A document by Jiada Li. Click on the document to view its contents.

A document by Jiada Li. Click on the document to view its contents.

Aim: It was aimed to evaluate the relationship between vaccine literacy and vaccine hesitancy in adults living in an industrial city. Method: The study was conducted with individuals working in a public institution between 15.02.2022 and 15.06.2022 as a descriptive cross-sectional design (n=435). The data were collected through Information Form, the COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy Scale and the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale in Pandemics, evaluated using the SPSS 21.0 program. The Declaration of Helsinki was complied with at all stages of the research. Ethical and institutional permission was approved. Results: The rate of the participants who had the COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 96.8%. The total mean score of the COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy Scale was found to be 2.71±.49 and the Vaccine Hesitancy in Pandemics Scale total mean score to be 27.94±5.19. The COVID-19 vaccine literacy level of the participants had a statistically significant effect on the vaccine hesitancy in pandemics. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine literacy was found to be moderate in the group examined, and it affected the level of vaccine hesitancy. It is crucial that the health personnel and social media resources preferred by the society as a source of information convey accurate and up-to-date information to individuals.

New approaches to increase productivity and reduce costs may improve the use of lignocellulosic biomass in biorefineries, benefiting the biobased economy and reducing political and environmental instabilities from fossil sources. The deletion of MNN10 and PMT5 genes, related to N- and O-mannosylation processes, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4742 was performed by CRISPR/Cas9 to evaluate the effects on the enzymatic activity of a heterologous laccase. Next, the mutant with the higher laccase activity, mnn10Δ, in concert with expression of lignocellulolytic enzymes ( GH74 endoglucanase, GH3 β-glucosidase) integrated in the Ty1 locus was used to create a strain for a consolidated bioprocess. Proteomic analysis showed that several proteins related to the synthesis of the cell wall, vesicle formation, protein trafficking, and glycosylation had changes in expression levels after deletion of the MNN10. This mutant strain also showed increased extracellular activities of recombinant CAZYmes, which could be a result of changes in N- and O-glycosylation or extracellular secretion. Active heterologous enzymes can be expressed from genes integrated into the Ty1 locus (transposon) of such industrial and laboratory S. cerevisiae chassis and provides a promising approach for the development of consolidated bioprocessing.

Under the dual-carbon goal, the operation environment and form of the urban power grid have new characteristics, and the urban power grid will be transformed into a new urban power grid (NUPG), which puts forward higher requirements for flexibility. It is urgent to establish a flexible dispatching system to meet the operation of the NUPG. This paper first introduces the eight major new operation characteristics and challenges of the NUPG. Secondly, a flexible dispatching architecture with the load as the main body is constructed, and the types of dispatching objects, dispatching means and media, and internal and external dispatching tasks are introduced. On this basis, four basic dispatching key technologies of the NUPG are pointed out: load response capacity assessment and distribution technology, load reserve configuration and power plan formulation technology, load participation in power grid frequency regulation/peak shaving/voltage regulation technology, and internal and external fault handling technology based on load resources. Finally, the effectiveness of the NUPG dispatching architecture and key technologies is verified by simulation analysis of the IEEE39-bus system and the actual power grid in East China.

Dry-type transformer is the key hub equipment connecting power generation platform and power consumption platform in marine power system. Partial insulation aging caused by transformer thermal effect is one of the important factors that adversely affect the operation stability. The new ceramic insulation winding prepared by micro-arc oxidation technology has the characteristics of high thermal conductivity and high temperature resistance, and is an ideal product to replace traditional organic insulation materials. Therefore, in this paper, the thermal characteristics and overload capacity of a ceramic insulated aluminum winding dry-type transformer are studied by combining heat flow coupling simulation and experiment. By comparing the temperature field and velocity field characteristics of traditional organic insulated dry-type transformer and ceramic insulated dry-type transformer, the influence of different winding materials on transformer heat dissipation under the same load condition is studied. The hottest spot temperature of ceramic insulated winding dry-type transformer is about 86% of that of traditional organic insulated transformer. The ceramic insulated dry-type transformer has a good overload capacity. Under the premise of meeting the H-class insulation, it can carry 1.4 times the rated load. Finally, the simulation results are compared with the experimental data of the ceramic insulated dry-type transformer. The accuracy of the results was verified.

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is a bird of prey belonging to the group of vultures. Although in the past it occupied mountain systems in Asia, Europe and Africa, and its distribution in the Iberian Peninsula was widely distributed, its current distribution in Spain is limited to very specific mountain ranges, including the Aragonese Pyrenees. The decline of the Iberian population is supposed to be linked to factors acting at a microscale level as the use of poisons, illegal hunting, human activity and the decrease in intensive livestock farming. There are, however, other factors acting on a biogeographical scale that may also be affecting the viability of populations that are not currently being considered. The aim of this study is to determine on a large scale the effect that environmental conditions may have on the temporal oscillations of the reproductive parameters of the bearded vulture. For this purpose, the breeding population in the Aragones Pyrenees has been used as the study population. We tested the degree to which each of 26 macroclimatic oscillation indices were teleconnected with three reproductive parameters (hatching rate, fledge rate and productivity). Two indices (the Tropical Northern Atlantic Index, and the East Atlantic/West Russia Pattern) were temporally correlated with the reproductive parameters of the bearbed vulture. The results are expected to provide novel information in the field of bearded vulture conservation, as there are no previous studies that address this issue from a biogeographical perspective. The results could have important implications for the management and conservation of the species and its successful reintroduction in other territories.

AbstractControlled Human Infection Studies (CHIS) involve intentional, controlled exposures of human volunteers to infectious disease organisms. Following our experience conducting a systematic review of CHIS published between 1980 and 2021, we identified several issues around the terminology used to describe and identify CHIS, the definitions of CHIS and challenge phases within them, and the definition and reporting of AEs experienced by CHIS volunteers. The present work discusses these issues further, and proposes guidelines to better standardize CHIS definitions and AE reporting across the field.

Local translation in growth cones plays a critical role in responses to extracellular stimuli, such as axon guidance cues. We previously showed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activates translation and enhances novel protein synthesis through the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling in growth cones of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. In this study, we focused on ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6), ribosomal protein P0/1/2 (RPP0/1/2), and actin filaments to determine how localization of ribosomal proteins changes with overall protein synthesis induced by BDNF and nerve growth factor (NGF). Our quantitative analysis using immunocytochemistry and super-resolution microscopy indicated that RPS6, RPP0/1/2, and actin tend to colocalize in the absence of stimulation, and that these ribosomal proteins tend to dissociate from actin when local protein synthesis is promoted. We propose that this is because the ribosome is turned into an actively translating ribosome (polysome) by the protein synthesis machinery. This study further clarifies the role of cytoskeletal components in local translation and will inform the study of neurological disorders associated with cytoskeletal disruption.

Optimization and monitoring of bioprocesses requires the measurement of several process parameters and quality attributes. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques such as those coupled to gas chromatography (GCMS) and liquid Chromatography (LCMS) enable the simultaneous measurement of hundreds of metabolites with high sensitivity. When applied to spent media, such metabolome analysis can help determine the sequence of substrate uptake and metabolite secretion, consequently facilitating better design of initial media and feeding strategy. Furthermore, the analysis of metabolite diversity and abundance from spent media will aid the determination of metabolic phases of the culture and the identification of metabolites as surrogate markers for product titer and quality. This review covers the recent advances in metabolomics analysis applied to the development and monitoring of bioprocesses. In this regard, we recommend a stepwise workflow and guidelines that a bioprocesses engineer can adopt to develop and optimize a fermentation process using spent media analysis. Finally, we show examples of how the use of MS has revolutionized the design and monitoring of bioprocesses.

Objective: To study the safety and feasibility of virtual consultations in reproductive medicine. Design: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving subfertile patients attending a video consultation between September 2021 and August 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Manchester, UK. Clinicians conducting virtual consultations during the same period responded to a parallel survey for healthcare professionals. Subjects: Subfertile patients attending a virtual consultation. Healthcare professionals conducting virtual consultations. Exposure: The survey link was offered in 4,932 consultations. A total of 577 (11.69%) patients responded and 510 completed the questionnaire (88.3%). Main Outcome Measures: Patient satisfaction measured as the percentage of patients preferring virtual to in person consultations. Results: The majority of the patients (475, 91.70%) had a positive experience with the video consultation and just under half of the patients (152, 48.65%) preferred a video consultation to an in person consultation due to cost and time savings. Most patients (375, 72.68%) felt safer and less exposed to COVID-19. When the risk of COVID-19 subsides, 242 patients (47%) would still prefer to attend video consultations, while 169 (32.82%) had no preference. Analysis of the responses from patients reporting a negative experience identified technical problems as a possible cause. The virtual consultations appeared to be suitable for patients with disabilities. The clinicians’ survey identified potential legal and ethical concerns. Conclusion: Virtual consultations are a safe and feasible alternative to in person consultations for subfertile patients. This large cross-sectional study revealed a high rate of patient satisfaction. Appropriate patient selection accounting for IT literacy, English language understanding and preference is crucial for successful virtual consultations. Further consideration should be given to ethical and legal challenges of virtual consultations.

Some insect-pathogenic fungi have evolved the ability to behaviorally manipulate their insect hosts. This has required the fungi to develop intricate mechanisms of infection, proliferation, and behavioral hijacking, which has led to speculation that behaviorally manipulating fungi must only infect a narrow range of hosts. One well-known example is the insect-pathogenic fungus Entomophthora muscae, which infects dipterans. Here, we present the different stages of the life cycle of E. muscae, focusing on the unique adaptations that allows the fungus to enter and proliferate inside its hosts, the possible ways it manipulates behavior, how the fungus exits the killed host to seek new susceptible hosts, and the ecological implications of these adaptations for determining the host range and intra-specific variation of E. muscae. We address the biology of E. muscae from an evolutionary ecology perspective and discuss the capacity of the fungus for behavioral manipulation within an extended phenotype framework. We highlight areas where further research is needed to fully develop E. muscae as a model system for host-pathogen research, for example to address questions relating to fitness consequences of an infection.

Bearing failure in wind turbine gearboxes is one of the significant sources of downtime. While it is well known that bearing failures cause the largest downtime, the failure cause(s) is often elusive. The bearings are designed to satisfy their Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) life. However, they often undergo sudden and rapid failure within a few years of operation. It is well known that these premature failures are attributed to different types of surface damage. In that regard, transient torque reversals (TTRs) in the drivetrain have emerged as one of the primary triggers of surface damage, as explained in this paper. The risk associated with TTRs motivates the need to mitigate TTRs arising in the drivetrain due to various transient events. This paper investigates three TTR mitigation methods. First, two existing devices, namely, the torsional tuned mass damper and the asymmetric torque limiter, are studied. Then, a novel idea of open-loop high-speed shaft mechanical brake control is proposed. The results show that while the torsional tuned mass damper and the asymmetric torque limiter can improve the torsional vibration characteristics of the drivetrain, they cannot mitigate TTRs in terms of eliminating the bearing slip risk associated with TTRs. However, the novel approach proposed here can mitigate TTRs both in terms of improving the torque characteristic in the high-speed shaft and reducing the risk of bearing slip. Furthermore, the control method is capable of mitigating TTRs with the mechanical limitations of a pneumatic actuator in terms of bandwidth and initial dead time.

Forest litter decomposition is an essential component of global carbon and nutrient turnover. Soil invertebrates play important roles in litter decomposition, but the regional pattern of their effects is poorly understood. We examined 476 case studies across 93 sites and performed a meta-analysis to estimate regional effects of invertebrates on forest litter decomposition. We then assessed how invertebrate diversity, climate and soil pH drive regional variations in invertebrate-mediated decomposition. We found that (1) invertebrate contributions to litter decomposition are 1.5 times higher in tropical forests than forests outside the tropics, with an overall contribution of 31% to global forest litter decomposition; and (2) invertebrate diversity, particularly of termites, together with warm, humid and acidic environments in the tropics are positively associated with forest litter decomposition by soil invertebrates. Our results demonstrate the significant difference in invertebrate effects on mediating forest litter decomposition between the tropics and elsewhere. We demonstrate, also, the significance of termites in driving litter mass loss in the tropics. These results are particularly pertinent in the tropics where climate change and human disturbance threaten soil invertebrate biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides.

Background While racial disparities in the clinical outcomes of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients have been explored, racial disparities in quality of life (QoL) during the readjustment phase after transplant has yet to be investigated in pediatric patients. The objective of this study was to examine the role of patient race in QoL at least two years after pediatric HSCT. Procedure We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients under 21 years of age at diagnosis that received an allogeneic transplant at our institution between January 2007 and December 2017. Patient QoL was assessed using the PedsQL TM 4.0 at least two years post-transplant. Patient demographic, treatment, and transplant outcome data were obtained for subsequent analysis, where patient race was categorized as either Black, White, Hispanic, or Native American. Results Data were collected on 86 pediatric patients who underwent HSCT. Forty patients (46.5%) were non-Hispanic White, 29 (33.7%) Hispanic, 10 (11.6%) Black, and 7 (8.1%) Native American. Where preliminary analyses indicated a difference in QoL by patient race, there were no significant differences in physical, emotional, social, and school functioning by patient race after adjusting for transplant characteristics (age at transplant, sex, diagnosis, donor type and conditioning regimen) and determinants of socioeconomic status (insurance type, estimated household income). Conclusions Pediatric patients had comparable QoL, regardless of race, at a median of three years after HSCT in our study cohort.

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders caused by a mutation in the beta subunit of hemoglobin (HbS). SCD is also known as Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA). There are approximately 5000 Canadians living with SCA including children. Pediatric SCA patient education can: improve knowledge, decrease hospitalization, improve medication possession ratio, lead to better SCA related functioning, and lower pain impact. Innovative educational materials were developed to improve knowledge and self-efficacy regarding illness management of patients and parents/guardians. Patients (n=5; aged 8 – 18) with SCA and parents (n=5) of patients (aged 0 – 18) were recruited via flyers sent directly to patients and distributed through partner patient organization Sickle Cell Awareness Network of Saskatchewan. Patient and parent focus groups were held separately over Zoom to receive feedback for the video. An additional interview was held for a participant that required translation of the video. Audio recordings were transcribed using Zoom and Otter.ai. Coding of transcripts was facilitated by NVivo (QSR International Pty Ltd, 2022, release 1.6.2). Thematic analysis centred around SCA management concepts relevant to the research aims. Important themes that emerged included: ‘Age Appropriateness’, ‘Empowerment’, ‘Knowledge Gaps’, ‘Linguistic Accessibility’, ‘Medication Adherence’, ‘Strength in Community’ and ‘Transition to Adult Care’. The video was well received, and “brought peace of mind”. Patient feedback was incorporated into the final version of the educational materials.

Key pointsWe describe 35 cases of submandibular degloving, a recently encoded technique for submandibular sialoadenectomy in benign pathologyMalignancy has been reliably excluded through clinical assessment and fine needle aspiration cytologyIt is based on blunt subfascial supracapsular dissection in order to spare fascia along with facial vessels and marginalis mandibulae nerve (MMN) withinNo recurrences have been recordedThe rate of injury to the nerves at risk (MMN, lingual, hypoglossal) is lower than what reported in the literature for the “classical” transcervical and transoral techniques

A one-year-old Belgian warmblood with a previously known history of successfully repaired temporal and parietal bone fracture sustained at 14 days of age was presented for investigation of a recent, acute, and progressive four limbs ataxia. The owner reported a lack of coordination and difficulty getting up with progressing paresis two weeks prior to the presentation. Neurological examination revealed pronounced hypermetria/dysmetria in walk and trot in all four limbs. No evidence of cranial nerve deficit was observed. The horse was in good general condition with unremarkable clinical parameters. Survey lateral radiographs of the cervical spine showed moderate to severe signs of cervical malformation of the vertebral canal and articular process joints, indicating cervical stenotic myelopathy. Cervical computed tomographic (CT) myelography revealed the presence of a dorsal subarachnoid diverticulum causing significant spinal cord compression at multiple locations, with associated osteoarthrosis of the cervical articular process joints. Due to a poor prognosis and warranted surgical outcome, the owner declined further treatment, and the horse was discharged with conservative corticosteroid treatment. The patient was euthanised shortly after the initial presentation due to progressive worsening. To the author’s knowledge, CT myelography findings in a yearling with cervical subarachnoid diverticulum have not been previously published. This case illustrates the usefulness of advanced imaging techniques, such as CT myelography, in combination with static and dynamic radiography to provide a better and more accurate diagnosis.

As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak spread, evidence has emerged that gender and race would bear a disproportionate impact on the morbimortality of COVID-19. Here, we conducted a retrospective observational study using the TabNet/DATASUS platform of the city of São Paulo. COVID-19 records from March 2020 thru December 2021 were included, and we evaluated the temporal trends of confirmed cases and case fatality rate by gender and ethnicity. Statistical analysis was performed using the R-software and the BioEstat-software, considering p<0.05 significant. From March/2020 to December/2021, 1,315,160 COVID-19 confirmed cases were recorded (57.1% females), and 2,973 deaths were due to COVID-19. Males presented higher median mortality (0.44% vs 0.23%; p<0.05) and ICU admission rates (0.34% vs 0.20%; p<0.05). Men were also associated with a higher risk of death (RR=1.28; p<0.05) and a higher chance of requiring ICU care (RR=1.29; p<0.05). The black ethnicity was associated with a higher risk of death (RR=1.19; p<0.05). White patients were more likely to require ICU admission (RR=1.13; p<0.05), whereas browns were associated with a protective effect (RR=0.86; p<0.05). Further, men presented a higher chance of death than women across the three major ethnic groups: whites (RR=1.33; p<0.05), blacks (RR=1.24; p<0.05), and browns (RR=1.35; p<0.05). In this study of COVID-19 in São Paulo, men were associated with worse outcomes, including in the three major ethnicities in the population. Blacks exhibited a higher risk of death, whites were more likely to require intensive care, and browns were at protection from ICU hospitalization.

Rapid economic development can pose a threat to the biodiversity of tropical countries. In Laos, this is manifested by the conversion of natural forests into plantations, even though this area is one of the biodiversity hotspots of Southeast Asia. Beetle communities can be good indicators of the impact of anthropogenic pressure on natural ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed for the first time a countrywide inventory of Coleoptera to assess the ecological and anthropogenic drivers of beetle communities in Laos. We examined beetle communities (described at the family level) across the country, located in distinct habitat types, in order to understand the impact a rapid increase in human activities has on the region’s biodiversity. We found that beetle abundance had declined in plantations compared to natural forests. At the same time, we observed fewer beetle families in plantations overall, but at the scale of sampling sites there was no difference in local diversity compared to natural forests, suggesting a homogenization of beetle communities in anthropogenic habitats. Although results are certainly sensitive to our coarse classification of beetle specimens into families, the negative impact of the conversion of natural tropical forests into agriculture area can still be clearly demonstrated. Our findings highlight that it is possible to make use of unstructured large-scale inventories to explore how beetle communities responds to landscape changes induced by human activities. We suggest that sampling beetle communities can be used as an ecological indicator to monitor anthropogenic impacts on tropical ecosystems.

Species boundaries are difficult to establish in groups with very similar morphology. As an alternative, it has been suggested to integrate multiple sources of data to clarify taxonomic problems in taxa where cryptic speciation processes have been reported. This is the case of the harvest mouse Reithrodontomys mexicanus, which has a problematic taxonomy history as it is considered a complex species. Here, we evaluate the cryptic diversity of R. mexicanus using an integrative taxonomy approach in order to detect candidate lineages at the species-level. The molecular analysis used one mitochondrial (cytb) and two nuclear (Fgb-I7 and IRBP) genes. Species hypotheses were suggested based on three molecular delimitation methods (mPTP, bGMYC, and STACEY), and cytb genetic distances values. Skull and environmental space differences between the delimited species were also tested to complement the discrimination of candidate species. Based on the consensus across the delimitation methods and genetic distance values, four species were proposed, which were mostly supported by morphometric and ecological data: R. mexicanus clade I, R. mexicanus clade IIA, R. mexicanus clade IIIA, and R. mexicanus clade IIIB. In addition, the evolutionary relationships between the species that comprise the R. mexicanus group were discussed from a phylogenetic approach. Our findings present important taxonomic implications for Reithrodontomys, as the number of known species for this genus increases. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of the use of multiple sources of data in systematic studies to establish robust delimitations between species considered taxonomically complex.

Mid-infrared absorbers based on metamaterials are investigated intensively for gas detection applications, owing to its ability to achieve excellent light absorption by manipulating electromagnetic waves. Herein, we present a metamaterial absorber for the ultra-compact optical gas sensor. This absorber has 99.9% absorption at 6.2 μm. The full width at half-maximum of the peak was 720 nm. As a sensor, the absorber had an average linear spectral sensitivity of 876 nm/RIU and a detection limit of 1.141×10-5 RIU, when the RI of the gas medium varied between 1 and 1.05. The designed absorber would have great potential application in guiding the design of optical gas sensors.

Glacial moulins (cylindrical meltwater drainage shafts) provide valuable insights into glacier dynamics, but are inaccessible and hazardous environments for humans to study. Exploring using passive sensor probes has revealed the complex geometry of moulins, however, exploration has been limited. To overcome these challenges, we propose a tethered robot capable of autonomously exploring and capturing data in glacial moulins. Our novel robot is equipped with a tether to support its motion. Combined with novel estimation and control algorithms, the tethered robot is able to safely and efficiently maneuver in confined, chimney-like structures such as moulins. Laboratory and field experiments confirm the feasibility of the proposed design, showing successful localization in environments with no access to positional measurements. Field trials on the Mer de Glace glacier demonstrate the robot’s capabilities, descending into the largest moulin to depths of 25m and using onboard sensors to reconstruct the moulin shape. Two sampling mechanisms are presented and evaluated to extract samples from the icy surface of the moulin. Our results show promising potential for future exploration of moulins, demonstrating the effectiveness of our tethered robot for safely gathering data from these hazardous environments.

We get some insight into the new construction and maintenance operations so called keyhole technology which minimizes labour and restoration costs compared with conventional practices. Because the concept is relatively new to the public utility sector, there is a lack of equipment/tools available that could perform the required services. The finite element analyses using commercial package ABAQUS will be employed to obtain the force needed to close the pipe. As a final example we will show the topology optimization of squeeze–off tool as the act of an iterative process.