A single nucleotide mutation in GID1c disrupts its interaction with DELLA1 and causes a GA‐insensitive dwarf phenotype in peach

Plant stature is one important factor that affects the productivity of peach orchards. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the dwarf phenotype of peach tree. Here, we report a dwarfing mechanism in the peach cv. FenHuaShouXingTao (FHSXT). The dwarf phenotype of ‘FHSXT’ was caused by shorter cell length compared to the standard cv. QiuMiHong (QMH). ‘FHSXT’ contained higher endogenous GA levels than did ‘QMH’ and did not response to exogenous GA treatment (internode elongation). These results indicated that ‘FHSXT’ is a GA‐insensitive dwarf mutant. A dwarf phenotype‐related single nucleotide mutation in the gibberellic acid receptor GID1 was identified in ‘FHSXT’ (GID1c^S191F), which was also cosegregated with dwarf phenotype in 30 tested cultivars. GID1c^S191F was unable to interact with the growth‐repressor DELLA1 even in the presence of GA. ‘FHSXT’ accumulated a higher level of DELLA1, the degradation of which is normally induced by its interaction with GID1. The DELLA1 protein level was almost undetectable in ‘QMH’, but not reduced in ‘FHSXT’ after GA₃ treatment. Our results suggested that a nonsynonymous single nucleotide mutation in GID1c disrupts its interaction with DELLA1 resulting in a GA‐insensitive dwarf phenotype in peach.     

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.     

An Efficient Separator with Low Li‐Ion Diffusion Energy Barrier Resolving Feeble Conductivity for Practical Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Due to unprecedented features including high‐energy density, low cost, and light weight, lithium–sulfur batteries have been proposed as a promising successor of lithium‐ion batteries. However, unresolved detrimental low Li‐ion transport rates in traditional carbon materials lead to large energy barrier in high sulfur loading batteries, which prevents the lithium–sulfur batteries from commercialization. In this report, to overcome the challenge of increasing both the cycling stability and areal capacity, a metallic oxide composite (NiCo₂O₄@rGO) is designed to enable a robust separator with low energy barrier for Li‐ion diffusion and simultaneously provide abundant active sites for the catalytic conversion of the polar polysulfides. With a high sulfur‐loading of 6 mg cm^?2 and low sulfur/electrolyte ratio of 10, the assembled batteries deliver an initial capacity of 5.04 mAh cm^?2 as well as capacity retention of 92% after 400 cycles. The metallic oxide composite NiCo₂O₄@rGO/PP separator with low Li‐ion diffusion energy barrier opens up the opportunity for lithium–sulfur batteries to achieve long‐cycle, cost‐effective operation toward wide applications in electric vehicles and electronic devices.     

Carbon Quantum Dots–Modified Interfacial Interactions and Ion Conductivity for Enhanced High Current Density Performance in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Significant progress has achieved for developing lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries with high specific capacities and excellent cyclic stability. However, some critical issues emerge when attempts are made to raise the areal sulfur loading and increase the operation current density to meet the standards for various industrial applications. In this work, polyethylenimine‐functionalized carbon dots (PEI‐CDots) are designed and prepared for enhancing performance of the Li–S batteries with high sulfur loadings and operation under high current density situations. Strong chemical binding effects towards polysulfides and fast ion transport property are achieved in the PEI‐CDots‐modified cathodes. At a high current density of 8 mA cm^?2, the PEI‐CDots‐modified Li–S battery delivers a reversible areal capacity of 3.3 mAh cm^?2 with only 0.07% capacity decay per cycle over 400 cycles at 6.6 mg sulfur loading. Detailed analysis, involving electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and density functional theory calculations, is done for the elucidation of the underlying enhancement mechanism by the PEI‐CDots. The strongly localized sulfur species and the promoted Li⁺ ion conductivity at the cathode–electrolyte interface are revealed to enable high‐performance Li–S batteries with high sulfur loading and large operational current.     

2D Layered Double Hydroxides for Oxygen Evolution Reaction: From Fundamental Design to Application

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has aroused extensive interest from materials scientists in the past decade by virtue of its great significance in the energy storage/conversion systems such as water splitting, rechargeable metal–air batteries, carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction, and fuel cells. Among all the materials capable of catalyzing OER, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) stand out as one of the most effective electrocatalysts owing to their compositional and structural flexibility as well as the tenability and the simplicity of their preparation process. For this reason, numerous efforts have been dedicated to adjusting the structure, forming the well‐defined morphology, and developing the preparation methods of LDHs to promote their electrocatalytic performance. In this article, recent advances in the rational design of LDH‐based electrocatalysts toward OER are summarized. Specifically, various tactics for the synthetic methods, as well as structural and composition regulations of LDHs, are further highlighted, followed by a discussion on the influential factors for OER performance. Finally, the remaining challenges to investigate and improve the catalyzing ability of LDH electrocatalysts are stated to indicate possible future development of LDHs.     

Sulfiphilic Few‐Layered MoSe2 Nanoflakes Decorated rGO as a Highly Efficient Sulfur Host for Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries

Lithium‐sulfur batteries (LSBs) have been regarded as a competitive candidate for next‐generation electrochemical energy‐storage technologies due to their merits in energy density. The sluggish redox kinetics of the electrochemistry and the high solubility of polysulfides during cycling result in insufficient sulfur utilization, severe polarization, and poor cyclic stability. Herein, sulfiphilic few‐layered MoSe₂ nanoflakes decorated rGO (MoSe₂@rGO) hybrid has been synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method and for the first time, is used as a conceptually new‐style sulfur host for LSBs. Specifically, MoSe₂@rGO not only strongly interacts with polysulfides but also dynamically strengthens polysulfide redox reactions. The polarization problem is effectively alleviated by relying on the sulfiphilic MoSe₂. Moreover, MoSe₂@rGO is demonstrated to be beneficial for the fast nucleation and uniform deposition of Li₂S, contributing to the high discharge capacity and good cyclic stability. A high initial capacity of 1608 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C, a slow decay rate of 0.042% per loop at 0.25 C, and a high reversible capacity of 870 mAh g^?1 with areal sulfur loading of 4.2 mg cm^?2 at 0.3 C are obtained. The concept of introducing sulfiphilic transition‐metal selenides into the LSBs system can stimulate engineering of novel architectures with enhanced properties for various energy‐storage devices.     

Effects of Codonopis bulleynana forest ex diels on Deferribacteres in constipation predominant intestine tumor: Differential analysis

As a complicated micro-ecosystem, gut microbes are closely related to metabolic disease, immune disease and tumor (such as constipation. Long-term constipation would cause intestinal mucosal injury, enteritis, ileus, etc., thus inducing intestine cancer). In this research, intestine cancer model group and Codonopsis foetens treatment group were successfully constructed, and the variation of intestinal microbes were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequence. Results showed that there were changes in bacteria abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Deferribacteres, Tenericutes, and Actinobacteria, etc. Codonopsis foetens could directly or indirectly affect the growth and metabolism of Deferribacteres by altering the nutritional ingredient and pH value of intestine “medium”, thus affecting the occurrence and development of intestinal microbes.     

An update of the regulatory factors of sperm migration from the uterus into the oviduct by genetically manipulated mice

Mammalian reproductive processes involve spermatogenesis, which occurs in the testis, and fertilization, which takes place in the female genital tract. Fertilization is a successive, multistep, and extremely complicated event that usually includes sperm survival in the uterus, sperm migration through the uterotubal junction (UTJ) and the oviduct, sperm penetration through the cumulus cell layer and the zona pellucida, and sperm–egg fusion. There may be a complex molecular mechanism to ensure that the above processes run smoothly. Previous studies have discovered essential factors for these fertilization steps through in vitro fertilization experiments. However, recent gene disruption approaches in mice have revealed that many of the factors previously described as important for fertilization are largely dispensable in gene‐knockout animals, and some previously unknown factors are emerging. As a result, the molecular mechanisms of fertilization, especially sperm migration from the uterus into the oviduct, have recently been revised by the emergence of genetically modified animals. In this review, we only focus on and update the essential genes for sperm migration through the UTJ and describe recent advances in our knowledge of the basis of mammalian sperm migration.