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With the advancement of perovskite research, there is a growing urgency to address the imperative need for practical applications while simultaneously tackling the enduring challenges of material reliability and lead (Pb) toxicity. The crystallization, morphology and optical properties of the resultant film and device performance during solution processing are heavily influenced by the solution-based intermediate, a state determined using the coordination between solute and solvent. Solvent–solute coordination is closely correlated with solvent characteristics including ionization capabilities, dielectric constant, hydrolysis, and reactivity with solutes. Deionized water (D-water) characterized by its high polarity, ionization capability, and dielectric constant, when used as a co-solvent with dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), facilitates stronger coordination with CsI/SnI4 species in Cs2SnI6 precursor solution. This enhanced coordination leads to improved solvation, precursor reactivity, and solution homogeneity. Incorporating an appropriate amount of D-water as a co-solvent into Cs2SnI6 precursor solution allows for tuning solvent coordination and control over the resulting thin film crystallization and morphology. The co-solvent diluted optimized Cs2SnI6 thin film leads to the fabrication of energy-efficient broadband 4 × 3 photodetector arrays ranging from UV to NIR giving a responsivity of 5.5 A W−1 at a substantially lower bias voltage of −0.1 V with stable operation stability in ambient air. These findings underscore the potential advantages of solution-processed Cs2SnI6 perovskites in various optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Color and body size traits are considered the key parameters influence the economic value of animals. In recent years, advancement in the genetic basis of coat colors in equines has received considerable attention among animal breeders. In addition, coat color plays a significant role in breed identification and selection, as well as animal health and disease. The current review concisely provides information on the role of melanin pigments and key candidate genes associated with coat color phenotypes in equines. Furthermore, the review also highlights the importance of coat color in equine breeding and health. Variation in coat color among equids has attracted significant interest in genetics and breeding research. The range of colors is primarily determined by the type, concentration, and distribution of melanin pigments, with the balance between eumelanin and pheomelanin influenced by numerous genetic factors. Advances in genomic and sequencing technologies have enabled the identification of several candidate genes that influence coat color, thereby clarifying the genetic basis of these diverse phenotypes. In this review, we concisely categorize coat coloration in horses and donkeys, focusing on the biosynthesis and types of melanin involved in pigmentation. Moreover, we highlight the regulatory roles of some key candidate genes, such as MC1R, TYR, MITF, ASIP, and KIT, in coat color variation. Moreover, the review explores how coat color relates to selective breeding and specific equine diseases, offering valuable insights for developing breeding strategies that enhance both the esthetic and health aspects of equine species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigates the impact of DNA methylation on collagen deposition in the skin of Dezhou donkeys, a breed valued for its thick, flexible skin with medicinal properties. Utilizing whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), the research analyzes the epigenetic landscape and gene expression profiles across three developmental stages of Dezhou donkeys. The study identifies numerous differentially methylated genes related to collagen deposition, such as COL1A1, COL1A2, and MMPs, highlighting an inverse relationship between gene expression and DNA methylation near transcription start sites. The findings of our study reveal the significant regulatory role of DNA methylation in skin collagen deposition, offering insights for genetic improvement and selective breeding to enhance skin quality in Dezhou donkeys. Our current research adds to the foundational knowledge of collagen deposition mechanisms, contributing to the fields of molecular biology and animal husbandry. DNA methylation represents a predominant epigenetic modification with broad implications in various biological functions. Its role is particularly significant in the process of collagen deposition, a fundamental aspect of dermal development in donkeys. Despite its critical involvement, the mechanistic insights into how DNA methylation influences collagen deposition in donkey skin remain limited. In this study, we employed whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to investigate the epigenetic landscape and gene expression profiles in the dorsal skin tissues of Dezhou donkeys across three developmental stages: embryonic (YD), juvenile (2-year-old, MD), and mature (8-year-old, OD). Our analysis identified numerous differentially methylated genes that play pivotal roles in skin collagen deposition and overall skin maturation, including but not limited to COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL4A1, COL4A2, GLUL, SFRP2, FOSL1, SERPINE1, MMP1, MMP2, MMP9, and MMP13. Notably, we observed an inverse relationship between gene expression and DNA methylation proximal to transcription start sites (TSSs), whereas a direct correlation was detected in regions close to transcription termination sites (TTSs). Detailed bisulfite sequencing analyses of the COL1A1 promoter region revealed a low methylation status during the embryonic stage, correlating with elevated transcriptional activity and gene expression levels. Collectively, our findings elucidate key genetic markers associated with collagen deposition in the skin of Dezhou donkeys, underscoring the significant regulatory role of DNA methylation. This research work contributes to the foundational knowledge necessary for the genetic improvement and selective breeding of Dezhou donkeys, aiming to enhance skin quality attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarization-sensitive photodetection and imaging have great application value in fields such as polarization division multiplexing optical communication, remote sensing, near-field imaging and military monitoring. Pursuing a high polarization ratio has always been the research hotspot in polarization-sensitive photodetectors. In this paper, we report a compression strain enhanced polarization ratio in β-gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) single crystal flake. A rigorous crystallographic analysis confirmed its high crystalline quality and orientation. Angle-resolved polarization Raman spectroscopy (ARPRS) was adopted to study the anisotropy of its optical properties. Extensive ARPRS measurements and theoretical calculation consistently demonstrate the strong optical anisotropy in the high-quality β-Ga2O3 flake. A polarization ratio of 0.96 was obtained in the flat β-Ga2O3 flake. Furthermore, mechanical strain of ±0.7% was introduced into β-Ga2O3. An increased polarization ratio of 0.98 was achieved in the case of 0.7% compression strain, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest value for UVC polarization-sensitive photodetectors. That corresponds to an improved polarization rejection ratio of 100. This work proposed a new path towards improving polarization sensitivity by applying strain engineering in the active material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lipid molecules and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in milk are heavily influenced by diet. However, little is known about how roughage affects the lipid and VOC contents of donkey milk. Accordingly, in the present study, donkeys were fed corn straw (G1 group), wheat hulls (G2 group), or wheat straw (G3 group), and the lipid and VOC profiles of their milk were determined using LC–MS and GC–MS. Of the 1842 lipids identified in donkey milk, 153 were found to be differential, including glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, and sphingolipids. The G1 group showed a greater variety and content of triacyclglycerol species than the G2 and G3 groups. Of 45 VOCs, 31 were identified as differential, including nitrogen compounds, esters, and alcohols. These VOCs were significantly increased in the G2 and G3 groups, with the greatest difference being between the G1 and G2 groups. Thus, our study demonstrates that dietary roughage changes the lipid and VOC profiles of donkey milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the formation of interstitial Na (Nai) self-compensating defects has been a long-term physics problem for effective Na doping in ZnO. Herein, we present an experimental approach to the suppression of Nai defects in ZnO via Na and F codoping under an oxygen-rich condition during the molecular beam epitaxy growth process. It is found that the incorporation of such large numbers of Na and F dopants (∼1020 cm−3) does not cause an obvious influence on the lattice parameters. Hall-effect measurements demonstrate that F doping efficiently raises the Fermi level (EF) of ZnO films, which is expected to make the formation energy of Nai and NaZn increase and decrease, respectively. Most of the Na atoms occupy the substitutional Zn sites, and the formation of Nai is suppressed consequently. Secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements reveal that F and Na atoms are tightly bonded together due to their strong Coulomb interaction. The enhanced deep level emission (DLE) in ZnO:Na-F is ascribed to the considerable amount of isolated Zn vacancy (VZn) defects induced by the elevated EF and the formation of neutral F O + − N a Zn − 0 complexes. On the other hand, formation of F O + − V Zn 2 − − complexes in ZnO:F exhausts most of the isolated Zn vacancies, leading to the disappearance of the DLE band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]