Objective To identify the subcellular location of S AR S-CoV N protein in mammalian cells. Methods The gene fraction of SARS-CoV was cloned into the PGEFP-C1 plasmid to construct expression vecto r PGEFP-C1/N. The subcellular location of N in A549 and VeroE6 cells was observ ed under fluorescence microscope with the aid of transient transfection techniqu e. The expression of the fusion protein (GFP-N) was detected by Western blot. Results The PGEFP-C1/N was constructed. N protein was localiz ed in the cytoplasm of transfected cells and detected by Western blot. C onclusion N protein was localized in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells.

Objective To prepare and characterize the polyclonal antibody against N protein of SARS-CoV. Methods The polyclonal antibody against SARS-CoV N was obtained from immunized rabbit with purified GST-N. The titer of the antibody was determined by indirect ELISA, and the specificity by Western blot and immunochemical staining. Results The rabbit′s antibody against SARS-CoV N was prepared successfully. The titer of antiserum against SARS-CoV N was about 1.2?10~ -5 . Western blot and immunochemical staining analysis showed that the polyclonal antibody could bind to the expressed fusion protein specifically. Conclusion The rabbit′s antibody against SARS-CoV N has been prepared successfully, and it can be a useful reagent for clinical diagnosis and further research.

Automatic speaker gender identification based on voice feature is an important task in voice processing and analysis fields. In this paper non-linear parameters such as fractal dimension are applied to be one part of feature space for improving the ability of describing speaker gender feature through conventional linear parameters method. Pitch is picked using lifting scheme, and audio fractal dimension is extracted. Then based on Takens theory, the time delay method is used to reconstruct the phase space of fractal dimension sequence. And fractal dimension complexity is obtained by calculating Approximate Entropy. Three dimension feature vectors, including the pitch, the fractal dimension and the fractal dimension complexity, are applied to speaker gender identification. Experiment results show that through adding non-linear parameters, compared with the linear parameter using one dimension only such as pitch, the proposed method is more accurate and robust, and thus provides a new way for speaker gender identification.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Biometry ; methods ; Humans ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Pitch Discrimination ; Sex Characteristics ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Speech ; Speech Acoustics ; Voice

The one-step method was adopted in this study to synthesize aliphatic polyurethane with 4,4-methylene dicyclohexyl diisocyanate(HMDI), 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and poly (tetrahydrofuran) (PTMG). The tests conducted on this material were: FIR spectrum, mechanical properties test, water contact angles test, hemolysis test and platelet adhesion test. Results showed that this material has a good tensile strength up to 30 Mpa, similar to aromaphatic polyurethane. But its tensile elongation, tensile permanent change, hydrophility are better than those of aromaphatic polyurethane. The hemolysis test and platelet adhesion test showed that it has good blood compatibility.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; toxicity ; In Vitro Techniques ; Materials Testing ; Platelet Adhesiveness ; drug effects ; Polyurethanes ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Rabbits ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Surface Properties ; Tensile Strength

In this paper, a new calculating method of generalized dimension, based on boxes-coupling principle, is proposed to overcome the edge effects and to improve the capability of the speech endpoint detection which is based on the original calculating method of generalized dimension. This new method has been applied to speech endpoint detection. Firstly, the length of overlapping border was determined, and through calculating the generalized dimension by covering the speech signal with overlapped boxes, three-dimension feature vectors including the box dimension, the information dimension and the correlation dimension were obtained. Secondly, in the light of the relation between feature distance and similarity degree, feature extraction was conducted by use of common distance. Lastly, bi-threshold method was used to classify the speech signals. The results of experiment indicated that, by comparison with the original generalized dimension (OGD) and the spectral entropy (SE) algorithm, the proposed method is more robust and effective for detecting the speech signals which contain different kinds of noise in different signal noise ratio (SNR), especially in low SNR.
Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Speech ; Speech Production Measurement ; methods ; Speech Recognition Software

Objective To analyze the burden and changes caused by burns among Chinese population,from 1990 to 2013.Methods Using the G20 data and the China national and subnational data from GBD2013,this study deemed to comprehensively show the burden caused by burns and the change from 1990 to 2013,using the indicators of death and DALY.Results In 2013,the standardized mortality of burns in Chinese was 0.88/100 000,with the standardized DALY rate of burn as 30.58/100 000.The ratio of DALY between males and females was 1.85 ∶ 1.Among the G20 countries,China ranked 16 for the standardized DALY rate,according to the top down order.The highest death rate was seen in the age group of 70 and over,followed by age group of 5,which had the highest DALY rate and followed by the 70 or older age group.In different provinces,Guizhou presented the highest DALY rate (50.24/100 000),with Aomen area the lowest (6.16/100 000).From 1990 to 2013,the burden of burn reduced generally.Both the standardized rates on death and DALY reduced by 68.10％ and 76.95％ respectively,more in females than in males.Standardized rates on death and DALY reduced among all the age groups,with the rates of reduction increasing by age.From 1990 to 2013,the DALY rate decreased in all the provinces.Conclusions The burden of burn decreased in Chinese population during 1990-2013.However,the burden of burn among children,elderly and males were still relatively high that called for closer attention.

Objective To explore the disease burden of road injuries in China.Methods The results of Global Burden of Disease 2013 including death rate,disability-adjusted of life years (DALY),years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLL),years lived with disability (YLD),were used to describe the burden caused by road injuries in 2013 and the trends from 1990 to 2013,in China.Results In 2013,there were 313 676 deaths caused by traffic accidents in China.Death rate,rates on DALY,YLL and YLD were 22.52 per 100 000,1 076.54 per 100 000,971.21 per 100 000 and 105.34 per 100 000,respectively.Rates on deaths,YLL and YLD appeared higher in males,pedestrians than in females and other types of road travelers.Burden of injuries caused by traffic accidents was seen higher in those aged 15 to 49-year-old.From 1990 to 2013,the overall death rate on road injuries increased by 0.54 per 100 000 in China,with an increase of 2.34 per 100 000 and 0.81 per 100 000,respectively in males and pedestrians.The rates on DALY,YLL and YLD decreased by 164.21 per 100 000,115.06 per 100 000 and 49.06 per 100 000,respectively.Conclusions During the past 20 years,achievements had been made on road injury prevention and control,with the decrease of disease burden caused by road accidents.Males,young adults and pedestrians should be called for more attention to prevent road injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of different antiviral and antifibrotic regimens in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and hepatic fibrosis and the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with these therapies. METHODS: A total of 840 patients with CHB and concurrent hepatic fibrosis, who received antiviral therapy in Nanfang Hospital between June, 2010 and June, 2018, were enrolled in this follow-up cohort study. The patients were assigned to 3 cohorts matched for gender, age (difference≤5 years), HBeAg status and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) for treatment with one of the 3 antiviral drugs, namely entecavir, tenofovir dipivoxil and adefovir dipivoxil; each cohort was divided into 2 groups, with one of the groups having a combined treatment with Fufang Biejiaruangan tablet. The cumulative negative conversion rate of HBV DNA, normalization rate of ALT, hepatic fibrosis regression and the incidence of HCC were compared among the 3 cohorts and across the 6 groups at 144 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 749 patients were available to follow-up at 144 weeks. Compared with the baseline data, the cumulative negative conversion rate of HBV DNA increased gradually and the abnormal rate of ALT decreased significantly over time during the treatment in all the 6 groups (all < 0.001). Compared with the any of the antiviral drugs used alone, the combined treatments all resulted in significantly better antifibrotic effects (χ=11.345, χ=10.160, χ=6.358; all < 0.05). At 144 weeks, the incidence of HCC were 2.2%, 1.7%, 1.7% and 3.3% in enecavir group, enecavir with Biejiaruangan tablet group, adefovir group, and adefovir with Biejiaruangan tablet group, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two cohorts (4 groups; χ=6.813, =0.138). None of the patients in the 2 groups with tenofovir treatment had HCC by the end of the observation. CONCLUSIONS Antiviral therapy combined with antifibrotic therapy can effectively reverse hepatic fibrosis and reduce the incidence of HCC in patients with CHB; among the 3 antiviral drugs, tenofovir dipivoxil can be a better option for reducing the incidence of HCC in these patients.
Antiviral Agents ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; etiology ; DNA, Viral ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Liver Neoplasms ; etiology ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo understand the characteristics of self-inflicted injury/suicide cases that were seen from the clinic or the emergency rooms, to provide basis for suicide prevention strategies development.

METHODSData from the National Injury Surveillance System, from 2006 to 2013 were used to analyze the trend of self-inflicted injury/suicide proportion in injuries as well as the socio-demographic characteristics of the cases with related basic and clinic information related to self-inflicted injury/suicide.

RESULTSThe proportion of self-inflicted injury/suicide cases decreased during the past 8 years. 58.6% of the self-inflicted injury/suicide cases were females in 2013 and 42.1% received junior secondary school education. Self-inflicted injury/suicide were mostly taken place at home (76.2% ). Poisoning (56.1% ) and sharp injury were the major ways causing self-inflicted injury or suicide.

CONCLUSIONInterventions on self-inflicted injury/suicide should be strengthened including control programs on pesticide/psychotropic drugs. Prevention on future attempts and suicide should include the full use during the in-hospital time of those suicide attempters.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; epidemiology ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Self-Injurious Behavior ; Suicide ; statistics & numerical data ; Suicide, Attempted ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVETo understand the trend and current characteristics of children engaged in road traffic injury. Data was from the Nation Injury Surveillance System (NISS) and the results of the study would provide basis for corresponding intervention strategies and decision-making.

METHODSDescriptive analysis was applied to display the trend of child road traffic injury from 2006 and 2013 and also to depict the general information, injuries event and clinical characteristics of child road traffic injuries in 2013.

RESULTSThe number of child road traffic injuries increased from 2006 to 2013 and ranking the second cause of child unintentional injuries during these years. However, the proportion of child road traffic injuries among child unintentional injuries decreased in the same period. In 2013, sex ratio appeared as 1.82, with 17- year-old age group accounting for 10.86% . Injuries caused by motor traffic vehicles accounted for 66.44% , with July/August, weekends and 17-18 PM as the peak period or time. Transportation related injuries accounted for 65.42% , with 73.53% as bruise. 33.81% of the injury involved in the head but 76.42% of injuries were minor, while 74.86% went home after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONChild road traffic injury should not be ignored. Age and sex differences should be taken into account when carrying out education programs on child road traffic safety. Male students at senior high school or preschool were target groups when carrying out child road traffic injury intervention programs.

Accidents, Traffic ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Motor Vehicles ; Schools ; Sex Characteristics ; Students ; Transportation ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology ; prevention & control