Insights into the biocontrol and plant growth promotion functions of Bacillus altitudinis strain KRS010 against Verticillium dahliae.

BACKGROUND: Verticillium wilt, caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae, is a soil-borne vascular fungal disease, which has caused great losses to cotton yield and quality worldwide. The strain KRS010 was isolated from the seed of Verticillium wilt-resistant Gossypium hirsutum cultivar "Zhongzhimian No. 2." RESULTS: The strain KRS010 has a broad-spectrum antifungal activity to various pathogenic fungi as Verticillium dahliae, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium spp., Colletotrichum spp., and Magnaporthe oryzae, of which the inhibition rate of V. dahliae mycelial growth was 73.97% and 84.39% respectively through confrontation test and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) treatments. The strain was identified as Bacillus altitudinis by phylogenetic analysis based on complete genome sequences, and the strain physio-biochemical characteristics were detected, including growth-promoting ability and active enzymes. Moreover, the control efficiency of KRS010 against Verticillium wilt of cotton was 93.59%. After treatment with KRS010 culture, the biomass of V. dahliae was reduced. The biomass of V. dahliae in the control group (Vd991 alone) was 30.76-folds higher than that in the treatment group (KRS010+Vd991). From a molecular biological aspect, KRS010 could trigger plant immunity by inducing systemic resistance (ISR) activated by salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways. Its extracellular metabolites and VOCs inhibited the melanin biosynthesis of V. dahliae. In addition, KRS010 had been characterized as the ability to promote plant growth. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that B. altitudinis KRS010 is a beneficial microbe with a potential for controlling Verticillium wilt of cotton, as well as promoting plant growth.

One-Step Preparation of Highly Durable Superhydrophobic Carbon Nanothorn Arrays.

This study proposes a one-step method for growing superhydrophobic carbon nanothorn arrays (NTAs) directly on various substrates. The fabricated carbon material (named methyl-substituted graphdiyne (MGDY)) comprises sp and sp2 carbons in a conjugated-backbone form, as well as methyl groups introduced into the framework as hydrophobic-enhanced functional groups. MGDY NTAs exhibit excellent hydrophobicity (contact angle ≥152°), substantial long-period hydrophobic durability (the contact angle decreased by only 3.2% over 800 days), and acid/alkali tolerance. Owing to the enhanced durability and specific stability of carbon, a superhydrophobic interface can easily be constructed using MGDY NTAs, which can be applied to achieve successful long-term metal-corrosion protection and efficient oil-water separation.

Tuning the Properties of Graphdiyne by Introducing Electron-Withdrawing/Donating Groups.

The properties of graphdiyne (GDY), such as energy gap, morphology, and affinity to alkali metals, can be adjusted by including electron-withdrawing/donating groups. The push-pull electron ability and size differences of groups play a key role on the partial property adjusting of GDY derivatives MeGDY, HGDY, and CNGDY. Cyano groups (electron-withdrawing) and methyl groups (electron-donating) decrease the band gap and increase the conductivity of the GDY network. The cyano and methyl groups affects the aggregation of GDY, providing a higher number of micropores and specific surface area. These groups also endow the original GDY additional advantages: the stronger electronegativity of cyano groups increase the affinity of GDY frameworks to lithium atoms, and the larger atomic volume of methyl groups increases the interlayer distance and provides more storage space and diffusion tunnels.

Chemical Modification of the sp-Hybridized Carbon Atoms of Graphdiyne by Using Organic Sulfur.

Here, a new approach to further improve graphdiyne (GDY) based materials by using benzyl disulfide (BDS) as the sulfur source is demonstrated. The S radicals, generated from the homolysis of BDS, can react with the acetylenic bonds and be well confined in the triangle-like pores of GDY, forming S-GDY. The as-prepared S-GDY, which possesses numerous heteroatom defects and active sites, is suitable for applications in many electronic devices, such as lithium ion batteries (LIBs). As expected, the assembled LIBs based on S-GDY displayed improved electrochemical properties, including larger capacity and superior rate capability.

Synthesis and Electronic Structure of Boron-Graphdiyne with an sp-Hybridized Carbon Skeleton and Its Application in Sodium Storage.

Boron-graphdiyne (BGDY), which has a unique π-conjugated structure comprising an sp-hybridized carbon skeleton and evenlydistributed boron heteroatoms in a well-organized 2D molecular plane, is prepared through a bottom-up synthetic strategy. Excellent conductivity, a relatively low band gap and a packing mode of the planar BGDY are observed. Notably, the unusual bonding environment of the all sp-carbon framework and the electron-deficient boron centers generates affinity to metal atoms, and thus provides extra binding sites. Furthermore, the expanded molecule pores of the BGDY molecular plane can also facilitate the transfer of metal ions in the perpendicular direction. The practical effect of the all sp-carbon structure and boron heteroatoms on the properties of BGDY are demonstrated in its performance as the anode in sodium-ion batteries.

Immobilization of proline-specific endoprotease on nonporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with amino group.

Enzyme immobilization is believed to provide an excellent base for increasing environmental tolerance of enzyme and considerable period of time. In this work, a kind of nonporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with amino group was synthesized to immobilize proline-specific endoprotease (PSEP). PSEP is known to specifically cleave peptides (or esters) at the carboxyl side of proline, thus can prevent the formation of haze and prolong the shelf life of beer. After immobilization, the environmental tolerance (temperature and pH, respectively) was obviously improved, and the immobilized enzyme can retain above 90 % of its original activity after 6 uses. Moreover, the immobilized enzyme can effectively prevent the formation of chill-haze using fresh beer fermentation liquid.

Synthesis of Chlorine-Substituted Graphdiyne and Applications for Lithium-Ion Storage.

Chlorine-substituted graphdiyne (Cl-GDY) is prepared through a Glaser-Hay coupling reaction on the copper foil. Cl-GDY is endowed with a unique π-conjugated carbon skeleton with expanded pore size in two dimensions, having graphdiyne-like sp- and sp2 - hybridized carbon atoms. As a result, the transfer tunnels for lithium (Li) ions in the perpendicular direction of the molecular plane are enlarged. Moreover, benefiting from the bottom-to-up fabrication procedure of graphdiyne and the strong chemical tailorability of the alkinyl-contained monomer, the amount of substitutional chlorine atoms with appropriate electronegativity and atom size is high and evenly distributed on the as-prepared carbon framework, which will synergistically stabilize the Li intercalated in the Cl-GDY framework, and thus generate more Li storage sites. Profiting from the above unique structure, Cl-GDY shows remarkable electrochemical properties in lithium ion half-cells.

A collaborative manipulation strategy to enhance the sodium ion storage capability of Prussian white cathodes.

A collaborative manipulation strategy of proper heat treatment and self-customized hydrofluoroether-based electrolyte design has been proposed for boosting the sodium-ion storage kinetics of Prussian white cathodes. Improved monoclinic phase stability and electrolyte-cathode compatibility are responsible for an impressive discharge capacity of 148.4 mA h g-1 and excellent electrode reversibility.

Enhancing Ionic Conductivity and Electrochemical Stability of Li3PS4 via Zn, F Co-Doping for All-Solid-State Li-S Batteries.

Sulfide solid-state electrolytes have garnered considerable attention owing to their notable ionic conductivity and mechanical properties. However, achieving an electrolyte characterized by both high ionic conductivity and a stable interface between the electrode and electrolyte remains challenging, impeding its widespread application. In this work, we present a novel sulfide solid-state electrolyte, Li3.04P0.96Zn0.04S3.92F0.08, prepared through a solid-phase reaction, and explore its usage in all-solid-state lithium sulfur batteries (ASSLSBs). The findings reveal that the Zn, F co-doped solid-state electrolyte exhibits an ionic conductivity of 1.23 × 10-3 S cm-1 and a low activation energy (Ea) of 9.8 kJ mol-1 at room temperature, illustrating the aliovalent co-doping's facilitation of Li-ion migration. Furthermore, benefiting from the formation of a LiF-rich interfacial layer between the electrolyte and the Li metal anode, the Li/Li3.04P0.96Zn0.04S3.92F0.08/Li symmetrical cell exhibits critical current densities (CCDs) of up to 1 mA cm-2 and maintains excellent cycling stability. Finally, the assembled ASSLSBs exhibit an initial discharge capacity of 1295.7 mAh g-1 at a rate of 0.05 C and at room temperature. The cell maintains a capacity retention of 70.5% for more than 600 cycles at a high rate of 2 C, representing a substantial improvement compared to the cell with Li3PS4. This work provides a new idea for the design of solid-state electrolytes and ASSLSBs.

Synergistic Defect Engineering and Interface Stability of Activated Carbon Nanotubes Enabling Ultralong Lifespan All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Due to the high energy density, high safety, and low cost of sulfur, all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries (ASSLSBs) are considered one of the most promising next-generation energy storage devices. Nevertheless, the insufficient interfacial contact between solid electrolytes (SEs) and the active material of sulfur leads to inadequate electronic and ionic conduction, which increases interfacial resistance and capacity decay. In this paper, commercial carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are activated to form porous-CNTs (P-CNTs), which are used as sulfur-bearing matrix, forming S@P-CNTs-based composite cathodes for ASSLSBs. Compared with CNTs, P-CNTs possess a larger specific surface area and more oxygen-containing groups, providing enhanced interfacial contact and stability between S@P-CNTs and Li6PS5Cl SE, which are confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. Moreover, P-CNTs can form a 3D conductive network in the composite cathodes, facilitating the migration of electrons and the diffusion of ions, as well as improving the utilization of sulfur. As a result, the S@P-CNTs-based ASSLSBs display excellent electrochemical performances, especially rarely reported ultralong lifespan, which deliver a capacity of 1099.2 mA h g-1 at a current density of 1.34 mA cm-2, and remarkably maintain 70.4% of the initial capacity over 1400 cycles.

Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of two cyclosporine oral solution formulations in cats.

The pharmacokinetic profiles and bioequivalence of two cyclosporine oral solutions were investigated in cats. Twenty-four cats were randomly allocated to two equally sized treatment groups in a randomized four-cycle, and dual-sequence cross-over design. Test and reference articles were orally administered in a single dose of 7 mg/kg Bodyweight. Serial blood samples were collected, and blood cyclosporine concentration was determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). No significant differences were present in the major pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, AUC0-last,) between the two formulations. The blood profiles of cyclosporine following the administration of both formulations were similar. The findings of the study suggested that the two articles were bioequivalent for cyclosporine oral solution.

[Clinical features and prognostic factors for early-stage external auditory canal carcinoma].

Objective:To analyze the clinical features and the prognostic factors of early-stage external auditory canal carcinoma. Methods:Data from 36 patients with early-stage external auditory canal carcinoma（T1, T2） treated in Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University from January 2008 to June 2020 were reviewed retrospectively, including clinical manifestations, surgical and treatment methods, pathological types and disease status. The relationship between survival rate and the prognostic factors was compared using Kaplan-Meier method, and the independent risk factors were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards model. Results:There were 36 patents with early-stage external auditory canal carcinoma. The common initial symptoms were otalgia（66.7%）, otorrhea（41.7%） and hearing loss（30.6%）. The most common histopathologic types were adenoid cystic carcinoma（50.0%） and squamous cell carcinoma（33.3%）. Among the patients, 21 patients（58.3%） were initially treated, 9 patients（25.0%） were treated with salvage therapy, and 6 patients（16.7%） were re-surgery after recurrence. The 5-year disease-specific survival（DSS）, disease-free survival（DFS） and relapse-free survival（RFS） were 82.3%, 64.0% and 73.0% respectively. Seven cases （19.4%） relapsed after surgery. For 5-year survival rate, the lateral temporal bone resection with superficial parotidectomy（DSS 91.7%, DFS 83.9%） is higher than the lateral temporal bone resection only（DSS 77.8%, DFS 55.6%） and sleeve resection（DSS 75.0%, DFS 56.0%）, but there was no significant difference（P>0.05）. In these patients, the postoperative radiotherapy and disease status had no significant impact on the survival rate. Additionally, there was no obvious correlation between recurrence and age, gender, stage, histopathologic types, operation methods and postoperative radiotherapy（P>0.05）. But there were significant differences between histopathologic types and DSS or DFS（P<0.05）. Multivariate regression analysis showed that histopathologic type was an independent prognostic factor for DFS. Conclusion:There are no specific clinical manifestations for early-stage external auditory canal carcinoma, such as otalgia and otorrhea. Histopathologic types have a direct impact on the patients'prognosis. Thus, individualized treatment should be applied based on pathologic findings to improve the survival rate.

Fe,N-Codoped Graphdiyne Displaying Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity.

On account of the high-cost of platinum, researchers are working to develop a new catalyst that is cheaper and has a catalytic effect equivalent to platinum. Herein, owing to the unique acetylenic bonds in graphdiyne, iron, nitrogen co-doped graphdiyne (Fe-N-GDY) is a promising nonprecious metal catalyst, which has been developed with just a small amount of iron precursor with the plan to substitute it for Pt-based catalysts. The as-synthesized Fe-N-GDY composited catalyst shows excellent catalytic performance with the onset potential of 0.94 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode and limited current density of 5.4 mA cm-2 . Moreover, it shows excellent resistance to methanol poisoning and stability in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes, which makes potentially applicable in the oxygen reduction reaction field.

Transition-metal-free C-H amidation and chlorination: synthesis of N/N'-mono-substituted imidazopyridin-2-ones from N-pyridyl-N-hydroxylamine intermediates.

Non-symmetric 1,3-substituted imidazopyridin-2-ones are a common structural scaffold found among many biologically active molecules. Herein we report an efficient, mild, and transition-metal free C-H amidation strategy to access such a pyrido-fused cyclic urea framework in good yields and with a broad functional group tolerance.

In situ growth of graphdiyne on arbitrary substrates with a controlled-release method.

A versatile controlled-release method was developed for the in situ growth of graphdiyne on arbitrary substrates. Cu2+-Ions escaped from the polyvinylpyrrolidone/copper acetate film on the surface of various substrates (e.g. SiO2, ZnO, Al, etc.), acting as the catalyst for the acetylenic coupling reaction.

A novel method for fabricating hybrid biobased nanocomposites film with stable fluorescence containing CdTe quantum dots and montmorillonite-chitosan nanosheets.

A method was presented for fabricating the fluorescent nanocomposites containing CdTe quantum dots (QDs) and montmorillonite (MMT)-chitosan (CS). MMT-CS/CdTe QDs nanocomposites were prepared via a simple, versatile and robust approach combination of covalent and electrostatic assembly methods (Scheme 1). The negatively charged MMT was initially modified with positively charged CS through electrostatic assembly, followed by incorporation of CdTe-QDs into the MMT-CS nanosheets by covalent connections between the amino groups of CS and the carboxylic acid groups of thioglycollic acid (TGA). The X-ray diffraction (XRD), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the FTIR were used to prove the QDs have intercalated into the MMT-CS matrix. The fluorescence emission spectra showed that the MMT-CS/CdTe QDs nanocomposites had the best fluorescence intensity compared with the bare CdTe QDs and CS-QDs.

Preparation and characterization of bio-based hybrid film containing chitosan and silver nanowires.

A bio-based hybrid film containing chitosan (CS) and silver nanowires (AgNWs) has been prepared by a simple casting technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-visible spectroscopy were employed to characterize the structure of bio-based film. The bio-based hybrid film showed unique performance compared with bare chitosan film. The incorporated nano-silver could improve the strength properly. The results revealed that AgNWs in CS film, improved its tensile strength more than 62% and Young modulus 55% compared with pure chitosan film. On the other hand tensile strength was increased 36.7% with AgNPs. Importantly, the film also exhibited conductivity and antibacterial properties, which may expand its future application.

Single step fabrication of microlens arrays with hybrid HfO2-SiO2 sol-gel glass on conventional lens surface.

We demonstrate a novel method for fabricating glass microlens (arrays) with single step on conventional lens surface. In this method, the glass microlens can be achieved by only one step with sol gel glass material. The microlens aperture and focus length can be controlled easily and uniformly. The fabricated sample shows good focusing property. This work will be useful to improve the performance of compound eyes optical system such as camera, telescope, 3D integral imaging and so on.

CRGO/alginate microbeads: an enzyme immobilization system and its potential application for a continuous enzymatic reaction.

In this work, novel hybrid microbeads composed of chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRGO) and alginate were fabricated, which could encapsulate enzymes by a simple non-covalent adsorption-entrapment method. Compared with alginate gel beads, the intervention of CRGO in the alginate gel enhanced its mechanical strength, effectively prevented the leakage of enzyme, and greatly enhanced the stability and environmental tolerance. Compared with free enzymes or those on a single carrier, the enzyme encapsulated in these hybrid microbeads can retain its optimum activity within a broad range (temperature 45-60 °C, pH 4-6). Additionally, the microbeads can be easily recycled by simple filtration and filled into a column to achieve a continuous fixed-bed enzyme catalytic reaction.