Traditional Washing Research Articles

Research on intelligent vibration damping base of washing machine based on a stiffness-variable magnetorheological elastomer

Traditional washing machine vibration-damping bases have a fixed stiffness, which can lead to structural resonance when the motor’s excitation frequency aligns with the machine’s inherent vibration frequency during the washing and spinning processes. This not only amplifies the noise caused by vibrations but also accelerates the wear and tear of the internal components. In this study, a pioneering approach has been introduced, developing an intelligent vibration-damping base for drum washing machines based on the dynamics of a mass-spring-damped single-degree-of-freedom system. This innovative base is designed with variable stiffness magnetorheological elastomer, utilizing the dynamics of the mass-spring-damped system to adaptively counteract vibrations. A vibration transmission rate curve specific to drum washing machines has been derived, and an intelligent control strategy for the drum washing machine’s vibration-damping base has been proposed. Dynamic testing of the drum washing machine’s vibration-damping base was conducted to verify the effectiveness of the intelligent damping base. The intelligent damping base addresses the unavoidable low-frequency resonance issues of traditional passive damping bases in washing machines and overcomes the drawback that the performance parameters of traditional passive isolation structures cannot be changed once set, providing a new direction for the damping of household appliances.

Gas-Phase Regeneration of Metal-Poisoned V2O5-WO3/TiO2 NH3-SCR Catalysts via a Masking and Reconstruction Strategy.

Renewing metal-poisoned NH3-SCR catalysts holds great potential for mitigating environmental pollution and utilizing hazardous wastes simultaneously. Ionic compounds containing heavy metals often exhibit limited solubility due to their high polarizability, making traditional washing techniques ineffective in removing heavy metal poisons. This study presents a gas-based method for regenerating heavy-metal-poisoned V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalysts employed in NH3-SCR techniques. The regeneration is achieved by employing a masking and reconstruction strategy, which involves the in situ formation of NO2 to mediate the production of SO3. This enables the effective bonding of Pb and triggers the reconstruction of active VOx sites. In situ spectroscopy confirms that the sulfation of PbO restores acidity, while the occupied effect resulting from the sulfation of TiO2 promotes the formation of more polymeric VOx species. Consequently, the regenerated catalyst exhibits enhanced activity and superior resistance to metal poisons compared with the fresh catalyst. The innovative method offers a promising solution for extending the lifespan of poisoned catalysts, reducing waste generation, and enhancing the efficiency of NH3-SCR systems.

Quality of edible bird’s nest treated by keratinolytic enzymes-based cleaning solution

Edible bird's nest (EBN) is one of the luxury foods that is widely used as a healthy food due to its nutritional value and therapeutic benefits. The traditional EBN washing process causes a reduction in weight and nutrient content and an increase in pollutants due to the use of hydrogen peroxide. An exploratory observation method was used to examine the quality of EBN from Collocalia fuciphaga before and after washing using a washing solution based on keratinolytic enzymes. There are four stages of EBN cleaning i.e. cleaning by tap water, ethanol solution, enzyme solution at room temperature and 50oC and drying at 40oC for 42 hrs. A total of 60 EBN (unclean, n = 30) and clean, n = 30) were analyzed using the AOAC method. The mineral content of Ca, Fe, K and Mg using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) except that P was measured by spectrophotometer. A carbohydrate estimation kit was used to measure glycoprotein content and the amino acid content was determined using the HPLC method. Evaluation of the cleanliness was carried out using a scoring system by semi-trained panelists. The results obtained showed that the clean EBNs were slightly yellowish-white in color, and the cleanliness of EBN before and after cleaning increased from 2.35 to 3.84. Clean EBN protein content decreased by 7.2% while total amino acids decreased from 38.51% to 32.71%. Clean EBN contains eight essential amino acids of 17.93% with high levels of leucine, valine, arginine, and threonine (2.42-2.96%). EBN's clean ash content increased from 3.7% to 7.8%. Carbohydrate content and iron in clean EBN were 39.19±0.76% and 14.35 mg/100 g dry matter, respectively. The high levels of carbohydrates and iron appear to be good sources of glycoprotein to support health and have the potential as an alternative source of iron for people with anemia. The stepwise EBN washing method using tapwater, ethanol and a washing solution based on keratinolytic enzymes can be applied to reduce weight loss and improve the quality of EBN.

Design and construction of equipment for the elimination of saponin in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd): Performance tests with Amarillo Marangani variety

Quinoa is a very important grain for human nutrition; In recent years, several research studies have addressed its nutritional use; However, one of its main weaknesses is its saponin content, which is an anti-nutrient and has a bitter taste. The debittering process involves the principle of recirculation of large quantities of water, with the purpose of reducing the consumption of this substance, it is important to develop methodologies and equipment that improve the efficiency of these traditional washing methods and reduce the work of operators and processors with the intention of making it less costly. The objective of the present research work was to design and build a quinoa de- saponifier , Amarillo Maranganí variety, to evaluate the effect of washing time (5, 10 and 15 min) and the flow of water recirculated by pumping (15, 30 and 45 L/min), on the elimination of saponin to acceptable commercial levels. The results indicated that the highest saponin extraction was achieved when using washing times of 5 min with water flow rates of 15 L/min, and 51.75 % of the initial saponin content was eliminated. In general, it is stated that increasing the flow rate of the washing water reduces the extraction efficiency, but performing a second washing significantly reduces the extraction, the equipment developed presents promising characteristics for application in the industry.

Abstract 7023: Application of exclusive liquid repellency for low input CUT&Tag histone analyses in prostate cancer spheroids

Abstract Introduction/Background: Epigenetic alterations, including histone modifications and DNA methylation, drive treatment resistance and lethal prostate cancer. However, epigenetic assays typically require thousands of cells and are difficult to scale for patient tumor biopsies. While identifying these alterations is possible in cell lines, these analytes are more difficult to follow in clinical settings. Patient-derived organoids have emerged as viable intermediaries to investigate the changing chromatin landscape during the progression toward treatment-emergent prostate cancer. This report seeks to adapt the Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation (CUT&Tag) assay for use on a microfluidic technology to eliminate cell loss associated with complex, multi-step epigenetic assays to facilitate analysis of low input prostate cancer spheroids. Methods: The Oil Immersed Lossless Total Analysis System (OIL-TAS) is an exclusive liquid repellency (ELR) platform that passes magnetic bead-bound analytes through immiscible phases to separate and extract analytes of interest while eliminating traditional centrifugation and wash steps that lead to sample loss. This platform enables adaptation of complex molecular assays such as CUT&Tag for lossless sample manipulation. We focus on the analysis of histone modifications in rare cells utilizing antibodies for H3K27 acetylation and methylation. Comparison of LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines harvested from either 2D cell culture or 3D spheroids was performed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of this integrated assay. Results: The macroscale CUT&Tag assay has been performed with inputs of 25,000 nuclei from LNCaP spheroids with greater yields than similar inputs from 2D LNCaP cell culture. Yield increases have also been seen when performing the assay with inputs <10,000 nuclei in microscale on the OIL-TAS relative to the macroscale. Utilizing the OIL-TAS platform with spheroid inputs will allow for more sensitive investigation of histone modifications. Conclusions: Integration of 3D, humanized models of tumor growth into the CUT&Tag assay will enable discovery of differential epigenetic regulation within patient-derived organoids or complex co-culture studies. Establishing baseline epigenetic landscapes among these intermediary models will enable a new platform for drug testing. Utilization of the OIL-TAS platform will allow for miniaturization of the assay down to 1,000 cell inputs and enable multiparametric RNA-seq, EM-seq, and CUT&Tag-seq of the same patient samples for longitudinal study. Citation Format: Zachary J. Kauffman, Kevin Koesser, Kyle T. Helzer, Jamie M. Sperger, Marina N. Sharifi, Chao Li, Erika Heninger, Xavier Hazelberg, Cole Gilsdorf, Shuang G. Zhao, Duane S. Juang, David J. Beebe, Joshua M. Lang. Application of exclusive liquid repellency for low input CUT&Tag histone analyses in prostate cancer spheroids [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 7023.

Washing performance of microbubbles on porous media

The backwashing effect of filter materials in oilfield wastewater treatment processes is essential for the efficient long-cycle operation of equipment and the reduction of hazardous waste. Recently, there has been growing interest in microbubble cleaning technology due to its exceptional cleaning efficiency for porous particles. However, the mechanism of microbubble-pore interaction and its corresponding cleaning effects remain unclear. This study investigated the performance of microbubbles in removing petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants from walnut shells, comparing them with traditional water washing and state-of-the-art ultrasound methods. Microbubble cleaning proved most efficient in removing low-viscosity petroleum hydrocarbons, followed by ultrasonic waves, both of which showed significantly higher efficacy compared to traditional water washing. When treating petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants with high viscosity, microbubble cleaning was more effective than clear water but slightly less effective than the ultrasonic wave method. Based on the analysis of clogging phenomena observed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the mechanism of microbubble cleaning within porous media was unveiled. Microbubbles were found to be proficient at dislodging contaminants adsorbed within secondary pores through collision and the force generated by liquid jets, as well as penetrating the small pores to eliminate pollutants from these inner spaces. Finally, an economic cost analysis of the various cleaning methods revealed that the microbubble approach is a cost-effective choice for the removal of light oil or the situations where a relatively lower removal efficiency for heavier oils is acceptable.

Penetration and spreading of graphene oxide ink in rice paper enabling its unique expressiveness in Chinese paintings

Abstract In Chinese paintings, the marriage of rice paper and ink is the soul of this art. Ink possesses a highly distinctive “color” expressiveness. By employing ink, various shades of black and diverse color effects can be portrayed, making the image more rich, vibrant, and three-dimensional on a rice paper. However, when used in traditional ink wash painting, the flow and penetration of conventional ink is difficult to control, and its carbon black particles make it a challenge to achieve multiple transparent gradients. Considering the water solubility and two-dimensional nanostructure of graphene oxide (GO), the authors of this paper has developed and proposed the use of water-based GO ink for Chinese ink wash painting, aiming to endow it with new aesthetic forms and unique expressive potentials.

The effect of traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing combined with Western medical care on resting pain in elderly males with lower extremity arterial occlusion

The effect of traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing combined with Western medical care on resting pain in elderly males with lower extremity arterial occlusion

A study of new washing machine for the care of delicate garments by testing on wool and silk fabrics

There is an increasing demand for gentle laundry and care of the delicate and high-end garments for maintaining their performance and appearance during the use. A tapping washing system was designed for the care of delicate garments. Adjustable and steady up-down tapping force was applied on fabrics or garments during laundry through the centric slider-crank mechanism with control parameters, such as the magnitude and frequency of the tapping force, washing temperature and duration, etc. By comparing with traditional drum rotation washing on wool and silk fabrics, the tapping washing method could prevent felting shrinkage of wool fabrics and crease of silk fabrics, and maintain their good appearance, although the washing efficiency for the removal of soils from garments needs to be further explored. The newly designed prototype of the tapping washing device could be the foundation for future research on gentle washing without the movement of fabrics but circulation of detergent washing solution during tapping action on the fabrics.

My Opinion on Urban Figure Ink Painting

There are skillful and clumsy works, and ancient and modern paintings. Since the development of ink and wash figure painting, there have been many themes of ancient costumes, ethnic minorities, and drama, but there are few themes of urban characters. It seems that there are special reasons for this. Traditional Chinese ink and wash character themes generally focus on ancient costumes, with long and complex clothing patterns. Many Chinese character painters nowadays depict a large number of Tibetan people, dance figures, or new ladies. The characters have long clothing patterns and lines, and their shapes are also closer to traditional ancient costume character costumes. Therefore, it is relatively easy to graft traditional pen and ink programs onto the above-mentioned themes, which is quite lazy in the current innovation of ink characters. In the process of socialization today, urban culture is an important representation of modern culture. If we continue to draw contemporary urban characters in a conservative traditional ink style, it will feel out of place. The theme of urban figures is a major challenge and opportunity in the process of Chinese figure painting. How to use more vivid language to depict urban characters is an important topic that contemporary Chinese character painters need to ponder deeply.

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine fumigation and washing combined with fine nursing on postoperative pain of patients with hemorrhoids

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine fumigation and washing combined with fine nursing on postoperative pain of patients with hemorrhoids

Evaluation of Chloride Extraction Rates from Copper Compounds Under Subcritical Conditions

ABSTRACT This paper presents a critical review of the reasons behind the initiation of this project to find a more sustainable, cost efficient, and safer form of chloride extraction that would result in stabilisation of archaeological copper and its alloys with tin and zinc. The imperative has become increasingly strident with cutbacks in funding for museum conservation facilities and with the reduction in staff, leaving less time for routine analyses of traditional immersive washing treatments that could take several years to effect. Owing to the faster oxidation and reduction kinetics of copper, compared with tin and zinc ions, the problems of uncontrolled corrosion of copper alloys in a chloride-rich environment have led to unacceptable levels of decay in heritage collection items. This study looked at the chloride extraction rates under subcritical conditions for both primary and secondary chloride-rich mineral species nantokite, clinoatacamite, and atacamite and determined the impact of changing the solution pH from 8 to 10, while also addressing the impact of temperature. The range of temperatures between 130 and 230°C was assessed at 50°C intervals at both levels of acidity of the leaching liquors. For the nantokite treatment, the formation of a cuprite patina which replaced the waxy-grey initial corrosion products was regarded as a bonus. The nature of the patina and changes in surface textures resulting from the treatment are critically reviewed and a series of recommendations for future work are included in the conclusion.

Alkaline electrolyzed water AS a potential green degreaser for meat processing stainless steel surface

AbstractThe meat industry faces significant challenges regarding removing fat, oil, and grease (FOG) residues from meat processing stainless steel surfaces, compounded by limited resources and inadequate cleaning knowledge. As an innovative solution to these difficulties, alkaline electrolyzed water (AlEW), a sustainable green degreaser, is proposed to replace the traditional alkaline wash. AlEW is produced through two–chamber (membrane) electrolysis at the cathode. AlEW with a strong reducing potential (−800 to −900 mV), high pH (10.0–11.5), and high dissolved oxygen are used to remove FOG residues from meat processing stainless steel surfaces. Our comprehensive analysis highlights the advantages of AlEW as a sustainable alternative to conventional degreasers for the meat industry, including ease of use, no storage requirements, and reduced costs for wastewater treatment. Our findings underscore AlEW's potential to improve the meat industry's quality, safety, and environmental sustainability. This review contributes to ongoing discussions about sustainable food industry solutions, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development goals. In conclusion, AlEW is a promising alternative to conventional degreasers, advancing sustainability in the meat industry.Practical ApplicationsThis research introduces an innovative solution to a significant challenge in the meat processing industry—effective removal of fat, oil, and grease residues from equipment surfaces. Traditional methods involving costly and environmentally harmful chemicals have drawbacks. Our study proposes the use of alkaline electrolyzed water (AlEW) as a green degreaser. AlEW, generated by passing electric current through saltwater, exhibits high alkalinity that dissolves residues efficiently. This eco‐friendly approach not only ensures thorough cleaning but also reduces costs and addresses environmental concerns. By offering a sustainable and cost‐effective alternative, AlEW has the potential to revolutionize cleaning practices in the meat industry, enhancing food safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability. This advancement holds promise for wider adoption, benefiting both producers and consumers alike.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Non-Invasive Acupoint Therapy as an Approach to Urinary Itching Control in Dialysis Patients

Uremic pruritus, one of the most painful symptoms experienced by patients receiving dialysis, seriously affects patient quality of life and health, causes physical and mental damage, and increases hospitalization and mortality rates. Multi-modal therapies with evidence-based healthcare are needed to provide patients receiving dialysis with more convenient and feasible medical resources. Relevant domestic and international research on the effectiveness and methods of non-invasive acupoint therapy in improving uremic pruritus in dialysis patients was reviewed. Discussing related knowledge can facilitate the evidence-based use of non-invasive acupoint therapy in clinical practice by clinical medical personnel. Based on the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) systematic literature review and integrated analysis method, a keyword search of related articles published before September 2023 was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Airiti Library, Taiwan Master and Doctoral Dissertation System, Chinese Journal Full-text Database and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform. In 2019, the second version of the Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Controlled Trials was used to evaluate research quality, after which RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.0 suite software were used for meta-analysis. Nine of the 112 articles selected, including 10 sets of data and 597 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicate non-invasive acupoint therapy significantly reduces the degree of uremic pruritus (synthetic effect size = -1.30, 95% confidence interval [-1.67, -0.93], p < .00001). Because the heterogeneity test I² = 76%, showed a high degree of heterogeneity, a subgroup analysis was performed, showing that acupoint massage combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing, a general simple itching assessment scale, and the Chinese region achieved better effect sizes. Non-invasive acupoint therapy is easy to implement, inexpensive, non-invasive, and associated with few side effects. The authors hope these findings may increase the awareness and understanding of patients with dialysis regarding the practical operation techniques of itching acupoints. According to the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis, massage of the lung and endocrine acupoints at ST-6, SP-10, and LI-11 as well as the relevant points on the ear may be most effective in achieving urinary itching relief. Also, acupoint massage combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation, ST-6 far-infrared irradiation, or LI11 transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation can further relieve uremic pruritus in this patient population. Based on the results, acupoint massage combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing is a complementary method of treatment for uremic pruritus that may be recommended to patients in the future.

Abstract A057: Microscale analysis of histone modifications in rare cell populations in prostate cancer

Abstract Pre-clinical models have identified diverse epigenetic alterations in prostate cancer that associate with treatment resistance and may also be therapeutic targets. However, these assays typically require thousands of cells and are difficult to scale for patient tumor biopsies. This report seeks to adapt the Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation (CUT&amp;Tag) assay for use on a microfluidic technology to eliminate cell loss associated with complex, multi-step epigenetic assays to facilitate analysis of low input primary tumor samples. Exclusive Liquid Repellant (ELR) platforms pass magnetic bead bound analytes through immiscible phases to separate and extract analytes of interest while eliminating traditional centrifugation and wash steps that lead to sample loss. This platform enables adaptation of complex molecular assays such as CUT&amp;Tag for lossless sample manipulation. We focus on the analysis of histone modifications in rare cells utilizing antibodies for H3K27 acetylation and methylation. Comparison of prostate cancer cell lines with LNCaP, V16D, 49F, 42D, and H660s with serial dilutions was performed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of this integrated assay. The CUT&amp;Tag assay was performed in standard fashion on a serial dilution of 50-100,000 cells from LNCaP and V16D calls and showed dropout of recoverable DNA at 50 cells. Sequencing of DNA at these dilutions confirmed identification of differential histone modifications consistent with previously published data. CUT&amp;Tag was adapted to ELR through the serial patterning of each buffer in distinct wells connected by an oil interface. In order to optimize the assay for reproducibility and increased sensitivity, we optimized antibody binding/washing to minimize the protein A-Transposase inhibition. This optimization showed increased antibody binding by 36% compared to protocol defined concentrations. We have now successfully performed this assay with a sensitivity of ~100 cells with recoverable DNA for sequencing to identify heterogenous histone patterns in each cell line. CUT&amp;Tag has improved sensitivity to detect epigenetic alterations that associate with aggressive prostate cancer. The integration of CUT&amp;Tag with ELR improves both sensitivity and reproducibility for epigenetic analysis at low input cell numbers. This assay is now being utilized to analyze patient tumor samples and prostate cancer heterogeneity. Citation Format: Zachary J. Kauffman, Kevin Koesser, Kyle T. Helzer, Jamie M. Sperger, Marina N. Sharifi, Chao Li, Duane S. Juang, Cole S. Gilsdorf, Shuang G. Zhao, David J. Beebe, Joshua M. Lang. Microscale analysis of histone modifications in rare cell populations in prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Prostate Cancer Research; 2023 Mar 15-18; Denver, Colorado. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A057.

Research on the Optimization and Application of the Washing Dechlorination Process for Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash.

In this paper, the fly ash cyclic gradient washing dechlorination process is systematically studied through experiments, and the effects of process parameters such as liquid-solid ratio, the number of leaching, and process pulping on the dechlorination effect of fly ash are investigated and analyzed with the currently operating three-stage counter-current washing dechlorination process. The experimental results indicate that with the liquid-solid ratio of 3:1, the number of leaching of 4, and the primary process pulping, the chlorine content of washing fly ash is reduced to 0.5-0.6%. The Baume degree in the washing filtrate is increased to 11-12 °Bé, the total amount is reduced by about 15%, and the average turbidity value is ≤5NTU. Meanwhile, the moisture content of the washing fly ash is reduced to 28-30%. By comparing with the actual construction project, it is found that under a disposal capacity of 100 t/d, the cyclic gradient washing dechlorination process can reduce the installed power by 30.3%, the floor space by 32.9%, the treatment volume of washing filtrate by 11.1%, and the drying load by 27.9% compared to the traditional three-stage counter-current washing and dechlorination process.

MATHEMATICAL MODELLING APPROACH OF THE STUDY OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY.

Ebola Virus causes disease both in human and non-human primates especially in developing countries. In 2014 during its outbreak, it led to majority of deaths especially in some impoverished area of West Africa and its effect is still witnessed up till date. We studied the spread of Ebola virus and obtained a system of equations comprising of eighteen equations which completely described the transmission of Ebola Virus in a population where control measures were incorporated and a major source of contacting the disease which is the traditional washing of dead bodies was also incorporated. We investigated the local stability of the disease-free equilibrium using the Jacobian Matrix approach and the disease- endemic stability using the center manifold theorem. We also investigated the global stability of the equilibrium points using the LaSalle's Invariant principle. The result showed that the disease-free and endemic equilibrium where both local and globally stable and that the system exhibits a forward bifurcation. Numerical simulations were carried out and our graphs show that vaccine and condom use is best for susceptible population, quarantine is best for exposed population, isolation is best for infectious population and proper burial of the diseased dead is the best to avoid further disease spread in the population and have quicker and better recovery.

Efficient Retention and Complexation of Exogenous Ferulic Acid in Starch: Could Controllable Bioextrusion Be the Answer?

The starch-phenolics complexes are widely fabricated as functional foods but with low phenolics retention limited by traditional liquid reaction and washing systems. In this study, ferulic acid (FA, 5%) was exogenously used in the crystalline form, and it reacted with starch in a high-solid extrusion environment, which was simultaneously controlled by thermostable α-amylase (0-252 U/g). Moderate enzymolysis (21 or 63 U/g) decreased the degree of the starch double helix and significantly increased the FA retention rate (>80%) with good melting and distribution. Although there were no significantly strong chemical bonds (with only 0.17-2.39% FA bound to starch hydrolysate), the noncovalent interactions, mainly hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, and electrostatic interactions, were determined by 1H NMR and molecular dynamics simulation analyses. The phased release of total FA (>50% in the stomach and ∼100% in the intestines) from bioextrudate under in vitro digestion conditions was promoted, which gives a perspective for handing large loads of FA and other phenolics based on starch carrier.

A Comparison of Triple and Double Sperm Washing for Density Gradient Preparation in Intrauterine Insemination Cycles when Overnight Incubation of Specimens Occurred: A Retrospective Cohort

Background: The number of sperm washes to maximize outcomes for intra-uterine insemination has not been well investigated. Therefore, we undertook to compare the pregnancy and live birth rates of triple sperm washing and double sperm washing for density gradient preparation for intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. Methods: A retrospective cohort study including 279 couples (136 couples with triple sperm washing and 143 couples with double sperm washing) with a diagnosis of unexplained infertility and mild male subfertility who had IUI cycles between April 2015 and April 2017 were evaluated. After overnight incubation of the sperm, subjects underwent either traditional double sperm washing or Triple sperm washing which consists of use of a third gradient and spinning procedure to the conventional double gradient sperm washing in order to obtain a higher quantity of motile sperm. Results: Total sperm count after triple washing was higher than double sperm washing (98.25 ± 62.06 vs. 81.08 ± 31.57; p = 0.003). Positive β-hCG test and live birth per cycle were higher in triple sperm washing (25.8% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.009; 18.4% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.039; respectively) than in the double sperm washing group. Conclusions: The use of motile sperms obtained from triple sperm washing may increase the rates of pregnancy and live birth in IUI cycles of women with unexplained and mild male factor infertility. A prospective randomized study should be undertaken to confirm the results.

Improved jellyfish gelatin quality through ultrasound-assisted salt removal and an extraction process.

The use of by-products of salted jellyfish for gelatin production offers valuable gelatin products rather than animal feed. Several washes or washing machines have reported removing salt in salted jellyfish. However, the green ultrasound technique has never been reported for the desalination of salted jellyfish. The objectives were to determine how effectively the raw material's salt removal was done by combining the traditional wash and then subjected to the ultrasonic waves in a sonication bath for 20-100 min. For gelatin production, the ultrasonicated jellyfish by-products were pretreated with sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid, washed, and extracted with hot water for 4, 6, and 8 h. Results showed that the increased duration of ultrasound time increased the desalination rate. The highest desalination rate of 100% was achieved using 100 min ultrasonic time operated at a fixed frequency (40 kHz) and power (220 W). The jellyfish gelatin extracted for 4, 6, and 8 h showed gel strengths in 121-447, 120-278, and 91-248 g. The 80 min ultrasonicated sample and hot water extraction for 8 h (JFG80-8) showed the highest gel yield of 32.69%, with a gel strength of 114.92 g. Still, the 40 min ultrasonicated sample with 4 h of extraction delivered the highest gel strength of 447.01 g (JFG40-4) and the lower yield of 10.60%. The melting and gelling temperatures of jellyfish gelatin from ultrasonicated samples ranged from 15-25°C and 5-12°C, which are lower than bovine gelatin (BG) and fish gelatin (FG). Monitored by FITR, the synergistic effect of extended sonication time (from 20-100 min) with 4 h extraction time at 80 °C caused amide I, II, and III changes. Based on the proteomic results, the peptide similarity of JFG40-4, having the highest gel strength, was 17, 23, or 20 peptides compared to either BG, FG, or JFG100-8 having the lowest gel strength. The 14 peptides were similarly found in all JFG40-4, BG, and FG samples. In conclusion, for the first time in this report, the improved jellyfish gel can be achieved when combined with traditional wash and 40 min ultrasonication of desalted jellyfish and extraction time of 4 h at 80 °C.