1
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Sultan Z, Li J, Pantelic J, Schiavon S. Particle characterization in commercial buildings: A cross-sectional study in 40 offices in Singapore. Sci Total Environ 2024; 927:172126. [PMID: 38569949 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
There is a knowledge gap in understanding how existing office buildings are protecting occupants from exposure to particles from both indoor and outdoor sources. We report a cross-sectional study involving weekly measurements of size-resolved indoor and outdoor particle concentrations in forty commercial building offices in Singapore. The outdoor and indoor particles size distributions were single mode with daytime peak number concentrations at 36.5 nm and 48.7 nm. Outdoor concentrations were significantly greater than indoors for all particle diameters. Indoor particle concentrations were generally low due to: 1) relatively high indoor particle removal (IPR) rates; 2) low indoor source strengths; and 3) low indoor particle of outdoor proportion (IPOP). We found that the ventilation system type had a substantial effect on indoor particle levels, IPR and IPOP. Through linear mixed model analyses, we identified dependencies of IPR rates with the use of MERV13 filters in supply air and filter maintenance frequency, IPOP with the use of MERV13 filters in the fresh air and supply air ducts and low particle source strength with regular daily cleaning presumably due to dust reservoir removal. Lastly, the contribution of outdoor sources was mainly seen for ultrafine and fine particles but less pronounced for coarse particles. This study provided detailed understanding of particle exposure in building offices and their influencing factors, facilitating future research on health impact of particle exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuraimi Sultan
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS) Limited, Singapore.
| | - Jiayu Li
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS) Limited, Singapore; University of California Berkeley, Center for the Built Environment, USA
| | - Jovan Pantelic
- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; Well Living Lab, USA
| | - Stefano Schiavon
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS) Limited, Singapore; University of California Berkeley, Center for the Built Environment, USA
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2
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Archer H, McCoy SI, Sears D, Kwan A, Kuersten M, Lewnard JA, Bertozzi SM. Indirect vaccine effectiveness in an outbreak of Alpha B.1.1.7 variant in a California state Prison, May 2021. Vaccine 2024; 42:3057-3065. [PMID: 38584059 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.03.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Incarcerated populations experienced high rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and death during early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. To evaluate vaccine effectiveness in the carceral context, we investigated the first outbreak of COVID-19 in a California state prison following widespread rollout of vaccines to residents in early 2021. We identified a cohort of 733 state prison residents presumed to be exposed between May 14 and June 22, 2021. 46.9 % (n = 344) were vaccinated, primarily with two doses of mRNA-1273 (n = 332, 93.6 %). In total, 92 PCR-positive cases were identified, of which 14 (14.5 %) occurred among mRNA-1273 vaccinated residents. No cases required hospitalization. All nine isolates collected belonged to the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to estimate vaccine effectiveness for at least one dose of any vaccine at the start of the outbreak. Vaccine effectiveness was 86 % (95 % CI: 75 %-97 %) against PCR-confirmed infection, with similar results for symptomatic infection. Higher rates of building-level vaccine uptake were associated with a lower overall rate of PCR-confirmed infection and symptomatic infection among unvaccinated residents. Among unvaccinated residents who lived in shared cells at the time of presumed exposure, exposure to a vaccinated cellmate was associated with a 38% (95% CI: 0.37, 1.04) lower hazard rate of PCR-confirmed infection over the study period. In this outbreak involving the Alpha SARS-CoV-2 variant, vaccination conferred direct and possibly indirect protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptomatic COVID-19. Our results support the importance of vaccine uptake in mitigating outbreaks and severe disease in the prison setting and the consideration of community vaccination levels in policy and infection response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Archer
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley.
| | - Sandra I McCoy
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
| | - David Sears
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Ada Kwan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
| | | | - Joe A Lewnard
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Stefano M Bertozzi
- Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley; School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca.
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3
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Bowdle A, Brosseau LM, Tellier R, MacIntyre CR, Edwards M, Jelacic S. Reducing airborne transmissible diseases in perioperative environments. Br J Anaesth 2024:S0007-0912(24)00181-8. [PMID: 38677948 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed our understanding of aerosol transmissible disease and the measures required to minimise transmission. Anaesthesia providers are often in close proximity to patients and other hospital staff for prolonged periods while working in operating and procedure rooms. Although enhanced ventilation provides some protection from aerosol transmissible disease in these work areas, close proximity and long duration of exposure have the opposite effect. Surgical masks provide only minimal additional protection. Surgical patients are also at risk from viral and bacterial aerosols. Despite having recently experienced the most significant pandemic in 100 yr, we continue to lack adequate understanding of the true risks encountered from aerosol transmissible diseases in the operating room, and the best course of action to protect patients and healthcare workers from them in the future. Nevertheless, hospitals can take specific actions now by providing respirators for routine use, encouraging staff to utilise respirators routinely, establishing triggers for situations that require respirator use, educating staff concerning the prevention of aerosol transmissible diseases, and providing portable air purifiers for perioperative spaces with low levels of ventilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Bowdle
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Lisa M Brosseau
- Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Raymond Tellier
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - C Raina MacIntyre
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mark Edwards
- Department of Cardiothoracic and ORL Anaesthesia, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Srdjan Jelacic
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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4
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Haddrell A, Oswin H, Otero-Fernandez M, Robinson JF, Cogan T, Alexander R, Mann JFS, Hill D, Finn A, Davidson AD, Reid JP. Ambient carbon dioxide concentration correlates with SARS-CoV-2 aerostability and infection risk. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3487. [PMID: 38664424 PMCID: PMC11045827 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47777-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
An improved understanding of the underlying physicochemical properties of respiratory aerosol that influence viral infectivity may open new avenues to mitigate the transmission of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. Previous studies have shown that an increase in the pH of respiratory aerosols following generation due to changes in the gas-particle partitioning of pH buffering bicarbonate ions and carbon dioxide is a significant factor in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. We show here that a significant increase in SARS-CoV-2 aerostability results from a moderate increase in the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (e.g. 800 ppm), an effect that is more marked than that observed for changes in relative humidity. We model the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission on the ambient concentration of CO2, concluding that even this moderate increase in CO2 concentration results in a significant increase in overall risk. These observations confirm the critical importance of ventilation and maintaining low CO2 concentrations in indoor environments for mitigating disease transmission. Moreover, the correlation of increased CO2 concentration with viral aerostability need to be better understood when considering the consequences of increases in ambient CO2 levels in our atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen Haddrell
- School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Henry Oswin
- School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Joshua F Robinson
- Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tristan Cogan
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, UK
| | - Robert Alexander
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jamie F S Mann
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, UK
| | - Darryl Hill
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Adam Finn
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Andrew D Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Jonathan P Reid
- School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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5
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Li J, Chu LT, Hartanto H, Guo G, Liu L, Wu J, Wu M, Cui C, Wang G, Liu W, Kwong HK, Wu S, Chen TH. Microfluidic particle counter visualizing mucosal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract for rapid evaluation of immune protection. Lab Chip 2024. [PMID: 38660972 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00118d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Mucosal antibodies in the upper respiratory tract are the earliest and most critical responders to prevent respiratory infections, providing an indication for the rapid evaluation of immune protection. Here, we report a microfluidic particle counter that directly visualizes mucosal antibody levels in nasal mucus. The mucosal anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies in nasal secretions first react with magnetic microparticles (MMPs) and polystyrene microparticles (PMPs) that are surface-modified to form a "MMPs-anti-spike RBD IgG-PMPs" complex when RBD is present. After magnetic separation and loading into the microfluidic particle counter, the free PMPs, which are reduced with increasing anti-spike RBD IgG antibody levels, are trapped by a microfluidic particle dam and accumulate in the trapping channel. A sensitive mode [limit of detection (LOD): 14.0 ng mL-1; sample-to-answer time: 70 min] and an equipment-free rapid mode (LOD: 37.4 ng mL-1; sample-to-answer time: 20 min) were achieved. Eighty-seven nasal secretion (NS) samples from vaccinees were analyzed using our microfluidic particle counter, and the results closely resemble those of the gold-standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The analysis shows that higher antibody levels were found in convalescent volunteers compared to noninfected volunteers. Together, we demonstrate a rapid kit that directly indicates immune status, which can guide vaccine strategy for individuals and the government.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaheng Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Lok Ting Chu
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guang Dong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Hogi Hartanto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Guihuan Guo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Lu Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Jianpeng Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Minghui Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Chenyu Cui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
- Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Gaobo Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Wengang Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Hoi Kwan Kwong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Siying Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Ting-Hsuan Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
- Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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6
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Myung H, Joung YS. Contribution of Particulates to Airborne Disease Transmission and Severity: A Review. Environ Sci Technol 2024; 58:6846-6867. [PMID: 38568611 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/24/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has catalyzed great interest in the spread of airborne pathogens. Airborne infectious diseases are classified into viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Environmental factors can elevate their transmission and lethality. Air pollution has been reported as the leading environmental cause of disease and premature death worldwide. Notably, ambient particulates of various components and sizes are harmful pollutants. There are two prominent health effects of particles in the atmosphere: (1) particulate matter (PM) penetrates the respiratory tract and adversely affects health, such as heart and respiratory diseases; and (2) bioaerosols of particles act as a medium for the spread of pathogens in the air. Particulates contribute to the occurrence of infectious diseases by increasing vulnerability to infection through inhalation and spreading disease through interactions with airborne pathogens. Here, we focus on the synergistic effects of airborne particulates on infectious disease. We outline the concepts and characteristics of bioaerosols, from their generation to transformation and circulation on Earth. Considering that microorganisms coexist with other particulates as bioaerosols, we investigate studies examining respiratory infections associated with airborne PM. Furthermore, we discuss four factors (meteorological, biological, physical, and chemical) that may impact the influence of PM on the survival of contagious pathogens in the atmosphere. Our review highlights the significant role of particulates in supporting the transmission of infectious aerosols and emphasizes the need for further research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunji Myung
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Sookmyung Women's University, 100, Cheongpa-ro 47-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Soo Joung
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Sookmyung Women's University, 100, Cheongpa-ro 47-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
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7
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Gibbons AM, Ohno PE. Relative Humidity-Dependent Phase Transitions in Submicron Respiratory Aerosols. J Phys Chem A 2024; 128:3015-3023. [PMID: 38593044 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.4c00691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Respiratory viruses, such as influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, represent a substantial public health burden and are largely transmitted through respiratory droplets and aerosols. Environmental factors such as relative humidity (RH) and temperature impact virus transmission rates, and a precise mechanistic understanding of the connection between these environmental factors and virus transmission would improve efforts to mitigate respiratory disease transmission. Previous studies on supermicrometer particles observed RH-dependent phase transitions and linked particle phase state to virus viability. Phase transitions in atmospheric aerosols are dependent on size in the submicrometer range, and actual respiratory particles are expelled over a large size range, including submicrometer aerosols that can transmit diseases over long distances. Here, we directly investigated the phase transitions of submicrometer model respiratory aerosols. A probe molecule, Nile red, was added to particle systems including multiple mucin/salt mixtures, a growth medium, and simulated lung fluid. For each system, the polarity-dependent fluorescence emission was measured following RH conditioning. Notably, the fluorescence measurements of mucin/NaCl and Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium particles indicated that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) also occurs in submicron particles, suggesting that LLPS can also impact the viability of viruses in submicron particles and thus affect aerosol virus transmission. Furthermore, the utility of fluorescence-based measurements to study submicrometer respiratory particle physicochemical properties in situ is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel M Gibbons
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Paul E Ohno
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
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8
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Vaiss DP, Rodrigues JL, Yurgel VC, do Carmo Guedes F, da Matta LLM, Barros PAB, Vaz GR, Dos Santos RN, Matte BF, Kupski L, Garda-Buffon J, Bidone J, Muccillo-Baisch AL, Sonvico F, Dora CL. Curcumin and quercetin co-encapsulated in nanoemulsions for nasal administration: A promising therapeutic and prophylactic treatment for viral respiratory infections. Eur J Pharm Sci 2024; 197:106766. [PMID: 38615970 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
One of the most frequent causes of respiratory infections are viruses. Viruses reaching the airways can be absorbed by the human body through the respiratory mucosa and mainly infect lung cells. Several viral infections are not yet curable, such as coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Furthermore, the side effect of synthetic antiviral drugs and reduced efficacy against resistant variants have reinforced the search for alternative and effective treatment options, such as plant-derived antiviral molecules. Curcumin (CUR) and quercetin (QUE) are two natural compounds that have been widely studied for their health benefits, such as antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity. However, poor oral bioavailability limits the clinical applications of these natural compounds. In this work, nanoemulsions (NE) co-encapsulating CUR and QUE designed for nasal administration were developed as promising prophylactic and therapeutic treatments for viral respiratory infections. The NEs were prepared by high-pressure homogenization combined with the phase inversion temperature technique and evaluated for their physical and chemical characteristics. In vitro assays were performed to evaluate the nanoemulsion retention into the porcine nasal mucosa. In addition, the CUR and QUE-loaded NE antiviral activity was tested against a murine β-COV, namely MHV-3. The results evidenced that CUR and QUE loaded NE had a particle size of 400 nm and retention in the porcine nasal mucosa. The antiviral activity of the NEs showed a percentage of inhibition of around 99 %, indicating that the developed NEs has interesting properties as a therapeutic and prophylactic treatment against viral respiratory infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Pastorim Vaiss
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Jamile Lima Rodrigues
- Graduate Program in Food Science and Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900 Brazil, RS, Brazil
| | - Virginia Campello Yurgel
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Frank do Carmo Guedes
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
| | | | | | - Gustavo Richter Vaz
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Raíssa Nunes Dos Santos
- Virology Laboratory of the Biotechnology Startup Núcleo Vitro, Porto Alegre 91040-600, Brazil; Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Campus de Gurupi, Federal University of Tocantins, Gurupi 77402-970, Brazil
| | - Bibiana Franzen Matte
- Virology Laboratory of the Biotechnology Startup Núcleo Vitro, Porto Alegre 91040-600, Brazil
| | - Larine Kupski
- Laboratory for Mycotoxins and Food Science, School of Chemistry and Food, Federal University of Rio Grande - FURG, Italy Avenue 8 km, Campus Carreiros, 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline Garda-Buffon
- Laboratory for Mycotoxins and Food Science, School of Chemistry and Food, Federal University of Rio Grande - FURG, Italy Avenue 8 km, Campus Carreiros, 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Juliana Bidone
- Center of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Capão do Leão, 96010-610 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana Luiza Muccillo-Baisch
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Fabio Sonvico
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Cristiana Lima Dora
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil.
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9
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Charness ME, Gupta K, Linsenmeyer K, Strymish J, Madjarov R, Stack G. Evidence from whole genome sequencing of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 almost 5 hours after hospital room turnover. Am J Infect Control 2024:S0196-6553(24)00162-7. [PMID: 38583778 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Experimental evidence suggests that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains viable within aerosols with a half-life of approximately 3 hours; however, it remains unclear how long airborne SARS-CoV-2 can transmit infection. Whole genome sequencing during an outbreak suggested in-room transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to two patients admitted nearly 2 and 5 hours, respectively, after discharge of an asymptomatic infected patient. These findings suggest that airborne SARS-CoV-2 may transmit infection for over 4 hours, even in a hospital setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Charness
- VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
| | - Kalpana Gupta
- VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA; Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Katherine Linsenmeyer
- VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA; Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Judith Strymish
- VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Gary Stack
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
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10
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Tian Y, Dong L. On-The-Spot Sampling and Detection of Viral Particles on Solid Surfaces Using a Sponge Virus Sensor Incorporated with Finger-Press Fluid Release. ACS Sens 2024. [PMID: 38564767 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c02766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
This paper presents a sponge-based electrochemical sensor for rapid, on-site collection and analysis of infectious viruses on solid surfaces. The device utilizes a conducting porous sponge modified with graphene, graphene oxide, and specific antibodies. The sponge serves as a hydrophilic porous electrode capable of liquid collection and electrochemical measurements. The device operation involves spraying an aqueous solution on a target surface, swiping the misted surface using the sponge, discharging an electrolyte solution with a simple finger press, and performing in situ incubation and electrochemical measurements. By leveraging the water-absorbing ability of the biofunctionalized conducting sponge, the sensor can effectively collect and quantify virus particles from the surface. The portability of the device is enhanced by introducing a push-release feature that dispenses the liquid electrolyte from a miniature reservoir onto the sensor surface. This reservoir has sharp edges to rupture a liquid sealing film with a finger press. The ability of the device to sample and quantify viral particles is demonstrated by using influenza A virus as the model. The sensor provided a calculated limit of detection of 0.4 TCID50/mL for H1N1 virus, along with a practical concentration range from 1-106 TCID50/mL. Additionally, it achieves a 15% collection efficiency from single-run swiping on a tabletop surface. This versatile device allows for convenient on-site virus detection within minutes, eliminating the need for sample pretreatment and simplifying the entire sample collecting and measuring process. This device presents significant potential for rapid virus detection on solid surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Tian
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Liang Dong
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Microelectronics Research Center, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
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11
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Banholzer N, Jent P, Bittel P, Zürcher K, Furrer L, Bertschinger S, Weingartner E, Ramette A, Egger M, Hascher T, Fenner L. Air Cleaners and Respiratory Infections in Schools: A Modeling Study Based on Epidemiologic, Environmental, and Molecular Data. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae169. [PMID: 38665173 PMCID: PMC11045022 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Using a multiple-measurement approach, we examined the real-world effectiveness of portable HEPA air filtration devices (air cleaners) in a school setting. Methods We collected data over 7 weeks during winter 2022/2023 in 2 Swiss secondary school classes: environmental (CO2, particle concentrations), epidemiologic (absences related to respiratory infections), audio (coughing), and molecular (bioaerosol and saliva samples). Using a crossover design, we compared particle concentrations, coughing, and risk of infection with and without air cleaners. Results All 38 students participated (age, 13-15 years). With air cleaners, mean particle concentration decreased by 77% (95% credible interval, 63%-86%). There were no differences in CO2 levels. Absences related to respiratory infections were 22 without air cleaners vs 13 with them. Bayesian modeling suggested a reduced risk of infection, with a posterior probability of 91% and a relative risk of 0.73 (95% credible interval, 0.44-1.18). Coughing also tended to be less frequent (posterior probability, 93%), indicating that fewer symptomatic students were in class. Molecular analysis detected mainly non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses in saliva (50/448 positive) but not in bioaerosols (2/105) or on the HEPA filters of the air cleaners (4/160). The molecular detection rate in saliva was similar with and without air cleaners. Spatiotemporal analysis of positive saliva samples identified several likely transmissions. Conclusions Air cleaners improved air quality and showed potential benefits in reducing respiratory infections. Airborne detection of non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses was rare, suggesting that these viruses may be more difficult to detect in the air. Future studies should examine the importance of close contact and long-range transmission and the cost-effectiveness of using air cleaners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Banholzer
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Jent
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Bittel
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin Zürcher
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lavinia Furrer
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simon Bertschinger
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ernest Weingartner
- Institute for Sensors and Electronics, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Alban Ramette
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Egger
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tina Hascher
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Educational Science, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Fenner
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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12
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Li Y, Wei L, Lin J, Xie Z, Lu L, Pan X, Xu J, Cai R. Nonthermal plasma air disinfection for the inactivation of airborne microorganisms in an experimental chamber and indoor air. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae078. [PMID: 38520159 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Airborne transmission of diseases presents a serious threat to human health, so effective air disinfection technology to eliminate microorganisms in indoor air is very important. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a non-thermal plasma (NTP) air disinfector in both laboratory experiments and real environments. METHODS AND RESULTS An experimental chamber was artificially polluted with a bioaerosol containing bacteria or viruses. Additionally, classroom environments with and without people present were used in field tests. Airborne microbial and particle concentrations were quantified. A 3.0 log10 reduction in the initial load was achieved when a virus-containing aerosol was disinfected for 60 min and a bacteria-containing aerosol was disinfected for 90 min. In the field test, when no people were present in the room, NTP disinfection decreased the airborne microbial and particle concentrations (P < 0.05). When people were present in the room, their constant activity continuously contaminated the indoor air, but all airborne indicators decreased (P < 0.05) except for planktonic bacteria (P = 0.094). CONCLUSIONS NTP effectively inactivated microorganisms and particles in indoor air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Lanfen Wei
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Junming Lin
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Zhongyi Xie
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Longxi Lu
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Xieshang Pan
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Ji Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Ran Cai
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
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13
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Kern J, Wiesmüller GA, Kossow A, Hurraß J. [Test Concept of the City of Cologne for Critical Infrastructure (KRITIS) during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic]. Gesundheitswesen 2024; 86:304-310. [PMID: 38065549 PMCID: PMC11003250 DOI: 10.1055/a-2189-2449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Health Department of the City of Cologne established preferential testing for critical infrastructure (KRITIS) personnel. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze this concept. METHODS Test results as well as demographic and job-related data from March to April 2020 were collected and descriptively analyzed using a specially developed software. KRITIS personnel who tested positive were systematically interviewed over the phone. RESULTS 1521 individuals were tested, of whom 896 (59%) were from the healthcare sector, particularly from the nursing professions (35%). Testing and consultation services were also utilized by employees of non-profit organizations (8%), administration (7%), fire department (11%), and police (4%). KRITIS personnel who tested positive suspected increased risk from contacts at the workplace (58%), mostly without adequate protection (85%). Of those surveyed, 83% rated the KRITIS concept as 'good' or 'very good'. Processes at the testing center were rated as 'good' or 'very good' by 89%, while 47% rated phone support as 'good' or 'very good', and 30% as 'sufficient' or poor. Free comments showed that frequent phone contact from the Public Health Department was perceived as positive and even more often as negative interindividually. Communication and advice were positively highlighted, while lack of competence and coordination were criticized. The respondents criticized the comparatively lower provision of testing services for family members, for example, due to limited resources. CONCLUSION With the KRITIS concept, the Public Health Department of Cologne developed and implemented an offer for system-relevant professional groups that was intensively used and mostly assessed as positive. This concept can be used as a blueprint for other pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Kern
- Institut für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin, Uniklinik
RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Gerhard A. Wiesmüller
- Institut für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin, Uniklinik
RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Labor Dr. Wisplinghoff, Köln, Germany
- Zentrum für Hygiene, Umwelt und Mykologie Köln (ZfMK),
Köln, Germany
| | - Annelene Kossow
- Institut für Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum
Münster, Germany
- Abteilung für Infektions- und Umwelthygiene, Gesundheitsamt der
Stadt Köln, Köln, Germany
| | - Julia Hurraß
- Abteilung für Infektions- und Umwelthygiene, Gesundheitsamt der
Stadt Köln, Köln, Germany
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14
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Li H, Khoa ND, Kuga K, Ito K. In silico identification of viral loads in cough-generated droplets - Seamless integrated analysis of CFPD-HCD-EWF. Comput Methods Programs Biomed 2024; 246:108073. [PMID: 38341896 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2024.108073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Respiratory diseases caused by respiratory viruses have significantly threatened public health worldwide. This study presents a comprehensive approach to predict viral dynamics and the generation of stripped droplets within the mucus layer of the respiratory tract during coughing using a larynx-trachea-bifurcation (LTB) model. METHODS This study integrates computational fluid-particle dynamics (CFPD), host-cell dynamics (HCD), and the Eulerian wall film (EWF) model to propose a potential means for seamless integrated analysis. The verified CFPD-HCD coupling model based on a 3D-shell model was used to characterize the severe acute respiratory syndrome, coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) dynamics in the LTB mucus layer, whereas the EWF model was employed to account for the interfacial fluid to explore the generation mechanism and trace the origin site of droplets exhaled during a coughing event of an infected host. RESULTS The results obtained using CFPD delineated the preferential deposition sites for droplets in the laryngeal and tracheal regions. Thus, the analysis of the HCD model showed that the viral load increased rapidly in the laryngeal region during the peak of infection, whereas there was a growth delay in the tracheal region (up to day 8 after infection). After two weeks of infection, the high viral load gradually migrated towards the glottic region. Interestingly, the EWF model demonstrated a high concentration of exhaled droplets originating from the larynx. The coupling technique indicated a concurrent high viral load in the mucus layer and site of origin of the exhaled droplets. CONCLUSIONS This interdisciplinary research underscores the seamless analysis from initial exposure to virus-laden droplets, the dynamics of viral infection in the LTB mucus layer, and the re-emission from the coughing activities of an infected host. Our efforts aimed to address the complex challenges at the intersection of viral dynamics and respiratory health, which can contribute to a more detailed understanding and targeted prevention of respiratory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyu Li
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan
| | - Nguyen Dang Khoa
- Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan.
| | - Kazuki Kuga
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Ito
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan
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Brogna C, Bisaccia DR, Costanzo V, Lettieri G, Montano L, Viduto V, Fabrowski M, Cristoni S, Prisco M, Piscopo M. Who Is the Intermediate Host of RNA Viruses? A Study Focusing on SARS-CoV-2 and Poliovirus. Microorganisms 2024; 12:643. [PMID: 38674588 PMCID: PMC11051822 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a surge in research on microbiology and virology, shedding light on overlooked aspects such as the infection of bacteria by RNA virions in the animal microbiome. Studies reveal a decrease in beneficial gut bacteria during COVID-19, indicating a significant interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the human microbiome. However, determining the origins of the virus remains complex, with observed phenomena such as species jumps adding layers to the narrative. Prokaryotic cells play a crucial role in the disease's pathogenesis and transmission. Analyzing previous studies highlights intricate interactions from clinical manifestations to the use of the nitrogen isotope test. Drawing parallels with the history of the Poliovirus underscores the need to prioritize investigations into prokaryotic cells hosting RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Brogna
- Department of Research, Craniomed Group Facility Srl., 20091 Bresso, Italy;
| | | | - Vincenzo Costanzo
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Gennaro Lettieri
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (G.L.); (M.P.)
| | - Luigi Montano
- Andrology Unit and Service of LifeStyle Medicine in Uro-Andrology, Local Health Authority (ASL), 84124 Salerno, Italy;
| | - Valentina Viduto
- Long COVID-19 Foundation, Brookfield Court, Leeds LS25 1NB, UK; (V.V.)
| | - Mark Fabrowski
- Long COVID-19 Foundation, Brookfield Court, Leeds LS25 1NB, UK; (V.V.)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex, Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK
- British Polio Fellowship, Watford WD25 8HR, UK
| | | | - Marina Prisco
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (G.L.); (M.P.)
| | - Marina Piscopo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (G.L.); (M.P.)
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Chen N, He W, Chen X, Li Y, Cheng X, Liu L, Qian H, Qiao F, Cheng F, Deng Y, Wu W, Feng B, Wang Y. Distribution and characteristics of bacteria on the hand during oropharyngeal swab collection: Which handwashing points are affected? J Clin Nurs 2024. [PMID: 38519848 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.17134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
AIMS To identify the contaminated areas of the hand collection and analyse the distribution characteristics of bacteria in the hand after swab collection. DESIGN This study used a cross-sectional design. METHODS A cross-sectional study sampling 50 pairs of hands (sampling hand and auxiliary hand) of healthcare workers was performed. Ten samples were collected from each participant. The optimal hand hygiene rates and bacterial colony counts of the whole hand and different hand sections without hand hygiene were identified as the primary outcomes. RESULTS The optimal hand hygiene rates of the sampling hand and auxiliary hand were 88.8% (222/250) and 91.6% (229/250), respectively. The lowest optimal hand hygiene rates for the sampling hand and the auxiliary hand were both on the dorsal side of the finger and the dorsum of the hand (86.0%, 86.0% vs. 90.0%, 86.0%); the optimal hand hygiene rates for both sites of the sampling hand were 86.0% (43/50), and the optimal hand hygiene rates for the auxiliary hand were 90.0% (45/50) and 86.0% (43/50). The bacteria colony counts did not differ between the sampling hands and auxiliary hand. CONCLUSIONS The dorsal side of the finger and dorsum of the hand were the most likely to be contaminated during oropharyngeal swab collection. Therefore, it is essential to pay extra attention to hand hygiene care of these two sites during the collection process to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. REPORTING METHOD The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines were adopted in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuo Chen
- School of Public Health and Management, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control Management, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenbin He
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Chen
- Department of Nursing, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control Management, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaolin Cheng
- Department of Nursing, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China
| | - Hua Qian
- Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fu Qiao
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fan Cheng
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control Management, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Deng
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenwen Wu
- School of Public Health and Management, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Hypertension, Shiyan, China
| | - Bilong Feng
- Department of Nursing, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control Management, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China
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Mofidfar M, Mehrgardi MA, Xia Y, Zare RN. Dependence on relative humidity in the formation of reactive oxygen species in water droplets. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315940121. [PMID: 38489384 PMCID: PMC10962988 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315940121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Water microdroplets (7 to 11 µm average diameter, depending on flow rate) are sprayed in a closed chamber at ambient temperature, whose relative humidity (RH) is controlled. The resulting concentration of ROS (reactive oxygen species) formed in the microdroplets, measured by the amount of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), is determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and by spectrofluorimetric assays after the droplets are collected. The results are found to agree closely with one another. In addition, hydrated hydroxyl radical cations (•OH-H3O+) are recorded from the droplets using mass spectrometry and superoxide radical anions (•O2-) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. As the RH varies from 15 to 95%, the concentration of H2O2 shows a marked rise by a factor of about 3.5 in going from 15 to 50%, then levels off. By replacing the H2O of the sprayed water with deuterium oxide (D2O) but keeping the gas surrounding droplets with H2O, mass spectrometric analysis of the hydrated hydroxyl radical cations demonstrates that the water in the air plays a dominant role in producing H2O2 and other ROS, which accounts for the variation with RH. As RH increases, the droplet evaporation rate decreases. These two facts help us understand why viruses in droplets both survive better at low RH values, as found in indoor air in the wintertime, and are disinfected more effectively at higher RH values, as found in indoor air in the summertime, thus explaining the recognized seasonality of airborne viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masoud A. Mehrgardi
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Chemistry, University of Isfahan, Isfahan81743, Iran
| | - Yu Xia
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Richard N. Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
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18
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Edwards AJ, King MF, Noakes CJ, Peckham D, López-García M. The Wells-Riley model revisited: Randomness, heterogeneity, and transient behaviours. Risk Anal 2024. [PMID: 38501447 DOI: 10.1111/risa.14295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The Wells-Riley model has been widely used to estimate airborne infection risk, typically from a deterministic point of view (i.e., focusing on the average number of infections) or in terms of a per capita probability of infection. Some of its main limitations relate to considering well-mixed air, steady-state concentration of pathogen in the air, a particular amount of time for the indoor interaction, and that all individuals are homogeneous and behave equally. Here, we revisit the Wells-Riley model, providing a mathematical formalism for its stochastic version, where the number of infected individuals follows a Binomial distribution. Then, we extend the Wells-Riley methodology to consider transient behaviours, randomness, and population heterogeneity. In particular, we provide analytical solutions for the number of infections and the per capita probability of infection when: (i) susceptible individuals remain in the room after the infector leaves, (ii) the duration of the indoor interaction is random/unknown, and (iii) infectors have heterogeneous quanta production rates (or the quanta production rate of the infector is random/unknown). We illustrate the applicability of our new formulations through two case studies: infection risk due to an infectious healthcare worker (HCW) visiting a patient, and exposure during lunch for uncertain meal times in different dining settings. Our results highlight that infection risk to a susceptible who remains in the space after the infector leaves can be nonnegligible, and highlight the importance of incorporating uncertainty in the duration of the indoor interaction and the infectivity of the infector when estimating risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Edwards
- EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Fluid Dynamics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | | | - Daniel Peckham
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
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19
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Zhang T, Yan L, Wei M, Su R, Qi J, Sun S, Song Y, Li X, Zhang D. Bioaerosols in the coastal region of Qingdao: Community diversity, impact factors and synergistic effect. Sci Total Environ 2024; 916:170246. [PMID: 38246385 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Atmospheric bioaerosols are influenced by multiple factors, including physical, chemical, and biotic interactions, and pose a significant threat to the public health and the environment. The nonnegligible truth however is that the primary driver of the changes in bioaerosol community diversity remains unknown. In this study, putative biological association (PBA) was obtained by constructing an ecological network. The relationship between meteorological conditions, atmospheric pollutants, water-soluble inorganic ions, PBA and bioaerosol community diversity was analyzed using random forest regression (RFR)-An ensemble learning algorithm based on a decision tree that performs regression tasks by constructing multiple decision trees and integrating the predicted results, and the contribution of different rich species to PBA was predicted. The species richness, evenness and diversity varied significantly in different seasons, with the highest in summer, followed by autumn and spring, and was lowest in winter. The RFR suggested that the explanation rate of alpha diversity increased significantly from 73.74 % to 85.21 % after accounting for the response of the PBA to diversity. The PBA, temperature, air pollution, and marine source air masses were the most crucial factors driving community diversity. PBA, particularly putative positive association (PPA), had the highest significance in diversity. We found that under changing external conditions, abundant taxa tend to cooperate to resist external pressure, thereby promoting PPA. In contrast, rare taxa were more responsive to the putative negative association because of their sensitivity to environmental changes. The results of this research provided scientific advance in the understanding of the dynamic and temporal changes in bioaerosols, as well as support for the prevention and control of microbial contamination of the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China
| | - Lingchong Yan
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China
| | - Mingming Wei
- Laoshan District Meteorological Bureau, Qingdao 266107, PR China
| | - Rongguo Su
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China
| | - Jianhua Qi
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China
| | - Shaohua Sun
- Laoshan District Meteorological Bureau, Qingdao 266107, PR China
| | - Yongzhong Song
- Jufeng Peak Tourist Management Service Center of Laoshan Scenic Spot, Qingdao 266100, PR China
| | - Xianguo Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China
| | - Dahai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China.
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Anupong S, Chadsuthi S, Hongsing P, Hurst C, Phattharapornjaroen P, Rad S.M. AH, Fernandez S, Huang AT, Vatanaprasan P, Saethang T, Luk-in S, Storer RJ, Ounjai P, Devanga Ragupathi NK, Kanthawee P, Ngamwongsatit N, Badavath VN, Thuptimdang W, Leelahavanichkul A, Kanjanabuch T, Miyanaga K, Cui L, Nanbo A, Shibuya K, Kupwiwat R, Sano D, Furukawa T, Sei K, Higgins PG, Kicic A, Singer AC, Chatsuwan T, Trowsdale S, Abe S, Ishikawa H, Amarasiri M, Modchang C, Wannigama DL. Exploring indoor and outdoor dust as a potential tool for detection and monitoring of COVID-19 transmission. iScience 2024; 27:109043. [PMID: 38375225 PMCID: PMC10875567 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the potential of using SARS-CoV-2 viral concentrations in dust as an additional surveillance tool for early detection and monitoring of COVID-19 transmission. Dust samples were collected from 8 public locations in 16 districts of Bangkok, Thailand, from June to August 2021. SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in dust were quantified, and their correlation with community case incidence was assessed. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between viral concentrations detected in dust and the relative risk of COVID-19. The highest risk was observed with no delay (0-day lag), and this risk gradually decreased as the lag time increased. We observed an overall decline in viral concentrations in public places during lockdown, closely associated with reduced human mobility. The effective reproduction number for COVID-19 transmission remained above one throughout the study period, suggesting that transmission may persist in locations beyond public areas even after the lockdown measures were in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suparinthon Anupong
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sudarat Chadsuthi
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
| | - Parichart Hongsing
- Mae Fah Luang University Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand
- School of Integrative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
| | - Cameron Hurst
- Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, Charles Darwin University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Statistics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen
- Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ali Hosseini Rad S.M.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago 9010, New Zealand
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Stefan Fernandez
- Department of Virology, U.S. Army Medical Directorate, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Angkana T. Huang
- Department of Virology, U.S. Army Medical Directorate, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Thammakorn Saethang
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sirirat Luk-in
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Robin James Storer
- Office of Research Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Puey Ounjai
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Naveen Kumar Devanga Ragupathi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Biofilms and Antimicrobial Resistance Consortium of ODA Receiving Countries, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Division of Microbial Interactions, Department of Research and Development, Bioberrys Healthcare and Research Centre, Vellore 632009, India
| | - Phitsanuruk Kanthawee
- Public Health Major, School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
| | - Natharin Ngamwongsatit
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Vishnu Nayak Badavath
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Hyderabad 509301, India
| | - Wanwara Thuptimdang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Asada Leelahavanichkul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Translational Research in Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit (TRIRU), Department of Microbiology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Talerngsak Kanjanabuch
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Kidney Metabolic Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Dialysis Policy and Practice Program (DiP3), School of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Peritoneal Dialysis Excellence Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kazuhiko Miyanaga
- Division of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Longzhu Cui
- Division of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Asuka Nanbo
- The National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kenji Shibuya
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rosalyn Kupwiwat
- Department of Dermatology. Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital. Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Frontier Sciences for Advanced Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Takashi Furukawa
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Minato City, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Kazunari Sei
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Minato City, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Paul G. Higgins
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anthony Kicic
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands WA 6009, Australia
- Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands WA 6009, Australia
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley WA 6102, Australia
| | | | - Tanittha Chatsuwan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sam Trowsdale
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Shuichi Abe
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Ishikawa
- Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Kamiyanagi, Yamagata 990-2212, Japan
| | - Mohan Amarasiri
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Minato City, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Charin Modchang
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre of Excellence in Mathematics, MHESI, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Thailand Center of Excellence in Physics, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, 328 Si Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Dhammika Leshan Wannigama
- Biofilms and Antimicrobial Resistance Consortium of ODA Receiving Countries, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
- Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Kamiyanagi, Yamagata 990-2212, Japan
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Pathogen Hunter’s Research Collaborative Team, Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
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Obeidat B, Al-Zuriqat MH. Evaluating airflow dynamics in common vertical circulation spaces of a multi-floor apartment building for mitigating airborne infection risks: A CFD modeling study. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26596. [PMID: 38439893 PMCID: PMC10909661 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
As more people increasingly inhabit indoor spaces, the importance of interior environment design has grown significantly. The focus of this research is to assess the air flow and air change per hour (ACH) within common service vertical circulation spaces in apartment buildings, emphasizing the potential role of these spaces in mitigating airborne infections. The intricate relationships between the design parameters of these spaces and variables related to air circulation are examined. To achieve this goal, the investigation employed a simulation-based approach, utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to scrutinize the prevalent design of common vertical circulation spaces. The simulation outcomes unequivocally reveal that the design of these spaces has a direct impact on air circulation patterns, often influencing suboptimal conditions. Armed with these insights, this research advocates for a reevaluation of design considerations of common service vertical circulation in forthcoming housing projects. Furthermore, this research proposes innovative design solutions and strategies aimed at enhancing natural ventilation and overall air flow within common service vertical circulation spaces while evaluating their performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Obeidat
- Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Design, Jordan University of Science and Technology, 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Mai Hathal Al-Zuriqat
- Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Design, Jordan University of Science and Technology, 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
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22
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Li J, Kong Y, Guo Z, Qu L, Zhang Z, Qu Z, Wang H, Chai T, Li N. Maternal exposure to particulate matter from duck houses restricts fetal growth due to inflammatory damage and oxidative stress. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2024; 273:116114. [PMID: 38367608 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The composition of particulate matter (PM) in poultry farms differs significantly from that of atmospheric PM as there is a higher concentration of microbes on farms. To assess the health effects of PM from poultry farms on pregnant animals, we collected PM from duck houses using a particulate sampler, processed it via centrifugation and vacuum concentration, and subsequently exposed the mice to airborne PM at 0.48 mg/m3 (i.e., low concentration group) and 1.92 mg/m3 (i.e., high concentration group) on the fifth day of pregnancy. After exposure until the twentieth day of pregnancy or spontaneous delivery, mice were euthanized for sampling. The effects of PM from duck houses on the pregnancy toxicity of mice were analyzed using histopathological analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The results showed that exposure to PM had adverse effects on pregnant mice that reduced their feed intake in both groups. Microscopic lesions were observed in the lungs and placentas of pregnant mice, and the lesions worsened with increased PM concentrations, as shown by alveolar wall thickening, the infiltration of inflammatory cells in pulmonary interstitium, congestion, edema, and cellular degeneration of placenta. In pregnant mice in the high concentration group, exposure to PM significantly increased the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the lungs and placentas, caused oxidative stress, and decreased estrogen level in the blood. Exposure to PM also resulted in the reduced litter sizes of pregnant mice and shorter body and tail lengths in the fetuses delivered. Beyond that, exposure to PM significantly downregulated the levels of antioxidant factor superoxide dismutase and neurotrophic factor Ngf in the brains of fetuses. Collectively, exposure to a high concentration of PM by inhalation among pregnant mice caused significant pregnancy toxicity that led to abnormal fetal development due to inflammatory damage and oxidative stress. These findings established a foundation for future studies on the underlying mechanisms of pregnancy toxicity induced by exposure to PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province71018, China; Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China
| | - Yuxin Kong
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province71018, China; Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China
| | - Zhiyun Guo
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province71018, China; Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China
| | - Lei Qu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province71018, China; Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China
| | - Zhaopeng Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province71018, China; Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China
| | - Zhengxiu Qu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province71018, China; Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China
| | - Hairong Wang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province71018, China; Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China
| | - Tongjie Chai
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province71018, China; Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China.
| | - Ning Li
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province71018, China; Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China.
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23
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Al Zahabi K, Hassan L, Maldonado R, Boehm MW, Baier SK, Sharma V. Pinching dynamics, extensional rheology, and stringiness of saliva substitutes. Soft Matter 2024; 20:2547-2561. [PMID: 38407364 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01662e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Saliva substitutes are human-made formulations extensively used in medicine, food, and pharmaceutical research to emulate human saliva's biochemical, tribological, and rheological properties. Even though extensional flows involving saliva are commonly encountered in situations such as swallowing, coughing, sneezing, licking, drooling, gleeking, and blowing spit bubbles, rheological evaluations of saliva and its substitutes in most studies rely on measured values of shear viscosity. Natural saliva possesses stringiness or spinnbarkeit, governed by extensional rheology response, which cannot be evaluated or anticipated from the knowledge of shear rheology response. In this contribution, we comprehensively examine the rheology of twelve commercially available saliva substitutes using torsional rheometry for rate-dependent shear viscosity and dripping-onto-substrate (DoS) protocols for extensional rheology characterization. Even though most formulations are marketed as having suitable rheology, only three displayed measurable viscoelasticity and strain-hardening. Still, these too, failed to emulate the viscosity reduction with the shear rate observed for saliva or match perceived stringiness. Finally, we explore the challenges in creating saliva-like formulations for dysphagia patients and opportunities for using DoS rheometry for diagnostics and designing biomimetic fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Al Zahabi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
| | - Lena Hassan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
| | - Ramiro Maldonado
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
| | | | - Stefan K Baier
- Motif FoodWorks Inc., Boston, MA 02210, USA
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Vivek Sharma
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
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24
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Banholzer N, Bittel P, Jent P, Furrer L, Zürcher K, Egger M, Hascher T, Fenner L. Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in saliva and classroom air: a two winters tale. Clin Microbiol Infect 2024:S1198-743X(24)00114-9. [PMID: 38467247 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in saliva and bioaerosols between two winters and to model the probability of virus detection in classroom air for different viruses. METHODS We analysed saliva, air, and air cleaner filter samples from studies conducted in two Swiss secondary schools (students aged 14-17 years) over 7 weeks during the winters of 2021/22 and 2022/23. Two bioaerosol sampling devices and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters from air cleaners were used to collect airborne virus particles in four classrooms. Daily bioaerosol samples were pooled for each sampling device before PCR analysis of a panel of 19 respiratory viruses and viral subtypes. The probability of detection of airborne viruses was modelled using an adjusted Bayesian logistic regression model. RESULTS Three classes (58 students) participated in 2021/22, and two classes (38 students) in 2022/23. During winter 2021/22, SARS-CoV-2 dominated in saliva (19 of 21 positive samples) and bioaerosols (9 of 10). One year later, there were 50 positive saliva samples, mostly influenza B, rhinovirus, and adenovirus, and two positive bioaerosol samples, one rhinovirus and one adenovirus. The weekly probability of airborne detection was 34% (95% credible interval [CrI] 22-47%) for SARS-CoV-2 and 10% (95% CrI 5-16%) for other respiratory viruses. DISCUSSION There was a distinct shift in the distribution of respiratory viruses from SARS-CoV-2 during the omicron wave to other respiratory viruses one year later. SARS-CoV-2 is more likely to be detected in the air than other endemic respiratory viruses, possibly reflecting differences in viral characteristics and the composition of virus-carrying particles that facilitate airborne long-range transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Banholzer
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Bittel
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Jent
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lavinia Furrer
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin Zürcher
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Egger
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tina Hascher
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Educational Science, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Fenner
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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25
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Vicenzi EP, Whittaker S, Weaver JL, Staymates ME, Radney JG, Zangmeister CD. Microscopy of Woven and Nonwoven Face Covering Materials: Implications for Particle Filtration. Microsc Microanal 2024; 30:27-40. [PMID: 38252594 DOI: 10.1093/micmic/ozad138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
A suite of natural, synthetic, and mixed synthetic-natural woven fabrics, along with nonwoven filtration layers from a surgical mask and an N95 respirator, was examined using visible light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and micro-X-ray computed tomography (µXCT) to determine the fiber diameter distribution, fabric thickness, and the volume of solid space of the fabrics. Nonwoven materials exhibit a positively skewed distribution of fiber diameters with a mean value of ≈3 μm, whereas woven fabrics exhibit a normal distribution of diameters with mean values roughly five times larger (>15 μm). The mean thickness of the N95 filtration material is 1093 μm and is greater than that of the woven fabrics that span from 420 to 650 μm. A new procedure for measuring the thickness of flannel fabrics is proposed that accounts for raised fibers. µXCT allowed for a quantitative nondestructive approach to measure fabric porosity as well as the surface area/volume. Cotton flannel showed the largest mean isotropy of any fabric, though fiber order within the weave is poorly represented in the surface electron images. Surface fabric isotropy and surface area/volume ratios are proposed as useful microstructural quantities to consider for future particle filtration modeling efforts of woven materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward P Vicenzi
- Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution, 4210 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD 20746, USA
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Scott Whittaker
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA
| | - Jamie L Weaver
- Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution, 4210 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD 20746, USA
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Matthew E Staymates
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - James G Radney
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Christopher D Zangmeister
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
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26
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Xia Y, Rao R, Xiong M, He B, Zheng B, Jia Y, Li Y, Yang Y. CRISPR-Powered Strategies for Amplification-Free Diagnostics of Infectious Diseases. Anal Chem 2024. [PMID: 38451204 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Yupiao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ruotong Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mengqiu Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Bangshun He
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Bingxin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanwei Jia
- State-Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Ying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yunhuang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Optics Valley Laboratory, Hubei 430074, China
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Usmani M, Brumfield KD, Magers B, Zhou A, Oh C, Mao Y, Brown W, Schmidt A, Wu CY, Shisler JL, Nguyen TH, Huq A, Colwell R, Jutla A. Building Environmental and Sociological Predictive Intelligence to Understand the Seasonal Threat of SARS-CoV-2 in Human Populations. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2024; 110:518-528. [PMID: 38320317 PMCID: PMC10919182 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Current modeling practices for environmental and sociological modulated infectious diseases remain inadequate to forecast the risk of outbreak(s) in human populations, partly due to a lack of integration of disciplinary knowledge, limited availability of disease surveillance datasets, and overreliance on compartmental epidemiological modeling methods. Harvesting data knowledge from virus transmission (aerosols) and detection (wastewater) of SARS-CoV-2, a heuristic score-based environmental predictive intelligence system was developed that calculates the risk of COVID-19 in the human population. Seasonal validation of the algorithm was uniquely associated with wastewater surveillance of the virus, providing a lead time of 7-14 days before a county-level outbreak. Using county-scale disease prevalence data from the United States, the algorithm could predict COVID-19 risk with an overall accuracy ranging between 81% and 98%. Similarly, using wastewater surveillance data from Illinois and Maryland, the SARS-CoV-2 detection rate was greater than 80% for 75% of the locations during the same time the risk was predicted to be high. Results suggest the importance of a holistic approach across disciplinary boundaries that can potentially allow anticipatory decision-making policies of saving lives and maximizing the use of available capacity and resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moiz Usmani
- GeoHealth and Hydrology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Kyle D. Brumfield
- Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
- University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Bailey Magers
- GeoHealth and Hydrology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Aijia Zhou
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Chamteut Oh
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Yuqing Mao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - William Brown
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Arthur Schmidt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Chang-Yu Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Florida
| | - Joanna L. Shisler
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Thanh H. Nguyen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Anwar Huq
- Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
- University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Rita Colwell
- Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
- University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Antarpreet Jutla
- GeoHealth and Hydrology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Zhang GH, Zhu QH, Zhang L, Li L, Fu J, Wang SL, Yuan WL, He L, Tao GH. Bio-based ionic liquid filter with enhanced electrostatic attraction for outside filtration and inside collection of viral aerosols. J Hazard Mater 2024; 465:133480. [PMID: 38219589 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Hazardous biological pathogens in the air pose a significant public environmental health concern as infected individuals emit virus-laden aerosols (VLAs) during routine respiratory activities. Mask-wearing is a key preventive measure, but conventional filtration methods face challenges, particularly in high humidity conditions, where electrostatic charge decline increases the risk of infection. This study introduces a bio-based air filter comprising glycine ionic liquids (GILs) and malleable polymer composite (GILP) with high polarity and functional group density, which are wrapped around a melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin skeleton, forming a conductive, porous GIL functionized ionic network air filter (GILP@MF). When subjected to low voltage, the GILP@MF composite efficiently captures VLAs including nanoscale virus particles through the enhanced electrostatic attraction, especially in facing high humidity bioaerosols exhaled by human body. The filtration/collection efficiency and quality factor can reach 98.3% and 0.264 Pa-1 at 0.1 m s-1, respectively. This innovative filter provides effective VLA protection and offers potential for non-invasive respiratory virus sampling, advancing medical diagnosis efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Hao Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China; School of National Defence Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Qiu-Hong Zhu
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China; School of National Defence Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Lei Li
- MGI Tech. Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Jie Fu
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | | | - Wen-Li Yuan
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Ling He
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Guo-Hong Tao
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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Edwards AJ, King MF, López-García M, Peckham D, Noakes CJ. Assessing the effects of transient weather conditions on airborne transmission risk in naturally ventilated hospitals. J Hosp Infect 2024; 148:1-10. [PMID: 38447806 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2024.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many UK hospitals rely heavily on natural ventilation as their main source of airflow in patient wards. This method of ventilation can have cost and energy benefits, but it may lead to unpredictable flow patterns between indoor spaces, potentially leading to the unexpected transport of infectious material to other connecting zones. However, the effects of weather conditions on airborne transmission are often overlooked. METHODS A multi-zone CONTAM model of a naturally ventilated hospital respiratory ward, incorporating time-varying weather, was proposed. Coupling this with an airborne infection model, this study assessed the variable risk in interconnected spaces, focusing particularly on occupancy, disease and ventilation scenarios based on a UK respiratory ward. RESULTS The results suggest that natural ventilation with varying weather conditions can cause irregularities in the ventilation rates and interzonal flow rates of connected zones, leading to infrequent but high peaks in the concentration of airborne pathogens in particular rooms. This transient behaviour increases the risk of airborne infection, particularly through movement of pathogens between rooms, and highlights that large outbreaks may be more likely under certain conditions. This study demonstrated how ventilation rates achieved by natural ventilation are likely to fall below the recommended guidance, and that the implementation of supplemental mechanical ventilation can increase ventilation rates and reduce the variability in infection risks. CONCLUSION This model emphasizes the need for consideration of transient external conditions when assessing the risk of transmission of airborne infection in indoor environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Edwards
- EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Fluid Dynamics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
| | - M-F King
- School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - D Peckham
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - C J Noakes
- School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Aganovic A, Kadric E. Does the exponential Wells-Riley model provide a good fit for human coronavirus and rhinovirus? A comparison of four dose-response models based on human challenge data. Risk Anal 2024; 44:631-640. [PMID: 37317640 DOI: 10.1111/risa.14178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The risk assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic were primarily based on dose-response models derived from the pooled datasets for infection of animals susceptible to SARS-CoV. Despite similarities, differences in susceptibility between animals and humans exist for respiratory viruses. The two most commonly used dose-response models for calculating the infection risk of respiratory viruses are the exponential and the Stirling approximated β-Poisson (BP) models. The modified version of the one-parameter exponential model or the Wells-Riley model was almost solely used for infection risk assessments during the pandemic. Still, the two-parameter (α and β) Stirling approximated BP model is often recommended compared to the exponential dose-response model due to its flexibility. However, the Stirling approximation restricts this model to the general rules of β ≫ 1 and α ≪ β, and these conditions are very often violated. To refrain from these requirements, we tested a novel BP model by using the Laplace approximation of the Kummer hypergeometric function instead of the conservative Stirling approximation. The datasets of human respiratory airborne viruses available in the literature for human coronavirus (HCoV-229E) and human rhinovirus (HRV-16 and HRV-39) are used to compare the four dose-response models. Based on goodness-of-fit criteria, the exponential model was the best fitting model for the HCoV-229E (k = 0.054) and for HRV-39 datasets (k = 1.0), whereas the Laplace approximated BP model followed by the exact and Stirling approximated BP models are preferred for both the HRV-16 (α = 0.152 and β = 0.021 for Laplace BP) and the HRV-16 and HRV-39 pooled datasets (α = 0.2247 and β = 0.0215 for Laplace BP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar Aganovic
- Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, The Arctic University of Tromsø, Tromso, Norway
| | - Edin Kadric
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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31
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Wolkoff P. Indoor air humidity revisited: Impact on acute symptoms, work productivity, and risk of influenza and COVID-19 infection. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 256:114313. [PMID: 38154254 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Recent epidemiological and experimental findings reconfirm that low indoor air humidity (dry air) increases the prevalence of acute eye and airway symptoms in offices, result in lower mucociliary clearance in the airways, less efficient immune defense, and deteriorate the work productivity. New epidemiological and experimental research also support that the environmental conditions for the risk of infection of influenza and COVID-19 virus is lowest in the Goldilocks zone of 40-60% relative humidity (RH) by decrease of the airways' susceptibility, which can be elevated by particle exposure. Furthermore, low RH increases the generation of infectious virus laden aerosols exhaled from infected people. In general, elevation of the indoor air humidity from dry air increases the health of the airways concomitantly with lower viability of infectious virus. Thus, the negative effects of ventilation with dry outdoor air (low absolute air humidity) should be assessed according to 1) weakened health and functionality of the airways, 2) increased viability and possible increased transmissibility of infectious virus, and 3) evaporation of virus containing droplets to dry out to droplet nuclei (also possible at high room temperature), which increases their floating time in the indoor air. The removal of acid-containing ambient aerosols from the indoor air by filtration increases pH, viability of infectious viruses, and the risk of infection, which synergistically may further increase by particle exposure. Thus, the dilution of indoor air pollutants and virus aerosols by dry outdoor air ventilation should be assessed and compared with the beneficial health effects by control of the center zone of 40-60% RH, an essential factor for optimal functionality of the airways, and with the additional positive impact on acute symptoms, work productivity, and reduced risk of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peder Wolkoff
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark.
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Belland K, Garcia D, DeJohn C, Allen GR, Mills WD, Glaudel SP. Safety and Effectiveness Assessment of Ultraviolet-C Disinfection in Aircraft Cabins. Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2024; 95:147-157. [PMID: 38356125 DOI: 10.3357/amhp.6350.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Aircraft cabins, susceptible to disease transmission, require effective strategies to minimize the spread of airborne diseases. This paper reviews the James Reason Swiss Cheese Theory in mitigating these risks, as implemented by the International Civil Aviation Organization during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also evaluates the use of airborne ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light as an additional protective measure.METHODS: Our approach involved a thorough literature review by experts and a detailed risk-vs.-benefit analysis. The review covered existing research to understand the scientific foundation, while the analysis used established techniques to assess the impact of influenza and COVID-19 in terms of infections, deaths, and economic costs.RESULTS: Integrating UV-C light in aircraft cabins, when applied with appropriate scientific understanding and engineering safeguards, has the potential to reduce in-flight disease transmission. This additional mitigation strategy can work synergistically with existing measures.DISCUSSION: The research and risk-vs.-benefit analysis present strong evidence for the safety and effectiveness of continuous UV-C disinfection in aircraft cabins. It suggests that UV-C light, maintained below exposure limits, can be a valuable addition to existing measures against disease transmission during flights.Belland K, Garcia D, DeJohn C, Allen GR, Mills WD, Glaudel SP. Safety and effectiveness assessment of ultraviolet-C disinfection in aircraft cabins. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(3):147-157.
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Barry MC, Pathak EB, Swanson J, Cen R, Menard J, Salemi JL, Nembhard WN. Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Infants in the United States: Incidence, Severity, Fatality, and Variants of Concern. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2024; 43:217-225. [PMID: 38134379 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical spectrum of infant COVID-19 ranges from asymptomatic infection to life-threatening illness, yet epidemiologic surveillance has been limited for infants. METHODS Using COVID-19 case data (restricted to reporting states) and national mortality data, we calculated incidence, hospitalization, mortality and case fatality rates through March 2022. RESULTS Reported incidence of COVID-19 was 64.1 new cases per 1000 infant years (95% CI: 63.3-64.9). We estimated that 594,012 infants tested positive for COVID-19 nationwide by March 31, 2022. Viral variant comparisons revealed that incidence was 7× higher during the Omicron (January-March 2022) versus the pre-Delta period (June 2020-May 2021). The cumulative case hospitalization rate was 4.1% (95% CI: 4.0%-4.3%). For every 74 hospitalized infants, one infant death occurred, but overall COVID-19-related infant case fatality was low, with 7.0 deaths per 10,000 cases (95% CI: 5.6-8.7). Nationwide, 333 COVID-19 infant deaths were reported. Only 13 infant deaths (3.9%) were the result of usually lethal congenital anomalies. The majority of infant decedents were non-White (28.2% Black, 26.1% Hispanic, 8.1% Asian, Indigenous or multiracial). CONCLUSIONS More than half a million US infants contracted COVID-19 by March 2022. Longitudinal assessment of long-term infant SARS-CoV-2 infection sequelae remains a critical research gap. Extremely low infant vaccination rates (<5%), waning adult immunity and continued viral exposure risks suggest that infant COVID-19 will remain a persistent public health problem. Our study underscores the need to increase vaccination rates for mothers and infants, decrease viral exposure risks and improve health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan C Barry
- From the College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | | | - Justin Swanson
- From the College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Ruiqi Cen
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Janelle Menard
- Women's Institute for Independent Social Enquiry, Olney, Maryland
| | - Jason L Salemi
- From the College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Wendy N Nembhard
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
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Berlanga FA, Gomez P, Esteban A, Liu L, Nielsen PV. Three dimensional analysis of the exhalation flow in the proximity of the mouth. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26283. [PMID: 38434078 PMCID: PMC10906307 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The human exhalation flow is characterized in this work from the three-dimensional velocimetry results obtained by using the stereo particle image velocimetry (SPIV) measurement technique on the flow emitted from a realistic airway model. For this purpose, the transient exhalation flow through the mouth of a person performing two different breaths corresponding to two metabolic rates, standing relaxed (SR) and walking active (WA), is emulated and studied. To reproduce the flow realistically, a detailed three-dimensional model obtained from computed tomography measurements on real subjects is used. To cope with the variability of the experimental data, a subsequent analysis of the results is performed using the TR-PIV (time resolved particle image velocimetry) technique. Exhalation produces a transient jet that becomes a puff when flow emission ends. Three-dimensional vector fields of the jet velocity are obtained in five equally spaced transverse planes up to a distance of Image 1 from the mouth at equally spaced time instants Image 2 which will be referred to as phases (φ), from the beginning to the end of exhalation. The time evolution during exhalation of the jet area of influence, the velocity field and the jet air entrainment have been characterized for each of the jet cross sections. The importance of the use of realistic airway models for the study of this type of flow and the influence of the metabolic rate on its development are also analyzed. The results obtained contribute to the characterization of the human exhalation as a pathway of the transmission of pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- F A Berlanga
- Dept. de Mecánica, ETSII, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - P Gomez
- Dept. de Mecánica, ETSII, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Esteban
- Dept. de Mecánica, ETSII, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - L Liu
- Dept. of Building Science and Technology, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - P V Nielsen
- Dept. of the Built Environment, Aalborg Universitet, Thomas Manns Vej 23 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark
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35
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Ben-Amotz D. Interfacial chemical reactivity enhancement. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:084704. [PMID: 38391019 DOI: 10.1063/5.0186945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Interfacial enhancements of chemical reaction equilibria and rates in liquid droplets are predicted using a combined theoretical and experimental analysis strategy. Self-consistent solutions of reaction and adsorption equilibria indicate that interfacial reactivity enhancement is driven primarily by the adsorption free energy of the product (or activated complex). Reactant surface activity has a smaller indirect influence on reactivity due to compensating reactant interfacial concentration and adsorption free energy changes, as well as adsorption-induced depletion of the droplet core. Experimental air-water interfacial adsorption free energies and critical micelle concentration correlations provide quantitative surface activity estimates as a function of molecular structure, predicting an increase in interfacial reactivity with increasing product size and decreasing product polarity, aromaticity, and charge (but less so for anions than cations). Reactions with small, neutral, or charged products are predicted to have little reactivity enhancement at an air-water interface unless the product is rendered sufficiently surface active by, for example, interactions with interfacial water dangling OH groups, charge transfer, or voltage fluctuations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dor Ben-Amotz
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
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36
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Port JR, Morris DH, Riopelle JC, Yinda CK, Avanzato VA, Holbrook MG, Bushmaker T, Schulz JE, Saturday TA, Barbian K, Russell CA, Perry-Gottschalk R, Shaia C, Martens C, Lloyd-Smith JO, Fischer RJ, Munster VJ. Host and viral determinants of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Syrian hamster. eLife 2024; 12:RP87094. [PMID: 38416804 PMCID: PMC10942639 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
It remains poorly understood how SARS-CoV-2 infection influences the physiological host factors important for aerosol transmission. We assessed breathing pattern, exhaled droplets, and infectious virus after infection with Alpha and Delta variants of concern (VOC) in the Syrian hamster. Both VOCs displayed a confined window of detectable airborne virus (24-48 hr), shorter than compared to oropharyngeal swabs. The loss of airborne shedding was linked to airway constriction resulting in a decrease of fine aerosols (1-10 µm) produced, which are suspected to be the major driver of airborne transmission. Male sex was associated with increased viral replication and virus shedding in the air. Next, we compared the transmission efficiency of both variants and found no significant differences. Transmission efficiency varied mostly among donors, 0-100% (including a superspreading event), and aerosol transmission over multiple chain links was representative of natural heterogeneity of exposure dose and downstream viral kinetics. Co-infection with VOCs only occurred when both viruses were shed by the same donor during an increased exposure timeframe (24-48 hr). This highlights that assessment of host and virus factors resulting in a differential exhaled particle profile is critical for understanding airborne transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia R Port
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Dylan H Morris
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Jade C Riopelle
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Claude Kwe Yinda
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Victoria A Avanzato
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Myndi G Holbrook
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Trenton Bushmaker
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Jonathan E Schulz
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Taylor A Saturday
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Kent Barbian
- Rocky Mountain Research and Technologies Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Colin A Russell
- Department of Medical Microbiology | Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Rose Perry-Gottschalk
- Rocky Mountain Visual and Medical Arts Unit, Research Technologies Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Carl Shaia
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Craig Martens
- Rocky Mountain Research and Technologies Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - James O Lloyd-Smith
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Robert J Fischer
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
| | - Vincent J Munster
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthHamiltonUnited States
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Nikiforuk AM, Kuchinski KS, Short K, Roman S, Irvine MA, Prystajecky N, Jassem AN, Patrick DM, Sekirov I. Nasopharyngeal angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression as a risk-factor for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in concurrent hospital associated outbreaks. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:262. [PMID: 38408924 PMCID: PMC10898082 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09067-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Widespread human-to-human transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus two (SARS-CoV-2) stems from a strong affinity for the cellular receptor angiotensin converting enzyme two (ACE2). We investigate the relationship between a patient's nasopharyngeal ACE2 transcription and secondary transmission within a series of concurrent hospital associated SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS Epidemiological case data from the outbreak investigations was merged with public health laboratory records and viral lineage calls, from whole genome sequencing, to reconstruct the concurrent outbreaks using infection tracing transmission network analysis. ACE2 transcription and RNA viral load were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The transmission network was resolved to calculate the number of potential secondary cases. Bivariate and multivariable analyses using Poisson and Negative Binomial regression models was performed to estimate the association between ACE2 transcription the number of SARS-CoV-2 secondary cases. RESULTS The infection tracing transmission network provided n = 76 potential transmission events across n = 103 cases. Bivariate comparisons found that on average ACE2 transcription did not differ between patients and healthcare workers (P = 0.86). High ACE2 transcription was observed in 98.6% of transmission events, either the primary or secondary case had above average ACE2. Multivariable analysis found that the association between ACE2 transcription (log2 fold-change) and the number of secondary transmission events differs between patients and healthcare workers. In health care workers Negative Binomial regression estimated that a one-unit change in ACE2 transcription decreases the number of secondary cases (β = -0.132 (95%CI: -0.255 to -0.0181) adjusting for RNA viral load. Conversely, in patients a one-unit change in ACE2 transcription increases the number of secondary cases (β = 0.187 (95% CI: 0.0101 to 0.370) adjusting for RNA viral load. Sensitivity analysis found no significant relationship between ACE2 and secondary transmission in health care workers and confirmed the positive association among patients. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that ACE2 transcription has a positive association with SARS-CoV-2 secondary transmission in admitted inpatients, but not health care workers in concurrent hospital associated outbreaks, and it should be further investigated as a risk-factor for viral transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan M Nikiforuk
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kevin S Kuchinski
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Katy Short
- Fraser Health Authority, V3L 3C2, New Westminster, BC, Canada
| | - Susan Roman
- Fraser Health Authority, V3L 3C2, New Westminster, BC, Canada
| | - Mike A Irvine
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Natalie Prystajecky
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Agatha N Jassem
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David M Patrick
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Inna Sekirov
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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38
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Schumm B, Bremer S, Knödlseder K, Schönfelder M, Hain R, Semmler L, Lorenz E, Wackerhage H, Kähler CJ, Jörres R. Indices of airway resistance and reactance from impulse oscillometry correlate with aerosol particle emission in different age groups. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4644. [PMID: 38409397 PMCID: PMC10897442 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55117-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Airborne transmission of pathogens plays a major role in the spread of infectious diseases. Aerosol particle production from the lung is thought to occur in the peripheral airways. In the present study we investigated eighty lung-healthy subjects of two age groups (20-39, 60-76 years) at rest and during exercise whether lung function parameters indicative of peripheral airway function were correlated with individual differences in aerosol particle emission. Lung function comprised spirometry and impulse oscillometry during quiet breathing and an expiratory vital capacity manoeuvre, using resistance (R5) and reactance at 5 Hz (X5) as indicators potentially related to peripheral airway function. The association between emission at different ventilation rates relative to maximum ventilation and lung function was assessed by regression analysis. In multiple regression analyses including age group, only vital capacity manoeuvre R5 at 15% to 50% of end-expiratory vital capacity as well as quiet breathing X5 were independently linked to particle emission at 20% to 50% of maximum ventilation, in addition to age group. The fact that age as predictive factor was still significant, although to a lower degree, points towards further effects of age, potentially involving surface properties not accounted for by impulse oscillometry parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Schumm
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics, Universität der Bundeswehr München, 85577, Neubiberg, Germany.
| | - Stephanie Bremer
- Professorship of Exercise Biology, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technische Universität München, 80809, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Knödlseder
- Professorship of Exercise Biology, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technische Universität München, 80809, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Schönfelder
- Professorship of Exercise Biology, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technische Universität München, 80809, Munich, Germany
| | - Rainer Hain
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics, Universität der Bundeswehr München, 85577, Neubiberg, Germany
| | - Luisa Semmler
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Elke Lorenz
- Klinik für Herz- und Kreislauferkrankungen, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, 80636, Munich, Germany
| | - Henning Wackerhage
- Professorship of Exercise Biology, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technische Universität München, 80809, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian J Kähler
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics, Universität der Bundeswehr München, 85577, Neubiberg, Germany
| | - Rudolf Jörres
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU Hospital, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Calvet GA, Kara E, Gonsalves L, Seuc AH, de Oliveira RDVC, Thwin SS, Gomez Ponce de León R, Gámez MC, Peña GM, Pendás BVR, Alzugaray MG, Carballo GO, Cala DC, Guimarães PMQ, Bonet M, Taylor M, Thorson A, Kim C, Ali M, Broutet N. Viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in body fluids associated with sexual activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e073084. [PMID: 38387982 PMCID: PMC10882346 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify and summarise the evidence on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA detection and persistence in body fluids associated with sexual activity (saliva, semen, vaginal secretion, urine and faeces/rectal secretion). ELIGIBILITY All studies that reported detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva, semen, vaginal secretion, urine and faeces/rectal swabs. INFORMATION SOURCES The WHO COVID-19 database from inception to 20 April 2022. RISK OF BIAS ASSESSMENT The National Institutes of Health tools. SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS The proportion of patients with positive results for SARS-CoV-2 and the proportion of patients with a viral duration/persistence of at least 14 days in each fluid was calculated using fixed or random effects models. INCLUDED STUDIES A total of 182 studies with 10 023 participants. RESULTS The combined proportion of individuals with detection of SARS-CoV-2 was 82.6% (95% CI: 68.8% to 91.0%) in saliva, 1.6% (95% CI: 0.9% to 2.6%) in semen, 2.7% (95% CI: 1.8% to 4.0%) in vaginal secretion, 3.8% (95% CI: 1.9% to 7.6%) in urine and 31.8% (95% CI: 26.4% to 37.7%) in faeces/rectal swabs. The maximum viral persistence for faeces/rectal secretions was 210 days, followed by semen 121 days, saliva 112 days, urine 77 days and vaginal secretions 13 days. Culturable SARS-CoV-2 was positive for saliva and faeces. LIMITATIONS Scarcity of longitudinal studies with follow-up until negative results. INTERPRETATION SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in all fluids associated with sexual activity but was rare in semen and vaginal secretions. Ongoing droplet precautions and awareness of the potential risk of contact with faecal matter/rectal mucosa are needed. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42020204741.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edna Kara
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lianne Gonsalves
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Armando Humberto Seuc
- National Institute of Hygiene Epidemiology and Microbiology, Habana, La Habana, Cuba
| | | | - Soe Soe Thwin
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mercedes Bonet
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Taylor
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Anna Thorson
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Caron Kim
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Moazzam Ali
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Broutet
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Yang Y, Li X, Zhou Z, Qiu Q, Chen W, Huang J, Cai W, Qin X, Lai Y. Ultrathin, ultralight dual-scale fibrous networks with high-infrared transmittance for high-performance, comfortable and sustainable PM 0.3 filter. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1586. [PMID: 38383519 PMCID: PMC10881466 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45833-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Highly permeable particulate matter (PM) can carry various bacteria, viruses and toxics and pose a serious threat to public health. Nevertheless, current respirators typically sacrifice their thickness and base weight for high-performance filtration, which inevitably causes wearing discomfort and significant consumption of raw materials. Here, we show a facile yet massive splitting eletrospinning strategy to prepare an ultrathin, ultralight and radiative cooling dual-scale fiber membrane with about 80% infrared transmittance for high-protective, comfortable and sustainable air filter. By tailoring antibacterial surfactant-triggered splitting of charged jets, the dual-scale fibrous filter consisting of continuous nanofibers (44 ± 12 nm) and submicron-fibers (159 ± 32 nm) is formed. It presents ultralow thickness (1.49 μm) and base weight (0.57 g m-2) but superior protective performances (about 99.95% PM0.3 removal, durable antibacterial ability) and wearing comfort of low air resistance, high heat dissipation and moisture permeability. Moreover, the ultralight filter can save over 97% polymers than commercial N95 respirator, enabling itself to be sustainable and economical. This work paves the way for designing advanced and sustainable protective materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Yang
- Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou, 362801, P. R. China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, P. R. China
| | - Xiangshun Li
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, P. R. China
| | - Qiaohua Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, P. R. China
- College of Textile Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
| | - Wenjing Chen
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, P. R. China
| | - Jianying Huang
- Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou, 362801, P. R. China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, P. R. China
| | - Weilong Cai
- Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou, 362801, P. R. China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohong Qin
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, P. R. China.
| | - Yuekun Lai
- Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou, 362801, P. R. China.
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, P. R. China.
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Huang W, Guo K, Pan Y, Chen C. Enhancing the effectiveness of bioaerosol disinfection in indoor environments by optimizing far-UVC lamp locations based on Markov chain model. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:168803. [PMID: 38000739 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Far-ultraviolet C (far-UVC) light is an effective and safe disinfection method for bioaerosol control in occupied indoor environments. The installation location of a far-UVC lamp strongly influences the spatial distribution of far-UVC irradiance, and thus the effectiveness of bioaerosol disinfection. To assist the design process, this study developed a fast prediction approach based on the Markov chain model for optimizing the installation locations of far-UVC lamps in order to enhance the disinfection effectiveness for indoor bioaerosol control. Experiments were conducted in an environmental chamber to validate the proposed simulation-based optimization approach. The results show that the proposed method can correctly predict the disinfection efficiency when compared with experimental data, and optimizing the installation location of the far-UVC lamp increased the disinfection efficiency by 54 % compared with the worst location. As an application, the validated method was then used to design the installation location of a far-UVC lamp in a real conference room. The results show that installing the far-UVC lamp in the optimal location can increase the disinfection efficiency by 48 % compared with the worst installation location. Therefore, optimizing the far-UVC lamp location using the proposed Markov chain model can enhance the effectiveness of bioaerosol disinfection in indoor environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kangqi Guo
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yue Pan
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chun Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China; Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Huang Z, Yu X, Liu Q, Maki T, Alam K, Wang Y, Xue F, Tang S, Du P, Dong Q, Wang D, Huang J. Bioaerosols in the atmosphere: A comprehensive review on detection methods, concentration and influencing factors. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:168818. [PMID: 38036132 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
In the past few decades, especially since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the effects of atmospheric bioaerosols on human health, the environment, and climate have received great attention. To evaluate the impacts of bioaerosols quantitatively, it is crucial to determine the types of bioaerosols in the atmosphere and their spatial-temporal distribution. We provide a concise summary of the online and offline observation strategies employed by the global research community to sample and analyze atmospheric bioaerosols. In addition, the quantitative distribution of bioaerosols is described by considering the atmospheric bioaerosols concentrations at various time scales (daily and seasonal changes, for example), under various weather, and different underlying surfaces. Finally, a comprehensive summary of the reasons for the spatiotemporal distribution of bioaerosols is discussed, including differences in emission sources, the impact process of meteorological factors and environmental factors. This review of information on the latest research progress contributes to the emergence of further observation strategies that determine the quantitative dynamics of public health and ecological effects of bioaerosols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwei Huang
- Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xinrong Yu
- Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Qiantao Liu
- Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Teruya Maki
- Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Khan Alam
- Department of Physics, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan
| | - Yongkai Wang
- Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Fanli Xue
- Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shihan Tang
- Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Pengyue Du
- Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Qing Dong
- Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Danfeng Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jianping Huang
- Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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Yi G, Gao S, Armugam A, Riduan SN, Teong SP, Li X, Wang J, Chan SP, Lu H, Ying JY, Zhang Y. Self-Promoted Hydroxyl Radical Releasing Magnetic Zn@Fe Particles. Small 2024:e2310856. [PMID: 38377308 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202310856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Semiconductor photocatalysts, such as TiO2 and ZnO, have garnered significant attention for their ability to generate hydroxyl radicals, offering various practical applications. However, the reliance on UV light to facilitate electron-hole separation for hydroxyl radical production poses limitations. In this study, a novel approach is presented utilizing Zn@Fe core/shell particles capable of generating hydroxyl radicals without external energy input. The generation process involves electron donation from Zn to O2 , resulting in the formation of radical species . O2 - /H2 O2 , followed by Fe-catalyzed conversion of H2 O2 into hydroxyl radicals through the Fenton reaction. The release of . OH imparts good antimicrobial and antiviral properties to the Zn@Fe particles. Furthermore, the inclusion of Fe confers magnetic properties to the material. This dual functionality holds promise for diverse potential applications for the Zn@Fe particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangshun Yi
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), 1 Pesek Road Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833, Singapore
| | - Shujun Gao
- NanoBio Lab, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
| | - Arunmozhiarasi Armugam
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
| | - Siti Nurhanna Riduan
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
| | - Siew Ping Teong
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), 1 Pesek Road Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833, Singapore
| | - Xiukai Li
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), 1 Pesek Road Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833, Singapore
| | - Jinquan Wang
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), 1 Pesek Road Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833, Singapore
| | - Shook Pui Chan
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), 1 Pesek Road Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833, Singapore
| | - Hongfang Lu
- NanoBio Lab, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Jackie Y Ying
- NanoBio Lab, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
- Department of Bioengineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yugen Zhang
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), 1 Pesek Road Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833, Singapore
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Tastassa AC, Sharaby Y, Lang-Yona N. Aeromicrobiology: A global review of the cycling and relationships of bioaerosols with the atmosphere. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:168478. [PMID: 37967625 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Airborne microorganisms and biological matter (bioaerosols) play a key role in global biogeochemical cycling, human and crop health trends, and climate patterns. Their presence in the atmosphere is controlled by three main stages: emission, transport, and deposition. Aerial survival rates of bioaerosols are increased through adaptations such as ultra-violet radiation and desiccation resistance or association with particulate matter. Current research into modern concerns such as climate change, global gene transfer, and pathogenicity often neglects to consider atmospheric involvement. This comprehensive review outlines the transpiring of bioaerosols across taxa in the atmosphere, with significant focus on their interactions with environmental elements including abiotic factors (e.g., atmospheric composition, water cycle, and pollution) and events (e.g., dust storms, hurricanes, and wildfires). The aim of this review is to increase understanding and shed light on needed research regarding the interplay between global atmospheric phenomena and the aeromicrobiome. The abundantly documented bacteria and fungi are discussed in context of their cycling and human health impacts. Gaps in knowledge regarding airborne viral community, the challenges and importance of studying their composition, concentrations and survival in the air are addressed, along with understudied plant pathogenic oomycetes, and archaea cycling. Key methodologies in sampling, collection, and processing are described to provide an up-to-date picture of ameliorations in the field. We propose optimization to microbiological methods, commonly used in soil and water analysis, that adjust them to the context of aerobiology, along with other directions towards novel and necessary advancements. This review offers new perspectives into aeromicrobiology and calls for advancements in global-scale bioremediation, insights into ecology, climate change impacts, and pathogenicity transmittance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel C Tastassa
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003 Haifa, Israel
| | - Yehonatan Sharaby
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003 Haifa, Israel
| | - Naama Lang-Yona
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003 Haifa, Israel.
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Andrup L, Krogfelt KA, Stephansen L, Hansen KS, Graversen BK, Wolkoff P, Madsen AM. Reduction of acute respiratory infections in day-care by non-pharmaceutical interventions: a narrative review. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1332078. [PMID: 38420031 PMCID: PMC10899481 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1332078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Children who start in day-care have 2-4 times as many respiratory infections compared to children who are cared for at home, and day-care staff are among the employees with the highest absenteeism. The extensive new knowledge that has been generated in the COVID-19 era should be used in the prevention measures we prioritize. The purpose of this narrative review is to answer the questions: Which respiratory viruses are the most significant in day-care centers and similar indoor environments? What do we know about the transmission route of these viruses? What evidence is there for the effectiveness of different non-pharmaceutical prevention measures? Design Literature searches with different terms related to respiratory infections in humans, mitigation strategies, viral transmission mechanisms, and with special focus on day-care, kindergarten or child nurseries, were conducted in PubMed database and Web of Science. Searches with each of the main viruses in combination with transmission, infectivity, and infectious spread were conducted separately supplemented through the references of articles that were retrieved. Results Five viruses were found to be responsible for ≈95% of respiratory infections: rhinovirus, (RV), influenza virus (IV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronavirus (CoV), and adenovirus (AdV). Novel research, emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggests that most respiratory viruses are primarily transmitted in an airborne manner carried by aerosols (microdroplets). Conclusion Since airborne transmission is dominant for the most common respiratory viruses, the most important preventive measures consist of better indoor air quality that reduces viral concentrations and viability by appropriate ventilation strategies. Furthermore, control of the relative humidity and temperature, which ensures optimal respiratory functionality and, together with low resident density (or mask use) and increased time outdoors, can reduce the occurrence of respiratory infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Andrup
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karen A Krogfelt
- Department of Science and Environment, Molecular and Medical Biology, PandemiX Center, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Lene Stephansen
- Gladsaxe Municipality, Social and Health Department, Gladsaxe, Denmark
| | | | | | - Peder Wolkoff
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Mette Madsen
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Yang N, Song W, Xiao Y, Xia M, Xiao L, Li T, Zhang Z, Yu N, Zhang X. Minimum Minutes Machine-Learning Microfluidic Microbe Monitoring Method (M7). ACS Nano 2024; 18:4862-4870. [PMID: 38231040 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Frequent outbreaks of viral diseases have brought substantial negative impacts on society and the economy, and they are very difficult to detect, as the concentration of viral aerosols in the air is low and the composition is complex. The traditional detection method is manually collection and re-detection, being cumbersome and time-consuming. Here we propose a virus aerosol detection method based on microfluidic inertial separation and spectroscopic analysis technology to rapidly and accurately detect aerosol particles in the air. The microfluidic chip is designed based on the principles of inertial separation and laminar flow characteristics, resulting in an average separation efficiency of 95.99% for 2 μm particles. We build a microfluidic chip composite spectrometer detection platform to capture the spectral information on aerosol particles dynamically. By employing machine-learning techniques, we can accurately classify different types of aerosol particles. The entire experiment took less than 30 min as compared with hours by PCR detection. Furthermore, our model achieves an accuracy of 97.87% in identifying virus aerosols, which is comparable to the results obtained from PCR detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Yang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Wei Song
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Yi Xiao
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Muming Xia
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Lizhi Xiao
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Tongge Li
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Zhaoyuan Zhang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Ni Yu
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Xingcai Zhang
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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Wang J, Yu Y, Raheem A, Guo Y, Ma Q, Lu D. The distribution characteristics of aerosol bacteria in different types of sheepfolds. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1348850. [PMID: 38420208 PMCID: PMC10900508 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1348850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
With the development of modern sheep raising technology, the increasing density of animals in sheep house leads to the accumulation of microbial aerosols in sheep house. It is an important prerequisite to grasp the characteristics of bacteria in aerosols in sheep house to solve the problems of air pollution and disease prevention and control in sheep house. In this study, the microorganisms present in the air of sheep houses were investigated to gain insights into the structure of bacterial communities and the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria. Samples from six sheep pens in each of three sheep farms, totaling 18, were collected in August 2022 from Ningxia province, China. A high-volume air sampler was utilized for aerosol collection within the sheep housing followed by DNA extraction for 16S rRNA sequencing. Employing high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing technology, we conducted an in-depth analysis of microbial populations in various sheep pen air samples, enabling us to assess the community composition and diversity. The results revealed a total of 11,207 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) within the bacterial population across the air samples, encompassing 152 phyla, 298 classes, 517 orders, 853 families, 910 genera, and 482 species. Alpha diversity and beta diversity analysis indicated that differences in species diversity, evenness and coverage between different samples. At the bacterial phylum level, the dominant bacterial groups are Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria, among which Firmicutes (97.90-98.43%) is the highest. At the bacterial genus level, bacillus, Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, etc. had higher abundance, with Bacillus (85.47-89.87%) being the highest. Through an in-depth analysis of microbial diversity and a meticulous examination of pathogenic bacteria with high abundance in diverse sheep house air samples, the study provided valuable insights into the microbial diversity, abundance, and distinctive features of prevalent pathogenic bacteria in sheep house air. These findings serve as a foundation for guiding effective disease prevention and control strategies within sheep farming environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiandong Wang
- Institute of Animal Science, NingXia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan, China
| | - Youli Yu
- Institute of Animal Science, NingXia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan, China
| | - Abdul Raheem
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanan Guo
- Institute of Animal Science, NingXia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan, China
| | - Qing Ma
- Institute of Animal Science, NingXia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan, China
| | - Doukun Lu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Lee N, Perry LM, Hoerger M, Thomas C, Malhotra S. Advance Care Planning Practice Patterns Before and During a Pandemic. J Palliat Med 2024; 27:246-250. [PMID: 37856144 PMCID: PMC10825290 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in introspection of the United States health care infrastructure, especially with advance care planning (ACP). Methods: This is a retrospective chart review assessing the frequency of ACP discussions and formal documents reflecting ACP wishes in an outpatient palliative medicine (PM) practice. The study site was at University Medical Center New Orleans from pre-COVID-19 surge (November 2019-February 2020) to months during and post-COVID-19 surge (March-April 2020). Results: Results showed an increase in ACP discussions during the post-COVID-19 months. Patients seen during the surge and post-COVID-19 months were more likely to discuss medical power of attorney (odds ratio [OR] = 1.78, p = 0.045) and preferred code status (OR = 2.82, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that more ACP discussions were conducted post-COVID-19 versus pre-COVID-19. However, formal documents reflecting these wishes were lacking. These results can help guide ACP use in crisis periods and improve understanding of ACP discussions in an outpatient PM clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Supportive and Palliative Care, Christiana Care, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Laura M. Perry
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Michael Hoerger
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Christina Thomas
- Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Sonia Malhotra
- Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Shahrokhian A, Chan FK, Feng J, Gazzola M, King H. Geometry for low-inertia aerosol capture: Lessons from fog-basking beetles. PNAS Nexus 2024; 3:pgae077. [PMID: 38426122 PMCID: PMC10903646 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Water in the form of windborne fog droplets supports life in many coastal arid regions, where natural selection has driven nontrivial physical adaptation toward its separation and collection. For two species of Namib desert beetle whose body geometry makes for a poor filter, subtle modifications in shape and texture have been previously associated with improved performance by facilitating water drainage from its collecting surface. However, little is known about the relevance of these modifications to the flow physics that underlies droplets' impaction in the first place. We find, through coupled experiments and simulations, that such alterations can produce large relative gains in water collection by encouraging droplets to "slip" toward targets at the millimetric scale, and by disrupting boundary and lubrication layer effects at the microscopic scale. Our results offer a lesson in biological fog collection and design principles for controlling particle separation beyond the specific case of fog-basking beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Shahrokhian
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44303, USA
| | - Fan Kiat Chan
- Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jiansheng Feng
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44303, USA
| | - Mattia Gazzola
- Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Hunter King
- Physics, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
- Center for Computational and Comparative Biology, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
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Rahnsch B, Taghizadeh L. Network-based uncertainty quantification for mathematical models in epidemiology. J Theor Biol 2024; 577:111671. [PMID: 37979612 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2023.111671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
After the new Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in the end of January 2020 in Germany, a large number of individuals suffered from severe symptoms and eventually needed intensive care in hospitals. Due to the rapid spread of the disease, the number of deceased individuals increased as well, which is a motivation to prevent as many new infections as possible. Therefore, the knowledge about the current evolution of the virus spread is crucial to predict its future behavior and to react with suitable interventions. In this paper, the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany is forecasted by a network-based inference method, in which the interactions of individuals are taken into account using a contact matrix. Then the results are compared to the predictions without considering a contact matrix as well as to the logistic regression, which shows the advantage of incorporating the contact matrix. Furthermore, the basic reproduction number of the pandemic in Germany using a neural network approach is estimated and used for further predictions of the evolution of COVID-19 in Germany. In order to mathematically model the different compartments of the population in the considered regions, the classical SIR model is employed. In this work, we deploy the LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator) for the unknown parameter estimation. Furthermore, we calculate and illustrate the MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error) of the estimations to show the accuracy of the predictions. The results include model parameter estimation and model validation, as well as the outbreak forecasting using network-informed algorithms. Our findings show that the network-inference based approach outperforms the logistic regression as well as the neural network approach and the SIR model calibration without a contact network. Furthermore according to the results, the network-inference based approach is particularly suitable for short- to mid-term predictions, even when there is not much information about the new disease. Moreover, the predictions based on the estimation of the reproduction number in Germany can yield more reliable results with increasing the availability of data, but could not outperform the network-inference based algorithm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrix Rahnsch
- Technical University of Munich, Germany; TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology, Department of Mathematics.
| | - Leila Taghizadeh
- Technical University of Munich, Germany; TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology, Department of Mathematics.
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