The Importance of Recording Self-Reported Information in the Management of COVID-19 Virus Variants: A Technology-Based Approach

COVID-19 virus variants are rapidly spreading across the world. Successful tracing of contacts and early isolation after the onset of symptoms are vital, because, in this period, patients can infect other people having contact with them before isolation. One method for identifying, tracing, screening, and monitoring the potential patients can be self-reporting of information by these individuals. The present letter suggested importance of recording self-reported information in the management of COVID-19 virus variants using technology-based devices.

When steroids are not enough in immune-related hepatitis: current clinical challenges discussed on the basis of a case report

Immune-related hepatitis (IRH) is a frequent but poorly understood immune-related adverse event and its frequency increases since the use of combination therapy in several cancer types. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop adapted guidelines to manage IRH.In the present letter, based on Ziogas et al report entitled ‘When steroids are not enough in immune-related hepatitis: current clinical challenges discussed on the basis of a case report’, several points are discussed: assessment of IRH severity and liver biopsy indication, immune-related cholangitis as a differential diagnosis for some IRH presentation, the need of steroids for IRH management or the indication for second line immunosuppressive treatment and finally, the possibility of immunotherapy resumption.

COVID-19 and immunocompromised conditions: Ongoing challenging issue

One of the most serious complications of COVID-19 is the development of uncontrolled production of cytokines that poses a major factor contributing to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. The exact effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on clinical and biochemical course of in patients with underlying immune compromised conditions is not well known with recent available data. The present letter aimed to draw attention to COVID-19 in immune deficiency.

Tampering of police database by the recruited borderline psychopaths who are ruled by drastic mood shifts

A case of tampering of police database to fabricate, alter and remove police reports is assessed in the present letter to the editor. These actions consist of allegations about the mental health state of the victim, on the presence of inexistent partners and situations that never occurred. The main feature into the psychology of the misconduct officer tampering with material and adopting stalking behaviours is the violent outbursts that accompany the unlawful actions which are associated to sudden mood changes and paranoid visions, reflecting their own personality, supported by the drug abuse issues. The article also demonstrates why personality disorders and psychopathy are present particularly in misconduct police officers as opposed to other professions.

Decentralized Energy Production in Urban Areas

This article discusses the applicability of Ducted Wind Turbines for decentralized energy generation in an urban environment. Ducted Wind Turbines overcome various constraints posed by urban infrastructure including reduced wind speed, the effect of the atmospheric boundary layer as well as lesser space availability. Ducted Wind Turbines presents a new way of sourcing energy at a local level, aiding community-based models of energy distribution and consumption. The main aim of the present letter is to propose Ducted Wind Turbines as a precursor for energy production in urban, peri-urban as well as rural areas around the world.

The Potential for Ducted Wind Turbines in an Urban Environment

This article discusses the applicability of Ducted Wind Turbines for decentralized energy generation in an urban environment. Ducted Wind Turbines overcome various constraints posed by urban infrastructure including reduced wind speed, effect of the atmospheric boundary layer as well as lesser space availability. Ducted Wind Turbines present a new way of sourcing energy at a local level, aiding community based models of energy distribution and consumption. The main aim of the present letter is to propose Ducted Wind Turbines as a precursor for energy production in urban, peri-urban as well as rural areas around the world.

Effect of an Interleave Natural Viscoelastic Layer on the Dynamic Behaviour of a Bio-Based Composite

The purpose of the present letter is to analyse the damping properties of a bio-based composite with flax fibre. Damping parameters were investigated using beam test specimens and an impulse technique. Through a series of resonance vibration tests, the natural frequencies and modal damping were evaluated. The second part of the work was to investigate the effect of an interleave viscoelastic layer made of natural rubber on the dynamic behaviour of the composite. A comparison of the different results was performed; it shows that the viscoelastic layer had a significant influence on vibration behaviour, bending stiffness and damping factors.

Accurate, explicit formulae for higher harmonic force spectroscopy by frequency modulation-AFM

The nonlinear interaction between an AFM tip and a sample gives rise to oscillations of the cantilever at integral multiples (harmonics) of the fundamental resonance frequency. The higher order harmonics have long been recognized to hold invaluable information on short range interactions but their utilization has thus far been relatively limited due to theoretical and experimental complexities. In particular, existing approximations of the interaction force in terms of higher harmonic amplitudes generally require simultaneous measurements of multiple harmonics to achieve satisfactory accuracy. In the present letter we address the mathematical challenge and derive accurate, explicit formulae for both conservative and dissipative forces in terms of an arbitrary single harmonic. Additionally, we show that in frequency modulation-AFM (FM-AFM) each harmonic carries complete information on the force, obviating the need for multi-harmonic analysis. Finally, we show that higher harmonics may indeed be used to reconstruct short range forces more accurately than the fundamental harmonic when the oscillation amplitude is small compared with the interaction range.