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Electrostatic gating has emerged as a powerful technique for tailoring the magnetic properties of two-dimensional (2D) magnets, offering exciting prospects including enhancement of magnetic anisotropy, boosting Curie temperature, and strengthening exchange coupling effects. Here, we focus on electrical control of the ferromagnetic resonance of the quasi-2D Kagome magnet Cu(1,3-bdc). By harnessing an electrostatic field through ionic liquid gating, significant shifts are observed in the ferromagnetic resonance field in both out-of-plane and in-plane measurements. Moreover, the effective magnetization and gyromagnetic ratios display voltage-dependent variations. A closer examination reveals that the voltage-induced changes can modulate magnetocrystalline anisotropy by several hundred gauss, while the impact on orbital magnetization remains relatively subtle. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal varying d-orbital hybridizations at different voltages. This research unveils intricate physics within the Kagome lattice magnet and further underscores the potential of electrostatic manipulation in steering magnetism with promising implications for the development of spintronic devices.

Low-cost content-addressable memories (CAMs) are highly desirable for many applications where high-speed search is needed such as network routers and machine learning. We propose a low-power, compact, fast magnetic skyrmion-based ternary CAM (Sky-TCAM) cell design. Each cell comprises a 5T2R structure with five transistors and two magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). The search current polarity together with the stored bit can realize the XOR logic. When a mismatch happens, the skyrmion appears beneath one MTJ, leading to the discharge of the matchline (ML). While the search energy-delay-product (EDP) is comparable with that of non-volatile (NV) ternary CAMs (TCAMs), Sky-TCAM shows the lowest EDP of ${8.74} \times {10}^{-{25}}\,\,\text {J}\,\,\cdot \,\,\text {s}$ among all TCAMs we compare. Our research shows that Sky-TCAM is promising for building low-power and low-latency computation applications.

Trophic interactions play a central role in driving microbial community assembly and function. In gut or soil ecosystems, successful inoculants are always facilitated by efficient colonization; however, the metabolite exchanges between inoculants and resident bacteria are rarely studied, particularly in the rhizosphere. Here, we used bioinformatic, genetic, transcriptomic, and metabonomic analyses to uncover syntrophic cooperation between inoculant (Bacillus velezensisSQR9) and plant-beneficial indigenous Pseudomonas stutzeriin the cucumber rhizosphere. We found that the synergistic interaction of these two species is highly environmental dependent, the emergence of syntrophic cooperation was only evident in a static nutrient-rich niche, such as pellicle biofilm in addition to the rhizosphere. Our results identified branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) biosynthesis pathways are involved in syntrophic cooperation. Genome-scale metabolic modeling and metabolic profiling also demonstrated metabolic facilitation among the bacterial strains. In addition, biofilm matrix components from Bacilluswere essential for the interaction. Importantly, the two-species consortium promoted plant growth and helped plants alleviate salt stress. In summary, we propose a mechanism in which synergic interactions between a biocontrol bacterium and a partner species promote plant health.

Trophic interactions play a central role in driving microbial community assembly and function. In gut or soil ecosystems, successful inoculants are always facilitated by efficient colonization; however, the metabolite exchanges between inoculants and resident bacteria are rarely studied, particularly in the rhizosphere. Here, we used bioinformatic, genetic, transcriptomic, and metabonomic analyses to uncover syntrophic cooperation between inoculant (Bacillus velezensisSQR9) and plant-beneficial indigenous Pseudomonas stutzeriin the cucumber rhizosphere. We found that the synergistic interaction of these two species is highly environmental dependent, the emergence of syntrophic cooperation was only evident in a static nutrient-rich niche, such as pellicle biofilm in addition to the rhizosphere. Our results identified branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) biosynthesis pathways are involved in syntrophic cooperation. Genome-scale metabolic modeling and metabolic profiling also demonstrated metabolic facilitation among the bacterial strains. In addition, biofilm matrix components from Bacilluswere essential for the interaction. Importantly, the two-species consortium promoted plant growth and helped plants alleviate salt stress. In summary, we propose a mechanism in which synergic interactions between a biocontrol bacterium and a partner species promote plant health.

Trichodermaspp. have evolved the capacity to communicate with plants by producing various secondary metabolites (SMs). Nonhormonal SMs play important roles in plant root development, while specific SMs from rhizosphere microbes and their underlying mechanisms to control plant root branching are still largely unknown. In this study, a compound, anthranilic acid (2-AA), is identified from T. guizhouenseNJAU4742 to promote lateral root development. Further studies demonstrate that 2-AA positively regulates auxin signaling and transport in the canonical auxin pathway. 2-AA also partly rescues the lateral root numbers of CASP1pro:shy2-2, which regulates endodermal cell wall remodeling via an RBOHF-induced reactive oxygen species burst. In addition, our work reports another role for microbial 2-AA in the regulation of lateral root development, which is different from its better-known role in plant indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis. In summary, this study identifies 2-AA from T. guizhouenseNJAU4742, which plays versatile roles in regulating plant root development.

Bacillus AmyloliquefaciensSQR9 is a well-investigated plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria with strong root colonization capability. To identify the key proteins involved in in situ root colonization and biofilm formation, the proteomic profiles of planktonic and root colonized SQR9 cells were compared. A total of 755 proteins were identified, of which 78 and 95 proteins were significantly increased and deceased, respectively, when SQR9 was colonized on the root. The proteins that were closely affiliated with the root colonization belonged to the functional categories of biocontrol, detoxification, biofilm formation, cell motility and chemotaxis, transport, and degradation of plant polysaccharides. A two-component system protein ResE was increased 100-fold when compared to the planktonic status; impairment of the resEgene postponed the formation of cell biofilm and decreased the root colonization capability, which may be regulated through the spo0A-sinI-yqxMpathway. The SQR9 proteomic data provide valuable clues for screening key proteins in the plant–rhizobacteria interaction.

Fifty environmental isolates of Vibriospecies were isolated from water samples of Mai Po Nature Reserve and the Cape d’Aguilar Marine Reserve in Hong Kong and screened for the presence of plasmid. Mai Po is a wastewater-impacted area while the Cape d’Aguilar Marine Reserve is pristine natural marine water. Plasmid was found in Vibrioisolates from both sites at similar frequencies and each site showed distinctive plasmid profiles. These plasmid-bearing Vibrioisolates were identified as different species of the Vibriogenus by both biochemical test and subsequently full-length 16S rRNA sequences. Antibiotic resistance test showed that all these plasmid-bearing Vibrioisolates showed multiple resistance to 21 antibiotics tested. In addition, selective isolates also showed tolerance to 10 M Hg2+in culture medium and they generally harbored large plasmid(s) (>‰30 kb). Our results show that the high frequency of plasmid in Vibriospecies of both polluted and pristine environments may be ecologically important to the survival of these bacteria in the environment. The specific functioning of the cryptic plasmids remains the focus of current investigations.

Bacillusspp. produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, including antibiotics, which have been well studied for their antibacterial properties but less so as signaling molecules. Previous results indicated that the lipopeptide bacillomycin D is a signal that promotes biofilm development of Bacillus velezensisSQR9. However, the mechanism behind this signaling is still unknown. Here, we show that bacillomycin D promotes biofilm development by promoting the acquisition of iron. Bacillomycin D promotes the transcription of the iron ABC transporter FeuABC by binding to its transcription factor, Btr. These actions increase intracellular iron concentration and activate the KinB-Spo0A-SinI-SinR-dependent synthesis of biofilm matrix components. We demonstrate that this strategy is beneficial for biofilm development and competition with the Pseudomonas fluorescensPF-5. Our results unravel an antibiotic-dependent signaling mechanism that links iron acquisition to biofilm development and ecological competition.