Progress and perspectives on carbon-based materials for adsorptive removal and photocatalytic degradation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (also known as 'forever chemicals') have emerged as trace pollutants of global concern, attributing to their persistent and bio-accumulative nature, pervasive distribution, and adverse public health and environmental impacts. The unregulated discharge of PFAS into aquatic environments represents a prominent threat to the wellbeing of humans and marine biota, thereby exhorting unprecedented action to tackle PFAS contamination. Indeed, several noteworthy technologies intending to remove PFAS from environmental compartments have been intensively evaluated in recent years. Amongst them, adsorption and photocatalysis demonstrate remarkable ability to eliminate PFAS from different water matrices. In particular, carbon-based materials, because of their diverse structures and many exciting properties, offer bountiful opportunities as both adsorbent and photocatalyst, for the efficient abatement of PFAS. This review, therefore, presents a comprehensive summary of the diverse array of carbonaceous materials, including biochar, activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, that can serve as ideal candidates in adsorptive and photocatalytic treatment of PFAS contaminated water. Specifically, the efficacy of carbon-mediated PFAS removal via adsorption and photocatalysis is summarised, together with a cognizance of the factors influencing the treatment efficiency. The review further highlights the neoteric development on the novel innovative approach 'concentrate and degrade' that integrates selective adsorption of trace concentrations of PFAS onto photoactive surface sites, with enhanced catalytic activity. This technique is way more energy efficient than conventional energy-intensive photocatalysis. Finally, the review speculates the cardinal challenges associated with the practical utility of carbon-based materials, including their scalability and economic feasibility, for eliminating exceptionally stable PFAS from water matrices.

Geographical and practical challenges in the implementation of digital health passports for cross-border COVID-19 pandemic management: a narrative review and framework for solutions.

The rapid global spread of infectious diseases, epitomized by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, has highlighted the critical need for effective cross-border pandemic management strategies. Digital health passports (DHPs), which securely store and facilitate the sharing of critical health information, including vaccination records and test results, have emerged as a promising solution to enable safe travel and access to essential services and economic activities during pandemics. However, the implementation of DHPs faces several significant challenges, both related to geographical disparities and practical considerations, necessitating a comprehensive approach for successful global adoption. In this narrative review article, we identify and elaborate on the critical geographical and practical barriers that hinder global adoption and the effective utilization of DHPs. Geographical barriers are complex, encompassing disparities in vaccine access, regulatory inconsistencies, differences across countries in data security and users' privacy policies, challenges related to interoperability and standardization, and inadequacies in technological infrastructure and limited access to digital technologies. Practical challenges include the possibility of vaccine contraindications and breakthrough infections, uncertainties surrounding natural immunity, and limitations of standard tests in assessing infection risk. To address geographical disparities and enhance the functionality and interoperability of DHPs, we propose a framework that emphasizes international collaboration to achieve equitable access to vaccines and testing resources. Furthermore, we recommend international cooperation to establish unified vaccine regulatory frameworks, adopting globally accepted standards for data privacy and protection, implementing interoperability protocols, and taking steps to bridge the digital divide. Addressing practical challenges requires a meticulous approach to assessing individual risk and augmenting DHP implementation with rigorous health screenings and personal infection prevention measures. Collectively, these initiatives contribute to the development of robust and inclusive cross-border pandemic management strategies, ultimately promoting a safer and more interconnected global community in the face of current and future pandemics.

A review of the challenges, learnings and future directions of home handheld spirometry in interstitial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) require regular physician visits and referral to specialist ILD clinics. Difficulties or delays in accessing care can limit opportunities to monitor disease trajectory and response to treatment, and the COVID-19 pandemic has added to these challenges. Therefore, home monitoring technologies, such as home handheld spirometry, have gained increased attention as they may help to improve access to care for patients with ILD. However, while several studies have shown that home handheld spirometry in ILD is acceptable for most patients, data from clinical trials are not sufficiently robust to support its use as a primary endpoint. This review discusses the challenges that were encountered with handheld spirometry across three recent ILD studies, which included home spirometry as a primary endpoint, and highlights where further optimisation and research into home handheld spirometry in ILD is required. Rate of decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) as measured by daily home handheld spirometry versus site spirometry was of primary interest in three recently completed studies: STARLINER (NCT03261037), STARMAP and a Phase II study of pirfenidone in progressive fibrosing unclassifiable ILD (NCT03099187). Unanticipated practical and technical issues led to problems with estimating FVC decline. In all three studies, cross-sectional correlations for home handheld versus site spirometry were strong/moderate at baseline and later timepoints, but longitudinal correlations were weak. Other issues observed with the home handheld spirometry data included: high within-patient variability in home handheld FVC measurements; implausible longitudinal patterns in the home handheld spirometry data that were not reflected in site spirometry; and extreme estimated rates of FVC change. CONCLUSIONS: Home handheld spirometry in ILD requires further optimisation and research to ensure accurate and reliable FVC measurements before it can be used as an endpoint in clinical trials. Refresher training, automated alerts of problems and FVC changes, and patient support could help to overcome some practical issues. Despite the challenges, there is value in incorporating home handheld spirometry into clinical practice, and the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the potential for home monitoring technologies to help improve access to care for patients with ILD.

Altas habilidades/superdotação e ambiente escolar: uma revisão de literatura / High abilities/giftedness and school environment: A bibliographic review

Estudos realizados na literatura brasileira mostram o crescimento do número das produções de artigos e pesquisas referentes às crianças com altas habilidades/superdotação no contexto escolar. Este artigo trata-se de uma revisão de literatura de produções em plataformas digitais e, posteriormente, analisados e discutidos, com o intuito de agrupar informações científicas existentes sobre a temática e compreender quais são as lacunas existentes no processo de desenvolvimento das habilidades dessas crianças. Constata-se a existência de barreiras nas relações que permeiam o público pesquisado, principalmente quando se mencionam as interações no ambiente escolar. Pela análise dos resultados, pode-se concluir que os estereótipos e os mitos vinculados às crianças com altas habilidades influenciam na aprendizagem e em suas interações.

The Brazilian literature shows an increase in the number of studies and scientific research on children with high abilities/giftedness in the school context. This paper presents a bibliographic review of research founded in digital platforms, and afterwards, analyzed and discussed in the aim of grouping scientific information to extend the current knowledge on this theme and to understand the missing parts in the development of the abilities of this public. Furthermore, it is verified that these children present difficulties in their social interaction, mostly, in school. These results suggest that the stereotypes and the common sense attached to high abilities' children have influences in their learning and social interactions.

Gambling with COVID-19 Makes More Sense: Ethical and Practical Challenges in COVID-19 Responses in Communalistic Resource-Limited Africa.

Informed by evidence from past studies and experiences with epidemics, an intervention combining quarantine, lockdowns, curfews, social distancing, and washing of hands has been adopted as "international best practice" in COVID-19 response. With massive total lockdowns complemented by electronic surveillance, China successfully controlled the pandemic in country within a few months. But would this work for Africa and other communalistic resource-poor settings where social togetherness translates to effective sharing of basic needs? What ethical and practical challenges would this pose? How would communalism be translated in special contexts to be useful in contributing to the ultimate common good? This paper uses examples from the current situation of COVID-19 in Kenya to address these questions.

Computer-assisted brain surgery (neuronavigation) in Abuja, North Central Nigeria: A 3-year retrospective review and practical challenges.

INTRODUCTION: Neuronavigation has become a standard of care in contemporary neurosurgery since more than two decades and is gradually being embraced in our local practice. It is, therefore, important to share our local experience, including practical challenges encountered with this technology. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to review and present our early experience with stealth neuronavigation and to discuss the practical challenges encountered with the application of this technology in this environment. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective review of all consecutive cases over a 3-year period (January 2016-December 2018). Admitting diagnosis, operations, histological diagnosis, adjuvant treatments and 6 months outcome were the major study parameters. Procedural challenges were also highlighted. Data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics, and results were presented in tables and figures. RESULTS: A total of 30 procedures were conducted. Nineteen males and 11 females (male: female = 1.7:1). Youngest was 8 months, oldest was 71 years, mean = 39 and standard deviation (SD) = 19.3. Operations performed were resection of mass lesion 18/30 (60%) and biopsy of mass lesion in 12/30 (40%) cases. Histological diagnostic yield was 100%. Mean duration of hospital stay was 2 days (SD = 0.25) for the biopsy group and 8 days (SD = 1.7) for the resection group. At 6 months review, 10/30 (33.3%) have died following progression and/or complications of their primary pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Wide spectrum of brain lesions were approached confidently with precision and minimal morbidity. No procedure-related mortality was recorded. Adjuvant treatments were easily deployed in line with a precise histological diagnosis. Practical challenges did not compromise the navigation process.

Practical challenges in conducting respiratory studies.

Respiratory studies are complex on account of specific therapeutic knowledge that is needed and various instruments that are used for the management of this condition. Monitoring a respiratory study requires knowledge of the specific disease and associated guidelines. The intent of this article is to help clinical research professionals understand the technicalities, challenges, and the nuances of performing respiratory studies.