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We sequenced five BAC clones of Brassica oleracea doubled haploid ‘Early Big' broccoli containing major genes in the aliphatic glucosinolate pathway, and comparatively analyzed them with similar sequences in A. thaliana and B. rapa. Additionally, we included in the analysis published sequences from three other B. oleracea BAC clones and a contig of this species corresponding to segments in A. thaliana chromosomes IV and V. A total of 2,946 kb of B. oleracea, 1,069 kb of B. rapa sequence and 2,607 kb of A. thaliana sequence were compared and analyzed. We found conserved collinearity for gene order and content restricted to specific chromosomal segments, but breaks in collinearity were frequent resulting in gene absence likely not due to gene loss but rearrangements. B. oleracea has the lowest gene density of the three species, followed by B. rapa. The genome expansion of the Brassica species, B. oleracea in particular, is due to larger introns and gene spacers resulting from frequent insertion of DNA transposons and retrotransposons. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible origin and evolution of the Brassica genomes.

Two-dimensional α -In2Se3 exhibits simultaneous intercorrelated in-plane and out-of-plane polarization, making it a highly promising material for use in memories, synapses, sensors, detectors, and optoelectronic devices. With its narrow bandgap, α -In2Se3 is particularly attractive for applications in photodetection. However, relatively little research has been conducted on the out-of-plane photoconductive and bulk photovoltaic effects in α -In2Se3. This limits the potential of α -In2Se3 in the device innovation and performance modification. Herein, we have developed an α -In2Se3-based heterojunction with a transparent electrode of two-dimensional Ta2NiS5. The out-of-plane electric field can effectively separate the photo-generated electron–hole pairs in the heterojunction, resulting in an out-of-plane responsivity (R), external quantum efficiency (EQE), and specific detectivity ( D * ) of 0.78 mA/W, 10 − 3 % and 1. 1 4 × 1 0 8 Jones, respectively. The out-of-plane bulk photovoltaic effect has been demonstrated by changes in the short circuit current (SCC) and open circuit voltage ( V oc ) with different optical power intensity and temperature, which indicates that α -In2Se3-based heterojunctions has application potential in mid-far infrared light detection based on its out-of-plane photoconductive and bulk photovoltaic effects. Although the out-of-plane photoconductive and bulk photovoltaic effects are relatively lower than that of traditional materials, the findings pave the way for a better understanding of the out-of-plane characteristics of two-dimensional α -In2Se3 and related heterojunctions. Furthermore, the results highlight the application potential of α -In2Se3 in low-power device innovation and performance modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of two-dimensional heterojunctions has significantly expanded the modulation degrees of freedom in two-dimensional materials, which has led to the emergence of numerous advanced microelectronics and optoelectronic devices. Extensive research has been conducted on the photovoltaic and photoconductivity effects to achieve higher photodetection performance in heterojunction-based devices. However, the bulk photovoltaic effect, which has excellent potential for applications in self-powered optoelectronics, microelectronics, and energy conversion devices, has not received enough attention. Herein, we construct a two-dimensional ferroelectric heterojunction using multi-layered CuInP2S6 (CIPS) and MoS2 nanoflakes and investigate its photoconductivity effect for photodetection. Furthermore, we observe and analyze the bulk photovoltaic effect in the heterojunction. The photoelectric effect in the MoS2 layer contributes to the photoconductivity effect of the heterojunction, while the room-temperature polar ordering in CIPS contributes to the bulk photovoltaic effect. The heterojunction exhibits high specific detectivity (D*) of 1.89 × 109 Jones, when the optical power intensity is 4.71 mW/cm2. Moreover, the short-circuit photocurrent density is high, reaching about 1.23 mA/cm2 when the optical power intensity is 0.35 W/cm2. This work highlights the potential application of two-dimensional ferroelectric materials in multifunction devices with self-powered detection and energy conversion capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layer-structured ferroelectric material-modulated heterojunctions are promising for use as photodetectors. However, the mechanism behind their photodetection performance, including photoconductivity, pyroconductivity, and pyroelectricity effects, has not yet been fully studied. Herein, we present a CuInP2S6/MoS2 heterojunction with a layered structure, in which the narrow bandgap of MoS2 extends the detection wavelength range with a specific detectivity (D*) of 108–1010 Jones. The pyroelectric effect, dominated by polarization, introduces significant current peaks and valleys when the light is turned on and off. A competitive mechanism is discovered among the photoconductivity, pyroconductivity, and pyroelectricity effects. At low optical power intensities, the pyroconductivity effect is dominant under 405 nm light, while the pyroelectricity effect dominates under 808 nm light. However, at high optical power intensities, both the photoconductivity and pyroconductivity effects become dominant, regardless of the light wavelength. The responsivity (R), external quantum efficiency (EQE), and D* of the CuInP2S6/MoS2 heterojunction are two orders of magnitude for 405 nm light compared to 808 nm light. These results not only demonstrate the coupling effect among the photoconductivity, pyroconductivity, and pyroelectricity effects in the photodetection of layer-structured CuInP2S6/MoS2 heterojunctions but also highlight the potential applications of these heterojunctions in multifunctional devices, provided that these effects can be clearly distinguished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pot experiment was made to study effects of ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA, an inhibitor of Ca2+) and trifluoperazine (TFP, an inhibitor of calmodulin (CaM) on mycorrhizal colonization, growth performance, and chlorophyll, sucrose and glucose concentrations of four-month-old trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings under mycorrhization with Rhizophagus intraradices. Exogenous EGTA and TFP notably inhibited root mycorrhizal colonization, and the addition of EGTA also decreased soil hyphal length. In general, EGTA treatment decreased but TFP increased easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP) and total GRSP (T-GRSP) concentrations. In addition, EGTA and TFP applications generally significantly inhibited growth performance (height, stem diameter, leaf number, and shoot and root biomass), root traits (total length, surface area, volume, and number of 1st, 2nd and 3rd order lateral root), and chlorophyll a,b and a+b concentrations, the mycorrhizal inoculation generally reversed the negative effects and markedly increased these variables, irrespective of whether the seedlings were applied by inhibitors or not. EGTA and TFP treatments generally inhibited sucrose and glucose levels of leaf and root, except that TFP application notably increased root glucose in AM and non-AM seedlings. AMF inoculation resulted in carbohydrate modification: decrease in leaf sucrose, increase in root sucrose and leaf glucose, as well increase in root glucose under no-inhibitor and EGTA conditions and decrease in root glucose under TFP. It suggests that Ca2+ and CaM were involved in mycorrhizal and root development in trifoliate orange.

Background: The underlying mechanisms of the relationship between stressful life events and obesity among Chinese workers are unclear. Objective: This study aimed to understand the processes and mechanisms involved in stressful life events, unhealthy eating behavior, and obesity among Chinese workers. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2019, a total of 15,921 government employees were included at baseline and they were followed-up until May 2021. Stressful life events were assessed using the Life Events Scale, and unhealthy eating behavior was assessed using four items. BMI was calculated as weight (kg) divided by height (m2) using physically measured data. Results: Overeating at each mealtime (OR = 2.21, 95%CI: 1.78–2.71) at baseline led to reports of higher risk of obesity at follow up. Eating before going to bed at night sometimes (OR = 1.51, 95%CI: 1.31–1.73) or often (OR = 3.04, 95%CI: 2.28–4.05) at baseline led to reports of higher risk of obesity at follow-up. Eating out sometimes (OR = 1.74, 95%CI: 1.47–2.07) or often (OR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.07–2.36) at baseline led to reports of higher risk of obesity at follow-up. Stressful life events were not directly associated with obesity, but unhealthy eating behaviors, including overeating at each mealtime (β = 0.010, 95%CI: 0.007–0.014; β = 0.002, 95%CI: 0.001–0.004, respectively) and irregular meal timing (β = −0.011, 95%CI: −0.015–−0.008; β = −0.004, 95%CI: −0.006–−0.001, respectively), significantly mediated the associations between stressful life events at baseline and obesity at both baseline and follow-up. Conclusions: Unhealthy eating behaviors mediated the relationship between stressful life events and obesity. Interventions should be provided to workers who have experienced stressful life events and unhealthy eating behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese‐based cathode materials are considered as a promising candidate for rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs). Suffering from poor conductive and limited structure tolerance, various carbon matrix, especially N‐doped carbon, were employed to incorporate with MnO2 for greatly promoted electrochemical performances. However, the related underlying mechanism is still unknown, which is unfavorable to guide the design of high performance electrode. Herein, by incorporating layered MnO2 with N‐doped carbon nanowires, a free‐standing cathode with hierarchical core‐shell structure (denoted as MnO2@NC) is prepared. Benefiting from the N‐doped carbon and rational architecture, the MnO2@NC electrode shows an enhanced specific capacity (325 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1) and rate performance (90 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1), as well as improved cycling stability. Furthermore, the performance improvement mechanism of MnO2 incorporated by N‐doped carbon is investigated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectrums and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The N atom elongates the Mn‐O bond and reduces the valence of Mn4+ ion in MnO2 crystal by delocalizing its electron clouds. Thus, the electrostatic repulsion will be weakened when Zn2+/H+ insert into the host MnO2 lattices, which is profitable to more cation insertion and faster ion transfer kinetics for higher capacity and rate capability. This work elucidates a fundamental understanding of the functions of N‐doped carbon in composite materials and shed light on a practical pathway to optimize other electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]