Abstract\nText SARS – CoV-2 is a pathogenic coronavirus which continuously evolve as changes in the genetic code occur during replication of the genome. Real-Time PCR analysis is the main standard for identification of SARS-CoV-2- infection. Because there are limits in its utilization for large-scale screening, serological assays have been used for detecting SARS-CoV-2 presence. \nThe aim of this study is to compare and highlight the efficiency of these methods in COVID-19 diagnostics. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 1198 patients which were analyzed after with RT-PCR. 90 of these patients resulted positive with SARS-CoV-2 virus and 55 of them were subjected to CLIA serological assay. As a result, 49 (89.1%) patients were positive only for IgG, 4 (7.3%) patients were positive for both antibodies IgG and IgM and only 2(3.6%) patients were negative for both antibodies, based on serological results. However, both assays had better performance 8-10 days after symptoms appearance, meanwhile the serological assay was more predictable at least 10 days after symptoms appearance. The serological assay used in this study helps in a better monitoring of the patients whom resulted positive with RT-PCR, especially to define the infection stage. As a conclusion, serological assay is limited in usefulness when diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection but it is useful to provide information in patient’s immunoreaction to COVID-19 exposure. A combination of both molecular analysis and serological assays is the most effective way to diagnose this virus. \nKeywords: SARS-CoV-2; Covid-19; CLIA serological assay; RT-PCR
The present study was conducted in the year 2020 at SKUAST-Jammu, to explore the variability in soil physical (bulk density, porosity, available water content, maximum water holding capacity) and chemical properties (soil organic carbon, available N, P, K, S and Zn) under different land use systems. The results showed that soil of different land use systems was found slightly acidic to neutral (6.6-7.2 pH) in nature. The mean values of soil physical properties bulk density, porosity, available water and maximum water retention capacity varied from 1.3 to 1.58 gcc-1, 40.25 to 50.78 %, 10.60 to 20.40 %, and 29.58 to 40.94, respectively. The SOC varied from 0.45 to 1.14 %. While the MWHC of the soils is non-limiting in most part except some isolated patches. The mean values of available N, P, K, S (kg ha-1) ranged from 169.24 to 358.63, 10.50 to 26.73, 101.19 to 359.81, and 8.24 to 22.45, respectively. Better soil physico chemical status was observed under forest soil over other land use. Results suggested that about 80% portion of the district were found to be deficient in zinc content with poor soil physical status which is harmful for root growth of the plants. This information can assist us for optimizing fertilizer and management practices which may need urgent attention.
The agricultural segment produces a substantial quantity of agro-waste, the bulk of which is not effectively used and is causing jeopardy to both human health and the environment. Hence, agro-waste management in the agricultural sector has become a significant concern. Because agro residues are rich with crucial promising novel biologically active phytochemicals, consuming this agro-waste as a starting material in creating new products, especially pharmaceutical products, is an area of great interest. Besides, the exploitation of agro-waste in the development of pharmaceutical products also backs the goal of sustainable development in a circular economy. Pharmaceutical product development based on novel biologically active phytochemicals from agro-wastes has been widely researched in recent years, such as wound patches for wound dressing application. Developing an environmentally friendly green wound patch using agro-waste will contribute to the proper management of agro-waste and reduce environmental pollution. This review addresses the possibilities, advantages and prospects of agro-waste applications for wound patch development, allowing agro-waste use in pharmaceutics.
Application of cementitious material is a well accepted supplement to enhance the strength of concrete composites. This is due to its improvement characteristics and overall economic feasibility. The present paper aims to evaluate the strength efficiency of GGBFS in Roller Compact Concrete (RCC) mixes with finenesses of 1500cm2/gr and 2850cm2/gr at 28 and 90 days respectively. The investigation involved assessing the effect of replacement levels of 0, 25, 50 and 75 percent of GGBFS on strength efficiency of GGBFS (k). Results show that increase in the GGBFS fineness correspondingly enhances the strength efficiency in RCC mixes.
Three different methods, co-precipitation, impregnation and sol-gel techniques were employed to examine temperature effect to optimize the light olefins selectivity using Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS). The results illustrated that Fe/Mn/Al2O3 catalyst which is prepared by the impregnation method had the less methane selectivity and obviously the more selectivity to light olefins had the highest chain growth probability based on heavier hydrocarbon formation but it had more CO2 selectivity than the other techniques.
Titanium oxide thin films of 66 nm thickness at different deposition angles of 0, 25 and 35 degrees were deposited on glass substrates at room temperature, using resistive evaporation method under UHV conditions. The optical spectra were measured by spectrophotometer in the spectral range of 300 −1100 nm wave length (UV-VIS). The optical constants such as, real part of refractive index (n), imaginary part of refractive index (k), real and imaginary parts of dielectric function (ε1 , ε2) respectively and absorption coefficient(α), were obtained using the Kramers-Kronig analysis of reflectivity curves.\nBand-gap energy (Eg) was also estimated for these films. The structural details were determined by AFM and XRD methods. The relation between nanostructures and optical properties was also discussed.
This article proposes a novel Pareto-based multi-objective meta-heuristic algorithm named non-dominated ranking genetic algorithm (NRGA) to solve multi-facility location-allocation problem. In NRGA, a fitness value representing rank is assigned to each individual of the population. Moreover, two features ranked based roulette wheel selection including select the fronts and choose solutions from the fronts, are utilized. The proposed solving methodology is validated using several examples taken from the specialized literature. The performance of our approach shows that NRGA algorithm is able to generate true and well distributed Pareto optimal solutions.
Several experiments were conducted in the south of Morocco (IAV-CHA, Agadir) during two seasons 2010 and 2011 in order to evaluate the effect of deficit irrigation with treated wastewater on several crops (quinoa, sweet corn, faba bean and chickpeas). During the first season (2010) three crops were tested, quinoa, chickpeas and sweet corn applying 6 deficit irrigation treatments during all crop stages alternating 100% of full irrigation as non-stress condition and 50% of full irrigation as water deficit condition applied during vegetative growth, flowering and grain filling stage. For all crops, the highest water productivity and yield were obtained when deficit irrigation was applied during the vegetative growth stage. During the second season (2011) two cultivars of quinoa, faba bean and sweet corn has been cultivated applying 6 deficit irrigation treatments (rainfed, 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of full irrigation) only during the vegetative growth stage, while in the rest of crop cycle full irrigation was provided except for rainfed treatment. For quinoa and faba bean, treatment receiving 50% of full irrigation during vegetative growth stage recorded the highest yield and water productivity, while for sweet corn applying 75% of full irrigation was the optimal treatment in terms of yield and water productivity.
ABSTRACT\nThe shelf life and heavy metal contaminants of two commonly available edible insects in Ijebu division were studied. The samples were collected through water trap and by handpicking respectively with a view of adopting the method of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists for the shelf life and heavy metal study.\nHeavy metal contaminants such as Cadmium (10.95mg/kg, 12.70mg/kg), Zinc (5.50mg/kg, 2.70mg/kg) and Lead (39.55mg/kg, 40.15mg/kg) respectively, were revealed in both insects.\nAfter three months of storage, the results showed that there was high depreciation in the nutritional components in both Rhynchophorus phoenicis (larva) and Macrotermes bellicosus (winged). Therefore, this insinuates an 80% reduction in the nutritional composition it can supply when consumed after three months of storage.\nThe need to study further adequate methods of extending their shelf life is of utmost importance.\nKeywords: Edible insects, Shelf life, Heavy metal, Rhynchophorus phoenicis, Macrotermes bellicosus
Most of the soils in Iran, located in arid and semiarid region of Asia, have less than one percent organic matter. For improving the organic matter in these soils, organic fertilizers are used, which ameliorate the chemical, physical and microbiological properties of these soils. Considering shortage of manures, application of organic fertilizers like municipal waste leachate and compost, as a rich source of nutrition, is favorable .with regard to the importance of this issue; our research was aimed at evaluating the impact of municipal waste compost (MWC) and municipal waste compost leachate (MWCL) on some soil chemical properties and corn plant responses under greenhouse conditions. To this aim, soil samples were exposed to composted garbage Leachate concentrations of 0,20 ,40 and 60 % (v v-1, MWCL/Water) and compost rates of 0,15,30 and 60 ton ha-1 in greenhouse conditions for 3 months and measured some soil chemical properties and corn plant responses. Municipal waste compost and its leachate increased the amounts of available macro- (N, P, K) and micronutrients [iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), Zn, and Ni] in soil, which in turn enhanced soil productivity and crop yield. Application of municipal waste compost and its leachate significantly increased the levels of EDTA–extractable nickel (Ni) and other elements in the soil. Although municipal waste compost and its leachate increased concentrations of some heavy metals and other nutrients in corn, particularly in 60% (V/V, MWCL/Water) and 60 t ha-1 (MWC) treatments, the concentrations were below the reported critical levels for these metals. Municipal waste compost and its leachate are rich in plant nutrients and OM and are acidic; therefore, they may be used as solid and liquid fertilizers especially in calcareous and low organic matter soils.
