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Methane production via photocatalytic degradation of glucose on PtOx and PdOx-loaded TiO2
Abstract Sustainable production of CH 4 , an industrially important gas, from renewable resources presents a critical solution to energy security challenges. This study demonstrates photocatalytic conversion of glucose, a model biomass compound, to CH 4 using a metal co-catalyst loaded TiO 2 photocatalyst under ambient conditions. We confirmed that CH 4 was formed through photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 , which was generated in situ during glucose oxidation, establishing a closed-loop conversion of biomass-derived carbon within a single reaction system. PtO x -TiO 2 (x = 0, 1) exhibited significantly higher activity for CH 4 production than PdO x -TiO 2 (x = 0, 1). The CH 4 yield with PtO x loading was approximately ten times greater than that obtained with PdO x loading, with an optimal PtO x loading of 2.0 wt% yielding the highest CH 4 amount of 10.600 µmol L − 1 after 6 h. In contrast, PdO x -TiO 2 showed a higher selectivity for H 2 generation. Analysis of the reaction products, including sugars (arabinose, erythrose, and glyceraldehyde) and organic acids (formic acid, acetic acid, and gluconic acid), elucidated the glucose degradation pathways. The mechanism of CH 4 formation was identified as the methanation of CO 2 and H + , both produced during photocatalytic oxidation of glucose and water. Deuterium-labeling experiments further revealed that the hydrogen atoms in CH 4 originated from both glucose decomposition and water splitting. These findings demonstrate a novel and sustainable tandem photocatalytic process that integrates oxidation and reduction reactions on a single catalyst surface, providing mechanistic and practical insights into the direct conversion of biomass into CH 4 under mild conditions.
Foundation model based prediction of lung cancer survival using temporal changes in dual time point CT scans
Lightweight robust detection of anthropogenic floating debris in turbid and dynamic aquatic environments via enhanced feature fusion
Abstract Accurate detection of Anthropogenic Floating Debris (AFD) is crucial for water pollution management. However, existing detection algorithms often lack environmental robustness in complex aquatic environments, and their high computational costs also impede deployment on lightweight platforms. To address these issues, this study proposes BiDB-YOLOv8, with an enhanced feature processing architecture. The model first employs a multi-branch convolutional block to improve the quality of extracted features, enhancing its ability to distinguish small targets from noisy backgrounds. It then uses an efficient bidirectional fusion network to ensure these high-quality features are effectively integrated across different scales. Additionally, this paper constructs and releases an original dataset, Turbid-floater, which includes diverse interference scenarios. Experimental results show that BiDB-YOLOv8 improves detection accuracy over the baseline YOLOv8n with a negligible increase in parameters. Compared to the larger YOLOv8s, it achieves nearly identical accuracy with only a fraction of the computational cost, highlighting a favorable trade-off between precision, robustness, and efficiency for real-world environmental monitoring.
Time-varying effect of venous hemodynamics in intensive care via neuromuscular electrical stimulation: a prospective‚ single-center‚ self-controlled study
Multi-stage deep learning framework for robust recognition of overlapping and faded handwritten text in bank cheques
Modeling information literacy in Chinese physical education: the roles of technology integration, teaching practices, self-efficacy, and academic performance
Machine learning approach using electrochemical immunosensor data for precise classification of Opisthorchis viverrini infection
Urban expansion identification and change analysis in Panjin China from 1990 to 2020
Enhancing battery thermal management system using the emulsion of encapsulated phase change material and water in a mini helical tube
Abstract A key challenge in limiting the performance and safety of lithium-ion batteries (LIB), particularly at high discharge rates, is excessive heat generated during operation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the innovative use of encapsulated phase change materials (EPCMs) in a cooling system of a mini helical tube (MHT) in order to improve battery thermal management (BTM) in lithium-ion batteries. The results reveal that increasing the Reynolds number (Re) from 50 to 100 at 4% EPCM concentration (C) results in a reduction of 5.26 K and 2.48 K at the average outlet temperature (To) and the LIB temperature (TLIB). Furthermore, raising the C from 0 to 4% resulted in a 1.39 K decrease in TLIB at Re = 100. Moreover, the Nusselt number (Nu) is significantly improved with both Re and C, with Nu increasing by 36.35% when Re is changed from 50 to 100, while Nu increases by 178.4% when EPCM is added at Re = 50.
Mediating effects of positive coping styles among oncology nurses between psychological resilience and professional grief: a cross-sectional study
Polyethylene nanoplastics intensify toxicity of potassium clavulanate in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
Abstract Nanoplastics (NPs) and antibiotics frequently co-occur in aquatic environments, yet their combined effects on fish health remain poorly understood. This study examined the individual and joint toxicity of polyethylene nanoplastics (PE-NPs; 20 and 80 nm, 5 mg L⁻¹) and potassium clavulanate (CA; 100 ng L⁻¹) in African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) during a 15-day exposure followed by a 15-day recovery phase. Exposure to PE-NPs (20 nm) alone significantly increased erythrocyte apoptosis (2.8-fold vs. control, p < 0.001), while CA alone also caused significant DNA damage (1.9-fold vs. control, p < 0.001). PE-NPs (80 nm) alone induced no notable alterations. Co-exposure to CA and PE-NPs, particularly the 20 nm particles, produced the strongest erythrocyte apoptosis, DNA damage, and declines in Hb, Hct, RBCs, and WBCs. These hematological and genotoxic effects persisted after recovery, indicating incomplete or delayed reversal of toxicity. Spleen histopathology showed vascular congestion, hemorrhage, fibrosis, and lymphoid depletion, especially in co-exposed fish. The results demonstrate a statistically significant, size-dependent synergistic interaction, suggesting that smaller PE-NPs amplify CA-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity through a “Trojan horse” mechanism. The persistence of these effects underscores the ecological risk of NP–pharmaceutical mixtures and the need to include such interactions in aquatic risk assessments.
Synthesis and investigation of the supercapacitor behavior of iron Oxide/Graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposite derived from Fe-MOF
Early arterial lactate trajectories and mortality risk in critically ill heart failure: a two-cohort trajectory analysis
Deep learning-based prediction of cold surge frequency over South Korea
Intelligent employee behavior analysis for organizational culture optimization with q rung orthopair fuzzy FUCA
Assessment of toxic heavy metals in commonly consumed foods in Egypt and their implications for public health and safety
Abstract The current study provides a comprehensive analysis of toxic heavy metal concentrations, specifically lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As), in various commonly consumed food categories in Egypt, including beverages, processed cereals, milk/dairy products, canned fish/meat products, and table salt. The results indicate that Pb levels were the highest among the metals analyzed, with the highest level found in canned fish/meat products (average: 221.5 ± 39.9 µg/kg). Cd, Cr, and As were present in lower amounts, also with the highest levels detected in canned fish/meat products (averaging 45.8 ± 52.8, 36.2 ± 41.3, and 8.5 ± 1.8 µg/kg, respectively), which raises concerns regarding dietary exposure. Dietary exposures were quantified using estimated daily intake (EDI), with values reaching up to 0.688 µg/kg body weight/day for Pb, 0.112 µg/kg/day for Cd, 0.035 µg/kg/day for Cr, and 0.004 µg/kg/day for As. Health risks were evaluated using hazard quotients (HQ) and carcinogenic risks (CR) in accordance with guidelines from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). All HQ values were below 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic health risk, while CR values ranged from 2.16 × 10⁻⁹ to 4.37 × 10⁻⁵, which are within the US EPA’s acceptable lifetime cancer risk range of 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁴. Specifically, an HQ of less than 1 suggests no significant health concern, and CR values within this range indicate acceptable cancer risk levels. Pb consumption may lead to a minor increase in systolic blood pressure (0.53 mmHg), while urinary cadmium levels in adults (1.06 µg/g creatinine) were found to be safe. Although these results suggest no significant health risks from heavy metal consumption for the local population, ongoing monitoring and regulatory actions are essential to mitigate potential health risks associated with heavy metal exposure through food.