Objective: To review the long-term outcomes for 155 women with a vulvar dystrophy (VD) who attended the Royal Brisbane Hospital Vulvar Clinic between 1976 and 1988. Methods: VD data from Vulvar Diseases Clinic were re...Objective: To review the long-term outcomes for 155 women with a vulvar dystrophy (VD) who attended the Royal Brisbane Hospital Vulvar Clinic between 1976 and 1988. Methods: VD data from Vulvar Diseases Clinic were reviewed and analysed using the computer software Statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 11.0. Results: Of 155 patients 94 had Lichen Sclerosus (LS), 41 Lichen Simplex Chronicus (LSC) and 20 Mixed Dystrophy (MD). Three patients developed squamous cell carcinomas of the vulva between 10 and 26 years after presentation with a VD. To date only one of these three patients remains alive following treatment. Conclusion: The need for long term follow up is stressed and any of the three types of VD may become malignant. Time from diagnosis to malignant change is not predictive. VD treatments seem to go through phases with the application of potent steroid creams having stood the test of time.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the ability of the McGill Brisbane Symptom Score (MBSS) to predict survival in resectable pancreatic head adenocarcinoma (PHA) patients.
Object: To determine if vulvar melanosis progressed to melanoma over a period of 20 years or more. Methods: In 2010 the hospital records from the Royal Brisbane Hospital Vulvar Clinic between 1976 and 1988 were review...Object: To determine if vulvar melanosis progressed to melanoma over a period of 20 years or more. Methods: In 2010 the hospital records from the Royal Brisbane Hospital Vulvar Clinic between 1976 and 1988 were reviewed and cross checked with the state wide Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer (QCGC) data base to determine if any patient had been lost to follow up and subsequently developed a vulvar melanoma. Data collected were stored and analysed using the computer software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 11.0. Results: None of the 12 patients developed vulval melanoma in the years up to 2010. Conclusion: In this small group, followed for more than 20 years, melanosis was not a precursor of melanoma. One patient, who attended the Vulvar Clinic but was not included in this melanosis study, was found to have co-existing melanosis well away from her melanoma in situ and malignant melanoma at presentation. It was not possible to determine if these findings represented a progression of the benign to malignant. Biopsy of abnormal hyper pigmented vulvar skin is recommended. Current knowledge suggests that vulvar melanosis is a benign condition but to be on the safe side follow up of all hyper pigmented vulval lesions to detect early malignant change is recommended.展开更多
Objectives: To describe thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) outcomes at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital between 2001-2010. Design: Prospective cohort study. Results: We successfully treated 95 of 97 p...Objectives: To describe thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) outcomes at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital between 2001-2010. Design: Prospective cohort study. Results: We successfully treated 95 of 97 patients for a 98% procedural success rate. Of the treated patients, 68 (72%) were males and mean age was 61 ± 17 years. Average follow up was 3.6 ± 2.0 years. Pathologies treated were: dissection (n = 35), aneurysmal disease (n = 32), traumatic disease (n = 19), coarctation (n = 5) and miscellaneous (n = 4). There was one peri-procedural myocardial infarction. Renal complications occurred in 7 patients (3 with doubling creatinine and 4 requiring temporary renal replacement therapy). Stroke occurred in 2 patients and paresis in 2 patients (permanent in one). Six patients died during index hospitalization and 17 deaths occurred during follow-up, 2 of which were confirmed secondary to aortic pathology. Age (HR 1.08 per year, p < 0.01) and ASA class (HR 2.2 per class, p = 0.02) were independently associated with mortality. There were 25 re-interventions in 22 patients. Eighteen of these re-interventions in 16 patients were related to the management of complications of TEVAR of which 13 were for endoleaks;eight type I, four type II, one type III. Conclusion: TEVAR can be used to treat thoracic aortic pathology but questions remain regarding long-term durability.展开更多
The growing demands on global infrastructure highlight the critical need for durable and efficient pavement systems,particularly under the stress of repetitive heavy traffic loads.The use of geosynthetics within the p...The growing demands on global infrastructure highlight the critical need for durable and efficient pavement systems,particularly under the stress of repetitive heavy traffic loads.The use of geosynthetics within the pavement structure increases the load-carrying capacity of unbound pavement layers by providing lateral restraint,improving vertical stress distribution,and enhancing bearing capacity.Such reinforcement typically aims to either improve the service life of pavements or achieve equivalent performance with a reduced granular cover.Previous and ongoing research quantifies geosynthetic performance in pavement reinforcement using various testing methods.Among these,laboratory model box tests subjected to cyclic loading are pivotal,as they closely replicate real-world traffic conditions.Hence,these studies are essential for understanding how geosynthetics distribute loads and enhance pavement durability.This facilitates the development of optimized geosynthetic design and installation practices,accelerating the loading process to simulate years of traffic wear in a shorter period.This review discusses the improved rutting resistance of unbound pavements reinforced with geosynthetic materials,specifically drawing on data from cyclic plate load tests conducted on laboratory model boxes,as highlighted in the literature.Key variables such as optimum geosynthetic placement,geosynthetic material properties,performance of different geosynthetic materials and the effects of aperture shape and size on rutting resistance are discussed.Furthermore,the review assesses various predictive rutting models,analysing their applicability and accuracy in forecasting the rutting performance of geosynthetic-reinforced unbound pavements.This comprehensive literature review aids pavement engineers and researchers,in guiding the selection and design of geosynthetics to optimize pavement durability and functionality under repetitive traffic loads.展开更多
Background:Tandem gene repeats naturally occur as important genomic features and determine many traits in living organisms,like human diseases and microbial productivities of target bioproducts.Methods:Here,we develop...Background:Tandem gene repeats naturally occur as important genomic features and determine many traits in living organisms,like human diseases and microbial productivities of target bioproducts.Methods:Here,we developed a bacterial type-II toxin-antitoxin-mediated method to manipulate genomic integration of tandem gene repeats in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and further visualised the evolutionary trajectories of gene repeats.We designed a tri-vector system to introduce toxin-antitoxin-driven gene amplification modules.Results:This system delivered multi-copy gene integration in the form of tandem gene repeats spontaneously and independently from toxin-antitoxin-mediated selection.Inducing the toxin(RelE)expressing via a copper(II)-inducible CUP1 promoter successfully drove the in-situ gene amplification of the antitoxin(RelB)module,resulting in~40 copies of a green fluorescence reporter gene per copy of genome.Copy-number changes,copy-number increase and copy-number decrease,and stable maintenance were visualised using the green fluorescence protein and blue chromoprotein AeBlue as reporters.Copy-number increases happened spontaneously and independent on a selection pressure.Increased copy number was quickly enriched through toxin-antitoxin-mediated selection.Conclusion:In summary,the bacterial toxin-antitoxin systems provide a flexible mechanism to manipulate gene copy number in eukaryotic cells and can be exploited for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering applications.展开更多
1.Objective The Songliao Basin(SB)is situated on the eastern margin of Eurasia continent(Northeast Asia).During the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous,hundreds of rifting basins developed in this area,and the SB is a u...1.Objective The Songliao Basin(SB)is situated on the eastern margin of Eurasia continent(Northeast Asia).During the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous,hundreds of rifting basins developed in this area,and the SB is a unique case among them as it evolved into the largest rift basin.The rift basin filling of SB includes Huoshiling Formation,Shahezi Formation,and Yingcheng Formation in ascending order.The mega-rifting was controlled by the Mongol-Okhotsk Collisional Belt to the north and northwest and the Pacific Subduction Zone to the east(Wang PJ et al.,2016).As the first rifting succession,the Huoshiling Formation contains key information about the formation of the rifting basins and records the evolution of the Mongol-Okhotsk Collisional Belt and the Pacific Subduction Zone.However,the geological period of the Huoshiling Formation has not been well constrained for two main reasons.First,it is easily confused with the Yingcheng Formation,as both are dominated by volcanogenic-sedimentary successions.Second,there is lack of reliable dating samples from the uppermost part of the Huoshiling Formation due to its considerable burial depth.展开更多
Selective depression of pyrite remains a major bottleneck in copper flotation,particularly when high-pyrite ores are processed and saline water is used.In such environments,conventional approaches using lime and inert...Selective depression of pyrite remains a major bottleneck in copper flotation,particularly when high-pyrite ores are processed and saline water is used.In such environments,conventional approaches using lime and inert grinding media often fail to discriminate ef-fectively between pyrite and valuable copper minerals due to strong copper activation on pyrite surfaces.This study introduced a novel approach using inorganic radicals generated from peroxymonosulfate(PMS)to selectively oxidize and depress pyrite.Flotation tests with synthetic high-pyrite ore blends showed that PMS significantly reduced pyrite recovery while maintaining or improving chalcopyrite flot-ation.Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA)extraction confirmed selective oxidation of pyrite,and electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)spectroscopy identified hydroxyl(·OH)and sulfate(SO_(4)^(·-))radicals as the dominant reactive species.Iron ions from grinding me-dia and mineral surfaces were identified as key activators of PMS.A major insight was pyrite’s dual role,acting both as a radical scav-enger and an activator,which made it highly reactive and susceptible to radical-induced oxidation.This process converted surface copper-sulfur species into copper hydroxides,effectively suppressing pyrite flotation.While previous studies have applied EPR to detect radicals in simplified activator/precursor systems,this study provides the first direct mechanistic evidence of radical-driven selectivity in flotation by detecting inorganic radicals in a complex flotation slurry,thereby demonstrating their persistence under industrially relevant conditions and establishing a foundation for more effective and targeted flotation strategies.展开更多
Water inrush hazards from the floor strata of longwall workingface are commonly encountered in North China coalfields,which essentially result from the evolution of permeability in the floor rock under complex mining-...Water inrush hazards from the floor strata of longwall workingface are commonly encountered in North China coalfields,which essentially result from the evolution of permeability in the floor rock under complex mining-induced stress conditions.Current research rarely addresses the evolution of rock permeability under such complex stress paths.Describing this evolution using only one stress parameter,such as effective stress,deviatoric stress,axial stress,or confining stress,is highly challenging.In this study,we developed a laboratory loading scheme that simulates mining-induced stress evolution.Hydro-mechanical experiments were conducted to investigate the evolution of rock permeability under mining stress.The mechanism on the change of stress-permeability relationships in mining-disturbed rock is revealed,supporting to the analysis of management strategies for floor water-inrush disasters.The results show that rock permeability evolves through four stages,including rapid decline,gradual fluctuation,sharp increase,and slow attenuation.1–2 permeability surges occurred during mining-stress loading,closely linked to the emergence and reversal of deviatoric stress in magnitude and direction.With the first permeability surge,the deviatoric stress within the mudstone reached approximately 1.7 MPa,whereas that of the sandstone was about 1 MPa.The second permeability surge in the mudstone corresponded to the secondary rotation of the principal stress direction.CT and ultrasonic tests suggested an increase in microcracks in both rocks during the first permeability surge.However,the deviatoric stress-permeability plot before and after mining indicated that the fracture of mudstone sample changed significantly,while that of the sandstone remained unchanged.The permeability surges observed at different stages are interpreted as resulting from shear-induced reopening of pre-existing fractures and the formation of new shear-failure fractures.A stress-permeability model jointly governed by effective mean stress and deviatoric stress was established.Furthermore,two strategies are proposed for the floor water-inrush disasters prevention,(i)timely backfilling to reduce deviatoric stress,(ii)grouting after the first permeability surge.This work provides insights into stress-seepage behavior in rocks under complex stress evolution and offers new perspectives for identifying potential water inrush pathways in the floor strata of coal seam during longwall mining.展开更多
Graph neural networks(GNN)have shown strong performance in node classification tasks,yet most existing models rely on uniform or shared weight aggregation,lacking flexibility in modeling the varying strength of relati...Graph neural networks(GNN)have shown strong performance in node classification tasks,yet most existing models rely on uniform or shared weight aggregation,lacking flexibility in modeling the varying strength of relationships among nodes.This paper proposes a novel graph coupling convolutional model that introduces an adaptive weighting mechanism to assign distinct importance to neighboring nodes based on their similarity to the central node.Unlike traditional methods,the proposed coupling strategy enhances the interpretability of node interactions while maintaining competitive classification performance.The model operates in the spatial domain,utilizing adjacency list structures for efficient convolution and addressing the limitations of weight sharing through a coupling-based similarity computation.Extensive experiments are conducted on five graph-structured datasets,including Cora,Citeseer,PubMed,Reddit,and BlogCatalog,as well as a custom topology dataset constructed from the Open University Learning Analytics Dataset(OULAD)educational platform.Results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves good classification accuracy,while significantly reducing training time through direct second-order neighbor fusion and data preprocessing.Moreover,analysis of neighborhood order reveals that considering third-order neighbors offers limited accuracy gains but introduces considerable computational overhead,confirming the efficiency of first-and second-order convolution in practical applications.Overall,the proposed graph coupling model offers a lightweight,interpretable,and effective framework for multi-label node classification in complex networks.展开更多
Robust teleoperation in image-guided interventions faces critical challenges from latency,deformation,and the quasi-periodic nature of physiological motion.This paper presents a fully integrated,latency-aware visual s...Robust teleoperation in image-guided interventions faces critical challenges from latency,deformation,and the quasi-periodic nature of physiological motion.This paper presents a fully integrated,latency-aware visual servoing system leveraging stereo vision,hand–eye calibration,and learning-based prediction for motion-compensated teleoperation.The system combines a calibrated binocular camera setup,dual robotic arms,and a predictive control loop incorporating Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM)and Temporal Convolutional Network(TCN)models.Through experiments using both in vivo and phantom datasets,we quantitatively assess the prediction accuracy and motion-compensation performance of both models.Results show that TCNs deliver more stable and precise tracking,especially on regular trajectories,while LSTMs exhibit robustness under quasi-periodic dynamics.By matching prediction horizons to system latency,the approach significantly reduces peak and steady-state tracking errors,demonstrating practical feasibility for deploying prediction-augmented servoing in teleoperated surgical.展开更多
Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),while dominant in energy storage due to high energy density and cycling stability,suffer from severe capacity decay,rate capability degradation,and lithium dendrite formation under low-temp...Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),while dominant in energy storage due to high energy density and cycling stability,suffer from severe capacity decay,rate capability degradation,and lithium dendrite formation under low-temperature(LT)operation.Therefore,a more comprehensive and systematic understanding of LIB behavior at LT is urgently required.This review article comprehensively reviews recent advancements in electrolyte engineering strategies aimed at improving the low-temperature operational capabilities of LIBs.The study methodically examines critical performance-limiting mechanisms through fundamental analysis of four primary challenges:insufficient ionic conductivity under cryogenic conditions,kinetically hindered charge transfer processes,Li+transport limitations across the solidelectrolyte interphase(SEI),and uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth.The work elaborates on innovative optimization approaches encompassing lithium salt molecular design with tailored dissociation characteristics,solvent matrix optimization through dielectric constant and viscosity regulation,interfacial engineering additives for constructing low-impedance SEI layers,and gel-polymer composite electrolyte systems.Notably,particular emphasis is placed on emerging machine learning-guided electrolyte formulation strategies that enable high-throughput virtual screening of constituent combinations and prediction of structure-property relationships.These artificial intelligence-assisted rational design frameworks demonstrate significant potential for accelerating the development of next-generation LT electrolytes by establishing quantitative composition-performance correlations through advanced data-driven methodologies.展开更多
The application of conventional manganese dioxide(MnO_(2))materials in sodium-ion supercapacitors(Na-SCs)is considerably limited by their low conductivity and structural instability.Biomimetic morphology engineering c...The application of conventional manganese dioxide(MnO_(2))materials in sodium-ion supercapacitors(Na-SCs)is considerably limited by their low conductivity and structural instability.Biomimetic morphology engineering can optimize the electrochemical performance of MnO_(2).Here,based on the metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)-derived method and electrochemical reconstruction,a coral-like MnO_(2)structure integrated with a functional nitrogen-doped carbon(NC)coating is designed for Na-SC application.The bioinspired coral-like structure captures numerous electrolyte ions and increases the Na+concentration on the electrode surface,which is beneficial for optimizing the Na+transport pathway and accelerating the electrode reaction kinetics.Moreover,the coral-like crosslinked structure effectively enhances the mechanical properties,enabling the maintenance of the structure of MnO_(2)-based electrodes during long-term operation.Furthermore,in/ex-situ characterizations are performed to elucidate the mechanism of lattice transformation during electrochemical phase reconstruction.Additionally,the theoretical calculation and simulation results reveal the ion/electron dynamics in the fabricated electrode.The prepared electrode demonstrates excellent capacitance storage ability(340.7 F g^(−1)at 0.5 A g^(−1))and cycling stability(85.1%capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles).The assembled hybrid device exhibits exceptional life-span(82.0%capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles)and exceptional energy density(36.5 Wh kg^(−1)).This study provides a reliable biomimetic morphology design strategy for MnO_(2)cathodes,paving the way for the fabrication of high-performance Na-SCs.展开更多
Great Lakes Regions(GLRs)in China often confront landscape fragmentation,wetland degradation,and ecological resilience(ER)losses owing to extensive and intensive urbanization.In GLRs,however,the ER responses to urbani...Great Lakes Regions(GLRs)in China often confront landscape fragmentation,wetland degradation,and ecological resilience(ER)losses owing to extensive and intensive urbanization.In GLRs,however,the ER responses to urbanization remain unclear.This study explored the spatiotemporal evolution of ER and urbanization in five GLRs in China to analyze the ER dynamic patterns along center−lakeside−periphery gradient.The Spatial Durbin Model(SDM)and Panel Threshold Model(PTM)were combined to reveal the spillover and threshold effects of urbanization in five GLRs.The results indicate that the ER in five GLRs declined with a rate of 21%from 2000 to 2020.There was a clear“center-periphery”contraction trend with low ER areas primarily spreading to human activity-concentrated regions such as lakesides,riversides,and road networks.Driven by economic and land urbanization,the average urbanization level increased from 0.06 to 0.13,where lakesides,riversides,and road networks were key areas undergoing expansion.The urbanization showed a noticeable negative spatial spillover effect on ER.Away from central lakes,the negative impacts on ER exhibited a two-phase decrease with the threshold of 81 km.This study contributes to the understanding of human-environment interactions by examining the ecological resilience response process of GLRs under the impact of urbanization.Based on a multidimensional“center−lakeside−periphery”analytical model,this study provides a strategic framework for ecological construction in GLRs in China,promoting sustainable development and adaptive capacity in vulnerable areas.展开更多
Background:Heatwaves have a significant impact on population health including both morbidity and mortality.In this study we examined the association between heatwaves and emergency hospital admissions(EHAs)for renal d...Background:Heatwaves have a significant impact on population health including both morbidity and mortality.In this study we examined the association between heatwaves and emergency hospital admissions(EHAs)for renal diseases in children(aged 0-14 years)in Brisbane,Australia.Methods:Daily data on EHAs for renal diseases in children and exposure to temperature and air pollution were obtained for Brisbane city from January 1,1996 to December 31,2005.A time-stratified case-crossover design was used to compare the risks for renal diseases between heatwave and non-heatwave periods.Results:There were 1565 EHAs for renal diseases in children during the study period.Heatwaves exhibited a signifi cant impact on EHAs for renal diseases in children after adjusting for confounding factors(odds ratio:3.6;95%confidence interval:1.4-9.5).The risk estimates differed with lags and the use of different heatwave defi nitions.Conclusions:There was a significant increase in EHAs for renal diseases in children during heatwaves in Brisbane,a subtropical city where people are well accustomed to warm weather.This finding may have significant implications for pediatric renal care,particularly in subtropical and tropical regions.展开更多
Aim:Laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is increasingly common around the world.There may be significant advantages over open resections.However,due to technical difficulties,they are perform...Aim:Laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is increasingly common around the world.There may be significant advantages over open resections.However,due to technical difficulties,they are performed in few centers with expertise in liver and advanced laparoscopic surgery.In this study the authors summarize the experience to date.Methods:A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection for HCC in 2 tertiary academic hepatobiliary units in Brisbane,Australia,between 1999 and 2015 was performed.Operative characteristics,perioperative morbidity,and pathological data were described.Patients with and without cirrhosis were analyzed and compared.Results:F ifty-two p atients u nderwent r esection of 79 H CCs.Sixty-five percent of patients had cirrhosis.Fourteen percent of patients underwent a major hepatectomy.There was a trend towards more parenchyma-sparing resections for cirrhotic patients.Blood loss was higher in cirrhotics.Conversion to an open procedure occurred in 9%.There was one 90-day mortality due to liver failure(1.9%),and 7 patients(13%)experienced a complication.R0 resection was achieved in 92%.Overall survival at 1,3,and 5 years was 88%,81%,and 61%,respectively.Conclusion:Laparoscopic liver resection for HCC,particularly in cirrhotic patients,is technically challenging.It can be performed with acceptable morbidity and adequate surgical margins.展开更多
Lithic miniaturization is a key adaptive and technological feature of human populations and one of the key cultural hallmarks in the Late Pleistocene of Eastern Asia.In northern China this form of stone tool technolog...Lithic miniaturization is a key adaptive and technological feature of human populations and one of the key cultural hallmarks in the Late Pleistocene of Eastern Asia.In northern China this form of stone tool technology is well represented,including by microblade technology.Lithic miniaturization has been identified in South China,though this technological feature has received little research attention in comparison to the north.Here,we examine three miniaturized lithic assemblages in South China,ranging from the terminal Pleistocene to middle Holocene.To examine technological variations in lithic miniaturization,the three assemblages were subject to comparative quantitative analyses,including principal component analysis(PCA),K-means clustering and the Zingg system.The three sites were found to exhibit varied temporal and geographic patterns of lithic miniaturization across South China,potentially related to fluctuating climatic conditions and changes in population dynamics since the Late Pleistocene.展开更多
Background Broiler chickens are most vulnerable immediately after hatching due to their immature immune systems,making them susceptible to infectious diseases.The yolk plays an important role in early immune defence b...Background Broiler chickens are most vulnerable immediately after hatching due to their immature immune systems,making them susceptible to infectious diseases.The yolk plays an important role in early immune defence by showing relevant antioxidant and passive immunity capabilities during broiler embryonic development.The immunomodulatory effects of phytogenic compound carvacrol have been widely reported.After in ovo delivery in the amniotic fluid during embryonic development carvacrol is known to migrate to the yolk sac.However,it is unknown whether carvacrol in the yolk could enhance defence responsiveness in the yolk sac.Therefore,the aim of this study was to improve early immune function in chicken embryos,and it was hypothesized that in ovo delivery of carvacrol would result in immunomodulatory effects in the yolk sac,potentially improving post-hatch resilience.Methods On embryonic day(E)17.5,either a saline(control)or carvacrol solution was injected into the amniotic fluid.Yolk sac tissue samples were collected at E19.5,and transcriptomic analyses using RNA sequencing were performed,following functional enrichment analyses comparing the control(saline)and carvacrol-injected groups.Results The results showed that 268 genes were upregulated and 174 downregulated in the carvacrol group compared to the control(P<0.05;logFC<-0.5 or log FC>0.5).Functional analyses of these differentially expressed genes,using KEGG,REACTOME,and Gene Ontology databases,showed enrichment of several immune-related pathways.This included the pathways‘Antimicrobial peptides’(P=0.001)and‘Chemoattractant activity’(P=0.004),amongst others.Moreover,the‘NOD-like receptor signaling’pathway was enriched(P=0.002).Antimicrobial peptides are part of the innate immune defence and are amongst the molecules produced after the nucleotide oligomeriza-tion domain(NOD)-like receptor pathway activation.While these responses may be associated with an inflammatory reaction to an exogenous threat,they could also indicate that in ovo delivery of carvacrol could prepare the newly hatched chick against bacterial pathogens by potentially promoting antimicrobial peptide production through acti-vation of NOD-like receptor signaling in the yolk sac.Conclusion In conclusion,these findings suggest that in ovo delivery of carvacrol has the potential to enhance anti-pathogenic and pro-inflammatory responses in the yolk sac via upregulation of antimicrobial peptides,and NOD-like receptor pathways.展开更多
This review focuses on the diagnostic algorithm for nonobstructive azoospermia(NOA),a significant male factor contributing to infertility.NOA,characterized by the absence of sperm in the ejaculate,requires a systemati...This review focuses on the diagnostic algorithm for nonobstructive azoospermia(NOA),a significant male factor contributing to infertility.NOA,characterized by the absence of sperm in the ejaculate,requires a systematic diagnostic approach to identify reversible conditions,genetic factors,and prognosis for achieving pregnancy.The diagnostic pathway involves semen analysis and a comprehensive evaluation for hormonal deficiencies,anatomical abnormalities,and genetic factors.The importance of medical history,physical examination,endocrine evaluation,imaging,and genetic testing is emphasized.This review highlights the significance of differentiating NOA from obstructive azoospermia(OA)and outlines key considerations for effective management,including surgical sperm retrieval and assisted reproductive techniques.Testicular biopsy is discussed as a definitive method to distinguish obstructive cases from nonobstructive cases,providing valuable prognostic information.Overall,a thorough and systematic diagnostic approach is essential for the effective management of men suspected with NOA,offering insights into potential treatment options and reproductive outcomes.展开更多
文摘Objective: To review the long-term outcomes for 155 women with a vulvar dystrophy (VD) who attended the Royal Brisbane Hospital Vulvar Clinic between 1976 and 1988. Methods: VD data from Vulvar Diseases Clinic were reviewed and analysed using the computer software Statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 11.0. Results: Of 155 patients 94 had Lichen Sclerosus (LS), 41 Lichen Simplex Chronicus (LSC) and 20 Mixed Dystrophy (MD). Three patients developed squamous cell carcinomas of the vulva between 10 and 26 years after presentation with a VD. To date only one of these three patients remains alive following treatment. Conclusion: The need for long term follow up is stressed and any of the three types of VD may become malignant. Time from diagnosis to malignant change is not predictive. VD treatments seem to go through phases with the application of potent steroid creams having stood the test of time.
文摘AIM: To evaluate the ability of the McGill Brisbane Symptom Score (MBSS) to predict survival in resectable pancreatic head adenocarcinoma (PHA) patients.
文摘Object: To determine if vulvar melanosis progressed to melanoma over a period of 20 years or more. Methods: In 2010 the hospital records from the Royal Brisbane Hospital Vulvar Clinic between 1976 and 1988 were reviewed and cross checked with the state wide Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer (QCGC) data base to determine if any patient had been lost to follow up and subsequently developed a vulvar melanoma. Data collected were stored and analysed using the computer software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 11.0. Results: None of the 12 patients developed vulval melanoma in the years up to 2010. Conclusion: In this small group, followed for more than 20 years, melanosis was not a precursor of melanoma. One patient, who attended the Vulvar Clinic but was not included in this melanosis study, was found to have co-existing melanosis well away from her melanoma in situ and malignant melanoma at presentation. It was not possible to determine if these findings represented a progression of the benign to malignant. Biopsy of abnormal hyper pigmented vulvar skin is recommended. Current knowledge suggests that vulvar melanosis is a benign condition but to be on the safe side follow up of all hyper pigmented vulval lesions to detect early malignant change is recommended.
文摘Objectives: To describe thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) outcomes at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital between 2001-2010. Design: Prospective cohort study. Results: We successfully treated 95 of 97 patients for a 98% procedural success rate. Of the treated patients, 68 (72%) were males and mean age was 61 ± 17 years. Average follow up was 3.6 ± 2.0 years. Pathologies treated were: dissection (n = 35), aneurysmal disease (n = 32), traumatic disease (n = 19), coarctation (n = 5) and miscellaneous (n = 4). There was one peri-procedural myocardial infarction. Renal complications occurred in 7 patients (3 with doubling creatinine and 4 requiring temporary renal replacement therapy). Stroke occurred in 2 patients and paresis in 2 patients (permanent in one). Six patients died during index hospitalization and 17 deaths occurred during follow-up, 2 of which were confirmed secondary to aortic pathology. Age (HR 1.08 per year, p < 0.01) and ASA class (HR 2.2 per class, p = 0.02) were independently associated with mortality. There were 25 re-interventions in 22 patients. Eighteen of these re-interventions in 16 patients were related to the management of complications of TEVAR of which 13 were for endoleaks;eight type I, four type II, one type III. Conclusion: TEVAR can be used to treat thoracic aortic pathology but questions remain regarding long-term durability.
基金financial and intellectual support provided by Queensland University of Technology(QUT)through its Higher Degree Research Program.
文摘The growing demands on global infrastructure highlight the critical need for durable and efficient pavement systems,particularly under the stress of repetitive heavy traffic loads.The use of geosynthetics within the pavement structure increases the load-carrying capacity of unbound pavement layers by providing lateral restraint,improving vertical stress distribution,and enhancing bearing capacity.Such reinforcement typically aims to either improve the service life of pavements or achieve equivalent performance with a reduced granular cover.Previous and ongoing research quantifies geosynthetic performance in pavement reinforcement using various testing methods.Among these,laboratory model box tests subjected to cyclic loading are pivotal,as they closely replicate real-world traffic conditions.Hence,these studies are essential for understanding how geosynthetics distribute loads and enhance pavement durability.This facilitates the development of optimized geosynthetic design and installation practices,accelerating the loading process to simulate years of traffic wear in a shorter period.This review discusses the improved rutting resistance of unbound pavements reinforced with geosynthetic materials,specifically drawing on data from cyclic plate load tests conducted on laboratory model boxes,as highlighted in the literature.Key variables such as optimum geosynthetic placement,geosynthetic material properties,performance of different geosynthetic materials and the effects of aperture shape and size on rutting resistance are discussed.Furthermore,the review assesses various predictive rutting models,analysing their applicability and accuracy in forecasting the rutting performance of geosynthetic-reinforced unbound pavements.This comprehensive literature review aids pavement engineers and researchers,in guiding the selection and design of geosynthetics to optimize pavement durability and functionality under repetitive traffic loads.
基金supported partially by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence funding scheme(project CE200100029)。
文摘Background:Tandem gene repeats naturally occur as important genomic features and determine many traits in living organisms,like human diseases and microbial productivities of target bioproducts.Methods:Here,we developed a bacterial type-II toxin-antitoxin-mediated method to manipulate genomic integration of tandem gene repeats in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and further visualised the evolutionary trajectories of gene repeats.We designed a tri-vector system to introduce toxin-antitoxin-driven gene amplification modules.Results:This system delivered multi-copy gene integration in the form of tandem gene repeats spontaneously and independently from toxin-antitoxin-mediated selection.Inducing the toxin(RelE)expressing via a copper(II)-inducible CUP1 promoter successfully drove the in-situ gene amplification of the antitoxin(RelB)module,resulting in~40 copies of a green fluorescence reporter gene per copy of genome.Copy-number changes,copy-number increase and copy-number decrease,and stable maintenance were visualised using the green fluorescence protein and blue chromoprotein AeBlue as reporters.Copy-number increases happened spontaneously and independent on a selection pressure.Increased copy number was quickly enriched through toxin-antitoxin-mediated selection.Conclusion:In summary,the bacterial toxin-antitoxin systems provide a flexible mechanism to manipulate gene copy number in eukaryotic cells and can be exploited for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42102135,42072140,42202122 and 41790453)Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission(KJZD-M202101502,KJQN202201549 and KJQN202101535)+1 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(CSTB2022NSCQ-JQX0031 and CSTB2022NSCQMSX1586)China Scholarship Council(202208505055)。
文摘1.Objective The Songliao Basin(SB)is situated on the eastern margin of Eurasia continent(Northeast Asia).During the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous,hundreds of rifting basins developed in this area,and the SB is a unique case among them as it evolved into the largest rift basin.The rift basin filling of SB includes Huoshiling Formation,Shahezi Formation,and Yingcheng Formation in ascending order.The mega-rifting was controlled by the Mongol-Okhotsk Collisional Belt to the north and northwest and the Pacific Subduction Zone to the east(Wang PJ et al.,2016).As the first rifting succession,the Huoshiling Formation contains key information about the formation of the rifting basins and records the evolution of the Mongol-Okhotsk Collisional Belt and the Pacific Subduction Zone.However,the geological period of the Huoshiling Formation has not been well constrained for two main reasons.First,it is easily confused with the Yingcheng Formation,as both are dominated by volcanogenic-sedimentary successions.Second,there is lack of reliable dating samples from the uppermost part of the Huoshiling Formation due to its considerable burial depth.
基金support from the Australian Research Council(ARC)Linkage Project(No.LP230100166).
文摘Selective depression of pyrite remains a major bottleneck in copper flotation,particularly when high-pyrite ores are processed and saline water is used.In such environments,conventional approaches using lime and inert grinding media often fail to discriminate ef-fectively between pyrite and valuable copper minerals due to strong copper activation on pyrite surfaces.This study introduced a novel approach using inorganic radicals generated from peroxymonosulfate(PMS)to selectively oxidize and depress pyrite.Flotation tests with synthetic high-pyrite ore blends showed that PMS significantly reduced pyrite recovery while maintaining or improving chalcopyrite flot-ation.Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA)extraction confirmed selective oxidation of pyrite,and electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)spectroscopy identified hydroxyl(·OH)and sulfate(SO_(4)^(·-))radicals as the dominant reactive species.Iron ions from grinding me-dia and mineral surfaces were identified as key activators of PMS.A major insight was pyrite’s dual role,acting both as a radical scav-enger and an activator,which made it highly reactive and susceptible to radical-induced oxidation.This process converted surface copper-sulfur species into copper hydroxides,effectively suppressing pyrite flotation.While previous studies have applied EPR to detect radicals in simplified activator/precursor systems,this study provides the first direct mechanistic evidence of radical-driven selectivity in flotation by detecting inorganic radicals in a complex flotation slurry,thereby demonstrating their persistence under industrially relevant conditions and establishing a foundation for more effective and targeted flotation strategies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U22A20165 and 52474156)the Key Research and Development Program of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region(No.2023B01010-1)the China Scholarship Council(No.202406420054).
文摘Water inrush hazards from the floor strata of longwall workingface are commonly encountered in North China coalfields,which essentially result from the evolution of permeability in the floor rock under complex mining-induced stress conditions.Current research rarely addresses the evolution of rock permeability under such complex stress paths.Describing this evolution using only one stress parameter,such as effective stress,deviatoric stress,axial stress,or confining stress,is highly challenging.In this study,we developed a laboratory loading scheme that simulates mining-induced stress evolution.Hydro-mechanical experiments were conducted to investigate the evolution of rock permeability under mining stress.The mechanism on the change of stress-permeability relationships in mining-disturbed rock is revealed,supporting to the analysis of management strategies for floor water-inrush disasters.The results show that rock permeability evolves through four stages,including rapid decline,gradual fluctuation,sharp increase,and slow attenuation.1–2 permeability surges occurred during mining-stress loading,closely linked to the emergence and reversal of deviatoric stress in magnitude and direction.With the first permeability surge,the deviatoric stress within the mudstone reached approximately 1.7 MPa,whereas that of the sandstone was about 1 MPa.The second permeability surge in the mudstone corresponded to the secondary rotation of the principal stress direction.CT and ultrasonic tests suggested an increase in microcracks in both rocks during the first permeability surge.However,the deviatoric stress-permeability plot before and after mining indicated that the fracture of mudstone sample changed significantly,while that of the sandstone remained unchanged.The permeability surges observed at different stages are interpreted as resulting from shear-induced reopening of pre-existing fractures and the formation of new shear-failure fractures.A stress-permeability model jointly governed by effective mean stress and deviatoric stress was established.Furthermore,two strategies are proposed for the floor water-inrush disasters prevention,(i)timely backfilling to reduce deviatoric stress,(ii)grouting after the first permeability surge.This work provides insights into stress-seepage behavior in rocks under complex stress evolution and offers new perspectives for identifying potential water inrush pathways in the floor strata of coal seam during longwall mining.
基金Support by Sichuan Science and Technology Program[2023YFSY0026,2023YFH0004]Guangzhou Huashang University[2024HSZD01,HS2023JYSZH01].
文摘Graph neural networks(GNN)have shown strong performance in node classification tasks,yet most existing models rely on uniform or shared weight aggregation,lacking flexibility in modeling the varying strength of relationships among nodes.This paper proposes a novel graph coupling convolutional model that introduces an adaptive weighting mechanism to assign distinct importance to neighboring nodes based on their similarity to the central node.Unlike traditional methods,the proposed coupling strategy enhances the interpretability of node interactions while maintaining competitive classification performance.The model operates in the spatial domain,utilizing adjacency list structures for efficient convolution and addressing the limitations of weight sharing through a coupling-based similarity computation.Extensive experiments are conducted on five graph-structured datasets,including Cora,Citeseer,PubMed,Reddit,and BlogCatalog,as well as a custom topology dataset constructed from the Open University Learning Analytics Dataset(OULAD)educational platform.Results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves good classification accuracy,while significantly reducing training time through direct second-order neighbor fusion and data preprocessing.Moreover,analysis of neighborhood order reveals that considering third-order neighbors offers limited accuracy gains but introduces considerable computational overhead,confirming the efficiency of first-and second-order convolution in practical applications.Overall,the proposed graph coupling model offers a lightweight,interpretable,and effective framework for multi-label node classification in complex networks.
基金Support by Sichuan Science and Technology Program[2023YFSY0026,2023YFH0004]Guangzhou Huashang University[2024HSZD01,HS2023JYSZH01].
文摘Robust teleoperation in image-guided interventions faces critical challenges from latency,deformation,and the quasi-periodic nature of physiological motion.This paper presents a fully integrated,latency-aware visual servoing system leveraging stereo vision,hand–eye calibration,and learning-based prediction for motion-compensated teleoperation.The system combines a calibrated binocular camera setup,dual robotic arms,and a predictive control loop incorporating Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM)and Temporal Convolutional Network(TCN)models.Through experiments using both in vivo and phantom datasets,we quantitatively assess the prediction accuracy and motion-compensation performance of both models.Results show that TCNs deliver more stable and precise tracking,especially on regular trajectories,while LSTMs exhibit robustness under quasi-periodic dynamics.By matching prediction horizons to system latency,the approach significantly reduces peak and steady-state tracking errors,demonstrating practical feasibility for deploying prediction-augmented servoing in teleoperated surgical.
基金the financial support from the Key Project of Shaanxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation-Key Project of Laboratory(2025SYS-SYSZD-117)the Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi(2025JCYBQN-125)+8 种基金Young Talent Fund of Xi'an Association for Science and Technology(0959202513002)the Key Industrial Chain Technology Research Program of Xi'an(24ZDCYJSGG0048)the Key Research and Development Program of Xianyang(L2023-ZDYF-SF-077)Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF(GZC20241442)Shaanxi Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2024BSHSDZZ070)Research Funds for the Interdisciplinary Projects,CHU(300104240913)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,CHU(300102385739,300102384201,300102384103)the Scientific Innovation Practice Project of Postgraduate of Chang'an University(300103725063)the financial support from the Australian Research Council。
文摘Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),while dominant in energy storage due to high energy density and cycling stability,suffer from severe capacity decay,rate capability degradation,and lithium dendrite formation under low-temperature(LT)operation.Therefore,a more comprehensive and systematic understanding of LIB behavior at LT is urgently required.This review article comprehensively reviews recent advancements in electrolyte engineering strategies aimed at improving the low-temperature operational capabilities of LIBs.The study methodically examines critical performance-limiting mechanisms through fundamental analysis of four primary challenges:insufficient ionic conductivity under cryogenic conditions,kinetically hindered charge transfer processes,Li+transport limitations across the solidelectrolyte interphase(SEI),and uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth.The work elaborates on innovative optimization approaches encompassing lithium salt molecular design with tailored dissociation characteristics,solvent matrix optimization through dielectric constant and viscosity regulation,interfacial engineering additives for constructing low-impedance SEI layers,and gel-polymer composite electrolyte systems.Notably,particular emphasis is placed on emerging machine learning-guided electrolyte formulation strategies that enable high-throughput virtual screening of constituent combinations and prediction of structure-property relationships.These artificial intelligence-assisted rational design frameworks demonstrate significant potential for accelerating the development of next-generation LT electrolytes by establishing quantitative composition-performance correlations through advanced data-driven methodologies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22409065)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2022A1515011906)+2 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2023M731153)the Research Fund Program of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technologythe Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF(GZC20230868).
文摘The application of conventional manganese dioxide(MnO_(2))materials in sodium-ion supercapacitors(Na-SCs)is considerably limited by their low conductivity and structural instability.Biomimetic morphology engineering can optimize the electrochemical performance of MnO_(2).Here,based on the metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)-derived method and electrochemical reconstruction,a coral-like MnO_(2)structure integrated with a functional nitrogen-doped carbon(NC)coating is designed for Na-SC application.The bioinspired coral-like structure captures numerous electrolyte ions and increases the Na+concentration on the electrode surface,which is beneficial for optimizing the Na+transport pathway and accelerating the electrode reaction kinetics.Moreover,the coral-like crosslinked structure effectively enhances the mechanical properties,enabling the maintenance of the structure of MnO_(2)-based electrodes during long-term operation.Furthermore,in/ex-situ characterizations are performed to elucidate the mechanism of lattice transformation during electrochemical phase reconstruction.Additionally,the theoretical calculation and simulation results reveal the ion/electron dynamics in the fabricated electrode.The prepared electrode demonstrates excellent capacitance storage ability(340.7 F g^(−1)at 0.5 A g^(−1))and cycling stability(85.1%capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles).The assembled hybrid device exhibits exceptional life-span(82.0%capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles)and exceptional energy density(36.5 Wh kg^(−1)).This study provides a reliable biomimetic morphology design strategy for MnO_(2)cathodes,paving the way for the fabrication of high-performance Na-SCs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants No.42301226,42271209 and 42471199)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.2024CDJXY014)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province(Grant No.20242BAB25170)Special Funds for Water Resources in Jiangxi Province(Science and Technology Projects)(Grant No.202425YBKT16)the Young Talent Cultivation and Innovation Fund Project of Nanchang University(Grant No.XX202506030028).
文摘Great Lakes Regions(GLRs)in China often confront landscape fragmentation,wetland degradation,and ecological resilience(ER)losses owing to extensive and intensive urbanization.In GLRs,however,the ER responses to urbanization remain unclear.This study explored the spatiotemporal evolution of ER and urbanization in five GLRs in China to analyze the ER dynamic patterns along center−lakeside−periphery gradient.The Spatial Durbin Model(SDM)and Panel Threshold Model(PTM)were combined to reveal the spillover and threshold effects of urbanization in five GLRs.The results indicate that the ER in five GLRs declined with a rate of 21%from 2000 to 2020.There was a clear“center-periphery”contraction trend with low ER areas primarily spreading to human activity-concentrated regions such as lakesides,riversides,and road networks.Driven by economic and land urbanization,the average urbanization level increased from 0.06 to 0.13,where lakesides,riversides,and road networks were key areas undergoing expansion.The urbanization showed a noticeable negative spatial spillover effect on ER.Away from central lakes,the negative impacts on ER exhibited a two-phase decrease with the threshold of 81 km.This study contributes to the understanding of human-environment interactions by examining the ecological resilience response process of GLRs under the impact of urbanization.Based on a multidimensional“center−lakeside−periphery”analytical model,this study provides a strategic framework for ecological construction in GLRs in China,promoting sustainable development and adaptive capacity in vulnerable areas.
基金funded by Australian Research Council(DP0559655),Queensland Departments of Environment and Resources,Community Safety,Queensland Health,and Environmental Protection Agencysupported by an NHMRC research fellowship(#553043).
文摘Background:Heatwaves have a significant impact on population health including both morbidity and mortality.In this study we examined the association between heatwaves and emergency hospital admissions(EHAs)for renal diseases in children(aged 0-14 years)in Brisbane,Australia.Methods:Daily data on EHAs for renal diseases in children and exposure to temperature and air pollution were obtained for Brisbane city from January 1,1996 to December 31,2005.A time-stratified case-crossover design was used to compare the risks for renal diseases between heatwave and non-heatwave periods.Results:There were 1565 EHAs for renal diseases in children during the study period.Heatwaves exhibited a signifi cant impact on EHAs for renal diseases in children after adjusting for confounding factors(odds ratio:3.6;95%confidence interval:1.4-9.5).The risk estimates differed with lags and the use of different heatwave defi nitions.Conclusions:There was a significant increase in EHAs for renal diseases in children during heatwaves in Brisbane,a subtropical city where people are well accustomed to warm weather.This finding may have significant implications for pediatric renal care,particularly in subtropical and tropical regions.
文摘Aim:Laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is increasingly common around the world.There may be significant advantages over open resections.However,due to technical difficulties,they are performed in few centers with expertise in liver and advanced laparoscopic surgery.In this study the authors summarize the experience to date.Methods:A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection for HCC in 2 tertiary academic hepatobiliary units in Brisbane,Australia,between 1999 and 2015 was performed.Operative characteristics,perioperative morbidity,and pathological data were described.Patients with and without cirrhosis were analyzed and compared.Results:F ifty-two p atients u nderwent r esection of 79 H CCs.Sixty-five percent of patients had cirrhosis.Fourteen percent of patients underwent a major hepatectomy.There was a trend towards more parenchyma-sparing resections for cirrhotic patients.Blood loss was higher in cirrhotics.Conversion to an open procedure occurred in 9%.There was one 90-day mortality due to liver failure(1.9%),and 7 patients(13%)experienced a complication.R0 resection was achieved in 92%.Overall survival at 1,3,and 5 years was 88%,81%,and 61%,respectively.Conclusion:Laparoscopic liver resection for HCC,particularly in cirrhotic patients,is technically challenging.It can be performed with acceptable morbidity and adequate surgical margins.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.42177424,No.42488201Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,No.2020074National Key Research and Development Projects,No.2022YFF0801502。
文摘Lithic miniaturization is a key adaptive and technological feature of human populations and one of the key cultural hallmarks in the Late Pleistocene of Eastern Asia.In northern China this form of stone tool technology is well represented,including by microblade technology.Lithic miniaturization has been identified in South China,though this technological feature has received little research attention in comparison to the north.Here,we examine three miniaturized lithic assemblages in South China,ranging from the terminal Pleistocene to middle Holocene.To examine technological variations in lithic miniaturization,the three assemblages were subject to comparative quantitative analyses,including principal component analysis(PCA),K-means clustering and the Zingg system.The three sites were found to exhibit varied temporal and geographic patterns of lithic miniaturization across South China,potentially related to fluctuating climatic conditions and changes in population dynamics since the Late Pleistocene.
基金support by AgriFutures Australia’s Chicken Meat Program[grant number PRJ-011584]is gratefully acknowledged.
文摘Background Broiler chickens are most vulnerable immediately after hatching due to their immature immune systems,making them susceptible to infectious diseases.The yolk plays an important role in early immune defence by showing relevant antioxidant and passive immunity capabilities during broiler embryonic development.The immunomodulatory effects of phytogenic compound carvacrol have been widely reported.After in ovo delivery in the amniotic fluid during embryonic development carvacrol is known to migrate to the yolk sac.However,it is unknown whether carvacrol in the yolk could enhance defence responsiveness in the yolk sac.Therefore,the aim of this study was to improve early immune function in chicken embryos,and it was hypothesized that in ovo delivery of carvacrol would result in immunomodulatory effects in the yolk sac,potentially improving post-hatch resilience.Methods On embryonic day(E)17.5,either a saline(control)or carvacrol solution was injected into the amniotic fluid.Yolk sac tissue samples were collected at E19.5,and transcriptomic analyses using RNA sequencing were performed,following functional enrichment analyses comparing the control(saline)and carvacrol-injected groups.Results The results showed that 268 genes were upregulated and 174 downregulated in the carvacrol group compared to the control(P<0.05;logFC<-0.5 or log FC>0.5).Functional analyses of these differentially expressed genes,using KEGG,REACTOME,and Gene Ontology databases,showed enrichment of several immune-related pathways.This included the pathways‘Antimicrobial peptides’(P=0.001)and‘Chemoattractant activity’(P=0.004),amongst others.Moreover,the‘NOD-like receptor signaling’pathway was enriched(P=0.002).Antimicrobial peptides are part of the innate immune defence and are amongst the molecules produced after the nucleotide oligomeriza-tion domain(NOD)-like receptor pathway activation.While these responses may be associated with an inflammatory reaction to an exogenous threat,they could also indicate that in ovo delivery of carvacrol could prepare the newly hatched chick against bacterial pathogens by potentially promoting antimicrobial peptide production through acti-vation of NOD-like receptor signaling in the yolk sac.Conclusion In conclusion,these findings suggest that in ovo delivery of carvacrol has the potential to enhance anti-pathogenic and pro-inflammatory responses in the yolk sac via upregulation of antimicrobial peptides,and NOD-like receptor pathways.
文摘This review focuses on the diagnostic algorithm for nonobstructive azoospermia(NOA),a significant male factor contributing to infertility.NOA,characterized by the absence of sperm in the ejaculate,requires a systematic diagnostic approach to identify reversible conditions,genetic factors,and prognosis for achieving pregnancy.The diagnostic pathway involves semen analysis and a comprehensive evaluation for hormonal deficiencies,anatomical abnormalities,and genetic factors.The importance of medical history,physical examination,endocrine evaluation,imaging,and genetic testing is emphasized.This review highlights the significance of differentiating NOA from obstructive azoospermia(OA)and outlines key considerations for effective management,including surgical sperm retrieval and assisted reproductive techniques.Testicular biopsy is discussed as a definitive method to distinguish obstructive cases from nonobstructive cases,providing valuable prognostic information.Overall,a thorough and systematic diagnostic approach is essential for the effective management of men suspected with NOA,offering insights into potential treatment options and reproductive outcomes.
