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Chloride attack severely impacts the performance of reinforced concrete. The total and free chloride ion concentration (CIC) of self-compacting concrete (SCC) prepared with three supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) – fly ash (FA), blast furnace slag (BS) and silica fume (SF) – were measured by accelerated salt immersion tests. The apparent chloride diffusion coefficient (CDC) at any exposure time and erosion depth were calculated using the Boltzmann–Matano method. The influence of the type and content of SCM, the water–binder ratio (W/B) and the type of salt solution on CIC and CDC were investigated. Both the introduction of SCM and the reduction of W/B effectively reduced the CIC. The SCM that most effectively reduced CIC was SF, followed by BS and then FA. Free CIC was reduced to a greater degree than total CIC in FA and BS concrete, but the opposite was true for SF concrete. The presence of calcium chloride in salt solution increased total CIC while reducing free CIC. Apparent free CDC dropped over exposure time and initially increased with erosion depth but eventually stabilised. A model of apparent free CDC considering time–depth dependency was created, which shows that time reduction factors of CDC is greater in SCC containing SCM than in control SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloride attack severely impacts the performance of reinforced concrete. The total and free chloride ion concentration (CIC) of self-compacting concrete (SCC) prepared with three supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) – fly ash (FA), blast furnace slag (BS) and silica fume (SF) – were measured by accelerated salt immersion tests. The apparent chloride diffusion coefficient (CDC) at any exposure time and erosion depth were calculated using the Boltzmann–Matano method. The influence of the type and content of SCM, the water–binder ratio (W/B) and the type of salt solution on CIC and CDC were investigated. Both the introduction of SCM and the reduction of W/B effectively reduced the CIC. The SCM that most effectively reduced CIC was SF, followed by BS and then FA. Free CIC was reduced to a greater degree than total CIC in FA and BS concrete, but the opposite was true for SF concrete. The presence of calcium chloride in salt solution increased total CIC while reducing free CIC. Apparent free CDC dropped over exposure time and initially increased with erosion depth but eventually stabilised. A model of apparent free CDC considering time–depth dependency was created, which shows that time reduction factors of CDC is greater in SCC containing SCM than in control SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Asthma has been attributed to Th1/Th2 imbalance and inappropriate Th2 responses to environmental allergens. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), 21 to 23 RNA molecules, are first found in mammals and have been implicated in various biological activities. Our previous study found that miR-410 effectively ameliorates airway inflammation in the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma murine model. However, the role of miR-410 in regulating helper T (Th) cell differentiation is not clear. In the present study, we aimed to explore the regulatory effects of miR-410 on the differentiation of Th cells through both in vivo and in vitro studies. Methods: Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to find if miR-410 has any direct binding position with VEGF mRNAs. PBMC and CD4+ T cells were isolated and stimulated with OVA. The miR-410 mimics and inhibitors were transfected into CD4+ T cells. The differentiation of Th cells was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the concentration of IL-4, IFN-γ, and TGF-β levels in supernatants. Western Blot was used to detect protein expression and phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT. BALB/c mice were kept in a specific pathogen-free condition and received sterile OVA-free food and water. OVA-induced asthmatic mice model was established. ELISA was used to measure the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) concentrations of IL-4, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and VEGF. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining were conducted to analyze inflammatory cell infiltration, pathological changes, and the expression of VEGF. Results: Dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-410 has no direct binding position with VEGF mRNAs. In the OVA-primed mononuclear cells compared to normal cells, IFN-γ and TGF-β were decreased while IL-4 and VEGF were increased. This change was reversed while miRNA-410 mimics were transfected into CD4+ T cells. Besides, the OVA-primed CD4+ T cells treated with miR-410 decrease the proliferation of cytokine of Th2 cells as well as phosphorylation of PI3K, and AKT. In OVA-induced asthma mice, IFN-γ and TGF-β were decreased in BALF while the IL-4 and VEGF were increased. OVA-induced mice with asthma treated with miR-410 mimics showed marked reductions in the infiltration of inflammatory cells as well as IL-4 and VEGF in BALF. The immunohistochemical staining of the expression of VEGF also decreased in OVA-induced asthma mice with the instillation of miR-410. Conclusions: In this study, we revealed that miR-410 could regulate the differentiation of Th cells via the PI3K-AKT-VEGF signaling pathway in asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed trains (HSTs) generate air disturbance, leading to significant aerodynamic pressure on the noise barriers. Differences in train geometry result in variations in the aerodynamic pressure on noise barriers, implying that existing European standard calculation models may not necessarily be suitable for all types of HSTs. In this paper, the influence of the width, height, and nose length of the train on the aerodynamic pressure on vertical noise barriers was studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Results showed that taller and wider trains result in greater aerodynamic loads on noise barriers. Conversely, an increase in the nose length of a train leads to a reduction in such pressure. Using grey relational analysis, correlation of various factors with the train-induced aerodynamic pressure is, from strong to weak: distance to the track center, width, height, and nose length of the train. Building upon the EN 14067-4 calculation model, the shape coefficients of trains with varying geometric characteristics were derived using the simulation data obtained in this study. A modified pressure calculation model was established accounting for the differences in geometric features of HSTs and pressure distribution in the vertical direction of noise barriers and validated using relevant data from the literature. • Evaluated the effect of train geometries on aerodynamic pressure on noise barrier. • Conducted grey relational analysis of various factors with aerodynamic pressure. • Proposed a modified pressure calculation model considering train geometry effect. • Described pressure distribution in the vertical direction of noise barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion resistance of concrete strengthened with three types of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets (unidirectional carbon-FRP (CFRP), unidirectional basalt-FRP (BFRP) and bidirectional BFRP) was evaluated under chloride attack and the combined attack of chloride and ultraviolet radiation. After different corrosion durations, powder samples were collected from various depths of the concrete specimens to measure the total chloride ion concentrations (CICs). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted to analyse the microscale morphology changes of the concrete surface layer, FRP fibre layer and resin matrix layer before and after combined attack. The results showed that all three types of FRP sheet provided significant chloride ion resistance, with the barrier effect of CFRP being better than that of BFRP under the same conditions. The total CIC of the FRP-strengthened concretes was higher under the combined attack than under chloride attack alone. The SEM observations showed that the resin matrix and fibre filaments of the FRP layer under combined attack were damaged, resulting in an increase in the permeability of the FRP-strengthened concretes. Finally, a time-varying model of CIC inside the FRP-strengthened concrete under chloride attack was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Migration of inorganic chlorine in MW thermal processing was explored. • Furnace temperature significantly correlated with inorganic chloride deposition. • Greatest deposition of inorganic chlorine inside the furnace occurred during pyrolysis. Chlorine is a common element in the environment where it mostly exists in an inorganic ionic state that is highly mobile and non-degradable. It is important to investigate the potential release of chlorine into the environment from mineralized waste (MW) for stable landfill reclamation. In this study, inorganic chlorine in the MW migration process was explored during thermal treatment for chlorine pollution control. The temperature and chlorine greatly affected the distribution of inorganic chlorine in the thermally treated products. Below 800 °C, more than 60% of the inorganic chlorine remained in the bottom slag. Above 900 °C, volatilization caused the release of chlorine from the MW and more than 75% of the inorganic chlorine was deposited inside the furnace. The mass of inorganic chlorine deposited in the thermal treatment furnace was significantly correlated with the actual temperature. At 1000 °C, the masses of inorganic chlorine deposited under pyrolysis, incineration, and gasification atmospheres were 7.69, 5.81, and 5.68 mg, respectively. The greatest deposition of inorganic chlorine inside the furnace occurred during pyrolysis. The chlorine migration process must gain more sight during MW thermal processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise barriers need to be installed along high-speed railway lines to protect nearby inhabitants from the noise pollution caused by the running of high-speed trains (HSTs). The vertical noise barrier is the main structural type. However, when an HST passes through the noise barriers sited along the track, significant and transient aerodynamic pressure will act on the surface of the noise barriers, resulting in strong dynamic responses and even fatigue damage. Therefore, it is important to determine the train-induced aerodynamic load on the barrier surface and analyze the dynamic behaviors of the noise barriers under such a load for its structural design and to guarantee its safety and durability. This paper is a systematic review of the current literature on the aerodynamic load and dynamic behavior of vertical noise barriers; it includes (1) a summary and analysis of characteristics of such aerodynamic pressure and relevant influencing factors, (2) an introduction to measurement methods of aerodynamic load and relevant pressure models on the surface of noise barriers, and (3) a description of the dynamic response and fatigue analysis of noise barriers under such loads. Finally, potential further studies on this topic are discussed, and conclusions are drawn. • Characteristics and influencing factors of aerodynamic pressure of railway noise barrier. • Measurement methods and models of aerodynamic load of noise barriers. • Dynamic response and fatigue analysis of noise barriers under aerodynamic loads. • Potential for experimental and simulation studies on aerodynamic load of railway noise barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chloride ion (Cl − ), a very common monatomic anion, has high ecological toxicity at high concentrations because of its non-biodegradability, and can easily migrate from landfill site into the surrounding environment. Four lab-scale landfill simulation reactors were established to investigate Cl − release behavior: the anaerobic landfill mode (R1), the semi-aerobic landfill mode (R2), the anaerobic landfill with leachate re-circulation mode (R3), and the semi-aerobic landfill with leachate re-circulation mode (R4). The landfill operation modes had a great influence on the release of Cl − . In 256 days, the cumulative release amounts of Cl − in the four reactors were 64.52, 132.07, 56.10, and 33.1 g for R1–R4, respectively. Once air enters anaerobic landfill, the leachate Cl − concentration may sharply increase. The highest leachate Cl − concentrations were 6.6 g L −1 in anaerobic reactor and 18 g L −1 in semi-aerobic reactor. However, the leachate re-circulation can maintain the release of Cl − at dynamic equilibrium state. Theoretically, the Cl − release behavior from anaerobic landfill with leachate re-circulation (R3) will be continuous. In contrast, under the other conditions, it can be anticipated to occur once the leachate recirculation stops (R1) or when the landfill encounters air incursion (R2 and R4). The semi-aerobic operation modes had significantly lower COD/Cl and NH 4 -N/Cl ratios than the anaerobic modes. This indicates that the Cl − pollution risk from semi-aerobic modes is lower than that from anaerobic modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There are coupling effects between fatigue and environmental corrosion actions. • Transportation models of harmful substances in the concrete accounting for fatigue damage. • Physical damage of freeze–thaw cycles and sulphate attack decrease fatigue life. • Multiple alternated simulation test is a potential way to study combined effect of fatigue and corrosion. When in use, reinforced concrete bridge structures not only experience high-frequency fatigue loading caused by passing vehicles, but also suffer from the effects of a corrosive environment. In addition to fatigue damage to reinforcement, long-term fatigue loading also causes concrete cracking and deterioration of pore structures, thereby accelerating the ingress of external corrosive substances and reducing concrete durability. Long-term exposure to a corrosive environment also reduces the performance of concrete and causes corrosion of reinforcement materials, affecting the fatigue performance of the structure. Therefore, there is a combined effect between fatigue loads and corrosion on concrete. This paper is a review of the current literature from a material perspective on the performance degradation of concrete under the combined action of fatigue loading and corrosion, that is, carbonation, chloride ion attack, freeze–thaw cycles, and sulphate attack. The paper includes (1) a description of a test method for examining the combined action of fatigue loading and corrosion, (2) a summary of performance degradation of concrete under the combined effect of fatigue loading and corrosion, and (3) an introduction to durability deterioration models considering fatigue damage, and fatigue models that can account for corrosion. Finally, potential future research on concrete under the combined effect of fatigue loading and corrosion is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mutual effects of Se and PGPR on Se-enriched biofortification were explored. • The combination of low-dose PGPR and exogenous Se promoted plant growth. • Se content in plant's edible parts significantly increased with rising doses of PGPR and Se. • SeMet, SeMeCys and SeCys2 were the main Se forms in plant's edible parts. • Optimal combinations of PGPR and Se for Se biofortification were obtained by Two-way ANOVA. Using plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to boost Se uptake and accumulation in crops is a promising recent approach to biofortification. Most studies, however, have focused on a certain dose of PGPR or Se, while the synergistic effects of simultaneously changing the concentration of both exogenous Se and PGPR on plant growth and Se bioaccumulation are rarely explored. In this study, the combined treatments of 0-2 mg L−1 Se and (3.83-11.3) ×107 CFU mL−1 PGPR strain Enterobacter sp. EG16 were used for the hydroponic experiments of pak choi (Brassica rapa) to investigate the mutual effects on plant growth and Se absorption. The growth of pak choi, in terms of plant height, number of leaves and root tips, was promoted by combining 7.65×107 CFU mL−1 EG16 and no more than 1 mg L−1 of Se. Growth was significantly inhibited when the concentration of EG16 was raised to 11.3×107 CFU mL−1. Chlorophyll content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities were also boosted under the same combination of Se and EG16 concentrations. In addition, the Se content of aboveground part and intact plants significantly increased with rising concentrations of EG16 and Se. Selenomethionine (SeMet), methylselenocysteine (SeMeCys) and selenocystine (SeCys2) were the main organo-Se compounds detected in pak choi, accounting for almost 90% when supplied with selenite. Among these compounds, SeMet accounted for a high proportion and SeCys2 for a relatively low percentage in most treatments. The two forms were inversely related, probably because the transformation was driven by EG16. On the other hand, the proportion of SeMeCys was significantly affected by different concentrations of exogenous Se and EG16. Selenate was also detected, indicative of selenite oxidation. In terms of both plant biomass and nutritional quality, the combined formulation of 1 mg L−1 Se and 7.65×107 CFU mL−1 of EG16 is a promising means of producing Se-enriched vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Frost resistance of concrete exposed to E-FTCs worsen with the decrease in pre-curing time. • Subsequent curing conditions after E-FTCs significantly affects the later-age frost resistance of the damaged concrete. • There are good correlations between the parameters of the damage model and the pre-curing strengths of damaged concrete. • Prediction models of freeze–thaw damage suitable for damaged concrete exposed to E-FTCs are created. • For concrete expected to experience E-FTCs, adequate pre-curing strength and re-curing conditions are essential. Concrete subjected to freeze–thaw cycles action at early-age will suffer serious physical damage, resulting in degradation of the concrete's performance. The subsequent curing conditions after early-age freeze–thaw cycles (E-FTCs) are critical to the development of the properties of frost-damaged concrete. Four test environments were set up for this study, based on different numbers of E-FTCs and subsequent curing conditions. The later-age resistance to freeze–thaw of concrete exposed to E-FTCs was evaluated by analysing the influence of pre-curing times and curing conditions. Results show that the earlier the FTCs occur, the worse the later-age freeze–thaw resistance is. In particular, for the frost-damaged concrete with a pre-curing time of 18 h, its freeze–thaw resistance is significantly worse than that of other concretes that have a longer pre-curing time. The increase in the number of E-FTCs exacerbates the damage to early-age concrete, which causes the reduced later-age freeze–thaw resistance. Subsequent water curing can significantly improve the freeze–thaw resistance of damaged concrete, while air curing is the least effective. Based on previous freeze–thaw damage models, prediction models for concrete exposed to E-FTCs were created by using the test data obtained in this study. The critical pre-curing strengths which can ensure that the damaged concrete has satisfactory frost resistance at later-age were thus obtained. For concrete structures expected to experience E-FTCs, adequate pre-curing strength and good re-curing conditions are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studies the influences of pre-curing time, the number and environment of early-age freeze–thaw damage (E-FTD) and later-age curing methods on later-age performance of concrete subjected to E-FTD. The concrete specimens with pre-curing time of 18 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h were subjected to four different E-FTD systems. Subsequently, three later-age curing methods were performed to the time of 28 days respectively and finally the later-age compressive strength, resistance to chloride penetration and freeze–thaw of concrete were evaluated. The results show that all three later-age performance indexes improve gradually as the pre-curing time prolongs. The damage of the salt freeze–thaw environment to early-age concrete is severer than that of the water freeze–thaw environment, resulting in the unsatisfactory later-age performance even with restorative curing. Among all later-age curing methods, the restoration effect of water curing on later-age performance is the best. Compared to the standard curing, the restoration effect of natural air curing on later-age compressive strength and resistance to chloride penetration of concrete is better, but that on resistance to freeze–thaw is worse. For the concrete with shorter pre-curing time, the recovery percentage of durability indexes, especially the resistance to freeze–thaw, is always lower than that of compressive strength. The pre-curing time should be prolonged appropriately for the early-age freeze–thaw damaged concrete with the requirement of durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of ethylenediamine dihydroiodide (EDDI) on the growth performance, thyroid function, immune function, intestinal development, intestinal permeability, intestinal barrier functions and microbial characteristics of Cherry Valley ducks. The results showed that the addition of EDDI significantly increased body weight, average daily gain, serum level of lymphocytes, basophils, triiodothyronine, thyroxine and thyrotropin, villus height, and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and significantly decreased crypt depth, diamine oxidase, serum D-Lactic acid of ducks (P < 0.05). EDDI also significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of zonula occludens-1, zonula occludens-2, zonula occludens-3, mucin 2, secretory immunoglobulin A, interleukin-10 and avian β-defensin 2 in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05), and down-regulated the mRNA expression of occludin and interleukin-6 in the jejunum and ileum. Additionally, the addition of EDDI significantly increased cecal level of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid (P < 0.05). Cecal microbiome analysis indicated that the addition of EDDI significantly increased the relative abundance of these microorganisms that can produce short-chain fatty acids, mainly including Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Clostridiales and Lactobacillales , and decreased the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria Deferribactere. Interestingly, triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels were highly positively correlated with the relative abundance of Actinobacteria. These results revealed that the addition of EDDI could promote the growth and development of meat ducks by improving their thyroid function, immune function, intestinal development and intestinal barrier functions of ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land cover changes (LCCs) due to urbanization cause urban heat islands (UHIs), significantly affecting land surface temperature (LST) through spatiotemporal changes in compositions, parameters, and patterns. Land cover and LST have been studied in various cities; however, indicative research into heterogeneous LCC's impact on LST in less-developed cities remains incomplete. This study analyzed new Landsat images of Zhanjiang, taken from 2004 to 2022, to determine the impact of three LCC indicators (compositions, parameters, and patterns) on LSTs. The urban thermal field variance index (UTFVI) was used to describe the distribution and variation in LST. We also quantified the cooling or warming benefits of various LCCs. The results indicate that the average temperature in the land urban heat island (SUHI) area rose to 30.6 °C. The average temperature of the SUHI was 3.32 °C higher than that of the non-SUHI area, showing the characteristic of shifting to counties and multi-core development. The LST increases by 0.37–0.67 °C with an increase of 0.1 in the normalized difference building index (NDBI), which is greater than the cooling benefit of the normalized difference of vegetation index (NDVI). The impact of landscape pattern indices on impervious surfaces and water is higher than that on vegetation and cropland, with a rising influence on impervious surfaces and a decreasing impact on water. The predominant cooling patches are vegetation and water, while large areas of impervious surface and cropland aggravate UHIs for industrial and agricultural activities. These findings are intended to guide future urban layouts and planning in less-developed cities, with thermal climate mitigation as a guiding principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel variants of ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3 are associated with female infertility. • In-vitro functional studies of ZP protein variants indicate pathogenesis. • The ZP3 variant was overcome with ICSI treatment. • Targeted genetic diagnosis of ZP genes may guide fertilization methods. Which genetic variants might explain the causes of empty follicle syndrome (EFS) and abnormal zona pellucida (ZP) and affect the success of treatment with assisted reproductive technologies (ART)? Whole-exome sequencing was performed in probands with EFS and abnormal ZP. Sanger sequencing was used for variant validation. Using HEK-293T cells, the effects of ZP1 and ZP2 variants on protein expression were explored by western blotting, and the effect of the ZP1 variant on protein location was investigated via immunofluorescence. The protein structure was also analysed to investigate the pathogenicity of variants. A homozygous nonsense variant in ZP1 (c.874C>T, p.Gln292*) was detected in a patient with EFS. A novel homozygous frameshift variant in ZP2 (c.836_837delAG, p.Glu279Valfs*6) and a novel heterozygous missense variant in ZP3 (c.1159G>A, p.Val387Met) were identified in two patients with ZP morphological abnormalities, respectively. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis showed that the ZP1 variant results in a premature stop codon, leading to the truncated ZP1 protein. The ZP2 variant, which is situated in the N-terminus, triggers the degradation of a premature termination protein. Additionally, the patient with the ZP3 variant achieved clinical pregnancy following intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. These findings expand the mutational spectrum of ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3 , and provide new evidence for genetic diagnosis of female infertility. The targeted genetic diagnosis of ZP genes is recommended to choose appropriate fertilization methods and improve success rates of treatment with ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) directed against poliovirus (PV) and other viruses effectively inhibit viral replication and have been developed as antiviral agents. Here, we demonstrate that a specific siRNA targeting the region between nucleotides 100-125 (siRNA-100) from the 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) of PV plays a critical role in inhibiting PV replication. Our data demonstrate that siRNA-100 treatment can greatly reduce PV titers, resulting in up-regulation of host microRNA-7 (miR-7), which in turn, leads to enhance inhibition of PV infection further. Moreover, our results suggest that siRNA-100 can also impair the spread of PV to uninfected cells by increasing host resistance to PV, resulting in decreasing necrosis and cytopathic effects (CPE) levels, as well as prolonging the survival of infected cells. Indeed, the active antiviral effect of siRNA-100 was potentially supplemented by the activity of miR-7, and both of them can serve as stabilizing factors for maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Results of this study identify a molecular mechanism of RNAi for antiviral defense, and extend our knowledge of the complex interplay between host and PV, which will provide a basis for the development of effective RNAi-based therapies designed to inhibit PV replication and protect host cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Given that the molecular diagnosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is complicated, we aim to apply blocker displacement amplification (BDA) on the mutational screening of PKD1 and PKD2. Methods: A total of 35 unrelated families with ADPKD were recruited from the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing, China), from October 2018 to October 2021. Long-range PCR followed by next-generation sequencing were applied for resequencing of PKD1 and PKD2, and the putatively disease-causative variants were verified with BDA. The effects of ADPKD on male and female infertility and the factors influencing the clinical outcomes of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for ADPKD were investigated. Results: A total of 26 PKD1 variants and 5 PKD2 variants were identified, of which 13 were newly discovered. The BDA system worked effectively for eliminating the interference of pseudogenes in genetic testing of PKD1 (1–33 exons) with different concentrations of genome DNA. The females with ADPKD have no specific infertility factors, while 68.2% of the affected men were with abnormal sperm concentration and/or motility with an indefinite genotype–phenotype relationship. As for PGT, the fertilization rate of couples with the male partner having ADPKD was relatively lower compared to those with the female partner being affected. The ADPKD patients receiving PGT usually achieved high rates of live births. Conclusion: These findings expanded the variant spectrum of PKD genes and emphasized the application prospect of blocker displacement amplification on PKD1-related genetic diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research question: More than 100 variants have been identified in the TUBB8 gene, which account for approximately 30% of infertile women with oocyte maturation defects. But what is the correlation between the highly phenotypic diversity and genetic variability? Are there other variants in TUBB8 related to female infertility? Design: TUBB8 resequencing was performed in 80 female subjects who were experiencing infertility and were seeking treatment with assisted reproductive technologies (ART), or had ever experienced ART failure due to oocyte maturation defects. All variants were evaluated with pedigree analysis, population frequency, in-silico analysis and molecular modelling. The effects of the variants on oocytes/arrested embryos were assessed by morphological observations, immunostaining, embryo biopsies and chromosome euploidy analysis. Results: Nine missense variants and two frameshift variants from an additional 15 families were identified, including four novel variants and seven previously reported recurrent variants. These TUBB8 variants were related to highly variable phenotypes, including abnormalities in oocyte maturation or morphology, fertilization failure, embryonic development abnormalities and implantation failure. Also further clarified were the incomplete penetrance of heterozygous p.E108K, the likely benign significance of heterozygous p.A313V and the clinical effect of a novel variant of p.R380C. Conclusions: This study significantly expands the variant spectrum of the TUBB8 gene and, together with the available findings on TUBB8 variants and female infertility, will potentially facilitate the genetic counselling of infertile women in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was suggested that the embryo pooling was an alternative for patients with insufficient number of embryos for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in a single ovarian stimulation cycle. However, limited study noticed whether it is an efficient strategy to pool cleavage-stage embryos by vitrification. This study included 71 cycles with vitrified-warmed and fresh embryos simultaneously for PGT between May 2016 and May 2021. The embryos from the same patients were split into two groups based on the origin: warming group and fresh group. Embryo development, sequencing results, clinical and neonatal outcomes were compared. The results showed that the rate of high-quality embryos in the warming group was significantly higher than that in the fresh group (64.53% versus 52.61%, P = 0.011); however, the available blastocyst rate in this group was significantly lower than that in the fresh group (47.29% versus 57.83%, P = 0.026). There were 96 and 144 blastocysts that underwent trophectoderm (TE) biopsy in warming and fresh groups, respectively. The high-quality blastocyst rate was significantly lower in the warming group compared to the fresh group (57.29% versus 70.14%, P = 0.041). The rates of genetic transferable blastocyst were comparable between the two groups (P = 0.956). There were no statistical differences in terms of embryo implantation, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage rates, and neonatal outcomes between the two groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the cleavage-stage embryo pooling strategy might be unfavorable for the maintenance of embryonic development potential. If not necessary, it is not recommended to pool cleavage-stage embryos for PGT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the impact of different biopsy protocols on the rate of mosaic blastocysts. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study which included 115 cycles with pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). Two groups were allocated based on the biopsy protocols: method 1 group, the zona pellucida (ZP) was drilled on day 3 embryos followed by trophectoderm (TE) biopsy; and method 2 group, the ZP was opened on day 5 or 6 blastocysts followed by TE biopsy. All biopsy samples were assessed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) at a single reference laboratory. The euploid, aneuploid, and mosaic blastocyst rates and clinical outcomes were compared. Results: The mosaicism rate in the method 1 group was 19.58%, significantly higher than the method 2 group (8.12%; P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in euploid, aneuploid blastocyst rates, and clinical pregnancy rates between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the biopsy protocols were independently associated with the mosaicism rates among all the variables. Conclusions: The present study showed that different biopsy protocols may have an impact on the mosaic blastocyst rate. ZP opening on day 3 combined with TE biopsy might increase the incidence of mosaic blastocysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Biopsies are the gold standard for clinical diagnosis. However, a discrepancy between the biopsy sample and target tissue because of misplacement of the biopsy spoon can lead to errors in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Thus, correctly determining whether the needle tip is in the tumor is crucial for accurate biopsy results. Methods: A biopsy needle system was designed with a steerable, flexible, and superelastic concentric tube; electrodes to monitor the electrical resistivity; and load cells to monitor the insertion force. The degrees of freedom were analyzed for two working modes: straight-line and deflection. Results: Experimental results showed that the system could perceive the tissue type in online based on the electrical resistivity. In addition, changes in the insertion force indicated transitions between the interfaces of adjacent tissue layers. Conclusion: The two monitoring methods guarantee that the biopsy spoon is at the desired position inside the tumor during an operation. Significance: The proposed biopsy needle system can be integrated into an autonomous robotic biopsy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Green waste (GW), rich in cellulose and hemicellulose, is a valuable resource. Developing alternative sustainable technologies to utilize GW is attracting increasing attention. In this study, microwave hydrothermal carbonization (MHTC) process parameters including holding temperature, holding time, and liquid-to-solid ratio were optimized by a response surface design to tailor the properties of hydrochar. The hydrochar characteristic was mainly evaluated by the calorific value. The results showed that the highest hydrochar calorific value (∼23.01 MJ kg−1) could be observed at a holding temperature of 190 °C, a holding time of 1 h and liquid-to-solid ratio of 8:1. Correspondingly, the hydrochar yield ranged from 50.40% to 76.80%. The economic evaluation of hydrochar was also done in this work. These results show that the GW-derived hydrochar warrants further investigations as a fuel source and as an adsorbent material. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Green waste was mainly transformed to hydrochar by microwave hydrothermal technology. • Hydrochar is a good fuel with high calorific value and considerable yield. • Microwave hydrothermal carbonization conditions were optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel photoluminescent ferroelectric thin films Na 0.5 Gd 0.5 TiO 3 : x Eu (NGT: Eu) with various Eu 3+ doping concentrations were prepared at various heat-treated temperature, which have single pseudo-cubic perovskite structure at proper heat-treated temperature from 700 °C to 800 °C according to X-ray diffraction results. There existed narrow and intensive emission bands located at red light region ascribed to 5 D 0 → 7 F 2 and 5 D 0 → 7 F 1 transitions of Eu 3+ by 283 nm excitation. The strong energy absorption of NGT host and efficient energy transfer to Eu 3+ should be primarily responsible for the emissions. Gd 3+ acts as sensitizer which has an important role on the energy transfer from the host NGT to Eu 3+ . The luminescence from NGT: 0.25Eu thin films is the strongest for all the NGT: Eu films, and its color coordinate is (0.65, 0.32) close to ideal red light. The quenching concentration in NGT: Eu films reaches as high as 25%. The lifetime of emissive energy level Eu 3+ : 5 D 0 in NGT: 0.1Eu and NGT: 0.5Eu thin films is 1.024 ms and 0.931 ms, respectively. Finally, the ferroelectric property of NGT: 0.25Eu thin films was tested and the remanent polarization (2 P r ) is 7.10 μC/cm2 lower than that of Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topology reconstruction from FAU to MWW structure has been explored in the presence of hexamethyleneimine, NaOH and SiO 2 . The samples prepared at different crystallization stages were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and 29 Si/ 27 Al/ 13 C MAS NMR to investigate the intermediates in the topology reconstruction from FAU to MWW structure. It has been demonstrated for the first time that topology reconstruction from FAU to MWW structure was caused by the “synergism” of hexamethyleneimine, NaOH, and SiO 2 , which was supported by transformation from FAU to SOD structure without SiO 2 and the preservation of FAU structure without NaOH. It is also clearly proved that FAU structure was directly reconstructed into MWW structure by the combination of all above mentioned characterizations, especially XRD and 29 Si/ 27 Al MAS NMR. MWW structure zeolite was generated at the consumption of FAU structure zeolite, which is worthy to be noticed that solid silica gel was completely consumed at the end of topology reconstruction. As shown in SEM and TEM images, MWW structure zeolite was reconstructed gradually from exterior to interior of FAU structure zeolite, which was clearly observed by the FAU–MWW co-existing zeolites as intermediate states. The reconstructed MWW structure zeolite has high relative crystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are important carbohydrates in plants. Cadmium (Cd) toxicity limits growth and development in several plant species. Whether FOS metabolism is affected by Cd and the molecular mechanisms of tolerance of the effects of Cd toxicity in plants remain enigmatic. In the present study, FOS metabolism was analyzed under Cd stress in onion (Allium cepa L.). Results showed that Cd stress can inhibit FOS accumulation in onion, followed by the upregulation of a putative onion γ-glutamylcysteine ligase gene AcGCL. Heterologous expression of the AcGCL protein in Escherichia coli revealed that this recombinant enzyme has GCL activity. Furthermore, overexpressing AcGCL significantly increased glutathione (GSH) accumulation in young onion roots under Cd treatment, accompanied by increased phytochelatin (PC) amount, and increased transcript expression of GSH synthetase (GS), and phytochelatin synthase (PCS) genes. Notably, compared with control, overexpressing AcGCL ameliorated Cd phytotoxicity on onion FOS metabolism, which correlated with increased FOS synthesis. Taken together, these results suggest that the function of AcGCL as a γ-glutamylcysteine ligase can alleviate Cd inhibited FOS metabolism by modulating GSH levels in onion. [Display omitted] • Cadmium inhibits fructooligosaccharides accumulation in onion. • Cadmium decreases glutathione content along with increased γ-glutamate cysteine ligase gene AcGCL expression in onion. • AcGCL alleviates cadmium-inhibited fructooligosaccharides metabolism by modulating glutathione level in onion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]