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Guizhou and Yunnan Provinces (Yungui Plateau) in Southwestern China are well known as biodiversity hotspots. We introduce two new species in this study viz., Mucispora hydei (in Fuscosporellaceae, Fuscosporellales, Sordariomycetes) and Tolypocladium cucullae (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes) and six new records based on morpho-molecular analyses. Full descriptions, color photographs and phylogenetic trees to indicate the placements of new species are provided.

Bacterial infections, especially the frequently emerging “superbugs”, seriously affect the quality of human life and even threaten human health. As the emerging antimicrobial agents that effectively eradicate pathogens, nanomaterials have been widely explored due to their effectiveness against wide-spectrum bacteria and “superbugs”. Of them, Ag/AgX nanostructures (X representing Cl, Br or I) have emerged as an excellent antibacterial agent because of their excellent photocatalytic performance in inactivating pathogens under light irradiation, which provides a new opportunity for the development of high-efficient visible-light driven photocatalytic sterilization. To date, Ag/AgX nanostructures have been widely employed in antibacterial associated fields because they are efficient in producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive chlorine species (RCS) under visible light irradiation. In this review, we summarized the recent progress of Ag/AgX nanostructures as plasmonic photocatalysts in the antibacterial field, focusing on the antibacterial effects and mechanisms of Ag/AgX nanostructures, as well as their potent applications. Finally, the challenges and prospects of Ag/AgX nanostructures acting as active antibacterial agents were discussed.

To ascertain if assisted hatching (AH) increases the risk of placenta-associated diseases and perinatal outcomes after frozen–thawed cleavage-stage embryo transfer. We retrospectively evaluated 924 women who conceived with frozen–thawed cleavage-stage embryos transfer with (n = 390) or without (n = 534) laser-AH between 2013 and 2015. Data were obtained from the database on in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients in Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital. We assessed neonatal (preterm birth, low birthweight, fetal macrosomia, stillbirth) and obstetric (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, post-term pregnancy, gestational diabetes (GDM), preeclampsia, intrahepatic cholestasis (ICP), placenta previa, placental abruption, premature rupture of membranes) outcomes. In twins, the median birthweight was lower in the AH group than that in the control group, and the prevalence of low birthweight (

The metabolic cold-climate adaption hypothesis predicts that animals from cold environments have relatively high metabolic rates compared with their warm-climate counterparts. However, studies testing this hypothesis are sparse. Here, we compared gut microbes between two cold-climate lizard species of the genus Phrynocephalus to test the hypothesis that gut microbiota can help lizards adapt to cold environments by promoting metabolism and absorption efficiency. We kept lizards at 24°C and 30°C for 25 d, and then collected their fecal samples to analyze and compare the microbiota based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology. The gut microbiota was mainly composed of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia at the phylum level in both species (Proteobacteria > Firmicutes > Verrucomicrobiota in P. erythrurus, and Bacteroidota > Proteobacteria > Firmicutes in P. przewalskii). Further analysis revealed that the gut microbiota contributed to the host’s cold adaptation, but with differences in the relative abundance of these contributory bacteria between the two species. KEGG analysis revealed that the gut microbiota primarily played roles in metabolism, genetic information processing, cellular processes, and environmental information processing in both species. Furthermore, genes related to metabolism were more abundant in P. erythrurus at 24 °C than in other species × temperature combinations, indicating the role of gut microbiota in long-term cold-climate adaptation. Our finding that gut microbiome contributes to cold-climate adaptation in both species but more evidently in P. erythrurus using colder habitats than P. przewalskii throughout a year confirms the gut microbiota’s role in the cold-climate adaptation in lizards.IMPORTANCEThis study proves that temperature affects the composition and relative abundance of the gut microbiota in two Phrynocephalus lizards in a species-specific manner. Both species harbor specific gut microbiota with significant roles in cold-climate adaptation. Specifically, P. erythrurus has a higher Proteobacteria ratio and relative abundance of metabolism-related microbial genes in the gut than P. przewalskii. Given that P. erythrurus uses colder habitats than P. przewalskii throughout a year, these results suggest that gut microbiota contributes to cold-climate adaptation in both species lizards but more evidently in P. erythrurus. This study provides evidence linking gut microbiome with cold adaptation. The co-evolution mechanism between gut microbiota and their hosts in extreme environments will provide new insights into animal adaptation.

During the field studies, a Translucidithyrium-like taxon was collected in Xishuangbanna of Yunnan Province, during an investigation into the diversity of microfungi in the southwest of China. Morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU and ITS sequences revealed that the new taxon is a member of the genus Translucidithyrium and it is distinct from other species. Therefore, Translucidithyrium chinensesp. nov. is introduced here. The Maximum Clade Credibility (MCC) tree from LSU rDNA of Translucidithyrium and related species indicated the divergence time of existing and new species of Translucidithyrium was crown age at 16 (4–33) Mya. Combining the estimated divergence time, paleoecology and plate tectonic movements with the corresponding geological time scale, we proposed a hypothesis that the speciation (estimated divergence time) of T. chinense was earlier than T. thailandicum. Our findings provided new insights into the species of Translucidithyrium about ecological adaptation and speciation in two separate areas.

Numerous new taxa and classifications of Dothideomycetes have been published following the last monograph of families of Dothideomycetes in 2013. A recent publication by Honsanan et al. in 2020 expanded information of families in Dothideomycetidae and Pleosporomycetidae with modern classifications. In this paper, we provide a refined updated document on orders and familiesincertae sedisof Dothideomycetes. Each family is provided with an updated description, notes, including figures to represent the morphology, a list of accepted genera, and economic and ecological significances. We also provide phylogenetic trees for each order. In this study, 31 orders which consist 50 families are assigned as ordersincertae sedisin Dothideomycetes, and 41 families are treated as familiesincertae sedisdue to lack of molecular or morphological evidence. The new order, Catinellales, and four new families,Catinellaceae,Morenoinaceae NeobuelliellaceaeandThyrinulaceaeare introduced. Seven genera (Neobuelliella,Pseudomicrothyrium,Flagellostrigula,Swinscowia,Macroconstrictolumina,Pseudobogoriella, andSchummia) are introduced. Seven new species (Acrospermum urticae,Bogoriella complexoluminata,Dothiorella ostryae,Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus,Macroconstrictolumina megalateralis,Patellaria microspora, andPseudomicrothyrium thailandicum) are introduced base on morphology and phylogeny, together with two new records/reports and five new collections from different families. Ninety new combinations are also provided in this paper.

Two new fungal species, Phaeosaccardinula dalbergiae and Phaeosaccardinula yunnanensis collected from Yunnan Province, China are described based on morphology and molecular data. They are compared with related taxa of Phaeosaccardinula. Detailed description, illustrations and notes are provided for each species. Molecular analysis based on the phylogenetic tree of combined internal transcribed spacer and large subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences show that the two species form distinct clusters within the genus Phaeosaccardinula.

The class Dothideomycetes is the largest and most ecologically diverse class of fungi, comprising endophytes, epiphytes, saprobes, human and plant pathogens, lichens, and lichenicolous, nematode trapping and rock-inhabiting taxa. Members of this class are mainly characterized by bitunicate asci with fissitunicate dehiscence, and occur on broad range of hosts in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Since the last monograph of families of Dothideomycetes in 2013, numerous novel species, genera, families and orders have been discovered. This has expanded information which has led to the modern classification in Dothideomycetes. In this paper, we provide a refined updated document on families of Dothideomycetes with emphasis on Dothideomycetidae and Pleosporomycetidae. We accept three orders with 25 families and four orders with 94 families in Dothideomycetidae and Pleosporomycetidae, respectively. The new family Paralophiostomataceae is introduced in Pleosporales. Each family is provided with an updated description, notes, including figures to represent the morphology, list of accepted genera, and economic and ecological significances. We also provide an overall phylogenetic tree of families in Dothideomycetes based on combined analysis of LSU, SSU, rpb-2 and tefl sequence data, and phylogenetic trees for each order in Dothideomycetidae and Pleosporomycetidae. Family-level trees are provided for the families which include several genera such as Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae. Two new genera (Ligninsphaeriopsis and Paralophiostoma) are introduced. Five new species (Biatrisopora borsei, Comoclathris galatellae, Ligninsphaeriopsis thailandica, Paralophiostoma hysterioides and Torula thailandica) are introduced based on morphology and phylogeny, together with nine new reports and seven new collections from different families.

Tick fauna and zoogeographic distribution of Jiangxi Province remain largely unknown due to the lack of data on distribution, occurrence, and host associations of ticks. Considering this, we collected 1,817 individual samples from natural hosts, humans, and vegetation in 18 counties/districts throughout Jiangxi Province, China, from 2015 to 2021. These 1,817 individuals were found to 13 tick species, 4 genera, and 1 family. In addition, the tick sample data from 8 sampling localities (counties and districts) reported in previous studies were also included in our data. A total of 4,021 individuals, including our sample collection and the previously reported data, were assigned to at least 18 species, 6 genera, and 2 families. One newly recorded species Dermacentor sp. (near D. steini Schulze) was found; three misidentified species (Ixodes acuminatus, Haemaphysalis spinigera, and Haemaphysalis verticalis) reported previously were deleted; and one misidentified species Dermacentor auratus Supino was revised as Dermacentor steini Schulze. In addition, we divided the tick fauna in Jiangxi Province into 5 zoogeographic areas and assigned the 18 tick species collected from 26 localities to these 5 zoogeographic areas. To summarize, our findings provide valuable information on the distribution, tick-host associations, and zoogeographic division of ticks in Jiangxi Province, China. Their molecular characterizations, phylogenetic relationships, and tick-borne pathogens that they may transmit should be further explored.

The scaling problem in the water supply pipeline will increase the resistance coefficient of the pipeline and the pressure of the water supply pipeline, which will not only affect the operation safety of the water supply pipeline, but also cause energy waste. The scale in the pipeline will also enrich heavy metal ions and pathogenic microorganisms, affecting the safety of water supply water quality and causing secondary pollution of water quality. At present, a lot of research has been done on the composition structure and crystallization process of the scale. The study found that calcite is the main component of the scale; the scale process is a heterogeneous nucleation process induced by heavy metal particles and their corrosion products in the pipeline. The introduction of electrochemical detection technology, density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulation has greatly improved the accuracy and timeliness of water scaling conditions detection and realized the visualization of scaling mechanism. In this paper, the measurement methods of the scale in the water supply pipeline and the corresponding material composition and crystal structure characteristics are reviewed, and the mechanism of the scale and the water quality conditions are summarized. At the end of this paper, based on summarizing the existing water quality scaling tendency evaluation methods, it is proposed to establish a water quality potential scaling risk assessment framework based on Puckorius scaling index (PSI) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the future.

Micropeltidaceae species are flyspeck fungi which have been subjected to few systematic studies. We re-examined 27 genera which were accepted in the Micropeltidaceae and re-described them based on herbaria materials and protologues. Based on morphology and phylogenetic investigations, we transfer Micropeltidaceae to a new order, Micropeltidales (Lecanoromycetes). Genera with bluish or greenish upper walls (Dictyopeltella, Dictyothyriella, Dictyothyrina, Dictyothyrium, Haplopeltheca, Micropeltis, Scolecopeltidium and Stomiopeltopsis) are accepted in the new taxonomic concept for Micropeltidaceae. A molecular clock approach estimated the divergence time of the Micropeltidaceae crown group at 130 (165–104) Mya, which also supports its rank as an order (diverging from 220–100 Mya). The evolutionary histories between Micropeltidaceae species and host plants are interpreted by cophylogenetic analyses calibrated by their divergence times. The result indicates that the diversification of Angiospermae (130–80 Mya) fosters the formation of genera of Micropeltidaceae mainly via cospeciation events, and this codivergent period would be an important reference when establishing generic boundaries of epifoliar fungi.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or coordination polymers (CPs)-based phosphorescence materials may provide a powerful route for photoelectric and optical recording devices. Herein, two phosphorescence ligands, iso-phthalic acid (IPA) and 2-methylimidazole (MIM), were selected to construct an nonporous CP {Zn(IPA)(MIM)2} (1) with a long-lived phosphorescence lifetime up to 552 ms. By the doping of Eosin Y (EY) dye molecules under an in situ process, the phosphorescence emission color of 1 can be expressly tuned from green to red. The light-harvesting range can also be vastly broadened from the UV to the visible region (550 nm). Photoelectron measurements reveal that the synergistic effect of bias voltage and illumination can greatly restrain electron-hole recombination for the generation of additional free charges.

Background: Early cumulus cell removal (ECCR) in IVF may benefit from reducing potential detrimental exposure to free oxygen radicals (ROS) and other metabolic products which come from spermatozoa. While the other studies showed that EECR may be detrimental to embryo development and may break the important cross-talk between oocyte and cumulus cells during early embryos development. The effect of ECCR remains controversial to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of ECCR during human in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed between January 2011 and December 2019. The study enrolled 1,131 couples who underwent IVF treatment with ECCR. After propensity score matching at a 1:1 ratio, 1,131 couples who underwent overnight coincubation of gametes were selected. The main outcome measure was the cumulative live birth rate. Secondary outcome measures included the cumulative pregnancy rate, polyspermy rate, available embryo rate, miscarriage rate, malformation rate, time to live birth, and oocyte-to-baby rate. Findings: There were no significant differences found between the two groups in the polyspermy rate, available embryo rate, miscarriage rate, time to live birth, oocyte-to-baby rate, and neonatal congenital anomalies rate. The results of the study showed that ECCR was associated with a significantly higher cumulative live birth rate and cumulative pregnancy rate, along with a significantly lower fertilization rate. Interpretation: ECCR tended to confer increased cumulative live birth rate and had no negative effect on the neonatal malformation rate. Funding Information: This work was supported by the Shanghai Public Health Bureau. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The protocol of this study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Reviews Boards and Ethics Committee of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, China on August 15, 2019 (reference number: 2019-57).

Background Previous studies of the effect of early cumulus cell removal (ECCR) on clinical outcomes remain controversial. Some studies indicated that ECCR combined early rescue ICSI contributed to avoid total fertilization failure, while the other studies demonstrated that ECCR may be detrimental to early embryo development. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of early cumulus cell removal (ECCR) during human IVF. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed between January 2011 and December 2016. The study enrolled 655 couples who underwent IVF treatments with ECCR. After propensity score matching at a 1:2 ratio, 1310 couples who underwent overnight coincubation of gametes were selected. All data were obtained from the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital IVF patient database. The main outcome measure was the live birth rate and the secondary outcome measures were the normal fertilization rate, polyspermy rate, available embryo rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and malformation rate. Results No significant differences were found in the live birth rate (28.55% vs 28.4%; RR of 1.008; 95% CI: 0.869-1.170; p=0.916), clinical pregnancy rate (48.28% vs 45.16%; RR of 1.069; 95% CI: 0.951-1.202; p=0.268), implantation rate (32.67% vs 33%; p=0.896), miscarriage rate (13.33% vs 9.32%; RR of 1.43; 95% CI: 0.916-2.232; p=0.115), neonatal congenital anomalies rate (1.32% vs 1.01%; RR of 1.306; 95% CI: 0.315-5.417; p=0.713) or birthweight between the two groups. The study showed that ECCR was associated with a significantly lower fertilization rate (73.86% vs 80.12%; p=0.000), normal fertilization rate (2PN)(62.76% vs 69%, p=0.000) and available embryo rate (59.62% vs 62.29%, p=0.001). There were no significant differences in the polyspermy rate (11.10% vs 11.11%, p=0.982) and cleavage rate (93.93% vs 93.50%, p=0.279) between the ECCR group and traditional insemination group. Conclusions ECCR tended to confer increased risk of a lower available embryo rate but had no negative effect on the live birth rate or the neonatal malformation rate.

In this paper, a series of amphiphilic diblock polymers of poly(hydroxyethylacrylamide)- b-poly(1H,1H-pentafluoropropyl methacrylate) (PHEAA- b-PFMA) were grafted from silicon wafer via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). Surface wettability and chemical compositions of the modified surfaces were characterized by contact angle goniometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) respectively. Molecular weight and polydispersity of each block were measured using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The topography and the microphase separation behavior of PHEAA- b-PFMA surfaces were investigated by atomic force microscope (AFM). The results show that only when the grafting density (σ) and thickness of PHEAA brush were in the range of 0.9-1.3 (chain/nm2) and 6.6-15.1 nm, respectively, and the ratio of PFMA/PHEAA varied from 89/42 to 89/94, could the diblock copolymer phase separate into nanostructures. Further, the antiprotein adsorption performance of the modified surfaces against BSA, fibrinogen, and lysozyme was studied. The results indicated the modified surfaces could reduce the protein adsorption compared to the pristine silicon wafer. For Fibrinogen, the antiadsorption effect of PHEAA- b-PFMA-modified surfaces with microphase segregation was better than that of corresponding PHEAA modified surfaces. The results provide further evidence that surface composition and microphase segregation of fluorinated moieties of block copolymer brushes significantly impact protein adsorption behaviors.

In this paper, the hydrophilic p(N-hydroxyethylacrylamide) (PHEAA) brush was grafted from silicon wafer, followed by the decoration of C3F7 groups with low surface energy to the side chains of PHEAA brush. The anti-adhesion performance of the modified surfaces was evaluated using Actinomyces naeslundii and Streptococcus mutans. For 4 h incubation, the silicon wafer with PHEAA brush (Si-PHEAA) was able to resist the adhesion of bacteria, while the anti-adhesion of the PHEAA-C3F7 decorated silicon wafer (Si-PHEAA-C3F7) had been improved. When the incubation time was extended to 24 h, the Si-PHEAA-C3F7 still exhibited excellent adhesion-repellent property against bacteria. And among the Si-PHEAA-C3F7 surfaces with 2.6%, 9% and 13% grafting degrees of C3F7, there was no obvious difference in anti-adhesion performance. The results indicated that the method of polymerization prior to decoration is easy to operate, moreover the prepared Si-PHEAA-C3F7 possessed the long-term and high-efficiency anti-adhesion of bacteria ability.

Induced crystallization softening technology has been widely used in applied drinking water treatment projects. The application mode needs to be optimized to achieve the complete utilization of induced crystallization particles. Therefore, a series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the change in induced crystallization particles, water hardness removal and effluent characteristics. Subsequently, the main determinants and the corresponding optimal operating mode were discussed. The results showed an increase in particle size, reaction time, and a decrease in solution pH reduced the water hardness removal efficiency of reactor. More likely, bigger crystallization particles slow down the water turbulence, cause uneven mixing of softening agents, decline the solution pH, and eventually softening reaction stop. Until Ref / Rep decreases to 1, the particles will completely lose the ability to remove hardness. The initial particle size and the dosage of softening agents as well as accelerating the up-flow velocity employed in the system were found to be key factor for the time particles take to reach a critical size and terminal velocity that stops the reaction. Therefore, filling the smaller particles and gradually increasing the up-flow velocity of the system could prolong the lifetime of the particles in practical applications, improving the utilization efficiency of the unit volume. Furthermore, it optimizes the sand discharge cycle and produces safer waste residues.

In this paper, a novel hardware-oriented color image compression algorithm based on digital halftoning and block truncation coding (BTC) techniques is proposed for very large-scale integration (VLSI) implementation. The proposed technique consists of a threshold generator, a bitmap generator, a BTC training module, a predictor, and a signed Golomb–Rice coding module. Because the wireless camera network is developed for perceiving, measuring, and collecting information from the environment, each camera sensing node should be designed to achieve low cost, small size, high compression rates, and low power consumption. Hence, a novel low-complexity, high-performance, transform-free, hardware-oriented color image compression algorithm based on digital halftoning and BTC is proposed. In order to achieve the performance of compressing images in real time, the proposed color image compression algorithm was realized by a VLSI technique. The VLSI architecture in this work contains only 8.1-k gate counts, and the core area is 81,000 μm2 synthesized using a TSMC 0.18-μm CMOS process. The operating frequency of this work is 100 MHz and consumes 2.91 mW, which is efficient to develop wireless electronic systems with the demand of color image compression in real time. Compared with JPEG- and JPEG-LS-based designs, this work reduces gate counts by at least 71.1 % and power consumption by 53 % and only requires a one-line-buffer memory.

This paper provides recommendations of one name for use among pleomorphic genera in Dothideomycetes by the Working Group on Dothideomycetes established under the auspices of the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF). A number of these generic names are proposed for protection because they do not have priority and/or the generic name selected for use is asexually typified. These include: Acrogenospora over Farlowiella; Alternaria over Allewia, Lewia, and Crivellia; Botryosphaeria over Fusicoccum; Camarosporula over Anthracostroma; Capnodium over Polychaeton; Cladosporium over Davidiella; Corynespora over Corynesporasca; Curvularia over Pseudocochliobolus; Elsinoë over Sphaceloma; Excipulariopsis over Kentingia; Exosporiella over Anomalemma; Exserohilum over Setosphaeria; Gemmamyces over Megaloseptoria; Kellermania over Planistromella; Kirschsteiniothelia over Dendryphiopsis; Lecanosticta over Eruptio; Paranectriella over Araneomyces; Phaeosphaeria over Phaeoseptoria; Phyllosticta over Guignardia; Podonectria over Tetracrium; Polythrincium over Cymadothea; Prosthemium over Pleomassaria; Ramularia over Mycosphaerella; Sphaerellopsis over Eudarluca; Sphaeropsis over Phaeobotryosphaeria; Stemphylium over Pleospora; Teratosphaeria over Kirramyces and Colletogloeopsis; Tetraploa over Tetraplosphaeria; Venturia over Fusicladium and Pollaccia; and Zeloasperisporium over Neomicrothyrium. Twenty new combinations are made: Acrogenospora carmichaeliana (Berk.) Rossman & Crous, Alternaria scrophulariae (Desm.) Rossman & Crous, Pyrenophora catenaria (Drechsler) Rossman & K.D. Hyde, P. dematioidea (Bubák & Wróbl.) Rossman & K.D. Hyde, P. fugax (Wallr.) Rossman & K.D. Hyde, P. nobleae (McKenzie & D. Matthews) Rossman & K.D. Hyde, P. triseptata (Drechsler) Rossman & K.D. Hyde, Schizothyrium cryptogamum (Batzer & Crous) Crous & Batzer, S. cylindricum (G.Y. Sun et al.) Crous & Batzer, S. emperorae (G.Y. Sun & L. Gao) Crous & Batzer, S. inaequale (G.Y. Sun & L. Gao) Crous & Batzer, S. musae (G.Y. Sun & L. Gao) Crous & Batzer, S. qianense (G.Y. Sun & Y.Q. Ma) Crous & Batzer, S. tardecrescens (Batzer & Crous) Crous & Batzer, S. wisconsinense (Batzer & Crous) Crous & Batzer, Teratosphaeria epicoccoides (Cooke & Massee) Rossman & W.C. Allen, Venturia catenospora (Butin) Rossman & Crous, V. convolvularum (Ondrej) Rossman & Crous, V. oleaginea (Castagne) Rossman & Crous, and V. phillyreae (Nicolas & Aggéry) Rossman & Crous, combs. nov. Three replacement names are also proposed: Pyrenophora grahamii Rossman & K.D. Hyde, Schizothyrium sunii Crous & Batzer, and Venturia barriae Rossman & Crous noms. nov.

Study question Does brief incubation of oocytes and spermatozoa improve the live birth rate (LBR) of IVF when compared with that of standard incubation? Summary answer Brief incubation of gametes does not improve the LBR of IVF when compared with standard incubation. What is known already Some small randomized studies showed that brief incubation was associated with a significantly higher ongoing pregnancy rate than standard incubation. Study design, size, duration This is a randomized triple blind study of 320 infertile women for their first or repeated cycles undergoing IVF between September 2015 and October 2016. Participants/materials, setting, methods Women were randomized into the brief incubation group (n = 160) or the standard incubation group (n = 160) according to a computer-generated randomization list. Oocytes were incubated with spermatozoa (0.3-1.2 million motile sperm/ml) for 3-4 h in the brief incubation group while oocytes were incubated with spermatozoa at similar concentration for 20 h in the standard incubation group. The primary outcome was the LBR (a baby born alive after 22 weeks gestation) in the fresh cycle. Main results and the role of chance There was no significant difference in the LBR between the brief and standard incubation groups based on both intention-to-treat [33.0% (53/160) versus 36.8% (59/160), relative risk (RR) 0.898 (95% CI = 0.666-1.212), P = 0.482] and per protocol [41.4%(53/128) versus 41.0% (59/144), RR1.011 (95% CI = 0.760-1.343), P = 0.942] analyses. Clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, miscarriage, multiple pregnancy and implantation rates were comparable for the two groups. Similar results were found with subgroup analysis of advanced maternal age, abnormal semen analysis and repeated IVF cycles. No differences were observed in cumulative LBR between two groups. Limitations, reasons for caution Various motile sperm concentrations of 0.3-1.2 million per ml were used for insemination and the reactive oxygen species level in the insemination medium was not measured. The highest level at 1.2 million per ml is still relatively low compared to prior studies, therefore we do not know whether brief incubation can improve the LBR using higher concentrations of spermatozoa. The present sample size may not be adequate to detect a smaller difference in the LBR. Wider implications of the findings The present study demonstrated that a brief incubation of gametes had no significant beneficial effect on the LBR when compared with the standard incubation. The practice of brief incubation of gametes is not necessary and this can save the already tight manpower in many laboratories. Study funding/competing interests The study was supported by the Merck-Serono China Research Fund for Fertility Experts (2015), which was not involved in study design, execution, data analysis and manuscript preparation. There are no conflicts of interest for all authors. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02534857. Trial registration date 28 August 2015. Date of first patient’s enrolment 8 September 2015.

This work presented a highly efficient antibacterial Ti-surface which was grafted with poly(N-hydroxyethylacrylamide) (PHEAA) brush and further decorated with triclosan (TCS). The modified surfaces were characterized using contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared. The antibacterial performance of the modified surfaces was evaluated using the Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces naeslundii attachment test. The Ti surface with PHEAA brush (Ti-PHEAA) was able to resist the adhesion of the bacteria, while the TCS-decorated Ti surface (Ti-TCS) showed the capability of killing the bacteria adhered on the surface. As we coupled the TCS to the PHEAA brush, the surface showed highly efficient antibacterial performance due to the combination of the resistance to the bacteria adhesion and its activity of killing bacteria.

In this paper, a glucose and pH-responsive release system based on polymeric network capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) has been presented. The poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brush on MSN was obtained through the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) of t-butyl acrylate and the subsequent hydrolysis of the ester bond. Then the PAA was glycosylated with glucosamine to obtain P(AA-AGA). To block the pore of silica, the P(AA-AGA) chains were cross-linked through the formation of boronate esters between 4,4-(ethylenedicarbamoyl)phenylboronic acid (EPBA) and the hydroxyl groups of P(AA-AGA). The boronate esters disassociated in the presence of glucose or in acidic conditions, which lead to opening of the mesoporous channels and the release of loaded guest molecules. The rate of release could be tuned by varying the pH or the concentration of glucose in the environment. The combination of two stimuli exhibited an obvious enhanced release capacity in mild acidic conditions (pH 6.0).

This study observed the local tissue homogenates in rabbits with third lumbar vertebral transverse foramen syndrome and explored the mechanism of acupotomylysis in local tissue revascularization. Thirty Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into the following 5 groups of 6 rabbits each: normal, model, acupotomy, electroacupuncture (EA), and acupotomy-EA groups. All except the normal group were comprised of animal models of third lumbar vertebral transverse foramen syndrome prepared by embedding sponge in the left third lumbar transverse process. The rabbits in the acupotomy and EA groups underwent bilateral acupotomylysis intervention; those in the acupotomy-EA group underwent acupotomylysis and EA interventions. On the 28th day after modeling, the double-antibody ELISA was used to detect b-FGF and CD34 levels in the serum and homogenates of a muscle tissue sample from the left side of the third lumbar transverse process. The b-FGF levels in local muscle homogenates were significantly higher in the modeled rabbits than in the normal rabbits (P0.01), and the CD34 levels in the modeled group were significantly lower than in the normal group (P0.01). The b-FGF and CD34 levels in the EA, acutopomy, and acutopomy-EA groups were significantly lower than those in the modeled group (P0.01); the CD34 levels were significantly higher in the acupotomy-EA group than in the model group (P0.05); and the differences among the EA, acupotomy, and acupotomy-EA groups were not significant (P0.05). In conclusion, acupotomylysis regulates the levels of b-FGF and CD34 levels in serum and muscle tissue as well as local tissue revascularization.

A drug delivery system of dual-stimulated release of size-selected cargos from β-cyclodextrin-covered mesoporous silica nanoparticles was prepared. Calcein loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were capped by β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) through photocleavable moieties to control its release. Then the small size cargo p-coumaric acid (CA) was loaded. The cavity of β-cyclodextrin was blocked by ferrocene through the host–guest interaction between the ferrocene and β-cyclodextrin. The small cargo can be released by the escape of ferrocene under +1.5 V electro-stimuli. Calcein molecules could not pass through the cavity of the β-cyclodextrin due to its bigger size. The calcein was released from the MSN after the detachment of the β-cyclodextrin cap from the MSN surface with UV irradiation. Fluorescence spectra demonstrate that different sized cargoes were released successfully step by step under external UV-light and electro stimuli respectively.

A series of random copolymer brushes of acrylamide (AM) and 2-(perfluorinated hexyl)ethyl methacrylate (FMA) were grafted from initiator-functionalized silicon wafers by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The water contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize surface wettability, surface composition, and morphology of the surfaces modified with polymer brushes, respectively. The protein-resistance performance of the surfaces grafted with polymer brushes was evaluated using micro-BCA protein assay reagent. It was found that the random copolymer brushes with the optimal ratio of AM to FMA in monomers showed the best protein-resistance performance, however, the optimal ratio is different for resisting bovine serum albumin and human plasma fibrinogen adsorption. For resisting bovine serum albumin adsorption, the optimal ratio of AM to FMA in monomers is 1 : 3, while the optimal is 3 : 1 for human plasma fibrinogen adsorption resistance. The results provide further evidence that surface compositional heterogeneities and microphase segregation of fluorinated moieties of amphiphilic random copolymer brushes significantly impact protein adsorption behaviors.

In the decentralized economy, migrant workers, enterprises and local governments gradually differentiate into independent interest groups. In order to maximize economic benefits, enterprises and local governments may have negative effect on safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of migrant workers. This paper uses empirical data to explain the difference between various interest groups has the resources and the resulting different capabilities under the capability perspective, which results in inferior status of migrant workers in the interests of the game to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests. There formal relief channels and passive way to achieve the purpose of safeguarding the interests of migrant workers to safeguard the interests. Based on the above, this paper puts forward the policy recommendations.

This thesis is mainly about modifying PLA with PA6 as compatilizer and blending PLA with PA6. The alloying of PLA and PA6 can change the original fragility and mutability of PLA, and therefore improve its mechanical property. The blending of PLA into PA6 decreases the water absorbability and light resistance of PA6. Since PLA is of high cost, the blending of PA6 can lower the cost.

Mammalian proprotein convertases (PCs) play an important role in folliculogenesis, as they proteolytically activate a variety of substrates such as the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) superfamily. PC subtilism/kexin 6 (PCSK6) is a member of the PC family and is ubiquitously expressed and implicated in many physiological and pathological processes. However, in human granulosa cells, the expression of the PC family members, their hormonal regulation, and the function of PCs are not clear. In this study, we found that PCSK6 is the most highly expressed PC family member in granulosa cells. LH increasedPCSK6mRNA level and PCSK6 played an anti-apoptosis function in KGN cells. Knockdown ofPCSK6not only increased the secretion of activin A and TGFβ2 but also decreased the secretion of follistatin, estrogen, and the mRNA levels of FSH receptor (FSHR) andP450AROM(CYP19A1). We also found that, in the KGN human granulosa cell line, TGFβ2 and activin A could promote the apoptosis of KGN cells and LH could regulate the follistatin level. These data indicate that PCSK6, which is regulated by LH, is highly expressed in human primary granulosa cells of pre-ovulatory follicles and plays important roles in regulating a series of downstream molecules and apoptosis of KGN cells.