Unraveling the Origin of Reverse Plasmonic Circular Dichroism from Discrete Bichiral Au Nanoparticles.

Bichiral plasmonic nanoparticles exhibited intriguing geometry-dependent circular dichroism (CD) reversal; however, the crucial factor that dominates the plasmonic CD is still unclear. Combined with CD spectroscopy and theoretical multipole analysis, we demonstrate that plasmonic CD originates from the excitation of electric quadrupolar plasmons. Moreover, a comparative study of two distinct quadrupolar modes reveals the correlation between the sign of the CD and the local geometric handedness at the plasmonic hotspots, thereby establishing a structure-property relationship in bichiral nanoparticles. The reverse CD is attributed to the opposite directions of the wavelength shift of the two plasmon modes upon changing the particle geometry. By finely tuning the size of bichiral nanoparticles, we can further reveal that the dependence of plasmonic CD on the electric quadrupolar plasmons. Our work sheds light on the physical origin of plasmonic CD and provides important guidelines for the design of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles toward chirality-dependent applications.

Ultrahigh Energy Storage in (Ag,Sm)(Nb,Ta)O3 Ceramics with a Stable Antiferroelectric Phase, Low Domain-Switching Barriers, and a High Breakdown Strength.

AgNbO3 (AN) antiferroelectrics (AFEs) are regarded as a promising candidate for high-property dielectric capacitors on account of their high maximum polarization, double polarization-electric field (P-E) loop characteristics, and environmental friendliness. However, high remnant polarization (Pr) and large polarization hysteresis loss from room-temperature ferrielectric behavior of AN and low breakdown strength (Eb) cause small recoverable energy density (Wrec) and efficiency (η). To solve these issues, herein, we have designed Sm3+ and Ta5+ co-doped AgNbO3. The addition of Sm3+ and Ta5+ reduces the tolerance factor, polarizability of B-site cations, and domain-switching barriers, enhancing AFE phase stability and decreasing hysteresis loss. Meanwhile, adding Sm3+ and Ta5+ leads to decreased grain sizes, increased band gap, and reduced leakage current, all contributing to increased Eb. As a benefit from the above synergistic effects, a high Wrec of 7.24 J/cm3, η of 72.55%, power density of 173.73 MW/cm3, and quick discharge rate of 18.4 ns, surpassing those of many lead-free ceramics, are obtained in the (Ag0.91Sm0.03)(Nb0.85Ta0.15)O3 ceramic. Finite element simulations for the breakdown path and transmission electron microscopy measurements of domains verify the rationality of the design strategy.

Identifying patients who benefit more from perioperative immunotherapy combinations for resectable non-small cell lung cancer based on clinical and molecular characteristics: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

PURPOSE: This study aims to identify patient subgroups who benefit more from perioperative immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy (IO-CT) based on clinical and molecular characteristics in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on perioperative IO-CT were searched. Beneficial differences of IO-CT regimens across different patient subgroups were assessed by pooling trial-specific ratios in event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), pathological complete response (pCR), and major pathological response (MPR). RESULTS: Six studies (n = 3003) involving five IO-CT regimens were included. Compared to CT alone, all IO-CT regimens significantly improved EFS, OS, MPR, and pCR, but increased toxicity. Toripa-chemo showed the best EFS and nivo-chemo showed the best OS. Patients with PD-L1 ≥ 1% had more EFS benefits compared to those with PD-L1 < 1% (HR [hazard ratio]: 1.55, 95% CI 1.17-2.04). Squamous NSCLC patients had significantly more pCR and MPR benefits than non-squamous NSCLC patients (pCR: OR [odds ratio] 0.68, 95% CI 0.49-0.95; MPR: OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.45-0.82). Former smokers had significantly higher pCR benefits than non-smokers (OR: 2.18; 95% CI 1.21-3.92). Additionally, OS benefit was significantly higher in patients < 65 years compared to those ≥ 65 years (HR ratio: 0.59, 95% CI 0.36-0.95). For MPR, males benefited significantly more from IO-CT compared to females (OR: 1.69, 95% CI 1.18-2.42). CONCLUSION: Perioperative IO-CT is more effective but more toxic than CT alone in resectable NSCLC. Patients with PD-L1 ≥ 1%, squamous NSCLC, a history of smoking, age < 65 years and male gender may experience greater benefits from perioperative IO-CT.

The therapeutic effect and possible mechanisms of alginate oligosaccharide on metabolic syndrome by regulating gut microbiota.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a disease condition incorporating the abnormal accumulation of various metabolic components, including overweight or abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and abnormal glucose tolerance, hypertension, atherosclerosis, or dyslipidemia. It has been proved that the gut microbiota and microbial-derived products play an important role in regulating lipid metabolism and thus the onset and development of MetS. Previous studies have demonstrated that oligosaccharides with prebiotic effects, such as chitosan oligosaccharides, can regulate the structure of the microbial community and its derived products to control weight and reduce MetS associated with obesity. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS), natural products extracted from degraded alginate salts with high solubility and extensive biological activity, have also been found to modulate gut microbiota. This review aims to summarize experimental evidence on the positive effects of AOS on different types of MetS while providing insights into mechanisms through which AOS regulates gut microbiota for preventing and treating MetS.

Optimizing Nav1.7-Targeted Analgesics: Revealing Off-Target Effects of Spider Venom-Derived Peptide Toxins and Engineering Strategies for Improvement.

The inhibition of Nav1.7 is a promising strategy for the development of analgesic treatments. Spider venom-derived peptide toxins are recognized as significant sources of Nav1.7 inhibitors. However, their development has been impeded by limited selectivity. In this study, eight peptide toxins from three distinct spider venom Nav channel families demonstrated robust inhibition of hNav1.7, rKv4.2, and rKv4.3 (rKv4.2/4.3) currents, exhibiting a similar mode of action. The analysis of structure and function relationship revealed a significant overlap in the pharmacophore responsible for inhibiting hNav1.7 and rKv4.2 by HNTX-III, although Lys25 seems to play a more pivotal role in the inhibition of rKv4.2/4.3. Pharmacophore-guided rational design is employed for the development of an mGpTx1 analogue, mGpTx1-SA, which retains its inhibition of hNav1.7 while significantly reducing its inhibition of rKv4.2/4.3 and eliminating cardiotoxicity. Moreover, mGpTx1-SA demonstrates potent analgesic effects in both inflammatory and neuropathic pain models, accompanied by an improved in vivo safety profile. The results suggest that off-target inhibition of rKv4.2/4.3 by specific spider peptide toxins targeting hNav1.7 may arise from a conserved binding motif. This insight promises to facilitate the design of hNav1.7-specific analgesics, aimed at minimizing rKv4.2/4.3 inhibition and associated toxicity, thereby enhancing their suitability for therapeutic applications.

Immunohistochemistry identifies E-cadherin, N-cadherin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as predictors of stage I non-small cell lung carcinoma spread through the air spaces (STAS), and the combinations as prognostic factors.

Background: Spread through air spaces (STAS) is one of the multiple modes of lung cancer dissemination, yet its molecular and clinicopathological characterization remains poorly studied. This study aimed to investigate the effect of adhesion molecule expression levels on the incidence of STAS and postoperative recurrence in stage I lung cancer patients undergoing radical resection. Methods: E-cadherin, P-cadherin, N-cadherin, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were analyzed retrospectively using immunohistochemistry in patients undergoing radical resection for stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients were categorized into four groups based on adhesion molecule expression levels: "low/low", "high/low", "low/high", and "high/high", and the group with the lowest recurrence-free probability (RFP) was defined as high risk. Associations between those adhesion molecules' expression levels and STAS were determined by using the Chi-squared test and logistic regression model. RFP was analyzed by using the log-rank test and Cox proportional risk model. Results: As of January 1, 2024, 12 of 60 patients undergoing radical resection for stage I lung carcinoma had a disease recurrence. All 60 patients' tissue specimens were retrospectively analyzed, and there were no significant differences between patients with STAS-positive (n=30) and STAS-negative (n=30) in baseline clinicopathologic features, except for histological growth patterns. We found that low expression of E-cadherin, high expression of N-cadherin and FAK, and males were independent predictors of higher incidence of STAS. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that tumors with low E-cadherin/high N-cadherin, low E-cadherin/high FAK, and high N-cadherin/high FAK expression were important predictors of recurrence in patients with stage I lung carcinoma. In addition, females and high N-cadherin/high FAK were associated with a high risk of recurrence in patients with STAS. Conclusions: E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and FAK are predictors of STAS occurrence in stage I NSCLC, and their combinations are prognostic factors. The discovery of these molecular markers provides clinicians with a reliable means that may help in the early identification of individuals with a higher risk of recurrence in lung cancer patients, targeting personalized treatment plans such as aggressive adjuvant therapy or closer follow-up.

Integrated gold nanorods-based dual-signal platform for accurate total antioxidant capacity assessment in food samples.

Accurate assessment of Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) in food is crucial for evaluating nutritional quality and potential health benefits. This study aims to enhance the sensitivity and reliability of TAC detection through a dual-signal method, combining colorimetric and photothermal signals. Gold nanorods (AuNRs) were utilized to establish a dual-signal method duo to the colorimetric and photothermal properties. Fenton reaction can etch the AuNRs from the tips, as a result, a blue shift in the longitudinal LSPR absorption peak was obtained, leading to significant changes in color and photothermal effects, facilitating discrimination through both visual observation and thermometer measurements. In the presence of antioxidants, the Fenton reaction was suppressed or inhibited, protecting the AuNRs from etching. The colorimetric and photothermal signals were therefore positively correlated with TAC levels, enabling dual-signal detection of TAC. The linear range of AA was 4-100 µM in both colorimetry and photothermal modes, with detection limits of 1.60 µM and 1.38 µM, respectively. This dual-signal approach achieves low detection limits, enhancing precision and sensitivity. The method thus has the potential to act as a promising candidate for TAC detection in food samples, contributing to improved food quality and safety assessment.

Synthesis of novel polyethyleneimine-capped silver nanoclusters exhibiting ultraviolet-A fluorescence and their application in multiple sensing.

Cupric ions (Cu2+), pyrophosphate (PPi), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are involved in a variety of biochemical processes such as DNA replication, cellular metabolism and play an important role in human growth and development. It is of great significance to establish a method for the sensitive detection of Cu2+, PPi and ALP. In this work, polyethyleneimine-capped silver nanoclusters (PEI-AgNCs) were successfully synthesized by a one-pot method using hydrazine sulfate as reductant, exhibiting a unique strong fluorescence emission in the near-ultraviolet region at ∼339 nm. Since the fluorescence of PEI-AgNCs can be quenched by Cu2+ through inner filtering effect (IFE), then recovered by competitive binding of pyrophosphate and Cu2+, and later weakened again by catalytic hydrolysis of alkaline phosphatase, a sensitive and selective strategy based on the changes of fluorescence "ON" or "OFF" was established to detect Cu2+, PPi and ALP. The LODs of these three analytes were 36 nM, 0.2 µM, and 0.14 U L-1 at a S/N ratio of 3, respectively. A series of logic gate circuits for sensing cupric ions, pyrophosphate, and alkaline phosphatase were successfully constructed. The established methods have the potential for biosensing and environmental analysis and the specific UV-A fluorescence property of PEI-AgNCs may be helpful in photonic and optical areas.

Short-term intermittent hypoxia exposure for dyspnea and fatigue in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is incurring a huge health and economic burden worldwide. There is currently no effective treatment or recommended drug for PASC. METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted in a hospital in China. The effect of intermittent hypoxia exposure (IHE; 5-min hypoxia alternating with 5-min normal air, repeated five times) on dyspnea and fatigue was investigated in patients meeting the NICE definition of PASC. Patients were computationally randomized to receive normoxia exposure (NE) and routine therapy or IHE and routine therapy. Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and spirometry were tested before and after the interventions; the Borg Dyspnea Scale (Borg) and the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) were used to assess dyspnea; and the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and the Chalder Fatigue Scale-11 (CFQ-11) were used to assess fatigue. The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300070565). FINDINGS: Ninety-five participants (33 males and 62 females) were recruited between March 1, 2023 and December 30, 2023. Forty-seven patients in the IHE group received 10.0 (9.0, 15.0) days of IHE, and 48 patients in NE group received 10.0 (8.0, 12.0) days of NE. 6MWD, forced vital capacity (FVC), FVC %pred, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1 %pred, tidal volume (VT), and dyspnea and fatigue scales markedly improved after IHE (p < 0.05), and improvements were greater than in the NE group (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, participants in IHE group had better subjective improvements in dyspnea and fatigue than those in the NE group (p < 0.05). Compared with <10 days of IHE, ≥10 days of IHE had a greater impact on 6MWD, FVC, FEV1, FEV1 %pred, VT, FAS, and CFQ-11. No severe adverse events were reported. INTERPRETATION: IHE improved spirometry and 6MWD and relieved dyspnea and fatigue in PASC patients. Larger prospective studies are now needed to verify these findings.

Thyroid dysfunction in the wake of Omicron: understanding its role in COVID-19 severity and mortality.

Purpose: SARS-CoV-2 can invade the thyroid gland. This study was to delineate the risk of thyroid dysfunction amidst the prevalence of the Omicron variant, and to investigate the correlation between thyroid function and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. The study also aimed to ascertain whether thyroid dysfunction persisted during COVID-19 recovery phase. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. COVID-19 patients from the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, China during the epidemic of Omicron variants were included, and their thyroid function were analyzed in groups. Results: A history of thyroid disease was not associated with COVID-19 outcomes. COVID-19 can lead to a bimodal distribution of thyroid dysfunction. The severity of COVID-19 was inversely proportional to the levels of thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4), leading to a higher prevalence of thyroid dysfunction. Severe COVID-19 was a risk factor for euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) (OR=22.5, 95% CI, 12.1 - 45.6). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio mediated the association between severe COVID-19 and ESS (mediation effect ratio = 41.3%, p < 0.001). ESS and decreased indicators of thyroid function were associated with COVID-19 mortality, while high levels of FT3 and FT4 exhibited a protective effect against death. This effect was more significant in women (p < 0.05). During the recovery period, hyperthyroidism was quite uncommon, while a small percentage of individuals (7.7%) continued to exhibit hypothyroidism. Conclusion: COVID-19 severity was linked to thyroid dysfunction. Severe COVID-19 increased the risk of ESS, which was associated with COVID-19 mortality. Post-recovery, hyperthyroidism was rare, but some individuals continued to have hypothyroidism.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of major ozone autohemotherapy for patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

This prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial assessed the therapeutic effects of major ozone autohemotherapy (O3-MAH) in patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Seventy-three eligible participants were randomly assigned to an O3-MAH plus conventional therapy group (n = 35) or a conventional therapy alone group (n = 38). Symptom score, pulmonary function, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), and hematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters were evaluated before and after the interventions. Both groups demonstrated improvements in various parameters post-intervention, but efficacy was greater in the O3-MAH group than the conventional treatment group; with intervention effectiveness defined as a ≥ 50 % reduction in symptom score, 25 of 35 patients (71 %) responded to O3-MAH, while 17/38 patients (45 %) responded to conventional treatment alone (P = 0.0325). Significant improvements in symptom scores (P = 0.0478), tidal volume (P = 0.0374), predicted 6MWD (P = 0.0032), and coagulation and inflammatory indicators were noted in the O3-MAH group compared with the conventional treatment group. O3-MAH was more likely to be effective in patients with elevated CRP levels. Furthermore, O3-MAH markedly improved cellular immunity, and this improvement became more pronounced with extended treatment duration. In summary, combining O3-MAH with conventional treatment was more effective than conventional therapy alone in improving symptoms, pulmonary function, inflammation, coagulation, and cellular immunity in patients with PASC. Further research is now warranted to validate these findings and individualize the regimen.

The inhibitory activity of Flos Sophorae Immaturus extract and its major flavonoid components on pancreatic lipase.

Inhibition of pancreatic lipase (PL) is a strategy to prevent obesity. The inhibitory effects of Flos Sophorae Immaturus (FSI) extract and its main flavonoid components, rutin and quercetin, on PL were investigated. The contents of rutin and quercetin in FSI extract were 44.10 ± 1.33 % and 6.07 ± 1.62 %, respectively. The IC50 values of FSI extract, rutin and quercetin on PL were 322, 258 and 71 µg/mL, respectively. Rutin and quercetin inhibited PL in a reversible and noncompetitive manner. The combination of rutin and quercetin exhibited synergistic inhibitory effects at low concentration. The binding of rutin/quercetin with PL caused the fluorescence quenching of protein. Fluorescence titration showed the binding affinity of quercetin with PL protein was stronger than that of rutin. Circular dichroism analysis showed the binding changed the secondary structure of PL with an increase in random coil and a decrease in α-Helix and ß-Sheet. Molecular docking revealed that rutin and quercetin could interact with the amino acid residues around the catalytic site through multiple secondary interactions. In vivo studies showed that FSI extract can reduce fat absorption and promote fecal fat excretion through inhibition of PL activity, and the effects were mainly due to rutin and quercetin.

Bioluminescence-optogenetics-mediated gene therapy in a sleep-disordered breathing mouse model.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) incurs a huge individual, societal, and economic burden. Specific and selective targeting of hypoglossal motor neurons could be an effective means to treat OSA. Bioluminescent-optogenetics (BL-OG) is a novel genetic regulatory approach in which luminopsins, fusion proteins of light-generating luciferase and light-sensing ion channels, increase neuronal excitability when exposed to a suitable substrate. Here we develop and validate the feasibility of BL-OG for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Upon confirming that diet-induced obese mice represent an excellent SDB model, we employed a method of targeting the hypoglossal nucleus (12 N) by peripherally injecting retrogradely transported rAAV2/Retro. With AAV transduction, the eLMO3 protein is expressed in hypoglossal motor neurons (HMN); administration of CTZ results in production of bioluminescence that in turn activates the tethered channelrhodopsin, leading to an increase in the firing of HMN and a 2.7 ± 0.8-fold increase in phasic activity of the genioglossus muscle, a 7.6 ± 1.8-fold increase in tonic activity, and improvements in hypoventilation and apnea index without impacting sleep structure. This is therefore the first study to leverage the rAAV2/Retro vector to execute the BL-OG approach in SDB, which amplified genioglossus muscle discharge activity and increased airflow in mice after activation. This study marks the pioneering utilization of BL-OG in SDB research.

Physiological Effects and Tolerance of Wearing Surgical and N95 Masks during Sleep in Normal Individuals and Patients with Mild-Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

BACKGROUND: In certain situations, masks are worn during sleep to prevent respiratory infections. However, the effects of mask wearing on cardiopulmonary function during sleep are unknown. This study aimed to determine whether wearing masks during sleep has an impact on cardiopulmonary function, including in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized crossover-controlled trial. The effects of wearing surgical masks or N95 respirators on cardiopulmonary function were measured in healthy subjects and patients with mild-moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep breathing parameters were monitored during nocturnal sleep using a sleep monitor, and subjective feelings about mask wearing were assessed using a questionnaire. RESULTS: Wearing masks during sleep at night did not significantly impact sleep breathing parameters. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in heart rate, blood oxygenation, and blood pressure before and after wearing masks. However, wearing masks wearing, especially the N95 mask, had an adverse impact on sleep quality, and masks were found to be subjectively uncomfortable. CONCLUSION: Wearing masks during sleep at night does not adversely affect cardiopulmonary function but they can be uncomfortable, especially the N95 mask. Thus, in circumstances where wearing N95 masks during nocturnal sleep proves intolerable, we recommend the use of surgical masks as a more comfortable alternative.

Combination of acute intermittent hypoxia and intermittent transcutaneous electrical stimulation in obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized controlled crossover trial.

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) and intermittent transcutaneous electrical stimulation (ITES) might benefit patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the therapeutic value of combined IH and ITES in OSA is unknown. In this prospective, randomized, controlled crossover study, normoxia (air exposure for 50 min before sleep and sham stimulation for 6 h during sleep), IH (5 repeats of 5 min 10-12 % O2 alternating with 5 min air for 50 min, and sham stimulation for 6 h), ITES (air exposure for 50 min and 6 repeats of 30 min transcutaneous electrical stimulation alternating with 30 min of sham stimulation for 6 h), and IH&ITES (10-12 % O2 alternating with air for 50 min and transcutaneous electrical stimulation alternating with sham stimulation for 6 h) were administered to patients with OSA over four single-night sessions. The primary endpoint was difference in OSA severity between the interventions according to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI). The efficacy was response to IH, ITES, IH&ITES defined as a ≥50 % reduction in AHI compared with normoxia. Twenty participants (17 male, 3 female) completed the trial. The median (IQR) AHI decreased from 14.5 (10.8, 17.5) events/h with normoxia to 6.9 (3.9, 14.8) events/h with IH (p=0.020), 5.7 (3.4, 9.1) events/h with ITES (p=0.001), and 3.5 (1.8, 6.4) events/h with IH&ITES (p=0.001). AHI was significantly different between IH and IH&ITES (p=0.042) but not between ITES and IH&ITES (p=0.850). For mild-moderate OSA (n=17), IH, ITES, and IH&ITES had a significant effect on AHI (p=0.013, p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively) compared with normoxia, but there were no differences in post hoc pairwise comparisons between intervention groups. No serious adverse events were observed. In conclusion, IH, ITES, and IH&ITES significantly reduced OSA severity. IH&ITES showed better efficacy in mild-moderate OSA than IH and was comparable to ITES. Our data do not support recommending IH&ITES over ITES for OSA.

Phylogenetic analysis of Cyprinus acutidorsalis (Wang, 1979) from the Hainan population using complete mitochondrial genome.

Cyprinus acutidorsalis (Wang, 1979) is an endemic fish in China that is sparsely distributed in the Hainan provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR). In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of C. acutidorsalis from the Hainan population from the Wanquan River was sequenced, and its phylogenetic relationship was analyzed. The circular mtDNA was 16,581 bp in length, and the overall base composition was A (32.0%), C (27.5%), T (24.8%), and G (15.70%), with a slight bias toward A + T. The complete mitogenome encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and a control region. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the most closely related fish to C. acutidorsalis from the Hainan population was C. acutidorsalis from the Guangxi population. These findings offer basic molecular data and a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among the Cyprinus species.

The Detection of a Functional 168 bp Deletion of the HOXB13 Gene Determining Short Tail and Its Association with Senior Growth Traits in Sheep Breeds Worldwide.

In recent years, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have uncovered that the HOXB13 gene is a key regulatory factor for the tail length trait of sheep. Further research has found that there is a functional 168 bp SINE element insertion upstream of the HOXB13 gene, which leads to the occurrence of long tails in sheep. However, the frequency of mutations in the 168 bp SINE element of the HOXB13 gene among different sheep breeds around the world and its relationship with growth traits are still unclear. This study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data, including 588 samples from 33 different sheep breeds around the world, to evaluate the frequency of HOXB13 gene mutations in different sheep breeds globally. At the same time, this study also selected 3392 sheep samples from six breeds. The genetic variation in the 168 bp InDel locus in the HOXB13 gene was determined through genotyping, and its association with the growth traits of Luxi black-headed sheep was analyzed. The research results indicate that the polymorphism of the 168 bp InDel locus is significantly correlated with the hip width of adult ewes in the Luxi black-headed sheep breed (p < 0.05) and that the hip width of adult ewes with the DD genotype is significantly larger than that of adult ewes with the ID genotype (p < 0.05). This study indicates that there is consistency between the research results on the sheep tail length trait and growth traits, which may contribute to the promotion of sheep breed improvement.

Contrasting effects of increasing dissolved iron on photosynthesis and O2 availability in the gastric cavity of two Mediterranean corals.

Iron (Fe) plays a fundamental role in coral symbiosis, supporting photosynthesis, respiration, and many important enzymatic reactions. However, the extent to which corals are limited by Fe and their metabolic responses to inorganic Fe enrichment remains to be understood. We used respirometry, variable chlorophyll fluorescence, and O2 microsensors to investigate the impact of increasing Fe(III) concentrations (20, 50, and 100 nM) on the photosynthetic capacity of two Mediterranean coral species, Cladocora caespitosa and Oculina patagonica. While the bioavailability of inorganic Fe can rapidly decrease, we nevertheless observed significant physiological effects at all Fe concentrations. In C. caespitosa, exposure to 50 nM Fe(III) increased rates of respiration and photosynthesis, while the relative electron transport rate (rETR(II)) decreased at higher Fe(III) exposure (100 nM). In contrast, O. patagonica reduced respiration, photosynthesis rates, and maximum PSII quantum yield (Fv/Fm) across all iron enrichments. Both corals exhibited increased hypoxia (<50 µmol O2 L-1) within their gastric cavity at night when exposed to 50 and 100 nM Fe(III), leading to increased polyp contraction time and reduced O2 exchange with the surrounding water. Our results indicate that C. caespitosa, but not O. patagonica, might be limited in Fe for achieving maximal photosynthetic efficiency. Understanding the multifaceted role of iron in corals' health and their response to environmental change is crucial for effective coral conservation.

Cu2+-Dominated Chirality Transfer from Chiral Molecules to Concave Chiral Au Nanoparticles.

Foreign ions as additives are of great significance for realizing excellent control over the morphology of noble metal nanostructures in the state-of-the-art seed-mediated growth method; however, they remain largely unexplored in chiral synthesis. Here, we report on a Cu2+-dominated chiral growth strategy that can direct the growth of concave chiral Au nanoparticles with C3-dominant chiral centers. The introduction of trace amounts of Cu2+ ions in the seed-mediated chiral growth process is found to dominate the chirality transfer from chiral molecules to chiral nanoparticles, leading to the formation of chiral nanoparticles with a concave VC geometry. Both experimental and theoretical results further demonstrate the correlation between the nanoparticle structure and optical chirality for the concave chiral nanoparticle. The Cu2+ ion is found to dominate the chiral growth by selectively activating the deposition of Au atoms along the [110] and [111] directions, facilitating the formation of the concave VC. We further demonstrate that the Cu2+-dominated chiral growth strategy can be employed to generate a variety of concave chiral nanoparticles with enriched geometric chirality and desired chiroptical properties. Concave chiral nanoparticles also exhibit appealing catalytic activity and selectivity toward electrocatalytic oxidation of enantiomers in comparison to helicoidal nanoparticles. The ability to tune the geometric chirality in a controlled manner by simply manipulating the Cu2+ ions as additives opens up a promising strategy for creating chiral nanomaterials with increasing architectural diversity for chirality-dependent optical and catalytic applications.