Nanoplastics (NPs) have become a new type of pollutant of high concern that is ubiquitous in aqueous environments. However, the transport and transformation of NPs in natural waters are not yet... Show moreNanoplastics (NPs) have become a new type of pollutant of high concern that is ubiquitous in aqueous environments. However, the transport and transformation of NPs in natural waters are not yet fully understood. In this study, the aggregation and photooxidation of NPs were assessed with nanosized polystyrene (PS) as an example, and the effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were investigated with Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) as representative DOM. The results showed that simulated sunlight irradiation exhibited negligible effects on the aggregation of PS, while SRFA enhanced its heteroaggregation through hydrophobic interactions. In SRFA solutions, photooxidation of PS with a particle size of 200 nm was observed, which led to an increase in the O/C ratio on its surface at a rate of (2.20 +/- 0.40) x 10(-2) h(-1). This indicates the promotional effect of SRFA on the oxidation of nanosized PS, which is attributed to the generation of the excited triplet state ((3)SRFA*), hydroxyl radicals ((OH)-O-center dot), and singlet oxygen (O-1(2)). Among these reactive species, O-1(2) played a crucial role in the oxidation of PS. The findings in this study are helpful for an in-depth understanding of the environmental behavior of NPs in natural waters. Show less
The development of affordable and efficient technologies for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from water has recently been the subject of extensive attention. In... Show moreThe development of affordable and efficient technologies for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from water has recently been the subject of extensive attention. In this study, a black phosphorus/graphitic carbon nitride (BP-g-C3N4) heterostructure is fabricated as an extremely active metal-free photocatalyst via a newly-developed exfoliation strategy. The BP-g-C3N4 shows an 11 times better decomposition rate of a representative PPCPs-type pollutant, indomethacin (IDM), compared to the widely used P25 TiO2 under real-sunlight illumination. Also, its visible-light activity is even better than that of the best photocatalysts previously developed, but only consumes 1/10-1/4 of the catalyst. The results show that BP performs a cocatalyst-like behavior to catalyze the generation of reactive oxygen species, thus speeding up the decomposition of IDM. In addition, the BP-g-C3N4 photocatalyst also exhibits excellent IDM removal efficiency in authentic water matrices (tap water, surface water, and secondarily treated sewage effluent). Large-scale application demonstration under natural sunlight further reveals the practicality of BP-g-C3N4 for real-world water treatment operations. Our work will open up new possibilities in the development of purely metal-free photocatalysts for "green" environmental remediation applications. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Show less
Shen, H.X.; Kleij, R. van der; Boog, P.J.M. van der; Song, X.Y.; Wang, W.J.; Zhang, T.T.; ... ; Chavannes, N. 2020
Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health concern. In patients with CKD, interventions that support disease self-management have shown to improve health status and... Show moreBackground: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health concern. In patients with CKD, interventions that support disease self-management have shown to improve health status and quality of life. At the moment, the use of electronic health (eHealth) technology in self-management interventions is becoming more and more popular. Evidence suggests that eHealth-based self-management interventions can improve health-related outcomes of patients with CKD. However, knowledge of the implementation and effectiveness of such interventions in general, and in China in specific, is still limited. This study protocol aims to develop and tailor the evidence-based Dutch 'Medical Dashboard' eHealth self-management intervention for patients suffering from CKD in China and evaluate its implementation process and effectiveness.Methods: To develop and tailor a Medical Dashboard intervention for the Chinese context, we will use an Intervention Mapping (IM) approach. A literature review and mixed-method study will first be conducted to examine the needs, beliefs, perceptions of patients with CKD and care providers towards disease (self-management) and eHealth (self-management) interventions (IM step 1). Based on the results of step 1, we will specify outcomes, performance objectives, and determinants, select theory-based methods and practical strategies. Knowledge obtained from prior results and insights from stakeholders will be combined to tailor the core interventions components of the 'Medical Dashboard' self-management intervention to the Chinese context (IM step 2-5). Then, an intervention and implementation plan will be developed. Finally, a 9-month hybrid type 2 trial design will be employed to investigate the effectiveness of the intervention using a cluster randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms, and the implementation integrity (fidelity) and determinants of implementation (IM step 6).Discussion: Our study will result in the delivery of a culturally tailored, standardized eHealth self-management intervention for patients with CKD in China, which has the potential to optimize patients' self-management skills and improve health status and quality of life. Moreover, it will inform future research on the tailoring and translation of evidence-based eHealth self-management interventions in various contexts. Show less
Zhang, L.; Huang, H.Z.; Zhou, F.F.; Schimmel, J.; Pardo, C.G.; Zhang, T.T.; ... ; Dijke, P. ten 2012
