Search the Community

Plug-and-play vaccine, a good read: Prof Sarah Gilbert, Covid vaccine creator: Now let’s take on 12 more diseases If you head to the cutting edge of vaccinology you will find Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, from the Jenner Institute and the architect of the Oxford vaccine. Using a revolutionary technology, the team at Oxford had a vaccine ready to start clinical trials in just 65 days. In partnership with pharma giant AstraZeneca, more than 1.5 billion doses have been distributed around the world. The new generation of vaccines are quick to make and highly flexible. "It's like decorating a cake," says Prof Gilbert. The old-school method of developing vaccines means you must go back to the raw materials and start from scratch for every vaccine you make. It is like starting with a bench of flour, sugar, eggs and butter. The next step is to take the offending virus, or other disease-causing microbes, and either kill it or weaken it to make a vaccine. Take the two seasonal flu vaccines that are given each year. The adult jab is made by growing influenza viruses inside eggs. The viruses are then purified and killed to make the vaccine. The nasal spray for children has live viruses, but these are made weak and unstable so they can grow in the cooler temperatures of the nose, but not in the warmth of the lungs. But it takes a lot of work to start from scratch for every new disease and there is plenty that can go wrong. You can end up with the vaccine-equivalent of a soggy bottom. The development of Oxford's coronavirus vaccine used a completely different approach known as "plug-and-play". With this type of vaccine most of the work has already been done - the cake has been pre-baked, it just needs to be "decorated" in order to match its target. "We've got the cake and we can put a cherry on top, or we can put some pistachios on top if we want a different vaccine, we just add the last bit and then we're ready to go," Prof Gilbert tells Inside Health. Two of the other big Covid vaccines - one made by Pfizer-BioNTech and the other by Moderna - use another style of highly adaptable plug-and-play vaccine technology. And all these technologies should make it quicker and easier to develop the vaccines of the future. "There's a lot of vaccine development that we need to do now that we can do it," says Prof Gilbert. Top of her list of targets are the official "priority pathogens". While Covid was a surprise, these are the known threats that are bubbling away with the potential to cause large outbreaks and potentially the pandemics of the future. Some of this work is already under way. Oxford has started clinical trials of a plague vaccine using its plug-and-play technology. Plague infamously caused the Black Death pandemic killing hundreds of millions of people. Separately Moderna is already looking at using its own mRNA technology to make a Nipah vaccine. The virus kills up to three-quarters of infected people. Yet, the big barrier for tackling these diseases will be the same as it has always been - money. They affect some of the poorest parts of the world and there is concern that, even in the wake of pandemic, research won't be funded. And, while vaccine technology has leapt forward - the old enemies are still the same and some have tricksy quirks that mean they pose monumental challenges. All vaccines need a target - called an antigen - that they train the immune system to attack. For all the problems Covid has caused, the virus was a pretty simple beast and the target antigen was blatantly obvious. The outer surface of the virus is covered in spike proteins. So all researchers had to do was plug in the genetic blueprints for the spike protein, train the body to recognise it and be pretty confident that the vaccine was going to work. However, the target antigen is not obvious in other more complex microbes such as the three big killers - malaria, HIV and tuberculosis. HIV is a constantly moving target. It is a shape-shifter that rapidly mutates in order to alter its appearance and outwit our immune system. It is hard to know how to pin it down. We already have vaccines against malaria and tuberculosis, but they are far from perfect. Read more : https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58898085

Aftermarket vs. OEM Spark Plug Wires One of the most hotly debated topics in tuning Hondas is the perceived benefits of aftermarket spark-plug cables. These are often marketed with the promise of 'better' and 'more powerful' sparks and thus directly inferring better combustion and a gain in power output. Armchair 'tuning specialists', enthusiasts, and even mechanics alike have discussed about the supposed mediocre sparking qualities of the stock Honda spark-plug cables and, especially at high RPMs typical when revving VTEC Hondas, how the stock cables will be struggling to produce good consistent sparks. Aftermarket cables comes into the picture claiming to produce better, 'larger' and more consistent sparks at high RPMs and therefore higher power output. How true are these claims ? To clear the mystery and resolve this debate once and for all, TOVA requested Dynojet Far East to perform a spark-plug cables dyno test. The car used is a JDM Honda Integra XSi with the B16A engine. The stock plug cable has been in use for the better part of 8 years. At this age, many will begin recommending their replacement by aftermarket cables, often citing that they will be worn out and thus not giving good sparks. The car has been regularly serviced (either 5000km or 3 months whichever expires first) using original Honda oil filter and Mobil-1 synthetic engine oil. At the time of the test, all maintenance items are new; spark plugs, HKS Super-Power-Flow filter element, even gear oil (using Honda recommended oil). The fuel injectors have also been cleaned less than 4 months ago. The car has also just benefited from the fitament of brand new HKS Legal Muffler and HKS Super-Header, with a HKS AFR to re-calibrate the air-fuel ratio to our local atmospheric conditions. Aftermarket cable number 1 represents the generic 8mm silicon 'high performance' replacement cables. Often these cables are marketed by performing a side-by-side comparison on a special setup where first the stock cable are used to connect a spark-plug to an ignition coil. The sparks produced at the plug will be seen to be weak and dull. Next, replacement of the 8mm silicon cable will be done and now the sparks at the plug can clearly be seen to be bright and strong. From this 'conclusive' demonstration, the benefits to power output will be inferred. I will not be embarrassed to admit that I myself have bought three sets of such cables in my earlier Honda ownership days (when I was driving SOHC engine models), often being conclusively convinced by the demonstration and then actually believing that I felt improvements from the cables. I have owned this cable for about 5 years, using them on and off. Aftermarket cable number 2 is the famous NGK 'blue' cable, ie NGK Hyper Silicon. Having the same diameter as stock cables (and thus the added advantage of direct replacement), the NGK is a cable that even HKS has recommended over stock. The logic given was often that the NGK will last longer than stock as well as the typical giving 'better' spark benefits. In fact, the box that the NGK comes in has a claim of 130% better sparks - hence more power from the engine. The NGK cables are brand new, and supplied by Dynojet Far East to help settle the debate. The dyno runs were performed immediately one after the other, with only the minimum of delay necessitated by having to switch off the engine to replace the plug cables. To get straight to the point, the three dyno runs are produced below. The power curves are: green is for the stock cable, red for the generic 8mm silicon, and blue for the NGK blue cable. The actual power outputs are not crucial and have been removed from the charts to make the comparison more straightforward. The most important point from the charts is that the stock spark-plug cables produced the highest and most consistent power curve. The most significant factor is the smoothness of the stock cable's power curve. Both the 'generic' 8mm silicon cable and the NGK were seen to be misfiring as evidenced by their jagged curves after 5000rpm and especially in the VTEC rpm band. Both 8mm silicon and NGK delivered about the same max power which is about 1ps lower than that produced by the stock cables. Note that the stock cables, although 8 years old, consistently produced better power all across the dynoed rpm band, 3000rpm till the 8000rpm red-line. Especially surprising is the fact that the stock cables did not misfire, thus proving that they produce more consistent sparks even compared to the brand new and supposedly superior NGK blue cables ! The results although probably shocking to many enthusiasts are in fact what have often been recommended by the best tuners. Many enthusiasts naturally are reluctant to accept the fact, no matter how highly they respect those tuners but with this comparison, TOVA hopes that the question have been conclusively answered and the debates are now closed. Stock spark-plug cables are the best ! Copyright Wong KN Temple of VTEC Asia Feb 01 1999.

Does anyone know where is the best rate to change to IK20? 1)Stamford tyres charge $80/4 pieces (Including labour) 2) Auotbac charge $78/4 pieces (Not including labour. Quoted $5 for normal car) So any Bro have gd lobang?? Cheers

My bathroom sink plug is one that you push down to seal and then push down again to open and let the water drain. The black rubber seal has broken and so doesn't seal off the water. Anyone know where I can buy a replacement rubber seal. Thanks..

Just bought a Mazda 5 SP 2008. Looking to replace the spark plugs but it seems that there is some with 18mm reach and some with 25mm reach. Like to seek advice on which is the correct ones to use. Thanks in advance

Hi Everyone, Anyone driving Latio/Sylphy1.5 who has use Lotus Long Life Spark Plug please provide your feedback. Went for servicing and W/S recommended Lotus Spark Plug instead of the Denso Iridium spark plug. Cost is only 1/3 of the Denso Iridium but I am seeking feedback from anyone whom have use or heard of this Lotus Spark Plug before please any feedback is welcome. Thanks

My friend just sent his car for servicing at S**R. They changed Denso Iridium for him FXE20 HE11. Cost $220 for four pcs. So expensive ? Can Lation use other types of plug ?

Was troubleshooting a car for online test and it was supposed to be an EGR only fault. However after replacing EGR it was unable to start. I checked battery, had it jumpstarted in case of low voltage, checked fuel pump,ignition coil, almost every part of the engine. Spark plug was clean and there was no function to test if it was okay or dtc like engine misfire. All was ok. But car still unable to start. So i failed. Only when time elapsed and teacher finish the test did i see spark plug fouled. Which was kinda strange as there was no dtc relating to cylinder misfire Can't be so fast fouled up? Really sian especially as it was just an EGR fault and i replaced the correct component but i missed out on something important.

Need some advise here from Home DIYers ( and I don't mean people who DIY at home @chowyunfatt ) My home renovation is about 5-6yrs old. At least 2 of the wall electrical sockets are in this state: I think the black stump that the long screw is drilled into broke off at the base. What are my options to remedy this? (mods, I used the search button for various permutations of what I wanted to find but came up naught. Please help me merge into any of the existing thread as you deem fit.)

Hi, need some advice here. Just came back from a regular servicing of my 7-yr old Lancer GLX, and was told by the mechanic that the valve cover gasket and plug seal needed to be replaced for $195, as there was some leakage seen on the spark plugs. I thought those things are just some rubber seals, and was wondering if that kinda price is reasonable? Thanks for any advice.

Sorry please merge or delete.

Juz serviced my old car, '89 Civic GL. Mechanic told me my engine sump drain plug internal screw thread no good already, thus always have oil drips. I told him to fix it but he said its a big job. Have to get new oil sump, then remove old sump and fix it back. Sounds easy??? There are a few items in way of the sump so its not going to be easy. Also will cost quite a lot to get new oil sump, gasket and drain plug. Anyone got any workshop who can re-tap the screw thread in situ and then machine a new drain plug for it??? I know this can be done, but must find the correct workshop. Please help my car is dripping wherever I go. I scare later 1 day the thread no more then the whole drain plug drop out, that will be in deep sh!t.

During the last servicing, I request for a full servicing since immediately i got my 2nd hand car. I requested for a Denso iridium but it turn out to have a NGK copper plug installed inside. Fine... little did i realise the spec for the plug is a bit off in the spark position parameters. Its +1mm more. I always wondered why my car got this weird pulsing engine vibrating where it thud harder than usual. After changing to the correct spec denso spark plug, I can feel a bit of HP increase and also the weird pulsing vibrating is gone. Morale of the story, always check what your workshop have done to your car.

dear brothers/sisters, anyone can advice how to remove spark plug that is stuck to the car? mechanic managed to remove 3 out of 4. now left one and the mechanic say its dangerous to remove, might result in engine need to be removed. google and found some results like spraying WD40 or on the engine make it warm then easier to remove. thanks in advance for any advice given!

Hi guys, i brought the wrong NGK Iridium spark plug model for my Honda civic EK SiR B-series model. Will i damage the engine or cause any problems to it? After i had changed, i kinda smell some sort of buring smell inside my car. I'm quite worried is it the cause of wrong model of spark plug i brought? I brought ZFR6FIX-11 instead of BKR6E-N-11..

Why I get this blue screen of death when plug in my Galaxy Notes? I used to have this blue screen problem with my faulty Notes charging port, but after the charging port replacement, I still get the same problem? Are there other problems with my Notes??

Hi all, This is an update further to my post on NGK BKR6E-11 (a.k.a V-Power) condition at 30k km usage. Ref: http://www.mycarforum.com/index.php?showto...spark*&st=0 Recently I just changed out this new sets of "Copper" spark plug (NGK BKR6E-11) with 40,000 km usage. Price for each spark plug is only S$3.50 and it can last 40km without symptom of mis-firing, difficulties in starting, etc. I only felt acceleration a bit sluggish at it approaches 40k km. Below is the photos of the 4nos spark plugs. I took the gap measurement using feeler gauge. According to specifiction, brand new NGK BKR6E-11 the gap should be 1.1 mm. Photo of No.1 cylinder spark plug is below, and the gap measured is 1.18 mm Photo of No.2 cylinder spark plug is below, and the gap measured is 1.19 mm Photo of No.3 cylinder spark plug is below, and the gap measured is 1.18 mm Photo of No.4 cylinder spark plug is below, and the gap measured is 1.20 mm I visually inspected the tips using 10x magnifier, and noticed that No.1 ~ No.3 spark plugs the edge of the tips looks slightly rounded. No.4 spark plug tip looks the least rounded but gap is the biggest. Grounding condition looks less deteriorated than the tips for all the spark plugs. Conclusion: normal "copper" spark plugs can go 30,000 km on my engine without any issues, but to take it to 40,000 km is a bit pushing it. I think 30k km is the limit for my car.

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/...-order-20130419 Wtf? Why they kill the show man?

TORQUE WRENCH and gapping tool? and how much?

Pls advise what is the "intake side of the cylinder head"? Can I request the mechanic to install the spark plug accordingly during servicing? The next time you are doing a tune-up on your ride, be sure to take note of this modification. By simply installing your plugs in a particular way, you will pick up roughly 1 whp, dyno proven time and time again. Index your spark plugs - The idea here is to "aim" the open end of the spark plug terminal (the gap) towards the intake side of the cylinder head. In order to accomplish this, simply mark on the plug a small line to indicate where this gap is. Proceed to install them as you normally would, except when the plug is hand-tight (that is, you've screwed it in without a ratchet as far as it'll go), use your ratchet to tighten the plug until the open end of the plug, faces the intake side of your cylinder head. Try to line up as best as you can. It may require buying 2 sets of spark plugs in order to do this, but hopefully you'll be able to do this the first time. Be careful with aluminum heads not to over tighten, as that could lead to a costly repair. That's it!

As above, brand new one haven't use (still inside the box). Retail price $39, & I'm willing to let go at $30. Interested pls pm me. Thank you *Sorry, only 1 device available for sale :)

Dear bros/sis, I have recently begin preparing my vehicle for CNY (haha). As you know, swirl mark occurs over time irregardless whether we like it or not. I recently spent 4 hours plus manually removing it by hand. No doubt I am glad that all marks are gone from my bonnet, I now have to face reality that I have the rest of the car to deal with T_T So I was wondering if any bros/sis have seen those buffer machine they use to polish cars but can be operated by ciggy lighting plug instead of the normal power socket plug. Cause living in HDB means I have no access to power points at ground level car park. Was hoping if this machine exist, I can buy it and that should reduce my time needed for removing the rest of the swirl marks from the remaining portions of the car. Thanks in advance.

Hi guys, I was on leave today so went Jalan Jalan around some of the car workshops. I was in this workshop and was contemplating on where to change my current stock spark plugs to the Denso Iridium one. I asked one of the guys in the workshop of which Denso spark plug can the Optra use and he told me can use the IK16 one. I asked him about the IK20 one and he told me IK20 for above 1.6L car and IK16 for 1.6L and below car. I am not sure if he is right or not. Anyone can shed some light on this matter? Also, between Denso and NGK iridium spark plug which is better?

Hi guys, need some help here. My uncle commented that his friends are all raving about this device, when plugged into the cigarette lighter, makes the car smoother/more powerful and saves fuel too. sells about $200++ I'm guessing it's some kind of voltage stabilizer but I thought that usually goes next to the car battery in the engine compartment.... anybody has any clue? thanx in advance

Hi Guys anyone using this Honda Genuine Spark Plug for Honda Fit 2008 newer model. 12290-RBO-J01 (DIFR6A13G) This is original 13mm gap .... wanna know anyone using ??? Claim to be longer life and better firing power to provide best fuel efficency. 4 piece more than $100 over ....