Search

The vegetation of the ecological substrate plays a crucial role in restoring shoreline ecology. This study focused on using zeolite and biochar as substrate modifiers, specifically utilizing the Cynodon dactylon from Central China for vegetation. A pot vegetation experiment was carried out to compare the effects of different ratios of zeolite and biochar. The vegetation indices, including germination index, plant height, and coverage rate, were analyzed and discussed. The results revealed that zeolite primarily influenced the germination index of Cynodon dactylon, while biochar had a more significant impact on germination percentage, germination energy, plant height, and coverage rate. This study discovered that the seed germination effect of the improved substrate initially increased with zeolite content and then decreased. The average germination percentage was 63.96%. Conversely, it decreased with an increase in biochar content, resulting in an average germination percentage of 55.45%. Zeolite and biochar caused a decrease and increase in substrate pH by −0.11 and 0.4 on average, respectively. The germination of each substrate showed a negative correlation with pH. Additionally, the average coverage and plant height decreased with an increase in biochar content. However, the inclusion of 6% zeolite led to an increase in coverage and plant height. Specifically, the average plant height increased by 3.92 cm and the coverage by 7.48%. Our research identified the optimal ratio of zeolite and biochar as 6% zeolite and 0% biochar, showcasing good overall vegetative properties. These findings offer insights for further understanding the vegetative effects of zeolite–biochar-modified substrates and optimizing substrate schemes for ecological vegetation projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a column experiment was employed to evaluate the nuclide migration behavior in the surrounding rock medium of a near-surface disposal site in China and to investigate the advection–dispersion behavior of tritium (H-3) and plutonium-238 (Pu-238) in highly weathered argillaceous shale. A reasonable numerical model was selected to fit the experimental breakthrough curves (BTCs) and to obtain the relevant migration parameters. The results show the following: (1) the internal structure of the highly weathered argillaceous shale exhibited heterogeneity, and the nuclide migration BTC showed characteristics of a "curve peak moving forward" and a "tail curve trailing"; (2) compared with other models, the stream tube mode could better fit the BTCs and obtain the average dispersion coefficient , average distribution coefficient d>, and other parameters; (3) compared to the results of the batch experiment, the distribution coefficient Kd obtained from the column experiment was smaller than that obtained from the batch experiment, which is speculated to be due to the influence of contact time and the contact area between the nuclide and the medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tamusu area is the primary pre-selection site of clayrock disposal repository for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in China. However, the research on the migration behavior of nuclides in Tamusu clayrock is still in its infancy. For the first time in laboratory, the diffusion behavior of Re(VII) in Tamusu clayrock core was studied by means of through-diffusion method. The effects of pH, ionic strength and humic acid on the diffusion behavior of Re(VII) in clayrock were studied. The effective diffusion coefficient, apparent diffusion coefficient and rock capacity factor value were obtained. All the experimental conditions of Re(VII) diffusion in Tamusu clayrock are compared with other geological samples under the same conditions in literature data. The diffusion mechanism of radionuclide in Tamusu clay is discussed, which can provide experimental data for site selection and safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste repository in China. The experimental results showed an effective application and reference for the countries disposed HLW in mudrocks or clayrocks, such as France, Belgium etc. in Europe. Moreover, this research can provide the original data support for the metallogenic regularity and prospecting prognosis of rare element rhenium in different geological environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clay rock in the Tamusu (TMS) area in the Inner Mongolia province is one candidate as a geological disposal site for highly radioactive waste in China. The diffusion behavior of HTO and Se(IV) in Tamusu clay rock was studied by through-diffusion (TD) experiments and numerical analysis to determine the spatial and temporal variation. A minimum error analysis was conducted to determine the HTO and Se(IV) diffusion coefficients in compacted TMS clay. The TD experimental results and numerical analysis showed that the diffusion of HTO and Se reached a steady state within 7 and 50 days, respectively, and the apparent diffusion coefficients (Da) decreased with the increases in the compacted density. In fact, there was retardation of Se diffusion in intact TMS clay rock. A two-site sorption model for Se was applied to simulate fast and slow sorption behavior quantitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: There are limited studies comparing the health utility values of EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 within the same patient cohorts. The widespread transmission and recurring infections associated with Omicron variants amid the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in substantial health detriments and increased utilisation of health care resources. This highlights the crucial need to assess the loss in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Therefore, this study aims to compare the ceiling and floor effects, agreement, correlation and responsiveness between EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 based on COVID-19 patients during the Omicron outbreak in China., Methods: We recruited 694 COVID-19 patients across mainland China to participant in an online questionnaire survey from January to February 2023. The questionnaire encompassed queries concerning the sociodemographic and health details of the participants, who were requested to recollect their health status during and after experiencing COVID-19 using the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 questionnaires. Epanechnikov kernel density plots were used to visualise the ceiling and floor effects for both instruments. Agreement was assessed by Bland-Altman graph and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Correlation was evaluated using linear regression, Pearson's correlation and Spearman's correlation. The standardised response mean (SRM) and relative efficiency (RE) were used to examine the responsiveness of EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 at detecting the health improvement after COVID-19 infection and the difference in dichotomous health indicators., Results: In total, 648 valid responses from patients aged 35.6 ± 15.0 years were involved in analysis. The EQ-5D-5L utility indices were 0.58 ± 0.33 and 0.92 ± 0.14 during and after COVID-19 infection, respectively, which were significantly higher than indices of the SF-6Dv2 utility (0.43 ± 0.31 and 0.81 ± 0.19, p < 0.001). A ceiling effect of EQ-5D-5L larger than that of SF-6Dv2 was observed during COVID-19 infection (49.5% vs 21.6%). Intraclass correlation coefficients between EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 during and after COVID-19 infection were 0.69 and 0.55, respectively. The utility indices of EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 were highly correlated, with Pearson's correlation coefficients of 0.76 and 0.70 (p < 0.001) during and after COVID-19 infection, respectively. The spearman's correlations were moderate to high between dimensions of EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 (p < 0.01). Both EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 were responsive to detect health improvement after COVID-19 and the differences in dichotomous health indicators., Conclusions: The utility indices generated by EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 in COVID-19 patients demonstrate strong correlation and responsiveness. However, the agreement between these two instruments does not reach a satisfactory level. Consequently, these two measures cannot be used interchangeably. In situations where apprehensions about ceiling effects affecting outcome measurement arise, it is advisable to consider SF-6Dv2 as a preferable outcome measure for studies on patients with COVID-19., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Introduction: BNT162b1 is a lipid nanoparticle-formulated, nucleoside-modified mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Here, we report safety and immune persistence data following a primary two-dose vaccination schedule administered 21 days apart., Methods: Immune persistence was determined at month 3 in 72 younger participants (aged 18-55 years) and at month 6 in 70 younger and 69 older participants (aged 65-85 years)., Results: In younger participants, neutralizing antibody (nAb) geometric mean titers (GMTs) for the 10 and 30 µg dose levels declined from 233 and 254 (21 days after dose 2) to 55 and 87 at month 3, respectively, and to 16 and 27 at month 6, respectively. In older participants, nAb GMTs declined from 80 and 160 (21 days after dose 2) to 10 and 21 at month 6. Overall, higher antibody titers were observed in younger participants, and the 30 µg dose induced higher levels of nAb, which declined more slowly by month 6. No serious adverse events were reported in the vaccine group., Conclusion: This study showed BNT162b1 maintains a favorable safety profile in younger and older participants in the 6 months after vaccination. This study further extends our understanding of immune persistence and the safety of the BNT162b1 vaccine as a candidate vaccine in the BioNTech pipeline., Trial Registration Number: NCT04523571, registered August 21, 2020., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Healthcare Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

An effective vaccine is needed to end the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Here, we assess the preliminary safety, tolerability and immunogenicity data from an ongoing single-center (in Jiangsu province, China), parallel-group, double-blind phase 1 trial of the vaccine candidate BNT162b1 in 144 healthy SARS-CoV-2-naive Chinese participants. These participants are randomized 1:1:1 to receive prime and boost vaccinations of 10 µg or 30 µg BNT162b1 or placebo, given 21 d apart, with equal allocation of younger (aged 18-55 years) and older adults (aged 65-85 years) to each treatment group (ChiCTR2000034825). BNT162b1 encodes the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein receptor-binding domain (RBD) and is one of several messenger RNA-based vaccine candidates under clinical investigation. Local reactions and systemic events were generally dose dependent, transient and mild to moderate. Fever was the only grade 3 adverse event. BNT162b1 induced robust interferon-γ T cell responses to a peptide pool including the RBD in both younger and older Chinese adults, and geometric mean neutralizing titers reached 2.1-fold (for younger participants) and 1.3-fold (for the older participants) that of a panel of COVID-19 convalescent human sera obtained at least 14 d after positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test. In summary, BNT162b1 has an acceptable safety profile and produces high levels of humoral and T cell responses in an Asian population.

Background: Compared with 10 years ago when our last survey was completed, the number of respiratory therapists (RTs) has increased markedly in mainland China. In addition, the education systems for RTs and the working environment have also changed. We aimed to describe the current status of respiratory care in mainland China., Methods: A nationwide survey was initiated from August 15, 2016, to September 2, 2016, through network platforms., Results: We obtained responses from 196 RTs, of whom, 30.6% graduated from a bachelor's degree program, 25.5% graduated from an associate's degree program, and 43.9% were nurses who transitioned to be RTs through 6-month on-the-job training programs. Among the 3 groups, no significant differences existed in the basic job responsibility, such as mechanical ventilation and aerosol therapy; however, bachelor's degree RT graduates participated more in bronchoscopy assistance (96% vs 78%, P = .002), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation management (42% vs 25%, P = .02), and pulmonary ultrasound (40% vs 15%, P < .001). There was no RT certification or licensure in mainland China at the time of the survey, so only 23% of bachelor's degree graduates and 42% of associate's degree graduates received a license through other professions. For the respondents' opinions on the obstacles of respiratory care profession development, the lack of licensure was a profound barrier for both degree graduates, whereas on-the-job training RTs deemed that insufficient recognition of the value of the respiratory care profession was the main obstacle., Conclusions: In mainland China, degree programs for students and on-the-job training for Experienced ICU nurses were 2 major ways to train RTs. The absence of credential and/or licensure and the lack of recognition of the value of an RT were deemed as the 2 key obstacles in the development of respiratory care profession., Competing Interests: The authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2018 by Daedalus Enterprises.)