Period Of High Incidence Research Articles

Temporal Variability in the Incidence and Risk Factors for Pharyngocutaneous Fistula Development after Total Laryngectomy

Background: This study aimed to analyse the variability in the incidence of the pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF), the most common complication following a total laryngectomy (TLE), and to identify the underlying causes for fluctuations in incidence rates. Methods: In the retrospective study, the annual PCF incidence data and comprehensive clinicopathologic data from 540 patients who underwent TLE between January 2004 and December 2022 were reviewed. Distinct peri ods of both high and low PCF incidence were identified. Within these periods, patients were categorized into groups with PCF (study groups) and without it (control groups). These groups were statistically compared based on potential risk factors for PCF development. The high-incidence periods were specially analysed for recurring risk factors and the corresponding corrective measures were reviewed. Results: The analysis revealed four high-incidence periods with an overall PCF incidence of 37.61%, along with three low-incidence periods in between with an overall incidence of 19.38%. Surgical wound infection (SWI) and a history of head and neck cancer alongside their related treatments were repeatedly identified as independent risk factors during high-incidence periods, with SWI being the most consistent predictor of PCF development. Conclusions: Continuous monitoring of PCF incidence is crucial, as it allows for the identification of emerging risk factors and the immediate implementation of corrective measures to mitigate these newly identified risk factors.

Characterization and Sources of VOCs during PM2.5 Pollution Periods in a Typical City of the Yangtze River Delta

To investigate the characteristics and sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as their impacts on secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) formation during high-incidence periods of PM2.5 pollution, a field measurement was conducted in December 2019 in Hefei, a typical city of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). During the whole process, the mixing ratios of VOCs were averaged as 21.1 ± 15.9 ppb, with alkanes, alkenes, alkyne, and aromatics accounting for 59.9%, 15.3%, 15.0%, and 9.8% of the total VOCs, respectively. It is worth noting that the contributions of alkenes and alkyne increased significantly during PM2.5 pollution periods. Based on source apportionment via the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, vehicle emissions, liquefied petroleum gas/natural gas (LPG/NG), and biomass/coal burning were the main sources of VOCs during the research in Hefei. During pollution periods, however, the contribution of biomass/coal burning to VOCs increased significantly, reaching as much as 47.6%. The calculated SOA formation potential (SOAFP) of VOCs was 0.38 ± 1.04 µg m−3 (range: 0.04–7.30 µg m−3), and aromatics were the dominant contributors, with a percentage of 96.8%. The source contributions showed that industrial emissions (49.1%) and vehicle emissions (28.3%) contributed the most to SOAFP during non-pollution periods, whereas the contribution of biomass/coal burning to SOA formation increased significantly (32.8%) during PM2.5 pollution periods. These findings suggest that reducing VOCs emissions from biomass/coal burning, vehicle, and industrial sources is a crucial approach for the effective control of SOA formation in Hefei, which provides a scientific basis for controlling PM2.5 pollution and improving air quality in the YRD region.

The high-incidence period of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections 2023/2024 in southeast Germany was associated with a low level of macrolide resistance

The high-incidence period of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections 2023/2024 in southeast Germany was associated with a low level of macrolide resistance

Macrolide-resistant mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children observed during a period of high incidence in Henan, China

ObjectiveMycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) is one of the major pathogens that causes respiratory tract infections, and macrolide resistance has increased rapidly in recent years due to the inappropriate use of macrolides in northeastern Asia. In the present study, we aimed to investigate Mp infection and macrolide resistance during a period of high incidence of Mp infection in Henan, China. MethodsA total of 29473 suspected children with Mp infection were enrolled in the study from July to December 2023. Throat swab specimens were collected from all the study subjects, and real-time PCR was performed to detect the Mp-DNA and macrolide resistance-associated A2063G or A2064G mutations. ResultsThe overall percentage of Mp-DNA-positive patients was 51.1 %, and the percentage of macrolide-resistant strains was 91 %. The rate of macrolide resistance remained stable from July to December. The Mp-DNA positivity rates among the different age groups from low to high were 0–1, 1–3, 3–6, 10–18 and 6–10 years. The macrolide resistance rate was the lowest in the 0–1 age group and highest in the 6–10 age group. No difference in the rate of macrolide resistance was observed between male and female children. ConclusionsThe macrolide resistance rate of Mp did not change during the investigated period of high incidence of infection, and no sex difference existed. The macrolide resistance rate of Mp was the lowest in children under 1 year old.

Description of Clinical Outcomes of Janssen’s Ad26.COV2.S Prime and Single Boost for COVID-19 from January 2021 through July 2022 at a large Kentucky study site

Introduction The Janssen Ad26.COV2.S vaccine was developed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 illness. Phase 3 trials were initiated in 2020, including sites at the University of Kentucky, Norton Healthcare Louisville, and Baptist Health Lexington. This study followed non-immunosuppressed adult subjects through July 2022 to evaluate vaccine efficacy and safety, with a total of 1,094 participants. Methods Subjects aged 18 years or older, in good health, and without major immunological conditions were included. Three trials (ENSEMBLE-1, ENSEMBLE-2, and AMPLIFY) were conducted. Participants were evaluated for vaccine efficacy if they were nucleocapsid antibody-negative and had no prior COVID-19 infection at the time of their first booster. Vaccine regimens included a prime and single boost with Ad26.COV2.S or other combinations of prime and boost vaccinations, including mRNA vaccines. Results A total of 1,094 subjects were enrolled, with 903 subjects evaluated for vaccine efficacy. Among these, 431 received only a prime and single boost with Ad26.COV2.S, and 472 received other combinations of vaccines. During the study period, 174 COVID-19 infections occurred, with 95 (55%) being asymptomatic. The incidence of infections was similar between those who received only Ad26.COV2.S (94 infections) and those with other vaccination regimens (80 infections), with no significant difference (P > .05). There were no serious vaccine-related safety concerns, and only one hospitalization occurred, involving a 75-year-old diabetic who recovered without intubation. Conclusion The Ad26.COV2.S vaccine, as a prime and single boost, demonstrated similar efficacy to other vaccination regimens in preventing COVID-19 infections. Both regimens provided protection against severe disease and hospitalization, with no significant safety concerns identified. This study supports the effectiveness and safety of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine in the adult population during a period of high COVID-19 incidence.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of forest fires in the context of climate change: a review.

Forest fires are sudden, destructive, hazardous, and challenging to manage and rescue, earning them a place on UNESCO's list of the world's eight major natural disasters. Currently, amid global warming, all countries worldwide have entered a period of high forest fire incidence. Due to global warming, the frequency of forest fires has accelerated, the likelihood of large fires has increased, and the spatial and temporal dynamics of forest fires have shown different trends. Therefore, the impact of climate change on the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest fires has become a hot issue in the field of forest fire research in recent years. Therefore, it is of great significance and necessity to conduct a review of the research in this area. This review delves into the interactions and impacts between climate change and the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest fires. To address this issue, scholars have mainly adopted the following research methods: first, statistical analysis methods, second, the establishment of spatiotemporal prediction models for meteorology and forest fires, and third, the coupling of climate models with forest fire risk forecasting models. The statistical analysis method relies on the analysis of historical meteorological and fire-related data to study the effects of climate change and meteorological factors on fire occurrence. Meanwhile, forest fire prediction models utilize technical tools such as remote sensing. These models synthesize historical meteorological and fire-related data, incorporating key meteorological factors such as temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and wind. The models revealed the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of fires, identified key drivers, and explored the interactions between climate change and forest fire dynamics, culminating in the construction of predictive models. With the deepening of the study, the coupling of climate models and fire risk ranking systems became a trend in the prediction of forest fire risk trends. Moreover, as the climate warms, the increased frequency of extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, snow and ice storms, and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has accelerated forest fire occurrences and raised the risk of major fires. This review offers valuable technical insights by comprehensively analyzing the spatial and temporal characteristics of forest fires, elucidating key meteorological drivers, and exploring potential mechanisms. These insights serve as a scientific foundation for preventive measures and effective forest fire management. In the face of a changing climate, this synthesis contributes to the development of informed strategies to mitigate the escalating threat of forest fires.

Temporal–Spatial Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Forest Fires in the Tropic of Cancer (Yunnan Section)

Forest fires often cause many casualties and property losses, and it is important to explore the time and space laws of forest fires and the influencing factors. The present study used the cities (prefectures) crossed by the Tropic of Cancer (Yunnan section) as the study area. Based on burned land data, a combination of natural factors, such as climate, topography, vegetation, and human activities, such as distance from settlements and population density, a binary logistic regression model, and a boosted regression tree model, were used to analyze the temporal–spatial characteristics and influencing factors of forest fires in 2000 to 2020. The following results were obtained: (1) During 2000–2020, the overall forest fire area in the study area showed a trend of fluctuating decline. The high incidence period of forest fires occurred in 2010. After 2010, the forest fire area in the study area was greatly reduced. (2) The forest fire area in the study area was greater in the east and less in the west. The forest fire areas in Wenshan Prefecture and Honghe Prefecture in the east were larger, accounting for 68%, and the forest fire areas in Pu’er City, Lincang City, and Yuxi City in the west were smaller, accounting for only 32%. (3) The contribution rate of the average precipitation and average temperature factors ranked in the top two in the two driving force analysis models, which indicated that precipitation and temperature had a significant effect on the incidence of forest fires in the study area.

Lower Atmospheric Ducts over the South China Sea Related to the Monsoon, Atmospheric, and Ocean Conditions Based on ECMWF Reanalysis Data

Abstract Atmospheric ducting is a highly refractive propagation condition that frequently occurs at sea and significantly impacts radar and communication equipment. This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal distribution of lower atmospheric ducts (LAD) in the South China Sea (SCS) and the variation of their occurrence rate with the monsoon by using reanalysis data from the ECMWF from 1980 to 2022. Additionally, the study discusses the relationship between ducting occurrences and atmospheric and oceanic conditions. The results indicate that wind dynamics in the SCS significantly impact ducting incidents. During the high-incidence period of LAD, humidity-gradient-constructed ducts are the primary mechanism. Before the onset of the monsoon, the mountains in the western part of Luzon Island obstruct the easterly wind, resulting in high temperatures and strong evaporation along the western coast of the mountains. Meanwhile, low temperatures and humidity prevail in the eastern part of the mountains, and they lead to a stratified atmosphere characterized by dry and cold upper layers and warm and humid lower layers in the western part of Luzon Island, which causes a distinct decrease in humidity with height. After the onset of the monsoon, the air from the Indochina Peninsula to the ocean is dry and cold, but the high-altitude area blocks it. This weakens the horizontal mobility of the low-level humid atmosphere over the sea, resulting in atmospheric stratification in the eastern coastal area of the Indochina Peninsula. This stratification leads to dry and cold upper layers and warm and humid lower layers. Significance Statement Atmospheric ducting is a superrefractive propagation condition that frequently occurs at sea and has a significant impact on radar and communication equipment and is related to large-scale or medium- and small-scale atmospheric stratification. The distribution of land and sea around the South China Sea (SCS) and the monsoon are important factors affecting the existence of atmospheric ducts in this region. Many scholars have studied the mechanism of atmospheric ducts in local areas based on observation data (or reanalysis data). The literature on the atmospheric ducts in the SCS mainly focuses on the spatial and temporal statistical distribution of seasons, months, and days, and gives the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of the region within the statistical time, emphasizing the important influence of the monsoon on the duct, but there is no relevant research on the reasons for the existence of the specific relationship and its temporal and spatial distribution characteristics. The manuscript analyzes the temporal and spatial distribution of lower atmospheric ducts in the SCS and the variation of their occurrence rate with the monsoon, quantifies the contributions of temperature, humidity, and air pressure to the ducting occurrence, meanwhile discussing the ducting occurrence relation with atmospheric and oceanic conditions. In the end, we demonstrate that the development of high-incidence areas for SCS ducts prior to and following the onset of monsoon season is connected to factors such as wind patterns, seawater evaporation, and topography. Furthermore, unstable vertical transport of water vapor in both the atmosphere and oceanic conditions plays a crucial role in facilitating the creation of humidity-type ducts.

Anxiety and depression in pregnancy: associated variables during the covid-19 pandemic period

ObjectiveTo assess the association between age, parity, nationality, educational level, employment and partner support with depression and anxiety during pregnancy. To determine the impact of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anxiety and depression levels of the participants. MethodCross-sectional descriptive correlational study carried out in the Osakidetza/Basque Health Service, Primary Care, Bizkaia (Spain). A total of 295 pregnant women between 8 and 41 weeks participated. The association between age, parity, nationality, educational level, employment, partner support and COVID-19 incidence rates during the study period and depression (measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and anxiety (measured with the State-Anxiety Inventory/STAI-S subscale) scores during pregnancy was measured. A logistic regression model was constructed and odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated. ResultsThe mean score was 18.75 points for anxiety (SD = 8.69) and 6.45 points for depression (SD = 4.32). Women expecting their second or later child had higher scores for depression (OR 2.51[95%IC: 1.26-5.01)) and anxiety (OR 1.98 [95%IC: 1.01-3.89]). Having completed university studies was associated with lower scores in depression (OR 0.28 [95%IC: 0.11-0.77]) and in anxiety (OR 0,2 [95%IC: 0.08-0.54]). A good relationship with the partner was associated with lower levels of anxiety (OR 0.45 [95%IC: 0.24-0.81]). The mean anxiety and depression scores are related to the incidence of COVID-19 cases; the anxiety score was significantly higher in periods of higher incidence. ConclusionsGreater emotional care for pregnant women with low educational level, multiparous and with weak support from their partner, would reduce anxiety and depression in pregnancy. Health emergency situations affect mental health during gestation.

Ansiedad y depresión en el embarazo. Variables asociadas durante el periodo de pandemia COVID-19

ObjectiveTo assess the association between age, parity, nationality, educational level, employment and partner support with depression and anxiety during pregnancy. To determine the impact of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anxiety and depression levels of the participants. MethodCross-sectional descriptive correlational study carried out in the Osakidetza/Basque Health Service, Primary Care, Bizkaia (Spain). A total of 295 pregnant women between 8 and 41 weeks participated. The association between age, parity, nationality, educational level, employment, partner support and COVID-19 incidence rates during the study period and depression (measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and anxiety (measured with the State-Anxiety Inventory/STAI-S subscale) scores during pregnancy was measured. A logistic regression model was constructed and odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated. ResultsThe mean score was 18.75 points for anxiety (SD 8.69) and 6.45 points for depression (SD 4.32). Women expecting their second or later child had higher scores for depression (OR 2.51 [95%IC: 1.26-5.01]) and anxiety (OR 1.98 [95%IC: 1.01-3.89]). Having completed university studies was associated with lower scores in depression (OR 0.28 [95%IC: 0.11-0.77]) and in anxiety (OR 0,2 [95%IC: 0.08-0.54]). A good relationship with the partner was associated with lower levels of anxiety (OR 0.45 [95%IC: 0.24-0.81]). The mean anxiety and depression scores are related to the incidence of COVID-19 cases; the anxiety score was significantly higher in periods of higher incidence. ConclusionsGreater emotional care for pregnant women with low educational level, multiparous and with weak support from their partner, would reduce anxiety and depression in pregnancy. Health emergency situations affect mental health during gestation.

Statistical analysis of mental influencing factors for anxiety and depression of rural and urban freshmen.

The freshmen stage is a high incidence period for psychological issues. With the increasing gap between urban and rural areas in China, the mental problems of rural freshmen are more prominent in recent years due to the huge contrast of campus life with their growth environment and other reasons. The concern for the mental well-being of both rural and urban freshman students prompted our comprehensive five-year study (2018-2022) on psychological issues in a group of 12,564 first-year students from dozens of public universities in Shandong province. The investigation employed PPS (probability proportional to size) sampling and was conducted near the the end of the first semester. Using the data gathered, we analyzed and compared the indicators of psychological problems in rural and urban freshmen by Duncan's Multiple Range Test. We also conducted a canonical correlation analysis and pathway analysis to examine the psychological factors that contribute to anxiety and depression in both rural and urban freshmen. According to the findings, rural freshmen exhibit significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than their urban counterparts. Inferiority, obsession, and internet addiction were identified as the primary influencing factors of anxiety and depression in both rural and urban freshmen. Social phobia was found to be a significant influencing factor for anxiety in rural freshmen, while bigotry was identified as a specific influencing factor for urban freshmen. Furthermore, the results of the path analysis suggest that anxiety plays a crucial role as a mediating factor between the main influencing factors and depression. These results substantially extend former research in this area and have important implications for the development of effective intervention strategies to address anxiety and depression. According to these results, policymakers should assess and intervene of anxiety and depression as a whole, and provide mental health education according to main effect factors of freshmen from rural and urban areas. Detailed policy recommendations are in discussion and conclusion.

2283. COVID-19 among Febrile Patients Presenting without Respiratory Symptoms in Six Hospitals along the Thai-Lao and Thai-Myanmar Borders, 2021-2011

Abstract Background Thailand’s national surveillance system to detect COVID-19 infection typically relies on a combination of fever, respiratory symptoms, and risk factors. We describe the frequency, epidemiologic characteristics, and risk factors for COVID-19 in patients without respiratory symptoms and the utility of saliva and nasal swabs (NS) to detect SARS-CoV-2. Methods During June 2021-December 2022, a period of high COVID-19 incidence in Thailand, we enrolled patients aged >2 years presenting with a temperature ≥37.5 °C or a history of fever ≤14 days and no cough, dyspnea, or sputum production at 6 hospitals in Nakhon Phanom and Tak provinces, Thailand. Saliva, NS, and nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs (NP/OP) were collected to detect SARS-CoV-2 using real-time RT-PCR. Multivariable analysis was done to assess factors independently associated with COVID-19 infection. Cases were defined as persons with SARS-CoV-2-positive RT-PCR specimens. Results Cases were detected in 358/1,648 (22%) persons. The median age among cases was 31 (IQR 21-45) years; 210 (59%) were female. Compared to non-cases, cases were more likely to present with malaise (52% vs. 40%, p< 0.001), hyposmia (10% vs. 1.4%, p< 0.001), dysgeusia (11% vs. 4.8%, p< 0.001), and muscle pain (53% vs. 47%, p=0.04); cases were less likely to have chills (41% vs. 50%, p=0.002), low appetite (29% vs. 41%, p< 0.001), nausea/vomiting (17% vs. 29%, p< 0.001) and abdominal pain (4.7% vs. 16%, p< 0.001). Cases were more likely to have been in contact with persons with COVID-19 infection (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 12 [8.1-16]), febrile household members (2.6 [1.8-3.8]), and persons with respiratory symptoms (2.2 [1.4-3.7]), have a history of travel (1.7 [1.0-2.7]), current alcohol consumption (1.7 [1.2-2.4]) and obesity (1.5 [1.1-1.9]). Among cases, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 95% of saliva, 92% of NS, and 99% of NP/OP specimens; RT-PCR was positive in all 3 specimen types from 319 (89%) cases. Compared to NP/OP, the sensitivity of testing saliva and NS were 96% and 93%. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 was detected in more than one-fifth of febrile patients without respiratory symptoms. A broader national surveillance case definition would increase case detection. Saliva and NS demonstrated high sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Breakdown characteristics and influencing factors of live 500 kV insulators sprayed by extinguishing agents using helicopters

Regarding the problem that helicopters cannot spray live transmission conductors and wildfires directly under an insulator, we built a full-scale 500 kV insulator flashover test platform to simulate high-altitude helicopters spraying fire extinguishing agents. The chemical formulation, spray intensity, and fragmentation method of the fire extinguishing agents were varied. We simulated the breakdown characteristics of insulators when helicopters spray fire extinguishing agents, revealing the mechanism of high-altitude live fire extinguishment for high-spray-intensity and high-conductivity agents. Furthermore, an insulation performance verification test of a helicopter spraying live equipment at different flight speeds and altitudes was carried out, and the behavior of the fire extinguishing agents was divided into a five-zone diffusion law consisting of the (1) water column, (2) continuous water block, (3) semi-continuous water body, (4) large droplet particles, and (5) small droplet particles. We propose a spraying live transmission line method in which the helicopter flight height and speed jointly control the particle size of the fire extinguishing agent. When the particle size of the fire extinguishing agent at the terminal is controlled to 560–4000 μm, the insulation performance of the fire extinguishing agent can be effectively improved. During high-incidence periods of wildfires, such as the Spring Festival and Qingming Festival in 2023, on-site firefighting on the Hunan power grid was performed using helicopters to spray fire extinguishing agents from top to bottom through live transmission conductors to extinguish wildfire disasters directly below the transmission conductors. Neither transmission line flashovers nor power outages occurred when the fires were extinguished.

Incidence of sexual violence among recently arrived asylum-seeking women in France: a retrospective cohort study.

The prevention of sexual violence (SV) occurring shortly after arrival in host countries towards female asylum seekers requires knowledge about its incidence. We aimed to determine the incidence of SV and its associated factors during the past year of living in France among asylum-seeking females who had arrived more than one year earlier but less than two years. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a life-event survey of asylum-seeking females who had been registered in southern France by the Office for Immigration for more than one year but less than two. The primary outcome was the occurrence of SV during the past year, weighted by the deviation in age and geographical origin of our sample from all females registered. The nature of SV was noted, and associated factors were explored by a logistic regression model. Between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, 273 females were included. Eighty-four females experienced SV during the past year of living in France (26.3% weighted [95% CI, 24-28.8]), 17 of whom were raped (4.8% weighted [95% CI, 3.7-6.1]). Being a victim of SV prior to arrival in France (202, 75.7%) was associated with the occurrence of SV after arrival (OR=4.6 [95% CI, 1.8-11.3]). Lack of support for accommodation was associated with se.xual assault (OR=2.6 [95% CI, 1.3-5.1]). The months following arrival in a European host country among asylum-seeking females appear to be a period of high incidence of SV; even higher for those who previously experienced SV prior to arrival. Reception conditions without support for accommodation seem to increase exposure to sexual assault. DGOS-GIRCI.

Therapies for people hospitalized with COVID-19 and alignment with national clinical guidelines in a large hospital, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2020-2021.

Clinical practice guidelines were continually changing during the COVID-19 pandemic to reflect the best available evidence for a novel virus. In Kazakhstan, the national clinical guidelines for COVID-19 patient care were regularly modified and it was not known if and to what extent these guidelines were being followed in practice. We conducted a sub-analysis of data collected from an observational study among people hospitalized with COVID-19 in a large infectious disease hospital in Almaty in four cross-sections of increased COVID-19 incidence: T1 (1 June-30 August 2020); T2 (1 October-31 December 2020); T3 (1 April-31 May 2021); and T4 (1 July-26 October 2021). Modifications to the national COVID-19 treatment guidelines were identified and clinical data were abstracted from electronic medical records. We assessed frequency of antibiotic, glucocorticoid, anticoagulant, and antiviral administered in each period and determined if these aligned with national clinical guidelines. We used multivariable logistic regression to compare practices across periods. Six modifications were made to national COVID-19 treatment guidelines during this study. Of 1,146 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 14% were in T1, 14% in T2, 22% in T3, and 50% in T4. Anticoagulant treatment was administered to 87% (range: 56%-95%), antibiotic treatment to 60% (range: 58%-64%), glucocorticoid to 55% (range: 43%-64%) and antiviral therapy 15% (range: 7%-22%). Majority of treatments were not aligned with national guidelines, including 98% of anticoagulant use, 95% of antibiotic use, 56% of glucocorticoid use, and 56% of antiviral use. There were no significant changes in practice following changes in guidelines for antibiotic use (64% in T1 to 58% in T2, p = 0.30). There was significant increase in use of anticoagulant (84% in T2 vs. 95% in T3, p < 0.01), glucocorticoid (43% in T2 vs. 64% in T3, p < 0.01), and antiviral treatment (7% in T3 vs. 15% in T4, p < 0.01) after guidelines updates. The majority of treatments administered to people hospitalized with COVID-19 in four periods of high incidence in Almaty were not aligned with updated clinical guidelines. Antibiotic misuse was markedly high throughout. Increased awareness and training on clinical practice guidelines as updates are released may help improve adoption of evidence-based practices.

Management strategy for Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in mountain maize planting areas in China

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major maize pest worldwide and has caused huge economic loss. To explore the control tactics of S. frugiperda in mountain maize planting fields, studies were performed in China from 2020 to 2021 for screening the S. frugiperda-resistant maize variety, seed coating agents, chemical insecticides, and biological agents. The results showed that 75 g/hm2 Emamectin benzoate had better controlling efficacy (with a control efficacy of 91.05% at 1d) than other chemicals, so it was recommended in the high incidence period of pests. Compared with other seed coating treatments, 50% Lumingwei TM625FS (with a control efficacy of 76.19% at 10d) was the best seed coating against S. frugiperda. The biological control “Telenomus remus + Picromerus lewisi” and “T. remus + Eocanthecona furcellata” had good control efficacy on S. frugiperda with 76.01%, 64.10% at 20d, respectively. Additionally, there were lower numbers of S. frugiperda in maize variety GuiDan6, BaoYu9, and YanBaiYu8. In summary, this research recommended four effective pest management strategies (GuiDan6-resistant maize variety, 50% Lumingwei TM625FS-seed coating agents, 5% emamectin benzoate-chemical pesticide, and “T. remus + P. lewisi”-biological control) in mountain maize planting fields. The study provided effective control strategies for S. frugiperda.

Study on the Temporal and Spatial Evolution Characteristics of Chinese Public's Cognition and Attitude to “Double Reduction” Policy Based on Big Data

The “double reduction” policy is a policy innovation of China's comprehensive education reform to build a high-quality education system. The public's cognition and attitude toward it are of great significance to its actual implementation. A total of 98396 texts related to “double reduction” collected from Sina-Weibo by web crawler technology are investigated to explore the public's cognition and attitude towards the “double reduction” policy as well as its spatio-temporal evolution characteristics. Guided by life cycle theory, the evolution of the public's attitude is studied by sentiment analysis based on the ERINE algorithm and DUTIR. Topics are selected with the adoption of TF-IDF and LDA models to perform spatio-temporal evolution of public cognition and analyze group differences. The results are as follows: the evolution of public concern about the “double reduction” policy is phased and the period of high incidence is closely related to time nodes such as policy release, the new school term, and holidays. There are temporal and spatial differences in the evolution of public attitudes between different stages and groups. Although the public holds a relatively negative attitude, with more information about the “double reduction” policy available, the public's attitude is gradually easing. Topics of public concern vary in different periods, and different groups show different emotional attitudes and have distinctive evolution characteristics of cognitive themes. Compared with other age groups, teenagers pay more attention to topics related to their studies and life. The government's official micro-blog not only shoulders the responsibility of publicizing relevant policies, but also pays close attention to the implementation of relevant policies around the country. The influential groups hold a relatively firm attitude and stable emotions and often can orient public opinions. The regional attention to the “double reduction” policy is positively correlated with the level of local economic development. The research results can help government departments learn about the public's cognition and attitude towards the “double reduction” policy to provide decision-making support, and serve as an important basis for solving existing contradictions and promoting the effective implementation of policies.

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Injury Events Against Doctors in Guangdong Province by Geographic Information System.

Violence against doctors is a global concern. Violent injuries against doctors occur periodically in China. At least one violent injury event was witnessed by 54% of medical staff against doctors in 2020. Analyzing this phenomenon and establishing preventive measures is a common concern of the medical and criminal communities. This study comprised 712 injury events against doctors in Guangdong Province, China, from January 2019 to October 2022. The spatial distribution and spatiotemporal changes of these events were analyzed using ArcGIS and Excel software. Considering the geographical distribution, the injury events against doctors showed a three-level concentric circle pattern where, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, adjacent cities, and distant cities were ranked as high, medium, and low-risk areas, respectively. In temporal distribution, the periods of high incidence were 9-11, 14-15, and 20 o'clock, and the incidence tended to be similar daily, with the peaks in June and July. We found that the risk level of injury events against doctors was positively correlated with the medical resources level in the areas. The injury event incidence was higher during the daytime working hours. Temperature may have a strong positive effect on injury events against doctors.

Rapid screening of SARS-CoV-2 variants, a key tool for pandemic surveillance

The utility of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in analysis SARS-COV-2 variants was evaluated. RT-PCR tests were used to analyse the majority of new SARS-CoV-2 cases (n = 9315) in a tertiary hospital (Madrid, Spain) throughout 2021. Subsequently, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was conducted on 10.8% of these samples (n = 1002). Notably, the Delta and Omicron variants emerged rapidly. There were no discrepancies between RT-PCR and WGS results. Continuous surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants is essential, and RT-PCR is a highly useful method, specially during periods of high COVID-19 incidence. This feasible technique can be implemented in all SARS-CoV-2 laboratories. However, WGS remains the gold standard method for comprehensive detection of all existing SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Development of hybrid immunity during a period of high incidence of Omicron infections.

Seroprevalence and the proportion of people with neutralizing activity (functional immunity) against SARS-CoV-2 variants were high in early 2022. In this prospective, population- based, multi-region cohort study, we assessed the development of functional and hybrid immunity (induced by vaccination and infection) in the general population during this period of high incidence of infections with Omicron variants. We randomly selected and assessed individuals aged ≥16 years from the general population in southern (n = 739) and north-eastern (n = 964) Switzerland in March 2022. We assessed them again in June/July 2022, supplemented with a random sample from western (n = 850) Switzerland. We measured SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies against three variants (ancestral strain, Delta, Omicron). Seroprevalence remained stable from March 2022 (97.6%, n = 1894) to June/July 2022 (98.4%, n = 2553). In June/July, the percentage of individuals with neutralizing capacity against ancestral strain was 94.2%, against Delta 90.8% and against Omicron 84.9%, and 50.6% developed hybrid immunity. Individuals with hybrid immunity had highest median levels of anti-spike IgG antibodies titres [4518 World Health Organization units per millilitre (WHO U/mL)] compared with those with only vaccine- (4304 WHO U/mL) or infection- (269 WHO U/mL) induced immunity, and highest neutralization capacity against ancestral strain (hybrid: 99.8%, vaccinated: 98%, infected: 47.5%), Delta (hybrid: 99%, vaccinated: 92.2%, infected: 38.7%) and Omicron (hybrid: 96.4%, vaccinated: 79.5%, infected: 47.5%). This first study on functional and hybrid immunity in the Swiss general population after Omicron waves showed that SARS-CoV-2 has become endemic. The high levels of antibodies and neutralization support the emerging recommendations of some countries where booster vaccinations are still strongly recommended for vulnerable persons but less so for the general population.