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Schreiber LM, Lohr D, Baltes S, Vogel U, Elabyad IA, Bille M, Reiter T, Kosmala A, Gassenmaier T, Stefanescu MR, Kollmann A, Aures J, Schnitter F, Pali M, Ueda Y, Williams T, Christa M, Hofmann U, Bauer W, Gerull B, Zernecke A, Ergün S, Terekhov M. Ultra-high field cardiac MRI in large animals and humans for translational cardiovascular research. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1068390. [PMID: 37255709 PMCID: PMC10225557 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1068390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A key step in translational cardiovascular research is the use of large animal models to better understand normal and abnormal physiology, to test drugs or interventions, or to perform studies which would be considered unethical in human subjects. Ultrahigh field magnetic resonance imaging (UHF-MRI) at 7 T field strength is becoming increasingly available for imaging of the heart and, when compared to clinically established field strengths, promises better image quality and image information content, more precise functional analysis, potentially new image contrasts, and as all in-vivo imaging techniques, a reduction of the number of animals per study because of the possibility to scan every animal repeatedly. We present here a solution to the dual use problem of whole-body UHF-MRI systems, which are typically installed in clinical environments, to both UHF-MRI in large animals and humans. Moreover, we provide evidence that in such a research infrastructure UHF-MRI, and ideally combined with a standard small-bore UHF-MRI system, can contribute to a variety of spatial scales in translational cardiovascular research: from cardiac organoids, Zebra fish and rodent hearts to large animal models such as pigs and humans. We present pilot data from serial CINE, late gadolinium enhancement, and susceptibility weighted UHF-MRI in a myocardial infarction model over eight weeks. In 14 pigs which were delivered from a breeding facility in a national SARS-CoV-2 hotspot, we found no infection in the incoming pigs. Human scanning using CINE and phase contrast flow measurements provided good image quality of the left and right ventricle. Agreement of functional analysis between CINE and phase contrast MRI was excellent. MRI in arrested hearts or excised vascular tissue for MRI-based histologic imaging, structural imaging of myofiber and vascular smooth muscle cell architecture using high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging, and UHF-MRI for monitoring free radicals as a surrogate for MRI of reactive oxygen species in studies of oxidative stress are demonstrated. We conclude that UHF-MRI has the potential to become an important precision imaging modality in translational cardiovascular research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Schreiber
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - David Lohr
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Steffen Baltes
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Vogel
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ibrahim A. Elabyad
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Maya Bille
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Theresa Reiter
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I/Cardiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Aleksander Kosmala
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Gassenmaier
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Maria R. Stefanescu
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Alena Kollmann
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Julia Aures
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Florian Schnitter
- Department of Internal Medicine I/Cardiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Mihaela Pali
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Yuichiro Ueda
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Tatiana Williams
- Department of Cardiovascular Genetics, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Christa
- Department of Internal Medicine I/Cardiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Hofmann
- Department of Internal Medicine I/Cardiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Bauer
- Department of Internal Medicine I/Cardiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Brenda Gerull
- Department of Internal Medicine I/Cardiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Department of Cardiovascular Genetics, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Alma Zernecke
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Süleyman Ergün
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Maxim Terekhov
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Wuerzburg (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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Jiao J, Shi L, Zhang Y, Chen H, Wang X, Yang M, Yang J, Liu M, Sun G. Core policies disparity response to COVID-19 among BRICS countries. Int J Equity Health 2022; 21:9. [PMID: 35057810 PMCID: PMC8771192 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-021-01614-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To provide experience for formulating prevention and control policies, this study analyzed the effectiveness of the Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) prevention and control policies, and evaluated health equity and epidemic cooperation among BRICS countries. Methods This study summarized the pandemic prevention and control policies in BRICS countries and evaluated the effectiveness of those policies by extracting COVID-19 related data from official websites. Result As of May 4, 2021, responding to COVID-19. China adopted containment strategies. China’s total confirmed cases (102,560) were stable, without a second pandemic peak, and the total deaths per million (3.37) were much lower than others. India and South Africa who adopted intermediate strategies have similar pandemic curves, total confirmed cases in India (20,664,979) surpassed South Africa (1,586,148) as the highest in five countries, but total deaths per million (163.90) lower than South Africa (919.11). Brazil and Russia adopted mitigation strategies. Total confirmed cases in Brazil (14,856,888) and Russia (4,784,497) continued to increase, and Brazil’s total deaths per million (1,936.34) is higher than Russia (751.50) and other countries. Conclusion This study shows BRICS countries implemented different epidemic interventions. Containment strategy is more effective than intermediate strategy and mitigation strategy in limiting the spread of COVID-19. Especially when a strict containment strategy is implemented in an early stage, but premature relaxation of restrictions may lead to rebounding. It is a good choice to combat COVID-19 by improving the inclusiveness of intervention policies, deepening BRICS epidemic cooperation, and increasing health equities.
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Chen P, Wu K, Ghattas O. Bayesian inference of heterogeneous epidemic models: Application to COVID-19 spread accounting for long-term care facilities. COMPUTER METHODS IN APPLIED MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING 2021; 385:114020. [PMID: 34248229 PMCID: PMC8253717 DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2021.114020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We propose a high dimensional Bayesian inference framework for learning heterogeneous dynamics of a COVID-19 model, with a specific application to the dynamics and severity of COVID-19 inside and outside long-term care (LTC) facilities. We develop a heterogeneous compartmental model that accounts for the heterogeneity of the time-varying spread and severity of COVID-19 inside and outside LTC facilities, which is characterized by time-dependent stochastic processes and time-independent parameters in ∼ 1500 dimensions after discretization. To infer these parameters, we use reported data on the number of confirmed, hospitalized, and deceased cases with suitable post-processing in both a deterministic inversion approach with appropriate regularization as a first step, followed by Bayesian inversion with proper prior distributions. To address the curse of dimensionality and the ill-posedness of the high-dimensional inference problem, we propose use of a dimension-independent projected Stein variational gradient descent method, and demonstrate the intrinsic low-dimensionality of the inverse problem. We present inference results with quantified uncertainties for both New Jersey and Texas, which experienced different epidemic phases and patterns. Moreover, we also present forecasting and validation results based on the empirical posterior samples of our inference for the future trajectory of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Keyi Wu
- Department of Mathematics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Omar Ghattas
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
- Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
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Abdalla S, Bakhshwin D, Shirbeeny W, Bakhshwin A, Bahabri F, Bakhshwin A, Alsaggaf SM. Successive waves of COVID 19: confinement effects on virus-prevalence with a mathematical model. Eur J Med Res 2021; 26:128. [PMID: 34717766 PMCID: PMC8556837 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-021-00596-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A pandemic outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID 19) incidence data are largely available online. Until August 17, COVID 19 has hit more than 22 million individuals all over the globe. So, it is urged to get clear information about the prevalence of the virus. Therefore, one can manipulate easily a suitable mathematical model to fit these published data. METHODS We propose a mathematical model that considers the total population, in 25 countries, either infected by COVID 19 or confined (safe) during the period from November 17, 2019, to August 17, 2020. The model considers the total population as a complex number; the imaginary part is the number of infected individuals and the real part is the number of confined individuals. This classification combined with mathematical treatments leads to a transmission dynamics of the virus to be as wave-like motion. The virus can hit any country either by one wave or by successive waves (up to 11 waves). FINDINGS We find net discrimination between the 25 countries investigated in this report. The immediate response to the first attack is a substantial parameter to determine whether the epidemic attack will be in one wave or it can be in successive waves. For example, the best case was such as individuals in China hit by one wave while the individuals in the USA were attacked by nine waves; it is the worst case all over the globe. In addition, the model differentiates between the daily reproduction numbers (Rd0) and the median reproduction number (R0). We have found that Rd0 decreases exponentially with time from high values down to zero at the wave maximum point; and R0 varies from a country to another. For example, the virus hit individuals in Germany in R0 = 1.39 (96% CI 1.01-3.87) and in the USA R0 = 3.81 (91% CI 1.71-5.15). We have found that twice the virus has hit both the USA and Iran. The great protestation of black matter lives in the USA and the great assemblage of the new Iranian year, on March 21, 2020, have been the cause of the second epidemic attack in both countries. INTERPRETATION Our results show that COVID 19 transmission depends on the prompt reaction against the first viral-wave. The reaction depends on both the social behaviour of individuals and on the swift system-decision by the governmental decision-maker(s). The Chinese strictly follow the decision-maker and therefore the virus hit by only one wave; while in the USA, the system-decision was different and the American-responses were different, therefore ten waves followed the first wave.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Abdalla
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Duaa Bakhshwin
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - W. Shirbeeny
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Bakhshwin
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - F. Bahabri
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jeddah University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Samar M. Alsaggaf
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Cegan JC, Trump BD, Cibulsky SM, Collier ZA, Cummings CL, Greer SL, Jarman H, Klasa K, Kleinman G, Surette MA, Wells E, Linkov I. Can Comorbidity Data Explain Cross-State and Cross-National Difference in COVID-19 Death Rates? Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2021; 14:2877-2885. [PMID: 34267565 PMCID: PMC8275866 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s313312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many efforts to predict the impact of COVID-19 on hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) utilization, and mortality rely on age and comorbidities. These predictions are foundational to learning, policymaking, and planning for the pandemic, and therefore understanding the relationship between age, comorbidities, and health outcomes is critical to assessing and managing public health risks. From a US government database of 1.4 million patient records collected in May 2020, we extracted the relationships between age and number of comorbidities at the individual level to predict the likelihood of hospitalization, admission to intensive care, and death. We then applied the relationships to each US state and a selection of different countries in order to see whether they predicted observed outcome rates. We found that age and comorbidity data within these geographical regions do not explain much of the international or within-country variation in hospitalization, ICU admission, or death. Identifying alternative explanations for the limited predictive power of comorbidities and age at the population level should be considered for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C Cegan
- US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS, USA
| | - Benjamin D Trump
- US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS, USA
| | - Susan M Cibulsky
- US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zachary A Collier
- Radford University, Davis College of Business and Economics, Department of Management, Radford, VA, USA
| | - Christopher L Cummings
- North Carolina State University, Genetic Engineering and Society Center, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Scott L Greer
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Holly Jarman
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kasia Klasa
- US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS, USA
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gary Kleinman
- US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Emily Wells
- US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS, USA
| | - Igor Linkov
- US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS, USA
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Reicher S, Ratzon R, Ben-Sahar S, Hermoni-Alon S, Mossinson D, Shenhar Y, Friger M, Lustig Y, Alroy-Preis S, Anis E, Sadetzki S, Kaliner E. Nationwide seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Israel. Eur J Epidemiol 2021; 36:727-734. [PMID: 33884542 PMCID: PMC8059683 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-021-00749-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The first local spread of COVID-19 in Israel was detected in March 2020. Due to the diversity in clinical presentations of COVID-19, diagnosis by RT-PCR alone might miss patients with mild or no symptoms. Serology testing may better evaluate the actual magnitude of the spread of infection in the population. This is the first nationwide seroprevalence study conducted in Israel. It is one of the most widespread to be conducted thus far, and the largest per-country population size. The survey was conducted between June 28 and September 14, 2020 and included 54,357 patients who arrived at the Health Maintenance Organizations to undergo a blood test for any reason. A patient was considered seropositive after two consecutive positive results with two different kits (Abbott and DiaSorin).The overall seroprevalence was 3.8% (95%CI 3.7-4.0), males higher than females [4.9% (95%CI 4.6-5.2) vs. 3.1% (95%CI 2.9-3.3) respectively]. Adolescents had the highest prevalence [7.8% (95%CI 7.0-8.6)] compared to other age groups. Participants who had undergone RT-PCR testing had a tenfold higher risk to be seropositive. The prevalence-to-incidence ratio was 4.5-15.7. Serology testing is an important complimentary tool for assessing the actual magnitude of infection and thus essential for implementing policy measures to control the pandemic. A positive serology test result was recently accepted in Israel as being sufficient to define recovery, with possible far-reaching consequences, such as the deploying of employees to ensure the maintenance of a functional economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shay Reicher
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, 39 Yirmiyahu Street, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Ronit Ratzon
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, 39 Yirmiyahu Street, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shay Ben-Sahar
- Schneider Children's Medical Center, Clalit Research Institute, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | - David Mossinson
- Meuhedet Health Services, 124 Ibn Gvirol Street, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yotam Shenhar
- Leumit Health Services, 3 Ariel Sharon Street, Or Yehuda, Israel
| | - Michael Friger
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Yaniv Lustig
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Sharon Alroy-Preis
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, 39 Yirmiyahu Street, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Emilia Anis
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, 39 Yirmiyahu Street, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Siegal Sadetzki
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Gertner Institute, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Ehud Kaliner
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, 39 Yirmiyahu Street, Jerusalem, Israel
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Boukhobza S, Ritschl V, Stamm T, Bekes K. The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Knowledge, Perception and Attitudes of Dentistry Students in Austria: A Cross-Sectional Survey. J Multidiscip Healthc 2021; 14:1413-1422. [PMID: 34163169 PMCID: PMC8214007 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s311535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Universities with dental schools are faced with complex problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dentistry students are at a higher risk of contracting infections, specifically COVID-19, due to direct contact with patients. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, perception and attitude regarding COVID-19 among dentistry students in Austria. Methods During the first lockdown in Austria, an online survey was distributed among 165 dentistry students in their clinical term at the Medical University of Vienna. The survey contained elaborative questions on the general knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19. A special focus of the questionnaire was set on the modification of the student’s curriculum regarding infection control. Results In total, 77 (47%) students replied; 68 questionnaires were included in the analysis. Dentistry students were found to have good general knowledge of COVID-19 during the early phase of the pandemic. Most students (89.6%) got their information regarding the COVID-19 infection from official sources; however, 58% would like to attend further lectures on COVID-19 to expand their knowledge. Discussion The current study finds good general knowledge on COVID-19 among dental students, but some gaps regarding hygienic protocols and infection control. Students’ preferences regarding modification in the curriculum suggest practical courses and lectures as a way to close COVID-19 related knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarra Boukhobza
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Valentin Ritschl
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Section for Outcomes Research, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tanja Stamm
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Section for Outcomes Research, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katrin Bekes
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Kuhl E. Data-driven modeling of COVID-19-Lessons learned. EXTREME MECHANICS LETTERS 2020; 40:100921. [PMID: 32837980 PMCID: PMC7427559 DOI: 10.1016/j.eml.2020.100921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the outbreak dynamics of COVID-19 through the lens of mathematical models is an elusive but significant goal. Within only half a year, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than 19 million reported cases across 188 countries with more than 700,000 deaths worldwide. Unlike any other disease in history, COVID-19 has generated an unprecedented volume of data, well documented, continuously updated, and broadly available to the general public. Yet, the precise role of mathematical modeling in providing quantitative insight into the COVID-19 pandemic remains a topic of ongoing debate. Here we discuss the lessons learned from six month of modeling COVID-19. We highlight the early success of classical models for infectious diseases and show why these models fail to predict the current outbreak dynamics of COVID-19. We illustrate how data-driven modeling can integrate classical epidemiology modeling and machine learning to infer critical disease parameters-in real time-from reported case data to make informed predictions and guide political decision making. We critically discuss questions that these models can and cannot answer and showcase controversial decisions around the early outbreak dynamics, outbreak control, and exit strategies. We anticipate that this summary will stimulate discussion within the modeling community and help provide guidelines for robust mathematical models to understand and manage the COVID-19 pandemic. EML webinar speakers, videos, and overviews are updated at https://imechanica.org/node/24098.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Kuhl
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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Linka K, Rahman P, Goriely A, Kuhl E. Is it safe to lift COVID-19 travel bans? The Newfoundland story. COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS 2020; 66:1081-1092. [PMID: 32904431 PMCID: PMC7456209 DOI: 10.1007/s00466-020-01899-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
A key strategy to prevent a local outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic is to restrict incoming travel. Once a region has successfully contained the disease, it becomes critical to decide when and how to reopen the borders. Here we explore the impact of border reopening for the example of Newfoundland and Labrador, a Canadian province that has enjoyed no new cases since late April, 2020. We combine a network epidemiology model with machine learning to infer parameters and predict the COVID-19 dynamics upon partial and total airport reopening, with perfect and imperfect quarantine conditions. Our study suggests that upon full reopening, every other day, a new COVID-19 case would enter the province. Under the current conditions, banning air travel from outside Canada is more efficient in managing the pandemic than fully reopening and quarantining 95% of the incoming population. Our study provides quantitative insights of the efficacy of travel restrictions and can inform political decision making in the controversy of reopening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Linka
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Proton Rahman
- Department of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada
| | - Alain Goriely
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ellen Kuhl
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
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Linka K, Rahman P, Goriely A, Kuhl E. Is it safe to lift COVID-19 travel bans? The Newfoundland story. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2020:2020.07.16.20155614. [PMID: 32766595 PMCID: PMC7402047 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.16.20155614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
A key strategy to prevent a local outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic is to restrict incoming travel. Once a region has successfully contained the disease, it becomes critical to decide when and how to reopen the borders. Here we explore the impact of border reopening for the example of Newfoundland and Labrador, a Canadian province that has enjoyed no new cases since late April, 2020. We combine a network epidemiology model with machine learning to infer parameters and predict the COVID-19 dynamics upon partial and total airport reopening, with perfect and imperfect quarantine conditions. Our study suggests that upon full reopening, every other day, a new COVID-19 case would enter the province. Under the current conditions, banning air travel from outside Canada is more efficient in managing the pandemic than fully reopening and quarantining 95% of the incoming population. Our study provides quantitative insights of the efficacy of travel restrictions and can inform political decision making in the controversy of reopening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Linka
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
| | - Proton Rahman
- Department of Medicine Memorial University of Newfoundland, Cananda
| | - Alain Goriely
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen Kuhl
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
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Jha PK, Cao L, Oden JT. Bayesian-based predictions of COVID-19 evolution in Texas using multispecies mixture-theoretic continuum models. COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS 2020; 66:1055-1068. [PMID: 32836598 PMCID: PMC7394277 DOI: 10.1007/s00466-020-01889-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We consider a mixture-theoretic continuum model of the spread of COVID-19 in Texas. The model consists of multiple coupled partial differential reaction-diffusion equations governing the evolution of susceptible, exposed, infectious, recovered, and deceased fractions of the total population in a given region. We consider the problem of model calibration, validation, and prediction following a Bayesian learning approach implemented in OPAL (the Occam Plausibility Algorithm). Our goal is to incorporate COVID-19 data to calibrate the model in real-time and make meaningful predictions and specify the confidence level in the prediction by quantifying the uncertainty in key quantities of interests. Our results show smaller mortality rates in Texas than what is reported in the literature. We predict 7003 deceased cases by September 1, 2020 in Texas with 95 % CI 6802-7204. The model is validated for the total deceased cases, however, is found to be invalid for the total infected cases. We discuss possible improvements of the model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant K. Jha
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
| | - Lianghao Cao
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
| | - J. Tinsley Oden
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
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Linka K, Peirlinck M, Kuhl E. The reproduction number of COVID-19 and its correlation with public health interventions. COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS 2020; 66:1035-1050. [PMID: 32836597 PMCID: PMC7385940 DOI: 10.1007/s00466-020-01880-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Throughout the past six months, no number has dominated the public media more persistently than the reproduction number of COVID-19. This powerful but simple concept is widely used by the public media, scientists, and political decision makers to explain and justify political strategies to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we explore the effectiveness of political interventions using the reproduction number of COVID-19 across Europe. We propose a dynamic SEIR epidemiology model with a time-varying reproduction number, which we identify using machine learning. During the early outbreak, the basic reproduction number was 4.22 ± 1.69, with maximum values of 6.33 and 5.88 in Germany and the Netherlands. By May 10, 2020, it dropped to 0.67 ± 0.18, with minimum values of 0.37 and 0.28 in Hungary and Slovakia. We found a strong correlation between passenger air travel, driving, walking, and transit mobility and the effective reproduction number with a time delay of 17.24 ± 2.00 days. Our new dynamic SEIR model provides the flexibility to simulate various outbreak control and exit strategies to inform political decision making and identify safe solutions in the benefit of global health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Linka
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Mathias Peirlinck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Ellen Kuhl
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
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Linka K, Peirlinck M, Kuhl E. The reproduction number of COVID-19 and its correlation with public health interventions. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2020:2020.05.01.20088047. [PMID: 32676611 PMCID: PMC7359536 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.01.20088047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the past six months, no number has dominated the public media more persistently than the reproduction number of COVID-19. This powerful but simple concept is widely used by the public media, scientists, and political decision makers to explain and justify political strategies to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we explore the effectiveness of political interventions using the reproduction number of COVID-19 across Europe. We propose a dynamic SEIR epidemiology model with a time-varying reproduction number, which we identify using machine learning. During the early outbreak, the basic reproduction number was 4.22+/-1.69, with maximum values of 6.33 and 5.88 in Germany and the Netherlands. By May 10, 2020, it dropped to 0.67+/-0.18, with minimum values of 0.37 and 0.28 in Hungary and Slovakia. We found a strong correlation between passenger air travel, driving, walking, and transit mobility and the effective reproduction number with a time delay of 17.24+/-2.00 days. Our new dynamic SEIR model provides the flexibility to simulate various outbreak control and exit strategies to inform political decision making and identify safe solutions in the benefit of global health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Linka
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
| | - Mathias Peirlinck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
| | - Ellen Kuhl
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
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