Room Temperature Synthesis of Vertically Aligned Amorphous Ultrathin NiCo-LDH Nanosheets Bifunctional Flexible Supercapacitor Electrodes

Developing a simple scalable method to fabricate electrodes with high capacity and wide voltage range is desired for the real use of electrochemical supercapacitors.Herein,we synthesized amorphous NiCo-LDH nanosheets vertically aligned on activated carbon cloth substrate,which was in situ transformed from Co-metal-organic framework materials nano-columns by a simple ion exchange process at room temperature.Due to the amorphous and vertically aligned ultrathin structure of NiCo-LDH,the NiCo-LDH/activated carbon cloth composites present high areal capacities of 3770 and 1480 mF cm^(-2)as cathode and anode at 2 mA cm^(-2),and 79.5%and 80%capacity have been preserved at 50 mA cm^(-2).In the meantime,they all showed excellent cycling performance with negligible change after>10000 cycles.By fabricating them into an asymmetric supercapacitor,the device achieves high energy densities(5.61 mWh cm^(-2)and 0.352 mW cm^(-3)).This work provides an innovative strategy for simplifying the design of supercapacitors as well as providing a new understanding of improving the rate capabilities/cycling stability of NiCo-LDH materials.

Genetic investigation of the ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A gene as putative target in Angelman syndrome

BACKGROUND Angelman syndrome(AS)is caused by maternal chromosomal deletions,imprinting defects,paternal uniparental disomy involving chromosome 15 and the ubiquitin-protein ligase UBE3A gene mutations.However the genetic basis remains unclear for several patients.AIM To investigate the involvement of UBE3A gene in AS and identifying new potential genes using exome sequencing.METHODS We established a cohort study in 50 patients referred to Farhat Hached University Hospital between 2006 and 2021,with a strong suspicion of AS and absence of chromosomal aberrations.The UBE3A gene was screened for mutation detection.Two unrelated patients issued from consanguineous families were subjected to exome analysis.RESULTS We describe seven UBE3A variants among them 3 none previously described including intronic variants c.2220+14T>C(intron14),c.2507+43T>A(Exon15)and insertion in Exon7:c.30-47_30-46.The exome sequencing revealed 22 potential genes that could be involved in AS-like syndromes that should be investigated further.CONCLUSION Screening for UBE3A mutations in AS patients has been proven to be useful to confirm the diagnosis.Our exome findings could rise to new potential alternative target genes for genetic counseling.

Mesoporous Ternary Nitrides of Earth?Abundant Metals as Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalyst

As sustainable energy becomes a major concern for modern society,renewable and clean energy systems need highly active,stable,and low-cost catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Mesoporous materials offer an attractive route for generating efficient electrocatalysts with high mass transport capabilities.Herein,we report an efficient hard templating pathway to design and synthesize three-dimensional(3-D)mesoporous ternary nickel iron nitride(Ni3FeN).The as-synthesized electrocatalyst shows good OER performance in an alkaline solution with low overpotential(259 mV)and a small Tafel slope(54 mV dec?1),giving superior performance to IrO2 and RuO2 catalysts.The highly active contact area,the hierarchical porosity,and the synergistic effect of bimetal atoms contributed to the improved electrocatalytic performance toward OER.In a practical rechargeable Zn–air battery,mesoporous Ni3FeN is also shown to deliver a lower charging voltage and longer lifetime than RuO2.This work opens up a new promising approach to synthesize active OER electrocatalysts for energy-related devices.

A novel t(3;12)(q21;p13) translocation in a patient with accelerated chronic myeloid leukemia after imatinib and nilotinib therapy

The acquisition of secondary chromosomal aberrations in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) karyotype signifies clonal evolution associated with the progression of the disease to its accelerated or blastic phase. Therefore, these aberrations have clinical and biological significance. T(3;12)(q26;p13), which is a recurrent chromosomal aberration observed in myeloid malignancies, is typically associated with dysplasia of megakaryocytes, multilineage involvement, short duration of any blastic phase, and extremely poor prognosis. We have identified a recurrent reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 3 and 12 with different breakpoint at bands 3q21 in the malignant cells from a 28-year-old man. The patient was initially diagnosed as having Ph+ CML in the chronic phase. The t(3;12)(q21;p13) translocation occurred 4 years after the patient was first diagnosed with CML while undergoing tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. We confirmed the t(3;12)(q21;p13) translocation via fluorescence in situ hybridization assay by using whole-chromosome paint probes for chromosomes 3 and 12. Our findings demonstrate that, similar to other recurrent translocations involving 3q26 such as t(3;3) and t(3;21), the t(3;12)(q21;p13) translocation is implicated not only in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia but also in the progression of CML. These findings extend the disease spectrum of this cytogenetic aberration.

Two Spontaneous Pregnancies after Treatment with Ovocyplus^TMamong an Infertile Patient with Two Failed IVF: A Case Report

The role of oxidative stress in female reproduction is becoming increasingly important, as recent evidence suggests that it has been implicated in the pathology of infertility of both known and idiopathic origin. Although its efficacy has yet to be well established, supplementation with antioxidants is a new tool being developed in the therapeutic armamentarium for female-factor infertility. We present a case of a spontaneous viable pregnancy in a 37-year-old patient with a history of two consequent In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) failures, occurring after a 5-month antioxidant treatment. This report suggests that oral antioxidants supplementation in female patients may provide an alternative or adjunct to conventional fertility therapies and improve their chances of becoming pregnant.

Beneficial Effect of an Oral Antioxidant Supplementation (Fertimax2) on IVF-ICSI Outcomes: A Preliminary Clinical Study

Background: Considerable evidence points towards a significant role of oxidative stress (OS) in the pathogenesis of sperm dysfunction. OS as a result of an inappropriate balance between oxidants and antioxidants in the semen can cause DNA damage and lipid peroxidation leading to failure of conception, miscarriage or potentially even childhood cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a male antioxidant therapy can improve semen parameters and the results of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Methods: A total of forty eight infertile couples were considered. Male participants were administrated Fertimax2 antioxidant treatment for at least two months prior to their partner’s IVF-ICSI cycle. Sperm parameters (volume, concentration, progressive motility) and the IVF-ICSI outcomes were compared before and after the antioxidant treatment. The primary outcome measures were oocyte fertilization, cleavage and good embryo quality rates;the secondary outcomes were biochemical pregnancies, clinical pregnancies and implantation rates. Results: The principal finding that emerged from this study was that antioxidant therapy resulted in significant improvements in fertilization (p = 00.2), cleavage (p = 0.004) and good-embryo quality (p = 0.002) rates accompanied by a marked increase in clinical pregnancy (18.7% versus 2.5%) and implantation (11.8% versus 1.02%) rates. No significant changes in routine sperm parameters were observed. Conclusion: The Fertimax2 antioxidant therapy appears to influence favorably chances of conception in couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment (ART).

Study of gonadic growth factors: Seminal transforming growth factor-β1, epidermal growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-I and their relationship with male infertility

Background: The aim of this study was to establish normal reference values for several growth factors in semen and provide a basis for understanding their physiological significance in fertile and infertile subjects. Methods: 110 infertile men semen was evaluated according to WHO standards and by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA kit protocol) to determine the rate of growth factors (TGFβ1, IGFI, EGF). We have also listed neutrophils by staining with peroxidase to examine the association of inflammation with the levels of these factors. The determination of the epididymal (alpha-1,4-glucosidase) marker was directed according to the technical recommended by the WHO in 2010. Each patient received a hormonal balance including the determination of plasma FSH, LH and Testosterone. Results: Concentrations of TGFβ1 were significantly higher in (severe and extreme azoospermic, oligospermic) pathological groups compared to the control group (P 0.05) between control and pathological groups. The IGFI is partly testicular and/or epididymal as it is lowered in some patients with obstructive azoospermia. Positive correlations were observed between the seminal IGFI, mobility (r = 0.487) and sperm morphology (r = +0.187). Immunological sperm abnormalities and/or idiopathic do not alter the rate of EGF seminal. There is no significant correlation between seminal EGF or with sperm parameters or with plasma levels of FSH and LH. Conclusion: The growth factors are primarily peptides, handling and identification in a complex environment as the seminal plasma, but it requires a lot of precautions if we do not want to expose to the risk of bad farms/interpretations of data obtained.

Impact of the professional exposure on the spermatic parameters and the results of ICSI at Tunisian unfertile couples

Introduction: The association of the professional exposure to the decline of the male reproductive function had been the subject of several studies but without arriving to one envisagement undeniable of its existence. The ICSI, technique of reference in severe male infertilities, is visavis unexplained failures whose environmental and professional exposure could be about its cause partly. In this work, we tried to highlight an association between certain factors of professional exposure and the deterioration of the spermatic parameters, then to evaluate the effect of such factors on the result of the ICSI. Materials and Methods: It is about a study of the exposed type—no exposed, realized through collaboration between the Unit of Medicine of the Reproduction and the Service of Medicine of Work of the CHU Farhat Hached of Sousse. This study was based on a questionnaire of which part of the items was collected medical files of the patients raising the general characteristics, the profile of exposure as well as the spermatic parameters and the biological assessment of ICSI. Results: Significant associations between the deterioration of sperm and the professional risk factors such as the exposure to the formaldehydes (p = 0.01) and heat (p = 0.001) were noted. The exposure to formaldehydes was associated at the higher risk of oli gozoospermy, of asthenozoospermy with a significant reduction in mobility (p = 0.05), whereas the talks with cement had a risk higher of teratozoospermy. In addition an exposure to heat was associated at the high risk of oligoteratozoospermy. The total rate of pregnancies after ICSI among 220 patients of our series was of 14.47%. The ICSI balance showed a reduction in total fertility rate (76.6% exposed vs 75.3% no exposed). Conclusion: In spite of the limited number of the patients, this study had shown a correlation between certain professional exposures of origin and the deterioration of sperm. They are preliminary results which encourage continuing collaboration between the specialists in the reproduction and the doctors of work in order to preserve the fertility of the workers exposed to factors gonadotoxic.

CNTs/CNF-supported multi-active components as highly efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts and their applications in zincair batteries

Rational construction of active components has been the biggest challenge in preparing efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.Herein,electrospinning and chemical vapor deposition(CVD)were employed to embed active species including FeCo nanoparticles,MNx(M=Fe,Co),and FePx in porous and graphitized carbon nanotubes(CNTs)/carbon nanofiber(CNF).The as-prepared FeCo@CoNx@FePx/C exhibited a half-wave potential as high as 0.86 V in oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and low oxygen evolution reaction(OER)overpotential of 368 mV at 10 mA·cm^(−2),which are superior to Pt/C(0.83 V)and IrO_(2)(375 mV)respectively.The assembled Zn-air battery(ZAB)showed a high energy efficiency(Edischarge/Echarge)of 65%at 20 mA·cm^(−2)and stabilized for 700 charge-discharge cycles.The spectroscopic and microscopic characterizations evidenced that the outstanding bifunctionality of the electrocatalyst can be ascribed to three main reasons:First,FeCo nanoparticles are rich in MOH/MOOH active sites for OER,and FePx/CNTs constructed with CVD also modulate electronic structure to improve electron transfer;second,both MNx in carbon matrix and FePx/CNTs are highly active towards ORR;third,the CNTs/CNF are highly porous and graphitized,which promotes mass transport and improves electrical conductivity and stability of the electrocatalysts.This work gives important implications on the design of bifunctional electrocatalysts.