Background:
Elevated fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) levels have been suggested, from cross-sectional studies, as an indicator of subclinical diabetic nephropathy. We investigated whether serum ...FGF21 was predictive of the development of diabetic nephropathy.
Method:
Baseline serum FGF21 levels were measured in 1136 Chinese type 2 diabetic subjects recruited from the Hong Kong West Diabetes Registry. The role of serum FGF21 in predicting decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a median follow-up of 4 years was analyzed using Cox regression analysis.
Results:
At baseline, serum FGF21 levels increased progressively with eGFR category (P for trend <.001). Among 1071 subjects with baseline eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2, serum FGF21 levels were significantly higher in those with eGFR decline during follow-up (n = 171) than those without decline (n = 900) (P < .001). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, baseline serum FGF21 was independently associated with eGFR decline (hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.01–1.43; P = .036), even after adjustment for baseline eGFR. In a subgroup of 559 subjects with baseline eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and normoalbuminuria, serum FGF21 level remained an independent predictor of eGFR decline (hazard ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.06–1.76; P = .016). Integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) suggested that the inclusion of baseline serum FGF21 significantly improved the prediction of eGFR decline (IDI, 1%; 95% CI, 0.1–3.0; P = .013) in this subgroup, but not in the initial cohort involving all subjects.
Conclusions:
Elevated serum FGF21 levels may be a useful biomarker for predicting kidney disease progression, especially in the early stages of diabetic nephropathy.
Summary
Using environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect aquatic macroorganisms is a new survey method with broad applicability. However, the origin, state and fate of aqueous macrobial eDNA – which ...collectively determine how well eDNA can serve as a proxy for directly observing organisms and how eDNA should be captured, purified and assayed – are poorly understood.
The size of aquatic particles provides clues about their origin, state and fate. We used sequential filtration size fractionation to measure the particle size distribution (PSD) of macrobial eDNA, specifically Common Carp (hereafter referred to as Carp) eDNA. We compared it to the PSDs of total eDNA (from all organisms) and suspended particle matter (SPM). We quantified Carp mitochondrial eDNA using a custom qPCR assay, total eDNA with fluorometry and SPM with gravimetric analysis.
In a lake and a pond, we found Carp eDNA in particles from >180 to <0·2 μm, but it was most abundant from 1 to 10 μm. Total eDNA was most abundant below 0·2 μm, and SPM was most abundant above 100 μm. SPM consisted of ≤0·1% total eDNA, and total eDNA consisted of ≤0·0004% Carp eDNA. 0·2 μm filtration maximized Carp eDNA capture (85% ± 6%) while minimizing total (i.e. non‐target) eDNA capture (48% ± 3%), but filter clogging limited this pore size to a sample volume <250 mL. To mitigate this limitation, we estimated a continuous PSD model for Carp eDNA and derived an equation for calculating isoclines of pore size and water volume that yield equivalent amounts of Carp eDNA.
Our results suggest that aqueous macrobial eDNA predominantly exists inside mitochondria or cells, and that settling may therefore play an important role in its fate. For optimal eDNA capture, we recommend 0·2 μm filtration or a combination of larger pore size and water volume that exceeds the 0·2 μm isocline. In situ filtration of large volumes could maximize detection probability when surveying large habitats for rare organisms. Our method for eDNA particle size analysis enables future research to compare the PSDs of eDNA from other organisms and environments, and to easily apply them for ecological monitoring.
The epidemiology of candidaemia varies between hospitals and geographic regions. Although there are many studies from Asia, a large-scale cross-sectional study across Asia has not been performed. We ...conducted a 12-month, laboratory-based surveillance of candidaemia at 25 hospitals from China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. The incidence and species distribution of candidaemia were determined. There were 1601 episodes of candidaemia among 1.2 million discharges. The overall incidence was 1.22 episodes per 1000 discharges and varied among the hospitals (range 0.16–4.53 per 1000 discharges) and countries (range 0.25–2.93 per 1000 discharges). The number of Candida blood isolates and the total number of fungal isolates were highly correlated among the six countries (R² = 0.87) and 25 hospitals (R² = 0.77). There was a moderate correlation between incidence of candidaemia and the intensive care unit (ICU)/total bed ratio (R² = 0.47), although ICUs contributed to only 23% of candidaemia cases. Of 1910 blood isolates evaluated, Candida albicans was most frequently isolated (41.3%), followed by Candida tropicalis (25.4%), Candida glabrata (13.9%) and Candida parapsilosis (12.1%). The proportion of C. tropicalis among blood isolates was higher in haemato-oncology wards than others wards (33.7% versus 24.5%, p 0.0058) and was more likely to be isolated from tropical countries than other Asian countries (46.2% versus 18.9%, p 0.04). In conclusion, the ICU settings contribute, at least in part, to the incidence variation among hospitals. The species distribution is different from Western countries. Both geographic and healthcare factors contribute to the variation of species distribution.
A statistical downscaling method (SDSM) was evaluated by simultaneously downscaling air temperature, evaporation, and precipitation in Haihe River basin, China. The data used for evaluation were ...large-scale atmospheric data encompassing daily NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and the daily mean climate model results for scenarios A2 and B2 of the HadCM3 model. Selected as climate variables for downscaling were measured daily mean air temperature, pan evaporation, and precipitation data (1961–2000) from 11 weather stations in the Haihe River basin. The results obtained from SDSM showed that: (1) the pattern of change in and numerical values of the climate variables can be reasonably simulated, with the coefficients of determination between observed and downscaled mean temperature, pan evaporation, and precipitation being 99%, 93%, and 73%, respectively; (2) systematic errors existed in simulating extreme events, but the results were acceptable for practical applications; and (3) the mean air temperature would increase by about 0.7°C during 2011~2040; the total annual precipitation would decrease by about 7% in A2 scenario but increase by about 4% in B2 scenario; and there were no apparent changes in pan evaporation. It was concluded that in the next 30 years, climate would be warmer and drier, extreme events could be more intense, and autumn might be the most distinct season among all the changes.
This paper extends evaluation of reliability of the distribution system to incorporate electric vehicles' (EVs') contribution in different modes of operation. For each load point, two ...topologies-centralized and dispersed EV charging - are considered. During the islanding mode of operation, household demands can be supported by vehicle-to-home (V2H) and/or local vehicle-to-grid (V2G), depending on the charging topologies applied. In grid connected mode of operation, energy not supplied can be further reduced by interregional V2G, which allows energy exchange among load points through healthy mains and laterals by sectionalizing the failure parts of the grid. Evaluation methods are proposed to determine the capacity contribution of EVs for each scenario. For the scenario of interregional V2G, optimal power flow is conducted to maximize the energy exchange. From the results of a case study, V2H and V2G, on both local and system levels, show great promise for the reliability enhancement.
Summary
Background
Inherited epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is a rare skin disorder characterized by susceptibility to specific types of human papilloma virus (HPV) and is strongly associated ...with skin carcinomas. Inactivating mutations in EVER1/EVER2 account for most cases of EV. However, more phenotypes related to but distinct from EV have been reported with an immunodeficiency state but without EVER1/EVER2 mutation, and the genetic basis for these atypical EV cases is poorly understood.
Objectives
To identify the causative gene responsible for three siblings affected by atypical EV but without EVER1/EVER2 mutation.
Methods
Whole‐exome sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing was performed to identify the gene responsible for the patients with atypical EV enrolled in our study.
Results
A homozygous splicing mutation was detected in LCK (c.188‐2A>G). This mutation resulted in an exon 3 deletion T lymphocyte‐specific protein tyrosine kinase isoform, which further led to frameshift mutation and subsequent mRNA decay.
Conclusions
We demonstrate a novel mutation in LCK in a family affected by atypical EV with T‐cell defects, HPV infection and virus‐induced malignancy, providing new clues in the understanding of host defences against HPV and better genetic counselling of patients with the EV phenotype.
What's already known about this topic?
Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is an unusual genodermatosis characterized by an increased susceptibility to β‐human papillomavirus and is associated with a high risk of skin carcinoma.
Inactivating mutations in EVER1/EVER2 account for most cases of EV.
What does this study add?
Our study suggests an association between a novel splicing mutation in LCK and EV susceptibility.
What is the translational message?
Patients with EV should be tested for T lymphocyte‐specific protein tyrosine kinase deficiency and T‐cell function, which will help guide treatment.
Linked Comment: Uitto and Vahidnezhad. Br J Dermatol 2016; 175:1138–1139.
A search for exotic dark matter (DM) in the sub-GeV mass range has been conducted using 205 kg day data taken from a p-type point contact germanium detector of the CDEX-10 experiment at China's ...Jinping underground laboratory. New low-mass dark matter searching channels, neutral current fermionic DM absorption (χ+A→ν+A) and DM-nucleus 3→2 scattering (χ+χ+A→ϕ+A), have been analyzed with an energy threshold of 160 eVee. No significant signal was found; thus new limits on the DM-nucleon interaction cross section are set for both models at the sub-GeV DM mass region. A cross section limit for the fermionic DM absorption is set to be 2.5×10^{-46} cm^{2} (90% C.L.) at DM mass of 10 MeV/c^{2}. For the DM-nucleus 3→2 scattering scenario, limits are extended to DM mass of 5 and 14 MeV/c^{2} for the massless dark photon and bound DM final state, respectively.
In this paper, a hybrid nanogenerator with concurrently harvested piezoelectric and triboelectric mechanisms, called a fully encapsulated piezoelectric-triboelectric hybrid nanogenerator (PTHG), is ...demonstrated. In the construction of piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG), an in-situ poling near-field electrospinning (NFES) was utilized to direct-write piezoelectric polymeric nano/micro fibers (NMFs) polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as the functional layer of piezoelectric nanogenerators. On the other hand, the nano-textured functional layer of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is also concurrently combined with PENG. This hybridized nanogenerator was demonstrated to simultaneously harvest piezoelectric and triboelectric output such that the superimposed peak output voltage /current signals of ~130 V/4 µA at 2 Hz, which can be translated to the area power density of 8.34 mW/m2. Individually measured TENG under a hand-induced strain 0.2 and 2 Hz actuation, the output voltage/current peak is measured about 110 V/2.8 µA, while the PENG counterpart shows the the output voltage/current peak is about 18 V/0.6 µA. In addition, the proposed PTHG can harvest sustainable energy sources such as rain water with the output maximum voltage reaches ~20 V and area power density ~0.981 mW/m2 for dropping rate of 10 ml/s. This research shows the substantial improvement in the synergy of nano-textured triboelectric and piezo-electric functional layers. The practical application of the self-powered system can be ubiquitously implemented in the sustainable energy sources and future industry 4.0 scenarios to provide the stand alone energy sources of IoT sensors.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Large-scale hydrological modelling has become an important tool for the study of global and regional water resources, climate impacts, and water-resources management. However, modelling efforts over ...large spatial domains are fraught with problems of data scarcity, uncertainties and inconsistencies between model forcing and evaluation data. Model-independent methods to screen and analyse data for such problems are needed. This study aimed at identifying data inconsistencies in global datasets using a pre-modelling analysis, inconsistencies that can be disinformative for subsequent modelling. The consistency between (i) basin areas for different hydrographic datasets, and (ii) between climate data (precipitation and potential evaporation) and discharge data, was examined in terms of how well basin areas were represented in the flow networks and the possibility of water-balance closure. It was found that (i) most basins could be well represented in both gridded basin delineations and polygon-based ones, but some basins exhibited large area discrepancies between flow-network datasets and archived basin areas, (ii) basins exhibiting too-high runoff coefficients were abundant in areas where precipitation data were likely affected by snow undercatch, and (iii) the occurrence of basins exhibiting losses exceeding the potential-evaporation limit was strongly dependent on the potential-evaporation data, both in terms of numbers and geographical distribution. Some inconsistencies may be resolved by considering sub-grid variability in climate data, surface-dependent potential-evaporation estimates, etc., but further studies are needed to determine the reasons for the inconsistencies found. Our results emphasise the need for pre-modelling data analysis to identify dataset inconsistencies as an important first step in any large-scale study. Applying data-screening methods before modelling should also increase our chances to draw robust conclusions from subsequent model simulations.
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