Effect of intrauterine perfusion of granular leukocyte-colony stimulating factor on the outcome of frozen embryo transfer

BACKGROUND Treatment of thin endometrium with granular leukocyte-colony stimulating factor(G-CSF)remains controversial.AIM To investigate the effect of G-CSF on the outcome of frozen embryo transfer in patients with thin endometrium.METHODS A retrospective propensity score matching(PSM)study was performed to assess patients administered frozen embryo transfer at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School,in 2012-2018.The patients were divided into G-CSF intrauterine perfusion(G-CSF)and non-G-CSF groups,and clinical pregnancy,implantation,ectopic pregnancy,and early abortion rates between the two groups were compared.RESULTS Before PSM,372 cycles were enrolled,including 242 and 130 cycles in the G-CSF and non-G-CSF groups,respectively.Age(34.23±5.76 vs 32.99±5.59 years;P=0.047)and the blastula/cleavage stage embryo ratio(0.68 vs 0.37;P=0.011)were significantly elevated in the G-CSF group compared with the non-G-CSF group;however,clinical pregnancy(46.28%vs 51.54%;P=0.371)and embryo implantation(35.21%vs 35.65%;P=0.910)rates were similar in both groups.After PSM by age and blastula/cleavage stage embryo ratio,244 cycles were included(122 cases each in the G-CSF and non-G-CSF groups).The clinical pregnancy(50.82%vs 48.36%;P=0.701)and embryo implantation(37.38%vs 34.11%;P=0.480)remained similar in both groups.CONCLUSION Intrauterine infusion of G-CSF does not improve the clinical outcome of frozen embryo transfer in patients with thin endometrium.

Broadband and high efficiency terahertz metasurfaces for anomalous refraction and vortex beam generation

The applications of metasurfaces are currently a highly active research field due to their extraordinary ability to manipulate electromagnetic waves. The ultra-thin characteristics of metasurfaces allow the miniaturization and integration of metasurface devices. However, these devices work typically under a low efficiency and narrow bandwidth condition. In this work, we design eight multilayered unit cells with similar amplitudes and a phase interval of π/4, which convert the polarization states of the terahertz(THz) waves between two orthogonal directions. The average cross-polarized transmission amplitudes of these cells are all around 0.9 in an ultra-broad frequency range from 0.5 THz to 1.4 THz. Furthermore,unit cells are used to construct both an ultra-thin anomalous refraction metalens and a vortex phase plate. Our simulation results show that the anomalous refraction for the transmitted linear polarization component is comparable to the theoretical prediction, and the maximum error is determined to be below 4.8%. The vortex phase plate can also generate an ideal terahertz vortex beam with a mode purity of 90% and more. The distributions of longitudinal electric field, intensity, and phase illustrate that the generated vortex beam has excellent propagation characteristics and a weak divergence. Simulations of the two types of metasurface devices, based on the eight unit cells, exhibit very high efficiencies in a wide bandwidth. Our research will assist in the improvement in the practical applications of metasurfaces. It also provides a reference for the design of high efficiency and broadband devices that are applied to other frequency ranges.

Dynamic Characteristics of Single-frequency Signal after Modulated by Feedback Control System

In order to study the dynamic characteristics of the single-frequency signal through the nonlinear control system,the system control mode,the outer excitation patterns of the model and the amplitude are investigated by using the methods of the nonlinear dynamical analysis. The time-domain diagram,power spectrum,phase diagram and the largest Lyapunov exponent obtained from the process of the signal propagate through different control module are given. The researches on different control systems demonstrate that: after single-frequency signal goes through the nonlinear controller,it is still non-chaotic although the output contains more frequency components; but with the feedback and the external perturbation,the output is a continuous broadband spectrum and the result shows that there is chaos. The energy of the input signal reduces with some appropriate parameters. Therefore,the control system of the nonlinear feedback is a good way to broaden the spectrum of output with inputting a single-frequency signal.

Mechanisms of PiT2-loop7 Missense Mutations Induced Pi Dyshomeostasis

PiT2 is an inorganic phosphate(Pi)transporter whose mutations are linked to primary familial brain calcification(PFBC).PiT2 mainly consists of two ProDom(PD)domains and a large intracellular loop region(loop7).The PD domains are crucial for the Pi transport,but the role of PiT2-loop7 remains unclear.In PFBC patients,mutations in PiT2-loop7 are mainly nonsense or frameshift mutations that probably cause PFBC due to C-PD1131 deletion.To date,six missense mutations have been identified in PiT2-loop7;however,the mechanisms by which these mutations cause PFBC are poorly understood.Here,we found that the p.T390A and p.S434W mutations in PiT2-loop7 decreased the Pi transport activity and cell surface levels of PiT2.Furthermore,we showed that these two mutations attenuated its membrane localization by affecting adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)-or protein kinase B(AKT)-mediated PiT2 phosphorylation.In contrast,the p.S121C and p.S601W mutations in the PD domains did not affect PiT2 phosphorylation but rather impaired its substrate-binding abilities.These results suggested that missense mutations in PiT2-loop7 can cause Pi dyshomeostasis by affecting the phosphorylation-regulated cell-surface localization of PiT2.This study helps understand the pathogenesis of PFBC caused by PiT2-loop7 missense mutations and indicates that increasing the phosphorylation levels of PiT2-loop7 could be a promising strategy for developing PFBC therapies.

The Pathology of Primary Familial Brain Calcification:Implications for Treatment

Primary familial brain calcification(PFBC)is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterized by progressive calcium deposition bilaterally in the brain,accompanied by various symptoms,such as dystonia,ataxia,parkinsonism,dementia,depression,headaches,and epilepsy.Currently,the etiology of PFBC is largely unknown,and no specific prevention or treatment is available.During the past 10 years,six causative genes(SLC20A2,PDGFRB,PDGFB,XPR1,MYORG,and JAM2)have been identified in PFBC.In this review,considering mechanistic studies of these genes at the cellular level and in animals,we summarize the pathogenesis and potential preventive and therapeutic strategies for PFBC patients.Our systematic analysis suggests a classification for PFBC genetic etiology based on several characteristics,provides a summary of the known composition of brain calcification,and identifies some potential therapeutic targets for PFBC.

Optimization and Scheduling of Byproduct Gas System in Steel Plant

A mathematical model was proposed to optimize byproduct gas system and reduce the total cost. The scope and boundaries of the system were also discussed at the same time. Boilers and gasholders were buffer users to solve the fluctuation of byproduct gases. The priority of gasholders should be ranked the last. The allocation of surplus ga- ses among gasholders and boilers was also discussed to make full use of gases and realize zero emission targets. Case study shows that the proposed model made good use of byproduct gases and at least 7.8 ~//00 operation cost was re- duced, compared with real data in iron and steel industry.

Visualization and Characterization of High-Order Chromatin Fibers under Light Microscope during Interphase and Mitotic Stages in Plants

Using genomic in situ hybridization with genomic DNA, high-order chromatin fibers were successfully exhibited under a light microscope through the cell cycle in barley, rice, maize and field bean. From the interphase to prophase and metaphase of mitosis, the fibers were basically similar. Each was estimated to be around 200 nm in diameter, but the strength of signals was not the same along the fiber length. Through the cell cycle a series of dynamic distribution changes occurred in the fibers. In the interphase, they were unraveled. At the early prophase they were arranged with parallel and mirror symmetry. During late-prophase and metaphase, the fibers were bundled and became different visible chromosomes. The parallel coiling and mirror symmetry structures were visible clearly until the metaphase. In anaphase they disappeared. During telophase, in peripheral regions of congregated chromosome group, borderlines of the chromosomes disappeared and the fibers were unraveled. This demonstrated that mitotic chromosomes are assembled and organized by parallel and adjacent coiling of the fibers and the fibers should be the highest order structure for DNA coiling.