Search Results (1,365)

The interaction between mantle plumes and the lithospheric mantle is critical for understanding the genesis of flood basalts. The Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP), composed predominantly of basalts with minor picritic rocks and radiating mafic dyke swarms, offers an exceptional natural laboratory for studying this process. In this contribution, we present geochemical and Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb isotopic data for high-Ti basalts from Weng’an, at the easternmost margin of the ELIP. These basalts (TiO₂ > 2.8 wt.%, Ti/Y > 500) are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs: Ba, Th, U) and slightly depleted in high field strength elements (HFSEs: Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, Y). They exhibit initial (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_t ratios of 0.70594–0.70697, ε_Nd(t) of +1.2 to +1.8, ε_Hf(t) of +1.1 to +1.9, and (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t of 18.11–18.51. Their geochemical signatures resemble those of other high-Ti ELIP basalts and ocean island basalts (OIB) but are distinct from those of depleted mantle sources. Trace element patterns and Pb–Pb isotope systematics indicate derivation from a garnet + spinel lherzolite source linked to the Emeishan mantle plume, with ~8–10% input from sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) metasomatized by slab-derived fluids during ascent. These results provide direct evidence for heterogeneous SCLM contributions to plume-derived magmas and highlight the role of lithospheric heterogeneity in shaping the composition of LIP magmatism. Full article

In this work, an ultrasonic relaxation spectroscopic study of aqueous ammonium Fe(II) sulfate, aqueous ammonium Fe(III) sulfate and the corresponding ternary system has been undertaken. A variety of acoustic parameters including relaxation frequency, relaxation amplitude and speed of sound were determined as a function of solution concentration. In addition, the adiabatic compressibility and the molar volume change during the ionic association in ammonium Fe(II) sulfate and ammonium Fe(III) sulfate aqueous solutions were also estimated from the acoustic data. This approach facilitated a comprehensive characterization of the three systems across different concentrations. In the two binary systems, the presence of an ion association mechanism was identified involving the divalent and trivalent iron ions, with the sulfate anions, respectively. Furthermore, in the ternary system, an internal sphere oxidation–reduction mechanism occurred between the divalent and trivalent iron ions. All ions within each solution play an active role in shaping the structure of water molecules, owing to the prevailing kosmotropic characteristics specific to each solution. The results are examined within the context of the current phenomenological understanding in the field. Full article

Lipids are commonly viewed as membrane components, energy sources, or precursors of signaling molecules, yet accumulating evidence indicates a broader role in determining the functional state of cells. In this review, we present an integrative cross-domain synthesis in which lipids are discussed as important modulators of cellular functional state across inflammation, tissue regeneration, and chronic disease. We discuss how membrane lipid composition shapes receptor and ion-channel signaling, how bioactive lipid mediators govern the balance between inflammatory initiation and resolution, and how lipid metabolism regulates stem-cell quiescence, activation, and regenerative capacity. We integrate these mechanisms to show how disruption of lipid-regulated processes may bias tissues toward persistent inflammation, impaired repair, and disease progression in conditions such as rheumatic disorders, fibrosis, and neurodegeneration. Depending on context, such lipid alterations may function as causal contributors, permissive conditions, or downstream signatures of pathological state transitions. Finally, we consider how pharmacological and nutritional modulation of lipid pathways may influence cellular states, while emphasizing that the main contribution of this review is a conceptual state-transition framework that links membrane architecture, mediator balance, and lipid metabolic flux across inflammation, regeneration, and chronic disease. Full article

Rising demand for high-performance battery thermal management systems (BTMSs) has rendered single-mode cooling insufficient for advanced lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in new energy vehicles (NEVs), particularly under high discharge rates. This study proposes a synergistic hybrid BTMS integrating composite phase-change material (CPCM)–aluminum foam with liquid cooling to enhance thermal regulation of cylindrical battery modules under 5 C discharge conditions. Multiple liquid-cooled plate (LCP) configurations, including serpentine, straight, and leaf-shaped designs, together with different flow channel topologies (FCTs), were systematically investigated and optimized. The effects of coolant flow speed (CFS) and ambient temperature were also analyzed. Results indicate that the optimized leaf-shaped LCP with FCT #2 delivers superior performance, limiting the maximum temperature to 309.98 K, reducing temperature difference by 7.6%, and decreasing pressure drop by 88.79% compared to the serpentine configuration. Increasing CFS improves heat dissipation and delays PCM melting, although it raises pressure losses. Furthermore, the proposed system maintains a cell-to-cell temperature difference below 0.51 K, indicating excellent thermal uniformity. Compared to a CPCM-only system, the hybrid BTMS reduces peak temperature by 8.81 K under elevated ambient conditions (309.15 K), demonstrating strong potential for reliable and efficient thermal management in demanding operating environments. Full article

Sewage sludge management is increasingly shifting from a liability-focused “treat-and-dispose” approach toward resource recovery, where digestion residues and their liquid fractions are treated as secondary feedstocks for nutrient, water, and energy recovery. In Europe, the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive strengthens performance and monitoring requirements and reinforces the need for efficient sludge treatment and downstream valorization routes. This review synthesizes evidence on how pretreatment-induced changes in digestate properties translate into membrane performance outcomes and maps practical design implications for selecting pretreatment-membrane trains for nutrient recovery and reclaimed water production. Pressure-driven membrane methods (MF/UF/NF/RO), together with membrane distillation and electrodialysis, are central candidates for producing clarified water streams and concentrating nutrients; however, their performance is governed by digestate rheology, colloidal stability, and the composition of soluble microbial products and inorganic ions, which collectively shape fouling and scaling risks. Pretreatments such as thermal hydrolysis and microwave conditioning can modify floc structure and solubilize organics, with potential benefits for dewaterability and mass transfer, but can also shift particle size distributions toward fines and increase fouling propensity if not coupled with appropriate solid–liquid separation and conservative flux control. Emphasis is placed on mechanisms and operational trade-offs rather than single-point performance claims, highlighting where evidence is robust and where further comparability and full-scale validation remain necessary. Full article

The success of dental implantation depends on both mechanical stability and the host’s immune response to the implanted biomaterials. Osteoimmunology emphasizes that early immune responses at the implant-tissue interface are critical for bone healing and long-term osseointegration. The immune response primarily consists of immune cells, particularly macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes, which interact with osteogenic cells through cytokine networks and signalling pathways, such as RANK/RANKL/OPG. Additionally, it modulates both bone formation and resorption. This review focuses on summarizing the mechanisms that shape the immune response around implants by dental implant materials. It describes mechanisms related to bulk composition, surface topography, and mechanical properties, and highlights macrophage polarization and the transition from inflammation to regeneration. The review discusses current immunomodulatory strategies, including bioactive surfaces, ion doping, nanopatterning, drug-releasing surfaces, and responsive materials, as well as advances enabled by additive manufacturing. The review also discusses experimental models used to study osteoimmunological interactions and the clinical significance of immune dysregulation in peri-implant diseases. The design of biomaterials based on osteoimmunology represents a shift toward immune-compatible implants that aim to improve regenerative outcomes and long-term implant success. Full article

Conductive hydrogels are promising materials for fabricating flexible wearable strain sensors. However, their practical application remains limited by several challenges, including poor mechanical strength, unstable sensitivity, restricted stretchability, and poor structural durability. In this study, a zirconium-reinforced conductive hydrogel (PSPZr) with a dual chemical–physical cross-linked network was designed and developed. In the structural framework, polypyrrole-decorated silk fibroin (SF/PPy) functioned as a conductive reinforcing component, acrylamide and sulfobetaine methacrylate constituted the flexible polymer basis, and zirconium ions (Zr⁴⁺) acted as ionic cross-linkers to construct a dual cross-linked structure and improve mechanical stability. Due to the synergistic contributions of hydrogen bonding, ionic coordination interactions, and SF/PPy, the optimized PSPZr hydrogel exhibited a tensile strength of 166 kPa and a maximum strain 559%. Additionally, it achieved improved elasticity and reliable shape recovery. Furthermore, the optimized PSPZr hydrogel exhibited a broad working range, sensitivity with a gauge factor of 2.8, rapid response, recovery kinetics, and exceptional cycling stability over 1000 stretching–releasing cycles as wearable strain sensors. This performance enabled real-time and accurate monitoring of diverse human motions. Therefore, this study presents a feasible and versatile strategy for developing mechanically robust and electrically stable conductive hydrogel, providing a new pattern for advanced applications in wearable sensors. Full article

Soil salinization severely constrains plant growth, yet the roles of ion composition and rhizosphere microbial communities in shaping plant performance remain poorly resolved. Here, we investigated multiple crop and wild plant species in saline–alkali soils and compared rhizosphere ion composition, microbial communities, and plant growth status. Restricted plant growth was consistently associated with elevated Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations, while fungal diversity was significantly higher in well-growing plants. Ion composition (particularly Na⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄^2–, and Mg²⁺) was strongly correlated with microbial community structure, and a set of microbial taxa, including bacterial phyla such as Deinococcota and Gemmatimonadota and fungal phyla within Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, were repeatedly associated with plant growth status across species. Notably, plant species exhibited distinct apparent, threshold-like responses, and in several cases, plant growth differences were not fully explained by salinity levels alone, suggesting that rhizosphere microbial communities may buffer salt stress. Together, our results reveal that ion composition governs plant growth not only through direct ionic stress but also via microbially mediated pathways, highlighting an ion–microbe–plant interaction framework underlying growth variation in saline–alkali soils. Full article

Background: Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy enables precise navigation to peripheral pulmonary lesions and expands minimally invasive diagnostic options in thoracic surgery. At our institution, the ION™ Endoluminal System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) was introduced to improve diagnostic accuracy in challenging peripheral targets. It is widely recognized that a defined number of procedures is required to achieve procedural proficiency and optimal clinical outcomes when adopting a novel platform. Therefore, this retrospective single-center study aimed to evaluate the learning curve associated with the implementation of this technology in a thoracic surgery center. Methods: In this retrospective study, all consecutive patients who underwent robotic-assisted bronchoscopies performed using the ION™ Endoluminal System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions between August 2024 and March 2026 were analyzed. A total of 128 lesions in 89 patients were initially identified. Cases involving marker placement without diagnostic biopsy, as well as procedures not performed by the primary operator, were excluded. After applying exclusion criteria, 109 procedures in 76 patients were included. The mean patient age was 65.4 ± 9.1 years, and 44 patients were female (57.9%). To assess the learning curve, procedures were chronologically divided into three groups: early (cases 1–36), intermediate (37–73), and late (74–109). Outcome measures included procedure time, number of biopsies per lesion, tumor size, and diagnostic yield. Group comparisons were performed using non-parametric and chi-square tests. Procedural learning was assessed by cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis of procedure time. Results: The overall diagnostic yield was 85.3% (93/109). The diagnostic yield increased over time from 73.0% in the early phase to 83.3% in the intermediate phase and 94.6% in the late phase. The overall comparison was statistically insignificant (χ² p = 0.117); however, there was a significant linear trend across phases, indicating progressive improvement with exposure to the application of this technology. Procedure time decreased significantly from a median of 49.0 min in the early phase to 31.0 min in the intermediate phase and 30.0 min in the late phase (p < 0.001). At the same time, the number of biopsies per lesion increased significantly (p < 0.001). Tumor size did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.170). Conclusions: Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy demonstrates a clear learning curve, characterized by increasing diagnostic yield and significantly reduced procedure time during the implementation phase. The technique can be effectively integrated into the thoracic surgical diagnostic workflow and represents a valuable addition to minimally invasive diagnostics for peripheral pulmonary lesions. Full article

Water-soluble viscosity-modifying admixtures (VMAs) were initially introduced into cementitious materials to enhance cohesion, stability and resistance to bleeding and segregation. With the development of self-compacting concrete, underwater concrete, grouting materials and 3D-printed cementitious materials, VMAs have become increasingly important for regulating rheological behavior, workability retention, shape retention and construction processability. Recent studies further indicate that VMAs can affect not only fresh-state properties, but also hydration kinetics, early-age microstructure evolution, mechanical performance, transport behavior and long-term durability. This review systematically summarizes the types, action mechanisms, and performance effects of water-soluble VMAs in cementitious materials. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationships among the molecular structure, liquid phase viscosity enhancement, particle adsorption and bridging, polymer-chain entanglement, ion-responsiveness, admixture compatibility, and microstructure evolution. The review shows that the effects of VMAs are not governed solely by admixture type or dosage, but depend strongly on molecular mass, functional groups, substituent composition, charge characteristics, binder chemistry, and the pore solution environment. Finally, current research gaps and future directions are discussed, including quantitative structure–mechanism–performance relationships, applicability in low-carbon binders, service-life prediction, and application-oriented VMA design. Full article

Geopolymers, alkali-activated aluminosilicate materials, have gained increasing attention as sustainable adsorbents for wastewater treatment due to their low-temperature synthesis, cost-effectiveness, and ease of shaping into mechanically robust structures. Their intrinsic negatively charged framework promotes the adsorption of cationic species; however, pristine geopolymers typically exhibit moderate performance, with adsorption capacities generally below ~70 mg g⁻¹ for dyes such as methylene blue (MB) and in the range of 20–100 mg g⁻¹ for divalent metal ions. To overcome these limitations, different strategies have been developed to tailor their pore structure and surface chemistry. In particular, foaming approaches enable the production of highly porous materials with tunable pore architecture, improving mass transfer and accessibility of active sites. Moreover, functionalization with carbon-based materials (e.g., activated carbon, graphene derivatives, biochar) or zeolitic phases significantly enhances adsorption performance, with reported capacities exceeding 500 mg g⁻¹ for Pb²⁺ and up to 450 mg g⁻¹ for organic dyes in optimized systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in geopolymer synthesis, pore engineering, and functionalization strategies, highlighting the relationships between composition, structure, and adsorption performance. Particular attention is devoted to the comparison between carbon-based and zeolitic modifications, as well as to the role of material shaping in enabling practical applications. Overall, the combination of tunable porosity, chemical versatility, and structural integrity positions functionalized geopolymers as promising candidates for the development of scalable and multifunctional adsorbents for wastewater remediation. Full article

Ion-acoustic waves in dense quantum plasmas are strongly influenced by Fermi degeneracy, Landau quantization, and finite-temperature effects, and in many relevant environments, they also experience memory and nonlocal transport processes that cannot be captured within the planar integer Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) paradigm. In the present work, we revisit this problem by considering a two-fluid, partially degenerate electron-ion plasma in which electron trapping in the presence of a quantizing field and finite temperature is taken into account. Starting from the normalized fluid-Poisson system appropriate for such magnetized quantum plasmas, the reductive perturbation technique is used to derive the planar integer KdV equation for weakly nonlinear ion-acoustic disturbances. Within this integer-order KdV framework, we recast the evolution equation as a planar dynamical system, construct the associated Hamiltonian and effective Sagdeev-like potential, and demonstrate the existence of compressive solitary waves and nonlinear periodic modes via homoclinic and periodic phase-space orbits. Exact multi-soliton solutions and interaction states are then obtained by combining Hirota’s direct bilinear method with generalized Wronskian representations, allowing us to describe not only standard one-, two-, and three-soliton profiles but also positon-negaton interactions relevant to magnetized, partially degenerate plasmas. To incorporate hereditary and history-dependent effects that arise from anomalous transport and nonlocal temporal response in dense environments, we extend the model by introducing a Caputo time-fractional derivative, thereby obtaining a time-fractional KdV (FKdV) equation that continuously connects the classical KdV limit to fractional dynamics. The FKdV equation is analyzed using the Tantawy technique. This semi-analytical iterative scheme yields rapidly convergent series approximations for the fractional ion-acoustic soliton and provides explicit control of the approximation error. The fractional solutions show that varying the order of the Caputo derivative modifies the amplitude, width, and temporal relaxation of the solitary structures and can even split the pulse into two distinct lobes, in contrast with the nearly rigid propagation predicted by the integer-order KdV equation. Taken together, these results clarify how Landau quantization, finite electron temperature, and fractional-order memory jointly shape the morphology, robustness, and interaction properties of ion-acoustic structures in strongly magnetized quantum plasmas of astrophysical and high-energy-density laboratory interest. Full article

Epilepsy is increasingly conceptualized as a disorder of dynamic network instability rather than a static imbalance between excitation and inhibition. However, substantial variability in seizure occurrence, clinical expression, and treatment response remains insufficiently explained by existing models. This narrative review examines how neurotransmitter systems contribute to seizure dynamics within a state-dependent framework, in which factors such as sleep–wake cycles, stress, inflammation, and metabolic conditions modulate network excitability. The review identified four key findings: neurotransmitter function in epilepsy is state-dependent rather than fixed; multiple physiological state modifiers shape seizure susceptibility; seizure termination is an active state-sensitive process; and biomarker performance depends on the prevailing brain state. Evidence from experimental and clinical studies indicates that neurotransmitter function is context-sensitive and interacts with molecular pathways, including ion channel function, synaptic plasticity, and neuromodulatory signaling. These interactions influence key stages of seizure dynamics, including initiation, propagation, and termination, and may differ across etiological categories of epilepsy. This perspective also helps explain the limited performance of static biomarkers, as they do not capture temporal variability in network states. Instead, state-sensitive markers and context-aware interpretations of electrophysiological and clinical data may provide more informative insights. Overall, integrating neurotransmitter mechanisms with dynamic brain states offers a more precise perspective on seizure variability and may support the development of individualized, state-aware approaches to epilepsy management. Full article

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is increasingly recognized as a disorder involving not only hair-cell damage but also selective degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Recent single-cell, molecular, and functional studies have refined the classical type I/type II classification of SGNs by identifying distinct Ia, Ib, and Ic subtypes within type I neurons. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on how SGN vulnerability is shaped by the interaction between subtype identity, life stage, and injury context. Methods: We conducted a critical narrative review of recent studies on SGN heterogeneity and subtype-specific vulnerability across development, maturity, and aging, with particular attention to molecular profiling, functional studies, and emerging therapeutic strategies. Results: SGN degeneration in SNHL is not uniform. During development, the available evidence mainly supports the vulnerability of subtype specification, synaptogenesis, and activity-dependent maturation, rather than direct selective degeneration of mature Ia/Ib/Ic identities. In the mature cochlea, subtype-specific differences in synaptic architecture, ion-channel composition, and metabolic demand appear to shape responses to noise, ototoxic drugs, and ischemic stress, with Ic-related populations often showing greater vulnerability. During aging, cumulative mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and declining neurotrophic support may progressively unmask differences in subtype resilience and contribute to age-related auditory decline. Conclusions: A lifespan-oriented and subtype-informed framework may improve the current understanding of selective SGN degeneration and support the development of more precise neuroprotective and reparative strategies for SNHL. Full article

Waterflooding in oilfields for oil displacement and reservoir pressure maintenance has led to the production of scale in several reservoirs. The formation of scale occurs both in the porous media of the reservoir and in the production equipment, leading to production disruptions that result in a decline in revenue. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of mixing samples of seawater and aquifer water. This is achieved by conducting turbidity, salinity, pH, and zeta potential measurements. The risk of self-precipitation of the prepared samples was assessed using the PHREEQC program. A PVT cell was used to assess the impact of temperature and pressure on the prepared seawater and aquifer samples. When 40% of the seawater sample was combined with 60% of the aquifer water sample, the turbidity findings indicated maximum precipitation. The amount of precipitation dropped as temperature and pressure increased. To assess the impact of scale formation on the permeability of a Berea sandstone core, a core flooding experiment was conducted employing liquid and gas as the flowing fluid. Additionally, SEM and EDS analyses were used to examine the shape and composition of scale. It was found that SO₄²⁻ and Ca²⁺ ions predominated in scale precipitation. Full article