In Vivo Feasibility of Arterial Embolization with a New Permanent Agar-agar-Based Agent.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the safety and efficacy of an eco-friendly permanent agar-agar-based embolization agent (ABEA) (EmboBio®) for intra-arterial use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six pigs embolized with one ABEA torpedo (6 lower polar renal and 6 lumbar arteries) and one coil (6 lower polar renal and 6 lumbar arteries). Technical success was defined as a complete occlusion with no residual flow in DSA. Short-term endpoints included safety (non-targeted embolization), ease of use (embolization preparation time, occlusion time), and DSA controls at day 7, month 1, and month 3. Tissue reaction was assessed via [18F]-FDG PET/CT at month 2 and histological study at month 3. RESULTS: ABEA torpedoes achieved immediate and persistent occlusion at month 3 for all kidney and lumbar embolizations (n = 12/12). Control coils had technical success for 12/12, with a persistent occlusion at month 3 for 2/12. No off-target embolization occurred. ABEA torpedoes demonstrate faster occlusion (ABEA: 6 ± 4 s; coils: 427 ± 469 s; p = 0.0022, n = 12) and preparation times (ABEA: 96.9 1 ± 23 s; coils: 150.33 ± 58 s; p = 0.0432, n = 12) after device placement than coil. No significant difference in inflammation between ABEA and coil groups at month 2 (ABEA: 3.35e-6 ± 1.7e-6%ID/mm3; coils: 2.24e-6 ± 8.5e-7%ID/mm3; p = 0.5) on PET imaging. These results were confirmed by histological analysis at month 3. CONCLUSION: Permanent dry foam torpedo comprising agar-agar is effective for arterial embolization. In animal model, one ABEA torpedo demonstrates a faster and more persistent occlusion than one fiber coil. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Not applicable.

Development of Personalised Immediate-Release Gel-Based Formulations Using Semi-Solid Extrusion.

Precision in dosing is crucial for optimizing therapeutic outcomes and preventing overdosing, especially in preterm infants. Traditional manual adjustments to adapt the dose often lead to inaccuracies, contamination risks, and reduced precision. To overcome these challenges, semi-solid extrusion 3D printing was used to create personalised gel-based caffeine dosage forms. The hydrogels, made from agar and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, demonstrated excellent rheological properties, ensuring uniform extrusion and accurate shape retention during and after printing. This gel formulation allowed for precise adjustments of caffeine volume and content tailored to a neonate weighing 1.36 kg, achieving a recovery of 103.46%, well within acceptable limits. Additionally, three production batches confirmed the process's reproducibility with minimal variability. Forced degradation studies showed that both pure caffeine and caffeine in the gel matrix exhibited similar stability profiles, confirming the drug's chemical integrity. The printed gel dosage forms also displayed immediate-release characteristics, with over 80% of caffeine released within 45 min, highlighting their suitability for rapid therapeutic action. These findings emphasise the potential of SSE 3DP and gel-based formulations to produce personalised drug delivery systems with high precision, reproducibility, and reliability.

Isolation and Enumeration of the Bacillus cereus Group Using a Chromogenic Substrate that Targets Phosphatidylcholine Phospholipase C Activity.

The Bacillus cereus group is comprised of diverse yet closely related species that are ubiquitous in nature. These Gram-positive, spore-forming bacteria are commonly isolated as potential pathogens in environmental and food samples, and they are also beneficially used in industrial applications such as probiotics or agricultural pesticides. Although phylogenetic and genomic analyses identified eight formally recognized species within the Bacillus cereus group, only five members are currently acknowledged using standardized isolation procedures. Therefore, current enumeration procedures may be inadequate and inaccurate in determining the clinical importance of the B. cereus group and their prevalence in food and environmental sources. In this investigation, the R & F® Bacillus cereus Group Chromogenic Plating Medium (BCG) was developed to target the enzyme phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C (PC-PLC) found widely distributed among the B. cereus group species. The performance evaluations of the plating medium demonstrated a 100% plating productivity ratio, inclusivity, and exclusivity when compared with Trypto Soy Agar (TSA). B. cereus group species, including B. anthracis, B. cereus sensu stricto (s.s.), B. cytotoxicus, B. pseudomycoides, B. mycoides, B. thuringiensis, B. toyonensis, B. weidmannii, and B. weihenstephanensis, formed turquoise-colored colonies on the BCG agar, indicating PC-PLC activity after 24-28 h of incubation at the selected optimal temperature of 35 °C. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between BCG and TSA when enumerating B. cereus s.s. and B. cytotoxicus artificially inoculated in whey protein powder and ultra-high temperature milk after long-term storage.

Narrative review of tissue-mimicking materials for MRI phantoms: Composition, fabrication, and relaxation properties.

INTRODUCTION: Tissue-mimicking materials (TMMs) are now essential reference objects for quality control, development and training in all medical imaging modalities. This review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of materials used in the fabrication of TMMs for MRI phantoms, focusing on their composition, fabrication methods, and relaxation properties (T1 and T2). METHODS: A systematic review was conducted, covering articles published between 1980 and 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies involving physical MRI phantoms with measured T1 and T2 relaxation times. Exclusion criteria filtered out non-MRI studies, and digital/computational models. RESULTS: The review identifies and categorizes TMMs based on their primary gelling agents: agar, carrageenan, gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and other less common gels. Agar emerged as the most frequently used gelling agent due to its versatility and favorable MRI signal properties. Carrageenans, noted for their strength and minimal impact on T2 values, are often used in combination with agar. Gelatin, PVA, and other materials like Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and PolyvinylPyrrolidone (PVP) also demonstrate unique advantages for specific applications. The review also highlights the challenges in phantom stability and the impact of various additives on the relaxation properties. CONCLUSION: This synthesis provides a valuable guide for the fabrication of MRI phantoms tailored to desired T1 and T2 relaxation times, facilitating the development of more accurate and reliable imaging tools. Understanding the detailed properties of TMMs is fundamental to improve the quality control and educational applications of MRI technologies, especially with the advent of new magnetic field strengths and parametric imaging techniques. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: As experts in MRI systems, radiographers, educators, and researchers need to understand TMM compositions and methods of fabrications to develop MRI phantoms for educational tools and research purposes. This review serves as a valuable resource to guide them in these efforts.

Life cycle assessment and cost analysis of innovative agar extraction technologies from red seaweeds.

Developing efficient and sustainable extraction technologies for valuable biocompounds from seaweed is crucial to overcome the limitations of conventional technologies. This study aims to compare three innovative technologies for agar extraction from two red seaweed species, G. sesquipedale and G. vermiculophylla: subcritical water extraction (performed at 125 °C, 2.5 atm, 1 min, and at 140 °C, 3.8 atm, 1 s), moderate electric fields (applied at 85 °C for 120 min and 95 °C for 180 min), and a combination of both methods. The comparison used life cycle assessment and life cycle costing methodologies, considering a gate-to-gate approach. The combined technology demonstrated the lowest energy consumption, with 67 MJ/kgagar for G. vermiculophylla and 100 MJ/kgagar for G. sesquipedale. A carbon footprint reduction of up to 94 % was obtained when compared to the control, with 15.9 kgCO2 eq. /kgagar for G. vermiculophylla and 20.4 kgCO2 eq. /kgagar for G. sesquipedale. Using photovoltaic panels as alternative energy further cut carbon emissions by 50 %. The cost analysis showed that the combined technology was the most cost-effective extraction method.

Alginate Spheres: Influence of Agar and Xanthan Gum Incorporation on Membrane Stability and Permeability.

Calcium alginate spheres with a volume of about 5 mL can be used for important purposes. Those that incorporate oolong tea give, in addition to the recreational aspect, the possibility of drinking small quantities of this tea, because oolong tea can be used as a compound with antioxidant properties. This incorporation can be achieved by reverse spherification (5 mL). Six types of spheres have been made, all of them with calcium alginate and the presence or absence of agar-agar and xanthan gum-XG-in two concentrations. The weight loss of the spheres, the release of bioactive compounds over time (a total of 48 h), the surface (internal and external) of the membranes, and the physical characteristics of these membranes have been analyzed. The data obtained indicate that the presence of XG prevents the formation of precipitates inside the spheres and slows down weight loss. It also provides opacity to the spheres. However, the incorporation of agar-agar does not have a significant influence on the different parameters analyzed. The release of catechins reaches a maximum of 80% of what could be achieved under ideal conditions, and it reaches 90% in the first 3 h. The incorporation of XG increases the shelf life of the spheres, slows down the release of chelate, and decreases weight loss over time, allowing for a new perspective on the spherification process.

VP-net: an end-to-end deep learning network for elastic wave velocity prediction in human skin in vivo using optical coherence elastography.

Introduction: Acne vulgaris, one of the most common skin conditions, affects up to 85% of late adolescents, currently no universally accepted assessment system. The biomechanical properties of skin provide valuable information for the assessment and management of skin conditions. Wave-based optical coherence elastography (OCE) quantitatively assesses these properties of tissues by analyzing induced elastic wave velocities. However, velocity estimation methods require significant expertise and lengthy image processing times, limiting the clinical translation of OCE technology. Recent advances in machine learning offer promising solutions to simplify velocity estimation process. Methods: In this study, we proposed a novel end-to-end deep-learning model, named velocity prediction network (VP-Net), aiming to accurately predict elastic wave velocity from raw OCE data of in vivo healthy and abnormal human skin. A total of 16,424 raw phase slices from 1% to 5% agar-based tissue-mimicking phantoms, 28,270 slices from in vivo human skin sites including the palm, forearm, back of the hand from 16 participants, and 580 slices of facial closed comedones were acquired to train, validate, and test VP-Net. Results: VP-Net demonstrated highly accurate velocity prediction performance compared to other deep-learning-based methods, as evidenced by small evaluation metrics. Furthermore, VP-Net exhibited low model complexity and parameter requirements, enabling end-to-end velocity prediction from a single raw phase slice in 1.32 ms, enhancing processing speed by a factor of ∼100 compared to a conventional wave velocity estimation method. Additionally, we employed gradient-weighted class activation maps to showcase VP-Net's proficiency in discerning wave propagation patterns from raw phase slices. VP-Net predicted wave velocities that were consistent with the ground truth velocities in agar phantom, two age groups (20s and 30s) of multiple human skin sites and closed comedones datasets. Discussion: This study indicates that VP-Net could rapidly and accurately predict elastic wave velocities related to biomechanical properties of in vivo healthy and abnormal skin, offering potential clinical applications in characterizing skin aging, as well as assessing and managing the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Optimization of Screening Media to Improve Antimicrobial Biodiscovery from Soils in Undergraduate/Citizen Science Research-Engaged Initiatives.

Background/Objectives: Research-engaged academic institutions offer the opportunity to couple undergraduate education/citizen science projects with antimicrobial biodiscovery research. Several initiatives reflecting this ethos have been reported internationally (e.g., Small World, Tiny Earth, MicroMundo, Antibiotics Unearthed). These programs target soil habitats due to their high microbial diversity and promote initial screening with non-selective, nutrient media such as tryptic soy agar (TSA). However, evaluation of published outputs to date indicates that isolate recovery on TSA is consistently dominated by the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Paenibacillus. In this study, we evaluated the potential of soil extract agar to enhance soil isolate diversity and antibiosis induction outcomes in our undergraduate Antibiotics Unearthed research program. Methods: We comparatively screened 229 isolates from woodland and garden soil samples on both tryptic soy agar (TSA) and soil extract agar (SEA) for antimicrobial activity against a panel of clinically relevant microbial pathogens. Results: On one or both media, 15 isolates were found to produce zones of clearing against respective pathogens. 16S rRNA gene sequencing linked the isolates with three genera: Streptomyces (7), Paenibacillus (6), and Pseudomonas (2). Six of the Streptomyces isolates and one Pseudomonas demonstrated antimicrobial activity when screened on SEA, with no activity on TSA. Furthermore, incorporation of the known secondary metabolite inducer N acetyl-glucosamine (20 mM) into SEA media altered the pathogen inhibition profiles of 14 isolates and resulted in broad-spectrum activity of one Streptomyces isolate, not observed on SEA alone. In conclusion, SEA was found to expand the diversity of culturable isolates from soil and specifically enhanced the recovery of members of the genus Streptomyces. SEA was also found to be a superior media for antibiosis induction among Streptomyces isolates when compared to TSA. It was noted that Paenibacillus isolates' antibiosis induction demonstrated a strain-specific response with respect to the growth media used. Conclusions: The authors propose SEA inclusion of in soil screening protocols as a cost-effective, complementary strategy to greatly enhance outcomes in undergraduate/citizen science-engaged antimicrobial biodiscovery initiatives.

Removal of heavy metal ions (Pb2+, Cu2+, Cr3+, and Cd2+) from multimetal simulated wastewater using 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane grafted agar porous cryogel.

In this study, we have developed agar, a seaweed derived polysaccharide based green adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions (Pb2+, Cu2+, Cr3+ and Cd2+) from multimetal solution. Porous cryogels of agar grafted with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) were prepared by freeze-drying. The adsorption capacity and selectivity of the optimized APTES-agar cryogel for heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Cr3+, Pb2+, Cd2+) were investigated in multimetal solutions. >95 % of all the cationic metal ions were removed from 400 mg/L multimetal metal solutions having equal concentrations of each metal at pH 5.5. The experimental adsorption capacities of Cr3+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and, Cd2+ were changed from 39.14, 39.0, 39.20, 37.93 mg/g, to 52.58, 52.70, 45.53, 31.10 mg/g, respectively, for the 400 mg/L and 800 mg/L multimetal solutions suggesting competitive adsorption of the metal ions for active sites. The competitive adsorption studies showed that Cd ions had lower affinity than other metal ions for active sites on APTES grafted agar surface, and adsorption followed in the order of Cu2+ ≈ Cr3+ > Pb2+ > Cd2+. The developed seaweed-derived agar-based porous adsorbent exhibits promise in the removal of several heavy metal ions from wastewater, and this approach would increase the use of natural polysaccharides that are sustainable.

Asymmetric Janus Nanofibrous Agar-Based Wound Dressing Infused with Enhanced Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties.

In the present study, we have developed an agar-based asymmetric Janus nanofibrous wound dressing comprising a support and an electrospun layer with antibacterial and antioxidant properties, respectively, to facilitate healing effectively. The support layer containing agar and silver nitrate was fabricated by using solvent casting for sustained release, combating the dose-dependent cytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles, where nanoparticles were synthesized using a one-pot reduction method. The electrospun layer, fabricated with a mixture of agar and polycaprolactone infused with gallic acid, was electrospun over the support layer to impart antioxidant properties. Characterizations using UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy validated the synthesis of nanoparticles in 10-20 nm diameter and the asymmetric Janus dressing. The developed Janus nanofibrous structure exhibited 98% porosity, excellent fluid-handling properties, a moisture permeability of 1200 g/m2/day, and a water absorption of ∼250%. Moreover, the time-kill assay confirmed potent bacteriostatic effect against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and sustained release of silver nanoparticles followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. With over 90% free radical scavenging efficacy, 37% degradation in 7 days, and less than 2% hemolysis, the dressings demonstrated exceptional antioxidant, biodegradable, and hemocompatible properties. The biocompatibility assessment further confirmed its cytocompatible efficacy, with more than 79% wound closure in the wound scratch assay. Most importantly, in vivo studies demonstrated the efficacy of the developed Janus dressing, promoting over 97% healing within 12 days of injury with higher epithelial formation. Overall, the in vitro and in vivo assessment of the developed Janus dressing confirmed its potential to function as a versatile and effective material for wound care applications.

Antimicrobial Properties of Newer Calcium Silicate-Based Pulp-Capping Agents Against Enterococcus Faecalis and Streptococcus Mutans: An In-Vitro Evaluation.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of calcium silicate-based pulp-capping agents against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans using an agar diffusion test. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The agar diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial properties of pulp-capping agents. The materials used included Bio-C® Temp (Angelus, Brazil), Dia-Root™ Bio mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) (Diadent Europe B.V., Almere, Netherlands), Biodentine™ (Septodont, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France), and TheraCal LC (Bisco Inc., Schaumburg, IL). Eighteen petri dishes, nine for S. mutans and nine for E. faecalis, were divided into four parts each (one for each agent), for a total sample size of 72. The bacterial suspensions were transferred to the petri dishes using a sterile swab. Four wells with a diameter of 4 mm were then punched in each petri dish. The wells were filled with the pulp-capping agents, which had been mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the petri dishes were incubated. The zone of inhibition was measured at 24 and 48 hours to assess the pulp-capping agents' antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis and S. mutans. The readings were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: At 24 hours, the highest zone of inhibition was found in the Biodentine™ group (15.83 ± 0.79 mm), followed by Dia-Root™ Bio MTA (14.5 ± 0.88 mm), TheraCal LC® (12.56 ± 0.53 mm), and the shortest in the Bio-C Temp (9.61 ± 0.70 mm) against S. mutans. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test showed a high statistical significance. After 48 hours, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean zone of inhibition. At 24 hours, the highest zone of inhibition was found in the Biodentine™ group (20.56 ± 0.73 mm), followed by Dia-Root™ Bio MTA (20.06 ± 1.33 mm), TheraCal LC® (18.22 ± 0.97 mm), and the shortest in the Bio-C Temp (14.11 ± 0.78 mm) against E. faecalis. The ANOVA test indicated no statistically significant difference between the Biodentine™ and the Dia-Root™ Bio MTA groups. After 48 hours, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean zone of inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Biodentine™ has higher antibacterial efficacy against S. mutans, while Biodentine™ and Dia-Root™ Bio MTA have comparably high antibacterial activity against S. mutans and E. faecalis at 24 and 48 hours.

Effects of Particle Size and Shape on the Texture Property of a Solid-Liquid Dispersion System With Gel Particles.

Food texture is one of the most important factors for assessing the quality and acceptability of food. However, the study of food texture has been delayed compared with other factors, such as flavor and taste, due to the difficulty of quantitative analysis related to real physiological senses. Furthermore, the numerical and systematic evaluation of the texture property of dispersion systems, in which solid particles are dispersed in a liquid medium, is very difficult, despite most foods being in a solid-liquid dispersion state during mastication in the human mouth. In this study, the texture property of a solid-liquid dispersion system with spherical and cubic gel particles of agar and konjac was examined to evaluate the physical behavior of food during mastication using the back extrusion method. The yield stress of the system strongly depended on the size and shape of the particles, the mixing ratio of particles of different sizes and shapes, and the concentration of components in the particles. The proposed index, reflecting the size, shape, and number of particles and the yield stress of a single particle, expressed well the measured yield stress of the entire dispersion system. However, the adhesiveness and recoverability showed relatively little dependence on particle size. The findings obtained in this study will contribute to elucidating the texture property of various foods and to the development of new and novel food products and cuisines, thereby benefiting food science and industry.

Genetic identification of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from diabetic foot ulcers and evaluating the inhibition activity of reuterin against this bacteria.

OBJECTIVE: To genetically diagnose the isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus taken from patients with severe diabetic foot infections, and to test the inhibitory effect of reuterin on the growth of these bacteria. Method: The experimental study was conducted from June to November 2021 at the Diabetes Unit of Al-Faihaa General Hospital, Basrah, Iraq, and comprised 62 foot ulcer swabs from the necrotic lesions of patients with type 2 diabetes. The swabs were cultivated first in brain heart infusion broth media, and then streaked on Mannitol salt agar and staphylococcus chromogeneic agar media for phenotypic and genetic analysis. The genetic identification of bacteria was confirmed by deoxyribonucleic acid extraction, and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus was confirmed by the presence of plasmid mecA gene. The inhibition activity of reuterin towards methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus was determined using the minimum inhibitory concentration test. All data was analyzed with SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 62 swabs were taken from the necrotic lesions of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Of the total isolates, 9(14.5%) gave mauve to purple colour on staphylococcus chromogeneic agar, which was then genetically confirmed as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration value of these bacteria was 10µl/ml at 16mm inhibition zone diameter. There was no cytotoxicity of reuterin to human red blood cells. CONCLUSIONS: Reuterin was found to be a natural antimicrobial substance suitable for use to disinfect diabetic foot wounds from bacterial contamination and infection, especially those caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

[A Novel Support Material for MRI Phantom Study].

PURPOSE: For MRI phantom experiments, when a support such as agar is used to fix a container holding a substance to be measured, difficulties arise, such as the time and effort for support preparation and material changes occurring over time. We specifically examined super absorbent polymer (SAP) and confirmed the usefulness of SAP as a new support for MRI phantoms in terms of measurement and changes over time. METHODS: The simplicity of preparing SAP as a support, its influence on the measured values of substances, and its changes over time were compared with those of agar. RESULTS: Compared to agar, SAP was easier to prepare. The measured values, which were stable over time, were not markedly different from those of agar. CONCLUSION: It was suggested that SAP could be useful as a new support in MRI phantom experiments in terms of measurements, procedures, techniques, and handling over time.

Methods for Determination of Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils In Vitro-A Review.

Essential oils (EOs) have been gaining popularity in the past decades among researchers due to their potential to replace conventional chemicals used in the fight against pests, pathogenic and spoilage microbes, and oxidation processes. EOs are complex mixtures with many chemical components, the content of which depends on many factors-not just the plant genus, species, or subspecies, but also chemotype, locality, climatic conditions, phase of vegetation, method of extraction, and others. Due to this fact, there is still much to study, with antimicrobial effect being one of the key properties of EOs. There are many methods that have been frequently used by researchers for in vitro evaluation; however, although the research has been going on for decades, an internationally accepted standard is still missing. Most of methods are based on time-proven standards used for the testing of antibiotics. Due to the specific properties of EOs and their components, such as volatility and hydrophobicity, many modifications of these standard procedures have been adopted. The aim of this review is to describe the most common methods and their modifications for the testing of antimicrobial properties of EOs and to point out the most controversial variables which can potentially affect results of the assays.

Alternative agar substitutes for culturing unculturable microorganisms.

Gelling agents are necessary for the preparation of solid or semisolid media. For more than a hundred years, agar has been the primary gelling agent. However, a substantial body of evidence has accumulated suggesting that agar-based media inhibit the growth of many microbial species through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), toxic organic contaminants, or competitive exclusion effects. In this review we have compiled the largest amount of data to date on the use of various gelling agents in microbial isolation and cultivation, with the particular emphasis on rare microbe isolation cases. Our analysis suggested that microbial-derived compounds (especially gellan gum), as gelling agents, are superior to agar in their ability to isolate and maintain either new or known microbial species. We analyzed the reasons behind this success and concluded that there are phylum-level differences in microbial responses to the changes in conditions from natural to the laboratory conditions (with respect to gelling agent usage). Consequently, we hypothesize that at least partial success of microbial-derived gelling agents lies in the recreation of the natural microenvironment conditions (which we address as the "familiarity of conditions" hypothesis). Finally, we present a list of recommendations and suggestions for further microbial ecology studies.

Toughness and Thermoresponsive Hydrogel for Sandwich Smart Window with Adaptive Solar Modulation and Energy Saving.

Thermochromic hydrogels with self-regulating solar transmittance are gaining increasing attention due to their significant potential in the fields of smart windows and energy conservation. Smart windows incorporating viscosity-tough hydrogels as an interlayer exhibit enhanced advantages in resisting external forces. In this study, a tough and thermoresponsive composite hydrogel was developed by incorporating poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanoparticles (PNIPAM NPs) and W-doped VO2 into a polyacrylamide-agar (PAM-Agar) double network hydrogel. Upon solar irradiation, thermochromism of PNIPAM NPs could regulate the visible light transmittance of the composite hydrogel and the photothermal effect of W-VO2 contributes to the optical regulation and NIR shielding. The smart window, with the composite hydrogel as an interlayer, demonstrates excellent optical modulation capabilities, with a luminous transmittance (Tum(20 °C)) of 86.81%, high light modulation (ΔTum = 78.89%), a high solar modulation (Tsol) of 83.59%, and a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 32.6 °C. The composite hydrogel's superior toughness (0.215 MJ/m3) also enhances the impact resistance of the smart window glass. Additionally, the adhesion between the hydrogel and the glass, with a maximum peeling force of up to 151 N/m (attributed to interactions between the amide groups and the silicon hydroxyl groups), was confirmed through a falling ball experiment. Moreover, the hydrogel exhibits a certain degree of thermal insulation, further promoting its utility in energy-saving applications. In conclusion, this study highlights the significant potential of such composite hydrogels in the development of smart windows for energy-efficient buildings.

Fusarium begoniae metabolites: a promising larvicidal, pupicidal potential, histopathological alterations and detoxifications enzyme profiles of medically important mosquito vector Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi.

Endophytic fungal molecules have the potential to be a cost-effective chemical source for developing eco-friendly disease-controlling pharmaceuticals that target mosquito-borne illnesses. The primary aims of the study were to identify the fungus Fusarium begoniae larvicidal ability against Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Anopheles stephensi. The ethyl acetate extract demonstrated lethal concentrations that kill 50% of exposed larvae (LC50) and 90% of exposed larvae (LC90) for the 1st to 4th instar larvae of An. stephensi (LC50 = 54.821, 66.525, 68.250, and 73.614; LC90 = 104.56, 138.205, 150.415, and 159.466 µg/mL), Cx. quinquefasciatus (LC50 = 64.981, 36.505, 42.230, and 36.514; LC90 = 180.46, 157.105, 140.318, and 153.366 µg/ mL), and Ae. aegypti (LC50 = 74.890, 33.607, 52.173, and 26.974; LC90 = 202.56, 162.205, 130.518, and 163.286 µg/mL). Mycelium metabolites were evaluated for their pupicidal activity towards Ae. aegypti (LC50 = 80.669, LC90 = 119.904), Cx. quinquefasciatus (LC50 = 70.569, LC90 = 109.840), and An. stephensi (LC50 = 73.269, LC90 = 110.590 µg/mL). The highest larvicidal activity was recorded at 300 µg/mL, with 100% mortality against first and second-instar larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus. Metabolite exposure to larvae exhibited several abnormal behavioral changes. The exposure to F. begoniae metabolite, key esterases such as acetylcholinesterase, α-and-ß-carboxylesterase, and acid and alkaline phosphatase activity significantly decreased compared to control larvae. The outcomes of the histology analysis revealed that the mycelium metabolites-treated targeted larvae had a disorganized abdominal mid and hindgut epithelial cells. The is first-hand information on study of ethyl-acetate-derived metabolites from F. begoniae tested against larvae and pupae of Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. stephensi. Bio-indicator toxicity findings demonstrate that A. nauplii displayed no mortality. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-024-04061-z.

Chicken embryo cultures in the dorsal-upward orientation for the manipulation of epiblasts.

Chicken embryos have many advantages in the study of amniote embryonic development. In particular, culture techniques developed for early-stage embryos have promoted the advancement of modern developmental studies using chicken embryos. However, the standard technique involves placing chicken embryos in the ventral-upward (ventral-up) orientation, limiting manipulation of the epiblast at the dorsal surface, which is the primary source of ectodermal and mesodermal tissues. To circumvent this limitation, we developed chicken embryo cultures in the dorsal-up orientation and exploited this technique to address diverse issues. In this article, we first review the history of chicken embryo culture techniques to evaluate the advantages and limitations of the current standard technique. Then, the dorsal-up technique is discussed. These technological discussions are followed by three different examples of experimental analyses using dorsal-up cultures to illustrate their advantages: (1) EdU labeling of epiblast cells to assess potential variation in the cell proliferation rate; (2) migration behaviors of N1 enhancer-active epiblast cells revealed by tracking cells with focal fluorescent dye labeling in dorsal-up embryo culture; and (3) neural crest development of mouse neural stem cells in chicken embryos.

A simple culture medium for phenotypic characterization and long-term storage of medically relevant fusarioid fungi.

Fusarioid fungi, particularly Neocosmospora solani and Fusarium oxysporum, are emerging as significant human pathogens, causing infections ranging from localized mycoses to life-threatening systemic diseases. Accurate identification and preservation of these fungi in clinical laboratories remain challenging because of their diverse morphologies and specific growth requirements. This study evaluated a novel milk-honey and malt agar (MHM) against conventional media for cultivating and preserving 60 clinical fusarioid isolates, including Neocosmospora spp. (n = 47), Bisifusarium spp. (n = 5), and Fusarium spp. (n = 8). Compared with Sabouraud dextrose 2 % agar (SDA) and malt extract agar (ME2), MHM significantly increased conidia production (p < 0.0001, mean = 3.4 × 103, standard deviation (SD) = ±1.3 × 103), with results similar to those of carnation leaf agar (CLA). MHM facilitated superior preservation of fusarioid viability for up to one year at room temperature on slant cultures and over two years on swabs in Amies gel with charcoal, outperforming current methods such as Castellani (water) or cryopreservation. Morphological characterization of fusarioid fungi grown on MHM revealed distinct growth patterns and conidial structures for Neocosmospora, Bisifusarium, and Fusarium species, aiding in identifying these genera. The superior performance of MHM in stimulating conidiation, maintaining viability, and preserving morphology underscore its potential as a reference medium for medically relevant fusarioid fungi, with broad implications for clinical mycology laboratories and resource-limited settings.