ABSTRACT
Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid (,CQOL) is derived from Yinqiao San (), which is composed of Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus) and Banlangen (Isatidis Radix). It is a common clinical herbal medicine for clearing heat and detoxification, and has antiviral effects. By reviewing the active ingredients of CQOL and the research progress on its anti-influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) efficacy, with view to providing a basis for the clinical use of CQOL in treatment of respiratory diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2.Copyright © 2023 Editorial Office of Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
At present, the filtration of virus and other small particles in the air by meltblown cloth produced by electret treatment mainly depends on its electrostatic adsorption mechanism. However, because the surface charge of melt blown fabric can not be maintained for a long time, it can not maintain high efficiency filtration for a long time. Therefore, there is no guarantee for the medical staffs to not be infected by COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the mechanical filtration efficiency of melt blown fabric in the situation of an electric charge loss. In this paper, nylon 6 (PA6) nanofibers were electrospun on melt blown cloth by electrospinning technology, and a sandwich material with melt blown cloth as surface layer and PA6 nanofibers as middle layer was made by hot- pressing technology;the surface morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the sandwich material were characterized, and its filtration performance was tested. The experimental results show that the surface integrity of the sandwich material is high, and the diameter of nanofibers can reach about 67 nm;without the electret treatment, the filtration efficiency of the sandwich material for particles in an size of 0.2 μm is more than 95%,while the filtration efficiency of non-woven fabric is zero;the filtration resistance of the material is about 284 Pa, which is suitable for personal protection. © 2023 Chengdu University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Nanofibers are a type of nanomaterial with a diameter ranging from ten to a few hundred nanometers with a high surface-to-volume ratio and porosity. They can build a network of high-porosity material with excellent connectivity within the pores, making them a preferred option for numerous applications. This review explores nanofibers from the synthesis techniques to fabricate nanofibers, with an emphasis on the technological applications of nanofibers like water and air filtration, photovoltaics, batteries and fuel cells, gas sensing, photocatalysis, and biomedical applications like wound dressing and drug delivery. The nanofiber production market has an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% and should reach around 26 million US $ in 2026. The limitations and potential opportunities for large-scale applications of nano-fibrous membranes are also discussed. We expect this review could provide enriched information to better understand Electrospun Polymer Nanofiber Technology and recent advances in this field. © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
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Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, teachers have to hesitantly switch to the virtual world of teaching, known as enriched virtual blended learning in which technology, surely plays a significant role in material delivery and discussion. Studies related to blended learning in English language classes, especially in academic writing classes, have been done in many countries, but they are still lacking in the Indonesian setting. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of technology utilization in enriched blended learning to teach academic writing and the students' perspectives towards the use of technology in blended learning. This study involving forty-five students in a university in Jakarta applied both quantitative and qualitative methods. A pre-test and a post-test were assigned before and after the blended learning period to study the effectiveness of blended learning. In addition, surveys and interviews were conducted to investigate the students' perspectives. The results indicated that the use of technology in blended learning effectively helped students develop their academic writing skills despite being a new experience. Furthermore, despite some limitations, this strategy of using technology in teaching-learning was accepted with optimism as they started to get accustomed to it. Hence, the use of technology is promising for the future of learning. © 2023 IEEE.
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Given the rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) globally, test systems are needed for its diagnosis, timely treatment, and introduction of quarantine measures. In the shortest possible time, a diagnostic system based on real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction to detect the ribonucleic acid of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal smears was developed and registered. The method determines the nucleocapsid and small-membrane protein genes and the human PGK1 gene, acting as internal control reactions. The nucleotide sequences of SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed, and primers were selected. The conditions for carrying out real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and the composition of a set of reagents were set. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the kit were tested on biological samples, with the addition of inactivated SARSCoV-2. The high analytical characteristics of the developed set of reagents were demonstrated, with a sensitivity of at least 103 GE/mL and a specificity of 100%, and no false-positive or false-negative results were recorded. The high specificity of the test system was shown on a representative sample of genetic materials of respiratory viral pathogens. Clinical and laboratory tests of the diagnostic "SARS-CoV-2 test” were conducted in the N.F. Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology. A set of reagents for the detection of ribonucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 through on real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for in vitro diagnostics "SARS-CoV-2 test” was registered in the Russian Federation as a medical device (Registration certificate no. RZN 2020/10632, dated 06/03/2020). The article can be used under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license © Authors, 2022.
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Plastic pollution is recognized as one of the most urgent global environmental concerns. China is the top producer and consumer of plastics and creates the most plastic waste globally. To evaluate policy options to control plastic pollution in China, we first reviewed the relevant policies and action plans in place. Then, we examined plastic-material flows and changes at the national level based on officially published data to evaluate the current situation and efficacy of policies at the macro-level. Results showed that 2016, the start of the 13th Five-Year Plan, was a pivotal year in the history of China's plastic policies tackling plastic issues nationally and internationally. Since 2016, the growth trend in the production and consumption of plastic products has slowed and the recycling rate has risen, surpassing 30% in 2021. To further tackle plastic pollution, key suggestions with important policy implications were provided, covering better integration of policies, the combined management of vertical–horizontal governance, tracking-system implementation, the introduction of a quality-certification system, the development of behaviour-based consumer-oriented solutions, the promotion of stakeholder collaboration, and the need for appropriate post-COVID-19 policies.
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Since the beginning of the global Covid-19 pandemic, text media materials are full of the word "vax”, and after the appearance of vaccines against the coronavirus and the start of the vaccination campaign around the world, "anti-vax” has also been added. In the article, it is singled out the linguistic means of updating the evaluation in the headlines and leads of the text media of Ukraine in the materials dedicated to opponents of vaccination against Covid-19, and the possibility of its automatic recognition with the help of machine methods is also considered. It was found that among the language means of expressing assessment, colloquial vocabulary (jargonisms and slang) and phraseology come to the fore. © 2023 Copyright for this paper by its authors.
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Determination of the filtration efficiency (even to nanosize) of several textiles was carried out during emergency time at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in order to perform a fast screening of materials candidate for facial masks. At this purpose, a double strategy was adopted in Milan: scanning electron microscopy investigation and a classical filtration test of ambient aerosol. The latter was used in order to mimic as much as possible the capability to filter ambient aerosol that might contain COVID-19. The two methods were compared to investigate their capability to identify only textiles characterized by a filtration efficiency higher than 90% (thus candidate for facial mask production). Results showed filtration efficiency above 90% for promising candidate textiles as well as poor filtration capabilities (below 60%) of other textiles, enabling a fast screening of the materials from different Italian factories.
ABSTRACT
Along with hitting certain regions of the country, the COVID-19 outbreak substantially impacted all academic institutions, prompting the traditional classroom structure to be adjusted immediately. Governments have shifted to a virtual learning environment to alleviate separation from educational activities and boost involvement. The primary objective of this research is to examine the different learning techniques used by senior high school students at a Philippine University when they engage in online learning. This study investigates the underlying pedagogies and instructional designs employed in the production and delivery of online courses. Numerous challenges, including infrastructure and school readiness for a rapid transition to distant education, would develop due to the rapid transformation in education. The researchers employed a descriptive technique in conducting this study and set survey questions to collect data from respondents. The non-probability sampling approach is used in this study, and the results are analyzed using a 5-point Likert scale to determine the mean and standard deviation. The study's results indicate that although students are dissatisfied with the online setting due to its performance differences from the traditional approach, they believe the course material to be fascinating and relevant for the future. It is also indicated that the online learning materials have a significant impact and are convenient to their education. The researchers recommend that institutions arrange asynchronous and synchronous sessions throughout the week and that institutions pay more attention to course design. Finally, students should investigate the school's potential for online instruction. © 2023 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Field-effect transistor (FET) is regarded as the most promising candidate for the next-generation biosensor, benefiting from the advantages of label-free, easy operation, low cost, easy integration, and direct detection of biomarkers in liquid environments. With the burgeoning advances in nanotechnology and biotechnology, researchers are trying to improve the sensitivity of FET biosensors and broaden their application scenarios from multiple strategies. In order to enable researchers to understand and apply FET biosensors deeply, focusing on the multidisciplinary technical details, the iteration and evolution of FET biosensors are reviewed from exploring the sensing mechanism in detecting biomolecules (research direction 1), the response signal type (research direction 2), the sensing performance optimization (research direction 3), and the integration strategy (research direction 4). Aiming at each research direction, forward perspectives and dialectical evaluations are summarized to enlighten rewarding investigations.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques , Transistors, Electronic , Nanotechnology , Biosensing Techniques/methodsABSTRACT
With the upsurge in the use of disposable masks during the coronavirus disease pandemic, improper disposal of discarded masks and their negative impact on the environment have emerged as major issues. Improperly disposed of masks release various pollutants, particularly microplastic (MP) fibers, which can harm both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems by interfering with the nutrient cycling, plant growth, and the health and reproductive success of organisms. This study assesses the environmental distribution of polypropylene (PP)-containing MPs, generated from disposable masks, using material flow analysis (MFA). The system flowchart is designed based on the processing efficiency of various compartments in the MFA model. The highest amount of MPs (99.7 %) is found in the landfill and soil compartments. A scenario analysis reveals that waste incineration significantly reduces the amount of MP transferred to landfills. Therefore, considering cogeneration and gradually increasing the incineration treatment rate are crucial to manage the processing load of waste incineration plants and minimize the negative impact of MPs on the environment. The findings provide insights into the potential environmental exposure associated with the improper disposal of waste masks and indicate strategies for sustainable mask disposal and management.
Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Masks , Microplastics , Plastics , PolypropylenesABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, created a worldwide need for supplementary PPE to protect frontline workers who were working tirelessly to save the lives of those exhibiting symptoms. At the same time, supply chains were interrupted due to mass reductions in their workforce who were affected by the disease. Factories producing additional PPE were hampered by these workforce reductions and were increasingly challenged to increase operations in order to meet the international demand. Local distributors were left with minimal supplies and supply chains experienced rapidly diminishing supplies of critical items, meaning they were unable to meet the needs of logarithmic increases in sick patients. This chapter details the changes that a small hospital-based supply chain team, responsible for supplying one of the hospitals at the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis in New York City, made in the face of this crisis and how they effectively organized delivery and disbursement of PPE and critical supplies in less than 3 weeks. Lessons learned are included in this chapter as a guide for success of supply chain management during a large-scale, worldwide shortage in essential materials and equipment. © SBH Health System 2022.
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COVID-19, imagine having a temporary lip sticker that offers the protection of an n95 mask without the uncomfortable bulk. Using green electrospun nanofibers the lip sticker filters the virus and can communicate geospatial data to your phone using embedded NFC technology. Available in different designs and skins, some fiber formations can display temperature changes on your face. This paper investigates several prototypes of the described product. © 2022 Owner/Author.
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Smart and Functional Textiles is an application-oriented book covering a wide range of areas from multifunctional nanofinished textiles, coated and laminated textiles, wearable e-textiles, textile-based sensors and actuators, thermoregulating textiles, to smart medical textiles and stimuli-responsive textiles. It also includes chapters on 3D printed smart textiles, automotive smart textiles, smart textiles in military and defense, as well as functional textiles used in care and diagnosis of Covid-19. • Overview of smart textiles and their multidirectional applications • Materials, processes, advanced techniques, design and performance of smart fabrics • Fundamentals, advancements, current challenges and future perspectives of smart textiles. © 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.
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PrefaceThe 16th International Conference on the Modelling of Casting, Welding, and Advanced Solidification Processes (MCWASP XVI) was held from June 18 to 23, 2023, in Banff, Canada, at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Founded in 1933, the Centre in Treaty 7 Territory within Banff National Park—Canada's first National Park—is a learning organization built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and creative development. The "all-inclusive” nature of the conference and the remote setting meant that participants dined, attended oral and poster presentations, and participated in social activities as a group, fostering outstanding opportunities for networking.Given that the MCWASP community had not met in person since 2015 in Japan (the 2020 edition of MCWASP was virtual owing to COVID-19), the 2023 conference provided the opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones as well as discuss the science of solidification and related processes—all within the backdrop of the beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountains.The technical program comprised more than 70 oral and poster presentations. In addition to content related to modelling of casting, welding, and advanced solidification processes, keynotes were invited to talk about related subjects (artificial intelligence/machine learning, and permeability modelling in shale rock) as well as the rich diversity of fossils, especially dinosaurs, found in Alberta.The oral technical program was organized with as a single session (i.e., no concurrent presentations). It featured all aspects of solidification modelling, including solidification process technologies (continuous and semi-continuous casting, shape casting, additive manufacturing, and welding), coupled multi-physics simulations, defect formation, fluid flow, micro- and macro-structure formation, numerical methods, and related experimentation, especially in-situ observation of solidification.The four-day technical program was spread over five days to give participants the opportunity to explore the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains.In these proceedings, the papers are organized by major theme. The dominant topics are Additive Manufacturing and Welding and Microstructure Formation, followed by Continuous Casting – Shape Casting, Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow, Alloy Segregation, Defects, Imaging of Solidification, Thermomechanics, and Materials Properties. In these themes, the authors report advances in numerical modelling techniques, new scientific and process developments in solidification, and related in-situ experimentation.Although significant progress has been made over these past 16 MCWASP conferences covering 43 years, it is clear that the complexity of advanced solidification phenomena as related to conventional and emerging manufacturing technologies still attracts a great deal of scientific and industrial interest to support technological innovation.André PhillionBanff, Canada, June 2023MCWASP XVI 2023List of Peer Reviewers, Sponsors, MCWASP XVI Organizers, International Scientific Committee are available in this Pdf.
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The outbreak of major public health emergencies such as the coronavirus epidemic has put forward new requirements for urban emergency management procedures. Accuracy and effective distribution model of emergency support materials, as an effective tool to inhibit the deterioration of the public health sector, have gradually become a research hotspot. The distribution of urban emergency support devices, under the secondary supply chain structure of "material transfer center-demand point," which may involve confusing demands, is studied to determine the actual situation of fuzzy requests under the impact of an epidemic outbreak. An optimization model of urban emergency support material distribution, based on Credibility theory, is first constructed. Then an improved sparrow search algorithm, ISSA, was designed by introducing Sobol sequence, Cauchy variation and bird swarm algorithm into the structure of the classical SSA. In addition, numerical validation and standard test set validation were carried out and the experimental results showed that the introduced improved strategy effectively improved the global search capability of the algorithm. Furthermore, simulation experiments are conducted, based on Shanghai, and the comparison with existing cutting-edge algorithms shows that the designed algorithm has stronger superiority and robustness. And the simulation results show that the designed algorithm can reduce vehicle cost by 4.83%, time cost by 13.80%, etc. compared to other algorithms. Finally, the impact of preference value on the distribution of emergency support materials is analyzed to help decision-makers to develop reasonable and effective distribution strategies according to the impact of major public health emergencies. The results of the study provide a practical reference for the solution of urban emergency support materials distribution problems.
Subject(s)
Emergencies , Public Health , Humans , China/epidemiology , Algorithms , Computer SimulationABSTRACT
Using data from the 2020 and 2021 cycles of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health,we examined suicidal ideation among adults in Canada aged 18 to 34 years. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among adults aged 18 to 34 years was 4.2% in fall 2020 and 8.0% in spring 2021. The subgroup of adults aged 18 to 24 years had the highest prevalence of suicidal ideation, 10.7%, in spring 2021. Prevalence varied by sociodemographic characteristics and tended to be higher among people living in materially deprived areas. Suicidal ideation was strongly associated with pandemic-related stressors respondents experienced.
In spring 2021, the prevalence of suicidal ideation among young adults aged 18 to 34 years was 8.0%. At 10.7%, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was highest in the subgroup of young adults aged 18 to 24 years, in spring 2021. The odds of suicidal ideation were higher among young adults who were White versus racialized, born in Canada versus immigrated to Canada, living with low or middle income, with high school education or less, or living in a materially deprived area. Pandemic-related experiences, stressful events and mental illness were strongly associated with suicidal ideation.
La prévalence des idées suicidaires chez les jeunes adultes de 18 à 34 ans était de 8,0 % au printemps 2021. La prévalence la plus élevée d'idées suicidaires, soit 10,7 %, correspond au sous-groupe des jeunes adultes de 18 à 24 ans au printemps 2021. Les probabilités d'idées suicidaires étaient plus élevées chez les jeunes adultes qui étaient d'origine blanche (par opposition aux membres d'un groupe « racisé ¼), ceux nés au Canada (par opposition à ceux ayant immigré au Canada), ceux vivant avec un revenu faible ou moyen, ceux ayant fait des études de niveau secondaire ou moins et ceux vivant dans un milieu défavorisé sur le plan matériel. Les expériences liées à la pandémie, les événements stressants et la maladie mentale étaient fortement associés aux idées suicidaires.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Suicidal Ideation , Humans , Young Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Pandemics , Risk Factors , COVID-19/epidemiology , Canada/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Bioinformatics course to switch from on-site teaching to remote learning. This shift has prompted a change in teaching methods and laboratory activities. Students need to have a basic understanding of DNA sequences and how to analyze them using custom scripts. To facilitate learning, we have modified the course to use Jupyter Notebook, which offers an alternative approach to writing custom scripts for basic DNA sequence analysis. This approach allows students to acquire the necessary skills while working remotely. It is a versatile and user-friendly platform that can be used to combine explanations, code, and results in a single document. This feature enables students to interact with the code and results, making the learning process more engaging and effective. Jupyter Notebook provides a hybrid approach to learning basic Python scripting and genomics that is effective for remote teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid (,CQOL) is derived from Yinqiao San (), which is composed of Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus) and Banlangen (Isatidis Radix). It is a common clinical herbal medicine for clearing heat and detoxification, and has antiviral effects. By reviewing the active ingredients of CQOL and the research progress on its anti-influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) efficacy, with view to providing a basis for the clinical use of CQOL in treatment of respiratory diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2.Copyright © 2023 Editorial Office of Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. All rights reserved.