Risk perceptions of COVID-19 in Beijing: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The Chinese government has ended the "dynamic zero-COVID" policy, and residents are now living together with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Only a limited number of studies have investigated the specific content and structure of COVID-19-related risk perceptions, as well as their underlying determinants. This study measured the residents' risk perception of COVID-19 and analyzed the predictors of RP. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive questionnaire-based survey among residents mostly in Beijing, using a specially designed scale consisting of 11 items to accurately measure COVID-19 risk perceptions. We then utilized multiple linear regression analysis to investigate the factors associated with risk perceptions. Results: A total of 60,039 residents participated in the survey. Our study reveals that COVID-19-related worries are significantly influenced by other dimensions of RP (p < 0.001), except for perceived society's control of the epidemic. Several experiential and socio-demographic factors, including gender, educational level, and infectious experience, are notably correlated with all dimensions of risk perceptions of COVID-19. Conclusion: This study evaluates the specific content and structure of COVID-19-related risk perceptions, as well as their determinants. It is essential to understand the risk perceptions and health-protective behaviors of residents with diverse educational levels, incomes, and medical histories.

The pan-Canadian Tiered Pricing Framework and Chinese National Volume-Based Procurement: A comparative study using Donabedian's structure-process-outcome framework.

Background: Generic drugs have been seen as a potentially powerful way to alleviate the financial burden on patients and health care systems. Two strategies for achieving rational prices of generic drugs are tiered pricing framework and pooled purchasing power. We compare the pan-Canadian Tiered Pricing Framework (TPF) and the Chinese National Volume-Based Procurement (NVBP) as comparators to explore the similarities and differences between the two mechanisms and summarise lessons for other jurisdictions. Methods: This comparative study applies Donabedian's structure-process-outcome framework to systematically analyse the macro contexts, procedures, and long- and short-term results of each pricing mechanism, and the interactions between them. Results: Structure: TPF is an upstream initiative aimed at lowering the prices of generic drugs and increasing coverage and price consistency. NVBP is a downstream national initiative prioritised for reducing drug prices to achieve value-based purchasing. Process: By associating the number of manufacturers with price cuts, TPF leaves the choice to manufacturers to decide if they want to enter a specific market. In contrast, the Chinese government determines NVBP list and has the authority to choose manufacturer(s) with the lowest price(s). TPF provides clear price information to potential suppliers with unclear order quantity. The NVBP drug price is determined by tendering, while procurement volume is clear and massive. Outcome: The effectiveness of TPF and NVBP is similar, with both achieving a 53% price cut. Both TPF and NVBP experienced efficiency improvement since their establishment, with 98 and 86 drugs priced per year. By comparing 60 drugs covered by both programmes, the NVBP price is 57% of that of the TPF counterpart on average (1.1 to 301.6%), by purchase power parity. Conclusions: The tiered pricing scheme is feasible in regions with a stable and mature pharmaceutical market, typically seen in high-income countries, while tendering is more workable in low- and middle-income countries where the pharmaceutical market is weak and unstable. Experience in the two countries shows that a coordinated pricing mechanism involves many piecemeal interactive problems, which a sophisticated system with a robust long-range plan may address better.

The effect of water temperature on the removal of 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin by preloaded granular activated carbon.

Granular activated carbon (GAC) is widely used by drinking water treatment plants in the Great Lakes region to control 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin associated with summertime algal blooms. Recently, however, taste and odour events are being detected in the winter, but there is limited information in the literature about the effect of temperature on GAC performance. In this study, batch isotherm experiments were conducted at 4 °C, 10 °C, and 20 °C to evaluate the temperature impact on adsorption thermodynamics. Pilot-scale column tests were then performed at the same temperatures to evaluate the temperature effect on overall removal, including both thermodynamics and kinetics. The pore and surface diffusion model (PSDM) was applied to fit the experimental data of the pilot-scale column tests, which allowed the kinetic parameters to be determined at each temperature. The isotherm results showed that water temperature did not have a significant effect on the equilibrium adsorption capacity (i.e., the thermodynamics) for MIB and geosmin under the conditions tested, but the pilot tests showed an increased removal of MIB and geosmin by 20-30% at 20 °C compared to the lower temperatures. This demonstrates that water temperature has more impact on kinetics than thermodynamics. Numerical simulations showed that the overall external mass transfer coefficient, Kf', had the greatest impact on breakthrough. An exponential equation was proposed to correlate temperature and Kf', and it could be incorporated into a site-specific PSDM to predict the removals of MIB and geosmin in GAC contactors at different temperatures. The model could then be used by a utility, for example, to predict the required increase in empty bed contact time needed to control taste and odour in the winter to the same extent as in the summer.

Co-Production of Nattokinase and Poly (γ-Glutamic Acid) Under Solid-State Fermentation Using Soybean and Rice Husk

ABSTRACTThe aim of this work was to study the co-production of nattokinase and poly (γ-glutamic acid) by Bacillus subtilis natto with soybean and rice husk under solid-state fermentation (SSF). The results showed that the size of soybean particle and rice husk significantly improved the co-production of nattokinase and poly (γ-glutamic acid), yielding 2503.4 IU/gs and 320 mg/gs, respectively in the improved culture medium composed of 16.7% soybean flour and 13.3% rice husk with 70% water content. The yields increased by approximate 7- and 2-fold factor relative to their original ones. Thus, the co-production of nattokinase and poly (γ-glutamic acid) under SSF could be considered as an efficient method to exploit agro-residues for economical production of some higher-value products.