Boosted Solar Thermochemical Low-Temperature CO Splitting On Pt/CeO by Interface Catalysis.

Solar thermochemical CO splitting using metal oxides is considered as a promising approach to produce solar fuels since it is capable to tap abundant sunlight directly and store solar energy in the renewable fuel. It remains a grand challenge to achieve highly efficient CO splitting at low temperature (<800 °C) due to insufficient activation of metal oxides for CO. Herein, the introduction of a small amount of Pt was found to be able to greatly increase the performance of CO splitting with the highest peak CO production rate of about 65 mL min g, CO productivity of about 53 mL g, nearly 100 % CO conversion and long-term stability for 0.

Lectin histochemical analysis of uterine natural killer cells in normal, hydatidiform molar and invasive molar pregnancy.

Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells have been hypothesized to serve a role in controlling trophoblast invasion and proliferation. The aim of the present study was to identify the distribution and number of uNK cells in normal pregnancy (NP), partial mole (PM), complete mole (CM) and invasive mole (IM). uNK cells were detected using dolichos biflorus agglutinin lectin immunohistochemistry in decidual and villous tissues from early NP (n=15), late NP (n=15), PM (n=22), CM (n=20) and IM (n=10).

[Effect of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure on placental development in pregnant mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure on the growth and development of placenta, uterine natural killer (uNK) cell number and angiogenesis at the maternal-fetal interface in pregnant mice.

Methods: From day 1 of pregnancy, pregnant mice were exposed daily to DEHP by oral gavage at 125, 250, or 500 mg/kg for 13 consecutive days. The uterine and placental tissues were then harvested for HE staining and immunohistochemistry to examine the effect of DEHP exposure on the growth and development of the placenta and angiogenesis and uNK cell number at the maternal-fetal interface.

Expression and regulation of androgen receptor in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy and decidualization.

The androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that is important for both the male and female reproductive systems. The expression and regulation of AR in the uterine endometrium during early pregnancy and decidualization remain relatively under-investigated, so we sought to immunohistochemically examine the spatiotemporal expression of AR in mouse uteri during the peri-implantation period as well as in response to specific steroid hormones. AR protein was found in the nuclei of uterine stromal cells starting on pregnancy Days 1 and 2, with its abundance increasing on Days 3 and 4.

Maternal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate disrupts placental growth and development in pregnant mice.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is used as a plasticizer and widely dispersed in the environment. DEHP exposure reduces embryo implantations, increases embryonic loss, and decreases fetal body weights. However, no detailed information is available about the effect of DEHP on the placentation during pregnancy.

Exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate inhibits luteal function via dysregulation of CD31 and prostaglandin F2alpha in pregnant mice.

Background: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure reduces embryo implantations, increases embryonic loss, and decreases fetal body weights. However, whether it is associated with the alteration of luteal function remains unknown. Thus, our aim in this study was to explore the effect and mechanism of DEHP on luteal function in pregnant mice in vivo.

Expression and function of kisspeptin during mouse decidualization.

Background: Plasma kisspeptin levels dramatically increased during the first trimester of human pregnancy, which is similar to pregnancy specific glycoprotein-human chorionic gonadotropin. However, its particular role in the implantation and decidualization has not been fully unraveled. Here, the study was conducted to investigate the expression and function of kisspeptin in mouse uterus during early pregnancy and decidualization.

Kisspeptin stimulates progesterone secretion via the Erk1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in rat luteal cells.

Objective: To observe the effect of kisspeptin on the endocrine function of rat luteal cells.

Design: Experimental animal study.

Setting: Research institute laboratory.