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Laser-induced graphene (LIG) technology featuring low-cost, high-efficiency and scalability has presented great advantages in micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) fabrication. However, the limited capacitance of LIG based MSCs is still hindering their further development. Herein, we introduce joule heating as a critical in-situ treatment merged with the assembly of laser-induced graphene paper based MSCs (LIGP-MSCs) toward capacitive enhancement. By increasing heating-treatment temperature from ∼20 to 500 °C, the number of nanopores in LIGP continuously increases, attributed to the gradual decomposition of amorphous carbon components. The resulting joule-heated LIGP (J-LIGP) with improved specific surface area (160.97–533.49 m2/g) and pore volume (0.179–0.553 cm3/g) as well as superhydrophilic surface is highly suitable to be employed as J-LIGP-MSCs microelectrodes. By investigating process dependent performance, the J-LIGP-MSCs heated at 500 °C for 60 min delivers a significantly improved specific areal capacitance (CA) of 13.71 mF/cm2 at 10 mV/s, which is approximately six-fold higher than that of unheated LIGP-MSCs. By further exploring and optimizing the process efficiency, J-LIGP-MSCs with a CA of 12.61 mF/cm2 has been achieved by 550 °C heating for only 5 min. Along with superior mechanical flexibility, cyclability and structural modularity, the proposed in-situ joule heating treatment is finally proved to be a universal approach for consistently enhancing the CA of LIG based MSCs processed under various chemical modifications.

3D printing has become an important strategy for constructing graphene smart structures with arbitrary shapes and complexities. Compared with graphene oxide ink/gel/resin based manners, laser-induced graphene (LIG) is unique for facile and scalable assembly of 1D and 2D structures but still faces size and shape obstacles for constructing 3D macrostructures. In this work, a brand-new LIG based additive manufacturing (LIG-AM) protocol is developed to form bulk 3D graphene with freeform structures without introducing extra binders, templates, and catalysts. On the basis of selective laser sintering, LIG-AM creatively irradiates polyimide (PI) powder-bed for triggering both particle-sintering and graphene-converting processes layer-by-layer, which is unique for assembling varied types of graphene architectures including identical-section, variable-section, and graphene/PI hybrid structures. In addition to exploring combined graphitizing and fusing discipline, processing efficiency and assembling resolution of LIG-AM are also balanceable through synergistic control of lasing power and powder-feeding thickness. By further studying various process dependent properties, a LIG-AM enabled aircraft-wing section model is finally printed to comprehensively demonstrate its shiftable process, hybridizable structure, and multifunctional performance including force-sensing, anti-icing/deicing, and microwave shielding and absorption.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) is a newly-emergent processing strategy for assembling graphene-based structures and devices with low-cost, high-efficiency and high-customizability. However, with the limitation of positioning accuracy, the application of LIG for swift and continuous production of 1D graphene-fiber based electronics is still vacant. Considering the unique 1D geometry with prominent advantages for flexible and wearable devices, in this work, we adventurously proposed and investigated a vertically-oriented laser-sweeping strategy to continuously convert the ∼16.5 μm diameter polyimide monofilament into freestanding graphene fibers. Based on process-structure-property relationship modulated precisely by varied combinations of lasing power and pulse resolution, the LIG enabled fiber electronics (LIGFE) could simultaneously exhibit small diameter (

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease caused by infection. Inflammation is a key pathogenic process in sepsis. Paeonol, an active ingredient in moutan cortex (a Chinese herb), has many pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and antitumour actions. Previous studies have indicated that paeonol inhibits the expression of HMGB1 and the transcriptional activity of NF-κB. However, its underlying mechanism is still unknown. In this study, microarray assay and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) results confirmed that paeonol could significantly up-regulate the expression of miR-339-5p in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by LPS. Dual-luciferase assays indicated that miR-339-5p interacted with the 3′ untranslated region (3′-UTR) of HMGB1. Western blot, immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses indicated that miR-339-5p mimic and siHMGB1 both negatively regulated the expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., HMGB1, IL-1β and TNF-α) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Studies have confirmed that IKK-β is targeted by miR-339-5p, and we further found that paeonol could inhibit IKK-β expression. Positive mutual feedback between HMGB1 and IKK-β was observed when we silenced HMGB1 or IKK-β. These results indicated that paeonol could attenuate the inflammation mediated by HMGB1 and IKK-β by upregulating miR-339-5p expression. In addition, we constructed CLP model mice by cecal ligation and puncture. Paeonol was used to intervene to investigate its anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. The results showed that paeonol could improve the survival rate of sepsis mice and protect the kidney of sepsis mice.

Additional file 14: Table S9. Summary of TE for T. leucocephalus.

Additional file 9: Table S4. Statistics for Illumina reads mapped to the T. leucocephalus genome.

Additional file 22: Table S17. The expression of all genes in mineral absorption pathways from seven tissues of T. leucocephalus.

Additional file 6: Table S1. Illumina libraries used in the de novo sequencing of the T. leucocephalus genome.

Additional file 7: Table S2. Survey statistics for the T. leucocephalus genome.

Additional file 8: Table S3. T. leucocephalus genome assembly statistics.

Functional electrodes with unique ion storage and rapid ion migration properties through microstructure and chemical-doping modulation are always crucial for rapid charging devices such as micro-supercapacitors (MSCs). In this work, proton exchange membrane named phosphoric acid (PA) doped polybenzimidazole membrane (PA-PBI) is studied as a unique precursor for assembling laser induced graphene (LIG) based electrodes (PA-PBI-LIG) in MSCs, toward the enhancement of energy storage performance via simultaneous heteroatoms doping, microporous structure improving and proton-conducting substrate introducing. By tuning PA concentration, the microporous structures perform adjustable specific surface area from 20.2 to 384.46 m2 g−1, thereby enhancing changeable capacitance from 2.44 mF cm−2 to 149 mF cm−2, with highest specific energy density of 20.7 μWh cm−2. To understand the mechanism, PA and the initiated free radicals are proposed to motivate microporous formation and heteroatoms doping during laser fabrication via unique laser absorption properties of PA. Additionally, PA-PBI substrates work synergistically on ions migration with microporous graphene, potentially promoting energy storage efficiency especially in the acid-based electrolyte. Overall, the raised PA-PBI-LIG electrodes simultaneously promote microporous, heteroatomic and multilayered graphene with proton conducting substrate, which show great potentials in micro energy storage devices.

Functional surfaces with tunable and patternable wettability have attracted significant research interests because of remarkable advantages in biomedicine, environmental, and energy storage applications. Based on combined defocusing and grafting strategy for processing laser-induced graphene papers (LIGPs) with variable surface roughness (58.18-6.08 µm) and F content (0-25.9%), their wettability can be tuned continuously from superlyophilicity (contact angle CA ≈ 0° ) to superlyophobicity (CA > 150° ), for various liquids with a wide range of surface tensions from 27.5 to 72.8 mN m-1 . In addition to reaching multiple wetting characteristics including amphiphilic, amphiphobic, and hydrophobic-oleophilic states, three designable processes are further developed for achieving LIGPs with various wetting patterns, including hydrophilic arrays or channels, hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic gradients, and Janus. Activated by the customly designed structures and properties, multifunctional and multi-scenario applications are successfully attempted, including 2D-/3D- directional cell cultivation, water transportation diode, self-triggered liquid transfer & collection, etc.

Fungal interspecific interactions enhance biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid metabolites (PM), and production of nitric oxide (NO) is known to be involved in this process. However, it remains unknown which signaling pathway(s) or regulator(s) mediate fungal PM biosynthesis. In this study, we cocultured two white-rot fungi, Inonotus obliquus and Phellinus morii, to examine NO production, expression of the genes involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism and accumulation of phenylpropanoid-derived polyphenols by I. obliquus. Coculture of the two fungi caused an enhanced NO biosynthesis followed by increased transcription of the genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL), as well as an upregulated biosynthesis of styrylpyrone polyphenols in I. obliquus. Addition of the NO synthase (NOS) selective inhibitor aminoguanidine (AG) inhibited NO production by more than 90 % followed by cease in transcription of PAL and 4Cl. Treatment of guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one did not affect NO production but suppressed transcription of PAL and 4CL and reduced accumulation of total phenolic constituents. Genome-wide analysis of I. obliquus revealed two genes encoding a constitutive and an inducible NOS-like protein, respectively (cNOSL and iNOSL). Coculture of the two fungi did not increase the expression of the cNOSL gene but triggered expression of the iNOSL gene. Cloned iNOSL from Escherichia coli shows higher activity in transferring l-arginine to NO, and this activity is lost upon AG addition. Thus, iNOSL is more responsible for NO production in I. obliquus and may act as an important regulator governing PM production during fungal interspecific interactions.

The medicinal macrofungus Inonotus obliquus widely utilized as folk medicine in Russia and Baltic countries is a source of phenylpropanoid-derived styrylpyrone polyphenols that can inhibit tumor proliferation. Insights into the regulatory machinery that controls I. obliquus styrylpyrone polyphenol biosynthesis will enable strategies to increase the production of these molecules. Here we show that Thioredoxin (Trx) mediated transnitrosylation of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) underpins the regulation of styrylpyrone production, driven by nitric oxide (NO) synthesis triggered by P. morii coculture. NO accumulation results in the S-nitrosylation of PAL and 4CL required for the synthesis of precursor phenylpropanoids and styrylpyrone synthase (SPS), integral to the production of styrylpyrone, inhibiting their activities. These enzymes are targeted for denitrosylation by Trx proteins, which restore their activity. Further, this Trx S-nitrosothiol (SNO) reductase activity was potentiated following S-nitrosylation of Trx proteins at a non-catalytic cysteine (Cys) residue. Intriguingly, this process was counterbalanced by Trx denitrosylation, mediated by Trx-dependent transnitrosylation of GSNOR. Thus, unprecedented interplay between Trx and GSNOR oxidoreductases regulates the biosynthesis of styrylpyrone polyphenols in I. obliquus.

Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be involved in modulating production of styrylpyrone polyphenols in the basidiomycete Inonotus obliquus. However, it remains unknown how NO orchestrates fungal styrylpyrone biosynthesis. Here, we show that a transient NO burst correlated with an enhanced expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL), and styrylpyrone synthase (SPS), the key enzymes involved in styrylpyrone biosynthesis, and subsequently an increased production of styrylpyrone polyphenols. In parallel, the NO burst also resulted in S-nitrosylation of PAL, 4CL, and SPS, which compromised their enzymatic activities mediating a post-translational feedback mechanism that keeps NO-dependent transcriptional activation in check. Moreover, dysfunction of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) further increased the formation of S-nitrosylated proteins, implicating the significance of the Trx system in maintaining a low level of protein-nitrosothiols. Three thioredoxin-like proteins (TrxLs) from I. obliquus show in vitro denitrosylation potential toward S-nitrosylated proteins via trans-denitrosylation or mixed disulfide intermediates. Thus, S-nitrosylation triggered by the NO burst limits over production of fungal styrylpyrone polyphenols, and denitrosylation by TrxLs that act in concert with TrxR play a key role in maintaining redox balance and orchestrating catalytic activities of the enzymes engaged in styrylpyrone synthetic metabolism.

The three point bending fatigue properties of carbon fiber epoxy matrix composite laminates were compared for fatigue loading stress levels of 75, 80 and 85%, and fatigue loading frequencies of 10, 15 and 20Hz, respectively. The experimental results showed that: the bending fatigue life of the composites obviously decreased with the increase of the fatigue loading stress level or the loading frequency. The fatigue damage accumulation process could be divided into three distinct stages according to the accumulation rate: fast, slow and then fast. When the loading stress level was increased from 75 to 85%, the duration of the third stage decreased from 40 to 10% of the overall fatigue life. When the loading frequency was increased from 10 to 20Hz, the duration of the third stage increased from 20 to 40% of the overall fatigue life. Matrix cracking, fiber breaking, interface debonding and delamination were identified as the main three-point bending fatigue damage modes of the carbon fiber composite material, and the stress level and the loading frequency were found to significantly influence the fatigue failure properties of the composites.