Resurgence of measles virus infection in an eliminated country, Sri Lanka

Objective:To describe the situation of measles in Sri Lanka from May to November,2023 and to define the role of virology laboratory towards case confirmation and epidemiological and genetic characterization of the outbreak.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed all samples tested for measles from 1st of May to 30th of November,2023 at National Measles Rubella Laboratory,Sri Lanka.According to the World Health Organization(WHO)algorithm,serum and oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs were tested with WHO recommended kits for anti-measles IgM and measles virus specific RNA,respectively.Selected RNA positive samples were sequenced at reference laboratory,India.Analysis of sequencing data and construction of phylogenetic tree were carried out at National Measles Rubella Laboratory.Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results:Of the total 1132 serum samples and 497 oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs from 1326 patients,657(49.5%)patients were confirmed as measles by anti-measles IgM,measles virus specific RNA or both.Males(55.6%,n=365)and the age group from>20 to≤30 years(33.0%,n=217)predominated positive patients.All provinces reported measles positive cases.All samples sequenced(100%,n=42)were genotype D8 with 95.2%(n=40)bearing Victoria.Australia origin.Conclusions:We described resurgence of measles in an eliminated country,confirming the genotype to be D8,one of the two genotypes currently circulating globally.Further,the study strongly convinced the importance of a strengthened virological surveillance system in an eliminated country,despite its eliminated status.

Study and Design of a DC/AC Energy Converter for PV System Connected to the Grid Using Harmonic Selected Eliminated (HSE) Approach

Nowadays, distributing network-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems are expanded by merging a PV system and a Direct Current (DC)/Alternating Current (AC) energy converter. DC/AC conversion of PV energy is in great demand for AC applications. The supply of electrical machines and transfer energy to the distribution network is a typical case. In this work, we study and design a DC/AC energy converter using harmonic selective eliminated (HSE) method. To this end, we have combined two power stages connected in derivation. Each power stage is constituted of transistors and transformers. The connection by switching of the two rectangular waves, delivered by each of the stages, makes it possible to create a quasi-sinusoidal output voltage of the inverter. Mathematical equations based on the current-voltage characteristics of the inverter have been developed. The simulation model was validated using experimental data from a 25.2 kWp grid-coupled (PV) system, connected to Gridfit type inverters. The data were exported and implemented in programming software. A good agreement was observed and this shows all the robustness and the technical performances of the energy converter device. It emerges from this analysis that the inverter output voltage and the phase angle thus simulated are very important to control in order to orientate the transfer of the power flow from the continuous cell to cell to the alternating part. Simulated and field-testing results also show that increases in the value of the modulation factor (m) for low power output are highly significant. This study is an important tool for DC/AC inverter designers during initial planning stages. A short presentation of the design model of the inverter has been proposed in this article.

An Analysis of the Expectations Gap:Can it be eliminated?

The "expectations gap" signifies the differences between what the public expects from an audit and what the auditing profession prefers the audit objectives to be.Although the gap exists,it seems that the professions trust that it could be eliminated.In this paper,further evidence was provided to deny the above point by exploring the inevitability nature and the structure of the audit expectation gap.In addition,the author concludes that expectations gap cannot be eliminated;instead,the only thing can be done is to narrow down the gap.

Effect of Eliminated the Breeding Pigs with Unqualified CSFV Antibody on Sows' Reproductive Performance and Pigs' Growth Performance

[Objective] The aim was to explore the effect of eliminated the breeding pigs with unqualified CSFV antibody on sow's reproductive performance and pig's growth performance so as to provide a scientific basis for the eliminating of the breeding pigs with unqualified CSFV antibody in large-scale pig farms.[Method] Serum samples from three scale pig farms were collected and tested with HerdChek CSFV-ELISA kit,then provided a certain scientific basis for scale pig farm to eliminate the unqualified(antibody blocking rate<50%)breeders after booster immunization.[Result ] After eliminating the breeding pigs with unqualified CSFV antibody,the average litter number of piglet in three pig farms(A,B,C)were increased by 0.29(P<0.05),0.40(P<0.01),0.39(P<0.01)respectively;the average number of survival piglets were increased by 0.54(P<0.01),0.35(P<0.01),0.62(P<0.01)respectively;the average litter number of weaned piglets were increased by 0.65(P<0.01),0.71(P<0.01),0.81(P<0.01)respectively.The difference in weight gain of piglet at 30-60 d of age was extremely significant(P<0.01),but inconspicuousness for the swine pregnancy rate,the survival rate of weaned piglet and piglet at 30-60 d of age.[Conclusion] The eliminating the breeding pigs with unqualified CSFV antibody can significantly improve the performance of breeder and piglets.

Discoloration and color’s reversion of Scot pine veneers by resin-eliminated treatment

The discoloration of Scot pine （Pinus sylvestris var. Mongolica） veneers caused by resin-eliminated treatment and the reversion of the color were studied. The result showed that the color of the veneers changed from buff to yellowish brown after the treatment of resin elimination and the discoloration of heartwood was more severe than that of sapwood; the degree of discoloration was significantly positively correlated with the medicament strength, temperature and resin-eliminated duration. The variance analysis showed the effects of those three factors on the discoloration were significant. With hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） as color reversion medicament and inorganic compound as medium of the reaction, the reversion of the color of heartwood was more inaccessible than that of sapwood; the degree of the color’s reversion was positively correlated with the H2O2 strength, temperature and treating time; the H2O2 concentration has significant effects on the discoloration. In order to reduce discoloration of Scot pine veneers, medicament of resin-eliminated used have to be at some low concentration, and the optimal concentration of H2O2 is 0.35% during the process of color’s reversion.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals cell atlas and identifies cycling tumor cells responsible for recurrence in ameloblastoma

Ameloblastoma is a benign tumor characterized by locally invasive phenotypes,leading to facial bone destruction and a high recurrence rate.However,the mechanisms governing tumor initiation and recurrence are poorly understood.Here,we uncovered cellular landscapes and mechanisms that underlie tumor recurrence in ameloblastoma at single-cell resolution.Our results revealed that ameloblastoma exhibits five tumor subpopulations varying with respect to immune response(IR),bone remodeling(BR),tooth development(TD),epithelial development(ED),and cell cycle(CC)signatures.Of note,we found that CC ameloblastoma cells were endowed with stemness and contributed to tumor recurrence,which was dominated by the EZH2-mediated program.Targeting EZH2 effectively eliminated CC ameloblastoma cells and inhibited tumor growth in ameloblastoma patient-derived organoids.These data described the tumor subpopulation and clarified the identity,function,and regulatory mechanism of CC ameloblastoma cells,providing a potential therapeutic target for ameloblastoma.

Egypt Shows World How to Tackle Hepatitis C

In October 2023,Egypt received recognition for a feat that cheered public health experts around the world:It became the first country awarded the World Health Organization(WHO)“Gold Tier”certification for its progress in eliminating viral hepatitis caused by the hepatitis C virus(HCV)[1].It is also the first time in history that a country has nearly eliminated a chronic illness caused by a virus.While that achievement itself is remarkable,especially impressive is the speed with which Egypt accomplished this public health triumph.In just 14 years,from 2008 to 2022,Egypt’s prevalence of HCV viral hepatitis fell from 10%to 0.38%[1],and deaths due to the disease dropped by 51%[2].Modeling suggests the country’s aggressive elimination program,which has tested more than 60 million people and treated more than 4 million[1],will have prevented almost 250000 HCV-related deaths by 2030[3].

美国《保健物理》(Health Physics)杂志英文摘要(2023年126卷第5期)

High-rate Gamma Spectrometry Using a LaBr_(3)(Ce)Scintillator with a Fast Pulse Shaping.Tianyi Ren1,2,Soo Hyun Byun1,2(1.Department of Physics and Astronomy,McMaster University,Hamilton,ON,L8S 4K1,Canada;2.Radiation Sciences Graduate Program,McMaster University,Hamilton,ON,L8S 4K1,Canada)Abstract:The performance of a LaBr_(3)(Ce)gamma spectrometer at high count rates was investigated up to an input count rate of 1.3 Mcps.In order to make its pulse processing faster,a preamplifier provided by the detector manufacturer was eliminated,and the signal from the photomultiplier tubewas fed directly to a digital pulse processing system.

Eliminating H_(2)O/HF and regulating interphase with bifunctional tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate(TDI)additive for long life Li-ion battery

Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)featuring a Ni-rich cathode exhibit increased specific capacity,but the establishment of a stable interphase through the implementation of a functional electrolyte strategy remains challenging.Especially when the battery is operated under high temperature,the trace water present in the electrolyte will accelerate the hydrolysis of the electrolyte and the resulting HF will further erode the interphase.In order to enhance the long-term cycling performance of graphite/LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(NCM811)LIBs,herein,Tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate(TDI)additive containing lone-pair electrons is employed to formulate a novel bifunctional electrolyte aimed at eliminating H_(2)O/HF generated at elevated temperature.After 1000 cycles at 25℃,the battery incorporating the TDI-containing electrolyte exhibits an impressive capacity retention of 94%at 1 C.In contrast,the battery utilizing the blank electrolyte has a lower capacity retention of only 78%.Furthermore,after undergoing 550 cycles at 1 C under45℃,the inclusion of TDI results in a notable enhancement of capacity,increasing it from 68%to 80%.This indicates TDI has a favorable influence on the cycling performance of LIBs,especially at elevated temperatures.The analysis of the film formation mechanism suggests that the lone pair of electrons of the isocyanate group in TDI play a crucial role in inhibiting the generation of H_(2)O and HF,which leads to the formation of a thin and dense interphase.The existence of this interphase is thought to substantially enhance the cycling performance of the LIBs.This work not only improves the performance of graphite/NCM811 batteries at room temperature and high temperature by eliminating H_(2)O/HF but also presents a novel strategy for advancing functional electrolyte development.

Highly Thermoconductive,Strong Graphene‑Based Composite Films by Eliminating Nanosheets Wrinkles

Graphene-based thermally conductive composites have been proposed as effective thermal management materials for cooling high-power electronic devices.However,when flexible graphene nanosheets are assembled into macroscopic thermally conductive composites,capillary forces induce shrinkage of graphene nanosheets to form wrinkles during solution-based spontaneous drying,which greatly reduces the thermal conductivity of the composites.Herein,graphene nanosheets/aramid nanofiber(GNS/ANF)composite films with high thermal conductivity were prepared by in-plane stretching of GNS/ANF composite hydrogel networks with hydrogen bonds andπ-πinteractions.The in-plane mechanical stretching eliminates graphene nanosheets wrinkles by suppressing inward shrinkage due to capillary forces during drying and achieves a high in-plane orientation of graphene nanosheets,thereby creating a fast in-plane heat transfer channel.The composite films(GNS/ANF-60 wt%)with eliminated graphene nanosheets wrinkles showed a significant increase in thermal conductivity(146 W m^(−1)K^(−1))and tensile strength(207 MPa).The combination of these excellent properties enables the GNS/ANF composite films to be effectively used for cooling flexible LED chips and smartphones,showing promising applications in the thermal management of high-power electronic devices.

Molecular mechanisms underlying microglial sensing and phagocytosis in synaptic pruning

Microglia are the main non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system that have important roles in brain development and functional connectivity of neural circuits.In brain physiology,highly dynamic microglial processes are facilitated to sense the surrounding environment and stimuli.Once the brain switches its functional states,microglia are recruited to specific sites to exert their immune functions,including the release of cytokines and phagocytosis of cellular debris.The crosstalk of microglia between neurons,neural stem cells,endothelial cells,oligodendrocytes,and astrocytes contributes to their functions in synapse pruning,neurogenesis,vascularization,myelination,and blood-brain barrier permeability.In this review,we highlight the neuron-derived“find-me,”“eat-me,”and“don't eat-me”molecular signals that drive microglia in response to changes in neuronal activity for synapse refinement during brain development.This review reveals the molecular mechanism of neuron-microglia interaction in synaptic pruning and presents novel ideas for the synaptic pruning of microglia in disease,thereby providing important clues for discovery of target drugs and development of nervous system disease treatment methods targeting synaptic dysfunction.

Road Traffic Monitoring from Aerial Images Using Template Matching and Invariant Features

Road traffic monitoring is an imperative topic widely discussed among researchers.Systems used to monitor traffic frequently rely on cameras mounted on bridges or roadsides.However,aerial images provide the flexibility to use mobile platforms to detect the location and motion of the vehicle over a larger area.To this end,different models have shown the ability to recognize and track vehicles.However,these methods are not mature enough to produce accurate results in complex road scenes.Therefore,this paper presents an algorithm that combines state-of-the-art techniques for identifying and tracking vehicles in conjunction with image bursts.The extracted frames were converted to grayscale,followed by the application of a georeferencing algorithm to embed coordinate information into the images.The masking technique eliminated irrelevant data and reduced the computational cost of the overall monitoring system.Next,Sobel edge detection combined with Canny edge detection and Hough line transform has been applied for noise reduction.After preprocessing,the blob detection algorithm helped detect the vehicles.Vehicles of varying sizes have been detected by implementing a dynamic thresholding scheme.Detection was done on the first image of every burst.Then,to track vehicles,the model of each vehicle was made to find its matches in the succeeding images using the template matching algorithm.To further improve the tracking accuracy by incorporating motion information,Scale Invariant Feature Transform(SIFT)features have been used to find the best possible match among multiple matches.An accuracy rate of 87%for detection and 80%accuracy for tracking in the A1 Motorway Netherland dataset has been achieved.For the Vehicle Aerial Imaging from Drone(VAID)dataset,an accuracy rate of 86%for detection and 78%accuracy for tracking has been achieved.

A shadow- eliminated vegetation index (SEVI) for removal of self and cast shadow effects on vegetation in rugged terrains

The effect of terrain shadow, including the self and cast shadows, is one ofthe main obstacles for accurate retrieval of vegetation parameters byremote sensing in rugged terrains. A shadow- eliminated vegetation index(SEVI) was developed, which was computed from only red and nearinfrared top-of-atmosphere reflectance without other heterogeneous dataand topographic correction. After introduction of the conceptual modeland feature analysis of conventional wavebands, the SEVI was constructedby ratio vegetation index (RVI), shadow vegetation index (SVI) andadjustment factor (f (Δ)). Then three methods were used to validate theSEVI accuracy in elimination of terrain shadow effects, including relativeerror analysis, correlation analysis between the cosine of solar incidenceangle (cosi) and vegetation indices, and comparison analysis between SEVIand conventional vegetation indices with topographic correction. Thevalidation results based on 532 samples showed that the SEVI relativeerrors for self and cast shadows were 4.32% and 1.51% respectively. Thecoefficient of determination between cosi and SEVI was only 0.032 and thecoefficient of variation (std/mean) for SEVI was 12.59%. The results indicatethat the proposed SEVI effectively eliminated the effect of terrain shadowsand achieved similar or better results than conventional vegetation indiceswith topographic correction.

Modeling mitochondria,where are the numbers?

Models and simulations are particularly useful for exploring ideas and concepts in the biological sciences that are expe rimentally impracticable.in silico methods are also gaining acceptance with regulatory authorities as an alternative to animal testing.For example,the Environmental Protection Agency aims to eliminate animal testi ng by 2035.

Cancer Mortality and Cause Eliminated Life Expectancy in Key Areas of Four Provinces——China,2008-2018

Introduction:Cancer is a major health problem in China.Integrated interventions have been implemented in key areas of Anhui,Henan,Jiangsu,and Shandong provinces with historically higher than average cancer mortality.Assessing the cancer mortality trend and its impact on life expectancy(LE)could help evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in these regions.Methods:Based on the National Cause-of-Death Surveillance,we analyzed the standardized mortality rate(SMR)of cancer,cause eliminated life expectancy(CELE),potential gains in life expectancy(PGLEs),and rate of life lost in key areas of 4 provinces from 2008 to 2018.Joinpoint program was used to compute the average annual percentage change(AAPC)of cancer mortality.Arriaga’s decomposition method was used to estimate the contribution of cancer to LE in each age group.Results:From 2008 to 2018,cancer SMR decreased in the study region(AAPC=−3.09%,P<0.001),which increased LE.The positive effect was the greatest in the 75-79 age group(0.120 years,2.90%),and the negative effect was the greatest in the 50-54 age group(-0.094 years,−2.20%).Compared to 2008,cancer CELE increased by 3.95 years,PGLEs increased by 0.32 years,and rate of life lost increased by 0.21%in 2018.Conclusions:Cancer SMR decreased in key areas of 4 provinces from 2008 to 2018.This change had a positive effect on the increase of LE.However,the rate of life lost due to cancer increased.Integrated interventions should continue to further reduce the cancer burden.

N,S,Br co-doped carbon dots:One-step synthesis and fluorescent detection of 6-mercaptopurine in tablet

6-mercaptopurine(6-MP),a purine derivative(3,7-dihydropurine-6-thione),has been utilized as an effective immunosuppressive drug for clinically treating leukemia and other autoimmune diseases[1].6-MP and its corresponding metabolites can suppress the function of RnaseH,and thus they are cytotoxic and threaten the human health[2].Therefore,the accurate quantification of 6-MP is crucial.To date,researchers continue to expend considerable effort in developing 6-MP detection methods.Fluorescence analysis eliminates disadvantages,such as toxic solvents,expensive equipment.

Hemoperfusion and continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration for eliminating chlorfenapyr in poisoning patients

Chlorfenapyr is a liposoluble insecticide belonging to the pyrrole family.Chlorfenapyr is activated when the N-ethoxymethyl side chain breaks,forming a toxic metabolite,which uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria,inhibits the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP),and leads to the death of cells and targe organisms.[1] Symptoms of chlorfenapyr poisoning in patients are mild and atypical in the early stage,especially in patients receiving low dose exposure;however,such cases are rare and may be ignored by physicians,often leading to delayed treatment.[2,3].

An improved initial rotor position estimation method using high-frequency pulsating voltage injection for PMSM

High frequency pulsating voltage injection method is a good candidate for detecting the initial rotor position of permanent magnet synchronous motor.However,traditional methods require a large number of filters,which leads to the deterioration of system stability and dynamic performance.In order to solve these problems,a new signal demodulation method is proposed in this paper.The proposed new method can directly obtain the amplitude of high-frequency current,thus eliminating the use of filters,improving system stability and dynamic performance and saving the work of adjusting filter parameters.In addition,a new magnetic polarity detection method is proposed,which is robust to current measurement noise.Finally,experiments verify the effectiveness of the method.

Focus on pet diseases

Pets become vital companions in human life.Tey ofer companionship and emotional support,and contribute signifcantly to physical and mental health,as well as social activities.Living with pets can stimulate human bodies to release more“afnity hormones”such as serotonin,dopamine,and oxytocin,which helps alleviate negative emotions.Te human-animal bond can enhance the human body’s ability to eliminate toxins,reduce the risk of illnesses,strengthen the immune system,and alleviate depressive symptoms.Moreover,pet-related social activities can facilitate the making of new friends and the establishment of social connections,serving as a bridge for those who struggle with social interactions.

Coupling Analysis of Multiple Machine Learning Models for Human Activity Recognition

Artificial intelligence(AI)technology has become integral in the realm of medicine and healthcare,particularly in human activity recognition(HAR)applications such as fitness and rehabilitation tracking.This study introduces a robust coupling analysis framework that integrates four AI-enabled models,combining both machine learning(ML)and deep learning(DL)approaches to evaluate their effectiveness in HAR.The analytical dataset comprises 561 features sourced from the UCI-HAR database,forming the foundation for training the models.Additionally,the MHEALTH database is employed to replicate the modeling process for comparative purposes,while inclusion of the WISDM database,renowned for its challenging features,supports the framework’s resilience and adaptability.The ML-based models employ the methodologies including adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system(ANFIS),support vector machine(SVM),and random forest(RF),for data training.In contrast,a DL-based model utilizes one-dimensional convolution neural network(1dCNN)to automate feature extraction.Furthermore,the recursive feature elimination(RFE)algorithm,which drives an ML-based estimator to eliminate low-participation features,helps identify the optimal features for enhancing model performance.The best accuracies of the ANFIS,SVM,RF,and 1dCNN models with meticulous featuring process achieve around 90%,96%,91%,and 93%,respectively.Comparative analysis using the MHEALTH dataset showcases the 1dCNN model’s remarkable perfect accuracy(100%),while the RF,SVM,and ANFIS models equipped with selected features achieve accuracies of 99.8%,99.7%,and 96.5%,respectively.Finally,when applied to the WISDM dataset,the DL-based and ML-based models attain accuracies of 91.4%and 87.3%,respectively,aligning with prior research findings.In conclusion,the proposed framework yields HAR models with commendable performance metrics,exhibiting its suitability for integration into the healthcare services system through AI-driven applications.