Polysaccharides from wild morels alter gut microbiota, increase the production of SCFAs and promote the proliferation of lymphocytes in mice.

A novel organic-inorganic hybrid flame retardant of PGS@B-N prepared via the decoration of palygorskite (PGS) by boric acid (B) and dodecylamine (N) was incorporated with ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) to improve its flame retardance. The structure and morphology of PGS@B-N were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The flame retardance and burning behavior of EVA/PGS@B-N/EG (expandable graphite) composite were studied through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test (UL-94), and cone calorimeter test (CCT). Results of UL-94 and LOI tests indicated that the flame retardance of EVA/PGS@B-N/EG was better than EVA/PGS/EG flame-retardant composites.heat release rate (PHRR) of EVA with the addition of 30 wt% PGS@B-N/EG was reduced about 25% comparing with EVA with equivalent PGS/EG. The heat release rate (HRR), total release rate (THR), smoke production rate (SPR), and mass loss rate (MLR) of the composite were improved significantly. The TGA data gave that the thermal stability of EVA/PGS@B-N/EG was also well improved at high temperatures.SEM images of cryogenically fractured surfaces illustrated that EVA/PGS@B-N/EG had better interfacial interaction comparing with those of EVA/PGS/EG.

The Qinling Mountains are the geographic boundary between northern and southern China. In our current study, we investigated the biodiversity of macrofungi in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi and discovered a new species, Psilocybe ningshanensis.                 The phylogenetic tree shows its position in a group composed by P. hopii and P. mescaleroensis. They differ in some macro- and microscopic features, such as the presence or absence of an annulus or veil, the surface characteristics of the pileus, and the sizes and shapes of basidiospores and cheilocystidia. In addition, they are geographically distanced. P. ningshanensis was first discovered in Ningshan, China, whereas P. hopii and P. mescaleroensis were both found in the United States. In this article, we introduce the new species with illustrated description, ITS sequences, and comparisons with similar species.