<b>Objective:</b> <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> (<i>A. cantonensis</i>) is an important parasite, which causes neurological infection in children, and is generally difficult to...<b>Objective:</b> <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> (<i>A. cantonensis</i>) is an important parasite, which causes neurological infection in children, and is generally difficult to diagnose. We analyzed the significance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in diagnosing <i>A. cantonensis</i> encephalitis/meningitis in children to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis. <b>Methods:</b> The case collection of <i>A. cantonensis</i> encephalitis/meningitis was from July 2018 to August 2020. The patients’ clinical characteristics and pathogen were described, and diagnostic sensitivity methods for <i>A. cantonensis</i> encephalitis/meningitis were compared and analyzed, including parasite antibody detection and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) detection in different samples. <b>Results:</b> Eleven cases were diagnosed with <i>A. cantonensis</i> encephalitis/meningitis, including six males (54.5%) and five females (45.5%), and the age ranged from 1 to 13 years with a median of 21 months (IQR: 15.6, 96). All patients were undiagnosed upon admission, of which ten cases had neurological symptoms or signs, six cases (54.5%) had a history of definite or suspicious exposure to parasites, and eight cases (72.7%) had abnormal changes in cranial MRI. The results of <i>A. cantonensis</i> antibodies in the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were compared with CSF’s metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). The antibody-positive rate of peripheral blood was 54.5%, CSF antibody-positive rate was 27.2%, and mNGS-positive rate of CSF was 81.8%, and the positive diagnostic rate of the latter was significantly higher than the former two (<i>p</i> = 0.035 < 0.05 and <i>p</i> = 0.030 < 0.05, respectively). <b>Conclusion:</b> Metagenomic next-generation sequencing has a higher positive rate for diagnosing infection and plays an important role in clarifying diagnosis and reducing misdiagnosis.展开更多
Objective Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesion(MERS)is associated with a variety of infections and anti-epileptic drug withdrawal.Here we report the clinical characteristics of H1N1 influenza A-associat...Objective Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesion(MERS)is associated with a variety of infections and anti-epileptic drug withdrawal.Here we report the clinical characteristics of H1N1 influenza A-associated MERS based on our experience of four pediatric cases.Methods A detailed retrospective analysis of four patients with H1N1 influenza A-associated MERS was performed at Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center.Results All patients exhibited mild influenza-like illness and seizures.Three patients presented with a new-onset seizure with fever after 5 years of age.75%patients had altered mental status.For all four patients,influenza A(H1N1)viral RNA was detected in throat swab specimens at least twice.Brain magnetic resonance images revealed similar ovoid lesions in the corpus callosum,mainly in the splenium and for one patient in the splenium and genu of the corpus callosum.Only one patient had an abnormal electroencephalogram tracing.Cells and protein in the cerebrospinal fluid were normal in all patients.All patients received oseltamivir and one patient received intravenous immunoglobulin.As a result,all patients fully recovered after 2 months and showed no neurologic sequelae at discharge.Conclusion This case series provides insight towards clinical features of H1N1 influenza A-associated MERS.展开更多
Mangroves serve many important ecological functions and consequently represent a dominant coastal ecosystem.However,coastal regions are very susceptible to ecological damage due to their high population density,urban ...Mangroves serve many important ecological functions and consequently represent a dominant coastal ecosystem.However,coastal regions are very susceptible to ecological damage due to their high population density,urban expansion being one of the most important influencing factors.Accordingly,it is vital to ascertain how urban expansion endangers mangrove ecosystems.This study used the decision-tree classification method based on classification and regression tree(CART)algorithm to extract areas of mangrove and built-up land from Landsat images.A correlation analysis was performed between the change in the area of mangroves and the change in the area of built-up land at the cell scale.This study aimed to reveal the magnitude of the influence of urban expansion on mangrove forests in different periods and in different regions,and to identify the places that are seriously affected by urban expansion.The results demonstrate that this approach can be used to quantitatively analyze the impact of urban expansion on mangrove forests,and show that larger areas of mangrove were affected by urban expansion in the past 30 years.The effects of urban expansion were stronger over time,with approximately 12%of cells containing mangroves showing a negative correlation between the increase in the area of built-up land and the change in the area of mangrove forests to different degrees from 2005 to 2015.The same quantitative analysis was also carried out in three subregions of Guangdong Province,namely western Guangdong Province,the Pearl River Delta,and eastern Guangdong Province.It was found that the situations in these three regions were very different due to discrepancies in the distribution of mangroves,the rate of urban expansion,and the awareness of the local government regarding environmental protection.These results can assist in the management of coastal cities and the protection of mangrove ecosystems.展开更多
Potential ecological environment risks have been emerged as the result of land-use change(e.g.urbanization)in coastal areas.Conflicts between urban growth and ecological conservation should be brought to the forefront...Potential ecological environment risks have been emerged as the result of land-use change(e.g.urbanization)in coastal areas.Conflicts between urban growth and ecological conservation should be brought to the forefront especially in the fast developing coastal areas.An optimized landscape pattern for land-use planning could reduce the risk at the regional scale.The cell-based allocation of different land use into the geospace(i.e.land-use spatial zoning,LUSZ)to form optimal pattern with planning objectives and constrains could be viewed as a spatial optimization problem.This study aims to develop a framework incorporated with ant colony algorithm optimization(ACO)to solve LUSZ problem based on the planning guideline of China.Three planning scenarios(i.e.development focusing on urban growth,development considering ecological conversion,and coordinative development between growth and protection)were devised and analyzed with the study area of Doumen District.Comparative analysis with landscape metrics and suitability evaluation indicates that scenario of coordinative development is more available and plausible for land-use change management.This study provides a quantitative and feasible procedure to achieve optimal development pattern on given planning objectives.Moreover,it also demonstrates that cell-based spatial optimization model can generate optimal planning scenarios for decision-making.展开更多
The field of plasmonics explores the interaction between light and metallic micro/nanostructures and films.The collective oscillation of free electrons on metallic surfaces enables subwavelength optical confinement an...The field of plasmonics explores the interaction between light and metallic micro/nanostructures and films.The collective oscillation of free electrons on metallic surfaces enables subwavelength optical confinement and enhanced light-matter interactions.In optoelectronics,perovskite materials are particularly attractive due to their excellent absorption,emission,and carrier transport properties,which lead to the improved performance of solar cells,lightemitting diodes(LEDs),lasers,photodetectors,and sensors.When perovskite materials are coupled with plasmonic structures,the device performance significantly improves owing to strong near-field and far-field optical enhancements,as well as the plasmoelectric effect.Here,we review recent theoretical and experimental works on plasmonic perovskite solar cells,light emitters,and sensors.The underlying physical mechanisms,design routes,device performances,and optimization strategies are summarized.This review also lays out challenges and future directions for the plasmonic perovskite research field toward next-generation optoelectronic technologies.展开更多
文摘<b>Objective:</b> <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> (<i>A. cantonensis</i>) is an important parasite, which causes neurological infection in children, and is generally difficult to diagnose. We analyzed the significance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in diagnosing <i>A. cantonensis</i> encephalitis/meningitis in children to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis. <b>Methods:</b> The case collection of <i>A. cantonensis</i> encephalitis/meningitis was from July 2018 to August 2020. The patients’ clinical characteristics and pathogen were described, and diagnostic sensitivity methods for <i>A. cantonensis</i> encephalitis/meningitis were compared and analyzed, including parasite antibody detection and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) detection in different samples. <b>Results:</b> Eleven cases were diagnosed with <i>A. cantonensis</i> encephalitis/meningitis, including six males (54.5%) and five females (45.5%), and the age ranged from 1 to 13 years with a median of 21 months (IQR: 15.6, 96). All patients were undiagnosed upon admission, of which ten cases had neurological symptoms or signs, six cases (54.5%) had a history of definite or suspicious exposure to parasites, and eight cases (72.7%) had abnormal changes in cranial MRI. The results of <i>A. cantonensis</i> antibodies in the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were compared with CSF’s metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). The antibody-positive rate of peripheral blood was 54.5%, CSF antibody-positive rate was 27.2%, and mNGS-positive rate of CSF was 81.8%, and the positive diagnostic rate of the latter was significantly higher than the former two (<i>p</i> = 0.035 < 0.05 and <i>p</i> = 0.030 < 0.05, respectively). <b>Conclusion:</b> Metagenomic next-generation sequencing has a higher positive rate for diagnosing infection and plays an important role in clarifying diagnosis and reducing misdiagnosis.
基金supported by the Medical Scientific Research Foundation of Guangdong Province of China(No.A2020502).
文摘Objective Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesion(MERS)is associated with a variety of infections and anti-epileptic drug withdrawal.Here we report the clinical characteristics of H1N1 influenza A-associated MERS based on our experience of four pediatric cases.Methods A detailed retrospective analysis of four patients with H1N1 influenza A-associated MERS was performed at Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center.Results All patients exhibited mild influenza-like illness and seizures.Three patients presented with a new-onset seizure with fever after 5 years of age.75%patients had altered mental status.For all four patients,influenza A(H1N1)viral RNA was detected in throat swab specimens at least twice.Brain magnetic resonance images revealed similar ovoid lesions in the corpus callosum,mainly in the splenium and for one patient in the splenium and genu of the corpus callosum.Only one patient had an abnormal electroencephalogram tracing.Cells and protein in the cerebrospinal fluid were normal in all patients.All patients received oseltamivir and one patient received intravenous immunoglobulin.As a result,all patients fully recovered after 2 months and showed no neurologic sequelae at discharge.Conclusion This case series provides insight towards clinical features of H1N1 influenza A-associated MERS.
基金The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their suggestions and comments.This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41301418)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(Grant No.2014A030313141)the Science and Technology Plan Project of Guangzhou City(Grant No.201607020041).
文摘Mangroves serve many important ecological functions and consequently represent a dominant coastal ecosystem.However,coastal regions are very susceptible to ecological damage due to their high population density,urban expansion being one of the most important influencing factors.Accordingly,it is vital to ascertain how urban expansion endangers mangrove ecosystems.This study used the decision-tree classification method based on classification and regression tree(CART)algorithm to extract areas of mangrove and built-up land from Landsat images.A correlation analysis was performed between the change in the area of mangroves and the change in the area of built-up land at the cell scale.This study aimed to reveal the magnitude of the influence of urban expansion on mangrove forests in different periods and in different regions,and to identify the places that are seriously affected by urban expansion.The results demonstrate that this approach can be used to quantitatively analyze the impact of urban expansion on mangrove forests,and show that larger areas of mangrove were affected by urban expansion in the past 30 years.The effects of urban expansion were stronger over time,with approximately 12%of cells containing mangroves showing a negative correlation between the increase in the area of built-up land and the change in the area of mangrove forests to different degrees from 2005 to 2015.The same quantitative analysis was also carried out in three subregions of Guangdong Province,namely western Guangdong Province,the Pearl River Delta,and eastern Guangdong Province.It was found that the situations in these three regions were very different due to discrepancies in the distribution of mangroves,the rate of urban expansion,and the awareness of the local government regarding environmental protection.These results can assist in the management of coastal cities and the protection of mangrove ecosystems.
基金The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their suggestions and comments.This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China[grant number 41301418]the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China[grant number 2012017120036].
文摘Potential ecological environment risks have been emerged as the result of land-use change(e.g.urbanization)in coastal areas.Conflicts between urban growth and ecological conservation should be brought to the forefront especially in the fast developing coastal areas.An optimized landscape pattern for land-use planning could reduce the risk at the regional scale.The cell-based allocation of different land use into the geospace(i.e.land-use spatial zoning,LUSZ)to form optimal pattern with planning objectives and constrains could be viewed as a spatial optimization problem.This study aims to develop a framework incorporated with ant colony algorithm optimization(ACO)to solve LUSZ problem based on the planning guideline of China.Three planning scenarios(i.e.development focusing on urban growth,development considering ecological conversion,and coordinative development between growth and protection)were devised and analyzed with the study area of Doumen District.Comparative analysis with landscape metrics and suitability evaluation indicates that scenario of coordinative development is more available and plausible for land-use change management.This study provides a quantitative and feasible procedure to achieve optimal development pattern on given planning objectives.Moreover,it also demonstrates that cell-based spatial optimization model can generate optimal planning scenarios for decision-making.
基金B.A.,Z.F.,and Z.J.W.acknowledge funding support from the President’s Excellence Fund(X-Grant)and the TAMU start-up grant.B.A.was partially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing of China(cstc2020jcyj-msxmX0614)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2021CDJQY-010)the Open Foundation of Defense Key Disciplines Lab of Novel Micro-Nano Devices and System Technology,and the Open Foundation of Chongqing。
文摘The field of plasmonics explores the interaction between light and metallic micro/nanostructures and films.The collective oscillation of free electrons on metallic surfaces enables subwavelength optical confinement and enhanced light-matter interactions.In optoelectronics,perovskite materials are particularly attractive due to their excellent absorption,emission,and carrier transport properties,which lead to the improved performance of solar cells,lightemitting diodes(LEDs),lasers,photodetectors,and sensors.When perovskite materials are coupled with plasmonic structures,the device performance significantly improves owing to strong near-field and far-field optical enhancements,as well as the plasmoelectric effect.Here,we review recent theoretical and experimental works on plasmonic perovskite solar cells,light emitters,and sensors.The underlying physical mechanisms,design routes,device performances,and optimization strategies are summarized.This review also lays out challenges and future directions for the plasmonic perovskite research field toward next-generation optoelectronic technologies.
