scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers by "Kent State University published in 2020"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The challenges in AB fundamental research are presented, focusing on the design of advanced materials and practical applications of whole devices, and a roadmap starting with material design and ending with the commercialization of next-generation reliable ABs is provided.
Abstract: Safety concerns about organic media-based batteries are the key public arguments against their widespread usage. Aqueous batteries (ABs), based on water which is environmentally benign, provide a promising alternative for safe, cost-effective, and scalable energy storage, with high power density and tolerance against mishandling. Research interests and achievements in ABs have surged globally in the past 5 years. However, their large-scale application is plagued by the limited output voltage and inadequate energy density. We present the challenges in AB fundamental research, focusing on the design of advanced materials and practical applications of whole devices. Potential interactions of the challenges in different AB systems are established. A critical appraisal of recent advances in ABs is presented for addressing the key issues, with special emphasis on the connection between advanced materials and emerging electrochemistry. Last, we provide a roadmap starting with material design and ending with the commercialization of next-generation reliable ABs.

847 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The approaches described include restoring oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, increasing insulin sensitivity, correcting mitochondrial dysfunction, ketone-based interventions, acting via hormones that modulate cerebral energetics, RNA therapeutics and complementary multimodal lifestyle changes.
Abstract: The brain requires a continuous supply of energy in the form of ATP, most of which is produced from glucose by oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, complemented by aerobic glycolysis in the cytoplasm. When glucose levels are limited, ketone bodies generated in the liver and lactate derived from exercising skeletal muscle can also become important energy substrates for the brain. In neurodegenerative disorders of ageing, brain glucose metabolism deteriorates in a progressive, region-specific and disease-specific manner — a problem that is best characterized in Alzheimer disease, where it begins presymptomatically. This Review discusses the status and prospects of therapeutic strategies for countering neurodegenerative disorders of ageing by improving, preserving or rescuing brain energetics. The approaches described include restoring oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, increasing insulin sensitivity, correcting mitochondrial dysfunction, ketone-based interventions, acting via hormones that modulate cerebral energetics, RNA therapeutics and complementary multimodal lifestyle changes. Accumulating evidence indicates that impaired glucose metabolism in the brain is involved in the cause and progression of neurodegenerative disorders of ageing such as Alzheimer disease. This Review discusses the status and prospects of therapeutic strategies for countering neurodegenerative disorders of ageing by rescuing, protecting or normalizing brain energetics.

369 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
28 Apr 2020-Mbio
TL;DR: The types of tests available and how they might be useful in the face of a rapidly changing and never-before-experienced situation are explained.
Abstract: As we enter the second quarter of the COVID-19 pandemic, with testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS–CoV-2) increasingly available (though still limited and/or slow in some areas), we are faced with new questions and challenges regarding this novel virus. When to test? Whom to test? What to test? How often to test? And, what to do with test results? Since SARS–CoV-2 is a new virus, there is little evidence to fall back on for test utilization and diagnostic stewardship (1). Several points need to be considered to begin answering of these questions; specifically, what types of tests are available and under which circumstances are they useful? This understanding can help guide the use of testing at the local, regional, state, and national levels and inform those assessing the supply chain to ensure that needed testing is and continues to be available. Here, we explain the types of tests available and how they might be useful in the face of a rapidly changing and never-before-experienced situation. There are two broad categories of SARS–CoV-2 tests: those that detect the virus itself and those that detect the host’s response to the virus. Each will be considered separately. We must recognize that we are dealing with (i) a new virus, (ii) an unprecedented pandemic in modern times, and (iii) uncharted territory. With this in mind, in the absence of either proven effective therapy or a vaccine, diagnostic testing, which we have, becomes an especially important tool, informing patient management and potentially helping to save lives by limiting the spread …

310 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present strategies for the design of alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts based on the current knowledge of the reaction mechanism by emphasizing the connection between the atomic-level materials engineering and reaction fundamentals.

272 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Ultrafast spectroscopy has further proved that CuNx can greatly improve in-plane and interlayer separation/transfer of charge carriers and in turn boost the photocatalytic efficiency.
Abstract: Establishing highly effective charge transfer channels in carbon nitride (C3 N4 ) for enhancing its photocatalytic activity is still a challenging issue. Herein, for the first time, the engineering of C3 N4 layers with single-atom Cu bonded with compositional N (CuNx ) is demonstrated to address this challenge. The CuNx is formed by intercalation of chlorophyll sodium copper salt into a melamine-based supramolecular precursor followed by controlled pyrolysis. Two groups of CuNx are identified: in one group each of Cu atoms is bonded with three in-plane N atoms, while in the other group each of Cu atoms is bonded with four N atoms of two neighboring C3 N4 layers, thus forming both in-plane and interlayer charge transfer channels. Importantly, ultrafast spectroscopy has further proved that CuNx can greatly improve in-plane and interlayer separation/transfer of charge carriers and in turn boost the photocatalytic efficiency. Consequently, the catalyst exhibits a superior visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production rate (≈212 µmol h-1 /0.02 g catalyst), 30 times higher than that of bulk C3 N4 . Moreover, it leads to an outstanding conversion rate (92.3%) and selectivity (99.9%) for the oxidation of benzene under visible light.

268 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article synthesizes a growing body of evidence of fire-driven conversion and understanding of its causes across western North America and proposes key themes for applied research coproduced by scientists and managers to support decision-making in an era when the prefire forest may not return.
Abstract: Changing disturbance regimes and climate can overcome forest ecosystem resilience. Following high-severity fire, forest recovery may be compromised by lack of tree seed sources, warmer and drier postfire climate, or short-interval reburning. A potential outcome of the loss of resilience is the conversion of the prefire forest to a different forest type or nonforest vegetation. Conversion implies major, extensive, and enduring changes in dominant species, life forms, or functions, with impacts on ecosystem services. In the present article, we synthesize a growing body of evidence of fire-driven conversion and our understanding of its causes across western North America. We assess our capacity to predict conversion and highlight important uncertainties. Increasing forest vulnerability to changing fire activity and climate compels shifts in management approaches, and we propose key themes for applied research coproduced by scientists and managers to support decision-making in an era when the prefire forest may not return.

268 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide a well-timed and critical appraisal of recent advances in the engineering of TMDs at the atomic level for AMIBs, by combining computational and experimental approaches.
Abstract: In the past few decades, great effort has been made toward the preparation and development of advanced transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) materials for anodes of alkali metal ion batteries (AMIBs). However, their electrochemical performance is still severely impaired by structural aggregation and fracture during the conversion reaction. To address these issues, various methodologies for the fabrication of hierarchical and hybrid nanostructures, with optimization of materials and electrodes, have been fully investigated and reviewed. As regards tuning the TMD-based materials, extensive efforts have been undertaken toward optimization of their intrinsic structure at the atomic level, including surface defects, interlayer spacing expansion, phase control, alloying, and heteroatom doping. However, the design strategies and methods to manipulate the intrinsic structures and electrochemical mechanisms in AMIBs have not been fully summarized. This review provides a well-timed and critical appraisal of recent advances in the engineering of TMDs at the atomic level for AMIBs, by combining computational and experimental approaches. The correlation between these strategies and electrochemical performance is highlighted. The challenges and opportunities in this research field are also outlined. We expect that this review would be beneficial for improving the overall knowledge on the charge storage mechanisms in TMDs and for pointing out the importance of intrinsic structure engineering for enhancing the performance of TMDs in energy storage.

218 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The need for universities to offer services and programs to students that will minimize risk factors and maximize protective factors in order to reduce or prevent alcohol abuse during the coronavirus pandemic is highlighted.

211 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 2020-Nature
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that this catalytically generated PET catalyst facilitates several chemical reactions that typically require alkali metal reductants and can be used in other organic transformations that require dissolving metal reduCTants.
Abstract: Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) is a phenomenon whereby the absorption of light by a chemical species provides an energetic driving force for an electron-transfer reaction1-4. This mechanism is relevant in many areas of chemistry, including the study of natural and artificial photosynthesis, photovoltaics and photosensitive materials. In recent years, research in the area of photoredox catalysis has enabled the use of PET for the catalytic generation of both neutral and charged organic free-radical species. These technologies have enabled previously inaccessible chemical transformations and have been widely used in both academic and industrial settings. Such reactions are often catalysed by visible-light-absorbing organic molecules or transition-metal complexes of ruthenium, iridium, chromium or copper5,6. Although various closed-shell organic molecules have been shown to behave as competent electron-transfer catalysts in photoredox reactions, there are only limited reports of PET reactions involving neutral organic radicals as excited-state donors or acceptors. This is unsurprising because the lifetimes of doublet excited states of neutral organic radicals are typically several orders of magnitude shorter than the singlet lifetimes of known transition-metal photoredox catalysts7-11. Here we document the discovery, characterization and reactivity of a neutral acridine radical with a maximum excited-state oxidation potential of -3.36 volts versus a saturated calomel electrode, which is similarly reducing to elemental lithium, making this radical one of the most potent chemical reductants reported12. Spectroscopic, computational and chemical studies indicate that the formation of a twisted intramolecular charge-transfer species enables the population of higher-energy doublet excited states, leading to the observed potent photoreducing behaviour. We demonstrate that this catalytically generated PET catalyst facilitates several chemical reactions that typically require alkali metal reductants and can be used in other organic transformations that require dissolving metal reductants.

200 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that the ISG-type induction of dACE2 in IFN-high conditions created by treatments, an inflammatory tumor microenvironment or viral co-infections is unlikely to increase the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and promote infection.
Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) for entry into target cells. ACE2 has been proposed as an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG). Thus, interferon-induced variability in ACE2 expression levels could be important for susceptibility to COVID-19 or its outcomes. Here, we report the discovery of a novel, transcriptionally independent truncated isoform of ACE2, which we designate as deltaACE2 (dACE2). We demonstrate that dACE2, but not ACE2, is an ISG. In The Cancer Genome Atlas, the expression of dACE2 was enriched in squamous tumors of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. In vitro, dACE2, which lacks 356 amino-terminal amino acids, was non-functional in binding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and as a carboxypeptidase. Our results suggest that the ISG-type induction of dACE2 in IFN-high conditions created by treatments, an inflammatory tumor microenvironment or viral co-infections is unlikely to increase the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and promote infection.

198 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of recent evidence examining links between experiences of weight stigma and weight-related behaviors and health, including health consequences for individuals with heightened vulnerability to weight stigma, and implications for clinicians working with individuals who have obesity.
Abstract: Weight stigma is a key aspect of the lived experience of individuals with obesity, and adversely affects health. This article provides an overview of recent evidence examining links between experiences of weight stigma and weight-related behaviors and health (e.g., maladaptive eating, physical activity, stress, obesity, weight loss), including health consequences for individuals with heightened vulnerability to weight stigma (e.g., youth and people seeking bariatric surgery) and implications for clinicians working with individuals who have obesity. This literature points to weight stigma as a psychosocial contributor to obesogenic behaviors, yet the role of weight stigma in weight loss among treatment-seeking individuals has received little attention. Research priorities are identified, including the need for future studies to (a) determine the potentially predictive value of specific characteristics of weight-stigmatizing experiences for weight loss (such as the time period, interpersonal sources, and coping responses for stigma experiences), (b) identify mechanisms through which weight stigma may undermine or facilitate weight-related treatment outcomes, and (c) test strategies that can be implemented in weight management programs to reduce the negative impact of weight stigma on health behaviors. Broadly, more attention should be directed to weight stigma in the obesity field as a relevant psychosocial factor in obesity-focused prevention and treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The COVID-19 pandemic has created huge damage to society and brought panic around the world, and it becomes critical to have immunoassay based kits with high specificity to identify people who can safely return to society after their recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has created huge damage to society and brought panic around the world. Such panic can be ascribed to the seemingly deceptive features of COVID-19: Compared to other deadly viral outbreaks, it has medium transmission and mortality rates. As a result, the severity of the causative coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was deeply underestimated by society at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Based on this, in this review, we define the viruses with features similar to those of SARS-CoV-2 as the Panic Zone viruses. To contain those viruses, accurate and fast diagnosis followed by effective isolation and treatment of patients are pivotal at the early stage of virus breakouts. This is especially true when there is no cure or vaccine available for a transmissible disease, which is the case for the current COVID-19 pandemic. As of July 2020, more than 100 kits for COVID-19 diagnosis on the market have been surveyed in this review, while emerging sensing techniques for SARS-CoV-2 are also discussed. It is of critical importance to rationally use these kits for efficient management and control of the Panic Zone viruses. Therefore, we discuss guidelines to select diagnostic kits at different outbreak stages of the Panic Zone viruses, SARS-CoV-2 in particular. While it is of utmost importance to use nucleic acid based detection kits with low false negativity (high sensitivity) at the early stage of an outbreak, the low false positivity (high specificity) gains importance at later stages of the outbreak. When society is set to reopen from the lockdown stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, it becomes critical to have immunoassay based kits with high specificity to identify people who can safely return to society after their recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infections. Finally, since a massive attack from a viral pandemic requires a massive defense from the whole society, we urge both government and the private sector to research and develop affordable and reliable point-of-care testing (POCT) kits, which can be used massively by the general public (and therefore called massive POCT) to contain Panic Zone viruses in the future.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a 2D/2D Z-scheme photocatalyst formed by in situ growing CdS nanosheets on α-Fe2O3 nano-nodes was presented.
Abstract: Water splitting for hydrogen production on noble metal-free photocatalysts remains a big challenge. Herein, we present for the first time a 2-dimensional/2-dimensional (2D/2D) Z-scheme photocatalyst formed by in situ growing CdS nanosheets on α-Fe2O3 nanosheets. The former was additionally modified with metallic β-NiS cocatalyst, which creates a Ohmic-based heterojunction and functions as hydrogen-evolution sites. The resultant β-NiS-decorated CdS/α-Fe2O3 ultrathin 2D/2D heterojunction showed a remarkable hydrogen production rate of 45 mmol h−1 g−1 and a high quantum efficiency of 46.9 % at 420 nm. The excellent photocatalytic performance is attributed to: (1) intimate and large interfaces between CdS and α-Fe2O3 nanosheets for facilitated charge transfer, (2) promoted charge separation in the Z-scheme heterojunction, and (3) large quantity of Ohmic-junction hydrogen-evolution sites over metallic β-NiS cocatalyst. Overall, this work demonstrates a promising strategy for improving charge dynamics and hydrogen-production efficiency, through rational design and integration of multiple built-in electric fields over 2D semiconductor nanosheets.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Viewpoint discusses the benefits and potential limitations of using interferon lambda (IFN-λ, a type III interferons) to prevent, limit, and treat COVID-19.
Abstract: With the first reports on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the scientific community working in the field of type III IFNs (IFN-λ) realized that this class of IFNs could play an important role in this and other emerging viral infections. In this Viewpoint, we present our opinion on the benefits and potential limitations of using IFN-λ to prevent, limit, and treat these dangerous viral infections.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Experimental analysis and density functional theory calculations suggest Pv can weaken the hybridization of Ni 3d and P 2p orbitals, enriching the electron density of Ni and P atoms nearby Pv, facilitating H* desorption process, contributing to outstanding HER activity and facile kinetics.
Abstract: Vacancy engineering is an effective strategy to manipulate the electronic structure of electrocatalysts to improve their performance, but few reports focus on phosphorus vacancies (Pv). Herein, the creation of Pv in metal phosphides and investigation of their role in alkaline electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is presented. The Pv-modified catalyst requires a minimum onset potential of 0 mV vs. RHE, a small overpotential of 27.7 mV to achieve 10 mA cm-2 geometric current density and a Tafel slope of 30.88 mV dec-1 , even outperforms the Pt/C benchmark (32.7 mV@10 mA cm-2 and 30.90 mV dec-1 ). This catalyst also displays superior stability up to 504 hours without any decay. Experimental analysis and density functional theory calculations suggest Pv can weaken the hybridization of Ni 3d and P 2p orbitals, enrich the electron density of Ni and P atoms nearby Pv, and facilitate H* desorption process, contributing to outstanding HER activity and facile kinetics.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors highlight that many challenges continue to hinder digital technologies' adoption by small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies, while there are more success stories by SMEs in emergent economies.
Abstract: Many challenges continue to hinder digital technologies' adoption by small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies. Comparatively, there are more success stories by SMEs in emer...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Couples may benefit from psychoeducation that focuses on the effect of mental health problems on pregnant women and the foetus because of the actor-partner interdependence effect of fear of COVID-19.
Abstract: The present cross-sectional study examined the actor-partner interdependence effect of fear of COVID-19 among Iranian pregnant women and their husbands and its association with their mental health and preventive behaviours during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A total of 290 pregnant women and their husbands (N = 580) were randomly selected from a list of pregnant women in the Iranian Integrated Health System and were invited to respond to psychometric scales assessing fear of COVID-19, depression, anxiety, suicidal intention, mental quality of life, and COVID-19 preventive behaviours. The findings demonstrated significant dyadic relationships between husbands and their pregnant wives' fear of COVID-19, mental health, and preventive behaviours. Pregnant wives’ actor effect of fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with depression, suicidal intention, mental quality of life, and COVID-19 preventive behaviours but not anxiety. Moreover, a husband actor effect of fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with depression, anxiety, suicidal intention, mental quality of life, and COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Additionally, there were significant partner effects observed for both the pregnant wives and their husbands concerning all outcomes. The present study used a cross-sectional design and so is unable to determine the mechanism or causal ordering of the effects. Also, the data are mainly based on self-reported measures which have some limitations due to its potential for social desirability and recall biases. Based on the findings, couples may benefit from psychoeducation that focuses on the effect of mental health problems on pregnant women and the foetus.


Journal ArticleDOI
24 Sep 2020-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: Bangladeshis reported a high prevalence of self-isolation, positive preventive health habits and perception of fear towards COVID-19 in subjects living in Bangladesh, and moderate to high fear levels.
Abstract: The study aims to determine the level of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) related to COVID-19 preventive health habits and perception of fear towards COVID-19 in subjects living in Bangladesh. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional survey of (n = 2157) male and female subjects, 13–88 years of age, living in Bangladesh. Methods: Ethical approval and trial registration were obtained before the commencement of the study. Subjects who volunteered to participate and signed the informed consent were enrolled in the study and completed the structured questionnaire on KAP and Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S). Results: Twenty-eight percent (28.69%) of subjects reported one or more COVID-19 symptoms, and 21.4% of subjects reported one or more co-morbidities. Knowledge scores were slightly higher in males (8.75± 1.58) than females (8.66± 1.70). Knowledge was significantly correlated with age (p < .005), an education level (p < .001), attitude (p < .001), and urban location (p < .001). Knowledge scores showed an inverse correlation with fear scores (p < .001). Eighty-three percent (83.7%) of subjects with COVID-19 symptoms reported wearing a mask in public, and 75.4% of subjects reported staying away from crowded places. Subjects with one or more symptoms reported higher fear compared to subjects without (18.73± 4.6; 18.45± 5.1). Conclusion: Bangladeshis reported a high prevalence of self-isolation, positive preventive health behaviors related to COVID-19, and moderate to high fear levels. Higher knowledge and Practice were found in males, higher education levels, older age, and urban location. Fear of COVID-19 was more prevalent in female and elderly subjects. A positive attitude was reported for the majority of subjects, reflecting the belief that COVID-19 was controllable and containable.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2020
TL;DR: A system that restrict the growth of COVID-19 by finding out people who are not wearing any facial mask in a smart city network where all the public places are monitored with Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.
Abstract: COVID-19 pandemic caused by novel coronavirus is continuously spreading until now all over the world. The impact of COVID-19 has been fallen on almost all sectors of development. The healthcare system is going through a crisis. Many precautionary measures have been taken to reduce the spread of this disease where wearing a mask is one of them. In this paper, we propose a system that restrict the growth of COVID-19 by finding out people who are not wearing any facial mask in a smart city network where all the public places are monitored with Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras. While a person without a mask is detected, the corresponding authority is informed through the city network. A deep learning architecture is trained on a dataset that consists of images of people with and without masks collected from various sources. The trained architecture achieved 98.7% accuracy on distinguishing people with and without a facial mask for previously unseen test data. It is hoped that our study would be a useful tool to reduce the spread of this communicable disease for many countries in the world.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors investigated the relationships between grit, selfefficacy, achievement orientation goals, and academic performance in parallel and serial mediation models, and found that self-efficacy was correlated with academic performance.
Abstract: The current study investigated the relationships between grit, self-efficacy, achievement orientation goals, and academic performance in parallel and serial mediation models. University student par...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Female students with higher levels of SESRL experience a limited impact of online multitasking on GPA, resulting in better academic performance, suggesting that there was a significant indirect effect for female students only.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that the electrolyte con-sumption severely affects the cycling stability of Li metal anode, and the necessity to design LiMetal anodes under lean electrolyte conditions is demonstrated and brings the Li metal batteries a step closer to their practical applications.
Abstract: Lean-electrolyte conditions are highly pursued for practical lithium (Li) metal batteries. The previous studies on the Li metal anodes, in general, exhibited good stability with a large excess of e...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An improved and sound taxonomy for a set of key CD terms, namely, parametric, generative, and algorithmic design is proposed, based on an extensive literature review from which different definitions by various authors were collected, analyzed, and compared.
Abstract: Computation-based approaches in design have emerged in the last decades and rapidly became popular among architects and other designers. Design professionals and researchers adopted different terminologies to address these approaches. However, some terms are used ambiguously and inconsistently, and different terms are commonly used to express the same concept. This paper discusses computational design (CD) and proposes an improved and sound taxonomy for a set of key CD terms, namely, parametric, generative, and algorithmic design, based on an extensive literature review from which different definitions by various authors were collected, analyzed, and compared.

Posted ContentDOI
18 Jun 2020-medRxiv
TL;DR: Overall, Bangladeshis reported a high prevalence of self-isolation, positive preventive health behaviors related to COVID-19, and moderate to high fear levels.
Abstract: Objectives To determine the level of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) related to COVID-19 preventive health habits and perception of Fear towards COVID-19 in subjects living in Bangladesh Design Prospective, cross-sectional survey of (n= 2157) male and female subjects, 13-90 years of age, living in Bangladesh Methods Ethical Approval and Trial registration were obtained prior to the commencement of the study Subjects who volunteered to participate and signed the informed consent were enrolled in the study and completed the “Fear of COVID-19 Scale” (FCS) Results Twenty-eight percent (2869%) of subjects reported one or more COVID-19 symptoms and 214% of subjects reported one or more comorbidities Knowledge scores were slightly higher in males (875± 158) than females (866± 170) Knowledge was significantly correlated with age (p Conclusions Overall, Bangladeshis reported a high prevalence of self-isolation, positive preventive health behaviors related to COVID-19, and moderate to high fear levels Higher Knowledge and Practice were found in males, higher education levels, older age, and urban location “Fear” of COVID-19 was more prevalent in female and elderly subjects Positive “Attitude” was reported for the majority of subjects, reflecting the belief that COVID-19 was controllable and containable Ethical approval Ethical permission obtained from the Institutional review board (BPA-IPRR/IRB/29/03/2020/021) of Institute of Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation, and Research (IPRR), the academic organization of the Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association WHO Trial registry The trial registration obtained prospectively from a primary trial registry of WHO (CTRI/2020/04/024413) Data Availability The data are available regarding this study and can be viewed upon request

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Stability was associated more strongly with the degree of synchrony among dominant species than with species richness, which is consistent with theory predicting that the effect of richness on stability weakens when synchrony is higher than expected under random fluctuations, which was the case in most communities.
Abstract: The stability of ecological communities is critical for the stable provisioning of ecosystem services, such as food and forage production, carbon sequestration, and soil fertility. Greater biodiversity is expected to enhance stability across years by decreasing synchrony among species, but the drivers of stability in nature remain poorly resolved. Our analysis of time series from 79 datasets across the world showed that stability was associated more strongly with the degree of synchrony among dominant species than with species richness. The relatively weak influence of species richness is consistent with theory predicting that the effect of richness on stability weakens when synchrony is higher than expected under random fluctuations, which was the case in most communities. Land management, nutrient addition, and climate change treatments had relatively weak and varying effects on stability, modifying how species richness, synchrony, and stability interact. Our results demonstrate the prevalence of biotic drivers on ecosystem stability, with the potential for environmental drivers to alter the intricate relationship among richness, synchrony, and stability.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An approach to produce cell monolayers of human dermal fibroblasts with predesigned orientational patterns and topological defects using a photoaligned liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) that swells anisotropically in an aqueous medium is demonstrated.
Abstract: Eukaryotic cells in living tissues form dynamic patterns with spatially varying orientational order that affects important physiological processes such as apoptosis and cell migration. The challenge is how to impart a predesigned map of orientational order onto a growing tissue. Here, we demonstrate an approach to produce cell monolayers of human dermal fibroblasts with predesigned orientational patterns and topological defects using a photoaligned liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) that swells anisotropically in an aqueous medium. The patterns inscribed into the LCE are replicated by the tissue monolayer and cause a strong spatial variation of cells phenotype, their surface density, and number density fluctuations. Unbinding dynamics of defect pairs intrinsic to active matter is suppressed by anisotropic surface anchoring allowing the estimation of the elastic characteristics of the tissues. The demonstrated patterned LCE approach has potential to control the collective behavior of cells in living tissues, cell differentiation, and tissue morphogenesis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Diseases are increasing in scope and scale with urban populations growing, climate change providing newly suitable vector climates, and immunologically naïve populations becoming newly exposed, and a framework for solutions-based research is proposed.
Abstract: Background: Infectious disease epidemiology and planetary health literature often cite solid waste and plastic pollution as risk factors for vector-borne diseases and urban zoonoses; however, no rigorous reviews of the risks to human health have been published since 1994. This paper aims to identify research gaps and outline potential solutions to interrupt the vicious cycle of solid wastes; disease vectors and reservoirs; infection and disease; and poverty. Methods: We searched peer-reviewed publications from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Stanford Searchworks, and references from relevant articles using the search terms ("disease" OR "epidemiology") AND ("plastic pollution," "garbage," and "trash," "rubbish," "refuse," OR "solid waste"). Abstracts and reports from meetings were included only when they related directly to previously published work. Only articles published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese through 2018 were included, with a focus on post-1994, after the last comprehensive review was published. Cancer, diabetes, and food chain-specific articles were outside the scope and excluded. After completing the literature review, we further limited the literature to "urban zoonotic and biological vector-borne diseases" or to "zoonotic and biological vector-borne diseases of the urban environment." Results: Urban biological vector-borne diseases, especially Aedes-borne diseases, are associated with solid waste accumulation but vector preferences vary over season and region. Urban zoonosis, especially rodent and canine disease reservoirs, are associated with solid waste in urban settings, especially when garbage accumulates over time, creating burrowing sites and food for reservoirs. Although evidence suggests the link between plastic pollution/solid waste and human disease, measurements are not standardized, confounders are not rigorously controlled, and the quality of evidence varies. Here we propose a framework for solutions-based research in three areas: innovation, education, and policy. Conclusions: Disease epidemics are increasing in scope and scale with urban populations growing, climate change providing newly suitable vector climates, and immunologically naive populations becoming newly exposed. Sustainable solid waste management is crucial to prevention, specifically in urban environments that favor urban vectors such as Aedes species. We propose that next steps should include more robust epidemiological measurements and propose a framework for solutions-based research.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 2020
TL;DR: The goal of this paper is to discuss the different existing wearable monitoring devices and respiratory support systems which are frequently used to assist the coronavirus affected people and to select the best technology for COVID-19 infected patients.
Abstract: Wearable technology plays a significant role in our daily life as well as in the healthcare industry. The recent coronavirus pandemic has taken the world’s healthcare systems by surprise. Although trials of possible vaccines are underway, it would take a long time before the vaccines are permitted for public use. Most of the government efforts are currently geared towards preventing the spread of the coronavirus and predicting probable hot zones. The essential and healthcare workers are the most vulnerable towards coronavirus infections due to their required proximity to potential coronavirus patients. Wearable technology can potentially assist in these regards by providing real-time remote monitoring, symptoms prediction, contact tracing, etc. The goal of this paper is to discuss the different existing wearable monitoring devices (respiration rate, heart rate, temperature, and oxygen saturation) and respiratory support systems (ventilators, CPAP devices, and oxygen therapy) which are frequently used to assist the coronavirus affected people. The devices are described based on the services they provide, their working procedures as well as comparative analysis of their merits and demerits with cost. A comparative discussion with probable future trends is also drawn to select the best technology for COVID-19 infected patients. It is envisaged that wearable technology is only capable of providing initial treatment that can reduce the spread of this pandemic.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a 3D C3N4 was constructed from the thermal polymerization of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT) and melamine molecules.
Abstract: The three-dimensional character of carbon nitride can endow it with a larger specific surface area and more catalytic active sites, which are beneficial for charge and mass transfer to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen production reactions. Herein, we reported the direct assembly of three-dimensional structured carbon nitride from the thermal polymerization of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT) and melamine molecules. The 3D C3N4 consisted of one-dimensional thick tubes with numbers of thin tubes grown uniformly on their surfaces. It was noted that the assembly was decorated with triazole ring groups that generated a special nitrogen-rich structure, further broadening the visible-light response range. Furthermore, the nitrogen-rich carbon nitride had a large surface area of 71 m2 g−1, leading to a significant increase in the number of catalytic active sites. Thus, the photocatalytic hydrogen production rate reached 7.1 mmol g−1 h−1, 11.2 times higher than that of bulk C3N4. This work may provide a new strategy to controllably synthesize three-dimensional carbon nitride assemblies for photocatalytic applications.