This paper introduces a high-precision bandgap reference(BGR)designed for battery management systems(BMS),fea-turing an ultra-low temperature coefficient(TC)and line sensitivity(LS).The BGR employs a current-mode sche...This paper introduces a high-precision bandgap reference(BGR)designed for battery management systems(BMS),fea-turing an ultra-low temperature coefficient(TC)and line sensitivity(LS).The BGR employs a current-mode scheme with chopped op-amps and internal clock generators to eliminate op-amp offset.A low dropout regulator(LDO)and a pre-regula-tor enhance output driving and LS,respectively.Curvature compensation enhances the TC by addressing higher-order nonlinear-ity.These approaches,effective near room temperature,employs trimming at both 20 and 60°C.When combined with fixed cur-vature correction currents,it achieves an ultra-low TC for each chip.Implemented in a CMOS 180 nm process,the BGR occu-pies 0.548 mm²and operates at 2.5 V with 84μA current draw from a 5 V supply.An average TC of 2.69 ppm/℃ with two-point trimming and 0.81 ppm/℃ with multi-point trimming are achieved over the temperature range of-40 to 125℃.It accommo-dates a load current of 1 mA and an LS of 42 ppm/V,making it suitable for precise BMS applications.展开更多
BACKGROUND Pepsinogen(PG)and the PG I/II ratio(PGR)are critical indicators for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic atrophic gastritis,and assessing gastric cancer risk.Existing reference intervals(RIs...BACKGROUND Pepsinogen(PG)and the PG I/II ratio(PGR)are critical indicators for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic atrophic gastritis,and assessing gastric cancer risk.Existing reference intervals(RIs)often overlook age,sex,and demographic variations.Partitioned RIs,while considering these factors,fail to capture the gradual age-related physiological changes.Next-generation RIs offer a solution to this limitation.AIM To investigate age-and sex-specific dynamics of PG and establish next-generation RIs for adults and the elderly in northern China.METHODS After screening,708 healthy individuals were included in this observational study.Serum PG was measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay.Age-and sex-related effects on PG were analyzed with a two-way analysis of variance.RI partitioning was determined by the standard deviation ratio(SDR).Traditional RIs were established using a non-parametric approach.Generalized Additive Models for Location,Scale,and Shape(GAMLSS)modeled age-related trends and continuous reference percentiles for PG I and PG II.Reference limit flagging rates for both RI types were compared.RESULTS PG I and PG II levels were influenced by age(P<0.001)and sex(P<0.001),while PGR remained stable.Age-specific RIs were required for PG I(SDR=0.366)and PG II(SDR=0.424).Partitioned RIs were established for PG I and PG II,with a single RI for PGR.GAMLSS modeling revealed distinct age-dependent trajectories:PG I increased from a median of 39.75μg/L at age 20 years to 49.75μg/L at age 60 years,a 25.16%increase,after which it plateaued through age 80 years.In contrast,PG II showed a continuous rise throughout the age range,with the median value increasing from 5.07μg/L at age 20 years to 8.36μg/L at age 80 years,corresponding to a 64.89%increase.Continuous reference percentiles intuitively reflected these trends and were detailed in this study.Next-generation RIs demonstrated superior accuracy compared to partitioned RIs when applied to specific age subgroups.CONCLUSION This study elucidates the age-and sex-specific dynamics of PG and,to our knowledge,is the first to establish next-generation RIs for PG,supporting more individualized interpretation in laboratory medicine.展开更多
Reference Evapotranspiration(ETo)iswidely used to assess totalwater loss between land and atmosphere due to its importance in maintaining the atmospheric water balance,especially in agricultural and environmental mana...Reference Evapotranspiration(ETo)iswidely used to assess totalwater loss between land and atmosphere due to its importance in maintaining the atmospheric water balance,especially in agricultural and environmental management.Accurate estimation of ETo is challenging due to its dependency onmultiple climatic variables,including temperature,humidity,and solar radiation,making it a complexmultivariate time-series problem.Traditional machine learning and deep learning models have been applied to forecast ETo,achieving moderate success.However,the introduction of transformer-based architectures in time-series forecasting has opened new possibilities formore precise ETo predictions.In this study,a novel algorithm for ETo forecasting is proposed,focusing on four transformer-based models:Vanilla Transformer,Informer,Autoformer,and FEDformer(Frequency Enhanced Decomposed Transformer),applied to an ETo dataset from the Andalusian region.The novelty of the proposed algorithm lies in determining optimized window sizes based on seasonal trends and variations,which were then used with each model to enhance prediction accuracy.This custom window-sizing method allows the models to capture ETo’s unique seasonal patterns more effectively.Finally,results demonstrate that the Informer model outperformed other transformer-based models,achievingmean square error(MSE)values of 0.1404 and 0.1445 for forecast windows(15,7)and(30,15),respectively.The Vanilla Transformer also showed strong performance,closely following the Informermodel.These findings suggest that the proposed optimized window-sizing approach,combined with transformer-based architectures,is highly effective for ETo modelling.This novel strategy has the potential to be adapted in othermultivariate time-series forecasting tasks that require seasonality-sensitive approaches.展开更多
This brief presents a cryogenic voltage reference circuit designed to operate effectively across a wide temperature range from 30 to 300 K.A key feature of the proposed design is utilizing a current subtraction techni...This brief presents a cryogenic voltage reference circuit designed to operate effectively across a wide temperature range from 30 to 300 K.A key feature of the proposed design is utilizing a current subtraction technique for temperature compensation of the reference current,avoiding the deployment of bipolar transistors to reduce area and power consumption.Implemented with a 0.18-μm CMOS process,the circuit achieves a temperature coefficient(TC)of 67.5 ppm/K,which was not achieved in previous works.The design can also attain a power supply rejection(PSR)of 58 d B at 10 k Hz.Meanwhile,the average reference voltage is 1.2 V within a 1.6%3σ-accuracy spread.Additionally,the design is characterized by a minimal power dissipation of 1μW at 30 K and a compact chip area of 0.0035 mm~2.展开更多
BACKGROUND The reference ranges for biochemical parameters can fluctuate due to factors like altitude,age,gender,and socioeconomic conditions.These values are crucial for interpreting laboratory data and guide clinica...BACKGROUND The reference ranges for biochemical parameters can fluctuate due to factors like altitude,age,gender,and socioeconomic conditions.These values are crucial for interpreting laboratory data and guide clinical treatment decisions.Currently,there is no established set of reference intervals for cord blood biochemical parameters of newborns in India,particularly in Mumbai.AIM To create cord blood biochemical parameters reference intervals specifically for Mumbai,India.METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in an Indian tertiary care hospital.This study focused on healthy newborns with normal birth weight,born to pregnant mothers without health issues.Cord blood samples,approximately 2-3 mL in volume,were collected from 210 term neonates.These samples were divided into fluoride(glucose)and clot activator(serum)tubes and were subsequently analyzed in the institute's biochemical laboratory.The data obtained from the analysis was then subjected to statistical analysis.The result of the Shapiro-Wilk test suggested non-normality in the data distribution.Consequently,nonparametric statistics were utilized for analysis.The Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to compare parameter distributions among different factors,including the infant’s sex,delivery method,maternal age,and obstetric history.A significance level of P<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.RESULTS The following represent the median figures and central 95 percentile reference intervals for biochemical parameters in umbilical cord blood of newborns:Serum direct bilirubin=(0.1-0.55)mg/dL,indirect bilirubin=(0.64-2.26)mg/dL,total bilirubin=(0.62-3.14)mg/dL,creatinine=(0.27-0.76)mg/dL,sodium=(128.19-143.26)mmol/L,chloride=(100.19-111.68)mmol/L,potassium=(1.62-9.98)mmol/L and plasma glucose=(24.75-94.23)mg/dL.Statistically significant differences were observed in serum sodium,potassium,and plasma glucose levels when comparing delivery modes.CONCLUSION This is the pioneering study in which first time,the biochemical reference intervals in cord blood for newborns are established in western India.The values are applicable for newborns from this area.Larger study throughout the country is required.展开更多
Sulfur isotopes of S-bearing materials are powerful tools to trace various geological processes and sulfur sources in earth sciences,especially in ore deposits where sulfide-sulfate pair coprecipitates widely.However,...Sulfur isotopes of S-bearing materials are powerful tools to trace various geological processes and sulfur sources in earth sciences,especially in ore deposits where sulfide-sulfate pair coprecipitates widely.However,in-situ S isotope determination of barite is challenging without natural matrix-matched reference material.In this study,we present two natural barite reference materials(1-YS and 294-YS)for in-situ sulfur isotopic analysis.Independent LA-MC-ICP-MS laboratories were utilized to test theδ34S micron-scale homogeneity of 1-YS and 294-YS barites that have 2s repeatabilities of better than±0.45‰and±0.41‰,respectively.Meanwhile,the in-situ analysis results are consistent with the results of the bulk analysis by GS-IRMS within uncertainty.The grand meanδ~(34)S values of 1-YS(13.37‰±0.42‰,2s)and 294-YS(14.38‰±0.44‰,2s)are the final recommended values obtained from four independent laboratories.All the results confirm the suitability of 1-YS and 294-YS barite used as calibration materials with respect to in-situ S isotopic analysis.Moreover,the new developed barite reference materials were used as matrix-matched standard to calibrate the barite samples from the Huayangchuan carbonatite-hosted U-polymetallic deposit(Qinling orogenic belt,western China)to obtainδ34S values.Utilizing the temperaturedependentδ34S fractionation of barite-pyrite pair,we calculate the formation temperature of barite(i.e.,506 to 537°C)and theδ34S value of mineralizing fluid(i.e.,-7.11‰to-7.59‰)in the Huayangchuan deposit.The results indicate an involvement of sedimentary sulfur,presumably acting as a potential uranium source(e.g.,upper crustal materials)for the giant Huayangchuan deposit.展开更多
Carbonaceous aerosol,including organic carbon(OC)and elemental carbon(EC),has significant influence on human health,air quality and climate change.Accurate measurement of carbonaceous aerosol is essential to reduce th...Carbonaceous aerosol,including organic carbon(OC)and elemental carbon(EC),has significant influence on human health,air quality and climate change.Accurate measurement of carbonaceous aerosol is essential to reduce the uncertainty of radiative forcing estimation and source apportionment.The accurate separation of OC and EC is controversial due to the charring of OC.Therefore,the development of reference materials(RM)for the validation of OC/EC separation is an important basis for further study.Previous RMs were mainly based on ambient air sampling,which could not provide traceability of OC and EC concentration.To develop traceable RMs with known OC/EC contents,our study applied an improved aerosol generation and mixing technique,providing uniform deposition of particles on quartz filters.To generate OC aerosol with similar pyrolytic property of ambient aerosol,both water soluble organic carbon(WSOC)and water insoluble organic carbon(WIOC)were used,and amorphous carbon was selected for EC surrogate.The RMs were analyzed using different protocols.The homogeneity within the filter was validated,reaching below 2%.The long-term stability of RMs has been validated with RSD ranged from 1.7%–3.2%.Good correlationwas observed between nominal concentration of RMswithmeasured concentration by two protocols,while the difference of EC concentration was within 20%.The results indicated that the newly developed RMs were acceptable for the calibration of OC and EC,which could improve the accuracy of carbonaceous aerosol measurement.Moreover,the laboratory-generated EC-RMs could be suitable for the calibration of equivalent BC concentration by Aethalometers.展开更多
Bamboo was one of the first plants to be cultivated in China and is widely used in industry and daily life.The study of gene function has become an important part of bamboo breeding,whereas quantitative real-time PCR(...Bamboo was one of the first plants to be cultivated in China and is widely used in industry and daily life.The study of gene function has become an important part of bamboo breeding,whereas quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)is a powerful tool for gene expression analysis.The accuracy of qRT-PCR results largely depends on suitable reference genes.In this study,a transcriptome-wide identification of reference genes was conducted based on 447 transcriptome datasets,comprising 200 tissue samples,107 treated samples,and 140 samples from various moso bamboo(Phyllostachys edulis)forms.A total of 3444,1013,and 3962 stably expressed genes were identified from these three groups,respectively.Functional enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of these genes in pathways,including the spliceosome,proteasome,and oxidative phosphorylation.Eight candidate genes(ADPRE,GAPDH,TRX,TUBA,NRP,MBF,UNK,and CAM1),were selected for qRT-PCR validation using 112 samples.To assess their stability,five statistical methods(geNorm,NormFinder,BestKeeper,Delta-Ct,and RefFinder)were employed.The most suitable reference genes were ADPRE and GAPDH for different tissues,GAPDH and CAM1 for different treatments,and GAPDH and TRX for various moso bamboo forms.Overall,ADPRE and GAPDH were the most stable reference genes across all conditions,while TUBA and TRX were the least stable reference genes.In addition,a significant negative correlation was found between the Ct values of RT-qPCR and the log2TPM values from the transcriptome data(Ct=-1.534x+37.221),providing a potential method for estimating gene expression levels.The identified reference genes,particularly ADPRE and GAPDH,provide a robust set of references for gene expression studies in moso bamboo.展开更多
To solve the problem of the lack of reference material(RM)for determination of allergenic ingredients in food,a RM of cashew nut powder was developed in the study.Cashew nut powder was prepared from cashew nut kernel ...To solve the problem of the lack of reference material(RM)for determination of allergenic ingredients in food,a RM of cashew nut powder was developed in the study.Cashew nut powder was prepared from cashew nut kernel by selecting,cleaning,crushing,n-hexane degreasing and sieving treatment.The reliability and traceability of RM was verified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and phylogenetic tree analysis.The cashew nut powder RM showed good homogeneity,and good stability under long-term storage at 4℃and short-term simulated transportation from-20 to 45℃.The RM was determined jointly by 8 collaborative laboratories,and the characteristic CT value was 24.732,and the extended uncertainty was 1.052%(k=2).The RM was applied to verify the amplification efficiency and the limit of detection for qPCR assay,and showed good applicability.The RM could be used for method validation and quality control,for the determination of allergenic ingredients in food mixed with trace amounts of cashew nut.展开更多
Computed tomography is an indispensable X-ray imaging modality used to diagnose numerous pathologies, but it can also involve the delivery of high ionizing radiation doses harmful to the health of patients. This study...Computed tomography is an indispensable X-ray imaging modality used to diagnose numerous pathologies, but it can also involve the delivery of high ionizing radiation doses harmful to the health of patients. This study aims to survey the level of radiation doses delivered to child patients during head exams in CT imaging to set up the Dosimetric Reference Levels (DRLs), a routine dose optimization tool, based on data acquired at the University Hospital of Angré (UHA), the University Hospital of Treichville (UHT) and the Polyclinic Hospital Farah (Farah) for optimizing procedures in Ivorian hospitals. Prospectively performed on 334 CT images of 186 child patients, this study was carried out on CT systems such as Hitachi Scenaria, Sinovision Insitum, and Philips Incisive used respectively at UHA, UHT and Farah. Children’s scan data were classified into four age bands: vol or dose-length product as DLP) value, whatever the hospital, increases with respect to the age of child patients. Based on the 75th percentile of the whole dose distributions, the DRLs of the CTDIvol is 54.37 mGy whatever the age groups and those of the DLP with respect to age bands are 1224.55 mGy∙cm, 1414.06 mGy∙cm, 1632.24 mGy.cm and 1544.57 mGy∙cm, respectively. The averaged values of CTDIvol and DLP smaller than the corresponding DRLs values suggest that practices in our three facilities are optimized. However, comparing our results with those from different international studies, we see that the CTDIvol and DLP values obtained in the present work are higher. These results suggest additional surveys to ensure our DRLs values and efforts from radiologists, imaging technicians and medical physicists to strengthen clinical procedures for the radiation protection of children undergoing CT scans in Côte d’Ivoire.展开更多
The use of a stable reference gene is fundamental for achieving reliable quantitative qRT-PCR (qPCR) results. Developing and evaluating the stability of reference genes is necessary for studying the molecular mechanis...The use of a stable reference gene is fundamental for achieving reliable quantitative qRT-PCR (qPCR) results. Developing and evaluating the stability of reference genes is necessary for studying the molecular mechanisms of M. transitoria in response to drought stress. In this study, 18 candidate reference genes were selected from transcriptome sequencing data of M. transitoria according to their FPKM values under different drought stress degrees. Cluster-23533.34641 was identified as the most stable reference gene for M. transitoria under drought stress based on qPCR results and combined analysis of Genorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and Delta Ct algorithms. The reference genes identified in this research offer improved accuracy for quantifying target gene expression in both M. transitoria and Malus species under drought stress. This study could provide insights into the drought stress-related functional gene or factor in M. transitoria, even in Malus species.展开更多
The Reference Listed drug(RLD)plays a critical role in the development and research of generic medicinal products,serving as the comparator product used in the marketing authorization application of new generic medici...The Reference Listed drug(RLD)plays a critical role in the development and research of generic medicinal products,serving as the comparator product used in the marketing authorization application of new generic medicinal product and re-evaluation of generic medicinal product.In China,RLDs are sourced from various origins,but their quality and market availability can be constrained by multiple factors,including emergent issues such as nitrosamine impurities.Five classes of medicinal products have been reported to be at risk for containing nitrosamine impurities:sartan-based medicines,metformin-containing products,ranitidine medicines,rifampicin medicines,and Champix.This paper explores the control strategies implemented by drug regulatory agencies in the United States and the European Union to manage nitrosamine impurities and assesses their impact on the market availability and quality of RLDs in China.The aim is to offer valuable insights for generic drug manufacturers and regulatory bodies both domestically and internationally.展开更多
Reference crop evapotranspiration(ET_(0)) is essential for determining crop water requirements and developing irrigation strategies.In this study,ET_(0) was calculated via the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith model,and the spat...Reference crop evapotranspiration(ET_(0)) is essential for determining crop water requirements and developing irrigation strategies.In this study,ET_(0) was calculated via the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith model,and the spatiotemporal variations in ET_(0) over China from 1960 to 2019 were analyzed.We then quantified the contributions of five driving factors(air temperature,wind speed,relative humidity,sunshine hours,and CO_(2) concentration)to the ET_(0) trends via a detrending experiment.The results revealed that nationwide ET_(0) showed no significant(p>0.05)decreasing trend from 1960 to 2019,with a trend of−8.56×10^(−2)mm a^(−2).The average temperature and wind speed were identified as the dominant factors affecting ET_(0)trends at the national scale.The contributions of the driving factors to the ET_(0) trends were ranked in the following order:average temperature(21.3%)>wind speed(−15.63%)>sunshine hours(−11.99%)>CO_(2) concentration(6.36%)>relative humidity(3.58%).Spatially,the dominant factors influencing the ET_(0) trends varied widely.In the southeastern region,average temperature and sunshine hours dominated the trends of ET_(0),whereas wind speed and average temperature were the dominant factors in the northwestern region.The findings provide valuable insights into the dominant factors affecting ET_(0)trends in China and highlight the importance of considering different driving factors in calculating crop water requirements.展开更多
Introduction: Childbirth on a scarred uterus is a major issue for health centers, especially peripheral, due to the major obstetric risks it presents. The objectives were to evaluate the frequency, route of delivery a...Introduction: Childbirth on a scarred uterus is a major issue for health centers, especially peripheral, due to the major obstetric risks it presents. The objectives were to evaluate the frequency, route of delivery and maternal-fetal prognosis of this type of delivery at csref of Kolondiéba. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study for one year (1 January 2023-31 December 2023). All patients admitted to the maternity ward of the center with at least one uterine scar and treated in the center were included. We extracted data from partograms, OR records, birth records and obstetric records. Input was done on Excel 2010 and analysis on SPSS.23. Results: The frequency of scarring uterus was 16.8% (217/1285 births). The average age was 27. Pauciparous were most represented (59%). Patients were received from community health centers (44.7%). Prenatal consultation sessions (1 - 3 sessions) were performed at (64.9%). Uterine scars were obstetric in (99%). The cesarean section was performed immediately in (59.4%), it was prophylactic in 17%. The uterine test was attempted in (25.34%) with (69%) success. We recorded 3.6% uterine ruptures, 8.7% postoperative complications, 5.5% stillbirths and one maternal death (0.46%). Conclusion: Births on a scarred uterus are frequent and associated with a high rate of complications.展开更多
The Metal Stable Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory(MSIGL)at the University of Science and Technology of China has developed state-of-the-art analytical methods for twelve stable isotope systems,including Mg,Si,V,Fe,Cu,Z...The Metal Stable Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory(MSIGL)at the University of Science and Technology of China has developed state-of-the-art analytical methods for twelve stable isotope systems,including Mg,Si,V,Fe,Cu,Zn,Rb,Sr,Ag,Cd,Ba,and U.Geological and biological samples were first digested by acid dissolution or alkali dissolution.The target element was subsequently purified by the column chromatography method.A Neptune Plus MC-ICP-MS was used to measure isotope compositions and the isotope bias caused during measurements was calibrated by standard bracketing and/or the double spike method.The analytical procedure was carefully checked to ensure the high precision and accuracy of the data.Here,we summarized the protocol of these established methods and compiled the standard data measured at our lab as well as those reported in literature.This comprehensive dataset can serve as a reliable benchmark for calibration,method validation,and quality assurance in metal stable isotope analyses.展开更多
The purpose of this research was to evaluate radiological safety in pediatric radiology in hospitals in the Kongo Central province of the DRC. To this end, we surveyed a convenience sample of 50 health professionals, ...The purpose of this research was to evaluate radiological safety in pediatric radiology in hospitals in the Kongo Central province of the DRC. To this end, we surveyed a convenience sample of 50 health professionals, including 10 radiologists working in the hospitals covered by the survey, to assess the practice of pediatric radiology and the degree of compliance with radiation protection principles for the safety of children and the environment. We collected radiophysical parameters to calculate entrance doses in pediatric radiology in radiology departments to determine the dosimetric level by comparison with the diagnostic reference levels of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). All in all, we found that in Kongo Central in the DRC, many health personnel surveyed reported that more than 30% of requested radiological examinations are not justified. Also, after comparing the entrance doses produced in the surveyed departments with those of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), a statistically significant difference was found in pediatric radiology between the average doses in five out of six surveyed departments and those of the ICRP. Therefore, almost all of the surveyed departments were found to be highly irradiating in children, while excessive X-ray irradiation in children can have significant effects due to their increased sensitivity to radiation. Among the risks are: increased cancer risks, damage to developing cells, potential genetic effects, and neurological effects. This is why support for implementing radiation protection principles is a necessity to promote the safety of patients and the environment against the harmful effects of X-rays in conventional radiology.展开更多
Digital twin is currently undergoing a significant transformation from the conceptual and theoretical research phase to the implementation and application phase.However,a universally adaptable research and development...Digital twin is currently undergoing a significant transformation from the conceptual and theoretical research phase to the implementation and application phase.However,a universally adaptable research and development platform for digital twin is critically needed to meet the development requirements.Specifically,a publicly accessible simulation,testing,and validation platform which can support digital twin model building,data processing,algorithm design,configuration,etc.,is urgently required for researchers.Furthermore,for developers from the industry,a lowcode development platform that can offer a customizable suite of functions such as model creation,data management,protocol configuration,and visualization is urgently needed.Meanwhile,for enterprise users,there is a lack of an application management platform that can be configured and migrated for various application scenarios,functions,and modes.Therefore,based on the system research of digital twin theories and key technologies by the authors(such as the five-dimension digital twin model,digital twin modeling and digital twin data theory,digital twin standards,and so on),a digital twin software platform reference architecture,namely make Twin,is proposed and designed,as well as its ten core functions.The workflow of the make Twin and the interaction mechanisms among its core functions are described.Finally,a digital twin application system for a chemical fiber textile shop floor(CFTS)which was developed according to make Twin,is introduced,which validates the proposed reference architecture.展开更多
Necrozoospermia is a poorly documented condition with a low incidence,and its definition and clinical significance are unclear.Herein,we provide a reference range for necrozoospermia and discuss its possible etiology ...Necrozoospermia is a poorly documented condition with a low incidence,and its definition and clinical significance are unclear.Herein,we provide a reference range for necrozoospermia and discuss its possible etiology and impact on male fertility and assisted reproductive outcomes.We extracted relevant information from 650 Chinese male partners of infertile couples and statistically analyzed sperm vitality.Necrozoospermia was present in 3.4%(22/650)of our study population,and the lower cut-off value for sperm vitality was 75.3%.We compared two methods for assessing sperm vitality(eosin-nigrosin head staining and hypo-osmotic swelling test[HOST]),for which the percentage in the eosin-nigrosin group(mean±standard deviation[s.d.]:77.5%±10.5%)was significantly higher than that in the HOST group(mean±s.d.:58.1%±6.7%[5-10 min after incubation]and 55.6%±8.2%[25-30 min after incubation];both P<0.001).The incidence of necrozoospermia increased with age(odds ratio[OR]=1.116,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.048-1.189,P=0.001),while the percentage of normal sperm morphology and DNA fragmentation index(DFI)were significantly associated with necrozoospermia,with ORs of 0.691(95%CI:0.511-0.935,P=0.017)and 1.281(95%CI:1.180-1.390,P<0.001),respectively.In the following 6 months,we recruited 166 patients in the nonnecrozoospermia group and 87 patients in the necrozoospermia group to compare intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)and pregnancy outcomes between the two groups.The necrozoospermia group had a significantly lower normal fertilization rate(74.7%vs 78.2%,P=0.041;OR=0.822;95%CI:0.682-0.992)than that in the nonnecrozoospermia group.This study presents substantial information on necrozoospermia to establish comprehensive and applicable reference values for sperm vitality for spontaneous conception and artificially assisted reproductive management.展开更多
Sperm head morphology is crucial for male factor infertility diagnosis and assessment of male reproductive potential.Severalcriteria are available to analyze sperm head morphology,but they are limited by poor methodol...Sperm head morphology is crucial for male factor infertility diagnosis and assessment of male reproductive potential.Severalcriteria are available to analyze sperm head morphology,but they are limited by poor methodology comparability and populationapplicability.This study aimed to explore comprehensive and new normal morphometric reference values for spermatozoa heads infertile Asian males.An automated sperm morphology analysis system captured 23152 stained spermatozoa from confirmed fertilemales.Of these samples,1856 sperm head images were annotated by three experienced laboratory technicians as“normal”.Weemployed 14 novel morphometric features to describe sperm head size(head length,head width,length/width ratio,and girth),shape(ellipse intersection over union,girth intersection over union,short-axis symmetry,and long-axis symmetry),area(head,acrosome,postacrosomal areas,and acrosome area ratio),and degrees of acrosome and nuclear uniformity.This straight-forwardmethod for the morphometric analysis of sperm by accurate visual measurements is clinically applicable.The measured parameterspresent valuable information to establish morphometric reference intervals for normal sperm heads in fertile Asian males.Thepresented detailed measurement data will be valuable for interlaboratory comparisons and technician training.In vitro fertilizationand andrology laboratory technicians can use these parameters to perform objective morphology evaluation when assessing malefertilization potential.展开更多
BACKGROUND Validation of the reference gene(RG)stability during experimental analyses is essential for correct quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)data normalisation.Commonly,in an unreliable way,...BACKGROUND Validation of the reference gene(RG)stability during experimental analyses is essential for correct quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)data normalisation.Commonly,in an unreliable way,several studies use genes involved in essential cellular functions[glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydro-genase(GAPDH),18S rRNA,andβ-actin]without paying attention to whether they are suitable for such experimental conditions or the reason for choosing such genes.Furthermore,such studies use only one gene when Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments guidelines recom-mend two or more genes.It impacts the credibility of these studies and causes dis-tortions in the gene expression findings.For tissue engineering,the accuracy of gene expression drives the best experimental or therapeutical approaches.We cultivated DPSCs under two conditions:Undifferentiated and osteogenic dif-ferentiation,both for 35 d.We evaluated the gene expression of 10 candidates for RGs[ribosomal protein,large,P0(RPLP0),TATA-binding protein(TBP),GAPDH,actin beta(ACTB),tubulin(TUB),aminolevulinic acid synthase 1(ALAS1),tyro-sine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein,zeta(YWHAZ),eukaryotic translational elongation factor 1 alpha(EF1a),succinate dehydrogenase complex,subunit A,flavoprotein(SDHA),and beta-2-micro-globulin(B2M)]every 7 d(1,7,14,21,28,and 35 d)by RT-qPCR.The data were analysed by the four main algorithms,ΔCt method,geNorm,NormFinder,and BestKeeper and ranked by the RefFinder method.We subdivided the samples into eight subgroups.RESULTS All of the data sets from clonogenic and osteogenic samples were analysed using the RefFinder algorithm.The final ranking showed RPLP0/TBP as the two most stable RGs and TUB/B2M as the two least stable RGs.Either theΔCt method or NormFinder analysis showed TBP/RPLP0 as the two most stable genes.However,geNorm analysis showed RPLP0/EF1αin the first place.These algorithms’two least stable RGs were B2M/GAPDH.For BestKeeper,ALAS1 was ranked as the most stable RG,and SDHA as the least stable RG.The pair RPLP0/TBP was detected in most subgroups as the most stable RGs,following the RefFinfer ranking.CONCLUSION For the first time,we show that RPLP0/TBP are the most stable RGs,whereas TUB/B2M are unstable RGs for long-term osteogenic differentiation of human DPSCs in traditional monolayers.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)under grant No.62204235。
文摘This paper introduces a high-precision bandgap reference(BGR)designed for battery management systems(BMS),fea-turing an ultra-low temperature coefficient(TC)and line sensitivity(LS).The BGR employs a current-mode scheme with chopped op-amps and internal clock generators to eliminate op-amp offset.A low dropout regulator(LDO)and a pre-regula-tor enhance output driving and LS,respectively.Curvature compensation enhances the TC by addressing higher-order nonlinear-ity.These approaches,effective near room temperature,employs trimming at both 20 and 60°C.When combined with fixed cur-vature correction currents,it achieves an ultra-low TC for each chip.Implemented in a CMOS 180 nm process,the BGR occu-pies 0.548 mm²and operates at 2.5 V with 84μA current draw from a 5 V supply.An average TC of 2.69 ppm/℃ with two-point trimming and 0.81 ppm/℃ with multi-point trimming are achieved over the temperature range of-40 to 125℃.It accommo-dates a load current of 1 mA and an LS of 42 ppm/V,making it suitable for precise BMS applications.
文摘BACKGROUND Pepsinogen(PG)and the PG I/II ratio(PGR)are critical indicators for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic atrophic gastritis,and assessing gastric cancer risk.Existing reference intervals(RIs)often overlook age,sex,and demographic variations.Partitioned RIs,while considering these factors,fail to capture the gradual age-related physiological changes.Next-generation RIs offer a solution to this limitation.AIM To investigate age-and sex-specific dynamics of PG and establish next-generation RIs for adults and the elderly in northern China.METHODS After screening,708 healthy individuals were included in this observational study.Serum PG was measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay.Age-and sex-related effects on PG were analyzed with a two-way analysis of variance.RI partitioning was determined by the standard deviation ratio(SDR).Traditional RIs were established using a non-parametric approach.Generalized Additive Models for Location,Scale,and Shape(GAMLSS)modeled age-related trends and continuous reference percentiles for PG I and PG II.Reference limit flagging rates for both RI types were compared.RESULTS PG I and PG II levels were influenced by age(P<0.001)and sex(P<0.001),while PGR remained stable.Age-specific RIs were required for PG I(SDR=0.366)and PG II(SDR=0.424).Partitioned RIs were established for PG I and PG II,with a single RI for PGR.GAMLSS modeling revealed distinct age-dependent trajectories:PG I increased from a median of 39.75μg/L at age 20 years to 49.75μg/L at age 60 years,a 25.16%increase,after which it plateaued through age 80 years.In contrast,PG II showed a continuous rise throughout the age range,with the median value increasing from 5.07μg/L at age 20 years to 8.36μg/L at age 80 years,corresponding to a 64.89%increase.Continuous reference percentiles intuitively reflected these trends and were detailed in this study.Next-generation RIs demonstrated superior accuracy compared to partitioned RIs when applied to specific age subgroups.CONCLUSION This study elucidates the age-and sex-specific dynamics of PG and,to our knowledge,is the first to establish next-generation RIs for PG,supporting more individualized interpretation in laboratory medicine.
基金funded by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University and Researchers Supporting Project number(PNURSP2024R136),Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘Reference Evapotranspiration(ETo)iswidely used to assess totalwater loss between land and atmosphere due to its importance in maintaining the atmospheric water balance,especially in agricultural and environmental management.Accurate estimation of ETo is challenging due to its dependency onmultiple climatic variables,including temperature,humidity,and solar radiation,making it a complexmultivariate time-series problem.Traditional machine learning and deep learning models have been applied to forecast ETo,achieving moderate success.However,the introduction of transformer-based architectures in time-series forecasting has opened new possibilities formore precise ETo predictions.In this study,a novel algorithm for ETo forecasting is proposed,focusing on four transformer-based models:Vanilla Transformer,Informer,Autoformer,and FEDformer(Frequency Enhanced Decomposed Transformer),applied to an ETo dataset from the Andalusian region.The novelty of the proposed algorithm lies in determining optimized window sizes based on seasonal trends and variations,which were then used with each model to enhance prediction accuracy.This custom window-sizing method allows the models to capture ETo’s unique seasonal patterns more effectively.Finally,results demonstrate that the Informer model outperformed other transformer-based models,achievingmean square error(MSE)values of 0.1404 and 0.1445 for forecast windows(15,7)and(30,15),respectively.The Vanilla Transformer also showed strong performance,closely following the Informermodel.These findings suggest that the proposed optimized window-sizing approach,combined with transformer-based architectures,is highly effective for ETo modelling.This novel strategy has the potential to be adapted in othermultivariate time-series forecasting tasks that require seasonality-sensitive approaches.
基金supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFA0715503)。
文摘This brief presents a cryogenic voltage reference circuit designed to operate effectively across a wide temperature range from 30 to 300 K.A key feature of the proposed design is utilizing a current subtraction technique for temperature compensation of the reference current,avoiding the deployment of bipolar transistors to reduce area and power consumption.Implemented with a 0.18-μm CMOS process,the circuit achieves a temperature coefficient(TC)of 67.5 ppm/K,which was not achieved in previous works.The design can also attain a power supply rejection(PSR)of 58 d B at 10 k Hz.Meanwhile,the average reference voltage is 1.2 V within a 1.6%3σ-accuracy spread.Additionally,the design is characterized by a minimal power dissipation of 1μW at 30 K and a compact chip area of 0.0035 mm~2.
文摘BACKGROUND The reference ranges for biochemical parameters can fluctuate due to factors like altitude,age,gender,and socioeconomic conditions.These values are crucial for interpreting laboratory data and guide clinical treatment decisions.Currently,there is no established set of reference intervals for cord blood biochemical parameters of newborns in India,particularly in Mumbai.AIM To create cord blood biochemical parameters reference intervals specifically for Mumbai,India.METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in an Indian tertiary care hospital.This study focused on healthy newborns with normal birth weight,born to pregnant mothers without health issues.Cord blood samples,approximately 2-3 mL in volume,were collected from 210 term neonates.These samples were divided into fluoride(glucose)and clot activator(serum)tubes and were subsequently analyzed in the institute's biochemical laboratory.The data obtained from the analysis was then subjected to statistical analysis.The result of the Shapiro-Wilk test suggested non-normality in the data distribution.Consequently,nonparametric statistics were utilized for analysis.The Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to compare parameter distributions among different factors,including the infant’s sex,delivery method,maternal age,and obstetric history.A significance level of P<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.RESULTS The following represent the median figures and central 95 percentile reference intervals for biochemical parameters in umbilical cord blood of newborns:Serum direct bilirubin=(0.1-0.55)mg/dL,indirect bilirubin=(0.64-2.26)mg/dL,total bilirubin=(0.62-3.14)mg/dL,creatinine=(0.27-0.76)mg/dL,sodium=(128.19-143.26)mmol/L,chloride=(100.19-111.68)mmol/L,potassium=(1.62-9.98)mmol/L and plasma glucose=(24.75-94.23)mg/dL.Statistically significant differences were observed in serum sodium,potassium,and plasma glucose levels when comparing delivery modes.CONCLUSION This is the pioneering study in which first time,the biochemical reference intervals in cord blood for newborns are established in western India.The values are applicable for newborns from this area.Larger study throughout the country is required.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42003014,42363004,42073051,42303023)Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation(No.20232BAB213070)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(No.ZR2022QD050)。
文摘Sulfur isotopes of S-bearing materials are powerful tools to trace various geological processes and sulfur sources in earth sciences,especially in ore deposits where sulfide-sulfate pair coprecipitates widely.However,in-situ S isotope determination of barite is challenging without natural matrix-matched reference material.In this study,we present two natural barite reference materials(1-YS and 294-YS)for in-situ sulfur isotopic analysis.Independent LA-MC-ICP-MS laboratories were utilized to test theδ34S micron-scale homogeneity of 1-YS and 294-YS barites that have 2s repeatabilities of better than±0.45‰and±0.41‰,respectively.Meanwhile,the in-situ analysis results are consistent with the results of the bulk analysis by GS-IRMS within uncertainty.The grand meanδ~(34)S values of 1-YS(13.37‰±0.42‰,2s)and 294-YS(14.38‰±0.44‰,2s)are the final recommended values obtained from four independent laboratories.All the results confirm the suitability of 1-YS and 294-YS barite used as calibration materials with respect to in-situ S isotopic analysis.Moreover,the new developed barite reference materials were used as matrix-matched standard to calibrate the barite samples from the Huayangchuan carbonatite-hosted U-polymetallic deposit(Qinling orogenic belt,western China)to obtainδ34S values.Utilizing the temperaturedependentδ34S fractionation of barite-pyrite pair,we calculate the formation temperature of barite(i.e.,506 to 537°C)and theδ34S value of mineralizing fluid(i.e.,-7.11‰to-7.59‰)in the Huayangchuan deposit.The results indicate an involvement of sedimentary sulfur,presumably acting as a potential uranium source(e.g.,upper crustal materials)for the giant Huayangchuan deposit.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22206180)the funds for establishing basic quality and technology capabilities(No.ANL2203)the special fund for basic scientific research business of central public research institutes(No.AKYZD2207-4)。
文摘Carbonaceous aerosol,including organic carbon(OC)and elemental carbon(EC),has significant influence on human health,air quality and climate change.Accurate measurement of carbonaceous aerosol is essential to reduce the uncertainty of radiative forcing estimation and source apportionment.The accurate separation of OC and EC is controversial due to the charring of OC.Therefore,the development of reference materials(RM)for the validation of OC/EC separation is an important basis for further study.Previous RMs were mainly based on ambient air sampling,which could not provide traceability of OC and EC concentration.To develop traceable RMs with known OC/EC contents,our study applied an improved aerosol generation and mixing technique,providing uniform deposition of particles on quartz filters.To generate OC aerosol with similar pyrolytic property of ambient aerosol,both water soluble organic carbon(WSOC)and water insoluble organic carbon(WIOC)were used,and amorphous carbon was selected for EC surrogate.The RMs were analyzed using different protocols.The homogeneity within the filter was validated,reaching below 2%.The long-term stability of RMs has been validated with RSD ranged from 1.7%–3.2%.Good correlationwas observed between nominal concentration of RMswithmeasured concentration by two protocols,while the difference of EC concentration was within 20%.The results indicated that the newly developed RMs were acceptable for the calibration of OC and EC,which could improve the accuracy of carbonaceous aerosol measurement.Moreover,the laboratory-generated EC-RMs could be suitable for the calibration of equivalent BC concentration by Aethalometers.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2021YFD2200502)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31971736).
文摘Bamboo was one of the first plants to be cultivated in China and is widely used in industry and daily life.The study of gene function has become an important part of bamboo breeding,whereas quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)is a powerful tool for gene expression analysis.The accuracy of qRT-PCR results largely depends on suitable reference genes.In this study,a transcriptome-wide identification of reference genes was conducted based on 447 transcriptome datasets,comprising 200 tissue samples,107 treated samples,and 140 samples from various moso bamboo(Phyllostachys edulis)forms.A total of 3444,1013,and 3962 stably expressed genes were identified from these three groups,respectively.Functional enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of these genes in pathways,including the spliceosome,proteasome,and oxidative phosphorylation.Eight candidate genes(ADPRE,GAPDH,TRX,TUBA,NRP,MBF,UNK,and CAM1),were selected for qRT-PCR validation using 112 samples.To assess their stability,five statistical methods(geNorm,NormFinder,BestKeeper,Delta-Ct,and RefFinder)were employed.The most suitable reference genes were ADPRE and GAPDH for different tissues,GAPDH and CAM1 for different treatments,and GAPDH and TRX for various moso bamboo forms.Overall,ADPRE and GAPDH were the most stable reference genes across all conditions,while TUBA and TRX were the least stable reference genes.In addition,a significant negative correlation was found between the Ct values of RT-qPCR and the log2TPM values from the transcriptome data(Ct=-1.534x+37.221),providing a potential method for estimating gene expression levels.The identified reference genes,particularly ADPRE and GAPDH,provide a robust set of references for gene expression studies in moso bamboo.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Pro-gram of China(2021YFF0601902)the National Reference Material Development Project(S2022234).
文摘To solve the problem of the lack of reference material(RM)for determination of allergenic ingredients in food,a RM of cashew nut powder was developed in the study.Cashew nut powder was prepared from cashew nut kernel by selecting,cleaning,crushing,n-hexane degreasing and sieving treatment.The reliability and traceability of RM was verified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and phylogenetic tree analysis.The cashew nut powder RM showed good homogeneity,and good stability under long-term storage at 4℃and short-term simulated transportation from-20 to 45℃.The RM was determined jointly by 8 collaborative laboratories,and the characteristic CT value was 24.732,and the extended uncertainty was 1.052%(k=2).The RM was applied to verify the amplification efficiency and the limit of detection for qPCR assay,and showed good applicability.The RM could be used for method validation and quality control,for the determination of allergenic ingredients in food mixed with trace amounts of cashew nut.
文摘Computed tomography is an indispensable X-ray imaging modality used to diagnose numerous pathologies, but it can also involve the delivery of high ionizing radiation doses harmful to the health of patients. This study aims to survey the level of radiation doses delivered to child patients during head exams in CT imaging to set up the Dosimetric Reference Levels (DRLs), a routine dose optimization tool, based on data acquired at the University Hospital of Angré (UHA), the University Hospital of Treichville (UHT) and the Polyclinic Hospital Farah (Farah) for optimizing procedures in Ivorian hospitals. Prospectively performed on 334 CT images of 186 child patients, this study was carried out on CT systems such as Hitachi Scenaria, Sinovision Insitum, and Philips Incisive used respectively at UHA, UHT and Farah. Children’s scan data were classified into four age bands: vol or dose-length product as DLP) value, whatever the hospital, increases with respect to the age of child patients. Based on the 75th percentile of the whole dose distributions, the DRLs of the CTDIvol is 54.37 mGy whatever the age groups and those of the DLP with respect to age bands are 1224.55 mGy∙cm, 1414.06 mGy∙cm, 1632.24 mGy.cm and 1544.57 mGy∙cm, respectively. The averaged values of CTDIvol and DLP smaller than the corresponding DRLs values suggest that practices in our three facilities are optimized. However, comparing our results with those from different international studies, we see that the CTDIvol and DLP values obtained in the present work are higher. These results suggest additional surveys to ensure our DRLs values and efforts from radiologists, imaging technicians and medical physicists to strengthen clinical procedures for the radiation protection of children undergoing CT scans in Côte d’Ivoire.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province(2022-ZJ-902).
文摘The use of a stable reference gene is fundamental for achieving reliable quantitative qRT-PCR (qPCR) results. Developing and evaluating the stability of reference genes is necessary for studying the molecular mechanisms of M. transitoria in response to drought stress. In this study, 18 candidate reference genes were selected from transcriptome sequencing data of M. transitoria according to their FPKM values under different drought stress degrees. Cluster-23533.34641 was identified as the most stable reference gene for M. transitoria under drought stress based on qPCR results and combined analysis of Genorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and Delta Ct algorithms. The reference genes identified in this research offer improved accuracy for quantifying target gene expression in both M. transitoria and Malus species under drought stress. This study could provide insights into the drought stress-related functional gene or factor in M. transitoria, even in Malus species.
基金Subject construction funding project of Institute for Chemical Drug Control(Grant No.2024HYZX42)in National Institutes for Food and Drug Control,Beijing,China。
文摘The Reference Listed drug(RLD)plays a critical role in the development and research of generic medicinal products,serving as the comparator product used in the marketing authorization application of new generic medicinal product and re-evaluation of generic medicinal product.In China,RLDs are sourced from various origins,but their quality and market availability can be constrained by multiple factors,including emergent issues such as nitrosamine impurities.Five classes of medicinal products have been reported to be at risk for containing nitrosamine impurities:sartan-based medicines,metformin-containing products,ranitidine medicines,rifampicin medicines,and Champix.This paper explores the control strategies implemented by drug regulatory agencies in the United States and the European Union to manage nitrosamine impurities and assesses their impact on the market availability and quality of RLDs in China.The aim is to offer valuable insights for generic drug manufacturers and regulatory bodies both domestically and internationally.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.42277191,No.42377072,No.42107087。
文摘Reference crop evapotranspiration(ET_(0)) is essential for determining crop water requirements and developing irrigation strategies.In this study,ET_(0) was calculated via the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith model,and the spatiotemporal variations in ET_(0) over China from 1960 to 2019 were analyzed.We then quantified the contributions of five driving factors(air temperature,wind speed,relative humidity,sunshine hours,and CO_(2) concentration)to the ET_(0) trends via a detrending experiment.The results revealed that nationwide ET_(0) showed no significant(p>0.05)decreasing trend from 1960 to 2019,with a trend of−8.56×10^(−2)mm a^(−2).The average temperature and wind speed were identified as the dominant factors affecting ET_(0)trends at the national scale.The contributions of the driving factors to the ET_(0) trends were ranked in the following order:average temperature(21.3%)>wind speed(−15.63%)>sunshine hours(−11.99%)>CO_(2) concentration(6.36%)>relative humidity(3.58%).Spatially,the dominant factors influencing the ET_(0) trends varied widely.In the southeastern region,average temperature and sunshine hours dominated the trends of ET_(0),whereas wind speed and average temperature were the dominant factors in the northwestern region.The findings provide valuable insights into the dominant factors affecting ET_(0)trends in China and highlight the importance of considering different driving factors in calculating crop water requirements.
文摘Introduction: Childbirth on a scarred uterus is a major issue for health centers, especially peripheral, due to the major obstetric risks it presents. The objectives were to evaluate the frequency, route of delivery and maternal-fetal prognosis of this type of delivery at csref of Kolondiéba. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study for one year (1 January 2023-31 December 2023). All patients admitted to the maternity ward of the center with at least one uterine scar and treated in the center were included. We extracted data from partograms, OR records, birth records and obstetric records. Input was done on Excel 2010 and analysis on SPSS.23. Results: The frequency of scarring uterus was 16.8% (217/1285 births). The average age was 27. Pauciparous were most represented (59%). Patients were received from community health centers (44.7%). Prenatal consultation sessions (1 - 3 sessions) were performed at (64.9%). Uterine scars were obstetric in (99%). The cesarean section was performed immediately in (59.4%), it was prophylactic in 17%. The uterine test was attempted in (25.34%) with (69%) success. We recorded 3.6% uterine ruptures, 8.7% postoperative complications, 5.5% stillbirths and one maternal death (0.46%). Conclusion: Births on a scarred uterus are frequent and associated with a high rate of complications.
基金the National Science Foundation of China(Nos.42273007 and 42473008)the Distinguished Young Scholars of Anhui,China(No.2408085J021)。
文摘The Metal Stable Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory(MSIGL)at the University of Science and Technology of China has developed state-of-the-art analytical methods for twelve stable isotope systems,including Mg,Si,V,Fe,Cu,Zn,Rb,Sr,Ag,Cd,Ba,and U.Geological and biological samples were first digested by acid dissolution or alkali dissolution.The target element was subsequently purified by the column chromatography method.A Neptune Plus MC-ICP-MS was used to measure isotope compositions and the isotope bias caused during measurements was calibrated by standard bracketing and/or the double spike method.The analytical procedure was carefully checked to ensure the high precision and accuracy of the data.Here,we summarized the protocol of these established methods and compiled the standard data measured at our lab as well as those reported in literature.This comprehensive dataset can serve as a reliable benchmark for calibration,method validation,and quality assurance in metal stable isotope analyses.
文摘The purpose of this research was to evaluate radiological safety in pediatric radiology in hospitals in the Kongo Central province of the DRC. To this end, we surveyed a convenience sample of 50 health professionals, including 10 radiologists working in the hospitals covered by the survey, to assess the practice of pediatric radiology and the degree of compliance with radiation protection principles for the safety of children and the environment. We collected radiophysical parameters to calculate entrance doses in pediatric radiology in radiology departments to determine the dosimetric level by comparison with the diagnostic reference levels of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). All in all, we found that in Kongo Central in the DRC, many health personnel surveyed reported that more than 30% of requested radiological examinations are not justified. Also, after comparing the entrance doses produced in the surveyed departments with those of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), a statistically significant difference was found in pediatric radiology between the average doses in five out of six surveyed departments and those of the ICRP. Therefore, almost all of the surveyed departments were found to be highly irradiating in children, while excessive X-ray irradiation in children can have significant effects due to their increased sensitivity to radiation. Among the risks are: increased cancer risks, damage to developing cells, potential genetic effects, and neurological effects. This is why support for implementing radiation protection principles is a necessity to promote the safety of patients and the environment against the harmful effects of X-rays in conventional radiology.
基金financially supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant 2020YFB1708400the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)under Grant 52120105008 and Grants 52005026。
文摘Digital twin is currently undergoing a significant transformation from the conceptual and theoretical research phase to the implementation and application phase.However,a universally adaptable research and development platform for digital twin is critically needed to meet the development requirements.Specifically,a publicly accessible simulation,testing,and validation platform which can support digital twin model building,data processing,algorithm design,configuration,etc.,is urgently required for researchers.Furthermore,for developers from the industry,a lowcode development platform that can offer a customizable suite of functions such as model creation,data management,protocol configuration,and visualization is urgently needed.Meanwhile,for enterprise users,there is a lack of an application management platform that can be configured and migrated for various application scenarios,functions,and modes.Therefore,based on the system research of digital twin theories and key technologies by the authors(such as the five-dimension digital twin model,digital twin modeling and digital twin data theory,digital twin standards,and so on),a digital twin software platform reference architecture,namely make Twin,is proposed and designed,as well as its ten core functions.The workflow of the make Twin and the interaction mechanisms among its core functions are described.Finally,a digital twin application system for a chemical fiber textile shop floor(CFTS)which was developed according to make Twin,is introduced,which validates the proposed reference architecture.
基金supported by the Hunan Province Municipal Natural Science Foundation(No.2022JJ30018 to WNL)the Hunan Province Health Commission Science Foundation(No.B202301037899 to WNL)Research Grant of CITIC-Xiangya(No.YNXM-202219 to WNL).
文摘Necrozoospermia is a poorly documented condition with a low incidence,and its definition and clinical significance are unclear.Herein,we provide a reference range for necrozoospermia and discuss its possible etiology and impact on male fertility and assisted reproductive outcomes.We extracted relevant information from 650 Chinese male partners of infertile couples and statistically analyzed sperm vitality.Necrozoospermia was present in 3.4%(22/650)of our study population,and the lower cut-off value for sperm vitality was 75.3%.We compared two methods for assessing sperm vitality(eosin-nigrosin head staining and hypo-osmotic swelling test[HOST]),for which the percentage in the eosin-nigrosin group(mean±standard deviation[s.d.]:77.5%±10.5%)was significantly higher than that in the HOST group(mean±s.d.:58.1%±6.7%[5-10 min after incubation]and 55.6%±8.2%[25-30 min after incubation];both P<0.001).The incidence of necrozoospermia increased with age(odds ratio[OR]=1.116,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.048-1.189,P=0.001),while the percentage of normal sperm morphology and DNA fragmentation index(DFI)were significantly associated with necrozoospermia,with ORs of 0.691(95%CI:0.511-0.935,P=0.017)and 1.281(95%CI:1.180-1.390,P<0.001),respectively.In the following 6 months,we recruited 166 patients in the nonnecrozoospermia group and 87 patients in the necrozoospermia group to compare intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)and pregnancy outcomes between the two groups.The necrozoospermia group had a significantly lower normal fertilization rate(74.7%vs 78.2%,P=0.041;OR=0.822;95%CI:0.682-0.992)than that in the nonnecrozoospermia group.This study presents substantial information on necrozoospermia to establish comprehensive and applicable reference values for sperm vitality for spontaneous conception and artificially assisted reproductive management.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81974226,No.32171264,and No.81974365)the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2021YFS0026 and No.2022YFS0045).
文摘Sperm head morphology is crucial for male factor infertility diagnosis and assessment of male reproductive potential.Severalcriteria are available to analyze sperm head morphology,but they are limited by poor methodology comparability and populationapplicability.This study aimed to explore comprehensive and new normal morphometric reference values for spermatozoa heads infertile Asian males.An automated sperm morphology analysis system captured 23152 stained spermatozoa from confirmed fertilemales.Of these samples,1856 sperm head images were annotated by three experienced laboratory technicians as“normal”.Weemployed 14 novel morphometric features to describe sperm head size(head length,head width,length/width ratio,and girth),shape(ellipse intersection over union,girth intersection over union,short-axis symmetry,and long-axis symmetry),area(head,acrosome,postacrosomal areas,and acrosome area ratio),and degrees of acrosome and nuclear uniformity.This straight-forwardmethod for the morphometric analysis of sperm by accurate visual measurements is clinically applicable.The measured parameterspresent valuable information to establish morphometric reference intervals for normal sperm heads in fertile Asian males.Thepresented detailed measurement data will be valuable for interlaboratory comparisons and technician training.In vitro fertilizationand andrology laboratory technicians can use these parameters to perform objective morphology evaluation when assessing malefertilization potential.
基金Supported by São Paulo Research Foundation(FAPESP),No.2010/08918-9 and 2020/11564-6the KBSP Young Investigator Fellowship,No.2011/00204-0+2 种基金the DBF Fellowship,No.2019/27492-7the LMG Fellowship,No.2014/01395-1the CFB Fellowship,No.2014/14278-3.
文摘BACKGROUND Validation of the reference gene(RG)stability during experimental analyses is essential for correct quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)data normalisation.Commonly,in an unreliable way,several studies use genes involved in essential cellular functions[glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydro-genase(GAPDH),18S rRNA,andβ-actin]without paying attention to whether they are suitable for such experimental conditions or the reason for choosing such genes.Furthermore,such studies use only one gene when Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments guidelines recom-mend two or more genes.It impacts the credibility of these studies and causes dis-tortions in the gene expression findings.For tissue engineering,the accuracy of gene expression drives the best experimental or therapeutical approaches.We cultivated DPSCs under two conditions:Undifferentiated and osteogenic dif-ferentiation,both for 35 d.We evaluated the gene expression of 10 candidates for RGs[ribosomal protein,large,P0(RPLP0),TATA-binding protein(TBP),GAPDH,actin beta(ACTB),tubulin(TUB),aminolevulinic acid synthase 1(ALAS1),tyro-sine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein,zeta(YWHAZ),eukaryotic translational elongation factor 1 alpha(EF1a),succinate dehydrogenase complex,subunit A,flavoprotein(SDHA),and beta-2-micro-globulin(B2M)]every 7 d(1,7,14,21,28,and 35 d)by RT-qPCR.The data were analysed by the four main algorithms,ΔCt method,geNorm,NormFinder,and BestKeeper and ranked by the RefFinder method.We subdivided the samples into eight subgroups.RESULTS All of the data sets from clonogenic and osteogenic samples were analysed using the RefFinder algorithm.The final ranking showed RPLP0/TBP as the two most stable RGs and TUB/B2M as the two least stable RGs.Either theΔCt method or NormFinder analysis showed TBP/RPLP0 as the two most stable genes.However,geNorm analysis showed RPLP0/EF1αin the first place.These algorithms’two least stable RGs were B2M/GAPDH.For BestKeeper,ALAS1 was ranked as the most stable RG,and SDHA as the least stable RG.The pair RPLP0/TBP was detected in most subgroups as the most stable RGs,following the RefFinfer ranking.CONCLUSION For the first time,we show that RPLP0/TBP are the most stable RGs,whereas TUB/B2M are unstable RGs for long-term osteogenic differentiation of human DPSCs in traditional monolayers.
