Search Results (1,391)

Soil salinity remains a major constraint to rice productivity, particularly during early developmental stages when plants are highly sensitive to osmotic and ionic stress. In this study, we evaluated 201 genetically diverse rice genotypes from the 3K Rice Diversity Panel to investigate stage-specific mechanisms of salinity tolerance and develop machine learning-based predictive models for rapid phenotypic screening. Morphological and physiological traits were measured under control and saline conditions at germination and early seedling stages to derive Stress Tolerance Indices (STIs). The average membership function value (AMFV), calculated from multi-trait STI profiles, effectively captured variation in salinity responses and enabled classification of genotypes into five tolerance categories. Genome-wide association analysis using high-density SNP markers identified 36 significant marker–trait associations, including potentially novel SNPs on chromosomes 1 and 12. Several loci co-localized with candidate genes (LTR1, LGF1, OsCPS4, OsNCX7, and OsNHX4), while functional SNPs within genes (OsDRP2C, RLCK168, and OsMed37_2) and non-synonymous variants (qSVII11.1 and qSNaK3.1) further supported their candidacy in salinity tolerance. Mining favourable SNPs of causal genes identified superior multilocus combinations consistent with STI-based phenotypic patterns, with genotype 91-382 emerging as the strongest performer, exhibiting enhanced Na⁺ exclusion, K⁺ retention, and biomass resilience across developmental stages. To address multicollinearity among STI traits, we applied cross-validated LASSO (germination) and Elastic Net (early seedling) models, achieving high predictive accuracy and revealing a developmental shift from biomass-driven tolerance at germination to ion-regulatory processes at the seedling stage. Independent validation showed strong agreement between predicted and observed AMFVs. By integrating physiological indices, GWAS-derived SNP signals, and regularized machine learning approaches, this study provides a robust framework for identifying elite donors and accelerating breeding for salt-tolerant rice. Full article

The demand for high-energy-density and fast-charging solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) often subjects practical devices to internal thermal loads, making high-temperature operation a common operational condition rather than an isolated scenario. To address the interfacial degradation and dendrite growth accelerated by such thermomechanical stresses, we developed a composite gel electrolyte (CGE) by incorporating an optimal concentration of active Li_6.4La₃Zr_1.4Ta_0.6O₁₂ (LLZTO) into a fluoropolymer network. The abundant Lewis acidic sites on the LLZTO surfaces promote competitive solvation decoupling by interacting with anions, thereby modulating the primary solvation sheath of Li⁺. This localized modulation lowers the lithium-ion migration activation energy to 0.248 eV and facilitates a dual-interfacial passivation mechanism. Specifically, a rigid, inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) forms to suppress morphological instability at the lithium anode, while an organic-dominated cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) enhances the oxidative stability up to 4.3 V. As a result, symmetric cells demonstrate stable electrodeposition for over 450 h at 80 °C and 0.5 mA cm⁻². Furthermore, NCM811/Li full cells utilizing this CGEs exhibit significantly improved thermal resilience and cycling stability. Full article

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reconstruction from undersampled k-space data enables accelerated acquisition but leads to a severely ill-posed inverse problem. Although supervised deep learning methods have achieved strong performance, they typically rely on large paired datasets that are difficult to obtain in clinical practice. To address these limitations, we propose a dictionary-learning-inspired dAta-fRee deep generative modeling with Meta-Attention and implicit precoNditIoning for compressively sampled MRI (CS-MRI), termed ARMANI. Specifically, a meta-attention-augmented deep image prior (MA-DIP) generator performs a joint optimization over the latent input $\eta$ and the network parameter $\theta$, where $\eta$ is regularized via gradient-domain sparsity and $\theta$ is constrained by a ridge penalty, mirroring the adaptive estimation of sparse coefficients and an empirical sparsifying dictionary. Furthermore, we integrate a single-step pseudo-orthogonal projection to achieve implicit preconditioning, which modulates the loss landscape and mitigates ill-conditioning of the forward operator. Experimental results demonstrate that ARMANI consistently outperforms existing SOTA data-free and self-supervised methods, and, with limited training data, achieves performance comparable to or slightly better than the supervised benchmark MoDL, with effective artifact suppression and faithful recovery of fine structural details. Overall, ARMANI shows strong scalability and potential for practical deployment in fully data-free CS-MRI reconstruction scenarios. Full article

Benefiting from their outstanding porosity, considerable specific surface area, and natural flexibility, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs)/MOF materials have emerged as competitive candidates for advanced flexible energy storage devices. However, conventional CNFs/MOFs aerogels or films often suffer from poor recoverability under compression, bending, and folding, accompanied by severe plastic deformation that compromises the cycling and structural stability of devices. To address this issue, we report a rationally designed flexible PU/CNFs/ZIF-8/PANI composite foam with an interconnected micro-mesoporous structure. Using polyurethane foam as a soft substrate and CNFs/ZIF-8 as building blocks, the composite was fabricated through a combined strategy of impregnation, in situ ZIF-8 growth, hot-pressing, and in situ aniline polymerization with simultaneous etching of the ZIF-8. The incorporation of carboxylated CNFs enhances the hydrophilicity of the PU skeleton. This, in combination with the hot-pressed framework, establishes an interconnected 3D network, thereby effectively preventing the agglomeration of active materials. Meanwhile, the hierarchical pores derived from the sacrificial ZIF-8 template provide abundant electroactive sites, accelerate ion transport, and facilitate high PANI loading. By virtue of this synergistic architectural effect, the resultant electrode achieves a high specific capacitance of 449 F/g at 0.2 A/g, with 97% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles at 5 A/g. Furthermore, the composite foam demonstrates excellent mechanical flexibility, with a tensile strength of 0.87 MPa and an elongation at break of 230%. This work offers a feasible approach for developing high-performance flexible supercapacitors and provides novel perspectives for the rational design of portable energy storage devices. Full article

This study clarifies the catalytic role of chloride ions on the corrosion performance of SS316L alloy immersed in molten LiNaK carbonate salt at 700 °C. Accordingly, isothermal static immersion corrosion tests were systematically conducted under different experimental conditions. Our results revealed that the presence of Cl significantly accelerates the corrosion process: the rate constant of the corroded samples increased from 11.3 × 10⁻² mg/cm² to 13.8 × 10⁻² mg/cm² with the addition of Cl. Continuous migration of Cl₂ and volatile metal chlorides leads to the formation of obvious pores, transverse cracks along grain boundaries, surface wrinkles, and partial spalling of the oxide scale, thereby severely aggravating substrate degradation. Notably, no chlorine-containing compounds or chlorine-rich regions were detected in the corroded samples, confirming that chlorine is not consumed in the corrosion process, rather it acts as an autocatalyst through the cyclic process of “oxidation–diffusion–reaction–regeneration”. Full article

The discovery of apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) risk polymorphisms has significantly changed our knowledge of kidney disease susceptibility and development in African American populations. Several non-diabetic kidney disorders, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), collapsing glomerulopathy, HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), and accelerated chronic kidney disease (CKD) development, are significantly more likely to occur in people with two coding variations, G1 and G2. The significance of context-dependent pathogenic processes is highlighted by the poor penetrance and remarkable phenotypic variety of APOL1-associated kidney disease, despite its substantial impact. This review synthesizes current knowledge of APOL1 biology through a molecular framework, emphasizing gain-of-toxic-function effects of risk variants in podocytes, dysregulated ion fluxes, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired proteostasis, and activation of innate immune and inflammatory signaling pathways. We describe how the well-recognized “second-hit” paradigm has a biological basis, driven by strong inducibility by interferons and immunological activation, as well as strict basal regulation of APOL1 expression. Lastly, we explore future approaches to precision nephrology and highlight translational advancements, such as APOL1 gene-silencing techniques. This review provides a mechanistic roadmap for translating APOL1 biology into targeted therapeutic strategies by integrating genetics, cell biology, immunology, and systems-level approaches. Full article

Effective thermal management is critical for high-power lithium-ion batteries to mitigate excessive heat generation and ensure operational reliability. Failure to maintain a uniform temperature distribution can lead to accelerated capacity fading and severe safety risks, such as thermal runaway. In this study, a ferrofluid-based magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) microchannel cooling system was numerically investigated to elucidate the influence of magnetic intensity, magnet geometry, and electrical boundary conditions on flow behavior and heat transfer performance for battery cooling applications. A fully coupled multiphysics model incorporating electromagnetic, fluid flow, and heat transfer phenomena was developed and validated against experimental and numerical data from the literature. The results show that increasing the applied voltage enhances current density and Lorentz force almost linearly, leading to significant flow acceleration and improved convective heat transfer. Electrical insulation effectively suppresses current leakage into the channel walls, increasing the average current density by up to 222% and the Lorentz force by more than 300%. Compared with a cylindrical magnet, a rectangular magnet provides a more uniform magnetic field distribution and stronger near-wall Lorentz forcing, resulting in superior cooling performance. Under a 4C discharge condition, the insulated rectangular magnet reduces the maximum battery temperature by approximately 30% and increases the average Nusselt number by up to 103% relative to the non-insulated case. The findings reveal the critical roles of magnetic-field-controlled flow symmetry and near-wall forcing in MHD-driven microchannels, and provide practical design guidelines for battery cooling systems with no moving mechanical parts and active electromagnetic flow control. Full article

To investigate the sulfate corrosion resistance of cast-in-place repair concrete incorporating recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) under partially exposed conditions, cast-in-place repair concrete specimens with different RCA contents (0%, 30%, and 50%) were immersed in Na₂SO₄ solution. The study systematically investigated the changes in apparent morphology, dimensions, mass, and mechanical properties of the specimens under sulfate corrosion. SEM, XRD, TG/DTG, and MIP were used to characterize the microstructure and mineral composition of the specimens at different corrosion ages. Results indicate that RCA cast-in-place repair concrete partially exposed to a sulfate corrosion environment undergoes coupled physical and chemical corrosion, and the interfacial zone between the recycled aggregate concrete to the base concrete represents the most vulnerable region in the composite system. Incorporating 30% RCA can effectively reduce the degradation rate of specimens under sulfate corrosion, enhance the compactness of the bonding interface, and optimize the interfacial bond strength, compressive strength, and pore structure of the specimens. Excessive RCA content disrupts the internal pore structure, accelerates sulfate ion ingress, and weakens the interfacial bond strength. The presence of RCA significantly reduces the interfacial shear strength of the specimens. After 360 days of sulfate corrosion, specimens featuring 30% and 50% RCA contents exhibit a reduction in shear strength of 15.91% and 40.0%, respectively, compared with the 0% RCA content specimen. Research findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of RCA in concrete repair engineering. Full article

The anti-aging performance of stay cables in complex marine environments is directly related to the long-term service safety of sea-crossing cable-stayed bridge structures, and it has been recognized as one of the key issues for the priority evaluation of the structural performance of sea-crossing cable-stayed bridges with Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) cables. In this paper, the coupled aging effects of ultraviolet radiation, salt spray, temperature and humidity, and prestress on BFRP cables were taken into consideration. Accelerated aging tests involving the coupling of light, heat, water, salt, and prestress were carried out to simulate the actual marine service environment. The anti-aging performance of BFRP cables was investigated by combining the analysis of macro mechanical properties with the characterization of micro structural morphology. The results of the study were as follows: (1) With the increase in aging duration, the tensile strength and ultimate fracture strain of BFRP cables decreased gradually. The degradation rates of tensile strength and ultimate fracture strain of BFRP cables exhibited a decreasing trend, characterized by an initial rapid phase followed by a gradual slowdown under the coupled aging effects of light, heat, water, salt, and prestress. (2) Compared with the significant decrease in tensile strength, the elastic modulus of BFRP cables showed an insignificant decrease. The elastic modulus of BFRP cables was observed to exhibit a trend of initial decrease, subsequent increase, and another decrease, with an overall reduction. (3) Temperature and prestress were verified to exert a considerable influence on the anti-aging performance of BFRP cables. The influence of temperature on the degradation of aging performance of BFRP cables was found to be greater than that of prestress. (4) The degradation in the anti-aging performance of BFRP cables under coupled aging effects was confirmed to originate from the initiation and propagation of microcracks in the resin matrix, which were caused by the combined actions of prestress, photochemistry, and hydrolysis. Meanwhile, the damage to the fiber–resin interface was accelerated by chloride ions in seawater under high-temperature conditions, which ultimately led to a reduction in the anti-aging performance of BFRP cables. Full article

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used across diverse applications due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and fast charging capabilities. As battery-powered systems become increasingly critical, accurate estimation of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) is essential for ensuring reliability, safety, and effective maintenance planning. This work investigates Evidential Deep Learning (EDL) for data-driven RUL estimation and introduces a novel risk-aware loss function designed to enhance both predictive accuracy and uncertainty quantification in the End-of-Life (EoL) region, where precise and trustworthy predictions are most needed. Using a publicly available dataset of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells, we benchmark the proposed approach against a baseline Conv–LSTM model, Monte Carlo (MC) Dropout, and Deep Ensembles. The results show that integrating the risk-aware loss into the EDL framework substantially improves the calibration of predictive uncertainty while achieving state-of-the-art accuracy near EoL. Unlike MC Dropout and Deep Ensembles, which exhibit increasing or unstable uncertainty as degradation accelerates, the proposed EDL model demonstrates a consistent reduction in uncertainty and significantly higher reliability in late-stage predictions. The findings indicate that the risk-aware evidential framework offers a reliable and computationally efficient solution for battery RUL estimation, enabling more informed decision-making in both safety-critical and consumer-oriented applications. Full article

Aiming at the critical problem that recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) has more cracks and severe defects on its surface than natural aggregate, resulting in an excessively weak interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between RCA and cement paste, this paper proposes a triple synergistic modification method combining calcium ion accelerating solution treatment, dopamine polymerization treatment and nanofiber reinforcement to improve the properties of recycled aggregate. Through in-depth research on the mechanical properties of basalt fiber-reinforced fully recycled concrete after triple modification, it is found that the triple modification technology can significantly optimize the structure of the recycled aggregate-cement paste ITZ. The 28-day compressive strength of the fully recycled concrete is increased by 56% (reaching 27.7 MPa), and the splitting tensile strength is improved by 129% (reaching 5.32 MPa). Microscopic analysis shows that the modified system realizes gradient strengthening of the ITZ structure through the synergistic mechanism of “pore filling, chemical bonding and fiber bridging”. This research provides a new idea for the high-performance modification of fully recycled concrete, and has important significance for promoting the sustainable development of the construction industry. Full article

Traditional calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) typically exhibits low specific surface area and reactivity, significantly limiting its efficacy in industrial gas–solid reactions such as flue gas desulfurization and thermochemical energy storage. To address these limitations, this study proposes a two-stage synthesis strategy designed to enhance the surface properties and chemical activity of Ca(OH)₂. The process involves the preparation of high-activity calcium oxide (CaO), followed by controlled hydration using diethylene glycol (DEG). Drawing on established mechanisms from cement chemistry, wherein potassium ions (K⁺) catalyze the decomposition of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), limestone particles (10–20 mm) were pre-soaked in a 0.1 mol/L potassium nitrate (KNO₃) solution for 48 h prior to calcination. Characterization via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Blaine Air Permeability Method analysis revealed that this pretreatment accelerated decomposition kinetics by inducing surface defects, yielding CaO with a maximum reactivity of 435.7 mL. Subsequent hydration at 80 °C with 70 wt% DEG effectively suppressed particle agglomeration and promoted the formation of thin platelet structures. The resulting Ca(OH)₂ achieved a utilization efficiency of 98.5% and a specific surface area of 43.24 m²/g, demonstrating a robust technical route for fabricating high-performance calcium-based sorbents for environmental and energy applications. Full article

Present and future rare isotope accelerator facilities provide new opportunities to explore the structure of unstable nuclei. We report the measurements of the elastic scattering angular distributions of ²¹Na and ²²Na on the doubly magic ⁴⁰Ca above the Coulomb barrier energies, using high-purity post-accelerated ISOL beams from Beijing Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (BRIF). Angular distributions were measured with a silicon detector telescope array, and relative cross sections were determined with a CaF₂ target on Au backing. The data were well reproduced by optical model calculations with Woods–Saxon and USNP potentials, the latter giving better agreement. These results confirm the stable operation and performance of the BRIF ISOL production and post-acceleration system, demonstrate its capability to provide radioactive beams of useful intensity and purity for future investigations of reaction dynamics and astrophysically relevant processes involving proton-rich nuclei, and simultaneously extend proton-rich elastic scattering studies to heavier systems. Full article

Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) are promising for bone tissue engineering; however, surgical site infection and oxidative stress often compromise regeneration. To address this, MBGNs co-doped with cerium (Ce), zinc (Zn), and strontium (Sr) were synthesized using a microemulsion-assisted sol-gel route (xCe-yZn-Sr-MBGNs; x = 0, 1, 2; y = 0, 0.5, 1). The resulting spherical nanoparticles (150–200 nm) exhibited a mesoporous structure with a specific surface area of (~340–425 m²/g), sustained ion release, and apatite formation in simulated body fluid. In vitro evaluations with MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts demonstrated dose-dependent cytocompatibility, specifically in the co-doped formulations; however, higher Ce concentrations (2Ce-yZn-Sr-MBGNs) reduced viability following prolonged exposure. Crucially, the 1Ce-1Zn-Sr-MBGNs significantly enhanced osteogenic differentiation, as evidenced by a two-fold increase in osteogenic marker gene expression and a ~45% increase in calcium mineral deposition compared to undoped MBGNs within 14 days. Moreover, these particles accelerated cell migration, achieving ~70% scratch-wound closure within 24 h. Furthermore, 1Ce-1Zn-Sr-MBGNs displayed strong radical scavenging capacity and potent antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. These findings indicated that 1Ce-1Zn-Sr-MBGNs exhibited multiple therapeutic effects, including antibacterial, radical-scavenging, and osteogenic effects. By optimizing dopant ratios, these multifunctional nanomaterials emerge as promising candidates for next-generation bone grafts or implant coatings. Within the scope of this study, they demonstrated the capacity to simultaneously address three critical challenges in bone healing: controlling infection, mitigating oxidative stress, and promoting mineralized tissue formation. While these in vitro results provide a robust foundation, further in vivo validation is warranted to confirm their efficacy within complex physiological environments. Full article

Nutritionally crucial unsaturated fatty acids, especially rich in high omega-3 bonds, are very prone to oxidation. This phenomenon makes oxidation stability a substantial challenge in every formulation, especially those which contain or at some stage of preparation contain water. Bigels and emulgels, which represent promising structured lipid systems for replacing saturated and trans fats in food formulations, pose significant oxidative stability challenges. This review examines oxidation mechanisms in such biphasic systems. Oxidation in bigels and emulgels proceeds through both free-radical-mediated autoxidation and metal-ion-catalysed pathways, with the oil–water interface serving as the primary reaction zone where pro-oxidants concentrate, and lipid substrates become accessible. Structural configuration critically determines oxidative stability, following the sequence W/O bigel > bicontinuous bigel > O/W bigel. The high viscosity of gel matrices provides substantial protection by restricting radical mobility and oxygen diffusion. Mass transfer occurs via diffusion, collision–exchange–separation, and micelle-assisted mechanisms, with association colloids forming localized interfaces that accelerate oxidation. Thermal processing presents particular challenges, as temperatures above 50 °C disrupt most gel structures and accelerate oxidative degradation. Effective protective strategies include interfacial engineering with emulsifiers to reduce oil–water interfacial tension, incorporation of natural antioxidants (e.g., phenolic compounds and tocopherols), and synergistic antioxidant combinations. This review provides a mechanistic framework for formulating oxidatively stable bigels and emulgels suitable for food applications. Full article