A Universal Self-Propagating Synthesis of Aluminum-Based Oxyhalide Solid-State Electrolytes.

Inorganic solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) play a vital role in high-energy all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). However, the current method of SSE preparation usually involves high-energy mechanical ball milling and/or a high-temperature annealing process, which is not suitable for practical application. Here, a facile strategy is developed to realize the scalable synthesis of cost-effective aluminum-based oxyhalide SSEs, which involves a self-propagating method by the exothermic reaction of the raw materials. This strategy enables the synthesis of various aluminum-based oxyhalide SSEs with tunable components and high ionic conductivities (over 10-3 S cm-1 at 25 °C) for different cations (Li+, Na+, Ag+). It is elucidated that the amorphous matrix, which mainly consists of various oxidized chloroaluminate species that provide numerous sites for smooth ion migration, is actually the key factor for the achieved high conductivities. Benefit from their easy synthesis, low cost, and low weight, the aluminum-based oxyhalide SSEs synthesized by our approach could further promote practical application of high-energy-density ASSBs.

Aluminum corrosion-passivation regulation prolongs aqueous batteries life.

Aluminum current collectors are widely used in nonaqueous batteries owing to their cost-effectiveness, lightweightness, and ease of fabrication. However, they are excluded from aqueous batteries due to their severe corrosion in aqueous solutions. Here, we propose hydrolyzation-type anodic additives to form a robust passivation layer to suppress corrosion. These additives dramatically lower the corrosion current density of aluminum by nearly three orders of magnitude to ~10-6 A cm-2. In addition, realizing that electrochemical corrosion accompanies anode prelithiation, we propose a prototype of self-prolonging aqueous Li-ion batteries (Al ||LiMn2O4 ||TiO2), whose capacity retention rises from 49.5% to 70.1% after 200 cycles. A sacrificial aluminum electrode where electrochemical corrosion is utilized is introduced as an electron supplement to prolong the cycling life of aqueous batteries. Our work addresses the short-life issue of aqueous batteries resulting from the corrosion of the current collector and lithium loss from side reactions.

Chromosome level genome assembly of oriental armyworm Mythimna separata.

The oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata, is an extremely destructive polyphagous pest with a broad host range that seriously threatens the safety of agricultural production. Here, a high-quality chromosome-level genome was assembled using Illumina, PacBio HiFi long sequencing, and Hi-C scaffolding technologies. The genome size was 706.30 Mb with a contig N50 of 22.08 Mb, and 99.2% of the assembled sequences were anchored to 31 chromosomes. In addition, 20,375 protein-coding genes and 258.68 Mb transposable elements were identified. The chromosome-level genome assembly of M. separata provides a significant genetic resource for future studies of this insect and contributes to the development of management strategies.

Buchnera breaks the specialization of the cotton-specialized aphid (Aphis gossypii) by providing nutrition through zucchini.

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is a species of polyphagous aphid with many biotypes, and its host transfer has always been the focus of research on the control of cotton aphid. An important factor affecting aphid specialization is the nutritional association with microbial symbionts that provide the host with nutrients lacking in the diet. We analyzed the microbial composition and biodiversity of reared on zucchini for 10 generations (T1-T10) and cotton as a control (CK), by high-throughput Illumina sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA genes. The findings showed that the change in plant hosts decreased the richness and variety of microbial species. Regardless of whether the plant host is altered or not, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes are the predominate phyla in cotton-specialized aphid. Additionally, cotton-specialized aphids that live in zucchini had considerably lower relative abundances of non-dominant phyla (Bacteroidetes) than cotton hosts. At the genus level the dominant communities were Buchnera, Acinetobacter, and Arsenophonus. The relative abundance of Buchnera was significantly higher in aphids reared on zucchini than those on cotton, whereas the opposite was observed for Acinetobacter, as well as for some non-dominant communities (Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomons, Flavobacterium, Novosphingobium). Collectively, this study clarifies the dynamic changes of symbiotic bacteria in cotton-specialized aphids reared on zucchini for multiple generations. Among them, Buchnera is crucial for the cotton-specialized aphid to get nutrients during the transfer of the host and has a favorable impact on the colonization of cotton-specialized aphid populations on zucchini hosts. It not only enriches our understanding of the relationship between the bacterial microbiota of aphids and their adaptability to new hosts, zucchini, but also expands the current body of research on the mechanisms underlying the host shifting ability of cotton-specialized aphids.

A review of extraction, purification, structural properties and biological activities of legumes polysaccharides.

In recent years, polysaccharides derived from legumes polysaccharides have aroused worldwide interests. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies have studied the physicochemical properties (emulsification, stability and foaming) and demonstrated the biological activities (immune regulation, anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and intestinal flora regulation) of legumes polysaccharides. Besides, it is reported that the extraction methods will affect the structural features of polysaccharides, thus further changing their physicochemical properties and biological activities. This review appraised the available literatures described the extraction, purification, structural characterization, biological activity and functional properties of legumes polysaccharides in recent years. It can provide useful research underpinnings and updated information for the development and application of related polysaccharides in functional food and medicinal field.

Silencing of cytochrome P450 gene CYP321A1 effects tannin detoxification and metabolism in Spodoptera litura.

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450 or CYP) plays an important role in the metabolism of insecticides and plant allelochemicals by insects. CYP321B1, a novel Spodoptera litura P450 gene, was identified and characterized. CYP321B1 contains a 1488 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 495 amino acid protein. In fourth instar larvae, the highest CYP321B1 expression levels were found in the midgut and fat body. In the tannin feeding test, tannin can significantly induce the expression of CYP321B1 in the midgut and fat body of 4th instar larvae. To verify the function of CYP321B1, RNA interference and metabolome analysis were performed. The results showed that silencing CYP321B1 significantly reduced the rate of weight gain under tannin induction. Metabolome analysis showed silencing affected 47 different metabolites, mainly involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism, including amino acids, lipid fatty acids, organic acids and their derivatives. Henoxyacetic acid and cysteamine are the most highly regulated metabolites, respectively. These findings demonstrate that CYP321B1 plays an important role in tannin detoxification and metabolism. Functional knowledge about metabolite detoxification genes in this major herbivorous insect pest can provide new insights into this biological process and provide new targets for agricultural pest control.

Evaluation of sublethal and transgenerational effects of sulfoxaflor on Aphis gossypii via life table parameters and 16S rRNA sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Aphis gossypii, a polyphagous and recurrent pest induced by pesticides, causes tremendous loss crop yields each year. Previous studies on the mechanism of pesticide-induced sublethal effects mainly focus on the gene level. The symbiotic bacteria are also important participants of this mechanism, but their roles in hormesis are still unclear. RESULTS: In this study, life table parameters and 16S rRNA sequencing were applied to evaluate the sublethal and transgenerational effects of sulfoxaflor on adult A. gossypii after 24-h LC20 (6.96 mg L-1 ) concentration exposure. The results indicated that the LC20 of sulfoxaflor significantly reduced the finite rate of increase (λ) and net reproductive rate (R0 ) of parent generation (G0), and significantly increased mean generation time (T) of G1 and G2, but not of G3 and G4. Both reproductive period and fecundity of G1 and G2 were significantly higher than those of the control. Furthermore, our sequencing data revealed that more than 95% bacterial communities were dominated by the phylum Proteobacteria, in which the maximum proportion genus was the primary symbiont Buchnera and the facultative symbiont Arsenophonus. Compared to those of the control, the abundance and composition of symbiotic bacteria of A. gossypii for three successive generations (G0-G2) were changed after G0 A. gossypii was exposed to sulfoxaflor: the diversity of the bacterial community was decreased, but the abundance of Buchnera was increased (G0), while the abundance of Arsenophonus was decreased. Contrary to G0, G1 and G2 cotton aphid exhibited an increased relative abundance of Arsenophonus in the sublethal treatment group. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results provide an insight into the interactions among pesticide resistance, aphids, and symbionts, which will eventually help to better manage the resurgence of A. gossypii. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

New Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Aluminum Niobate (AlNb11O29).

This paper describes the syntheses and electrochemical properties of a new niobate compound, aluminum niobate (AlNb11O29), for Li+ storage. AlNb11O29-microsized particles and nanowires were synthesized based on the solid-state reaction and solvothermal methods, respectively. In situ X-ray diffraction results confirmed the intercalating mechanism of Li+ in AlNb11O29 and revealed its high structural stability against cycling. The AlNb11O29 nanowires with a novel bamboo-like morphology afforded a large interfacial area and short charge transport pathways, thus leading to the observed excellent electrochemical properties, including high reversible Li+-storage capacity (266 mA h g-1), safe operating potential (around 1.68 V), and high initial Coulombic efficiency (93.3%) at 0.1 C. At a very high rate (10 C), the AlNb11O29 nanowires still exhibited a capacity as high as 192 mA h g-1, indicating their good rate capability. In addition, at 10 C, 96.3% capacity was retained over 500 cycles, indicating superior cycling stability. A full cell fabricated with AlNb11O29 nanowires as the anode and LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 microparticles as the cathode delivered a high energy density of 390 W h kg-1 at 0.1 C. This work suggests that the AlNb11O29 nanowires hold a great promise for the development of high-performance lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy-storage applications.

Identification of Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Biotypes from Different Host Plants in North China.

BACKGROUND: The cotton-melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a polyphagous species with a worldwide distribution and a variety of biotypes. North China is a traditional agricultural area with abundant winter and summer hosts of A. gossypii. While the life cycles of A. gossypii on different plants have been well studied, those of the biotypes of North China are still unclear. RESULTS: Host transfer experiments showed that A. gossypii from North China has two host-specialized biotypes: cotton and cucumber. Based on complete mitochondrial sequences, we identified a molecular marker with five single-nucleotide polymorphisms to distinguish the biotypes. Using this marker, a large-scale study of biotypes on primary winter and summer hosts was conducted. All A. gossypii collected from three primary hosts-hibiscus, pomegranate, and Chinese prickly ash-were cotton biotypes, with more cotton-melon aphids found on hibiscus than the other two species. In May, alate cotton and cucumber biotypes coexisted on cotton and cucumber seedlings, but each preferred its natal host. Both biotypes existed on zucchini, although the cucumber biotype was more numerous. Aphids on muskmelon were all cucumber biotypes, whereas most aphids on kidney bean were cotton biotypes. Aphids on seedlings of potato and cowpea belong to other species. In August, aphids on cotton and cucumber were the respective biotypes, with zucchini still hosting both biotypes as before. Thus, the biotypes had different fitnesses on different host plants. CONCLUSIONS: Two host-specialized biotypes (cotton and cucumber) are present in North China. Hibiscus, pomegranate, and Chinese prickly ash can serve as winter hosts for the cotton biotype but not the cucumber biotype in North China. The fitnesses of the two host-specialized biotypes differ on various summer hosts. When alate aphids migrate to summer hosts, they cannot accurately land on the corresponding plant.