Time Period Research Articles

The Association of Super Infection with SARS-COV2 Virus Infection

The literature on the association of Co-infection and Super infection in patients with SARS-COV2 infection is reviewed in this paper. Co-infection is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States as an infection that occurs in the human body when the person is already afflicted with multiple diseases. Super infection is another phrase used by the Centers for Sickness Control and Prevention to describe a disease caused by the same virus but with a different strain each time. Over a lengthy period of time, it has been seen that a patient's viral respiratory infection develops to bacterial infection, which can be fatal. However, the association between the two remains a mystery for the researchers. In the case of COVID-19 viruses, comparable results have been obtained. The extensive spectrum of Co-infections and Super infections in Corona patients has been documented in a number of articles.

A craniometric study of the Medieval sample from Deraheib (Northern Sudan)

The history of North Africa has been always tightly connected to events occurring in Eurasia. Human migra-tions in both directions are well-documented in written sources and archaeological records. To gain a comprehen-sive understanding of historical processes, it is essential to study the remains of individuals who inhabited this region during various time periods. A lack of cranial metric data on the Medieval population of North Africa im-pedes thorough investigation of the population history of the region. This paper presents a craniometric study of the sample from the Southern necropolis at Deraheib. This study contributes to filling the existing void in the un-derstanding of the Medieval population of North Africa. According to written sources, the site was a center of gold mining, known as the city of al-Allaki, dated to the 9th to 15th centuries AD. The city attracted a diverse population seeking economic opportunities. Besides this, Al-Allaki served as an important point on the caravan route which was utilized by merchants and pilgrims traversing the Nubian Desert on their way to Jeddah. The study analyzes cranial metrics of a total of 23 individuals (14 male and 9 female) skulls recovered from the southern necropolis Deraheib sample and employs 55 linear dimensions, following Martin's/Howells craniometric protocol as well as some additional measurements. Statistical analyses were performed using the R language packages and the Multican software. Our results revealed heterogeneity of the sample in male and female parts of the sample at the intra-group level: an observation aligning with existing archaeological and historical evidence. The limited size of the sample warns against any firm conclusions regarding affinities of the Deraheib population. Our intergroup comparison has shown that the cranial sample from the Southern Necropolis of the Deraheib site displays morphological features that are more similar to neighboring Caucasoid populations rather than equatorial groups from East Africa.

The Impact of “Hot Models” on a CMIP6 Ensemble Used by Climate Service Providers in Canada: Do Global Constraints Lead to Appreciable Differences in Regional Projections?

Abstract Canadian climate service providers offer projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) to help inform climate change mitigation and adaptation decisions. CMIP6 includes several “hot” climate models whose sensitivity to greenhouse gas forcings exceeds the likely range inferred from multiple lines of evidence. Global warming estimates assessed in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were reduced by applying observational constraints on the historical rate of warming to the CMIP6 ensemble. This study assesses whether globally constrained CMIP6 projections for Canada are appreciably different from unconstrained projections. Two constraints are considered: one that removes models whose transient climate response lies outside the AR6 assessed range (TCRlikely), and the other that weights models to match the assessed distribution of equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECSall). Both constraints lead to appreciably cooler and drier projections than the unconstrained ensemble, with the strongest reductions seen in the upper end of the ensemble range, high-emissions scenario, end-of-century time period, and northern regions of Canada. In this case, constrained projections of annual mean temperature are 2°–3°C cooler than the unconstrained projections, whereas projections of annual total precipitation are typically 20%–40% drier. Appreciable differences are also detected in the ensemble median of temperature extreme indices. Based on these results, it is recommended that a constrained ensemble be considered for regional projections to avoid the “hot model” problem. Alternatively, projections can be communicated conditional on a specified level of global warming, with global constraints then used to inform the timing of the warming level exceedance.

Use of electrical stimulation for accelerated orthodontics in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The main objective of this systematic review is to comprehensively evaluate all the relevant studies to evaluate the effectiveness of electrical stimulation to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement in human patients. Using a suitable search strategy, various databases like PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus and Google Scholar were surveyed for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs); after which a hand search of related orthodontic journals was completed. The risk of bias of studies was checked using Cochrane's ROB-2 tool. The quality of evidence of the included studies was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Rate of orthodontic tooth movement was compared and thus efficiency of electrical stimulation to accelerate tooth movement was assessed. Meta-analysis was done on 2 studies out of the 4; rate of orthodontic tooth movement was compared at two time periods after start of treatment (3rd month and 5th month) with standardized mean difference (SMD) as summary estimate, with p < 0.05 denoting statistical significance. Publication bias was checked using a funnel plot. Via exploration of the online databases and hand searching,1080 studies were found after removing duplicates. After full text assessment, 13 studies in total were selected that used electrical stimulation, out of which 4 studies were included in the qualitative analysis as they met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis was done for 3rd month and 5th month with SMD as 0.69(-1.26-0.12) and 1.64(-3.44-0.16), respectively. The strength of evidence in the meta-analysis is moderate. There was no publication bias as shown by funnel plot. The studies included showed increased risk of selection and performance bias. Also due to the limited number of studies available, there was difficulty in reaching definitive conclusions. The meta-analysis showed a significant difference among the control and experimental group for the 3rd month. Even though a positive correlation is found between electrical stimulation and acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement, it is advised to conduct further studies, particularly with human participants, to establish a more conclusive outcome. This review has received no funding. The protocol for the study was registered in the Prospective Registration of Systematic Review (PROSPERO)(CRD42023495077).

Donor notification and impact of counselling of reactive blood donors in the blood centre of a tertiary care teaching hospital of Odisha in eastern India

To ensure blood safety in blood transfusion service, the practice of donor screening, donor notification and counselling is essential. The aim of the study was to analyse the response rate of notified reactive donors to counselling and to see the impact of donor notification on reactive donors. A observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the blood centre of department of Transfusion Medicine, MKCG Medical College and Hospital Berhampur, Odisha during the time period from January 2022 to December 2022. Data was collected from reactive blood donor counselling register. Sero-reactive donors were contacted telephonically. Those who turned up into blood centre were counselled again and referred to appropriate centre for further management. The statistical analysis was done using percentages based on descriptive analysis.Out of total 32700 donations over a period of one year, 726 (2.22%) were reactive donors. Out of the total 726 donors, 496 (68.31%) donors could be notified telephonically, rest 230 could not be notified due to several reasons. Out of 496, 352(48.48%) were responders, who were counselled and referred to higher centres for further management. The response rate was 48.48%. Only 24 sero-reactive donors could be followed up. Pre-donation counselling, appropriate TTI screening test, donor notification and post donation counselling all together form a vital link between blood donors and blood safety, however the gap still exists.

The case of a mass death of livestock in the Early Iron Age in the steppe zone of Kazakhstan

A mass burial of complete and almost complete cattle and small ruminant skeletons found in a pit within the Early Iron Age settlement of Abylai in Central Kazakhstan (49°15'N, 75°07'E) has been studied. The results of archaeological research and archeozoological contexts have shown that the animals’ burial was a single event. The aim of the work was to determine the reasons for the formation of this accumu-lation. The analysis of skeletal element composition, animal age composition, and the season of their death has been performed. A com-parison of species composition, skeletal element composition, age composition, season of animals’ death and taphonomic features be-tween samples from the pit and the cultural layer of the settlement has been made. Significant differences between these samples have been revealed. The animals from the settlement layer were slaughtered during late autumn-winter, while animals from the pit died in early spring. The bones from the pit were almost all intact, while those from the settlement layer had characteristics typical of household waste. Bones from the “layer” have significantly more postmortem modifications than those from the “pit”. The age composition and the skeleton parts ratio between the samples are different. The analysis of the obtained data shows that in the beginning of spring 89 small ruminant and 6 cattle individuals were buried in the pit in a short period of time. According to ethnographic data, this could possibly be interpreted as the burial of animals who died as a result of spring jute. In the steppe zone of Eurasia, jute is the most frequent extreme event leading to mass death of ungulates. Jutes can happen in summer, when grass burns out with drought. But the most large-scale and frequent are winter jutes, when, due to catastrophic snowfalls, grass becomes inaccessible to animals, and spring jutes, when frosts come after a thaw. During jute, many animals die from starvation in a short time. Small ruminants are the most vulnerable because they are the least adapted to breaking ice crusts with their hooves. Cattle are less vulnerable, and even less so are horses. The following archaeological situation has been observed: all animals died in early spring; many of them were buried in a short time; the remains of small ruminants prevail, there are few cattle and no horses; most animals were probably skinned. This picture is most consistent with the burial of animals killed by jute. As an alternative hypothesis, a sacrificial nature of death of the animals has been considered. However, the combination of characteristics of the archaeological and archeozoological contexts of pit filling allows us to reject the latter hypothesis.

(The impact of the implications of political risk on the rate of return on equity for some real estate companies listed in the Iraqi and Saudi stock markets)

The research was conducted to give an idea of the mechanism of transmission of the effect between political risk variables and the performance of the real estate sector، by presenting the most prominent real estate concepts and detailing the types of real estate، as well as building a quantitative standard model to test the impact of political risk implications (voting and accountability (AV)، political stability (PV)، government effectiveness (GE)، Regulatory Quality (RQ)، Rules of Law (RL)، Control of Corruption (CC)) on the performance index of real estate sector companies (return on equity (ROE)) for real estate sector companies registered in the Iraqi and Saudi financial markets، for the purpose of answering the question (Can the implications of political risks influence the performance indicators of the real estate sector?)، which represents the problem on which the study was based، for the time period 2011-2020. The study relied on the Pooled Mean Group method (PMG)، which is part of the environment of the autoregressive model for distributed time lags for Panel ARDL Model data in building the model and estimating the results، with the tests this method contains، and the quarterly data were approved for all variables of the study. The study reached several conclusions، perhaps the most prominent of which is that the impact of political risks was positive with the rate of return on equity in Iraq and this is because of the relationship between return and profit.

Interpreting biogeochemical processes through the relationship between total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon: Theoretical basis and limitations

AbstractThe marine carbonate system is influenced by anthropogenic CO2 uptake, biogeochemical processes, and physical changes that involve freshwater input and removal. Two frequently used parameters to quantify seawater carbonate system are total alkalinity (TA) and total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). To account for the physical changes, both TA and DIC are usually normalized to a reference salinity (i.e., nTA and nDIC), and then the relationship between nTA and nDIC is used to identify major biogeochemical processes that regulate the carbonate system, based on process‐specific reaction stoichiometry. However, the theoretical basis of this interpretation has not been holistically examined. In this study, we validated this method under idealized conditions and discussed the associated assumptions and limitations. Furthermore, we applied this method to interpret field TA and DIC data from a lagoonal estuary in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Our results demonstrated that evaluating field data that encompass multiple stations and time periods could be problematic. In addition, various combinations of biogeochemical processes can lead to the same nTA–nDIC relationship, even though the relative importance of each individual process may vary significantly. Therefore, the stoichiometric relationship relying solely on TA and DIC data is not a definitive approach for uncovering dominant biogeochemical processes. Instead, measurements of process‐specific parameters are necessary.

Disparities in Transitions From E-cigarette Use to Other Tobacco Use Patterns Among Sexual Minority Versus Heterosexual Women and Men in the United States.

Despite elevated rates of e-cigarette use among sexual minority versus heterosexual young adults, limited research has examined sexual identity in relation to transitions from e-cigarette use to other tobacco use patterns. We analyzed data from 608 US young adults in a 2-year study (2018-2020) who reported using e-cigarettes in the past 6 months (time period between assessments) but no other tobacco product at baseline (Fall 2018). Multinomial logistic regressions among women and men, separately, examined associations between sexual identity and past 6-month tobacco use in Fall 2020 (nonuse [referent group] vs e-cigarette only, other tobacco product only, e-cigarette and other tobacco product dual use), controlling for age and race/ethnicity. Among women (n = 340; mean [M]age = 23.42; n = 147 [43.4%] sexual minority; 29.4% racial/ethnic minority), 34.4% reported nonuse at follow-up, 26.8% e-cigarette only, 10.3% other tobacco product only, and 28.5% e-cigarette and other tobacco product dual use. Sexual minority (vs heterosexual) women displayed greater odds of e-cigarette-only use, as well as dual use relative to nonuse at follow-up. Among men (n = 244; Mage = 24.30; n = 51 [20.9%] sexual minority; 36.1% racial/ethnic minority), 25.4% reported no use, 20.9% e-cigarette only, 17.2% other tobacco product only, and 36.5% dual use at follow-up. Sexual minority (vs heterosexual) men displayed lower odds of e-cigarette only, other tobacco product only, and dual use relative to nonuse at follow-up. Research is needed to assess and intervene on tobacco/nicotine product perceptions (eg, harm, social acceptability) and reasons for use (eg, mood regulation) associated with high-risk tobacco use patterns and trajectories, particularly among sexual minority young adult women who may have distinct profiles and risks associated with use.

Circadian patterns of behaviour change during pregnancy in mice.

Food intake and activity adapt during pregnancy to meet the increased energy demands. In comparison to non-pregnant females, pregnant mice consume more food, eating larger meals during the light phase, and reduce physical activity. How pregnancy changes the circadian timing of behaviour was less clear. We therefore randomised female C57BL/6J mice to mating for study until early (n=10), mid- (n=10) or late pregnancy (n=11) or as age-matched, non-pregnant controls (n=12). Mice were housed individually in Promethion cages with a 12h light-12h dark cycle [lights on at 07.00h, Zeitgeber (ZT)0] for behavioural analysis.Food intake between ZT10 and ZT11 was greater in pregnant than non-pregnant mice on days 6.5-12.5 and 12.5-17.5. In mice that exhibited a peak in the last 4h of the light phase (ZT8-ZT12), peaks were delayed by 1.6h in the pregnant compared with the non-pregnant group. Food intake immediately after dark-phase onset (ZT13-ZT14) was greater in the pregnant than non-pregnant group during days 12.5-17.5. Water intake patterns corresponded to food intake. From days 0.5-6.5 onwards, the pregnant group moved less during the dark phase, with decreased probability of being awake, in comparison to the non-pregnant group. The onset of dark-phase activity, peaks in activity, and wakefulness were all delayed during pregnancy. In conclusion, increased food intake during pregnancy reflects increased amplitude of eating behaviour, without longer duration. Decreases in activity also contribute to positive energy balance in pregnancy, with delays to all measured behaviours evident from mid-pregnancy onwards. KEY POINTS: Circadian rhythms synchronise daily behaviours including eating, drinking and sleep, but how these change in pregnancy is unclear. Food intake increased, with delays in peaks of food intake behaviour late in the light phase from days 6.5 to 12.5 of pregnancy, in comparison to the non-pregnant group. The onset of activity after lights off (dark phase) was delayed in pregnant compared with non-pregnant mice. Activity decreased by ∼70% in the pregnant group, particularly in the dark (active) phase, with delays in peaks of wakefulness evident from days 0.5-6.5 of pregnancy onwards. These behavioural changes contribute to positive energy balance during pregnancy. Delays in circadian behaviours during mouse pregnancy were time period and pregnancy stage specific, implying different regulatory mechanisms.

Time matters: Cervical ripening balloon for 6 versus 12 h-Retrospective comparison between two protocols.

Recently, two randomized controlled trials compared removal of cervical ripening balloon (CRB) after 6 versus 12 h. Their results showed similar Bishop score changes in both groups and a shorter time to delivery in the 6-h group. Neither of the studies was powered to show difference in mode of delivery. The aim of this study was to compare mode of delivery when the CRB was removed after 6 versus 12 h. A historical control study comparing induction of labor with a CRB between two time periods, one in which the CRB was removed after 12 h (12-h group), and the other in which it was removed after 6 h (6-h group). We included term pregnancies with a singleton fetus in vertex presentation. We excluded patients with a previous cesarean delivery, failed ripening with prostaglandins prior to CRB insertion, and any contraindication for vaginal delivery. The primary outcome was mode of delivery. Secondary outcomes included delivery within 24 h and other maternal and neonatal outcomes. We included 1704 patients, 914 in the 12-h group, and 717 in the 6-h group. Removal after 6 h was associated with a lower rate of cesarean and instrumental deliveries (28.6% vs 22.5%, and 12% vs 6.2%, respectively) and a higher rate of vaginal delivery within 24 h. All differences were statistically significant. Removing a cervical ripening balloon after 6 rather than 12 h is associated with reduced cesarean and instrumental delivery rates, and should be considered as a reasonable, and potentially superior alternative in labor induction protocols with intracervical ripening balloon.

Evaluation of a remote hybrid staffing model for investigational drug service pharmacists.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. This project compared the time to complete investigational prescription drug order verification by investigational drug service (IDS) pharmacists in an onsite vs offsite (hybrid) staffing model, evaluating the impact of remote work on verification time. Parenteral IDS drug orders from August 2019 through June 2022 were analyzed. Electronic medical records were timestamped for each order, first verification, second verification, and medication administration. The project was divided into four 6-month time periods to allow for 2 independent comparisons of onsite vs hybrid staffing models. A survey was given retrospectively to IDS pharmacists for the last hybrid timeframe to assess work satisfaction and burnout. A total of 4,398 orders were evaluated. The time from order entry to first verification was 14 minutes (n = 1,248) during the first onsite time period compared to 13 minutes (n = 1,042) during the first hybrid period (P = 0.003). The time for order verification was similar between the second onsite and hybrid periods (12 minutes [n = 1,041] vs 10 minutes [n= 1,067], respectively; P < 0.0001). The staff satisfaction survey for the hybrid model showed high levels of job satisfaction and no self-reported burnout. The remote hybrid staffing model did not result in a meaningful change in the time from order placement to medication administration within the IDS pharmacy. Hybrid staffing also resulted in greater job satisfaction among IDS pharmacists. This study highlights the benefits of implementing remote work practices in the pharmacy practice setting.

Microplastics in the Water Column of the Rhine River Near Basel: 22 Months of Sampling.

Measured microplastic concentrations in river surface waters fluctuate greatly. This variability is affected by season and is codriven by factors, such as sampling methodologies, sampling site, or sampling position within site. Unfortunately, most studies comprise single-instance measurements, whereas extended sampling periods are better suited to assessing the relevance of such factors. Moreover, microplastic concentrations in riverine water column remain underexplored. Similar to the oceans, however, this compartment likely holds significant amounts of microplastics. By representatively sampling the entire Rhine River cross-section near Basel through five sampling points over 22 months, we found a median microplastic (50-3000 μm) concentration of 4.48 n m-3, and estimated a widely ranging load between 4.04 × 102 n s-1 and 3.57 × 105 n s-1. We also show that the microplastic concentration in the water column was not well explained by river discharge. This suggests that although high discharge events as observed here can over short time periods lead to peak microplastic concentrations (e.g., 1.23 × 102 n m-3), microplastic load variance was not dominated by discharge in the study area.

How does the urban built environment affect dockless bikesharing-metro integration cycling? Analysis from a nonlinear comprehensive perspective

The multi-modal combination of "dockless bikesharing (DBs) + metro" can effectively addresses the "last mile" challenge, and its importance to improve the quality of metro integration and residents' commuting efficiency is becoming increasingly prominent. As one of the important determining factors of transportation, the urban built environment directly affects the integration travel behavior of residents. To better understand this issue, it is necessary to conduct in-depth research on the influence mechanism of urban built environment on DBs-metro integration cycling (DBsMIC), and reveal its complex nonlinear characteristics and spatial heterogeneity. Therefore, taking Shenzhen as a case study, this study first introduced the OLS regression model to detect the significant built environmental impact factors of DBsMIC. Secondly, the random forest regression model was used to analyze its nonlinear influence. Finally, aiming at the problem of spatial non-stationarity of influencing effects, the spatial heterogeneity is analyzed from both global and local perspectives based on the MGWR model. The results show that the significant impact indices of the built environment of the integration cycling volume vary in different time periods. Overall, seven factors such as road and residential density have a significant impact on DBsMIC. Among them, the job-housing balance and the bus line density have a negative impact, while the rest have a positive impact. Meanwhile, the nonlinear effect of the built environment on DBsMIC is obvious, and there is an obvious marginal effect. In addition, the nonlinear impact of the built environment on DBsMIC in different time periods has spatial heterogeneity and spatial marginal effects. For example, the influence of road density shows a global positive correlation effect in multiple time periods, and the promotion effect increases from southwest to northeast. This study can provide auxiliary decision-making support for the construction of an efficient, green and sustainable urban transportation system according to local conditions.

Lip, oral and oropharyngeal cancer incidence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: First reportfrom Australian population-based cancer registry, 1999-2018.

The Australian Burden of Disease Study has shown that cancer is the single most important entity responsible for the greatest cause of health burden in Australia. Unfortunately, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience a greater burden of this disease, with cancer of the lung, breast, bowel and prostrate being the most common. Lip, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer incidence is rapidly rising globally and is now the sixth most common cancer in Australia. This paper aims to summarize, for the first time, the incidence and prevalence trends of lip, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Data were obtained from the Australian Cancer Database (ACD), which is compiled at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) from 1999 to 2018 to estimate the incidence and prevalence of certain head and neck cancers (ICD-10 codes C00-C10, C14). The other variables requested were age groups and sex. Results were stratified by ICD-10 code, sex and age group at diagnosis and time period (i.e. grouped years of diagnosis). The total incidence of lip, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers increased by 1.3 times from 1999 to 2008 (107/100 000) to 2009-2018 (135/100 000). The overall 5-year prevalence of lip, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers was 0.17% (0.24% for men and 0.09% for women). The significantly increased incidence of lip, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia is concerning and should be explored. A targeted, comprehensive and culturally safe model of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with lip, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers is imperative.

Impact of fluvial discharge on 137Cs in the ocean following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident

Abstract After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (F1NPS) accident, 137Cs activity concentrations have not yet decreased to pre-accident levels because of direct release from the site and fluvial discharges of 137Cs deposited on land. It is necessary to consider dispersion processes in the coastal area to understand the impact of multiple river discharges and direct release. To achieve this goal, we carried out oceanic dispersion simulations that considered direct release and fluvial discharges and compared the results with the annual averages of observed data. We assumed that particulate 137Cs discharged from rivers to the ocean quickly resuspended and re-leached after coagulation and precipitation, and that all of the 137Cs was dispersed. The reproducibility of results was improved by considering fluvial discharges of particulate 137Cs at all sites between 2013 and 2016, except near the F1NPS. In other words, particulate 137Cs discharged from rivers was found to influence the results of ocean surface activity concentrations within a relatively short period of time. The impact of direct release was dominant for the observed 137Cs activity concentrations adjacent to the F1NPS, which was used to estimate direct releases.

Comparative Immunogenicity and Neutralization Potency of Four Approved COVID-19 Vaccines in BALB/c Mice.

Since the outbreak of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), several vaccine candidates have been developed within a short period of time. Although the potency of these vaccines was evaluated individually, their comparative potency was not comprehensively evaluated. To compare the immunogenicity and neutralization efficacy of four approved COVID-19 vaccines in Iran, including: PastoCovac Plus, Sinopharm, SpikoGen, and Noora in BALB/c mice. Different groups of female BALB/c mice were vaccinated with three doses of each vaccine. The serum levels of antibodies against the viral receptor binding domain (anti-RBD) and spike (anti-spike) protein as well as the vaccine formulation (anti-vaccine) were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The neutralization efficacy of these four vaccines was assessed through four neutralization assays: conventional virus neutralization test (cVNT), pseudotype virus neutralization test (pVNT), surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT), and inhibition flow cytometry. All four vaccines induced seroconversion in vaccinated animals. All vaccines successfully induced high levels of anti-vaccine antibody; however, PastoCovac Plus and Sinopharm vaccines induced significantly higher levels of anti-RBD antibody titer compared to Noora and SpikoGen. Moreover, the results of the antibody response were corroborated by the virus neutralization tests, which revealed very weak neutralization potency by Noora and SpikoGen in all tests. Our results indicate significant immunogenicity and neutralization efficacy induced by PastoCovac Plus and Sinopharm, but not by Noora and SpikoGen. This suggests the need for additional comparative assessment of the potency and efficacy of these four vaccines in vaccinated subjects.

The Role of Procedure Duration in the Sustainability Assessment of Contaminated Site Management in Italy

The European Union (EU) has placed a strong focus on soil contamination and remediation in its Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive soil data at the EU level. To effectively support EU soil management strategies, it is necessary to develop soil-related indicators and standardized datasets across all EU member states. However, the lack of standardized methodologies for estimating the time required for contaminated site remediation is a dilemma in Italy and throughout Europe. This study examines statistical data on the time-consuming nature of the contaminated site remediation process in Italy. In fact, early intervention not only simplifies site remediation but also reduces long-term financial obligations such as monitoring costs and potential legal implications. This study categorized data according to remedial procedures, explored different management phases, and revealed different timescales for completing the procedure. The findings show that processes completed after preliminary investigations are often shorter in time than those completed following conceptual model assessments. In contrast, processes that require corrective measures typically take a longer period of time to complete. Notably, remedial interventions tend to have a shorter duration compared to risk management interventions. Furthermore, procedures that address both soil and groundwater contamination generally require more time compared to those that focus only on soil remediation. This study provides valuable insight into the time-consuming aspects of remediation procedures, recommending potential changes to regulatory frameworks to accelerate site remediation activities.

Comprehensive ocular and systemic pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone after subconjunctival and intravenous injections in rabbits

Even though subconjunctival injections are used in clinics, their quantitative pharmacokinetics has not been studied systematically. For this purpose, we evaluated the ocular and plasma pharmacokinetics of subconjunctival dexamethasone in rabbits. Intravenous injection was also given to enable a better understanding of the systemic pharmacokinetics. Dexamethasone concentrations in plasma (after subconjunctival and intravenous injections) and four ocular tissues (iris-ciliary body, aqueous humour, neural retina and vitreous) were analysed using LC-MS/MS.Population pharmacokinetic modelling for plasma data from both injection routes were used, and for first time the constant rate of absorption of dexamethasone from the subconjunctival space into plasma was estimated (ka,plasma = 0.043 min−1, i.e. absorption half-life of 17.3 min). Non-compartmental analysis was used for the ocular data analysis and resulting in ocular drug exposure of iris-ciliary body (AUC0-∞= 41984 min·ng/g) > neural retina (AUC0-∞= 25511 min·ng/g) > vitreous (AUC0-∞= 7319 min·ng/mL) > aqueous humour (AUC0-∞= 6146 min·ng/mL). The absolute bioavailability values after subconjunctival injection, reported for the first time, were 0.74 % in aqueous humour (comparable to topical dexamethasone suspensions), and 0.30 % in vitreous humour (estimated to be higher than in topical administration).These novel and comprehensive pharmacokinetic data provide valuable information on the potential for exploiting this route in ocular drug development for treating both, anterior and posterior segment ocular diseases. Moreover, the new generated dexamethasone-parameters are a step-forward in building predictive pharmacokinetic models to support the design of new subconjunctival dexamethasone formulations, which may sustain drug effect for longer period of time.

Peer Recovery Specialists and Referrals to Treatment: Clinical Correlates Among Patients of an Opioid Overdose Recovery Program in New Jersey.

Peer recovery programs increase recovery support and treatment engagement among individuals with opioid use disorder. Peer recovery specialists (PRS) are critical in the cascade of care of treating addiction and related conditions. Work remains to help identify the benefits of PRS, particularly time spent with a PRS as a clinical indicator associated with referral to substance use treatment services. Gaps in the literature do not consider the nested hierarchical intercorrelations of opioid recovery data within multiple emergency departments. The current study examined demographic and clinical correlates with referral to substance use treatment services including prior engagement within an opioid overdose recovery program, mental health diagnosis, the number of naloxone administrations, prior overdoses, and hospital-level variability of PRS time associated with treatment referrals. This study used data collected by providers among patients who engaged in an opioid overdose recovery program. Data were collected between January 2016 and September 2020. Generalized linear mixed effect multilevel regression analyses tested the associations on clinical referral to substance use services. A total of 5655 patients participated in the study (male: 68.91%; age: mean = 37.75 ± 12.43; White non-Hispanic: 62.48%). Significant individual-level associations were identified between demographic and clinical variables and referral to substance use treatment services. At the hospital level, recovery specialist time spent with the patient also showed a positive and significant association with referral to substance use treatment services. The cross-level interaction effect displayed that any period of time spent with PRS played an important role for those patients with a greater number of prior overdoses on referral to treatment. Results provide important information on the role of PRS in the cascade of care, as well as the time spent with those in this role for both individuals with varying number of prior overdoses.