Reverse genetic manipulation of the overlapping coding regions for structural proteins of the type II porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

The overlapping genomic regions coding for structural proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) poses problems for molecular dissection of the virus replication process. We constructed five mutant full-length cDNA clones with the overlapping regions unwound and 1 to 3 restriction sites inserted between two adjacent ORFs (ORF1/2, ORF4/5, ORF5/6, ORF 6/7 and ORF7/3′ UTR), which generated the recombinant viruses. Our findings demonstrated that 1) the overlapping structural protein ORFs can be physically separated, and is dispensable for virus viability; 2) such ORF separations did not interrupt the subgenomic RNA synthesis; 3) the plaque morphology, growth kinetics, and antigenicity of these mutant viruses were virtually indistinguishable from those of the parental virus in cultured cells; and 4) these mutant viruses remained genetic stable in vitro. This study lays a foundation for further molecular dissection of PRRSV replication process, and development of genetically tagged vaccines against PRRS.     

1000/人工视觉假体视觉映像信息处理模型

视觉映像的信息处理机制是人工视觉研究中最重要的基础工作和核心技术之一。本文在阐述人类视觉信息获取及处理原理的基础上,提出一种人工视觉映像信息处理模型。然后详细阐述这一模型在学习训练阶段和应用阶段的系统结构和关键技术。     

Methacholine challenge testing: identifying its diagnostic role, testing, coding, and reimbursement

Methacholine challenge testing (MCT), also sometimes described as bronchoprovocation testing, is widely performed for both research and diagnostic purposes. MCT is clinically useful when the patient presents with a history of symptoms suggesting asthma, but spirometry findings are normal. Typically, MCT is performed in a pulmonary function laboratory, a clinic, or a physician's office. MCT requires time, effort, and understanding. Two standard testing regimes are identified along with proper coding and reimbursement methodologies.     

Evoked brain responses are generated by feedback loops

Neuronal responses to stimuli, measured electrophysiologically, unfold over several hundred milliseconds. Typically, they show characteristic waveforms with early and late components. It is thought that early or exogenous components reflect a perturbation of neuronal dynamics by sensory input bottom-up processing. Conversely, later, endogenous components have been ascribed to recurrent dynamics among hierarchically disposed cortical processing levels, top-down effects. Here, we show that evoked brain responses are generated by recurrent dynamics in cortical networks, and late components of event-related responses are mediated by backward connections. This evidence is furnished by dynamic causal modeling of mismatch responses, elicited in an oddball paradigm. We used the evidence for models with and without backward connections to assess their likelihood as a function of peristimulus time and show that backward connections are necessary to explain late components. Furthermore, we were able to quantify the contribution of backward connections to evoked responses and to source activity, again as a function of peristimulus time. These results link a generic feature of brain responses to changes in the sensorium and a key architectural component of functional anatomy; namely, backward connections are necessary for recurrent interactions among levels of cortical hierarchies. This is the theoretical cornerstone of most modern theories of perceptual inference and learning.     

Sound omission related brain responses in children

Action is an important way for children to learn about the world. Recent theories suggest that action is inherently accompanied by the sensory prediction of its effects. Such predictions can be revealed by rarely omitting the expected sensory consequence of the action, resulting in an omission response that is observable in the EEG. Although prediction errors play an important role in models of learning and development, little is known about omission-related brain responses in children.This study used a motor-auditory omission paradigm, testing a group of 6–8-year-old children and an adult group (N = 31 each). In an identity-specific condition, the sound coupled to the motor action was predictable, while in an identity unspecific condition the sound was unpredictable.Results of a temporal principal component analysis revealed that sound-related brain responses underlying the N1-complex differed considerably between age groups. Despite these developmental differences, omission responses (oN1) were similar between age groups. Two subcomponents of the oN1 were differently affected by specific and unspecific predictions.Results demonstrate that children, independent from the maturation of sound processing mechanisms, can implement specific and unspecific predictions as flexibly as adults. This supports theories that regard action and prediction error as important drivers of cognitive development.     

某地区病案首页诊断编码质量的故障树分析

目的通过建立病案首页诊断编码质量的故障树分析模型,从而为病案首页诊断编码质量不高的原因分析提供理论参考与指导。方法向某地区29家县级以上医疗机构病案科发放问卷调查表并深入访谈,结合中国期刊全文数据库相关文章,利用收集和整理的数据资料与理论知识应用故障树分析法(FTA)进行病案首页诊断编码质量的风险分析。结果通过提取问卷调查表数据,影响疾病编码的主要因素为临床诊断理解程度、ICD运用熟悉度、医师沟通效果、薪酬满意度等,对应不满意率分别为38.09%、33.33%、32.38%、27.62%;从事编码工作女性与男性工作者占比分别为63.81%、36.19%;从事编码工作者的专业来源广泛,其中护理学与统计学较多,分别占24.76%与29.52%;而通过期刊论文数据库搜索结果总结出医师有无进修或规范化培训经历、医院对病案首页重视程度、临床医师对病案首页填写责任心、病案首页信息填报质控以及对医师进行病案首页培训的力度等方面为影响病案首页诊断编码质量主要因素。将各因素利用故障树模型分析,能够将病案首页诊断编码质量不佳的原因归类于编码员自身问题、临床医师问题以及制度流程问题3个维度。结论针对故障树模型分析出的原因,应从提高编码员专业素质、规范临床医师诊断书写、优化医院规章制度3个方面降低病案首页诊断编码错误的风险,提高病案首页编码质量。     

Changes to Body Image and Self-esteem following Stroke in Young Adults

This study explored the effects of a first stroke on body image and self-esteem in a population of previously neurologically intact young adults. Forty participants with a mean age of 36.7 years, recorded retrospective and current ratings of self-concept. Body image was measured using the Body Cathexis Scale of Secord and Jourard, and self-esteem was measured using Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale and the physical and personal self-esteem items on the Tennessee Self-concept Scale: 2. The results of the study indicate that self-reported body image was significantly negatively affected following stroke in young adults, and was associated with significant reductions in all measures of self-esteem. This effect was stronger following left hemisphere lesions. Interestingly, before the stroke, only physical self-esteem and body image were correlated, however, after the stroke, all measures of self-esteem correlated with evaluations of body image. This indicates that the effect of body image on self-esteem has become generalised following the stroke contributing to feelings of poor self-worth and possibly culminating in depressive mentation. The finding that body image is a reliable predictor of both physical and global self-esteem indicate that rehabilitative emphasis on these factors in a timely manner should be incorporated into rehabilitative intervention programmes.     

Event‐Predictive Cognition: A Root for Conceptual Human Thought

Our minds navigate a continuous stream of sensorimotor experiences, selectively compressing them into events. Event‐predictive encodings and processing abilities have evolved because they mirror interactions between agents and objects—and the pursuance or avoidance of critical interactions lies at the heart of survival and reproduction. However, it appears that these abilities have evolved not only to pursue live‐enhancing events and to avoid threatening events, but also to distinguish food sources, to produce and to use tools, to cooperate, and to communicate. They may have even set the stage for the formation of larger societies and the development of cultural identities. Research on event‐predictive cognition investigates how events and conceptualizations thereof are learned, structured, and processed dynamically. It suggests that event‐predictive encodings and processes optimally mediate between sensorimotor processes and language. On the one hand, they enable us to perceive and control physical interactions with our world in a highly adaptive, versatile, goal‐directed manner. On the other hand, they allow us to coordinate complex social interactions and, in particular, to comprehend and produce language. Event‐predictive learning segments sensorimotor experiences into event‐predictive encodings. Once first encodings are formed, the mind learns progressively higher order compositional structures, which allow reflecting on the past, reasoning, and planning on multiple levels of abstraction. We conclude that human conceptual thought may be grounded in the principles of event‐predictive cognition constituting its root.