Search

Phytopathogenic Sclerotinia minor Jagger causes lettuce drop, a destructive soil-borne disease. As potential biocontrol agents for this disease, 2 of 31 bacterial strains isolated from soil samples from fields containing S. minor Jagger were identified using in vitro antagonistic assays against S. minor Jagger. Bioactivity experiments showed that Bac20 had higher inhibitory activity against S. minor Jagger than Bac45. Based on 16S rRNA sequences and phylogenetic analysis of a combination of sequences from gyrA, rpoB, purH, polC, and groEL, Bac20 and Bac45 were identified as Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. Lipopeptide compounds produced by each strain were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS) analysis. Both strains produced three types of lipopeptides, namely surfactins, iturins, and fengycins, whereas Bac20 showed the strongest intensity in its production of iturins, more than that of Bac45. Bac20 inhibited oxalic acid formation in early-stage lettuce leaves infected with S. minor Jagger, delaying pathogen infestation. Greenhouse experiments for controlling lettuce drop demonstrated that inoculation with Bac20 controlled lettuce drop by 71.7%. In conclusion, this study revealed that B. velezensis Bac20 has high potential for use as a biocontrol agent for controlling the lettuce drop caused by S. minor Jagger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fusarium wilt disease (FWD) of tobacco is a destructive disease caused by Fusarium spp. in tobacco-growing regions worldwide. The Fusarium spp. infection may alter the composition and structure of the tobacco root microbial community; however, the relationship between these factors under large-scale geographical conditions in China remains underexplored. Methods: In the context of this investigation, soil samples from the rhizosphere of tobacco plants were procured from fields afflicted with FWD and those devoid of the disease in the Hanzhong region of Shaanxi province, as well as in the Sanmenxia and Nanyang regions of Henan province. These regions are recognized for the commercial cultivation of tobacco. The examination focused on discerning the influence of tobacco FWD on the composition and configuration of the rhizosphere microbial community, along with their co-occurrence patterns. This scrutiny was underpinned by targeted PCR amplification and high-throughput sequencing (amplicon sequencing) of the 16S rRNA gene and the ITS1 region. Results: The amplicon data analyses showed that FWD influenced the microbial structure and composition of the tobacco rhizosphere soil. FWD had a greater impact on the microbiome of the tobacco fungal community than on the microbiome of the bacterial community. Healthy plants had the ability to recruit potential beneficial bacteria. Diseased plants were more susceptible to colonization by other pathogenic fungi, but they still had the capacity to recruit potential beneficial bacteria. The analysis of microbial intra- and inter-kingdom networks further indicated that FWD destabilized microbial networks. In the overall microbial interaction, microorganisms primarily interacted within their boundaries, but FWD increased the proportion of interactions occurring across boundaries. In addition, FWD could disrupt the interactions within microbial network modules. Discussion: This study provides evidence that FWD can cause changes in the composition and network of microbial communities, affecting the interactions among various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. These findings contribute to our understanding of how plant microbiomes change due to disease. Furthermore, they add to our knowledge of the mechanisms that govern the assembly and interactions of microbial communities under the influence of FWD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of achieving batteries with high energy density and high safety profile has been a driving force in developing all‐solid‐state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs). However, the complex issues arising from the interfacial interaction between lithium anode/cathode and solid‐state electrolytes (SSE) have hindered the progress of ASSLMBs. This study presents a strategy for constructing an organic/inorganic buffer layer via employing Li‐ion exchanging chemistry of H1.6Mn1.6O4 (HMO) with a flexible matrix of polyethylene oxide (PEO). The buffer layer shows a remarkable ion conductivity of 3.21 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 25 °C originating from the exceptional Li+‐H+ ion exchange capability of HMO. This PEO/HMO buffer layer not only establishes an intimate physical contact between the Li anode/cathode and the SSE but also functions as a dynamic Li+ transfer station to facilitate Li+ movement through the interfaces improving interfacial stability. By pairing with cathodes of LiFePO4 (LFP) and LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811), the ASSLMBs feature high‐rate capability and stable cycling performance with low polarization. This marks the utilization of HMO as a superior interfacial material to replace conventional lithium salts, with improved ion transport, decreased polarization, and enhanced overall performances. This constitutes a significant advancement toward the next‐generation energy storage solutions for ASSLMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the effectiveness, measurability, and traceability of the quality marker (Q‐marker) theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the Q‐marker of Lycii Cortex (LC) was preliminarily predicted and analyzed. A UPLC–Q‐TOF‐MS qualitative analysis method for LC samples was established. A total of 44 LC chemical components, 16 plasma prototype components, 25 urine prototype components, and 27 fecal prototype components were identified. At the same time, the "component–target–disease" network diagram was constructed by network pharmacology to predict the potential active components of LC. A UPLC–MS/MS quantitative analysis method was established to determine the contents of 11 components such as kukoamine A in 35 batches of LC from seven producing areas. Principal component analysis, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, and other mathematical analysis methods were used to screen the differential components. Based on the comprehensive consideration of the Q‐marker traceability, transitivity, specificity, effectiveness, and measurability, kukoamine A and kukoamine B were preliminarily predicted as LC potential Q‐markers, and the high‐quality producing area was determined to be Chengcheng County, Weinan City, Shaanxi Province. The prediction analysis of the LC Q‐marker provides a reference for the comprehensive control of the quality of LC medicinal materials and also lays a foundation for the research and exploration of the substance basis and mechanism of action of LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In space missions, heating films are crucial for uniformly heating onboard equipment for precise temperature control. This study develops an optimization method using surrogate models for lightweight anisotropic substrate thermal conductive heating films, meeting the requirements of uniform heating in thermal control for space applications. A feedforward neural network optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) was employed to create a surrogate model, mapping design parameters to the temperature uniformity of the heating film. This model served as the basis for applying the NSGA-II algorithm to quickly optimize both temperature uniformity and lightweight characteristics. In this study, the PSO-BP surrogate model was trained using heating film thermal simulation data, and the surrogate model demonstrated an accurate prediction of the mean square error (MSE) of the predicted temperature difference within 0.0168 s. The maximum temperature difference in the optimal model is 1.188 ℃, which is 30.5 times lower than before optimization, and the equivalent density is only increased by 3.9%. In summary, this optimization design method effectively captures the relationships among various parameters and optimization objectives. Its superior computational accuracy and design efficiency offer significant advantages in the design of devices such as heating films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communicative planners have long recognized the importance of communication networks for planning outcomes. However, the description of such networks has remained largely static, portraying a network as either positive (collaborative) or negative (power penetrated), which limits the understanding of communication patterns and power dynamics throughout the planning process. An incomplete understanding of complex communication patterns also hinders the ability of planners to mediate between stakeholders in the communication process to achieve beneficial outcomes. Using social network analysis, we filled this research gap by analyzing an entire collection of email exchanges involving key decision makers on an economic development project in Tallahassee (FL) for 6 years. We conclude that this actual communication network fell short of the ideal set by planners: a collaborative network with diverse and interdependent actors engaged in authentic dialogue. Importantly, the actual pattern swayed further away from this ideal when confronted with major financial decisions, suggesting that the weight of certain decisions alters communication networks. We also found that city commissioners were the most engaged actors, indicating that political power established through the electoral process played a more significant role in the communication network. Planners, on the contrary, played a limited bridging role. Planners must pay closer attention to the communication network and dynamics in the planning and policy implementation process and more effectively play the role of a critical friend to help form truly collaborative networks. The use of social network analysis can help reveal the structure of the network and the position of key actors in real time and guide the deliberate actions of planners. In addition, institutional procedures, such as email transparency, are needed to alleviate the informational power imbalance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]