High-resolution characterization of the coagulation and drying processes of whole blood based on optical coherence tomography

Introduction: Escaping whole blood exhibits biochemical and physical coupled mechanisms such as coagulation and drying. However, there is no method for simultaneously monitoring the coagulation and drying procedure.Methods: In this study, a new method based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) combined with speckle variance and thickness is presented for simultaneously capturing spatially high-resolved characteristics of coagulation and drying of whole blood during the procedure. Deep learning based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) is employed for collecting OCT images with a resolution of micron order and quantitatively obtaining pixel-wise information of whole blood.Results and discussion: Then, the pixel-wise thickness map provides high-resolved temporal–spatial dynamics of whole blood during the drying procedure, and the corresponding speckle variance can uncover information of whole blood coagulation. The results demonstrate that coagulation and drying of whole blood have spatially inhomogeneous features. This method could provide the potential for revealing the coupling mechanism between coagulation and drying

Research into core curriculum design of postgraduate core courses for prospective English teachers in Southwest China

This project forms part of a suite of projects funded by the British Council that aim to explore the options for the professional development of English language teachers in rural and under-developed areas of Yunnan province. The project represents a cooperative collaboration between UK-based researchers at the University of Warwick and Yunnan-based researchers at Dali University. It focuses on establishing key needs and providing referenceable findings and frameworks for professional learning that support English teachers both pre-service education and aims to investigate ways of enhancing the curriculum for pre-service education and to provide insights for policy makers and decision makers for both the short and long term. Specifically, this project was commissioned to support the creation and design of a core postgraduate course module for English teachers that specifically meets identified needs of English teachers in rural and remote areas of Yunnan province

Follow-up outcomes of asymptomatic brucellosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACTBalancing the potentially serious outcomes of asymptomatic brucellosis and “waiting” for treatment in clinical practice is an urgent issue. Therefore, we assessed the follow-up outcomes and epidemiological characteristics of asymptomatic brucellosis in the absence of treatment to provide evidence-based clinical clues. We searched eight databases in which 3610 studies from 1990 to 2021 were related to the follow-up outcomes of asymptomatic brucellosis. Thirteen studies, involving 107 cases, were finally included. Regarding the follow-up outcomes, we examined the presence or absence of symptoms and decreased serum agglutination test (SAT) titre. During the 0.5–18 months follow-up period, the pooled prevalence of appearing symptomatic was 15.4% (95% CI 2.1%–34.3%), cases that remained asymptomatic were 40.3% (95% CI 16.6%–65.8%), and decreased SAT titre was observed in 36.5% (95% CI 11.6%–66.1%). Subgroup analysis indicated that the pooled prevalence of appearing symptomatic with follow-up times of less than 6 months, 6–12 months, and 12–18 months was 11.5%, 26.4%, and 47.6%, respectively. The student subgroup had a higher prevalence of symptoms (46.6%) than the occupational and family populations. In conclusion, asymptomatic brucellosis has a high likelihood of appearing symptomatic and its severity may be underestimated. Active screening of occupational and family populations should be enhanced, and special attention should be paid to high-titre students for early intervention, if necessary. Additionally, future prospective, long-term, and large-sample follow-up studies are essential

Better efficacy of triple antibiotics therapy for human brucellosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundThe treatment of brucellosis suffers from a high recurrence rate and drug resistance. Our study researched the differences in efficacy and side effects between triple antibiotics therapy and dual antibiotics therapy in the treatment of brucellosis through a systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsWe searched 4 English electronic databases and 2 Chinese electronic databases for randomized controlled trials and cohort studies published through September 2022 on the use of triple antibiotics versus dual antibiotics in the treatment of brucellosis. Overall outcome indicators were therapeutic failure rate, relapse rate, overall therapeutic failure rate, and side effect rate. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used as summary statistics. A fixed-effects model was used to combine the overall effect sizes.ResultsThe meta-analysis included 15 studies consisting of 11 randomized controlled trials and 4 cohort studies. Triple antibiotics showed better efficacy than dual antibiotics in a comparison of 3 overall outcome indicators (therapeutic failure rate (RR 0.42; 95% CI 0.30 to 0.59 heterogeneity P = 0.29, I2 = 15%), relapse rate (RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.45 heterogeneity P = 0.88, I2 = 0%), and overall therapeutic failure rate (RR 0.37; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.48 heterogeneity P = 0.35, I2 = 9%)). The incidence of side effects in patients with brucellosis treated with triple antibiotics was not significantly different from that in brucellosis patients treated with dual antibiotics (RR 0.85; 95% CI 0.67 to 1.06 heterogeneity P = 0.1, I2 = 35%). Sensitivity analyses showed robust results and Peter's test showed no publication bias. The results of subgroup analyses for the research type, drugs, and type of brucellosis were largely consistent with the overall outcome indicators, indicating the reliability and robustness of the overall results.ConclusionsIn the treatment of brucellosis, triple antibiotics have better efficacy than dual antibiotics and do not increase the incidence of side effects

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Sequencing of 50 human exomes reveals adaptation to high altitude

Residents of the Tibetan Plateau show heritable adaptations to extreme altitude. We sequenced 50 exornes of ethnic Tibetans, encompassing coding sequences of 92% of human genes, with an average coverage of 18x per individual. Genes showing population-specific allele frequency changes, which represent strong candidates for altitude adaptation, were identified. The strongest signal of natural selection came from endothelial Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain protein 1 (EPAS1), a transcription factor involved in response to hypoxia. One single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at EPASl shows a 78% frequency difference between Tibetan and Han samples, representing the fastest allele frequency change observed at any human gene to date. This SNP's association with erythrocyte abundance supports the role of EPASl in adaptation to hypoxia. Thus, a population genomic survey has revealed a functionally important locus in genetic adaptation to high altitude. Copyright 2010 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science; all rights reserved.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex