Search Results (10,639)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic endocrine abnormality characterised by impaired insulin function and systemic hyperglycaemia, which alter fluid balance and hormonal regulation. The cardiac hormone atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) modulates renal natriuresis and diuresis, and its expression is disrupted in DM. We evaluated the effects of oral aqueous garlic extract (GE) on physiological, biochemical, and molecular parameters in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic male Sprague–Dawley rats, using metformin as a positive control. Parameters assessed included fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight (BW), fluid intake, urine output, renal sodium excretion, serum ANP concentration, and right atrial ANP and renal NPR-A gene expression via qRT-PCR. GE significantly reduced FBG by 64.8%, attenuated polyuria and polydipsia, and improved BW. GE also downregulated right atrial ANP gene expression by 56.2% and reduced serum ANP concentrations by 34.6%, which occurred alongside a significant reduction in urinary sodium excretion. These findings suggest that GE-induced improvements in fluid and electrolyte balance in type 1 DM are partly mediated through modulation of the ANP signalling pathway. Full article

Carbon-based materials are widely employed in electrocatalytic energy conversion and storage technologies owing to their high electrical conductivity, chemical stability, tunable structure, and low cost. However, the limited intrinsic activity and surface inertness of pristine carbon materials often necessitate surface modification to generate catalytically active sites and improve interactions with reactants and electrolytes. Among the available approaches, plasma functionalization has emerged as a versatile, rapid, solvent-free, and potentially resource-efficient technique that enables systematic tuning of surface chemistry while often limiting modification primarily to the near-surface region. This review discusses the fundamentals of plasma-assisted surface modification of carbon materials, including plasma generation, reactive species, plasma–surface interaction mechanisms, and the influence of key processing parameters such as gas composition, power, pressure, and treatment time. Particular attention is devoted to plasma-induced heteroatom doping, defect engineering, surface functionalization, and the dynamic structural evolution of carbon frameworks during treatment. The impact of these modifications on the physicochemical properties and electrocatalytic performance of carbon materials is critically examined with respect to representative reactions, including the oxygen reduction, oxygen evolution, and hydrogen evolution reactions. The advantages, limitations, and scalability of plasma technologies are also discussed, along with current challenges in process control and reproducibility. Finally, future opportunities involving operando diagnostics, single-atom catalysts, advanced porous carbon architectures, and industrial-scale plasma processing are highlighted. Plasma processing offers a versatile route to carbon surface and catalyst-interface engineering, although standardized reporting and quantitative plasma–structure–performance relationships are still required for rational process design and scale-up. Full article

As a core organ responsible for metabolism and homeostatic regulation, the kidney performs physiological functions that encompass material excretion, fluid balance, electrolyte regulation, and endocrine control; and serves as a critical hub for maintaining the coordinated functioning of multiple organ systems. Kidney injury not only leads to disturbances in these core physiological functions but also generates systemic complications such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus through an “injury–inflammation–metabolic disorder” cascade. Epidemiologic studies and clinical statistics have revealed that acute kidney injury (AKI) may progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD) because of maladaptive repair, impaired regeneration, and other factors. During this process, macrophages—particularly certain functionally specialized macrophage subtypes—engage in complex intercellular communication with neighboring cells that include renal tubular epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and platelets, thereby forming pathological signaling networks that collectively drive persistent inflammation and the progression of renal fibrosis. Macrophages thus play complex and dynamic dual regulatory roles throughout the initiation, progression, and repair of kidney injury, and their functional polarization and phenotypic transformation directly influence the pathological progression of kidney diseases. We herein aimed to elucidate the roles of AKI-to-CKD transition-associated macrophages, especially the subtypes with specialized functions in kidney diseases and to systematically review current research progress, thus to provide a reference for advancing basic research and clinical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for kidney diseases. Full article

Zelkova schneideriana Hand.-Mazz. is an ecologically and economically valuable tree species in China, but its sensitivity to low temperature restricts its use in colder regions. To identify genes and pathways associated with chilling responses, we combined physiological screening, full-length transcriptome construction, Illumina RNA-seq, and time-ordered gene co-expression network analysis (TO-GCN). Fifty seedling lines were evaluated after 7 d at 4 °C, and the line with the lowest relative electrolyte leakage (REL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content was selected for transcriptome profiling at 0, 3, and 6 d of chilling treatment. RNA-seq detected 5875 differentially expressed genes. Most expression changes occurred by day 3 and were largely maintained on day 6. Pathway reconstruction showed contrasting dynamics between antioxidant-related systems: Flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis were progressively activated, whereas glutathione-related genes, particularly glutathione S-transferase family members, were broadly repressed. TO-GCN highlighted ZeF3H (Ze_transcript_14112) as a late-stage hub associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis and ZeDRT102 (Ze_transcript_44427) as an early-stage hub linked to DNA damage repair and glutathione-associated genes. These results indicate that the chilling response in Z. schneideriana involves activation of flavonoid-based protection together with weakened glutathione-mediated redox regulation, providing candidate genes for functional validation and cold-resistance breeding. These insights provide a critical foundation for molecular breeding strategies that will ultimately facilitate the successful introduction and stable cultivation of this valuable species in northern temperate climates. Full article

The Bi/Bi₂O₃-type oxygen sensor is extensively employed for oxygen monitoring in liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE)-cooled reactors, yet its low-temperature measurement accuracy remains a critical bottleneck limiting engineering deployment. This study aims to extend the lower operating temperature limit of the sensor through synergistic optimization of the reference electrode and solid electrolyte. The effects of the Bi/Bi₂O₃ mass ratio, filling amount, and yttria-partially stabilized zirconia (YPSZ) electrolyte wall thickness on sensor performance were systematically investigated over 300–600 °C. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and finite element simulations (COMSOL Multiphysics^® 6.3, COMSOL Inc., Stockholm, Sweden) were used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The results show that the optimized sensor with a Bi/Bi₂O₃ mass ratio of 95:5, a filling amount of 10 g, and a YPSZ wall thickness of 1.5 mm extended the stable operating limit from 350 °C to 300 °C, achieving a relative electromotive force error of 3.13% at 300 °C and maintaining over 4000 h of drift-free service. The improved low-temperature accuracy is attributed to the reduced oxygen ion migration activation energy (0.48 eV) and lower bulk impedance of the thick-walled YPSZ after high-temperature activation. These findings provide a material optimization strategy and theoretical basis for wide-temperature-range, long-lifetime oxygen sensing in lead-based reactors. Full article

Zn₂SnO₄ is a promising anode for lithium-ion batteries owing to its high theoretical capacity, yet its practical utilization is severely limited by sluggish reaction kinetics, large volume expansion, and unstable electrode/electrolyte interfaces. Here, we introduce a dimensionality-reduction strategy that simultaneously boosts capacity and cycling stability. Through surfactant-directed crystal growth, acid-etching reconstruction, and hydrothermal carbon coating, compact Zn₂SnO₄ octahedra are controllably transformed into sheet-assembled structures and finally into a core–shell composite with a continuous carbon layer (C@M-Zn₂SnO₄ (H⁺)). The continuous structural evolution shortens Li⁺ diffusion paths, buffers mechanical stress, and stabilizes the solid–electrolyte interface without altering the intrinsic lithium-storage mechanism of Zn₂SnO₄. As a result, the optimized C@M-Zn₂SnO₄ (H⁺) electrode delivers a reversible capacity of 650 mAh g⁻¹ after activation and retains 620 mAh g⁻¹ after 600 cycles at 200 mA g⁻¹, with Coulombic efficiency approaching 100% throughout. This work demonstrates that dimensionality-reduction-assisted structural engineering is an effective strategy for developing high-capacity, long-cycle-life anode materials. Full article

Purpose: Hypernatremia is a common electrolyte disorder in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate underlying etiologies, clinical characteristics, and factors associated with outcomes in critically ill children with hypernatremia, while accounting for illness severity. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed pediatric patients with at least one serum sodium measurement > 145 mEq/L during their stay in a tertiary Level 3 PICU. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) data were collected. Factors associated with in-hospital mortality were evaluated using univariate and multivariable analyses. Results: A total of 113 children were included (mean age 4.8 ± 5.3 years; 57.5% male). Neurological disorders were the most common underlying disease category, while free water deficit was the most frequently identified etiology of hypernatremia. Overall in-hospital mortality was 15.9%. Mortality rates were 21.5% among patients with PICU-associated hypernatremia and 8.3% among those with hypernatremia within the first 24 h of admission; the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.058). PRISM score remained independently associated with mortality (OR 1.124, 95% CI 1.059–1.193; p < 0.001), whereas serum sodium concentration was not significantly different between survivors and non-survivors. Conclusions: Among critically ill children with hypernatremia, mortality was higher than the overall PICU mortality rate but was primarily associated with overall illness severity rather than with the degree of hypernatremia itself. PRISM score, rather than serum sodium concentration, was independently associated with mortality, suggesting that hypernatremia may represent a marker of severe underlying illness rather than an independent determinant of outcome. Full article

Soil microplastic pollution may affect woody plant establishment, but evidence for tree seedlings remains limited. Populus simonii × P. nigra ‘1307’ seedlings were grown for 45 d in soil containing an equal-mass PVC–PE–PS mixture at 0, 100, 500, or 1000 mg kg⁻¹ dry soil. Growth, root architecture and activity, photosynthetic traits, oxidative status, and soil chemical and enzymatic properties were measured. The 100 mg kg⁻¹ treatment produced limited, trait-specific changes and did not consistently inhibit growth. In contrast, 500 and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ reduced most growth and physiological traits. At 1000 mg kg⁻¹, total dry biomass, total root length, root surface area, root volume, root-tip number, and root activity decreased by 43.7%, 46.5%, 47.2%, 50.2%, 51.1%, and 50.9%, respectively. Net photosynthetic rate and PSII electron transport declined, whereas H₂O₂, O₂•⁻ production, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and electrolyte leakage increased. Under higher exposure, soil electrical conductivity was higher, whereas available nutrient levels and several soil enzyme activities were lower. These results indicate that medium and high concentrations of the tested mixture were associated with concurrent inhibition of root development, photosynthetic performance, and biomass accumulation under short-term pot conditions. Because concurrent impairment of woody-seedling performance and soil biochemical functioning may compromise vegetation establishment, these findings support the inclusion of mixed-polymer exposure in ecological risk assessments for soils used in forestry and ecological restoration. Full article

Taekwondo is a high-intensity, intermittent, weight-category combat sport requiring repeated explosive actions, rapid decision-making, and effective recovery between bouts. These demands, combined with congested competition schedules and weight-management requirements, make nutrition important for both performance and athlete health. This narrative review provides an evidence-informed synthesis of nutritional strategies relevant to taekwondo performance, recovery, and weight management by integrating available taekwondo-specific evidence with findings from comparable combat sports and established sports nutrition guidelines. Particular attention is given to energy and carbohydrate availability, protein intake, hydration and electrolyte balance, selected ergogenic aids, nutritional periodization, and safe weight management. The review also proposes an applied integrative framework illustrating how nutrition may influence interacting physiological, neuromuscular, cognitive, and recovery-related processes. A key limitation is the scarcity of taekwondo-specific intervention studies, meaning that several practical recommendations are necessarily extrapolated from comparable combat sports and broader athletic populations. From an applied perspective, nutritional priorities should include maintaining adequate energy and carbohydrate availability, supporting recovery through appropriate protein and fluid–electrolyte intake, and adopting gradual, individualized weight-management strategies that minimize dehydration, low energy availability, and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) risk. Overall, nutritional strategies in taekwondo should be individualized and aligned with training load, competition demands, recovery needs, and weight-management goals. Further taekwondo-specific experimental studies are needed to refine these recommendations and strengthen sport-specific nutritional guidance. Full article

The sensitivity of classical electrochemical biosensors is constrained by noise processes at the electrode–electrolyte interface: low-frequency 1/f noise, thermal noise and capacitance fluctuations degrade the signal-to-noise ratio in ways that circuit-level mitigation reduces but does not remove. Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) has been proposed as a route past that limit, by shifting transduction from the scalar quantity of charge to the vector property of electron spin. Spin polarizations of up to approximately 60% have been reported at room temperature for double-stranded DNA monolayers in spin-resolved photoemission, while spin-dependent electrochemistry on smaller chiral adsorbates typically yields values in the range of about 5–30%; the reported magnitude is therefore system-, geometry-, technique- and analysis-dependent rather than a universal property of biological helices. Analyte binding modulates this efficiency through changes in helical pitch, dipole and structural integrity. This review unites the physics of CISS with the surface chemistry of spin-selective sensor layers, compares the competing mechanistic accounts of the effect, and then examines a persistent quantitative gap: the polarizations obtained from first-principles transport calculations on isolated chiral molecules remain well below the measured values. Non-relativistic, spin-restricted calculations on closed-shell helices in vacuum yield no polarization by construction, and although spin-polarized and relativistic implementations that treat spin–orbit coupling explicitly are available, they typically still underestimate experiments by orders of magnitude. We argue that a substantial part of this deficit is attributable to the widespread use of static, vacuum-based or implicitly solvated models, and that multiscale quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) frameworks with explicit solvents are one necessary—though probably not sufficient—correction. Full article

Biomass-derived carbons hold substantial promise for sustainable electrochemical energy storage due to their low cost, wide availability, and intrinsic heteroatom- and mineral-rich nature. However, the fundamental influence of carbonization temperature on the structural evolution of non-activated biomass-derived carbons remains insufficiently understood. In this work, corn straw-derived carbon (CS) is produced without any chemical additives to isolate the intrinsic effects of carbonization temperature on its physicochemical properties. Systematic temperature variation from 600 to 1000 °C reveals pronounced changes in micro-morphology, pore development, defect density, and the ordering of the carbon matrix, all strongly governed by the inherent mineral content of corn straw. Electrochemical evaluation in alkaline electrolyte demonstrates that CS-800 delivers the highest specific capacitance of 53.8 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ in a three-electrode configuration and maintains favorable rate capability in a symmetric supercapacitor device. The symmetric coin-cell supercapacitor device assembled with CS-800 as the electrodes achieved an energy density of 3.64/5.8 Wh kg⁻¹ and a power density of 5200/750 W kg⁻¹, along with remarkable cycling stability over 30,000 cycles with negligible capacitance loss. Overall, this study provides mechanistic insight into temperature-driven structural evolution in non-activated biomass-derived carbons, offering a fundamental understanding that may guide the rational design and future development of sustainable carbon electrodes for electrochemical energy-storage applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Electrolyte disturbances are common in patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) and may influence clinical outcomes. However, the prognostic significance of peri-procedural electrolyte changes in patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy remains insufficiently investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of pre- and post-procedural serum electrolyte levels and peri-procedural electrolyte changes with 90-day mortality in patients with AIS treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 274 adult patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion who underwent mechanical thrombectomy between February 2017 and February 2026. Serum sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), and calcium (Ca) levels were recorded before thrombectomy and within the first hour after the procedure. Peri-procedural electrolyte changes (Δ) were calculated as post-procedural minus pre-procedural values. Clinical, imaging, laboratory, and procedural variables associated with 90-day mortality were evaluated using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 274 patients, 67 (24.5%) died within 90 days. Post-procedural serum Na levels were significantly lower in the mortality group than in the survival group (p = 0.030). No significant associations were observed between 90-day mortality and pre-procedural electrolyte levels or peri-procedural electrolyte changes. In the multivariable analysis, higher admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (p = 0.001), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (p < 0.001), higher admission glucose levels (p = 0.003), and higher triglyceride levels (p = 0.046) were independently associated with increased 90-day mortality, whereas successful reperfusion (TICI 2b–3) (p = 0.011) and higher post-procedural serum Na levels (OR = 0.851, 95% CI: 0.749–0.968; p = 0.014) were independently associated with reduced odds of 90-day mortality. The addition of post-procedural serum Na to the base model resulted in a modest increase in discrimination (AUC 0.800 to 0.812; ΔAUC = 0.012), which was not statistically significant (DeLong p = 0.454). Conclusions: Among the peri-procedural electrolyte parameters evaluated, only post-procedural serum Na was independently associated with 90-day mortality after mechanical thrombectomy. However, adding post-procedural serum Na to established clinical, procedural, and metabolic predictors did not significantly improve model discrimination. These findings suggest that post-procedural serum Na may represent an associated prognostic marker, while its incremental predictive utility beyond established predictors remains unproven. Full article

Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) are promising devices for high-efficiency hydrogen production using variable renewable energy. However, dynamic operation involves complex interactions among electrochemical heat generation or absorption, gas heat transfer, temperature-dependent cell voltage, and thermal inertia of stack components. Therefore, mechanical reliability should be evaluated together with load-following performance. In this study, a transient stress analysis framework was developed for an SOEC stack by coupling a transient temperature distribution model, finite element stress analysis, and a surrogate model. The temperature model considers the active cell region, inactive cell region, and edge region, and calculates the evolution of in-plane temperature distributions during power fluctuations. The obtained temperature fields were transferred to finite element stress analysis to evaluate the stress states of the YSZ electrolyte, Ni-YSZ hydrogen-electrode support, and metal interconnector. To enable long-duration evaluation, a surrogate model was constructed from finite element results and applied to time-series temperature distributions under dynamic operating conditions. The suggested framework enables efficient estimation of transient stress histories and clarifies how temperature gradients formed during load changes affect stack components. This approach provides a useful basis for assessing mechanical reliability and designing operating strategies for SOEC stacks coupled with variable renewable energy. Full article

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electric mobility, renewable energy integration, portable electronics, and renewable–hydrogen hybrid energy systems. Despite significant advances in battery materials and design, long-term degradation remains a major challenge that affects system reliability, efficiency, and economic viability. In renewable–hydrogen hybrid architectures, battery degradation influences not only energy storage performance but also hydrogen production stability, electrolyzer operation, fuel cell utilization, and overall system efficiency. Major degradation mechanisms include solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth, electrolyte decomposition, lithium inventory loss, transition-metal dissolution, particle cracking, and structural phase transformations. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of degradation mechanisms affecting lithium-ion battery components and their implications for renewable–hydrogen hybrid systems. Advanced characterization techniques, including in situ and operando X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential capacity analysis, are examined for their ability to reveal chemical, structural, and morphological changes during battery operation. Particular emphasis is placed on the effects of dynamic load variations, partial state-of-charge cycling, temperature fluctuations, and intermittent renewable energy inputs that accelerate degradation in hybrid systems. The review further discusses mitigation strategies such as surface engineering, electrolyte optimization, material doping, thermal management, intelligent energy management systems, predictive maintenance, and machine learning-based prognostics. Key challenges associated with battery–hydrogen integration, including efficiency trade-offs, component ageing, hydrogen production stability, and lifecycle costs, are critically analysed. The adaptability of hybrid systems under varying operating conditions is also explored, highlighting the importance of degradation-aware control strategies, digital twins, and real-time diagnostics. Finally, future research directions are identified, including multiscale characterization, physics-informed machine learning, techno-economic optimization, and life-synergy modelling. These approaches are essential for developing reliable, adaptive, and cost-effective renewable–hydrogen hybrid energy systems capable of supporting long-term decarbonization objectives. Full article

Solid-state sodium metal batteries are promising for large-scale energy storage owing to their high safety, abundant sodium resources, and low material cost. However, NASICON-type solid-state electrolytes, such as Na₃Zr₂Si₂PO₁₂, still suffer from limited room-temperature ionic conductivity and poor ceramic densification. Herein, a multivalent co-doping strategy using Zn²⁺, Sc³⁺, Hf⁴⁺, and Nb⁵⁺ was employed to regulate the crystal structure, sintering behavior, and Na⁺ transport properties of NASICON electrolytes. The effects of isovalent and aliovalent dopants were systematically investigated by XRD, Rietveld refinement, SEM-EDS, bond-valence-site calculations, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The optimized monoclinic Na_3.167Zn_0.167Hf_0.167Zr_1.5Nb_0.167Si₂PO₁₂ electrolyte delivered a room-temperature total ionic conductivity of 1.16 mS cm⁻¹ and an activation energy of 0.35 eV, mainly due to optimized Na⁺ migration-channel geometry and enhanced ceramic densification. Na||Na symmetric cells exhibited stable cycling for 500 h with a maximum polarization voltage of 20 mV. Furthermore, solid-state Na||Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ cells retained 95% capacity after 624 cycles at 1 C. This work provides a feasible doping strategy for advanced NASICON electrolytes and solid-state sodium metal batteries. Full article