Lamp Test Research Articles

Effect of Dimming Wave Characteristics on LED Lamp Performance during Early Operational Life

HighlightsDimming waveform (leading edge, trailing edge, hybrid) did not affect lamp lumen depreciation in LED lamps used in poultry housing applications.From Flock 2 to 10, the rate of luminous flux decrease was not significantly different (P > 0.05) among waveform treatments and were -11.7, -12.7, and -14.2 lumen/flock for the leading edge, trailing edge, and hybrid waveforms, respectively.No lamp failures were recorded during this experiment, indicating that sources of catastrophic failure in commercial broiler house applications are likely due to the housing environment or quality of power distribution.ABSTRACT.Lamps based on light-emitting diode (LED) technology have been widely adopted in commercial poultry housing due to significant reductions in electrical power requirements. While significant design limitations were identified during the early adoption period, these initial challenges were mitigated as lamp design evolved. However, in recent years, premature lamp failures have been observed and may be linked to dimmer design and operation, specifically the method used to modulate the AC waveform. A dimmer and lamp test system was developed to evaluate the effects of dimming waveform (leading edge, trailing edge, and hybrid) on lamp failure and lamp lumen depreciation (LLD). Seven combinations of dimmer and dimming waveform were tested with dimmers from four different manufacturers using a lamp common in broiler houses. A run-time equivalent to ten 63d broiler flocks was completed (12,210 hours) using typical broiler house lighting program settings to assess lamp performance during the early operational life of LED lamps used in broiler houses. Lamp output (luminous flux) and lamp lumen depreciation rate were compared for all dimmer waveforms, and statistical analyses were conducted with a mixed model in SAS. Lamp output significantly increased by 15.7% during the first flock for all treatments (P = 0.0001). Lamp output began decreasing with the second flock at a rate of -11.7, -12.7, and -14.2 lumen/flock for the leading edge, trailing edge, and hybrid waveforms, respectively, and were not different (P > 0.05). No lamp failures were recorded during this experiment, indicating that sources of catastrophic failure in commercial broiler houses are likely due to the housing environment or quality of power distribution. Future research should focus on sources of power quality degradation and environment-based failures in broiler lighting systems and evaluation of mitigation methods, particularly at extended operational life. Keywords: Broiler, Dimming, Lighting, Poultry.

Optimization of Genetic Material Extraction Techniques and Application of Isothermal Amplification Method for Field Authentication of Two Thresher Sharks (Alopias pelagicus and Alopias superciliosus)

The pelagic thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus) and bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus) are important shark species for Indonesia's consumption and finning industry. Both Alopias species are included in the CITES appendix II, thus requiring certain documents for trading. Regarding species identification for on-site application, the DNA isolation method is a crucial step. In this study, we developed a DNA isolation method suitable for on-site application based on isothermal amplification (LAMP) and species-specific COI gene markers. Three different extraction methods were applied, namely modified spin column kits and dipsticks. The quality of DNA was evaluated and tested for isothermal amplification using a reference sample, fresh fillet, and ethanol-preserved sample. The extracted sample concentration was in the range of 135.35-0.65 ng/μL. The LAMP test showed that three different DNA extraction methods successfully amplified the DNA fragments through the color changes at the end point of the LAMP reaction. The LAMP test was also sufficient to detect less than 10 ng of DNA from A. pelagicus and A. superciliosus within 30-50 min. The DNA from the modified spin column and dipstick extraction method combined with LAMP can potentially be used to detect Alopias pelagicus and Alopias superciliosus species on-site.

Thermal reflectance of fabric in color temperature spectral domain

PurposeThis study aims to explore the thermal reflectance of fabrics under sunlight or other thermal radiation sources at various color temperatures.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzed the spectral distribution of sunlight at different solar altitude angles as well as the spectral distribution characteristics of other light and thermal radiation sources, pointing out that their color temperatures can be used to identify their spectral distribution domains. Reflectance, transmittance, absorptance and color temperature domain reflectance of 35 different fibers and color fabrics were tested in a wide spectral range. The different behavior of these optical parameters in the segmented spectrum is discussed. The temperature rise tests demonstrate that the reflectance corresponding to the color temperature of the radiation sources is highly correlated with the temperature rise results.FindingsThe reflectance in the color temperature domain shows a strong correlation with the radiation source at same color temperature. The correlation coefficients for the 6,000 K xenon lamp test are −0.96 and −0.90 in two groups, and for the 3,200 K tungsten iodine lamp test are −0.87 and −0.90 as well.Originality/valueThe concept of fabric thermal reflectance in the color temperature domain was first introduced to match different thermal radiation sources. Validation of temperature rise is conducted through a self-constructed tester with unidirectional adiabatic heating. This new discovery could serve as a basis for developing functional fabric or clothing, such as sun-proof clothing, fire protection clothing, etc.

Monitoring Escherichia coli in Water through Real-Time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification on Biochips.

Access to clean water is fundamental to public health and safety, serving as the cornerstone of well-being in communities. Despite the significant investments of millions of dollars in water testing and treatment processes, the United States continues to grapple with over 7 million waterborne-related cases annually. This persistent challenge underscores the pressing need for the development of a new, efficient, rapid, low-cost, and reliable method for ensuring water quality. The urgency of this endeavor cannot be overstated, as it holds the potential to safeguard countless lives and mitigate the pervasive risks associated with contaminated water sources. In this study, we introduce a biochip LAMP assay tailored for water source monitoring. Our method swiftly detects even extremely low concentrations of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water, and 10 copies/μL of E. coli aqueous solution could yield positive results within 15 min on a PC-MEDA biochip. This innovation marks a significant departure from the current reliance on lab-dependent methods, which typically necessitate several days for bacterial culture and colony counting. Our multifunctional biochip system not only enables the real-time LAMP testing of crude E. coli samples but also holds promise for future modifications to facilitate on-site usage, thereby revolutionizing water quality assessment and ensuring rapid responses to potential contamination events.

Robust and exceptional thermal insulating alumina-silica aerogel composites reinforced by ultra IR-opacified ZrO2 nanofibers

Fiber-reinforced alumina-silica aerogel composites (FASA), renowned for their high-temperature resistance, low thermal conductivity, and robust mechanical properties, have emerged as a promising candidate for aerospace thermal insulation, especially in harsh environments characterized by intense vibration and oxidation. However, a significant challenge persists in homogeneously doping opacifiers and minimizing thermal conductivity of FASA at elevated temperature, which remains a thorny issue. Herein, we propose a novel fiber-reinforced and opacified (FRO) strategy to fabricate the ZrO2 fiber-reinforced alumina-silica aerogel composites (ZFASA) that boast ultra-low thermal conductivity (0.031 W·m−1·K−1 at 1100 °C) and excellent mechanical strength (0.44 MPa for compressive strength at 10 % strain and 2.1 MPa for bending strength, maintaining intact even after being rolled by a 1.7 t car). Furthermore, ZFASA exhibits remarkable thermal stability, enduring quartz lamp and butane torch tests at 1300 °C without any obvious change. This work provides a simple yet effective FRO strategy, paving a new path for the preparation of thermal insulating aerogel composites. Consequently, the highly durable and exceptional thermally insulating ZFASA we have developed is poised to better satisfy the demands of the aircraft thermal protection systems in extreme heat environments.

Design and Development of a Fuzzy Logic-Based Temperature and Humidity Control System for Cricket Breeding Enclosures

Cicadas are insects that can be cultivated in Indonesia. The most common species of cicadas cultivated in Indonesia are Gryllus bimaculatus and Acheta domesticus. Cicadas are commonly used as livestock feed, including ornamental chickens, poultry, and birds, because of their high protein content. Cicadas cultivation in Indonesia is still mostly done manually, both in the process of controlling the environmental conditions around the cage and in the process of breeding cicadas eggs. One of the problems that often occurs is the temperature and humidity in the cicadas cage are not stable. Therefore, this research aims to design a system that can control the temperature and humidity in the cicadas cage. This system applies the fuzzy logic method to control actuators that can regulate the duration of spraying and the level of lighting needed in the cicadas cage based on the fuzzy rules that have been made. The components used in this system include Arduino uno, DHT22 sensor, relay, AC light dimmer, mist maker, lamp, and fan. The results of this research show that the temperature and humidity control system in a cicadas cage using fuzzy logic method with a predetermined setpoint has been realized. The accuracy testing of the DHT22 sensor obtained an error of 1.55% and a temperature accuracy rate of 98.44% and humidity of 1.66% with an accuracy rate of 97.64%. Then, the testing of the comparison results on the system and fuzzy simulation with the matlab application obtained an accuracy percentage in the mist maker testing of 97.37% and in the lamp testing of 98.81%.

Impact of species hybridization on the clinical management of schistosomiasis: A prospective study

BackgroundSpecies hybridization represents a real concern in terms of parasite transmission, epidemiology and morbidity of schistosomiasis. It is greatly important to better understand the impact of species hybridization for the clinical management. MethodsA prospective observational study was carried out in sub-Saharan migrants who were diagnosed with confirmed genitourinary schistosomiasis. A tailored protocol was applied, including Schistosoma serology, a specific urine LAMP tests for schistosomiasis and an ultrasound examination before treatment with praziquantel. A scheduled follow-up was performed at 3, 6 and 12 months to monitor treatment response, comparing patients carriers of Schistosoma hybrids with carriers of only genetically pure forms. ResultsA total of 31 male patients from West Africa were included in the study with a mean age of 26.5 years. Twelve (38.7 %) of the patients were carriers of Schistosoma hybrids. As compared with patients infected with S. haematobium alone, hybrid carriers had lower haemoglobin levels (13.8 g/dL [SD 1.8] vs 14.8 g/dL [SD 1.4], p = 0.04), a greater frequency of hematuria (100 % vs 52.6 %, p = 0.005), a higher ultrasound score (2.64, SD 2.20 vs 0.89, SD 0.99; p = 0.02). However, the presence of hybrids did not result in differences in clinical and analytical responses after treatment. ConclusionsThe presence of Schistosoma hybrids seems to cause increased morbidity in infected individuals. However, it does not appear to result in differences in diagnostic tests or in clinical and analytical responses after treatment.

An integrated microfluidic platform for nucleic acid testing

This study presents a rapid and versatile low-cost sample-to-answer system for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics. The system integrates the extraction and purification of nucleic acids, followed by amplification via either reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR) or reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT–LAMP). By meeting diverse diagnostic and reagent needs, the platform yields testing results that closely align with those of commercial RT-LAMP and RT‒qPCR systems. Notable advantages of our system include its speed and cost-effectiveness. The assay is completed within 28 min, including sample loading (5 min), ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction (3 min), and RT-LAMP (20 min). The cost of each assay is ≈ $9.5, and this pricing is competitive against that of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved commercial alternatives. Although some RNA loss during on-chip extraction is observed, the platform maintains a potential limit of detection lower than 297 copies. Portability makes the system particularly useful in environments where centralized laboratories are either unavailable or inconveniently located. Another key feature is the platform’s versatility, allowing users to choose between RT‒qPCR or RT‒LAMP tests based on specific requirements.

High-Performance, Easy-to-Fabricate, Nanocomposite Heater for Life Sciences and Biomedical Applications.

Microheaters are used in several applications, including medical diagnostics, synthesis, environmental monitoring, and actuation. Conventional microheaters rely on thin-film electrodes microfabricated in a clean-room environment. However, low-cost alternatives based on conductive paste electrodes fabricated using printing techniques have started to emerge over the years. Here, we report a surprising effect that leads to significant electrode performance improvement as confirmed by the thorough characterization of bulk, processed, and conditioned samples. Mixing silver ink and PVA results in the solubilization of performance-hindering organic compounds. These compounds evaporate during heating cycles. The new electrodes, which reach a temperature of 80 °C within 5 min using a current of 7.0 A, display an overall 42% and 35% improvement in the mechanical (hardness) and electrical (resistivity) properties compared to pristine silver ink electrodes. To validate our results, we use the composite heater to amplify and detect parasite DNA from Trypanosoma brucei, associated with African sleeping sickness. Our LAMP test compares well with commercially available systems, confirming the excellent performance of our nanocomposite heaters. Since their fabrication relies on well-established techniques, we anticipate they will find use in a range of applications.

The Role of Saliva in Examining for SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19 (Corona Virus Infection Disease-19), an infectious disease (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2)virus which was first confirmed on December 2, Wuhan, China, in 2019 and very quickly world-wide. World Health Organization (WHO) declared it on March 11th, 2020,fever, cough, and breathing difficulties are all common symptoms. The gold standard for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection is the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)by detecting viral RNA using nasopharyngeal swabs and other respiratory specimens. However, this process necessitates the use of specialist medical staff, centralized laboratory facilities, and a lengthy period of time for results to be obtained. Besides that, the possibility of virus transmission is not negligiblefor procedure's operator. Due to this reason, several investigations have shown that other bodily fluids, like as saliva, could be used to identify SARS-CoV-2. Saliva is used as a diagnostic sample has many advantages: it is easy to collect samples by the patient themselves with a fairly comfortable procedure, does not require health personnel with special expertise to manage it, and reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to the operator. Currently, there are several alternative tests for SARS-CoV-2 which have simpler and more efficient procedures, such as antigen based rapid diagnostic tests, antibody based rapid diagnostics, and RT LAMP tests. This examination is suitable for screening and mass examination, but cannot be used as a primary diagnostic tool because the sensitivity and specificity are not as high as rRT-PCR.

The Impact of Stabilization Time on Lumen and Electrical Power in LED Tube Lamp Testing

- In 2022, the Indonesian Government issued a policy regarding Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy-saving mark labels for Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps. Therefore, testing laboratories or lamp manufacturers should know that the stabilization time will affect the test results. LED lumen changes rapidly during the first 30 minutes, so taking data earlier during the test may lead to different test results. The results also show that the lumen fluctuation will be lower when the run time is 45 minutes or more. Stabilization time is essential when measuring LED tube lights, so a stabilization time of 45 minutes is the most effective for data collection.

Estandarización de una prueba isotérmica como una nueva herramienta diagnóstica en México para la detección molecular de Chlamydia abortus en pequeños rumiantes

Ovine Enzootic Abortion (OEA) is caused by Chlamydia abortus and has recently been recognized as endemic in Mexico. Due to the impact of OEA on intensive lamb production, it is necessary to establish a sanitary control plan based on an efficient diagnosis. The loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique (LAMP) is a molecular test that can specifically identify C. abortus. The aim of this study was to standardize the LAMP technique for the specific detection of C. abortus from ovine vaginal exudate. Primers were identified and modified from an electronic database. The effective conditions of the technique were determined using synthetic DNA and positive biological samples by PCR as references. The assay detection limit was 1 × 10-5 of genetic material, equivalent to 8.5 copies. The standardized LAMP test is proposed as a novel molecular tool for the rapid and specific diagnosis of C. abortus infection from ovine vaginal exudate samples in Mexico.

P32 Performance of a novel molecular test designed for point-of-care UTI diagnosis

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the performance of a novel LAMP-based molecular test for the diagnosis of UTIs. The Llusern Scientific UTI test system consists of a panel of six uropathogen tests, positive and negative controls and an analyser, ‘Lodestar DX’ (Figure 1). The analyser will read the reaction data and give the user a simple ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ read out for each uropathogen. The specific aim was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the test system for the most common uropathogen, Escherichia coli. Figure 1.Lodestar DX. Methods In total, 149 urine samples received by Public Health Wales laboratories, Cardiff were randomly selected; 1 μL of each urine sample was added directly to each pre-made E. coli LAMP test. E. coli LAMP tests were placed into the Lodestar DX analyser and run. Results were shown and recorded after 40 minutes as ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ according to the decision of Lodestar's algorithm. LAMP results were compared to standard culture results and sensitivity and specificity calculated. Results Overall sensitivity of the E. coli LAMP test was 86.2%. Specificity was 88.3% (Table 1). Of the 14 samples positive in the LAMP test for E. coli but not recorded as E. coli using culture, 11 were from ‘mixed growth’ samples (Table 2). Table 1.Sensitivity and specificity of E. coli LAMP testLAMP positiveLAMP negativeTotalCulture positive25 (true positives)4 (false negatives)29Culture negative14 (false positives)106 (true negatives)120Total39110149Overall sensitivity((25/29) × 100) = 86.2%Overall specificity((106/120) × 100) = 88.3% Table 2.Results of LAMP compared with culture resultsCulture resultnE. coli Lodestar LAMP resultpositiveinconclusivenegativeE. coli positive292504Other pathogen positive121011Mixed growth6111050No growth472045Total149390110 Conclusions The Llusern Scientific UTI test system shows great promise as a point-of-care diagnostic tool. Sensitivity and specificity for E. coli was high and the test system may be better at diagnosing mixed infections which represent a high proportion of all culture results. The test system is easy to use with no sample processing and minimal training requirements. Test results are available in 40 min, compared to 24–72 h for culture results. The performance of the test system for the detection of other uropathogens (Klebsiella, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Proteus and S. saprophyticus) is ongoing. Sensitivity can be further improved by refining the test method.

Low Prevalence of Schistosoma mekongi Infection and High Prevalence of Other Helminth Infections among Domestic Animals in Southern Lao People's Democratic Republic.

The prevalence of Schistosoma mekongi in humans in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has been relatively well monitored and has decreased due to effective interventions such as preventative chemotherapy with mass drug administration of praziquantel and community awareness programs. However, the prevalence among potential domestic reservoir animals remains broadly unclear, except for a few villages in the endemic area. Therefore, we conducted S. mekongi surveys for the domestic animals that had contact with Mekong River water. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the domestic animals in the seven sentinel villages in the Khong and Mounlapamok Districts of Champasak Province in southern Lao PDR in 2018 by random sampling with a statistically reliable sample size. Stool samples of the five predominant domestic animal species, cattle (n = 160), pig (n = 154), buffalo (n = 149), dog (n = 143), and goat (n = 85), were collected and examined using parasitological FECT method and the LAMP technique. The microscopic analysis did not detect any eggs of S. mekongi in the stool samples of any animal species. However, S. mekongi DNA was detected by the LAMP test in dog stool samples (0.7%; 1/143). On the other hand, the prevalence of other helminths was quite high and heterogeneous among animal species and sentinel sites by the microscopic analysis. These findings suggested that an intervention for S. mekongi infection should focus solely on human populations. However, periodic surveillance for S. mekongi infection among dogs should be conducted to monitor a possible resurgence of S. mekongi infection in the domestic animal population.

Polymorphism analysis of drug resistance markers in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Benin

Like most countries in sub-Saharan African countries, Benin continues to bear a heavy malaria burden. In 2014, the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) changed its treatment policy, and recommended the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) as first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum cases. The study presented here was conducted to investigate the impact of current antimalarial drug resistance on the country. Molecular surveillance targeting the Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfkelch13, dhfr, and dhps genes was carried out on samples from patients positive for P. falciparum malaria by microscopy, LAMP and PCR diagnostic test. Molecular analysis was performed using targeted amplicon deep sequencing (TADS). In addition, the frequency of parasites with dual deletion of the histidine-rich protein 2 and 3 genes (pfhrp2 and pfhrp3), known to be responsible of the performance of HRP-based malaria rapid diagnostic tests (HRP-RDT), was estimated. Fifty-three falciparum samples collected at the Saint Jean de Dieu hospital in Tanguiéta, Benin, were tested. No Pfkelch13 validated or candidate artemisinin partial resistant variants were identified. A marked prevalence of Asn51Ile (N51I), Cys59Arg (C59R), and Ser108Asn (S108N) mutant alleles was found in the dhfr gene, representing the most frequent genotype (64%). Five-point mutations were detected in dhps, Ile431Val (I431V), Ser436Ala (S436A), Ala437Gly (A437G), Ala581Gly (A581G), Ala613Ser (A613S) of which the third was the most common (92%). No mutation was identified in dhps Lys540Glu (K540E). The quintuple mutant genotype resulting from the combination of the dhfr triple mutant (51I/59R/108N) with the dhps double mutant 436A/437G was detected at a frequency of 30%. Low levels of mutations in Pfcrt and no mutation at codon 86 in the Pfmdr1 DNA fragment were observed, whereas a high level of Tyr184Phe (Y184F) polymorphism in the Pfmdr1 gene was found. These results could be indicative, over a decade after the implementation of ACT therapy, of the return of chloroquine-sensitive but artemether-lumefantrine resistant falciparum genotypes in Benin. There was no evidence of HRP2 and HRP3 deletions. Data from the present study support the need for routine monitoring of molecular markers of antimalarial drug resistance as part of surveillance activities aimed to make informed treatment policy decisions at the national level.

Ocular Surface Changes among Smokers

Background: The ocular surface has been defined as the parts of the eye that are exposed 40directly to the external environment (conjunctiva, cornea, limbus, and the overlying tear fil m). The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in the ocular surface among smokers.
 Methods: This study included 100 subjects from both sexes, age ≥ 18 years, current smoker (a person who has smoked more than 100 cigarettes in his lifetime and continues to do so) and all types of smoking. patients were classified into two groups: smokers (current smokers) (55 cases) and non-smokers (45 cases) who have never smoked and did not have smokers in their first-degree relatives to rule out the effect of passive smoking. All patients were subjected to, acuity of vision measurement, investigation with a slit lamp and special tests (schirmer 2 test, time required for tear breakup, lower tear meniscus height measurement and staining of the ocular surface). 
 Results: (Ocular Surface Disease Index) OSDI score was significantly different between non-smokers and smokers with P value 0.01. Schirmer 2 test values were significantly decreased in smokers more than non-smokers with P value <0.001. TBUT was significantly lower in smokers more than non-smokers with P value <0.001. T.M height was significantly lower in smokers more than non-smokers. Conjunctival staining was significantly higher in smokers than non-smokers with P value <0.001 and there was significant increase in punctate corneal staining in smokers than in non-smokers with P value <0.001. `1234567890-.
 Conclusions: Smoking influences the secretion and the tear film's stability; corneal and conjunctival staining was shown to be more prevalent in smokers. Also smoking generates symptoms of eye irritation, smokers are more prone to have dry eyes, and the degree of dry eye is greater in smokers than in non-smokers. Additionally, the severity of symptoms of dry eyes increased with increasing the amount of smoking.

Photodegradation Mechanism of Biopolymer Blended with High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Synthetic polymer such as polyethylene is used widely in industry, agricultures and daily life owing to its relatively low price and good mechanical and processing properties. These synthetic polymers are, however, often not environmentally friendly because they typically do not undergo the process of biodegradation and, of course, are dependent on a limited petroleum resource. Therefore, concerns on environmental problems caused using of non-degradable petrochemical polymers have caused an increasing interest in degradable polymers especially biopolymers from crop plants. Biopolymers have much potential and several advantages, but they possess some drawbacks as well. Despite increasing production capacity, they are still quite expensive compared to commodity polymers and their properties are also often inferior, or at least do not correspond to the expectation of converters or users. This concept has led to the development blending of biopolymer and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). In this study, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% of Biopolymer (BP) was blended with HDPE known as BBP5, BBP10, BBP15, BBP20, BBP25 and BBP30 were prepared by melt-mixing process by using Brabender Plastograph® EC machine. BBP5, BBP10, BBP15, BBP20, BBP25 and BBP30 then were exposed in UV weatherometer by using UV Lamp Test Chamber Model HD-703 at different UV exposure, which is 250h, 500h, 750h,1000h, 2000h, and 3000h. Physical properties and photodegradation mechanism development of BBP5, BBP10, BBP15, BBP20, BBP25 and BBP30 were examined by means of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) at different UV exposure. The photodegradation mechanism of BBP5, BBP10, BBP15, BBP20, BBP25 and BBP30 shows relationship with the Norrish type I and Norrish type II reaction as indicated the possibilities of blended polymer degradation process was occurred.

Rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swab samples of suspected patients using a novel one-step loop-mediated isothermal amplification (one-step LAMP) technique

BackgroundIn the absence of effective antiviral drugs or vaccines, early and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study developed and evaluated a novel rapid One-Step LAMP assay to directly detect the SARS-CoV-2 RNA from nasopharyngeal (NP) swab samples of patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection living in deprived areas in comparison to One-Step Real-time PCR.MethodsTwo hundred fifty-four NP swab samples from patients suspected of COVID-19 infection living in deprived western areas of Iran were tested by TaqMan One-Step RT-qPCR and fast One-Step LAMP assays. Tenfold serial dilutions of SARS-CoV-2 RNA standard strain where the viral copy number in each dilution was previously determined using the qPCR and various templates were used to investigate the analytical sensitivity and specificity of the One-Step LAMP assay in triplicate. Also, the efficacy and reliability of the method compared to TaqMan One-Step RT-qPCR were evaluated using SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative clinical samples.ResultsThe results of the One-Step RT-qPCR and One-Step LAMP tests were positive in 131 (51.6%) and 127 (50%) participants, respectively. Based on Cohen’s kappa coefficient (κ), the agreement between the two tests was 97%, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The detection limit for the One-Step LAMP assay was 1 × 101 copies of standard SARS-CoV-2 RNA per reaction in less than an hour in triplicates. Negative results in all samples with non-SARS-CoV-2 templates represent 100% specificity.ConclusionsThe results showed that the One-Step LAMP assay is an efficient consistent technique for detecting SARS-CoV-2 among suspected individuals due to its simplicity, speed, low cost, sensitivity, and specificity. Therefore, it has great potential as a useful diagnostic tool for disease epidemic control, timely treatment, and public health protection, especially in poor and underdeveloped countries.

High-Performance PCR for Alleles Discrimination of Chromo-Helicase-DNA Binding Protein (CHD1) Gene in Bird Sexing.

Genetic analyses aiming at assessing the presence of specific sequences or alleles are often carried out by PCR. Sexing of most birds is nowadays based on PCR with "universal" primers and relies on the assessment of the presence of the sex-linked CHD1-Z and -W alleles. The entire workflow is relatively time-consuming, especially for batch analyses, whereas methods that allow carrying out the entire procedure in a short time are highly desirable. The only method for outdoor analyses reported so far relies on LAMP; however; it fails to work properly in Procellariiformes. Besides improving the LAMP test; we have developed a PCR-based DNA amplification procedure (named high-performance PCR); whose unique features allow it to outperform standard PCR; making possible the direct, in-tube visual reading of results. We tested it with specifically designed Procellariiformes-targeted primer sets for rapid sexing of the birds using fluorimetric detection. The protocol, combined with rapid DNA extraction, allows for fast reading of results without electrophoresis within less than 1 h from sampling. The technique could be extended to other species, as well as to many other applications.

Recovery and Reuse of Valuable Chemicals Derived from Hydrothermal Carbonization Process Liquid

Recovery and reuse of valuable chemicals from hydrothermal carbonization process liquid (HTC-PL) from tomato plant biomass (TPB) was conducted. Different HTC-PLs were characterized with FTIR and Py-GC-MS analyses revealing the presence of low molecular weight linear, cyclic, and aromatics compounds in the HTC-PL. Separation of these valuable chemicals by fractional distillation resulted in eutectic constrains. Solvent extraction separation followed by solvent recovery and reuse provided encouraging results. The non-polar portion of HTC-PLs were extracted by using n-hexane (C6H14), and diethyl ether (C2H5)2O solvents with 8.5 and 4.3% recoveries, respectively. Characterization by FTIR and Py-GC-MS revealed petrol fuel like materials in the extracts of C6H14 and (C2H5)2O, irrespective of higher boiling components. Blends of both non-polar extracts were flame tested revealing good burning characteristics with minimal smoke and residue. Bench scale spirit lamp tests showed the blend would be very useful for greenhouse winter heating. The polar extracts using methylene chloride (CH2Cl2) resulted in about 55% recovery. Py-GC-MS analysis revealed acetic acid and 5-Hydroxymethyl furfural (5HMF) majors in the extract along with related derivatives. 5HMF is a valued chemical and demonstrated to be a useful building block for many industrial applications, and flatform chemical for various synthesis. Other identified minor components of HTC-PL were vanillin, divinyl terephthalate, and syringol. After the extractions of polar and non-polar components in three steps, the HTC-PL residue was applied as nutrient source after maintaining pH (5.6) and concentration (TOC, 100–200 mg/L) to typical greenhouse plants. Plant growth was encouraging. The paper discusses all the potential valued reuse applications of HTC-PL in greenhouses without discharges, which contributes to environmental protection and economic benefits.