Studies have explored the influence of DNA damage in assisted reproductive technology (ART), but the outcome remains controversial. To determine whether sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) has any effect on ART outcomes, we collected detailed data regarding 1,333 IVF cycles performed at our centre, and the data of our retrospective cohort study were extracted for this meta‐analysis. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and Google Scholar and performed a systemic review and meta‐analysis. Primary meta‐analysis of 10 studies comprising 1,785 couples showed that live birth rate was no significantly different between low‐DFI group and high‐DFI group (p > 0.05). Secondary meta‐analysis of 25 studies comprising 3,992 couples showed a higher miscarriage rate in high‐DFI group than in low‐DFI group (RR=1.57 [1.18, 2.09], p < 0.01). Meta‐analysis of eight studies comprising 17,879 embryos revealed a lower good‐quality embryo rate (RR=0.65 [0.62, 0.68], p < 0.01). Meta‐analysis of 23 studies comprising 6,771 cycles showed that the high‐DFI group had a lower clinical pregnancy rate than low‐DFI group (RR=0.85 [0.75, 0.96], p < 0.01). Heterogeneity of included studies weakened our conclusions. Our study showed that DFI has adverse effects on ART outcome. More well‐designed studies exploring the association between DFI and ART outcome are desired.

Many phytopathogenic fungi use infection structures (IFSs, i.e., appressoria and infection cushions) to penetrate host cuticles. However, the conserved mechanisms that mediate initiation of IFS formation in divergent pathogens upon sensing the presence of host plants remain obscure. Here, we demonstrate that a conserved septin gene SEP4 plays crucial roles in this process. Disruption of SEP4 in the plant grey mould fungus Botrytis cinerea completely blocked IFS formation and abolished the virulence of ΔBcsep4 mutants on unwounded hosts. During IFS formation, mutants lacking SEP4 could produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) normally. Inhibition of ROS production in strains harbouring the SEP4 gene resulted in disordered assembly of Sep4 and the subsequent failure to form infection cushions, suggesting that proper Sep4 assembly regulated by ROS is required for initiation of IFS formation and infection. Moreover, loss of SEP4 severely impaired mutant conidiation, melanin and chitin accumulation in hyphal tips and lesion expansion on wounded hosts, but significantly promoted germ tube elongation and sclerotium production. SEP4-mediated fungal pathogenic development, including IFS formation, was validated in the hemibiotroph Magnaporthe oryzae. Our findings indicate that Sep4 plays pleiotropic roles in B. cinerea development and specifically facilities host infection by mediating initiation of IFS formation in divergent plant fungal pathogens in response to ROS signaling.

Flagella and cilia are structurally polarized organelles whose lengths are precisely defined, and alterations in length are related to several human disorders [1, 2]. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) and protein signaling molecules are implicated in specifying flagellar/ciliary length [3–6], but evidence has been lacking for a flagellum/cilium length sensor that could participate in active length control or establishment of structural polarity. Previously, we showed that the phosphorylation state of the aurora-like protein kinase CALK in Chlamydomonas is a marker of the absence of flagella. Here, we show that CALK phosphorylation state also is a marker for flagellar length. CALK is phosphorylated in cells without flagella, and during flagellar assembly it becomes desphosphorylated. Dephosphorylation is not simply a consequence of initiation of flagellar assembly or of time after experimentally-induced flagellar loss, but requires flagellar assembly to a threshold length. Analysis of cells with flagella of varying lengths shows that the threshold length for CALK dephosphorylation is ~6 µm (half-length). Studies with short and long flagellar mutants indicate that cells detect absolute rather than relative flagellar length. Our results demonstrate that cells possess a mechanism for translating flagellar length into a posttranslational modification of a known flagellar regulatory protein.

Recently, Yao et al. demonstrated the creation of coherent emissions in nitrogen gas with two-color (800 nm + 400 nm) ultrafast laser pulses [New J. Phys. 15, 023046 (2013)]. Based on this two-color scheme, here we report on systematic investigation of temporal characteristics of the coherent emission at)) by experimentally examining its evolution with the increase of the plasma channel induced by the intense 800 nm femtosecond laser pulses at a nitrogen gas pressure of ∼25 mbar. We reveal unexpected temporal profiles of the coherent emissions, which show significant superradiance signatures owing to the quantum coherence via cooperation of an ensemble of excited N 2 + molecules. Our findings shed more light on the mechanisms behind the laser-like emissions induced by strong-field ionization of molecules.

The process of initiation of host invasion and survival of some foliar phytopathogenic fungi in the absence of external nutrients on host leaf surfaces remains obscure. Here, we demonstrate that gluconeogenesis plays an important role in the process and nutrient-starvation adaptation before the pathogen host invasion. Deletion of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene BcPCK1 in gluconeogenesis in Botrytis cinerea, the causative agent of grey mould, resulted in the failure of the ΔBcpck1 mutant conidia to germinate on hard and hydrophobic surface and penetrate host cells in the absence of glucose, reduction in conidiation and slow conidium germination in a nutrient-rich medium. The wild-type and ΔBcpck1 conidia germinate similarly in the presence of glucose (higher concentration) as the sole carbon source. Conidial glucose-content should reach a threshold level to initiate germination and host penetration. Infection structure formation by the mutants displayed a glucose-dependent fashion, which corresponded to the mutant virulence reduction. Exogenous glucose or complementation of BcPCK1 completely rescued all the developmental and virulence defects of the mutants. Our findings demonstrate that BcPCK1 plays a crucial role in B. cinerea pathogenic growth and virulence, and provide new insights into gluconeogenesis mediating pathogenesis of plant fungal pathogens via initiation of conidial germination and host penetration.

Introduction Men frequently develop diabetic erectile dysfunction (DMED), as a result of endothelial dysfunction. DMED patients often have reduced efficacy with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors therapy. Aim To determine whether chronic sildenafil administration can modify the impaired vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) system and improve the erectile function in rats with diabetic erectile dysfunction. Methods A group of Sprague Dawley rats (n=30) with DMED were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg) and screened by subcutaneous injection of Apomorphine (100 mg/kg). They were then exposed to either vehicle or sildenafil (prescribed in our hospital, 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively) for 10 weeks. An additional nondiabetic and age-matched control group (n=10) was also allocated and given the routine diet for the same period. Assessments were performed to both groups at 36 hours after the last dose of sildenafil. Penile intracavernous pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), penile tissue morphology, immunohistologic analysis, and Western blot analysis of VEGF, VEGFR1, and eNOS were determined. Main Outcome Measure Functional, morphological, and proteomical changes on penile structures by the chronic Sildenafil (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively) administration were determined. Results A significant increase of ICP, ICP/MAP ratio, and area under the curve were observed in the both groups treated by sildenafil (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively), compared with the DMED rats without receiving Sildenafil. Immunohistochemical staining of their penile tissue showed a decrease in VEGF, VEGFR1, and eNOS staining in the controlled group compared with an improvement in the chronic sildenafil administration group. Western blot analysis demonstrated exactly the same results. Conclusion We demonstrated that daily sildenafil administration can restore the impaired VEGF system in the penis of DMED rats and progressively improve both erectile function and endothelial function, suggesting a potential general mechanism of improved signaling through the VEGF/eNOS signaling cascade.

Plants have evolved complex processes to ward off attacks by insects. In parallel, insects have evolved mechanisms to thwart these plant defenses. To gain insight into mechanisms that mediate this arms race between plants and herbivorous insects, we investigated the interactions between gramine, a toxin synthesized by plants of the family Gramineae, and glutathione S transferase (GST), an enzyme found in insects that is known to detoxify xenobiotics. Here, we demonstrate that rice (Oryza sativa), a hydrophytic plant, also produces gramine and that rice resistance to brown planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens, BPHs) is highly associated with in planta gramine content. We also show that gramine is a toxicant that causes BPH mortality in vivo and that knockdown of BPH GST gene nlgst1-1 results in increased sensitivity to diets containing gramine. These results suggest that the knockdown of key detoxification genes in sap-sucking insects may provide an avenue for increasing their sensitivity to natural plant-associated defense mechanisms.

Efficient conversion of CO2 to commodity chemicals by sustainable way is of great significance for achieving carbon neutrality. Although considerable progress has been made in CO2 utilization, highly efficient CO2 conversion with high space velocity under mild conditions remains a challenge. Here, we report a hierarchical micro/nanostructured silver hollow fiber electrode that reduces CO2 to CO with a faradaic efficiency of 93% and a current density of 1.26 A · cm−2 at a potential of −0.83 V vs. RHE. Exceeding 50% conversions of as high as 31,000 mL · gcat−1 · h−1 CO2 are achieved at ambient temperature and pressure. Electrochemical results and time-resolved operando Raman spectra demonstrate that enhanced three-phase interface reactions and oriented mass transfers synergistically boost CO production.