Evaporation-Driven Energy Generation Using an Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Nanofiber Mat with Different Support Substrates.

Water evaporation-driven energy harvesting is an emerging mechanism for contributing to green energy production with low cost. Herein, we developed polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber-based evaporation-driven electricity generators (PEEGs) to confirm the feasibility of utilizing electrospun PAN nanofiber mats in an evaporation-driven energy harvesting system. However, PAN nanofiber mats require a support substrate to enhance its durability and stability when it is applied to an evaporation-driven energy generator, which could have additional effects on generation performance. Accordingly, various support substrates, including fiberglass, copper, stainless mesh, and fabric screen, were applied to PEEGs and examined to understand their potential impacts on electrical generation outputs. As a result, the PAN nanofiber mats were successfully converted to a hydrophilic material for an evaporation-driven generator by dip-coating them in nanocarbon black (NCB) solution. Furthermore, specific electrokinetic performance trends were investigated and the peak electricity outputs of Voc were recorded to be 150.8, 6.5, 2.4, and 215.9 mV, and Isc outputs were recorded to be 143.8, 60.5, 103.8, and 121.4 µA, from PEEGs with fiberglass, copper, stainless mesh, and fabric screen substrates, respectively. Therefore, the implications of this study would provide further perspectives on the developing evaporation-induced electricity devices based on nanofiber materials.

Drug-Related Problems and Pharmacists' Interventions in Hypertensive Outpatients: A Multicenter Prospective Study in 3 Vietnamese Hospitals.

Background: Clinical pharmacists' interventions (PIs) on drug-related problems (DRPs) in Vietnamese hypertensive outpatients are limited. Objectives: The objective was to investigate the prevalence and nature of DRPs, and factors which are likely to have DRPs, types of PIs, and their acceptance rate in 3 Vietnamese hospitals. Method: A prospective interventional study was conducted over a period of 3 months in 3 hospitals (from October 2021 to March 2022). Clinical pharmacists conducted medication reviews after collecting patient information from prescriptions and patient interviewing, and then identified the DRPs and suggested PIs according to the Vi-Med tool. These DRPs and PIs were reviewed by other superior clinical pharmacists and a consensus meeting with 3 cardiologists. Results: Of 381 patients included, 344 (90.23%) experienced 1 or more DRPs. A total of 820 DRPs were identified with an average of 2.15 DRPs per patient and 415 (50.61%) were hypertension-related issues. The most common DRPs identified were "administration mode" (46.34%), "missing indication" (18.05%), "non-conformity indication" (17.80%), and "dosage" (11.95%). Comorbidity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.985, 95% CI: 1.597-9.942, P = 0.003) was the predictor of DRPs. Clinical pharmacists provided 739 PIs and 94.45% were accepted by physicians. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that DRPs were very common in hypertensive outpatients and highlighted the role of clinical pharmacists to identify and resolve DRPs through prompt interventions.

Modeling pressure drop values across ultra-thin nanofiber filters with various ranges of filtration parameters under an aerodynamic slip effect.

Computational fluid dynamics simulations of fibrous filters with 56 combinations of different fiber sizes, packing densities, face velocities, and thicknesses were conducted for developing models that predict pressure drops across nanofiber filters. The accuracy of the simulation method was confirmed by comparing the numerical pressure drops to the experimental data obtained for polyacrylonitrile electrospun nanofiber filters. In the simulations, an aerodynamic slip effect around the surface of the small nanofibers was considered. The results showed that, unlike in the case of conventional filtration theory, pressure drops across the thin layers of electrospun nanofiber filters are not proportional to the thickness. This might be a critical factor for obtaining precise pressure drops across the electrospun nanofiber filters with extremely thin layers. Finally, we derived the product of drag coefficient and Reynolds number as a function of packing density, Knudsen number, and ratio of thickness to fiber diameter to get the correlation equation for pressure drop prediction. The obtained equation predicted the pressure drops across the nanofiber filters with the maximum relative difference of less than 15%.

Sero-Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in High-Risk Populations in Vietnam.

As a response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Vietnam enforced strict quarantine, contact tracing and physical distancing policies resulting in one of the lowest numbers of individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) globally. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity among high-risk populations in Vietnam. A prevalence survey was undertaken within four communities in Vietnam, where at least two COVID-19 cases had been confirmed. Participants were classified according to the location of exposure: household contacts, close contacts, community members, and healthcare workers (HCWs) responsible for treating COVID-19 cases. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire and SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were quantified using a commercial assay. A total of 3049 community members and 149 health care workers consented to the study. Among 13 individuals who were seropositive (0.4%), five household contacts (5/27, 18.5%), one close contact (1/53, 1.9%), and seven community members (7/2954, 0.2%) had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. All HCWs were negative for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Participants were tested a median of 15.1 (interquartile range from 14.9 to 15.2) weeks after exposure. Our study found a low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in high-risk communities and healthcare workers in communities in Vietnam with known COVID-19 cases.

Early Essential Newborn Care can still be used with mothers who have COVID-19 if effective infection control measures are applied.

We describe the first infant born to a woman with COVID-19 in Vietnam, by Caesarean section at 36 weeks and 5 days of gestation. The mother and baby remained together during their hospital stay and prolonged skin-to-skin contact and early and exclusive breastfeeding were achieved. This was in line with the World Health Organization's Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) recommendations, the national Vietnamese standard of care since 2014. The baby remained virus-free throughout the 34-day postpartum follow-up. CONCLUSION: The EENC approach can still be used with mothers who have COVID-19 if effective infection control measures are applied.