Epidemiological Data Mining for Assisting with Foodborne Outbreak Investigation.

Diseases caused by the consumption of food are a significant but avoidable public health issue, and identifying the source of contamination is a key step in an outbreak investigation to prevent foodborne illnesses. Historical foodborne outbreaks provide rich data on critical attributes such as outbreak factors, food vehicles, and etiologies, and an improved understanding of the relationships between these attributes could provide insights for developing effective food safety interventions. The purpose of this study was to identify hidden patterns underlying the relations between the critical attributes involved in historical foodborne outbreaks through data mining approaches.

A Novel Foodborne Illness Detection and Web Application Tool Based on Social Media.

Foodborne diseases and outbreaks are significant threats to public health, resulting in millions of illnesses and deaths worldwide each year. Traditional foodborne disease surveillance systems rely on data from healthcare facilities, laboratories, and government agencies to monitor and control outbreaks. Recently, there is a growing recognition of the potential value of incorporating social media data into surveillance systems.

Amyloid peptide hydrogels formation of coordination polymers with Ag by its core peptide equipped with a C-cysteine.

We report that the core sequence of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide, KLVFF, when equipped with a C-terminal cysteine residue, exhibited an extremely low minimum hydrogelation concentration of 0.05 wt% in the presence of Ag in pH 5 buffer, with this concentration 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of the pentapeptide itself. The CD signal of the Ag-L-KLVFFC hydrogel was observed to be sensitive to the early-stage aggregation of amyloid β peptide.

Dynamics and Predictability of Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification in Ensemble Simulations of Hurricane Patricia (2015).

Hurricane Patricia (2015) over the eastern Pacific was a record-breaking tropical cyclone (TC) under a very favorable environment during its rapid intensification (RI) period, which makes it an optimal real case for studying RI dynamics and predictability. In this study, we performed ensemble Kalman filter analyses at Patricia's early development stage using both traditional observations and the Office of Naval Research Tropical Cyclone Intensity (TCI) field campaign data. It is shown that assimilating the inner-core TCI observations produces a stronger initial vortex and significantly improves the prediction of RI.

Crowdsourcing and machine learning approaches for extracting entities indicating potential foodborne outbreaks from social media.

Foodborne outbreaks are a serious but preventable threat to public health that often lead to illness, loss of life, significant economic loss, and the erosion of consumer confidence. Understanding how consumers respond when interacting with foods, as well as extracting information from posts on social media may provide new means of reducing the risks and curtailing the outbreaks. In recent years, Twitter has been employed as a new tool for identifying unreported foodborne illnesses.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) promotes the inflammation and apoptosis of otitis media with effusion through targeting microRNA (miR)-495 and activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a vital role in human inflammatory diseases. Our study aimed to investigate the function of lncRNA nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in otitis media with effusion (OME). The mRNA levels of NEAT1 and miR-495 were measured by RT-qPCR.

Effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba diterpene lactone in the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of systemic Ginkgo biloba diterpene lactone therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Methods: This retrospective review investigated 56 patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Among them, 26 patients received conventional therapy (group C, intravenous methylprednisolone), and 30 received conventional therapy supplemented with Ginkgo biloba diterpene lactone (group G).

Utilization of text mining as a big data analysis tool for food science and nutrition.

Big data analysis has found applications in many industries due to its ability to turn huge amounts of data into insights for informed business and operational decisions. Advanced data mining techniques have been applied in many sectors of supply chains in the food industry. However, the previous work has mainly focused on the analysis of instrument-generated data such as those from hyperspectral imaging, spectroscopy, and biometric receptors.

Helical nanofibers of -(perfluorooctanoyl)cysteine ethyl ester in coordination polymers of Ag.

We propose using the formation of coordination polymers of Ag+ to probe differences between the perfluorinated alkyl chain and the alkyl chain by deriving a thiol ligand, N-(perfluoroalkanoyl)cysteine. Rapid formation in EtOH of P-/M-helical nanofibrils of high thermostability was found for N-(perfluorooctanoyl)-l-/d-cysteine ethyl esters at the μM level upon mixing with Ag+, but not for the octanoyl counterpart. This difference was also observed in terms of circular dichroism-enantiomeric excess dependence.

Early-life Programming of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Understanding the Association between Epigenetics/Genetics and Environmental Factors.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is an increasing public health problem that poses a severe social and economic burden affecting both developed and developing countries. Defects in insulin signaling itself are among the earliest indications that an individual is predisposed to the development of insulin resistance and subsequently Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. To date, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms which result in resistance to the actions of insulin are poorly understood.

Quality comparison of "Laba" garlic processed by High Hydrostatic Pressure and High Pressure Carbon Dioxide.

The production of "Laba" garlic is limited to the homemade method with long processing time and non-uniform color quality. Innovative food processing technologies including high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and high pressure carbon dioxide (HPCD) were applied to the processing of "Laba" garlic. Products prepared at different treatment pressures (200, 350 and 500 MPa of HHP; 4, 7 and 10 MPa of HPCD) were compared by evaluating the texture, color, flavor and sensory qualities.

A Facile Pathway to Modify Cellulose Composite Film by Reducing Wettability and Improving Barrier towards Moisture.

The hydrophilic property of cellulose is a key limiting factor for its wide application. Here, a novel solution impregnation pathway was developed to increase the hydrophobic properties of cellulose. When compared with the regenerated cellulose (RC), the composite films showed a decrease in water uptake ability towards water vapor, and an increase of the water contact angle from 29° to 65° with increasing resin content in the composites, with only a slight change in the transmittance.

Ag coordination polymers of a chiral thiol ligand bearing an AIE fluorophore.

We report that in the Ag coordination polymers of a chiral thiol ligand containing an AIE fluorophore, tetraphenylethene (TPE), the TPE chromophores experience H-type aggregation, and yet a substantial enhancement of the fluorescence is observed, though to a lesser extent than that in the aggregates of the thiol ligand itself, which undergoes J-type aggregation. We show that this is not due to the difference in the freedom of the rotation of the fluorophore in the two types of aggregate, but is due to a small increase in the radiation rate constant in the coordination polymers while the much higher radiationless rate constant remains more or less unchanged.

Supramolecular aggregates as sensory ensembles.

As a new emerging area in chemical sensing, sensing using supramolecular aggregates exhibits unique advantages over that using conventional small-molecule chemical sensors, in terms of high sensitivity and selectivity, and the simplicity of the sensory building blocks. This Feature Article outlines the recent research progress made in sensing based on induced supramolecular aggregation-disaggregation. The reviewed sensory building blocks, in general, in the form of a small molecular sensor, yet with a much simpler structure, which form aggregates, are those of perylene derivatives, pyrene derivatives, tetraphenylethylene derivatives, metallophilic species and metal-organic frameworks.

'Laba' garlic processed by dense phase carbon dioxide: the relation between green colour generation and cellular structure, alliin consumption and alliinase activity.

Background: 'Laba' garlic is usually processed by soaking garlic in vinegar for more than 1 week during winter. It is popular for its unique green colour and tasty flavour. Greening is desirable and required for this product as its characteristic.

Chirality sensing using Ag⁺-thiol coordination polymers.

We report here chirality sensing using achiral Ag(+)-thiol coordination polymers as the framework which becomes CD active upon interaction with chiral species, taking p-mercaptophenylboronic acid as a thiol ligand that bears a binding group for monosaccharides.

[Results of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for early lung cancer: prevalence in 4 690 asymptomatic participants].

Objective: To report the results of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for early lung cancer in 4 690 asymptomatic participants at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between July 2007 and June 2012.

Methods: After informed consent and questionnaire forms were obtained, 4 690 asymptomatic participants ≥ 40 years underwent chest low dose spiral CT scanning. According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline for lung cancer screening (version 1.

Highly flexible magnetic composite aerogels prepared by using cellulose nanofibril networks as templates.

Nanostructured cellulose nanofibrils can form ductile or tough networks that are suitable templates for the creation of materials with functional properties. In this work, a facile method has been developed for the preparation of magnetic hybrid cellulose aerogels. The preparation processes followed by two steps, firstly, preparation of cellulose hydrogel films from LiOH/urea solvent, then CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized in the porous structured cellulose scaffolds.

Performance of electromyography recorded using textile electrodes in classifying arm movements.

Electromyography (EMG) signals are commonly recorded using the Ag/AgCl gel electrodes in myoelectric prosthetic control. While a gelled electrode may provide high-quality EMG recordings, it is inconvenient in clinical application of a myoelectric prosthesis. A novel type of signal sensors-textile electrodes should be ideal in control of myoelectric prostheses.

[Detection of EBV-LMP1 antibodies in sera and clinical significance in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Objective: To detect the levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 Antibodies (LMP1-Ab) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)sera and discuss the clinical significance of this test in diagnosis, prognosis, and immune-targeted therapy of NPC.

Method: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot method were used to detect the LMP1-Ab levels in 61 NPC sera, 30 nasopharyngitis sera, and 55 normal sera. The relationship between the LMP1-Ab level and clinical and pathological features of NPC was analyzed.

[The correlation study of PTEN gene expression and Akt phosphorylation in myelodysplastic syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between PTEN gene expression and Akt phosphorylation (p-Akt) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and to explore the progression of MDS and the mechanism of high risk transformation to acute myeloid leukemia.

Methods: RT-PCR was used to detect the PTEN mRNA expression in leukemia cell lines K562 (as negative control) and Jurkat (as positive control) and 65 MDS and MDS/AML patients. Flow cytometry was used to detect p-Akt in HL-60 and Jurkat cells and 30 MDS patients.