Post-introduction evaluation (PIE) of rotavirus vaccine in India.

Background: India became the first country in the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) to introduce the rotavirus vaccine (RVV) in the Universal immunization programme (UIP) in 2016 with nationwide expansion by 2019. It was a landmark move to reduce the diarrheal disease burden in under-five children. To assess the implementation process of introduction of RVV, Post Introduction Evaluation (PIE) was conducted in March 2022. Methods: The evaluation was conducted across 14 states, 28 districts and 28 health facilities to obtain a nationwide geographical inclusion. Stakeholders involved in program decision-making, planning, training, vaccine delivery, logistics, and communication from all levels (National, state, district, health facility, health worker, caregiver) were interviewed using standardized data collection tool for PIE (adapted from the standard WHO PIE questionnaire) and scripted on a digital tool. Results: A total of 260 interviews were conducted. Political willingness, well-planned preparedness activities, securing vaccines timely, strong supply chain monitoring, availability of domestic RVV products, quality trainings and intense communication activities were the key factors identified for the successful RVV introduction. Key activities during the introduction included cold chain space assessment, trainings of healthcare workforce, dissemination of job aids, updation of recording & reporting formats and strengthening of AEFI surveillance. Lack of community awareness for immunization in a few areas, fear of AEFI amongst some caregivers and local issues with Alternate Vaccine Delivery (AVD) were some reported challenges in achieving high coverage for RVV. Conclusions: Overall, the nationwide roll-out of RVV was smooth and the vaccine has been well-accepted in the community. The assessment emphasizes on having a well-strategized operational and communication planning, which is very crucial for any new vaccine introduction.

Unclear host taxonomy hinders parasite studies: An up-to-date checklist of the protozoan and metazoan parasites of Phoxinus minnows (Teleostei: Leuciscidae).

Phoxinus minnows are small freshwater fish found throughout Eurasia. The taxonomy of this genus is still under investigation, and new species are regularly described. They are frequently introduced outside their native range due to their use as live bait for angling, and such fish introductions can have diverse impacts on the recipient areas. Before the rise in interest regarding the diversity of this genus in the past 15 years, studies carried out on their biology and ecology reported their findings for the Eurasian minnow Phoxinus phoxinus Linnaeus, 1758, which was then considered ubiquitous. A parasites checklist for Phoxinus minnows has yet to be published, and the recent progress on the taxonomy of this genus has enabled us to propose a reassignment of parasite records to their proper host. The most thoroughly studied potential species were the North European species Phoxinus sp. 7 sensu Palandacic et al. 2017, Phoxinus isetensis, and P. phoxinus. We were able to highlight a gap in knowledge for numerous species that have received little-to-no attention in terms of parasitology. Systematic molecular identification of Phoxinus minnows should be conducted when studying their parasites, as a reliable identification of the host is vital in parasitology research. Future research will certainly reveal a species-specific composition of the parasitofauna occurring in Phoxinus, especially among widespread parasites such as Gyrodactylus and Diplostomum. Such specificities could even become tools for assessing the introduction routes of Phoxinus species.

Merging ecology and control of vectors as a strategy to reduce zoonotic risks: An introduction to the special issue.

This is the introductory paper to the special issue "Merging ecology and control of vectors as a strategy to reduce zoonotic risks: an introduction to the Special Issue".

Food texture experiences across nine age groups in Indian infants from urban areas.

The introduction of complementary food plays a fundamental role in dietary behaviours later in life. Little is known about the influences of age on food texture acceptance in young Indian children. Thus, the objective of this cross-sectional study was to describe the relationship between age and food texture experiences in young children aged 4-36 months in India from urban areas using a parental-reported survey. This study relies on a face-to-face parent survey, which was conducted comprising 306 children categorised into 9 age groups. Questions focussed on food texture experience considering 16 textures were analysed. Textures such as dissolvable, sticky, and soupy/liquidy were already accepted by more than half of 4-5-month-old infants. In India, soupy/liquidy is a more common base texture than pureed. Indeed, pureed was found to be introduced to a majority of infants only from 8 to 9 months onwards. Food textures such as rubbery, slippery, and foods with skin were more likely rejected by the youngest children. With increasing age, the refusal probability of food textures decreased. Our survey showed food texture experiences in Indian children aged from 4 to 36 months. It provides useful insights for parents and healthcare professionals by contributing to the understanding of texture acceptance during the transition to complementary foods.

Exotic plants introduction changed soil nutrient cycle and symbiotic relationship with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in wetland ecological projects.

In the process of applying exotic plants to wetland ecological restoration, insufficiently evaluated alien species may exhibit strong competitiveness and fecundity. Once introduced, they can displace native flora, disrupt the original ecological balance, diminish biodiversity, and even induce ecosystem dysfunction. Furthermore, exotic plants have the potential to alter soil microbial community structure, including the composition and activity of beneficial symbiotic microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), thereby impacting soil nutrient cycling and interplant nutrient competition. Here, we conducted three consecutive years of sampling experiments to investigate the succession of AMF communities associated with the invasive plant Spartina alterniflora along an initial introduction chronosequence, and to identify the key environmental factors influencing its response to S. alterniflora invasion. Our findings reveal that early-stage invasion by S. alterniflora alters the composition of soil AMF communities with unclassified_c__Glomeromycetes and Glomus-viscosum-VTX00063 consistently dominating. Additionally, as the duration of introduction increases, the diversity of rhizosphere soil AMF significantly decreases, while its evenness remains relatively stable. It's indicated that soil ω, AN, AK and N/P ratio were the main influencing factors of the integral AMF community. Notably, soil available phosphorus (AP) emerges as a positive influence on the important AMF taxa. The results confirm the mutual feedback effect between the invasion of the perennial herb S. alterniflora and AMF, in which specific AMF assist in nutrient absorption to promote S. alterniflora growth, potentially facilitating its rapid and successful invasion of new habitats. Given the likely differential effects of AMF communities on various plant species, our findings could contribute to anticipating future AMF-mediated effects during the introduction of alien plants.

Niche modelling and landscape genetics of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina): An integrative approach for evaluating central-marginal population dynamics in Europe.

Genetic diversity is an important biological trait for a successful invasion. During the expansion across a new territory, an invasive species may face unprecedented ecological conditions that will determine its demography and genetic diversity. The first record of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) in Europe dates back to 2004 in France, from where it has successfully spread through a large territory in the continent, including Italy, Spain and Portugal. Integrative approaches offer a powerful strategy to detect and understand patterns of genetic variation in central and marginal populations. Here, we have analysed the relationship between genetic diversity parameters inferred from 15 V. velutina nuclear DNA microsatellite loci, and geographical and environmental drivers, such as the distance to the introduction focus, environmental suitability and distance to native and invasive niche centroids. Our results revealed a central-marginal dynamic, where allelic richness decreased towards the edge of the expansion range. The low environmental suitability of the territories invaded by marginal populations could prevent a diverse population from establishing and reducing the genetic diversity in populations at the expansion edge. Moreover, Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis showed both geographical and environmental distances were influencing population genetic differentiation. This study highlights the importance of combining genetic analysis with geographical and environmental drivers to understand genetic trends of invasive species to new environment.

Synthesis and Flame Retardant Behavior of Phosphorous- and Nitrogen-Containing Copolymer and Its Application in Polypropylene.

In this study, a 4-(hydroxymethyl)-2,6,7-trioxa-1-phosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-oxide (PEPA)-functionalized acrylate monomer, PEPAA, is designed and utilized for the synthesis of macromolecular flame retardants poly(PEPAA-co-AM) with varying PEPAA/AM ratio through copolymerization with acrylamide (AM). The poly(PEPAA-co-AM) is then incorporated into polypropylene (PP) to prepare PP/poly(PEPAA-co-AM) composites. The flame retardant effect of poly(PEPAA-co-AM) on PP is investigated using cone calorimetric test (CCT), and compared with that of PEPAA homopolymer (P-PEPAA), AM homopolymer (PAM), and blends of P-PEPAA/PAM. The results demonstrate that, in comparison with P-PEPAA, PAM, and blends of P-PEPAA/PAM, the incorporation of poly(PEPAA-co-AM) significantly enhances the flame retardancy of PP. Notably, the best flame retardancy is achieved when the ratio of PEPAA/AM copolymerization in poly(PEPAA-co-AM) is 2/8. The morphology and composition of residual chars from combustion are analyzed using SEM-EDS while the residual graphitization degree is examined through Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, TG-FTIR-MS is utilized to investigate the pyrolysis products in gas phase during thermal decomposition of poly(PEPAA-co-AM). Based on these experimental results, a flame retardant mechanism for poly(PEPAA-co-AM) is proposed. The PP/poly(PEPAA-co-AM) composites not only retain the excellent processing properties of pure PP but also exhibit enhanced mechanical properties.

Congenital Rubella Syndrome Does Not Increase with Introduction of Rubella-Containing Vaccine.

Rubella infection is typically mild or asymptomatic except when infection occurs during pregnancy. Infection in early pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital rubella syndrome. Only individuals that are still susceptible to rubella infection during child-bearing age are vulnerable to this burden. Rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) is safe and effective, providing life-long immunity. However, average age-at-infection increases with increasing vaccination coverage, which could potentially lead to increased disease burden if the absolute risk of infection during child-bearing age increases. The dynamics of rubella transmission were explored using EMOD, a software tool for building stochastic, agent-based infection models. Simulations of pre-vaccine, endemic transmission of rubella virus introduced RCV at varying levels of coverage to determine the expected future trajectories of disease burden. Introducing RCV reduces both rubella virus transmission and disease burden for a period of around 15 years. Increased disease burden is only possible more than a decade post-introduction, and only for contexts with persistently high transmission intensity. Low or declining rubella virus transmission intensity is associated with both greater burden without vaccination and greater burden reduction with vaccination. The risk of resurgent burden due to incomplete vaccination only exists for locations with persistently high infectivity, high connectivity, and high fertility. A trade-off between the risk of a small, future burden increase versus a large, immediate burden decrease strongly favors RCV introduction.

Prevalence and Determinants of Food Allergy in the Era of Early Allergen Introduction: the EarlyNuts Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Infant feeding guidelines in Australia changed in 2016 to recommend introducing common allergy-causing foods by age 1 year to prevent food allergy. Although most Australian infants now eat peanut and egg by age 6 months, some still develop food allergy despite the early introduction of allergens. OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of food allergy in a cohort recruited after introducing the nationwide allergy prevention recommendations; identify characteristics of infants who developed allergy despite early introduction of allergens; and estimate the causal effect of modifiable exposures on food allergy prevalence and whether this differed between infants who were introduced to allergens before or after age 6 months. METHODS: We recruited a population-based sample of 12-month-old infants in Melbourne, Australia. Infants had skin prick tests to four foods and parents completed questionnaires. Infants with evidence of sensitization were offered oral food challenges. Prevalence estimates were adjusted using inverse probability weighting. RESULTS: In a cohort of infants (n = 1,420) in which nearly all infants had been introduced to common allergens such as egg, milk, and peanut by age 1 year, the prevalence of food allergy remained high at 11.3% (95% CI, 9.6-13.4). Infants who developed food allergy despite introduction of the allergen by age 6 months were more likely to have Asian-born parents. Early-onset moderate or severe eczema was associated with an increased odds of food allergy irrespective of whether allergens were introduced before or after age 6 months. Among infants who were introduced to peanut at age 6 months or earlier, antibiotic use by age 6 months was associated with an increased odds of peanut allergy (adjusted odds ratio = 6.03; 95% CI, 1.15-31.60). CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort in which early allergen introduction was common, the prevalence of food allergy remained high. Infants who developed food allergy despite introduction of the respective allergen by age 6 months were more likely to have had Asian parents and early-onset eczema. New interventions are needed for infants with a phenotype of food allergy that is not amenable to early allergen introduction.

Implementing a clinical decision support tool to increase early peanut introduction guidance.

BACKGROUND: General pediatric providers are the front line for early peanut introduction discussions, but many providers believe that they are ill-equipped to handle such discussions, as the guidelines have changed quickly. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that a clinical decision support (CDS) tool could improve discussions of peanut introduction. METHODS: CDS tools were designed by stakeholders, improved through usability testing, and integrated into the current note templates. On the basis of queries of electronic health records, we did a preperformance versus postperformance evaluation of conversations regarding peanut introduction, barriers to peanut introduction, and percentage of 12-month well-child checkups (WCCs) that resulted in successful introduction of peanut. Providers completed surveys before and after intervention to assess their awareness of early peanut introduction and comfort using the CDS tools. RESULTS: Providers' awareness of early peanut introduction guidelines increased from 17.8% to 66.7% after the CDS tool was implemented; 79.1% of the providers were comfortable using the tool. The CDS tool improved peanut introduction conversations at the 4-month WCC from 2.4% to 81.2%, at the 6-month WCC from 3.0% to 84.2%, and at the 12-month WCC from 2.7% to 82.9%. In all, 56.6% of families had a plan to introduce peanut at the 4-month WCC. Of those who did not have a plan, the most common barrier was the family's unawareness of the benefits of early peanut introduction. At the 12-month WCC, 62.8% of families had introduced peanut without concerns. CONCLUSION: A point-of-care CDS tool encouraged more discussions of early peanut introduction between general pediatric providers and all patients. CDS tools should be considered in quality improvement projects as an implementation method for the most up-to-date guidelines.

Nonnative pest establishment: Spatial patterns and public detection.

Early detection of new pests can reduce their long-term impacts by enabling more rapid management response. Knowledge of pest establishment risk and background rates of detection (e.g., by the public) can help inform more cost-effective targeting of formal early detection survey programs. Here we quantify county-level locational attributes associated with pest establishment and detection by the public using data for 113 new pest incursions detected in the United States from 2010 through 2018. Aligning with expectations, we find a higher likelihood of new pest establishment in counties with higher human population numbers, nearer to ports (<250 km), and with amenable climate characteristics. Controlling for potential sample selection issues, we find that pests are less likely to be first detected by the public (e.g., homeowners, community members) versus by other sources (e.g., agency surveys, researchers, or agricultural operators) in counties with higher total crop sales values and lower human population number. The negative association between public detection and high agricultural values may reflect greater survey efforts by other sources (e.g., by agency surveillance programs, researchers, and agricultural operators) in high-value agricultural areas. The positive association between public detection and human population size may reflect larger numbers of public detectors (i.e., people) available to encounter the pests. Our models provide spatially explicit estimates of the likelihood of new pest establishment across U.S. counties and of the likelihood that an established pest would first be detected by the public. These estimates can serve as quantitative inputs to decision-support activities for new pest surveillance planning.

Predicting the risk of invasion by broadleaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) in mainland Portugal.

Broadleaf water milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) is an emerging invasive alien plant in Europe, and thus a priority for European Union (EU)-level surveillance, monitoring, and eradication. This species is native to North America and threatens aquatic ecosystems by creating dense stands that can fill an entire water body, leading to high economic costs and the loss of native biodiversity. Although its presence in Portugal is not reported, the species has already been established in several European countries, including neighboring Spain. In this study, we assessed the risk of invasion by this species in mainland Portugal by jointly considering environmentally suitable areas and the risk of human-mediated introduction. Environmental suitability was estimated using MaxEnt, which relates the known species distribution to climate, topography, and soil variables. The model achieved a mean area under the curve value of 0.96 ± 0.008 and identified the mean temperature of the warmest quarter as the most relevant variable for explaining the species distribution (67.2 %). Predictions from the model indicated that the peaks of suitability values were distributed mainly in temperate climate regions along central and northern coastal areas in Portugal. The risk of introduction was estimated by mapping and calculating the spatial density of the aquarium stores. Jointly considering environmental suitability and risk of introduction, we observed that hotspots at risk of invasion are concentrated on the Portuguese central and northern coasts and in the two main metropolitan areas, Lisbon and Porto. Several risk hotspots fall within protected areas and sites designated under the EU Habitats Directive, comprising water bodies of high significance for maintaining local vegetation and fauna. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to reduce the risk of invasion by this species, namely, surveillance and monitoring efforts confirming its absence in the national territory and preventing its future arrival.

Modeling transmission of avian influenza viruses at the human-animal-environment interface in Cuba.

Introduction: The increasing geographical spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) is of global concern due to the underlying zoonotic and pandemic potential of the virus and its economic impact. An integrated One Health model was developed to estimate the likelihood of Avian Influenza (AI) introduction and transmission in Cuba, which will help inform and strengthen risk-based surveillance activities. Materials and methods: The spatial resolution used for the model was the smallest administrative district ("Consejo Popular"). The model was parameterised for transmission from wild birds to poultry and pigs (commercial and backyard) and then to humans. The model includes parameters such as risk factors for the introduction and transmission of AI into Cuba, animal and human population densities; contact intensity and a transmission parameter (ß). Results: Areas with a higher risk of AI transmission were identified for each species and type of production system. Some variability was observed in the distribution of areas estimated to have a higher probability of AI introduction and transmission. In particular, the south-western and eastern regions of Cuba were highlighted as areas with the highest risk of transmission. Discussion: These results are potentially useful for refining existing criteria for the selection of farms for active surveillance, which could improve the ability to detect positive cases. The model results could contribute to the design of an integrated One Health risk-based surveillance system for AI in Cuba. In addition, the model identified geographical regions of particular importance where resources could be targeted to strengthen biosecurity and early warning surveillance.

Feasibility and Safety of the Early Introduction of Allergenic Foods in Asian Infants with Eczema.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of data regarding the early introduction of the consumption of allergenic food among Asian infants. METHODS: We examined infants who had early-onset eczema before 6 months of age and received instructions from certified allergists for the early introduction of hen's eggs, milk, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts. RESULTS: The consumption rates of hen's eggs were 100% at 24 months. For peanuts and walnuts, the consumption rate was moderate at 12 months (48.5% and 30.3%, respectively), but by 24 months, it had progressed to 78.8% and 81.3%, respectively. In contrast, cashews remained at lower levels than other allergens at 20.7% at 12 months and 41.4% at 24 months. No adverse events related to early introductions occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In infants with eczema, allergenic foods could be introduced early and well tolerated in Asian infants. However, having eczema may indicate a predisposition to food allergies, so caution is necessary when introducing allergenic foods. The early introduction of peanuts and tree nuts was still more challenging in real-world practice in Asia as well as in Western countries.

Inhibition of differentiation of monocyte-derived macrophages toward an M2-Like phenotype May Be a neglected mechanism of ß-AR receptor blocker therapy for atherosclerosis.

The clinical efficacy of adrenergic ß-receptor (ß-AR) blockers in significantly stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques has been extensively supported by evidence-based medical research; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Recent findings have highlighted the impact of lipid-induced aberrant polarization of macrophages during normal inflammatory-repair and regenerative processes on atherosclerosis formation and progression. In this review, we explore the relationship between macrophage polarization and atherosclerosis, as well as the influence of ß-AR blockers on macrophage polarization. Based on the robust evidence supporting the use of ß-AR blockers for treating atherosclerosis, we propose that their main mechanism involves inhibiting monocyte-derived macrophage differentiation towards an M2-like phenotype.

Exploring the genetic makeup of Xanthomonas species causing bacterial spot in Taiwan: evidence of population shift and local adaptation.

The introduction of plant pathogens can quickly reshape disease dynamics in island agro-ecologies, representing a continuous challenge for local crop management strategies. Xanthomonas pathogens causing tomato bacterial spot were probably introduced in Taiwan several decades ago, creating a unique opportunity to study the genetic makeup and adaptive response of this alien population. We examined the phenotypic and genotypic identity of 669 pathogen entries collected across different regions of Taiwan in the last three decades. The analysis detected a major population shift, where X. euvesicatoria and X. vesicatoria races T1 and T2 were replaced by new races of X. perforans. After its introduction, race T4 quickly became dominant in all tomato-growing areas of the island. The genomic analysis of 317 global genomes indicates that the Xanthomonas population in Taiwan has a narrow genetic background, most likely resulting from a small number of colonization events. However, despite the apparent genetic uniformity, X. perforans race T4 shows multiple phenotypic responses in tomato lines. Additionally, an in-depth analysis of effector composition suggests diversification in response to local adaptation. These include unique mutations on avrXv3 which might allow the pathogen to overcome Xv3/Rx4 resistance gene. The findings underscore the dynamic evolution of a pathogen when introduced in a semi-isolated environment and provide insights into the potential management strategies for this important disease of tomato.

To Preserve or Extract? A Scoping Review and a Prognostic Decision Tool using Multispecialty Indicators.

As implant-supported restorations have become very popular, there is a tendency to extract teeth and replace them with implants. However, the first goal of dentistry should always be the preservation of natural teeth, given the prerequisite that these can be maintained with the application of appropriate treatment modalities. Therefore, individual tooth risk assessment and prognosis are very important in the treatment plan process. Four important factors influencing the dentist's decision on whether to save or extract a compromised tooth have been identified, and an extensive search of the related English language literature has been performed. Additionally, hand-search in related journals was implemented, and classical textbooks were consulted. Identified articles on patient-related, periodontal, endodontic, and restorative factors were thoroughly analyzed, focusing on diagnosis and tooth prognosis. Fifty-two selected references have been carefully selected and reviewed. Available information was used to develop a color-coded prognostic decision chart with four different factors and up to fourteen crucial parameters. All factors and parameters were analyzed in an effort to help the restorative dentist make a prognostic decision. The proposed color-coded prognostic decision chart can be helpful when a treatment plan is made, and predictable restorative care is planned. This comprehensive prognostic decision chart can aid dentists in providing clinical care of high quality and establishing a consensus on available restorative options. It can additionally establish appropriate communication with patients and third-party individuals in the restorative care process, effectively manage risk factors, and provide a framework for quality assessment in restorative treatment.