Achieving optimal inactivation of Aspergillus niger via combined KrCl excimer lamp (222 nm) and NHCl: Mechanistic analysis.

The presence of melanin within pathogenic filamentous fungi, particularly Aspergillus niger (A. niger) spores, poses considerable challenges to fungal disinfection due to its potent protective effect, while a novel krypton chlorine (KrCl) excimer lamp may provide a promising solution. This study systematically evaluated the disinfection performance and underlying mechanisms of the KrCl excimer lamp (222 nm) targeting A.

Multiscale mechanistic study of ammonia-driven chlorine speciation and control of bacteria and fungal spores in mixed chlorine/chloramines systems.

Ensuring microbiological safety in long-distance water distribution systems requires disinfectants that rapidly inactivate microbes, maintain residual stability, and minimize by-product formation. This study investigates how ammonia addition reshapes chlorine speciation and modulates disinfection performance within mixed chlorine/chloramines systems. Four conditions were quantitatively evaluated: four chlorine-based oxidants, varying Cl/N ratios, mixed chlorine/chloramines systems, and dynamically ammonia-regulated systems.

Impact of bacteriophage MS2 adsorption on biofilm microbial communities, metabolic pathways, and protein expression in sewer systems.

The stability of microbial communities within sewer systems is essential for maintaining effluent quality and infrastructure longevity. However, the functional consequences of viral interactions with biofilms remain poorly characterised. This study examines the effects of bacteriophage MS2 adsorption on biofilm structure, metabolism, and pathogenic potential in a simulated 1 km sewer pipeline.

Semi-LLIE: Semi-supervised contrastive learning with Mamba-based low-light enhancement.

Recent advances in low-light image enhancement (LLIE) have achieved impressive progress. However, the scarcity of paired data has emerged as a significant obstacle to further advancements. In this work, we propose Semi-LLIE, a novel semi-supervised framework that introduces unpaired low- and normal-light images into model training via the mean-teacher paradigm.

Study on the long-term operation results of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands for COD and nitrogen removal.

In recent years, process-based models have gained prominence in investigating and quantifying the internal purification mechanisms of constructed wetlands (CWs). However, most existing process-based models focus primarily on short-term simulations of pollutant removal performance. To enable long-term simulations and predictions of the purification efficiency of CWs, this study developed a comprehensive process-based model that incorporates sub-models of hydraulics, reactive-transport, bacterial kinetics, plant dynamics, and media clogging.

An integrated genetic algorithm-machine learning approach for morphological optimization of high-rise residential districts in Yulin.

The pursuit of global carbon neutrality necessitates addressing the dual challenge of enhancing solar energy utilization while improving thermal comfort in high-rise residential areas, particularly in Yulin, northern Shaanxi, China, where abundant solar resources exist but maximizing solar acquisition often compromises summer thermal environment quality. This resource-comfort contradiction highlights the need for balanced architectural strategies in regions with pronounced seasonal variations. Building morphological parameter optimization is crucial for balancing annual solar energy capture against summer overheating risks, yet research remains insufficient.

Sustainable Rice Husk Ash-Tannin Xerogel for Ciprofloxacin Removal from Water.

This research investigates the synthesis and application of a bioderived xerogel (BDX) synthesized from rice husk and tannins to eliminate Ciprofloxacin (CIP) from water-based media. Xerogel was prepared via sol-gel method, incorporating rice husk ash and tannin extract, along with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binding agent. Characterization techniques including, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy), TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis), and BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) surface area analysis were employed to evaluate its structural and chemical properties.

Mechanisms and management of rainfall-triggered phytoplankton bloom in a deep stratified reservoir: key drivers and reactivation thresholds.

Water-lifting aerators (WLAs) developed by our teams are typically employed to improve water quality via artificial mixing. However, the WLA deactivation following rainfall frequently results in phytoplankton blooms in the reservoirs. The mechanisms by which rainfall events trigger blooms and the sedimentation characteristics of suspended solid (SS) and total phosphorus (TP), associated with WLA reactivation, remain unclear.

Enhanced nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands by low-temperature tolerant heterotrophic nitrification bacteria Pseudomonas umsongensis YL-1: Pollutant removal, rhizosphere effects, and bacterial interactions.

Poor microbial and plant activities in constructed wetlands (CWs) in winter reduced nitrogen removal substantially. A novel low-temperature tolerant heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) strain of Pseudomonas umsongensis YL-1, isolated from the rhizosphere of wetland plants, was periodically inoculated into CWs to improve the efficiency of winter nitrogen removal. The removal rates of NH-N and TN in CWs planted with Iris japonica and Lolium perenne L.

Fabrication of ZnO quantum dots and InO nanofiber composite photocatalysts for selective Cr(Ⅵ) detection and reduction.

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) as one of the most highly toxic heavy metal ion in the water environment, thus its detection and treatment play a cardinal role in environmental assessment and treatment. In this study, ZnO quantum dots (ZnO-QDs) were successfully synthesized via the sol-gel method, with a narrow size distribution between 2 and 9 nm (average size of approximately 4.96 nm).

Cooperative Design of Magnesium Ions with Cations or Anions in 2D VS Electrodes.

Two-dimensional vanadium disulfide (VS) is widely used in electrode materials for aqueous batteries but still suffers from limited capacity and rate. We designed an interlayer reaction based on VS in synergy of Mg with conventional cations or anions (H, NH, OH, NO, F, Cl, and SO) (dividing these ions' workings into dual-ion batteries, Mg-anion co-(de)intercalation, and gap-filling). Relatively more suitable paired ions were recommended for each of the three mechanisms.

Anomaly detection in medical via multimodal foundation models.

Introduction: Recent advances in artificial intelligence have created opportunities for medical anomaly detection through multimodal learning frameworks. However, traditional systems struggle to capture the complex temporal and semantic relationships in clinical data, limiting generalization and interpretability in real-world settings.

Methods: To address these challenges, we propose a novel framework that integrates symbolic representations, a graph-based neural model (PathoGraph), and a knowledge-guided refinement strategy.

Diluent-Induced Liquid Crystalline Domain Ordering Synergistically Enhances Thermal Conductivity and Electrical Insulation of Polymers.

With the increasing demand for high-performance electrical equipment, particularly in power semiconductors, it is crucial to develop packaging materials with excellent insulation, thermal conductivity, and thermal stability. However, achieving simultaneous enhancement of the thermal conductivity and dielectric strength remains a significant challenge. In this work, a phenyl glycidyl ether diluent was introduced to induce ordered liquid crystalline epoxy films, yielding substantial electro-thermal improvements.

Enhanced biogeochemical remediation of Pb-contaminated loess MICP integrated with graphene nanomaterials.

This study explores the synergistic effects of microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) combined with graphene-based adsorptive materials, namely graphene (GR) and graphene oxide (GO), for the remediation of lead-contaminated loess. A series of systematic experiments were conducted, including unconfined compressive strength (UCS) testing, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure analysis, zeta potential measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, and microstructural modeling. The results revealed that MICP effectively improved soil strength and immobilized Pb through carbonate precipitation and microbial surface adsorption, reducing lead leaching concentrations by up to 39.

Ecological design of high-performance synthetic microbial communities: from theoretical foundations to functional optimization.

The complexity of natural microbial communities poses significant challenges for predictive manipulation, driving the emergence of Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs) as tractable models for functional optimization in environmental, agricultural, and biomedical applications. While SynComs provide enhanced controllability, their rational design faces persistent challenges in achieving both functional precision and ecological stability. Here, we present a theoretical and methodological framework for engineering SynComs through the strategic integration of ecological principles, evolutionary theory, and computational innovation.

Multi-omics evidence supporting the role of Halomonas enrichment contribution to high-salinity denitrification.

High-salinity wastewater poses a significant challenge for nitrogen removal becauase microbial communities must adapt to extreme osmotic stress while maintaining their functional efficiency. Marine bacteria, naturally adapted to saline environments, offer a potential solution through the rapid enrichment of salt-tolerant and halophilic species. This study comparatively evaluated activated sludge (AS) and marine sludge (MS) as inocula for high-salinity denitrification systems.

Aquatic fungal intrusion increases microbial risk in premise plumbing system: Novel insights into water quality, bacterial community and function of pathogens.

Fungi in drinking water pose a potential biohazard because treatment plants only partially remove them. The potential ecological impacts of viable fungi and fungal-derived organic matter entering premise plumbing systems remain uncertain. In this study, we established pipeline systems to examine the impact of fungi and fungal dissolved organic matter (DOM) on water quality, microbial stability, and function of pathogens.

Humidity-triggered sterilization mechanism of CuCeOx: Hydroxyl radical-mediated protein synthesis inhibition and energy depletion.

Bioaerosols are a major transmission route for respiratory infections. Metal oxide materials sterilize air via contact oxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Bacteria rely on autocatalytic network for survival, where a single node change can impact the entire network.

Durability performance of concrete incorporating carbonated recycled coarse aggregates: a review.

Carbonation of recycled coarse aggregates (RAs) has drawn significant attention in recent years. This study shows that most durability indicators of carbonated RAs concrete (cRAC) are lower than natural aggregate concrete, while compared to concrete with non-carbonated RAs, all durability indicators of cRAC are improved by 13-55% because of the densified microstructure after carbonation. Optimized carbonation methods (i.

Fully Triazine-Based Covalent Framework for Antibacterial Phototreatment with High Biosafety.

The application of antibacterial photocatalytic therapy remains a great challenge due to the limitations of photocatalytic efficiency and biosafety of photocatalysts. Herein, we report an organic semiconductor catalyst featuring a unique covalent triazine framework (CTF) structure, which is entirely composed of triazine-based rings. This catalyst exhibits the lowest forbidden bandgap, full spectral absorption range, and high biosafety, achieving a record-high antibacterial activity under visible light irradiation.

Innovative Development of Low Carbon Cementitious Materials Based on Magnesium Smelting Slag by the Response Surface Method: Chemical Activation, Hydration Characteristics and Application.

The swift expansion of the worldwide magnesium industry has resulted in substantial accumulation of magnesium slag (MS) as a byproduct of the magnesium metal smelting process, presenting a growing environmental hazard. To effectively address the issue of MS resource usage, the synergistic activation impact among MS, fly ash (FA), and desulfurized gypsum (DG) was examined utilizing response surface methodology (RSM). This study calculated the appropriate ratio of cementitious materials and investigated the hydration characteristics of magnesium-slag-based low-carbon cementitious materials (MSLCM).

Strain-Induced Intrinsic Constraint Boosts Slow-Thermalization and Fast-Transfer of Carriers in FAPbI Quantum Dot Solar Cells.

Formamidinium lead iodide quantum dots (FAPbI QDs) are extensively utilized in photovoltaic applications due to their superior optoelectronic characteristics. Nonetheless, the weak ionic bonds within their soft lattice structure lead to structural deformation, which causes a disordered charge distribution of FAPbI QDs. Stress engineering not only can mitigate the inherent soft lattice by reinforcing ion bonds but also can promote electron localization, thus enhancing charge carrier transfer.

Experimental study on the influence of recycled aggregate substitution rate on the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete under sulfate erosion conditions.

To investigate the degradation of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) under sulfate attack, four groups of RAC cubic specimens (168 in total) were prepared. The influence of recycled coarse aggregate (RA) replacement ratio on the mechanical properties of RAC under sulfate exposure was analyzed. Strength degradation at different exposure durations was assessed, and microstructural changes were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Integrated fixed-film activated sludge partial nitritation-anammox (IFAS-PN/A) for landfill leachate treatment rapidly established through the thermal inactivation of nitrite oxidoreductase.

Partial nitritation-anammox (PN/A) is a promising process for treating landfill leachate. Nevertheless, its application was hindered by challenges such as long start-up times for partial nitritation and instability in nitrite supply. In this study, an integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) PN/A system, which was rapidly built-up (2 days) through thermal treatment, was adopted to treat mature landfill leachate.