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ObjectivesInfants with slight/mild or late-onset hearing impairment might be missed in universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS). We identified the mutation hot spot of common deaf gene in the newborns in Jinan area population by screening the mutation spot with neonate cord blood, in order to make clear whether the neonate cord blood for screening is feasible.MethodsSix hundred and forty-six newborns were subjected to both UNHS and genetic screening for deafness by using neonate cord blood. The newborn genetic screening targeted four deafness-associated genes, which were commonly found in the Chinese population including gap junction beta-2 protein (GJB2), gap junction beta-3 protein (GJB3), solute carrier family 26 member 4 (SLC26A4), and mtDNA 12S rRNA. The most common 20 spot mutations in 4 deaf genes were detected by MassARRAY iPLEX platform and mitochondrial 12S rRNA A1555G and C1494T mutations were sequenced using Sanger sequencing.ResultsAmong the 646 newborns, 635 cases passed the UNHS and the other 11 cases (1.7%) did not. Of the 11 failures, two cases were found to carry homozygous GJB2 p.R143W pathogenic mutation, one case was found to have heterozygous GJB2 235delC mutation, and another one case carried heterozygous GJB3 p.R180X pathogenic mutation. Six hundred and thirty-five babies passed the newborn hearing screening, in which 25 babies were identified to carry pathogenic mutations, including 12 heterozygotes (1.9%) for GJB2 235delC, eight heterozygotes (1.3%) for SLC26A4 IVS7-2A>G, one heterozygote (0.2%) for p.R409H, two homozygotes (0.3%) for m.1494C>T, and two homozygotes (0.3%) for m.1555A>G.ConclusionNewborn genetic screening through the umbilical cord blood for common deafness-associated mutations may identify carriers sensitive to aminoglycoside antibiotic, and can effectively prevent or delay hearing loss occurs.

Waste Paper-Al-Plastic materials including Tetrapak beverage and milk boxes are used to extrude the WPC instead of normal wood fiber material in this research. As many WPC products are applied as exterior wallboard at present, the research on the durability and flame retardancy of Wood-Plastic Composites is important. In this paper, various durability influences and flame retardancy of WPC are analyzed in the laboratory conditions. Some experimental results are presented as follow: Water absorption of WPC is influenced by immersion time. After immersion of simulated acid rain solution and alkali environment, and accelerated ultraviolet radiation tests, WPC samples are observed with banding strength decrease. Nonetheless, the performances of WPC wallboard achieve the requirements of national code when it is properly provided with anticorrosion coating systems. Oxygen index of 27 indicates that WPC is inflammable material. Zinc borate (ZB) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) are effective flame retardant for Paper-Al-Plastic WPC.

A new non-phosphorus composite water treatment agent m (PASP) : m (PESA) : m (HPMA) : m (BTA) = 8:12:10:5 was developed from polyaspartic acid (PASP), polyepoxysuccinic acid (PESA), hydrolyzed polymaleic anhydride (HPMA) and benzotriazole (BTA). The performance of corrosion and scale inhibition were evaluated by rotary hanging-piece, electrochemical and bubble experiments. The corrosion testing piece was characterized by SEM. The results show that the new environment-friendly composite water treatment agent has good performance of corrosion and scale inhibition. Further dynamic simulated test also indicates that the water treatment agent meet the use demand of circulating cooling water.

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