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The rapid development of coastal structures on sandy coastlines raises concerns about their impacts on the shoreline's evolution and the sediment transport dynamics. This study utilized a numerical modeling approach to simulate the multi-year response of Haikou Bay's coastline to various nearshore structures, including piers and a large artificial island. The LITLINE module of the MIKE21 (v2020) software was employed to analyze the sediment transport patterns across three distinct coastal segments. The simulation results indicated that the sediment transport directions varied significantly: from west to east in the western segment, from east to west in the middle segment, and convergence toward the center in the eastern segment, divided by a construction trestle. The net sediment transport rates were quantified as 2000 m3/year for the western segment, 8000 m3/year for the middle segment, and 13,000 m3/year (west) and 10,000 m3/year (east) for the eastern segment. Due to the conflicting sediment transport directions on each side of the breakwater, noticeable deposition occurred on both sides. The presence of the artificial island created notable deposition in its wave shadow area, while the overall impact on the shoreline changes diminished over time. These findings underscore the significant influence of human activities, particularly coastal structures, on the natural evolution of shorelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of beach recovery during a time of moderate waves following storm waves is closely related to the interaction between dynamics, sediment, and the landform. The existing studies mainly focus on the description of erosion and accretion characteristics, while the response and feedback mechanism of beach berm sediment have not been elucidated. The main controlling factors of recovery efficiency are not clear. In this paper, field observation and the XBeach numerical model are utilized on the sandy beach in Puqian Bay, China, to capture high-frequency cross-shore data during the post-storm recovery period. The variation characteristics and rules of berm elements, including berm ridge height and slope on two sides of the berm ridge, are analyzed. It is observed that the berm constantly changes to adapt to dynamic conditions. Additionally, a correlation between volume change and certain landform parameters is proposed, leading to the identification of a new relationship in wave run-up. The new forum reflects berm influence and considers the berm ridge and berm width. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitivity of fluorescent sensors is crucial for their applications. In this study, we propose a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-coated optical fibre–hybrid waveguide-fibre sensing structure for ultrasensitive fluorescence detection. In such a structure, the MIP coated-hybrid waveguide acts as a sensing probe, and the two co-axially connected optical fibres act as a highly efficient probing light launcher and a fluorescence signal collector, respectively. For the dual-layered waveguide sensing probe, the inner hybrid waveguide core was fabricated using a hollow quartz nanoparticle–hybridized polymer composite with a low refractive index, and the outer MIP coating layer possesses a high refractive index. Simulations showed that this dual-layer configuration can cause light propagation from the waveguide core to the MIP sensing layer with an efficiency of 98%, which is essential for detection. To validate this concept, we adopted a popular fluorescent dye, rhodamine B, to evaluate the sensing characteristics of the proposed system. We achieved an extremely low limit of detection of approximately 1.3 × 10−19 g ml−1 (approximately 0.27 aM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and efficient five-step synthetic route, including a Biginelli reaction, dehydrogenation, chlorination, sulfonamidation, and reduction, for the core of Rosuvastatin was established. All steps were systematically studied. Tert-butylhydroperoxide aqueous solution was applied in the dehydrogenation instead of nitric acid. N,N-dimethylaniline was employed as a catalyst to accelerate the chlorination proceeding smoothly, and its catalytic mechanism is discussed. In the sulfonamidation, the conversion of compound 5 was obviously improved by use of NaH and acetonitrile. In addition, two sulfonamidation side products 6 and 7 were detected and isolated. Thus, under the optimized reaction conditions, the target product was obtained in 60.4% total yield, much higher than the reported yield (36.4%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalization in US infants. Accurate estimates of severe RSV disease inform policy decisions for RSV prevention., Methods: We conducted prospective surveillance for children <5 years old with acute respiratory illness from 2016 to 2020 at 7 pediatric hospitals. We interviewed parents, reviewed medical records, and tested midturbinate nasal ± throat swabs by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for RSV and other respiratory viruses. We describe characteristics of children hospitalized with RSV, risk factors for ICU admission, and estimate RSV-associated hospitalization rates., Results: Among 13 524 acute respiratory illness inpatients <5 years old, 4243 (31.4%) were RSV-positive; 2751 (64.8%) of RSV-positive children had no underlying condition or history of prematurity. The average annual RSV-associated hospitalization rate was 4.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8-4.1) per 1000 children <5 years, was highest among children 0 to 2 months old (23.8 [95% CI: 22.5-25.2] per 1000) and decreased with increasing age. Higher RSV-associated hospitalization rates were found in premature versus term children (rate ratio = 1.95 [95% CI: 1.76-2.11]). Risk factors for ICU admission among RSV-positive inpatients included: age 0 to 2 and 3 to 5 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.97 [95% CI: 1.54-2.52] and aOR = 1.56 [95% CI: 1.18-2.06], respectively, compared with 24-59 months), prematurity (aOR = 1.32 [95% CI: 1.08-1.60]) and comorbid conditions (aOR = 1.35 [95% CI: 1.10-1.66])., Conclusions: Younger infants and premature children experienced the highest rates of RSV-associated hospitalization and had increased risk of ICU admission. RSV prevention products are needed to reduce RSV-associated morbidity in young infants., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

SARS-CoV-2 infection in young children is often mild or asymptomatic; however, some children are at risk for severe disease. Data describing the protective effectiveness of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines against COVID-19-associated emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization in this population are limited. Data from the New Vaccine Surveillance Network, a prospective population-based surveillance system, were used to estimate vaccine effectiveness using a test-negative, case-control design and describe the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in infants and children aged 6 months-4 years during July 1, 2022-September 30, 2023. Among 7,434 children included, 5% received a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result, and 95% received a negative test result; 86% were unvaccinated, 4% had received 1 dose of any vaccine product, and 10% had received ≥2 doses. When compared with receipt of no vaccines among children, receipt of ≥2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine doses was 40% effective (95% CI = 8%-60%) in preventing ED visits and hospitalization. These findings support existing recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination of young children to reduce COVID-19-associated ED visits and hospitalization., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Janet A. Englund reports institutional support from AstraZeneca, GSK, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Merck & Co. and consulting fees from Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Ark Biopharma, Meissa Vaccines, Moderna, Sanofi Pasteur, Shinogi, GSK, and Pfizer-BioNTech. John V. Williams reports institutional support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and compensation for service on Quidel’s Scientific Advisory Board through 2022 and on GSK’s Independent Data Monitoring Committee. Marian G. Michaels reports support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, and Merck & Co.; receipt of lecture honoraria from the Transplant Alliance; support for meeting attendance from NIH, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Transplant Alliance, the American Society of Transplantation, and the International Transplant Nurses Association; participation on a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Data Safety Monitoring Board; and services as Chair of the Infectious Diseases Committee of the International Pediatric Transplant Association. Geoffrey A. Weinberg reports institutional support from the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute and honoraria from Merck & Co. for writing and editing textbook chapters in the Merck & Co. Manual. Natasha B. Halasa reports grants from Sanofi, Quidel, and Merck & Co. Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker reports institutional support from NIH and Pfizer-BioNTech, support for attending a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society meeting, uncompensated service on NIH Data Safety Monitoring Board, honorarium for service on Sanofi Pasteur advisory board, uncompensated membership in the World Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and uncompensated service as committee chair for the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Mary Allen Staat reports institutional support from NIH, Merck & Co., Cepheid, and Pfizer-BioNTech and receipt of royalties from UpToDate. Peter G. Szilagyi reports a grant to the University of Rochester (subcontract to University of California at Los Angeles) No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

The New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) is a prospective, active, population-based surveillance platform that enrolls children with acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) at seven pediatric medical centers. ARIs are caused by respiratory viruses including influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), and most recently SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), which result in morbidity among infants and young children (1-6). NVSN estimates the incidence of pathogen-specific pediatric ARIs and collects clinical data (e.g., underlying medical conditions and vaccination status) to assess risk factors for severe disease and calculate influenza and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. Current NVSN inpatient (i.e., hospital) surveillance began in 2015, expanded to emergency departments (EDs) in 2016, and to outpatient clinics in 2018. This report describes demographic characteristics of enrolled children who received care in these settings, and yearly circulation of influenza, RSV, HMPV, HPIV1-3, adenovirus, human rhinovirus and enterovirus (RV/EV),* and SARS-CoV-2 during December 2016-August 2021. Among 90,085 eligible infants, children, and adolescents (children) aged <18 years † with ARI, 51,441 (57%) were enrolled, nearly 75% of whom were aged <5 years; 43% were hospitalized. Infants aged <1 year accounted for the largest proportion (38%) of those hospitalized. The most common pathogens detected were RV/EV and RSV. Before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, detected respiratory viruses followed previously described seasonal trends, with annual peaks of influenza and RSV in late fall and winter (7,8). After the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and implementation of associated pandemic nonpharmaceutical interventions and community mitigation measures, many respiratory viruses circulated at lower-than-expected levels during April 2020-May 2021. Beginning in summer 2021, NVSN detected higher than anticipated enrollment of hospitalized children as well as atypical interseasonal circulation of RSV. Further analyses of NVSN data and continued surveillance are vital in highlighting risk factors for severe disease and health disparities, measuring the effectiveness of vaccines and monoclonal antibody-based prophylactics, and guiding policies to protect young children from pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Janet A. Englund reports support from AstraZeneca, GSK (GlaxoSmithKline), and Pfizer, Inc., and consulting fees from Sanofi Pasteur, Meissa Vaccines, and AstraZeneca. Natasha B. Halasa reports grant support from Sanofi Pasteur and Quidel and an education grant from Genetech. Christopher J. Harrison reports institutional support from GSK, Merck, and Pfizer, Inc., and honoraria from Pediatric News. Rangaraj Selvarangan reports grants from Hologic, BioFire Diagnostics, Becton Dickinson, Luminex, and Cepheid and serves on the GSK advisory board. Geoffrey A. Weinberg reports consulting fees from ReViral and honoraria from Merck for writing textbook chapters in the Merck Manual. John V. Williams reports grant support from the National Institutes of Health (for work unrelated to the report), consulting fees from Quidel’s scientific advisory board, and honorarium from the Infectious Disease of Children for a conference presentation, participation on a GSK independent data monitoring committee and on a data safety monitoring board for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases IMPAACT Study. No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Abrin is a toxic protein found in the jequirity seed. L-Abrine (N-methyl-tryptophan) is also found in the jequirity seed and can be used as a biomarker for abrin exposure. Analysis of L-abrine was added to an existing method for quantifying ricinine as a marker for ricin exposure in human urine and analytically validated. Accuracy and reproducibility were enhanced by including a newly synthesized (13)C(1)(2)H(3)-L-abrine internal standard. One-milliliter urine samples were processed using solid-phase extraction prior to a 6-min high-performance liquid chromatography separation. Protonated molecular ions were formed via electrospray ionization in a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer and quantified via multiple reaction monitoring. Method validation included the characterization of two enriched urine pools, which were used as quality control materials. Endogenous levels of L-abrine were quantified in a reference range of 113 random urine samples at 0.72 +/- 0.51 ng/mL. Urinary concentrations of L-abrine were monitored in an intentional rat exposure study for up to 48 h. Comparing the results from the human reference range and the animal exposure study indicates that this method is suitable for quantifying L-abrine within 24 h post-exposure. Quantification of L-abrine beyond 24 h is limited by rapid excretion of the biomarker and the level of the L-abrine dose.