Spermatogenesis is a continuous and productive process supported by the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which arise from undifferentiated precursors known as ...gonocytes and are strictly controlled in a special 'niche' microenvironment in the seminiferous tubules. Sertoli cells, the only somatic cell type in the tubules, directly interact with SSCs to control their proliferation and differentiation through the secretion of specific factors. Spermatocyte meiosis is another key step of spermatogenesis, which is regulated by Sertoli cells on the luminal side of the blood-testis barrier through paracrine signaling. In this review, we mainly focus on the role of Sertoli cells in the regulation of SSC self-renewal and spermatocyte meiosis, with particular emphasis on paracrine and endocrine-mediated signaling pathways. Sertoli cell growth factors, such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), as well as Sertoli cell transcription factors, such as ETS variant 5 (ERM; also known as ETV5), nociceptin, neuregulin 1 (NRG1), and androgen receptor (AR), have been identified as the most important upstream factors that regulate SSC self-renewal and spermatocyte meiosis. Other transcription factors and signaling pathways (GDNF-RET-GFRA1 signaling, FGF2-MAP2K1 signaling, CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling, CCL9-CCR1 signaling, FSH-nociceptin/OPRL1, retinoic acid/FSH-NRG/ERBB4, and AR/RB-ARID4A/ARID4B) are also addressed.
Lead halide perovskites have gained extensive attention in the photodetectors (PDs) field, but the problems of intrinsic toxicity and poor stability still hamper their practical applications. ...Furthermore, ultraviolet (UV) PDs have rarely been explored due to challenges, including the lack of suitable materials and the costly and complicated fabrication processes. In order to solve the above problems, herein it is reported a novel all‐inorganic lead‐free halide CsAg2I3 single crystal (SC) with pure phase and high quality. This CsAg2I3 SC shows ultra‐stable crystal structure, steady chemical properties, and good optical properties, and it can be stable up to 893 K. Its 1D crystal structure and soft crystal lattice support the formation of self‐trapped excitons, leading to a broadband emission at 610 nm with a large Stokes shift of 315 nm (2.23 eV). The strong absorption for UV light combined with direct bandgap, large Stokes shift, and ultra‐high stability promises an environment‐friendly, low‐cost, and high‐performance UV PD based on the 1D all‐inorganic silver (I) halides.
A novel all‐inorganic lead‐free 1D CsAg2I3 single crystal with phase‐purity, high quality, and excellent stability is successfully prepared. Its photophysical properties are systematically researched, and optical recombination mechanisms are further revealed. Based on the environmentally friendly and stable CsAg2I3, a nontoxic, low‐cost, and fast response ultraviolet photodetector is demonstrated.
Because activated carbon is extensively used in supercapacitors, optimization of its precursors and synthetic strategies are crucial. Inspired by the rich sugar content of banana peel waste, which ...can be transformed through the respiration of yeast into alcohol with the release of CO2, we developed an environmentally benign and highly efficient process for the production of renewable heteroatom‐doped hierarchical porous carbon materials (yeast‐treated banana‐peel‐based carbon, denoted as YBP) without any additional templates or activation agents. The resulting biologically activated carbon was characterized by near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine‐structure spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and other physical methods. The biologically activated carbon achieved a maximum gravimetric specific capacitance of 476 F g−1 in 1 m H2SO4 electrolyte. Remarkably, with a moderate specific surface area of 1084 m2 g−1, the as‐obtained activated carbon was found to have a high packing density. With enriched pseudocapacitance sites, the YBP symmetric supercapacitor has a high volumetric specific capacitance and energy density (maximum values of 264 F cm−3 and 23.5 Wh L−1, respectively). The supercapacitor showed superior cyclic stability, with 94 % capacitance retention for voltage values up to 1.6 V after 10 000 cycles, which confirmed the promising application of this supercapacitor in miniature electronic devices.
Very a‐peel‐ing: An environmentally benign and highly efficient process for the production of renewable heteroatom‐doped hierarchical porous carbon materials (yeast‐treated banana‐peel‐based carbon, denoted as YBP) without any additional templates or activation agents was developed. The YBP symmetric supercapacitor showed superior cyclic stability, with 94 % capacitance retention for voltage values up to 1.6 V after 10 000 cycles. PBP=pure banana peel (see scheme).
Testicular tumors are the most common tumors in adolescent and young men and germ cell tumors (TGCTs) account for most of all testicular cancers. Increasing incidence of TGCTs among males provides ...strong motivation to understand its biological and genetic basis. Gains of chromosome arm 12p and aneuploidy are nearly universal in TGCTs, but TGCTs have low point mutation rate. It is thought that TGCTs develop from premalignant intratubular germ cell neoplasia that is believed to arise from the failure of normal maturation of gonocytes during fetal or postnatal development. Progression toward invasive TGCTs (seminoma and nonseminoma) then occurs after puberty. Both inherited genetic factors and environmental risk factors emerge as important contributors to TGCT susceptibility. Genome-wide association studies have so far identified more than 30 risk loci for TGCTs, suggesting that a polygenic model fits better with the genetic landscape of the disease. Despite high cure rates because of its particular sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy, exploration of mechanisms underlying the occurrence, progression, metastasis, recurrence, chemotherapeutic resistance, early diagnosis and optional clinical therapeutics without long-term side effects are urgently needed to reduce the cancer burden in this underserved age group. Herein, we present an up-to-date review on clinical challenges, origin and progression, risk factors, TGCT mouse models, serum diagnostic markers, resistance mechanisms, miRNA regulation, and database resources of TGCTs. We appeal that more attention should be paid to the basic research and clinical diagnosis and treatment of TGCTs.
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a lethal gynecologic tumor, which brings its mortality to the head. CXCL12 and its receptor chemokine receptor 4 (
CXCR4) have been found to be highly expressed in OC and ...contribute to the disease progression by affecting tumor cell proliferation and invasion. Here, in this study, we aim to explore whether the blockade of CXCL12–CXCR4 axis with AMD3100 (a selective CXCR4 antagonist) has effects on the progression of OC. On the basis of the gene expression omnibus database of OC gene expression chips, the OC differentially expressed genes were screened by microarray analysis. OC (nonmetastatic and metastatic) and normal ovarian tissues were collected to determine the expressions of CXCL12 and CXCR4. A series of AMD3100, shRNA against CXCR4, and pCNS‐CXCR4 were introduced to treat CAOV3 cells with the highest CXCR4 was assessed. Cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were all evaluated. The microarray analysis screened out the differential expression of CXCL12–CXCR4 in OC. CXCL12 and CXCR4 expressions were increased in OC tissues, particularly in the metastatic OC tissues. Downregulation of CXCR4 by AMD3100 or shRNA was observed to have a critical role in inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of the CAOV3 OC cell line while promoting cell apoptosis. Overexpressed CXCR4 brought significantly promoting effects on the proliferation and invasiveness of OC cells. These results reinforce that the blockade of CXCL12–CXCR4 axis with AMD3100 inhibits the growth of OC cells. The antitumor role of the inhibition of CXCL12–CXCR4 axis offers a preclinical validation of CXCL12–CXCR4 axis as a therapeutic target in OC.
The antitumor role of the inhibition of CXCL12–CXCR4 axis offers a preclinical validation of CXCL12–CXCR4 axis as a therapeutic target in OC.
Inflammation plays a vital role in the occurrence and progression of atrial fibrillation (AF). The association between pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCATA) and AF recurrence following ...ablation has not been fully clarified.
We aimed to evaluate the association between PCATA and AF recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).
Patients who underwent the first RFCA for AF and performed coronary computed tomography angiography before ablation between 2018 and 2021 were enrolled. The predictive values of PCATA for AF recurrence after ablation were investigated. The area under curve (AUC), relative integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and categorical free net reclassification improvement (NRI) were used to assess the discrimination ability of different models for AF recurrence.
During 1-year follow-up, 34.1% patients experienced AF recurrence. The multivariable analysis model revealed that PCATA of the right coronary artery (RCA) was an independent risk factor for AF recurrence. Patients with a high level of RCA-PCATA had a high risk of recurrence, after adjusting for other risk factors by restricted cubic splines. The performance in predicting AF recurrence was significantly improved by adding the marker of RCA-PCATA to the clinical model (AUC: 0.724 vs. 0.686, p = .024), with a relative IDI of 0.043 (p = .006) and continuous NRI of 0.521 (p < .001).
PCATA of RCA was independently associated with AF recurrence after ablation. PCATA may be helpful for risk classification for AF ablation patients.
•All-solid-state complementary ITO/WO3/Ta2O5/NiO/ITO ECD.•UV curing LiClO4+PC+UV as a solid electrolyte.•NiO is an auxiliary layer for a complementary ECD.•ECD deposited by ion-beam assisted ...electron-beam evaporation
This research investigates the optical, nanostructure, electrochemical, and binding-energy performances of a Nickel Oxide (NiO) auxiliary layer for a complementary ultraviolet (UV)-cured all-solid-state electrochromic device (ECD). The complementary ITO/WO3/Ta2O5/Electrolyte/NiO/ITO ECD was separated into two sub-modules, one being the colored NiO anode, the other being the colored WO3 cathode. These were combined using UV curing LiClO4+PC+UV glue as a solid electrolyte. The NiO film was deposited by ion-beam assisted (IAD) electron-beam evaporation under different oxygen flow rates ranging from 5 to 20 sccm, and the evaporation formed columnar nanostructures that allowed the Li+ ions to enter and leave. These experimental results exhibited location shifts for the binding-energy of Ni3d and O1s has the blue shift at the oxygen flow far away of 15 sccm. Depositing the NiO film under an oxygen flow of 15 sccm (111) showed the highest color/bleach variation of ΔT=45.9%@550nm, the greatest cyclic voltammetry (CV) cladding area of Q=31.39 mC, an alternating current (AC) impedance of 28 kΩ, and an ionic conduction rate of 4.46×10−7 S cm−1. The columnar NiO film deposited using IAD electron-beam evaporation has the potential to be used as an auxiliary layer for an all-solid-state ECD.
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