Deep Characterization of SARS-CoV-2: An Overview

The coronavirus epidemic has become one of the major health concerns all over the world recently. Like other strains of coronavirus, this strain also spreads through a droplet-based transmission that is the main cause of its worldwide spread. Several trials of antiviral medicines related to the control of the virus have already begun globally but still one of the main problems is the lack of a viable treatment option. An extensive amount of research is still taking place to organize the data associated with genomics and proteomics of its original strain SARS-CoV-2 alongside other mutant strains. This review summarizes the related up-to-date research that is going on the structural organization of the genome and proteome of the virus. *Corresponding Author: Ehsan Ul Haq; Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Please cite this article as: Ul Haq E. Deep Characterization of SARS-CoV-2: An Overview. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2021;7:1-6 (e2). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v7.3361

An auto-titrating (intelligent) oxygen system in patients with chronic respiratory failure

Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) improves survival in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic hypoxaemia with international guidelines recommending LTOT for patients with chronic hypoxaemia secondary to respiratory failure. LTOT is prescribed at a fixed-flow rate aiming to maintain the partial pressure of oxygen ≥8 kilopascals or oxygen saturations (SpO2) >90% at rest. However, many patients on domiciliary LTOT continue to experience episodes of intermittent hypoxia (SpO2 <90%) during rest, exercise, activities of daily living (ADL) and sleep with the potentially harmful consequences of arrhythmias, ischaemic heart disease, transient increases in pulmonary pressures and reduced cerebral oxygenation. The aim of this thesis was to explore whether a novel smartphone based auto-titrating oxygen system (the intelligent oxygen therapy system [iO2Ts]), could reduce intermittent hypoxia by delivering variable flow oxygen to maintain a pre-set SpO2 target during various activities which typically take place over a period of 24 hours. In the first study, the iO2Ts significantly reduced intermittent hypoxia compared to ambulatory oxygen in patients with COPD on LTOT during a 6-minute walk test (6MWT). The second study showed that the iO2Ts is equivalent to ambulatory oxygen in reducing intermittent hypoxia during a 6MWT in patients with interstitial lung disease (a group of patients who rapidly desaturate on exercise). The third study showed that the iO2Ts reduced intermittent hypoxia during ADL in patients on LTOT compared to usual LTOT. In a fourth pilot study, the iO2Ts maintained oxygenation as well as usual LTOT and did not change transcutaneous carbon dioxide levels compared to LTOT during sleep. In summary, this thesis has shown that the iO2Ts can reduced intermittent hypoxia in patients on LTOT during various activities which typically take place over 24 hours. The reduction in intermittent hypoxia could optimise domiciliary and ambulatory oxygen for patients on LTOT.Open Acces

H1N1 Influenza Virus (Swine Flu): A Comprehensive Insight into Escalating Catch-22 Scenarios

Introduction: Viruses have always been a major cause of various disastrous pandemics in mankind’s history. H1N1 became a threat when its original strain was first discovered back in the swine flu pandemic of 2009. It became highly catastrophic on a large scale because none of the therapeutic interventions and methodologies that were already present at the time were effective against the virus. Methods: A vast amount of literature and research is available regarding H1N1 influenza from different reputable sources online. The data was gathered following the contrasting and relative situations of 1918 as well as the 2009 pandemic in mind. The overall extracted material provides comprehensive insights into the ups and downs of H1N1 influenza from 1918 up to 2009. Results: H1N1 virus comprises of a huge potential to cause a pandemic of Influenza type A. The illness caused by the virus has a varying degree of severity depending on the immune function of the individual being under attack. The virus exploits droplet-based transmission mode for its spread from one host to another. The major center of escalation of the subtypes of virus mostly originates from different avian and swine species. Most notably subtypes H9N2 and H5N1 of influenza A, which aren’t easily transmissible among humans. Furthermore, the droplet-based transmission takes comparably less time to infect a population of thousands if not millions. This ultimately increases the overall death toll by several folds by initiating a constant wave of pro-inflammatory cytokine release among affected hosts. Conclusions: Since its discovery in 2009, researchers have developed antiviral drugs and vaccines to fight the virus, most of which have proven to be very successful in treating the interconnected complications. The present-day strategies are only efficacious until the current strains of influenza A do not produce resistance against these drugs. All the therapeutic techniques and methodologies that have been developed to confront the virus up until now have been described in this ample review

Some novel schemes by using multiplicative calculus for nonlinear equations

This research is supported by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.In this paper, we suggest and analyze a new family of two-step predictor corrector type iterative schemes for solving nonlinear equations in the framework of multiplicative calculus. We also discuss the convergence criteria of these newly developed iterative methods. Some numerical examples will be given to illustrate the efficiency and performance of derived methods.Publisher's Versio

Numerical Solution and Analysis for Acute and Chronic Hepatitis B

In this article, we present the transmission dynamic of the acute and chronic hepatitis B epidemic problem to control the spread of hepatitis B in a community. In order to do this, first we present sensitivity analysis of the basic reproduction number R0. We develop a unconditionally convergent nonstandard finite difference scheme by applying Mickens approach φ(h) = h + O(h^2) instead of h to control the spread of this infection, treatment and vaccination to minimize the number of acute infected, chronically infected with hepatitis B individuals and maximize the number of susceptible and recovered individuals. The stability analysis of the scheme has been developed by theorems which shows the both stable locally and globally. Comparison is also made with standard nonstandard finite difference scheme. Finally numerical simulations are also established to investigate the influence of the system parameter on the spread of the disease

ARHITEKTONSKE SLOŽENOSTI I MORFOLOŠKE VARIJACIJE SEDIMENTNIH VALOVA PLIO-PLEISTOCENSKIH KANALA U DELTI INDA

The architecture of the turbidity current sediment waves exhibits intricate morphologies and patterns on the Indus Fan channel levee backslope. The sediment waves are present on the channel levee of Plio-Pleistocene age and are absent in the deeper sections of the study area. The architecture of channel levee backslope on the Indus Fan is poorly understood. We used seismic interpretation techniques and modelling by utilizing high-resolution seismic data to approach this problem. The morphological variations in wavelength, crest dimensions and potential wave formation patterns suggest the autogenic and allogenic processes associated with wave development. Wavelengths reach up to 1473 m with an average of 486.84 m and the height of the levee ranges between 10 m and 60 m (average 30 m). The angle of the channel levee and dimension of the sediment wave here are independent of each other. Low angle levees have accommodated high dimension sediment waves and vice versa at multiple points downslope. Characteristically, the waves have formed on the outer levee (usually left) of the channels marked by steep margins suggesting that flow overspill caused the development of the waves. Generally, the younger sediment waves followed the patterns of older sediment waves, but the varying trends are often observed in the study area. The patterns of the sediment waves towards the younger sections of the levee indicate the modified and varying architectural style of growth. Sediment waves are generated by downslope turbidity currents. However, the deformation features have also possibly triggered the development of sediment waves.Arhitektura sedimentnih valova nastalih uslijed turbiditnih struja pokazuje zamršenu morfologiju i obrasce unutar kanala i njihovih rubova u prostoru deltne lepeze Inda. Tragovi taloženja energijom valova prisutni su u plio-pleistocenskim kanalima i oko njih, no izostaju u dubljim dijelovima istraživanoga područja. Arhitektura rubova kanala u delti Inda do sada nije bila detaljno opisana. U istraživanju ovoga problema korištene su seizmičke metode i modeliranje podataka visoke razlučivosti. Morfološke varijacije u duljinama valova, dimenzijama kresta i potencijalnim obrascima stvaranja valova upućuju na autogene i alogene procese povezane s razvojem valova. Dujine valova dosežu do 1473 m s prosjekom od 486,84 m, a visina se kreće između 10 m i 60 m (prosječno 30 m). Kut rubova kanala i dimenzija vala u ovome slučaju bili su neovisni jedno o drugome. Mali kut omogućio je na nekoliko točaka u nižim dijelovima akomodiranje valova velikih dimenzija i obrnuto. Karakteristični valovi nastajali su na vanjskome dijelu nasipa kanala (obično lijevome) sa strmim rubovima, što upućuje na to da je njihovo prelijevanje utjecalo na energiju. Općenito, mlađi valni sedimenti slijedili su obrasce starijih, ali se ponekad može uočiti i promjena trenda. Obrasci valnih taložina u mlađim naslagama rubova upućuju na promjenu, pa i inverziju oblika. Općenito su valni sedimenti posljedica aktivnosti turbiditnih struja u podnožju rubova kanala, a i njihov nastanak vrlo je usko povezan s deformacijskim strukturama

Envisioning an Inclusive Metaverse: Student Perspectives on Accessible and Empowering Metaverse-Enabled Learning

The emergence of the metaverse is being widely viewed as a revolutionary technology owing to a myriad of factors, particularly the potential to increase the accessibility of learning for students with disabilities. However, not much is yet known about the views and expectations of disabled students in this regard. The fact that the metaverse is still in its nascent stage exemplifies the need for such timely discourse. To bridge this important gap, we conducted a series of semi-structured interviews with 56 university students with disabilities in the United States and Hong Kong to understand their views and expectations concerning the future of metaverse-driven education. We have distilled student expectations into five thematic categories, referred to as the REEPS framework: Recognition, Empowerment, Engagement, Privacy, and Safety. Additionally, we have summarized the main design considerations in eight concise points. This paper is aimed at helping technology developers and policymakers plan ahead of time and improving the experiences of students with disabilities.Comment: This paper has been accepted for presentation at the L@S 2023 conference. The version provided here is the pre-print manuscrip