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Alkali metal doping of multi-walled carbon nanotubes is of great interest, both fundamentally to explore the effect of dopants on quasi-one-dimensional electrical systems and for energy applications such as alkali metal storage. We present an investigation with complementary photoemission and Raman spectroscopies, fully carried out in an ultra-high vacuum, to unveil the electronic and vibrational response of a forest of highly aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes by in situ potassium doping. The charge donation by the alkali adatoms induces a plasmon mode, and the density of states undergoes an energy shift consistent with electron donation and band filling of the multi-walled carbon nanotube band structure. The π-states in the valence band and the Raman peaks unveil an evolution that can be ascribed to charge donation and partially to a tensile strain exerted by the K adatoms on the carbon lattice. All these effects are thermally reversible, fostering these materials as a potential system for electronic charge harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion channels play key roles in human physiology and are important targets in drug discovery. The atomic-scale structures of ion channels provide invaluable insights into a fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms of channel gating and modulation. Recent breakthroughs in deep learning-based computational methods, such as AlphaFold, RoseTTAFold, and ESMFold have transformed research in protein structure prediction and design. We review the application of AlphaFold, RoseTTAFold, and ESMFold to structural modeling of ion channels using representative voltage-gated ion channels, including human voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channel - NaV1.8, human voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channel - CaV1.1, and human voltage-gated potassium (KV) channel - KV1.3. We compared AlphaFold, RoseTTAFold, and ESMFold structural models of NaV1.8, CaV1.1, and KV1.3 with corresponding cryo-EM structures to assess details of their similarities and differences. Our findings shed light on the strengths and limitations of the current state-of-the-art deep learning-based computational methods for modeling ion channel structures, offering valuable insights to guide their future applications for ion channel research.

BACKGROUND: Refeeding syndrome is the gravest possible medical complication in malnourished patients undergoing refeeding in the hospital. We previously reported that males with malnutrition secondary to eating disorders required more calories and had longer hospital stays than females; however, sex differences in electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk remain unknown. The objective of this study was to assess differences in electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk among male and female adolescents and young adults with eating disorders hospitalized for medical instability. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 558 patients aged 9-25 years admitted to the University of California, San Francisco Eating Disorders Program for medical instability between May 2012 and August 2020. Serum was drawn per standard of care between 5 and 7 am each morning and electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk were defined as: hypophosphatemia (

INTRODUCTION: Information on whether race and ethnicity are associated with a greater risk of recurrent hyperkalemia is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the association between race or ethnicity and recurrent hyperkalemia in a population of US veterans. METHODS: This retrospective study used the US Veterans Affairs database to identify adults (aged ≥18 years) with at least one serum potassium measurement during the study period who ever experienced hyperkalemia (serum potassium > 5.0 mmol/L). The proportion of patients with hyperkalemia recurrence (≥1 subsequent event) within one year was determined for different race and ethnicity groups. The association between patient race and ethnicity and the risk of hyperkalemia recurrence within one year after the index hyperkalemia event was analyzed using competing risk regression. RESULTS: Among a total of 1,493,539 veterans with incident hyperkalemia (median age (interquartile range): 61.0 years (54.0, 71.0)), recurrence within one year occurred in 19.1% of Black, 16.0% of Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander, 15.1% of White, 14.9% of American Indian/Alaska Native, and 13.1% of Asian patient groups. Recurrent hyperkalemia occurred in 18.1% of Hispanic and 15.6% of non-Hispanic patient groups. In a fully-adjusted regression model, recurrent hyperkalemia risk was significantly higher in Black versus White patient groups (subhazard ratio (sHR), 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.16-1.19; p< 0.0001) and in Hispanic versus non-Hispanic patient groups (sHR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.28-1.33; p< 0.0001). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Among US veterans with incident hyperkalemia, the risk of recurrent hyperkalemia was higher in Black and Hispanic patient groups. This information may be useful for health system screenings to risk stratify patient groups and both guide the frequency of serum potassium monitoring and better understand the root causes of group differences.

The pursuit of advanced materials to meet the escalating demands of energy storage system has led to the emergence of vertical graphene (VG) as a highly promising candidate. With its remarkable strength, stability, and conductivity, VG has gained significant attention for its potential to revolutionize energy storage technologies. This comprehensive review delves deeply into the synthesis methods, structural modifications, and multifaceted applications of VG in the context of lithium–ion batteries, silicon-based lithium batteries, lithium–sulfur batteries, sodium–ion batteries, potassium–ion batteries, aqueous zinc batteries, and supercapacitors. The review elucidates the intricate growth process of VG and underscores the paramount importance of optimizing process parameters to tailor VG for specific applications. Subsequently, the pivotal role of VG in enhancing the performance of various energy storage and conversion systems is exhaustively discussed. Moreover, it delves into structural improvement, performance tuning, and mechanism analysis of VG composite materials in diverse energy storage systems. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive look at VG synthesis, modification, and its wide range of applications in energy storage. It emphasizes the potential of VG in addressing critical challenges and advancing sustainable, high-performance energy storage devices, providing valuable guidance for the development of future technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environment-friendly lead-free potassium sodium niobate-based piezoelectric materials have been widely used in acoustic device applications because of its high piezoelectric response, high Curie temperature, and low acoustic impedance. In our previous works, samarium modified 0.915(K0.45Na0.5Li0.05)NbO3–0.075BaZrO3–0.01(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 (Sm–KNLN–BZ–BNT) ceramics have achieved high piezoelectric properties with good thermal stability. To further improve its properties and thermal stability, grain orientation-controlled methods have been introduced to Sm–KNLN–BZ–BNT ceramics. In this work, textured Sm–KNLN–BZ–BNT ceramics with a 93% ⟨001⟩c-oriented textured degree have been prepared. The samples have achieved a d33* value with 532 pm/V and better thermal stability between room temperature to 150 °C than the non-textured samples. Moreover, ultrasonic transducers with a 25 MHz center frequency have been designed and fabricated by the textured Sm–KNLN–BZ–BNT ceramics. The peak-to-peak of the transducers has reached a 1.78 V high level, which demonstrated the textured Sm–KNLN–BZ–BNT ceramics are a good candidate for acoustic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Potassium metal batteries (PMBs) show great potential as next-generation energy storage systems yet face challenges such as the dendritic growth of the potassium anode, leading to issues with cycle life and safety. This study reports a potassium salt-concentrated ionic liquid electrolyte (PCIL) consisting of potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (KFSI) and 1-methyl-1-propyl pyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (Pyr13FSI) to achieve long-life and, safe PMBs. PCIL presents several advantages including outstanding oxidation stability (≈ 5.2 V), decent ionic conductivity (4.0 mS cm−1 at 25 °C), and negligible flammability. Moreover, PCIL promotes the development of anion-derived solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) with high inorganic content. This not only hinders the growth of potassium dendrites but also facilitates facile interfacial charge transfer kinetics. Benefiting from these advantages, PMBs (K||KVPO 4 F) employing PCIL exhibit remarkable cycle performances at both ambient and elevated temperatures (capacity retention after 300 cycles: 74.8% at 25 °C and 82.9% at 45 °C), surpassing the performance of conventional carbonate (1 M KPF 6 EC/PC) and dilute potassium ionic liquid electrolyte (PIL). This work demonstrates the tangible capability of PCIL in realizing practical PMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CoTe2 as a high-performance anode material for potassium ion batteries still faces a lot of challenges that hinder its electrochemical performance, including poor intrinsic electronic conductivity, slow reaction kinetics, and significant volume changes during charging and discharging processes. To address these issues, one-dimensional CoTe2 nanorods were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal method and then coated with a carbon layer to form CoTe2@C nanocomposites. The resulting composite exhibited a significant interaction between CoTe2 and the carbon layer, resulting in the formation of a stable heterostructure. This interaction not only improved the electrical conductivity of the composites but also facilitated the migration of electrons and K+ ions. When used as the anode for potassium ion batteries, the CoTe2@C anode demonstrated enhanced electrochemical performance. At a current density of 0.5 A g−1, the CoTe2@C anode exhibited a reversible capacity of 100.3 mA h g−1 after 1000 cycles. Even at a higher current density of 1.0 A g−1, it maintained a high reversible capacity of 72.5 mA h g−1 after 3000 cycles. Furthermore, it displayed excellent rate capability, with an average reversible capacity of 98.0 mA h g−1 at a high rate of 5.0 A g−1, showing a potential application capability for potassium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axially chiral biaryl δ‐amino acids possess significantly different conformational properties and chiral environment from centrally chiral amino acids, therefore, have drawn considerable attention in the fields of synthetic and medicinal chemistry. Herein, a novel chiral phenanthroline‐potassium catalyst has been developed by constructing a well‐organized axially chiral ligand composed of one 1,10‐phenanthroline unit and two axially chiral 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol (BINOL) units. In the presence of this catalyst, good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 99 % yield, 98 : 2 er) have been achieved in the ring‐opening alcoholytic dynamic kinetic resolution of a variety of biaryl lactams, thereby providing an efficient protocol for catalytic asymmetric synthesis of unnatural axially chiral biaryl δ‐amino acid derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For large quantities of hydrogen transportation, it is a potential solution for mixing a certain proportion of hydrogen into natural gas pipeline network. In is imperative to seek efficient explosion suppressants of hydrogen enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG). In current work, a 125 L cubic explosion container was developed to conduct the suppression experiments on 20% and 50% HCNG explosion using inhibitory solids of 0.04–0.32 g/L ABC powder and 0.04–0.16 g/L potassium bicarbonate-zeolite (PBZ) composite powder. The thermodynamic and particle size properties of ABC powder and PBZ composite powder were analyzed to interpret these suppression effects. The pressure history curve and explosion flame appearance were recorded. The flame exhibited a deformation and wrinkles characteristic when the solid suppressants were employed. The optimal concentrations of ABC powder and PBZ composite powder suppression were attained. The physical and chemical mechanisms of explosion mitigation with ABC powder or PBZ composite powder were fully revealed. The single inhibitory powder of ABC powder or PBZ composite powder could not fully restrict the HCNG explosion. The current results possessed some practical guidance for restriction of HCNG explosion in industrial confined spaces. • Powder suppressions on 20% and 50% HCNG explosion are conducted. • Flame shows a deformation and wrinkles shape under inhibitory powders. • The inhibitory effect of PBZ composite powder is than that of ABC powder. • Optimal concentrations of ABC powder and PBZ composite powder are attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whether blood laboratory analyses differ in patients who later suffer in‐hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) compared to other hospitalised patients remains unknown. The aim of this study was to describe pre‐arrest sampling frequencies, results, and trends in blood laboratory analyses in patients with IHCA compared to controls. Methods: This study was a matched case–control study using national registries in Denmark. Cases were defined as patients with IHCA from 2017 to 2021. Controls were defined as hospitalised patients and were matched on age, sex, and date and length of admission. Data on a total of 51 different blood laboratory analyses were obtained. The laboratory analyses of primary interest were lactate, sodium, potassium, and haemoglobin. The index time for cases was defined as the time of cardiac arrest, and a corresponding index time was defined for controls based on the time to cardiac arrest for their corresponding case. Blood sampling frequencies were reported for blood laboratory analyses obtained either within the last 24 h before the index time or between the time of hospital admission and the index time. Blood sampling results were reported for blood laboratory analyses obtained within the last 24 h before the index time. Results: A total of 9268 cases and 92,395 controls were included in this study. Cases underwent more frequent sampling of all blood laboratory analyses compared to controls. This higher sampling frequency was more pronounced for lactate compared to sodium, potassium, or haemoglobin. The last measured lactate was higher in cases (median [IQR]: 2.3 [1.3, 4.9]) compared to controls (median [IQR]: 1.3 [0.9, 2.0]). Differences in sodium, potassium, and haemoglobin were negligible. The proportion of abnormally elevated levels of lactate and potassium increased as time to cardiac arrest decreased; no such effect was seen in controls. No temporal trend was evident for sodium or haemoglobin. Conclusions: Patients with IHCA undergo more frequent blood sampling prior to IHCA and have higher levels of lactate compared to matched controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria solani is causing early blight and thereby yield reduction in the potato production. The pathogen is today mainly controlled by fungicide applications. The severity of early blight can vary largely among fields. The aim of this study was to gain understanding of what field and management parameters are the most important for early blight severity to create more farm-specific fungicide treatment recommendations. Over three seasons, 2019–2021, 52 field plots were observed at farms in southern Sweden. In each field a 24 m × 24 m plot was left untreated against early blight. However, late blight fungicides were applied. The disease severity was scored twice in the untreated plot and information about various soil/plant parameters and farmer's management was collected from each field. In addition to the observational study, field trials were performed in 2021 and 2022, evaluating the effect of potassium fertiliser levels on severeness of infection. We found that the soil composition was of significant importance for the severity of infection, in particular the sand, clay, and potassium content. The early blight severity was directly positively correlating with a high sand content. Low levels of leaf potassium increased the severity of early blight infection, and this observation was confirmed in field trials where different levels of potassium fertiliser were applied. Further no reduction in disease severity was observed with a four-year crop rotation. With knowledge about field and management factors that influence disease, field-specific recommendations can be developed supporting an integrated pest management strategy for early blight to reduce and optimise the fungicide usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minimum disturbance of soil is gaining popularity in different parts of the world because of definite advantages over conventional tillage (CT) especially with respect to rice cultivation. Conventionally, rice is transplanted in puddled soil in which soil is completely broken down and destroyed in presence of standing water to create an impervious layer below the surface so as to hold the rainwater for the rice. Such practice noticeably hampers the growth of the succeeding winter crop grown under conventionally tilled soil because of alteration of soil physical characteristics. Taking into consideration, a field experiment was conducted from 2016 to 2019 to assess the alterations in soil properties resulting from various tillage systems in the cultivation of rice followed by Indian mustard, either through transplanting or direct seeding, after the cultivation of Sesbania aculeata. The experiment was conducted with 20 treatment combinations comprising of five tillage practices combining minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) viz., T1: CT (S: Sesbania)-CT (TR: Transplanted rice)-CT (IM: Indian mustard), T2: MT (S)-CT (TR)-MT (IM), T3: MT (S)-CT (DSR: Direct seeded rice)-CT (IM), T4: MT (S)-MT (DSR)-MT + rice residue @1.5 tha−1 (IM), T5: MT (S)-MT (DSR)-MT (IM) and four weed management practices viz., W1: recommended herbicides (S and IM: pendimethalin 0.75 kg ha−1 pre-emergence; rice: pretilachlor 0.75 kg ha−1 pre-emergence) W2: IWM: integrated weed management (W1 + manual weeding), W3: manual weeding/hoeing, W4: weedy check, laid out in a split-plot design with tillage practices in the main plots and weed management practices in the sub-plots with three replications. Weed management is excluded from the results and discussion section of the paper due to no treatment effect on soil properties. The soil properties studied under the investigation were microbial population, microbial biomass carbon, soil enzymes such as dehydrogenase, phosphomonoesterase and fluorescein di-acetate, soil available NPK, soil organic carbon, bulk density, water holding capacity, total porosity, water stable aggregates, and mean weight diameter of aggregates were significantly changed under direct seeded rice based system as compared to puddled rice based system. Findings of the experiment suggested that by minimizing soil disturbance and residue retention in winter crop not only improved soil properties but also system productivity in terms of average rice equivalent yield (18.60%) of rice-Indian mustard cropping sequence over conventional tillage system. Minimum tillage in Sesbania-direct seeded rice-Indian mustard with rice residue retention improved macro water stable aggregates (> 0.25 mm sized aggregates) (62.08%) and mean weight diameter of aggregates (1.34 mm) at 0–30 cm soil depth as compared to conventional tillage system (60.04% and 1.27 mm, respectively). The same treatment improved total porosity and water holding capacity of 0–15 cm of soil depth by 47.42% and 45.87%, respectively as compared to conventional tillage after three years of investigation. Regression analysis shows that one unit reduction in bulk density increased total porosity of soil by 1.47 units; whereas a unit improvement in total porosity improved water holding capacity of soil by 1.25 units. Other soil properties viz., soil organic carbon (16.75% in 0–15 cm depth and 25.86% in 15–30 cm depth), available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (1.04%, 5.40% and 1.54%, respectively); bacterial and fungal population, microbial biomass carbon (49.90%), and activity of dehydrogenase, phosphomonoesterase and fluorescein di-acetate (25.39%, 17.02% and 48.94%, respectively) were also improved under the same treatment over conventional tillage system. A significant (P ≤ 0.01) positive correlation of soil macro-aggregates, water holding capacity, soil microbial biomass carbon with soil organic carbon as well as phosphomonoesterase, dehydrogenase and fluorescein di-acetate activities with soil microbial carbon was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring soil rapidly available potassium (RAK) reserves is extremely significant for developing precise fertilizer recommendations. The sodium tetraphenylborate (NaBPh4)-spectrophotometer method is applied to the detection of soil RAK content as a speedy, efficient and portable approach. However, the detection accuracy of this method is inferior to the ammonium acetate (NH4OAc)-flame photometer method. Here, the detection processes of the NaBPh4 turbidimetry were optimized to find the correlation with the NH4OAc method, further discussed the reasons for the different results by the two methods. The maximum relative error is 13% after conversion through the calibration curve. In addition, the accuracy of the calibration curve was verified by selecting non-fitting soil samples from two experimental sites. Therefore, our work proposes that the NaBPh4 turbidimetry, more convenient and rapid, can accurately detect the soil RAK content in the field. It provides an experimental guidance for the detection method of soil RAK content based on ultraviolet detection and on-site rapid detection devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of integrated nutrient management on plant and soil nutrient status in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) cv. Phule Mosambi was investigated for two consecutive years i.e. 2019 and 2020 at the Horticultural Research Farm, College of Horticulture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) comprised of 11 treatments replicated thrice. Significantly higher yield was recorded with T11 [50% Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN) + 20 kg farmyard manure (FYM)/tree +25% nitrogen (N) from Castor Cake + 10 ml Bio NPK Consortium + Micronutrient foliar spray (1% Grade IV)] (17.35 and 17.01 t/ha) which was at par with T10 (15.92 and 15.56 a t/ha) during 2019 and 2020, respectively. Amongst the treatments, T11 had increased the nutrient contents of soil as well as in plant and recorded maximum available nitrogen (N), available potassium (K), soil boron (B) content, plant nitrogen (N) content, plant iron (Fe) content, plant copper (Cu) content and plant boron (B) content in both the years whereas available phosphorous (P) was found higher in treatment T7 in both the years. Treatment T8 recorded highest soil copper (Cu) content in both the years. As far as plant zinc (Zn) content is concerned, it was found higher in treatment T9 in both the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was undertaken to characterize the K releasing pattern as well as the bioavailability of K in nine soils under three dominant soil orders of eastern India. Soils were extracted with 0.2 M sodium tetraphenyl boron (NaTPB) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was grown repeatedly with and without the addition of K fertilizer to study the K release kinetics and bioavailability. The highest K release by 0.2 M NaTPB at 144 h incubation was recorded in Entisols, while the least in Alfisols. Cumulative K released was mathematically best described by a parabolic diffusion equation and the empirical constants up to a 2 h incubation period was significantly related to relative biomass yield and K uptake by ryegrass. Considering relative biomass yield and K uptake as indices of plant K availability, the sequence of K supplying capacity of the soils under different orders was: Entisols>Inceptisols>Alfisols. The K-release rate of 30.8 mg kg-1 h-1 and the ryegrass leaf K concentration of 32.1 g kg-1 were found to be critical for this experiment. Based on the critical K release rate, the maximum amount of K released for plant uptake before showing any K deficiency symptom ranged from 179.3 mg kg-1 to 596 mg kg-1 for soils under the order Entisols, 247.9 mg kg-1 to 687.84 mg kg-1 for soils under Inceptisols and 118.67 mg kg-1 to 184.25 mg kg-1 for soils under Alfisols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of agrochemical survey of soils of the Dolyna territorial community of Ivano-Frankivsk region. The agro-productive grouping of all soils of the district was carried out. There are five agroproductive soil groups within the district: sod-podzolic soils on ancient alluvial, water-glacial deposits, moraine, and eluvium of magmatic rocks; sod-podzolic and podzolic-sod surface-gleyed medium-loamy soils; deep non-gleyed and gleyed medium-loamy sod soils and their podzolized variants on ancient alluvial, water-glacial deposits, moraine, and eluvium of magmatic rocks; brown-podzolic, sod-brown-podzolic, brown mountain-forest podzolized gleyed and surface-gleyed non-eroded and slightly eroded heavy loamy and light clayey soils; sod gleyed soils; sod-brown and meadow-brown gleyed soils on alluvial and deluvial deposits, medium-loamy stony soils. These soils exhibit acidic pH, are moderately deficient in available phosphorus, and have medium levels of potassium. They are potentially fertile but require liming and the application of organic-mineral fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Individual dietary recommendations change as loss of kidney function progresses. Adopting these recommendations in everyday life poses major challenges for patients. Individualising dietary counselling is crucial to easy accessibility. Aim: To investigate patients' needs with regard to a dietary app for patients with chronic kidney disease, patients', and health professionals' immediate responses to such a dietary app and suggestions for improvement and further development of a prototype. Design: A prototype of the dietary app has been developed and demonstrates how all information it provides can be tailored to the individual patient according to stage of disease, anthropometrics, and phosphate and potassium levels. A qualitative evaluation of the prototype was conducted using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist for reporting. Approach: Seven individual interviews and four focus groups were analysed using interpretive description. Participants: Individual interviews with seven patients who have stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease and are not on dialysis, and four focus groups: one with participants from the individual interviews, one with six patients on haemodialysis, one with 13 kidney dieticians and one with seven health professionals. Findings: Both patients and healthcare professionals were positive about the app. Individualisation is necessary for the app to work in practice. The patients reported access to a diet diary and recipes as important elements. Conclusion: There is a need to improve the tools we use today to enhance patient adherence to dietary recommendations. The development of an app for individual dietary counselling could be a useful solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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KVPO4F with excellent structural stability and high operating voltage has been identified as a promising cathode for potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs), but limits in sluggish ion transport and severe volume change cause insufficient potassium storage capability. Here, a high‐energy and low‐strain KVPO4F composite cathode assisted by multifunctional K2C4O4 electrode stabilizer is exquisitely designed. Systematical electrochemical investigations demonstrate that this composite cathode can deliver a remarkable energy density up to 530 Wh kg−1 with 142.7 mAh g−1 of reversible capacity at 25 mA g−1, outstanding rate capability of 70.6 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1, and decent cycling stability. Furthermore, slight volume change (~5%) and increased interfacial stability with thin and even cathode–electrolyte interphase can be observed through in situ and ex situ characterizations, which are attributed to the synergistic effect from in situ potassium compensation and carbon deposition through self‐sacrificing K2C4O4 additive. Moreover, potassium‐ion full cells manifest significant improvement in energy density and cycling stability. This work demonstrates a positive impact of K2C4O4 additive on the comprehensive electrochemical enhancement, especially the activation of high‐voltage plateau capacity and provides an efficient strategy to enlighten the design of other high‐voltage cathodes for advanced high‐energy batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Environmental stresses are a main disturbing factor influencing horticultural productivity around the world. It will affect all plants including resistant or non-resistant cultivars. So, it is important to find the better cultivars and to check the response to adverse environmental conditions. Research method: Thus, the present research was conducted to evaluate responses of different bearing status of pistachio cultivars including Kalleh-Ghochi (K), Ohadi (O) and Ahmad-Aghaii (A), grafted on Badami-Rize-Zarand as rootstock, for six consecutive years to soil salinity. Findings: ONbearing trees of 'Ahmad-Aghaii' showed the highest yield, followed by 'Ohadi' and 'Kalleh-Ghochi'. In addition, the lowest leaf temperature was observed with this cultivar. Although the highest nitrogen, sodium, carbohydrate, peroxidase and leaf temperature was obtained in ON-bearing trees, however, the lowest potassium and total phenol content indicated in OFF-bearing status. It was found a negative correlation between leaf potassium content and ABI, between leaf peroxidase activity and ABI and between leaf temperature and ABI. On the other hand, leaf temperature increased as leaf sodium content increased. Research limitations: There was no limitation. Originality/Value: From data presented here, it is concluded that salinity and Na accumulation might be effective in changing the response of the pistachio cultivar under harsh environmental conditions which affects yield component and alternate bearing index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies exploring the relationship between dietary potassium and magnesium intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have yielded inconsistent results and the lack evidence from rural China. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between dietary potassium and magnesium intake and the risk of T2DM in rural China. Data was collected from the Henan Rural Cohort Study in 2017. A validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire assessed dietary potassium and magnesium intake. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate the effect of dietary potassium, magnesium and the potassium-magnesium ratio on the risk of T2DM. A total of 38384 individuals were included in the study, and 3616 participants developed T2DM. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the OR (95% CI) of the highest versus dietary potassium and magnesium and potassium-magnesium ratio intakes were 0.67 (0.59, 0.75), 0.76 (0.67, 0.88), and 0.57 (0.50, 0.66), respectively, compared to the subjects with the lowest quartile of intakes. In addition, gender partially influences the relationship between dietary magnesium and T2DM prevalence (P-interaction = 0.042). The group with the highest dietary potassium and dietary magnesium intake had the lowest risk of T2DM, with an OR (95% CI) of 0.63 (0.51-0.77). Dietary potassium and magnesium intake are important modifiable risk factors for T2DM in rural China. Dietary potassium intake > 1.8g/day, dietary magnesium intake > 358.6mg/day and < 414.7mg/day and potassium-magnesium ratio >5.1 should be encouraged to prevent better and manage T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Rice is the most important crop in India and additionally the hub of food security of the worldwide population. Integrated application of manures and fertilizers played a pivotal role for improvement of soil physico-chemical properties under different cropping systems as well as nutrient accumulation and grain yield in rice. The present investigation was conducted in sandy loam soil at Agronomy Research Farm of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India during 2018–2019 having sub-humid climate. Field experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of two date of transplanting, which were allotted to main plots and three combinations of nutrient management options allotted for sub plots on rice crop (var. Naveen). Among all the plant parts, leaf showed higher accumulation of nitrogen (3.69, 1.92%), stem showed higher accumulation of both phosphorus (0.43, 0.35%) and potassium (2.59, 2.09%) than other plant parts during vegetative stages, while panicle showed higher accumulation of nitrogen (1.22%), phosphorus (0.28%) during harvesting stages of the rice crop. Significantly higher nitrogen accumulation in different plant parts were optimized under Soil Test Based Fertilizer Recommendation (STBFR) + Green Manure (GM; Sesbania rostrata) (0.99, 0.46, 1.28%) method of nutrient management, while phosphorus (0.10, 0.11, 0.28%) and potassium (1.00, 1.64, 0.33%) accumulation were found to be significantly higher in different plant parts under STBFR + Farm Yard Manure (FYM) method of nutrient management. Thus, early transplanting and application of STBFR + GM/FYM could be recommended for higher nutrient accumulation in rice crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal hexacyanoferrates (HCFs) are regarded as promising cathode materials for potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) on account of their low cost and high energy density. However, the difficult‐to‐remove [Fe(CN)6] vacancies and crystal water lead to structural instability and capacity deterioration as well as the stereotype of poor thermostability of conventional HCFs. Herein, we report (100) face‐oriented potassium magnesium hexacyanoferrate (KMgHCF) nanoplates with low [Fe(CN)6] vacancies and high crystallinity, enabling thermostability up to 550 °C, high‐temperature carbon coating and crystal water elimination. The as‐obtained KMgHCF/C nanoplates exhibit superior potassium storage properties, including a large reversible capacity of 84.6 mAh g−1, a high voltage plateau of 3.87 V, excellent long‐term cycling performance over 15000 cycles and high rate capability at 5 A g−1. The unprecedented cycling stability of KMgHCF/C is attributed to the synergistic effect of a highly reversible two‐phase reaction, low [Fe(CN)6] vacancies and no crystal water, a specially exposed steady (100) surface, and a protective carbon coating. This work provides a new material selection and modification strategy for the practical application of HCFs in PIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All‐solid‐state potassium batteries emerge as promising alternatives to lithium batteries, leveraging their high natural abundance and cost‐effectiveness. Developing potassium solid electrolytes (SEs) with high room‐temperature ionic conductivity is critical for realizing efficient potassium batteries. In this study, we present the synthesis of K2.98Sb0.91S3.53Cl0.47, showcasing a room‐temperature ionic conductivity of 0.32 mS/cm and a low activation energy of 0.26 eV. This represents an increase of over two orders of magnitude compared to the parent compound K3SbS4, marking the highest reported ionic conductivity for non‐oxide potassium SEs. Solid‐state 39K magic‐angle‐spinning nuclear magnetic resonance on K2.98Sb0.91S3.53Cl0.47 reveals an increased population of mobile K+ ions with fast dynamics. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations further confirm a delocalized K+ density and significantly enhanced K+ diffusion. This work demonstrates diversification of the anion sublattice as an effective approach to enhance ion transport and highlights K2.98Sb0.91S3.53Cl0.47 as a promising SE for all‐solid‐state potassium batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a binary inorganic molten salt electrolyte based on lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) and potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (KFSI) is applied to Li–CO2 batteries that can operate under 80 °C. Benefiting from the intrinsic nonvolatility, electrochemical stability, raised ionic conductivity, sufficient solubility and safety, the molten electrolyte endows the Li–CO2 battery with a large discharge capacity of 4612 mA h g−1 and superior rate capability. The introduction of the Ru@Super P carbon cathode further optimizes the discharge capacity (9503 mA h g−1), overpotential (1.15 V), and rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the effects of two plants on the spatial distribution and nutrient distribution of crusts in different directions and distances after 30 years of aerial seeding, as well as the relationship between crust thickness and nutrient content, this paper takes the aerial seeding afforestation area in the northeastern margin of Tengger Desert as the research area, and the crusts under the plants of Hedysarum scoparium and Calligonum mongolicum as the research objects. The distribution of crust thickness and nutrients was analyzed, and the relationship between them was constructed. The thickness of the crust of H. scoparium and C. mongolicum was the largest in the southeast direction and the smallest in the northwest direction. With increasing distance from the plant, it shows a significant decreasing trend. The crust thickness of H. scoparium was higher than that of C. mongolicum. The nutrient indexes in the southeast direction of the crust of H. scoparium and C. mongolicum were significantly higher than those in the northwest direction; With the increase of the distance from the root of the plant, the nutrient content showed a significant decreasing trend. The contents of organic matter and available nitrogen in the crust of C. mongolicum were higher than those of H. scoparium, and the contents of available potassium and available phosphorus were lower than those of H. scoparium. The trend of nutrient enrichment rate of the crusts of the two plants was consistent with the trend of nutrient distribution. There was a significant positive correlation between the crust thickness and nutrients in the four directions under C. mongolicum. There was a significant positive correlation between the crust thickness and nutrients in the southwest direction under H. scoparium. The changes of available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium and organic matter content in the crust under H. scoparium can explain 52.5% of the change of its thickness. The changes of available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium and organic matter content in the crust under C. mongolicum can explain 78.5% of the change of its thickness. After 30 years of aerial seeding in Tengger Desert, the thickness and nutrients of the crust in the southeast direction of H. scoparium and C. mongolicum were significantly higher than those in the northwest direction and showed a decreasing trend with the increase of distance from the root of the plant. There was a positive correlation between crust nutrient and thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum kingianum Collett & Hemsl., is one of the most important traditional Chinese medicines in China. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between herb quality and microbial-soil variables, while also examining the composition and structure of the rhizosphere microbial community in Polygonatum kingianum, the ultimate goal is to provide a scientific approach to enhancing the quality of P. kingianum. Illumina NovaSeq technology unlocks comprehensive genetic variation and biological functionality through high-throughput sequencing. And in this study it was used to analyze the rhizosphere microbial communities in the soils of five P. kingianum planting areas. Conventional techniques were used to measure the organic elements, pH, and organic matter content. The active ingredient content of P. kingianum was identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Colorimetry. A total of 12,715 bacterial and 5487 fungal Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU) were obtained and taxonomically categorized into 81 and 7 different phyla. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Acidobacteriae were the dominant bacterial phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominat fungal phyla. The key predictors for bacterial community structure included hydrolysable nitrogen and available potassium, while for altering fungal community structure, soil organic carbon content (OCC), total nitrogen content (TNC), and total potassium content (TPOC) were the main influencing factors. Bryobacter and Candidatus Solibacter may indirectly increase the polysaccharide content of P. kingianum, and can be developed as potential Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). This study has confirmed the differences in the soil and microorganisms of different origins of P. kingianum, and their close association with its active ingredients. And it also broadens the idea of studying the link between plants and microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[{SiNDipp}BeClM]2 ({SiNDipp} = {CH2SiMe2N(Dipp)}2; M = Li, Na, K, Rb) are converted to ionic species by treatment with a crown ether. Whereas the lithium derivative reacts with Na or K to provide [{SiNDipp}BeCl]−[M(12-cr-4)2]+ (M = Na, K), the resultant sodium species is resistant to reduction by potassium. These observations are rationalised by a hybrid experimental/theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide organic amendments have received much attention to improve soil fertility and crop productivity. Partial substitution of inorganic fertilizer through organic manure is a promising approach to decrease chemical fertilizer input while stabilizing or increasing crop yield. Field experiments were conducted in Hubei and Hunan provinces to assess the impact of partial substitution of chemical fertilizer through organic manure on cotton yield and soil properties during 2016 and 2017. The experimental plots (50 m2) were arranged in a randomized block design, with six treatments, and three replicates for each treatment. Our results revealed that the yield of 100% chemical fertilizer treatments was significantly higher than no fertilizer treatment in 2016, and the yield of organic fertilizer substitution treatments was higher than 100% chemical fertilizer and no fertilizer in 2017 in Hubei province. In Hunan province, the yield of replacing part of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer and 100% chemical fertilizer treatment was higher than those of 100% organic fertilizer and no fertilizer treatment over 2 years. Application of 100% organic fertilizer was found to be more beneficial in terms of improving soil fertility in Hubei provinces during both years. The substitution of chemical fertilizer by 50% organic fertilizer was effective to improve soil fertility and exerted a significant effect on soil available phosphorus, potassium in Hunan provinces during both years. Collectively, these results indicate that replace 100% chemical fertilizer through organic fertilizer in Hubei province and substitution of 50% chemical fertilizer in Hunan province could increase the cotton yield, improve soil fertility and reduce inorganic fertilizers, which have a potential impact on sustainable production of cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA), as an environmentally sustainable material, is extensive applied in agriculture for enhancing water and fertilizer utilization efficiency, augmenting crop yield, and ameliorating soil conditions. However, the effect of γ-PGA in conjunction with sesame cake fertilizer on the soil environment remains uncertain.The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of γ-PGA on soil nutrients, water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and maize yield across various levels of sesame cake fertilizer. Additionally, the study seeks to identify the optimal ratio to establish a theoretical and practical foundation for sustainable agricultural development and the promotion of ecological agriculture. Through field experiments, nine treatments were established, comprising three levels of sesame cake fertilizer application rates (B1 = 900 kg/hm2 for low fertility, B2 = 1100 kg/hm2 for medium fertility, and B3 = 1300 kg/hm2 for high fertility) and three levels of γ-PGA application rates (R1 = 200 kg/hm2, R2 = 400 kg/hm2, and R3 = 600 kg/hm2). The results can be outlined as follows: (1) When γ-PGA application rate increased, total nitrogen (TN) exhibited a synergistic effect under B1 treatment, but an antagonistic effect under B2 and B3 treatments. At the 6-leaf stage (V6), 12-leaf stage (V12), and tasseling stage (VT), available phosphorus (AP) exhibited antagonistic effects. However, at the filling stage (R2) and maturity stage (R6), AP in B1 and B2 treatments at various depths underwent partial transformation into a synergistic effect. The levels of available potassium exhibited a notable antagonistic effect, leading to a decrease in harvest index (HI). B2 treatment demonstrated superior results compared to the B1 and B3 treatments, with the highest levels observed under B2R1 treatment; (2) TN content in the 0–40 cm soil layer increased during the filling period, and it was uniformly distributed in the 40–60 cm soil layer. When the soil AP was located in the 0–60 cm soil layer, there was an increase in AP content during the mature period. Following the tasseling period, different treatments exhibited varying patterns of increase in response to the presence of potassium within the 0–60 cm soil layer. Consequently, in cases where the sesame cake fertilizer content is low, the interaction between γ-PGA can compensate for the deficiency of fertilizer, thereby enhancing water and nitrogen utilization efficiency. The optimal fertilization strategy for enhancing soil nutrient distribution, WUE and NUE, and yield is proposed to be the application of 1100 kg/hm2 sesame cake fertilizer and 200 kg/hm2 γ-PGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in Croatia, are linked to the high prevalence of hypertension. Both are associated with high salt intake, which was determined almost two decades ago when Croatian Action on Salt and Health (CRASH) was launched. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate salt, potassium, and iodine intake using a single 24 h urine sample in a random sample of the adult Croatian population and to analyse trends in salt consumption after the CRASH was intensively started. Methods: In this study, we analysed data on 1067 adult participants (mean age 57.12 (SD 13.9), men 35%). Results: Mean salt and potassium intakes were 8.6 g/day (IQR 6.2–11.2) and 2.8 g/day (IQR 2.1–3.5), respectively, with a sodium-to-potassium ratio of 2.6 (IQR 1.8–3.3). We detected a decrease of 17.6% (2 g/day less) in salt consumption compared with our previous salt-mapping study. However, only 13.7% and 8.9% met the WHO salt and potassium recommended targets of 5 g/day and 3.5 g/day, respectively. Salt intake was higher, and potassium ingestion was lower, in rural vs. urban regions and in continental vs. Mediterranean parts of Croatia. Moderate to severe iodine insufficiency was determined in only 3% of the adult participants. Conclusion: In the last fifteen years, salt consumption has been significantly reduced in the Croatian adult population because of the intensive and broad CRASH program. However, salt intake is still too high, and potassium ingestion is too low. Salt reduction programs are the most cost-effective methods of cardiovascular disease prevention and merit greater consideration by the government and health policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isotopic and elemental composition of the fossil shells of foraminifera are often used for reconstructing past environments and climates. These so-called proxy relations are based on the effect of environmental conditions (e.g. seawater temperature, pH) on the isotopic ratio (e.g. δ11 B or δ18 O) or partitioning of elements (commonly expressed as El/Ca or DEl ) during calcification. Whereas many studies focused on proxy-calibrations of divalent cations, incorporation of monovalent cations are less well constrained. Here we calibrate shell potassium content (K/Cacc) as a function of 1) seawater K+ concentration, 2) the ratio of potassium and calcium in seawater (K/Casw) and 3) temperature. Moreover, we analyze Na+ incorporation into the calcite as a function of seawater K+ and Ca2+ concentrations. First, we cultured specimens of the larger benthic foraminifer at four different seawater [Ca2+] and constant [K+], resulting in a range of K/Casw. Secondly, we cultured specimens of the same species at four different [Ca2+]sw and [K+]sw while keeping the ratio between these two ions constant. Finally, we tested the effect of temperature (from 18 to 28°C) on K-incorporation in this species. Measured K/Cacc values are not notably affected by [Ca2+]sw, while seawater [K+] positively influences potassium incorporation, resulting in a positive correlation between seawater K/Ca values and K/Cacc. Although the [Na+] in the culture media was constant throughout both experiments, incorporated Na responded positively to decreasing [Ca2+]sw, resulting in a positive correlation between sea water Na/Ca and Na/Cacc. The difference in the controls on K- and Na-incorporation suggests that the (biological) control on these ions differs. Part of the observed variability in element partitioning may be explained by differences in chemical speciation and crystallographic coordination in the calcite lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nanocages (CNCs) have garnered attention as viable candidates for potassium storage, primarily due to their notable crystallinity, large surface area, and rich porosity. Yet, the development of a rapid, scalable, and economically feasible synthesis approach for CNCs persists as a formidable challenge. This study presents a rapid (millisecond‐scale) and scalable (gram‐scale) method for fabricating mesoporous CNCs characterized by high purity and orderly graphitic structures, utilizing the flash Joule heating technique. Employed for potassium storage, the CNC electrode developed herein exhibits exceptional performance metrics, including initial capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability, surpassing numerous carbonaceous materials previously documented. Impressively, it delivers a high initial capacity of 312.3 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, maintains 175.1 mAh g−1 at a high rate of 2.0 A g−1, and retains 219.6 mAh g−1 over 1000 cycles at 1.0 A g−1. Molecular dynamics simulations and in situ characterizations are employed to elucidate this robust behavior. This work underscores the significant advantages of the flash Joule heating technique in synthesizing carbonaceous materials for potassium storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preterm infants are at high risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), with potential life-long visual impairment. Low fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels predict ROP. It is unknown if preventing the HbF decrease also reduces ROP. Methods: BORN is an ongoing multicenter double-blinded randomized controlled trial investigating whether transfusing HbF-enriched cord blood-red blood cells (CB-RBCs) instead of adult donor-RBC units (A-RBCs) reduces the incidence of severe ROP (NCT05100212). Neonates born between 24 and 27 + 6 weeks of gestation are enrolled and randomized 1:1 to receive adult donor-RBCs (A-RBCs, arm A) or allogeneic CB-RBCs (arm B) from birth to the postmenstrual age (PMA) of 31 + 6 weeks. Primary outcome is the rate of severe ROP at 40 weeks of PMA or discharge, with a sample size of 146 patients. A prespecified interim analysis was scheduled after the first 58 patients were enrolled, with the main purpose to evaluate the safety of CB-RBC transfusions. Results: Results in the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis are reported. Twenty-eight patients were in arm A and 30 in arm B. Overall, 104 A-RBC units and 49 CB-RBC units were transfused, with a high rate of protocol deviations. A total of 336 adverse events were recorded, with similar incidence and severity in the two arms. By per-protocol analysis, patients receiving A-RBCs or both RBC types experienced more adverse events than non-transfused patients or those transfused exclusively with CB-RBCs, and suffered from more severe forms of bradycardia, pulmonary hypertension, and hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus. Serum potassium, lactate, and pH were similar after CB-RBCs or A-RBCs. Fourteen patients died and 44 were evaluated for ROP. Ten of them developed severe ROP, with no differences between arms. At per-protocol analysis each A-RBC transfusion carried a relative risk for severe ROP of 1.66 (95% CI 1.06–2.20) in comparison with CB-RBCs. The area under the curve of HbF suggested that HbF decrement before 30 weeks PMA is critical for severe ROP development. Subsequent CB-RBC transfusions do not lessen the ROP risk. Conclusions: The interim analysis shows that CB-RBC transfusion strategy in preterm neonates is safe and, if early adopted, might protect them from severe ROP. Trial registration: Prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on October 29, 2021. Identifier number NCT05100212. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Methods Results Conclusion Plant S concentration (Sc) and nitrogen (N) to S ratio (N:S) in canola are important indicators for diagnosing S deficiency. A field study was conducted on sandy and clay loam soils at two sites in eastern Canada for three growing seasons to determine plant critical Sc and N:S ratios across various growth stages (GSs).For each site year, factorial experiments consisting of combinations of four N levels (0, 80, 160, and 240 kg N ha–1) as urea (46–0–0) and four S levels (0, 20, 30, and 40 kg S ha–1) as potassium sulfate (0–0–50–18) were classified orthogonally to form 16 combinations. Muriate of potash (0–0–60) was also applied as needed to ensure all plots receiving the equal amount of potassium (K).Our study found that S fertilization increased plant Sc at each GS but reduced the whole‐plant N:S ratio, and the effect was stronger during the flowering stage. Both whole‐plant Sc and N:S ratios varied with GS, environment, and soil type and declined with plant aging. Our results showed that whole‐plant S analysis combined with visual signs of plant S deficiency (purple‐edged and cup‐shaped leaves with less green; stunted growth, slow blooming, and fewer flowers) appeared to be the best way to identify S problems in the field, and whole‐plant Sc and N:S ratios could confirm S deficiencies.Our findings indicated that if the whole‐plant Sc in the rosette stage is <0.35% and the N:S ratio is >9.6, the plant may be S‐deficient, and timely supplementary S fertilization measures may be beneficial to canola crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) models are rarely applied prospectively for decision-making in clinical practice. We therefore aimed to operationalize a QSP model for potas-sium homeostasis to predict potassium trajectories based on spironolactone administrations. For this purpose, we proposed a general workflow that was applied to electronic health records (EHR) from patients treated in a German tertiary care hospital. The workflow steps included model exploration, local and global sensitivity analyses (SA), identifiability analysis (IA) of model parameters, and specification of their inter-individual variability (IIV). Patient covariates, selected parameters, and IIV then defined prior information for the Bayesian a posteriori prediction of individual potassium trajectories of the following day. Following these steps, the successfully operationalized QSP model was interactively explored via a Shiny app. SA and IA yielded five influential and estimable parameters (extracellular fluid volume, hyperaldosteronism, mineral corticoid receptor abundance, potassium intake, sodium intake) for Bayesian prediction. The operationalized model was validated in nine pilot patients and showed satisfactory performance based on the (absolute) average fold error. This provides proof-of-principle for a Prescribing Monitoring of potassium concentrations in a hospital system, which could suggest preemptive clinical measures and therefore potentially avoid dangerous hyperkalemia or hypokalemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article by AlHabobi and colleagues ([1]), a reader identified a typographical error in the section "What is the main message for physicians who are not nephrology specialists?" under "The potassium binder patiromer also reduces serum phosphorus levels." The article stated that among 86 participants with baseline hyperphosphatemia, the mean reduction in serum phosphorus levels after 4 weeks of treatment was 0.7 mEq/L; this should instead be 0.62 mg/dL. The text has been corrected. [Extracted from the article]

Lithium (Li)-ion batteries have stimulated the societal transformation to clean energy systems. This carry-on electricity is revolutionizing how society communicates, functions, and evolves efficiently by enabling mobile electronics, zero-emission electric vehicles, and stationary energy storage. In preparation for the sustainable energy future, however, there are growing concerns about depleting critical elements used in the Li technology (e.g., lithium, cobalt, and nickel), especially for large-scale applications that will accelerate the rate of elemental consumption. Various non-Li-based rechargeable batteries composed of earth-abundant elements, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, have been proposed and explored as alternative systems to promote sustainable development of energy storage. In this perspective, we discuss challenges in Li-ion batteries in the sustainability aspect and provide our opinions on the potential applications of non-Li-based batteries. We also highlight the current status, important progress, and remaining challenges of the Li-alternative technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main cause of magnesium (Mg2+) deficiency in plants is its competition with potassium (K+). Besides uptake antagonism, previous studies also suggested that high [K+] inhibits root‐shoot translocation of Mg2+. In this study on oat, root elemental analysis revealed an evident but, with further increasing K+/Mg2+ ratio, limited suppression of Mg2+ uptake. In contrast, shoot [Mg2+] showed little or no reduction. This indicated a translocation synergism, as the suppression of the root [Mg2+] by K+ was counterbalanced. Oat thus provides new insights and raises new questions about the interactions of K+/Mg2+, in particular on the role of specific Mg2+ transporters. A better understanding of this interaction may help to counter the worldwide Mg deficiency more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium alunite is a potential mineral resource of potassium and aluminum that can serve as a valuable resource. An effective potassium and aluminum recovery method is developed using gradient leaching with a KOH sub‐molten salt. The key part of this process is seeded precipitation of the potassium aluminate leach solution. Therefore, this study aims to optimize the seeded precipitation process by investigating the effects of alkali concentration, molecular ratio, stirring rate, temperature, and seed coefficient on the precipitation ratio and particle size of Al(OH)3. The results show that alkali concentration, molecular ratio, temperature, and seed coefficient are key factors influencing seeded precipitation. Furthermore, the process is optimized by using these four identified factors as variables. A 9L(34) orthogonal experiment determines optimal conditions for maximizing the precipitation ratio and achieves the desired average particle size. Under the optimal condition of 200 g L−1 alkali concentration, 1.5 molecular ratio, 1.0 seed coefficient, and 343.15 K temperature, the precipitation ratio reaches 54% and the average Al(OH)3 particle size is 114 µm. Further work is required to scale up this optimized seeded precipitation process and evaluate applications of the Al(OH)3 product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Studies have recently shown a correlation between the elemental components of coal dusts, including potassium aluminosilicates, and the lung response as a potential driver for lung diseases associated with inhalation of coal dust. Here we aimed to systematically review the evidence for the association between exposure to potassium bearing dusts and lung outcomes in human studies as well as adverse cellular response in animal/cell culture studies. Methods: A systematic search of the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Embase and Web of Science was conducted in May 2024. Studies regarding exposure to potassium bearing dusts and aluminosilicates and respiratory consequence were included in the search. Articles were screened, with a secondary assessment for relevance and extraction of key information using a systematic review process. Results: We identified 64 studies, of which 35 were human studies, 22 involved animal experiments and 12 were in vitro studies with 5 papers having both in vivo and in vitro studies. Our review found some evidence that a range of potassium rich dusts increased incidence of respiratory symptoms and lung diseases, although the effect on radiological changes in the lung and pulmonary function loss was not consistent. The in vivo animal and in vitro studies consistently demonstrated an inflammatory response and cytotoxic effect after exposure to these dusts. Conclusion: Given complexity in the dust compositions and lack of direct evidence attributing these specific responses to potassium, we are not able to conclude the effect of potassium minerals in coal on development of respiratory diseases, warranting further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium isotopes hold great promise for tracing geological processes, but their analyses are fraught with complexities. Various methods using different generations of MC-ICPMS instruments have been developed, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. In this study, we report on K isotopic measurements performed using the Thermo Fisher Scientific Neoma collision cell MC-ICPMS/MS to explore the potential of the instrument. Tests were conducted under wet plasma conditions and the precision achieved was ~0.03 to 0.1& (95% c.i.) for 5-25 measurements in a single analytical session, comparable to other established techniques. The measurements were accurate within the tested concentration range of 50-500 ppb K. A K concentration mismatch between samples and standards of up to 5% was acceptable, while acid molarity mismatch had a pronounced effect on the measured K isotopic compositions. Matrix elements did not significantly impact K isotopic measurements when their concentration was below 2% of K. Several geostandards were measured and the obtained values agree with those from other measurement techniques. Overall, our tests suggest that measuring K isotopes with Neoma collision cell MC-ICPMS/MS is possible, but the high sensitivity of the instrument to tuning settings requires considerable efforts for conducting such measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a crucial abiotic stress having a devastating effect on crops, including tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Exogenous application of plant biostimulants and essential/beneficial nutrients is an efficient method for increasing plant tolerance and maintaining productivity under drought stress. Individual soil application of the commercial Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract (ASE) and potassium (K) has been widely used in alleviating drought stress in many crops. However, little information has been gained regarding the role of the integrated application of ASE and K in mitigating detrimental effects of drought stress. This study examines the combined effect of ASE and K on tomato plants on growth, fruit yield and quality, and water productivity (fruit yield [kg] per volume of water input [m3] throughout the growing season) under drought stress conditions. The commercial formulation of ASE was incorporated in five doses (0 [control], 1.25, 2.5, 3.75, and 5 mL L–1) along with a uniform dose of K (100 kg K2O ha–1) under three different soil water contents (50%, 75%, and 100% field capacity [FC]). Control plants did not receive any application of ASE or K; K applied at the same dose (100 kg K2O ha–1) without ASE was also included as a treatment. Poor vegetative growth, fruit yield, and physiological responses were observed with decreasing soil water content irrespective of ASE doses. Leaf area, root dry matter, fruit yield, water productivity, and membrane stability index were reduced from 26–55%, 42–58%, 53–72%, 27–48%, and 37–57%, respectively, at the lowest soil water content (50% FC) compared with 100% FC across ASE doses. Reducing soil water content to 50% FC triggered up to a 50% increase in fruit firmness and 33–67% increase in electrolyte leakage than those at 100% FC across ASE doses. Application of ASE in combination with K was effective at all doses with the highest dose of 5 mL L–1 producing up to 266% increased fruit yield, up to178% higher water productivity, up to 60% higher leaf relative water content, and up to 125% higher membrane stability index across all three soil water contents. The same dose reduced electrolyte leakage of plants by up to 48% across three soil water contents. The sole application of K resulted in a significant improvement in growth, fruit yield, and physiological traits of tomato plants. Fruit yield of plants grown with ASE (5 mL L–1) and K (100 kg K2O ha–1) at 50% FC was statistically similar to fruit yield of the control plants at 100% FC. Water productivity was even higher for the same treatment combinations. The same was also largely true for other growth and physiological parameters, highlighting the benefits of the integrated application of ASE and K in mitigating drought stress effects on tomato plants. An integrated program comprising ASE (5 mL L–1) and K (100 kg K2O ha–1) may constitute a potential beneficial strategy for tomato cultivation in water-scarce areas due to their synergistic response against drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of long-term use of mineral fertilizers on changes in the content of total phosphorus and its organic, mineral, and mobile compounds in soddy-podzolic heavy loamy soil (Albiс Retisol (Abruptic, Aric, Loamic)) was analyzed. The studies were performed in a long-term stationary experiment initiated in Perm krai in 1978. The variants were: 0 (without fertilizers), N90, P90, K90, N90P90, N90K90, P90K90, N90P90K90, N30P30K30, N60P60K60, N120P120K120, and N150P150K150. Ammonium nitrate or urea, double or simple superphosphate, and potassium chloride were used in the experiment. It was established that long-term use of superphosphate during five eight-field crop rotations (P90, P90K90, N90P90, and N90P90K90) resulted in a significant increase in the contents of the total phosphorus, mineral phosphorus (by 1.3–1.8 times), and mobile phosphorus (by 1.9–2.7 times) compounds in the plow layer (0–20 cm). The use of nitrogen fertilizers (N90, N90K90, N90Р90, and N90Р90K90) affected the accumulation of organic phosphorus compounds in the soil. The increase in the content and reserves of both mineral and organic phosphorus compounds was significant only in the case of using complete mineral fertilizer N90P90K90. Different combinations of superphosphate with nitrogen fertilizers and potassium chloride, as well as the rate of fertilizer application, affected the accumulation intensity of mobile phosphorus compounds in the soil during rotations and the changes in their contents in the soil profile. The application of low fertilizer rates ((NPK)30–60) resulted in an increase in the content of mobile phosphorus compounds mainly in the plow layer, whereas higher rates ((NPK)90–150) caused changes in the 80-cm-thick soil layer. Long-term use of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers resulted in an increase in the content of mobile phosphorus compounds in the plow layer over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]