Clustered Regularly Interspaced short palindromic repeats-Based Microfluidic System in Infectious Diseases Diagnosis: Current Status, Challenges, and Perspectives

Mitigating the spread of global infectious diseases requires rapid and accurate diagnostic tools. Conventional diagnostic techniques for infectious diseases typically require sophisticated equipment and are time consuming. Emerging clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) detection systems have shown remarkable potential as next-generation diagnostic tools to achieve rapid, sensitive, specific, and field-deployable diagnoses of infectious diseases, based on state-of-the-art microfluidic platforms. Therefore, a review of recent advances in CRISPR-based microfluidic systems for infectious diseases diagnosis is urgently required. This review highlights the mechanisms of CRISPR/Cas biosensing and cutting-edge microfluidic devices including paper, digital, and integrated wearable platforms. Strategies to simplify sample pretreatment, improve diagnostic performance, and achieve integrated detection are discussed. Current challenges and future perspectives contributing to the development of more effective CRISPR-based microfluidic diagnostic systems are also proposed

Isolation and Characterization of 15 New Microsatellite Markers in Oncomelania hupensis, the Snail Intermediate Host of Schistosoma japonicum in Mainland China

Oncomelania hupensis is the unique intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, which plays a key role during the transmission of schistosomiasis. It is mainly found in the Yangtze River valley and mountains or hills in southwest China. In this paper, we described 15 new microsatellite makers in O. hupensis. Polymorphism of each locus was assessed in 80 individuals from four wild populations (n = 20 per population). The number of alleles per locus ranged from 6 to 29, with an average of 15.8. The observed (HO) and expected (HE) heterozygosities varied from 0.397 to 0.851 and from 0.696 to 0.948, respectively. These microsatellite markers will be useful for population genetic studies and genome mapping in O. hupensis

Predicting Progression of IgA Nephropathy: New Clinical Progression Risk Score

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Asia. In this study, based on a large cohort of Chinese patients with IgAN, we aim to identify independent predictive factors associated with disease progression to ESRD. We collected retrospective clinical data and renal outcomes on 619 biopsy-diagnosed IgAN patients with a mean follow-up time of 41.3 months. In total, 67 individuals reached the study endpoint defined by occurrence of ESRD necessitating renal replacement therapy. In the fully adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, there were four baseline variables with a significant independent effect on the risk of ESRD. These included: eGFR [HR = 0.96(0.95–0.97)], serum albumin [HR = 0.47(0.32–0.68)], hemoglobin [HR = 0.79(0.72–0.88)], and SBP [HR = 1.02(1.00–1.03)]. Based on these observations, we developed a 4-variable equation of a clinical risk score for disease progression. Our risk score explained nearly 22% of the total variance in the primary outcome. Survival ROC curves revealed that the risk score provided improved prediction of ESRD at 24th, 60th and 120th month of follow-up compared to the three previously proposed risk scores. In summary, our data indicate that IgAN patients with higher systolic blood pressure, lower eGFR, hemoglobin, and albumin levels at baseline are at a greatest risk of progression to ESRD. The new progression risk score calculated based on these four baseline variables offers a simple clinical tool for risk stratification

From concept to action: a united, holistic and One Health approach to respond to the climate change crisis

It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the planet, which is seriously affecting the planetary health including human health. Adapting climate change should not only be a slogan, but requires a united, holistic action and a paradigm shift from crisis response to an ambitious and integrated approach immediately. Recognizing the urgent needs to tackle the risk connection between climate change and One Health, the four key messages and recommendations that with the intent to guide further research and to promote international cooperation to achieve a more climate-resilient world are provided

Progresses of loading behavior of bolted joints used in aluminum alloy structures

p. 2740-2750The current development of the static loading behavior and design methods of bolted joints used in aluminum alloy structures are summarized in this paper. The review includes the progresses of the experimental investigation, collapse mechanism, loading behavior, loadbearing capacity, numerical simulation and design methods of the bolted joints. The loading behavior of the bolted joints used in aluminum alloy structures has been widely investigated in many developed countries till now. Some suitable design methods and/or directions are obtained and adopted in current related specifications. Then because of almost rare application in civil engineering, the loading behavior and the design methods of bolted joints of the aluminum alloy structures are not investigated deeply and thoroughly in China. And the collapse mechanism of the joints has not been thoroughly understood yet. No applicable standards or references can be adopted for actual design now. Therefore, both numerical analysis and experimental investigation of the bolted joints used in aluminum alloy structures need to be conducted further. It can provide a theoretical basis for aluminum alloy structure design.Luo, Y.; Xu, H.; Guo, X. (2009). Progresses of loading behavior of bolted joints used in aluminum alloy structures. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/660

Study of Bearing Capacity of Aluminum Alloy Thin-Walled Circular Tube Filled with Lightweight Filler

In this study, experimental research, a numerical simulation, and a theoretical analysis were performed on the bearing capacity of an aluminum alloy circular tube filled with a lightweight filler (ATLF). Bearing capacity tests were conducted for six ATLF columns and two aluminum alloy hollow tubes (AAHTs), and their local buckling failure modes and mechanical properties were obtained. A finite element model was developed using ABAQUS software (ABAQUS 2016, ABAQUS Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) for numerical calculations. Furthermore, a large-scale numerical analysis was performed to investigate the effect of structural parameters, such as the tube thickness, diameter, column length, and initial geometric imperfections, as well as the aluminum alloy’s properties and the lightweight filler’s properties, on the bearing capacity of the ATLF columns and AAHTs under axial compression. Based on the test and numerical analysis results, a formula for calculating the local buckling stress of AAHTs under axial compression is proposed. An improved coefficient of bearing capacity for the ATLF columns caused by the internal lightweight filler was obtained by fitting, and based on the results, a formula for computing the bearing capacity of ATLF columns under axial compression is proposed in this study

Microstructural evolution and mechanical behavior of metastable β-type Ti–30Nb–1Mo–4Sn alloy with low modulus and high strength

A metastable β-type Ti–30Nb–1Mo–4Sn alloy with ultralow elastic modulus and high strength was fabricated. Under the solution treatment state, the Ti–30Nb–1Mo–4Sn alloy possesses low yield strength of about 130 MPa owing to the presence of the coarse α′′ martensitic laths. Upon a cold rolling and annealing process, the martensitic transformation from β to α′′ is significantly retarded due to the inhibitory effect of grain boundaries and dislocations. As a result, the metastable β phase with low total amount of β-stabilizers is retained to room temperature, giving rise to a low modulus of 45 GPa. Meanwhile, nano-sized α precipitates and dislocation tangles play a key role in strengthening the Ti–30Nb–1Mo–4Sn alloy, resulting in a high tensile strength of ~1000 MPa. With low elastic modulus and high strength, the metastable β-type Ti–30Nb–1Mo–4Sn alloy could be a potential candidate for biomedical materials

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 11B91 inoculation enhances the growth of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under salt stress

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a highly nutritious food product with a comprehensive development prospect. Here, we discussed the effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 11B91 on the growth, development and salt tolerance (salt concentrations: 0, 150, 300 mmol·L−1) of quinoa and highlighted a positive role for the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria bacteria in quinoa. In this artical, the growth-promoting effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 11B91 on quinoa (Longli No.1) and the changes in biomass, chlorophyll content, root activity and total phosphorus content under salt stress were measured. The results revealed that plants inoculated with 11B91 exhibited increased maximum shoot fresh weight (73.95%), root fresh weight (75.36%), root dry weight (136%), chlorophyll a (65.32%) contents and chlorophyll b (58.5%) contents, root activity (54.44%) and total phosphorus content (16.66%). Additionally, plants inoculated with 11B91 under salt stress plants showed significantly improved, fresh weight (107%), dry weight (133%), chlorophyll a (162%) contents and chlorophyll b (76.37%) contents, root activity (33.07%), and total phosphorus content (42.73%)