Flexible High Energy Density Sodium Dual-ion Battery with Long Cycle life

Flexible fiber-shaped sodium dual-ion batteries(FSDIBS)as a proof of concept are fabricated by using the hierarchical ReS_(2) nanosheets anchored on the carbon nanotube(ReS_(2)@CNT)fiber as anode and graphite on the CNT as cathode.Owing to large interlayer spacing and weak layer coupling force of the ReS_(2) nanosheets and the anion accommodation of the graphite combined with good flexibility of the CNT fiber,the FSDIBS demonstrate outstanding electrochemical performances with high working voltage and high specific volumetric energy density,durable cycling life,and good flexibility.The FSDIBS show a specific discharge capacity of 97.8 mAh cm^(−3) at a current density of 630 mA cm^(−3) and high specific energy density of 25.12 mWh cm^(−3)(based on the whole volume of the two electrodes)and superb stability with a capacity retention of 91.8%even after bending for 2100 cycles.Moreover,a series of ex situ/in situ characterizations are verified that the reversible shuttles of the Na^(+) cations and PF_(6)^(-) anions between the anode and cathode are simultaneously occurred during the charge/discharge process.

Quaternized polymer binder for lithium-sulfur batteries:The effect of cation structure on battery performance

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are great candidates for energy storage systems, but need to overcome theissues of low sulfur utilization and polysulfide shuttling for use in large-scale commercial applications.Recently, quaternized polymers have received much attention for their polysulfide trapping propertiesdue to electrostatic interaction. In this work, we report a series of polyarylether sulfone (PSF) binderswith different cation structures including imidazolium (Im), triethylammonium (Tr), and morpholinium(Mo). The ability of the these quaternized binders and the conventional poly(vinylidene fluoride) or PVDFbinder to capture polysulfide increases in the order of PVDF << PSF-Mo < PSF-Tr< PSF-Im. The delocalizedcharge on the imidazolium cation may promote the interaction between PSF-Im and polysulfide asindicated by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study. The PSF-Im based cathodes showed the highestcapacity retention (77% at 0.2 C after 100 cycles and 84% at 0.5 C after 120 cycles), and the bestrate capability. This work demonstrates the importance of the cation structure in the design of efficientquaternized binders for high performance Li–S batteries.

Analysis of Farmers' Needs for Forestry Information and Technology in Yunnan's Hot Zone: Based on Empirical Survey in Menglian County

Lack of public forestry information and techniques has restricted the development of forestry management and the income increase of rural farmers in hot region of Yunnan province. Therefore it is necessary to provide forestry information and techniques to rural areas so as to compensate for the information gap between urban and rural areas. Based on the survey about farmer demand for information and technique in Menglian County,the paper analyzed the supply methods and demand characteristics of forestry information and techniques. The results showed that the farmers had very strong demands for forestry information and techniques with diversified trend. But the farmers got the information with backward method and single service supply approach,and it lacked effective expression mechanism for their demands.

AaWRKY17, a positive regulator of artemisinin biosynthesis, is involved in resistance to Pseudomonas syringae in Artemisia annua

Artemisia annua,a traditional Chinese medicinal plant,remains the only plant source for artemisinin production,yet few genes have been identified to be involved in both the response to biotic stresses,such as pathogens,and artemisinin biosynthesis.Here,we isolated and identified the WRKY transcription factor(TF)AaWRKY17,which could significantly increase the artemisinin content and resistance to Pseudomonas syringae in A.annua.Yeast one-hybrid(Y1H),dual-luciferase(dual-LUC),and electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA)results showed that AaWRKY17 directly bound to the W-box motifs in the promoter region of the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway gene amorpha-4,11-diene synthase(ADS)and promoted its expression.Real-time quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)analysis revealed that the transcript levels of two defense marker genes,Pathogenesis-Related 5(PR5)and NDR1/HIN1-LIKE 10(NHL10),were greatly increased in AaWRKY17-overexpressing transgenic A.annua plants.Additionally,overexpression of AaWRKY17 in A.annua resulted in decreased susceptibility to P.syringae.These results indicated that AaWRKY17 acted as a positive regulator in response to P.syringae infection.Together,our findings demonstrated that the novel WRKY transcription factor AaWRKY17 could potentially be used in transgenic breeding to improve the content of artemisinin and pathogen tolerance in A.annua.

Competing reduction induced homogeneous oxygen doping to unlock MoS_(2)basal planes for faster polysulfides conversion

The parasitic polysulfides shuttle effect greatly hinders the practical application of lithium sulfur batteries,and this issue can be addressed by promoting polysulfides conversion with catalytic materials such as Mo S_(2).However,the catalytic activity of Mo S_(2)mainly relies on edge sites,but is limited by inert basal planes.We herein report a novel,facile,ethylene glycol enabled competing reduction strategy to dope Mo S_(2)homogeneously with oxygen atoms so that its inert basal planes can be unlocked.Ethylene glycol works as a reducing agent and competes with thiourea to react with ammonium molybdate,leading to insufficient sulfuration of Mo,and consequent formation of O-Mo S_(2).Our theoretical and experimental investigations indicate that the homogeneously distributed O dopants can create abundant adsorption/-catalytic sites in the Mo S_(2)basal planes,enlarge the inter-plane distance to promote ion transport,and thus enhance the catalytic conversion of polysulfides.The oxygen doped Mo S_(2)(O-Mo S_(2))is supported on carbon nanosheets(CNS)and the composite(O-Mo S_(2)/CNS)is employed to modify the separator of Li-S battery.It gives the battery an initial discharge capacity of 1537 m Ah g-1at 0.2 C,and the battery retains a discharge capacity of 545 m Ah g-1after ultra-long 2000 cycles at 1 C,corresponding to a very small cyclic decay rate of 0.0237%.Even under a raising sulfur loading of 8.2 mg cm^(-2),the Li-S battery also delivers a high discharge capacity(554 m Ah g^(-1))with outstanding cycle stability(84.6%capacity retention)after 100 cycles at 0.5 C.Our work provides a novel,facile approach to fabricate highly catalytically active oxygen-doped Mo S_(2)for advanced Li-S batteries.

Transcriptional regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis in Artemisia annua by AaYABBY5

Artemisia annua is a medicinal plant rich in terpenes and flavonoids with useful biological activities such as antioxidant,anticancer,and antimalarial activities.The transcriptional regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis in A.annua has not been well-studied.In this study,we identified a YABBY family transcription factor,AaYABBY5,as a positive regulator of anthocyanin and total flavonoid contents in A.annua.AaYABBY5 was selected based on its similar expression pattern to the phenylalanine ammonia lyase(PAL),chalcone synthase(CHS),chalcone isomerase(CHI),and flavonol synthase(FLS)genes.A transient dual-luciferase assay in Nicotiana bethamiana with the AaYABBY5 effector showed a significant increase in the activity of the downstream LUC gene,with reporters AaPAL,AaCHS,AaCHI,and AaUFGT.The yeast one-hybrid system further confirmed the direct activation of these promoters by AaYABBY5.Gene expression analysis of stably transformed AaYABBY5 overexpression,AaYABBY5 antisense,and control plants revealed a significant increase in the expression of AaPAL,AaCHS,AaCHI,AaFLS,AaFSII,AaLDOX,and AaUFGT in AaYABBY5 overexpression plants.Moreover,their total flavonoid content and anthocyanin content were also found to increase.AaYABBY5 antisense plants showed a significant decrease in the expression of flavonoid biosynthetic genes,as well as a decrease in anthocyanin and total flavonoid contents.In addition,phenotypic analysis revealed deep purple-pigmented stems,an increase in the leaf lamina size,and higher trichome densities in AaYABBY5 overexpression plants.Together,these data proved that AaYABBY5 is a positive regulator of flavonoid biosynthesis in A.annua.Our study provides candidate transcription factors for the improvement of flavonoid concentrations in A.annua and can be further extended to elucidate its mechanism of regulating trichome development.

Increased artemisinin production by promoting glandular secretory trichome formation and reconstructing the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway in Artemisia annua

Dear Editor,Artemisinin,which has potent antimalarial properties,is a sesquiterpene endoperoxide originally isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua.However,the artemisinin content in wild-type(WT)A.annua is low(1-10 mg/g dry weight),leading to its erratic supply and price fluctuations[1].

BZR1 Family Transcription Factors Function Redundantly and Indispensably in BR Signaling but Exhibit BRI1-Independent Function in Regulating Anther Development in Arabidopsis

BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 family proteins(BZRs)are central transcription factors that govern brassinosteroid(BR)-regulated gene expression and plant growth.However,it is unclear whether there exists a BZR-independent pathway that mediates BR signaling.In this study,we found that disruption of all BZRs in Arabidopsis generated a hextuple mutant(bzr-h)displaying vegetative growth phenotypes that were almost identical to those of the null mutant of three BR receptors,bri1brl1brl3(bri-t).By RNA sequencing,we found that global gene expression in bzr-h was unaffected by 2 h of BR treatment.The anthers of bzr-h plants were loculeless,but a similar phenotype was not observed in bri-t,suggesting that BZRs have a BR signaling-independent regulatory role in anther development.By real-time PCR and in situ hybridization,we found that the expression of SPOROCYTELESS(SPL),which encodes a transcription factor essential for anther locule development,was barely detectable in bzr-h,suggesting that BZRs regulate locule development by affecting SPL expression.Our findings reveal that BZRs are indispensable transcription factors required for both BR signaling and anther locule development,providing new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the microsporogenesis in Arabidopsis.

Boosting wheat functional genomics via an indexed EMS mutant library of KN9204

A better understanding of wheat functional genomics can improve targeted breeding for better agronomic traits and environmental adaptation.However,the lack of gene-indexed mutants and the low transformation efficiency of wheat limit in-depth gene functional studies and genetic manipulation for breeding.In this study,we created a library for KN9204,a popular wheat variety in northern China,with a reference genome,transcriptome,and epigenome of different tissues,using ethyl methyl sulfonate(EMS)mutagenesis.This library contains a vast developmental diversity of critical tissues and transition stages.Exome capture sequencing of 2090 mutant lines using KN9204 genome-designed probes revealed that 98.79%of coding genes had mutations,and each line had an average of 1383 EMS-type SNPs.We identified new allelic variations for crucial agronomic trait-related genes such as Rht-D1,Q,TaTB1,and WFZP.We tested 100 lines with severemutations in 80 NAC transcription factors(TFs)under drought and salinity stress and identified 13 lines with altered sensitivity.Further analysis of three lines using transcriptome and chromatin accessibility data revealed hundreds of direct NAC targets with altered transcription patterns under salt or drought stress,including SNAC1,DREB2B,CML16,and ZFP182,factors known to respond to abiotic stress.Thus,we have generated and indexed a KN9204 EMS mutant library that can facilitate functional genomics research and offer resources for genetic manipulation of wheat.

TabHLH27 orchestrates root growth and drought tolerance to enhance water use efficiency in wheat

Cultivating high-yield wheat under limited water resources is crucial for sustainable agriculture in semiarid regions.Amid water scarcity,plants activate drought response signaling,yet the delicate balance between drought tolerance and development remains unclear.Through genome-wide association studies and transcriptome profiling,we identified a wheat atypical basic helix-loop-helix(b HLH)transcription factor(TF),Tab HLH27-A1,as a promising quantitative trait locus candidate for both relative root dry weight and spikelet number per spike in wheat.Tab HLH27-A1/B1/D1 knockout reduced wheat drought tolerance,yield,and water use efficiency(WUE).Tab HLH27-A1 exhibited rapid induction with polyethylene glycol(PEG)treatment,gradually declining over days.It activated stress response genes such as Ta CBL8-B1 and Ta CPI2-A1 while inhibiting root growth genes like Ta SH15-B1 and Ta WRKY70-B1 under short-term PEG stimulus.The distinct transcriptional regulation of Tab HLH27-A1 involved diverse interacting factors such as Ta ABI3-D1 and Tab ZIP62-D1.Natural variations of Tab HLH27-A1influence its transcriptional responses to drought stress,with Tab HLH27-A1^(Hap-II)associated with stronger drought tolerance,larger root system,more spikelets,and higher WUE in wheat.Significantly,the excellent Tab HLH27-A1^(Hap-II)was selected during the breeding process in China,and introgression of Tab HLH27-A1^(Hap-II)allele improved drought tolerance and grain yield,especially under water-limited conditions.Our study highlights Tab HLH27-A1's role in balancing root growth and drought tolerance,providing a genetic manipulation locus for enhancing WUE in wheat.

Plant cuticles repress organ initiation and development during skotomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis

After germination in the dark,plants produce a shoot apical hook and closed cotyledons to protect the quiescent shoot apical meristem(SAM),which is critical for seedling survival during skotomorphogenesis.The factors that coordinate these processes,particularly SAM repression,remain enigmatic.Plant cuticles,multilayered structures of lipid components on the outermost surface of the aerial epidermis of all land plants,provide protection against desiccation and external environmental stresses.Whether and how cuticles regulate plant development are still unclear.Here,we demonstrate that mutants of BODYGUARD1(BDG1)and long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase2(LACS2),key genes involved in cutin biosynthesis,produce a short hypocotyl with an opened apical hook and cotyledons in which the SAM is activated during skotomorphogenesis.Light signaling represses expression of BDG1 and LACS2,as well as cutin biosynthesis.Transcriptome analysis revealed that cuticles are critical for skotomorphogenesis,particularly for the development and function of chloroplasts.Genetic and molecular analyses showed that decreased HOOKLESS1 expression results in apical hook opening in the mutants.When hypoxia-induced expression of LITTLE ZIPPER2 at the SAM promotes organ initiation in the mutants,the de-repressed expression of cell-cycle genes and the cytokinin response induce the growth of true leaves.Our results reveal previously unrecognized developmental functions of the plant cuticle during skotomorphogenesis and demonstrate a mechanism by which light initiates photomorphogenesis through dynamic regulation of cuticle synthesis to induce coordinated and systemic changes in organ development and growth during the skotomorphogenesis-to-photomorphogenesis transition.

Discovery of novel heteroaryl alkynes for highly potent KIT^(D816V) cells inhibition to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors

To the Editor:Gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GIST)is the most popular mesenchymal tumor in the gastrointestinal tract with approximately 80%of GIST harboring gain-of-function mutations at either the extracellular region(exon 9)or the juxtamembrane domain(JMD,exon 11)of KIT,resulting in uncontrolled proliferation and resistance to apotosis1.