Hard carbon has long been considered the leading candidate for anode materials of Na‐ion batteries. Intensive research efforts have been carried out in the search of suitable carbon structure for an ...improved storage capability. Herein, an anode based on multishelled hollow carbon nanospheres, which are able to deliver an outstanding electrochemical performance with an extraordinary reversible capacity of 360 mAh g−1 at 30 mA g−1, is designed. An interesting dependence of the electrochemical properties on the multishelled structural features is identified: with an increase in the shell number of the model carbon materials, the sloping capacity in the charge/discharge curve remains almost unchanged while the plateau capacity continuously increases, suggesting an adsorption‐filling Na‐storage mechanism for the multishelled hollow hard carbon materials. The findings not only provide new perspective in the structural design of high‐performance anode materials, but also shed light on the complicated mechanism behind Na‐storage by hard carbon.
A high‐performance Na‐ion battery anode is developed via structural engineering of hard carbon into multishelled hollow carbon nanospheres (MS‐HCNs). The MS‐HCNs not only promise extraordinary capacities, but also provide an effective model for the mechanistic study of Na‐storage. The plateau capacities can be tuned independently by controlling the structure of the anodes, providing a directed proof for an adsorption‐filling Na‐storage mechanism.
Problem
Quercetin has been shown to display intensive antioxidant activity against ROS‐mediated damage in chilled semen, and the effects and molecular mechanisms of Quercetin on sperm function in the ...infertile patients with leukocytospermia remain largely unknown.
Methods
Semen samples were collected from the infertile men with leukocytospermia (n = 56) and fertile men (n = 44). Computer‐assisted semen analysis (CASA) was used to determine sperm motility before and after Quercetin incubation (10 μmol/L). Changes in H2O2, sperm mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), cytochrome B (Cty B), and NADH dehydrogenase 5 (NADH5) contents were measured. Furthermore, hyperactivated motility (HA) and acrosome reaction rates were detected after the stimulation by progesterone with or without Quercetin, respectively.
Results
Quercetin could significantly improve sperm motility from the leukocytospermic patients. The level of H2O2 was significantly decreased in the supernatant of leukocytospermic patients after Quercetin treatment. The content of mtDNA in sperm was significantly decreased, whereas the contents of Cyt B and NADH 5 in sperm were significantly increased. Sperm hyperactivated motility and acrosome reaction induced by progesterone were enhanced by Quercetin in sperm from the infertile men with leukocytospermia.
Conclusion
These data indicate Quercetin could display protective effects against oxidative damage on sperm from the infertile men with leukocytospermia.
The immune privilege of the testes is necessary to prevent immune attacks to gamete-specific antigens and paternal major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens, allowing for normal ...spermatogenesis. However, infection and inflammation of the male genital tract can break the immune tolerance and represent a significant cause of male infertility. Different T cell subsets have been identified in mammalian testes, which may be involved in the maintenance of immune tolerance and pathogenic immune responses in testicular infection and inflammation. We reviewed the evidence in the published literature on different T subtypes (regulatory T cells, helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, γδ T cells, and natural killer T cells) in human and animal testes that support their regulatory roles in infertility and the orchitis pathology. While many in vitro studies have indicated the regulation potential of functional T cell subsets and their possible interaction with Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and spermatogenesis, both under physiological and pathological processes, there have been no in situ studies to date. Nevertheless, the normal distribution and function of T cell subsets are essential for the immune privilege of the testes and intact spermatogenesis, and T cell-mediated immune response drives testicular inflammation. The distinct function of different T cell subsets in testicular homeostasis and the orchitis pathology suggests a considerable potential of targeting specific T cell subsets for therapies targeting chronic orchitis and immune infertility.
Problem
The presence of dendritic cells (DCs) and associated cytokines in follicular fluid (FF) from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains unknown.
Methods of study
FF was collected ...from PCOS patients and patients with severe male factor infertility (control) at the day of transvaginal oocyte retrieval. Phenotypes of DC were detected by flow cytometry, and TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐10, and IL‐23 were assessed by ELISA.
Results
A significant decrease in the percentage of DC was found in patients with PCOS (16.22±5.5%) compared with control (21.27±5.5%, P<.01). E2 on the day of hCG administration was correlated positively with the mean fluorescence intensity of HLA‐DR (r=.75, P<.01) and reversely correlated with the concentration of TNF‐α in FF (r=−.69, P<.01). The level of TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐10 increased significantly but IL‐23 decreased in FF from patients with PCOS.
Conclusion
The decrease of DC and disturbance of associated cytokines in FF from PCOS patients indicates a disorder of immunological microenvironment of the ovarian follicle, which might be involved in the dysfunction of folliculogenesis.
Transcriptomic analysis plays a key role in biomedical research. Linear dimensionality reduction methods, especially principal-component analysis (PCA), are widely used in detecting sample-to-sample ...heterogeneity, while recently developed non-linear methods, such as t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) and uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP), can efficiently cluster heterogeneous samples in single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. Yet, the application of t-SNE and UMAP in bulk transcriptomic analysis and comparison with conventional methods have not been achieved. We compare four major dimensionality reduction methods (PCA, multidimensional scaling MDS, t-SNE, and UMAP) in analyzing 71 large bulk transcriptomic datasets. UMAP is superior to PCA and MDS but shows some advantages over t-SNE in differentiating batch effects, identifying pre-defined biological groups, and revealing in-depth clusters in two-dimensional space. Importantly, UMAP generates sample clusters uncovering biological features and clinical meaning. We recommend deploying UMAP in visualizing and analyzing sizable bulk transcriptomic datasets to reinforce sample heterogeneity analysis.
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•Four methods, PCA, MDS, t-SNE, and UMAP, are evaluated on 71 bulk transcriptomic datasets•UMAP is overall superior to PCA and MDS and shows some advantages over t-SNE•UMAP can efficiently and effectively reveal clusters in two-dimensional space•Clusters revealed by UMAP are associated with biological features and clinical traits
Yang et al. compare four major dimensionality reduction methods (PCA, MDS, t-SNE, and UMAP) in analyzing large bulk transcriptomic datasets. UMAP is overall superior to PCA and MDS and shows some advantages over t-SNE in differentiating batch effects, identifying pre-defined biological groups, and revealing in-depth clusters in two-dimensional space.
K-ion batteries (KIBs) are drawing increasing research interest as a promising supplement of Li-ion batteries due to the natural abundance of K resource. However, due to the large size of K+, ...high-capacity anodes are challenged by the structural stability of the active materials which are susceptible to large volumetric deformation after incorporating with a sufficient number of K+. Herein, using SnS2/graphene as an example, we demonstrated that high-performance KIBs anode could be achieved through collaborative efforts targeting on both the active material and the prepared electrode film. The electrochemically-active species of SnS2 were controlled into small nanoparticles with their size below 5 nm to provide sufficient reactive sites for K+ storage. Meanwhile, highly-resilient electrode film based on the prepared SnS2/graphene nanocomposite was built on aluminum (Al) current collector rather than the widely-used copper foil, forming a strong anode film with high peel strength to endure the potassiation/depotassiation process. In this way, the active species was able to deliver an extraordinary reversible capacity of 610 mAh g−1 with unprecedented high-rate capability (around 290 mAh g−1 at 2A g−1) and promising cycling stability. This contribution sheds light on the rational design of high-performance electrode for KIBs and beyond.
A High-performance potassium-ion battery anode, which was constructed by building the highly-dispersed sub-5nm SnS2/graphene composite on the lighter and lower-cost Al current collector rather than the widely-used copper foil, could deliver extraordinary capacity (610 mAh g−1), unprecedentedly high-rate capability (around 290 mAh g−1 at 2A g−1), and promising cycling stability. It envisions new perspectives on the rational design of high-performance electrode for KIBs and beyond. Display omitted
•SnS2/graphene with high-dispersity sub-5nm SnS2 nanoparticles was synthesized as K-ion battery anode.•High-peel-strength electrode was designed based on the lower-cost aluminum current collector.•It delivers unprecedentedly high electrochemical performance in K-ion battery.•The feasibility of a K-ion full cell based on dual-Al current collector was demonstrated.
Problem
The phenotypes and functions of B and CD4+ T‐helper cell subsets during chronic inflammation of the endometria remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics ...and functions of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells to understand the pathological mechanisms of chronic endometritis (CE).
Method of study
Eighty patients who underwent hysteroscopic and histopathological examinations for CE were divided into three groups—those with positive results for hysteroscopy and CD138 staining (DP), negative results for hysteroscopy but positive CD138 staining (SP), and negative results for hysteroscopy and CD138 staining (DN). The phenotypes of B cells and CD4+ T‐cell subsets were analyzed using flow cytometry.
Results
CD38+ and CD138+ cells were mainly expressed in the non‐leukocyte population of the endometria, and the endometrial CD19+CD138+ B cells were fewer than the CD3+CD138+ T cells. The percentage of Tfh cells increased with chronic inflammation in the endometria. Additionally, the elevated percentage of Tfh cells correlated with the number of miscarriages.
Conclusions
CD4+ T cells, particularly Tfh cells, may be critical in chronic endometrial inflammation and affect its microenvironment, thereby regulating endometrial receptivity, compared to B cells.
Background
General obesity classified by body mass index has been linked to a reduction in semen quality; however, evidence on the adverse effect of central obesity on semen quality remains limited.
...Objectives
To investigate the association between central obesity and semen quality.
Materials and methods
We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 4513 sperm donation volunteers in Guangdong Provincial Human Sperm Bank during 2018–2021. Three central obesity indicators, including waist circumference, waist‐to‐hip ratio, and waist‐to‐height ratio, were measured using a multi‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis for each subject. Semen analysis was conducted according to the World Health Organization laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen 5th edition. Linear regression models and unconditional logistic regression models were used to quantify the association between central obesity and semen parameters.
Results
With adjustment for age, race, education level, marital status, fertility status, occupation, year of semen collection, abstinence period, ambient temperature, and relative humidity, central obesity defined as waist circumference ≥90 cm, waist‐to‐hip ratio ≥0.9, or waist‐to‐height ratio ≥0.5 was significantly associated with a 0.27 (95% confidence interval: 0.15, 0.38) mL, 14.47 (3.60, 25.34) × 106, 7.06 (0.46, 13.76) × 106, and 6.80 (0.42, 13.18) × 106 reduction in semen volume, total sperm number, total motile sperm number, and total progressive motile sperm number, respectively, and a 53% (10%, 112%) increase in odds of below the World Health Organization 2010 reference value for semen volume. These associations did not significantly vary across age. Similar results were observed for central obesity defined using each of the three indicators, except that subjects with a waist circumference ≥90 cm had a slightly higher total motility (estimated change: 1.30%; 95% confidence interval: 0.27%, 2.34%) and progressive motility (estimated change: 1.27%; 95% confidence interval: 0.23%, 2.31%).
Discussion and conclusion
We found that central obesity was significantly associated with a reduction in semen volume, total sperm number, total motile sperm number, and total progressive motile sperm number. Future studies are warranted to confirm our results in other regions and populations.
Purpose
Implantation is a limiting factor for treatment success in assisted reproduction. Both embryonic and endometrial factors contribute to implantation. Embryonic factors have often been ignored ...in previous studies about the role of endometrium in implantation. In this study, we sought to identify the endometrial genes associated with negative pregnancy outcomes following the transfer of a single euploid blastocyst.
Methods
Computational analyses of the transcriptomes of mid‐secretory endometria from nine pregnant and seven non‐pregnant patients in a cycle preceding the transfer of a single euploid blastocyst in a vitrified‐warmed cycle were performed.
Results
Principal component analysis of two reported endometrial receptivity gene sets showed close clustering of the pregnant and non‐pregnant samples. Differential gene expression analysis and co‐expression module analysis identified 131 genes associated with the pregnancy status. The endometrial signatures identified highlight the importance of immune and metabolic regulation in pregnancy outcome. Network analysis identified 20 hub genes that could predict pregnancy outcomes with 88.9% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity. Single‐cell gene expression analysis highlighted the regulation of endometrial natural killer (NK) cells, T cells, and macrophages during embryo implantation. Immune cell abundance analysis supported the dysregulation of cytotoxic immune cells in the endometria of non‐pregnant women.
Conclusions
We reported the first endometrial gene signature associated with pregnancy after elimination of embryo aneuploidy and highlighted the importance of the endometrial immune microenvironment and metabolic status in pregnancy outcomes.
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