Heteroatom doping-induced formation of closed pores for high-performance sodium storage hard carbon anodes.

A resin-based hard carbon with rich closed pores is prepared by the in situ reconstruction of cavities formed after heteroatoms evaporated during a high-temperature carbonization process. Various characterization results confirm that rich defect sites and micropores and enlarged layer spacing in hard carbon promote Na+ transport and facilitate high-performance Na+ storage.

Artificial Intelligence and High-Throughput Computational Workflows Empowering the Fast Screening of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Hydrogen Storage.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are one of the most promising hydrogen-storing materials due to their rich specific surface area, adjustable topological and pore structures, and modified functional groups. In this work, we developed automatically parallel computational workflows for high-throughput screening of ∼11,600 MOFs from the CoRE database and discovered 69 top-performing MOF candidates with work capacity greater than 1.00 wt % at 298.5 K and a pressure swing between 100 and 0.1 bar, which is at least twice that of MOF-5. In particular, ZITRUP, OQFAJ01, WANHOL, and VATYIZ showed excellent hydrogen storage performance of 4.48, 3.16, 2.19, and 2.16 wt %. We specifically analyzed the relationship between pore-limiting diameter, largest cavity diameter, void fraction, open metal sites, metal elements or nonmetallic atomic elements, and deliverable capacity and found that not only geometrical and physical features of crystalline but also chemical properties of adsorbate sites determined the H2 storage capacity of MOFs at room temperature. It is highlighted that we first proposed the modified crystal graph convolutional neural networks by incorporating the obtained geometrical and physical features into the convolutional high-dimensional feature vectors of period crystal structures for predicting H2 storage performance, which can improve the prediction accuracy of the neural network from the former mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.064 wt % to the current MAE of 0.047 wt % and shorten the consuming time to about 10-4 times of high-throughput computational screening. This work opens a new avenue toward high-throughput screening of MOFs for H2 adsorption capacity, which can be extended for the screening and discovery of other functional materials.

A highly stretchable smart dressing for wound infection monitoring and treatment.

Smart dressings integrated with bioelectronics have attracted considerable attention and become promising solutions for skin wound management. However, due to the mechanical distinction between human body and the interface of electronics, previous smart dressings often suffered obvious degradation in electrical performance when attached to the soft and curvilinear wound sites. Here, we report a stretchable dressing integrated with temperature and pH sensor for wound status monitoring, as well as an electrically controlled drug delivery system for infection treatment. The wound dressing was featured with the deployment of liquid metal for seamless connection between rigid electrical components and gold particle-based electrodes, achieving a stretchable soft-hard interface. Stretching tests showed that both the sensing system and drug delivery system exhibited good stretchability and long-term stable conductivity with the resistance change rate less than 6 % under 50 % strain. Animal experiments demonstrated that the smart dressing was capable of detecting bacterial infection via the biomarkers of temperature and pH value and the infection factors of wound were significantly improved with therapy through electrically controlled antibiotics releasing. This proof-of-concept prototype has potential to significantly improve management of the wound, especially those with dynamic strain.

Straight intramedullary MultiLoc nails for displaced proximal humeral fractures: health status, radiographic results, clinical outcome, and complications.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of the displaced proximal humerus fractures (PHF) still facing a lot of unsolved problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of MultiLoc nails for the treatment of PHF and present outcomes of patients with different Neer's classification and reduction quality. METHODS: Adult patients with PHFs were recruited and treated with MultiLoc nail. Intraoperative data, radiographic and functional outcomes, as well as occurrence of postoperative complications were assessed. RESULTS: 48 patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in this study. The DASH Score were 32.2 ± 3.1 points at 12 months, and 37.3 ± 2.5 points at the final follow-up. The mean ASES score at 12 months and final follow-up were 74.4 ± 6.2 and 78.8 ± 5.1, respectively. The mean CM Score in all 48 patients reached 68 ± 6.4 points at the final follow-up, relative side related CM Score 75.2 ± 7.7% of contralateral extremity. The incidence rate of complications was 20.8%. Patients with fracture mal-union, adhesive capsulitis were observed but no secondary surgeries were performed. There was no significantly difference of DASH Score 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up among patients with different Neer's classification or reduction quality. However, functional outcomes such as ASES score and CM score were significantly influenced by severity of fracture and the quality of fracture reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that MultiLoc nails is well suited for proximal humeral fractures, with satisfactory health status recovery, good radiographic results, positive clinical outcomes and low rates of complications. The treatment for four part PHF still faces great challenges. Accurate fracture reduction was an important factor for good functional result.

AI-Enabled Portable E-Nose Regression Predicting Harmful Molecules in a Gas Mixture.

The biomimetic electronic nose (e-nose) technology is a novel technology used for the identification and monitoring of complex gas molecules, and it is gaining significance in this field. However, due to the complexity and multiplicity of gas mixtures, the accuracy of electronic noses in predicting gas concentrations using traditional regression algorithms is not ideal. This paper presents a solution to the difficulty by introducing a fusion network model that utilizes a transformer-based multikernel feature fusion (TMKFF) module combined with a 1DCNN_LSTM network to enhance the accuracy of regression prediction for gas mixture concentrations using a portable electronic nose. The experimental findings demonstrate that the regression prediction performance of the fusion network is significantly superior to that of single models such as convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM). The present study demonstrates the efficacy of our fusion network model in accurately predicting the concentrations of multiple target gases, such as SO2, NO2, and CO, in a gas mixture. Specifically, our algorithm exhibits substantial benefits in enhancing the prediction performance of low-concentration SO2 gas, which is a noteworthy achievement. The determination coefficient (R2) values of 93, 98, and 99% correspondingly demonstrate that the model is very capable of explaining the variation in the concentration of the target gases. The root-mean-square errors (RMSE) are 0.0760, 0.0711, and 3.3825, respectively, while the mean absolute errors (MAE) are 0.0507, 0.0549, and 2.5874, respectively. These results indicate that the model has relatively small prediction errors. The method we have developed holds significant potential for practical applications in detecting atmospheric pollution detection and other molecular detection areas in complex environments.

Prolonged Cadmium Exposure and Osteoclastogenesis: A Mechanistic Mouse and in Vitro Study.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic and widespread environmental oxidative stressor that causes a myriad of health problems, including osteoporosis and bone damage. Although nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and its Cap 'n' Collar and basic region Leucine Zipper (CNC-bZIP) family member nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 1 (NRF1) coordinate various stress responses by regulating the transcription of a variety of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes, they play distinct roles in bone metabolism and remodeling. However, the precise roles of both transcription factors in bone loss induced by prolonged Cd exposure remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying Cd-induced bone loss, focusing mainly on the roles of NRF2 and NRF1 in osteoclastogenesis provoked by Cd. METHODS: Male wild-type (WT), global Nrf2-knockout (Nrf2-/-) and myeloid-specific Nrf2 knockout [Nrf2(M)-KO] mice were administered Cd (50 or 100 ppm) via drinking water for 8 or 16 wk, followed by micro-computed tomography, histological analyses, and plasma biochemical testing. Osteoclastogenesis was evaluated using bone marrow-derived osteoclast progenitor cells (BM-OPCs) and RAW 264.7 cells in the presence of Cd (10 or 20 nM) with a combination of genetic and chemical modulations targeting NRF2 and NRF1. RESULTS: Compared with relevant control mice, global Nrf2-/- or Nrf2(M)-KO mice showed exacerbated bone loss and augmented osteoclast activity following exposure to 100 ppm Cd in drinking water for up to 16 wk. In vitro osteoclastogenic analyses suggested that Nrf2-deficient BM-OPCs and RAW 264.7 cells responded more robustly to low levels of Cd (up to 20 nM) with regard to osteoclast differentiation compared with WT cells. Further mechanistic studies supported a compensatory up-regulation of long isoform of NRF1 (L-NRF1) and subsequent induction of nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin dependent 1 (NFATc1) as the key molecular events in the Nrf2 deficiency-worsened and Cd-provoked osteoclastogenesis. L-Nrf1 silenced (via lentiviral means) Nrf2-knockdown (KD) RAW cells exposed to Cd showed dramatically different NFATc1 and subsequent osteoclastogenesis outcomes compared with the cells of Nrf2-KD alone exposed to Cd, suggesting a mitigating effect of the Nrf1 silencing. In addition, suppression of reactive oxygen species by exogenous antioxidants N-acetyl-l-cysteine (2 mM) and mitoquinone mesylate (MitoQ; 0.2µM) mitigated the L-NRF1-associated effects on NFATc1-driven osteoclastogenesis outcomes in Cd-exposed Nrf2-KD cells. CONCLUSIONS: This in vivo and in vitro study supported the authors' hypothesis that Cd exposure caused bone loss, in which NRF2 and L-NRF1 responded to Cd and osteoclastogenic stimuli in a cooperative, but contradictive, manner to coordinate Nfatc1 expression, osteoclastogenesis and thus bone homeostasis. Our study suggests a novel strategy targeting NRF2 and L-NRF1 to prevent and treat the bone toxicity of Cd. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13849.

Optimization of High-Activity earthworm fibrinolytic enzyme extraction methods and protein component analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Optimize the extraction process of earthworm fibrinolytic enzyme. METHODS: Chinese common earthworms underwent a series of purification processes, including grinding, salting out, hydrophobic medium chromatography, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and ion exchange chromatography, to obtain purified earthworm fibrinolytic enzyme. RESULTS: Utilizing Pheretima aspergillum as the starting material, we discovered that the specific activity of lumbrokinase extracted via ammonium sulfate precipitation was 58 U/mg, noticeably surpassing that achieved through heat precipitation and ethanol precipitation methods. After undergoing two rounds of chromatographic separations employing hydrophobic affinity chromatography and anion exchange chromatography, the specific activity of the lumbrokinase protein soared to 9267 U/mg, significantly exceeding the 3,178 U/mg specific activity attained through industrial extraction methods. DISCUSSION: The development of a novel crude extraction method for lumbrokinase protein can significantly boost its activity and purity. The discovery of a high-efficiency purification method and the identification of protein components within highly active lumbrokinase pave the way for further investigations into these proteins.

Electrospun PEO/PEG fibers as potential flexible phase change materials for thermal energy regulation.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is widely used as phase change materials (PCM) due to their versatile working temperature and high latent heat. However, the low molecular weight of PEG prevents from the formation of flexible microfibers, and the common leakage problem associated with solid-liquid PCM further hinders their applications in various fields. To address these challenges, polyethylene oxide (PEO) is incorporated as the supporting matrix for PEG, leading to a successful electrospinning of fibrous mats. Due to the similar chemical nature of both PEG and PEO, the blended composites show great compatibility and produce uniform electrospun fibers. The thermal properties of these fibers are characterized by DSC and TGA, and supercooling for the PEG(1050) component is effectively reduced by 75-85%. The morphology changes before and after leakage test are analyzed by SEM. Tensile and DMA tests show that the presence of PEG(1050) component contributes to plasticization effect, improving mechanical and thermomechanical strength. The ratio of PEO(600K):PEG(1050) at 7:3 affords the optimal performance with good chemical and form-stability, least shrinkage, and uniformity. These fibrous mats have potential applications in areas of food packaging, flexible wearable devices, or textiles to aid in thermal regulation.

Target recycle initiated entropy driven assembly strategy for sensitive, enzyme-free, and portable miRNA detection.

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a pivotal biomarker in the diagnosis of various cancers, including bladder cancer (BCa). Despite their significance, the low abundance of miRNA presents a substantial challenge for sensitive and reliable detection. We introduce an innovative, highly sensitive assay for miRNA expression quantification that is both enzyme-free and portable. This method leverages the synergy of target recycling and entropy-driven assembly (EDA) for enhanced sensitivity and specificity. The proposed method possesses several advantages, including i) dual signal amplification through target recycling and EDA, which significantly boosts sensitivity with a lower limit of detection of 2.54 fM; ii) elimination of enzyme requirements, resulting in a cost-effective and stable signal amplification process; and iii) utilization of a personal glucose meter (PGM) for signal recording, rendering the method portable and adaptable to diverse settings. In summary, this PGM-based approach holds promising potential for clinical molecular diagnostics, offering a practical and efficient solution for miRNA analysis in cancer detection.

Corrigendum: Expression profiling of ALOG family genes during inflorescence development and abiotic stress responses in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1381690.].

Insights into spinach domestication from genome sequences of two wild spinach progenitors, Spinacia turkestanica and Spinacia tetrandra.

Cultivated spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a dioecious species. We report high-quality genome sequences for its two closest wild relatives, Spinacia turkestanica and Spinacia tetrandra, which are also dioecious, and are used to study the genetics of spinach domestication. Using a combination of genomic approaches, we assembled genomes of both these species and analyzed them in comparison with the previously assembled S. oleracea genome. These species diverged c. 6.3 million years ago (Ma), while cultivated spinach split from S. turkestanica 0.8 Ma. In all three species, all six chromosomes include very large gene-poor, repeat-rich regions, which, in S. oleracea, are pericentromeric regions with very low recombination rates in both male and female genetic maps. We describe population genomic evidence that the similar regions in the wild species also recombine rarely. We characterized 282 structural variants (SVs) that have been selected during domestication. These regions include genes associated with leaf margin type and flowering time. We also describe evidence that the downy mildew resistance loci of cultivated spinach are derived from introgression from both wild spinach species. Collectively, this study reveals the genome architecture of spinach assemblies and highlights the importance of SVs during the domestication of cultivated spinach.

Etching-free pixel definition in InGaN green micro-LEDs.

The traditional plasma etching process for defining micro-LED pixels could lead to significant sidewall damage. Defects near sidewall regions act as non-radiative recombination centers and paths for current leakage, significantly deteriorating device performance. In this study, we demonstrated a novel selective thermal oxidation (STO) method that allowed pixel definition without undergoing plasma damage and subsequent dielectric passivation. Thermal annealing in ambient air oxidized and reshaped the LED structure, such as p-layers and InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells. Simultaneously, the pixel areas beneath the pre-deposited SiO2 layer were selectively and effectively protected. It was demonstrated that prolonged thermal annealing time enhanced the insulating properties of the oxide, significantly reducing LED leakage current. Furthermore, applying a thicker SiO2 protective layer minimized device resistance and boosted device efficiency effectively. Utilizing the STO method, InGaN green micro-LED arrays with 50-, 30-, and 10-µm pixel sizes were manufactured and characterized. The results indicated that after 4 h of air annealing and with a 3.5-µm SiO2 protective layer, the 10-µm pixel array exhibited leakage currents density 1.2 × 10-6 A/cm2 at -10 V voltage and a peak on-wafer external quantum efficiency of ~6.48%. This work suggests that the STO method could become an effective approach for future micro-LED manufacturing to mitigate adverse LED efficiency size effects due to the plasma etching and improve device efficiency. Micro-LEDs fabricated through the STO method can be applied to micro-displays, visible light communication, and optical interconnect-based memories. Almost planar pixel geometry will provide more possibilities for the monolithic integration of driving circuits with micro-LEDs. Moreover, the STO method is not limited to micro-LED fabrication and can be extended to design other III-nitride devices, such as photodetectors, laser diodes, high-electron-mobility transistors, and Schottky barrier diodes.

Synthesis of phenol formaldehyde resin (PFR) based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) composites for double channel detection of latent fingerprints.

A reversible two-channel fluorescent nanocomposite with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) effect was designed for the development, analysis, and characterization of latent fingerprints (LFPs). For the construction of the FRET probe, a core of mesoporous silicas (MSNs) were used to encapsulate the organic dye rhodamine 6G (RhD-6) as an acceptor, while green-emitting monodisperse phenolic resin nanoparticles (PFR NPs) were selected as a donor. The up-conversion material (UC) of NaYF4:Yb,Er was synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method, and the MSNs-RhD-6/PFR (PRM) was electrostatically adsorbed onto the UC nanoparticles using a layer-by-layer method to obtain MSNs-RhD-6/PFR-UC (PMU). Compared to ordinary single-channel materials, PMU can be excited by different light sources (365 nm UV/980 nm laser) and its fluorescence can be reversibly switched between yellow and green, demonstrating excellent light reversibility. The PMU composites were successfully used to visualize and detect LFPs on various substrate surfaces using a simple powder coating method. Due to the existing FRET effect and dual-channel characteristics, this composite material displays excellent contrast, outperforming commercially available products for wider applicability. Even on complex backgrounds and after aging or washing treatments, it still clearly recognizes fingerprints in first-, second-, and third-level details, showing its great potential in latent fingerprint detection.

Thermal modal analysis of hypersonic composite wing on transient aerodynamic heating.

Considering the influence of thermal stress and material property variations, this study employs the Navier-Stokes equations and Fourier heat conduction law to establish a semi-implicit time-domain numerical analysis method for hypersonic aerothermal-structural coupling. Study the temporal variation pattern of different regions of the composite material wing under aerodynamic heating. Using the obtained transient temperature field of the wing, the thermal modal of the wing at different time points is calculated using the finite element method. Additionally, it conducts an analysis and discussion on the factors influencing the thermal modal. Composites can be effectively utilized as thermal protection materials for aircraft. During the aerodynamic heating process, the leading edge temperature reaches thermal equilibrium first, followed by the trailing edge, and the belly plate experiences a slower thermal response. Temperature rise significantly affects higher-order modes, with the change in material properties during the early stages of heating being the dominant factor. This leads to a faster decrease in natural frequency. As heat conduction progresses, the influencing factors of thermal stresses gradually increase, and the natural frequency decreases slowly or even rises.

HAS2 facilitates glioma cell malignancy and suppresses ferroptosis in an FZD7-dependent manner.

Glioma is the most common malignant tumor in the central nervous system, and it is crucial to uncover the factors that influence prognosis. In this study, we utilized Mfuzz to identify a gene set that showed a negative correlation with overall survival in patients with glioma. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were then undertaken to gain insights into the functional characteristics and pathways associated with these genes. The expression distribution of Hyaluronan Synthase 2 (HAS2) was explored across multiple datasets, revealing its expression patterns. In vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out through gene knockdown and overexpression to validate the functionality of HAS2. Potential upstream transcription factors of HAS2 were predicted using transcriptional regulatory databases, and these predictions were experimentally validated using ChIP-PCR and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. The results showed that elevated expression of HAS2 in glioma indicates poor prognosis. HAS2 was found to play a role in activating an antiferroptosis pathway in glioma cells. Inhibiting HAS2 significantly increased cellular sensitivity to ferroptosis-inducing agents. Finally, we determined that the oncogenic effect of HAS2 is mediated by the key receptor of the WNT pathway, FZD7.

UV-assisted nanoimprint lithography: the impact of the loading effect in silicon on nanoscale patterns of metalens.

This work studies the impact of the silicon (Si) loading effect induced by deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) of silicon master molds on the UV-nanoimprint lithography (NIL) patterning of nanofeatures. The silicon molds were patterned with metasurface features with widths varying from 270 to 60 nm. This effect was studied by focus ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The Si loading etching effect is characterized by the variation of pattern feature depth concerning feature sizes because smaller features tend to etch more slowly than larger ones due to etchants being more difficult to pass through the smaller hole and byproducts being harder to diffuse out too. Thus, the NIL results obtained from the Si master mold contain different pattern geometries concerning pattern quality and residual photoresist layer thickness. The obtained results are pivotal for NIL for fabricating devices with various geometrical nanostructures as the research field moves towards commercial applications.

Expression profiling of ALOG family genes during inflorescence development and abiotic stress responses in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

The ALOG (Arabidopsis LSH1 and Oryza G1) family proteins, namely, DUF640 domain-containing proteins, have been reported to function as transcription factors in various plants. However, the understanding of the response and function of ALOG family genes during reproductive development and under abiotic stress is still largely limited. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the structural characteristics of ALOG family proteins and their expression profiles during inflorescence development and under abiotic stress in rice. The results showed that OsG1/OsG1L1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 all had four conserved helical structures and an inserted Zinc-Ribbon (ZnR), the other four proteins OsG1L10/11/12/13 lacked complete Helix-1 and Helix-2. In the ALOG gene promoters, there were abundant cis-acting elements, including ABA, MeJA, and drought-responsive elements. Most ALOG genes show a decrease in expression levels within 24 h under ABA and drought treatments, while OsG1L2 expression levels show an upregulated trend under ABA and drought treatments. The expression analysis at different stages of inflorescence development indicated that OsG1L1/2/3/8/11 were mainly expressed in the P1 stage; in the P4 stage, OsG1/OsG1L4/5/9/12 had a higher expression level. These results lay a good foundation for further studying the expression of rice ALOG family genes under abiotic stresses, and provide important experimental support for their functional research.

Tumor phylogeography reveals block-shaped spatial heterogeneity and the mode of evolution in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Solid tumors are complex ecosystems with heterogeneous 3D structures, but the spatial intra-tumor heterogeneity (sITH) at the macroscopic (i.e., whole tumor) level is under-explored. Using a phylogeographic approach, we sequence genomes and transcriptomes from 235 spatially informed sectors across 13 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), generating one of the largest datasets for studying sITH. We find that tumor heterogeneity in HCC segregates into spatially variegated blocks with large genotypic and phenotypic differences. By dissecting the transcriptomic heterogeneity, we discover that 30% of patients had a "spatially competing distribution" (SCD), where different spatial blocks have distinct transcriptomic subtypes co-existing within a tumor, capturing the critical transition period in disease progression. Interestingly, the tumor regions with more advanced transcriptomic subtypes (e.g., higher cell cycle) often take clonal dominance with a wider geographic range, rejecting neutral evolution for SCD patients. Extending the statistical tests for detecting natural selection to many non-SCD patients reveal varying levels of selective signal across different tumors, implying that many evolutionary forces including natural selection and geographic isolation can influence the overall pattern of sITH. Taken together, tumor phylogeography unravels a dynamic landscape of sITH, pinpointing important evolutionary and clinical consequences of spatial heterogeneity in cancer.

Association of congenital heart disease and neurodevelopmental disorders: an observational and Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to thoroughly study the connection between congenital heart disease (CHD) and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) through observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) designs. METHODS: This observational study uses data from the National Survey of Children's Health (2020-2021). Multivariable logistic regression and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to analyze the association. PSM was used to minimize bias for covariates such as age, race, gender, maternal age, birth weight, concussion or brain injury, preterm birth, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other inherited conditions. In MR analyses, inverse variance-weighted measures, weighted median, and MR-Egger were employed to calculate causal effects. RESULTS: A total of 85,314 children aged 0-17 were analyzed in this study. In regression analysis, CHD (p = 0.04), the current heart condition (p = 0.03), and the severity of current heart condition (p < 0.05) had a suggestive association with speech or language disorders. The severity of current heart condition (p = 0.08) has a potential statistically significant association with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD). In PSM samples, ADHD(p = 0.003), intellectual disability(p = 0.012), and speech or language disorders(p < 0.001) were all significantly associated with CHD. The severity of current heart condition (p < 0.001) also had a significant association with autism. MR analysis did not find causality between genetically proxied congenital cardiac malformations and the risk of NDDs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that children with CHD have an increased risk of developing NDDs. Heart conditions currently and severity of current heart conditions were also significantly associated with these NDDs. In the future, we need to try more methods to clarify the causal relationship between CHD and NDDs.

Gradient matters via filament diameter-adjustable 3D printing.

Gradient matters with hierarchical structures endow the natural world with excellent integrity and diversity. Currently, direct ink writing 3D printing is attracting tremendous interest, and has been used to explore the fabrication of 1D and 2D hierarchical structures by adjusting the diameter, spacing, and angle between filaments. However, it is difficult to generate complex 3D gradient matters owing to the inherent limitations of existing methods in terms of available gradient dimension, gradient resolution, and shape fidelity. Here, we report a filament diameter-adjustable 3D printing strategy that enables conventional extrusion 3D printers to produce 1D, 2D, and 3D gradient matters with tunable heterogeneous structures by continuously varying the volume of deposited ink on the printing trajectory. In detail, we develop diameter-programmable filaments by customizing the printing velocity and height. To achieve high shape fidelity, we specially add supporting layers at needed locations. Finally, we showcase multi-disciplinary applications of our strategy in creating horizontal, radial, and axial gradient structures, letter-embedded structures, metastructures, tissue-mimicking scaffolds, flexible electronics, and time-driven devices. By showing the potential of this strategy, we anticipate that it could be easily extended to a variety of filament-based additive manufacturing technologies and facilitate the development of functionally graded structures.