The two bay scallop subspecies,Argopecten irradians irradians(NN)and A.i.concentricus(SS),are fast growing and major cultured bivalves in China.However,their relatively small sizes and decreasing production traits cau...The two bay scallop subspecies,Argopecten irradians irradians(NN)and A.i.concentricus(SS),are fast growing and major cultured bivalves in China.However,their relatively small sizes and decreasing production traits caused by long-term inbreeding have been major concerns to the industry in the last two decades.Hybridization between the two bay scallop subspecies may provide a new approach to breed a new variety with superior production traits for the industry.For this end,in this study,we hybridized the two bay scallop subspecies in order to obtain a new strain that incorporates the genes of both subspecies.No significant difference was found in fertilization rate,hatching rate and metamorphosis rate between the purebred and crossbred cohorts(NN♀×SS♂,denoted as NS;SS♀×NN♂,denoted as SN).Both mating strategy(intra-vs.inter-population crosses)and egg origin had significant effects on growth and survival at the larval stage.Heterosis was observed in the crossbred and was more pronounced in older stages.Genetic diversity of the reciprocal hybrids,especially that of SN,was increased compared with the purebred cohorts.Almost all hybrids were completely fertile and able to reproduce by selffertilization or by backcrossing with either parent.Apparently,male sterile individuals whose gonads were fully occupied by the ovary part at mature stage were found in the hybrids for the first time.The hybrids,especially SN,may provide precious germplasm resources for the production of ternary hybrids with the Peruvian scallop,A.purpuratus.展开更多
Synthetic nitrogen(N)fertilizer has made a great contribution to the improvement of soil fertility and productivity,but excessive application of synthetic N fertilizer may cause agroecosystem risks,such as soil acidif...Synthetic nitrogen(N)fertilizer has made a great contribution to the improvement of soil fertility and productivity,but excessive application of synthetic N fertilizer may cause agroecosystem risks,such as soil acidification,groundwater contamination and biodiversity reduction.Meanwhile,organic substitution has received increasing attention for its ecologically and environmentally friendly and productivity benefits.However,the linkages between manure substitution,crop yield and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain uncertain.To bridge this gap,a three-year field experiment was conducted with five fertilization regimes:i)Control,non-fertilization;CF,conventional synthetic fertilizer application;CF_(1/2)M_(1/2),1/2 N input via synthetic fertilizer and 1/2 N input via manure;CF_(1/4)M_(3/4),1/4 N input synthetic fertilizer and 3/4 N input via manure;M,manure application.All fertilization treatments were designed to have equal N input.Our results showed that all manure substituted treatments achieved high soil fertility indexes(SFI)and productivities by increasing the soil organic carbon(SOC),total N(TN)and available phosphorus(AP)concentrations,and by altering the bacterial community diversity and composition compared with CF.SOC,AP,and the soil C:N ratio were mainly responsible for microbial community variations.The co-occurrence network revealed that SOC and AP had strong positive associations with Rhodospirillales and Burkholderiales,while TN and C:N ratio had positive and negative associations with Micromonosporaceae,respectively.These specific taxa are implicated in soil macroelement turnover.Random Forest analysis predicted that both biotic(bacterial composition and Micromonosporaceae)and abiotic(AP,SOC,SFI,and TN)factors had significant effects on crop yield.The present work strengthens our understanding of the effects of manure substitution on crop yield and provides theoretical support for optimizing fertilization strategies.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the effect of bilateral hypogastric artery ligation(BHGAL)on women's pregnancy outcomes and fertility rates in cases with severe postpartum hemorrhage.Methods:Patients hospitalized in a terti...Objective:To evaluate the effect of bilateral hypogastric artery ligation(BHGAL)on women's pregnancy outcomes and fertility rates in cases with severe postpartum hemorrhage.Methods:Patients hospitalized in a tertiary care center between 2007 and 2018 were included in the study.The records of cases were obtained from the hospital database,retrospectively.Maternal demographic data,morbidities or complications associated with BHGAL surgery,any additional haemostatic interventional or surgical procedures,preoperative admission and lowest postoperative haematocrit-hemoglobin values,blood products given,type of anaesthesia,intensive care unit(ICU)and length of hospital stay were recorded.In cases without surgical sterilization,future fertility and subsequent pregnancy outcomes were assessed for at least two years after operation.Information was obtained through face-to-face or telephone interviews with patients whose long-term fertility and subsequent pregnancy outcomes were assessed.Results:Sixty-eight patients with BHGAL surgery history were included in the study.26 Of 37 cases(70%)that did not undergo surgical sterilization had a desire for pregnancy after the surgery.Six of these cases(23%)were diagnosed with secondary infertility.The fertility rate of these cases was 77%,and subsequent pregnancy was detected in 20 women.A total of 25 pregnancies,including first and second pregnancies,developed,and 15 of these pregnancies resulted in term delivery,six preterm births,one stillbirth,and three abortions.Conclusions:The postoperative pregnancy rate was found to be higher than the rate of women with infertility problems,and this surgery does not seem to adversely affect pregnancy outcomes.This is a tertiary center experience and cohort studies with large patient series are needed.展开更多
Objective:To explore the impact of Ficus carica fruit aqueous extract on fertility parameters in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced male rats.Methods:Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four different grou...Objective:To explore the impact of Ficus carica fruit aqueous extract on fertility parameters in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced male rats.Methods:Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four different groups.All groups except a normal control group were induced with 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin(STZ)intravenously to induce diabetes.A positive control group was treated with an antidiabetic drug,metformin(500 mg/kg)whereas a negative control group remained untreated throughout the experiment.Meanwhile,another diabetic rat group received treatment with 400 mg/kg of aqueous Ficus carica fruit extract.Rats in the treatment group were administered Ficus carica fruit aqueous extract daily through forcefeeding via oral gavage for a 21-day period.Assessments included the sperm quality(count,motility and morphology),histology of the testes,serum testosterone and fasting blood glucose(FBG)level.Results:The FBG level of the Ficus carica-treated rats exhibited a significant decrease compared to the negative control group(P<0.05).Sperm quality analysis also indicated that the aqueous Ficus carica extract had significant positive effects on sperm count and motility(P<0.05).The histology of the testes in Ficus caricatreated rats revealed an improved cell arrangement in the germinal cell layer.Furthermore,serum testosterone level showed an increment in the Ficus carica treatment group in comparison to the negative control group.Conclusions:Our findings provide compelling evidence for the profertility and anti-hyperglycemic properties of aqueous Ficus carica fruit extract in diabetic-induced male rats.展开更多
In this editorial we comment on the article by Gu et al.We focus and debate the necessity of fertility sparing surgery in young women’s with gynecologic cancers,specifically on those patients with the desire to conce...In this editorial we comment on the article by Gu et al.We focus and debate the necessity of fertility sparing surgery in young women’s with gynecologic cancers,specifically on those patients with the desire to conceive.This type of individu-alized treatment options is often very difficult,due to the risk of disease evolution and multiple disparities in fertility preservation services among women in di-fferent countries and societies.For this reason national policy interventions are mandatory in order to ensure equitable access this procedures,in women with cancer.展开更多
Introduction: In Nigeria, a major reason for marriage is procreation and married couples look forward to having children within a year or two of marriage. The inability to achieve conception and subsequently have a ch...Introduction: In Nigeria, a major reason for marriage is procreation and married couples look forward to having children within a year or two of marriage. The inability to achieve conception and subsequently have a child among couples may lead to psychological complications. Objective: This study assessed the psychological impact of infertility and its management on women receiving treatment at a Fertility Specialist Hospital in a poor resource setting. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 376 consenting married women who sought and received fertility treatment at a private Fertility Specialist Hospital, located at Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria between May 1, 2017 and May 31, 2022. Socio-demographic and Structured questionnaires were administered to the participants over a 5-year period. Results: The mean age of the women at presentation was 36.9 (±7.2 SD) years. The majority of the women (227) presented with secondary infertility accounting for 60.4%, while the rest had primary infertility (χ<sup>2</sup> = 16.18, P = 0.001). Male-only factor infertility accounted for 22.9% of all the infertility cases, female-only factor 21.3% while both (male and female factors co-existing) accounted for 52.7% of all the cases. The commonest cause of infertility in the study was poor sperm parameters (176) accounting for 46.8% of cases, tubal factor 19.1% and anovulatory factor 22.3% (χ<sup>2</sup> = 214.21, P = 0.001). Three hundred and thirty four (88.8%) felt depressed, 266 (70.7%) felt guilty about the past, and 222 (59.0%) had suicidal tendencies because of the infertility ordeal. Two hundred and fifty one (66.8%) felt inferior, 237 (63.0%) cried often and 174 (46.3%) were socially withdrawn. However, 10.4% of the women felt satisfied and well. These negative psychological feelings were statistically significant. Concerning the effect on marriage, the closeness of couples was reduced significantly in 57.7%, 62.8% had reduced coital intimacy, 79.3% had frequent quarrel and misunderstanding, 27.9% had threats of divorce while 4.5% had actually divorced and 11.% separated. However, there was no negative effect of infertility in 8.8% of couples. Conclusion: Psychological issues associated with infertility and its management in women include feelings of depression, guilt feelings, suicidal ideation, weeping episodes, social withdrawal, feelings of inferiority, reduced libido, and poverty of intimacy with frequent quarrels and misunderstanding. Women appear to bear more of the psychological issues associated with infertility. Early marriage on the part of the women, preservation of their reproductive youthful ages, and a better understanding of the concept of infertility by the couple will not only reduce the prevalence of infertility but will also reduce the dangerous psychological issues associated with infertility.展开更多
Obesity impacts human health in more than one way.The influence of obesity on human reproduction and fertility has been extensively examined.Bariatric surgery(BS)has been used as an effective tool to achieve long-term...Obesity impacts human health in more than one way.The influence of obesity on human reproduction and fertility has been extensively examined.Bariatric surgery(BS)has been used as an effective tool to achieve long-term weight loss in both sexes.BS improves hormonal profiling,increasing the odds of spontaneous pregnancy and success rates following assisted reproductive techniques in infertile females.For obese males,BS does improve sexual function and hormonal profile;however,conflicting reports discuss reduced sperm parameters following BS.Although the benefits of BS in the fertility field are acknowledged,many areas call for further research,like choosing the safest surgical techniques,determining the optimal timing to get pregnant,and resolving the uncertainty of sperm parameters.展开更多
Fertilization is an effective technique to improve soil fertility and increase crop yield.The long-term effects of different fertilizers on soil considerably vary.Over 38 consecutive years of different fertilization p...Fertilization is an effective technique to improve soil fertility and increase crop yield.The long-term effects of different fertilizers on soil considerably vary.Over 38 consecutive years of different fertilization positioning experiments in a double cropping rice field of Qiyang Red Soil Experimental Station,seven different fertilization treatments including CK(no fertilization),NPK(nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizer),M(cow manure),NPKM(nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium with cow manure),NPM(nitrogen and phosphorus with cow manure),NKM(nitrogen and potassium with cow manure),and PKM(phosphorus and potassium with cow manure)were applied to study the effects on rice yield,soil fertility,and nutrient apparent balance in a paddy field.The results showed that the annual average yields of rice in NPKM,NPM,NKM,PKM,M,NPK and CK treatments ranged from 6214 to 11562 kg ha-1.Yields under long-term organic and inorganic treatments(NPKM,NPM,NKM and PKM)were 22.58,15.35,10.53 and 4.41%,respectively,greater than under the NPK treatment.Soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),available nitrogen(AN)and available potassium(AK)concentration with long-term organic and inorganic treatment(NPKM,NPM,NKM and PKM)were significantly higher than in inorganic fertilizer(NPK)treatments.Soil total phosphorus(TP)and available phosphorus(AP)contentration with organic fertilizer combined with inorganic N and P fertilizer treatment(NPKM,NPM and PKM)were significantly higher than with inorganic fertilizer alone(NPK treatments).The average annual rice yield(11562 kg ha-1),SOC(20.88 g kg-1),TN(2.30 g kg-1),TP(0.95 g kg-1),TK(22.50 g kg-1)and AP(38.94 mg kg-1)concentrations were the highest in the NPKM treatment.The soil AN concentration(152.40 mg kg-1)and AK contentration(151.00 mg kg-1)were the highest in the NKM treatment.N and P application led to a surplus of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil,but NPKM treatment effectively reduced the surplus compared with other treatments.Soils under all treatments were deficient in potassium.Correlation analysis showed that SOC,TN,AN,TP,and AP contentration was significantly correlated with rice yield;the correlation coefficients were 0.428,0.496,0.518,0.501,and 0.438,respectively.This study showed that the combined application of N,P,and K with cow manure had important effects on rice yield and soil fertility,but balanced application of N,P,and K with cow manure was required.展开更多
Genetic improvement has promoted wheat’s grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency(NUE)during the past decades.Therefore,the current wheat cultivars exhibit higher grain yield and NUE than previous cultivars in the Yan...Genetic improvement has promoted wheat’s grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency(NUE)during the past decades.Therefore,the current wheat cultivars exhibit higher grain yield and NUE than previous cultivars in the Yangtze River Basin,China since the 2000s.However,the critical traits and mechanisms of the increased grain yield and NUE remain unknown.This study explores the mechanisms underlying these new cultivars’increased grain yield and NUE by studying 21 local cultivars cultivated for three growing seasons from 2016 to 2019.Significantly positive correlations were observed between grain yield and NUE in the three years.The cultivars were grouped into high(HH),medium(MM),and low(LL)grain yield and NUE groups.The HH group exhibited significantly high grain yield and NUE.High grain yield was attributed to more effective ears by high tiller fertility and greater single-spike yield by increasing post-anthesis single-stem biomass.Compared to other groups,the HH group demonstrated a longer leaf stay-green ability and a greater flag leaf photosynthetic rate after anthesis.It also showed higher N accumulation at pre-anthesis,which contributed to increasing N accumulation per stem,including stem and leaf sheath,leaf blade,and unit leaf area at pre-anthesis,and promoting N uptake efficiency,the main contribution of high NUE.Moreover,tiller fertility was positively related to N accumulation per stem,N accumulation per unit leaf area,leaf stay-green ability,and flag leaf photosynthetic rate,which indicates that improving tiller fertility promoted N uptake,leaf N accumulation,and photosynthetic ability,thereby achieving synchronous improvements in grain yield and NUE.Therefore,tiller fertility is proposed as an important kernel indicator that can be used in the breeding and management of cultivars to improve agricultural efficiency and sustainability.展开更多
Background Comparative and comprehensive omics studies have recently been conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying infertility.However,because these huge omics dataset...Background Comparative and comprehensive omics studies have recently been conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying infertility.However,because these huge omics datasets often contain irrelevant information,editing strategies for summarizing and filtering the data are necessary prerequisite steps for identifying biomarkers of male fertility.Here,we attempted to integrate omics data from spermatozoa with normal and below-normal fertility from boars and bulls,including transcriptomic,proteomic,and metabolomic data.Pathway enrichment analysis was conducted and visualized using g:Profiler,Cytoscape,EnrichmentMap,and AutoAnnotation to determine fertility-related biological functions according to species.Results In particular,gamete production and protein biogenesis-associated pathways were enriched in bull spermatozoa with below-normal fertility,whereas mitochondrial-associated metabolic pathways were enriched in boar spermatozoa with normal fertility.These results indicate that below-normal fertility may be determined by aberrant regulation of protein synthesis during spermatogenesis,and the modulation of reactive oxygen species generation to maintain capacitation and the acrosome reaction governs boar sperm fertility.Conclusion Overall,this approach demonstrated that distinct molecular pathways drive sperm fertility in mammals in a species-dependent manner.Moreover,we anticipate that searching for species-specific signaling pathways may aid in the discovery of fertility-related biomarkers within large omics datasets.展开更多
Background MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are small,single-stranded,non-coding RNA molecules of 22–24 nucleotides that regulate gene expression.In the last decade,miRNAs have been described in sperm of several mammals,including ca...Background MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are small,single-stranded,non-coding RNA molecules of 22–24 nucleotides that regulate gene expression.In the last decade,miRNAs have been described in sperm of several mammals,including cattle.It is known that miRNAs can act as key gene regulators of early embryogenesis in mice and humans;however,little is known about the content,expression,and function of sperm-borne miRNAs in early bovine embryo.In this study,total sperm RNA was isolated from 29 cryopreserved sperm samples(each coming from a separate bull)using a RNeasy kit and treatment with DNase I.RNA concentration and purity were determined through an Epoch spectrophotometer and an Agilent Bioanalyzer.The expression of 10 candidate miRNAs in bovine sperm(bta-miR-10a,bta-miR-10b,bta-miR-138,bta-miR-146b,bta-miR-19b,bta-miR-26a,bta-miR-34a,bta-miR-449a,bta-miR-495 and btamiR-7),previously identified in testis and/or epididymis,was evaluated with RT-qPCR.The cel-miR-39-3p was used as a spike-in exogenous control.Nonparametric Mann–Whitney tests were run to evaluate which miRNAs were differentially expressed between bulls with high fertility[HF;non-return rates(NRR)ranging from 39.5 to 43.5]and those with subfertility(SF;NRR ranging from 33.3 to 39.3).Several sperm functionality parameters(e.g.,viability,membrane stability or oxygen consumption,among others)were measured by multiplexing flow cytometry and oxygen sensing technologies.Results RNA concentration and purity(260/280 nm ratio)(mean±SD)from the 29 samples were 99.3±84.6 ng/μL and 1.97±0.72,respectively.Bioanalyzer results confirmed the lack of RNA from somatic cells.In terms of the presence or absence of miRNAs,and after applying the Livak method,8 out of 10 miRNAs(bta-miR-10b,-138,-146b,-19b,-26a,-449a,-495,-7)were consistently detected in bovine sperm,whereas the other two(bta-miR-10a,and-34a)were absent.Interestingly,the relative expression of one miRNA(bta-miR-138)in sperm was significantly lower in the SF than in the HF group(P=0.038).In addition to being associated to fertility potential,the presence of this miRNA was found to be negatively correlated with sperm oxygen consumption.The expression of three other miRNAs(bta-miR-19b,bta-miR-26a and bta-miR-7)was also correlated with sperm function variables.Conclusions In conclusion,although functional validation studies are required to confirm these results,this study suggests that sperm bta-miR-138 is involved in fertilization events and beyond,and supports its use as a fertility biomarker in cattle.展开更多
Farmland Fertility Algorithm(FFA)is a recent nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm for solving optimization problems.Nevertheless,FFA has some drawbacks:slow convergence and imbalance of diversification(exploration)...Farmland Fertility Algorithm(FFA)is a recent nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm for solving optimization problems.Nevertheless,FFA has some drawbacks:slow convergence and imbalance of diversification(exploration)and intensification(exploitation).An adaptive mechanism in every algorithm can achieve a proper balance between exploration and exploitation.The literature shows that chaotic maps are incorporated into metaheuristic algorithms to eliminate these drawbacks.Therefore,in this paper,twelve chaotic maps have been embedded into FFA to find the best numbers of prospectors to increase the exploitation of the best promising solutions.Furthermore,the Quasi-Oppositional-Based Learning(QOBL)mechanism enhances the exploration speed and convergence rate;we name a CQFFA algorithm.The improvements have been made in line with the weaknesses of the FFA algorithm because the FFA algorithm has fallen into the optimal local trap in solving some complex problems or does not have sufficient ability in the intensification component.The results obtained show that the proposed CQFFA model has been significantly improved.It is applied to twenty-three widely-used test functions and compared with similar state-of-the-art algorithms statistically and visually.Also,the CQFFA algorithm has evaluated six real-world engineering problems.The experimental results showed that the CQFFA algorithm outperforms other competitor algorithms.展开更多
Rapeseed(Brassica napus,AACC)was formed by hybridization between progenitor species Brassica rapa(AA)and Brassica oleracea(CC).As a result of a limited number of hybridization events between specific progenitor genoty...Rapeseed(Brassica napus,AACC)was formed by hybridization between progenitor species Brassica rapa(AA)and Brassica oleracea(CC).As a result of a limited number of hybridization events between specific progenitor genotypes and strong breeding selection for oil quality traits,rapeseed has limited genetic diversity.The production of resynthesized B.napus lines via interspecific hybridization of the diploid progenitor species B.rapa and B.oleracea is one possible way to increase genetic variation in rapeseed.However,most resynthesized lines produced so far have been reported to be meiotically unstable and infertile,in contrast to established B.napus cultivars.This hinders both maintenance and use of this germplasm in breeding programs.We characterized a large set of 140 resynthesized lines produced by crosses between B.rapa and B.oleracea,as well as between B.rapa and wild C genome species(B.incana,B.hilarionis,B.montana,B.Bourgeaui,B.villosa and B.cretica)for purity(homozygosity),fertility,and genome stability.Self-pollinated seed set,seeds per ten pods as well as percentage pollen viability were used to estimate fertility.SNP genotyping was performed using the Illumina Infinium Brassica 60K array for 116 genotypes,with at least three individuals per line.Most of the material which had been advanced through multiple generations was no longer pure,with heterozygosity detected corresponding to unknown parental contributions via outcrossing.Fertility and genome stability were both genotypedependent.Most lines had high numbers of copy number variants(CNVs),indicative of meiotic instability,and high numbers of CNVs were significantly associated with reduced fertility.Eight putatively stable resynthesized B.napus lines were observed.Further investigation of these lines may reveal the mechanisms underlying this effect.Our results suggest that selection of stable resynthesized lines for breeding purposes is possible.展开更多
The wild abortive(WA)-type cytoplasmic male sterility(CMS)derived from the wild rice species Oryza rufipogon Griff.is used widely in three-line indica hybrids.The identification and mapping of restorer of fertility(Rf...The wild abortive(WA)-type cytoplasmic male sterility(CMS)derived from the wild rice species Oryza rufipogon Griff.is used widely in three-line indica hybrids.The identification and mapping of restorer of fertility(Rf)genes aided in the development of WA-type hybrids.Here we report that testcross F1 plants from the WA-type CMS line and 9311 exhibited stainable pollen grains with no seed set,indicating that 9311 carries minor-effect Rfs for WA-type CMS.We developed an advanced backcross population consisting of plants harboring small regions of donor chromosomal segments from 9311 in the WATianfeng A genetic background with moderate seed setting rates.Genetic analysis showed that the pollen fertility levels of the backcross individuals are governed by a single gene from 9311 that we named Rf19(t).By use of the RICE 40 K gene chip,three introduced segments were identified in the fertile lines,and a candidate region spanning 4.37–8.29 Mb on chromosome 1 was identified for Rf19(t).Finally,Rf19(t)was fine-mapped to a region of 90 kb between the DNA marker loci STS1-163 and STS1-183,in which eight ORFs were predicted.Also,using relative expression analyses,comparative sequence analyses and functional domain analyses,we identified LOC_Os01g10530 as the most likely candidate gene for Rf19(t).Furthermore,Rf19(t)was found to function in fertility restoration,most probably by regulating the degradation of m RNA transcribed from the mitochondrial gene WA352.These results increase our knowledge of fertility restoration in WA-type CMS lines and will facilitate the development of high-quality pairs of WAtype CMS and maintainer lines.展开更多
Travelling Salesman Problem(TSP)is a discrete hybrid optimization problem considered NP-hard.TSP aims to discover the shortest Hamilton route that visits each city precisely once and then returns to the starting point...Travelling Salesman Problem(TSP)is a discrete hybrid optimization problem considered NP-hard.TSP aims to discover the shortest Hamilton route that visits each city precisely once and then returns to the starting point,making it the shortest route feasible.This paper employed a Farmland Fertility Algorithm(FFA)inspired by agricultural land fertility and a hyper-heuristic technique based on the Modified Choice Function(MCF).The neighborhood search operator can use this strategy to automatically select the best heuristic method formaking the best decision.Lin-Kernighan(LK)local search has been incorporated to increase the efficiency and performance of this suggested approach.71 TSPLIB datasets have been compared with different algorithms to prove the proposed algorithm’s performance and efficiency.Simulation results indicated that the proposed algorithm outperforms comparable methods of average mean computation time,average percentage deviation(PDav),and tour length.展开更多
In order to make the synthetic route of Thiamidol more efficient and easier to scale up,a new method was developed.The compound 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone was dissolved in ethyl acetate and brominated with cupric bromi...In order to make the synthetic route of Thiamidol more efficient and easier to scale up,a new method was developed.The compound 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone was dissolved in ethyl acetate and brominated with cupric bromide.After bromination,the mixture was filtered to remove cuprous bromide.The obtained ethyl acetate solution containing 2-bromo-1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethanone was directly reacted with(2-methylpropanoyl)thiourea to obtain the precipitate of Thiamidol hydrobromide.The precipitate was neutralized by deacidification and recrystallized to afford Thiamidol with high purity.In addition,in the screening of fertility-promoting substances,Thiamidol was found to be effective in protecting human sperm from motility loss in vitro.This suggests that it may have potential application in fertility protection and promotion.展开更多
In view of the problems of decreased unit yield,soil acidification,decreased soil organic matter and soil fertility caused by high generation single pure Eucalyptus plantation in southern Guangxi,a field experiment wa...In view of the problems of decreased unit yield,soil acidification,decreased soil organic matter and soil fertility caused by high generation single pure Eucalyptus plantation in southern Guangxi,a field experiment was conducted to study the yield,soil organic matter and soil fertility under six soil conditioning measures[interplanting Tephrosia candida under the forest,interplanting Sesbania cannabina under the forest,organic fertilizer application,residue to woodland,soil testing and formulated fertilization,and applying pure chemical fertilizer(CK)],and the enhancing effects of each treatment on the yield and soil improvement of Eucalyptus plantations were further comprehensively evaluated.The results showed that compared with the control,the five treatments could increase the average stock of Eucalyptus,among which the average stock under the treatment of interplanting T.candida under the forest was the highest,followed by soil testing and formulated fertilization.The soil organic matter content and soil fertility of the forest were significantly improved by interplanting green manure,organic fertilizer application and soil testing and formulated fertilization models,while the short-term(1 a)effect of the residue treatment on the improvement of soil organic matter and soil fertility was insignificant.During the actual production process,interplanting green manure and residue treatment were not effective due to the inoperability,and the applicability were not wide,which still needed further study.Therefore,organic manure application and soil testing and formulated fertilization were suitable choices to promote the improvement of productivity and soil quality of Eucalyptus plantation in Guangxi.展开更多
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, constituting 25% of all cancer diagnoses. Even though it is only affecting 4% - 6% of women under the age of 40, it remains the most...Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, constituting 25% of all cancer diagnoses. Even though it is only affecting 4% - 6% of women under the age of 40, it remains the most common malignancy among younger patients. Advancement in the treatment and earlier detection gives excellent 5 years of survival. However, the standard treatment that comprises surgical-chemo radiation therapy or hormonal treatment often results in an increased incidence of treatment-induced infertility. Therefore, adding fertility preservation to primary cancer treatment may offer the best opportunity for future fertility. However, despite advancements in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), the uptake of fertility services in this group remains low. In this review, we highlighted the effect of all breast cancer treatments on women’s fertility, the effectiveness and safety of ART in breast cancer patients as well as the safety of pregnancy in breast cancer survivors. Our aim is to improve awareness of fertility preservation for breast cancer to ensure all women diagnosed with breast cancer have multidisciplinary approaches with early referral to fertility specialists to discuss regarding potential risks and benefits of fertility preservation to improve the uptake of fertility preservation among this group of patients.展开更多
Purpose: Fertility education for high school students leads them to be able to decide when to get pregnant and give birth, and to think about their desired life plan. However, knowledge of fertility in Japan is low co...Purpose: Fertility education for high school students leads them to be able to decide when to get pregnant and give birth, and to think about their desired life plan. However, knowledge of fertility in Japan is low compared to other countries. This study aims to understand the state of fertility knowledge among high school students in Japan and to clarify issues in fertility education. Method: Ten articles published from 2013 to July 2023 were selected for review from ICHUSHI Web Ver. 5 and CiNii with the keywords “high school students,” “fertility,” and “education.” The review was limited to Japanese-language literature due to differences in fertility education and knowledge between Japan and other countries. Results/Conclusion: 60% - 90% of the high school students indicated that their source of information on fertility was school lessons. Half of the students understood egg aging and the effects of smoking and drinking on fertility, but their knowledge of menstruation, male reproductive physiology/function, and infertility was insufficient. 50% - 80% of students wanted to marry by the age of 30, and 70% - 80% wanted to have children. 80% of students who attended a lecture on preconception care considered the lesson an opportunity to think about their future life plans. 90% of school nurse teachers reported that fertility should be taught in schools, and half said that egg aging, causes of infertility, and other topics should be covered in high school. Educational caution points included the consideration of developmental stages and the relatedness of the content to what had already been taught, among other things. High school is the best time for fertility education because it gives students the opportunity to accept their own sexuality and think about their future. In addition, since many students plan to marry and have children by the age of 30, the acquisition of fertility knowledge can be an effective means of future life design.展开更多
Low fertility and population aging are important factors affecting economic and social development.From 2000 to 2020,the development of low fertility in ethnic minority areas shows three trends of accelerated declinin...Low fertility and population aging are important factors affecting economic and social development.From 2000 to 2020,the development of low fertility in ethnic minority areas shows three trends of accelerated declining,slow declining and first falling and then rising,which are the results of the balance between the inhibiting effect of controlling birth policy and the rapidly rising birth cost,and the promoting effect of encouraging birth policy on the fertility desire of social members.The development of aging in ethnic minority areas shows two trends of acceleration and deceleration,which are the results of the balance between the promoting effect of controlling birth policy,the outflow of young and middle-aged labor force and the rise of life expectancy,and the inhibiting effect of the encouraging birth policy,the restraint of talent return and talent introduction.Combined with the development degree of low fertility and aging,we can accurately classify and implement policies for different ethnic minority areas.The areas with serious low fertility and population aging problems need economic policies to change the population age structure as soon as possible.The areas with slight low fertility and population aging problems should carry out ideological policies in priority to maintain the benign structure of population age.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31972791)the Earmarked Fund for Agriculture Seed Improvement Project of Shandong Province(No.2020LZGC016)+1 种基金the Scientific and Technological Project of Yantai,Shandong Province(No.2022XCZX083)the Earmarked Fund for Shandong Modern Agro-Industry Technology Research System(No.SDAIT-14)。
文摘The two bay scallop subspecies,Argopecten irradians irradians(NN)and A.i.concentricus(SS),are fast growing and major cultured bivalves in China.However,their relatively small sizes and decreasing production traits caused by long-term inbreeding have been major concerns to the industry in the last two decades.Hybridization between the two bay scallop subspecies may provide a new approach to breed a new variety with superior production traits for the industry.For this end,in this study,we hybridized the two bay scallop subspecies in order to obtain a new strain that incorporates the genes of both subspecies.No significant difference was found in fertilization rate,hatching rate and metamorphosis rate between the purebred and crossbred cohorts(NN♀×SS♂,denoted as NS;SS♀×NN♂,denoted as SN).Both mating strategy(intra-vs.inter-population crosses)and egg origin had significant effects on growth and survival at the larval stage.Heterosis was observed in the crossbred and was more pronounced in older stages.Genetic diversity of the reciprocal hybrids,especially that of SN,was increased compared with the purebred cohorts.Almost all hybrids were completely fertile and able to reproduce by selffertilization or by backcrossing with either parent.Apparently,male sterile individuals whose gonads were fully occupied by the ovary part at mature stage were found in the hybrids for the first time.The hybrids,especially SN,may provide precious germplasm resources for the production of ternary hybrids with the Peruvian scallop,A.purpuratus.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD2301403-2)the Major Special Project of Anhui Province,China(2021d06050003)+2 种基金the Postdoctoral Foundation of Anhui Province,China(2022B638)the Special Project of Zhongke Bengbu Technology Transfer Center,China(ZKBB202103)the Grant of the President Foundation of Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of Chinese Academy of Sciences(YZJJ2023QN37)。
文摘Synthetic nitrogen(N)fertilizer has made a great contribution to the improvement of soil fertility and productivity,but excessive application of synthetic N fertilizer may cause agroecosystem risks,such as soil acidification,groundwater contamination and biodiversity reduction.Meanwhile,organic substitution has received increasing attention for its ecologically and environmentally friendly and productivity benefits.However,the linkages between manure substitution,crop yield and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain uncertain.To bridge this gap,a three-year field experiment was conducted with five fertilization regimes:i)Control,non-fertilization;CF,conventional synthetic fertilizer application;CF_(1/2)M_(1/2),1/2 N input via synthetic fertilizer and 1/2 N input via manure;CF_(1/4)M_(3/4),1/4 N input synthetic fertilizer and 3/4 N input via manure;M,manure application.All fertilization treatments were designed to have equal N input.Our results showed that all manure substituted treatments achieved high soil fertility indexes(SFI)and productivities by increasing the soil organic carbon(SOC),total N(TN)and available phosphorus(AP)concentrations,and by altering the bacterial community diversity and composition compared with CF.SOC,AP,and the soil C:N ratio were mainly responsible for microbial community variations.The co-occurrence network revealed that SOC and AP had strong positive associations with Rhodospirillales and Burkholderiales,while TN and C:N ratio had positive and negative associations with Micromonosporaceae,respectively.These specific taxa are implicated in soil macroelement turnover.Random Forest analysis predicted that both biotic(bacterial composition and Micromonosporaceae)and abiotic(AP,SOC,SFI,and TN)factors had significant effects on crop yield.The present work strengthens our understanding of the effects of manure substitution on crop yield and provides theoretical support for optimizing fertilization strategies.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the effect of bilateral hypogastric artery ligation(BHGAL)on women's pregnancy outcomes and fertility rates in cases with severe postpartum hemorrhage.Methods:Patients hospitalized in a tertiary care center between 2007 and 2018 were included in the study.The records of cases were obtained from the hospital database,retrospectively.Maternal demographic data,morbidities or complications associated with BHGAL surgery,any additional haemostatic interventional or surgical procedures,preoperative admission and lowest postoperative haematocrit-hemoglobin values,blood products given,type of anaesthesia,intensive care unit(ICU)and length of hospital stay were recorded.In cases without surgical sterilization,future fertility and subsequent pregnancy outcomes were assessed for at least two years after operation.Information was obtained through face-to-face or telephone interviews with patients whose long-term fertility and subsequent pregnancy outcomes were assessed.Results:Sixty-eight patients with BHGAL surgery history were included in the study.26 Of 37 cases(70%)that did not undergo surgical sterilization had a desire for pregnancy after the surgery.Six of these cases(23%)were diagnosed with secondary infertility.The fertility rate of these cases was 77%,and subsequent pregnancy was detected in 20 women.A total of 25 pregnancies,including first and second pregnancies,developed,and 15 of these pregnancies resulted in term delivery,six preterm births,one stillbirth,and three abortions.Conclusions:The postoperative pregnancy rate was found to be higher than the rate of women with infertility problems,and this surgery does not seem to adversely affect pregnancy outcomes.This is a tertiary center experience and cohort studies with large patient series are needed.
文摘Objective:To explore the impact of Ficus carica fruit aqueous extract on fertility parameters in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced male rats.Methods:Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four different groups.All groups except a normal control group were induced with 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin(STZ)intravenously to induce diabetes.A positive control group was treated with an antidiabetic drug,metformin(500 mg/kg)whereas a negative control group remained untreated throughout the experiment.Meanwhile,another diabetic rat group received treatment with 400 mg/kg of aqueous Ficus carica fruit extract.Rats in the treatment group were administered Ficus carica fruit aqueous extract daily through forcefeeding via oral gavage for a 21-day period.Assessments included the sperm quality(count,motility and morphology),histology of the testes,serum testosterone and fasting blood glucose(FBG)level.Results:The FBG level of the Ficus carica-treated rats exhibited a significant decrease compared to the negative control group(P<0.05).Sperm quality analysis also indicated that the aqueous Ficus carica extract had significant positive effects on sperm count and motility(P<0.05).The histology of the testes in Ficus caricatreated rats revealed an improved cell arrangement in the germinal cell layer.Furthermore,serum testosterone level showed an increment in the Ficus carica treatment group in comparison to the negative control group.Conclusions:Our findings provide compelling evidence for the profertility and anti-hyperglycemic properties of aqueous Ficus carica fruit extract in diabetic-induced male rats.
文摘In this editorial we comment on the article by Gu et al.We focus and debate the necessity of fertility sparing surgery in young women’s with gynecologic cancers,specifically on those patients with the desire to conceive.This type of individu-alized treatment options is often very difficult,due to the risk of disease evolution and multiple disparities in fertility preservation services among women in di-fferent countries and societies.For this reason national policy interventions are mandatory in order to ensure equitable access this procedures,in women with cancer.
文摘Introduction: In Nigeria, a major reason for marriage is procreation and married couples look forward to having children within a year or two of marriage. The inability to achieve conception and subsequently have a child among couples may lead to psychological complications. Objective: This study assessed the psychological impact of infertility and its management on women receiving treatment at a Fertility Specialist Hospital in a poor resource setting. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 376 consenting married women who sought and received fertility treatment at a private Fertility Specialist Hospital, located at Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria between May 1, 2017 and May 31, 2022. Socio-demographic and Structured questionnaires were administered to the participants over a 5-year period. Results: The mean age of the women at presentation was 36.9 (±7.2 SD) years. The majority of the women (227) presented with secondary infertility accounting for 60.4%, while the rest had primary infertility (χ<sup>2</sup> = 16.18, P = 0.001). Male-only factor infertility accounted for 22.9% of all the infertility cases, female-only factor 21.3% while both (male and female factors co-existing) accounted for 52.7% of all the cases. The commonest cause of infertility in the study was poor sperm parameters (176) accounting for 46.8% of cases, tubal factor 19.1% and anovulatory factor 22.3% (χ<sup>2</sup> = 214.21, P = 0.001). Three hundred and thirty four (88.8%) felt depressed, 266 (70.7%) felt guilty about the past, and 222 (59.0%) had suicidal tendencies because of the infertility ordeal. Two hundred and fifty one (66.8%) felt inferior, 237 (63.0%) cried often and 174 (46.3%) were socially withdrawn. However, 10.4% of the women felt satisfied and well. These negative psychological feelings were statistically significant. Concerning the effect on marriage, the closeness of couples was reduced significantly in 57.7%, 62.8% had reduced coital intimacy, 79.3% had frequent quarrel and misunderstanding, 27.9% had threats of divorce while 4.5% had actually divorced and 11.% separated. However, there was no negative effect of infertility in 8.8% of couples. Conclusion: Psychological issues associated with infertility and its management in women include feelings of depression, guilt feelings, suicidal ideation, weeping episodes, social withdrawal, feelings of inferiority, reduced libido, and poverty of intimacy with frequent quarrels and misunderstanding. Women appear to bear more of the psychological issues associated with infertility. Early marriage on the part of the women, preservation of their reproductive youthful ages, and a better understanding of the concept of infertility by the couple will not only reduce the prevalence of infertility but will also reduce the dangerous psychological issues associated with infertility.
文摘Obesity impacts human health in more than one way.The influence of obesity on human reproduction and fertility has been extensively examined.Bariatric surgery(BS)has been used as an effective tool to achieve long-term weight loss in both sexes.BS improves hormonal profiling,increasing the odds of spontaneous pregnancy and success rates following assisted reproductive techniques in infertile females.For obese males,BS does improve sexual function and hormonal profile;however,conflicting reports discuss reduced sperm parameters following BS.Although the benefits of BS in the fertility field are acknowledged,many areas call for further research,like choosing the safest surgical techniques,determining the optimal timing to get pregnant,and resolving the uncertainty of sperm parameters.
基金This study was financially supported by the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System(CARS-01-02A)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China(2022NK2009)+2 种基金the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province,China(2021RC2081)the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province,China(2022NSFSC1059)the Development Program of Hunan Province,China(2021NK2029).
文摘Fertilization is an effective technique to improve soil fertility and increase crop yield.The long-term effects of different fertilizers on soil considerably vary.Over 38 consecutive years of different fertilization positioning experiments in a double cropping rice field of Qiyang Red Soil Experimental Station,seven different fertilization treatments including CK(no fertilization),NPK(nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizer),M(cow manure),NPKM(nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium with cow manure),NPM(nitrogen and phosphorus with cow manure),NKM(nitrogen and potassium with cow manure),and PKM(phosphorus and potassium with cow manure)were applied to study the effects on rice yield,soil fertility,and nutrient apparent balance in a paddy field.The results showed that the annual average yields of rice in NPKM,NPM,NKM,PKM,M,NPK and CK treatments ranged from 6214 to 11562 kg ha-1.Yields under long-term organic and inorganic treatments(NPKM,NPM,NKM and PKM)were 22.58,15.35,10.53 and 4.41%,respectively,greater than under the NPK treatment.Soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),available nitrogen(AN)and available potassium(AK)concentration with long-term organic and inorganic treatment(NPKM,NPM,NKM and PKM)were significantly higher than in inorganic fertilizer(NPK)treatments.Soil total phosphorus(TP)and available phosphorus(AP)contentration with organic fertilizer combined with inorganic N and P fertilizer treatment(NPKM,NPM and PKM)were significantly higher than with inorganic fertilizer alone(NPK treatments).The average annual rice yield(11562 kg ha-1),SOC(20.88 g kg-1),TN(2.30 g kg-1),TP(0.95 g kg-1),TK(22.50 g kg-1)and AP(38.94 mg kg-1)concentrations were the highest in the NPKM treatment.The soil AN concentration(152.40 mg kg-1)and AK contentration(151.00 mg kg-1)were the highest in the NKM treatment.N and P application led to a surplus of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil,but NPKM treatment effectively reduced the surplus compared with other treatments.Soils under all treatments were deficient in potassium.Correlation analysis showed that SOC,TN,AN,TP,and AP contentration was significantly correlated with rice yield;the correlation coefficients were 0.428,0.496,0.518,0.501,and 0.438,respectively.This study showed that the combined application of N,P,and K with cow manure had important effects on rice yield and soil fertility,but balanced application of N,P,and K with cow manure was required.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31771711 and 32071953)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFD0300405)+1 种基金the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions,China,the Project of the Vice General Manager of Science and Technology of Jiangsu Province,China(FZ20211472)the Plan of Gathering 1000 Leading Talents of Suqian,China.
文摘Genetic improvement has promoted wheat’s grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency(NUE)during the past decades.Therefore,the current wheat cultivars exhibit higher grain yield and NUE than previous cultivars in the Yangtze River Basin,China since the 2000s.However,the critical traits and mechanisms of the increased grain yield and NUE remain unknown.This study explores the mechanisms underlying these new cultivars’increased grain yield and NUE by studying 21 local cultivars cultivated for three growing seasons from 2016 to 2019.Significantly positive correlations were observed between grain yield and NUE in the three years.The cultivars were grouped into high(HH),medium(MM),and low(LL)grain yield and NUE groups.The HH group exhibited significantly high grain yield and NUE.High grain yield was attributed to more effective ears by high tiller fertility and greater single-spike yield by increasing post-anthesis single-stem biomass.Compared to other groups,the HH group demonstrated a longer leaf stay-green ability and a greater flag leaf photosynthetic rate after anthesis.It also showed higher N accumulation at pre-anthesis,which contributed to increasing N accumulation per stem,including stem and leaf sheath,leaf blade,and unit leaf area at pre-anthesis,and promoting N uptake efficiency,the main contribution of high NUE.Moreover,tiller fertility was positively related to N accumulation per stem,N accumulation per unit leaf area,leaf stay-green ability,and flag leaf photosynthetic rate,which indicates that improving tiller fertility promoted N uptake,leaf N accumulation,and photosynthetic ability,thereby achieving synchronous improvements in grain yield and NUE.Therefore,tiller fertility is proposed as an important kernel indicator that can be used in the breeding and management of cultivars to improve agricultural efficiency and sustainability.
基金supported by the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2020R1C1C1003380).
文摘Background Comparative and comprehensive omics studies have recently been conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying infertility.However,because these huge omics datasets often contain irrelevant information,editing strategies for summarizing and filtering the data are necessary prerequisite steps for identifying biomarkers of male fertility.Here,we attempted to integrate omics data from spermatozoa with normal and below-normal fertility from boars and bulls,including transcriptomic,proteomic,and metabolomic data.Pathway enrichment analysis was conducted and visualized using g:Profiler,Cytoscape,EnrichmentMap,and AutoAnnotation to determine fertility-related biological functions according to species.Results In particular,gamete production and protein biogenesis-associated pathways were enriched in bull spermatozoa with below-normal fertility,whereas mitochondrial-associated metabolic pathways were enriched in boar spermatozoa with normal fertility.These results indicate that below-normal fertility may be determined by aberrant regulation of protein synthesis during spermatogenesis,and the modulation of reactive oxygen species generation to maintain capacitation and the acrosome reaction governs boar sperm fertility.Conclusion Overall,this approach demonstrated that distinct molecular pathways drive sperm fertility in mammals in a species-dependent manner.Moreover,we anticipate that searching for species-specific signaling pathways may aid in the discovery of fertility-related biomarkers within large omics datasets.
基金the Ministry of Science and Innovation,Spain(IJC2019-039615-I and PID2020-113320RB-I00)the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation scheme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No.801342(Techniospring INDUSTRY+2 种基金TECSPR-19-1-0003)the Regional Government of Catalonia(2017-SGR-1229 and 2021-SGR-00900)the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies(ICREA).
文摘Background MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are small,single-stranded,non-coding RNA molecules of 22–24 nucleotides that regulate gene expression.In the last decade,miRNAs have been described in sperm of several mammals,including cattle.It is known that miRNAs can act as key gene regulators of early embryogenesis in mice and humans;however,little is known about the content,expression,and function of sperm-borne miRNAs in early bovine embryo.In this study,total sperm RNA was isolated from 29 cryopreserved sperm samples(each coming from a separate bull)using a RNeasy kit and treatment with DNase I.RNA concentration and purity were determined through an Epoch spectrophotometer and an Agilent Bioanalyzer.The expression of 10 candidate miRNAs in bovine sperm(bta-miR-10a,bta-miR-10b,bta-miR-138,bta-miR-146b,bta-miR-19b,bta-miR-26a,bta-miR-34a,bta-miR-449a,bta-miR-495 and btamiR-7),previously identified in testis and/or epididymis,was evaluated with RT-qPCR.The cel-miR-39-3p was used as a spike-in exogenous control.Nonparametric Mann–Whitney tests were run to evaluate which miRNAs were differentially expressed between bulls with high fertility[HF;non-return rates(NRR)ranging from 39.5 to 43.5]and those with subfertility(SF;NRR ranging from 33.3 to 39.3).Several sperm functionality parameters(e.g.,viability,membrane stability or oxygen consumption,among others)were measured by multiplexing flow cytometry and oxygen sensing technologies.Results RNA concentration and purity(260/280 nm ratio)(mean±SD)from the 29 samples were 99.3±84.6 ng/μL and 1.97±0.72,respectively.Bioanalyzer results confirmed the lack of RNA from somatic cells.In terms of the presence or absence of miRNAs,and after applying the Livak method,8 out of 10 miRNAs(bta-miR-10b,-138,-146b,-19b,-26a,-449a,-495,-7)were consistently detected in bovine sperm,whereas the other two(bta-miR-10a,and-34a)were absent.Interestingly,the relative expression of one miRNA(bta-miR-138)in sperm was significantly lower in the SF than in the HF group(P=0.038).In addition to being associated to fertility potential,the presence of this miRNA was found to be negatively correlated with sperm oxygen consumption.The expression of three other miRNAs(bta-miR-19b,bta-miR-26a and bta-miR-7)was also correlated with sperm function variables.Conclusions In conclusion,although functional validation studies are required to confirm these results,this study suggests that sperm bta-miR-138 is involved in fertilization events and beyond,and supports its use as a fertility biomarker in cattle.
文摘Farmland Fertility Algorithm(FFA)is a recent nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm for solving optimization problems.Nevertheless,FFA has some drawbacks:slow convergence and imbalance of diversification(exploration)and intensification(exploitation).An adaptive mechanism in every algorithm can achieve a proper balance between exploration and exploitation.The literature shows that chaotic maps are incorporated into metaheuristic algorithms to eliminate these drawbacks.Therefore,in this paper,twelve chaotic maps have been embedded into FFA to find the best numbers of prospectors to increase the exploitation of the best promising solutions.Furthermore,the Quasi-Oppositional-Based Learning(QOBL)mechanism enhances the exploration speed and convergence rate;we name a CQFFA algorithm.The improvements have been made in line with the weaknesses of the FFA algorithm because the FFA algorithm has fallen into the optimal local trap in solving some complex problems or does not have sufficient ability in the intensification component.The results obtained show that the proposed CQFFA model has been significantly improved.It is applied to twenty-three widely-used test functions and compared with similar state-of-the-art algorithms statistically and visually.Also,the CQFFA algorithm has evaluated six real-world engineering problems.The experimental results showed that the CQFFA algorithm outperforms other competitor algorithms.
基金funded by the German Research Council(DFG grant MA6473/2-1,awarded to AM)The Mason lab is partially funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG,German Research Foundation)under Germany’s Excellence Strategy-EXC 2070-390732324.
文摘Rapeseed(Brassica napus,AACC)was formed by hybridization between progenitor species Brassica rapa(AA)and Brassica oleracea(CC).As a result of a limited number of hybridization events between specific progenitor genotypes and strong breeding selection for oil quality traits,rapeseed has limited genetic diversity.The production of resynthesized B.napus lines via interspecific hybridization of the diploid progenitor species B.rapa and B.oleracea is one possible way to increase genetic variation in rapeseed.However,most resynthesized lines produced so far have been reported to be meiotically unstable and infertile,in contrast to established B.napus cultivars.This hinders both maintenance and use of this germplasm in breeding programs.We characterized a large set of 140 resynthesized lines produced by crosses between B.rapa and B.oleracea,as well as between B.rapa and wild C genome species(B.incana,B.hilarionis,B.montana,B.Bourgeaui,B.villosa and B.cretica)for purity(homozygosity),fertility,and genome stability.Self-pollinated seed set,seeds per ten pods as well as percentage pollen viability were used to estimate fertility.SNP genotyping was performed using the Illumina Infinium Brassica 60K array for 116 genotypes,with at least three individuals per line.Most of the material which had been advanced through multiple generations was no longer pure,with heterozygosity detected corresponding to unknown parental contributions via outcrossing.Fertility and genome stability were both genotypedependent.Most lines had high numbers of copy number variants(CNVs),indicative of meiotic instability,and high numbers of CNVs were significantly associated with reduced fertility.Eight putatively stable resynthesized B.napus lines were observed.Further investigation of these lines may reveal the mechanisms underlying this effect.Our results suggest that selection of stable resynthesized lines for breeding purposes is possible.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31771913,3207150123)the Jiangsu Key R&D Plan(BE2021301-1)+2 种基金the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD)the Open Funds of Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology(NYCSL201904)the Open Funds of the Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding(PL202004)。
文摘The wild abortive(WA)-type cytoplasmic male sterility(CMS)derived from the wild rice species Oryza rufipogon Griff.is used widely in three-line indica hybrids.The identification and mapping of restorer of fertility(Rf)genes aided in the development of WA-type hybrids.Here we report that testcross F1 plants from the WA-type CMS line and 9311 exhibited stainable pollen grains with no seed set,indicating that 9311 carries minor-effect Rfs for WA-type CMS.We developed an advanced backcross population consisting of plants harboring small regions of donor chromosomal segments from 9311 in the WATianfeng A genetic background with moderate seed setting rates.Genetic analysis showed that the pollen fertility levels of the backcross individuals are governed by a single gene from 9311 that we named Rf19(t).By use of the RICE 40 K gene chip,three introduced segments were identified in the fertile lines,and a candidate region spanning 4.37–8.29 Mb on chromosome 1 was identified for Rf19(t).Finally,Rf19(t)was fine-mapped to a region of 90 kb between the DNA marker loci STS1-163 and STS1-183,in which eight ORFs were predicted.Also,using relative expression analyses,comparative sequence analyses and functional domain analyses,we identified LOC_Os01g10530 as the most likely candidate gene for Rf19(t).Furthermore,Rf19(t)was found to function in fertility restoration,most probably by regulating the degradation of m RNA transcribed from the mitochondrial gene WA352.These results increase our knowledge of fertility restoration in WA-type CMS lines and will facilitate the development of high-quality pairs of WAtype CMS and maintainer lines.
文摘Travelling Salesman Problem(TSP)is a discrete hybrid optimization problem considered NP-hard.TSP aims to discover the shortest Hamilton route that visits each city precisely once and then returns to the starting point,making it the shortest route feasible.This paper employed a Farmland Fertility Algorithm(FFA)inspired by agricultural land fertility and a hyper-heuristic technique based on the Modified Choice Function(MCF).The neighborhood search operator can use this strategy to automatically select the best heuristic method formaking the best decision.Lin-Kernighan(LK)local search has been incorporated to increase the efficiency and performance of this suggested approach.71 TSPLIB datasets have been compared with different algorithms to prove the proposed algorithm’s performance and efficiency.Simulation results indicated that the proposed algorithm outperforms comparable methods of average mean computation time,average percentage deviation(PDav),and tour length.
基金Development Fund for Shanghai Talents,China(No.15431903000)。
文摘In order to make the synthetic route of Thiamidol more efficient and easier to scale up,a new method was developed.The compound 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone was dissolved in ethyl acetate and brominated with cupric bromide.After bromination,the mixture was filtered to remove cuprous bromide.The obtained ethyl acetate solution containing 2-bromo-1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethanone was directly reacted with(2-methylpropanoyl)thiourea to obtain the precipitate of Thiamidol hydrobromide.The precipitate was neutralized by deacidification and recrystallized to afford Thiamidol with high purity.In addition,in the screening of fertility-promoting substances,Thiamidol was found to be effective in protecting human sperm from motility loss in vitro.This suggests that it may have potential application in fertility protection and promotion.
基金Supported by Guangxi Forestry Science and Technology Promotion Demonstration Project(GUILINKEYAN[2021]23).
文摘In view of the problems of decreased unit yield,soil acidification,decreased soil organic matter and soil fertility caused by high generation single pure Eucalyptus plantation in southern Guangxi,a field experiment was conducted to study the yield,soil organic matter and soil fertility under six soil conditioning measures[interplanting Tephrosia candida under the forest,interplanting Sesbania cannabina under the forest,organic fertilizer application,residue to woodland,soil testing and formulated fertilization,and applying pure chemical fertilizer(CK)],and the enhancing effects of each treatment on the yield and soil improvement of Eucalyptus plantations were further comprehensively evaluated.The results showed that compared with the control,the five treatments could increase the average stock of Eucalyptus,among which the average stock under the treatment of interplanting T.candida under the forest was the highest,followed by soil testing and formulated fertilization.The soil organic matter content and soil fertility of the forest were significantly improved by interplanting green manure,organic fertilizer application and soil testing and formulated fertilization models,while the short-term(1 a)effect of the residue treatment on the improvement of soil organic matter and soil fertility was insignificant.During the actual production process,interplanting green manure and residue treatment were not effective due to the inoperability,and the applicability were not wide,which still needed further study.Therefore,organic manure application and soil testing and formulated fertilization were suitable choices to promote the improvement of productivity and soil quality of Eucalyptus plantation in Guangxi.
文摘Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, constituting 25% of all cancer diagnoses. Even though it is only affecting 4% - 6% of women under the age of 40, it remains the most common malignancy among younger patients. Advancement in the treatment and earlier detection gives excellent 5 years of survival. However, the standard treatment that comprises surgical-chemo radiation therapy or hormonal treatment often results in an increased incidence of treatment-induced infertility. Therefore, adding fertility preservation to primary cancer treatment may offer the best opportunity for future fertility. However, despite advancements in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), the uptake of fertility services in this group remains low. In this review, we highlighted the effect of all breast cancer treatments on women’s fertility, the effectiveness and safety of ART in breast cancer patients as well as the safety of pregnancy in breast cancer survivors. Our aim is to improve awareness of fertility preservation for breast cancer to ensure all women diagnosed with breast cancer have multidisciplinary approaches with early referral to fertility specialists to discuss regarding potential risks and benefits of fertility preservation to improve the uptake of fertility preservation among this group of patients.
文摘Purpose: Fertility education for high school students leads them to be able to decide when to get pregnant and give birth, and to think about their desired life plan. However, knowledge of fertility in Japan is low compared to other countries. This study aims to understand the state of fertility knowledge among high school students in Japan and to clarify issues in fertility education. Method: Ten articles published from 2013 to July 2023 were selected for review from ICHUSHI Web Ver. 5 and CiNii with the keywords “high school students,” “fertility,” and “education.” The review was limited to Japanese-language literature due to differences in fertility education and knowledge between Japan and other countries. Results/Conclusion: 60% - 90% of the high school students indicated that their source of information on fertility was school lessons. Half of the students understood egg aging and the effects of smoking and drinking on fertility, but their knowledge of menstruation, male reproductive physiology/function, and infertility was insufficient. 50% - 80% of students wanted to marry by the age of 30, and 70% - 80% wanted to have children. 80% of students who attended a lecture on preconception care considered the lesson an opportunity to think about their future life plans. 90% of school nurse teachers reported that fertility should be taught in schools, and half said that egg aging, causes of infertility, and other topics should be covered in high school. Educational caution points included the consideration of developmental stages and the relatedness of the content to what had already been taught, among other things. High school is the best time for fertility education because it gives students the opportunity to accept their own sexuality and think about their future. In addition, since many students plan to marry and have children by the age of 30, the acquisition of fertility knowledge can be an effective means of future life design.
基金supported by the Youth Project of Beijing Academy of Social Sciences(GrantNo.2022B6949)supported the project of Shanxi Academy of Education Sciences(Grant No.GH-21117)。
文摘Low fertility and population aging are important factors affecting economic and social development.From 2000 to 2020,the development of low fertility in ethnic minority areas shows three trends of accelerated declining,slow declining and first falling and then rising,which are the results of the balance between the inhibiting effect of controlling birth policy and the rapidly rising birth cost,and the promoting effect of encouraging birth policy on the fertility desire of social members.The development of aging in ethnic minority areas shows two trends of acceleration and deceleration,which are the results of the balance between the promoting effect of controlling birth policy,the outflow of young and middle-aged labor force and the rise of life expectancy,and the inhibiting effect of the encouraging birth policy,the restraint of talent return and talent introduction.Combined with the development degree of low fertility and aging,we can accurately classify and implement policies for different ethnic minority areas.The areas with serious low fertility and population aging problems need economic policies to change the population age structure as soon as possible.The areas with slight low fertility and population aging problems should carry out ideological policies in priority to maintain the benign structure of population age.
