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Our previous study found that lncRNA gadd7 was up-regulated in the semen of varicocele patients, and could promote the apoptosis of mouse spermatocytes and inhibit their proliferation. Therefore, we further explored whether down-regulation of Gadd seven expression could protect the viability of spermatocytes. Here we designed specific sgRNAs targeting the ORF region of gadd7, and constructed a CRISPR-dCas9-KRAB system that effectively inhibits gadd7 at the transcriptional level. The CRISPRi system can effectively prevent the apoptosis of spermatocytes and enhance their proliferation, which is expected to provide a potentially effective molecular intervention method for the treatment of male infertility caused by varicocele.

The new ion-exchange oxy-sulfide material has a three-dimensional open framework comprising the pseudo-T4 supertetrahedral [In4Sn16O10S34](12-) cluster. This material has large pores and is a fast ion exchanger. It exhibits high selectivity in sequestering heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions including solutions containing heavy concentrations of sodium, calcium, ammonium, magnesium, zinc, carbonate, phosphate, and acetate ions. Moreover, the ion-exchange efficiency in competitive ion-exchange experiments involving mixtures of metal ions is significantly higher than for solutions of single metal ions.

alpha-Pinene is a natural and active monoterpene, which is widely used as a flavoring agent and in fragrances, pharmaceuticals and biofuels. Although it has been successfully produced by genetically engineered microorganisms, the production level of pinene is much lower than that of hemiterpene (isoprene) and sesquiterpenes (farnesene) to date. We first improved pinene tolerance to 2.0% and pinene production by adaptive laboratory evolution after atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) mutagenesis and overexpression of the efflux pump to obtain the pinene tolerant strain Escherichia coli YZFP, which is resistant to fosmidomycin. Through error-prone PCR and DNA shuffling, we isolated an Abies grandis geranyl pyrophosphate synthase variant that outperformed the wild-type enzyme. To balance the expression of multiple genes, a tunable intergenic region (TIGR) was inserted between A. grandis GPPSD90G/L175P and Pinus taeda Pt1Q457L. In an effort to improve the production, an E. coli-E. coli modular co-culture system was engineered to modularize the heterologous mevalonate (MEV) pathway and the TIGR-mediated gene cluster of A. grandis GPPSD90G/L175P and P. taeda Pt1Q457L. Specifically, the MEV pathway and the TIGR-mediated gene cluster were integrated into the chromosome of the pinene tolerance strain E. coli YZFP and then evolved to a higher gene copy number by chemically induced chromosomal evolution, respectively. The best E. coli-E. coli co-culture system of fermentation was found to improve pinene production by 1.9-fold compared to the mono-culture approach. The E. coli-E. coli modular co-culture system of whole-cell biocatalysis further improved pinene production to 166.5 mg/L.

Reactions of CuCl2, K2[Ni(CN)4]/K3[Co(CN)6], and 5-amino-1H-tetrazole led to cyanide-bridged mixed-valence Cu(II/I) complexes, [Cu(H2O)3Cu3(CN)5] (1) and [Cu(H2O)4][Cu4(CN)6] (2).The uncommon semi-closed {Cu2(CN)3} dimmers in 1 are bridged by μ3-C,C,N cyanide ligands to afford rare 1D centipedal-like chain motifs, which are further bridged by μ2-C,N and metalloligand “CN–Cu(4)–CN” to finish sophisticated zeolite-like 3-D structure. Topologically, 1 is the first example of uninodal 7-connected sev-like cyanide-bridged network. Compound 2 consists of two-dimensional honeycomb-related anionic layers [Cu4(CN)6]2 −, within which the [Cu(H2O)4]2 + cations are intercalated into alternate interlamellar space. Compound 1 shows antiferromagnetic couple arising from pure ground-state configuration of Cu(II) mediated by diamagnetic bridges –CN–CuI–CN −. The inclusion compound 2 shows blue photoluminescence originated from Cu(I) center to the unoccupied π* orbital of the cyanide ligand (MLCT) charge transfer.

Solvothermal reactions of metal salts, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole-5-carboxylic acid (H2atzc) and ammonium oxalate in different temperature produced two metal azolate frameworks, namely, [Cu3(atzc)2(atz)(ox)]·1.5H2O (1) and [Co5(atz)4(ox)3(HCOO)2]·DMF (2) (H2atzc=3-amino-1,2,4-triazole-5-carboxylic acid, Hatz=3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, and ox=oxalate), in which the atzc precusor was in situ decarboxylated. Structural determination reveals that 1 contains [Cu3(atzc)2(atz)]2− layers of mixed μ4-atzc and μ3-atz ligands, which are pillared by ox2− groups to form a 3D porous framework. Compound 2 contains 2D layers with basic spindle-shaped decanuclear units, which extended by ox2− and formates to form 3D porous framework. Gas adsorption investigation revealed that two kinds of frameworks exhibited selective CO2 over N2 sorption. Moreover, activated 2 shows H2 storage capacity. Additionally, magnetic properties of both the compounds have been investigated.

Purpose:To evaluate the epigenetic risk linked to assisted reproductive technology (ART) at single-embryo level by analyzing the methylation status of imprinted H19, PEG1, and KvDMR1 in human preimplantation embryos.Methods:A total of 254 human day 3 embryos produced by ART procedures were collected. All embryos were normally fertilized but unsuitable for transfer or freezing due to poor quality. Pyrosequencing with confirmatory routine bisulfite sequencing were used to determine the DNA methylation patterns of H19 differentially methylated region (DMR) in 63 embryos, PEG1 DMR in 65 embryos, and KvDMR1 in 67 embryos.Results:Aberrant methylation patterns were found in 8.0% embryos at H19 DMR, 16.9% embryos at PEG1 DMR, and 10.4% embryos at KvDMR1. No methylation errors were found in corresponding sperm samples.Conclusions:We hypothesized that the use of poor-quality embryos may increase the risk of imprinting defects because they might have methylation errors.

Low-carbon economy has become a development trend in the international energy sector. Our national electric power industry as a part of the energy sector has to change the power structure in order to follow this climate. In this paper, from the perspective of cost-benefits, based on the analysis of impact of the indicators of the power structure, we establish a index system of the planning low-carbon power structure. Combined with the method of analytic hierarchy process, we re-plan the traditional power structure. Finally quantify the distribution proportion of the thermal power, hydropower, wind power, nuclear power and solar power.

Objective To evaluate the epigenetic risk linked to assisted reproductive technology at oocyte level by analyzing methylation status of imprinted H19, PEG1 and KvDMR1 in human MII oocytes rescue-matured from MI/GV oocytes after long agonist stimulation. Study design 580 MI/GV oocytes from 275 patients receiving an ICSI procedure were additionally cultured for 24 h, and 221 rescue-matured MII oocytes were obtained. Pyrosequencing with confirmatory routine bisulfite sequencing were used to determine the methylation status of H19 DMR in 35 oocytes, PEG1 DMR in 47 oocytes, and KvDMR1 in 34 oocytes. Results Abnormal methylation status were found in 22.9% oocytes at H19 DMR, 17.0% oocytes at PEG1 DMR and 8.8% oocytes at KvDMR1 . Conclusion We hypothesize that the use of MII-rescue oocytes may increase the risk of imprinting defects because they might not have completed full imprinting programme.

The new ion-exchange oxy-sulfide material has a three-dimensional open framework comprising the pseudo-T4 supertetrahedral [In4Sn16O10S34]12– cluster. This material has large pores and is a fast ion exchanger. It exhibits high selectivity in sequestering heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions including solutions containing heavy concentrations of sodium, calcium, ammonium, magnesium, zinc, carbonate, phosphate, and acetate ions. Moreover, the ion-exchange efficiency in competitive ion-exchange experiments involving mixtures of metal ions is significantly higher than for solutions of single metal ions.

Background The role of cell-cycle protein cyclin D1 in lung cancer remains controversial. To clarify its impact on survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we performed a meta-analysis on the currently available medial literature to quantitatively assess its role on survival of NSCLC according to cyclin D1 status. Method Published studies that investigated the association between cyclin D1 expression and NSCLC survival were identified. Meta-analysis was performed by using a DerSimonian-Laird model. Funnel plot was used to investigate publication bias and sources of heterogeneity were identified by using meta-regression analysis. Result A total of 24 studies with 2731 patients were evaluable for this meta-analysis. No statistical significance was found that cyclin D1 expression was associated with poor prognosis in NSCLC (hazard ratio 1.08 [95% CI, 0.80-1.45]) without publication bias found. But there was significant heterogeneity present; meta-regression analysis was used to explore the sources of heterogeneity and revealed that the outcome of analysis was influenced by cutoff values and ethnicity. No difference between positive and negative studies on study quality assessment was present. Conclusion The cyclin D1 expression is unlikely to be useful as a prognostic marker for NSCLC in clinical practice from current evidence. The conclusion should be confirmed by a large well-designed prospective study.

Pear scab (Venturia nashicola Tanaka et Yamamoto or Venturia pirina Aderhold) is one of the most important diseases of pears. Two hybrids, 03-04-034 and 03-08-080, highly resistant to pear scab were selected from interspecific reciprocal crosses of Pyrus × bretschneideri cv. Yali and Pyrus × ussuriensis cv. Jingbaili. The content of salicylic acid (SA) and polyphenols in the leaves of 03-04-034 and a highly susceptible hybrid individual were tested by high-performance liquid chromatography. The two scab-resistant individuals 03-04-034 and 03-08-080 were backcrossed with both of their parents, and the progenies were used for inheritance analysis of the resistance trait. The results indicated that diseased and non-diseased progenies segregated qualitatively and that diseased was dominant over non-diseased. The ratio of diseased/non-diseased progenies in all of the backcross populations was not significantly different from 1 : 15 indicating the segregation of four major gene loci was involved in the variation of resistance in these hybrid populations. When susceptible subpopulations from the two crosses were assessed for the severity of infection as measured by the ratio of lesion area to total leaf area, resistance was identified as a quantitative trait. Endogenous SA content in the leaves was extensively induced as early as 3 h after inoculation of the highly resistant individual 03-04-034, but no significant change in leaf SA content was found in the highly susceptible individual 03-19-136. Polyphenolic compounds, such as phlorhizin, catechol, quercetin and rutin, began to accumulate in leaves of 03-04-034 several hours earlier than that 03-19-136. The lignin content increased 45 h after inoculation in the resistant individual 03-04-034, but not in the susceptible individual 03-19-136. These observations indicated that the genetic resistance to pear scab of this interspecific population was correlated to SA induction, earlier polyphenol accumulation and the subsequent lignification of leaf tissue.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have been shown to be associated with abnormal genomic imprinting, thus increasing the incidence of imprinting disorders such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and Angelman syndrome (AS) in ART-conceived children. Furthermore, a recent study described abnormal DNA methylation in clinically normal children conceived by ART. However, data from different studies are conflicting or inconclusive. This study examined DNA methylation patterns of multiple imprinted genes in children born after ART to primarily evaluate the impact of ART on genomic imprinting. A total of 101 newborns conceived by ART (40 ICSI and 61 IVF) and 60 naturally conceived newborns were involved in our study. After obtaining the approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee, umbilical cord blood was collected from each infant. Genomic DNA was isolated from each blood sample and treated using sodium bisulfite. Subsequently, using methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR), we analyzed six differentially methylated regions (DMRs) including KvDMR1, SNRPN, MEST, MEG3, TNDM and XIST. Meanwhile, information regarding twin pregnancies, gestational age, and birth weight of the neonates was documented. None of the cases presented with phenotypic abnormalities. Children conceived by ART were more likely to have low birth weight and to be born before term, compared with children conceived spontaneously. However, 7 months to 3 years of clinical follow-up showed that none of the children had clinical symptoms of any imprinting diseases. Furthermore, the MS-PCR results showed that all 161 children had normal DNA methylation patterns at six DMRs despite the different mode of conception. Our data did not indicate a higher risk of DNA-methylation defects in children born after ART. However, further studies using quantitative methods are needed to confirm these results.

Zooplankton cyclops propagates profusely in waterbody, cannot be effectively inactivated by conventional disinfection process, and becomes a troublesome drinking water treatment problem. In this work, the qualitative and quantitative experimental studies were carried out on inactivation of zooplankton cyclops using oxidants, such as chlorine (Cl2), chlorine dioxide (ClO2), ozone (O3), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ozone/hydrogen peroxide (O3/H2O2), chloramines (Cl2-NH3) and potassium permanganate (KMnO4). The influences of various factors include different oxidant dosages, organic substance contents and pH values. The results showed that currently available oxidants used all might inactivate cyclops in some extent. According to the experimental results, chlorine dioxide, ozone, ozone/hydrogen peroxide and chloramines can be selected as effective oxidants for inactivating cyclops because of their strong inactivation abilities. Then the synergic removal effects on cyclops with ozone, ozone/hydrogen peroxide pre-oxidation followed by conventional water treatment processes were investigated. The results showed that ozone and ozone/hydrogen peroxide pre-oxidation can inactivate cyclops effectively, which then can be removed thoroughly by conventional water treatment processes. Cyclops cannot appear in water after filtration with 1.65 mg/L of ozone and 6 mg/L of hydrogen peroxide, with the inactivation rate being 62% before conventional water treatment processes. Cyclops cannot appear in water after filtration with 1.8 mg/L of ozone, with the inactivation rate being 50% before conventional water treatment processes. For different oxidants, when removal rate was the best, the inactivation rate was not the same. These results may provide reference and model for actual waterworks.

A novel 2-D organic templated bismuth–oxygen compound (H2en)0.5[BiO(OH)2(H2O)] (1) (en = ethylenediamine) has been synthesized in the presence of ethylenediamine acting as a template under mild hydrothermal conditions. The structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and further characterized by IR spectrum, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence and thermogravimetric analysis. In the compound, the Bi atom was coordinated by eight oxygen atoms. The BiO8 polyhedra share edges or corners with their neighbors to result in an anionic inorganic layer with protonated ethylenediamine cations occupied between layers. At ambient temperature, 1 shows a blue emission band which may be assigned to the 1P1–1S0 transitions of the s2 electron of the Bi3 + ion. To our knowledge, 1 is the first example of layered bismuthate templated by an organic amine.

The new two-dimensional organically templated title compound is hydrothermally synthesized from a mixture of Bi(NO3)3, en, and H2O containing a small amount of HF (autoclave, 150 °C, 4 d, 42% yield).

To evaluate the effect of elevated basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on both the quantity and quality of oocytes and embryos and the clinical outcomes of pregnancy in women under 35 years of age.A retrospective analysis was conducted for inspecting 294 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles in women under 35 years of age. According to the basal FSH levels, the women were divided into groups A, B, and C with basal FSH of 10-14.99, 15-19.99 and ≥20 IU/L, respectively, to compare the average number of oocytes retrieved, morphologies of the oocytes and embryos, and clinical outcomes of pregnancy.Group A showed greater average numbers of oocytes collected, total embryos and good-quality embryos with a lower gonadotrophin dose required to achieve follicular maturity than groups B and C. The 3 groups showed no significant differences in the percentage of metaphase II oocytes, optimal embryos-blastomere number, normal fertilization rate, cleavage rate, good-quality embryo rate, implantation rate, pregnancy rates, live birth rate or miscarriage rate, but the pregnancy rates and live birth rate tended to decrease in women with basal FSH ≥15 U/L.In women below 35 years of age, an elevated serum FSH (especially one ≥15 U/L) indicates diminished ovarian reserve and reduced numbers of oocyte and embryo but not poor oocyte or embryos quality, and good clinical pregnancy rate can still be expected.

To study the value of basal antral follicle count (AFC) and age in predicting ovarian response and clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).A total of 1319 oocyte retrieval cycles in women with an AFC≤10 and complete IVF/ICSI cycles were analyzed retrospectively. According to the AFC, the patients were divided into groups A, B, and C with AFC≤4, of 5-7, and of 8-10, respectively, and each was further divided into38 years old group and ≥38 years old group. The oocytes retrieved, ovarian response, implantation rate, cancellations, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and live births were evaluated.As the AFC increased, the total gonadotrophin (Gn) dose increased and the follicles aspirated and oocytes retrieved decreased significantly (P0.001). Patients below 38 years of age had a lower total Gn dose and more follicles aspirated and oocytes retrieved than older patients. An AFC7 and age≥38 years was associated with significantly lower total Gn dose, greater number of follicles aspirated and oocytes retrieved, and lower pregnancy rate than an AFC≤7 and age38 years (P0.05). Bivariate correlation and linear regression analysis identified AFC as the best single predictor of ovarian response in IVF. The pregnancy rate differed significantly between the 3 groups, and older patients (≥38 years) had higher early miscarriage rate.Antral follicle count≤7 or age≥38 years old with AFC≤10 is the suitable threshold of diminished ovarian reserve in controlled ovarian stimulation for infertile women. Combination of AFC and age is the best predictor of ovarian response in IVF. Age has a better predictive value of pregnancy rate than AFC. AFC influences mainly the oocytes quantity, while age also affects oocyte quality.

Objective To evaluate the epigenetic risk linked to assisted reproductive technology (ART) by analyzing the methylation patterns of imprinted PEG1 gene in aborted human chorionic villus. Design Experimental research study. Setting Research laboratory. Patient(s) Four patients groups were tested: spontaneous abortion after ART (n = 44), multifetal reduction after ART (n = 22), spontaneous abortion of natural pregnancies (n = 45), and induced abortion of natural pregnancies (n = 47). Intervention(s) Methylation patterns of PEG1 in the aborted chorionic villus were determined. Main Outcome Measure(s) The DNA methylation patterns were analyzed using pyrosequencing and bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction. The percentage of methylation was compared in chorionic villus from the four experimental groups. Result(s) Regardless of conception method, the PEG1 methylation percentage in chorionic villus from spontaneous abortions was significantly higher than in villus from induced abortions and multifetal reduction. In the spontaneous abortions groups, the percent methylation of PEG1 was similar in the villus derived from ART and from natural pregnancies. The two fertilization methods (IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection) did not show significant differences either. However, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between PEG1 methylation percentage and rate of early spontaneous abortions. Conclusion(s) As some studies have suggested, imprinting errors of PEG1 may contribute to spontaneous abortion, but ART procedures might not increase the occurrence of aberrant PEG1 methylation patterns.

To investigate the technique of the suprameatal approach for cochlear implantation in Chinese profound sensory hearing loss children.Suprameatal approach for cochlear implantation were used in 50 cases (total 53 ears) with profound sensory hearing loss from May 2005 to January 2007. The electrode was passed through the suprameatal tunnel and went between the incus and chorda tympani into the scala tympani.Electrodes were completely inserted in 51 ears. There were no postoperative complications in all cases. Although the long effect need to be observed, all cases received better hearing and speech development benefit from cochlear implantation in the follow-up period. Among the 50 cases, 26 had speech perception in the open condition; 18 patients could speak short sentences although not clearly; and 6 patients learned to speak individual words only.The suprameatal approach was found to be a simple and safe technique that does not need mastoidectomy and avoid endangering the facial nerve and the chorda tympani. It enables wide exposure of middle ear and is especially suitable for cases with narrow facial recess or anteriorly located facial nerve.

To investigate the methods of preoperative diagnosis and differentiation of different pathological tissue in middle ear and mastoid.The temporal bone lamellar CT findings in 106 patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (including cholesteatoma) were retrospectively analyzed. The CT value of pathological tissue were measured for 183 times and were compared with the surgical findings and postoperative pathological findings to definitude the CT value range of different pathological tissue. Sixty patients taken from 106 patients at random were analyzed and made the diagnosis again by the same doctor team according to the CT value of the different pathological tissue and surrounding histoclasia resulted by pathological tissue. The diagnose accordance rate was compared with the routine diagnose report from radiology department. The predetective diagnosis was made in 10 patients with chronic suppurative otitis media according to clinical manifestation (pathological changes of tympanic membrane, nature of otorrhea, character of hearing), temporal bone lamellar CT finding (CT value of pathological tissue, surrounding histoclasia) to validate the value of this study for preoperative diagnosis and differentiation of different pathological tissue in middle ear and mastoid.The CT value of cholesteatoma, granulation tissue, cholesteatoma combined with granulation tissue, effusion, calcified tissue, thickened and polypoid membrane was respectively (46.6 +/- 10.3) Hu, (26.6 +/-7.4) Hu, (42.1 +/- 11.4) Hu, (- 24.6 +/- 9.2) Hu, (223.6 +/- 63.7) Hu, (23.8 +/- 8.5) Hu. The diagnose accordance rate in 60 patients who were analyzed and made diagnosis again according to the CT value of the different pathological tissue and surrounding histoclasia resulted by pathological tissue raised from 68. 3% to 81.7% ( P0.05) . The predetective diagnose accordance rate reached at 90% according to clinical manifestation, temporal bone lamellar CT.It was not reliable to diagnose and differentially diagnose different pathological tissue in middle ear and mastoid only by the CT value, however, the CT value could still be considered to be a very significant information. The accurate rates of diagnosis and differentiation of different pathological tissue in middle ear and mastoid obviously raised by synthetically analyzing various kinds of pathological tissues in middle ear and mastoid according to clinical manifestation, temporal bone lamellar CT finding.

In the HCl solution, selenium (IV) and excessive ascorbic acid (Vc) formed selenium(0), which homogeneously and steadily existed in liquid phase system. The Se(0) particles were aggregating spheres and their sizes were 26-243 nm from transmission electron microscope (TEM) and laser light scattering image. The nanometer Se(0) solution produced strongest resonance rayleigh scattering (RRS) at 470 nm. The intensity of RRS at 470 nm was linear with the concentration of Se(IV) in the range of 2.82 x 10(-9) -5.64 x 10(-6) g x mL(-1) (r = 0.997). Moreover, obvious Second-order scattering (SOS) and multiple frequence scattering (MFS) appeared at the same time.

The inactivation effects of ozone, hydrogen peroxide, O3/H2O2 processes on Cyclops of zooplankton were discussed. It was found that O3/H2O2 possessed more favorable inactivation effect on Cyclops compared with the others, in distilled water with 1.0 mg/L of O3 and 4 mg/L of H2O2 the inactivation effect was 100% after 30 min contacting; ozone also had favorable inactivation effect, the inactivation effect is 80% by 1.0 mg/L of ozone alone; while hydrogen peroxide didn't, there was almost no inactivation effect by 4 mg/L of H2O2. The best inactivation condition for O3/H2O2 processes, that was, two oxidants were added sequentially with interval in range of 30 to 60 seconds, for them ozone at first. And the influencing factors under various conditions such as the dose of hydrogen peroxide, organic substance content, pH value, etc. were researched and reported. It was found that the effect didn't changed largely with H2O2 on the range of 4 mg/L to 10 mg/L, and inactivation effects on Cyclops of O3/H2O2 were not sensitive to pH value, while it declined obviously as the organic content increased. Finally, synergic removal effect on Cyclops with O3/H2O2 preoxidation followed by clarification process was investigated. The results show that the removal effect on Cyclops is further strengthened by clarification processes after O3/H2O2 pre-oxidation.