Are vehicle on-demand and shared services a favorable solution for the first and last-mile mobility: Evidence from China

Vehicle on-demand and shared services (VDSS), such as Uber, Lyft, Didi and Car2go, have experienced rapid growth over the last decade. While these emerging mobility services have advantages, such as serving as an alternative mode for public transit, it remains unclear to what extent the services are adopted by different user groups, particularly in the context of first and last-mile mobility and how demand varies in different periods. To fill this research gap, we conducted a comprehensive travel survey of 1,420 railway passengers in China, to examine how VDSS were utilized for the first and last-mile connection with train stations. Using binary and multinomial logit modeling analysis, the study shows that the attitude toward VDSS was influenced by various factors and the outcomes varied substantially before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the research findings, we recommend that transportation planning and operation agencies should add ride-sourcing waiting and car-sharing parking sites at railway stations to further improve their advantages of flexibility and convenience. Meanwhile, attention should be paid to maintaining a healthy, safe and relaxed riding environment to facilitate VDSS usage. The equity issue of VDSS should also be addressed through strategies, such as providing special discounts or subsidies to certain lower-income user groups so that wider social groups may also enjoy such services. In terms of mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, further attention should be paid to improving a healthy and clean riding environment in VDSS to reduce the risk to public health.

T-Shaped Aptamer-Based LSPR Biosensor Using Ω-Shaped Fiber Optic for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2, especially the variant strains, is rapidly spreading around the world. Rapid detection methods for the virus are crucial for controlling the COVID-19 epidemic. Herein, a localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) biosensor based on Ω-shaped fiber optic (Ω-FO) was developed for dual assays of SARS-CoV-2 monitoring. Due to its strong ability to control the orientation and density, a new T-shaped aptamer exhibits enhanced binding affinity toward N proteins. After being combined on the fiber optic surface, the T-shaped aptamer sensitively captured N proteins of SARS-CoV-2 for a direct assay. Further, core-shell structured gold/silver nanoparticles functionalized with a T-shaped aptamer (apt-Ag@AuNPs) can amplify the signal of N protein detection for a sandwich assay. The real-time analytical feature of the dual assays endows time-dependent sensitivity enhancement behavior, which provides a guideline to save analytical time. With those characteristics, the LSPR biosensor has been successfully used to rapidly identify 39 healthy volunteers and 39 COVID-19 patients infected with the ancestral or variant SARS-CoV-2. With the help of simple pretreatment, we obtain a true negative rate of 100% and a true positive rate of 92.3% with a short analysis time of 45 min using the direct assay. Further, the LSPR biosensor could also broaden the detection application range to the surface of cold-chain foods using a sandwich assay. Thus, the LSPR biosensor based on Ω-FO was demonstrated to have broad application potential to detect SARS-CoV-2 rapidly.

A retrospective research on non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors among young patients diagnosed with mood disorders.

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an emerging public concern in both clinical and non-clinical settings, especially in the background of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Nevertheless, knowledge of NSSI on a certain disease entity in the later stage of the pandemic was scarce. Objective: This study was conducted for the purpose of exploring the current occurrence and characteristics of NSSI in patients diagnosed with mood disorders (MDs) as well as its correlated factors in the later stage of the pandemic. Methods: Three hundred and forty-nine eligible subjects (M ± SD, 21.54 ± 7.62) admitted to a mental health center in Wuhan from 11 November 2021 to 31 January 2022 were included in our study. An umbrella questionnaire comprised of demographics, COVID-19-related factors, Yale-Brown Obsessive and Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-Revised (PSQI-R), Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI), and Ottawa Self-injury Inventory (OSI) was extended to each subject via shared QR code. Results: Of 349 patients with MDs included, 151 (43.27%) reported NSSI in the recent 1 month, among whom hand, lower arm/wrist, and scalp were the most hurt body parts, and cutting, hitting, and headbanging were the most adopted methods. "Own idea" was the most common origin of NSSI. In the logistic regression model, age bracket, family monthly income, occupation, level of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, sleep duration, withdrawal reaction to the mobile phone, and habits of using a mobile phone were independently associated with NSSI. Conclusion: It was revealed by our study that NSSI was quite prevalent among patients with MDs, especially among those students, adolescents, comorbid with OCD symptoms, inadequate sleeping hours, and suffering from withdrawal reaction to mobile phones. Further research on NSSI in various psychiatric disorders and even in non-clinical settings such as the community population was in urgent need since NSSI in China was not rare.

Epidemiological characteristics and quarantine assessment of imported international COVID-19 cases, March to December 2020, Chengdu, China.

International flights have accelerated the global spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Determination of the optimal quarantine period for international travelers is crucial to prevent the local spread caused by imported COVID-19 cases. We performed a retrospective epidemiological study using 491 imported COVID-19 cases in Chengdu, China, to describe the characteristic of the cases and estimate the time from arrival to confirmation for international travelers using nonparametric survival methods. Among the 491 imported COVID-19 cases, 194 (39.5%) were asymptomatic infections. The mean age was 35.6 years (SD = 12.1 years) and 83.3% were men. The majority (74.1%) were screened positive for SARS-CoV-2, conducted by Chengdu Customs District, the People's Republic of China. Asymptomatic cases were younger than presymptomatic or symptomatic cases (P < 0.01). The daily number of imported COVID-19 cases displayed jagged changes. 95% of COVID-19 cases were confirmed by PT-PCR within 14 days (95% CI 13-15) after arriving in Chengdu. A 14-day quarantine measure can ensure non-infection among international travelers with a 95% probability. Policymakers may consider an extension of the quarantine period to minimize the negative consequences of the COVID-19 confinement and prevent the international spread of COVID-19. Nevertheless, the government should consider the balance between COVID-19 and socioeconomic development, which may cause more serious social and health crises.

A retrospective research on non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors among young patients diagnosed with mood disorders

Background Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an emerging public concern in both clinical and non-clinical settings, especially in the background of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Nevertheless, knowledge of NSSI on a certain disease entity in the later stage of the pandemic was scarce. Objective This study was conducted for the purpose of exploring the current occurrence and characteristics of NSSI in patients diagnosed with mood disorders (MDs) as well as its correlated factors in the later stage of the pandemic. Methods Three hundred and forty-nine eligible subjects (M ± SD, 21.54 ± 7.62) admitted to a mental health center in Wuhan from 11 November 2021 to 31 January 2022 were included in our study. An umbrella questionnaire comprised of demographics, COVID-19-related factors, Yale-Brown Obsessive and Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-Revised (PSQI-R), Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI), and Ottawa Self-injury Inventory (OSI) was extended to each subject via shared QR code. Results Of 349 patients with MDs included, 151 (43.27%) reported NSSI in the recent 1 month, among whom hand, lower arm/wrist, and scalp were the most hurt body parts, and cutting, hitting, and headbanging were the most adopted methods. “Own idea” was the most common origin of NSSI. In the logistic regression model, age bracket, family monthly income, occupation, level of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, sleep duration, withdrawal reaction to the mobile phone, and habits of using a mobile phone were independently associated with NSSI. Conclusion It was revealed by our study that NSSI was quite prevalent among patients with MDs, especially among those students, adolescents, comorbid with OCD symptoms, inadequate sleeping hours, and suffering from withdrawal reaction to mobile phones. Further research on NSSI in various psychiatric disorders and even in non-clinical settings such as the community population was in urgent need since NSSI in China was not rare.

Relationship between meteorological factors, air pollutants and hand, foot and mouth disease from 2014 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: Meteorological factors and air pollutants have been reported to be associated with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) epidemics before the introduction of vaccine. However, there is limited evidence for studies with long-term dimensions. METHODS: We collected the daily HFMD counts, weather and air pollution data from 2014 to 2020 in Chengdu. Distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM) were used to assess the associations of meteorological factors and air pollutants on HFMD cases. RESULTS: From 2014-2020, high relative humidity and precipitation and extremely high and low levels of PM10, O3, SO2 and CO increased the risk of HFMD. In pre-vaccination period, extreme high and low temperatures, PM10 and NO2, low precipitation and high concentrations of PM2.5 and O3 significantly increase the risk of HFMD; In post-vaccination period, high relative humidity and low level of CO can significantly increase the incidence of HFMD; During the period of COVID-19, only low temperature will significantly increase the risk of HFMD; Low concentration of air pollutants has the greatest impact on the 6-14 age group, while the high concentration of air pollutants has the greatest impact on the 0-1 age group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggest that high relative humidity and precipitation and extremely high and low levels of PM10, O3, SO2 and CO increased the risk of HFMD from 2014 to 2020. The results of this study provide a reference for local authorities to formulate intervention measures and establish an environment-based disease early warning system.

The Impact of COVID-19 on High-Speed Rail and Aviation Operations

Intercity transportation systems have experienced severe disruptions since the outbreak of COVID-19. However, it remains unclear how the operations of different systems were affected and whether the pandemic has influenced modal interaction. This paper provides an empirical assessment to address these questions using high-speed rail (HSR) and aviation in China as an example. The impact of COVID-19 on aviation and HSR operations was examined both temporally and spatially using a high-dimensional fixed-effect panel model. Using the big data with daily operational frequency for the period of January–June 2020, the study shows that the lockdown of Wuhan had varying effects on the operations of HSR and aviation. In addition, the correlation of operational services between HSR and aviation was found to vary both spatially and temporally during the pandemic. These research findings provide important implications for improving the adaptability of transportation systems and operational resilience.

The effect of aviation responses to the control of imported COVID-19 cases.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has a lasting and unprecedented negative impact on the global aviation industry. While countries such as China have successfully curbed the domestic outbreak of the virus with various restrictive and preventive measures, the challenge of avoiding imported cases remains. More importantly, it is still unclear to what extent these implemented aviation emergency responses have effectively mitigated the transmission risk of the virus. This paper provides an empirical assessment of aviation responses to the control of imported COVID-19 cases, with a focus on the following three strategies: the "circuit breaker" policy, the "negative Nucleic Acid testing (NAT)", and the "double negative tests" requirement. Non-recursive structural equation models (SEM) with latent variables were applied to detailed international flight data and individual epidemic survey data of Guangzhou, China, between May 1 and November 30, 2020. The results show that the "double negative tests" measure has a positive effect on eliminating the number of SARS-CoV-2 carriers, while the effects of single "circuit breaker" and its co-intervention with "negative NAT" are conterproductive. This study provides important implications to civil aviation agencies in regard to medium and long-term risk control of imported cases. Specifically, although the circuit breaker mechanism was designed to target on the risk control of imported COVID-19 cases, it may be more effective to carefully maintain a timely and reliable pre-boarding screening and testing to curb the number of imported cases.

The effect of the synchronized multi-dimensional policies on imported COVID-19 curtailment in China.

As countries are lifting restrictions and resuming international travels, the rising risk of COVID-19 importation remains concerning, given that the SARS-CoV-2 virus could be transmitted unintentionally through the global transportation network. To explore and assess the effective strategies for curtailing the epidemic risk from international importation nationwide, we evaluated "the joint prevention and control" mechanism, which made up of 19 containment policies, on how it impacted the change of medical observation and detection time from border arrival to laboratory confirmation of COVID-19 in its burst in China. Based on 1,314 epidemiological-survey cases from February 29 to May 25, 2020, we found that the synchronized approach of implementing multi-dimensional interventional policies, such as a centralized quarantine and nucleic acid testing (NAT), flight service adjustment and border closure, effectively facilitate early identification of infected case. Specifically, the implementation of the international flight service reduction was found to be associated with a reduction of the mean intervals of diagnosis from arrival to lab-confirmation by 0.44 days maximally, and the border closure was associated with a reduction of the diagnosis interval of imported cases by 0.69 days, from arrival to laboratory confirmation. The study suggests that a timely and synchronized implementation of multi-dimensional policies is compelling in preventing domestic spreading from importation.

Rapid and Sensitive Detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, Using Lanthanide-Doped Nanoparticles-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay.

The outbreak of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been a challenge for hospital laboratories because of the huge number of samples that must be tested for the presence of the causative pathogen, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Simple and rapid immunodiagnostic methods are urgently needed to identify positive cases. Here we report the development of a rapid and sensitive lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) that uses lanthanide-doped polysterene nanoparticles (LNPs) to detect anti-SARV-CoV-2 IgG in human serum. A recombinant nucleocapsid phosphoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 was dispensed onto a nitrocellulose membrane to capture specific IgG. Mouse anti-human IgG antibody was labeled with self-assembled LNPs that served as a fluorescent reporter. A 100-µL aliquot of serum samples (1:1000 dilution) was used for this assay and the whole detection process took 10 min. The results of the validation experiment met the requirements for clinical diagnostic reagents. A value of 0.0666 was defined as the cutoff value by assaying 51 normal samples. We tested 7 samples that were positive by reverse-transcription (RT-)PCR and 12 that were negative but clinically suspicious for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. One of the negative samples was determined to be SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive, while the results for the other samples were consistent with those obtained by RT-PCR. Thus, this assay can achieve rapid and sensitive detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in human serum and allow positive identification in suspicious cases; it can also be useful for monitoring the progression COVID-19 and evaluating patients' response to treatment.