Phenotypic and genomic characterization of Levilactobacillus brevis YT108: a potential probiotic strain capable of metabolizing xylo-oligosaccharides.

Levilactobacillus brevis YT108, identified for its ability to metabolize prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), emerges as a candidate for probiotic use in synbiotic food formulations. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic and genomic traits associated with XOS metabolism in YT108 and to assess its probiotic attributes through whole genome sequencing and in vitro assays. Strain YT108 exhibited robust growth kinetics on XOS as the sole carbon source, with a growth profile comparable to that on glucose, achieving a pH reduction to 4.

Advanced room-temperature cured encapsulant film for crystalline silicon solar modules: enhancing efficiency with luminescent down-shifting, flame retardancy, and UV resistance.

Solar energy sources have garnered significant attention as a renewable energy option. Despite this, the practical power conversion efficiency (PCE) of widely used silicon-based solar cells remains low due to inefficient light utilization. In this study, carbon dots (APCDs) were prepared a hydrothermal method using ammonium polyphosphate and -phenylenediamine, then incorporated into a silicone-acrylic emulsion (CAS) to create a luminescent down-shifting (LDS) layer for solar cells.

Activating Reversible V/V Redox Couple in NASICON-Type Phosphate Cathodes by High Entropy Substitution for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Vanadium-based Na superionic conductor (NASICON) type materials (NaVM(PO), M = transition metals) have attracted extensive attention when used as sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) cathodes due to their stable structures and large Na diffusion channels. However, the materials have poor electrical conductivity and mediocre energy density, which hinder their practical applications. Activating the V/V redox couple (V/V≈4.

Broadband and large surface enhancements of the local electric field enabled by cross-etched hyperbolic metamaterials.

Hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs) have recently attracted significant research attention due to their hyperbolic wavevector iso-frequency contour, which leads to substantial local electric field (EF) enhancements that benefit optical processes, such as the nonlinear generation, quantum science, biomedical sensing, and more. However, three main challenges hinder their practical implementation: the difficulty in exciting their resonant modes using free-space incidence, the weak enhancement of surface EF, and the narrow spectral range of EF enhancements. Herein, we proposed cross-etched HMMs (CeHMMs) as a novel type of HMM, addressing these issues.

OsCYP22 Interacts With OsCSN5 to Affect Rice Root Growth and Auxin Signalling.

Beyond structural support, plant root systems play crucial roles in the absorption of water and nutrients, fertiliser efficiency and crop yield. However, the molecular mechanism regulating root architecture in rice remains largely unknown. In this study, a short-root rice mutant was identified and named Oscyp22.