The TEX44-CPT1B axis regulates mitochondrial sheath assembly and fatty acid oxidation in sperm.

Mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) is essential for energy production and cellular homeostasis, yet its role in sperm function has remained unclear. Through whole-exome sequencing (WES) of 800 patients with asthenozoospermia, we identified biallelic Testis-Expressed Protein 44 (TEX44) variants in six individuals, all of whom exhibited defective mitochondrial sheath assembly and impaired sperm motility. Using Tex44 knockout mice, we show that TEX44 interacts with carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B) to form a mitochondrial glue, anchoring adjacent mitochondria and facilitating the assembly of the sperm-specific mitochondrial sheath.

Mechanistic insights into electric field-assisted nanofiltration for efficient lithium-magnesium separation.

Lithium, a pivotal resource in the new energy sector, demands the development of efficient and energy-saving lithium-magnesium separation technologies. This study employed electric field-assisted nanofiltration (E-NF) technology to achieve efficient lithium-magnesium separation. Compared with conventional nanofiltration, at a current density of 2 mA·cm, the rejection rate of Li⁺ decreased from -27.

Optical coherence tomography evaluation of vessel wall microstructure before and after endovascular stent treatment for intracranial vertebrobasilar atherosclerotic stenosis.

Background: Intracranial vertebral artery stenosis is a significant cause of ischemic stroke. Intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT), known for its high resolution, can accurately analyze the microstructure components of the stenotic vessel wall. Although widely used in the cardiovascular system, its application in intracranial atherosclerotic diseases of intracranial arteries remains limited.

Study on the effect of NH on the solubility of KCl and NHCl: a microscopic view.

KCl is an important fertilizer that is used worldwide. NHCl solution is an eluent for potassium extraction from seawater using zeolite. The product solution obtained from the zeolite method for potassium extraction from seawater usually contains both potassium chloride and ammonium chloride.

Identification and isolation of human testicular peritubular myoid cells and Leydig cells by a combination of ITGA9 and NGFR.

Background: Testicular somatic cells play an important role in supporting spermatogenesis. Leydig cells (LCs) and peritubular myoid cells (PTMs) originate from a common progenitor population and show similar expression signatures in adulthood, making it difficult to distinguish and isolate the two in vitro.

Methods: In this study, new surface markers for identifying adult LCs (ALCs) and PTMs were discovered by reanalyzing testicular single-cell dataset.

Fine analysis of the effect of NH3 on the microstructure of mixed KCl and NH4Cl aqueous solutions.

In this study, a solution system of KCl-NH4Cl-NH3-H2O with different mass fractions was prepared at room temperature using x-ray scattering, Raman spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations. From x-ray scattering, it was obtained that the peak near Q = 2.50 Å-1 in the F(Q) function changed from a flat-topped blunt peak to a bimodal peak as the concentration of ammonia increased.

Solar Evaporators for Saline Water: Sustainable Clean Water Harvesting and Critical Mineral Resources Extraction.

Solar-driven interfacial water evaporation (SIWE) can efficiently utilize solar energy to separate or extract various ions from saline water, providing an environmentally friendly, economical, and sustainable approach to clean water and critical mineral resources harvesting. However, for ongoing practical implementation, solid salt accumulation at the interface will inevitably impair the SIWE performance, while direct disposal of residual concentrated brine poses significant environmental risks. As such, advancing solar evaporators for sustainable clean water harvesting and critical mineral resources extraction is pivotal in the resources-energy-environment nexus.

Improved MTF Measurement of Medical Flat-Panel Detectors Based on a Slit Model.

In the development, evaluation, and application of medical flat-panel detectors, the modulation transfer function (MTF) is crucial, as it reflects the device's ability to restore detailed information. Medical flat-panel detectors encompass both image data acquisition and digitization processes, and detectors with varying pixel sizes exhibit differing capabilities for observing details. Accurately quantifying MTF is a critical challenge.

A novel and flexible way to derive water quality criteria for copper.

Obtaining water quality criteria (WQC) that align with environmental conditions is essential for protecting aquatic life. However, complexity arises from numerous species across taxonomic groups and various environmental factors in water systems. Machine learning (ML) technology provides potential solutions to address these issues.

Ultrashort and Vertically Aligned Channels: Boosted Lithium Selective Extraction via Hybrid Capacitive Deionization.

Hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) is energetically and operationally favorable for Li extraction from salt lake brines. The bottlenecks of current LiMnO (LMO)-based electrodes are their limited Li adsorption rate and capacity, caused by disordered electron/ion transport channels and insufficient ion-accessible sites. Inspired by selective ion uptake processes in mangroves, we propose the strategy, fabricating ultrashort, vertically aligned channels for Li transport in the electrode to enhance the Li selective performance of HCDI.

Study on the Correlation between the Microstructure and Physical Properties of ZnCl Aqueous Solution.

This article focuses on the study of the correlation between the microstructure and physical properties of aqueous zinc chloride solutions. Macroscopic physical properties of zinc chloride aqueous solution were determined, and its microstructure was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The experimental results of macroscopic physical properties show that with the increase of ZnCl concentration, the conductivity of aqueous solution first increases and then decreases, and the viscosity gradually increases.

Reconstructive Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Ruptured Posterior Circulation Aneurysms Located on Small Arteries: Complications and Long-Term Results.

Objective: Assess the complications, clinical outcomes, and angiographic results of endovascular treatment (EVT) for ruptured intracranial posterior circulation aneurysms in small arteries, and identify their risk factors.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 79 patients with ruptured posterior circulation aneurysms in small arteries (the diameter of the parent artery was ≤2 mm) treated at our hospital between January 2014 and August 2023. All patients received EVT.

[Research on Construction of Knowledge Base for MRI Equipment Maintenance Based on Knowledge Graph].

To improve the level of modern hospital management and establish a scientific and effective medical equipment maintenance guarantee system, this paper proposes the construction of a dynamic interactive fault repair knowledge base system for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment based on knowledge graph technology. This innovative application of intelligent management for large medical equipment involves collecting and organizing actual maintenance data. The paper constructs the medical equipment maintenance knowledge base, with MRI equipment as a case study, and initially implements functions such as fault information retrieval, technical guidance, and training and learning for MRI equipment.

A dual-state emission luminogen for lipid droplet imaging and photodynamic therapy.

Organic luminogens with dual-state emission (DSE) have garnered widespread attention due to their versatility in the forms of both dilute solutions and solids. Despite the growing interest, most research on DSE focuses primarily on molecule design and photophysical investigation, with limited exploration of their practical applications. In this study, we introduce a novel fluorescent molecule, PCT, featuring a distinct D-π(A)-D' electronic structure.

An Efficient Prediction Model on the Operation Quality of Medical Equipment Based on Improved Sparrow Search Algorithm-Temporal Convolutional Network-BiLSTM.

Combining medical IoT and artificial intelligence technology is an effective approach to achieve the intelligence of medical equipment. This integration can address issues such as low image quality caused by fluctuations in power quality and potential equipment damage, and this study proposes a predictive model, ISSA-TCN-BiLSTM, based on a bi-directional long short-term memory network (BiLSTM). Firstly, power quality data and other data from MRI and CT equipment within a 6-month period are collected using current fingerprint technology.

Bioinformatics Analysis Screening and Identification of Key Biomarkers and Drug Targets in Human Glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma is the most common type of brain cancer, with a prognosis that is unfortunately poor. Despite considerable progress in the field, the intricate molecular basis of this cancer remains elusive.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify genetic indicators of glioblastoma and reveal the processes behind its development.

Hydrogen-Bond-Repairing Solar Evaporator with Reconstructed Large-Width Channels for Durable Solarizing Seawater.

Conventional solarizing seawater suffers from inefficiency and space constraints. Interfacial solar vapor generation (ISVG) presents an energy-efficient alternative, yet the scalability, adaptability, and durability of a solar evaporator for practical use are remaining concerns. Herein, a hydrogen-bond-repairing solar evaporator featuring reconstructed large-width channels is proposed for ongoing solarization of seawater in ISVG.

Hybrid Surgery for symptomatic chronic internal carotid artery occlusion: a single-center experience.

Background: Patients with symptomatic chronic internal carotid artery occlusion (ICAO) face a high risk of recurrent stroke despite receiving aggressive medical therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of hybrid surgery in treating symptomatic chronic ICAO.

Methods: This retrospective case series was conducted at a single center.

Primate-Specific DAZ Regulates Translation of Cell Proliferation-Related mRNAs and is Essential for Maintenance of Spermatogonia.

Primate-specific DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) has evolved in the azoospermia factor c (AZFc) locus on the Y chromosome. Loss of DAZ is associated with azoospermia in patients with deletion of the AZFc region (AZFc_del). However, the molecular mechanisms of DAZ in spermatogenesis remain uncertain.

Electronanofiltration Membranes with a Bilayer Charged Structure Enable High Li/Mg Selectivity.

Achieving separation of lithium and magnesium with similar radii is crucial for the current lithium extraction technology from salt lakes, which usually possess a high lithium-to-magnesium ratio. Herein, we proposed the facile sequential interfacial polymerization (SIP) approach to construct electronanofiltration membranes (ENFMs) with a bilayer charged structure consisting of a high positively charged surface and a negatively charged sublayer. The trimesoyl chloride (TMC) concentration was adjusted to enhance the -COOH content and negative charge of the polyamide sublayer to promote Li migration, and then the quaternized polyethylenimine was introduced to the membrane surface by the SIP process to increase the positive charge density on the surface of the ENFMs, which would block the migration of Mg and enhance the Li/Mg selectivity of the ENFMs.