Cs Ratio Research Articles

Assembly mechanism of glycosylated soybean protein isolate-chitosan nanocomposite particles and its Pickering emulsion construction for stabilization of Alpinia galanga essential oil: A mechanistic investigation

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of stabilization of Pickering emulsion with glycosylated soybean protein isolate-chitosan (SPI-Dex: CS) nanocomposite particles. The results indicated that the glycosylated modifications induced changes in the micromorphology and molecular structure of SPI, which resulted in a decrease in particle size and hydrophobicity and an increase in zeta potential. The complexation of CS-induced changes in the micromorphology and molecular arrangement of the composite nanoparticles, as well as the binding sites and modification effect, decreased with increased CS ratio. SPI-Dex-CS composite nanoparticles successfully stabilize Pickering emulsions loaded with Alpinia galanga essential oil, in which glycosylation and CS complexation jointly improved the encapsulation efficiency, centrifugal/storage stability, and rheological behavior of emulsions for essential oils. Nanocomposite particle assembly was subjected to electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic forces, with the optimal performance of emulsions in the SPI-Dex75: CS25 ratio. The study is rewarding for applying polysaccharide-protein-based encapsulation systems in food and packaging applications.

Effect of sex and milk replacer with or without supplemental carnitine and arginine on growth characteristics, carcass, and meat quality of artificially reared low-birth weight pigs.

This study compared milk replacer either remaining unsupplemented (CON) or supplemented with 0.5g L-carnitine plus 16.7g L-arginine/kg (CarArg) and fed to 48 low-birth weight (L-BtW) artificially reared piglets (24 per group) from days 7 to 28 of age. Eight farrowing series were needed to complete the study. On day 28, the lightest piglets were slaughtered, and the heaviest pigs were weaned. The heaviest pigs were weaned on day 28 and offered free access to a starter (weaning to 25kg body weight [BW]), grower (25 to 60kg BW), and finisher diet (60 to 96kg BW on day 170 of age). After euthanization on days 28 and 170, blood was sampled for assessment of serum metabolite and hormone concentrations, and the semitendinosus muscle (STM) was weighed, and later subjected to enzyme activity analysis and assessment of myofiber characteristics. In the 170-d-old pigs carcass and meat quality traits were assessed. Growth data were analyzed accordingtoatwo-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with dietary treatment and farrowing series as fixed effects, while remaining data were analyzed with dietary treatment, sex, their interaction, and farrowing series as main factors. Dietary treatments affected (P ≤ 0.049) muscle enzyme activity at both day 28, with greater citrate synthase (CS) and LDH activities and lower HAD:CS ratio in STM light portion, and lower LDH:CS ratio in STM dark portion, and 170 of age with lower HAD:CS ratio. In the starter period, CarArg pigs had greater average daily gain (P = 0.021) and average daily feed intake (P = 0.010). At slaughter, these pigs had lower (P = 0.013) glucose and greater (P = 0.022) urea serum concentrations. However, supplementing the milk replacer with carnitine and arginine had no long-term effects on growth performance, carcass composition, and meat quality of L-BtW pigs. In addition, muscle morphology and myofiber-related properties remained unaffected by the supplementation.

Plant polysaccharide-derived edible film packaging for instant food: Rapid dissolution in hot water coupled with exceptional mechanical and barrier characteristics

A comprehensive multiscale analysis was conducted to explore the effects of different ratios of these materials on its properties. The results show that KC played a crucial role in controlling solution viscosity and gel and sol temperatures. The dissolution time at high water temperatures primarily decreased with an increase in SA content. Higher KC and CS content increased tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (ε), while also exhibiting better thermal stability. Water vapor transmission (WVT) and permeability (PV) initially decreased, then increased with the increase of SA and CS contents. Finally, an SA:KC:CS ratio of 1:3:2 showed optimal comprehensive properties, with a dissolution time of about 60.0 ± 3.8 s, TS of 23.80 ± 0.29 MPa, ε of 18.61 ± 0.34 %, WVT of 21.74 ± 0.62 g/m2·24h, and PV of 5.39 ± 0.17 meq/kg. Meanwhile, the SA:KC:CS edible food packaging only introduced minimal effects on food after dissolution, and the total bacterial count met regulatory standards.

Abstract 3807: CXCL9:SPP1 macrophage polarity as a prognostic biomarker for localized colorectal cancer after surgical resection

Abstract Background: There is an unmet need for additive predictive biomarkers for the recurrence of stage II/III colorectal cancer (CRC) after surgery. As recent studies showing the potential prognostic role of macrophage polarity defined by CXCL9 and SPP1, instead of conventional M1 and M2, we tried to evaluate the prognostic role of this biomarker in real-world practice setting, delineating biologic mechanisms. Method: The RNA sequencing data of 273 tumors derived from patietns with stage II/III colorectal cancer who underwent surgical resection in 5 Korean cancer-centers were available for analysis. We initially divided two subgroups based on the ratio of expression level of CXCL9 per SPP1 expressions (CS ratio) and evaluated prognostic outcomes and compared immune cell proportions by deconvolutional method between subgroups. Result: The CS ratio was higher in consensus molecular subtype (CMS)2 or CMS3 than others, and no significant differences were observed according to sidedness, stage, microsatellite instability status and medical centers. Total 69 (25,3%) patients were classified as low level of CS ratio group, and there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, including age, sex, CMS, sidedness, stage, microsatellite instability status and medical centers. With a median follow-up of 58.2 months, the low CS ratio group showed poor 5-year recurrence-free survival (50.6 vs. 71.1%, HR=2.27, P = 0.002) and 5-year overall survival (69.7% vs. 85.9%, HR=1.75, P = 0.033). These trends were consistent across the subgroups. In the multivariate analyses including the potential prognostic factors (P < 0.1 in the univariate analyses), low CS ratio was significantly associated with poorer for RFS (adjusted HR = 1.96, P = 0.011) and OS (adjusted HR = 1.81, P = 0.002). These trends were consistent in the TCGA dataset (5 years OS: 69.7% vs. 85.9%, HR=1.98, P = 0.011). The low CS ratio group showed upregulated WNT signaling, and extracellular matrix organization pathway. Immune cell deconvolutional method exhibited the low CS ratio group showed more proportion of neutrophils, monocytes, whereas CD8+T cells, activated memory CD4+T cells were decreased, compared to high CS ratio group. Conclusions: These results suggest that CS ratio could be an applicable prognostic biomarker in locally advanced colorectal cancer after surgical resection. Based on this classification, more advanced treatment strategy may be required for low CS ratio group to improve surgical outcomes. Citation Format: Yeong Hak Bang, Ji Hye Choi, Hyunsu Kim, Kyunghee Park, Dae Hee Pyo, Yong Beom Cho, Woong-Yang Park. CXCL9:SPP1 macrophage polarity as a prognostic biomarker for localized colorectal cancer after surgical resection [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3807.

Study of coating effectiveness of grape fruit seed extract incorporated Chitosan/cornstarch based active packaging film on grapes

The aim of the present study was to optimize the manufacturing process of grapefruit seed extract (GFSE) incorporated Chitosan (0.75 %, 2 % w/w) and various corn starch concentration of CHCS film of ratio 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 respectively using sorbitol as plasticizer. Optimization of chitosan concentration in chitosan corn starch film was done on the basis of physicochemical properties e.g. moisture content, film thickness, solubility, water vapour permeability and characterization of the films were done. It was reported that the films with CH: CS ratio 2:1 had tensile strength values comparable to that of other films with CH: CS ratio 1:1 and 1:2. Hence, films with 2 % (w/w) chitosan and CH: CS ratio 2:1 was found best among all the film samples shelf life extended to 20 days. GFSE incorporated film was found to have better anti-microbial properties as compared to commercial polypropylene (PP) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) films. GFSE incorporated CHCS film of ratio 2:1 was applied on Grape fruits. The antimicrobial effect of coating formulation on grape was mathematically calculated by predictive kinetic models and digital imaging. Sensory evaluation of applied coating formulation was found very efficient and confirmed the shelf life enhancement of 20 days.

Fabrication of cervical squamous cell carcinoma antigen immunosensor using graphene-polymer composites

An ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor was developed for detection of the cervical squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) biomarker using graphene-chitosan nanocomposites. Graphene oxide (GO) synthesized by a modified Hummer’s method was functionalized with chitosan biopolymer (CS) to produce CS-GO nanocomposites. Characterization by SEM, FTIR, Raman, XPS confirmed successful grafting of CS onto GO by electrostatic interactions. The CS-GO composite exhibited improved conductivity and biocompatibility. After optimizing the GO:CS ratio to 1:1, the nanocomposite was deposited on glassy carbon electrodes (GCE). Anti-SCCA antibodies were then immobilized covalently using pyrenebutyric acid crosslinker. The immunosensor fabrication was analyzed by EIS, CV, and DPV electrochemical techniques. The conditions including CS-GO ratio, antibody concentration, incubation time, pH, and voltage parameters were systematically optimized using orthogonal experimental design. Under optimal conditions, the immunosensor showed a linear detection range from 1 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL with a sensitivity of 196 μA/(ng/mL/cm2). The low limit of detection of 1 pg/mL was attributed to the high surface area and conductivity of the CS-GO transducer. Analysis of human serum samples spiked with SCCA demonstrated the reliability of the immunosensor for clinical applications. The graphene-nanocomposite electrochemical biosensing platform provides a rapid, low-cost, and ultrasensitive alternative to ELISA for SCCA detection in cervical cancer diagnostics.

Effective Encapsulation and Surface Treatment for Damp‐Heat Stable Triple Cation Perovskite Solar Cells

Multiple‐cation perovskites have been extensively researched for stability enhancement, but limited literature exists on CsFAMA (CFM) solar cell stability under harsh temperature and humidity. This article focuses on the development of damp‐heat‐resistant CFM‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) through the implementation of various surface treatment strategies, including antisolvent treatment (AST) control and alkyl‐type interfacial passivation, while also proposing an effective encapsulation structure. The Cs+ ratio in Csx(FA0.91MA0.09)1−xPb(I,Br)3 perovskites is varied in the range of x = 0 to 0.362, and the AST times are explored by adjusting from 8 to 15 s. Remarkably, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) is achieved with significant improvements in open‐circuit voltage and fill factor at an AST time of 12 s. Through precise tuning of the Cs ratio to x = 0.17 (Cs0.17(FA0.91MA0.09)0.83Pb(I,Br)3) and introduction of an octyl‐ammonium iodide interlayer, the highest‐performing device with a PCE of 20.82% is obtained. Additionally, a low‐temperature vacuum lamination is employed, and the conducive tape in a twisted form is extended, which effectively seals the device. This results in superior stability for 500 h under damp‐heat conditions at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity. This encapsulation method holds significant promise as a potential solution for the modularization of PSCs.

Evolution of Chemistry in the envelope of HOt corinoS (ECHOS)

Context. Within the project Evolution of Chemistry in the envelope of HOt corinoS (ECHOS), we present a study of sulphur chemistry in the envelope of the Class 0 source B 335 through observations in the spectral range λ = 7, 3, and 2 mm. Aims. Our goal is to characterise the sulphur chemistry in this isolated protostellar source and compare it with other Class 0 objects to determine the environmental and evolutionary effects on the sulphur chemistry in these young sources. Methods. We have modelled observations and computed column densities assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium and large velocity gradient approximation. We have also used the code Nautilus to study the time evolution of sulphur species, as well as of several sulphur molecular ratios. Results. We have detected 20 sulphur species in B 335 with a total gas-phase S abundance similar to that found in the envelopes of other Class 0 objects, but with significant differences in the abundances between sulphur carbon chains and sulphur molecules containing oxygen and nitrogen. Our results highlight the nature of B 335 as a source especially rich in sulphur carbon chains unlike other Class 0 sources. The low presence or absence of some molecules, such as SO and SO+, suggests a chemistry not particularly influenced by shocks. We, however, detect a large presence of HCS+ that, together with the low rotational temperatures obtained for all the S species (<15 K), reveals the moderate or low density of the envelope of B 335. Model results also show the large influence of the cosmic ray ionisation rate and density variations on the abundances of some S species (e.g. SO, SO2, CCS, and CCCS) with differences of up to ~4 orders of magnitude. We also find that observations are better reproduced by models with a sulphur depletion factor of 10 with respect to the sulphur cosmic elemental abundance. Conclusions. The comparison between our model and observational results for B 335 reveals an age of 104 < t < 105 yr, which high-lights the particularly early evolutionary stage of this source. B 335 presents a different chemistry compared to other young protostars that have formed in dense molecular clouds, which could be the result of accretion of surrounding material from the diffuse cloud onto the protostellar envelope of B 335. In addition, the theoretical analysis and comparison with observations of the SO2/C2S, SO/CS, and HCS+/CS ratios within a sample of prestellar cores and Class 0 objects show that they could be used as good chemical evolutionary indicators of the prestellar to protostellar transition.

Network formation and differentiation of chitosan–acrylic acid hydrogels using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and multivariate analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectra

Chitosan–acrylic acid (Cs–AA) hydrogels were prepared by blending different Cs concentrations and AA:Cs ratios. The Cs–AA hydrogel samples were analyzed using synchrotron radiation-induced near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. The characteristics of Cs were observed through the C, O, and N K edges in NEXAFS. Significant shifts in the Cs characteristic features were induced by the addition of AA. The NEXAFS findings confirmed the new covalent and ionic bridges to form the network of the Cs–AA hydrogel. Raw FTIR spectra were used to investigate the different functional groups of each of the macromolecules. The study attempted to discriminate the Cs–AA hydrogels prepared with different Cs wt% concentration and AA:Cs ratio using multivariate approaches. The preprocessed dataset was evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The PCA and HCA methods showed the possibility of discriminating the Cs–AA hydrogel samples from the control samples and with each other. The approaches further confirmed that the CO groups found in the range of 1700–1800 cm−1 can be used as an identifier for Cs–AA hydrogel samples prepared using different solution parameters. The use of FTIR coupled with multivariate approaches provided a simple and reliable way to inspect the possible discrimination of Cs–AA hydrogels.

An interpretable MRI reconstruction network with two-grid-cycle correction and geometric prior distillation

Although existing deep learning compressed-sensing-based Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CS-MRI) methods have achieved considerably impressive performance, explainability and generalizability continue to be challenging for such methods since the transition from mathematical analysis to network design not always natural enough, often most of them are not flexible enough to handle multi-sampling-ratio reconstruction assignments. In this work, to tackle explainability and generalizability, we propose a unifying deep unfolding multi-sampling-ratio interpretable CS-MRI framework. The combined approach offers more generalizability than previous works whereas deep learning gains explainability through a geometric prior module. Inspired by the multigrid algorithm, we first embed the CS-MRI-based optimization algorithm into correction-distillation scheme that consists of three ingredients: pre-relaxation module, correction module and geometric prior distillation module. Furthermore, we employ a condition module to learn adaptively step-length and noise level, which enables the proposed framework to jointly train multi-ratio tasks through a single model. The proposed model not only compensates for the lost contextual information of reconstructed image which is refined from low frequency error in geometric characteristic k-space, but also integrates the theoretical guarantee of model-based methods and the superior reconstruction performances of deep learning-based methods. Therefore, it can give us a novel perspective to design biomedical imaging networks. Numerical experiments show that our framework outperforms state-of-the-art methods in terms of qualitative and quantitative evaluations. Our method achieves 3.18 dB improvement at low CS ratio 10% and average 1.42 dB improvement over other comparison methods on brain dataset using Cartesian sampling mask.

The role of cardiac magnetic resonance-based feature-tracking strain analysis in the differential diagnosis and prognostic assessment of patients with left ventricular hypertrophy

Abstract Background Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examinations have an essential role in the diagnosis of myocardial diseases with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy; however, limited data are available from CMR-based feature-tracking strain analysis in this patient population. The aim of our study was to investigate the differential diagnostic and prognostic importance of feature-tracking strain analysis in patients with LV hypertrophy caused by myocardial disease. Methods We investigated 404 patients who underwent CMR examination and were diagnosed with myocardial disease causing LV hypertrophy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) was detected in 330 patients, cardiac amyloidosis (CA) in 46 patients, Fabry disease (FD) in 12 patients, and endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) in 16 patients. LV strain analysis was performed with feature-tracking. Global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS) and radial (GRS) LV strain parameters were measured. Strain values for the six basal, six midventricular, and five apical segments were averaged to obtain regional longitudinal and circumferential strain values (basal LS, midventricular LS, apical LS, basal CS, midventricular CS, apical CS). The apex-to-base regional LS and CS ratios were calculated as apical LS/basal LS and apical CS/basal CS, respectively. To assess global dyssynchrony, mechanical dispersion (MD) was measured. The all-cause mortality of the patients was analyzed. Results In the differentiation of CA from HCM, GLS had the highest sensitivity with a cutoff of more than −23%, and basal LS and basal CS had the highest specificity with a cutoff of more than −16% and −38%, respectively (p<0.001). FD patients had the lowest longitudinal and circumferential MD values, meaning that compared to that of other patients with LV hypertrophy, global dyssynchrony is least pronounced in this patient population (p<0.01). EMF patients had impaired global and regional CS and the lowest apex-to-base CS and LS ratios. CA patients had the highest apex-to-base CS and LS ratios, suggestive of apical sparing (p<0.001). CA patients had the worst prognosis; the significant independent predictors of mortality were a diagnosis of CA, the LV stroke volume index and basal LS (p<0.01). Conclusions Myocardial diseases with left ventricular hypertrophy have remarkable differences in CMR-based strain characteristics which can be helpful in the differential diagnosis and provides incremental information on adverse outcomes. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Development and Innovation Fund of Hungary, Ministry for Innovation and Technology in Hungary

Experimental research on mechanical properties of Fiber-Reinforced Polyurethane Elastic Concrete (FRPEC)

Given the shortcomings of conventional repair materials for bridge expansion joints, such as ease of damage and lengthy maintenance cycles, this research developed a new type of Fiber-Reinforced Polyurethane Elastic Concrete (FRPEC) that can be used for rapid repair of bridge expansion joints. FRPEC has the advantages of short setting time, high initial strength, excellent bonding performance and satisfactory deformation and toughness. The objective of this research was to explore and experimentally investigate the basic mechanical properties of the new material (FRPEC) such as failure mechanism, compressive strength and flexural strength, workability and toughness. The orthogonal test range analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to optimize FRPEC mixtures based on the compressive and flexural strengths under varying P:CS ratio, cement proportion, and fiber content. Results show that a decrease in the P:CS ratio from 1:1.5 to 1:3 led to an improvement in the mechanical properties of FRPEC, whereas an increase in cement proportion from 40% to 70% adversely affected the mechanical properties. The incorporation of steel fiber improved the strength and toughness of FRPEC.

Left ventricular strain-curve morphology to distinguish between constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy.

AimsTo distinguish between constrictive pericarditis (CP) and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR‐FT) left ventricle (LV) diastolic time–strain curve patterns and myocardial strain.Methods and ResultsA total of 32 CP patients, 27 RCM patients, and 25 control subjects were examined by CMR‐FT and analysed for global strain, segmental strain, and LV time–strain curve patterns in the longitudinal, circumferential, and radial directions. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) strain imaging was performed in some cases. The peak global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS) of the RCM group were lower than those of the CP group. GLS [median (interquartile range) CP vs. RCM: −11.15 (−12.85, −9.35) vs. −6.5 (−8.75, −4.85), P < 0.001] and GCS (CP vs. RCM: −16.89 ± 5.11 vs. −13.37 ± 5.79, P < 0.001). In circumferential and radial directions, the strain ratios of the LV lateral/septal wall (LW/SW) of the CP group were significantly lower than those of the RCM group at the basal and mid segments. The CS ratio of LW/SW at the basal segment [CP vs. RCM: 0.95 (0.85, 1.25) vs. 1.43 (1.18, 1.89), P < 0.001] and mid segment [CP vs. RCM: 1.05 (0.92, 1.15) vs. 1.18 (1.06, 1.49), P = 0.026]. The RS ratio of LW/SW at the basal segment [CP vs. RCM: 0.97 (0.76, 1.37) vs. 1.55 (1.08, 2.31), P = 0.006] and mid segment [CP vs. RCM: 0.95 (0.70, 1.28) vs. 1.79 (1.32, 2.92), P < 0.001]. In the longitudinal and circumferential directions, the characteristic ‘plateau’ pattern of time–strain curves could be seen in the CP but not in the RCM during the diastole. The GCS ratio of 0–50%/50–75% diastolic period of the CP was higher than that of the RCM [CP vs. RCM: 17.01 (8.67, 23.75) vs. 5.38 (1.93, 11.24), P = 0.001], while the GCS ratio of 50–75%/75–100% diastolic period was lower than that of the RCM [CP vs. RCM: 0.36 (0.15, 1.67) vs. 1.12 (0.70, 5.58), P < 0.001]. The peak GLS (sensitivity, 85%; specificity, 78%) and the GCS ratio of 0–50%/50–75% diastolic period (sensitivity, 88%; specificity, 73%) had higher differential diagnosis value.ConclusionsThe CMR‐FT could distinctly differentiate CP from RCM based on LV myocardial strain and LV time–strain curve patterns. The characteristic ‘plateau’ pattern of the time–strain curve is specific for CP and not RCM and this curve can also be duplicated by STE.

The role of feature-tracking strain analysis in the differentiation of cardiac amyloidosis from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examinations have an essential role in the differentiation of cardiac involvement of amyloidosis (CA) from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The CMR diagnosis is traditionally based on morphologic features and the pattern of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). However, in patients contraindicated for contrast agent administration, the diagnosis can be challenging. Novel CMR techniques, including strain analysis, can help in the differentiation of these patients. The aim of our study was to investigate the differential diagnostic and prognostic importance of feature-tracking strain analysis in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy caused by CA or HCM. We investigated 89 HCM patients (48 males; 50±18 years) and 46 CA patients (29 males; 64±10 years) who underwent CMR examination. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), volumes (end-diastolic volume: LVEDV, end-systolic volume: LVESV, stroke volume: LVSV), mass (LVM), and the amount of LGE were quantified. Global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS) and radial (GRS) LV strain parameters, and basal, midventricular, and apical LS and CS were measured. The apex-to-base regional LS and CS ratios were calculated. The all-cause mortality of the patients was analyzed. The characteristics of groups were compared with an independent t-test or Mann-Whitney test, as appropriate. ROC curve analysis was performed to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of a parameter and to identify optimal cutoff values. The prognostic value of CMR parameters was assessed with Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. Survival probability was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier curves and compared by the log-rank test. CA patients had significantly lower LVEF (51±11 vs. 63±8%; p&amp;lt;0.0001), lower LVSVi (43±12 vs. 54±12 ml/m2; p&amp;lt;0.0001), higher LVMi (94±24 vs. 79±24 g/m2; p&amp;lt;0.001), higher amount of LGE (29±15 vs. 8±8%; p&amp;lt;0.0001), and more impaired global and regional strain values (GRS: 55±22 vs. 93±29%; GCS: −33±10 vs. −42±8%; GLS: −18±4 vs. −25±6%; basal CS: −26±9 vs. −39±7%; basal LS: −15±4 vs. −22±6%; p&amp;lt;0.0001) than HCM patients. The apex-to-base CS and LS ratios were higher in CA patients, suggestive of apical sparing (1.71±0.68 vs. 1.29±0.33; p&amp;lt;0.0001; 1.88±0.76 vs. 1.57±0.62; p&amp;lt;0.05; respectively). In the differentiation of CA and HCM, LGE, basal CS, basal LS, GRS, and GLS had the highest diagnostic accuracies (AUCs: 0.911, 0.866, 0.848, 0.859, 0.849). During the mean 2.1±2.0 years of follow-up, three HCM patients (3.4%) and 29 CA patients (63%) died (p&amp;lt;0.0001). The significant independent predictors of mortality were a diagnosis of CA, LVSVi and basal LS. Our results show that CMR-based strain analysis might be a useful method for differentiating cardiac involvement of amyloidosis from HCM. Furthermore, this technique provides additional information for the assessment of prognosis in this patient population. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): National Research, Development and Innovation Office of Hungary; Ministry for Innovation and Technology in Hungary, within the framework of the Therapeutic Development and Bioimaging programmes of the Semmelweis University

Developmental effect of parental or direct chronic exposure to environmental concentration of glyphosate on the larvae of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.

The environmental safety profile of glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide worldwide, is still a subject of debate and little is known about the generational toxicity of this active substance (AS) and the associated commercial formulations called "glyphosate-based herbicides" (GBHs). This study investigated the impact of parental and direct exposure to 1μgL-1 of glyphosate using the AS alone or one of two GBH formulations (i.e. Roundup Innovert® and Viaglif Jardin®) in the early developmental stages of rainbow trout. Three different modes of exposure on the F1 generation were studied: (1) intergenerational (i.e. fish only exposed through their parents); (2) direct (i.e. fish exposed only directly) and (3) multigenerational (i.e. fish both exposed intergenerationally and directly). The impact of chemical treatments on embryo-larval development (survival, biometry and malformations), swimming behaviour, biochemical markers of oxidative stress equilibrium (TBARS and catalase), acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and energy metabolism (citrate synthase, CS; cytochrome-c oxidase, CCO; lactate dehydrogenase, LDH; glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G6PDH) was explored. Chemical exposure did not affect the survival of F1 embryos or malformation rates. Direct exposure to the AS induced some biometric changes, such as reduction in head size (with a 10% decrease in head length), independently of co-formulants. Intergenerational exposure to the AS or the Roundup GBH increased swimming activity of the larvae, with increase of between 78 and 102% in travel speeds. Viaglif co-formulants appear to have counteracted this behavioural change. The minor changes detected in the assayed biochemical markers suggested that observed effects were not due to oxidative damage, AChE inhibition or alterations to energy metabolism. Nonetheless, multi- and intergenerational exposure to Roundup increased CS:CCO and LDH:CS ratios by 46% and 9%, respectively, with a potential modification of the aerobic-to-anaerobic energy production balance. These biochemical effects were not correlated with those observed on individual level of biological organization. Therefore, further studies on generational toxicity of glyphosate and its co-formulants are needed to identify the other mechanisms of glyphosate toxicity at the cellular level.

QbD Approach for Novel Crosslinker-Free Ionotropic Gelation of Risedronate Sodium-Chitosan Nebulizable Microspheres: Optimization and Characterization.

Risedronate sodium (RS) is a potent inhibitor of bone resorption, having an extreme poor permeability and limited oral bioavailability (0.62%). RS should be orally administered under fasting conditions while keeping in an upright posture for at least 30 min to diminish common gastroesophageal injuries. To surmount such limitations, novel risedronate-chitosan (RS-CS) crosslinker-free nebulizable microspheres were developed adopting the quality by design (QbD) approach and risk assessment (RA) thinking. RS:CS ratio, surfactant (Pluronic® F127) concentration, homogenization duration, speed, and temperature were identified using Ishikawa diagrams as the highest formulation and process risk factors affecting the critical quality attributes (CQAs), average particle size (PS), and entrapment efficiency (EE%). The risk factors were screened using the Plackett-Burman design, and the levels of the most significant factors were optimized using a multilevel factorial design to explore the optimized system with the least PS, maximum EE%, and a prolonged drug release profile. The optimized system (B6) was developed at a RS:CS ratio of 1:7, a surfactant concentration of 2% (w/v), and a homogenization speed of 14,000 rpm. It revealed good correlation with QbD theoretical prediction, where positively charged (47.9 ± 3.39 mV) discrete, spherical microspheres (3.47 ± 0.16 μm) having a high EE% (94.58 ± 0.19%) and prolonged RS release over 12 h (Q12 h, 89.70 ± 0.64%) were achieved. In vivo lung deposition after intratracheal instillation of B6 confirmed the delivery of high RS percentage to rat lung tissues (87 ± 3.54%) and its persistence for 24 h. This investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of QbD philosophy in developing RS-CS crosslinker-free nebulizable microspheres.

Source of supplemental dietary fat interacts with relative proportion of forage source in Holstein dairy cows: Production responses, milk fat composition, and rumen fermentation

The effects of alfalfa hay to corn silage (AH:CS) ratio in high-concentrate diets containing 2 sources of fat supplements on production responses and milk fat secretion of dairy cows were evaluated using 8 lactating multiparous Holstein cows in a duplicated Latin square with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of diets with 21-d experimental periods. Diets comprised AH:CS ratios of 70:30 or 30:70 supplemented with either calcium salts of palm fatty acids (FA; CaS-FA, 3.5% of dietary dry matter (DM)) or C16:0 enriched palm fat (Palm-FA; 3.0 % of dietary DM). Dry matter intake (DMI) was greater (1.74 kg/d) in cows fed high compared with low AH:CS ratio. Similarly, the high AH:CS ratio had greater production of milk yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, and energy-corrected milk compared with low AH:CS ratio whereas fat sources did not differ in any of these parameters with the exception of greater milk yield by CaS-FA compared with Palm-FA. Milk protein yield was the greatest in the high AH:CS ratio + CaS-FA diet. Milk protein content was greater for diets containing the high AH:CS ratio and also for Palm-FA vs. CaS-FA diets. Milk fat yield was not affected by the treatments, but milk fat content was greater for Palm-FA diets. Feed efficiency (milk yield/DMI) was the lowest for the high AH:CS ratio + Palm-FA diet. The molar proportion of propionate was greater for diets containing high AH: CS ratio, but otherwise volatile FA were not affected by treatments. The high AH:CS ratio had greater de novo synthesized FA (< C16:0) in milk fat without affecting mixed-origin FA (C16:0 plus cis-9 C16:1) or preformed FA (> C16) compared with Palm-FA. CaS-FA had greater proportions and yields of de novo synthesized and mixed-origin FA, and lower preformed FA including many C18 biohydrogenation intermediates such as trans-10 C18:1 and trans-10, cis-12 C18:2 which are due to greater intake of n-6 C18:2 indicating altered ruminal biohydrogenation. CaS-FA also had greater unsaturated FA in milk fat compared with Palm-FA. Overall, the source of fat supplement interacted with AH:CS ratio affecting milk FA profile and protein yield but not milk production of dairy cows.

Tough, hybrid chondroitin sulfate nanofibers as a promising scaffold for skin tissue engineering.

Fabrication of gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol/chondroitin sulfate (GEL/PVA/CS) hybrid nanofibrous scaffolds using acetic acid and water as an environmentally friendly solvent system via electrospinning for skin tissue engineering was investigated. Modeling and optimization of the nanofibers were performed using response surface methodology (RSM). The influence of CS ratio on mechanical, physical and biological properties of the nanofibers was studied. PVA was used as a carrier and enhancer of mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of hybrid nanofibers were investigated in dry and wet states. The results showed that in the cross-linked dry state the tensile strength was up to 4 MPa. In the wet state, nanofibers exhibited 200% elongation at break, indicating a toughness behavior which enhances the flexibility for clinical applications. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirmed the stability of nanofibrous morphology during degradation up to 21 days. Human dermal fibroblast-green fluorescent protein-positive (HDF-GFP+) cells were cultured on the scaffolds and results showed the appropriate biocompatibility. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay was employed to study cell proliferation, and the results confirmed the positive effect of CS ratio on HDF cells attachment as well as proliferation on the nanofibers. Considering the results of in vitro assay, nanofibers containing 15% CS ratio suggested as an optimum CS ratio.

Effect of Salt on the Ordinary–Extraordinary Transition in Solutions of Charged Macromolecules

Using dynamic light scattering technique, we address the role of added salt at higher concentrations on the "ordinary-extraordinary" transition in solutions of charged macromolecules. The "ordinary" behavior has previously been associated with a "fast" diffusion coefficient which is independent of salt concentration Cs and polymer concentration Cp if the ratio Cp/ Cs is above a threshold value. The "extraordinary" transition is associated with formation of aggregates, with a "slow" diffusion coefficient, formed from similarly charged macromolecules. By investigating aqueous solutions of sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) and sodium chloride with variations in Cp, Cs, and polymer molecular weight, Mw, we report the emergence of a new diffusive "fast" relaxation mode at higher values of Cp, Cs, and Mw, in addition to the previously known "fast" and "slow" relaxation modes. Furthermore, we find that Mw plays a crucial role on the collective dynamics of polyelectrolyte solutions with salt, instead of just the Cp/ Cs ratio as previously postulated. As Mw is progressively decreased, the salty solution exhibits dynamical transitions from three modes to two modes and then to one mode of relaxation. The emergence of the new fast mode and the dynamical transitions are in marked departure from the general premise of the ordinary-extraordinary transition developed over several decades. In an effort to rationalize our experimental findings we present a theory for the collective dynamics of polyelectrolyte solutions with salt by addressing the coupling between the relaxations of polyelectrolyte chains, counterions from the polymer and added salt, and co-ions from the salt. The predictions are in qualitative agreement with experimental findings. The present combined work of experiments and theory forms the basis for accurately characterizing dynamics of charged macromolecules in salty solutions, which are ubiquitous in biological systems and polyelectrolyte-based technologies.

Stoichiometry of the soil microbial biomass in response to amendments with varying C/N/P/S ratios

The interacting effects of N, P, and S limitation were investigated by applying four different organic components, i.e., cysteine, chitosan, glucose-6-phosphate, and glucose, to a soil at two different clearly defined N, P, and S levels in a 5-fold range, one with sufficient and one with limited nutrient supply. Initially, MB-CN, MB-CP, and MB-CS ratios were lower after organic substrate amendments with the higher concentration of N, P, and S. The close relationship between the nutrient supply and elemental MB ratios was strongly modified within the next 14 days for the MB-CN ratio, probably due to a strong shift in the microbial community composition towards fungi, determined by the ergosterol content of soil. This shift was promoted by high N and low P and S availability, contrasting the view that S is important for the formation of fungal biomass. However, the negative interactions between P limitation and MB-CS ratio suggest that the microbial S metabolism has specific importance under P-limiting conditions. Low substrate CN ratio increased carbon use efficiency (CUE) by 20% in comparison with high substrate CN ratio, calculated at day 5, solely due to an increased formation of microbial residues, as the formation of MBC was not affected by differences in substrate CN ratio. In contrast, high substrate CP and CS ratios reduced MBC formation but did not affect CUE values.