Recently a dark matter-electron (DM-electron) paradigm has drawn much attention. Models beyond the standard halo model describing DM accelerated by high energy celestial bodies are under intense ...examination as well. In this Letter, a velocity components analysis (VCA) method dedicated to swift analysis of accelerated DM-electron interactions via semiconductor detectors is proposed and the first HPGe detector-based accelerated DM-electron analysis is realized. Utilizing the method, the first germanium based constraint on sub-GeV solar reflected DM-electron interaction is presented with the 205.4 kg·day dataset from the CDEX-10 experiment. In the heavy mediator scenario, our result excels in the mass range of 5-15 keV/c^{2}, achieving a 3 orders of magnitude improvement comparing with previous semiconductor experiments. In the light mediator scenario, the strongest laboratory constraint for DM lighter than 0.1 MeV/c^{2} is presented. The result proves the feasibility and demonstrates the vast potential of the VCA technique in future accelerated DM-electron analyses with semiconductor detectors.
Summary
Background
Wheat‐dependent exercise‐induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA) is a severe allergic condition in which wheat ingestion together followed by physical exercise induces anaphylaxis. For ...patients with WDEIA, omega‐5 gliadin is considered to be one of the major allergens.
Aim
To analyse the clinical features and allergen spectrum of WDEIA and to investigate the relationship between WDEIA and serum levels of platelet‐activating factor (PAF), interleukin (IL)‐9 and IL‐33.
Methods
Medical histories and conditions of WDEIA cases were collected and summarized, with allergen tests of wheat proteins measured at the same visit. Of the 33 patients enrolled, 13 also had serum levels of PAF, IL‐9 and IL‐33 measured. The healthy control (HC) group consisted of 13 healthy individuals, who also underwent both the wheat‐protein allergen tests and the inflammatory‐mediator tests.
Results
All patients experienced severe allergic reaction during exercise after wheat ingestion. Manifestations of WDEIA included facial oedema, generalized urticaria and respiratory symptoms. Unconsciousness was also observed in 21 cases. In the patient group, 57.6% were confirmed as hypersensitive to glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), while 54.5% were allergic to omega‐5 gliadin. PAF concentration was significantly higher in patients with WDEIA compared with HCs, whereas there was no significant difference in IL‐9 or IL‐33 between the two groups.
Conclusions
WDEIA is a rare type of anaphylaxis. GAPDH and omega‐5 gliadin may be the most common allergy‐causing wheat proteins for Chinese people. PAF may be associated with the onset and development of WDEIA.
Summary
Experiments were performed to study the transformation, migration and outcome of residual bodies (RBs) in the seminiferous tubules of the rat testes. One part of the testes from adult ...Sprague–Dawley rats was used to generate paraffin sections to observe RBs and RB precursors through specific staining, and the other part of the testes was used to generate ultrathin sections to observe RBs under a transmission electron microscope. Deep blue particles of different sizes were observed in some seminiferous tubules through specific staining for RBs and RB precursors. These particles first appeared in the seminiferous tubules at stage I of the spermatogenic cycle, and after spermiation, the particles travelled rapidly towards the deeper region of the seminiferous epithelium and soon appeared close to the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubule. All of the particles in the tubules disappeared at stage IX. Using transmission electron microscopy, components of different electron densities were observed in the RBs on the surface of the seminiferous epithelium, all of which gradually formed in the cytoplasm of spermatozoon in later stages of spermiogenesis. After the spermatozoa were released, the RBs in the epithelium travelled quickly to the edge of the tube and were gradually transformed into lipid inclusions. These lipid inclusions ultimately became lipidlike particles. The lipidlike particles were discharged into the interstitial tissue. RBs initiate their own digestive process before their formation during spermiation in the rat testes. After spermiation, the RBs transform into lipid inclusions and finally into lipidlike particles. These lipidlike particles can be eliminated from the seminiferous tubules.
STUDY QUESTION
Is preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for translocation carriers more effective when done with a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array using trophectoderm (TE) biopsy and ...frozen embryo transfer (FET) compared with traditional PGD based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH-PGD) using blastomere biopsy and fresh embryo transfer?
SUMMARY ANSWER
The procedure using the SNP array combined with TE biopsy and FET significantly improves the clinical pregnancy rate for translocation carriers. The miscarriage rate also slightly decreases.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
FISH-PGD has been widely used in translocation carriers but the clinical outcomes have not been ideal. SNP arrays can detect both chromosome segmental imbalances and aneuploidy, and may overcome the limitations of FISH in PGD for translocation carriers.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION
This was a retrospective study of 575 couples with chromosomal translocations, including 169 couples treated by SNP-PGD between October 2011 and August 2012, and 406 couples treated by FISH-PGD between January 2005 and October 2011.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
The study was set in an IVF center at the Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, China. In total, 169 couples underwent SNP analysis, including 52 Robertsonian translocation carriers and 117 carriers of reciprocal translocations. Blastocysts (n = 773) were biopsied and FET was carried out on the balanced embryos. Four hundred and six couples underwent FISH-PGD, including 149 Robertsonian translocation carriers and 257 reciprocal translocation carriers. In total, 3968 embryos were biopsied and balanced embryos were transferred fresh. The SNP-PGD results and clinical outcomes were compared with those of FISH-PGD.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
Reliable SNP-PGD results were obtained for 717 out of 773 (92.8%) biopsied blastocysts. The proportions of normal/balanced embryos, embryos with translocation-related and translocation-unrelated abnormalities, the median number of embryos per patient, the ongoing pregnancy rate per embryo transfer and the miscarriage rate were 58, 23, 19, 2, 69 and 12%, respectively, for Robertsonian translocation carriers and 36, 52, 12, 1, 74 and 11%, respectively, in reciprocal translocation carriers. Reliable FISH-PGD results were obtained for 3452 out of 3968 (87.0%) biopsied embryos. The proportions of normal/balanced embryos, unbalanced embryos, the median number of embryos per patient, the ongoing pregnancy rate per transfer and the miscarriage were 36, 64, 3, 38 and 17%, respectively, for Robertsonian translocation carriers and 20, 80, 1, 39 and 16%, respectively, for reciprocal translocation carriers. Thus, SNP-PGD achieved a higher pregnancy rate but a lower miscarriage rate than FISH-PGD. There were no significant differences in maternal age, basal endocrine level and the average number of retrieved oocytes and good-quality D3 embryos in the SNP-PGD group compared with the FISH-PGD group.
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
This was a retrospective study with the two groups treated in different periods; therefore, there is a chance of sample bias and a possibility that the results were influenced by other factors that changed over time. Furthermore, the two treatment protocols differ in several respects and we cannot say which makes the greatest contribution to the difference in success. Complete pregnancy outcomes of SNP-PGD have not been obtained as some embryos have not been transferred yet. We cannot exclude differences between the final data and the data in the present manuscript.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
The adoption of SNP-PGD combined with TE biopsy and FET may significantly improve the clinical pregnancy rate, and decrease the miscarriage rate after PGD for translocation carriers.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
This work was supported by a grant from the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (No. 2012CB944901) and National Science Foundation of China (No. 81222007). The authors have no competing interests to declare.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
Not applicable.
Aims. The process of gravitational fragmentation in the L1482 molecular filament of the California molecular cloud is studied by combining several complementary observations and physical estimates. ...We investigate the kinematic and dynamical states of this molecular filament and physical properties of several dozens of dense molecular clumps embedded therein. Methods. We present and compare molecular line emission observations of the J = 2−1 and J = 3−2 transitions of 12CO in this molecular complex, using the Kölner Observatorium für Sub-Millimeter Astronomie (KOSMA) 3-m telescope. These observations are complemented with archival data observations and analyses of the 13CO J = 1−0 emission obtained at the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) 13.7-m radio telescope at Delingha Station in QingHai Province of west China, as well as infrared emission maps from the Herschel Space Telescope online archive, obtained with the SPIRE and PACS cameras. Comparison of these complementary datasets allows for a comprehensive multiwavelength analysis of the L1482 molecular filament. Results. We have identified 23 clumps along the molecular filament L1482 in the California molecular cloud. For these molecular clumps, we were able to estimate column and number densities, masses, and radii. The masses of these clumps range from ~6.8 to 62.8 M⊙ with an average value of 24.7-16.2+31.1 M⊙. Eleven of the identified molecular clumps appear to be associated with protostars and are thus referred to as protostellar clumps. Protostellar clumps and the remaining starless clumps of our sample appear to have similar temperatures and linewidths, yet on average, the protostellar clumps appear to be slightly more massive than the latter. All these molecular clumps show supersonic nonthermal gas motions. While surprisingly similar in mass and size to the much better known Orion molecular cloud, the formation rate of high-mass stars appears to be suppressed in the California molecular cloud compared with that in the Orion molecular cloud based on the mass–radius threshold derived from the static Bonnor-Ebert sphere. The largely uniform 12CO J = 2 − 1 line-of-sight velocities along the L1482 molecular cloud shows that it is a generally coherent filamentary structure. Since the NGC 1579 stellar cluster is at the junction of two molecular filaments, the origin of the NGC 1579 stellar cluster might be merging molecular filaments fed by converging inflows. Our analysis suggests that these molecular filaments are thermally supercritical and molecular clumps may form by gravitational fragmentation along the filament. Instead of being static, these molecular clumps are most likely in processes of dynamic evolution.
DNA vaccination is an attractive approach for eliciting antigen-specific immunity. In this study, we used magnetosomes (bacterial magnetic particles, BMPs) as carriers of a recombinant DNA composed ...of a secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine, human papillomavirus type E7 (HPV-E7) and Ig-Fc fragment (pSLC-E7-Fc) to generate a gene vaccine (BMP-V) for tumour immunotherapy. The results indicate that BMPs linked to DNA more efficiently in phosphate-buffered saline (pH=4-5) than in physiological saline. Efficient transfection of BMP-V in vitro and in vivo was achieved when a 600-mT static magnetic field was applied for 10 min. In a mouse tumour model, subcutaneous injection of BMP-V (5 μg, × 3 at 4-day intervals) plus magnetic exposure elicited systemic HPV-E7-specific immunity leading to significant tumour inhibition. The treated mice tolerated BMP-V immunisation well with no toxic side effects, as shown by histopathological examinations of major internal organs. Taken together, these results suggest that BMP can be used as a gene carrier to elicit a systemic immune response.
This study aimed to determine the relative risks of addiction to the Internet, online gaming and online social networking of college students in six Asian countries/regions (Singapore, Hong Kong ...HK/Macau, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan) compared with students in the United States (US). It also explored the relative risks of depression and anxiety symptoms among students with Internet-related addictions from these countries/regions.
This is a cross-sectional survey.
A convenience sample of 8067 college students aged between 18 and 30 years was recruited from seven countries/regions. Students completed a survey about their use of the Internet, online gaming and online social networking as well as the presence of depression and anxiety symptoms.
For all students, the overall prevalence rates were 8.9% for Internet use addiction, 19.0% for online gaming addiction and 33.1% for online social networking addiction. Compared with the US students, Asian students showed higher risks of online social networking addiction but displayed lower risks of online gaming addiction (with the exception of students from HK/Macau). Chinese and Japanese students also showed higher risks of Internet addiction compared with the US students. In general, addicted Asian students were at higher risks of depression than the addicted US students, especially among Asian students who were addicted to online gaming. Addicted Asian students were at lower risks of anxiety than the addicted US students, especially among Asian students who were addicted to online social networking, and addicted students from HK/Macau and Japan were more likely to have higher relative risks of depression.
There are country/regional differences in the risks of Internet-related addictions and psychiatric symptoms. It is suggested that country/region-specific health education programmes regarding Internet-related addictions are warranted to maximise the efficiency of prevention and intervention. These programmes should attempt to tackle not only problematic Internet-related behaviours but also mood disturbances among college students.
•Asian students showed higher risks of online social networking addiction than the US students.•Asian students showed lower risks of online gaming addiction than the US students.•HK/Macau and Japanese students with social networking addiction had higher risks of depression than their US counterparts.•Asian students (Except Singapore and Taiwan) with gaming addiction had higher risks of depression than their US counterparts.•HK/Macau students with Internet addiction had higher risks of depression and anxiety than their US counterparts.
COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented increased usage of Personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare-workers. PPE usage causes headache in majority of users. We evaluated changes ...in cerebral hemodynamics among healthcare-workers using PPE.
Frontline healthcare-workers donning PPE at our tertiary center were included. Demographics, co-morbidities and blood-pressure were recorded. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring of middle cerebral artery was performed with 2-MHz probe. Mean flow velocity (MFV) and pulsatility index (PI) were recorded at baseline, after donning N95 respirator-mask, and after donning powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), when indicated. End-tidal carbon-dioxide (ET-CO2) pressure was recorded for participants donning PAPR in addition to the N95 respirator-mask.
A total of 154 healthcare-workers (mean age 29 ± 12 years, 67% women) were included. Migraine was the commonest co-morbidity in 38 (25%) individuals while 123 (80%) developed de-novo headache due to N95 mask. Donning of N95 respirator-mask resulted in significant increase in MFV (4.4 ± 10.4 cm/s, p < 0.001) and decrease in PI (0.13 ± 0.12; p < 0.001) while ET-CO2 increased by 3.1 ± 1.2 mmHg (p < 0.001). TCD monitoring in 24 (16%) participants donning PAPR and N95 respirator mask together showed normalization of PI, accompanied by normalization of ET-CO2 values within 5-min. Combined use of N95 respirator-mask and PAPR was more comfortable as compared to N95 respirator-mask alone.
Use of N95 respirator-mask results in significant alterations in cerebral hemodynamics. However, these effects are mitigated by the use of additional PAPR. We recommend the use of PAPR together with the N95 mask for healthcare-workers doing longer duties in the hospital wards.
•Most N95 mask users develop de novo headache or worsening of pre-existing headache.•End-tidal carbon dioxide levels increase while donning N95 respirator mask.•Significant cerebral hemodynamic changes occur during donning of N95 mask.•Powered air-purifying respirator restores N95 mask induced cerebral hemodynamic changes.
Lushan Yunwu tea quality is limited by soil acidity and sterility. This article examined a 3-year localization experiment at 1100 m altitude to demonstrate the sustainable management of conditioners, ...calcium magnesium phosphate (P), rapeseed cake (C), and combination application (P + C) by one-time application on the soil-tea system in Mount Lushan. The study found that conditioners (P, C, P + C) reduced soil acidification and maintained a pH of 4.75–5.34, ideal for tea tree development for 3 years. Phosphorus activation coefficient (PAC), nitrogen activation coefficient (NAC), and organic matter (OM) content were significantly higher (
P
< 0.05) in the first year after conditioner treatment, with P + C being the best. After P + C, PAC, NAC, and OM rose by 31.25%, 47.70%, and 10.06 g kg
−1
compared to CK. In comparison to the CK, tea's hundred-bud weight (BW), free amino acids (AA), tea polyphenols (TPC), and chlorophyll (Chl) content of P + C treatment got 29.98%, 14.41%, 22.49%, and 28.85% increase compared to that of the CK, respectively. In the second year, the three treatments of P, C and P + C still had significant moderating effects on the physicochemical properties of the soil and the quality indexes of the tea leaves. The PAC of the soil under the three treatments increased by 0.06%, 0.07% and 0.18%, respectively, as compared to the control.P + C increased BW, AA, TPC and Chl of tea for 2 years. Three conditioners had 2-year regulatory impacts on soil fertility indicators, tea output, and quality. C and P + C both increased soil OM by 18.59% and 21.78% compared to CK in the third year, outperforming P treatment. Redundancy analysis revealed that the primary physicochemical factors influencing tea output and quality were soil OM and pH, with available phosphorus, urease, acid phosphatase, and available nitrogen following closely afterwards.
PDF
