Manganese Research Articles

ОРТА КӨМІРТЕКТІ ФЕРРОМАРГАНЕЦ ТЕХНОЛОГИЯСЫН ЗЕРТТЕУ ЖӘНЕ ӘЗІРЛЕУ

This article presents the results of medium-carbon ferromanganese smelting from domestic manganese ores under large-scale laboratory conditions. Data on the production and demand for refined ferromanganese produced during the last successful year are provided. Since 2020, refined ferromanganese production has decreased by approximately 1,2 million tons, which is 18% lower than in 2019. This decline was caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), which began in China in 2019, and the subsequent worldwide pandemic, as well as geopolitical conflicts (Russia — Ukraine), which started in 2021. Kazakhstan has significant reserves of manganese ores, which are in ferrous-manganese and carbonate states. X-ray phase analysis showed that manganese in the ores is represented by hydroxide, pyrolusite, and iron oxide. Medium-carbon ferromanganese was smelted in an electric furnace with a transformer power of 0.1 MVA. The chemical composition of the resulting alloy is as follows, %: Mn – 80-85; Si – 0,05-0,25; Fe – 1,8-3,0; P – 0,05-0,09; C – 1,5-2,0; MnO – 20-25; SiO₂ – 13,94-14,5; CaO – 23,35-24,85; MgO – 12,5-14,0. Thus, an optimal technological scheme for the production of a wide range of manganese ferroalloys was developed.

Characteristics of Host Rocks Manganese of The Anabanua Village Barru District South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

One of the prospects for a wealth of geological resources that can be utilized for the benefit of mankind is manganese metal mineral resources. In Anabanua Village, especially at the research location, there is an indication of manganese mineralization that the type of rock carrying the mineralization is not yet known. The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical elements of metallic minerals, mineralogy, and types of mineralization-carrying rocks, as many as three samples in the form of chunks, which were analyzed using megascopic analysis methods identifying the texture and structure of carrier rocks, XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) analysis minerals, and XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence). The characteristics of manganese mineralization carrier rocks consist of metallic elements Mn (0.046%-20.455%), Fe (1.555%-3.673%), and nonmetallic elements SiO2 (11.403%-48.165%), K2O (0.398%-4.177%). Mineralogy of manganese mineralization carrier rocks are roeblingite (Pb2Ca6Mn2+(Si3O9)2(SO4)2(OH)2·4H2O), rhodonite (CaMn3Mn[Si5O15]), diopside (CaMgSi2O6), calcite (CaCO3), kieserite (Al, Ga)2(GeO4)(OH)2), zeolite (Mn2O.Al2O3.xSiO .yH2O), and palygorskite ((Mg, Al)2 Si4O 10(OH)·4H2O). Manganese mineralization host rocks are determined by referring to the SiO2 (%weight) and K2O(%weight) diagrams to produce basalt igneous rock types.

Hydrothermal synthesis of three-dimensional snowflake-like MgCO3@MnCO3@Mn3N2 composite materials and their application in aqueous zinc-ion battery cathodes

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have attracted considerable interest in the energy storage sector due to their distinctive advantages. The use of water as an electrolyte enhances their environmental friendliness, and the abundant and low-cost nature of zinc resources confers a significant economic edge. Manganese-based materials, utilized as cathode materials in these batteries, offer favorable electrical conductivity, high theoretical capacity, and superior stability. The paper describes the hydrothermal synthesis of magnesium- and manganese-based composite material MgCO3@MnCO3@Mn3N2, through the optimization of the amounts of magnesium nitrate and urea, as well as the hydrothermal and calcination conditions. Under the optimal synthesis conditions, the composite material achieved a high capacity of 457.8 mAh/g at the current density of 50 mA/g, with capacity of 391.5 mAh/g at the current density of 100 mA/g. Notably, even at the current density of 200 mA/g, the capacity remained above 300 mAh/g. The SEM tests reveal that the MgCO3@MnCO3@Mn3N2 composite material exhibits three-dimensional snowflake-like morphology at the microscopic level. The EDS tests indicate a very uniform distribution of manganese and magnesium elements. Both infrared and Raman spectroscopy tests detected characteristic peaks of carbonate groups. The XPS tests show that the oxidation states of Mn and Mg elements are consistent with those of MgCO3 and MnCO3. In the XRD test, data fitting analysis indicates that the predominant components of the composite material are MgCO3 and MnCO3, with a ratio approximating 5:4. The presence of a small quantity of Mn3N2 is also identified within the composite material. The composite material synthesized under this composition exhibits superior electrochemical performance.

The Content Of Heavy Metal In Turmeric (Curcuma Domestica Val.) In The Volcanic Rocks Oligocene-Miocene Volcano, Biting Wonogiri, Central Java, Indonesia

The Biting Wonogiri area is an area composed of Oligocene-Miocene volcanic deposits and volcanic deposits from Lawu Volcano. The rocks in this area consist of pyroclastic rocks, volcanic breccia, and dacite intrusions. Residents in this area more commonly grow herbal plants such as turmeric. Turmeric plants are mostly planted on old volcanic rocks, namely the Oligocene-Miocene age. By studying the planting patterns of residents, an analysis was carried out regarding the heavy metal chemical elements contained in turmeric. The research methodology was carried out using geological mapping to determine the distribution of the rocks that make up the research area and AAS analysis (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy). This AAS method is used to determine heavy metal content. The heavy metal elements analyzed in turmeric were Hg, Pb, As, Fe, Al, and Mn. From the analysis results it was found that the heavy metal elements Hg, Pb, and As had very low levels, namely around 0.005-0.400 mg/Kg. Meanwhile, the elements Al, Fe, and Mg have high contents. Turmeric grown on dacite and volcanic breccia has higher Al (622.3-1362.76 mg/Kg) and Fe (271.32-806.27 mg/Kg) content compared to turmeric planted on sedimentary rock. Meanwhile, the metal element Mn varies around 6.85-122.01 mg/Kg. By knowing the content of these Western metal elements, it is hoped that turmeric, which contains heavy metal elements, can be used as a superior herbal herbal medicine. These metal elements, which are very important nutrients, come from old volcanic rocks.

Multi-energy calibration and induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (MEC-MIP OES) as an alternative method for the multi-elemental determination of essential elements in cocoa.

The challenge of combining MEC-MIP OES arises from the limited number of emission lines available in this analytical technique. For the MEC-MIP OES optimization, the emission line wavelengths, sample dilution, proportion sample:standard for preparing MEC solutions, and nebulizer gas flow rate were studied. Then, the use of multi-energy calibration (MEC) and microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP OES) was proposed as an alternative method for the determination of essential elements (Ca, K, Mg, Mn, and Na) in cocoa. In the optimized conditions, the method presented adequate analytical performance, with recoveries of 94-104% and relative standard deviations lower than 5%, showing adequate precision. The limits of detection (mg kg-1) were 12 for Ca, 2 for K, 3 for Mg, 3 for Mn, and 6 for Na. The proposed method was applied to analyze cocoa samples cultivated in Brazil and Ecuador after acid decomposition. The results were in the range (mg kg-1) of 409-1530 for Ca, 5520-13300 for K, 1460-3210 for Mg, 16-34 for Mn, and 28-61 for Na. Samples cultivated in Ecuador presented higher metal concentrations than the Brazilian samples. The proposed procedure was an easy and reliable approach for determining metals in cocoa samples, enabling multi-elemental determination with a lower cost and simplified calibration to be applied in routine applications.

Effect of dispersoid formation on age hardening and precipitation behavior of an Al-Si-Mg(-Cu) alloy with Mn and Cr addition

In the present study, Mn and Cr elements were added to the alloy to induce the formation of the α-AlFeMnCrSi dispersoids during solution treatment. The effect of the dispersoids on subsequent age-hardening response and precipitation behavior was investigated. The results indicate that there is a partially coherent structure between the dispersoid and the α-Al matrix, but the coherence is weak. The precipitation of dispersoids resulted in accelerated age-hardening response and precipitation kinetics, but weakened peak-aged hardening effect. With the aging time increasing from 0 to 16 h, a new precipitation sequence was proposed in Mn+Cr modified Al-Si-Mg(-Cu) alloy: Supersaturated solid solution (SSSS) → GP zones (under-aged) → β'' + β' (peak-aged) → Si + β'' + β' + Mg2Si + Q + α (over-aged). Among them, the extra precipitates were heterogeneous nucleated on the dispersoids, which depended on the orientation relationship between the dispersoid and the precipitation, the interfacial energy of the dispersoid/matrix/precipitation, and the local solute element concentration. Heterogeneous precipitation of coarse particles on dispersoids resulted in the formation of precipitation-free zones (PFZ), which was mainly responsible for the weakened peak-age hardening effect. Moreover, compared to the base alloy, finer and denser precipitates were obtained in the matrix of the modified alloy, due to the increased density of dislocations induced by the dispersoids and the higher Mg supersaturation.

Pressure-induced magnetic and topological transitions in non-centrosymmetric MnIn2Te4

In recent years, the study of magnetic topological materials, with their variety of exotic physics, has significantly flourished. In this work, we predict the interplay of magnetism and topology in the non-centrosymmetric ternary manganese compound MnIn2Te4under external hydrostatic pressure, using first-principles calculations and symmetry analyses. At ambient pressure, the ground state of the system is an antiferromagnetic insulator. With the application of a small hydrostatic pressure (∼0.50 GPa), it undergoes a magnetic transition, and the ferromagnetic state becomes energetically favorable. At ∼2.92 GPa, the ferromagnetic system undergoes a transition into a Weyl semimetallic phase, which hosts multiple Weyl points in the bulk. The presence of non-trivial Weyl points have been verified by Wilson bands computations and the presence of characteristic surface Fermi arcs. Remarkably, we discover that the number of Weyl points in this system can be controlled by pressure and that these manifest in an anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC). In addition to proposing a new candidate magnetic topological material, our work demonstrates that pressure can be an effective way to induce and control topological phases, as well as AHC, in magnetic materials. These properties may allow our proposed material to be used as a novel pressure-controlled Hall switch.

Reducing CO[formula omitted] emissions, energy consumption, and decarbonization costs in manganese production by integrating fuel-assisted solid oxide electrolysis cells in two-stage oxide reduction

Manganese is one of the most consumed metals due to its use in iron and steel making, which generates between 7%–9% of all CO2 emissions produced globally per annum. For the first time, this work explores the potential of a novel process concept to reduce CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and decarbonization costs in manganese production, which involves integrating fuel-assisted solid oxide electrolysis cells (FASOECs) in a two-stage scheme for the reduction of raw manganese ores. In this scheme, higher oxides that are present in raw manganese ores (MnO2, Mn2O3, Mn3O4) are pre-reduced using CO, yielding manganese monoxide (MnO) that is further reduced to Mn in a submerged arc furnace (SAF) using coke and electricity. In the proposed FASOEC integration concept, off-gas from the manganese ores after pre-reduction (a mixture of H2, CO, and CO2) is supplied to the FASOECs’ anode as fuel, in order to produce high-purity H2 in the cathode that is directed to the first stage of manganese reduction. H2 has enhanced reaction kinetics for reducing higher manganese oxides in comparison to CO; therefore, integrating FASOECs can improve manganese oxide conversion rates during pre-reduction, resulting in lower consumption rates of coke and energy in the SAF. The off-gas supplied to the FASOECs’ anode also lowers the amount of energy required for H2 production in the cathode (can also generate electricity, simultaneously) and produces anode exhaust gas containing only CO2 and steam. Since steam can be easily condensed from this stream, the integration of FASOECs also enables efficient decarbonization of the manganese production process, thus eliminating the need for a designated CO2 capture system. The techno-economic analysis performed herein demonstrates that directing the full supply of off-gas produced by the SAF to the FASOECs’ anode at 800 °C reduces the overall energy consumption of manganese production by up to 18% in comparison to conventional processes. This results in decarbonization cost reductions by as much as 3%–15% and a corresponding decarbonization price range of $4-32 per ton of manganese product for plant capacities of 50 and 200 kt, respectively.

Assessment of Essential Trace Elements Cu, Zn, Mn, and Ni in Mediterranean Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Algerian Coast.

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of essential trace elements copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel in two size groups of mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, sampled from three sites along the Algerian coast with different levels of pollution. The results of this work are very interesting for determining the effect of mussel size on the variation of contaminant levels in environmental monitoring studies. Thirty individuals from 2 size groups, less than 4-cm and more than 4-cm shell length, were collected over 4 seasons at each site studied. The samples were dissected, and copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel were measured in the whole soft tissues by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The maximum concentrations of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel expressed in mg/kg dry weight at the three sites were 54.01, 146.25, 20.69, and 8.85, respectively. A clear distribution pattern of the studied elements was observed in the two size classes. In fact, significantly higher concentrations (P < 0.05) were found in individuals with a shell length of less than 4 cm. Significantly, higher concentrations (P < 0.05) were found in individuals with a shell length of less than 4 cm due to their high filtration and low excretion activities compared to long individuals. In addition, metal pollution index (MPI) values were higher in small bivalve individuals. The trace element contents found in the mussel samples of the present study showed large spatial and temporal variations among the different sites studied, highlighting the typical exposure of marine sites to different marine pollutants. Notably, elevated concentrations of copper were observed in the port of Zemmouri, likely due to port activities. Conversely, the highest levels of manganese and nickel were recorded at Boudouaou El Bahri, potentially attributable to the use of fertilisers by agricultural activities. Some shellfish samples had exceeded the permissible concentration levels of copper and manganese, thereby posing a danger to bivalve consumers.

Synergistic interface engineering of ZnCo2O4/NiMnCo-layered double hydroxides for boosted reactivity in advanced supercapacitor electrodes

NiMn layered double hydroxide (LDH) exhibits high redox activity as a cathode material for hybrid supercapacitors, but it has the disadvantages of low conductivity and poor stability. In this work, the electrochemical properties of NiMnCo-LDH with different Co contents prepared by electrodeposition were tested. The results showed that the addition of an appropriate amount Co increased the adsorption of OH− on NiMn-LDH and improved the reactivity of the material. ZnCo-MOF grown on carbon cloth was transformed into flake ZnCo2O4 by calcination, and NiMnCo-LDH was electrodeposited on it to prepare ZnCo2O4/NiMnCo-LDH composite electrode. The core-shell structure increases the reaction area between the LDH material and the electrolyte. Physical characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the structure and electronic distribution of ZnCo2O4/NiMnCo-LDH at the heterogeneous interface are reconstructed, which increases the valence state of Co and Mn elements, and finally exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance. Due to the existence of this synergistic effect, the specific capacity of the electrode is as high as 231.5 mAh g−1, with excellent stability demonstrated after 5000 cycles compared to the NiMnCo-LDH. The assembled hybrid supercapacitor exhibits a high energy density of 39.4 Wh kg−1, and has high cycle stability (90 % after 5000 cycles).

Surface Reconstruction Enhanced Li-Rich Cathode Materials for Durable Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Regulating the distribution of surface elements in lithium-rich cathode materials can effectively change the electrochemical performance of cathode materials. Considering that the enrichment of Mn element on the surface is the main reason for the irreversible phase transition and dissolution of its surface structure, which in turn is the main reason for performance degradation. Based on the molten salt-assisted sintering method, a lithium rich cathode material with surface rich Ni and Co is designed and prepared. The surface enrichment of Ni and Co effectively reduces the dissolution of Mn, promotes the occurrence of irreversible collapse of surface structure from layered phase to rock salt phase on the material surface, improves the stability of surface crystal phase structure, and improves the cycling stability of positive electrode materials. Notably, after 500 cycles at 1 C current density, the discharge-specific capacity attained 189.8 mAh g -1, with a capacity retention rate of 88.9%, indicating a 42.1% improvement in capacity retention. Molten salt treatment is widely used in the modification of positive electrode materials. The research work will provide new ideas for improving the stability of lithium rich materials and promoting their commercial applications.

Manganese ores: processing volumes and enrichment methods

Manganese ores: processing volumes and enrichment methods

Efficient phosphorus removal using the La-based perovskite oxides: Role of B-site metal for modulating the surface electronic structure

Highly efficient removal of phosphate from water bodies is of great importance to controlling eutrophication. Herein, the lanthanum-based perovskites (i.e., LaMnO3, LaFeO3) were synthesized and employed for phosphorus adsorption. Adsorption experiments showed that the phosphate removal by LaMnO3 was well fitted with the pseudo second-order kinetic model, with a multi-stage adsorption process. The LaMnO3 exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 51.3 mg/g for phosphate calculated using the Langmuir model, which was 2.1 times higher than that of LaFeO3 under neutral conditions. Characterization and DFT calculation results further revealed that the La element on the surface of perovskite was the main adsorption site via inner-sphere complex and/or electrostatic interactions, whereas the B-site metal (i.e. Mn element) could trigger the surface electronic structure modulation such as the reduction of surface bonding barrier, for further improving the phosphate adsorption. Additionally, the LaMnO3 adsorbent exhibited commendable performance in treating natural water with low phosphorus concentration and good regenerative capability. This work provides insight into the development of novel perovskite-type adsorbents for efficiently removing phosphorus in environmental remediation.

Correlation analysis between Radix Pseudostelariae quality and rhizosphere soil factors of Pseudostellaria heterophylla in a cultivation region, China.

Pseudostellaria heterophylla, known for its significant bioactive ingredients, offers potential health benefits. Amounts of bioactive compounds of the tuberous root of cultivated Pseudostellaria heterophylla are sensitive to environmental conditions. We selected 22 sampling sites in Guizhou Province, China, a primary Pseudostellaria heterophylla planting area. We analyzed polysaccharides, water-soluble extractives, total ash and inorganic elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Mg and Ca) in Radix Pseudostellariae, and pH, organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK) and inorganic elements in the soil. Our study revealed a substantial presence of polysaccharides (85.00-181.00 mg g-1), water-soluble extractives (47.52-57.63%) and total ash (1.87-3.39%) in Radix Pseudostellariae. Polysaccharides and total ash showed no sensitivity to soil pH. Radix Pseudostellariae collected from soil with pH > 7 exhibited slightly higher levels of water-soluble extractives, Mg and Ca than that from soil with pH < 5. Conversely, soil with a pH less than 5 had higher OC, AN, AP and AK contents. Water-soluble extractives in Radix Pseudostellariae were negatively correlated with soil pH but positively correlated with OC and AN. The results imply that the sequestration of soil nutrients over long-term Pseudostellaria heterophylla cultivation could negatively impact the accumulation of some bioactive ingredients in Radix Pseudostellariae. This study has a profound implication for enhancing the quality of Radix Pseudostellariae of artificially cultivated Pseudostellaria heterophylla. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Enhancing strength and irradiation tolerance of Mg alloy via co-addition of Mn and Ca elements

The Mg alloys with combination of high strength and excellent irradiation resistance are currently required for research reactors. In this work, the novel Mg-3Mn-0.5Ca alloy with a high strength of over 300 MPa has been fabricated via co-addition of Mn and Ca elements. Moreover, the Xe ion implantation (300 °C/4.5 × 1015 ions/cm2) is conducted for pure Mg, Mg-3Mn and Mg-3Mn-0.5Ca alloys. Microstructure characterization shows that the number density of dislocation loops is comparable between Mg-3Mn and pure Mg, while the phase boundary of nano-Mn particles could act as the sink to absorb more Xe atoms, resulting in the abundant formation of Xe bubbles in the matrix of irradiated Mg-3Mn alloy. With further minor addition of Ca element, the formation of Xe bubbles and dislocation loops in Mg-3Mn-0.5Ca alloy has been obviously suppressed, and the abundant grain boundaries (GBs) due to grain refinement then act as the sink region for Xe precipitation. The limited number density of Xe bubbles leads to the extremely low swelling ratio in Mg-3Mn-0.5Ca alloy, ∼0.08 %. The result above suggests that the Mn and Ca co-addition could enhance the mechanical properties and irradiation tolerance of Mg alloys, simultaneously. The present low-alloying strategy would provide a new design reference for novel nuclear materials.

Evaluation of magnetic hyperthermia, drug delivery and biocompatibility (bone cell adhesion and zebrafish assays) of trace element co-doped hydroxyapatite combined with Mn-Zn ferrite for bone tissue applications.

The treatment and regeneration of bone defects, especially tumor-induced defects, is an issue in clinical practice and remains a major challenge for bone substitute material invention. In this research, a composite material of biomimetic bone-like apatite based on trace element co-doped apatite (Ca10-δ M δ (PO4)5.5(CO3)0.5(OH)2; M = trace elements of Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ni, Mo, Sr and BO3 3-; THA)-integrated-biocompatible magnetic Mn-Zn ferrite ((Mn, Zn)Fe2O4 nanoparticles, BioMags) called THAiBioMags was prepared via a co-precipitation method. Its characteristics, i.e., physical properties, hyperthermia performance, ion/drug delivery, were investigated in vitro using osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) and in vivo using zebrafish. The synthesized THAiBioMags particles revealed superparamagnetic behaviour at room temperature. Under the influence of an alternating magnetic field, THAiBioMags particles demonstrated a change in temperature, indicating their potential for magnetic hyperthermia, in which THAiBioMags further exhibited a specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 9.44 W g-1 (I = 44 A, H = 6.03 kA m-1 and f = 130 kHz). In addition, the as-prepared particles demonstrated sustained ion/drug (doxorubicin (DOX)) release under physiological pH conditions. Biological assay analysis revealed that THAiBioMags exhibited no toxicity towards osteoblast cells and demonstrated excellent cell adhesion properties. In vivo studies employing an embryonic zebrafish model showed the non-toxic nature of the synthesized THAiBioMags particles, as revealed by evaluation of the survivability, hatching rate, and embryonic morphology. These results could potentially lead to the design and fabrication of magnetic scaffolds to be used in therapeutic treatment and bone regeneration.

The origin and fate of organic carbon in graphite–manganese bearing rocks and implications for the Lomagundi–Jatuli Event

Our study helps to unravel the complexity of the Lomagundi–Jatuli event, the largest and longest positive carbon isotope excursion ever recorded on the Earth’s surface, by providing a unique view of Paleoproterozoic graphitic rocks from the Borborema province of Northeastern Brazil. Through detailed mineralogical, textural, chemical and isotopic analyses, we bring a new perspective that provide support to elevated primary productivity and large-scale organic carbon burial during the Lomagundi–Jatuli event. Graphite crystals with distinctive textural features occur in association with silicate and oxidised manganese ores, manganese quartzites, garnetites, and gneisses. The graphites were crystallised at temperatures up to 634 °C, consistent with amphibolite facies metamorphism, according to Raman thermometry. An average total carbon content of 2.1 wt%, with δ13C values ranging from − 15.0 to − 21.5‰, is indicated by whole-rock geochemistry and carbon isotopic composition, respectively. Based on these results, our study proposes that these graphitic rocks may represent remnants of organic matter, possibly derived from bacterial biomass associated with manganese-rich sediments, preserved under reducing environmental conditions in a redox-stratified marine setting. Biological mediation on the origin of silicates is suggested by the close relationship between reduced manganese silicates and graphite. These constraints indicate that Paleoproterozoic graphite-rich rocks represent an important but overlooked reservoir of organic carbon that was partially degassed during the metamorphism of organic-rich sequences. Overall, this research provides new insights for the enigmatic emergence of the Lomagundi–Jatuli event, highlighting the intricate interplay among organic carbon, manganese-rich rocks and Earth's evolutionary processes during this period.

Cardiotoxicity of Iron and Zinc and Their Association with the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response in Humans.

This study was designed to examine the association between myocardial concentrations of the trace elements Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn and the expression of mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) elements and the age of patients who received heart transplantation or a left-ventricular assist device (ageHTx/LVAD). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn in the myocardium of control subjects and patients undergoing heart transplantation or left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We used ELISA to quantify the expression of UPRmt proteins and 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), which served as a marker of oxidative-stress-induced lipid peroxidation. Concentrations of Cu, Mn, Mo, and Zn were similar in the control and heart failure (HF) myocardium, while Fe showed a significant decrease in the HF group compared to the control. A higher cumulative concentration of Fe and Zn in the myocardium was associated with reduced ageHTx/LVAD, which was not observed for other combinations of trace elements or their individual effects. The trace elements Cu, Mn, and Zn showed positive correlations with several UPRmt proteins, while Fe had a negative correlation with UPRmt effector protease YME1L. None of the trace elements correlated with 4-HNE in the myocardium. The concentrations of the trace elements Mn and Zn were significantly higher in the myocardium of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy than in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. A higher cumulative concentration of Fe and Zn in the myocardium was associated with a younger age at which patients received heart transplantation or LVAD, potentially suggesting an acceleration of HF. A positive correlation between myocardial Cu, Mn, and Zn and the expression of UPRmt proteins and a negative correlation between myocardial Fe and YME1L expression suggest that these trace elements exerted their actions on the human heart by interacting with the UPRmt. An altered generation of oxidative stress was not an underlying mechanism of the observed changes.

A Mild Synthesis of 0D Mn2+‐Doped Cs3CdBr5 Metal Halide for White Light‐Emitting Diodes and X‐Ray Imaging

AbstractAll‐inorganic Cd‐based metal halide is widely studied and applied in the field of optoelectronics due to its superior stability, diverse phase structure, and unique photoelectric properties. However, all‐inorganic 0D Cd‐based metal halide is not widely studied due to their extreme synthesis conditions. In this paper, a simple mild solution method is devised to successfully synthesize 0D Cs3CdBr5 by manipulating the crystal growth kinetics. Simultaneously, the influence of the doping element Mn on the transition matrix and the optical properties are investigated. By doping with an appropriate concentration of Mn2+, a green emission (520 nm) with photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) as high as 97.39% is obtained. Benefiting from near‐unity PLQY and the excellent optical properties, the white emitting light‐emitting diodes (WLEDs) with Cs3CdBr5:20%Mn as green phosphor exhibit warm white light emission with color rendering index (CRI) of 91 and correlated color temperature (CCT) of 4108 K. In addition, Cs3CdBr5:20%Mn also demonstrates excellent X‐ray scintillation properties with a low detection limit of 32.83 nGyair·s−1. The results show that Cs3CdBr5:Mn is not only a promising candidate for solid‐state lighting but also a promising candidate for low‐dose high‐resolution X‐ray imaging.

Assessment of Nicotine delivery capabilities and evaluation of human health risk of metals associated with selected tobacco products

The use of smokeless tobacco has increased, particularly among Ghana's youth, due in part to perceived medicinal benefits and the belief that it is less harmful and non-addictive. In response to this trend, we systematically classified 51 different tobacco products based on their potential toxicity as determined by potentially toxic elements, addiction potential, and nicotine delivery capability. Moisture, pH, and percentage-free base nicotine were measured using certified methods. X-ray fluorescence techniques were used to determine tobacco products' concentrations of target elements (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Rb, Sr, Mo, V, S, U, Zr, Tl, and Zn). Locally produced snuff products had the highest nicotine delivery capacity, with a pH of 9.73 and 96.98% freebase nicotine. Dried tobacco leaves followed closely, with a mean pH of 7.39 and percentage free base nicotine of 25.93%, whereas cigarette products had the lowest nicotine delivery capability (mean pH: 5.49; percentage free base nicotine: 0.33%). In the snuff category, menthol-flavored products delivered more nicotine (pH of 9.96; percentage free base nicotine of 98.8%) than moringa-flavored alternatives (pH of 9.77; percentage free base nicotine of 98%). Users of the smuggled cigarette product C6 were found to be susceptible to increased non-carcinogenic health effects, as indicated by a hazard index (HI) value of 1108.35, while C4, with the highest pH of 5.58 and a corresponding %A (addiction potential) of 0.70, demonstrated the greatest addiction potential among the examined cigarette products. Our findings indicate that locally produced snuff and dried tobacco leaves have potentially high addictive properties, emphasizing the risk of tobacco dependence. Furthermore, these products may have non-carcinogenic health effects, as indicated by elevated hazard quotients and hazard indices. These findings provide important insights into the various characteristics of tobacco products in Ghana, which may aid in developing targeted public health interventions.