Simulation study of crowd dynamics in pedestrian evacuation concerning panic contagion: A cellular automaton approach

The study of the panic evacuation process is of great significance to emergency management. Panic not only causes negative emotions such as irritability and anxiety, but also affects the pedestrians decision-making process, thereby inducing the abnormal crowd behavior. Prompted by the epidemiological SIR model, an extended floor field cellular automaton model was proposed to investigate the pedestrian dynamics under the threat of hazard resulting from the panic contagion. In the model, the conception of panic transmission status (PTS) was put forward to describe pedestrians' behavior who could transmit panic emotions to others. The model also indicated the pedestrian movement was governed by the static and hazard threat floor field. Then rules that panic could influence decision-making process were set up based on the floor field theory. The simulation results show that the stronger the pedestrian panic, the more sensitive pedestrians are to hazards, and the less able to rationally find safe exits. However, when the crowd density is high, the panic contagion has a less impact on the evacuation process of pedestrians. It is also found that when the hazard position is closer to the exit, the panic will propagate for a longer time and have a greater impact on the evacuation. The results also suggest that as the extent of pedestrian's familiarity with the environment increases, pedestrians spend less time to escape from the room and are less sensitive to the hazard. In addition, it is essential to point out that, compared with the impact of panic contagion, the pedestrian's familiarity with environment has a more significant influence on the evacuation.

Analyzing the Role of Gut Microbiota on the Onset of Autoimmune Diseases Using TNFΔARE Murine Model

Very little is known about disease transmission via the gut microbiome. We hypothesized that certain inflammatory features could be transmitted via the gut microbiome and tested this hypothesis using an animal model of inflammatory diseases. Twelve-week-old healthy C57 Bl/6 and Germ-Free (GF) female and male mice were fecal matter transplanted (FMT) under anaerobic conditions with TNFΔARE−/+ donors exhibiting spontaneous Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or with conventional healthy mice control donors. The gut microbiome analysis was performed using 16S rRNA sequencing amplification and bioinformatics analysis with the HIVE bioinformatics platform. Histology, immunohistochemistry, ELISA Multiplex analysis, and flow cytometry were conducted to confirm the inflammatory transmission status. We observed RA and IBD features transmitted in the GF mice cohort, with gut tissue disruption, cartilage alteration, elevated inflammatory mediators in the tissues, activation of CD4/CD8+ T cells, and colonization and transmission of the gut microbiome similar to the donors’ profile. We did not observe a change or transmission when conventional healthy mice were FMT with TNFΔARE−/+ donors, suggesting that a healthy microbiome might withstand an unhealthy transplant. These findings show the potential involvement of the gut microbiome in inflammatory diseases. We identified a cluster of bacteria playing a role in this mechanism.

Artificial intelligence-based network traffic analysis and automatic optimization technology

<abstract> <p>Network operation and maintenance (O &amp; M) activities of data centers focus mainly on checking the operating states of devices. O &amp; M engineers determine how services are running and the bearing capacity of a data center by checking the operating states of devices. However, this method cannot reflect the real transmission status of business data; therefore, engineers cannot fully comprehensively perceive the overall running conditions of businesses. In this paper, ERSPAN (Encapsulated Remote Switch Port Analyzer) technology is applied to deliver stream matching rules in the forwarding path of TCP packets and mirror the TCP packets into the network O &amp; M AI collector, which is used to conduct an in-depth analysis on the TCP packets, collect traffic statistics, recapture the forwarding path, carry out delayed computing, and identify applications. This enables O &amp; M engineers to comprehensively perceive the service bearing status in a data center, and form a tightly coupled correlation model between networks and services through end-to-end visualized modeling, providing comprehensive technical support for data center optimization and early warning of network risks.</p> </abstract>

The Effects of The COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Objectives: To follow-up pediatric CF patients—in terms of health status and nutritional status—via Telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional aims were to measure the level of anxiety in the patients and their parents, and to determine the COVID-19 transmission status in the CF patients. Materials and Methods: The CF team supported the patients via remote contact, including dedicated telephone lines. During Telehealth Services interviews, in addition to obtaining information about the patients’ anthropometric measurements, health status, and CF-related complaints, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was administered to the patients and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) was administered to their parents. Results: The study included 144 pediatric CF patients (74 male and 70 female). Mean age of the patients was 8.9 years. In all, 42 (29.2%) of the patients were tested for COVID-19, of which 4 were positive. The mean STAI score was significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (P < 0.001). The mean HAD anxiety score was significantly higher in the parents of the CF patients, as compared to the parents of the controls (P = 0.005). The mean HAD depression score was also statistically higher in the parents of the CF patients (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Telehealth is an innovative method for providing healthcare services while maintaining social distancing, avoiding the risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19. Telehealth services reduce patients’ and parents’ anxiety, and increases their confidence in managing CF-related complications.

Perception of understanding COVID-19 among doctors at Patan Hospital, Nepal

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and presents with fever, dry cough, fatigue, myalgia, and dyspnea. This study aims to is find out the understanding of COVID-19 among doctors at Patan Hospital. Method: A cross sectional was conducted among doctors at Patan Hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal. The questionnaire in Google form consisted, part1 perception on COVID-19 and part2 understanding using multiple choice questions corresponding to the one to fifteen questionnaire in part1. Ethnical approval was obtained. Result: Sixty-one doctors participated in the study, of which 65.5% were directly involved in management of COVID-19. Perception and understanding regarding transmission status in country was 65.6% and 63.95% respectively, about case definition 90.1% and 62.2%, about when to do diagnostic tests 75.4% and 90.2%. Conclusion: There was difference in perception and understanding regarding COVID-19 among doctors, and areas to be reinforced were case definition, transmission classification, diagnostic tests.

What does soil-transmitted helminth elimination look like? Results from a targeted molecular detection survey in Japan

Background Japan is one of the few countries believed to have eliminated soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). In 1949, the national prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was 62.9%, which decreased to 0.6% in 1973 due to improvements in infrastructure, socioeconomic status, and the implementation of national STH control measures. The Parasitosis Prevention Law ended in 1994 and population-level screening ceased in Japan; therefore, current transmission status of STH in Japan is not well characterized. Sporadic cases of STH infections continue to be reported, raising the possibility of a larger-scale recrudescence of STH infections. Given that traditional microscopic detection methods are not sensitive to low-intensity STH infections, we conducted targeted prevalence surveys using sensitive PCR-based assays to evaluate the current STH-transmission status and to describe epidemiological characteristics of areas of Japan believed to have achieved historical elimination of STHs. Methods Stool samples were collected from 682 preschool- and school-aged children from six localities of Japan with previously high prevalence of STH. Caregivers of participants completed a questionnaire to ascertain access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and potential exposures to environmental contamination. For fecal testing, multi-parallel real-time PCR assays were used to detect infections of Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale and Trichuris trichiura. Results Among the 682 children, no positive samples were identified, and participants reported high standards of WASH. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first STH-surveillance study in Japan to use sensitive molecular techniques for STH detection. The results suggest that recrudescence of STH infections has not occurred, and that declines in prevalence have been sustained in the sampled areas. These findings suggest that reductions in prevalence below the elimination thresholds, suggestive of transmission interruption, are possible. Additionally, this study provides circumstantial evidence that multi-parallel real-time PCR methods are applicable for evaluating elimination status in areas where STH prevalence is extremely low.

TINGKAT PENULARAN KASUS DENGUE BERDASARKAN KARAKTERISTIK HABITAT LARVA Aedes sp DI KECAMATAN MUSTIKAJAYA, KOTA BEKASI

ABSTRACT The cycle of dengue virus transmission is influenced by the interaction between humans, dengue virus, vector (mosquito), and the environment. Density of Aedes sp. larvae can affect the transmission status of DHF cases. The research was conducted to determine the relationship between the characteristics of the larval density of Aedes sp. This is an observational with a cross sectional study design, with a total sample of 280 households. The results showed that for regions with high DHF transmission, entomology indices showed House Index (HI), Container Index (CI), Bretau Index (BI) and Density Figure (DF) respectively were 36%, 20%, 54 with density figures at high risk of transmission. In areas with low DHF transmission, the figure is 19%, 8%, 24, and the density figures at moderate risk of transmission. Characteristic factors of containers in areas with high transmission status that can affect the presence of Aedes sp. larvae are species (p = 0.00; OR = 12.26), location (p = 0.00; OR = 5.05) and ingredients (p = 0.00; OR = 2.9), whereas in the low transmission region are types (p = 0.01; OR = 15.15), color (p = 0.00; OR = 4.29) and ingredients (p = 0.00; OR = 4.05). It can be concluded that abandoned containers have a great chance to become habitat for Aedes sp. larvae which can contribute to the transmission of dengue virus. There is a need for community participation, which is supported by community leaders and cross-sectoral officers, to properly manage outdoors and neglected containers so they do not have the chance to become larval habitats. Keywords: Dengue, larvae, habitat, Aedes sp. ABSTRAK Siklus penularan virus dengue dipengaruhi oleh interaksi antara manusia, virus dengue, vektor (nyamuk), dan lingkungan. Kepadatan dari larva Aedes sp. dapat mempengaruhi status transmisi kasus DBD. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui hubungan antara karakteristik dengan kepadatan larva Aedes sp. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian observasional dengan rancangan studi potong lintang, dengan total sampel sebanyak 280 rumah tangga. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan untuk wilayah dengan transmisi DBD tinggi, indeks entomologi berturut-turut menunjukkan House Indeks (HI), Container Index (CI), Bretau Index (BI) dan Density Figure(DF) adalah 36%, 20%, 54 dengan kategori density figure pada risiko penularan tinggi. Pada wilayah dengan transmisi DBD rendah menunjukkan angka 19%, 8%, 24, dan density figure pada risiko penularan sedang. Faktor-faktor karakteristik dari kontainer pada wilayah dengan status transmisi tinggi yang dapat mempengaruhi keberadaan larva Aedes sp. adalah jenis (p=0,00; OR=12,26), letak (p=0,00; OR=5,05) dan bahan (p=0,00; OR=2,9), sedangkan pada wilayah transmisi rendah adalah jenis (p=0,01; OR=15,15), warna (p=0,00; OR=4,29) dan bahan (p=0,00; OR=4,05). Dapat disimpulkan bahwa kontainer yang terbengkalai berpeluang besar menjadi habitat larva Aedes sp. yang dapat berkontribusi terjadinya transmisi virus dengue. Diperlukan adanya peran serta masyarakat, yang didukung oleh tokoh masyarakat dan petugas lintas sektor, untuk mengelola dengan baik kontainer-kontainer di luar rumah dan terbengkalai agar tidak berpeluang menjadi habitat larva. Kata kunci: Dengue, larva, habitat, Aedes sp

Successive Bloodmeals Enhance Virus Dissemination Within Mosquitoes And Increase Transmission Potential

SUMMARY PARAGRAPHThe recent Zika virus (ZIKV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) epidemics highlight the explosive nature of arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes1,2. Vector competence and the extrinsic incubation period (EIP) are two key entomological parameters used to assess the public health risk posed by arboviruses3. These are typically measured empirically by offering mosquitoes an infectious bloodmeal and temporally sampling mosquitoes to determine infection and transmission status. This approach has been used for the better part of a century; however, it does not accurately capture the biology and behavior of many mosquito vectors which refeed frequently (every 2-3 days)4. Here we demonstrate that administration of a second non-infectious bloodmeal significantly shortens the EIP of ZIKV-infected Ae. aegypti by enhancing virus escape from the mosquito midgut. Similarly, a second bloodmeal increased the competence of this species for dengue virus and CHIKV. This effect was also observed for ZIKV in Aedes albopictus, suggesting that this species might be a more important vector than once thought and that this phenomenon may be common among other virus-vector pairings. Modeling of these findings reveals that a shortened EIP would result in a significant increase in the basic reproductive number, R0. This increase helps explain how Ae.aegypti can sustain an explosive epidemic like ZIKV despite its relatively poor vector competence in single-feed laboratory trials. Together, these data demonstrate a direct and unrecognized link between mosquito feeding behavior, EIP, and vector competence.

Modified GIANT Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation Algorithm of NG-PON

Gigabit passive optical networks have been widely deployed due to the fact that the cost of their implementation is still decreasing. What is more important, we are facing theproblem with increasing demands on the transmission bandwidth. Regarding this issue, the ITU develops another two standards supporting higher downstream bitrate. The XG-PON standard is the first platform under the developing, and the NG-PON2 is the second standard. The first one provides compatibility and increases the downstream capacity of 10 Gbit/s and the second standard has the same assumptions, but does not have backward compatibility. In this article, we discuss only XG-PON networks. We choose amendment as the dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithms, and we have compared it with the original specification and with our modification. The primary intention of that modification is to reduce the delay of Triple Play (data, video, and voice) services. These services are represented by TCONT (Transmission Container), which is used to improve the PON system upstream bandwidth allocation and transmission status dynamically. As NS-3 simulator does not support the direct mapping of Triple Play services into T-CONT and their labeling. We focus on a delay value for Triple Play services which was reduced by own modification in a GIANT algorithm. On the other hand, we cannot reduce the delay value for VoIP services because it has the highest priority by T-CONT.

A Backoff Algorithm for LOWPAN Based on the Dynamically Backoff Exponent

A mechanism that the backoff exponent changes dynamically was proposed aiming at the poor performance of backoff algorithm in IEEE 802.15.4 MAC protocol. The algorithm could adjust the initial backoff exponent according to the previous transmission status and the backoff exponent. A Markov chain model for the algorithm was established and the mathematical derivation for the model was carried out. The theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the model increases the channel access probability and system throughput. The optimized algorithm improves the performance of LOWPAN effectively.