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Objective To identify male infertility-related long non-coding (lnc)RNAs and an lncRNA-related competing endogenous (ce)RNA network. Methods Expression data including 13 normospermic and eight teratozoospermic samples from postmortem donors were downloaded from the GEO database (GSE6872). The limma R package was used to discriminate dysregulated lncRNA and micro (m)RNA profiles. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses of differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs were performed using the clusterProfiler R package. The ceRNA network of dysregulated genes was visualized by Cytoscape. Results A total of 101 DE lncRNAs and 1722 mRNAs were identified as male infertility-specific RNAs with thresholds of |log2FoldChange| >2.0 and adjusted P-value <0.05. GO and KEGG pathways were analyzed for DE mRNAs. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that DE genes were enriched in embryonic skeletal system development and cytokine–cytokine receptor interactions. A ceRNA network was constructed with 26 key lncRNAs, 33 microRNAs, and 133 mRNAs. DE lncRNAs in male sterility were mainly associated with transferring phosphorus-containing groups and complexes of histone methyltransferases, methyltransferases, PcG proteins, and serine/threonine protein kinases. Conclusion This provides a novel perspective to study lncRNA-related ceRNA networks in male infertility and assist in identifying new potential biomarkers for diagnostic purposes.

Sodium alginate (SA) was used to functionalize the surfaces of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to form SA-AgNPs for sensing dimethoate with a rapid and sensitive visual readout. UV–Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurements were used to characterize SA-AgNPs that were synthesized under the ideal conditions. SA-AgNPs were spherical with an average size of 14.6 nm. The stability of SA-AgNPs was investigated with changes in pH, salinity, and storage time. This colorimetric assay of dimethoate relied on the change in the absorption ratio (A475/A400) of SA-AgNPs, resulting in their aggregation caused by dimethoate, leading to a visual change for SA-AgNPs from yellow to pale yellow. As a result, the absorption ratio (A475/A400) of SA-AgNPs showed good linearity in the range of 0.05 to 2.0 ppm (R2 = 0.9986) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 30 ppb. Adding other pesticides did not significantly change the absorption ratio of SA-AgNPs, indicating its high selectivity as a colorimetric assay. The sensor was successfully used to detect dimethoate in actual water samples.

Background：Pyroptosis is the term for caspase-l-dependent cell death associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines.The role of alveolar macrophage （AM） pyroptosis in the pathogenesis of the acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome （ALI/ARDS） remains unclear.Methods：C57BL/6 wild-type mice were assigned to sham,lipopolysaccharide （LPS） ＋ vehicle,LPS ＋ acetyl-tyrosyl-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-chloromethylketone （Ac-YVAD-CMK） and LPS ＋ Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone groups.Mice were given intraperitoneal （IP） injections of LPS.Drugs were IP injected 1 h before LPS administration.Mice were sacrificed 16 h after LPS administration,and AMs were isolated.Western blot analysis for active caspase-1 and cleaved caspase-3,evaluation of lung injury and a cytokine release analysis were performed.AMs were treated with LPS and adenosine triphosphate （ATP）;caspase-l-dependent cell death was evaluated using flow cytometry;the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain （ASC） pyroptosomes were examined by immunofluorescence.Results：The expression of activated caspase-1 in AMs was enhanced following LPS challenge compared with the sham group.In the ex vivo study,the caspase-1/propidium iodide-positive cells,caspase-1 specks and ASC pyroptosomes were up-regulated in AMs following LPS/ATP stimulation.The specific caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK inhibited the activation of caspase-1 and pyroptotic cell death.Ac-YVAD-CMK also reduced the lung injury,pulmonary edema and total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF）.In addition,Ac-YVAD-CMK significantly inhibited interleukin-β （IL-lβ） release both in serum and BALF and reduced the levels of IL-18,tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）,High Mobility Group Box 1 （HMGB1） in BALF during LPS-induced ALI/ARDS.Conclusions：This study reported AM pyroptosis during LPS-induced ALI/ARDS in mice and has demonstrated that Ac-YVAD-CMK can prevent AM-induced pyroptosis and lung injury.These preliminary findings may form the basis for further studies to evaluate this pathway as a target for prevention or reduction of ALI/ARDS.

Composite insulators have gradually become the preferred approach for electrical insulation in power systems, especially in polluted areas. Composite insulators consist of three main components: the shed, rod, and end fitting. Insulators withstand mechanical stresses via rods that are composed of glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy (GFRE). However, regardless of the high tensile strength of GFRE rods, in real-life operation, abnormal fractures have frequently been reported all over the world, which substantially increase the risk of major accidents in power systems. Fractural accidents mainly consist of brittle and decay-like fractures, which exhibit rather different morphologies at the cross sections. Brittle fracture has been effectively eliminated, while the mechanism of decay-like fracture has still not been clearly revealed. In this study, surface discharge tests were applied to investigate the discharge influence on the degradation of GFRE. The test successfully simulated the composition variation of the rods in real-life composite insulators with decay-like fractures. Moreover, it confirmed that the distinction between the characteristics of brittle fracture and decay-like fracture stems from epoxy degradation due to hydrolysis and carbonization. In addition, the respective influences of the resin type, glass fiber type, and acid liquid immersion on the degradation process were probed, and the degradation mechanism proposed in this research was verified. Based on the results, measures for preventing the development of decay-like fractures in real-life operations were determined.

This investigation aims to analyse the influencing factors on performance and the optimal retaining layout of multi-bench retained excavations in clay. A numerical model incorporating the hardening soil small strain model, capable of reasonably estimating the retaining structure displacement and ground settlements, is first validated with a case history in Tianjin, China. Subsequently, the geometric parameters, including the bench width (B), the second row of retaining piles length (L2), the first row of retaining piles length (L1), and the second excavation depth (H2), on the retaining structure displacement (δh1,max) are analysed. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis is performed, and the optimal layout of a multi-bench retaining system is estimated through a multivariate adaptive regression splines procedure. The results indicate that the influencing parameters have a coupling effect on the retaining structure performance. The B value is the most sensitive factor on the δh1, max value, followed by the L1, the H2, and L2 values. A large bench width weakens the interaction effect between two rows of retaining piles, but it significantly reduces the δh1, max value and provides a cost-effective solution for engineering practice. An optimal H2 value of 0.5 He (He is the excavation depth) is found.

Background Oral cancer develops through multi-stages: from normal to mild (low grade) dysplasia (LGD), moderate dysplasia, and severe (high grade) dysplasia (HGD), to carcinoma in situ (CIS) and finally invasive oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). Clinical and histological assessments are not reliable in predicting which precursor lesions will progress. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of a noninvasive approach to assess progress risk of oral precancerous lesions. Methods W e first used microRNA microarray to profile progressing LGD oral premaligant lesions (OPLs) from non-progressing LGD OPLs in order to explore the possible microRNAs deregulated in low grade OPLs which later progressed to HGD or OSCC. We then used RT-qPCR to detect miRNA targets from the microarray results in saliva samples of these patients. Results We identified a specific miRNA signature that is aberrantly expressed in progressing oral LGD leukoplakias. Similar expression patterns were detected in saliva samples from these patients. Conclusions These results show promise for using saliva miRNA signature for monitoring of cancer precursor lesions and early detection of disease progression.

The Qinling Mountains form the geo-ecological boundary between subtropical and warm-temperate zones in China and represent the northern boundary for the range of native Actinidia chinensis . To protect, explore and make use of natural resources more effectively, factors influencing genetic diversity of species must be determined. Whether the complex demography of the Qinling Mountains significantly influences gene flow of Actinidia species remains unknown. We assessed genetic diversity and structure of A. chinensis populations in the Qinling Mountains using genomic- and EST-SSR markers. We also conducted barrier analysis to detect genetic discontinuity and isolated pools within structured populations. A total of 179 alleles were detected in six natural A. chinensis populations with an average of 14.9 alleles per locus. Overall, genetic differentiation among A. chinensis populations was low but was stronger than that of populations on either the northern or southern slopes. Analysis of molecular variance showed that 25.97% of the total variance occurred among populations, whereas 74.03% of the total variance occurred within populations. The strongest gene flow occurred between the PX population on the southern slope and the LX population on the northern slope. A UPGMA dendrogram revealed that LX and PX populations were clustered together in one group. The other populations were clustered into another group. A Mantel test revealed no significant correlation between genetic and geographical distances. Clear genetic structure was revealed, and four geographic barriers were identified within and among five areas located in the western, central and eastern Qinling Mountains. Gene flow among populations was restricted by the primary ridges of the Qinling Mountains extending west to east, with branches advancing north to south.

Obesity is a highly prevalent disease that can induce metabolic syndrome and is associated with a greater risk of muscular atrophy. Mitochondria play central roles in regulating the physiological metabolism of skeletal muscle; however, whether a decreased mitochondrial function is associated with impaired muscle function is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a high-fat diet on muscle mitochondrial function in a zebrafish model of sarcopenic obesity (SOB). In SOB zebrafish, a significant decrease in exercise capacity and skeletal muscle fiber cross-sectional area was detected, accompanied by high expression of the atrophy-related markers Atrogin-1 and muscle RING-finger protein-1. Zebrafish with SOB exhibited inhibition of mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acid oxidation as well as disruption of mitochondrial fusion and fission in atrophic muscle. Thus, our findings showed that muscle atrophy was associated with SOB-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Overall, these results showed that the SOB zebrafish model established in this study may provide new insights into the development of therapeutic strategies to manage mitochondria-related muscular atrophy.

Liquid permeation into silicone rubber (SR) may lead to the degradation or complete failure of the composite insulators. Aiming to inhibit liquid permeation, two kinds of superhydrophobic coatings are applied to the SR surface. The liquid permeation properties of SR with different types of liquids are investigated, and the Langmuir diffusion model is applied to analyse the experimental data. The results show that the composite superhydrophobic coating can effectively inhibit liquid permeation by reducing the contact area between the surface and liquid, and the stable structure of the composite coating can maintain the performance after the liquid permeation and effusion. However, the nano‐particle coating without the polymer binder experiences severe performance degradation during the immersion test, and it cannot restrain the liquid permeation anymore after it loses the superhydrophobicity. As a validation of the effective protection, the insulation resistivity change was measured. The resistivity decreases sharply for the pristine SR after water permeation; however, the decrease is much smaller for the coated SR. The current study not only provides new insight into the liquid permeation properties of SR with different surface wettability but also suggests an effective measure to prevent liquid permeation into SR.

In this study, it was the first time that genetic diversity and differentiation pattern of Actinidia chinensis populations across the species native range in China were investigated on 12 nuclear microsatellite markers. Effect of environment in these mountains on the pattern was also explored. Qinling Mountains was shown to have the highest genetic diversity in the A. chinensis. By contrast, the lowest genetic diversity of the species was confirmed in Nanling Mountains. The highest differentiation was observed between populations in Qinling and Nanling, while the least differentiation was observed between populations from Wuling and Luoxiao Mountains. The diploid var. chinensis populations were clustered into 4 ancestral groups. Strong structure of diploid var. chinensis was confirmed by the single ΔK peak, while different ΔK peaks for hexaploid var. deliciosa suggested a weak structure. Stepwise regression analysis was also conducted between alleles and bioclimatic variables. Isothermality (Bio3) and precipitation seasonality (Bio15) significantly affect variation in most of the alleles. UDK96-001, Ke129, and Ke209 were found to have a higher number (>50 loci) of loci significantly associated with the bioclimatic variables. We suggest three dispersal routes for A. chinensis population based on present data and chloroplast data: (1) the relic population dispersal from Wuyi Mountains to Huangshan and Tianmu Mountains, across Baba Mountains, finally reach Qinling Mountains; (2) the populations dispersal from Wuyi Mountains to Luoxiao Mountains, then go into Nanling and Xuefeng Mountains, afterwards, one expands to Wuling Mountains and arrives to Daba and Qinling Mountains; (3) one branch of 2 goes into Yungui Plateau and finally arrives to Hengduan Mountains. Our results also provide fundamental genetic information for conservation of the species germplasm to improve the genetic basis for breeding its cultivars.