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STUDY QUESTION Can novel genetic factors contributing to early embryonic arrest in infertile patients be identified, along with the underlying mechanisms of the pathogenic variant? SUMMARY ANSWER We identified a heterozygous variant in the SPRY4 (sprouty RTK signaling antagonist 4) in infertile patients and conducted in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate the effects of the variant/deletion, highlighting its critical role in female reproductive health. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY SPRY4 acts as a negative regulator of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and functions as a tumor suppressor. Its abnormal expression can lead to recurrent miscarriage by affecting trophoblast function. In mice, Spry4 knockout (KO) leads to craniofacial anomalies and growth defects. A human study links the SPRY4 variant to a male patient with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), hypothetically impacting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, and causing reproductive dysfunctions. SPRY4 is thus potentially integral in regulating endocrine homeostasis and reproductive function. To date, no study has reported SPRY4 variants associated with female fertility, and a causal relationship has not been established with functional evidence. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed in 392 infertile women who suffered from primary infertility of unknown reason, and the heterozygous SPRY4 variant were identified in one independent family. The infertile patients presenting were recruited from July 2017 to November 2023. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Women diagnosed with primary infertility were recruited from the Reproduction Center of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood for WES analysis. The SPRY4 variant were identified through WES, in silico analysis, and variant screening. All variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The effects of the variants were investigated in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T (HEK293T) cells via western blotting, and in mouse oocytes and embryos through complementary RNA (cRNA) injection, RNA sequencing, fluorescence, absorbance, and RT-qPCR assays. Gene function was further examined in Spry4 KO mice via histology, western blotting, ELISA, and RT-qPCR assays. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We identified a missense heterozygous pathogenic variant in SPRY4 (GRCh38, GenBank: NM_030964.5 , c.157C>T p.(Arg53Trp), rs200531302) that reduces SPRY4 protein levels in HEK293T cells and disrupts the redox system and mitochondrial function in mouse oocyte, and perturbs developmental potential in mouse embryos. These phenotypes could be partially reversed by the exogenous addition of Nrf1 cRNA. Additionally, Spry4−/ − mice exhibit ovarian oxidative stress and decreased ovarian function. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Due to the limited WES data and population, we identified only one family with a SPRY4 mutation. The deeper mechanism and therapeutic strategy should be further investigated through mutant mice and recovery experiment. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study has identified a pathogenic variant in SPRY4 associated with early embryonic arrest in humans. These findings enhance our understanding of the role of SPRY4 in early embryonic development and present a new genetic marker for female infertility. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82071643 and 82171655) and Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (22ZR1456200). None of the authors have any competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the previous SOC equalization methods for microgrid energy storage target DC microgrids and use centralized control structures, while in recent years many researchers have begun to focus on a decentralized, communication-based implementation of distributed control structures. In this paper, based on the existing research, we use the multi-agent system (MAS) structure and dynamic consistency algorithm (DCA) to realize the estimation of the SOC mean value of microgrid energy storage obtained by each agent in the system. For the problems of the iterative convergence that exists in the distributed control, such as being too slow, too frequent communication, stability, etc., we optimally select the parameters of the consistency iterative summation to improve convergence. In addition, we use the event-driven method to further reduce the unnecessary communication frequency. Finally, a numerical simulation model of the AC microgrid is established by Matlab to verify the effectiveness of the method, which reduces the communication volume by about 50% while maintaining the effect of the control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious, deadly disease with a high incidence. However, it remains unclear how necroptosis affects the pathophysiology of AMI. Using bioinformatic analyses, this study investigated necroptosis in AMI. Methods: We obtained the GSE66360 dataset related to AMI by the GEO database. Venn diagrams were used to identify necroptosis-related differential genes (NRDEGs). The genes with differential expression in AMI were analyzed using gene set enrichment analysis, and a PPI network was established. A transcription factor prediction and enrichment analysis were conducted for the NRDEGs, and the relationships between AMI, NRDEGs, and immune cells were determined. Finally, in the additional dataset, NRDEG expression levels, immune infiltration, and ROC curve analysis were confirmed, and gene expression levels were further verified experimentally. Results: GSEA revealed that necroptosis pathways were significantly enriched in AMI. We identified 10 NRDEGs, including TNF, TLR4, FTH1 and so on. Enrichment analysis indicated that the NOD-like receptor and NF-kappa B signaling pathways were significantly enriched. Four NRDEGs, FTH1, IFNGR1, STAT3, and TLR4, were identified; however, additional datasets and further experimental validation are required to confirm their roles. In addition, we determined that a high abundance of macrophages and neutrophils prompted AMI development. Conclusions: In this study, four potential genes that affect the development of AMI through necroptosis (FTH1, IFNGR1, STAT3, and TLR4) were identified. In addition, we found that a high abundance of macrophages and neutrophils affected AMI. This helps determine the pathological mechanism of necroptosis and immune cells that influence AMI and provides a novel strategy for targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary acid load (DAL) is closely related to several chronic diseases. However, the link between DAL and chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains scarce and without data from the Chinese populations whose diet is quite different from people in Western countries. Methods: This study evaluated DAL by potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP). We clarified the relationship between DAL and CKD by logistic regression analysis based on data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Results: The final analysis included 7699 individuals, of whom 811 (11.44%) were CKD patients. Although there was no notable link between PRAL and CKD, higher NEAP levels were independently correlated with CKD. As NEAP values rise, so does CKD prevalence. This trend remains highly significant even after adjustments. In subgroup analyses, the relationship between NEAP and CKD was more consistent in the elderly and subjects with a waistline of less than 82 cm and those without diabetes and heart disease. RCS analysis further confirmed the clear linear relationship between the OR of CKD and NEAP score. Conclusions: This study highlighted that higher NEAP was positively correlated with the risk of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaporation of silicate materials from Earth or its precursors may be important in shaping their primordial compositions represented by undifferentiated meteorites, e.g., enstatite chondrites; however, the conditions under which evaporation occurs and the extent of evaporation-induced elemental and isotope fractionation remain uncertain. Here, we experimentally determine the volatility and isotope fractionation of Si, Mg, Ca, Nb, and Ta during enstatite melt evaporation at 2423–2623 K using a high-temperature conical nozzle levitator. Homogenous glasses are recovered after experiments; then we use EPMA and LA-ICP-MS to measure the elemental compositions, MC-ICP-MS to measure the Si and Mg isotopes, and TIMS to measure the Ca isotopes. Our results show that the evaporation rates of Si are larger than Mg, and the mean vapor/melt isotope fractionation factors (α = Rvapor/Rmelt; R = isotope ratio) are 0.99585 ± 0.00002 for 29Si/28Si and 0.98942 ± 0.00130 for 25Mg/24Mg. However, neither evaporative loss of Ca, Nb, and Ta nor Ca isotope fractionation was observed within analytical uncertainty. In conjunction with previous studies, we find that in an evaporation experiment the saturation degree (partial vapor pressure/equilibrium vapor pressure) of Si (SSi) is larger than SMg when Si is more volatile than Mg, and vice versa. If the Mg/Ca and Si/Ca ratios and isotopes in the bulk silicate Earth are attributed to the evaporation of enstatite chondrite-like precursors, evaporation temperatures >5000 K and SSi < SMg are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A‐type granite is a favorable rock for the study of crustal evolution, crust‐mantle interaction and metallogenesis. However, the origin of A‐type granite remains controversial. In this study, we report high‐precision Ca isotopic compositions of a co‐genetic suite of A‐type granites from the Lower Yangtze River Belt (LYRB) in eastern China. Our results show that the δ44/40Ca of the A‐type granites ranges from 0.55 ± 0.11‰ to 1.44 ± 0.06‰, and is negatively correlated with CaO, Sr and Ba contents and Eu/Eu*, indicating that the Ca isotope fractionation of A‐type granites is dominated by plagioclase and potassium feldspar. There is kinetic fractionation of Ca isotopes during A‐type granite magma evolution. Sample BSL‐7, the least evolved sample, revealed that it had a low δ44/40Ca of 0.59‰, which is significantly lower than that of the upper continental crust (δ44/40Ca = 0.71–0.72‰) and the bulk silicate earth (δ44/40Ca = 0.94‰). The low δ44/40Ca can be best explained by partial melting of the enriched mantle metasomatized by subduction material. Combined with the geodynamic background of the LYRB, we propose that the formation of A‐type granites in the LYRB originates from partial melting of the enriched mantle, triggered by early Cretaceous ridge subduction of the Pacific and Izanagi plates. Plain Language Summary: A‐type granite is an important rock type in the study of continental evolution. However, the genesis of A‐type granite has been debated. We try to constrain the origin of A‐type granites by Ca isotopes. The Ca isotopic composition of plagioclase and potassium feldspar in A‐type granites is obviously different, which makes Ca isotopes can be used to trace the magmatic evolution of A‐type granites. In addition, the Ca isotope compositions of different magma source areas vary widely. Therefore, Ca isotopes have great potential to restrict the source feature of A‐type granite magmas. Key Points: The fractionation of Ca isotopes of A‐type granites is dominated by plagioclase and potassium feldsparThere is kinetic fractionation of calcium isotopes during A‐type granite magma evolutionThe ridge subduction model can well explain the genesis of A‐type granites in the LYRB [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a new Os micro-distillation device made of glass. We call this glassware a glass conical vial (GCV). The bottom and cover top of the GVC are designed to be pointed in order to hold small droplets of <20 μl. The recovery of Os exceeded 93% after micr-odistillation of solutions containing as low as 0.6 ng of Os using GCVs. A simple HNO3–H2O-baking procedure to clean the used GCV resulted in background levels of Os and Re below 0.37 and 0.36 pg, respectively, even though micro-distilled solutions in the GCV contained up to 750 ng or 350 ng of Os or Re, respectively. The new device has the advantages of high Os recovery, low Os and Re background, and easy cleaning, and is especially suitable for micro-distillation of samples with a low Os content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose an mm-wave local oscillator generation (LOG) method based on a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) with low phase noise (PN) and a novel injection-locked frequency tripler (ILFT), which can significantly improve the PN performance and power efficiency. The VCO features the source-to-gate feedback architecture with a third-impedance enhancement transformer so that the fundamental signal with the boosted third-harmonic output voltage in the source terminal is delivered to ILFT and the relatively pure 20-GHz signal from the gate node can be fed back to the phase-locked loop (PLL). The proposed ILFT adopts the high-order transformer-based resonator, injection-current-boosting (ICB), and class-D tail-switching techniques leading to a wide locking range (LR). Designed and simulated in 40-nm CMOS technology, the post-simulation results exhibit 1-MHz offset PN of better than −102 dBc/Hz over a continuous frequency tuning range (FTR) of 10.9% from 56.6 to 63.1 GHz while consuming 23.5 mW. The figure-of-merit (FoM) achieves up to 186.2 dBc/Hz at 1-MHz offset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) of functional diabetogenic genes are also involved in the pathogenetic mechanism of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study aimed at assessing associations of GDM with MTNR1B and PPARG gene variants in different racial populations. Methods: Literatures from PubMed and Embase databases were searched. Data were abstracted by two reviewers, and a consensus method was used to resolve disagreements. All reviewers worked independently. Twenty-one eligible literatures were enrolled by our data selection strategies, and heterogeneity, subgroup, sensitivity, and publication bias analysis. Results: G allele variant of rs10830963 was significantly associated with an increasing risk of GDM (GG + CG vs. CC: pooled OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.37–1.69, p < 0.001; GG vs. CG + CC: pooled OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.37–1.62, p < 0.001; G vs. C: pooled OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.30–1.52, p < 0.001). Further subgroup analysis showed the risk G allele were significantly associated with the GDM risk in women from Europe, Asia, and America, while European women carrying the G allele had a higher risk of GDM (G vs. C: pooled OR = 1.617, 95% CI = 1.46–1.79, p < 0.001) than the other regional ones. No significant correlation between the G allele of PPARG rs1801282 (C > G) SNV risk of GDM, which is consistent with some former studies. Conclusions: MTNR1B rs10830963(C > G) significantly increases the risk of GDM in Europeans, Asians, and Americans. G allele carriers in European population were confirmed a higher risk of GDM than Asian and American populations. No association between GDM and PPARG rs1801282 SNV indicates further validation may be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a high-precision technique for measuring Nd stable isotopes by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). A single and efficient Nd separation procedure is adopted with above 99% recovery using the DGA resin (Eichrom, USA). A 145Nd–150Nd double spike (DS) was used to correct mass-dependent fractionation during column chemistry and mass spectrometry. Repeated analyses of the JNdi-1 standard yielded a total average δ146/144Nd of 0.001 ± 0.016‰ (2SD, N = 12), and a δ148/144Nd of −0.005 ± 0.045‰ (2SD, N = 12), respectively. The pure Nd standard, La Jolla, produced a δ146/144Nd of −0.210 ± 0.006‰ (2SE). The δ146/144Nd of twelve geological reference materials, including COQ-1, DNC-1a, AGV-1, AGV-2, BHVO-2, BCR-2, G-2, RGM-1, GSP-2, NOD-A-1, NOD-P-1, and SDC-1, were also reported. Among them, the δ146/144Nd of COQ-1 was first reported. Simultaneously, the radiogenic 143Nd/144Nd of reference materials could be calculated using a double spike deconvolution with a precision of ≤5 ppm (2SE), in agreement with published values within an analytical uncertainty measured by conventional methods. Nd isotope fractionation during column chromatography was investigated. The known JNdi-1 was eluted with DGA resin using HCl as a solute and was sequentially collected into 8 fractions. δ146/144Nd systematically increased from −0.110 ± 0.011‰ (2SE) of the first Nd cut to +0.334 ± 0.011‰ (2SE) of the tailing cut following the mass-dependent fractionation law, suggesting significant Nd isotope fractionation during column chemistry. This phenomenon contradicts previous observations that light isotopes are preferentially retained onto the resin. The technique established in this study can obtain stable and radiogenic Nd isotopic compositions simultaneously from a single aliquot using a double spike by TIMS, providing at least two-dimensional constrains to the source of a material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Current studies show conflicting results regarding the relationship between dietary acid load (DAL) and blood pressure. (2) Methods: The study used data from the Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) 2009. DAL was assessed on the basis of potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP). To examine the link between DAL and the risk of hypertension, a multivariate logistic regression model was utilized. (3) Results: A total of 7912 subjects were enrolled in the study, of whom 2133 participants had hypertension, a prevalence of 27.0%. After accounting for potential covariates, higher PRAL and NEAP scores were associated with a greater likelihood of developing hypertension, with ORs of 1.34 (95% CI, 1.10–1.62) and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.09–1.53) for PRAL and NEAP scores in Q4, respectively, compared with Q1. In the male group, PRAL and NEAP scores were positively linked to hypertension risk, with ORs of 1.33 (95% CI, 1.06–1.67) and 1.46 (95% CI, 1.14–1.85) for PRAL and NEAP scores in Q4, respectively, compared with Q1, while no significant associations were observed in the female group. Correlations between PRAL scores and hypertension risk lacked significance in the subgroup analyses for participants aged <60 years. There was a significant nonlinear connection observed in the dose–response relationship between DAL (based on PRAL) and hypertension; (4) Conclusions: In Chinese adults, higher PRAL and NEAP scores were positively linked to hypertension risk. This implies that a diet with a low DAL may be a favorable dietary pattern for lowering blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exploratory study was undertaken to examine the prevalence of infants' feeding patterns in Beijing, China, as well as the factors linked to infants' self-feeding proportion during the introduction of complementary foods, and the impact of professional feeding guidance on this proportion. A total of 122 families with infants aged 6–11 months from Beijing were included in the study. A descriptive analysis was employed to assess the prevalence of infants' feeding patterns, while generalized linear model analysis was utilized to investigate the factors associated with these patterns. All families were provided with comprehensive and personalized professional guidance regarding the introduction of complementary foods for infants. However, 64 families were lost to follow-up, leaving 58 families who were re-evaluated and queried after one month. To exclude the influence of infants aging, both the 64 families prior to receiving feeding guidance, and the 58 families after receiving feeding guidance, were included in the analysis. The families with infants aged 6–8 months and 9–11 months were compared separately based on the presence or absence of feeding guidance. Statistical tests, including the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and χ2 test, were conducted to assess any significant differences. The study revealed that the proportion of infants engaging in self-feeding was found to be remarkably low (10% [0%, 40%]). Furthermore, a significant positive association was observed between the proportion of infants engaging in self-feeding and their age (p < 0.001). Notably, after receiving professional feeding guidance, the proportion of infants engaging in self-feeding significantly increased (from 1% [0%, 20%] to 30% [10%, 50%], p < 0.001 for infants aged 6–8 months; from 20% [10%, 50%] to 40% [30%, 50%], p < 0.001 for infants aged 9–11 months). These findings contribute valuable insights for improving postnatal care practices during the introduction of complementary foods for infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study evaluates the association between dietary acid load (DAL) and hyperuricemia in Chinese adults. Methods: The China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) in 2009 was used in this cross-sectional study. Potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) were applied to estimate DAL. A multiple logistic regression model was used to test the relationship between DAL and hyperuricemia risk. Results: A total of 7947 participants were included in this study, of whom 1172 had hyperuricemia. The PRAL score was positively related to the prevalence of hyperuricemia, even when potential covariates were taken into account. In comparison with Q1, the ORs were 1.12 (95% CI, 0.92–1.38), 1.20 (95% CI, 0.97–1.47) and 1.42 (95% CI, 1.16–1.75) in Q2, Q3 and Q4. However, there was no significant relationship between NEAP scores and hyperuricemia. Every 10 g increase in energy-adjusted fat, protein and animal protein intakes caused a 10%, 17% and 18% increase in hyperuricemia risk, respectively (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04–1.16; OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.11–1.25; OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.12–1.24, respectively). An obvious linear correlation was also suggested by the restricted cubic spline. Conclusions: Hyperuricemia risk was associated with higher PRAL among Chinese adults. This means that a diet low in PRAL scores could be a very valuable uric acid-lowering dietary pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was found that silkworm serine protease inhibitors BmSPI38 and BmSPI39 were very different from typical TIL-type protease inhibitors in sequence, structure, and activity. BmSPI38 and BmSPI39 with unique structure and activity may be good models for studying the relationship between the structure and function of small-molecule TIL-type protease inhibitors. In this study, site-directed saturation mutagenesis at the P1 position was conducted to investigate the effect of P1 sites on the inhibitory activity and specificity of BmSPI38 and BmSPI39. In-gel activity staining and protease inhibition experiments confirmed that BmSPI38 and BmSPI39 could strongly inhibit elastase activity. Almost all mutant proteins of BmSPI38 and BmSPI39 retained the inhibitory activities against subtilisin and elastase, but the replacement of P1 residues greatly affected their intrinsic inhibitory activities. Overall, the substitution of Gly54 in BmSPI38 and Ala56 in BmSPI39 with Gln, Ser, or Thr was able to significantly enhance their inhibitory activities against subtilisin and elastase. However, replacing P1 residues in BmSPI38 and BmSPI39 with Ile, Trp, Pro, or Val could seriously weaken their inhibitory activity against subtilisin and elastase. The replacement of P1 residues with Arg or Lys not only reduced the intrinsic activities of BmSPI38 and BmSPI39, but also resulted in the acquisition of stronger trypsin inhibitory activities and weaker chymotrypsin inhibitory activities. The activity staining results showed that BmSPI38(G54K), BmSPI39(A56R), and BmSPI39(A56K) had extremely high acid–base and thermal stability. In conclusion, this study not only confirmed that BmSPI38 and BmSPI39 had strong elastase inhibitory activity, but also confirmed that P1 residue replacement could change their activity and inhibitory specificity. This not only provides a new perspective and idea for the exploitation and utilization of BmSPI38 and BmSPI39 in biomedicine and pest control, but also provides a basis or reference for the activity and specificity modification of TIL-type protease inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the interaction between a Chinese version of the Mediterranean–DASH intervention for neurodegenerative delay (cMIND) diet and indoor air pollution and its effect on depression among older adults. This cohort study used 2011–2018 data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Participants included 2724 adults aged 65 and older without depression. The Chinese version of the Mediterranean–DASH intervention for neurodegenerative delay (cMIND) diet scores ranged from 0 to 12 based on validated food frequency questionnaire responses. Depression was measured using the Phenotypes and eXposures Toolkit. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to explore the associations, and the analysis was stratified using the cMIND diet scores. A total of 2724 participants (54.3% males and 45.9% 80 years and older) at baseline were included. Living with severe indoor pollution was associated with a 40% increase in the risk of depression (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.82) compared to living without indoor pollution. Indoor air pollution exposure was significantly associated with cMIND diet scores. Participants with a lower cMIND diet score (HR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.24, 2.38) had a greater association with severe pollution than those with a higher cMIND diet score. The cMIND diet may alleviate depression caused by indoor pollution among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that BmSPI39, a serine protease inhibitor of silkworm, can inhibit virulence-related proteases and the conidial germination of insect pathogenic fungi, thereby enhancing the antifungal capacity of Bombyx mori. The recombinant BmSPI39 expressed in Escherichia coli has poor structural homogeneity and is prone to spontaneous multimerization, which greatly limits its development and application. To date, the effect of multimerization on the inhibitory activity and antifungal ability of BmSPI39 remains unknown. It is urgent to explore whether a BmSPI39 tandem multimer with better structural homogeneity, higher activity and a stronger antifungal ability can be obtained by protein engineering. In this study, the expression vectors of BmSPI39 homotype tandem multimers were constructed using the isocaudomer method, and the recombinant proteins of tandem multimers were obtained by prokaryotic expression. The effects of BmSPI39 multimerization on its inhibitory activity and antifungal ability were investigated by protease inhibition and fungal growth inhibition experiments. In-gel activity staining and protease inhibition assays showed that tandem multimerization could not only greatly improve the structural homogeneity of the BmSPI39 protein, but also significantly increase its inhibitory activity against subtilisin and proteinase K. The results of conidial germination assays showed that tandem multimerization could effectively enhance the inhibitory ability of BmSPI39 on the conidial germination of Beauveria bassiana. A fungal growth inhibition assay showed that BmSPI39 tandem multimers had certain inhibitory effects on both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans. The inhibitory ability of BmSPI39 against these the above two fungi could be enhanced by tandem multimerization. In conclusion, this study successfully achieved the soluble expression of tandem multimers of the silkworm protease inhibitor BmSPI39 in E. coli and confirmed that tandem multimerization can improve the structural homogeneity and antifungal ability of BmSPI39. This study will not only help to deepen our understanding of the action mechanism of BmSPI39, but also provide an important theoretical basis and new strategy for cultivating antifungal transgenic silkworms. It will also promote its exogenous production and development and application in the medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, developing effective intervention substances for hyperuricemia has become a public health issue. Herein, the therapeutic ability of anserine, a bioactive peptide, was validated through a comprehensive multiomics analysis of a rat model of hyperuricemia. Anserine was observed to improve liver and kidney function and modulate urate-related transporter expressions in the kidneys. Urine metabolomics showed that 15 and 9 metabolites were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, in hyperuricemic rats after the anserine intervention. Key metabolites such as fructose, xylose, methionine, erythronic acid, glucaric acid, pipecolic acid and trans-ferulic acid were associated with ameliorating kidney injury. Additionally, anserine regularly changed the gut microbiota, thereby ameliorating purine metabolism abnormalities and alleviating inflammatory responses. The integrated multiomics analysis indicated that Saccharomyces, Parasutterella excrementihominis and Emergencia timonensis were strongly associated with key differential metabolites. Therefore, we propose that anserine improved hyperuricemia via the gut–kidney axis, highlighting its potential in preventing and treating hyperuricemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have suggested that the sodium alginate (SA) is beneficial for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while the potential mechanisms are largely unknown. The present study aimed to clarify the effects and potential mechanisms of SA in preventing NAFLD via the gut−liver axis. Thirty-two male Sprague−Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (NC); high-fat diet group (HFD); HFD with 50 mg/kg/d sodium alginate group (LSA); HFD with 150 mg/kg/d sodium alginate group (HSA). After 16 weeks, the rats were scarified to collect blood and tissues. The results indicated that SA significantly reduced their body weight, hepatic steatosis, serum triglyceride (TG), alanine transaminase (ALT) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels and increased serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in comparison with HFD group (p < 0.05). The elevated mRNA and protein expression of genes related to the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammatory signaling pathway in the liver of HFD-fed rats was notably suppressed by SA. In terms of the gut microbiota, the LSA group showed a significantly higher fecal abundance of Oscillospiraceae_UCG_005, Butyricicoccaceae_UCG_009 and Colidextribacter compared with the HFD group (p < 0.05). The rats in the HSA group had a higher abundance of unclassified_Lachnospiraceae, Colidextribacter and Oscillibacter compared with the HFD-associated gut community (p < 0.05). In addition, rats treated with SA showed a significant increase in fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels and a decline in serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels compared with the HFD group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the modulated bacteria and microbial metabolites were notably correlated with the amelioration of NAFLD-related indices and activation of the hepatic TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. In conclusion, SA prevented NAFLD and the potential mechanism was related to the modulation of the gut–liver axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize a dual-port multiband antenna, a novel planar spiral slot antenna is proposed and analyzed. The antenna adopts a dual-layer substrate structure. A spiral slot is etched on its bottom metal surface with a ring gap beside the slot to improve the isolation and lower the frequency. An elliptical metal ring radiation unit in the middle surface of the antenna plays the role of radiating and impedance matching. Two mutually perpendicular microstrips on the upper surface are used for feeding the radiation unit. The simulation and test results show that two ports of the antenna can work at multiple frequencies with the same radiator, and the isolation is more than 13.5 dB in the working bands (1.86-1.99 GHz, 2.47-2.5 GHz, 2.57-2.64 GHz, 2.90-5.7 GHz and 6.35-9.66 GHz). The antenna has the advantages of high gain, small volume, quasi omnidirectional radiation, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to explore the genetic risk factors and validate variants of abnormal uterine bleeding after copper intrauterine device insertion. Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was performed and several variants were validated by Sequenom MassARRAY. Results: Eight variants showed potential clinical damage according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria. By combined analysis of screening and validation, NFASCRS2802808C>G p.Ile971Met (Pallele = 0.009 and Pgenotype = 0.027) and PIGRRS2275531C>T p.Gly365Ser (Pallele = 0.009 and Pgenotype = 0.013) variants were identified as significantly associated with abnormal uterine bleeding with a false discovery rate <0.05. NFASC and PIGR may play a role in abnormal uterine bleeding by regulating coagulation fibrinolysis and endometrial epithelium inflammation functions. Conclusion: These findings provide a genetic basis for clinical individualization and precision of intrauterine device implantation. Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) after Cu intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) insertion is the most common side effect of Cu-IUD use. AUB is a multifactorial process that relates to endometrial-related genetic factors, ovulatory function-related genetic factors, coagulation, the fibrinolytic system, contraction of the uterine arteries and endometritis inflammatory factor. This is the first study to explore the underlying genetic mechanisms of AUB related to the use of Cu-IUDs by whole-exome sequencing in the Chinese Han population. The authors found that variants of NFASC and PIGR genes were significantly associated with AUB in women using Cu-IUDs. NFASC and PIGR may be involved in coagulation fibrinolysis and endometrial epithelium inflammation functions, indicating its potential functions in AUB. This study could provide a genetic basis for studies on the individualization and precision of IUD use in the future. This study found the underlying genetic mechanism of abnormal uterine bleeding in Chinese Han Cu-intrauterine devices users. By using sequencing techniques, NFASC and PIGR gene variants may lead to bleeding by regulating coagulation fibrinolysis and endometrial epithelium inflammation functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report an easy method based on extraction and crystallization for the isolation and purification of two representative lignin monomers, 4-propylguaiacol and 4-propylsyringol, from the products of reductive catalytic fractionation processes. The GC purities of the isolated 4-propylguaiacol and 4-propylsyringol reach 93.1% and 98.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel stair‐finger grid type (SFGT) transistor layout is proposed in this letter to improve the fT ${f}_{{\rm{T}}}$ and fmax ${f}_{\max }$ of large‐sized transistors for the millimeter‐wave power amplifier (PA). It combines the promoted stair‐finger transistor cells in a grid pattern to minimize parasitic capacitances and metal losses, which has been verified to provide higher gain over broadband by measurements. Two three‐stage dual‐differential PAs with different transistor layouts are compared in this letter. The PA employs a capacitive neutralization technique and distributed active transformer‐based combiner and divider. Fabricated in the Huali Microelectronics Corporation (HLMC) 40‐nm Complementary Metal Oxide (CMOS) (Co process, the PA with SFGT transistor [PA2] achieves higher gain and output power than the PA with the currently best‐known transistor [PA1]). PA2 achieves 15.22 dBm saturated output power (Psat ${P}_{\mathrm{sat}}$), 14.25 dBm output power at 1 dB compression point (P1 dB ${P}_{1\unicode{x0200A}\mathrm{dB}}$), and 18.09 dB power gain when the basic supply is 1.1 V at 83 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in global car ownership, the demand for traffic safety is very strong. Research shows that drivers account for more than 90% of global traffic accidents. Driverless cars can reduce traffic accidents caused for these reasons and greatly improve traffic safety. At the same time, driverless real-time path planning can select the best driving route for vehicles, reduce traffic congestion, and improve the efficiency of transportation. To sum up, driverless vehicles are considered an important solution to ensure traffic safety, improve traffic efficiency, reduce energy consumption and pollution, and change travel mode. An intelligent driverless vehicle is a key component of the intelligent transportation system, which organically combines various functions such as. Among them, path tracking and motion control play a very important role in intelligent driverless technology. At the same time, accurately tracking the desired feasible path and stable motion control are the basis of intelligent unmanned driving. Based on this, this paper uses artificial intelligence technology to study the path control and behavior decision-making of intelligent driverless trucks, and an improved tracking control method is proposed. Through this improved method, the intelligent unmanned vehicle can track the desired feasible path under different curvatures more accurately and stably. Finally, through the road test experiment of the intelligent unmanned vehicle experimental platform in the actual environment, the effectiveness of the scheme design and related algorithms of intelligent unmanned vehicle motion control in this paper is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal air pollutants exposure is associated with a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). However, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. The present study aimed to understand the mechanism of RSA and its relationship with air pollution exposure. We compared data of decidual tissue from individuals with induced abortions and those with RSA by bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS), and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were verified using RT-qPCR and pyrosequencing. A logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between air pollutants exposure and RSA. Results: We identified 98 DEGs with aberrant methylation by overlapping the RRBS and RNA-seq data. Nineteen immune cell subsets were identified. Compared with normal controls, NK cells and macrophages accounted for different proportions in the decidua of patients with RSA. We observed that the methylation and expression of IGF2BP1 were different between patients with RSA and controls. Furthermore, we observed significant positive associations between maternal air pollutants exposure during the year prior to pregnancy and in early pregnancy and the risk of RSA. Mediation analyses suggested that 24.5% of the effects of air pollution on the risk of RSA were mediated through IGF2BP1 methylation. Conclusion: These findings reveal a comprehensive cellular and molecular mechanism of RSA and suggest that air pollution might cause pregnancy loss by affecting the methylation level of the IGF2BP1 promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cognitive impairment commonly occurs among older people worldwide. Although the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet was associated with better cognitive function and lower risk of cognitive impairment, it could not be applied to older Chinese due to the traditional dietary characteristics in China. We aimed to develop the Chinese version of the MIND (cMIND) diet and verify its association with cognitive impairment among older Chinese individuals. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting and Participants: We included a total of 11,245 participants from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS) follow-up survey in 2018. The mean age of the participants at study baseline was 84.06 (±11.46) years. Measurements: We established the cMIND diet based on current evidence in the diet-cognition field, combined with Chinese dietary characteristics. The verification of its association with cognitive impairment was conducted using the data from the CLHLS follow-up survey. Adherence to the cMIND diet was assessed by the cMIND diet score, which was calculated from a food frequency questionnaire. Cognitive impairment was identified by the Mini-Mental State Examination. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disability was defined according to the self-reported performance of eight activities. Results: The cMIND diet comprised 11 brain-healthy food groups and 1 unhealthy food group. The median cMIND diet score of all participants was 4.5 (from a total of 12 points) and the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 15.2%. Compared with the lowest tertile, the highest tertile score was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment (odds ratio (OR)=0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51–0.72) and IADL disability (OR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.75–0.98) in the full-adjusted model. Conclusion: We developed the cMIND diet that was suitable for older Chinese individuals, and our results suggested that higher adherence to the cMIND diet was associated with reduced odds of cognitive impairment and IADL disability. In view of the limitations of cross-sectional design in the study, further research is clearly warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: We aimed to evaluate potential biomarkers and candidate drugs for recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and explore functional circular RNA pathways involved in regulating RSA. Method of study: Expression profiles of placental villus and decidua samples derived from females with RSA and those with healthy pregnancies who underwent induced abortion were analyzed using high‐throughput RNA whole transcriptome sequencing. Abnormally expressed circular RNAs in a larger cohort of samples were validated using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Drug discovery and molecular docking were performed using online databases and the Autodock tool, respectively. Results: In total, 2103 and 2160 circular RNAs were detected in three pairs of villi and three pairs of decidual tissues, respectively. A total of 22 circular RNAs, 58 miRNAs, and 393 mRNAs with significantly different expression patterns were identified. Five circular RNAs were verified, and the expression of hsa_circ_0088485 was significantly upregulated in the RSA group (P =.041) with a high area under the curve value (.727), sensitivity (76.5%), and specificity (64.7%). GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that differentially expressed genes were associated with angiogenesis and cell adhesion. Drug discovery and molecular docking were analyzed based on 93 differentially expressed mRNAs of the ceRNA network. A total of 36 chemicals were identified as putative bioactive molecules for RSA, and one representative chemical was identified for docking with six proteins. Conclusions: These findings provide novel insights into the mechanism of regulation of RSA by circular RNA and its clinical diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Cretaceous aluminous A-type granites in the Lower Yangtze River belt (LYRB) can provide important insights into the Mesozoic magmatism in eastern China, but their origin remains highly controversial. In this study, radiogenic Ca-Nd isotopic analysis was performed for syenite porphyry and alkali-feldspar granite porphyry of the Yangshan pluton, a typical aluminous A-type granitic intrusion in the LYRB, to constrain its source and geodynamic setting. The results show that εCa(126 Ma), εNd(126 Ma) and K/Casource of the syenite porphyry range from −0.24 to +0.96, −7.2 to −6.0, and 0.31 to 1.26, respectively. The corresponding values for the alkali-feldspar granite porphyry range from 0.26 to 0.84, −8.0 to −6.1, and 0.79 to 1.08, respectively. Binary mixing modeling indicates that they were originated from the same sources with different proportion, namely, a mixing of 50% to 75% Neoproterozoic crust and 50% to 25% asthenospheric mantle. Together with previous works, we propose that the Early Cretaceous subduction of the ridge between the Pacific and Izanagi plates was responsible for the formation of the aluminous A-type granites in the LYRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐precision calcium isotopic ratios of thirty‐four Chinese geological reference materials, including igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, river/marine sediments and soils, are reported. Measurements were conducted by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (Triton TIMS) using a 42Ca–43Ca double spike. These reference materials cover a wide range of chemical compositions with CaO ranging from 0.10 to 51.1% m/m. The δ44/40Ca variation of igneous rocks was up to 0.75‰, ranging from 0.61 ± 0.06‰ to 1.35 ± 0.04‰. Two metamorphic rocks yielded δ44/40Ca of 0.39 ± 0.02‰ and 0.86 ± 0.02‰, respectively. δ44/40Ca values of sedimentary rocks varied from −0.14 ± 0.09‰ to 0.98 ± 0.12‰, suggesting significant isotopic fractionation during low‐temperature processes. Like sedimentary rocks, river/marine sediments and soil displayed large Ca isotopic variations, with δ44/40Ca spanning from 0.12 ± 0.06‰ to 0.77 ± 0.03‰ and −0.09 ± 0.11‰ to 0.74 ± 0.08‰, respectively. The comprehensive data set reported in this study serves as a reference for quality assurance and inter‐laboratory comparison for high‐precision Ca isotopic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the extinct nuclide 182Hf-182W system has been developed as an essential tool to date and trace the lunar origin and evolution. Despite a series of achievements, controversies and problems exist. As a review, this paper details the application principles of the 182Hf-182W isotope system and summarizes the research development on W isotopes of the Moon. A significant radiogenic ε182W excess of 0.24 ± 0.01 was found in the lunar mantle, leading to heated debates. There are three main explanations for the origin of the excess, including (1) radioactive origin; (2) the mantle of the Moon-forming impactor; and (3) disproportional late accretion to the Earth and the Moon. Debates on these explanations have revealed different views on lunar age. The reported ages of the Moon are mainly divided into two views: an early Moon (30–70 Ma after the solar system formation); and a late Moon (>70 Ma after the solar system formation). This paper discusses the possible effects on lunar 182W composition, including the Moon-forming impactor, late veneer, and Oceanus Procellarum-forming projectile. Finally, the unexpected isotopic similarities between the Earth and Moon are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study aimed to develop and validate the Food and Nutrition Literacy Questionnaire for Chinese adults (FNLQ). The dimensions and core components of Food and Nutrition Literacy were constructed though literature review and qualitative consensus study. A cross-sectional survey of 8510 participants was conducted. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined by internal consistency, the construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and the content validity was assessed by the Pearson correlation coefficient. From the literature review and qualitative methods, 20 core components and 50 questions of the FNLQ were developed, including 1 dimension of knowledge and 3 practice dimensions (ability of selection, preparing food and eating). The overall FNLQ questionnaire had good reliability and validity (Cronbach's α = 0.893, χ2/DF = 4.750, RMSEA = 0.048, GFI = 0.891 and AGFI = 0.876). The average FNLQ score of all participants was (64.08 ± 12.77), and the score for the knowledge and understanding dimension was higher than that for the practice dimensions. In addition, 80 was set as the nutritional literacy threshold, and only 12.2% met this threshold in this survey. Sociodemographic and health status characteristics were predictors of FNLQ (R2 = 0.287, F = 244.132, p < 0.01). In conclusion, the FNLQ built in this study had good validity and reliability. It could be considered as a reliable tool to assess Food and Nutrition Literacy of Chinese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation between dietary factors and physical function in Chinese elderly. (2) Methods: A cohort study was conducted on the association of long-term dietary intake status with physical function in older people based on the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) from 2011 to 2018. The physical function of the subjects was judged according to the scores of basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The dietary diversity score was established according to the intake frequency of the food groups, and the dietary pattern score was obtained by factor analysis. The associations between dietary factors and functional impairment was investigated by logistic regressions. (3) Results: A total of 2282 subjects were included in our cohort study, 458 and 1439 of whom had BADL limitation and IADL limitation, respectively. The risk of functional impairment decreased in the consistent high dietary diversity groups compared with the consistent low dietary diversity group (p < 0.05). The fruit-egg-milk pattern, vegetable-meat-fish pattern, and condiment and tea pattern reduced the risk of functional impairment (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Long-term maintenance of high dietary diversity and increasing total dietary intake can help maintain good physical function of Chinese elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To screen the potential epigenetic biomarkers associated with endometriosis (EMS) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome EMS types. Methods. A cohort of 99 participants comprising 42 EMS patients with cold coagulation blood stasis (CCBS) syndrome, 35 EMS patients with Qi stagnation blood stasis (QSBS) syndrome, and 22 women of childbearing age without EMS were recruited. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) was used to establish the differential DNA methylation profiles in human peripheral blood samples obtained from four non-EMS and four EMS patients with CCBS or QSBS syndrome, respectively. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were verified in 18 non-EMS, 38 CCBS-EMS, and 31 QSBS-EMS using pyrosequencing. Results. Methylation sites of 123942, 127229, and 115961 were found in peripheral blood DNA of non-EMS, CCBS-EMS, and QSBS-EMS patients, respectively. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the pathological process of EMS may be closely related to the nervous system development, cell junctions, GABA-gated chloride ion channel activity, nicotine addiction, Hippo signaling pathway, mRNA surveillance pathway, and Wnt signaling pathway. The methylation level at CpG site within HDAC6 gene in QSBS-EMS patients was significantly different from that in control women. Conclusions. The changes in DNA methylation in peripheral blood samples may be associated with EMS and TCM syndrome EMS types. The methylation level of HDAC6 gene may be used to distinguish QSBS-EMS patients from women without EMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the function of miR‐126‐3p loaded on adipose stem cell (ADSC)‐derived exosomes (ADSC‐Exos) in wound healing of full‐thickness skin defects. Methods: ADSCs transfected with miR‐126‐3p mimic, miR‐126‐3p inhibitor or pcDNA3.1‐PIK3R2, or PKH26‐marked ADSC‐Exos were cultured with fibroblasts or human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The proliferation and migration rates of fibroblasts and angiogenesis of HUVECs were measured. Rats with full‐thickness skin defects were injected with ADSC‐Exos or exosomes extracted from ADSCs transfected with miR‐126‐3p inhibitor and the wound healing rates were measured. The wound bed, collagen deposition and angiogenesis in injured rats were assessed. Results: ADSC‐Exos could be ingested by fibroblasts and HUVECs. Co‐incubation with ADSCs or ADSC‐Exos promoted the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts and angiogenesis of HUVECs, which was further enhanced by miR‐126‐3p overexpression. Inhibition of ADSC‐Exos or miR‐126‐3p or PIK3R2 overexpression suppressed the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts and angiogenesis of HUVECs. ADSC‐derived exosomal miR‐126‐3p increased wound healing rate, collagen deposition and newly formed vessels in the injured rats. Conclusion: ADSC‐derived exosomal miR‐126‐3p promotes wound healing of full‐thickness skin defects by targeting PIK3R2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this brief, we proposed a small area, high precision, and high energy efficiency single-ended capacitance-to-digital converter (CDC). The circuit incorporates a $\Delta \Sigma $ CDC and a SAR CDC. The SAR CDC is a coarse CDC which determines the measurement range of capacitance, considering the area consumption, single-ended SAR CDC is adopted. To get a high resolution, inverter-based correlated-double-sampling (CDS) circuit is employed in the $\Delta \Sigma $ modulation loop. The test chip is fabricated in a 180-nm CMOS process and the core occupies an area of 0.15mm2. The circuit achieves an rms resolution of 186aF at a 4pF input capacitor, the power consumption is $4.1~\mu \text{W}$ in SAR phase with a 100kHz sampling rate and $23.2~\mu \text{W}$ in $\Delta \Sigma $ phase with a 400 kHz sampling rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Intrauterine device (IUD) is a commonly used contraceptive method worldwide. Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is one of the most common side effects of Cu‐IUDs. Since AUB varies among Cu‐IUD users, changes in the bleeding‐related genetic factors may contribute to AUB. This study aimed to determine the genetic risk factors of AUB after Cu‐IUD insertion. Methods: We conducted a case–control study on women who experienced AUB after Cu‐IUD insertion (case:control = 62:59). Six candidate variants were genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY. Genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed using SHEsisPlus. We performed Pearson's Chi‐squared test to analyze categorical data, and ESEfinder to predict the impact on splicing regulation. Results: MCM8 coding sequence variants: rs3761873‐A>C was in Exon 7 and rs16991617 A>G was in Exon 12 of all 19 exons, both of which were significantly different between cases and controls (pallele = 0.039 and pgenotype = 0.092). rs6022 and rs6029 in F5 gene and rs3761873 and rs16991617 in the MCM8 gene showed strong linkage disequilibrium (R2 > 0.8). ESEfinder indicated that the variants of MCM8 may affect the splicing regulation. Conclusions: MCM8 rs376187 and rs16991617 were associated with AUB in Cu‐IUDs users. MCM8 may play a role in AUB by regulating functions of reproductive organs and primary ovarian insufficiency. Our findings may improve the understanding of the genetic basis of AUB caused by Cu‐IUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a new method to achieve a well-matched and balanced impedance matching using a magnetic-electric coupled (MEC) transformer model. Both the MEC transformer model and its matching method are analyzed comprehensively. The MEC model takes the common-mode effects into consideration and improves accuracy FoM value (AFV) in the 1 ∼ 100 GHz frequency band compared to the magnetically coupled transformer model in a 1:2 transformer example, which can provide higher accuracy for designing a better transformer. The proposed matching approach in this article can determine a well-matched and balanced MEC transformer matching network according to the target impedance. Mapping relationships between the parameters of the MEC transformer model and the geometric parameters of the transformer are further discussed to achieve a practical and optimal transformer simulation prototype. The methods to control the common-mode effects of the transformer are discussed both at the physical and circuit levels. The full-scalable parameters extraction methodology is verified over broadband by full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulations and measurements. The proposed well-matched and balanced impedance matching approach is proven by the HFSS (3D High Frequency Simulation Software) simulation and structure measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a blood system disease caused by the accumulation of a large number of immature blood cells in bone marrow. Although the introduction of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic has reached a high level of complete remission rate and 5-year disease-free survival rate, the occurrence of various adverse reactions still severely affects the quality of life of patients. As a natural product, honokiol (HNK) has the advantages of low toxicity and high efficiency, and it is a potential drug for the treatment of cancer. Since cancer cells can escape apoptotic cell death through multiple adaptive mechanisms, HNK, a drug that induces cancer cell death in a nonapoptotic way, has attracted much interest. We found that HNK reduced the viability of human APL cell line (NB4 cells) by inducing paraptosis-like cell death. The process was accompanied by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and increased microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) processing. The inactivation of proteasome activity was the main cause of misfolded and unfolded protein accumulation in endoplasmic reticulum, such as LC3II/I and p62. This phenomenon could be alleviated by adding cycloheximide (CHX), a protein synthesis inhibitor. We found that mTOR signaling pathway participated in paraptosis-like cell death induced by HNK in an autophagy-independent process. Moreover, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway induced paraptosis of NB4 cells by promoting endoplasmic reticulum stress. In summary, these findings indicate that paraptosis may be a new way to treat APL, and provide novel insights into the potential mechanism of paraptosis-like cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia a recognised geriatric syndrome. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia among older Chinese adults and to identify any associated factors for possible sarcopenia according to the updated diagnostic criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS 2019). We used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The main outcome of this study was possible sarcopenia. Handgrip strength was measured via a dynamometer. The muscle mass was estimated by anthropometric measures. Physical performance was measured by 5-time chair stand test and gait speed test. A multivariate logistic regression model with stepwise method was employed to identify factors associated with possible sarcopenia. A total of 6172 participants aged 60–94 years were included. The prevalence of possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia was 38.5%, 18.6%, and 8.0%, respectively. Age, rural area, falls, higher C-reactive protein (CRP), and chronic diseases (including hypertension, chronic lung diseases, heart disease, psychiatric disease and arthritis) were associated with a higher risk of possible sarcopenia. Conversely, alcohol consumption, higher gait speed and high levels of hemoglobin were associated with decreased risk of possible sarcopenia. However, the associations between possible sarcopenia with alcohol consumption, heart disease, psychiatric disease and hemoglobin were not significant after Bonferroni correction. Our study reported a relatively high prevalence of sarcopenia among older Chinese population, and identified a range of factors associated with sarcopenia. We also found rural elders are more vulnerable to sarcopenia than urban elders. Additionally, we discovered systemic inflammation might be one of the contributing factors between sarcopenia and related comorbidities. We believe the findings of this study would help to identify individuals at high risk of sarcopenia early and therefore implement the prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the disease burden in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) is an efficient and selective way to produce phenolic monomers from lignin. However, this strategy is difficult to scale up due to its high operating pressure. In this work, we investigated RCF reaction at or near atmospheric pressure and without the use of hydrogen. The atmospheric RCF (ARCF) was conducted in acidified ethylene glycol in glass vessels at 185–195 °C catalyzed by 5% Ru/C. The products mainly include propylguaiacol and propylsyringyl (up to 95.6% among the lignin monomers) and do not contain propanolguaiacol, propanolsyringyl, or H monomers. Although the total yield of lignin monomers in ARCF is about one-quarter less than that of RCF, the operation of ARCF is much easier, milder, safer, and cheaper due to the atmospheric condition and the feasibility of the semi-continuous operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify epigenetic alternations of microRNAs and DNA methylation for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis and treatment using in silico approach. Data of mRNA and miRNA expression microarray (GSE103552 and GSE104297) and DNA methylation data set (GSE106099) were obtained from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were obtained by limma package. Functional and enrichment analyses were performed with the DAVID database. The protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING and visualized in Cytoscape. Simultaneously, a connectivity map (CMap) analysis was performed to screen potential therapeutic agents for GDM. In GDM, 184 low miRNA‐targeting up‐regulated genes and 234 high miRNA‐targeting down‐regulated genes as well as 364 hypomethylation–high‐expressed genes and 541 hypermethylation–low‐expressed genes were obtained. They were mainly enriched in terms of axon guidance, purine metabolism, focal adhesion and proteasome, respectively. In addition, 115 genes (67 up‐regulated and 48 down‐regulated) were regulated by both aberrant alternations of miRNAs and DNA methylation. Ten chemicals were identified as putative therapeutic agents for GDM and four hub genes (IGF1R, ATG7, DICER1 and RANBP2) were found in PPI and may be associated with GDM. Overall, this study identified a series of differentially expressed genes that are associated with epigenetic alternations of miRNA and DNA methylation in GDM. Ten chemicals and four hub genes may be further explored as potential drugs and targets for GDM diagnosis and treatment, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A measurement procedure has been developed for the determination of δ44/40Ca and δ56/54Fe in geological samples by multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (MC‐ICP‐MS) and thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS), combined with a single TODGA resin column for their separation. Using the TODGA resin for separation of geological materials, Fe and Ca ions were eluted by using 8 ml of 1.5 mol l−1 HNO3 and 8 ml of 2 mol l−1 HCl, respectively, and their recovery was 99.7 ± 0.4% (n = 3) for the former and 99.4 ± 0.6% (n = 3) for the latter after removal of matrix and interfering elements using 12 ml of 6 mol l−1 HCl. This procedure was validated by the reference materials AGV‐2, BCR‐2 and BHVO‐2. Their Fe and Ca isotope data were comparable to their literature values, confirming a single column containing TODGA resin can be applied to the separation of Fe and Ca in geological samples for determination of their isotope ratios free of measurement bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify epigenetic alternations of microRNAs and DNA methylation for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis and treatment using in silico approach. Data of mRNA and miRNA expression microarray (GSE103552 and GSE104297) and DNA methylation data set (GSE106099) were obtained from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were obtained by limma package. Functional and enrichment analyses were performed with the DAVID database. The protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING and visualized in Cytoscape. Simultaneously, a connectivity map (CMap) analysis was performed to screen potential therapeutic agents for GDM. In GDM, 184 low miRNA‐targeting up‐regulated genes and 234 high miRNA‐targeting down‐regulated genes as well as 364 hypomethylation–high‐expressed genes and 541 hypermethylation–low‐expressed genes were obtained. They were mainly enriched in terms of axon guidance, purine metabolism, focal adhesion and proteasome, respectively. In addition, 115 genes (67 up‐regulated and 48 down‐regulated) were regulated by both aberrant alternations of miRNAs and DNA methylation. Ten chemicals were identified as putative therapeutic agents for GDM and four hub genes (IGF1R, ATG7, DICER1 and RANBP2) were found in PPI and may be associated with GDM. Overall, this study identified a series of differentially expressed genes that are associated with epigenetic alternations of miRNA and DNA methylation in GDM. Ten chemicals and four hub genes may be further explored as potential drugs and targets for GDM diagnosis and treatment, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reconfigurable architecture is presented to be compatible with conventional passive operating mode and active mode for ultrahigh frequency (UHF) and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. The transceiver with frequency locked on-chip oscillator is proposed to increase the read range of RFID system and the lifetime of tag. The transceiver is fabricated in 0.18 μ m standard CMOS process with the active area of 0.246 mm2. For passive mode, the sensitivity of tag is − 1 7 dBm. For the active mode, the sensitivity is − 3 2 dBm only consuming 1.2 μ W under the supply voltage of 0.8 V. The output power is − 1 0 dBm for active transmitting mode and the power consumption is 450 μ W under the supply voltage of 1 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]