Crustal Azimuthal Anisotropy Beneath the Central North China Craton Revealed by Receiver Functions

To characterize crustal anisotropy beneath the central North China Craton (CNCC), we apply a recently developed deconvolution approach to effectively remove near-surface reverberations in the receiver functions recorded at 200 broadband seismic stations and subsequently determine the fast orientation and the magnitude of crustal azimuthal anisotropy by fitting the sinusoidal moveout of the P to S converted phases from the Moho and intracrustal discontinuities. The magnitude of crustal anisotropy is found to range from 0.06 s to 0.54Â s, with an average of 0.25 ± 0.08Â s. Fault-parallel anisotropy in the seismically active Zhangjiakou-Penglai Fault Zone is significant and could be related to fluid-filled fractures. Historical strong earthquakes mainly occurred in the fault zone segments with significant crustal anisotropy, suggesting that the measured crustal anisotropy is closely related to the degree of crustal deformation. The observed spatial distribution of crustal anisotropy suggests that the northwestern terminus of the fault zone probably ends at about 114°E. Also observed is a sharp contrast in the fast orientations between the western and eastern Yanshan Uplifts separated by the North-South Gravity Lineament. The NW-SE trending anisotropy in the western Yanshan Uplift is attributable to fossil crustal anisotropy due to lithospheric extension of the CNCC, while extensional fluid-saturated microcracks induced by regional compressive stress are responsible for the observed ENE-WSW trending anisotropy in the eastern Yanshan Uplift. Comparison of crustal anisotropy measurements and previously determined upper mantle anisotropy implies that the degree of crust-mantle coupling in the CNCC varies spatially

Structure and properties of self-assembled narural rubber/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites

Natural rubber (NR)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) composites were prepared bycombining self-assembly and latex compounding techniques. The acid-treated MWCNTs (H2SO4: HNO3=3:1,volume ratio) were self-assembled with poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) through electrostaticadhesion. In the second assembling, NR/MWCNTs composites were developed by mixing MWCNTs/PDDAsolution with NR latex. The results show that MWCNTs are homogenously distributed throughout the NRmatrix as single tube and present a great interfacial adhesion with NR phase when MWCNTs contents areless than 3 wt%. Moreover, the addition of the MWCNTs brings about the remarkable enhancement in tensilestrength and crosslink density compared with the NR host, and the data peak at 2 wt% MWCNTs loadings.When more MWCNTs are loaded, aggregations of MWCNTs are gradually generated, and the tensile strengthand crosslink both decrease to a certain extent

MRNIP interacts with sex body chromatin to support meiotic progression, spermatogenesis, and male fertility in mice

Abstract Meiosis has a principal role in sexual reproduction to generate haploid gametes in both sexes. During meiosis, the cell nucleus hosts a dynamic environment where some genes are transcriptionally activated, and some are inactivated at the same time. This becomes possible through subnuclear compartmentalization. The sex body, sequestering X and Y chromosomes during male meiosis and creating an environment for the meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) is one of the best known and studied subnuclear compartments. Herein, we show that MRNIP forms droplet-like accumulations that fuse together to create a distinct subnuclear compartment that partially overlaps with the sex body chromatin during diplotene. We demonstrate that Mrnip−/− spermatocytes have impaired DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, they display reduced sex body formation and defective MSCI. We show that Mrnip−/− undergoes critical meiocyte loss at the diplotene stage. Furthermore, we determine that DNA DSBs (induced by SPO11) and synapsis initiation (facilitated by SYCP1) precede Mrnip expression in testes. Altogether, our findings indicate that in addition to an emerging role in DNA DSB repair, MRNIP has an essential function in spermatogenesis during meiosis I by forming drop-like accumulations interacting with the sex body

Home-Based Transcutaneous Neuromodulation Improved Constipation via Modulating Gastrointestinal Hormones and Bile Acids

This study aims to investigate the role of transcutaneous neuromodulation (TN) on the regulation of gastrointestinal hormones and bile acids in patients with functional constipation (FC). Twenty FC patients were treated with TN for four weeks. The effects of TN on symptoms were evaluated by questionnaires. Plasma levels of serotonin (5-HT), motilin, somatostatin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were measured by ELISA and 12 individual bile acids assayed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results were as follows. (1) TN treatment increased the frequency of spontaneous bowel movement, improved the Bristol Stool Score, and reduced Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptom score and Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score. (2) FC patients showed decreased plasma levels of 5-HT, motilin, and VIP and an increased plasma level of somatostatin (P<0.05). Four-week TN treatment increased plasma levels of 5-HT and motilin and decreased the plasma level of somatostatin in the FC patients (P<0.05). (3) Taurocholic deoxycholate, taurocholic acid, and taurocholic lithocholic acid were increased in the FC patients (P<0.005) but reduced by TN treatment (P<0.05). This study has suggested that the therapy may improve the symptoms of FC by alleviating the disorders of gastrointestinal hormones and bile acids

Cfap97d1 is important for flagellar axoneme maintenance and male mouse fertility

Abstract The flagellum is essential for sperm motility and fertilization in vivo. The axoneme is the main component of the flagella, extending through its entire length. An axoneme is comprised of two central microtubules surrounded by nine doublets, the nexin-dynein regulatory complex, radial spokes, and dynein arms. Failure to properly assemble components of the axoneme in a sperm flagellum, leads to fertility alterations. To understand this process in detail, we have defined the function of an uncharacterized gene, Cfap97 domain containing 1 (Cfap97d1). This gene is evolutionarily conserved in mammals and multiple other species, including Chlamydomonas. We have used two independently generated Cfap97d1 knockout mouse models to study the gene function in vivo. Cfap97d1 is exclusively expressed in testes starting from post-natal day 20 and continuing throughout adulthood. Deletion of the Cfap97d1 gene in both mouse models leads to sperm motility defects (asthenozoospermia) and male subfertility. In vitro fertilization (IVF) of cumulus-intact oocytes with Cfap97d1 deficient sperm yielded few embryos whereas IVF with zona pellucida-free oocytes resulted in embryo numbers comparable to that of the control. Knockout spermatozoa showed abnormal motility characterized by frequent stalling in the anti-hook position. Uniquely, Cfap97d1 loss caused a phenotype associated with axonemal doublet heterogeneity linked with frequent loss of the fourth doublet in the sperm stored in the epididymis. This study demonstrates that Cfap97d1 is required for sperm flagellum ultra-structure maintenance, thereby playing a critical role in sperm function and male fertility in mice