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Asia is one of the continents where aerosol levels are comparatively higher across the world. India and Sri Lanka are some of the regions in the South Asian continent where pollution is increasing rapidly due to the rise in industrialization. The present study investigated the interactions between atmospheric aerosol and cloud microphysical properties and their spatial, temporal, and seasonal variation at local and regional scales during 2000–2020 using remotely sensed data sets in south India and Sri Lanka. High values (>0.5) of annual mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) were detected over southern India. On the other hand, lower values (0.2) were detected over Sri Lanka. In terms of seasonality, a high level of AOD was registered in both southern India and Sri Lanka during the premonsoon and monsoon periods. The angstrom exponent (AE412-470) revealed the dominance of fine-mode particles during winter and the postmonsoon, generally from biomass burning and industrial activities. The long-term analysis exhibited an increasing trend of atmospheric aerosol concentration over southern India and Sri Lanka. Interestingly, there was a decrease in AOD during the year 2020;the reduction in anthropogenic activities in the region was attributed to the COVID-19 lockdown, hence less accumulation of pollutants in the atmosphere. AOD showed a positive correlation with cloud effective radius over the western areas along with the Indian Ocean, north, southeast, and southern end of India, while negatively correlated with high AOD areas such as northeast of the study domain. The AOD and cloud optical depth were positively correlated over continental areas, while negative correlations were notable over the Indian Ocean around Sri Lanka, implying heterogeneities of aerosol's effect on cloud microphysical properties over the study area. Finally, the results from wind circulation and backward air mass trajectories reveal higher concentrations of fine-mode particles associated with the continent, whereas coarse-mode particles originate from the oceans. © 2022 Royal Meteorological Society.
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Background The impact of vitamin D on COVID-19 infection has been much discussed recently. Our aim was to evaluate the association between baseline serum 25(OH)D with severity of COVID-19. Method This was an prospective study, where 174 COVID- 19 in-patients of an academic hospital in an urban setting were enrolled from Aug, 2020 to Oct, 2020. After detailed clinical history taking and examination, patients were divided into mild, moderate, severe and critical categories. Vitamin D level was measured. Relation between level of vitamin D and disease severity was determined. Result Mean age of the study population was 52.01 years. 13% mild, 22.99% moderate, 26.44% severe and 3.45% were critical cases. 76% of the patients had vitamin D deficiency. No statistical significance between the level of vitamin D and disease severity was seen (p= 0.430). Conclusion Our study revealed there is no correlation between vitamin D deficiency and severity of COVID-19. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Bangladesh College of Physicians & Surgeons is the property of Bangladesh College of Physicians & Surgeons and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is in Pandemic form and has affected people of 215 countries. It produces symptoms like fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, loss of taste, smell or appetite and many other rare symptoms. But the most important symptom is shortness of breath due to hypoxia. In a normal individual oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) is at least 95% and patient feels shortness of breath when SpO(2) falls below 90% with some exception. SARS-CoV-2, a newly emergent coronavirus has the peculiarity to produce silent hypoxia, meaning SpO 2< 90% or less like 80%, 70%, 60% without shortness of breath. Silent hypoxia can be diagnosed by monitoring SpO(2) with pulse oximeter. For management of COVID-19, early symptoms like fever & cough, SpO(2) should be monitored by pulse oximeter, followed by immediate correction of hypoxia by O-2 supplementation and prophylactic oral or injectable anticoagulant to prevent thromboembolism and thus death rate can be reduced. Case summary: A 72-year-old man presented with the complaints of fever and headache followed by cough, fatigue, anorexia, loss of taste and appetite in next few days but no shortness of breath. The patient was clinically diagnosed as a case of COVID-19 & positive result of Real time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test confirmed the diagnosis. From the first day, SpO(2) was regularly monitored with pulse oximeter and SpO(2) on day 1, it was 96-98%. On day 8, SpO(2) fell to 89-93%, pulse 96/min, respiratory rate>30/min, temperature 101o F, taste sensation was reduced. According to sign and symptoms, the patient was diagnosed as COVID-19 with severe pneumonia. Management was started at home with continuous monitoring, lying in prone position for 5-6 hours/day, supplemental oxygenation to maintain level of SpO(2) between 94-96%, injectable anticoagulant enoxaparin to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was given. Prophylactic antibiotics and symptomatic treatment were also given. Results: According to this case report, patient's SpO(2) was monitored by pulse oximeter on first day;on day 08, SpO(2) fell to 89-93% & on day 10, further dropped to 85-88% which indicated severe pneumonia but there was no complaint of breathlessness as it was silent hypoxia. Sometimes the patient spent 30 minutes or more in toilet and SpO(2) used to fall to 82-83% without any subjective shortness of breath but with only mild heaviness of chest and cough. Therefore SpO(2) monitoring by pulse oximeter is essential in early diagnosis of silent hypoxia. Correction of hypoxia by supplemental oxygenation and prevention of VTE and DIC by using anticoagulant was the mainstay of treatment and patient had significant improvement on day 14. The patient was managed completely at home except X-ray being done in a hospital. Conclusion: Fall of SpO(2) in COVID-19 i.e. hypoxia (usually present as shortness of breath) or silent hypoxia can be diagnosed early by pulse oximeter or smart phone pulse oximetry apps. Early management by isolation, supplemental oxygenation and oral/injectable anticoagulation can prevent further events like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), respiratory failure followed by multiple organ failure (that may cause death). The authors advocate further clinical trial and research.
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The COVID-19 outbreak, and the onset of a new normal, has shocked every entrepreneurial sector in Bangladesh including the burgeoning aquaculture sector. To unpack the COVID impacts on finfish aquaculture, two online based surveys were performed in Mymensingh, Bangladesh using structured questionnaires with 40 farmers to assess the economic feasibility of aquaculture farming, and 120 middlemen of the supply chain to unpack market instability. This was followed up with a further open-ended survey done with 120 consumers to gain a clear view of the marketing insights. Our study has revealed that COVID has resulted in a squeeze on profit for the finfish farmer and has opened up inequalities within the supply chain. Benefit-cost ratio analysis of farming reveals that although carp and other catfish farming remain close to the break-even level, pangasius and tilapia farming was potentially putting the farmers in debt. Whilst the consumers are now paying higher prices for pangasius and carp, and slightly reduced prices for tilapia and other catfish, the finfish farmers were receiving less profits. By contrast, the middlemen have increased their selling prices, presumably to offset increased costs and maintain profitability. To compensate rising operational costs and reduced income, farmers have reduced labor costs through reduction in number of staff and their wages. However, this compensation tool risks frustrating working-class people in rural areas and posing huge socio-economic burdens. Finally, the economic difficulties and a lack of support to process fish imposed by COVID restrictions have switched consumer's attitudes regarding fish as their protein source preference. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
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The alarmingly aggravating incidents of sepsis and septic shock, and associated mortality, morbidity, and annual treatment costs among ICU admissions are an increasing concern. SepINav is a medical informatics endeavor that helps ICU practitioners and researchers to monitor and intervene on the existing sepsis patients more efficiently and interactively and conduct retrospective studies to seek rationales to different sepsis scenarios in the ICU. Moreover, Bayesian Online Changepoint Detection will help the practitioners understand the structural changes in patients’ vital sign regimes that may harbinger prior to septic shock. Besides, several additional features are added to this data-driven software tool to promise efficient monitoring and intervention and address confounding medical interventions in the ICU. © 2021 The Author(s)
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Purpose: We respond to calls from business schools (B-schools), apex education bodies, regulators, activist groups and researchers for more rigorous research to understand the future strategies of B-schools in India. We specifically examine the challenges posed by the current COVID-19 pandemic (and possible future similar eventualities) and the current and long-term strategies being planned to combat such crises. Design/methodology/approach: To reveal the real-life scenario, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 academic leaders (Deans and Directors) of B-schools in India. These respondents were from both public and private institutions across the country. Open-ended questions were framed for exploration to help the authors understand the way forward in the Indian B-school context. Findings: Findings reveal that B-schools in India are preparing themselves to overcome short-term challenges faced due to COVID-19 as well as transforming themselves through long-term strategies. Originality/value: The study outlines strategic plans for some imaginative reassessments that B-schools may consider as a reaction to a pandemic-like emergency. The focus is on distinguishing the imperatives, creating a key guide for meeting immediate requirements, allotting assets in a prudent way to update educational course curricula and teaching methods and building the required academic infrastructure. The ability to focus on enduring changes (e.g. creating an e-learning framework and providing a safe and secure learning environment to students as per government mandates) will provide B-schools with a new lease of life in the future. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.