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Background Helminths are endemic in more than half of the world’s countries, raising serious public health concerns. Accurate diagnosis of helminth infection is crucial to control strategies. Traditional parasitological methods, serological tests and PCR-based assays are the major means of the diagnosis of helminth infection, but they are time-consuming and/or expensive, and sometimes provide inaccurate results. Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, a sensitive, simple and rapid method was therefore developed for detection of helminths. This study aims to discuss the current status of application of LAMP on helminths detection and to make a comprehensive evaluation about this updated technology and its future outlook by comparing with several other diagnostic methods. Main body This review summarizes LAMP assay applied for helminth detection and helminthiasis surveillance. The basic principle of LAMP is introduced to help better understand its characteristics and each reported assay is assessed mainly based on its detection sensitivity, specificity and limitations, in comparison with other common diagnostic tests. Moreover, we discuss the limitations of the assays so as to clarify some potential ways of improvement. Conclusions Here, we summarize and discuss the advantages, disadvantages and promising future of LAMP in heliminth detection, which is expected to help update current knowledge and future perspectives of LAMP in highly sensitive and specific diagnosis and surveillance of helminthiasis and other parasitic diseases, and can contribute to the elimination of the diseases from endemic areas. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40249-019-0530-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Export trade is a driving force of economic development, but it is also an important source of increasing carbon dioxide emissions. Against the background of suggestions of conflicts between economic development and environmental health, the proportion of high-tech products in the export trade of various countries has been rising, leading governments and scholars to focus on identifying the appropriate export structure for countries. While there is some knowledge on how high-tech product exports affect carbon dioxide emissions, the mechanisms involved in that link have not been adequately addressed in previous studies. This study is based on China’s inter-provincial panel data from 2006 to 2017, and uses the fixed effects model stepwise regression method and the bootstrap method to systematically investigate the mediating effects of industrial structure supererogation, low-carbon technological innovation and human capital accumulation, operating in the impact of high-tech product export trade on regional carbon performance. The research results show that high-tech product exports can help improve regional carbon performance. The mediating variables, industrial structure supererogation, low-carbon technological innovation and human capital accumulation, separately have positive and partially mediating effects on the link between high-tech products export trade and regional carbon performance. After considering the alternative indicator of regional carbon performance and the replacement of test method, the results of this study are still robust. The research results are instructive for an understanding of the relationship between high-tech product export trade and regional carbon performance. They highlight the important role of high-tech product exports in improving regional carbon performance, and have significance in promoting China’s green and low-carbon transition.

The role of expanding the proportion of high-tech products in the export trade of various countries to identify the appropriate export structure has gradually attracted the attention of governments and scholars. While there is some knowledge on how high-tech product exports affect carbon dioxide emissions, the mechanisms involved in that link have not been adequately addressed in previous studies. This study is based on China’s inter-provincial panel data from 2006 to 2017 and uses the stepwise regression method and the bootstrap method to systematically investigate the mediating effects of industrial structure supererogation, low-carbon technological innovation, and human capital accumulation, operating in the impact of high-tech product export trade on regional carbon performance. Since the Pesaran’s CD test and the P&Y slope homogeneity test confirm the presence of cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity in the panel data, we use the CADF and CIPS unit root tests to verify the stationarity of the variables and therefore employ the CCEMG and DCCE estimators for regression estimation. The research results show that high-tech product exports can help improve regional carbon performance. The mediating variables, industrial structure supererogation, low-carbon technological innovation, and human capital accumulation separately have positive and complete mediating effects on the link between high-tech product export trade and regional carbon performance. The research results highlight the important part of expanding high-tech product exports in improving regional carbon performance and have significance in promoting China’s green and low-carbon transition.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the clinical value of applying RAID quality improvement model in closed-loop management of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) nursing. Methods: Twelve ophthalmic nurses were trained. Soon afterwards, their related knowledge, operation and scene simulation test scores before and after training were examined and compared. Before and after training, 20 CRAO patients who admitted to the second ward of ophthalmology (Ophthalmology Section 2) of our hospital were included into control group and research group. The former applied routine management, while the latter employed RAID quality improvement model. Results: Before intervention, the ESCA scores and the time window of first-aid of the two groups had no significant difference (all P>0.05). While after intervention, the scores of the research group were dramatically improved; the self-care skills, health knowledge, self-responsibility and self-awareness were obviously higher than those of the control group (all P

Damping has a significant influence on the calculation of structural seismic response. In this paper, we compare the commonly used viscous damping (Rayleigh damping (RD) and Caughey damping (CD)) in combination with the isolated structure test. To avoid the arbitrariness of choosing two reference vibration frequencies in constructing RD, all the combinations of the first several vibration frequencies were calculated. Because the material characteristics of the isolation layer and the superstructure are significantly different and the deformation of the isolation layer is large, we construct nonproportional damping according to these two kinds of damping and make a comparative analysis. Analyzing experimental data, we can obtain the optimal frequency combination of RD and nonproportional damping during dynamic analysis of the isolated structure, the priority order of choosing damping models. For the calculation of RD, the 1st modal frequency of the structure should be included, and the 2nd and 3rd modal frequencies of the nonisolated structure are proposed to calculate the nonproportional damping based on Rayleigh damping (NP-RD) for the three-story frame structure in this paper. RD and nonproportional damping based on Caughey damping (NP-CD) are firstly recommended to be used in the calculation of the isolated structure, followed by NP-RD and then CD.

Na-ion batteries have been considered promising candidates for stationary energy storage. However, their wide application is hindered by issues such as high cost and insufficient electrochemical performance, particularly for cathode materials. Here, we report a solvent-free mechanochemical protocol for the in-situ fabrication of sodium vanadium fluorophosphates. Benefiting from the nano-crystallization features and extra Na-storage sites achieved in the synthesis process, the as-prepared carbon-coated Na3(VOPO4)2F nanocomposite exhibits capacity of 142 mAh g−1 at 0.1C, higher than its theoretical capacity (130 mAh g−1). Moreover, a scaled synthesis with 2 kg of product was conducted and 26650-prototype cells were demonstrated to proof the electrochemical performance. We expect our findings to mark an important step in the industrial application of sodium vanadium fluorophosphates for Na-ion batteries., The high production cost and poor electrochemical performance of polyanionic cathode hinders their industrial application. Here, the authors report large-scale fabrication of sodium vanadium fluorophosphates and in situ construction of their carbon nanocomposites via a mechanochemical protocol.

Targeted therapy based on specific genetic alterations has been proven to be an effective treatment for various types of cancer. In the present study, we aimed to explore the efficacy of personalized targeted therapy guided by targeted deep sequencing for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) after non-radical resection. Targeted deep sequencing was performed on 49 patients with BTC, to whom biologic agents were recommended. Among 32 patients with stage IV and R2 resection (a non-radical resection), 21 patients underwent conventional chemotherapy (mGEMOX), while the remaining 11 patients received a personalized targeted agent. The genomic landscape of the 49 patients with BTC was determined and the results showed that genetic alterations were enriched in the ERBB family and cell cycle pathway. After a median follow-up of 12 months, the 11 BTC patients with personalized targeted therapy showed a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 4.5 months (2.5–20.5 months), a median overall survival (OS) of 12.9 months (4.7–24.8 months) and a disease control rate (DCR) of 63.6%. In the other 21 BTC patients, who were undergoing conventional chemotherapy, the BTC patients had a median PFS of 1.5 months (0.5–11.6 months), a median OS of 4.1 months (1.3–18.4 months), and a DCR of 33.3%. In addition, 36.4% of the patients in the personalized targeted therapy group experienced grade >2 treatment-related toxicity vs. 19.0% of patients in the conventional chemotherapy group. This real-world study suggests that targeted deep sequencing contributes to the guidance of personalized targeted therapy based on individual actionable mutations, which may benefit advanced BTC patients undergoing non-radical resection.

Background. Increased blood pressure (BP) variability may worsen the prognosis of stroke. This study aimed at investigating the association between BP variability and early functional prognosis in patients with pontine infarction. Methods. According to types of pontine infarction, all the 137 patients were divided into two groups: 70 patients with paramedian pontine infarction (PPI) and 67 patients with deep pontine infarction (DPI). Common risk factors, 24-hour continuous blood pressure monitoring data, and the coefficient of variation were collected after admission in the hospital. Functional outcomes were evaluated with modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 3 months after discharge (favorable outcome: mRS scores ≤ 2; poor outcome: mRS scores > 2). Results. The level of Glu, HbA1c, LDL, and NIHSS scores in the PPI group was significantly higher than that in the DPI group, and the concentration of blood uric acid was lower in the PPI group. Diastolic pressure in the PPI group is significantly higher than that in the DPI group, and coefficient of variation (CV) of systolic pressure in PPI is higher when compared with DPI ((88.77 ± 1.71) mmHg vs. (80.74 ± 1.31) mmHg; (11.54 ± 0.35) vs. (10.24 ± 0.25)). In multivariate analyses, the CV of systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, NIHSS scores, and the paramedian pontine infarction was independently associated with 3-month clinical outcome (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.252–2.994, P=0.003; OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.002–1.166, P=0.04; OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.164–2.159, P=0.003; OR = 9.87, 95% CI = 1.045–32.193, P=0.04). Conclusion. In conclusion, increased 24-hour (BP) variability, NIHSS scores, and paramedian pontine were associated with early poor prognosis in patients with acute pontine infarction.

Objective To compare the prognosis of patients with coronary heart disease and different degrees of renal dysfunction after implantation of biodegradable polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stents (BP-SES) or durable polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stents (DP-SES). Methods From the I-LOVE-IT2 study, 2603 patients [1744 were implanted with BP-SES and 859 with DP-SES] were divided into different subgroups according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): in BP-SES group, normal renal function subgroup (eGFR>90ml/(min.1.73m2), n=1136), mild renal insufficiency subgroup (90ml/ (min.1.73m2)>eGFR>60ml/(min.1.73m2), n=513), and moderate renal insufficiency subgroup (60ml/(min.1.73m2)>eGFR>30ml/ (min.1.73m2), n=95); in DP-SES group, normal renal function subgroup (eGFR>90ml/(min.1.73m2), n=570), mild renal insufficiency subgroup (90ml/(min.1.73m2)>eGFR>60ml/(min.1.73m2), n=254), and moderate renal insufficiency subgroup (60ml/(min.1.73m2)>eGFR>30ml/(min.1.73m2), n=35). The primary endpoint of the study was 12-month target lesion failure (TLF), including cardiac death, target vascular myocardial infarction (TVMI), and clinically indicated target lesion revascularization (CI-TLR); the secondary endpoint was 12-months net adverse clinical and cerebral events (NACCE), including all-causes of death, all myocardial infarction, stroke, and severe hemorrhage [bleeding academic research consortium (BARC 3-5)]. Results In BP-SES group, clinical follow-up in 12 months indicated no significant difference in TLF among the three subgroups (6.2% vs. 5.5% vs. 8.5%, P=0.53), but the incidence of cardiac death was higher in moderate renal insufficiency subgroup than in the other two subgroups (0.4% vs. 0.2% vs. 4.3%, P

Recurrent event data are often collected in longitudinal follow-up studies. In this article, we propose a semiparametric method to model the recurrent and terminal events jointly. We present an additive–multiplicative hazards model for the terminal event and a proportional intensity model for the recurrent events, and a shared frailty is used to model the dependence between the recurrent and terminal events. We adopt estimating equation approaches for inference, and the asymptotic properties of the resulting estimators are established. The finite sample behavior of the proposed estimators is evaluated through simulation studies. An application to a medical cost study of chronic heart failure patients from the University of Virginia Health System is illustrated.

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are among the most common developmental defects in humans. Despite of several known CAKUT-related loci (HNF1B, PAX2, EYA1, etc.), the genetic etiology of CAKUT remains to be elucidated for most patients. In this study, we report that disruption of the Holliday Junction resolvase gene Gen1 leads to renal agenesis, duplex kidney, hydronephrosis, and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in mice. GEN1 interacts with SIX1 and enhances the transcriptional activity of SIX1/EYA1, a key regulatory complex of the GDNF morphogen. Gen1 mutation impairs Grem1 and Gdnf expression, resulting in excessive ureteric bud formation and defective ureteric bud branching during early kidney development. These results revealed an unidentified role of GEN1 in kidney development and suggested its contribution to CAKUT.

A study was conducted to measure ambient concentrations of PM10 and PM10-bound PAHs to estimate health risks due to exposure to PAHs during wait times at bus stops in September 2012 and March 2014. Samples were collected by personal exposure monitors at Balitai and Haiguangsi bus stops in Tianjin, China. The equivalent concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (BaPeq) was used to estimate the health risks of PAHs in PM10 inhaled by passengers waiting at these bus stops. The results showed the average PM10 level was higher in autumn (non-heating season) compared to spring (heating season) (307 ± 67 µg m–3 vs. 226 ± 100 µg m–3). When averaged over the two bus stops, concentrations of total PAHs in PM10 were much higher during spring compared to autumn (417 vs. 193 ng m–3), while BaPeq was slightly lower during spring (29.7 vs. 32.8 ng m–3). The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) at the two bus stops, Balitai and Haiguangsi, in spring were 9.0 × 10–8 and 4.5 × 10–8, and in autumn were 1.1 × 10–7 and 7.7 × 10–8, respectively. All these risk values were lower than the acceptable risk range of 10–6–10–4 approved by US Environmental Protection Agency.

The base displacement of isolated structures may exceed its design limit, resulting in pounding with moat walls or adjacent buildings that leads to structural and nonstructural damage. This study investigates the feasibility and effectiveness of applying displacement limiting devices (i.e., limiters), with soft or hard impact mechanisms, to base-isolated buildings. Extensive shake table tests are performed on a base-isolated three-dimensional building with eight types of soft and rigid limiters. The test setup consists of a one-sixth scale three-story steel moment-resisting frame isolated at the base with laminated rubber bearings. The main input parameters are limiter stiffness, reserved gap size, and ground motion (GM) characteristics, while the main output parameters are the base displacement and dynamic response of the superstructure. The test results indicate that a proper combination of a soft limiter stiffness and the reserved gap can effectively limit the isolated base displacement response, without substantial adverse reactions to the superstructure. Rigid limiters shall be avoided since they can significantly increase inter-story drifts and superstructure accelerations under the maximum considered earthquakes.

Mortise-tenon joints often have neighboring gaps due to initial manufacturing errors and accumulated damage over thousands of years. The looseness of joints can cause degradation of mechanical performance of joint, which might lead to the collapse or damage of the entire structure. In this study, the mechanical performances of penetrated mortise-tenon joint involving gaps were investigated. Working states and judging criteria for different working states were produced under positive and negative loading. A theoretical model of the bending moment for a loose mortise-tenon joint was proposed. Full-scale experiments were conducted to verify the proposed theoretical model. Transverse four-column wooden frames, characterizing the overall mechanical properties of a structure, were chosen to clarify the applicability of the proposed model. A simplified finite element model (FEM) with bar units and rotation springs was established and verified using solid FEM. The deformation characteristics and lateral resistance of wooden frame were then analyzed. The results showed that the theoretical model was in good agreement with test results and could be used to estimate the joint bending moment. Simplified models of joints were then applied in the establishment of a timber structure. The lateral behavior of the wood frame mainly contributed by column foot joints at the beginning of rotation and penetrated mortise-tenon joints at later rotation. This study provided important references on the protection and repair of existing traditional timber structures.

The lack of gluten in Tartary buckwheat has always been the main limiting factor of their development. This paper explored how to improve the processing quality of gluten-free Tartary buckwheat noodles (GF-TBNs) by introducing extruded starch into Tartary buckwheat flour (TBF) and the underlying mechanism was also elucidated. Extruded Tartary buckwheat starch (ETBS) was obtained under different extrusion conditions. The thermal properties, molecular weight, and viscosity of ETBS were examined to determine the key parameters closely related to the water distribution and rheological properties of the dough sheet, and tensile properties of GF-TBNs. The results showed that ETBS with a low molecular weight and high viscosity contributed greatly to the GF-TBNs with good tensile properties. It is proposed that ETBS with a low molecular weight and high viscosity might form a gel-entrapped network inside GF-TBNs, which was confirmed by the morphology of GF-TBNs.

Thiazole orange (TO) stains most nucleic acids giving strong fluorescence signal non-specifically. To resolve the poor discriminating ability of TO among tertiary structures of DNAs, a planar and rotatable π–conjugated small molecule designed by replacing the methylene bridge with an ethylene that slightly increases its structural flexibility, while maintain the crucial conjugated co-planar two-ring system. The study addressed the origin of signal discrimination for the molecule upon binding with different DNA structures and the results demonstrate that the molecule exhibits excellent fluorescence signal discrimination between the DNA G-quadruplexes and other DNA tertiary structures. In a typical staining assay, the molecule induced 30-fold greater fluorescence signal upon binding with Pu27 than that of ssDNA and dsDNA. Molecular modelling studies also support that the flexible ethylene bridge between the two-ring system is the crucial factor for inducing selectivity towards G-quadruplexes. Furthermore, the selectivity, sensitivity, and stability of the molecule were investigated with various techniques. The application of the molecule as a selective staining agent for imaging of G-quadruplex in human prostate cancer cells PC3 and mouse fibroblast L929 was also investigated. The strongly observed green fluorescence signal in the cell nucleus suggests that the molecule is able to enter into the nucleus and then binding with G-quadruplexes.

In this article, we propose a general class of partially linear transformation models for recurrent gap time data, which extends the linear transformation models by incorporating non linear covariate effects and includes the partially linear proportional hazards and the partially linear proportional odds models as special cases. Both global and local estimating equations are developed to estimate the parametric and non parametric covariate effects, and the asymptotic properties of the resulting estimators are established. The finite-sample behavior of the proposed estimators is evaluated through simulation studies, and an application to a clinic study on chronic granulomatous disease is provided.