A dry lunar mantle reservoir for young mare basalts of Chang'e-5.

The distribution of water in the Moon's interior carries implications for the origin of the Moon1, the crystallization of the lunar magma ocean2 and the duration of lunar volcanism2. The Chang'e-5 mission returned some of the youngest mare basalt samples reported so far, dated at 2.0 billion years ago (Ga)3, from the northwestern Procellarum KREEP Terrane, providing a probe into the spatiotemporal evolution of lunar water. Here we report the water abundances and hydrogen isotope compositions of apatite and ilmenite-hosted melt inclusions from the Chang'e-5 basalts. We derive a maximum water abundance of 283 ± 22 µg g-1 and a deuterium/hydrogen ratio of (1.06 ± 0.25) × 10-4 for the parent magma. Accounting for low-degree partial melting of the depleted mantle followed by extensive magma fractional crystallization4, we estimate a maximum mantle water abundance of 1-5 µg g-1, suggesting that the Moon's youngest volcanism was not driven by abundant water in its mantle source. Such a modest water content for the Chang'e-5 basalt mantle source region is at the low end of the range estimated from mare basalts that erupted from around 4.0 Ga to 2.8 Ga (refs. 5,6), suggesting that the mantle source of the Chang'e-5 basalts had become dehydrated by 2.0 Ga through previous melt extraction from the Procellarum KREEP Terrane mantle during prolonged volcanic activity.

Ensuring equitable access to guideline-based asthma care across the lifespan: Tips and future directions to the successful implementation of the new NAEPP 2020 guidelines, a Work Group Report of the AAAAI Asthma, Cough, Diagnosis, and Treatment Committee.

The most recent recommendations from the 2020 National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Update and Global Initiative for Asthma 2021 guide evidence-based clinical decision making. However, given the present state of health disparities by age, income, and race, the equitable implementation and dissemination of these guidelines will be unlikely without further guidance. This work group report reviews the current state of the new asthma guideline implementation; presents updated evidence-based therapeutic options with attention to specific patient populations; and addresses barriers to the implementation of these guidelines in minoritized, historically marginalized, and underresourced communities. Allergists and immunologists can use practical ways to accomplish the goals of improved asthma care access and advanced asthma care across the life span, with specific considerations to historically marginalized populations. Modifiable barriers to guideline implementation include financial barriers, environmental factors, and allergy subspecialty access and care coordination. Various programs to improve access to guideline-based asthma care include community programs, school-based asthma programs, and digital health solutions, with an emphasis on reducing disparities by race.

Short-acting ß2-agonists over-prescription in patients with asthma: an Indian subset analysis of international SABINA III study.

OBJECTIVE: The SABINA (SABA use IN Asthma) program was initiated to describe short-acting ß2-agonists (SABA) prescription patterns and assess the impact of its over-prescription on exacerbation risk and asthma control. We evaluated SABA prescription patterns in patients with asthma in the Indian cohort of SABINA III. METHODS: This multi-centre, observational, cross-sectional study included retrospective and real-time electronic data collection. Data were extracted from medical records of patients with asthma (aged >12 years) having >3 consultations with the same healthcare practitioners between March 2019 and January 2020. The data included prescriptions of SABA and other asthma treatments and over-the-counter (OTC) purchases of SABA. SABA prescriptions were categorized by the number of SABA canisters prescribed in the 12 months preceding the study visit. RESULTS: A total of 510 patients with asthma were included from specialist care (mean age 49.1 years; 57.65 females), with 8.2% classified with mild asthma and 91.8% with moderate-to-severe asthma. SABA as monotherapy and add-on to maintenance therapy was prescribed to 4.5% (n = 23) and 44.9% (n = 229) of patients, respectively. While ICS monotherapy and ICS/LABA were prescribed to 5.1% (n = 26) and 93.3% (n = 476) of patients, respectively. SABA was found to be over-prescribed (≥3 SABA canisters/year) among 23.9% of patients (n = 122). Additionally, 8% of patients (n = 41) purchased SABA OTC without prescription. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-fourth of patients with asthma in India were over-prescribed SABA. Educational programmes targeted at national and regional levels should be expanded to raise greater asthma awareness and encourage the adoption of guideline-directed asthma treatment plans among healthcare practitioners.

Rhinitis Disease Burden and the Impact of Social Determinants of Health.

Social determinants of health (SDHs) have a substantial impact on patient care and outcomes globally, both in low- to middle-income countries and in high-income countries. In the clinic, lack of availability of diagnostic tools, inequities in access to care, and challenges obtaining and adhering to prescribed treatment plans may further compound these issues. This article addresses a case of rhinitis in the context of SDHs and inequities in care that may affect various communities and populations around the world. SDHs may include various aspects of one's financial means, education, access to medical care, environment and living situation, and community factors, each of which could play a role in the rhinitis disease manifestations, diagnosis, and management. Allergic and nonallergic rhinitis are considered from this perspective. Rhinitis epidemiology, disease burden, and risk factors are broadly addressed. Patient evaluation, diagnostic tests, and management options are also reviewed, and issues related to SDHs are noted. Finally, inequities in care, knowledge gaps, and unmet needs are highlighted. It is critical to consider SDHs and care inequities when evaluating and treating patients for rhinitis and other allergic conditions.

Prevalence of chronic cough, its risk factors and population attributable risk in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study: a multinational cross-sectional study.

Background: Chronic cough is a common respiratory symptom with an impact on daily activities and quality of life. Global prevalence data are scarce and derive mainly from European and Asian countries and studies with outcomes other than chronic cough. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic cough across a large number of study sites as well as to identify its main risk factors using a standardised protocol and definition. Methods: We analysed cross-sectional data from 33,983 adults (≥40 years), recruited between Jan 2, 2003 and Dec 26, 2016, in 41 sites (34 countries) from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study. We estimated the prevalence of chronic cough for each site accounting for sampling design. To identify risk factors, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis within each site and then pooled estimates using random-effects meta-analysis. We also calculated the population attributable risk (PAR) associated with each of the identifed risk factors. Findings: The prevalence of chronic cough varied from 3% in India (rural Pune) to 24% in the United States of America (Lexington,KY). Chronic cough was more common among females, both current and passive smokers, those working in a dusty job, those with a history of tuberculosis, those who were obese, those with a low level of education and those with hypertension or airflow limitation. The most influential risk factors were current smoking and working in a dusty job. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that the prevalence of chronic cough varies widely across sites in different world regions. Cigarette smoking and exposure to dust in the workplace are its major risk factors. Funding: Wellcome Trust.

Cryptomare magmatism 4.35 Gyr ago recorded in lunar meteorite Kalahari 009.

The origin and evolution of the Moon remain controversial, with one of the most important questions for lunar evolution being the timing and duration of basaltic (mare) magmatism. Here we report the result of ion microprobe U-Pb dating of phosphates in a lunar meteorite, Kalahari 009, which is classified as a very-low-Ti mare-basalt breccia. In situ analyses of five phosphate grains, associated with basaltic clasts, give an age of 4.35 +/- 0.15 billion years. These ancient phosphate ages are thought to represent the crystallization ages of parental basalt magma, making Kalahari 009 one of the oldest known mare basalts. We suggest that mare basalt volcanism on the Moon started as early as 4.35 Gyr ago, relatively soon after its formation and differentiation, and preceding the bulk of lunar volcanism which ensued after the late heavy bombardment around 3.8-3.9 Gyr (refs 7 and 8). Considering the extremely low abundances of incompatible elements such as thorium and the rare earth elements in Kalahari 009 (ref. 9) and recent remote-sensing observations illustrating that the cryptomaria tend to be of very-low-Ti basalt type, we conclude that Kalahari 009 is our first sample of a very-low-Ti cryptomare from the Moon.

Unveiling Asthma's Complex Tapestry: Insights from Diverse Perspectives.

Asthma, a chronic respiratory disorder affecting millions worldwide, exhibits considerable heterogeneity in its clinical presentation, severity, and response to therapy [...].

Hematological Parameters for Predicting Mortality in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

(1) Introduction: COPD is a common and serious condition affecting a significant proportion of the population globally. Patients often suffer from exacerbations which lead to the worsening of their health status and respiratory function, and can often lead to death. Quick and cheap investigations are required that are capable of predicting mortality in patients with acute exacerbations that can be applied in low resource settings. (2) Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study carried out using hospital records of patients admitted for AECOPD from 1 January 2017 to 30 November 2022. Chi-square test (for sex) and Student's t-test were used to look for significant associations. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves were plotted and Area Under Curve (AUC) values were calculated for various hematological parameters. Youden's J was used to identify the ideal cut-off with optimal sensitivity and specificity. Multivariate Cox regression was used to identify independent hematological predictors of mortality. Kaplan-Meir survival plots for neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with the optimal cut-off were plotted. (3) Results: Amongst the 500 patients, 42 died while 458 survived, giving a mortality rate of 8.4%. NLR had the strongest association with mortality. The cut-off for various parameters were: NLR 14.83 (AUC 0.73), total leukocyte count (TLC) 13,640 cells/mm3 (AUC 0.60), absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 12,556 cells/mm3 (AUC 0.62), derived NLR (dNLR) 9.989 (AUC 0.73), hemoglobin 11.8 mg/dL (AUC 0.59), packed cell volume (PCV) 36.6% (AUC 0.60), and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) 451.32 (AUC 0.55). (4) Conclusions: In patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, NLR was strongly associated with mortality, followed by dNLR. Cox regression identified NLR as an independent predictor of mortality.

The microstructure and mechanical properties of microwave-heated lunar simulants at different input powers under vacuum.

To achieve a sustainable human presence on the Moon, it is critical to develop technologies utilising the local resources (a.k.a. in-situ resource utilisation or ISRU) for construction and resource extraction. In this study, we investigate the viability of microwave heating of two lunar soil simulants (JSC-1A and OPRH3N) under vacuum conditions, to simulate a lunar surface environment compared to previous studies performed at atmospheric pressure. All simulants are thermally treated in a bespoke 2.45 GHz microwave apparatus using three input powers: 1000 W, 600 W and 250 W. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the microwaved samples are analysed to identify their potential applications. Our key findings are: (i) higher input powers generate materials in shorter fabrication times with higher mechanical strengths and higher yields despite the same total energy input; (ii) the microstructures of the microwaved samples under vacuum are very different from those under atmospheric conditions due to the widespread vesicles/bubbles; and (iii) different heating rates caused by different input powers can be utilised for specific ISRU purposes: higher input powers for extra-terrestrial construction and lower input powers for resource extraction. Findings from this study have significant implications for developing a microwave-heating payload for lunar ISRU demonstration missions.

Uranium-Lead Systematics of Lunar Basaltic Meteorite Northwest Africa 2977.

Northwest Africa (NWA) 2977 is a lunar basaltic meteorite that was found in 2005 and has been classified as an olivine cumulate gabbro. This meteorite contains a shock melt vein (SMV) induced by an intense shock event. We report herein on an in-situ analysis of phosphates in the host gabbro and the shock vein for the U-Pb dating of NWA 2977 using an ion microprobe, NanoSIMS. The majority of the analyzed phosphates, in both the SMV and host-rock, lie on a linear regression in 238U/206Pb-207Pb/206Pb-204Pb/206Pb three-dimensional space, indicating a total Pb/U isochron age of 3.15±0.12 Ga (95% confidence level), which is consistent ages determined in previous isotopic studies of NWA 2977 (Sm-Nd age of 3.10±0.05 Ga, Rb-Sr age of 3.29±0.11 Ga, and Pb-Pb baddeleyite age of 3.12±0.01 Ga), and identical to the age of the U-Pb phosphate in a paired meteorite NWA 773, 3.09±0.20 Ga, derived from our dataset. There was no clear difference in the formation age between the phosphates found in the SMV and host-rock, although the shape and size of the grains and the Raman spectra show the evidence of intense shock metamorphism. Based on these findings, the cooling rate of the phosphate was very rapid, constrained to be larger than 140 K/s.

A Proteomics Investigation of Cigarette Smoke Exposed Wistar Rats Revealed Improved Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the Cysteamine Nanoemulsions Delivered via Inhalation.

Cigarette smoking is the major cause of chronic inflammatory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is paramount to develop pharmacological interventions and delivery strategies against the cigarette smoke (CS) associated oxidative stress in COPD. This study in Wistar rats examined cysteamine in nanoemulsions to counteract the CS distressed microenvironment. In vivo, 28 days of CS and 15 days of cysteamine nanoemulsions treatment starting on 29th day consisting of oral and inhalation routes were established in Wistar rats. In addition, we conducted inflammatory and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) studies in vitro in human bronchial epithelial cell lines (BEAS2B) using 5% CS extract. Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-13, have been quantified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) to evaluate the effects of the cysteamine nanoemulsions in normalizing the diseased condition. Histopathological analysis of the alveoli and the trachea showed the distorted, lung parenchyma and ciliated epithelial barrier, respectively. To obtain mechanistic insights into the CS COPD rat model, "shotgun" proteomics of the lung tissues have been carried out using high-resolution mass spectrometry wherein genes such as ABI1, PPP3CA, PSMA2, FBLN5, ACTG1, CSNK2A1, and ECM1 exhibited significant differences across all the groups. Pathway analysis showed autophagy, signaling by receptor tyrosine kinase, cytokine signaling in immune system, extracellular matrix organization, and hemostasis, as the major contributing pathways across all the studied groups. This work offers new preclinical findings on how cysteamine taken orally or inhaled can combat CS-induced oxidative stress.

Discovery of Hybrid Thiouracil-Coumarin Conjugates as Potential Novel Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Agents Targeting the Virus's Polymerase "RdRp" as a Confirmed Interacting Biomolecule.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, along with its various strains, has emerged as a global health crisis that has severely affected humankind and posed a great challenge to the public health system of affected countries. The replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mainly depends on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a key enzyme that is involved in RNA synthesis. In this regard, we designed, synthesized, and characterized hybrid thiouracil and coumarin conjugates (HTCAs) by ether linkage, which were found to have anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties. Our in vitro real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) results confirmed that compounds such as 5d, 5e, 5f, and 5i inhibited the replication of SARS-CoV-2 with EC50 values of 14.3 ± 0.14, 6.59 ± 0.28, 86.3 ± 1.45, and 124 ± 2.38 µM, respectively. Also, compound 5d displayed significant antiviral activity against human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E). In addition, some of the HTCAs reduced the replication of SARS-CoV-2 variants such as D614G and B.617.2. In parallel, HTCAs in uninfected Vero CCL-81 cells indicated that no cytotoxicity was noticed. Furthermore, we compared the in silico interaction of lead compounds 5d and 5e toward the cocrystal structure of Suramin and RdRp polymerase with Remdesvir triphosphate, which showed that compounds 5d, 5e, and Remdesvir triphosphate (RTP) share a common catalytical site of RdRp but not Suramin. Additionally, the in silico ADMET properties predicted for the lead HTCAs and RTP showed that the maximum therapeutic doses recommended for compounds 5d and 5e were comparable to those of RTP. Concurrently, the pharmacokinetics of 5d was characterized in male Wistar Albino rats by administering a single oral gavage at a dose of 10 mg/kg, which gave a Cmax value of 0.22 µg/mL and a terminal elimination half-life period of 73.30 h. In conclusion, we established a new chemical entity that acts as a SARS-CoV-2 viral inhibitor with minimal or no toxicity to host cells in the rodent model, encouraging us to proceed with preclinical studies.

Phenotypes of Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are considered unique diseases with distinct characteristics. Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap is a disorder in which the clinical characteristics of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease coexist. Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap is a heterogenous condition; patients can have varied clinical presentations. There are significant gender variations among different phenotypes overlap. Age of symptom onset is another important consideration. Severity of symptoms, spirometry findings, smoking history, and type of airway inflammation varies between the different phenotypes. Understanding disease pathophysiology and establishing phenotypic models will improve a precision approach.

Time Trends of Greenspaces, Air Pollution, and Asthma Prevalence among Children and Adolescents in India.

The prevalence of childhood asthma contributes to the global burden of the disease substantially. Air pollution in India has increased. In this study, we examine the associations among greenspaces, air pollution, and asthma prevalence in children and adolescents over a large, diverse population in India. We used state-wide global burden of disease data on asthma from age 0 to 19 years in 2005, 2011, and 2017. For greenspace, we used the normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI), which is the surface reflectance of light during photosynthetic activity. NDVI, air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and O3), weather, and socio-demographic factors were included in generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to estimate their associations with childhood asthma prevalence over time. Novel data visualization illustrated the complex spatial distributions. NDVI was associated with asthma prevalence (ß = 0.144; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.186; p < 0.0001) for high PM2.5, along with high levels of both gaseous air pollutants, SO2, and NO2 ((ß = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.08, 0.16; p < 0.0001) and (ß = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.05, 0.13; p < 0.0001)). However, NDVI and high O3, had a strong negative association with asthma prevalence (ß = -0.19; 95% CI = -0.26, -0.11; p < 0.0001). We observed additional effects of the interaction between the NDVI and high concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3, assuming that these associations share a common pathway, and found interaction effects for asthma prevalence. Given the changing environmental conditions that interplay over geographical characteristics on the prevalence of asthma, further studies may elucidate a better understanding of these complex associations.

Association of Serum Albumin and Copeptin with Early Clinical Deterioration and Instability in Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Background: There is a paucity of data on biomarkers for the early deterioration and clinical instability of patients in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), as treatment failure occurs in the first seven days in 90% of patients. Aim: To evaluate serum albumin and copeptin with CURB-65, PSI scoring and ATS/IDSA minor criteria for the prediction of early mortality or ICU-admission (7 days) and clinical instability after 72 h. Methods: In 100 consecutive hospitalized adult CAP patients, PSI-scores, CURB-65 scores, ATS/IDSA 2007 minor criteria, copeptin and albumin on admission were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to assess independent risk factors for early combined mortality or ICU admission. Predictive powers of albumin and copeptin were tested with ROC curves and ICU-free survival probability was tested using Kaplan−Meier analysis. Results: Albumin was lower and copeptin higher in patients with short-term adverse outcomes (p < 0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that albumin [HR (95% CI): 0.41 (0.18−0.94, p = 0.034)] and copeptin [HR (95% CI): 1.94 (1.03−3.67, p = 0.042)] were independent risk factors for early combined mortality or ICU admission (7 days). The Kaplan−Meier analysis observed that high copeptin (>27.12 ng/mL) and low albumin levels (<2.85 g/dL) had a lower (p < 0.001) survival probability. The diagnostic accuracy of albumin was better than copeptin. The inclusion of albumin and copeptin into ATS/IDSA minor criteria significantly improved their predictive power. Conclusions: Both biomarkers serum albumin and copeptin can predict early deterioration and clinical instability in hospitalized CAP patients and increase the prognostic power of the traditional clinical scoring systems.

The Role of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Risk Stratification and Prognostication of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Several studies have proposed that the neutrophil−lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is one of the various biomarkers that can be useful in assessing COVID-19 disease-related outcomes. Our systematic review analyzes the relationship between on-admission NLR values and COVID-19 severity and mortality. Six different severity criteria were used. A search of the literature in various databases was conducted from 1 January 2020 to 1 May 2021. We calculated the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) for the collected NLR values. A meta-regression analysis was performed, looking at the length of hospitalization and other probable confounders, such as age, gender, and comorbidities. A total of sixty-four studies were considered, which included a total of 15,683 patients. The meta-analysis showed an SMD of 3.12 (95% CI: 2.64−3.59) in NLR values between severe and non-severe patients. A difference of 3.93 (95% CI: 2.35−5.50) was found between survivors and non-survivors of the disease. Upon summary receiver operating characteristics analysis, NLR showed 80.2% (95% CI: 74.0−85.2%) sensitivity and 75.8% (95% CI: 71.3−79.9%) specificity for the prediction of severity and 78.8% (95% CI: 73.5−83.2%) sensitivity and 73.0% (95% CI: 68.4−77.1%) specificity for mortality, and was not influenced by age, gender, or co-morbid conditions. Conclusion: On admission, NLR predicts both severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients, and an NLR > 6.5 is associated with significantly greater the odds of mortality.

Isotopic evidence for pallasite formation by impact mixing of olivine and metal during the first 10 million years of the Solar System.

Pallasites are mixtures of core and mantle material that may have originated from the core-mantle boundary of a differentiated body. However, recent studies have introduced the possibility that they record an impact mix, in which case an isotopic difference between metal and silicates in pallasites may be expected. We report a statistically significant oxygen isotope disequilibrium between olivine and chromite in main group pallasites that implies the silicate and metal portions of these meteorites stem from distinct isotopic reservoirs. This indicates that these meteorites were formed by impact mixing, during which a planetary core was injected into the mantle of another body. The impactor likely differentiated within ∼1-2 Myr of the start of the Solar System based on Hf-W chronology of pallasite metal, and we infer the age of the impact based on Mn-Cr systematics and cooling rates at between ∼1.5 and 9.5 Myr after Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs). When combined with published slow subsolidus cooling rates for these meteorites and considering that several pallasite groups exist, our results indicate that such impacts may be an important stage in the evolution of planetary bodies.

Impact of Acute Exacerbation and Its Phenotypes on the Clinical Outcomes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Hospitalized Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are clinically significant events having therapeutic and prognostic consequences. However, there is a lot of variation in its clinical manifestations described by phenotypes. The phenotypes of AECOPD were categorized in this study based on pathology and exposure. In our cross-sectional study, conducted between 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020, the patients were categorized into six groups based on pathology: non-bacterial and non-eosinophilic; bacterial; eosinophilic; bacterial infection with eosinophilia; pneumonia; and bronchiectasis. Further, four groups were classified based on exposure to tobacco smoke (TS), biomass smoke (BMS), both, or no exposure. Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses were performed to assess hazard ratios, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess survival, which was then compared using the log-rank test. The odds ratio (OR) and independent predictors of ward admission type and length of hospital stay were assessed using binomial logistic regression analyses. Of the 2236 subjects, 2194 were selected. The median age of the cohort was 67.0 (60.0 to 74.0) and 75.2% were males. Mortality rates were higher in females than in males (6.2% vs. 2.3%). AECOPD-B (bacterial infection) subjects [HR 95% CI 6.42 (3.06-13.46)], followed by AECOPD-P (pneumonia) subjects [HR (95% CI: 4.33 (2.01-9.30)], were at higher mortality risk and had a more extended hospital stay (6.0 (4.0 to 9.5) days; 6.0 (4.0 to 10.0). Subjects with TS and BMS-AECOPD [HR 95% CI 7.24 (1.53-34.29)], followed by BMS-AECOPD [HR 95% CI 5.28 (2.46-11.35)], had higher mortality risk. Different phenotypes have different impacts on AECOPD clinical outcomes. A better understanding of AECOPD phenotypes could contribute to developing an algorithm for the precise management of different phenotypes.

Effect of Indoor Air Pollution on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Deaths in Southern Asia-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: About half of the population in developing countries are exposed to indoor pollution such as combustion fuels at present. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of mortality globally and the primary cause of COPD in women is indoor air pollution exposure, while tobacco smoking is the leading cause in men. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the correlation between the indoor air pollution and deaths related to COPD and COPD prevalence in South Asia. METHODS: A systematic search on studies with sufficient statistical power has been conducted from 1985 until 30 June 2020, in English electronic databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines in MEDLINE and PubMed databases with the terms Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease COPD or Chronic Bronchitis or Emphysema or COPD Deaths or Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease or Airflow Obstruction or Chronic Airflow Obstruction or Airflow Obstruction, Chronic or Bronchitis, Chronic and Mortality or Death or Deceased was conducted. Studies were eligible if they were Prospective controlled or non-controlled trials conducted in Southern Asia/ Asia and Retrospective studies conducted in Southern Asia/ Asia. RESULTS: The results have concluded that long term exposure to indoor pollution had a significant effect on COPD deaths as well as its symptoms. Odd's ratio was in a range of 1.05 (Randomized controlled trials) to 7.87 (Cross sectional studies) for all the studies mentioned. Meta-analysis observed a significantly higher Odds Ratio of 2.13 for COPD mortality and 2.08 for COPD prevalence on exposure to indoor air pollution. CONCLUSION: Exposure to solid fuel smoke is consistently and significantly correlated with COPD mortality and COPD prevalence in South Asian countries, in spite of heterogeneity observed in the studies included. For performing domestic tasks, initiatives are to be taken to reduce dependency on solid fuel by using cleaner alternatives or comparatively cleaner technology.

Investigating the microwave heating behaviour of lunar soil simulant JSC-1A at different input powers.

For a sustainable human presence on the Moon, it is critical to develop technologies that could utilise the locally available resources (a.k.a. in situ resource utilisation or ISRU) for habitat construction. As the surface soil is one of the most widely available resources at the Moon, we have investigated the viability of microwave heating of a lunar soil simulant (JSC-1A). JSC-1A was thermally treated in a bespoke microwave apparatus using 2.45 GHz frequency, using five different microwave powers in the range of 250 W to 1000 W. The structural properties of the resulting products were analysed to determine whether their microstructures and mechanical strengths differ under different input powers; and whether input power plays a crucial role in triggering thermal runaway, for identifying the optimum power for developing a microwave-heating. Our key findings are: (i) the higher input powers (800 W and 1000 W) generate the highest yields and microstructures with the greatest mechanical strengths, at the shortest fabrication times, and (ii) thermal runaway improves the microwave heating efficiency despite the rapid increase in temperature, once it is triggered. Our findings are of key importance for developing a microwave-heating payload for future lunar ISRU demonstration missions, contributing towards 3D printing-based extra-terrestrial construction processes.