Exploring N/S-Based Polymers for Synergistic Inhibition of Multiple Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants during Iron Ore Sintering

The iron ore sintering process is a major source of unintentional persistent organic pollutants (UP-POPs). Although challenging, it is important to develop effective and economical methods suitable for practical application to control these highly toxic pollutants. In this study, three novel N/S-based macromolecular compounds, i.e., urea-formaldehyde resin (UFR), thiosemicarbazone-formaldehyde resin (TSCFR), and thiourea-formaldehyde resin (TUFR), were synthesized and investigated for their inhibitory effects on chlorinated benzene (CBz), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) formation in iron sintering fly ash. TUFR exhibited the highest inhibitory efficiency among the three inhibitors for CBzs (97.6%), PCBs (97.1%), and international toxic equivalent quantity PCDD/Fs (99.9%) with 2.0 wt % addition. Variation of UP-POP homolog profiles indicated that the reaction of N and Cl mainly occurs in the gas phase, while S acts mainly in the solid phase during the inhibition process. The gas–solid phase homolog distribution of UP-POPs indicates that sulfur compounds were the dominant inhibitor and were easily reacted with copper chloride, which was confirmed by density functional theory calculations. TUFR showed 46.9% CBz, 82.9% PCB, and 58.8% PCDD/F reduction efficiencies in a pilot-scale sintering system, indicating that TUFR is an appropriate technique for reducing UP-POP emissions in a full-scale iron ore sintering process

Additional file 1 of XBP1-mediated transcriptional regulation of SLC5A1 in human epithelial cells in disease conditions

Supplementary Material 1: Supplementary Figures and Table

Potential-Dependent Active Moiety of Fe–N–C Catalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The real active moiety of Fe–N–C single-atom catalysts (SACs) during the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) depends on the applied potential. Here, we examine the ORR activity of various SAC active moieties (Fe–N4, Fe–(OH)N4, Fe–(O2)N4, and Fe–(OH2)N4) over a wide potential window ranging from −0.8 to 1.0 V (vs. SHE) using constant potential density functional theory calculations. We show that the ORR activity of the Fe–N4 moiety is hindered by the slow *OH protonation, while the Fe–(OH2)N4 (0.4 V ≤ U ≤ 1.0 V), *O2-assisted Fe–N4 (−0.6 V ≤ U ≤ 0.2 V), and Fe–(OH)N4 (U = −0.8 V) moieties dominate the ORR activity of the Fe–N–C catalysts at different potential windows. These oxygenated species modified the single-atom Fe sites and can promote *OH protonation by regulating the electron occupancy of the Fe 3dz2 (spin-up) and Fe 3dxz (spin-down) orbitals. Overall, our findings provide guidance for understanding the active moieties of SACs

A 43-year-old female breast cancer patient scheduled to undergo adjuvant chemotherapy.

<p>We detected a mass in left breast (C. CT imaging), with a maximum diameter of 3.2cm. The tumor was FDG-avid with SUVmax of 8.99 (A. FDG PET/CT), but no obvious FES uptake was noted (B, D. FES PET/CT, SUVmax=1.1). After 4 cycles of NAC, the patient had mastectomy and the pathology showed it was grade A. </p

A 65-year-old female breast cancer patient underwent both ¹⁸F-FDG and FES PET/CT before NAC.

<p>A tumor was detected in left breast (C. CT imaging, diameter=5.3cm), with high FDG (A. FDG imaging, SUVmax=13.51) and FES uptake (B, D. FES imaging, SUVmax=4.3). After surgery, the pathological result was confirmed to be grade C.</p

A 58-year-old female breast cancer patient.

<p>We detected a mass with irregular margin in left lung (B,D. CT imaging), with a maximum diameter of 4.5cm. It was difficult to differentiate it between metastasis and secondary primary lung cancer in CT imaging. The tumor presented with high uptake of both ¹⁸F-FES and ¹⁸F-FDG PET, SUVmax was 6.3 and 5.5 respectively. It suggested that it was a metastasis (A. ¹⁸F-FES PET/CT, C. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT). After operation, it was confirmed to be an ER positive metastasis from breast cancer.</p

A 65-year-old female breast cancer patient, who also had renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC), underwent ¹⁸F-FES and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in our center.

<p>We detected a metastasis in mediastinal lymph node (D. CT imaging). The metastasis was no obvious ¹⁸F-FES uptake (A, C), whereas high ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT uptake was detected (B. SUVmax = 3.9). The patient underwent an EBUS-TBNA after imaging. Histological evidence showed that the metastasis originated from RCCC.</p