The geometries and vibrational properties of the low-lying electronic states of neutral and anionic of M 3 (M ) P, As, Sb, and Bi) are studied using the coupled-cluster singles, doubles, and noniterative triples (CCSD(T)) method as well as the density functional theory (B3LYP-DFT) method. For P 3 -, the 1 Σ g + and X 3 A′ 1 (D 3h ) states are almost degenerate. The X 3 A′ 1 (D 3h ) state, however, turns out to be the lowest state for As 3 -, Sb 3 -, and Bi 3 -, and the adiabatic excitation energies of the 1 Σ g + state are 0.6, 0.9, and 1.0 eV, respectively. In the anionic trimers of all four elements, another singlet state, 1 A 1 (C 2V ), is located about 0.3-0.4 eV above X 3 A′ 1 (D 3h ); the energy gap between these states is compared to the splittings between the first two peaks in the photoelectron spectra of these anions. For all of the neutral trimers, the adiabatic and vertical energetic splittings between the Jahn-Teller components of the X 2 E′′ and 4 E′ states are calculated to be only 0.04-0.08 eV. Another quartet state, 4 A′′ 2 , is 0.4 eV higher, almost equal, 0.2 eV lower, and 0.3 eV lower in energy than the 4 E′ state in P 3 , As 3 , Sb 3 , and Bi 3 , respectively. All of the features of the main peaks in the photoelectron spectra of the anions observed to date are explained by using calculated geometries, vibrational frequencies, and excitation energies. In addition, a number of peaks are predicted that have not yet been observed experimentally.

Objectives:We aimed to evaluate the severity of suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reinfection according to the concern of variants in the Republic of Korea. Methods:The database of COVID-19 cases reported through the integrated system in an epidemiological investigation, by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, from January 20, 2020 to May 7, 2022, was combined with the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service system.The severity odds ratio (SOR) at secondary infection episodes compared with primary infection was estimated using a generalized linear model with binomial distribution.Results: In all patients, the SOR of reinfection was 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82-0.95), and the severity was relieved compared with their first infection episode. Patients in the vaccinated group within 91 days, the SOR was more declined than 91 days after vaccination as 0.85 (95% CI: 0.74-0.98).However, despite the vaccination, in patients with primary and secondary infections caused by Omicron, the severity was less relieved than in primarily infected episodes with other variants. Conclusions:We could make efforts to relieve the severity of the vulnerable populations that are likely to lead to death by recommending booster vaccinations in case of a resurgence..

Objectives: We described the trends and epidemiological characteristics of varicella outbreaks from 2016 to 2020 in the Republic of Korea.Methods: We investigated variables such as the outbreak setting, age of patients, vaccination status, and lesion count. The collected data were analyzed with the Cochrane-Armitage trend test and Kruskal-Wallis test. These statistical tests were performed using R ver. 4.0.3.Results: The number of varicella outbreaks increased from 2016 to 2018; however, after a slight decrease in the number of outbreaks in 2019, the number fell sharply in 2020. The median size of outbreaks decreased from 8 to 9 cases during 2016−2019 to 6 cases in 2020. The median duration of outbreaks was 18 days during 2016−2017, 28 days in 2018, 29 days in 2019, and 15 days in 2020. Varicella outbreaks occurred most frequently in elementary schools, and vaccination coverage of patients increased from 89.4% in 2016 to 97.2% in 2019. The median age of patients with outbreak-related varicella decreased from 8 years in 2016 to 6 years in 2020.Conclusion: Significant changes were observed in the age of patients with outbreak-related varicella. Ongoing monitoring of varicella outbreaks should be conducted. Further research will be needed to measure the disease burden of varicella and enable evidence-based policy decisions.

Background This study aimed to estimate the effects of vaccine on reducing the mortality rate and the relationship between underlying diseases and death among long term care hospital residents during the Omicron epidemic. Methods This study included 2,507 inpatients at 18 long term care hospitals that experienced COVID-19 outbreaks more than twice in Daegu Metropolitan City and Gyeongsangbuk-do in Korea, from January 2022 to August 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze participants’ demographic characteristics and mortality, which were expressed as percentages (%). Logistic regression analysis was performed to compare mortality, and the crude risk ratio (cRR) and adjusted risk risk (aRR) were estimated. The analysis model was adjusted for sex, age, region, history of Paxlovid priscription, vaccine status, reinfection, and presence, type, and number of underlying diseases. Results In terms of vaccination status, the aRR in the group with < 90 days after the 3 doses was 0.20 (CI:0.09–0.45) and ≥ 90 days was 0.14 (CI:0.06–0.32), that in the group with < 90 days after 4 doses was 0.18 (CI:0.06–0.43), compared with the non-vaccinated group. The fatality rate in the group prescribed Paxlovid was higher than that in the non-prescribed group. However, the difference was not statistically significant. The aRR of hypothyroidism was 5.75 (CI:1.10–30.13) and that of COPD and asthma were 2.84 (CI:1.15–6.99), compared with the group that did not have each underlying disease. Conclusion We confirmed the preventive effects of vaccination on death and the high risk of death from hypothyroidism, COPD, and asthma in COVID-19-confirmed patients in long term care hospitals.

Objectives: We conducted a comparative analysis of the differences in the incidence of 8 acute respiratory viruses and the changes in their patterns before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Methods: Three sentinel surveillance systems of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service were analyzed. The average numbers of reported cases and the related hospital admissions and outpatient data were compared between April 2018–2019 and 2020–2021. Changes in the disease burden and medical expenditures between these 2 time periods were evaluated.Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of reported cases of all acute viral respiratory infections, except for human bocavirus, decreased significantly. Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service also showed decreases in the actual amount of medical service usage and a marked reduction in medical expenditures.Conclusion: Non-pharmacological interventions in response to COVID-19 showed preventive effects on the transmission of other respiratory viruses, as well as COVID-19. Although COVID-19 had a tremendous impact on society as a whole, with high social costs, there were also positive effects, such as a reduction in the incidence of acute viral respiratory infections.