Browse Articles

Development and validation of a predictive model for cervical insufficiency incorporating AMH and androstenedione

Abstract This study aims to develop a predictive model for cervical insufficiency (CI) in women who undergo in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) based on relevant indicators measured prior to pregnancy. A total of 2,494 women who received IVF-ET at the Reproductive Medical Center of the Third Hospital of Peking University between 2016 and 2022 were included. All participants ultimately delivered at the same institution. 1,745 patients were assigned to the training cohort and 749 to the validation cohort. Both univariate logistic regression analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were conducted to establish the CI prediction model. Among the 2,494 cases, the incidence rate of CI was 3.2%. Risk factors identified to be associated with CI included body mass index (BMI) > 22.83 kg/m 2 , testosterone (T) level > 0.74 nmol/L, androstenedione (A) level > 11.45 nmol/L, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level > 3.50 ng/ml, frequency of hysteroscopic surgery, number of previous pregnancies (gravidity), and pre-pregnancy diabetes. Cervical length > 3.15 cm is a protective factor for cervical insufficiency. Conversely, factors such as the endometrial preparation regimen, occurrence of an intrauterine operation within six months before pregnancy, and the uterine length were not found to be significant risk factors for CI. The area under the curve (AUC) for this model achieved 0.819, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.758 to 0.881. Despite the lack of external validation from independent cohorts, this study successfully developed a comprehensive predictive model for CI in women undergoing IVF-ET, providing a preliminary exploration for early prediction and intervention strategies.

High-speed 3D DNA PAINT and unsupervised clustering for unlocking 3D DNA origami cryptography

Abstract DNA origami information storage is a promising alternative to silicon-based data storage, offering a molecular cryptography technique concealing information within DNA origami. Routing, sliding, and interlacing staple strands lead to a large 700-bit key size. Practical DNA data storage requires high information density, robust security, and accurate and rapid information retrieval. Consequently, advanced readout techniques and large encryption key sizes are essential. Here, we report an enhanced DNA origami cryptography protocol in 2D and 3D DNA origami, increasing the encryption key size. We employ all-DNA-based steganography with fast readout through high-speed DNA-PAINT super-resolution imaging. By combining DNA-PAINT data with unsupervised clustering, we achieve an accuracy of up to 89%, despite the flexibility in the 3D DNA origami shown by oxDNA simulation. Furthermore, we propose criteria that ensure complete information retrieval for the DNA origami cryptography. Our findings show that DNA-based cryptography is a secure and versatile solution for storing information.

Dynamic response analysis of semi-rigid asphalt pavement under combined low-temperature and heavy-load conditions

Gut microbiome predicts personalized responses to dietary fiber in prediabetes: a randomized, open-label trial

Pollen morphology of three invasive Impatiens species in Europe under varying habitat conditions—a case study from Poland

De novo sequencing of glycans by ion mobility-mass spectrometry using a self-expanding database

Operational characteristics and blade fatigue life analysis of a novel variable-pitch wind turbine under natural wind conditions

Direct observations of cross-scale energy transfer driven by multiple-ion interactions in space plasmas

An evidence theory based multiple model fusion method for fault diagnosis of distribution line

Temperature dependence of crystal melt coexistence for supported polyethylene filaments

Abstract An interface or surface may be considered as a planar perturbation reflected by changes in molecular properties in the direction perpendicular to the interface or surface. As a consequence, predicted by theory and shown by experiments, crystals are often covered by a thin liquid layer of their own melt. Such crystal–melt coexistence can be related to phenomena of surface premelting, secondary nucleation and melting point depression, particularly important for small systems. Here, we employed intermittent-contact mode atomic force microscopy imaging on nanoscopic semi-cylindrical filaments of polyethylene on a substrate to observe that these filaments contained a crystalline core bounded by molten regions of rather uniform width, $${W}_{{{\rm{soft}}}}=$$ W soft = (9 ± 2) nm at room temperature, which increased reversibly with temperature $$T.$$ T . Filaments smaller than ca. $${2\cdot W}_{{{\rm{soft}}}}\left(T\right)$$ 2 ⋅ W soft T were completely molten. The values of $${W}_{{{\rm{soft}}}}\left(T\right)$$ W soft T compared favorably with theoretically predicted characteristic length scales in the context of nucleation, surface premelting and the melting point depression of finite size crystals. Altogether, we propose that these three phenomena are related and dominated by the intermolecular forces acting at crystal surfaces.

The RNA-binding protein CPEB1 marks healthy adult β cells in mice but is dispensable for β cell identity and function

Integrating dry-processing and pre-sodiation enables high-energy sodium ion batteries

Enhanced PAM50 subtyping of breast cancer implemented in the PCAPAM50 R package

Temperature variability projections remain uncertain after constraining them to best performing Large Ensembles of individual Climate Models

Abstract Changes in temperature variability affect the frequency and intensity of extreme events, as well as the regional range of temperatures that ecosystems and society need to adapt to. While accurate projections of temperature variability are vital for understanding climate change and its impacts, they remain highly uncertain. We use rank-frequency analysis to evaluate the performance of eleven single model initial-condition large ensembles (SMILEs) against observations in the historical period, and use those that best represent historical regional variability to constrain projections of future temperature variability. Constrained projections from the best-performing SMILEs still show large uncertainties in the intensity and the sign of the variability change for large areas of the globe. Our results highlight poorly modelled regions where observed variability is not well represented such as large parts of Australia, South America, and Africa, particularly in their local summer season, underscoring the need for further modelling improvements over crucial regions. In these regions, the constrained projected change is typically larger than in the unconstrained ensemble, suggesting that in these regions, multi-model mean projections may underestimate future variability change.

Integrating biochar, compost, and chemical fertilizer improves maize yield and soil health in the guinea savannah: evidence from two cropping seasons in Northern Ghana

Deterministic formation of carbon-functionalized quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride

Abstract Forming single-photon emitters (SPEs) in insulating hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has sparked wide interests in the quantum photonics. Despite significant progress, it remains challenging to deterministically create SPEs at precise locations with a specific type of element for creating defects. In this study, we present a straightforward approach to generate site-deterministic carbon-functionalized quantum emitters in hBN by harnessing ultrasonic nanoindentation. The obtained SPEs are high-quality and can be scaled up to large arrays in a single fabrication step. Comprehensive experimental analyses reveal that the insertion of carbon atoms into the hBN lattice is the source of the robust quantum emission. Complementary theoretical studies suggest possible candidates for the structural origin of the defects based on our experimental results. This rapid and scalable nanoindentation method provides a new way to create SPE arrays with specific types of atoms, enabling the comprehensive investigation of the origins and mechanics of SPE formations in two-dimensional (2D) materials and beyond.

Syndemic perspective of how people living with HIV faced the COVID-19 crisis in North Africa

Targeting of the m6A eraser ALKBH5 suppresses stemness and chemoresistance of colorectal cancer

Abstract The role of RNA N 6 -methyladenoine (m 6 A) eraser AlkB homologue 5 (ALKBH5) in colorectal cancer (CRC) stem cells (CSCs) is unclear. Here, we find that ALKBH5 expression positively correlates with CSC markers in CRC patients. ALKBH5 induces self-renewal and stemness markers in colorectal CSCs and patient-derived organoids (PDOs). Colon-stem cell specific Alkbh5 knockin accelerates carcinogen-induced CRC, while tumorigenesis is attenuated in colon-stem cell specific Alkbh5 knockout mice. Integrated RNA-seq, MeRIP-seq and Ribo-seq reveal FAM84A as an ALKBH5 target. ALKBH5 demethylates m 6 A-modified FAM84A mRNA, causing mRNA decay and reduced expression. Mechanistically, we show that FAM84A represses CSCs by interacting with β-catenin and promoting β-catenin ubiquitination and degradation. By boosting CSCs, ALKBH5 overexpression elicit chemoresistance in CSCs, PDOs and transgenic mice. Targeting of ALKBH5 by knockout or VNPs-siALKBH5 synergizes with chemotherapy to trigger tumor regression in CSCs-/PDOs-derived xenografts and ALKBH5 knockout mice. Together, we reveal that ALKBH5 is essential for colorectal CSCs and is a therapeutic target for overcoming CRC chemoresistance.

Clinical features and subgroup patterns in elderly and super-elderly TMD patients

Photoelectrochemical water splitting cells at elevated pressure using BiVO4 and platinized III-V semiconductor photoelectrodes

Abstract Direct production of pressurized green hydrogen via photoelectrochemical water splitting reduces the need for mechanical compression and mitigates bubble-related losses. However, existing demonstrations have been limited to atmospheric pressure. Here, we bridge this gap by designing, constructing, and testing a high-pressure flow cell for photoelectrochemical water splitting using two configurations. In a back-illuminated BiVO 4 -based photoelectrochemical cell, increased pressure suppresses bubble evolution and alleviates photocurrent saturation under concentrated sunlight: at 10 suns, the photocurrent rises from 3× at 1 bar to ~7× at 5 bar. Direct operando imaging of the electrode surfaces confirms that this improvement comes primarily from suppressed bubble evolution. Conversely, a front-illuminated platinized triple-junction III-V-based photoelectrochemical cell shows limited pressure dependence up to 8 bar due to its dispersed catalyst and long carrier diffusion length. These findings highlight the differing response of photoelectrochemical devices to elevated pressure and demonstrate a viable pathway toward scalable, high-pressure solar-driven hydrogen production.