A metabolome‐based core hybridisation strategy for the prediction of rice grain weight across environments

Marker‐based prediction holds great promise for improving current plant and animal breeding efficiencies. However, the predictabilities of complex traits are always severely affected by negative factors, including distant relatedness, environmental discrepancies, unknown population structures, and indeterminate numbers of predictive variables. In this study, we utilised two independent F₁ hybrid populations in the years 2012 and 2015 to predict rice thousand grain weight (TGW) using parental untargeted metabolite profiles with a partial least squares regression method. A stable predictive model for TGW was built based on hybrids from the population in 2012 (r = 0.75) but failed to properly predict TGW for hybrids from the population in 2015 (r = 0.27). After integrating hybrids from both populations into the training set, the TGW of hybrids could be predicted but was largely dependent on population structures. Then, core hybrids from each population were determined by principal component analysis and the TGW of hybrids in both environments were successfully predicted (r > 0.60). Moreover, adjusting the population structures and numbers of predictive analytes increased TGW predictability for hybrids in 2015 (r = 0.72). Our study demonstrates that the TGW of F₁ hybrids across environments can be accurately predicted based on parental untargeted metabolite profiles with a core hybridisation strategy in rice. Metabolic biomarkers identified from early developmental stage tissues, which are grown under experimental conditions, may represent a workable approach towards the robust prediction of major agronomic traits for climate‐adaptive varieties.     

Nuclear fast red‐based colorimetric sensors for sensitive and selective detection of Ag ions

The reduction of nuclear fast red (NFR) stain by sodium tetrahydroboron was catalyzed in the presence of silver ions (Ag⁺). The fluorescence properties of reduced NFR differed from that of NFR. The product showed fluorescence emission at 480 nm with excitation at 369 nm. Furthermore, the fluorescence intensity of the mixture increased strongly in the presence of Ag⁺ and Britton–Robinson buffer at pH 4.78. There was a good linear relationship between increased fluorescence intensity (ΔI) and Ag⁺ concentration in the range 5.0 × 10^?9 to 5.0 × 10^?8 M. The correlation coefficient was 0.998, and the detection limit (3σ/k) was 1.5 × 10^?9 M. The colour of the reaction system changed with variation in Ag⁺ concentration over a wide range. Based on the colour change, a visual semiquantitative detection method for recognition and sensing of Ag⁺ was developed for the range 1.0 × 10^?8 to 5.0 × 10^?4 M, with an indicator that was visible to the naked eye. Therefore, a sensitive, simple method for determination of Ag⁺ was developed. Optimum conditions for Ag⁺ detection, the effect of other ions and the analytical application of Ag⁺ detection of synthesized sample were investigated.     

Targeting and non-targeting effects of nanomaterials on DNA: challenges and perspectives

Due to their large-scale manufacture and widespread application, there have been a number of studies related to toxicological assessment of nanomaterials (NMs) over the past decade. Although there has been extensive research on the cytotoxicity of NMs, concerns have been raised about their possible genotoxicity. The genome is constantly exposed to genotoxic insults that can lead to DNA damage, which in turn can have consequences for health, such as the induction of carcinogenesis. This comprehensive review focuses on the direct and indirect interactions of NMs with DNA. Factors influencing the genotoxicity of NMs, such as their physicochemical characteristics, are also discussed. The mechanisms involved in the direct and indirect interactions of NMs with DNA are also reviewed. Many studies have shown that ENMs have genotoxic effects, such as chromosomal fragmentation, DNA strand breaks, point mutations, oxidative DNA adducts, apoptosis, hypoxic responses, mitochondrial dysfunction, and epigenetic modifications. As the data reported to date are inconsistent, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions regarding the features of NMs that promote genotoxicity. Therefore, challenges and future research perspectives are discussed. This review provides insights into the genotoxic effects of NMs and their consequences for human health.

     

A High‐Performance Monolithic Solid‐State Sodium Battery with Ca2+ Doped Na3Zr2Si2PO12 Electrolyte

Solid‐state sodium batteries (SSSBs) are promising electrochemical energy storage devices due to their high energy density, high safety, and abundant resource of sodium. However, low conductivity of solid electrolyte as well as high interfacial resistance between electrolyte and electrodes are two main challenges for practical application. To address these issues, pure phase Na₃Zr₂Si₂PO₁₂ (NZSP) materials with Ca²⁺ substitution for Zr⁴⁺ are synthesized by a sol‐gel method. It shows a high ionic conductivity of more than 10^?3 S cm^?1 at 25 °C. Moreover, a robust SSSB is developed by integrating sodium metal anodes into NZSP‐type monolithic architecture, forming a 3D electronic and ionic conducting network. The interfacial resistance is remarkably reduced and the monolithic symmetric cell displays stable sodium platting/striping cycles with low polarization for over 600 h. Furthermore, by combining sodium metal anode with Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ cathode, an SSSB is demonstrated with high rate capability and excellent cyclability. After 450 cycles, the capacity of the cell is still kept at 94.9 mAh g^?1 at 1 C. This unique design of monolithic electrolyte architecture provides a promising strategy toward realizing high‐performance SSSBs.     

Magnetic Field–Suppressed Lithium Dendrite Growth for Stable Lithium‐Metal Batteries

Lithium metal is the most attractive anode material due to its extremely high specific capacity, minimum potential, and low density. However, uncontrollable growth of lithium dendrite results in severe safety and cycling stability concerns, which hinders the application in next generation secondary batteries. In this paper, a new and facile method imposing a magnetic field to lithium metal anodes is proposed. That is, the lithium ions suffering Lorentz force due to the electromagnetic fields are put into spiral motion causing magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) effect. This MHD effect can effectively promote mass transfer and uniform distribution of lithium ions to suppress the dendrite growth as well as obtain uniform and compact lithium deposition. The results show that the lithium metal electrodes within the magnetic field exhibit excellent cycling and rate performance in a symmetrical battery. Additionally, full batteries using limited lithium metal as anodes and commercial LiFePO₄ as cathodes show improved performance within the magnetic field. In summary, a new and facile strategy of suppressing lithium dendrites using the MHD effect by imposing a magnetic field is proposed, which may be generalized to other advanced alkali metal batteries.     

Halogen Engineering for Operationally Stable Perovskite Solar Cells via Sequential Deposition

The performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) relies on the synthesis method and chemical composition of the perovskite materials. So far, PSCs that have adopted two‐step sequential deposited perovskite with the state‐of‐art composition (FAPbI₃)_1?x(MAPbBr₃)_x (x < 0.05) have achieved record power conversion efficiency (PCE), while their one‐step antisolvent dripping counterparts with typical composition Cs_0.05FA_0.81MA_0.14Pb(I_0.85Br_0.15)₃ with more bromine have exhibited much better long‐term operational stability. Thus, halogen engineering that aims to elevate bromine content in sequential deposited perovskite film would push operational stability of PSCs toward that of antisolvent dripping deposited perovskite materials. Here, a Br‐rich seeding growth method is devised and perovskite seed solution with high bromine content is introduced into a PbI₂ precursor, leading to bromine incorporation in the resulting perovskite film. Photovoltaic devices fabricated by Br‐rich seeding growth method exhibit a PCE of 21.5%, similar to 21.6% for PSCs having lower bromine content. Whereas, the operational stability of PSCs with higher bromine content is significantly enhanced, with over 80% of initial PCE retained after 500 h tracking at maximum power point under 1‐sun illumination. This work highlights the vital importance of halogen composition for the operational stability of PSCs, and introduces an effective way to incorporate bromine into mixed‐cation‐halide perovskite film via sequential deposition method.     

水稻耐储藏特性三年动态鉴定与QTL分析

种子耐储藏特性是粮食作物的特殊农艺性状之一, 耐储藏性能对种子生产和种质资源保存有重要意义。以粳型超级稻龙稻5 (LD5)和高产籼稻中优早8 (ZYZ8)杂交衍生的重组自交系(RILs)群体(共180个株系)为实验材料, 自然高温高湿条件下放置1年、2年和3年后, 对不同储藏时段种子发芽率进行比较, 并利用223个分子标记的遗传图谱进行动态QTL鉴定。结果表明, 不同储藏时段龙稻5的发芽率均显著低于中优早8, 株系间耐储性存在较大差异; 不同储藏时段发芽率显著相关, 相邻存储时段发芽率关系紧密。共检测到17个耐储性相关的QTLs, 3个老化时段分别检测到5、4和3个, 检测到5个动态条件QTLs, 单一QTL解释5.60%-32.76%的表型变异, 加性效应在-16.78%-16.95%范围内。主效QTL簇qSSC2、qSSC6、qSSC7和qSSC8能调控不同储藏时段的发芽率, qSSC6具有明显降低发芽率的效应。共检测到26对上位性互作位点, 主效QTL qSS1和qSS4参与上位性互作, 这表明上位性互作是调控耐储藏性状的重要遗传组成。研究结果为水稻(Oryza sativa)耐储性相关QTL的精细定位奠定基础, 同时丰富了耐储性分子标记辅助选择育种的基因资源。     

New pollen classification of Chenopodiaceae for exploring and tracing desert vegetation evolution in eastern arid central Asia

Members of the Chenopodiaceae are the most dominant elements in the central Asian desert. The different genera and species within this family are common in desert vegetation types. Should it prove possible to link pollen types in this family to specific desert vegetation, it would be feasible to trace vegetation successions in the geological past. Nevertheless, the morphological similarity of pollen grains in the Chenopodiaceae rarely permits identification at the generic level. Although some pollen classifications of Chenopodiaceae have been proposed, none of them tried to link pollen types to specific desert vegetation types in order to explore their ecological significance. Based on the pollen morphological characters of 13 genera and 24 species within the Chenopodiaceae of eastern central Asia, we provide a new pollen classification of this family with six pollen types and link them to those plant communities dominated by Chenopodiaceae, for example, temperate dwarf semi‐arboreal desert (Haloxylon type), temperate succulent halophytic dwarf semi‐shrubby desert (Suaeda, Kalidium, and Atriplex types), temperate annual graminoid desert (Kalidium type), temperate semi‐shrubby and dwarf semi‐shrubby desert (Kalidium, Iljini, and Haloxylon types), and alpine cushion dwarf semi‐shrubby desert (Krascheninnikovia type). These findings represent a new approach for detecting specific desert vegetation types and deciphering ecosystem evolution in eastern central Asia.