Deep learning detects subtle facial expressions in a multilevel society primate.

Facial expressions in nonhuman primates are complex processes involving psychological, emotional, and physiological factors, and may use subtle signals to communicate significant information. However, uncertainty surrounds the functional significance of subtle facial expressions in animals. Using artificial intelligence (AI), this study found that nonhuman primates exhibit subtle facial expressions that are undetectable by human observers.

[The involvement and underlying mechanism of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the impairment of male mammalian fertility induced by environmental pollutants].

In recent decades, there has been a consistent decline in semen quality across the globe, with environmental pollution emerging as the predominant factor. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have garnered considerable attention due to their potent biological toxicity and resistance to natural degradation. Within this class of pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) have been identified as detrimental agents that can disrupt cellular physiological functions by activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).

PCB126 impairs human sperm functions by affecting post-translational modifications and mitochondrial functions.

Over the past few decades, there has been a consistent decline in semen quality across the globe, with environmental pollution being identified as the primary cause. Among the various contaminants present in the environment, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have garnered significant attention due to their high toxicity, slow degradation, bio-accumulation, and long-range migration. PCBs, which include 210 congeners, are a crucial type of POPs that are known to have harmful effects on the environment and human health.

Hexachlorocyclohexane impairs human sperm motility by affecting lysine glutarylation and mitochondrial functions.

Decreased sperm motility is a leading cause of male infertility and persistent organic pollutants are known to contribute significantly to the development of this disease. The effects of organochlorine pesticides such as hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) on human sperm function and their mechanisms of action have received much attention, but are still not fully understood. Herein, we discovered that HCH has a concentration- and time-dependent inhibitory effect on human sperm motility in vitro.

Electronic properties and transistors of the NbS-MoS-NbS NR heterostructure.

Based on density function theory and nonequilibrium Green's functions, we construct a NbS-MoS-NbS NR inplane heterostructure. The effects of channel length, width, chirality and vacancy of the heterostructure on transport properties are systematically investigated. The electron transport of the armchair-edge heterostructure device shows ballistic transport properties, while the zigzag-edge heterostructure device exhibits resonance tunneling transport properties.

Bandgap opening/closing of graphene antidot lattices with zigzag-edged hexagonal holes.

How to predict the bandgap size of graphene antidot lattices (GALs) is a key problem in the field of graphene-based nanoelectronics. Here, we have obtained the universal rules on bandgap opening/closing of GALs with zigzag-edged hexagonal holes (ZH-GALs), as well as the means to control the bandgap size. In the simple case that the electronic property depends on the choice of the supercell, the quantitative relationship between Eg and the density/diameter of antidots is fitted.

[Construction of TDRG1 shRNA expression vector and interfering effect of TDRG1 shRNA expression vector on NTERA-2 cells].

Objective: To construct short hairpin RNA interfering expression vector of TDRG1,and detect the specific interfering effect of TDRG1-shRNA expression vector on NTERA-2 cells.

Methods: Oligos for short hairpin RNA targefing for TDRG1 were designed and connected to the expression vector pGPU6/GFP/Neo to construct the TDRG1 shRNA expression vector. The recombinant plasmid TDRG1-shRNA486, TDRG1-shRNA738, TDRG1-shRNA921 and lipofectamine ™2000 were used to generate and transfect shRNA into NTERA-2 cells.

[Effects of tadalafil on erectile dysfunction: on-demand versus once-daily dosing].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of tadalafil administered on demand or once a day in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods: We randomly assigned 61 ED patients to three groups to receive tadalafil on demand, at 5 mg once daily, and at 10 mg once daily, respectively. After 42 days of medication, we compared the therapeutic effects among different groups using the patients' sexual encounter profile (SEP) diaries, detected the adverse reactions and assessed the safety of tadalafil.

Bandgap opening in graphene antidot lattices: the missing half.

The electronic structure of graphene antidot lattices (GALs) with zigzag hole edges was studied with first-principles calculations. It was revealed that half of the possible GAL patterns were unintentionally missed in the usual construction models used in earlier studies. With the complete models, the bandgap of the GALs was sensitive to the width W of the wall between the neighboring holes.