Elevated IFNA1 and suppressed IL12p40 associated with persistent hyperinflammation in COVID-19 pneumonia

IntroductionDespite of massive endeavors to characterize inflammation in COVID-19 patients, the core network of inflammatory mediators responsible for severe pneumonia stillremain remains elusive. MethodsHere, we performed quantitative and kinetic analysis of 191 inflammatory factors in 955 plasma samples from 80 normal controls (sample n = 80) and 347 confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia patients (sample n = 875), including 8 deceased patients. ResultsDifferential expression analysis showed that 76% of plasmaproteins (145 factors) were upregulated in severe COVID-19 patients comparedwith moderate patients, confirming overt inflammatory responses in severe COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Global correlation analysis of the plasma factorsrevealed two core inflammatory modules, core I and II, comprising mainly myeloid cell and lymphoid cell compartments, respectively, with enhanced impact in a severity-dependent manner. We observed elevated IFNA1 and suppressed IL12p40, presenting a robust inverse correlation in severe patients, which was strongly associated with persistent hyperinflammation in 8.3% of moderate pneumonia patients and 59.4% of severe patients. DiscussionAberrant persistence of pulmonary and systemic inflammation might be associated with long COVID-19 sequelae. Our comprehensive analysis of inflammatory mediators in plasmarevealed the complexity of pneumonic inflammation in COVID-19 patients anddefined critical modules responsible for severe pneumonic progression

Design and Fabrication of a Rotating Cylinder Valve Internal Combustion Engine

This project aims to design, prototype, manufacture, and analyze a rotating cylinder valve (RCV) engine. The RCV engine is an internal combustion engine which forgoes a traditional valvetrain and camshafts, instead using a rotating valve attached to the cylinder. This design offers advantages in efficiency, power output, and emissions control. The project includes three main phases, conceptual design and simulation, prototype development, and performance evaluation. The history of this engine and its operating principles are introduced, followed by an analysis of operation. A new, larger 1.6 cubic inch RCV engine is then designed and manufactured, and plans are made for testing and evaluation

DEP GIS Mapping Effectiveness

Abstract Water and sewer utilities across the country are struggling with aging infrastructure. Simultaneously, climate change is causing more extremes in temperature as well as increasing frequency and strength of storms. As a result, water and sewer systems are increasingly susceptible to damage. The use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) has become an important tool for both water and sewer utilities to manage their systems and increase preparedness for climate change. Our project sponsored by The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection evaluated the work done through the Water Utility Resilience Program. This program provided water utilities with Geographic Information System data and training done by Tighe & Bond. We found water utilities need assistance training GIS staff