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Humans can incorporate the xenoglycan N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) from the diet into reproductive tissues and secretions. Most humans also have circulating antibodies specific for this dietary xenoglycan. The potential for inflammation induced by incorporated Neu5Gc and circulating anti-Neu5Gc antibodies, termed xenosialitis, has been discussed as a factor influencing several human diseases. Potential effects of xenosialitis on human fertility remain unknown. Here, we investigate possible adverse effects of the presence of Neu5Gc on sperm or endometrium combined with anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in semen or uterine secretions in a mouse model. We use Cmah(-/-) mice, humanized for Neu5Gc deficiency. We find that the viability, migration, and capacitation of sperm with incorporated Neu5Gc are negatively affected when these are exposed to anti-Neu5Gc antibodies. In addition, we find that after copulation, activated uterine neutrophils and macrophages show increased phagocytosis of sperm in the presence of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies via the complement receptor 3 (C3R) and Fcγ I/II/III (Fc receptor). Furthermore, Neu5Gc in endometrial cells combined with the presence of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies alters the receptivity and decidualization of endometrial explants. These studies provide mechanistic insights on how Neu5Gc on sperm and/or endometrium combined with anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in semen and uterine fluid might contribute to unexplained human infertility.

Establishment of adequate levels of sialylation is crucial for sperm survival and function after insemination; however, the mechanism for the addition of the sperm sialome has not been identified. Here, we report evidence for several different mechanisms that contribute to the establishment of the mature sperm sialome. Directly quantifying the source of the nucleotide sugar CMP-beta-N-acetylneuraminic acid in epididymal fluid indicates that transsialylation occurs in the upper epididymis. Western blots for the low-molecular-mass sialoglycoprotein (around 20-50 kDa) in C57BL/6 mice epididymal fluid reflect that additional sialome could be obtained by glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored sialoglycopeptide incorporation during epididymal transit in the caput of the epididymis. Additionally, we found that in Cmah (CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase)-/- transgenic mice, epididymal sperm obtained sialylated-CD52 from seminal vesicle fluid (SVF). Finally, we used Gfp (green fluorescent protein)+/+ mouse sperm to test the role of sialylation on sperm for protection from female leukocyte attack. There is very low phagocytosis of the epididymal sperm when compared to that of sperm coincubated with SVF. Treating sperm with Arthrobacter ureafaciens sialidase (AUS) increased phagocytosis even further. Our results highlight the different mechanisms of increasing sialylation, which lead to the formation of the mature sperm sialome, as well as reveal the sialome's function in sperm survival within the female genital tract.

A catalyst‐free electrochemical alkylacetoxylation reaction of terminal alkynes with (thio)xanthenes and carboxylic acids is developed. Treating the addition products with K2CO3 as a base in methanol affords the ketones in moderate to good yields. Preliminary experimental and computational studies indicate that the benzylic cation generated from the (thio)xanthenes triggers the electrophilic addition to alkynes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the data of Sichuan Province from 2007 to 2021, the extreme climate events in Sichuan Province was identified by statistical method, and the coupling coordination degree of water resources-climate system and separate water resource system was analyzed. Based on the difference of coupling coordination degree under these two systems, the influence mechanism of extreme climate factors on the water resource system is analyzed. The results show that the extreme climate types in Sichuan Province gradually transition from extreme drought to extreme precipitation and from extreme low temperature to extreme high temperature. When climate factors are not considered, the coupling coordination degree of the water resource system is generally improved and the distribution is more concentrated. Moreover, the influence of climate factors on the water resource system is not a simple linear relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To describe and conclude the in vitro fertilization (IVF) results of patients with X chromosome abnormality. Methods: A retrospective case series was conducted. According to the number of normal X, patients were allocated into two groups: Group A (patients with only a normal X, while other X has any types of abnormalities) and Group B (patients have two or more normal X chromosomes). Clinical data, including basic information, fertility information, and IVF outcomes, were collected. Results: Fourteen patients with X chromosome abnormality were included, among which 13 patients underwent a total of 29 cycles. Patients in Group B had five successful pregnancies and three live births, while no patient in Group A had a clinical pregnancy. Furthermore, the blastocyst formation rate and incidence of pregnancy were significantly lower in Group A (Z = −3.135, p =.002; Z = −2.946, p =.003, respectively). When controlled covariates, the karyotype of one normal X was also a risk factor for both blastocyst formation rate and success pregnancy (β =.820, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.458–1.116, β =.333, 95% CI = 0.017–0.494, respectively). Conclusions: Our results revealed that women with only one normal X might suffer from worse IVF outcomes, mainly blastocyst formation rate, compared with those who had two or more normal X, including mosaic Turner syndrome and 47,XXX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem of trajectory tracking lateral control in autonomous driving technology, a model predictive control (MPC) controller trajectory tracking lateral control method combined with a deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm (DDPG) is proposed in this paper. This method inputs the real-time state of the vehicle into DDPG to achieve real-time automatic optimization of the prediction time domain and control time domain parameters of the MPC controller, and then affects the specific performance of the MPC controller in trajectory tracking lateral control. Specifically, the state space, action space, and reward function of DDPG are defined, and the automatic driving trajectory tracking lateral controller is designed in combination with the vehicle dynamics model. To reduce the exploration space of DDPG and improve the training efficiency of the entire model, the technique of advantage-disadvantage experience separation and extraction is introduced. Finally, the proposed method was trained and verified in various scenarios, and compared with two other lateral control methods for autonomous driving. The results showed that the learning and training time of the trajectory tracking lateral control method based on DDPG-MPC was shorter than that of the DDPG-based method, and the evaluation indicators in the trajectory tracking control process were better than those of the DDPG-based method and original MPC-based method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the leading gynecological cancer worldwide, yet current EC screening approaches are not satisfying. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and capability of DNA methylation analysis in cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) brush samples for EC detection. Methods: We used quantitative methylation-sensitive PCR (qMS-PCR) to determine the methylation status of candidate genes in EC tissue samples, as well as cervical Pap brushes. The ability of RASSF1A and HIST1H4F to serve as diagnostic markers for EC was then examined in cervical Pap brush samples from women with endometrial lesions of varying degrees of severity. Results: Methylated RASSF1A and HIST1H4F were found in EC tissues. Further, methylation of the two genes was also observed in cervical Pap smear samples from EC patients. Methylation levels of RASSF1A and HIST1H4F increased as endometrial lesions progressed, and cervical Pap brush samples from women affected by EC exhibited significantly higher levels of methylated RASSF1A and HIST1H4F compared to noncancerous controls (P <.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) analyses revealed RASSF1A and HIST1H4F methylation with a combined AUC of 0.938 and 0.951 for EC/pre-EC detection in cervical Pap brush samples, respectively. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that DNA methylation analysis in cervical Pap brush samples may be helpful for EC detection, broadening the scope of the commonly used cytological screening. Our proof-of-concept study provides new insights into the field of clinical EC diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]