The unparalleled heterogeneity in genetic causes of hearing loss along with remarkable differences in prevalence of causative variants among ethnic groups makes single gene tests technically ...inefficient. Although hundreds of genes have been reported to be associated with nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL), GJB2, GJB6, SLC26A4, and mitochondrial (mt) MT-RNR1 and MTTS are the major contributors. In order to provide a faster, more comprehensive and cost effective assay, we constructed a DNA fluidic array, CapitalBioMiamiOtoArray, for the detection of sequence variants in five genes that are common in most populations of European descent. They consist of c.35delG, p.W44C, p.L90P, c.167delT (GJB2); 309kb deletion (GJB6); p.L236P, p.T416P (SLC26A4); and m.1555A>G, m.7444G>A (mtDNA). We have validated our hearing loss array by analyzing a total of 160 DNAs samples. Our results show 100% concordance between the fluidic array biochip-based approach and the established Sanger sequencing method, thus proving its robustness and reliability at a relatively low cost.
The type of formulated diet used in aquaculture systems affects the feed efficiency and water quality. In this study, the water quality, growth performance and immunity of the sea cucumber, ...Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka, 1867), fed diets produced using four different processing methods (extruded pellet diet, cold‐bonded pellet diet, flake diet and mash diet) were quantified for 60 days to identify the optimal feed type for culturing of this species. Sea cucumbers grew faster, the feed conversion ratio was much lower, and immunity indicators were higher when fed the extruded pellet diet compared to the other diets. Sea cucumbers fed the extruded pellet diet had the highest specific growth rate (0.96), whereas A. japonicus fed the cold‐bonded pellet diet had the lowest specific growth rate (0.51). The lysozyme activity of sea cucumbers fed the extruded pellet diet was higher (57.52) than that of A. japonicus fed the cold‐bonded pellet diet (39.22), flake diet (37.32) and mash diet (32.68). When animals were fed the mash diet, the ammonia–nitrogen, nitrite–nitrogen and phosphate productions were higher than in animals fed the other diets. These results indicate that the extruded pellet diet is the optimum feed type for use in the culture of A. japonicus.
A
bstract
Based on 4.5 fb
−
1
data taken at seven center-of-mass energies ranging from 4.600 to 4.699 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we measure the branching fractions of
Λ
c
+
...→
Σ
+
+
hadrons
relative to
Λ
c
+
→
Σ
+
π
+
π
−
. Combining with the world average branching fraction of
Λ
c
+
→
Σ
+
π
+
π
−
, their branching fractions are measured to be (0
.
377
±
0
.
042
±
0
.
020
±
0
.
021)% for
Λ
c
+
→
Σ
+
K
+
K
−
, (0
.
200
±
0
.
023
±
0
.
011
±
0
.
011)% for
Λ
c
+
→
Σ
+
K
+
π
−
, (0
.
414
±
0
.
080
±
0
.
030
±
0
.
023)% for
Λ
c
+
→
Σ
+
ϕ
and (0
.
197
±
0
.
036
±
0
.
009
±
0
.
011)% for
Λ
c
+
→ Σ
+
K
+
K
−
(non-
ϕ
). In all the above results, the first uncertainties are statistical, the second are systematic and the third are from external input of the branching fraction of
Λ
c
+
→
Σ
+
π
+
π
−
. Since no signal for
Λ
c
+
→
Σ
+
K
+
π
−
π
0
is observed, the upper limit of its branching fraction is determined to be 0.13% at the 90% confidence level.
In this article, the ability of chaff to adsorb heavy metal ions from aqueous solution was investigated in a fixed-bed column. The effect of important parameters, such as the value of pH, the flow ...rate, the influent concentration of solution and the effect of coexistence ions, was studied. Also the adsorption/desorption recycles of chaff were shown, and the results indicated that chaff could be recycled to remove heavy metal ions. The Thomas model was applied to adsorption of copper and lead at different flow rate and different influent concentration to predict the breakthrough curves and to determine the characteristic parameters of the column useful for process design. The model was found suitable for describing the biosorption process of the dynamic behavior of the chaff column. All the results suggested that chaff as adsorbent to removal heavy metal ions from solution prove efficient, and the rate of biosorption process is speedy. Furthermore, the efficiency of adsorption is high. When the flow rate was 3.6
ml
min
−1 and the influent concentration of copper and lead was 14.82
mg
l
−1 and 50.12
mg
l
−1 respectively, the equilibrium adsorption biomass reached 1.98
mg
g
−1 and 6.72
mg
g
−1, respectively. The competitive adsorption for lead and copper was studied. Moreover the total adsorbing capability of chaff did not decrease when there were both copper(II) and lead(II) in solution.
The chromium isotope system (53Cr/52Cr expressed as δ53Cr relative to NIST SRM 979) is potentially a powerful proxy for the redox state of the ocean–atmosphere system, but a lack of temporally ...continuous, well‐calibrated archives has limited its application to date. Marine carbonates could potentially serve as a common and continuous Cr isotope archive. Here, we present the first evaluation of planktonic foraminiferal calcite as an archive of seawater δ53Cr. We show that single foraminiferal species from globally distributed core tops yielded variable δ53Cr, ranging from 0.1‰ to 2.5‰. These values do not match with the existing measurements of seawater δ53Cr. Further, within a single core‐top, species with similar water column distributions (i.e., depth habitats) yielded variable δ53Cr values. In addition, mixed layer and thermocline species do not consistently exhibit decreasing trends in δ53Cr as expected based on current understanding of Cr cycling in the ocean. These observations suggest that either seawater δ53Cr is more heterogeneous than previously thought or that there is significant and species‐dependent Cr isotope fractionation during foraminiferal calcification. Given that the δ53Cr variability is comparable to that observed in geological samples throughout Earth's history, interpreting planktonic foraminiferal δ53Cr without calibrating modern foraminifera further, and without additional seawater measurements, would lead to erroneous conclusions. Our core‐top survey clearly indicates that planktonic foraminifera are not a straightforward δ53Cr archive and should not be used to study marine redox evolution without additional study. It likewise cautions against the use of δ53Cr in bulk carbonate or other biogenic archives pending further work on vital effects and the geographic heterogeneity of the Cr isotope composition of seawater.
•Mo doped diamond like carbon coatings were deposited by magnetron sputtering.•The blood compatibility of Mo-DLC coatings was observed through platelet adhesion.•The amount of thrombus on the Mo-DLC ...is much less than that of pyrolytic carbon.
Mo (molybdenum) doped diamond like carbon (Mo-DLC) coatings with improved mechanical and blood compatibility properties were deposited by closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering. The undoped and Mo-doped DLC coatings were analyzed by various characterization techniques such as Raman spectra, Atomic force microscopy, and temperature-dependent frictional wear testing. The results showed that the Mo-DLC coating with low Mo concentration was a effective protective coating with reduced residual stress and increased cohesive strength, and kept good wear resistance at the ambient temperature of 500°C. The blood compatibility of Mo-DLC coatings was investigated by platelet adhesion. The results showed that the amount of thrombus on the Mo-DLC nanocomposite coatings was much less than that of thrombus on pyrolytic carbon films. The Mo-DLC nanocomposite coatings would be a new kind of promising materials applied to artificial heart valve and endovascula stent.
Radially polarized intense terahertz (THz) radiation behind a thin foil irradiated by ultrahigh-contrast ultrashort relativistic laser pulse is recorded by a single-shot THz time-domain spectroscopy ...system. As the thickness of the target is reduced from 30 to 2 µm, the duration of the THz emission increases from 5 to over 20 ps and the radiation energy increases dramatically, reaching ∼10.5mJ per pulse, corresponding to a laser-to-THz radiation energy conversion efficiency of 1.7%. The efficient THz emission can be attributed to reflection (deceleration and acceleration) of the laser-driven hot electrons by the target-rear sheath electric field. The experimental results are consistent with that of a simple model as well as particle-in-cell simulation.
INTRODUCTION: The SARC-F scale is a newly developed tool to diagnose sarcopenia and obviate the need for measurement of muscle mass. SARC-F ≥ 4 is defined as sarcopenia. The questions of SARC-F cover ...physical functions targeting sarcopenia or initial presentation for sarcopenia. The aim of the study is to explore the application of SARC-F in the Chinese people. METHODS: Two hundred thirty Chinese people over 65 years old were assessed by the SARC-F scale, PSMS, Lawton IADL and the shortened version of the falls efficacy scale-international (the short FES-I). Hospitalization was investigated. Physical performance and strength were measured. The association of SARC-F with other scales or tests was analyzed. RESULTS: Poor physical performance and grip strength were associated with SARC-F ≥ 4 independently (P<0.005). The value for agreement of SARC-F ≥ 4 and cutoff points of tests were 0.391 to 0.635. The short FES-I were correlated to SARC-F scores (Spearman’s coefficient 0.692). Poor PSMS and Lawton IADL scores were associated with SARC-F ≥ 4(P=0.000) and SARC-F ≥ 4 was associated with hospitalization in the past 2 years (P=0.000). CONCLUSION: The SARC-F scale can identify old Chinese people with impaired physical function who may suffered from sarcopenia. SARC-F judgment reflects fear of falling, indicates the hospitalization events and is associated with ability of daily life. Thus, SARC-F may be a simple and useful tool for screening individuals with impaired physical function. Further studies on SARC-F in Chinese people would be worthy.
A
bstract
Using 24.1 fb
−
1
of
e
+
e
−
collision data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, the Born cross sections and effective form factors of the
e
+
e
−
→
Σ
+
Σ
¯
−
reaction ...are measured. The measurements are performed at center-of-mass energies ranging from 3.510 to 4.951 GeV. No significant evidence for the decay of the charmonium(-like) states,
ψ
(3770),
ψ
(4040),
ψ
(4160),
Y
(4230),
Y
(4360),
ψ
(4415), and
Y
(4660), into a
Σ
+
Σ
¯
−
final state is observed. Consequently, upper limits for the products of the branching fractions and the electronic partial widths at the 90% confidence level are reported for these decays.
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