Search

Since December 2019, the cumulative number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths worldwide has reached 1,013,100 and continues to increase as of writing. Of these deaths, more than 90% are people aged 60 and older. Therefore, there is a need for an easy-to-use clinically predictive tool for predicting mortality risk in older individuals with COVID-19. To explore an easy-to-use clinically predictive tool that may be utilized in predicting mortality risk in older patients with COVID-19. A retrospective analysis of 118 older patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Union Dongxihu Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China from 12 January to 26 February 2020. The main results of epidemiological, demographic, clinical and laboratory tests on admission were collected and compared between dying and discharged patients. No difference in major symptoms was observed between dying and discharged patients. Among the results of laboratory tests, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, urea nitrogen and D-dimer (NLAUD) show greater differences and have better regression coefficients (β) when using hierarchical comparisons in a multivariate logistic regression model. Predictors of mortality based on better regression coefficients (β) included NLR (OR = 31.2, 95% CI 6.7–144.5, p <.0001), lactate dehydrogenase (OR = 73.4, 95% CI 11.8–456.8, p <.0001), albumin (OR < 0.1, 95% CI <0.1–0.2, p <.0001), urea nitrogen (OR = 12.0, 95% CI 3.0–48.4, p =.0005), and D-dimer (OR = 13.6, 95% CI 3.4–54.9, p =.0003). According to the above indicators, a predictive NLAUD score was calculated on the basis of a multivariate logistic regression model to predict mortality. This model showed a sensitivity of 0.889, specificity of 0.984 and a better predictive ability than CURB-65 (AUROC = 0.955 vs. 0.703, p <.001). Bootstrap validation generated the similar sensitivity and specificity. We designed an easy-to-use clinically predictive tool for early identification and stratified treatment of older patients with severe COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microparticles (MPs) exhibit fast dissolution, characterized by a burst drug release pattern. In the present work, we prepared core-shell MPs of simvastatin (SIM) and zein with chitosan (CS) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) as a drug carrier using the coaxial electrospray deposition method. The morphology, formation and in vitro osteogenic differentiation of these MPs were studied. The synthetic MPs have a diameter of about 1 μm and they are composed of non-toxic natural materials. They provide an effective way to enable long-term sustained-release activity, which is controlled by their double layer structures. The CS-nHA/zein-SIM MPs presented a low initial burst release (approximately 35-47%) within the first 24 h of application followed by the sustained release for at least 4 weeks. In vitro cell culture experiments were performed and the results revealed that the CS-nHA/zein-SIM core-shell MPs were beneficial to the adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The CS-nHA/zein-SIM MPs with a low SIM concentration were beneficial to cell proliferation and promotion of osteogenic differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of the leafhopper Parathailocyba orla (Dworakowska, 1977) was sequenced and annotated in this study. The mitochondrial genome is 15,382 bp long, and nucleotide composition of the whole mitogenome is highly A + T biased (A: 45.8%, T: 33.3%, G: 8.6%, C: 12.3%). 12 PCGs have ATN as the start codon, except for atp8 gene uses TTG. All protein-coding genes used TAA as stop codon, except for nad5, cox2 and cox3, which use incomplete T–– as stop codon. Phylogenetic analysis using 13 PCGs showed that P. orla was clustered with three Typhlocybinae species, which was consistent with the conventional classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of the leafhopper species Paraahimia luodianensis was sequenced and annotated. It is 16,497 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two rRNA genes, and one AT-rich region. Most of PCGs started with ATN and stopped with TAA, except for ATP8 started with TTG, COX2, COX3, NAD5, and NAD1 used incomplete T–– as a stop codon. We constructed a phylogenetic tree from 12 species (Hemiptera) based on neighbour-joining method and using 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes. The result showed that both species of Limassolla lingchuanensis and P. luodianensis which belonging to Zyginellini were clustered into one clade. This study further enriched mitogenome database of the tribe Zyginellini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitogenome of Mitjaevia protuberanta (GenBank accession number MN627216) is 14,032 bp (AT: 77.43%) in length, including 13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs. All protein-coding genes used ATN as initiation codon except ND5 that used TTG as initiation codon, and TAA, TAG, and T were termination codons. We constructed a phylogenetic tree from 14 species (Hemiptera) based on the nucleotide sequence of 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes. The phylogenetic analysis results showed that mitochondrial genome of M. protuberanta had the same characteristics as other Cicadellidae species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of the leafhopper Limassolla lingchuanensis was determined. It is 15,716 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a putative control region. ATN and TTG were initiation codons, and TAA, TAG, and T were termination codons. The phylogenetic relationships based on the neighbor-joining method were revealed using 13 PCGs with 10 leafhopper species of family Cicadellidae, which agree with the conventional taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Siemens is a global enterprise that sells its products in more than 190 countries throughout the world. This internationalization of products means more than just translating the operating instructions and making changes to formats. True adaptation goes much deeper and takes into account different requirements in terms of functionality. This article starts by defining the term culture and then considers the requirements that have to be met in the context of intercultural usability engineering. Taking the establishment of usability laboratories in Beijing, China and Princeton, New Jersey as examples, the article then presents the challenges facing international cooperation and possible solutions, taking a detailed look at differences in the infrastructure, at key qualifications in international cooperation, and at the development of appropriate test methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]