Traffic-driven SIR epidemic spread dynamics on scale-free networks

Traffic flow affects the transmission and distribution of pathogens. The large-scale traffic flow that emerges with the rapid development of global economic integration plays a significant role in the epidemic spread. In order to more accurately indicate the time characteristics of the traffic-driven epidemic spread, new parameters are added to represent the change of the infection rate parameter over time on the traffic-driven Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) epidemic spread model. Based on the collected epidemic data in Hebei Province, a linear regression method is performed to estimate the infection rate parameter and an improved traffic-driven SIR epidemic spread dynamics model is established. The impact of different link-closure rules, traffic flow and average degree on the epidemic spread is studied. The maximum instantaneous number of infected nodes and the maximum number of ever infected nodes are obtained through simulation. Compared to the simulation results of the links being closed between large-degree nodes, closing the links between small-degree nodes can effectively inhibit the epidemic spread. In addition, reducing traffic flow and increasing the average degree of the network can also slow the epidemic outbreak. The study provides the practical scientific basis for epidemic prevention departments to conduct traffic control during epidemic outbreaks.

Comparative study on epidemiological characteristics and public health interventions of COVID-19 among China, South Korea, the United States and France based on the poisson regression model

Objective To analyze the trend of COVID-19 epidemic and to comparatively evaluate effects of economic policies, containment and closure policies and health system policies in China , South Korea, the United States (US) and France. Methods Daily confirmed COVID-19 cases and daily comprehensive policy index, specific indicators in mainland China, South Korea, US and France were collected. Considering the lag effect of policy effects, poisson regression model was established to estimate the daily real-time regeneration (Rt) , and the log-log model with variable coefficient was used to compare the prevention and control effects of policies and measures in different countries. Results Containment and closure policies and health system policies were negatively correlated with Rt, and the cumulative lag effect weakens with the increase of lag time. Economic policies were negatively correlated with Rt only in US and France. The effect of American and French policies on Rt was weaker than that of China and South Korea. Conclusion Containment and closure policies and health system policies have a great effect on reducing Rt and controlling the epidemic, the timely and powerful comprehensive blockade measures at the early stage of the epidemic have better effects than mitigation measures. © 2023, Publication Centre of Anhui Medical University. All rights reserved.

Comparative study on epidemiological characteristics and public health interventions of COVID-19 among China, South Korea, the United States and France based on the poisson regression model.

Objective To analyze the trend of COVID-19 epidemic and to comparatively evaluate effects of economic policies, containment and closure policies and health system policies in China , South Korea, the United States (US) and France. Methods Daily confirmed COVID-19 cases and daily comprehensive policy index, specific indicators in mainland China, South Korea, US and France were collected. Considering the lag effect of policy effects, poisson regression model was established to estimate the daily real-time regeneration (Rt) , and the log-log model with variable coefficient was used to compare the prevention and control effects of policies and measures in different countries. Results Containment and closure policies and health system policies were negatively correlated with Rt, and the cumulative lag effect weakens with the increase of lag time. Economic policies were negatively correlated with Rt only in US and France. The effect of American and French policies on Rt was weaker than that of China and South Korea. Conclusion Containment and closure policies and health system policies have a great effect on reducing Rt and controlling the epidemic, the timely and powerful comprehensive blockade measures at the early stage of the epidemic have better effects than mitigation measures.Copyright © 2023, Publication Centre of Anhui Medical University. All rights reserved.

The Practical Optics Workshop: Educating the Optical Engineers of Tomorrow

A comprehensive education of optical engineers is of paramount importance to the development of the industry. While optical sciences and engineering curricula are set up to teach theoretical concepts comprehensively, there appears to be a lack of required coursework that teaches students how to use industry-standard software that they will inevitably use in their careers. The Practical Optics Workshop (POW) is an initiative at the University of Arizona's Wyant College of Optical Sciences to support the education of students that use optical design software. POW's aim is to bridge the gap between the theory of optical system design and the problems the optical engineers of the future will face daily. POW has principally engaged students through short workshop sessions and optical design problems through inquiry-based learning activities. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic new activities have been designed to support self-paced and virtual learning to ensure the accessibility of Optical Design software education. We present the status of POW's current initiatives and how they have impacted student learning, as well as the design of future initiatives that POW is developing for a self-paced curriculum.

The Mechanism of Chaiyin Particles in the Treatment of COVID-19 Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification

Objective: To explore the potential active components of Chaiyin particles (CYPs) in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their mechanism of action using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Methods: Based on the components of CYPs, we obtained potential targets of the interaction between CYPs and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The potential targets were analyzed by protein-protein interaction, gene ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. The key active components of CYPs were subjected to molecular docking with 3-chymotrypsin-like protease, angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and papain-like protease. The components that may bind to the key target proteins of SARS-CoV-2 were screened to obtain the potential active components, targets and pathways for CYP treatment of COVID-19. The above-described network analysis results were then verified experimentally. Results: CYPs may prevent and treat COVID-19 by inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha;participating in the AGE-Rage signaling pathway, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, and other anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immune regulatory signaling pathways;and blocking ACE2 via fortunellin and baicalin. Conclusion: This work illustrated that CYPs mainly play an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory role in COVID-19 prevention and treatment. The potential active components and molecular mechanism of CYPs can provide theoretical support and a pharmacological basis for further development and utilization of CYPs in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. These results provide important insights into future studies of Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) modernization and prevention.

[Epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria in Zhengzhou City from 2016 to 2020].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of reported imported malaria cases in Zhengzhou City from 2016 to 2020, so as to provide insights into the management of imported malaria in the city. METHODS: All data pertaining to cases with definitive diagnosis of malaria in Zhengzhou City from 2016 to 2020 were captured from the National Notifiable Disease Report System and the Information Management System for Parasitic Disease Control in China, including individual demographic data, and malaria onset, initial diagnosis and definitive diagnosis data. All data were descriptively analyzed. The duration from malaria onset to initial diagnosis, from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis and from onset to definitive diagnosis was compared among cases. In addition, the diagnoses of imported malaria cases in which definitive diagnosis was made were compared with the reexaminations by Zhengzhou Municipal Malaria Diagnosis Reference Laboratory. RESULTS: A total of 302 cases with definitive diagnosis of malaria were reported in Zhengzhou City from 2016 to 2020, and all were imported cases, with Plasmodium falciparum malaria as the predominant type (230 cases, 76.2%). There were 293 malaria cases imported from Africa (293 cases, 97.0%), which mainly included Nigeria (48 cases, 15.9%), Angola (40 cases, 13.2%), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (29 cases, 9.6%). There was no obvious seasonality found in the date of malaria onset and time of reporting malaria. The ratio of male to female malaria cases was 49.3:1, and there were 103 cases (34.1%) with the current residency address in Zhengzhou City, 193 cases (63.9%) with the current residency address in other cities of Henan Province and 6 cases (2.0%) in other provinces of China. There were 271 cases (89.7%) seeking initial diagnosis in medical institutions, and the diagnostic accuracy of malaria was 56.6% (171/302) at initial diagnosis institutions. A total of 122 cases (40.4%) sought medical care on the day of malaria onset, and 252 cases (86.4%) within 3 days; however, only 22 cases (7.3%) were definitively diagnosed on the day of onset, and 162 cases (53.6%) diagnosed within 3 days. There were no significant differences between malaria cases seeking initial diagnosis at medical institutions and disease control and prevention institutions in terms of the duration from malaria onset to initial diagnosis (Z = -1.663, P > 0.05), from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis (Z = -0.413, P > 0.05) or from malaria onset to definitive diagnosis (Z = -0.838, P > 0.05). The median duration (interquartile range) from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis of malaria was 3.00 (2.00), 3.00 (6.00), 2.00 (4.00) d and 1.00 (1.00) d among cases seeking medical care at township-level and lower, county-, city- and province-level medical institutions, and the median duration from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis of malaria was significantly longer among cases seeking medical care at township-level and lower medical institutions than at city (Z = -3.286, P < 0.008 33) and province-level medical institutions (Z = -9.119, P < 0.008 33), while the median duration from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis [1.00 (3.00) d vs. 2.00 (4.00) d; Z = -4.099, P < 0.016] and from malaria onset to definitive diagnosis [3.00 (4.00) d vs. 4.00 (5.00) d; Z = -2.868, P < 0.016] among malaria cases with the current residency address in Zhengzhou City was both shorter than in other cities of Henan Province. The diagnostic accuracy was 89.1% (269/302) among malaria cases in which definitive diagnosis was made, and the accuracy of malaria reexaminations was 94.0% (284/302) in Zhengzhou Municipal Malaria Diagnosis Reference Laboratory. CONCLUSIONS: P. falciparum malaria was predominant among reported imported malaria cases in Zhengzhou City from 2016 to 2020, and these imported malaria cases were predominantly diagnosed at medical institutions; however, the diagnostic capability of malaria is poor in township-level and lower medical institutions. Strengthening the collaboration between medical institutions and disease control and prevention institutions and improving the diagnostic capability building at medical institutions are recommended to consolidate malaria elimination achivements.

Development of a Robust Manufacturing Route for Molnupiravir, an Antiviral for the Treatment of COVID-19

Herein is described the development of a large-scale manufacturing process for molnupiravir, an orally dosed antiviral that was recently demonstrated to be efficacious for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. The yield, robustness, and efficiency of each of the five steps were improved, ultimately culminating in a 1.6-fold improvement in overall yield and a dramatic increase in the overall throughput compared to the baseline process.

Online Teaching Practice and Effect Evaluation of Biopharmaceutical Experiment Course during Epidemic Prevention

Biopharmaceutical experiment is a professional compulsory course for undergraduates majoring in pharmacy. It is a key link in the training of undergraduates majoring in pharmacy and is extremely important for the training of students' professional quality. At the beginning of 2020, the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia caused various colleges and universities across the country to postpone the opening of classes and began to teach online. As a compulsory course for undergraduates, the experimental course of biopharmaceuticals also began to teach online, which is different from other theoretical courses and experimental courses. Online teaching has its particularity and limitation. Method:After discussion, the teaching group adopts PPT recording and dubbing to make a video showing the experimental principles and method content, and then the teacher personally demonstrates the demonstration, records the experimental demonstration video, and then synthesizes the video clip into a network video course and uploads it to the learning software. Watch the video online, and the teacher will speak and answer questions online to complete the experiment teaching. Results:Although online teaching cannot be operated by students personally, there are also many advantages in online teaching. 1. Fully mobilize students to cultivate independent learning, 2. Give full play to the advantages of the network, improve communication and interaction, 3. Use software platforms to strengthen teaching management. Therefore, Online teaching improves students' learning efficiency to a certain extent, and strengthens students' understanding of experimental principles and methods. At the same time, in view of the opportunity of recording video courses, this teaching group has expanded and improved the video materials of biopharmaceutical experiments, improved the multimedia teaching technology of the teaching group, and also provided supplements for offline teaching of experimental courses. Conclusion:During the epidemic prevention and control period, online video teaching is used to ensure that the teaching plan is completed on time and as planned, and the smooth progress of the teaching work is ensured. With the popularization of smart devices, online teaching methods will become more and more mature and common in the future experimental and theoretical teaching work, making school teaching methods more diversified, and ensuring that when public emergencies occur, the teaching work can also be carried out normally. © 2021, Editorial Board of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. All right reserved.

[Epidemiological characteristics of close contacts of COVID-19 cases and infection-related risk factors in Beijing].

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of close contacts of COVID-19 cases and infection-related risk factors in Beijing and provide evidences for COVID-19 prevention and control. Methods: A total of 20 681 close contacts of COVID-19 cases, who had exposures during January 6, 2020 to February 15, 2021, were traced in Beijing. The information about their demographic characteristics, exposure history, and quarantine outcomes were collected and analyzed with descriptive statistics. The logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for COVID-19. Results: The infection rate SARS-CoV-2 in close contacts was 2.16% (447/20 681). The age M(P25, P75) was 35 (27, 49) years. The majority of the close contacts were aged 20-59 years, accounting for 81.77% (16 912/20 681). Centralized isolation was the major type of medical observation, accounting for 82.15% (16 989/20 681). Among the exposure types, working and studying in the same room (16.06%, 3 322/20 681), sharing same transport vehicle (12.88%, 2 664/20 681), performing diagnosis and treatment nursing (7.80%,1 612/20 681), and living together (7.23%,1 495/20 681), accounting for 43.96% (9 093/20 681). The index cases included staff (19.34%, 3 999/20 681), the unemployed (17.34%, 3 586/20 681), people engaged in business service (13.85%, 2 864/20 681), people engaged in food service (10.77%, 2 228/20 681), their close contacts accounted for 61.30% (12 677/20 681). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with other types of exposure, the risk factors for infection were having meal together (OR=3.96, 95%CI: 2.30-6.83) and living together (OR=6.41, 95%CI:4.48-9.17); Compared with the other occupations, the index case being engaged in food service (OR=3.06, 95%CI:1.29-7.25) and teacher (OR=4.94, 95%CI:1.43-17.08) were risk factors for the infection. Conclusions: The main environmental exposure types of SARS-CoV-2 infection in close contacts were having meal together and living together. Contact with the index case being engaged in food service and teacher increased the risk for COVID-19. Comprehensive prevention and control measures such as centralized isolation and vaccination should be continued.

Sustainable Passive Design for Building Performance of Healthy Built Environment in the Lingnan Area

Having a healthy built environment becomes increasingly important, especially under the effects of COVID-19. This paper intends to combine sustainable goals based on climate change with passive design principles to achieve a healthy built environment regarding the building performance of residential buildings. The Yuedao Residential Community in the Lingnan area was taken as an example for the research. Based on relevant standards of healthy buildings, the thermal, light, and acoustic environment requirements were determined. The methods of building performance simulation and on-site measurement were used to quantify the research object environments. Then, the outcomes were obtained based on these standards. As observed, the thermal environment's adaptive thermal comfort level was level III. It was hot indoors, but the light and acoustic environments met the requirements. Building designs based on a built environment optimized by external shading systems aim to solve problems through building performance simulation and qualitative analysis. After optimization, the thermal environment improved. According to the literature review, this research focused on a healthy built environment with a sustainable passive design in terms of building performance. A research workflow was established that could be used for more practical research, with abundant research methods. The problems were solved to varying degrees, and the Lingnan architectural culture was preserved. Moreover, this research filled the gap in interactive research on healthy built environments with sustainable passive design regarding building performance.

Mechanism of corrections to false information in online social network

The mechanism of corrections on false information in real social network environments was analyzed. The effect of corrections was evaluated and its influencing factors were explored. Eight factors that affect the effectiveness of correction were summarized based on existing research and our hypotheses, such as the proportion of the original false information, whether it contains text warnings of false information, whether to explain the explanation, user influence, etc.. The effectiveness of correction posts was evaluated by sentiment analysis and the social context of themselves. Statistical methods were used to test the relationship between the pre-determined influencing factors and the effectiveness of correction. The experiment was conducted based on the false information data about COVID-19 epidemic collected from Sina Weibo. Results show that a higher proportion of false information in a correction reduces the effectiveness, and explaining the reason improves the effectiveness. Six conclusions that improve the effectiveness of corrections on social networks were proposed such as mentioning original misinformation less, explaining why original misinformation is wrong. Guidance was provided for related media to correct false information on social network. Copyright ©2021 Journal of Zhejiang University (Engineering Science). All rights reserved.

Study on nursing emergency management strategy of general hospitals in non-epidemic areas under the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019

Objective: To understand the implementation of the emergency management plan of nursing in the general hospitals in non-epidemic areas under the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 and propose strategies. Methods: Nine experts were interviewed by the method of focus group interviews method and the data were collected and analyzed by the method of Colaizzi data analysis method. Results: The important themes of nursing emergency management included the deployment and training of human resources, the development and implementation of material management system, and ward visiting system, the training and reserve of specialist nurses, as well as the psychological assistance and humanistic care. Conclusion: The emergency management of nursing in the general hospitals in non-epidemic areas is a systematic project. Nursing managers should further complete the construction of team and system for nursing emergency management, and improve the emergency nursing abilities and the mental health of nurses.

Exploration of potential clinical application value and mechanism of Chinese materia medica for tonifying qi and activating blood in COVID-19 with hypoxemia

For SARS-CoV-2-induced pneumonia, “Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (trial version 3)” released by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine on January 22, 2020, first proposed the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment plan, which was gradually updated to the seventh edition. Patients diagnosed with severe COVID-19 often developed dyspnea and/or hypoxemia one week after onset, requiring respiratory support and circulation support. Through literature research, it was found that Chinese materia medica (CMM) with tonifying qi and activating blood effect could effectively improve hypoxemia of pneumonia-related diseases. This article summarizes the mechanism and clinical application of tonifying qi and activating blood CMM in the treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia-associated hypoxemia, and provides a reference for clinical treatment of COVID-19.