 kPa significantly improves LDH crystallinity and compositional homogeneity. The optimized coating (4.0 kPa, 20 h) shows exceptional corrosion resistance in 0.85 M H2SO4, with a corrosion current density of 3.1 mu A cm(-2) and a charge-transfer resistance of 4.5 & times; 10(5) Omega & centerdot;cm(2), representing a one- to two-order-of-magnitude improvement over bare 316 L. Microstructural and spectroscopic analyses confirm a compact similar to 200 nm LDH overlayer intimately integrated with a Cr(OH)(3)-rich interfacial region, forming a synergistic barrier-repassivation system. The LDH layer functions as a sacrificial hydroxide reservoir that accelerates repassivation, whereas the Cr-rich passive layer provides long-term stability. These findings demonstrate that CO2-assisted conversion is a sustainable and tunable approach for engineering high-performance, self-protective coatings on stainless steels.
Large language models (LLMs) show promise in medical applications, yet their translation into clinical practice requires rigorous validation. Current robustness testing often employs adversarial approaches borrowed from AI safety, raising questions about their alignment with authentic clinical scenarios. To systematically map methodologies used for robustness testing of LLMs in medical contexts and assess their clinical plausibility. A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, arXiv, and MedRxiv from January 2023 to September 2025. Two independent physician reviewers screened 5,331 articles, extracting data on testing methodologies, medical domains, expert involvement, and clinical plausibility. Thirty-three studies met inclusion criteria, predominantly from 2025 (82
