DNA transfer between internal organelles such as the nucleus, mitochondrion, and plastid is a well-known phenomenon in plant evolution, and DNA transfer from the plastid and mitochondrion to the ...nucleus, from the plastid to the mitochondrion, and from the nucleus to the mitochondrion has been well-documented in angiosperms. However, evidence of the transfer of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to the plastid has only been found in three dicotyledons and one monocotyledon. In the present study, we characterised and analysed two chloroplast (cp) genome sequences of Convallaria keiskei and Liriope spicata, and found that C. keiskei has the largest cp genome (162,109 bp) in the Asparagaceae. Interestingly, C. keiskei had a ~3.3-kb segment of mtDNA in its cp genome and showed similarity with the mt gene rpl10 as a pseudogene. Further analyses revealed that mtDNA transfer only occurred in C. keiskei in the Nolinoideae, which diverged very recently (7.68 million years ago (mya); 95% highest posterior density (HPD): 14.55-2.97 mya). These findings indicate that the C. keiskei cp genome is unique amongst monocotyledon land plants, but further work is necessary to understand the direction and mechanism involved in the uptake of mtDNA by the plastid genome of C. keiskei.
The exchange of genetic material between cellular organelles through intracellular gene transfer (IGT) or between species by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has played an important role in plant ...mitochondrial genome evolution. The mitochondrial genomes of Geraniaceae display a number of unusual phenomena including highly accelerated rates of synonymous substitutions, extensive gene loss and reduction in RNA editing.
Mitochondrial DNA sequences assembled for 17 species of Geranium revealed substantial reduction in gene and intron content relative to the ancestor of the Geranium lineage. Comparative analyses of nuclear transcriptome data suggest that a number of these sequences have been functionally relocated to the nucleus via IGT.
Evidence for rampant HGT was detected in several Geranium species containing foreign organellar DNA from diverse eudicots, including many transfers from parasitic plants. One lineage has experienced multiple, independent HGT episodes, many of which occurred within the past 5.5 Myr.
Both duplicative and recapture HGT were documented in Geranium lineages. The mitochondrial genome of Geranium brycei contains at least four independent HGT tracts that are absent in its nearest relative. Furthermore, G. brycei mitochondria carry two copies of the cox1 gene that differ in intron content, providing insight into contrasting hypotheses on cox1 intron evolution.
Studies of neural pathways that contribute to loss and recovery of function following paralyzing spinal cord injury require devices for modulating and recording electrophysiological activity in ...specific neurons. These devices must be sufficiently flexible to match the low elastic modulus of neural tissue and to withstand repeated strains experienced by the spinal cord during normal movement. We report flexible, stretchable probes consisting of thermally drawn polymer fibers coated with micrometer-thick conductive meshes of silver nanowires. These hybrid probes maintain low optical transmission losses in the visible range and impedance suitable for extracellular recording under strains exceeding those occurring in mammalian spinal cords. Evaluation in freely moving mice confirms the ability of these probes to record endogenous electrophysiological activity in the spinal cord. Simultaneous stimulation and recording is demonstrated in transgenic mice expressing channelrhodopsin 2, where optical excitation evokes electromyographic activity and hindlimb movement correlated to local field potentials measured in the spinal cord.
The effects of graphene n‐doping on a metal–graphene contact are studied in combination with 1D edge contacts, presenting a record contact resistance of 23 Ω μm at room temperature (19 Ω μm at 100 ...K). This contact scheme is applied to a graphene–perovskite hybrid photodetector, significantly improving its performance (0.6 → 1.8 A W−1 in photoresponsivity and 3.3 × 104 → 5.4 × 104 Jones in detectivity).
Lychnis kiusiana Makino is an endangered perennial herb native to wetland areas in Korea and Japan. Despite its conservational and evolutionary significance, population genetic resources are lacking ...for this species. Next-generation sequencing has been accepted as a rapid and cost-effective solution for the identification of microsatellite markers in nonmodel plants.
Using Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing technology, we assembled 67,498,600 reads into 91,900 contigs and identified 11,403 microsatellite repeat motifs in 9563 contigs. A total of 4510 microsatellite-containing transcripts had Gene Ontology (GO) annotations, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis identified 124 pathways with significant scores. Many microsatellites in the L. kiusiana leaf transcriptome were linked to genes involved in the plant response to light intensity, salt stress, temperature stimulus, and nutrient and water deprivation. A total of 12,486 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified on transcripts harboring microsatellites. The analysis of nucleotide substitution rates for 2389 unigenes indicated that 39 genes were under strong positive selection. The primers of 6911 microsatellites were designed, and 40 of 50 selected primer pairs were consistently and successfully amplified from 51 individuals. Twenty-five of these were polymorphic, and the average number of alleles per SSR locus was 6.96, with a range from 2 to 15. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.137 to 0.902 and 0.131 to 0.827, respectively, and locus-specific F
estimates ranged from - 0.116 to 0.290. Eleven of the 25 primer pairs were successfully amplified in three additional species of Lychnis: 56% in L. wilfordii, 64% in L. cognata and 80% in L. fulgens.
The transcriptomic SSR markers of Lychnis kiusiana provide a valuable resource for understanding the population genetics, evolutionary history, and effective conservation management of this species. Furthermore, the identified microsatellite loci linked to the annotated genes should be useful for developing functional markers of L. kiusiana. The developed markers represent a potentially valuable source of transcriptomic SSR markers for population genetic analyses with moderate levels of cross-taxon portability.
Deformable semi-solid liquid metal particles (LMP) have emerged as a promising substitute for rigid conductive fillers due to their excellent electrical properties and stable conductance under ...strain. However, achieving a compact and robust coating of LMP on fibers remains a persistent challenge, mainly due to the incompatibility of conventional coating techniques with LMP. Additionally, the limited durability and absence of initial electrical conductivity of LMP restrict their widespread application. In this study, we propose a solution process that robustly and compactly assembles mechanically durable and initially conductive LMP on fibers. Specifically, we present a shearing-based deposition of polymer-attached LMP followed by additional coating with CNT-attached LMP to create bi-layer LMP composite with exceptional durability, electrical conductivity, stretchability, and biocompatibility on various fibers. The versatility and reliability of this manufacturing strategy for 1D electronics are demonstrated through the development of sewn electrical circuits, smart clothes, stretchable biointerfaced fiber, and multifunctional fiber probes.
Graphene heterostructures in which graphene is combined with semiconductors or other layered 2D materials are of considerable interest, as a new class of electronic devices has been realized. Here we ...propose a technology platform based on graphene–thin-film-semiconductor–metal (GSM) junctions, which can be applied to large-scale and power-efficient electronics compatible with a variety of substrates. We demonstrate wafer-scale integration of vertical field-effect transistors (VFETs) based on graphene–In–Ga–Zn–O (IGZO)–metal asymmetric junctions on a transparent 150 × 150 mm2 glass. In this system, a triangular energy barrier between the graphene and metal is designed by selecting a metal with a proper work function. We obtain a maximum current on/off ratio (I on/I off) up to 106 with an average of 3010 over 2000 devices under ambient conditions. For low-power logic applications, an inverter that combines complementary n-type (IGZO) and p-type (Ge) devices is demonstrated to operate at a bias of only 0.5 V.
Abstract Synthetic neural scaffolds hold promise to eventually replace nerve autografts for tissue repair following peripheral nerve injury. Despite substantial evidence for the influence of scaffold ...geometry and dimensions on the rate of axonal growth, systematic evaluation of these parameters remains a challenge due to limitations in materials processing. We have employed fiber drawing to engineer a wide spectrum of polymer-based neural scaffolds with varied geometries and core sizes. Using isolated whole dorsal root ganglia as an in vitro model system we have identified key features enhancing nerve growth within these fiber scaffolds. Our approach enabled straightforward integration of microscopic topography at the scale of nerve fascicles within the scaffold cores, which led to accelerated Schwann cell migration, as well as neurite growth and alignment. Our findings indicate that fiber drawing provides a scalable and versatile strategy for producing nerve guidance channels capable of controlling direction and accelerating the rate of axonal growth.
The rectifying Schottky characteristics of the metal–semiconductor junction with high contact resistance have been a serious issue in modern electronic devices. Herein, we demonstrated the conversion ...of the Schottky nature of the Ni–Si junction, one of the most commonly used metal–semiconductor junctions, into an Ohmic contact with low contact resistance by inserting a single layer of graphene. The contact resistance achieved from the junction incorporating graphene was about 10–8 ∼ 10–9 Ω cm2 at a Si doping concentration of 1017 cm–3.
Bond resistance is critical for reinforcing fibers in cementitious materials. Recently, crimped shape memory alloy fibers (SMA) have been raised as candidates for providing abundant benefits such as ...improved strength, enhanced durability, and crack closing. This study aimed to examine the influence of wave-depth and wave-length of crimped SMA fibers on their bond behavior. The crimped fibers in this study were categorized in four groups based on the wave-length. Each group had four types of fibers that considered the ratio of wave-depth to wave-length (DLR). Thus, a total of sixteen types of fibers were prepared with variations in wave-length and wave-depth. The tensile test used bare crimped SMA fibers, while the pullout tests used half dog-bone specimens. After the tests, the finite element model was used to evaluate the interaction parameters that were difficult to measure in the experience test. The results showed that the fibers with the smallest wave-length showed the largest maximum bond resistance in the same dept-to-length ratio (DLR) group, and that values decreased with an increasing wave-length. In addition, the smallest wave-length fibers demonstrated the most effective stiffness. Furthermore, the finite element analysis discovered that the geometric friction coefficients of the crimped SMA fibers were affected significantly by the geometric variation. The longer wave-length fiber revealed the larger estimated frictional coefficient.
•Crimped SMA fibers were prepared for pullout tests with considering their wave-length and wave-depth.•The smaller wave-length fiber exhibited the larger bond resistance but the smaller recovery stress.•Thus, the smaller wave-length fiber seemed to have more accumulated curved length.•The smaller wave-length fibers also showed relatively high initial stiffness to slip.•The estimated frictional coefficients of the fibers showed larger value with larger wave-length fibers.
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