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High-valence tungsten doping induces lattice expansion in Mo–Cu metal-organic framework-derived metal oxide-carbon composite (W@Mo–Cu MOF-MOCC) for enhanced urea electrooxidation catalysis
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Linkov, Vladimir; Zheng, Yibing; Kannan, Palanisamy
In this work, we report W@Mo–Cu metal-organic framework-derived metal oxide-carbon composite (W@Mo–Cu MOF-MOCC) as promising catalysts for the urea oxidation reaction (UOR), achieving a high current density of 10.0 mA cm−2 at 1.38 V. This performance surpasses that of Mo–Cu MOF-MOCC (10.0 mA cm−2 at 1.53 V), Cu-MOF-MOCC (10.0 mA cm−2 at 1.60 V), and Mo-MOF-MOCC (5.0 mA cm−2 at 1.68 V). Moreover, W@Mo–Cu MOF-MOCC exhibit a lower onset potential of 1.12 V vs. RHE and the lowest Tafel slope of 77.8 mV dec−1, indicating excellent catalytic activity comparable to various Ni-based catalysts. The enhanced UOR performance is attributed to three key factors: (i) doping with a high-valence metal (W) induces lattice expansion evidenced by the formation of (110) planes-in the Mo–Cu MOF-MOCC catalyst, which modulates the nanocrystalline interface, enhances grain boundary dynamics, and promotes the generation of active MoOOH species for efficient UOR (ii) the unique chicken-piece-like globular nanostructure provides a higher surface area (148.9 m2/g) and more active sites than other morphologies (e.g., rod-like Cu-MOF-MOCC, oval-like Mo-MOF-MOCC, and polyhedral Mo–Cu MOF-MOCC); and (iii) the synergistic interaction between W and the Mo–Cu interface enhances urea adsorption and oxidation at the catalyst surface. For practicality, a urine-mediated electrolysis cell was also developed, achieving a UOR current density of 10.0 mA cm−2 at 1.37 V in urine-containing wastewater, which is over 200 mV lower than in urea-free electrolyte. Furthermore, similar performance was observed in a 1.0 M NaOH + seawater electrolyte, reaching 10.0 mA cm−2 at 1.38 V. These findings demonstrate the potential of W@Mo–Cu MOF-MOCC as multi-functional, noble-metal-free, and Ni-free catalysts for green energy production and sustainable wastewater treatment, offering promising implications for environmental safety and resource recovery.
Women’s experiences of communication and supportive care during labour: a qualitative study in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
(BioMed Central Ltd, 2025) Doherty, Tanya; Luthuli, Silondile; Horwood, Christiane
Background: Quality maternal care is crucial to improve outcomes for both mothers and newborns. Many initiatives to improve maternal care concentrate on improving clinical practice. However, women’s experiences of care are also important determinants of health outcomes. Establishing strong interpersonal relationships between health workers and women is essential for delivering high-quality person-centered care, with health workers who empathize with women, respect their needs and concerns, and communicate effectively. Aligned with the World Health Organization standards of care framework, this study aimed to explore women’s experiences of care during labour and childbirth, focusing on communication, respectful, and supportive care. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted with postpartum women in rural district hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal. Purposive sampling was used to recruit women from communities within the hospitals’ catchment areas. Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted in the local language of participants. Five FGDs were conducted between January and April 2023. Inductive thematic analysis using NVivo v12 was employed to analyze the data. Findings: A few women described positive experiences of care, but most women reported suboptimal care characterized by poor communication, lack of privacy, and disrespectful treatment. Participants described experiences of verbal and physical abuse, being called demeaning names, facing invasive procedures without providing consent, and inadequate emotional support, such as their concerns being systematically ignored and birth companions being denied entry to labour wards. Some women responded to these challenges through various coping mechanisms including staying quiet to avoid confrontation, following instructions rigidly, seeking advice from other women in the labour ward, and in some cases standing up for themselves. Some women described persistent anger and distress as a result of their experiences. Conclusion: The findings of the study highlight persistent gaps in effective communication and supportive care for women during labour and childbirth. Possible interventions could be aimed at improving communication skills of health workers as well as fostering a culture of empathy and respect for women in their care. In addition, empowering women through antenatal education and implementing birth companion policies could further improve women’s experiences during labour and childbirth.
Strategies to improve the efficiency of enzymatic carbon dioxide conversion in vitro
(American Chemical Society, 2025) den Haan, Riaan; Li, Jiawen; Zhao, Shufan
With the rapid industrial development, massive fossil fuel use has caused excessive carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions, triggering global warming and environmental issues. Thus, CO2 recovery and reuse have become a research focus, among which artificially designed in vitro biocatalytic pathways for converting CO2 into high-value chemicals show promise, with advantages like shorter routes, higher efficiency and lower energy consumption compared to natural pathways. However, challenges remain due to natural enzymes’ issues in specificity, affinity, efficiency, stability and oxygen sensitivity. To tackle these problems, extensive research efforts have been undertaken. These include elucidating the mechanisms and catalytic efficiencies of carbon-fixing enzymes from diverse sources, as well as developing and refining novel in vitro carbon fixation pathways. Moreover, significant progress has been made in computer-aided investigations of enzyme structure, function, and engineering optimization, alongside advancements in enzyme immobilization strategies, cofactor regeneration systems, and the development of artificial cofactors. By summarizing the latest research progress in recent years, we can identify the current bottlenecks and challenges in in vitro enzymatic CO2 conversion, propose effective methods to enhance the efficiency of CO2 conversion, and thus promote the development of research in related fields.
Nanomedicine solutions for alzheimer’s disease: a critical review of therapeutic nanoparticle strategies
(American Chemical Society, 2025) Tutubala, Teboho; Egunlusi, Ayodeji; Joubert, Jacques; Fisher, David; Dube, Admire
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating disorder marked by progressive memory and cognitive function loss. Current treatments, including acetylcholinesterase and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor inhibitors, offer symptomatic relief but lack disease-modifying effects. The recent approval of aducanumab, an antibody clearing amyloid beta plaques, brings hope, though its therapeutic benefits are controversial. AD’s etiology is multifactorial, involving over 40 genetic variants, and remains poorly defined. Nanotechnology offers a promising avenue for optimized drug candidates, addressing challenges such as solubility, stability, and blood–brain barrier permeation. This review explores nanoformulations targeting key AD aspects, including amyloid beta, Tau protein, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Notably, multifunctional nanocarriers present a comprehensive approach, demonstrating the potential for effective AD therapy. Despite extensive research, only a small fraction of these studies progress to clinical trials. Continuous nanomedicine research is poised to play a vital role in future AD management, providing innovative solutions to this devastating disease.
Genome divergence between European anchovy ecotypes fuelled by structural variants originating from trans-equatorial admixture
(Royal Society Publishing, 2025) Van der Lingen, Carl; Meyer, Laura; Barry, Pierre
The formation of ecotypes is driven by evolutionary mechanisms that reduce gene flow through complex interactions among ecological, historical and genomic factors. In the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), marine and coastal ecotypes have been identified in the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, yet the genomic basis of their divergence remains unclear. Here, we present the first genome-scale analysis of this species complex, integrating whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and RAD-seq data from populations spanning its distribution range. In addition to the known marine and coastal ecotypes, we identify a previously undetected lineage extending from southern Morocco, through the Canary Islands, to South Africa. This southern Atlantic lineage exhibits a gradient of admixture with northern populations near the Atlantic–Mediterranean transition zone. Genomic differentiation landscapes reveal large regions of high linkage disequilibrium, probably corresponding to 13 structural variants (SVs) segregating within or between lineages. Notably, three of the six SVs contributing to the gene flow barrier between northern ecotypes originated in the southern lineage, supporting a partially shared evolutionary history between the coastal ecotype and the southern lineage. This study highlights how SVs that arose in geographically isolated lineages can act as key genetic elements in ecotype formation, reinforcing reproductive isolation through distinct evolutionary pathways.