The epidemiology of hospitalized influenza in children, a two year population-based study in the People's Republic of China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The epidemiology and disease burden of annual influenza in children in mainland People's Republic of China have not been reported in detail. To understand the incidence and epidemiology of laboratory-proven influenza hospitalization in children in China, a review of available laboratory and hospital admission data was undertaken.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a retrospective population-based study in Suzhou and the surrounding area of Jiangsu province, China for hospitalized cases of respiratory illness at Suzhou Children's Hospital. Cases of pneumonia or respiratory illness were identified from hospital computer data bases. Routine virological testing by fluorescent monoclonal antibody assay of all hospitalized children identified influenza and other viruses. We calculated incidence rates using census population denominators.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 7,789 specimens obtained during 2007 and 2008, 85 were positive for influenza A and 25 for influenza B. There were 282 specimens with parainfluenza virus and 1392 with RSV. Influenza occurred throughout the year, with peaks in the winter, and in August/September. Overall estimated annual incidence of laboratory-proven influenza hospitalization was 23-27/100,000 children 0-4 years old, and 60/100,000 in infants 0-6 months, with an average hospitalization of 9 days.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Influenza disease in young children in this part of China is a relatively common cause of hospitalization, and occurs throughout the year. The use of influenza vaccine in Chinese children has the potential to reduce the effect of influenza in the children, as well as in their communities. Studies are needed to further assess the burden of influenza, and to develop and refine effective strategies of immunization of young children in China.</p

Preschool Teachers’ Perception of the Application of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Taiwan

The aim of this study is to explore preschool teachers&rsquo; perception of the application of information communication technology in Taiwan using qualitative methodology in the form of interpretive phenomenology. Snowball sampling was used to select fourteen preschool teachers from public preschools. The data was collected from fourteen preschool teachers using one-to-one, semi-structured in-depth interviews, each of which lasted for one to two hours based on the guidelines for semi-structured interviews. The interviews were taped, recorded, and transcribed for the main textual analysis, which was based on a thematic analysis. Five themes were identified: (1) a formative and explorative growth process, (2) information devices: at once plentiful and limited, (3) decisions between control and freedom, (4) parent-teacher communications, and (5) trend-driven resource integration. Suggestions and implications for the utilization of ICT in classroom practice and its implementation in the curriculum are discussed

Smart Vesicle Kit for In Situ Monitoring of Intracellular Telomerase Activity Using a Telomerase-Responsive Probe

A smart vesicle kit was designed for in situ imaging and detection of cytoplasmic telomerase activity. The vesicle kit contained a telomerase primer (TSP) and a Cy5-tagged molecular beacon (MB) functionalized gold nanoparticle probe, which were encapsulated in liposome for intracellular delivery. After the vesicle kit was transfected into cytoplasm, the released TSP could be extended in the presence of telomerase to produce a telomeric repeated sequence at the 3′ end, which was just complementary with the loop of MB assembled on probe surface. Thus, the MB was opened upon hybridization to switch the fluorescent state from “off” to “on”. The fluorescence signal depended on telomerase activity, leading to a novel strategy for in situ imaging and quantitative detection of the cytoplasmic telomerase activity. The cytoplasmic telomerase activity was estimated to be 3.2 × 10^–11, 2.4 × 10^–11, and 8.6 × 10^–13 IU in each HeLa, BEL tumor and QSG normal cell, respectively, demonstrating the capability of this approach to distinguish tumor from normal cells. The proposed method could be employed for dynamic monitoring of the cytoplasmic telomerase activity in response to a telomerase-based drug, suggesting the potential application in discovery and screening of telomerase-targeted anticancer drugs

Advances in narrow linewidth and wide tuning range external-cavity wavelength-swept lasers

An external-cavity wavelength-swept laser, characterized by its exceptional temporal coherence and extensive tuning range, serves as a crucial light source for cutting-edge fields such as fiber sensing, lidar, and spectroscopy. The burgeoning growth of optical communication technology has escalated the demand for lasers with narrow linewidth and broad tuning range, thereby catalyzing the swift advancement of external-cavity wavelength-swept diode lasers and their diverse applications. This article comprehensively presents the configurations and operating principles of these lasers, and provides an in-depth review of their development status, specifically focusing on those with narrow linewidth and wide tuning range. The aim is to offer a valuable reference for researchers involved in the development and application of wavelength-swept lasers

Rha1, an Arabidopsis Rab5 Homolog, Plays a Critical Role in the Vacuolar Trafficking of Soluble Cargo Proteins

Rab proteins are members of the Ras superfamily of small GTP binding proteins and play important roles in various intracellular trafficking steps. We investigated the role of Rha1, an Arabidopsis Rab5 homolog, in intracellular trafficking in Arabidopsis protoplasts. In the presence of a dominant-negative mutant of Rha1, soluble vacuolar cargo proteins such as sporamin:green fluorescent protein (Spo:GFP) and Arabidopsis aleurain like protein:GFP are not delivered to the central vacuole; instead, they accumulate as a diffuse or punctate staining pattern within the cell. Spo:GFP at the punctate stains observed in the presence of hemagglutinin:Rha1[S24N] is colocalized with endogenous vacuolar sorting receptor (VSR(At-1)), which is known to localize primarily to the prevacuolar compartment, whereas Spo:GFP in the diffuse pattern is associated with tonoplasts. Furthermore, expression of Rha1[S24N] causes the secretion of a portion of the vacuolar proteins into medium. However, the inhibitory effect of Rha1[S24N] on vacuolar trafficking is relieved partially by coexpressed wild-type Rha1. Based on these results, we propose that Rha1 plays a critical role in the trafficking of soluble cargoes from the prevacuolar compartment to the central vacuole