Search Results (1,214)

Electric vehicles are rapidly reshaping global transportation, emerging as a central pillar of efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and end dependence on fossil fuels. This review provides a critical and integrative synthesis of recent advances in electric vehicle technologies, focusing on three interconnected domains: battery innovations, charging strategies, and grid integration. Progress in high-energy-density lithium-ion chemistries, emerging solid-state and sodium-ion batteries, and advanced battery management systems is examined with respect to their implications for driving range, safety, and lifecycle sustainability. Charging infrastructure developments, including fast and ultra-fast charging, wireless charging, and battery-swapping networks, are evaluated in terms of technical feasibility, grid impact, and user adoption. The evolving role of EVs in enhancing energy system flexibility is further analyzed through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and smart grid interactions, with emphasis on control algorithms, grid stability, and renewable energy integration. By critically analyzing recent literature, this review identifies key technological, infrastructural, and system-level challenges, as well as emerging research directions that require coordinated optimization across domains. The insights presented aim to guide future research, technology development, and policy design toward the realization of a resilient, efficient, and scalable electric mobility ecosystem. Full article

Background/Objectives: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and antioxidant networks mediated by Selenoprotein P (SEPP1) are core drivers of structural neuroplasticity and blood–brain barrier integrity, yet their co-regulatory behavior during subacute stroke neurorehabilitation remains poorly understood. This pilot study quantified concurrent changes in serum BDNF and SEPP1 during rehabilitation. Methods: Sixteen subacute post-stroke patients with mild stroke severity were assigned to an intensive multi-modal neurorehabilitation protocol incorporating high-intensity interval training (Treated, n = 7) or standard care (Control, n = 9); the biomarker sampling window averaged 73.4 days. Fasting venous blood was collected at baseline and post-intervention and analyzed by ELISA. Results: BDNF changes (ΔBDNF) differed significantly between arms (U = 57.0, p = 0.0081): the Treated cohort showed a uniform decrease (mean Δ: −0.240 ± 0.103 ng/mL), while Controls showed stabilization or a slight increase (mean Δ: +0.118 ± 0.339 ng/mL). ΔBDNF and ΔSEPP1 were significantly, positively correlated across the cohort (ρ = 0.596, p = 0.015). Conclusions: The BDNF decline in the Treated group is consistent with the “central sink” hypothesis, but may more plausibly reflect stress/cortisol-mediated suppression induced by the high training intensity, contrasting with increases typically reported after moderate-intensity subacute-phase exercise. The collinear coupling with SEPP1 suggests a link between neurotrophic synthesis and antioxidant buffering during post-stroke tissue remodeling, though this correlational finding does not by itself establish a single, coordinated mechanism. Full article

Supercapacitors offer high power density, fast charging/discharging capability, and long cycle life, yet their relatively low energy density limits broader deployment in electric vehicles, portable electronics, and grid storage systems. MXenes, a family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, have emerged as promising electrode materials due to their high electrical conductivity, tunable surface chemistry, hydrophilicity and intrinsic pseudocapacitive behavior. However, restacking of MXene layers reduces accessible surface area and ion transport efficiency, constraining electrochemical performance. To address this limitation, MXene-based nanocomposites incorporating carbon nanomaterials, conducting polymers, and metal oxides have been extensively developed. This review systematically evaluates recent advances in MXene-based nanocomposites for high-energy-density supercapacitors, highlighting electrochemical performance. A quantitative benchmarking comparison with commonly used electrode materials, including graphene, carbon nanotubes, and activated carbon, is provided. Key challenges in synthesis, performance standardization, and stability are discussed, along with future prospects for developing safer and scalable production methods of MXene-based electrodes. Full article

Metal–organic bimetallic frameworks of Ni–Co, having metal content of 2:1 and 1:2 molar ratios, respectively, have been synthesized via a rapid laser method with a continuous-wave Nd:YVO₄ laser (λ = 975 nm) under 88–90 °C in a DMF/H₂O solution in 70 min. The structure, porosity, and photophysical, electrochemical, and dielectric characteristics of the frameworks and their reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites in the form of powders and UV-cured PEGMEA/PEGDA films have been investigated. Framework Ni2Co1MOF demonstrated a BET surface area equal to 88.3 m² g⁻¹ and a total pore volume of 0.022 cm³ g⁻¹, whereas framework Ni1Co2MOF exhibited a BET surface area of 52.5 m² g⁻¹ and a total pore volume of 0.016 cm³ g⁻¹. The incorporation of rGO from 1 to 10 wt.% into the framework changed the charge transport and polarization properties of the materials. The electrochemical investigations of the 10 wt.% rGO-Ni1Co2MOF composite in 0.5 M HCl demonstrated a specific capacitance of 32.3 F g⁻¹ at 10 mV s⁻¹, and it preserved 98% of the electrochemical response after 400 cycles, in comparison with 96% for the 10 wt.% rGO-Ni2Co1MOF. The electrochemical responses consisted of both diffusion-controlled ion transport and pseudocapacitance. The introduction of rGO in 1 to 10 wt.% in the polymer composite improved the conductivity and Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars interface polarization at low frequencies in the case of low rGO concentrations, whereas overly high rGO content led to aggregation and the decreased influence of the conductive phase. The main contribution of the present work is the fast sub-100 °C synthesis approach for compositionally tunable Ni-Co frameworks/rGO materials and the relationships between the metal ratio, porous structure, interfacial charge transport, and dielectric response. Full article

The detection of triethylamine (TEA) at low concentrations requires sensing materials with high surface reactivity and efficient gas-transport capability. In this work, porous In₂O₃ nanostructures were successfully prepared through a mixed-solvent-regulated metal–organic framework-derived (MOF) strategy. Indium nitrate and terephthalic acid were used as the metal source and organic ligand, respectively. By adjusting the volume ratio of N,N-dimethylformamide and ethanol, the nucleation and growth of In-based MOF precursors were effectively regulated, followed by thermal conversion into porous MOF-derived In₂O₃ materials. Structural characterization confirms that all samples were completely transformed into cubic In₂O₃ after calcination and exhibited porous architectures assembled from In₂O₃ nanoparticles. The solvent composition was found to exert a pronounced influence on the pore structure, defect concentration, and surface oxygen species. Gas-sensing measurements reveal that the MOF-In₂O₃ sensor delivered the best TEA-sensing performance at 240 °C, with a response of 77 toward 100 ppm TEA, relatively fast response/recovery behavior, a detection limit down to 0.5 ppm, and good selectivity and long-term stability. The superior performance can be attributed to the continuous gas-diffusion channels constructed by nanoparticle assembly, abundant oxygen vacancies and chemisorbed oxygen species that promote surface oxidation reactions, and the effective catalytic oxidation capability of In₂O₃ toward TEA molecules. This study demonstrates that regulating the solvent composition during MOF precursor synthesis is a simple and effective route to optimize the microstructure and surface defects of In₂O₃ for improved TEA gas sensing. Full article

Quercetin is a plant-derived flavonol positioned at the interface of metabolic health and food preservation. This review integrates quercetin chemistry, plant biosynthesis and metabolism, production-relevant extraction and microbial synthesis, bioavailability, mechanisms of action, preclinical and clinical evidence in metabolic syndrome (MetS), and applications in clean-label food preservation. Experimental studies indicate that quercetin modulates obesity-associated inflammation, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, and gut-barrier impairment through interconnected Nrf2/HO-1, NF-κB/NLRP3, AMPK/SIRT1, PI3K/Akt, eNOS/NO, lipid metabolism, and microbiota-related pathways. Human evidence is narrower and heterogeneous: modest reductions in systolic blood pressure constitute the most consistent signal, whereas effects on fasting glucose, lipids, inflammatory markers, endothelial function, liver fat, and body weight vary by population, formulation, dose, and duration. In food systems, quercetin has been investigated as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm agent, and photodynamic photosensitizer. It is incorporated into edible films, coatings, freshness indicators, and controlled-release packaging, although most evidence remains laboratory-scale. Key translational challenges include limited aqueous solubility, variable bioavailability, incomplete long-term safety evidence, matrix-dependent efficacy, sensory constraints, manufacturing scale-up, migration, and regulation. Overall, quercetin is promising, but clinical use and industrial deployment require formulation-specific, adequately powered human studies and validation in clinically relevant populations and under commercially realistic processing conditions. Full article

In this study, total flavonoids from Polygonum perfoliatum L. (PPTF) were extracted using ionic liquid-assisted ultrasound and purified by macroporous resin. After optimization, the total flavonoid content increased from 33.9% to 71.2%. HPLC identified hyperoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and quercetin. In vitro experiments showed that PPTF exhibited good free radical scavenging activity and inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Within the concentration range of 3.13–12.50 μg/mL, PPTF was non-toxic to HepG2 cells and improved glucose uptake, promoted glycogen synthesis, and reduced lipid accumulation in insulin-resistant cells in a dose-dependent manner. In a type 2 diabetic mouse model induced by high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin, intragastric administration of PPTF for four weeks significantly lowered fasting blood glucose in the high-dose group, improved oral glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, increased hepatic and muscle glycogen, normalized serum lipid profiles, and alleviated pathological damage in the liver and pancreas. PPTF exhibits favorable hypoglycemic and lipid-regulating effects in both cellular and animal models, demonstrating its potential for development as an adjunctive functional product for glycemic management. Full article

Solid-state hydrogen storage is considered a promising and environmentally friendly approach for energy storage. However, several challenges, including sluggish hydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics and high dehydrogenation temperatures, continue to limit the practical implementation of many hydrogen storage materials. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of severe plastic deformation techniques to improve the hydrogen storage performance of some of the most promising material systems, including TiFe-based intermetallic compounds, titanium alloys such as Ti–V-based alloys and Ti–Mg-based alloys, LaNi₅, niobium, palladium, high-entropy alloys, and magnesium and Mg-based materials. Processing routes such as high-pressure torsion, equal-channel angular pressing, fast forging, accumulative fold-forging, and intensive cold rolling have been widely employed to introduce lattice defects, promote grain refinement, and generate a high density of grain boundaries in bulk materials to enhance their hydrogen storage kinetics, activation and air resistance. In addition to enhancing hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetic properties, these techniques offer potential pathways for synthesis of hydrogen storage materials with suitable thermodynamics for hydrogen storage at room temperature. There are also attempts to scale up material production by these techniques. This review paper discusses how plastically deformed materials generally exhibit superior hydrogen storage performance and improved cycling stability compared with their undeformed counterparts. Full article

Since the introduction of the spherical nucleic acid (SNA) paradigm in 1996, extensive research has been dedicated to this burgeoning field, yielding groundbreaking advances in biomedicine. Featuring a unique three-dimensional spherical nanoarchitecture composed of highly oriented, densely packed oligonucleotide layers conjugated to a solid or hollow core, SNAs possess extraordinary biological properties, including transfection-reagent-independent cellular internalization and enhanced resistance to nuclease degradation. These synthetic and foundational evolutionary milestones offer profound advantages for the rational design of targeted biomedical therapeutics. In this comprehensive review, recent breakthroughs in the synthetic methodologies and structural designs of SNAs, with a particular emphasis on gold-based templates, are systematically summarized and discussed. Furthermore, the core bottlenecks and future perspectives emerging at the intersection of artificial intelligence and high-throughput screening are highlighted to guide next-generation intelligent nanomedicine development. Full article

The Zeta-Minimizer Theorem provides a fully deductive variational foundation for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Starting from three primitive thermodynamic axioms and the helical geometry of the phase functional, a multi-extent dynamical system is constructed that simultaneously treats the electrochemical reaction coordinates and the adsorption extents of the participating species at the solid–electrolyte interface. The combined Hessian of the phase functional yields a complete spectrum of relaxation rates whose eigenvalues and eigenvectors emerge directly from the solid blackbox constants $C_k$ and the helical partition functions of the reactive species. Adiabatic elimination of the fast surface modes produces an effective single-extent description in which voltage (or overpotential) appears as the conjugate variable, exactly analogous to the role of pressure in the corresponding gas-phase ammonia synthesis framework. The resulting nonlinear rate law is thermodynamically consistent at all conditions, recovers the Butler–Volmer and Tafel forms as well-defined limiting cases, and incorporates the effects of temperature, dilution, and catalyst-specific interface constants without empirical activation energies or adjustable reaction orders. The framework therefore unifies equilibrium, kinetics, and modal dynamics of HOR and ORR within a single variational structure, offering a parameter-light, first-principles alternative to classical empirical electrocatalytic rate expressions while preserving transparent contact with established limiting laws. Full article

Background/Objectives: Male obesity secondary hypogonadism (MOSH) is a highly prevalent condition characterised by reduced testosterone levels in obese men, driven by increased aromatase activity, reduced SHBG, insulin resistance, and HPG axis suppression. Dietary interventions represent a cornerstone of non-pharmacological management; however, the comparative efficacy of different dietary patterns on testosterone restoration remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Comprehensive searches were performed in SciSpace, Google Scholar, and PubMed through June 2026. Eligible studies included human adult males with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) undergoing Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), ketogenic diet (KD/VLCKD), or intermittent fasting (IF) interventions, with quantitative assessment of testosterone or androgen status. Results: From 697 initial records, 500 unique papers were identified after deduplication. Following abstract screening (n = 442 excluded) and full-text assessment (n = 6 excluded), 52 studies were included in the final synthesis. VLCKD demonstrated the most consistent evidence for testosterone improvement, with RCTs reporting significant increases in total testosterone (+1.5 to +3.0 nmol/L). Intermittent fasting showed promising but more heterogeneous results. Evidence for Mediterranean diet was limited, focusing primarily on metabolic rather than hormonal outcomes. Weight loss emerged as a critical mediator across all dietary interventions (~3 nmol/L per 10 kg weight loss). Conclusions: Among dietary interventions for MOSH, VLCKD shows the strongest evidence for testosterone restoration in obese men, through rapid weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, and potential direct HPG axis effects. Intermittent fasting represents a viable alternative. Mediterranean diet, while beneficial for cardiovascular health, lacks robust interventional evidence for testosterone improvement in this population. Systematic Review Registration: This review was not prospectively registered. PROSPERO registration is recommended for future updates. Full article

Zimbabwe’s Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) fundamentally reconfigured the country’s political economy, yet its implications for sustainable peace remain insufficiently theorised. This article interrogates how the economic fragmentation resulting from the FTLRP has shaped peacebuilding trajectories in Zimbabwe. The study draws on an integrative secondary data synthesis of existing datasets. Sources include Afrobarometer surveys, World Bank governance indicators, Uppsala Conflict Data Program and Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project conflict event data, as well as national economic and environmental statistics. The analysis adopts a critical peacebuilding framework grounded in Johan Galtung’s distinction between positive and negative peace and Mushtaq Khan’s political settlements theory. The evidence suggests that the post-FTLRP economy is organised into three interrelated spheres: a politically dependent agrarian sector, a politically contested extractive sector, and a dominant informal economy comprising over 76% of enterprises. This configuration is associated with a form of negative peace. It is characterised by the absence of overt conflict but appears to be maintained through a coercive stability arrangement that selectively distributes land and economic rents to politically aligned elites and segments of the rural middle class while marginalising broader populations. The study concludes that achieving positive and sustainable peace requires a renegotiated political settlement centred on land tenure security, economic formalisation, and restorative justice. Full article

Programmable hydrogel actuators represent an innovative group of adaptive soft matter systems, which are able to respond to external stimuli with controllable mechanical movements for biomedical and bioengineering purposes. Natural silk fibroin (SF) is known to be a peculiar biomaterial, since it can exhibit controllable β-sheet-induced structural transitions, hierarchical self-assemblies, high biocompatibility, and mechanical adaptability, thus representing an ideal candidate for the development of dynamic hydrogels. In contrast to earlier reviews which focused more on SF hydrogel synthesis or biomedical applications, this review presents a mechanism-based understanding of programmable bioactuation by carefully correlating molecular design, network formation, stimuli responsiveness, and macroscopic deformation. Recent developments in SF hydrogel actuators are critically compared in terms of actuation principles, deformation behaviors, response dynamics, mechanical robustness, and functionalization, noting the natural compromise between fast response, strength generation, and durability in such materials. Novel concepts like nanocomposite materials, bioinspired designs, shape memory systems, and 4D printing are described as efficient ways to improve programmable deformation and functionality in soft materials. In addition, the biomedical opportunities of responsive SF hydrogels in wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, wearable biosensors, and soft robots are critically discussed in relation to existing barriers for translation into practice. Combining mechanistic understanding with the comparative assessment of the performance of hydrogels is a basis for developing a complete rationale for the design of the next generation of SF hydrogel actuators and smart shape deformations. Full article

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) has been widely used in the field of corrosion protection. LDH nanofillers can act as multifunctional additives in coatings based on the physical barrier effect and anion exchange effect. However, the preparation of the typical co-precipitation method needs to be simplified to realize large-scale industrialization. In this work, a wide range of synthesis parameters, including solution-mixing mode, reaction atmosphere, reaction pH control, titration rate and post-treatment on the obtained LDH, were systematically studied, and it was found that the one-step solution-mixing synthesis procedure and the adoption of N₂ atmosphere were able to alleviate the carbonate contamination to some degree. However, the one-step solution-mixing synthesis procedure has a negative influence on the formation of LDH, probably due to insufficient reaction, while the hydrothermal post-treatment is able to promote the continual growth of the LDH platelet and, thus, lead to an increase in crystallinity and particle size. Green inhibitor aspartates were used to modify LDH, and the electrochemical test results indicated that the adoption of N₂ atmosphere was able to clearly increase the corrosion protection ability of LDH, with an R_p value of 3.86 kΩ·cm² after immersion for 96 h in 0.1 mol/L NaCl, probably due to the intercalation of a relatively large amount of inhibitor anions since less carbonates were intercalated, followed by the LDH synthesized via co-precipitation without N₂ protection, pH control and hydrothermal post-treatment with an R_p value of 3.00 kΩ·cm². The LDH sample without inhibitor intercalation presented a corresponding R_p value of 2.45 kΩ·cm². Notably, the one-step solution-mixing method and a fast titration rate in co-precipitation would have a negative influence on the corrosion protection of LDH, probably due to insufficient reaction. This work could shed light on the simplification of LDH preparation, and it is able to provide a solid foundation and technical support for the wide promotion and application of LDH in anti-corrosion and other fields in the near future. Full article

The floods triggered by the 29 October 2024 cut-off low in Valencia (Spain) expose a persistent challenge in disaster risk reduction: extensive meteorological and territorial data do not automatically become timely, trusted or actionable public guidance. This conceptual synthesis uses the Valencia event as a diagnostic case and reconstructs selected evidence on rainfall, hydrological escalation and alert timing to develop a data-driven framework spanning observation, modelling, impact assessment, communication, decision-making and post-event learning. Here, “data-driven” denotes an end-to-end governance and translation process, not the development of a new forecasting model. The framework integrates four dimensions: data governance, user-centred visualization, uncertainty communication and school-based education. It also introduces territorial translation as the link between impact forecasts and place-specific infrastructures, routines, vulnerabilities and responsibilities. Its novelty lies in connecting the Early Warnings for All pillars and impact-based, people-centred warning approaches with an explicit educational and territorial learning loop. Its practical contribution is a responsibility matrix, a minimum governance package and an implementation roadmap with indicators for latency, reach, comprehension and protective action. The framework is intended for adaptation, rather than statistical generalization, across Mediterranean and other fast-onset flood contexts. Improved forecasts remain necessary but insufficient: loss reduction requires interoperable records, accessible impact-based messages and inclusive educational programmes that convert scientific information into situated collective competence. Full article