Critical Level Research Articles

Crisis resilience in medical practices and clinics

Climate change because of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions increasingly triggers extreme weather events. Of all the continents, Europe is warming the fastest. Heat and drought, forest fires and floods will worsen in Europe even in optimistic global warming scenarios, affecting living conditions across the continent. Extreme weather events threaten energy and food security, ecosystems, infrastructure, water resources, financial stability, and people's healthcare. Many of these risks have already reached critical levels and could take on catastrophic proportions without immediate, decisive action. This paper outlines current challenges for medical practices and clinics in the context of climate change and provides examples and guidance for strengthening crisis resilience. Selective literature review on the different requirements for crisis resilience in practices and clinics was performed. Medical practices and clinics achieve crisis resilience by high degrees of adaptability and flexibility. They prepare for climate change-related challenges and are, therefore, able to protect themselves and maintain their function in the healthcare system. Recent weather events in Germany revealed insufficient resilience among the healthcare sector; hence, improvements are necessary. Changing environmental conditions urgently require the healthcare sector to adapt and effectively strengthen crisis resilience in order to ensure that critical infrastructure remains functional and the population has access to healthcare.

Effect of probiotic administration in adult atopic dermatitis patients

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disease characterized by abnormal skin barrier function and heightened immunologic sensitization. Its incidence has surged recently, with approximately 60% of cases diagnosed within the first year of life. AD can persist or recur, significantly deteriorating the quality of life due to persistent itching and sleep disturbances. Individuals with AD are at increased risk of developing other atopic disorders like asthma and allergic rhinitis. Various dietary approaches, including low carbohydrate, calorie, and fat diets, have been associated with enhanced quality of life by regulating immune responses. Probiotics have been used as adjuvant therapy in allergic conditions, though their effectiveness varies due to the complex nature of allergies. Method: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. MeSH terms, advanced search strategies, and predefined eligibility criteria were employed to identify relevant studies. Duplicate studies were excluded, and critical assessment tools and levels of evidence were defined per Oxford Center for Evidence-based Medicine standards. Results: One systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the PICO and eligibility criteria. The meta-analysis demonstrated that probiotics significantly decreased AD severity in adults, enhancing their overall quality of life. Other meta-analyses and systematic reviews supported that probiotics reduce clinical severity and improve life quality in adult AD patients. Conclusion: Probiotic supplementation is a viable option to improve the quality of life for adult AD patients, offering potential therapeutic benefits in managing this condition.

Dual-Credit Policy of New Energy Automobiles in China: Corporate Innovation Capability

This study investigates the impact of China’s Dual-Credit Policy on innovation capability in the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry using a difference-in-differences approach with dynamic panel data from 2013 to 2022. We employ multiple innovation measures, including patent counts, valid invention patents, and patent grant rates. Our findings reveal that the policy has a positive and significant effect on NEV innovation, partially mediated by R&D investment. Using GMM estimation to address endogeneity, we find the policy effect varies across subgroups based on location, ESG rating, and ownership type. Dynamic effect analysis shows the policy’s impact intensifies over time. Threshold effect analysis identifies a critical policy intensity level beyond which innovation effects are amplified. Our results have implications for policymakers in designing effective innovation incentives and for firms in strategically responding to regulatory changes in the NEV sector.

Analysis of the Risks Associated with the Functions of a Pharmacy Cleaner in Pharmaceutical Compounding

INTRODUCTION. Pharmacy compounding involves certain risks that are directly related to the process of extemporaneous preparation and the actions of its participants. However, the role of pharmacy cleaners, whose actions can influence the quality of compounded medicinal products, has not been studied yet.AIM. This study aimed to analyse the risks to the quality of compounded medicinal products associated with the functions of a pharmacy cleaner in pharmaceutical compounding of non-sterile dosage forms.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study used failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) in accordance with the relevant Russian State Standard, as well as open brainstorming discussion. The study examined the functions of a pharmacy cleaner in pharmaceutical compounding of non-sterile dosage forms. The results were assessed by statistically processing the study data and assigning each potential failure mode a certain category.RESULTS. The risk analysis identified 45 potential failure modes for the functions of a pharmacy cleaner. Of these, 12 failure modes (26.7%) had a high level of criticality, 14 failure modes (31.1%) had a medium level of criticality, and 19 failure modes (42.2%) had a low level of criticality. Not all potential failure modes had valid documented regulatory provisions for the risk assessment and the development of prevention-type controls.CONCLUSIONS. The analysis of the functions of a pharmacy cleaner highlighted the potential risks to the quality of extemporaneous medicinal products prepared by compounding pharmacies. The study identified a lack of valid regulatory documentation. The authors suggested using the study results to amend the regulatory documents and standard operating procedures (SOPs) guiding the work of a pharmacy cleaner, to develop illustrative educational materials, and to conduct on-the-job training for pharmacy staff.

Quantum Sugawara operators in type A

The quantum Sugawara operators associated with a simple Lie algebra g are elements of the center of a completion of the quantum affine algebra Uq(gˆ) at the critical level. By the foundational work of Reshetikhin and Semenov-Tian-Shansky (1990), such operators occur as coefficients of a formal Laurent series ℓV(z) associated with every finite-dimensional representation V of the quantum affine algebra. As demonstrated by Ding and Etingof (1994), the quantum Sugawara operators generate all singular vectors in generic Verma modules over Uq(gˆ) at the critical level and give rise to a commuting family of transfer matrices. Furthermore, as observed by E. Frenkel and Reshetikhin (1999), the operators are closely related with the q-characters and q-deformed W-algebras via the Harish-Chandra homomorphism.We produce explicit quantum Sugawara operators for the quantum affine algebra of type A which are associated with primitive idempotents of the Hecke algebra and parameterized by Young diagrams. This opens a way to understand all the related objects via their explicit constructions. We consider one application by calculating the Harish-Chandra images of the quantum Sugawara operators. The operators act by scalar multiplication in the q-deformed Wakimoto modules and we calculate the eigenvalues by identifying them with the Harish-Chandra images.

Nonlinearities in the Intellectual Property-Manufacturing Growth Nexus in the Post-TRIPS Era: Evidence from a Dynamic Panel Analysis

AbstractDiscussions around the importance of intellectual property (IP) intensified at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as countries raced to secure IP-protected goods (e.g., vaccines and medical equipment) necessary to respond quickly and adequately to the threat of the virus’ spread. Building on the growing strand of the literature that reexamines IP’s effect on an array of social and economic outcomes, this paper examines the relationship between quantitative (patents and trademarks) and qualitative (IP protection) measures of IP, on the one hand, and manufacturing growth, on the other hand, accounting for the presence of nonlinearities. Using a two-step system generalized method of moments (SGMM) approach on a panel dataset of 81 countries spanning the post-1995 TRIPS Agreement period, our estimates show that these alternative measures of IP have differential and nonlinear effects on manufacturing growth. In particular, patents have a positive significant marginal effect on manufacturing growth past a minimum scale, whereas trademarks do not have a significant effect. In contrast, stronger IPR protection has a positive effect only up to a critical level of IPR protection, implying that “too much” IPR protection can stifle growth-inducing competing innovation. The paper concludes with a brief discussion on the mechanisms through which IP may contribute to manufacturing growth, and on some policies, which may help realize this potential. Broadly, this paper speaks to academic and policy discussions surrounding optimal IP enforcement and the benefits and consequences of IP.

Regarding the finance-investment nexus in sub-Saharan Africa: an issue of too little or too much finance?

PurposeThis study investigates the finance-investment nexus in sub-Saharan Africa using data from 41 countries spanning the period from 2000 to 2022. The central question addressed is whether there is a “too little” or “too much” finance problem in the region.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a system-generalised method of moments (GMM) approach to analyse the association between finance and private investment. Additionally, a dynamic threshold regression model is used to uncover potential nonlinearities in this relationship.FindingsInitially, the study identifies a negative correlation between increased finance and private investment. However, further analysis using the dynamic threshold regression model reveals a critical threshold level of finance. Specifically, the threshold is found to be 6.52% of domestic credit to the private sector and 23.18% using the financial development index. Below this threshold, finance negatively impacts private investment, while surpassing this threshold leads to positive growth in private investment. These findings indicate an issue of “too little” finance in the finance and private investment nexus in sub-Saharan Africa. The results are robust across different model specifications.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of this study highlight the importance of identifying critical thresholds for financing to enhance investment expenditures in the region.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by uncovering nonlinearities in the finance-investment nexus in sub-Saharan Africa. The identification of critical thresholds provides valuable insights for policymakers, emphasising the need to strengthen the financial sector in countries operating below these thresholds to promote private investment and economic growth.

Lignocellulosic biomass in circular economy: A techno-transition in carbon neutrality towards sustainable energy production

The ongoing energy crisis and global warming threat represent major challenges of the century. Our dependence on conventional fuels has reached to a critical level where attempts are made to reduce the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission and impede its ramifications. Simultaneously, it is projected to have alternative greener energy resources to reduce the deleterious effect of biofuels on humans and the environment. The lignocellulosic biomass (LCB, an abundant feedstock) constitutes an important renewable resource with potential to replace non-renewable ones for energy production. The shift in the usage of natural resources projects biofuels on the forefront to overcome the growing energy crisis and offer a sustainable solution to the global warming to minimize its impact at the global scale. Offering a long-term viability, biofuels upholds a key component in the economic prosperity of a nation. This article highlights important aspects of feedstock selection, a concise and comprehensive account of the pre-treatment procedures, and enzymatic saccharification of the LCB employed in the biofuel production. Considering the biomass heterogeneity and optimization in predicting and managing the outputs and huge capital and operating expenditures, the study presents integration of the microbial saccharification with established biofuel technologies towards enhancing efficiency and overall productivity. Additionally, an account of the artificial technology and machine learning approaches employed in harnessing renewable resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, have been added. Holding a greater promise, the review adds to the need of developing robust and efficient LCB conversion methods to scale up and excel in sustainable energy production for a greener future.

Long-term agricultural reuse of treated wastewater and sewage sludge: developing a Time to Critical Content Index for metal species

This study evaluates the sustainability of spreading wastewater or sewage sludge on agricultural land, balancing benefits with contamination risks. Conventional ecological risk indices often fail to address the long-term accumulation of metals in soils. We investigate the feasibility of spreading based on current knowledge of potentially contaminating metals and their behavior in soil. We analyzed the speciation of metals (Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Ti, Zn) through sequential extraction in sludge, treated wastewater, and soils after 14 years of application of sewage sludge and treated wastewater issued from an Algerian wastewater treatment plant. We introduce a Time to Critical Content Index (TCCI) that calculates the time required to reach critical levels of potentially mobile metals, considering total metal content and speciation. The TCCI takes into account product knowledge, soil characteristics, metal behavior, ecological/toxicological thresholds, and regulations. Applied to our case study, the TCCI indicates that spreading sewage sludge can continue despite metal contents exceeding regulatory ceiling values. The index serves as a precautionary measure, adaptable to evolving knowledge, providing a comprehensive framework for sustainable agricultural practices.Graphical

Nitrogen modulates the ozone response of Mediterranean wheat: Considerations for ozone risk assessment

The experiment was conducted in an Open Top Chamber facility located in the Mediterranean basin to investigate how nitrogen (N) fertilization affects the response of wheat to ozone (O3) exposure. The study considered the response of Artur Nick, a modern wheat cultivar commonly used in the area, to three O3 exposure levels (ambient and elevated ambient, +20 and +40 nL L−1 O3), and two N fertilization doses (100 and 200 kg ha−1). Measurements included leaf gas exchange, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf and grain N content, plant growth and yield parameters. Ozone × N interactive effects were studied and quantified based on accumulated O3 concentrations above a 40 nL L−1 threshold (AOT40) and phytotoxic O3 dose (POD) indices, which are used in O3-risk assessments, from which critical levels (CL) for a 5 % effect were derived.Results revealed that O3 impacts on growth and yield parameters were stronger under the highest N fertilization dose. In consequence, O3 Critical Levels (CL) were as much as 3–4 times lower for grain yield in the high-N compared to the low-N treatment. Interestingly, O3 limited the fertilizer stimulus, strongly reducing the N use efficiency for grain yield and the agronomic efficiency of N for protein yield. Another important aspect was that 71 % of the POD was accumulated before anthesis, stressing the potential importance of O3 exposure during the vegetative phase of wheat under Mediterranean conditions, which is usually considered less important than post-anthesis exposure.In conclusion, this study suggests the need to consider crop N management in the derivation of O3 CLs, due to its effect on dose-response relationships used for CL derivation, including the potential O3 effects in N use efficiency. Therefore, N modulation could be considered in the O3-risk assessment methodology to be applied in risk exercises when negotiating air pollution abatement policies.

Effect of atmospheric density stratification on the generation of water waves by wind

The critical level instability mechanism for the generation of water waves by wind is re-examined for the situation when the atmosphere is density stratified. The density stratification is confined to the middle and upper atmosphere and then two cases are investigated. In case (A) no internal gravity waves are generated in the upper atmosphere and the effect of the density stratification is very small. In case (B) vertically propagating internal gravity waves form in the upper atmosphere and travel to infinity causing an energy loss, thus inhibiting the critical level instability in the lower atmosphere. Both cases are examined quantitatively for a logarithmic wind shear profile.

DETERMINATION OF CHANGES IN MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF METAL OF FEEDWATER PIPELINES BENDS AND “HOT” STEAM OF THE SECOND POWER UNIT OF PIVDENNOUKRAINSK NPP FOR THE SECOND 100,000 h OF OPERATION

An analysis of the results of periodic testing of hardness of metal of pipelines bends of power unit No. 2 of Pivdennoukrainsk Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP) after ~100,000 and ~200,000 h of operation was carried out. It is shown that during the operation of feedwater and “hot” steam pipelines during the second 100,000 h of operation, the aging of the metal is observed, which is manifested in a partial, at least in their surface layers, uneven decrease in the strength of the metal. An increased rate of aging of the metal of pipeline bends is observed in areas where the metal was subjected to the greatest plastic deformation during the pipe manufacturing process (compressed and stretched sides of the bends). The critical parameter among the normalized mechanical properties of bending metal is the tensile strength, which is the first to reach a critical level when extrapolating the obtained data. While maintaining the rate of change in the mechanical properties of the metal at the level of the second 100,000 h of operation for post-project operation, the projected residual resource of metal bends of feedwater pipelines and "hot" steam is ~590,000 and ~380,000 h, respectively.

FCC twins and martensites responses of metastable dual-phase high entropy alloy to friction stir processing

Fe50Mn30Co10Cr10 dual-phase high entropy alloy (DP-HEA) has good application prospects in the nuclear and automotive industries due to its strength-ductility synergistic effect. The initial volume fractions of FCC twins and HCP martensites in Fe50Mn30Co10Cr10 HEA affect the relative contribution of transformation-induced plasticity and twinning-induced plasticity to the alloy's strength and ductility under loading conditions. Understanding the relationship between FCC twins and martensites is crucial during the friction stir process (FSP). In this study, the microstructure of Fe50Mn30Co10Cr10 HEA as FSP condition was studied. The HCP phase in the base metal almost completely transformed into the FCC phase during FSP. Both FCC twin and HCP martensite transformations serve to alleviate strain in the FCC matrix. The initiation of FCC twin and martensite formation depends on critical stress levels at different temperatures. Higher strain and coarser grains promote more martensite formation, while finer grains and lower strain impede it, causing FCC twins to occur before HCP martensites during the cooling process of materials in the processed zone. These findings offer insights into controlling the volume fractions of twins and martensites in FSPed DP-HEA, thereby potentially enhancing the mechanical properties of DP-HEA.

Uptake and translocation of cadmium and trace metals in common rice varieties at different growth stages.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is an important nutritional grain for the majority of Asian countries, but it is also a major source of cadmium (Cd) accumulation. A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the Cd uptake and translocation of high Cd (IR-50) and low Cd (White Ponni) rice cultivars in Cd-contaminated soils. The findings revealed that Cd impacts on rice development and growth differed depending on rice cultivars. Soil Cd levels in the seedling stage exceeded the critical levels (3-6mgkg-1) only 5.0mgkg-1 Cd treatment for the IR-50 (7.47mgkg-1). At higher Cd treatments (1.0 and 5.0mgkg-1), morphometric characteristics and yield of grains showed a declining and increasing trend in both rice varieties, respectively. The accumulation of Cd was higher in soil and roots during seedling and tillering stages, whereas in booting and maturity stages increased in stems and leaves in IR-50 and WP rice varieties. Cd levels in rice grains above the maximum allowable limit (0.4mgkg-1) only in IR-50 (0.51mgkg-1) rice cultivar at maturity stage. The EF of Cd were classified as minor enrichment to 'moderate enrichment' in both rice cultivars. TF values exhibited > 1 in booting and maturity stages in both rice cultivars at higher Cd treatments. The study concluded that the IR-50 rice variety exhibited increased Cd intake and transported to various parts of rice plants, particularly grains. The findings indicate that WP rice cultivar is more resistant to Cd toxicity, reducing health hazards for persons who preferred the staple food rice.

Riedel shear structures reactivation may induce earthquakes through long-term steam injection: A case study of a heavy oil production field in northwestern China

Conventional heavy oil exploitation methods involve steam stimulation and flooding. An oil field in northwestern China has been producing heavy oil via steam injection for several decades. The production area has been seismically quiet until an increase in seismicity occurred several years ago. An array of 40 seismographs has been deployed between July and October 2021 to monitor seismicity and resolve the possible causes of the recent seismicity. Using an end-to-end machine-learning-based high-precision earthquake location workflow, we analyze a microseismic sequence comprised of 178 events that occurred in the study area. Numerical simulations incorporating Coulomb failure stress suggest that prolonged steam injection can reactivate faults and induce seismic events. Similarly, fluid diffusion through conduits may achieve the same effect. Analysis of the focal mechanism solutions of 21 strike-slip and thrust events with [Formula: see text] in conjunction with the background stress regime ([Formula: see text] azimuth = N15°W) reveal that the stress distribution is compatible with a left-lateral Riedel shear structure (RSS) model. Therefore, we can speculate that steam injection may induce earthquakes by reactivating preexisting RSS fault structures. To conclude, the recent seismic events could have been induced by two possible mechanisms: (1) long-term steam injection may cause the static stress level on the faults beneath the reservoir to build up to critical levels, following which a slight stress disturbance can trigger an earthquake and (2) fluid conduits may transport condensed water to basement faults, weakening the faults through fluid diffusion.

Unveiling innovation imperatives in agriculture: A data-driven framework for identifying latent needs and regional priorities

Innovation within a company, sector, or territorial context can arise from identifying specific problems or needs. Performance analysis provides valuable insights, potentially highlighting areas where innovation may be necessary. This paper outlines a methodology designed to identify latent innovation needs at regional, sectoral, and dimensional levels. This methodology is based on critical issues emerging from comparing economic, environmental, and social sustainability indicators of farms. An iterative approach is used for this purpose. Mixed matching algorithms are employed to form the comparison groups, while G-computation is used to calculate the differences. Logistic regression is adopted to calculate the propensity scores, and several generalized linear models are used to estimate the impact of regional localization. Hypothesis tests are then conducted to confirm the statistical significance of the impacts, from which criticality levels are derived. This methodology is applied to data collected by the Italian Farm Accountancy Data Network, which includes over 64,000 observations from two consecutive three-year periods (2016-2018 and 2019-2021). The results highlight the existence of widespread critical issues in Italian agriculture. These problems primarily concern the efficient use of water, whose costs, relative to revenue, exceed, on average, around 40 %, and greenhouse horticulture, which shows an increased criticality level in terms of sustainability of over 50 %. From a regional perspective, Puglia in Southern Italy exhibits the most evident critical issues, with an average criticality level of 30 % that has increased over time. The emerging criticalities are analyzed in relation to the interventions introduced by the 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy to verify their coherence and identify possible innovative actions that can be implemented.

Intensity Analysis Method of Acoustic Emission Signals for the Damage Monitoring of Post-Tensioned Concrete Beams.

Acoustic emission (AE) is well suited for the real-time monitoring and detection of damage in reinforced concrete structures. In this study, loading/unloading cycles up to failure were applied on three different full-scale beams, each with varying defect morphologies. An intensity analysis method was employed to assess the damage sensitivities of the defective structures under stress conditions. Specifically, the calm ratio, load ratio, severity, and historical index were identified as statistical parameters that can provide global information on the damage level. Consequently, they can be easily used as damage evolution indexes for reinforced concrete structures. Correlations between these parameters were investigated to better discriminate between their potentials and identify critical levels that might not be evident using parametric analysis. The AEI chart helps locate damaging areas, aiding focused repairs. For defected beams with broken strands, at low load, HI and SI fall in zone B (damage detected). At cycles 4 and 6, with significant deflection, they fall into a critical zone, E (severe damage). Comparing post-tensioned beams revealed defects correlating with damage susceptibility. B3 beams with diffused defects displayed high activity at higher loads. Applying a load-calm ratio chart, initial minor damage worsened progressively. Severe damage was prominent in defective B2 and B3 beams, reaching zone 3. The variation in the acquired parameters over time can then be considered as an affordable and reliable indicator of damage progression.

The effect of edible coating based on sodium caseinate and propyl gallate on the shelf life of minimally processed fennel during storage

This research aimed to study the effect of an active edible coating based on sodium caseinate (SC) and propyl gallate (PG) on the quality of minimally processed (MP) fennel during storage. The respiration rate (RR) of the MP fennel coated with SC of different concentrations (8 %, 10 % and 12 %) and without coating was evaluated at 10 °C to determine the best SC concentration. Thereafter, MP fennel without coating, with 8 % SC coating and with 8 % SC coating enriched with PG (0.13 mg mL−1) was evaluated for their effect on the microbial count and microbiota composition, weight loss, pH, total acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), colour, total polyphenols content and antioxidant capacity during storage (0, 7 and 15 days) at 4 °C. In addition, sensory analysis was performed to discriminate fresh samples from samples at different levels of visual quality. The results showed that 8 % SC coating decreased the RR to 20 %. During storage at 4 °C, weight loss increased up to 2% after 15 days of storage for all samples, whereas the pH, TA and TSS of MP fennels did not change significantly. The presence of the active coating affected the microbiota composition of the MP fennels, inhibiting some Enterobacteria species, thus leading to the predominance of Pseudomonas spp., which agrees with culture-based results. As the active compound has a positive impact on the total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity, in the absence of the active compound, the coating did not influence these parameters. A ΔE value of 3.7 was found to be the critical level of the quality index for MP fennels, as demonstrated difference from reference sensory test. Moreover, this research highlights that the browning process is the limiting factor for the product's shelf life.

Dynamics and control of typhoid fever in Sheno town, Ethiopia: A comprehensive nonlinear model for transmission analysis and effective intervention strategies.

This study presents a reliable mathematical model to explain the spread of typhoid fever, covering stages of susceptibility, infection, carrying, and recovery, specifically in the Sheno town community. A detailed analysis is done to ensure the solutions are positive, stay within certain limits, and are stable for both situations where the disease is absent and where it is consistently present. The Routh-Hurwitz stability criterion has been used and applied for the purpose of stability analysis. Using the next-generation matrix, we determined the intrinsic potential for disease transmission. It showing that typhoid fever is spreading actively in Sheno town, with cases above a critical level. Our findings reveal the instability of the disease-free equilibrium point alongside the stability of the endemic equilibrium point. We identified two pivotal factors for transmission of the disease: the infectious rate, representing the speed of disease transmission, and the recruitment rate, indicating the rate at which new individuals enter the susceptible population. These parameters are indispensable for devising effective control measures. It is imperative to keep these parameters below specific thresholds to maintain a basic reproduction number favorable for disease control. Additionally, the study carefully examines how different factors affect the spread of typhoid fever, giving a detailed understanding of its dynamics. At the end, this study provides valuable insights and specific strategies for managing the disease in the Sheno town community.

Association between COVID-19 Severity and Expression of Viral Nucleic Acid Sensor Genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Nasopharyngeal Epithelial Cells.

This study examined expression of key viral nucleic acid sensor genes MDA5, ZBP1, and AIM2 in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 153 COVID-19 patients across a spectrum of disease severity (mild, severe, and critical) and 42 healthy controls. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify and compare sensor transcript levels. The COVID-19 cohort had a mean age of 53.6 years. All three sensor genes including MDA5 (3.2-fold), ZBP1 (5.1-fold), and AIM2 (4.7-fold) exhibited significantly higher messenger RNA expression in both nasopharyngeal and PBMC samples from infected patients compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, sensor transcript upregulation positively correlated with escalating disease severity. During early stages, ZBP1 and AIM2 transcripts were selectively elevated within the nasopharyngeal compartment, suggesting a localized antiviral response. Whereas later during critical disease stages, ZBP1 and AIM2 levels became preferentially heightened within circulating PBMCs, indicating systemic immune cell activation. By comparison, MDA5 elevation manifested within nasopharyngeal epithelial cells during both early- and late-phase infection. Intriguingly, males displayed higher ZBP1 and AIM2 expression compared with females, whereas MDA5 transcript levels were conversely higher among females. Overall, escalation of these key viral sensor genes appears closely linked to COVID-19 progression, with initial nasal mucosal upregulation transitioning to widespread blood cell activation in severe systemic disease. These patterns of sensor expression suggest frontline immunological efforts to constrain early viral invasion and combat severe late-stage COVID-19 illness through innate detection of replicating SARS-CoV-2.