Dynamic analysis of major public health emergency transmission considering the dual-layer coupling of community–resident complex networks

We construct a dual-layer coupled complex network of communities and residents to represent the interconnected risk transmission network between communities and the disease transmission network among residents. It characterizes the process of infectious disease transmission among residents between communities through the SE2IHR model considering two types of infectors. By depicting a more fine-grained social structure and combining further simulation experiments, the study validates the crucial role of various prevention and control measures implemented by communities as primary executors in controlling the epidemic. Research shows that the geographical boundaries of communities and the social interaction patterns of residents have a significant impact on the spread of the epidemic, where early detection, isolation and treatment strategies at community level are essential for controlling the spread of the epidemic. In addition, the study explores the collaborative governance model and institutional advantages of communities and residents in epidemic prevention and control.

Linking Perceived Risk of Public Health Emergency to Psychological Distress among Chinese College Students: The Chain Mediation Role of Balanced Time Perspective and Negative Coping Styles

Background:With public health emergencies(PHE)worldwide increasing,the perceived risk of PHE has been one of the critical factors influencing college students’psychological distress.However,the mechanisms by which the perceived risk of PHE affects college students’psychological distress are not clear.The study’s purpose was to investigate the mediation roles of deviation from a balanced time perspective(DBTP)and negative coping styles between the perceived risk of PHE and psychological distress.Methods:A convenience sampling method was used to survey 1054 Chinese college students with self-reporting.Data was collected using the Public Risk Perception Scale(PRPS),the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory(ZTPI),the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire(SCSQ),the PHE Anxiety Scale,and the Chinese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ).The associations between the perceived risk of PHE,DBTP,negative coping styles,and psychological distress were clarified using the correlation analysis.Additionally,the mediating roles of DBTP and negative coping styles between the perceived risk of PHE and psychological distress were investigated using a structural equation model.Results:The findings revealed low to moderate correlations between the variables studied.Students’perceived risk of PHE was a positive predictor of their psychological distress(b=0.219,p<0.01).DBTP and negative coping styles played chain mediation roles between them with the effect being 0.009 and a 95%Boot CI of[0.003,0.023].This chain mediation model had an excellent fit index(χ^(2)/df=4.732,CFI=0.973,TLI=0.930,RMSEA=0.048,SRMR=0.047).Conclusion:These findings showed how the perceived risk of PHE affected college students’psychological distress.Specifically,these results suggested that improving students’mental ability to switch effectively among different time perspectives depending on task features and situational considerations and reducing their negative coping styles might be effective ways to promote their mental health.

Principle for the Installation of Accommodation for Sick guards in Public Health Establishments in Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo

The results of scientific studies of human social facts in the field of health show that the management of a patient should involve the patient’s entourage,whatever the status or size of the health establishment.In healthcare establishments in the Congo,the following are recognised as being responsible for medical care:specialist doctors,doctors,midwives,nurses and care assistants.The patient’s family and close friends are responsible for looking after the patient and financing care.The hospital infrastructure does not provide any space for the patient warden who accompany the patient during reception and hospitalisation.This makes Congolese hospitals inefficient for patient care.How can we integrate the function of the Sick guard and the assistance of the family,in order to reduce the mortality rate and repair the harm caused to patients requiring the presence of relatives during their stay in hospital,which is considered to be a dangerous place?This article examines the functional principles for configuring the space that patient warden would occupy in the patient care system.On the basis of a documentary analysis of sociological and architectural studies of existing facilities,this article proposes a typical accommodation model with the spaces needed to ensure the well-being and effectiveness of the patient warden with the patient.These are rooms with minimum space for 2 to 4 individual beds,equipped with toilets and showers.The accommodation has a dining area,kitchen and laundry facilities.In the future,this accommodation will become part of the hospital estate and may be occupied by orderlies and patient warden recruited by the hospital administration.

Identification and Optimisation of Cycling Life Circle in High Density Communities with Public Health Support: A Case Study of Tiantongyuan in Beijing

In recent years,the compact development of high-density cities has sparked ongoing interest in healthy urban environments and public well-being.This study examines the relationship between cycling behaviors and the built environment of streets in Tiantongyuan Community,a typical high-density area in Beijing,China.By observing street spaces and summarizing residents’travel modes and behaviors,the study evaluates the impact of street design on cycling habits.In order to reveal the riding behavior characteristics of residents in different time periods and different street spaces,tools such as track recording APPs and the Gopro Motion Camera are employed to collect street view pictures and riding track data comprehensively,analyzing the various travel purposes of residents in Tiantongyuan community and the riding OD activity tracks of the main entrances and exits of the community.Meanwhile,by conducting the questionnaire survey of residents’travel demands and OD data of Baidu,and utilizing geographic information system(GIS)for data visualization,this study further investigates the distribution characteristics of cycling hotspots,cycling paths and cycling space,accurately identifies the cycling life circle of this community based on the spatial and temporal scales,and further puts forward the optimization strategy of the cycling network.Some cycling-friendly street space optimization strategies are suggested to deeply analyze the mechanism of the built environment of street space in high-density communities on the cycling activities and health of urban residents,with a view to provide accurate data support for the renewal of street cycling space.

Greenway Non-mortorized System Planning from the Perspective of Public Health

The important role of greenway non-mortorized systems in urban sustainable development was summarized,pointing out their potential value in improving the ecological environment,promoting healthy living,and enhancing community connections.Based on the analysis on some cases of urban greenway construction in China,specific transformation models and strategies were proposed for greenway construction,which could integrate green spaces with non-mortorized system,so as to enhance the comprehensive efficiency of urban linear spaces.

Comprehensive Analysis of Cancer Incidence and Mortality Trends in Costa Rica: Implications for Public Health

This commentary delves into the evolving landscape of cancer incidence and mortality in Costa Rica, presenting a comprehensive analysis of the data. Key findings reveal a concerning upward trajectory in cancer incidence rates, placing Costa Rica at the forefront within Central America. While prostate cancer and breast cancer dominate, disparities emerge when scrutinizing gender-specific trends. Notably, stomach and cervical cancers show declines, potentially attributed to targeted interventions. However, colorectal and liver cancers witness mortality increases, necessitating strategic responses. Geographical disparities persist across provinces, highlighting the need for equitable healthcare access. In conclusion, this commentary underscores the urgency of addressing the burgeoning cancer burden in Costa Rica, calling for evidence-based interventions and collaborative efforts on a global scale.

REDISSE in Benin and Lessons Learned for the Management of Public Health Emergencies after Five Years of Implementation

Introduction: Benin was embarked on phase 3 of the REDISSE Benin project (Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement) which began in 2018. The objectives were in five key components namely, Surveillance and health information;Laboratory capacity building;Emergency preparedness and response;Human resources management for effective disease surveillance and epidemic preparedness;and Institutional Capacity Building, Project Management, Coordination and Advocacy. After five years of implementation, this study aimed at the documentation of lessons learned and best practices. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Apart from individual semi-structured interviews, a thematic workshops bringing together the project’s main stakeholders recruited on an exhaustive way by component to identify and validate lessons learned, good practices and propose improvement mechanisms to be taken into account by the sector. Criteria were set up and used to validate best practices and lessons learned. Results: A total 54 (Surveillance workshop), 47 (Preparedness & response workshop), 53 (Human Resources workshop), 26 (Laboratories workshop) participated to the thematic workshops, and five interviews. The good practices (33: 9 for animal health, 7 for human health and 17 crosscutting) and lessons learned (10: 3 for animal health and 7 for human health) have been identified and have been the subject, depending on the case, of proposals for improvement or conditions necessary for their maintenance. Discussion: The richness of a project lies not only in the immediate achievement of its results, but also and above all, in its usefulness for similar interventions, whether in the local, regional, national or international context. It is in this context that the REDISSE project has set out to make public the various lessons learned and best practices from the implementation of its activities over a period of some five consecutive years.

Work experience of special workers returning to work after the public health emergency:taking ICU nurses who have been infected with COVID-19 as example

Objective:The occurrence of some public health events inevitably endangers medical personnel,and medical personnel,as a special group,have to resume work on time to treat patients.This coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19)infection is a good example,and what intensive care unit(ICU)nurses experience as the primary caregivers of critically ill patients after COVID-19 infection is our focus.To explore the work experience of ICU nurses after recovery from COVID-19,and to provide a theoretical basis for the intervention to improve the physical and mental health level and work experience of special workers in public health emergencies.Methods:We conducted an explorative descriptive study using an inductive thematic analysis.Using the maximum differential sampling method,a semi-structured interview was conducted among 13 ICU nurses suffered from COVID-19 in a tertiary grade A hospital in Qingdao,Shandong Province.This study carried on the theme analysis according to the inductive content analysis method and used MAXQDA 2020 Analytics Pro(VERBI Software GmbH,Berlin,Germany)to manage and summarize the interview data.Results:After being infected by the virus,SARS-Coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2),the pathogen of COVID-19,the work experience of ICU nurses was extracted from the following 5 themes:(1)Stress and challenge caused by the change of work focus;(2)downsizing,overtime,taking up work with illness,and physical discomfort;(3)dedication and family debt;(4)unknown fear and helplessness;and(5)professional responsibility and sense of benefit.Conclusions:Under the pressure of COVID-19,ICU nurses face multiple pressures and challenges,and their emotions are complex.We suggest that nursing managers should take corresponding measures to alleviate nurses'physical and psychological pressure and improve their work experience.

Enlightenment from the COVID-19 Pandemic:The Roles of Environmental Factors in Future Public Health Emergency Response

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic is challenging the current public health emergency response systems(PHERSs)of many countries.Although environmental factors,such as those influencing the survival of viruses and their transmission between species including humans,play important roles in PHERSs,little attention has been given to these factors.This study describes and elucidates the roles of environmental factors in future PHERSs.To improve countries’capability to respond to public health emergencies associated with viral infections such as the COVID-19 pandemic,a number of environmental factors should be considered before,during,and after the responses to such emergencies.More specifically,to prevent pandemic outbreaks,we should strengthen environmental and wildlife protection,conduct detailed viral surveillance in animals and hotspots,and improve early-warning systems.During the pandemic,we must study the impacts of environmental factors on viral behaviors,develop control measures to minimize secondary environmental risks,and conduct timely assessments of viral risks and secondary environmental effects with a view to reducing the impacts of the pandemic on human health and on ecosystems.After the pandemic,we should further strengthen surveillance for viruses and the prevention of viral spread,maintain control measures for minimizing secondary environmental risks,develop our capability to scientifically predict pandemics and resurgences,and prepare for the next unexpected resurgence.Meanwhile,we should restore the normal life and production of the public based on the“One Health”concept,that views global human and environmental health as inextricably linked.Our recommendations are essential for improving nations’capability to respond to global public health emergencies.

The Efficiency of Public Health Expenditure in Turkey Between 2003 and 2013

Turkey launched a project in 2003 known as ＂Health Transformation Programme＂ （HTP）, which enabled Turkey to make considerable progress and radical changes to the health care system. The programme in 2003 included the effectiveness and the efficiency factors within the process by setting them as the primary objectives to increase the health status of the population （effectiveness） and to use resources in the best possible manner and at the lowest possible cost （efficiency）. Accessing services according to the need of patients and state benefits according to their ability to pay would be viable under these objectives. In this study, initially, Turkish National Health System will be articulated on a literature-study basis approach to measure the efficiency of public expenditure on health. Then, the measured level of the efficiency will be analysed in Turkey, The paper serves a purpose to analyse the efficiency based on the outcomes of heath service such as satisfaction with public health services over the period of 2003-2013. A simple linear regression was employed to test the degree of statistical relation between public health expenditure and satisfaction with public health care services.

Clinical relevance and public health significance of hepatitis B virus genomic variations

Ten hepatitis B virus （HBV） genotypes （A-J） and 34 HBV subgenotypes have been identified so far. HBV genotypes and subgenotypes have distinct geographical distributions, and have been shown to differ with regard to clinical outcome, prognosis, and response to interferon treatment. Infection with subgenotype A2 is frequently associated with high viral load, resulting in acute infection via horizontal transmission. Genotypes A and B are more sensitive to interferon treatment than genotypes D and C, respectively. Genotype B is more frequent in acute hepatitis than genotype C, whereas genotype C （C2） is more frequently associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）, mostly cirrhotic, as compared with genotype B （B2）. Genotype mixture is associated with high viral load and worse outcome of HBV infection. HBV mutations in the S genes, especially amino acids substitution at position 145 （G145R）, are associated with immune escape, whereas mutations in the PreS or S genes which impair HBsAg secretion could present a risk to blood safety. HBV variants harboring mutations in the viral polymerase gene that confer resistance to nucleoside analogs may be selected during antiviral therapy. Different genotypes have distinct mutation patterns in the PreS and EnhH/BCP/Precore regions. PreS deletions, C1653T, T1753V, and A1762T/G1764A are associated with an increased risk of HCC. HCC- associated HBV mutants may not transmit via motherto-child transmission, and are likely generated during HBV-induced pathogenesis. Examination of HBV mutations alone or in combination and host genetic suscep-tibility will be helpful in classifying the HBV-infected subjects who will develop HCC and need active antiviral treatments.

Examining Inequality in the Public Health Workforce Distribution in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDCs) System in China, 2008–2017

Objective Allocation of human resources to address inequalities in the public health system has increasingly attracted societal and political attention.Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDCs)system of China as an example,we evaluated inequality in the public health workforce distribution across different regions in China between 2008 and 2017,with the aim of providing information for policymakers to support resource allocation and address growing health inequities.Methods We used three standard public health workforce inequality indices-Gini coefficient,Theil L,and Theil T-and spatial autocorrelation analysis to explore spatial clusters of the workforce in different provinces,visualized with geographical tools.Results The aggregate workforce-to-population ratio decreased from 1.47 to 1.42 per 10,000 population from 2008 to 2017,and was consistently lower than the National Health Commission’s(NHC)recommended critical shortage threshold of 1.75.The workforce distribution inequality indices varied by regional socioeconomic and health system development.Geographic clustering of CDCs workforce distribution was evident,with H–H and L–L clusters in western China and the Guangdong-Fujian region,respectively.Conclusions Our study addressed key issues for government and policymakers in allocation of public health human resources.There is an urgent need for careful identification of analytic questions that will help carry out public health functions in the new era,alongside policy implications for an equitable distribution of the public health workforce focusing on the western region and low–low cluster areas.

Prediction of COVID-19 Cases Using Machine Learning for Effective Public Health Management

COVID-19 is a pandemic that has affected nearly every country in the world.At present,sustainable development in the area of public health is considered vital to securing a promising and prosperous future for humans.However,widespread diseases,such as COVID-19,create numerous challenges to this goal,and some of those challenges are not yet defined.In this study,a Shallow Single-Layer Perceptron Neural Network(SSLPNN)and Gaussian Process Regression(GPR)model were used for the classification and prediction of confirmed COVID-19 cases in five geographically distributed regions of Asia with diverse settings and environmental conditions:namely,China,South Korea,Japan,Saudi Arabia,and Pakistan.Significant environmental and non-environmental features were taken as the input dataset,and confirmed COVID-19 cases were taken as the output dataset.A correlation analysis was done to identify patterns in the cases related to fluctuations in the associated variables.The results of this study established that the population and air quality index of a region had a statistically significant influence on the cases.However,age and the human development index had a negative influence on the cases.The proposed SSLPNN-based classification model performed well when predicting the classes of confirmed cases.During training,the binary classification model was highly accurate,with a Root Mean Square Error(RMSE)of 0.91.Likewise,the results of the regression analysis using the GPR technique with Matern 5/2 were highly accurate(RMSE=0.95239)when predicting the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in an area.However,dynamic management has occupied a core place in studies on the sustainable development of public health but dynamic management depends on proactive strategies based on statistically verified approaches,like Artificial Intelligence(AI).In this study,an SSLPNN model has been trained to fit public health associated data into an appropriate class,allowing GPR to predict the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in an area based on the given values of selected parameters. Therefore, this tool can help authorities in different ecological settingseffectively manage COVID-19.

Nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding potential impacts of climate change on public health in central of China

Objective:This study aims to determine the knowledge and attitudes of nurses concerning climate change and their role in addressing health-related impacts of climate change in Central China.Method:The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014.The study randomly selected nurses from hospitals in Central of China and they were asked to complete a questionnaire about climate change Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the data.Results:Majority of nurses(76%)knew about the climate change would affect public health.But more than half of the nurses did not know their work could also affect the development of climate change;83e96%of the nurses thought it were necessary and would like to learn the knowledge about climate change.Conclusion:The education program about this issue in Chinese colleges or universities is still very weak nursing courses and needs to be emphasized in the future.

Epidemiology for public health practice:The application of spatial epidemiology

Spatial epidemiology is the description and analysis of geographic patterns and variations in disease risk factors,morbidity and mortality with respect to their distributions associated with demographic,socioeconomic,environmental,health behavior,and genetic risk factors,and time-varying changes.In the Letter to Editor,we had a brief description of the practice for the mortality and the spacetime patterns of John Snow's map of cholera epidemic in London,United Kingdom in 1854.This map is one of the earliest public heath practices of developing and applying spatial epidemiology.In the early history,spatial epidemiology was predominantly applied in infectious disease and risk factor studies.However,since the recent decades,noncommunicable diseases have become the leading cause of death in both developing and developed countries,spatial epidemiology has been used in the study of noncommunicable disease.In the Letter,we addressed two examples that applied spatial epidemiology to cluster and identify stroke belt and diabetes belt across the states and counties in the United States.Similar to any other epidemiological study design and analysis approaches,spatial epidemiology has its limitations.We should keep in mind when applying spatial epidemiology in research and in public health practice.

China's Anti-epidemic Diplomacy Boosts Global Public Health Governance

In 2020 with a pandemic sweeping the world,global political and economic orders seriously disrupted and tens of millions of human lives threatened,the spread of the novel coronavirus is the world's number one challenge.China has efficiently organized domestic epidemic control and vigorously promoted international cooperation in the battle against the pandemic by advancing head-of-state diplomacy.In this ongoing crisis,China has actively led the way for global public health governance,promoted the building of a community with common health for mankind,and demonstrated the actions of a responsible major country.

Public health preparedness and responses to the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic in South Asia:a situation and policy analysis

Like rest of the world,the South Asian region is facing enormous challenges with the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.The socio-economic context of the eight South Asian countries is averse to any longterm lockdown program,but the region still observed stringent lockdown close to two months.This paper analyzed major measures in public health preparedness and responses in those countries in the pandemic.The research was based on a situation analysis to discuss appropriate plan for epidemic preparedness,strategies for prevention and control measures,and adequate response management mechanism.Based on the data from March 21 to June 26,2020,it appeared lockdown program along with other control measures were not as effective to arrest the exponential growth of fortnightly COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan,Bangladesh,India,Nepal and Pakistan.However,Bhutan,Maldives and Sri Lanka have been successfully limiting the spread of the disease.The in-depth analysis of prevention and control measures espoused densely populated context of South Asia needs community-led intervention strategy,such as case containment,in order to reverse the growing trend,and adopt the policy of mitigation instead of suppression to formulate COVID-19 action plan.On the other hand,mechanism for response management encompassed a four-tier approach of governance to weave community-led local bodies with state,national and international governance actors for enhancing the countries’emergency operation system.It is concluded resource-crunch countries in South Asia are unable to cope with the disproportionate demand of capital and skilled health care workforce at the time of the pandemic.Hence,response management needs an approach of governance maximization instead of resource maximization.The epidemiologic management of population coupled with suitable public health prevention and control measures may be a more appropriate strategy to strike a balance between economy and population health during the time of pandemic.

Leveraging the Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC)for pandemic response: opportunities and challenges

Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC) was conceptualized and established for coordinatinginformation and resources towards goal-oriented response in large scale public health emergency. Yet, theactivities undertaken by PHEOCs and their intended goals have not been fully optimized in current scenario.This paper revisited the collective efforts invested in PHEOC conceptualization and development, identified theopportunities and challenges in compliance with standards and framework, demonstrated the accountabilityof PHEOC network, thereby promoted best practice guidance for global public health emergency preparednessand response. This review will help navigate emergency response complexities leveraging PHEOC partnershipsand advance the ability to detect and respond to public health emergencies in low resource settings. The reviewshows that the information on how to adapt best practice guidance to local circumstances could incentivizethe full implementation of prevention, early detection and response to outbreaks. Identifying and correctingdeficiencies in effectiveness evaluation will provide the basis for continuous PHEOC improvement. With thegradually reopening economies and public services in some countries, there is an urgent need to emphasize andvalidate the collective efforts undertaken by PHEOCs for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022 Monkeypox outbreak:Why is it a public health emergency of international concern?What can we do to control it?

The World Health Organization(WHO) called the recent monkeypox(MPX)outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on July 23,2022.The United States of America(US) alarmed the recent MPX outbreak as the US public health emergency on August 4,2022.Since early May 2022,more than 35000 MPX cases and 12 deaths had been reported to WHO from 92 countries and territories by August 17,2022,and MPX cases continue rising rapidly with improved surveillance,access to diagnosis,and continuous virus spreading globally.Approximately 99% MPX cases are men,of which 95% cases are men who have sex with man.No evidence of MPX being sexually transmitted infections(STIs) is found;however,a high percentage(25%) of concurrent STIs and frequent anogenital symptoms suggest transmission through local inoculation during close intimate contact or sexual activity.Many approaches including a comprehensive international vaccination strategy and adequate supplies are mandatory to prevent MPX pandemic.Education,vaccination,MPX scrutiny and careful monitoring,and crossborder collaborations with international sectors are practical strategy to contain MPX outbreaks.People are educated to reduce the risk of exposure and to reduce the number of sexual partners especially new ones,to avoid contacting travelers from epidemic regions or animals that may carry MPX virus,and avoid traveling to endemic areas.

Reflection on Early Lessons for Urban Resilience and Public Health Enhancement during the COVID-19

With growing impacts on public health systems and economies across the world, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, we need to reflect on some of the early lessons for urban resilience enhancement. In this paper, a brief discussion is made through several recommendations that could make our cities more prepared specially in the probable future waves of this current outbreak or potential spikes in infections or clustered cases. The experiences from global examples highlighted in this study address what has worked in the past few months at the spatial levels of communities and cities. The COVID-19 outbreak highlighted the deficiencies and shortfall across multiple sectors of the urban systems and enabled us to identify risks, challenges, and pathways to better city management. With regard to urban resilience enhancement, the negative impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak are assessed to suggest a checklist of what could be done through early preparedness. The findings are novel in ongoing research related to urban resilience and public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The early lessons here reflect on the ongoing situation of this pandemic outbreak, but could effectually help to enhance the resilience of our cities and communities, and especially addressing the protection of public health and societal well-being. The findings contribute to major sectors of urban resilience, city management, and public health. The recommendations from this study could be utilised and adapted in any context, allowing for the consideration of all-inclusive decision-making and much-enhanced planning processes.