Individuals increasingly rely on healthcare virtual support communities (HVSCs) for social support and companionship. While research provides interesting insights into the drivers of informational ...support in knowledge-sharing virtual communities, there is limited research on the antecedents of emotional support provision and companionship activities in HVSCs. The unique characteristics of HVSCs also justify the need to reexamine members' voluntary provisions of help in such communities. This paper develops a model that examines the relationships between the structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions of social capital and the provision of informational and emotional support, and engagement in companionship activities in HVSCs. The model is tested based on data generated through an automated method that classifies and analyzes user-generated text in three healthcare virtual support communities (breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer). The results show that all three dimensions of social capital impact the provision of emotional support; both structural and relational capital facilitate engagement in companionship activities; and only cognitive capital enables the provision of informational support. Research and practical implications on the need to facilitate informational and emotional support provision and companionship activities in healthcare virtual support communities are discussed.
Precipitation, which is the predominant component of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM), may have large uncertainties among reanalysis datasets. We comprehensively evaluate the performance of five ...reanalysis datasets in reproducing the EASM precipitation. These datasets are NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis 1 project (NCEP1), NCEP/US Department of Energy Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project II reanalysis (NCEP2), Japanese 25‐year Reanalysis project (JRA‐25), Interim ECMWF Reanalysis (ERA‐Interim), and Modern Era Retrospective‐analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA). Results show that the five reanalysis datasets can generally reproduce the climatology and interannual variability of EASM precipitation. Especially, MERRA and ERA‐Interim have the highest skills. Considering different‐class precipitation, large uncertainties exist in the category of non‐rainfall and heavy rainfall. The five reanalysis datasets overestimate the non‐rainfall frequency, and JRA‐25 and NCEP2 overestimate the heavy rainfall frequency. The well‐known interdecadal variation around the mid‐1990s can also be better depicted by ERA‐Interim and MERRA. For the linear trend of precipitation, only MERRA can reasonably reproduce the increasing tendency over southern China and the western Pacific and the decreasing tendency over the Indo‐China Peninsula. Based on EOF analysis, the spatial–temporal structure of EASM precipitation has been examined. MERRA, NCEP1 and ERA‐Interim can better capture both the spatial patterns and principle components of the first two EOF modes. Based on our evaluation, the preferential reanalysis datasets for investigating the EASM precipitation are ERA‐Interim and MERRA, which also permit the more precise investigation of interannual to decadal variability.
Spring persistent rainfall (SPR) over southern China has great impact on its society and economics. A remarkable feature of the SPR is high frequency. However, SPR frequency obviously decreases over ...the period of 1997–2011. In this study, the possible causes have been investigated from the perspective of the individual and concurrent effects of the East Asian subtropical jet (EASJ) and East Asian polar front jet (EAPJ). A close relationship is detected between SPR frequency and EASJ intensity (but not EAPJ intensity). Associated with strong EASJ, abundant water vapor is transported to southern China by the southwesterly flow, whichmay trigger the SPR. Additionally, frequencies of both strong EASJ andweak EAPJ events are positively correlated with SPR frequency. Further investigation of the concurrent effect indicates a significant positive correlation between the frequencies of SPR and the strong EASJ–weak EAPJ configuration. Associated with this configuration, southwesterly flow strengthens in the lower troposphere, while northerly wind weakens in the upper troposphere. This provides a dynamic and moist condition, as enhanced ascending motion and intensified convergence of abundant water vapor over southern China, which favors the SPR. All analyses suggest that the EASJ may play a dominant role in the SPR occurrence and that the EAPJ may play a modulation role. Finally, a possible mechanism maintaining the strong EASJ–weak EAPJ configuration is proposed. Significant cooling over the northeastern Tibetan Plateau may induce a cyclone anomaly in the upper troposphere, which could result in an accelerating EASJ and a decelerating EAPJ.
African swine fever (ASF) outbreak have caused tremendous economic loss to the pig industry in China since its emergence in August 2018. Previous studies revealed that many published sequences are ...not suitable for detailed analyses due to the lack of data regarding quality parameters and methodology, and outdated annotations. Thus, high-quality genomes of highly pathogenic strains that can be used as references for early Chinese ASF outbreaks are still lacking, and little is known about the features of intra-host variants of ASF virus (ASFV). In this study, a full genome sequencing of clinical samples from the first ASF outbreak in Guangdong in 2018 was performed using MGI (MGI Tech Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China) and Nanopore sequencing platforms, followed by Sanger sequencing to verify the variations. With 22 sequencing corrections, we obtained a high-quality genome of one of the earliest virulent isolates, GZ201801_2. After proofreading, we improved (add or modify) the annotations of this isolate using the whole genome alignment with Georgia 2007/1. Based on the complete genome sequence, we constructed the methylation profiles of early ASFV strains in China and predicted the potential 5mC and 6mA methylation sites, which are likely involved in metabolism, transcription, and replication. Additionally, the intra-host single nucleotide variant distribution and mutant allele frequency in the clinical samples of early strain were determined for the first time and found a strong preference for A and T substitution mutation, non-synonymous mutations, and mutations that resulted in amino acid substitutions into Lysine. In conclusion, this study provides a high-quality genome sequence, updated genome annotation, methylation profile, and mutation spectrum of early ASFV strains in China, thereby providing a reference basis for further studies on the evolution, transmission, and virulence of ASFV.
From the 1990s, there has been growth in the literature demonstrating the feasibility of minimally invasive approaches for treating variety lumbar spinal disorders. There is still much work to be ...done in overcoming the technical challenges and explicate relative advantages of endoscopic techniques in lumbar spine surgery. In this comprehensive literature review, we discuss the history, indications, contraindications, surgical techniques, learning curves, technical tips, adverse events, and examine peer-reviewed studies addressing uniportal endoscopic interlaminar decompression in lumbar spinal surgery.
This literature review was conducted with keywords "endoscopic," "minimally invasive," "uniportal endoscopic decompression," "interlaminar decompression," and "lumbar spinal surgery" using PubMed, Embase, ClinicalKey, and Google Scholar.
Review of 423 patients who underwent uniportal endoscopic interlaminar lumbar decompression showed satisfying results with 82% of patients no longer having leg pain, and 13% of patients having only occasional pain, with no significant operation-related deterioration in leg or back pain. To compare the outcomes between endoscopic and microscopic technique, a comparative review of 192 lumbar lateral recess stenosis patients demonstrated the uniportal endoscopic group had 29% shorter operation duration, 1.2% fewer perioperative complications, and significantly reduced postoperative pain (visual analog scale) over 5 days, and reduced use of pain medications. Multiple retrospective studies echoed the outcomes of endoscopic decompression surgery, showed shorter hospitalization time, lower mean dural expansion, lower increment of horizontal displacement measured, and less elevated levels of postoperative serum CPK (creatine phosphokinase) and CRP (c-reactive protein). Lastly, a systematic review and meta-analysis that enrolled 994 patients found that patients who received the full-endoscopic decompression technique showed statistically lower levels of back pain and leg pain and a 40% lower chance of having complications compared with those receiving microscopic decompression in lumbar stenosis.
Based on our literature review, there are multiple positive outcomes with endoscopic interlaminar lumbar decompression, which reduces operation duration, perioperative complications, and better postoperative outcomes. However, the technical challenge highlights the importance of further training and innovation in this rapidly evolving field.
There have been few reports regarding quetiapine-associated hematological effects other than white-blood-cell alteration. We present the first reported Han-Chinese case that developed leucopenia and ...thrombocytopenia after taking quetiapine.
We present a case of a person with a bipolar I disorder who experienced leucopenia and thrombocytopenia after taking 400 mg/day of quetiapine and 1000 mg/day of valproic acid for three and one-half months. The hematological toxicity abated upon the discontinuation of both drugs. However, due to the intolerable side effects of the replaced antipsychotic (haloperidol), and according to the patient's preference, we prescribed quetiapine and valproic acid again. There was a recurrence of leucopenia and a decreased platelet count by the sixth day. The adverse effects disappeared soon after we discontinued quetiapine, while keeping valproic acid treatment.
Quetiapine-associated leucopenia and thrombocytopenia seems reversible but possibly fatal. Therefore, clinical practitioners should be aware of this adverse reaction.
•SsC4H has 1849-bp with a 1518-bp open reading frame encoding 505-amino acid protein.•SsC4H protein have structural features of CYP450 and trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase.•Recombinant SsC4H protein ...catalyzed trans-cinnamic acid to p-coumaric acid.•NO delayed wax apple fruit softening by inhibiting SsC4H, C4H and lignin synthesis.
Cottony softening of harvested wax apple fruit is characterized by lignin accumulation, and it involves the activity of cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H) and its encoding gene. This work investigated the characteristics and function of the C4H gene of wax apple fruit and discussed its relationship with lignin biosynthesis during nitric oxide (NO)-delayed cottony softening of harvested wax apple fruit. The C4H gene cloned from wax apple fruit was named SsC4H, and it has a length of 1849 bp and a 1518 bp open reading frame encoding 505 amino acids. The sequence of SsC4H-encoded amino acids contained typical C4H domains and shared high sequence similarity and close evolutionary relationships with C4H from other plants; in vitro catalytic activity of C4H was observed in the expressed and purified recombined SsC4H protein. Moreover, the SsC4H expression and C4H activities were inhibited in NO-treated wax apple fruit compared with control fruit, with lower lignin content and cottony softening index. Therefore, SsC4H was confirmed as the C4H gene for wax apple fruit, and the NO-retarded cottony softening of harvested wax apple fruit may be attributed to inhibited expression of SsC4H and C4H activity, delaying lignin biosynthesis.
Drawing from social capital theory, this study attempts to present a model that applies the structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions of social capital to theorize the determinants of the ...provision of informational and emotional support in healthcare virtual support communities. The results show that individual provision of emotional support is determined by his/her extent of social interaction with other community members, and his/her social identification with the community. Moreover, one's contribution of informational support can be predicted by his/her level of healthcare-related expertise.
PDF
