A transfer learning-driven paradigm for understanding cryogenic freezing mechanisms in low water/binder cement-based composites

During cryogenic fracturing, the low thermal conductivity of rock results in varying freezing rates within shale formations, leading to significant differences in mechanical behavior. This study employs innovative experimental methods to examine the effects of cryogenic freezing rates on shale’s mechanical properties and thermal damage capacity. Results demonstrate that when the freezing rate is below 2.5 °C/s, shale exhibits enhanced mechanical properties under cryogenic conditions. Conversely, freezing rates exceeding 5 °C/s cause mechanical deterioration. A nonlinear relationship was established between shale’s compressive strength/elastic modulus and cryogenic freezing rate. The primary damage mechanisms were identified as micro-fracturing induced by cryogenic thermal stress and ice expansion. This study proposes a novel method for quantifying shale’s thermal damage capacity using the average peak thermal stress gradient. This finding provides a direct guidance for optimizing cryogenic fracturing operations in shale oil and gas reservoirs, where maximizing the freezing rate can promote more complex fracture networks and enhance stimulation efficiency.

Concrete is prone to deterioration and increased permeability under cryogenic freeze–thaw cycles. In this study, a novel method was proposed to prepare a nano-silica-modified epoxy resin composite coating with excellent anti-permeability. The effects of layer composition, a resin layer modified with different nanoparticles, and different nano-silica dosages on the oil impermeability of coated concrete were studied. The mechanical properties and chemical stability of the composite coating were also evaluated. The results showed that the composite coating composed of a nano-silica-modified resin layer, bonding layer, and surface layer presented good resistance to oil penetration under cryogenic freezing cycles. Moreover, nano-silica seemed to be a better choice for resin modification than nano-TiO2 and graphene. Macroscopic and morphological observation also confirmed a reduction in cracks and the integrity of the composite coating for concrete protection. Therefore, the coated concrete presented good mechanical properties and chemical stability. This study provides a guide for the preparation of composite coating concrete used for mountainous highway bridges and liquefied natural gas tanks.

Replantation of amputated limbs is the most effective treatment for severe limb injuries, and allogeneic limb transplantation is also one of the potentially most effective methods to address limb amputation injuries in the future. The preservation and repair of severed limbs outside the body is a key factor in improving the success rate of limb replantation and transplantation. Currently, the techniques for preserving and repairing severed limbs outside the body include static refrigeration preservation technology, immersion in cryoprotective solution technology, deep cryogenic freezing technology, mechanical perfusion technology, temporary vascular shunt technology, autologous ectopic grafting technology, and experimental-stage xenogeneic cross-circulation technology. By optimizing key parameters such as temperature, pressure, and preservation solution, these techniques can extend the preservation time of the limbs and increase the success rate of replantation. Traditional techniques have a short preservation time and cannot meet clinical needs. Emerging technologies are in the ascendant and are subject to different opinions. National Clinical Research Center for Orthopedics Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, the Microsurgery Branch of Chinese Medical Association and the Microsurgery Branch of Beijing Orthopedic Association, based on current evidence-based medical evidence, have formulated the "Clinical practice guidelines for the in vitro preservation and repair of severed limbs (2025 edition)". This guideline systematically evaluates a series of literature and related evidence-based medical research evidence published domestically and internationally in the field of organ preservation in recent years, and adds evidence-based medical research data based on the Chinese population, with the aim of further standardizing the relevant techniques for ex vivo preservation of amputated limbs in China, for industry reference.

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is integral to precision oncology, yet most cancer biospecimens used for WGS are formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) due to their widespread availability in clinical practice. However, FFPE processing can degrade DNA quality. This study compares WGS outcomes from matched cryopreserved (CP) and FFPE tumor samples, hypothesizing that CP tissues yield superior sequencing quality and variant detection. Fifty matched pairs of CP and FFPE tumor samples spanning multiple cancer types were obtained from a biobank. DNA was extracted, and WGS was performed. We assessed sequencing quality metrics and variant analysis between the two preservation methods. Presequencing metrics favored CP tissue, with a significantly higher gDNA concentration, DIN, and DNA fragment size. The WGS results showed that the CP samples had a higher mean read depth and larger insert size. Although the mapping percentages were similar, FFPE exhibited higher tumor mutation burden (13.7 vs. 6.4 mutations/Mb) and lower concordance with CP in variant calls (43.5% overlap). CP samples detected more structural variants and enabled the improved identification of oncogenic driver mutations. Cryopreserved tissues consistently outperform FFPE in terms of DNA quality and WGS metrics, enabling the more accurate detection of clinically relevant mutations. These findings support prioritizing CP sample preservation for genomic profiling in cancer care.

Hypothermal effects of cold anesthesia on the vitality and muscle quality of live Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis).

This study investigates cryogenic freezing as a safety measure for end-of-life (EOL) lithium-ion batteries during storage and transportation. We consider immersion and indirect heat-exchange architectures compatible with liquid nitrogen (LN₂) or liquefied air (LA), and evaluate pre-/post-freezing changes in module-level properties. Electrical diagnostics focus on early degradation indicators—charge/discharge capacity, direct-current internal resistance (DCIR), and insulation resistance—measured under matched protocols before and after freezing. Under the tested protocol (−50 °C, ≥24 h soak, controlled ramp, electrical isolation, gradual rewarming), no macroscopic mechanical damage was observed, and the module retained its electrochemical performance: discharge capacity remained essentially unchanged, DCIR showed no measurable increase, and insulation resistance stayed ≥ 500 MΩ. These results indicate that short-term low-temperature storage can be implemented without compromising subsequent electrical behavior, supporting the feasibility of cryogenic strategies as a risk-mitigation approach for EOL battery logistics. The findings provide baseline data for future module/pack-scale demonstrations, repeated freeze–thaw durability assessments, and comparative studies using LN₂- or LA-based cooling systems.

Exploring the viability of cryogenic freezing for safe pretreatment in lithium-ion battery recycling

Cryogenic freezing effects on static/dynamic mechanical behavior of concrete with development of thermo-mechanically coupled constitutive model

Abstract Current generation gravitational wave detectors rely on ultra-high purity fused silica in the final monolithic stage of the mirror suspension systems for their excellent thermal noise performance. There is however a push to develop cryogenic suspension systems for the next generation detectors, where fused silica loses its superior thermal noise properties. Silicon is an attractive candidate material, and is the baseline design selected for use in the cryogenic Einstein Telescope and brings with it a new set of challenges. This paper outlines what the authors believe to be the world’s first demonstration of a single ribbon hydroxy-catalysis bonded silicon suspension that has cycled between room temperature and a 4 K environment. Also discussed is the characterisation of similar silicon ribbon, detailing work on surface treatments used to improve the ultimate tensile strength alongside the thermal conductivity of the silicon suspension.

The storage of sample sperm through freezing serves as a starting method for both animal breeding and reproductive medicine since it creates access to preserved specimens at any time. This review compares two primary sperm cryopreservation methods: conventional freezing and vitrification. The freezing technique together with its slow programmable freezing (SPF) variant preserves sperm quality by permitting cells to decrease internal ice crystals through extended temperature adjustments taking 2–4 hours despite possible cellular damage. Sperm cells retain top quality when vitrification works due to its fast-freezing method that stops ice crystals from developing. High success rates during post-thaw tests and DNA protection along with reduced oxidative damage are achieved through vitrification by maintaining exact control over cryoprotectant use and cooling speed regulations yet technical requirements and elevated costs emerge as major obstacles. The ART clinics use conventional freezing for storage because it remains the cost-efficient option that allows easy specimen access yet it causes motility reduction in comparison with vitrification. The combination of standard freezing techniques with vitrification has become essential because existing protocols work well in freezing but vitrification leads to superior ART outcomes. The development of both vitrification method protocols and cryoprotectant-free freezing techniques along with genetic modification methods is necessary to boost sperm storage capabilities.

Phase Transformation Kinetics of Austenite in DIN 1.5025 Steel under Controlled Slow Cooling Conditions

Through slow cooling experiments at a rate of 0.05 °C s −1 on hot‐rolled and homogenized samples for 1, 2, and 4 h, combined with analysis using optical microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and electron probe X‐ray microanalysis, the evolution of the banded structure, austenite grain size, and element segregation is studied. The following conclusions are drawn: During the slow cooling process, within the two‐phase region temperature range, proeutectoid ferrite nucleates and grows in a regular banded pattern, ultimately forming a banded structure composed of ferrite and martensite/pearlite. The hot‐rolled samples exhibited significant segregation bands of C and Mn both before and after slow cooling. Homogenization treatment results in a slight increase in austenite grain size, while elemental segregation gradually decreases. After the slow cooling experiment, the sample homogenized for 1 h still exhibits a banded structure, but with increased band width and reduced ordering. With further increases in homogenization time, the banded structure gradually disappears.

In this study, the freshness levels of boiled chicken eggs were determined using an electronic nose and machine learning techniques. Eggs were boiled and stored under refrigerator conditions (3±1ºC) from day 0 to day 6. Each storage day, eggs were divided into two groups based on cooling methods: quick-cooled and fast-cooled. Sensor readings were taken using an electronic nose, and image changes from 110 daily image files were processed with a machine learning program. With 85% of the image data used for training and 15% for testing, a classification accuracy of over 98% was achieved. The results showed that egg white solidified in more than 4 minutes and yolk solidified in 11 minutes. Fast-cooled eggs exhibited significantly lower odor levels, indicating superior freshness. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of electronic nose and machine learning systems in accurately determining the freshness of boiled eggs.

Currently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is stored at -80°C, requiring deep cryogenic freezers not widely available in hospital. More research is required to optimize clinical PRP preservation conditions. PRP from Deyang City People's Blood Center were stored at -20°C, -40°C, and - 80°C. Platelet counts, LDH concentration, and growth factors were measured at 0, 45, 90, and 180 days using a hematology analyzer and ELISA. Analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism 9 to compare differences between storage temperatures and over time within each group. During 180 days of PRP storage, platelet counts declined by 97.95%, 9.99%, and 7.51% at -20°C, -40°C, and - 80°C, respectively, compared to day 0.LDH levels peaked before declining. Growth factors showed diverse patterns: EGF rose steadily, PDGF-AA and TGF-βinitially increased, then decreased, while PDGF-BB and VEGF fluctuated, and FGF2 decreased consistently. At 45 days, PDGF-BB and PDGF-AA were significantly higher, and TGF-βlower in the - 20°C group compared to -80°C (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in EGF, FGF2, PDGF-AA, and VEGF levels between - 40°C and - 80°C storage (P > 0.05). Storage at -40°C showed comparable outcomes to -80°C, indicating its suitability for PRP storage. While - 20°C storage initially boosts growth factors, a significant platelet decline within 45 days cautions against long-term clinical use. Limiting PRP storage at -20°C to 45 days ensures quality.

Background &amp; Aims: Next generation sequencing, specifically whole genome sequencing (WGS), plays a key role in precision medicine. Currently, the main source of cancer biospecimens for WGS is formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. This is partly because cryopreserved (CP) tissues have not been routinely stored in real-world clinical settings. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of WGS by using matched CP and FFPE samples. We hypothesized that CP samples would demonstrate superior quality metrics before and after sequencing the DNA. Methods: A total of 50 matched pairs of CP and FFPE tumor samples were obtained from patients with various types of cancers, primarily representing gynecological cancers. DNA was extracted and quality and quantity were determined. WGS was performed using 200 ng of DNA extracted from each sample. We conducted a comparison between CP and FFPE samples in terms of the sequencing quality control metrics and the number of identified variants. Results: Our samples consisted of 18 ovary, 5 liver, 6 kidney, 7 uterus, 4 colon, and 10 other cancers. Metrics were obtained before sequencing, and it was found that gDNA concentration in ng/ul was significantly higher in CP (85.2) than FFPE (12.5) tissue. Additionally, DIN number (FFPE: 4.7; CP: 8.4) and fragment size in base pairs (FFPE: 444.1; CP: 644.6) were also significantly higher in CP tissue. WGS was then performed, and it was found that both mean read depth (FFPE: 34.6; CP: 54.2) and insert size (FFPE: 243.6 CP: 365.7) were significantly higher in CP than FFPE tissues. The percentage mapped over 15x was similar and not statistically different with FFPE being 99.3% and CP being 99.7%. To determine concordance between the matched samples, 94,147 variants were found in FFPE, and 80,036 variants were found in CP. The median point mutation overlap (VAP&amp;gt;=5.0%) was used to find a concordance percentage, with that being 43.5% between FFPE and CP tissues (shared: 51,619; FFPE: 38,690; CP:28,434). Tumer mutation burden was determined on 8 samples because germ line sequencing was performed on available blood samples. FFPE had a TMB of 13.7 and CP exhibited a TMB of 6.4, demonstrating a statistical difference with a p-value = 0.02. Lastly, structural variance was evaluated and FFPE averaged 21 and CP averaged 38. Conclusion: WGS utilizing CP samples provides superior quality indices compared to FFPE samples. Despite matched samples, there was significant discordance in variants identified in the cancers. Therefore, CP sample collection should be prioritized when performing WGS. Citation Format: Paytin Curran, DeLaney Anderson, Jeffrey Okojie, Ryan Miller, Sangmoon Lee, Ken Dixon, Jared James Barrott. Comparative whole genome sequencing between matched cryopreserved and FFPE tumor samples [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 5034.

Summary Campylobacter infections are the main cause of foodborne illness. Poultry – particularly chicken – has been identified as the most significant source of infection. Despite efforts, case numbers have not fallen. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the current situation regarding kitchen hygiene based on a consumer survey, and to explore the level of acceptance of potential measures to reduce campylobacteriosis in the supply chain. The results show that only around 20% of respondents have heard of Campylobacter. On the other hand, the vast majority (83.9%) are familiar with Salmonella, which is a much smaller problem. Household hygiene measures are largely well implemented, with fridge and freezer hygiene being exceptionally well maintained. Hygiene measures like hand and utensil washing are moderately implemented. Respondents also take precautions to prevent raw meat from encountering other foods. However, more specific measures—such as those related to barbecues and meat fondue—are less likely to be implemented. The same applies to preventing indirect contact through chopping boards and other kitchen utensils. Among the hygiene measures, making safe choices—such as when purchasing frozen chicken—is the least commonly implemented. Women and older people, and respondents who have heard of Campylobacter, generally implement the household measures more rigorously. The reasons for lower levels of implementation vary, ranging from a lack of awareness, and the measures being too time‐consuming or prone to error, to a trivialisation of the issue of food hygiene. Exceptions and a lack of feasibility are also cited. Respondents were asked about measures used in industrial meat processing: once with little information on Campylobacter, and later after they had been provided with detailed information. At over 70%, selling frozen chicken in the supermarket is by far the most accepted measure, regardless of how well‐informed respondents are. In general, knowledge about the seriousness of Campylobacter and the effectiveness of the measures results in slightly higher levels of acceptance. One exception is irradiation, where acceptance increases significantly from 36.8% to 52.8%. After information is provided, it is therefore the second most accepted measure for consumers. Chlorine treatment lags significantly behind, with acceptance levels below 30%, while CO₂ cryogenic freezing and treatment with lactic or acetic acid have moderate levels of acceptance. Men, people from German‐speaking Switzerland, and respondents living in urban areas generally exhibit greater acceptance of these measures. Beyond socio‐demographic characteristics, personality traits—such as risk appetite, understanding of food safety issues, interest in health, and attitude toward a healthy diet—also influence the level of acceptance of these measures. A uniform pattern emerges when it comes to household hygiene measures, with a general willingness to take risks translating into greater risk‐taking in the kitchen. The three other personality traits lead to more rigorous implementation of the measures. No such clear picture emerges in the meat preparation measures. However, providing information alleviates concerns about food safety while reinforcing connections to health and nutrition.

In vitro shoot culture and cryopreservation (CP) are techniques essential for the ex situ preservation of genetic resources and the production of plant propagation material of clonally propagated horticultural crops. Changes in plant-associated microbiota diversity and composition induced by in vitro cultivation and CP treatment could have a negative effect on the growth and ex vitro adaptation of the in vitro propagated shoots. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess changes in endophytic bacteria diversity in domestic apple tissues induced by in vitro cultivation and CP treatment and to investigate the potential of the bacterial inoculum to improve the rooting and ex vitro acclimatisation of the propagated shoots. Metataxonomic analysis revealed a variation in the endophytic bacteria diversity and taxonomic composition between the field-grown tree dormant bud and the in vitro propagated or CP-treated shoot samples of apple cv. Gala. Whereas Sphingobacteriaceae, Sphingomonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Beijerinckiaceae families were the most prevalent families in the bud samples, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillaceae, and Lactobacillaceae were dominant in the in vitro shoots. The bacterial inoculum effect on rooting and ex vitro acclimatisation was assessed using four isolates selected by screening the endophytic isolate collection. Bacillus sp. L3.4, B. toyonensis Nt18, or a combined inoculum resulted in a 21%, 36%, and 59% increase in cumulative root length and a 41%, 46%, and 35% increase in the biomass accumulation of ex vitro acclimatised plantlets, respectively. Root zone microbiota functional diversity analysis implied that growth stimulation was not related to improved nutrient uptake but could involve a pathogen-suppressing effect. The results demonstrate that the application of plant growth-promoting bacteria can potentially improve the performance of the in vitro propagated germplasm.

A comparison of cryopreserved and noncryopreserved peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells for autologous transplantation in multiple myeloma: a study from the chronic malignancies working party of the EBMT.

BackgroundLarge-to-massive rotator cuff tears (L-M RCTs) usually requires a patch to reconstruction. Decellularized tendon patch (DTP) was a biomimetic and effective material for reconstructing L-M RCTs. However, the protocol for DTP sterilization and storage is variable, which may influence their performance. The objective of this study is to optimize the protocol of DTP sterilization and storage and fabricate an off-the-shelf DTP with superior efficacy in enhancing the healing of L-M RCTs.MethodsDTPs were sterilized by ethylene oxide (EO) or gamma irradiation (GR), then preserved using cryo-preservation (CP) or freeze-drying (FD), thus preparing four kinds of DTPs (EO/CP-DTP, EO/FD-DTP, GR/CP-DTP, GR/FD-DTP). After evaluating their histology, microstructure, biomechanics, biocompatibility, and tenogenic inducibility in-vitro, a total of 88 male SD rats with chronic L-M RCTs were randomly divided into 4 groups, and then reconstructed with one of the four DTPs. At postoperative week 4 or 8, the supraspinatus tendon-to-humerus complexes were harvested for gross, micro-CT, histological, and mechanical evaluations.ResultsIn-vitro results indicated that the four kinds of DTPs showed excellent biocompatibility, and EO/CP-DTP showed an orderly collagen arrangement and higher tensile properties than the other DTPs. More importantly, the EO/CP-DTP can induce more interacted stem cells toward tenogenic lineages as compared with the other kinds of DTPs. Micro-CT showed that bony footprint in the four groups showed similar value in bone morphological parameters without significant difference. Histologically, the two CP-sterilized DTPs presented significantly higher scores than the FD-sterilized DTPs, while the EO/CP-DTP group exhibited slightly higher scores compared to the GR/CP-DTP group. As for the mechanical strength of the supraspinatus tendon-to-humerus complexes, a significantly higher failure load showed in the CP-sterilized DTPs when compared with the FD-sterilized DTPs at postoperative week 4 or 8.ConclusionDTP should be sterilized by EO and preserved using CP, owing that this type of DTP well preserved the intrinsic bioactivity and mechanical properties as well as showed superior efficacy in enhancing the healing of L-M RCTs.Level of evidenceBasic Science Research; Animal Model.