SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Star-Shaped Coils in the Transmitter Array for Receiver Rotation Tolerance in Free-Moving Wireless Power Transfer Applications

Wireless power is one of the new promising technologies for IoT applications. The use of arrays for power transfer to free-moving objects has revolutionized wireless power transmission (WPT) applications. Herein, we present an extendable platform for transmitting power to a moving object receiving power from an array. The transmitter (TX) consists of two overlapping layers of square planar coils rotated 45 degrees to each other to provide the best electromagnetic flux coverage. Each layer consists of four coils to further control the power supply to the small receiver (RX) coil. This overlapping star-shaped array is stimulated automatically by a power amplifier. This smart stimulation can deliver uniform power to the receiver regardless of rotation and misalignment inconsistencies by using the geometry of the transmitter array. Moreover, by changing the direction of the current of each small square component in each array using the flower-shaped current, a receiver coil perpendicular to the transmitter’s plate can obtain power comparable with conventional structures. We use ADS-HFSS simulation to verify the fabrication and measurement results. The proposed transmitter achieves an average of 18.2% power transfer efficiency (PTE) to RX and at 90° angular misalignment, 11.5% PTE, while the conventional structure transfers no power to the perpendicular RX coil. A future application of the transmitter can be the investigation of the neurobehavioral of free-moving animals and brain–machine interface studies in medicine

Using Overlapped Resonators in Wireless Power Transfer for Uniform Electromagnetic Field and Removing Blank Spots in Free Moving Applications

We propose an induction link based on overlapping arrays to eliminate blank spots on the electromagnetic field for moving object applications. We use two arrays of four aligned coils that have a 50% overlap between the two plates. This mechanism compensates for the internal coil power drop at positions in the boundaries between two adjacent external coils. We showed that if these plates are excited, a uniform electromagnetic field is created in the movement direction of the moving object. This uniform electromagnetic field distribution will result in a constant receiving power at all points in the path of the moving internal coil with the same power consumption of one coil excitation. Power delivery to the moving object tolerance reaches 10% at most, while, in non-overlapped scenarios, it is approximately 50%. In addition, according to the theoretical calculations, printed circuit coils (PCB) for the array are designed for maximum efficiency. We found that the change in distance and dimensions of the receiver coil has a linear effect on power and efficiency. Moreover, a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) simulation was performed for biocompatibility. In this paper, we investigate and record a 68% electrical power efficiency for the fabricated system. The array consists of eight transmitters coils of the same size and shape and a receiver coil at a distance of 4 cm. Furthermore, the fabricated coil has shown improved efficiency compared to similar studies in the literature and introduces a promising structure for bio-test applications

Star-Shaped Coils in the Transmitter Array for Receiver Rotation Tolerance in Free-Moving Wireless Power Transfer Applications

Wireless power is one of the new promising technologies for IoT applications. The use of arrays for power transfer to free-moving objects has revolutionized wireless power transmission (WPT) applications. Herein, we present an extendable platform for transmitting power to a moving object receiving power from an array. The transmitter (TX) consists of two overlapping layers of square planar coils rotated 45 degrees to each other to provide the best electromagnetic flux coverage. Each layer consists of four coils to further control the power supply to the small receiver (RX) coil. This overlapping star-shaped array is stimulated automatically by a power amplifier. This smart stimulation can deliver uniform power to the receiver regardless of rotation and misalignment inconsistencies by using the geometry of the transmitter array. Moreover, by changing the direction of the current of each small square component in each array using the flower-shaped current, a receiver coil perpendicular to the transmitter’s plate can obtain power comparable with conventional structures. We use ADS-HFSS simulation to verify the fabrication and measurement results. The proposed transmitter achieves an average of 18.2% power transfer efficiency (PTE) to RX and at 90° angular misalignment, 11.5% PTE, while the conventional structure transfers no power to the perpendicular RX coil. A future application of the transmitter can be the investigation of the neurobehavioral of free-moving animals and brain–machine interface studies in medicine.Electronic Components, Technology and Material

Environmental Factors that Impact the Workplace Participation of Transition-Aged Young Adults with Brain-Based Disabilities: A Scoping Review

Workplace participation of individuals with disabilities continues to be a challenge. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) places importance on the environment in explaining participation in different life domains, including work. A scoping review was conducted to investigate environmental facilitators and barriers relevant to workplace participation for transition-aged young adults aged 18–35 with brain-based disabilities. Studies published between 1995 and 2018 were screened by two reviewers. Findings were categorized into the ICF’s environmental domains: Products and technology/Natural environment and human-made changes to environment, Support and relationships, Attitudes, and Services, systems and policies. Out of 11,515 articles screened, 31 were retained. All environmental domains of the ICF influenced workplace participation. The majority of the studies (77%) highlighted factors in the Services, systems and policies domain such as inclusive and flexible systems, and well-defined policies exercised at the organizational level. Social support mainly from family, friends, employers and colleagues was reported as a facilitator (68%), followed by physical accessibility and finally, the availability of assistive technology (55%). Attitudes of colleagues and employers were mostly seen as a barrier to workplace participation (48%). Findings can inform the development of guidelines and processes for implementing and reinforcing policies, regulations and support at the organization level

Using Overlapped Resonators in Wireless Power Transfer for Uniform Electromagnetic Field and Removing Blank Spots in Free Moving Applications

We propose an induction link based on overlapping arrays to eliminate blank spots on the electromagnetic field for moving object applications. We use two arrays of four aligned coils that have a 50% overlap between the two plates. This mechanism compensates for the internal coil power drop at positions in the boundaries between two adjacent external coils. We showed that if these plates are excited, a uniform electromagnetic field is created in the movement direction of the moving object. This uniform electromagnetic field distribution will result in a constant receiving power at all points in the path of the moving internal coil with the same power consumption of one coil excitation. Power delivery to the moving object tolerance reaches 10% at most, while, in non-overlapped scenarios, it is approximately 50%. In addition, according to the theoretical calculations, printed circuit coils (PCB) for the array are designed for maximum efficiency. We found that the change in distance and dimensions of the receiver coil has a linear effect on power and efficiency. Moreover, a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) simulation was performed for biocompatibility. In this paper, we investigate and record a 68% electrical power efficiency for the fabricated system. The array consists of eight transmitters coils of the same size and shape and a receiver coil at a distance of 4 cm. Furthermore, the fabricated coil has shown improved efficiency compared to similar studies in the literature and introduces a promising structure for bio-test applications.Electronic Components, Technology and Material

Characteristics, antimicrobial capacity, and antioxidant potential of electrospun zein/polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers containing thymoquinone and electrosprayed resveratrol nanoparticles

The aim of the present study was to fabricate, characterize, and evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of zein/polyvinyl alcohol (ZN/PVA) nanofibers containing 2% and 4% of thymoquinone (TQ), either alone or in combination with electrosprayed ZN nanoparticles containing 1% and 2% of resveratrol (RS). According to scanning electron microscopy analysis, the diameter of nanofibers and nanoparticles increased with increasing TQ and RS concentrations, respectively. The molecular interaction between ZN or PVA polymers and TQ or RS was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermal stability of nanofibers did not change with the addition of TQ and RS. Moreover, incorporation of TQ in nanofibers along with RS nanoparticles increased their antibacterial and free radical scavenging activities based on broth dilution and DPPH methods, respectively (p ≤ .05). Escherichia coli O157:H7 (as a Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria) was more resistant to all treatments than Staphylococcus aureus (as a Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria). In addition, the combined use of TQ in nanofibers and RS nanoparticles had antagonistic antibacterial and synergistic antioxidant effects. The best results were obtained with ZN/PVA nanofiber containing 4% TQ and electrosprayed with 2% RS nanoparticles (p ≤ .05). According to the results of the present study, biodegradable ZN/PVA nanofiber containing TQ and electrosprayed with RS nanoparticles can be used as a novel active packaging material in the food industry