Background: The strains of COVID-19 are constantly mutating, and the effectiveness of Chinese inactivated vaccines against the COVID-19 Delta variant has not been described clearly. Methods: The clinical data of patients with the COVID-19 Delta variant in the 2021 Nanjing outbreak were retrospectively reviewed. Results: There were 212 patients with the COVID-19 Delta variant (unvaccinated, n = 56, 26.42%; vaccinated, n = 156, 73.58%) included in our cohort study. The median age was 45.5 (38, 53) years old. Eighty-seven subjects (41.04%) were airport staff, and 94 patients (44.34%) in 32 families were infected. There were 53 (25.00%) and 103 (48.58%) cases with one-dose and two-dose vaccination, respectively, and 55 (25.94%), 147 (69.34%) and 10 (4.72%) had mild, moderate and severe symptoms, respectively. The duration of viral shedding, or viral shedding time (VST), was significantly longer in unvaccinated individuals compared to vaccinated individuals (p = 0.0008). Moreover, the duration was significantly longer in patients who received one vaccine dose than those who received two doses (p < 0.0001). The mild patients had significantly shorter VSTs than the moderate subjects (p < 0.0001). Disease severity and vaccination dose were independent predictors for VST by Cox regression models. Conclusions: These results suggest that two-dose vaccination could reduce VST in patients with the COVID-19 Delta variant. Chinese inactivated vaccines may decrease the disease severity of cases with the COVID-19 Delta variant.
Depression is a heterogeneous disease, with individual symptoms uniquely associated with negative cognitive processing bias and self-control. However, studies on the relationships among them from a fine-grained level are lacking. The present study employed network analysis to explore the specific connections among the three constructs based on the dual-process model. Recruiting 1168 Chinese university students, the study estimated a regularized partial correlation network. Depression, negative cognitive processing bias, and self-control were assessed with the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Negative Cognitive Processing Bias Questionnaire (NCPBQ), and the Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS), respectively. Depression nodes fatigue, sad mood, and guilt were the most central symptoms. Negative memory bias, negative attention bias, and guilt were the bridge nodes. Network revealed distinct relations between different negative cognitive processing bias dimensions and depression symptoms, self-control and depression symptoms, and direct antagonistic effects between negative cognitive processing bias and self-control. The current study showed specific pathways between the three communities, and highlighted the role of dual-process model variables in depression development. Focusing on the identified critical depression nodes and related pathways could be effective for depression prevention and intervention.
This research explores the optimization of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) strategies for offshore wind farms using a sophisticated O&M simulator built on the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. By integrating real-world constraints such as vessel availability and weather conditions, the study assesses O&M logistics’ impacts on wind farm availability, energy production, and overall costs across different scenarios in the Celtic Sea. Through comparative analysis of eight case studies involving various combinations of Crew Transfer Vessels (CTV) and Service Operation Vessels (SOV), the research highlights the critical role of strategic vessel deployment and the potential of permanent SOV stationing to enhance operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and lower O&M costs. In this study, the permanent SOV can increase up to 20% availability of the whole wind farm. The findings underscore the importance of adaptive O&M planning in improving the sustainability and financial viability of offshore wind energy projects.
Examining the distribution patterns of sympatric large carnivores provides critical insights into the roles of prey availability and human disturbances in shaping the landscape use of these key predators. The Thung Yai Naresuan (East) Wildlife sanctuary (TYNE) in western Thailand has been presumed to be a natural stronghold for tigers (Panthera tigris), leopards (Panthera pardus), and large ungulates, but little was known about their habitat relationships there. During April 2010–February 2012, camera trap surveys (n = 106 camera trap locations; n = 1817 trap nights) and sign surveys (n = 493 km of transects) were designed to systematically cover overlapping areas of 925 km2 and 1421 km2, respectively, to characterize and evaluate tiger and leopard distribution in TYNE. Occupancy modeling was used to estimate the potential environmental and anthropogenic factors that best explained habitats used by these large carnivores. The predictive model of tiger and leopard occupancy from surveys at the same sampling scale revealed similar relationships between limiting factors and space use. Camera surveys show that tigers are more likely than leopards to inhabit areas where gaur (Bos gaurus) and sambar (Cervus unicolor) are frequently found.. Sign surveys from across TYNE also indicated tiger distribution was characterized by the presence of large ungulates, as well by areas with high ranger patrol effort; leopard distribution was characterized by a higher occurrence of smaller barking deer (Muntiacus vaginalis) and wild boar (Sus scrofa), and by areas with low human disturbance. Our findings suggest that tigers and leopards have specific habitat preferences within the TYNE, with tigers showing a preference for areas with larger ungulates. In contrast, leopards are more likely to be found in areas with smaller prey. Human settlement areas and disturbance activities were identified as key factors influencing the distribution of both species, limiting their range to the central to the eastern part of the sanctuary.
The origin of exceptionally rich fish communities harboured within the freshwater systems of southern Europe is usually explained by allopatric speciation due to a long isolation of water basins. On the other hand, hybridization events have been recorded in several fish species, but they role in the speciation of freshwater fishes in the Southern Europe has not received significant attention. Contrary to most species within the Leuciscidae family, the genus Delminichthys inhabits a geographically restricted area (middle and southern Dinarides) and consists of only four endemic species. This study analysed the population genetic structure and demographic history of each Delminichthys species as a contribution to the understanding of the evolutionary peculiarities in Dinaric water systems. The obtained results revealed pronounced mito-nuclear and nuclear-nuclear discordance, likely the result of incomplete lineage sorting, as well as nuclear introgression observed in the Ombla River population in southernmost Croatia. In addition to allopatric speciation, ancient hybridization might have played an important role in the evolutionary history of this genus. The origin of the genus Delminichthys can be dated back to the Oligocene/Miocene boundary, to a period of significant tectonic activity in the Mediterranean region, and its ancestor likely inhabited the region of the central Dinarides. Intrageneric divergences occurred in the lower Miocene and Pliocene. Similarly, as previously proposed for Delminichthys adspersus, traces of underground migrations were found among Delminichthys ghetaldii populations, implying adaptations to underground life to be characteristic for the genus. All Delminichthys species express high levels of genetic diversity, likely as a consequence of their old origin. Size of D. adspersus is currently decreasing, while the remaining three species appear stable.
Offshore wind turbines (OWTs) in cold climate regions have become increasingly significant due to the abundant wind resources with the development of renewable energy. These areas offer considerable potential for the development of OWTs. Generating energy for communities in cold climate regions involves overcoming significant challenges posed by the remote and harsh environmental conditions. This review presents the state-of-the-art research regarding prediction models for ice accretion on wind turbine components. Furthermore, this review summarizes advanced mitigation solutions, such as cold-weather packages and ice protection systems, designed to address icing issues. The present study identifies critical knowledge gaps in OWT deployment in cold climate regions and proposes future research directions.
Recently, onboard sensing and support devices have been used for the well-being of humans, animals, birds, plants and, more generally, biodiversity. The performance of these tools is closely linked to their electromagnetic environment, mainly artificially created by humans. Therefore, the presence of electromagnetic radiation linked to human activities near such tools constitutes a threat. The intelligent and sustainable manufacturing of these tools, which makes it possible to face such a threat, can be achieved through their design and optimization. This commentary aims to highlight the interaction of artificial electromagnetic radiation with onboard health tools involving living tissues in urban biodiversity (One Health concept) and the intelligent and sustainable construction and protection (Responsible Attitude concept) of these tools. The manuscript presents an overview of onboard devices, possible effects of electromagnetic radiation, durable construction and shielding, and analysis of electromagnetic compatibility integrity control. The main outcome of this contribution regarding sustainably designed onboard devices is that numerical analysis tools of electromagnetic fields could efficiently verify their integrity and the behavior of their necessary smart shields. These different themes are associated with examples of literature.
The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is the primary hub for sensing and integrating respiratory information. It integrates input from the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerve. It interacts with other brainstem nuclei, such as the nucleus ambiguus (NA) and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV), to transmit information and initiate a neuroreflex response to respiratory stimuli. In a recent issue of the journal Nature, Su et al. demonstrated that Dbh+ neurons in the NTS can receive signals from vagal Trpv1+ sensory neurons that sense allergen−induced IL−4 production in mast cells and pass the signal to Chat+ neurons in the NA by releasing norepinephrine. Subsequently, NA Chat+ neurons drive allergen−induced airway hyperresponsiveness by projecting onto cholinergic pulmonary ganglia in the lungs. This study not only provides new insights into the regulation of allergen−induced airway hyperresponsiveness by lung−vagus–brainstem interoceptive circuit but also provides us with new strategies to combat asthma.