Perception and willingness toward various immunization routes for COVID-19 vaccines: a cross-sectional survey in China

Conclusion: Needle-free vaccination is a promising technology for the next generation of vaccines, but we found that intramuscular injection was still the most acceptable immunization route in this survey. One major reason might be that most people lack knowledge about needle-free vaccination. We should strengthen the publicity of needle-free vaccination technology, and thus improve the acceptance and coverage of vaccination in different populations

Perception and willingness toward various immunization routes for COVID-19 vaccines: a cross-sectional survey in China

BackgroundTo date, most vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, are mainly administered by intramuscular injection, which might lead to vaccine hesitancy in some populations due to needle fear. Alternatively, needle-free immunization technology is extensively developed to improve the efficacy and acceptance of vaccination. However, there is no study to report the perception and willingness toward various immunization routes of the COVID-19 vaccine in the general population.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted nationwide using an online questionnaire. Bivariate analyses were undertaken to assess variable associations among the participants who reported a hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 booster vaccination. Multivariable logistic regression with a backward step-wise approach was used to analyze the predicted factors associated with the willingness to receive the COVID-19 booster vaccination.ResultsA total of 3,244 valid respondents were included in this survey, and 63.2% of participants thought they had a good understanding of intramuscular injection, but only 20.7, 9.2, 9.4, and 6.0% of participants had a self-perceived good understanding of inhalation vaccine, nasal spray vaccine, oral vaccine, and microneedle patch vaccine. Correspondingly, there was high acceptance for intramuscular injection (76.5%), followed by oral inhalation (64.4%) and nasal spray (43.0%). Those participants who were only willing to receive an intramuscular vaccine had less vaccine knowledge (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.65–0.94) than those who were willing to receive a needle-free vaccine (OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.52–2.57). Some factors were found to be associated with vaccine hesitancy toward booster COVID-19 vaccination.ConclusionNeedle-free vaccination is a promising technology for the next generation of vaccines, but we found that intramuscular injection was still the most acceptable immunization route in this survey. One major reason might be that most people lack knowledge about needle-free vaccination. We should strengthen the publicity of needle-free vaccination technology, and thus improve the acceptance and coverage of vaccination in different populations

Evaluation of Damage Indices for Rectangular Concrete-filled Steel Tube Structures

The paper aims to select a simple and effective damage index for estimating the extent of damage of rectangular concrete-filled steel tube (RCFT) structures subjected to ground motions. Two experimental databases of cyclic tests conducted on RCFT columns and frames are compiled. Test results from the database are then used to evaluate six different damage indices, including the ductility ratio (μ), drift ratio, initial-to-secant stiffness ratio (DKJ), modified initial-to-secant stiffness ratio (Dms), energy coefficient (E), and the combined damage index (DPA) as a benchmark indicator. Selection criteria including correlation, efficiency, and proficiency are utilized in the selection process. The optimal alternative for DPA is identified on the basis of a comprehensive evaluation. The evaluations indicate that Dms previously proposed by some of the authors is the most appropriate substitution of DPA, followed by the drift ratio. For the case of the slenderness ratio less than or equal to 30, the same grades of relation between the investigated damage indices and the benchmark are observed. However, in the case of the slenderness ratio larger than 30, the drift ratio tends to be the optimal alternative. In most cases, μ is proved to be an inadequate replacement of DPA

Impacts of Modified Fly Ash on Soil Available Lead and Copper and Their Accumulation by Ryegrass

Fly ash (FA) is promising for environmental remediation, but how to modify the FA with high remediation efficiency through an environmentally friendly and low-cost modification method is scare. A modified FA (MFA) was prepared through a one-step hydrothermal modification with Ca(OH)2 and KH2PO4. Results indicated that irregular agglomerates occurred on the surface of the MFA and that the specific surface area increased by 1.94 times compared to that of FA. Compared to FA, glassy compositions in MFA were destroyed and amorphous Si/Al and alkaline aluminosilicate gels were formed. The soil application of 0.2–0.6% MFA significantly increased soil pH by 0.23–0.86 units compared to FA and decreased available lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) by 25–97.1% and 13.5–75%, respectively. MFA significantly decreased exchangeable Pb and Cu by 12.5–32% and 11.4–35.2%, respectively, compared to FA. This may be due to the high pH and specific surface area of MFA, which promoted to the formation of amorphous Si/Al, metal–phosphate precipitation, and complexation with functional groups. In addition, MFA slightly increased the biomass of shoots and roots and decreased the uptake of Pb and Cu by ryegrass. This study provides a new modification method for the utilization of FA in the heavy metal-contaminated soils

Equilibrium, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies on the Adsorption of Cadmium from Aqueous Solution by Modified Biomass Ash

Natural biomass ash of agricultural residuals was collected from a power plant and modified with hexagonal mesoporous silica and functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The physicochemical and morphological properties of the biomass ash were analyzed by ICP-OES, SEM, TEM-EDS, FTIR, and BET analysis. The adsorption behavior of the modified product for Cd2+ in aqueous solution was studied as a function of pH, initial metal concentration, equilibrium time, and temperature. Results showed that the specific surface area of the modified product was 9 times that of the natural biomass ash. The modified biomass ash exhibited high affinity for Cd2+ and its adsorption capacity increased sharply with increasing pH from 4.0 to 6.0. The maximum adsorption capacity was 23.95 mg/g in a pH 5 solution with an initial metal concentration of 50 mg/L and a contact time of 90 min. The adsorption of Cd2+ onto the modified biomass ash was well fitted to the Langmuir model and it followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Thermodynamic analysis results showed that the adsorption of Cd2+ was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The results suggest that the modified biomass ash is promising for use as an inexpensive and effective adsorbent for Cd2+ removal from aqueous solution

The habitat differentiation, dynamics and functional potentials of bacterial and micro-eukaryotic communities in shrimp aquaculture systems with limited water exchange

Microbes are important in not only driving matter cycling, modulating water quality, but also serving as food for animals in intensive aquaculture systems, in which artificial substrates in combination of biofloc technology can be applied to strengthen microbial values and animal production. However, the influence of micro-habitats created by these practices on water quality and microbial diversity and dynamics remains poorly understood. In this study, samples of three micro-habitats, the biofilms formed on immersed meshes, the suspended macro -aggregates, and the pond water were collected from limited-water-exchange ponds for rearing Litopenaeus van-namei during a period of 80 days. Using high-throughput sequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA genes and statistical analyses, we found that the community structures of both bacteria and micro-eukaryotes were similar between biofilms and macro-aggregates (ANOVA, P > 0.05), but significantly different from those in the water (P 0.05). Functionally, microbes in both biofilms and macro-aggregates exhibited higher potentials of organic matter degradation and nitrogen removal, supporting the usefulness of application of biofloc technology and biofilms in recycling waste and nutrients in the shrimp ponds with limited water exchange

Effect of Age and Weaning on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation, and Serum Parameters in Lambs Fed Starter with Limited Ewe–Lamb Interaction

Sixty neonatal Hu lambs were weaned at either 21 (n = 30) (early weaning, EW) or 49 days (n = 30) of age (control, CON). The starter intake and body weight (BW) of lambs was recorded weekly from birth to 63 days of age. Diarrhea rate of lambs was measured from birth to 35 days. Six randomly selected lambs from each treatment were slaughtered at 26, 35, and 63 days of age, respectively. Ruminal pH, NH3-N, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, as well as serum parameters including immunity, antioxidant status, and inflammatory parameters from randomly selected lambs from each treatment were measured. There was no difference in BW at birth and day 21 between the two groups of lambs (p > 0.05). However, BW of the lambs in the EW group was significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.01) from 28 to 49 days of age. Average daily gain (ADG) of the lambs in the EW group was significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.01) at three weeks after early weaning. Starter intake of the lambs in the EW group was obviously higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.01) from day 28 to 49. In addition, the diarrhea rate was significantly higher than that in the CON group from day 5 to 14 after weaning (p < 0.01). The EW group had heavier carcasses (p < 0.01) and rumen relative to whole stomach weights (p < 0.01). Rumen pH was increased by age (p < 0.01) and was not affected by early weaning (p > 0.05). Early weaning decreased abomasum relative to whole stomach weight (p < 0.01) and increased total VFA concentrations (p < 0.01) at day 26. There was no difference in lambs’ immunity and stress indicators (p > 0.05). The results indicated that lambs weaned at 21 days of age had decreased ADG and higher diarrhea rate, although the overall immunity was not compromised. Long-term study is needed to further validate the feasibility of early weaning strategy in lambs

Cadmium Isotope Fractionations Induced by Foliar and Root Uptake for Rice Exposed to Atmospheric Particles: Implications for Environmental Source Tracing

Rice roots and leaves were exposed to cadmium (Cd)-contaminated particles in a greenhouse to modify the fractionation during Cd uptake and transport in the plants by using the Bayesian mixing model. The exposure to atmospheric Cd in rice near a copper smelter was determined under the field conditions. The results showed that the leaves directly absorb and accumulate atmospheric Cd in other aboveground tissues by 84–99%. Positive values of Δ114/110CdLeaf–Particle (0.08–0.11‰), Δ114/110CdNode–Leaf (0.77–0.81‰), and Δ114/110CdGrain–Leaf (0.39–0.43‰) following foliar exposure as well as Δ114/110CdRoot–Particle (0.19–0.22‰) and Δ114/110CdGrain–Root (−0.29 to 0.34‰) following root exposure suggested that particles released heavy isotopes. The roots and leaves preferentially retained light isotopes and transported heavy isotopes upward. The Cd isotope fractionations in the plant were constant under both root and foliar exposures at two dosages. The results were used to correct the parameters in the isotope mixing models and to trace the source of atmospheric Cd in rice tissues in the field. Both models of isotope mixing and mass balance suggested 50–63% Cd deposition on the grains. This study provides a theoretical basis for tracing the source of Cd isotopes in plants

Data_Sheet_1_Perception and willingness toward various immunization routes for COVID-19 vaccines: a cross-sectional survey in China.DOCX

BackgroundTo date, most vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, are mainly administered by intramuscular injection, which might lead to vaccine hesitancy in some populations due to needle fear. Alternatively, needle-free immunization technology is extensively developed to improve the efficacy and acceptance of vaccination. However, there is no study to report the perception and willingness toward various immunization routes of the COVID-19 vaccine in the general population.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted nationwide using an online questionnaire. Bivariate analyses were undertaken to assess variable associations among the participants who reported a hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 booster vaccination. Multivariable logistic regression with a backward step-wise approach was used to analyze the predicted factors associated with the willingness to receive the COVID-19 booster vaccination.ResultsA total of 3,244 valid respondents were included in this survey, and 63.2% of participants thought they had a good understanding of intramuscular injection, but only 20.7, 9.2, 9.4, and 6.0% of participants had a self-perceived good understanding of inhalation vaccine, nasal spray vaccine, oral vaccine, and microneedle patch vaccine. Correspondingly, there was high acceptance for intramuscular injection (76.5%), followed by oral inhalation (64.4%) and nasal spray (43.0%). Those participants who were only willing to receive an intramuscular vaccine had less vaccine knowledge (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.65–0.94) than those who were willing to receive a needle-free vaccine (OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.52–2.57). Some factors were found to be associated with vaccine hesitancy toward booster COVID-19 vaccination.ConclusionNeedle-free vaccination is a promising technology for the next generation of vaccines, but we found that intramuscular injection was still the most acceptable immunization route in this survey. One major reason might be that most people lack knowledge about needle-free vaccination. We should strengthen the publicity of needle-free vaccination technology, and thus improve the acceptance and coverage of vaccination in different populations.</p