The Research of Site Supervision of Aids Screening Laboratory in Sichuan Province During 2011-2020: A Laboratory Capacity-based Continuity Study

Background: Expanding the scale of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is long-term strategy for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention and control. This study analyzes the capacity of HIV screening laboratory operation to find influencing factors and guarantee quality of test. The result could also provide reference value for management of AIDS laboratories in other provinces and even abroad.Methods: Randomly checking AIDS screening laboratories in 21 cities and counties (districts) every year and also filling out evaluation form of site supervision. Analyzing the influence factors of HIV screening laboratory operation though Logistic regression.Result: From 2011 to 2020, there were 68, 75, 81, 82, 87, 80, 33, 57, 85 and 87 HIV screening laboratories conducted site supervision respectively, of which 60(88.24%), 74 (98.67%), 76 (93.83%), 81(98.78%), 60(68.97%), 51(63.75%), 23(69.70%), 41(71.93%), 59(69.41%) and 60(68.97%) had excellent results. It was found that the excellence rate of each institution was relatively stable during 2011-2014, while the overall score of each regional laboratory in 2015 fluctuated significantly than 2015 before and all of excellence rate has declined. Hospitals and centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) were with higher frequency of assessment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found these following variables were significant influencing factors of laboratory quality, including staffing, standard operating procedure (SOP) and management system, periodic calibration of equipment, standardization of HIV testing, uniqueness of sample number, standardized use of quality control materials, standard drawing of quality control chart, biosafety facilities .Conclusion: The overall operation of HIV screening laboratories in the whole province is good and the quality management can normatively meet the requirements, which also meet the demand of expanding HIV testing. It also has lots of questions influencing laboratory quality, so each part is still strictly required to ensure laboratory work well.

A New Electrochemical Detection Technique for Organic Matter Content in Ecological Soils

The rapid detection of organic matter in soil is of great interest in agriculture, but the commonly used techniques require laboratory operation. Therefore, the development of a technique that allows rapid detection of soil organic matter in the field is of great interest. In this work, we propose an electrochemical-based approach for the detection of organic matter in soil particles. Since soil particles immobilized directly on the electrode surface can fall off during testing, we introduced graphene to coat the soil particles. The encapsulated soil particles can be stably immobilized on the electrode surface. We have investigated the electrochemical behavior of soil particles. The results show a correspondence between the electrochemical oxidation and reduction of soil particles and the organic matter content in them. We collected soil samples from three sites and constructed an electrochemical modeling, testing framework with stability based on multiple calibrations and random division of the prediction set. We used the equal interval partial least squares (EC-PLS) method for potential optimization to establish the equivalent model set. A joint model for the electrochemical analysis of organic matter in three locations of soil samples was developed for the commonality study.

Precursor Profiling of Extracted Pseudoephedrine Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) in Conjunction with Chemometric Procedure

Various methods for the clandestine manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) involve the extraction and subsequent reaction of pseudoephedrine salts with other essential chemicals. The precursor seized in clandestine laboratory operation is supplied from illegal sources or clandestinely extracted from decongestant tablets (despite the presence of excipients that serve to hamper re-extraction). This work reports the organic profiling of pseudoephedrine from a simulated clandestine extract of different decongestant tablets formulations. The study aims to determine the feasibility of the common extraction techniques in removing other excipients to obtain the precursor compound followed by compound identification of the extracted samples by both extraction techniques used namely direct and acid-base extraction. Five different brands of commercially available pseudoephedrine-based decongestant tablets (sample A, B, C, D, and E) at varying strengths were randomly purchased from various commercial pharmacies and reduced to homogenized powder. Samples were then subjected to direct and acid-base extraction procedures. Extracts were subsequently analyzed and profiled using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GCMS) separated using HP-5 MS PDMS column (30m x 250m x 0.25m). Mass spectra were collected with ionization voltage 70 eV, mass range from 40-450 m/z. Data acquisition was obtained with Chemstation software (Agilent, USA) and compounds were identified based on the drug and hydrocarbon library database (NIST 0.6 Version 2.0, USA) and previous literatures. Ethanol solvent recorded the best highest pseudoephedrine yield at 54% for direct simple extraction method from sample B, which was considerably pure as it contains the least excipients compared to the other brands. Meanwhile, acid-base extraction at basic pH in aqueous/diethyl ether (1:2) system at 10 mins agitation recorded higher pseudoephedrine yield (maximum 60.42%) across all the tablets proving that acid-base extraction improved pseudoephedrine purity even for tablets with the complex formulation. Additionally, the GCMS profile reveals the presence of minute excipients within the extracted product. Classification of pseudoephedrine obtained from direct and acid-base methods are shown by principal component analysis (PCA) which account for 77.3% and 78.9% total variation respectively. This information is regarded as chemical profiling useful for forensic intelligence and may assist authorities to combat illegal drug network.

Highly efficient difference-frequency generation for mid-infrared pulses by passively synchronous seeding

We have proposed and experimentally demonstrated a novel scheme for efficient mid-infrared difference-frequency generation based on passively synchronized fiber lasers. The adoption of coincident seeding pulses in the nonlinear conversion process could substantially lower the pumping threshold for mid-infrared parametric emission. Consequently, a picosecond mid-infrared source at 3.1 μm was prepared with watt-level average power, and a maximum power conversion efficiency of 77% was realized from pump to down-converted light. Additionally, the long-term stability of generated power was manifested with a relative fluctuation as low as 0.17% over one hour. Thanks to the all-optical passive synchronization and all-polarization-maintaining fiber architecture, the implemented laser system was also featured with simplicity, compactness and robustness, which would favor subsequent applications beyond laboratory operation.

Laboratory Management and Quality Control Practice of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Detection

Objective A positive result of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection provides critical laboratory evidence for clinical confirmed diagnosis, pandemic status evaluation, a pandemic prevention plan, treatment of infected people with symptoms, and protection of uninfected people. This study aims to provide a practical reference for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid–related research and detection. Methods Our laboratory has established policies combining personnel management and quality control practices for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection during the pandemic. Results In this article, we describe cross-department personnel management and key points of personal protection and quality control in the testing process. We also report on the differences in detection and the compatibility between different brand kits. Conclusion It is critical to maintain a standard and accurate laboratory operation for nucleic acid testing.

Challenges and Controversies to Testing for COVID-19

ABSTRACT The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has placed the clinical laboratory and testing for SARS-CoV-2 front and center in the worldwide discussion of how to end the outbreak. Clinical laboratories have responded by developing, validating, and implementing a variety of molecular and serologic assays to test for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This has played an essential role in identifying cases, informing isolation decisions, and helping to curb the spread of disease. However, as the demand for COVID-19 testing has increased, laboratory professionals have faced a growing list of challenges, uncertainties, and, in some situations, controversy, as they have attempted to balance the need for increasing test capacity with maintaining a high-quality laboratory operation. The emergence of this new viral pathogen has raised unique diagnostic questions for which there have not always been straightforward answers. In this commentary, the author addresses several areas of current debate, including (i) the role of molecular assays in defining the duration of isolation/quarantine, (ii) whether the PCR cycle threshold value should be included on patient reports, (iii) if specimen pooling and testing by research staff represent acceptable solutions to expand screening, and (iv) whether testing a large percentage of the population is feasible and represents a viable strategy to end the pandemic.

Basic Requirements of Laboratory Operation for Halal Analysis

Analysis of halal food requires that the laboratories conductive the tests adhere to international guidelines and standards. Common worldwide guidelines and standards for laboratory include the ‘International Organization for Standardization 17025’ (ISO 17025), the ‘Good Manufacturing Practice’ (GMP), and ‘Good Laboratory Practice’ (GLP). In halal analysis, the laboratory shall comply with ISO 17025, GMP, and ‘Good Hygiene Practice’ (GHP) as stated in the ‘Manual Procedure for Malaysia Halal Certification’ (MPPHM). This article discusses the basic requirements for laboratory practises, specifically for halal analysis. The study compares these international guidelines with ‘Malaysia Halal Standards’ to demonstrate that these international standards are combined with Islamic practices to produce valid test results using globally recognized best-practices. This promotes confidence in the halal laboratory’s work both nationally and internationally, and will thus improve international trade. Keywords: Halal analysis, ISO 17025, GMP, GLP, laboratory operation.

The Latest Studies on Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)-an Emerging Horticultural Model Plant

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is a perennial aquatic basal eudicot belonging to a small family Nelumbonaceace, which contains only one genus with two species. It is an important horticultural plant, with its uses ranging from ornamental, nutritional to medicinal values, and has been widely used, especially in Southeast Asia. Recently, the lotus obtained a lot of attention from the scientific community. An increasing number of research papers focusing on it have been published, which have shed light on the mysteries of this species. Here, we comprehensively reviewed the latest advancement of studies on the lotus, including phylogeny, genomics and the molecular mechanisms underlying its unique properties, its economic important traits, and so on. Meanwhile, current limitations in the research of the lotus were addressed, and the potential prospective were proposed as well. We believe that the lotus will be an important model plant in horticulture with the generation of germplasm suitable for laboratory operation and the establishment of a regeneration and transformation system.

Analisa Tingkat Kebisingan terhadap Karyawan di Lingkungan Kerja Kantor PT. Surveyor Indonesia Cabang Medan

<p><em>Noise is all unwanted sounds to some degree cause hearing loss. In the operation of PT.Surveyor Indonesia laboratory operation using some machines that cause noise that disrupt the workers. From result of research of noise level happened 68.93-89.12 dB and already exceeded the threshold in accordance with regulation of KEP-48 / MENLH / 11/1996. From the results of questionnaires distributed with the number of respondents 30 people. Tested the validity, reliability, and multiple linear regression analysis. The result of validity test value 0.631-0.944 this value&gt; from r table value 0.361 can be summed up all valid questions. The reliability test results of 0.601-0.908 this value&gt; of the cronbach alpha value of 0.600 can be summed up all reliable questions. Result of linear regression analysis obtained equation Y = -0.321-0.031-X1 + 0.076X2 + 1.114X3. Where X1 = communication, there is a negative relationship, X2 = physiology, positive relationship occurs, X3 = Psychology positive relationship occurs. The results of double correlation analysis test R = 0.701 this shows a strong relationship between noise to communication, physiology and psychology. And the result of coefficient test of regresi together with test F, obtained F arithmetic 8,392 and F table 2,975 so F count&gt; F table thus Ho rejected Ha accepted meaning there is influence signifikan between noise to communication, physiology and psikolgi worker.</em></p>