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The diversity of endophytic yeast in different varieties and organs of waxy sorghum was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology at flowering period, and the differential and functional flora were also analyzed using linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) and FUNGuild, respectively. The results showed that a total of 182 genera in 8 phyla were annotated. The community diversity and richness of endophytic yeast in Qingkeyang were higher than that of Jinnuoliang 1, and the richness of leaf was the highest. Ascomycota was the dominant phylum in different varieties and the stems and leaves. Basidiomycota was the dominant phylum in flowers, and the dominant phylum in roots was unclassified fungi. At the genus level, the dominant genera in Jinnuoliang 1 and Qingkeyang were unclassified Chaetothyriales and unclassified fungi, respectively. The dominant genera of the roots, stems, leaves and flowers were unclassified fungi, Ramichloridium, unclassified Chaetothyriales and Didymium, respectively. LEfSe analysis showed that the most important difference indicator genus was Papiliotrema. The most important differential indicator genera for roots, stems, leaves and flowers were Fusarium, Ramichloridium, Alatosessilispora and Pseudozyma, respectively. FUNGuild functional prediction showed that waxy sorghum flora has rich functions and was divided into 7 nutritional models and 24 ecological functional groups. Qingkeyang and the leaves had the greatest numbers of unique functional fungus.

Aqueous ammonium ion batteries (AAIBs) have attracted considerable attention due to their high safety and rapid diffusion kinetics. Unlike spherical metal ions, NH4+ forms hydrogen bonds with host materials, leading to a unique storage mechanism. A variety of electrode materials have been proposed for AAIBs, but their performance often falls short in terms of future energy storage needs. Hence, there is a critical need to design and develop advanced electrode materials for AAIBs. 2D materials, with their tunable interlayer spacing, remarkable interfacial chemistry and abundant surface functional groups, are an ideal choice for electrode materials for NH4+ storage. This review highlights the latest research on 2D electrode materials for AAIBs, providing insights into their working principles, NH4+ storage mechanisms and control strategies for designing high-performance AAIBs. Furthermore, a summary and future perspectives on 2D electrode materials in the development of AAIBs are provided, aiming to promote the advancement of high-performance AAIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The virtues of electrolytic MnO2 aqueous batteries are high theoretical energy density, affordability and safety. However, the continuous dead MnO2 and unstable Mn2+/MnO2 electrolysis pose challenges to the practical output energy and lifespan. Herein, we demonstrate bifunctional cationic redox mediation and catalysis kinetics metrics to rescue dead MnO2 and construct a stable and fast electrolytic Zn–Mn redox-flow battery (eZMRFB). Spectroscopic characterizations and electrochemical evaluation reveal the superior mediation kinetics of a cationic Fe2+ redox mediator compared with the anionic ones (e.g. I– and Br–), thus eliminating dead MnO2 effectively. With intensified oxygen vacancies, density functional theory simulations of the reaction pathways further verify the concomitant Fe-catalysed Mn2+/MnO2 electrolysis kinetics via charge delocalization and activated O 2p electron states, boosting its rate capability. As a result, the elaborated eZMRFB achieves a coulombic efficiency of nearly 100%, ultra-high areal capacity of 80 mAh cm–2, rate capability of 20 C and a long lifespan of 2500 cycles. This work may advance high-energy aqueous batteries to next-generation scalable energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brasenia schreberi is a widely consumed aquatic plant, yet the knowledge regarding its bioactive components, particularly polysaccharides, remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize the extraction process of polysaccharides from B. schreberi using the response surface method (RSM). Additionally, we characterized the polysaccharides using various methods and assessed their antioxidant capabilities both in vitro and in vivo, employing cell cultures and Caenorhabditis elegans. Furthermore, these polysaccharides were incorporated into a unique yogurt formulation. Our findings demonstrated that hot water extraction was the most suitable method for extracting polysaccharides from B. schreberi, yielding samples with high sugar content, significant antioxidant capacity, and a well-defined spatial structure. Moreover, pectinase was employed for polysaccharide digestion, achieving an enzymolysis rate of 10.02% under optimized conditions using RSM. Notably, the results indicated that these polysaccharides could protect cells from oxidative stress by reducing apoptosis. Surprisingly, at a concentration of 250 μg/mL, the polysaccharides significantly increased the survival rate of C. elegans from 31.05% to 82.3%. Further qPCR results revealed that the polysaccharides protected C. elegans by up-regulating the daf-16 gene and down-regulating mTOR and insulin pathways, demonstrating remarkable antioxidant abilities. Upon addition to the yogurt, the polysaccharides significantly enhanced the water retention, viscosity, and viability of lactic acid bacteria. These outcomes underscore the potential of polysaccharides from B. schreberi as a valuable addition to novel yogurt formulations, thereby providing additional theoretical support for the utilization of B. schreberi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur-based aqueous batteries (SABs) are deemed promising candidates for safe, low-cost, and high-capacity energy storage. However, despite their high theoretical capacity, achieving high reversible value remains a great challenge due to the thermodynamic and kinetics problems of elemental sulfur. Here, the reversible six-electron redox electrochemistry is constructed by activating the sulfur oxidation reaction (SOR) process of the elaborate mesocrystal NiS 2 (M-NiS 2 ). Through the unique 6e - solid-to-solid conversion mechanism, SOR efficiency can reach an unprecedented degree of ca. 96.0%. The SOR efficiency is further revealed to be closely associated with the kinetics feasibility and thermodynamic stability of the M-NiS 2 intermedium in the formation of elemental sulfur. Benefiting from the boosted SOR, compared with the bulk electrode, the M-NiS 2 electrode exhibits a high reversible capacity (1258 mAh g -1 ), ultrafast reaction kinetics (932 mAh g -1 at 12 A g -1 ), and long-term cyclability (2000 cycles at 20 A g -1 ). As a proof of concept, a new M-NiS 2 ‖Zn hybrid aqueous battery exhibits an output voltage of 1.60 V and an energy density of 722.4 Wh kg cath -1 , which opens a new opportunity for the development of high-energy aqueous batteries., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of China Science Publishing & Media Ltd.)