The determinants of student attitude toward e-learning academic achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic

Many educational institutions have adopted e-learning methods during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain school teaching activities. However, systematic research on e-learning effectiveness in such a crisis is quite insufficient. This study aims to explore the impact of e-learning quality on students' satisfaction during the pandemic in regard to academic achievement and behavioral intention. Through a questionnaire and semester score database, the relevant data of 683 students were collected and then analyzed by PLS-SEM. The result shows that instructor teaching quality and e-learning system quality influence students' academic achievement and behavioral intention through increasing students' e-learning satisfaction. E-learning system quality moderated the impact of instructor teaching quality on students' e-learning satisfaction. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the comprehensive implementation of e-learning during a crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Establishment and application of dual TaqMan fluorescent quantitative PCR assay for Senecavirus A and encephalomyocarditis virus

In order to establish a method for rapid differential identification of Senecavirus A (SVA) and en-cephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), two pairs of corresponding specific primers were designed based on the highly conserved 3D genes of SVA and EMCV. And two different fluorescent labeled TaqMan probes were used to establish a dual TaqMan real-time PCR method for simultaneous detection of these two viruses, and we also optimize the reaction conditions. The results showed that the minimum detection of the method was 760 copies/ micro L and 98 copies/ micro L for SVA and EMCV. respectively, and it can specifically detect SVA and EMCV, and there was no cross reaction with CSFV, PRRSV and PEDV. The established standard curves showed good linear relationship. Repeated experimental group and inter-group coefficient of variation were less than 5%. The results indicated that the dual-quantitative PCR established in this study has the advantages of convenience, rapidity, good specificity. high sensitivity and good repeatability .and can be used for simultaneous detection of SVA and EMCV.

Human endogenous retrovirus K in the respiratory tract is associated with COVID-19 physiopathology (preprint)

Critically ill COVID-19 patients under invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) are at greatly increased risk of death compared to the general population. While some drivers of COVID-19 disease progression, such as inflammation and hypercoagulability, have been identified, they do not completely explain the mortality of critically ill COVID-19 patients, making a search for overlooked factors necessary. A recent study examined the virome of tracheal aspirates from 25 COVID-19 patients under IMV. These samples were compared to tracheal aspirates from non-COVID patients and nasopharyngeal swabs from individuals with mild COVID-19. Critically ill COVID-19 patients had elevated expression of human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K), and elevated HERV-K expression in tracheal aspirate and plasma was associated with early mortality in those same patients. Among deceased patients, HERV-K expression was associated with IL-17-related inflammation, monocyte activation, and increased consumption of clotting factors. A subsequent in vitro experiment found that exposure to SARS-CoV-2 increased HERV-K expression in human primary monocytes from healthy donors. This preliminary study only included 25 individuals but implicates HERV-K in the physiopathology of COVID-19 and suggests that HERV-K could be used as a biomarker of disease severity in COVID-19 patients. 

Practice and experience of regional medical center entrance linkage and closed-loop management under the wartime situation of the COVID-19 in China

On 28 July 2021, the first indigenous case of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) emerged in Yangzhou, marking the beginning of a public health crisis caused by the new coronavirus pneumonia. It is a significant challenge for hospitals to carry out prevention and control measures to ensure the safety of medical professionals and patients when facing the changes in an epidemic situation. Subei People’s Hospital, as one of the first group of “Grade III-class A” hospitals in Jiangsu Province and the Yangzhou Regional Medical Centre, responded quickly and scientifically to prevent and control the disease. A closed-loop management system was implemented at the hospital entrance (consisting of the outpatient clinic, emergency clinic, fever clinic, and buffer ward) and an epidemic prevention and control group was established with the assistance of multiple departments. This group optimized the pre-screening and triage system, standardized the fever clinic consultation process, and improved the construction of an information-based prevention and control network so that patients were detected, diagnosed, isolated, and treated early. The emergency management capability was improved to achieve zero missed consultations of patients attending for COVID-19 and to effectively maintain medical order during this critical period. This current report systematically summarizes the operational practices and the effectiveness achieved by implementation of the entrance closed-loop management in the hospital and analyzed the key operational issues for future reference by medical institutions and management departments.

Human endogenous retrovirus K activation in the lower respiratory tract of severe COVID-19 patients associates with early mortality (preprint)

Critically ill 2019 coronavirus disease patients (COVID-19) under invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) are 10- to 40-times more likely to die than the general population. Although progression from mild to severe COVID-19 has been associated with hypoxia, uncontrolled inflammation and coagulopathy, the mechanisms involved in progression to severity are poorly understood. By analyzing the virome from tracheal aspirates (TA) of 25 COVID-19 patients under IMV, we found higher levels and differential expression of human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) genes compared to nasopharyngeal swabs from mild cases and TA from non-COVID patients. Proteomic analysis and RT-PCR confirmed the presence of HERV-K in these patients. Moreover, increased HERV-K expression was triggered in human primary monocytes from healthy donors after experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. In critically ill patients, higher HERV-K levels were associated with early mortality (within 14 days) in the intensive care unit. Increased HERV-K expression in deceased patients associated with IL-17-related inflammation, monocyte activation and higher consumption of clotting/fibrinolysis factors. Our data implicate the levels of HERV-K transcripts in the outcome of critical COVID-19 patients under invasive mechanical ventilation.

Willingness to Receive COVID-19 Vaccination Among People Living With HIV and AIDS in China: A Nationwide Online Survey (preprint)

Background: People living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) could benefit from COVID-19 vaccination. There is a dearth of evidence on willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination (WTR) among PLWHA.Methods: The study is a multicenter cross-sectional online survey conducted in eight conveniently selected Chinese metropolitan cities between January and February 2021. Participants were PLWHA aged 18-65 years and living in the study cities. Eight community-based organizations (CBO) providing services to PLWHA, one in each city, facilitated the recruitment through their networks. Eligible PLWHA completed an online survey developed using Golden Data, a widely used encrypted web-based survey platform in China. Logistic regression models and path analysis were used in data analysis.Findings: Out of 10,845 PLWHA approached by the CBO, 2740 completed the survey. This analysis was performed among 2570 participants who had never received COVID-19 vaccination. Over half of the participants reported WTR (57·2%, 1470/2570). After adjusting for potential confounders, all four constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) were significantly associated with WTR, including positive attitudes (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 1·11, 95%CI: 1·09, 1·12), negative attitudes (aOR: 0·96, 95%CI: 0·94, 0.97), perceived support from significant others (perceived subjective norm) (aOR: 1·53, 95%CI: 1·46, 1·61), and perceived higher behavioral control (aOR: 1·13, 95%CI: 1·11, 1·14). At the interpersonal level, receiving advice supportive of COVID-19 vaccination from doctors (aOR: 1·99, 95%CI: 1·65, 2·40), CBO staff (aOR: 1·89, 95%CI: 1·51, 2·36), friends and/or family members (aOR: 3·22, 95%CI: 1·93, 5·35), and PLWHA peers (aOR: 2.38, 95%CI: 1·85, 3·08) were associated with higher WTR. Overall opinion supporting COVID-19 vaccination for PLWHA on Internet or social media was also positively associated with WTR (aOR: 1·59, 95%CI: 1·31, 1·94). Path analysis indicated that interpersonal-level variables was indirectly associated with WTR through TPB-related perceptions (β=0·43, 95% CI=0·37, 0·51).Interpretation: PLWHA in China reported a relatively low WTR. Interpersonal communication and Internet/social media may be the major sources to convey information and promote COVID-19 vaccination in the population.Funding Statement: This work was supported by the Academic technology leader project of Changzhi Medical College (Grant No. XSQ201902), he Beijing Excellent Talent Plan (2018000021223ZK04) and the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R34MH119963.Declaration of Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.Ethics Approval Statement: The Institutional Review Boards of Changzhi Medical College (RT2021003) approved this study.

Viral Genetic Evidence and Host Immune Response of a Small Cluster of Individuals with Two Episodes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (preprint)

Background: The dynamics underlying severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reinfection remains poorly understood. We added to the registered case reports of reinfection in USA, Belgium/Netherlands, Ecuador and Hong Kong, a small cluster of individuals with two episodes of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Virus genomic analysis and the host immune response were used to characterize this group. Methods: Four individuals from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with clinical manifestations of COVID-19 on March and again in late May of 2020 were studied. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected for RT-PCR and viral genome sequencing (BGI-MGI-2000). Plasma samples from the acute and convalescent phases of both infection episodes were accessed to document innate and humoral responses.Findings: After approximately 60 days of the first diagnostic episode of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the four individuals presented new clinical and molecular evidence of COVID-19. Complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence provided genetic evidence of reinfection. The individuals presented an enhanced innate response compared to healthy SARS-CoV-2 negative controls. Patients did not develop a neutralizing humoral immunity, possibly remaining susceptible to another episode of COVID-19. The second episode, associated with higher viral loads and clinical symptoms, likely boosted their anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral response. Interpretation: SARS-CoV-2 reinfection was fully documented by identification of genetically distinct virus sequences in the first and second episodes for two individuals. The quantity of SARS-CoV-2-associated genetic reads and coverage of virus genome ruled out that the initial RT-PCR results were false positive. The identification that some individuals with mild COVID-19 may have controlled SARS-CoV-2 replication without developing detectable humoral immunity, opens the possibility that reinfection may be more frequent than supposed – but weakly documented.

Quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of joint measures led by the Fangcang shelter hospitals in the response of COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, China (preprint)

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of Fangcang shelter hospitals, designated hospitals, and time interval from illness onset to diagnosis in the prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic.Methods We use SEIAR and SEIA-CQFH warehouse models to simulate the two-stage epidemic in Wuhan and calculate the time dependent basic reproduction number (BRN) of symptomatic infected individuals, asymptomatic infected individuals, exposed individuals and community isolated infected individuals. Scenarios that varied in the maximum numbers of open beds in Fangcang shelter hospitals and designated hospitals, the intervals from onset to visit hospitals and diagnosis, are considered to quantitatively assess the optimal measures.Findings: The BRN is decreased from 4.50 on Jan 22 to 0.18 on March 18. Without Fangcang shelter hospitals, the case number of cumulative and death will increase by 18.58% and 51.73%. If the number of beds in the designated hospitals decrease by 1/2 or 1/4, the number of cumulative cases will increase by 178.04% and 92.1%. If the time interval from illness onset to hospital visit is 4 days, the number of cumulative cases and deaths will increase by 2.79% and 6.19%. If Fangcang shelter hospitals are not established, the number of beds in designated hospitals reduce 1/4 and the time interval from visiting hospitals to diagnosis is 4 days, the cumulative number of cases will increase 268.97%.

CD127 imprints functional heterogeneity to diversify monocyte responses in human inflammatory diseases (preprint)

Studies on human monocytes historically focused on characterization of bulk responses, whereas functional heterogeneity is largely unknown. Here, we identified an inducible population of CD127-expressing human monocytes under inflammatory conditions and named the subset M127. M127 is nearly absent in healthy individuals yet abundantly present in patients with infectious and inflammatory conditions such as COVID-19 and rheumatoid arthritis. Multiple genomic and functional approaches revealed unique gene signatures of M127 and unified anti-inflammatory properties imposed by the CD127-STAT5 axis. M127 expansion correlated with mild COVID-19 disease outcomes. Thereby, we phenotypically and molecularly characterized a human monocyte subset marked by CD127 that retained anti-inflammatory properties within the pro-inflammatory environments, uncovering remarkable functional diversity among monocytes and signifying M127 as a potential therapeutic target for human inflammatory disorders.