Changes of Air Pollutants in Urban Cities during the COVID-19 Lockdown-Sri Lanka

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Sri Lanka underwent a nationwide lockdown that limited motor vehicle movement, industrial operations, and human activities. This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) concentrations in two urban cities (Colombo and Kandy) in Sri Lanka, by comparison of data from the lockdown period (March to May 2020) with its analogous period of 2019 and 2021. The results showed that the percentage change of daytime PM10, PM2.5, CO, and NO2 concentration during the lockdown in Colombo (Kandy) is –42.3% (–39.5%), –46% (–54.2%), –14.7% (–8.8%) and –82.2% (–80.9%), respectively. In both cities, the response of NO2 to the lockdown was the most sensitive. In contrast, daytime O3 concentration in Colombo (Kandy) has increased by 6.7% (27.2%), suggesting that the increase in O3 concentration was mainly due to a reduction in NOx emissions leading to lower O3 titration by NO. In addition, daytime SO2 concentration in Colombo has increased by 22.9%, while daytime SO2 concentration in Kandy has decreased by –40%. During the lockdown period, human activities were significantly reduced, causing significant reductions in industrial operations and transportation activities, further reducing emissions and improving air quality in two cities. The results of this study offer potential for local authorities to better understand the emission sources, assess the effectiveness of current air pollution control strategies, and form a basis for formulating better environmental policies to improve air quality and human health. © The Author(s).

"That's Why They Call It Window Pain" Daughter-Caretakers' Travels to/through Dis/Comfort

We are both first-generation women PhDs who survived traumatic, abusive childhoods, and found ourselves caretakers of those who once cared for us, in the height of COVID-19 lockdowns. The pandemic complicated our responsibilities in un/comfortable and un/expected ways, as care of parents and academic positions, all differently fragile, required negotiating dis/connections between academia and family, all while the virus and uncertainty hung thick in the air. This article is written as a collaborative travelogue with personal pictures and narratives, to emphasize our traversing back and forth between these worlds, and often pausing on our journeys to rest, to worry, to cry, and to celebrate, in the in-between spaces. Gloria Anzaldu ' a's (2000;Anzaldua & Keating, 2002) discussions of liminalities as uncomfortable and sometimes desirable and sometimes intentional guide our journeys, as does Sara Ahmed's (2017) emphasis on the power to stretch spaces of discomfort to find pleasure and comfort in traveling through/settling into liminal spaces.

Pathological Changes in Kidney Allografts Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination

Purpose: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic prompted widespread vaccination for the immunosuppressed population starting in January 2021 with minimal information on safety outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between kidney pathological changes and mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines in three kidney transplant recipients. Method(s): We conducted a single-center retrospective case review of three kidney transplant recipients with biopsy-proven acute rejection or pathological changes after 2-dose COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. Renal function, maintenance immunosuppressant regimens, and pathology slides at baseline and post-rejection are recorded. Possible factors associated with the development of rejection were analyzed. Result(s): All participants were male, two received related-living donor transplants and one received a deceased donor transplant. The mean age was 44.3 years. Average time from 2nd COVID-19 vaccine to confirmed rejection or pathological changes was 33.7 days. Two patients received mRNA-1273 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine and one received the BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. All three allograft biopsies demonstrated findings consistent with acute active antibody mediated rejection and thrombotic microangiopathy. One allograft biopsy also demonstrated findings consistent with collapsing focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. As of November 26, 2021, there have been over 26 reports of solid organ rejection or failure to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines highlighting the need for further investigation. Conclusion(s): Immunization with COVID-19 mRNA vaccine has potential to precipitate clinically significant immune response to renal allografts leading to acute allograft rejection, thrombotic microangiopathy, and collapsing focal segmental glomerular sclerosis.

Advanced Body Monitoring Face Mask

Face masks provide effective, easy-to-use, yet inexpensive safety in opposition to airborne pathogens and infectious agents, COVID existing masks are entire leaden of nature, and honestly work namely atmosphere filters for the nasal bargain and/or mouth. This assignment affords a modern 'active mask', among as the wearing machine is outfitted including smart sensors longevity in imitation of screen fitness parameters regarding ethnic and in accordance with notice the presence about somebody diseases signs and symptoms into real day yet drink excellent action in imitation of extenuating the threat. The proposed strategy is based on a 3-d printed clever masks dictation as senses the Bio parameters then make wise selections in imitation of limiting their concentrations. In the cutting-edge implementation, an onboard administrator determines then fetches the ppg sign and calculates guts rate, spo2 or the fire, and relative dampness is monitored with the use of a DHT sensor or the associative strip Monitoring is made by using PIR and Ultrasonic sensor or signals within the unusual cases. The sensor data amassed are saved in thingspeak. © 2022 IEEE.

MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometric Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Using Cellulose Sulfate Ester Enrichment and Hot Acid Treatment.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Here we report a novel strategy for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 based on an enrichment approach exploiting the affinity between the virus and cellulose sulfate ester functional groups, hot acid hydrolysis, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Virus samples were enriched using cellulose sulfate ester microcolumns. Virus peptides were prepared using the hot acid aspartate-selective hydrolysis and characterized by MALDI-TOF MS. Collected spectra were processed with a peptide fingerprint algorithm, and searching parameters were optimized for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. These peptides provide high sequence coverage for nucleocapsid (N protein) and allow confident identification of SARS-CoV-2. Peptide markers contributing to the detection were rigorously identified using bottom-up proteomics. The approach demonstrated in this study holds the potential for developing a rapid assay for COVID-19 diagnosis and detecting virus variants from a variety of sources, such as sewage and nasal swabs.

A randomized, controlled, feasibility study of RD-X19 in subjects with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in the outpatient setting.

The RD-X19 is an investigational, handheld medical device precisely engineered to emit blue light through the oral cavity to target the oropharynx and surrounding tissues. At doses shown to be noncytotoxic in an in vitro three-dimensional human epithelial tissue model, the monochromatic visible light delivered by RD-X19 results in light-initiated expression of immune stimulating cytokines IL-1α and IL-1ß, with corresponding inhibition of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) replication. A single exposure of 425 nm blue light at 60 J/cm2 led to greater than 99% reductions against all SARS-CoV-2 strains tested in vitro, including the more transmissible (Alpha) and immune evasive (Beta) variants. These preclinical findings along with other studies led to a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled early feasibility study using the investigational device as a treatment for outpatients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study enrolled 31 subjects with a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen test and at least two moderate COVID-19 signs and symptoms at baseline. Subjects were randomized 2:1 (RD-X19: sham) and treated twice daily for 4 days. Efficacy outcome measures included assessments of SARS-CoV-2 saliva viral load and clinical assessments of COVID-19. There were no local application site reactions and no device-related adverse events. At the end of the study (day 8), the mean change in log10 viral load was -3.29 for RD-X19 and -1.81 for sham, demonstrating a treatment benefit of -1.48 logs (95% confidence internal, -2.88 to -0.071, nominal p = 0.040). Among the clinical outcome measures, differences between RD-X19 and sham were also observed, with a 57-h reduction of median time to sustained resolution of COVID-19 signs and symptoms (log rank test, nominal p = 0.044).

Visible blue light inhibits infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 at doses that are well-tolerated by human respiratory tissue.

The delivery of safe, visible wavelengths of light can be an effective, pathogen-agnostic, countermeasure that would expand the current portfolio of SARS-CoV-2 intervention strategies beyond the conventional approaches of vaccine, antibody, and antiviral therapeutics. Employing custom biological light units, that incorporate optically engineered light-emitting diode (LED) arrays, we harnessed monochromatic wavelengths of light for uniform delivery across biological surfaces. We demonstrated that primary 3D human tracheal/bronchial-derived epithelial tissues tolerated high doses of a narrow spectral band of visible light centered at a peak wavelength of 425 nm. We extended these studies to Vero E6 cells to understand how light may influence the viability of a mammalian cell line conventionally used for assaying SARS-CoV-2. The exposure of single-cell monolayers of Vero E6 cells to similar doses of 425 nm blue light resulted in viabilities that were dependent on dose and cell density. Doses of 425 nm blue light that are well-tolerated by Vero E6 cells also inhibited infection and replication of cell-associated SARS-CoV-2 by > 99% 24 h post-infection after a single five-minute light exposure. Moreover, the 425 nm blue light inactivated cell-free betacoronaviruses including SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 up to 99.99% in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, clinically applicable doses of 425 nm blue light dramatically inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in primary human 3D tracheal/bronchial tissue. Safe doses of visible light should be considered part of the strategic portfolio for the development of SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic countermeasures to mitigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

A randomized, controlled, feasibility study of RD-X19 in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in the outpatient setting (preprint)

These studies aimed to further understand the antiviral effects of safe, visible light and demonstrate a therapeutic effect of an investigational treatment device for outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19. RD-X19 is a handheld medical device precisely engineered to emit blue light through the oral cavity to target the oropharynx and surrounding tissues. At doses that are well-tolerated in an in vitro human epithelial tissue model, the monochromatic visible light delivered by RD-X19 results in light-initiated expression of IL-1 and IL-1{beta} cytokines with corresponding inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication. A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled early feasibility study using the investigational device enrolled 31 subjects with a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen test and possessing at least two moderate COVID-19 signs and symptoms. Subjects were randomized 2:1 (RD-X19 to sham), treated twice daily for four days, and evaluated over one week. Prespecified outcome measures included assessments of SARS-CoV-2 viral load and clinical assessments of COVID-19. There were no local application site reactions and no device-related adverse events. The time-weighted average change in log viral load throughout the study demonstrated a favorable reduction for RD-X19 compared to sham and at the end of study the mean change in log10 viral load was -3.29 for RD-X19 and -1.81 for sham at Day 8, demonstrating a treatment benefit of -1.48 [95% confidence internal (CI), -2.88 to -0.071]. Among the clinical outcome measures, differences between RD-X19 and sham were also observed, with a 57-hour reduction of median time to sustained resolution of COVID-19 signs and symptoms.

Significance of High-Containment Biological Laboratories Performing Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Biosafety Level-3 and -4 Labs.

High containment biological laboratories (HCBL) are required for work on Risk Group 3 and 4 agents across the spectrum of basic, applied, and translational research. These laboratories include biosafety level (BSL)-3, BSL-4, animal BSL (ABSL)-3, BSL-3-Ag (agriculture livestock), and ABSL-4 laboratories. While SARS-CoV-2 is classified as a Risk Group 3 biological agent, routine diagnostic can be handled at BSL-2. Scenarios involving virus culture, potential exposure to aerosols, divergent high transmissible variants, and zoonosis from laboratory animals require higher BSL-3 measures. Establishing HCBLs especially those at BSL-4 is costly and needs continual investments of resources and funding to sustain labor, equipment, infrastructure, certifications, and operational needs. There are now over 50 BSL-4 laboratories and numerous BSL-3 laboratories worldwide. Besides technical and funding challenges, there are biosecurity and dual-use risks, and local community issues to contend with in order to sustain operations. Here, we describe case histories for distinct HCBLs: representative national centers for diagnostic and reference, nonprofit organizations. Case histories describe capabilities and assess activities during COVID-19 and include capacities, gaps, successes, and summary of lessons learned for future practice.

Topoisomerase III-ß is required for efficient replication of positive-sense RNA viruses.

Based on genome-scale loss-of-function screens we discovered that Topoisomerase III-ß (TOP3B), a human topoisomerase that acts on DNA and RNA, is required for yellow fever virus and dengue virus-2 replication. Remarkably, we found that TOP3B is required for efficient replication of all positive-sense-single stranded RNA viruses tested, including SARS-CoV-2. While there are no drugs that specifically inhibit this topoisomerase, we posit that TOP3B is an attractive anti-viral target.