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A high-performance zinc-ion battery cathode comprising of heterogeneous VS4/VOx@C nanosheets with high rate capacity and long cycle life is presented.

This paper mainly investigates how to maximally degrade estimation performance of a cyber-physical system under limited resource. A stealthy false data injection (FDI) attack scheme is proposed to only attack partial sensor channels of a multi-sensor estimation system. The attack stealthiness condition and the compromised estimation error covariance are respectively derived, and then the stealthy attack problem is formed as a constrained optimization problem. An explicit solution of the optimal attack strategy is given and proven. Furthermore, the relationship between the compromised estimation error covariance and the attacked sensor is analyzed, and then the sensor selection principle is derived to decide which sensor channel should be attacked. Finally, two numerical simulation examples are provided to confirm the theoretical analysis results.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder rarely found in Asian populations. Most males with CF are infertile because of obstructive azoospermia (OA) caused by congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD). Compound heterozygous mutations of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) are among the most common pathogenic factors in CBAVD. However, few genealogical analyses have been performed. In this study, whole-exome sequencing and co-segregation analysis were performed in a Chinese pedigree involving two siblings with CBAVD. Moreover, in vitro functional assays were used to analyze the pathogenicity of a novel CFTR mutation. We identified a novel compound heterozygous mutation of CFTR comprising the known disease-causing variant c.1210-11T > G (also known as IVS9‐5T) and c.2144delA;p.q715fs in two siblings with CBAVD. To verify the effects in vitro, we transfected vectors expressing wild-type and mutated CFTR into 293T cells. The results showed that the CFTR protein containing the frameshift mutation (c.2144delA) was 60 kD smaller. With testicular sperm aspiration/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (TESA/ICSI-ET), both CBAVD patients fathered healthy offspring. Our study revealed that this novel compound heterozygous mutation is involved in CBAVD, expanding the known CFTR gene mutation spectrum of CBAVD patients and providing more evidence that compound heterozygous mutations can cause familial CBAVD.

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a common cause of male infertility, and genetic problems, such as chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations, are important causes of NOA. Our centre received a case of NOA, in which no mature sperm was found during microdissection testicular sperm extraction. A postoperative pathological examination revealed that testicular spermatogenesis was blocked. Target region capture combined with high-throughput sequencing was used to screen for male infertility-related gene mutations. Sanger sequencing further confirmed that the SYCE1 gene, a central component of the synaptonemal complex (SC) during meiosis, had a homozygous deletion mutation in the tenth exon (c.689_690del; p.F230fs). Through molecular biological studies, we discovered altered expression and nuclear localization of the endogenous mutant SYCE1. To verify the effects in vitro, wild- and mutated-type SYCE1 vectors were constructed and transfected into a human cell line. The results showed that the expression and molecular weight were decreased for SYCE1 containing c.689_690del. In addition, mutated SYCE1 was abnormally located in the cytoplasm rather than in the nucleus. In summary, our research suggests that the novel homozygous mutation (c.689_690del; p.F230fs) altered the SYCE1 expression pattern and may have disturbed SC assembly, leading to male infertility and to a barrier to gamete formation. We reported for the first time that a frameshift mutation occurred in the exon region of SYCE1 in an NOA patient. This study is beneficial for accurate NOA diagnosis and the development of corresponding gene therapy strategies.

High performance asymmetric supercapacitors assembled with heterostructured core-shell CoWO4@WO3-1 cathodes and Ov-NiMoO4 anodes, showing a maximum area energy density of 13.93 mW h cm−2 and keeping 98.1% capacity retention over 20 000 cycles.

This brief studies the detection problem of replay attacks against measurement data transmitted over the feedback channel of a cyber-physical system. In order to detect such replay attacks, an output coding scheme, where the control input is coded into the measurement output transmitted in the feedback channel, is proposed to make the output residuals between the normal and compromised cases significantly different, which thus triggers an alarm from an anomaly detector. The main advantage of this scheme is that the system performance in the normal situation is not affected compared with existing coding detection schemes, which is also the practical motivation of our work. In addition, the encoded measurement output is directly used to estimate the system state instead of setting a decoder. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

ObjectiveWe investigated regional disparities in rates of scoliosis among adolescents in western and eastern China and the dominant factors underlying these disparities.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data from a school scoliosis screening program conducted in two typical areas: Yangpu District of Shanghai (eastern China) and Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County of Gansu Province (western China), during October 2020 to February 2021. Participants included adolescents aged 12–16 years (4,240 in Shanghai and 2,510 in Gansu Province). School scoliosis screening data were obtained on age, sex, height, weight and BMI, and region as well. We screened angles of trunk rotation in level of proximal thoracic (T1–T4), main thoracic (T5–T12), and lumbar (T12–L4) by the forward bend test with scoliometer. An angle of trunk rotation ≥5° was used as the criterion to identify suspected scoliosis.ResultsThe proportion of suspected scoliosis was lower in Shanghai (6.9%) than in Gansu (8.6%). Angle of trunk rotation tended to increase with age in Shanghai, peaking at 15 years, but decreased with age in Gansu, and bottomed at 15 years. The angle of trunk rotation in the proximal thoracic, main thoracic, and lumbar part of the spine appeared to be larger in Gansu adolescents and in Shanghai female adolescents. Age was a relevant factor in angle trunk rotation in regression models and interacted with region as well.ConclusionWe found regional and age- and sex-related disparities in rates of suspected scoliosis.

Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic disorder that is characterized by idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism associated with anosmia. Genetic variants in ANOS1 gene are the most common mutations associated with X-linked recessive form of KS. Canonical ± 1 or 2 splice site variants in ANOS1 have been described to be responsible for KS. Here, we identified a novel noncanonical splice site variant (c.1062+4T>C) in ANOS1 gene in two siblings with KS by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Sanger sequencing showed this mutation was inherited from their mother, whose brother was a KS patient as well. Through the functional assay in vitro, we found that this mutation resulted in a 50-bp deletion of exon 7, which caused frameshift mutation leading to a premature termination of translation and a truncated anosmin-1 protein. Our results revealed that this noncanonical splice site variant is involved in KS. Thus, it is suggested that we should pay attention to the noncanonical splice site variants when using molecular genetic diagnostics of KS.

Transition metal oxide-based battery-type electrode materials with well-defined nanostructure have shown great potential in supercapacitors, due to their high electrical conductivity and superior redox activity. Herein, promising CoWO

BackgroundThe application of wearable sensor technology in an exercise intervention provides a new method for the standardization and accuracy of intervention. Considering that the deterioration of musculoskeletal conditions is of serious concern in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, it is worthwhile to clarify the effect of wearable sensor-based exercise on musculoskeletal disorders in such patients compared with traditional exercise.MethodsFive health science-related databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and Ebsco Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, were systematically searched. The protocol number of the study is PROSPERO CRD42022319763. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were published up to March 2022 and written in English were included. Balance was the primary outcome measure, comprising questionnaires on postural stability and computerized dynamic posturography. The secondary outcome measures are motor symptoms, mobility ability, functional gait abilities, fall-associated self-efficacy, and adverse events. Stata version 16.0 was used for statistical analysis, and the weighted mean difference (WMD) was selected as the effect size with a 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsFifteen RCTs involving 488 participants with mean ages ranging from 58.6 to 81.6 years were included in this review, with 14 of them being pooled in a quantitative meta-analysis. Only five included studies showed a low risk of bias. The Berg balance scale (BBS) was used in nine studies, and the pooled data showed a significant improvement in the wearable sensor-based exercise group compared with the traditional exercise group after 3–12-week intervention (WMD = 1.43; 95% CI, 0.50 to 2.36, P = 0.003). A significant change in visual score was found both post-assessment and at 1-month follow-up assessment (WMD = 4.38; 95% CI, 1.69 to 7.07, P = 0.001; I2 = 0.0%). However, no significant differences were found between the two groups in the secondary outcome measures (all p > 0.05). No major adverse events were reported.ConclusionThe wearable sensor-based exercise had advantages in improving balance in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, while there was a lack of evidence in motor symptoms, mobility, and functional gait ability enhancement. Future studies are recommended to construct a comprehensive rehabilitation treatment system for the improvement in both postural control and quality of life.Systematic Review Registrationhttp://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022319763.

Flexible aluminium nitride (AlN) films can enable the future preparation of carbon-based nitride devices. We report a novel diffusion–adsorption regulation growth method in the epitaxy of AlN on graphene for high-quality and transferable large-size AlN films. Then, the growth mode of AlN on graphene is summarized in turn as diffusion-dominated, combined-effect, adsorption-dominated and decomposition-dominated. A high-quality and transferable AlN epitaxial layer was obtained by regulating the combination of graphene and AlN. Finally, a flexible 3 × 3 cm2 AlN film with an RMS of 0.748 nm was achieved. The proposed growth mechanism fills the gap in the study of the growth mechanism of AlN on graphene, and will help to explore new methods for the preparation of carbon-based nitride devices based on van der Waals epitaxy-transfer printing, realize substrate selection that does not rely on epitaxial relationships, and provide a revolutionary technology for the development of high-efficiency flexible devices.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated glycoprotein. There is increasing evidence that the OPN gene played a major role in the progression of solid organ tumors. However, few studies have clarified how OPN regulated the functional role of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study was designed to investigate the effect of OPN in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.First, we screened Eca-109 and KYSE-510 cells to construct OPN silencing and overexpression models. Endogenous OPN of Eca-109 and KYSE-510 were knocked down or overexpressed using small interfering RNAs. QRT-PCR, Western blot, flow cytometry, and CCK-8 were used to detect the function of Eca-109 and KYSE-510 cells. Tumor formation in nude mice was used to measure tumor growth after OPN inhibition.Eca-109 and KYSE-510 cells contain the si-OPN arrest cell cycle in the S-phase and increase apoptosis. These changes were OPN downregulation of the NF-This study contributed to understanding the vital role of OPN in ESCC development and progression. This could be a promising molecular target for developing new ESCC diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

The combination of herbicides with different modes of action has been adopted not only to improve weed control but also to increase the environmental sustainability of plant-protection products. In this study, we showed a synergistic effect of the auxin herbicide 2,4-D amine with the PSII-inhibiting herbicide metribuzin to control the global grass weed wild oat (Avena sterilis) population and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Pretreatment with 2,4-D amine did not change the foliar absorption of metribuzin but did increase metribuzin translocation to the roots and new leaves, although enhancement of the metribuzin metabolism was also observed. Considering that the expression level of the target site psbA gene is significantly higher in leaves than in roots, increased metribuzin translocation to new leaves is likely the major cause of the observed synergism, even though enhanced metribuzin metabolism may offset the metribuzin efficacy. This is the first report on the synergistic mechanism between 2,4-D amine and metribuzin in weed control.

The development of human cell-based systems to replace the use of rodents or the two-dimensional culture of cells for studying nephrotoxicity is urgently needed. Human urine-derived stem cells were differentiated into renal tubular epithelial cells in three-dimensional (3-D) culture after being induced by a kidney extracellular matrix. Levels of CYP2E1 and KIM-1 in 3-D organoids were significantly increased in response to acetone and cisplatin. This 3-D culture system provides an alternative tool for nephrotoxicity screening and research., Graphical Abstract

The emerging micro-nano-processing technologies have propelled significant advances in multifunctional systems that can perform multiple functions within a small volume through integration. Herein, we present an on-chip multifunctional system based on a 1T/2H-MoS2/graphene fishnet tube, where a micro-supercapacitor and a gas sensor are integrated. A hybrid three-dimensional stereo nanostructure, including MoS2 nanosheets and graphene fishnet tubes, provides K+ ions with a short diffusion pathway and more active sites. Owing to the large layer spacing of 1T-MoS2 promoting fast reversible diffusion, the on-chip micro-supercapacitor exhibits excellent electrochemical properties, including an areal capacitance of 0.1 F·cm−2 (1 mV·s−1). The variation in the conductivity of 2H-MoS2 when ammonia molecules are adsorbed as derived from the first-principles calculations proves the Fermi level-changes theory. Driven by a micro-supercapacitor, the responsivity of the gas sensor can reach 55.7% at room temperature (27 °C). The multifunctional system demonstrates the possibility of achieving a two-dimensional integrated system for wearable devices and wireless sensor networks in the future.

Background Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted intensive research interest in the biomedical field because of their unique properties. However, in order to realize the high loading capacity and therapeutic efficacy, it is still urgent to develop a multifunctional MOFs-based nanoplatform. Materials and methods Herein, a pH/near-infrared (NIR) dual-responsive drug delivery system based on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) is constructed for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy and dual-modal magnetic resonance (MR)/photoacoustic (PA) imaging. The doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is embedded into ZIF-8 through one-pot method, and the resultant ZIF-8/DOX is then successively modified with polydopamine, Mn ions and poly(ethylene glycol). The obtained ZIF-8/DMPP is systematically characterized, and both its in vitro and in vivo biological effects are evaluated in detail. Results The ZIF-8/DMPP possesses a high drug -loading content of 18.9% and displays appropriate size and morphology. The pH-dependent degradation and drug release behavior of prepared ZIF-8/DMPP are confirmed. Importantly, the results demonstrate that the photothermal effect of ZIF-8/DMPP under NIR laser irradiation can significantly accelerate its drug releasing rate, further improving the intracellular drug concentrations. Thereafter, the augmented chemotherapeutic efficiency by photothermal effect against cancer cells is verified both in vitro and in vivo. Besides, the favorable MR and PA imaging capacity of ZIF-8/DMPP is also evidenced on the tumor model. Conclusion Taken together, the surface engineering of ZIF-8-based nanocarrier in this work offers a promising strategy for the multifunctional MOFs-based drug delivery system.

Biallelic variants in Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) are the main pathogenic factor of congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD), including congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) and congenital unilateral absence of the vas deferens (CUAVD). However, there are few reports about the correlation between CFTR variant and outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in CAVD patients of China. In this study, 104 patients with CAVD were recruited in Central China, and provided gene detection by the whole-exome sequencing, among them 69% (72/104) carried at least one variant in CFTR and one carried adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2 (ADGRG2) variant. A total of 81 CAVD patients were treated with ART, of which 21 and 60 carried none or at least one variant in CFTR, respectively. The fertilization rate, cleavage rate, effective embryo rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate per fresh embryo transfer were compared between patients with and without CFTR variants. It was found that the ART outcomes had no significant difference whether the patients carried the CFTR variant or not. In addition, all of the offspring were healthy after follow-up. In conclusion, rare CFTR variants may play a major role in patients with CAVD in Central China, which were greatly different from other descent. There was no significant difference in ART outcomes in CAVD patients with or without CFTR variants. The limitations of this study were that there was no statistical analysis of the sperm quality through TESA and conclusions were relatively limited due to the small sample size of the study.

Background YABBY is a plant-specific transcription factor (TF) that belongs to the zinc finger protein superfamily and is composed of a C2–C2 domain at the N-terminus and a YABBY domain at the C-terminus. It plays a role in plant development and growth. Methods In this study, 20 YABBY TFs were identified in the wheat genome. Phylogenetic relationships, collinearity relationships, gene structures, conserved motifs, and expression patterns were analyzed. Results Twenty TaYABBY TFs were distributed unevenly on 15 chromosomes. Collinearity analysis showed that these genes have a close relationship with monocot plants. The phylogenetic tree of wheat YABBYs classified these TaYABBYs into FIL, YAB2, INO, and CRC clades. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses showed that they share similar components in the same clades. Expression profile analysis showed that many TaYABBY genes have high expression levels in leaf tissues and are regulated by abiotic stresses, especially salt stress. Our results provide a basis for further functional characterization of the YABBY gene family.

ObjectivesTo determine the influence of ethnic disparities, socioeconomic status (SES) and hukou on the incidence of scoliosis.MethodsWe enrolled 2,445 junior high school students (Han: 1,153; ethnic minorities: 1,292) aged 12–16 years from two schools in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from November 2020 to February 2021. We measured the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) using a scoliometer. Two-factor analysis of variance was used to comparatively analyze differences in the ATR according to ethnicity, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and SES between the groups. Associations between risk factors and scoliosis were estimated using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals with an unconditional multivariate logistic regression model for the two groups.ResultsAdolescents with Han ethnicity were more likely to have scoliosis than their ethnic minority counterparts (10.8% vs. 7.1%, P < 0.05). The ATR value in the Han group decreased with age whereas the minority group showed an upward trend (P < 0.05). The difference between ethnic groups was not significant, only at level 3. In particular, the ATR values among Han girls were significantly higher than those of ethnic minority girls (P < 0.05). Compared with Han adolescents, the BMI of ethnic minorities had a greater impact on the ATR. A statistically significant difference in SES was found between the two ethnic groups (P < 0.05). Hukou and parents' occupation had an important influence on the onset of scoliosis.ConclusionsHan adolescents had higher ATR values and were more likely to have scoliosis than ethnic minority adolescents in our study. Growth and development indicators (height and BMI) and differences in SES between the two groups played an important role.

Van der Waals heterostructure based on 2D materials is a promising technology for high-performance optoelectronic devices because of its tunable bandgaps and optical properties. However, photodetectors with a low dark current and a fast response speed commonly lose their photoresponsivity. The recovery current induced by the Schottky barrier height variation cancels out the device's reverse bias current in this paper, resulting in a quasi-vertical MoSe2 photodiode with ultralow dark current (2/graphene heterojunction, resulting in a fast response time of 1.5 ms and a high photoresponsivity of 19.72 A/W. Furthermore, the Au/MoSe2 forms a Schottky contact, which is asymmetrical to the Ohmic contact formed by the MoSe2/graphene, enabling the proposed device to achieve high-performance self-powered photodetection. Our work shows an alternative approach to improve the performance of future electronic and optoelectronic applications.

To explore the clinical feature and gene variant for two cases of primary male infertility caused by severe asthenospermia and to analyze the etiology of the disease.Genomic DNA of peripheral blood samples of patients and their parents was extracted and gene variant analysis of the patients was conducted by using whole exome sequencing. Suspected pathogenic variant was verified by Sanger sequencing and pathogenic analysis.Whole exome sequencing showed that the DNAH1 gene of patient 1 had two heterozygous variants of c.2016TG(p.Y672X) and c.6017TG (p.V2006G). The DNAH1 gene of patient 2 had a homozygous variant of c.2610GA(p.W870X), which were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. According to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics standards and guidelines, the c.2016TG (p.Y672X) and c.2610GA (p.W870X) varaints of DNAH1 gene were predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1+PM2+PM3+PP3).The two patients of multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella may be caused by DNAH1 gene variant, which has resulted in primary male infertility.

The intestinal flora is involved in the bone development of children through a variety of mechanisms, but it remains unclear whether intervention of the intestinal flora can enhance children's bone development.Six databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched for all English and Chinese studies published up to August 2021. Stata version 16.0 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) was used. Bone mass density and biochemical markers related to bone metabolism were reported as the primary outcome, and the secondary outcomes were anthropometric parameters such as height, height Z score for age, and height velocity. Intergroup differences were determined by standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).A total of 3245 participants from 20 RCTs and 370 participants from 8 crossover trials were included in the study. Significant differences were found in bone mineral density (SMD 0.47; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.66; p 0.001; IThis systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that intestinal flora intervention was an effective method of improving bone mineral density, serum calcium, and height in infants, children, and adolescents. Future studies with a larger sample size and longer intervention period are needed. The protocol of this systematic review was registered in PROSPERO and the registered number was CRD42021282606.

Two-dimensional (2D) release layers are commonly used to realize flexible nitride films. Here, high-quality, large-area, and transferable nitride films can be precisely controlled grown on O2-plasma-assisted patterned graphene. The first-principles calculation indicates that the patterned graphene introduced by O2 plasma changes the original wettability of sapphire and the growth behavior of Al atoms is related with layer number of graphene, which is consistent with experimental results. The as-fabricated violet GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) show high stability and high light output power (LOP). This work provides a general rule for the growth of high-quality and transferable III-nitride films on graphene from the atomic scale and provide actual demonstration in LED. The advantages of the proposed new growth method can supply new ways for electronic and optoelectronic flexible devices of group III nitride semiconductors.

Autotetraploid rice exhibited hybrid vigor and greater genetic variation compared to diploid rice, but low pollen fertility is a major hindrance for its utilization. Our previous analysis revealed that large number of pollen fertility genes were exhibited down-regulation in autotetraploid rice. Hence, it is of utmost importance to reveal the expression patterns of pollen fertility genes with high accuracy. To find stable reference genes for autotetraploid rice, we compared the pollen development stages between diploid and autotetraploid rice, and 14 candidate genes were selected based on transcriptome analysis to evaluate their expression levels. Autotetraploid rice (i.e. Taichung65-4x) displayed lower seed set (40.40%) and higher percentage of abnormalities during the pollen development process than its diploid counterpart. To detect the candidate reference genes for pollen development of autotetraploid and diploid rice, we used five different algorithms, including NormFinder, BestKeeper, ΔCt method, geNorm and Re-Finder to evaluate their expression patterns stability. Consequently, we identified two genes, Cytochrome b5 and CPI, as the best candidate reference genes for qRT-PCR normalization in autotetraploid and diploid rice during pre-meiosis, meiosis, single microspore and bicellular pollen development stages. However, Cytochrome b5 was found to be the most stably expressed gene during different pollen development stages in autotetraploid rice. The results of our study provide a platform for subsequent gene expression analyses in autotetraploid rice, which could also be used in other polyploid plants.

Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic disorder that is characterized by idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism associated with anosmia. Genetic variants in ANOS1 gene are the most common mutations associated with X-linked recessive form of KS. Canonical ± 1 or 2 splice site variants in ANOS1 have been described to be responsible for KS. Here, we identified a novel noncanonical splice site variant (c.1062+4TC) in ANOS1 gene in two siblings with KS by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Sanger sequencing showed this mutation was inherited from their mother, whose brother was a KS patient as well. Through the functional assay in vitro, we found that this mutation resulted in a 50-bp deletion of exon 7, which caused frameshift mutation leading to a premature termination of translation and a truncated anosmin-1 protein. Our results revealed that this noncanonical splice site variant is involved in KS. Thus, it is suggested that we should pay attention to the noncanonical splice site variants when using molecular genetic diagnostics of KS.

Environmental exposure to metals, including essential and nonessential elements, may be related to semen quality. Our goal was to explore the continuous relationship between seminal metals and sperm parameters. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) was applied to automatic selection criteria to ascertain the optimal smoothing degree. We recruited 841 male volunteers from Henan Province, China. Eighteen seminal metals, namely Al, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, As, Ni, Cd, Pb, Co, V, Rb, Ag, Ba, TI, Fe, and Li, and 21 semen parameters were detected. Seminal malondialdehyde (MDA) was also detected to express oxidative stress. We revealed a non-linear relationship of the vanadium and chromium exposure to semen parameters. There were inverse 'U' shapes found between seminal Cr and sperm concentrations, total sperm count, and semen quality. The best semen quality was observed when the seminal Cr concentration was 5.05 ppb, and an increase or decrease in chromium concentration led to decreased semen quality. The V concentration was associated with reduced sperm concentration, total sperm count, normal morphology, and progressive motility at high doses (V 0.58 ppb). Seminal MDA had a strong adverse association with sperm motility parameters, such as curve line velocity (VCL) (P 0.001), straight line velocity (VSL) (P = 0.004), velocity of average path (VAP) (P 0.001), and lateral head movement (ALH) (P = 0.001), whereas it was adversely associated with seminal Zn (β [95% confidence interval (CI)], -0.28(-0.41-0.16), P 0.001) after adjusting for confounding factors. Our findings represent the curves of the dose-response relationship between seminal Cr, seminal V, and semen quality, in which seminal MDA was a good indicator of sperm movement. These models provide new insight into the dose-relationship between metal exposure and semen quality, and further investigation is needed to validate this.

The combination of herbicides with different modes of action has been adopted not only to improve weed control but also to increase the environmental sustainability of plant-protection products. In this study, we showed a synergistic effect of the auxin herbicide 2,4-D amine with the PSII-inhibiting herbicide metribuzin to control the global grass weed wild oat (Avena sterilis) population and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Pretreatment with 2,4-D amine did not change the foliar absorption of metribuzin but did increase metribuzin translocation to the roots and new leaves, although enhancement of the metribuzin metabolism was also observed. Considering that the expression level of the target site psbA gene is significantly higher in leaves than in roots, increased metribuzin translocation to new leaves is likely the major cause of the observed synergism, even though enhanced metribuzin metabolism may offset the metribuzin efficacy. This is the first report on the synergistic mechanism between 2,4-D amine and metribuzin in weed control.

Improving the energy density of MXene micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) is still a challenge because the MXene nanosheets will easily agglomerate, leading to irreversible reduction of capacity. We present SiC/MXene heterostructure by ionization-bombardment assisted deposition synthesis. Under high voltage, C–C bond and Si-O bond are broken by electron bombardment. After arc sintering, C atom and Si atom form stable Si-C bond with lower bond energy, and then form SiC nanocrystals. Furthermore, SiC nanocrystals were patterned into mesoporous SiC nanonesh to enhance the specific surface area. The surface of SiC framework is full of charge, which makes the MXene nanosheets uniformly deposited and self-assembled to form heterostructure. SiC/MXene heterostructure has low barrier, strong bonding force and fast electron migration rate. SiC nanomesh provide a conductive network, and also serve as a framework to support the MXene film, increasing ion storage space, creating an interconnected path for the conduction of Na ions. The specific capacity of the MXene/SiC MSC is up to 97.8 mF cm−2 at a current density of 1 A cm−2. The fabrication of high-performance nanostructures leads to large-scale production and micro-energy storage devices.

An efficient Fe-catalyzed esterification of primary, secondary, and tertiary amides with various alcohols for the preparation of esters was performed. The esterification process was accomplished with FeCl3·6H2O, which is a stable, inexpensive, environmentally friendly catalyst with high functional group tolerance.

The emergence of visible light information transmission systems is profoundly affecting the future of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The complex sensing and driving circuits of the IoT have become the key factor to hinder signal conversion and processing. Herein, a high-performance self-variable-voltage light information transmission integrated system (SVV-LTS) is reported and its application potential in low-power, self-powered optical communication transmission systems is demonstrated. Diffusion-adsorption regulation growth method and laser induction technology are innovatively used to realize high-brightness light-emitting diode (LED) and flexible micro-supercapacitor (MSC) on graphene. Meanwhile, MSC realizes the dual functions of supplying power to the system, realizing pressure signal response, and converting pressure signals into electrical signals. Finally, the MSC as power, sensor and LED as signal transmitter are integrated into an SVV-LTS. The response time of SVV-LTS is 80 ms and the luminous wavelength fluctuation of the LED is stable at 1.2 nm. This study will provide a new approach to realize low-power optical communication transmission systems affecting the IoT technology.

Idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (INOA) is one of the most severe forms of male infertility, yet its pathophysiology remains unclear. WT1 (Wilm's tumor 1) regulates the polarity of Sertoli cells, thereby playing a critical, indirect role in spermatogenesis. Here, we evaluated WT1 gene variation associates with INOA by assessing its promoter and coding regions in 200 patients diagnosed with INOA and 200 proven fertile men. Three novel variants in the WT1 coding region were detected only in INOA patients, including two synonymous variants and one missense variant, p.Phe435Leu (p.F435L), which was predicted to be deleterious to protein function. The results of dual luciferase reporter showed that the WT1 p.F435L variant decreases transcription of COL4A1 and WNT4 promoters through a dominant-negative effect. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that COL4A1 and WNT4 promoter is directly bound by wild-type WT1 protein, but not the p.F435L WT1 variant. Thus, we identified a novel functional variant of WT1 functionally associated with INOA. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Background Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted intensive research interest in the biomedical field because of their unique properties. However, in order to realize the high loading capacity and therapeutic efficacy, it is still urgent to develop a multifunctional MOFs-based nanoplatform. Materials and Methods Herein, a pH/near-infrared (NIR) dual-responsive drug delivery system based on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) is constructed for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy and dual-modal magnetic resonance (MR)/photoacoustic (PA) imaging. The doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is embedded into ZIF-8 through one-pot method, and the resultant ZIF-8/DOX is then successively modified with polydopamine, Mn ions and poly(ethylene glycol). The obtained ZIF-8/DMPP is systematically characterized, and both its in vitro and in vivo biological effects are evaluated in detail. Results The ZIF-8/DMPP possesses a high drug -loading content of 18.9% and displays appropriate size and morphology. The pH-dependent degradation and drug release behavior of prepared ZIF-8/DMPP are confirmed. Importantly, the results demonstrate that the photothermal effect of ZIF-8/DMPP under NIR laser irradiation can significantly accelerate its drug releasing rate, further improving the intracellular drug concentrations. Thereafter, the augmented chemotherapeutic efficiency by photothermal effect against cancer cells is verified both in vitro and in vivo. Besides, the favorable MR and PA imaging capacity of ZIF-8/DMPP is also evidenced on the tumor model. Conclusion Taken together, the surface engineering of ZIF-8-based nanocarrier in this work offers a promising strategy for the multifunctional MOFs-based drug delivery system.

The effects of microstructures such as textures, grain boundaries, and second phases on the anisotropy of roll casting strips of cold rolled 3003 aluminum alloy were studied by OM, TEM, EBSD, and uniaxial tensile test. The results showed that the tensile strengths of the specimen along the rolling direction (RD), 45° direction to the RD (AD) and the transverse directions (TD) are 181.0, 159.1, and 190.0 MPa, respectively. Planar anisotropy indexes of up to 10.5 for the tensile strength seems attributable to textures S{123} and copper{112} in the strip. However, based on weighted calculations with a Schmid factor, the maximum strengthening effect appears along the RD caused by the textures, while less strengthening effect along the AD is less, and minimal effect along the TD. Band grains along the RD induce a higher grain boundary density as compared to the AD and TD. These band grains contribute to the maximum strengthening effect in the RD and the correspondingly lower strengthening in the AD. The anisotropy of 3003 aluminum alloy strips is related to the cooperative action of texture, grain boundary, and second phase.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with electrocatalytic properties have become the focus in the energy storage field. However, the storage ability of TMDCs is considerably limited by their poor electrical conductivity, because the lamellar structure tends to form irreversible agglomerates after several cycles. Herein, an ammonia-assisted synthesis of a gypsophila-like 1T-WSe2/graphene is conducted. Through adjusting different growth conditions, the gypsophila-like nanostructure is controllable. Electrochemical measurements indicated that gypsophila-like 1T-WSe2/graphene exhibits an outstanding specific capacitance of 1735 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, and the 1T-WSe2/graphene all-solid-state supercapacitor shows ultrahigh energy density (48.2 Wh kg−1 at 250 W kg−1). After research, ammonium stabilizes the 1T phase, and generates a small amount of ammonia bubbles in the alkaline solution to prevent the structure collapsing during the electrode operation. Furthermore, the performed experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that a decrease in the electron localization near the Fermi level of 1T-WSe2 enhances electrical conductivity, and the absorption capability of potassium by 1T-WSe2 is three times that of 2H-WSe2. The result shows the gypsophila-like 1T-WSe2/graphene is highly attractive for the development of advanced electrodes for energy storage devices.

TMDC have a unique layered structure that allows the insertion or extraction of various guest substances between layers, making them advantageous in energy storage. In this article, we demonstrate a sodium-intercalated electrode based on nanoflower 1T–2H MoSe2–graphene with an ultrahigh electrochemical performance for highly efficient energy storage applications. To increase the probability that ion insertion/extraction reactions occur inside the electrode material, we insert sodium ions into MoSe2–graphene material using a simple one-step hydrothermal method. Through density functional theory, we find that the insertion of sodium ions not only expands the distance between the layers to provide space for electrolyte ions but also moves the Fermi level closer to the conduction band, increasing the conductivity of MoSe2. The nanoflower structure provides a large specific surface area and increases the contact of ions with the surface of the material. The composite electrode has an ultrahigh capacity of 143.6 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. The all-solid-state supercapacitor makes with the composite electrode exhibits a superhigh power density of up to 3024 W kg−1.This study achieves an enhanced and efficient energy storage in a simple and direct way.

In this study, a facile strategy is reported to construct a multifunctional nanocarrier by in situ depositing metal organic framework (MOF) on core-shell gold nanorods-mesoporous silica nanoparticles (GNRs-MSNs). After further modification of hyaluronic acid (HA) on GNRs-MSNs-MOF, the obtained GNRs-MSNs-MA efficiently integrates targeted chemo-photothermal combination therapy and tri-modal magnetic resonance/computed tomography/photoacoustic (MR/CT/PA) imaging into a single platform. The proposed method is also applied to directly grow MOF shell onto core-shell structured MSNs with functional core of magnetic and upconverting nanoparticles. Specifically, GNRs-MSNs-MA exhibits the improved drug loading efficiency and near-infrared (NIR) laser-triggered drug release. The doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) loaded GNRs-MSNs-MA (DOX@GNRs-MSNs-MA) is demonstrated with excellent targeted ability toward cancer cells. Accordingly, upon NIR laser irradiation, DOX@GNRs-MSNs-MA also displays outstanding combined efficiency for killing the cancer cell in vitro and suppressing the tumor growth in vivo. The efficient in vivo MR/CT/PA imaging on tumor model is also confirmed. Overall, the fabrication of this multifunctional nanoplatform can provide some insights for integrating MOF with other nanocarriers to realize precise and efficient theranostics.