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Aim: This study aimed at the species identification of selected indigenous earthworms of Manipur and Assam, Northeast India along with an exotic species using morpho-anatomical study and DNA barcoding. Methodology: Indigenous species of earthworms were collected from Imphal and Jorhat, North-eastern part of India. The exotic species of earthworm were collected from Indian Council of Agricultural Research Complex, Manipur. The samples were collected by digging and hand sorting method. Identification of samples was done by both conventional and molecular methods. Molecular characterization was accomplished through PCR amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) genes. Automatic sequencing reactions were performed for the amplified PCR products on ABI3100 Genetic Analyser (Applied Biosystems). Result(s): Out of five specimens (EM1, EM2, EM4, EG5 and EM6) examined through morpho-anatomical studies, three were identified to species level while the other two were identified to their genus level only. Out of EM1 and EM2 specimens in the genus Perionyx as per the morpho-anatomical studies, DNA barcoding could deduce the EM2 specimen up to the species level as P. excavatus. The exotic EM6 specimen morphologically identified as Eisenia fetida showed 99% COI gene sequence similarity with both E. fetida and E. andrei but its sequence divergence with E. andrei was less than 1%, so, it belonged to E. andrei. Interpretation(s): This study shows the reliability of clubbing DNA barcoding experiments with classical taxonomy in supplementing and strengthening the traditional taxonomy for accurate identification of earthworms.Copyright © Triveni Enterprises, Lucknow (India)
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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: SARS-CoV-2 can invade different testicular cell types, such as spermatogonia, spermatids, Sertoli, and Leydig cells. We investigated the viral presence inside the sperm of negative PCR infected men up to 3 months after discharge from the hospital. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 13 of a 26 moderate-to-severe SARS-CoV-2 infected men cohort (mean 34.3 ± 6.5 years;range: 21-50 years old). Patients were enrolled 30 to 90 days after the diagnosis. Semen samples were obtained by masturbation and processed within one hour according to WHO guidelines. All patients were PCR negative for the virus in the ejaculate. Samples were liquefied for 30 min at room temperature in 0.1M phosphate buffer before centrifuging at 500 g for 10 min. The supernatant was removed, and pellets were fixed in 2,5% v/v glutaraldehyde in 0.1M phosphate buffer for 2h at 4°C, post-fixed in 1% OsO4 for 1h at 4°C, stained overnight in 1% aqueous uranyl acetate. Then, the pellets were dehydrated sequentially in 30%, 70%, and 100% ethanol and embedded in epoxy resin. Ultrathin sections (70nm) were obtained in an ultramicrotome, collected on nickel grids, and double-stained by uranyl acetate and lead citrate. Micrographs were obtained with a Jeol JEM 1010 electron microscope (Tokyo, Japan, 80 kV). RESULTS: We identified viruses inside spermatozoa in 9/13 patients up to 90 days after discharge from the hospital. Moreover, in all 13 men, a type of DNA-based extracellular traps, probably in a cfDNAdependent manner, like described in the COVID-19 systemic inflammatory response. FIGURE: High magnification electron micrograph of a spermatozoon with the nucleus (nu) displaying the typical condensed chromatin. The remained cytoplasm contains several viral particles (ranging in diameter from 90 to 110 nm). The inset corresponds to a higher magnification of the boxed area containing two virions, showing the SARS-CoV-2 characteristics: viral envelope (white arrowhead), nucleocapsids (black arrowhead), and spike-like projections (white arrow). CONCLUSIONS: Although SARS-CoV-2 is not found in the infected men's semen, it was intracellularly present in the spermatozoa. The potential implications for assisted conception should be addressed. (Figure Presented).
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Introduction: Anatomy Museum is an indispensable part of a medical college since it gives complete knowledge of the human body in its four walls. It not just displays meticulously and painstakingly prepared prosections of different body parts and organs but also includes many other teaching aids. Aim: The aim of the study is to use epoxy resin to mount specimens for anatomy museum and also to overcome the difficulty in traditional mounting methods. Materials and Methods: Epoxy resin mixture with hardener, fresh goat kidney, and liver plastic mould and Perspex/glass jar was used. Introduction: In 2019, COVID-19 originated from China and rapid spread throughout globe. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is high as a result;WHO and countries worldwide have imposed rigorous public health concern, such as lockdown and social distancing. This results the closure of educational institutes globally. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, paramedical institutes have sought ways to shift from traditional teaching to virtual teaching. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the perception of 1st year paramedical students and to analyze the merits and demerits of virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai for Paramedical courses Microbiology, BSc sports science and BSc Speech therapy courses. Phase -I students participated in this study with a sample size of 400. A self-designed The fresh specimens were mounted using epoxy resin and allowed for curing. Result: The result obtained was a crystal-clear epoxy resin mounted specimen. The demonstrator as well as the students may feel comfortable and easy to handle as well as to teach and learn. Conclusion: The greatest advantage of this technique was it can be stored and maintained for a long time in the museum without forming any discolouration and dusting of the mounted specimens.
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Introduction: In 2019, COVID-19 originated from China and rapid spread throughout globe. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is high as a result;WHO and countries worldwide have imposed rigorous public health concern, such as lockdown and social distancing. This results the closure of educational institutes globally. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, paramedical institutes have sought ways to shift from traditional teaching to virtual teaching. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the perception of 1st year paramedical students and to analyze the merits and demerits of virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai for Paramedical courses Microbiology, BSc sports science and BSc Speech therapy courses. Phase -I students participated in this study with a sample size of 400. A self-designed The fresh specimens were mounted using epoxy resin and allowed for curing. Result: The result obtained was a crystal-clear epoxy resin mounted specimen. The demonstrator as well as the students may feel comfortable and easy to handle as well as to teach and learn. Conclusion: The greatest advantage of this technique was it can be stored and maintained for a long time in the museum without forming any discolouration and dusting of the mounted specimens. questionnaire was prepared, after the validation of questionnaire from various field experts, the questionnaire was shared through whats aap application and mail to the participants. The data obtained were analyzed statistically through Microsoft excel. Results: Total of 400 responses were received out of which there were 172 males and 228 females. Overall, 60% of students had negative perception towards E-learning. A total of 54.76% of the students used mobile device for their virtual learning. Out of which 52% had eye problems, sleep disturbances and neck pain. Conclusion: In the initial phase of COVID-19 lockdown the students appreciated the virtual E- learning classes but they were not interested in continuing the same after the COVID-19 pandemic. They also felt that face to face teaching was more effective than virtual learning.
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Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are increasingly used in a variety of applications demanding a unique combination of mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics such as automotive and aerospace, wind turbines, and sport and leisure equipment. This growing use, however, has not yet been accompanied by the setting of an adequate recycling industry, with landfilling still being the main management route for related waste and end-of-life products. Considering the fossil-based nature of carbon fibers, the development of recovery and recycling technologies is hence prioritized to address the environmental sustainability challenges in a bid to approach mitigating the climate emergency and achieving circularity in materials’ life cycles. To this aim, we scaled up and tested a novel semi-industrial pilot plant to pyrolysis and subsequent oxidation of uncured prepreg offcuts and cured waste of CFRPs manufacturing. The environmental performance of the process proposed has been evaluated by means of a life cycle assessment to estimate the associated carbon footprint and cumulative energy demand according to three scenarios. The scale-up of the process has been performed by investigating the influence of the main parameters to improve the quality of the recovered fibers and the setting of preferable operating conditions. The pyro-gasification process attested to a reduction of 40 kgCO2eq per kg of recycled CFs, compared to virgin CFs. If the pyro-gasification process was implemented in the current manufacturing of CFRPs, the estimated reduction of the carbon footprint, depending on the composite breakdown, would result in 12% and 15%. This reduction may theoretically increase up to 59–73% when cutting and trimming waste-optimized remanufacturing is combined with circular economy strategies based on the ideal recycling of CFRPs at end-of-life.
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This paper presents a novel unique microstrip fractal patch antenna with a COVID-19 shape designed for wireless applications. The COVID-19 antenna is a compact, miniature size, multiband, low weight, and low-cost patch antenna;the demonstrated patch antenna, simulated using the HFSS software program, consists of a circular printed patch with a radius of 0.4 cm surrounded by 5 pairs of crowns. The antenna is implemented on a double-sided copper plate with an FR4-epoxy substrate of 1 × 1 cm2 area and 1.6 mm thickness. This small patch operates and resonates on two frequencies 7.5 GHz and 17 GHz within C and Ku bands, respectively. The simulated and measured gains were respectively 0.8 dB and 0.2 dB at the lower frequency and 2.21 dB and 2 dB at the higher frequency. A coaxial probe feeding method is used in the simulation, and printed prototypes showed excellent consistency between measured and simulated resonance frequencies. © 2022, Electromagnetics Academy. All rights reserved.