Cathode materials for halide-based aqueous redox flow batteries: recent progress and future perspectives.

As the population increases sharply around the globe, huge shortages are occurring in energy resources. Renewable resources are urgently required to be developed to satisfy human demands. Unlike the lithium-ion batteries with safety and cost issues, the redox flow battery (RFB) is economical, stable, and convenient for the development of large-scale stationary electrical energy storage applications. Especially, the aqueous redox flow battery (ARFB) further exhibits a promising potential in larger power grids owing to its unique structural features of storing energy by filling the tank with electrolytes. The ARFB is capable of modulating battery parameters by controlling the volume and concentration of the electro-active species (EAS). Further, halogens show excellent properties, such as low cost and appropriate potential as an EAS for ARFB, further showing an efficient, safe, and affordable energy storage system (ESS). Moreover, to attain the demands of strong activity, high sensitivity, convenience as well as practicality, further attention needs to be paid to material (electrode) design and adjustment. In this mini-review, novel electrode materials, including their potential internal mechanisms and effective regulatory means, are summarized and applied in the zinc-halogen, hydrogen-halogen, and polysulfide-halogen ARFB systems, promoting the development of valuable material systems and the innovation of the energy storage/conversion technologies.

Sports yoga based on the prevention of joint injuries / Ioga esportiva baseada na prevenção de lesões articulares / Yoga deportivo basado en la prevención de lesiones articulares

ABSTRACT Introduction During sports, the athletes' joints bear a strong overload, causing joint injuries, which have a strong impact on the sports level and shorten the sports athletes' careers. Objective Explore the preventive effect of yoga practice on joint injuries. Methods In this study, an experimental protocol was tested. The experimental group adopted the yoga teaching method, and the control group adopted traditional massage. The interventions were performed three times a week, lasting one hour for a total of 6 months. The scores of the VAS and the Oswestry functional disorder index questionnaire were collected and compared, and the joint activity before and after the experiment was also collected and analyzed. Results Both methods can effectively improve the overall joint condition and prevent joint injury, but the effect of the yoga teaching group was superior to the massage group. Conclusion Compared to traditional massage, sport-oriented yoga training proved superior, better adapted to the actual situation of athletes, and more cost-effective. Further studies are recommended for its promotion. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução Durante os esportes, as articulações dos atletas suportam uma forte sobrecarga, ocasionando lesões articulares, ocasionando um forte impacto no nível esportivo e abreviando a carreira dos atletas esportivos. Objetivo Explorar o efeito preventivo da prática de ioga sobre as lesões articulares. Métodos Neste trabalho, foi testado um protocolo experimental. O grupo experimental adotou o método de ensino de ioga, e o grupo de controle adotou a massagem tradicional. As intervenções foram realizadas três vezes por semana, com duração de uma hora num total de 6 meses. As pontuações do VAS e do questionário do índice de desordem funcional Oswestry foram coletadas e comparadas, e a atividade conjunta antes e depois do experimento também foi coletada e analisada. Resultados Ambos os métodos podem efetivamente melhorar a condição articular geral e prevenir lesões articulares, porém o efeito do grupo de ensino de ioga demonstrou-se superior ao grupo de massagem. Conclusão Em comparação com a massagem tradicional, o treinamento de ioga voltado para o esporte demonstrou-se superior, adaptando-se melhor à situação real dos atletas, além de ser mais econômico. Recomenda-se maiores estudos para a sua promoção. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción Durante la práctica deportiva, las articulaciones de los atletas soportan una fuerte sobrecarga, provocando lesiones articulares, causando un fuerte impacto en el nivel deportivo y acortando la carrera deportiva de los atletas. Objetivo Explorar el efecto preventivo de la práctica del yoga en las lesiones articulares. Métodos En este trabajo se ha probado un protocolo experimental. El grupo experimental adoptó el método de enseñanza del yoga, y el grupo de control adoptó el masaje tradicional. Las intervenciones se realizaron tres veces por semana, con una duración de una hora, durante un total de 6 meses. Se recogieron y compararon las puntuaciones del VAS y del cuestionario del índice de trastornos funcionales de Oswestry, y también se recogió y analizó la actividad articular antes y después del experimento. Resultados Ambos métodos pueden mejorar eficazmente el estado general de las articulaciones y prevenir las lesiones articulares, pero el efecto del grupo de enseñanza de yoga demostró ser superior al del grupo de masaje. Conclusión En comparación con el masaje tradicional, el entrenamiento de yoga orientado al deporte demostró ser superior, adaptándose mejor a la situación real de los atletas, además de ser más rentable. Se recomienda realizar más estudios para su promoción. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Effect of MTHFR A1298C and MTRR A66G Genetic Mutations on Homocysteine Levels in the Chinese Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Chinese population typically has inadequate folate intake and no mandatory folic acid fortification. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) are the two key regulatory enzymes in the folate/homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism. Hcy has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess whether the MTHFR gene A1298C and the MTRR gene A66G polymorphisms affect Hcy levels in the Chinese population. METHODS: This analysis included 13 studies with Hcy levels reported as one of the study measurements. Summary estimates of weighted mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained using random-effect models. RESULTS: Overall, there were no significant differences in Hcy concentrations between participants with the MTHFR 1298 CC (12 trials, n = 129), AA (n = 2166; ß, -0.51 µmol/L; 95%CI: -2.14, 1.11; P = 0.53), or AC genotype (n = 958; ß, 0.55 µmol/L; 95%CI: -0.72, 1.82; P = 0.40). Consistently, compared to those with the MTRR 66 GG genotype (6 trials, n = 156), similar Hcy concentrations were found in participants with the AA (n = 832; ß, -0.43 µmol/L; 95%CI: -1.04, 0.17; P = 0.16) or AG (n =743; ß, -0.57 µmol/L; 95%CI: -1.46, 0.31; P = 0.21) genotype. Similar results were observed for the dominant and recessive models. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism nor the MTRR A66G polymorphism affects Hcy levels in the Chinese population.