Assessing the impact of regional scientific environment on the performance of scientific organizations: the example of Russia

The goal of the study is to determine the impact of the regional scientific environment on the performance of scientific organizations. The indicators of a regional scientific environment, which were used as predictors in a regression model built to assess the dependence of the effectiveness of scientific organizations has been identified during the study. In the model, the category of scientific organizations was assigned as a dependent variable, according to the results of the federal monitoring conducted in 2016 for 541 scientific organizations located in 65 Russian regions. The study showed that there were no significant differences between regions when comparing factors determining the regional scientific environment and the performance of scientific organizations

COVID-19 related mortality and hospital admissions in the VIVALDI study cohort: October 2020-March 2023

Background: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) were heavily affected by COVID-19 early in the pandemic, but the impact of the virus has reduced over time with vaccination campaigns and build-up of immunity from prior infection. // Objectives: To evaluate the mortality and hospital admissions associated with SARS-CoV-2 in LTCFs in England over the course of the VIVALDI study, from October 2020 to March 2023. // Methods: We included residents aged ≥65 years of participating LTCFs who had available follow-up time within the analysis period. We calculated incidence rates (IR) of COVID-19 linked mortality and hospital admissions per calendar quarter, along with infection fatality ratios (IFR, within 28d) and infection hospitalisation ratios (IHR, within 14d) following positive SARS-CoV-2 test. // Results: A total of 26286 residents were included, with at least one positive test for SARS-CoV-2 in 8513 (32.4%). The IR of COVID-19 related mortality peaked in the first quarter (Q1) 2021 at 0.47 per 1000 person-days (1kpd) (around a third of all deaths), in comparison to 0.10 per 1kpd for Q1 2023 which had a similar IR of SARS-CoV-2 infections. There was a fall in observed IFR for SARS-CoV-2 infections from 24.9% to 6.7% between these periods, with a fall in IHR from 12.1% to 8.8%. The population had high overall IRs for mortality for each quarter evaluated, corresponding to annual mortality probability of 28.8-41.3%. // Conclusions: Standardised real-time monitoring of hospitalisation and mortality following infection in LTCFs could inform policy on the need for non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent transmission

ICRH system performance during ITER-Like Wall operations at JET and the outlook for DT campaign

Performance of JET ICRH system since installation of the metal ITER-Like Wall (ILW) has been assessed statistically. The data demonstrate steady increase of the RF power coupled to plasmas over recent years with the maximum pulse-average and peak values exceeding respectively 6MW and 8MW in 2016. Analysis and extrapolation of power capabilities of conventional JET ICRH antennas is provided and key performance-limiting factors are discussed. The RF plant operational frequency options are presented highlighting the issues of efficient ICRH application within a foreseeable range of DT plasma scenarios

Effectiveness of successive booster vaccine doses against SARS-CoV-2 related mortality in residents of long-term care facilities in the VIVALDI study

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused severe disease in unvaccinated long-term care facility (LTCF) residents. Initial booster vaccination following primary vaccination is known to provide strong short-term protection, but data are limited on duration of protection and the protective effect of further booster vaccinations. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of third, fourth and fifth dose booster vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 related mortality amongst older residents of LTCFs. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: LTCFs for older people in England participating in the VIVALDI study. METHODS: Residents aged >65 years at participating LTCFs were eligible for inclusion if they had at least one polymerase chain reaction or lateral flow device result within the analysis period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. We excluded individuals who had not received at least two vaccine doses before the analysis period. Cox regression was used to estimate relative hazards of SARS-CoV-2 related mortality following 1-3 booster vaccinations compared with primary vaccination, stratified by previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and adjusting for age, sex and LTCF size (total beds). RESULTS: A total of 13,407 residents were included. Our results indicate that third, fourth and fifth dose booster vaccination provide additional short-term protection against SARS-CoV-2 related mortality relative to primary vaccination, with consistent stabilisation beyond 112 days to 45-75% reduction in risk relative to primary vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Successive booster vaccination doses provide additional short-term protection against SARS-CoV-2 related mortality amongst older LTCF residents. However, we did not find evidence of a longer-term reduction in risk beyond that provided by initial booster vaccination

Historical and Current Distribution of the Brown Trout, European Grayling and Volga Nase in Small Rivers in the Republic of Tatarstan

Peer reviewed: TruePublication status: PublishedAbstract We have studied the historical and current distribution of brown trout, European grayling, and Volga nase in the Republic of Tatarstan. The influence of environmental variables on the current distribution of these fish was assessed using regression methods. The probability of occurrence in small rivers of all three fish species is currently low, ranging from 2.8 to 5.3%. Each of the recorded environmental variables had statistically significant relationships with presence/absence of at least one fish species, but only two variables (elevation and human impact) significantly affected the probability of occurrence of all species in the study.</jats:p

ICRH system performance during ITER-Like Wall operations at JET and the outlook for DT campaign

Performance of JET ICRH system since installation of the metal ITER-Like Wall (ILW) has been assessed statistically. The data demonstrate steady increase of the RF power coupled to plasmas over recent years with the maximum pulse-average and peak values exceeding respectively 6MW and 8MW in 2016. Analysis and extrapolation of power capabilities of conventional JET ICRH antennas is provided and key performance-limiting factors are discussed. The RF plant operational frequency options are presented highlighting the issues of efficient ICRH application within a foreseeable range of DT plasma scenarios

ICRH system performance during ITER-Like Wall operations at JET and the outlook for DT campaign

Performance of JET ICRH system since installation of the metal ITER-Like Wall (ILW) has been assessed statistically. The data demonstrate steady increase of the RF power coupled to plasmas over recent years with the maximum pulse-average and peak values exceeding respectively 6MW and 8MW in 2016. Analysis and extrapolation of power capabilities of conventional JET ICRH antennas is provided and key performance-limiting factors are discussed. The RF plant operational frequency options are presented highlighting the issues of efficient ICRH application within a foreseeable range of DT plasma scenarios