Sarcophaga peregrina is usually considered to be of great ecological, medical and forensic significance, and has the biological characteristics such as the ovoviviparous reproductive pattern and adaptation to feed on carrion. However, the underlying mechanisms still remain unsolved by lack of high-quality genome. Here we present de novo–assembled genome at chromosome-scale for S. peregrina. The final assembled genome was 560.31 Mb with contig N50 of 3.84 Mb. Hi-C scaffolding reliably anchored six pseudochromosomes, accounting for 97.76% of the assembled genome. Moreover, 45.70% of repeat elements were identified in the genome. A total of 14,476 protein-coding genes were functionally annotated, accounting for 92.14% of all predicted genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that S. peregrina and S. bullata diverged ~7.14 Mya. Comparative genomic analysis revealed expanded and positively selected genes related to biological features that aid in clarifying its ovoviviparous reproduction and necrophagous habit, such as horionic membrane formation and Dorso-ventral axis formation, lipid metabolism, and olfactory receptor activity. This study provides a valuable genomic resource of S. peregrina, and sheds insight into further revealing the underlying molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution.

Various characteristics of soybeans play important roles in the soybean oil quality. In this study, soybean chemical traits and ten characteristic parameters of soybean oil quality were evaluated for 58 varieties to determine the relationship between soybean chemical traits and the soybean oil quality characteristics by correlation analysis. After 7 of 58 soybean oil variety products were set as outliers by the Box-plot method, an evaluation model for the overall soybean oil quality was established based on ten parameters. Cluster analysis was used to classify 51 soybean oil varieties into three quality grades based on the oil quality evaluation model. A prediction model for the quality of the soybean oil based on the chemical traits of soybeans was constructed by stepwise regression. The relative errors between the actual values and the predicted values of the validation varieties were less than 10%. This study suggested that the total oil, daidzin, total phenolic, stearic acid, linolenic acid and ɑ-tocopherol contents may be useful for predicting the quality of soybean oil. Therefore, our study provides a valuable method to evaluate the quality of soybean oil products and important information for generating soybean varieties for soybean oil processing.

Performance of bubble columns under transport processes is dependent on bubble size distribution and void fraction. These multiphase parameters are sensitive to the operation regime of a bubble column. The current work presents a systematic study of bubble size and void fraction in a batch bubble column within the homogeneous and heterogeneous regimes. Effect of liquid viscosity and gas superficial velocity on bubble size distribution, void fraction, and operation regime was investigated. Results showed that increasing the viscosity accelerates the regime transition. Bubble size distributions were statistically characterized using probability density function and probability plots. It was shown that bubble size distribution shifts from near-Gaussian in the homogenous regime to lognormal (in parts) in the heterogeneous regime. Dimensional reasoning was used to scale the bubble size and void fraction with respect to the operation regime.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality as a distraction technique in the management of acute pain and anxiety during outpatient hysteroscopy. Methods: A parallel group, prospective randomised controlled trial was conducted at a UK University Hospital (August to October 2018) (ClinicalTrials.gov Id: NCT03699280). Forty consenting, eligible women were randomised to virtual reality intervention (immersive video content as a distraction method) or standard care during outpatient hysteroscopy. Pain and anxiety outcomes were measured as a numeric rating score (scale of 0-10). Results: Compared to standard care, women with virtual reality intervention experienced less average pain (score 6.0 vs 3.7, mean difference 2.3, 95% CI 0.61-3.99, p=0.009) and anxiety (score 5.45 vs 3.3, mean difference 2.15, 95% CI 0.38-3.92, p=0.02). Conclusion: Virtual Reality was effective in reducing pain and anxiety during outpatient hysteroscopy in a pilot trial. Its wide potential role in ambulatory gynaecologic procedures needs further evaluation.

Sacrohysteropexy procedures require advanced suturing and dissection skills and are associated with complications such as mesh exposure, dyspareunia, ileus, de novo bowel dysfunction. New technique is composed of insertion of mid-urethral sling tape into the cervix vaginally and suspend of uterus bilaterally via free arms of tape under the peritoneal tunnel formed with the aid of modified semicircular disposable grasper. This novel hysteropexy technique is an easy, feasible and minimally invasive way to correct primarily apical or multicompartment defects with the advantages of a minimal mesh load, short operation time and anatomical result that mimics the normal sacrouterine ligament.

The study reports the responses of photosynthesis to NaCl stress in two C4 species: a glycophyte Setaria viridis (SV) and a halophyte Spartina alterniflora (SA). SV was unable to survive following exposure to NaCl level higher than 100 mM, in contrast, SA could tolerate NaCl up to 550 mM. Under different O2 concentrations, SV showed an increased P700 oxidation level following NaCl treatment, while SA showed almost no change. We also observed an activation of the NDH-dependent cyclic pathway in SV by about 2.4 times upon exposure to 50 mM NaCl for 12 days; however, its activity in SA dropped by about 25%. Using PTOX inhibitor (n-PG) and inhibitor of the Qo-binding site of Cytb6/f (DBMIB) to restrict electrons flow towards PSI, at either 2% or 21% O2, we showed an enhanced plastid terminal oxidase (PTOX) activity for SA but not for SV under NaCl stress. We further showed that both the mRNA and protein levels of PTOX increased by about 3~4 times for SA under NaCl stress but not or much less for SV. All these suggest that the up-regulation of PTOX is a major mechanism used by halotype C4 species SA to cope with salt stress.

Background and Purpose: PPARα/γ play an important role in glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism making it an attractive anti‐diabetic target. Focusing on the development of PPARα/γ dual agonists, we evaluated the activity of phosphatidylcholine (EPA-PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (EPA-PE) on PPARα/γ. Moreover, we investigated the long‐term effects of EPA-PC and EPA-PE on insulin resistance. Experimental Approach: The activities of EPA-PC/PE with respect PPARα/γ transcription were tested using a luciferase reporter gene assay, lipid binding assay and a Protein-Lipid overlay assay. Moreover, the agonistic effects of EPA-PC/PE on PPARα/γ were evaluated in HepG2 and 3T3L1. respectively. In a 3T3L1/Raw264.7 transwell system, the effect of EPA-PC/PE on macrophages polarization and inflammation were studied. In mice, we sought to determine if insulin resistance and lipid accumulation induced by high-fat high-sucrose diet, was attenuated by EPA-PC or EPA-PE diet (0.3% of diet). Key Results: EPA-PC/PE are potent PPARα/γ dual agonists, which promoted hepatic PPARα-mediated fatty acid oxidatio, and promoted the preadipocytes differentiation and PPARγ target genes expression in adipocytes. In mice on the HFSD, EPA-PC/PE significantly suppressed body weight gain and ameliorated insulin resistance as well as abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. EPA-PC/PE could regulate PPARγ-responsive genes and slightly inhibited the phosphorylation of PPARγ at Ser273, resulted in adipose tissue remodeling. Finally, we found that EPA-PC/PE promoted macrophages polarization and attenuated inflammation in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion and Implications: These data indicate that the exogenous natural phospholipids, EPA-PC or EPA-PE, activate PPARα/γ, may be useful for the treatment of insulin resistance.

Although numerous studies have been conducted on niche and neutral theories to learn the drivers of species richness, few of them have demonstrated how to eliminate the influences of unlimited species numbers and absolute species equivalences which are contrary to many observations, and how to link space size with those drivers posited by the two theories. Here we present the environmental gradient per unit space metric that influences niche number, positively correlates with environmental filter and dispersal limitation and negatively correlates with space size occupied by each niche. This metric is incorporated with stochastic abundance and migration and equivalently average birth, death and dispersal of species. The simulation result of a model is consistent with the observation that a unimodal algal richness-water environmental gradient per unit space relationship. Therefore, the environmental gradient per unit space connecting deterministic and stochastic processes is an importantly measurable driver of species richness.

Climate changes has been shown to be related to the changes in the distributions of migratory species, which irreparably harms biodiversity. In this study, we evaluated the habitat change and population centroid shift for 7 orders and 23 different species on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List of migratory birds from 2014-2017 in current to mid-21st (2041-2700) century by Maximum Entropy method (MaxEnt) model. We found striking spatial variation in the suitability in geography, with Yangtze River basin losing 9.74% of suitable habitat and Pearl River basin losing 13% of habitat. The area of suitable habitat decreases over 3% of total habitat area in China under the RCP2.6, and decreases about 10% of total habitat area in China under RCP8.5 scenario, with the population centroid of habitat moving about 50 km to northeast on average. Furthermore, the suitability of migratory birds will decrease over 3% in future, which will be difficult for migratory birds to survive. The direction and distance of population centroid are different for every species. Most of the individual species in the study will move over 50 km and all the species will move towards to places with higher suitability. For the whole of China, the constraint for migratory birds is t_min. The dominant variable in southeast China is NDVI, and the northern China is altitude (alt). The decline in suitable habitat area and shift in population centroid will lead to the changes in the time and distance of migration process, resulting in more adverse conditions for the survival of migratory birds. Our study proves the adverse role of climate change in species distribution which is a prerequisite for protecting species in future.

The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is both a crucial pollinator for agricultural and natural ecosystems, and an agricultural commodity in its own right. However, honey bees are experiencing heavy mortality in North America and Europe due to a complex suite of factors. Weather affects both the bees themselves and the plants that support them. Surrounding land use, particularly proportion of agricultural and urban areas, determines forage resource abundance and pesticide exposure risk. Finally, management decisions, including treatment to control parasitic Varroa destructor mites, contribute to colony success and failure. We used three years of data from a survey of Pennsylvania beekeepers to assess the importance of weather, topography, land use, and management factors on overwintering mortality of managed honey bee colonies at both apiary and colony levels. A Random Forest model for mite-treated apiaries predicted overwintering survival with 73.3% accuracy for colonies and 65.7% for apiaries, as determined by cross-validation. Growing degree days was the most important predictor at both levels. Neither topographic nor management variables were important predictors. A weather-only model was used to predict colony survival probability across Pennsylvania for the three years of the study, and to create a composite map of survival probability for 1981-2019 (long-term probability mean value of 59.5%). Although three years of data were not enough to adequately capture the range of possible climatic conditions, the model nonetheless performed well within its constraints. The Random Forest approach is suited to understanding complex nonlinear drivers of survival, and to predicting outcomes given current conditions or projected climate changes.

The Southern Ocean is one of the most isolated marine ecosystems, characterized by high levels of endemism, diversity, and biomass. Ascidians are among the dominant groups in Antarctic benthic assemblages, thus recording the evolutionary patterns of this group is crucial to improve our current understanding of the assembly of this polar ocean. We studied the genetic variation within Cnemidocarpa verrucosa sensu lato, one of the most widely distributed abundant and studied ascidian species in Antarctica. Using a mitochondrial and a nuclear gene (COI and 18S), the phylogeography of fifteen populations distributed along the Antarctic Peninsula and South America (Burdwood Bank/MPA Namuncurá) was characterized, where the bimodal distribution of the genetic distance suggested the existence of two species within the nominal C. verrucosa. When re-evaluating morphological traits to distinguish between genetically defined species, the presence of a basal disc in one of the genotypes could be a morphological trait to differentiate the species. These results are surprising due to the large research that has been carried out with the conspicuous C. verrucosa with no differentiation between species. Furthermore, it provides important tools to distinguish species in the field and laboratory. But also, these results give new insights to patterns of differentiation between closely related species that are distributed in sympatry, where the permeability of species boundaries still needs to be well understood.

For certain parameters, a class of density dependent Leslie population model has a chaotic attractor. The chaotic dynamics of the Ricker mapping is studied. Control parameter is perturbed slightly depending times by the improvement of OGY. By the pole placement technique of the linear control theory, when the mapping point wanders to the neighborhood of the periodic point, the control parameter is perturbed. The chaotic motion are controlled on the stable periodic period-1 point and period-2 orbits, and the influence of different control parameter ranges on the control average time is analyzed. When the selected regulator poles are different, the number of iterations used to control chaotic motion on a stable periodic orbit is difference. Numerical simulations are presented to illustrate our results with the theoretical analysis and show the effect of the control method. The analysis and results in this paper are interesting in mathematics and biology.

Soil clay content is one of the primary intrinsic soil properties affecting soil erodibility, but few studies have tested the effects of clay amendment on soil wind erosion. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the effect of progressive clay amendment on soil wind erosion in the inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW), where there is a high soil erodibility risk due to the arid and semi-arid environment. Clay amendment significantly increased crust crushing energy when physical soil crusts formed after simulated rainfall. Crusts were then subject to simulated tillage to create an erodible soil surface before determining wind erosion in a wind tunnel. Soil loss significantly decreased with increasing clay amendment, even for low clay amendments (2%). In addition, the rate of change in erosion decreased with increasing amounts of clay amendment. Clay amendment was more effective in decreasing soil loss for two sandy loams or soil types with lower clay content. Clay amendment decreased soil loss primarily due to its impact on increasing aggregate geometric mean diameter (GMD), but aggregate crushing energy is also important in decreasing soil loss in terms of decreasing abrasion flux. Clay amendment is thus an effective way to restrain land deterioration in terms of increasing crust crushing energy, aggregate GMD, and decreasing abrasion flux.

Rock fines from basalt, trachyte and volcanic pyroclastic materials in addition to limestone and gneiss were applied as fertilizers on tropical soils in several localities in west Cameroon. After harvesting, soil samples from controls and different treatments were collected and analyzed to assess the variation of textures and soil chemical compositions. Cabbage and potatoes as the test crops treated under fines from volcanic pyroclastic materials and basalt yielded the highest and lowest productivities, respectively. The initial loamy sand of the controls moves towards clay textures while initial clay textures remained unchanged, suggesting a loss of sand proportion and an increase in clay particles. For the pH, the slightly, moderately to strongly acidic properties of the local soils (4.8 ≤ pH ≤ 6.5) were shifted upwards in between the slightly acidic and the slightly alkaline soils (6.6 ≤ pH ≤ 7.2). However, a sample treated with fines from pyroclastic materials showed a remarkable pH increase from 5.9 to 6.9. The trends of fluctuation of organic carbon and organic matter are parallel with a general increase of these chemicals in soils. Na and K remains constant with a general increase trend for Mg and Ca in most treatments. The highest available phosphorus content of 96.0 ppm was found on the treatment with trachyte fines; followed by 50.9 and 51.5 ppm encountered on treatments with limestone and basalt fines, respectively. Then, this suggests a significant increase of phosphorus in soil after treatments with some rock fines such as trachyte, limestone, gneiss and basalt.

Abstract Land degradation due to poor land management is the main constraint for agricultural productivity globally. Many developing countries have developed national soil and water conservation (SWC) program however, sustainable land management is not yet attained. To understand the effect of SWC measures, a bibliographical review was carried out from the Scopus Elsevier citation database from 1990 to 2017 using the keywords “Effect of SWC” in the title, abstract or keywords. Total amounts of 869 documents were found, and synthesis was made from these scientific journal articles to assess the main biophysical dynamics of watersheds due to SWC measures and to highlight the research gaps. The synthesis revealed that SWC measures in agricultural landscapes have a significant impact on water and sediment connectivity and therefore on the erosion process. It potentially slows the runoff generation, reduces the soil particle detachment and sediment transport; and subsequently, enhances soil moisture and nutrient availability. However, many research article outputs and recommendations focus on plot and small-scale watersheds and are based on short-term or intermediate time frame results. Since there is a lack of sufficient recommendations and scientific evidence founded on long-term observations strong scientifically based feedback on the dynamics of soil properties, surface runoff and erosion processes at watershed and parcel scale should be drawn based on both short- and long-term evidence and considering connectivity and natural-based solutions. This will help to develop and promote ecologically sound, economically viable and socially acceptable conservation measures in agricultural watersheds.

Le emissioni di odori costituiscono uno dei principali impatti ambientali generati da impianti di trattamento delle acque reflue percepiti dalla popolazione esposta. Di conseguenza, il controllo delle emissioni odorigene è un aspetto rilevante che deve essere considerato nella gestione di questi impianti. Pur non essendo una causa diretta della malattia, l'esposizione a lungo termine alle emissioni odorigene ad alta resistenza, in realtà, influisce negativamente sulla salute umana (ad esempio, causando nausea, mal di testa, problemi respiratori). Pertanto, la minimizzazione e l’abbattimento delle emissioni di odori sgradevoli sono sempre due delle principali sfide nella gestione degli impianti di trattamento delle acque reflue in tutto il mondo. Obiettivo dello studio è delineare le principali metodologie di misurazione degli odori ed identificare le principali fonti di odori in un grande impianto di trattamento delle acque reflue utilizzando la procedura GC-MS (gascromatografia-spettrometria di massa) basata su uno strumento analitico, in loco, con l’obiettivo di rimuovere la componente soggettiva nella misurazione dell’odore. 

Objectives: To evaluate risks of adverse obstetric outcomes in pregnancies with myoma(s) or in pregnancies following myomectomy. Design: Retrospective cohort Setting: The national health insurance database Population: Women who had delivered in Republic of Korea, between 2004 and 2015 Methods: We analyzed the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnancies with myoma(s) or in pregnancies following myomectomy, compared to those in women without a diagnosed myoma. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Main Outcome Measures: The adverse obstetric outcomes. Results: There are 740,675 women who had never been diagnosed with myoma (Group A), 38,402 women who had diagnosed myoma(s) but no history of myomectomy (Group B), and 9,890 women who had a history of myomectomy (Group C). Group B and Group C had significantly higher risks of cesarean section and placenta previa, compared to Group A. The risks of uterine rupture, preterm birth, and low birth weight were significantly higher in Group C (aOR 12.78, 95% CI 6.5-25.13, p < 0.001; aOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.47-1.84, p < 0.001; and aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.39-1.68, p < 0.001, respectively), but not in Group B, compared to Group A. The incidence of uterine rupture was the highest at delivery within one year after myomectomy and decreased over time after myomectomy. Conclusions: When a woman who might become pregnant later on is diagnosed with uterine myoma, she should be counseled about the risk of myoma(s) and myomectomy on obstetric complications, especially including the significant risk of uterine rupture in pregnancies following myomectomy.

Background: Methods used to develop existing core outcome sets relevant to maternal and neonatal health have not been fully evaluated. Objectives: To systematically review core outcome sets relevant to maternal and neonatal health; evaluate against minimum standards for development; and evaluate overlap between core outcome sets. Search strategy: Multi-faceted search of two core outcome set registers (COMET, CROWN) the ICHOM database of standard sets, and three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL) was conducted from inception to January 2020. Selection criteria: Published papers reporting completed core outcome sets relevant to maternal or neonatal health, for research or clinical use, were evaluated against COS-STAD minimum standards for development. Data collection and analysis: Descriptive statistics describe characteristics and results. Main results: Thirty-two papers relating to 26 core outcome sets were included (maternal: 18 papers: 17 COS; neonatal: 14 papers: 9 COS). Fifteen (58%) were published since 2017. No included COS met all minimum standards for development. All COS met the minimum standard for scope. Eighteen (69%) met all three minimum standards for stakeholder involvement. No included COS met all five minimum standards for consensus process. COS included between 6 and 56 outcomes. Two COS (8%) provided recommendations for how and when to measure outcomes. Conclusions: This is the first application of COS-STAD minimum standards relevant to maternal and neonatal health. Findings offer a baseline evaluation. There is an urgent need to address outcomes, measurement and timing in core outcomes to support harmonization between core outcome sets.

The Plumbaginaceae (non-core Caryophyllales) is a family well known for species adapted to a wide range of arid and saline habitats. Of its salt-tolerant species, at least 45 are in the genus Limonium; two in each of Aegialitis, Limoniastum and Myriolimon, and one each in Psylliostachys, Armeria, Ceratostigma, Goniolimon and Plumbago. All the halophytic members of the family have salt glands and salt glands are also common in the closely related Tamaricaceae and Frankeniaceae. The halophytic species of the three families can secrete a range of ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, HCO3-, SO42) and other elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn). Salt glands are, however, absent in salt-tolerant members of the sister family Polygonaceae. We describe the structure of the salt glands in the three families and consider whether glands might have arisen as a means to avoid the toxicity of Na+ and/or Cl- or to regulate Ca2+ concentrations with the leaves. We conclude that the establishment of lineages with salt glands took place after the split between the Polygonaceae and its sister group the Plumbaginaceae.

Etherification mechanism of 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-bis (hydroxymethyl) imidazolidin-2-one (DMDHEU) with the primary alcohols and the –OH hydroxyl groups of cellulose chain (n=1-2) in acidic condition were investigated by using density functional theory (DFT) method and a two-layer ONIOM approach. Geometry and energy of reactants, products, intermediate complexes, carbocation intermediate, and transition states were optimized at B3LYP/6-311g(d,p) level and ONIOM (B3LYP/6-311g(d,p):PM3MM) level. Computational results indicate that the etherification adheres to unimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN1) mechanism; the reactant and product can form the activated complexes with H+ ions in which H+ ions are occupied by the O-atom of C=O group in the reactant complex and the product complex. Potential energy surface (PES) of the reaction has the triple-well shape. Effect of substituent R in primary alcohol R-CH2OH (R = H, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2OCH3, CH2F) and cellulose chain on the reactivity is significant. The energy barrier of H+ ions releasing step is much higher than those of the activation steps. The calculational data is in the good agreement with the experimental data in the literature.

Ricinoleate anion based ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized from four different nitrogen containing cationic counterparts such as tetrabutylammonium, tetrapropylammonium, cetyltrimethylammonium, imidazolium and evaluated for tribological performance in two lubricant base stocks. From the tribological tests it was found that the synthesized ILs in base oil significantly reduced the wear scar diameter by 17-25 % and a remarkable reduction in wear observed for all the tested load and rotation speed at optimized concentration and also improved the load carrying capacity by 25-43%. The results conclude that the cation present in IL control the thermal stability, antiwear and extreme pressure properties. The imidazolium cation containing IL showed the better performance among all the ILs being studied. Additionally, the morphology of worn surface and deposition of elementals on rubbed surface lubricated with base oil and base oil containing IL was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The fatty acid constituted ILs are promising immense efficiency as environmentally friendly and renewable lubricant additives since they are free from halide, sulphate and phosphate ions.

Objectives: Clinical biobank is an important way to collect biological samples of various diseases, which is of great significance for clinical research. However, the relationship of clinical biobank and clinical disciplines still need to be further explored, thus we conducted a survey among medical and scientific professionals in a hospital of China. Method: The survey was conducted online, and electronic questionnaires were used to investigate knowledge, utilization and demand of biobank of medical and scientific professionals in different clinical disciplines. In terms of data analysis, chi-square test and rank sum test were used to analyze the collected data. Results: A total of 182 valid questionnaires were collected. The overall survey participation rate of key disciplines is higher than that of non-key disciplines. Key disciplines have higher score on the knowledge of biobank than non-key disciplines. The proportion of sample storage and sample delivery of key disciplines are far higher than non-key disciplines, and key disciplines have higher sample delivery rate than non-key disciplines. The proportion of people who are willing to pay to store samples and people who are willing to pay more than 5000 yuan per year for sample storage in key disciplines are higher than that in non-key disciplines. The per capita national grant application, the approval rate of national grant and per capita published English papers of key disciplines are higher than those of non-key disciplines. Conclusion: Key disciplines are more enthusiastic about the construction of biobank. On the whole, the knowledge, utilization and demand on biobank of key disciplines are better than those of non-key disciplines. The development of key disciplines is better than that of non-key disciplines. The development of clinical biobank is closely related to the development of clinical disciplines, and clinical biobank is an important booster for the development of clinical disciplines.

Objective: We evaluated the clinical usefulness of the endometrial receptivity array (ERA) and the preimplantation genetic test for aneuploidy (PGT-A) Genetic screenings in patients with severe or moderate recurrent implantation failure. Design: Retrospective multicenter cohort. Setting: University affiliate IVF centers. Population: Patients who failed to achieve implantation following transfer of ≥3 or ≥5 embryos at least in three single embryo transfers were evaluated as moderate or severe recurrent implantation failure, respectively. Methods: Patients with previous RIF were compared in PGT-A, ERA and PGT-A+ERA and control group. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed and adjusted ORs were calculated with the aim to control possible bias. Main Outcomes Measures: Mean implantation rate and ongoing pregnancy rates per embryo transfer were considered as primary outcomes. Results: Of the 2,110 patients belonging to the moderate group, those who underwent transfer of euploid embryos after the preimplantation genetic test for aneuploidy had a higher implantation rate than those who did not. Additionally, the preimplantation genetic test for aneuploidy group had a significantly higher rate of ongoing pregnancy. The same outcomes measured for the 488 patients in the severe group did not reveal any statistically significant improvements. The use of the endometrial receptivity array did not significantly improve outcomes in either group. Conclusions: The preimplantation genetic test for aneuploidy may be beneficial for patients with moderate recurrent implantation failure. At its current level of development, the endometrial receptivity analysis by ERA does not appear to be clinically useful for patients with recurrent implantation failure.

Background and Purpose: Puerarin is an important isoflavone component extracted from Pueraria lobate in traditional Chinese medicine. It has a wide range of pharmacological effects. Increasing evidence indicates that puerarin alleviates hyperglycemia and numerous related complications. In this study, we explored the effect of puerarin on skeletal muscle atrophy caused by type 1 diabetes in rats. Experimental Approach: Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes were used in this study. We measured skeletal muscle weight, size and strength together with the transformation of skeletal muscle types in type 1 diabetic rats. Skeletal muscle L6 cells were used for in vitro study. Key Results: Puerarin increased muscle tissue weights and improved muscle strength. An enhanced skeletal muscle cross-sectional area was accompanied by reduced mRNA expression of muscle atrophy marker genes, including F-box only protein 32 (Atrogin-1) and muscle-specific RING-finger 1(Murf-1), both in vitro and in vivo. The transformation from type I fibers (slow muscle) to type II fibers (fast muscle) was also observed after puerarin administration. In vitro studies suggested that puerarin upregulated Akt/mTOR but downregulated the LC3/p62 signaling pathway, eventually resulting in muscle hypertrophy. Conclusions and Implications: Our study observed that puerarin mitigated skeletal muscle atrophy in type 1 diabetic rats. Subsequently, we found that the related mechanisms closely involved the upregulation of protein synthesis via the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Whether this anti-diabetic muscle atrophy effect in mice applies to humans remains unknown.