Inexpensive workflow for simultaneous monitoring of HIV viral load and detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection

BackgroundCOVID-19 pandemic interrupted routine care for individuals living with HIV, putting them at risk of becoming virologically unsuppressed and ill. Often they are at high risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease once infected. For this population, it is urgent to closely monitor HIV plasma viral load (VL) and screen for SARS-COV-2 infection.MethodWe have developed a non-proprietary method to isolate RNA from plasma, nasal secretions (NS), or both. HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and human RP targets in extracted RNA are then RT-qPCR to estimate the VL and classify HIV/SARS-CoV-2 status (i.e., HIV as VL failure or suppressed; SARS-CoV-2 as positive, presumptive positive, negative, or indeterminate). We evaluated this workflow on 133 clinical specimens: 40 plasma specimens (30 HIV-seropositive), 67 NS specimens (31 SARS-CoV-2-positive), and 26 pooled plasma/NS specimens (26 HIV-positive with 10 SARS-CoV-2-positive), and compared the results obtained using the in-house extraction to those using a commercial extraction kit.ResultsIn-house extraction had a detection limit of 200-copies/mL for HIV and 100-copies/mL for SARS-CoV-2. In-house and commercial methods yielded positively correlated HIV VL (R2: 0.98 for contrived samples; 0.81 for seropositive plasma). SARS-CoV-2 detection had 100% concordant classifications in contrived samples, and in clinical NS extracted by in-house method, excluding indeterminate results, was 95% concordant (25 positives, 6 presumptive positives, and 31 negatives) to those using the commercial method. Analysis of pooled plasma/NS showed R2 of 0.91 (contrived samples) and 0.71 (clinical specimens) for HIV VL correlations obtained by both extraction methods, while SARS-CoV-2 detection showed 100% concordance in contrived and clinical specimens.InterpretationOur low-cost workflow for molecular testing of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 could serve as an alternative to current standard assays for laboratories in low-resource settings.

Formation of Ferrosilicon Alloy at 1550°C via Carbothermic Reduction of SiO2 by Coal and Graphite: Implication for Rice Husk Ash Utilization

Ferrosilicon alloy has been commercially produced in an electric furnace at 1700 - 1750 °C, using quartz as a silica source. With an aim to reduce production cost, rice husk ash (RHA) had been introduced to the process as a silica source. The present study reports an in-depth investigation on the ferrosilicon alloy formation at 1550 °C via carbothermic reduction using RHA with coal and graphite. Blend A: RHA/Fe2O3/Coal and B: RHA/Fe2O3/Graphite were prepared according to the C/O molar ratio of 1/1. The well-mixed samples were compacted into a pellet and then heated at 1550 °C in the tube furnace for 30 and 60 minutes while the argon flowing at the rate of 1 L/min. XRD and SEM results show that the bulk metal mainly composes of FeSi phase, while SiC and other slag phases adhere at the surface of the droplet. Characteristics of the carbonaceous materials, especially ash oxides content affect the kinetic of ferrosilicon formation. Silicon concentration in the produced metal droplets was measured using an ICP technique. For blend A, Si content in the metal was 18.3 wt% and 81.9 wt% after 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. While, Si recovery in the metal for blend B reached 88.4 wt% since 30 minutes. The experimental results show that the production of ferrosilicon alloy from RHA can be produced at 1550 °C, which the temperature lower than that of the commercial method by 150-200 °C. The finding in this research is beneficial for ferrosilicon and agricultural industries and thus promotes the sustainable steelmaking industry.

Taxonomy and Grafting of Ornamental Cacti: A Review

Nowadays, cacti and succulents are widely utilized in landscaping. These plants suit very effectively for both indoor and outdoor decorations. The family Cactaceae comprises of 130 genera with 2000 species and this is primarily divided into three tribes namely: Pereskieae, Opuntieae and Cereeae. Cactus flowers are very attractive and are diverse in size, number, form and color. The nocturnal flowers are always white, with light-yellow or red tones, whereas diurnal flowers are white, purple, yellow-orange, red or green. Basically, an areole is a transformed axillary bud situated over a tubercle with spines and often with hairs and trichomes. Due to their low maintenance requirements and their ability to withstand harsh environments, cacti are extremely popular as ornamental plants across the planet. Cacti can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, offsets and grafts. Grafted cacti are now regarded as one of the most admired ornamental indoor plants worldwide. In cacti, grafting has become a commercial method of propagation to accelerate and hasten the growth rate of slow growing species, to ensure the survival of the plants with poor root system, to ensure the survival of genetic aberration of variegated and bright coloured cacti (red and yellow caps) that lack chlorophyll, to accelerate the growth of plants for commercial use, in order to keep cristate and monstrose forms look attractive. Successful grafts have been obtained when the species like Trichocereus spachianus, Trichocereus macrogonus, Trichocereus pachanoi, Hylocereus trigonus, Hylocereus undatus, Selenicereus grandiflorus, Opuntia bergeriana, Opuntia ficus-indica are grafted onto Nopalea spp. The exogenous application of IBA has a positive effect on the vegetative growth of grafted plants using (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii scion grafted onto Trichocereus spachianus rootstock.

Solar Trees: Shift from Grey to Green Sky for Future Fuel Pumps under Clean/Green Energy: India

Clean/green energy embraces renewable resources like bio, geo, hydro, oceanic, solar, and aeolian power. They are utilized in energy generation, heating and cooling processes, transport, domestic and urban niches. India has aimed to rise in its per capita energy use to rise by 40%, and emission cut/GDP pledge by 33-35% till 2030 compared to 2005 level by building extra carbon sink 2.5-3.0 billion MT CO2e by targeting renewable source to 175GW (100GW of Solar) by 2022. The killer SARSCoV-2 virus has the target and the clean/green energy growth. The reduction of CO2 has been depleted due to industrial, urban and transportation shut downs and the 2019 grey sky has converted old blue environment, Solar power plants considered to be best remedy for apocalyptic. The Solar tree or Solar Parks concept is novel and the most easy, economic and commercial method that can have utilities in all development sector. The work envisages the design by MATLAB (Simulink simulated). The fabrication of solar trees of 180 watt capacity in workshop including has been tested under different solar insulations. The result inferred that the solar tree can be a part to solar park, installed at fallow/hilly terrains in less area, low cost by 18.51%, with higher power generation by sustaining the environment serve as real trees. The solar trees near National Highways shall sell/hire batteries on commercial basis like fuel pumps and gas cylinders for supply to e-vehicles.

Physical Properties of Polyamide 11 after Radiation Cross-Linking by Accelerated Electrons

Radiation processing of polymers is a well-established and economical commercial method of precisely modifying the properties of polymers, especially physical properties. The physical properties of modified polyamide 11 samples by beta rays were measured at the ambient and elevated temperature. The tested samples showed significant changes of physical properties between ambient (23°C) and elevated (80°C) temperature. From this point of view, new applications could also be seen in areas where more expensive materials are used, especially for application in automotive industry.

Why Synthesizing Poly(1,4-Phenylene Sulfide) through Oxidative Polymerization Has not so far Been Adopted as the Industrial Process

Synthesis of poly (1, 4-phenylene sulfide) (PPS) through oxidative polymerization seems promising to us. Comparing with current commercial method to poly (1, 4-phenylene sulfide) from 1, 4-phenylene sulfide and sodium sulfide (Phillips’ Method), there are many advantages of the oxidative polymerization method. For example, it can synthesize PPS at normal temperature and pressure; the yield of reaction is very high; it provides pure PPS without salt contamination. However, several years have passed away; synthesis of poly (1, 4-phenylene sulfide) through oxidative polymerization has not so far been adopted as the industrial process. Many of us are puzzled, why? Through studying all kinds of reported preparation route to poly (1, 4-phenylene sulfide) through oxidative polymerization compared to Phillips’ Method, a generic polymerization mechanism is achieved for most of them excepting two with obvious shortcomings. We suddenly realize that synthesis of poly (1, 4-phenylene sulfide) through oxidative polymerization seems unsuitable to be used in industrial production recently because of its own limits.

Marine Current Meter Calibration Using GNSS Receivers, a Comparison with Commercial Method

Getting information from marine current requires that accurate and calibrated current meter is used. Current meter calibration is carried out in accordance with specific standard in calibration laboratories. To evaluate the performance and health of a current meter, one should compares velocity and heading it with a velocity and heading reference. In this paper, the innovative method for evaluate velocity and heading resulted from impeller marine current meter is presented. In this method, current meter is to be attached to buoy that is installed on it tow GNSS receivers; and by towing it in a lake, simultaneous velocity and heading of the current meter are recorded. Also data position of buoy by GNSS is recorded. Accurately calculated velocity and heading of buoy by using GNSS data to be used as a criterion to evaluate the current meter velocity and heading. Finally, the calibration equation that is known as the final result of the calibration process was determined for velocity and heading of current meter with reasonable accuracy. Also, current meter is tested in this paper evaluated commercial method in calibration laboratory. The results were compared with the results of the proposed method. The results indicated the success of the GNSS-based method for the Performance analysis of a marine current meter.

Thermo-Mechanical Properties and Tensile Behaviour of Modified HDPE by Beta Rays after Temperature Load at 220 °C

Radiation processing of polymers is a well-established and economical commercial method of precisely modifying the properties of polymers, especially thermo-mechanical properties. The tensile behaviour of modified HDPE samples by radiation cross-linking was measured at the ambient temperature and after temperature load at 220 °C. The tested samples showed significant changes of thermo-mechanical properties and tensile behaviour after 220 °C. From this point of view, new applications could also be seen in areas with service temperatures higher than their former melting point.