Rapid PCR-Based Nanopore Adaptive Sequencing Improves Sensitivity and Timeliness of Viral Clinical Detection and Genome Surveillance

Nanopore sequencing has been widely used for the real-time detection and surveillance of pathogens with portable MinION. Nanopore adaptive sequencing can enrich on-target sequences without additional pretreatment. In this study, the performance of adaptive sequencing was evaluated for viral genome enrichment of clinical respiratory samples. Ligation-based nanopore adaptive sequencing (LNAS) and rapid PCR-based nanopore adaptive sequencing (RPNAS) workflows were performed to assess the effects of enrichment on nasopharyngeal swab samples from human adenovirus (HAdV) outbreaks. RPNAS was further applied for the enrichment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from nasopharyngeal swab samples to evaluate sensitivity and timeliness. The RPNAS increased both the relative abundance (7.87–12.86-fold) and data yield (1.27–2.15-fold) of HAdV samples, whereas the LNAS increased only the relative abundance but had no obvious enrichment on the data yield. Compared with standard nanopore sequencing, RPNAS detected the SARS-CoV-2 reads from two low-abundance samples, increased the coverage of SARS-CoV-2 by 36.68–98.92%, and reduced the time to achieve the same coverage. Our study highlights the utility of RPNAS for virus enrichment directly from clinical samples, with more on-target data and a shorter sequencing time to recover viral genomes. These findings promise to improve the sensitivity and timeliness of rapid identification and genomic surveillance of infectious diseases.

An Exploratory Study of the Effect of Online Learning Readiness on Self-Regulated Learning

This exploratory quantitative study investigates the relationship between online learning readiness (OLR) and self-regulated learning (SRL), precisely the effect of OLR on SRL in an online learning context among 262 Chinese college students taking fully online courses. Results indicate that students’ OLR positively influences SRL. Specifically, communication competencies play the most significant role in affecting students’ online SRL, followed by technical and social competencies. Furthermore, Chinese college students with higher communication and technical competencies better manage their study time and self-evaluate their online learning. Likewise, students who are more capable of engaging in meaningful interactions with their instructor and peers are more likely to self-assess their learning. This exploratory study provides an overview of the correlation between OLR and SRL. It highlights the necessity of preparing college students in China, where face-to-face instruction was predominately used before the COVID-19 pandemic, to succeed in online learning.

Anxiety Severity and Influencing Factors in Day Surgery Patients or Relatives in Covid-19 Normalized Prevention Phase.

BACKGROUND: As the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) repeated, the prevention and treatment will be normalized in a period. "Large number of patients" and " Turnover quickly" of the day surgery ward greatly increased the difficulty of policy formulation and implementation. The normalization also had a huge negative psychological impact on patients/family members. This study aims to introduce effective epidemic prevention and control measures in day surgery wards, and to clarify the influencing factors of anxiety and subjective discomfort of patients and their families during the normalization of COVID-19. METHODS: To prepare for normalization of epidemic, research discuss improvements in the management of staff, environment, process. A total of 148 patients admitted to West China Hospital from December 2021 to March 2022 and their relatives were asked to complete a questionnaire effectively. Using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale, Social Support Rating Scale and Subjective Units of Distress scales to analyze anxiety and its risk factors. RESULTS: Under normalized control measures, no staff was infected. The subjective discomfort score was higher in people with lower body mass index (BMI). Young and high social support score were risk factors for anxiety (P < .05), and social support was positively correlated with anxiety. CONCLUSION: The normalization of epidemic is an inevitable trend in a period. A stable and safe medical environment needs to fully eliminate the policy defects, to fit the people and focus on mental health of the people. For patients/family members, who are younger,a lower BMI and higher social support should be attention more.

Polymorphisms and mutations of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes are associated with COVID-19: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of polymorphisms and mutations in angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Type 2 transmembrane serine proteases (TMPRSS2) genes on susceptibility to corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and patient prognosis. INTRODUCTION: From December 2019 to the current time, an outbreak of epidemic of COVID-19, characterized by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has occurred around the world. It is now clear that SARS-CoV-2 binds to human ACE2 receptors, with expression of these receptors correlated with the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality. Polymorphisms in individual patient factors, such as ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes have been linked with an increase in negative outcomes, although evidence to affirm remains debatable. METHODS: Here, we performed a systematic review, based on guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria, with the aim of assessing whether polymorphisms in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes affect the COVID-19 condition. We extensively searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, for relevant articles and reports published in English between December 2019 and December 2021. RESULTS: A total of 495 full-text articles were downloaded, of which 185 were excluded after preliminary examination as they were duplicates. Finally, 310 articles were evaluated, by reading their titles and abstracts, and 208 of them eliminated based on our selection criteria. Finally, 33 articles met our inclusion criteria and were included in the final assessment. Genetic data from 33,923 patients with COVID-19 drawn from the general population and deriving from over 160 regions and 50 countries, as well as approximately 560,000 samples from global-public genetic databases, were included in our analysis. Ultimately, we identified 10 SNPs and 21 mutations in the ACE2 gene, along with 13 SNPs and 12 variants in the TMPRSS2 gene, which may be associated with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: ACE2 and TMPRSS2 play vital roles in the onset, development, and prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and have both been strongly associated with vulnerability, intensity, and the clinical result of COVID-19. Overall, these genetic factors may have potential for future development of personalized drugs and vaccines against COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD42021239400 in PROSPERO 2021.

E-learners' satisfaction as predictors of online classroom community

Purpose: This study investigates Chinese college students' satisfaction with using e-learning systems and its influences on their sense of online classroom community in synchronous, asynchronous, or a blend of both synchronous and asynchronous online course format during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total number of 307 college students were recruited with 270 usable responses from a southeastern university in China. E-learner satisfaction measurement and Classroom Community Scale (both with a 5-point Likert-type scale) were used as the instruments to investigate the research questions. Descriptive statistical analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted in SPSS. Results: Results of the analysis show that Chinese college students' satisfaction of using the e-learning system regarding the learner interface, learning community, content, and personalization positively impacts their sense of online classroom community no matter in synchronous, asynchronous, or a blend of both synchronous and asynchronous online course format. Implications: A well-developed e-learning system would enhance students' sense of online classroom community. Specifically, the user interface, interaction, content arrangement, and personalization should be focused on when developing the e-learning system.

“We Have to Survive, First”: Speculative Ethnographies of Chinese Student Experience During COVID-19

Our speculative ethnography of Chinese student experience in the United States during COVID-19 weds the tradition of speculative fiction (exemplified by the likes of Margaret Atwood and Octavia Butler) and digital autoethnography. The study is two-pronged: First, we articulate/map the methodological merits of speculative and digital autoethnography as particularly conducive to the crisis context of COVID-19 and its accompanying social isolation;second, we deploy said methodology within a population of nine Chinese students ?trapped? in the United States during the COVID-19 period.

The Online Learning Academic Achievement of Chinese Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Self-Regulated Learning and Academic Entitlement

In the spring semester of 2020, all Chinese higher education institutions delivered courses online across the nation in response to the COVID-19. This study explores Chinese college students' self-regulated learning, academic entitlement, and academic achievement during the transitioning from face-to-face to online learning environments during this special time. Structure equation modeling was conducted, and results indicate that academic entitlement associates with students' online learning academic achievement. Whereas self-regulated learning does not relate to academic achievement in the online learning setting. Additionally, academic entitlement is marginally associated with academic achievement only among male students, while self-regulated learning is not a significant predictor for both genders. However, self-regulated learning is marginally linked with higher academic achievement among students who do not have previous online learning experiences but not among those who took online courses before.

Current status of antibody detection kits for SARS-CoV-2

Serological detection of specific antibody is an important method in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, numerous antibody detection kits for SARS-CoV-2 have been available within a short period, their accuracy and effectiveness are uncertain. This paper summarizes the current status of antibody detection kits for SARS-CoV-2 at home and abroad to provide reference on their uses by staffs in hospitals and CDCs.

Pathological features of COVID-19-associated lung injury: a preliminary proteomics report based on clinical samples.

The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a global health emergency due to its association with severe pneumonia and relative high mortality. However, the molecular characteristics and pathological features underlying COVID-19 pneumonia remain largely unknown. To characterize molecular mechanisms underlying COVID-19 pathogenesis in the lung tissue using a proteomic approach, fresh lung tissues were obtained from newly deceased patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. After virus inactivation, a quantitative proteomic approach combined with bioinformatics analysis was used to detect proteomic changes in the SARS-CoV-2-infected lung tissues. We identified significant differentially expressed proteins involved in a variety of fundamental biological processes including cellular metabolism, blood coagulation, immune response, angiogenesis, and cell microenvironment regulation. Several inflammatory factors were upregulated, which was possibly caused by the activation of NF-κB signaling. Extensive dysregulation of the lung proteome in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection was discovered. Our results systematically outlined the molecular pathological features in terms of the lung response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and provided the scientific basis for the therapeutic target that is urgently needed to control the COVID-19 pandemic.