Search Results (50)

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between qualitative characteristics and quantitative parameters from contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and microvessel density (MVD) in hepatoblastoma (HB), as well as to investigate whether CEUS could be utilized as a non-invasive method for predicting HB progression. Methods: This retrospective analysis was carried out in one medical center and included 34 children with histopathologically confirmed HB. Both grayscale ultrasound and CEUS results were reviewed. Lesions were evaluated using time–intensity curve (TIC) analysis software to extract quantitative parameters. Postoperative tissue specimens were stained with CD34 immunohistochemistry, and MVD was quantified as the reference standard. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the correlation between CEUS findings and MVD. Results: Lesions were separated into high (n = 21, 61.76%; MVD ≥ 41) and low (n = 13, 38.24%; MVD < 41) MVD groups, using the median microvessel density of 41 vessels per high-power field (HPF) as the cutoff. High MVD lesions exhibited a significantly higher incidence of penetrating vessels compared with low MVD lesions (p < 0.05). Elevated MVD levels were significantly associated with increased Adler-grade blood flow (p < 0.05). Both TIC-derived and relative quantitative parameters exhibited significant intergroup differences. Among the relative parameters, the relative wash-out rate (rWoR) was significantly higher in the low MVD group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that an rWoR threshold of ≥1.36 could serve as a predictor for low MVD, resulting in 76.9% sensitivity and 81.0% specificity (AUC = 0.802; 95% CI: 0.634–0.970; p = 0.003). Conclusions: CEUS revealed an association with MVD, supporting its potential as a non-invasive tool to characterize tumor vascularity. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI), when integrated with photocatalysis, has demonstrated high predictive accuracy in optimizing photocatalytic processes for wastewater treatment using a variety of catalysts such as TiO₂, ZnO, CdS, Zr, WO₂, and CeO₂. The progress of research in this area is greatly enhanced by advancements in data science and AI, which enable rapid analysis of large datasets in materials chemistry. This article presents a comprehensive review and critical assessment of AI-based supervised learning models, including support vector machines (SVMs), artificial neural networks (ANNs), and tree-based algorithms. Their predictive capabilities have been evaluated using statistical metrics such as the coefficient of determination (R²), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE), with numerous investigations documenting R² values greater than 0.95 and RMSE values as low as 0.02 in forecasting pollutant degradation. To enhance model interpretability, Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) have been employed to prioritize the relative significance of input variables, illustrating, for example, that pH and light intensity frequently exert the most substantial influence on photocatalytic performance. These AI frameworks not only attain dependable predictions of degradation efficiency for dyes, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals, but also contribute to economically viable optimization strategies and the identification of novel photocatalysts. Overall, this review provides evidence-based guidance for researchers and practitioners seeking to advance wastewater treatment technologies by integrating supervised machine learning with photocatalysis. Full article

Biomass reforming under mild conditions for synergistic hydrogen production, driven by renewable solar energy, has rapidly emerged as a promising strategy that not only enables the efficient reutilization of biomass but also facilitates the generation of high-purity hydrogen. In this work, ZnCdS (ZCS) nanoparticles and CoWO₄ (CW) nanocrystals were assembled via a solvothermal method to construct a ZCS/CW S-type heterojunction composite. The resultant materials’ physicochemical characteristics were methodically described. With lignin model compounds (PP-ol) and sodium lignosulfonate as substrates, the ZnCdS/CoWO₄-10% catalyst demonstrated a significant generation of hydrogen activity, producing hydrogen at rates of 223.30 μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ and 140.28 μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹, respectively, according to experimental results. The formation of heterojunctions endows composite photocatalysts with higher hydrogen evolution rates compared to single-component catalysts. This is attributed to energy band bending at the interface of the heterojunction, which facilitates efficient charge separation while maintaining strong redox capabilities. High-value compounds like phenol and acetophenone were formed when the oxidation products in the post-reaction lignin model compound solution were subsequently analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Additionally, a convincing mechanism for the catalytic reaction was suggested. It is expected that this study will offer a viable route for the creation of effective photocatalytic materials, high-value organic waste transformation, and sustainable hydrogen production. Full article

Hybrid organic–inorganic materials incorporating high-Z nanocompounds represent an emerging area of research with high, cost-effective potential for radiation detection applications, owing to their ability to enable unprecedented architectures and functional devices. Herein, we introduce a new hybrid system composed of tungstate nanoparticles (SrWO₄ or CdWO₄) blended with P3HT:PCBM, engineered for direct X-ray detection without the need for external bias. The nanocrystalline tungstates were synthesized through a hydrothermal route. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the nanoparticle structure and morphology, respectively. Incorporation of high-Z tungstate nanoparticles was found to substantially enhance detector sensitivity within specific energy ranges, with performance tunable by varying the tungstate composition. The use of the fabricated detectors was demonstrated for both spectroscopic and imaging applications. Full article

In this study, CdWO₄/CdMoO₄ powders’ heterostructures were synthesized using the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, characterized, and evaluated for their photocatalytic properties. The samples were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and photoluminescence (PL). The photocatalytic performance was assessed using methylene blue as a model pollutant. XRD patterns and Raman spectra confirmed the formation of heterostructures containing the Wolframite phase of CdWO₄ and the Scheelite phase of CdMoO₄. FESEM micrographs revealed that the CdWO₄ phase exhibits a plate-like morphology, while the CdMoO₄ phase consists of irregular nanoparticles. Photocatalytic tests demonstrated that the 20Mo sample exhibited the best performance, degrading 96% of the dye after 2 h of reaction. The findings of this study indicate that CdWO₄/CdMoO₄ heterostructures hold significant potential for photocatalytic applications in the degradation of cationic dyes. Full article

Hydrogen and oxygen serve as energy carriers that can ease the transition of energy due to their high energy densities. Nonetheless, their production processes entail the development of efficient and low-cost storage and conversion technologies. In this regard, photoelectrocatalysts are materials based on the photoelectronic effect where electrons and holes interact with H₂O, producing H₂ and O_2, and in some cases, this is achieved with acceptable efficiency. Although there are several reviews on this topic, most of them focus on traditional semiconductors, such as TiO₂ and ZnO, neglecting others, such as those based on non-noble metals and organic ones. Herein, semiconductors like CdSe, NiWO₄, Fe₂O₃, and others have been investigated and compared in terms of photocurrent density, band gap, and charge transfer resistance. In addition, this brief review aims to discuss the mechanisms of overall water-splitting reactions from a photonic point of view and subsequently discusses the engineering of material synthesis. Advanced composites are also addressed, such as WO₃/BiVO₄/Cu₂O and CN-FeNiOOH-CoOOH, which demonstrate high efficiency by delivering photocurrent densities of 5 mAcm⁻² and 3.5 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 vs. RHE, respectively. Finally, the authors offer their perspectives and list the main challenges based on their experience in developing semiconductor-based materials applied in several fields. In this manner, this brief review provides the main advances in these topics, used as references for new directions in designing active materials for photoelectrocatalytic water splitting. Full article

This review analyzes TiO₂-based coatings formed by the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process of titanium for the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) under simulated solar irradiation conditions. PEO is recognized as a useful technique for creating oxide coatings on various metals, particularly titanium, to assist in the degradation of organic pollutants. TiO₂-based photocatalysts in the form of coatings are more practical than TiO₂-based photocatalysts in the form of powder because the photocatalyst does not need to be recycled and reused after wastewater degradation treatment, which is an expensive and time-consuming process. In addition, the main advantage of PEO in the synthesis of TiO₂-based photocatalysts is its short processing time (a few minutes), as it excludes the annealing step needed to convert the amorphous TiO₂ into a crystalline phase, a prerequisite for a possible photocatalytic application. Pure TiO₂ coatings formed by PEO have a low photocatalytic efficiency in the degradation of MO, which is due to the rapid recombination of the photo-generated electron/hole pairs. In this review, recent advances in the sensitization of TiO₂ with narrow band gap semiconductors (WO₃, SnO₂, CdS, Sb₂O₃, Bi₂O₃, and Al₂TiO₅), doping with rare earth ions (example Eu³⁺) and transition metals (Mn, Ni, Co, Fe) are summarized as an effective strategy to reduce the recombination of photo-generated electron/hole pairs and to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO₂ coatings. Full article

In this article, we present current results of the experiment searching for double beta decay of ¹⁰⁶Cd with the help of an enriched ¹⁰⁶CdWO₄ crystal scintillator in coincidence with two CdWO₄ scintillation detectors. The experiment is carried out at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (LNGS INFN, Italy). After 1075 days of data-taking, no double-beta effects were observed. New half-life limits have been set for the different modes and channels of double beta processes in ¹⁰⁶Cd at the level of $lim{T}_{1/2}={10}^{20}-{10}^{22}$ years. Full article

In recent years, the problem of Cd (cadmium) contamination in cultivated soils has grown worse, endangering food security and human health and impeding agricultural sustainability. The application of foliar fertilizer can effectively prevent and control the accumulation of Cd in crops, but the related effects of foliar fertilizer application on the accumulation of Cd in wheat and the risk to human health are not clear. On the Cd-polluted farmland, five foliar fertilizers (multi-element compound fertilizer (Me), manganese-zinc micro-fertilizer (MZ), sodium dihydrogen phosphate (P), water-soluble organic fertilizer (WO) and foliar silicon fertilizer (Si)) and CK (the fresh water was used as the control) were sprayed on wheat at different growth periods (spraying once at the tillering stage and spraying twice at the tillering stage and the booting stage) to investigate the effects of foliar fertilizer on wheat yield and the content of Cd in grains and human health risks. The results showed that the application of five types of foliar fertilizers can lead to an increase in wheat yield, an inhibition of the transfer of cadmium to the edible parts of wheat, and a reduction in the human health risk (THQ). Compared with the CK (the fresh water was used as the control), the impact of Cd stress on the yield of spring wheat was alleviated by the MZ treatment, and the largest yield increase of 24.2% was achieved when MZ was sprayed once. When compared with one application, two applications of foliar fertilizers were shown to effectively reduce the content of Cd in the leaves, glumes, and grains of wheat, while increasing the content of Cd in the roots and stems. Among all foliar fertilizers, the cadmium content in wheat grains was most effectively decreased using MZ2 (spraying twice at the tillering stage and the booting stage), with a reduction of 36.6%. At the same time, the target hazard coefficient (THQ) of foliar spraying was reduced, and using two bouts of foliar fertilizer spraying was more effective in reducing the health risks. In conclusion, MZ fertilizer sprayed twice was a desirable choice for wheat, which was conducive to the safe production of wheat on Cd-contaminated farmland and for contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture. Full article

B7H3 (CD276), an immunoregulatory molecule known for its role in immune evasion by transmitting inhibitory signals to T lymphocytes, has garnered significant attention in recent years as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. This interest is largely due to its high expression in various types of solid tumors, coupled with low protein levels in normal tissues. However, studies examining the impact of B7H3 on survival outcomes have shown inconsistent results, leaving its prognostic significance not fully clarified. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to assess the relationship between B7H3 expression and various prognostic parameters in patients with solid malignancies. PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Cochrane, SCOPUS, and Embase databases were searched for eligible articles published until November 2024. Statistical analysis was performed using R studio (version 4.3.2). The analysis included a total of 51 eligible studies comprising 11,135 patients. Results showed that overexpression of B7H3 is a negative predictor for all examined survival outcomes: OS (HR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.44–2.03, p < 0.0001), DFS (HR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.49–2.73, p < 0.0001), PFS (HR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.44–3.06, p < 0.0001), RFS (HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.11–2.48, p = 0.01), and DSS (HR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.24–2.32, p < 0.01). Despite the high heterogeneity observed across the studies, the sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of these results. This research suggests that B7H3 may serve as an effective biomarker for prognosis in solid tumors. Full article

Since people spend most of their time in indoor environments, they are continuously exposed to various contaminants that threaten human health. The air quality in these settings is therefore a crucial factor in maintaining health safety. In order to reduce the concentration of indoor air pollutants and improve air quality, photocatalytic oxidation has drawn the attention of researchers. This study aims to provide a comprehensive view of the nanomaterials used in the photocatalytic oxidation of the most common pollutants in indoor environments. The effects of various parameters like humidity, airflow, deposition time, and light intensity were also evaluated, as they can significantly influence photocatalytic reactions. The most common nanomaterials used in photocatalysis are TiO₂-based and, in this study, they were classified and examined based on their morphology. TiO₂ doping with metals and non-metals has demonstrated an enhancement of its adsorption properties and photocatalytic efficiency for the removal of several pollutants. The role of carbon-based nanomaterials in photocatalysis was also evaluated due to their adsorption capabilities towards various pollutants. In addition, other less common photocatalysts such as ZnO, MnO₂, WO₃, CeO₂, and CdS also exhibited high photocatalytic activity for pollutant degradation. Applications of these photocatalysts in air purifiers, paints, and building materials e.g., concrete, glass, and wallpapers, lead to efficient reduction of pollutants in indoor settings. Full article

In recent years, there has been a significant growth in scholarly attention to the effects of Cd stress on horticultural plants, as reflected by the abundance of research articles on this issue in academic publications. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a review of current research and provide a comprehensive perspective to quickly grasp the latest developments and future trends in the research field of “horticultural plants-Cd responses”. By utilizing a visualizing bibliometric analysis software CiteSpace, this study integrated and analyzed a total of 4318 relevant research records—2311 from the Web of Science (WOS) database and 2007 from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database—related to “horticultural plants-Cd responses”, covering the period from 1999 to 2024. A visual analysis was conducted in the form of knowledge mappings, including the current research status of “horticultural plants-Cd responses”, as well as the differences in publications’ temporal distribution, spatial distribution (cooperation networks) and intellectual base between China and foreign countries, precisely uncovering the core aspects of research topics related to the field. The results indicated the following: (1) Scientific research on “horticultural plants-Cd responses” has experienced a significant increase in publication volume and has entered a phase of rapid development. Globally, there has been an annual average increase of 217 articles in the WOS since 2019, while in China, the annual average increase has been 134 articles in the CNKI since 2015. (2) China is the most productive country in terms of publication volume (1165 articles, 52.79%), engaging in active partnerships with other countries worldwide. Chinese scholars (Lin L. and Liao M.) are leading researchers in both domestic and international research fields of “horticultural plants-Cd responses”. The network of collaborations among authors and institutions in the WOS database seemed denser compared to that in the CNKI database. (3) International research hotspots have focused on accumulation, tolerance and oxidative stress, while domestically, the focus has been on antioxidant enzymes, growth and seed germination. Phytoremediation, subcellular distribution and the transcriptome are the world’s emerging topics, while in China, growth and physiological characteristics are still emerging topics. (4) In comparison, China exhibited a lagging development trend, which is reflected in the fact that it began to focus on gene expression and transcriptome research only after the global frontier shifted towards biochar and cadmium co-stress and yield response. Based on these, this study provides a systematic theoretical basis for subsequent research on “horticultural plants-Cd responses”, aiding scholars in their efforts to understand the dynamic frontiers and address the challenges in this field. Full article

The long-term afterglow of scintillators is an important aspect, especially when the light signal from a scintillator is evaluated in the current mode. Scintillators used for radiation detection exhibit an afterglow, which usually comes from multiple components that have different decay times. A high level of afterglow usually has a negative influence on the detection parameters for the energy resolution in spectrometry measurements or X-ray and neutron imaging. The paper deals with the long-term afterglow of some types of scintillators, which is more significant for integral measurement when the current is measured in a photodetector. The range of decay times studied was in the order of tens of seconds to days. Seven types of scintillators were examined: BGO, CaF₂(Eu), CdWO₄, CsI(Tl), LiI(Eu), NaI(Tl), and plastic scintillator. The scintillators were excited by gamma-ray radiation. After irradiation, the detection unit, along with the scintillator, was moved to a laboratory where the anode current of the photomultiplier tube was measured using a picoammeter for at least a day. The measurements showed that CdWO₄ and plastic scintillators have relatively low long-term afterglow signals in comparison to the other scintillators studied. Full article

New Nd³⁺-doped cadmium molybdato-tungstates with the chemical formula of Cd_1−3x▯_xNd_2x(MoO₄)_1−3x(WO₄)_3x (where x = 0.0283, 0.0455, 0.0839, 0.1430, 0.1875, 0.2000, 0.2500, and ▯ denotes a vacant site in the crystal lattice) were successfully synthesized by the high-temperature solid state reaction method, using CdMoO₄ and Nd₂(WO₄)₃ as the initial reactants. The structure and change in their lattice parameters as a function of Nd³⁺ ion concentration were investigated by the XRD (X-ray diffraction) method. The surface morphology and grain size of the doped materials were characterized by SEM (scanning electron microscopy). Their thermal properties and initial reactants were analyzed by DTA-TG (differential thermal analysis coupled with thermogravimetry) techniques. The optical properties of the Nd³⁺-doped cadmium molybdato-tungstates, such as optical band gap, were determined by UV–vis–NIR (ultraviolet–visible–near infrared) spectroscopy. The EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) technique provided information on the type of magnetic interactions between Nd³⁺ ions. Full article

Full-waveform LiDAR (FWF) offers a promising advantage over other technologies to represent the vertical canopy structure of secondary successions in the Amazon region, as the waveform encapsulates the properties of all elements intercepting the emitted beam. In this study, we investigated modifications in the vertical structure of the Amazonian secondary successions across the vegetation gradient from early to advanced stages of vegetation regrowth. The analysis was performed over two distinct climatic regions (Drier and Wetter), designated using the Maximum Cumulative Water Deficit (MCWD). The study area was covered by 309 sample plots distributed along 25 LiDAR transects. The plots were grouped into three successional stages (early—SS1; intermediate—SS2; advanced—SS3). Mature Forest (MF) was used as a reference of comparison. A total of 14 FWF LiDAR metrics from four categories of analysis (Height, Peaks, Understory and Gaussian Decomposition) were extracted using the Waveform LiDAR for Forestry eXtraction (WoLFeX) software (v1.1.1). In addition to examining the variation in these metrics across different successional stages, we calculated their Relative Recovery (RR) with vegetation regrowth, and evaluated their ability to discriminate successional stages using Random Forest (RF). The results showed significant differences in FWF metrics across the successional stages, and within and between sample plots and regions. The Drier region generally exhibited more pronounced differences between successional stages and lower FWF metric values compared to the Wetter region, mainly in the category of height, peaks, and Gaussian decomposition. Furthermore, the Drier region displayed a lower relative recovery of metrics in the early years of succession, compared to the areas of MF, eventually reaching rates akin to those of the Wetter region as succession progressed. Canopy height metrics such as Waveform distance (WD), and Gaussian Decomposition metrics such as Bottom of canopy (BC), Bottom of canopy distance (BCD) and Canopy distance (CD), related to the height of the lower forest stratum, were the most important attributes in discriminating successional stages in both analyzed regions. However, the Drier region exhibited superior discrimination between successional stages, achieving a weighted F1-score of 0.80 compared to 0.73 in the Wetter region. When comparing the metrics from SS in different stages to MF, our findings underscore that secondary forests achieve substantial relative recovery of FWF metrics within the initial 10 years after land abandonment. Regions with potentially slower relative recovery (e.g., Drier regions) may require longer-term planning to ensure success in providing full potential ecosystem services in the Amazon. Full article