To evaluate risk factors for human infection with influenza A subtype H5N1, we performed a matched case-control study in Vietnam. We enrolled 28 case-patients who had laboratory-confirmed H5N1 ...infection during 2004 and 106 age-, sex-, and location-matched control-respondents. Data were analyzed by matched-pair analysis and multivariate conditional logistic regression. Factors that were independently associated with H5N1 infection were preparing sick or dead poultry for consumption < or =7 days before illness onset (matched odds ratio OR 8.99, 95% confidence interval CI 0.98-81.99, p = 0.05), having sick or dead poultry in the household < or =7 days before illness onset (matched OR 4.94, 95% CI 1.21-20.20, p = 0.03), and lack of an indoor water source (matched OR 6.46, 95% CI 1.20-34.81, p = 0.03). Factors not significantly associated with infection were raising healthy poultry, preparing healthy poultry for consumption, and exposure to persons with an acute respiratory illness.
SAPK/JNK, which belongs to the family of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), is activated by many types of cellular stresses or extracellular signals and is involved in embryonic development, ...immune responses, and cell survival or apoptosis. However, the physiological roles of SAPK/JNK in the signaling of stress-induced apoptosis are still controversial. To evaluate the precise function, SAPK/JNK-inactivated mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells were generated by disrupting genes of the MAPK activators, SEK1 and MKK7. Although SAPK/JNK activation by various stresses was completely abolished in sek1–/–mkk7–/– ES cells, apoptotic responses including DNA fragmentation and caspase 3 activation still occurred normally, which displays a sharp contrast to apaf1–/– ES cells exhibiting profound defects in the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. These normal apoptotic responses without SAPK/JNK activation were also observed in fibroblasts derived from sek1–/–mkk7–/– ES cells. Instead, interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced IL-6 gene expression was greatly suppressed in sek1–/–mkk7–/– fibroblasts. These results clearly show that SAPK/JNK activation is responsible for the inflammatory cytokine-induced gene expression but not essentially required for the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis at least in ES or fibroblast-like cells, which are prototypes of all cell lineages.
To establish whether human-to-human transmission of influenza A H5N1 occurred in the healthcare setting in Vietnam, we conducted a cross-sectional seroprevalence survey among hospital employees ...exposed to 4 confirmed and 1 probable H5N1 case-patients or their clinical specimens. Eighty-three (95.4%) of 87 eligible employees completed a questionnaire and provided a serum sample, which was tested for antibodies to influenza A H5N1. Ninety-five percent reported exposure to > or = 1 H5N1 case-patients; 59 (72.0%) reported symptoms, and 2 (2.4%) fulfilled the definition for a possible H5N1 secondary case-patient. No study participants had detectable antibodies to influenza A H5N1. The data suggest that the H5N1 viruses responsible for human cases in Vietnam in January 2004 are not readily transmitted from person to person. However, influenza viruses are genetically variable, and transmissibility is difficult to predict. Therefore, persons providing care for H5N1 patients should continue to take measures to protect themselves.
The Routledge Handbook of Language in the Workplace provides a
comprehensive survey of linguistic research on language in the workplace written by
top scholars in the field from around the world. The ...Handbook
covers theoretical and methodological approaches, explores research in different
types of workplace settings, and examines some key areas of workplace talk that have
been investigated by workplace researchers. Issues of identity have become a major
focus in recent workplace research and the Handbook highlights some
core issues of relevance in this area, such as gender, leadership, and intercultural
communication. As the field has developed, applications of workplace research for
both native and non-native speakers have emerged. Insights can inform and improve
input from practitioners training workers in a range of fields and across a variety
of contexts, and the Handbook foregrounds some of the ways
workplace research can do this. This is an invaluable resource for researchers and
graduate students interested in learning more about workplace discourse.
Armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) with sub-nanometer width are potential materials for fabrication of novel nanodevices thanks to their moderate direct band gaps. AGNRs are usually synthesized by ...polymerizing precursor molecules on substrate surface. However, it is time-consuming and not suitable for large-scale production. AGNRs can also be grown by transforming precursor molecules inside single-walled carbon nanotubes via furnace annealing, but the obtained AGNRs are normally twisted. In this work, microwave heating is applied for transforming precursor molecules into AGNRs. The fast heating process allows synthesizing the AGNRs in seconds. Several different molecules were successfully transformed into AGNRs, suggesting that it is a universal method. More importantly, as demonstrated by Raman spectroscopy, aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and theoretical calculations, less twisted AGNRs are synthesized by the microwave heating than the furnace annealing. Our results reveal a route for rapid production of AGNRs in large scale, which would benefit future applications in novel AGNRs-based semiconductor devices.
Growth and survival of hyperthermophilic archaea in their extreme hydrothermal vent and subsurface environments are controlled by chemical and physical key parameters. This study examined the effects ...of elevated sulfide concentrations, temperature, and acidic pH on growth and survival of two hydrothermal vent archaea (Pyrococcus strain GB-D and Thermococcus fumicolans) under high temperature and pressure regimes. These two strains are members of the Thermococcales, a family of hyperthermophilic, heterotrophic, sulfur-reducing archaea that occur in high densities at vent sites. As actively growing cells, these two strains tolerated regimes of pH, pressure, and temperature that were in most cases not tolerated under severe substrate limitation. A moderate pH of 5.5-7 extends their survival and growth range over a wider range of sulfide concentrations, temperature and pressure, relative to lower pH conditions. T. fumicolans and Pyrococcus strain GB-D grew under very high pressures that exceeded in-situ pressures typical of hydrothermal vent depths, and included deep subsurface pressures. However, under the same conditions, but in the absence of carbon substrates and electron acceptors, survival was generally lower, and decreased rapidly when low pH stress was combined with high pressure and high temperature.
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