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Transcriptional levels of growth factor receptor-related genes (FGFR2, IGF1R) and anti-apoptotic-related gene (BCL2) were significantly upregulated in cumulus cells/oocytes from the EPC-CM group compared with those from the control. Furthermore, the expression levels of cumulus expansion-related genes (PTGS2, TNFAIP6, HAS2) and oocyte-maturation-related factors (GDF9, BMP15) were significantly enhanced in the EPC-CM group. Consequently, the present study provides the first evidence that EPC-CM contains several essential growth factors for oocyte development by regulating genes involved in oocyte maturation.Buoyancy-assisted droplet formation in a quiescent continuous phase is an effective technique to produce highly monodispersed droplets, especially millimetric droplets. A comprehensive study combining visualization experiment and numerical simulation was carried out to explore the underlying physics of single droplet generation in a buoyancy-assisted microfluidic device. Typical regimes, including dripping and jetting, were examined to gain a deep insight into the hydrodynamic difference between the regimes. Particularly, the transition from dripping regime to jetting regime was investigated to give an in-depth understanding of the transitional behaviors. The effects of interfacial tension coefficient on the droplet size and formation regimes are discussed, and a regime diagram is summarized. The results show that oscillation of the interface in dripping regimes after detachment is caused by the locally accelerated fluid during the neck pinching process. Droplet formation patterns with the characteristics of both dripping regime and jetting regime are observed and recognized as the transitional regime, and the interface oscillation lasts longer than that in dripping regime, implying intensive competition between interfacial tension and inertial force. Reducing interfacial tension coefficient results in the dripping-to-jetting transition occurring at a lower flow rate of the dispersed phase. The regime diagram indicates that only the inertial force is the indispensable condition of triggering the transition from dripping to jetting.Statin-associated autoimmune myopathy is a rare muscle disorder, characterized by autoantibodies against HMGCR. The anti-HMGCR myopathy persists after statin, and often requires immunosuppressive therapy. However, there is not a standardized therapeutic approach. The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of the immunosuppressive treatment employed in a multi-center and multi-disciplinary cohort of patients affected by anti-HMGCR myopathy, in which an immunoglobulin (IVIG)-based treatment strategy was applied. We collected 16 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of anti-HMGCR myopathy, between 2012 and 2019, and recorded data on clinical and laboratory presentation (i.e., muscle strength, serum CK levels, and anti-HMGCR antibody titer) and treatment strategies. Our results highlight the safety and efficacy of an induction therapy combining IVIG with GCs and/or methotrexate to achieve persistent remission of the disease and steroid-free maintenance. Under IVIG-based regimens, clinical improvement and CK normalization occurred in more than two thirds of patients by six months. Relapse rate was low (3/16) and 2/3 relapses occurred after treatment suspension. Nearly 90% of the patients who successfully discontinued GCs were treated with a triple immunosuppressive regimen. In conclusion, an IVIG-based regimen, which particularly includes high-dose immunoglobulin, GCs and methotrexate, can provide a fast remission achievement with GC saving.Many calorimetric studies have been carried out to investigate the reaction process of alkali-activated slag paste. However, the origin of the induction period and action mechanism of soluble Si in the dissolution of slag are still not clear. Moreover, the mechanisms behind different reaction periods are not well described. In this study, the reaction kinetics of alkali-activated slag paste was monitored by isothermal calorimetry and the effect of soluble Si was investigated through a dissolution test. The results showed that occurrence of the induction period in hydration of alkali-activated slag paste depended on the presence of soluble Si in alkaline activator and the soluble Si slowed down the dissolution of slag. A dissolution theory-based mechanism was introduced and applied to the dissolution of slag, showing good interpretation of the action mechanism of soluble Si. With this dissolution theory-based mechanism, origin of the induction period in hydration of alkali-activated slag was explicitly interpreted.The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition of European soy seeds. A mycological and toxigenic screening was carried out on 18 varieties of soy seeds harvested in Poland. Moreover, the level of soybean meal (SBM) substitution by raw soybean seeds was analysed in terms of its effect on young pigs' performance (body weight gain, feed intake, feed utilisation) along with apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter and crude protein in the diets. In a 28-day trial, 48 male pigs were tested using a marker method with TiO2. In their diets, SBM was replaced by soy seeds in the amounts of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. In the last 3 days of the experiment, samples of excreta from each animal separately were collected three times per day. The chemical composition of soybean seeds differed in terms of their contents of crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre and raffinose family oligosaccharides, as well as the trypsin inhibitor activity. Seeds were also contaminated with fungi, yeast and mycotoxins, mainly zearalenone and deoxynivalenol. The ATTD of crude protein ranged from 70.6% to 77.6% and that of dry matter from 93.5% to 94.6%, with no differences between the groups being found (p > 0.05). Pigs' performance parameters were reduced strongly with increasing amounts of raw seeds in the diets (p less then 0.05). The results indicate that only a 5% addition of raw soy seeds in pigs' diet is recommended.Virus detection in natural and clinical samples is a complicated problem in research and diagnostics. There are different approaches for virus isolation and identification, including PCR, CRISPR/Cas technology, NGS, immunoassays, and cell-based assays. Following the development of genetic engineering methods, approaches that utilize cell cultures have become useful and informative. Molecular biology methods allow increases in the sensitivity and specificity of cell cultures for certain viruses and can be used to generate reporter cell lines. click here These cell lines express specific reporter proteins (e.g., GFP, luciferase, and CAT) in response to virus infection that can be detected in a laboratory setting. The development of genome editing and synthetic biology methods has given rise to new perspectives regarding the design of virus reporter systems in cell cultures. This review is aimed at describing both virology methods in general and examples of the development of cell-based methods that exist today.