Guangxi, a province in southwestern China, has the second highest reported number of HIV/AIDS cases in China. This study aimed to develop an accurate and effective model to describe the tendency of HIV and to predict its incidence in Guangxi. HIV incidence data of Guangxi from 2005 to 2016 were obtained from the database of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network models, autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models, generalised regression neural network (GRNN) models and exponential smoothing (ES) were used to fit the incidence data. Data from 2015 and 2016 were used to validate the most suitable models. The model performances were evaluated by evaluating metrics, including mean square error (MSE), root mean square error, mean absolute error and mean absolute percentage error. The LSTM model had the lowest MSE when the N value (time step) was 12. The most appropriate ARIMA models for incidence in 2015 and 2016 were ARIMA (1, 1, 2) (0, 1, 2)12 and ARIMA (2, 1, 0) (1, 1, 2)12, respectively. The accuracy of GRNN and ES models in forecasting HIV incidence in Guangxi was relatively poor. Four performance metrics of the LSTM model were all lower than the ARIMA, GRNN and ES models. The LSTM model was more effective than other time-series models and is important for the monitoring and control of local HIV epidemics.

Compensatory gain describes an accelerated growth seen in animals following a period of nutrient restriction. Methionine (Met) is the second limiting amino acid in typical swine diets and is essential for muscle growth. This study was conducted to determine (1) if a Met-deficient diet can cause growth retardation in growing pigs, (2) if returning to a normal feeding can yield compensatory gain in the pigs previously fed the Met-deficient diet, and (3) if this Met-deficiency followed by the normal feeding program affects carcass characteristics. Twenty individually-penned crossbred young barrows were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments (n = 10). One Met-deficient (D1) and one Met-adequate (D2) diets were formulated based on corn and soybean meal and fed to respective pigs for 31 days. After that, all pigs were fed the same commercial grower-finisher diet until market weight (around 125 kg), then slaughtered, and carcass characteristics measured. The D1 and D2 pigs began with similar body weights (23.5 vs. 23.6 kg; P = 0.935), but after 31-days on the dietary treatments, D1 pigs were lighter than D2 pigs (51.6 vs. 55.0 kg; P = 0.102). After feeding the normal diet for 55 days, D1 and D2 pigs had similar body weights (122.7 vs. 122.6 kg; P = 0.989). In terms of carcass characteristics, however, D1 pigs had thicker back-fat (at 10th rib; 2.95 vs. 2.51 cm; P = 0.015), heavier belly weight (11.0 vs. 9.6 kg; P = 0.005), lighter ham weights (untrimmed: 20.8 vs. 21.6 kg; P = 0.043; trimmed: 19.6 vs. 20.6 kg; P = 0.016), lighter picnic shoulder weight (8.72 vs. 9.80 kg; P = 0.041), lighter total lean cut weight (51.8 vs. 53.8 kg; P = 0.055), and lower lean cut percentage (56.4 vs. 59.0%; P = 0.012). These results indicate that the Met-deficient diet produced growth-retarded pigs, which showed compensatory gain after the normal feeding. At slaughter, the pigs previously fed the Met-deficient diet had more fat and less lean tissue than their non-deficient counterparts.

Giant electromagnetic pulses (EMP) generated during the interaction of high-power lasers with solid targets can seriously degrade electrical measurements and equipment. EMP emission is caused by the acceleration of hot electrons inside the target, which produce radiation across a wide band from DC to terahertz frequencies. Improved understanding and control of EMP is vital as we enter a new era of high repetition rate, high intensity lasers (e.g. the Extreme Light Infrastructure). We present recent data from the VULCAN laser facility that demonstrates how EMP can be readily and effectively reduced. Characterization of the EMP was achieved using B-dot and D-dot probes that took measurements for a range of different target and laser parameters. We demonstrate that target stalk geometry, material composition, geodesic path length and foil surface area can all play a significant role in the reduction of EMP. A combination of electromagnetic wave and 3D particle-in-cell simulations is used to inform our conclusions about the effects of stalk geometry on EMP, providing an opportunity for comparison with existing charge separation models.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), usually a self-limiting illness for young children, could cause a significant burden for parents because it can take up to 1–2 weeks for a sick child to recover. We conducted a two-wave longitudinal study over one summer peak season (May–July 2014) of HFMD to examine parents’ HFMD-related risk perceptions and protective responses. In total, 618 parents with at least one child aged ⩽12 years, recruited using randomly-dialled household telephone calls completed the baseline survey interview, 452 of whom subsequently completed the follow-up survey. Around two-thirds of participants perceived the chance of their child being infected by HFMD was ‘zero/very small/small’ but the likelihood of being hospitalized once infected was ‘somewhat likely/likely/very likely’. At follow-up, 82% reported washing child's hands frequently (Hygiene), 16% would keep their child away from school if HFMD cases were identified in school (Distancing) and 23% were ‘very likely/certainly’ to take the child for HFMD vaccination if available (Vaccination). Anticipated regret was consistently the strongest predictor for Hygiene (OR 3.34), and intention of Distancing (OR 2.58) and Vaccination (OR 3.16). Interventions focusing on anticipated regret may be effective to promote protective behaviour against HFMD among parents for their children.

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine and compare prevalence and correlates of whole blood Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA between HIV-positive and HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM). Five hundred and four HIV-positive MSM and 504 age-matched HIV-negative MSM were recruited from an HIV counseling and testing clinic in Shanghai, China from November 2014 to November 2015 and were administered with a face-to-face questionnaire interview. Whole blood EBV DNA was tested by nested polymerase chain reaction assays on EBNA-1, EBNA-2, and LMP-1 genes. The prevalence of whole blood EBV DNA was 56·0% (95% CI 51·7–60·3%) among HIV-positive MSM and 26·0% (95% CI 22·4–30·0%) among HIV-negative MSM. Whole blood EBV DNA positivity was significantly associated with HIV infection (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3·43, 95% CI 2·58–4·57) and frequent intake of pickled, smoked, or salty food (aOR 1·71, 95% CI 1·02–2·86) in the whole sample, and with <200 cells/μl CD4 cell counts (aOR 1·79, 95% CI 1·05–3·05) and pickled, smoked, or salty food intake (aOR 3·14, 95% CI 1·39–7·08) in HIV-positive group. HIV-infected MSM are at higher risk of active EBV replication than HIV-uninfected MSM, underscoring needs of surveillance and research on EBV-related carcinogenesis in this population.

The Weibel instability of the collimated MeV fast electron beams in a nanotube array target is researched in this work. It is found that the filamentation of the fast electrons is significantly suppressed. When fast electrons propagate the nanotube array, a strong magnetic field is created near the surface of tubes to obstruct the transverse movement of the fast electrons and bend them into the inner vacuum spaces between the successive tubes. In consequence, the positive feedback loop between the magnetic field perturbation and the electrons density perturbation is broken and the Weibel instability is thus weakened. Furthermore, the calculated results by a hybrid particle-in-cell code have also proven this weakening effect on the Weibel instability. Because of the high-energy density delivered by the MeV electrons, these results indicate some significant applications in the high-energy physics, such as radiography, fast-electron beam focusing, and perhaps fast ignition.

Both growth and immune capacity are important traits in animal breeding. The animal quantitative trait loci (QTL) database is a valuable resource and can be used for interpreting the genetic mechanisms that underlie growth and immune traits. However, QTL intervals often involve too many candidate genes to find the true causal genes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide an effective annotation pipeline that can make full use of the information of Gene Ontology terms annotation, linkage gene blocks and pathways to further identify pleiotropic genes and gene sets in the overlapping intervals of growth-related and immunity-related QTLs. In total, 55 non-redundant QTL overlapping intervals were identified, 1893 growth-related genes and 713 immunity-related genes were further classified into overlapping intervals and 405 pleiotropic genes shared by the two gene sets were determined. In addition, 19 pleiotropic gene linkage blocks and 67 pathways related to immunity and growth traits were discovered. A total of 343 growth-related genes and 144 immunity-related genes involved in pleiotropic pathways were also identified, respectively. We also sequenced and genotyped 284 individuals from Chinese Meishan pigs and European pigs and mapped the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to the pleiotropic genes and gene sets that we identified. A total of 971 high-confidence SNPs were mapped to the pleiotropic genes and gene sets that we identified, and among them 743 SNPs were statistically significant in allele frequency between Meishan and European pigs. This study explores the relationship between growth and immunity traits from the view of QTL overlapping intervals and can be generalized to explore the relationships between other traits.

Global warming is a challenge to animal health, because of increased heat stress, with subsequent induction of immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to disease. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are pattern recognition receptors that act as sentinels of pathogen invasion and tissue damage. Ligation of TLRs results in a signaling cascade and production of inflammatory cytokines, which eradicate pathogens and maintain the health of the host. We hypothesized that the TLR signaling pathway plays a role in immunosuppression in heat-stressed pigs. We explored the changes in the expression of TLR2, TLR4 and the concentration of acute inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-2, IL-8, IL-12 and IFN-γ in Bama miniature pigs subjected to 21 consecutive days of heat stress, both in vitro and in vivo models. The results showed that heat stress induced the upregulation of cortisol in the plasma of pigs (P<0.05); TLR4 mRNA was elevated, but IL-2 was reduced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC, P<0.05). The white blood cell count and the percentage of granulocytes (eosinophilic+basophilic) decreased significantly in heat-stressed pigs (P<0.05). In the in vitro model (PBMC heat shocked for 1 h followed by a 9 h recovery period), TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression also increased, as did the concentration of IL-12 in supernatants. However, IFN-γ was significantly reduced in PBMC culture supernatants (P<0.05). We concluded that a consecutive heat stress period elevated the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in PBMC and increased the plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines. These data indicate that TLR activation and dysregulation of cytokine expression in response to prolonged heat stress may be associated with immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to antigenic challenge in Bama miniature pigs.

Turbulent particle transport is investigated with a quasilinear theory that is motivated by the boron impurity transport experiments in the Alcator C-Mod. Eigenvalue problems for sets of reduced fluid equations for multi-component plasmas are solved for the self-consistent fluctuating field vectors composed of the electric potential φ, the main ion density δni, the impurity density δnz and the ion temperature fluctuation δTi. For Alcator C-Mod parameters, we investigate two drift wave models: (1) the density-gradient-driven impurity drift wave and (2) the ion-temperature-gradient-driven ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode. Analytic and numerical results for particle transport coefficients are derived and compared with the transport data and the neoclassical theory. We explore the ability of the model to explain impurity density profiles in three confinement regimes: H-mode, I-mode and internal transport barrier (ITB) regime in C-Mod. Related experiments reported on the Large Helical Device are briefly discussed.

Background: Twin pregnancies are at increased physiological and psychosocial risks. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of major depression in twin pregnancies and correlate with stress and social support. Method: The study included 51 pregnant women under specialized prenatal care who were evaluated by a Portuguese version of the semi-structured questionnaire Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) for Major Depression, and the Prenatal Psychosocial Profile (PPP) for evaluation of stress and social support. Results: Major depression was found in 33.3% of pregnant women, and prevailing symptoms were fatigue or loss of energy (100%), insomnia or hypersomnia (82.4%), changes in appetite (82.4%), decreased interest in daily activities (82.4%), and psychomotor agitation or retardation (82.4%). Among pregnant women who were diagnosed depressive, 76.5% also had a high level of stress and 47.1% complained about lack of social support. Statistical significance was found when correlating depression with perception of negative aspects of having twins and belief in significant body changes during pregnancy (p = .005 and .03, respectively). Marital status, occupation, and pregnancy planning were not significantly associated with the diagnosis of depression. Conclusion: Major depression occurs in one-third of pregnant women expecting twins and is associated with higher levels of stress and lack of social support. A multidisciplinary approach in these cases is fundamental to minimize further risks and complications.

The medical records of 84 patients with stool cultures positive for Clostridium difficile during the period August 2007 to June 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. A case of confirmed (toxigenic) C. difficile infection (CDI) was defined by the presence of symptoms (fever, diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort or distension, ileus) and the presence of toxigenic C. difficile. Patients with compatible clinical symptoms and stool cultures positive for non-toxigenic C. difficile isolates were defined as probable (non-toxigenic) CDI cases. Of these 84 patients, 50 (59·5%) were diagnosed as confirmed CDI and 34 (40·5%) as probable CDI. Thirteen (15·5%) of the 84 patients died during their hospital stay. Usage of proton pump inhibitors was a significant independent risk factor for CDI (OR 3·21, P = 0·014). Of the 50 isolates associated with confirmed CDI, seven (8·3%) carried binary toxin genes (cdtAB), and six (7·1%) had a deletion in the tcdC gene. The mortality rate in confirmed CDI patients with isolates exhibiting deletion in the tcdC gene (2/6, 33·3%), those with isolates harbouring binary toxin genes (2/7, 28·6%), and those with isolates containing mutations in gyrA (2/7, 28·6%) and gyrB (1/2, 50%) was higher than the overall mortality rate (10/50, 20%) in patients with confirmed CDI.

The conditions for an almost perfect growth of smooth Cr (001) films on an iron whisker substrate have been investigated by means of reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED). The exchange interaction between 20 Monolayer thick Fe (001) films separated from a bulk whisker Fe (001) substrate by a variable number of Cr (001) Monolayers (ML) has been investigated by means of Brillouin light scattering experiments (BLS). These experiments show unambiguously that the exchange coupling strength between the iron film and the iron whisker can be described by a short wavelength oscillatory term superposed on a slowly varying antiferromagnetic background. The BLS data enabled one to separate the bilinear and the biquadratic contributions to the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling terms. Both the bilinear and the biquadratic coupling strengths exhibited a short period oscillatory dependence on the Cr interlayer thickness (∼2 Monolayers). Maxima in the bilinear antiferromagnetic coupling strength occur for an odd number of Cr Monolayers. This observation is not in agreement with first principles calculations. The first phase inversion has been found to occur between 4 and 5 ML of Cr.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, July 29 – August 2, 2012.

Nanocrystalline TiO2 compacts having initial approximate mean grain sizes of 14 nm and approximate green densities of 70% of theoretical were sintered by short-time exposure in a 2.45 GHz microwave cavity to maximum temperatures of 800, 1000 or 1200 ºC. Sample densities were measured before and after exposure to microwaves using Archimede's method. Transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction were utilized to monitor grain growth and phase changes. Rutherford backscattering was used to monitor any changes in oxygen stoichiometry. The results of this study indicate that enhanced densification behavior is obtained for microwavesintered samples relative to samples sintered using conventional pressureless-sintering techniques.

We have investigated the evolution of the microstructure, growth modes, and growth kinetics of β-SiC in a rapid thermal processor using FTIR, ESCA, and TEM. SiC layers were formed by reacting C2H4 with Si substrates between 900 and 1300°C at 5 torr. We found that SiC forms discrete nuclei at 900°C, a mixture of discrete nuclei with a thin β-SiC layer in between those nuclei at around 1000°C, and a continuous β-SiC layer above 1100°C. In all cases, β-SiC grows epitaxially on Si substrates. In addition, we identified that a graphitic carbon layer is formed on top of a continuous β-SiC layer. The thickness of the SiC layer was deduced from the integrated absorption spectra of FTIR and measured from the high resolution cross-sectional TEM micrographs. Kinetic data indicate that SiC grows rapidly at the initial stages of reaction. The growth rate, however, is retarded significantly as the reaction proceeds.

63Cu and 65Cu NMR spectra from cluster-assembled nanophase copper with an average grain size between 5 and 10nm show a broadened peak, at the normal Knight-shifted frequency for copper metal, which arises from only the central 1/2 to -1/2 transition. A very broad background is observed on either side of that peak. Some samples exhibit a second broad peak at a position normally associated with non-metallic copper. Pulsed NMR measurements of the central peak show that virtually all the copper signals are significantly broadened and have a spin-spin relaxation time longer than larger grained copper samples. Line shape measurements, using spin echoes, as a function of delay between rf excitation and measurement show there are a number of copper sites with longer relaxation times which have a significantly larger broadening. Those sites are tentatively identified as being at or near a grain boundary or free surface. A small orientation effect is observed indicating an anisotropy within the samples. An isochronal anneal of one sample showed significant, but not complete, line narrowing after an anneal at 450°C consistent with other nanophase metals which show grain growth above 40-50% of the melting temperature.

Nanocrystalline compacts of TiO2 and Pd were prepared by first condensing the Ti or Pd vapors in an inert gas atmosphere. The Ti was oxidized in situ to TiO2. Samples were prepared by scraping off and compacting the nanophase materials into thin disks. The small angle neutron scattering was measured in the as-prepared condition and after isothermal anneals of up to 23 hrs at 550°C for the TiO2 and up to 3.3 hrs at 300°C for the Pd. Scattering data were obtained in absolute cross sections. Integrated small angle scattering and maximum entropy methods were used in estimating the structural parameters. The results are interpreted in terms of a model which consists of nanometer sized grains of the materials separated by boundary regions which are, on average, much less dense than the respective bulk materials; 21% for the TiO2 and about 56% for Pd. However, the boundary regions contain voids or pores, which contribute to these density decrements. Possible sources of error are discussed.

A pulsed laser deposition technique has been used to grow silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy) thin films at low deposition temperatures (25°C - 300°C). the thin films were found to be quite smooth in surface morphology, extremely inert in chemical solution and highly transparent in the optical range of 0.3 μm to 5 μm. the refractive index was tunable between 1.4 - 2.1 by the addition of oxygen in substitution of nitrogen in the film, and the dielectric constant is much larger than the similar films grown by conventional chemical vapor deposition. the high quality of the SiOxNy films deposited at such low temperatures was resulted from the large kinetic energy carried by the impinging particles created by the ablation of a high-power pulsed excimer laser. the kinetic energy of the impinged particles on the substrate provides thermal energy for surface diffusion and relaxation.

Nanophase oxides (Al2O3, MgO, ZnO and TiO2), with typical grain sizes in the range 2–20 nm, have been synthesized by the condensation of ultrafine particles in a convective inert gas followed by their collection and in-situ consolidation in vacuum at ambient temperature. These new materials, owing to the reduced scale of their grains along with the enhanced cleanliness of their grain boundaries, are found to have significantly improved properties relative to those of their coarser-grained, conventionally-prepared counterparts. Nanophase rutile (TiO2) with an initial mean grain diameter of 12 nm, for example, has been found to sinter at 400 to 600°C lower temperatures than conventional rutile powders, without the need for compacting or sintering aids, while retaining a small grain size. Additionally, the importance of the extremely clean surfaces obtained with the gas condensation method has been demonstrated by comparing the sintering behavior of powders with and without air exposure prior to consolidation. The research completed on the processing and properties of nanophase ceramics is reviewed, and the potential for engineering advanced ceramics using the nanophase processing method is discussed.

Photonic integrated circuits in silicon require waveguiding through a material compatible with silicon VLSI technology. Polysilicon (polySi), with a high index of refraction compared to SiO2 and air, is an ideal candidate for use in silicon optical interconnect technology. Inspite of its advantages, the biggest hurdle to this technology is that losses of 350dB/cm have been measured in as-deposited polySi waveguide structures, as against ldB/cm losses measured in waveguides fabricated in crystalline silicon. We report methods for reducing scattering and absorption, which are the main sources of losses in this system. To reduce surface scattering losses we fabricate waveguides in smooth recrystallized amorphous silicon and Chemo-Mechanically Polished (CMP) polySi, both of which reduce losses by about 40dB/cm to 15dB/cm. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and spectrophotometry studies are used to monitor surface roughness which has been reduced from an RMS roughness value of 19–20nm down to about 4–6nm. Bulk absorption/scattering losses can depend on size, structure, and quality of grains and grain boundaries which we investigate by means of Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Although the lowest temperature deposition has twice as large a grain size as the highest temperature deposition, the losses appear to not be greatly dependent on grain size in the 0.1pm to 0.4pm range. Additionally, absorption/scattering at dangling bonds is investigated before and after a low temperature Electron-Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) hydrogenation step. After hydrogenation, we obtain the lowest reported polySi loss values at λ = 1.54μm of about 15dB/cm.