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A tough nanocomposite solid electrolyte (CPE) with high lithium (Li) transport capability is fabricated from a self-assembled poly(arylene ether sulfone) (PAES)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) matrix and poly(ethylene glycol) functionalized polysilsesquioxane (POSS–PEG) conductive nanofiller. While the tailored CPE possesses facile Li-transporting pathways created by phase-separation between PAES and PEG, Li-ion migrations are even more triggered by Li-selective POSS–PEG and a highly dielectric succinonitrile additive. The CPE exhibits a superior ion conductivity of 2.78 mS cm−1 and Li-transference number of 0.687. Also, this flexible CPE shows a high tensile strength of 3.7 MPa with a Young's modulus of 90.1 MPa and excellent thermal stability up to 220 °C and inflammability due to the presence of the robust PAES matrix reinforced by POSS–PEG. Thanks to the facile Li-transport ability and the effective suppression of Li dendrite growth, the Li–sulfur cell delivers a high discharge capacity of 980.1 mA h g−1 and retains 85.9% of its initial discharge capacity with 98.4% coulombic efficiency after 200 cycles at a 0.2 C-rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study successfully synthesized nano-SiO2 and Nd2O3 materials applying as fertilizers for growth of the Paramignya trimera (Oliv.) Guill. (Rutaceae), a well-known medicinal plant in Vietnam and Thailand for treatment of numerous cancers. The cultivation results indicated that the individual uses of nano-SiO2 and Nd2O3, respectively, induced stem and root growth of the P. trimera. Therefore, applications of nano-Nd2O3 and SiO2 mixture exhibited synergic effects to greatly enhance stem and root growth of the P. trimera. The plant height, root length, stem and root weight of the mixture Nd2O3 and SiO2 exposed plant were greatly higher than those of the individual nano-material exposed plants. The extraction experiments indicated that ostruthin, a valuable medicinal substance, accumulated in the roots of the P. trimera rather than in its stems. The ostruthin content in the root of the Nd2O3 exposed P. trimera was also greatly higher than those in the control and SiO2-exposed plants. This indicated that the Nd2O3 nano-materials not only induced root growth but also aided the accumulation of ostruthin in the roots of the P. trimera. This open new era on combination application of nano-SiO2 and Nd2O3 for growth of the P. Trimera as well as other medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) to Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a causative agent of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease at different salinities. Experimental shrimp were stocked at 40 individuals/tank containing 40 L of 15 ppt seawater. Salinities in the experimental tanks were adjusted to 10, 20, 25, 30, and 35 ppt, and remaining tanks (15 ppt) used as controls. The water temperature was maintained at 28°C. Three days after acclimatization to different salinities, shrimp were challenged with V. parahaemolyticus. Ten days after challenge, shrimp growing in 35 ppt salinity showed higher cumulative mortality than shrimp growing in 10 ppt. No significant difference occurred among the groups exposed to 15, 20, 25, and 30 ppt salinity. The median lethal time of challenged shrimp was 25.31 ± 4.06 hours at 35 ppt and significantly shorter than at 10 ppt (161.19 ± 4.60 hours) and at 15 ppt (91.30 ± 4.25 hours). The results suggest that whiteleg shrimp juveniles are more susceptible to V. parahaemolyticus when reared at 35 ppt salinity than at lower salinities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]