Remedy For Treatment Research Articles

Isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies of adsorption of copper (II) and nickel (II) ions using low‐cost treated orange peel from aqueous solutions

AbstractThe aim of this study was to utilize processed orange peel waste (TOP) as an adsorbent to remove Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions from aqueous solutions. As a result of systematic experiments to determine the optimal conditions, it was determined that the most suitable conditions for the effective removal of Cu(II) ions were 400 mg/L initial concentration, 100 min contact time, 0.2 g adsorbent dosage, and a solution pH of 5.92. Similarly, the optimal conditions for the removal of Ni(II) ions were determined by systematic experiments to be 300 mg/L initial concentration, 0.2 g adsorbent dosage, 100 min contact time, and a solution pH of 6.19. The systematic experiments also included further investigation of the surface properties of TOP, and promising results were obtained by tests at three different temperatures (298, 308, and 318 K). The adsorption capacities for Cu(II), Ni(II), and Ni(II) were determined as 72.99, 75.18, and 76.33 mg/g, 42.55, 44.44, and 46.29 mg/g, respectively. Further analysis of the adsorption kinetics revealed that the pseudo‐second‐order model accurately represented the experimental data for both ions. Thermodynamic investigations provided strong evidence that the adsorption process of these noble metal ions on TOP is endothermic and spontaneous. The results of this study emphasize that TOP, with its low cost, easy‐to‐use nature, and high adsorption capacity, can be considered a long‐term solution for environmental remediation and water treatment in sustainable engineering applications.

Reduction of Trinitrobenzene to Amines with Molecular Hydrogen over Chrysocolla-like Catalysts

The cheap non-noble Cu–SiO2-based nanocatalysts are under intensive study in different reactions resulting in useful chemicals, yet their application in environment protection is poorly studied. In the present work, the influence of the Cu loading (3–15 wt%) on the catalytic behavior of Cu/SiO2 materials was first precisely studied in the hydrogenation of hazardous trinitrobenzene to valuable aromatic amines with molecular hydrogen. The catalysts have been synthesized by the method of deposition–precipitation using urea. The catalyst characterization by XRD, TPR-H2, SEM, TEM, and N2 adsorption methods confirmed that they include nanoparticles of the micro-mesoporous chrysocolla-like phase supported in the mesopores of a commercial SiO2 carrier, as well as revealed formation of the highly dispersed CuO phase in the sample with the highest Cu loading. Variation in reaction conditions showed the optimal ones (170 °C, 1.3 MPa H2) resulting in complete trinitrobenzene conversion with a triaminobenzene yield of 65% for the catalyst with a 15% Cu loading, and the best yield of 82% was obtained over the catalyst with 10% Cu calcined at 600 °C. The results show the potential of Cu phyllosilicate-based catalysts for the utilization of trinitroaromatic compounds via catalytic hydrogenation to amines and their possible applications in a remediation treatment system.

Efficient removal of aqueous ciprofloxacin antibiotic by ZnO/CuO-bentonite composites synthesized via carbon-bed pyrolysis of bentonite and metal co-precipitation

Antibiotics are of emerging concern due to their widespread use, lack of adequate treatment, and for their potential to threaten human health and the environment. Here, a facile fabrication approach for synthesizing ZnO/CuO-bentonite composites was investigated via carbon-bed pyrolysis of bentonite followed by ZnO/CuO co-precipitation. Sorbents were synthesized using a range of bentonite pyrolysis temperatures, metal oxide contents, and ZnO:CuO mass ratios. The ZnO/CuO-bentonite composites exhibited diverse functional groups, excellent mesoporosity, and high specific surface area (135.0 m2 g−1, four times that of pyrolyzed bentonite-only control). Ciprofloxacin removal was maximized at a bentonite pyrolysis temperature of 450 °C, a total metal oxide content of 25 %, and a Zn/Cu ratio between 95:5 and 93:7, and this material had an observed experimental CIP adsorption of 451 mg g−1 and a calculated maximum adsorption capacity of 1249.3 mg g−1. This excellent CIP sorption ability was attributed to its abundant surface active sites and multiple sorption mechanisms, including hydrogen-bond interaction, ion exchange, and electrostatic interaction. These results illustrate that ZnO/CuO-bentonite composite sorbents have excellent potential for use in environmental remediation and water treatment applications.

Bioengineered Nickel Oxide Nanofabrication for Energy Storage Systems, Degradation of Refractory Water Toxicity, and Antibacterial Study

AbstractNickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles were synthesized using a green method involving Pterolobium hexapetalum flower extract as the reducing agent. Synthesized nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) were thoroughly characterized using X‐ray diffraction, UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The XRD analysis confirmed the pure formation of NiO NPs. TEM and SEM images revealed the size, shape, and surface morphology of the nanoparticles. BET analysis indicated a high surface area, making these nanoparticles suitable for various applications. The NiO NPs were further investigated for their potential in supercapacitor applications, demonstrating excellent electrochemical performance. NiO@rGO electrode with graphene proportion showed a maximum specific capacity of 1266 Fg−1 at 1 Ag−1. Moreover, following the 3000‐cycle assessment, the specific retention of 98.2% confirmed that the electrode had high cyclic stability. Additionally, their effectiveness in dye degradation was evaluated, showing promising results in removing organic dyes from wastewater. The antibacterial activity of the NiO nanoparticles was also assessed, indicating significant inhibition against various bacterial strains. These multifaceted studies suggest that NiO NPs synthesized from plant extract hold great promise for applications in energy storage, environmental remediation, and antimicrobial treatments.

Higher-valent nickel oxides with enhanced two-electron oxygen reduction in advanced electro-Fenton system for organic pollutants degradation

A higher-valent NiO catalyst, enriched with trivalent Ni (Ni3+) and exposed {111} crystal facets, was developed to enhance selective two-electron oxygen reduction (2e– ORR) for electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, leading to highly efficient organic pollutant removal. The catalyst was synthesized via a precipitation method, incorporating crystal facet and cation vacancy engineering to expose active sites. It demonstrated 96 % selectivity and 59 A g−1 mass activity, attributed to weakened *OOH binding, as shown by density functional theory. Integrated into an advanced electro-Fenton (EF) flow cell, the system achieved 100 % removal of 200 mL of 50 ppm bisphenol A (BPA) in 4 minutes, with 93 % total organic carbon removal within 2 hours. This study provides a scalable and efficient solution for decentralized environmental remediation and wastewater treatment.

COPD-Like Phenotypes in TBC-Treated Mice Can be Effectively Alleviated via Estrogen Supplement.

Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) isocyanurate (TBC), recognized as an endocrine disruptor, can cause inflammatory injury to the lung tissue of mice. To investigate the specific respiratory effects of TBC, male C57BL/6J mice were administered a daily dose of 20 mg/kg of TBC over 14 days. Postexposure, these mice developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-like symptoms characterized by inflammatory lung damage and functional impairment. In light of the antiestrogenic properties of TBC, we administrated estradiol (E2) to investigate its potential protective role against TBC-induced damage and found that the coexposure of E2 notably mitigated the COPD-like phenotypes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TBC exposure reduced estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression and increased nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) expression, while E2 treatment rebalanced the expression levels of ERα and NF-κB to their normative states. Our findings indicate that TBC, as an antiestrogenic agent, may contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD through an ERα-mediated inflammatory pathway, but that E2 treatment could reverse the impairment, providing a potentially promising remedial treatment. Given the lung status as a primary target of air pollution, the presence of antiestrogenic compounds like TBC in atmospheric particulates presents a significant concern, with the potential to exacerbate respiratory conditions such as COPD and pneumonia.

Groundwater Quality and Potential Health Risk Assessment for Potable Use

The Ramganga River basin, comprising three rivers, the Dhela, Dhandi, and Ramganga, plays a vital role in groundwater recharge, sustaining numerous industries, urban areas, and rural communities reliant on these rivers for daily activities. The study’s primary purpose was to analyze the groundwater quality in the context of potability, irrigation, and health risks to the local inhabitants of the Ramganga River basin. In 2021–2022, 52 samples (26 × 2) were collected from 13 locations in two different seasons, i.e., pre-monsoon and post-monsoon, and 20 physico-chemical and heavy metal and metalloids were analyzed using the standard protocols. The result shows that heavy metal and metalloids and metalloid concentrations of Zn (0.309–1.787 and 0.613–1.633); Fe (0.290–0.965 and 0.253–1.720), Cd (0.001–0.002 and 0.001–0.002); As (0.001–0.002 and 0.001–0.002), Cr (0.009–0.027 and 0.011–0.029), and Pb (−0.001–0.010 and 0.00–0.010) values in mg/L are present in both seasons. The groundwater quality index (GWQI), heavy metal pollution Index (HPI), and heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) were used to assess the water quality and metal pollution in the basin area. As per GWQI values, water quality lies from excellent water quality (41.639 and 43.091) to good water quality (56.326 and 53.902); as per HPI values, it shows good (29.51 and 30.03) to poor quality (60.26 and 59.75) and HEI values show the low-level contamination (1.03–2.57 and 1.13–3.37) of heavy metal and metalloids in both seasons. According to the potential health risk assessment, infants show low risk in pre-monsoon and low risk to medium post-monsoon, while children and adults show low risk to high risk in both seasons. From the health risk perspective, it shows that children and adults have more concerns about non-carcinogenic effects, so adequate remedial measures and treatment are required to avoid the groundwater quality of the Ramganga River basin.

Advanced Processes in Water Treatment: Synergistic Effects of Hydrodynamic Cavitation and Cold Plasma on Rhodamine B Dye Degradation

The increasing pollution of water bodies, due to the constant release of highly toxic and non-biodegradable organic pollutants, requires innovative solutions for environmental remediation and wastewater treatment. In this study, the effectiveness of different Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for the purification of water contaminated with Rhodamine B (RhB) dye at a concentration of 5 mg/L were investigated and compared. Using the classical ozonation strategy as a benchmark treatment, the research showed over 99% degradation of RhB within 4 min in a laboratory-scale batch setup with a capacity of 0.2 L. In contrast, a “chemical-free” process exploiting ultrasound (US) technology achieved a 72% degradation rate within 60 min. Further experiments were conducted using a pilot-scale rotor-stator hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) reactor on a 15 L solution leading to 33% of RhB removal in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at 75 mg/L. However, the use of an innovative cavitational reactor, which hybridizes HC with cold plasma, showed remarkable efficiency and achieved 97% degradation of RhB in just 5 min when treating a 5 L solution at an inlet pressure of 20 bar in a loop configuration. In addition, a degradation rate of 58% was observed in a flow-through configuration, emphasising the robustness and scalability of the HC/electrical discharge (ED) plasma technology. These results underline the potential of hybrid HC/ED plasma technology as an intensified and scalable process for the purification of water, as it offers a catalyst- and oxidant-free protocol.

Electrostatic self-assembly of hydrotalcite-based g-C3N4 composites for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of aqueous norfloxacin

Norfloxacin, a quinolone antibiotic pollutant, posed a significant threat to environment and human being health. In this study, hydrotalcite-based g-C3N4 composites were produced using electrostatic self-assembly and the structural memory effect of hydrotalcite to optimize their adsorption-degradation of norfloxacin under visible-light illumination. Optimized hydrotalcite and g-C3N4 composite (750°C, 40 wt% of g-C3N4) exhibited a highest photo-degradation rate constant of 1.8×10−2 min−1 with 83.98 % norfloxacin degradation achieved within 1.5 h under visible-light, surpassing that of bare g-C3N4 and hydrotalcite photocatalysts. The synergistic effects of the composite, such as uniform flower-like micro-morphology and rich mesoporous structure, resulted in a large specific surface area (58.67 m2/g), abundant active sites, and good photo-generated charge separation efficiency. All these facilitated both sorption (7.95 mg/g) and subsequent visible-light degradation of norfloxacin. Furthermore, the superior photocatalytic performance observed in the degradation of norfloxacin under visible-light illumination was assigned to the effective transport of photogenerated electrons and holes between hydrotalcite and g-C3N4 components. The work highlights the potentials of hydrotalcite and g-C3N4 composites as an excellent photocatalyst for environment remediation and water treatment.

Advances in 3D bioprinting for environmental remediation and hazardous materials treatment.

The high-throughput method based on the micron-level structure that 3D bioprinting technology offers for various environmental microbiological engineering applications is made possible by its several printing paths and precision programming control. This versatility makes it an on-demand manufacturing technology. A novel 3D manufacturing technique called 3D bioprinting may be used to precisely uptake and disperse bacteria to create microbial active substances with a variety of intricate functionalities for environmental applications. The technological challenges that the current 3D bioprinting technology must face include the mechanical properties of materials, the creation of specific bioinks to adapt to different strains, and the exploration of 4D bioprinting for intelligent applications. Therefore, this analysis delves deeply into the core technological ideas of 3D bioprinting, bioink materials, and their environmental applications. It also offers recommendations about the challenges and opportunities associated with 3D bioprinting. Combined with the present advancements in microbe enhancement technology, 3D bioprinting will provide an enabling platform for multifunctional microorganisms and facilitate the management of in situ directional responses in the environmental domain. This review highlights the applications of 3D bioprinting in the environmental monitoring and bioremediation. 3D printing in solid waste management is also discussed in detail.

Transforming contaminant ligands at water–solid interfaces via trivalent metal coordination

In environmental matrices, the migration and distribution of contaminants at water–solid interfaces play a crucial role in their capture or dissemination. Scientists working in environmental remediation and wastewater treatment are increasingly aware of metal–contaminant coordination; however, interfacial behaviors remain underexplored. Here, we show that trivalent metal ions (e.g. Al3+ and Fe3+) mediate the migration of pollutant ligands (e.g. tetracycline (TC) and ofloxacin) to the organic solid interface. In the absence of Al3+, humic acid (HA) colloids (50 mg/L) capture 26.1 % of the TC in water (initial concentration: 10 mg/L) via weak intermolecular interactions (binding energy: −5.71 kcal/mol). Adding Al3+ (2.5 mg/L) significantly enhances the binding of TC to an impressive 94.2 % via Al3+ mediated coordination (binding energy: −84.89 kcal/mol). The significant increase in binding energy results in superior interfacial immobilization. However, excess free Al3+ competes for TC binding via direct binary coordination, as confirmed based on the unique fluorescence of Al3+–TC complexes. Density functional theory calculations reveal the intricate process of HA–Al3+ binding via carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl sites. The HA–Al3+ flocs then leverage the remaining coordination capacity of Al3+ to chelate with TC. As well as providing insights into the pivotal role of metal ion on the self-purification of natural water bodies, our findings on the interfacial behavior of metal–contaminant coordination will propel coagulation technology to the capture of microscale pollutants.

Soil remediation and nano-biosilica: a potential combination to improve the environmental quality of brackishwater aquaculture ponds affected by acid sulfate soils.

The successful management of ASS-affected brackishwater aquaculture ponds necessitates overcoming associated environmental limitations. This study investigated the potential application of nano-biosilica from rice husk ash (RHA) and soil remediation techniques to improve the environmental quality of ASS-affected brackishwater ponds. The study followed a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and three replicates. The treatments comprised applying soil remediation, nano-biosilica fertilizer, and their combination. The study generally revealed that the combination of soil remediation technique and RHA-driven nano-biosilica improved the water quality of ASS-affected brackishwater ponds. Soil remediation improved water quality by reducing acidity levels. However, excessive lime application as an integral part of the remediation might release acidity and toxic metals into water, potentially increasing calcium-phosphorus fixation. Despite liming potential negative consequences, if mixed with nano-biosilica could increase diatom-phytoplankton growth by reducing dissolved Al and Fe levels while boosting P and Si availability. Liming could also help boost diatom photosynthesis and inhibit unwanted algae blooms by decreasing water turbidity and increasing sunlight penetration. This study emphasized that the effectiveness of nano-biosilica in promoting diatom growth depends on appropriate nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and ratios, which should not be a limiting factor. However, the required N/P concentration and ratio are only met if the remediation method is effectively implemented. The combination of nano-biosilica and soil remediation treatment maintained SiO2 concentrations above the average natural seawater concentration; however, availability may be limited due to complexes containing Ca, Al, Mg, and Fe. Regularly applying cost-effective nano-biosilica fertilizer in combination with N and P fertilizers is recommended to enhance water remediation efficiency by boosting Si availability and decreasing the toxicity of dissolved toxic metal ions.

Porous Metal Organic Framework (MOF) derived dimorphic (n-ZnO/p-NiO) Z-scheme heterojunction anchored with MWCNTs (ternary nano-architecture): A novel approach for optimization of photodegradation mechanism and kinetics of Congo red (CR) dye

Global efforts to combat water pollution, especially from organic dyes like Congo red, emphasize the use of advanced nanomaterials for sewage purification. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), known for their crystalline structures and versatile properties, have become pivotal in wastewater treatment research. Integrating MWCNTs into MOF derived composite nanostructures is a strategic advancement, boosting the efficiency of photocatalytic systems and addressing environmental concerns. This study details the synthesis of a novel Z-scheme heterojunction nanocomposite (n-ZnO/p-NiO) incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), achieved via a solvothermal method using metal-organic framework (MOF) as a template. The study uses XRD, FTIR, FESEM, BET, UV, and PL for comprehensive nanocomposite characterization, offering insights into its structural, morphological, and optical properties. The resultant nanocomposite displays high surface area, sturdy pore arrangement, and consistent morphology. MWCNTs influence crystal growth and optical absorption, enhancing surface hydroxyl group concentration and acting as electron acceptors. This results in decreased photo oxidation and improved overall stability under light exposure in the composite. The composite achieves 92 % Congo red degradation in 60 min under UV light, showcasing superior dye adsorption capacity. This underscores its potential as an efficient photocatalyst for environmental remediation and wastewater treatment.

Cognitive training for schizophrenia: Do race and ethnicity matter?

Racial disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and outcome have been well-established for people with schizophrenia. While cognitive remediation treatments have been shown to produce mild to moderate improvements in cognition for people with schizophrenia, few studies have examined racial/ethnic differences in treatment response. This study employed a secondary analysis of data from two randomized, single-blind controlled trials (N = 119) investigating the efficacy of two forms of cognitive training, to explore potential racial/ethnic differences in targeted outcomes. Given the extant literature, we predicted that racial/ethnic minorities would (1) drop out of the study at higher rates, (2) display greater levels of functional and cognitive impairment prior to treatment, and (3) display lower levels of improvement in cognitive and functioning outcomes following treatment. Our study revealed largely negative findings: white vs. non-white groups showed similar treatment drop-out rates, similar levels of cognitive impairment and symptom severity at study baseline and showed similar responses to cognitive training, with the exception of working memory in which participants' racial/ethnic minority status predicted significantly greater improvement in response to cognitive training. These findings suggest that cognitive remediation treatments are effective at addressing cognitive deficits in racial/ethnic minorities and supports cognitive remediation as a treatment which may help address racial/ethnic disparities in cognition. Given the scant research literature, future analyses should look at race as a potential mediator of treatment in a variety of evidence-based psychosocial treatments.

Enhanced removal of hazardous organic contaminants with advanced visible light-active F-doped TiO2/rGO/PVDF photocatalytic membranes

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes and composite variants with x% FGT/PVDF photocatalytic membranes were prepared at different concentrations (x = 1 %, 5 %, and 10 %) using the phase inversion technique. The synthesized photocatalysts and the membrane materials were thoroughly characterized using different analytical methods. The focus was on determining the photocatalytic efficiency of these materials in degrading two important harmful dyes, namely methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV), under visible light irradiation. High degradation percentages of MB (96 %) and CV (92 %) at 90 minutes were observed with 5 % F-TiO2/rGO (named as 5 %FGT). Similarly, the 5 % F-TiO2/rGO/PVDF (5 %FGT/PVDF) photocatalytic membranes showed 98 % and 93 % degradation of MB and CV, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed that the photocatalytic degradation reaction followed a pseudo-first-order mechanism. The total organic carbon (TOC) analysis of the treated MB and CV dyes showed a degradation of 78 % and 71 %, respectively. Recycling of the most active 5 % FGT/PVDF composite membrane exhibited very high stability of 800 min. The composite material utilizes the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 and the stimulating transport properties of rGO. Additionally, fluorine doping enhances charge carrier separation, tunes the bandgap for visible light response, and increases surface activity, thereby improving the overall degradation of organic pollutants. These properties make the composite material promising for various applications in environmental remediation and wastewater treatment.

"Food for Thought": Improving Cognition in People With Schizophrenia.

We have known that cognitive difficulties are related to functional outcomes in schizophrenia for many years. However, we have only paid attention to potential treatments relatively recently, so implementation has been slow. This is a narrative review describing the development of cognitive remediation treatments to improve cognitive skills and their effects on functioning. It also reviews the types of cognitive remediation with some evidence on their effects. Models of treatment have now been clarified and have led to a landmark paper by cognitive remediation experts around the world on the ingredients of cognitive remediation to produce the most benefit. This expert judgement on good clinical practice was justified by a large meta-analysis that supported the extra benefit of the four ingredients: an active therapist, massed practice of cognitive skills, the teaching of cognitive strategies and additional rehabilitation to transfer skills to real life. Although there is evidence of efficacy and of the beneficial therapy ingredients there is little implementation of cognitive remediation, so the establishment of cognitive remediation into mental health services needs an implementation pathway.

Solar-driven self-sustaining remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil

Petroleum-contaminated soil poses an environmental risk and is costly to remediate. Self-sustaining Treatment for Active Remediation (STAR) is an emerging remediation technique that consists of igniting and propagating a smoldering front through a volume of contaminated soil. While effective, the electrical energy demand required to initiate smoldering can be cost-prohibitive in locations without robust electrical infrastructure. To address this, we investigated the viability of a novel concentrated solar power process as a low-carbon alternative to electrically driven heating for STAR. The solar-driven system uses parabolic reflectors to focus solar energy, then directs it through fiber optic bundles to flexibly transmit it to a soil column. This process is demonstrated on ∼ 750 mL samples of petroleum-contaminated soil and detectable hydrocarbons were reduced in each case. Research evaluated several parameters of interest for effective treatment including thermal receiver material and distance between solar output and thermal receiver. Temperature was measured throughout treatment and typically exceeds 400 °C prior to ignition. Steel and quartz thermal receivers show effective temperature distribution, initiating smoldering, reducing detectable hydrocarbons and maintaining durability. The results indicate that concentrated solar power can efficiently ignite smoldering remediation, showing promise as a low-carbon alternative to current methods.

How tree species have modified the potentially toxic elements distributed in the developed soil–plant system in a post-fire site in highly industrialized region

The biogeochemical cycles of trace elements are changed by fire as a result of the mineralization of organic matter. Monitoring the accumulation of trace elements in both the environment and the tree biomass during the post-fire (PF) forest ecosystem regeneration process is important for tree species selection for reforestation in ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure. We analyzed the soil concentrations of different groups of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including beneficial (Al), toxic (Cd, Cr, Pb), and microelements (Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn), and their bioaccumulation in the tree species (Pinus sylvestris, Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa) biomass introduced after a fire in a forest weakened by long-term emissions of industrial pollutants. The results indicated no direct threat from the PTEs tested at the PF site. The tree species introduced 30 years ago may have modified the biogeochemical cycles of the PTEs through different strategies of bioaccumulation in the belowground and aboveground biomass. Alder had relatively high Al concentrations in the roots and a low translocation factor (TF). Pine and birch had lower Al concentrations in the roots and higher TFs. Foliage concentrations and the TF of Cd increased from alder to pine to birch. However, the highest concentration and bioaccumulation factor of Cd was found in the alder roots. The concentrations of Cr in the foliage and the Cr TFs in the studied species increased from pine to birch to alder. Higher concentrations of Cu and Ni were found in the foliage of birch and alder than of pine. Among the species, birch also had the highest Pb and Zn concentrations in the roots and foliage. We found that different tree species had different patterns of PTE phytostabilization and ways they incorporated these elements into the biological cycle, and these patterns were not dependent on fire disturbance. This suggests that similar patterns might also occur in more polluted soils. Therefore, species-dependent bioaccumulation patterns could also be used to design phytostabilization and remediation treatments for polluted sites under industrial pressure.

Perceived Stigma Toward Cognitive Impairment Among People With Schizophrenia.

Stigma toward schizophrenia spectrum disorders is pervasive and negatively influences service access and delivery. Cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) is common, but its association with stigma is unknown. In this study, the authors examined whether individuals with CIAS receiving cognitive remediation treatment report experiencing CIAS-related stigma and sought to establish associations between CIAS-related stigma and recovery-relevant outcomes. Data from 48 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses were drawn from a larger study evaluating cognitive remediation. Participants completed measures of CIAS-related stigma, internalized mental illness stigma, self-perceived cognitive impairment, cognitive performance, and interviewer-rated quality of life. CIAS-related stigma was commonly reported and significantly positively associated with internalized stigma and self-perceived cognitive impairment. CIAS-related stigma was also significantly negatively associated with motivation to engage in goal-directed behavior and daily activities. CIAS-related stigma exists and warrants additional exploration with regard to implications for psychiatric service delivery.

Efficacy and Safety of 125I Seed Implantation in the Treatment of Pelvic Recurrent Cervical Cancer Following Radiotherapy: A Single-Arm Meta-Analysis of Chinese Patients.

The study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of 125I seed implantation in the treatment of pelvic recurrent cervical cancer following radiotherapy. This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO. We looked up relevant studies in the databases of CNKI, Wanfang, CBM, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The endpoint measures include the objective response rate, disease control rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, and adverse events. The meta-analysis included six studies and a total of 246 patients. The pooled ORR of tumor response was 63%, and the DCR was 87%. The median PFS was 9.09 months, and the median OS was 13.46 months. The incidence of adverse events of Grade ≥III was 6%. In conclusion, this meta-analysis confirmed that 125I seed implantation has a good local control rate and high safety in the treatment of pelvic recurrent cervical cancer following radiotherapy, and can be used as a remedial treatment for pelvic recurrent cervical cancer following radiotherapy to prolong the survival time of patients. PROSPERO: CRD42023423857.