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An iron oxide nanoworm hybrid on an interdigitated microelectrode silica surface to detect abdominal aortic aneurysms

Yan G, Li Q, Hong X, Gopinath SCB, Anbu P, Li C, et al.

Mikrochim Acta, 2021 05 11;188(6):185.
PMID: 33977395 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-021-04836-8

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is abnormal swelling in the abdominal aorta and a prevalent life-threatening disease. This research introduces a new interdigitated microelectrode (IDME)-sensing surface modified by iron oxide nanoworms (IONWs) for detecting the AAA biomarker insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1). A sandwich pattern was formulated with the IGF1 aptamer and IGFBP1 (IGF binding protein-1) on the IONW-constructed IDME hybrid to identify IGF1. The surface morphology of the IONWs revealed a uniform distribution of worm-like structures (80-100 nm) as confirmed by FESEM and FETEM analyses. Further, the presence of the major elements, Fe and O, was confirmed by EDX and XPS studies. The crystal planes that appeared in the IONW reflect cubic magnetite. IONW-modified IDME attained a limit of detection for IGF1 of 1 fM (3σ) with an aptamer-IGF1-IGFBP1 sandwich. This sandwich with IGFBP1 enhanced the current level at all concentrations of IGF1 and displayed linearity in the range 1 fM to 100 pM with a determination coefficient of R2 = 0.9373 [y = 3.38221x - 4.79]. Control experiments with complementary aptamer sequences, IGF2 and IGFBP3 did not show notable signal changes, indicating the specific detection of IGF1. This IONW constructed electrode helps to achieve the detection of low amounts of IGF1 and diagnose AAA at the stage prior to rupture.
Utility of Simulation via Instant Messaging - Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) in medical education during COVID-19 pandemic

Morgan G, Melson E, Davitadze M, Ooi E, Zhou D, Hanania T, et al.

J R Coll Physicians Edinb, 2021 06;51(2):168-172.
PMID: 34131679 DOI: 10.4997/JRCPE.2021.218

BACKGROUND: Simulation via Instant Messaging - Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) aimed to improve clinicians' confidence in managing various clinical scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS: Five SIMBA sessions were conducted between May and August 2020. Each session included simulation of scenarios and interactive discussion. Participants' self-reported confidence, acceptance, and relevance of the simulated cases were measured.
RESULTS: Significant improvement was observed in participants' self-reported confidence (overall n = 204, p<0.001; adrenal n = 33, p<0.001; thyroid n = 37, p<0.001; pituitary n = 79, p<0.001; inflammatory bowel disease n = 17, p<0.001; acute medicine n = 38, p<0.001). Participants reported improvements in clinical competencies: patient care 52.0% (n = 106/204), professionalism 30.9% (n = 63/204), knowledge on patient management 84.8% (n = 173/204), systems-based practice 48.0% (n = 98/204), practice-based learning 69.6% (n = 142/204) and communication skills 25.5% (n = 52/204).
CONCLUSION: SIMBA is a novel pedagogical virtual simulation-based learning model that improves clinicians' confidence in managing conditions across various specialties.
Urban blue: A global analysis of the factors shaping people's perceptions of the marine environment and ecological engineering in harbours

Strain EMA, Alexander KA, Kienker S, Morris R, Jarvis R, Coleman R, et al.

Sci Total Environ, 2019 Mar 25;658:1293-1305.
PMID: 30677991 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.285

Marine harbours are the focus of a diverse range of activities and subject to multiple anthropogenically induced pressures. Support for environmental management options aimed at improving degraded harbours depends on understanding the factors which influence people's perceptions of harbour environments. We used an online survey, across 12 harbours, to assess sources of variation people's perceptions of harbour health and ecological engineering. We tested the hypotheses: 1) people living near impacted harbours would consider their environment to be more unhealthy and degraded, be more concerned about the environment and supportive of and willing to pay for ecological engineering relative to those living by less impacted harbours, and 2) people with greater connectedness to the harbour would be more concerned about and have greater perceived knowledge of the environment, and be more supportive of, knowledgeable about and willing to pay for ecological engineering, than those with less connectedness. Across twelve locations, the levels of degradation and modification by artificial structures were lower and the concern and knowledge about the environment and ecological engineering were greater in the six Australasian and American than the six European and Asian harbours surveyed. We found that people's perception of harbours as healthy or degraded, but not their concern for the environment, reflected the degree to which harbours were impacted. There was a positive relationship between the percentage of shoreline modified and the extent of support for and people's willingness to pay indirect costs for ecological engineering. At the individual level, measures of connectedness to the harbour environment were good predictors of concern for and perceived knowledge about the environment but not support for and perceived knowledge about ecological engineering. To make informed decisions, it is important that people are empowered with sufficient knowledge of the environmental issues facing their harbour and ecological engineering options.

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