Development and evaluation of the first high-throughput SNP array for common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

BACKGROUND: A large number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) but, as yet, no high-throughput genotyping platform is available for this species. C. carpio is an important aquaculture species that accounts for nearly 14% of freshwater aquaculture production worldwide. We have developed an array for C. carpio with 250,000 SNPs and evaluated its performance using samples from various strains of C. carpio. RESULTS: The SNPs used on the array were selected from two resources: the transcribed sequences from RNA-seq data of four strains of C. carpio, and the genome re-sequencing data of five strains of C. carpio. The 250,000 SNPs on the resulting array are distributed evenly across the reference C.carpio genome with an average spacing of 6.6 kb. To evaluate the SNP array, 1,072 C. carpio samples were collected and tested. Of the 250,000 SNPs on the array, 185,150 (74.06%) were found to be polymorphic sites. Genotyping accuracy was checked using genotyping data from a group of full-siblings and their parents, and over 99.8% of the qualified SNPs were found to be reliable. Analysis of the linkage disequilibrium on all samples and on three domestic C.carpio strains revealed that the latter had the longer haplotype blocks. We also evaluated our SNP array on 80 samples from eight species related to C. carpio, with from 53,526 to 71,984 polymorphic SNPs. An identity by state analysis divided all the samples into three clusters; most of the C. carpio strains formed the largest cluster. CONCLUSIONS: The Carp SNP array described here is the first high-throughput genotyping platform for C. carpio. Our evaluation of this array indicates that it will be valuable for farmed carp and for genetic and population biology studies in C. carpio and related species

Advanced Data Encryption ​using 2D Materials

Advanced data encryption requires the use of true random number generators (TRNGs) to produce unpredictable sequences of bits. TRNG circuits with high degree of randomness and low power consumption may be fabricated by using the random telegraph noise (RTN) current signals produced by polarized metal/insulator/metal (MIM) devices as entropy source. However, the RTN signals produced by MIM devices made of traditional insulators, i.e., transition metal oxides like HfO and AlO, are not stable enough due to the formation and lateral expansion of defect clusters, resulting in undesired current fluctuations and the disappearance of the RTN effect. Here, the fabrication of highly stable TRNG circuits with low power consumption, high degree of randomness (even for a long string of 2 − 1 bits), and high throughput of 1 Mbit s by using MIM devices made of multilayer hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is shown. Their application is also demonstrated to produce one-time passwords, which is ideal for the internet-of-everything. The superior stability of the h-BN-based TRNG is related to the presence of few-atoms-wide defects embedded within the layered and crystalline structure of the h-BN stack, which produces a confinement effect that avoids their lateral expansion and results in stable operation.M.L. acknowledges generous support from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (grants no. 2018YFE0100800, 2019YFE0124200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants no. 61874075), the Collaborative Innovation Centre of Suzhou Nano Science & Technology, the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, and the 111 Project from the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of China. A.A. and S.R. acknowledge the project: ModElling Charge and Heat trANsport in 2D-materIals based Composites—MECHANIC reference number: PCI2018-093120 funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. ICN2 is funded by the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya and is supported by the Severo Ochoa program from Spanish MINECO (Grant No. SEV-2017-0706). Y.S. acknowledges support from the European Union (Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions (grant no. 894840). The authors acknowledge technical advice from H.-S. Philip Wong from Stanford University and Xiaoming Xie from Chinese Academy of Sciences

Suppression of the hierarchical structure of water-assisted injection moulded iPP in the presence of a β-nucleating agent and lamellar branching of a β-crystal

The thickness of oriented zones in water-assisted injection moulded β-iPP parts increased with the increasing of β-nucleating agent (β-NA) content. More interestingly, the high β-NA content suppressed the hierarchical structure effectively, which is consistent with the almost invariable crystallinity and orientation. Meanwhile, an unexpected lamellar branching of the β-crystal was observed

Genomic Analysis of the Proteasome Subunit Gene Family and Their Response to High Density and Saline-Alkali Stresses in Grass Carp

The proteasome is a highly conserved polycatalytic enzyme that is required for cellular processes and is widely present in the nucleus and cytoplasm of archaea, as well as all eukaryotes. A total of 22 members of the proteasome subunit (CiPS) gene family were identified and characterized by scanning the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) genome. These genes were classified into two subfamilies, CiPSA and CiPSB, based on phylogenetic analysis, which was consistent with the results from other species. We examined the response of this gene family to high density and saline-alkali stresses in aquaculture using publicly available transcriptome data resources. In grass carp, CiPS member transcripts were detected in all tested tissues, with the highest expression level in the head kidney and the lowest in the liver. According to transcriptome-based expression analysis, CiPS genes play a role in response to environmental stresses in grass carp, mainly in the form of negative regulation. Interestingly, a cluster of members belonging to the CiPSB subfamily on a 15 kb region on chromosome segment CI01000319, including CiPSB8, 9, 9b, and 10, showed marked responses to high density and saline-alkali stress. It appears that CiPS genes confer stress tolerance through the regulation of common genes, as well as specific genes. In summary, our genome-wide characterization, evolutionary, and transcriptomic analysis of CiPS genes in grass carp provides valuable information for characterizing the molecular functions of these genes and utilizing them to improve stress tolerance in aquaculture

Genomic Analysis of the Proteasome Subunit Gene Family and Their Response to High Density and Saline-Alkali Stresses in Grass Carp

The proteasome is a highly conserved polycatalytic enzyme that is required for cellular processes and is widely present in the nucleus and cytoplasm of archaea, as well as all eukaryotes. A total of 22 members of the proteasome subunit (CiPS) gene family were identified and characterized by scanning the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) genome. These genes were classified into two subfamilies, CiPSA and CiPSB, based on phylogenetic analysis, which was consistent with the results from other species. We examined the response of this gene family to high density and saline-alkali stresses in aquaculture using publicly available transcriptome data resources. In grass carp, CiPS member transcripts were detected in all tested tissues, with the highest expression level in the head kidney and the lowest in the liver. According to transcriptome-based expression analysis, CiPS genes play a role in response to environmental stresses in grass carp, mainly in the form of negative regulation. Interestingly, a cluster of members belonging to the CiPSB subfamily on a 15 kb region on chromosome segment CI01000319, including CiPSB8, 9, 9b, and 10, showed marked responses to high density and saline-alkali stress. It appears that CiPS genes confer stress tolerance through the regulation of common genes, as well as specific genes. In summary, our genome-wide characterization, evolutionary, and transcriptomic analysis of CiPS genes in grass carp provides valuable information for characterizing the molecular functions of these genes and utilizing them to improve stress tolerance in aquaculture

Enhanced Surface Ligands Reactivity of Metal Clusters by Bulky Ligands for Controlling Optical and Chiral Properties

Surface ligands play critical roles in determining the surface properties of metal clusters. However, modulating the properties and controlling the surface structure of clusters through surface‐capping agent displacement remain a challenge. In this work, a silver cluster, [Ag 14 (SPh(CF 3 ) 2 ) 12 (PPh 3 ) 4 (DMF) 4 ] ( Ag 14 ‐DMF , where HSPh(CF 3 ) 2 is 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzenethiol, PPh 3 is triphenylphosphine and DMF is N,N‐Dimethylformamide), with weakly coordinated DMF ligands on the surface silver sites, was synthesized by using a mixed ligands strategy (bulky thiolates, phosphines and small solvents). The as‐prepared Ag 14 ‐DMF is a racemic mixture of chiral molecules. Owing to the unusually high surface reactivity of Ag 14 ‐DMF , the surface ligands are labile, easily dissociated or exchanged by other ligands. Based on the enhanced surface reactivity, easy modulation on the optical properties of Ag 14 by reversible “on‐off” DMF ligation was realized. The mechanism was unraveled and rationalized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. When chiral amines were introduced to as‐prepared products, all eight surface ligands were replaced by amines and the racemic Ag 14 clusters were converted to optically pure homochiral Ag 14 clusters as evidenced by circular dichroism (CD) activity and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD). This work not only provides a new insight as to how to modulate the optical properties of metal clusters, but also unveils an efficient way to obtain atomically precise homochiral clusters for specific applications.peerReviewe

Enhanced Surface Ligands Reactivity of Metal Clusters by Bulky Ligands for Controlling Optical and Chiral Properties

Surface ligands play critical roles in determining the surface properties of metal clusters. However, modulating the properties and controlling the surface structure of clusters through surface‐capping agent displacement remain a challenge. In this work, a silver cluster, [Ag 14 (SPh(CF 3 ) 2 ) 12 (PPh 3 ) 4 (DMF) 4 ] ( Ag 14 ‐DMF , where HSPh(CF 3 ) 2 is 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzenethiol, PPh 3 is triphenylphosphine and DMF is N,N‐Dimethylformamide), with weakly coordinated DMF ligands on the surface silver sites, was synthesized by using a mixed ligands strategy (bulky thiolates, phosphines and small solvents). The as‐prepared Ag 14 ‐DMF is a racemic mixture of chiral molecules. Owing to the unusually high surface reactivity of Ag 14 ‐DMF , the surface ligands are labile, easily dissociated or exchanged by other ligands. Based on the enhanced surface reactivity, easy modulation on the optical properties of Ag 14 by reversible “on‐off” DMF ligation was realized. The mechanism was unraveled and rationalized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. When chiral amines were introduced to as‐prepared products, all eight surface ligands were replaced by amines and the racemic Ag 14 clusters were converted to optically pure homochiral Ag 14 clusters as evidenced by circular dichroism (CD) activity and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD). This work not only provides a new insight as to how to modulate the optical properties of metal clusters, but also unveils an efficient way to obtain atomically precise homochiral clusters for specific applications.peerReviewe

Functional additives for solid polymer electrolytes in flexible and high-energy-density solid-state lithium-ion batteries

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have become increasingly attractive in solid-state lithium-ion batteries (SSLIBs) in recent years because of their inherent properties of flexibility, processability, and interfacial compatibility. However, the commercialization of SPEs remains challenging for flexible and high-energy-density LIBs. The incorporation of functional additives into SPEs could significantly improve the electrochemical and mechanical properties of SPEs and has created some historical milestones in boosting the development of SPEs. In this study, we review the roles of additives in SPEs, highlighting the working mechanisms and functionalities of the additives. The additives could afford significant advantages in boosting ionic conductivity, increasing ion transference number, improving high-voltage stability, enhancing mechanical strength, inhibiting lithium dendrite, and reducing flammability. Moreover, the application of functional additives in high-voltage cathodes, lithium–sulfur batteries, and flexible lithium-ion batteries is summarized. Finally, future research perspectives are proposed to overcome the unresolved technical hurdles and critical issues in additives of SPEs, such as facile fabrication process, interfacial compatibility, investigation of the working mechanism, and special functionalities.</p