Overcoming Engineering Challenges to Enable Commercial-Scale mRNA Vaccine Manufacturing

Increasing production capacity may necessitate the facility to cater for higher hazardous area category (e.g., H-Occupancy) design features, such as specialized building construction and potential blast zones. [...]an assessment should cover: * Quantification of flammable material use for production steps, including buffer preparation and LNP storage * Equipment and facility cleaning strategies that contribute to the facility flammable materials inventory * Impact of HVAC design to avoid hazardous atmospheres (e.g., full fresh air), use of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) or fume hoods * Solvent distribution methods (e.g., closed solvent delivery and waste removal systems) * Location of solvent bulk storage outside of the processing area/ facility, and piping in what is necessary plus removing spent solvent in a timely manner (e.g., piped transfer to a waste tank for removal by a specialist contractor). At present, the process cannot be fully single-use, so thought needs to be put into the cleaning and sterilization processes, plus the analytical support infrastructure needed for reusable product-contact surfaces. [...]it is recommended that for each mRNA project, consideration is given to the following aspects to determine the link between the equipment available and the facility design: * Need for custom/proprietary equipment * Independent production rooms with "through-wall" buffer transfer through iris ports in from logistics corridor (Buffer Prep/Hold) * Room electrical classification needs versus process step. * Equipment selection versus electrical and fire code requirements * Benefits and limitations of implementing single-use technologies, given that the process will be hybrid (with stainless steel). [...]the limited capacity for outsourcing of supporting functions, such as facility environmental monitoring or product sterility testing, should be considered during concept design.

A Comprehensive Review of Sound-Based Modalities for Automatic COVID-19 Detection using Deep Learning-Based Techniques

The World Health Organization has labeled the novel coronavirus illness (COVID-19) a pandemic since March 2020. It's a new viral infection with a respiratory tropism that could lead to atypical pneumonia. Thus, according to experts, early detection of the positive cases with people infected by the COVID-19 virus is highly needed. In this manner, patients will be segregated from other individuals, and the infection will not spread. As a result, developing early detection and diagnosis procedures to enable a speedy treatment process and stop the transmission of the virus has become a focus of research. Alternative early-screening approaches have become necessary due to the time-consuming nature of the current testing methodology such as Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. The methods for detecting COVID-19 using deep learning (DL) algorithms using sound modality, which have become an active research area in recent years, have been thoroughly reviewed in this work. Although the majority of the newly proposed methods are based on medical images (i.e. X-ray and CT scans), we show in this comprehensive survey that the sound modality can be a good alternative to these methods, providing faster and easiest way to create a database with a high performance. We also present the most popular sound databases proposed for COVID-19 detection. © 2022 IEEE.

Nonstationary Gaussian Process Discriminant Analysis With Variable Selection for High-Dimensional Functional Data

High-dimensional classification and feature selection tasks are ubiquitous with the recent advancement in data acquisition technology. In several application areas such as biology, genomics, and proteomics, the data are often functional in their nature and exhibit a degree of roughness and nonstationarity. These structures pose additional challenges to commonly used methods that rely mainly on a two-stage approach performing variable selection and classification separately. We propose in this work a novel Gaussian process discriminant analysis (GPDA) that combines these steps in a unified framework. Our model is a two-layer nonstationary Gaussian process coupled with an Ising prior to identify differentially-distributed locations. Scalable inference is achieved via developing a variational scheme that exploits advances in the use of sparse inverse covariance matrices. We demonstrate the performance of our methodology on simulated datasets and two proteomics datasets: breast cancer and SARS-CoV-2. Our approach distinguishes itself by offering explainability as well as uncertainty quantification in addition to low computational cost, which are crucial to increase trust and social acceptance of data-driven tools. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

A study on the assessment of risk management performance in maritime start-ups: evidence from China

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the international shipping market has been highly volatile, posing a serious threat to the survival and development of many maritime start-ups. With the development of the digital economy, digital transformation is affecting the evolution and upgrading of many traditional enterprises, including maritime enterprises. In the post-COVID-19 era, start-up small and medium-sized enterprises will need to consider the importance of enterprise risk management to achieve transformation and upgrading. The purpose of this study is to provide guidance for the establishment and upgrading of risk management systems for start-ups based on the identification of risk management strategies of maritime enterprises and the evaluation of their performance. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and importance-performance analysis methods were used to rank the operational risk, financial risk, market risk, innovation risk, and disaster risk according to sub-items and screen out the risk management schemes for priority improvements. Through empirical research, it was found that the financial risk and market risk response schemes have the lowest performance and need to be prioritised for improvement. This study argues that start-ups can appropriately challenge their risk management strategies to meet potential risk management needs based on their own circumstances.

Interdisciplinary Teaching Reform of Financial Engineering Majors Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process in the Post-Pandemic Era

In the post-epidemic era, the labor market has become increasingly complex, making it even more crucial to incorporate sustainability into employment demand. As we enter the post-pandemic era, a globalization trend has become more apparent. It is crucial to modernize employability through educational reform in order to assist employees in enhancing their professional skills. This study began by analyzing the importance of financial engineering practice instruction and graduate employability in the post-epidemic era. Second, the study proposed the content and a plan for inter-disciplinary teaching reform to address talent cultivation needs based on labor market requirements. Third, a face-to-face survey and interview were conducted with students affected by changes in teaching, and the results were analyzed and summarized. On this basis, the impact of education reform was evaluated using both the expert scoring method and the analytic hierarchy approach. The results indicated that the suggested financial engineering teaching reform program improved the school's discipline strength, enrollment rate, employment rate, and competition awards, especially discipline strength. This research can be used to inform the teaching of financial engineering majors in various countries, assist job candidates in enhancing their professional skills, and build a formidable talent pool for the labor market.

Use of information technology and problems faced by students in the teaching-learning process in higher education during the 2019 Covid pandemic

The 2019 Covid pandemic has changed the interaction of human life in the education sector. The teaching-learning process in higher education uses online communication techniques more, both synchronous and synchronous. Various information technology-based applications are used for students learning to obtain learning resources and to conduct teaching-learning interactions. This is useful, but there are also many problems faced by students. This study aims to explore online communication techniques and the problems that arise in using these techniques. The research object included 80 students of the master's program. The research design used mixing methods, supported by google form as a data collection technique. Descriptive statistics were used for qualitative data analysis. The results showed that widely used online techniques by students were Google Meet, WhatsApp, Google Search, Google Scholar, Zoom Meeting, Sipejar, YouTube, and Scopus.Com. Meanwhile. Problems were related to the use of Zoom Meeting, Sipejar, Google Meet, WhatsApp, Scopus.Com, YouTube, Google Scholar, and Google Search. The source of these problems included network problems, mastery of applications, ease of use, costs, the amount of data, the troubles in the using process, and so on. Based on these problems, effective strategies for using online communication techniques are suggested. © 2023 Author(s).

Opportunities for K-8 Students to Learn Statistics Created by States' Standards in the United States

Statistical literacy is key in this heavily polarized information age for an informed and critical citizenry to make sense of arguments in the media and society. The responsibility of developing statistical literacy is often left to the K-12 mathematics curriculum. In this article, we discuss our investigation of K-8 students' current opportunities to learn statistics created by state mathematics standards. We analyze the standards for alignment to the Guidelines for the Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education (GAISE II) PreK-12 report and summarize the conceptual themes that emerged. We found that while states provide K-8 students opportunities to analyze and interpret data, they do not offer many opportunities for students to engage in formulating questions and collecting/considering data. We discuss the implications of the findings for policy makers and researchers and provide recommendations for policy makers and standards writers.

Market development strategy and process performance of knowledge-intensive SMEs in the epidemic era: a process-oriented perspective

PurposeThis study analyzes in-depth how knowledge-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can achieve higher new product development (NPD) process performance in the epidemic era and examine the internal development mechanism of knowledge-intensive SMEs in the process of continuous digital transformation.Design/methodology/approachThis issue is tested with partial least squares on data collected via a survey conducted from November 2021 to February 2022. The sample comprises 487 knowledge-intensive SMEs operating in China.FindingsThe results indicate that one form of cross-functional ambidexterity, market development strategy (MDS), plays an important role in process performance from an inside-out financial perspective and an outside-in customer perspective. Simultaneously, product innovation efficiency (PIE) mediates the relationship between MDS and the above results. Big data analytics capabilities (BDACs) positively regulate the relationship between MDS and PIE.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors do not consider other contingency factors. Future research should introduce influential factors such as leadership and competitive intensity to further distinguish the effects of MDS on NPD process performance.Practical implicationsThe study findings offer suggestions to help knowledge-intensive SME managers better manage their NPD process by making better use of their limited resources in developing countries such as China.Originality/valueThis study is one of only a few to adopt a process-oriented perspective to specifically examine how one form of cross-functional ambidexterity, MDS, impacts knowledge-intensive SME process performance in the epidemic era. This study also extends the theoretical framework of cross-functional ambidexterity to BDAC research.

An Integrated Approach to Evaluating Eco-Innovation Strategies from the Perspective of Strategic Green Transformation: A Case of the Lithuanian Furniture Industry

Evaluation and selection of eco-innovation strategies is a significant and complex strategic decision, and despite the relevance and interest in the field of eco-innovation, the area of eco-innovation strategies has not been explored in depth in the scientific literature. Therefore, in this study, we propose an integrated approach to evaluating eco-innovation strategies from the perspective of strategic green transformation that helps decision-makers evaluate and select eco-innovation strategy aiming to achieve a competitive advantage. For this study, we adopted a validated multi-criteria decision-making methodology (MCDM) by combining Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The reliability of the proposed framework was tested and applied in the context of the Lithuanian furniture industry. This study offers three contributions and provides a comprehensive and profound insights into eco-innovation strategies. First, this study conceptualizes eco-innovation strategy from the perspective of strategic green transformation and proposed a novel definition and classification of eco-innovation strategies leading to competitive advantage. Second, this study proposes a novel approach to the evaluation of eco-innovation strategies taking into account micro-, meso-, and macro-level environmental factors. Third, the findings of this study provide implications for scholars and decision-makers in the field of eco-innovation strategy and set an agenda for future research.

The American Anti-Vaxxer COVID Dead: A Dynamic Chronicle of Failed Sacrifices

Unlike earlier pandemics, where a "politics of blame" was directed against those who spread infection, the COVID pandemic in the United States has created occasions for the deployment of a "politics of commendation" for performing acts of sacrifice. Frontline healthcare workers have been celebrated for sacrificing themselves in service to their patients, even as critics have charged their being hapless victims of "social murder" at the hands of irresponsible medical administrators. Governmental officials, notably in Texas, have also recommended the elderly to refuse COVID care, die and thus sacrifice themselves selflessly for the benefit of the younger generation. Lately, COVID vaccine-refusal has been seen as an act of noble political sacrifice-typically to further individual liberty against the coercive power of the Federal government's promotion or mandating of vaccination. Anti-vaxxers embracing the role of such political sacrifices, however, generally fail to realize this aspiration, insofar they are often just culpable of their own demise by neglecting public health advisories. Furthermore, the partisan politicization of their deaths militates against the normal recognition of their being sacrifices. Party political calculations have frequently demanded denial of the COVID origins of the anti-vaxxer deaths, and also effectively eliminated any normal attendant rites of reciprocation, memorialization or sacralization of the victims, typical of sacrifices, proper.

Kaleidoscope: A Reflective Documentation Tool for a User Interface Design Course

Documentation can support design work and create opportunities for learning and reflection. We explore how a novel documentation tool for a remote interaction design course provides insight into design process and integrates strategies from expert practice to support studio-style collaboration and reflection. Using Research through Design, we develop and deploy Kaleidoscope, an online tool for documenting design process, in an upper-level HCI class during the COVID-19 pandemic, iteratively developing it in response to student feedback and needs. We discuss key themes from the real-world deployment of Kaleidoscope, including: tensions between documentation and creation;effects of centralizing discussion;privacy and visibility in shared spaces;balancing evidence of achievement with feelings of overwhelm;and the effects of initial perceptions and incentives on tool usage. These successes and challenges provide insights to guide future tools for design documentation and HCI education that scaffold learning process as an equal partner to execution. © 2023 Owner/Author.

Decision-Dependent Distributionally Robust Markov Decision Process Method in Dynamic Epidemic Control

In this paper, we present a Distributionally Robust Markov Decision Process (DRMDP) approach for addressing the dynamic epidemic control problem. The Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (SEIR) model is widely used to represent the stochastic spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. While Markov Decision Processes (MDP) offers a mathematical framework for identifying optimal actions, such as vaccination and transmission-reducing intervention, to combat disease spreading according to the SEIR model. However, uncertainties in these scenarios demand a more robust approach that is less reliant on error-prone assumptions. The primary objective of our study is to introduce a new DRMDP framework that allows for an ambiguous distribution of transition dynamics. Specifically, we consider the worst-case distribution of these transition probabilities within a decision-dependent ambiguity set. To overcome the computational complexities associated with policy determination, we propose an efficient Real-Time Dynamic Programming (RTDP) algorithm that is capable of computing optimal policies based on the reformulated DRMDP model in an accurate, timely, and scalable manner. Comparative analysis against the classic MDP model demonstrates that the DRMDP achieves a lower proportion of infections and susceptibilities at a reduced cost. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of IISE Transactions is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

How Startups and Entrepreneurs Survived in Times of Pandemic Crisis: Implications and Challenges for Managing Uncertainty

The recent pandemic crisis has greatly impacted startups, and some changes are expected to be long-lasting. Small businesses usually have fewer resources and are more vulnerable to losing customers and investors, especially during crises. This study investigates how startups' business processes were affected and how entrepreneurs managed this sudden change brought by the COVID-19 outbreak. Data were analyzed using qualitative research methods through in-depth interviews with the co-founders of eighteen startups. Results show that the three core business processes affected by the COVID-19 crisis were marketing and sales, logistics and operations, and organizational support. The way to succeed is to be flexible, agile, and adaptable, with technological knowledge focusing on digital channels to find novel opportunities and innovate. Additionally, resilience, self-improvement, education, technology readiness and adoption, close relationship with customers and other stakeholders, and incubation experience seem to shield startups against pandemic crisis outbreaks. © 2023, Small Business Institute. All rights reserved.

Organization of construction accounting in the process of sustainable development

The aim of this study was to examine the perceptions of different professionals who are working in the construction industry about construction accounting, within the context of construction project management and development. A primarily quantitative research approach was used in this study. The researcher developed a bespoke survey questionnaire as the research instrument. This research instrument was then used in the collection of the data from the respondents. Considering that this study was implemented at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the data gathering procedures had to be conducted virtually. The sample population used in the present study was composed of 100 individuals (N = 100). These 100 individuals have already been working as accountants in a company that is operating in the construction industry for at least 1 year at the time of the study's implementation. The participants' responses to the survey questionnaire were collected and then sorted using Microsoft Excel. The corresponding scores were then analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. This was done by determining the frequency (percentage) of the participants who chose a specific answer to every question in the survey. In conclusion, if quality, efficiency, and profitability are a construction firm's main focus, then there is a good chance that the use of construction accounting or its integration in the construction project management and sustainable development process would be of great help. However, if the goal is to shorten the project delivery timeframe, or to improve the project completion rates (i.e., productivity), then chances are the construction firms should stay away from construction accounting, at least at the moment. Copyright © FrancoAngeli.

Effect of Process Variables on Pulp Yield of Indigenous Raw Materials

The biggest issue before pulp and paper producers is availability of quality raw material. India is fiber deficit country, this message has become more intense after covid when price of different raw materials are increased by 20-25%, . Chemical pulp is produced by chemical delignification of wood and non-wood plants. After kraft pulping the remaining lignin is removed by oxygen delignification and bleaching to produce higher purity cellulosic pulp. The goal of delignification processes is to remove lignin from the raw material without a negative effect on the cellulose and strength of pulp. The economics of pulp and paper production is more related to the yield of unbleached and bleached pulp production. Marginal increment in pulp yield reflects into savings of crore of rupees on yearly basis. An overall vigilant concern on process conditions and variables is required during production of pulp. BAT technology for pulping along with utilization of various additives and pretreatment methods allow to fine tune these process to obtain pulp with desired yield and quality. The primary aim of this paper is to review different process variables in respect to the yield of the pulp. © 2022 Indian Pulp and Paper Technical Association. All rights reserved.

An organizational analysis of how managers must understand the mental health impact of teleworking during COVID-19 on employees

PurposeThe unimagined workplace disturbance caused by the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has made many organizations virtual or telework driven workplaces, often without the infrastructure and systems in place to support employees facing these sudden workplace changes (Burrell, 2020). Many stressors accompanied this transition, to include lack of childcare, home-school responsibilities and layoffs and business closings. These stressors have perpetuated concerns for the job and financial security for all workers (Fox, 2020), leading some employees to struggle with the work-life balance out of concern for being laid off due to perceived low productivity (Fox, 2020). This study aims to explore those manifestations.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative research case study explores the impact COVID-19 induced telework has on their job satisfaction, mental well-being and aspects of organizational commitment to fill a gap in the literature concerning emerging workplace dynamics due to COVID-19 for small real estate businesses in the USA.FindingsThe results of this qualitative research case study provide knowledge and information about the need for small businesses to be resourceful and resilient in the way that they support and engage remote workers. This qualitative research case study explores the impact COVID-19-induced telework has on their job satisfaction, mental well-being and aspects of organizational commitment for small real estate businesses. The analysis of current work-life structures through a qualitative lens provides trends among workers to gain a greater perspective of the current accelerators and barriers to worker success in a COVID-19 teleworking environment.Originality/valueThis qualitative research case study explores the impact COVID-19 induced telework has on their job satisfaction, mental well-being and aspects of organizational commitment to fill a gap in the literature concerning emerging workplace dynamics due to COVID-19 for small real estate businesses. The value of this research is that majority of the participants were African-Americans, which represents a participant group that is highly under researched.

Improving Agility Through Scalability

Miniaturized, modular, and continuous manufacturing processes will help speed scale-up, address supply chain complexity, and prevent shortages of important medications, Janet Woodcock, director of the United States Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Centre for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), noted during a meeting of the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in late February 2020. Describing the research at the NAS meeting (2), Rao said his team has conducted a demonstration project involving Neupogen (filgrastim) and is working with GE on development of remote bioreactor sensors to monitor analytes, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in smallscale systems in real time (2). [...]since research results were first published, he notes, robotics have been improved, and now include integrated online measurement systems using infrared (IR), FourierTransform IR, and high-pressure liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry so that key parameters can be measured in real-time, permitting online process monitoring as well as process optimization. Use of Raman and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, refractive index, excipient identification, metabolite monitoring, and cell counts has now become routine, in both process development and manufacturing, says Christy.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE FEATURES OF ORGANIZING MEASURES TO COMBAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE HEALTH SYSTEMS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES

The study analyzed available literatures covering the organization of measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the healthcare systems of the Russian Federation and several foreign countries. For the comprehensive assessment of the specifics of organizing measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, countries were chosen based on geographical distances from China (the closest is Korea, and the most remote are the Great Britain and Haiti), maximum population on their continent (the United States is in North America, and Brazil in South America), and significant differences in the functioning of the healthcare systems. The peculiarities of organizing measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the considered countries were associated with a complex of political, financial, economic, demographic, and organizational factors, the individual combination of which determined the peculiarities of the development of the epidemic process in each specific case. Moreover, as a priority manifestation of the severity of these factors, the capabilities of the healthcare system, including the availability of services of medical workers, sufficient number of testing equipment, medical protection equipment, hospital beds, and other parameters, should be considered. The main role was played by global state strategies implemented in the healthcare systems of the analyzed countries at the pre-epidemic stage and, in most cases, aimed at optimizing the financial and economic provisions of state guarantees of medical care. The general criteria for the differential diagnosis of COVID-19 in the national recommendations of all the states considered were respiratory symptoms and general infectious intoxication. In addition, fever and respiratory symptoms were accepted as priority criteria for COVID-19 screening. © 2023 Vestnik Rossijskoj Voenno-Medicinskoj Akademii. All rights reserved.

Experiences of accumulated stress among aging parent caregivers of adults with autism spectrum disorder

With the continuing increased incidence rate of autism spectrum disorder over the decades, there are increasing numbers of adults with autism who require varying levels of lifelong care, typically from parents. It is necessary to understand parents' lived experience of lifelong caregiving, and how their own aging process further impacts life quality. Furthermore, greater understanding of stressors, resources, appraisals, and coping among parent caregivers of children with "high functioning autism" who are transitioning into young adulthood is particularly necessary as services, needs, and experiences for both are nuanced due to functional status, deficits in the service system, and demographic disparities. Given lifespan aspects past research has not addressed, the study focused on development of a measure of parent accumulated stressors, and on interrelations of stressors, perceived social support, future time perspective, burden, satisfaction, and coping on health-related quality of life and meaning in life among 28 parents of young adults with autism. Although proposed quantitative analyses were not completed due to sample size, qualitative analyses on parent experiences and stressors revealed common themes of concern for child's future quality of life, complicated dynamics of providing help to their child overtime, and increased stress related to others' lack of understanding of their child. In total, 10 themes and multiple subthemes were identified in relation to aspects of accumulated stressors. Findings suggest parent stress with this specific population is complex, manifesting in nuanced ways at different life stages. Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are also explored, and implications for scientific advancement and clinical services are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

REDUCED TRANSMISSION RISKS FOR PASSENGER OPERATIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

In the aircraft cabin, passengers must share a confined environment with other passengers during boarding, flight, and disembarkation, which poses a risk for virus transmission and requires risk-appropriate mitigation strategies. Spacing between passenger groups during boarding and disembarkation reduces the risk of transmission, and optimized sequencing of passenger groups helps to significantly reduce boarding and disembarkation time. We considered passenger groups to be an important factor in overall operational efficiency. The basic idea of our concept is that the members of a group should not be separated, since they were already traveling as a group before entering the aircraft. However, to comply with COVID-19 regulations, different passenger groups should be separated spatially. For the particular challenge of disembarkation, we assume that passenger groups will be informed directly when they are allowed to leave for disembarkation. Today, cabin lighting could be used for this information process, but in a future digitally connected cabin, passengers could be informed directly via their personal devices. These devices could also be used to check the required distances between passengers. The implementation of optimized group sequencing has the potential to significantly reduce boarding and disembarkation times, taking into account COVID-19 constraints. © 2022 ICAS. All Rights Reserved.