The discovery of three-dimensional Van Hove singularity.

Arising from the extreme/saddle point in electronic bands, Van Hove singularity (VHS) manifests divergent density of states (DOS) and induces various new states of matter such as unconventional superconductivity. VHS is believed to exist in one and two dimensions, but rarely found in three dimension (3D). Here, we report the discovery of 3D VHS in a topological magnet EuCd2As2 by magneto-infrared spectroscopy. External magnetic fields effectively control the exchange interaction in EuCd2As2, and shift 3D Weyl bands continuously, leading to the modification of Fermi velocity and energy dispersion. Above the critical field, the 3D VHS forms and is evidenced by the abrupt emergence of inter-band transitions, which can be quantitatively described by the minimal model of Weyl semimetals. Three additional optical transitions are further predicted theoretically and verified in magneto-near-infrared spectra. Our results pave the way to exploring VHS in 3D systems and uncovering the coordination between electronic correlation and the topological phase.

Multi-omics reveals that alkaline mineral water improves the respiratory health and growth performance of transported calves.

BACKGROUND: Long-distance transportation, a frequent practice in the cattle industry, stresses calves and results in morbidity, mortality, and growth suppression, leading to welfare concerns and economic losses. Alkaline mineral water (AMW) is an electrolyte additive containing multiple mineral elements and shows stress-mitigating effects on humans and bovines. RESULTS: Here, we monitored the respiratory health status and growth performance of 60 Simmental calves subjected to 30 hours of road transportation using a clinical scoring system. Within the three days of commingling before the transportation and 30 days after the transportation, calves in the AMW group (n = 30) were supplied with AMW, while calves in the Control group (n = 29) were not. On three specific days, namely the day before transportation (day -3), the 30th day (day 30), and the 60th day (day 60) after transportation, sets of venous blood, serum, and nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from 20 calves (10 from each group) for routine blood testing, whole blood transcriptomic sequencing, serology detection, serum untargeted metabolic sequencing, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The field data showed that calves in the AMW group displayed lower rectal temperatures (38.967 ℃ vs. 39.022 ℃; p = 0.004), respiratory scores (0.079 vs. 0.144; p < 0.001), appetite scores (0.024 vs. 0.055; p < 0.001), ocular and ear scores (0.185 vs. 0.338; p < 0.001), nasal discharge scores (0.143 vs. 0.241; p < 0.001), and higher body weight gains (30.870 kg vs. 7.552 kg; p < 0.001). The outcomes of laboratory and high throughput sequencing data revealed that the calves in the AMW group demonstrated higher cellular and humoral immunities, antioxidant capacities, lower inflammatory levels, and intestinal absorption and lipogenesis on days -3 and 60. The nasopharynx 16S rRNA gene microbiome analysis revealed the different composition and structure of the nasopharyngeal microflora in the two groups of calves on day 30. Joint analysis of multi-omics revealed that on days -3 and 30, bile secretion was a shared pathway enriched by differentially expressed genes and metabolites, and there were strong correlations between the differentially expressed metabolites and the main genera in the nasopharynx. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that AMW supplementation enhances peripheral immunity, nutrition absorption, and metabolic processes, subsequently affecting the nasopharyngeal microbiota and improving the respiratory health and growth performance of transported calves. This investigation provided a practical approach to mitigate transportation stress and explored its underlying mechanisms, which are beneficial for the development of the livestock industry. Video Abstract.

Association between dopaminergic genes (SLC6A3 and DRD2) and stuttering among Han Chinese.

Normal function of the dopaminergic system is necessary for speech fluency. There was evidence that the activities of dopamine transporter (DAT) and dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) could be altered in people with speech disfluency. This study aims to ascertain the possible correlation between two dopaminergic genes (SLC6A3 and DRD2) and disorder of speech fluency, and to determine the allelic frequencies of the five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs2617604, rs28364997, rs28364998 in SLC6A3 and rs6275, rs6277 in DRD2) among Han Chinese patients with this disorder. A sample of 112 patients with speech disfluency and 112 gender-matched controls were included in this case-control study. The results show that the presence of C allele at rs6277 in DRD2 gene is associated with increased susceptibility to the disorder, whereas T allele is protective. Haplotype 939T/957T is also a protective factor.

[Single nucleotide polymorphisms of DAT and DRD(2) genes in Han Chinese population and their association with stuttering].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlations of dopamine transporter gene (DAT) and dopamine D(2) receptor gene (DRD2) to stuttering. METHODS: To examine the correlations of the 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in dopaminergic gene (C252T, C1804T, and C1820T in DAT gene, and T1054C and C1072T in DRD(2) gene) to stuttering in Han Chinese individuals, a case-control study involving 112 patients with stuttering and 112 gender-matched controls was carried out. Genotyping was performed by a combined approach using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and pyrosequencing. RESULTS: C1804T showed no polymorphism in either the patients or the control subjects and was therefore excluded from the following analysis. The C allele frequency at C1072T site was significantly higher, but T allele frequency significantly lower in the stuttering group than in the control group. The patients had significantly higher CC and lower CT genotype frequencies than the control group. There were no significant differences in the allelic frequencies of C252T, C1820T and T1054C between the patients and the controls, suggesting a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at these 3 loci. CONCLUSION: The presence of the C allele at C1072T in DRD(2) gene is associated with increased susceptibility to stuttering in Han Chinese, whereas the T allele provides protection against the onset of stuttering.