BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is the second most deadly infectious disease after COVID-19 and the 13th leading cause of death worldwide. Among the 30 countries with a high burden of TB, China ranks third in the estimated number of TB cases. China is in the top four of 75 countries with a deficit in funding for TB strategic plans. To reduce costs and improve the effectiveness of TB treatment in China, the NHSA developed an innovative BP method. This study aimed to simulate the effects of this payment approach on different stakeholders, reduce the economic burden on TB patients, improve the quality of medical services, facilitate policy optimization, and offer a model for health care payment reforms that can be referenced by other regions throughout the world.
METHODS: We developed a simulation model based on a decision tree analysis to project the expected effects of the payment method on the potential financial impacts on different stakeholders. Our analysis mainly focused on comparing changes in health care costs before and after receiving BPs for TB patients with Medicare in the pilot areas. The data that were used for the analysis included the TB service claim records for 2019-2021 from the health insurance agency, TB prevalence data from the local Centre for Disease Control, and health care facilities\' revenue and expenditure data from the Statistic Yearbook. A Monte Carlo randomized simulation model was used to estimate the results.
RESULTS: After adopting the innovative BP method, for each TB patient per year, the total annual expenditure was estimated to decrease from $2,523.28 to $2,088.89, which is a reduction of $434.39 (17.22%). The TB patient out-of-pocket expenditure was expected to decrease from $1,249.02 to $1,034.00, which is a reduction of $215.02 (17.22%). The health care provider\'s revenue decreased from $2,523.28 to $2,308.26, but the health care provider/institution\'s revenue-expenditure ratio increased from -6.09% to 9.50%.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the potential of BPs to improve medical outcomes and control the costs associated with TB treatment. It demonstrates its feasibility and advantages in enhancing the coordination and sustainability of medical services, thus offering valuable insights for global health care payment reform.

Rhizopus stolonifer is one of the main pathogens in postharvest storage logistics of more than 100 kinds of fruit, such as strawberries, tomatoes and melons. In this paper, the research on the morphology and detection, pathogenicity and infection mechanism of Rhizopus stolonifer was reviewed. The control methods of Rhizopus stolonifer in recent years was summarized from three dimensions of physics, chemistry and biology, including the nanomaterials, biological metabolites, light control bacteria, etc. Future direction of postharvest Rhizopus stolonifer infection control was analyzed from two aspects of pathogenic mechanism research and new composite technology. The information provided in this review will help researchers and technicians to deepen their understanding of the pathogenicity of Rhizopus stolonifer, and develop more effective control methods in the future.

Bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gels, also known as Bijels, are a new type of soft condensed matter. Over the last decade, Bijels have attracted considerable attention because of their unique morphology, property, and broad application prospects. In the present review, we summarize the preparation methods and main control strategies of Bijels, focusing on the research progress and application of Bijels as templates for porous materials preparation in recent years. The potential future directions and applications of Bijels are also envisaged.

Biochar has been widely used in soil amendment and environmental remediation. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) could be produced in preparation of biochar, which may pose potential risks to the environment and human health. At present, most studies focus on the ecotoxicity potential of biochar, while there are few systematic reviews on the formation mechanisms and mitigation strategies of PAHs in biochar. Therefore, a systematical understanding of the distribution, formation mechanisms, risk assessment, and degradation approaches of PAHs in biochar is highly needed. In this paper, the distribution and content of the total and bioavailable PAHs in biochar are reviewed. Then the formation mechanisms, influencing factors, and potential risk assessment of PAHs in biochar are systematically explored. After that, the effective strategies to alleviate PAHs in biochar are summarized. Finally, suggestions and perspectives for future studies are proposed. This review provides a guide for reducing the formation of biochar-associated PAHs and their toxicity, which is beneficial for the development and large-scale safe use of environmentally friendly biochar.

The threat of heavy metal (HM) pollution looms large over plant growth and human health, with tobacco emerging as a highly vulnerable plant due to its exceptional absorption capacity. The widespread cultivation of tobacco intensifies these concerns, posing increased risks to human health as HMs become more pervasive in tobacco-growing soils globally. The absorption of these metals not only impedes tobacco growth and quality but also amplifies health hazards through smoking. Implementing proactive strategies to minimize HM absorption in tobacco is of paramount importance. Various approaches, encompassing chemical immobilization, transgenic modification, agronomic adjustments, and microbial interventions, have proven effective in curbing HM accumulation and mitigating associated adverse effects. However, a comprehensive review elucidating these control strategies and their mechanisms remains notably absent. This paper seeks to fill this void by examining the deleterious effects of HM exposure on tobacco plants and human health through tobacco consumption. Additionally, it provides a thorough exploration of the mechanisms responsible for reducing HM content in tobacco. The review consolidates and synthesizes recent domestic and international initiatives aimed at mitigating HM content in tobacco, delivering a comprehensive overview of their current status, benefits, and limitations.

Bioaerosol emissions and their associated risks are attracting increasing attention. Bioaerosols are generated during the pretreatment, fermentation, and screening of mature compost when processing various types of solid waste at composting plants (e.g., municipal sludge and animal manure). In this review, we summarize research into bioaerosols at different types of composting plants by focusing on the methods used for sampling bioaerosols, stages when emissions potentially occur, major components of bioaerosols, survival and diffusion factors, and possible control strategies. The six-stage Andersen impactor is the main method used for sampling bioaerosols in composting plants. In addition, different composting management methods mainly affect bioaerosol emissions from composting plants. Studies of the components of bioaerosols produced by composting plants mainly focused on bacteria and fungi, whereas few considered others such as endotoxin. The survival and diffusion of bioaerosols are influenced by seasonal effects due to changes in environmental factors, such as temperature and relative humidity. Finally, three potential strategies have been proposed for controlling bioaerosols in composting plants. Improved policies are required for regulating bioaerosol emissions, as well as bioaerosol concentration diffusion models and measures to protect human health.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are stable carcinogens that are widely distributed in the environment and food, and humans are exposed to PAHs primarily through the respiratory tracts, dermal contact, and dietary intake. Meat products are an essential part of the human diet, and the formation of PAHs during meat processing is unavoidable. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of PAHs in meat products can be a contribution to the minimization of human exposure dose. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive description of the toxicological analysis of PAHs intake and the various production pathways. The distribution of different PAHs in various meat products, including poultry and aquatic products, is analyzed. The discussion focuses on controlling PAHs through the use of endogenous marinades and antioxidants as well as reducing exogenous particulate matter-PAHs attachment. In addition, potential strategies for PAHs reduction and possible directions for future research are proposed.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a retrovirus that causes enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL), which is the most significant neoplastic disease in cattle. Although EBL has been successfully eradicated in most European countries, infections continue to rise in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, and the United States. BLV imposes a substantial economic burden on the cattle industry, particularly in dairy farming, as it leads to a decline in animal production performance and increases the risk of disease. Moreover, trade restrictions on diseased animals and products between countries and regions further exacerbate the problem. Recent studies have also identified fragments of BLV nucleic acid in human breast cancer tissues, raising concerns for public health. Due to the absence of an effective vaccine, controlling the disease is challenging. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately detect and diagnose BLV at an early stage to control its spread and minimize economic losses. This review provides a comprehensive examination of BLV, encompassing its genomic structure, epidemiology, modes of transmission, clinical symptoms, detection methods, hazards, and control strategies. The aim is to provide strategic information for future BLV research.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a porcine enteric coronavirus, which is one of the main causative agents of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), with 100% morbidity and 80-100% mortality in neonatal piglets. Since 2010, large-scale PED caused by highly pathogenic variants of PEDV has occurred successively in China and other countries in the world, posing a great threat to the global pig industry. It has been demonstrated in many investigations that the classic attenuated vaccine strain, PEDV CV777, is insufficient to fully protect against the PEDV variants. Moreover, the maternally derived antibodies elicited by inactivated vaccines also cannot completely protect piglets from infection. In addition, feedback feeding poses a risk of periodic PEDV recurrence in pig farms, making it challenging to successfully limit the spread of PEDV in China. This review focuses on the etiology, epidemiology, antigenicity, and control strategies of PEDV in China and provides information for the formulation of effective control measures.

Cryopreservation, one of the most effective preservation methods, is essential for maintaining the safety and quality of food. However, there is no denying the fact that the quality of muscle food deteriorates as a result of the unavoidable production of ice. Advancements in cryoregulatory materials and techniques have effectively mitigated the adverse impacts of ice, thereby enhancing the standard of freezing preservation. The first part of this overview explains how ice forms, including the theoretical foundations of nucleation, growth, and recrystallization as well as the key influencing factors that affect each process. Subsequently, the impact of ice formation on the eating quality and nutritional value of muscle food is delineated. A systematic explanation of cutting-edge strategies based on nucleation intervention, growth control, and recrystallization inhibition is offered. These methods include antifreeze proteins, ice-nucleating proteins, antifreeze peptides, natural deep eutectic solvents, polysaccharides, amino acids, and their derivatives. Furthermore, advanced physical techniques such as electrostatic fields, magnetic fields, acoustic fields, liquid nitrogen, and supercooling preservation techniques are expounded upon, which effectively hinder the formation of ice crystals during cryopreservation. The paper outlines the difficulties and potential directions in ice inhibition for effective cryopreservation.