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Objective: The primary object of this study is to analyze chromosomal abnormalities in miscarriages detected by copy number variants sequencing (CNV-Seq), establish potential pathways or genes related to miscarriages, and provide guidance for birth health in the following pregnancies. Methods: This study enrolled 580 miscarriage cases with paired clinical information and chromosomal detection results analyzed by CNV-Seq. Further bioinformatic analyses were performed on validated pathogenic CNVs (pCNVs). Results: Of 580 miscarriage cases, three were excluded as maternal cell contamination, 357 cases showed abnormal chromosomal results, and the remaining 220 were normal, with a positive detection rate of 61.87% (357/577). In the 357 miscarriage cases, 470 variants were discovered, of which 65.32% (307/470) were pathogenic. Among all variants detected, 251 were numerical chromosomal abnormalities, and 219 were structural abnormalities. With advanced maternal age, the proportion of numerical abnormalities increased, but the proportion of structural abnormalities decreased. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway and gene ontology analysis revealed that eleven pathways and 636 biological processes were enriched in pCNVs region genes. Protein–protein interaction analysis of 226 dosage-sensitive genes showed that TP53, CTNNB1, UBE3A, EP300, SOX2, ATM, and MECP2 might be significant in the development of miscarriages. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that chromosomal abnormalities contribute to miscarriages, and emphasizes the significance of microdeletions or duplications in causing miscarriages apart from numerical abnormalities. Essential genes found in pCNVs regions may account for miscarriages which need further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch hydrolysis by gut microbiota involves a diverse range of different enzymatic activities. Glucan-branching enzyme GlgB was identified as the most abundant glycosidase in Firmicutes in the swine intestine. GlgB converts α-(1→4)-linked amylose to form α-(1→4,6) branching points. This study aimed to characterize GlgB cloned from a swine intestinal metagenome and to investigate its potential role in formation of α-(1→4,6)-branched α-glucans from starch. The branching activity of purified GlgB was determined with six different starches and pure amylose by quantification of amylose after treatment. GlgB reduced the amylose content of all 6 starches and amylose by more than 85% and displayed a higher preference towards amylose. The observed activity on raw starch indicated a potential role in the primary starch degradation in the large intestine as an enzyme that solubilizes amylose. The oligosaccharide profile showed an increased concentration of oligosaccharide introduced by GlgB that is not hydrolyzed by intestinal enzymes. This corresponded to a reduced in vitro starch digestibility when compared to untreated starch. The study improves our understanding of colonic starch fermentation and may allow starch conversion to produce food products with reduced digestibility and improved quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving high−efficiency and stable hydrogen evolution from water splitting is a great challenge. Herein, a facilely prepared two−dimenssional self−supported catalytic electrode with excellent stability is constructed for large−scale hydrogen production from alkaline simulated seawater. The bifunctional catalytic electrode is prepared by a fast and mild one−step of sodium borohydride etching on a nickel foam (NF) substrate without adding other additives (NF@NiBx−3h). The overpotential of the hydrogen/oxygen evolution reaction (HER/OER) in alkaline−simulated seawater at 10 mA cm−2 is 96 mV and 261 mV. At 200 mA cm−2, the NF@NiBx−3h electrode shows good stability over 7 days throughout the water splitting process due to the corrosion resistance of the NF substrate, and strong adhesion between the Ni−B active material and the substrate. This work demonstrates a novel strategy for fabricating catalytic electrodes with high−performance, low cost and excellent stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rareness and weak durability of Pt-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) have hindered the large-scale application of fuel cells. Here, we developed an efficient metal-free catalyst consisting of N, S co-doped graphene nanoribbons (N, S-GNR-2s) for ORRs. GNRs were firstly synthesized via the chemical unzipping of carbon nanotubes, and then N, S co-doping was conducted using urea as the primary and sulfourea as the secondary heteroatom sources. The successful incorporation of nitrogen and sulfur was confirmed by elemental mapping analysis as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical testing revealed that N, S-GNR-2s exhibited an Eonset of 0.89 V, E1/2 of 0.79 V and an average electron transfer number of 3.72, as well as good stability and methanol tolerance. As a result, N, S-GNR-2s displayed better ORR property than either N-GNRs or N, S-GNRs, the control samples prepared with only a primary heteroatom source, strongly clarifying the significance of secondary-heteroatom-doping on enhancing the catalytic activity of carbon-based nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ronchi lateral shearing interferometry is widely applied in wavefront measurement of advanced lithography tools. In Ronchi lateral shearing interferometry, higher-order diffraction beam interference is a common challenge, currently mitigated by introducing more phase shifts, resulting in extended measurement times and added errors. In this study, we propose a nonlinear optimization approach that combines a 2-frame phase-shifting algorithm to suppress the influence of high diffraction orders, reducing the required number of phase shifts by more than 75%. We formulate a numerical model that aligns with the interferometry, construct a highly robust error function, and enable high-precision wavefront reconstruction by optimizing Zernike coefficients. The accuracy and robustness of the proposed method are verified through simulations and experiments. • The two-frame algorithm is employed for approximate wavefront reconstruction. • A robust loss function mitigate high diffraction order interference. • Nonlinear optimization achieves highly accurate wavefront reconstruction. • It reduces the number of required phase shifts by more than 75%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies report that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells have enhanced trophic support and improved regenerative and repair properties. Extracellular vesicles secreted by synovial mesenchymal stem cells (EVs) can reduce cartilage damage caused by osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies show that extracellular vesicles secreted by LPS-preconditioned synovial mesenchymal stem cells (LPS-pre EVs) can improve the response to treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). This study sought to explore effects of LPS-pre EVs on chondrocyte proliferation, migration, and chondrocyte apoptosis, as well as the protective effect of LPS-pre EVs on mouse articular cartilage. Methods: Chondrocytes were extracted to explore the effect of LPS-pre EVs on proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of chondrocytes. In addition, the effect of LPS-pre EVs on expression level of important proteins of chondrocytes was explored suing in vitro experiments. Further, intraarticular injection of LPS-pre EVs was performed on the destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM)-induced mouse models of OA to explore the therapeutic effect of LPS-pre EVs on osteoarthritis in vivo. Results: Analysis showed that LPS-pre EVs significantly promoted proliferation and migration of chondrocytes and inhibited the apoptosis of chondrocytes compared with PBS and EVs. Moreover, LPS-pre EVs inhibited decrease of aggrecan and COL2A1 and increase of ADAMTS5 caused by IL-1β through let-7b. Furthermore, LPS-pre EVs significantly prevented development of OA in DMM-induced mouse models of OA. Conclusions: LPS pretreatment is an effective and promising method to improve therapeutic effect of extracellular vesicles secreted from SMSCs on OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies report that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells have enhanced trophic support and improved regenerative and repair properties. Extracellular vesicles secreted by synovial mesenchymal stem cells (EVs) can reduce cartilage damage caused by osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies show that extracellular vesicles secreted by LPS-preconditioned synovial mesenchymal stem cells (LPS-pre EVs) can improve the response to treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). This study sought to explore effects of LPS-pre EVs on chondrocyte proliferation, migration, and chondrocyte apoptosis, as well as the protective effect of LPS-pre EVs on mouse articular cartilage. Methods: Chondrocytes were extracted to explore the effect of LPS-pre EVs on proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of chondrocytes. In addition, the effect of LPS-pre EVs on expression level of important proteins of chondrocytes was explored suing in vitro experiments. Further, intraarticular injection of LPS-pre EVs was performed on the destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM)-induced mouse models of OA to explore the therapeutic effect of LPS-pre EVs on osteoarthritis in vivo. Results: Analysis showed that LPS-pre EVs significantly promoted proliferation and migration of chondrocytes and inhibited the apoptosis of chondrocytes compared with PBS and EVs. Moreover, LPS-pre EVs inhibited decrease of aggrecan and COL2A1 and increase of ADAMTS5 caused by IL-1β through let-7b. Furthermore, LPS-pre EVs significantly prevented development of OA in DMM-induced mouse models of OA. Conclusions: LPS pretreatment is an effective and promising method to improve therapeutic effect of extracellular vesicles secreted from SMSCs on OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]