Rapid GMP-Compliant Expansion of SARS-CoV-2–Specific T Cells From Convalescent Donors for Use as an Allogeneic Cell Therapy for COVID-19

COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is characterized by dysregulation of effector T cells and accumulation of exhausted T cells. T cell responses to viruses can be corrected by adoptive cellular therapy using donor-derived virus-specific T cells. One approach is the establishment of banks of HLA-typed virus-specific T cells for rapid deployment to patients. Here we show that SARS-CoV-2–exposed blood donations contain CD4 and CD8 memory T cells which recognize SARS-CoV-2 spike, nucleocapsid and membrane antigens. Peptides of these antigens can be used to isolate virus-specific T cells in a GMP-compliant process. The isolated T cells can be rapidly expanded using GMP-compliant reagents for use as an allogeneic therapy. Memory and effector phenotypes are present in the selected virus-specific T cells, but our method rapidly expands the desirable central memory phenotype. A manufacturing yield ranging from 1010 to 1011 T cells can be obtained within 21 days culture. Thus, multiple therapeutic doses of virus-specific T cells can be rapidly generated from convalescent donors for potential treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Die Attach Pre-bond Inspection Innovation for Roughened Leadframe

This paper studies the challenges and behavior of epoxy material between the roughened Leadframe during the Die Attach process. Die bond on the roughened die-attach paddle (DAP) of epoxy has been a challenge for its manufacturability in terms of maintaining the target epoxy volume. The study on the roughened Leadframe utilizing the Pre-bond inspection parameter causing machine inspection cannot fully detect the epoxy pattern. The uneven contrast of pad’s, causing pre-bond inspection problem. Hard to teach / set-up epoxy inspection due to the contrast between leadframe die pad vs. epoxy. The roughened leadframe property has different surface contrast causing Frequent “Bond Align” and epoxy inspection error on the Roughen leadframe. This occurrence leads to risks of insufficient epoxy which is detrimental to product reliability (delamination on die bottom) and can cause manufacturing yield loss due to insufficient epoxy coverage. Using the Design of Experiment (DOE) methodology and its applicable statistical tools, the author to come up with error-proofing solutions to resolve and reduce the Insufficient Epoxy. The innovative and breakthrough solutions implemented were the installation of ultra-bright light with double sidelights in pre-bond inspection which is the key in reducing defects rate.

Rapid GMP-compliant expansion of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells from convalescent donors for use as an allogeneic cell therapy for COVID-19

COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is characterized by dysregulation of effector T cells and accumulation of exhausted T cells. T cell responses to viruses can be corrected by adoptive cellular therapy using donor-derived virus-specific T cells. Here we show that SARS-CoV-2-exposed blood donations contain CD4 and CD8 memory T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 spike, nucleocapsid and membrane antigens. These peptides can be used to isolate virus-specific T cells in a GMP-compliant process. These T cells can be rapidly expanded using GMP-compliant reagents for use as a therapeutic product. Memory and effector phenotypes are present in the selected virus-specific T cells, but our method rapidly expands the desirable central memory phenotype. A manufacturing yield ranging from 1010 to 1011 T cells can be obtained within 21 days culture. Thus, multiple therapeutic doses of virus-specific T cells can be rapidly generated from convalescent donors for treatment of COVID-19 patientsOne Sentence SummaryCD4+ and CD8+ T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 can be isolated from convalescent donors and rapidly expanded to therapeutic doses at GMP standard, maintaining the desired central memory phenotype required for protective immune responses against severe COVID-19 infections.

A Study on Competitive Performance and Progress of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India

The MSMEs have established an important fragment of the Indian economy as far as its contribution to the nation’s industrial production, exports, employment and creation of a consumerist base. The government built up the service of Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries (SSI & ART) in October 1999 as the nodal service for the formulation of arrangements and programs, their accomplishment and related coordination, to supplement the endeavors of the states for promotion and development of this class of industries in India. MSME has been acknowledged as the Indian motor of economic development and for promoting evenhanded development. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are apropos viewed as the foundation of the Indian economy. The little scale part possesses a position of prominence in the Indian economy, adding to over half of the industrial production esteem accumulation terms. The segment represents 33% of the export income and employs the biggest workforce besides agribusiness. MSMEs are recognized as one important constituent of the national economies. The MSMEs ought to be urged to make an economic contribution to the national pay, employment and exports. SMEs territory major employment provider and contributor to GDP, they are troubled with the duty of employing while simultaneously encountering moderate moving development given partitioning horticulture segment and globalization. The MSME comprise over 90% of all out enterprises in the greater part of the economics and are credited with creating the most elevated paces of employment development and record for a significant offer industrial production and exports. In India, the MSMEs assume an indispensable job in the general industrial economy of the nation. It is evaluated that as far as worth, the area represents about 39% of the manufacturing yield and around 33% of the all-out exports of the nation. Further, in recent years the MSME Sector has consistently enrolled higher development pace of contrasted with the general industrial part. Hence, the present study has been focused on highlighting the statistical overview of the competitive performance and progress of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India.

Maximal Defect-Free Component in Nanoscale Crossbar Circuits Amidst Stuck-Open and Stuck-Closed Faults

We propose a technique for the analysis of manufacturing yield of nano-crossbar for the different values of defect percentage and crossbar-size. We provide an estimate of the minimum-size crossbar to be fabricated, wherein a defect-free crossbar of a given size can always be found with a guaranteed yield. Our technique is based on logical merging of two defective rows (or two columns) that emulate a defect-free row (or column). The proposed technique easily handles both the stuck-open and stuck-closed faults. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides higher defect-tolerance compared to that of previous techniques.

Effect of Magnet Shapes on Metal Contamination Removal

Foreign metal removal is a key process in the quality control of food and pharmaceutical industries. Previously, foreign metal removal involved the use of metal detectors. However, in recent years, magnet separators have been used to capture small metal particles and to improve the manufacturing yield when installed with previous metal detectors. Currently, most foreign metal material is austenitic stainless steel because product process equipment are manufactured using the same in order to make them corrosion proof. SUS304 and SUS316L are used commonly. Small metal particles adhere to the equipment by sliding and other processes thus contaminating the equipment. Austenitic stainless steels are not magnetized; however, weak magnetization is observed through martensite transformation during sliding and collisions. However, it is not easy to remove small stainless steel particles in production processes that involve powder flow. In this study, we investigated the removal rate of small stainless steel particles by three magnets of different shapes under the same conditions.

Manufacturing of All Inkjet-Printed Organic Photovoltaic Cell Arrays and Evaluating their Suitability for Flexible Electronics

The generation of electrical energy depending on renewable sources is rapidly growing and gaining serious attention due to its green sustainability. With fewer adverse impacts on the environment, the sun is considered as a nearly infinite source of renewable energy in the production of electrical energy using photovoltaic devices. On the other end, organic photovoltaic (OPV) is the class of solar cells that offers several advantages such as mechanical flexibility, solution processability, environmental friendliness, and being lightweight. In this research, we demonstrate the manufacturing route for printed OPV device arrays based on conventional architecture and using inkjet printing technology over an industrial platform. Inkjet technology is presently considered to be one of the most matured digital manufacturing technologies because it offers inherent additive nature and last stage customization flexibility (if the main goal is to obtain custom design devices). In this research paper, commercially available electronically functional inks were carefully selected and then implemented to show the importance of compatibility between OPV material stacks and the device architecture. One of the main outcomes of this work is that the manufacturing of the OPV devices was accomplished using inkjet technology in massive numbers ranging up to 1500 containing different device sizes, all of which were deposited on a flexible polymeric film and under normal atmospheric conditions. In this investigation, it was found that with a set of correct functional materials and architecture, a manufacturing yield of more than 85% could be accomplished, which would reflect high manufacturing repeatability, deposition accuracy, and processability of the inkjet technology.