Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Era of COVID-19

Antimicrobial resistance is a slow-growing phenomenon that could even be a reason for a future pandemic. Due to inappropriate diagnosis and consumption of antibiotics, the bacteria have become resistant to the antibiotics used. In the era of COVID-19, this blind consumption of antibiotics has rapidly increased due to the period of quarantine and fear of the disease. Ligue to the fear of the pandemic, especially in ru, rural areas, many patients avoid going to the hospital and consuming antibiotics without any prescription. Various retrospective studies have shown a relationship between bacterial co-infection and AMR, which is increased in the era of COVID-19. Also, the secondary bacterial infections associated with the pandemic of COVID-19 have added to the risk of antimicrobial resistance. The viral effect on the respiratory system is favorable for bacterial infection, as in the case of COVID-19 affecting the respiratory tract followed by co-bacterial infection in some cases. COVID-19 has affected AMR in many aspects. Proper antibiotic resistance tests should be performed before prescribing any antibiotics to the patient to reduce the chances of AMR, especially in such an obnoxious situation of COVID-19. This crucially calls for a brand new and effective plan of action to attenuate the influence of the pandemic on antimicrobial resistance. Statistics of various countries in matters of antimicrobial resistance have shown an increase in AMR due to the concentration of health workers, researchers, and population on the pandemic associated with COVID-19. This calls for the necessity to aware the population worldwide about antimicrobial resistance and how it could be a hidden menace in the future and could probably prove to be a matter of concern as it would worsen the condition of the patients in a particular disease and would decrease the various possible aspects of the treatment especially in case of treatment based on antibiotics.

Estimation of the chemical resistance of polyurethane compounds used in the manufacture of diaphragms of diaphragm-piston pumps

This study presents chemical resistance tests for three different grades of polyurethane bicomponent compounds: PolyFlex 80A, Silagerm 6080 and Advaform Mark 80. Samples of polyurethane bicomponent compounds were prepared in the form of squares, with a thickness not exceeding 3 mm. They were placed in previously prepared containers with aggressive technical me-dia: Lazurit herbicide, Rakurs fungicide and MAXCUT HD SAE 30 mineral motor oil. These technical media were selected taking into account the processing of agricultural legumes, and the concentration of preparations was calculated specifically for soybeans. The selected mineral motor oil MAXCUT HD SAE 30 is used in many pumping equipment used in the agri-cultural industry. According to the results of the study, it was proved that the greatest effect on the samples is exerted by the herbicide “Lazurit”, in which they swell and increase in weight. The experiment carried out to evaluate the chemical resistance of polyurethane compounds showed that the best materi-al for the manufacture of diaphragms used in piston diaphragms is Adva-form Mark 80. This type of two-component polyurethane compound has the best chemical resistance to the investigated chemically active substances.

Processing and Testing of Reinforced PA66 Based Composites

The new requirements in different sectors, such as aerospace, automotive and construction, for lightweight materials have led to an increase in demand for composite materials suitable for use in high rate production processes, such as plastic injection. This makes it necessary to look for matrices and reinforcements that, in addition to being compatible with each other, are also compatible with the injection process. It is in this area of research where the work presented here arises. To meet the two requirements mentioned above, this study contemplates a battery of composite materials obtained by combining PA66 and fiberglass, in different proportions and configuration, both for the preparation of the matrix and for reinforcement. For the elaboration of the matrix, two options have been evaluated, PA66 and PA66 reinforced at 35% with short glass fibre. To obtain reinforcement, six different options have been evaluated; two conventional fiberglass fabrics (each with different density) and four hybrid fabrics obtained from the previous ones by adding PA66 in different configurations (two over-stitched fabrics and two other fabrics). The different composite materials obtained were validated by means of the corresponding adhesion, peeling and resistance tests.

Composites and coatings based on the Si‒B4C‒ZrB2 glass-forming system modified with carbon-containing materials

The paper studies the effect of carbon-containing materials (graphite, shungite carbon and acetylene soot) on the properties of composites and coatings based on the Si‒ B4C‒ZrB2 glass-forming system. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyzes, thermal resistance tests were carried out, the phase composition was determined, and the surface morphology of the coatings was also studied. It is shown that with the introduction of carbon additives, the area of the vitrified surface of the coating increases, in connection with this, the resistance of the material to high temperatures and other aggressive media improves.

Assessment of the Possibility of Using Fly Ash from Biomass Combustion for Concrete

This article analyses the possibility of using fly ash from the combustion of wood–sunflower biomass in a fluidized bed boiler as an additive to concrete. The research shows that fly ash applied in an amount of 10–30% can be added as a sand substitute for the production of concrete, without reducing quality (compression strength and low-temperature resistance) compared to control concrete. The 28-day compressive strength of concrete with fly ash increases with the amount of ash added (up to 30%), giving a strength 28% higher than the control concrete sample. The addition of fly ash reduces the extent to which the compression strength of concrete is lowered after low-temperature resistance tests by 22–82%. The addition of fly ash in the range of 10–30% causes a slight increase in the water absorption of concrete. Concretes containing the addition of fly ash from biomass combustion do not have a negative environmental impact with respect to the leaching of heavy metal ions into the environment.