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The inclusion of usability heuristics into the metaverse is aimed at solving the unique issues raised by virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) environments. This research points out the usability challenges of metaverse user interfaces (UIs), such as information overloading, complex navigation, and the need for intuitive control mechanisms in these immersive spaces. By adapting the existing usability models to suit the metaverse context, this study presents a detailed list of heuristics and sub-heuristics that are designed to improve the overall usability of metaverse UIs. These heuristics are essential when it comes to creating user-friendly, inclusive, and captivating virtual environments (VEs) that take care of the needs of three-dimensional interactions, social dynamics demands, and integration with digital–physical worlds. It should be noted that these heuristics have to keep up with new technological advancements, as well as changing expectations from users, hence ensuring a positive user experience (UX) within the metaverse.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) have a unique surface redox chemistry that appears to selectively protect normal tissues from radiation induced damage. Our prior research exploring the biocompatibility of polymer-coated CONPs found further study of poly-acrylic acid (PAA)-coated CONPs was warranted due to improved systemic biodistribution and rapid renal clearance. This work further explores PAA-CONPs’ radioprotective efficacy and mechanism of action related to tumor microenvironment pH. An ex vivo TUNEL assay was used to measure PAA-CONPs’ protection of the irradiated mouse colon in comparison to the established radioprotector amifostine. [18F]FDG PET imaging of spontaneous colon tumors was utilized to determine the effects of PAA-CONPs on tumor radiation response. In vivo MRI and an ex vivo clonogenic assay were used to determine pH effects on PAA-CONPs’ radioprotection in irradiated tumor-bearing mice. PAA-CONPs showed excellent radioprotective efficacy in the normal colon that was equivalent to uncoated CONPs and amifostine. [18F]FDG PET imaging showed PAA-CONPs do not affect tumor response to radiation. Normalization of tumor pH allowed some radioprotection of tumors by PAA-CONPs, which may explain their lack of tumor radioprotection in the acidic tumor microenvironment. Overall, PAA-CONPs meet the criteria for clinical application as a radioprotective therapeutic agent and are an excellent candidate for further study.

The heterogeneity of the lung microbiome and its alteration are prevalently seen among chronic lung diseases patients. However, studies to date have primarily focused on the bacterial microbiome in the lung rather than fungal composition, which might play an essential role in the mechanisms of several chronic lung diseases. It is now well established that Aspergillus spp. colonies may induce various unfavorable inflammatory responses. Furthermore, bacterial microbiomes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa provide several mechanisms that inhibit or stimulate Aspergillus spp. life cycles. In this review, we highlighted fungal and bacterial microbiome interactions in the respiratory tract, with a focus on Aspergillus spp.

The detection of Aspergillus antibody has a key role in the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Western blot (WB) and immunochromatography (ICT) lateral flow detection of Aspergillus antibody can be used as confirmatory and screening assays but their comparative performance in TB patients is not known. This study investigated the performance of these assays among 88 post-tuberculosis patients with suspected CPA. Sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating curve (ROC), area under-curve (AUC) and the agreement between two assays were evaluated. Both WB and ICT showed good sensitivity (80% and 85%, respectively) for detection of Aspergillus antibodies. Substantial agreement (0.716) between these assays was also obtained. The highest AUC result (0.804) was achieved with the combination of WB and ICT. The global intensity of WB correlated with the severity of symptoms in CPA group (p = 0.001). The combination of WB and ICT may increase specificity in CPA diagnosis.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a common sequela of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The diagnosis of CPA is difficult and often misdiagnosed as smear-negative TB in endemic settings. Aspergillus IgG detection is the cornerstone of CPA diagnosis. There are a lack of studies on the prevalence of CPA in GeneXpert/smear-negative TB patients in Indonesia, despite a high number of TB cases. This study aims to determine the CPA rate in HIV-negative, GeneXpert-negative patients presenting with symptoms following completion of TB therapy and to evaluate the performance of LDBio Aspergillus immunochromatographic technology (ICT) lateral flow assay in the diagnosis of CPA. CPA was diagnosed on the basis of symptoms for ≥3 months, characteristic chest imaging and positive Aspergillus culture. Twenty (22%) out of 90 patients met the criteria for CPA. The LDBio test was positive in 16 (80%) CPA patients and in 21 (30%) non-CPA patients (p < 0.001) with 80% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Logistic regression revealed a positive LDBio Aspergillus ICT result, smoking history and diabetes to be important predictors of CPA diagnosis. Although CPA is an unrecognised disease in Indonesia, this study suggests that more than one in five GeneXpert negative patients with persistent symptoms following completion of TB therapy may have CPA.

In this paper, a miniaturized Ultra High Frequency Radio Frequency Identification (UHF-RFID) tag-based sensor antenna using a magneto- dielectric substrate (MDS) for wireless identification and sensor applications is presented. Two models of RFID tag-based sensors are designed, fabricated and measured. The first model uses two RFID tags; both of the tags are incorporated with two RFID chips. A passive sensor is also integrated in one of the proposed tags to serve as a sensor node, while the other tag is used as a reference node. Based on the difference in the minimum power required to activate the reference and sensor nodes, the sensed data (temperature or humidity) can be determined. The magneto-dielectric substrate layer is placed underneath the patch antenna to reduce the size of the proposed sensor by about 75% compared to a conventional RFID tag-based sensor. The magneto-dielectric layer is thin enough to embed in the planer circuit. To reduce the size of the proposed sensor, a multi-port tag for including the reference and sensor node in one antenna is also presented. The proposed RFID tag-based sensors have several features such as small size, they are completely capable for two objectives at the same time and easy to integrate with a planer circuit.

A circular polarized patch antenna for UHF RFID tag-based sensor applications is presented, with the circular polarization (CP) generated by a new antenna shape, an asymmetric stars shaped slotted microstrip patch antenna (CP-ASSSMP). Four stars etched on the patch allow the antenna’s size to be reduced by close to 20%. The proposed antenna is matched with two RFID chips via inductive-loop matching. The first chip is connected to a resistive sensor and acts as a sensor node, and the second is used as a reference node. The proposed antenna is used for two targets, serving as both reference and sensor simultaneously, thereby eliminating the need for a second antenna. Its reader can read the RFID chips at any orientation of the tag due to the CP. The measured reading range is about 25 m with mismatch polarization. The operating frequency band is 902–929 MHz for the two ports, which is covered by the US RFID band, and the axial-ratio bandwidth is about 7 MHz. In addition, the reader can also detect temperature, based on the minimum difference in the power required by the reference and sensor.

Pakistan, a dengue-endemic country, has encountered several outbreaks during the past decade. The current study aimed to explore the serotype and genomic diversity of dengue virus responsible for the 2022 outbreak in Pakistan. From August to October 2022, NS-1 positive blood samples (n = 343) were collected from dengue patients, among which, (85%; n = 293) were positive based on RT-PCR. In terms of gender and age, dengue infection was more prevalent in male patients (63%; n = 184), with more adults (21-30 years; n = 94) being infected. The serotyping results revealed DENV-2 to be the most predominant serotype (62%; n = 183), followed by DENV-1 (37%; n = 109) and DENV-3 (0.32%; n = 1). Moreover, a total of 10 samples (DENV-2; n = 8, DENV-1; n = 2) were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Among these, four were collected in early 2022, and six were collected between August and October 2022. Phylogenetic analysis of DENV-2 sequenced samples (n = 8) revealed a monophyletic clade of cosmopolitan genotype IVA, which is closely related to sequences from China and Singapore 2018, and DENV-1 samples (n = 2) show genotype III, which is closely related to Pakistan isolates from 2019. We also reported the first whole genome sequence of a coinfection case (DENV1-DENV2) in Pakistan detected through a meta-genome approach. Thus, dengue virus dynamics reported in the current study warrant large-scale genomic surveillance to better respond to future outbreaks.