Chromosome-scale de novo genome assembly and annotation of three representative Casuarina species: C. equisetifolia, C. glauca, and C. cunninghamiana.

Australian pine (Casuarina spp.) is extensively planted in tropical and subtropical regions for wood production, shelterbelts, environmental protection, and ecological restoration due to their superior biological characteristics, such as rapid growth, wind and salt tolerance, and nitrogen fixation. To analyze the genomic diversity of Casuarina, we sequenced the genomes and constructed de novo genome assemblies of the three most widely planted Casuarina species: C. equisetifolia, C. glauca, and C. cunninghamiana. We generated chromosome-scale genome sequences using both Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) Sequel sequencing and chromosome conformation capture technology (Hi-C). The total genome sizes for C. equisetifolia, C. glauca, and C. cunninghamiana are 268 942 579 bp, 296 631 783 bp, and 293 483 606 bp, respectively, of which 25.91, 27.15, and 27.74% were annotated as repetitive sequences. We annotated 23 162, 24 673, and 24 674 protein-coding genes in C. equisetifolia, C. glauca, and C. cunninghamiana, respectively. We then collected branchlets from male and female individuals for whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) to explore the epigenetic regulation of sex determination in these three species. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed differential expression of phytohormone-related genes between male and female plants. In summary, we generated three chromosome-level genome assemblies and comprehensive DNA methylation and transcriptome datasets from both male and female material for three Casuarina species, providing a basis for the comprehensive investigation of genomic diversity and functional gene discovery of Casuarina in the future.

Comprehensive profiling of epigenetic modifications in fast-growing Moso bamboo shoots.

The fast growth of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) shoots is caused by the rapid elongation of each internode. However, the key underlying cellular processes and epigenetic mechanisms remain largely unexplored. We used microscopy and multi-omics approaches to investigate two regions (bottom and middle) of the 18th internode from shoots of two different heights (2 and 4 m). We observed that internode cells become longer, and that lignin biosynthesis and glycosyltransferase family 43 (GT43) genes are substantially upregulated with shoot height. Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (DRS) revealed a higher N6-methyladenine (m6A) modification rate in 2-m shoots than in 4-m shoots. In addition, different specific m6A modification sites were enriched at different growth stages. Global DNA methylation profiling indicated that DNA methylation levels are higher in 4-m shoots than in 2-m shoots. We also detected shorter poly(A) tail lengths (PALs) in 4-m shoots compared with 2-m shoots. Genes showing differential PAL were mainly enriched in the functional terms of protein translation and vesicle fusion. An association analysis between PALs and DNA methylation strongly suggested that gene body CG methylation levels are positively associated with PAL. This study provides valuable information to better understand post-transcriptional regulations responsible for fast-growing shoots in Moso bamboo.

Drought induces epitranscriptome and proteome changes in stem-differentiating xylem of Populus trichocarpa.

Understanding gene expression and regulation requires insights into RNA transcription, processing, modification, and translation. However, the relationship between the epitranscriptome and the proteome under drought stress remains undetermined in poplar (Populus trichocarpa). In this study, we used Nanopore direct RNA sequencing and tandem mass tag-based proteomic analysis to examine epitranscriptomic and proteomic regulation induced by drought treatment in stem-differentiating xylem (SDX). Our results revealed a decreased full-length read ratio under drought treatment and, especially, a decreased association between transcriptome and proteome changes in response to drought. Epitranscriptome analysis of cellulose- and lignin-related genes revealed an increased N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) ratio, which was accompanied by decreased RNA abundance and translation, under drought stress. Interestingly, usage of the distal poly(A) site increased during drought stress. Finally, we found that transcripts of highly expressed genes tend to have shorter poly(A) tail length (PAL), and drought stress increased the percentage of transcripts with long PAL. These findings provide insights into the interplay among m6A, polyadenylation, PAL, and translation under drought stress in P. trichocarpa SDX.

Whole-genome characterization of chronological age-associated changes in methylome and circular RNAs in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) from vegetative to floral growth.

In mammals, DNA methylation is associated with aging. However, age-related DNA methylation changes during phase transitions largely remain unstudied in plants. Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) requires a very long time to transition from the vegetative to the floral phase. To comprehensively investigate the association of DNA methylation with aging, we present here single-base-resolution DNA methylation profiles using both high-throughput bisulfite sequencing and single-molecule nanopore-based DNA sequencing, covering the long period of vegetative growth and transition to flowering in moso bamboo. We discovered that CHH methylation gradually accumulates from vegetative to reproductive growth in a time-dependent fashion. Differentially methylated regions, correlating with chronological aging, occurred preferentially at both transcription start sites and transcription termination sites. Genes with CG methylation changes showed an enrichment of Gene Ontology (GO) categories in 'vegetative to reproductive phase transition of meristem'. Combining methylation data with mRNA sequencing revealed that DNA methylation in promoters, introns and exons may have different roles in regulating gene expression. Finally, circular RNA (circRNA) sequencing revealed that the flanking introns of circRNAs are hypermethylated and enriched in long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons. Together, the observations in this study provide insights into the dynamic DNA methylation and circRNA landscapes, correlating with chronological age, which paves the way to study further the impact of epigenetic factors on flowering in moso bamboo.

Electrolyte Salts and Additives Regulation Enables High Performance Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries: A Mini Review.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) are regarded as one of the most ideally suited candidates for large-scale energy storage applications owning to their obvious advantages, that is, low cost, high safety, high ionic conductivity, abundant raw material resources, and eco-friendliness. Much effort has been devoted to the exploration of cathode materials design, cathode storage mechanisms, anode protection as well as failure mechanisms, while inadequate attentions are paid on the performance enhancement through modifying the electrolyte salts and additives. Herein, to fulfill a comprehensive aqueous ZIBs research database, a range of recently published electrolyte salts and additives research is reviewed and discussed. Furthermore, the remaining challenges and future directions of electrolytes in aqueous ZIBs are also suggested, which can provide insights to push ZIBs' commercialization.

Automatic construction of coronary artery tree structure based on vessel blood flow tracking.

We sought to propose an innovative vessel blood flow tracking (VBFT) method to extract coronary artery tree (CAT) and to assess the effectiveness of this VBFT versus the single-frame method. Construction of a CAT from a segmented artery is the basis of artificial intelligence-aided angiographic diagnosis. However, construction of a CAT using a single frame remains challenging, due to bifurcations and overlaps in two-dimensional angiograms. Overall, 13,222 angiograms, including 28,539 vessels, were retrospectively collected from 3275 patients and were then annotated. Coronary arteries were automatically segmented by a previously established deep neural networks (DNNs), and the skeleton lines were then extracted from segmentation images to construct CAT using the single-frame method and the VBFT method. Additionally, 1322 angiograms with 2201 vessels were used to test these two methods. Compared to the single-frame method, the VBFT method can significantly improve the accuracy of CAT as (84.3% vs. 72.3%; p < 0.001). Overlap (OV) was higher in the VBFT group than that in the Single-Frame group (91.1% vs. 87.5%; p < 0.001). The VBFT method significantly reduced the incidence of the lack of branching (7.30% vs. 13.9%, p < 0.001), insufficient length (6.70% vs. 11.0%, p < 0.001), and redundant branches (1.60% vs. 3.10%, p < 0.001). The VBFT method improved the extraction of a CAT structure, which will facilitate the development of artificial intelligence-aided angiographic diagnosis. Cardiologists can efficiently diagnose CAD using this method.

Wearable Sunlight-Triggered Bimorph Textile Actuators.

Photothermal bimorph actuators have attracted considerable attention in intelligent devices because of their cordless control and lightweight and easy preparation. However, current photothermal bimorph actuators are mostly based on films or papers driven by near-infrared sources, which are deficient in flexibility and adaptability, restricting their potential in wearable applications. Herein, a bimorph textile actuator that can be scalably fabricated with a traditional textile route and autonomously triggered by sunlight is reported. The active layer and passive layer of the bimorph are constructed by polypropylene tape and a MXene-modified polyamide filament. Because of the opposite thermal expansion and MXene-enhanced photothermal efficiency (>260%) of the bimorph, the textile actuator presents effective deformation (1.38 cm-1) under low sunlight power (100 mW/cm2). This work provides a new pathway for wearable sunlight-triggered actuators and finds attractive applications for smart textiles.

Genome-Wide Identification of NAP1 and Function Analysis in Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis).

The nucleosome assembly protein 1 (NAP1) family is the main histone chaperone of histone H2A-H2B. To explore the function of NAP1 family genes in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), characterized by extremely rapid growth and a long flowering cycle, we originally conducted a genome-wide analysis of the PheNAP1 gene. The phylogenetic relationship, gene expression pattern, DNA methylation, and histone modification were analyzed. Eventually, 12 PheNAP1 genes were recognized from the Phyllostachys edulis genome, divided into two sorts: the NRP subfamily (four members) and the NAP subfamily (eight members). Highly conserved motifs exist in each subfamily, which are distinct between subfamilies. PheNAP1 was distributed homogeneously on 10 out of 24 chromosomes, and gene duplication contributed significantly to the enhancement of the PheNAP1 gene in the genome. Cis-acting element analysis showed that PheNAP1 family genes are involved in light, hormone, and abiotic stress responses and may play an important role in the rapid growth and flowering. PheNAP1 exhibited the highest expression level in fast-growing shoots, indicating it is closely associated with the rapid growth of moso bamboo. Besides, PheNAP1 can rescue the early-flowering phenotype of nrp1-1 nrp2-2, and it affected the expression of genes related to the flowering pathway, like BSU1, suggesting the vital role that PheNAP1 may take in the flowering process of moso bamboo. In addition, histone modification results showed that PheNAP1 could bind to phosphorylation-, acetylation-, and methylation-modified histones to further regulate gene expression. A sketch appears: that PheNAP1 can accompany histones to regulate fast-growth- and flowering-related genes in moso bamboo. The consequences of this study enrich the understanding of the epigenetic regulation mechanism of bamboo plants and lays a foundation for further studies on the role of the NAP1 gene in Phyllostachys edulis and the function of chromatin regulation in forest growth and development.

Transcriptome Profiling of Stem-Differentiating Xylem in Response to Abiotic Stresses Based on Hybrid Sequencing in Cunninghamia lanceolata.

Cunninghamia lanceolata (C. lanceolata) belongs to Gymnospermae, which are fast-growing and have desirable wood properties. However, C. lanceolata's stress resistance is little understood. To unravel the physiological and molecular regulation mechanisms under environmental stresses in the typical gymnosperm species of C. lanceolata, three-year-old plants were exposed to simulated drought stress (polyethylene glycol 8000), salicylic acid, and cold treatment at 4 °C for 8 h, 32 h, and 56 h, respectively. Regarding the physiological traits, we observed a decreased protein content and increased peroxidase upon salicylic acid and polyethylene glycol treatment. Superoxide dismutase activity either decreased or increased at first and then returned to normal under the stresses. Regarding the molecular regulation, we used both nanopore direct RNA sequencing and short-read sequencing to reveal a total of 5646 differentially expressed genes in response to different stresses, of which most had functions in lignin catabolism, pectin catabolism, and xylan metabolism, indicating that the development of stem-differentiating xylem was affected upon stress treatment. Finally, we identified a total of 51 AP2/ERF, 29 NAC, and 37 WRKY transcript factors in C. lanceolata. The expression of most of the NAC TFs increased under cold stress, and the expression of most of the WRKY TFs increased under cold and SA stress. These results revealed the transcriptomics responses in C. lanceolata to short-term stresses under this study's experimental conditions and provide preliminary clues about stem-differentiating xylem changes associated with different stresses.

Study on Fe-C-Al three-phase micro-electrolysis treatment of low concentration phosphorus wastewater.

In this study, the iron-carbon-aluminum (Fe-C-Al) composite filler was prepared by aluminum modification of conventional iron-carbon (Fe-C) micro-electrolysis with a no-burn method. The optimal process conditions for Fe-C-Al three-phase micro-electrolysis treatment of low concentration phosphorus wastewater were determined to be the aluminum metal ratio of 14 wt% and solids dosing of 30 g/L. Under the optimal process conditions, Fe-C-Al three-phase micro-electrolysis was performed for the treatment of low concentration phosphorus wastewater (LCPW) with continuous experiment, while iron-carbon fillers before and after treatment were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the amount of Fe2+ dissolved in the micro-electrolysis determined the micro-electrolysis phosphorus removal effect, Al promoted the dissolution of Fe2+, and the Fe-C-Al filler had a stable phosphorus removal effect, and the average removal efficiency of phosphorus was 67.40%, which is an average improvement of 29.25% compared with the conventional Fe-C filler. The treatment of LCPW by Fe-C-Al three-phase micro-electrolysis is consistent with a first-order kinetic reaction with apparent activation energy of 38.70 kJ·mol-1, which is controlled by the chemical reaction.

Fiber Surface/Interfacial Engineering on Wearable Electronics.

Surface/interfacial engineering is an essential technique to explore the fiber materials properties and fulfil new functionalities. An extensive scope of current physical and chemical treating methods is reviewed here together with a variety of real-world applications. Moreover, a new surface/interface engineering approach is also introduced: self-assembly via π-π stacking, which has great potential for the surface modification of fiber materials due to its nondestructive working principle. A new fiber family member, metal-oxide framework (MOF) fiber shows promising candidacy for fiber based wearable electronics. The understanding of surface/interfacial engineering techniques on fiber materials is advanced here and it is expected to guide the rational design of future fiber based wearable electronics.

A technical review of face mask wearing in preventing respiratory COVID-19 transmission.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries have recommended their citizens to adopt social distance, hand hygiene, and face mask wearing. However, wearing face masks has not been well adopted by many citizens. While the reasons are complex, there is a general perception that the evidence to support face mask wearing is lacking, especially for the general public in a community setting. Face mask wearing can block or filter airborne virus-carrying particles through the working of colloid and interface science. This paper assesses current knowledge behind the design and functioning of face masks by reviewing the selection of materials, mask specifications, relevant laboratory tests, and respiratory virus transmission trials, with an overview of future development of reusable masks for the general public. This review highlights the effectiveness of face mask wearing in the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

Customizable Textile Sensors Based on Helical Core-Spun Yarns for Seamless Smart Garments.

Most of the current sensors cannot meet the needs for seamless integration into the textile substrates of smart clothing and require improvements in terms of comfort and durability. Herein, smart textile-based sensors that have different sensing properties with integrated electronic elements were fabricated by knitting graphene-based helical conductive core-spun yarns. Such graphene-modified core-spun yarns are employed as building blocks of textile strain sensors, which showed high elasticity (ε > 300%), fast response time (120 ms), excellent reproducibility (over 10 000 cycles), wide sensing range (up to 100% strain), and low detection limit (0.3% strain). Thus, resistance-type strain sensors and capacitance-type pressure sensors composed of graphene-based smart fabric could be used to monitor large-scale limb movement and subtle human physiological signals. Such seamless smart textile-based fabric composed of superelastic helical conductive core-spun yarns shows great potential for fabricating an intelligent device to achieve real-time precise medicine and healthcare.

Genome-wide profiling of circular RNAs, alternative splicing, and R-loops in stem-differentiating xylem of Populus trichocarpa.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a recently discovered type of non-coding RNA derived from pre-mRNAs. R-loops consist of a DNA:RNA hybrid and the associated single-stranded DNA. In Arabidopsis thaliana, circRNA:DNA R-loops regulate alternative splicing (AS) of SEPALLATA3 (SEP3). However, the occurrence and functions of circRNAs and R-loops in Populus trichocarpa are largely unexplored. Here, we performed circRNA-enriched sequencing in the stem-differentiating xylem (SDX) of P. trichocarpa and identified 2,742 distinct circRNAs, including circ-CESA4, circ-IRX7, and circ-GUX1, which are generated from genes involved in cellulose, and hemicellulose biosynthesis, respectively. To investigate the roles of circRNAs in modulating alternative splicing (AS), we detected 7,836 AS events using PacBio Iso-Seq and identified 634 circRNAs that overlapped with 699 AS events. Furthermore, using DNA:RNA hybrid immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (DRIP-seq), we identified 8,932 R-loop peaks that overlapped with 181 circRNAs and 672 AS events. Notably, several SDX-related circRNAs overlapped with R-loop peaks, pointing to their possible roles in modulating AS in SDX. Indeed, overexpressing circ-IRX7 increased the levels of R-loop structures and decreased the frequency of intron retention in linear IRX7 transcripts. This study provides a valuable R-loop atlas resource and uncovers the interplay between circRNAs and AS in SDX of P. trichocarpa.

A stimuli-responsive gel impregnated surface with switchable lipophilic/oleophobic properties.

In this paper, we developed a novel morphing surface technique consisting of a 3D printed miniature groove structure and injected stimuli-responsive hydrogel pattern, which is capable of switching between lipophilicity and oleophobicity under certain stimuli. Under swelling, the geometrical change of the hydrogel will buckle the surface due to the structural confinement and create a continuous transition of surface topology. Thus, it will yield a change in the surface wetting property from oleophilic to super-oleophobic with a contact angle of oil of 85° to 165°. We quantitatively investigate this structure-property relationship using finite element analysis and analytical modeling, and the simulation results and the modeling are in good agreement with the experimental ones. This morphing surface also holds potential to be developed into an autonomous system for future sub-sea/off-shore engineering applications to separate oil and water.

Stretchable Conductive Fibers of Ultrahigh Tensile Strain and Stable Conductance Enabled by a Worm-Shaped Graphene Microlayer.

Stretchable electrical conductors have demonstrated promising potentials in a wide range of wearable electronic devices, but the conductivity of most reported stretchable conductive fibers will be changed if be stretched or strained. Stable conductance is essential for wearable and stretchable devices, to ensure the performance is stable. Inspired by the peristaltic behavior of arthropods, we designed a graphene coating similar to the caterpillar structure on the polyurethane (PU) fiber surface, enabled by coating the worm-shaped graphene microlayer onto polyurethane filaments. Such worm-shaped filaments can be stretched up to 1010% with a wide reversible electroresponse range (0 < ε < 815%), long-term durability (>4000 stretching/releasing cycles), good initial conductivity (σ0 = 124 S m-1), and high quality factor (Q = 11.26). Remarkably, the worm-shaped filaments show distinctive strain-insensitive behavior (ΔR/R0 < 0.1) up to 220% strain. Furthermore, the filaments as electrical circuits of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to track signals from robust human joint movements are also demonstrated for practical application. Such worm-shaped filaments with distinctive strain-insensitive behavior provide a direct pathway for stretchy electronics.

Creation of Al-Enriched Mesoporous ZSM-5 Nanoboxes with High Catalytic Activity: Converting Tetrahedral Extra-Framework Al into Framework Sites by Post Treatment.

ZSM-5 zeolite nanoboxes with accessible meso-micro-pore architecture and strong acid sites are important in relevant heterogeneous catalysis suffering from mass transfer limitations and weak acidities. Rational design of parent zeolites with concentrated and non-protective coordination of Al species can facilitate post-synthetic treatment to produce mesoporous ZSM-5 nanoboxes. In this work, a simple and effective method was developed to convert parent MFI zeolites with tetrahedral extra-framework Al into Al-enriched mesoporous ZSM-5 nanoboxes with low silicon-to-aluminium ratios of ≈16. The parent MFI zeolite was prepared by rapid ageing of the zeolite sol gel synthesis mixture. The accessibility to the meso-micro-porous intra-crystalline network was probed systematically by comparative pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance diffusion measurements, which, together with the strong acidity of nanoboxes, provided superb catalytic activity and longevity in hydrocarbon cracking for propylene production.

Genome-Wide Profiling of Circular RNAs in the Rapidly Growing Shoots of Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis).

Circular RNAs, including circular exonic RNAs (circRNA), circular intronic RNAs (ciRNA) and exon-intron circRNAs (EIciRNAs), are a new type of noncoding RNAs. Growing shoots of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) represent an excellent model of fast growth and their circular RNAs have not been studied yet. To understand the potential regulation of circular RNAs, we systematically characterized circular RNAs from eight different developmental stages of rapidly growing shoots. Here, we identified 895 circular RNAs including a subset of mutually inclusive circRNA. These circular RNAs were generated from 759 corresponding parental coding genes involved in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin biosynthetic process. Gene co-expression analysis revealed that hub genes, such as DEFECTIVE IN RNA-DIRECTED DNA METHYLATION 1 (DRD1), MAINTENANCE OF METHYLATION (MOM), dicer-like 3 (DCL3) and ARGONAUTE 1 (AGO1), were significantly enriched giving rise to circular RNAs. The expression level of these circular RNAs presented correlation with its linear counterpart according to transcriptome sequencing. Further protoplast transformation experiments indicated that overexpressing circ-bHLH93 generating from transcription factor decreased its linear transcript. Finally, the expression profiles suggested that circular RNAs may have interplay with miRNAs to regulate their cognate linear mRNAs, which was further supported by overexpressing miRNA156 decreasing the transcript of circ-TRF-1 and linear transcripts of TRF-1. Taken together, the overall profile of circular RNAs provided new insight into an unexplored category of long noncoding RNA regulation in moso bamboo.

A Nature-Inspired, Flexible Substrate Strategy for Future Wearable Electronics.

Flexibility plays a vital role in wearable electronics. Repeated bending often leads to the dramatic decrease of conductivity because of the numerous microcracks formed in the metal coating layer, which is undesirable for flexible conductors. Herein, conductive textile-based tactile sensors and metal-coated polyurethane sponge-based bending sensors with superior flexibility for monitoring human touch and arm motions are proposed, respectively. Tannic acid, a traditional mordant, is introduced to attach to various flexible substrates, providing a perfect platform for catalyst absorbing and subsequent electroless deposition (ELD). By understanding the nucleation, growth, and structure of electroless metal deposits, the surface morphology of metal nanoparticles can be controlled in nanoscale with simple variation of the plating time. When the electroless plating time is 20 min, the normalized resistance (R/R0 ) of as-made conductive fibers is only 1.6, which is much lower than a 60 min ELD sample at the same conditions (R/R0 ≈ 5). This is because a large number of unfilled gaps between nanoparticles prevent metal films from cracking under bending. Importantly, the Kelvin problem is relevant to deposited conductive coatings because metallic cells have a honeycomb-like structure, which is a rationale to explain the relationships of conductivity and flexibility.

Laser Direct Writing of Heteroatom (N and S)-Doped Graphene from a Polybenzimidazole Ink Donor on Polyethylene Terephthalate Polymer and Glass Substrates.

In this paper, for the first time, a laser direct writing technique is reported to form S- and N-doped graphene patterns on thin (0.3 mm thickness) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and glass substrates from a specially formulated organic polybenzimidazole (PBI) ink, without thermally affecting the substrates and without the need for a metallic precursor. Unlike standard graphene ink printing, postcuring at high temperatures is not needed here, thus avoiding potential substrate distortion and damages. A UV laser beam of 355 nm wavelength is used to generate photochemical reactions to break the CS bond (2.8 eV) from dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, a component of the PBI ink) and the CN bond (3.14 eV) of PBI and form N- and S-doped graphene on the substrates. The sheet resistance of the laser-induced graphene is as low as 12 Ω sq-1 on PET, matching that of indium-tin oxide (ITO). The laser-written doped graphene shows hydrophilic characteristics, unlike pristine graphene. The S- and N-doped graphene allows the tailoring of bandgaps and thus controlling electrical and chemical properties. The optical transparency of the written graphene is below 10% which could be improved in the future. Potential applications include printing of flexible circuits and sensors, and smart wearables.