Social Media–Based Secondary Distribution of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Syphilis Self-testing Among Chinese Men Who Have Sex with Men

Background Social media and secondary distribution (distributing self-testing kits by indexes through their networks) both show strong promise to improve human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing uptake. We assessed an implementation program in Zhuhai, China, which focused on the secondary distribution of HIV/syphilis self-test kits among men who have sex with men (MSM) via social media. Methods Men aged ≥16 years, born biologically male, and ever had sex with another man were recruited as indexes. Banner ads on a social media platform invited the participants to apply for up to 5 self-test kits every 3 months. Index men paid a deposit of US$15/kit refundable upon submitting a photograph of a completed test result via an online submission system. They were informed that they could distribute the kits to others (referred to as “alters”). Results A total of 371 unique index men applied for 1150 kits (mean age, 28.7 [standard deviation, 6.9] years), of which 1141 test results were returned (99%). Among them, 1099 were valid test results; 810 (74%) were from 331 unique index men, and 289 tests (26%) were from 281 unique alters. Compared to index men, a higher proportion of alters were naive HIV testers (40% vs 21%; P < .001). The total HIV self-test reactivity rate was 3%, with alters having a significantly higher rate than indexes (5% vs 2%; P = .008). A total of 21 people (3%) had a reactive syphilis test result. Conclusions Integrating social media with the secondary distribution of self-test kits may hold promise to increase HIV/syphilis testing coverage and case identification among MSM.

The Process of Producing Bioethanol from Delignified Cellulose Isolated from Plants of the Miscanthus Genus

Plants of the Miscanthus genus (Miscanthus Anderss.) have a unique index of biomass production in relation to the occupied area. Miscanthus plants can be attributed to promising second-generation raw materials for the production of bioethanol and biofuel. Miscanthus plants are characterized by a high cellulose content. Herein, we report the results of a study on the obtained delignified cellulose with subsequent processing into bioethanol using microbial communities. In the course of the study, the optimal conditions for the delignification of the initial plant material for cellulose were selected. Ethanol with a high degree of conversion was successfully obtained from the isolated delignified cellulose. The article describes the pilot technological scheme for the conversion of Miscanthus plant biomass to bioethanol involving the delignification stages, followed by the conversion of the resulting cellulose into bioethanol by a consortium of microorganisms. As a result of the study, it was found that delignification using trifluoroacetic acid leads to the production of cellulose of high purity. Bioethanol with a yield of 3.1% to 3.4% in terms of the initial amount of biomass was successfully obtained by a microorganism consortium of Saccharomyces cerevisiae M Y-4242/Pachysolen tannophilus Y-3269, and Scheffersomyces stipitis Y-3264.

Scope and extent of healthcare-associated Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus transmission during two contemporaneous outbreaks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2017

ObjectiveTo investigate a Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak event involving multiple healthcare facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; to characterize transmission; and to explore infection control implications.DesignOutbreak investigation.SettingCases presented in 4 healthcare facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a tertiary-care hospital, a specialty pulmonary hospital, an outpatient clinic, and an outpatient dialysis unit.MethodsContact tracing and testing were performed following reports of cases at 2 hospitals. Laboratory results were confirmed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) and/or genome sequencing. We assessed exposures and determined seropositivity among available healthcare personnel (HCP) cases and HCP contacts of cases.ResultsIn total, 48 cases were identified, involving patients, HCP, and family members across 2 hospitals, an outpatient clinic, and a dialysis clinic. At each hospital, transmission was linked to a unique index case. Moreover, 4 cases were associated with superspreading events (any interaction where a case patient transmitted to ≥5 subsequent case patients). All 4 of these patients were severely ill, were initially not recognized as MERS-CoV cases, and subsequently died. Genomic sequences clustered separately, suggesting 2 distinct outbreaks. Overall, 4 (24%) of 17 HCP cases and 3 (3%) of 114 HCP contacts of cases were seropositive.ConclusionsWe describe 2 distinct healthcare-associated outbreaks, each initiated by a unique index case and characterized by multiple superspreading events. Delays in recognition and in subsequent implementation of control measures contributed to secondary transmission. Prompt contact tracing, repeated testing, HCP furloughing, and implementation of recommended transmission-based precautions for suspected cases ultimately halted transmission.

Explaining Multi-Criteria Decision Aiding Models with an Extended Shapley Value

The capability to explain the result of aggregation models to decision makers is key to reinforcing user trust. In practice, Multi-Criteria Decision Aiding models are often organized in a hierarchical way, based on a tree of criteria. We present an explanation approach usable with any hierarchical multi-criteria model, based on an influence index of each attribute on the decision. A set of desirable axioms are defined. We show that there is a unique index fulfilling these axioms. This new index is an extension of the Shapley value on trees. An efficient rewriting of this index, drastically reducing the computation time, is obtained. Finally, the use of the new index is illustrated on an example.

A unique index with the explicit cost related to forecast

Purpose The present paper aims to draw an attention towards the inclusion of forecast related costs. Its main purpose is to initiate a new line of research/practice including the forecasting expenditure. Design/methodology/approach After a relevant review of supply chain/procurement/production planning related literature, it has been observed that the existing work lacks an explicit inclusion of the cost concerned with forecast. The increased cost of forecasting is expected to enhance the forecasting accuracy. At a higher level, product family is considered for the analysis. However, a basic unit of analysis is always a single item production/procurement situation. Therefore, this situation has been discussed analytically with the use of the fundamental equations and an explicit inclusion of forecasting cost for the first time in the relevant literature. Numerous practical applications have been discussed at strategic and operational level. A framework is also presented for future research in this area. Findings A specific contribution of the present paper is an approach towards a unique index for relative forecasting expenditure. The suggested index will be useful for comparison purpose. Also, it can be used as a benchmark that can be improved in future. Practical implications The case is explained when cycle time is invariant after discussing the other potential applications. Usefulness of the proposed methodology and the index is discussed for the business organizations operating independently or in the supply chains. Originality/value On the basis of the forecast, a production or procurement plan is generated in many of the industrial or business situations. In the context of supply chain/production/inventory management, focus is more on demand forecasting techniques or generation of the forecasts in the existing literature. However, the increased costs concerning forecasts are expected to provide more accurate prediction. Therefore, the originality lies in an inclusion of forecast related costs.