Low Coverage Research Articles

Factors associated with the rabies vaccination status of dogs in households in Beni City, D.R. Congo.

Human rabies transmitted by dogs still kills thousands of people each year worldwide. Dog bites are common in the city of Beni (Democratic Republic of Congo), which shows low rabies vaccination coverage. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with the rabies vaccination status of dogs. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the town of Beni among dog owners, during a household survey selected using a multistage sampling. The information sought concerned the knowledge and characteristics of the dog owners as well as the vaccination status of these dogs. Logistic regression was used to investigate associations between the vaccination status of the dogs and the main independent factors. Rabies vaccination coverage in Beni was 26% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22% - 30%). The main factors associated with the rabies vaccination status of the dog were primary education level of household head (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]:4.8; 95% CI: 1.2- 19.8); university education level of household head (aOR: 5.9; 95% CI: 1.6-22); perceived rabies severity (aOR: 44. 4; 95% CI: 10.4-188), having more than one dog in the household (aOR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.6-4.3); age range 7-12 months (aOR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.6) and confined dog breeding (aOR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.1-14.9). The low vaccination coverage in Beni requires mass vaccination campaigns against canine rabies targeting the dog owners with low education levels, those raising more than one dog, with stray dogs or dogs less than 12 months old.

A study of the teenage population in the Portibi subdistrict of the North Padang Lawas Regency

The percentage of teenage pregnancies in Indonesia is 0.02% at the age of <15 years and 1.97% at the age of 15-19 years in Portibi sub-district, North Padang Lawas District. Adolescent mothers are known to have low exclusive breastfeeding coverage rates. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence exclusive breastfeeding in adolescent mothers in Portibi sub-district, North Padang Lawas Regency. This study used a survey method with a cross-sectional design. The study population was teenage mothers who had babies aged 6-24 months in Portibi sub-district, North Padang Lawas Regency. Data collection using questionnaires. Bivariate analysis used chi square and fisher's exact test while multivariate analysis used logistic regression. The results showed 46.7% of teenage mothers provided exclusive breastfeeding. Bivariate analysis showed that pregnancy status (p=0.029), perceived birth experience (p=0.045), perceived breastfeeding (p=0.005), husband support (p=0.009), family support (p=0.000) were associated with exclusive breastfeeding, education level (p=0.143) and employment status (p=0.352) were not associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Multivariate analysis showed that family support (p=0.014; RP=7.637) and breastfeeding perception (p=0.015; RP=9.746) were associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Family support was the most dominant factor in exclusive breastfeeding among adolescent mothers. Adolescent mothers who received support from their family and had a positive perception of breastfeeding had a 72.7% probability of exclusive breastfeeding.

PVF-10: A high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle thermal infrared image dataset for fine-grained photovoltaic fault classification

Accurate identification of faulty photovoltaic (PV) modules is crucial for the effective operation and maintenance of PV systems. Deep learning (DL) algorithms exhibit promising potential for classifying PV fault (PVF) from thermal infrared (TIR) images captured by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), contingent upon the availability of extensive and high-quality labeled data. However, existing TIR PVF datasets are limited by low image resolution and incomplete coverage of fault types. This study proposes a high-resolution TIR PVF dataset with 10 classes, named PVF-10, comprising 5579 cropped images of PV panels collected from 8 PV power plants. These classes are further categorized into two groups according to the repairability of PVF, with 5 repairable and 5 irreparable classes each. Additionally, the circuit mechanisms underlying the TIR image features of typical PVF types are analyzed, supported by high-resolution images, thereby providing comprehensive information for PV operators. Finally, five state-of-the-art DL algorithms are trained and validated based on the PVF-10 dataset using three levels of resampling strategy. The results show that the overall accuracy (OA) of these algorithms exceeds 83%, with the highest OA reaching 93.32%. Moreover, the preprocessing procedure involving resampling and padding strategies are beneficial for improving PVF classification accuracy using PVF-10 datasets. The developed PVF-10 dataset is expected to stimulate further research and innovation in PVF classification.

Pulse vaccination in a SIR model: Global dynamics, bifurcations and seasonality

We analyze a periodically-forced dynamical system inspired by the SIR model with impulsive vaccination. We fully characterize its dynamics according to the proportion p of vaccinated individuals and the time T between doses. If the basic reproduction number is less than 1 (i.eRp<1), then we obtain precise conditions for the existence and global stability of a disease-free T-periodic solution. Otherwise, if Rp>1, then a globally stable T-periodic solution emerges with positive coordinates.We draw a bifurcation diagram (T,p) and we describe the associated bifurcations. We also find analytically and numerically chaotic dynamics by adding seasonality to the disease transmission rate. In a realistic context, low vaccination coverage and intense seasonality may result in unpredictable dynamics. Previous experiments have suggested chaos in periodically-forced biological impulsive models, but no analytic proof has been given.

PIPETS: A statistically informed, gene-annotation agnostic analysis method to study bacterial termination using 3'-end sequencing.

Over the last decade the drop in short-read sequencing costs have allowed experimental techniques utilizing sequencing to address specific biological questions to proliferate, oftentimes outpacing standardized or effective analysis approaches for the data generated. There are growing amounts of bacterial 3'-end sequencing data, yet there is currently no commonly accepted analysis methodology for this datatype. Most data analysis approaches are somewhat ad hoc and, despite the presence of substantial signal within annotated genes, focus on genomic regions outside the annotated genes (e.g. 3' or 5' UTRs). Furthermore, lack of a systematic approach to analyzing such data makes it impossible to compare conclusions generated by different labs, using different organisms. We present PIPETS ( P oisson I dentification of PE aks from T erm- S eq data), an R package available on Bioconductor that provides a novel analysis method for 3'-end sequencing data. PIPETS is a statistically informed, gene-annotation agnostic methodology. Across two different datasets PIPETS identified significant 3'-end termination signal across a wider range of annotated genomic contexts than existing analysis approaches, suggesting that existing approaches may miss biologically relevant signal. Furthermore, assessment of the previously called 3'-end positions not captured by PIPETS showed that they were uniformly very low coverage. PIPETS provides a broadly applicable platform to compare 3'-end sequencing data sets across different organisms. It requires only the 3'-end sequencing data, and is broadly accessible to non-expert users.

Unlocking the puzzle: non-defining mutations in SARS-CoV-2 proteome may affect vaccine effectiveness.

SARS-CoV-2 variants are defined by specific genome-wide mutations compared to the Wuhan genome. However, non-clade-defining mutations may also impact protein structure and function, potentially leading to reduced vaccine effectiveness. Our objective is to identify mutations across the entire viral genome rather than focus on individual mutations that may be associated with vaccine failure and to examine the physicochemical properties of the resulting amino acid changes. Whole-genome consensus sequences of SARS-CoV-2 from COVID-19 patients were retrieved from the GISAID database. Analysis focused on Dataset_1 (7,154 genomes from Italy) and Dataset_2 (8,819 sequences from Spain). Bioinformatic tools identified amino acid changes resulting from codon mutations with frequencies of 10% or higher, and sequences were organized into sets based on identical amino acid combinations. Non-defining mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genomes belonging to clades 21 L (Omicron), 22B/22E (Omicron), 22F/23A (Omicron) and 21J (Delta) were associated with vaccine failure. Four sets of sequences from Dataset_1 were significantly linked to low vaccine coverage: one from clade 21L with mutations L3201F (ORF1a), A27- (S) and G30- (N); two sets shared by clades 22B and 22E with changes A27- (S), I68- (S), R346T (S) and G30- (N); and one set shared by clades 22F and 23A containing changes A27- (S), F486P (S) and G30- (N). Booster doses showed a slight improvement in protection against Omicron clades. Regarding 21J (Delta) two sets of sequences from Dataset_2 exhibited the combination of non-clade mutations P2046L (ORF1a), P2287S (ORF1a), L829I (ORF1b), T95I (S), Y145H (S), R158- (S) and Q9L (N), that was associated with vaccine failure. Vaccine coverage associations appear to be influenced by the mutations harbored by marketed vaccines. An analysis of the physicochemical properties of amino acid revealed that primarily hydrophobic and polar amino acid substitutions occurred. Our results suggest that non-defining mutations across the proteome of SARS-CoV-2 variants could affect the extent of protection of the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, alteration of the physicochemical characteristics of viral amino acids could potentially disrupt protein structure or function or both.

Characterizing Compromised Target Coverage With Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer.

Introduction Proximity of organs at risk (OAR) hinders radiation dose escalation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. To address this limitation, there is interest in protracted-fractionation (PF: 15 to 25 fractions) courses employing moderate hypofractionation (MHF: 3-4 Gy/fraction). However, there persists underdosing where tumor interfaces with OAR. The significance of compromised tumor coverage and dose heterogeneity on tumor control remains unknown. Here, we report our initial planning experience with PF-MHF in pancreatic cancer. Methods We retrospectively reviewed radiation courses for locally advanced or recurrent pancreatic cancer with a PF-MHF approach: 45 Gy in 25 fractions (1.8 Gy/fraction) to PTV with 75 Gy (3 Gy/fraction) as an integrated boost to the GTV. We reviewed dosimetric parameters for the GTV: percentage overlap with planning OAR volume (PRV-GTV overlap), D99.9%, D0.1cc, Dmean, V75Gy, and V60Gy. We also calculated the GTV's generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) valueusing two differentavalues (-5 and -15). Lastly, we reoptimized two plans with two approaches: increasing gEUD or relaxing the maximum dose constraint. Results A total of 26 plans were included in our analysis: 14 locally advanced and 12 locally recurrent pancreatic cancer cases. While the D0.1cc median value was 81.7 Gy, target volume coverage was relatively low (V75Gy median 71%). Median gEUD were 71 Gy (a = -5) and 62.8 Gy (a = -15) and inversely correlated with PRV-GTV overlap. On reoptimized plans, both approaches yielded similar results, but an increase in target coverage and gEUD were seen only when there was limited PRV-GTV overlap. Conclusion Although radiation dose can be escalated within the GTV, there continues to be low coverage by the prescription dose, especially with high PRV-GTV overlap. Relaxing the maximum dose constraint in planning allows for meaningful improvement in tumor coverage in limited PRV overlap scenarios. Continued refinement of the PF-MHF approach is needed.

Influenza Vaccination of Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study of Uptake, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Greece.

Influenza immunization includes a yearly repeated vaccine offered to every healthcare worker, including nursing students, with a high risk of contracting this viral disease. This study aimed to investigate the vaccination coverage, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nursing students against influenza in Greece. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Attica region between September 2022 and July 2023, with the use of an anonymous reference questionnaire. Data from 1261 nursing students were recorded (response rate: 68.6%). The study found that 23% of the sample were vaccinated against influenza for the flu season 2022-2023, and 42% were vaccinated for the previous flu season. Knowledge scores regarding influenza ranged from 0% to 100%, with a mean value of 55 (SD = 18.8%). A higher level of knowledge about influenza was associated with more appropriate attitudes and practices toward the disease (p < 0.001). Notably, participants in their second, third, or fourth year of study and beyond exhibited more suitable attitudes and practices towards the flu compared to those in their first year of study (p < 0.05). The emergence of low vaccination coverage identifies the need for departments of nursing studies to proceed with the design of educational and intervention programs on infection control.

5G enabled smart cities: A real-world evaluation and analysis of 5G using a pilot smart city application

Ubiquitous sensing in smart cities is expected to be one of the key beneficiaries of the high bandwidth and low latency capabilities of 5G. However, current 5G deployments still have low population coverage, and are unlikely to reach global coverage of above 80% before 2028. This means that new smart city applications are likely to experience a combination of 4G and 5G, limiting their data-intensive capabilities. Thus, it is necessary to assess the ability of current 5G deployments to support emerging smart city applications, and how they perform in 5G environments. Existing performance evaluations focus either on the 5G core or use instantaneous speed tests, which do not effectively assess the suitability of 5G deployments for smart city applications. In this paper, we present a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of real-world 5G network performance observed through the outcomes of a pilot smart city application, an innovative mobile 5G Internet of Things (IoT) solution to automatically identify and report road assets requiring maintenance. The pilot smart city application was deployed on 11 waste collection service trucks over a 6 month period (June 2022–Dec 2022). We undertook both application-specific and application independent network performance evaluation to assess the ability of the 5G deployment to support uninterrupted smart city services. Our analysis shows that while 5G is capable of supporting mobile video streaming applications, there are significant variations in network performance, which may make it unsuitable for applications that require higher data intensive or near real-time responsiveness.

Manipulation of Farmed Wetlands Increases use by Migrating Shorebirds and Ducks

The Drift Prairie, in central North America, has been largely converted from grasslands to croplands, but still contains thousands of wetlands used by shorebirds and waterfowl during breeding and migration periods. Consequently, many of the remaining wetlands are situated within cropland where disturbance regimes (i.e., fire, grazing, and water-level dynamics), which occurred naturally prior to agricultural development, have been highly altered by landscape fragmentation from agriculture practices. Currently, smaller wetlands within crop fields are subject to disturbances stemming from agricultural practices (i.e., manipulations), such as burning, disking, harvesting, and mowing. We evaluated vegetation structure of idled (i.e., not recently manipulated by farming practices) and manipulated agricultural wetlands to investigate whether management method or resulting vegetation structure had greater influence on occurrence probabilities and densities of dabbling ducks and shorebirds during spring. All manipulation methods reduced vegetation heights compared to idled wetlands and most manipulations reduced the proportion of vegetation cover in inundated areas. Wetland manipulations generally increased shorebird occurrence compared to idled wetlands, whereas vegetation variables better explained duck occurrence probabilities. Duck occurrence peaked in wetlands with lower vegetation coverage (32%), and duck densities decreased as vegetation coverage increased beyond 10%. While more studies are needed to understand underlying mechanisms driving these outcomes, our results indicate that including periodic disturbances that reduce dense vegetation within wetlands in agricultural fields would increase their use by migrating and breeding shorebirds and dabbling ducks.

The Impact of Metal Centers in the M-MOF-74 Series on Formic Acid Production.

The confinement effect of porous materials on the thermodynamical equilibrium of the CO2 hydrogenation reaction presents a cost-effective alternative to transition metal catalysts. In metal-organic frameworks, the type of metal center has a greater impact on the enhancement of formic acid production than the scale of confinement resulting from the pore size. The M-MOF-74 series enables a comprehensive study of how different metal centers affect HCOOH production, minimizing the effect of pore size. In this work, molecular simulations were used to analyze the adsorption of HCOOH and the CO2 hydrogenation reaction in M-MOF-74, where M = Ni, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn. We combine classical simulations and density functional theory calculations to gain insights into the mechanisms that govern the low coverage adsorption of HCOOH in the surrounding of the metal centers of M-MOF-74. The impact of metal centers on the HCOOH yield was assessed by Monte Carlo simulations in the grand-canonical ensemble, using gas-phase compositions of CO2, H2, and HCOOH at chemical equilibrium at 298.15-800 K, 1-60 bar. The performance of M-MOF-74 in HCOOH production follows the same order as the uptake and the heat of HCOOH adsorption: Ni > Co > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu. Ni-MOF-74 increases the mole fraction of HCOOH by ca. 105 times compared to the gas phase at 298.15 K, 60 bar. Ni-MOF-74 has the potential to be more economically attractive for CO2 conversion than transition metal catalysts, achieving HCOOH production at concentrations comparable to the highest formate levels reported for transition metal catalysts and offering a more valuable molecular form of the product.

The cascade of care for commercially-insured persons with opioid use disorder and comorbid HIV and HCV infections

BackgroundOpioid use disorder (OUD) significantly impacts individual and public health and exacerbated further by concurrent infectious diseases. A syndemic approach is needed to address the intertwined OUD, HIV, and HCV epidemics, including the expanded use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). MethodsTo identify MOUD scale-up opportunities, we conducted a retrospective cohort study, representing commercially insured persons, and created the OUD care continuum, including HIV and HCV influences in adults (18–64 years) newly diagnosed with OUD in 2019 using Merative MarketSan data. ResultsAmong 124,467,633 individuals, the prevalence of OUD was 0.4 % (95 % CI: 0.36 %-0.46 %; N = 497,871), with 327,277 (65.7 %, 95 % CI: 65.60 %-65.87 %) newly diagnosed in 2019. Among these newly diagnosed individuals (54 % men, mean age 44±0.01), 53,568 (27.0 %, 95 % CI: 26.4 %-27.5 %) were prescribed MOUD, with retention rates at 1, 3, and 6 months being 89.0 % (95 % CI: 88.2 %-89.8 %), 66.0 % (95 % CI: 64.8 %-67.2 %), and 50.3 % (95 % CI: 48.3 %-51.6 %), respectively. Buprenorphine was the most prescribed MOUD (79.6 %, 95 % CI: 78.6 %-80.7 %), followed by XR-NTX (14.9 %, 95 % CI:14.0 %-15.8 %) and methadone (5.5 %, 95 % CI: 4.9 %-6.1 %). Six-month retention was highest for methadone (73.4 %, 95 % CI: 73.0 %-73.8 %), however, followed by buprenorphine (55.7 %, 95 % CI: 55.3 %-57.1 %) and substantially lower for XR-NTX (12.6 %, 95 % CI: 10.6 %-14.6 %). Screening for HIV and HCV was low among OUD enrollees (11.1 %, 14.4 %), slightly higher for MOUD initiators (18.0 %, 21.6 %). Being prescribed MOUD was correlated with HCV infection (AOR: 2.54; 95 % CI: 2.41–2.68), HCV/HIV coinfection (AOR: 1.89; 95 % CI: 1.41–2.53), and hospitalization for OUD-related services (AOR: 1.14; 95 % CI: 1.11–1.17), yet hospitalization for OUD-related services was positively correlated with XR-NTX (AOR: 2.72; 95 % CI: 2.56–2.85) prescription and negatively with methadone (AOR: 0.19; 95 % CI: 0.16–0.23) prescription. Having HIV was negatively correlated with being prescribed methadone (AOR: 0.33; 95 % CI: 0.13–0.86). ConclusionsSubstantial gaps in the OUD cascade persist, underscoring better implementation opportunities for MOUD prescription in hospital-based settings and expanding access to methadone beyond highly regulated sites given its low coverage yet high treatment retention.

Detection and management of localized prostate cancer in Nigeria: barriers and facilitators according to patients, caregivers and healthcare providers

BackgroundProstate cancer mortality rates are high in Nigeria. While prostate cancer is highly curable with early detection and effective multidisciplinary management, the quality of care is suboptimal in this setting. Sustainable delivery of high-quality care for patients with localized prostate cancer is needed to save more lives. To inform future interventions to improve care, this study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators that influence prostate cancer detection and management in Nigeria.MethodsSix focus group discussions (FGDs), stratified by stakeholders were conducted with a purposive sample of prostate cancer patients (n = 19), caregivers (n = 15), and healthcare providers (n = 18), in two academic tertiary hospitals in northern and southern Nigeria. A discussion guide organized based on the socio-ecological model was used. FGDs were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using the framework technique.ResultsBarriers and facilitators were identified at the individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels. Barriers to detection included limited knowledge and misperceptions among patients, caregivers, and community-based non-specialist healthcare providers, and limitations of centralized opportunistic screening; while facilitators included the potential for religious institutions to encourage positive health-seeking behaviour. Barriers to management included non-uniformity in clinical guideline usage, treatment abandonment amidst concerns about treatment and survival, absence of patient interaction platforms and follow-up support systems, difficulty in navigating service areas, low health insurance coverage and limited financial resource of patients. Facilitators of management included the availability of resource stratified guidelines for prostate cancer management and the availability of patient peers, caregivers, nurses, and medical social workers to provide correct medical information and support patient-centred services. Participants also provided suggestions that could help improve prostate cancer detection and management in Nigeria.ConclusionThis study identified multiple determinants affecting the detection and management of localized prostate cancer. These findings will inform the refinement of implementation strategies to improve the quality of prostate cancer care in Nigeria.

Surface chlorination of IrO2(110) by HCl.

The ability to controllably chlorinate metal-oxide surfaces can provide opportunities for designing selective oxidation catalysts. In the present study, we investigated the surface chlorination of IrO2(110) by HCl using temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We find that exposing IrO2(110) to HCl, followed by heating to 650K in ultrahigh vacuum, produces nearly equal quantities of on-top and bridging Cl atoms on the surface, Clt and Clbr, where the Clbr atoms replace O-atoms that are removed from the surface by H2O formation. After HCl adsorption at 85K, only H2O desorbs at low Cl coverages during TPRS, but HCl begins to desorb in increasing yields as the Cl coverage is increased above about 0.5 monolayer (ML). The desorption of Cl2 was not observed under any conditions, in good agreement with the high barrier for this reaction predicted by DFT. A maximum Cl coverage of 1 ML, with nearly equal coverages of Clt and Clbr atoms, could be generated by reacting HCl with IrO2(110) in UHV. Our results suggest that a kinetic competition between recombinative HCl and H2O desorption under the conditions studied limits the saturation Cl coverage to a value less than the 2 ML maximum predicted by thermodynamics. XPS further shows that the partitioning of Cl between the Clt and Clbr states can be altered by subjecting partially chlorinated IrO2(110) to reductive or oxidative treatments, demonstrating that the Cl site population can change dynamically in response to the gas environment. Our results provide insights for understanding the chlorination of IrO2(110) by HCl and can enable future experimental studies to determine how Cl-modification alters the surface chemical reactivity of IrO2(110) and potentially enhances selectivity toward partial oxidation chemistry.

Spatiotemporal and Environmental Completeness of eBird Data in Taiwan

Recent developments in citizen science have significantly enhanced the public availability of biodiversity data (Chandler et al. 2017, Kelling et al. 2019). Associated open data platforms, such as eBird, have become the major data source supporting scientific research and biodiversity conservation (Tsai et al. 2021, Meehan et al. 2022, Walker and Taylor 2017). However, the increasing availabililty of data does not resolve, but rather exacerbates, data bias issues (Escribano et al. 2019, La Sorte and Somveille 2020, Troia and McManamay 2016). While over 11.2 million bird observation records from Taiwan, including historical data spanning 40 years, are currently available on the eBird platform, their usefulness for characterizing the spatiotemporal patterns of bird communities remains unclear. To address this gap, we evaluated the data’s completeness in representing species richness across spatial and temporal scales and examined the representativeness of the data along several environmental gradients. Using the iNEXT package in R, we found an increase in data completeness with increasing spatial scales Fig. 1, with the mean proportion of bird species represented being increased from 14.0% at the 1 km scale to 68.0 and 82.9% at the 5 and 10 km scales, respectively, across Taiwan. We also found an exponential improvement of data completeness over time. At the 5 km scale, the represented species proportion increased from 6.78 and 32.14% in the 1980s and 1990s to 36.86 and 63.56% in the 2000s and 2010s Fig. 2, with the data in the last decade alone achieving similar completeness to the entire four-decade data. We also found that the areas with good data completeness (i.e., over 80%) adequately represented the full gradient of annual precipitation across Taiwan, but showed a bias toward areas at lower elevations and with lower forest coverage. These results indicate overall good data completeness of the eBird dataset for representing bird species richness in Taiwan. However, this study also highlights some data gaps, especially at finer scales, which need attention when using the dataset. This information is crucial for shaping future research designs and survey plans, aiming to enhance the applications of biodiversity data.

Topology Selectivity of a Conformationally Flexible Precursor by Selenium Doping

Conformational arrangements within nanostructures play a crucial role in shaping the overall configuration and determining the properties, for example in covalent/metal organic framework (COF/MOF) synthesis. In on-surface synthesis, conformational diversity often leads to uncontrollable or disordered structures. Therefore, exploration on controlling and directing the conformational arrangements is significant in achieving desired nanoarchitectures. In this study, a conformationally flexible precursor 2,4,6-tris(3-bromophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine (mTBPT) was employed, and a random phase consisting of C3h and Cs conformers was first obtained after deposition of mTBPT on Cu(111) from room temperature (RT) to ~365 K as expected. By low coverage (0.01 ML) selenium (Se) doping, we achieved the selectivity of the C3h conformer greatly and improved the nanopore structural homogeneity. The ordered 2D metal organic nanostructure from mTBPT could be fulfilled by Se doping from RT to ~365 K, and the deposition sequence of mTBPT and Se did not make any difference. Through the combination of high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy and non-contact atomic force microscopy, we explored the regulation of the conformationally flexible mTBPT on Cu(111) and achieved the high topology selectivity by low coverage Se doping. Density functional theory calculations revealed the energy regulation of organometallics before and after Se doping at atomic level. These results could enrich the on-surface synthesis toolbox of conformationally flexible precursors, for the design of complex nanoarchitectures, and for future development of engineered nanomaterials and nanodevices. Figure 1

Influenza Vaccination Practices and Perceptions Among Young Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greece.

Influenza vaccination among athletes is a crucial area in sports medicine. This descriptive, cross-sectional study aims to explore the vaccination practices and intentions regarding influenza vaccines among young athletes. A structured, questionnaire-based study was conducted among students from the National School of Sports in Greece. The survey was conducted over the period of April to May 2023. Overall, 138 participants participated in the study. More than half of the participants had received a flu vaccine in the past, but only 12.3% were vaccinated against influenza for 2022-2023. The main reasons seemed to be the lack of time (40.6%) and the idea that influenza does not lead to any serious health threats for the participants (36.2%). The main factor that affected their decision to get the flu vaccine or not was the need for more information regarding influenza vaccination (79%). The recent study showed low vaccination coverage among people of young age participating in sports activities. The qualitative views of the participants highlighted the significance of the lackof a well-organized information program provided by health professionals and coaches.

Measles: What goes around, comes around.

Measles cases are increasing globally and in the United States because of low routine measles vaccine coverage and disruptions to immunization services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To achieve and sustain measles elimination requires maintaining high coverage with 2 doses of measles vaccine, addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, strong political commitment, and the necessary financial resources.

Clinical real-world effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A meta-analysis

Abstract Background: According to the Evaluation of Protease Inhibition for COVID-19 in High-Risk Patients (EPIC-HR) study, compared with a placebo, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir significantly reduced the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related hospitalization or mortality in unvaccinated patients. The Delta variant was the most prevalent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant among all treatment recipients in the EPIC-HR study. The Omicron variant is less pathogenic than the Delta variant. The efficacy of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in partially or fully immunized patients with Omicron variant-related infections must be further evaluated. Objectives: The current meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir based on factors including hospitalization, all-cause mortality, and COVID-19 rebound in patients who were partially or fully immunized against COVID-19. Methods: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir based on factors including hospitalization, all-cause mortality, and COVID-19 rebound in patients who were partially or fully immunized against COVID-19. It included 26 studies that directly examined the clinical efficacy of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir versus placebo in adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection caused by the Omicron variant. The search criteria comprised keywords such as hospitalization, all-cause mortality, and COVID-19 rebound. Results: The all-cause mortality risk was reduced by 59% in patients aged ≥65 years. However, their hospitalization risk decreased by only 36%. The reduction in all-cause mortality and hospitalization risk was similar between patients with low and high COVID-19 vaccination coverage. Patients receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir had a higher incidence of COVID-19 rebound than those receiving a placebo. However, the hospitalization risk and all-cause mortality of adult patients with COVID-19 treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduced by 53% and 57%, respectively. Conclusion: The current meta-analysis of 26 studies indicates that adult patients with COVID-19 treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduced the risk of hospitalization by 53% and all-cause mortality by 57% compared to a placebo.

'Addressing HPV vaccine hesitancy: unveiling concerns and building trust' perspectives of adolescent girls and parents in Kisumu County, Kenya.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination is highly effective in preventing vaccine-targeted HPV infection. However, low HPV vaccination coverage in Kisumu County, Kenya, at about 10% for the first dose, highlights the critical issue of vaccine hesitancy, particularly in low and middle-income countries. This study explores the concerns, myths and barriers to HPV vaccine uptake among adolescent girls (aged 10-14) enrolled at human immune-deficiency virus comprehensive care clinics and their parents in Kisumu County. Focused group discussions were conducted with 48 participants. Content analysis revealed limited knowledge about the HPV vaccine and widespread misconceptions regarding its safety and efficacy. Financial constraints, injection fears and negative clinic experiences emerged as additional barriers. The findings emphasise the role of effective communication strategies, including engaging parents through written materials and involving them in decision-making, to dispel myths, provide accurate information and encourage HPV vaccination. Collaborative efforts with community stakeholders are crucial to improve vaccine coverage and ultimately reduce the cervical cancer burden.