Protocatechualdehyde inhibits iron overload-induced bone loss by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress in senile rats.

The accumulating evidence has made it clear that iron overload is a crucial mechanism in bone loss. Protocatechualdehyde (PCA) has also been used to prevent osteoporosis in recent years. Whether PCA can reverse the harmful effects of iron overload on bone mass in aged rats is still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the role of PCA in iron overload-induced bone loss in senile rats. In the aged rat model, we observed that iron overload affects bone metabolism and bone remodeling, manifested by bone loss and decreased bone mineral density. The administration of PCA effectively mitigated the detrimental effects caused by iron overload, and concomitant reduction in MDA serum levels and elevation of SOD were noted. In addition, PCA-treated rats were observed to have significantly increased bone mass and elevated expression of SIRT3，BMP2，SOD2 and reduced expression of TNF-α in bone tissue. We also observed that PCA was able to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and restore the imbalance in bone metabolism. When MC3T3-E1 and RAW264.7 cells induced osteoblast and osteoclasts differentiation, PCA intervention could significantly recover the restriction of osteogenic differentiation and up-regulation of osteoclast differentiation treated by iron overload. Further, by detecting changes in ROS, SOD, MDA, expression of SIRT3 and mitochondrial membrane potentials, we confirm that the damage caused to cells by iron overload is associated with decreased SIRT3 activity, and that 3-TYP have similar effects on oxidative stress caused by FAC. In conclusion, PCA can resist iron overload-induced bone damage by improving SIRT3 activity, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress.

Untargeted metabolomics study of mature human milk from women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent metabolic disorder during pregnancy that alters the metabolites in human milk. Integrated Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) were employed for comprehensive identification and comparison of metabolites in mature human milk (MHM) from women with and without GDM. A total of 268 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified. Among these, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, 9R-HODE and L-glutamic acid were significantly elevated and 12,13-DHOME was significantly decreased in MHM of women with GDM. These metabolites are significantly enriched in linoleic acid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, galactose metabolism and ABC transporters pathways. Disorders in these metabolic pathways are associated with insulin resistance and poor glucose metabolism indicating these conditions may persist postpartum.

Ganoderic Acid A prevents bone loss in lipopolysaccharide-treated male rats by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory.

Ganoderic Acid A (GAA) has demonstrated beneficial effects in anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress studies. However, it remains unknown whether GAA exerts positive impacts on bone loss induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This study aims to investigate the influence of GAA on bone loss in LPS-treated rats. The study assesses changes in the viability and osteogenic potential of MC3T3-E1 cells, as well as osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 cells in the presence of LPS using CCK-8, ALP staining, AR staining, and Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. In vitro experiments indicate that LPS-induced inhibition of osteoclasts (OC) and Superoxide Dismutase 2 (SOD2) correlates with heightened levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. Furthermore, GAA has displayed the ability to alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation, enhance osteogenic differentiation, and suppress osteoclast differentiation. Animal experiment also proves that GAA notably upregulates SOD2 expression and downregulates TNF-α expression, leading to the restoration of impaired bone metabolism, improved bone strength, and increased bone mineral density. The collective experimental findings strongly suggest that GAA can enhance osteogenic activity in the presence of LPS by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, hindering osteoclast differentiation, and mitigating bone loss in LPS-treated rat models.

Biomechanical changes of oblique lumbar interbody fusion with different fixation techniques in degenerative spondylolisthesis lumbar spine: a finite element analysis.

OBJECTIVE: There is a dearth of comprehensive research on the stability of the spinal biomechanical structure when combining Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion (OLIF) with internal fixation methods. Hence, we have devised this experiment to meticulously examine and analyze the biomechanical changes that arise from combining OLIF surgery with different internal fixation techniques in patients diagnosed with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Seven validated finite element models were reconstructed based on computed tomography scan images of the L3-L5 segment. These models included the intact model, a stand-alone (S-A) OLIF model, a lateral screw rod (LSR) OLIF model, a bilateral pedicle screw (BPS) OLIF model, an unilateral pedicle screw (UPS) OLIF model, a bilateral CBT (BCBT) OLIF model, and an unilateral CBT(UCBT) OLIF model. The range of motion (ROM), as well as stress levels in the cage, L4 lower endplate, L5 upper endplate, and fixation constructs were assessed across these different model configurations. RESULTS: S-A model had the highest average ROM of six motion modes, followed by LSR, UPS, UCBT, BPS and BCBT. The BCBT model had a relatively lower cage stress than the others. The maximum peak von Mises stress of the fixation constructs was found in the LSR model. The maximum peak von Mises stress of L4 lower endplate was found in the S-A model. The peak von Mises stress on the L4 lower endplate of the rest surgical models showed no significant difference. The maximum peak von Mises stress of the L5 upper endplate was found in the S-A model. The minimum peak von Mises stress of the L5 upper endplate was found in the BCBT model. No significant difference was found for the peak von Mises stress of the L5 upper endplate among LSR, BPS, UPS and UCBT models. CONCLUSION: Among the six different fixation techniques, BCBT exhibited superior biomechanical stability and minimal stress on the cage-endplate interface. It was followed by BPS, UCBT, UPS, and LSR in terms of effectiveness. Conversely, S-A OLIF demonstrated the least stability and resulted in increased stress on both the cage and endplates. Combining OLIF with BCBT fixation technique enhanced biomechanical stability compared to BPS and presented as a less invasive alternative treatment for patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Thermo-Switchable Enzyme@Metal-Organic Framework for Selective Biocatalysis and Biosensing.

The stimulus-responsive regulation of enzyme catalytic activity and selectivity provides a new opportunity to extend the functionality and efficiency of immobilized enzymes. This work aims to design and synthesize a thermo-switchable enzyme@MOF for size-selective biocatalysis and biosensing through the immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) within ZIF-8 functionalized with thermally responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) (CRL@ZIF-8-PNIPAM). Unlike free CRL, which does not demonstrate substrate selectivity, we can reversibly tune the pore size of the ZIF-8-PNIPAM nanostructures (open pores or blocked pores) through temperature stimulus and subsequently modulate the substrate selectivity of CRL@ZIF-8-PNIPAM. CRL@ZIF-8-PNIPAM had the highest hydrolytic activity for small molecules (12 mM p-nitrophenol/mg protein/min, 4-nitrophenyl butyrate (p-NP Be)) and the lowest hydrolytic activity for large molecules (0.16 mM p-nitrophenol/mg protein/min, 4-nitrophenyl palmitate (p-NP P)). In addition, CRL@ZIF-8-PNIPAM demonstrated thermo-switchable behavior for large molecules (p-NP P). The p-NP P hydrolytic activity of CRL@ZIF-8-PNIPAM was significantly lower at 40 °C (blocked pores) than at 27 °C (open pores). However, the transition of blocked pores and open pores is a gradual process that resulted in a delay in the "thermo-switchable" catalytic behavior of CRL@ZIF-8-PNIPAM during thermal cycling. CRL@ZIF-8-PNIPAM was also successfully used for the fabrication of electrochemical biosensors for the selective biosensing of pesticides with different molecular sizes.

Decoding the Qu-aroma of medium-temperature Daqu starter by volatilomics, aroma recombination, omission studies and sensory analysis.

Qu-aroma is of great significance for evaluation the quality of Daqu starter. This study aimed to decode the Qu-aroma of medium-temperature Daqu (MT-Daqu) via "top-down" and "bottom-up" approaches. Firstly, 52 aroma descriptors were defined to describe the MT-Daqu aroma by quantitative descriptive analysis. Secondly, 193 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified from 42 MT-Daqu samples by HS-SPME-GC-MS, and 43 dominant VOCs were screened out by frequence of occurrence or abundance. By Thin Film (TF)-SPME-GC-O-MS, 27 odors and 90 VOCs were detected in MT-Daqu mixture, and 14 odor-active VOCs were screened out by odor intensity. Thirdly, a five-level MT-Daqu aroma wheel was constructed by matching 52 aroma descriptors and 37 aroma-active VOCs. Finally, Qu-aroma of MT-Daqu was reconstructed with 37 aroma-active VOCs and evaluated by omission experiments. Hereinto, 26 key aroma-active VOCs were determined by OAV value ≥1, including isovaleric acid, 1-hexanol, isovaleraldehyde, 2-octanone, trimethylpyrazine, γ-nonalactone, 4-vinylguaiacol, etc.

Design and radiological confirmation of 3-column cortical bone trajectory in the lumbar spine.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to design a novel lumbar cortical bone trajectory (CBT) penetrating the anterior, middle, and posterior vertebral area using imaging; measure the relevant parameters to find theoretical parameters and screw placement possibilities; and investigate the optimal implantation trajectory of the CBT in patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: Three types of CBTs with appropriate lengths were selected to simulate screw placement using Mimics software. These CBTs were classified as the leading tip of the trajectory pointing to the posterior quarter area (original CBT [CBT-O]) and middle (novel CBT A [CBT-A]) and anterior quarter (novel CBT B [CBT-B]) of the superior endplate. The authors then measured the maximum screw diameter (MSD) and length (MSL), cephalad (CA) and lateral (LA) angles, and bone mineral density (Hounsfield unit [HU] values) of the planned novel 3-column CBT screw placements. The differences in the parameters of the novel CBTs, the percentages of successfully planned CBT screws, and the factors that influenced the successful planning of 3-column CBT screws were analyzed. RESULTS: Three-column CBT screws were successfully designed in all segments of the lumbar spine. The success rate of the 3-column CBT planned screws was 72.25% (83.25% for CBT-A and 61.25% for CBT-B). From the CBT-O type, to the CBT-A type, to the CBT-B type, the LA, CA, and MSD of the novel CBT screws decreased with increasing trajectory length. The HU values of the three types of trajectories were all significantly higher than that of the traditional pedicle screw trajectory (p < 0.001). The main factor affecting successful planning of the 3-column CBT screw was pedicle width. CONCLUSIONS: Moderating adjustment of the original screw parameters by reducing LAs and CAs to penetrate the anterior, middle, and posterior columns of the vertebral body using the 3-column CBT screw is feasible, especially in the lower lumbar spine.

Astaxanthin prevents bone loss in osteoporotic rats with palmitic acid through suppressing oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to assess the role of Astaxanthin (ATX) in palmitic acid(PA) -induced bone loss in Ovariectomized(OVX) rats. METHODS: In the OVX rat model, we observed that PA affects bone metabolism and accelerates bone loss. Additionally, treatment with ATX was able to suppress the deleterious effects of PA and a simultaneous decrease in serum MDA levels and an increase in SOD was observed. RESULTS: In addition, rats treated with ATX were observed to have significantly increased bone mass and elevated activity of SIRT1 and SOD2 in bone tissue. When MC3T3-E1 and RAW264.7 cells induced osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation, the ATX intervention was able to significantly restore the restriction of osteogenic differentiation and the up-regulation of osteoclast differentiation with PA therapy. Furthermore, we confirm that PA damage to cells is caused by increased oxidative stress, and that ATX can target and modulate the activity of SIRT1 to regulate the levels of oxidative stress in cells. CONCLUSION: Summarizing, ATX may inhibit PA-induced bone loss through its antioxidant properties via the SIRT1 signaling pathway.

Favorable osteogenic activity of vericiguat doped in ß-tricalcium phosphate: In vitro and in vivo studies.

Recently, more and more studies have shown that guanylate cyclase, an enzyme that synthesizes cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), plays an important role in bone metabolism. Vericiguat (VIT), a novel oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, directly generates cyclic guanosine monophosphate and reduce the death incidence from cardio-vascular causes or hospitalization. Recent studies have shown beneficial effects of VIT in animal models of osteoporosis, but very little is currently known about the effects of VIT on bone defects in the osteoporotic states. Therefore, in this study, ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) was used as a carrier to explore the effect of local VIT administration on the repair of femoral metaphyseal bone defects in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. When MC3T3-E1 was cultured in the presence of H2H2, VIT, similar to Melatonin (MT), therapy could increase the matrix mineralization and ALP, SOD2, SIRT1, and OPG expression, reduce ROS and Mito SOX production, RANKL expression, Promote the recovery of mitochondrial membrane potential. In the OVX rat model, VIT increases the osteogenic effect of ß-TCP and better results were obtained at a dose of 5 mg. Local use of VIT can inhibit increased OC, BMP2 and RUNX2 expressions in bone tissue, while decreased SOST and TRAP expressions by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Thereby, VIT stimulates bone regeneration and is a promising candidate for promoting bone repair in osteoporosis.

Monoaxial Screws Versus Polyaxial Screws Osteosynthesis for Unstable Atlas Fractures: A Retrospective, Comparative Study With a Minimum Follow-Up of 3 years.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to compare the radiological parameters, clinical outcomes, and long-term effects of the posterior osteosynthesis with polyaxial screw-rod system and the monoaxial screw-rod system in the treatment of unstable atlas fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 33 patients with posterior ORIF for unstable atlas fractures in our hospital from August 2013 to June 2020, with a minimum of 3 years of follow-up. Polyaxial screws (group A) were used in 12 patients and monoaxial screws (group B) in 21 patients. Perioperative data, radiological parameters, and clinical outcomes were collected and compared between the 2 surgical approaches. RESULTS: The operative time, blood loss, time of screw-rod system placement, and hospital stay were significantly lower in group A than in group B. At the last follow-up, the visual analog scale (VAS) score and anterior arch reduction rate of the atlas in group A were lower than those in group B, while the lateral mass displacement (LMD) in group A was higher than that in group B. There was no significant difference between Group A and Group B in terms of the anterior atlantodental interval (AADI), posterior arch reduction rate of the atlas, range of motion (ROM), and neck disability index (NDI). CONCLUSIONS: Monoaxial screws can achieve better reduction results for unstable atlas fractures, especially for the anterior arch of atlas. However, the surgical operation of monoaxial screws is more complicated than that of polyaxial screws and has more complications. Appropriate implants should be selected for the treatment of unstable atlas fractures based on the type of atlas fracture, the experience of surgeons, and the demands of patients.

Diagnostic value of serum COMP and ADAMTS7 for intervertebral disc degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a major cause of morbidity and disability. Our study aimed to investigate the potential of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and ADAMTS7 (A disintegrin and metalloproteinases with thrombospondin motifs 7) as biomarkers for IVDD together with their functional relationship. METHODS: IVD tissues and peripheral blood samples were collected from IVDD rabbit models over 1-4 weeks. Tissues and blood samples were also collected from clinical patients those were stratified into four equal groups according to Pfirrmann IVDD grading (I-V) with baseline data collected for each participant. COMP and ADAMTS7 expression were analyzed and biomarker characteristics were assessed using linear regression and receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses. RESULTS: COMP and ADAMTS7 expression increased in tissues and serum during IVDD progression. Serum COMP (sCOMP) and serum ADAMTS7 (sADAMTS7) levels increased in a time-dependent manner following IVD damage in the rabbit model while significant positive correlations were detected between sCOMP and sADAMTS7 and Pfirrmann grade in human subjects. ROC analysis showed that combining sCOMP and sADAMTS7 assay results produced an improved diagnostic measure for IVDD compared to individual sCOMP or sADAMTS7 tests. In vitro assays conducted on human cell isolates revealed that COMP prevented extracellular matrix degradation and antagonized ADAMTS7 expression although this protective role was uncoupled under microenvironmental conditions mimicking IVDD. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in circulating COMP and ADAMTS7 correlate with IVDD progression and may play regulatory roles. Assays for sCOMP and/or sADAMTS7 levels can discriminate between healthy subjects and IVDD patients, warranting further clinical assessment.

FSTL1 Accelerates Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Through TLR4/NF-κB Pathway.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a major contributor to low back pain (LBP), and inflammatory factors play crucial roles in its pathogenesis. Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) has been reported to induce an inflammatory response in chondrocytes, microglia and preadipocytes, but its role in the pathogenesis of nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) degeneration remains unclear. In this study, we mainly utilized an acidosis-induced NPC degeneration model and a rabbit puncture IVDD model to investigate the role of FSTL1 in IVDD both in vitro and in vivo. We confirmed that FSTL1 expression significantly increased in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues from IVDD patients and rabbit puncture IVDD models. The expression levels of FSTL1 were significantly increased in all three models of NPC degeneration under harsh microenvironments. In addition, recombinant human FSTL1 (rh-FSTL1) was found to upregulate the expression of p16 and p21, increase the number of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal)-positive cells, induce senescence-related secretory phenotypes (SASP), and downregulate extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expressions, leading to an imbalance in ECM metabolism destructions. Conversely, silencing of FSTL1 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) ameliorated senescence of NPCs associated with inflammation in IVDD. Furthermore, Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB (TLR4/NF-κB) pathway plays a crucial role in regulating NPC senescence through FSTL1 regulation. Inhibition of TLR4 expression partly reversed the effects of rh-FSTL1 on NPC senescence-associated inflammation. Finally, rabbit IVDD model experiments demonstrated that the specific FSTL1 siRNA markedly repressed the development of IVDD. These findings may offer a therapeutic approach for mitigating inflammation-induced senescence associated with IVDD.

Proteomic analysis of milk fat globule membrane proteins in mature human milk of women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus.

Milk fat globule membrane proteins (MFGMP) in human milks have positive effects on infant's health. As gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) causes variations in MFGMP, it is essential to understand the effects of GDMon MFGMP. This study aims to investigate and compare the MFGMP (>3 months postpartum) of GDM and non-GDM (NGDM) women using four-dimensional-data-independent-acquisition proteomics technology. Principal component analysis shows significant differences in the MFGMP of GDM and NGDM women. A total of 4747 MFGMP were identified in maturehuman milk of GDM and NGDM women. Among these proteins, 174 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in MFGM of GDM and NGDM women. Albumin (FC = 7.96) and transthyretin (FC = 2.57) which are related to insulin resistance and involved in thyroid hormone synthesis, are significantly up-regulated in MFGMP of GDM mothers indicating insulin resistance, imbalance of glucose homeostasis and poor glucose metabolism might persist in postpartum period.

Comparative effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions in reducing psychological symptoms among patients with chronic low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) can seriously impair the quality of life of patients and has a remarkable comorbidity with psychological symptoms, which, in turn, can further exacerbate the symptoms of CLBP. Psychological treatments are critical and nonnegligent for the management of CLBP, and thus, should attract sufficient attention. However, current evidence does not suggest the superiority and effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions in reducing psychological symptoms among patients with CLBP.Thus, this study was designed to compare the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions for depression, anxiety, and mental health among patients with CLBP and to recommend preferred strategies for attenuating psychological symptoms in clinical practice. METHODS: In this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA), PubMed, Embase Database, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched from database inception until March 2022. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compare different nonpharmacological interventions for depression, anxiety, and mental health among patients with CLBP were eligible. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement was used. Four reviewers in pairs and divided into two groups independently performed literature selection, data extraction, and risk of bias, and certainty of evidence assessments. This NMA was conducted with a random effects model under a frequentist framework. The major outcomes were depression, anxiety, and mental health presented as the standardized mean difference (SMD) with the corresponding 95% CI. RESULTS: A total of 66 RCTs that randomized 4806 patients with CLBP met the inclusion criteria. The quality of evidence was typically low or some risks of bias (47 out of 66 trials, 71.3%), and the precision of summary estimates for effectiveness varied substantially. In addition, 7 categories of interventions with 26 specific treatments were evaluated. For depression, mind body therapy (pooled SMD = -1.20, 95% CI: -1.63 to -0.78), biopsychosocial approach (pooled SMD = -0.41, 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.12), and physical therapy (pooled SMD = -0.26, 95% CI: -0.50 to -0.02) exhibited remarkable effectiveness in reducing depression compared with the control group. For managing anxiety, mind body therapy (pooled SMD = -1.35, 95% CI: -1.90 to -0.80), multicomponent intervention (pooled SMD = -0.47, 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.06), and a biopsychosocial approach (pooled SMD = -0.46, 95% CI: -0.79 to -0.14) were substantially superior to the control group. For improving mental health, multicomponent intervention (pooled SMD = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.14 to 1.39), exercise (pooled SMD = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.08 to 1.11), and physical therapy (pooled SMD = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.02-0.92) demonstrated statistically substantial effectiveness compared with the control group. The rank probability indicated that mind body therapy achieved the highest effectiveness in reducing depression and anxiety among patients with CLBP. Besides, the combined results should be interpreted cautiously based on the results of analyses evaluating the inconsistency and certainty of the evidence. CONCLUSION: This systemic review and NMA suggested that nonpharmacological interventions show promise for reducing psychological symptoms among patients with CLBP. In particular, mind body therapy and a biopsychosocial approach show considerable promise, and mind body therapy can be considered a priority choice in reducing depression and anxiety. These findings can aid clinicians in assessing the potential risks and benefits of available treatments for CLBP comorbidity with psychological symptoms and provide evidence for selecting interventions in clinical practice. More RCTs involving different interventions with rigorous methodology and an adequate sample size should be conducted in future research.

Potential Use of Extracellular Vesicles in the Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a major cause of low back pain, and several studies have evaluated the efficacy of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the treatment of IVDD. The databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched from inception to the end of 2022 to identify studies investigating the therapeutic potential of cell-derived EVs for IVDD treatment. The following outcome measures were utilized: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Pfirrmann grading system, disc height index (DHI), histological grading, and apoptosis rate. A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted, including a total of 13 articles comprising 19 studies involving 218 experimental animals. Comparative analysis between normal cell-derived EVs and placebo revealed significant reductions in MRI grade, increased DHI values, decreased nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis rates, and improved tissue grades. These findings collectively demonstrate the effective inhibition of IVDD through the application of EVs derived from cells. In conclusion, this study provides an updated synthesis of evidence supporting the efficacy of EVs as a promising therapeutic approach for IVDD treatment.

Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Hybrid Solid Polymer Electrolytes Encompassing Viologen for All-Solid-State Lithium Polymer Batteries.

Hybrid solid polymer electrolytes (HSPE) comprising poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), LiTFSI, barium titanate (BaTiO3), and viologen are prepared by a facile hot press. The physical properties of the HSPE membranes are studied by using small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile strength. The prepared hybrid solid polymer electrolytes are also investigated by means of ionic conductivity and transport number measurements. The employed analyses collectively reveal that each additive in the PEO host contributes to a specific property: LiTFSI is essential in providing ionic species, while BaTiO3 and viologen enhance the thermal stability, ionic conductivity, and transport number. The enhanced value in the Li+-transport number of HSPE are presumably attributed to the electrostatic attraction of TFSI anions and the positive charges of viologen. Synergistically, the added BaTiO3 and viologen improve the electrochemical properties of HSPE for the applications in all-solid-state-lithium polymer batteries.

Solibacillus daqui sp. nov., isolated from high-temperature Daqu.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, aerobic bacterial strain, designated ZS111008T, was isolated from high-temperature Daqu, a starter for production of Chinese Jiang-flavour Baijiu, and was characterized by polyphasic taxonomy. This novel isolate grew in the presence of 0-5 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 6.0-9.0 and 25-45 °C; optimum growth was observed with 1 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 8.0 and 30 °C. A comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence (1461 bp) of strain ZS111008T showed highest similarity to Solibacillus silvestris DSM12223T (96.7%), followed by Solibacillus cecembensis PN5T (96.6%) and Solibacillus isronensis AMCK01000046 (96.5%). The DNA G+C content of strain ZS111008T was 37.21 mol%. The respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone-7 and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and one unknown phospholipid. Lys was detected as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell wall. Based on morphological characteristics, chemotaxonomic characteristics and physiological properties, strain ZS111008T represents a novel species of the genus Solibacillus, for which the name Solibacillus daqui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain for this proposed species is ZS111008T (=CGMCC 1.19455T=JCM 35214T).