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Wenhui Mao and coauthors discuss possible implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for health aspirations in low- and middle-income countries.

Fingerprint recognition systems have achieved widespread integration into various technological devices, including cell phones, computers, door locks, and time attendance machines. Nevertheless, individuals with worn fingerprints encounter challenges when attempting to unlock original fingerprint systems, which results in disruptions to their daily activities. This study explores two distinct methods for fingerprint backup: traditional fingerprint impression and 3D printing technologies. Unlocking tests were conducted on commonly available optical fingerprint lock-equipped cell phones to assess the efficacy of these methods, particularly in unlocking with worn fingerprints. The research findings indicated that the traditional fingerprint impression method exhibited high fidelity in reproducing fingerprint patterns, achieving an impressive unlocking success rate of 97.8% for imprinting unworn fingerprints. However, when dealing with worn fingerprints, the traditional fingerprint impression technique showed a reduced unlocking success rate, progressively decreasing with increasing degrees of finger wear. In contrast, 3D-printed backup fingerprints, with image processing and optimization of ridge height, mitigated the impact of fingerprint wear on the unlocking capability, resulting in an unlocking success rate of 84.4% or higher. Thus, the utilization of 3D printing technology proves advantageous for individuals with severely worn or incomplete fingerprints, providing a viable solution for unforeseen circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem On 21 January 2020, the city of Taizhou, China, reported its first imported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case and subsequently the number of cases rapidly increased. Approach To organize the emergency responses, the government of Taizhou established on 23 January 2020 novel headquarters for prevention and control of the COVID-19 outbreak, by coordinating different governmental agencies. People at high risk of acquiring COVID-19, as well as probable and confirmed cases, were identified and quarantined. The government closed public venues and limited gatherings. The Taizhou Health Commission shared information about identified COVID-19 patients and probable cases with affected agencies. To timely track and manage close contacts of confirmed cases, Taizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention did epidemiological investigations. Medical institutions or local centers for disease control and prevention reported confirmed cases to the national Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Local setting Taizhou, a city in Zhejiang province with about 6 million residents, reported 18 confirmed COVID-2019 cases by 23 January 2020, which ranked it third globally in number of cases after Wuhan and Xiaogan cities in the Hubei province. Relevant changes In total, 146 confirmed cases (85 cases imported and 61 cases through community transmission) and no deaths due to COVID-19 had been reported in Taizhou by 1 June 2020. Between 16 February and 1 June 2020, no confirmed case had been reported. Lesson learnt Identifying and managing imported cases and people at risk for infection, timely information sharing, limiting gatherings and ensuring collaborations between different agencies were important in controlling COVID-19. [phrase omitted] [phrase omitted] Probleme Le 21 janvier 2020, la ville de Taizhou, en Chine, a signale son premier cas importe de maladie a coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Le nombre de cas a ensuite rapidement augmente. Approche Afin d'organiser les interventions d'urgence, les autorites de Taizhou ontetabli le 23 janvier 2020 un nouveau guartier general charge de la prevention et du controle de l'epidemie de COVID-19, fruit de la coordination entre differents organismes gouvernementaux. Les personnes presentant un risgue eleve de contracter la COVID-19, ainsi gue les cas probables et confirmes, ont ete identifies et mis en guarantaine. Les autorites ont ferme les lieux publics et limite les rassemblements. La Commission de la sante de Taizhou a partage des informations relatives aux patients COVID-19 identifies et aux cas probables avec les agences concernees. Pour retracer et gerer sans delai les contacts rapproches des cas confirmes, le Centre de prevention et de controle des maladies de Taizhou a mene des investigations epidemiologigues. De leurcote, les etablissements medicauxou centres locaux de prevention et de controle des maladies ont notifie les cas confirmes au Centre national de prevention et de controle des maladies. Environnement localTaizhou est une ville de la province du Zhejiang et compte environ 6 millions d'habitants. Elle avait denombre 18 cas de COVID-2019 confirmes au 23 janvier 2020, ce gui la classait au troisieme rang mondial en nombre de cas apres Wuhan et Xiaogan, dans la province du Hubei. Changements significatifs Taizhou a enregistre un total de 146 cas confirmes (85 cas importes et 61 cas de transmission communautaire) etaucun decesdu a la COVID-19au 1erjuin 2020. Entre le 16 fevrier et le 1erjuin 2020, aucun cas confirme n'a ete signale. Lemons tirees Identifier et gerer les cas importes ainsi gue les personnes a haut risgue d'infection, partager les informations au moment opportun, limiter les rassemblements et assurer une bonnecollaboration entre les differents organismes sont autant de mesures gui jouent un role essentiel dans le controle de la COVID-19. [phrase omitted] Situacion El 21 de enero de 2020, la ciudad de Taizhou (China) comunico su primer caso importado de la enfermedad del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) y posteriormente el numero de casos se incremento rapidamente. Enfoque El 23 de enero de 2020, el gobierno de Taizhou establecio una nueva sede para la prevencion y el control del brote de la COVID-19, a traves de la coordinacion de distintos organismos gubernamentales para organizar las respuestas de emergencia. Se identificaron y entraron en cuarentena las personas con alto riesgo de padecer la COVID-19, asi como los casos probables y confirmados. El gobierno cerro los lugares publicos y restringio las reuniones. La Comision de Salud de Taizhou compartio informacion sobre los pacientes identificados con la COVID-19 y los casos probables con los organismos afectados. El Centro para el Control y la Prevencion de Enfermedades de Taizhou realizo investigaciones epidemiologicas para hacer un seguimiento oportuno y manejar los contactos cercanos de los casos confirmados. Las instituciones medicas o los centros locales para el control y la prevencion de enfermedades reportaron los casos confirmados al Centro Nacional para el Control y la Prevencion de Enfermedades. Marco regional Taizhou, una ciudad de la provincia de Zhejiang que tiene unos 6 millones de habitantes, comunico 18 casos confirmados de la COVID-2019 al 23 de enero de 2020, lo que la situo en el tercer lugar mundial en numero de casos despues de las ciudades de Wuhan y Xiaogan en la provincia de Hubei. Cambios importantes En total, para el 1. de junio de 2020 se confirmaron 146 casos (85 casos importados y 61 casos por transmision comunitaria) y no se notificaron muertes por causa de la COVID-19 en Taizhou. Tampoco se notificaron casos confirmados entre el 16 de febrero y el 1. de junio de 2020. Lecciones aprendidas La identificacion y la gestion de los casos importados y de las personas en riesgo de infeccion, el intercambio oportuno de informacion, la restriccion de las reuniones y la garantia de la colaboracion entre los distintos organismos fueron importantes para controlar la COVID-19., Introduction In December 2019, reports on cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology emerged from Wuhan, China. Subsequently, researchers identified the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as the [...]

Background The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by all United Nations (UN) member states in 2015, established a set of bold and ambitious health-related targets to achieve by 2030. Understanding China's progress toward these targets is critical to improving population health for its 1.4 billion people. Methods and findings We used estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2016, national surveys and surveillance data from China, and qualitative data. Twenty-eight of the 37 indicators included in the GBD Study 2016 were analyzed. We developed an attainment index of health-related SDGs, a scale of 0-100 based on the values of indicators. The projection model is adjusted based on the one developed by the GBD Study 2016 SDG collaborators. We found that China has achieved several health-related SDG targets, including decreasing neonatal and under-5 mortality rates and the maternal mortality ratios and reducing wasting and stunting for children. However, China may only achieve 12 out of the 28 health-related SDG targets by 2030. The number of target indicators achieved varies among provinces and municipalities. In 2016, among the seven measured health domains, China performed best in child nutrition and maternal and child health and reproductive health, with the attainment index scores of 93.0 and 91.8, respectively, followed by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) (69.4), road injuries (63.6), infectious diseases (63.0), environmental health (62.9), and universal health coverage (UHC) (54.4). There are daunting challenges to achieve the targets for child overweight, infectious diseases, NCD risk factors, and environmental exposure factors. China will also have a formidable challenge in achieving UHC, particularly in ensuring access to essential healthcare for all and providing adequate financial protection. The attainment index of child nutrition is projected to drop to 80.5 by 2025 because of worsening child overweight. The index of NCD risk factors is projected to drop to 38.8 by 2025. Regional disparities are substantial, with eastern provinces generally performing better than central and western provinces. Sex disparities are clear, with men at higher risk of excess mortality than women. The primary limitations of this study are the limited data availability and quality for several indicators and the adoption of 'business-as-usual' projection methods. Conclusion The study found that China has made good progress in improving population health, but challenges lie ahead. China has substantially improved the health of children and women and will continue to make good progress, although geographic disparities remain a great challenge. Meanwhile, China faced challenges in NCDs, mental health, and some infectious diseases. Poor control of health risk factors and worsening environmental threats have posed difficulties in further health improvement. Meanwhile, an inefficient health system is a barrier to tackling these challenges among such a rapidly aging population. The eastern provinces are predicted to perform better than the central and western provinces, and women are predicted to be more likely than men to achieve these targets by 2030. In order to make good progress, China must take a series of concerted actions, including more investments in public goods and services for health and redressing the intracountry inequities., Author(s): Shu Chen 1, Lei Guo 1, Zhan Wang 1, Wenhui Mao 2, Yanfeng Ge 3, Xiaohua Ying 4, Jing Fang 5, Qian Long 1, Qin Liu 6, Hao Xiang [...]