Separate Batches Research Articles

Construction and implementation of a laparoscopic skill training course based on a smartphone application and virtual reality

BackgroundTo develop a laparoscopic training course that combines a smartphone application (APP) and virtual reality (VR), and initially evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of its implementation.MethodsThe Exploring Laparoscopy (Ex-Lap) app was developed to meet training demands. The course was designed by integrating the app with a VR simulator (LapSim®) and animal organ perfusion simulators. From January 2021 to December 2023, 91 participants were enrolled in the study and then divided into 5 separate batches to undergo the first stage of the course. The performance of the participants was evaluated by rating scale, the overall Training and Assessment of Basic Laparoscopic Techniques (TABLT) scores, and pass rates. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 26.0, employing Kruskal-Wallis tests, Chi-squared analysis, and Fisher’s exact test, depending on the data type.ResultsThe Staged Training and Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (STALS) course was developed, consisting of three stages. The overall pass rates for the first stage across the five batches ranged from 85 to 100%, with no significant difference (P = 0.387). No significant differences were found in the scale scores or TABLT scores for the training tasks among students from different batches (all P > 0.05).ConclusionsThe STALS course is applicable in residency training, demonstrating satisfactory teaching effectiveness and replicability.

Identification of Potential Growth-Related Proteins in Chick Vitreous during Emmetropization Using SWATH-MS and Targeted-Based Proteomics (MRMHR).

The vitreous humor (VH) is a transparent gelatin-like substance that occupies two-thirds of the eyeball and undergoes the most significant changes during eye elongation. Quantitative proteomics on the normal growth period in the VH could provide new insights into understanding its progression mechanism in the early stages of myopia. In this study, a data-independent acquisition (SWATH-MS) was combined with targeted LC-ESI-MS/MS to identify and quantify the relative protein changes in the vitreous during the normal growth period (4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days old) in the chick model. Chicks were raised under normal growing conditions (12/12 h Dark/light cycle) for 28 days, where ocular measurements, including refractive and biometric measurements, were performed on days 4 (baseline), 7, 14, 21 and 28 (n = 6 chicks at each time point). Extracted vitreous proteins from individual animals were digested and pooled into a left eye pool and a right pool at each time point for protein analysis. The vitreous proteome for chicks was generated using an information-dependent acquisition (IDA) method by combining injections from individual time points. Using individual pool samples, SWATH-MS was employed to quantify proteins between each time point. DEPs were subsequently confirmed in separate batches of animals individually on random eyes (n = 4) using MRMHR between day 7 and day 14. Refraction and vitreous chamber depth (VCD) were found to be significantly changed (p < 0.05, n = 6 at each time point) during the period. A comprehensive vitreous protein ion library was built with 1576 non-redundant proteins (22987 distinct peptides) identified at a 1% false discovery rate (FDR). A total of 12 up-regulated and 26 down-regulated proteins were found across all time points compared to day 7 using SWATH-MS. Several DEPs, such as alpha-fetoprotein, the cadherin family group, neurocan, and reelin, involved in structural and growth-related pathways, were validated for the first time using MRMHR under this experimental condition. This study provided the first comprehensive spectral library of the vitreous for chicks during normal growth as well as a list of potential growth-related protein biomarker candidates using SWATH-MS and MRMHR during the emmetropization period.

Decoding depression: a comprehensive multi-cohort exploration of blood DNA methylation using machine learning and deep learning approaches

The causes of depression are complex, and the current diagnosis methods rely solely on psychiatric evaluations with no incorporation of laboratory biomarkers in clinical practices. We investigated the stability of blood DNA methylation depression signatures in six different populations using six public and two domestic cohorts (n = 1942) conducting mega-analysis and meta-analysis of the individual studies. We evaluated 12 machine learning and deep learning strategies for depression classification both in cross-validation (CV) and in hold-out tests using merged data from 8 separate batches, constructing models with both biased and unbiased feature selection. We found 1987 CpG sites related to depression in both mega- and meta-analysis at the nominal level, and the associated genes were nominally related to axon guidance and immune pathways based on enrichment analysis and eQTM data. Random forest classifiers achieved the highest performance (AUC 0.73 and 0.76) in CV and hold-out tests respectively on the batch-level processed data. In contrast, the methylation showed low predictive power (all AUCs < 0.57) for all classifiers in CV and no predictive power in hold-out tests when used with harmonized data. All models achieved significantly better performance (>14% gain in AUCs) with pre-selected features (selection bias), with some of the models (joint autoencoder-classifier) reaching AUCs of up to 0.91 in the final testing regardless of data preparation. Different algorithmic feature selection approaches may outperform limma, however, random forest models perform well regardless of the strategy. The results provide an overview over potential future biomarkers for depression and highlight many important methodological aspects for DNA methylation-based depression profiling including the use of machine learning strategies.

Utilization of non-concentrated banana pseudostem sap waste for converting to bioethanol: In vitro and in silico evidence

The abundantly available waste banana pseudostem fibers have attracted the paper and textile industries, however the stem-sap extracted during fiber processing remains underutilized. Although this sap comprising cellulosic sugars holds potential as a feedstock, its commercial viability in the renewable energy sector remains a challenge. Our study delves into this untapped resource by mechanically extracting sap from banana pseudostems and enhancing its reducing sugar content to approximately 35.5 g/L through acid hydrolysis and detoxification without concentrating the sap. Using separate batch fermentations with pentose and hexose fermenting strains such as Pichia stipitis NCIM 3499 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 2601, we achieved bioethanol production efficiencies of 67.5 % and 70.03 %, respectively. Yield and cost analyses confirmed the feasibility of this approach for industrial application in low-economy settings. Furthermore, gene-interaction network and functional enrichment analysis identified 63 key genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and ethanol conversion pathways within the fermenting organisms. Among these, the PGK1 gene and its direct interactors emerged as promising targets for future biotechnological enhancements aimed at boosting bioethanol production. This study not only underscores the renewable energy potential of unconcentrated banana pseudostem sap but also paves the way for innovative genetic interventions to optimize bioethanol yields.

Optimization of the extraction process for Shenshou Taiyi powder based on Box-Behnken experimental design, standard relation, and FAHP-CRITIC methods

BackgroundAncient classic prescription play a crucial role in the preservation and advancement of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories. They represent a significant milestone in the ongoing development and transmission of TCM knowledge and practices and are considered one of the breakthroughs in the development of TCM inheritance. In the process of developing ancient classic prescriptions, many problems may still arise in ensuring quality consistency between traditional methods and modern production processes, among which the extraction process poses major challenges. This paper introduces a practical approach extracting an ancient classic prescription using a modern extraction process. The technique is demonstrated through the study of the extraction process of Shenshou Taiyi powder (STP).MethodsThis study focuses on optimising the STP extraction process to ensure consistency in the quality of the product obtained through ancient and modern processes using the standard relation and fuzzy analytic hierarchical process (FAHP) and criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) method integrated weights combined with the Box-Behnken response surface test. Using the contents of rosmarinic acid, isoimperatorin, puerarin, as well as the extract yield and fingerprint similarity as evaluation indexes of STP, the Box-Behnken response surface method was employed to examine the varying extraction parameters, including water addition ratio, extraction duration, and number of extractions. The weighted coefficients for each parameter were calculated by combining the benchmark correlation and FAHP-CRITIC method, deriving a comprehensive score.ResultsThe optimal extraction process for STP consisted of a two extractions, each using at a tenfold quantity of water, performed for one hour. Process verification across three separate batches yielded a comprehensive score of 94.7, with a relative standard deviation of 0.76%.ConclusionsThe application of the Box-Behnken response surface method combined with standard relation and FAHP-CRITIC approach proved to be stable and feasible for optimising the extraction process of STP.

Activity-based detection of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in plant materials

BackgroundSince late 2019, fortification of ‘regular’ cannabis plant material with synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) has become a notable phenomenon on the drug market. As many SCRAs pose a higher health risk than genuine cannabis, recognizing SCRA-adulterated cannabis is important from a harm reduction perspective. However, this is not always an easy task as adulterated cannabis may only be distinguished from genuine cannabis by dedicated, often expensive and time-consuming analytical techniques. In addition, the dynamic nature of the SCRA market renders identification of fortified samples a challenging task. Therefore, we established and applied an in vitro cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) activity-based procedure to screen plant material for the presence of SCRAs.MethodsThe assay principle relies on the functional complementation of a split-nanoluciferase following recruitment of β-arrestin 2 to activated CB1. A straightforward sample preparation, encompassing methanolic extraction and dilution, was optimized for plant matrices, including cannabis, spiked with 5 µg/mg of the SCRA CP55,940.ResultsThe bioassay successfully detected all samples of a set (n = 24) of analytically confirmed authentic Spice products, additionally providing relevant information on the ‘strength’ of a preparation and whether different samples may have originated from separate batches or possibly the same production batch. Finally, the methodology was applied to assess the occurrence of SCRA adulteration in a large set (n = 252) of herbal materials collected at an international dance festival. This did not reveal any positives, i.e. there were no samples that yielded a relevant CB1 activation.ConclusionIn summary, we established SCRA screening of herbal materials as a new application for the activity-based CB1 bioassay. The simplicity of the sample preparation, the rapid results and the universal character of the bioassay render it an effective and future-proof tool for evaluating herbal materials for the presence of SCRAs, which is relevant in the context of harm reduction.

Formulation and characterization of Pyrazinamide loaded pegylated polypropylene imine dendrimer and its alteration in the pharmacokinetics

Abstract Current study aimed to build a dendrimer for tuberculosis treatment that was loaded with pyrazinamide. The medication pyrazinamide was loaded onto a PEGylated poly(propylene-imine) dendrimer. When it comes to tailored drug delivery, dendrimers are just plain awesome. Investigations into improving the drug loading capacity are being conducted on the free dendrimer, and the synthesised pyrazinamide loaded dendrimer. According to multiple studies, the core Ethylene Diamine (EDA)-PPI dendrimers of the ethylene diamine initiator can be effectively modified by PEGylation. This effort will increase therapeutic value and minimise changes in plasma concentration by carrying out drug transportation at a controlled rate. The therapeutic intervention for tuberculosis patients is enhanced by this feature. A pyrazinamide drug-loaded dendrimer was prepared in separate batches with varying concentrations; the optimal formulation was chosen and given to a rabbit, with the plasma concentration compared to that of the pure drug. Various pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and the optimized formulation showed excel in the pharmacokinetic parameters.

Effects of Breed on the Morphometric Parameters of Erythrocytes in Horses

Various factors have a distinct impact on the quantity and dimensions of red blood cells across diverse animal species. These factors encompass age, sex, elevation, time of year, and lineage. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of breed on the morphometric parameters of red blood cells in horses. To examine the impact of various horse breeds on the diameter, circumference, and surface area of red blood cells, blood samples were obtained from a total of 90 healthy horses. These horses belonged to three different breeds, including Arab Thoroughbred, English Thoroughbred, and Barbe. Each breed consisted of 30 individuals, with an equal distribution of males and females. The collected blood specimens were then divided into two separate batches for further analysis. The age range of all horses included in the study was between 5 and 12 years old. Smears were made and stained using the May-Grünwald Giemsa technique. The morphometric measurements were performed while using the OPTIKATM Vision Pro special software. The obtained results showed that there were no significant differences in the red blood cell diameters across different horse breeds. However, this factor appears to influence significantly both the circumference and surface area of erythrocytes. Specifically, the circumference and surface of Barbe red blood cells were highly smaller than both Arabian and English purebred horses. The present study demonstrated that the circumference and surface of red blood cells appear to be more indicative and representative in detecting variations in the erythrocyte morphometry between different horse breeds.

Theory and practice of inoculation for high-grade gray cast iron railway castin

JSC “Cheboksary Aggregate Plant” has mastered the production of high-strength gray cast iron "wedge friction" railway castings (grade SCH30) intended for freight wagon bogies. According to the casting's technical specifications, the presence of interdendritic graphite and cementite in the vertical and sloping walls of the casting is not allowed. However, in separate batches, interdendritic graphite and up to 10 % cementite were found in the controlled walls of the castings. To solve the problem of obtaining castings with a blemish-free microstructure, the iron modification technology was changed. Instead of ferrosilicon FS 75, a more effective composite dispersed inoculant was developed and implemented. The advantages of the latter, which consisted of chemically treated ultrafine modifier (USM) and a by-product of organosilane production (KSM), were theoretically substantiated. The advantages of the developed modifier over FS75 were confirmed by modeling the behavior of inoculant’s particles when filling the “wedge friction” cavities in the FLOW-3D program. USM and KSM particles were evenly distributed throughout the volume of the castings at all observed heights of the controlled casting walls. They served as graphite crystallization centers throughout the solidification time of the castings, ensuring the absence of blemishes in the castings. The introduction of the developed material into production allowed reducing the modifier consumption by 6.25 times, ensuring the absence of blemishes in the castings, achieving the required mechanical properties of the iron, and an economic effect of over 4 million rubles

Theory and practice of inoculation for high-grade gray cast iron railway casting.

JSC “Cheboksary Aggregate Plant” has mastered the production of high-strength gray cast iron "wedge friction" railway castings (grade SCH30) intended for freight wagon bogies. According to the casting's technical specifications, the presence of interdendritic graphite and cementite in the vertical and sloping walls of the casting is not allowed. However, in separate batches, interdendritic graphite and up to 10 % cementite were found in the controlled walls of the castings. To solve the problem of obtaining castings with a blemish-free microstructure, the iron modification technology was changed. Instead of ferrosilicon FS 75, a more effective composite dispersed inoculant was developed and implemented. The advantages of the latter, which consisted of chemically treated ultrafine modifier (USM) and a by-product of organosilane production (KSM), were theoretically substantiated. The advantages of the developed modifier over FS75 were confirmed by modeling the behavior of inoculant’s particles when filling the “wedge friction” cavities in the FLOW-3D program. USM and KSM particles were evenly distributed throughout the volume of the castings at all observed heights of the controlled casting walls. They served as graphite crystallization centers throughout the solidification time of the castings, ensuring the absence of blemishes in the castings. The introduction of the developed material into production allowed reducing the modifier consumption by 6.25 times, ensuring the absence of blemishes in the castings, achieving the required mechanical properties of the iron, and an economic effect of over 4 million rubles

Uncovering the nutraceutical and biorefinery applications of two different marine macroalgae Sargassum polycystum and Rosenvingeaintricata

The marine ecosystem provides resources for various food products and nutraceuticals with multiple benefits to human health. In this study, two underexploited seaweeds such as Sargassum polycystum (Sp) and Rosenvingea intricata (Ri) were used to investigate their biological potentials. The seaweeds underwent for washing and the washed water was examined to identify the bioactive compounds by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The fucoxanthin was extracted from both seaweeds using Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) with 100% of absolute ethanol and acetone, which resulted in higher fucoxanthin from unwashed Ri (0.8 ± 0.12 mg/g) and unwashed Sp (0.59 ± 0.03 mg/g). Further, the remnant biomass of both washed and unwashed forms was used for the fucoidan extraction by employing UAE and Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE). Among these, the MAE process had yielded 1.86 folds higher fucoidan after fucoxanthin extraction from unwashed Sp compared to the washed. Finally, the relic seaweed residue of Sp underwent separate hydrolysis and batch fermentation (SHF) for the production of bioethanol, which was quantified by GC-MS. Thus, this study suggests that the entire biomass of seaweed would be a plausible feedstock for producing bioproducts.

Clinopyroxenite Xenoliths Record Magma Transport and Crystallization in the Middle and Upper Crust: A Case Study from the Rockeskyllerkopf Volcanic Complex, West Eifel, Germany

Abstract Clinopyroxenite xenoliths comprising cumulus clinopyroxene ± amphibole together with intercumulus phlogopite ± olivine ± apatite ± titanite form a large part of the xenolith load in the oldest deposits of the Rockeskyllerkopf Volcanic Complex (RVC) in the West Eifel volcanic field. The xenoliths also contain xenocrysts of olivine and clinopyroxene derived from mantle peridotite and clinopyroxene from lower crustal granulite. The clinopyroxenite xenoliths are divided into five groups on the basis of their modal mineralogy and mineral compositions. Groups 1 to 4 define a continuous compositional trend indicative of fractionation of a mafic alkaline magma. Group 5 xenoliths are compositionally distinct and have been tentatively linked to high pressure crystallization of phonolitic magma within the RVC system. Thermobarometry of the group 1 to 4 xenoliths indicates that they crystallized between 1 and 4 kilobars, equivalent to a depth of 4 to 14 km. Group 1 to 3 xenoliths all crystallized at between 1050°C and 1150°C, whereas the amphibole-rich group 4 xenoliths give temperature estimates of ~900°C. The clinopyroxenites share a common parent magma with clinopyroxene–phlogopite veins found in subcontinental lithospheric mantle xenoliths. However, the vein forming mama was richer in incompatible elements, in particular Zr and Hf and is interpreted to be an early formed batch of magma with the clinopyroxenites crystallizing from magma derived from the same mantle, which had been depleted by the earlier phase of melting. Intrusion of magma began around 155 ky prior to the eruption of the RVC. Fe–Mg interdiffusion profiles in zoned clinopyroxene show that the magma that formed the xenoliths was present in the crust for up to 28 ky prior to the eruption. However, most samples give interdiffusion times between 1.5 and 9.9 ky. Based on xenocryst residence times and the calculated P–T conditions for clinopyroxene, there were at least seven separate batches of magma emplaced below Rockeskyllerkopf, probably as sills.

Abstract 3454: Cell-free DNA methylation and fragmentomic signatures identify tissue damage and predict cancer risk

Abstract Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) epigenetic and fragmentomic profiling has emerged as prominent non-invasive approaches for early cancer detection and subtyping. However, owing to difficulties in observing the early development of human malignancies, most cancer biomarker and evolution studies to date have primarily examined biologics following a diagnosis. Utilizing cfDNA as a screening tool for early disease detection requires assessment of blood plasma samples collected from asymptomatic individuals prior to the diagnosis of cancers. Here, we leverage the Ontario Health Study (OHS), a prospective longitudinal population cohort, to assess cfDNA profiles in blood plasma collected from participants that developed breast (n=476), prostate (n=342) and pancreatic (n=32) cancers throughout the study follow up time between 2009 and 2019. We performed cell-free methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and high-throughput sequencing (cfMeDIP-seq) on baseline plasma samples from incident cancer cases up to eight years prior to diagnosis, in addition to matched controls (n=404) with no history of cancer through follow-up. Genome-wide plasma cfDNA differential methylation analysis revealed significantly hypermethylated regions, particularly among CpG island and shore regions, were predictive of early breast cancers, and overlapped hypermethylated regions in solid cancer tissues relative to adjacent normal tissues and peripheral blood leukocytes. Using a repeated cross-validation strategy we found that as few as 200 hypermethylated regions can identify individuals with breast cancer in blood up to seven years prior to diagnosis among discovery set samples (AUC=0.725) and are highly generalizable to samples processed in separate batches (AUC = 0.650). Remarkably, integrating biomarker hypermethylated regions with fragmentomic features including fragment length and 5’ tetranucleotide motif proportions further increased accuracy for detecting individuals with early prostate cancers (AUC=0.804). In addition, we observed shared genome-wide cfDNA methylome changes associated with aging and heavy alcohol consumption in cfDNA. We identified increased shedding of tissue-specific methylation markers from liver and pancreatic tissue among individuals consuming more than three drinks a week relative to non-drinkers, reflective of potential signatures of tissue damage. Citation Format: Nicholas Cheng, Kimberly Skead, Tom Oullette, Scott Bratman, Daniel De Carvalho, David Soave, Philip Awadalla. Cell-free DNA methylation and fragmentomic signatures identify tissue damage and predict cancer risk [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 3454.

Sorption of pharmaceuticals to foam and aerobic granular sludge with different morphologies

In biological wastewater treatment, the sorption process is an important removal pathway of organic micropollutants from the aqueous phase. Beyond the conventional sorption to biomass and particulate matter, organic molecules can also partition to gas bubbles commonly present in aerated biological processes. This study investigated the partitioning behavior of 21 selected pharmaceuticals to two types of aerobic granular sludge, and the foam generated by aeration. Batch sorption experiments were performed with biologically inactive granules of controlled diameters (0.5–1, 1–2, and >2 mm). Removal during sorption tests was observed for four positively charged micropollutants (sertraline, citalopram, clarithromycin, and erythromycin), four neutral compounds (levonorgestrel, estradiol, ethinylestradiol, and ketoconazole), and one negatively charged pharmaceutical (losartan). This highlights the importance of electrostatic interactions and lipophilic affinity with the solids. For some compounds, the removal increased with time, suggesting that sorption in thick biofilm is limited by molecular diffusion into the biofilm matrix. Furthermore, partitioning of pharmaceuticals to aeration-induced foam was confirmed in separate batch tests. Clarithromycin, erythromycin, ketoconazole, losartan, levonorgestrel, and ethinylestradiol exhibited concentrations in the foam 1.0–5.3 times higher than the initial test values, indicating potential adsorption at the liquid/gas interface for these compounds.

Hair cortisol concentration in finishing pigs on commercial farms: variability between pigs, batches, and farms.

Hair cortisol is a stress indicator and could be used to assess the pigs' exposure to stressors in the weeks/months prior to non-invasive hair sampling. The main aim of this study was to describe the hair cortisol concentration (HCC) variability between individuals within a batch, between farms and between batches within a farm. The secondary aim was to determine how the number of sampled pigs influences the characterization of HCC within a batch. Twenty farrow-to-finish pig farms were recruited considering the diversity of their management practices and health status (data collected). Hair was sampled in two separate batches, 8 months apart. The necks of 24 finishing pigs were clipped per batch the week prior to slaughter. To describe the variability in HCC, an analysis of the variance model was run with three explanatory variables (batch, farm and their interaction). To identify farm clusters, a principal component analysis followed by a hierarchical clustering was carried out with four active variables (means and standard deviations of the two batches per farm) and 17 supplementary variables (management practices, herd health data). We determined how the number of sampled pigs influenced the characterization of HCC within a batch by selecting subsamples of the results. HCC ranged from 0.4 to 121.6 pg/mg, with a mean of 25.9 ± 16.2 pg/mg. The variability in HCC was mainly explained by differences between pigs (57%), then between farms (24%), between batches within the same farm (16%) and between batches (3%). Three clusters of farms were identified: low homogeneous concentrations (n = 3 farms), heterogeneous concentrations with either higher (n = 7) or lower (n = 10) HCC in batch 2 than in batch 1. The diversity of management practices and health statuses allowed to discuss hypotheses explaining the HCC variations observed. We highlighted the need to sample more than 24 pigs to characterize HCC in a pig batch. HCC differences between batches on six farms suggest sampling pigs in more than one batch to describe the HCC at the farm level. HCC variations described here confirm the need to study its links with exposure of pigs to stressors.

Physiomimetic Fluidic Culture Platform on Microwell-Patterned Porous Collagen Scaffold for Human Pancreatic Islets.

Pancreatic islet transplantation is one of the clinical options for certain types of diabetes. However, difficulty in maintaining islets prior to transplantation limits the clinical expansion of islet transplantations. Our study introduces a dynamic culture platform developed specifically for primary human islets by mimicking the physiological microenvironment, including tissue fluidics and extracellular matrix support. We engineered the dynamic culture system by incorporating our distinctive microwell-patterned porous collagen scaffolds for loading isolated human islets, enabling vertical medium flow through the scaffolds. The dynamic culture system featured four 12 mm diameter islet culture chambers, each capable of accommodating 500 islet equivalents (IEQ) per chamber. This configuration calculates > five-fold higher seeding density than the conventional islet culture in flasks prior to the clinical transplantations (442 vs 86 IEQ/cm2). We tested our culture platform with three separate batches of human islets isolated from deceased donors for an extended period of 2 weeks, exceeding the limits of conventional culture methods for preserving islet quality. Static cultures served as controls. The computational simulation revealed that the dynamic culture reduced the islet volume exposed to the lethal hypoxia (< 10 mmHg) to ~1/3 of the static culture. Dynamic culture ameliorated the morphological islet degradation in long-term culture and maintained islet viability, with reduced expressions of hypoxia markers. Furthermore, dynamic culture maintained the islet metabolism and insulin-secreting function over static culture in a long-term culture. Collectively, the physiological microenvironment-mimetic culture platform supported the viability and quality of isolated human islets at high-seeding density. Such a platform has a high potential for broad applications in cell therapies and tissue engineering, including extended islet culture prior to clinical islet transplantations and extended culture of stem cell-derived islets for maturation.

Exploring the influence of garlic on microbial diversity and metabolite dynamics during kimchi fermentation

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a key ingredient in Korean cuisine, particularly in the preparation of kimchi, contributing to its flavor and taste. Garlic has been a potential resource for lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in kimchi. However, the mechanism by which it influences microbial diversity and metabolite production is unclear. This study investigated the effect of garlic on the bacterial composition of and metabolite changes in kimchi. To achieve this, four separate batches of kimchi were prepared with varying garlic concentrations (w/w): 0 %, 1 %, 2 %, and 4 %, and the bacterial communities and metabolite production were monitored. In the early stages of fermentation, the count of LAB, operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and Shannon index increased linearly with the increase in garlic content. This indicated that garlic is a rich resource and contributes to the diversity of LAB during kimchi fermentation. Compared with the kimchi samples with a lower garlic content, those with a high garlic content (≥2 %) exhibited increased abundance of Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc as well as noticeable differences in functional diversity, including carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolisms. Correlation analysis between sugars, organic acids, and predominant LAB in the garlic-containing kimchi samples suggested that in kimchi samples with high garlic content, LAB played a significant role in the fermentation process by metabolizing sugars and producing organic acids. Overall, this study demonstrated that the addition of garlic has a positive impact on the bacterial diversity and metabolite production during kimchi fermentation, potentially affecting the fermentation process and flavor profile of kimchi.

Effect of spraying Benzyl adenine (BA) and adding nitrogen fertilizer on yield of Avena sativa L.

The field experiment was conducted in the second agricultural research station located in the Al-Bandar area, which is affiliated with the College of Agriculture at Al-Muthanna University. This Study was conducted during the winter season 2022-2023 was conducted during the 2022-2023 winter agricultural season. The experiment investigated the relationship between two factors. The first factor is nitrogen, which was applied at four distinct four levels (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha-1). After emergence, during the elongation stage, and at the Booting stage, nitrogen was applied in three separate batches. Benzyl adenine is the second factor examined in this study. Four Different concentrations of benzyl adenine were applied to the plant at 0, 100, 150, and 200 mg L-1. The benzyl adenine was applied in two Different concentration, with the first batch being applied during the elongation phase and the second batch being applied during the Booting phase. The application consisted of completely saturating the plant with a spray. The experiment was carried out with randomized complete block design using split plot with three replicates. The Main plots were sprayed with varied concentrations of benzyl adenine, while the Sub- plots received varying levels of nitrogen fertilization. The results showed Significant differences in the Nitrogen application, especially in the Significant of 120 kgN.ha-1 In the following characteristics (number of grains Per panicle, weight of 1,000 grains, grains yield, biological yield), it gave averages of 105.6 grains panicle-1 , 38.36 g, 6.27 ton ha-1, 25.41 ton ha-1), and at 40 kg N ha-1, it was greater than the number of panicle of 429.8 m2. The results also indicated significant effect in the spraying of Benzyl adenine and the highest average treatment of 200 mg L-1 (1,000 grain weight) and gave an average of 37.68 g The interaction between factors under study showed the combination (120 kg N ha-1 x 200 mg L-1 BA) gave averages of 41.49 g in grain weight.

Bayesian Reliability Analysis of the Enhanced Multimission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) have been used as power sources for several space missions, including the multimission RTG (MMRTG) in NASA’s recent Mars Curiosity and Perseverance rovers. The enhanced MMRTG (eMMRTG) design is an MMRTG retrofitted with advanced skutterudite thermoelectric couples to improve efficiency and power output over time. The eMMRTG’s predicted reliability over the mission duration is influenced by the uncertainty in the physics parameters governing its performance. We use a Bayesian approach to account for two types of uncertainty: epistemic and aleatory. The reliability analysis has two steps: 1) uncertainty quantification from experimental data for key physics parameters, and 2) uncertainty propagation through a computational RTG life performance prediction. In particular, we use hierarchical models to separate specimen-to-specimen uncertainty and also to model the separate manufacturing batches of thermoelectric couples loaded into the eMMRTG. We use a secondary probability method to predict reliability with epistemic uncertainty intervals for the eMMRTG system at 10,000 h for which recent data are available. We show how reliability and uncertainty intervals depend on hypothetical power requirements at 10,000 h. The approach is generally applicable when experimental data and computer simulation are used to predict the reliability of a new technology.

Synthesis and characterization of Al-AlN composite

In the present work, Al-AlN metal matrix composite is synthesized by liquid metallurgy route. AlN particles are difficult to wet by molten Al because of their sinking tendency due to higher specific gravity. To retain them in a matrix for more time, it is attempted to add sintered powder compacts of Al and AlN into the Al melt at 1173 K using the vortex method. For the conceptual interfacial study of matrix and reinforcement, separate batches of Al-AlN composites with and without Mg are synthesized. The angle formed by particulate with matrix was studied to understand the bonding between them. Interfacial angle measurement indicates the improvement in the bonding of AlN particulates in Al matrix. Hardness is improved by 52% and specific wear rate reduced by 37% for Mg-modified Al-AlN composite than unmodified Al-AlN.