Search Results (1,478)

A bioactive polysaccharide (CDP-D1) was isolated from the bulbs of Cistanche deserticola and purified by DEAE anion-exchange chromatography, yielding a purity of 95.5% and a recovery rate of 33.1%. It exhibits an irregular amorphous structure, with a porous and loose surface, and displays distinct shear-thinning behavior. Its molecular weight (MW) is 142.52 kDa, and its polydispersity index (Mw/Mn) is 1.77, confirming its heterogeneity. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis identified it as a heteropolysaccharide. Functional studies indicate that CDP-D1 mediates a protective effect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages. CDP-D1 restored LPS-induced decreases in cell viability to near-normal levels and suppressed pro-inflammatory signaling by downregulating TLR4 mRNA, key cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α), and their cascade amplification. Metabolomic analysis (PLS-DA) validated the reliability of the model and identified 420 metabolites. LPS induced metabolic suppression, whereas CDP-D1 reversed this trend. Key pathways regulated by CDP-D1 include glutathione metabolism and amino acid/nucleoside/purine metabolism, partially restoring metabolic homeostasis. These findings provide preliminary evidence that CDP-D1 modulates inflammatory responses in LPS-stimulated macrophages, potentially through regulation of oxidative stress and metabolic reprogramming, and warrant further investigation into its molecular mechanism of action. Full article

Electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to ethanol offers a potential route for integrating carbon utilization with low-carbon electricity; however, its environmental performance is governed by the complete process system rather than by catalytic selectivity alone. This study presents a detailed attributional cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of anion-exchange-membrane (AEM) and bipolar-membrane (BPM) electrolyzer systems using a functional unit of 1 kg of ethanol at the plant gate. The foreground inventory combines stoichiometric balances, peer-reviewed electrochemical evidence, process-energy estimates, and transparent engineering assumptions, while background processes are represented using ecoinvent 3.7.1. Climate-change impacts are evaluated with the IPCC 2021 100-year global warming potential method. The modeled AEM and BPM systems require 23.32 and 27.92 kWh of electricity per kilogram of ethanol, respectively. Wind-powered operation yields the lowest reported impacts, at 0.318 kg CO₂-eq kg⁻¹ ethanol for AEM and 0.442 kg CO₂-eq kg⁻¹ for BPM. Photovoltaic scenarios yield 1.812 and 2.231 kg CO₂-eq kg⁻¹, whereas the Austrian-grid scenarios yield 1.349 and 4.686 kg CO₂-eq kg⁻¹, respectively. Electricity supply is the dominant environmental driver, while separation heat, carbon utilization, component lifetime, and oxygen co-product treatment remain important secondary parameters. The BPM Austrian-grid result is disproportionately high relative to the 19.7% increase in modeled electricity demand and therefore requires exchange-level verification before it can be interpreted as a physical membrane effect. Overall, environmentally credible CO₂-to-ethanol deployment requires low-carbon electricity, reduced cell voltage, efficient carbon management, concentrated product streams, durable components, and transparent co-product accounting. Full article

Multimetallic layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are promising oxyanion sorbents, but their practical use requires evaluation of sorption efficiency and chemical stability. This study examined how introducing Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ into the LDH structure affects As(V) sorption, comparing binary Mg₃Al₁ and four-component Mg₂Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Al₁ in carbonate and chloride forms. The materials were synthesised by the co-precipitation method and characterised using XRD, FTIR, SEM, BET, and XPS, while their layer metal composition was determined by ICP-OES. The sorption studies were supplemented by chemical stability analysis (pH 4–11) and As(V) desorption experiments. Equilibrium data were evaluated using the Redlich–Peterson isotherm model. The four-component LDH showed higher As(V) sorption capacity than the conventional MgAl system, with the best performance observed for chloride forms: 37.5 mg/g for MgCuZnAl-LDH and 22.5 mg/g for MgAl-LDH. The sorption kinetics are well described by the pseudo-second-order and Elovich models, indicating a significant contribution from chemisorption. The results suggest that As(V) removal involves the combined action of anion exchange, electrostatic interactions and inner-sphere complex formation, controlled by the composition of the LDH layer and the type of interlayer anion. The introduction of Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ promoted additional active sites and stronger As(V) surface interactions. The results indicate that MgCuZnAl-LDH, particularly in the chloride form, exhibits promising As(V) sorption performance under model conditions involving a single solute. Full article

Edible mushroom polysaccharides have attracted considerable attention because of their diverse biological activities, particularly their antioxidant potential. However, efficient extraction of these polysaccharides remains challenging due to the rigid chitin–β-glucan network of fungal cell walls. In this study, polysaccharides from Termitomyces albuminosus were extracted using hot water extraction (HWE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and ultrasound-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction (UA-ATPE). Extraction conditions for each method were optimized using Box–Behnken response surface methodology, and the effects of different extraction strategies on polysaccharide yield, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity were systematically compared. Among the three methods, UAE produced the highest polysaccharide yield (110.32 ± 3.68 mg/g). The extraction strategy significantly influenced the molecular weight distribution and monosaccharide composition of the crude polysaccharides. The crude UAE extract was further purified by DEAE-52 anion-exchange chromatography, yielding the major antioxidant-active fraction eluted with 0.1 M NaCl (designated ATPs-0.1M), which was identified as an acidic heteropolysaccharide with an average molecular weight of 6.37 kDa and composed primarily of glucose, mannose, galactose, xylose, glucuronic acid, rhamnose, and fucose. In vitro antioxidant assays demonstrated that TAPs-0.1M exhibited stronger DPPH radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and ferric reducing activities than the other purified fractions under the tested conditions. The results indicate that different extraction strategies are associated with distinct physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant activities of T. albuminosus polysaccharides. These findings provide a practical basis for selecting appropriate extraction methods and support the further development of T. albuminosus polysaccharides as natural antioxidant ingredients. Full article

Slow reaction kinetics of the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under alkaline conditions limits the performance of anion exchange membrane fuel cells and water electrolysers (AEMFC and AEMWE). Consequently, high loadings of PGM metal-based compounds such as Pd-CeO₂ and PtRu are required to obtain competitive performance. The amount of precious metals present can be reduced by exploiting interaction with an active support material that tunes both hydrogen desorption and hydroxyl adsorption, processes that are key descriptors of HOR activity. In this work, NiWO_3−xC is prepared, composed of oxygen-deficient tungsten oxide (WO_3−x) doped with Ni nanoparticles and mixed with conductive carbon (50:50 wt%). This material is decorated with Pd nanoparticles (6.6 wt% Pd loading). Structural analysis (XRD, XPS, and HR-TEM/STEM) confirm a hybrid morphology of Pd nanoparticles deposited on both the Ni and W portions of the support. The HOR and HER activity was studied using electrochemical tests and compared to the performance of both a Pd/C standard with equivalent Pd loading (6.9 wt%) and the NiWO_3−xC support. The Pd-normalized exchange current densities for the HOR (I⁰) are 18.7 A g_Pd⁻¹ for Pd/NiWO_3−xC and 3.21 A g⁻¹ for Pd/C. The enhanced HOR activity of Pd/NiWO_3−xC translates to high power densities in AEM fuel cell tests with this catalyst applied to the anode electrode (up to 0.9 W cm⁻²). Full article

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum leads to huge yield losses and mycotoxin contamination in wheat globally. Paenibacillus polymyxa with strong antagonistic activity was preliminarily identified. To clarify the key antifungal component, an extracellular protein was purified via ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-52 anion-exchange and Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography. SDS-PAGE showed a single band at 76 kDa. liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis confirmed this protein belongs to glycosyl hydrolase family with 86% sequence coverage. Biochemical characterization showed that the crude protein was stable at 40–90 °C and pH 3.0–9.0, sensitive to proteinase K, trypsin and neutral protease. The purified 76 kDa protein exhibited antifungal activity against F. graminearum. The gene encoding this protein was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The renatured recombinant protein p76kd showed comparable antifungal activity to the native protein. This study purified and characterized a 76 kDa protein annotated as a glycosyl hydrolase via LC-MS/MS peptide matching; its antifungal function is presumed to originate from the conserved glycosyl hydrolase domain according to existing homologous research, which is distinct from previously reported lipopeptides or uncharacterized complexes. This protein provides a promising candidate for the biocontrol of FHB and related fungal diseases in cereal crops. Full article

Among the micropollutants of medium-depth waters in isolated inhabited areas, the inorganic ones deserve special attention: nitrate anion (NO₃⁻) and phosphate anions (HxPO₄^−(3−x)). The individual removal of these anions from water is widely studied, with different methods being found: chemical, ion exchange, or biological. This paper presents a membrane method for the simultaneous removal of nitrate anion and phosphate anions from dilute synthetic aqueous solutions. The developed method is nanofiltration using composite membranes made of cellulose acetate (CA) and silver nanoparticles (Agnp). The composite membranes were made by phase inversion of the dimethylformamide (DMF) solution containing the two components (CA–Agnp) on a polypropylene (PP) capillary fiber using deionized water as a coagulant. The DMF solution of CA containing Agnp was obtained by dissolving black-and-white cinematographic films (exposed and unexposed to light). CA–Agnp–PP composite membranes were tested for the simultaneous removal of nitrate anion and phosphate anions from aqueous solution by nanofiltration at pressures ranging from 5 to 25 bars. A removal of over 98% of phosphate anions and more than 95% of nitrate anions was achieved. Fluxes of 10 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ were obtained for the working pressure of 15 atm, depending on the pH, flow rate, and concentration of the feed water. The variable parameters considered were also the concentrations of CA and Agnp. Full article

Phosphorus scarcity and inefficient fertilizer utilization highlight the need for sustainable phosphorus recovery and reuse strategies. In this study, a Zn/Fe-layered double hydroxide (Zn/Fe-LDH)-kelp-derived biochar (KBC) composite (Zn/Fe-LDH@0.5KBC) was synthesized via co-precipitation for phosphate capture and subsequent reutilization as a slow-release fertilizer. The incorporation of KBC improved the dispersion of LDH nanosheets and generated a hierarchical porous structure with a specific surface area of 122.13 m²/g. As a result, Zn/Fe-LDH@0.5KBC exhibited a high phosphate adsorption capacity of 132.52 mg P/g and reached adsorption equilibrium within 240 min. Kinetic and isotherm analyses indicated that phosphate adsorption was dominated by chemisorption and was best described by the Sips model. Comprehensive scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses revealed that phosphate removal occurred through synergistic mechanisms, including electrostatic attraction, interlayer anion exchange, surface complexation, and metal phosphate precipitation. The P-loaded composite exhibited diffusion-dominated phosphorus release in soil and significantly enhanced pak choi growth. Compared with the control, labile phosphorus increased from 2.8% to 6.8%, while moderately labile phosphorus increased from 6.3% to 14.1%, indicating improved phosphorus availability. These findings demonstrate an effective strategy for integrating phosphate recovery from wastewater with agricultural reuse and provide insights into the development of multifunctional adsorbent-fertilizer systems for circular phosphorus management. Full article

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) has been widely used in the field of corrosion protection. LDH nanofillers can act as multifunctional additives in coatings based on the physical barrier effect and anion exchange effect. However, the preparation of the typical co-precipitation method needs to be simplified to realize large-scale industrialization. In this work, a wide range of synthesis parameters, including solution-mixing mode, reaction atmosphere, reaction pH control, titration rate and post-treatment on the obtained LDH, were systematically studied, and it was found that the one-step solution-mixing synthesis procedure and the adoption of N₂ atmosphere were able to alleviate the carbonate contamination to some degree. However, the one-step solution-mixing synthesis procedure has a negative influence on the formation of LDH, probably due to insufficient reaction, while the hydrothermal post-treatment is able to promote the continual growth of the LDH platelet and, thus, lead to an increase in crystallinity and particle size. Green inhibitor aspartates were used to modify LDH, and the electrochemical test results indicated that the adoption of N₂ atmosphere was able to clearly increase the corrosion protection ability of LDH, with an R_p value of 3.86 kΩ·cm² after immersion for 96 h in 0.1 mol/L NaCl, probably due to the intercalation of a relatively large amount of inhibitor anions since less carbonates were intercalated, followed by the LDH synthesized via co-precipitation without N₂ protection, pH control and hydrothermal post-treatment with an R_p value of 3.00 kΩ·cm². The LDH sample without inhibitor intercalation presented a corresponding R_p value of 2.45 kΩ·cm². Notably, the one-step solution-mixing method and a fast titration rate in co-precipitation would have a negative influence on the corrosion protection of LDH, probably due to insufficient reaction. This work could shed light on the simplification of LDH preparation, and it is able to provide a solid foundation and technical support for the wide promotion and application of LDH in anti-corrosion and other fields in the near future. Full article

Integrated circuits (ICs), a major fraction of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), represent an important secondary source of gold (Au). However, recovering high-purity Au from ICs remains challenging due to the high silicon dioxide content that encapsulates Au within the IC core and the presence of complex base-metal mixtures that hinder selective purification. This study proposes a simplified end-to-end process that integrates mechanical liberation, magnetic separation, oxidative chlorination, ion-exchange purification and Au recovery from isolated ICs. Unlike conventional multi-stage comminution routes, the proposed pretreatment combines hydraulic pressing, milling/sieving and magnetic separation to maximize Au exposure while minimizing dust generation, metal losses and base-metal interference, which is subsequently subjected to oxidative leaching and purification. Optimal extraction conditions, determined through a Taguchi design (2.5 M HCl, 0.34 M NaClO, 40 °C, solid–liquid ratio 1 g/40 mL, 3 h), achieved a Au leaching efficiency of 89%. The resulting multi-metal leachate was treated with a strong anionic ion-exchange resin, increasing Au purity from 8% to 86% after thiourea elution in a sulfuric-acid medium. Final Au recovery was completed by reductive precipitation with sodium borohydride, yielding complete solidification (~100% efficiency). A comparative life-cycle assessment showed that this recycling route offers favourable environmental performance relative to primary mining. Beyond achieving efficient Au recovery, this work establishes an integrated recovery route for isolated ICs that combines process simplification with environmental positive impact, addressing an important gap in WEEE recycling. Full article

Background: Brucellosis remains a significant zoonotic infection affecting approximately 500,000 people worldwide annually, with no licensed human vaccine available. Recombinant influenza virus vectors expressing Brucella spp. antigens represent a promising vaccine platform. However, transitioning from laboratory constructs to clinical candidates requires validation of scalable purification methods compliant with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. This study aimed to develop and optimize a pilot-scale purification protocol for these vectors. Methods: Recombinant influenza A viruses (H5N1) expressing Brucella spp. antigens (Omp16, Omp19, L7/L12, Cu-Zn SOD) were propagated in MDCK cell culture. The optimized purification process included: (1) clarification; (2) ultrafiltration/diafiltration (100 kDa MWCO); (3) two-step chromatography (anion-exchange Q-Sepharose^® Fast Flow and multimodal Capto™ Core 700); and (4) sterile filtration. Process validation was performed across three independent pilot-scale batches (20 L each). Results: The purification process demonstrated high reproducibility for all constructs. Final preparations met established quality criteria: infectious titer ≥ 5.2 log₁₀ TCID₅₀/mL, hemagglutination activity 7.33 ± 0.58–8.33 ± 0.58 log₂, total protein content 157–305 μg/mL, residual host cell DNA < 10 ng/dose, and bacterial endotoxin levels ≤ 0.15 IU/mL. The overall recovery of infectious virus was 20–24%, an optimal value for multi-stage bioprocessing. Preservation of the target genetic insert was confirmed in all final preparations by PCR and sequencing. Conclusions: The developed integrated purification protocol yields vectors with high purification efficiency, preserving biological activity and meeting regulatory quality requirements for residual host cell DNA and endotoxins. The technological platform demonstrated versatility, robustness (inter-batch coefficient of variation for yield did not exceed 10–12%), and scalability, establishing a foundation for preclinical and clinical studies of candidate brucellosis vaccines. Full article

The anion exchanger 1 (AE1), traditionally known for its role in erythrocyte anion transport and acid–base homeostasis, has recently been identified in non-erythroid tissues, suggesting broader physiological functions. In the present study, we investigated for the first time the expression and potential role of AE1 in human ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) obtained from women with endometriosis (ENDO-GCs) or male factor infertility controls (MF-GCs). Cells were cultured in the presence of follicular fluid derived from control (FF-MF) or endometriosis patients (FF-ENDO), and DIDS-sensitive anion exchange activity was pharmacologically inhibited using 4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS). AE1 expression was evaluated at both protein and transcript levels together with markers of proliferation, inflammation, and steroidogenesis. The results demonstrate that AE1 is constitutively expressed in GCs and may contribute to granulosa cell homeostasis. Inhibition of DIDS-sensitive anion exchange activity inhibited cell proliferation, shifted cell morphology toward a fibroblast-like phenotype, and reduced estradiol and progesterone secretion and inflammatory (IL-6) gene transcription. Notably, MF-GCs cultured in FF-MF exhibited compensatory upregulation of AE1, whereas ENDO-GCs and cells exposed to FF-ENDO showed impaired adaptive responses and generalized transcriptional suppression. These findings provide preliminary evidence supporting a role for DIDS-sensitive anion exchange activity in granulosa cell physiology and warrant further studies to clarify the specific contribution of AE1 to follicular dysfunction associated with endometriosis. However, the specific mechanistic contribution of AE1 could not be established and will require further functional and genetic investigations. Full article

Fast-charging graphite-based lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are limited by sluggish Li⁺ desolvation, interfacial charge transfer, and solid-state diffusion in graphite (Gr). Herein, a salt-concentration-regulated lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) in 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) electrolyte is developed to construct an anion-involved solvation structure for fast-charging graphite-based LIBs. At an appropriate LiTFSI concentration, TFSI⁻ is incorporated into the primary Li⁺ solvation sheath, forming a contact-ion-pair (CIP)-dominated solvation structure. The optimized electrolyte exhibits a Li⁺ transference number of 0.76 and an exchange current density of 0.28 mA cm⁻², indicating accelerated Li⁺ transport and interfacial charge transfer. Furthermore, a more uniform interfacial Li⁺ flux distribution is obtained, contributing to suppressed localized Li growth. As a result, Gr||Li half cells deliver 168 mAh g⁻¹ at 10 C (1 C = 370 mAh g⁻¹). LFP||Gr full cells with an LiFePO₄ (LFP) areal capacity of 4 mAh cm⁻² deliver 115 mAh g⁻¹ at 2 C and retain 69% capacity after 200 cycles. This work highlights moderate salt-concentration regulation in DOL/FEC electrolytes as an effective strategy for fast graphite lithiation without relying on fluorinated ether solvents or localized high-concentration formulations. Full article

Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) is a 12-pass transmembrane protein expressed in presynaptic vesicles. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of SV2A provides an in vivo measure of synaptic density and has broad applications in the study of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. A fluorine-18-labeled PET tracer targeting SV2A, [¹⁸F]SynVesT-1, was originally developed using a copper-mediated fluorination approach that requires initial azeotropic drying of [¹⁸F]fluoride with anhydrous acetonitrile. We previously established an efficient radiolabeling strategy in which fluorine-18 retained on an anion-exchange cartridge is eluted as 4-dimethylaminopyridinium [¹⁸F]fluoride (DMAPH·[¹⁸F]F) by passing a solution of 4-dimethylaminopyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate (DMAPH·OTf) in dimethylacetamide (DMA), which was directly used in copper-mediated fluorination of various substrates without the need for azeotropic drying. Building on this strategy, we developed a fully automated and reproducible method for the synthesis of [¹⁸F]SynVesT-1 using the Trasis All-in-One (AIO) module. The total synthesis time was 60 min, affording a superior overall decay-corrected radiochemical yield (30–37% vs. 20.6 ± 1.2%) while requiring a reduced amount of precursor (2 mg vs. 5 mg) with a radiochemical purity greater than 98%. Full article

Multi-sulfonated anionic azo dyes are difficult to remove from water because their high solubility and ionized sulfonate groups reduce their affinity toward many oxide adsorbents. In this study, magnesium oxide-modified alumina composites were prepared by loading magnesium oxide onto mesoporous alumina to increase the density of surface hydroxyl groups. Sunset Yellow and Amaranth were selected as model dyes containing two and three sulfonate groups, respectively. Compared with pristine alumina, the modified adsorbents exhibited higher isoelectric points, stronger hydroxyl-related infrared signals, and significantly enhanced adsorption capacities. At pH 4.0, the maximum adsorption capacities reached 787 mg/g for Sunset Yellow and 709 mg/g for Amaranth. Notably, MgA-2 exhibited the highest utilization efficiency of MgO active sites. Adsorption kinetics were well described by the pseudo-second-order model, while equilibrium data followed the Langmuir model. Mechanistic analysis indicated that adsorption process mainly proceeded through ion exchange between surface hydroxyl groups and dye sulfonate groups. The higher adsorption capacity of Sunset Yellow was attributed to its lower number of sulfonate groups and lower demand for hydroxyl binding sites. These results demonstrate that magnesium oxide modification is an effective strategy for enhancing alumina-based adsorbents for the removal of multi-sulfonated anionic dyes from water. Full article