A sensitive and convenient immunoassay that can directly differentiate pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (pH1N1) virus from seasonal influenza virus can play an important role in the clinic. In the presented ...study, a double-sandwich ELISA (pH1N1 ELISA), based on two monoclonal antibodies against haemagglutinin (HA) of the pH1N1 virus, was developed. After laboratory determination of the sensitivity and specificity characteristics, the performance of this assay was evaluated in a cohort of 904 patients with influenza-like illness. All seven strains of pH1N1 virus tested were positive by pH1N1 ELISA, with an average lower detection limit of 103.0 ± 0.4 tissue culture infective dose (TCID)50/mL (or 0.009 ± 0.005 HA titre). Cross-reaction of the assay with seasonal influenza virus and other common respiratory pathogens was rare. In pH1N1-infected patients, the sensitivity of the pH1N1 ELISA was 92.3% (84/91, 95% CI 84.8–96.9%), which is significantly higher than that of the BD Directigen EZ Flu A + B test (70.3%, p <0.01). The specificity of pH1N1 ELISA in seasonal influenza A patients was 100.0% (171/171, 95% CI 97.9–100.0%), similar to that in non-influenza A patients (640/642, 99.7%, 95% CI 98.9–100.0%). The positive predictive value for pH1N1 ELISA was 97.7% and the negative predictive value was 99.1% in this study population with a pH1N1 prevalence of 10.1%. In conclusion, detection of HA of pH1N1 virus by immunoassay appears to be a convenient and reliable method for the differential diagnosis of pH1N1 from other respiratory pathogens, including seasonal influenza virus.
The vibrational properties of ebastine have been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and Raman scattering experiments. The DFT calculation was performed with geometry ...optimization and harmonic vibration using the B3LYP function with the 6-31G(d) basis set. The DFT calculated spectrum of ebastine is in good agreement with Raman scattering experiments. A good linear correlation between calculated and experimental wavenumbers has been obtained in the spectral range of 500–3250 cm
–1
. Also, the calculated bond lengths and bond angles of the ebastine molecule are consistent with reported X-ray diffraction results. The deviations of bond lengths and bond angles are smaller than 0.034 Å and 3.1°, respectively. In addition, the experimentally observed vibrational modes have been assigned and the characteristic modes of the three parts benzhydryloxy, piperidine-butanone, and tert-butylphenyl of the ebastine molecule have been discussed, which would be helpful for future degradation and activity studies of ebastine.
Nano-scale phase separation is reported in a nominal single-phase, high-entropy alloy (HEA), which was characterized using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) combined with atom probe ...tomography (APT). Despite the fact that X-ray diffraction exhibits a single face-centered-cubic (fcc) phase feature of the as-cast alloy prepared by melt spinning, selected area electron diffraction reveals weak L12 ordering in the as-spun alloy. High-resolution STEM shows the presence of two coherent nanophases with distinct L12 and fcc structures, coupling with compositional segregations. The ordering of the L12 domains is enhanced after annealing at 500 degree C. Electron energy loss spectroscopy and APT analyses reveal that the L12 nano-phase is enriched with Fe, Co, Cr and Ni, while the fcc domains are a Cu-rich phase. The nano-scale phase separation can effectively minimize the lattice distortions caused by the atomic size difference in the constituent elements, which may offer structural insights into the unusual mechanical behavior and phase stability of fcc HEA.
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•Global supply chain in terms of embodied carbon emissions is studied.•Intermediate trade of embodied carbon emissions is 2.3 times as much as final trade.•China’s carbon trade ...deficit is twice the trade surplus of the United States.•Mainland China’s final trade deficit is 1.2 times its intermediate trade deficit.•India’s embodied carbon emissions are projected to double from 2012 to 2040.
By differentiating intermediate trade from final trade, this paper combines typical statistics for the world economy in 2012 to explore the transfer of embodied carbon emissions via the global supply chain and the related trade imbalance. The emission transfer embodied in interregional trade is in magnitude around 40% of global direct carbon emissions. The global intermediate trade volume of embodied carbon emissions is estimated to be 2.3 times as much as the final trade volume. While Mainland China obtains a considerable economic trade surplus, its carbon trade deficit is about twice the carbon trade surplus of the United States. Mainland China’s final trade deficit is around 1.2 times as much as its intermediate trade deficit of embodied carbon emissions. EU27, the United States, ASEAN and Japan serve as the major contributors to China’s intermediate and final trade deficits. For the United States, its intermediate carbon trade surplus is almost equal to its final trade surplus. The United States gains a carbon surplus with most of its trading partners in both intermediate and final trades. A future scenario analysis in terms of carbon emission projection is conducted. While the direct and embodied carbon emissions of the United States and Japan are estimated to change slightly from 2012 to 2040, India’s carbon emissions are projected to experience a twofold increase during the period. In the long term, though with ups and downs, the economic globalization will be inevitably moving forward, leading to a highly sliced-up global supply chain and increasingly delicate regional specialization as well as frequent intermediate trade between regions. It is suggested that nations and regions should follow this trend and adapt themselves to the global value chain by carefully assessing their roles in intermediate and final trades in terms of both currency and embodied carbon emissions.
This paper presents the development of a model framework for plasma-biofilm and plasma-tissue interactions that can link molecular simulation of plasma chemistry to functions at a cell population ...level or a tissue level. This is aided with a reactive penetration model for mass transfer of highly transient plasma species across the gas–liquid boundary and a panel of electrical and thermal thresholds considering pain sensation, protein denaturation and lethal electric currents. Application of this model reveals a number of previously little known findings, for example the penetration of plasma chemistry into highly hydrated biofilms is about 10–20 μm deep for low-power He–O
2
plasma and this is closely correlated to the penetration of liquid-phase plasma chemistry dominated by O
2
−
, H
2
O
2
, and HO
2
or O
2
−
, H
2
O
2
, and O
3
. Optimization by manipulating liquid-phase chemistry is expected to improve the penetration depth to 40–50 μm. For direct plasma treatment of skin tissues at radio frequencies, the key tolerance issue is thermal injuries even with a tissue temperature <50 °C and these can lead to induction of pain and protein denaturation at a small discharge density of 8–15 mA/cm
2
over few tens of seconds. These and other results presented offer opportunities to improve plasma-biofilm and plasma-tissue interactions. The model framework reported may be further extended and can be used to non-biomedical applications of low-temperature plasmas.
Previous mass screening studies have shown that IgA antibodies against Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) can facilitate early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but the impact of EBV-antibody ...screening for NPC-specific mortality remains unknown.
A prospective, cluster randomized, controlled trial for NPC screening (PRO-NPC-001) was conducted in 3 selected towns of Zhongshan City and 13 selected towns of Sihui City in southern China beginning in 2008. Serum samples of the screening group were tested for two previously selected anti-EBV antibodies. Subjects with serological medium risk were subsequently retested annually for 3 years, and those with serological high risk were referred to otorhinolaryngologists for diagnostic check-up. An interim analysis was carried out to evaluate the primary end points of the NPC-specific mortality and the early diagnostic rate, and the secondary end point of the NPC incidence, through linkage with the database of Zhongshan City.
Among 70 296 total subjects, 29 413 screened participants (41.8% of the total subjects) in the screening group and 50 636 in the control group, 153 (43.3 per 100 000 person-year), 62 (55.3 per 100 000 person-year) and 99 (33.1 per 100 000 person-year) NPC cases were identified. The early diagnostic rates of NPC were significantly higher in the participants (79.0%, P < 0.0001) and the screening group (45.9%, P < 0.0001) compared with the control group (20.6%). Although no differences were found between NPC-specific mortality of the screening group and the control group relative risk (RR)= 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37–1.79, lower NPC-specific mortality was noticed among participants from the screening group versus the control group (RR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.09–0.49).
IgA antibodies against EBV can identify high-risk population and was effective in screening for early asymptomatic NPC. Although the mortality reduction was not significant in the primary end point, we noted encouraging evidence of a mortality reduction in screening participants in this interim analysis.
NCT00941538.
Fluxmetric and magnetometric demagnetizing factors,
N
f
and
N
m
, for cylinders along the axial direction are numerically calculated as functions of material susceptibility
χ
and the ratio
γ
of ...length to diameter. The results have an accuracy better than 0.1% with respect to
min
(
N
f
,
m
,
1
-
N
f
,
m
)
and are tabulated in the range of
0.01
⩽
γ
⩽
500
and
-
1
⩽
χ
<
∞
.
N
m
along the radial direction is evaluated with a lower accuracy from
N
m
along the axis and tabulated in the range of
0.01
⩽
γ
⩽
1
and
-
1
⩽
χ
<
∞
. Some previous results are discussed and several applications are explained based on the new results.
Deafness or hearing loss is a major issue in human health. Inner ear hair cells are the main sensory receptors responsible for hearing. Defects in hair cells are one of the major causes of deafness. ...A combination of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology with genome-editing technology may provide an attractive cell-based strategy to regenerate hair cells and treat hereditary deafness in humans. Here, we report the generation of iPSCs from members of a Chinese family carrying MYO15A c.4642G>A and c.8374G>A mutations and the induction of hair cell-like cells from those iPSCs. The compound heterozygous MYO15A mutations resulted in abnormal morphology and dysfunction of the derived hair cell-like cells. We used a CRISPR/Cas9 approach to genetically correct the MYO15A mutation in the iPSCs and rescued the morphology and function of the derived hair cell-like cells. Our data demonstrate the feasibility of generating inner ear hair cells from human iPSCs and the functional rescue of gene mutation-based deafness by using genetic correction.
The polarization loss due to oxygen reduction at the cathode in solid oxide fuel cells is a thermally activated process; therefore, as temperature is lowered, the loss becomes substantial. Highly ...active cathodes have been investigated by several groups; equally important, if not more, is the stability of these electrodes. The high performance and stable Pr2NiO4 cathode was studied by impedance spectroscopy and dc current–potential sweeping methods. The power density in Pr2NiO4-based anode supported button cells was in the range between 0.65 and 0.7W/cm2 at 750°C at the external load of 0.8V. The degradation rate at 0.8V was approximately 3% per 1000h up to 2000h. The electrode resistance is a function of external loads, thus also varies with current densities. The relationship between electrode resistance and external loads is non-linear, which may changes in lattice oxygen nonstoichiometry of the cathodes.
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is observed in many human diseases, often associated with inflammation. ER stress can trigger inflammation through nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat ...containing (NLRP3) inflammasome, which might stimulate inflammasome formation by association with damaged mitochondria. How ER stress triggers mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammasome activation is ill defined. Here we have used an infection model to show that the IRE1α ER stress sensor regulates regulated mitochondrial dysfunction through an NLRP3-mediated feed-forward loop, independently of ASC. IRE1α activation increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, promoting NLRP3 association with mitochondria. NLRP3 was required for ER stress-induced cleavage of caspase-2 and the pro-apoptotic factor, Bid, leading to subsequent release of mitochondrial contents. Caspase-2 and Bid were necessary for activation of the canonical inflammasome by infection-associated or general ER stress. These data identify an NLRP3-caspase-2-dependent mechanism that relays ER stress to the mitochondria to promote inflammation, integrating cellular stress and innate immunity.
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•Infection-associated ER stress initiates mitochondrial damage through IRE1α•Mitochondrial damage is required for IRE1α-dependent IL-1β production•IRE1α promotes mitochondrial damage via NLRP3, caspase-2, and Bid•The NLRP3-caspase-2 axis drives general ER stress-induced inflammasome activation
The endoplasmic reticulum stress response modulates inflammatory responses during chemical stress or microbial infection. O’Riordan and colleagues report that endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor IRE1α induces ROS-dependent NLRP3 translocation to mitochondria. NLRP3 stimulates the caspase-2-Bid mitochondrial damage pathway, leading to release of mitochondrial danger signals that activate the inflammasome.
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