Objective To explore the relationship between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL144 sequence variability and clinical disease. Methods HCMV UL144 open reading frame (ORF) was amplified by PCR assay in 72 lowpassage isola...Objective To explore the relationship between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL144 sequence variability and clinical disease. Methods HCMV UL144 open reading frame (ORF) was amplified by PCR assay in 72 lowpassage isolates [65 con-genitally infective children and 7 healthy children who were HCMV-DNA positive by quantitative PCR (qPCR)]. All positive PCR products were analyzed by heteroduplex mobility assay and single-stranded conformation polymorphism (HMA-SSCP) and 32 of them were sequenced. Results Fifty-five patient isolates and five healthy children isolates were HCMV-UL144 positive by PCR. Sequencing and HMA-SSCP analysis showed that significant strain-specific variability was present in the UL144 ORF. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the nucleotide sequences could be separated into 3 major genotypes. Comparing between UL144 se-quences and the corresponding symptoms showed that genotype 2 did not exist in megacolon isolates. And genotype 1 and 3 were the major types among microcephaly and jaundice isolates respectively. Conclusions HCMV-UL144 existed in most of low passage isolates and sequences were hypervariable. The UL144 ORF and its predicted product with the high level of sequence variability in different kinds of isolates suggest that UL144 ORF might play a role in HCMV infectivity and subsequent diseases.展开更多
Framed structures are usually infilled with masonry walls. They may cause a significant increase in both stiffness and strength, reducing the deformation demand and increasing the energy dissipation capacity of the sy...Framed structures are usually infilled with masonry walls. They may cause a significant increase in both stiffness and strength, reducing the deformation demand and increasing the energy dissipation capacity of the system. On the other hand, irregular arrangements of the masonry panels may lead to the concentration of damage in some regions, with negative effects; for example soft story mechanisms and shear failures in short columns. Therefore, the presence ofinfill walls should not be neglected, especially in regions of moderate and high seismicity. To this aim, simple models are available for solid infills walls, such as the diagonal no-tension strut model, while infilled frames with openings have not been adequately investigated. In this study, the effect of openings on the strength and stiffness of infilled frames is investigated by means of about 150 experimental and numerical tests. The main parameters involved are identified and a simple model to take into account the openings in the infills is developed and compared with other models proposed by different researchers. The model, which is based on the use of strength and stiffness reduction factors, takes into account the opening dimensions and presence of reinforcing elements around the opening. An example of an application of the proposed reduction factors is also presented.展开更多
We investigate the teleportation between two relatively accelerating partners undergoing the phase flip, bit flip and bit-phase flip channels. We find that: 1) the fidelity decreases by increasing the acceleration of ...We investigate the teleportation between two relatively accelerating partners undergoing the phase flip, bit flip and bit-phase flip channels. We find that: 1) the fidelity decreases by increasing the acceleration of accelerated observer;2) the dynamic evolution of the fidelity is different for various channels if the acceleration is fixed;and 3) the fidelity is always symmetric about β2=1/2 where βis a parameter of the transmission state.展开更多
The hepatitis E virus(HEV),a member of the Hepeviridae family,is a small,non-enveloped icosahedral virus divided into eight distinct genotypes(HEV-1 to HEV-8).Only genotypes 1 to 4 are known to cause diseases in human...The hepatitis E virus(HEV),a member of the Hepeviridae family,is a small,non-enveloped icosahedral virus divided into eight distinct genotypes(HEV-1 to HEV-8).Only genotypes 1 to 4 are known to cause diseases in humans.Genotypes 1 and 2 commonly spread via fecal-oral transmission,often through the consum-ption of contaminated water.Genotypes 3 and 4 are known to infect pigs,deer,and wild boars,often transferring to humans through inadequately cooked meat.Acute hepatitis caused by HEV in healthy individuals is mostly asymptomatic or associated with minor symptoms,such as jaundice.However,in immunosup-pressed individuals,the disease can progress to chronic hepatitis and even escalate to cirrhosis.For pregnant women,an HEV infection can cause fulminant liver failure,with a potential mortality rate of 25%.Mortality rates also rise amongst cirrhotic patients when they contract an acute HEV infection,which can even trigger acute-on-chronic liver failure if layered onto pre-existing chronic liver disease.As the prevalence of HEV infection continues to rise worldwide,highlighting the particular risks associated with severe HEV infection is of major medical interest.This text offers a brief summary of the characteristics of hepatitis developed by patient groups at an elevated risk of severe HEV infection.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30170986).
文摘Objective To explore the relationship between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL144 sequence variability and clinical disease. Methods HCMV UL144 open reading frame (ORF) was amplified by PCR assay in 72 lowpassage isolates [65 con-genitally infective children and 7 healthy children who were HCMV-DNA positive by quantitative PCR (qPCR)]. All positive PCR products were analyzed by heteroduplex mobility assay and single-stranded conformation polymorphism (HMA-SSCP) and 32 of them were sequenced. Results Fifty-five patient isolates and five healthy children isolates were HCMV-UL144 positive by PCR. Sequencing and HMA-SSCP analysis showed that significant strain-specific variability was present in the UL144 ORF. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the nucleotide sequences could be separated into 3 major genotypes. Comparing between UL144 se-quences and the corresponding symptoms showed that genotype 2 did not exist in megacolon isolates. And genotype 1 and 3 were the major types among microcephaly and jaundice isolates respectively. Conclusions HCMV-UL144 existed in most of low passage isolates and sequences were hypervariable. The UL144 ORF and its predicted product with the high level of sequence variability in different kinds of isolates suggest that UL144 ORF might play a role in HCMV infectivity and subsequent diseases.
基金The financial support of the Ministry of the Instruction, University and Research of Italy (MIUR)
文摘Framed structures are usually infilled with masonry walls. They may cause a significant increase in both stiffness and strength, reducing the deformation demand and increasing the energy dissipation capacity of the system. On the other hand, irregular arrangements of the masonry panels may lead to the concentration of damage in some regions, with negative effects; for example soft story mechanisms and shear failures in short columns. Therefore, the presence ofinfill walls should not be neglected, especially in regions of moderate and high seismicity. To this aim, simple models are available for solid infills walls, such as the diagonal no-tension strut model, while infilled frames with openings have not been adequately investigated. In this study, the effect of openings on the strength and stiffness of infilled frames is investigated by means of about 150 experimental and numerical tests. The main parameters involved are identified and a simple model to take into account the openings in the infills is developed and compared with other models proposed by different researchers. The model, which is based on the use of strength and stiffness reduction factors, takes into account the opening dimensions and presence of reinforcing elements around the opening. An example of an application of the proposed reduction factors is also presented.
文摘We investigate the teleportation between two relatively accelerating partners undergoing the phase flip, bit flip and bit-phase flip channels. We find that: 1) the fidelity decreases by increasing the acceleration of accelerated observer;2) the dynamic evolution of the fidelity is different for various channels if the acceleration is fixed;and 3) the fidelity is always symmetric about β2=1/2 where βis a parameter of the transmission state.
基金Supported by Interreg V-A Romania-Hungary Programme,No.ROHU339.
文摘The hepatitis E virus(HEV),a member of the Hepeviridae family,is a small,non-enveloped icosahedral virus divided into eight distinct genotypes(HEV-1 to HEV-8).Only genotypes 1 to 4 are known to cause diseases in humans.Genotypes 1 and 2 commonly spread via fecal-oral transmission,often through the consum-ption of contaminated water.Genotypes 3 and 4 are known to infect pigs,deer,and wild boars,often transferring to humans through inadequately cooked meat.Acute hepatitis caused by HEV in healthy individuals is mostly asymptomatic or associated with minor symptoms,such as jaundice.However,in immunosup-pressed individuals,the disease can progress to chronic hepatitis and even escalate to cirrhosis.For pregnant women,an HEV infection can cause fulminant liver failure,with a potential mortality rate of 25%.Mortality rates also rise amongst cirrhotic patients when they contract an acute HEV infection,which can even trigger acute-on-chronic liver failure if layered onto pre-existing chronic liver disease.As the prevalence of HEV infection continues to rise worldwide,highlighting the particular risks associated with severe HEV infection is of major medical interest.This text offers a brief summary of the characteristics of hepatitis developed by patient groups at an elevated risk of severe HEV infection.