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Two series of 10% polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/polyether ether ketone (PEEK) composites reinforced with potassium titanate whisker (PTW/PTFE/PEEK) and chopped glass fiber (GF/PTFE/PEEK) were prepared and characterized. We investigated the effects of the additives on thermal stability, tribological properties, mechanical properties, and rheological behavior. The results illustrated that the mechanical properties of 10% PTFE/PEEK blend can be dramatically improved by incorporating either PTW or GF; however, the reinforcing effect of GF was found to be superior. It was found that 1% additive resulted in blends with the best tribological properties. Compared to the unmodified blend, the friction coefficient and wear rate of the 1% PTW blend decreased by 7.2% and 21%, respectively, while the corresponding values of 1% GF blend decreased by 0.66% and 51%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambient air pollution might increase the risk of obesity; however, the evidence regarding the relationship between air pollution and obesity in comparable urban and rural areas is limited. Therefore, our aim was to contrast the effect estimates of varying air pollution particulate matter on obesity between urban and rural areas. Four obesity indicators were evaluated in this study, namely, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Exposure to ambient air pollution (e.g., particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters 1.0 μm [PM 1 ], PM 2.5 , and PM 10) was estimated using satellite-based random forest models. Linear regression and logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between air pollution particulate matter and obesity. Furthermore, the effect estimates of different air pollution particulates were contrasted between urban and rural areas. A total of 36,998 participants in urban areas and 31, 256 in rural areas were included. We found positive associations between long-term exposure to PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 and obesity. Of these air pollutants, PM 2.5 had the strongest association. The results showed that the odds ratios (ORs) for general obesity were 1.8 (95% CI, 1.64 to 1.98) per interquartile range (IQR) μg/m3 increase in PM 1 , 1.89 (95% CI, 1.71 to 2.1) per IQR μg/m3 increase in PM 2.5 , and 1.74 (95% CI, 1.58 to 1.9) per IQR μg/m3 increase in PM 10. The concentrations of air pollutants were lower in rural areas, but the effects of air pollution on obesity of rural residents were higher than those of urban residents. Long-term (3 years average) exposure to ambient air pollution was associated with an increased risk of obesity. We observed regional disparities in the effects of particulate matter exposure from air pollution on the risk of obesity, with higher effect estimates found in rural areas. Air quality interventions should be prioritized not only in urban areas but also in rural areas to reduce the risk of obesity. • Long-term (3 years average) exposure to air pollutants was associated with the risk of obesity. • Compared with PM1 and PM10, PM2.5 had the strongest association. • The association between ambient air pollution particulates and obesity indicators was stronger in rural than urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza vaccination is the most cost-effective strategy for influenza prevention. Influenza vaccines have been found to be effective against symptomatic and medically attended outpatient influenza illnesses. However, there is currently a lack of data regarding the effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccines in Chongqing, China. We conducted a prospective observational test-negative design study. Outpatient and emergency cases presenting with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and available influenza reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were selected and classified as cases (positive influenza RT-PCR) or controls (negative influenza RT-PCR). A total of 7,307 cases of influenza and 7,905 control subjects were included in this study. The overall adjusted influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) was 44.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 32.5-54.2%). In the age groups of less than 6 years old, 6-18 years old, and 19-59 years old, the adjusted IVE were 32.2% (95% CI: 10.0-48.9%), 48.2% (95% CI: 30.6-61.4%), and 72.0% (95% CI: 43.6-86.1%). The adjusted IVE for H1N1, H3N2 and B (Victoria) were 71.1% (95% CI: 55.4-81.3%), 36.1% (95% CI: 14.6-52.2%) and 33.7% (95% CI: 14.6-48.5%). Influenza vaccination was effective in Chongqing from 2018 to 2022. Evaluating IVE in this area is feasible and should be conducted annually in the future.

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron subvariant has a stronger transmission capacity and faster transmission speed than the previous strain., What Is Added by This Report?: The first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.2.76 who caused local transmission was reported in Chongqing Municipality on August 16, 2022. For 35 minutes, the Patient Zero jogged along a lake at a local park without wearing a mask. Among the 2,836 people potentially exposed at the time, 39 tested positive. Overall, 38 out of 39 cases did not wear a mask on the morning of August 16. All 39 cases lacked any previous exposure to the variant before testing positive on their nucleic acid test., What Are the Implications for Public Health Practice?: It is essential to maintain personal wellbeing by ensuring one maintains personal protection and follows regulated guidelines such as maintaining safe distances from others both indoors and outdoors., Competing Interests: No conflicts of interest., (Copyright and License information: Editorial Office of CCDCW, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2022.)

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a total of 48 cases by October 15, 2021. The continuous genomic reassortments of H5N6 and other subtype avian influenza viruses (AIVs) pose a long-term threat to public health and the poultry industry., Three new cases of H5N6 that occurred from January to September 2021 in Chongqing Municipality, China were reported in this study. Epidemiological information of the three cases showed raising poultry and visiting live poultry market contributed to these infections, and there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of H5N6 currently but a potential spatial cluster. An increase of H5N6 cases was recorded in the area., What Are the Implications for Public Health Practice?: In case of unexplained pneumonia or severe respiratory infection, the patients' epidemiological history of contact with poultry or live poultry markets (LPMs) may be an important interrogation to help diagnose. Extensive and long-term surveillance of avian influenza viruses in LPMs is essential., Competing Interests: No conflicts of interest., (Copyright and License information: Editorial Office of CCDCW, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2022.)

Objective: To evaluate the influence of extreme ambient temperature on mortality and years of life lost (YLL) in Chongqing., Methods: The daily mortality, meteorology and air pollution index data in Chongqing from the 1(st) January 2010 to the 31(st) December 2013 were collected. Distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to assess the influence of daily ambient temperature on daily number of deaths and daily YLL respectively. The delayed and cumulative effects of extreme temperature on sex, age, and cause-specific mortality were also assessed., Results: The relationships between ambient temperature and non-accidental, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease mortalities and YLL were U-shaped or W-shaped. The effect of heat was obvious on that day, peaked on day 7, and lasted for two weeks, whereas the effect of cold was obvious a week later and lasted for a month. As 1 ℃ increase of ambient temperature, the cumulative relative risks (CRR) of high temperature across lag 0-7 days on non-accidental, respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease mortalities were 1.05 (95%CI: 1.03-1.07), 1.08 (95%CI: 1.05-1.11) and 1.05 (95%CI: 1.01-1.09) respectively. The effects of heat on YLL for each cause were 23.81 (95%CI: 12.31-35.31), 14.34 (95%CI: 8.98-19.70) and 4.43 (95%CI: 1.64-7.21), respectively. On cold days, 1 ℃ decrease of ambient temperature was correlated with an increase in CRR of 1.06 (95%CI: 1.04-1.08), 1.09 (95%CI:1.06-1.12) and 1.06 (95%CI: 1.02-1.11) from lag 0 to 14 for non-accidental, respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease mortalities, respectively. The estimated YLL were 23.34 (95%CI: 10.04-36.64), 16.39 (95%CI: 10.19-22.59) and 2.61 (95%CI: -0.61-5.82). People aged ≥65 years tend to have higher CRR and YLL than those aged <65 years. On high temperature days, the CRR in women was higher than that in men, while the YLL in women was lower than that in men. On low temperature days, both the CRR and YLL in women were higher than those in men., Conclusions: Both high and low ambient temperature have adverse health effects. People aged ≥65 years are more sensitive to both high and low ambient temperature. Younger men are more sensitive to high ambient temperature and women and elder men are sensitive to low ambient temperature. It is necessary to take targeted measures to protect the population in Chongqing from the adverse influence of extreme ambient temperature.