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The defects, micropores, and microcracks on the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coating severely affect the long-term anti-corrosion feature. Inclusion of additives in the electrolyte is a feasible and effective strategy to attain the more intact PEO coating. The PEO coatings are fabricated on AZ31B Mg alloys in an silicon-based electrolyte with Na 3 VO 4 (OPEO), NaVO 3 (MPEO), and V 2 O 3 (VPEO), respectively, to explore the influence of additives on the corrosion resistance. MPEO sample has the smallest poriness and pore size unfolding the best anti-corrosion resistance, which is also consistent with the electrochemical analysis. Even after 336 h salt spray test, the MPEO coating exhibits the least corrosion. The excellent anti-corrosion performance of MPEO sample is the synergistic effect of inorganic salts and multiple metal oxides generated in the formation of PEO coating. Inclusion of inorganic salt with valence change metal is a feasible pathway to achieve the compact PEO coating since multiple metal oxides could be produced and deposited in the PEO coating during the fabrication. • Inorganic salt with valence change metal is taken as the additive. • PEO coating with NaVO 3 additive is not corroded after 14 days salt spray test. • Multiple species generated in the PEO process prompts the improved feature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ionic liquid is firstly utilized as the electrolyte additive for Mg-air battery. • Discharge potential and utilization efficiency are both boosted. • Working mechanism of [Ch][DHB] as electrolyte additive is clarified. • [Ch][DHB] is also suitable for other commercial Mg anodes, AM50, AZ31, and ZK61. A novel ionic liquid, choline 2,6-dihydroxytbenzoate ([Ch][DHB]), is firstly synthesized and utilized as the electrolyte additive for aqueous Mg-air cell based on the high purity Mg (Hp-Mg) with the aim to enhance the discharge performance. The half-cell discharge test, electrochemical measurement, and real-time hydrogen evolution are carried out to evaluate the influence of [Ch][DHB] and clarify the working mechanism. The [DHB]- anion could bind the Mg2+ ions to form the complex, which is beneficial to prompt the discharge of Mg matrix; while the [Ch]+ cation is effective to inhibit the self-corrosion of Mg anode. With the addition of 0.2 M [Ch][DHB] in the 3.5 wt% NaCl, both discharge potential and utilization efficiency are enhanced to −1.64 V SCE and 68.0 % under 5 mA cm−2. Based on the above Mg-air cell, 66 of LED bulbs (0.04 W/per bulb) would be maintained for 132 h with 0.2 M [Ch][DHB] in the electrolyte, while they are only kept for 65 h in the reference electrolyte. The 0.2 M [Ch][DHB] is also suitable electrolyte additives for Mg-air battery based on other commercial Mg anodes (AM50, AZ31, and ZK61). The specific energy of Mg-air batteries based on Hp-Mg, AM50, AZ31, and ZK61 in 0.2 M [Ch][DHB] electrolyte are 2093 Wh kg−1, 1788 Wh kg−1, 1896 Wh kg−1, and 713 Wh kg−1 at 5 mA cm−2, respectively. This work exhibits a promising pathway to enhance the discharge performance of Mg-air primary battery, including both discharge potential and utilization efficiency, with ionic liquids as electrolyte additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by soil microbes have a significant role in the control of plant diseases and plant growth promotion. In this study, we examined the effect of VOCs produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens strain WR-1 on the growth and virulence traits of tomato wilt pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum . The VOCs produced by P. fluorescens WR-1 exhibited concentration dependent bacteriostatic effect on the growth of R. solanacearum on agar medium and in infested soil. The VOCs of P. fluorescens WR-1 also significantly inhibited the virulence traits of R. solanacearum . The proteomics analysis showed that the VOCs of P. fluorescens WR-1 downregulated cellular proteins of R. solanacearum related to the antioxidant activity, virulence, inclusion body proteins, carbohydrate and amino acid synthesis and metabolism, protein folding and translation, methylation and energy transfer, while the proteins involved in the ABC transporter system, detoxification of aldehydes and ketones, protein folding and translation were upregulated. This study revealed the significance of VOCs of P. fluorescens WR-1 to control the tomato wilt pathogen R. solanacearum . Investigation of the modes of action of biocontrol agents is important to better comprehend the interactions mediated by VOCs in nature to design better control strategies for plant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrochar aging may mitigate the adverse effects of direct hydrochar application on plant growth. However, little is known about the strategies for accelerating aging process and the microbiological mechanisms involved. This study explored the effects of three aging strategies, including the addition of straw and efficient-degrading microorganisms, on the aging processes of food waste-derived hydrochar, and identified the key microbial drivers. The bacterial and fungal sequencing was performed to estimate the species composition in hydrochar at different aging periods (i.e., day 1, 7, 14 and 35). The results showed that the addition of straw and microbial inoculum improved the maximum reaction temperature by 13%, and shortened the aging time by ∼30%. Three bacterial guilds, mainly including Bacillus -like species, were identified that showed significant correlations with the nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics during aging. This study demonstrates the feasibility of manipulating key microbial guilds artificially to achieve efficient harmless-treatment of hydrochar. [Display omitted] • Straw and microbial inoculum addition reduced aging duration by 30%. • Microbial inoculum addition increases the aging reaction temperature by 13%. • Bacteria, rather than fungi, play the critical role in hydrochar aging. • Bacillus and related species drive nitrogen and phosphorus cycles of aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicans has the ability to switch reversibly between budding yeast, filamentous, pseudohypha, and hyphal forms, a process in which the transcription factor Flo8 plays an important role. This ability is important for the virulence and pathogenicity of C. albicans. To determine whether Flo8 plays a role in the regulation of drug sensitivity, we constructed a FLO8 null mutant flo8/flo8 from the parental strain SN152 and a Flo8-overexpressing strain, flo8/flo8 :: FLO8. The susceptibility of the isolates to antifungal agents was then evaluated using the agar dilution and broth microdilution methods. Expression of drug resistance-related genes by the isolates was investigated by real-time PCR. The flo8/flo8 mutation isolates exhibited increased resistance to fluconazole, voriconazole, and itraconazole compared with the wild-type and drug sensitivity was restored by FLO8 overexpression (flo8/flo8∷FLO8). Of seven drug resistance-related genes, the FLO8 null mutation resulted in increased CDR1 and CDR2 expression (1.60-fold and 5.27-fold, respectively) compared with SN152, while FLO8 overexpression resulted in decreased CDR1 expression (0.63-fold). These results suggest that Flo8 is involved in the susceptibility of C. albicans to antifungal azoles, with FLO8 deletion leading to constitutive overexpression of CDR1 and CDR2 and resistance to antifungal azoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]