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Background To evaluate whether there was a difference in outcome between pulsatile gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) therapy and human chorionic gonadotropin/human menopausal gonadotropin (hCG/HMG) therapy for induction of spermatogenesis in post-pubertal male patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH). Methods This was a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at the Andrology Center of a university hospital. A total of 155 postpubertal CHH patients who met the inclusion criteria underwent spermatogenic induction at the same andrology center. All patients used pulsatile GnRH therapy or hCG/HMG therapy for at least 6 months. The effects of spermatogenic induction therapy and testicular growth were evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify statistically significant factors which could predict the outcome of treatment. Results There was no difference in the efficiency of successfully inducing spermatogenesis between pulsatile GnRH therapy and hCG/HMG therapy (82.1% vs. 75.8%, P: 0.356), nor was there a difference in sperm concentration category (SCC) (P: 0.284). However, the mean time required for pulsatile GnRH therapy was shorter (12.34 vs. 14.74 months, P: 0.038). At the treatment endpoint, total testicular volume (TTV) was greater with pulsatile GnRH therapy compared with hCG/HMG therapy (15 vs. 12 ml, P: 0.010), and there was still no difference in SCC (P: 0.310). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only baseline TTV was statistically significant predictor of induced spermatogenic success (odds ratio, OR: 1.156, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.013, 1.319). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.635, a sensitivity of 0.661, and a specificity of 0.588. In addition, multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that younger age at treatment initiation and higher baseline TTV were significantly associated with increased sperm concentration at the end of treatment. Conclusion Pulsatile GnRH therapy was similar to hCG/HMG therapy in inducing spermatogenesis in post-pubertal CHH patients, but it took less time and was more beneficial to testicular development. Larger baseline TTV may mean a better spermatogenic outcome. It was necessary for patients to have more information about spermatogenesis therapy in order to make reasonable medical decisions. Clinical trial registration number Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. ChiCTR2400086876. Retrospectively registered on July 5, 2024.

Objective 　To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 24 autosomal short tandem repeats (STR) loci in Gelao and Miao populations dwelled in Guizhou province, and explore the population genetic relationships and evaluate their application value on forensic medicine. Methods 　The DNA samples of 732 unrelated individuals (399 Guizhou Gelao population and 333 Guizhou Miao population) were amplified using SureID® PanGlobal kit, and the PCR products were analyzed by electrophoresis through 3500XL genetic analyzer. The fragment sizes of alleles were subsequently analyzed by GeneMapper ID-X v1.5. Allele frequencies and forensic genetic parameters of 24 STR loci were statistically analyzed and compared with the available data of other populations from different races and regions. Results 　For Guizhou Gelao and Miao populations, the individual discrimination power (DP) ranged from 0.7833 to 0.9909 and 0.8010 to 0.9909, respectively; the polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.5608 to 0.9385 and 0.5677 to 0

As a generalization of the Fourier transform （FT）, the fractional Fourier transform （FRFT） has many applications in the areas of optics, signal processing, information security, etc. Therefore, the efficient discrete computational method is the vital fundament for the application of the fractional Fourier transform. The multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform （MPFRFT） is a generalized fractional Fourier transform, which not only includes FRFT as special cases, but also provides a unified framework for the study of FRFT. In this paper, we present in detail the discretization method of the MPFRFT and define the discrete multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform （DMPFRFT）. Then, we utilize the tensor product to define two-dimensional multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform （2D-MPFRFT） and the corresponding two-dimensional discrete multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform （2D-DMPFRFT）. Finally, as an application, a novel image encryption method based on 2D-DMPFRFT is proposed. NumeAs a generalization of the Fourier transform （FT）, the fractional Fourier transform （FRFT） has many applications in the areas of optics, signal processing, information security, etc. Therefore, the efficient discrete computational method is the vital fundament for the application of the fractional Fourier transform. The multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform （MPFRFT） is a generalized fractional Fourier transform, which not only includes FRFT as special cases, but also provides a unified framework for the study of FRFT. In this paper, we present in detail the discretization method of the MPFRFT and define the discrete multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform （DMPFRFT）. Then, we utilize the tensor product to define two-dimensional multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform （2D-MPFRFT） and the corresponding two-dimensional discrete multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform （2D-DMPFRFT）. Finally, as an application, a novel image encryption method based on 2D-DMPFRFT is proposed. Numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate that the proposed method is reliable and more robust to blind decryption than several existing methods.

The genetic diversity and relationship among 40 elite barley varieties were analyzed based on simple sequence repeat （SSR） genotyping data. The amplified fragments from SSR primers were highly polymorphic in the badey accessions investigated. A total of 85 alleles were detected at 35 SSR loci, and allelic variations existed at 29 SSR loci. The allele number per locus ranged from 1 to 5 with an average of 2.4 alleles per locus detected from the 40 badey accessions. A cluster analysis based on the genetic similarity coefficients was conducted and the 40 varieties were classified into two groups. Seven malting barley varieties from China fell into the same subgroup. It was found that the genetic diversity within the Chinese malting barley varieties was narrower than that in other barley germplasm sources, suggesting the importance and feasibility of introducing elite genotypes from different origins for malting barley breeding in China.

The fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) has multiplicity, which is intrinsic in fractional operator. A new source for the multiplicity of the weight-type fractional Fourier transform (WFRFT) is proposed, which can generalize the weight coefficients of WFRFT to contain two vector parameters . Therefore a generalized fractional Fourier transform can be defined, which is denoted by the multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform (MPFRFT). It enlarges the multiplicity of the FRFT, which not only includes the conventional FRFT and general multi-fractional Fourier transform as special cases, but also introduces new fractional Fourier transforms. It provides a unified framework for the FRFT, and the method is also available for fractionalizing other linear operators. In addition, numerical simulations of the MPFRFT on the Hermite-Gaussian and rectangular functions have been performed as a simple application of MPFRFT to signal processing.

Symbiont-mediated nutritional mutualisms can contribute to the host fitness of insects, especially for those that feed exclusively on nutritionally unbalanced diets. Here, we elucidate the importance of B group vitamins in the association of endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia with two plant-sap feeding insects, the small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén), and the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål). Infected planthoppers of both species laid more eggs than uninfected planthoppers, while the experimental transfer of Wolbachia into uninfected lines of one planthopper species rescued this fecundity deficit. The genomic analysis showed that Wolbachia strains from the two planthopper species encoded complete biosynthesis operons for biotin and riboflavin, while a metabolic analysis revealed that Wolbachia -infected planthoppers of both species had higher titers of biotin and riboflavin. Furthermore, experimental supplementation of food with a mixture of biotin and riboflavin recovered the fecundity deficit of Wolbachia -uninfected planthoppers. In addition, comparative genomic analysis suggested that the riboflavin synthesis genes are conserved among Wolbachia supergroups. Biotin operons are rare in Wolbachia , and those described share a recent ancestor that may have been horizontally transferred from Cardinium bacteria. Our research demonstrates a type of mutualism that involves a facultative interaction between Wolbachia and plant-sap feeding insects involving vitamin Bs.

• Soybean (Glycine max) production is severely affected in unfavorable environments. Identification of the regulatory factors conferring stress tolerance would facilitate soybean breeding. • In this study, through coexpression network analysis of salt-tolerant wild soybeans, together with molecular and genetic approaches, we revealed a previously unidentified function of a class B heat shock factor, HSFB2b, in soybean salt stress response. • We showed that HSFB2b improves salt tolerance through the promotion of flavonoid accumulation by activating one subset of flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes and by inhibiting the repressor gene GmNAC2 to release another subset of genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Moreover, four promoter haplotypes of HSFB2b were identified from wild and cultivated soybeans. Promoter haplotype II from salt-tolerant wild soybean Y20, with high promoter activity under salt stress, is probably selected for during domestication. Another promoter haplotype, III, from salt-tolerant wild soybean Y55, had the highest promoter activity under salt stress, had a low distribution frequency and may be subjected to the next wave of selection. • Together, our results revealed the mechanism of HSFB2b in soybean salt stress tolerance. Its promoter variations were identified, and the haplotype with high activity may be adopted for breeding better soybean cultivars that are adapted to stress conditions.

Bone morphogenetic protein （BMP） inhibits neural specification and induces epidermal differentiation during ectodermal patterning. However, the mechanism of this process is not well understood. Here we show that AP2γ, a transcription factor activator protein （AP）-2 family member, is upregulated by BMP4 during neural differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. Knockdown of AP2γ facilitates mouse embryonic stem cell （ESC） neural fate determination and impairs epidermal differentiation, whereas AP2γ overexpression inhibits neural conversion and promotes epider- mal commitment. In the early chick embryo, AP2γ is expressed in the entire epiblast before HH stage 3 and gradu- ally shifts to the putative epidermal ectoderm during HH stage 4. In the future neural plate AP2γ inhibits excessive neural expansion and it also promotes epidermal development in the surface ectoderm. Moreover, AP2γ knockdown in ESCs and chick embryos partially rescued the neural inhibition and epidermal induction effects of BMP4. Mecha- nistic studies showed that BMP4 directly regulates AP2γ expression through Smadl binding to the AP2γ promoter. Taken together, we propose that during the early stages of ectodermal patterning in the chick embryo, AP2γ acts downstream of the BMP pathway to restrict precocious neural expansion in the prospective neural plate and initiates epidermal differentiation in the future epidermal ectoderm.

The radiation-based sterile insect technique (SIT) has successfully suppressed field populations of several insect pest species, but its effect on mosquito vector control has been limited. The related incompatible insect technique (IIT)—which uses sterilization caused by the maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia —is a promising alternative, but can be undermined by accidental release of females infected with the same Wolbachia strain as the released males. Here we show that combining incompatible and sterile insect techniques (IIT–SIT) enables near elimination of field populations of the world’s most invasive mosquito species, Aedes albopictus . Millions of factory-reared adult males with an artificial triple- Wolbachia infection were released, with prior pupal irradiation of the released mosquitoes to prevent unintentionally released triply infected females from successfully reproducing in the field. This successful field trial demonstrates the feasibility of area-wide application of combined IIT–SIT for mosquito vector control. A field trial succeeded in eliminating populations of the mosquito Aedes albopictus through inundative mass release of incompatible Wolbachia -infected males, which were also irradiated to sterilize any accidentally-released females, and so prevent population replacement.

Lentivirus-based transgenic Macaca fascicularis monkeys are generated expressing the human MECP2 transgene in the brain, and they display behavioural alterations including changes in social interaction and increased anxiety; germline transmission of the transgene to the F 1 offspring is shown, and these monkeys also had an altered social interaction phenotype. A model for neurodevelopmental disorders MECP2 duplication syndrome is a childhood disorder caused by an extra copy of the MECP2 gene, encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2; its symptoms include autism and anxiety. Here, Zilong Qiu and colleagues have generated lentivirus-based transgenic monkeys expressing the human MECP2 transgene in the brain. The transgenic monkeys overexpressing MECP2 displayed behavioural alterations, including changes in social interaction and increased anxiety. In addition, the authors show germline transmission of the transgene to the F 1 offspring, which also had an altered social interaction phenotype. This study shows the feasibility of using genetically engineered non-human primates to study neurodevelopmental disorders. Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) has crucial roles in transcriptional regulation and microRNA processing 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 . Mutations in the MECP2 gene are found in 90% of patients with Rett syndrome, a severe developmental disorder with autistic phenotypes 5 . Duplications of MECP2 -containing genomic segments cause the MECP2 duplication syndrome, which shares core symptoms with autism spectrum disorders 6 . Although Mecp2 -null mice recapitulate most developmental and behavioural defects seen in patients with Rett syndrome, it has been difficult to identify autism-like behaviours in the mouse model of MeCP2 overexpression 7 , 8 . Here we report that lentivirus-based transgenic cynomolgus monkeys ( Macaca fascicularis ) expressing human MeCP2 in the brain exhibit autism-like behaviours and show germline transmission of the transgene. Expression of the MECP2 transgene was confirmed by western blotting and immunostaining of brain tissues of transgenic monkeys. Genomic integration sites of the transgenes were characterized by a deep-sequencing-based method. As compared to wild-type monkeys, MECP2 transgenic monkeys exhibited a higher frequency of repetitive circular locomotion and increased stress responses, as measured by the threat-related anxiety and defensive test 9 . The transgenic monkeys showed less interaction with wild-type monkeys within the same group, and also a reduced interaction time when paired with other transgenic monkeys in social interaction tests. The cognitive functions of the transgenic monkeys were largely normal in the Wisconsin general test apparatus, although some showed signs of stereotypic cognitive behaviours. Notably, we succeeded in generating five F 1 offspring of MECP2 transgenic monkeys by intracytoplasmic sperm injection with sperm from one F 0 transgenic monkey, showing germline transmission and Mendelian segregation of several MECP2 transgenes in the F 1 progeny. Moreover, F 1 transgenic monkeys also showed reduced social interactions when tested in pairs, as compared to wild-type monkeys of similar age. Together, these results indicate the feasibility and reliability of using genetically engineered non-human primates to study brain disorders.