Saved Queries

by Rommel dos Santos Siqueira Gomes, Rafael Tavares da Silva, Hilderlande Florêncio da Silva, Edcarlos Camilo da Silva, Walter Esfrain Pereira and Luciana Cordeiro do Nascimento

AgriEngineering 2026, 8(7), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering8070279 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Following the application of biotic and abiotic systemic resistance inducers, which are enzymes related to plant defense, different responses are observed after infection with pathogens. Research into alternative methods using resistance inducers is a promising tool in the search for products with high potential for pathogen control. The application of the inducers acibenzolar-S-methyl, citrus biomass, K phosphite, silicate clay, and Ca and Mg silicate with or without the fungicide carbendazim showed greater potential to reduce anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum truncatum in lima bean plants, resulting in a reduced area under the disease progress curve and disease index. Disease progression promoted changes in enzymatic activity, where the application of acibenzolar-S-methyl, citrus biomass, K phosphite, silicate clay, and Ca and Mg silicate with or without the fungicide carbendazim resulted in the highest enzymatic activities and gas exchange rates compared to the other inducers. The use of biotic (citrus biomass) and abiotic (acibenzolar-S-methyl, K phosphite, silicate clay, and Ca and Mg silicate) inducers showed the highest potential to control anthracnose in the lima bean variety UFPB04. However, the resistance inducers promoted different plant responses when combined with fungicides and when applied in plants cultivated in different regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Bioresource and Bioprocess Engineering)

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17 pages, 3593 KB

Open AccessArticle

pH-Sensitive Destabilization Behavior of Passive Films on HRB400 Steel in Low-Carbon Ferrite-Aluminate Cement Pore Solution

by Yun Liu, Qingjiang Xin, Zhantao Du and Jilong Li

Buildings 2026, 16(13), 2702; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16132702 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Carbonation-induced pH reduction is a key factor triggering steel depassivation and corrosion initiation in reinforced concrete. However, the influence of pore solution chemistry on passive film (PF) stability remains unclear. In this study, ordinary Portland cement simulated pore solution (OPC-SCP) and ferrite-aluminate cement simulated pore solution (FAC-SCP) were used to investigate the evolution of PF formed at pH 12.5 and subsequently exposed to pH 11.0 and 9.5 environments. Electrochemical and microscopic techniques were employed to investigate the degradation behavior of PF under reduced alkalinity. The results show that PF in both systems degraded with decreasing pH, but exhibited markedly different stability. In the OPC-SCP system, the PF resistance decreased slightly from 4.24 × 10⁶ to 2.85 × 10⁵ Ω·cm², indicating that the steel remained in a highly passive state. In contrast, the PF resistance in the FAC-SCP system dropped significantly from 1.13 × 10⁶ to 5.57 × 10³ Ω·cm². AFM and SEM observations further revealed greater surface roughness and more severe local damage in the FAC-SCP system. The superior stability of PF in OPC-SCP may be attributed to the higher Ca²⁺ concentration, which is likely beneficial for the formation of a relatively dense and protective film. Conversely, the higher SO₄²⁻ concentration and lower Ca²⁺ content in FAC-SCP may facilitate defect growth and local dissolution, thereby contributing to depassivation. These findings highlight the critical role of pore solution chemistry in regulating PF stability under reduced alkalinity conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Advanced Concrete Materials in Construction)

34 pages, 5856 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Phenomenological Coupled Model for Ion Transport and Deformation in Superabsorbent Polymers in Calcium-Containing Solutions

by Qing Jiang, Yu Fu and Qijun Yu

Gels 2026, 12(7), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12070606 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Understanding the absorption and desorption behavior of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) in ionic environments is critical for their practical applications. Ion exchange between monovalent counterions within the SAP and multivalent cations (e.g., Ca²⁺) in solution not only induces macroscopic desorption but also generates non-uniform internal strain, creating a complex feedback loop with ion transport. This study establishes a phenomenological coupled model that integrates Fickian diffusion for ion transport with an elastic wave equation for SAP deformation. The coupling is realized through deformation-dependent diffusion coefficients and an ion-concentration-modulated elastic modulus, with the latter described by a first-order linear relationship over a limited range. Taking Ca²⁺ as a representative divalent cation, we systematically investigate the effects of solution concentration, SAP particle size, and ion dissociation degree. The model predicts several non-intuitive phenomena, including transient internal free Ca²⁺ concentrations exceeding the boundary concentration by up to ~15% and concentration gradient inversions for small SAP particles (radius 75 μm) at later times. Characteristic absorption time constants τ_a range from 98 s to 179 s depending on particle size and Ca²⁺ level. Simulated total Ca²⁺ uptake agrees with experimental data within an 8% mean relative error. The model is validated against macroscopic absorption/desorption curves and total Ca²⁺ uptake, while the predicted internal concentration and strain fields remain to be confirmed by spatially resolved experiments. These findings provide new mechanistic insights into the chemo-mechanical coupling in SAPs and offer guidance for their tailored design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Gel Processing and Engineering)

18 pages, 5516 KB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Lake Pigment from Calcium Carbonate and Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside: Structural Characterization and Formation Mechanism

by Yifen Fu, Jiaqi Cui, Jiaxuan Dong, Chengtao Wang and Dongdong Yuan

Foods 2026, 15(13), 2409; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15132409 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

To explore potential strategies for improving the applicability of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) and to avoid the health risks associated with the in vivo accumulation of aluminum by intake of traditional aluminum-based lake pigments, food-grade CaCO₃ was used as a matrix to prepare two types of edible lake pigments, namely C3G-CaCO₃ and MA-CaCO₃, via coprecipitation method using purified cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) and non-purified mulberry anthocyanins (MA). The effect of pH on adsorption was systematically investigated, and various characterization methods were used to analyze the physicochemical properties and formation mechanism of lake pigments. The results showed that pH 9.5 was the optimal condition for CaCO₃ to adsorb MA. The introduction of C3G altered the particle size, surface charge, and other characteristics of CaCO₃ without changing its calcite crystal form. The adsorption of MA and C3G on the CaCO₃ surface was multilayer physical adsorption, dominated by the Freundlich model. The isothermal adsorption results showed that CaCO₃ exhibited a higher adsorption capacity for C3G than for MA at equivalent equilibrium concentrations, demonstrating C3G’s superior binding affinity. C3G primarily binds to calcium carbonate through surface adsorption, with possible partial diffusion of molecules into the matrix, without forming new chemical bonds, and slightly regulated the thermal stability of CaCO₃. This study successfully constructed a lake pigment system based on CaCO₃, systematically elucidated its adsorption behavior and structural characteristics toward anthocyanins, and provided a material foundation for the further application of this type of carrier in the food sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)

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20 pages, 7496 KB

Open AccessArticle

Modification of Copper Slag Using Steel Slag and Magnesium Slag Additives

by Yahao Zeng, Zesheng Zhang, Senhao Yan, Pengxiang Li, Xianfeng Hu and Liang Jiang

Metals 2026, 16(7), 755; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16070755 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Significant amounts of smelting slag are generated during the production of steel, refined copper, and refined magnesium. These slags contain abundant valuable metallic elements, such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, and Mg, that have not been fully utilized in the past. This study proposes a method for modifying copper slag by mixing it with steel slag and magnesium slag, followed by roasting with additions of Fe₂O₃ and MgO. The samples were roasted at 1400 °C for 30 min, cooled to 1000 °C at 1.5 °C/min, and then water-quenched to room temperature. Phase transformations during modification were analyzed using FactSage 8.0, DSC–TG, and XRD. The effects of factors such as the content of Fe₂O₃ and MgO on the modification efficiency were investigated. The results indicate that, under the condition of maintaining a steel slag: copper slag: magnesium slag ratio of 37:37:26 and adjusting the basicity (CaO/SiO₂ ratio) with CaO to 2.0, the addition of Fe₂O₃ and MgO promotes the formation of spinel. However, excessively high contents of Fe₂O₃ and MgO lead to refinement of the spinel grains and reduce the iron grade of the concentrate. Within the investigated composition range, the samples with total Fe₂O₃ and MgO contents of 27.66 wt% and 7.56 wt%, respectively, showed the best magnetic separation performance among the tested compositions. Through magnetic separation, the concentrate has good economic and industrial application value in industries such as steelmaking and powder metallurgy, while the tailings can be utilized as raw materials for manufacturing ceramics, glass–ceramics, cement, and concrete. Full article

17 pages, 2008 KB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Damage Regeneration in Railway Wheels

by Krzysztof Labisz, Piotr Wilga, Jarosław Konieczny, Anna Włodarczyk-Fligier, Magdalena Polok-Rubiniec, Şaban Hakan Atapek, Janusz Ćwiek and Mateusz Winter

Materials 2026, 19(13), 2930; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19132930 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study examines the applicability of Plasma Transferred Arc (PTA) surface treatment as an advanced technique for the refurbishment of railway wheel treads. Conventional wheel reprofiling, typically performed on semi-automatic lathes, requires the removal of a minimum of 6 mm of material from the running surface, which accelerates rim thinning and ultimately necessitates wheel replacement. Moreover, the reprofiled surfaces are not subjected to any subsequent treatment aimed at enhancing their durability. To overcome these limitations, PTA cladding was selected due to its ability to generate surface layers with superior mechanical and tribological properties. In contrast to widely used diode laser technologies, PTA enables the deposition of alloying materials in powder form, ensuring a stable, controllable, and efficient cladding process. The resulting microstructure consists of a heat-affected zone, a transition zone, and a re-melted zone, each exhibiting significantly increased hardness relative to the untreated base material. The process facilitates the incorporation of metallic particles into the surface layer, promoting the formation of a dense, wear-resistant coating. These materials possess huge potential utility regarding the wear resistance reaching even ca 10% of the base material wear in the case of 505 PTA and over 20% in the case of the 15 E material. The findings indicate that PTA surface treatment has substantial potential to extend the operational lifespan of railway wheels by providing a highly durable and mechanically robust surface, thereby reducing maintenance frequency and the associated costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theory and Applications of Engineering Materials in Advanced Engineering)

14 pages, 8403 KB

Open AccessArticle

Charge Compensation-Directed Enhanced Photoluminescence in M⁺ (M = Li, Na, K) Co-Doped Novel Red Phosphor Ca_2.5Hf_2.5Ga₃O₁₂:Eu³⁺ for Lighting Applications

by Hua Li, Zijun Huang, Yifei Hou, Qiyue Liu, Di Li, Wenyue Zhang, Yi Su, Zhide Wang and Zaifa Yang

Molecules 2026, 31(13), 2397; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31132397 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Against the backdrop of energy conservation and environmental protection, developing more stable and efficient phosphors has become an urgent challenge. In this study, we have synthesized a series of Ca_2.5Hf_2.5Ga₃O₁₂:Eu³⁺ (CHGO:Eu³⁺) red phosphors via a high-temperature solid-state method, which exhibit strong red emission at 610 nm under 394 nm excitation, corresponding to the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺. To improve the lattice vacancies caused by charge imbalance when Eu³⁺ is doped into the CHGO lattice to replace Ca²⁺, we introduce the charge compensator M⁺ (M = Li, Na, K). The results of the emission spectrum show that the introduction of charge compensators can effectively improve the luminescence intensity. Among them, K⁺ has the most significant effect on increasing the emission intensity of Eu³⁺, making the emission intensity of the phosphor more than twice that when there are no charge compensation ions. Additionally, the quantum efficiency and thermal stability of these phosphors are significantly improved compared to the CHGO:0.075Eu³⁺ sample before substitution. At 423 K, the emission intensity of the CHGO:0.075Eu³⁺, 0.075K⁺ sample still remains at 88.7% of that at 298 K. The color rendering index of the prepared white LED is 81.2, and its CIE chromaticity coordinates are (0.3212, 0.3065). This indicates that the prepared CHGO:0.075Eu³⁺, 0.075K⁺ red phosphor has broad application prospects in solid-state lighting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic and Inorganic Luminescent Materials, 3rd Edition)

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29 pages, 23180 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Analysis of mRNA and microRNA Expression in Corneal Impression Cytology Samples from Patients with PAX6-Related Congenital Aniridia

by Shuailin Li, Tanja Stachon, Fabian Norbert Fries, Mária Csidey, Annamária Náray, Anita Csorba, Ágnes Élő, Berthold Seitz, Zoltán Zsolt Nagy, Erika Maka, Marta Corton, Eszter Jávorszky, Kálmán Tory, Nicole Ludwig and Nóra Szentmáry

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(13), 6088; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27136088 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study aimed to measure mRNA and miRNA expression profile in corneal impression cytology (IC) samples from patients with congenital aniridia (CA) and healthy controls, and to elucidate the key genes and signaling pathways involved in aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK). Corneal IC samples were collected from 14 patients with CA and 14 healthy controls. RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs. Correlations with age and AAK grade were analyzed, selected miRNAs were validated by RT-qPCR, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were conducted to characterize biological functions and pathways. A total of 695 DEGs and 19 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified. KRT24 expression was negatively associated with age, whereas LY6D expression positively correlated with AAK grade. Several miRNAs were linked to disease severity, including positive correlations for miR-224-5p, miR-224-3p, and miR-452-5p, and negative correlations for miR-204-3p, miR-181b-5p, and miR-181a-5p. RT-qPCR confirmed significant downregulation of miR-204-5p and miR-138-5p in aniridia samples. Functional enrichment analyses showed that DEGs were mainly involved in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammatory and immune responses, and neural-related processes. Target genes of dysregulated miRNAs were enriched in transcriptional regulation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration, with significant involvement of PI3K-Akt, AGE-RAGE, and EGFR signaling pathways. Corneal epithelial cells from patients with CA exhibit coordinated mRNA and miRNA dysregulation associated with extracellular matrix disruption, inflammation, and altered signaling pathways. These findings improve understanding of AAK pathogenesis and identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Role of Retinoic Acid-Regulated Genes in Cancer Biology)

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23 pages, 4229 KB

Open AccessReview

Next-Generation Strategies to Encounter Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): From Lariocidin to Gene Editing and Nanotechnology-Based Approaches

by Ilknur Yilmaz, Bekir Mustafa Yoğurtçu, Samson Aisida and Enes Baki Ezer

Molecules 2026, 31(13), 2395; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31132395 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

The escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a serious global threat to public health, with AMR-associated mortality estimated to increase by 70% by 2050. As pathogens evolve through enzymatic inactivation, target modification, efflux-mediated clearance, biofilm formation, and broader genetic adaptation, conventional therapies are increasingly compromised, while the antibiotic development pipeline remains critically constrained by high discovery and development costs, weak commercial incentives, and the escalating complexity of resistance mechanisms. This review comprehensively synthesizes advanced pharmacological and biotechnological innovations designed to circumvent these entrenched resistance mechanisms. We highlight the development of novel therapeutic classes, particularly lariocidin, which disrupts bacterial protein synthesis via a previously unexploited ribosomal-binding site. Moreover, we critically evaluate molecular interventions, emphasizing CRISPR/Cas-based gene silencing and genome editing as precise tools to neutralize specific resistance determinants, such as the mecA gene in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Concurrently, we explore the integration of engineered nanoparticles to revitalize existing antimicrobials by overcoming biofilm barriers, improving drug solubility, and enabling targeted delivery. Collectively, mastering the evolving AMR landscape requires a multidimensional framework that seamlessly integrates these novel molecular targets with advanced rapid diagnostics and robust international governance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancement in Natural and Novel Antimicrobial Agents)

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24 pages, 3034 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Explainable CS-Mitigation Triangular (ECSMT) Framework to Secure Graph Neural Networks

by Sabah Ettahri, Sergio Pallas Enguita, Chung-Hao Chen and Wen-Chao Yang

Electronics 2026, 15(13), 2967; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15132967 - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

This research addresses cyber risk by defending against backdoor attacks on Graph Neural Networks (GNNs). We propose the Explainable Complex System-Mitigation Triangular (ECSMT) Framework, which integrates Robust Training, Graph Regularization, and Data Sanitization into a lightweight, hardware-efficient defense layer. To evaluate structural generalizability, we conducted empirical evaluations across three distinct benchmark domains (AIDS, MUTAG, and PROTEINS) using a Graph Isomorphism Network (GIN) backbone. Under a baseline 5% backdoor subgraph trigger injection ratio, ECSMT achieves excellent utility retention, securing a Clean Accuracy (CA) of 97.33% (±0.62%) while reducing the Attack Success Rate (ASR) from 97.00% down to 69.45% on the primary AIDS benchmark. Cross-domain testing reveals that defensive efficacy is strongly constrained by dataset characteristics: small-scale datasets such as MUTAG suffer from persistent trigger concentration, while complex graph manifolds such as PROTEINS exhibit high levels of topological noise. Furthermore, mapping these technical outcomes into an enterprise asset framework yields a 61% expenditure compression at critical technological feeder locations and a 98.93% reduction in total systemic loss. This study indicates that the proposed triangular mitigation strategy offers a valuable, scalable blueprint for enhancing the technical resilience and prognostic economic modeling of critical infrastructure networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Secure and Privacy-Enhanced Data Sharing)

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16 pages, 11770 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Bioinspired Superhydrophobic Coating Based on Facile Mineralization of Calcium Carbonate: Enhanced Corrosion Protection for Brass Metal

by Songqiang Huang, Shicai Lu, Yuanyuan Chen, Rongchao Wang, Wancai Zhong, Peng Qi and Peng Wang

Colloids Interfaces 2026, 10(4), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids10040051 - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Bioinspired superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) have been proven to afford high corrosion inhibition to the underlying metal. Targeting brass metal, this paper presents a biomimetic mineralization route for obtaining SHS. Calcium carbonate is first synthesized in an ethanol solution containing an organic curing agent through CO₂ gas introduction, resulting in colloidal material. Subsequent modification with stearic acid yields the SHS. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments reveal that the biomimetic calcium carbonate cluster coating significantly improves the corrosion inhibition performance. After the coverage of the CaCO₃ SHS, the low-frequency impedance modulus value increases to 4.6 × 10⁵ Ω cm², which is enhanced compared with the bare brass with 3.2 × 10³ Ω cm². Meanwhile, the corrosion current density value decreases substantially from 2.31 × 10⁻⁶ mA/cm² for bare metal to 1.30 × 10⁻⁸ mA/cm² for the SHS surface. This demonstrates its high anti-corrosion properties. Acid-base corrosion tests further confirm the good resistance of the coating to an alkaline environment. Moreover, the coating exhibits anti-freezing adhesion and self-cleaning properties, surpassing the bare brass. The combined characteristics of the biomimetic calcium carbonate SHS coating highlight the promising potential in corrosion protection applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Materials and Interfaces for Sustainable Technology Development)

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24 pages, 17954 KB

Open AccessArticle

Consolidation of Painted Plasters in Hypogean Environments: Comparative Performance of Inorganic Calcium-Based Products Under High-Humidity and Water-Saturated Conditions

by Roberta Cucchietti, Sara De Angelis, Eleonora Imperio, Vanessa Fontani, Lucia Conti, Giancarlo Sidoti and Sara Iafrate

Nanomaterials 2026, 16(13), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16130831 - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Consolidation treatments are essential for the conservation of wall paintings affected by decohesion and disintegration phenomena. In hypogean environments, high relative humidity, limited ventilation and elevated biological risk impose particularly stringent performance requirements. Under these conditions, consolidants must ensure chemical compatibility, effective distribution within water-saturated substrates, long-term stability at high relative humidity and low toxicological impact. Calcium-based nanomaterials, especially nanolime dispersions, are widely employed as reference consolidants. However, their performance is strongly influenced by the dispersing medium, environmental conditions and substrate characteristics. This study addresses the lack of comparative assessments of currently available calcium-based consolidants by testing four products—two alcohol-based nanolimes (Nanorestore Plus^® and CaLoSil^®), one aqueous nanolime dispersion (Nanolaq^®) and a laboratory-formulated aqueous nanocalcite—applied to painted mock-ups. For the first time, the effectiveness of these treatments was investigated under both high relative humidity and water-saturated conditions through a multi-analytical approach. Colorimetric variations, water vapour permeability, water absorption and consolidant distribution within the pictorial layers were evaluated. The results provide a comparative assessment of consolidant performance as a function of the hygrometric regime of the substrate, with differentiated responses under high-humidity conditions and attenuated differences under water-saturated conditions. Overall, the effectiveness of the consolidant appeared to depend significantly on the combined influence of the dispersing medium, the imbibition state of the substrate and its chemical nature, highlighting the need for selection criteria and evaluation protocols based on simulating realistic conservation conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies, and Nano-Characterisation in Heritage Science: From Diagnostics to Conservation and Restoration)

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33 pages, 11337 KB

Open AccessArticle

Video-Based Detection of Dairy Cow Hoof-Slipping Behaviour Using Improved DeepLabCut and NeuFlow v2

by Yue Nian, Kaixuan Zhao, Jiangtao Ji, Yinan Chen and Ruihong Zhang

Animals 2026, 16(13), 2103; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16132103 - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Hoof slipping in dairy cows is a subtle, transient hoof motion event distinct from lameness or falling, with short duration, limited displacement, and close resemblance to normal gait, making automated detection particularly challenging; relevant methods remain scarce. This study proposes a cascaded detection framework based on improved DeepLabCut and NeuFlow v2 for automated hoof-slipping detection and distance estimation in Holstein dairy cows. The four-stage framework covers hoof key point localization, pixel-level optical flow fusion, motion parameter curve feature extraction, and Random Forest classification. The framework was developed on Dataset 1, which contained 115 single-cow side-view videos. Of these, 31 contained slipping events and 84 were normal walking. It was further assessed on a smaller second-farm dataset of 17 single-cow videos (Dataset 2). ResNet-50 with a Coordinate Attention mechanism was adopted as the backbone, reducing mean four-hoof localization RMSE to 2.80 pixels across five independent training runs, showing a 15.2% improvement over the baseline, and outperforming YOLOv8s-Pose. NeuFlow v2 was applied to extract the localized optical flow from hoof regions, yielding velocity and directional curves from which slipping features were derived. The Random Forest classifier achieved an accuracy of 98.9%, precision of 93.3%, recall of 90.3%, F1 score of 91.8%, and AUC of 0.995, outperforming MViT, SlowFast, and STME. The slipping distance estimation RMSE was 1.22 pixels. With the localisation model retrained on new farm frames, the method reached comparable performance on the second farm, suggesting preliminary cross-farm generalisability that warrants larger-scale validation. The proposed framework provides a non-invasive basis for early hoof-health monitoring and welfare-oriented farm management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Cattle)

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19 pages, 1347 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Simplified Equilibrium Framework for Investigating Calcium and Magnesium Relationships in Plasma

by Fanel Dorel Scheaua

Physiologia 2026, 6(3), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/physiologia6030045 - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) are essential divalent cations whose homeostasis is essential for cardiovascular, muscular and metabolic function. Absolute or relative imbalances between Ca and Mg can lead to cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological pathologies. Ionized calcium (Ca²⁺) is a biologically active fraction of plasma calcium that is tightly regulated by protein binding, phosphate complexation, magnesium modulation and acid–base status. Ionized calcium plays a central role in multiple physiological processes and is strongly influenced by plasma pH, phosphate concentration and magnesium levels. However, the combined effects of these parameters are difficult to evaluate intuitively because of their nonlinear interactions. In this study, a numerical simulation framework was used to explore how simultaneous variations in pH, phosphate and magnesium may influence ionized calcium under typical physiological plasma conditions as a phenomenological framework linking ionic equilibrium with viscosity-dependent flow parameters under well-mixed plasma conditions. The simulations reveal phenomenological changes in which concurrent increases in pH and phosphate or reductions in magnesium produce disproportionately large decreases in ionized calcium. Within the physiological ranges examined, the results also indicate a region of relative stability for ionized calcium corresponding to Ca/Mg ratios close to 3, while this value should be interpreted as an emergent feature of the modeled parameter space rather than a universal physiological constant. These findings illustrate the importance of considering multiple electrolyte interactions simultaneously when evaluating calcium homeostasis and may provide a conceptual framework for further experimental investigation. Full article

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13 pages, 10920 KB

Open AccessArticle

High-Value Utilization of Residue After Ammonia-Extraction Aluminum from Coal Fly Ash: A Novel Strategy for Preparation of Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

by Yingjiao Fang, Yusheng Wu and Laishi Li

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(13), 6804; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16136804 - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Silicon suboxide (SiO_x) has been extensively investigated as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. However, its low electrical conductivity and significant volume expansion during cycling have hindered its practical application. Although compounding SiO_x with carbon can effectively alleviate these issues, practical challenges such as complex preparation processes and high production costs still remain. In this study, porous SiO_x/C anode materials were synthesized in a single step using residue after acid-extraction aluminum from coal fly ash (high silica slag) as the silicon source and calcium carbide as both the reducing agent and carbon source, in a NaCl-CaCl₂ molten salt medium. The intimate interface between SiO_x and carbon not only enhances the electrical conductivity of the electrode but also buffers volume expansion, while the porous structure inside the SiO_x/C particles facilitates rapid ion transport. The SiO_x/C anode fabricated from this material exhibits excellent electrochemical performance and cycling stability: the anode material synthesized at 700 °C for 3 h (denoted as SiO_x/C-700-3) retains a reversible specific capacity of 1093.58 mAh g⁻¹ after 1000 cycles at a current density of 0.4 A g⁻¹. Moreover, the optimized SiO_x/C-700-3 electrode achieves robust long-cycle stability under a high current density of 2 A g⁻¹, sustaining a reversible capacity of 486.22 mAh g⁻¹ after 800 cycles with an average Coulombic efficiency approaching 99.6%. The method proposed in this work provides a new strategy for the preparation of SiO_x/C anode materials and holds great significance for the high-value comprehensive utilization of coal fly ash and the protection of the ecological environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Materials and Their Applications)

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