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Background: Non‐obstructive azoospermia is the most severe form of male infertility. A testicular biopsy is required for the diagnosis of non‐obstructive azoospermia, and the causal factors for non‐obstructive azoospermia remain unknown. Objectives: To reduce the risk of multiple biopsies and identify factors that contribute to non‐obstructive azoospermia, we proposed an integrated approach for the preoperative diagnosis and clinical management of non‐obstructive azoospermia by applying the chromosome‐spreading technique and whole‐exome sequencing. Materials and Methods: Between July 2020 and December 2022, after ruling out definitive obstructive azoospermia and non‐obstructive azoospermia patients with testicular volume < 6 mL, 20 patients with non‐obstructive azoospermia who underwent preoperative testicular diagnostic biopsy using testicular sperm aspiration were subjected to retrospective analysis. Results: Microscopic examination identified four patients with sperm cells, and 16 without sperm cells. Routine pathological analysis classified one patient as normal spermatogenesis, three as hypospermatogenesis, five as maturation arrest, nine as Sertoli cell‐only, and two as unable to judge. With chromosome‐spreading technology using routine cell suspension samples for microscopic examination, 18 patient diagnoses were validated, and two patients without a definitive diagnosis were supplemented. Detection of the Y chromosome and a well‐organized whole‐exome sequencing analysis revealed potential genetic factors. Discussion and Conclusion: The full use of testicular biopsy is beneficial for the diagnosis of azoospermia, as it avoids the risk of multiple biopsies. Moreover, in combination with whole‐exome sequencing, clinicians can obtain more information regarding the pathogenesis of non‐obstructive azoospermia, which may guide treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anoplophora glabripennis is one of the most devastating wood-boring beetles that attacks poplars. However, one poplar species, Populus deltoides, has strong resistance to Anoplophora glabripennis infestation, the underlying defense mechanisms against Anoplophora glabripennis are poorly understood. Secondary metabolites play a crucial role in plants to combat biological stress. Here, based on transcriptome and metabolome, we demonstrated that the mechanisms for responses to mechanical damage and insect infestation were different. The degree of reactions to adult groove production, larval incubation, and larval frass production was not identical. In addition, the potential genes with insect resistance activity were identified. Predominant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) found in the phloem of Populus deltoides include anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase5 (PdUGT72E), peroxidase 73 (PdPod73), peroxidase A2 (PdPodA2) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (PdMIF) responded to stress caused by Anoplophora glabripennis, which further resulted in activation of the plant defense system against insects via changes in regulation of metabolic pathways, such as tyrosine metabolism pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Therefore, this work has laid a foundation for further unraveling the mechanisms involved in this interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the association between DLL3 expression and chemosensitivity of advanced SCLC patients to cis-platinum/etoposide therapy, and to evaluate the prognostic value of DLL3. Methods We selected 64 patients diagnosed as stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ SCLC. Protein levels of DLL3 were examined by immunohistochemistry. χ2 test was used to analyze the relation between DLL3 expression and chemotherapy efficacy. Kaplan-Meier and Cox multivariate analysis were used to investigate the impacts of DLL3 and other factors on PFS and OS of advanced SCLC patients. Results DLL3 was detected in 84.1% (54/64) of the samples and not associated with gender, age, smoking history or stage (P > 0.05). The response rate(RR) and disease control rate in DLL3-high group were lower than those in DLL3-low group (P < 0.05); PFS of patients with low DLL3 expression were better than those with high DLL3 expression (P < 0.05). DLL3 expression, tumor stage and tumor diameter were independent prognostic factors for PFS, and tumor stage was an independent prognostic factor for OS of advanced SCLC patients. Conclusion DLL3 is related to the response rate of EP chemotherapy and PFS. It may become a biomarker for predicting chemosensitivity. DLL3 has no predictive value for long-term prognosis of patients with advanced SCLC.

In this study, the field falling weight deflectometer (FWD) data for asphalt pavement with various base types were backcalculated through dynamic and static backcalculation approaches, and the effectiveness of backcalculation approaches was studied. Asphalt concrete (AC) was treated as a viscoelastic material and the complex modulus was obtained using the dynamic approach. The dynamic modulus at a fixed frequency was computed for comparison purposes. The coefficient of variance and the compensating layer effect were assumed as two characteristics for the effectiveness of backcalculation approaches. The results show that the layer property from the dynamic backcalculation approach for different stations were more consistent and showed smaller coefficient of variance, which were more appropriate for the characterization pavement behavior. The elastic moduli from the static approach were more variable and exhibited a compensating layer effect in which a portion of the modulus of one layer was backcalculated into other layers. The dynamic approach is more effective than static approaches in backcalculation of layer properties. Key words: asphalt pavement, dynamic backcalculation, spectral element method, viscoelasticity, effectiveness. Dans le cadre de cette etude, les donnees recueillies sur le terrrain au moyen d'un deflectometre a masse tombante (DMT) pour les chaussees d'asphalte avec divers types de base ont ete retrocalculees au moyen d'approches de retrocalcul dynamique et statique, et l'efficacite des methodes de retrocalcul a ete etudiee. Le beton asphaltique (BA) a ete traite comme un materiau viscoelastique et le module complexe a ete obtenu en approche dynamique. Le module dynamique a frequence fixe a ete calcule a des fins de comparaison. Le coefficient de variance et l'effet de couche de compensation ont ete consideres comme deux caracteristiques de l'efficacite des approches de retrocalcul. Les resultats montrent que la propriete de la couche de l'approche de retrocalcul dynamique pour differentes stations etait plus coherente et montre un coefficient de variance plus faible, ce qui etait plus approprie pour la caracterisation du comportement de la chaussee. Les modules elastiques de l'approche statique etaient plus variables et montraient un effet de couche de compensation, dans lequel une portion du module d'une couche etait retrocalculee dans d'autres couches. L'approche dynamique est plus efficace que les approches statiques dans le retrocalcul des proprietes de couches. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : chaussee d'asphalte, retrocalcul dynamique, methode d'elements spectraux, viscoelasticite, efficacite., Introduction Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) loading is widely accepted as a nondestructive technique for pavement performance evaluation. The FWD applies a load by dropping a mass from a given height; [...]

This study is to evaluate the dynamic effects of falling weight deflectometer (FWD) loading on the surface deflection of asphalt pavement and the accuracy of statically backcalculated layer moduli from FWD data. The dynamic and static deflections were computed using the spectral element method and the layer elastic theory, respectively, for various pavement structures. The static deflection is considerably larger than the dynamic deflection for typical FWD loading and the normalized difference between static and dynamic deflections increases with increasing distance from the load center and decreases with increasing loading duration. The dynamic deflections were utilized to backcalculate the layer moduli using two static back-calculation procedures, MODULUS and EVERCALC. The backcalculated moduli can be significantly different from the actual moduli. The results indicate that the static backcalculation procedure can lead to significant errors in the backcalculated layer moduli by ignoring the dynamic effects of FWD loading. Key words: asphalt pavement, static analysis, dynamic effect, dynamic deflection, backcalculated modulus. Cette etude vise a evaluer les effets dynamiques des charges de deflectometre a masse tombante (DMT) sur la deflexion de la surface du revetement de sol en asphalte et la precision des modules des couches statiquement retrocalcules a partir des donnees du DMT. Les deflexions dynamiques et statiques ont ete calculees a l'aide de la methode des elements spectraux et de la theorie des couches souples, respectivement, pour diverses structures de revetement. La deflexion statique est considerablement plus grande que la deflexion dynamique pour la charge du DMT typique et la difference normalisee entre les deviations statiques et dynamiques augmente avec la distance croissante du centre de charge et diminue avec l'augmentation de la duree de chargement. Les deflexions dynamiques ont ete utilisees pour retrocalculer les modules de couches en utilisant deux procedures de retrocalcul statiques, MODULUS et EVERCALC. Les modules retrocalcules peuvent etre tres differents des modules reels. Les resultats indiquent que la procedure de retrocalcul statique peut produire des erreurs importantes dans les modules de couches retrocalcules en omettant de tenir compte des effets dynamiques du chargement au DMT. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: revetement de sol en asphalte, analyse statique, effet dynamique, deflexion dynamique, module retrocalcule., Introduction Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing is a major non-destructive testing (NDT) technique to evaluate the layer properties of existing pavement structures. In a FWD test, a mass is dropped [...]

BackgroundAlthough it has long been proposed that genetic factors contribute to adaptation to high altitude, such factors remain largely unverified. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing have made it feasible to analyze genome-wide patterns of genetic variation in human populations. Since traditionally such studies surveyed only a small fraction of the genome, interpretation of the results was limited.ResultsWe report here the results of the first whole genome resequencing-based analysis identifying genes that likely modulate high altitude adaptation in native Ethiopians residing at 3,500 m above sea level on Bale Plateau or Chennek field in Ethiopia. Using cross-population tests of selection, we identify regions with a significant loss of diversity, indicative of a selective sweep. We focus on a 208 kbp gene-rich region on chromosome 19, which is significant in both of the Ethiopian subpopulations sampled. This region contains eight protein-coding genes and spans 135 SNPs. To elucidate its potential role in hypoxia tolerance, we experimentally tested whether individual genes from the region affect hypoxia tolerance in Drosophila. Three genes significantly impact survival rates in low oxygen: cic, an ortholog of human CIC, Hsl, an ortholog of human LIPE, and Paf-AHα, an ortholog of human PAFAH1B3.ConclusionsOur study reveals evolutionarily conserved genes that modulate hypoxia tolerance. In addition, we show that many of our results would likely be unattainable using data from exome sequencing or microarray studies. This highlights the importance of whole genome sequencing for investigating adaptation by natural selection.

Colloidal lead halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) display great potential for flexible light-emitting applications; however, the practicability, especially for the mixed halide PQD counterparts, is restricted by color deterioration and intensity decline in photoluminescence (PL) caused by unintentional variation in stoichiometric ratios due to ion migration upon exposure to light. Herein, we present a collaborative strategy to stabilize the PL by confining ion motion in colloidal PQDs. Specifically, we modify the surface of CsPbBr1.5I1.5 QDs with a zwitterionic ligand, sulfobetaine-18, to retard ion migration and accelerate its entropy-driven reverse process (ion intermixing in the dark) simultaneously. Furthermore, we propose a high-repetition, pulse-width-modulation-enabled optical excitation approach, whereby the ion migration/intermixing kinetics can be finely controlled by adjusting the excitation duty cycle. Taken together, we attain unprecedentedly stable PL from the colloidal mixed halide PQD solution, displaying constant intensity and negligible wavelength shifts (less than 3 nm) during the 25-minute quasi-continuous photoexcitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypoxic conditions at high altitudes present a challenge for survival, causing pressure for adaptation. Interestingly, many high-altitude denizens (particularly in the Andes) are maladapted, with a condition known as chronic mountain sickness (CMS) or Monge disease. To decode the genetic basis of this disease, we sequenced and compared the whole genomes of 20 Andean subjects (10 with CMS and 10 without). We discovered 11 regions genome-wide with significant differences in haplotype frequencies consistent with selective sweeps. In these regions, two genes (an erythropoiesis regulator, SENP1, and an oncogene, ANP32D) had a higher transcriptional response to hypoxia in individuals with CMS relative to those without. We further found that downregulating the orthologs of these genes in flies dramatically enhanced survival rates under hypoxia, demonstrating that suppression of SENP1 and ANP32D plays an essential role in hypoxia tolerance. Our study provides an unbiased framework to identify and validate the genetic basis of adaptation to high altitudes and identifies potentially targetable mechanisms for CMS treatment.