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Skyrmions with multiple helicity or topology in centrosymmetric crystals are intriguing magnetic-domain objects due to their diverse dynamics under external stimuli. Here we illustrate how the two key gradients of magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) and spin reorientation transition (SRT) affect the skyrmion formation and topology by Cu substitution in the biskyrmion-host MnNiGa alloy. The MCA and SRT are simultaneously tuned in a large scope, while the original high Curie temperature (${T}_{C}$) is retained. Detailed neutron-scattering studies revealed the construction of a noncollinear canted magnetic structure below the SRT temperature (${T}_{\mathrm{SR}}$), which effectively correlates the SRT with the evolution of the MCA, as well as the exchange interaction. The Cu substitution raises the ${T}_{\mathrm{SR}}$ to merge with the ${T}_{\mathrm{C}}$, and meanwhile, reduces the $c$-axis anisotropy. Lorentz transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of stacked biskyrmions from above room temperature to lower temperatures in $\mathrm{MnN}{\mathrm{i}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{u}}_{x}\mathrm{Ga}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}(x=0--0.3)$ in the presence of proper MCA. Micromagnetic simulations further confirmed the great effect of uniaxial anisotropy on the stabilization of biskyrmions. Our work has helped clarify the evolution of magnetic structures and their correlation to the SRT, providing an account of the effect of MCA and exchange interaction on the biskyrmion formation.

Rationale: Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMCs) can be usually discovered in the patients with mental retardation, infertile couples, and prenatal fetus. We aim to characterize the sSMC and explore the correlation between with sSMC and male infertility. Patient concerns: A 26-year-old Chinese male was referred for infertility consultation in our center after 1 year of regular unprotected coitus and no pregnancy. Diagnosis: Cytogenetic G-banding analysis initially described a mosaic karyotype 47,X,Yqh-,+mar[28]/46,X,Yqh-[22] for the proband, while his father showed a normal karyotype. The chromosome microarray (CMA) analysis showed there existed a duplication of Yp11.32q11.221, a deletion of Yq11.222q12, a duplication of 20p11.1 for the patient. Azoospermia factor (AZF) microdeletion analysis for the patient showed that he presented a de novo AZFb+c deletion. Fluorescence in situ hybridization further confirmed the sSMC was an sSMC(Y) with SRY signal, Y centromere, and Yq deletion. Interventions: The patient would choose artificial reproductive technology to get his offspring according to the genetic counseling. Outcomes: The sSMC in our patient was proved to be an sSMC(Y), derived from Yq deletion. The spermatogenesis failure of the proband might be due to the synthetic action of sSMC(Y) mosaicism and AZFb+c microdeletion. Lessons: It is nearly impossible to detect the chromosomal origin of sSMC through traditional banding techniques. The molecular cytogenetic characterization could be performed for identification of sSMC so that comprehensive genetic counseling would be offered.

The development of efficient and regenerable adsorbent coupled with advanced oxidation for enhanced thallium (Tl) removal has been a recent focus on wastewater treatment. In this study, a magnetite-based biochar derived from watermelon rinds was synthesized and used as a sustainable adsorbent and catalyst for hypochlorite oxidation and removal of Tl(I) from wastewater. The addition of hypochlorite substantially enhanced the Tl(I) removal under normal pH range (6–9). Maximum Tl adsorption capacity of 1123 mg/g was achieved, which is 12.3% higher than the highest value previously reported. The magnetic biochar can be regenerated using 0.1 mol/L HNO3 solution for elution in only 5 min, with a Tl desorption efficiency of 78.9%. The Tl removal efficiency was constantly higher than 98.5% during five consecutive recycle tests, indicating the effective reuse performance of the adsorbent. Oxidation, surface precipitation, pore retention and surface complexation were the main mechanisms for Tl(I) removal. The re-dissolution of Tl compounds and ion exchange of Tl cations with proton were the main mechanisms for adsorbent regeneration. Given the fast oxidation rate, high adsorption capacity, steady reusability and facile separability, this magnetic biochar-hypochlorite technique is a promising means for Tl(I) removal from wastewater. The catalytic hypochlorite oxidation induced by the magnetic biochar has also great potential to the effective removal of other pollutants.

Background Non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA), a serious phenotype of male spermatogenesis failure, is a multifactorial disease which is regulated by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Some gene structural variants have been demonstrated to be related to NOA. Loss‐of‐function mutations of KISS1R cause normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) which result in azoospermia at the pre‐testicular level. The objective of this research was to investigate genetic variants of KISS1R in NOA patients. Methods The entire coding region of 52 spermatogenesis‐associated genes (KISS1R included) was sequenced from 200 NOA patients. Mutation screening was performed to identify genetic variations of these genes by targeted exome sequencing. Sequencing data analysis was carried out by a series of bioinformatics tools. Candidate variants confirmation was performed by Sanger sequencing. Functional analysis of candidate variants was evaluated using SIFT and PolyPhen‐2. Results Three heterozygous missense variants in KISS1R were identified in three patients, respectively. No deleterious variations in other candidate genes were found in the three patients. Two of these three variants, p.A211T and p.G186E, had been reported in the ExAC and dbSNP database, respectively, while the other variant p.A301D was novel. These variants were all predicted to be likely pathogenic by in silico analysis. Conclusion Our study revealed three heterozygous missense variants in KISS1R which expanded the mutation spectrum of KISS1R in infertile men with NOA in the northeast of China.

Spatiotemporal monitoring of fuel moisture content (FMC) is vital to assessing the wildfire risk and its behavior. Optical remote sensing data-based FMC estimation have been wildly explored in previous studies. However, limited studies focused on FMC retrieval from the active microwave technique represented by synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, which processes the advantage of higher sensitivity to surface moisture and better all-weather and all-time work capability than optical data. This is the first study to assess the performance of time series dual-polarization Sentinel-1A data for FMC estimation from coupled the bare soil backscatter Linear Model and the vegetation backscatter Water Cloud Model. The results show that the simulated backscattering coefficients and FMC are in line with the measured Sentinel-1A data and FMC with R2 and RMSE are 0.549, 0.354 dB, and 0.543, 13.579 %, respectively.

Tianjin city, China has seen rapid urban expansion and economy development especially since the Chinese reform and opening up in 1978. Understanding their internal relationship is important for urban management. Considering of the long-history records with medium spatial resolution (30 meters), Landsat time series (LTS) has become a key remote sensing dataset for monitoring urban changes. As the impervious surface is an important indicator for assessing urban environment, in this study, we extracted the impervious surface maps in Tianjin between 1990 and 2017 based on LTS using a Continue Change Detection and Classification (CCDC) algorithm. On the other hand, we quantitatively explored the relationships between the impervious surface and Gross National Product (GDP). Results show that the impervious surface expansion in Tianjin experienced two stages between 1990 and 2017 with the area increased by 521.95 km2, and the correlation coefficient between the area of impervious surface and GDP value was as high as 0.9718.

BACKGROUND Genetic defects are commonly observed in infertile males, although the majority of cases remain idiopathic. In recent years, the relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and male infertility has received increasing attention. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE) using ligase detection reaction (LDR)-PCR. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective study was performed and we screened 4 ACE SNPs (rs4316, rs4331, rs4343, and rs4362) in 121 NOA cases and 256 control subjects by LDR-PCR. The relationship between SNPs and NOA was analyzed. RESULTS ACE SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P=0.089 for rs4331, P=0.089 for rs4343, P=0.089 for rs4316, and P=0.381 for rs4362). The allelic and genotypic frequencies of the 4 SNPs were not significantly different between cases and controls (P=0.123 for rs4331, P=0.123 for rs4343, P=0.123 for rs4316, and P=0.179 for rs4362). Haplotype analysis showed the existence of 3 haplotypes, TGAC, CAGT, and TGAT, which showed statistical significance of 0.889, 0.889, and 0.781, respectively, between cases and controls. CONCLUSIONS No significant association was found between ACE SNPs rs4316, rs4331, rs4343, or rs4362 and NOA in the Chinese Han population of Northeast China.

The release of heavy metals and metalloids (HMs), including Pb, Zn, Cd, As, and Cu, from two typical contaminated soils with different properties, namely red soil and limestone-dominated soil, was characterized through simulated-rainfall experiments in order to investigate the effects of soil properties on HM release. Significant differences in the HM concentrations between the two soils resulted in various concentrations of dissolved and particulate HMs in the runoff. Differences in the dissolved HM concentrations in the runoff were inconsistent with the HM concentrations in the soils, which is attributed to the variable solubilities of HMs in the two soils. However, the HM enrichment ratios were not significantly different. The strong correlation between dissolved organic carbon and dissolved HMs in the runoff, and between the total organic carbon and particulate HMs in sediments, were observed, especially in the limestone-dominated soil. The specific surface area and HM concentrations in sediments were weakly correlated. Acid-rainfall experiments showed that only the limestone-dominated soil buffered the effects of acid rain on the runoff, the concentrations of dissolved Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cu increased in the red soil under acid rainfall and were 60, 29, 25, and 19 times higher, respectively, than under the neutral conditions. The results contribute to the understanding of HM behavior in the two typical soils in southern China, exposed to frequent storms that are often dominated by acid rainfall.

Thallium (Tl) in industrial wastewater is a public health concern due to its extremely high toxicity. However, there has been limited research regarding Tl removal techniques and engineering practices to date. In this investigation, bench and pilot studies on advanced treatment of industrial wastewater to remove Tl to a trace level were conducted. The treatment process involved a combination of hydroxide precipitation, Fenton oxidation, and sulfide precipitation. While hydroxide precipitation was ineffective for Tl+ removal, it enabled the recovery of approximately 70%–80% of Zn as Zn hydroxide in alkaline conditions. The Fenton process provided good Tl removal (>95%) through oxidation and precipitation. Tl was then removed to trace levels (< 1.0 µg/L) via sulfide precipitation. Effective removal of other heavy metals was also achieved, with Cd< 13.4 µg/L, Cu< 39.6 µg/L, Pb< 5.32 µg/L, and Zn< 357 µg/L detected in the effluent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that Tl2S precipitate formed due to sulfide precipitation. Other heavy metals were removed via the formation of metal hydroxides during hydroxide precipitation and Fenton treatment, as well as via the formation of metal sulfides during sulfide precipitation. This combined process provides a scalable approach for the in-depth removal of Tl and other heavy metals from industrial wastewater.

To solve both the problems of P deficiency in arable soil and excessive waste sludge disposal, we evaluated hydrothermal carbonization of sludge with the aim of recycling sludge P resources for soil amendment. In contrast with pyrochars obtained through pyrolysis, hydrochars generated from hydrothermal carbonization often feature variable properties and therefore require detailed characterization. In this study, sludge-derived hydrochars were evaluated to determine their P content and fractionation, release and availability of P, and P adsorption and desorption behavior. We also assessed changes in P availability after soil was amended with the hydrochars. Our results showed that the chars were rich in total P (up to 25,175 mg kg), but most of the free fractions were transformed to bound fractions, thereby reducing the available P concentrations. However, available P content was >417 mg kg, which was far higher than soil demand. The hydrochars shifted from releasing to adsorbing P adsorbent when the environmental P concentration increased above 20 mg L. The hydrochars showed a high phosphate adsorption capacity (up to 23,815 mg kg) and the adsorbed P could be readily released. The addition of 1% P-laden hydrochar significantly enhanced the soil available P content by 8.93 mg kg. These findings have important implications for further development of hydrochar-based P carriers as a slow-releasing fertilizer.

In a new approach based on a two-step procedure, co-precipitation method followed by hydrothermal treatment in a microwave field, Zn-substituted Fe3O4 nanoparticles (ZnxFe3-xO4) were synthesized. Results of XRD, FT–IR and TEM analysis clearly demonstrate that nanoparticles were single phase, crystallizing in the spinel structure type (S.G. Fd3¯m) with crystallite size in the range of 2–20 nm, which strongly depends on Zn concentration. The produced nanoparticles were used for fabrication of modified carbon paste electrodes as a novel system for electrochemical non-enzymatic glucose detection. It was found that the increase of zinc concentration up to the value of x = 0.56 (Zn0.56Fe2.44O4) of as-prepared nanoparticles was followed with an increase of a performance of the modified carbon paste electrode toward glucose detection. Linear working range from 0.1 to 2 mM was obtained with detection limit of 0.03 mM, and with fast response time (

MnCoGe is one of the most representative materials that undergoes martensitic transformation in the MM′X system. Because the phase transition temperature of MnCoGe is higher than its magnetic ordering temperature, various methods have been used to decrease the phase transition temperature and realize magneto-structural coupling. However, there are rare reports about the effect of doping with rare-earth elements. In this work, the structures and physical properties of Mn1− x La x CoGe compounds with x =0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.05 were studied. The introduction of La causes a deficiency of both Mn and Ge atoms in the main phase, which leads to a decrease in the martensitic transformation temperature and the realization of magneto-structural coupling. However, due to its limited ability of deficiency formation, a further increase in the La content leads to large amount of secondary phase instead of a continuous decrease of the phase transition temperature. Additionally, the MnCoGe matrix is found to be divided into small “domains” by the needle-like secondary phase, which is the reason for the large amount of retained austenite phase in the sample with a high La content.

BACKGROUND In pregnant women with advanced maternal age (AMA) and fetuses with ultrasonographic (USG) soft markers it is always challenging to decide whether to implement chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) or not. It is unclear whether CMA should be used in the fetuses with isolated USG soft markers, and there is still a lack of extensive sample research. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 1521 cases in our research and divided them into 3 groups as follows: pregnant women with isolated AMA (group 1, n=633), pregnant women whose fetuses had isolated USG soft markers (group 2, n=750), and pregnant women with AMA whose fetuses had isolated USG soft markers (group 3, n=138). All pregnant women underwent prenatal ultrasound and amniocentesis, and fetal cells in the amniotic fluid were used for genetic analysis of CMA. All participants signed a written informed consent prior to CMA. RESULTS Abnormal findings were detected by CMA in 330 (21.70%) fetuses, including 37 (2.43%) clinically significant copy number variations (CNVs), 52 (3.42%) benign or likely benign CNVs, and 240 (15.78%) variants of unknown significance. The frequency of clinically significant CNVs in group 1 and group 2 were significantly lower than that in group 3 (2.37% and 2.0% vs 5.07%, P

Anisotropic nanocrystalline Sm0.6Pr0.4Co5 magnets were successfully prepared by spark plasma sintering hot pressing and hot deformation technique. The magnetic properties of the hot deformed Sm0.6Pr0.4Co5 magnet were optimized by adjusting the hot deformation temperature. The microstructure, c-axis texture, temperature stability and magnetic hardening mechanism of the optimized magnets were systematically studied. As a consequence, an unprecedentedly high energy product of 21.10 MGOe has been achieved in the single phase hot-deformed magnet, which is the highest value as ever reported, indicating the great application potential for extreme environments of hot deformed Sm0.6Pr0.4Co5 magnet.

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is an incomparable prenatal screening technology, but we should undergo amniocentesis to confirm fetal chromosome when pregnancies receive a positive result via NIPT. We aimed to investigate the detection rate and positive predictive value of NIPT results in pregnancies from Northeast China, and to determine the reasons for false positive and false negative NIPT results.This study evaluates 17,428 singleton pregnancies had undergone NIPT detection. 202 samples were NIPT positive with the detection rate was 1.16% (202/17,428). Among all the positive samples, 160 samples (79.21%) were referred for an amniocentesis procedure to investigate the fetal chromosome. The positive predictive value of T21, T18, and T13 was found to be 75% with a 0.07% false positive rate. Positive predictive value from high to low was as follows: trisomy 21 (84.38%), followed by trisomy 18 (61.54%), autosomal abnormalities (52.94%), sex chromosomal abnormalities (38.46%), and trisomy 13 (33.33%). The positive predictive values for sex chromosome abnormalities turned out to be mosaic sex chromosome aneuploidies (83.33%), followed by XYY (57.14%), XXY (37.50%), XXX (36.36%), and Monosomy X (28.95%). Out of the 160 samples had amniocentesis, the true positive cases in trisomy 21 had a higher percentage of Z-scores compared with the false positive cases in trisomy 21 (P

Keeping a high proportion of soft magnetic phase with small grain size and uniform distribution of soft and hard magnetic phase is the key factor to fabricate bulk nanocomposites. We report a novel design to fabricate high performance SmCo5/α-Fe nanocomposites by choosing nanoscale α-Fe flakes as raw material of soft magnetic phase instead of micron scale α-Fe particles. Microstructure optimization, i.e., fine and dispersive distribution of α-Fe grains in SmCo5 matrix, and high soft magnetic phase proportion up to 25 wt% were achieved simultaneously. As a consequence, the remanence, intrinsic coercivity, and maximum energy product rise by 13.55%, 46.99%, and 80.03% in the SmCo5/α-Fe nanocomposites with 20 wt% α-Fe, respectively. Moreover, a giant remanence of 9.75 kG is achieved in the SmCo5/α-Fe nanocomposite with 25 wt% α-Fe nanoflakes content.

As a promising energy conversion equipment, the performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) is affected by slow kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). It is of great significance to explore electrocatalysts with high activity for sustainable energy applications. Herein, we synthesize the in-situ grown carbon nanotubes decorated electrocatalyst derived from copper-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) co-doped with cobalt and nitrogen (CuCo@NCNTs) through straightforward immersion and pyrolysis process. The carbon nanotubes produced by metallic cobalt and high-activity bimetallic active sites formed by nitrogen doping enable CuCo@NCNTs to have the best oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance in alkaline electrolyte, with limit current density of 5.88 mA cm−2 and onset potential of 0.91 V (vs. RHE). Moreover, CuCo@NCNTs nanocomposite exhibits obvious antibacterial activity, and inhibiting the biofilm on cathode surface in antibacterial test and biomass quantification. The maximum power density (2757 mW m−3) of MFC modified with CuCo@NCNTs is even higher than Pt/C catalyst (2313 mW m−3). In short, CuCo@NCNTs nanocomposite can be an alternative cathode catalyst for MFC.

Trisomy 9p is one of the most common chromosomal partial trisomies in newborns. However, reports on prenatal 9p microduplications are rare in the clinic. This study aimed to examine the genotype–phenotype correlation and assess the clinical significance of 9p24.3 microduplication encompassing the DOCK8 gene. Eight pregnant women underwent amniocentesis for cytogenetic and genetic testing for various indications for prenatal diagnosis from January 2019 to January 2020. Chromosomal karyotypic analysis was performed on G-band metaphases that were prepared from cultured amniotic fluid cells. Chromosomal microarray analysis was carried out to detect chromosomal copy number variations. We also performed a literature review on clinical data on similar 9p24.3 microduplications to determine the genotype–phenotype correlation. We detected 123–248-kb microduplications in the region of 9p24.3 (chr9: 208454–469022), involving part of or the entire DOCK8 gene. The indications for prenatal diagnosis mainly focused on the risk of maternal serum screening for trisomy 21/18, advanced maternal age, and increased nuchal translucency. No evident structural abnormalities were observed for all fetuses, except for case 5 who presented with increased nuchal translucency in prenatal ultrasound findings. Follow-up of postnatal health was performed and showed no apparent abnormalities for cases 1 to 6 after birth. The parents of case 7 chose to terminate the pregnancy while the parents of case 8 chose to continue the pregnancy. We propose that 9p24.3 microduplications that encompass part of or the entire DOCK8 gene are variants that might be benign. However, further large-scale studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical pathogenicity. For prenatal cases with 9p24.3 microduplication, postnatal health and growth should be followed up and assessed regularly from childhood to adulthood.

Rationale Partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 6 syndrome is a rare chromosomal disorder with distinctive phenotypic expressivity, in which cytogenetic abnormalities are usually reported in infancy and childhood. Ultrasonographic findings on trisomy of the distal long arm of chromosome 6 in previous studies are limited. Patient concerns A 32-year-old, gravida 6, para 1, pregnant woman who had 4 spontaneous abortions underwent a clinical ultrasound examination at 26 weeks of gestation. Diagnoses Ultrasonographic findings were microcephaly, an acoustic image of a transparent septum, a flat nasal bridge, right pulmonary artery stenosis, and a single umbilical artery. Cytogenetic and single-nucleotide polymorphism array analyses were performed to estimate genetic factors of this diagnosis by amniocentesis. Interventions After genetic counseling, the patient and her husband opted to terminate the pregnancy. Outcomes Cytogenetic examination of the fetus showed the karyotype 46,XX,der(20)t(6;20)(q24;p13). The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array showed a 22.104-Mb duplication of 6q24.3q27 and a 0.784-Mb deletion of 20p13. Lessons Ultrasonographic findings of fetal abnormalities, including microcephaly, an acoustic image of a transparent septum, a flat nasal bridge, right pulmonary artery stenosis, and a single umbilical artery, may be related to a 22.104-Mb duplication of 6q24.3q27 and a 0.784-Mb deletion of 20p13. More ultrasonographic and genotype studies are required to extend the phenotypic characterization of partial trisomy 6q syndrome.

Rationale Chromosomal 3q deletion is a recurrent genomic alternation, which is rarely reported in clinic. Patient concerns A 27-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis for cytogenetic analysis and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis at 27 weeks of gestation, due to ventricular septum defect in prenatal ultrasound findings. Diagnoses G-banding analysis showed the karyotype of the fetus was normal and the couple also had normal karyotypes. However, SNP array detected a 1.71 Mb microdelection in 3q29, which was described as arr[hg19]3q29(194184392-195887205) × 1. There are 12 genes located in this locus. Interventions The couple refused SNP array to testify the 3q29 microdeletion was inherited or de novo and they chose termination of pregnancy. Outcomes The deleted region in the fetus overlapped with part 3q29 microdeletion syndrome, which was characterized by learning disability, speech delay, mental deficiency, ocular abnormalities and craniofacial features. In addition, no similar/overlapping 3q29 microdeletion cases were reported according to the published literature and database. Lessons For the chromosomal microscopic imbalances partially overlapping with the defined pathogenic syndrome, deleted/duplicated size, genetic materials and phenotypic diversity should be taken into consideration when genetic counseling is offered by the clinicians.

To create an energy–efficient heat pump latent heat thermal energy storage (HPLHTES) system, a novel sodium acetate trihydrate (SAT)–potassium chloride (KCl)–urea/expanded graphite (EG) composite phase–change material (CPCM) was developed in this study. EG was introduced into the base composite salt to prepare the novel CPCM, SAT–KCl–urea/EG. The thermal properties, crystalline phase, and morphology of the resulting CPCM were experimentally characterized. It was found that the SAT–KCl–urea/EG CPCM comprising 9 wt% EG was optimal for affording improved thermal–energy storage performance without compromising phase–change properties. The obtained CPCM exhibits an appropriate melting point of 47.5 °C and a high phase–change enthalpy of 200.3 kJ/kg. The thermal conductivity of the SAT–KCl–urea/EG CPCM was 1.48 W/m·K, approximately 5.3 times that of the SAT–KCl–urea composite salt (0.28 W/m·K). The required phase–change duration of the SAT–KCl–urea/EG CPCM was approximately 30% less than that of the SAT–KCl–urea composite salt. After 100 thermal–cycle tests, the SAT–KCl–urea/9 wt% EG CPCM retained a desirable phase–change temperature of 45.9 °C, high latent heat of 190.8 kJ/kg, and an acceptable supercooling degree of 1.56 °C. These thermal feature results showed that the SAT–KCl–urea/9 wt% EG CPCM exhibited great potential for use in the HPLHTES systems.

To improve the power generation of microbial fuel cell (MFC), the cathode is modified to increase its oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity by using Co/UiO-66, which derived from pyrolyzing the mixture of Co(NO3)2 as the metal precursor incorporated with NH2-UiO-66. It was found that Co/UiO-66 (MOF-900) has been developed as a high-performance electrocatalyst for ORR at a pyrolysis temperature of 900 °C. Therefore, Co/UiO-66 should be a promising oxygen reduction catalyst for application in MFCs. This study provides technical and theoretical validation for the MFC performance improvement by ORR active MOF-derived catalysts modified cathodes.

Algal-bacterial photo-bioelectrochemical system (ABPBS) operated with daily light/dark cycle provides a novel approach for sustainable treatment of wastewater through the uses of solar energy and bioenergy. However, it can not be effectively driven when the photosynthetic oxygen supply by algae at the cathode stops at night. In this study, a solar photovoltaic capacitor discharging was integrated into the ABPBS to achieve all-weather synchronous enhanced antibiotic and nitrogen removal from wastewater. The results showed that 3.3 F, 10 F and 100 F capacitor discharge increased the degradation rate of florfenicol (FLO) by 44%, 89%, and 582% at the anode, the removal rate of ammonia nitrogen by 20.4%, 39.8%, and 55.6%, the accumulated nitrate was decreased by 70.0%, 86.5%, and 93.3%, and the accumulated nitrite was decreased by 48.6%, 45.7%, and 87.1% at the biocathode, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the capacity of the capacitor and its ability to promote FLO degradation and nitrogen removal. The capacitor discharge promoted the photosynthetic oxygen release and biocatalytic oxygen reduction, and stimulated the growth of functional bacteria capable of degrading complex organics through extracellular electron transfer in the anode and diverse nitrogen removal bacteria in the cathode, but there were structural differences of functional bacteria groups induced by the different capacities of capacitor discharges.

Compared with conventional methods for organic pollutant degradation, photocatalysis is a promising treatment technology with broad application prospects. Bi2O2CO3 is often used for organic pollutants degradation but greatly restricted by having drawbacks of large band gap and high electron–hole recombination rate. Herein, heterostructured Bi2O2CO3 (BOC)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/polydopamine (PDA) (BGP) photocatalysts were first designed through a green chemical method. By incorporating rGO and PDA in BOC, the kinetic constant of BGP to catalytically degrade methyl orange (MO) was significantly increased; over fourfold elevated rather than that of BOC (kapp/BOC = 0.0019, kapp/BGP = 0.0089) due to the high electron transfer capability of rGO and superior adhesive force and semiconducting properties of PDA. DRS and photoelectrochemical results confirmed the improvement of the light absorption range and charge transfer capability because of the synergistic effect of rGO and PDA. Results of trapping experiment and ESR unraveled the catalytic mechanism that both holes (h+) and superoxide radicals (•O2−) were the main oxidative species for MO degradation. Economic assessment results demonstrated that Bi2O2CO3/rGO/PDA heterojunctions have great potentials in the field of organic wastewater purification. This study developed a low-cost and highly efficient BGP material and provided a deep understanding of the structure–performance relationships of materials for organic pollutant degradation.

Influence of anammox process on autotrophic denitrification was investigated in this study, during simultaneous ammonium, nitrate and sulfide treatment. Elemental sulfur production and nitrogen removal by sulfide-dependent denitrifier (S-den) and mixed culture (S-den-anammox) were compared. Accumulation of nitrite (100%) and elemental sulfur (46.3%) was achieved at pH 7.0 and 30 °C with S2O32−/NO3− ratio of 1:1 by autotrophic denitrifier. Enhanced elemental sulfur production (56.5%–99.5%) by autotrophic denitrifier was obtained after coupling with anammox process. Total nitrogen removal increased to 80.5% in mixed culture reactor, which was 72.0% in anammox reactor. N2O emission in anammox reactor was not affected (

The crucial role of biofilm and the stages of biofilm formation on the anode surface are very important for the energy recovery in the Microbial fuel cell (MFC) system. This research work intends to reveal three of our prime aims as follows, (i) to evaluate the efficiency of electroactive nature of Ochrobactrum sp JSRB-1 and Cupriavidus sp JSRB-2, (ii) to understand the relationship between electricity production and bacterial biofilm formation and (iii) to study the impact of different sizes of MFCs with and without proton exchange membrane (PEM). Our results clearly show that the genera belonging to the two isolates JSRB-1 and JSRB-2 were proved to be an excellent candidate for electricity production. Contrastingly, JSRB-2 shows a high electrochemical reaction than the JSRB-1. A fluorescence imaging high content screening system (HCS) indicate an increase in the content of biofilm formation and electricity production at every six hours of interval. The operation of triple anode MFC (TA-MFC) and dual-chambered MFC with and without PEM produced a maximum current density of 478.75 mA/m2 (2760 mV), 395.8 ± 40 mA/m2 (3698 mV), and 580 mA/m2 (1400 mV) respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed the formation of matured bacterial biofilm on the surface of the electrode. The TA-MFC with 3 x 600ml capacity able to power a three light-emitting diode for 25 days and successful powering of 3.5V motor by MFC#4 for 28 days is highly appreciated.

Rationale 15q11.2 microdeletion syndrome is a relatively rare chromosomal abnormality with incomplete penetrance and phenotypic variability. The reports on prenatal ultrasound abnormalities of fetus with 15q11.2 microdeletion are rare. Patient concerns A 30-year-old woman was referred for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis at 19 weeks of gestation because of increased nuchal translucency in prenatal ultrasound findings and a history of spontaneous abortion. Diagnoses The cytogenetic analysis showed the karyotype of the fetus was 46,XY, inv(4)(p15q31) and chromosomal microarray analysis detected a 0.512 Mb deletion in 15q11.2 region. We recalled the parents to determine the origination of these chromosomal abnormalities. Interventions The pregnant woman chose to continue the pregnancies and finally delivered a healthy male infant at 39 weeks. Outcomes The fetus inherited the inv(4)(p15q31) from his mother while the deletion in 15q11.2 was identified as de novo. Given the normal phenotype of the mother, it was reasonable to assume that the maternal inherited inv(4) in the fetus would not increase the risk of his abnormal phenotype. However, the pathogenicity of the microdeletion in 15q11.2 for the infant is unknown and long-term follow-up of progeny should be paid more attention. Lessons The combined application of traditional banding technique and molecular cytogenetic techniques can not only detect chromosomal structural abnormalities, but also identify the subchromosomal imbalances, which is beneficial to genetic counselling and would offer more guidance to prenatal diagnosis.

Rationale Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC) are structurally abnormal chromosomes, which can be detected in patients with developmental retardation, infertile problems, and prenatal fetus. We report 3 adult female with fertility problems carrying sSMC(14/22) and aim to explore the correlation between sSMC(14/22) and fertility problems in women. Patient concerns Three Chinese female patients were referred for infertility consultation in our hospital. Diagnoses The karyotype of these 3 patients were 47, XX, +mar. The chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) detected various chromosomal duplications and deletions in the 3 cases: a 0.49Mb gain of 5q32 for case 1; a 0.54Mb gain of 14q32.33 and a 1.83Mb gain of 16p11.2 for case 2; a 0.37Mb loss of 13q21.2q21.31 and a 0.12Mb gain of Xp11.2 for case 3. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using the specific probes for chromosomes 13/21, 14/22, and 15 was applied to identify the origination of these sSMC, which were all finally identified as sSMC(14/22). Interventions Case 1 underwent the artificial reproductive technology to get her offspring and finally delivered a healthy male infant at 39 weeks. Case 2 did not plan to choose in vitro fertilization (IVF) to get offspring. Case 3 refused to do assisted reproductive technology. Outcomes The genotype-phenotype correlation of sSMC(14/22) remain unclear. However, the existence of sSMC(14/22) might negatively affect the fertility ability in sSMC female carriers. Lessons The combined application of traditional banding technique and molecular cytogenetic techniques can better identify more details of sSMC. For sSMC carriers with fertility problems, they could get their offsprings through assisted reproductive technologies after comprehensive fertility assessment.

Ammonia is toxic and malodorous gas, which is emitted from agricultural and industrial sources. Most of known ammonia gas treatment methods share the disadvantages of expensive cost, by-product pollution and high energy consumption. In this study, an ammonia gas biotreatment method was developed, through simultaneous nitrification, anammox and denitrification process (SNAD) in a biofilter, which was expected to reduce operation cost, secondary pollution and energy consumption. Ammonia gas was converted to di-nitrogen gas (97.2–99.5%) and nitrous oxide (0.5–1.8%), with the highest ammonia loading rate of 0.173 gNH3/gVSS·d. Removed ammonia was taken up by both nitrification (70.6%) and anammox (29.4%) process. Anammox and denitrification process contributed to about 60% and 40% of di-nitrogen gas production in SNAD system, respectively. N2O emission might be caused by nitrification as well as denitrification processes, but not by anammox process in the reactor. TN removal efficiency achieved up to 99.4%, which suggested negligible leachate production in SNAD system for ammonia gas filtration. Anammox activity was not inhibited after introducing oxygen, which was most likely related to activity of oxygen-consuming ammonia oxidation, nitrite oxidation and denitrification. As far as know, this study is the first evidence for ammonia gas biofiltration with anammox-related technology, which might be a highly efficient and cost effective solution for ammonia gas removal with less energy consumption (

Rationale: This study aimed to report 1 family case with novel Y chromosome structural variations by an established next-generation sequencing (NGS) method using unique STSs. Patient concerns: The case studied was from a family with a father and son (the proband). G-band staining was used for karyotype analysis. Y chromosome microdeletions were detected by sequence-tagged site (STS)-PCR analysis and a new NGS screening strategy. Diagnoses: Semen analysis showed that the proband was azoospermic. The patient had an abnormal karyotype (45,X[48%]/46,XY[52%]). His father exhibited a normal karyotype. STS-PCR analysis showed that the proband had a deletion of the AZFb+c region, and his father had no deletion of STS markers examined. The sequencing method revealed that the patient had DNA sequence deletions from nt 20099846 to nt 28365090 (8.3 Mb), including the region from yel4 to the Yq terminal, and his father exhibited a deletion of b1/b3 and duplication of gr/gr. Interventions: The proband was advised to undergo genetic counseling, and consider the use of sperm from a sperm bank or adoption to become a father. Outcomes: The proband was azoospermic. AZFc partial deletions may produce a potential risk for large AZFb+c deletions or abnormal karyotypes causing spermatogenic failure in men. Lessons: The NGS method can be considered a clinical diagnostic tool to detect Y chromosome microdeletions. The partial AZFc deletions and/or duplications can be a risk of extensive deletions in offspring.

We have designed and prepared heterostructured (SmCo7/FeCo)/SmCo5 multicomponent magnets by high-pressure thermal compression. The coordination and interaction behavior of SmCo7/FeCo and SmCo5 phase regions during high-pressure thermal compression and magnetic reversal process were studied. The introduction of SmCo5 can improve the coercivity of the magnet. The heterostructured (SmCo7/FeCo)/SmCo5 magnet with 30 wt% SmCo5 content shows optimal magnetic properties with Mr of 10.3 kG, Hci of 6.0 kOe, and (BH)max of 16.7 MG Oe.

Rational design and assembly of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is an effective strategy to develop high-performance electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in the microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this work, a novel strategy to fabricate hierarchically porous bimetallic-carbon nanofibers (Mn–Fe@g-C3N4) via pyrolyzing Mn-doped g-C3N4 assisted Fe-based MOFs (MIL-101) is proposed. The Mn–Fe@g-C3N4 exhibits superior oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) onset potential (0.393 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and half-wave potential (−0.042 V vs. Ag/AgCl) under neutral condition, exceeding the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst. Mn–Fe@g-C3N4 displays a direct four-electron-transfer pathway, excellent stability and methanol tolerance in alkaline media. Mn–Fe@g-C3N4 cathode exhibits the ohmic resistance (8.07 Ω) and charge transfer resistance (5.44 Ω), which is slightly lower than Pt/C catalyst. Mn–Fe@g-C3N4 catalyst is an outstanding air-cathode in MFC with a power density of 413 ± 7 mW m−2, outperforms the MFC with 20 wt% Pt/C catalyst (333 ± 9 mW m−2). The outstanding catalytic activity for Mn–Fe@g-C3N4 is mainly due to 3D interconnected porous architectures, highly conductive framework and the synergistic effects between nitrogen and metal ion center. The present work not only provides an efficient conductive-skeleton-assisted synthetic strategy to construct high-performance electrocatalyst, but also improves the electrochemical performance of MOF-derived materials for practical MFCs application.

Introduction As one of the most common causes of male infertility, asthenozoospermia mainly shows low sperm motility, accounting for 81.84% of male infertility patients. Recently, there has been a notable increase for relationship between genetic testing and asthenozoospermia. In this report, we design to provide clues to prove relationship between dynein heavy chain gene 5 (DNAH5) gene alterations and asthenozoospermia. This also provides a reference for patients to choose a reasonable treatment plan or genetic counseling to assist reproductive reproduction. Patients concern In the present study, we screened 143 patients with asthenozoospermia for variants in DNAH5 gene. We used high-throughput targeted gene sequencing technology and the data were assessed by bioinformatics analysis. Diagnosis We found 1 of 143 asthenozoospermia patients was detected as carrying DNAH5 compound heterozygous variants (c.3502G>A and c.2578-11_2578-7del). Outcomes The variation c.2578-11_2578-7del was predicted in silico to not affect the splicing by HSF3. The variation c.3502G > A (p.E1168K) may cause disease by Mutationtaster software. They may contribute to a risk of male infertility in Chinese patients. Conclusions We discussed the possible association between mutations in DNAH5 and asthenospermia for the first time in Chinese people. If confirmed in larger samples and different races, this result was meaningful for a better diagnosis of asthenospermia patients.

Flue gas desulphurization (FGD) wastewater from coal-fired power plant contained sulfate, halogens, metals, metalloids and organics, which led to serious corrosion and environment pollution. For establishing intensive treatment of FGD wastewater, a mixed bacterial sulfate reducing consortium (MBSRC) was obtained from strain BY7 and SR10 sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). Intensively removal of SO42− (99 %), metals and metalloids (88–100 %), organics (97 %), F- (100 %) and Cl- (88 %) were achieved. Sulfate loading rate reached 0.71 kg SO42−/m3 d in the MBSRC reactor. In comparison with treatment of FGD wastewater by single strain SRBs, enhanced removal of organics, F- and Cl- (up to 58 %) were achieved by MBSRC. Since associative degradation of refractory organic compounds, only 4 out of 25 organics in FGD wastewater were residually detected after biotreatment by MBSRC, while at least 12 organics were existed after biotreatment by single strain SRBs. Intensively utilization of organics by MBSRC led to higher growth rate and cell density in the reactor, which enhanced biosorption of F- and Cl- consequently. Thus, this study established an potential biotechnology for FGD wastewater recycling.

The rapid development of Ce-based magnets has promoted the utilization of rare earth (RE) resources, yet the performance of Ce-based magnets is often undermined due to the easy formation of CeFe2 phase with a cubic MgCu2-type structure. In order to eliminate the CeFe2 phase, the La substitution on Ce in (LaxCe1-x)33Fe66B (x = 0,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,0.5) alloys is performed in this paper. It is found that partial replacement of Ce by La suppresses the emergence of the CeFe2 laves phase and promotes the formation of (La, Ce)2Fe14B phase. The inhibition mechanism is ascribed to the reduced phase stability of (Ce, La)Fe2 phase due to the partial replacement Ce by La, which is confirmed by our experiments and DFT (density functional theory) calculation results. Moreover, the La atom is prone to enter the lattice of (La, Ce)2Fe14B phase and expands the unit cell. Both the Curie temperature (Tc) and the saturation magnetization (Ms) of the alloy show a noticeable improvement because of this volume effect, which is consistent with our DFT calculations.

Introduction: The infertile male individuals carrying the Y-autosome translocations are seldom reported in clinic. Herein, we described a severe oligozoospermic male with rare unbalanced Y;3 translocation transmitted through 3 generations. Patient concerns: A 33-year-old Chinese male was referred for infertility consultation in our center after 10 years’ primary infertility. He was diagnosed as severe oligozoospermia according to the semen analysis. Diagnosis: G-banding analysis initially described the karyotype as 46, XY, add (3) (p26) for the patient, and his wife's karyotype was 46, XX. The chromosomal microarray analysis identified 3.81Mb and 0.29Mb duplications in Yq11.223q11.23 and Yq12, separately. No deletions were detected in azoospermia factors (AZF)a, AZFb and AZFc. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis further confirmed the existence of sex-determining region Y gene and verified that Yq12 was translocated to the terminal short arm of chromosome 3(3p26). Interventions: The couple chose intracytoplasmic sperm injection to get their offspring. The wife underwent amniocentesis for cytogenetic analysis but suffered termination of pregnancy due to premature rupture of membranes. Outcomes: The karyotype of the patient was finally described as 46, X, der(3)t(Y;3)(q11.22;p26). His father and the aborted fetus showed the same karyotypes as the patient. Conclusion: Our study not only enriched the karyotype-phenotype correlation of Y-autosome translocation, but also strengthened the critical roles of molecular genetic techniques in identifying the chromosomal breakpoints and regions involved.

The usage of efficient electrocatalyst in an appropriate way can significantly improve the oxygen reduction performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) cathode, which may accelerate its commercial application. In this work, isoreticular metal organic framework-3 (IRMOF-3) that modified with g-C3N4 and pyrolyzed at 850 °C (IR/CN-x%), exhibits a superior catalytic activity in alkaline electrolytes for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). At high temperatures, after zinc evaporation, IRMOF-3 converts to a metal-free carbon skeleton that has large specific surface area. As a nitrogen source and supporting template, g-C3N4 introduces more activated nitrogen, and forms a new metal-free hierarchically porous nitrogen-doped carbon structure. As-synthesized IR/CN-50% as cathode catalyst displays a half-wave potential of 0.89 V (vs. RHE) and limit current density of 6.35 mA cm−2 in 0.1 M KOH, which is superior to commercial Pt/C (0.86 V@5.51 mA cm−2). Furthermore, IR/CN-50% shows approximately four-electron pathway and a yield of less than 4% hydrogen peroxide. Results from electrochemical tests further confirm IR/CN-50% possesses better durability and higher methanol tolerance than Pt/C. Besides, MFCs modified with IR/CN-50% present maximum power density (1402.8 mW m−3) better than the MFCs equipping with Pt/C catalyst (1292.8 mW m−3), which is a promising alternative electrocatalyst for MFCs.

MnCoGe1-xVx (x = 0.005, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04) compounds were synthesized and investigated in view of the effect of transition metals on main-group-element sites to the magnetostructural transition. A small amount of V doping results in a decrease of the martensitic transformation temperature, while a further increase of V disturbs the Co-Ge bonds hence destabilizing the MM’X phase. Therefore, the transformation temperature returns to high temperature, and the expected Curie temperature window becomes incomplete. Accordingly, a large magnetic entropy change of about 10 J/kg·K and a refrigerant capacity of about 129.5 J/kg is obtained in the series.

Objective This study aimed to assess the value of measuring the tubule diameter during microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in predicting outcomes in patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS). Methods Fifty-six consecutive patients with SCOS were included. Patients were classified into two groups on the basis of the diameter of seminiferous tubules measured against 5/0 surgical suture (≥100 µm or Results The sperm retrieval rate (SRR) in men with a tubule diameter ≥100 µm was significantly lower than that in those with Conclusions The diameter of tubules is a useful predictor for a successful SRR in men with SCOS. Intraoperative assessment of homogeneous large tubules allows some men to perform a limited (superficial) contralateral micro-TESE after no spermatozoa are initially identified.

This study first examined the phase transformation in the reactive sintering systems of cadmium-laden industrial sludge and Al-Si-rich precursors with different Cd/Al/Si molar ratios under various temperatures. X-ray diffraction results indicated that the Cd started to be incorporated at 750 °C by kaolinite or mullite (calcined from kaolinite). Three hours of processing at 950 °C can effectively incorporate Cd into Cd-Al-Si or Cd-Si materials. The amount of CdO in the reactive systems had significant influences on the Cd incorporation behavior into crystalline phases. With a small amount of CdO, product phase CdAl2Si2O8 dominated in the systems. Systems with considerable CdO produced notable amounts of Cd2SiO4 and Cd3SiO5. The production of Cd2SiO4 and Cd3SiO5 from CdO + mullite was more significant than that using kaolinite due to the preferred reaction between CdO and SiO2. To assess the effect of metal stabilization, single-phase products that host Cd (namely, CdAl2Si2O8, Cd2SiO4, and Cd3SiO5) were obtained, maintained at pH 4.0, and subjected to a constant-pH leaching test (CPLT) for 120 min. CPLT results evidently indicated that these phases were remarkably resistant to substantial acid (nitric acid) attack; the leaching behavior of CdAl2Si2O8 was incongruent dissolution. Finally, cadmium can be effectively incorporated into CdAl2Si2O8, Cd2SiO4, or Cd3SiO5 by using sludge ash from a secondary sewage treatment works, suggesting that precursors enriched with Al and Si can be promising materials in a cleaner production process for treating cadmium-laden industrial sludge.

Trisomy 18p is a rarely observed chromosomal aberration. Only 31 cases have previously been described in the literature. Trisomy 18p is associated with mild to moderate phenotypic anomalies and intellectual disability. Here, we report on a pregnant woman in whom noninvasive prenatal testing indicated a high risk of fetal trisomy 18. Prenatal diagnosis and karyotyping of the parents were performed and demonstrated that both the mother and the fetus had a derivative chromosome 15 with a segment of unknown origin. Chromosomal microarray analysis and FISH revealed a 14.9-Mb duplication of 18p and detected 3 centromeres of chromosome 18. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting trisomy 18p due to an unbalanced translocation of 18p onto chromosome 15q showing 2-generation transmission. The results suggest that trisomy 18p can be considered a euchromatic variant.

Zhang, Z.; Han, T.; Zhang, H., and Yu, X., 2019. Heat transfer model of miniature heat pipe embedded in marine cabinet. In: Hoang, A.T. and Aqeel Ashraf, M. (eds.), Research, Monitoring, a...

In this study, new all-d-metal Heusler alloys Fe50−xCr25+xV25 (x = 0–25) were investigated on the behaviors of atomic configuration, lattice constant change, and ferromagnetism from the aspects of theoretical calculations and experiments. The theoretical calculations found that both end-member compounds Fe50Cr25V25 (x = 0) and Cr50Fe25V25 (x = 25) prefer to crystallize in Hg2CuTi-type (space group: 216) structure rather than Cu2MnAl-type (space group: 225) one. During the whole substitution process, the structure of Fe50−xCr25+xV25 alloys remains Hg2CuTi-type structure, taking the path from 216 to 216, but with different degrees of BC-site disorder. Both the experimental and theoretical results reveal that the lattice constant increases first, and then abnormally decreases, showing a maximum at Cr40, due to the enhanced covalent d-d hybridizations between the transition metals. The magnetic moment and Curie temperature tuned by Cr substitution vary remarkably between 3.3 and 1.15 μB/f.u. and between 700 and 170 K, respectively, which indicates that the Cr substitution for Fe alters the spin polarizations and exchange interactions in the system. These results provide new insights into the atomic configuration, magnetism and bonding effect in all-d-metal Heusler alloys based on the d-d hybridizations.

Rationale: The recently increased rate of heterotopic pregnancies (HPs) has been largely attributed to the increased use of assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs). HP is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. It is unusual in natural conception cycles, occurring in 1:10,000 to 1:50,000 pregnancies. However, with the increased use of ART such as in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF–ET), the incidence has risen to 0.5–1%. Patient concerns: Case 1 was a 28-year-old woman who presented to our center complaining of a sudden onset of right-side lower abdominal pain with a small amount of vaginal bleeding. She had undergone IVF–ET and received a thawed embryo transfer with two embryos 23 days previously. She had a history of right salpingectomy for an ectopic pregnancy during the downregulation of her ovulatory cycle 1 year ago. Case 2 was a 25-year-old woman who presented to our center complaining of a sudden onset of right-side lower abdominal pain. She had also undergone thawed embryo transfer following IVF–ET with two embryos 35 days previously. She had a history of right salpingectomy for an ectopic pregnancy 1.5 years previously. Diagnoses: Both patients were diagnosed as having a heterotopic pregnancy. Interventions: Patient 1 underwent emergency laparoscopy; patient 2 underwent emergency laparotomy and both were treated medically to prevent abortion of the intrauterine pregnancies. Outcomes: Patient 1 had an incomplete abortion and underwent uterine curettage on the day 10 after the operation. Patient 2 experienced no further complications during pregnancy and a healthy baby girl was born at the 38th gestational week. Lessons: Reproductive physicians need to pay more attention to patients who have received more than one embryo at transfer, especially those with a history of salpingectomy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, with characteristics of high morbidity and mortality. Identifying clinically practical targets and uncovering the potential mechanism for HCC were urgent for us. Though aberrantly expressed miR-99b-3p has been reported in several cancers, the expression and roles of miR-99b-3p in HCC remain uncovered. In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that miR-99b-3p was overexpressed in HCC by our findings and data from GEO datasets. Statistical analysis revealed that highly expressed miR-99b-3p was closely related to malignant clinicopathological characteristics and poorer prognosis of HCC patients. Furthermore, results from Wound healing assay, Transwell assays, 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay revealed that miR-99b-3p played a promoting role in migration, invasion and proliferation of HCC cells. Then, by bioinformatics tools, luciferase reporter gene assay, integrative database analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis and so on, protocadherin 19 (PCDH19) was identified as the target of miR-99b-3p in HCC cells. Furthermore, rescue experiments were conducted to confirm the mediator role of PCDH19 for miR-99b-3p. Collectively, we demonstrate that miR-99b-3p promotes HCC metastasis and proliferation by directly targeting PCDH19. MiR-99b-3p may become a potential therapy target for HCC.

High-concentration nitrogen removal coupled with bioelectric power generation in an algal-bacterial biocathode photo-bioelectrochemical system (PBES) was investigated. The PBES can self-sustaining operation with continuous power output under day/night cycle by alternately using photosynthetic dissolved oxygen and nitrate/nitrite as cathodic electron acceptors. The PBES generated a high maximum power of 110mw/m2 under illumination and relatively lower power of 40mw/m2 under dark. The bioelectricity generation was accompanied by high-concentration nitrogen removal in the algal-bacterial biocathode. The NH4 N was removed completely within 120 h while maximum NO3 N removal efficiency of 86% and maximum total nitrogen removal efficiency of 83% can be reached after 192 h at initial NH4 N concentration of 314 mg/L and NO3 N concentration of 330 mg/L. Combined processes of bioelectrochemical reduction and algal-bacterial interactions provided multiple approaches for nitrogen removal in the biocathode, including nitrifying using photosynthetic oxygen, bioelectrochemical denitrification using the cathode as electron donor, heterotrophic denitrification using photosynthetically produced dissolved organic matters as carbon source and algal-bacterial uptake. Accelerated nitrogen removal with simultaneously improved cathode performance was observed at high concentration of nitrogen and phosphate buffer due to enhanced algal activities for photosynthetic oxygen release and enhanced algal-bacterial interactions for nitrogen transformation. Addition of external organic carbon negatively affected nitrification and decreased cathode potential due to oxygen consumption by aerobic carbon oxidation but enhanced denitrification due to continuous release of high concentration of photosynthetically produced dissolved organic matters by alga. The PBEC was demonstrated as an energy-saving approach for high-strengthen nitrogenous wastewater treatment.

Graphene oxide (GO) was introduced to Enterococcus avium strain BY7 sulfate-reducing bacteria culture as a carrier, GO was partially reduced by SRB to reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The rGO could further self-assemble Enterococcus avium strain BY7 sulfate-reducing bacteria to form BY-rGO particles. Growth and sulfate reduction activity of strain BY7 was promoted by rGO, which probably due to the protective effect of rGO, and enhanced electron transfer by rGO as electron shuttle. Effects of pH and temperature variance on strain BY-rGO were remarkably weakened, growth and sulfate reduction were observed from pH 2.0 to 12.0, and from 10 to 45 °C, respectively. Metal toxicity to BY7 strain SRB was sharply decreased in BY-rGO particles and heavy metal removal was remarkably accelerated (up to 50%). The immobilization methods established in this study might open a new way for the application of SRBs, especially under extreme environmental conditions.

Only a few studies evaluate the presence of spermatozoa intraoperatively. The study aimed to assess whether the heterogenicity of testicular histopathology and seminiferous tubules can predict the outcome of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). The study comprised a retrospective analysis of 94 patients with azoospermia who were referred from 2016 to 2017. Under optical magnification, they were classified into 2 groups based on the diameter of tubules intraoperatively, namely homogeneous tubules and heterogeneous tubules. Postoperatively, patients were divided into 2 groups of heterogeneous histopathology and homogeneous histopathology according to the 8 histopathological classification subgroups. The sperm retrieval rate was the main outcome. Testicular spermatozoa were successfully retrieved in 27 men (28%). The sperm retrieval rate in those with heterogeneous histopathology was higher than men with homogeneous histopathology (47% vs 12%; P

Rationale: Infertile male carrying balanced translocations can be broadly divided into two types: pregestational and gestational infertility. Chromosome and breakpoints involved translocation should be considered in genetic counselling for these patients. To date, > 100 cases have been described with carrying balanced translocations involving chromosome 10 in fertile male. Patient concerns: We report 11 cases translocation carriers involving chromosome 10, and review 99 carriers of chromosome 10 translocation from reported literature. Diagnoses: Eleven cases of chromosomal translocation were diagnosed by cytogenetic analysis. Three of these men had azoospermia or oligozoospermia, while eight had normal semen. Of these latter cases, their partners were able to conceive, but had a tendency to miscarry or have a stillbirth. Interventions: Chromosome breakpoints should be considered in genetic counseling. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis should be performed to decrease the high risk of miscarriage and to minimize the genetic risks to offspring for patients with gestational infertility. Outcomes: The most common translocations and breakpoints were at t(4;10) and 10q24, observed in 12 and 10 patients respectively. Breakpoints at 10p15.1, 10p12, 10q10, 10q22.1, 10q24.2, and 10q26.3 were linked to pregestational infertility; breakpoints at 10p12.1, 10q11, 10q21.2, and 10q23.3 were associated with gestational infertility; the other breakpoints were connected with both forms of infertility. Lessons: Breakpoints at 10p12 and 10q26.3 were associated with pregestational infertility. Other breakpoints at chromosome 10 were correlated with gestational infertility. These breakpoints should be considered when counseling men with chromosome 10 translocations should be informed of their options.