ABSTRACT
Pneumonia is a common cause of morbidity and mortality and is most often caused by bacterial pathogens. COVID-19 is characterized by lung infection with potential progressive organ failure. The systemic consequences of both disease on the systemic blood metabolome are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to compare the blood metabolome of both diseases and we hypothesize that plasma metabolomics may help to identify the systemic effects of these diseases. Therefore, we profiled the plasma metabolome of 43 cases of COVID-19 pneumonia, 23 cases of non-COVID-19 pneumonia, and 26 controls using a non-targeted approach. Metabolic alterations differentiating the three groups were detected, with specific metabolic changes distinguishing the two types of pneumonia groups. A comparison of venous and arterial blood plasma samples from the same subjects revealed the distinct metabolic effects of pulmonary pneumonia. In addition, a machine learning signature of four metabolites was predictive of the disease outcome of COVID-19 subjects with an area under the curve (AUC) of 86 ± 10 %. Overall, the results of this study uncover systemic metabolic changes that could be linked to the etiology of COVID-19 pneumonia and non-COVID-19 pneumonia.
ABSTRACT
Australia is one of the largest global sport tourist destinations. This industry employs a significant number of Australia’s total employment with contributions to the national economy. There is no shortage of exciting sporting events in Australia. Sporting activities in Australia are as much about having a good time and getting some fresh air as they are about fierce competition and amazing athleticism. It is no surprise that Australia hosts world-renowned tournaments like the Australian Open, attracting sports fans from all over the world to enjoy the adrenaline-pumping atmosphere and world-class competitors. Considering the increasing rate of emerging technologies, tour operators can use them to remain competitive in the market. Adopting the content analysis method, this study explores how the technology applications are impacting events in Australia. The study identified that the use of sharing of content via social media, use of sharing platforms like Airbnb and Uber, use of payment platforms like PayPal and Apple Pay, use of apps to provide visitor information on nearby offerings and the use of virtual reality are providing virtual tours of hotels and hotel rooms are increasing the attractiveness of this popular sports event. Though currently, the country is struggling to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 to regain the losses of revenue in the last year, it is expected that this sport event will demonstrate resilience and continue to succeed in the coming years using technology applications. Further research can be conducted to measure the impact of technology application in other sports events in Australia. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Azizul Hassan;individual chapters, the contributors.