Achieving accurate manipulation over perovskite crystal orientation and phase purity is pivotal for realizing efficient and durable perovskite solar cells. Despite the unique advantages of lead iodide (PbI2) template in the two-step deposition process for obtaining high-quality perovskite films, challenges remain in guiding the preferential growth of perovskite crystals due to complex facets of PbI2. Herein, highly crystalline PbI2 with complete (001)-preferred orientation has been attained by incorporating 2-phenoxyacetamidine hydrochloride (PhOAaCl), which proficiently minimizes the crystal plane energy. This rationally architectured PbI2 template orchestrates coherent crystal plane growth of subsequent perovskite with markedly suppressed defect density and exceptional phase purity. Moreover, we further elucidate underlying growth mechanism prevailing at the solid-liquid interface between PbI2 and organic amine salts from integrated thermodynamic and kinetic perspectives. Consequently, the target photovoltaic device attains a champion efficiency of 26.47%. Notably, the unencapsulated devices exhibit significantly outstanding damp-heat endurance and operational robustness, while attaining 91% of initial efficiency after 2500 h of maximum power point tracking under persistent illumination in ambient conditions.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major precursors of ozone and PM2.5, playing a crucial role in the formation of photochemical smog and haze. Their persistence not only aggravates air pollution but also poses serious risks to human health. Therefore, the development of efficient VOCs abatement technologies is essential for environmental protection and public health. However, conventional single recovery or destruction approaches often suffer from inherent limitations, making deep purification difficult to achieve. In recent years, low-temperature plasma (LTP)-based catalytic technologies have gained increasing attention due to their high degradation efficiency and strong mineralization capability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in LTP-catalyst systems for VOCs degradation, with a particular focus on the real-time monitoring of reaction intermediates and elucidation of degradation mechanisms. Furthermore, the synergistic integration of LTP with traditional VOCs control technologies, including absorption, adsorption, photocatalysis, and biological treatment, is discussed to demonstrate their enhanced removal performance. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects of LTP-based hybrid systems are summarized to provide theoretical insights and technical guidance for developing next-generation VOCs abatement technologies.
This study evaluates the drivers of radionuclide spatial heterogeneity in topsoil of the Lake Sevan Basin (Armenia) - the largest high-mountain freshwater body in the South Caucasus - using integrated statistical and spatial analyses. A total of 170 soil samples were analyzed for Ra-226, Th-232, K-40, Cs-137, and gross beta activity, together with in-situ dose was measurement. Statistical analysis revealed strong inter-correlations among natural radionuclides (with Spearman's test) and bimodal distribution patterns for Th-232 and gross beta activity, indicating the presence of distinct source domains. Land-use analysis confirmed significant effects on K-40 and Cs-137 distributions, with higher Cs-137 in low-disturbance soils and lowest in arable land, whereas K-40 was notably elevated in forest soils. The spatial heterogeneity of these parameters was modeled using geostatistical methods including Empirical Bayesian Kriging (EBK) and Getis-Ord Gi* (Gi*) Hot Spot analysis. The analysis identified statistically significant hot spots of Ra-226, Th-232 and radium equivalent activity in southwestern, volcanic-rock-dominated part of the basin, and cold spots in lacustrine-derived soils in the eastern area. K-40 displayed additional enrichment in northwestern agricultural zones, suggesting a potential contribution from long-term agricultural practices. Cs-137 exhibited limited but distinct hot-spot clustering in minimally disturbed soils, reflecting post-depositional fallout processes. Radiological risk assessment revealed Ra-226 and Th-232 as the main risk contributors for the southwestern located settlements. The study demonstrates that integrating statistical inference, spatial modelling, and radionuclide geochemistry enables process-based interpretation of soil radioactivity and provides a transferrable framework for contamination assessment, radioecological targeted monitoring, and management prioritization in complex mountain environments.
Insulin resistance (IR) and obesity are recognized as major drivers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The triglyceride-glucose index-a body shape index (TyG-ABSI), a novel metric integrating lipid metabolism with body morphology, may enhance risk stratification. Although this index has been verified in Western cohorts, its long-term prognostic value and prospective incremental benefit over conventional indices remain uncharacterized in the Chinese population, who present a distinct East Asian adiposity phenotype. Utilizing follow-up data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2020, we enrolled participants free of CVD at baseline with complete essential information. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to estimate the associations between TyG-ABSI and incident CVD, while restricted cubic splines (RCS) were utilized to characterize dose-response relationships. The discriminative power of TyG-ABSI was evaluated using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and C-indices, with comparisons against other related indices, including ABSI, triglyceride-glucose (TyG), TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI), TyG-Chinese visceral adiposity index (TyG-CVAI), TyG-waist circumference (TyG-WC) and TyG-waist-to-height ratio (TyG-WHtR). Predictive increments were quantified via net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and clinical utility was assessed through decision curve analysis (DCA). Cross-parameter correlation testing was executed to evaluate index collinearity. Among 7197 participants, 1267 incident CVD cases occurred during the follow-up. In the fully adjusted model, baseline TyG-ABSI was independently associated with an increased risk of composite CVD (HR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.14, P = 0.016) and incident stroke (HR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.05-1.28, P = 0.003), whereas no independent correlation was identified for heart conditions. RCS analysis revealed no significant non-linear association for either CVD (P = 0.855) or stroke (P = 0.728). TyG-ABSI improved prediction over ABSI alone, but it offered no advantage over traditional indices. DCA confirmed that traditional indices had better net benefit than TyG-ABSI or its components. The independent predictive value remained highly consistent across sensitivity analyses. Correlation analysis revealed that while traditional indices exhibited severe multicollinearity clustering (r: 0.751-0.890), ABSI achieved near-perfect orthogonal independence from BMI (r =  - 0.056). TyG-ABSI was significantly and positively associated with an increased risk of incident CVD. Although TyG-ABSI as an isolated screening tool did not surpass traditional parameters like TyG-BMI in overall prospective accuracy, it exhibited only a negligible correlation with BMI, demonstrating that this metric is not redundant. Consequently, TyG-ABSI retains the potential to capture specific pathogenic signals independent of gross body mass. Future risk stratification toolkits should consider transitioning toward an integrated Anthropometric Risk Indicator (ARI) framework that couples the metabolic sensitivity of TyG-BMI with the specific body shape risks indicated by TyG-ABSI.
Poverty is associated with depression and anxiety among adolescents, but evidence of interventions that prevent adolescent depression and anxiety among adolescents living in poverty is weak. Interventions either focus on reducing poverty or addressing depression and anxiety, but an approach that combines both may offer larger benefit. This multi-site parallel pilot cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of a selective preventive intervention for depression and anxiety that simultaneously intervenes on both poverty and self-regulation among adolescents living in urban poverty. The study takes place in Bogotá (Colombia), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Cape Town (South Africa). The pilot cRCT has four arms: (i) self-regulation intervention, (ii) economic intervention, (iii) combined (self-regulation + economic) intervention, and (iv) control group (care as usual). Interventions consist of 20 weekly group sessions with adolescents, and 6 monthly group sessions with their caregivers. The self-regulation intervention for adolescents includes psychological activities (mindfulness breathing, problem solving, biofeedback and goal setting) and a physical activity. The economic intervention includes three dimensions (financial training, negotiation training, education information) and a monthly cash transfer. In each site, the aim was to recruit 240 adolescents and their caregivers across eight schools (clusters), with two schools randomised to each arm. Adolescents residing in areas at risk of multidimensional poverty and who had symptoms of depression or anxiety, but who did not meet thresholds indicating depression and anxiety disorders, were considered for enrolment. Recruitment into the study is complete: a total of 628 adolescents and 536 caregivers were enrolled. Participants will be assessed four times: at enrolment, post-intervention and at 12 and 18 months post-enrolment. Primary outcomes include feasibility and acceptability criteria for study and intervention delivery procedures (i.e. randomisation, masking, recruitment, retention, missingness, fidelity, attendance, adverse events) defined as traffic light criteria to assess progression to an adequately powered trial. Secondary outcomes include self-report instruments, physiological measures and neuropsychological tasks. The effectiveness of combining self-regulation and anti-poverty interventions remains untested. This study will establish the feasibility and acceptability of delivering such an intervention, as well as test the trial procedures to inform a future adequately powered trial. ISRCTN 14601588. Retrospectively registered. Date: 19 May 2024.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, and early detection of amyloid-beta peptides Aβ42 and Aβ40 is critical for timely intervention. Herein, a novel self-powered photoelectrochemical (SP-PEC) platform was developed for the detection of Aβ42 and Aβ40, using NH2-UiO-66/TAPA-DHNDA-COF (NU66/T-D-COF) as the photocathode and NiCo2S4@ZnIn2S4 (NCS@ZIS) as the photoanode. The NU66/T-D-COF heterojunction was synthesized via Schiff-base reaction to deliver strong cathodic photocurrent and efficient charge separation. CdTe quantum dots (CdTe-QDs) and CdS quantum dots (CdS-QDs) were used as signal probes for Aβ42 and Aβ40, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the SP-PEC platform exhibited a wide linear range from 1 fg/mL to 100 ng/mL, with detection limits of 0.24 fg/mL for Aβ42 and 0.33 fg/mL for Aβ40. The platform showed excellent stability, selectivity, and satisfactory recovery in real biological samples, providing a promising tool for early and sensitive AD biomarker diagnosis.
Los Angeles County-wide criminal justice reform and policy decision-making focused on reentry and diversion from incarceration usually include only the voices of law enforcement and other public-sector employees, with little input from impacted community members. The Reentry Health Advisory Collaborative (RHAC), founded in 2020 with grant funding, was established to engage formerly incarcerated individuals and their communities in county safety-net health systems. We aimed to assess the impact of RHAC and the importance of formerly incarcerated community input in safety-net programs and policymaking. In 2022, following 3 years of RHAC implementation, online qualitative surveys were conducted with RHAC members and reentry service collaborators, including agency staff, nonprofits, and policymakers, to understand RHAC's influence and how lived experiences inform justice and health systems. Thirty replies from collaborators (59%) and eight from members (100%) resulted in thematic findings that highlighted benefits of involving formerly incarcerated persons in program and policy decisions-such as their firsthand experiences, focus on root causes, and community and socioeconomic tailoring approaches-and challenges like limited political power, varying receptiveness to ideas and inclusion, and a lack of sustainable funding. Members shared outcomes like motivation, peer support, leadership skills, and advocacy training needs. Recommendations for future inclusion emphasized promoting awareness and strategies for relationships with public-serving institutions, early inclusion for impacting pivotal decision-making, and continued engagement with the community through on-the-ground grassroots efforts. Barriers to reentry included basic needs, access issues, lack of support, and discrimination. Compensating lived experience in health and justice services promotes inclusive, equitable policies that reflect community needs.
Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) has been emerging as a sustainable route for ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), possessing well-defined crystal structures and tunable coordination environments, are regarded as an ideal platform for electrocatalytic NO3RR. In this review, we systematically highlight the recent breakthroughs in MOF-based electrocatalysts for NO3RR, from the perspectives of structural design strategies, reaction mechanisms, and future outlooks. Ligand engineering, metal node engineering, and heterostructure engineering strategies are discussed here. After that, the structure-activity relationships and the prevailing reaction mechanisms of NO3RR on MOFs, including the direct eight-electron transfer pathway and tandem mechanism, are analyzed. Moreover, we outline the current challenges and future prospects concerning the application of MOFs in NO3RR, with the aim of paving the way for the rational design of next-generation MOF-based electrocatalysts.
Polonium-210 (210Po) is an important naturally occurring radionuclide in freshwater environments, yet large-scale datasets describing its occurrence and geochemical associations remain limited. Here we present a multi-compartment dataset of 210Po, and lead-210 (210Pb) activity concentrations compiled from Canadian freshwater systems, addressing longstanding gaps arising from the predominance of site-specific or marine focused studies. Activity concentrations varied widely among compartments and sites, reflecting broad spatial variability in hydrological and geochemical conditions. Simple linear regressions showed that 210Pb was strongly associated with 210Po across several abiotic compartments, with moderate to high explanatory power in surface waters, suspended particles, and sediment. For surface waters, multiple linear regression identified dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved uranium (U), and calcium (Ca2+) as the strongest measured explanatory variables associated with 210Po activity concentrations. Complementary random-forest and generalized additive model analyses supported the recurring importance of these variables, although the models explained only a moderate proportion of total variability. These associations are interpreted as reflecting organic matter interactions, lithogenic source contributions, and cation-mediated particle processes. The resulting internally validated empirical models provide screening-level estimates of 210Po occurrence within the range of Canadian freshwater conditions represented in this dataset. Furthermore, observed activity concentration ranges provide comparative context for future monitoring and site-specific assessments.
Imine-linked COFs are increasingly being used to recover palladium from aqueous waste streams, but the binding sites undergo protonation in acidic media, thereby losing palladium adsorption capacity. Herein, we report a new strategy that effectively suppresses imine protonation in COFs by tuning the local charge density, thereby allowing highly efficient recovery of Pd(II) from acidic solutions. By judicious placement of electron-donating hydroxyl substituents on aromatic units next to imine groups, the electron cloud density around imine N atoms increases, suppressing protonation and preserving a high density of accessible Pd(II) binding sites. Further incorporation of extended π-conjugated naphthalene units increases local charge density at the imine centers, strengthening the Pd(II) affinity and boosting adsorption capacity. As a result, the optimized adsorbent (COF-3) exhibits rapid adsorption kinetics, exceptional selectivity, and an unprecedented Pd(II) uptake of 942.02 ± 24.61 mg/g in 0.1 M HNO3, surpassing all reported crystalline adsorbents thus far. Subsequently, COF-3 demonstrates robust performance in dynamic recovery of Pd(II) from both acidic laboratory waste streams and simulated high-level radioactive liquid waste, while maintaining excellent adsorption efficiency across multiple adsorption-desorption cycles. Our rational strategy opens a new avenue for designing next-generation sorbents for precious metal recovery and other applications.
Quantum simulation is widely regarded as one of the most promising applications of quantum computing. A critical challenge in this domain is understanding and quantifying the accumulation of algorithmic errors over time, which is essential for designing more efficient simulation algorithms and for assessing the resources required to achieve quantum advantage. Conventional error analyses typically rely on the triangle inequality to bound the total simulation error, but such approaches tend to overestimate errors by ignoring error interference-a phenomenon in which errors from different simulation segments partially cancel. Here, we introduce a new framework for directly estimating long-time algorithmic errors in segmented quantum simulations. Our approach captures the full structure of error interference, enabling significantly tighter and more accurate error bounds. We identify both necessary and sufficient conditions for strict error interference and propose the notion of approximate error interference to account for realistic, imperfect cancellation. We demonstrate the broad applicability of our framework across a range of models and settings, including Heisenberg and Fermi-Hubbard systems, lattice Hamiltonians with power-law interactions, higher-order Trotter decompositions, and adiabatic evolution. By providing a unified and practical methodology for analyzing error interference, our Letter advances the theoretical understanding of quantum simulation and informs the design and benchmarking of algorithms for near-term and future quantum hardware.
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) remains one of the most disabling complications of the first trimester, with a high risk of recurrence after a prior episode that weighs heavily on family planning and on patients' mental health. Recent work places GDF15 at the core of HG pathophysiology, suggesting that a low pre-gestational baseline GDF15 level may predispose to hypersensitivity when its concentration rises sharply in the first trimester. The preconception desensitization hypothesis therefore opens a path to preventing recurrence. Observational data indicate that metformin, which increases GDF15, could reduce the risk of HG when used before conception. One observational cohort reports a non-significant trend toward lower HG risk after preconception metformin exposure (aOR ≈ 0.50; 95% CI 0.07-3.39) but no effect on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP); results are limited by low statistical power. In parallel, a large retrospective survey reports a substantial and statistically significant reduction in the risk of HG and severe NVP with preconception metformin (aOR ≈ 0.29 for a first pregnancy; aOR ≈ 0.18 for a second pregnancy after adjustment for recurrence). Position: The mechanistic rationale is compelling and the clinical signals are encouraging, but no randomized trial has yet demonstrated the preventive efficacy of metformin; additional studies are needed before any practice recommendation can be made.
Red mud (RM), a highly alkaline industrial residue, poses potential risks to ecosystems. To advance the valorization of RM in road engineering, this study proposed a three-stage RM modification method and subsequently prepared resource-recycling fillers by blending the modified RM with hydrated lime (HL) and natural limestone (NL) based on simplex centroid method. The physicochemical properties of the modified RM were characterized using microstructural tests. The pavement performance and environmental impacts of asphalt mastics containing fillers were systematically evaluated, and the optimal proportion range of the resource-recycling filler was determined. Results show that the modification treatment reduced the sodium content of RM from 7.89% to 1.62% and grafted an aminopropyl organic layer onto the RM surface, thereby mitigating particle agglomeration and enhancing the dispersion of RM within the asphalt binder. The modified RM enhanced the adhesion properties of asphalt mastics, increasing mastic-aggregate bonding strength by 38.79% on limestone and 23.26% on granite. In addition, modified RM exhibited low leaching toxicity and exerted negligible impact on roadside vegetation and aquatic organisms. The combination of modified RM, HL, and NL achieves a synergistic balance across multiple properties of asphalt mastics. The recommended formulation range for the resource-recycling filler is 15∼30% modified RM, 38∼60% HL, and 20∼39% NL.
This study used PLS path analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) to examine the factors influencing Somali households' willingness to pay for renewable energy. Non-probability purposive sampling was used in a quantitative survey to select respondents from Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. 300 home power bill payers who were informed about energy costs and renewable energy requirements were given a standardized closed-ended questionnaire. Following data cleaning, SPSS version-25 and SmartPLS-4 were used to analyze 255 valid replies using descriptive and inferential statistics. With an R2 of 0.428, the structural model has moderate explanatory power, accounting for 42.8% of the variance in willingness to pay for renewable energy. The model's robustness is confirmed by an adjusted R2 of 0.402. The findings showed that consumer intention, environmental concern, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and Attitude have a positive significant impact on willingness to pay for renewable energy. Belief about the cost of renewable energy shows no significant relationship with willingness to pay for renewable energy. The results of the moderation analysis indicate that the relationships between environmental concern, subjective norms, and attitude with willingness to pay for renewable energy are considerably moderated by customer intention. However, the relationship between perceived behavioral control and belief about the cost of renewable energy with willingness to pay for renewable energy is not moderated by consumer intention. The findings offer policymakers and renewable energy stakeholders insights to increase adoption rates.
Augmented reality-assisted intraoperative navigation (ARIN) has recently emerged as a novel technology intended to improve intraoperative accuracy and workflow in reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). This study evaluated the impact of ARIN on early complications and revisions, glenoid baseplate inclination and fixation, fluoroscopy time, and surgical duration. Two hundred three primary RSAs were retrospectively analyzed: 72 performed with ARIN and 131 freehand. The primary outcome was 90-day complications and revisions. Secondary outcomes were baseplate inclination (RSA angle on true AP radiographs), number and length of peripheral screws, fluoroscopy time, and surgical duration. No statistically significant differences were observed between the ARIN and freehand groups regarding complications (3% vs. 9.4%, p = .139), revisions (3% vs. 8.5%, p = .216), or dislocations (1.5% vs. 3.4%, p = .655). Baseplate inclination was significantly closer to neutral in the ARIN group (4.6° ± 7° vs. 11.6° ± 8.1°, p < .001), and superior inclination > 10° was significantly less frequent (18.8% vs. 55.6%, p < .001). Significantly fewer screws were used for baseplate fixation (2.1 ± 0.4 vs. 3.2 ± 0.9, p < .001), which were significantly longer (33.7 ± 6.3 mm vs. 25.6 ± 7.8 mm, p < .001). Fluoroscopy time (19.7 ± 15.4 s vs. 45.9 ± 37.1 s, p < .001) and operative duration (104.1 ± 27.3 min vs. 113.4 ± 35.3 min, p = .038) were also significantly shorter with ARIN. ARIN in RSA was associated with improvements in glenoid baseplate inclination, screw placement, intraoperative fluoroscopy time, and surgical duration, while no statistically significant differences in early complication, dislocation, or revision rates were observed compared with the conventional freehand technique. Larger studies with greater statistical power and longer follow-up are warranted to determine potential long-term clinical benefits. Level of evidence III; retrospective comparative study.
Moral courage is the critical bridge between ethical knowledge and ethical action in healthcare. While health sciences students often possess high moral sensitivity, they frequently struggle to act on their values due to the "theory-practice gap" and the pressures of clinical hierarchies. The suppression of moral courage not only compromises patient safety but is also closely associated with moral distress and professional burnout among trainees. This systematic review aims to critically analyze the global evidence regarding the prevalence of moral courage among health sciences students and to identify the barriers, facilitators, and consequences associated with moral courage in educational settings. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251057915). A comprehensive search was performed across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies published from 2000 to March 2025. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. A total of 21 studies, comprising 4,719 participants from diverse cultural contexts, were included. The findings reveal a disciplinary divergence in moral courage: nursing students generally exhibited moderate-to-high levels, whereas medical and dental students reported lower levels, often constrained by rigid hierarchies. The primary barriers identified were the "hidden curriculum," fear of negative evaluation, and hierarchical power dynamics. Conversely, key facilitators included positive role modeling, a strong sense of moral agency, and supportive peer environments. Students largely perceive the deficit in moral courage as a systemic issue rather than an individual failure. Current educational models often prioritize compliance over advocacy, creating a perceived conflict between academic survival and ethical action for trainees. To foster active moral agents, medical education must reframe moral courage as a trainable "non-technical skill" and implement systemic reforms to dismantle the culture of silence in clinical environments.
Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection that contributes to the high mortality rate of 45-90% reported in India. In November 2023, India's National Disease Surveillance Program identified a surge in mucormycetes fungal infection among reported cases at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, Punjab. The descriptive analysis identified diabetes and acute stress events (hospitalizations, surgeries, dental procedures, or trauma in the past 6 weeks) among 70% and 50% of cases, respectively. A case-control study was conducted among individuals with diabetes to identify stress events and other risk factors for mucormycosis. A case was defined diabetic individual diagnosed with mucormycosis by both clinical presentation and microbiological confirmation (KOH/cacoflour white microscopy) and imaging (CT scan) in AIIMS Bathinda between January 2023 and June 2024. Sample size was assumed to be 50% exposure to stress events among cases and 25% among controls, with a 3:1 control-to-case ratio, 95% CI, and 80% power. Controls were diabetics attending the endocrinology outpatient department (OPD) of the same hospital who did not have mucormycosis between July and October 2024. The participants were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to collect information on their socio-demographics and potential exposures. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was calculated with a 95% confidence interval. Among the 36 cases, the median age was 54 years (IQR: 45-61), with 81% being males; 102 controls had a median age of 52 years (IQR: 43-61), with 55% being males. Rural residence was reported in 75% of cases compared to 63% of controls, while other comorbidities, apart from diabetes, were observed in 36% of cases and 49% of controls. The sites primarily affected by mucormycosis were rhino-orbital-cerebral (78%) and pulmonary (10%) cases. In multivariate analysis, acute stress events (aOR = 3.2; 95%CI = 1.1-9.3), cattle handling (aOR = 4.9; 95%CI = 1.8-13.3), and using earthen pots for drinking water storage (aOR = 3.7; 95%CI = 1.4-9.4) were identified as significantly increasing the odds of developing mucormycosis. Preventive measures such as promoting safe handling practices during cattle handling and improving hygienic water storage may be considered, particularly among high-risk populations. Increasing clinicians' awareness of potential risk factors and strengthening health education in rural settings.
Anaerobic chain elongation (CE) has emerged as a promising technology for upgrading low-value organic substrates into high-value medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs); however, achieving targeted metabolic flux and efficient electron transfer remains challenging. To address this, this study explores the role of iron speciation in enhancing chain elongation (CE) driven by ethanol. Two iron-modified activated carbons, Fe3O4@AC and ZVI@AC, were evaluated to assess their impact on microbial metabolic networks. Results revealed that Fe3O4@AC significantly enhanced caproate production (4600.0 mg/L) and electron transfer efficiency (87.0 %), while ZVI@AC triggered a diversion towards alcohol production (940.61 mg/L n-butanol). The superior performance of Fe3O4@AC was attributed to its semiconductive properties, which facilitated interspecies electron transfer (potentially via DIET-like mechanisms) and balanced electron flow, promoting the activation of both fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB) and reverse β-oxidation (RBO) pathways. Metagenomic analysis revealed a shift in microbial community composition, with Massilibacterium enrichment under Fe3O4@AC, highlighting the importance of tailored material design for targeted MCFA production. These findings provide insights into optimizing microbial metabolism for enhanced CE efficiency.
Adhesive dry powder coating is widely applied in pharmaceutical and particulate processing. Achieving a uniform distribution of fines of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) on carrier surfaces remains challenging due to complex particle-particle and particle-wall interactions. This study employs the discrete element method (DEM) coupled with a triboelectrification model to investigate the dynamics and electrification mechanisms governing adhesive mixing in a high-shear mixer. The particle motion, charge evolution, and their combined influence on coating performance are analysed. Results show that while electrostatic forces have minimal impact on particle velocity and power draw, they exert a pronounced effect on mesoscale mixing behaviour. Bipolar charging among carriers leads to strong spatial heterogeneity, causing fines to concentrate locally and substantially reducing coating uniformity. Modifying the impeller and vessel surfaces using materials with work functions closer to that of fines causes favourable charge transfer and enhances coating uniformity. On the other hand, increasing the impeller rotational speed increases the specific charge level of fines, intensifies charge-driven segregation, and results in less uniform API attachment. The study highlights the critical role of electrostatics in adhesive mixing and demonstrates how controlling wall work function and rotational speed can significantly improve mixture homogeneity.