Implantation involves an intricate discourse between the embryo and uterus and is a gateway to further embryonic development. Synchronizing embryonic development until the blastocyst stage with the ...uterine differentiation that takes place to produce the receptive state is crucial to successful implantation, and therefore to pregnancy outcome. Although implantation involves the interplay of numerous signalling molecules, the hierarchical instructions that coordinate the embryo-uterine dialogue are not well understood. This review highlights our knowledge about the molecular development of preimplantation and implantation and the future challenges of the field. A better understanding of periimplantation biology could alleviate female infertility and help to develop novel contraceptives.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In this study, charged AdS black holes with a string cloud are taken into consideration. We identify three distinct black hole solutions within a specific temperature range, which subsequently merge ...into a single black hole beyond this range in the case of spherical space with low chemical potential and string density. However, in the case of large chemical potential and string density, only one black hole solution exists for all temperatures. Notably, we observe that for flat and hyperbolic space, there is only one black hole solution irrespective of the chemical potential and string density. By subtracting the contribution of the extremal black hole from the on-shell Euclidean action, the thermodynamical quantities associated with these black holes are calculated. We also investigate the stability of these black holes and find that medium-sized black hole is unstable. In the dual boundary theory side we verify the existence of bound state of quark-antiquark pair. Finally, we establish the Cardy-Verlinde formula for the boundary theory and we observed an additional energy term arising because of the presence of string cloud.
Many models to explain the differences in the flora and fauna of tropical and temperate regions assume that whole clades are restricted to the tropics. We develop methods to assess the extent to ...which biotas are geographically discrete, and find that transition zones between regions occupied by tropical-associated or temperate-associated biotas are often narrow, suggesting a role for freezing temperatures in partitioning global biotas. Across the steepest tropical-temperate gradient in the world, that of the Himalaya, bird communities below and above the freezing line are largely populated by different tropical and temperate biotas with links to India and Southeast Asia, or to China respectively. The importance of the freezing line is retained when clades rather than species are considered, reflecting confinement of different clades to one or another climate zone. The reality of the sharp tropical-temperate boundary adds credence to the argument that exceptional species richness in the tropics reflects species accumulation over time, with limited transgressions of species and clades into the temperate.
Psoriasis, a chronic immune-mediated disease, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. Secukinumab selectively neutralizes IL-17A and has reported high efficacy ...with a favorable safety profile in various psoriatic disease manifestations. Subsequent to the 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind treatment period, patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis received secukinumab for 40 weeks. Vascular inflammation using 18F-2-fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging and blood-based cardiometabolic was assessed at week 0, 12, and 52. The difference in change in aortic inflammation from baseline to week 12 for secukinumab (n = 46) versus placebo (n = 45) was –0.053 (95% confidence interval = –0.169 to 0.064; P= 0.37). Small increases in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein particles, but no changes in markers of inflammation, adiposity, insulin resistance, or predictors of diabetes, were observed with secukinumab treatment compared with placebo. At week 52, reductions in TNF-α (P= 0.0063) and ferritin (P= 0.0354), and an increase in fetuin-A (P= 0.0024), were observed with secukinumab treatment compared with baseline. No significant changes in aortic inflammation or markers of advanced lipoprotein characterization, adiposity, or insulin resistance were observed with secukinumab treatment compared with baseline. Secukinumab exhibited a neutral impact on aortic vascular inflammation and biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease after 52 weeks of treatment.
► First report on thermal conductivity of CuO–gear oil nanofluids. ► Prepared CuO–gear oil nanofluids are stable for >30
days. ► Thermal conductivity enhances by 10.4% (CuO volume fraction: 0.025) at ...30
°C. ► Nanolayers and CuO clusters in suspension are important for observed enhancement.
Copper oxide nanoparticles (∼40
nm) are dispersed in gear oil (IBP Haulic-68) at different volume fractions (0.005–0.025) with oleic acid added as a surfactant to stabilize the system. Prepared nanofluids are characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. DLS data confirmed the presence of agglomerated nanoparticles in the prepared nanofluids. Thermal conductivity measurements are performed both as a function of CuO volume fraction and temperature between 5 and 80
°C. An enhancement in thermal conductivity at 30
°C of 10.4% with 0.025 volume fraction of CuO nanoparticle loading is observed. Measured volume fraction dependence of the thermal conductivity enhancement at room temperature is predicted fairly well considering contributions from both nanolayer at the solid–liquid interface and particle agglomeration in the suspension, as visualized by Feng et al.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) and reproductive coercion (RC)-largely in the form of pressuring pregnancy-appear to contribute to low use of contraceptives in India; however, little is known about ...the extent to which these experiences differentially affect use of specific contraceptive methods. The current study assessed the association of IPV and RC with specific contraceptive methods (Intrauterine Devices IUDs, pills, condoms) among a large population-based sample of currently married women (15-49 years, n = 1424) living in Uttar Pradesh. Outcomes variables included past year modern contraceptive use and type of contraceptive used. Primary independent variables included lifetime experience of RC by current husband or in-laws, and lifetime experiences of physical IPV and sexual IPV by current husband. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed to determine the effect of each form of abuse on women's contraceptive use. Approximately 1 in 7 women (15.1%) reported experiencing RC from their current husband or in-laws ever in their lifetime, 37.4% reported experience of physical IPV and 8.3% reported experience of sexual IPV by their current husband ever in their lifetime. Women experiencing RC were less likely to use any modern contraceptive (AOR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.9-0.36). Such women also less likely to report pill and condom use but were more likely to report IUD use. Neither form of IPV were associated with either overall or method specific contraceptive use. Study findings highlight that RC may influence contraceptive use differently based on type of contraceptive, with less detectable, female-controlled contraceptives such as IUD preferred in the context of women facing RC. Unfortunately, IUD uptake remains low in India. Increased access and support for use, particularly for women contending with RC, may be important for improving women's control over contraceptive use and reducing unintended pregnancy.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Implantation involves a series of steps leading to an effective reciprocal signaling between the blastocyst and the uterus. Except for a restricted period when ovarian hormones induce a uterine ...receptive phase, the uterus is an unfavorable environment for blastocyst implantation. Because species-specific variations in implantation strategies exist, these differences preclude the formulation of a unifying theme for the molecular basis of this event. However, an increased understanding of mammalian implantation has been gained through the use of the mouse model. This review summarizes recognized signaling cascades and new research in mammalian implantation, based primarily on available genetic and molecular evidence from implantation studies in the mouse. Although the identification of new molecules associated with implantation in various species provides valuable insight, important questions remain regarding the common molecular mechanisms that govern this process. Understanding the mechanisms of implantation promises to help alleviate infertility, enhance fetal health, and improve contraceptive design.
In this paper a Hierarchical Analytical Network Process (HANP) model is demonstrated for evaluating alternative technologies for generating electricity from MSW in India. The technological ...alternatives and evaluation criteria for the HANP study are characterised by reviewing the literature and consulting experts in the field of waste management. Technologies reviewed in the context of India include landfill, anaerobic digestion, incineration, pelletisation and gasification. To investigate the sensitivity of the result, we examine variations in expert opinions and carry out an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis for comparison. We find that anaerobic digestion is the preferred technology for generating electricity from MSW in India. Gasification is indicated as the preferred technology in an AHP model due to the exclusion of criteria dependencies and in an HANP analysis when placing a high priority on net output and retention time. We conclude that HANP successfully provides a structured framework for recommending which technologies to pursue in India, and the adoption of such tools is critical at a time when key investments in infrastructure are being made. Therefore the presented methodology is thought to have a wider potential for investors, policy makers, researchers and plant developers in India and elsewhere.
•We evaluate alternative technologies for generating electricity from waste.•The methodology we develop is based on the analytical network process.•Assessment is made against technical, financial, environmental and risk criteria.•Anaerobic digestion and gasification are the preferred technologies for India.•The method reduces risk and ensures sustainability in energy project planning.
Materials exhibiting a spontaneous electrical polarization that can be switched easily between antiparallel orientations are of potential value for sensors, photonics and energy-efficient memories. ...In this context, organic ferroelectrics are of particular interest because they promise to be lightweight, inexpensive and easily processed into devices. A recently identified family of organic ferroelectric structures is based on intermolecular charge transfer, where donor and acceptor molecules co-crystallize in an alternating fashion known as a mixed stack: in the crystalline lattice, a collective transfer of electrons from donor to acceptor molecules results in the formation of dipoles that can be realigned by an external field as molecules switch partners in the mixed stack. Although mixed stacks have been investigated extensively, only three systems are known to show ferroelectric switching, all below 71 kelvin. Here we describe supramolecular charge-transfer networks that undergo ferroelectric polarization switching with a ferroelectric Curie temperature above room temperature. These polar and switchable systems utilize a structural synergy between a hydrogen-bonded network and charge-transfer complexation of donor and acceptor molecules in a mixed stack. This supramolecular motif could help guide the development of other functional organic systems that can switch polarization under the influence of electric fields at ambient temperatures.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Scribble (Scrib) is a scaffold protein with multifunctional roles in PCP, tight junction and Hippo signaling. This study shows that Scrib is expressed in stromal cells around the implantation chamber ...following implantation. Stromal cells transform into epithelial-like cells to form the avascular primary decidual zone (PDZ) around the implantation chamber (crypt). The PDZ creates a permeability barrier around the crypt restricting immune cells and harmful agents from maternal circulation to protect embryonic health. The mechanism underlying PDZ formation is not yet known. We found that uterine deletion of Scrib by a Pgr-Cre driver leads to defective PDZ formation and implantation chamber (crypt) formation, compromising pregnancy success. Interestingly, epithelial-specific Scrib deletion by a lactoferrin-Cre (Ltf-Cre) driver does not adversely affect PDZ formation and pregnancy success. These findings provide evidence for a previously unknown function of stromal Scrib in PDZ formation, potentially involving ZO-1 and Hippo signaling.