Search Results (1,257)

The commercialization of proton-conducting fuel cells (PCFCs) is hindered by the limited electroactivity and durability of cathodes at intermediate temperatures ranging from 400 to 700 °C, a challenge exacerbated by an insufficient understanding of high-entropy perovskite (HEP) materials for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) optimization. This study introduces an yttrium-doped HEP to address these limitations. A comparative analysis of Ce_0.2−xY_xBa_0.2Sr_0.2La_0.2Ca_0.2CoO_3−δ (x = 0, 0.2; designated as CBSLCC and YBSLCC) revealed that yttrium doping enhanced the ORR activity, reduced the thermal expansion coefficient (19.9 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, 30–900 °C), and improved the thermomechanical compatibility with the BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3−δ electrolytes. Electrochemical testing demonstrated a peak power density equal to 586 mW cm⁻² at 700 °C, with a polarization resistance equaling 0.3 Ω cm². Yttrium-induced lattice distortion promotes proton adsorption while suppressing detrimental Co spin-state transitions. These findings advance the development of durable, high-efficiency PCFC cathodes, offering immediate applications in clean energy systems, particularly for distributed power generation. Full article

The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the outcome of two separate techno-economic studies that were conducted for the scaled-up and industrially relevant processes of a) synthetic natural gas (SNG) production from captured (cement-based) CO₂ and green-H₂ (via renewable-assisted electrolysis) and b) combined electricity and crude biofuel production through the integration of biomass pyrolysis, gasification, and solid oxide fuel cells. As was found, the SNG production process seems more feasible from an economic perspective as it can be comparable to current market values. Full article

Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides have demonstrated multiple biological activities including immune regulation, antitumor, and antioxidant properties. The rapid development and integrated application of multi-omics can facilitate the unraveling of the complex network of immune system regulation. In this study, C. pilosula alkali-extracted polysaccharide (CPAP) were prepared, and their effects on gut microbiota compositions, metabolic pathways, and protein expressions in peripheral blood and solid tumors in mice were further evaluated. The 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that CPAP could effectively promote the enrichment of intestinal Lactobacillus in tumor-bearing mice. In addition, it could be inferred from peripheral blood and solid tumor proteomics results that CPAP might activate T cell-mediated antitumor immune functions by regulating purine metabolism and alleviate tumor-caused inflammation by promoting neutrophil degranulation, finally inducing apoptosis in tumor cells by increasing oxidative stress. These results will provide a theoretical foundation and data support for the further development of CPAP as dietary adjuvants targeting immune deficiency-related diseases. Full article

This study developed a two-dimensional multiphysics-coupled model for co-electrolysis of CO₂ and H₂O in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) using COMSOL Multiphysics, systematically investigating the influence mechanisms of key operating parameters including temperature, voltage, feed ratio, and flow configuration on co-electrolysis performance. The results demonstrate that increasing temperature significantly enhances CO₂ electrolysis, with the current density increasing over 12-fold when temperature rises from 923 K to 1423 K. However, the H₂O electrolysis reaction slows beyond 1173 K due to kinetic limitations, leading to reduced H₂ selectivity. Higher voltages simultaneously accelerate all electrochemical reactions, with CO and H₂ production at 1.5 V increasing by 15-fold and 13-fold, respectively, compared to 0.8 V, while the water–gas shift reaction rate rises to 6.59 mol/m³·s. Feed ratio experiments show that increasing CO₂ concentration boosts CO yield by 5.7 times but suppresses H₂ generation. Notably, counter-current operation optimizes reactant concentration distribution, increasing H₂ and CO production by 2.49% and 2.3%, respectively, compared to co-current mode, providing critical guidance for reactor design. This multiscale simulation reveals the complex coupling mechanisms in SOEC co-electrolysis, offering theoretical foundations for developing efficient carbon-neutral technologies. Full article

Recently, we have described SrMo_1-xMg_xO_3-δ perovskites (x = 0.1, 0.2) as excellent anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), with mixed ionic and electronic conduction (MIEC) properties. After depositing on the solid electrolyte, they were annealed for sintering at high temperatures (typically 1000 °C), giving rise to oxidized scheelite-type phases, with SrMo_1-xMg_xO_4-δ (x = 0.1, 0.2) stoichiometry. To obtain the active perovskite phases, they were reduced again in the working anode conditions, under H₂ atmosphere. Therefore, there must be an excellent reversibility between the oxidized Sr(Mo, Mg)O_4-δ scheelite and the reduced Sr(Mo, Mg)O_3-δ perovskite phases. This work describes the topotactical oxidation, by annealing at 400 °C in air, of the SrMo_0.9Mg_0.1O_3-δ perovskite oxide. The characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) was carried out in order to determine the crystal structure features. The scheelite oxides are tetragonal, space group I4₁/a (No. 88), whereas the perovskites are cubic, s.g. Pm-3m (No. 221). The Rietveld refinement of the scheelite phase from NPD data after annealing the perovskite at 400 °C and cooling it down slowly to RT evidences the absence of intermediate phases between perovskite and scheelite oxides, as well as the presence of oxygen vacancies in both oxidized and reduced phases, essential for their performance as MIEC oxides. The topotactical relationship between both crystal structures is discussed. Full article

There is an increasing demand for the development of efficient and sustainable battery recycling processes. Currently, many recycling processes rely on toxic inorganic acids to recover materials from high-value battery chemistries such as lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMCs) and lithium cobalt oxide (LCOs). However, as cell manufacturers seek more cost-effective battery chemistries, the value of the spent battery value chain is increasingly diluted by chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate (LFPs). These cheaper alternatives present a difficulty when recycling, as current recycling processes are geared towards dealing with high-value chemistries; thus, the current processes become less economical. To date, much research is focused on treating a single battery chemistry; however, often, the feed material entering a battery recycling facility is contaminated with other battery chemistries, e.g., LFP feed contaminated with NMC, LCO, or LMOs. This research aims to selectively leach various battery chemistries out of a mixed feed material with the aid of a green organic acid, namely oxalic acid. When operating at the optimal conditions (2% solids, 0.25 M oxalic acid, natural pH around 1.15, 25 °C, 60 min), this research has proven that oxalic acid can be used to selectively dissolve 95.58% and 93.57% of Li and P, respectively, from a mixed LFP-NMC mixed feed, all while only extracting 12.83% of Fe and 8.43% of Mn, with no Co and Ni being detected in solution. Along with the high degree of selectivity, this research has also demonstrated, through varying the pH, that the selectivity of the leaching system can be altered. It was determined that at pH 0.5 the system dissolved both the NMC and LFP chemistries; at a pH of 1.15, the LFP chemistry (Li and P) was selectively targeted. Finally, at a pH of 4, the NMC chemistry (Ni, Co and Mn) was selectively dissolved. Full article

Oncolytic virotherapy is a rapidly evolving approach to cancer treatment. Our group previously designed VV-GMCSF-Lact, a recombinant oncolytic vaccinia virus targeting solid tumors including gliomas. In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing to compare transcriptional responses in human glioma cells, non-malignant brain cells, and immortalized glioblastoma U87 MG cells following infection with this oncolytic virus. We found that proneural glioblastoma cells and microglia-like cells from patient-derived glioma cultures were the most susceptible to VV-GMCSF-Lact. Increased expressions of histones, translational regulators, and ribosomal proteins positively correlated with viral load at the transcript level. Furthermore, higher viral loads were accompanied by a large-scale downregulation of genes involved in mitochondrial translation, metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. Levels of early vaccinia virus transcripts are also positively correlated with infection intensity, suggesting that the fate of cells is determined at the early stage of infection. Full article

The increasing demand for high-performance energy storage devices has stimulated interest in advanced electrolyte materials. Among them, ionic liquids ($\mathrm{I}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{s}$) stand out for their thermal stability, wide electrochemical windows, and good ionic conductivity. When doped into polymeric matrices, these ionic liquids form hybrid polymeric electrolytes that synergize the benefits of both liquid and solid electrolytes. This study explores a polymeric electrolyte based on polyethylene oxide ($\mathrm{P}\mathrm{E}\mathrm{O}$) doped with tributylmethylphosphonium iodide $\left(\mathrm{T}\mathrm{M}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{I}\right)$ and ammonium iodide ($\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_4\mathrm{I}$), focusing on its synthesis, structural and electrical properties, and performance in energy storage devices such as dye-sensitized solar cells and supercapacitors. Strategies to improve its ionic conductivity, mechanical and chemical stability, and electrode compatibility are also discussed, along with future directions in this field. Full article

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by vascular alterations, immune dysregulation, and fibrosis. Solid evidence supports the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction is the key player in SSc vascular injury and a critical factor concurring to the initiation of SSc pathogenesis. This narrative review reports on persistent endothelial dysfunction, resulting from oxidative stress, autoimmunity, and impaired vascular repair, in the course of SSc, and how it can trigger and sustain fibrotic remodeling of various organs. In this paper, we also analyze the impact on SSc of impaired angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, diminished endothelial progenitor cell function, and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, which can collectively disrupt vascular homeostasis and promote myofibroblast activation. These pathologic events underlie the hallmark clinical manifestations, i.e., Raynaud’s phenomenon, digital ulcers, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and scleroderma renal crisis. The review highlights how recognizing SSc as a paradigm of systemic endothelial dysfunction may reframe our understanding of its physiopathology, modify current therapeutic strategies, and unveil new therapeutic targets. Full article

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of many cancers, including solid tumors, hematological malignancies, and soft tissue sarcomas. Despite its potent antitumor effects, DOX is known to have toxic effects in non-tumorous tissues, such as skeletal muscle. Potential mediators of DOX-induced skeletal muscle toxicity are reactive oxygen species (ROS). An overproduction of ROS can disrupt the balance between oxidants and antioxidants in a cell, leading to oxidative stress. Chronic oxidative stress has been shown to upregulate proteolysis, ultimately leading to muscle wasting. Exercise stands as a potent nonpharmacological therapy capable of attenuating muscle wasting by enhancing metabolic function and antioxidant defenses while suppressing harmful ROS production. This review focuses on the current understanding of the role of oxidative stress in DOX-induced skeletal muscle toxicity. In addition, we highlight the effects of various exercise types on oxidative stress and muscle remodeling during DOX chemotherapy. Full article

This work deals with the catalytic steam reforming of raw syngas to increase the efficiency of coupling gasification with downstream processes (such as fuel cells and catalytic chemical syntheses) by producing high-temperature, ready-to-use syngas without cooling it for cleaning and conditioning. Such a combination is considered a key point for the future exploitation of syngas produced by steam gasification of biogenic solid fuel. The design and construction of an integrated gasification and gas conditioning system were proposed approximately 20 years ago; however, they still require further in-depth study for practical applications. A 3D model of the freeboard of a pilot-scale, fluidized bed gasification plant equipped with catalytic ceramic candles was used to investigate the optimal operating conditions for in situ syngas upgrading. The global kinetic parameters for methane and tar reforming reactions were determined experimentally. A fluidized bed gasification reactor (~5 kWth) equipped with a 45 cm long segment of a fully commercial filter candle in its freeboard was used for a series of tests at different temperatures. Using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) description, the relevant parameters for apparent kinetic equations were obtained in the frame of a first-order reaction model to describe the steam reforming of key tar species. As a further step, a CFD model of the freeboard of a 100 kWth gasification plant, equipped with six catalytic ceramic candles, was developed in ANSYS FLUENT^®. The composition of the syngas input into the gasifier freeboard was obtained from experimental results based on the pilot-scale plant. Simulations showed tar catalytic conversions of 80% for toluene and 41% for naphthalene, still insufficient compared to the threshold limits required for operating solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). An overly low freeboard temperature level was identified as the bottleneck for enhancing gas catalytic conversions, so further simulations were performed by injecting an auxiliary stream of O₂/steam (50/50 wt.%) through a series of nozzles at different heights. The best simulation results were obtained when the O₂/steam stream was fed entirely at the bottom of the freeboard, achieving temperatures high enough to achieve a tar content below the safe operating conditions for SOFCs, with minimal loss of hydrogen content or LHV in the fuel gas. Full article

This paper investigates the application of non-calcined metal tartrate as a novel alternative pore former to prepare functional ceramic composites to fabricate solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Compared to carbonaceous pore formers, non-calcined pore formers offer high compatibility with various ceramic composites, providing better control over porosity and pore size distribution, which allows for enhanced gas diffusion, reactant transport and gaseous product release within the fuel cells’ functional layers. In this work, nanocrystalline gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) and Ni-Gd-Ce-tartrate anode powders were prepared using a single-step co-precipitation synthesis method, based on the carboxylate route, utilising ammonium tartrate as a low-cost, environmentally friendly precipitant. The non-calcined Ni-Gd-Ce-tartrate was used to fabricate dense GDC electrolyte pellets (5–20 μm thick) integrated with a thin film of Ni-GDC anode with controlled porosity at 1300 °C. The dilatometry analysis showed the shrinkage anisotropy factor for the anode substrates prepared using 20 wt. The percentages of Ni-Gd-Ce-tartrate were 30 wt.% and 40 wt.%, with values of 0.98 and 1.01, respectively, showing a significant improvement in microstructural properties and pore size compared to those fabricated using a carbonaceous pore former. The results showed that the non-calcined pore formers can also lower the sintering temperature for GDC to below 1300 °C, saving energy and reducing thermal stresses on the materials. They can also help maintain optimal material properties during sintering, minimising the risk of unwanted chemical reactions or contamination. This flexibility enables the versatile designing and manufacturing of ceramic fuel cells with tailored compositions at a lower cost for large-scale applications. Full article

Background: Adoptive cell therapies are emerging as a promising therapeutic option against hematological and solid malignancies. Memory-like natural killer (mlNK) cells are a specific subtype of NK cells generated after cytokine preactivation that have shown enhanced in vivo persistence after infusion into patients, an issue that has hindered traditional NK cell immunotherapy. However, the quality and variability of mlNK cell products remains poorly defined. Methods: In this study, we evaluated heterogeneity across critical functional and molecular aspects of mlNK cells generated from independent donors, including mlNK cytotoxicity, cluster formation, motility, mitochondria morphology, and gene expression. Results: We observed a correlation between changes in gene expression associated with glycolysis and key NK cell functions such as cytotoxicity and motility. For further characterization, we blocked glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and observed an impaired mlNK functional response, suggesting the importance of metabolism. Conclusions: Our findings provide insights into discriminating between mlNK cell products and how the predictive markers can identify optimal mlNK cell products for adoptive cell therapy of cancer. Full article

Cancer is hallmarked by uncontrolled cell proliferation and enhanced cell survival, driven by a complex interplay of factors—including genetic and epigenetic changes—that disrupt metabolic and signaling pathways and impair organelle function. While the roles of mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum in cancer are widely recognized, emerging research is now drawing attention to the involvement of peroxisomes in tumor biology. Peroxisomes are essential for lipid metabolism, including fatty acid α- and β-oxidation, the synthesis of docosahexaenoic acid, bile acids, and ether lipids, as well as maintaining redox balance. Despite their critical functions, the role of peroxisomes in oncogenesis remains inadequately explored. Prostate cancer (PCa), the second most common cancer in men worldwide, exhibits a unique metabolic profile compared to other solid tumors. In contrast to the glycolysis-driven Warburg effect, primary PCa relies primarily on lipogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation. Peroxisomes are intricately involved in the metabolic adaptations of PCa, influencing both disease progression and therapy resistance. Key alterations in peroxisomal activity in PCa include the increased oxidation of branched-chain fatty acids, upregulation of α-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase (a prominent PCa biomarker), and downregulation of 1-alkyl-glycerone-3-phosphate synthase and catalase. This review critically examines the role of peroxisomes in PCa metabolism, progression, and therapeutic response, exploring their potential as biomarkers and targets for therapy. We also consider their relationship with androgen receptor signaling. A deeper understanding of peroxisome biology in PCa could pave the way for new therapies to improve patient outcomes. Full article

The use of CH₄ and CO₂ as fuels in direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cells (DIR-SOFCs) is a promising strategy for efficient power generation with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, Ni catalysts supported on Ce–Pr mixed oxides with varying Pr contents (0–80 mol%) were synthesized, calcined at 1200 °C, and tested for dry reforming of methane (DRM), aiming at their application as catalytic layers in SOFC anodes. Physicochemical characterization (XRD, TPR, TEM) showed that increasing Pr loading enhances catalyst reducibility and promotes the formation of the Pr₂NiO₄ phase, which contributes to the generation of smaller Ni⁰ particles after reduction. Catalytic tests revealed that all samples exhibited low-carbon deposition, attributed to the large Ni crystallites. The catalyst with 80 mol% Pr showed the best performance, achieving the highest CH₄ conversion (72%), a H₂/CO molar ratio of 0.89, and improved stability. These findings suggest that Ni/Ce_0.2Pr_0.8 could be a promising candidate for use as a catalyst layer of anodes in DIR-SOFC anodes. Although electrochemical data are not yet available, future work will evaluate the catalyst’s performance and durability under SOFC-relevant conditions. Full article