Coronavirus Fatalities Higher in Heavily Polluted Areas

China Pollution Map Before vs After Coronavirus


People living in areas with high air pollution are more vulnerable to novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, doctors have warned. Accordingly, residents of polluted urban regions have been urged to take extra precautions against the disease. The global lock-down inspired by the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, has shutdown factories and reduced travel, slashing lethal pollution from power plants in China.

In an interview with The Hindu, a medical community named Doctors For Clean Air (DFCA) stated that long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution compromises an individual’s lung function, making that person more susceptible to viral infections. Due to the lungs’ reduced capacity, such individuals are also likely to face greater health complications, particularly related to coronavirus, as compared to their healthier counterparts.

Scientists estimate the U.S. death toll from air pollution at more than 100,000 per year, and the World Health Organization estimates the global toll at 7 million.  The global death toll of an uncontained pandemic remains largely a matter of conjecture. Reductions in air pollution and global heating could save more lives.

Air pollution from power plants is likely to increase mortality from the novel coronavirus in cities, public health experts. The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) warned that dirty air in urban areas that causes hypertension, diabetes and other respiratory illness could lead to a higher overall death toll from the virus currently sweeping the world. “Patients with chronic lung and heart conditions caused or worsened by long-term exposure to air pollution are less able to fight off lung infections and more likely to die,” EPS member Sara De Matteis said.

While there is currently no proven link between COVID-19 mortality and air pollution, one peer-reviewed study into the 2003 SARS outbreak showed that patients in regions with moderate air pollution levels were 84 percent more likely to die than those in regions with low air pollution. COVID-19 is similar to SARS and can cause respiratory failure in severe cases. Mortality data for COVID-19 is incomplete, but preliminary numbers show the majority of patients who die are elderly or have pre-existing chronic conditions such as heart or lung disease. According to the European Environment Agency, air pollution leads to around 400,000 early deaths across the continent annually, despite European Union air quality directives. One COVID-19 hotspot, northern Italy, has particularly high levels of PM10 — microscopic particles of pollution due largely to road traffic.

A study on the SARS coronavirus outbreak in China in 2003 found that infected people from highly polluted areas were twice as likely to die from the virus as those from places with purer air. Researchers also found that the SARS death rate went up as pollution levels increased, rising from 4% in less polluted areas to 7.5% in moderately polluted and 9% in highly polluted locations.

5 Best Engineering Universities in the World


Engineering is one of the highest paying careers. Many students research colleges to stud engineering because the institution you go to determines your level of professionalism. Since this is such a complex course, you need all the resources you can get to excel.

The more resources a college offer, the better your chances get at excelling. Make sure that you take your time in deciding which university you want to go to. Don’t just choose a university because your friends chose it, especially if they’re going to pursue a different course. Universities have different specializations, and an institution ideal for a medical course might not offer the same level of competence when it comes to engineering.

To make it in the engineering industry, you should make sure that you graduate with excellent grades. You should also use every opportunity you get to go for internships in environments that give you the exposure you need to secure a good entry job.

While in college, make sure you get excellent engineering homework help each time you’re too overwhelmed to complete an assignment.

1.    California Institute of Technology

At number one, we have the California Institute of Technology that has comprehensive courses on research engineering and technology. This is a well-reputed institution that provides engineering students with all the resources they need.
There are three main engineering divisions in this institution:
  • Biological engineering
  • Chemistry and chemical engineering
  • Engineering and applied science 
The cross-disciplinary method of teaching ensures that students graduate as well-rounded engineer. The professors ensure that they tackle the theory as well as the practical part of the course in a way that anyone can understand.

2.    Stanford University

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of Stanford University before because it is a globally recognized institution. This is another ideal engineering institution that provides students with a myriad of resources.

No matter the branch of engineering you want to specialize in, you’ll find all the learning material you need to excel. This institution has been at the cutting edge of innovation for many years.

It has nine distinct departments that ensure students are not confused about what they want to do. Not to mention their well-equipped research centers, laboratories, and institutes.

The research centers focus on;
  •         System design
  •        Bioengineering
  •        Network security
  •        Climate change
  •        Robotics
  •        Information technology
  •        Affordable access to healthcare
  •        Computation and data analysis

3.    University of Cambridge

This list would be incomplete without the honorable mention of the University of Cambridge. This is one of the crème de la crème when it comes to institutions of higher learning.

The University of Cambridge has a competent engineering department and it happens to be the largest department in the entire institution.

Whether you want to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll find that the department is well-equipped. You can be sure that you’ll graduate with excellent grades and a good grasp of engineering concepts.

For the first two years, you’ll learn everything you need to know about engineering. This will make it easy for you to choose when you want to specialize in, in the third and fourth year of your study.

4.    Harvard University

The prestigious Harvard University had to offer to engineer. Even though in the beginning, the institution did not offer this course, it now has a new engineering school called the John A Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

This school was established in 2007, which means that it has been around for a while now. Some of the areas the school of engineering covers include:
  •        Applied mathematics
  •        Applied physics
  •        Computer science
  •        Electrical engineering
  •        Environmental science and engineering
  •        Mechanical engineering
  •        Bioengineering

5.    University of Oxford

Lastly, we have the University of Oxford where you only get admitted for a specific engineering degree. Unlike other US university where you get to pick which branch of engineering to study, there, the choice has already been made for you.

If you’re taking an undergraduate course, you’ll study for four years, just like in most US universities. The courses available include:
  •        Biomedical engineering
  •        Chemical engineering
  •        Civil engineering
  •        Electrical engineering
  •        Information engineering
  •        Mechanical engineering

Conclusion

Now you have a variety of engineering institutions to choose from. Make sure you take your time analyzing them, before arriving at your decision.

The Best English language Apps

This article outlines great English learning apps that students and teachers can utilize to learn English and develop English skills anywhere and anytime from their smartphones. If you are starting and aiming to speak fluent English or boost your everyday English conversation skills, these Apps will help you study English very fast. Therefore, consider downloading one of these Apps to improve your written or spoken English. Universities and schools can provide these English Apps to their students on top of the curriculum. Institutions can build on what their students have learned in classrooms and allocate them tasks to finish when out of class. You can find most of these Apps on mobile and the web, and students can use them anywhere and anytime. To get help on doing the English language, you can visit English homework help.

Duolingo. Learn languages freely

It is the world’s most popular English language-learning app and recommended for English beginners. Duolingo has more than 200 million subscribers learning English language free. The majority of the users says the app is not only fun but also addictive. It helps users get motivated with awards for completing lessons.

 

Busuu

It is another English language app. According to reviews, this app is suitable for English learners at the formative stages of learning. Designed by linguists, this app combines AI-powered teaching and human interaction to assist learner’s master language. It offers courses in 12 different language s.

 

Improve English

It is a popular English learning App for those who learning English as an additional language. The bite-sized lessons help learners to improve their English skills. According to experts, the Improve English app is the best in building English vocabulary on the go. The app relies on scientific algorithms that help learners to study and improve English effectively.

 

Sentence Master Pro

An enjoyable English learning app is interactive and progressively directs the learner through language study in an immersive environment. According to users, it is fast-paced, but permit users time to think. The app encourages collaborative learning since users focus on matching words to form sentences and building sentences.

 

Memrise

Memrise is an English language-learning app that helps students jump-start their English lessons or improve their English language. This app makes the learning process addictive, easy, and fun. Memrise English the course joins useful phrases, straightforward grammar, and practical vocabulary to study conversational English and apply it in the real world.

 

Babbel

This app focuses on assisting English language learners to acquire elementary conversational skills. It also pays more attention to vocabulary. To understand the English language, Babbel allows users to complete and repeat phrases. Babbel uses four strategies: fill in the blanks, spelling, picture recognition, and sound recognition.

 

Rosetta stone

It is a basic English learning application designed distinctively from other apps. It teaches English the way children learn English. It comes with exercises that will help learners to learn essential English words. This app is for those who are looking for a true and tried method.

 

LearnEnglish Grammar

This app is an accessible and straightforward way to learn the English language and helps you ultimately improve your grammar. According to experts, LearnEnglish Grammar can help learners complete 12 grammar topics using 20 tasks per topic for English students for all levels.

 

LingoDeer

It is an interactive app for learning the English language. Learners interact with LingoDeer in a contextualized and structured way. After that, learners can follow their lessons on their speed and depend on their abilities