Effects of Temperature on Disease Severity in Plants of Subterranean Clover Infected Singly or in Mixed Infection with Bean yellow mosaic virus and Kabatiella caulivora

Many epidemics involve plants infected with more than one pathogen, but few experiments address climate change scenarios that influence mixed infections. This study addresses the interactive effects of co‐infection and temperature on disease development in plants of the annual pasture species subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), which is widely sown in different world regions. Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) and the fungus Kabatiella caulivora are two important pathogens causing considerable production losses in pastures containing this species. Both occur together in such pastures causing a severe necrotic disease when mixed infection occurs. Effects of temperature on symptom expression were investigated in subterranean clover plants infected singly or in mixed infection with these pathogens. Plants were maintained in controlled environment rooms at 18°C, 20°C or 22.5°C after sap inoculation with BYMV. K. caulivora conidia suspensions were inoculated to plants once systemic BYMV symptoms developed. Plants were assessed for three disease assessment parameters, dead petioles numbers, marginal leaflet necrosis and overall plant damage. In general, mixed infection caused most severe symptoms, K. caulivora least severe symptoms, and BYMV symptoms of intermediate severity. In single infections, effects of temperature on disease severity differed between pathogens: BYMV symptoms were most pronounced at 18°C, but K. caulivora induced more severe symptoms at 20°C and 22.5°C. In mixed infections, disease severity generally followed the pattern developed with BYMV alone as temperature increased. Also, synergistic increase in disease severity sometimes occurred at 18°C, but increases were only additive at 20°C and 22.5°C. These results reflected the greater BYMV multiplication detected in infected leaves at 18°C compared with 20°C or 22.5°C. Our findings indicate that in rainfed subterranean clover pastures, as global warming progresses disease severity from infection with BYMV and K. caulivora alone may decline or increase, respectively, and mixed infection with them may become less damaging.     

Soil organic carbon density and influencing factors in tropical virgin forests of Hainan Island,China

Aims
Estimating soil organic carbon (SOC) density and influence factors of tropical virgin forests in Hainan Island provide new insight in basic data for SOC pool estimation and its dynamics study.
Methods
The main distribution areas of tropical virgin forests in Jianfengling (JFL), Bawangling (BWL), Wu- zhishan (WZS), Diaoluoshan (DLS), Yinggeling (YGL) of Hainan Island were selected, and soil samples (0-100 cm) were sampled and analyzed. SOC density was estimated by soil vertical fitting method and soil stratification method to discover the distribution characteristics of soil organic carbon in tropical virgin forests of Hainan Island.
Important findings
Results showed that: (1) The average SOC density using soil vertical fitting method in JFL, BWL, WZS, DLS and YGL was 14.98, 18.46, 16.48, 18.81, 16.66 kg·m^-2, respectively, which was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the estimated average SOC density using soil stratification method in these areas (14.73, 16.24, 15.50, 16.91, 15.03 kg·m^-2, respectively). It is better to use soil vertical fitting method for SOC density estimation when the soil was natural without disturbance. (2) The proportion of SOC content in the first 0-30 cm depth interval out of SOC in the whole 0-100 cm soil profiles in JFL, BWL, WZS, DLS and YGL was 50.50%, 48.56%, 43.49%, 47.37%, 42.88%, respectively. (3) SOC density was significantly negative correlated with Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, species richness, and soil bulk density; and was significantly positive correlated with altitude, soil porosity, and soil nitrogen. However, SOC density was not significantly correlated to slope, biomass, average diameter at breast height, or average height. (4) Our study area Hainan was located in low latitude area with high rainfall and high temperature, which accelerated the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient recycling, resulting in significantly lower SOC densities in this tropical virgin forests of Hainan Island than the average value in China.     

Influence of spectral wavelength and N:P ratio on the cell cycle of Synechococcus strain CSIRNIO1 isolated from the central Eastern Arabian Sea

The novel phycoerythrin-containing Synechococcus strain CSIRNIO1 belonging to phylogenetic clade II was isolated from the coastal Arabian Sea. Chromophore characteristics of this isolate revealed the presence of phycoerythrin I (PEI), which allows it to utilize green light efficiently. The DNA distribution data indicate a bimodal slow growth model synchronized with the light/dark cycle. The duration of the cell cycle was regulated by spectral wavelength and nutrient concentration. Nitrate and phosphate enrichment shortened G1 phase duration when cells were exposed to equal doses of photosynthetically usable radiation (PUR) of different spectral wavelengths. G2 phase duration was influenced by spectral quality and phosphate concentration. S phase duration was not affected by the spectral wavelength. However, a shorter doubling time corresponding to shortened G1 and S phases was observed under nitrate enrichment. Phosphate enrichment resulted in shortening of all three phases (G1, S and G2). More efficient utilization of green and red light than blue light regulated the duration of the cell cycle as well as the doubling time, suggesting spectral selectivity in this strain. The effects of spectral wavelengths under varying nutrient concentrations will determine the proliferation of Synechococcus and its adaptation to different environmental conditions.     

Negative regulation of the hepatic fibrogenic response by suppressor of cytokine signaling 1

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) is an indispensable regulator of IFNγ signaling and has been implicated in the regulation of liver fibrosis. However, it is not known whether SOCS1 mediates its anti-fibrotic functions in the liver directly, or via modulating IFNγ, which has been implicated in attenuating hepatic fibrosis. Additionally, it is possible that SOCS1 controls liver fibrosis by regulating hepatic stellate cells (HSC), a key player in fibrogenic response. While the activation pathways of HSCs have been well characterized, the regulatory mechanisms are not yet clear. The goals of this study were to dissociate IFNγ-dependent and SOCS1-mediated regulation of hepatic fibrogenic response, and to elucidate the regulatory functions of SOCS1 in HSC activation. Liver fibrosis was induced in Socs1^−/−Ifng^−/− mice with dimethylnitrosamine or carbon tetrachloride. Ifng^−/− and C57BL/6 mice served as controls. Following fibrogenic treatments, Socs1^−/−Ifng^−/− mice showed elevated serum ALT levels and increased liver fibrosis compared to Ifng^−/− mice. The latter group showed higher ALT levels and fibrosis than C57BL/6 controls. The livers of SOCS1-deficient mice showed bridging fibrosis, which was associated with increased accumulation of myofibroblasts and abundant collagen deposition. SOCS1-deficient livers showed increased expression of genes coding for smooth muscle actin, collagen, and enzymes involved in remodeling the extracellular matrix, namely matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases. Primary HSCs from SOCS1-deficient mice showed increased proliferation in response to growth factors such as HGF, EGF and PDGF, and the fibrotic livers of SOCS1-deficient mice showed increased expression of the Pdgfb gene. Taken together, these data indicate that SOCS1 controls liver fibrosis independently of IFNγ and that part of this regulation may occur via regulating HSC proliferation and limiting growth factor availability.     

Removal of invasive shrubs alters light but not leaf litter inputs in a deciduous forest understory

The establishment and spread of non‐native, invasive shrubs in forests poses an important obstacle to natural resource conservation and management. This study assesses the impacts of the physical removal of a complex of woody invasive shrub species on deciduous forest understory resources. We compared leaf litter quantity and quality and understory light transmittance in five pairs of invaded and removal plots in an oak‐dominated suburban mature forest. Removal plots were cleared of all non‐native invasive shrubs. The invasive shrubs were abundant (143,456 stems/ha) and diverse, dominated by species in the genera Ligustrum, Viburnum, Lonicera, and Euonymus. Annual leaf litter biomass and carbon inputs of invaded plots were not different from removal plots due to low leaf litter biomass of invasive shrubs. Invasive shrub litter had higher nitrogen (N) concentrations than native species; however, low biomass of invasive litter led to low N inputs by litter of invasive species compared to native. Light transmittance at the forest floor and at 2 m was lower in invaded plots than in removal plots. We conclude that the removal of the abundant invasive shrubs from a native deciduous forest understory did not alter litter quantity or N inputs, one measure of litter quality, and increased forest understory light availability. More light in the forest understory could facilitate the restoration of forest understory dynamics.     

Capillary Encapsulation of Metallic Potassium in Aligned Carbon Nanotubes for Use as Stable Potassium Metal Anodes

Metallic potassium (K) is a desirable anode for potassium secondary batteries due to its low electrode potential in nonaqueous electrolytes and high theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, instability caused by dendritic growth, large volume changes, and parasitic side reactions hamper its practical application. Here, an anode containing metallic K is fabricated by infiltrating an aligned carbon nanotube membrane (ACM) with molten K because of its good wettability to molten K due to the strong capillary forces. The K metal is spatially distributed on the 3D ACM framework, which offers sufficient electrode/electrolyte contact for charge transfer. The robust ACM host provides a large number of K nucleation sites and physically confines the K deposited there, thus mitigating dimensional changes during cycling. The pathways for electrons and ions in the anode are associated to form a mixed conducting network, which is beneficial for the electrochemical redox. Consequently, the anode shows stable plating/stripping profiles with low polarization in symmetric cells using conventional carbonate‐based electrolytes. In addition, dendrite growth is suppressed, and the anode demonstrates excellent suitability when paired with a Prussian blue cathode in a full cell. This design strategy is expected to provide a way to address the problems with using metallic K anodes.     

3D Printing of Tunable Energy Storage Devices with Both High Areal and Volumetric Energy Densities

Developing advanced supercapacitors with both high areal and volumetric energy densities remains challenging. In this work, self‐supported, compact carbon composite electrodes are designed with tunable thickness using 3D printing technology for high‐energy‐density supercapacitors. The 3D carbon composite electrodes are composed of the closely stacked and aligned active carbon/carbon nanotube/reduced graphene oxide (AC/CNT/rGO) composite filaments. The AC microparticles are uniformly embedded in the wrinkled CNT/rGO conductive networks without using polymer binders, which contributes to the formation of abundant open and hierarchical pores. The 3D‐printed ultrathick AC/CNT/rGO composite electrode (ten layers) features high areal and volumetric mass loadings of 56.9 mg cm^?2 and 256.3 mg cm^?3, respectively. The symmetric cell assembled with the 3D‐printed thin GO separator and ultrathick AC/CNT/rGO electrodes can possess both high areal and volumetric capacitances of 4.56 F cm^?2 and 10.28 F cm^?3, respectively. Correspondingly, the assembled ultrathick and compact symmetric cell achieves high areal and volumetric energy densities of 0.63 mWh cm^?2 and 1.43 mWh cm^?3, respectively. The all‐component extrusion‐based 3D printing offers a promising strategy for the fabrication of multiscale and multidimensional structures of various high‐energy‐density electrochemical energy storage devices.     

A Water‐Soluble Cu Complex as Molecular Catalyst for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction on Graphene‐Based Electrodes

A structurally simple molecular 1,10‐phenanthroline‐Cu complex on a mesostructured graphene matrix that can be active and selective toward CO₂ reduction over H₂ evolution in an aqueous solution is reported. The active sites consist of Cu(I) center in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry, which enables the adsorption of CO₂ with η¹‐COO‐like configuration to commence the catalysis, with a turnover frequency of ≈45 s^?1 at ?1 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Using in situ infrared spectroelectrochemical investigation, it is demonstrated that the Cu complex can be reversibly heterogenized near the graphene surface via potential control. An increase of electron density in the complex is observed as a result of the interaction from the electric field, which further tunes the electron distribution in the neighboring CO₂. It is also found that the mesostructure of graphene matrix favored CO₂ reduction on the Cu center over hydrogen evolution by limiting mass transport from the bulk solution to the electrode surface.     

Low‐Temperature Growth of Hard Carbon with Graphite Crystal for Sodium‐Ion Storage with High Initial Coulombic Efficiency: A General Method

Practical application of hard carbon materials in sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) is largely limited by their low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE), which may be improved by increasing the graphitization degree. However, biomass‐derived hard carbon is usually nongraphitizable and extremely difficult to graphitize by direct heating even at 3000 °C. Herein, a general strategy is reported for fabricating hard carbon materials with graphite crystals at 1300 °C promoted by external graphite that serves as a crystal template for the growth of graphite crystals. The graphite crystals enable the contacted pseudographitic domains with a high‐level ordered structure, large domain size, and low defects, leading to an enhanced ICE. The obtained hard carbon materials with graphite crystals, using the carbonized eggshell membranes, and sucrose‐derived microsphere as precursors, achieve very high ICE of 89% and 91% with reversible capacity of 310 and 301 mA h g^?1, respectively. Therefore, using external graphite to promote high‐level ordering pseudographitic domains at low temperature is quite useful to improve ICE for SIB applications.     

Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Emerging Solar Cells: Synthesis and Electrode Applications

Emerging solar cells, namely, organic solar cells and perovskite solar cells, are the thin‐film photovoltaics that have light to electricity conversion efficiencies close to that of silicon solar cells while possessing advantages in having additional functionalities, facile‐processability, and low fabrication cost. To maximize these advantages, the electrode components must be replaced by materials that are more flexible and cost‐effective. Researchers around the globe have been looking for the new electrodes that meet these requirements. Among many candidates, single‐walled carbon nanotubes have demonstrated their feasibility as the new alternative to conventional electrodes, such as indium tin oxide and metals. This review discusses various growth methods of single‐walled carbon nanotubes and their electrode applications in thin‐film photovoltaics.