The paradox of pandemic mitigation? Moderating role of pandemic severity on the impact of social distancing policies: a cultural value perspective

Abstract Background Social distancing policies were of utmost importance during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. These policies aimed to mitigate the severity of local outbreaks by altering public behavior. However, if the severity of the pandemic reduces, the impact of these policies on actual behavior may decrease. This study aims to examine, from a global perspective, whether the impact of social distancing policies on actual mobility is moderated by local pandemic severity and whether this moderating effect varies across cultural value contexts. Methods We combined multiple publicly available global datasets for structural equation model analysis. 17,513 rows of data from 57 countries included in all databases were analyzed. Multilevel moderated moderation models were constructed to test the hypotheses. Results More stringent policies in a region mean less regional mobility (β = -0.572, p < 0.001). However, the severity of local outbreaks negatively moderated this effect (β = -0.114, p < 0.001). When the pandemic was not severe, the influence of policy intensity on mobility weakened. Furthermore, based on Schwartz’s cultural values theory, cultural values of autonomy (β = -0.109, p = 0.011), and egalitarianism (β = -0.108, p = 0.019) reinforced the moderating effect of pandemic severity. On the other hand, cultural values of embeddedness (β = 0.119, p = 0.006) and hierarchy (β = 0.096, p = 0.029) attenuated the moderating effect. Conclusions Social distancing policies aim to reduce the severity of local pandemics; however, the findings reveal that mitigating local pandemics may reduce their impact. Future policymakers should be alert to this phenomenon and introduce appropriate incentives to respond. The results also show that the moderating role of pandemic severity varies across cultures. When policies are promoted to deal with global crises, policymakers must seriously consider the resistance and potential incentives of cultural values

Additional file 1 of The paradox of pandemic mitigation? Moderating role of pandemic severity on the impact of social distancing policies: a cultural value perspective

Additional file 1: Supplementary Material. Table 1. Descriptive statistics for study variables in the 57 countries. Table 2. Multilevel regression results for GSI on mobility. Table 3. Multilevel regression results for GSI*DNC on mobility. Figure 1. Conditional effect of GSI on mobility (RE) as a function of DNC. Figure 2. Average RE under GSI and DNC conditions in different periods. Table 4. Moderated moderation model of RE (the coefficients of the interaction terms). Figure 3. Conditional effect of GSI on RE as a function of DNC under different embeddedness values. Figure 4. Conditional effect of GSI on RE as a function of DNC under different autonomy values. Figure 5. Conditional effect of GSI on RE as a function of DNC under different hierarchy values. Figure 6. Conditional effect of GSI on RE as a function of DNC under different egalitarianism values. Figure 7. Conditional effect of GSI on RE as a function of DNC under different mastery values. Figure 8. Conditional effect of GSI on RE as a function of DNC under different harmony values

Interactions among -2, and variants are associated with aspirin responsiveness and adverse events in patients with ischemic stroke

Background: The effect of gene variants and their interactions on response to aspirin and clinical adverse outcomes after an acute ischemic stroke (IS) is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of aspirin-relevant gene variants and their interactions with clinical adverse outcomes in IS patients taking aspirin. Methods: A total of 14 variants from six genes encoding COX enzymes ( COX-1, COX-2 ), platelet membrane receptors ( TXAS1, P2Y1, P2Y12 ) and glycoprotein receptor (GPIIIa) were examined in 850 acute IS patients. Gene–gene interactions were analyzed using generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) analysis. All patients were followed up for 1 year after admission. Primary outcome was a composite of recurrent ischemic stroke (RIS), myocardial infarction (MI) and death. Results: The primary outcome occurred in 112 (13.5%) patients (81 RIS, 16 MI and 15 deaths). There were no significant differences in the frequencies of the genotypes of the 14 variants between the patients with and without primary outcome using single-locus analytical approach. However, there was significant gene–gene interaction among rs20417, rs1371097 and rs2317676. The high-risk interactive genotypes of rs20417, rs1371097 and rs2317676 were independently associated with primary adverse outcome of RIS, MI, and death after acute IS. Conclusion: The three-loci interactions are associated with sensitivity of IS patients to aspirin and aspirin-induced adverse clinical events. The combinatorial analysis used in this study may be helpful to elucidate complex genetic risk of aspirin resistance (AR). Clinical trial registration: The study described here is registered at http://www.chictr.org/ (unique identifier: ChiCTR-OCH-14004724)

The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Tipula (Yamatotipula) nova Walker, 1848 (Diptera, Tipulidae) from Qingdao, Shandong, China

The genus Tipula Linnaeus, is a large group of crane flies with more than 2400 known species from 41 subgenera. In this study, we report the first complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequence of the subgenus Tipula (Yamatotipula), which is a circular molecule of 15,668 bp with an AT content of 77.2%. The mt genome contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a long non-coding region. Three conserved overlapping regions, 8 bp between tRNATrp and tRNACys, 7 bp between ATP8 and ATP6, and 7 bp between ND4 and ND4L, are found. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the Tipulomorpha includes the family Trichoceridae and the Trichoceridae is sister-group to the remaining Tipulomorpha

RNA-seq-based analysis of drug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium selected in vivo and in vitro.

The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanism of fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance in Salmonella Typhimurium. We established the Caenorhabditis elegans-Salmonella Typhimurium model to select for ciprofloxacin resistance in Salmonella Typhimurium colonizing C. elegans, generating the resistant strains TN4. Gradient doses of ciprofloxacin were used to generate the resistant strain TW4 in vitro. RNA sequencing was used to establish the whole-transcriptome profile of three strains of Salmonella Typhimurium. The gene expression patterns of resistant strains TN4 and TW4 differed from those of the parental strain. In TN4, 2,277 genes were differentially expressed (1,833 upregulated and 444 downregulated) relative to the parental strain, and in TW4, 3,464 genes were differentially expressed (3,433 upregulated and 31 downregulated). Among these differentially expressed genes, 28 were associated with drug resistance and 26 were associated with the two-component systems in the two resistant strains. Seven different pathways were significantly sffected in two strains. Efflux pump overexpression was identified as one of the main mechanisms underlying FQ resistance in the two resistant strains. TW4 differentially expressed more efflux pump genes than TN4 and most of these genes were more strongly expressed than in TN4. However, expression of the efflux pump repressor gene and the mar operon was downregulated in TN4 but not in TW4. Two-component systems are also important in drug resistance. Our findings provide an important basis for further studies of the complex network that regulate FQ resistance in Salmonella

A Simulation Study on Optimization of Sowing Time of Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) for Maximization of Growth and Yield in the Present Context of Climate Change under the North China Plain

Adjusting the sowing dates of crops is an effective measure for adapting them to climate change, but very few studies have explained how the optimum sowing dates can be determined. In this study, we used the sowing date field data from 2018 to 2021 from Hebei Gucheng Agricultural Meteorology National Observation and Research Station to analyze the effects of the sowing date on growth, development, and yield of maize, and to quantify the impact of light-temperature potential productivity on different stages of the yield formation. The results showed that delayed sowing decreased the vegetative growth period (VGP) and increased the reproductive growth period (RGP) of maize. The light-temperature potential productivity of the whole growth (WG) period had an exponential relationship with the theoretical yield. At least 14,614.95 kg ha−1 of light-temperature potential productivity was needed to produce grain yield. The maximum theoretical yield was approximately 18,052.56 kg ha−1, as indicated by the curve simulation results. The influence of light-temperature potential productivity on theoretical yield was as follows: VGP > RGP > vegetative and reproductive period (VRP). Accordingly, a method for determining the sowing time window based on VGP was established, and the optimal sowing dates were estimated for 1995–2021 and the SSP2-4.5 scenario in CMIP6 in the middle of this century (2030–2060). The simulation results showed that the optimum sowing date of maize “Lianyu 1” at the study site was 20–25 May in 1995–2021. In the middle of this century, the optimal sowing time of maize was ahead of schedule and the suitable sowing window was increased slightly. We conclude that advancing the sowing date of maize is a practical strategy for enhancing yield in the context of climate warming, and this strategy will provide a meaningful reference for scientific optimization of sowing dates to adapt maize to climate change

A Simulation Study on Optimization of Sowing Time of Maize (Zea mays L.) for Maximization of Growth and Yield in the Present Context of Climate Change under the North China Plain

Adjusting the sowing dates of crops is an effective measure for adapting them to climate change, but very few studies have explained how the optimum sowing dates can be determined. In this study, we used the sowing date field data from 2018 to 2021 from Hebei Gucheng Agricultural Meteorology National Observation and Research Station to analyze the effects of the sowing date on growth, development, and yield of maize, and to quantify the impact of light-temperature potential productivity on different stages of the yield formation. The results showed that delayed sowing decreased the vegetative growth period (VGP) and increased the reproductive growth period (RGP) of maize. The light-temperature potential productivity of the whole growth (WG) period had an exponential relationship with the theoretical yield. At least 14,614.95 kg ha&minus;1 of light-temperature potential productivity was needed to produce grain yield. The maximum theoretical yield was approximately 18,052.56 kg ha&minus;1, as indicated by the curve simulation results. The influence of light-temperature potential productivity on theoretical yield was as follows: VGP &gt; RGP &gt; vegetative and reproductive period (VRP). Accordingly, a method for determining the sowing time window based on VGP was established, and the optimal sowing dates were estimated for 1995&ndash;2021 and the SSP2-4.5 scenario in CMIP6 in the middle of this century (2030&ndash;2060). The simulation results showed that the optimum sowing date of maize &ldquo;Lianyu 1&rdquo; at the study site was 20&ndash;25 May in 1995&ndash;2021. In the middle of this century, the optimal sowing time of maize was ahead of schedule and the suitable sowing window was increased slightly. We conclude that advancing the sowing date of maize is a practical strategy for enhancing yield in the context of climate warming, and this strategy will provide a meaningful reference for scientific optimization of sowing dates to adapt maize to climate change

Effect of wet-grinding steel slag on the properties of Portland cement: An activated method and rheology analysis

Steel slag is a solid waste generated from the steelmaking process. With a very low utilization rate of 30% in China, a high discharging cost of steel slag is inevitable so that it is imperative to dispose of steel slag by new technology. In this study, steel slag was refined by wet-grinding technology to apply on cement. The results showed that the initial setting time and final setting time were prolonged by the increased dosage of 3 mu m steel slag. Although the viscosity of wet-grinding steel slag - cement specimens increased significantly, the shear-thinning phenomenon happened by mechanical mixing. The wet-grinding specimens presented a higher hydration heat than that of raw steel slag specimens, and the microstructure of 3 mu m-40% (3 mu m steel slag mixed with cement as a dosage of 40%) is much denser and show more hydration products than that of raw-40% (raw steel slag mixed with cement as a dosage of 40%) which results in an enhanced compressive strength that could be guaranteed by the dosage of 20% (3 d), 30% (28 d) and 40% (60 d) under the condition of 3 mu m steel slag incorporation with lower autogenous shrinkage. Hemicarboaluminate peak was found in wet-grinding specimens that show a higher calcium sulphoaluminate to calcium. The wet-grinding steel slag CO2 emission and cost showed a downward trend compared with cement.Web of Science286art. no. 12282