Limited Proportion Research Articles

Background and Self-selected Music Listening in Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs

Purpose: Music is recognized as a useful distractor from unpleasant symptoms during exercise and provides motivation; however, little is known about its application during pulmonary or cardiac rehabilitation programs, including its use, genres, and influences on genre selection. This study aimed to determine the current practice of background and self-selected music listening during exercise training in pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programs in Australia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, using 2 anonymous, electronic surveys. Participants were program contacts (clinicians) listed on national databases. Results: There were 17 of 100 (17%) and 31 of 250 (12%) respondents for pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programs, respectively. A total of 15 respondents (88%) reported using background music for pulmonary rehabilitation, whereas 29 respondents (94%) reported using background music for cardiac rehabilitation. Clinicians and participants had input into the selection of background music genres. Background music was preferentially upbeat and energizing, selected to motivate participants. Use of self-selected music listening by participants for individual use was uncommon in pulmonary (24%) and cardiac rehabilitation (32%). Conclusions: Background music is played during exercise training sessions within a limited proportion of pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programs surveyed in Australia. A wide range of genres were applied in background music listening, with selections predominantly based on their potential to motivate participants to exercise. There is little use of self-selected, individualized music listening among participants in these environments.

Multi-period share pledging with sequential three-way proportion decision

Considering the potential loss of decision-making power associated with share pledging, shareholders need to pledge appropriate share proportion based on their own shareholding situation. To assist shareholders in handling this decision-making challenge, we design a share pledging decision-making method with three-way decision, which fully considers the characteristics of share pledging. Firstly, we construct a novel calculation method of conditional probability based on left-tail systemic risk and share return data, which appropriately measures the probability of share price plummeting. Then, we propose a learning method of loss functions with shareholding proportion information, which considers pledged share proportions. To enhance the flexibility of the proposed method in handling practical share pledging issues, we discuss two scenarios including complete shareholding proportion information and limited shareholding proportion information. Furthermore, we design three-way proportion decision (TWPD) through introducing particle swarm optimization algorithm, which can determine the share proportion of pledge and redemption with minimizing the loss of decision-making power, and develop TWPD to sequential three-way proportion decision (STWPD) for solving multi-period share pledging problem. Finally, we apply the proposed method to deal with share pledging problem of a Chinese firm based on real data collected from China Stock Market & Accounting Research Database, and provide implications for shareholders and firms in risk management during share pledging based on the results of comparison experiments and sensitivity analysis.

Cannabis use and dependence among festival attendees: results from the French OCTOPUS survey

BackgroundChronic use of cannabis is associated with an increased risk of psychosocial, mental and physical health impairments. Sociohealth institutions reach a very limited proportion of cannabis users in need of treatment. Using data collected from festival attendees, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of dependent cannabis users and to characterize cannabis dependence.MethodsWe used data from the cross-sectional OCTOPUS survey carried out at 13 music events in the French department of Loire-Atlantique between July 2017 and July 2018. 383 participants aged 18 or older underwent a face-to-face interview about their basic sociodemographics, tobacco use, alcohol use and past-year substance use. Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria, we estimated the prevalence of dependent cannabis users and characterized their dependence.ResultsMore than two-thirds of participants reported that they had used cannabis in the past 12 months. Among 194 regular cannabis users (at least monthly), 63.4% were dependent. At least 40% of regular users reported health and/or social consequences of cannabis use. Compared to nondependent cannabis users, dependent cannabis users were more likely to be stimulant users and hallucinogen users.ConclusionsDependent cannabis use is common among festival attendees, especially among stimulant or hallucinogen users. Festival settings may be important arenas for i) implementing efficient harm reduction measures to prevent dependence and ii) providing information on care structures and promoting the use of care to dependent users. In addition, healthcare professionals should be aware of trends in polysubstance use among dependent cannabis users.

The Incidence of Abnormal Preoperative Testing Among Elective Surgery Patients in a Referral Hospital in Southern Saudi Arabia.

Background Preoperative investigations are important to assess the clinical condition of patients who undergo elective surgical procedures. However, there is still debate about the usefulness of performing preoperative investigations. We aimed to determine the prevalence of routine preoperative investigation abnormalities among elective general surgery patients. Methodology This retrospective hospital-record-based study was conducted at the King Abdullah Hospital in Bisha Province, southern Saudi Arabia. General and clinical data of 968 patients who underwent elective surgical interventions from February 2022 to January 2023 were retrieved and analyzed. Result A total of 968 patients (578 females and 390 males) aged between 14 and 80 years were included in the study. Four hundred and eleven (42.5%) patients were in the age groupof 40 years and above. The commonly detected comorbidities among the patients were diabetes (15%), hypertension (12%), respiratory diseases (7.5%), and cardiac diseases (2.5%). Abnormalities related to hemoglobin (31%), total leucocyte count (12.7%), and platelets (8.5%) were found in 968 patients. Around 15% of patients had increased creatinine levels. Hypokalemia was observed in 6.8% of patients. Increased liver enzymes were reported in limited proportions (10% to 14%) of patients. Slightly abnormal radiological findings were reported for chest X-ray (CXR) (2.8%), electrocardiogram (ECG) (2%), and Doppler echocardiography (Echo) (0.8%). A statistically significant association between the age of the patient and abnormal findings of ECG (p <.001), Echo (p = .001), and CXR (p <.001). Cardiac abnormalities were commonly associated with patients of ≥ 40 years. Abnormal cardiac findings (CXR, ECG, Echo) were significantly (p<.05) increased with the presence of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular comorbidities. Conclusions Preoperative testing revealed limited proportions of abnormal findings among patients with elective surgical procedures. Routine ordering of many preoperative investigations without specifications may not predict postoperative complications of the patients. Therefore, undertaking preoperative testing should be guided by targeted history, physical examination, clinical risk factors, and type of surgical procedure intended to be performed.

반려동물의 장내 마이크로바이옴과 약물의 상호 작용; 중개연구 관점

Drug responses are showed in individual variability. It can be main causes of adverse drug reactions or extended therapies, which result in burden of substantial health. Despite of extensive investigation in pharmacogenomics in terms of the impact of individual genetics on drug-metabolism, a limited proportion of drug-individual variability explains genetic diversity. The gut microbiota and its metabolites have been proven a role to modulate therapeutic outcomes in diseases. Therefore, in this article, we present the interaction between microbiota and drug responses in companion animal diseases, including cancer, endocrine diseases, and others. Also, we summarize how microbiota modify metabolism and distribution of drugs. The practical challenges and opportunities are also discussed in this new field, emphasizing the needs to translate human data into clinical veterinary practice. In summary pharmacomicrobiomics, the interaction between gut microbiota and drug response, may be a promising research field to improve the outcomes of drug effects in patients.

Fuzzy-random robust flexible programming on sustainable closed-loop renewable energy supply chain

Photovoltaic (PV) systems have become a widely accepted method of harnessing solar energy in recent decades. In addition to the growing use of renewable energies are being used due to the depletion of fossil fuel supplies and the corresponding pollution generated by these non-renewable fuels. Since PV systems possess a limited lifespan, and are predicted to eventually become outdated, sustainability and recycling that should be incorporated into the structure of the solar system supply chain. The management of high and low moisture waste (H&LMW) is crucial due to its harmful environmental impacts, including sludge waste, carbon dioxide (CO2), and acid compounds. This study explores the integration of research on H&LMW and PV systems, focusing on energy generation from biogas, incineration power plants, and PV systems. In this respect, we propose a multi-objective mixed-integer programming model to construct a sustainable closed-loop renewable energy supply chain by considering forward and reverse flow through solar, biogas, and incineration power plants. Reducing CO2 with power-to-gas technology is thought to be an environmentally friendly approach. A novel fuzzy-random robust flexible programming approach based on Me measure is proposed, which overcomes the limitations of addressing the uncertainty of the parameters. Next, in order to solve the suggested multi-objective model, a novel strategy known as utility function based multi-choice conic goal programming is presented. A case study explores the sustainable challenges of a closed-loop renewable energy supply network in India’s renewable energy sector. The experimental results indicate that 9 candidate locations are selected for solar wafer production facilities, while 10, 9, and 15 locations are chosen for solar cell production, module manufacturing, and solar power plants, respectively. A sensitivity analysis reveals that the proportion of air pollution limitations possessively rises from 100% to 80% corresponding to the aggregate cost increases from INR 8021452 to INR 8056542.

Nationwide study on open tibial fractures in the Netherlands: Incidence, demographics and level of hospital care

ObjectivesOpen tibial fractures are relatively common injuries following traffic accidents. The vulnerability of the soft tissues surrounding the tibia increases the susceptibility to complications, including infection and nonunion. To minimize complications, a multidisciplinary, timely approach is crucial. To date, the Dutch incidence and level of hospital treatment remain unknown due to a lack of condition-specific nationwide registries. This study aimed to estimate the incidence and management of open tibial fractures in the Netherlands, providing essential information for public health policymaking and guideline development. MethodsThe 2018 and 2019 Dutch National Hospital Care Basic Registration data, provided by the Dutch Hospital Data Foundation, were utilized to identify all patients admitted to Dutch hospitals with tibial fractures. Incidence rates, patient demographics, primary diagnoses, fracture classification, level of hospital, and length of hospital stays were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results1,079 ICD-10 codes for closed and open tibial fractures were identified in patients that were admitted to a Dutch hospital. Thirty-four percent were classified as open tibial fractures, accounting for an estimated incidence rate of 1.1 per 100,000 person-years (95 % CI 0.97–1.12). When categorized by age, the calculated incidence rate was higher in males for all age categories up until the age of 70. Notably, the overall highest incidence rate was found for females aged 90 and above (6.6 per 100,000 person-years). Open tibial fractures were predominantly treated in general or top clinical hospitals (comprising 69 % of open all tibia fractures). Notably, the minority (31 %) presented at university medical centers, all Level-1 trauma centers, equipped with orthoplastic teams. ConclusionThis is the first study to report the nationwide incidence rate of open tibial fractures in the Netherlands; 34 % of tibial fractures were registered as open. Notably, a limited proportion of open tibial fractures underwent treatment within Level-1 trauma centers. Consequently, in the majority of cases, the implementation of an orthoplastic team approach was unattainable. This study underscores the need for more comprehensive data collection to assess and improve the current treatment landscape.

An exploratory study of psychosis risk factors in individuals who are referred but do not meet criteria for an early intervention in psychosis service.

The 'at-risk mental state' (ARMS) for psychosis has been critiqued for its limited prognostic ability and identification of a limited proportion of those who will develop a first episode of psychosis (FEP). Broadening the search for high-risk groups is key to improving population-level ascertainment of psychosis risk. To explore risk enrichment in diagnostic, demographic and socio-functional domains among individuals referred to an early intervention in psychosis (EIP) service not meeting ARMS or FEP criteria. A retrospective file review of 16 years of referrals to a tertiary EIP service in Ireland was undertaken. Diagnostic outcomes from standardised assessments (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM), demographic (age, gender, family history, nationality) and socio-occupational (relationship status, living status, working status) variables were compiled for those not meeting criteria. These were compared with individuals diagnosed with an FEP in the same period. From 2005 to 2021 inclusive, of 2025 index assessments, 27.6% (n = 558) did not meet either FEP or ARMS criteria, which is notably higher than the 5.4% (n = 110) meeting ARMS criteria. This group had high psychiatric morbidity, with 65.4% meeting criteria for at least one DSM Axis I disorder. Depressive, anxiety and substance use disorders predominated. Their functional markers were poor, and comparable to the FEP cohort. This group is enriched for psychosis risk factors. They are a larger group than those meeting ARMS criteria, a finding that may reflect EIP service configuration. They may be an important focus for further study in the search for at-risk populations beyond the current ARMS model.

A scoping study on the social determinants of health and sugar consumption in the context of policy approaches for improving population health.

To conduct a scoping review of existing research on the social determinants of health, sugar consumption and public health policy responses to address or improve health outcomes. A total of 13 categories were developed to reflect the authors' interest in the overall focus on the social determinants of health, sugar as an independent risk factor, upstream policy action ('whole populations'), downstream policy action ('targeted') and two contemporary policy strategies (namely 'Vulnerable populations' and 'Proportionate Universalism'). The search strategy was then performed on MEDLINE (via Ovid) and Web of Science, and was limited to the English language. No time limits prior to when the database search was conducted in 2022 were set to explore the full extent of the literature in this field. Five hundred and sixty articles were retrieved, of which 181 met the criteria for review. When all categories were applied, the findings showed that 76% of papers focusing on sugar consumption as a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) mentioned the social determinants of health. The majority of studies (60%) recommended downstream interventions, with 40% recommending 'upstream' interventions. A limited proportion (12%) of research work was published in dental journals. Research had been done using predominantly quantitative methods (66% of articles), with 24% of studies adopting a mixed methods approach, and 8% being exclusively qualitative. Research on contemporary strategies for sugar reduction were focused on the 'Global North' and 98% of papers used individual level data focused on targeted approaches, highlighting that there is little direct evidence for contemporary strategies aimed at reducing sugar consumption. Whilst the majority of public and dental health research argues that there is a need to address the social determinants of health, the findings from this study highlight that very few empirical studies have been designed to directly inform contemporary strategies for sugar reduction. More research is therefore needed that can directly assess the evidence for contemporary strategies in public health policy.

The DSM-5 panic attack specifier as a severity indicator in mental disorders – Findings from a cross-sectional epidemiological study among adolescents and young adults

BackgroundLifetime panic attacks (PAs) have been associated with a range of mental disorders and increased disorder severity. In DSM-5, PAs can be used as a descriptive specifier across disorders. This study investigates frequency and clinical implications of PAs and Fearfull Spells (FS) occurring simultaneously with mental disorders in community youth. MethodsSymptoms and diagnoses of DSM-5 mental disorders including time-related and clinical severity information were assessed from 11/2015–12/2016 in a random sample of 14–21 year olds from Dresden, Germany (N = 1,180). ResultsLifetime prevalence estimates for PAs were highest among participants with lifetime agoraphobia (60.2 %) and separation anxiety disorder (sepAD, 46.0 %). Only 4.8 % of participants with any mental disorder fulfilled the criteria of the DSM-5 PA specifier (simultaneous PAs without a co-occurring panic disorder (PD)), mostly participants with sepAD (12.8 %) and posttraumatic stress disorder (10.7 %). Averaged across all disorders, simultaneous PAs/FSs were associated with lower mental health, higher mental health impairment and more service utilization compared to no PAs/FSs and partly also to lifetime PAs/FSs. LimitationsRetrospective self-report data could be affected by recall bias. Low case numbers limit statistical power. ConclusionsThe present findings support the use of PAs/FSs as transdiagnostic DSM-5 specifier, as PAs/FSs occurring simultaneously with mental disorders are descriptively associated with severity indicators. However, the exclusion of PD cases results in a limited proportion of general population youth for which the specifier applies. Larger prospective epidemiological studies could clarify the time course of PAs/FSs, PD and other mental disorders and their effects on severity and course.

Clinical course of ventriculoperitoneal shunting for hydrocephalus following glioblastoma surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Surgical resection of glioblastoma (GBM) remains a cornerstone in the current treatment paradigm. The postoperative evolution of hydrocephalus necessitating ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) continues to be defined. Correspondingly the objective of this study was to aggregate pertinent metadata to better define the clinical course of VPS for hydrocephalus following glioblastoma surgery in light of contemporary management. Searches of multiple electronic databases from inception to November 2023 were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Articles were screened against pre-specified criteria. Outcomes were pooled by random-effects meta-analyses where possible. A total of 12 cohort studies satisfied all selection criteria, describing a total of 6,098 glioblastoma patients after surgery with a total of 261 (4%) of patients requiring postoperative VPS for hydrocephalus. Meta-analysis demonstrated the estimated pooled rate of symptomatic improvement following VPS was 78% (95% CI 66-88), and the estimated pooled rate of VPS revision was 24% (95% CI 16-33). Pooled time from index glioblastoma surgery to VPS surgery was 4.1 months (95% CI 2.8-5.3), and pooled survival time for index VPS surgery was 7.3 months (95% CI 5.4-9.4). Certainty of these outcomes were limited by the heterogenous and palliative nature of postoperative glioblastoma management. Of the limited proportion of glioblastoma patients requiring VPS surgery for hydrocephalus after index surgery, 78% patients are expected to show symptom improvement, and 24% can expect to undergo revision surgery. An individualized approach to each patient is required to optimize both index glioblastoma and VPS surgeries to account for anatomy and goals of care given the poor prognosis of this tumor overall.

Association of Depression and Adherence to Oral Anticoagulation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Adherence to oral anticoagulation is essential for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). Depression has been associated with decreased adherence to medications in multiple disease states and in AF is further associated with increased risk of stroke. We hypothesized that individuals with depression and AF have decreased adherence to anticoagulation than those without depression. We used administrative claims data to identify individuals with AF initiating anticoagulation with direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or warfarin between 2013 and 2019. We quantified adherence using proportion of days covered, categorized as limited (proportion of days covered, <80%), adequate (proportion of days covered, ≥80% to <90%), or optimal (proportion of days covered, ≥90%). We related depression to 12-month adherence to anticoagulation in logistic regression models, adjusting for demographics, medical and psychiatric comorbidities, household income, educational attainment, and insurance type. As a secondary analysis, we determined the association of depression to adherence for each DOAC agent. We identified 101 041 individuals (aged 74.5±8.9 years; 50.6% women; 29.5% race or ethnicity other than White, including Asian or Black race and Hispanic ethnicity) who initiated either DOACs or warfarin. The odds of adequate adherence to DOACs was 11% (95% CI, 0.85-0.93), and the odds of optimal adherence was 12% (95% CI, 0.83-0.91) less in individuals with depression than those without. Depression was not associated with adherence to warfarin. We identified an association between depression and decreased adherence to DOACs but not warfarin in individuals with AF. Recognizing depression in AF may guide interventions to improve anticoagulation adherence and reduce stroke risk.

Attribution of dispersal limitation can better explain the assembly patterns of plant microbiota.

Disentangling community assembly processes is crucial for fully understanding the function of microbiota in agricultural ecosystems. However, numerous plant microbiome surveys have gradually revealed that stochastic processes dominate the assembly of the endophytic root microbiota in conflict with strong host filtering effects, which is an important issue. Resolving such conflicts or inconsistencies will not only help accurately predict the composition and structure of the root endophytic microbiota and its driving mechanisms, but also provide important guidance on the correlation between the relative importance of deterministic and stochastic processes in the assembly of the root endophytic microbiota, and crop productivity and nutritional quality. Here, we propose that the inappropriate division of dispersal limitation may be the main reason for such inconsistency, which can be resolved after the proportion of dispersal limitation is incorporated into the deterministic processes. The rationality of this adjustment under the framework of the formation of a holobiont between the microbiome and the plant host is herein explained, and a potential theoretical framework for dynamic assembly patterns of endophytic microbiota along the soil-plant continuum is proposed. Considering that the assembly of root endophytic microbiota is complicated, we suggest caution and level-by-level verification from deterministic processes to neutral components to stochastic processes when deciding on the attribution of dispersal limitation in the future to promote the expansion and application of microbiome engineering in sustainable agricultural development based on community assembly patterns.

Lessons learnt on the impact of an unprecedented soil decontamination program in Fukushima on contaminant fluxes

In the context of elevated concerns related to nuclear accidents and warfare, the lessons learnt from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011 are important. In particular, Japanese authorities implemented an ambitious decontamination program to reduce the air dose rate in order to facilitate the return of the local inhabitants to previously evacuated areas. This approach contrasts the strategy adopted in Chernobyl, where the most contaminated areas remain off limits. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of the Japanese decontamination strategy on the dispersion of radioactive contaminant fluxes across mountainous landscapes exposed to typhoons has not been quantified. Based on the unique combination of river monitoring and modeling in a catchment representative of the most impacted area in Japan, we demonstrate that decontamination of 16% of the catchment area resulted in a decrease of 17% of sediment-bound radioactive fluxes in rivers. Decontamination operations were therefore relatively effective, although they could only be conducted in a small part of the area due to the dominance of steep forested slopes. In fact, 67% of the initial radiocesium contamination was calculated to remain stored in forested landscapes, which may contribute to future downstream radiocesium dispersion during erosive events. Given that only a limited proportion of the initial population had returned in 2019 (~30%), it raises the question as to whether decontaminating a small percentage of the contaminated area was worth the effort, the price, and the amount of waste generated?

Help-seeking during 1-year follow-up in Chinese patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus comorbid major depressive disorder.

Previous research has revealed a bidirectional relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and major depressive disorder (MDD). A very limited proportion of patients with T2DM comorbid MDD received adequate psychiatric intervention. This study investigated the help-seeking behaviors of patients with T2DM comorbid with MDD during one-year follow-up. At a medical center in China, a cohort of outpatients with T2DM were assessed and diagnosed for comorbid depression at baseline and after one year. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to diagnose MDD, while The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and The Hamilton Depression Scale 17-item (HAMD-17) were used for depression assessment. Mental health help-seeking behaviors of patients during follow-up period were also evaluated. Out of the 203 patients with T2DM at baseline, 114 (56.2%) completed the follow-up. The prevalence of MDD in participants with T2DM was 12.8% at baseline and 22.8% at follow-up. Patients who completed the follow-up had a lower baseline PHQ-9 score (test statistic -2.068, p=0.039), HAMD-17 score (test statistic -2.285, p=0.022) than those who did not complete the follow-up. A total of 26 patients had comorbid MDD during the follow-up period, among which 8 patients (30.8%) voluntarily visited psychiatric clinics, while others did not seek assistance. The level of HbA1c at follow-up was higher in patients who sought help than in those who did not (8.1 ± 1.8% vs. 7.0 ± 0.7%), although the difference was not statistically significant. Voluntary psychiatric help-seeking for Chinese patients with comorbid T2DM and MDD is uncommon. It is crucial to increase awareness of depression among patients and healthcare professionals alike.

Biology of Anemia: A Public Health Perspective

Our goal is to present recent progress in understanding the biological mechanisms underlying anemia from a public health perspective. We describe important advances in understanding common causes of anemia and their interactions, including iron deficiency (ID), lack of other micronutrients, infection, inflammation, and genetic conditions. ID develops if the iron circulating in the blood cannot provide the amounts required for red blood cell production and tissue needs. ID anemia develops as iron-limited red blood cell production fails to maintain the hemoglobin concentration above the threshold used to define anemia. Globally, absolute ID (absent or reduced body iron stores that do not meet the need for iron of an individual but may respond to iron supplementation) contributes to only a limited proportion of anemia. Functional ID (adequate or increased iron stores that cannot meet the need for iron because of the effects of infection or inflammation and does not respond to iron supplementation) is frequently responsible for anemia in low- and middle-income countries. Absolute and functional ID may coexist. We highlight continued improvement in understanding the roles of infections and inflammation in causing a large proportion of anemia. Deficiencies of nutrients other than iron are less common but important in some settings. The importance of genetic conditions as causes of anemia depends upon the specific inherited red blood cell abnormalities and their prevalence in the settings examined. From a public health perspective, each setting has a distinctive composition of components underlying the common causes of anemia. We emphasize the coincidence between regions with a high prevalence of anemia attributed to ID (both absolute and functional), those with endemic infections, and those with widespread genetic conditions affecting red blood cells, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and regions in Asia and Oceania.

An interactive agent-based modelling framework for assessing COVID-19 transmission risk on construction site

The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted the world and society in its entirety. The labour-intensive construction industry is especially disrupted by COVID-19 and construction workers have a higher chance of exposure to COVID-19. Despite the extensiveness of qualitative and quantitative research around the impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry, it is observed that very limited proportion of such research actually investigated the COVID-19 dynamics within a specific construction site as well as the effectiveness of the corresponding safety control measures. Given this context, this study developed an interactive agent-based modelling framework embedded with a modified susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) model for assessing COVID-19 transmission risk on construction sites, with the application of five safety control measures (i.e., SCM including face covering, vaccination, ventilation, social distance and isolation). This study afterwards set up 108 SCM scenarios based on the five SCM and sensitivity analyses were conducted in order to generate robust results. Based on the simulation results, the efficacy of the 5 SCM in preventing COVID-19 spread was assessed. Therefore, the results of the 108 scenarios are a useful scientific reference for stakeholders or policymakers when making decisions regarding mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases within the construction sector.

The measurement of true initial rates is not always absolutely necessary to estimate enzyme kinetic parameters

In the chapters dealing with enzyme reactions, the authors of all Biochemistry textbooks and of even more specialized texts consider that the characteristic parameters (kcat and Km) must be determined under initial or steady-state rate conditions. This implies the transformation of a very limited proportion of substrate (at most 10–20%) or a continuous recording of the product or substrate concentration vs. time. Both options can present practical difficulties. Is it possible to get around these very stringent conditions? Here we show that in the most favourable cases up to 70% of the substrate can be converted resulting in systematic errors on the parameters (that can easily be taken account of) if the simple Henri-Michaelis–Menten equation is utilised. Alternatively, the integrated form of the same equation directly yields excellent estimates of the same parameters. Our observations should greatly facilitate the task of researchers who study systems in which measurements of the reaction progress are painstaking or when substrate concentrations close to the detection limit must be used. The general conclusion is that it is not always absolutely necessary to determine initial or steady-state rates to obtain reliable estimations of the enzyme kinetic parameters..

A DNA Plasmid-Based Approach for Efficient Synthesis of Sacbrood Virus Infectious Clones within Host Cells.

RNA viruses are often cited as a significant factor affecting the populations of both domestic honey bees and wild pollinators. To expedite the development of effective countermeasures against these viruses, a more comprehensive understanding of virus biology necessitates extensive collaboration among scientists from diverse research fields. While the infectious virus clone is a robust tool for studying virus diseases, the current methods for synthesizing infectious clones of bee-infecting RNA viruses entail the in vitro transcription of the viral genome RNA in 8-10 kb, presenting challenges in reproducibility and distribution. This article reports on the synthesis of an infectious clone of the Chinese variant sacbrood virus (SBV) using a DNA plasmid containing an Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) immediate-early protein (IE1) promoter to trigger transcription of the downstream viral genome within hosts. The results demonstrate that the IE1-SBV plasmid can synthesize SBV clones in a widely used lepidopteran immortal cell line (Sf9) and honey bee pupae. Furthermore, the negative strand of the clone was detected in both Sf9 cells and honey bee pupae, indicating active infection and replication. However, the transfection of Sf9 cells was observed in only a limited proportion (less than 10%) of the cells, and the infection did not appear to spread to adjacent cells or form infective virions. The injection of honey bee pupae with 2500 ng of the IE1-SBV plasmid resulted in high infection rates in Apis cerana pupae but low rates in A. mellifera pupae, although the dosage was comparatively high compared with other studies using in vitro transcribed viral RNA. Our findings suggest that the synthesis of bee-infecting RNA viruses using DNA plasmids is feasible, albeit requiring additional optimization. However, this method holds substantial potential for facilitating the production of clones with various sequence modifications, enabling the exploration of viral gene functions and biology. The ease of distributing infectious clones in DNA plasmid form may foster collaboration among scientists in applying the clone to bee biology, ecology, and behavior, ultimately offering a comprehensive approach to managing virus diseases in the future.

Gene Therapy for Hemoglobinopathies.

β-Thalassemia and sickle cell disease are autosomal recessive disorders of red blood cells due to mutations in the adult β-globin gene, with a worldwide diffusion. The severe forms of hemoglobinopathies are fatal if untreated, and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation can be offered to a limited proportion of patients. The unmet clinical need and the disease incidence have promoted the development of new genetic therapies based on the engineering of autologous hematopoietic stem cells. Here, the steps of ex vivo gene therapy development are reviewed along with results from clinical trials and recent new approaches employing cutting edge gene editing tools.