I am writing this letter to present a case of uveal effusion syndrome(UES)caused by pulmonary hypertension found due to intermittent high intraocular pressure(IOP).Pulmonary hypertension increases cardiac afterload du...I am writing this letter to present a case of uveal effusion syndrome(UES)caused by pulmonary hypertension found due to intermittent high intraocular pressure(IOP).Pulmonary hypertension increases cardiac afterload due to elevated pulmonary vascular resistance,leading to right heart failure and death[1].Notably,ocular complications of pulmonary hypertension have been reported less frequently[2-5].Ophthalmologists need to increase the understanding of the disease so as to perform the proper treatment for these patients.Ethical Approval The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of the images and data included in this article.展开更多
This study established a loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP)system for specially detecting the pathogen causing tobacco target spot in a rapid manner.With genes encoding the Internal Transcribed Spacer(ITS)as...This study established a loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP)system for specially detecting the pathogen causing tobacco target spot in a rapid manner.With genes encoding the Internal Transcribed Spacer(ITS)as targets,four LAMP primers with high specificity and sensitivity were designed and screened.The specificity and sensitivity of the established method were evaluated,and then the method was used to detect the samples of tobacco plants artificially inoculated with pathogens.The established method enabled the observation of detection results by the color change of dye after 60 min of isothermal amplification at 65°C.In the specificity test,only the reaction tubes of the pathogen causing tobacco target spot appeared green,and the electrophoresis lanes were dispersive,indicating positive results,while all other fungal strains showed negative results.The method had a minimum limit of detection being 0.1 ng/μL for the genomic DNA of the pathogen causing tobacco target spot,allowing direct detection of the pathogen from lesions.The established LAMP method can be directly used for the diagnosis of tobacco plants infected with target spot in the field.展开更多
Glia-derived axonal growth inhibitory proteins limit functional repair following damage to the adult cen- tral nervous system （CNS）. Nogo proteins, myelin-as- sociated glycoprotein （MAG）, oligodendrocyte myelin gl...Glia-derived axonal growth inhibitory proteins limit functional repair following damage to the adult cen- tral nervous system （CNS）. Nogo proteins, myelin-as- sociated glycoprotein （MAG）, oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein （OMgp） and B lymphocyte stimulator （BLyS）, are 4 inhibitors that commonly interact with the neuronal receptor, Nogo receptor-1 （NgR1）, lead- ing to inhibition of axonal growth. Here, we demon- strate that lateral olfactory tract usher substance （LOTUS） binds to NgR1 and blocks the binding of all four ligands to NgR1, resulting in the suppression of axonal growth inhibition induced by these NgR1 li- gands. LOTUS allows neurons to overcome NgRl-me- diated axonal growth inhibition, raising the possibility that LOTUS may be useful in future therapeutic ap- proaches as an endogenous potent inhibitor of NgR1 for promoting neuronal regeneration.展开更多
Tooth development is a complex process that involves precise and time-dependent orchestration of multiple genetic, molecular,and cellular interactions. Ameloblastin(AMBN, also named "amelin" or "sheathl...Tooth development is a complex process that involves precise and time-dependent orchestration of multiple genetic, molecular,and cellular interactions. Ameloblastin(AMBN, also named "amelin" or "sheathlin") is the second most abundant enamel matrix protein known to have a key role in amelogenesis. Amelogenesis imperfecta(AI [MIM: 104500]) refers to a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by inherited developmental enamel defects. The hereditary dentin disorders comprise a variety of autosomal-dominant genetic symptoms characterized by abnormal dentin structure affecting either the primary or both the primary and secondary teeth. The vital role of Ambn in amelogenesis has been confirmed experimentally using mouse models. Only two cases have been reported of mutations of AMBN associated with non-syndromic human AI. However, no AMBN missense mutations have been reported to be associated with both human AI and dentin disorders.We recruited one kindred with autosomal-dominant amelogenesis imperfecta(ADAI) and dentinogenesis imperfecta/dysplasia characterized by generalized severe enamel and dentin defects. Whole exome sequencing of the proband identified a novel heterozygous C-T point mutation at nucleotide position 1069 of the AMBN gene, causing a Pro to Ser mutation at the conserved amino acid position 357 of the protein. Exfoliated third molar teeth from the affected family members were found to have enamel and dentin of lower mineral density than control teeth, with thinner and easily fractured enamel, short and thick roots, and pulp obliteration. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that an AMBN missense mutation causes non-syndromic human AI and dentin disorders.展开更多
Henan Province is not only one of the provinces with the most POpulation, but also one of the provinces with the most disabled people in China. The characteristics of the disabled People, the distribution law of six t...Henan Province is not only one of the provinces with the most POpulation, but also one of the provinces with the most disabled people in China. The characteristics of the disabled People, the distribution law of six typeS of the disabled, and the reason c展开更多
AIM： To determine the causative agents of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis （SBP） in children with liver disease and ascites in our center. METHODS： During a 2.5 year period, from September 2003 to March 2006, 12 ...AIM： To determine the causative agents of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis （SBP） in children with liver disease and ascites in our center. METHODS： During a 2.5 year period, from September 2003 to March 2006, 12 patients with 13 episodes of SBP were studied. In all cases at the time of admission serum albumin and glucose, urinalysis and urine culture was performed. Analysis [white blood cell （WBC） count with differential, albumin, glucose], gram stain, culture by BACTEC method and antibiogram was done on ascitic fluids. Abdominal paracentesis was repeated after 48 h of antibiotic therapy for bacteriologic assay. The patients were followed for at least three months in a gastroenterology clinic. RESULTS： There were 7 girls （58%） and 5 boys （42%） with a median age of 5.2 years （range, 6 mo to 16 years）. All cases had positive ascitic fluid culture. Gram stain was positive in 5 （38.5%） of them. The isolated organisms were S. pneumoniae in 5 （38.5%）, E. coli in 2 （15.3%）, S. viridans in 2 （15.3%）, and K. pneumoniae, H. influenza, Enterococci, and nontypable Streptococcus each in one （7.7%）. All of them except Enterococci were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. All ascitic fluid cultures were negative after 48 h of antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSION： S. pneumoniae is the most common cause of SBP in the pediatric age group and we recommend a third generation cephalosporine （e.g., Ceftriaxlone or Cefotaxime） for empirical therapy in children with SBP.展开更多
Policymakers and international organizations are making the conscious effort to address climate change through afforestation and sustainable ecosystem management. Economic activities including agriculture, mining, and...Policymakers and international organizations are making the conscious effort to address climate change through afforestation and sustainable ecosystem management. Economic activities including agriculture, mining, and infra-structure improvement to meet basic human needs continuously degrade the natural and forest resources. The rate of deforestation in Ghana is alarming due to over-reliance on forest resources by forest-dependent communities. Perceived causes of deforestation differ from individuals and groups perspec-tive. This depends on factors including environmental knowledge, education level, market demand and socio-economic activities. Simple random sampling and key informant interview with the aid of semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the indigenes of Sissala West District to determine their perceptions of causes of deforestation. The study indicated that poverty, high illiteracy, population growth and lack of alternative source of livelihood were the indirect causes which trigger livelihood economic activities such as farming, charcoal burning, wood logging and hunting leading to degradation of the ecosystem. It was also realized that majority of the indigenes are uneducated and this contributes to their unawareness of rate of de-forestation. Recommendations suggested to address challenges were enforce-ment of bye-laws and stringent government environmental policies to deter people from degrading the forest. Education, agroforestry, afforestation, and provision of alternative livelihood were also good interventions suggested.展开更多
AIM： To map Usher phenotype in a consanguineous Pakistani family and identify disease-associated mutation in a causative gene to establish phenotype-genotype correlation.· METHODS： A consanguineous Pakistani fa...AIM： To map Usher phenotype in a consanguineous Pakistani family and identify disease-associated mutation in a causative gene to establish phenotype-genotype correlation.· METHODS： A consanguineous Pakistani family in which Usher phenotype was segregating as an autosomal recessive trait was ascertained. On the basis of results of clinical investigations of affected members of this family disease was diagnosed as Usher syndrome（USH）. To identify the locus responsible for the Usher phenotype in this family, genomic DNA from blood sample of each individual was genotyped using microsatellite Short Tandem Repeat（STR） markers for the known Usher syndrome loci. Then direct sequencing was performed to find out disease associated mutations in the candidate gene.· RESULTS： By genetic linkage analysis, the USH phenotype of this family was mapped to PCDH15 locus on chromosome 10q21.1. Three different point mutations in exon 11 of PCDH15 were identified and one of them,c.1304AC was found to be segregating with the disease phenotype in Pakistani family with Usher phenotype.This, c.1304 A C transversion mutation predicts an amino-acid substitution of aspartic acid with an alanine at residue number 435（p.D435A） of its protein product.Moreover, in silico analysis revealed conservation of aspartic acid at position 435 and predicated this change as pathogenic.·CONCLUSION：Theidentificationofc.1304ACpathogenic mutation in PCDH15 gene and its association with Usher syndrome in a consanguineous Pakistani family is thefirst example of a missense mutation of PCDH15 causing USH1 phenotype. In previous reports, it was hypothesized that severe mutations such as truncated protein of PCDH15 led to the Usher I phenotype and that missense variants are mainly responsible for non-syndromic hearing impairment.展开更多
Novel coronavirus infection not only damages lung function,but also causes myocardial injury,elevated myocardial enzymes and heart failure,especially for patients with basic heart diseases who develop COVID-19,the fir...Novel coronavirus infection not only damages lung function,but also causes myocardial injury,elevated myocardial enzymes and heart failure,especially for patients with basic heart diseases who develop COVID-19,the first consideration should be the protection of cardiac function.Based on the theory of intermingled phlegm,blood stasis and toxin of heart disease put forward by Master Lei Zhongyi,the dialectical treatment thinking of COVID-19 patients from the concept of damage of phlegm,blood stasis and toxin to the heart were discussed.During the diagnosis,critical stage and recovery period of COVID-19,expectorant and blood-activating agents,heat and detoxification agents can be added to promote lung and asthma,free Bizheng and remove blood stasis,calm the heart and calm the mind,and promote the recovery of cardiopulmonary functions.展开更多
Construction delay is a widespread issue in the construction industry of developing countries, and Nepal is no exception. These delays extend project durations and lead to cost overruns and disputes among stakeholders...Construction delay is a widespread issue in the construction industry of developing countries, and Nepal is no exception. These delays extend project durations and lead to cost overruns and disputes among stakeholders. To address this problem, this study aimed to identify and analyze the significant factors that contribute to construction project delays in Nepal. To gather data, a well-structured questionnaire was developed and administered to a sample of 100 participants, including contractors, consultants, and civil engineers. Various statistical tests were conducted to ensure the data’s integrity and consistency, such as reliability assessments and factor analyses. The findings of the study highlighted multiple factors contributing to delays in construction projects such as inadequate design, poor communication, and coordination among stakeholders, insufficient experience and planning by contractors, delays in material delivery and testing, labor-related problems including shortages and low qualifications, and external factors like regulatory changes and unforeseen circumstances. By identifying these major causes of construction project delays, this study presented insightful information that can contribute to the analysis and evaluation of project performance.展开更多
Alpine plants possess unique traits to adapt alpine environments.Whether leaf trait relationships of alpine plants can be captured by the two trait dimensions of organ size and resource economics is unknown.We hypothe...Alpine plants possess unique traits to adapt alpine environments.Whether leaf trait relationships of alpine plants can be captured by the two trait dimensions of organ size and resource economics is unknown.We hypothesized that,beyond the trait dimensions of leaf size and resource economics,nonstructured carbohydrates(NSC)would reflect a dimension of cold-tolerance in alpine plants.To test this hypothesis,we measured 12 leaf traits critical to leaf construction and growth in 143 species across 7 sites ranging from alpine steppes to alpine meadows along an environmental gradient on the Tibetan Plateau.Furthermore,a cold resistance experiment was conducted at one of these sites to estimate the lethal temperature causing 50%frost damage(LT_(50))of 11 alpine species.The majority of variations in 12 leaf traits of alpine plants were captured by three trait axes,in which leaf carbon(LCC)and NSC(including leaf starch;LSC and leaf soluble sugars;LSS)were clustered in a new dimension(PC3)beyond leaf size and structure,and resource economics.Although LCC,LSC and LSS all showed negative correlations with mean annual temperature,a significant negative correlation was only found between LSS and LT_(50).It indicated that PC3 was able to reflect the cold-tolerance of alpine plants to some extent,in which LSS was the most critical trait.The storage and transformation of NSC under stressful conditions could reflect a dimension of long-term metabolic adaptation and cold-tolerance,which is an extension of the resource-utilization strategy beyond construction cost and growth.展开更多
The clinical picture of actinomycosis was first described in 1878.Actinomycosis agents are found in the natural flora of the oral cavity, upper gastrointestinal system and female genital systems. Actinomyces israelii ...The clinical picture of actinomycosis was first described in 1878.Actinomycosis agents are found in the natural flora of the oral cavity, upper gastrointestinal system and female genital systems. Actinomyces israelii is usually responsible for the infections and causes chronic suppurative and granulomatous infections. The most common disease form is cervicofascial infection. Liver is involved in 5% of all actinomycosis infections. Liver involvement secondary to any primary infection site in the abdomen frequently occurs. In 15% of abdominal infections the liver is also involved. However, in very rare cases, a primary focus cannot be found, and these cases are called primary or isolated hepatic actinomycosis （IHA）. IHA which is frequently seen as a solitary abscess can be confused with a malignancy both clinically and radiologically.展开更多
Background: Maternal mortality remains a major public health problem worldwide. Objectives: Our study aims to present the results of an analysis of reviews of maternal deaths at HGOPY. Methodology: This was a descript...Background: Maternal mortality remains a major public health problem worldwide. Objectives: Our study aims to present the results of an analysis of reviews of maternal deaths at HGOPY. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection from archived records and reviewed maternal death reports. Our study lasted 8 months, from October 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. The study covered maternal death files at the HGOPY over an 8-year period, from 1st of January 2016 to the 31st of December 2023. Data were processed and analyzed using Statitical Paquage for Social Science (SPSS) version 26.0. Results: We counted a total of 160 maternal deaths, of which 97 had been reviewed. We excluded 61 deceased women reviewed and retained 33. We recorded a cumulative total of 160 maternal deaths and 19,651 live births. The peak in the proportion of maternal deaths at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital was in 2021, with a proportion of 0.013. No maternal deaths had been reviewed between 2016 to 2017. Most deaths (64%) occurred between 37 and 40 weeks. The majority (30.5%) were aged between 30 and 35. The data show that 80.6% of maternal deaths were due to direct obstetric causes, while 19.4% were due to indirect causes. Most deaths (69.4%) were preventable. Only 8.3% were not preventable. Conclusion: Concerted efforts must be made to adapt maternal death prevention and management strategies to local contexts in order to significantly reduce these alarming figures.展开更多
The increasing cost of infrastructure development risks stifling national investment plans.Many projects in Uganda have suffered because of the frequency and magnitude of claims made by parties involved especially the...The increasing cost of infrastructure development risks stifling national investment plans.Many projects in Uganda have suffered because of the frequency and magnitude of claims made by parties involved especially the contractors.As a result,the construction industry is plagued with claims which quite often lead to adversarial relationships.The major grounds for claims were identified through studying the contract documents where claims had been made.Increase in scope;change orders;errors in contract documents;inclement weather;inflation;delay in possessing the site;and change in the tax policy were the most prevalent grounds for making claims.Problems identified in claiming process include delays in getting approval;information on claims not reliable;hostility from the parties involved;pricing of claims;delays in effecting payment when approved;and overzealous contract interpretation leading to misunderstanding and delays Using a survey on project managers for 64 contractors and their corresponding clients or their representatives,the major ways in which it can be reduced were identified as being thoroughness during the design phase;providing for inflation;proper planning of works;using prequalified contractors;and proper documentation of records.Clients have a big role to play in reducing claims.展开更多
Author:Hu Yan.This book provides a comprehensive overview of the background,causes,process,and impact of the British invasion of Xizang from 1903 to 1904,offering an in-depth analysis of the nature and detrimental act...Author:Hu Yan.This book provides a comprehensive overview of the background,causes,process,and impact of the British invasion of Xizang from 1903 to 1904,offering an in-depth analysis of the nature and detrimental actions of imperialist aggression.展开更多
BACKGROUND Mediastinal lymph nodes(MLNs)can be enlarged due to various benign or malignant causes.Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)is often employed for the acquisition of tissue specimens of the enlarged MLN(EMLN).AIM To de...BACKGROUND Mediastinal lymph nodes(MLNs)can be enlarged due to various benign or malignant causes.Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)is often employed for the acquisition of tissue specimens of the enlarged MLN(EMLN).AIM To determine the causes,document the symptoms,and determine factors predicting good yield of EUS-guided EMLN biopsy.METHODS All patients having EMLN(>10 mm)on thoracic imaging and referred for EUSguided biopsy were included in this retrospective observational study.Adequacy of the tissue specimen was assessed by the endoscopist with macroscopic on-site evaluation(MOSE)and then sent to a histopathologist for final diagnosis.Analysis for factors predicting good biopsy yield was then performed.RESULTS Of the total 243 patients with EMLN,131(53.9%)were males.The mean age was 47.6(±14.7)and range 14-86 years.Commonest causes of EMLN were tuberculosis 82(33.7%),anthracosis 53(21.8%),neoplastic disease 43(17.7%)and sarcoidosis 14(5.8%).Among the 43 patients with neoplastic diseases:40 had metastatic disease(breast 9,lung 7,pancreatobiliary 6,esophagus 5,kidney 5,hepatocellular 2,neuroendocrine 2,gastrointestinal stromal 1,undetermined 3)and 3 had primary malignancies(lymphoproliferative disorder 2,Kaposi sarcoma 1).Chest related clinical symptoms were absent in more than half the patients with tuberculosis 51/82(62.2%),anthracosis 31/53(58.5%)and neoplastic disease 28/43(65.1%).Factors associated with good biopsy yield were:Subcarinal location of MLN(P=0.026),MLN size>12 mm(P<0.0001),use of fine-needle biopsy(vs fine-needle aspiration)(P=0.049)and satisfactory MOSE(P<0.0001)on univariate analysis;while MLN size>12 mm(P=0.005)and satisfactory MOSE(P<0.0001)on multivariate analysis.CONCLUSION Tuberculosis,anthracosis and metastatic disease were the commonest causes of EMLN.More than half the cases with EMLN had no chest-related symptoms.Large MLN size and satisfactory MOSE observation predicted a good biopsy yield.展开更多
Accurate fault root cause diagnosis is essential for ensuring stable industrial production. Traditional methods, which typically rely on the entire time series and overlook critical local features, can lead to biased ...Accurate fault root cause diagnosis is essential for ensuring stable industrial production. Traditional methods, which typically rely on the entire time series and overlook critical local features, can lead to biased inferences about causal relationships, thus hindering the accurate identification of root cause variables. This study proposed a shapelet-based state evolution graph for fault root cause diagnosis (SEG-RCD), which enables causal inference through the analysis of the important local features. First, the regularized autoencoder and fault contribution plot are used to identify the fault onset time and candidate root cause variables, respectively. Then, the most representative shapelets were extracted to construct a state evolution graph. Finally, the propagation path was extracted based on fault unit shapelets to pinpoint the fault root cause variable. The SEG-RCD can reduce the interference of noncausal information, enhancing the accuracy and interpretability of fault root cause diagnosis. The superiority of the proposed SEG-RCD was verified through experiments on a simulated penicillin fermentation process and an actual one.展开更多
With the rapid development of web technology,Social Networks(SNs)have become one of the most popular platforms for users to exchange views and to express their emotions.More and more people are used to commenting on a...With the rapid development of web technology,Social Networks(SNs)have become one of the most popular platforms for users to exchange views and to express their emotions.More and more people are used to commenting on a certain hot spot in SNs,resulting in a large amount of texts containing emotions.Textual Emotion Cause Extraction(TECE)aims to automatically extract causes for a certain emotion in texts,which is an important research issue in natural language processing.It is different from the previous tasks of emotion recognition and emotion classification.In addition,it is not limited to the shallow-level emotion classification of text,but to trace the emotion source.In this paper,we provide a survey for TECE.First,we introduce the development process and classification of TECE.Then,we discuss the existing methods and key factors for TECE.Finally,we enumerate the challenges and developing trend for TECE.展开更多
基金Supported by Shaanxi Science and Technology Project(No.2022SF-434)Xi’an Science and Technology Project(No.21YXYJ0044).
文摘I am writing this letter to present a case of uveal effusion syndrome(UES)caused by pulmonary hypertension found due to intermittent high intraocular pressure(IOP).Pulmonary hypertension increases cardiac afterload due to elevated pulmonary vascular resistance,leading to right heart failure and death[1].Notably,ocular complications of pulmonary hypertension have been reported less frequently[2-5].Ophthalmologists need to increase the understanding of the disease so as to perform the proper treatment for these patients.Ethical Approval The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of the images and data included in this article.
文摘This study established a loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP)system for specially detecting the pathogen causing tobacco target spot in a rapid manner.With genes encoding the Internal Transcribed Spacer(ITS)as targets,four LAMP primers with high specificity and sensitivity were designed and screened.The specificity and sensitivity of the established method were evaluated,and then the method was used to detect the samples of tobacco plants artificially inoculated with pathogens.The established method enabled the observation of detection results by the color change of dye after 60 min of isothermal amplification at 65°C.In the specificity test,only the reaction tubes of the pathogen causing tobacco target spot appeared green,and the electrophoresis lanes were dispersive,indicating positive results,while all other fungal strains showed negative results.The method had a minimum limit of detection being 0.1 ng/μL for the genomic DNA of the pathogen causing tobacco target spot,allowing direct detection of the pathogen from lesions.The established LAMP method can be directly used for the diagnosis of tobacco plants infected with target spot in the field.
基金supported by a grant-in-aid from the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology of Japangrants for Research and Development project of Yokohama City University
文摘Glia-derived axonal growth inhibitory proteins limit functional repair following damage to the adult cen- tral nervous system （CNS）. Nogo proteins, myelin-as- sociated glycoprotein （MAG）, oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein （OMgp） and B lymphocyte stimulator （BLyS）, are 4 inhibitors that commonly interact with the neuronal receptor, Nogo receptor-1 （NgR1）, lead- ing to inhibition of axonal growth. Here, we demon- strate that lateral olfactory tract usher substance （LOTUS） binds to NgR1 and blocks the binding of all four ligands to NgR1, resulting in the suppression of axonal growth inhibition induced by these NgR1 li- gands. LOTUS allows neurons to overcome NgRl-me- diated axonal growth inhibition, raising the possibility that LOTUS may be useful in future therapeutic ap- proaches as an endogenous potent inhibitor of NgR1 for promoting neuronal regeneration.
基金partially supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China 31371279 (to Fu Xiong)the National Natural Science Foundation of China 81371137 (to Bu-Ling Wu)the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou 201707010301 (to Fu Xiong)
文摘Tooth development is a complex process that involves precise and time-dependent orchestration of multiple genetic, molecular,and cellular interactions. Ameloblastin(AMBN, also named "amelin" or "sheathlin") is the second most abundant enamel matrix protein known to have a key role in amelogenesis. Amelogenesis imperfecta(AI [MIM: 104500]) refers to a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by inherited developmental enamel defects. The hereditary dentin disorders comprise a variety of autosomal-dominant genetic symptoms characterized by abnormal dentin structure affecting either the primary or both the primary and secondary teeth. The vital role of Ambn in amelogenesis has been confirmed experimentally using mouse models. Only two cases have been reported of mutations of AMBN associated with non-syndromic human AI. However, no AMBN missense mutations have been reported to be associated with both human AI and dentin disorders.We recruited one kindred with autosomal-dominant amelogenesis imperfecta(ADAI) and dentinogenesis imperfecta/dysplasia characterized by generalized severe enamel and dentin defects. Whole exome sequencing of the proband identified a novel heterozygous C-T point mutation at nucleotide position 1069 of the AMBN gene, causing a Pro to Ser mutation at the conserved amino acid position 357 of the protein. Exfoliated third molar teeth from the affected family members were found to have enamel and dentin of lower mineral density than control teeth, with thinner and easily fractured enamel, short and thick roots, and pulp obliteration. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that an AMBN missense mutation causes non-syndromic human AI and dentin disorders.
文摘Henan Province is not only one of the provinces with the most POpulation, but also one of the provinces with the most disabled people in China. The characteristics of the disabled People, the distribution law of six typeS of the disabled, and the reason c
文摘AIM： To determine the causative agents of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis （SBP） in children with liver disease and ascites in our center. METHODS： During a 2.5 year period, from September 2003 to March 2006, 12 patients with 13 episodes of SBP were studied. In all cases at the time of admission serum albumin and glucose, urinalysis and urine culture was performed. Analysis [white blood cell （WBC） count with differential, albumin, glucose], gram stain, culture by BACTEC method and antibiogram was done on ascitic fluids. Abdominal paracentesis was repeated after 48 h of antibiotic therapy for bacteriologic assay. The patients were followed for at least three months in a gastroenterology clinic. RESULTS： There were 7 girls （58%） and 5 boys （42%） with a median age of 5.2 years （range, 6 mo to 16 years）. All cases had positive ascitic fluid culture. Gram stain was positive in 5 （38.5%） of them. The isolated organisms were S. pneumoniae in 5 （38.5%）, E. coli in 2 （15.3%）, S. viridans in 2 （15.3%）, and K. pneumoniae, H. influenza, Enterococci, and nontypable Streptococcus each in one （7.7%）. All of them except Enterococci were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. All ascitic fluid cultures were negative after 48 h of antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSION： S. pneumoniae is the most common cause of SBP in the pediatric age group and we recommend a third generation cephalosporine （e.g., Ceftriaxlone or Cefotaxime） for empirical therapy in children with SBP.
文摘Policymakers and international organizations are making the conscious effort to address climate change through afforestation and sustainable ecosystem management. Economic activities including agriculture, mining, and infra-structure improvement to meet basic human needs continuously degrade the natural and forest resources. The rate of deforestation in Ghana is alarming due to over-reliance on forest resources by forest-dependent communities. Perceived causes of deforestation differ from individuals and groups perspec-tive. This depends on factors including environmental knowledge, education level, market demand and socio-economic activities. Simple random sampling and key informant interview with the aid of semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the indigenes of Sissala West District to determine their perceptions of causes of deforestation. The study indicated that poverty, high illiteracy, population growth and lack of alternative source of livelihood were the indirect causes which trigger livelihood economic activities such as farming, charcoal burning, wood logging and hunting leading to degradation of the ecosystem. It was also realized that majority of the indigenes are uneducated and this contributes to their unawareness of rate of de-forestation. Recommendations suggested to address challenges were enforce-ment of bye-laws and stringent government environmental policies to deter people from degrading the forest. Education, agroforestry, afforestation, and provision of alternative livelihood were also good interventions suggested.
基金Supported by the Kohat University of Science and Technology,Kohat,PakistanInstitute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering,Islamabad,Pakistan
文摘AIM： To map Usher phenotype in a consanguineous Pakistani family and identify disease-associated mutation in a causative gene to establish phenotype-genotype correlation.· METHODS： A consanguineous Pakistani family in which Usher phenotype was segregating as an autosomal recessive trait was ascertained. On the basis of results of clinical investigations of affected members of this family disease was diagnosed as Usher syndrome（USH）. To identify the locus responsible for the Usher phenotype in this family, genomic DNA from blood sample of each individual was genotyped using microsatellite Short Tandem Repeat（STR） markers for the known Usher syndrome loci. Then direct sequencing was performed to find out disease associated mutations in the candidate gene.· RESULTS： By genetic linkage analysis, the USH phenotype of this family was mapped to PCDH15 locus on chromosome 10q21.1. Three different point mutations in exon 11 of PCDH15 were identified and one of them,c.1304AC was found to be segregating with the disease phenotype in Pakistani family with Usher phenotype.This, c.1304 A C transversion mutation predicts an amino-acid substitution of aspartic acid with an alanine at residue number 435（p.D435A） of its protein product.Moreover, in silico analysis revealed conservation of aspartic acid at position 435 and predicated this change as pathogenic.·CONCLUSION：Theidentificationofc.1304ACpathogenic mutation in PCDH15 gene and its association with Usher syndrome in a consanguineous Pakistani family is thefirst example of a missense mutation of PCDH15 causing USH1 phenotype. In previous reports, it was hypothesized that severe mutations such as truncated protein of PCDH15 led to the Usher I phenotype and that missense variants are mainly responsible for non-syndromic hearing impairment.
基金the Project of the Third National Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine/National Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Studio Construction(No.119(2018)of Education Letter of the State Office of Traditional Chinese Medicine).
文摘Novel coronavirus infection not only damages lung function,but also causes myocardial injury,elevated myocardial enzymes and heart failure,especially for patients with basic heart diseases who develop COVID-19,the first consideration should be the protection of cardiac function.Based on the theory of intermingled phlegm,blood stasis and toxin of heart disease put forward by Master Lei Zhongyi,the dialectical treatment thinking of COVID-19 patients from the concept of damage of phlegm,blood stasis and toxin to the heart were discussed.During the diagnosis,critical stage and recovery period of COVID-19,expectorant and blood-activating agents,heat and detoxification agents can be added to promote lung and asthma,free Bizheng and remove blood stasis,calm the heart and calm the mind,and promote the recovery of cardiopulmonary functions.
文摘Construction delay is a widespread issue in the construction industry of developing countries, and Nepal is no exception. These delays extend project durations and lead to cost overruns and disputes among stakeholders. To address this problem, this study aimed to identify and analyze the significant factors that contribute to construction project delays in Nepal. To gather data, a well-structured questionnaire was developed and administered to a sample of 100 participants, including contractors, consultants, and civil engineers. Various statistical tests were conducted to ensure the data’s integrity and consistency, such as reliability assessments and factor analyses. The findings of the study highlighted multiple factors contributing to delays in construction projects such as inadequate design, poor communication, and coordination among stakeholders, insufficient experience and planning by contractors, delays in material delivery and testing, labor-related problems including shortages and low qualifications, and external factors like regulatory changes and unforeseen circumstances. By identifying these major causes of construction project delays, this study presented insightful information that can contribute to the analysis and evaluation of project performance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32192461,32271619 and 32160285)the Natural Science Foundation of Science&Technology Department of Qinghai(2020-ZJ-952Q).
文摘Alpine plants possess unique traits to adapt alpine environments.Whether leaf trait relationships of alpine plants can be captured by the two trait dimensions of organ size and resource economics is unknown.We hypothesized that,beyond the trait dimensions of leaf size and resource economics,nonstructured carbohydrates(NSC)would reflect a dimension of cold-tolerance in alpine plants.To test this hypothesis,we measured 12 leaf traits critical to leaf construction and growth in 143 species across 7 sites ranging from alpine steppes to alpine meadows along an environmental gradient on the Tibetan Plateau.Furthermore,a cold resistance experiment was conducted at one of these sites to estimate the lethal temperature causing 50%frost damage(LT_(50))of 11 alpine species.The majority of variations in 12 leaf traits of alpine plants were captured by three trait axes,in which leaf carbon(LCC)and NSC(including leaf starch;LSC and leaf soluble sugars;LSS)were clustered in a new dimension(PC3)beyond leaf size and structure,and resource economics.Although LCC,LSC and LSS all showed negative correlations with mean annual temperature,a significant negative correlation was only found between LSS and LT_(50).It indicated that PC3 was able to reflect the cold-tolerance of alpine plants to some extent,in which LSS was the most critical trait.The storage and transformation of NSC under stressful conditions could reflect a dimension of long-term metabolic adaptation and cold-tolerance,which is an extension of the resource-utilization strategy beyond construction cost and growth.
文摘The clinical picture of actinomycosis was first described in 1878.Actinomycosis agents are found in the natural flora of the oral cavity, upper gastrointestinal system and female genital systems. Actinomyces israelii is usually responsible for the infections and causes chronic suppurative and granulomatous infections. The most common disease form is cervicofascial infection. Liver is involved in 5% of all actinomycosis infections. Liver involvement secondary to any primary infection site in the abdomen frequently occurs. In 15% of abdominal infections the liver is also involved. However, in very rare cases, a primary focus cannot be found, and these cases are called primary or isolated hepatic actinomycosis （IHA）. IHA which is frequently seen as a solitary abscess can be confused with a malignancy both clinically and radiologically.
文摘Background: Maternal mortality remains a major public health problem worldwide. Objectives: Our study aims to present the results of an analysis of reviews of maternal deaths at HGOPY. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection from archived records and reviewed maternal death reports. Our study lasted 8 months, from October 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. The study covered maternal death files at the HGOPY over an 8-year period, from 1st of January 2016 to the 31st of December 2023. Data were processed and analyzed using Statitical Paquage for Social Science (SPSS) version 26.0. Results: We counted a total of 160 maternal deaths, of which 97 had been reviewed. We excluded 61 deceased women reviewed and retained 33. We recorded a cumulative total of 160 maternal deaths and 19,651 live births. The peak in the proportion of maternal deaths at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital was in 2021, with a proportion of 0.013. No maternal deaths had been reviewed between 2016 to 2017. Most deaths (64%) occurred between 37 and 40 weeks. The majority (30.5%) were aged between 30 and 35. The data show that 80.6% of maternal deaths were due to direct obstetric causes, while 19.4% were due to indirect causes. Most deaths (69.4%) were preventable. Only 8.3% were not preventable. Conclusion: Concerted efforts must be made to adapt maternal death prevention and management strategies to local contexts in order to significantly reduce these alarming figures.
文摘The increasing cost of infrastructure development risks stifling national investment plans.Many projects in Uganda have suffered because of the frequency and magnitude of claims made by parties involved especially the contractors.As a result,the construction industry is plagued with claims which quite often lead to adversarial relationships.The major grounds for claims were identified through studying the contract documents where claims had been made.Increase in scope;change orders;errors in contract documents;inclement weather;inflation;delay in possessing the site;and change in the tax policy were the most prevalent grounds for making claims.Problems identified in claiming process include delays in getting approval;information on claims not reliable;hostility from the parties involved;pricing of claims;delays in effecting payment when approved;and overzealous contract interpretation leading to misunderstanding and delays Using a survey on project managers for 64 contractors and their corresponding clients or their representatives,the major ways in which it can be reduced were identified as being thoroughness during the design phase;providing for inflation;proper planning of works;using prequalified contractors;and proper documentation of records.Clients have a big role to play in reducing claims.
文摘Author:Hu Yan.This book provides a comprehensive overview of the background,causes,process,and impact of the British invasion of Xizang from 1903 to 1904,offering an in-depth analysis of the nature and detrimental actions of imperialist aggression.
文摘BACKGROUND Mediastinal lymph nodes(MLNs)can be enlarged due to various benign or malignant causes.Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)is often employed for the acquisition of tissue specimens of the enlarged MLN(EMLN).AIM To determine the causes,document the symptoms,and determine factors predicting good yield of EUS-guided EMLN biopsy.METHODS All patients having EMLN(>10 mm)on thoracic imaging and referred for EUSguided biopsy were included in this retrospective observational study.Adequacy of the tissue specimen was assessed by the endoscopist with macroscopic on-site evaluation(MOSE)and then sent to a histopathologist for final diagnosis.Analysis for factors predicting good biopsy yield was then performed.RESULTS Of the total 243 patients with EMLN,131(53.9%)were males.The mean age was 47.6(±14.7)and range 14-86 years.Commonest causes of EMLN were tuberculosis 82(33.7%),anthracosis 53(21.8%),neoplastic disease 43(17.7%)and sarcoidosis 14(5.8%).Among the 43 patients with neoplastic diseases:40 had metastatic disease(breast 9,lung 7,pancreatobiliary 6,esophagus 5,kidney 5,hepatocellular 2,neuroendocrine 2,gastrointestinal stromal 1,undetermined 3)and 3 had primary malignancies(lymphoproliferative disorder 2,Kaposi sarcoma 1).Chest related clinical symptoms were absent in more than half the patients with tuberculosis 51/82(62.2%),anthracosis 31/53(58.5%)and neoplastic disease 28/43(65.1%).Factors associated with good biopsy yield were:Subcarinal location of MLN(P=0.026),MLN size>12 mm(P<0.0001),use of fine-needle biopsy(vs fine-needle aspiration)(P=0.049)and satisfactory MOSE(P<0.0001)on univariate analysis;while MLN size>12 mm(P=0.005)and satisfactory MOSE(P<0.0001)on multivariate analysis.CONCLUSION Tuberculosis,anthracosis and metastatic disease were the commonest causes of EMLN.More than half the cases with EMLN had no chest-related symptoms.Large MLN size and satisfactory MOSE observation predicted a good biopsy yield.
基金support from the following foundations:the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62322309,62433004)Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan(23S41900500)Shanghai Pilot Program for Basic Research(22TQ1400100-16).
文摘Accurate fault root cause diagnosis is essential for ensuring stable industrial production. Traditional methods, which typically rely on the entire time series and overlook critical local features, can lead to biased inferences about causal relationships, thus hindering the accurate identification of root cause variables. This study proposed a shapelet-based state evolution graph for fault root cause diagnosis (SEG-RCD), which enables causal inference through the analysis of the important local features. First, the regularized autoencoder and fault contribution plot are used to identify the fault onset time and candidate root cause variables, respectively. Then, the most representative shapelets were extracted to construct a state evolution graph. Finally, the propagation path was extracted based on fault unit shapelets to pinpoint the fault root cause variable. The SEG-RCD can reduce the interference of noncausal information, enhancing the accuracy and interpretability of fault root cause diagnosis. The superiority of the proposed SEG-RCD was verified through experiments on a simulated penicillin fermentation process and an actual one.
基金partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.62372121the Ministry of education of Humanities and Social Science project under Grant No.20YJAZH118+1 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant No.2020YFB1005804the MOE Project at Center for Linguistics and Applied Linguistics,Guangdong University of Foreign Studies。
文摘With the rapid development of web technology,Social Networks(SNs)have become one of the most popular platforms for users to exchange views and to express their emotions.More and more people are used to commenting on a certain hot spot in SNs,resulting in a large amount of texts containing emotions.Textual Emotion Cause Extraction(TECE)aims to automatically extract causes for a certain emotion in texts,which is an important research issue in natural language processing.It is different from the previous tasks of emotion recognition and emotion classification.In addition,it is not limited to the shallow-level emotion classification of text,but to trace the emotion source.In this paper,we provide a survey for TECE.First,we introduce the development process and classification of TECE.Then,we discuss the existing methods and key factors for TECE.Finally,we enumerate the challenges and developing trend for TECE.
