Baise University

Ma A., Liu S., Li D., Gu B., Li S., Wang J.

Room-temperature all-solid-state sodium–sulfur (Na-S) batteries are being regarded as a promising technology for large-scale energy storage. However, the low ionic conductivity of existing sulfide solid electrolytes has been hindering the potential and commercialization of Na-S batteries. Na3PS4 has garnered extensive attention among sulfide solid electrolytes due to its potential ionic conductivity (primarily predominated by vacancies) and ease of fabrication. Herein, we demonstrated a combined melt-quenching with Br doping technique to pre-generate abundant defects (vacancies) in the Na3PS4, which expanded ion transport channels and facilitated Na+ migration. The quenched Na2.9PS3.9Br0.1 holds an ionic conductivity of 8.28 × 10−4 S/cm at room temperature. Followed by the hot-pressed fabrication at 450 °C was conducted on the quenched Na2.9PS3.9Br0.1 to reduce interface resistance, the resultant Na2.9PS3.9Br0.1 pellet shows an ionic conductivity up to 1.15 × 10−3 S/cm with a wide electrochemical window and chemical stability towards Na alloy anodes. The assembled all-solid-state Na2S/Na2.9PS3.9Br0.1/Na15Sn4 cell delivers an initial reversible capacity of 550 mAh/g at a current density of 0.1 mA/cm2. After 50 cycles, it still maintains 420 mAh/g with a capacity retention of 76.4%. The integration of melt-quenching, doping, and hot-pressing provides a new strategy to enable sulfide electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and all-solid-state Na-S batteries with high performance.

Guo Y., Jiao W., Zhang Y., Tan M., Gao Q., Liu Y., Wang S.

BackgroundDespite the extensive research conducted on heat responses of Lentinula edodes heterokaryotic cells, the responses of the two sexually compatible monokaryons to heat stress (HS) remain largely unknown.MethodsTo bridge this gap, we examined the nucleus-specific (SP3 and SP30) heat resistant mechanisms using an integrated physiological, metabolomic and transcriptomic approach.ResultsThe results showed that HS elicited the boost of ROS and hampered mycelium growth for both monokaryons. Metabolome and transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the two sexually compatible monokaryons responded differently to HS. For SP3, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling, cell cycle and sugar metabolism, whereas those DEGs for SP30 were enriched in glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and protein processing. The differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) of both strains were enriched in the glycerophospholipid metabolism, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of cofactors, etc, but were regulated differently in each strain. The enriched KEGG pathways for SP3 tend to be downregulated, whereas those in SP30 exhibited a contrary trend. The genes in MAPK signaling pathway were associated with the glycerophospholipid metabolism in SP3, but not in SP30. Omics-integration analysis revealed distinguishing regulatory networks and identified completely different hub genes for the two strains.DiscussionOur findings revealed, for the first time, the different heat-resistance mechanisms of the two compatible nuclei and provided candidate metabolites, responsive genes and regulatory pathways for further experimental validation.

Liu F., He Z., Xie X., Ouyang Q., Zhu Z., He H.

Mango bacterial dry rot has become an increasingly serious issue in the mango-producing regions of Guangdong, China, leading to dry and necrotic leaves and branches. Previous studies have shown that the pathogenic bacterium, strain NY01 was identifed as Sphingomonas sanguinis by morphological observation and 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. In order to further understand the pathogenic physiological and pathogenic mechanism of the pathogen, the whole genome sequence of the pathogen was analyzed on the PacBio RSII platform.The complete genome of strain NY01 consists of one chromosome (3,280,800 bp) and three plasmids (275,887 bp, 143,601 bp, and 37,326 bp), 59 transfer RNA (tRNA) sequences, and 12 rRNA sequences. The genome was found to comprise 3593 coding genes, of which 3426 were annotated with biological functions across various databases. Comparative genomic analysis found that the NY01 strain clustered closely together with Sphingomonas carotinifaciens DSM 27347 2020 (GCF_009789535.1), exhibiting an average nucleotide identity (ANI) of 97.18%, indicating a strong evolutionary relationship. This finding contrasts with prior 16S rRNA sequencing results, highlighting that 16S rRNA sequence analysis for genus identification of Sphingomonas should be regarded as a preliminary assessment and requires validation through whole genome sequencing. This conclusion serves as a caution for future identifications of Sphingomonas species. This study clarified the taxonomic status of the pathogenic bacteria and explored pathogenic factors, which can serve as a theoretical basis for understanding the occurrence and progression of the disease, as well as for implementing effective prevention and control measures.

Tan W., Hu G., Tuo L., Zuo W., Liu Q., Tong H., Zhu Z., Shi B.

The fabrication of heterojunctions effectively modulates the physicochemical and photochemical properties of photocatalysts. However, the light absorption of heterojunctions and delivery performance of charge carriers between interfaces are limited by...

Ishfaq M., Tam N.F., Lang T., Hussain M., Zhou H.

Mangroves distributed in intertidal zones along tropical and subtropical coastlines play key roles in nutrient cycling, energy transfer, and maintenance of ecosystem balance. The maintenance of mangroves’ high productivity and ecosystem functionality in nutrient-limited environmental conditions is very important. This paper comprehensively elucidates how mangroves sustain ecological balance and survive in nutrient-limited coastal environments. The foliar nitrogen and phosphorus (N-P) concentrations and N:P ratios in different mangrove plant species and regions of the world are summarized, and results show that 73.7% and 16.4% of mangrove plants are N- and P-deficient, respectively. A comprehensive overview on the strategies employed by mangrove plants to conserve N-P in both above- and below-ground components is discussed. These strategies include N-P resorption efficiency, in short NRE and PRE, respectively, N-P use efficiency, litter quality, soil microbial activity, and N-P turnover rate. All these strategies are influenced by N-P content and their interactions, as well as secondary metabolites such as total phenolics and tannins in leaf and litter. Published data reveal mangrove leaves have higher NRE (56.2%) than PRE (48.8%), and NRE positively relates to PRE. Nutrient uptake by mangrove plants and N-P availability under different conditions, particularly global warming, rising sea levels and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) situations, are discussed. A framework for gaining in-depth and targeted understanding of the trade-offs associated with N-P in mangrove ecosystems is proposed. This comprehensive overview, based on the published results on N and P conservation and their trade-off in mangrove plants, provides useful information on ecological services and functioning of mangrove wetlands.

Li D., Li Y., Wang S.

Finding the solution to constrained monotone nonlinear equations has become more challenging as the number of dimensions rises. In this paper, a projection-based spectral conjugate gradient algorithm for solving monotone nonlinear equations with convex constraints is proposed. This algorithm features two bounded spectral parameters designed by using the quasi-Newton condition and the double-truncating technique. An improved conjugate parameter ensures that the search direction satisfies the sufficient descent and trust-region properties. The global convergence of the algorithm is established under reasonable assumptions. Numerical experiments demonstrate that it is promising and robust for large-scale nonlinear equations with convex constraints in both fixedly and randomly initial point strategies, as well as for the sparse signal reconstruction problem.

Song D., Du H., Chen S., Han X., Wang L., Li Y., Liu C., Zhang W., Ma J.

The issue of environmental pollution caused by wastewater discharge from fruit juice production has attracted increasing attention. However, the cost-effectiveness of conventional treatment technology remains insufficient. In this study, a gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (GDMBR) was developed to treat real fruit juice wastewater from secondary sedimentation at pressures ranging from 0.01 to 0.04 MPa without requiring backwashing or chemical cleaning, with the aim of investigating flux development and contaminant removal under low-energy conditions. The results demonstrate an initial decrease in flux followed by stabilization during long-term filtration. Moreover, the stabilized flux level achieved with the GDMBR at pressures of 0.01 and 0.02 MPa was observed to surpass that obtained at 0.04 MPa, ranging from 4 to 4.5 L/m−2 h−1. The stability of flux was positively associated with the low membrane fouling resistance observed in the GDMBR system. Additionally, the GDMBR system provided remarkable efficiencies in removing the chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), ammonia (NH4+-N), and total nitrogen (TN), with average removal rates of 82%, 80%, 83%, and 79%, respectively. The high biological activity and microbial community diversity within the sludge and biofilm are expected to enhance its biodegradation potential, thereby contributing to the efficient removal of contaminants. Notably, a portion of total phosphorus (TP) can be effectively retained in the reactor, which highlighted the promising application of the GDMBR process for actual fruit juice wastewater based on these findings.

Wei G., Chen P., Wu J., Liang Y., Li J., Huang H., Lan Z., Liang X., Zhou W., Qing P., Tang S.

AbstractFlexible solid‐state supercapacitors (FSSCs) have garnered significant attention due to their advantages, including lightness, adaptability, enhanced safety, and extensive operational potential windows. These features make them highly suitable as energy storage devices for the next generation of portable and flexible electronics. The recent surge in the development and remarkable breakthroughs in novel wearable electronics have further propelled research into FSSCs. Nevertheless, several pressing issues need to be addressed in this field, including synthesizing flexible electrode materials with superior electrochemical energy storage capabilities, enhancing the physicochemical properties of solid gel polymer electrolytes, particularly in extreme environments, and ensuring effective contact between electrodes and gel electrolytes. This paper presents an overview of the latest advancements in FSSCs, focusing on electrode materials and electrolytes. Additionally, it delves into the current challenges and future prospects of FSSCs.

Li D., Li Y., Li Y., Wang S.

In this paper, we propose a novel derivative-free projection algorithm based on the classical Polak–Ribiére–Polyak (PRP) method. This algorithm designs a search direction with sufficient descent and trust region properties, integrating an efficient line search approach and projection techniques. Under standard assumptions, the global convergence of the proposed algorithm is established. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms two existing algorithms in terms of efficiency and robustness, and is successfully applied to sparse signal recovery and image denoising problems.

Chen J., Hu F., Guo J., Zhang W., Wu Z.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of retrograded resistant starch (RS3) (0, 2%, 4% and 6%; w/v) on the emulsion gel properties stabilized by myofibrillar proteins (MPs) and in vitro protein digestibility of the gels. The RS3 was prepared from corn or potato starch using the gelatinization–ultrasound–retrogradation method. The results showed that the addition of RS3 decreased the surface hydrophobicity (p < 0.05) and increased the fluorescence intensity of MPs, indicating enhanced protein–protein interactions. More stable emulsions stabilized by MP/RS3 mixtures were formed, along with higher electronegativity, a smaller droplet size and reduced creaming index. These changes promoted the formation of better gel networks with the oil droplets evenly dispersed, thus improving gel strength, water holding capacity (WHC) and texture, especially at the concentration of 6% RS3 added. The gel force results indicated that the addition of RS3 enhanced the hydrophobic interaction and disulfide bonds between MPs. LF-NMR and MRI data further confirmed that RS3 addition facilitated the migration of free water to immobilized water. Furthermore, the incorporation of RS3 caused a relatively lower pepsin digestibility but did not change the overall in vitro protein digestibility of the gels. This paper provides a method to produce high-quality low-GI meat products without degrading protein digestibility.

Chen S., Zhang L., Melhi S., Alshammari D.A., Amin M.A., Dai L., Li S., Yu W., Cui L.

At present, photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) still faces the problems of low activity of traditional catalysts, insufficient contact between powder catalysts and gases, and easy detachment from the support. To address this challenge, we use a sacrificial template and in-situ growing approach to fabricate a three-dimensional (3D) monolithic photocatalyst with Z-schemed heterojunction. The design combines the TiO2 and Cu2O using foamed copper as a substrate. The 3D monolithic TiO2/Cu2O foam photocatalyst was used to evaluate its toluene removal efficiency under simulated sunlight and a 15 W UV disinfection lamp. The results show that the photocatalyst outperforms conventional TiO2 and Cu2O in toluene removal under both simulated sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) light. After 180 min of irradiation under a 500 W Xe lamp, the TiO2/Cu2O foam achieved a removal rate of 90.2% for toluene. This performance improvement is attributed to the unique 3D open internal structure, which enhances the gas-solid mass transfer efficiency. In addition, the formation of Z-schemed heterojunction inside composite materials between TiO2 and Cu2O extends the lifetime of photo generated charge carriers, resulting in higher catalyst activity. After four cycles of experiments, its degradation rate is 88.0%, indicating its stability. The degradation pathway, toxicity analysis and catalytic mechanism of the catalytic degradation of toluene by the TiO2/Cu2O foam were also explored.

Shen L.J., Zhao Y.J., Zhu Z.J., Liu C.L.

AbstractThe wide distribution of tuff layers, locally named the “green bean rocks” (GBRs) in the Yangtze Block straddling the Early Middle Triassic marine sequence indicates intense volcanic eruption(s). Sr, Nd, and S isotope compositions and trace elements of marine sediments were analyzed spanning the tuff layers to elucidate their responses to the volcanic eruptions and related environmental changes. The Sr isotope compositions of marine sediments are comparable to those of open seawater during the time interval of ca. 245–248 Ma. Sr and Nd isotope compositions of the samples show synchronous increases in the 87Sr/86Sr ratios and εNd(t) values during the deposition of GBRs. The elevated 87Sr/86Sr ratios and εNd(t) values are proposed to be caused by the input of volcanic tephra and increased influx of weathering product of mafic rocks (most likely the Emeishan flood basalts). The S isotope compositions of sulfates exhibit a negative shift in the GBRs, which could possibly be attributed to greater input of lighter 32S from weathering products and volcanic eruptions. The variation of Th/U ratios indicate that the GBRs formed in an anoxic environment, resulting from high marine productivity as a consequence of more nutrients from weathering and volcanic materials. The responses of Sr, Nd, and S isotopes to volcanic eruptions during the Early Middle Triassic indicate this event resulted in adverse effects, namely enhanced eutrophication and low O2 levels, acidic precipitation, toxic components, etc., that could cause ecological destruction both on land and in the sea.

Wang Q., Meng J., Shen Y., Zheng R., Zhu H., Li Q., Yao P., Peng Q.

Chen L., Li W., Shi W., Liang L., Sun J., Yin C., Yi J., Zhang X., Qing P., Cao A., Zhang X., Liu H.

In response to the poor wear resistance and high-temperature oxidation resistance of titanium alloys during service, a series of lightweight refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) can be designed for the laser cladding coating of titanium alloy surfaces, with due consideration of the compositional and structural characteristics of titanium alloys. Firstly, the structural stability, mechanical and thermal properties of four lightweight RHEAs (MoNbTiV, AlMoNbTiW, CrMoNbTiV, and AlCrMoNbTiV) with equal atomic ratios were designed and calculated using first principles combined with quasi-harmonic approximation (QHA). The results indicate that all four RHEAs are stable BCC, exhibiting elastic anisotropy and ductility. The lightest density is 6.409 g/cm3. Adding Al/Cr can cause structural distortion and affect its mechanical properties. Their Young’s moduli are in the following order: AlCrMoNbTiV > MoNbTiV > CrMoNbTiV > AlMoNbTiV. The thermal expansion coefficients of the four RHEAs and titanium alloys are very close, with a difference in linear expansion coefficient of less than 1.16 × 10−5/K. Meanwhile, the metallurgical bonding of four types of RHEA coatings was successfully achieved on a Ti-6Al-4V(TC4) substrate through laser cladding technology, and all coatings exhibited a unique BCC solid solution phase.

Hou W., Huang G., Wei H., Li W., Huang H., Qiu Y., Zhu H., Han H., Chen P., Zhang X.