Combination Of Media Research Articles

Optimizing the Protocol for In vitro Regeneration through Callus in Rice Varieties, viz; Ratnagiri-8, Karjat Shatabdi and Karjat-3

The investigation entitled “In vitro regeneration studies in rice (Oryza sativa L.)” was carried out in tissue culture laboratory at Plant Biotechnology Centre, College of Agriculture, Dapoli-Ratnagiri (M.H.) in Completely Randomized Design with 3 replications. The aim of the research was to set up the in vitro regeneration protocol in the three rice varieties, viz, Ratnagiri-8, Karjat Shatabdi, Karjat-3 with an objective to investigate suitable callus induction medium and develop an efficient regeneration technique for genetic transformation. Mature seed embryo was used as explant for callus initiation. The callusing ability of the varieties was tested on 12 medium combinations with different concentrations of 2,4-D and NAA, their combinations and one control treatment. Medium combination T2: MS + 2,4-D (2.0 mg/l) + NAA (0.5 mg/l) gave the highest callus induction in Ratnagiri-8 and Karjat Shatabdi with a callus induction frequency of 66.67 % and 53.33 % respectively and callus weight of 0.367 g and 0.290 g respectively. Karjat-3 showed highest callus induction for medium combination T3: MS + 2,4-D (2.0 mg/l) +NAA (1.0 mg/l) with a callus induction frequency of 68.33 % and callus weight of 0.392 g. Embryogenic, soft, friable callus with granular texture and yellowish white colour was obtained from all media combinations in all three varieties. The regeneration ability of the varieties was tested on 15 medium combinations with different concentrations of BAP and Kinetin, their combinations and one control treatment. The shoot and root induction was obtained on same medium. The highest regeneration was observed for T5: MS + BAP (2.5 mg/l) in Ratnagiri-8 and Karjat Shatabdi with a shoot induction frequency of 83.33% and 73.67% respectively and root induction frequency of 76.33% and 64.67% respectively. In Karjat-3, highest regeneration was observed for T6: MS + BAP (3.0 mg/l) with a shoot and root induction frequency of 78.33% and 69.00% respectively.

Prevalence of Cronobacter spp. in tropical seafood from Mumbai, India: Comparative study of isolation media and PCR detection.

Cronobacter species are opportunistic emerging pathogens associated with diverse foods of plant and animal origin. Considering the diversity of the Cronobacter group of bacteria and their co-existence with closely related Enterobacterales in the aquatic environment, their isolation from fish and shellfish is a challenge. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of Cronobacter in finfish, shellfish, and dried fish, and to compare nine combinations of enrichment broth-selective isolation media for efficient isolation of Cronobacter spp. Seventy-five seafood samples collected from five different retail markets were subjected to multiple selective-enrichment methods to isolate Cronobacter, which were presumptively identified by biochemical tests followed by confirmation with genus- and species-specific PCRs. Of 75 seafood samples analyzed, 24 (32%) were positive for Cronobacter spp. The highest incidence was in dried fish (21 samples, 47.72%), followed by 19 (43.18%) fresh finfish and four (9.09%) shellfish samples. Forty-four isolates from these samples were identified as Cronobacter spp. by PCR. Species-specific PCR further categorized these as C. sakazakii (25), C. malonaticus (16) and C. turicensis (1), while two isolates remained unidentified at species level. Enrichment in Cronobacter screening broth or Rappaport Vassiliadis medium, followed by isolation on the chromogenic Cronobacter sakazakii agar was found to be the most effective combination for the isolation of Cronobacter spp. from seafood. Dried fish is an important reservoir of C. sakazakii owing to its desiccation tolerance and absence of competing microbiota in dried fish. Although C. sakazakii is the only known pathogen among Cronobacter spp., improved and specific methods to identify diverse members of this genus are needed.

Digital Media Intervenes in an Immersive Exhibition in Interactive ScenesMode of Perception and Interaction in the New Era

Abstract: This paper will discuss how the combination of digital media and immersive art exhibition can bring new interaction and participation experience to the audience under the reform of art media, as well as the significance of this combination in artistic expression, exhibition design and audience perception.Using a case study of teamLab in Japan. This paper evaluates the immersive exhibition of digital media intervention from four aspects: transformation, integration, cases, and reflection. It is found that while the emergence of digital media technology provides a new way of display and creative means for art exhibitions, there is also a certain contradiction between artistry and technicality in such exhibitions. It is necessary to balance the relationship between art and technology in order to achieve mutual promotion and common development of the two.

Optimizing Phytohormone Combinations in Murashige and Skoog Media for Enhanced Micropropagation of Ajuga bracteosa

Optimizing Phytohormone Combinations in Murashige and Skoog Media for Enhanced Micropropagation of Ajuga bracteosa

Translational implications of a novel combination of iPRF and collagen scaffold for proliferation of gingival mesenchymal stem cells

“Tissue engineering,” is a concept that involves the use of scaffolds, cells, and growth factors/signaling molecules in the field of regenerative medicine. The present study was carried out to evaluate the attachment and depth of penetration of the Gingival Mesenchymal Stem Cells (GMSCs) onto the collagen scaffold preconditioned with Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), Injectable Platelet Rich Fibrin (i-PRF) and a combination of FBS with i-PRF using histological analysis and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) respectively. In the present study, commercially available collagen membranes were used as scaffolds and divided into 3 groups where Group I was preconditioned with FBS, Group II was preconditioned with i-PRF, and Group III with a combination of FBS and i-PRF. Scaffolds were then seeded with GMSCs and incubated in a CO2 incubator at 37 0C for 7 days. Both histological and ESEM analysis showed proliferation, attachment, and depth of penetration along with the combination of cell morphological changes in all the three groups. In group I cells showed mild depth of penetration along with a round morphological appearance. In group II the cells showed moderate depth of penetration and rounded morphology. In group III maximum depth of penetration was seen along with the round and spheroidal morphology of cells. The combination of the growth media showed the best effect on cell attachment, depth of penetration, and cell morphology. This is the first report demonstrating the effect of the combination of collagen and i-PRF supports the proliferation of GMSCs. Since FBS alone and i-PRF alone exhibited similar cell proliferation it is recommended that i-PRF could be used in clinical scenarios making it xenofree.

Impact of Cow Urine and Substrate Composition on Germination and Early Growth of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Seedlings

Aim: This study evaluates the impact of cow urine and substrate composition on the germination and early growth of papaya (Carica papaya L.) seedlings, a critical phase for successful crop establishment. Study Design and Methodology: Conducted as a factorial experiment, it assessed eleven substrate or growing media combinations with and without cow urine treatment. Results: Results reveal that cow urine significantly reduces the time to 90 percent germination (T90) and enhances the germination index, indicating its stimulatory effect on seed metabolic activity. Treatments combining cow urine with substrates like soil, sand, vermiculite, cocopeat, and perlite (T10) showed the shortest T90 and highest germination index, suggesting cow urine accelerates germination. Additionally, cow urine application improved growth metrics such as relative growth rate (RGR) and total biomass accumulation, with T10 and T8 treatments yielding the highest values. Enhanced leaf relative water content (LRWC) and elevated proline levels in cow urine-treated plants indicate better water retention and stress resilience. Strong positive correlations were observed among proline content, RGR, and biomass accumulation, highlighting cow urine’s contribution to vigorous seedling growth and stress adaptation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that cow urine, in combination with optimized substrates, is a sustainable growth enhancer that promotes robust seedling development, suitable for organic farming practices aimed at papaya cultivation.

PENERAPAN MODEL PBL BERBANTUAN MEDIA GAMBAR BERSERI TERHADAP KETERAMPILAN MENULIS KARANGAN NARASI KELAS IV SEKOLAH DASAR

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model assisted by sequential picture media in improving narrative writing skills among fourth-grade elementary school students. The primary issue identified was students' difficulty in developing ideas, structuring narrative compositions, and using correct spelling. The research employed Classroom Action Research (CAR) methodology using the Kemmis and McTaggart model, involving two cycles of planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. Data were collected through classroom observations, writing skill tests, interviews with students and teachers, and documentation of student work. The findings indicated a significant improvement in students' writing skills, with 65% achieving Minimum Completeness Criteria (KKTP) in Cycle 1, increasing to 88% in Cycle 2. Sequential picture media provided effective visual support to help students structure narratives, while the PBL model enhanced student engagement and critical thinking. Despite the progress, 12% of students did not meet KKTP, indicating a need for additional intervention. Overall, the combination of PBL and sequential picture media proved effective in improving narrative writing skills among students.

Genome-Scale Modeling of CHO Cells Unravel the Critical Role of Asparagine in Cell Culture Feed Media.

Amino acids, including asparagine, aspartate, glutamine, and glutamate, play important roles in purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis as well as serve as anaplerotic sources fueling the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for mitochondrial energy generation. Despite extensive studies on glutamine and glutamate in CHO cell cultures, the roles of asparagine and aspartate, especially in feed media, remain underexplored. In this study, we utilized a CHO genome scale model to first deeply characterize the intracellular metabolic states of CHO cells cultured in different combinations of basal and feed media to understand the traits of asparagine/aspartate-dependent and glutamate-dependent feeds. Subsequently, we identified the critical role of asparagine and aspartate in the feed media as anaplerotic sources and conducted in silico simulations to ascertain their optimal ratios to improve cell culture performance. Finally, based on the model simulations, we reformulated the feed media by tailoring the concentrations of asparagine and aspartate. Our experimental data reveal a CHO cell preference for asparagine compared with aspartate, and thus maintaining an optimal ratio of these amino acids is a key factor for achieving optimal CHO cell culture performance in biopharmaceutical production.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Macropropagation Techniques for Red Banana (Musa acuminata) Using Biocontrol Agents

The corm propagation is an simple, alternative and cheap technique for Banana multiplication. The study on the effect of biocontrol agents on macropropagation of Banana cv.Red Banana was carried out at SRM College of Agricultural Sciences, Chengalpattu. The decapitated and decorticated corms were exposed to various treatments with combination of sawdust and cocopeat media supplemented with different biofertilizers and biocontrol agents comprising 13 treatments in 3 replication adopting Completely Randomized Design and the data recorded underwent analysis of variance (ANOVA). Among the 13 treatments adopted, Cocopeat + Sawdust (1:1) + VAM (30 g/corm) + Pochonia chlamydosporia (60g/corm) showed significantly best result in terms of number of days taken for primary bud emergence (22.7 days), days taken for secondary bud emergence (46.34 days), days taken for tertiary bud emergence (67.35 days), number of primary buds per corm (1.53), number of secondary buds per corm (3.67), number of tertiary buds per corm (4.33), total number of plantlets per corm (9.54), plant height (73.56 cm) and pseudostem girth (12.34 cm). The next better performance was observed in the treatment Saw dust + VAM (30 g/corm) + Pochonia chlamydosporia (60 g/corm) which recorded early emergence of buds and production of more buds. The cormpropagation approach refined in this work is accessible, necessitating less skill and knowledge, making it appropriate for implementation by farmers at the farm level.

Nanosuspension: A Novel Drug Delivery System

It is over past two years ago. It has technology has been developed R& D pharmaceutical business. Nanotechnology is science is deals with the process that occurs at Molecular level and Nanolength scale size, Nano refer to the particle size range is 1- 1000 micrometre. Nano suspension can be used in oral, topical parenteral and pulmonary route of administration of drug delivery, Nano suspension is used in incorporated into ocular inserts and mucoadhesive hydrocele for targeted drug delivery. There are medication candidate is with very high effectiveness. Nanosuspension was prepared by using combination of high speed homogenization (HSH) and media milling (MM),Poligomer( stabilizer)ZIO2 heads ( milling media). Reducing particle size in Nanosuspension is the primary cause of an increase in .Because of their specific qualities, nanosuspension can be used in a variety of dosage forms, including ones that require specialised delivery methods like mucoadhesive hydrogels.The Atomization of the drug discovery process through technologies like computer-aid drug design, combinatorial chemistry, an high-throughput screening is producing a large number of very effective therapeutic candidates. Regrettably, a lot of these potentiate medications are not very soluble in water. This review article describes the physicochemical properties of drug Nanosuspension, preparation methods and; it’s potential clinical advantages.

Production of a fungal aspartic protease via solid‐state fermentation using a rotating drum bioreactor

AbstractBACKGROUNDSolid‐state fermentation (SSF) has gained attention recently as a promising approach for producing a range of high‐value industrial products. SSF has several benefits, including a high product yield, a lesser chance of contamination, a resemblance to some fungi and bacteria's native environment, a lower energy need, and cost‐effectiveness. Additionally, the enzyme extraction from concentrated solutions facilitates the recovery procedure. Mucor racemosus, a filamentous fungus, has the potential to produce a milk‐clotting enzyme (aspartic protease) cultivated on various combinations of the solid media to investigate the effect of media on the production and activity of the milk‐clotting enzyme.RESULTSThe fermentation was scaled up by utilizing Terrafors‐IS Infors HT in‐situ sterilizable rotating solid‐state bioreactor to cultivate the fungus. The effect of agitation (rotation on the day of inoculation and day 1), aeration (air flow rates of 1 L and 2 L/min), and moisture content (60% and 90%), during SSF were investigated. The profiles of various operational parameters (that is, temperature, pressure, flow rate, exit O2, and exit CO2) were monitored using the provided software, and data were collected at 10‐min intervals during the whole course of fermentation. The results suggest that aeration has a remarkable effect on the quantity of biomass produced, but it doesn't assure high enzyme production. The highest milk clotting activity of ~570 U/mL was recorded with a moisture content of 60% and a flow rate of 1 L/min.CONCLUSIONA high yield of ~570 U/mL of the enzyme with desired characteristics was obtained with minimum moisture availability at low temperatures. The results narrated in this study validate the SSF process for producing aspartic protease from wheat bran using a rotating solid‐state bioreactor to be used as a potential milk coagulant in the cheese industry. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Online Media Use and COVID-19 Vaccination in Real-World Personal Networks: Quantitative Study.

Most studies assessing the impact of online media and social media use on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy predominantly rely on survey data, which often fail to capture the clustering of health opinions and behaviors within real-world networks. In contrast, research using social network analysis aims to uncover the diverse communities and discourse themes related to vaccine support and hesitancy within social media platforms. Despite these advancements, there is a gap in the literature on how a person's social circle affects vaccine acceptance, wherein an important part of social influence stems from offline interactions. We aimed to examine how online media consumption influences vaccination decisions within real-world social networks by analyzing unique quantitative network data collected from Romania, an Eastern European state and member of the European Union. We conducted 83 face-to-face interviews with participants from a living lab in Lerești, a small rural community in Romania, using a personal network analysis framework. This approach involved gathering data on both the respondents and individuals within their social circles (referred to as alters). After excluding cases with missing data, our analysis proceeded with 73% (61/83) of the complete personal networks. To examine the hierarchical structure of alters nested within ego networks, we used a mixed multilevel logistic regression model with random intercepts. The model aimed to predict vaccination status among alters, with the focal independent variable being the respondents' preferred source of health and prevention information. This variable was categorized into 3 types: traditional media, online media (including social media), and a combination of both, with traditional media as the reference category. In this study, we analyzed 61 personal networks, encompassing between 15 and 25 alters each, totaling 1280 alters with valid data across all variables of interest. Our primary findings indicate that alters within personal networks, whose respondents rely solely on online media for health information, exhibit lower vaccination rates (odds ratio [OR] 0.37, 95% CI 0.15-0.92; P=.03). Conversely, the transition from exclusive traditional media use to a combination of both traditional and online media does not significantly impact vaccination rate odds (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.32-1.78; P=.52). In addition, our analysis revealed that alters in personal networks of respondents who received the vaccine are more likely to have received the vaccine themselves (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.79-7.85; P<.001). Real-world networks combine diverse human interactions and attributes along with consequences on health opinions and behaviors. As individuals' vaccination status is influenced by how their social alters use online media and vaccination behavior, further insights are needed to create tailored communication campaigns and interventions regarding vaccination in areas with low levels of digital health literacy and vaccination rates, as Romania exposes.

Optimizing Growth of Melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Madesta) in Nutrient Film Technique and Drip Irrigation Hydroponics with Varied Substrates

Hydroponic systems offer a promising solution for urban farming and the utilization of unproductive land. Successful implementation, however, requires careful optimization to select the most effective hydroponic system tailored to specific plants and environmental conditions. This study aims to compare the growth and physiological responses of Madesta melons (Cucumis melo L. cv. Madesta) cultivated using the nutrient film technique (NFT) and drip irrigation system (DIS) with variations in growth media. The Madesta melon seeds underwent a two-week germination phase in coco peat media, followed by transplanting into NFT and DIS setups utilizing diverse growth media, including rice husk, rice husk mixed with compost, and compost only. Over four weeks post-cultivation, assessments were conducted on key growth metrics such as leaf count, leaf diameter, plant height, and stem diameter. Plant physiological responses were also analyzed, encompassing chlorophyll and nitrogen levels, along with the mineral composition within leaves and fruits. Results revealed that the DIS cultivation outperformed the NFT in terms of growth outcomes. Among the varied media combinations, the rice husk and compost blend supported growth most effectively. Notably, no significant differences were observed in leaf and fruit nitrogen content between the DIS and NFT systems, and the overall mineral content of the media remained relatively stable before and after the cultivation period. Mineral content analysis revealed calcium as the predominant element in the leaves, while potassium emerged as the most abundant mineral in the fruits. This research sheds light on the potential of hydroponic systems, specifically the DIS method, for enhancing melon cultivation, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate growth media to maximize plant growth.

Pollen viability and in vitro pollen germination in chrysanthemum (&lt;i&gt;Dendranthema &lt;/i&gt;x &lt;i&gt;grandiflora &lt;/i&gt;Tzvelv.)

Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema x grandiflora Tzvelv.), is one of the commercially grown flower crops worldwide, valued for its cut flower, loose flower, pot mums, bedding etc. To overcome the challenges for cross breeding in chrysanthemum, the access to viable pollen, cultivar distant in location and difference in flowering, are required. Low pollen viability along with self-incompatibility are mainly responsible for low seed set in modern chrysanthemum cultivars. In the present study, pollen viability was tested by staining pollen with Alexander staining solution and examined under light microscope (20X). In vitro pollen germination was investigated in 10 chrysanthemum genotypes with different concentrations of sucrose (0, 5%, 10%, and 15%), PEG4000 (0, 10%, 20% and 30%) and their combination, as basal medium. Significant differences were observed among genotypes with respect to pollen viability, which was recorded highest in Red Stone (95.02%) followed by IIHR6-26 (88.20%), IIHR9-3 (87.44%), Sweta Singar (85.59%), Kalpana (79.97%), IIHR2-7 (73.50%), and White Andaman (64.14%), while, lowest pollen viability was recorded in IIHR6-29 (49.55%). Negligible in vitro pollen germination was observed among the genotypes when sucrose was used as pollen germination medium. However, highest germinability of pollen was recorded at 20% PEG4000 in IIHR9-3 (43.57%) followed by Kalpana (19.43%) and IIHR6-29 (19.34%). The best media for in vitro pollen germination was 15% sucrose + 30% PEG. Irrespective of different media combination, the genotypes namely, IIHR9-3, IIHR2-7 and IIHR6-26 showed better in vitro pollen germination. These results provide a valuable background to theconventional breeding to create hybrids through cross-pollination.

Effect of Media on Lablab (Lablab purpureus var. typicus) for Yield and Quality under Soilless Vertical Farming System

Background: Lablab (Lablab purpureus var. typicus) is one of the important leguminous vegetable crops known for its highest content of protein. The area under cultivation is shrinking due to conversion of farm land into non-agricultural purposes. Under these circumstances, soilless vertical farming system is the only alternate cultivation system for increasing production of vegetables. Media play a major role in growth and yield of vegetables under soilless conditions. With this background, the present experiment was carried out to study the effect of growing media in lablab for high yield and quality under soilless vertical farming systems. Methods: Two lablab varieties viz., CO 5 (V1) and Arka Prasidhi (V2) were raised under five different media combinations viz., 100% cocopeat (M1), 50 % cocopeat + 50 % Vermicompost (M2), 50% cocopeat + 50 % FYM (M3), 50% cocopeat + 25% vermicompost + 25% FYM (M4) and Control (M5) with three replications during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. This experiment was laid out in FCRD. The growth and yield parameters were recorded and the data was subjected to statistical analysis. Result: The experimental results revealed that both the varieties and growing media provided significant impact on growth, yield, quality and uptake of nutrients whereas dry matter content exhibited no significant impact among the different media. The pooled season data revealed that variety CO 5 observed for the overall superior performance while the media combination of 50% cocopeat + 50% Vermicompost considered superior for growth and yield characters where 50% cocopeat + 25% vermicompost + 25% FYM showed superiority for the quality parameters and uptake of nutrients.

Insights into Autonomous Vehicles Aversion: Unveiling the Ripple Effect of Negative Media on Perceived Risk, Anxiety, and Negative WOM

This study delves into the reluctance to adopt autonomous vehicles (AVs), treating AV aversion as a multifaceted psychological and behavioral phenomenon encompassing cognitive judgments, affective responses, and behavioral intentions. Leveraging the environment-product-human-behavior framework, an AV aversion model (AAM) is developed to explore human-AV interaction. Survey data from MTurk in the U.S. reveals significant differences in perception between fully autonomous vehicles (FAVs) and partially autonomous vehicles (PAVs). Findings show that negative media exposure influences perceived risk, anxiety, and negative word-of-mouth (WOM) intention. Perceived risk contributes to anxiety, while the combination of anxiety and negative media encourages negative WOM intention. The study elucidates a cascading effect from negative media to risk perception, then to AV anxiety, culminating in negative WOM. Multi-group analysis highlights a significant disparity between FAVs and PAVs in the link between negative media exposure and negative WOM intention. Understanding AV aversion offers valuable insights to address human-AV interaction.

Effect of Organic Substrates on Macro-propagation of Banana under Island Conditions

Banana is an important tropical fruit crop grown globally and is the world’s most important agricultural food commodity. Plantation crops take a major share of cultivated area in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Banana is one of the important fruit crops that is highly suitable to grow as intercrop in plantation based cropping system. Local varieties of banana like Korangi, Mitta Champa, Khatta Champa and Cheenakela are cultivated by the farmers traditionally to meet the local demand. However, in recent past growing commercial varieties of banana has become popular in the Island due to consumer demand. Traditionally banana is propagated by suckers and wide variability was observed in sucker production among the commercial varieties. Due to this large scale multiplication of banana through suckers could not meet the planting material demand in the Island. Hence, a study was undertaken during 2020-2022 to standardize the macro-propagation technology using different organic substrates in the commercial variety ‘Poovan’. Nine different organic substrate combinations were used in the present study to enhance the efficacy of lateral bud development and plantlet production. Suckers weighing 1.0 to 1.5 kg were used as the propagule. Among all the organic media combinations tested, significant differences were observed in terms of plantlet production, root and shoot growth. The treatment T8 (Coircompost: sawdust: FYM: vermicompost (1:1:1:1) with Arka microbial consortia @10 kg) produced maximum number of primary (5.60) and secondary buds (12.07) during primary and secondary capitation of decorticated mother rhizome. Early bud emergence (11.5 days), maximum number of plantlets (12-13 per mother rhizome), maximum shoot length (46.43 cm), maximum shoot girth (3.03 cm) and maximum number of leaves (4.50) were also observed in the treatment T 8. Minimum number of days was taken (52.70 days) for plantlet separation during secondary capitation in the same treatment T 8 suggesting that the treatment combination (Coircompost: sawdust: FYM: vermicompost (1:1:1:1) with Arka microbial consortia @10 kg) was effective for macro-propagation of banana Cv. Poovan under Island ecosystem.

Multicenter study of the performance of NTM Elite agar for the detection of nontuberculous mycobacteria from patients with cystic fibrosis.

The performance of a novel selective agar was evaluated against the performance of conventional mycobacterial cultures, i.e., a combination of the mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) with Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ), for the detection of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in sputum samples from people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Two hundred eighty-three sputum samples (231 fresh sputum and 52 spiked sputum) from 143 pwCF were collected. They were inoculated without prior decontamination on NTM Elite agar (30°C ± 2°C for 28 days) and inoculated on both MGIT and LJ (35°C-37°C for 6-8 weeks) after N-acetyl-L-cysteine-2% sodium hydroxide decontamination. NTM were identified by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization/Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry and/or PCR, and whole-genome sequencing. A total of 67 NTM were recovered overall by the combination of all culture media. NTM Elite agar allowed the recovery of 65 NTM (97%), compared to 22 for the conventional MGIT and LJ media combination (32.8%), including 22 NTM for MGIT (32.8%) and 3 NTM with the LJ medium (4.5%). For Mycobacterium abscessus complex, the sensitivity of NTM Elite agar was 95% compared with a sensitivity of 30% for the conventional MGIT and LJ media combination. Overall, 17.3% of cultures on NTM Elite agar were contaminated with other micro-organisms vs 46.3% on MGIT and 77% on LJ. This study shows that the novel selective agar (NTM Elite agar) significantly outperforms the conventional MGIT and LJ media combination in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and ease of culture, without the requirement of an L3 laboratory.IMPORTANCENontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are significant pulmonary pathogens in patients with pre-existing structural lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) are the most frequently isolated organisms. Compared to the recommended culture method for NTM, which combines solid and liquid culture media, NTM Elite agar enables a faster/easier diagnosis and speeds up identification and susceptibility testing as the final reading is at 28 days instead of 6-8 weeks for the conventional mycobacterial cultures. In addition, for the NTM Elite agar, no decontamination stage before inoculation is necessary, unlike the conventional mycobacterial cultures. NTM Elite agar is derived from a formulation of medium adapted to rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM). The medium enables the growth of RGM while suppressing other flora. It is supported with published clinical data showing the benefits of this medium.

Maximizing resource efficiency with dairy and municipal wastewater as nutrient media for Chlorella vulgaris with simultaneous CO2 sequestration

Addressing critical environmental challenges such as greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and eutrophication demands urgent and innovative solutions. In recent years, microalgae have emerged as a promising avenue for addressing these pressing issues. In this study, the combination of dairy and municipal wastewater is proposed as a culture medium for cultivating microalgae strains capable of sequestering atmospheric CO2. Specifically, the growth of Chlorella vulgaris was investigated using Bold's basal medium, along with varying concentrations of municipal and dairy wastewater, both with and without CO2 supplementation, to assess their CO2 capture potential. Concurrently, the efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate removal from the wastewater was evaluated. Additionally, the combination of wastewater media with CO2 supplementation yielded the highest CO2 uptake rates, indicating the feasibility of simultaneous CO2 capture during microalgae cultivation. Media composition with 25% municipal wastewater: 75% dairy wastewater supplemented with CO2 demonstrated superior COD elimination with a higher percentage of nutrient removal from wastewater compared to other wastewater proportions. The nutrient removal capacity of aforementioned media also comes in line with high CO2 sequestration rate (13.57 mg L−1 h−1). These findings underscore the potential of utilizing wastewater from diverse sources as a viable culture medium for microalgae cultivation, facilitating concurrent CO2 capture and wastewater treatment.

The Parental Involvement and Learning Media in Health Education for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects social communication and behavior, requiring specialized approaches for health education. Parental involvement and the type of learning media play a significant role in health education outcomes for children with ASD. This study examines the relationship between parental involvement, learning media (digital vs. traditional), and health education outcomes for children with ASD. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 83 parents of children diagnosed with ASD. Data were collected through structured questionnaires assessing parental involvement and the type of learning media used. Bivariate analysis was performed to examine associations between these variables. Most parents (78.3%) were female, and 55.4% used digital learning media. Children with high parental involvement had significantly higher self-care scores (mean = 7.6, p&lt; 0.01) compared to those with lower involvement (mean = 6.3). Digital media was more effective than traditional media, with children using digital tools showing a 30% increase in health knowledge (p= 0.02). The combination of high parental involvement and digital media use produced the best educational outcomes (mean = 8.1, p = 0.001). High parental involvement and the use of digital learning media are positively associated with better health education outcomes in children with ASD. Interventions targeting increased parental engagement and enhanced access to digital learning media could improve health education for children with ASD.