Uncoated Control Research Articles

Development of Biological Coating from Novel Halophilic Exopolysaccharide Exerting Shelf-Life-Prolonging and Biocontrol Actions for Post-Harvest Applications.

The literature presents the preserving effect of biological coatings developed from various microbial sources. However, the presented work exhibits its uniqueness in the utilization of halophilic exopolysaccharides as food coating material. Moreover, such extremophilic exopolysaccharides are more stable and economical production is possible. Consequently, the aim of the presented research was to develop a coating material from marine exopolysaccharide (EPS). The significant EPS producers having antagonistic attributes against selected phytopathogens were screened from different marine water and soil samples. TSIS01 isolate revealed the maximum antagonism well and EPS production was selected further and characterized as Bacillus tequilensis MS01 by 16S rRNA analysis. EPS production was optimized and deproteinized EPS was assessed for biophysical properties. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis revealed that EPS was a heteropolymer of glucose, galactose, mannose, and glucuronic acid. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-visible spectra validated the presence of determined sugars. It showed high stability at a wide range of temperatures, pH and incubation time, ≈1.63 × 106 Da molecular weight, intermediate solubility index (48.2 ± 3.12%), low water holding capacity (12.4 ± 1.93%), and pseudoplastic rheologic shear-thinning comparable to xanthan gum. It revealed antimicrobial potential against human pathogens and antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory potential. The biocontrol assay of EPS against phytopathogens revealed the highest activity against Alternaria solani. The EPS-coated and control tomato fruits were treated with A. solani suspension to check the % disease incidence, which revealed a significant (p < 0.001) decline compared to uncoated controls. Moreover, it revealed shelf-life prolonging action on tomatoes comparable to xanthan gum and higher than chitosan. Consequently, the presented marine EPS was elucidated as a potent coating material to mitigate post-harvest losses.

Characterization and antibacterial activity of co-sputtered Cu-doped TiO2 coatings deposited on Ti6Al4V alloy

Copper has gained increased interest because of its important role in metabolism and antimicrobial activity. In this study, composite target material of Ti and Cu was used to deposit TiO2 coatings doped with copper on Ti6Al4V alloy. The aim was to examine the influence of the applied bias during the deposition of Cu-doped TiO2 coating by sputtering in a glow-discharge in a pure O2 atmosphere for a deposition time of 240 min. Different substrate values, selected from 0 to -150 V, were used in the process. The increase in bias voltage from -50 to - 150 V decreased the thickness of the oxide coatings and improved their adhesion to the substrate while increasing the Cu2O phase at the expense of a CuO phase decrease. Simultaneously, the increase in bias voltage decreased Cu content from about 32 wt% for the -50 V biased down to around 11 wt% for the -150 V biased specimens. The antimicrobial efficacy against E. coli estimated by direct contact experiments on the top of the uncoated (control) and coated Ti6Al4V alloy revealed about 94% inhibition for the -50V biased down to around 37% for the -150 V biased coatings as opposed to the control.

Reactive Amine Functionalized Microelectrode Arrays Provide Short-Term Benefit but Long-Term Detriment to In Vivo Recording Performance.

Intracortical microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are used for recording neural signals. However, indwelling devices result in chronic neuroinflammation, which leads to decreased recording performance through degradation of the device and surrounding tissue. Coating the MEAs with bioactive molecules is being explored to mitigate neuroinflammation. Such approaches often require an intermediate functionalization step such as (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), which serves as a linker. However, the standalone effect of this intermediate step has not been previously characterized. Here, we investigated the effect of coating MEAs with APTES by comparing APTES-coated to uncoated controls in vivo and ex vivo. First, we measured water contact angles between silicon uncoated and APTES-coated substrates to verify the hydrophilic characteristics of the APTES coating. Next, we implanted MEAs in the motor cortex (M1) of Sprague-Dawley rats with uncoated or APTES-coated devices. We assessed changes in the electrochemical impedance and neural recording performance over a chronic implantation period of 16 weeks. Additionally, histology and bulk gene expression were analyzed to understand further the reactive tissue changes arising from the coating. Results showed that APTES increased the hydrophilicity of the devices and decreased electrochemical impedance at 1 kHz. APTES coatings proved detrimental to the recording performance, as shown by a constant decay up to 16 weeks postimplantation. Bulk gene analysis showed differential changes in gene expression between groups that were inconclusive with regard to the long-term effect on neuronal tissue. Together, these results suggest that APTES coatings are ultimately detrimental to chronic neural recordings. Furthermore, interpretations of studies using APTES as a functionalization step should consider the potential consequences if the final functionalization step is incomplete.

Characteristics of jack bean tempeh hydrolysate protein as a function of spray drying temperature: effect of maltodextrin and gum arabic

ABSTRACT Coating materials and fluctuations in inlet temperature are crucial components of the encapsulation process, with both factors affecting the physical, chemical, and functional qualities. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the optimal properties of Jack Bean tempeh hydrolyzate using maltodextrin and Gum Arabic coating materials at a specific spray drying temperature. The experimental method consisted of 80% (w/w) maltodextrin, 20% (w/w) Gum Arabic, and a combination of both, with variations in inlet temperature at 140°C, 150°C, and 160°C. The results showed that 20% Gum Arabic treatment at a spray drying temperature of 150°C produced the best hydrolyzate characteristics of Jack Bean tempeh. Based on the SEM analysis, the morphology of the hydrolyzate particle had a spherical and wrinkled shape. Additionally, FTIR results showed no significant structural difference between the sample treatment and the uncoated control.

Nano-fibre matrix loaded with multi-nutrients to achieve balanced crop nutrition in greengram (Vigna radiata L.)

This research paper focuses on exploring the possibility of delivering macro, micro and trace elements using seed encapsulation through nano-fibres that are known to improve the nutrient use efficiencies while reducing the loss of nutrients. The nano-fibres were developed using an electrospinning machine by subjecting the polymer solution (10% polyvinyl alcohol PVA) loaded with recommended quantities of nutrients under optimal solution (pH, concentration, viscosity) and process (voltage, flow rate, tip-to-collector distance) parameters. The nano-fibres were characterized using SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XRD, TGA and Impedance spectra besides nutrient release pattern by ICP-MS. The data have clearly shown that nano-fibres retained nutrients and released slowly up to 35 days. After the characterization, green gram (Vigna radiata L) seeds were encapsulated with nano-fibres loaded with multi-nutrients and each seed was coated with approximately 20–25 mg of nano-fibres, dibbled into the soil and the physiological, nutritional, growth and yield responses were assessed. Seeds encapsulated with nano-fibres fortified with nutrients (NF) had registered significantly higher crop emergence percentage (C 62%; NF 99.8%), root length (C 12.3; NF 27.1 cm), shoot length (C 28.7; NF 47.7 cm), dry matter production (C 16.2; NF 27.5 g) and grain yield (C 621.6; NF 796.3 kg ha−1). All the parameters measured in nano-fibre encapsulated seeds fortified with 100% of recommended dose of nutrients (NF) were higher than uncoated control (C) seeds but comparable with 100 % conventional fertilizer applied ones (RDF). Such phenomenal increase in growth and yield parameters associated with the extensive surface area of nano-fibres that is capable of retaining and releasing nutrients in a regulated pattern and assist in improving the pulses productivity by achieving balance crop nutrition which alleviating multi-nutrient deficiencies.

Protecting the Antibacterial Coating of Urinal Catheters for Improving Safety.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are among the most common bacterial infections associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased healthcare expenditures. Despite recent advances in the prevention and treatment of these infections, there are still many challenges remaining, among them the creation of a durable catheter coating, which prevents bacterial biofilm formation. The current work reports on a method of protecting medical tubing endowed with antibiofilm properties. Silicone catheters coated sonochemically with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) demonstrated excellent antibiofilm effects. Toward approval by the European Medicines Agency, it was realized that the ZnO coating would not withstand the regulatory requirements of avoiding dissolution for 14 days in artificial urine examination. Namely, after exposure to urine for 14 days, the coating amount was reduced by 90%. Additional coatings with either carbon or silica maintained antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus while resisting dissolution in artificial urine for 14 days (C- or SiO2-protected catheters exhibited only 29% reduction). HR-SEM images of the protected catheters indicate the presence of the ZnO coating as well as the protective layer. Antibiofilm activity of all catheters was evaluated both before and after exposure to artificial urine. It was shown that before artificial urine exposure, all coated catheters showed high antibiofilm properties compared to the uncoated control. Exposure of ZnO-coated catheters, without the protective layer, to artificial urine had a significant effect exhibited by the decrease in antibiofilm activity by almost 2 orders of magnitude, compared to unexposed catheters. Toxicity studies performed using a reconstructed human epidermis demonstrated the safety of the improved coating. Exposure of the epidermis to ZnO catheter extracts in artificial urine affects tissue viability compared with control samples, which was not observed in the case of ZnO NPs coating with SiO2 or C. We suggest that silica and carbon coatings confer some protection against zinc ions release, improving ZnO coating safety.

Biocompatible antiviral Pickering emulsion‐based formulation for plant root protection from tobamovirus‐infected soil

AbstractThe soil‐borne virus known as tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) has a low rate of around 3% soil‐mediated infection when the soil has root debris from a previous 30–50 day development cycle of tomato plants infected with ToBRFV. This study presents anti‐viral coating formulations based on Pickering emulsion. The coating formulation is based on water‐in‐canola oil emulsions stabilized using commercial hydrophobic silica, with water‐soluble polymer (sodium polyacrylic acid). The structure of the emulsions and their stability were characterized by confocal microscopy, centrifugal analysis using a LUMiSizer®, used to confirm the emulsion stability. We tested a few different silica concentration‐based formulations, which were prepared with or without the addition of various virus disinfectants. We found that under conditions of 100% soil‐mediated ToBRFV infection of uncoated positive control plants, root‐coating with formulations based on silica Pickering emulsion were prepared with the disinfectant chlorinated‐trisodium phosphate (TSP‐Cl) showed low percentages of soil‐mediated ToBRFV infection. These formulations had no adverse effect on plant growth parameters when compared to negative control plants grown under non ToBRFV inoculation conditions.

Bitter Apricot Seed Kernel Oil Coating for Food Preservation and Shelf‐Life Extension

Bitter apricot belongs to the genus Prunus and family Rosaceae and possesses bioactive compounds including oil with medicinal potential. A study was designed to investigate the food preservation and shelf‐life extension potency of bitter apricot seed kernel oil (BASKO). It was used as a coating material independently or pure oil coating (OC) and integrated with a film‐forming solution (FFS) for the extension of shelf‐life. It was also used in a challenge study against fungal and bacterial species. The FFS coating was found effective, as the coated apples remained relatively fresh (internally and externally), whereas the OC applied was found partially shrunk compared to the completely spoiled uncoated (control) apples, after 20 weeks of incubation with a weight loss of 35 ± 2% for uncoated, 11 ± 1% for OC, and 5 ± 1% for FFS coated. The nutritional status of the apples during shelf‐life studies showed that the carbohydrates (28.16 ± 0.91 and 34.14 ± 1.04 μg/mL) and protein (3.704 ± 0.30 and 3.549 ± 0.53 μg/mL) amount decreased in both oil and FFS coated apples compared to the fresh apple samples calculated at initial stage of the experiments 39.01 ± 1.02 μg/mL (carbohydrates) and 3.34 ± 0.58 μg/mL (protein), respectively. The BASKO coating reduced the fungal (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus) and bacterial (Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli) number during the challenge studies and prevented the spoilage of apples in the inoculated apples during the 16‐week incubation. It was concluded in the study that BASKO can be used as a strong preservative for fresh fruit preservation and can be a good choice for food industry applications.

Aumento da estabilidade de carambolas com uso de coberturas de amido e óleo de babaçu com plastificantes

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the effect of edible coatings made with babassu (Orbignya phalerata) starch and oil, combined with different plasticizers, on the shelf life of star fruit (Averrhoa carambola). The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 5×6 factorial arrangement, with five treatments and six storage periods, with ten replicates per treatment in each storage period. The fruits were stored for 20 days at 10°C and a relative humidity of 65-70%. Five treatments were evaluated: four coated ones (with starch+glycerol, starch+mannitol, starch+oil+glycerol, and starch+oil+mannitol) and one uncoated (control). The studied variables were: mass loss, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and color. Mass loss, pH, soluble solids, redness, and yellowness increased linearly during storage, whereas titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, and luminosity decreased linearly. The starch+mannitol treatment stood out, presenting the highest luminosity and the best interaction with babassu oil, which reduced fruit yellowness. However, this interaction caused a lower adherence of the plasticizer to the peel of the fruit, not slowing its ripening down. The use of the starch+mannitol coating reduced mass loss and polysaccharide conversion into soluble sugars. Therefore, this treatment is a promising eco-friendly technique for an improved postharvest storage of star fruit.

Investigation of a chondroitin sulfate-based bioactive coating for neural interface applications.

Invasive neural implants allow for high-resolution bidirectional communication with the nervous tissue and have demonstrated the ability to record neural activity, stimulate neurons, and sense neurochemical species with high spatial selectivity and resolution. However, upon implantation, they are exposed to a foreign body response which can disrupt the seamless integration of the device with the native tissue and lead to deterioration in device functionality for chronic implantation. Modifying the device surface by incorporating bioactive coatings has been a promising approach to camouflage the device and improve integration while maintaining device performance. In this work, we explored the novel application of a chondroitin sulfate (CS) based hydrophilic coating, with anti-fouling and neurite-growth promoting properties for neural recording electrodes. CS-coated samples exhibited significantly reduced protein-fouling in vitro which was maintained for up to 4-weeks. Cell culture studies revealed a significant increase in neurite attachment and outgrowth and a significant decrease in microglia attachment and activation for the CS group as compared to the control. After 1-week of in vivo implantation in the mouse cortex, the coated probes demonstrated significantly lower biofouling as compared to uncoated controls. Like the in vitro results, increased neuronal population (neuronal nuclei and neurofilament) and decreased microglial activation were observed. To assess the coating's effect on the recording performance of silicon microelectrodes, we implanted coated and uncoated electrodes in the mouse striatum for 1 week and performed impedance and recording measurements. We observed significantly lower impedance in the coated group, likely due to the increased wettability of the coated surface. The peak-to-peak amplitude and the noise floor levels were both lower in the CS group compared to the controls, which led to a comparable signal-to-noise ratio between the two groups. The overall single unit yield (% channels recording a single unit) was 74% for the CS and 67% for the control group on day 1. Taken together, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of the polysaccharide-based coating in reducing biofouling and improving biocompatibility for neural electrode devices.

Physicochemical and Physiological Properties of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] Fruits Coated with Polysaccharide-Based Edible Coatings

Okra is highly perishable due to its high respiration rate and high-water content, thus reducing its marketability. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different polysaccharide-based edible coatings on the physicochemical and physiological properties of okra fruits. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with nine treatments and three replications. Four edible coatings were assessed at two different concentrations. The treatments comprised T0: uncoated (control), T1: 1% sodium alginate (AL), T2: 2% sodium alginate, T3: 1% pectin, T4: 2% pectin, T5: 1% carboxymethyl cellulose, T6: 2% carboxymethyl cellulose, T7: 1% cornstarch and T8: 2% cornstarch. Okra fruits were stored in refrigerated conditions with the temperature ranging from 9 to 11 °C and relative humidity of 76 to 85%. Samples were collected on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 for analysis of weight loss, firmness, shriveling, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C, respiration rate, ethylene production and microbial growth. The results indicated that the use of polysaccharide-based edible coatings significantly influenced moisture and dry matter content, weight loss, firmness, shriveling, pH, TSS, TA, vitamin C, respiration and microbial count of okra fruits. The various coatings, including alginate, pectin, carboxymethyl cellulose and cornstarch, significantly preserved the quality of okra compared with the control treatment. Among the four coatings used, 2% alginate (w/v) demonstrated the most effective preservation of the fruit quality of okra.

Aspects of the alternative host response to methacrylic acid containing biomaterials.

Methacrylic acid (MAA)-based biomaterials promote a vascularized host response without the addition of exogenous factors such as cells or growth factors. We presume that materials containing MAA favor an alternative foreign body response, rather than the conventional fibrotic response. Here, we characterize selected aspects of the response to two different forms of MAA-a coating, which can be used to prevascularize the subcutaneous tissue for subsequent therapeutic cell delivery or an injectable hydrogel, which can be used to vascularize and deliver cells simultaneously. We show that the MAA-coating quickly vascularized the subcutaneous space compared to an uncoated silicone tube, and after 14 days of prevascularization, the tissue surrounding the MAA-coated tube presented fewer immune cells than the uncoated control. We also compared the host response to a MAA-PEG (polyethylene glycol) hydrogel at day 1, with pancreatic islets in immune-compromised SCID/bg mice and immune-competent Balb/c mice. The Balb/c mouse presented a more inflammatory response with increased IFN-γ production as compared to the SCID/bg. Together with previously published data, this work contributes to a further understanding of tissue responses to a biomaterial in different forms as used for cell delivery.

Evaluating the quality of green asparagus treated with cassava starch-based coating using laser scattering

AbstractThe presented study investigated the effects of edible coatings with concentration of 2%, 3% and 4% of starch (w/v) on the weight loss and firmness loss of green asparagus during 4 days of storage at room temperature (26 ± 2 °C, 65–70% RH). According to the results, the coated asparagus exhibited significantly slower deterioration rate than the uncoated control samples. This was indicated by the decrease in weight loss and increase in firmness (P &lt; 0.05). After the storage period, the samples treated with 4% starch formula retained the highest quality. Furthermore, the assessment of asparagus quality throughout the storage period involved the use of the line laser scattering technique. Extracted parameters of laser scattering signal discriminated samples with linear discriminant analysis (LDA), in which the correct recognition rate of the treated groups was 75.26% and the storage time was 70.54%. This study showed the potential of laser scattering as a rapid, non-invasive, and practical optical method for assessing the quality of asparagus during storage.

Xanthan gum coating delays ripening and softening of jujube fruit by reducing oxidative stress and suppressing cell wall polysaccharides disassembly

Harvested jujube fruit are prone to rapid ripening and softening during postharvest storage. In this work, jujube fruit were coated with xanthan gum (0.3%) and compared with uncoated control during storage at 20 ± 1 ºC for 15 d. Xanthan gum coating suppressed disease incidence (DI) and reduced fruit weight loss (FWL) of coated jujubes. Similarly, coating delayed reddening index development and suppressed relative ion leakage (RIL), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion (O2–•) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations. The coated jujubes exhibited suppressed respiration and ethylene production rates along with higher antioxidative enzymes activity. On the other side, xanthan gum coating preserved higher firmness and showed lower water-soluble pectin (WSP) along with conserved concentrations of Na2CO3-soluble pectin (SSP), cellulose (CS), hemicellulose (HCS) and chelate-soluble pectin components (CSP) owing to suppressed activities of polygalacturonase (PG), cellulase (CX), pectin methylesterase (PME) and β-galactosidase (β-gal) enzymes. The coated jujubes showed reduced total soluble solids increase and exhibited higher ascorbic acid content. So, xanthan gum coating could be applied as an eco-friendly postharvest treatment for the quality preservation of fresh jujube fruit.

Hydrophilic or hydrophobic coating of whey protein aerogels obtained by supercritical-CO2-drying: Effect on physical properties, moisture adsorption and interaction with water and oil in food systems

Aerogel monoliths, prepared by water-to-ethanol substitution and supercritical-CO2-drying of whey protein hydrogels, were dip-coated with hydrophilic (alginate, AL; agar, AG) or hydrophobic (ethylcellulose, EC) polymers. AL coating induced aerogel collapse, due to solvent absorption. AG and EC rapidly set onto aerogel surface, forming layers of 65 and 100 μm thickness, respectively. While AG-coating induced 20% volume shrinkage, 25% apparent density increase and 75% firmness increase, EC-coating maintained the original aerogel structure. Upon exposure to 100% equilibrium relative humidity, aerogels showed moisture uptake in the order AG-coated>uncoated>EC-coated. When immersed in water or oil, the AG-coated aerogel showed an uptake respectively 40 and 60% lower than the uncoated control. The oil barrier capacity of AG-coated aerogel was also demonstrated in a lipid food system (stearin-oil mixture). Although not reducing oil uptake, EC-coating reduced water uptake by 30% and its water barrier properties were demonstrated upon immersion in an aqueous food system (water-flour batter). Industrial relevanceThe obtained results indicate tailored coating as a feasible strategy to enhance aerogel functionality in food. This would open further possibilities, including the use of aerogels as smart food ingredients able to modulate aroma and bioactive delivery both in the food product and during digestion. These findings are thus important in supporting the industrial development of aerogel-based ingredients with customized functionalities.

Possibility of Prolonging Chicken Meat Shelf Life by Coating with Protein Concentrate of Quinoa Seeds

The research encompassed the production of protein casings derived from concentrated quinoa seed protein at varying concentrations (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%). The objective was to investigate the mechanical characteristics of the produced casings and their potential application in packaging refrigerated chicken breast pieces at a temperature of 4°C, with the aim of extending the storage duration for different time intervals (10, 5, 15 days). The findings pertaining to the mechanical properties of the protein casings being investigated revealed that the thickness of the membrane, tensile strength, elongation, and solubility exhibited an upward trend as the concentration increased. The findings of the microbial analysis also indicated that the application of protein casings derived from quinoa seed protein concentrate, at concentrations of 6% and 8%, on chicken breast pieces and subsequent refrigeration at 4°C, resulted in a significant reduction in the total bacterial count and the count of psychrophilic bacteria, in comparison to the control treatment where chicken pieces were left uncoated. In addition, it was observed that chicken breast portions that were coated with protein coatings exhibited no growth of coliform bacteria during the storage period, in contrast to the uncoated counterparts. The emergence of the phenomenon was observed on the tenth day of the storage period. The application of protein films on chicken breast parts resulted in a notable reduction in both the peroxide number (PV) and the value of thiarebiobutyric acid (TBA) as compared to the uncoated control treatment. The control treatment exhibited the highest values on the 15th day of refrigerated storage.

A novel seed balling technology and its effect on cotton emergence, yield and fiber quality

Seed coating is the most important type of pretreatment. Since cotton is an important economic crop, the cost of its cultivation and the resulting economic benefits are undoubtedly important aspects to be considered. In recent years, the high cost of coating materials and complex production processes have prevented the widespread application of cotton seed coating. Moreover, cotton plants emerge from cotyledons, and the coating material on the seed coat does not play a role after the seed emerges. Given the above shortcomings, to adapt to the mechanized direct seeding method and to include a large number of fertilizers and fungicides, insecticides can be used together with the seed direct seeding into the soil; at the same time, this will improve the cotton seedling emergence rate, the physiological qualities of cotton seedlings after the emergence of cotton seedlings, and the resilience of cotton seedlings in the early stage of resistance ability. In this study, we devised a technique for balling cotton seeds employing components such as cassava starch, bentonite, diatomite, attapulgite, and seedling substrate. The compositional ratios of the method were determined via a growth chamber trial, and we evaluated its effect throughout the cotton reproductive period using field trials. The results showed that the emergence and emergence hole rates of the balled cotton seeds increased by 34.42% and 28.84%, respectively, compared with the uncoated control. In terms of cotton yield, the seed balling treatment increased the number of bolls per plant and the overall cotton yield. Seed balling technology is different from traditional seed pelleting or seed coating techniques. It gathers one or more seeds in seed balls, enabling the simultaneous sowing of multiple seeds of the same variety or different varieties in the same crop. Additionally, seed balls can encourage seeds to carry fertilizer and pesticides into the soil, further weakening soil-borne diseases and abiotic stresses, form a relatively stable internal environment in the soil, and ensure the germination of cotton seeds. Our findings provide a reference point to improve cotton seedling emergence through the utilization of this novel technology.

PSVI-27 Evaluation of Coated and Non-Coated Seed Species Pertinent to the Great Basin in Response to in Vitro Ruminal Incubation

Abstract Target grazing has exhibited itself as an effective method of invasive weed mitigation across degraded rangelands in the Great Basin. Additionally, if the seeds of target species are supplemented into the diets of ruminants, they can serve as vectors for the dispersal of native seed species through fecal pats, which may prove to be a useful tactic for rangeland rehabilitation. However, a challenge associated with seed supplementation, is that the seeds of many target species are sufficiently degraded in the rumen. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of seed coating technologies on germination rates post ruminal in vitro incubation. In vitro incubations were performed on seven species of seeds pertinent to the Great Basin: Achnatherum hymenoides (ACHY), Achillea millefolium (ACMI), Agropyron cristatum (AGCR), Atriplex canascens (ATCA), Elymus elymoides (ELEL), Pseudoregneria spicata (PSSP), and Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia (SPRT) uncoated (control) or coated with either Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or PVP+ ethocel, as well as uncoated Bromus tectorum (BRTE) seeds. A Daisy II incubator (Ankom Technology, Macedon, NY) was used for the in vitro analysis with rumen inoculum from two rumen-cannulated crossbred Angus steers (body weight = 910.5 ± 34.5 kg) and a buffer ratio of 1:4. Two F57 filter bags containing 1 g of seeds per treatment (control, PVP or PVP+ethocel) were then placed inside of the Daisy II incubator and kept at 39°C for 12 and 24 h for the control treatments, and for 12, 24, and 48 h for the PVP and PVP+ethocel coating treatments. For uncoated seeds, ACHY germination by 24 h was greater when compared with 0 h (P &amp;lt; 0.05), whereas ATCA germination rate decreased linearly by 12 h (P &amp;lt; 0.05). No differences were observed over time on germination rates of BRTE, as well as all of the other uncoated seeds (P &amp;gt; 0.05). When seeds were coated with PVP, ATCA germination rates started to linearly decrease by 12 h (P &amp;lt; 0.05), whereas PVP coated ACMI germination rates only started to decrease by 24 h (P &amp;lt; 0.05). The germination rates of PVP coated ELEL and PSSP seeds only started to significantly decrease by 48 h (P &amp;lt; 0.05). When coated with PVP+ethocel, the observed germination rates were similar to those observed for PVP coated seeds. However, when compared with uncoated seeds, coating with PVP+ethocel seem to decrease germination rates of ACMI and ATCA by 0 h (P &amp;lt; 0.05). No changes on germination rates were observed over time for coated and uncoated AGCR and SPRT (P &amp;gt; 0.05). In conclusion, seed germination rates after in vitro incubation were not increased by coating the seeds with PVP or PVP+ethocel.

Preservation of chicken egg quality using pectin derived from water hyacinth

This study investigates the potential of pectin derived from water hyacinth, an aquatic floating weed, as a coating material for chicken eggshells to preserve egg quality and extend shelf life. A total of 240 fresh chicken eggs were divided into four groups: 1) uncoated (control), 2) coated with a 2 % chitosan solution, 3) coated with a 1.5 % solution of pectin from water hyacinth, and 4) coated with a 2.5 % solution of pectin from water hyacinth. The eggs were stored at room temperature for 35 days before egg quality parameters, including weight loss, Haugh unit, yolk index, and albumen pH, were measured on a weekly basis. The results showed that eggs coated with water hyacinth pectin exhibited significantly lower weight loss and albumen pH (p < 0.05) compared to the uncoated eggs. Furthermore, the water hyacinth pectin coating effectively maintained the Haugh unit at Grade A levels for up to 28 days of storage. These findings suggest that the water hyacinth pectin coating acts as a protective barrier, limiting the transfer of water and carbon dioxide through the eggshell, thereby preserving egg quality and extending shelf life. In summary, water hyacinth pectin demonstrated promising potential as an environmentally friendly coating material, offering an alternative approach to maintaining egg quality and extending shelf life.

Mortality in randomised controlled trials using paclitaxel-coated devices for femoropopliteal interventional procedures: an updated patient-level meta-analysis

Numerous randomised clinical trials and real-world studies have supported the safety of paclitaxel-coated devices for the treatment of femoropopliteal occlusive disease. However, a 2018 summary-level meta-analysis suggested an increased mortality risk for paclitaxel-coated devices compared with uncoated control devices. This study presents an updated analysis of deaths using the most complete and current data available from pivotal trials of paclitaxel-coated versus control devices. Ten trials comparing paclitaxel-coated versus control devices were included in a patient-level pooled analysis. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the effect of paclitaxel exposure on risk of death in both intention-to-treat (ITT; primary analysis) and three as-treated analysis sets accounting for treatment group crossover at the index procedure and over time. The effect of paclitaxel dose and baseline covariates were also evaluated. A total of 2666 participants were included with a median follow-up of 4·9 years. No significant increase in deaths was observed for patients treated with paclitaxel-coated devices. This was true in the ITT analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 1·14, 95% CI 0·93-1·40), the as-treated analysis (HR 1·13, 95% CI 0·92-1·39), and in two crossover analyses: 1·07 (0·87-1·31) when late crossovers were censored and 1·04 (0·84-1·28) when crossovers were analysed from the date of paclitaxel exposure. There was no significant effect of paclitaxel dose on mortality risk. This meta-analysis found no association between paclitaxel-coated device exposure and risk of death, providing reassurance to patients, physicians, and regulators on the safety of paclitaxel-coated devices. Becton Dickinson, Boston Scientific, Cook, Medtronic, Philips, Surmodics, and TriReme Medical.