The Impact of the Composition on the Properties of Simulated Lunar Mare Basalt Fibers.

Lunar mare basalt is recognized as an important in situ resource on the lunar surface. However, the significant compositional variability of lunar mare basalts introduces uncertainties concerning the potential for their use in fabricating fibers and composite materials. This study investigates the impact of different components on the fiber-forming capabilities of mare basalts by simulating the compositions of basalts collected from several well-known lunar missions and then preparing simulated lunar mare basalt fibers. Raman spectroscopy is primarily employed for analysis and characterization, using "peak area normalization" to explore the impact of compositional fluctuations in the simulated lunar mare basalts on the glass network structure. The findings indicate that an increase in the Fe content raises the likelihood of basalt fibers crystallizing. Additionally, Fe3+ is shown to substitute for Si and Al in constructing bridging oxygen bonds in the network structure, albeit reducing the overall polymerization of the network. Meanwhile, Fe2+ acts as a network modifier to enhance the mechanical properties of the fibers.

A highly integrated sensing paper for wearable electrochemical sweat analysis.

Wearable electrochemical sensors have attracted tremendous attention in recent years. Significant progress has been achieved, particularly in device integration. Most wearable devices are integrated on thin-film polymer, however, less attention is paid to the sweat flow at human-device interfaces, which is of great significance for continuous real-time analysis and long-term skin comfort. Here, we reported a low-cost, freestanding and disposable highly integrated sensing paper (HIS paper) for real-time analysis of sweat. By using a simple printing process, the HIS paper combining hydrophobic protecting wax, conducting electrodes, and the incorporated MXene/methylene blue (Ti3C2Tx/MB) active materials was assembled. In particular, the printed paper was folded into a multi-layer structure, in which a reasonable designed three-dimensional (3D) sweat diffusion path is established by connecting the hydrophilic regions of each layer, providing efficient pathways for the collection and diffusion of sweat along the vertical direction of the folded HIS paper. More importantly, the independent 3D position of three-electrode facilitates the decoration and fixation of enzymes, as well as the accessibility of electrolytes. In addition, a dual-channel electrochemical sensor that can simultaneously detect glucose and lactate with sensitivity of 2.4 nA µM-1 and 0.49 µA mM-1 respectively was produced based on the HIS paper. This HIS paper provides a miniaturized, low-cost and flexible solution for a range of biochemical platforms, including wearable bioelectronics.

MXene-Coated Air-Permeable Pressure-Sensing Fabric for Smart Wear.

Considering the fast development of wearable electronics and soft robotics, pressure sensors with high sensitivity, durability, and washability are of great importance. However, the surface modification of fabrics with high-sensitivity active materials requires that issues associated with poor interface adhesion and stability are resolved. In this study, we explored the key factors for firmly bonding MXene to fabric substrates to fabricate wearable and washable pressure sensing fabric. The interactions between MXene and various fabrics were elucidated by investigating the adsorption and binding capacities. The natural rough surface of cotton fibers also promoted the firm adsorption of MXene. As a result, MXene was difficult to detach, even with mechanical washing and ultrasonic treatment. Further, the abundant functional groups on the MXene surface were conducive to interfacial interactions with cotton fibers. An increase in the amount of fluorine-containing functional groups also improved the hydrophobicity of the fabric surface. The good force-sensitive resistance of MXene-coated cotton allowed this pressure-sensing fabric to function as a flexible pressure sensor, which showed a high gauge factor (7.67 kPa-1), a rapid response and relaxation speed (<35 ms), excellent stability (>2000 cycles), and good washing durability. Further, the as-fabricated flexible pressure sensor was demonstrated as a wearable human-machine interface that supported multitouch interactions and exhibited a rapid response. Thus, this work provides a new approach for developing next-generation high-sensitivity wearable pressure sensors.

Complete Genome Sequence of Pantoea ananatis Strain NN08200, an Endophytic Bacterium Isolated from Sugarcane.

Stain NN08200 was isolated from the surface-sterilized stem of sugarcane grown in Guangxi province of China. The stain was Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, non-spore-forming bacteria. The complete genome SNP-based phylogenetic analysis indicate that NN08200 is a member of the genus Pantoea ananatis. Here, we summarize the features of strain NN08200 and describe its complete genome. The genome contains a chromosome and two plasmids, in total 5,176,640 nucleotides with 54.76% GC content. The chromosome genome contains 4598 protein-coding genes, and 135 ncRNA genes, including 22 rRNA genes, 78 tRNA genes and 35 sRNA genes, the plasmid 1 contains 149 protein-coding genes and the plasmid 2 contains 308 protein-coding genes. We identified 130 tandem repeats, 101 transposon genes, and 16 predicted genomic islands on the chromosome. We found an indole pyruvate decarboxylase encoding gene which involved in the biosynthesis of the plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid, it may explain the reason why NN08200 stain have growth-promoting effects on sugarcane. Considering the pathogenic potential and its versatility of the species of the genus Pantoea, the genome information of the strain NN08200 give us a chance to determine the genetic background of interactions between endophytic enterobacteria and plants.

Cassava/peanut intercropping improves soil quality via rhizospheric microbes increased available nitrogen contents.

BACKGROUND: Intercropping, an essential cultivation pattern in modern agricultural systems, increases crop yields and soil quality. Cassava and peanut intercropping systems exhibit advantages in solar utilization and cadmium absorption, etc. However, the inner mechanisms need to be elucidated. In this study, Illumina MiSeq platform was used to reveal the rhizospheric microbes and soil quality in cassava/peanut intercropping systems, and the results provided a reference for the application of this method in studying other intercropping systems. RESULTS: Both intercropping cassava/peanut (IP) and intercropping peanut/cassava (IC) systems significantly increased available N, available K, pH value, and urease activity, comparing with that in monocropping cassava (MC) and monocropping peanut (MP) system. However, there were few effects on the total N, total P, total K, available P, organic matter, protease activity, catalase activity, sucrase activity, and acid phosphatase activity. Both IP and MP soils contained more bacteria and fungi than those in the IC and MC soils, which were mainly made of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Intercropping remarkably increased the number of Nitrospirae in IP and IC soils comparing those in MC and MP soils. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the abundances of DA101, Pilimelia, and Ramlibacter were positively correlated to the soil quality. These results suggest that intercropping enhances the available nitrogen content of soil through increasing the quantity of rhizospheric microbes, especially that of DA101 and Pilimelia. CONCLUSIONS: The cassava/peanut intercropping system improves soil quality through increasing the available nitrogen content and abundance of DA101, Pilimelia, and Ramlibacter in the soil.

Controllable construction of titanium dioxide-zirconium dioxide@zinc hydroxyfluoride networks in micro-capillaries for bio-analysis.

Glass/silica-based flow channels are widely used in capillary electrophoresis and micro-total analysis systems. However, it is almost impossible to achieve controllable fabrication of microstructures with enhanced mixing performance for high-efficiency bio-analysis in confined micro-channels. Here, various morphologies were controllably achieved by tuning the molar ratio of the reaction agents in a confined microchannel. Fluid flow simulation is demonstrated to investigate the structure stability and mixing performance. Multifunctional networks with uniform and deep decoration are fabricated in confined micro-capillaries, owing to the enhanced mixing performance. The modified micro-capillaries exhibit high efficiencies for the selective enrichment of phosphopeptides from traditional model samples. Furthermore, the fabricated micro-capillaries also exhibited high performance in practical applications (for selective enrichments from bovine milk and cancer serum). These outstanding features make the microstructure-modified micro-capillaries promising for bio-analysis.

Hierarchical NiO microflake films with high coloration efficiency, cyclic stability and low power consumption for applications in a complementary electrochromic device.

We have demonstrated that thin films of hierarchical NiO microflakes assembled from nanoleaves can be grown directly on FTO-coated glass substrates using a facile and template-free hydrothermal technique. This hierarchical structure holds the advantages of both nanometre-sized building blocks and microsized assemblies. Thus, the films exhibit highly enhanced electrochromic performances and cyclic stability due to their high surface area and good electrochemical stability. Moreover, a complementary electrochromic device combining the hierarchical NiO microflake film with a self-weaving WO3 nanoflake film is fabricated to further improve the electrochromic performance. As a result, the complementary electrochromic device shows a high optical modulation (73.2% at 550 nm), large coloration efficiency (146.9 cm(2) C(-1) at 550 nm by applying a low coloration voltage of -1.0 V) and fast switching responses with a coloring time of 1.8 s and a bleaching time of 3.2 s. It is also observed that there is no significant degradation of the electrochromic properties after 2000 continuous coloration/bleaching cycles, making it attractive for practical applications.

Highly dispersed Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/polypyrrole nanocomposites for cost-effective, high-performance defluoridation using a magnetically controllable microdevice.

Highly dispersed Co(0.5)Zn(0.5)Fe(2)O(4)/polypyrrole (CZFO/PPy) nanocomposites with enhanced electromagnetic properties and large surface area were rapidly and controllably prepared using microfluidic reactors. A novel magnetically controllable microdevice using the new adsorbent in a highly dispersed form was assembled and used for fluoride adsorption. Compared with traditional adsorption methods, the device displayed high adsorption efficiency and capacity. The adsorbents were regenerated with no significant loss in defluoridation ability, which indicates that the device is a realistic and highly efficient alternative way of removing fluoride pollution at low cost.

[Significance and expression of FKHR and AKT after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rat brain cortex].

OBJECTIVE: To study the significance and expression of FKHR and AKT after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rat brain cortex. METHODS: Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham, SAH and SAH plus nimodipine (n=8 each). A reliable SAH model was established by double injections of blood into cistern magna in Wistar rats. The neurological scores were measured by Loeffler and the expressions of FKHR, P-FKHR, AKT and P-FKHR detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with sham group, the neurological score of SAH group obviously decreased (P < 0.05), the expression of FKHR became elevated in rat cortex (P < 0.01), the expression of AKT had no change and the expressions of P-AKT and P-FKHR obviously decreased (all P < 0.01). But the neurological score markedly increased (P < 0.01) and the expressions of P-AKT and P-FKHR became elevated (all P < 0.01) after administration of nimodipine. CONCLUSION: Both P-AKT and P-FKHR are involved in the process of brain cortex damage induced by SAH. The protective effects of nimodipine on brain injury induced by SAH may be related to the elevated expressions of P-AKT and P-FKHR in brain cortex.

[A study of CXCR4/SDF-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and CX chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR-4) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HC) and liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Peripheral blood and/or ascites fluid were collected from 39 hepatocellular carcinoma patients, 16 patients with liver cirrhosis, 12 with hepatitis and 12 healthy donors. The SDF-1 expression was assayed by ELISA and CXCR-4 was measured by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: The level of SDF-1 expression in the carcinoma patients was higher than that of the liver cirrhosis, hepatitis patients and healthy donors, but there was no significant difference between those of the healthy donors and hepatitis patients or liver cirrhosis patients. The levels of CXCR-4 expression were closely related to the tumor differentiation. CONCLUSION: The expression of SDF-1 in the peripheral blood and the CXCR4 expression in the HCC tissues of the HC patients may be regarded as markers of HC and they may have a positive relationship with the differentiation and metastasis of HC.