Artiles
Review
07 March 2025Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential of Myofibroblast Transformation in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, irreversible, and fatal disease with an increasing incidence and limited therapeutic options. It is characterized by the formation and deposition of excess extracellular matrix proteins resulting in the gradual replacement of normal lung architecture by fibrous tissue. The cellular and molecular mechanism of IPF has not been fully understood. A hallmark in IPF is pulmonary fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation (FMT). During excessive lung repair upon exposure to harmful stimuli, lung fibroblasts transform into myofibroblasts under stimulation of cytokines, chemokines, and vesicles from various cells. These mediators interact with lung fibroblasts, initiating multiple signaling cascades, such as TGFβ1, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, AMPK, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and autophagy, contributing to lung FMT. Furthermore, single-cell transcriptomic analysis has revealed significant heterogeneity among lung myofibroblasts, which arise from various cell types and are adapted to the altered microenvironment during pathological lung repair. This review provides an overview of recent research on the origins of lung myofibroblasts and the molecular pathways driving their formation, with a focus on the interactions between lung fibroblasts and epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and macrophages in the context of lung fibrosis. Based on these molecular insights, targeting the lung FMT could offer promising avenues for the treatment of IPF.
Article
07 March 2025WO3 Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Applications
WO3 layers were prepared by spray pyrolysis of a peroxotungstic acid solution on FTO/glass substrates. Investigated parameters were layer thickness and influence of post-annealing in air. Films deposited at 250 °C were amorphous. Post-annealing at 550 °C for 2 h resulted in the formation of monoclinic crystalline structure. A comprehensive account of electrochemical efficiency in terms of IPCE for WO3 films as a function of the three parameters (wavelength, thickness and direction of light incidence) fully characterizing the photoelectrodes is presented here for the first time. The highest improvement in crystallinity and also the highest photocurrent response was found for WO3 layers deposited at 250 °C and post-annealed at 550 °C, namely 1.9 mA/cm2 (in 0.1 M HClO4 at 1.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl) under irradiation with a solar simulator (AM 1.5, 100 mW/cm2) and IPCE = 0.5 at 369 nm (front side irradiation), which is comparable with values obtained by other deposition techniques (e.g., hydrothermal or sol gel). Spray pyrolysis as a method of fabricating WO3 electrodes has the advantage of being able to produce large electrodes for use in practical applications.
Article
07 March 2025Constructing an Urban Spatial Resilience Assessment Framework Based on Public Service Facilities: A Case Study of Beijing
This paper takes Beijing as a research object to develop a framework for assessing urban public service facilities’ resilience, incorporating both macro and micro perspectives. Initially, the study utilizes spatial matching theory and coupling coordination models at the district and sub-district levels to analyze the spatial coupling between public service facility layouts and population distribution, thereby identifying regions exhibiting discrepancies in service supply and demand. Building on this foundation, the research further investigates at the neighborhood level the alignment between different types of public service facilities and residents’ daily activity patterns through the living circle theory and accessibility analysis models. From a macro perspective, research findings indicate that the layout of Beijing’s public service facilities exhibits a radial structure of centralized clustering and polycentric dispersion and that the resilience of these facilities diminishes from the city center outward. Microanalysis in three outlier sub-districts of Chaoyang District reveals that the accessibility to cultural and social welfare facilities in Daitou Sub-district is below the regional average and exceeds the typical 15-min walking distance accessible to the average person. Based on these findings, the paper proposes specific policy recommendations, including prioritizing the establishment of multifunctional public service facilities in densely populated and underserved peripheral areas and reserving adequate land for facilities in newly developing areas to ensure the sustainability of urban growth. Additionally, it is recommended that urban planners utilize dynamic data updating mechanisms to adjust the distribution of public service facilities, thereby better accommodating changes in population structure. This study not only highlights the dual role of public service facilities in enhancing urban resilience and living quality but also provides theoretical support and empirical evidence for creating a human-centered urban resilience spatial structure.
Review
07 March 2025Unravelling the Role of Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Co-Catalysts in Photocatalytic Water Splitting: Mechanistic Insights and Material Strategies
The reliance on fossil fuels has led to a substantial increase in greenhouse gas emissions, presenting a critical environmental challenge. Addressing this issue necessitates the adoption of alternative renewable energy sources, with green hydrogen emerging as a promising candidate due to its high gravimetric energy density and absence of harmful emissions. Among the various hydrogen production techniques, photocatalytic technology has garnered significant attention for its dual potential to produce green hydrogen and degrade pollutants, thereby addressing both energy and climate crises. Efforts to scale photocatalytic technology for industrial applications have identified cocatalyst integration as a pivotal strategy, as it enhances reaction kinetics by lowering the activation energy and mitigating charge carrier recombination. This review comprehensively examines the hydrogen economy, the underlying principles of photocatalysis, recent technological advancements, key factors influencing photocatalytic reactions, the role of catalysts in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) surface mechanisms, strategies for cocatalyst optimization, and future directions for the field.
Review
06 March 2025A Comprehensive Review towards Oxidation Resistant Press-Hardened Steels
As an important lightweight material, press-hardened steels (PHS) are now widely used in the car body-in-white. However, severe oxidation of conventional Mn–B bare sheets not only damages production molds, but also prevents subsequent welding and painting, leading to a significant increase in production costs. The aim of this review is to systematically summarize the current solutions to overcome the problem of high-temperature oxidation of conventional Mn–B PHS and to highlight future directions for improvement. The review begins with a brief background on PHS, followed by a detailed description of measures to improve the oxidation resistance of conventional Mn–B PHS and the development of novel PHS with superior oxidation resistance. The oxidation resistance solutions for conventional Mn–B PHS mainly include the use of coatings and pre-deposited films. In contrast, the oxidation resistant PHS mainly includes the use of the oxidation resistant elements Cr, Si, Al or rare earth elements to improve the steel’s own high-temperature oxidation resistance.
Article
03 March 2025Harmony between Humanity and Nature in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration during Decadal Development
Building harmony between humanity and nature
(HHN) migrates the conflict between social-economic development and
eco-environmental conservation, promoting the coordination and balance between
economic development and ecological protection, and then achieving the state of harmonious coexistence
between humanity
and nature. Here, taking advantage of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban
agglomeration as the research region, this study aimed to evaluate the changes
in comprehensive level of economic, social, and ecological development, as well
as the coupling coordination degree of HHN from 2014 to 2021, and to identify
their spatio-temporal evolution patterns. The findings reveal that from 2014 to
2021, the comprehensive development level of HHN in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei
urban agglomeration exhibits a linearly increasing pattern, with significant
differences in time and space.
The comprehensive development level of HHN in the northern region of the
Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration has always been higher than that in
the southern region. By
2021, all the cities had basically reached a middle development level. And the
coordination degree of the comprehensive development of HHN showed a healthy
development trend. In 2021, the coordination degree of HHN in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration was at
transitional development, with an average annual increase of 3%. In the future, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration should
prioritize coordinated development of HHN, enhance eco-environment protection
and management, promote industrial transformation and upgrading, explore new
development modes and ecological resource transformation strategies, and
establish a modern capital region characterized by high-level ecological
civilization development.
Review
28 February 2025Synthetic Biology Boosts the Biological Depolymerization and Upcycling of Waste Plastic Resources
The high molecular weight, hydrophobicity, and strong chemical bonds of petroleum-based synthetic plastics make them highly resistant to both abiotic and microbial degradation. This resistance plays a significant role in the growing problem of “white pollution” where the accumulation of plastic waste has become a major environmental issue worldwide. Currently, plastic waste management relies largely on landfill disposal and incineration, with only about 20% of plastic waste being recycled. However, both methods create secondary environmental risks, such as contamination of groundwater, soil, air, and oceans. Therefore, developing a sustainable and efficient approach for recycling and reusing plastic waste is essential for tackling plastic pollution and promoting a circular plastic economy. One promising solution involves utilizing microorganisms and enzymes to break down plastics into oligomers or monomers, which can then be transformed into valuable chemicals. This method provides a more environmentally friendly and milder alternative to conventional waste management techniques. This review explores recent progress in biodepolymerization and biotransformation processes for plastic waste, including the identification of plastic-degrading microorganisms and enzymes, the creation of microbial consortia and enzyme mixtures, an investigation into the mechanisms of plastic depolymerization, and the conversion of degradation products into useful materials such as chemicals, energy, and other resources. Despite these advancements, several challenges remain, such as the limited availability of effective degradation enzymes, low degradation efficiency, and difficulties in utilizing the breakdown products. However, emerging technologies in synthetic biology, such as high-throughput screening, evolutionary metabolic engineering, and bioinformatics to study catalytic mechanisms of degradation enzymes, offer promising solutions to address these issues. By improving enzyme design, optimizing microbial consortia interactions, and developing efficient metabolic pathways for plastic degradation products, these innovations could greatly enhance plastic biodegradation. These advancements hold the potential to provide environmentally sustainable, economically feasible, and technically viable solutions for promoting a circular plastic economy, particularly in countries like China.
Article
27 February 2025Deciphering How Promoting Flower-Viewing Economy for Construction of Harmonious-Villages in Mountainous and Hilly Areas
Sustainable development in mountainous and hilly regions is a critical component of global sustainability efforts. These regions are facing numerous challenges, including ecological fragility, labor migration, and resource scarcity and imbalance. Addressing these issues is imperative for sustainable development; this study identifies two primary conditions necessary for sustainable development in mountainous regions: achieving human and nature’s sustainable development, which provides reliable material support and social support for achieving the same in the mountainous and hilly regions. The flower-viewing economy, derived from transforming China’s mountain agriculture, is an efficient new format for mountainous and hilly regions. To verify these primary conditions, this study constructed a flower-viewing economy from three dimensions: material support, subject relationship, and expectation, using the peach blossom festival in Tingzi Village, Taihe Town of Chongqing City, as an example. Here, we explained that a sustainable development model focused on benefiting farmers is an endogenous, farmer-centered pathway to sustainable development, highly relevant to promoting sustainable development in developing countries’ mountain villages.
Article
27 February 2025Thermophysical Properties of Polyamide 6 and High-Density Polyethylene Blends (Part 1. Without Compatibilization)
The structure and thermophysical properties of polymer blends polyamide 6/high-density polyethylene with component ratios of 70:30, 45:55 and 30:70, which not only provide phase inversion of the blended polymers, but also the formation of an interpenetrating network, have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and light flash method. The data on the influence of blends composition on their mechanical properties, density, structure, temperature, as well as melting and crystallization heats of polymer components have been obtained. The regularities of changes in thermal diffusion, heat capacities and thermal conductivity coefficients of polyamide 6 and high-density polyethylene individually and as part of the blends in dependence on their composition and temperature have been established. A nonlinear increase of the thermal conductivity coefficient from temperature was revealed when melting a more easily melting component of the blend. It was found that the maximum increase in thermal conductivity occurs in the blend forming an interpenetrating network. A possible way of creating composites with adaptive thermal conductivity by melting one of the components of the blend is proposed.
Review
26 February 2025Recent Progress on Utilising Visible Light to Better Catalyst Stability for the Dry Reforming of Methane
Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a promising strategy to closing the carbon loop. DRM valorises CO2 and CH4 by producing synthesis gas (H2 and CO), the precursor to various synthetic fuels. Key limitations of the DRM are the high-temperature requirements (600–1000 °C) and competing side reactions, many of which produce carbon that can deactivate the catalyst. Designing a stable, low-cost and active catalyst remains one of the greatest DRM challenges. One potential strategy to curtail the limitations that hinder DRM is to utilise visible light to access the localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of metal catalysts. The current review discusses the recent developments in designing catalysts for LSPR-assisted thermocatalytic DRM. The thermodynamic and kinetic principles that underpin DRM are first introduced, followed by an overview of thermocatalyst design strategies. The mechanism behind LSPR is discussed, with recent developments and strategies for introducing LSPR to the DRM examined. The review offers a thorough overview of catalyst design for light-assisted DRM and may be used as a guide to developing stable and light-receptive catalysts for the reaction.
