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BackgroundType-specific high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection is related to cervical carcinogenesis. The prevalence of hrHPV infection varies geographically, which might reflect the epidemiological characteristics of cervical cancer among different populations. To establish a foundation for HPV-based screening and vaccination programs in China, we investigated the most recent HPV prevalence and genotypic distributions in different female age groups and geographical regions in China.MethodsIn 2012, a total of 120,772 liquid-based cytological samples from women enrolled for population- or employee-based cervical screening in 37 Chinese cities were obtained by the Laboratory of Molecular Infectious Diseases of Guangzhou KingMed. A total of 111,131 samples were tested by Hybrid Capture II and the other 9,641 were genotyped using the Tellgenplex™ HPV DNA Assay.ResultsThe total positive rate for hrHPV was 21.07 %, which ranged from 18.42 % (Nanchang) to 31.94 % (Haikou) and varied by region. The regions of Nanchang, Changsha, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Fuzhou, Guangdong, and Guiyang could be considered the low prevalence regions. Age-specific prevalence showed a “two-peak” pattern, with the youngest age group (15–19 years) presenting the highest hrHPV infection rate (30.55 %), followed by a second peak for the 50–60-year-old group. Overall, the most prevalent genotypes were HPV16 (4.82 %) and HPV52 (4.52 %), followed by HPV58 (2.74 %). Two genotypes HPV6 (4.01 %) and HPV11 (2.29 %) were predominant in the low-risk HPV (lrHPV) type, while the mixed genotypes HPV16 + 52 and HPV52 + 58 were most common in women with multiple infections.ConclusionsThis study shows that HPV infection in China has increased to the level of an “HPV-heavy-burden” zone in certain regions, with prevalence varying significantly among different ages and regions. Data from this study represent the most current survey of the nationwide prevalence of HPV infection in China, and can serve as valuable reference to guide nationwide cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination programs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-015-0998-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Zn batteries potentially offer the highest energy density among aqueous batteries that are inherently safe, inexpensive, and sustainable. However, most cathode materials in Zn batteries suffer from capacity fading, particularly at a low current rate. Herein, it is shown that the ZnCl 2 "water-in-salt" electrolyte (WiSE) addresses this capacity fading problem to a large extent by facilitating unprecedented performance of a Zn battery cathode of Ca 0.20 V 2 O 5 •0.80H 2 O. Upon increasing the concentration of aqueous ZnCl 2 electrolytes from 1 m to 30 m, the capacity of Ca 0.20 V 2 O 5 •0.80H 2 O rises from 296 mAh g −1 to 496 mAh g −1 ; its absolute working potential increases by 0.4 V, and most importantly, at a low current rate of 50 mA g −1 , that is, C/10; its capacity retention increases from 8.4% to 51.1% over 100 cycles. Ex situ characterization results point to the formation of a new ready-to-dissolve phase on the electrode in the dilute electrolyte. The results demonstrate that the Zn-based WiSE may provide the underpinning platform for the applications of Zn batteries for stationary grid-level storage.

Mutually exclusive splicing is a regulated means to generate protein diversity, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here comparative genome analysis revealed the built-in intronic elements for controlling mutually exclusive splicing of the 14-3-3ξ pre-mRNA. These elements are clade specific but are evolutionarily conserved at the secondary structure level. Combined evidence revealed the triple functions of these inter-intronic RNA pairings in synergistically ensuring the selection of only one of multiple exons, through activation of the proximal variable exon outside the loop by the approximation of cis elements, and simultaneous repression of the exon within the loop, in combination with the physical competition of RNA pairing. Additionally, under this model, we also deciphered a similar structural code in exon clusters 4 and 9 of Dscam (38,016 isoforms) and Mhc (480 isoforms). Our findings suggest a broadly applicable mechanism to ensure mutually exclusive splicing.

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