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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments worldwide have implemented mandatory face mask regulations in crowded public spaces, making the development of automatic face mask detection systems critical. To achieve robust face mask detection performance, a high-quality and comprehensive face mask dataset is
[...] Read more.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments worldwide have implemented mandatory face mask regulations in crowded public spaces, making the development of automatic face mask detection systems critical. To achieve robust face mask detection performance, a high-quality and comprehensive face mask dataset is required. However, due to the difficulty in obtaining face samples with masks in the real-world, public face mask datasets are often imbalanced, leading to the data imbalance problem in model training and negatively impacting detection performance. To address this problem, this paper proposes a novel recursive model-training technique designed to improve detection accuracy on imbalanced datasets. The proposed method recursively splits and merges the dataset based on the attribute characteristics of different classes, enabling more balanced and effective model training. Our approach demonstrates that the carefully designed splitting and merging of datasets can significantly enhance model-training performance. This method was evaluated using two imbalanced datasets. The experimental results show that the proposed recursive learning technique achieves a percentage increase (PI) of 84.5% in mean average precision ([email protected]) on the Kaggle dataset and of 186.3% on the Eden dataset compared to traditional supervised learning. Additionally, when combined with existing oversampling techniques, the PI on the Kaggle dataset further increases to 88.9%, highlighting the potential of the proposed method for improving detection accuracy in highly imbalanced datasets.
Full article
Background: SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake variation remains a significant barrier to overcoming the spread of COVID-19. Individual beliefs/attitudes about the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine vary significantly across generations due to personal experiences, access to accurate information, education levels, political beliefs, and trust in healthcare systems. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background: SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake variation remains a significant barrier to overcoming the spread of COVID-19. Individual beliefs/attitudes about the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine vary significantly across generations due to personal experiences, access to accurate information, education levels, political beliefs, and trust in healthcare systems. Methods: This analysis used data from the baseline visit of Project 2VIDA!, a cohort of Americans of Mexican descent (AoDM) and African American individuals (n = 1052) in San Diego, CA, along the U.S.–Mexico border region. The survey assessed sociodemographics, healthcare access, socioeconomic factors, and trust in public health information/SARS-CoV-2 prevention. We conducted a logistic regression involving AoDM individuals to identify generational factors associated with completing the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine series. Results: The results of the logistic regression analysis revealed that Generation X (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.33–0.82), Millennials (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14–0.41), and Generation Z (OR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.05–0.22) were less likely to complete the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine series when compared to Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation. Conclusion: Participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 testing and trust in the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were significantly more likely to complete the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine series. Efforts to address vaccine series completion should be tailored to the specific concerns and motivations of different age groups.
Full article
Infectious disease epidemics have played a crucial role in shaping public health responses, particularly in global health crises. This study emerges as part of the efforts to prepare effective responses to potential future pandemics, leveraging lessons learned during the COVID-19 crisis. The research
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Infectious disease epidemics have played a crucial role in shaping public health responses, particularly in global health crises. This study emerges as part of the efforts to prepare effective responses to potential future pandemics, leveraging lessons learned during the COVID-19 crisis. The research uses an adapted compartmental epidemiological model and a synthetic multi-agent community to investigate how social variables influence epidemic forecasts in socioeconomically vulnerable regions. Focusing on the simulation of epidemic dynamics in the socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhood of Ilha Joana Bezerra in Recife, this study examines the impacts of social distancing strategies and other control measures, such as face masks and moderate social isolation. Through the adapted SEPAI3R3O model, which includes compartments for pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic states, this study provides a detailed analysis of disease dynamics in contexts characterised by high social vulnerability. The results underscore the importance of public health policies adapted to socio-economic factors, emphasising the need for continuous preparedness to manage future epidemic threats in vulnerable communities effectively.
Full article
by
Veronica V. Rezelj, Fred Paddenburg, Marie Enajite Diegbe, Julius Nangosyah, Emil C. Reisinger, Weihong Hu, Carla Truyers, Gert Scheper, Mathieu Le Gars, Jenny Hendriks, Frank Struyf, Macaya Douoguih, Hanneke Schuitemaker and Javier Ruiz-Guiñazú
Vaccines2024, 12(10), 1136; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12101136 (registering DOI) - 3 Oct 2024
Background: This study aimed to support the end-of-shelf life specification (2.5 × 1010 virus particles [vp]) for the standard Ad26.COV2.S dose (5 × 1010 vp). Methods: This randomized, double-blind Phase 3 study evaluated immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of several Ad26.COV2.S dose
[...] Read more.
Background: This study aimed to support the end-of-shelf life specification (2.5 × 1010 virus particles [vp]) for the standard Ad26.COV2.S dose (5 × 1010 vp). Methods: This randomized, double-blind Phase 3 study evaluated immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of several Ad26.COV2.S dose levels (range 1.25 to 9 × 1010 vp) in 1593 adults between June 2021 and July 2023. Results: Spike-binding antibody responses 28 days post-dose 1 were non-inferior for the 9 × 1010 vp, but not the 2.5 × 1010 vp group when compared with the standard dose. Non-inferiority was demonstrated in terms of spike-binding antibody responses 14 days post-dose 2 for each dose level, including the lowest dose level of 1.25 × 1010 vp, compared to 28 days after one dose and 14 days after two doses of the standard dose. Spike-binding antibody levels correlated well with virus neutralizing titers. There was no impact of pre-existing Ad26.COV2.S neutralizing titers on immunogenicity at any dose level. All dose levels were well tolerated. Conclusions: This study highlights the challenges associated with conducting clinical studies in a rapidly evolving environment and underscores the importance of platform data that can guide initial vaccine specifications such as shelf life during accelerated vaccine development. The present study supports the end-of-shelf life specifications for the approved Ad26.COV2.S dose, and could provide useful information in future vaccine developments using adenovirus vector vaccines.
Full article
This study aimed to investigate the SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence among >18-year-old students in the Faculty of Public Health and Faculty of Sciences at the Lebanese University in Tripoli, Northern Lebanon, in June 2023 and to characterize the circulating Omicron subvariants. Out of 357
[...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence among >18-year-old students in the Faculty of Public Health and Faculty of Sciences at the Lebanese University in Tripoli, Northern Lebanon, in June 2023 and to characterize the circulating Omicron subvariants. Out of 357 participants, only 2 (0.56%) tested positive by qPCR, corresponding to 0.61% (2/326) of asymptomatic students. One case tested positive with a qPCR targeting the Omicron BA.2 variant. These findings indicate a low incidence at that time and emphasize the interest of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance among students.
Full article
Background: Many COVID-19 survivors still experience long-term effects of an acute infection, most often characterised by neurological, cognitive and psychiatric sequelae. The treatment of this condition is challenging, and many hypotheses have been proposed. Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation using slow-paced breathing (SPB) could
[...] Read more.
Background: Many COVID-19 survivors still experience long-term effects of an acute infection, most often characterised by neurological, cognitive and psychiatric sequelae. The treatment of this condition is challenging, and many hypotheses have been proposed. Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation using slow-paced breathing (SPB) could stimulate both central nervous system areas and parasympathetic autonomic pathways, leading to neuromodulation and a reduction in inflammation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate physical, cognitive, emotional symptoms, executive functions and autonomic cardiac modulation after one month of at-home slow breathing intervention. Methods: 6655 healthcare workers (HCWs) were contacted via a company email in November 2022, of which N = 58 HCWs were enrolled as long COVID (cases) and N = 53 HCWs as controls. A baseline comparison of the two groups was performed. Subsequently each case was instructed on how to perform a resonant SPB using visual heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback. They were then given a mobile video tutorial breathing protocol and asked to perform it three times a day (morning, early afternoon and before sleep). N = 33 cases completed the FU. At T0 and T1, each subject underwent COVID-related, psychosomatic and dysfunctional breathing questionnaires coupled with heart rate variability and manual dexterity assessments. Results: After one month of home intervention, an overall improvement in long-COVID symptoms was observed: confusion/cognitive impairment, chest pain, asthenia, headache and dizziness decreased significantly, while only a small increase in manual dexterity was found, and no relevant changes in cardiac parasympathetic modulation were observed.
Full article
submission deadline 15 Oct 2024
| 2 articles
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Submission Open
Keywords: long COVID management; vaccine development; risk assessment; rehabilitation; public health approach; laboratory diagnosis; drug development and repurposing; genetic factor; proteomics; genomics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Epidemiology)
The first webinar in the series, held on 17 April 2020, saw both Prof. Dr. Antoine Flahault, Director of the Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, Switzerland, and Prof. Dr. Evelyne Bischof, Associate Professor, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China and Research physician, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland speak on this topic.
The second webinar in the series, entitled “Coronaviruses: history, replication, innate immune antagonism”, saw Prof. Dr. Susan R. Weiss, Professor of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania speak on this topic.
WEBINAR 3: Could the COVID-19 Crisis be the Opportunity to Make Cities Carbon Neutral, Liveable and Healthy
The third webinar in this series was presented by Prof. Dr. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, a world leading expert in environmental exposure assessment, epidemiology, and health risk/impact assessment with a strong focus and interest on healthy urban living.
WEBINAR 4: COVID-19 - Global Supply Chains and the SDGs
For the fourth webinar of this series, Prof. Dr. Max Bergman, Dr. Dorothea Schostok and Prof. Dr. Patrick Paul Walsh gave a presentation on Global Supply Chains and the SDGs.
WEBINAR 5: The New Role of Family Physicians in Times of COVID-19
The fifth webinar of the COVID-19 Series saw Prof. Dr. Christos Lionis discuss the new role of family physicians that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
WEBINAR 6: Survey on Symptoms/Signs, Protective Measures, Level of Awareness and Perception Regarding COVID-19 Outbreak among Dentists
In the sixth webinar of this series, Prof. Dr. Guglielmo Campus and Prof. Dr. Maria Grazia present and discuss the risk and the preventions that can and should be taken by dentists during this pandemic.
WEBINAR 7: Living with COVID-19: An Early Intervention Therapeutic Strategy to Control the Pandemic
The seventh webinar of the COVID-19 series, Dr. Hamid Merchant discussed the different therapeutic strategies that can be adopted in the early stages of the infection.
WEBINAR 8: Impact of COVID-19 on Routine Immunization, Reproduction and Pregnancy Outcome
For the eighth COVID-19 webinar, Prof. Dr. Jon Øyvind Odland discussed the effect that COVID-19 seems to have on pregnant women; whereas Prof. Dr. Giovanni Gabutti discussed the role of routine immunization as a way of fighting COVID-19.
