Search Results (210)

Background: Crystalline glucosamine sulfate (cGS) claims to be a stabilized form of glucosamine sulfate with a defined crystalline structure intended to enhance chemical stability. It is proposed to offer pharmacokinetic advantages over regular glucosamine sulfate (rGS) which is stabilized with potassium or sodium chloride. However, comparative human bioavailability data are limited. Since both forms dissociate in gastric fluid into constituent ions, the impact of cGS formulation on absorption remains uncertain. This pilot study aimed to compare the bioavailability of cGS and rGS using a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. Methods: Ten healthy adults received a single 1500 mg oral dose of either cGS or rGS with a 7-day washout between interventions. Capillary blood samples were collected over 24 h. Glucosamine and its metabolite concentrations were quantified by Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS), and pharmacokinetic parameters—including maximum concentration (C_max), time to reach C_max (T_max), and area under the curve (AUC)—were calculated. Results: Mean AUC_0–24, C_max, T_max, and T_½ values for glucosamine and glucosamine-6-sulfate (GlcN-6-S) were comparable between cGS and rGS. Although the AUC_0–24 for glucosamine was modestly higher with rGS (18,300 ng·h/mL) than with cGS (12,900 ng·h/mL), the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.136). GlcN-6-S exposure was also similar between formulations (rGS: 50,700 ng·h/mL; cGS: 50,600 ng·h/mL), with a geometric mean ratio of 1.39, a delayed T_max (6–8 h) and longer half-life, consistent with its role as a downstream metabolite. N-acetylglucosamine levels remained stable, indicating potential homeostatic regulation. Conclusions: This pilot study found no significant pharmacokinetic advantage of cGS over rGS. These preliminary findings challenge claims of cGS’ pharmacokinetic superiority, although the small sample size limits definitive conclusions. Larger, adequately powered studies are needed to confirm these results. Full article

The impact of 230-MeV Xe¹³² ion irradiation on the structural, optical, and luminescent properties of YAG:Ce single crystals is investigated over a fluence range of 10¹¹–10¹⁴ ions/cm². Optical absorption; cathodo-, X-ray, and photoluminescence; and X-ray diffraction are employed to analyze radiation-induced changes. Irradiation leads to the formation of Frenkel (F, F⁺) and antisite defects and attenuates Ce³⁺ emission (via enhanced nonradiative processes and Ce³⁺ → Ce⁴⁺ recharging). A redistribution between the fast and slow components of the Ce³⁺-emission is considered. Excitation spectra show the suppression of exciton-related emission bands, as well as a shift of the excitation onset due to increased lattice disorder. XRD data confirm partial amorphization and a high level of local lattice disordering, both increasing with irradiation fluence. These findings provide insight into radiation-induced processes in YAG:Ce, which are relevant for its application in radiation–hard scintillation detectors. Full article

This study investigates a lithium-ion battery failure in heating insoles that ignited during normal walking while powered off. Through comprehensive material characterization, electrical testing, thermal analysis, and mechanical gait simulation, we systematically excluded electrical or thermal abuse as failure causes. X-ray/CT imaging localized the ignition source to the lateral heel edge of the pouch cell, correlating precisely with peak mechanical stress identified through gait analysis. Remarkably, the cyclic load was less than 10% of the single crush load threshold specified in safety standards. Key findings reveal multiple contributing factors as follows: the uncoated polyethylene separator’s inability to prevent stress-induced internal short circuits, the circuit design’s lack of battery health monitoring functionality that permitted undetected degradation, and the hazardous placement inside clothing that exacerbated burn injuries. These findings necessitate a multi-level safety framework for lithium-ion battery products, encompassing enhanced cell design to prevent internal short circuit, improved circuit protection with health monitoring capabilities, optimized product integration to mitigate mechanical and environmental impact, and effective post-failure containment measures. This case study exposes a critical need for product-specific safety standards that address the unique demands of wearable lithium-ion batteries, where existing certification requirements fail to prevent real-use failure scenarios. Full article

Inconsistencies in lithium-ion battery packs pose significant challenges for both electric vehicles and energy storage systems, causing diminished energy utilization and accelerated battery aging. This study investigates the characteristics and aging processes of 32 batteries, creating simulation models for cells and packs based on experimental data. Through a controlled single-variable approach, the decoupled analysis of multi-parameter inconsistencies is carried out. Simulation results demonstrate that parallel-connected packs can maintain charge consistency without the need for external balancing systems, thanks to their self-balancing mechanisms. On the other hand, series-connected packs experience accelerated capacity degradation primarily due to charge inconsistencies linked to differences in Coulombic efficiency (CE) and the initial state of charge (SOC). For packs with minor capacity variations and temperature inconsistencies, a passive balancing current of 0.001 C can effectively eliminate up to 3.8% of capacity loss caused by charge inconsistencies within 15 cycles. Active balancing systems outperform passive ones primarily when there is significant capacity inconsistency. However, for packs that have undergone capacity screening before assembly, both active and passive balancing systems prove to be equally effective. Additionally, inconsistencies in internal resistance have a minimal impact on overall pack capacity but limit the power of both series-connected and parallel-connected packs. These findings offer essential insights for the development of balancing systems within battery management systems. Full article

Body-centered cubic (BCC) refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) demonstrate significant potential as nuclear structural materials due to their exceptional mechanical properties and radiation tolerance. While Zr-containing RHEAs often develop multiphase structures through Zr-rich phase precipitation to enhance high-temperature mechanical performance, their irradiation response mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated the microstructure evolution and radiation damage behavior in equiatomic MoNbTiVZr RHEA under Au-ion irradiation at fluences of 2 × 10¹⁵, 4 × 10¹⁵, and 1 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm². Microstructural characterization revealed that the annealed alloy primarily consisted of near-equiatomic BCC1 phase, Zr-rich BCC2 phase, (Mo,V)Zr Laves phase, and ordered Zr₂C phase. Post-irradiation analysis showed distinct defect evolution patterns: the BCC1 phase developed fine dislocation loops, while the Zr-rich BCC2 and Zr₂C phases exhibited dislocation clusters and dense dislocation networks, respectively. BCC1 phase exhibited the most pronounced irradiation hardening corresponding to its fine, dispersed dislocation loop characteristics. Phase separation induced by Zr precipitation reduced chemical complexity, accelerating irradiation defect evolution. These findings demonstrated that Zr-rich phase precipitation detrimentally impacted the radiation resistance of BCC-structured RHEAs, suggesting that single-phase stability should be prioritized in nuclear material design. Full article

Azurin is a small blue copper protein that participates in redox reactions during anaerobic respiration in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and there are a significant number of studies employing this model to investigate the electron transfer (ET) processes or coordination sphere of metal ion in metalloproteins. Azurin naturally contains Cu(II/I) as a central ion and is redox-active for a single electron ET. Moreover, azurin with no central ion (apo-azurin) is capable of binding other metal cofactors—e.g., Zn(II)—forming redox-inactive Zn-form and many others impacting the redox potential and structural variation in the active site’s arrangement. Also, mutations of amino acid residues in the immediate vicinity of the metal ion can influence the structure and functionality of a particular metalloprotein. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the abundant information about selected topics related to redox reactions and blue copper proteins, particularly azurin, and is structured as follows: (i) introduction to the structure, properties, and physiological role of this group of metalloproteins, (ii) the role of the equatorial and axial ligands of the central metal ions, or metal species, in the active site on the metal coordination sphere’s structure and related determination of the particular azurin form’s redox potentials, and (iii) the effects of the particular amino acid’s moiety (Phe, Tyr and Trp residues together with acceleration employing Trp-Trp π-π stacking interactions contrary to ET distance dependence) on the preferable type of long-range ET mechanism in an azurin-mediated model biomolecule. We assume that azurin is a suitable model to study the structural functionality of a particular central metal ion or individual amino acid residues in the central ion coordination sphere for studying the redox potential and ET reactions in metalloproteins. Full article

Lithium is a strategic resource due to its use in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and electronic devices, driving high demand for extraction. This study analyzes the lithium supply chain in Mexico, focusing on both the extraction of lithium carbonate for export and the potential for producing lithium–ion batteries and lithium grease, considering their environmental impact. The proposed mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model, solved using the GAMS modeling environment, suggests that lithium extraction in Mexico is viable, with Sonora having the greatest extraction capacity. Three solutions were evaluated: Solution A maximizes profits (USD 317.19 M) but has high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (1,119,808 tons), Solution B balances profits (USD 186.98 M) with lower emissions (559,904 tons), and Solution C prioritizes emission reduction (44,792 tons) at the cost of lower profits (USD 48.20 M). Solution C implies a scenario with severe environmental restrictions, which indirectly leads to lower investment costs by avoiding the production of lithium grease and batteries. This study highlights the potential impact of tariffs on U.S. lithium exports, with a 25% tariff making exports economically unviable. This underscores the need for Mexico to diversify its export markets. Decision-makers can use this model to explore alternative strategies, reduce dependence on a single market, and optimize the economic and environmental sustainability of the lithium sector. Full article

In the automotive and working vehicle industry, lithium-ion batteries are a strategic component affecting the design, cost, and performance of vehicles. The electrochemical processes which allow the battery to deliver or store electrical energy involve the interaction of lithium ions with the electrode microstructure, causing the mechanical deformation of the electrode. The deformation of the electrode microstructure has two effects: mechanical degradation and the resulting overall performance decay of the battery, and macroscopic battery deformation. In this work, macroscopic battery deformation originating at the atomic scale is investigated with a multi-physics homogenized model in two steps: first, the composite electrode is modeled with a representative volume element; secondly, the battery is modeled by homogenizing the contribution of the hundreds of composite electrode layers. Then, the impact of the deformation of the single battery on the whole battery module is numerically investigated. The deformation of the single battery computed with the model is validated with experimental measurements quantifying the macroscopic battery deformation during operation. Then, different design solutions for the battery module are investigated to optimize its energetic and volumetric efficiency while maintaining safe levels of battery module deformation. Full article

Research on the safety and impact of lithium-ion battery failure has focused on individual cells as lithium-ion batteries began to be used in small devices. However, large and complex battery packs need to be considered, and how the failure of a single cell can affect the system needs to be analyzed. This initial failure at the level of a single cell can lead to thermal runaway of other cells within the pack, resulting in increased risk. This article focuses on tests of mechanical abuse (perforation of cylindrical cells), overcharge (pouch cells), and heating (cylindrical cells with different arrangements and types of connection) to analyse how various parameters influence the mechanism of thermal runaway (TR) propagation. Parameters such as SoC (State of Charge), environment, arrangement, and type of connection are thoroughly evaluated. The tests also analyse the final state of the post-mortem cells and measure the internal resistance of the cells before and after testing. The novelty of this study lies in its analysis of the behavior of different types of cells at room temperature, since the behavior of lithium-ion batteries under adverse circumstances has been extensively studied and is well understood, failures can also occur under normal operating conditions. This study concludes that temperature is a crucial parameter, as overheating of the battery can cause an exothermic reaction and destroy the battery completely. Also, overcharging the cell can compromise its internal structure, which underlines the importance of a well-functioning battery management system (BMS). Full article

The persistent challenge of achieving cost-effective total phosphorus (TP) removal in wastewater treatment necessitates innovative coagulant development. While polyaluminum chloride (PAC) demonstrates efficacy in eliminating total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), suspended solids (SSs), and pH stabilization, its limitations in attaining economical TP removal remain unresolved. This study introduces a novel FeSO₄-Al₂(SO₄)₃ composite coagulant to address PAC’s shortcomings through systematic formulation optimization. Utilizing single-variable experiments and response surface methodology (RSM), we determined the optimal reagent combinations under simulated high-efficiency sedimentation tank conditions. The results revealed that the FeSO₄-Al₂(SO₄)₃ composite achieved a TP removal efficiency approximately 40% greater than the PAC at equivalent dosages. A cost–benefit analysis indicated an approximate 50% reduction in the chemical expenditure relative to conventional PAC-based systems. The optimized formulation demonstrated synergistic effects between the Fe²⁺ and Al³⁺ ions, enhancing the charge neutralization and sweep flocculation mechanisms. These findings establish FeSO₄-Al₂(SO₄)₃ as a technically and economically viable alternative for TP-centric wastewater treatment, with implications for process sustainability. Further investigations should validate the long-term operational stability across diverse water matrices and assess the environmental impacts of residual metal ions. Full article

An efficient energy management strategy (EMS) is crucial for the energy-saving and emission-reduction effects of electric vehicles. Research on deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-driven energy management systems (EMSs) has made significant strides in the global automotive industry. However, most scholars study only the impact of a single DRL algorithm on EMS performance, ignoring the potential improvement in optimization objectives that different DRL algorithms can offer under the same benchmark. This paper focuses on the control strategy of hybrid energy storage systems (HESSs) comprising lithium-ion batteries and ultracapacitors. Firstly, an equivalent model of the HESS is established based on dynamic experiments. Secondly, a regulated decision-making framework is constructed by uniformly setting the action space, state space, reward function, and hyperparameters of the agent for different DRL algorithms. To compare the control performances of the HESS under various EMSs, the regulation properties are analyzed with the standard driving cycle condition. Finally, the simulation results indicate that the EMS powered by a deep Q network (DQN) markedly diminishes the detrimental impact of peak current on the battery. Furthermore, the EMS based on a deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) reduces energy loss by 28.3%, and the economic efficiency of the EMS based on dynamic programming (DP) is improved to 0.7%. Full article

Battery modules in eco-friendly mobility are composed of series and parallel connections of multiple lithium-ion battery cells. As the number of lithium-ion cells in the battery module increases, the cell connection configuration becomes a critical factor affecting the module’s usable capacity efficiency. Therefore, careful consideration of this factor is essential in battery module design. Various design elements have been studied to optimize the performance of battery modules. Among these elements, the method of terminal connection affects the distribution of resistance components in each cell, causing DOD (Depth of Discharge) variation. Previous research has focused on determining the optimal terminal placement and cell connection method to minimize DOD variation between cells. However, these studies did not consider temperature effects. Since temperature acts as a major variable affecting the DOD of each cell, comprehensive research that includes this factor is necessary. This research performed 3D thermal flow analysis using Ansys Fluent 2024 R2 and validated the simulation environment by comparing actual experimental and simulation results for a single cell. Based on the validated simulation environment, this research analyzed the impact of temperature distribution on cell performance in a 4S3P module and proposed a method of terminal connection, which achieved a 70% reduction in SOC deviation compared to conventional methods. Additionally, this research suggests that when the module configuration changes, a new design approach specific to that configuration is necessary to minimize SOC deviation. Full article

This study investigated the impact of pouch cell design on energy density, both volumetric and gravimetric, through the development of accurate 3D models of small-format (<5 Ah) pouch cells. Various configurations were analysed, considering material properties and extrapolating expected electrochemical performance from studies on Prussian white cathodes in coin and pouch cells. This approach allowed for a rapid assessment of several performance-influencing factors, including the number of layers in the pouch cell, cathode thickness, active material percentage, and electrolyte volume. The highest calculated energy density of small-format pouch cells was shown to be 282 Wh kg⁻¹ and 454 Wh L⁻¹, achieved in a 3 Ah, 20-layer pouch cell. The calculations were validated using sodium-ion anode-free pouch cells utilising a Prussian white cathode in single- and few-layer format pouch cells (<0.1 Ah) cycled under a low external pressure (~200 kPa). Full article

Herein we report the nucleation and growth of porphyrin molecular chromophores using a single-solvent deposition protocol. Various glass substrates were investigated, aiming to investigate their impact on the organization of tetraphenyl-porphyrin (TPP) towards well-defined architectures. A variety of aggregation morphologies were obtained upon optimizing several parameters, including the solvent and the temperature of evaporation. This work demonstrates for the first time that single-solvent evaporation results in nanostructures, avoiding the necessity of mixed-solvent reprecipitation. Additionally, we showed that simple symmetrical porphyrins do not need the presence of self-assembling peptides, ions or amphiphiles to induce the capability of forming well-defined structures. The results presented herein open new avenues for the development of complex and highly ordered architectures from simple building blocks towards advanced materials with tailored properties. Full article

The corrosion characteristics and passive behavior of as-cast Ni₄₀Fe₃₀Co₂₀Al₁₀ medium-entropy alloy (MEA) fabricated by the vacuum arc melting technique were investigated in 3.5 wt.% NaCl, 0.5 M HCl, and 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solutions. Although the impact of different solutions on the corrosion current density was not pronounced, the corrosion potential values of MEAs in H₂SO₄, HCl and NaCl solutions were −0.37, −0.58 and −1.16 V, respectively, indicating that the resistance to general corrosion in acidic solutions becomes strengthened. Through electrochemical passive region tests, surface morphology analysis and ICP testing, it was found that, due to the high-entropy effect and uniform single-phase structure, an optimized and stable passive film formed specifically in the Cl⁻-containing solution. The ion concentrations in the passive region of MEA in NaCl solution were an order of magnitude lower than those of other two samples, suggesting that its passive film formed exhibits a more prominent capacity to inhibit metal dissolution. Compared with electrochemical reactions in H₂SO₄ and HCl solutions, MEA shows enhanced pitting resistance in NaCl solution, which could be attributed to the presence of abundant unoxidized metal atoms (51.9 at.%). Al is identified as the primary component in the formation of the passive film, which plays a protective role for the Co-rich interior of the MEA. Although MEA has a relatively high passivation current in the H₂SO₄ solution, it has the widest passivation zone (1.87 V), indicating the optimized stability of the formed passive film. Moreover, it displays a high level of resistance to pitting corrosion in the solution containing only H⁺- and free of Cl⁻. Both the MEAs show significant grain-boundary corrosion in H₂SO₄ and HCl solutions. Among them, the MEA in HCl experiences more severe intragranular corrosion. Notably, MEA withstands the erosion of a single Cl⁻- or H⁺-containing solution, but it is unable to resist the synergistic effect of a solution containing both H⁺ and Cl⁻. Full article