The construction of an electrocatalytic NO3 − reduction and polyacrylamide (HPAM) oxidation coupled reaction system represents a promising approach for simultaneously achieving ammonia synthesis and HPAM degradation. In this work, FeCo@N-CNTs with a well-defined heterojunction structure were successfully synthesized and employed as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst in the NO3 − reduction and HPAM oxidation coupled reaction. In the coupled reaction system, The FeCo@N-CNTs catalyst delivered a maximum ammonia yield rate and Faradaic efficiency of 6097.96 ± 15.83 μg h− 1 mgcat −1 and 92.03 ± 1.48%, respectively, while achieving an HPAM degradation rate of 89.99 ± 0.37% within 2 h. In-situ ATR-SEIRAS and in-situ DEMS analyses identified *NHOH as a key intermediate during the ammonia synthesis process and revealed that the heterojunction structure effectively regulates charge distribution and active-site exposure on the catalyst surface. This study offers a new strategy for designing coupled electrochemical systems toward efficient NO3⁻ reduction and organic pollutant oxidation, providing valuable insights for sustainable nitrogen-cycle conversion and wastewater treatment.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA) is technically challenging, not only because of the difficulty in reaching the target site but also in performing subsequent therapeutic procedures. To overcome these challenges, balloon enteroscopy-assisted ERCP has been introduced into clinical practice and has been reported to be both effective and safe. Recently, short-type balloon enteroscopes, with a working length of approximately 150 cm and a 3.2-mm working channel, have been widely adopted, making procedures more efficient. These short-type scopes facilitate the use of larger accessories in various procedures, such as stone extraction or self-expandable metallic stent placement. In addition, several new technologies and devices have recently been introduced to help manage difficult cases. Despite these advancements, multiple technical hurdles remain before procedures can be successfully completed. It is important to identify the key factors that contribute to procedural difficulty in order to improve success rates. At the same time, endoscopists must remain aware of the potential for adverse events, such as perforation, which can occur due to adhesions specific to SAA. In this review, we provide technical tips for short-type single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted ERCP in patients with SAA, aimed at improving procedural success rates and reducing adverse events, while also highlighting recent advancements in technology and devices.

Biliary strictures arise from diverse benign and malignant etiologies, and accurate differentiation is pivotal for prognosis and treatment selection. Conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-based sampling (brush cytology and forceps biopsy) suffers from limited sensitivity despite high specificity, leaving a substantial proportion as indeterminate biliary strictures. Peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) enables direct intraductal visualization and targeted biopsies, thereby enhancing diagnostic yield. This review summarizes technological evolution from fiber-optic mother–baby systems to digital single-operator cholangioscopy and direct POCS, as well as the integration of image-enhanced endoscopy and emerging widechannel scopes. Visual criteria for malignancy—tumor vessels, irregular granular or papillary/villous patterns, and friability—achieve high sensitivity and interobserver reliability with proposed classifications (Monaco, Mendoza). For cholangiocarcinoma, POCS-guided mapping biopsies precisely assess longitudinal intraepithelial tumor spread, informing R0 surgical planning. Randomized trials indicate higher or at least comparable sensitivity of POCS-guided biopsies relative to ERCP sampling, while novel forceps and larger working channels increase specimen size and reduce the number of biopsies. Artificial intelligence (AI) applied to POCS images shows promise for real-time risk stratification and improved targeting. Therapeutically, POCS guides intraductal lithotripsy with high clearance rates, and facilitates management in surgically altered anatomy in concert with endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage or transendosonographically/ guided created route procedure. Adverse events, chiefly pancreatitis and cholangitis, warrant attention to intraductal pressure control and CO2 insufflation. POCS has established an essential role in the diagnostic algorithm for biliary strictures; future advances will likely come from enhanced imaging, AI assistance, and next-generation digital cholangioscopes with larger biopsy devices.

The rapid increase of global solid waste poses significant environmental challenges. In this work, two abundant wastes— red mud and apple peel—were used as precursors to prepare zero-valent iron biochar for efficient pollutant removal. This study innovatively developed a green, low-temperature in-situ hydrogen reduction strategy via one-step coppercatalyzed ethanol decomposition, which generated in-situ hydrogen and uniformly dispersed high-load Fe0 without the need for external hydrogen or hazardous reagents. Compared with N2 pyrolysis, in-situ H2 treatment enlarged the pore size by 17.2%, increased surface oxygen functionalities, and enhanced active site exposure and electron transfer, markedly improving reactivity. The composite exhibited high saturation magnetization (33.13 emu g–1) for rapid magnetic separation, low iron leaching (≤ 0.13 mg L–1), and retained over 63% removal efficiency after four cycles. Removal efficiencies reached 87.77 − 98.50% for MB, RhB, and TC in single-dye systems, and remained high at 70.09 − 84.32% in multi-dye wastewater. Synergistic mechanisms involving porous adsorption, Fe–O coordination, π–π interaction, and NZVI-mediated reduction contributed to superior performance. This sustainable strategy enhances the waste value and provides effective and environmentally safe solutions for complex wastewater treatment, promoting resource recovery and pollution control.

The co-sintered phosphor of cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce) and aluminum nitride (AlN) is a promising material for next-generation light-emitting diode lighting applications. Despite AlN’s excellent thermal conductivity, its high sintering temperature and surface reactivity limit its industrial use in co-sintered phosphors, and effective methods to improve its sinterability without compromising properties remain underexplored. In this study, the sinterability of the AlN and YAG:Ce composite is improved by coating AlN particles with a soluble carbon material (SCM) prior to sintering. SCM coating leads to a 6.75% increase in photoluminescence (PL) intensity under 15 W laser excitation and a 6.85% improvement in thermal conductivity, which suppresses thermal quenching. The enhanced thermal conductivity also minimizes PL decay over time, thereby maintaining high luminosity for extended periods. Furthermore, the hardness and handling properties of the obtained sintered body are significantly improved, with hardness increasing by 112.3% when SCM-coated AlN is used. Notably, the SCM does not remain in the final product, as it is fully removed during sintering, leaving no impurities or adverse effect on the material’s properties. Given its ability to easily and uniformly coat ceramic particles, SCM coating holds promise for broader application in enhancing the sinterability and performance of various ceramic-based materials.

Poor bonding occurs with resin due to surface inertness of carbon fiber (CF), so CF surfaces were often treated. In some common surface treatments, sizing was a simple and effective modification method. Polyurethane (PU) was used as the main component of sizing agents due to its similar structure to polyamide 6 (PA6). The CF/PA6 composites’ interfacial properties were improved using PU as a sizing agent. Meanwhile, in this paper, glycidol (GLD) was introduced into the PU emulsion so that the epoxy group reacted with the carboxyl group on the acidified CF. After testing, when the content of glycidyl in the sizing agent is 2%, the CF/PA6 composites showed an important improvement in tensile, impact, and flexural strengths, which increased by 49.4%, 94.6%, and 53.2%, respectively. In addition, the effect of modified WPU sizing agents with different GLD contents on the properties of CF/PA6 composites was investigated.

To optimize the electrochemical properties of Ni-rich cathode materials, CPAN@SC-NCM811 is prepared via surface modification of single-crystalline LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode material by adding 1, 2 and 3 wt.% of polyacrylonitrile, respectively. Significantly, the results obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verify the successful synthesis of CPAN@SC-NCM811 cathode, which exhibits better electrochemical properties compared to SC-NMC811. After thorough milling and calcination of 2 wt.% polyacrylonitrile with SC-NCM811, the initial discharge specific capacity of prepared S2 sample is 197.7 mAh g− 1 and the capacity retention reached 89.2% after 100 cycles at a rate of 1.0 C. Furthermore, the S2 sample exhibits superior rate performance compared to the other three samples, in which these superior electrochemical properties are largely attributed to the optimal ratio of conductive cyclized polyacrylonitrile coatings. Overall, this work offers guidelines for modifying the surface of SC-NCM811 cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries with exceptional cycling and rate performance.

The current standard treatment regimen for patients with cervical cancer consists of a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the serious side effects often encountered with chemotherapy drugs greatly limits the effective doses that can be delivered, and hence the treatment of cervical cancer still faces strong challenges. In this study, carbon nanodots, nanodrugs with anti-cervical cancer activity and with negligible toxicity, were prepared from the precursor herbal extract ginsenoside Rg1. The surface of the Rg1 carbon nanodots is rich in hydrophilic functional groups, resulting in good dispersion in aqueous media and high biocompatibility. In Vitro experiments show that the Rg1 carbon nanodots have significant cytostatic and pro-apoptotic effects on HeLa cells, and could inhibit their migration and invasion. Experiments in tumor-bearing nude mice show that the Rg1 carbon nanodots could significantly inhibit tumor growth. Through qPCR validation, the Rg1 carbon nanodots were shown to enhance HeLa cell apoptosis, by regulating the expression levels of Cyto c, Caspase-9, Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2, induce G2/M phase arrest by regulating CDK 1 and Cyclin B1 expression, and inhibit tumor cell migration by modulating CDH1 and β-catenin. Since the precursor Rg1 is a natural herbal extract, negligible toxic side effects were observed in nude mice. The work demonstrates that Rg1 carbon nanodots can be expected to become a potential nanomedicine against human cervical cancer with negligible toxic side effects and excellent therapeutic effects.

In the area of carbon-based thin films, graphene/polyimide conductive films display remarkable heat resistance and mechanical properties, making them a valuable resource for utilisation in a multitude of manufacturing and living contexts. Nevertheless, modulating the interfacial structure between graphene and polyimide represents a significant challenge in the pursuit of enhancing the conductivity of the composite films, due to the elevated initial temperature of polyimide pyrolysis (exceeding 600 °C). To develop it, this study found that polyimide could undergo chemical bond breaking and atomic rearrangement at around 500 °C, when subjected to an applied electric field in graphene/polyimide films. A series of characterisations showed that the graphene/polyimide film formed a new interfacial structure under electrothermal treatment, which enhanced the electron transport capacity and increased its conductivity from about 1497.01 s m− 1 to about 2688.17 s m− 1, with an increase of about 79.57%. This study would provide the possibility of modulating the structure of polyimide below the pyrolysis temperature, as well as a feasible idea for transferring the properties of graphene into the polyimide matrix.