Heterologous vaccination interventions to reduce pandemic morbidity and mortality: Modeling the US winter 2020 COVID-19 wave

COVID-19 remains a stark health threat worldwide, in part because of minimal levels of targeted vaccination outside high-income countries and highly transmissible variants causing infection in vaccinated individuals. Decades of theoretical and experimental data suggest that nonspecific effects of non–COVID-19 vaccines may help bolster population immunological resilience to new pathogens. These routine vaccinations can stimulate heterologous cross-protective effects, which modulate nontargeted infections. For example, immunization with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin, inactivated influenza vaccine, oral polio vaccine, and other vaccines have been associated with some protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection and amelioration of COVID-19 disease. If heterologous vaccine interventions (HVIs) are to be seriously considered by policy makers as bridging or boosting interventions in pandemic settings to augment nonpharmaceutical interventions and specific vaccination efforts, evidence is needed to determine their optimal implementation. Using the COVID-19 International Modeling Consortium mathematical model, we show that logistically realistic HVIs with low (5 to 15%) effectiveness could have reduced COVID-19 cases, hospitalization, and mortality in the United States fall/winter 2020 wave. Similar to other mass drug administration campaigns (e.g., for malaria), HVI impact is highly dependent on both age targeting and intervention timing in relation to incidence, with maximal benefit accruing from implementation across the widest age cohort when the pandemic reproduction number is >1.0. Optimal HVI logistics therefore differ from optimal rollout parameters for specific COVID-19 immunizations. These results may be generalizable beyond COVID-19 and the US to indicate how even minimally effective heterologous immunization campaigns could reduce the burden of future viral pandemics.

Policy and Linkages in the Application of a One Health System for Reporting and Controlling African Trypanosomiasis and Other Zoonotic Diseases in Zambia

The capacity to detect, control and manage emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases in Africa has been limited by a lack of utilisation of available reporting structures and policies to support programmes at national and local levels. This study explored the impact of the Zambian government policies on animal and human disease reporting and management and on One Health opportunities. An in-depth review and analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the existing policies and reporting structures in the departments responsible for Veterinary Services, Health, and Wildlife, was conducted. According to our findings, sub-optimal implementation of existing policies related to the control of zoonotic diseases was impacting disease reporting, and reporting structures play an important role in effective and sustainable reporting of zoonotic diseases. Further, the study explored capacities and strategies in trypanosomiasis control as a case study that could prompt effective adoption of a One Health approach, and as such, the study suggests measures that could help to assess the performance of a One Health system in the control of African trypanosomiasis and other zoonotic diseases.

Can activated titanium interbody cages accelerate or enhance spinal fusion? a review of the literature and a design for clinical trials

While spinal interbody cage options have proliferated in the past decade, relatively little work has been done to explore the comparative potential of biomaterial technologies in promoting stable fusion. Innovations such as micro-etching and nano-architectural designs have shown purported benefits in in vitro studies, but lack clinical data describing their optimal implementation. Here, we critically assess the pre-clinical data supportive of various commercially available interbody cage biomaterial, topographical, and structural designs. We describe in detail the osteointegrative and osteoconductive benefits conferred by these modifications with a focus on polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium (Ti) interbody implants. Further, we describe the rationale and design for two randomized controlled trials, which aim to address the paucity of clinical data available by comparing interbody fusion outcomes between either PEEK or activated Ti lumbar interbody cages. Utilizing dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), these studies will evaluate the relative implant-bone integration and fusion rates achieved by either micro-etched Ti or standard PEEK interbody devices. Taken together, greater understanding of the relative osseointegration profile at the implant–bone interface of cages with distinct topographies will be crucial in guiding the rational design of further studies and innovations.

Generic Framework for the Optimal Implementation of Flexibility Mechanisms in Large-Scale Smart Grids

This paper aims to provide the smart grid research community with an open and accessible general mathematical framework to develop and implement optimal flexibility mechanisms in large-scale network applications. The motivation of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, flexibility mechanisms are currently a hot topic of research, which is aimed to mitigate variation and uncertainty of electricity demand and supply in decentralised grids with a high aggregated share of renewables. On the other hand, a large part of such related research is performed by heuristic methods, which are generally inefficient (such methods do not guarantee optimality) and difficult to extrapolate for different use cases. Alternatively, this paper presents an MPC-based (model predictive control) framework explicitly including a generic flexibility mechanism, which is easy to particularise to specific strategies such as demand response, flexible production and energy efficiency services. The proposed framework is benchmarked with other non-optimal control configurations to better show the advantages it provides. The work of this paper is completed by the implementation of a generic use case, which aims to further clarify the use of the framework and, thus, to ease its adoption by other researchers in their specific flexibility mechanism applications.

PARTISIPASI MASYARAKAT DALAM PELAKSANAAN PPKM DARURAT DI KABUPATEN GARUT

The Covid-19 pandemic is increasing throughout Indonesia. Due to this, the handling of covid-19 is very important to do to overcome the spread of the covid-19 virus because if there is no handling of this virus it will endanger public health. As we know COVID-19 can cause mild to severe symptoms. There are about 80% of mild symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever) that do not require special treatment but there are also people who suffer from severe symptoms, such as with pneumonia or difficulty breathing, which usually appear gradually. One of the efforts to deal with COVID-19 is to implement the PPKM (Enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions) policy. None other than the goal is to foster public compliance with health protocols, prevent covid-19, and suppress the spread of COVID-19, so that the tourism and creative economy sector (tourism and creative economy) will bounce back and the economic sector will recover soon. Garut Regency is one of the regencies in Indonesia that also applies this PPKM regulation. This is the background of the author to examine the participation of the people of Garut Regency during the implementation of PPKM in an effort to handle COVID-19. This study aims to find out how the role of the people of Garut Regency and what changes occur during the implementation of PPKM in Garut Regency. The research method used is a literature study by elaborating research that is relevant to the concept of empowering local communities. In one related study, it was stated that community participation in the implementation of emergency PPKM in Garut Regency showed significant results. Therefore, through this program-based idea, we are able to achieve optimal implementation of emergency PPKM so as to increase the health status as high as possible. Keywords: Covid-19, Community Participation, PPKM, Health protocol

The Optimization of the Number of Halal Auditor to Improve Halal Product Assurance in Indonesia (The Perspective of Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Guarantee)

The lack of quantity of halal auditors has implications for the less than optimal implementation of halal product guarantee in Indonesia, so it is necessary to compare with Brunei Darussalam in standardizing halal auditors. The research method used in this research is normative juridical. The results of the study indicate that halal auditors still need to optimize the quantity of halal auditors so that they are more optimal in halal and there will be an increase in halal product guarantee in Indonesia. Comparative with Brunei Darussalam, apart from an adequate quantity of halal auditors, there is also a code of ethics for trainee auditors (halal auditors), Indonesia needs to optimize the number of halal auditors and also have a code of ethics for halal auditors. So the results are more optimal and in accordance with Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 33 Year 2014 on Halal Product Guarantee.

Generic Framework for the Optimal Implementation of Flexibility Mechanisms in Large-Scale Smart Grids

This paper aims to provide the smart grid research community with an open and accessible general mathematical framework to develop and implement optimal flexibility mechanisms in large-scale network applications. The motivation of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, flexibility mechanisms are currently a hot topic of research, which is aimed to mitigate variation and uncertainty of electricity demand and supply in decentralised grids with a high aggregated share of renewables. On the other hand, a large part of such related research is performed by heuristic methods, which are generally inefficient (such methods do not guarantee optimality) and difficult to extrapolate for different use cases. Alternatively, this paper presents an MPC-based (Model Predictive Control) framework explicitly including a generic flexibility mechanism which is easy to particularise to specific strategies such as Demand Response, Flexible Production and Energy Efficiency Services. The proposed framework is benchmarked with other non-optimal control configurations to better show the advantages it provides. The work of this paper is completed by the implementation of a generic use case which aims to further clarify the use of the framework and thus, to ease its adoption by other researchers in their specific flexibility mechanisms applications.

Stream-Based Lossless Data Compression

In this chapter, we introduce aspects of applying data-compression techniques. First, we study the background of recent communication data paths. The focus of this chapter is a fast lossless data-compression mechanism that handles data streams completely. A data stream comprises continuous data with no termination of the massive data generated by sources such as movies and sensors. In this chapter, we introduce LCA-SLT and LCA-DLT, which accept the data streams, as well as several implementations of these stream-based compression techniques. We also show optimization techniques for optimal implementation in hardware.

Conceptual Design of a Novel Nozzle Combined with a Clinical Proton Linac for Magnetically Focussed Minibeams

(1) Background: Proton minibeam radiation therapy (pMBRT) is a novel therapeutic approach with the potential to significantly increase normal tissue sparing while providing tumour control equivalent or superior to standard proton therapy. For reasons of efficiency, flexibility and minibeam quality, the optimal implementation of pMBRT should use magnetically focussed minibeams which, however, could not yet be generated in a clinical environment. In this study, we evaluated our recently proposed minibeam nozzle together with a new clinical proton linac as a potential implementation. (2) Methods: Monte Carlo simulations were performed to determine under which conditions minibeams can be generated and to evaluate the robustness against focussing magnet errors. Moreover, an example of conventional pencil beam scanning irradiation was simulated. (3) Results: Excellent minibeam sizes between 0.6 and 0.9 mm full width at half maximum could be obtained and a good tolerance to errors was observed. Furthermore, the delivery of a 10 cm × 10 cm field with pencil beams was demonstrated. (4) Conclusion: The combination of the new proton linac and minibeam nozzle could represent an optimal implementation of pMBRT by allowing the generation of magnetically focussed minibeams with clinically relevant parameters. It could furthermore be used for conventional pencil beam scanning.

Jeremia Pratama Sinaga

This research is a qualitative descriptive approach and the object of research is involved elements such as the school Principal, Vice Principal Curriculum and teachers at SMPN 7 Pematangsiantar. The focus of this research is to identify and analyze the implementation of Curriculum Policy, 2013 in SMPN 7 Pematangsianar using a model that was initiated by George C. Edward III in the form of communication, resources, disposition and bureaucratic structures that play a role in policy implementation. The data used is the verbal data from respondents information about the implementation of curriculum policy in 2013 in SMPN 7 Pematangsiantar. The technique of collecting data using interviews, observation and documentation. Analysis of the data in this study include stage data reduction, data presentation and data verification or conclusion. The results showed that the implementation of curriculum policy in 2013 in SMPN 7 Pematangsiantar generally running well but not optimal. Until runs in the third year, the evaluations are made every year to make more optimal implementation of this policy. In the communication factor, sub factor and consistency of information transmission has not gone well, from the sub factor clarity there is little problem. The vagueness of this information related to the curriculum changes that took effect too quickly