Conical Tube Research Articles

Using different geometries on the amount of heat transfer in a shell and tube heat exchanger using the finite volume method

This research investigates the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of a conical spiral tube heat exchanger. The study specifically focuses on the application of Ag-HEG (Silver–Hydrogen exfoliated graphene) nanofluid and various turbulator designs. The range of Dean Numbers, specifically 2200 < Dean <4200, was studied through experiments under turbulent flow conditions. Furthermore, the finite volume method-based ANSYS Fluent commercial code was utilized for numerical simulations. Additionally, numerical simulations were performed using the ANSYS Fluent software, which utilizes the finite volume method. This research aims to perform a numerical analysis on the efficiency of a conical shell and tube heat exchanger. When compared to other models, spiral heat exchangers provide a larger contact area between the fluid and the exchanger within a specified occupied area. This advantage is one of the prominent features of this particular type of heat exchanger. The simulations were conducted in two stages. During the first stage, the thermal performance coefficients of three turbulators were evaluated. In the second stage, the four-blade turbulator with ten revolutions, which exhibited superior thermal performance, was further analyzed based on the number of circles around the center of the conical spiral coil. The numerical results showed that the four-blade turbulator with ten revolutions displayed superior thermal performance compared to the other modes, specifically the two-blade and three-blade turbulators. In the second stage, it was found that the Nusselt number achieved from 30 revolutions was higher by 4.2 %, 10 %, and 18.3 % compared to the Nusselt numbers obtained from the other two modes of 10 and 20 revolutions. Consequently, it is concluded that utilizing Ag-HEG nanofluids in conjunction with the four-blade turbulator featuring 30 revolutions is the optimal choice for improving heat transfer in conical spiral tube heat exchangers while maintaining an acceptable level of pressure drop. This combination outperforms traditional fluids and turbulators.

Age-dependent effects of acute stress on the behavior, blood parameters, immunity, and enteric nerves of mice

The impact of stress on mental and digestive health has been extensively studied, with chronic stress being associated with various disorders. However, age-related differences in the response to acute stress, both behaviorally and physiologically, remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a model to detect transient stress in mice of different ages. The stressor employed in our experiments was a restraint stress procedure, where mice were subjected to brief periods of immobilization to induce an acute stress response. Male C3H/HeN mice aged 3, 6, 12, and 30 weeks were subjected to acute restrain stress (ARS) by being placed in a 50 ml conical centrifuge tube for 15 min. Subsequently, their behavior, organ tissues, hematological parameters, cortisol concentration, and immune responses were assessed. Following ARS, the increased in time and entries into the center by the 12-week-old mice following stress. In comparison to mice of other ages, those aged 6 weeks demonstrated notable elevations in erythrocytes, platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, all of which were influenced by the time-dependent changes and the recovery process of ARS. Blood corticosterone levels were substantially elevated in all age groups after ARS. Furthermore, ARS induced a notable increase in leukocytes, basophils, residential macrophages, and CD4+ T cells in all age groups except for 3-week-old mice. However, the number of monocyte-derived macrophages and CD8+ T cells did not change significantly. Additionally, mice aged 3 and 6 weeks demonstrated an increase in GFAP+ cells following ARS, whereas NeuN+ cells decreased across all ages. These results suggest that ARS has varying effects on the behavior, cortisol concentration, and quantity of blood cells as well as hepatic immune cells in mice of different ages. These age-dependent responses shed light on the complex interplay between stress and physiological systems and contribute to the broader understanding of stress-related diseases.

Research on unsteady characteristics of valveless piezoelectric micropump with planar conical tube

The model of valveless piezoelectric micropump with planar conical tube is established in this paper, and dynamic mesh technology is used to simulate the unsteady characteristics of the micropump at different pressure amplitudes and driving frequencies for different diffusion angles. The elements affecting the output performance of the micropump are analyzed. The research indicates that the longer the conical tube, the smaller the flux that flows into the cavity of the micropump during inhalation. While the longer the conical tube, the greater the flux that flows out of the cavity of the micropump during expulsion. The net output flux of the valveless piezoelectric micropump increases with the length of the conical tube. The rectification efficiencies of micropump with tube length of 1mm, 3mm, and 5mm are 8.77%, 14.58%, and 18%, respectively.

Small-Scale Cultivation and Transfection of ExpiCHO and HEK293E Cells in Single-Use Orbitally Shaken Bioreactors.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells are the two most important mammalian hosts for the production of recombinant proteins. In this chapter, the suspension cultivation and transfection of these cells in small-scale, single-use orbitally shaken bioreactors, TubeSpin™ bioreactor 50 [orbitally shaken reactor 50 (OSR50)], and TubeSpin™ bioreactor 600 [orbitally shaken reactor 600 (OSR600)] are described. These are conical centrifuge tubes with nominal volumes of 50mL and 600mL, respectively, that have been redesigned with a ventilated cap for the cultivation of animal cells in suspension at working volumes up to 20mL and 400mL, respectively.

Detection and Quantification of X and Y sperms in Enriched Sahiwal Semen diluted in PBS using Raman Spectroscopy

The present study was undertaken to enrich X-sperms in Sahiwal bull semen by percoll density gradient method and to detect X and Y sperms in enriched semen by Raman spectroscopy. The experiment was performed at Semen Production Centre, CVASc, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. Ejaculates were collected by AV method from Sahiwal bull. X-sperm enrichment was done by the Percoll density gradient method. Three types of gradients were prepared i.e. 7 layers (70-10%), 7 layers (80-20%) and 3 layers (30%, 50% and 70%). Semen (1ml or 3ml) was placed over the gradient in a conical centrifuge tube. Centrifugation was done at 750 g (22-24°C) for 15 min. The pellets thus obtained were diluted in PBS medium. Raman spectroscopy was performed in different groups viz. fresh semen (Control), 3 layers (70%, 50% and 30% GI), 7 layers (70-10% GII), and 7 layers (80-20% GIII). Raman peaks (DNA specific) were not much clear for PBS diluted semen samples though intensities were highest for 7 layers (70-10%) among all groups. Thus semen enriched by the percoll-density gradient method (7 layers i.e. 70-10%) can be used to increase female calf birth after A.I.

Extraction and preconcentration of parabens from the human follicular fluid through dispersive micro solid phase extraction using microporous MIL-68 (In) followed by in-situ effervescence-boosted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

For the first time in this study, a microextraction method was developed to perform follicular fluid safety assessment analysis. The drastic importance of follicular fluid safety on the proper nourishment and development of oocytes caused the development of the present method. Since women are regularly exposed to parabens through cosmetics, healthcare, and hygienic products, the infection of body fluids is probable in long-term exposures. Also, for the first time, MIL-68 (In) was applied in an analytical method. Moreover, a new method called in-situ effervescence-boosted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was adopted for the simultaneous derivatization and preconcentration of the target parabens. To perform the method, 25 mg of MIL-68 (In) was dispersed into the solution of follicular fluid by vortexing. Then, 1.0 mL of 2-propanol was used to elute the analytes from the absorbent via vortexing. The analyte-enriched organic phase was mixed with 100 µL of acetic anhydride (derivatization agent) and 27 µL 1,2-dibromoethane (extraction solvent) which was swiftly injected into a sodium carbonate solution. Following the centrifugation, the extraction solvent was sedimented at the bottom of a conical bottom glass test tube and an aliquot of it was injected into a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. Wide linear ranges (120–25000 µg L-1), satisfactory extraction recoveries (31–79%) and enrichment factors (31−79), and appreciable limits of detection (7–36 µg L-1) and quantification (25–120 µg L-1) were recorded. The high surface area of MIL-68 (In) (608.82 m2 g-1) and its significantly low average pore diameter (13.829 A°) provide an ideal platform for the extraction of parabens from the complex matrix of follicular fluid.

Heat transfer enhancement of supercritical carbon dioxide in eccentrical helical tubes

A type of eccentrical helical tube (EHT) was proposed for more efficient and compact supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) heat exchangers in refrigeration systems. The forced convective heat transfer of SCO2 flowing in three designed eccentrical helical tubes with pitches of 25, 50 mm and eccentricities of 0.9, 1.5 mm was simulated by using the three-dimensional steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, shear stress transport turbulence model and energy equation in ANSYS CFX 2019 R2 at mass fluxes of 200, 400 kg/m2s, inlet pressures of 8, 9 MPa, outwards wall heat fluxes of 12, 24 kW/m2. The flow and heat transfer models were validated in the plain tube with experimental mean heat transfer coefficient and empirical Darcy friction factor. Influences of pitch, eccentricity and operational conditions on heat transfer enhancement were identified. Flow pattern, heat transfer mechanism and vortex kinematics were clarified. Heat transfer enhancement of SCO2 in the EHT was compared with water and air in the EHT, twisted elliptical tube and conical tube, respectively. A pitch of 25 mm and eccentricity of 1.5 mm at 6 mm tube diameter can achieve a better thermal-hydraulic performance. A higher SCO2 mass flux raises Nusselt number and reduces friction factor, a higher inlet pressure and a larger wall heat flux reduces Nusselt number but increases friction factor. The ratio f/f0 is ranged in 2.52–1.68 and drops off with increasing inlet pressure and nominal Reynolds number, the ratios Nu/Nu0, ψ and η curves show a concave shape near the pseudocritical point ranged in 1.68–1.06 and 1.06–1.55, 1.23–0.83 and 0.83–1.30, 0.67–0.50 and 0.50–0.92 at the pitch of 25 mm and eccentricity of 1.5 mm, inlet pressure of 8 MPa, mass flux of 400 kg/m2s, and wall heat flux of 12 kW/m2. A helical flow pattern with a core flow occurs in the EHT, the local heat transfer coefficient can be correlated to absolute helicity. The high-wall shear stress on the ridge of the EHT is responsible for the heat transfer enhancement. The f/f0 value of the EHT is in between the twisted elliptical tube and the conical tube, but the Nu/Nu0 and ψ values are comparable.

Numerical investigation and comparison of tubular solar cavity receivers for simultaneous generation of superheated steam and hot air

Solar cavity receivers are a crucial technology to transform solar energy into easily usable thermal energy. Various cavity receiver structures employing helical absorber tubes were investigated to provide either superheated steam or hot air efficiently. However, few studies have focused on receivers that generate both hot fluids simultaneously. The simultanoues generation can lead to a more compact and cheaper system, and can be used for applications such as a high-temperature electrolysis to produce green hydrogen or syngas. In our study, three different tubular solar cavity receivers were proposed and numerically investigated. Each receiver consists of three different processes: (1) water evaporation, (2) superheating steam, and (3) heating air. The 1D-3D model developed in our previous study was used to investigate the various aspects such as lamp-to-thermal (solar simulator was used as a light source) and exergy efficiencies. The numerical results have proven that the receiver employing both cylindrical and conical helical tubes can obtain the highest lamp-to-thermal (67.0%) and exergy efficiencies (46.9%). A parameter study was also conducted based on the chosen optimal receiver. The obtained results can become a basis for further implementation, and especially the use in high-temperature electrolysis could become crucial in a future energy system.

Development of an effervescence‐assisted dispersive liquid phase microextraction using a binary solvent as a simultaneous extraction and preconcentration approach specialized for the analysis of pesticides in grape juice without dilution

AbstractIn this study, a swift and economical extraction and preconcentration method called effervescence‐assisted dispersive liquid‐phase microextraction was developed to analyze the pesticide content of different grape juices. To propel the microextraction method, the sample was transferred to a conical bottom glass test tube, and ammonium chloride was added and vortexed to dissolve. Then, sodium bicarbonate and a mixture of 1,2‐dibromoethane and n‐hexane were added. The tube was located in a water bath and the produced carbon dioxide bubbles dispersed the extraction solvent into the sample. Finally, it was centrifuged and one microliter of the sedimented phase was injected into a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.9 to 4.1 and 3.0 to 13.6 μg/L, respectively. Extraction recoveries and enrichment factors were achieved in the ranges of 36%–80% and 180%–404%, respectively. The inter‐ and intra‐day relative standard deviations were in the ranges of 3.4%–10.6% and 2.6%–9.7%, respectively. Also, the coefficients of determination in the calibration curves were ≥0.990. Short extraction time, no sorbent or costly apparatuses, using inexpensive chemicals, applying microliter levels of the extractant, and no dilution of the real samples are the highlights of the study.

Frequency of Leaks from Conical Centrifuge Tubes.

Threaded conical centrifuge tubes are ubiquitous in biological laboratories and are frequently used for the storage/transport of potentially biohazardous samples. However, limited data are available on how frequently and from where these tubes leak. These data are valuable for laboratory biorisk management and to inform future studies on risks arising from the routine use of laboratory consumables. The frequency of leaks from threaded conical centrifuge tubes was tested using a Glo Germ solution as a tracer. Conical tubes (15 and 50 mL) from several brands were filled, inverted, and placed on their side on the benchtop. After 1 h, the presence or absence of leaks on the benchtop surface, tube threads, and exterior was recorded. We observed that liquid leaked out of tubes that were apparently properly threaded in 2% of 15 mL tubes (confidence interval [95% CI] 1.4-2.6) and 1.4% of 50 mL tubes (95% CI 0.2-1.5). After opening, liquid was found on the threads on the outside of the tube in 20% of 15 mL tubes (95% CI 10-31) and 14% of 50 mL tubes (95% CI 1-28). We did not find sufficient evidence that differences in leak rates among brands were practically significant. The fact that leaks were not uncommonly observed from conical centrifuge tubes suggests that mitigations for any hazard posed by a leak should be a component of every biorisk management strategy for protocols involving the manipulation of hazardous substances in these tubes. Further research should be conducted on other activities that could cause tubes to leak (such as centrifugation or vortexing) and should be completed to understand the risks associated with this consumable. Research into the costs and benefits of mitigating the risk of leaks from conical tubes is recommended.

ANDeS: An automated nanoliter droplet selection and collection device

The Droplet Microarray (DMA) has emerged as a tool for high-throughput biological and chemical applications by enabling miniaturization and parallelization of experimental processes. Due to its ability to hold hundreds of nanoliter droplets, the DMA enables simple screening and analysis of samples such as cells and biomolecules. However, handling of nanoliter volumes poses a challenge, as manual recovery of nanoliter volumes is not feasible, and traditional laboratory equipment is not suited to work with such low volumes, and small array formats. To tackle this challenge, we developed the Automated Nanoliter Droplet Selection device (ANDeS), a robotic system for automated collection and transfer of nanoliter samples from DMA.ANDeS can automatically collect volumes from 50 to 350 nL from the flat surface of DMA with a movement accuracy of ±30 µm using fused silica capillaries. The system can automatically collect and transfer the droplets from DMA chip into other platforms, such as microtiter plates, conical tubes or another DMA. In addition, to ensure high throughput and multiple droplet collection, the uptake of multiple droplets within a single capillary, separated by air gaps to avoid mixing of the samples within the capillary, was optimized and demonstrated.This study shows the potential of ANDeS in laboratory applications by using it for the collection and transfer of biological samples, contained in nanoliter droplets, for subsequent analysis. The experimental results demonstrate the ability of ANDeS to increase the versatility of the DMA platform by allowing for automated retrieval of nanoliter samples from DMA, which was not possible manually on the level of individual droplets. Therefore, it widens the variety of analytical techniques that can be used for the analysis of content of individual droplets and experiments performed using DMA. Thus, ANDeS opens up opportunities to expand the development of miniaturized assays in such fields as cell screening, omics analysis and combinatorial chemistry.

PSV-13 Characterization of the Relative Abundance of Duodenal Mrna Related to Genes Involved in Copper Absorption in Different Breeds of Sheep

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to characterize relative expression of mRNA related to genes involved in Cu absorption in the duodenum of different breeds of sheep. Opportunistic liver and small intestine samples were collected from three harvested market weight Lincoln and Suffolk wether lambs (3 to 4 months of age) fed a low-quality forage based diet. A 5 cm sample of the duodenum (15 cm aboral from the pyloric sphincter) was collected from each lamb at the time of slaughter. Samples were immediately excised, sliced open, and washed with a PBS solution. The mucosal lining of the intestine was scraped with a scalpel blade to collect enterocytes. The scraped enterocytes were placed into a conical tube containing RNAlater. Furthermore, a one cm cubed sample from the center of the right lobe of the liver was collected from each lamb, washed with PBS solution, and stored in a conical tube until liver Cu concentrations could be determined. All intestinal and liver samples were stored at 4°C until transported back to the laboratory. Total enterocyte RNA was extracted and purified using TRI reagent and RNeasy. Primers for antioxidant 1 (ATOX1), Cu transporting alpha-polypeptide Atpase (ATP7A), Cu transporting beta-polypeptide Atpase (ATP7B), and Cu transporter1 (CTR1), were designed for real time PCR analysis. Liver Cu concentrations were decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in Lincoln (225.3 ± 23.1 mg Cu/kg DM) compared with Suffolk lambs (342.1 ± 31.2 mg Cu/kg DM). The relative mRNA expression of ATOX1 (P &amp;lt; 0.05), ATP7B (P &amp;lt; 0.01), and CTR1 (P &amp;lt; 0.04) in duodenal enterocytes were decreased in Lincoln compared with Suffolk lambs. These data indicate that Cu absorption from the duodenum may be different in these breeds of sheep. Further research examining the impact of dietary Cu dose on genes involved in Cu absorption in different breeds of sheep as well as identification and quantification of proteins involved in Cu absorption, is warranted.

PSIII-9 Bacterial Community Diversity in Reproductive Tissues and Fetal Fluids of Pregnant Gilts

Abstract The fertility status of women has previously been linked to shifts in bacterial diversity within the reproductive tract. The objective of this study was to analyze the diversity of bacterial populations within reproductive tissues (i.e., vagina, cervix, endometrium, and chorion) and fetal fluids (i.e., allantoic and amniotic) of pregnant gilts. Crossbred gilts free of physical, health or reproductive-related issues were euthanized and hysterectomized during the preimplantation (D11, n = 7), implantation (D15, n = 5), mid-gestation (D60, n = 6), and late gestation (D90, n = 6) stages of pregnancy. Sterile swabs were rotated 8 times to collect samples from the mucosal surface of individual tissues and immediately placed in microcentrifuge tube for storage (-80°C) until sequencing. A one cm incision was made to expose the endometrium and cervix, whereas for vaginal sampling, sterile swabs were inserted 6 inches past the vulva and then rotated. For collection of samples of chorion, an incision was made in the endometrium, exposing the chorioallantois to allow sampling of the chorion adjacent to the endometrium, while the allantoic epithelial surface of the chorioallantois was sampled directly. For allantoic and amniotic fluids, 5 mL samples were collected and placed immediately in sterile 10 mL conical tubes and stored (-80°C) for sequencing targeting the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. Quality of all samples was determined by FastQC before being processed for taxon analysis using the qiime2 pipeline. Alpha diversity (within sample metric) was analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, whereas PERMANOVA was performed for beta diversity analysis (between sample metric). Shannon’s index, an alpha diversity metric, indicated contrasts in diversity by day (P = 0.02). A pairwise comparison indicated that D15 had greater alpha diversity (Shannon’s index) compared with D60 and D90 (4.89 ± 0.20 vs. 3.96 ± 0.19 and 4.10 ± 0.18, respectively; P &amp;lt; 0.05). Differences in alpha diversity by tissue and fluid type were detected with a pairwise comparison indicating that amniotic fluid had the lowest alpha diversity compared with the cervix (3.44 ± 0.34 vs. 4.62 ± 0.22, respectively; P = 0.04). For beta diversity, PERMANOVA and PCoA plots for unweighted UniFrac demonstrated significant clustering by day (P &amp;lt; 0.01), with clusters being D11 and D15 vs. D60 and D90. Additionally, PERMANOVA and PCoA plots for unweighted UniFrac indicated significant clustering by tissue and fluid type (P &amp;lt; 0.01), with distinct clustering from the external portion of the reproductive tract (i.e., vagina) to the internal portion (i.e., amniotic and allantoic fluids). Based on these results, bacterial diversity within the reproductive tract shifts changes depending on the stage of pregnancy. Moreover, bacterial diversity decreases as you move from the external surface of the reproductive tubes towards the fetus (i.e., least in the amniotic fluid).

155 Impact of Ambient Temperature on Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Vaccination Response

Abstract Vaccines are created to help the immune system fight pathogens faster and more effectively, but little is known on how season of the year impacts the immune system response to vaccination. This research was conducted to evaluate how ambient temperature (summer vs fall) impacted antibody production and immune cell type changes in Brahman and Brahman-influenced cows. Cows (n = 18) were immunized (2 mL I.M.) with a combination Modified Live Vaccine for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus (IBR) on d 0 in either July 2022 (Summer; n = 12) or November 2022 (Fall; n = 6). Blood samples (30 mL/cow) were collected on d -3, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14 post vaccination and transferred to 50 mL conical tubes containing EDTA to separate plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Density gradient centrifugation was used to isolate PBMC. Serum samples were also collected (10 mL/cow) on d -3, 0, 14. Cells were incubated with propidium iodide and antibody surface cell markers for CD4, CD8, CD25, CD14, CD86, and CD335. An Amnis FlowSight flow cytometer was used to determine the percentage of each cell type in the PBMC. Concentrations of antibodies for BVDV and IBR were determined in serum samples collected pre-vaccination (d -3 and 0) and on d 14. Differences in antibody titers and leukocyte populations were analyzed as repeated measures using the MIXED model procedure in SAS. There were no differences in IBR (P = 0.2) or BVDV (P = 0.47) antibody concentrations between seasons. Percentage of antigen presenting cells (CD14+) was greater in the Summer compared with the Fall (P = 0.01; Summer=11.7 ± 1%; Fall = 7.3 ± 1.1%), but natural killer cells (CD335+) were greater in the Fall compared with the Summer (P = 0.002; Summer = 0.6 ± 0.6%; Fall = 4.4±0.7%). There was a significant treatment by time interaction for antigen presenting cells (P = 0.04), T-helper cells (CD4+; P = 0.01), activated T-helper cells (CD4+CD25+; P ≤ 0.0001), activated cytotoxic T-cells (CD8+CD25+; P = 0.03), activated T-cells (CD25+; P ≤ 0.0001), and natural killer cells (P ≤ 0.0001), but there was no difference between seasons in activated antigen presenting cells (CD14+CD86+; P = 0.19). From pre-vaccination to d 14, natural killer cells were elevated during the Fall compared with the Summer on all days (P = 0.04). Antigen presenting cells were greater in the Summer compared with the Fall on d 4, 10 and 14 (P &amp;lt; 0.02). T-helper cells, activated T-helper cells, activated cytotoxic T-cells, and activated T-cells increased post-vaccination in the Fall, but did not change during the Summer. Thus, ambient temperature (summer vs fall) did not directly impact production of antibodies for IBR or BVDV but did induce changes in specific immune cells following vaccination.

PSI-A-1 Effects of Agolin-Pig on Milk Composition Throughout Lactation

Abstract Essential oils are increasingly being used in the swine industry as an alternative to antibiotics. New areas of research indicate that essential oils may alter milk composition and production in lactating sows with the potential of increasing resistance of piglets to harmful bacteria. The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine the effects of Agolin-Pig, a product containing micro-encapsulated essential oils, on milk composition and production. The treatment group (n = 13) consisted of sows fed 200 ppm of Agolin-Pig mixed in an in-house premix combined with a standard lactation diet (NRC, 2012). The control group (n = 13) consisted of sows fed the same diet without added essential oils. All sows were started on their corresponding diets 14 days before their calculated farrowing date. Sows were induced on day 114 of gestation if they had not already farrowed. Colostrum was collected within 2 hours of the onset of farrowing from all teats and mixed to form a 50 to 100 mL homogenate, representative sample. On days 3 and 14 of lactation, sows were administered 0.5 mL of oxytocin via their ear vein to induce milk ejection. Three teats were selected along the midline of the sow and milked completely into 3 separate, corresponding 50 mL conical tubes. All milk samples were stored at -20°C until analysis. Protein composition of the three teats was averaged by sow before statistical analysis. Weigh-suckle-weigh (WSW), an indirect measure of milk production, was performed on d 10 to 12 of lactation by removing piglets from the sow for 45 minutes before recording a litter weight. The piglets were then returned to the sow to nurse for 30 minutes and weighed again. Colostrum and milk samples were analyzed for protein composition via a Bradford assay using a bovine serum albumin (BSA) standard. The PROC Mixed procedure of SAS v9.4 (Cary, North Carolina) was used to evaluate the effects of Agolin-Pig on the protein composition of milk at day 0, day 3, and day 14 of lactation along with WSW data. Treatment and parity (P1 vs P ≥ 2) were main effects with day of collection as a repeated measure and the random effect of sow. There was a significant decrease for both groups in protein composition from day 0 to 3 (P = 0.0001) and day 0 to 14 (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) with no significant change between day 3 to 14, which is expected as colostrum transitions into whole milk. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in protein milk composition throughout lactation. WSW data showed no significant differences between treatments in milk production. While no significant differences were observed in milk composition and production, future analysis will show the effects of Agolin-Pig on milk fat and immunoglobulin composition during lactation.

The application of Na-Bi MOF as a heterometallic coordination polymer and 2,2-dimethoxypropane as an in-situ-generating ternary solvent for the extraction and preconcentration of some phthalate and adipate esters from tap, well, surface, and river water samples

In this study, the first-ever attempt was done to apply a heterometallic metal–organic framework (MOF) called Na-Bi MOF for the extraction and preconcentration of some phthalate and adipate esters. Also for the first time, 2,2-dimethoxypropane was adopted as an efficient in-situ generating ternary solvent for the desorption aim. Diverse real samples including tap, well, surface, and river waters underwent the developed extraction procedure. For performing the process of extraction, only 5 mg of Na-Bi MOF was added into a sodium sulfate-enriched aqueous solution containing the target compounds and vortexed. So, the analytes were adsorbed onto the MOF particles. Centrifugation separated the analyte-loaded MOF from the aqueous solution. The MOF was treated with only 500 µL of 2,2-dimethoxypropane. By centrifugation, the organic phase was separated and subjected to evaporation using a gas splitter device. After the complete evaporation of the organic phase, only 5 µL of 1,2-dibromoethane was applied for the elution of the inner perimeter of the conical bottom glass test tube by vortexing. Eventually, two microliters of the organic phase were injected into a gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization detection. High enrichment factors (520–800), satisfactory extraction recoveries (52–80 %), low limits of detection and quantification (0.66–1.20 and 2.18–3.97 µg/L, respectively), favorable relative recoveries without dilution (86–117 %), wide linear ranges (3.97–500 µg/L), and high coefficients of determination (0.9903–0.9944) were recorded for the developed method. Low amount use of the MOF and organic solvents, diversity of real samples, no need for dilution, and short chromatographic run (a quarter) are the highlights of the developed method.

Effect of Aging on Hardness of Glass Ionomer, Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer, Giomer and Compomer Dental Restorative Materials

Objective: To assess deionized water's aging effect on the hardness of four direct tooth colored dental filling materials i.e., Glass Ionomer Cement, Resin Modified Glass Ionomer, Giomer and Compomer.Study Design: An in vitro experimental study performed in triplicates.Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at PG Laboratory, Department of Science of Dental Materials, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from February 2023 to August 2023.Methods: Three disc-shaped samples (n=3) of 10 mm diameter and 1 mm thickness of each restorative material were prepared using stainless steel molds per manufacturer's instructions. These disc-shaped samples were then suspended in a 15 mL conical centrifuge tube containing 10 mL deionized water, followed by incubation in a Forced Convection Laboratory Oven at 37 C where these were allowed to age over a period of 1-2 years. Vickers Hardness of each sample was then checked at two-time intervals, i.e., after 24 h setting and after 2.5 years of ageing through the Micro Vickers Hardness Tester calibrated at 1Kgf (9.80 N) with dwell time of 10 seconds and light intensity 10. Results: After one day (24 h) aging in deionized water, maximum mean Vickers hardness number (VHN) was exhibited by Compomer (539.83±58.08 VHN) and least by GIC (175.75±24.47 VHN). After aging the sample for 912 days, maximum mean VHN was observed for GIC (420.67±99.66 VHN) and least by Compomer (354.33±9.22 VHN). Conclusion: RMGIC sustains its hardness on aging, hardness of GIC increases while that of Giomer and Compomer decreases upon aging.&#x0D; How to cite this: Gul H, Nayyer M, Junaid Y, Pasha M, Ejaz T, Liaqat U, Hassan SH. Effect of Aging on Hardness of Glass Ionomer, ResinModified Glass Ionomer, Giomer and Compomer Dental Restorative Materials. Life and Science. 2023; 4(4): 438-444. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.437

Bee Makes the Pollen Wall Breakable for Human Digestion

Introduction: Cellulose consists of β-(1 → 4)-linked glucose units arranged in a ribbon-type conformation in a zigzag pattern. Parallel chains fit closely to each other and associate with multiple hydrogen bonds to give rise to long fibers, which are totally insoluble in water and relatively inert. Although subject to some swelling in water, cellulose is entirely unaffected by boiling in water. Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the potential for breaking down the pollen wall of honey-collected pollen using acid with pH of stomach acid, and to determine whether the honey-making process by bees is necessary for human consumption of the amino acid content present in pollen. Materials and Methods: Natural litchi flower honey was collected from Litchi Garden of Doctor Honey, Health &amp; Harvest Dinajpur, Bangladesh in March 2021. 1 ml natural raw honey of litchi flower was diluted with 5 ml distilled water in a conical test tube. (Falcon). This was centrifuged in a swing-out rotor centrifuge (Labofuge, Germany) at a speed of 900 rpm for 10 minutes. The pollens made a pellet at the bottom of the tube. A sample from the pellet was taken on a glass slide and checked under the light microscope (optima) to ensure the presence of pollen. Citric acid was also added to the pollen. Results: Many of the pollen’s walls were found broken within one hour. It is visible that the contents of the pollen sacs are oozing out. One or two broken pollen was found in each 100 of the sample before adding acid whereas many were broken after adding acid. Conclusion: Honey-collected pollen's wall can be broken down using stomach acid, emphasizing the importance of the honey-making process for accessing amino acids, while preserving pollen in honey is crucial for maximizing nutritional benefits.

Comparative study on melting and solidification processes of vertical shell-and-tube phase change heat exchanger with an improved conical inner tube

In previous studies, conventional conical structures fail to eliminate the bottom hard-to-melt zone, and assessment of the full cycle thermal performance of melting and solidification processes is lacking. The combination of the improved conical inner tube configuration with the reverse technique has not been reported. Given this, an improved conical inner tube configuration is proposed in this paper to improve melting performance. A two-dimensional numerical model of a thermal energy storage unit with an improved conical inner tube is established. The melting and solidification processes of phase change materials (PCMs) in the unit are numerically simulated to reveal its heat transfer and flow characteristics, and effects of the dimensionless bottom annular distance Sb' and the dimensionless tilt height Ht' of the configuration on the thermal characteristics are emphatically investigated. The results show that the utilization of the improved design effectively promotes the melting rate. However, it deteriorates the heat transfer performance of the solidification process. Therefore, the reverse technique (180° rotation) is adopted to improve the solidification rate. Results indicate that the solidification time of PCMs is remarkably reduced after the reverse layout, with a maximum reduction of 42.63% compared with configurations without reverse. The mode, the improved conical inner tube configuration with reverse layout, is suitable for scenarios where rapid charging is required through full-cycle thermal analysis.

Abstract P2075: The Effects Of Maternal Psychosocial Stress During Pregnancy On Offspring Heart Health

Maternal health has a substantial effect on offspring well-being and health. A significant contributing factor to maternal health is psychosocial stress. Psychosocial stress results from adverse experiences in everyday life and the inability to cope with them, resulting in anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, it is estimated that ~75% of mothers will suffer a stressful life event the year their infants are born, and upwards of 20% suffer depression. These already high levels of psychosocial stress have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is not known if maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy affects offspring heart health. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy on the heart health of offspring. We hypothesize that maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy will have an adverse effect on offspring heart health. Methods: We used a well-established model of maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy- restraint stress. Pregnant dams were stressed by placing them in a 50 mL conical tube (with air holes) for 2 hours / day on gestational days 10-17. Offspring heart health was assessed via echocardiography (Vevo 3100, MX550D transducer). Results: As early as one week of age (equivalent age of infancy in humans), we observed that offspring born to stressed dams exhibited decreased left ventricular fractional shortening. Further analysis using speckle tracking echocardiography was performed on offspring at 4 (equivalent age of juveniles in humans) and 12 (equivalent age of young adult in humans) weeks of age. Our data indicate that offspring from stressed dams had decreased heart performance (measured as stroke volume), remodeling observed as hypertrophy (measured as left ventricular posterior wall thickness at diastole), and diastolic dysfunction (measured as E’/A’). Conclusion: Our data indicate maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy results in blunted left ventricular contractile and diastolic dysfunction in offspring, as well as displays adverse remodeling (i.e., hypertrophy) during infancy and through young adulthood. These data indicate that maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy is detrimental to offspring heart health.