Population genetic characteristics of Aedes aegypti in 2019 and 2020 under the distinct circumstances of dengue outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic in Yunnan Province, China.

Introduction: Since Aedes aegypti invaded Yunnan Province in 2002, its total population has continued to expand. Shi et al. used microsatellite and mitochondrial molecular markers to study the Ae. aegypti populations in Yunnan Province in 2015 and 2016, found that it showed high genetic diversity and genetic structure. However, there are few studies on the population genetic characteristics of Ae. aegypti in Yunnan Province under different levels of human intervention. This study mainly used two common types of molecular markers to analyze the genetic characteristics of Ae. aegypti, revealing the influence of different input, prevention and control pressures on the genetic diversity and structure of this species. Understanding the genetic characteristics of Ae. aegypti populations and clarifying the diversity, spread status, and source of invasion are essential for the prevention, control and elimination of this disease vector. Methods: We analyzed the genetic diversity and genetic structure of 22 populations sampled in Yunnan Province in 2019 and 17 populations sampled in 2020 through nine microsatellite loci and COI and ND4 fragments of mitochondrial DNA. In 2019, a total of 22 natural populations were obtained, each containing 30 samples, a total of 660 samples. In 2020, a total of 17 natural populations were obtained. Similarly, each population had 30 samples, and a total of 510 samples were obtained. Results: Analysis of Ae. aegypti populations in 2019 and 2020 based on microsatellite markers revealed 67 and 72 alleles, respectively. The average allelic richness of the populations in 2019 was 3.659, while that in 2020 was 3.965. The HWE analysis of the 22 populations sampled in 2019 revealed significant departure only in the QSH-2 population. The 17 populations sampled in 2020 were all in HWE. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) values were 0.546 and 0.545, respectively, showing high polymorphism. The average observed heterozygosity of the 2019 and 2020 populations was 0.538 and 0.514, respectively, and the expected average heterozygosity was 0.517 and 0.519, showing high genetic diversity in all mosquito populations. By analyzing the COI and ND4 fragments in the mitochondrial DNA of Ae. aegypti, the populations sampled in 2019 had a total of 10 COI haplotypes and 17 ND4 haplotypes. A total of 20 COI haplotypes were found in the populations sampled in 2020, and a total of 24 ND4 haplotypes were obtained. STRUCTURE, UPGMA and DAPC cluster analyses and a network diagram constructed based on COI and ND4 fragments showed that the populations of Ae. aegypti in Yunnan Province sampled in 2019 and 2020 could be divided into two clusters. At the beginning of 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19, the flow of goods between the port areas of Yunnan Province and neighboring countries was reduced, and the sterilization was more effective when goods enter the customs, leading to different immigration pressures on Ae. aegypti population in Yunnan Province between 2019 and 2020, the source populations of the 2019 and 2020 populations changed. Mantel test is generally used to detect the correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance, the analysis indicated that population geographic distance and genetic distance had a moderately significant correlation in 2019 and 2020 (2019: p < 0.05 R2 = 0.4807, 2020: p < 0.05 R2 = 0.4233). Conclusion: Ae. aegypti in Yunnan Province maintains a high degree of genetic diversity. Human interference is one reason for the changes in the genetic characteristics of this disease vector.

Sex-related disparities in students' disaster responses in the post-COVID-19 era.

This study aimed to understand whether sex-related variations existed in responses to the pandemic as well as campus climate change of anti-epidemic measures. An online survey was distributed to full-time undergraduates in 13 postsecondary institutions located in an eastern province in China. First, we matched "similar" students in terms of a set of observational variables. Second, we compared female students with these "similar" male peers in terms of their responses to COVID-19 and responses to the campus climate change of anti-epidemic measures. Finally, the robustness of matching estimators was checked for the potential biases that might be caused by unobserved variables. The primary results showed that female students had higher awareness, preparedness, and fear, but lesser knowledge of the pandemic, and considered getting vaccinated of lesser necessity compared with male students. Also, we observed a pronounced pattern of sex-related difference in responding to campus climate changes; male students were more likely to be indifferent in keeping social distance, adopting other measures, and participating in campus activities. The findings inform postsecondary administrators and other related stakeholders to avoid making the existing sex-related disparities larger and help every student well prepare for and appropriately respond to COVID-19.

Impact of COVID-19 Awareness on Protective Behaviors during the Off-Peak Period: Sex Differences among Chinese Undergraduates.

COVID-19 remains an extreme threat in higher education settings, even during the off-peak period. Appropriate protective measures have been suggested to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in a large population context. Undergraduate students represent a highly vulnerable fraction of the population, so their COVID-19 protective behaviors play critical roles in enabling successful pandemic prevention. Hence, this study aims to understand what and how individual factors contribute to undergraduate students' protective behaviors. After building multigroup structural equation models using data acquired from the survey taken by 991 undergraduates at a large research university in eastern China, I found that students' COVID-19 awareness was positively associated with their protective behaviors, such as wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer, and maintaining proper social distance, but not with getting vaccinated. In addition, I found students with higher COVID-19 awareness were more likely to have more COVID-19 knowledge than those with less awareness. Furthermore, sex differences were observed in the mediation effects of COVID-19 awareness on wearing a mask and getting vaccinated, via COVID-19 knowledge, respectively. The results of this study have implications in helping higher education stakeholders enact effective measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

Encouraging China's College Students to Achieve Sustainable Careers: Evidence from Structural Equation Modeling

China's college graduates are experiencing extreme employment pressure, especially under the effects brought about by COVID-19. This study examines whether career-related psychological factors jointly affect college students' career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) to achieve sustainable career development. Leveraging self-administrated survey data with 703 undergraduate students, we find that career awareness, job search self-efficacy (JSSE), and career planning ability positively relate to CDMSE. We also find that career awareness positively correlates with JSSE and career planning ability. In addition, the results support that perceived career reality positively relates to JSSE and career planning ability. However, no evidence indicates the positive relationship between perceived career reality and CDMSE. Furthermore, mediation tests confirm that JSSE and career planning ability partially mediate the relationship between career awareness and CDMSE. Practical implications, limitations, and future directions are also discussed.

The antecedents and outcomes of career optimism: a meta-analysis

Purpose>Given its importance, career optimism (CO) has drawn much attention from researchers. Fruitful evidence has been accumulated;unfortunately, a quantitative review is still lacking, which would limit the continuous development of this field. To address this, this paper uses the meta-analysis technology to evaluate the links between CO and its antecedents and outcomes.Design/methodology/approach>This study used Hunter–Schmidt method random effect meta-analysis technology to systematically evaluate the true score correlations between CO and its antecedents and outcomes.Findings>Among the CO antecedents, this study found significant links between CO and agreeableness (ρ = 0.11), career adaptability (ρ = 0.55), career knowledge (ρ = 0.43), career decision self-efficacy (ρ = 0.52), social support (ρ = 0.30), conscientiousness (ρ = 0.54), extraversion (ρ = 0.38), gender (ρ = 0.07), GPA (ρ = 0.11), neuroticism (ρ = −0.42), and openness (ρ = 0.27). Moreover, among the CO outcomes, significant links have been found between CO and academic satisfaction (ρ = 0.43), career choice satisfaction (ρ = 0.44), career decisiveness (ρ = 0.37), depersonalization (ρ = −0.48), and emotional exhaustion (ρ = −0.59).Originality/value>By conducting the first meta-analysis of CO, our study contributes to the CO literature. Additionally, our study increases the knowledge of CO, which would help leaders in the school or workplace to understand the significance of CO better and thereby take actions to intervene and increase students or employees' CO.

The Relationships Between Family Characteristics and Undergraduate Students' COVID-19 Responses: A Cross-Sectional Study in China.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically threatened the post-secondary education setting. It is crucial to understand the factors that potentially affect college students' COVID-19 responses, such as risk awareness, knowledge of the disease, and pandemic preparedness. However, there is insufficient literature on whether family characteristics contribute to students' COVID-19 responses. Leveraging the data from self-administrated survey - titled College Students' Epidemic Preparedness in the Post-COVID-19 Era (CSEPPCE), we find that students from high-income families were more likely to have a greater awareness of risk and better knowledge of COVID-19. Additionally, students whose parents were employed by the government had a higher probability of knowing COVID-19 symptoms and wearing masks. However, the relationships among risk awareness, knowledge, and family income did not meaningfully vary by sex or ethnicity. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Will Anti-Epidemic Campus Signals Affect College Students' Preparedness in the Post-COVID-19 Era?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a tremendous global threat and challenge for human beings, and individuals need to be prepared for the next wave of the outbreak, especially in the educational setting. Limited research has focused on individual knowledge, awareness, and preparedness of COVID-19 in postsecondary institutions in the post-COVID-19 era so far. This study aimed to explore whether students' perceived anti-epidemic campus signals had effects on their awareness of and preparedness for COVID-19. Leveraging the data collected from full-time college students in a province located in East China and building a structural regression model, we found that students' perceived anti-epidemic campus signals were significantly associated with their awareness of and preparedness for COVID-19. With one perceived signal decrease, there were 0.099 unit and 0.051 unit decreases in students' awareness and preparedness, respectively. In addition, we indeed found that female students had a higher awareness and better preparedness than their male peers. These findings provided important implications for postsecondary administrators and policymakers, as well as future research.