The preferential identification of inert ethane molecules and the corresponding pore-filling mechanism are fundamentally challenging. Although flexible metal-organic frameworks are considered promising candidates to enhance ethane selectivity, their gate-opening pressures for ethane and ethylene are usually similar, which limits further improvement in their separation performance. Here, we report a flexible-robust metal-organic framework, TYUT-18, whose binary pore system combined with the flexible deformation of the framework produces significantly different gate-opening pressures for ethane (0.18 bar) and ethylene (0.48 bar) at 298 K, effectively reducing competitive adsorption in the same pore and improving overall separation efficiency, and achieves the purification of ultra-high purity ethylene (99.995%) with a separation productivity of 15.7 L kg-1. More importantly, we have systematically elucidated the dynamic filling behavior of ethane molecules in the flexible-robust framework system, a process of preferentially occupying the large pore cavities then filling into the small ones was uncovered using a combination of extensive single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and density functional theory calculations. The evolution of this sequential guest-filling mechanism demonstrated the merit of binary pore networks for challenging gas separation tasks and thereby offers valuable insights for the design of highly selective separation materials.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to the human healthcare system due to the loss in efficacy of existing antibiotics, increasing mortality and morbidity, and higher treatment costs. Benzothiazole is a common scaffold in drug design, but no antimicrobial agents based on this scaffold structure are used clinically. In this study, a series of benzothiazole analogues were designed and synthesized as novel antibacterial agents. Among these analogues, compound 7k exhibited potent antibacterial activity against S. aureus (ATCC 29213), MRSA (ATCC BAA41), and MRSA (ATCC 43300) with a MIC value of 4 μg/mL. Under this concentration, compound 7k inhibited more than 80% of S. aureus biofilm formation. Notably, compound 7k showed low cell cytotoxicity (CC50 > 200 μM), hemolytic activity (HC50 > 200 μM), and high selectivity to the bacterial cell membrane. Mechanistic studies revealed that the bacterial cell membrane is the primary drug target of compound 7k. Moreover, compound 7k exhibited negligible skin toxicity and low acute oral toxicity. In vivo animal tests verified that compound 7k promoted the healing of infected skin wounds in mice. Taken together, compound 7k has therapeutic potential for clinical infections caused by MRSA strains.

Liquidambar formosana Hance, a tree species in subtropical broad-leaved forests, exhibits a striking autumn leaf coloration. However, how drought stress during this period influences leaf color change remains poorly understood. In this study, two-year-old seedlings were subjected to four drought gradients. Leaf color parameters, pigment contents, cellular structure, photosynthetic physiology, and hydraulic properties were systematically measured throughout the leaf color transition period. The results show that, with increasing drought severity, leaf red-green coordinate a* increased significantly during early-to-middle stress (S1–S3), while lightness L* and yellow-blue coordinate b* increased at late stress (S4). Chlorophyll (Chl) content continuously decreased, anthocyanins (Ant) peaked at mid-stress, and carotenoids (Car) became enriched at late stress. Leaf cellular structure and hydraulic parameters declined, photosynthetic function was inhibited, and antioxidant enzyme activities showed an initial increase followed by a decrease. Correlation analysis and Random Forest models revealed that L* was strongly associated with superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, carotenoid-to-chlorophyll (Car/Chl) ratio, and net photosynthetic rate (Pn); a* was closely linked to osmotic potential at full saturation (Ψsat), relative water content at the turgor loss point (RWCtlp), SOD activity, Car/Chl ratio, anthocyanin-to-chlorophyll (Ant/Chl) ratio, Ant content, transpiration rate (Tr), Pn, and main vein thickness (Mvt), while b* was primarily correlated with Ψsat, Car/Chl ratio, SOD activity, Ant/Chl ratio, and Pn. These statistical associations suggest multiple physiological processes are involved in leaf color change. Based on these findings, we propose a hypothetical sequence: drought initially disrupts leaf water status, leading to structural atrophy and hydraulic decline, followed by photosynthetic inhibition, activated antioxidant defense, and altered pigment accumulation, which are correlated with the sequential leaf color transition from green to red to yellow-orange in this species.

Tandem duplication of tailoring enzymes allows evolutionary innovation that diversifies plant specialized metabolism. Here, we present an interesting example of how tandem duplicated UDP-glycosyltransferases undergo neofunctionalization and shape the chemical diversity of triterpenoid saponins in the Cucurbitaceae family. A chromosome-level genome of Siraitia grosvenorii was assembled and aligned with multiple cucurbit genomes, revealing a specific UGT73AM tandem duplication responsible for regio-selective glycosylation (e.g. the rare 1,4-linked disaccharide) of diverse saponins such as mogrosides, ginsenosides, and momordicines. Comparative genomics depicted the evolutionary trajectory of a universal saponin-biosynthesizing UGT73 tandem arrays syntenously preserved across core eudicots, where lineage-specific UGT copies contribute to distinct metabolic phenotypes. A crystal structure of SgUGT73AM30 (mogrol 25-O-glycosyltransferase) in complex with UDP and mogrol was obtained to elucidate the molecular basis of the regio-specific decoration on vicinal diol of the substrates. Altogether, these findings provide insights into tandem duplication-driven diversification of glycosyltransferases and lay the foundation for engineered glycosylation of valuable triterpenoid saponins.

Salt stress is widely recognized as a major abiotic factor constraining global crop growth and productivity, while soil salinization continues to pose substantial challenges to agricultural sustainability and food security. Salt-tolerant endophytic fungi, serving as key functional components within plant-microbe symbiotic systems, exhibit considerable capacity to improve plant resilience under adverse conditions. In this study, the salt-tolerant fungal strain Aspergillus terreus DZ-Q1-1, originally isolated as an endophyte from the roots of the halophyte Sesuvium portulacastrum, was selected as the experimental strain. By means of co-cultivation with maize seedlings, its regulatory roles and the associated molecular mechanisms involved in maize growth modulation and salt tolerance enhancement were systematically examined. The results demonstrated that inoculation with strain DZ-Q1-1 exerted a dual regulatory effect by simultaneously stimulating growth and strengthening salt tolerance in maize seedlings. Under non-stress conditions, the tryptophan metabolic pathway and plant hormone signal transduction pathway were activated, accompanied by upregulated expression of auxin synthesis-related genes (IAA24, ARFTF27, and saur48) and tryptophan biosynthesis-related genes (cl10273_1a, LOC103630607, and IDP2427a). Consequently, seedling fresh weight, plant height, and root length were increased by 12.58%, 9.18%, and 18.92%, respectively. When co-cultivated with maize seedlings under 250 mM NaCl stress, DZ-Q1-1 inoculation significantly alleviated salt-induced growth inhibition, leading to increases of 25.28%, 44.59%, and 15.81% in fresh weight, plant height, and root length, respectively, compared to the salt-stressed control. Under salt stress conditions, DZ-Q1-1 induced extensive transcriptional reprogramming in maize leaves. Specifically, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities were markedly enhanced, thereby mitigating oxidative damage linked to reactive oxygen species accumulation, decreasing leaf relative electrical conductivity, and facilitating the recovery of chlorophyll synthesis. Similarly, cellular membrane structural integrity was maintained via enhanced expression of key genes in the sphingolipid metabolism and glycosphingolipid biosynthesis pathways (IDD18, ONM22238, and LOC100191284). Moreover, ionic homeostasis was effectively regulated, leading to increases of 44.65% and 67.86% in the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in maize shoots and roots, respectively, which substantially alleviated Na⁺ toxicity. Collectively, these findings confirm that DZ-Q1-1 enhances maize salt tolerance and promotes growth via coordinated physiological regulation and molecular reprogramming, thereby providing valuable microbial resources for saline-alkali soil improvement and offering a theoretical basis for elucidating stress-resistant symbiotic mechanisms between plants and endophytic fungi.

Through germplasm screening, we previously identified Chinese cabbage line J405, which displays strong resistance to black spot disease caused by Alternaria brassicicola. To elucidate the molecular basis of this resistance, we generated a chromosome-level genome assembly of J405 and compared it with other Brassica species. We further characterized BraBIK1, a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase family gene, and analyzed its promoter activity. The J405 genome is 440 Mb in size and encodes 49,923 protein-coding genes, with transposable elements comprising 57.65% of the genome. The 10 assembled chromosomes harbor abundant secondary metabolite biosynthetic clusters and R-gene clusters, many of which exhibit pathogen-responsive expression. Each chromosome also contains numerous SSR loci, with A/T and AT/TA motifs predominating. Expansion of gene families related to oxidoreductases, transferases, and basal metabolism was observed in J405. Functional assays demonstrated that BraBIK1 overexpression enhances resistance to A. brassicicola, whereas silencing reduces resistance. BraBIK1 activates genes associated with both PTI and ETI immune responses, as well as multiple hormone signaling pathways. Subcellular localization confirmed BraBIK1 at the plasma membrane. GUS reporter assays showed broad expression throughout Arabidopsis thaliana and induction by various phytohormones. Taken together, the expression of secondary metabolite genes and R genes, along with the functional contribution of BraBIK1 and expansion of related families, likely underpins the exceptional disease resistance of J405. In this study, we established a chromosome-level genome assembly of Chinese cabbage J405, developed 127,343 genome-wide SSR markers, and functionally validated BraBIK1. These results provide valuable resources for genetic improvement of vegetable crop resilience and quality.

BACKGROUND:Black spot disease severely constrains Chinese cabbage production. METHODS:To elucidate the defence mechanisms underlying this response, transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles were analysed in leaves of the Chinese cabbage line 904B at 24 h post-inoculation (hpi) with Alternaria brassicicola. In parallel, gene silencing and overexpression were conducted for BraPBL, an RLCK family member in Chinese cabbage. RESULTS:The Chinese cabbage line 904B exhibited marked suppression of cytokinin and auxin signalling, coupled with enhanced expression of genes involved in ethylene and jasmonic acid signalling. Multiple secondary metabolites exhibited differential changes, specifically the sterol compound 4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholest-7-en-3beta-ol was significantly upregulated in the treatment group. These metabolites were primarily enriched in the indole alkaloid metabolism and glycerolipid metabolism pathways. Concurrently, BraPBL exhibits increasing expression with prolonged infection. BraPBL overexpression enhances resistance to black spot disease, whereas silencing reduces resistance. Subcellular localization confirmed BraPBL at the plasma membrane. Overexpression of BraPBL upregulates the reactive oxygen species-related gene RBOH and the signal transduction-related gene MEKK1, whilst simultaneously activating the JA pathway. CONCLUSIONS:Overall, 904B activates defence-related hormones while suppressing growth and development-related hormones during early infection. Secondary metabolites, particularly the sterol compound 4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholest-7-en-3beta-ol, play key roles in defence, and BraPBL functions as a black spot disease-related defence gene in Chinese cabbage.

Camellia drupifera is an important economic oil crop and its quality is closely linked to its triterpenoid content, notably squalene, which exhibits significant potential in pharmaceutical applications. To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of squalene biosynthesis in C. drupifera with a view to improving its quality and efficiency of production, we constructed a methyl-jasmonate-induced cDNA yeast library. Using the promoter of squalene synthase (SQS) as bait, two zinc finger-homeodomain transcription factors, ZF-HD1 and ZF-HD9, were identified. Under methyl-jasmonate treatment, the expression of ZF-HD1/9, MYC2, and SQS was up-regulated, promoting squalene synthesis. Dual-luciferase reporter and EMSAs confirmed that ZF-HD1/9 directly bind to and activate the SQS promoter. Nanoparticle-mediated dsRNAi demonstrated that knock down of ZF-HD1/9 down-regulates key structural genes and significantly reduces the levels of squalene, 2,3-oxidosqualene, and teasaponins. By establishing an Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy-root transformation system in C. drupifera, we confirmed the role of ZF-HD1/9 as positive regulators of squalene synthesis. This study is the first to identify ZF-HD1/9 as novel transcription factors involved in the complex regulatory network of squalene biosynthesis in C. drupifera, and expands the functional scope of this transcription factor family in plants. The hairy-root induction system that we have developed also provides a foundational platform for gene functional studies and high-quality germplasm development in this species.

Exogenous L-phenylalanine application enhances cadmium (Cd) uptake and translocation in Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), offering a potential strategy for the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils. This study investigated the role of exogenous L-phenylalanine in Cd uptake, translocation, and detoxification in Kentucky bluegrass. We employ a comprehensive approach combining integrated phenotypic analysis, antioxidant characteristics, Cd content determination, full-length transcriptome sequencing, transcriptomic analysis, proteome, and metabolome analyses to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the long-distance Cd transport promotion by exogenous L-phenylalanine in Kentucky bluegrass, and to validate the function of the candidate gene PpNAS in Arabidopsis thaliana. L-phenylalanine at concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 10 mg · L-1 induced the Cd content in the leaves by 21%, 45%, and 64%. However, the malondialdehyde content was not significantly different under 1 mg · L-1 L-phenylalanine and Cd treatment compared to that under Cd treatment alone, but the Cd content significantly increased. In addition, 1 mg · L-1 L-phenylalanine and Cd treatment improved the antioxidant enzyme activity and biomass of Kentucky bluegrass under Cd stress. L-phenylalanine application upregulated genes associated with Cd uptake (HIPPs), long-distance translocation (HMAs, YSLs, and NAS), and vacuolar compartmentalization pathways (OPTs, ABCCs, and MTPS). Overexpression of PpNAS in Arabidopsis thaliana increased the Cd content in leaves and roots, supporting the positive role of L-phenylalanine in long-distance Cd transport. These results demonstrate that exogenous L-phenylalanine targets multiple metabolic pathways and Cd transporters to regulate Cd redistribution in Kentucky bluegrass, providing new strategies for the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils utilizing L-phenylalanine.

Propionate and butyrate are key volatile fatty acids (VFAs) that tend to accumulate during anaerobic digestion when the substrate is overloaded, which lowers the methane production and can even cause the digestion process to fail. The anaerobic digestion and microbial electrolysis cell integrated system (AD-MEC) has been shown to effectively degrade VFAs, but its effectiveness at degrading propionate and butyrate specifically needs further investigation. This study systematically evaluated the effectiveness of AD-MEC at overcoming the limitations caused by propionate and butyrate accumulation in terms of the degradation kinetics of the substrate, methanogenesis performance, electron transfer pathway, and dynamics of the microbial population. AD-MEC with 4000 mg/L propionate and butyrate showed that AD-MEC effectively increased the methane production (171.52 % and 107.02 %) and energy recovery rate (32.98 %-40.40 % and 35.38 %-42.87 %) while decreasing the actual Gibbs free energy (29.56 %-51.75 %) compared with the traditional anaerobic digestion. The substrate conversion rate rapidly increased from startup to a digestion time of 26 h after which it gradually slowed down. Microbial community analysis revealed that selectively enriched syntrophic fatty acid-oxidizing bacteria (SFOB) interacted in a syntrophic manner with electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) in the anode biofilm while a single methanogen (i.e., Methanobacterium) dominated in the cathode biofilm, which could promote the establishment of a direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) pathway that would improve the methanogenesis performance. This study provides new insights into the spatial dynamics of the microbial community in AD-MEC and how they affect digestion and methanogenesis.

The impact of seasonal short-term drought on plant physiology and resilience is crucial for conservation and management strategies. This study investigated drought stress effects on growth, photosynthetic capacity, and physiological responses of Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) seedlings in Guangxi province, China. Fertilized potted plants underwent continuous drought treatments to assess varying water supply effects. Treatments included normal water supply (CK), light drought (D1), moderate drought (D2), and severe drought (D3). Physiological indicators including net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) were measured. Additionally, the stomatal limitation value (Ls) was calculated using the formula Ls = 1-Ci/Ca, and water use efficiency (WUE) was computed as Pn/Tr. Furthermore, parameters such as PIABS (Performance Index based on absorbed light energy), WK (the ratio of variable fluorescence FK at the K point to the amplitude FO-FJ), VJ (the ratio of variable fluorescence FJ at the J point to the amplitude FO-FP), ΔI/I0 (the relative amplitude of the 820 nm light absorption curve), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured to evaluate the impact of drought stress on various physiological processes and antioxidant enzyme activities. Results showed significant decreases in base diameter growth (GD) and seedling height growth (GH) with increasing drought stress. Notably, moderate (D2) and severe (D3) drought treatments led to negative GD values. GD decreased by 23.79%, 114.85%, and 175.50% for D1, D2, and D3 treatments, respectively, while reductions of 40.00%, 73.33%, and 90.00% in GD were observed compared to the control (CK). Pn decreased significantly across treatments, with D1CK>D2>D3. Light energy transmission to PSI by the unit reaction center (REo/RC) initially increased then decreased, significantly smaller in D3 compared to D1. Conversely, heat dissipation absorbed by the unit reaction center (DIo/RC) increased notably in D3 compared to D1 and CK. PIABS, WK, VJ, and ΔI/I0 decreased over time, while Rubisco enzyme activity decreased, while proline (Pro) levels increased. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels significantly increased during D1 treatment but decreased with D2 and D3 treatments. Overall, drought severity had varying impacts on Cinnamomum camphora growth and photosynthetic structure, with D1 treatment maintaining normal growth and metabolic activities, while D2 and D3 treatments resulted in severe membrane damage, rendering seedlings essentially unable to survive. These findings provide a theoretical basis for implementing water management practices and conservation strategies for camphor seedlings.

Lilium davidii var. unicolor cotton is a famous edible lily with large-scale cultivation in China. To determine the cause of leaf yellowing in L. davidii var. unicolor, the photosynthetic characteristics and leaf structure of plants at different yellowing levels were studied. The results revealed that the chlorophyll content in the leaves of L. davidii var. unicolor decreased significantly as the degree of yellowing increased. Variation in the content of chlorophyll precursors revealed that in yellow-leafed plants, chlorophyll synthesis was impeded at the stage when coprogen is converted into Proto IX. Compared with those of normal plants, the thicknesses of the leaves, upper epidermis, palisade tissue, and spongy tissue of yellow-leafed plants were significantly lower. Distinct plasmolysis was observed in mesophyll cells. The cytomembrane and tonoplast were damaged. The number of chloroplasts and starch grains in the mesophyll cells of yellow-leafed plants decreased. The volume of chloroplasts also decreased, and structural damage occurred. Granum lamella failed to stack into granum, which led to a decrease in or disappearance of granum thylakoid. The variation in chloroplast structure and the reduction in chlorophyll content led to a further decrease in photosynthesis in yellow-leafed L. davidii var. unicolor plants. The photosynthetic parameters [net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr)] and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters [maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) (Fv/Fm), photochemical quantum yield of PSII [Y(II)], and electron transport rate (ETR)] decreased significantly. The Fv/Fm, Y(II), ETR, and photochemical chemical quenching were significantly positively correlated with Pn, Gs, and Tr, but highly negatively correlated with intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and vapor pressure saturation deficit (VPD). The results of this study provide important information for further studies of the response mechanism of plants to leaf yellowing. In addition, this study provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and recovery of yellow-leafed plants, which are important for increasing the yield and quality of L. davidii var. unicolor bulbs.

The bamboo species Dendrocalamus × mutatus T.P.Yi B.X.Li (D. mutatus) holds great economic and ecological importance in China. Although previously D. mutatus was presumed to be a hybrid of Bambusa grandis and Bambusa pervariabilis, its taxonomic status has remained uncertain. Therefore, we combined plastomes and nuclear SSR datasets, in addition to morphological data, to refine our understanding of the taxonomic status of D. mutatus. The chloroplast genome of D. mutatus exhibits a typical quadripartite structure, comprising a large single-copy region (LSC), a small single-copy region (SSC), and two inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb), containing a total length of 139,432 bp. Comparative genomic analyses revealed extremely high similarity between D. mutatus and D. yunnanicus, differing by only two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In contrast, a greater divergence was observed when compared with D. sikkimensis (six SNPs and one four-base insertion). Phylogenetic reconstruction using the Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference method based on chloroplast genomes strongly supported the close relationship between D. mutatus and D. yunnanicus, while distinctly separating them from the previously proposed parent species Bambusa grandis and Bambusa pervariabilis. Morphological comparisons further confirmed the similarity between D. mutatus and D. yunnanicus, particularly with respect to the absence of conspicuous culm sheath auricles and oral setae, as well as the lack of fimbriate hairs on the ligule. Nuclear SSR marker analyses also showed identical predominant allele at the SSR 23 and 24 loci between D. mutatus and D. yunnanicus. Collectively, the comprehensive integration of chloroplast genome data, nuclear SSR evidence, and morphological observations supports the conclusion that D. mutatus is a synonym of D. yunnanicus rather than a hybrid of Bambusa grandis and Bambusa pervariabilis. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of the chloroplast genome of D. mutatus, providing valuable insights that enhance the taxonomic resolution and conservation strategies for bamboo species.

Photosensitizers (PSs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties have gained popularity for treating bacterial infections. However, most AIE PSs have a poor water solubility and low selectivity, limiting their applications in biological systems. Herein, we report a water-soluble and bacteria-targeting AIE PS that exhibits minimum cytotoxicity toward human cells with and without light irradiation. Acting as a narrow-spectrum antibacterial agent without light irradiation, TPA-1 eradicates planktonic Staphylococcus aureus and inhibits biofilm formation by targeting the S. aureus membrane, inhibiting the supercoiling activity of S. aureus DNA gyrase, and causing the downregulation of multiple essential proteins. Upon light irradiation, TPA-1 generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause membrane damage, resulting in excellent antiplanktonic and antibiofilm activities against S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, significantly reducing the number of viable bacteria in biofilms and promoting wound healing in vivo.

Photocatalytic urea synthesis, utilizing N-2 and CO2 as feedstock and sustainable solar energy, represents an environmentally friendly and promising alternative strategy. However, the conventional unidirectional gas phase co-reduction techniques typically employes pose stringent demands for the design of key catalysts, reaction control, mass transfer, and other aspects, due to the disparity in physical properties, structure, and catalytic kinetics between N-2 and CO2. Herein, Ru-TiO2 is synthesized and employed as an effective catalyst for urea photo-synthesis through a nitric acid-mediated pathway combining nitrogen oxidation and subsequent kinetically advantageous nitrate and CO2 co-reduction. A urea yield of 24.95 mu mol h(-1) g(cat)(-1). is obtained through an innovative intermittent illumination method, AQE values of 4.7% and 6.3% at 380 and 420 nm, respectively. The remarkable photo-activity is attributed to its unique oxygen vacancy-anchored Ru nanostructure (Ru-O4Ti1), which effectively activates inert N-2 molecules to minish the disparity of orbital energy levels, facilitates the formation of crucial *NN(OH) intermediates, and serves as an "electronic pump" to avoid electronegativity effect for facilitating electron transfer from nitrogen to TiO2 support for urea photosynthesis. This study presents groundbreaking insights for nitrogen oxidation activation and provides brand-new ideas for the direct resource utilization of nitrogen.

Spintronic devices are regarded as prime candidates for addressing the demands of emergent applications such as in-memory computing and the Internet of Things, characterized by requirements for high speed, low energy consumption, and elevated storage density. Among these, spin valves, serving as fundamental structures of magnetic random-access memory, have garnered substantial attention in recent years. This study introduces an all van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure composed of Fe3GeTe2 (FGT)/tellurene/FGT, wherein a thin layer of Weyl semiconductor Te is interposed between two ferromagnetic FGT layers. The proposed configuration exhibits a characteristic spin valve effect at temperatures below 160 K. This effect is attributed to spin-dependent transport and spin-dependent scattering phenomena occurring at the interfaces of the constituent materials. Furthermore, as temperature decreases, the magnetoresistance ratio (MR) of the device increases, indicative of the heightened polarization ratio of FGT, with an MR of 0.43% achievable as the temperature approaches 5 K. This investigation elucidates the underlying operational mechanisms of two-dimensional spin valve devices and lays the groundwork for the realization of spin-based integrated circuits.

This study is aimed to investigate the impact of low-temperature treatment on growth, antioxidant enzyme activity, flowering physiology and transcriptome change of the cultivated strawberry, cultivar 'Baiyu'. The runner plants were subjected to 16±1°C as low-temperature for 5, 10, and 15 days. By comparison with the plants just before treatment (at day 0), it was shown that during the 15-day low temperature treatment, plant height, leaf area, and dry weight significantly, amino acid and soluble sugar contents all decreased with concurrent calyx formation, while the levels of MDA, activities of SOD and CAT increased significantly. Flower bud differentiation began before day 5, as evidenced by significant upregulation in expression of several known flower -related genes including FaAP1, FaSVP, FaCO1, and FaLFY. Tissues from plants treated for 5d and 0d at 16±1°C were used for transcriptome analysis and the results showed that significant changes in more than 20179 genes under low-temperature treatment, among which, the expression of genes in metabolic processes, catalytic activity and binding of the molecular function, signal transduction and encoding transcription factors were mostly affected.

Abstract Background Horsfieldia hainanensis Merr., an indicator species of China’s humid tropical rainforests, is endangered due to difficulties with population regeneration. In this study, the biological characteristics and germination adaptability of the seeds were studied for the first time, in order to provide a basis for analyzing the causes of endangerment and strategies for the artificial cultivation of H. hainanensis. The effects of biological characteristics (population, arils, seed coat, seed weight, seed moisture content) and environmental factors (temperature, light, drought, substrate, burial depth) on seed germination and seedling growth of H. hainanensis were studied. Results and discussion The fruits were found to be capsules containing seeds wrapped in a pericarp and fleshy aril, which provide protection and assist in seed dispersal, but also pose risks to the seeds, as the peel and fleshy aril can become moldy under high temperature and humidity conditions. There were significant differences in fruit morphology and germination characteristics among different populations, and the seed quality of populations in Niandian village, Daxin County, Chongzuo City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was better. The arils significantly inhibited seed germination, the germination of large seeds was better, and seedling growth from medium seeds was superior. H. hainanensis seeds were sensitive to dehydration, and intolerant to drought and low temperature, which is typical of recalcitrant seeds. The seeds are suitable for germination on a moist substrate surface with good water retention and breathability at 30–35℃.

In the human genome, heterozygous sites refer to genomic positions with a different allele or nucleotide variant on the maternal and paternal chromosomes. Resolving these allelic differences by chromosomal copy, also known as phasing, is achievable on a short-read sequencer when using a library preparation method that captures long-range genomic information. TELL-Seq is a library preparation that captures long-range genomic information with the aid of molecular identifiers (barcodes). The same barcode is used to tag the reads derived from the same long DNA fragment within a range of up to 200 kilobases (kb), generating linked-reads. This strategy can be used to phase an entire genome. Here, we introduce a TELL-Seq protocol developed for targeted applications, enabling the phasing of enriched loci of varying sizes, purity levels, and heterozygosity. To validate this protocol, we phased 2–200 kb loci enriched with different methods: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated excision coupled with pulse-field electrophoresis for the longest fragments, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated protection from exonuclease digestion for mid-size fragments, and long PCR for the shortest fragments. All selected loci have known clinical relevance: BRCA1, BRCA2, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, APC, PMS2, SCN5A-SCN10A, and PKI3CA. Collectively, the analyses show that TELL-Seq can accurately phase 2–200 kb targets using a short-read sequencer.

Pithiness is one of the physiological diseases of radishes, which is accompanied by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the sponging of parenchyma tissue in the fleshy roots. A respiratory burst oxidase homolog (Rboh, also known as NADPH oxidase) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the production of ROS in plants. To understand the role of Rboh genes in radish pithiness, herein, 10 RsRboh gene families were identified in the genome of Raphanus sativus using Blastp and Hmmer searching methods and were subjected to basic functional analyses such as phylogenetic tree construction, chromosomal localization, conserved structural domain analysis, and promoter element prediction. The expression profiles of RsRbohs in five stages (Pithiness grade = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively) of radish pithiness were analyzed. The results showed that 10 RsRbohs expressed different levels during the development of radish pithiness. Except for RsRbohB and RsRbohE, the expression of other members increased and reached the peak at the P2 (Pithiness grade = 2) stage, among which RsRbohD1 showed the highest transcripts. Then, the expression of 40 genes related to RsRbohD1 and pithiness were analyzed. These results can provide a theoretical basis for improving pithiness tolerance in radishes.