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This study presents the identification of four novel Xylaria species, discovered in the karst region of China. The discovery was facilitated by a rigorous analysis that encompassed both morpho-anatomical features and multi-locus phylogenetics utilizing sequences from the ITS, rpb2, and TUB2 loci. The newly identified species are designated as Xylaria jichuanii sp. nov., X. nanningensis sp. nov., X. orientalis sp. nov., and X. taiyangheensis sp. nov. The distinction of these species from their known counterparts was verified through comparison of morphological features and phylogenetic analysis. The study further provides detailed morphological descriptions, illustrative representations, and a phylogenetic tree, all of which contribute to the taxonomic positioning of these novel species.

Molecular phylogeny and morphological characteristics of collections of diatrypaceous fungi from Guizhou Province, China, lead to the establishment of a new genus, Stromatolinea, and the identification of four new species and two new combinations. The taxa were found growing on the dead culms of Phyllostachys bamboo. The new genus is distinguished by its well-developed, discrete linear stromata with yellow interior tissue and allantoid subhyaline ascospores. The newly described species are Stromatolinea grisea, S. guizhouensis, S. hydei, and S. xishuiensis. Additionally, two new combinations, Stromatolinea linearis and S. phaselina, are proposed based on comparative analysis and morphology. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using ITS and TUB2 sequences. The study includes comprehensive morphological descriptions, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree depicting the placement of the new taxa.

Four new species, Xynobius azonius sp. nov., X. brevifemora sp. nov., X. duoferus sp. nov., and X. stipitoides sp. nov., are described and illustrated, and one species X. geniculatus (Thomson, 1895) is newly reported from South Korea. Xynobius geniculatus (Thomson, 1895) is redescribed and illustrated, and a new combination, Xynobius (Stigmatopoea) cubitalis (Fischer, 1959), comb. nov. is suggested. An identification key to the Xynobius species known from South Korea is provided.

Pleosporales comprise a diverse group of fungi with a global distribution and significant ecological importance. A survey on Pleosporales (in Didymosphaeriaceae, Roussoellaceae and Nigrogranaceae) in Guizhou Province, China, was conducted. Specimens were identified, based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses using a dataset composed of ITS, LSU, SSU, tef1 and rpb2 loci. Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analyses were performed. As a result, three new species (Neokalmusia karka, Nigrograna schinifolium and N. trachycarpus) have been discovered, along with two new records for China (Roussoella neopustulans and R. doimaesalongensis) and a known species (Roussoella pseudohysterioides). Morphologically similar species and phylogenetically close taxa are compared and discussed. This study provides detailed information and descriptions of all newly-identified taxa.

Widespread drug resistance and limited antibiotics challenge the treatment of pathogenic bacteria, which leads to a focus on searching for new antimicrobial lead compounds. We found the endophytic fungus Biscogniauxia petrensis MFLUCC14-0151 from the medicinal plant Dendrobium harveyanum had antibacterial activity for the first time. This work aimed to reveal the capacity of Biscogniauxia petrensis MFLUCC14-0151 against foodborne pathogenic bacteria and identify its bioactive substances. Bioassay-guided isolation led to the discovery of six infrequent active monomers, including (10R)-Xylariterpenoid B (1), Xylariterpenoid C (2), Tricycloalternarene 1b (3), Tricycloalternarene 3b (4), Funicin (5) and Vinetorin (6) from MFLUCC14-0151 for the first time. The results of antibacterial tests showed that (10R)-Xylariterpenoid B and Xylariterpenoid C exhibited inhibitory activities against Streptococcus agalactiae with MIC values ranging from 99.21 to 100.00 μM, and against Streptococcus aureus with MIC values ranging from 49.60 to 50.00 μM. Tricycloalternarene 1b and Tricycloalternarene 3b showed inhibitory effects on Streptococcus agalactiae with MIC values ranging from 36.13 to 75.76 μM. Unexpectedly, Funicin and Vinetorin exhibited remarkable antagonistic activities against Streptococcus agalactiae with MIC values of 10.35 and 10.21 μM, respectively, and against Streptococcus aureus with MIC values of 5.17 and 20.42 μM, respectively. In conclusion, we suggest that the isolated compounds Funicin and Vinetorin may be promising lead compounds for natural antibacterial agents.

In this study, fungal specimens of the family Diatrypaceae were collected from karst areas in Guizhou, Hainan and Yunnan Provinces, China. Morpho-molecular analyses confirmed that these new collections comprise a new genus Pseudodiatrype, three new species (Diatrype lancangensis, Diatrypella pseudooregonensis and Eutypa cerasi), a new combination (Diatrypella oregonensis), two new records (Allodiatrype thailandica and Diatrypella vulgaris) from China and two other known species (Neoeutypella baoshanensis and Paraeutypella citricola). The new taxa are introduced, based on multi-gene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, β-tubulin), as well as morphological analyses. The new genus Pseudodiatrype is characterised by its wart-like stromata with 5–20 ascomata immersed in one stroma and the endostroma composed of thin black outer and inner layers of large white cells with thin, powdery, yellowish cells. These characteristics separate this genus from two similar genera Allodiatrype and Diatrype. Based on morphological as well as phylogenetic analyses, Diatrype lancangensis is introduced as a new species of Diatrype. The stromata of Diatrype lancangensis are similar to those of D. subundulata and D. undulate, but the ascospores are larger. Based on phylogenetic analyses, Diatrype oregonensis is transferred to the genus Diatrypella as Diatrypella oregonensis while Diatrypella pseudooregonensis is introduced as a new species of Diatrypella with 8 spores in an ascus. In addition, multi-gene phylogenetic analyses show that Eutypa cerasi is closely related to E. lata, but the ascomata and asci of Eutypa cerasi are smaller. The polyphyletic nature of some genera of Diatrypaceae has led to confusion in the classification of the family, thus we discuss whether the number of ascospores per asci can still be used as a basis for classification.

Effectors are crucial for the interaction between endophytes and their host plants. However, limited attention has been paid to endophyte effectors, with only a few reports published. This work focuses on an effector of Fusarium lateritium, namely FlSp1 (Fusarium-lateritium-Secreted-Protein), a typical unknown secreted protein. The transcription of FlSp1 was up-regulated after 48 h following fungal inoculation in the host plant, i.e., tobacco. The inactivation of FlSp1 with the inhibition rate decreasing by 18% (p < 0.01) resulted in a remarkable increase in the tolerance of F. lateritium to oxidative stress. The transient expression of FlSp1 stimulated the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) without causing plant necrosis. In comparison with the wild type of F. lateritium (WT), the FlSp1 mutant of the F. lateritium plant (ΔFlSp1) reduced the ROS accumulation and weakened the plant immune response, which resulted in significantly higher colonization in the host plants. Meanwhile, the resistance of the ΔFlSp1 plant to the pathogenic Ralstonia solanacearum, which causes bacterial wilt, was increased. These results suggest that the novel secreted protein FlSp1 might act as an immune-triggering effector to limit fungal proliferation by stimulating the plant immune system through ROS accumulation and thus balance the interaction between the endophytic fungi and their host plants.

Cobweb disease is a fungal disease that can cause serious damage to edible mushrooms worldwide. To investigate cobweb disease in Morchella sextelata in Guizhou Province, China, we isolated and purified the pathogen responsible for the disease. Through morphological and molecular identification and pathogenicity testing on infected M. sextelata, we identified Cladobotryum mycophilum as the cause of cobweb disease in this region. This is the first known occurrence of this pathogen causing cobweb disease in M. sextelata anywhere in the world. We then obtained the genome of C. mycophilum BJWN07 using the HiFi sequencing platform, resulting in a high-quality genome assembly with a size of 38.56 Mb, 10 contigs, and a GC content of 47.84%. We annotated 8428 protein-coding genes in the genome, including many secreted proteins, host interaction-related genes, and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) related to the pathogenesis of the disease. Our findings shed new light on the pathogenesis of C. mycophilum and provide a theoretical basis for developing potential prevention and control strategies for cobweb disease.

Two new (1, 2 viz Rubracin D and E) and sixteen known Glyceroglycolipids (3–18) in the saprophytic fungus Tubeufia rubra (PF02-2) from decaying wood in freshwater habitat were isolated and identified. Their chemical structures were elucidated via means of the extensive spectroscopic analyses of NMR, HR-ESI-MS and UV spectra, as well as comparison with literature data. The new compounds were assayed for the reversal activity of multidrug resistance (MDR) on MCF-7/ADM, K562/ADM and A549/ADM cell lines, and both compounds 1 and 2 reversed MDR in the three resistant cancer cell lines with concentration dependence. In the assay on K562/ADM, both new compounds had been proved to have remarkable MDR reversal effects, which were higher than those of the positive control viz Verapamil (Vrp). Meanwhile, in the assay on A549/ADM, compound 1 displayed significant MDR reversal effects, which were also higher than those of Vrp at certain concentrations. Furthermore, the Western blot assay proved that both new compounds reversed the MDR in the resistant cancer cell line viz MCF-7/ADM by inhibiting the overexpression of P-glycoprotein. This is the first report that the Glyceroglycolipids isolated firstly from the fungal genus Tubeufia reversed MDR in resistant cancer cells.

This paper presents a risk assessment method for a ship’s power system under the conditions of an engine room fire based on the expert comprehensive evaluation (ECE) method combined with the fuzzy fault tree analysis (FFTA) method. The composition of the main engine system in the engine room and the failure logic of each subsystem were analyzed, and the fuzzy fault tree of a ship engine room fire was constructed. The probability of system failure and the importance of basic events were calculated. The fire safety risk assessment model was established using the safety risk matrix. The risk assessment of a ship engine room fire was implemented. The results demonstrated that the fire frequency of the ship engine room was 5.232 × 10−6 h−1. The fire risk of the main engine fuel system was the highest. Fuel leakages from diesel supply tanks and heavy fuel oil tanks are the main cause of accidents. The proposed method eliminated the influence of incomplete statistics in the risk assessment process and improved the accuracy and credibility of the reassessment results.

This paper proposes a dynamic evolutionary model to quantify the domino effect of ship engine room fires. Based on the spatial and temporal characteristics of fire accidents, the dynamic probability of the domino effect of multiple accident units is calculated using matrix calculation and Monte Carlo simulation. The uncertainties of shipboard personnel, automatic detection systems, sprinkler systems, and the synergistic effects of multiple escalation vectors from different units are addressed. The dynamic probability of the domino effect of multiple accident units is calculated, and a risk assessment of complex fire scenarios in ship engine rooms is implemented. This study also presents the model feasibility in terms of fire risk assessment in cabins with numerous pieces of equipment. The results indicate that 2 min and 4 min are vital time nodes for the development and spread of fires. The extinguishing work on key equipment in the path of the fire's spread can effectively restrain its further expansion. The results can provide critical references for ship fire prevention, fire suppression, and fire protection design.

An innovative methodology is proposed to identify potential risk factors and possible accident escalation consequences, and to determine the evolution of an accident from cause to consequence, thereby to identify the most probable path and discover key risk factors along the path rapidly. Based on the principle of a directed weighted complex network (DWCN), the bow-tie (BT) model, risk entropy and the improved ant colony optimization (IACO) algorithm are integrated into this methodology. First, the qualitative analysis of risk evolution based on the BT model is carried out. The evolution development based on accident suppression can be divided into two stages: accident precursor stage and accident evolution stage. Then, a new method for mapping BT into DWCN is proposed. Lastly, the shortest path analysis of risk evolution based on the IACO algorithm is carried out, fuzzy set theory (FST) is introduced to calculate the failure probability of risk factors, and risk entropy is used to represent the uncertainty of risk propagation. Thus, the IACO algorithm can be used to calculate the shortest path of risk evolution. The proposed method is applied to oil and gas leakages in the FPSO oil and gas processing system. The results show that it is an effective method to identify the shortest evolution path and the most vulnerable risk factors.

During the investigation of xylarialean taxa in China and Thailand, six rosellinia like taxa were collected. Rhizomaticola gen. nov. with type species of Rh. guizhouensis is established based on its morphology and multi-gene molecular data. Rhizomaticola owns no carbonaceous stromata and has black ascospores without a germ slit which are distinguished from those of Rosellinia, Dematophora, Stilbohypoxylon and Xylaria. Five rosellinia like species are introduced based on their morphology, inducing three new species (Dematophora populi,Rosellinia thailandica, Ro. vitis), one new record for China (Ro. cainii) and one known species (D. necatrix). Their descriptions and illustrations are detailed.

Two new endophytic species, Colletotrichum jishouense sp. nov. and. C. tongrenense sp. nov. were isolated from Nothapodytes pittosporoides in Guizhou and Hunan provinces, China. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of these new taxa are provided and morphological comparisons with similar taxa are explored. Phylogenetic analysis with combined sequence data (ITS, GAPDH, ACT and TUB2) demonstrated that both species formed distinct clades in this genus. This is the first record of Colletotrichum species from N. pittosporoides in China.

Species of Colletotrichum are commonly found in many plant hosts as pathogens, endophytes and occasionally saprobes. Twenty-two Colletotrichum strains were isolated from three Dendrobium species – D. cariniferum, D. catenatum and D. harveyanum, as well as three unidentified species. The taxa were identified using morphological characterisation and phylogenetic analyses of ITS, GAPDH, ACT and ß–tubulin sequence data. This is the first time to identify endophytic fungi from Dendrobium orchids using the above method. The known species, Colletotrichum boninense, C. camelliae-japonicae, C. fructicola, C. jiangxiense and C. orchidophilum were identified as fungal endophytes of Dendrobium spp., along with the new species, C. cariniferi, C. chiangraiense, C. doitungense, C. parallelophorum and C. watphraense, which are introduced in this paper. One strain is recorded as an unidentified species. Corn meal agar is recommended as a good sporulation medium for Colletotrichum species. This is the first report of fungal endophytes associated with Dendrobium cariniferum and D. harveyanum. Colletotrichum camelliae-japonicae, C. jiangxiense, and C. orchidophilum are new host records for Thailand.

Xylariales are common endophytes of Dendrobium. However, xylarialean species resolution remains difficult without sequence data and poor sporulation on artificial media and asexual descriptions for only several species and old type material. The surface-sterilized and morph-molecular methods were used for fungal isolation and identification. A total of forty-seven strains were identified as twenty-three species belonging to Apiosporaceae, Hypoxylaceae, Induratiaceae, and Xylariaceae. Five new species—Annulohypoxylon moniliformis, Apiospora dendrobii, Hypoxylon endophyticum, H. officinalis and Nemania dendrobii were discovered. Three tentative new species were speculated in Xylaria. Thirteen known fungal species from Hypoxylon, Nemania, Nigrospora, and Xylaria were also identified. Another two strains were only identified at the genus and family level (Induratia sp., Hypoxylaceae sp.). This study recorded 12 new hosts for xylarialean endophytes. This is the first report of Xylariales species as endophytes from Dendrobium aurantiacum var. denneanum, D. cariniferum, D. harveyanum, D. hercoglossum, D. moniliforme, and D. moschatum. Dendrobium is associated with abundant xylarialean taxa, especially species of Hypoxylon and Xylaria. We recommend the use of oat agar with low concentrations to induce sporulation of Xylaria strains.

There are many factors involved in the layout optimization of cabin equipment, and human factors should be considered in the early stage of layout design. Human reliability is an effective index to evaluate the probability of success of the human completion of tasks. In order to put forward the method of human reliability which is more suitable for the layout optimization of cabin equipment, the existing methods of human reliability analysis (HRA) are systematically studied. At the same time, taking HRA, equipment correlation and cabin balance as objective functions, the optimization problem of cabin equipment layout was quantified into a mathematical model. When solving the model, the visibility graph method was used to model the cabin path planning, and a solution platform for the optimization of cabin equipment layout was developed on the basis of a genetic algorithm. Finally, the developed platform was applied with a ship example, and the results before and after the layout optimization were displayed through a three-dimensional model. At the same time, equipment layout evaluation software was used to simulate the experimental results so as to compare the improvement of important parameters before and after the layout optimization.

It is increasingly necessary to perform risk analysis in marine structures, to ensure system safety, as they are large and complex. In view of the shortcomings of failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), a modified fuzzy TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) approach is proposed that is based on fuzzy evidence reasoning (FER), and considers the risk factor rating and relative weight. The presented method is used to prioritize the risk of equipment failure modes for the floating production storage and offloading system (FPSO) oil and gas processing system. The subjective weights and objective weights of occurrence (O), severity (S), and detectability (D) have been considered comprehensively. The subjective experience of the experts and the objective information reflected by the O, S, and D ratings are all included in the weights, making the ranking results closer to reality. The results can be scientific references for decision-makers in risk identification.

A condition-based maintenance policy for offshore wind turbines is presented in consideration of the maintenance uncertainty and the weather effect. In this paper, the offshore wind turbine is divided into four main assemblies—namely, the rotor, gearbox, generator, and pitch system. The support vector machine classification technique is implemented to analyze the failure information, which was collected from field data in China. According to the results of fault diagnosis and prediction, the assembly that reaches the corresponding maintenance threshold will be repaired. At the same time, a maintenance opportunity occurs for the rest of the components, and an optimized plan can be determined by arranging the maintenance combination and time. The calculated results indicate that the proposed condition-based maintenance policy is beneficial to reduce the maintenance expenditure of offshore wind turbines.

Cordyceps pruinosa (CP) is often used as Traditional Chinese Medicine, but the substance basis of its medicinal properties is unclear. In this study, two compounds were isolated from CP cultures by column chromatography, and identified as cordycepin and N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA) by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. In order to understand the efficacy of these two substances as potential therapeutic agents, it is necessary to explore their binding with proteins. The molecular mechanisms of interaction between cordycepin, HEA and human serum albumin (HSA) were studied using UV and fluorescence spectroscopy. The bingding constants between HSA and cordycepin were 4.227, 3.573 and 3.076 × 10(3)·at 17, 27 and 37°C respectively, and that of HSA and HEA were 27.102, 19.409 and 13.002 × 10(3)·at the three tempretures respectively. Both cordycepin and HEA can quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA via static quenching, and they can bind with HSA to form complexes with a single binding site. The interaction forces between cordycepin and HSA were determined as electrostatic and hydrophobic, and those of HEA and HSA were hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. Using Foster's equation, the distance between fluorophores of cordycepin and HSA, and HEA and HSA are estimated to be 5.31 nm and 4.98 nm, respectively. In this study, cordycepin was isolated for the first time from CP, and will provide a new source of cordycepin and expand the use of this taxon. The interaction mechanisms between cordycepin and HSA was studied for the first time, which will provide a useful guide for the clinical application of cordycepin. The pharmacological importance of this study is to understand the interaction of HSA with cordycepin and HEA, which will be essential for the future designing of drugs based on the two compounds.

The essential oil, extracted from the Hmong medicine Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. (BBO), is a purely natural wound repair agent. Its application has, however, been restricted due to its low solubility and high volatility properties. In this study, we have developed a nanoemulsion formulation to improve the characteristics of BBO. The particle size of the nanoemulsion was normally distributed, and 71% of its range was concentrated between 10-100 nm, with an average particle size of 62.8 nm and an encapsulation rate of 98%. After 7 days of application, the wound healing rate of the BBO nanoemulsion (BBO-NE) group was 1.5 times higher than that of the normal BBO group. Along with histological observations, nanoemulsion formulation has been demonstrated to significantly improve the efficacy of BBO for wound repair. In addition, inflammation-related TLR4, CD14 and IRAK-1 gene transcript levels were significantly reduced after the administration of BBO-NE compared to the BBO group, with downregulation of 47.8%, 35.7% and 57.8%, respectively, while the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-a was also significantly reduced by 83.8% and 32.7%, respectively, in the nanoformulation administration (BBO-NE) group compared to the BBO group. In contrast, the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 was significantly increased by 4.2-fold. It was further found that the drug penetration per unit area increased significantly 6.30% to 19.5% at different time points after the application of the BBO-NE compared to the BBO. In conclusion, nano-formulation enhanced the drug penetration of the BBO, reduced inflammatory factors, increased the level of anti-inflammatory factors, and promoted collagen deposition, thereby accelerating wound repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of Whalleya from Guizhou and Hainan Provinces were collected during the investigation of Xylariales from 2019 to 2021. According to morphological and molecular characteristics, Whalleya hainanensis sp. nov. and W. microplaca are introduced. Whalleya hainanensis differs from W. microplaca by its obovoid or tubular perithecia and the slightly raised stromata; and differs from W. maculata by its smaller ascospores. Their detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided. The taxonomic position of Whalleya is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]