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In 2013, member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region* (SEAR) adopted the goal of measles elimination and rubella and congenital rubella syndrome control† by 2020 (1). In 2014, to provide impetus toward achieving this goal, the Regional Director declared measles elimination and rubella control one of the Regional Flagship Priorities. In 2019, SEAR member states declared a revised goal of eliminating both measles and rubella§ by 2023 (2). The recommended strategies to achieve elimination include 1) achieving and maintaining ≥95% coverage with 2 doses of measles- and rubella-containing vaccine in every district through routine or supplementary immunization activities¶ (SIAs); 2) developing and sustaining a sensitive and timely case-based surveillance system that meets recommended performance indicators**; 3) developing and maintaining an accredited laboratory network; 4) achieving timely identification, investigation, and response to measles outbreaks; and 5) collaborating with other public health initiatives to achieve the preceding four strategies. This report updates a previous report and describes progress toward measles elimination in SEAR during 2003-2020 (3). In 2002, coverage with the first dose of a measles-containing vaccine in routine immunization (MCV1) was 70%, and only three countries in SEAR had added a second routine dose of measles-containing vaccine in routine immunization (MCV2). During 2003-2020, all countries introduced MCV2, and estimated coverage with MCV1 increased 35%, from 65% to 88%, and coverage with MCV2 increased 1,233% from 6% to 80%. Approximately 938 million persons were vaccinated in SIAs. Annual reported measles incidence declined by 92%, from 57.0 to 4.8 cases per 1 million population, and estimated deaths decreased by 97%; an estimated 9.3 million deaths were averted by measles vaccination. By 2020, five countries were verified as having achieved measles elimination. To achieve measles elimination in the region by 2023, additional efforts are urgently needed to strengthen routine immunization services and improve measles-containing vaccine (MCV) coverage, conduct periodic high-quality SIAs, and strengthen measles case-based surveillance and laboratory capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Community mitigation strategies could help reduce COVID-19 incidence, but there are few studies that explore associations nationally and by urbanicity. In a national county-level analysis, we examined the probability of being identified as a county with rapidly increasing COVID-19 incidence (rapid riser identification) during the summer of 2020 by implementation of mitigation policies prior to the summer, overall and by urbanicity.Methods: We analyzed county-level data on rapid riser identification during June 1-September 30, 2020 and statewide closures and statewide mask mandates starting March 19 (obtained from state government websites). Poisson regression models with robust standard error estimation were used to examine differences in the probability of rapid riser identification by implementation of mitigation policies (P-value< .05); associations were adjusted for county population size.Results: Counties in states that closed for 0-59 days were more likely to become a rapid riser county than those that closed for >59 days, particularly in nonmetropolitan areas. The probability of becoming a rapid riser county was 43% lower among counties that had statewide mask mandates at reopening (adjusted prevalence ratio = 0.57; 95% confidence intervals = 0.51-0.63); when stratified by urbanicity, associations were more pronounced in nonmetropolitan areas.Conclusions: These results underscore the potential value of community mitigation strategies in limiting the COVID-19 spread, especially in nonmetropolitan areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel optimal fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative (fuzzy PID) controller for load frequency control (LFC) designed by a proposed approach of mine blast algorithm (MBA) for multi-interconnected areas. The system includes reheat thermal connected power systems with the effect of the governor dead zone and turbine generation rate constraint nonlinearity. The proposed approach is used to determine the optimal parameters of the fuzzy PID controller to minimize the integral time absolute error. The proposed controller is inserted in multi-interconnected power systems which are built in Simulink/MATLAB library; triangular membership function is used for fuzzy PID controller. Additionally, the optimum adjustment of the fuzzy PID controller parameters under contracted scenario for large step demands and disturbances is investigated by MBA. The obtained results are compared to those obtained via antlion optimizer, artificial bee colony, hybrid differential evolution particle swarm optimization and hybrid PSO pattern search algorithm. The obtained results confirmed the superiority of the proposed MBA in designing the fuzzy PID-LFC as it provides less error with best statistical parameters compared to the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore associations between demographic, occupational, and mental health characteristics and negative attitudes toward mental illness among veterinarians. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SAMPLE 9,522 veterinarians employed in the United States. PROCEDURES Data from a previously conducted voluntary, anonymous, web-based survey were used. Negative attitude was defined as slight o r strong disagreement with 2 statements: “ Treatment can help people with mental illness lead normal lives” (treatment effectiveness) and “ People are generally caring and sympathetic to people with mental illness” (social support). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with negative attitudes. RESULTS Of the 9,522 respondents, 6,585 (69.2%) were female, 4,523 (47.5%) were 40 to 59 years old, 291 (3.1%) had a negative attitude toward treatment effectiveness, and 4,504 (47.3%) had a negative attitude toward social support. After adjusting for other variables, negative attitude toward treatment effectiveness was significantly more likely in males, those with 10 to 19 (vs I to 9) years of practice experience, solo practitioners, those in government (vs “other” ) practice, those with evidence of serious psychological distress, and those reporting suicidal ideation after veterinary school and significantly less likely in those receiving mental health treatment. A negative attitude toward social support was significantly less likely in males and significantly more likely in 40 to 59 (vs 20 to 39) year olds, childless respondents, solo practitioners, those without membership in a veterinary association, those with evidence of serious psychological distress, those reporting depression during o r after veterinary school, and those reporting suicidal ideation after veterinary school. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Characteristics such as age, sex, practice setting, and mental illness history might be useful to consider when targeting interventions to support and educate veterinarians about mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the application of firefly optimization algorithm to design an optimal control for voltage stability of a stand-alone hybrid renewable generation unit based on reactive power control. The studied renewable generation unit mainly consists of a permanent magnet induction generator driven by wind turbine and a synchronous generator driven by diesel engine. A STATCOM is used to stabilize the terminal load bus voltage via compensating of reactive power. The main control objective aims to stabilize the terminal load voltage against any disturbances in load reactive power and/or input wind power by adjusting the total system reactive power. This is accomplished by controlling STATCOM phase angle and hence to control the load bus voltage and also by controlling the excitation voltage of the synchronous generator. The proposed renewable energy power system based on the proposed optimal controller has been tested through step change in input wind power and load reactive power. The system performance based on the proposed control is compared with model predictive control, a robust H∞control, and a classical PI control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed an improved Highly Efficient and Reliable Inverter Concept (HERIC) inverter with photovoltaic (PV)-grid connected power system. However, transformerless inverter based on HERIC topology is considered as one of the most reliable, efficient, and approximately leakage free inverters with the PV-grid connected systems. The main drawback of this inverter is drawing a discontinuous current from the photovoltaic generating unit. Also, continuous photovoltaic current is needed to guarantee the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) operation. Subsequently, the operation of the HERIC inverter at maximum power point tracking condition is not a clear issue. Therefore, the PV utilization factor (K uf ) value falls down to about 50%, which leads to increasing in the cost and size of the photovoltaic generator unit. In this study, derivation of the utilization factor based on the PV-grid connected through HERIC inverter analyses are presented. Also, an improved version of the HERIC inverter is introduced to remove the previous drawbacks. To validate the analysis and idea, digital simulation results are carried out for both the proposed and classical PV-grid via HERIC inverter system. The transient response of the proposed grid current controller, proportion resonance (PR) controller, is tested. The effects of parameters uncertainties on the system performance factors are also studied to validate the robustness of the control approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how to increase the efficiency of a photovoltaic/energy storage generation unit supplying dynamic loads by regulating and managing both the photovoltaic generator and the storage battery charge-discharge modes. The proposed photovoltaic/energy storage unit is proposed to supply an induction motor driven industrial pump with controlled speed and/or a DC motor driven water pump. An optimal proportional-integral-derivative control based on an Artificial Bee Colony Optimization algorithm is used to regulate the photovoltaic generator in case of normal operation or in case of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and to also control the battery storage charge discharge modes. A vector control based on the proposed optimal control is used to regulate the induction motor rotor speed at its low reference values needed by the industrial pump. First, a total model of the entire system is obtained. The controller performance with the proposed system is studied with both a DC motor and/or induction motor loads. Simulation results show that the proposed photovoltaic/storage generator is able to supply the suggested dynamic loads under different conditions and with good performance. Also, it is noticed that operating the photovoltaic base on maximum power point tracking condition will give about 43% extra generation power than the normal operation case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the application of linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control for a buoy-type point absorber of a wave energy converter (PA-WEC) system is investigated. The proposed wave energy conversion is considered as a two-body system, which is taut-anchored to the sea floor using three cables. The main goal of this study is to extract the maximum available power from the ocean wave. This is accomplished via determining the optimal value of the force exerted on the power take-off (PTO) system taking in account the physical constraints on the position and velocity. First, the reduced nonlinear dynamical model of the WEC system is obtained. The nonlinearity in the mooring force is replaced by a linear law to yield the state space linear model of the system. Then, the standard Kalman filter technique is employed to estimate the full states of the system. Based on the LQG control approach, the optimal PTO force is computed at which the maximum output power can be easily harvested. The computational burden is minimized to a great extent by computing the optimal state feedback gains and the Kalman state space model offline. The feasibility of the proposed control approach in extracting the optimal power of the ocean wave is validated via the simulation example even under different values of the mooring constant and without violating the system limitation. © 2015 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—A developed control strategy for an isolated wind generation unit is presented. The proposed system mainly consists of an induction generator driven by a wind turbine, synchronous machine, consumer load, discrete dump load, and gate turn-off thyristor based power electronics converter. Two control loops are used in this study. The first regulates the load bus voltage based on the excitation control of the synchronous machine. The second simultaneously controls the dump load to absorb excessive power generation, in turn regulating the frequency of the proposed power system. Two optimization techniques based on the bacterial foraging algorithm and genetic algorithm are used to tune the proposed control parameters. The proposed system is tested for turbulent change in wind speed and step change in consumer load. The complete system is modeled and simulated using a MATLAB/Simulink software package (The MathWorks, Natick, Massachusetts, USA). The performance of the optimized control system is compared with the conventional proportional-integral-derivative control system. The simulation results show that the optimized control system has good performance, with less settling time and less overshoot compared to the case of a conventional proportional-integral-derivative controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the problem of maximizing the take-off power from a buoy-type point absorber of a wave energy converter. The article offers a solution framework for the above-mentioned problem under the linear quadratic Gaussian control approach. The standard Kalman estimator technique is used to estimate the position and velocity of the two-body wave energy system. The optimal power take-off force is computed, and hence, the maximum output power is achieved. A comparison with a conventional approach reflects the superiority of this framework even under different values of a mooring constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—This article presents a thorough comparative analysis study for various kinds of single-diode model based photovoltaic power source. The main target is to explore the effect of increasing the embedded degree of complexity of the single-diode model on the simulated behavior of a particular photovoltaic module by comparing the dynamic performance of such photovoltaic models with the experimental data from the manufacturer's data sheet under varying atmospheric conditions. The relative errors between each photovoltaic single-diode model output and the experimentally validated data are computed at three indicative points, namely open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and maximum power point. The result of this comparison leads to determining the best photovoltaic single diode modulethe one that is more suitable than the others in the context of single diode modelto be applied in different power system applications irrespective of changing environmental conditions over different periods of the day. The comparison study in this article concludes by determining the relevant single-diode model at low, medium, and high temperatures and irradiance levels as well as at standard test conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study investigates the application of the model predictive control technique for voltage stability of an isolated hybrid wind–diesel power system based on reactive power control. The proposed generation system mainly consists of a synchronous generator for a diesel-generator system and an induction generator for a wind energy conversion system. A static VAR compensator is used to stabilize load voltage through compensating reactive power. Two control paths are used to stabilize load bus voltage based on model predictive control. The first control path is used to adjust the total reactive power of the system by controlling the static VAR compensator firing angle. The second is proposed to control the excitation voltage of the synchronous generator. Model predictive control is used to determine t optimal control actions, including system constraints. To mitigate calculation effort and reduce numerical problems, especially in a large prediction horizon, an exponentially weighted functional model predictive control (F-model predictive control) is applied. The proposed controller was tested through step change in load reactive power plus step increase in input wind power. The performance of the proposed system with the proposed controller was compared with classical model predictive control; moreover, this scheme is tested against parameter variations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper investigates the application of the model predictive control (MPC) approach to control the speed of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive system. The MPC is used to calculate the optimal control actions including system constraints. To alleviate computational effort and to reduce numerical problems, particularly in large prediction horizon, an exponentially weighted functional model predictive control (FMPC) is employed. In order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed FMPC scheme, the performance of the proposed controller is compared with a classical PI controller through simulation studies. Obtained results show that accurate tracking performance of the PMSM has been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, a dynamic modeling and power control scheme for doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) for variable speed wind power generation is proposed. A detail dynamic model of a DFIG-based, wind turbine and grid-connected system is presented in the d–q-synchronous reference frame. A robust controller based on sliding mode controller (SMC) is applied in order to control the power flowing between the stator of the DFIG and the power network. To improve the controller performance in steady state the integral sliding mode controller (ISMC) is used. Also, ISMC is used to achieve the controller robustness. Its respective performance is compared in terms of power reference tracking, sensitivity to perturbations in sub-synchronous and super-synchronous modes and robustness against machine parameters variations. Moreover, the proposed ISMC performance is compared with the conventional proportional–integral control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In addition to affecting individual health the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted efforts to deliver essential health services around the world. In this article we present an overview of the immediate programmatic and epidemiologic impact of the pandemic on polio eradication as well as the adaptive strategic and operational measures taken by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) from March through September 2020. Shortly after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic on 11 March 2020, the GPEI initially redirected the programme's assets to tackle COVID-19 and suspended house-to-house supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) while also striving to continue essential poliovirus surveillance functions. From March to May 2020, 28 countries suspended a total of 62 polio vaccine SIAs. In spite of efforts to continue poliovirus surveillance, global acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases reported from January-July 2020 declined by 34% compared with the same period in 2019 along with decreases in the mean number of environment samples collected per active site in the critical areas of the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions. The GPEI recommended countries should resume planning and implementation of SIAs starting in July 2020 and released guidelines to ensure these could be done safely for front line workers and communities. By the end of September 2020, a total of 14 countries had implemented circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreak response vaccination campaigns and Afghanistan and Pakistan restarted SIAs to stop ongoing wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) transmission. The longer-term impacts of disruptions to eradication efforts remain to be determined, especially in terms of the effect on poliovirus epidemiology. Adapting to the pandemic situation has imposed new considerations on program implementation and demonstrated not only GPEI's contribution to global health security, but also identified potential opportunities for coordinated approaches across immunization and health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents the optimum photovoltaic (PV) water pumping system using maximum power point tracking technique (MPPT). The optimum is suspended to reference optimal power. This optimal technique is developed to assure the optimum chopping ratio of buck–boost converter. The presented MPPT technique is used in photovoltaic water pumping system in order to optimize its efficiency. An adaptive controller with emphasis on Nonlinear Autoregressive Moving Average (NARMA) based on artificial neural networks approach is applied in order to optimize the duty ratio for PV maximum power at any irradiation level. In this application, an indirect data-based technique is taken, where a model of the plant is identified on the basis of input–output data and then used in the model-based design of a neural network controller. The proposed controller has the advantages of fast response and good performance. The PV generator DC motor pump system with the proposed controller has been tested through a step change in irradiation level. Simulation results show that accurate MPPT tracking performance of the proposed system has been achieved. Further, the performance of the proposed artificial neural network (ANN) controller is compared with a PID controller through simulation studies. Obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper investigates the application of the model predictive control (MPC) approach to control the voltage and frequency of a stand alone wind generation system. This scheme consists of a wind turbine which drives an induction generator feeding an isolated load. A static reactive power compensator (SVAR) is connected at the induction generator terminals to regulate the load voltage. The rotor speed, and thereby the load frequency are controlled via adjusting the mechanical power input using the blade pitch-angle control. The MPC is used to calculate the optimal control actions including system constraints. To alleviate computational effort and to reduce numerical problems, particularly in large prediction horizon, an exponentially weighted functional model predictive control (FMPC) is employed. Digital simulations have been carried out in order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. The proposed controller has been tested through step changes in the wind speed and the load impedance. Simulation results show that adequate performance of the proposed wind energy scheme has been achieved. Moreover, this scheme is robust against the parameters variation and eliminates the influence of modeling and measurement errors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents the application of the Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller for voltage and frequency regulation of an isolated hybrid wind–diesel scheme. The scheme essentially consists of a vertical axis wind turbine driving a self-excited induction generator connected via an asynchronous (AC–DC–AC) link to a synchronous generator driven by a diesel engine. The synchronous generator is equipped with a voltage regulator and a static exciter. The wind generator and the synchronous generator together cater for the local load and power requirement. However, the load bus voltage and frequency are governed by the synchronous generator. The control objective aims to regulate the load voltage and frequency. This is accomplished via controlling the field voltage and rotational speed of the synchronous generator. The complete nonlinear dynamic model of the system has been described and linearized around an operating point. The standard Kalman filter technique has been employed to estimate the full states of the system. The computational burden has been minimized to a great extent by computing the optimal state feedback gains and the Kalman state space model off-line. The proposed controller has the advantages of robustness, fast response and good performance. The hybrid wind diesel energy scheme with the proposed controller has been tested through a step change in both wind speed and load impedance. Simulation results show that accurate tracking performance of the proposed hybrid wind diesel energy system has been achieved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Power system stabilizer based on optimal pole shifting is proposed. An approach for shifting the real parts of the open-loop poles to any desired positions while preserving the imaginary parts is presented. In each step of this approach, it is required to solve a first-order or a second-order linear matrix Lyapunov equation for shifting one real pole or two complex conjugate poles, respectively. This presented method yields a solution, which is optimal with respect to a quadratic performance index. The attractive feature of this method is that it enables solutions of the complex problem to be easily found without solving any non-linear algebraic Riccati equation. The present power system stabilizer is based on Riccati equation approach. The control law depends on finding the feedback gain matrix, and then the control signal is synthesized by multiplying the state variables of the power system with determined gain matrix. The gain matrix is calculated one time only, and it works over wide range of operating conditions. To validate the power of the proposed PSS, a linearized model of a simple power system consisted of a single synchronous machine connected to infinite bus bar through transmission line is simulated. The studied power system is subjected to various operating points and power system parameters changes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the measles outbreak at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facility in Arizona from May to June 2016. It mentions that the first measle outbreak happened on May 25, 2016 wherein a detainee was hospitalized due to fever and generalized maculopapular rash confirmed to be measles by real-time polymerase chain reaction (rPCR). It adds that epidemiologic studies by health departments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identified 31 cases of measles.

The article focuses on the identification of plague in domestic cats in Idaho on May 30 to July 26, 2016. It provides overview of how Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes the plague, was first identified in dead Piute ground squirrels through the state's Department of Fish and Game's wildlife mortality monitoring program that lead to the notification of veterinarians in the area. It also mentions the investigation of the issue and the advisories to stop the spread of the bacteria.

During 2011 through 2015 in Idaho, 14 (7%) of 193 persons with early syphilis had repeat syphilis. Persons with repeat infections were more likely to have had secondary or early latent syphilis (P = 0.037) and be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (P < 0.001) compared with those having 1 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charging stations are regarded as the cornerstone of electric vehicle (EV) development and utilization. Electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) are now energized via standalone microgrids that utilize renewable energy sources and reduce the stress on the utility grid. However, the control and energy management of EVCSs are challenging tasks because they are nonlinear and time-varying. This study suggests a fractional-order proportional integral (FOPI) controller to improve the performance and energy management of a standalone EVCS microgrid. The microgrid is supplied mainly by photovoltaic (PV) energy and utilizes a battery as an energy storage system (ESS). The FOPI's settings are best created utilizing the grey wolf optimization (GWO) method to attain the highest performance possible. The grey wolf is run for 100 iterations using 20 wolves. In addition, after 80 iterations for the specified goal function, the GWO algorithm almost discovers the ideal values. For changes in solar insolation, the performance of the proposed FOPI controller is compared with that of a traditional PI controller. The Matlab/Simulink platform models and simulates the EVCS's microgrid. The results demonstrate that the suggested FOPI controller significantly improves the transient responsiveness of the EVCS performance compared to the standard PI controller. Despite all PV insolation disruptions, the EV battery continues to charge while the ESS battery precisely stores and balances PV energy changes. The results support the suggested FOPI control's robustness to parameter mismatches. The microgrid's efficiency fluctuations with the insolation level and state of charge of the EV battery are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distribution system planners and operators have increasingly exposed great attention to maximizing the penetration of renewable energy resources (RERs), and electric vehicles (EVs) toward modern microgrids. Accordingly, intensive operational and economic problems are expected in such microgrids. Specifically, the operators need to meet the increased demand for EVs and increase the dependence on RERs. The charging strategy for EVs and the RER penetration level may result in increased power loss, thermal loading, voltage deviation, and overall system cost. To address these concerns, this paper proposed an optimal planning approach for allocating EV charging stations with controllable charging and hybrid RERs within multi‐microgrids, where the charging strategy in the proposed planning approach contributed to improving power quality and overall system cost, where the voltage deviation, energy not supplied, total cost have been reduced to 26.03%, 49.57%, and 70.45%, respectively. The simulation results are compared with different optimization techniques to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The proposed simultaneous allocation approach of EV charging stations and RERs can reduce operating costs for RERs and conventional stations while increasing the charging stations' capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since modern power systems are susceptible to undesirable frequency oscillations caused by uncertainties in renewable energy sources (RESs) and loads, load frequency control (LFC) has a crucial role to get these systems' frequency stability back. However, existing LFC techniques may not be sufficient to confront the key challenge arising from the low-inertia issue, which is due to the integration of high-penetration RESs. Therefore, to address this issue, this study proposes an optimized intelligent fractional-order integral (iFOI) controller for the LFC of a two-area interconnected modern power system with the implementation of virtual inertia control (VIC). Here, the proposed iFOI controller is optimally designed using an efficient metaheuristic optimization technique, called the gray wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm, which provides minimum values for system frequency deviations and tie-line power deviation. Moreover, the effectiveness of the proposed optimal iFOI controller is confirmed by contrasting its performance with other control techniques utilized in the literature, such as the integral controller and FOI controller, which are also designed in this study, under load/RES fluctuations. Compared to these control techniques from the literature for several scenarios, the simulation results produced by the MATLAB software have demonstrated the efficacy and resilience of the proposed optimal iFOI controller based on the GWO. Additionally, the effectiveness of the proposed controller design in regulating the frequency of interconnected modern power systems with the application of VIC is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the goal of measles and rubella elimination by 2023 adopted by India. It further discusses about the national strategic plan for measles and rubella elimination; introducing rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) into the routine immunization program; goal of measles elimination and control of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS); and also mentions about the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

Background: Stigma toward mentally ill individuals acts as a barrier to accessing care and receiving treatment. Aim: To review current evidence pertaining to stigma toward mental illness in the Middle East in order to inform effective and sustainable interventions in this region. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search using the PubMed database and evaluated all identified studies according to specific inclusion criteria. Results: Stigma toward individuals with mental illness does exist in the Middle East. Stigmatizing attitudes are particularly high toward culturally proscribed mental illnesses like alcohol abuse and lower for other disorders such as depression and psychosis. Conclusions: We propose the following initiatives to reduce stigma toward mental illness in the Middle East: (a) educate families to enable them to support their affected relatives, (b) increase cooperation between psychiatrists and faith healers and (c) educate young people in schools to increase their awareness and understanding of mental illnesses and to combat negative stereotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporotic fractures are a major worldwide epidemic. Here, we review global variability, ethnic differences and secular changes in osteoporotic fractures. Worldwide, age-standardized incidence rates of hip fracture vary >200-fold in women and >140-fold in men when comparing the country in which incidence rates are the highest with that in which they are the lowest. Median age-standardized rates are highest in North America and Europe, followed by Asia, Middle East, Oceania, Latin America and Africa. Globally, rates of hip fracture are greater in women than in men, with an average ratio of ~2:1. The incidence of radiographic vertebral fractures is much higher than that of hip fractures, whereas the incidence rates of clinical vertebral fractures mirror hip fracture rates in most countries. Methodological challenges of defining and ascertaining vertebral fractures limit the interpretation of these data. Secular declines in hip fracture rates have been reported in populations from North America, Europe and Oceania. These declines are especially notable in women, suggesting that reproductive factors might contribute to this reduction. By contrast, hip fracture rates are increasing in parts of Asia and Latin America. Global indicators of health, education and socioeconomic status are positively correlated with fracture rates suggesting that lifestyles in developed countries might contribute to hip fracture. Improvements in fracture assessment, in particular for nonhip fractures, and identification of factors that contribute to this variability might substantially influence our understanding of osteoporotic fracture aetiology and provide new avenues for prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate in the United States peaked at 14.8% in April 2020. We examined patterns in unemployment following this peak in counties with rapid increases in COVID-19 incidence. Method: We used CDC aggregate county data to identify counties with rapid increases in COVID-19 incidence (rapid riser counties) during July 1–October 31, 2020. We used a linear regression model with fixed effect to calculate the change of unemployment rate difference in these counties, stratified by the county's social vulnerability (an indicator compiled by CDC) in the two months before the rapid riser index month compared to the index month plus one month after the index month. Results: Among the 585 (19% of U.S. counties) rapid riser counties identified, the unemployment rate gap between the most and least socially vulnerable counties widened by 0.40 percentage point (p<0.01) after experiencing a rapid rise in COVID-19 incidence. Driving the gap were counties with lower socioeconomic status, with a higher percentage of people in racial and ethnic minority groups, and with limited English proficiency. Conclusion: The widened unemployment gap after COVID-19 incidence rapid rise between the most and least socially vulnerable counties suggests that it may take longer for socially and economically disadvantaged communities to recover. Loss of income and benefits due to unemployment could hinder behaviors that prevent spread of COVID-19 (e.g., seeking healthcare) and could impede response efforts including testing and vaccination. Addressing the social needs within these vulnerable communities could help support public health response measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afghanistan is one of two countries with endemic wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1). The oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) is the predominant vaccine used for polio eradication. Although OPV has been administered in routine childhood immunization and during frequent supplementary immunization activities, WPV1 continues to circulate in Afghanistan and case incidence has been increasing since 2017. We estimated the effectiveness of OPV in Afghanistan during 2010–2020. We conducted a matched case-control analysis using acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance data from 29,370 children < 15 years with AFP onset between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020. We matched children with confirmed WPV1 (cases) with children with non-polio AFP (controls) by age at onset of paralysis (+/- 3 months), date of onset of paralysis (+/- 3 months), and province of residence, and compared their reported OPV vaccination history to estimate the effectiveness of OPV in preventing paralysis by WPV1 using conditional logistic regression. To account for changes in OPV formulations provided over the analysis period, we stratified the analysis based on dates of the global switch from trivalent OPV (tOPV) to bivalent OPV (bOPV) in April 2016. Between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020, there were 329 WPV1 cases in Afghanistan. The per-dose estimated effectiveness of OPV against WPV1 was 19% (95% CI: 15%–22%) and of ≥ 7 doses was 94% (95% CI: 90%-97%). Before the global switch from tOPV to bOPV, the per-dose estimated effectiveness of OPV was 14% (95% CI: 11%-18%) and of ≥ 7 doses was 92% (95% CI: 85%-96%). After the switch, the per-dose estimated effectiveness of OPV against WPV1 was 32% (24%-39%) and of ≥ 7 doses was 96% (95% CI: 90%-99%). OPV is highly effective in preventing paralysis by WPV1; these results indicate that continued WPV1 transmission in Afghanistan is due to failure to vaccinate, not failure of the vaccine. Although difficult to implement in parts of country, improving the administration of OPV in routine immunization and supplementary immunization activities will be critical for achieving polio eradication in Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel metaheuristic approach of sooty terns optimization algorithm (STOA) to determine the optimum parameters of model predictive control (MPC)-based deregulated load frequency control (LFC). The system structure consists of three interconnected plants with nonlinear multisources comprising wind turbine, photovoltaic model with maximum power point tracker, and superconducting magnetic energy storage under deregulated environment. The proposed objective function is the integral time absolute error (ITAE) of the deviations in frequencies and powers in tie-lines. The analysis aims at determining the optimum parameters of MPC via STOA such that ITAE is minimized. Moreover, the proposed STOA-MPC is examined under variation of the system parameters and random load disturbance. The time responses and performance specifications of the proposed STOA-MPC are compared to those obtained with MPC optimized via differential evolution, intelligent water drops algorithm, stain bower braid algorithm, and firefly algorithm. Furthermore, a practical case study of interconnected system comprising the Kuraymat solar thermal power station is analyzed based on actual recorded solar radiation. The obtained results via the proposed STOA-MPC-based deregulated LFC confirmed the competence and robustness of the designed controller compared to the other algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]