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Electrolytes that can work over a wide temperature range are crucial forsustainable advanced energy systems. Here, a kind of lamellar ionic liquid composite electrolyte (L‐ILCE) is explored through confining ionic liquids (ILs) in ordered interlayer nanochannels of 2D vermiculite framework. It is demonstrated that, within nanochannels, the finely tuned microstructure can induce the rearrangement and crystallinity of ILs, affording L‐ILCE the combined superiorities of liquid electrolyte and solid‐state electrolyte. L‐ILCE exhibits high ionic conductivities (0.09–1.35 × 10−3 S cm−1 at −40 to 100 °C), whereas polymer and inorganic electrolytes usually lose ionic conduction ability below 0 °C. Additionally, L‐ILCE exhibits high transference number (0.89, comparable with single‐ion conductors) and wide electrochemical window (0–5.3 V). LiFePO4||Li and high‐voltage LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2||Li cells assembled from L‐ILCEs exhibit highly stable electrochemical performance in −20 to 60 °C. Furthermore, pouch cells (0.1 Ah) exhibit high capacity of 93.8 and 45.0 mAh after 50 cycles along with capacity retention of 97% and 98% at 60 and −20 °C, respectively, as well as excellent flexibility and safety. This study offers promise in the rational design of advanced ion conductors for lithium‐based batteries with wider operating temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural and nutrient substances for cardiovascular disease are promising and capture researchers' minds. Two kinds of novel bioactive peptides (high Fischer's ratio oligopeptides and anticoagulant peptides) were obtained from Whitmania pigra protein via enzymatic hydrolysis. An oligopeptide (MW<874.0 Da) named as HF2 was obtained via chromatography purification procedures with a high Fischer's ratio of 31.92 ± 1.36 and low phenylalanine + tyrosine content of 0.98 ± 0.04 %. Another peptide (WA3-1), prepared by alcalase AF 2.4 L-catalyzed hydrolysis and then purified by DEAE Sepharose FF, gel Sephadex G-15 chromatography, exhibited high anticoagulant activity with prolonging significantly plasma clotting time on activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, thrombin time ( p < 0.01) and powerful thrombolytic activity. Amino acid composition and MALDI-TOF/TOF MS analysis showed that WA3-1 contained 11 amino acids (MW: 1422.0 Da) with the sequence as NH-His-Asp-Phe-Leu-Asn-Asn-Lys-Leu-Glu-Tyr-Glu-COOH. Abundant negatively charged amino acids in C-terminal, as well as the special residue Lys contribute to its anticoagulant capacity. This research provided a novel natural candidate for the manufacture of nutrient oligopeptides with high branched chain amino acid, and anticoagulant thrombolytic agent in pharmaceutical industry with helping prevent from thrombosis and related cardiovascular diseases. Graphical abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) with continuous hydrogen bond networks, programmable pore structure and functional sites, are promising next-generation functional membrane materials. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of a free-standing HOF membrane for the first time, and explore the proton conduction performance. Concretely, HOF membrane was prepared by assembling HOF precursors into nanosheets, followed by vacuum filtration and annealing treatment. We confirm that the annealing treatment exerts significant influence on membrane topology, which allows the construction of efficient vertical conduction pathways. The vertical conductivity of HOF membrane reaches 59.8 mS cm−1 at 90 °C and 100% relative humidity (RH), with low conduction anisotropy of 4.4, which are superior to most organic framework membranes. The maximum current density and power density of assemble hydrogen fuel cell under 60 °C and 40% RH reach 279 mA cm−2 and 79 mW cm−2, respectively. This study may provide some guidance on HOF membrane fabrication. [Display omitted] • A free-standing HOF membrane is fabricated via vacuum filtration and annealing. • The annealing treatment generates huge influence on the topology of membrane. • Compact stacking structure with well-aligned pores is constructed in membrane. • The unique structure permits rapid proton transfer in vertical direction. • Vertical conductivity of 59.8 mS cm−1 and low anisotropy value of 4.4 are attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Soil warming significantly influences soil organic carbon (SOC) pools in terrestrial ecosystems through its impact on the processes of carbon (C) input and decomposition as well as the stabilization of SOC pools. Most studies demonstrated that soil warming reduces SOC pools, but the magnitude is highly variable, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Methods: The concentration, stability (dissolved, particulate, and mineral-associated SOC) and source (plant-derived vs. microbial-derived) of SOC, soil microbial community composition, and enzymatic activities were studied in a 10-year soil warming field experiment in an East Asian monsoon forest. Results: 10-year soil warming significantly enhanced SOC in the top 0–10 cm soil. The increased SOC induced by warming was mainly derived from plants, with lignin and phenol markers increasing by 60% on average, accompanied by a 27% decrease in microbial-derived SOC. However, the overall effect of warming on SOC stability was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The results suggest that the moist monsoon forest soil could sequester SOC upon long-term warming. The discrepancy between our findings and those from other regions highlights an urgent need for a better understanding of how the contrasting effects of plant- and microbial-derived C mediate the response of the SOC pool to warming across biomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For hybrid membrane, the polymer-inorganic interface along filler surface can be facilely created to be distinctive and controllable pathway for mass transfer. Herein, three kinds of fillers are used as inorganic additives including zero-dimensional silica (0-D, SiO 2 ), one-dimensional halloysite nanotube (1-D, HNT), and two-dimensional graphene oxide (2-D, GO), which are functionalized by sulfonated polymer layer to ensure close surface component. Then the fillers are incorporated into two types of polymer matrixes (phase-separated sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) and non-phase-separated chitosan) to prepare three series of hybrid membranes with single-kind filler, double-kinds fillers, or triple-kinds fillers, respectively. The microstructures, physicochemical properties, and proton conduction properties (under hydrated and anhydrous conditions) of the membranes are extensively investigated. It is found that (i) for the single-kind filler-filled membranes, 2-D filler has the strongest promotion ability for proton conductivity of membrane due to the constructed wide and long-range pathways for proton transfer; (ii) while for the hybrid membranes with double-kinds fillers, instead of synergistic promotion effect, the fillers cause more tortuous transfer pathways within membranes and then decrease proton conductivity; (iii) the hybrid membranes with triple-kinds fillers exhibit similar behavior but a little higher conductivity than the membranes with double-kinds fillers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • LLZO nanosheets with lateral size of 3–5 μm and thickness of ~4.5 nm are synthesized. • LLZO laminar inorganic solid electrolyte with thickness of 12 μm is fabricated. • Ultrahigh ionic conductance of 0.17 S and energy density of 340 Wh kg−1 are achieved. • The compressive strength of LLZO laminar electrolyte reaches 3.2 GPa. • A superior cell performance of 143.2 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles is obtained. The development of thin solid-state electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and mechanical strength is essential for high-performance all-solid-state lithium batteries. Although Inorganic solid electrolytes (ISEs) possess high ionic conductivity, fabricating thin and mechanically stable ISEs is still challenging. Herein, Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO) nanosheets with lateral size of 3–5 μm and thickness of ~4.5 nm were prepared, and then self-assembled into thin, defect-free, and freestanding LLZO laminar ISE (LLISE). Compared to LLZO pellet (>200 μm) obtained by cold-pressing method, LLISE with a thickness of 12 μm attains an almost 10-times higher ionic conductivity of 1.30 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C because of the short Li-ion diffusion distance. Importantly, this thin thickness gives high ionic conductance (0.17 S at 30 °C) and energy density of 340 Wh kg−1, ranking one of the highest values among reported solid-state electrolytes. Meanwhile, the compressive strength of LLISE with a thickness of 20 μm (LLISE-20) reaches 3.2 Gpa. The Li symmetrical cell assembled with LLISE-20 can work over 1500 h without obvious polarization under a current density of 0.2 mA cm−2 at 60 °C. The LFP/Li cell exhibits superior cycling stability of 143.2 mAh g−1 at 0.5C and 60 °C after 200 cycles with low capacity decay of 0.05% per cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil nematode biomass is of growing importance in elucidating soil food web structure, ecosystem functioning, and global biogeographical cycling. However, a significant challenge exists in quickly obtaining body mass data for a large number of nematode specimens without compromising measurement quality. Recently, a simplified method has been proposed, utilizing only the maximum diameter of nematodes to evaluate their fresh weight (W) as a substitute for Andrássy's formula. This approach is based on strong linear correlations between nematode body length (L) and maximum diameter (D). Despite its effectiveness, further testing is needed in extensive regions with numerous specimens. For this purpose, we conducted a study comprising 24,465 nematode specimens obtained from 222 soil samples in five types of grasslands across China. Our findings provided a robust support for the wide use of this simplified method. Furthermore, we proposed new weight formulas for total nematodes, morphological groups, and trophic groups, which were all well fitted to power models as W = a D b / (1.6 × 106), with various values of a for different aggregations and approximately constant b ≈ 3. Based on additional comparative analyses of the formulas used to assess the mean weight of functional groups, community-weighted mean body size, and community metabolic functional footprints, we firstly recommend using trophic group-specific formulas to minimize weight deviations from Andrássy's formula. Our new simplified power-law formulas enable reliable estimates of nematode body mass and are therefore promising for future applications. Moreover, our findings suggest that the classical Euclidean scaling theory significantly contributes to precisely estimating the body mass of small-sized soil fauna using only maximum diameter. In a global approach with a large number of individuals, for functional biogeography studies for instance, measuring the maximum diameter of animals to calculate their biomass is intriguing and compelling to motivate scientists to embrace functional approaches. • Andrássy's formula for calculating nematode weight can be simplified to a single parameter: the greatest body diameter. • Trophic group-specific simplified formulas minimize weight deviations. • Measuring animals' maximum width to calculate their biomass shall motivate scientists to embrace functional methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gel electrolyte (GE) gains intensive attentions for lithium metal battery, especially those targeting to use at low temperatures. The liquid medium, as the core component, of most gel electrolytes (GEs) is organic liquid or ionic liquid, always suffering from serious safety issue and low transference number (t +). The low t + aggravates concentration polarization and thus leads to the increase of overpotential and undesirable side reactions. Herein, zwitterionic liquid (ZIL) with high stability and safety is prepared by mixing zwitterion (ZI) and lithium salt. The ZIL is then encapsulated into a SiO 2 matrix to fabricate novel gel electrolyte (SiGE-ZIL). The low freezing point and strong mobility of ZIL confer SiGE-ZIL a high conductivity of 3.36 × 10−4 S cm−1 at −40 °C. Importantly, the large dipole moment of ZI effectively accelerates the dissociation of lithium salt, permitting a high t + of 0.553 at −40 °C, which is 2.3 times of that of the analogous ionic liquid. The assembled LiFePO 4 /Li battery exhibits an excellent cycling stability with a capacity of 91.6 mAh g−1 at 600th cycle at 0.5C and 0 °C. Especially at −20 °C, the capacity can reach 67.1 mAh g−1 at 600th cycle under 0.5C, surpassing most of GE-based batteries. Zwitterionic liquid with superior low-temperature Li+ conduction property and high transference number is prepared by directly mixing zwitterion and lithium salt, which is utilized as a novel liquid medium for gel electrolyte and imparts excellent low-temperature lithium battery performances. [Display omitted] • Zwitterionic liquid (ZIL) is prepared by mixing zwitterion (ZI) and lithium salt. • ZIL is used as liquid medium for fabricating SiO 2 -based gel electrolyte (SiGE-ZIL). • SiGE-ZIL obtains high ionic conductivity of 3.36 × 10−4 S cm−1 at −40 °C. • The large dipole moment of ZI imparts SiGE-ZIL high t Li+ of 0.553 at −40 °C. • LFP/Li cell shows high discharge capacity of 67.1 mAh g−1 after 600 cycles at −20 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pre-organization of usCNT and metal ions allows anisotropic growth to prepare water-stable and hydrophilic MOF nanosheet, and the resultant membrane achieves exceptional water retention capability and rapid proton transfer over wide humidity range. [Display omitted] • Water-stable and hydrophilic MOF nanosheets are prepared assisted by usCNT. • Pre-organization of usCNT and Cu2+ restricts layer stacking of CuTCPP along c -axis. • ∼8.9 μm-thick free-standing MOF membrane is fabricated via vacuum filtration. • This membrane presents excellent water stability and water retention capability. • The unique structure permits efficient proton conduction over wide humidity range. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) with ordered and stable pathway is highly desirable for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Porous MOF materials hold great promise for the development of high-performance PEM due to the pre-designable and ordered pore structure, providing regular transfer channel. However, the developed water-stable MOFs usually require hydrophobic pores for stabilizing crystal structure in moisture circumstances. It leads to dramatically declined proton conductivity at low relative humidity (RH) because of severe water loss. Herein, we propose the fabrication of hydrophilic and water-stable MOF nanosheets (usCNT@CuTCPP, ∼2.8 nm) through ultrashort carbon nanotube (usCNT)-assisted self-inhibition crystal growth strategy. Then, ∼ 8.9 μm-thick usCNT@CuTCPP lamellar membrane was prepared by self-stacking of nanosheets. We demonstrate that in-situ incorporation of usCNT could promote membrane hydration, enabling usCNT@CuTCPP-M excellent structural stability in water and remarkable water adsorption and retention ability. This allows the construction of continuous hydrogen-bond networks, thereby affording membrane efficient proton conduction under low RH. Additionally, usCNT@CuTCPP membrane with encapsulation of phytic acid exhibits high proton conductivities of 71 and 124 mS cm−1 under 40% and 100% RH, respectively, superior to Nafion and most porous matrix conductors. The assembled hydrogen fuel cell exhibits high performance over wide RH ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garnet-type oxide Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO) has attracted considerable attention as promising solid-state electrolyte (SSE) owing to the exceptional bulk ion conduction. However, the Li+ transfer capacity of most LLZO-based solid electrolytes remains inadequate, primarily due to the presence of extensive grain boundaries and excessive thickness. Herein, we report the fabrication of a LLZO-based lamellar composite inorganic solid electrolyte (LLZO/LIC LISE) by in-situ sintering Li 3 InCl 6 (LIC) in LLZO lamellar framework. LIC can act as an effective Li+-conductive grain boundary modifier within the electrolyte, leading to a remarkable reduction in grain boundary resistance of LLZO/LIC LISE (<9.2 Ω cm2), which is much lower than that of LLZO lamellar framework (827.2 Ω cm2). Together with the reduced internal grain boundary of LLZO nanosheet, a high ionic conductivity of 3.22 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 25 °C is obtained for LLZO/LIC LISE. In addition, combining with the thin thickness of 29 μm, LLZO/LIC LISE obtains high ionic conductance of 223 mS and exceptional energy density of 246 Wh kg−1, surpassing most developed SSEs. As a result, the cell assembled with LLZO/LIC LISE achieves superior cycling performance of 144.2 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.5C with a capacity decay of only 0.055% per cycle. This study may present a facile approach to effectively eliminate the grain boundary resistance of inorganic solid electrolytes toward high-performance all-solid-state lithium batteries. [Display omitted] • A 29 μm-thick LLZO/LIC lamellar composite solid electrolyte is fabricated. • The presence of LIC imparts ultralow grain boundary resistance (<9.2 Ω cm2). • The interfacial interaction between LLZO and LIC improves electrolyte stability. • The thin thickness affords high ionic conductance and energy density. • Superior performance with capacity of 144.2 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles is attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistence of soil organic carbon (SOC) is primarily driven by microbial metabolic activities; however, how microbial effects on SOC sequestration are affected by soil nutrient status remains unclear. Here, we conducted a one-year-long in situ soil incubation experiment using mesh bags (with a mesh size of 38 μm, allowing bacterial colonization and fungal hyphal penetration while preventing root penetration). This experiment involved incubating fertile sugarcane soil and infertile sand across an elevational gradient, characterized by diverse climatic and biotic conditions within a tropical forest. Biomarkers, such as phospholipid fatty acids, carbon-, nitrogen-, and phosphorus-acquiring hydrolases, glomalin-related proteins, and amino sugars, were measured to characterize the production and accumulation of microbial biomass, exo-enzymes, extracellular glycoproteins, and microbial necromass. These measurements aimed to elucidate their respective contribution to the sequestration of SOC. We found that Gram-negative bacteria dominated the microbial community composition in fertile soil, and the higher nutrient availability was related to the production and accumulation of microbial necromass via promoting microbial biomass turnover, thus enhancing the accumulation of SOC in fertile soil. This process was negatively associated with phosphorus availability and carbon- and phosphorus-acquiring enzyme activities in fertile soil. In contrast, the SOC accumulation was positively correlated with nitrogen availability and stoichiometry (including C:N and C:P), as well as moisture content in infertile sand. However, more resources were preferentially allocated to stress-tolerant fungi and Gram-positive bacteria under nutrient deficiency in infertile sand used for microbial biomass maintenance, nutrient acquisition, and environmental adaption which further aggravated the consumption of SOC, resulting in SOC loss after one year of field incubation. Our results suggest that microbial effects on SOC persistence are highly context-dependent and nutrient availability-induced changes in microbial communities and microbial resource-allocation strategies are key processes for understanding and predicting the fate of carbon in tropical forest soils. [Display omitted] • Microbial communities and their role in soil carbon dynamics rely on soil fertility. • Mesh bags with fertile soil and infertile sand were incubated at varying elevations. • Fertile soil enhanced microbial growth and microbial metabolic activity. • The production and accumulation of microbial necromass promoted soil carbon content. • Microbial nutrient acquisition and environmental adaptation led to soil carbon loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) often correlate positively with BEF studies focusing mostly on plant diversity manipulations. Plant performance is directly and indirectly impacted by soil organisms, but the role of increasing soil biodiversity on plant performance has mainly been tested in an uncontrolled way or with low biodiversity levels. An additional knowledge gap exists on the effect of (interactive) global change drivers – such as drought – on the soil BEF (sBEF) relationship. We here tested sBEF relationships by manipulating microbiome predatory protist diversity (0–30 species) in ambient controls and under abiotic (drought) and biotic stresses (nematode addition dominated by plant parasites). We then used plant (Solanum lycopersicum) biomass as a response in an 8-week greenhouse experiment. We show that the increasing biodiversity effect on plant biomass ranged from positive (up to 23% with biotic stress), to neutral (ambient conditions and with both stresses co-occurring), to negative (up to 39% with abiotic stress). Together, sBEF relationships were context-dependent and often contradicted generally reported positive (s)BEF relationships. Therefore, we propose that positive sBEF claims likely are not the norm and should be evaluated in a context-dependent manner. To better elucidate sBEF relationships, more manipulative studies should be performed under different conditions such as global change drivers and with a range of organismal groups. • SBEF relationships reported were context-dependent, challenging (s)BEF studies. • Protist diversity, though indirectly linked to plants, impacts plant performance. • We show no evidence of functional similarity effects on the sBEF relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton conduction is essential for proton exchange membrane (PEM) in hydrogen fuel cell. However, the proton conductivity of most PEMs is limited by the inferior continuity of transport channels and random arrangement of transfer carriers. Here, charged vermiculite lamellar membrane with orderly aligned glycine molecules in the interlayer channel is fabricated. We demonstrate that sulfonic acid-grafted channel induces and interacts with the end amino groups of glycine molecules, forming ordered acid-base pairs along the wall. Meantime, the carboxyl groups at the other end are located in the middle of channel, forming continuous hydrogen bond networks. Such molecule arrangement creates long-range hoping highways for proton conduction. The Vr-SO 3 H@Gly membrane (∼8 μm in thickness) with 10.2 wt% glycine obtains horizontal conductivity of 378.5 mS cm−1 at 90 °C and 100% RH, 2.2 times of that of commercial Nafion membrane. Moreover, the molecule arrangement is stable helped by the strong channel-glycine and glycine-glycine interactions, rendering excellent conduction stability. These then bring high hydrogen fuel cell performances with maximum current density and power density of 604 mA cm−2 and 184 mW cm−2, respectively, which are superior to Nafion and most reported 2D lamellar PEMs. This study should provide insights in developing advanced lamellar membranes for application in proton conduction field. [Display omitted] • A charged lamellar membrane with orderly aligned glycine molecules is fabricated. • Glycine molecules construct continuous transport channels in interlayer channels. • Proton conductivity of 378.5 mS cm−1 is achieved by 10.2 wt% glycine loading. • High structure and conduction stabilities are obtained by multiple interactions. • Maximum current density of 604 mA cm−2 and power density of 184 mW cm−2 are gained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic superionic conductors hold great promise for all-solid-state lithium battery. However, the ionic conductivity of developed inorganic solid electrolytes (ISEs) is often insufficient owing to the enormous grain boundary resistance and large thickness. Herein, a 30 μm-thick Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO) lamellar inorganic solid electrolyte (LLZO/CN LISE) is fabricated by assembling LLZO nanosheets into lamellar framework, followed by in-situ growing g-C 3 N 4 in the interlayer spacing. Based on the regular and unambiguous lamellar structure, g-C 3 N 4 is found to be an ideal grain boundary modifier, and the Li-ion transfer process at grain boundary is thus investigated in detail. We demonstrate that this LLZO/CN LISE achieves an ultralow grain boundary resistance (<12.3 Ω cm2 vs. 1608 Ω cm2 for LLZO pellet) and hence high ionic conduction properties (the ionic conductivity is 2.50 × 10−4 S cm−1 and the ionic conductance is 167 mS at 25 °C). The assembled Li symmetrical cell can stably cycle over 1500 h at 0.2 mA cm−2 and 60 °C. The assembled LiFePO 4 |Li cell also exhibits excellent cycling performances with a discharge capacity of 147.7 mAh g−1 at 0.5C and 60 °C after 150 cycles. This insight should present new opportunities in designing and developing high-performance ISEs. [Display omitted] • A 30 μm-thick Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 /g-C 3 N 4 lamellar inorganic solid electrolyte is prepared. • High ionic conductivity of 0.25 mS cm−1 and ionic conductance of 167 mS are gained. • The lamellar inorganic solid electrolyte exhibits an elastic modulus of 3.06 GPa. • With LiFePO 4 cathode, the energy densities reach 236 Wh kg−1. • A superior cell performance of 147.7 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incomplete microdata, i.e., microdata with missing value, is very common in real-world datasets. However, existing anonymization techniques, which were developed for complete datasets, suffer from serious information loss on incomplete microdata, due to the missing value pollution. In this paper, we propose a framework for utility enhanced anonymization of incomplete microdata to address this issue. First, we study the properties of missing value pollution on generalization. Guided by these properties, we develop two top-down anonymization algorithms to preserve data utility on incomplete microdata. Extensive experiments on real-world datasets show that our techniques outperform the state-of-the-art techniques in terms of information loss and missing value pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The profile of caffeic acid in tissues of peanut sprouts and its antioxidant activity in erythrocyte-based assays were investigated. Caffeic acid was found to accumulate in the epicotyl-plumule (reached 2097.13 ± 96 μg/g DW on day 10 after peanut germination). It was purified by semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified caffeic acid showed noticeable protective effects on human erythrocytes against 2,2′-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced hemolysis. It also contributed to maintenance of normal morphological features and inhibited malondialdehyde formation and the lactate dehydrogenase release in erythrocytes under oxidative stress. Further analysis revealed that caffeic acid effectively inhibited AAPH-induced free-radical production and maintained the normal metabolism of the erythrocytic redox system, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione. Our work showed that caffeic acid, which is greatly enriched in peanut sprout, can effectively protect erythrocytes from oxidative damage. These results provide valuable information for the use of peanut sprouts as a functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Succinonitrile (SN) plastic crystal electrolyte holds great promise for high-performance solid-state lithium metal batteries due to its high ionic conduction. However, the serious side reaction between SN and lithium anode always causes large interfacial resistance, deteriorating the battery capacity. Herein, we penetrated LiTFSI-SN (LSN) electrolyte into the interlayer channels of laminar metal-organic framework (MOF), then an ultra-thin and stable laminar LiTFSI–SN–MOF composite solid-state electrolyte (LSN-MOF CSE) was obtained. We demonstrate that the interlayer nanochannels for LSN electrolyte storage without sacrificing the mobility of SN molecules. Meanwhile, the unsaturated coordination of MOF, induced by Co/Ni metal sites, causes a horizontal arrangement of SN. Therefore, this electrolyte offers a remarkable ionic conductivity of 7.41 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 25 °C. Moreover, the interlayer nanochannels and covalent interaction of MOF synergistically suppress the migration of SN to lithium anode, thus improving the interface stability of lithium anode. Importantly, the assembled Li symmetrical cell performs stable operation over 800 h under 0.2 mA cm−2, and the LiFePO 4 /Li cell delivers excellent cycling stability of 148.2 mAh g−1 with a low capacity decay of 0.048% per cycle after 200 cycles under 0.2C and 25 °C. [Display omitted] • Ultrathin laminar MOF framework with 5.3-μm thick is prepared. • Nanochannels and metal sites confinement inhibit SN shuttling to lithium anode. • Horizontal arrangement of SN in MOF nanopores permits high ionic conductivity. • A high Li + transference number (0.59) is obtained. • Superior performance with capacity of 148.2 mAh g−1 at 25 °C is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Well-ordered vertical Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 sheet arrays are prepared. • An 8 μm-thick trilayer composite solid electrolyte with sheet arrays is fabricated. • Ultrahigh ionic conductance of 0.5 S and Young's modulus of 1.43 GPa are achieved. • Superior cycling behavior at low N/P ratio (80% retention at 158 cycles) is obtained. • The energy density of NCM/Li cell reaches 458.4 Wh kg−1. To achieve high energy density of all-solid-state lithium batteries, solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are required to be thin and highly conductive. Although constructing efficient inorganic Li-ion transfer network can provide excellent conductivity for SSEs, it is still challenging for these SSEs to simultaneously realize thin thickness and mechanical stability. Herein, well-ordered vertical Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 sheet arrays (VLSA) were prepared, followed by introducing triple-layer ion-conducting polymers to fabricate 8 μm-thick VLSA composite solid electrolyte (CSE). We demonstrate that vertical and short VLSA (major path, accounting for 71.4% of Li-ion transfer) and VLSA/polymer interface (minor path, 27.8%) contribute to the high ionic conductivity of 2.60 × 10−4 S cm−1 and ionic conductance of 0.5 S at 30 °C, ranking one of the highest values among reported SSEs. The stiff VLSA enhances the mechanical strength of CSE, while the polymer existing in VLSA channels serves as a deformable buffer, endowing CSE with bendable property. Besides, the trilayer polymer structure permits this electrolyte to be compatible with lithium anode and high-voltage cathode. Therefore, the high-loading LiNi 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O 2 (NCM523) cell can be cycled with limited lithium anode (N/P ratio = 1.18) over 158 cycles with capacity retention upon 80%, realizing a high energy density of 458.4 Wh kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic superionic conductor has been widely studied for potential application in all-solid-state lithium battery due to its high bulk ionic conductivity. However, the large grain boundary resistance and large thickness resulted from the poor film-forming ability, restricting its actual ionic conductivity. Inspired by the excellent film-forming ability and ultrathin thickness of 2D lamellar membrane, we reported an 11 μm-thick MOF lamellar membrane derived LLTO electrolyte (MLLTO). The electrolyte is prepared by impregnating LLTO precursors into the pores and interlayer channels of MOF lamellar membrane, followed by in situ sintering. It is demonstrated that the confined effect of interlayer channel in MOF lamellar membrane regulates the growth and arrangement of LLTO crystal, affording reduced grain boundary resistance. The porous structure of MOF nanosheet permits the construction of vertical Li+ transfer pathways between adjacent layers. Finally, MLLTO achieves a high ionic conductivity of 1.19 × 10−4 S cm−1 and ionic conductance of 0.215 S at room temperature, much higher than those of conventional LLTO electrolytes. The Li/MLLTO/Li symmetrical cell can stably cycle for 1000 h from 0.1 to 0.4 mA cm−2 at 60 °C without obvious polarization. The LFP/Li battery displays discharge capacity of 149.6 mAh g−1 at 0.5C after 200 cycles with low capacity decay of 0.04% per cycle. [Display omitted] • A thin MOF lamellar membrane derived LLTO electrolyte (MLLTO, 11 μm) is prepared. • Grain boundary resistance is reduced by controlling crystal growth and arrangement. • The porous structure of MOF permits the construction of vertical transfer pathways. • The ionic conductivity of MLLTO reaches 1.19 × 10−4 S cm−1 at room temperature. • Ultrahigh ionic conductance of 0.215 S is obtained due to the thin thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thin solid electrolyte based on Vr-LLTO framework and permeated PEO is prepared. • LLTO crystals act as low-barrier Li+ conduction highways along Vr nanosheet surface. • High Li+ conduction property (1.04 × 10−4 s cm−1 at 25 °C and 67.45 mS) is achieved. • The covalently-bonded structure permits electrolyte superior structure stability. • Expected cell performances (e.g. low capacity decay after 200 cycles) are achieved. Inorganic superionic conductors hold great promise for all-solid-state lithium batteries because of their superior ionic conductivity. However, their application as electrolytes is limited by the trade-off between ion conduction and stability. Here, a thin composite solid electrolyte, vermiculite-Li 0.33 La 0.557 TiO 3 /poly(ethylene oxide) (Vr-LLTO/PEO), is prepared by in-situ co-sintering an interconnected Vr-LLTO framework and then impregnating PEO. Within this electrolyte, the continuous LLTO on Vr nanosheet surface acts as efficient pathways for vertical Li+ transfer with reduced grain boundary resistance. Together with the thin thickness (35 μm), Vr-LLTO/PEO electrolyte attains the ionic conductivity as high as 1.04 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 25 °C, over three times that of LLTO pellet and surpassing that of most reported ceramic electrolytes. Furthermore, the disordered stacked Vr nanosheets in framework are covalently linked by LLTO, together with the flexible PEO matrix, achieving highly enhanced structural stability with compressive strength of 319 MPa. In this manner, the trade-off between ion conduction and stability is overcome, which allows the assembled LiFePO 4 /Li cell achieving satisfactory cycling performances: an initial discharge capacity of 150.3 mAh g −1 at 1 C and capacity decay of only 0.08% per cycle after 200 cycles. This study may inspire insights into the subtle design of conductive and stable electrolytes for high-performance devices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a series of quaternized halloysite nanotubes (QHNTs) bearing different imidazoliums groups are prepared via distillation–precipitation polymerization and quaternarization, and then embedded into chitosan (CS) matrix to fabricate hybrid membranes. Systematic characterizations and measurements are performed to explore the relationships between the ligand of ammonium and the performance of hybrid membrane. It is found that QHNTs are well-dispersed within CS matrix, and the chain mobility of CS is promoted driven by repulsive interactions from QHNTs, in turn affording the increments of water uptake and area swelling. Together with the promoted chain mobility, low-barrier conduction pathways are formed along the QHNTs surface and then confer a significant enhancement in hydroxyl conductivity to hybrid membranes. For QHNTs, hydrophilic ligand could adsorb more water molecules and short ligand is more favorable for contacting with hydroxyl, both of which are beneficial for high hydroxyl conductivity. Particularly, incorporating 7.5% QHNTs with ester-type QA ligand endows the hybrid membrane with an 89% increase in conductivity from 0.009 to 0.017 S cm −1 at 90 °C and 100% RH. Yet under anhydrous conditions, the positive charge dispersity of QA and stereo-hindrance effect of the ligand are the predominant factors for hydroxyl ion hopping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphonic acid (PA) groups, as one kind of feasible proton carrier, possess the distinct intrinsic proton conduction ability and have triggered intensive attention in proton conducting materials. In this study, phosphorylated graphene oxide (PGO) nanosheets are incorporated into chitosan (CS) matrix to prepare nanohybrid membranes. The microstructure and physicochemical properties of PGO and the membranes are investigated systematically. The grafted polymer layer is found to be about 26 wt% of PGO, which considerably increases the ion exchange capacity from 0.44 mmol g −1 of GO to 0.79 mmol g −1 . Compared with CS control and GO-filled membranes, PGO-filled membranes achieve higher thermal and mechanical stabilities due to the strong electrostatic interactions between PGO (–PO 3 H) and CS (–NH 2 ). PGO provides efficient hopping sites (–PO 3 H, –PO 3 – ··· + 3 HN–), which allow the formation of highly conductive channels along PGO surface. These channels are found to significantly facilitate proton conduction under both hydrated and anhydrous conditions. Particularly, nanohybrid membrane with 2.5% PGO acquires a 22.2-time increase in conductivity from 0.25 mS cm −1 to 5.79 mS cm −1 (160 °C, 0% RH). With this benefit, the hydrogen fuel cell using PGO-filled membranes displays much higher cell performance than those using CS control and GO-filled membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state polymer electrolytes, featuring excellent processability and flexibility, have received considerable attentions. However, the inherent low ionic conductivity, especially at subzero temperatures, limits their widespread application. Herein, quasi-solid polymer electrolyte (QSPE) with high low-temperature ionic conduction ability is prepared by in-situ ring-opening polymerization of 1,3-Dioxlane with fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) as plasticizer. The in-situ polymerization imparts good interface contact between QSPE and electrode. The addition of FEC improves the chain mobility and facilitates the dissociation of LiTFSI, giving QSPE a remarkable ionic conductivity and Li+ transference number (2.4 × 10−5 S cm−1 at −60 °C and 0.55 at −20 ° C), two orders of magnitude and 2.3 times higher than those of liquid electrolyte, respectively. As a result, the Li/QSPE/Li cell without significant polarization is obtained, which can operate at 0.2 mA cm−2 and 0 °C for 850 h. Moreover, the LiFePO 4 /Li cell exhibits excellent cycling stability at 0.2 C and 0 °C: its capacity remains 125.2 mAh g−1 at 400th cycle, exceeding most polymer electrolytes. Even at −20 °C, a discharge capacity of 73.3 mAh g−1 is obtained at 100th cycle under 0.2 C. [Display omitted] • QSPE is prepared by in-situ polymerization of DOL with FEC as plasticizer. • In-situ polymerization imparts good interface contact between QSPE and electrode. • The presence of FEC improves chain mobility and promotes lithium salt dissociation. • High ionic conductivity of 1.69 × 10−4 S cm−1 at −40 °C is achieved. • A high cell performance of 73.3 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at −20 °C is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfonated polymer brush modified graphene oxide (SP-GO) fillers with controllable brush length are synthesized via the facile distillation–precipitation polymerization, and then incorporated into sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) matrix to fabricate composite membranes. The influences of SP-GO upon the microstructures, including thermal and mechanical properties, water uptake/swelling, proton conduction, H 2 permeability and single PEMFC performances of composite membranes are intensively investigated. It is found that the SP-GO fillers are uniformly dispersed and tend to lie perpendicularly to the cross-section surface of the whole membrane, which allow SP-GO fillers creating inter-connected and broad ionic pathways through the sulfonic acid groups in polymer brushes. Meanwhile, the SP-GO fillers connect the ionic clusters in SPEEK matrix via interfacial interactions. In such a way, proton-transfer highways are constructed along the SPEEK/SP-GO interface, which lower the proton transfer activation energy and enhance the proton conductivities of the composite membranes under both hydrated and anhydrous conditions. Furthermore, elevating the brush length on SP-GO could further enhance the proton conductivity. Compared to SPEEK control membrane, a 95.5% increase in hydrated conductivity, an 178% increase in anhydrous conductivity and a 37% increase in maximum power density are obtained for the optimal composite membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is a promising surface treatment method to improve the surface properties of light alloys. However, the high operating voltages led to significant power consumption and a burden on the grid, which limited its application. In this work, we employ a relatively low voltage (~100 V) in an organic-inorganic mixed electrolyte solution, and successfully achieve aa low energy plasma electrolysis oxidation (LEPEO) coating, enabling the reduction of the energy consumption of PEO on Mg Li alloy. The energy consumption per unit volume (ECPUV) of the LEPEO process is 8.3 kJ·(dm2·μm)−1, which is approximate 57.0% energy consumption savings compared with the PEO process (19.3 kJ·(dm2·μm)−1, NaOH-Na 2 SiO 3 electrolyte). Results show no remarkable difference between the two coatings in terms of morphologies, thickness, element type and distribution. The fracture process and corrosion protection performance of the coatings were evaluated by in-situ SEM tensile test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The LEPEO coating only consists of MgO and amorphous SiO x , showing higher tensile strength, deformation displacement and better corrosion resistance compared with the PEO coating. The improved surface properties and lower energy consumption of LEPEO coatings will facilitate the application and development of PEO technology. [Display omitted] • This work has been successful in forming LEPEO coatings at approximately 100 V. • Compared to the PEO process, the LEPEO process offers energy savings of 57.0%. • The composition of the LEPEO coating only consists of MgO amorphous SiO x. • The fracture process of the coatings was evaluated by in-situ SEM tensile testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent findings highlight the unique superiority of two-dimensional lamellar membranes in ion transport through the well-defined and stable interlayer channels. However, undesired channel chemical environment, such as low carrier density and random distribution, greatly limits their development as proton-conducting membranes. Herein, Nafion intercalated polydopamine-modified graphene oxide (ND-D) membranes are prepared, followed by thermal rearrangement-electrostatic induction to manipulate –SO 3 H group arrangement in interlayer channels. Experiments and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate the specific process mechanism of carrier rearrangement: heat treatment promotes the movement of Nafion chains, and then induces their acid groups to enrich near the –NH 2 /–NH– groups on channel wall. Such carrier arrangement creates efficient and stable interfacial channels for proton conduction. This novel membrane, therefore, achieves the proton conductivity of 309 and 55.4 mS cm−1 under 100% and 40% RH, respectively, outclassing those of benchmark Nafion membrane. This further permits a 130% improvement in hydrogen fuel cell performance. Meanwhile, the carrier rearrangement imparts over two times' enhancement in interlayer interaction and hence obviously enhanced membrane stability. Furthermore, a similar sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) intercalated lamellar membrane is prepared to prove the universality of this strategy. The elaboration of carrier rearrangement in confined channels may pave a way for the rational design of high-efficiency membrane materials. [Display omitted] • The ND-D membrane is prepared and further heated to control carrier arrangement. • Experiments and MDs simulations elucidate the process mechanism of carrier rearrangement. • Carrier rearrangement forms low-energy-barrier acid-base pairs interface channels. • 264% and 130% enhancement in proton conduction and device performance are achieved. • Carrier rearrangement enhances interlayer interaction and thus membrane stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-solid-state lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery, with solid state electrolyte (SSE) replacing liquid electrolyte, is considered as promising candidate for next-generation energy storage devices due to the high capacity and safety. However, the fabrication of SSE with high ion conduction and efficient dendrite suppression remains a daunting challenge. Herein, an asymmetric Li 0.33 La 0.557 TiO 3 (LLTO) framework with porous layer and dense layer is designed and fabricated, followed by impregnating poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) to prepare SSE. The continuous LLTO framework serves as rapid lithium ion (Li+) transfer pathway, imparting an excellent ionic conductivity of 1.49 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C, over 40 times higher than that of blank PEO. The presence of dense layer remarkably improves the compression strength of composite electrolyte and facilitates the Li+ uniform deposition, thus effectively suppressing the lithium dendrite growth. As a result, the assembled Li–S battery exhibits extraordinary cycling stability, which preserves a capacity of 907.6 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles with a Coulombic efficiency of ~ 99%. Meanwhile, the continuous PEO phase that rooted in the porous layer of framework also imparts composite electrolyte favorable flexibility and processability. [Display omitted] • Asymmetry-structure LLTO framework with porous and dense layers is fabricated. • Continuous LLTO framework acts as Li + transfer highway in composite electrolyte. • The dense layer promotes uniform Li + deposition and improves compression strength. • Continuous PEO phase rooted in porous layer affords electrolyte flexibility. • Superior Li–S battery performance (~ 907.6 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles) is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state electrolyte is a key component of high-energy-density and security all-solid-state lithium metal battery. However, the present solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) often suffers from the trade-off between ionic conductivity and mechanical stability. To this end, lithiated polydopamine-modified graphene oxide nanosheets (LiDGO) are fabricated, and incorporated into the representative poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrix to prepare hybrid solid polymer electrolyte (HSPE). Despite the decreased crystallinity of PEO, the intrinsic advantage of organic-inorganic hybridization affords PEO-based HSPE highly improved mechanical stability. The tensile strength and elongation at break of HSPE are, respectively, 237% and 133% higher than those of blank PEO. The constructed long-range conduction pathways with locally concentrated Li+ at PEO-LiDGO interfaces impart HSPE highly enhanced ionic conductivity. The ionic conductivity reaches 3.4 × 10−5 S cm−1 at 30 °C, 10 times higher than that of blank PEO. These then bring excellent battery performances. The assembled battery achieves a discharge capacity of ~156 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles with ultra-high capacity retention of 98.7%. The strategy of utilizing lithiated nanosheets to address the trade-off between ionic conductivity and mechanical stability of SPE may pave the way for the development of high performance all-solid-state lithium metal batteries. Image 1 • Lithiated nanosheets are fabricated to hybridize solid polymer electrolyte. • The organic-inorganic interfaces with enriched Li+ serve as Li+ transfer highways. • Ten times' enhancement of ionic conductivity is achieved for hybrid electrolyte. • The tensile strength and elongation at break are enhanced by 237% and 133%. • Superior cell behavior (156 mAh g−1, 98.7% retention after 200 cycles) is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A flexible, ion-conducting PEO-LLTO framework solid electrolyte is prepared. • The vertically bicontinuous transfer channels act as Li+ conduction highways. • Ultrahigh ionic conductivity (2.04 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 25 °C) is achieved. • The interconnected network offers PLLF electrolyte excellent structural stability. • Superior cell performances (~97.2% retention after 150 cycles) are achieved. All-solid-state lithium batteries, featuring high security and volume energy density, hold great potential as next-generation energy storage device. However, their development needs the fabrication of ionic conductive and structural stable solid electrolyte. Herein, Li 0.33 La 0.557 TiO 3 (LLTO) framework with interlocked porous structure is synthesized by sintering the gel permeated nylon. Then, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is incorporated in the pores to produce PEO-LLTO framework solid electrolyte (PLLF electrolyte) with vertically bicontinuous phase. We demonstrate that LLTO framework fast transports Li+ through the intrinsic vacancy; meanwhile the confined PEO with low crystallization displays fast Li+ transfer ability, thus synergistically realizing efficient Li+ conduction. This novel PLLF electrolyte exhibits a remarkable ionic conductivity of 2.04 × 10−4 S cm−1, which is ~72 times higher than that of traditional PEO-based electrolytes and superior to most reported solid electrolytes. Moreover, the interconnected networks endow PLLF electrolyte with excellent structural stability. Thus, the LiFePO 4 (LFP)/Li cell exhibits extraordinary cycling stability: the discharge capacity of 154.7 mAh g−1 at 1 C after 150 cycles with capacity decay of only 0.03% per cycle. Briefly, such a vertically bicontinuous phase structure maximizes the cooperation between the conduction function of ceramic framework and the stability of polymer, offering a promising approach for all-solid-state batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) show great potential owing to inherent flexibility and safety but limited by the low ionic conductivity. Herein, poly (ethylene glycol) grafted polymer-like quantum dots (PPQDs) with average diameter of ~2.5 nm and abundant conduction groups are synthesized as nanofillers for hybrid polymer electrolytes. The functionalization of poly (ethylene glycol) provides abundant Li+ transfer sites and meanwhile enhances the compatibility between PPQDs and poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO). Accordingly, these PPQDs uniformly disperse and form rich networks with PEO chains to effectively reduce the crystallinity of PEO and promote the dissociation of lithium salts, different from large-size or inorganic fillers. Consequently, efficient ion-conductive networks are constructed by PPQDs and PEO for vertical Li+ conduction: 5.53 × 10−5 S cm−1 at 30 °C, 16 times higher than that of PEO electrolyte. Furthermore, the hydrogen-bonding interactions at PPQD-PEO interfaces afford excellent stability and flexibility to electrolytes. And superior cycling performance of ~146 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles at 1.0C with capacity decay of 0.046% per cycle is therefore achieved. Compared with traditional fillers, PPQDs with inherent advantages, i.e. , molecular-level size and designable groups, endow hybrid electrolytes with dramatically enhanced ion conduction and stability, manifesting great potential for all-solid-state lithium batteries. Image 1 • Molecular-scale PPQDs are synthesized to hybridize polymer electrolytes. • Rich PPQD-PEO interfaces and continuous vertical transfer networks are constructed. • PPQDs offer 16 times' increase on ionic conductivity to the hybrid electrolyte. • Hydrogen interactions at PPQD-PEO interfaces afford excellent structural stability. • Superior battery performances (~146 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles at 1C) are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separation membranes with homogeneous charge channels are the mainstream to reject charged mass by forming electrical double layer (EDL). However, the EDL often compresses effective solvent transport space and weakens channel-ion interaction. Here, built-in electric fields (BIEFs) are constructed in lamellar membranes by assembling the heterostructured nanosheets, which contain alternate positively-charged nanodomains and negatively-charged nanodomains. We demonstrate that the BIEFs are perpendicular to horizontal channel and the direction switches alternately, significantly weakening the EDL effect and forces ions to repeatedly collide with channel walls. Thus, highly efficient rejection for charged mass (salts, dyes, and organic acids/bases) and ultrafast water transport are achieved. Moreover, for desalination on four-stage filtration option, salt rejection reaches 99.9 % and water permeance reaches 19.2 L m -2  h -1  bar -1 . Such mass transport behavior is quite different from that in homogeneous charge channels. Furthermore, the ion transport behavior in nanochannels is elucidated by validating horizontal projectile motion model., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The GLK gene family plays a crucial role in the regulation of chloroplast development and participates in chlorophyll synthesis. However, the precise mechanism by which GLK contributes to citrus's chlorophyll synthesis remains elusive. The GLK gene family causes variations in the photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll synthesis of different citrus varieties. In this study, we identified tissue-specific members and the key CcGLKs involved in chlorophyll synthesis. A total of thirty CcGLK transcription factors (TFs) were discovered in the citrus genome, distributed across all nine chromosomes. The low occurrence of gene tandem duplication events and intronic variability suggests that intronic variation may be the primary mode of evolution for CcGLK TFs. Tissue-specific expression patterns were observed for various GLK family members; for instance, CcGLK12 and CcGLK15 were specifically expressed in the skin, while CcGLK30 was specific to the ovary, and CcGLK10 , CcGLK6 , CcGLK21 , CcGLK2 , CcGLK18 , CcGLK9 , CcGLK28 , and CcGLK8 were specifically expressed in the leaves. CcGLK4 , CcGLK5 , CcGLK11 , CcGLK23 , CcGLKl7 , CcGLK26 , and CcGLK20 may participate in the regulation of the ALA, prochlorophylate, protoporphyrin IX, Mg-protoporphyrin IX, Chl b , T-Chl, MG-ProtoIX ME, and POR contents in citrus.

Purpose: Healthcare professionals (HCP) perform various needle procedures that can be distressing and painful for children and adults. Even though many strategies have been proven effective in reducing distress and pain, topical anesthetic use before needle procedures is uncommon. However, there are limited studies in the existing literature comparing specifically liposomal lidocaine and tetracaine hydrochloride topical creams., Source: This systematic review analyzed studies on the use of two anesthetic creams, Liposomal Lidocaine (Maxilene®) and Tetracaine hydrochloride (Ametop™), in children and adults undergoing a needle-related procedure. Databases searched: PubMed, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) and Controlled Clinical Trials (CCT) studies were included. Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias assessment tool was used. Strictly minimally invasive procedures were included to standardize different skin needle interventions., Principal Findings: Only one study with 60 participants was available to be included in this review. No statistically significant difference was found in the mean pain score among both interventions. The outcomes of self-reported distress during cannulation and on HCP satisfaction were not reported. However, physiological characteristics associated with stress/anxiety and on cannulation success rate were reported and did not show statistical significance., Conclusion: Little to no evidence regarding the most efficient cream between liposomal lidocaine and tetracaine hydrochloride for pain management during needle-related procedures was found. Further studies, particularly RCT with larger sample sizes and standardized outcome measures, are needed to confirm the relative efficacy of either anesthetic cream., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Le May, Wu, Francoeur, Dodin, Doyon-Trottier, Hung, Guingo, Vu, Sylfra, Lessard, Cara-Slavich and DeKoven.)

Background: Dental fear and anxiety (DFA) is a condition that affects approximately one-quarter of children and adolescents. It is a significant cause for pediatric patients to avoid dental care later in adulthood. Lack of patient cooperation due to DFA can create an environment of stress, often obligating dentists to end appointments prematurely and consider alternative pharmacological treatment options. Virtual reality (VR) use during dental care, providing an immersive experience through sensory stimuli, is potentially an additional nonpharmacologic tool to better manage DFA in children with special health care needs (SHCN) undergoing dental procedures., Objective: This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of VR immersion as a tool to reduce DFA in pediatric special needs patients undergoing dental procedures. The study also aims to gain insight on parent and health care provider perspectives on the use of VR during dental appointments., Methods: This pilot randomized controlled trial study will follow a parallel design including 2 groups: a control group (clinic's standard care using a wall TV) and an experimental group (using a VR game). We will randomize 20 participants to either group. Recruitment will be carried out at the dental clinic of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, a tertiary-quaternary care center that mostly serves pediatric patients with SHCN. The primary outcome will be patient recruitment rates and completion rates of planned procedures. DFA in children will be assessed using both an observation-based proxy assessment with the Venham Anxiety and Behavior Rating Scale and physiological assessments using parameters such as change in heart rate and levels of salivary alpha-amylase as a stress biomarker before and 10 minutes after the procedure. Sociodemographic characteristics, measures of the levels of parent and health care professional satisfaction, occurrence of side effects, and any deviation from normal procedure length will also be collected. Descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, and effect sizes will be used for demographic and clinical variables and to present parent and health care professional satisfaction levels as well as procedural time., Results: This study will be conducted from May 2023 to May 2024, with results expected to be available in December 2024., Conclusions: The pilot study will provide insight on the feasibility and acceptability of VR use in clinical dentistry to reduce DFA for pediatric patients with SHCN. This study will guide future research on VR use in pediatric dentistry and can serve as a framework for a larger randomized clinical trial., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05898100; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05898100., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/49956., (©Wenjia Wu, Sylvie Le May, Nicole Hung, Olivier Fortin, Christine Genest, Maxime Francoeur, Estelle Guingo, Kate St-Arneault, Annie Sylfra, An Kateri Vu, Janick Carmel, Laurence Lessard, Stephany Cara-Slavich, Katheryn De Koven, Julie Paquette, Hunter Hoffman, Marie-Eve Asselin. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 10.11.2023.)

One scalable and facile dip-coating approach was utilized to construct a thin CO 2 -selection layer of Pebax/PEGDA-MXene on a hollow fiber PVDF substrate. An interlayer spacing of 3.59 Å was rationally designed and precisely controlled for the MXene stacks in the coated layer, allowing efficient separation of the CO 2 (3.3 Å) from N 2 (3.6 Å) and CH 4 (3.8 Å). In addition, CO 2 -philic nanodomains in the separation layer were constructed by grafting PEGDA into MXene interlayers, which enhanced the CO 2 affinity through the MXene interlayers, while non-CO 2 -philic nanodomains could promote CO 2 transport due to the low resistance. The membrane could exhibit optimal separation performance with a CO 2 permeance of 765.5 GPU, a CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 54.5, and a CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity of 66.2, overcoming the 2008 Robeson upper bounds limitation. Overall, this facile approach endows a precise controlled molecular sieving MXene membrane for superior CO 2 separation, which could be applied for interlayer spacing control of other 2D materials during membrane construction.

Ras proteins are monomeric G proteins that are ubiquitous in fungal cells and play important roles in fungal growth, virulence, and environmental responses. Botrytis cinerea is a phytopathogenic fungus that infects various crops. However, under specific environmental conditions, the overripe grapes infected by B. cinerea can be used to brew valuable noble rot wine. As a Ras protein, the role of Bcras2 in the environmental responses of B. cinerea is poorly understood. In this study, we deleted the Bcras2 gene using homologous recombination and examined its functions. Downstream genes regulated by Bcras2 were explored using RNA sequencing transcriptomics. It was found that Δ Bcras2 deletion mutants showed significantly reduced growth rate, increased sclerotia production, decreased resistance to oxidative stress, and enhanced resistance to cell wall stress. Additionally, Bcras2 deletion promoted the expression of melanin-related genes in sclerotia and decreased the expression of melanin-related genes in conidia. The above results indicate that Bcras2 positively regulates growth, oxidative stress resistance, and conidial melanin-related genes expression, and negatively regulates sclerotia production, cell wall stress resistance and sclerotial melanin-related genes expression. These results revealed previously unknown functions of Bcras2 in environmental responses and melanin metabolism in B. cinerea .

Background: Danshen injection (DSI) is an agent extracted from the Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a natural drug commonly used to alleviate kidney diseases. However, the material basis and therapeutic effects of DSI on nephrotic syndrome (NS) remain unclear., Purpose: To investigate the material basis of DSI and the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of NS., Methods: NS models were established using adriamycin-induced BALB/c mice and lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse podocytes (MPC-5). Following DSI and prednisone administration, kidney coefficients, 24 h urine protein, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine levels were tested. Histomorphology was observed by periodic acid-Schiff staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining of the kidney sections. The glomerular basement membrane and autophagosomes of the kidneys were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Nephrin and desmin levels in the glomeruli were tested using immunohistochemistry. The viability of MPC-5 cells was tested using cell counting kit-8 after chloroquine and rapamycin administration in combination with DSI. The in vivo and in vitro protein levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT, phosphorylated AKT (Ser473), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3), beclin1, cleaved caspase-3, and caspase-3 were detected using western blotting., Results: Our results showed that DSI contained nine main components: caffeic acid, danshensu, lithospermic acid, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid A, salvianolic acid B, salvianolic acid C, salvianolic acid D, and 3, 4-Dihydroxybenzaldehyde. In in vivo studies, the NS mice showed renal function and pathological impairment. Podocytes were damaged, with decreased levels of autophagy and apoptosis, accompanied by inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. DSI administration resulted in improved renal function and pathology in NS mice, with the activation of autophagy and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in the kidneys. Additionally, podocytes were less damaged and intracellular autophagosomes were markedly increased. In vitro studies have shown that DSI activated MPC-5 autophagy and reduced apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway., Conclusion: Collectively, this study demonstrated that DSI activated podocyte autophagy and reduced apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, ultimately attenuating NS. Our study clarified the main components of DSI and elucidated its therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms for NS, providing new targets and agents for the clinical treatment of NS., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Inorganic superionic conductor holds great promise for high-performance all-solid-state lithium batteries. However, the ionic conductivity of traditional inorganic solid electrolytes (ISEs) is always unsatisfactory owing to the grain boundary resistance and large thickness. Here, a 13 μm-thick laminar framework with ≈1.3 nm interlayer channels is fabricated by self-assembling rigid, hydrophilic vermiculite (Vr) nanosheets. Then, Li 0.33 La 0.557 TiO 3 (LLTO) precursors are impregnated in interlayer channels and afterwards in situ sintered to large-size, oriented, and defect-free LLTO crystal. We demonstrate that the confinement effect permits ordered arrangement of LLTO crystal along the c-axis (the fastest Li + transfer direction), permitting the resultant 15 μm-thick Vr-LLTO electrolyte an ionic conductivity of 8.22×10 -5  S cm -1 and conductance of 87.2 mS at 30 °C. These values are several times' higher than that of traditional LLTO-based electrolytes. Moreover, Vr-LLTO electrolyte has a compressive modulus of 1.24 GPa. Excellent cycling performance is demonstrated with all-solid-state Li/LiFePO 4 battery., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability often constrains soil carbon (C) pool, and elevated N deposition could further intensify soil P limitation, which may affect soil C cycling in these N-rich and P-poor ecosystems. Soil microbial residues may not only affect soil organic carbon (SOC) pool but also impact SOC stability through soil aggregation. However, how soil nutrient availability and aggregate fractions affect microbial residues and the microbial residue contribution to SOC is still not well understood. We took advantage of a 10-year field fertilization experiment to investigate the effects of nutrient additions, soil aggregate fractions, and their interactions on the concentrations of soil microbial residues and their contribution to SOC accumulation in a tropical coastal forest. We found that continuous P addition greatly decreased the concentrations of microbial residues and their contribution to SOC, whereas N addition had no significant effect. The P-stimulated decreases in microbial residues and their contribution to SOC were presumably due to enhanced recycling of microbial residues via increased activity of residue-decomposing enzymes. The interactive effects between soil aggregate fraction and nutrient addition were not significant, suggesting a weak role of physical protection by soil aggregates in mediating microbial responses to altered soil nutrient availability. Our data suggest that the mechanisms driving microbial residue responses to increased N and P availability might be different, and the P-induced decrease in the contribution of microbial residues might be unfavorable for the stability of SOC in N-rich and P-poor tropical forests. Such information is critical for understanding the role of tropical forests in the global carbon cycle., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)