Urinary exposure to liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) in children near e-waste recycling sites: Occurrence and implications for physical growth.

Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are emerging contaminants extensively used in electronic displays, yet human exposure assessment studies remain scarce, particularly among children. This study presents the first comprehensive assessment of urinary LCMs in 194 children living near e-waste recycling areas in South China. Eighteen of thirty target LCMs were detected, with significantly higher concentrations in exposed children (median = 8.

Quantitative Evaluation of Endogenous Reference Genes for RT-qPCR and ddPCR Gene Expression Under Polyextreme Conditions Using Anaerobic Halophilic Alkalithermophile .

Accurate gene expression quantification using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) requires stable reference genes (RGs) for reliable normalization. However, few studies have systematically identified RGs suitable for simultaneous high salt, alkaline, and high-temperature conditions. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the stability of eight candidate RGs in the anaerobic halophilic alkalithermophile JW/NM-WN-LF under combined salt, alkali, and thermal stresses.

Study on the thermal radiation tolerance characteristics of lithium-ion batteries.

With the extensive use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in electrochemical energy storage systems and electric vehicles, their safety concerns have gradually emerged. Once LIBs undergo thermal runaway (TR), they can potentially trigger fire and explosion accidents, presenting substantial safety hazards. Regarding the issue that LIBs may experience TR due to external fires or other high-temperature conditions, the study of their thermal runaway tolerance characteristics under different degrees of external thermal radiation triggering conditions is of great significance in guiding the safe design and operation of LIB systems.

Enhanced Bifunctional Electrocatalysis of VN via D-Band Engineering for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries.

The insufficient d-electron density in V metal atoms limits O dissociation, constraining the kinetics and activity of the oxygen reduction reaction and the oxygen evolution reaction in VN-based catalysts. Herein, Co dopant was employed to modulate the electronic characteristics of the d-orbitals and associated free energy of VN, thereby further enhancing its catalytic activity. XPS and XANES spectra revealed that Co atoms replaced V and strongly bonded with neighboring N atoms, effectively regulating the local electronic structure.

Comparison of direct oxidative transfer process (DOTP) with Fenton and ozonation processes for water treatment.

The removal of emerging contaminants is a pressing challenge in modern water treatment. Among oxidation water purification processes, Fenton and ozonation are the most widely applied, with well-established mechanisms and broad engineering applicability. More recently, the direct oxidative transfer process (DOTP) has emerged as a promising alternative, offering high water purification efficiency.

Fabrication of thermally activated lead-zinc tailings/sodium alginate composites for high-efficiency adsorption of Cu/Cd.

Wastewater containing Cu and Cd poses a huge threat to the surrounding environment and human safety. To treat such wastewater, this study developed a novel composite adsorbent (LZT@SA) from thermally activated LZT and sodium alginate (SA). LZT was thermally activated at 850 °C (LZT).

Overactivation of the inward rectifier K channel 2.1 modulates intrinsic excitability of adult-born granule cells in the male Alzheimer's APP/PS1 mouse model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive dysfunction, with spatial memory impairments among the earliest detectable deficits. The dentate gyrus (DG), a critical region for spatial discrimination, exhibits functional alterations in patients with AD. Adult-born granule cells (abGCs) with higher intrinsic excitability are involved in DG-dependent spatial memory.

Correction: Crosstalk between the tumor immune microenvironment and metabolic reprogramming in pancreatic cancer: new frontiers in immunotherapy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.

Visual analysis of ovarian cancer immunotherapy: a bibliometric analysis from 2010 to 2025.

Research on immunotherapy for ovarian cancer is rapidly advancing, and harnessing the immune system to fight tumors is at the forefront of cancer treatment. This article aims to discuss the prospect and development trend of immunotherapy for ovarian cancer from the perspective of bibliometrics. Articles about tumor burden and immunotherapy were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) (retrieved on 1 May 2025).

A Glycoproteome Data Mining Strategy for Characterizing Structural Features of Altered Glycans with Thymic Involution.

Glycosylation plays an important role in regulating innate and adaptive immunity. With promising advances in structural and site-specific glycoproteomics, how to thoroughly extract important information from these multi-dimensional data has become another unresolved issue. The present study reports a comprehensive data mining strategy to systematically extract overall and altered glycan features from quantitative glycoproteome data.

Nucleation at solid-liquid interfaces is accompanied by the reconfiguration of electrical double layers.

In electrochemical systems, the structure of electrical double layers (EDLs) near electrode surfaces is crucial for energy conversion and storage functions. While the electrodes in real-world systems are usually heterogeneous, to date the investigation of EDLs is mainly limited to planar, homogeneous substrates. To bridge this gap, here we image the EDL structure of an ionic liquid/graphite battery anode system in the initial stage of interfacial nucleation and growth using our recently developed electrochemical 3D atomic force microscopy.

Progress on the Attenuation Mechanism and Modification of the Cobalt-Free Spinel LiNiMnO.

Cobalt-free LiNiMnO (LNMO) has recently emerged as a highly promising cathode material owing to its benefits of a high operating voltage platform (≈4.7 V vs Li), high theoretical energy density (≈650 Wh kg), eco-friendliness, and resource abundance. However, it has also demonstrated low cycle and poor rate performances.

Epitope-directed monoclonal antibody production against Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B enabled by in silico immunogen design.

Developing highly specific antibodies against Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) - a potent toxin previously employed as a biological weapon - is critical for accurate detection and effective therapeutic interventions. However, generating such highly specific antibodies remains a significant challenge. This study designed novel SEB immunogens, 4PF and 4P-F-4P, using an in silico methods for linear B-cell epitope prediction.

ORP2 regulates free cholesterol accumulation in hepatocytes during MASH.

Background: Cholesterol crystals in hepatocytes are known to strongly associate with human metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. However, it remains unclear which molecular pathway(s) regulates free cholesterol accumulation and the formation of cholesterol crystals in hepatocytes. In cultured cell lines, oxysterol-binding protein-related protein 2 (ORP2) functions to deliver cholesterol to the plasma membrane from endosomal compartments.

LncRNA RWDD3 Facilitates Leydig Cell Steroidogenesis by Regulating the miR-1388-5p/NPY1R/cAMP Pathway in Yanshan Cashmere Goats.

Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone that plays a critical role in male reproduction. However, the underlying mechanisms of prolactin-regulated testosterone secretion and the roles of lncRNAs in this process remain unclear. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the testicular tissues of cashmere goats with different prolactin levels by means of RNA-sequencing.

Comparative study of electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography (CT) and respiratory four-dimensional CT for radiotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Background: Theoretically, electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography (ECG-CT) can more precisely characterize the motion of a beating heart. However, cardiac motion involves both pulsatile cardiac activity and respiratory-induced movement. ECG-CT has high temporal resolution and fast scanning speed, requiring image acquisition to be completed within a single cardiac cycle.

Inorganic-bacterial biohybrids for efficient solar-driven nitrogen fixation.

The integration of microbial nitrogen (N) fixation with photochemical processes using inorganic light-absorbing nanomaterials is a burgeoning field in sustainable energy production. Here, we explore the synergistic combination of inorganic semiconductor nanowires (NWs) with whole-cell microorganisms to create an inorganic-bacterial biohybrid system. Specifically, we employ CuO@TiO NWs with a core/shell structure to harness sunlight and generate photoexcited electrons.

Engineering Superhydrophilic and Fouling-Free COF Armor for Ultrafast Oil-Water Separation.

Polymeric nanofibrous membranes are promising candidates for highly efficient oily wastewater separation, however, they suffer from irreversible membrane fouling. Herein, hydrophilic β-ketoenamine-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-modified polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous membranes (PNMs-COF) are developed, and the microstructures and hydrophilicities of the membranes are finely tailored. The hydrophilic rigid COF armor can induce the formation of hydrogen bonds with water, increase the polar component of the apparent surface tension, enhancing the driving force toward water and increasing the repulsion against oil droplets.

Navigating the complexity of exposure to multiclass organic pollutants in respirable size-resolved particles and implications for oxidative potential.

Chronic exposure to inhalable atmospheric particulate matter is linked to millions of annual premature deaths globally. Yet the sources and factors driving oxidative potential (OP) remain poorly understood, especially regarding the coexistence of multi-organic pollutants. This longitudinal study examined the size-distribution, respiratory deposition efficiency and daily exposure of 41 chemicals covering polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and phthalates (PAEs), as well as the dithiothreitol-based OP in size-fractioned PM from distinct waste recycling plants in Guangzhou, South China.

Quantitative prediction and mechanistic insights into Cu(II) transport in kaolinite-coated sand columns affected by ferrihydrite nanoparticles.

Colloidal particles play a significant role in the transport of heavy metals in soil, but quantitative prediction of the impact of colloids on their migration and bioavailability remains challenging. This study examines the impact of ferrihydrite nanoparticles (Fh-NPs) in influencing the transport and spatial distribution of Cu(II) within a kaolinite-coated sand column. When Fh-NPs are pre-adsorbed on kaolinite or co-migrate with Cu(II), they hinder the migration of Cu(II) in kaolinite-coated sand columns.

Non-Destructive Detection of Fruit Quality: Technologies, Applications and Prospects.

Fruit quality testing plays a crucial role in the advancement of fruit industry, which is related to market competitiveness, consumer satisfaction and production process optimization. In recent years, nondestructive testing technology has become a research hotspot due to its outstanding advantages. In this paper, the principle, application, advantages and disadvantages of optical, acoustic, electromagnetics, dielectric properties research and electronic nose non-destructive testing technology in fruit quality testing are systematically reviewed.

Process Optimization for the Preparation of the Lithium Iron Phosphate Precursor FePO·2HO by Anodic Oxidation Method.

Iron phosphate (FePO·2HO) was synthesized via anodic oxidation using nickel-iron alloy composition simulates from laterite nickel ore as the anode and graphite electrodes as the cathode, with phosphoric acid serving as the electrolyte. A uniform experimental design was employed to systematically optimize the synthesis parameters including voltage, electrolyte concentration, electrolysis time, and degree of acidity or alkalinity (pH). The results indicate that the addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant effectively modulated the morphology of the anodic oxidation products.

LncRNA PVT1 promotes cuproptosis through transcriptional activation of FDX1 in colorectal cancer.

Background: Cuproptosis, a copper-dependent form of regulated cell death, has emerged as a redox-sensitive vulnerability in cancer. However, the molecular basis by which this process is initiated and sustained in tumors remains poorly defined.

Methods: We investigated the functional role of FDX1 in cuproptosis in colorectal cancer through a series of in vivo and in vitro assays.

Anions-Impacted Water Purification from a Dual-Substrate Perspective.

Heterogeneous chemical oxidation for water treatment based on direct electron transfer has attracted great interest due to its low oxidant consumption and selective oxidation capabilities. Under low oxidant dosages (e.g.

Cross and unique stress adaptation strategies of the polyextremophile Natranaerobius thermophilus to individual high salt, alkaline pH, and elevated temperature.

N. thermophilus is the first true anaerobic halophilic alkalithermophile. It employs a unique dual mechanism for hypersaline adaptation, utilizing both "compatible solutes" and "salt in" strategies.