The reduction of fluoride concentration in wastewater to ultra-low levels remains a significant challenge, as conventional aluminum-based coagulation suffers from low efficiency at trace levels and high chemical consumption. Herein, a novel magnetic adsorption-coagulation (MAC) process was developed in this study to address this limitation by integrating a lanthanum carbonate/Fe3O4 composite (LC-Fe3O4) as a magnetic seed with polyaluminum chloride (PAC). Sole LC-Fe3O4 adsorbent exhibited a high fluoride adsorption capacity of 215.3 mg F/g (pH 7, 298 K, 0.1 g/L, 24 h), fitting well with Langmuir and Freundlich models and following the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. It maintained robust performance across a wide pH range (5.0-9.0) and exhibiting strong selectivity toward fluoride even in the presence of competing HCO3- , CO32- , SO42- , and NO3 anions, whereas PO4 3-significantly interfered. This study revealed that the mechanisms of fluoride removal during LC-Fe3O4 adsorption process mainly included ligand exchange, electrostatic attraction, and inner-sphere complexation with La3+ sites. When applied for treating real secondary effluent, this novel MAC process achieved simultaneous and efficient removal of both fluoride and turbidity. Under optimized conditions, fluoride and turbidity removal efficiencies reached 69.12% and 95.2%, respectively, significantly outperforming sole coagulation. This enhancement might be attributed to the synergistic effects of adsorption on the magnetic seeds and the formation of denser and separable flocs. Furthermore, the LC-Fe3O4 seed showed excellent regenerability and reusability over multiple cycles, underscoring the practical potential of the MAC strategy for advanced wastewater treatment.

Co-occurring micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) and heavy metals (HMs) may interact synergistically or antagonistically with microorganisms, thereby influencing wastewater treatment performance. Constructed wetlands (CWs) inoculated with functional microbes such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) offer a promising approach to enhance pollutant removal. Here, we established CWs with and without AMF inoculation to examine how varying concentrations (1 and 10 mg/L) of polystyrene MNPs (PS-MNPs) affect nutrient removal and greenhouse gas (GHG) production in wastewater co-contaminated with copper/lead. Our results show that in CWs without AMF inoculation, compared with single HMs, the addition of PS-MNPs increased the average effluent concentration of ammonium nitrogen and phosphate by 11.84-134.73 % and 2.04-109.79 %, respectively, while their effects on nitrate and COD removal depended on concentration and HM levels. Inoculation with AMF reduced average effluent concentration of ammonium nitrogen and phosphate by 22.01-69.24 % and 21.89-50.47 %, respectively, and also produced a significant decrease in nitrate concentration. PS-MNPs suppressed organic matter and nitrogen transformations, leading to methane (CH4) And nitrous oxide (N2O) production elevated 2.18-53.78 % and 24.19-162.23 %, whereas AMF reduced their production. Enzyme assays indicated that PS-MNPs decreased key microbial activities in the upper layer, but AMF mitigated these impacts. Microbial community analysis revealed that AMF enhanced nitrogen cycling by promoting denitrifying bacteria (e.g., Dechloromonas, Zoogloea, Terrimonas, Thauera) and nitrifiers (Nitrospira). These findings highlight that AMF can alleviate the negative impacts of MNPs-HM co-occurrence on CWs, improving both nutrient removal and climate co-benefits. This work provides insights into pollutant interactions and offers strategies for optimizing CWs treating complex wastewater mixtures.

Anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox) faces challenges in high salinity environments due to inhibited microbial activity, while upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors maintain a higher biomass concentration. To explore how the Anammox-USAB system responds to the high salinity (NaCl) environment, a UASB reactor seeded with heterotrophic nitrification sludge. The salinity was gradually increased from 0 to 40 g NaCl/L. The results show that, when salinity increased from 0 to 15 g NaCl/L, the conversion rate of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) and total nitrogen (TN) decreased by about 25% and 22 %, respectively. At the same time, the ammonium removal load of unit sludge gradually stabilized at about 3.65 mg NH4+-N/g VSS over 10 g NaCl /L. When the salinity gradient increased to 30 g NaCl/L, microorganisms preferentially increased their polysaccharide (PS) content from 5.50 to 8.26 mg/g VSS to resist the high osmotic pressure environment. Notably, extracellular protein increased significantly, from 5.78 to 29.01 mg/g VSS to stabilize the cell structure and maintain metabolic activities at 40 g NaCl/L. With the increase of salinity, some salt-intolerant bacteria were inhibited or killed, resulting in a continuous decline in abundance while the abundance of salt-tolerant bacteria increased. The abundance of dominant species Candidatus Kuenenia and Halomonas increased from 5.97% and 0.53% to 12.29% and 12.17%, respectively. It could be seen that the Anammox-USAB system used the structural adjustment of the microbial itself and community as an adaptive strategy in response to the changes of the high-salinity environment.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), such as MIL-125(Ti), are advanced photocatalytic materials due to their tunable compositions and functionalities. However, their practical application in photocatalysis is often limited by their wide bandgap and the inherent structural instability. This study presents a strategy to improve the photocatalytic performance of MIL-125(Ti) by hydrothermal reaction combined with an in-situ decomposition to generate nano TiO2, creating a composite with g-C3N5 nanosheets. The obtained composite exhibited a rate constant of 0.00122 min(-1) mg(-1) for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride under visible light irradiation, which is 24.4 and 20.3 times that of g-C3N5 and MIL-125(Ti), respectively. Characterization results indicated the formation of an effective composite structure that improved the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and promoted the generation of reactive oxygen species. The in-situ generated TiO2 within the MIL-125(Ti)/gC(3)N(5) composite during the preparation and photocatalysis processes not only compensated for the structural damage to the original MIL-125(Ti) but also significantly enhanced its degradation performance under visible light. The recyclability and stability of the composite material were also demonstrated, highlighting its potential for practical photocatalytic applications.

Green walls present a novel on-site approach for greywater treatment and reuse in densely populated urban areas, addressing the critical need for sustainable water management. However, the challenge lies in understanding the effectiveness of processes that drive the removal of emerging contaminants, particularly xenobiotic organic compounds (XOCs) originating from the use of personal care products and household chemicals. Therefore, a year-long mesocosm study was conducted on a large-scale green wall system, incorporating eight distinct plant species, to provide a scientific understanding of how different plant species and operational conditions (hydraulic loading, dosing frequency, and drying periods) impact XOCs removal. Results showed >80 % removal of hydrophobic and positively charged XOCs under all conditions, primarily through media-driven hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. However, the removal of hydrophilic and negatively charged XOCs varied across plant species and was significantly impacted under high hydraulic loading and prolonged drying periods (i.e., 14 days). The system demonstrated the ability to effectively remove XOCs from large volumes of greywater, up to 120 l/m(2)/day, provided greywater dosing is applied in pulses with intermittent drying in between. This study provides valuable insights into designing and operating green walls and similar nature-based solutions for effective removal of emerging contaminants from wastewater.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Taraxasterol (TAR), a compound highly abundant and easily obtainable from Tibetan medicine Ixeridium gramineum (Fisch.) Tzvel., exhibits a variety of biological effects, including hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities.Aim of the study: To investigated the protective role and underlying mechanisms of TAR in fulminant hepatitis (FH) through the regulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and apoptosis by modulating the JAK/STAT and TNF signalling pathways. Material and methods The study used Kunming mice to establish a D-GalN/LPS-induced FH model, which was divided into the following groups: Control group, D-GalN/LPS group, D-GalN/LPS + Silymarin group, D-GalN/LPS + TAR 2.5 group, D-GalN/LPS + TAR 5 group, D-GalN/LPS + TAR 10 group, and TAR 10 group. H&E staining and biochemical analyses were employed to evaluate liver pathological changes. Oxidative stress factors and inflammatory response were assessed via ELISA. RNA sequencing analysis was used to detect changes in inflammatory factor genes and apoptosis genes with TAR intervention in liver tissues. The distribution of the proteins p-STAT3 and p-JNK in liver tissues was ascertained using immunohistochemical staining. In vitro experiments were conducted on RAW264.7 cells exposed to LPS and TAR. Apoptosis was evaluated via flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to determine the protein expression levels of p-STAT3 and p-JNK in RAW264.7 cells. Gene and protein expression in the JAK/STAT and TNF signalling pathways, as well as apoptosis, were analyzed using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Results TAR effectively reduced hepatocyte necrosis, diminished inflammatory factor release, inhibited oxidative stress, significantly decreased the apoptosis of RAW264.7 cells, inhibited the protein expressions of p-JAK2, p-STAT3, p-MEK4, p-JNK, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Bax, and increased the protein expressions of SOCS3 and Bcl-2. Conclusion TAR prevents D-GalN/LPS-induced FH by regulating the JAK/STAT and TNF signalling pathways and apoptosis, demonstrating its therapeutic potential in treating liver diseases.

Understanding river water quality trajectories and drivers is crucial for effective environmental management. Here we present a comprehensive nation-wide water quality trend assessment across Australia with 287 catchments from 2000 to 2019. About half of the catchments show significant trends in the flow-normalised concentration for each parameter analysed. Most of these significant trends are due to changes in concentration-flow relationships rather than long-term trends in flow. Two of Australia’s major river basins show opposing regional patterns in their significant trends. The North East Coast, which largely flows into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, has increasing phosphorus and sediments. This potentially reflects lagged effects of increasing land clearing and fertilisation since 1960s, while land improvement in the region has not yet demonstrated improvement on water quality. The Murray-Darling Basin has decreasing salinity, phosphorus, and sediment, likely driven by effects of a region-scale salinity management interventions and a prolonged drought on catchment processes. The quality of Australian rivers within the North East Coast drainage division, which largely flow into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, has declined over the past two decades, whereas river water in the Murray-Darling basin has improved, according to a water quality trend analysis for all of Australia.

BACKGROUND:Isoniazid and rifampicin, frontline tuberculosis drugs, frequently induce drug-induced liver injury (DILI), marked by hepatitis and hepatocyte necrosis. Polysaccharides from Dicliptera chinensis (L.) Juss. (DCP) exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties, but their effects on DILI remain unexplored OBJECTIVE: This study investigated DCP therapeutic potential against DILI and elucidated its molecular mechanisms METHODS: In vivo (using C57BL/6 mice) and in vitro (using HepG2 cells) DILI models were established and treated with DCP. Transcriptomics, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting were employed to analyze pathway regulation RESULTS: DCP significantly attenuated hepatocyte apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in DILI mice. Transcriptomic analysis linked DCP'S effects to the modulation of AMPK-FOXO3, p53, and NF-κB pathways, alongside regulation of antioxidant and cell cycle genes. In HepG2 cells, DCP similarly protected against DILI by enhancing AMPK phosphorylation, which facilitated the FOXO3 nuclear translocation. Both models demonstrated DCP'S suppression of p53 and NF-κB activation, restoration of antioxidant defenses, and correction of cell cycle dysregulation CONCLUSION: DCP mitigates DILI by reducing apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation through activation of the AMPK-FOXO3 pathway, inhibition of p53/NF-κB signaling, and stabilization of the cell cycle. These findings highlight DCP'S potential as a therapeutic agent for DILI prevention and treatment.

The inherent hydrophobicity of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes exacerbates fouling and limits separation efficiency. To address this, copolymerized poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-acrylic acid) (p(VDF-co-AA)) membranes were fabricated through tert-amyl peroxyneodecanoate (TBPP)-initiated in situ carboxyl group grafting. NMR and XPS verified carboxyl incorporation, while SEM and AFM revealed pore structure refinement (38.44 nm average pore diameter) and increased surface roughness (Ra: increased from 22.7 nm for PVDF membrane to 40.1 nm for p(VDF-co-AA1.5wt%)). These structural enhancements elevated hydrophilicity, reducing water contact angle by 37.9 % (from 76.65o +/- 2.16 for PVDF membrane. decreased to 47.64o +/- 0.66 for p(VDF-co-AA1.5wt%)) and tripling pure water permeance to 617 L & sdot;m- 2 & sdot;h- 1 & sdot;bar- 1. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that synergistic hydrogen bonding and carboxyl polar interactions dominated hydrophilicity enhancement. The modified membranes demonstrated outstanding antifouling performance against humic acid (HA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and sodium alginate (SA), achieving 28.0-38.8 % higher flux retention (J/J0) and 16.7-50.1 % lower irreversible fouling. Notably, the incorporation of carboxyl groups facilitated stable separation performance under extreme alkaline conditions (pH = 14), retaining over 87.6 % of the initial flux and 69.10 % DOC rejection after a 3-day exposure period. This study provides a robust strategy for the development of high-performance UF membranes through molecularscale hydrophilicity engineering.

This study compares the hydraulic performance of two new types of subsurface infiltrating irrigation pipes: the externally-overlaid and internally-embedded composite infiltrating irrigation pipe (EO-IE composite pipe) and the internally-embedded emitter infiltrating irrigation pipe (IE emitter pipe). The study quantifies key parameter differences under varying pressure conditions and reveals how the external overlay structure enhances pressure adaptability through the "channel expansion-resistance reduction" mechanism. Hydraulic tests were conducted at working pressures ranging from 0.02 to 0.18MPa. Parameters such as seepage rate, flow variation coefficient, flow exponent, and irrigation uniformity were analyzed for both pipe types. Water seepage rates increased with working pressure and stabilized quickly. The stable seepage rate for the EO-IE composite pipe ranged from 1.31 to 3.96L/(m·h), while for the IE emitter pipe, it ranged from 1.50 to 4.27L/(m·h), with the latter slightly higher. Both pipes followed the Kostiakov model, with infiltration coefficients increasing with pressure. The EO-IE composite pipe demonstrated better flow stability with a lower variation coefficient. The optimal pressure range for the EO-IE composite pipe was 0.094-0.136MPa, and for the IE emitter pipe, it was 0.082-0.117MPa. Flow in both pipes followed an exponential function with a flow exponent of approximately 0.5, which belongs to the non-pressure-compensating emitter. The irrigation uniformity coefficient of both pipes is greater than 0.8. Both pipes maintain stable and efficient irrigation within their optimal pressure ranges. The externally-overlaid and internally-embedded composite pipe offers better pressure adaptability and lower flow sensitivity compared to IE emitter pipe, making it more stable under varying pressure conditions.

The development of highly sensitive and visual analytical methods for monitoring pH change has always attracted great attention due to significant roles in various fields including food, environmental and biological systems. In this paper, a dual-response sensor for pH detection, [1,2']biindenylidene-3,1',3'-trione L, was synthesized from substrate indane-1,3-dione, and its structure was confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, ESI–MS and single crystals. Interestingly, sensor L exhibits solvatochromic properties and visualized color changes at different poplar solutions, and it can show significant changes in fluorescence intensity, UV–Vis absorbance and color at moderate acidic (pH = 3.52–5.03) and strong basic conditions (pH = 13.09–13.27) based on intramolecular proton transfer (IPT) mechanism. These results indicate that L can act as a double functional probe for the analysis and visual detection of pH change under moderate acidic and strong basic conditions in a quite narrow pH range. In addition, L can also selectively identify solvent CH2Cl2 by inducing larger blue-shift in wavelength and increase in fluorescence intensity, which means that it may be used as an indicator for monitoring trace amount of CH2Cl2. The potent applicantions for sensor L were also investigated and that it could conveniently be made into a series of strips for pH detection was indicated.

Membrane fouling is the main challenge that limits ultrafiltration (UF) membrane long-term application. Coagulation, as an effective pretreatment method, not only reduces the pollutants loaded on the membrane surface, but also transforms membrane-pollutant contact into pollutant-floc reaction. Zircon (Zr) salts have drawn wide attention as a novel metal-based coagulant because of their excellent coagulation performance. In present study, three types of Zr coagulants zirconium tetrachloride (ZrCl4) and polyzirconium chloride (PZC), polyzirconium chloride/Poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PZC/PDMDAAC) were estimated in terms of the coagulation removal of organic pollutants and the mitigation of membrane fouling. Results showed that the combination of PZC with alkalinity of 1.5 and PDMDAAC with molecular weight of 2.0-3.5 x 105 (abbreviated as PZC1.5/P2) presented the best coagulation performance under acidic and neutral conditions due to its better bridging affinity and sweeping ability. 8 mg/L dosage of PZC1.5/P2 could effectively remove turbidity (98.27%) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (59.04%) during the coagulation process. Furthermore, pre-coagulation by PZC1.5/P2 induced the transformation from cake filtration into thoroughly intermediate blocking and the removal of particulate matter would prevent reversible fouling-induced flux decline, whereas elimination of organic matter was beneficial for promoting UF efficiency by mitigating irreversible fouling. Besides, DerjaguinLandau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) analysis showed that the foulants became more hydrophilic coagulated by PZC1.5/P2, and the adhesion between foulants and membrane surface was greatly weakened. All the improvement originated from the flocs structure contributed to the better UF performance with the improved normalize flux (J/J0) from 0.50 to 0.75, larger decrease in reversible and irreversible fouling by 82.27% and 91.27%, respectively. More importantly, PZC1.5/P2 exhibited excellent coagulation and membrane performances in the treatment of actual water from Wolf Mushan reservoir, which demonstrated that Zr-based coagulant is a promising coagulant for practical application in surface water purification.

A liposome vesicle is an ideal carrier for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) serving as the water channel that allows for the fast transport of water molecules, thus enhancing membrane permeability. However, a low quantity of CNTs inserted into the liposome vesicle is an important factor that limits the further improvement of the membrane flux. In the present study, a positively charged lipid, (2,3-dioleoyloxy-propyl)-trimethylammonium-chloride (DOTAP), was introduced to 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamineon (DOPE) liposome vesicles to tailor the vesicle charge so as to evaluate the effect of positively charged DOTAP on the insertion of CNTs into liposomes and the separation performance of thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. The results show that the addition of DOTAP increased the quantity of CNTs inserted into the liposome vesicles, as the shrinkage rate (k) and permeability (Pf) of the liposome vesicles presented an obvious increase with the increased content of DOTAP in the liposome vesicles. Moreover, it contributed to a 252.3% higher water flux for TFN membranes containing DOPE/DOTAP2:1-CNT liposomes (the mass ratio between DOPE and DOTAP was 2:1) than thin-film composite (TFC) membranes. More importantly, it presented a 106.7% higher water flux for TFN membranes containing DOPE/DOTAP4:1-CNT liposomes (the mass ratio between DOPE and DOTAP was 4:1), which originated from the greater number of water channels that the CNTs provided in the liposome vesicles. Overall, positively charged DOTAP effectively tailored the vesicle charge, which provided a better carrier for the insertion of a greater quantity of CNTs and contributed to the higher permeability of the TFN membranes.

Enumeration of Campylobacter from environmental waters can be difficult due to its low concentrations, which can still pose a significant health risk. Spectrophotometry is an approach commonly used for fast detection of water-borne pollutants in water samples, but it has not been used for pathogen detection, which is commonly done through a laborious and time-consuming culture or qPCR Most Probable Number enumeration methods (i.e., MPN-PCR approaches). In this study, we proposed a new method, MPN-Spectro-ML, that can provide rapid evidence of Campylobacter detection and, hence, water concentrations. After an initial incubation, the samples were analysed using a spectrophotometer, and the spectrum data were used to train three machine learning (ML) models (i.e., supported vector machine - SVM, logistic regression-LR, and random forest-RF). The trained models were used to predict the presence of Campylobacter in the enriched water samples and estimate the most probable number (MPN). Over 100 stormwater, river, and creek samples (including both fresh and brackish water) from rural and urban catchments were collected to test the accuracy of the MPN-Spectro-ML method under various scenarios and compared to a previously standardised MPN-PCR method. Differences in the spectrum were found between positive and negative control samples, with two distinctive absorbance peaks between 540-542nm and 575-576nm for positive samples. Further, the three ML models had similar performance irrespective of the scenario tested with average prediction accuracy (ACC) and false negative rates at 0.763 and 13.8%, respectively. However, the predicted MPN of Campylobacter from the new method varied from the traditional MPN-PCR method, with a maximum Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of 0.44 for the urban catchment dataset. Nevertheless, the MPN values based on these two methods were still comparable, considering the confidence intervals and large uncertainties associated with MPN estimation. The study reveals the potential of this novel approach for providing interim evidence of the presence and levels of Campylobacter within environmental water bodies. This, in turn, decreases the time from risk detection to management for the benefit of public health.

In this study, a novel catalyst with high efficiency and low cost was synthesized from farmland waste peanut shells by one-step pyrolysis modification method via K2FeO4, and employed for the catalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC). The magnetic potassium ferrate modified graphene-like biochar catalyst (PFGB) exhibited a high porosity, a highly graphitized structure, and a large specific surface area (857.09 m(2) g(-1)) which was almost 30 times higher compared with peanut shell biochar, and were found to contain more functional groups. The formation and distribution of Fe3O4 and Fe-0 nanoparticles on the surface/pores of PFGB provided more active sites for promoting adsorption and catalytic degradation reactions, and accelerated Fe(II)/Fe(III) recycle. Under the optimal conditions (pH = 3.5, catalyst dosage = 0.5 g L-1, H2O2 concentration = 10 mmol L-1), about 98 % of TC were degraded within 90 min when the initial concentration of TC was 150 mg L-1, and PFGB could perform effectively over a wide pH range of 3-6. Furthermore, PFGB exhibited the advantages of convenient magnetic separation and strong reusability, maintaining a TC removal rate of similar to 90 % after five cycles of experiments. The results of free radical quenching experiment and electron spin resonance analysis revealed that center dot OH and O-1(2) were the main active species in the radical and non-radical pathways, respectively. This study indicated that PFGB, a catalyst developed for heterogeneous Fenton-like systems, possessed high efficiency, stability and reusability, and could be promising for the removal of TC in wastewater and other polluted waters.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:Polygala fallax Hemsl. is a traditional folk medicine commonly used by ethnic minorities in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and has a traditional application in the treatment of liver disease. Polygala fallax Hemsl. polysaccharides (PFPs) are of interest for their potential health benefits. AIM OF THIS STUDY:This study explored the impact of PFPs on a mouse model of cholestatic liver injury (CLI) induced by alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT), as well as the potential mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A mouse CLI model was constructed using ANIT (80 mg/kg) and intervened with different doses of PFPs or ursodeoxycholic acid. Their serum biochemical indices, hepatic oxidative stress indices, and hepatic pathological characteristics were investigated. Then RNA sequencing was performed on liver tissues to identify differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways and to elucidate the mechanism of liver protection by PFPs. Finally, Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to verify the differentially expressed genes. RESULTS:Data analyses showed that PFPs reduced the levels of liver function-related biochemical indices, such as ALT, AST, AKP, TBA, DBIL, and TBIL. PFPs up-regulated the activities of SOD and GSH, down-regulated the contents of MDA, inhibited the release of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, or promoted IL-10. Pathologic characterization of the liver revealed that PFPs reduced hepatocyte apoptosis or necrosis. The RNA sequencing indicated that the genes with differential expression were primarily enriched for the biosynthesis of primary bile acids, secretion or transportation of bile, the reactive oxygen species in chemical carcinogenesis, and the NF-kappa B signaling pathway. In addition, the results of qRT-PCR and Western blotting analysis were consistent with those of RNA sequencing analysis. CONCLUSIONS:In summary, this study showed that PFPs improved intrahepatic cholestasis and alleviated liver damage through the modulation of primary bile acid production, Control of protein expression related to bile secretion or transportation, decrease in inflammatory reactions, and inhibition of oxidative pressure. As a result, PFPs might offer a hopeful ethnic dietary approach for managing intrahepatic cholestasis.

Pursuit of well-dispersed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is of great significance since agglomeration of CNTs in aqueous solution and poor compatibility between CNTs and the polyamide (PA) layer are considered as the prominent drawbacks for the preparation of defect-free thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. In the present study, well-dispersed CNT porins (CNTPs) were successfully synthesized and then incorporated in the PA layer of TFN membranes. Raman and static test results showed that CNTPs exhibited better dispersion in aqueous solution than pristine CNTs, which could maintain stability for at least 15 days. Addition of CNTPs provided extra water nanochannels and slowed down the diffusion rate of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) to the organic phase, thereby contributing to the excellent increment in water permeability to 4.12 L/m(2)hbar, 1.93 times higher than that of TFC membranes. All of the TFN membranes exhibited unchanged salt rejection (above 99.1% for NaCl), implying little effect of soluble CNTPs on the membrane selectivity. Besides, TFN membranes exhibited not only satisfactory separation performance for NaF and H3BO3 and better chlorine resistance capacity but also great potential in the practical use of the desalination process. In all, this work presents an avenue for preparing defect-free CNT-based TFN membranes.

Chromium, as a widely utilized transition metal, presents wastewater with high toxicity and challenging treatment. To date, there has been limited exploration regarding the application of chromium in homogeneous Fenton-like reactions. This study aims to explore the potential of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) to activate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and permonosulfate (PMS) for degrading coexisting pollutants in homogeneous solutions. The Cr(VI)/PMS system was found to be the most effective, with a 95.58 % removal efficiency for the azo dye Acid Red 73 (AR73). The Cr(VI)/H2O2 system followed with 72.35 %, while the Cr(III)/H2O2 and Cr(III)/PMS systems showed lower efficiencies at 25.65 % and 16.95 %, respectively. Various techniques were employed to delve into the mechanisms underlying chromium activation. The results indicate that both Cr(VI) and Cr(III) can activate H2O2 to generate hydroxyl radical (HO center dot). Moreover, Cr(VI) can activate PMS in the pH range of 3 similar to 11, producing HO center dot, sulfate radical (SO4 center dot-), and singlet oxygen (O-1(2)), while Cr(III) engages in chelation with PMS, causing the reaction to cease. Additionally, this study reveals that the chelating agent EDTA, upon complexing with Cr(III), efficiently activates PMS to generate O-1(2), and the mechanism behind EDTA-Cr(III) activation of PMS was elucidated through DFT calculations. An integrated evaluation of Cr performance in the Fenton-like reaction provides new research directions for the removal of pollutants from chromium-containing wastewater.

Nowadays, pursuit of ‘water-soluble’ carbon nanotube (CNT) is of great significance since bad dispersion of CNT in aqueous solution and poor compatibility between CNT and polyamide (PA) layer are considered as the prominent drawbacks for the preparation of defect-free thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. In present study, ‘water-soluble’ carbon nanotube porins (CNTPs) were successfully synthesized, and then it was incorporated in the PA layer of TFN membranes. Raman and static test results showed that CNTPs exhibited better solubility in aqueous solution than pristine CNT, which could maintain the stability for least 15 days. Addition of CNTPs provided extra water-nanochannel and slowed down the diffusion rate of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) to organic phase, thereby contributing to the excellent increment in water permeability about 4.12 L/m2·h·bar-1, 1.93 times higher than that of TFC membranes. All the TFN membranes exhibited unchanged salt rejection (above 99.1% for NaCl), implying the little effect of soluble CNTPs on the membrane selectivity. Besides, TFN membranes exhibited not only satisfied separation performance for NaF, H3BO3 and better chlorine-resistance capacity, but also great potential in the practical use of desalination process. In all, the present work presents a new avenue in preparing defect-free CNT-based TFN membranes.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a prevalent liver condition that arises from prolonged and excessive alcohol intake. Bergenin (BER) is an effective phytotherapeutic agent that exhibits pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. To establish an in vivo model of ALD, C57BL/6 mice were continuously fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and administered alcohol gavage for 8 weeks, while concurrently administering BER and evaluated for therapeutic effects. After modeling, the therapeutic effects of BER were evaluated by observing histopathological changes and the detection of relevant biochemical indicators in mice. In addition, RNA sequencing of liver tissues was performed to analyze differentially expressed genes and to investigate the associated signaling pathways in order to elucidate the protective mechanisms of BER. These differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in lipid metabolism pathways and the cytochrome P450 metabolism of exogenous substances. Subsequently, HepG2 was co-treated with sodium oleate (NaOA) and ethanol to establish an in vitro model, and the specific mechanism by which BER ameliorates ALD was further analyzed in depth. AMPK inhibitor, Compound C (CC), was demonstrated to significantly inhibit the regulation of lipid metabolism by BER in vitro. Finally, the differentially expressed genes selected were validated through qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Collectively, our findings revealed that BER effectively alleviated liver injury caused by alcohol and HFD in mice, significantly suppressing lipid deposition in ALD, enhancing alcohol metabolism, and mitigating oxidative stress.