Non-linear relationships and interactions of meteorological factors on mumps in Jinan, China.

Although vaccination is available, mumps remains a public health concern in many countries including China. Previous studies have indicated the impact of meteorological factors and mumps, but findings vary across different regions with limited evidence to inform local public health responses. We aim to examine the impacts of meteorological variables on mumps in Jinan, a temperate city of China, and explore the interactions of temperature with humidity or wind speed. Weekly meteorological data and notified cases of mumps in Jinan were collected for 2014-2018. Regression analyses using the generalized additive model were performed with considerations of multicollinearity, lag effects, school holidays, long-term trend, and seasonality. A stratification model was applied to investigate the interaction. We found a non-linear relationship between weekly mean temperature and the number of cases. Between 1.2 and 24.5 °C, the excess risk (ER) of mumps for a 1 °C increase in weekly mean temperature was 3.08% (95% CI 1.32 to 4.87%) at 0-week lag. The lagged effects could last for 3 weeks. There were interactions between mean temperature and relative humidity or wind speed. The effect of mean temperature was enhanced in days with low relative humidity or high wind speed. This study suggests that temperature is positively associated with mumps cases with thresholds in the temperate city of China, and the effect can be modified by relative humidity and wind speed and is independent of vaccine coverage. Findings could be integrated into current early warning systems of mumps in order to protect people's health from the risk of changing climate.

Single- and dual-band filtering-response power dividers embedded SIW filter with improved output isolation.

Two filtering-response power dividers embedded substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) filter are presented in this paper. By employing different SIW resonators, single- and dual-band filtering response are achieved, respectively. The even- and odd-mode method and the coupled resonator theory are applied to analyze the presented power dividers. In addition, a novel isolation technique using multiple isolation resistors is proposed to improve the output isolation performance of the filtering-response power divider with multiple resonators. To verify the proposed circuits, the single- and dual-band filtering-response power dividers are designed, fabricated and measured. Reasonable agreement between the simulated and measured results is achieved. Moreover, the measured output isolation of the fabricated dual-band filtering-response power divider with multiple resonators is about 20 dB, which demonstrates the theoretical predication.

New 2D diffraction model and its applications to terahertz parallel-plate waveguide power splitters.

A two-dimensional (2D) diffraction model for the calculation of the diffraction field in 2D space and its applications to terahertz parallel-plate waveguide power splitters are proposed in this paper. Compared with the Huygens-Fresnel principle in three-dimensional (3D) space, the proposed model provides an approximate analytical expression to calculate the diffraction field in 2D space. The diffraction filed is regarded as the superposition integral in 2D space. The calculated results obtained from the proposed diffraction model agree well with the ones by software HFSS based on the element method (FEM). Based on the proposed 2D diffraction model, two parallel-plate waveguide power splitters are presented. The splitters consist of a transmitting horn antenna, reflectors, and a receiving antenna array. The reflector is cylindrical parabolic with superimposed surface relief to efficiently couple the transmitted wave into the receiving antenna array. The reflector is applied as computer-generated holograms to match the transformed field to the receiving antenna aperture field. The power splitters were optimized by a modified real-coded genetic algorithm. The computed results of the splitters agreed well with the ones obtained by software HFSS verify the novel design method for power splitter, which shows good applied prospects of the proposed 2D diffraction model.

Coverage estimates and patterns of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) use prior to and during the polio eradication endgame, Jinan City, China, 2010-2015.

BACKGROUND: Use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) in Jinan during the polio eradication endgame has not been previously documented. Two IPV-containing vaccines were made available as an option for Jinan parents in 2009. We describe coverage levels and patterns of use of IPV over time using data from the Jinan Childhood Immunization Information Management System (JNCIIMS). METHODS: Children born between January 2010 and December 2014 who were registered in JNCIIMS were included in this study. Vaccination records were obtained from JNCIIMS on April 30, 2015. JNCIIMS distinguishes among available poliovirus vaccines; doses administered data were used to describe IPV usage over time. We identified the polio vaccination sequences used by children in the 2012 and 2013 birth cohorts. Coverage estimates were analyzed by birth cohort and migration status. We developed 3 categories for analysis: "resident child," "migrant child" and "other child" according to migration status. RESULTS: In total, 12,354 (11.7%) IPV, 5,893(5.6%) DTP-IPV-Hib vaccine and 87,054(82.7%) OPV doses were administered to children in the 2010 to 2014 birth cohorts. The proportion of children using an IPV-only schedule increased each year, consistent with the introduction of IPV that is called for by the Polio Eradication Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018. During this time, 4.7% children used a schedule containing both IPV and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). In the 2012 to 2013 birth cohorts, 14.4% children used an IPV-only schedule; 5.7% children used a sequential schedule, and 79.9% used OPV-only schedule. Use of IPV only schedules was higher among migrant children than among resident children. Among those sequential schedule using both IPV and OPV, 87.2% children used IPV for the first dose and 12.8% used OPV for the first dose. CONCLUSIONS: JNCIIMS provided a mechanism for tracking IPV and OPV vaccination patterns, and showed areas in need of improvement. Ensuring appropriately sequenced IPV and OPV supports reduction of risk of vaccine associated paralytic polio.