Different-grain-sized boehmite nanoparticles for stable all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.

PEO is one of the common composite polymer electrolyte vehicles; however, the presence of crystalline phase at room temperature, high interface impedance, and low oxidation resistance (<4.0 V) limit its application in stable all-solid-state lithium metal batteries. Herein, we designed a PEO-based solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) by adding boehmite nanoparticles to address the above-mentioned issues. Different-grain-sized boehmite nanoparticles were synthesized by adjusting the hydrothermal temperature. Moreover, the impacts of these distinct grain-sized boehmite nanoparticles used to fabricate boehmite/PEO polymer electrolytes (BPEs) on the performance of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries were investigated. It was found that with the increase in boehmite's grain size, BPEs show better performance. The best BPE exhibited an improved Li+ transference number (0.59), high ionic conductivity (1.25 × 10-4 S m-1), and wide electrochemical window (∼4.5 V) at 60 °C. The assembled lithium symmetric battery can stably undergo 500 hours of lithium plating/stripping at 0.1 mA cm-2. At the same time, the LiFePO4/BPE/Li battery exhibits excellent cycling stability after 100 cycles at 0.5C. This reasonable design strategy with a superior capacity retention rate (86%) demonstrates great potential in achieving high ionic conductivity and good interface stability for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries simultaneously.

A preliminary study on the possibility of fermented pineapple peel residue partially replacing whole corn silage in feeding Chuanzhong black goats.

This study aims to assess the effects of the partial replacement of whole corn silage (WCS) with fermented pineapple peel residue (FPPR) on growth, serological parameters, muscle quality, rumen microorganisms, and fecal microorganisms. A total of 24 Chuanzhong black goats weighing 10.23 ± 1.42 kg were evaluated in a randomized complete trial design in accordance with the following treatments: (1) 0% FPPR in the diet, (2) 25% FPPR in the diet, and (3) 50% FPPR in the diet. In goats, the partial substitution of FPPR for WCS increased the abundance of probiotics, such as Blautia, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, and Ruminococcus albus, and did not exert significant effects on overall serological parameters and muscle quality. In conclusion, the partial substitution of FPPR for WCS in the diet did not impair or affect the productive performance of goats.

Effects of Fermented Herbal Tea Residue on Serum Indices and Fecal Microorganisms of Chuanzhong Black Goats.

Herbal tea residues (HTRs) are a by-product of herbal tea processing that contains many nutrients and active substances but are often discarded as waste. The main aim of the present study was to determine the food safety of HTRs and lay the foundation for its use as a novel feed resource for goats. In this study, discarded HTRs were fermented and then fed to 33 female Chuanzhong black goats (121 ± 4.00 days) with similar weight (9.33 ± 0.95 kg) and genetic background, which were divided into three groups (fermented herbal tea residue (FHTR) replacement of 0%, 15% and 30% of the forage component of the diet). The feeding experiment lasted for 35 days. On day 35, our findings indicated that the concentrations of hydroxyl radicals and urea increased linearly, and the concentrations of glutathione peroxidase increased quadratically with the increase in FHTR. In addition, we investigated the fecal microbiota composition of eight Chuanzhong black goats in the control, 15% and 30% FHTR replacement groups and found that FHTR had no remarkable effect on the fecal microbiota composition. Results indicated that goat physiological functions remained stable after FHTR was added to the diet.

Expression, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the N-terminal domain of nsp2 from avian infectious bronchitis virus.

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a prototype of the group III coronaviruses and encodes 15 nonstructural proteins which make up the transcription/replication machinery. The nsp2 protein from IBV has a unique and novel sequence and has no experimentally confirmed function in replication, whereas it has been proposed to be crucial for early viral infection and may inhibit the early host immune response. The gene that encodes a double-mutant IBV nsp2 N-terminal domain (residues 9-393 of the polyprotein, with mutations Q132L and L270F) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and the protein was subjected to crystallization trials. The crystals diffracted to 2.5 A resolution and belonged to space group P6(2) or P6(4), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 114.2, c = 61.0 A, alpha = beta = 90, gamma = 120 degrees . Each asymmetric unit contained one molecule.