Water Bath Research Articles

An optimized Langendorff-free method for isolation and characterization of primary adult cardiomyocytes.

Isolation of adult mouse cardiomyocytes is an essential technique for advancing our understanding of cardiac physiology and pathology, and for developing therapeutic strategies to improve cardiac health. Traditionally, cardiomyocytes are isolated from adult mouse hearts using the Langendorff perfusion method in which the heart is excised, cannulated, and retrogradely perfused through the aorta. While this method is highly effective for isolating cardiomyocytes, it requires specialized equipment and technical expertise. To address the challenges of the Langendorff perfusion method, researchers have developed a Langendorff-free technique for isolating cardiomyocytes. This Langendorff-free technique involves anterograde perfusion through the coronary vasculature by clamping the aorta and intraventricular injection. This method simplifies the experimental setup by decreasing the need for specialized equipment and eliminating the need for cannulation of the heart. Here, we introduce an updated Langendorff-free method for isolating adult mice cardiomyocytes that builds on the Langendorff-free protocols developed previously. In this method, the aorta is clamped in situ, and the heart is perfused using a peristaltic pump, water bath, and an injection needle. This simplicity makes cardiomyocyte isolation more accessible for researchers who are new to cardiomyocyte isolation or are working with limited resources. In this report, we provide a step-by-step description of our optimized protocol. In addition, we present example studies of analyzing mitochondrial structural and functional characteristics in untreated isolated cardiomyocytes and cardiomyocytes treated with the acute inflammatory stimulus lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Hydrodynamic Behavior of Sphere Penetrating into Water Bath Covered with Oil Layer

Hydrodynamic Behavior of Sphere Penetrating into Water Bath Covered with Oil Layer

Effect of ultraviolet treatment on soft tissue healing and bacterial attachment to titania-coated zirconia

Zirconia is the most promising implant abutment material due to its excellent aesthetic effect, good biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. To obtain ideal soft tissue sealing, the implant abutment surface should facilitate cell adhesion and inhibit bacterial colonization. In this study, pre-sintered zirconia was placed in a suspension of titania (TiO2) and zirconium oxychloride (ZrOCl2) and heated in a water bath for dense sintering. A titania coating was prepared on the zirconia surface and subjected to UV irradiation. The surface morphology, elemental composition and chemical state of each group of samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscope, x-ray energy spectrometer, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. The responses of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and common oral pathogensStreptococcus mutans(S. mutans) andPorphyromonas gingivalis(P. gingivalis) to modified zirconia were systematically assessed. Our findings demonstrated that the surface of titania-coated zirconia after UV irradiation produced a large number of hydroxyl groups, and its hydrophilicity was significantly improved. Meanwhile, the UV irradiation also greatly removed the hydrocarbon contaminants on the surface of the titania-coated zirconia. The UV-treated titania coating significantly promoted the proliferation, spreading, and up-regulation of adhesion-related genes and proteins of HGFs. Furthermore, the titania coating irradiated with UV could reduce the adhesion, colonization and metabolic activity ofS. mutansandP. gingivalis. Therefore, UV irradiation of titania-coated zirconia can promote the biological behavior of HGFs and exert a significant antibacterial effect, which has broad clinical application prospects for improving soft tissue integration around zirconia abutments.

Microencapsulation of Caucasian blueberries (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) anthocyanins: Colour stability in varying storage conditions

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the extraction of anthocyanins from the fruits of Caucasian blueberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) and examine the colour stability of anthocyanins encapsulated through spray drying in model systems. The trials were conducted to determine the optimal conditions for anthocyanin extraction using an ultrasonic water bath at temperatures of 25, 50 and 75°C. The ideal anthocyanin extraction occurred at 25°C using 100% acetone in an ultrasonic bath for 15 min at 35 kHz. Anthocyanin concentrations were evaluated using the pH differential method. The extracted anthocyanins were encapsulated through spray drying with maltodextrin as the encapsulating material. The encapsulation efficiency was 80.4 ± 0.20%, and the anthocyanin retention rate was 83.0 ± 0.76%. The coloured capsules were added to model systems with pH values of 4.50, 5.00, 5.50 and 6.00. The colour values (L* 50.16 ± 0.05, a* 4.08 ± 0.04, b* −9.35 ± 0.01, H° 293.57 ± 0.15, C* 10.20 ± 0.03) were measured during varying storage conditions. The results showed, that colour loss began on the fifth day and this was accelerated with higher temperatures and pH values. It was found that encapsulation significantly preserved the stability of the blue colour and the loss of the blue colour followed first‐order reaction kinetics. The study showed that the blue colour of microcapsules was best preserved at pH 5.00 at 25°C. In this case, the measured total colour change (∆E) was 5.86, the activation energy (Ea) was 37.64 kJ/mol, and the half‐life (t1/2) was determined to be 19.08 days.

MODIFICATION OF THE METHOD OF QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF FLAVONOIDS IN THE GRASS OF THE MOUNTAIN BIRD POLÝGONUM AVICULÁRE L.

Аbstract Aim– Modification a methodology of the quantitative content of the sum of flavonoids in the raw material of bird's knotweed (Polýgonum Aviculáre L.) Material and methods. The raw materials of the bird's mountaineer (grass) were collected near the village of Ponomarevka, Dombarovka, Alekseevka, Orenburg region in June-July 2022. The collected material was dried in accordance with the requirements of the GF. The quantitative content was studied using a Vilitek VBS ultrasonic bath at a temperature of 40 ° C and a power of 60 W, a LAB-TB-6/W water bath at a temperature of 90 ° C, a rotary evaporator "IR-1 LT" at a temperature of 70 ° C. The electronic spectra were measured on a UNICO 2800 UV spectrophotometer, in 10 mm thick cuvettes in the wavelength range from 190 to 700 nm. The comparison solution was prepared using 96% ethyl alcohol concentration. Results. The presented method of quantitative determination can be used in "end-to-end" standardization, for raw materials of other types of mountaineer, as well as medicinal herbal preparations based on mountaineers. We selected the extraction conditions using 50% ethyl alcohol in a ratio (raw material-extractant) of 1:50 and boiling in a water bath for 60 minutes, which allowed us to achieve the yield of the amount of flavonoids more than 0.5% declared in GF XIV (FS.2.5.0069.18). Conclusion. New, different from pharmacopoeia conditions for the analysis of the quantitative determination of the amount of flavonoids in the grass of the mountaineer bird are proposed. The main differences, which is a single extraction, in comparison with a three-stage pharmacopoeia; reduction of extraction time in a water bath to 60 minutes, which is 30 minutes less than in the method of GF XIV; the concentration of the extractant and the ratio of "raw materials:extractant". Thus, the method of quantitative determination of the grass of the mountain bird has been modified according to the basic conditions of extraction of raw materials. As a result, based on the data obtained, we can recommend the content of flavonoids in the raw material of bird's knotweed at least 1.5 ± 0.08%.

Evaluation of the Heat Transfer Performance of a Device Utilizing an Asymmetric Pulsating Heat Pipe Structure Based on Global and Local Analysis

PHPs (pulsating heat pipes) are widely used as an efficient heat transfer element in equipment thermal management and waste heat recovery due to their flexibility. The purpose of this study was to design a heat transfer device that utilizes an asymmetric pulsating heat pipe structure by adjusting the lengths of selected pipes within the entire circulation pipeline. In the experiment, a constant temperature water bath was used as the heat source, with heat dissipated in the condensing section via natural convection. An infrared thermal imager was used to record the temperature of the condensing section, and the local wall temperature distribution was measured in different channels of the condensing section. Based on an in-depth analysis of the wavelet frequency, the following research conclusions are drawn: Firstly, as the heat source temperature increases, the start-up time of the pulsating heat pipe is shortened, the operating state changes from start–stop–start to stable and continuous oscillation, and the oscillation mode changes from high amplitude and low frequency to low amplitude and high frequency. These changes are especially pronounced when the heat source temperature is 80 °C, which is when the thermal resistance reaches its lowest value of 0.0074 K/W, and the equivalent thermal conductivity reaches its highest value of 666.29 W/(m·K). Secondly, the flow and oscillation of the working fluid can be effectively promoted by appropriately shortening the length of the condensing section of the pulsating heat pipes or the heat transfer distance between the evaporation and condensing sections. Third, under a low-temperature heat source, the oscillation frequency of each channel of a pulsating heat pipe is found to be low based on wavelet analysis. However, as the heat source temperature increases, the energy content of the temperature signal of the working fluid in each channel changes from a low- to a high-frequency value, gradually converging to the same characteristic frequency. At this point, the working fluid in the pipes no longer flows randomly in multiple directions but rather in a single direction. Finally, we determined that the maximum oscillation frequency of working fluid in a PHP is around 0.7 HZ when using the water bath heating method.

Visual liquefaction process of biomass pyrolysis vapors during indirect heat exchange: Experimental description, prediction, and verification

The present investigation proposed an experimental method combining bio-oil segmental recovery, vapor composition inversion, and function fitting, to describe the vapor evolution curves and heat maps of water, acetic acid, furfural, phenol, MCP, guaiacol and its derivatives in the indirect condensing field regulated by continuous water bath temperatures within 280–364 K. Under 280 K water bath, the recovery proportion of water exceeded 50 % after pyrolysis vapors moved 8 cm from inlet, and soon surpassed 90 % after 12.5 cm. At 337 K, 50 % recovery proportion of water required the vapors to move 20 cm, while guaiacol required only 10 cm for the same proportion. Half of the evolution description data were sampled and utilized to fit the prediction curves of vapor evolution with increasing bath temperature, and another half were used to verify these prediction curves. The overall prediction accuracy of the representative components remained at 70 %, despite the local accuracies less than 50 % within 280–300 K and 355–364 K. These findings provided a visual description and prediction method for the selective condensation of pyrolysis vapors. The cycle from research to application of selective condensation was effectively shortened by the prediction of vapor evolution under water bath based on sampling experiments.

Valorization of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) testa as a biocolourant

IntroductionCoconut testa, a by-product of the coconut processing industry, is currently underutilised. This study aimed to extract a coconut testa-based food colourant using various organic solvents and physical methods, and to utilise this colourant in food product preparation.MethodsDifferent organic solvents, along with various time and temperature combinations, were employed for colourant extraction using both a laboratory-scale water bath and ultrasonication. The colour coordinate values (CIELab) of the testa-derived colourants were measured, and the colourants were screened for various phytochemicals. The in vitro antioxidant potential of the testa colourant was assessed by quantifying total phenolics, and the phytochemical composition, including monomeric anthocyanins, was evaluated.ResultsThe study determined the optimal combinations of organic solvents, temperature and time to obtain extracts with maximum antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC). Acidified ethanol-based extracts of testa colourants yielded highest polyphenol content (154.39 ± 2.63 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids content (53.65 ± 0.62 mg QE/g). Similarly, ethanol-based extractants of coconut testa produced high anthocyanin content [823.02 ± 1.81 mg Cy-3-glc equivalents (C3GE)/100 g]. Acidified (0.3 M HCl) solvents at relatively high temperature and time combinations exhibited high antioxidant potential of testa colourant, as measured by CUPRAC, FRAP, and DPPH assays. Following the foam mat drying process of the colourant, a mature coconut water-based jelly was prepared by incorporating the testa colourant extracted with acidified ethanol.DiscussionThis study highlights the biochemical and antioxidant potential of the food colorant derived from coconut testa and explores its suitability for functional food applications. Therefore, coconut testa extract serves a dual purpose: it enhances the aesthetic appeal of food as a colourant and provides significant health-promoting properties due to its high anthocyanin content. Insights from this study could help in promoting the valorization of one of the beneficial by products of coconut industry.

The Development of a Procedure for the Cryopreservation of the Callus of Anthurium andraeanum by Vitrification.

The cryopreservation of Anthurium andraeanum germplasm resources is extremely important for the production and selection of new varieties. At present, the cryopreservation procedure for the callus of A. andraeanum has not been established. In this study, the leaves of A. andraeanum were used as explants to culture the callus. The cryopreservation procedure of the callus by vitrification was initially established by using the orthogonal experimental method of four factors and three levels in the preculture, loading, and dehydration steps. Furthermore, the vitrification-based cryopreservation was optimized by changing the preculture temperature and loading solution and adding exogenous substances to the plant vitrification solution (PVS2). In this procedure, the callus was precultured at 25 °C for 2 d, and loaded in 50% PVS2 at 25 °C for 60 min. The callus was dehydrated with PVS2 containing 0.08 mM reduced glutathione (GSH) at 0 °C for 60 min. After rapid-cooling in liquid nitrogen for 1 h, it was rapid-warming in a water bath at 40 °C for 90 s and unloaded for 30 min. After 1 d of recovery, the cell relative survival rate of the cryopreserved callus was 64.60%. The results provide a valuable basic and effective method for the long-term conservation of A. andraeanum germplasm resources.

Optimization of nanocellulose extraction from Cocos nucifera leaves

The most common scenario in agriculture and food manufacturing is they utilize the fruit or stem of the plants but discard the leaves by open burning or disposing them into the river which causes water and air pollution. Nanocellulose fabricated from abundant agricultural waste could be one of the alternative solutions to overcome environmental pollution. In this study, nanocellulose was extracted from the dried leaves of Cocos nucifera (Coconut). The process was carried out using formic acid, peroxy formic acid and sodium hypochlorite bleaching. The interaction of three independent variables was studied during the formic acid pulping stage. The optimum condition for the formic acid pulping was set by 85% concentration of formic acid and incubation in the water bath at 70℃ for 1 hr. This study showed a simple and inexpensive method to extract nanocellulose. The products provided insight into the kinetic model of nanocellulose and the potential usages of nanocellulose as substitutes for renewable sources of energy and applications in various fields.

Sampling volume evaluation of seven electromagnetic soil moisture sensors

The sampling volume of electromagnetic (EM) soil moisture sensors is of significant interest due to the diverse applications for which they are utilized. However, this volume can vary considerably based on multiple factors, including the number, spacing, and length of sensor rods, as well as the operational frequency. The sensor's volume of influence is dictated by electric field lines or ‘fringing fields’ that develop between pairs of powered electrodes. This study involved the development of an accurate sensor positioning system employed to characterize the EM sensor's electrical fringing field in 3-directional - x, y, and z space. Sensor outputs were recorded at mm increments beginning with the sensor positioned 20 mm above the air-water interface followed by incremental immersion into a water bath until the maximum sensor output was achieved. For each measurement cycle, the sensor was repositioned to test signal output approaching the air-water interface in −x, +x, −y, +y, −z, and +z orientations. The sensor sampling volume was determined based on the normalized 99% output value, which was assumed to represent the sensor position relative to an air-water interface where the sensor fringing field just begins to ‘sense’ or to become impacted by the air phase, thereby reducing the signal amplitude. Our results vary somewhat from other studies using a similar evaluation approach, leading us to conclude that EM-sensor sampling volume determination is both complex and imprecise as a result of the global sensor market's varied circuits and electrode configurations. EM soil moisture sensors evaluated in this study exhibited sampling volumes of 386 cm3 (TDR-315), 66 cm3 (TDR-310H), 398 cm3 (CS655), 45 cm3 (EC-5), 40 cm3 (HydraProbe II), 148 cm3 (WET150), and 49 cm3 (TEROS 12), which were smaller than manufacturer reported volumes.

Effect of hydration process on the interlayer bond tensile mechanical properties of ultra-high performance concrete for 3D printing

It is crucial to reveal interlayer interface characteristics for fully analysing the mechanical properties of 3D printed ultra-high performance concrete (3DP-UHPC). Despite its significance, the interlayer bonding behaviour of 3DP-UHPC has not been fully explored. To fill this gap, this study adopted different curing times and conditions to investigate the effect of hydration process on the interlayer microstructure and mechanical properties under different interlayer interval times. As the result show that, the interlayer microstructure remained dense for interval times less than 5 minutes, but interlayer gaps became increasingly apparent as the interval time exceeded this threshold. Promoting hydration, however, helped heal interlayer defects in 3DP-UHPC. Additionally, the interlayer bond tensile strength gradually decreased with increasing interval time but remained almost unchanged when the interval time exceeded 1 day. Notably, hot water bath curing enhanced the bond tensile strength of specimens with interval times within 60 minutes, but its improvement was insignificant for interval times exceeding 1 day. Based on these experimental results, a preliminary interlayer bond tensile stress-strain equation of 3DP-UHPC was derived. The findings of this study offer promising avenues for the improvement and promotion of 3DP-UHPC technology.

Point-of-care test of blood Plasmodium RNA within a Pasteur pipette using a novel isothermal amplification without nucleic acid purification

BackgroundResource-limited regions face a greater burden of infectious diseases due to limited access to molecular tests, complicating timely diagnosis and management. Current molecular point-of-care tests (POCTs) either come with high costs or lack adequate sensitivity and specificity. To facilitate better prevention and control of infectious diseases in underserved areas, we seek to address the need for molecular POCTs that better align with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s ASSURED criteria—Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and robust, Equipment-free, and Deliverable to end users.MethodsA novel molecular POCT, Pasteur Pipette-assisted isothermal probe amplification (pp-IPA), was developed for malaria detection. Without any microfluidics, this method captures Plasmodium 18S rRNA in a modified Pasteur pipette using tailed genus-specific probes. After washing, the bound tailed probes are ligated to form a template for subsequent novel isothermal probe amplification using a pair of generic primers, bypassing nucleic acid extraction and reverse transcription. The method was assessed using cultured Plasmodium and compared with real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) or reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) in clinical blood samples.ResultsThe entire assay is completed in 60–80 min with minimal hands-on time, using only a Pasteur pipette and a water bath. The pp-IPA’s analytical sensitivity is 1.28 × 10–4 parasites/μl, with 100% specificity against various blood-borne pathogens causing malaria-like symptoms. Additionally, pp-IPA needs only liquid-transfer skill for operation and the cost is around USD 0.25 per test, making it at least 300 times lower than mainstream POCT platforms.ConclusionsDesigned to improve the accessibility of molecular detection in resource-limited settings, pp-IPA’s simplicity, affordability, high sensitivity/specificity, and minimal equipment requirements make it a promising point-of-care pathogen identification tool in resource-constrained regions.Graphical

Mechanical Response of Hot-Mixed Epoxy Asphalt Concrete Steel Deck Pavement Under Thermal and Load

In recent years, fatigue cracking in orthotropic steel bridge deck pavements has become a significant concern, so the investigation of the mechanical response of the pavement layer has become a central focus in pavement structure design. This experiment subjected a full-scale specimen to a constant amplitude dynamic load of 60 kN to 300 kN over 2 million cycles. Throughout the testing, a circulating water bath elevated the temperature of the pavement layer from 15 °C to 50 °C. Key locations were monitored for strain and deflection data, facilitating an investigation into the mechanical response of the epoxy asphalt pavement system under the effects of temperature and load. The results indicate that the maximum transverse strain at the bottom of the steel deck occurs at the U-rib weld aligned with the load center, reaching 190% of the initial loading strain. Meanwhile, the maximum transverse strain on the pavement surface is observed at the U-rib weld adjacent to the loaded area, measuring 167% of the initial strain. The maximum longitudinal strain is lower than the maximum transverse strain. In the load zone, the longitudinal strain between the U-ribs exceeds that at the U-rib weld. Both transverse strain and relative deflection increase as the load intensifies. The relationship between transverse strain and applied load is characterized by an exponential function, while deflection exhibits a cubic relationship with the applied load. Elevated temperatures also contribute to increased transverse strains at both the bottom of the steel deck and the pavement surface, following an exponential trend. Relative deflection is primarily influenced by the applied load and remains relatively unaffected by temperature variations. When accounting for the coupling of load and temperature, the maximum transverse strains at both the bottom of the steel deck and the pavement surface can be modeled as an exponential function of the independent variables: load and temperature.

Evaluation of wound healing activities of Vitex doniana (Black Plum) ethanol fruit extract

In this study, the folkloric use of Vitex doniana fruit extract for the treatment of wounds was evaluated. The mesocarps of the fresh fruits were removed, oven-dried at 40°C and pulverized. The powdered material (800 g), was exhaustively macerated in 80 % ethanol, filtered and dried in a water bath at 40°C. Phytochemical screening and acute dermal toxicity of the extract were investigated. Herbal ointments (10 and 50 %w/w) were formulated using soft paraffin base. The wound-healing effect of the extract was carried out using twenty albino rats divided into four groups (n=5). Groups I (soft paraffin) and II (10 %w/w Povidone-iodine) served as negative and positive controls, respectively. Groups III and IV were topically treated with 10 %w/w and 50 %w/w of the herbal ointment respectively. Treatments and wound grading were assessed once daily and every 4 days, respectively, as well as the timeframe for percentage wound contraction and epithelialization Both the 10 %w/w and 50 %w/w herbal ointments exhibited a concentration-related significant (P<0.05) wound contraction when compared to the control. Epithelialization period of 50 %w/w extract was less than that of the standard drug. The wound closure area of 50 %w/w extract was >positive control >10 %w/w extract > negative control. Histological study of the wounds on the 16th day indicated no sign of dermal toxicity. Some secondary metabolites such as alkaloids and tannins were present. In conclusion, the folkloric use of the fruit extract of V. doniana for the treatment of wounds may therefore be justified

АНАЛИЗ КАЧЕСТВА ПОЛИМЕРИЗАЦИИ БАЗИСНЫХ ПЛАСТМАСС

The issue of restoring dental defects is relevant for modern dentistry. Restoration of the functions of the dental system is possible by partial or complete removable laminar dentures which basis is made of lamellar plastics in the most cases. It is necessary to strictly observe the temperature regime of polymerization of plastics, since structural defects in the material can form, causing complications after prosthetics. There are devices for automatic polymerization with a temperature control function, but the most common is the classical method (in a water bath) of making denture bases. Purpose of the study: compare the quality of polymerization of base plastics using the classical method and using modern equipment. Materials and methods: 8 plastic samples were made, 50% of which were polymerized using the classical method, and the other half using an apparatus for hot polymerization of plastic. An external inspection of the samples was carried out and the finishing time of the plates was estimated. After polishing, the samples were examined using an electron microscope. Results and discussion: samples, polymerized using the classical method showed signs of granular porosity, the polishing time was 8 minutes 13 seconds; electron microscopy results revealed the presence of defects, which could lead to complications. Plates polymerized by the instrumental method are homogeneous, polishing time is on average 4 minutes 42 seconds. When these plates were examined with an electron microscope, there were minor defects. Conclusion: it is recommended to polymerize base plastics using devices for hot polymerization of plastics in order to prevent complications from using removable dentures.

Demulsification efficiency of the leave extract from African blackwood (Delbergia melanoxylon)

The demulsification efficiency of the leave extract from African Blackwood (Delbergia Melanoxylon) was determined using the bottle test method. Methanol, n-heptane and distilled water were used as extraction solvents respectively to extract the active ingredients of the leave. A 200 ml crude oil emulsion obtained from Niger Delta area Nigeria was introduced into six (6) calibrated 500 ml Teflon-stoppered bottles respectively, the leave extract in the solvent was introduced into each of the bottles as a demulsifier at concentrations of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 ppm with the sixth bottle left as control (without demulsifier). All the bottles were immersed in a water bath of 60 0C after mixing properly with a mechanical laboratory mixer and left for an hour. After an initial 5 minutes, the percentage of water separated in each bottle was recorded after 10 minutes. Bottle test was also carried out using a synthetic demulsifier (DXO77) on the same crude oil. Results obtained shows that the leave extract using methanol had the highest demulsification efficiency separating 50.5 % water from the crude after 60 minutes with a demulsifier concentration of 250 ppm. A 250 ppm of the synthetic demulsifier (DXO77) separated 51.0% of water from the crude after 60 minutes. The leave extract using n-heptane and distilled water separated 40.5 % and 32.5% water from the crude after 60 minutes at demulsifier concentrations of 250 ppm respectively. There is a consistency in the percentage of water from the crude within the last 15 minutes indicating that the separated water in the crude has reached its threshold, further increase in the demulsifier concentration at this point could lead to emulsification. The demulsification efficiency of plant extracts such as African Blackwood (Delbergia Melanoxylon) are influenced by the characteristics of the extraction solvent such as solvating power and extraction capacity.

Effect of Mg on Plasticity and Microstructure of Al-Mg-Ga-Sn-In Soluble Aluminum Alloy.

Soluble aluminum alloy materials used in underground operational tools are synthesized via a high-temperature smelting process. The microstructure and composition distribution of the alloy were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, metallographic microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray and electron backscatter diffraction techniques. The mechanical properties were evaluated using a universal testing machine and hardness tester, while solubility assessments were conducted in a constant-temperature water bath. This study focuses on the plasticity and dissolution characteristics of Al-Mg-Ga-Sn-In alloys with varying Mg contents. The tensile strength (σb) of the alloy was 181.99 MPa, with an elongation (δ) of 27.49% and cross-sectional shrinkage (φ) of 11.67% at a magnesium content of 3.0 wt.%. Additionally, in the compressive test, the compressive yield strength (σsc) was recorded at 188.32 MPa, while the compression rate (δ) was 27.06% and the section expansion rate (φ) was 138.66%. Furthermore, the alloy demonstrated the ability to dissolve spontaneously in water at 90 °C, exhibiting an average dissolution rate of 1.0 g·h-1cm-2 and a maximum dissolution rate of 3.25 g·h-1cm-2 after 12.0 h. Consequently, this alloy composition not only satisfies the requirements for rapid solubility but also exhibits favorable plasticity, providing a novel reference for the selection of soluble aluminum alloy materials.

A temperature-sensitive metabolic valve and a transcriptional feedback loop drive rapid homeoviscous adaptation in Escherichia coli

All free-living microorganisms homeostatically maintain the fluidity of their membranes by adapting lipid composition to environmental temperatures. Here, we quantify enzymes and metabolic intermediates of the Escherichia coli fatty acid and phospholipid synthesis pathways, to describe how this organism measures temperature and restores optimal membrane fluidity within a single generation after a temperature shock. A first element of this regulatory system is a temperature-sensitive metabolic valve that allocates flux between the saturated and unsaturated fatty acid synthesis pathways via the branchpoint enzymes FabI and FabB. A second element is a transcription-based negative feedback loop that counteracts the temperature-sensitive valve. The combination of these elements accelerates membrane adaptation by causing a transient overshoot in the synthesis of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids following temperature shocks. This strategy is comparable to increasing the temperature of a water bath by adding water that is excessively hot rather than adding water at the desired temperature. These properties are captured in a mathematical model, which we use to show how hard-wired parameters calibrate the system to generate membrane compositions that maintain constant fluidity across temperatures. We hypothesize that core features of the E. coli system will prove to be ubiquitous features of homeoviscous adaptation systems.

Valorization of Potato Peels (Solanum tuberosum) Using Infrared-Assisted Extraction: A Novel Sprouting Suppressant and Antibacterial Agent.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in reducing waste to promote environmental sustainability, with particular focus on agricultural by-products, especially fruits and vegetables. Potato, a widely used crop across various industries, generates a significant amount of peel waste. This study aims to valorize potato peels using water bath extraction (WBE) and infrared-assisted extraction (IRAE), both with distilled water as the solvent, followed by assessments of antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-sprouting activities. Optimization using response surface methodology identified optimal extraction conditions for WBE (90 °C for 70 min) and IRAE (80 °C for 10 min), with both methods yielding 3.5 mg GAE/g DM in polyphenol content. IRAE demonstrated superior energy efficiency and enhanced antioxidant activity. The extracts exhibited antibacterial properties against both Gram-positive (Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-negative bacteria (Proteus sp. and Salmonella sp.), with inhibition zones ranging from 10 to 14 mm. Furthermore, the potato peels extract showed significant anti-sprouting effects at room temperature, reducing both the number and size of sprouts compared with the control. HPLC analysis showed the presence of different phenolic compounds such as rutin, catechin, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, and gallic acid in one or both extracts. These findings suggest that potato peels extract holds potential for applications in the food industry as a natural preservative due to its antioxidant properties, as well as a sprout suppressant. The antibacterial activity of the extracts suggests their potential as a natural preservative as well, offering protection against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that may be present in food.