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Simultaneously estimating the kinematic state and extent of extended targets is a nonlinear and high-dimensional problem. While the extended Kalman filter (EKF) is widely employed to achieve this goal, it may not be sufficient for mobility targets. To address this issue, this paper first proposes to embed unscented Kalman filter (UKF) into Gaussian process regression (GPR) since the superiority of UKF to high nonlinear. Furthermore, given the widely-existed environment with time-varying noise, it is crucial to study the change of measurement noise covariance caused by time-varying noise for high-precision tracking of extended targets. However, traditional UKF filter considers measurement noise covariance as constant value. To this end, an adaptive unscented Kalman filter (AUKF) algorithm combining with GPR model (GPR-AUKF) is proposed to address the issue. Specifically, the GPR-AUKF algorithm is built based on expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to track the target state and covariance, and which updates the measurement noise covariance in real-time. Experimental results show that GPR-AUKF is more accurate and robust than other methods for tracking extended targets.

China has been continuously improving its monitoring methods and strategies to address key infectious diseases (KIDs). After the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in 2003, China established a comprehensive reporting system for infectious diseases (IDs) and public health emergencies. The relatively lagging warning thresholds, limited warning information, and outdated warning technology are insufficient to meet the needs of comprehensive monitoring for modern KIDs. Strengthening early monitoring and warning capabilities to enhance the public health system has become a top priority, with increasing demand for early warning thresholds, information, and techniques, thanks to constant innovation and development in molecular biology, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and other identification and analysis technologies. A panel of 31 experts has recommended a fourth-generation comprehensive surveillance system targeting KIDs (41 notifiable diseases and emerging IDs). The aim of this surveillance system is to systematically monitor the epidemiology and causal pathogens of KIDs in hosts such as humans, animals, and vectors, along with associated environmental pathogens. By integrating factors influencing epidemic spread and risk assessment, the surveillance system can serve to detect, predict, and provide early warnings for the occurrence, development, variation, and spread of known or novel KIDs. Moreover, we recommend comprehensive ID monitoring based on the fourth-generation surveillance system, along with a data-integrated monitoring and early warning platform and a consortium pathogen detection technology system. This series of considerations is based on systematic and comprehensive monitoring across multiple sectors, dimensions, factors, and pathogens that is supported by data integration and connectivity. This expert consensus will provides an opportunity for collaboration in various fields and relies on interdisciplinary application to enhance comprehensive monitoring, prediction, and early warning capabilities for the next generation of ID surveillance. This expert consensus will serve as a reference for ID prevention and control as well as other related activities.

The deep neural network has achieved remarkable recognition performance in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) automatic target recognition (ATR) by extracting the discriminative features from massive SAR images. Due to the sensitivity of SAR image to the observation aspect, the multiview ATR method could enhance the robustness of feature representation and improve the recognition performance. However, existing multiview ATR methods suffer from increasing complex structure and heavy computation when the number of input images grows. An adaptive multiview fusion network based on image attention (IA-AMF-Net) compatible with variable number of input images is proposed for SAR ATR in this article. In IA-AMF-Net, first, the depthwise separable convolution is employed to extract the classification features from multiple SAR input images in parallel with the lightweight attribute. Second, the channel feature weight vector of each image is generated and concatenated by applying the squeeze-and-excitation operation to the extracted features. The image attention weights for feature fusion are calculated through softmax normalizing the concatenated channel feature weights of input images. At last, the extracted features from multiview SAR images are fused by the obtained image attention weights. The dimension of fused feature keeps constant regardless of the number of input images, and the attention to the classification features of interested images is enhanced. Experimental results on the moving and stationary target acquisition and recognition dataset show that IA-AMF-Net achieves superior recognition performance under various operating conditions with fewer parameters and lower computational load compared to the other networks.

In the case of a weak signal from a photon counting lidar and strong noise from the solar background, the signal is completely submerged by noise, potentially resulting in the appearance of multiple peaks in the denoising algorithm of photon counting entropy. Consequently, a clear distinction between the signal and noise may become challenging, leading to significant fluctuation in the ranging error. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an improved offset parameter optimization algorithm under the framework of photon counting entropy, aiming to effectively eliminate peak interference caused by noise and enhancing ranging accuracy. The algorithm includes two aspects. First, we introduce the solar irradiance prediction of an MLP network and least squares linear conversion to accurately estimate the noise rate of the solar background noise. Then, we propose the offset parameter optimization method to effectively mitigate the interference caused by noise. In simulation and experimental analyses, the ranging error of our proposed method is within 5 and 30 cm, respectively. Compared with the denoising method of photon counting entropy, the average ranging error is increased by 81.99% and 73.76%. Furthermore, compared to other anti-noise methods, it exhibits superior ranging capability.

In inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) systems, image quality often suffers from the non-uniform rotation of non-cooperative targets. Rotational motion compensation (RMC) is necessary to perform refocused ISAR imaging via estimated rotational motion parameters. However, estimation errors tend to accumulate with the estimated processes, deteriorating the image quality. A novel RMC algorithm is proposed in this study to mitigate the impact of cumulative errors. The proposed method uses an iterative approach based on a novel criterion, i.e., the minimum residual norm of the signal phases, to estimate different rotational parameters independently to avoid the issue caused by cumulative errors. First, a refined inverse function combined with interpolation is proposed to perform the RMC procedure. Then, the rotation parameters are estimated using an iterative procedure designed to minimize the residual norm of the compensated signal phases. Finally, with the estimated parameters, RMC is performed on signals in all range bins, and focused images are obtained using the Fourier transform. Furthermore, this study utilizes simulated and real data to validate and evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm shows dominance in the aspects of estimation accuracy, entropy values, and focusing characteristics.

Abstract In a phased array radar, the phase quantisation error of phase shifters can lead to the beam steering error (BSE) between the predetermined and the actual directions. Existing researches on phase feeding optimisation suffer from high computational complexity and large storage space. In this study, an equivalent monopulse method is first proposed to yield the BSE with O(N) complexity by formulating the equation between the phase quantisation error and BSE. Further, a symmetric phase feeding compensation (SPFC) method is developed on the basis of the proposed scheme to cancel the phase quantisation error employing a symmetric planar array. Subsequently, a random phase compensation method is formulated to further reduce the residual quantisation errors of SPFC, and a random symmetric phase feeding compensation (RSPFC) method is proposed. The proposed SPFC and RSPFC methods possess O(N) complexities and allow for parallel calculation of element phase feedings, thus making the proposed methods more applicable on the embedded beam controller of a phased array radar. Based on computer simulations and phased array radar experiments, the proposed SPFC and RSPFC methods are validated to yield superior beam pointing accuracies and can improve the fluctuations in angle tracking.

In the increasingly complex electromagnetic environment, main lobe jamming significantly degrades the performance of a wideband radar system. To mitigate this issue, this paper developed a wideband main lobe jamming suppression algorithm based on a distributed array radar. Firstly, this algorithm utilizes eigen-projection matrix processing in the main array to cancel out the main lobe jamming for main lobe maintenance, and then suppresses side lobe jamming through null constraint beamforming. Subsequently, the large aperture of the full array is leveraged to form a narrow beam directed toward the main lobe interference. Finally, joint beamforming using the minimum mean square error criterion is employed. In scenarios where both main lobe jamming and side lobe jamming exist, this algorithm can adaptively cancel main lobe wideband jamming, suppress side lobe wideband jamming, and effectively control the significant loss of the desired wideband signals caused by main lobe jamming within a smaller angular range. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the algorithm.

Background: The emergence of dengue fever has prompted significant public health responses, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of One Health in addressing vector-borne diseases. China's experience in dengue control and prevention programs offers valuable insights into the successful integration of multidisciplinary strategies. Aims: The review aims to: (1) systematically analyze lessons from China's dengue control and prevention programs, focusing on the integration of these efforts with the One Health approach; (2) underscore the reasons of optimizing the dengue control and prevention program; (3) highlight the alignment of China's dengue control strategies with the One Health framework; (4) contribute to global efforts in combating dengue, providing scientific evidence and strategic recommendations for other regions facing similar challenges. Results: Through a comprehensive literature review and expert interviews, this study found China's approach to dengue control and prevention implemented through a hierarchical system led by the government, with collaborative efforts across multiple departments. This multi-sectoral collaboration mechanism enables the technical interventions well executed by health and disease control institutions, optimizing the integration of multiple cost-effeteness approaches, such as case management, early detection and outbreak response, reducing local transmission, and minimizing severe cases and fatalities. It was found that community participation and public health education have played a vital role in raising awareness, promoting personal protective measures, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of control efforts. The implementation of these integrated interventions has resulted in reduced dengue cases and improved capacity of outbreak response. China's dengue control strategies under the One Health framework, with focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, incorporated environmental and ecological interventions, which reduced mosquito breeding sites and improved sanitation. The findings of the review underscore the need for continuous improvement in early warning systems, scientific research, and the adoption of the One Health approach to address emerging challenges posed by climate change and the cross-border spread of infectious diseases. Conclusion: China's dengue control and prevention programs provide a compelling case study for the effective application of the One Health approach. By systematically analyzing the integration of multidisciplinary strategies, this review reveals valuable lessons on optimizing public health responses to vector-borne diseases. The alignment of these strategies with One Health principles not only enhances the effectiveness of dengue control efforts in China but also offers a framework that can be adapted by other regions facing similar challenges. Ultimately, the insights gained from this analysis contribute to the global fight against dengue, emphasizing the need for collaborative and holistic approaches in public health initiatives.

Abstract A full understanding of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine-mediated antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants will inform vaccine effectiveness and vaccination development strategies. Here, we offer insights into the inactivated vaccine-induced antibody responses after prime-boost vaccination at both the polyclonal and monoclonal levels. We characterized the VDJ sequence of 118 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and found that 20 neutralizing mAbs showed varied potency and breadth against a range of variants including XBB.1.5, BQ.1.1, and BN.1. Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) based on nonoverlapping mAbs exhibited enhanced neutralizing potency and breadth against the most antibody-evasive strains, such as XBB.1.5, BQ.1.1, and BN.1. The passive transfer of mAbs or their bsAb effectively protected female hACE2 transgenic mice from challenge with an infectious Delta or Omicron BA.2 variant. The neutralization mechanisms of these antibodies were determined by structural characterization. Overall, a broad spectrum of potent and distinct neutralizing antibodies can be induced in individuals immunized with the SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine BBIBP-CorV, suggesting the application potential of inactivated vaccines and these antibodies for preventing infection by SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants.

We analyzed variations in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome during a flight-related cluster outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Shenzhen, China, to explore the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and intra-host single nucleotide variations (iSNVs) in a confined space. Thirty-three patients with COVID-19 were sampled, and 14 were resampled 3–31 days later. All 47 nasopharyngeal swabs were deep-sequenced. iSNVs and similarities in the consensus genome sequence were analyzed. Three SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, Delta (n = 31), Beta (n = 1), and C.1.2 (n = 1), were detected among the 33 patients. The viral genome sequences from 30 Delta-positive patients had similar SNVs; 14 of these patients provided two successive samples. Overall, the 47 sequenced genomes contained 164 iSNVs. Of the 14 paired (successive) samples, the second samples (T2) contained more iSNVs (median: 3; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.77–10.22) than did the first samples (T1; median: 2; 95% CI: 1.63–3.74; Wilcoxon test, P = 0.021). 38 iSNVs were detected in T1 samples, and only seven were also detectable in T2 samples. Notably, T2 samples from two of the 14 paired samples had additional mutations than the T1 samples. The iSNVs of the SARS-CoV-2 genome exhibited rapid dynamic changes during a flight-related cluster outbreak event. Intra-host diversity increased gradually with time, and new site mutations occurred in vivo without a population transmission bottleneck. Therefore, we could not determine the generational relationship from the mutation site changes alone.

Abstract To minimise the beam‐pointing error caused by the digital phase shifter in phased array antenna systems, a periodic template compensation (PTC) phase feeding algorithm is proposed in this study. In the PTC, the phase quantisation error period of the rounding method in the u‐v dimension is derived as Pu and Pv. Then, the beam‐pointing area is divided into multiple regions with a size of Pu × Pv. In the phase quantisation error period of {u,v}∈{[0,Pu), [0,Pv)}, a sequential phase feeding method is derived to minimise the beam‐pointing error and a compensation matrix template is constructed. The phase feeding code of the PTC is the summation of that of the rounding method and corresponding compensation vector selected periodically from the compensation matrix template. Simulation results show that the maximal beam‐pointing error of the PTC method is 26% of that of the rounding method for a 16 × 16 rectangular array. Azimuth measurement results from a phased array radar system verify the efficiency of the proposed method. Involving only integer multiplication, addition and shift processing, implementing the PTC algorithm in phased array systems is very easy.

We identified an individual who was coinfected with two SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, the Beta and Delta variants. The ratio of the relative abundance between the two variants was maintained at 1:9 (Beta:Delta) in 14 days. Furthermore, possible evidence of recombinations in the Orf1ab and Spike genes was found.

Chikungunya fever (CHIF), a vector-borne disease transmitted mainly by Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti, is caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection. To date, it is estimated that 39% of the world’s population is at risk of infection for living in countries and regions where CHIKV is endemic. However, at present, the cellular receptors of CHIKV remains not clear, and there are no specific drugs and vaccines for CHIF. Here, the cytotoxicity of calpain-2 protein activity inhibitor III and specific siRNA was detected by MTT assays. The replication of CHIKV was detected by qPCR amplification and plaque assay. Western blot was used to determine the level of the calpain-2 protein and vimentin protein. Immunofluorescence was also operated for detecting the rearrangement of vimentin protein. Our results indicated that calpain-2 protein activity inhibitor III and specific siRNA might suppress CHIKV replication. Furthermore, CHIKV infection led to vimentin remodeling and formation of cage-like structures, which could be inhibited by the inhibitor III. In summary, we confirmed that calpain-2 protein influenced chikungunya virus replication and regulated vimentin rearrangement caused by chikungunya virus infection, which could be important for understanding the biological significance of CHIKV replication and the future development of antiviral strategies.

Abstract RNA aptamers provide useful biological probes and therapeutic agents. New methodologies to screen RNA aptamers will be valuable by complementing the traditional Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX). Meanwhile, repurposing clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated systems (Cas) has expanded their utility far beyond their native nuclease function. Here, CRISmers, a CRISPR/Cas‐based novel screening system for RNA aptamers based on binding to a chosen protein of interest in a cellular context, is presented. Using CRISmers, aptamers are identified specifically targeting the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike glycoprotein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Two aptamer leads enable sensitive detection and potent neutralization of SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta and Omicron variants in vitro. Intranasal administration of one aptamer, further modified with 2’‐fluoro pyrimidines (2’‐F), 2’‐O‐methyl purines (2’‐O), and conjugation with both cholesterol and polyethylene glycol of 40 kDa (PEG40K), achieves effective prophylactic and therapeutic antiviral activity against live Omicron BA.2 variants in vivo. The study concludes by demonstrating the robustness, consistency, and potential broad utility of CRISmers using two newly identified aptamers but switching CRISPR, selection marker, and host species.

Aiming at comprehensively evaluating the status of a bridge monitoring system, an evaluation framework based on the improved Delphi, analytic Hierarchy process, Grey relations analysis and Fuzzy integrated evaluation (DHGF) is selected. Firstly, the evaluation indexes for the bridge monitoring system are determined by an anonymous group discussion and expert questionnaire using the improved Delphi method. Secondly, a comparison matrix of the evaluation indexes is constructed to determine the comprehensive weight via the analytic hierarchy process. Then, based on the gray relations analysis, the albino weight function is constructed, the evaluation gray class is determined, and the single-factor fuzzy evaluation matrix is obtained. Finally, the final evaluation result was obtained by the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. The evaluation results of a real bridge monitoring system show that the evaluation level of the monitoring system was level II, and the proposed framework could better reflect the construction and operation status of the monitoring system.

In order to enhance the detection and parameter estimation capacity to the maneuvering target with complex motions, a low complexity coherent integration and parameter estimation method named SOKT-IAR-LVD is proposed in this paper. In SOKT-IAR-LVD, first, the second-order keystone transform (SOKT) is utilized to eliminate the range curvature induced by target acceleration. Second, improved axis rotation (IAR) is applied to regulate the linear range migration by rotating the fast time axis and the target envelope is aligned along the slow time axis with a quadratic phase characteristic. At last, the target signal is coherently integrated via the Lv’s Distribution (LVD) transform. The target motion parameters, including range, velocity, and acceleration, are estimated by the IAR and LVD results. The integration gain and computational load of SOKT-IAR-LVD are analyzed. Without needing to estimate the Doppler ambiguity number and target acceleration, the computational burden of SOKT-IAR-LVD is three orders of magnitude lower than that of the Radon-Lv’s Distribution (RLVD) method. Simulation results demonstrate that the detection performance of SOKT-IAR-LVD is almost the same as that of RLVD and that the required input SNR of SOKT-IAR-LVD is 17.4 dB lower than that of SOKT–Radon Fourier transform (SOKT-RFT) when the detection threshold is set to 12 dB.

ABSTRACT Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of the global pandemic and life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although vaccines and therapeutic antibodies are available, their efficacy is continuously undermined by rapidly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here, we found that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a vitamin A (retinol) derivative, showed potent antiviral activity against all SARS-CoV-2 variants in both human cell lines and human organoids of the lower respiratory tract. Mechanistically, ATRA directly binds in a deep hydrophobic pocket of the receptor binding domain (RBD) located on the top of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) trimer. The bound ATRA mediates strong interactions between the “down” RBDs and locks most of the S trimers in an RBD “all-down” and ACE2-inaccessible inhibitory conformation. In summary, our results reveal the pharmacological biotargets and structural mechanism of ATRA and other retinoids in SARS-CoV-2 infection and suggest that ATRA and its derivatives could be potential hit compounds against a broad spectrum of coronaviruses. IMPORTANCE Retinoids, a group of compounds including vitamin A and its active metabolite all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), regulate serial physiological activity in multiple organ systems, such as cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. The ATRA analogues reported to date include more than 4,000 natural and synthetic molecules that are structurally and/or functionally related to ATRA. Here, we found that ATRA showed potent antiviral activity against all SARS-CoV-2 variants by directly binding in a deep hydrophobic pocket of the receptor binding domain (RBD) located on top of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) trimer. The bound ATRA mediates strong interactions between the “down” RBDs and locks most of the S trimers in an RBD “all-down” and ACE2-inaccessible inhibitory conformation, suggesting the pharmacological feasibility of using ATRA or its derivatives as a remedy for and prevention of COVID-19 disease.

Abstract Background SARS-CoV-2 is a newly emerged coronavirus, causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in December, 2019. As drugs and vaccines of COVID-19 remain in development, accurate virus detection plays a crucial role in the current public health crisis. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) kits have been reliably used for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, whereas isothermal nucleic acid amplification-based point-of-care automated kits have also been considered as a simpler and rapid alternative. However, as these kits have only been developed and applied clinically within a short timeframe, their clinical performance has not been adequately evaluated to date. We describe a comparative study between a newly developed cross-priming isothermal amplification (CPA) kit (Kit A) and five RT-qPCR kits (Kits B–F) to evaluate their sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy. Methods Fifty-two clinical samples were used including throat swabs (n = 30), nasal swabs (n = 7), nasopharyngeal swabs (n = 7) and sputum specimens (n = 8), comprising confirmed (n = 26) and negative cases (n = 26). SARS-CoV-2 detection was simultaneously performed on each sample using six nucleic acid amplification kits. The sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive values (PPV/NPV) and the accuracy for each kit were assessed using clinical manifestation and molecular diagnoses as the reference standard. Reproducibility for RT-qPCR kits was evaluated in triplicate by three different operators using a SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive sample. On the basis of the six kits’ evaluation results, CPA kit (Kit A) and two RT-qPCR Kits (Kit B and F) were applied to the SARS-CoV-2 detection in close-contacts of COVID-19 patients. Results For Kit A, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV/NPV and accuracy were 100%. Among the five RT-qPCR kits, Kits B, C and F had good agreement with the clinical diagnostic reports (Kappa ≥ 0.75); Kits D and E were less congruent (0.4 ≤ Kappa

The optimum placement of receiving telescope antennas is a central topic for designing radio interferometric arrays, and this determines the performance of the obtained information. A variety of arrays are designed for different purposes, and they perform poorly in scalability. In this paper, we consider a subclass of structured sparse arrays, namely nested arrays, and examine the important role of “coarray” in interferometric synthesis imaging, which is utilized to design nested array configurations for a complete uniform Fourier plane coverage in both supersynthesis and instantaneous modes. Both nested arrays and the theory of the coarray have rich research achievements, and we apply them to astronomy to design arrays with good scalability and imaging performance. Simulated celestial source image retrieval performance validates the effectiveness of nested interferometric arrays.

For netted radars, a new alignment algorithm without prior spatial information (i.e., locations and attitudes of radars) and time delay is proposed to keep the spatio-temporal alignment. The unknown parameters to be estimated include the rotation matrix, the translation vector and the delay between radar stations in this paper. The minimum error function in unified space and time coordinate system is established based on the target trajectory measured by each radar. Firstly, the alternating spatio-temporal alignment method is used to estimate the spatial and temporal parameters, and its statistical performance is compared to the Cramer-Rao bound. Even under severe conditions in which each radar in the network can only observe part of the trajectory, the proposed algorithm can still be adopted to estimate the alignment parameters and complete the trajectory. Then, a trajectory matching algorithm based on random sample consensus (RANSAC) is proposed for multitarget. The corresponding relationship between trajectories is established through minimizing sum of paired trajectory error, and multitarget trajectories from each radar are matched. Finally, the spatio-temporal parameters are refined by all matched trajectory pairs. Simulation results show that the tracking information from different radars is transformed into a unified coordinate after spatio-temporal alignment. Moreover, the registration error is reduced and the tracking accuracy is improved.

Mosquito saliva affects transmission of flaviviruses, but underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here, the authors show that Aedes aegypti venom allergen-1 (AaVA-1) promotes dengue and Zika virus transmission by activating autophagy in host immune cells of the monocyte lineage.

In this paper, a hop-by-hop relay selection strategy for multi-hop underlay cognitive relay networks (CRNs) is proposed. In each stage, relays that successfully decode the message from previous hop form a decoding set. Taking both maximum transmit power and maximum interference constraints into consideration, the relay in the decoding set which has the largest number of channels with an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) level to the relays in the next stage is selected for retransmission. Therefore, relay selection in each stage only relies on channel state information (CSI) of the channels in that stage and does not require the CSI of any other stage. We analyze the performance of the proposed strategy in terms of end-to-end outage probability and throughput, and show that the results match those obtained from simulation closely. Moreover, we derive the asymptotic end-to-end outage probability of the proposed strategy when there is no upper bound on transmitters' power. We compare this strategy to other hop-by-hop strategies that have appeared recently in the literature and show that this strategy has the best performance in terms of outage probability and throughput. Finally it is shown that the outage probability and throughput of the proposed strategy are very close to that of exhaustive strategy which provides a lower bound for outage probability and an upper bound for throughput of all path selection strategies.

Here the authors show that Aedes mosquitoes can acquire ZIKV by breeding in contaminated aquatic systems, and that these infected mosquitoes can transmit ZIKV to susceptible mice. This suggests that human urine containing aquatic environments could contribute to ZIKV transmission.

Increasing evidence suggests that dysregulated immune responses are associated with the clinical outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nucleocapsid protein (NP)-, spike (S)-, receptor binding domain (RBD)- specific immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes, IgG subclasses and neutralizing antibody (NAb) were analyzed in 123 serum from 63 hospitalized patients with severe, moderate, mild or asymptomatic COVID-19. Mild to modest correlations were found between disease severity and antigen specific IgG subclasses in serum, of which IgG1 and IgG3 were negatively associated with viral load in nasopharyngeal swab. Multiple cytokines were significantly related with antigen-specific Ig isotypes and IgG subclasses, and IL-1β was positively correlated with most antibodies. Furthermore, the old patients (≥ 60 years old) had higher levels of chemokines, increased NAb activities and SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG1, and IgG3 responses and compromised T cell responses compared to the young patients (≤ 18 years old), which are related with more severe cases. Higher IgG1 and IgG3 were found in COVID-19 patients with comorbidities while biological sex had no effect on IgG subclasses. Overall, we have identified diseases severity was related to higher antibodies, of which IgG subclasses had weakly negative correlation with viral load, and cytokines were significantly associated with antibody response. Further, advancing age and comorbidities had obvious effect on IgG1 and IgG3.

Background: Real-time reverse transcription-PCR (rRT-PCR) has been the most effective and widely implemented diagnostic technology since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, fuzzy rRT-PCR readouts with high Ct values are frequently encountered, resulting in uncertainty in diagnosis. Methods: A Specific Enhancer for PCR-amplified Nucleic Acid (SENA) was developed based on the Cas12a trans-cleavage activity, which is specifically triggered by the rRT-PCR amplicons of the SARS-CoV-2 Orf1ab (O) and N fragments. SENA was first characterized to determine its sensitivity and specificity, using a systematic titration experiment with pure SARS-CoV-2 RNA standards, and was then verified in several hospitals, employing a couple of commercial rRT-PCR kits and testing various clinical specimens under different scenarios. Findings: The ratio (10 min/5 min) of fluorescence change (FC) with mixed SENA reaction (mix-FCratio) was defined for quantitative analysis of target O and N genes, and the Limit of Detection (LoD) of mix-FCratio with 95% confidence interval was 1.2≤1.6≤2.1. Totally, 295 clinical specimens were analyzed, among which 21 uncertain rRT-PCR cases as well as 4 false negative and 2 false positive samples were characterized by SENA and further verified by next-generation sequencing (NGS). The cut-off values for mix-FCratio were determined as 1.145 for positive and 1.068 for negative. Interpretation: SENA increases both the sensitivity and the specificity of rRT-PCR, solving the uncertainty problem in COVID-19 diagnosis and thus providing a simple and low-cost companion diagnosis for combating the pandemic. Funding: Detailed funding information is available at the end of the manuscript.

A tunable passively Q-switched fiber laser is fabricated using a graphene saturable absorber. The graphene saturable absorber is composed of a tapered fiber coated with graphene nanosheets. It combines the abilities of a saturable absorber and power-dependent tunable filter, thereby simplifying the structure of the tunable passively Q-switched fiber laser. The transmission peak of the graphene saturable absorber is linearly dependent on the input power and temperature, with slopes of approximately -0.35 nm/mW and -3.63 nm/°C, respectively. The Q-switched fiber laser exhibits a tunable wavelength range of 7 nm (from 1558 to 1565 nm). The output pulse offers the shortest pulse duration of 2.22 μs with a repetition rate of 39.1 kHz and the widest pulse duration is 5.9 μs that corresponds to a repetition rate of 21.3 kHz. The maximum pulse energy is 251.9 nJ, corresponding to an average output power of 8.6 mW.

Abstract Background Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus within the family Togaviridae, which has attracted global attention due to its recent re-emergence. In one of our previous studies, we successfully isolated two CHIKV virus strains, SZ1050 and SZ1239, from the serum samples of two imported patients in 2010 and 2012, respectively. However, the differences in their genome characters and cell tropisms remain undefined. Methods We extracted the RNA of two CHIKV isolates and performed PCR to determine the sequence of the whole viral genomes. The genotypes were classified by phylogenetic analysis using the Mega 6.0 software. Furthermore, the cell tropisms of the two CHIKV isolates were evaluated in 13 cell lines. Results The lengths of the whole genomes for SZ1050 and SZ1239 were 11,844 nt and 12,000 nt, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that SZ1050 belonged to the Indian Ocean lineage (IOL), while SZ1239 was of the Asian lineage. Comparing to the prototype strain S27, a gap of 7 aa in the nsP3 gene and missing of one repeated sequence element (RSE) in the 3’ UTR were observed in SZ1239. The E1-A226V mutation was not detected in both strains. SZ1050 and SZ1239 could infect most of the evaluated mammalian epithelial cells. The K562 cells were permissive for both SZ1050 and SZ1239 while the U937 cells were refractory to both viruses. For Aedes cell lines C6/36 and Aag-2, both SZ1050 and SZ1239 were able to infect and replicate efficiently. Conclusions Compared to the prototype S27 virus, some deletions and mutations were found in the genomes of SZ1050 and SZ1239. Both viruses were susceptible to most evaluated epithelia or fibroblast cells and Aedes cell lines including C6/36 and Aag-2 in spite of marginal difference.

Abstract Pathogenic Vibrio spp., Aeromonas spp. and Plesiomonas shigelloides are associated with human gastroenteritis and wound infections, as well as fish diseases. The comprehensive and accurate identification of these pathogens is crucial for the current public health. The present study describes the development of a multiplex assay for the simultaneous identification of ten bacterial pathogens in a single reaction by using a multiplex ligation reaction based on probe melting curve analysis (MLMA). The specificity for target genes was 100%, as assessed with a panel of 67 bacterial pathogens, which indicated no cross-reactions. The detection limit of this assay ranged from 0.8 × 107 CFU/mL to 1.5 × 108 CFU/mL at the pure bacterial culture level and from 0.1 ng to 1.0 ng at the DNA level. The MLMA assay was used to detect ten species of pathogens in 269 clinical and seafood samples, and for further validation, the results were compared with the conventional culture method. The results indicated greater than 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity for each bacterial pathogen tested, and the kappa correlation for all the pathogens ranged from 0.95 to 1.00. Overall, this assay is well suited for public health laboratories for its high throughput, accuracy, and low cost.

In this study, a novel high-isolation wideband divider based on multi-layer elliptical defected ground structure coupler is presented along with its analytical theory and design procedure. The proposed divider could be conveniently applied for high- power applications with less loss for the absence of isolation resistors. The simulation results show that in 3.1–10.6 GHz, the return loss S(11) and S(22) are −4 dB within 4–9 GHz, and the amplitude and phase difference between port 2 and port 3 is

A multilayer bandpass filter with high selectivity is proposed in this letter. Discriminating coupling formed by slot-coupled quarter-wavelength and half-wavelength resonators introduces a zero at 3f0 (f0 is the center frequency) and the second harmonic is also suppressed due to the quarter-wavelength resonators. Owing to multilayer structure, source-load coupling is introduced to improve selectivity. Then an extra coupled line path is added with the same amplitude as the discriminating coupling path while they are out of phase. Thus signal cancellation produces three extra transmission zeros, with the selectivity and suppression performance further improved. To validate the design, a prototype bandpass filter centered at 2.49 GHz with 3 dB fractional bandwidth of 8.1% is fabricated. Both simulated and measured results are in good agreement and show good performance of the proposed bandpass filter.

In January 2016, two patients died of rabies after receiving kidney transplants from a common organ donor at a hospital in Changsha, Hunan, China. The medical records, epidemiological data of the organ donor, two kidney and a liver recipients were reviewed. Intravitam saliva samples of the two kidney recipients were tested for rabies virus (RABV) using real-time RT-PCR, and the nucleoprotein (N) gene was amplified and sequenced by Sanger sequencing. Whole genome sequences were analyzed using next-generation sequencing. The N genes of the two kidney recipients showed 100% nucleic acid identity. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete genome, N and glycoprotein (G) genes indicated that the RABV was homologous with dog isolates from the Hunan province and belong to the China I lineage, which is widespread in China. The organ donor was a 22-month-old boy who died from unknown acute progressive encephalitis. After undergoing sub-hypothermia hibernation therapy, rabies-associated symptoms were atypical, and rabies was neglected because serum RABV-specific antibodies were negative. An unknown wound on the forehead of the donor was found 2 months before the onset of symptoms. Based on the clinical, epidemiological, and molecular findings, we speculated that the RABV initially originated in the donor from a dog bite, and was then transmitted to the recipients by organ transplantation. An uncertain exposure history and misdiagnosis played important roles in the spread of the RABV. Rabies should be considered in patients with acute progressive encephalitis of unexplained etiology, especially in potential organ donors.

Sporadic human infections with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N6) virus have been reported in different provinces in China since April 2014. From June 2015 to January 2016, routine live poultry market (LPM) surveillance was conducted in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. H5N6 viruses were not detected until November 2015. The H5N6 virus-positive rate increased markedly beginning in December 2015, and viruses were detected in LPMs in all districts of the city. Coincidently, two human cases with histories of poultry exposure developed symptoms and were diagnosed as H5N6-positive in Shenzhen during late December 2015 and early January 2016. Similar viruses were identified in environmental samples collected in the LPMs and the patients. In contrast to previously reported H5N6 viruses, viruses with six internal genes derived from the H9N2 or H7N9 viruses were detected in the present study. The increased H5N6 virus-positive rate in the LPMs and the subsequent human infections demonstrated that sustained LPM surveillance for avian influenza viruses provides an early warning for human infections. Interventions, such as LPM closures, should be immediately implemented to reduce the risk of human infection with the H5N6 virus when the virus is widely detected during LPM surveillance.Emerging Microbes & Infections (2016) 5, e79; doi:10.1038/emi.2016.75; published online 3 August 2016

Dengue virus (DENV) co-circulates as four serotypes (DENV1-4). Primary infection only leads to self-limited dengue fever. But secondary infection with another serotype carries a higher risk of increased disease severity, causing life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). Serotype cross-reactive antibodies facilitate DENV infection in Fc-receptor-bearing cells by promoting virus entry via Fcγ receptors (FcγR), a process known as antibody dependent enhancement (ADE). Most studies suggested that enhancing antibodies were mainly specific to the structural premembrane protein (prM) of DENV. However, there is still no effective drugs or vaccines to prevent ADE. In this study, we firstly confirmed that both DENV-2 infected human sera (anti-DENV-2) and DENV-2 prM monoclonal antibody (prM mAb) could significantly enhance DENV-1 infection in K562 cells. Then we developed anti-idiotypic antibodies (prM-AIDs) specific to prM mAb by immunizing of Balb/c mice. Results showed that these polyclonal antibodies can dramatically reduce ADE phenomenon of DENV-1 infection in K562 cells. To further confirm the anti-ADE effect of prM-AIDs in vivo, interferon-α and γ receptor-deficient mice (AG6) were used as the mouse model for DENV infection. We found that administration of DENV-2 prM mAb indeed caused a higher DENV-1 titer as well as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and alaninea minotransferase (ALT) in mice infected with DENV-1, similar to clinical ADE symptoms. But when we supplemented prM-AIDs to DENV-1 challenged AG6 mice, the viral titer, IL-10 and ALT were obviously decreased to the negative control level. Of note, the number of platelets in peripheral blood of prM-AIDs group were significantly increased at day 3 post infection with DENV-1 compared that of prM-mAb group. These results confirmed that our prM-AIDs could prevent ADE not only in vitro but also in vivo, suggested that anti-idiotypic antibodies might be a new choice to be considered to treat DENV infection.

Next generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized life sciences research. However, GC bias and costly, time-intensive library preparation make NGS an ill fit for increasing sequencing demands in the clinic. A new class of third-generation sequencing platforms has arrived to meet this need, capable of directly measuring DNA and RNA sequences at the single-molecule level without amplification. Here, we use the new GenoCare single-molecule sequencing platform from Direct Genomics to sequence the genome of the M13 virus. Our platform detects single-molecule fluorescence by total internal reflection microscopy, with sequencing-by-synthesis chemistry. We sequenced the genome of M13 to a depth of 316x, with 100% coverage. We determined a consensus sequence accuracy of 100%. In contrast to GC bias inherent to NGS results, we demonstrated that our single-molecule sequencing method yields minimal GC bias.

A newly emerged H7N9 influenza virus poses high risk to human beings. However, the pathogenic mechanism of the virus remains unclear. The temporal response of primary human alveolar adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (A549) infected with H7N9 influenza virus and H1N1 influenza A virus (H1N1, pdm09) were evaluated using the proteomics approaches (2D-DIGE combined with MALDI-TOF-MS/MS) at 24, 48 and 72 hours post of the infection (hpi). There were 11, 12 and 33 proteins with significant different expressions (P

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) affects more than one million children, is responsible for several hundred child deaths every year in China and is the cause of widespread concerns in society. Only a small fraction of HFMD cases will develop further into severe HFMD with neurologic complications. A timely and accurate diagnosis of severe HFMD is essential for assessing the risk of progression and planning the appropriate treatment. Human serum can reflect the physiological or pathological states, which is expected to be an excellent source of disease-specific biomarkers. In the present study, a comparative serological proteome analysis between severe HFMD patients and healthy controls was performed via a two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) strategy. Fifteen proteins were identified as differentially expressed in the sera of the severe HFMD patients compared with the controls. The identified proteins were classified into different groups according to their molecular functions, biological processes, protein classes and physiological pathways by bioinformatics analysis. The up-regulations of two identified proteins, serum amyloid A (SAA) and clusterin (CLU), were confirmed in the sera of the HFMD patients by ELISA assay. This study not only increases our background knowledge about and scientific insight into the mechanisms of HFMD, but also reveals novel potential biomarkers for the clinical diagnosis of severe HFMD.