Survey of Students Regarding Zika Infection: Is the Next Generation Aware of the Dangers?

In 2016 and 2017 an outbreak of the Zika virus in new locales shocked populations into awareness of the disease and of its imputed ability to cause serious fetal abnormalities, particularly microcephaly. There was a major reduction in travel by people of child-bearing age. But the temporary regression in the spread, and preoccupation with COVID-19, seem to have overshadowed concern about Zika virus. In order to investigate this phenomenon, we conducted an online survey of 157 high-school students from four schools in different parts of the United States regarding their knowledge, practices, and attitudes about Zika virus. The mean age of the respondents was 16.4 ± 1.1 years, 55% were girls, and 60% attended public (rather than private) schools. Most students (70%) had taken no steps to prevent Zika, but said they would tell their parents or a physician if they were exposed. They relied primarily on school and the internet (76% and 72%, respectively) as trusted sources of information about the virus. The majority (73%) said they would spend some time to learn more about Zika;girls exhibited more concern than did boys. Half (50%) of respondents knew the signs and symptoms of Zika, but only 20% knew all the ways Zika could be transmitted and 31% why Zika prevention was crucial for pregnant women and their partners. The results of this study suggest that comprehensive national preventive healthcare educational programs are needed.

中国产业调整和外贸策略

自1978改革开放以来,中国在世界贸易中扮演着越来越重要的角色。本文分析中国外贸的发展,试图证明:中国商品通过外贸的方式进入国际市场,对中国经济不仅是必需的手段,而且可以达到调整产业结构和促进改革的目的。国际市场的变化已经影响和冲击了中国外贸出口的结构和产品竞争力。一些影响中国外贸的因素(例如国际市场上的进出口区域差异、供求关系和价格弹性)引起了越来越多的关注。改革开放初期,中国基本上是以出口原材料和初级产品为主;随着中国经济的发展,制造业在出口中所占的比重越来越大;如今高科技产品的贸易在外贸中的重要性上升,而同时中国对能源进口的需求已经对世界能源供应链产生了压力。2001年,中国加入WTO可以被看作是一个分水岭。加入WTO以后,随着关税和非关税壁垒的消失,产品更容易进入外国市场。作者着重讨论中国的外贸策略的选择:充分利用WTO的特别保护和过渡保护期的规定,特别是保护一些处于起步阶段的行业,并分析了一些具体的行业。另外,世界经济对中国外贸的影响也体现在组成区域经济共同体以及形成全球化生产网络等方面。由于中国对美国和欧盟的贸易顺差,双方的贸易摩擦一直在增长。随着大量的外国直接投资(FDI)进入中国,中国成为跨国公司全球化生产网络一个重要组成部分。而要求中国参与组织东亚,甚至包括ASEAN(东南亚国家联盟)自由贸易区的呼声也越来越高。这些都反映了中国经济的影响和实力。文章由此得出结论:中国产业结构的调整和外贸策略的相互作用对于中国经济的进一步发展和中国国力的增强将产生至关重要的影响。

Extending the Economic Life of the Ogallala Aquifer with Water Conservation Policies in the Texas Panhandle

The continued decline in the availability of water from the Ogallala Aquifer in the Texas Panhandle has led to an increased interest in conservation policies designed to extend the life of the aquifer and sustain rural economies. Four counties were chosen for evaluation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of five policies in terms of changes in the saturated thickness, crop mix, water use per acre, and the net present value of farm profits over a 60-year planning horizon. The dynamic optimization models were developed using GAMS for the baseline as well as one for all five of the policy alternatives for each county. Results indicate that the policy scenarios of biotechnology adoption and a water use restriction will conserve the most water among the policies analyzed. In terms of economic returns, the biotechnology adoption policy by far provides the greatest benefit to producers due to yield increases that are estimated with current annual growth rates in new seed varieties. The water use restriction policy, on the other hand, has the lowest net present value of returns, indicating that conservation is accompanied with significant costs to producers. The irrigation adoption technology scenario is the next best policy in terms of net present value of returns (following biotechnology);however, it ranks last in terms of reducing aquifer depletion. It is important to note that while the models do not perfectly predict the factors being evaluated, it is the basis for comparison between the policy scenarios which are important. These comparisons will aid policy makers in determining the most effective strategy to conserve water while simultaneously considering the economic costs to producers. In addition, the results of this study can be applied to other areas facing similar conditions, either currently or in the future, throughout the Texas Panhandle.

The First Approved “Deuterated” Drug: A Short Review of the Concept

The first “deuterated” drug has recently been approved by the U.S. FDA (Food & Drug Administration). A “deuterated” drug is a drug in which the hydrogen atom in one or more of the carbon-hydrogen bonds in its chemical structure is replaced by deuterium (“heavy hydrogen”, a hydrogen isotope that has a neutron, i.e., one neutron instead of the usual no neutrons). A carbon-deuterium (C-D) bond is more stable in the body than a carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bond. If the deuterium is strategically located in a drug’s chemical structure, the extra stability of the bond will be more resistant to metabolic breakdown, and the duration of drug action will be prolonged. We review the general concept of deuterated drugs, historical examples of the classes of application, and the new approval.

“New-Look” Opioids: Biased Ligands

Between the illicit use of opioids and attendant overdoses, and accidental overdoses with prescribed drugs, overuse of opioids has become a serious problem. At the same time, finding that fine balance between minimizing the risk of opioid misuse and abuse while at the same time providing access to treatment for patients who need pain control presents an ongoing challenge. Efforts to discover and develop better agents have led to what we term “new-look” opioids. We summarize here one such approach—known as biased ligands. By targeting a subset of GPCR signal transduction, this approach attempts to increase the separation between therapeutic and adverse effects.

Differences in the Receptor Binding Profile of Lofexidine Compared to Clonidine

Lucemyra? (lofexidine hydrochloride) has recently been approved by the US FDA for the mitigation of withdrawal symptoms to facilitate abrupt discontinuation of opioids in adults. Lofexidine is an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist. However, the clinical attributes of lofexidine differ in advantageous ways from the classical alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist clonidine. In the present study, we measured the receptor binding profile of lofexidine and clonidine in an effort to gain an insight into the clinical difference(s).

The Place of Community Rescue Naloxone in a Public Health Crisis of Opioid Overdose

The recent large increase in deaths involving opioids (whether prescription or illicit, pure or adulterated, alone or in combination with other drugs) is the manifestation of a complex, and multifaceted problem consisting of psychological, psychosocial, medical, legal, regulatory, economic, cultural, and political components, among others. Because the problem involves issues related to both supply and demand, the solution is not obvious, simple, or quick. There is no easy fix. Preventing and treating opioid misuse and abuse requires a comprehensive, time-intensive, and expensive intervention supported by public policy and support through coordinated medical, regulatory, legal, and financial guidelines and practice. But until the long-term problems can be fixed, the immediate crisis of overdose deaths can be ameliorated by making available an opioid receptor antagonist to reverse the respiratory depression that is the cause of death to those who are in the best position to administer it in time (professionals, untrained bystanders, and even fellow drug abusers). The statistics overwhelmingly demonstrate that this is a life-saving medical intervention. Yet, there is still uncertainty about this intervention, and even some opposition to it. We describe the scientific basis for the approach and the issues surrounding its use to treat accidental or intentional overdose by pain patients, recreational opioid users, and addicts. We also describe the calls to limit the number of times it should be available to a user and the limitations of its effectiveness—mainly that it only addresses the acute death crisis, not the underlying problems that led to it.

Persistence of Healthcare-Associated (Nosocomial) Infections Due to Inadequate Hand Hygiene: Part 3—Application of Human Factors Engineering to an Ozone Hand Sanitizer

Compliance to hand-hygiene guidelines in healthcare facilities remains disappointingly low for a variety of human-factors (HF) reasons. A device HF-engineered for convenient and effective use even under high-workload conditions could contribute to better compliance, and consequently to reduction in healthcare-acquired infections. We present an overview of the efficacy of a passive hand-spray device that uses solubilized ozone—a strong, safe, non-irritant biocide having broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties—on glass surface, pigskin, and synthetic human skin matrix.

Persistence of Healthcare-Associated (Nosocomial) Infections Due to Inadequate Hand Hygiene: Part 1—Biological and Treatment Factors

The most frequent adverse event in the healthcare delivery system is acquisition of an infection within a healthcare facility. Since infection control measures are known, simple, and low-cost, we examine why the problem of healthcare-associated infections persists. Hundreds of millions of patients each year are affected by a healthcare-associated infection, with negative medical outcome and financial cost. It is a major public health problem even in countries with advanced healthcare systems. This is a bit perplexing, given that hygienic practices have been known and actively promoted. The objective is to address the question: doesn’t the use of disinfection, sterilization, handwashing, and alcohol rubs prevent the spread of pathogenic organisms? We conclude that the persistent high prevalence of nosocomial infections despite known hygienic practices is attributable to two categories of factors: biological and inherent shortcomings of some practices (considered in Part 1), and human factors (considered in Part 2). A new approach is presented in Part 3.

Persistence of Healthcare-Associated (Nosocomial) Infections Due to Inadequate Hand Hygiene: Part 2—Human Factors

A healthcare-associated infection (defined as an infection acquired within a healthcare facility), such as due to transmission via medical equipment or by healthcare providers is the most frequent adverse event in the healthcare delivery system. But why does the problem persist, when infection control measures are known, simple, and low-cost? We reviewed some biological- and treatment-factors in Part 1, and we now review some human-factors. Healthcare-associated infections are a major public health problem even in advanced healthcare systems. They affect hundreds of millions of patients each year, and are responsible for increased morbidity, mortality, and financial burden. This is perplexing, since good-hygiene practices are known and promoted. Disinfection, sterilization, handwashing, and alcohol rubs should be more effective, but human-factors interfere. The persistent high prevalence of nosocomial infections, despite known hygienic practices, is attributable to two categories of factors: biological and inherent shortcomings of some practices (considered in Part 1), and human factors (considered here). A new approach is considered in Part 3.