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The survey of vaccination hesitancy among the residents in Jinan
Introduction Vaccination is an important way to prevent disease, but vaccine hesitancy will impact vaccine coverage and indirectly affect health. This study aims to survey the status of vaccine hesitancy among adults in Jinan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using the vaccine hesitancy scale among the parents of children and teenagers at hospitals in Jinan, China. We described the attitude of the parents to the vaccination through the dimensions of confidence (items: L1-L7) and the risk (items:L8-L10).The participants will be regarded as lacking confidence if the score is over 21 among the items (L1-L7), and participants will consider the vaccination to be a “Risk” if the score is over 9 among the items (L8-L10). Using the chi-square test to analyse the differences of attitude between different participants. Results 202 individuals were enrolled, and most respondents (88.70%) agreed that vaccines are important for their child’s health. 33.50% agreed and strongly agreed that new vaccines carried more risks than older vaccines. The average score for the lack of confidence in the vaccination was 11±0.25. The average score for risk for vaccination was 9.92±0.04. Participants aged below 30 years, females, those with lower education, and those without medical workers in the family were more concerned about the risks of vaccines. Conclusions Participants were confident about the vaccination. But they were also concerned about the risks of vaccines. A lack of vaccine knowledge may led the participants to have hesitancy about vaccinations.
Assessing the potential impact of grasshopper outbreaks on Patagonian wetlands through mathematical modelling
Mental health in Germany before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Based on nationally representative panel data (N person-years = 40,020; N persons = 18,704; Panel Labour Market and Social Security; PASS) from 2018 to 2022, we investigate how mental health changed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We employ time-distributed fixed effects regressions to show that mental health (Mental Health Component Summary Score of the SF-12) decreased from the first COVID-19 wave in 2020 onward, leading to the most pronounced mental health decreases during the Delta wave, which began in August 2021. In the summer of 2022, mental health had not returned to baseline levels. An analysis of the subdomains of the mental health measure indicates that long-term negative mental health changes are mainly driven by declines in psychological well-being and calmness. Furthermore, our results indicate no clear patterns of heterogeneity between age groups, sex, income, education, migrant status, childcare responsibilities or pre-COVID-19 health status. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have had a uniform effect on mental health in the German adult population and did not lead to a widening of health inequalities in the long run.
Clustering of > 145,000 symptom logs reveals distinct pre, peri, and menopausal phenotypes
Cell recruitment and the origins of Anterior-Posterior asymmetries in the Drosophila wing
The mechanisms underlying the establishment of asymmetric structures during development remain elusive. The wing of Drosophila is asymmetric along the Anterior-Posterior (AP) axis, but the developmental origins of this asymmetry is unknown. Here, we investigate the contribution of cell recruitment, a process that drives cell fate differentiation in the Drosophila wing disc, to the asymmetric shape and pattern of the adult wing. Genetic impairment of cell recruitment in the wing disc results in a significant gain of AP symmetry, which results from a reduction of the region between longitudinal vein 5 and the wing margin (L5-M) in the adult wing. Morphometric analysis confirms that blocking of cell recruitment results in a more symmetric wing with respect to controls, suggesting a contribution of cell recruitment to the establishment of asymmetry in the adult wing. In order to verify if this phenotype is originated during the time in which cell recruitment occurs during larval development, we examined the expression of a reporter for the selector gene vestigial (vg) in the corresponding pro-vein regions of the wing disc, but our findings could not explain our findings in adult wings. However, the circularity of the Vg pattern significantly increases in recruitment-impaired wing discs, suggesting that cell recruitment may contribute to AP asymmetries in the adult wing shape by altering the roundness of the Vg pattern. We conclude that cell recruitment, a widespread mechanism that participates in growth and patterning of several developing systems, may contribute, at least partially, to the asymmetric shape of the Drosophila wing.
Hybrid salp swarm maximum power point tracking algorithm for photovoltaic systems in highly fluctuating environmental conditions
Development and validation of the health education demand scale for HPV infected patients based on KANO model
Objective The purpose of this study is to develop and validate the scale of health education demand of patients with HPV infection based on KANO model, so as to provide a tool for further exploring the types of health education demand and influencing factors of patients with HPV infection. Methods This study is a scale development and validation study using a three-stage cross-sectional design. In stage 1, a preliminary item pool is formed using literature review, semi-structured interviews and the Delphi method. In stage 2, six experts were invited to assess content validity. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1169 patients with HPV infection, Questionnaire results from 583 patients were used for exploratory factor analysis. In stage 3, the remaining 586 patients to validate the factor structure through confirmatory factor analysis. Results In stage 1, an initial 35-item scale was developed and the items were transformed positive and reverse based on KANO model. In stage 2, Exploratory factor analysis formed a scale of 28 items in 5 factors: disease information demand, social support, emotional demand, family support and health education style demand. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.940 for the entire scale and 0.763~0.908 for the five subscales in the positive items, 0.955 for the entire scale and 0.739~0.946 for the five subscales in reverse items. The content validity index of the scale: S-CVI/UA = 0.91, S-CVI/Ave = 0.98. In stage 3, the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the χ2/df, RMSEA, CFI and TLI of the positive items after four model modifications were 3.650, 0.067, 0.901, 0.888, and the SRMR value was < 0.001. The fitting of the five-factor model was good. Conclusion The KANO model based questionnaire on health education demand of HPV infected patients has good reliability and validity, and is suitable for the investigation of health education demand of HPV infected patients.
Association of cardiometabolic index with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among middle-aged and elderly populations
Suboptimal dietary knowledge predicts lower diet quality for cancer prevention among university students in Beirut
University students are at a pivotal stage of shaping cancer risk factors. Little is known about their dietary behavior in Lebanon, a country heavily burdened by cancer. This cross-sectional study assessed the dietary knowledge of and adherence to cancer prevention guidelines among university students in Beirut, Lebanon. We hypothesized that students would exhibit low knowledge, poor diet quality, and that knowledge predicted diet quality. Dietary knowledge was explored using a dedicated questionnaire, with scores above the 60th percentile considered as Knowledgeable (Kn+), and those below as less knowledgeable (Kn-). Dietary adherence to cancer prevention guidelines and the predictors of the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)- a measure of diet quality calculated using the Modified Mediterranean Prime Screen, were also examined. The sample included 300 participants (55% females, mean age: 20 years). The mean knowledge score was 49.5%. Over 50% of students were aware of the association between red and processed meat, sodium, fruits and vegetables, obesity, and cancer. Kn+ group had a higher intake of vegetables and a lower intake of meats and sweetened beverages. Increased knowledge (B = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.18,1.37) and high physical activity (B = 4.62, 95%CI: 1.66,7.59) were associated with elevated AHEI scores. A significant positive interaction was observed between knowledge and enrollment in a health-related major. University students’ dietary knowledge of and adherence to cancer prevention guidelines are suboptimal. Although higher knowledge predicts high-quality diets, the association was weak. Further studies should investigate the food systems influencing university students’ dietary intake of university students in Lebanon and identify effective interventions to enhance health behavior.
Comparison between AI and human expert performance in acute pain assessment in sheep
Correction: Calcium-Activated-Calcineurin Reduces the In Vitro and In Vivo Sensitivity of Fluconazole to Candida albicans via Rta2p
Effect of magnetized water on the fundamental grouting properties of cement grout under varying magnetization conditions
Early neutrophil activation and NETs release in the pristane-induced lupus mice model
Background NETosis is recognized as an important source of autoantigens. Therefore, we hypothesized whether the pristane-induced lupus mice model shows early activation of neutrophils, the presence of low-density granulocytes (LDGs), and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) release, which could contribute to the development of a lupus phenotype. Methods Twelve female wild-type Balb/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with pristane (n = 6; pristane group) or saline (n = 6; control group). Five days after the injection, blood, peritoneal lavage, bone marrow, and spleen samples were collected for flow cytometry analyses of activated neutrophils (Ly6G+CD11b+), LDGs (CD15+CD14low), and NETs release (Sytox Green+). Results The pristane-induced mice group had a significantly increased number of blood activated neutrophils and LDGs as well as NETs released by these cells compared to the saline-injected control group and the basal values determined 12 days before the injection. The pristane group also had a significantly increased number of activated neutrophils, LDGs, and NETs released compared to the control group for the peritoneal lavage and bone marrow, except total cell count in spleen. Conclusions We demonstrated early changes in the innate immune response such as an increased number of activated neutrophils and LDGs and mainly increased NETosis in the pristane-induced mice model which may be considered as the primary event triggering lupus development.
Impact of urbanization on antimicrobial resistance in soil microbial communities
Optimizing Kernel Extreme Learning Machine based on a Enhanced Adaptive Whale Optimization Algorithm for classification task
Data classification is an important research direction in machine learning. In order to effectively handle extensive datasets, researchers have introduced diverse classification algorithms. Notably, Kernel Extreme Learning Machine (KELM), as a fast and effective classification method, has received widespread attention. However, traditional KELM algorithms have some problems when dealing with large-scale data, such as the need to adjust hyperparameters, poor interpretability, and low classification accuracy. To address these problems, this paper proposes an Enhanced Adaptive Whale Optimization Algorithm to optimize Kernel Extreme Learning Machine (EAWOA-KELM). Various methods were used to improve WOA. As a first step, a novel adaptive perturbation technique employing T-distribution is proposed to perturb the optimal position and avoid being trapped in a local maximum. Secondly, the WOA’s position update formula was modified by incorporating inertia weight ω and enhancing convergence factor α, thus improving its capability for local search. Furthermore, inspired by the grey wolf optimization algorithm, use 3 excellent particle surround strategies instead of the original random selecting particles. Finally, a novel Levy flight was implemented to promote the diversity of whale distribution. Results from experiments confirm that the enhanced WOA algorithm outperforms the standard WOA algorithm in terms of both fitness value and convergence speed. EAWOA demonstrates superior optimization accuracy compared to WOA across 21 test functions, with a notable edge on certain functions. The application of the upgraded WOA algorithm in KELM significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of data classification by optimizing hyperparameters. This paper selects 7 datasets for classification experiments. Compared with the KELM optimized by WOA, the EAWOA optimized KELM in this paper has a significant improvement in performance, with a 5%-6% lead on some datasets, indicating the effectiveness of EAWOA-KELM in classification tasks.
Author Correction: Benchmarking of key performance factors in textile industry effluent treatment processes for enhanced environmental remediation
The impact of the centralized volume-based procurement policy on Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing firms’ R&D investment: A difference-in-differences approach
Centralized drug procurement is a common practice worldwide to relieve the healthcare burden and promote high-quality development in the pharmaceutical industry. However, scholars have not yet reached an agreement on whether centralized procurement can facilitate the innovation activities of pharmaceutical firms. China’s centralized volume-based procurement (CVBP) implemented in 2018 provides an ideal quasi-natural experiment to evaluate the effect of centralized procurement on the R&D investment of the firms. Drawing data from listed manufacturing firms in China’s A-share market (2015–2020), the results from a difference-in-differences analysis with different model specifications indicate that the CVBP significantly promotes the pharmaceutical manufacturing firms’ R&D investment. Moreover, the positive effect of the CVBP on R&D investment is stronger in pharmaceutical manufacturing firms with high marketing expenses. A series of robustness tests including the parallel trend test, placebo test, and the PSM-DID analysis show that our findings are solid. This paper advances our understanding of centralized procurement in emerging markets and provides new insights into how governments and pharmaceutical manufacturing firms can strengthen innovation.
Effect of Nb/B addition on the flow behavior and mechanical properties of low-carbon steel using compact strip production
AbstractThis work examines the effects of Nb and Nb-B additives on the high-temperature flow behavior and mechanical properties of low-carbon steel. The base, 0.015% Nb-bearing (15Nb alloy), and 0.015% Nb-30 ppm B-bearing (15Nb30B alloy) low-carbon steels were manufactured at Al Ezz Dekheila Steel Company using the compact strip production line (CSP). The mean flow stress log data from the CSP line was utilized to determine the no-recrystallization temperature. The microstructure and high-temperature flow behavior were studied using thermomechanical controlled processing at different deformation temperatures with a 40% reduction using the Gleeble physical simulator. The phase evolution and precipitation state at various temperatures were studied15Nb30B alloy reveals lower flow stress at high processing temperature in comparison with 15Nb alloy. This is attributed to the early precipitation of BN, which led to restricted Nb-based precipitates. The addition of B to Nb-bearing steel slightly refines the grain size of the as-rolled alloy, which in turn has a beneficial effect on its strength. The research results highlight the industrial benefit of adding boron to Nb-bearing low C-steel in terms of reducing the rolling load and reducing the finishing rolling temperature while maintaining the mechanical properties of the as-rolled strips.
Assessing the drivers of sexual behavior among youth and its social determinants in Nepal
Introduction Sexual behavior among youth is a public health concern, particularly in contexts where cultural norms, socio-economic factors, and access to comprehensive sexual education play pivotal roles. This paper aims to examine the determinants of sexual behavior among Nepali youths. Methods This study analyzed data from 7,122 individuals aged 15–24 years from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2022, focusing on a nationally representative sample. This study assessed the prevalence of sexual behaviors, including premarital sex, recent sexual activity, and multiple sexual partners. Determinants examined included socio-demographic characteristics, media use, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to determine the associations between social determinants and sexual behaviors. Results The prevalence of premarital sex among the youth was 10.4%, with 15% of male youths reporting recent sexual activity and 2.8% having sexual intercourse with multiple partners. Variables significantly associated with premarital sex included older age groups (AOR = 2.81; 95% CI: 1.98–3.99), male (AOR = 7.87; 95% CI: 5.00–12.39), sales occupations (AOR = 2; 95% CI:1.12–3.57), smoking (AOR = 2.71; 95% CI:1.74–4.23), smokeless tobacco products (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI:1.12–3.34), and alcohol consumption (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI:2–4.41). Variables significantly associated with recent sexual activity included older age groups (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI:1.46, 3.03), being unmarried (AOR = 9.34; 95% CI:5.19–16.82), smoking (AOR = 2.01; 95% CI:1.33–3.05), use of smokeless products (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI:1.98–3.67), and alcohol consumption (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI:1.30–2.82). Youths using smokeless products had higher odds (AOR = 3.33; 95% CI:1.75–6.35) of having multiple sexual partners compared to those youths not using smokeless products. Conclusion Social determinants, along with smoking and alcohol consumption, were associated with sexual behaviors among youth. This study highlights the need for multicomponent health promotion (new public health) interventions which consider multi-level strategies, including culturally tailored sexual health programs, drug use behaviors, healthy lifestyle choices, comprehensive sexual health education for evidence-based interventions.