Melamine-derived N-rich C-entrapped Au nanoparticles for sensitive and selective monitoring of dopamine in blood samples† † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ra02754b

Several neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and restless leg syndrome, majorly result from disruption in the dopamine (DA) level. Thus, useful information about the treatment and prevention of various genetic majorly mental health problems can be obtained through precise and real-time monitoring of DA. Herein, we report the fabrication of novel N-rich carbon-coated Au nanoparticles (NC@Au-NPs) by deriving from melamine-crosslinked citrate-stabilized Au NPs. NC@Au-NPs offer fast electro-oxidation efficacy towards DA, because of strong electrostatic attraction between negatively charged NC@Au-NPs and positively charged DA. The catalytic efficacy and shelf life of the designed system were further boosted by applying a mixture of polydopamine (PDA) and benzimidazolium-1-acetate ionic liquid (IL) as a sandwich between the working electrode surface (graphitic pencil electrode: GPE) and the designed nanohybrid NC@Au-NPs as a redox mediator. The results indicate that the designed novel NC@Au/PDA–IL/GPE exhibits excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility over a wide linear range (50–1000 nm) and a low detection limit of 0.002 μM ± 0.001 as well. The developed sensor was successfully applied to monitor DA in the blood of COVID-19 quarantined patients and pharmaceutical samples with high accuracy, thus suggesting a powerful tool for the diagnosis of mental problems. Several neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and restless leg syndrome, majorly result from disruption in the dopamine (DA) level.

Digital Twins in Built Environments: An Investigation of the Characteristics, Applications, and Challenges

The concept of digital twins is proposed as a new technology-led advancement to support the processes of the design, construction, and operation of built assets. Commonalities between the emerging definitions of digital twins describe them as digital or cyber environments that are bidirectionally-linked to their physical or real-life replica to enable simulation and data-centric decision making. Studies have started to investigate their role in the digitalization of asset delivery, including the management of built assets at different levels within the building and infrastructure sectors. However, questions persist regarding their actual applications and implementation challenges, including their integration with other digital technologies (i.e., building information modeling, virtual and augmented reality, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing). Within the built environment context, this study seeks to analyze the definitions and characteristics of a digital twin, its interactions with other digital technologies used in built asset delivery and operation, and its applications and challenges. To achieve this aim, the research utilizes a thorough literature review and semi-structured interviews with ten industry experts. The literature review explores the merits and the relevance of digital twins relative to existing digital technologies and highlights potential applications and challenges for their implementation. The data from the semi-structured interviews are classified into five themes: definitions and enablers of digital twins, applications and benefits, implementation challenges, existing practical applications, and future development. The findings provide a point of departure for future research aimed at clarifying the relationship between digital twins and other digital technologies and their key implementation challenges.

CPAP as a useful tool in COVID-19 related Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure: Experience from 3 UK Hospitals (preprint)

Introduction: Severe acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) in COVID-19 pneumonia is associated with a high mortality rate, resulting in mounting pressures on intensive care units worldwide. Different oxygenation management protocols are used in different centres. Most centres switch patients who fail to oxygenate adequately using conventional oxygen therapy (COT) methods to non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), usually continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Other centres resort to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) directly, without a trial of NIPPV. In this trial, we aim to compare the efficacy of different approaches in managing COVID-related AHRF, and ascertain if CPAP therapy reduces the need for IMV. Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study on patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 at three university hospitals in Essex, United Kingdom. We included all patients with significant AHRF (defined as needing oxygen therapy FiO2 more than 0.4 to maintain an oxygen saturation of 92%) who were deemed eligible for IMV escalation during a 3-month period (1st March to 31st May 2020).Results: Out of 174 patients who met the criteria, 84 patients received CPAP (Group 1). Half needed intubation (n=42). 90 patients did not have a CPAP trial (Group 2). 76.6% needed intubation (n=69). No difference was found between the two groups in demographic criteria or disease severity. Our results show a significant difference in 60-day mortality between group 1 and 2 (25% versus 37.8%, p=0.02). COT as standalone therapy for COVID-19 patients (group 2) was associated with a trend of more increased risk of intubation and an increased relative risk of death (RR 2.14, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.29). This corresponds to a number needed to treat (NNT) of 3.74 (95% CI 2.47 to 7.73). Patients in group 1 who failed CPAP trial and required intubation did not have an increased risk of mortality when compared to group 2 patients who required intubation.Conclusion: Our results support introducing CPAP rather than escalating FiO2 in cases refractory to COT. Our study suggests CPAP can be safely used to treat patients with AHRF. Clinical trials are needed to guide recommendations for optimum timing and selection of patients most likely to benefit.

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication - Pakistan, January 2019-September 2020.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) is endemic (1,2). In 2019, Pakistan reported 147 WPV1 cases, approximately 12 times the number reported in 2018. As of September 15, 72 cases had been reported in 2020. Since 2019, WPV1 transmission has also spread from Pakistan's core poliovirus reservoirs (Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta block) to southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, and Sindh provinces. Further, an outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), first detected in July 2019, has caused 22 paralytic cases in 2019 and 59 as of September 15, 2020, throughout the country. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has substantially reduced delivery of polio vaccines through essential immunization (formerly routine immunization) and prevented implementation of polio supplementary immunization activities (SIAs)* during March-July 2020. This report describes Pakistan's progress in polio eradication during January 2019-September 2020 and updates previous reports (1,3,4). The Pakistan polio program has reinitiated SIAs and will need large, intensive, high-quality campaigns with strategic use of available oral poliovirus vaccines (OPVs)† to control the surge and widespread transmission of WPV1 and cVDPV2.

Coronavirus nCOVID-19: A pandemic disease and the Saudi precautions.

Now nCOVID-19 has a foothold in many countries, and the threat of a pandemic situation has risen. Recently a novel coronavirus (nCOVID-19) has first emerged in China, causing multiple symptoms in humans and closely related to those caused by SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). The nCOVID-19 has reported in Wuhan city of China has recently infected over six million people and at least 0.4 million confirmed deaths all over the world, while 2.8 million people has recovered from this deadly virus. Many instances of this respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection have already reported in more than 216 countries and territories. In contrast, the majority of cases reported in the USA, Brazil, Russia, Spain, UK, Italy, France and many more countries. In today's context, the coronavirus is one of the significant issues faced by the world with plenty of cases. In these circumstances, rapid reviews which recommended by WHO (World Health Organization), and these recommendations are very significant, helpful and cover current data with different preventive measures developed by the Saudi CDC (Saudi Centre for Disease Prevention and Control). This review article describes the possible modes of transmission so that proper preventive actions should be taking. Importantly, this work mentioned the animal reservoir through which may infect humans, and it must be identified to break the transmission chain. In additions, this review paper briefly discussed the spread of the coronavirus in the Arabian Peninsula and what precaution measures are in place by each country to limit the spreading of this virus. Finally, since the number of infected people specifically those with close contact with nCOVID-19 patients is increasing daily and appears unstoppable, we used the preventive measures by pharmacists as part of health care professions.