“Now that we’re in the final weeks of winter, most homeowners have had their homes closed up for months and the air quality is probably suffering,” said Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing & Heating. “You may have noticed a musty odor or maybe you’re sneezing more. This can be due to poor indoor air quality. Luckily, there are some inexpensive things homeowners can do to improve the air they’re breathing.”

Petri suggested that homeowners follow these tips to breathe easier:

1.  Purchase an air purifier. Homeowners can opt to buy a portable model or consult with a professional to install a whole-home purifier. These work by trapping the offending particles and filtering and sanitizing the air before blowing it back into the room.

2.  Set out house plants. Plants consume the carbon dioxide that humans breath out and replace it with the oxygen humans breath in. Be careful, however, not to overwater plants because they can develop mold, which can cause other air quality issues.

3.  Crack a window. Not every winter day is freezing, so homeowners should keep an eye on the weather and try opening a window on days when the weather is a bit warmer and when the pollution level outside is at a lower level. Circulating outdoor air through the home can wipe away pollutants and other irritants.

4.  Change the air filters on the heating system regularly. Not only will this reduce pollutants in the air, it will keep the home’s HVAC or other heating system running smoothly.

5.  Maintain proper humidity levels. Humidity levels that are too high or too low can affect both overall health and comfort levels. Homeowners should try to maintain an indoor humidity level between 30-50%. If the indoor relative humidity goes above 60%, mold and mildew can begin to form. If the humidity level is too low, a whole-home humidifier can help add moisture to the air, while a dehumidifier or even some well-placed Boston ferns can help decrease the moisture level in a home with high humidity.

“COVID-19 has been on everyone’s mind for the past two years, and as a result, the health effects of poor air quality in general have become frequent topics of conservation,” Petri said. “Maintaining good IAQ during the winter months when your home is closed up has always been a good idea. It is healthier and will also make your home more comfortable.”

For more information about Petri Plumbing & Heating, or to schedule a service call, visit https://www.petriplumbing.com/ or call  (718) 717-1089.

About Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc. is a family owned and operated business serving Brooklyn and the New York City area. Founded in 1906, the company offers a 100 percent guarantee on all services, upfront pricing, and friendly and knowledgeable Service Experts for all kinds of home and business plumbing and heating needs. Services offered include water and gas pipe leak repair and installation, fixture installations, inspections, boiler repair, water heater installation, complete bathroom, kitchen, laundry & utility room remodeling and more. Petri is also licensed and certified by Green Plumbers USA, the first in New York City to receive this designation. For more information, please visit www.petriplumbing.com or call  (718) 717-1089.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
[email protected]

SOURCE Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

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The services provided include air conditioning and repair, indoor air quality services, heater repair, and air conditioning services. The services get skillfully offered in Augusta, Martinez, Evans, North Augusta, Grovetown, and Harlem.

HVAC systems enable building owners and dwellers to control the temperatures within the building to their liking. Atlas Heating & Air Conditioning is a veteran-owned and operated company that began operations to provide clients with full-service heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration services.

Augusta, GA – Atlas Heating & Air Conditioning has customer-centered air conditioning repair Augusta technicians. Customer needs get carefully listened to, and any questions and concerns are comprehensively addressed to ensure that they are satisfied with the service provided. The company’s joy is the client’s comfortability in the operation of the new heating and cooling Augusta system and living a comfortable and healthy life. The company hires only the best technicians who provide clients with fast and reliable service for their homes or small businesses. Also, the company is an A+ BBB accredited business that assures clients of a quality and trustworthy air conditioning contractor Augusta service. The quality service provided has earned them a great reputation within the regions. 

Atlas Heating & Air Conditioning provides financing services for clients in need of financing for the services required. The financing option enables clients to get the repair or replacement service they require without waiting until they are financially able. Clients get to pay over time with the financial option with pre-qualification with no credit impact and no hidden fees or balloon payments. Some of the financing options provided include bad credit and Rheem rebate financing.   

About Us

Atlas Heating & Air Conditioning is a veteran-owned and operated company. For HVAC services, contact: 

Phone: (706) 855-7921

Address: 829 Stevens Creek Rd, Augusta, GA 30907

Media Contact
Company Name: Atlas Heating and Air Conditioning Inc
Contact Person: Pat Cutlip
Email: Send Email
Phone: (706) 855-7921
Address:411 Beverly Road
City: Augusta
State: Georgia
Country: United States
Website: http://www.atlasaugusta.com

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New York fern (Wasp32/CC BY-SA 4.0)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 83-page guide, Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed, recommends 19 fern species for planting. Here are descriptions of four of these species.

Cinnamon fern: One of the first ferns to appear each spring, this plant gets its name from its woolly (in wet areas), reddish-brown, fertile fronds. In the wild, this 2– to 5-foot drought-tolerant fern is found in woods, marshes, swamps and along streams. It was long ago eaten by Native Americans but has since been found to potentially cause cancer. Ruffed grouse eat its fiddleheads. Yellow warblers and hummingbirds line their nests with the downy wool from its fronds. Brown thrashers and veeries use the whole plant, nesting in the center of it.

Hay-scented fern: This is a yellowish green fern, 1–3 feet tall, with feathery fronds that give off a scent of crushed hay in late summer. Found in meadows and sunny openings in the forest canopy, it turns golden yellow in the fall. White-tailed deer apparently do not relish this fern, in part because its foliage is covered with tiny hairs that excrete a sticky substance. This allows hay-scented ferns to form dense colonies in the forest understory, in some cases shading out tree seedlings. Common throughout northeastern and central North America, it is considered a “native invasive” because of its ability to dominate a forest floor under some conditions. It proliferates in acidic soils, giving it an advantage in the Northeast, where soils have become increasingly acidic over the past 60 years.

Sensitive fern: This fern’s common name is derived from its early sensitivity to frost. Its stalks are said to have a decorative, “beaded” appearance, lending the plant one of its common alternative names, bead fern. Salamanders and frogs will take shelter underneath the foliage and in the cool soil, and its fertile fronds produce a feast of spores for birds. Sensitive fern is poisonous to horses if eaten in large amounts. Deer like to nibble on the infertile fronds, but usually not to ill effect. The sensitive fern has broad, almost triangular fronds, which contrast with the lacy appearance of many ferns. Its fiddleheads, which emerge in the spring, are a pale red.

Hay-scented fern (Jaknouse/CC BY-SA 3.0) 

New York fern: Found in forested wetlands, dry to damp woods and thickets, the New York fern is drought tolerant and often grows in colonies of hundreds of plants. It is a soft, deciduous, yellow-green fern that stands 1–2 feet high. It grows in clumps and its fronds, up to 4 inches wide, are distinctive as they taper sharply at both the base and the tip. It can spread rapidly but is relatively easy to control. It is found throughout the eastern United States and Canada but is most concentrated within Appalachia and the Atlantic Northeast.

Fronds are the feathery leaves of ferns, which are non-flowering, seedless plants. They can be found in moist areas: forests, fields, swamps and near streams. Ferns can survive in various climates and at many altitudes. How wide-ranging is your knowledge of ferns? Answers are below.

1. The study of ferns comes from the Greek name for the plant. What is it?

A. Brackenology

B. Fernitology

C. Pteridology           

D. Sporanatilology

Cinnamon fern (Antepenultimate/CC BY-SA 4.0)

2. Ferns have been around for at least 360 million years and have been found in fossil records all over the Earth. They were an important part of herbivorous dinosaurs’ diets. Which of these dinosaurs ate ferns? (More than one answer.)

A. Ankylosaurus      

B. Diplodocus

C. Stegosaurus

D. Triceratops

3. There are at least 12,000 species of ferns in the world (441 in North America). During their prehistoric heyday, before the appearance of flowering plants, they were even more diverse. For every known modern species of fern, how many more species have been found in the fossil record?

A. 3

B. 5

C. 7

D. 9

4. The water fern grows so quickly that some scientists are exploring its potential as a tool in fighting climate change. (During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air and release oxygen.) Brake fern absorbs arsenic and has been planted in areas to decontaminate soil. Boston fern fights indoor air pollution, removing formaldehyde from the air better than any other plant. It also removes xylene, toluene and benzene. What is the term for the process in which plants are used to remove pollution in the air, soil and water? (Note: The ferns used as examples here are not native to the Bay watershed.)

A. Biotranspiration

B. Phytoremediation

C. Plant therapy

D. Verdurepurification

5. How many feet can the tallest fern grow?

A. 15

B. 30

C. 45

D. 60

Sensitive fern (peganum/CC BY-SA 2.0) 

6. Ferns reproduce by means of spores, powdery masses of single-cell “seeds” released from capsules under the fronds. Spores can be which of these colors? (More than one answer.)

A. Blackish  

B. Brownish

C. Reddish

D. Yellowish

7. Long ago, in some cultures, it was believed that eating ferns would allow someone to:

A. Become invisible

B. Fly

C. Read minds

D. Talk to animals

Answers

1. Pteridology

2. Ankylosaurus, diplodocus, stegosaurus, triceratops

3. Nine

4. Phytoremediation

5. Thirty

6. Blackish, brownish, reddish, yellowish

7. Become invisible

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The number of COVID-positive hospital patients continues to plunge in Los Angeles County, declining by 125 people to 2,086, according to the latest state figures released Sunday.

The number of those patients in intensive care was 439, down from 461 a day earlier.

Hospitalizations had climbed to over 4,800 in mid-January at the height of the Omicron-fueled winter surge in cases.

Under guidelines announced this month by county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, if the hospitalization number stays below 2,500 for seven consecutive days, the county will consider itself to be entering a “post-surge” phase, and will lift its mask mandate for outdoor “mega-events” and outdoors at schools and childcare centers. Saturday marked the third day of sub-2,500 hospitalizations.

Ferrer said last week that absent a sudden increase in hospitalizations, the outdoor mask mandate could be lifted as early as this Wednesday.

The latest numbers came as the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported 4,889 new positive COVID tests and another 58 virus-related deaths. Those numbers — which officials said likely reflect reporting delays over the weekend — brought the county’s totals to 2,761,870 cases and 29,902 fatalities since the pandemic began.

More than 11.2 million individuals have been tested, with 22% of those people testing positive, the health department said.

Ferrer cautioned people planning to watch Sunday’s Super Bowl in person, at area bars or restaurants or at private parties to follow several common-sense guidelines, including:

• Getting a COVID test as close to the start of the game as possible and after the game if you had possible exposures;
• Keeping gatherings small and outdoors, or if that’s not an option, improving indoor air flow;
• Keeping your hands clean and keeping your distance while eating;
• Wearing a well-fitted high-quality mask.

“As people prepare to watch the game either at SoFi Stadium, at a restaurant or bar, or at home with friends and family, please remember the sensible public health measures that protect us all,” Ferrer said Saturday.

“LA County believes in taking care of each other, and I know we can take care of one another and enjoy the game at the same time. Please be safe, have the best time ever, and go Rams!”

On Friday, Ferrer again urged vaccinated residents to obtain booster shots, noting that the effectiveness of vaccines wanes over time, and saying the additional dose is the best defense against a trip to a hospital due to the virus.

“Given the evidence of waning protection over time from the COVID vaccines, eligible residents and workers should get boosted as soon as possible,” she said in a statement. “As we think about the ‘post-surge’ strategies, increasing the number of people optimally protected from COVID infection helps us decrease the number of people who become seriously ill and die from COVID. Appropriate actions that allow us to live with this virus without major disruptions to our lives will need to include strategies that reduce the impact of the virus on those most vulnerable.”

While the county’s outdoor masking requirements could be lifted this week, the indoor masking mandate will remain in place until much stricter criteria are met. That’s in spite of the state planning to lift its indoor mask requirement for vaccinated people next week.

According to Ferrer, the county’s indoor mask rule will not be lifted until the county’s virus-transmission rate falls to the “moderate” level as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for two straight weeks, or until COVID vaccines have been available to children under 5 years old for eight weeks.

Reaching the CDC’s “moderate” designation requires the county to have a cumulative, seven-day new case rate of less than 50 per 100,000 residents. According to the CDC’s website, the county’s rate was 518 per 100,000 as of Friday. That’s down from 622 per 100,000 residents on Thursday.

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The number of COVID-19 patients in Los Angeles County hospitals plunged once again Sunday, Feb. 13, down by 125 people from the previous day — continuing a trend that has seen hospitalizations decline by more than half in about a month.

There were 2,086 people in LA County hospitals with COVID-19, according to the latest state figures released Sunday. Of those, 439 were in intensive care, down from 461 on Saturday.

Hospitalizations had climbed to more than 4,800 in mid-January at the height of the omicron-fueled winter surge.

The decline is particularly notable for folks hoping to see coronavirus-related regulations relaxed further.

If the hospitalization number stays below 2,500 for seven consecutive days, the county will consider itself to be entering a “post-surge” phase, under guidelines Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer announced earlier this month, and will lift its mask mandate for outdoor “mega-events” and outdoors at schools and childcare centers.

The state data reported on Sunday, but through Saturday, marked the third day of sub-2,500 hospitalizations.

Ferrer said last week that absent a sudden increase in hospitalizations, the outdoor mask mandate could be lifted as early as Wednesday, Jan. 16.

Of course, Sunday also marked a day in which untold numbers of LA County residents will gather in houses, bars, restaurants and SoFi Stadium because of Super Bowl LVI, between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams.

That’s why public health officials have repeatedly stressed taking precautions, including:

• Getting a COVID test as close to the start of the game as possible and after the game if you had possible exposures.
• Keeping gatherings small and outdoors, or if that’s not an option, improving indoor air flow.
• Keeping your hands clean and keeping your distance while eating.
• Wearing a well-fitted high-quality mask.

“Please remember the sensible public health measures that protect us all,” Ferrer said in a Saturday statement. “L.A. County believes in taking care of each other, and I know we can take care of one another and enjoy the game at the same time. Please be safe, have the best time ever, and go Rams!”

The county reported 4,889 new positive COVID-19 tests on Sunday and another 58 virus-related deaths.

Those numbers — which officials said likely reflect reporting delays over the weekend — brought the county’s totals to 2,761,870 cases and 29,902 deaths since the pandemic began.

More than 11.2 million individuals have been tested, with 22% of those people testing positive, the health department said.

Transmission rates are key, since even though the county’s outdoor masking requirements could be lifted this week, the indoor masking mandate will remain in place until much stricter criteria are met.

That’s in spite of the state planning to lift its indoor mask requirement for vaccinated people later this week.

The county’s indoor mask rule will not be lifted until the county’s virus-transmission rate falls to the “moderate” level as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for two straight weeks, or until COVID-19 vaccines have been available to children under 5 years old for eight weeks, Ferrer said.

Reaching the CDC’s “moderate” designation requires the county to have a cumulative, seven-day new case rate of less than 50 per 100,000 residents.

The county’s rate was 518 per 100,000 as of Friday, according to the CDC’s website. That’s down from 622 per 100,000 residents on Thursday.

Keepping hospitalizations down, meanwhile, may depend on the county’s vaccination and booster rates continuing to climb.

Ferrer on Friday again urged vaccinated residents to obtain booster shots, noting that the effectiveness of vaccines wanes over time, and saying the additional dose is the best defense against a trip to a hospital because of the virus.

“Given the evidence of waning protection over time from the COVID vaccines, eligible residents and workers should get boosted as soon as possible,” she said in a statement. “As we think about the ‘post-surge’ strategies, increasing the number of people optimally protected from COVID infection helps us decrease the number of people who become seriously ill and die from COVID.

“Appropriate actions that allow us to live with this virus without major disruptions,” she added, “will need to include strategies that reduce the impact of the virus on those most vulnerable.”

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Originally Appeared Here

Sleeping with a fan on could lead to mild health issues, but there are ways to nix its negative effects.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy.

In This Article

For some people, sleeping with a fan is a key element of their nighttime routine. The brisk breeze helps you stay cool and comfortable during the night, not to mention the gentle whirr can wield enough white noise to block out a car horn or snoring bed partner. But is sleeping with a fan on bad for you?

Well, it depends: Sleeping with a fan on is good in some ways, but can be harmful in others. We consulted experts to understand when fans are unsafe and what you can do to change that (including whether you should bid farewell to your favorite fan).

6 Ways Sleeping With a Fan May Jeopardize Your Health

Here’s why sleeping next to a fan can be less-than-ideal for your wellbeing:

1. It Can Trigger Allergies or Asthma

“In patients with allergies to dust or other indoor antigens, a fan can stir up particles in the room or disperse accumulated dust on the fan itself,” says Raj C. Dedhia, MD, MSCR, associate professor of otorhinolaryngology and sleep medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.

Yep, your fan can kick up dust mites, pet dander and more, which may exacerbate your allergy or asthma symptoms.

2. It Can Contribute to Poor Indoor Air Quality (Depending on Where You Live)

The combination of cracking open a window and running a fan at night might sound like a smart strategy to keep you cool while you sleep, but it could be doing you more harm than good.

If you live in an urban environment where there’s a lot of diesel emission particles, a fan can circulate these outdoor air pollutants indoors and direct them right into your upper airway, says Sam Huh, MD, chief of otolaryngology at Mount Sinai Brooklyn Hospital.

“That’s very harmful, whether you’re allergic to dust or not,” Dr. Huh says.

Indeed, these pollutants can worsen indoor air quality. And poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of infections, lung cancer and chronic lung diseases like asthma, according to the American Lung Association.

3. It Can Cause Congestion

If you’ve ever experienced a stuffy nose after sleeping with a fan on, here’s why: Having a direct current of air blasting your way can wick the moisture out of your body and dry up your mucous membranes, Dr. Huh says.

Once your nose gets irritated, it overproduces mucus. That’s because the mucin glands work overtime to overcompensate and cover all the dry patches in your nasal passage, he says. This can cause swelling of the mucous membranes and lead to congestion.

During the wintertime, when the air is even drier and you have the heat on high, nasal congestion can get even worse. Put simply, “our upper airway wants to live in the Mediterranean,” Dr. Huh says.

4. It Can Make You More Susceptible to Getting Sick

When you sleep with a fan frequently, your mucous membranes may dry up. And without the right amount of mucus, you become more vulnerable to getting sick.

“Normally our mucus provides a layer of protection so that any type of irritant or organism can’t penetrate. But once it dries out, the mucosa becomes very easily penetrable,” Dr. Huh says. Read: It’s easier to catch a cold.

To make matters worse, when your mucous membranes dry up and there’s little mucus to moisten the skin, you may also start to get cracks in your nose, Dr. Huh says. These little openings in the skin can become a gateway for bacteria to get in and cause more inflammation.

To add insult to injury, this dry, cracked skin can also cause nasty nosebleeds, he says.

Not only does sleeping with a fan on weaken your nose’s defenses against possible infection, but it can also spread existing germs. If you share a bedroom with someone who has a cold, a fan will blow some of the viral particles in your direction, Dr. Huh says. In other words, a fan’s current can carry a steady stream of bugs your way while you sleep.

6. It Can Dry Out Your Skin

We already know the whoosh of air from a fan can desiccate your mucous membranes. But it can also dry out your skin, particularly in cold climates with dry, heated indoor air, Dr. Dedhia says.

Remember, a fan wicks moisture from your skin. This can even leave you a little dehydrated, Dr. Huh says. That’s because when you sleep, you’re essentially fasting (i.e., not drinking any water), and using a fan just contributes to a greater loss of fluid and moisture, he says.

7 Ways to Optimize Your Fan

Sleeping with a fan on is bad for you in certain contexts. But don’t fret: If you’re a huge fan of the fan, you can nix its negative effects by trying these tactics:

Regular cleaning, dusting and vacuuming can decrease the amount of dust and dander in your home and reduce the number of allergens that fly around due to a fan. Remember to wipe down the fan, too, because the blades accumulate dust as well, Dr. Dedhia says.

Still, cleaning alone won’t solve the problem. “It doesn’t matter if you clean every day; there’s always going to be dust,” Dr. Huh says.

2. Put a Bowl of Water in Front of the Fan

“This can help with the dehydration part,” Dr. Huh says. “You can have some moisture blown your way.” And in the summertime, try adding ice cubes for a cooling effect.

3. Point It Away From Your Face

Dr. Huh recommends aiming a fan at the lower part of your body. This way you’re not blowing allergens and irritants straight into your upper airway.

“It’s ideal to keep a fan at least three to six feet away from the face,” Dr. Dedhia says.

5. Keep It on a Lower Setting

A high-powered fan will kick up more allergens and be more drying, Dr. Huh says. Conversely, a fan on a low setting will likely do less damage in these ways.

Having a humidifier in addition to a fan will help circulate moisture and decrease the drying effect, Dr. Dedhia says.

7. Keep Your Window Closed (if Outdoor Air Quality Is Low)

If you live in a high-traffic area (or any other place with poor outdoor air quality), don’t sleep with the window open when you have a fan on, Dr. Huh says.

“I had a patient who had a bus that used to idle outside her window and she had horrible symptoms, but when she shut the window, she started to feel better,” he says.

Forgo the Fan and Try These Alternatives

For some people — like those with severe allergies — sleeping with a fan may be more trouble than it’s worth. Rest assured, you can still snooze soundly without one. Just try these expert-approved alternatives:

1. Opt for Air Conditioning

When it comes to your upper airway, sleeping with AC on is much better for you. Many air conditioners come with filters to block out irritating pollutants, Dr. Huh says.

While ACs won’t aggravate your allergies, unfortunately, they’re more damaging to the environment. To decrease harm to the planet, keep your AC on the lowest setting and at a reasonable temperature (i.e., don’t blast it at arctic temps) and always use the energy-saver mode.

2. Sleep With Less Clothing

If you’re concerned about keeping cool, sometimes the obvious solution is best: Consider sleeping in your birthday suit, with less clothing or fewer blankets, Dr. Dedhia says. The best part? It’s earth-friendly and won’t waste electricity.

3. Get a White Noise Maker

Your main reason for using a fan might be to drown out unwanted nighttime noise, especially if you live on a busy city street. Luckily, the whirring of a fan isn’t your only option.

You can buy a white noise machine or use a white noise phone app, Dr. Dedhia says.

In fact, you don’t even need to shell out a cent. “If you just go on YouTube, you can find six hours of white noise,” Dr. Huh says. Just cue it up on your phone and drift off to dreamland.

Tip

Practicing good sleep hygiene — like keeping a regular bedtime and snoozing in a quiet, dark room — can also aid your shut-eye, per the Mayo Clinic.

So, How Bad Is It Really to Sleep With a Fan On?

Whether or not sleeping with a fan on is bad for you depends on several factors. For people with allergies, it can aggravate symptoms significantly. If you suspect sleeping with a fan is worsening your allergies, try a test run without it for a week. If you’re feeling noticeably better, you know your fan is a factor in your allergy flareups.

For allergy-free folks, sleeping with a fan is less likely to be a problem, as long as your air quality is good. “But if there’s enough pollutants or irritants in the air, it doesn’t even matter if you’re allergic or not — it will affect you,” Dr. Huh says.

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Originally Appeared Here

IIT-Jodhpur has developed a ‘cold-plasma detergent in environment’ (CODE) device under an industry-sponsored project to reduce the risk of infection from airborne pathogens indoors, by using DBD plasma in combination with nanotechnology.

The device relies on a cold plasma discharge for the generation of plasma detergent ions. It has a geometry plasma source with specially designed electrodes and a filter coated with metal oxide nanoparticle catalysts. It is environment-friendly and uses low-cost electrode materials. The need for feed gas, pallets and/or differential pressure has been eliminated by virtue of a new design and process. It is well known that the highest negative ion concentration is in natural clean air; high negative ion concentration dramatically improves indoor air quality and health.

The CODE device is able to generate efficient plasma detergent ions with a larger sustenance time, at atmospheric pressure (without additional gas or vacuum system). This new type of discharge plasma generation requires low average power and can produce plasma detergent ions in lakhs, with an average ion sustenance time of more than 25 seconds. The device is easily scalable and free from UV-light and ozone.

What can it do?

The device has been tested for disinfection of total microbial counts, reduction of total fungal counts, dust and pollens in indoor environments bigger than 1,728 crore cubic cm and showed that pristine natural environment is quite realisable from the CODE device, says a press release from IIT-Jodhpur.

Nanoscale photodetector

Hand using mobile smart phone scan Qr code on blue background. Cashless technology and digital money concept.
| Photo Credit: Thatphichai Yodsri

Researchers at IIT-Madras have developed an alternative to the silicon photodetector, which is a major component in modern appliances. A nanoscale photodetector developed by IIT-Madras has higher energy efficiency compared to existing materials.

A photodetector or photosensor converts light radiation into an electrical signal, which results in excess charge carriers. They are used in applications ranging from high-tech night vision equipment, camera, optical spectroscopy systems and optical communications to everyday appliances such as automatic door opening systems, barcode readers and intelligent lighting systems.

Prof Somnath C Roy, Department of Physics, who led the research, says they have “demonstrated a device made from a common oxide material that is highly stable and versatile and achieves excellent response to a wide-spectrum of light because of unique core-shell nanostructure-based design”.

The geometry of nanowires makes them efficient for light detection. Nanowires are crystalline wires whose diameter is one-thousandth that of human hair.

The higher surface-to-volume ratio and short channel length of the nanowire devices make them more photo-sensitive than the larger bulk photodetectors made from the same materials. Different kinds of nanowires detect different types of light sources; the detector developed at IIT-Madras can identify ultraviolet (harmful to human tissue) and visible light.

The device was fabricated via single-step photolithography comprising a cupric oxide and cuprous oxide core-shell architecture — that is, cupric oxide nanowire as the inner core and the cuprous oxide nanoparticles layer as the outer shell.

The electrical contacts are taken from the outer cuprous oxide shell. When light falls on this single nanowire device, charges are generated in both the inner core and outer shell; however, due to the specific alignment of the energy bands, charges relevant to the photodetection process migrate towards the outer shell.

The performance of the device is comparable with the reported silicon- or germanium-based photodetectors. Efforts are underway to explore nanowire transistor for single-photon detection and high-speed applications in nanophononics.

Green synthesis of medicinal compound

Green chemistry industry sign on black wooden background. 3D rendering.
| Photo Credit: Petmal

E Poonguzhali of the Department of Chemistry, IIT-Madras has been granted a patent for developing a green method of producing a medicinally important compound called Benzo[b]thiophene.

The compound is present in a range of medicines such as raloxifene (used in osteoporosis), zileuton (asthma), and sertaconazole (antifungal medication) and the one-step synthesis of the two-substituted benzo[b]thiophene can replace hazardous industrial production.

Current methods of production need high temperatures, emit sulphureous gases. Poonguzhali’s method involves using a water medium, room temperature, odourless xanthate, open-air atmosphere, and inexpensive starting materials and catalysts.

Published on

February 13, 2022

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Originally Appeared Here

Mask mandates

The following is a list of 13 states with statewide indoor mask mandates or with mask requirements in schools during the omicron surge. Many have already done away with them or announced end dates.

California: Indoor mandate for vaccinated people expires after Tuesday. School mandate remains in effect, with an announcement expected in the coming week.

Connecticut: Plans to lift its only mask mandate, on schools, Feb. 28.

Delaware: Ended its statewide mandate Friday. School requirements end March 31.

Hawaii: Gov. David Ige said it’s not time yet to set a date for removing mask mandates.

Illinois: Indoor mandate ends Feb. 28. No decision has been made for schools.

Massachusetts: Its only mask mandate, on schools, ends Feb. 28. (Schools with more than 80% of their students vaccinated didn’t have to require masks.)

Nevada: Mandates ended in indoor places and schools Thursday.

New Jersey: The state’s only mask mandate, on schools, will end March 7.

New Mexico: Mask mandates stand.

New York: Removed its mandate Thursday that required masks if individuals couldn’t show vaccination status, though New York City is letting its mandate stand. Schools mandate ends Feb. 21.

Oregon: Indoor masking requirements will sunset by March 31 or earlier if hospitalizations drop to 400 before then. School requirements will end March 31.

Rhode Island: Rules that required indoor masking or proof of vaccination ended Friday. Schools will no longer require masks starting March 4.

Washington: Indoor and school mandates still stand, but Gov. Jay Inslee hopes to make an announcement in the coming week. Inslee said he’ll end on Thursday the outdoor mandate on gatherings with more than 500 people.

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COVID-19-positive hospitalizations continue to fall in Los Angeles County, moving residents closer to an outdoor mask mandate for large events being lifted, although another 84 virus-related deaths were also reported.

The deaths reported Saturday gave the county a pandemic death toll of 29,846. The county also reported 4,760 new positive COVID tests, for a cumulative total of 2,757,058 cases.

According to state figures, there were 2,211 COVID-positive patients in county hospitals as of Saturday, down from 2,307 on Friday and over 4,800 in mid-January. Of those patients, 461 were being treated in intensive care, down from 469 a day earlier.

Under guidelines announced this month by county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, if the hospitalization number stays below 2,500 for seven consecutive days, the county will consider itself to be entering a “post-surge” phase, and will lift its mask mandate for outdoor “mega-events” and outdoors at schools and childcare centers. Saturday marked the third day of sub-2,500 hospitalizations.

Ferrer said Thursday that absent a sudden increase in hospitalizations, the outdoor mask mandate could be lifted as early as Wednesday, Feb. 16.

Saturday’s average 7-day test positivity rate was 3.4%, down from 3.8% Friday and 5.4% last Sunday, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Ferrer cautioned people planning to watch Sunday’s Super Bowl in person, at area bars or restaurants or at private parties to follow several common-sense guidelines, including:

— Getting a COVID test as close to the start of the game as possible and after the game if you had possible exposures;

— Keeping gatherings small and outdoors, or if that’s not an option, improving indoor air flow;

— Keeping your hands clean and keeping your distance while eating;

— Wearing a well-fitted high-quality mask.

“As people prepare to watch the game either at SoFi Stadium, at a restaurant or bar, or at home with friends and family, please remember the sensible public health measures that protect us all,” Ferrer said Saturday. “L.A. County believes in taking care of each other, and I know we can take care of one another and enjoy the game at the same time. Please be safe, have the best time ever, and go Rams!”

On Friday, Ferrer again urged vaccinated residents to obtain booster shots, noting that the effectiveness of vaccines wanes over time, and saying the additional dose is the best defense against a trip to a hospital due to the virus.

“Given the evidence of waning protection over time from the COVID vaccines, eligible residents and workers should get boosted as soon as possible,” she said in a statement. “As we think about the `post-surge’ strategies, increasing the number of people optimally protected from COVID infection helps us decrease the number of people who become seriously ill and die from COVID. Appropriate actions that allow us to live with this virus without major disruptions to our lives will need to include strategies that reduce the impact of the virus on those most vulnerable.”

While the county’s outdoor masking requirements could be lifted this week, the indoor masking mandate will remain in place until much stricter criteria are met. That’s in spite of the state planning to lift its indoor mask requirement for vaccinated people next week.

According to Ferrer, the county’s indoor mask rule will not be lifted until the county’s virus-transmission rate falls to the “moderate” level as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for two straight weeks, or until COVID vaccines have been available to children under 5 years old for eight weeks.

Reaching the CDC’s “moderate” designation requires the county to have a cumulative, seven-day new case rate of less than 50 per 100,000 residents. According to the CDC’s website, the county’s rate was 518 per 100,000 as of Friday. That’s down from 622 per 100,000 residents on Thursday.

Ferrer said the county’s rate has been dropping roughly by about 3.5% every day, and if that pace continues, the county could reach the “moderate” transmission level in 25 to 30 days. If so, the indoor mask mandate could potentially be lifted by late March.

She also noted that vaccines for children under age 5 could potentially be approved by the end of February.

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Originally Appeared Here

COVID-19-positive hospitalizations continued to fall in Los Angeles County on Saturday, Feb. 12, moving residents closer to a lifting of outdoor mask mandate for large events, but another 84 virus-related deaths were reported.

The deaths reported Saturday gave the county a pandemic death toll of 29,846. The county also reported 4,760 new positive COVID tests, for a cumulative total of 2,757,058 cases.

According to state figures, there were 2,211 COVID-positive patients in county hospitals, down from 2,307 on Friday and over 4,800 in mid-January. Of those patients, 461 were being treated in intensive care, down from 469 a day earlier.

Under guidelines announced last week by county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, if the hospitalization number stays below 2,500 for seven consecutive days, the county will consider itself to be entering a “post-surge” phase, and will lift its mask mandate for outdoor “mega-events” and outdoors at schools and childcare centers. Friday marked the second day of sub-2,500 hospitalizations.

Ferrer said Thursday that absent a sudden increase in hospitalizations, the outdoor mask mandate could be lifted as early as Wednesday, Feb. 16.

Saturday’s average 7-day test positivity rate was 3.4%, down from 3.8% Friday and 5.4% last Sunday, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Ferrer cautioned people planning to watch Sunday’s Super Bowl in person, at area bars or restaurants or at private parties to follow several common-sense guidelines, including:

— Getting a COVID test as close to the start of the game as possible and after the game if you had possible exposures;

— Keeping gatherings small and outdoors, or if that’s not an option, improving indoor air flow;

— Keeping your hands clean and keeping your distance while eating;

— Wearing a well-fitted high-quality mask.

“As people prepare to watch the game either at SoFi Stadium, at a restaurant or bar, or at home with friends and family, please remember the sensible public health measures that protect us all,” Ferrer said Saturday. “L.A. County believes in taking care of each other, and I know we can take care of one another and enjoy the game at the same time. Please be safe, have the best time ever, and go Rams!”

On Friday, Ferrer again urged vaccinated residents to obtain booster shots, noting that the effectiveness of vaccines wanes over time, and saying the additional dose is the best defense against a trip to a hospital due to the virus.

“Given the evidence of waning protection over time from the COVID vaccines, eligible residents and workers should get boosted as soon as possible,” she said in a statement. “As we think about the ‘post-surge’ strategies, increasing the number of people optimally protected from COVID infection helps us decrease the number of people who become seriously ill and die from COVID. Appropriate actions that allow us to live with this virus without major disruptions to our lives will need to include strategies that reduce the impact of the virus on those most vulnerable.”

While the county’s outdoor masking requirements could be lifted next week, the indoor masking mandate will remain in place until much stricter criteria are met. That’s in spite of the state planning to lift its indoor mask requirement for vaccinated people next week.

According to Ferrer, the county’s indoor mask rule will not be lifted until the county’s virus-transmission rate falls to the “moderate” level as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for two straight weeks, or until COVID vaccines have been available to children under 5 years old for eight weeks.

Reaching the CDC’s “moderate” designation requires the county to have a cumulative, seven-day new case rate of less than 50 per 100,000 residents. According to the CDC’s website, the county’s rate was 518 per 100,000 as of Friday. That’s down from 622 per 100,000 residents on Thursday.

Ferrer said the county’s rate has been dropping roughly by about 3.5% every day, and if that pace continues, the county could reach the “moderate” transmission level in 25 to 30 days. If so, the indoor mask mandate could potentially be lifted by late March.

She also noted that vaccines for children under age 5 could potentially be approved by the end of February.0

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Originally Appeared Here