Glass Slides Research Articles

Flexural Strength of Nanohybrid Composite Resin: An in-vitro Study

In the present study, the Flexural strength of nanohybrid composite was compared with conventional microfilled composite resin in vitro. Thirty nanohyrid and 30 conventional microfilled composite resins were subjected to Flexural strength measurement as follows; a teflon mold (4 mm in diameter and 6 mm in depth) was filled with materials, light cured through the glass slides for 40 sec top and bottom surfaces. Then the specimens were taken out from the mold, again light curing for 40 sec, stored in dry condition and placed into a Flexural strength tester and loaded until fracture of the sample. Student t-test was performed to assess the differences between two groups and a value of p >0.05 was considered as statistically significance. The results showed that the means ± SD Flexural strength of nanobybrid and conventional microfilled composite resin were 118.70 ± 3.90 Mpa and 77.43 ± 2.65 Mpa, respectively and the differences were statistically significant. It can be concluded that nanohybrid is superior to conventional microfilled composite resin in respect to Flexural strenth in class II restorations of permanent molar teeth.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis in pregnant women attending a tertiary care centre in North-Eastern India

BackgroundCandida colonisation in vagina was found to be 20 %, rising to 30 % during pregnancy. According to studies, the prevalence of VVC during pregnancy is higher than healthy women. During pregnancy, candidal colonisation increases, both symptomatic and asymptomatic. However, the difference between strains causing symptomatic infection and those that cause asymptomatic infection is unknown. ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the virulence factors of Candida VVC isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women. MethodsThe study included 120 pregnant women- 60 symptomatic and 60 asymptomatic, who presented to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Outpatient Department with vaginitis symptoms. High vaginal swabs from the patient and used for gram stain, direct wet mount, pH detection and fungal culture in SDA with and without antibiotics. Germ tube tests, growth in CMA, and HiCrome Candida Differential Agar were used to identify yeast colonies grown in culture. The isolates were then examined for virulence factors like biofilm formation, phospholipase, coagulase, and hemolysin. Antifungal susceptibility was determined using E-test. ResultsThe current study reveals a high prevalence of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in pregnant women(35 %). Asymptomatic patients had lower proportion of VVC than symptomatic patients. Non albicans Candida(NAC) outnumbered Candida albicans. Although Candida albicans growth was predominant in asymptomatic patients. Virulence studies revealed that Candida spp. isolated from symptomatic patients expressed a higher proportion of virulence factors. Besides NAC has higher proportion of expressing virulence factors than Candida albicans and has higher propensity to cause infection especially in symptomatic pregnant women. Antifungal susceptibility testing shows Itraconazole to be most sensitive for VVC treatment but Candida albicans was most susceptible to fluconazole while NAC had the least. ConclusionsThe study emphasizes the importance of routine screening of symptomatic pregnant women for VVC, as syndromic treatment will increase antifungal resistance, particularly in NAC.

Theoretical and experimental study on the effect of the heat shield on the trough solar cavity receiver in alpine areas

The large heat loss of the cavity receiver limits its application in parabolic trough collectors, matching the environmental factors in alpine areas, in this paper, adding a glass cover plate as a heat shield at the aperture of the trough inverted trapezoidal cavity receiver is investigated. To quantify the optimization of the system performance by adding, an analytical study is carried out for the cavity receiver using theoretical calculations of heat transfer and indoor experimental tests, while “thermal uniformity” is introduced as an indicator of the temperature distribution inside the cavity, and further verifies experimentally by the outdoor real-area environment. The findings indicate that adding a heat shield is significantly effective in reducing heat loss in windy areas. At the flow rate of 250 L/h and inlet temperature of 323 K, the maximum experimental heat loss value is significantly reduced by 70.01 % in the range of 1–5 m/s wind speeds compared to the one without a heat shield. When the wind direction is from −60° to 60°, the heat loss inside the cavity is small after adding, forming a stable stratified flow, and the thermal uniformity decreases by only 0.02, indicating that the stability of the temperature field inside the cavity is high. Furthermore, outdoor validation experiments demonstrate a slower change in heat loss rate with adding the heat shield compared to without, the growth rate of the former is close to 1/3 that of the latter, with a maximum suppressed heat loss rate of 23.49 %. This study provides the theoretical basis and data guidance for optimizing cavity receiver performance in alpine areas.

Concordance of whole slide imaging and conventional light microscopy for assessment of pathologic response following neoadjuvant therapy for lung cancer

Pathologic response is an endpoint in many ongoing clinical trials for neoadjuvant regimens, including immune checkpoint blockade and chemotherapy. Whole slide scanning of glass slides generates high resolution digital images and allows for remote review and potential measurement with image analysis tools, but concordance of pathologic response assessment on digital scans compared to glass slides has yet to be evaluated. Such a validation goes beyond previous concordance studies which focused on establishing surgical pathology diagnoses, as it requires quantitative assessment of tumor, necrosis, and regression. Further, as pathologic response assessment is being used as an endpoint, such concordance studies have regulatory implications. The purpose of this study was two fold: firstly, to determine the concordance between pathologic response assessed on glass slides and on digital scans; and secondly, to determine if pathologists benefited from using measurement tools when determining pathologic response. To that end, H&E-stained glass slides from 64 non-small cell lung carcinoma specimens were visually assessed for percent residual viable tumor (%RVT). The sensitivity and specificity for digital vs. glass reads of complete pathologic response (pCR, 0% RVT) and major pathologic response (MPR, ≤10% RVT) were all >95%. When %RVT was considered as a continuous variable, intraclass correlation coefficient of digital vs. glass reads was 0.94. The visual assessments of pathologic response were supported by pathologist annotations of residual tumor and tumor bed areas. In a separate subset of H&E-stained glass slides, several measurement approaches to quantifying %RVT were performed. Pathologist estimates strongly reflected measured %RVT. This study demonstrates the high level of concordance between glass slides evaluated using light microscopy and digital whole slide images for pathologic response assessments. Pathologists did not require measurement tools to generate robust %RVT values from slide annotations. These findings have broad implications for improving clinical workflows and multisite clinical trials.

A multicenter study to evaluate the analytical precision by pathologists using the Aperio GT 450 DX

BackgroundDigital pathology systems (DPS) are emerging as capable technologies for clinical practice. Studies have analyzed pathologists' diagnostic concordance by comparing reviews of whole slide images (WSIs) to glass slides (e.g., accuracy). This observational study evaluated the reproducibility of pathologists' diagnostic reviews using the Aperio GT 450 DX under slightly different conditions (precision). MethodDiagnostic precision was tested in three conditions: intra-system (within systems), inter-system/site (between systems/sites), and intra- and inter-pathologist (within and between pathologists). A total of five study/reading pathologists (one pathologist each for intra-system, inter-system/site, and three for intra-pathologist/inter-pathologist analyses) were assigned to the respective sub-studies.A panel of 69 glass slides with 23 unique histological features was used to evaluate the WSI system's precision. Each glass slide was scanned to generate a unique WSI. From each WSI, the field of view (FOV) was generated (at least 2 FOVs/WSI), which included the selected features (1–3 features/FOV). Each pathologist reviewed the digital slides and identified which morphological features, if any, were present in each defined FOV. To minimize recall bias, an additional 12 wild card slides from different organ types were used for which FOVs were extracted. The pathologists also read these wild card slides FOVs; however, the corresponding feature identification was not included in the final data analysis. ResultsEach measured endpoint met the pre-defined acceptance criteria of the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval (CI) overall agreement (OA) rate being ≥85% for each sub-study. The lower bound of the 95% CI for the intra-system OA rate was 95.8%; for inter-system analysis, it was 94.9%; for intra-pathologist analysis, 92.4%, whereas for inter-pathologist analyses, the lower bound of the 95% CI of the OA was 90.6%. ConclusionThe study results indicate that pathologists using the Aperio GT 450 DX WSI system can precisely identify histological features that may be required for accurately diagnosing anatomic pathology cases.

Confinement induced alteration in interfacial energy in aqueous surfactant systems

When a liquid is confined between two parallel plates, the pressure field at its bulk alters, because of the concave meniscus at the air-water interface. For an aqueous surfactant solution in contact with an oil, like an oil-in-water emulsion, this effect can alter the surfactant concentration at the interface of the two phases thereby changing the interfacial energy. Alteration of interfacial energy is expected to affect morphology of a complex system consisting of three immiscible phases. To verify this hypothesis a drop of crosslinkable silicone liquid was placed on a glass slide and was immobilized by partial crosslinking. An aqueous solution of surfactant, with SiO2 microspheres dispersed in it, was dispensed on this drop to create a liquid pool. It was then confined between two parallel plates to create a meniscus. Consequently, the particles got embedded at the oil-water interface to different extent, depending on the degree of confinement. Force balance along tangents to different interfaces showed that the interfacial energy of silicone-water (aqCTAB 0.3 mM) interface increases from 33.3 ± 0.5 mJ/m2 for an unconfined system to 45.4 ± 2.2 mJ/m2 for the confined one. This effect then elucidates how confinement alters complex emulsion morphologies in multiphase systems.

Efficient, gigapixel-scale, aberration-free whole slide scanner using angular ptychographic imaging with closed-form solution.

Whole slide imaging provides a wide field-of-view (FOV) across cross-sections of biopsy or surgery samples, significantly facilitating pathological analysis and clinical diagnosis. Such high-quality images that enable detailed visualization of cellular and tissue structures are essential for effective patient care and treatment planning. To obtain such high-quality images for pathology applications, there is a need for scanners with high spatial bandwidth products, free from aberrations, and without the requirement for z-scanning. Here we report a whole slide imaging system based on angular ptychographic imaging with a closed-form solution (WSI-APIC), which offers efficient, tens-of-gigapixels, large-FOV, aberration-free imaging. WSI-APIC utilizes oblique incoherent illumination for initial high-level segmentation, thereby bypassing unnecessary scanning of the background regions and enhancing image acquisition efficiency. A GPU-accelerated APIC algorithm analytically reconstructs phase images with effective digital aberration corrections and improved optical resolutions. Moreover, an auto-stitching technique based on scale-invariant feature transform ensures the seamless concatenation of whole slide phase images. In our experiment, WSI-APIC achieved an optical resolution of 772 nm using a 10×/0.25 NA objective lens and captures 80-gigapixel aberration-free phase images for a standard 76.2 mm × 25.4 mm microscopic slide.

An ultrasensitive liquid crystal aptasensing chip assisted by three-way junction DNA pockets for acrylamide detection in food samples

Acrylamide, an unsaturated amide found in heat-processed foods, poses serious risks to human health due to its neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and genotoxicity. This highlights the importance of quantitative determination of acrylamide in foods and the environments to ensure public health safety. Therefore, there is an urgent need for simple, rapid, and highly sensitive methods to accurately quantify acrylamide. In the present study, a user-friendly aptasensor was designed to quantify ultra-low levels of acrylamide in nuts for the first time. This innovative approach utilizes chemical engineering of a glass slide as a portable sensing platform, which incorporates liquid crystal (LC) molecules and a three-way junction (TWJ) DNA pocket. The immobilized TWJ pocket can disrupt the vertical alignment of LCs, turning the dark polarized background of the aptasensor to a colorful state. The binding of the specific aptamer to acrylamide disrupts the TWJ structure, enabling the LCs to return to their homotropic alignment. This structural change restores the dark polarized view of the sensing platform. The TWJ-engineered LC aptasensor effectively detects ultra-low concentrations of acrylamide in the range of 0.0005 to 50 fmol/L, with a detection limit of 0.106 amol/L. The aptasensor was successfully applied to real roasted nut samples, including peanut, almond, pistachio, and hazelnut, achieving recovery values ranging from 96.84 % to 99.61 %. With its simplicity, portability, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness, this aptasensor is a powerful sensing device for food safety monitoring.

Polymer Composite Cladding for Selective Frequency Filtration: An Experimental and Modeling Study

Laser selective frequency filtering is currently performed using expensive, heavy, and bulky (millimeters in thickness) ceramic composite claddings around the laser rod, which limits the miniaturization and transportability of the laser. The cladding absorbs undesired spontaneous emissions and reflects the desired wavelength of the "pump" diode. As an improved alternative for the cladding on, say, a diode-pumped solid-state Nd:YAG laser rod, we investigate a spray-coated polymer composite cladding (micrometers in thickness). The polymer composite cladding is easier to process and lighter and has a much smaller volume vs. traditional ceramic composite claddings. The approach is demonstrated on spray-coated glass slides, where cubic samaria (Sm2O3) particles are used as the filler in the polymer composite cladding. The rationale for using samaria as the filler in the composite is its absorption near the laser spontaneous emission wavelength (i.e., 1064 nm) and high reflectivity at the incident pump wavelength (i.e., 808 nm). The addition of a second polymer composite layer loaded with alumina particles enables reduction of the samaria composite layer thickness. The Kubelka-Munk model is shown to successfully predict the experimentally measured optical performance of single and bilayer claddings, making it a reliable design tool for multilayer claddings.

Optimizing damage resistance and structural evolution in CaO-modified Li2O-Al2O3-B2O3-TiO2-P2O5 glass-ceramics

Aluminoborate glass, recognized for its remarkable crack resistance, presents significant potential as a cover material for portable electronic devices. Nevertheless, its relatively low hardness has been a limiting factor. This study synthesized a series of 11 Li2O-30 Al2O3-(55-x) B2O3-2 TiO2-2 P2O5-xCaO (wt%), with x varying from 0 to 10, employing the melt-cast method. The resultant glass-ceramics were produced via heat treatment at 590 °C for 2 h, followed by a systematic examination of their structural and mechanical properties. The investigation demonstrated that an increase in CaO content diminishes crystallization and induces a morphological transition in the crystalline phases from granular and short rod-like structures to lath-like formations, which subsequently impacts the coordination environment of Al and B atoms. With a CaO content of 2 %, the GC2 sample precipitated Li(Al7B4O17) and Li2AlB5O10 phases, achieving a compressive strength (CR) value of 15.0 N, a hardness of 7.51 GPa, and a fracture toughness of 1.50 MPa m0.5. This glass-ceramic exhibited optimal scratch resistance and visible light transmittance exceeding 85 %, underscoring its considerable promise for application as smartphone cover glass due to its impressive overall damage resistance.

Mathematical Study of a Double-Slope Passive Solar Distiller with Water Heater Condenser

In this article, the inevitable condensation losses from the back-side glass cover of a passive single-basin double-slope distiller (PSDD) were recovered in heating water inside a glass solar water heater (SWH) to produce hot water as an auxiliary product of the distiller. The transient thermal performance of the PSDD-SWH was mathematically modeled and compared to a conventional PSDD in actual weather circumstances. Compared to a conventional PSDD, the results revealed that the thermal efficiency of the PSDD-SWH increased by 18% to 83% during the day. In addition, increasing the water mass inside the water heater from 3kg to 18kg increased the thermal efficiency of the PSDD-SWH by about 50% despite decreasing the total distillate by less than 1%. Moreover, the thermal performance of the PSDD-SWH, in terms of distillate production, hot water temperature, and thermal efficiency boomed in hot climates with high solar irradiation and high ambient temperatures. Furthermore, insulating the glass covers of the PSDD-SWH during off-sun hours significantly enhanced the thermal performance of the PSDD-SWH.

Experimental Study on the Effects of Beeswax as Absorber for Solar Still

An experimental study on the effects of beeswax incorporated in the construction of the absorber for a solar still was conducted. As part of the study, two solar stills of the same geometry were constructed with the same water depth and volume. The one without a phase change material (PCM) was used as the control still, while the other with beeswax as a phase change material laid at the bottom of its basin to serve as an absorber was used as the experimental still. The experiments were conducted in the thermodynamic laboratory of JS Tarka University, Makurdi, Nigeria, between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm for two weeks. 16 litres of water were used for each still, corresponding to 100 mm depth. The stills were kept side by side and exposed to sunshine from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm for three days. Temperatures of the water at inlet and in the still were measured. HT-9815 digital thermocouple was used to determine the temperature of water in the basin and that of the inner glass cover. SM206 solar power meter was used to measure the amount of solar energy incident on the still’s collector. The results showed that the still with beeswax as phase change material (experimental still) has an improved thermal efficiency enhancement of 109.30% as compared to the still without a phase change material with a thermal efficiency enhancement of 86.1%. This implies that beeswax is a good phase change material for solar stills, and the use of beeswax should be encouraged as it is non-toxic and organic.

POLYAMIDE FLEXIBLE DENTURES – A BETTER OR WORSE STRATEGY

Background: Polyamide dentures have added advantages over the acrylic dentures in terms of esthetics, comfort and versatility to adapt to the undercut areas. However, the effect of flexibility of these dentures from the view of residual ridge resorption has always been obscure. The aim of this study is to compare the type of denture base with the distribution of masticatory forces by examining the changes on the alveolar mucosa in the histological picture before and after insertion of two widely used dentures. Materials and methods: A total of 20 participants were included in the study, among which 10 patients were allocated for acrylic removable partial dentures and 10 patients were allocated for polyamide flexible removable partial dentures. The patients were asked to rinse their mouth and cement spatula was used to collect the epithelial mucous cells noninvasively by scraping the crest of the residual alveolar ridge with light pressure in premolar-molar area both before insertion and 2 weeks after insertion of the removable partial dentures. The said swab was then smeared on a clean glass slide and fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol and was stained by Papanicolaou (PAP) stain. The PAP-stained smear was analyzed for the presence of keratinized cells and the number of keratinocytes was counted for both acrylic and polyamide denture groups. Results: The results show that both types of denture bases altered the alveolar mucosal keratinization but there was a significant difference in number of keratinized cells between all the three groups. Polyamide flexible partial dentures showed more ortho-keratinized epithelium, which favours better occlusal load distribution. Conclusion: The results concluded that there was decreased masticatory load on the residual alveolar ridge under polyamide denture group due to the flexibility of the denture base material compared to that of the acrylic denture group.

Prevalence of Entamoeba gingivalis Among Patients Attending Dental Clinics in Wasit Province

Gingivitis and periodontitis are two inflammatory illnesses that are also considered infectious diseases in the context of periodontal disease diagnosis, periodontitis is a widespread oral illness that affects people all over the world .The current study used the wet mount technique with physiological saline and Giemsa stain to ascertain the incidence of Entamoeba gingivalis among 30 subjects (15 men and 15 females). (73%), E. gingivalis was prevalent overall (21 - 30) year olds had the highest frequency of E. gingivalis (54.55%). Infection was highly significant in female (59%) than male (41%). The conclusion that periodontal disease has a higher prevalence of E. gingivalis. The presence of E. gingivalis in the oral cavity is interpreted as an indication of inadequate dental hygiene, even though it is not often linked to pathogenesis. It is important to emphasise that patients' oral hygiene practices are not up to scratch. They employ mostly ineffective oral cavity hygiene products.

Correlation between Assemblages A and B Giardia lamblia infection with melatonin, ghrelin, Hsp70 and TFF3 biomarkers in patients

Background: Giardiasis is considered one of the parasitic diseases affecting humans, caused by a flagellate protozoan known as Giardia lamblia. It is a common gastrointestinal pathogen that can lead to various clinical and other complications. Objective: Study aimed to diagnose infection with the G. lamblia in children aged (1-12 years) using a direct wet mount, and to determine Assemblages A and B Giardia lamblia by targeting the TPI gene using Nested-PCR, in addition to evaluating the relationship of infection of assemblages with (melatonin, ghrelin, Hsp70 and TFF3) using ELISA assay. Method: By examining 238 stool samples for children suffering from diarrhea and some intestinal symptoms visiting some hospitals in Salah al-Din Governorate. Results: 34 (14.2%) positive samples were recorded by microscopic examination. 100 fecal samples using the Nested-PCR, showed 60 (60%) positive samples for the G. lamblia, including 18 (30%) for the assemblage B, 31 (51.66%) samples for assemblage A, as well as 11 (18.33%) mixed infections of A+B. The study of biomarkers revealed a highly significant increase in the levels of (melatonin, ghrelin, Hsp70 and TFF3) in the serum of patients with mixed A + B infection, while the lowest average concentrations of biomarkers were recorded in children infected with group A. Conclusion: Direct microscopic examination of stool samples It has good sensitivity for detecting G. lamblia parasite, and the TPI gene targeted in Nested-PCR technology has high sensitivity and specificity for genotyping detection of the parasite. Group A is the most common among patient samples. Mixed infections (A+B) have the greatest effect.

Isolation and Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Recording of Hippocampal Microglia from Adult Mice.

Microglia are resident immune cells in the brain that interact with neurons to maintain the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Studies show that the microglial surface expresses potassium channels that regulate microglial activation, while abnormalities in these potassium channels can lead to neural diseases. Currently, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of microglia are mostly performed on cultured primary microglia from fetal or newborn mice due to difficulties in conducting electrophysiological evaluations on acutely isolated microglia. This study introduces an easy-to-follow protocol for isolating hippocampal microglia from adult mice and performing whole-cell patch-clamp recordings on the isolated cells. Briefly, the brain was removed from a mouse after decapitation, the hippocampus was dissected bilaterally, and microglia were isolated using an adult mouse brain dissociation kit. The microglia were then purified using a magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) method and seeded onto coverslips. Successful microglial isolation was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining with anti-CD11 and anti-Iba1 antibodies. A cover slip was placed in a recording chamber, and the whole-cell potassium currents of the acutely isolated microglia were recorded under voltage-clamp conditions.

Trichomonas vaginalis: comparison of primers for implementation as an in-house PCR in rural Vellore, South India

BackgroundTrichomonas vaginalis (TV) accounts for the highest burden of curable, non-viral sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Prevalence in India ranges from 0.4 to 27.4% in women and 0.0-5.6% in men. In 2015, the prevalence of TV among pregnant women of rural Vellore was 3.11% using Sekisui OSOM® Trichomonas test and culture methods. Molecular methods are the most sensitive, rapid diagnostic tool for Sexually Transmitted Infection’s (STI) albeit cost hinders implementation of commercial platforms. To determine a sensitive, sustainable molecular method, we compared three targets (Adhesin AP65, cytoskeleton Beta-tubulin BTUB 9/2 and TVK 3/7) with the highest published diagnostic accuracy against microscopy, culture and Real Time PCR (RT- PCR).Materials & methodsSix-hundred adult, sexually active women attending the Obstetrics-Gynaecology rural out-patient clinic the Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs (RUHSA) from July 2020 - February 2021 were enrolled. A vaginal lateral and posterior fornix specimen was inoculated, onsite, into Biomed InPouch® TV culture and smeared onto a slide for fluorescence microscopy using Acridine orange. A flocked nylon swab specimen for PCR was used to determine the sensitivities of the Adhesin AP65, cytoskeleton Beta-tubulin BTUB 9/2 and TVK 3/7 gene targets. Seegene Allplex™ STI Essential Assay, S.Korea was used to confirm TV positives.ResultsNine specimens (9/600, 1.5%) were positive for TV. There was a 100% correlation between Biomed InPouch TV® culture, PCR with TVK 3/7 and RT-PCR while a correlation of 66.6% with BTUB 9/2 and AP65 gene targets. Clinically, 77.7% (n = 7) presented with white-greenish discharge per vagina, 11% (n = 1) with infertility, 22.2% (n = 2) were asymptomatic. Eight of nine patients (88.9%) had co-infections with other bacterial STIs. Prevalence of TV coinfection with Neisseria gonorrhoea was 1.1%.ConclusionCurrent hospital-based prevalence of TV in rural Vellore was 1.5%. Repetitive DNA target TVK 3/7 was more sensitive than AP65 and BTUB 9/2 primers.

Experiments’ feasibility study of solar stills in Indonesia, using evaporator covers and cornerless solar collectors

Desalination is a pivotal method for purifying water, offering a reliable means to obtain clean, potable water. Its operational simplicity and utilization of solar energy render desalination a promising technology. In desalination, condensation is the final stage for collecting purified water. However, the persistent challenge of high evaporator glass temperatures significantly impacts the nucleation rate and subsequent condensate release. This research aims to enhance the efficiency of the desalination system by focusing on increasing the rate of condensate water collection. The methodology involves a seven-day direct testing period using a single slope model desalination device featuring dimensions of 1 m2 and an evaporator glass tilt angle of 35°. Solar energy is the primary energy source, absorbed by a collector comprising 3/4-inch diameter copper pipes (14 pipes, 1 m in length) designed without slope. The glass cover is insulated with Styrofoam covered by aluminum foil to mitigate heat ingress from the sun, thereby reducing the temperature of the inner glass surface and accelerating nucleation rates. The maximum water temperature in the evaporator reached 68.7 °C, with the system absorbing energy at a rate ranging from 1048.40 W/m2 to 289.19 W/m2. The energy efficiency of the desalination system was measured at 39.82 %. The highest freshwater production during testing reached 2.33 L/day, with a daily average of 1.52 L/day. Overall, the solar test results still have the potential to be utilized and continue to be developed due to low-cost materials that can overcome the clean water crisis, especially in remote areas.

Synthesis of trisaccharide antigens featuring colitose, abequose and fucose residues and assessment of antibody binding on antigen arrays

Deoxy-hexose sugars, such as rhamnose and quinovose, and the dideoxy-hexoses colitose, abequose, and tyvelose are highly antigenic given that they are absent from animal glycoconjugates. To investigate the specificity of antibodies towards structurally similar carbohydrate epitopes found in bacteria, we synthesized trisaccharides containing colitose, abequose, and fucose motifs. Each trisaccharide was designed with a spacer ending with a primary amino group. These trisaccharide constructs were immobilized on O-succinimide coated glass slides alongside bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) containing colitose, abequose, and fucose residues. We compared the recognition of the synthetic trisaccharides and natural LPS including structurally related epitopes by monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies targeting bacterial LPS. Additionally, we used arrays displaying the synthetic trisaccharides and natural LPS to assess the variability of IgA reactivity from breast milk samples towards the carbohydrate antigens. The results obtained underlined the cross-reactivity of polyclonal antibodies towards structurally related carbohydrate antigens and revealed a broad reactivity of breast milk-derived IgA towards the carbohydrate antigens tested. The significant cross-reactivity of antibodies towards structurally related LPS antigens may lead to false-positive detection of bacterial serotypes when used for diagnostic purposes.

Optimization In-vitro Evaluation and Scratch Wound Healing Assay of Hexacosane Topical Gel for Wound Healing.

The compounds hexocosane, a sterol hydrocarbon identified in the dichloromethane extract and isolated from marine sponges of the genus Agelas. Hexocosane possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, they promote cell proliferation and angiogenesis, facilitating tissue regeneration and repair. This multifaceted approach makes this secondary metabolite a promising candidate for developing advanced wound care therapies that effectively address both infection control and wound healing. On the basis of viscosity, in-vitro release, and skin retention, optimal gel formulations were developed with hexocosane (1%) to achieve the best results. A response surface methodology Box-Behnken design was applied on three factors and three levels [carbopol 940 (1, 1.25 and 1.5%), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) (1,1.5 and 1.2%), and propylene glycol (0–1–1.5% and 1–2%, respectively] using three factors and three levels. In order to assess the spreadability and viscosity, a glass slide and a Brookfield viscometer were used. An assay was conducted to determine how topical gel affects wound healing. The optimization study of the gel formulation, involving variations in adhesive polymer (Carbopol 940), release retarding polymer (HPMC K4M), and penetration enhancer (Surfactant), has identified three noteworthy formulations (F4, F8 & F14). Each formulation is characterized by specific attributes such as viscosity, in-vitro drug release, and skin retention. All samples were found to elicit significant wound healing efficacy as evidenced from the representative photomicrographs. The maximum efficacy was elicited by formulation (F4) with 100 mg drug at the time duration of 36 hours.