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Previous studies have suggested that trophoblast cells inhibit the proliferation of peripheral natural killer cells and that the level of peripheral natural killer cells decrease in the middle and late pregnancy stage among healthy women. The change in peripheral natural killer cell level during early pregnancy and the relationship between the change in peripheral natural killer cell level and pregnancy outcomes among women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss have not been sufficiently explored. This study aimed to characterize the level of prepregnancy peripheral natural killer cells in comparison with those in early pregnancy among women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss and to determine if the change in the level of peripheral natural killer cells from prepregnancy to early pregnancy can predict pregnancy outcomes. In this prospective cohort study, 1758 women with recurrent pregnancy loss were recruited between January 2017 and December 2021 among whom 252 women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss had prepregnancy and early pregnancy (4–6 weeks gestation) peripheral natural killer cell measurements. These 252 women were divided into 2 groups, namely those with a lower gestational peripheral natural killer cell level (group 1) when compared with prepregnancy levels and those who did not (group 2). The respective outcomes of these groups in terms of live birth and pregnancy loss were comparatively analyzed using chi-square and Student's t tests. Candidate factors that could influence live birth were selected using the Akaike information criterion. The participates were then randomly divided into training and testing groups. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed and a nomogram was created to assess the possibility of live birth. The predictive accuracy was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and validated by plotting the predicted probabilities and the observed probabilities. A Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to assess the goodness of fit. When early gestational peripheral natural killer cell levels were compared with prepregnancy peripheral natural killer cell levels, 61.5% (154) of women had a comparatively lower early-gestational peripheral natural killer cell level and 38.9% (98) of women had an increase or no change in the peripheral natural killer cell level. The live birth rate in group 1 was 89.0% (137/154), which was significantly higher than the rate of 49.0% (48/98) in group 2 (P <.001). A decrease in the peripheral natural killer cell level (odds ratio, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.22–1.55; P <.001) and the anti-Muellerian hormone level (odds ratio, 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–1.81; P =.003) were important predicting factors for a higher live birth rate. Female body mass index (odds ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–1.15; P =.763) and parity (odds ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.71–4.12; P =.287) also were predicting factors. Furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model to diagnose of live birth was 0.853 with a sensitivity of 81.6% and a specificity of 78.0% using the training data set. And the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the model was a good fit (p =6.068). We report a comparative decrease in the peripheral natural killer cell levels in early gestation when compared with prepregnancy cell levels in more than 60% of women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss at 4 to 6 weeks of gestation. When compared with prepregnancy peripheral natural killer cell levels, a decrease in the peripheral natural killer cell level during early pregnancy might be a useful predictor of the live birth rate among women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High-quality sand bodies of the recent strata in the Guanzhong Basin mainly occur in the north of the Weinan Fault, south of the Kouzhen-Guanshan Fault, and north of the Yuxia-tieluzi Fault. The thickness of the sand bodies decreases from south to north and from east to west. • Precipitation from the Qinling and Beishan mountains is the main source of recharge for the guanzhong Basin. The recharge range of the qinling Mountains is greater than that of the Beishan Mountains. • The two sides of the Jing River fault form two relatively independent geothermal water circulation systems. Geothermal water in west of the Jing River fault converges towards the Xi'an-Xianyang area, and geothermal water in east of the Jing River fault converges towards the Huaxian-Pucheng area. The Guanzhong Basin is a Neogene faulted basin with rich geothermal resources. The faults are well developed, and the EW and NNE trending faults have better water conductivity. The main sandstone reservoirs, from young to old, include the Zhangjiapo Formation, the Lantian Bahe Formation, and the Gaoling Formation. This study focuses on the distribution of high-quality sand bodies in the Neogene sandstone reservoirs and the characteristics of geothermal water migration. The overall characteristic of the Neogene sediments in the Guanzhong Basin is coarse in the south and fine in the north, and coarse in the west and fine in the east. The sand bodies in deltas, rivers and near-shore lakes have good reservoir conditions and favourable physical properties, which are conducive to groundwater flow and recharge. The distribution of high-quality sand bodies serves as preferential pathways and reservoir areas for groundwater. Among them, the high-quality sand bodies of the Gaoling Formation are close to the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains, the sand body area of the Lantian Bahe Formation is the largest, and the sand thickness of the Zhangjiapo Formation is relatively thin. The majority of sandstone geothermal waters in the Guanzhong Basin are of the Cl-Na type, with the most mature water chemistry being on the north side of the Weibei fault. The sandstone geothermal waters in the central and southern parts of the basin mainly receive recharge from the southern Qinling Mountains. The recharge area of geothermal water in the Guanzhong Basin is located in the Xi'an-Xianyang and Huaxian-Pucheng regions. The areas on both sides of the Jing River fault form two relatively independent geothermal water circulation systems. The high-quality sand bodies of the Neogene reservoirs, as well as the east-west trending faults with good water conductivity, serve as preferential pathways and enrichment spaces for geothermal water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the adverse effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on male fertility. Epigenetic modification is critical for male germline development, and has been suggested as a potential mechanism for impaired fertility induced by EDCs. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been recognized as a typical EDC. BPA and its analogues, which are still widely used in various consumer products, have garnered increasing attention due to their reproductive toxicity and the potential to induce epigenetic alteration. This literature review provides an overview of studies investigating the adverse effects of bisphenol exposures on epigenetic modifications and male fertility. Existing studies provide evidence that exposure to bisphenols can lead to adverse effects on male fertility, including declined semen quality, altered reproductive hormone levels, and adverse reproductive outcomes. Epigenetic patterns, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA expression, can be altered by bisphenol exposures. Transgenerational effects, which influence the fertility and epigenetic patterns of unexposed generations, have also been identified. However, the magnitude and direction of certain outcomes varied across different studies. Investigations into the dynamics of histopathological and epigenetic alterations associated with bisphenol exposures during developmental stages can enhance the understanding of the epigenetic effects of bisphenols, the implication of epigenetic alteration on male fertility, and the health of successive generation. [Display omitted] • Overview of evidence on bisphenol's impact on male fertility and epigenetic patterns. • The observed disruptions on fertility and epigenetics vary, and inconsistencies exist. • Although detriments were observed, studies on BPA analogues remain relatively few. • Summary of knowledge gaps and proposal of future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CdIn 2 S 4 / x ZnO (CIS/ x ZnO) and CdIn 2 S 4 /12.3ZnO-PAN x (CIS/12.3ZnO-PAN x , PAN is polyacrylonitrile) photocatalysts were prepared and their activities in photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production were studied. Their physicochemical properties were determined by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, UV–vis and PEC. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under the irradiation with full spectrum light was carried out to evaluate its photocatalytic activity and stability. The catalyst CIS/12.3ZnO-PAN30 exhibits the H 2 production rate of 4.31 mmol g−1 h−1, ∼61.5 and 5.8 times that of PAN (0.07 mmol g−1 h−1) and CIS/12.3ZnO (0.74 mmol g−1 h−1), respectively. EPR, VB-XPS, Mott-Schottky analysis illustrate that the Z scheme-type II photo carriers transfer path is formed on the interfaces of the PAN/ZnO/CIS in the CIS/12.3ZnO-PAN30 composite, which is more favorable to the spatial separation and migration of photogenerated carriers with the light irradiation, thus significantly increasing the activity of the photocatalytic production. This work supplies a feasible method for preparation of novel ternary organic-inorganic hybrid photocatalysts. [Display omitted] • H 2 production rate of CIS/12.3ZnO-PAN30 is promoted to 4.31 mmol/g/h. • Z scheme-type II heterojunctions formed on the PAN/ZnO/CIS interfaces. • Interaction between components improves physicochemical property of the catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress corrosion behavior of ADC12 Al alloy tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding joint (WJ) outside its elastic deformation range was studied using electrochemical testing methods combined with surface analysis techniques in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at 30 °C. The results showed that, with the enlargement of imparted stress, the corrosion potential of the TIG WJ shifted positively, the corrosion current density increased, and the polarization resistance decreased, indicating that the corrosion rate of the TIG WJ increased with the enlargement of imparted stress. With the prolongation of immersion time, the corrosion rate of the TIG WJ increased and then subsequently decreased. In addition, the plasticity and ductility of the TIG WJ decreased with the enlargement of imparted stress. When the imparted stress was 2100 N and 4200 N, the corrosion products on its surface were mainly composed of Al 2 O 3 and Al(OH) 3. This study provided a theoretical basis for the selection of structural materials and welding methods in the automotive, marine and aerospace fields. • The stress corrosion behavior of the Al alloy TIG WJ was studied. • The corrosion rate of the Al alloy TIG WJ increased with the increase of imparted stress. • The plasticity and ductility of the Al alloy TIG WJ decreased with the increase of imparted stress. • The Al alloy TIG WJ is in an active dissolution state under 4200 N stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processing and analysis of massive high-dimensional datasets are important issues in precision livestock farming (PLF). This study explored the use of multivariate analysis tools to analyze environmental data from multiple sensors located throughout a broiler house. An experiment was conducted to collect a comprehensive set of environmental data including particulate matter (TSP, PM 10 , and PM 2.5), ammonia, carbon dioxide, air temperature, relative humidity, and in-cage and aisle wind speeds from 60 locations in a typical commercial broiler house. The dataset was divided into 3 growth phases (wk 1–3, 4–6, and 7–9). Spearman's correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to investigate the latent associations between environmental variables resulting in the identification of variables that played important roles in indoor air quality. Three cluster analysis methods; k-means, k-medoids, and fuzzy c-means cluster analysis (FCM), were used to group the measured parameters based on their environmental impact in the broiler house. In general, the Spearman and PCA results showed that the in-cage wind speed, aisle wind speed, and relative humidity played critical roles in indoor air quality distribution during broiler rearing. All 3 clustering methods were found to be suitable for grouping data, with FCM outperforming the other 2. Using data clustering, the broiler house spaces were divided into 3, 2, and 2 subspaces (clusters) for wk 1 to 3, 4 to 6, and 7 to 9, respectively. The subspace in the center of the house had a poorer air quality than other subspaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]