Application of genome tagging technology in elucidating the function of sperm-specific protein 411 (Ssp411).

The genome tagging project (GTP) plays a pivotal role in addressing a critical gap in the understanding of protein functions. Within this framework, we successfully generated a human influenza hemagglutinin-tagged sperm-specific protein 411 (HA-tagged Ssp411) mouse model. This model is instrumental in probing the expression and function of Ssp411.

Influences of point defects on electron transport of two-dimensional gep semiconductor device.

The quantum transport properties of defective two-dimensional (2D) GeP semiconductor nanodevice consisting of typical point defects, such as antisite defect, substitutional defect, and Schottky defect, have been studied by using density functional theory combined with non-equilibrium Green's function calculation. The antisite defect has indistinctive influences on electron transport. However, both substitutional and Schottky defect have introduced promising defect state at the Fermi level, indicating the possibility of improvement on the carrier transport.

Effect of advanced paternal age on reproductive outcomes in IVF cycles of non-male-factor infertility: a retrospective cohort study.

Advanced paternal age has been overlooked, and its effect on fertility remains controversial. Previous studies have focused mainly on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in men with oligozoospermia. However, few studies have reported on men with semen parameters within reference ranges.

Vitamin K2-Dependent GGCX and MGP Are Required for Homeostatic Calcium Regulation of Sperm Maturation.

A low-calcium microenvironment is essential for spermatozoa to mature in the epididymis; however, it remains unclear how dysregulation of epididymal luminal calcium is associated with male infertility. Using a warfarin-induced vitamin K2 deficiency rat model, we found that vitamin-K-dependent γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) and matrix Gla protein (MGP) were essential in extracellular calcium signaling of the intercellular communication required for epididymal sperm maturation. We found that GGCX and MGP co-localized in the vesicular structures of epididymal cells and spermatozoa.

Computationally unraveling how ceritinib overcomes drug-resistance mutations in ALK-rearranged lung cancer.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a receptor tyrosine kinase, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several cancers. The small molecule ceritinib can overcome drug-resistance mutations that are observed in crizotinib-resistant patients, although the detailed mechanism for this ability of ceritinib remains elusive. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of six systems (including the apo ALK, the wild-type ALK-ceritinib complex, as well as four complexes of ceritinib with the I1171T, L1196M, S1206Y, and G1269A mutants of ALK, respectively) together with the subsequent molecular mechanics-generalized Born/surface area binding free energy calculations were performed to answer this question.

[Clinical observation of dog days moxibustion plaster therapy in treatment of allergic rhinitis of different patterns/syndromes].

Objective: To explore the efficacy and feasibility of dog days moxibustion plaster therapy in treatment of allergic rhinitis of different patterns/syndromes.

Methods: Allergic rhinitis of lung deficiency and invasion of cold, spleen qi deficiency and kidney yang deficiency, 56 patients for each pattern/syndrome were randomized into a plaster therapy group and a nasal spray group, 28 cases in each one. In the plaster therapy group, according to the pattern/syndrome differentiation, with literature retrieval method, 3 acupoints of high frequency utility in clinic were selected as one group in acupoint plaster therapy.

Sedimentary records of PAHs in a sediment core from tidal flat of Haizhou Bay, China.

The concentrations and depositional fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in a dated sediment core collected from a tidal flat in Haizhou Bay, China. The USEPA's 16 priority PAH concentrations ranged from 72.51 ng g(-1) dw in 1969 to 805.