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Photocatalytic and theoretical study of CoS nanoparticles for sustainable dye removal from wastewater
Abstract Photocatalytic degradation has emerged as a promising approach for addressing dye-laden wastewater from industrial effluents. In this study, a cost-effective cobalt sulfide (CoS) photocatalyst was synthesized via a simple precipitation method and employed for the visible-light-driven degradation of cationic methylene blue (MB) and anionic methyl red (MR) dyes. The as-prepared CoS was characterized using XRD, HR-TEM, FE-SEM, DRS, and PL techniques, revealing a hexagonal phase structure, uniform spherical morphology with particle sizes of 15–22 nm, a mesoporous surface with a BET-specific surface area of 33.6 m²·g⁻¹, and a narrow band gap of 1.6 eV. Under optimized conditions, CoS demonstrated excellent photocatalytic performance, achieving 97.7% degradation of MB and 75.3% degradation of MR within 90 min under visible light. Kinetic analysis showed a pseudo-first-order reaction with rate constants of 0.03 min⁻¹ for MB and 0.01 min⁻¹ for MR. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations further elucidated the adsorption configurations and energetics of both dyes on the CoS (100) surface, revealing stronger adsorption of MB compared to MR. These findings highlight the potential of CoS as an affordable and efficient photocatalyst for sustainable wastewater remediation applications.
Microstructure and corrosion resistance of hybrid additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V via laser powder bed fusion
Cancelling mRNA studies is the highest irresponsibility
Factors determining the overlap between recipients of the first and second dose of measles vaccine in nineteen surveys
Abstract Many countries schedule a second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV2) for children in their second year of life. The correlation between recipients of the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) and MCV2 is poorly understood but is important for estimating population levels of measles immunity and for meeting elimination targets. Using data from 19 surveys from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) we computed the percentage of MCV1 recipients with subsequent MCV2 and of MCV2 recipients with previous MCV1. All countries included in our study recommended MCV1 in the first year of life and MCV2 in the second year of life. For 2 surveys we computed the variation of those percentages over the country’s geographical regions. We computed adjusted odds ratios for the association of this percentage with age, sex, residency, mother’s education, wealth and birth order. For most of the surveys, over 50% of MCV1 recipients received MCV2, but there was more than 30% MCV1 to MCV2 dropout in more than half of the surveys. The percentage of MCV1 recipients with MCV2 was statistically significantly higher if they received MCV1 below age 12 months and the percentage increased with increasing education status of the mother and higher income levels. A small number of MCV2 recipients were not found to have received MCV1, despite marked on record as having received MCV2 implies having previously received MCV1 (by definition of the survey data collection methodology). Our analyses have highlighted important shortfalls by age, country, mother’s education and income status in the proportion of MCV1 recipients who subsequently receive MCV2. Targeting those differentials is essential for achieving the goals of measles elimination.
Adaptive robust control of tea-picking-manipulator’s position tracking based on dead zone compensation with modified RBF
An ensemble method utilising multiple thinking styles that boosts the wisdom-of-inner-crowd effect
Super-efficient teamwork is possible — if you’re an ant
Summer 2025 is roasting hot: these charts show why it matters
Mysterious coffee species turns out to be a blend
Mapping the adaptive landscape of Batesian mimicry using 3D-printed stimuli
Abstract In a classic example of adaptation, harmless Batesian mimics gain protection from predators through resemblance to one or more unpalatable models1,2. Mimics vary greatly in accuracy, and explaining the persistence of inaccurate mimics is an ongoing challenge for evolutionary biologists3,4. Empirical testing of existing hypotheses is constrained by the difficulty of assessing the fitness of phenotypes absent among extant species, leaving large parts of the adaptive landscape unexplored5—a problem affecting the study of the evolution of most complex traits. Here, to address this, we created mimetic phenotypes that occupy hypothetical areas of trait space by morphing between 3D images of real insects (flies and wasps), and tested the responses of real predators to high-resolution, full-colour 3D-printed reproductions of these phenotypes. We found that birds have an excellent ability to learn to discriminate among insects on the basis of subtle differences in appearance, but this ability is weaker for pattern and shape than for colour and size traits. We found that mimics gained no special protection from intermediate resemblance to multiple model phenotypes. However, discrimination ability was lower in some invertebrate predators (especially crab spiders and mantises), highlighting that the predator community is key to explaining the apparent inaccuracy of many mimics.
Astronomers gave up this comet for dead — but they were wrong
Whole-genome ancestry of an Old Kingdom Egyptian
Abstract Ancient Egyptian society flourished for millennia, reaching its peak during the Dynastic Period (approximately 3150–30 bce). However, owing to poor DNA preservation, questions about regional interconnectivity over time have not been addressed because whole-genome sequencing has not yet been possible. Here we sequenced a 2× coverage whole genome from an adult male Egyptian excavated at Nuwayrat (Nuerat, نويرات). Radiocarbon dated to 2855–2570 cal. bce, he lived a few centuries after Egyptian unification, bridging the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods. The body was interred in a ceramic pot within a rock-cut tomb1, potentially contributing to the DNA preservation. Most of his genome is best represented by North African Neolithic ancestry, among available sources at present. Yet approximately 20% of his genetic ancestry can be traced to genomes representing the eastern Fertile Crescent, including Mesopotamia and surrounding regions. This genetic affinity is similar to the ancestry appearing in Anatolia and the Levant during the Neolithic and Bronze Age2–5. Although more genomes are needed to fully understand the genomic diversity of early Egyptians, our results indicate that contacts between Egypt and the eastern Fertile Crescent were not limited to objects and imagery (such as domesticated animals and plants, as well as writing systems)6–9 but also encompassed human migration.