Oxide Systems Research Articles

Polyaniline prepared by Fe3O4 catalysed eco-friendly synthesis as electrocatalyst for efficient water electrolysis

Preparing cost-effective and highly active catalysts for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction is crucial for developing hydrogen-based technologies. Hence, four conductive polyanilines, prepared by the environmentally-friendly approach using Fe3O4 nanoparticles/H2O2 as the catalyst/main oxidant system (PANI/Fe3O4), were investi¬gated for the first time as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media (0.1 M H2SO4) by using voltammetry and chronoamperometry. PANI/Fe3O4 electrodes exhibited Tafel slope values in the -171 to -246 mV dec-1 range depending on the synthesis conditions ‒ Fe3O4/aniline mass ratio and polymerization time. The sample PANI/Fe3O4-II(3) prepared with shorter reaction time and higher Fe3O4/aniline mass ratio showed the best electrocatalytic behaviour reflected in the lowest onset potential (-0.286 V), the lowest overpotential to reach a current density of -10 mA cm-2, the highest current density, the lowest HER activation energy (10 kJ mol-1), and the lowest charge-transfer resistance (5.3 Ω) under HER conditions. Materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photo¬electron spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and differences in their electrocatalytic HER performance were explained by differences in their content of Fe3O4, surface and electrical properties. Moreover, the possibility of using PANI/Fe3O4-II(3) as HER electrocatalyst in a wider range of pH (i.e. in alkaline media as well) and as a bifunc¬tional electrocatalyst, i.e., for oxygen evolution reaction beside HER, was also examined.

Fabrication and Potential Characterization of Silver‐Doped Zinc Oxide Glucose Biosensor

This work is devoted to studying and manufacturing a highly sensitive nonenzymatic glucose biosensing system of metal oxides via the sol–gel technique. The X‐ray diffraction patterns of all the prepared samples confirm that the samples present hexagonal crystal lattice structures of ZnO and Ag–ZnO nanoparticles. Ultraviolet (UV) analysis of all the samples is carried out to evaluate the absorption of silver in the UV region for electrical and chronoamperometric analysis. The transmittance of all the samples is observed, and the maximum transmittance is 11% for 4% AgZnO. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveal the functional group stretching and vibration of the particles at different wavelength ranges. Scanning electron microsocpy analysis reveals the grain size and morphology of the samples, which decrease with increasing doping agent. Chronoamperometric analysis of all the samples reveals that the value increases with time for the 4% doped sample. The sensing response is also observed and is enhanced with increasing temperature for the 4% doped sample. The sensing response of the samples coated with carbon fiber electrodes is assessed from −0.2 to +0.5 V at a scan rate of 50 mV s−1.

Editorial for the Special Issue “Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Antioxidant Defense System in Psychiatric Disorders” in Antioxidants (2022–2023)

A growing body of evidence indicates that many genetic and environmental factors associated with psychiatric disorders affect redox homeostasis, mitochondria and energy metabolism, and neuroendocrine and immune systems in a complex synergistic manner, leading to oxidative stress and inflammation [...]

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 as targets for neuroprotection : from ferroptosis to Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor paralysis, tremor,and cognitive impairment. Risk factors such as brain hypoxia caused by aging and abnormal expression of HIF-1α areconsidered to be key to the development of PD, including α-synuclein accumulation and ferroptosis. However, therelationship between HIF-1α signaling and ferroptosis in PD has not been elucidated. The stable expression of HIF-1αinhibits the pathological development of PD. Aging aggravates PD pathology by promoting α-synuclein accumulationand oxidative stress. The literature on lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, iron metabolism and other key factors in Parkinson'sdisease in recent years was reviewed through a variety of literature search channels, such as PubMed and Elsevier. HIF-1α mediated ferroptosis through oxidative stress and GPX4-GSH system. HIF-1α mediates ferroptosisthrough Keap1-Nrf2-ARE, Grx3 and Grx4. HIF-1α mediates ferroptosis through iron metabolism. This article reviews the oxygen-dependent regulatory mechanism of HIF-1α and its role in cerebralhypoxia homeostasis. Studies in the past decade have shown that Hif-1α mediated ferroptosis is important in PD.HIF-1α has a dual role, depending on the degree of cellular hypoxia and the environment. The equilibrium complexityneeds to be explained, and the role of ferroptosis needs to be investigated. The literature shows that the stabilizationof HIF-1α with PHD inhibitors and the combination of antioxidants and iron chelators are potential therapeuticdirections. In the future, the optimal use time and dose of inhibitors should be studied to improve the efficacy.

Apnea of Prematurity and Oxidative Stress: Potential Implications

Apnea of prematurity (AOP) occurs in 85% of neonates ≤34 weeks of gestational age. AOP is frequently associated with intermittent hypoxia (IH). This narrative review reports on the putative relationship of AOP with IH and the resulting oxidative stress (OS). Preterm infants are susceptible to OS due to an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant systems with the excessive free radical load leading to serious morbidities that may include retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and neurodevelopmental delay. Current therapeutic approaches to minimize the adverse effects of AOP and optimize oxygen delivery include noninvasive ventilation and xanthine inhibitor therapy, but these approaches have only been partially successful in decreasing the incidence of AOP and associated morbidities.

Tunable Anomalous Hall Effect in Broken–Symmetry Integrated Perovskite/Brownmillerite Superlattices

AbstractThe anomalous Hall effect (AHE), a hallmark of broken time–reversal symmetry, serves as a powerful tool for probing magnetic states and elucidating complex spin–orbit interactions in transition metal oxides. It is reported here that the emergence of AHE signals and interfacial ferromagnetism is directly observed from broken–symmetry integrated perovskite PrCoO3 and brownmillerite SrCoO2.5 superlattices. Through the strategic combinations of these two complex oxide systems onto the substrates with tailored lattice parameters, squared AHE hysteresis loops with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are found under compressive strain in the optimized superlattices, and the magnitude of the loops is more than three times greater compared to those under tensile strain. The manifestation of AHE in these superlattices is attributed to an extrinsic mechanism involving spin–polarized scattering of charge carriers, with the mismatched perovskite/brownmillerite interfaces acting as the primary scattering centers. These discoveries suggest a promising avenue for the development of artificial materials with controllable AHE properties.

Mitochondrial DNA Alterations in Glioblastoma and Current Therapeutic Targets.

Metabolic reprogramming within tumor cells involves a shift towards either glycolysis or mitochondrial respiration, depending on the stage of tumor progression. Consequently, irreversible dysfunction of the mitochondria is considered a crucial mechanism driving the progression mechanism. While numerous mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been identified across various tumor types, including glioblastoma, many studies have been limited in the scope, focusing on small segments of mtDNA or utilizing sequencing methods with restricted sensitivity. As a result, several potentially significant mtDNA mutations may have been underestimated, along with their heteroplasmic states, which play a crucial role in determining the phenotypic impact of mtDNA mutation. Although both somatic and germline mtDNA mutations have been observed in different tumor types, research on the mtDNA mutations linked to glioblastoma remains scarce. The mitochondrial genome encodes thirteen protein-coding genes that are essential for the proper functioning of respiratory complex chains. Alterations in mitochondrial function manifest at various levels, including structural and functional changes, impacting mitogenic, hemodynamic, bioenergetic, and apoptotic signaling pathways. These alterations often signify a reduced efficiency of the oxidative phosphorylation system and energy production in tumor cells. As the crucial role of mitochondrial dysfunction in glioma development grows, mitochondria have emerged as promising targets for therapy aimed at overcoming chemoresistance and eliminating cancer cells. This brief review outlines the association between mtDNA alteration and glioblastoma, as well as the current advancements in therapeutic strategies targeting mtDNA alterations.

NaHS protects brain, heart, and lungs as remote organs from renal ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative stress in male and female rats

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is frequently observed in hospitalized patients in intensive care units, often caused by renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). IRI disrupts the function of various ‘remote organs’ such as the lungs, pancreas, intestine, liver, heart, and brain through inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, leukocyte infiltration, and increased urea and creatinine levels. Gender differences in renal IRI-induced injury are noted. H2S, an endogenous gaseous modulator, shows potential in vasodilation, bronchodilation, and hypotension and can regulate apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, metabolism, and oxidative stress. This study aims to investigate the protective effects of NaHS on brain, heart, and lung injuries following renal IR and to assess the oxidative system status as a potential mechanism in male and female rats.Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 6): Control/Saline, Sham/Saline, IR/Saline, and IR/NaHS in both sexes. Forty-five minutes of bilateral renal ischemia followed by 24-hour reperfusion was induced in the IR groups. NaHS (100µM/Kg, IP) was administered 10 min before clamp release in treated groups. BUN, SCr, BUN/SCr, albuminuria, histopathology, and oxidative stress biomarkers of the brain, heart, and lung were assessed as remote organs. IR increased serum markers of renal function, albuminuria, malondialdehyde levels, and tissue injury scores while reducing nitrite levels and superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. NaHS treatment reversed the adverse effects of IR in remote organs in both sexes, although it showed limited improvement in renal function. Our findings demonstrate that NaHS has a beneficial effect on remote organ injury following renal IR by mitigating oxidative stress, with noted tissue-specific and gender-specific differences in response. These findings suggest NaHS as a potential therapeutic agent for mitigating multi-organ injury after renal IR, with effects varying by tissue and gender.

Decolorization of Acid Red 337 dye with hydroxyl and sulfate radical based advanced oxidation processes using different iron Catalyst: An experimental and statistical Investigation

The removal efficiencies of Acid Red 337 dye were investigated by combining advanced oxidation processes based on OH and SO4− radicals. The photocatalytic oxidation processes were carried out at the natural pH (5.4) and acidic pH (3.0) values of the dye solution. In the experiments, iron (II) sulfate (Fe2+) and potassium ferrioxalate (FeOx) were used as catalysts, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) were used as oxidants to compare dye removal efficiency and to determine the optimum doses. This comparison provided the opportunity to identify suitable catalysts and oxidants for dye removal. Furthermore, time-based comparisons were conducted from 2 to 10 min using the optimum catalyst doses. It was obtained that PMS was more effective as an oxidant in the presence of both iron catalysts for colour removal. The colour removal efficiency of 98.2 % was achieved in the PMS/Fe2+/UV process with doses of 1 mM PMS and 0.1 mM Fe2+ at pH 5.4 and an irradiation time of 10 min. In experiments using light-sensitive ferrioxalate (FeOx), colour removal was achieved in the PMS/FeOx/UV process with an efficiency of 97.8 %. Additionally, an artificial neural networks (ANNs) model effectively optimized the oxidation parameters, with predicted values closely matching the experimental data. The ANNs model yielded excellent statistical performance, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.0317, 0.0223 and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9690 and 0.9854 for UV/Fe2+/H2O2-UV/FeOx/H2O2 and UV/Fe2+/PMS-UV/FeOx/PMS oxidation systems respectively.

Cytonuclear evolution in fully heterotrophic plants: lifestyles and gene function determine scenarios

BackgroundEvidence shows that full mycoheterotrophs and holoparasites often have reduced plastid genomes with rampant gene loss, elevated substitution rates, and deeply altered to conventional evolution in mitochondrial genomes, but mechanisms of cytonuclear evolution is unknown. Endoparasitic Sapria himalayana and mycoheterotrophic Gastrodia and Platanthera guangdongensis represent different heterotrophic types, providing a basis to illustrate cytonuclear evolution. Here, we focused on nuclear-encoded plastid / mitochondrial (N-pt / mt) -targeting protein complexes, including caseinolytic protease (ClpP), ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo), oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS), DNA recombination, replication, and repair (DNA-RRR) system, and pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, to identify evolutionary drivers for cytonuclear interaction.ResultsThe severity of gene loss of N-pt PPR and pt-RRR genes was positively associated with increased degree of heterotrophy in full mycoheterotrophs and S. himalayana, while N-mt PPR and mt-RRR genes were retained. Substitution rates of organellar and nuclear genes encoding N-pt/mt subunits in protein complexes were evaluated, cytonuclear coevolution was identified in S. himalayana, whereas disproportionate rates of evolution were observed in the OXPHOS complex in full mycoheterotrophs, only slight accelerations in substitution rates were identified in N-mt genes of full mycoheterotrophs.ConclusionsNuclear compensatory evolution was identified in protein complexes encoded by plastid and N-pt genes. Selection shaping codon preferences, functional constraint, mt-RRR gene regulation, and post-transcriptional regulation of PPR genes all facilitate mito-nuclear evolution. Our study enriches our understanding of genomic coevolution scenarios in fully heterotrophic plants.

High-efficiency and stable Z-scheme heterojunction of Co9S8 anchored by g-C3N4 for peroxymonosulfate activation

Photocatalytic technology and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) based advanced oxidation technology have been proven to be simple and effective strategies for recalcitrant organic pollutants degradation. In this work, we designed and prepared a coupled photocatalytic and advanced oxidation system for sulfamethazine (SMR) antibiotics degradation. Firstly, a series of Z-scheme Co9S8/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts are prepared by a simple two-step method and further work as PMS activators. The prepared Co9S8/g-C3N4 photocatalysts exhibit a great improvement in electron-hole pairs migration and visible-light response due to heterojunction formation. In addition, the g-C3N4 acts as a substrate to anchor the Co9S8 nanoparticle, which suppresses the Co9S8 leaching and prevents the Co9S8 oxidation. Consequently, the Co9S8/g-C3N4/PMS system displayed an improved SMR degradation ability (93 % for Co9S8/g-C3N4/PMS vs. 86 % for Co9S8/g-C3N4). After the fourth cyclic degradation experiment, the Co9S8/g-C3N4/PMS system still maintained a comparatively high degradation rate. Considering its good properties and better degradation performance, we propose that the synergistic effect of photocatalytic technology and PMS possess a promising prospect for application in environmental treatment.

Nitric Oxide-Dependent Regulation of Oxygen-Related Processes in a Rat Model of Lead Neurotoxicity: Influence of the Hypoxia Resistance Factor

Background/Aims: Lead exposure is known to induce oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in modulating oxidative stress, with L-arginine as a precursor of NO and Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) as an inhibitor of NO synthase, an enzyme that catalyses the production of nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine. Methods: This study investigated the differential effects of L-arginine and L-NNA on markers of oxidative stress and biochemical changes in brain tissue from rats with different levels of resistance to hypoxia exposed to lead nitrate. Rats with either low or high resistance to hypoxia were exposed to lead nitrate (oral 3.6 mg lead nitrate/kg b.w. per day for 30 days) and treated with L-arginine (600 mg/kg b.w., i.p., 30 min before and after exposure to lead nitrate) or L-NNA (35 mg/kg b.w., i.p., 30 min before and after exposure to lead nitrate). Brain tissue samples were analysed for lipid peroxidation, oxidative modification of proteins, and activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and peroxidase, and total antioxidant status (TAS). We also examined the biomarkers of biochemical pathways involving the activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDH). In addition, the trend observed was supported by assessments of the acetylcholine levels and acetylcholinesterase activity (ACh-AChE system) in brain tissue. Results: In rats with low resistance to hypoxia, the L-arginine treatment significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and oxidative protein modification but increased antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting a protective effect against lead-induced oxidative stress. Conversely, in rats with high resistance to hypoxia, L-NNA had a protective effect, reducing lead-induced oxidative damage and decreasing lipid peroxidation, whereas L-arginine exacerbated oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defences. These findings were supported by corresponding changes in the acetylcholine-acetylcholinesterase system, reflecting the observed patterns of lead-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. The study shows that L-arginine exerts a protective effect by reducing lead-induced oxidative damage via an improvement in TAS. Our study shows that lead nitrate exposure significantly increases ala-nine and aspartate aminotransferase activity in brain tissue, with L-arginine exacerbating and L-NNA reversing this effect. The lead nitrate exposure also affected the activities of SDH and KGDH, which are important for cellular energy production and hypoxia resistance, with L-arginine altering SDH activity depending on the level of resistance and L-NNA enhancing both SDH and KGDH activities. These trends were further validated by alterations in the ACh-AChE system, highlighting the differential role of NO-dependent mechanisms in modulating lead-induced neurotoxicity based on hypoxia resistance. Conclusion: These findings suggest potential targeted therapeutic strategies based on the oxidative stress profile and highlight the potential of nitric oxide system modulators in counteracting lead-induced biochemical alterations and the dynamics of the ACh-AChE system depending on the individual physiological reactivity of organisms.

Effect of catalyst and oxidant concentrations in a TEMPO oxidation system on the production of cellulose nanofibers.

In traditional TEMPO oxidation systems, the high cost of TEMPO catalysts has been a significant barrier to the industrialization of oxidized CNF. From an economic perspective, presenting the characteristics of various CNFs produced with the oxidation systems with reduced catalyst usage could facilitate the industrial application of CNF across a wide range of fields. In this study, it was demonstrated that reducing the amount of TEMPO catalyst used (from 0.1 to 0.05 mmol g-1) in a conventional oxidation system increased the carboxylate content by approximately 6.3%. Furthermore, the activation of hydroxyl amine TEMPO, which is generated after the oxidation reaction of cellulose, was enhanced by adjusting the dosage of the inexpensive oxidant NaClO, leading to a 20% improvement in carboxylate content. This suggests that controlling the amount of NaClO as an oxidant can be a key parameter in adjusting the dosage of TEMPO to achieve the targeted degree of surface substitution. Results from the dispersion stability, UV-transmittance, and morphological properties of TEMPO-oxidized CNF using microfluidizing treatment showed that high carboxylate content plays a crucial role in producing high-purity CNF suspensions, which are small, uniform, and free from microfibers. Additionally, by varying the number of mechanical treatments applied to the oxidized cellulose, various types of CNF suspensions with different mean widths were obtained. We expect that these findings offer meaningful insights to end-users seeking a breakthrough in the performance limitations of final applications using cellulose nanomaterials.

Degradation Polysaccharides from Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua How: Unveiling Bioactive Properties of Degraded Compounds.

This study reported an effective method for the degradation of Chieh-qua (Benincasa hispida var. Chieh-qua How) polysaccharides (BHCP) by a hydrogen peroxide-ascorbic acid oxidation (H2O2-VC) system. The degradation conditions were optimized using a Box-Behnken response surface design as concentration of H2O2-VC 19.5 mM, degradation temperature 46.4 ºC and degradation time 1.0 h. The average molecular weight was decreased and total sugar content was raised of the degraded polysaccharide (DBHCP). Two refined degraded polysaccharides (DBHCP-1, DBHCP-2) were purified and prepared, and their structures were analyzed by chemical and spectral analysis. The in vitro experiments showed that degraded polysaccharides (DBHCP and DBHCP-1) have better antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activity than natural polysaccharide BHCP. These findings support the potential application of Chieh-qua polysaccharides in the food and medical industries.

Bis(2-butoxyethyl) Ether-Promoted O2-Mediated Oxidation of Alkyl Aromatics to Ketones under Clean Conditions.

Conventional oxidation processes for alkyl aromatics to ketones employ oxidants that tend to generate harmful byproducts and cause severe equipment corrosion, ultimately creating critical environmental problems. Thus, in this study, a practical, efficient, and green method was developed for the synthesis of aromatic ketones by applying a bis(2-butoxyethyl) ether/O2 system under external catalyst-, additive-, and base-free conditions. This O2-mediated oxidation system can tolerate various functional groups and is suitable for large-scale synthesis. Diverse target ketones were prepared under clean conditions in moderate-to-high yields. The late-stage functionalization of drug derivatives with the corresponding ketones and one-pot sequential chemical conversions to ketone downstream products further broaden the application prospects of this approach.

A generalized master sintering curve based on nucleation-limited densification kinetics

The master sintering curve was developed assuming diffusion-limited coarsening and densification kinetics. A key limitation of the model is that it is only valid for a single set of initial conditions, i.e., grain size and density. Recent in situ sintering experiments suggest that densification follows nucleation-limited kinetics. A model for sintering can be formulated based on a thermodynamic energy balance between interfacial energy dissipation and work required to overcome the nucleation barrier. A feature of this model is that it inherently relates coarsening and densification, providing a basis for formulating a generalized master sintering curve that is not sensitive to initial conditions. This paper develops the model and demonstrates its practical application to several oxide systems, including ZnO, Al2O3, and Y2O3-doped tetragonal ZrO2.

Synthesis and electrochemical performance of novel high-entropy spinel oxide (FeCoMgCrLi)3O4

High-entropy oxides (HEOs) are attractive options for anode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of their impressive specific capacity and structural stability. The multi-element composition of HEOs endows them with diverse physicochemical properties. However, the role of different elements in the energy storage mechanism remains unclear, and the limited number of successfully synthesized high-entropy oxide systems currently hinders further development. Therefore, developing HEOs with different compositions and studying their electrochemical properties is of great significance. Using the glycine-nitrate solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method, we produced two new High Entropy Oxides (HEOs), namely (FeCoMgCr)3O4 and (FeCoMgCrLi)3O4, and assessed their electrochemical performance as LIBs anode materials. The studies indicate that the inclusion of lithium significantly enhances the lithium storing capabilities of the material system. Specifically, after undergoing two hundred cycles at a current density of 200 mA/g, (FeCoMgCrLi)3O4 exhibited a specific capacity of 658 mAh/g, which was considerably greater than the specific capacity of (FeCoMgCr)3O4, which was 306.9 mAh/g. This work enriches the spinel-type high-entropy oxide systems and proposes a new design strategy for HEOs as LIBs anode materials.

Fabrication of boron modified bi-functional air diffusion electrode for ciprofloxacin degradation: In-situ H2O2 generation and self-activation

In order to improve H2O2 in-situ generation in electrochemical system, a boron (B) modified air diffusion electrode (B@ADE) was fabricated in the present study. Carbon black (CB) doped by B was deposited on ADE surface as catalytic layer. Performance of B@ADE with different B/C mass ratios has been investigated and 0.3 was identified as the optimal one·H2O2 yield can be achieved 204.85 mg L-1 within 45 min at 0.3-B@ADE, which was 1.51 times for that of ADE. Meanwhile, H2O2 self-activation on B@ADE surface was observed and effects of different operating parameters on •OH formation have been analyzed. XPS analyzation demonstrated that BC2O, BC2O and C=O/O-C=O were related to H2O2 generation. DFT calculation revealed that BCO2 was benefit for O2 adsorption, while BC2O promoted *OOH desorption with lower free energy barriers for H2O2 and •OH generation. Quenching experiments for ciprofloxacin (CIP) demonstrated that •OH, O2•- and 1O2 were co-existed in the system with their contribution quantified. Four possible degradation pathways were proposed through active sites identification by DFT calculation and intermediates detection by HPLC-MS/MS. Bio-toxicity analyzation results showed that the toxicity of most intermediates was lowered than CIP. These results proved that electrochemical oxidation system with B@ADE enhanced in-situ H2O2 generation and self-activation, with great potential for practical application.

Synergistic management of nitrogen contamination in overflow wastewater and algal proliferation in lake receiving wastewater based on electrochemical oxidation process

Urban lake eutrophication, largely driven by overflow wastewater, plays a pivotal role in precipitating algal proliferation due to heightened nitrogen levels in aquatic ecosystem. In addressing this question, this study investigated the chloride-mediated electrochemical oxidation system as a promising solution for controlling nitrogen contamination in overflow wastewater and inhibiting algal proliferation in wastewater-receiving urban lakes, and also evaluated the influence of essential operational parameters on the performance of system. The results indicated that, under the environmental conditions set by this experiment, the removal efficiency ranges of ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen were 14.91 % - 100 % and 13.98 % - 99.62 %, respectively; meanwhile, the maximum algae inhibition rate could reach 100 % at a capacity ratio of 0.01. Response Surface Method analysis highlighted current density as the preeminent factor in nitrogen removal and algae inhibition, surpassing the influence of initial chloride ion and nitrogen concentrations within the system. Notably, an excessive current density could inadvertently lead to the nitrate nitrogen accumulation (up to 29 %), thereby diminishing the total nitrogen removal efficiency, particularly in low nitrogen-concentrated overflow wastewater scenarios. With respect to algae inhibition, a direct correlation was identified between higher residual total chlorine concentrations in the receiving lake and increased algae inhibition rates (R = 0.90, P < 0.05), and the residual total chlorine was found to exert pronounced inhibition on cyanobacteria compared to other algal forms. However, caution was advised regarding potential algal growth stimulation if the initial received total chlorine concentration in the urban lake receiving wastewater below 0.5 mg/L. These findings not only affirm the feasibility of this synergistic approach but also elucidate critical aspects for process optimization and control.

Sodium butyrate alleviates T-2 toxin-induced liver toxicity and renal toxicity in quails by modulating oxidative stress-related Nrf2 signaling pathway, inflammation, and CYP450 enzyme system.

T-2 toxin is a member of class A aspergilloides toxins, one of the most prevalent mycotoxins that contaminate feed and food. Direct ingestion of animals or feed contaminated by T-2 toxin can cause various animal diseases. Butyrate is an organic fatty acid featuring a four-carbon chain, which is commonly found in the form of sodium butyrate (NaB). NaB has several biological functions and pharmacological effects. However, the role of sodium butyrate in alleviating T-2 toxin-induced hepatorenal toxicity has not been explored. In this study, 240 juvenile quails were evenly assigned into 4 groups. The experimental setup comprised four groups: The control group received a standard diet; the toxin group received a diet containing 0.9mg/kg T-2 toxin; the butyrate group received a diet containing 0.5g/kg NaB; and the T-2 treatment group received a diet containing both 0.9mg/kg T-2 toxin and 0.5g/kg NaB. We evaluated the histopathological changes in the kidney and liver on Days 14 and 28 and explored the molecular mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammation, and expression of nuclear xenobiotic receptors (NXRs). Our results showed that T-2 toxin exposure-induced inflammation in the liver and kidney by activating the oxidative stress pathway and modulating expression of NXRs to regulate related CYP450 isoforms, ultimately leading to histopathological injury in the liver and kidney, whereas sodium butyrate ameliorated this injury. These results offer novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of sodium butyrate in mitigating T-2 toxin-induced hepatorenal injury in juvenile quails. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The mechanisms of T-2 toxin toxicity have been well described in experimental animals, but studies in birds are limited. With the development of society, the market scale of quails farming has been expanding, and the value of quails meat and eggs is increasing; there is an urgent need to clarify the harm of T-2 toxin to quails and its mechanism.