| 1. |
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- 2019
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 2. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(författare)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
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Ingår i: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data.
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| 3. |
- Yang, Zhijian, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic Landscape of the ACE2 Coronavirus Receptor
- 2022
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Ingår i: Circulation. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0009-7322 .- 1524-4539. ; 30:SUPPL 1, s. 36-36
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: SARS-CoV-2, the causal agent of COVID-19, enters human cells using the ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) protein as a receptor. ACE2 is thus key to the infection and treatment of the coronavirus. ACE2 is highly expressed in the heart and respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, playing important regulatory roles in the cardiovascular and other biological systems. However, the genetic basis of the ACE2 protein levels is not well understood.Methods: We have conducted the largest genome-wide association meta-analysis of plasma ACE2 levels in >28 000 individuals of the SCALLOP Consortium (Systematic and Combined Analysis of Olink Proteins). We summarize the cross-sectional epidemiological correlates of circulating ACE2. Using the summary statistics-based high-definition likelihood method, we estimate relevant genetic correlations with cardiometabolic phenotypes, COVID-19, and other human complex traits and diseases. We perform causal inference of soluble ACE2 on vascular disease outcomes and COVID-19 severity using mendelian randomization. We also perform in silico functional analysis by integrating with other types of omics data.Results: We identified 10 loci, including 8 novel, capturing 30% of the heritability of the protein. We detected that plasma ACE2 was genetically correlated with vascular diseases, severe COVID-19, and a wide range of human complex diseases and medications. An X-chromosome cis-protein quantitative trait loci-based mendelian randomization analysis suggested a causal effect of elevated ACE2 levels on COVID-19 severity (odds ratio, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.10-2.42]; P=0.01), hospitalization (odds ratio, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.05-2.21]; P=0.03), and infection (odds ratio, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.08-2.37]; P=0.02). Tissue- and cell type-specific transcriptomic and epigenomic analysis revealed that the ACE2 regulatory variants were enriched for DNA methylation sites in blood immune cells.Conclusions: Human plasma ACE2 shares a genetic basis with cardiovascular disease, COVID-19, and other related diseases. The genetic architecture of the ACE2 protein is mapped, providing a useful resource for further biological and clinical studies on this coronavirus receptor.
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| 4. |
- Du, Chenqiu, et al.
(författare)
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Home dampness/mold(D/M) improvement in children's residences over the past decade in China-a comparison of repeated surveys in 2010 and 2019
- 2021
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Ingår i: Building and Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0360-1323 .- 1873-684X. ; 205
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is mounting evidence that exposure to household dampness/mold (D/M) is the cause of respiratory, allergic diseases for children. While few research focuses on the effects caused by building environment changes, from a longitudinal investigation perspective, especially for China experiencing a rapid development in recent years. This study aimed to explore the changes of D/M in Chinese homes over the past 10 years and identify the impacts of climate, building energy efficiency and residents' behaviors. The cross-sectional surveys were repeatedly conducted in children' residences in 2010 (Period I) and 2019 (Period II), among Taiyuan, Urumqi in northern China, and Nanjing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Changsha, Chongqing in southern China. Finally, 23465 children in Period I and 34720 children in Period II were involved, with no changes of residences since birth. The results showed that the proportions for reported D/M indicators were significantly reduced in Period II: e.g., 93.8% and 84.1% residents respectively answered no visible mold spots and damp stains in current residences, compared to only 78.3% and 62.2% in Period I. Southern homes accounted for high proportions for D/M indicator occurrences; warm-humid climate, annual higher precipitation and lower sunshine hours, etc., exacerbated the indoor D/M exposure risks. While residents' behaviors like ventilation, airing quilt/beddings, regular cleaning ameliorated the reported D/M significantly. The findings, from a temporal and spacious dimension perspective, advance our understanding of indoor D/M changes, precisely improvement in children' homes over the past 10 years, benefiting to promote indoor air quality standards in China.
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| 5. |
- Hu, Tianyu, et al.
(författare)
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Steric hindrance induced low exciton binding energy enables low-driving-force organic solar cells
- 2024
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Ingår i: Aggregate. - 2692-4560 .- 2766-8541. ; In Press
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Exciton binding energy (Eb) has been regarded as a critical parameter in charge separation during photovoltaic conversion. Minimizing the Eb of the photovoltaic materials can facilitate the exciton dissociation in low-driving force organic solar cells (OSCs) and thus improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE); nevertheless, diminishing the Eb with deliberate design principles remains a significant challenge. Herein, bulky side chain as steric hindrance structure was inserted into Y-series acceptors to minimize the Eb by modulating the intra- and intermolecular interaction. Theoretical and experimental results indicate that steric hindrance-induced optimal intra- and intermolecular interaction can enhance molecular polarizability, promote electronic orbital overlap between molecules, and facilitate delocalized charge transfer pathways, thereby resulting in a low Eb. The conspicuously reduced Eb obtained in Y-ChC5 with pinpoint steric hindrance modulation can minimize the detrimental effects on exciton dissociation in low-driving-force OSCs, achieving a remarkable PCE of 19.1% with over 95% internal quantum efficiency. Our study provides a new molecular design rationale to reduce the Eb.
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| 6. |
- Li, Tingting, et al.
(författare)
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Importance of vegetation classes in modeling CH4 emissions from boreal and subarctic wetlands in Finland
- 2016
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697. ; 572, s. 1111-1122
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Boreal/arctic wetlands are dominated by diverse plant species, which vary in their contribution to CH4 production, oxidation and transport processes. Earlier studies have often lumped the processes all together, which may induce large uncertainties into the results. We present a novel model, which includes three vegetation classes and can be used to simulate CH4 emissions from boreal and arctic treeless wetlands. The model is based on an earlier biogeophysical model, CH4MODwetland. We grouped the vegetation as graminoids, shrubs and Sphagnum and recalibrated the vegetation parameters according to their different CH4 production, oxidation and transport capacities. Then, we used eddy-covariance-based CH4 flux observations from a boreal (Siikaneva) and a subarctic fen (Lompolojänkkä) in Finland to validate the model. The results showed that the recalibrated model could generally simulate the seasonal patterns of the Finnish wetlands with different plant communities. The comparison between the simulated and measured daily CH4 fluxes resulted in a correlation coefficient (R 2 ) of 0.82 with a slope of 1.0 and an intercept of -0.1mgm-2 h-1 for the Siikaneva site (n=2249, p<0.001) and an R2 of 0.82 with a slope of 1.0 and an intercept of 0.0mgm-2 h-1 for the Lompolojänkkä site (n=1826, p<0.001). Compared with the original model, the recalibrated model in this study significantly improved the model efficiency (EF), from -5.5 to 0.8 at the Siikaneva site and from -0.4 to 0.8 at the Lompolojänkkä site. The simulated annual CH4 emissions ranged from 7 to 24gm-2 yr-1, which was consistent with the observations (7-22gm-2 yr-1). However, there are some discrepancies between the simulated and observed daily CH4 fluxes for the Siikaneva site (RMSE =50.0%) and the Lompolojänkkä site (RMSE =47.9%). Model sensitivity analysis showed that increasing the proportion of the graminoids would significantly increase the CH4 emission levels. Our study demonstrated that the parameterization of the different vegetation processes was important in estimating long-term wetland CH4 emissions.
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| 7. |
- Li, Yachen, et al.
(författare)
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Intrauterine and early postnatal exposures to submicron particulate matter and childhood allergic rhinitis : A multicity cross-sectional study in China
- 2024
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Ingår i: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 247
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Airborne particulate matter pollution has been linked to occurrence of childhood allergic rhinitis (AR). However, the relationships between exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <= 1 µm (PM1) during early life (in utero and first year of life) and the onset of childhood AR remain largely unknown. This study aims to investigate potential associations of in utero and first-year exposures to size-segregated PMs, including PM1, PM1-2.5, PM2.5, PM2.5-10, and PM10, with childhood AR.Methods: We investigated 29286 preschool children aged 3-6 years in 7 Chinese major cities during 2019-2020 as the Phase II of the China Children, Families, Health Study. Machine learning-based space-time models were utilized to estimate early-life residential exposure to PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 at 1 x 1-km resolutions. The concentrations of PM1-2.5 and PM2.5-10 were calculated by subtracting PM1 from PM2.5 and PM2.5 from PM10, respectively. Multiple mixed-effects logistic models were used to assess the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of childhood AR associated with per 10-µg/m3 increase in exposure to particulate air pollution during in utero period and the first year of life.Results: Among the 29286 children surveyed (mean +/- standard deviation, 4.9 +/- 0.9 years), 3652 (12.5%) were reported to be diagnosed with AR. Average PM1 concentrations during in utero period and the first year since birth were 36.3 +/- 8.6 µg/m3 and 33.1 +/- 6.9 µg/m3, respectively. Exposure to PM1 and PM2.5 during pregnancy and the first year of life was associated with an increased risk of AR in children, and the OR estimates were higher for each 10-µg/m3 increase in PM1 than for PM2.5 (e.g., 1.132 [95% CI: 1.022-1.254] vs. 1.079 [95% CI: 1.014-1.149] in pregnancy; 1.151 [95% CI: 1.014-1.306] vs. 1.095 [95% CI: 1.008-1.189] in the first year of life). No associations were observed between AR and both pre- and post-natal exposure to PM1-2.5, indicating that PM1 rather than PM1-2.5 contributed to the association between PM2.5 and childhood AR. In trimester-stratified analysis, childhood AR was only found to be associated with exposure to PM1 (OR = 1.077, 95% CI: 1.027-1.128), PM2.5 (OR = 1.048, 95% CI: 1.018-1.078), and PM10 (OR = 1.032, 95% CI: 1.007-1.058) during the third trimester of pregnancy. Subgroup analysis suggested stronger PM-AR associations among younger (<5 years old) and winter-born children.Conclusions: Prenatal and postnatal exposures to ambient PM1 and PM2.5 were associated with an increased risk of childhood AR, and PM2.5-related hazards could be predominantly attributed to PM1. These findings highlighted public health significance of formulating air quality guideline for ambient PM1 in mitigating children's AR burden caused by particulate air pollution.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Shi, Haonan, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence, risk factors, impact and management of pneumonia among preschool children in Chinese seven cities : a cross-sectional study with interrupted time series analysis
- 2023
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Ingår i: BMC Medicine. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1741-7015. ; 21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Pneumonia is a common disease worldwide in preschool children. Despite its large population size, China has had no comprehensive study of the national prevalence, risk factors, and management of pneumonia among preschool children. We therefore investigated the prevalence of pneumonia among preschool children in Chinese seven representative cities, and explore the possible risk factors of pneumonia on children, with a view to calling the world's attention to childhood pneumonia to reduce the prevalence of childhood pneumonia.Methods: Two group samples of 63,663 and 52,812 preschool children were recruited from 2011 and 2019 surveys, respectively. Which were derived from the cross-sectional China, Children, Homes, Health (CCHH) study using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. This survey was conducted in kindergartens in seven representative cities. Exclusion criteria were younger than 2 years old or older than 8 years old, non-permanent population, basic information such as gender, date of birth and breast feeding is incomplete. Pneumonia was determined on the basis of parents reported history of clearly diagnosed by the physician. All participants were assessed with a standard questionnaire. Risk factors for pneumonia, and association between pneumonia and other respiratory diseases were examined by multivariable-adjusted analyses done in all participants for whom data on the variables of interest were available. Disease management was evaluated by the parents' reported history of physician diagnosis, longitudinal comparison of risk factors in 2011 and 2019.Results: In 2011 and 2019, 31,277 (16,152 boys and 15,125 girls) and 32,016 (16,621 boys and 15,395 girls) preschool children aged at 2-8 of permanent population completed the questionnaire, respectively, and were thus included in the final analysis. The findings showed that the age-adjusted prevalence of pneumonia in children was 32.7% in 2011 and 26.4% in 2019. In 2011, girls (odds ratio [OR] 0.91, 95%CI [confidence interval]0.87-0.96; p = 0.0002), rural (0.85, 0.73-0.99; p = 0.0387), duration of breastfeeding & GE; 6 months(0.83, 0.79-0.88; p < 0.0001), birth weight (g) & GE; 4000 (0.88, 0.80-0.97; p = 0.0125), frequency of putting bedding to sunshine (Often) (0.82, 0.71-0.94; p = 0.0049), cooking fuel type (electricity) (0.87, 0.80-0.94; p = 0.0005), indoor use air-conditioning (0.85, 0.80-0.90; p < 0.0001) were associated with a reduced risk of childhood pneumonia. Age (4-6) (1.11, 1.03-1.20; p = 0.0052), parental smoking (one) (1.12, 1.07-1.18; p < 0.0001), used antibiotics (2.71, 2.52-2.90; p < 0.0001), history of parental allergy (one and two) (1.21, 1.12-1.32; p < 0.0001 and 1.33, 1.04-1.69; p = 0.0203), indoor dampness (1.24, 1.15-1.33; p < 0.0001), home interior decoration (1.11, 1.04-1.19; p = 0.0013), Wall painting materials (Paint) (1.16, 1.04-1.29; p = 0.0084), flooring materials (Laminate / Composite wood) (1.08, 1.02-1.16; p = 0.0126), indoor heating mode(Central heating)(1.18, 1.07-1.30, p = 0.0090), asthma (2.38, 2.17-2.61; p < 0.0001), allergic rhinitis (1.36, 1.25-1.47; p < 0.0001), wheezing (1.64, 1.55-1.74; p < 0.0001) were associated with an elevated risk of childhood pneumonia; pneumonia was associated with an elevated risk of childhood asthma (2.53, 2.31-2.78; p < 0.0001), allergic rhinitis (1.41, 1.29-1.53; p < 0.0001) and wheezing (1.64, 1.55-1.74; p < 0.0001). In 2019, girls (0.92, 0. 87-0.97; p = 0.0019), duration of breastfeeding & GE; 6 months (0.92, 0.87-0.97; p = 0.0031), used antibiotics (0.22, 0.21-0.24; p < 0.0001), cooking fuel type (Other) (0.40, 0.23-0.63; p = 0.0003), indoor use air-conditioning (0.89, 0.83-0.95; p = 0.0009) were associated with a reduced risk of childhood pneumonia. Urbanisation (Suburb) (1.10, 1.02-1.18; p = 0.0093), premature birth (1.29, 1.08-1.55; p = 0.0051), birth weight (g) < 2500 (1.17, 1.02-1.35; p = 0.0284), parental smoking (1.30, 1.23-1.38; p < 0.0001), history of parental asthma (One) (1.23, 1.03-1.46; p = 0.0202), history of parental allergy (one and two) (1.20, 1.13-1.27; p < 0.0001 and 1.22, 1.08-1.37; p = 0.0014), cooking fuel type (Coal) (1.58, 1.02-2.52; p = 0.0356), indoor dampness (1.16, 1.08-1.24; p < 0.0001), asthma (1.88, 1.64-2.15; p < 0.0001), allergic rhinitis (1.57, 1.45-1.69; p < 0.0001), wheezing (2.43, 2.20-2.68; p < 0.0001) were associated with an elevated risk of childhood pneumonia; pneumonia was associated with an elevated risk of childhood asthma (1.96, 1.72-2.25; p < 0.0001), allergic rhinitis (1.60, 1.48-1.73; p < 0.0001) and wheezing (2.49, 2.25-2.75; p < 0.0001).Conclusions: Pneumonia is prevalent among preschool children in China, and it affects other childhood respiratory diseases. Although the prevalence of pneumonia in Chinese children shows a decreasing trend in 2019 compared to 2011, a well-established management system is still needed to further reduce the prevalence of pneumonia and reduce the burden of disease in children.
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| 10. |
- Sun, Fengbo, et al.
(författare)
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1,5-Diiodocycloctane: a cyclane solvent additive that can extend the exciton diffusion length in thick film organic solar cells
- 2024
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Ingår i: Energy and Environmental Sciences. - 1754-5692 .- 1754-5706. ; 17:5, s. 1916-1930
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The short exciton diffusion length associated with most state-of-the-art organic semiconductors used in organic solar cells (OSCs) imposes severe limits on the exciton transport in the larger donor/acceptor domains and the exciton dissociation at the interface, which hinder further improvements in the power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of the thick-film devices. In this study, a new cyclane, 1,5-diiodocycloctane (DICO), was employed as a solvent additive to effectively extend the exciton LD within the bulk-heterojunction blend, which can function with the multiple photovoltaic materials system. Due to the great enhancement of molecular stacking and exclusively large domain sizes of photovoltaic materials with the assistance of the DICO additive, the trap density in devices is significantly reduced, thereby nearly doubling the LD in the thick film OSCs. Notably, the DICO-processed PM6/L8-BO-based OSC showed high thickness tolerance for the bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) layer, delivering a high PCE of 19.1% in the case of a 110 nm thick film and still maintaining an excellent PCE of 17.2% in the case of a 300 nm thick film. Crucially, a noticeably increased stability of the multiple materials system was observed in the DICO-processed OSCs. These findings enrich the additive family with new cyclane systems to extend the exciton LD in thick film OSCs with high performance.
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