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Purpose Characterization of the human microbiome has become more precise with the application of powerful molecular tools utilizing the unique 16S ribosomal subunit’s hypervariable regions to greatly increase sensitivity. The microbiome of the lower genital tract can prognosticate obstetrical outcome while the upper reproductive tract remains poorly characterized. Here, the endometrial microbiome at the time of single embryo transfer (SET) is characterized by reproductive outcome. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing euploid, SET was included in the analysis. After embryo transfer, performed as per routine, the most distal 5-mm portion of the transfer catheter was sterilely placed in a DNA free PCR tube. Next-generation sequencing of the bacteria specific 16S ribosome gene was performed, allowing genus and species calls for microorganisms. Results Taxonomy assignments were made on 35 samples from 33 patients and 2 Escherichia coli controls. Of the 33 patients, 18 had ongoing pregnancies and 15 did not. There were a total of 278 different genus calls present across patient samples. The microbiome at time of transfer for those patients with ongoing pregnancy vs. those without ongoing pregnancy was characterized by top genera by sum fraction. Lactobacillus was the top species call for both outcomes. Conclusions The data presented here show the microbiome at the time of embryo transfer can successfully be characterized without altering standard clinical practice. This novel approach, both in specimen collection and analysis, is the first step toward the goal of determining physiologic from pathophysiologic microbiota. Further studies will help delineate if differences in the microbiome at the time of embryo transfer have a reliable impact on pregnancy outcome.

Whistler‐mode chorus waves, characterized by repetitive frequency‐chirping elements, have traditionally been considered to be confined to near‐planet dipolar magnetic fields. In contrast to this long‐held belief, here we present the first observation of whistler‐mode chorus waves in the middle magnetotail beyond 20 RE from Earth, based on MMS measurements. These rising‐tone chorus waves exhibit significantly higher chirping rates compared to those in radiation belts. Using the PIC simulation, we demonstrate these chorus waves can be locally generated, driven by perpendicular flux anisotropy and magnetic field inhomogeneity inside the pileup region. This region, resembling a magnetic bottle, shares shape similarities with the inner magnetosphere but provides a much greater inhomogeneity, resulting in higher chirping rates. These discoveries provide new inspirations for the generation of chorus waves and may lead to new insights into their behavior in space. Plain Language Summary Chorus wave is a type of whistler‐mode wave that is known for the characteristic of repetitive rising‐ and falling‐tones frequency chirping. These waves are usually formed in regions close to planets where the magnetic field is shaped like a dipole. In our study, however, we observed chorus waves in the middle magnetotail, by using data from MMS spacecraft. These waves exhibit a much higher chirping rate than those found close to Earth. Using computer simulations, we show that the magnetic configuration in the flux pileup region is responsible for generating these chorus waves with high chirping rates. This region resembles a magnetic bottle, similar in shape to the inner magnetosphere, but with greater inhomogeneity, leading to higher chorus rates. Our study provides new inspiration for the study of chorus waves. Key Points We present the first observation of chorus waves in the Earth's magnetotail These rising‐tone chorus waves have a chirping rate much higher than those in radiation belts We conducted a 1D PIC simulation model to reconstruct the generation of chorus waves

Modern humans have occupied almost all possible environments globally since exiting Africa about 100,000 years ago. Both behavioral and biological adaptations have contributed to their success in surviving the rigors of climatic extremes, including cold, strong ultraviolet radiation, and high altitude. Among these environmental stresses, high-altitude hypoxia is the only condition in which traditional technology is incapable of mediating its effects. Inhabiting at >3,000-m high plateau, the Tibetan population provides a widely studied example of high-altitude adaptation. Yet, the genetic mechanisms underpinning long-term survival in this environmental extreme remain unknown. We performed an analysis of genome-wide sequence variations in Tibetans. In combination with the reported data, we identified strong signals of selective sweep in two hypoxia-related genes, EPAS1 and EGLN1. For these two genes, Tibetans show unusually high divergence from the non-Tibetan lowlanders (Han Chinese and Japanese) and possess high frequencies of many linked sequence variations as reflected by the Tibetan-specific haplotypes. Further analysis in seven Tibetan populations (1,334 individuals) indicates the prevalence of selective sweep across the Himalayan region. The observed indicators of natural selection on EPAS1 and EGLN1 suggest that during the long-term occupation of high-altitude areas, the functional sequence variations for acquiring biological adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia have been enriched in Tibetan populations.

Some studies have found a significant relationship between birth weight (BW) and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in adulthood, but results were inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to characterize the association between BW and the risk of CHD in adults. Among 144 papers detected by our search, 27 papers provided data on the relationship between BW and CHD, of which 23 papers considered BW as a continuous variable, and 14 articles considered BW as a categorical variable for this meta-analysis. Based on 23 papers, the mean weighted estimate for the association between BW and the combined outcome of non-fatal and fatal CHD was 0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.80–0.86] per kilogram of BW (P<0.0001). Low birth weight (LBW<2500 g) was associated with increased risk of CHD [odds ratio (OR), 1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11–1.27] compared with subjects with BW⩾2500 g. LBW, as compared with normal BW (2500–4000 g), was associated with increased risk of CHD (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08–1.25). High birth weight (HBW⩾4000 g) was associated with decreased risk of CHD (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81–0.98) compared with subjects with BW<4000 g. In addition, there was an indication (not quite significant) that HBW was associated with a lower risk of CHD (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.79–1.01), as compared with normal BW. No significant evidence of publication bias was present. These results suggest that LBW is significantly associated with increased risk of CHD and a 1 kg higher BW is associated with a 10–20% lower risk of CHD.

Control of the radiative properties of functional molecules near metals is a key issue in nano-optics, and is particularly important in the fields of energy transfer and light manipulation at the nanoscale 1 , 2 and the development of plasmonic devices 3 , 4 , 5 . Despite the various vibronic transitions ( S 1 (v′) →  S 0 (v)) available for frequency tuning of fluorescence, the molecular emissions near metals reported to date have been subject to Kasha's rule, with radiative decay from the lowest excited state ( S 1 (0)) (refs  6 – 10 ). Here, we show resonant hot electroluminescence arising directly from higher vibronic levels of the singlet excited state ( S 1 (v′ > 0)) for porphyrin molecules confined inside a nanocavity in a scanning tunnelling microscope, by spectrally tuning the frequency of plasmons. We also demonstrate the generation of unexpected upconversion electroluminescence. These observations suggest that the local nanocavity plasmons behave like a strong coherent optical source with tunable energy, and can be used to actively control the radiative channels of molecular emitters by means of intense resonance enhancement of both excitation and emission. Nanocavity plasmons are exploited as a coherent optical source with tunable energy and to actively control the radiative channels of molecules. Intense resonance enhancement of both excitation and emission, in an effect called resonant hot-electroluminescence, is demonstrated for porphyrin molecules confined inside a nanocavity.

The characteristics of hiss‐like and discrete (rising and falling tones) whistler‐mode waves in the lower‐band wave frequency range (0.1–0.5 of equatorial electron gyrofrequency) are investigated using waveform data from near‐equatorially orbiting multiple THEMIS spacecraft outside the plasmasphere. Statistical results show that wave polarization properties of hiss‐like emissions are similar to rising tones, but are significantly different from falling tones. The magnetic wave amplitudes of hiss‐like bands and rising tones are generally larger than those of falling tones. Wave normal angles of broadband hiss‐like emissions and rising tones tend to be quasi field‐aligned, whereas falling tones are very oblique. Importantly, discrete emissions including rising and falling tones are predominantly observed in the region of lowfpe/fce(the ratio of plasma frequency to electron gyrofrequency), whereas hiss‐like bands alone preferentially occur in the region of highfpe/fce. These important features of hiss‐like and discrete whistler‐mode emissions should be considered when evaluating their interactions with energetic electrons. Key Points Hiss‐like band and rising tones have similar polarization properties Falling tone is oblique, but hiss‐like band and rising tone are field‐aligned Discrete (hiss‐like) emissions prefer to occur at low (high) fpe/fce

This paper reports a comparative experimental study of single jersey knitted fabrics made from a novel bio-based and degradable polylactide acid/poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PLA/PHBV) multi-filament yarn, together with polylactide acid , Cupro, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide 6 (PA 6) multi-filament yarns. Their structures, mechanical, thermal and surface properties and performances as well as anti-bacterial behavior are measured and compared. It has been found that the polylactide acid/poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PLA/PHBV) filament yarn has adequate thermal and mechanical properties for normal textile and coloration/finishing processes. The Young's modulus of polylactide acid/poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PLA/PHBV) multi-filament yarn is the lowest among all the candidates investigated except for polyamide 6 (PA 6). The dyed polylactide acid/poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PLA/PHBV) fabric has the highest softness rating among all the fabrics. Single jersey knitted fabrics from the polylactide acid/poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PLA/PHBV) filament yarn have a bursting strength, extension and recovery that satisfy the industrial requirement. In addition, after fully relaxation, the dyed polylactide acid/poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PLA/PHBV) knitted fabrics exhibit an outstanding pilling resistance, favorable snagging property, as well as good air permeability, Qmax and smoother surface. Finally, this study has led to a discovery of excellent anti-bacterial performance of 100% polylactide acid/poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PLA/PHBV) fabrics against staphylococcus aureus, klebsiella pneumoniae, candida albicans according to AATCC100-2012.

Theta oscillations are implicated in regulating information flow within cortico-hippocampal networks to support memory and cognition. However, causal evidence tying theta oscillations to network communication in humans is lacking. Here we report experimental findings using a closed-loop, phase-locking algorithm to apply direct electrical stimulation to neocortical nodes of the hippocampal network precisely timed to ongoing hippocampal theta rhythms in human neurosurgical patients. We show that repetitive stimulation of lateral temporal cortex synchronized to hippocampal theta increases hippocampal theta while it is delivered, suggesting theta entrainment of hippocampal neural activity. After stimulation, network connectivity is persistently increased relative to baseline, as indicated by theta-phase synchrony of hippocampus to neocortex and increased amplitudes of the hippocampal evoked response to isolated neocortical stimulation. These indicators of network connectivity are not affected by control stimulation delivered with approximately the same rhythm but without phase locking to hippocampal theta. These findings support the causal role of theta oscillations in routing neural signals across the hippocampal network and suggest phase-synchronized stimulation as a promising method to modulate theta- and hippocampal-dependent behaviors. Closed-loop brain stimulation of the human hippocampal theta rhythm produces lasting enhancement of network communication. This implicates theta rhythms in human hippocampal network communication and provides a possible route to memory modulation.

This study aimed to investigate the current status of sleep quality and explore the associations between chronic pain, sleep quality, and coping strategies in older adults living in rural areas of China, a topic of growing interest and importance in gerontology and public health. This was an observational, cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of Chinese older adults from a rural community in Northern Anhui, China, conducted from September to December 2023. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic items, chronic pain (visual analogue scale, VAS), coping strategies (Coping Strategies Questionnaire-Revised, CSQ-R), and sleep quality (Athens Insomnia Scale, AIS). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, Stepwise multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis were used to analyze the data. A total of 158 participants (48.7% female) were included in the study. Most participants (73.4%, n = 116) reported poor sleep quality. The regression model revealed significant associations between sleep quality and chronic pain (Beta = 0.599, t = 9.99, p < 0.001) and praying as a way of coping (Beta = 0.165, t = 2.72, p = 0.007). The model explained 46.5% of the variance in sleep quality (p < 0.01). Mediation analysis indicated that chronic pain had an indirect effect on sleep quality via praying, even after controlling for covariates (B = 0.137, 95% CI = 0.0614, 0.2227). This study displayed a significant association between chronic pain, coping strategies, and sleep quality in Chinese older adults living in rural areas. Chronic pain directly affects sleep quality, while praying as a coping strategy may mitigate this effect. Nurses should prioritize pain management and promote adaptive coping strategies to improve sleep quality.

Gankyrin is a regulatory subunit of the 26kD proteasome complex. As a novel oncoprotein, gankyrin is expressed aberrantly in cancers from several different sites and has been shown to contribute to oncogenesis in endometrial and cervical carcinomas. Neither gankyrin’s contribution to the development of epithelial ovarian cancer nor its interaction with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-driven proliferation in ovarian cancer has been studied. Here we have found that gankyrin is overexpressed in ovarian cancers compared with benign ovarian cystadenomas and that gankyrin regulates FSH upregulation of cyclin D1. Importantly, gankyrin regulates PI3K/AKT signaling by downregulating PTEN. Prolonged AKT activation by FSH stimulation of the FSH receptor (FSHR) promotes gankyrin expression, which, in turn, enhances AKT activation by inhibiting PTEN. Overexpression of gankyrin decreases hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein levels, but has little effect on HIF-1α mRNA levels, which could be attributed to gankyrin mediating HIF-1α protein stability via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Reduction in HIF-1α protein stability led to attenuation of the binding with cyclin D1 promoter, resulted in abolishment of the negative regulation of cyclin D1 by HIF-1α, which promotes proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Our results document that gankyrin regulates HIF-1α protein stability and cyclin D1 expression, ultimately mediating FSH-driven ovarian cancer cell proliferation.