3D Nano-heterostructure of ZnMn2O4@Graphene-Carbon Microtubes for High-Performance Li-Ion Capacitors.

Heterostructures show great potential in energy storage due to their multipurpose structures and function. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) graphene has been widely regarded as an excellent substrate for active materials due to its large specific surface area and superior electrical conductivity. However, it is prone to self-aggregation during charging and discharging, which limits its electrochemical performance. To address the graphene agglomeration problem, we interspersed polypyrrole carbon nanotubes between the graphene cavities and designed three-dimensional (3D)-heterostructures of ZnMn2O4@rGO-polypyrrole carbon nanotubes (ZMO@G-PNTs), which demonstrated a high rate and cyclic stability in lithium-ion capacitors (LICs). Furthermore, the 3D porous structure provided more surface capacity contribution than 2D graphene, ultimately resulting in a better stability (333 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A g-1) and high rate capacity (208 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1). Also, the mechanism of performance difference between ZMO@G-PNTs and ZMO@G was investigated in detail. Moreover, LICs built from ZMO@G-PNTs as an anode and activated carbon as a cathode showed an energy density of 149.3 Wh kg-1 and a power density of 15 kW kg-1 and cycling stability with a capacity retention of 61.5% after 9000 cycles.

Induction of Antiphytopathogenic Metabolite and Squalene Production and Phytotoxin Elimination by Adjustment of the Mode of Fermentation in Cocultures of Phytopathogenic Nigrospora oryzae and Irpex lacteus.

The investigation of the metabolites from different cocultures of Nigrospora oryzae and Irpex lacteus in solid medium revealed two new squalenes (1 and 2); one new azaphilone (3); two new tremulane sesquiterpenes (4 and 5); and three known compounds, conocenol B (6), conocenol C (7), and 4-(4-dihydroxymethylphenoxy)benzaldehyde (8). The antagonistic relationship was examined by studying metabolite production. The production of compounds 6 and 8 by I. lacteus after the induction of coculture indicated significant selectivity for antifungal activity against phytopathogenic N. oryzae, with MICs of 16 µg/mL; compounds 6 and 8 also exhibited antifungal activities in vivo against Cerasus cerasoides infected by N. oryzae at concentrations of 100 µg/mL. New compounds 2 and 4 showed antifungal activities against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, with MICs of 8 µg/mL, and compound 4 showed antifungal activity against Didymella glomerata with an MIC of 1 µg/mL. These results indicate that the mutually antagonistic relationship in the coculture of the phytopathogen and the endophyte can result in antibiotics that inhibit the phytopathogen and downregulate the production of phytotoxins by phytopathogenic N. oryzae. New compound 5 from I. lacteus showed weak activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), with an inhibition ratio of 16% at a concentration of 50 µM.

Benzopyran derivatives from endophytic Daldinia eschscholzii JC-15 in Dendrobium chrysotoxum and their bioactivities.

Five new benzopyran derivatives (2-6) and a new natural product (1) were isolated from endophytic Daldinia eschscholzii in Dendrobium chrysotoxum and determined as (R)-2,3-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-2-methylchromen-4-one (1), (2R, 4S)-2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-benzopyran-4,5-diol (2), (R)-3-methoxyl-1-(2,6-dihydroxy phenyl)-butan-1-one (3), 7-O-α-d-ribosyl-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-chromen-4-one (4), 7-O-α-d-ribosyl-2,3-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-chromen-4-one (5), daldinium A (6). These compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity, anti-acetylcholinesterase, nitric oxide inhibition, anticoagulant, photodynamic antimicrobial activities and glucose uptake of adipocytes. Some compounds showed photoactive antimicrobial activities and glucose uptake stimulating activities.

New azaphilones and tremulane sesquiterpene from endophytic Nigrospora oryzae cocultured with Irpex lacteus.

Five new metabolites belonging to two backbones of pulvilloric acid-type azaphilone and tremulane sesquiterpene were obtained and their structures were determined by spectral analysis. Based on the biogenesis analysis, tremulane sesquiterpenes were obtained from Irpex lacteus by the stimulation of mixed-culture. The antifungal selectivities of metabolites produced by fungus against their co-culture fungus and common pathogens, exhibited competitive interaction of this mix-culture. The tremulane sesquiterpene conocenol B produced by I. lacteus through the induction of Nigrospora oryzae showed selectivity of anti-fungal activity against its co-culture fungus, N. oryzae, with MICs at 16 µg/mL and 128 µg/mL against I. lacteus. The fungus can metabolize these new compounds to inhibit the growth of co-culture fungus while not inhibiting its own growth. Compound 5 was active against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with a ratio of 35% at the concentration of 50 µM.

New bioactive compounds from aquatic endophyte Chaetomium globosum.

Two new oxidation products-related aureonitol and cytochalasan were isolated from Chaetomium globosum fermented in Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita) and determined as 10,11-dihydroxyl- aureonitol (1) and yamchaetoglobosin A (2). Compound 2 indicated significant inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production in LPS-activated macrophages, anti-acetylcholinesterase activity with the inhibition ratios of 92.5, 38.2% at 50 µM, and cytotoxicity to HL-60, A-549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7 and SW480 with the range of inhibition ratio at 51-96% for a concentration of 40 µM. Compounds 1, 2 showed weak anticoagulant activity with PT at 16.8 s. Few work was reported on the anti-acetylcholinesterase, and anticoagulant activities of aureonitol, and cytochalasan derivatives. The preliminary structure-activity relationship stated that the oxidation ring-opening in yamchaetoglobosin A can retain the inhibitory effect against NO production and tumor cell.