Experimental and Numerical Study of the Effect of Gas-Shrouded Plasma Spraying on Cathode Coating of Alkaline Electrolysis Cells

The aim of this work is to improve the performance of electrodes prepared via atmospheric plasma spray by means of gas shrouding which is expected to apparently reduce the oxygen content of the plasma plume and subsequently improve the coating quality. Electrodes with dual-layer coating for alkaline water electrolysis were deposited on Ni-coated perforated substrates. Microstructure and morphology were studied by SEM. Element content was measured by EDS. Enthalpy probe was employed for measuring plasma temperature and velocity as well as the gas composition. For verifying and better understanding the shrouding effect numerical calculation was carried out according to the experimental settings. Electrochemical test was carried out to validate the shrouding effect. The results showed slight protecting effect of gas shrouding on plasma plume and the final coating. Over the dual-layer section, the measured oxygen fraction was 3.46 and 3.15% for the case without gas shrouding and with gas shrouding, respectively. With gas shrouding the coating exhibited similar element contents as the coating sprayed by VPS, while no obvious improvement was observed in the microstructure or the morphology. Evident electrochemical improvement was nevertheless achieved that with gas shrouding the electrode exhibited similar performance as that of the VPS-sprayed electrode.     

Injection of Porcine Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Cells by a Novel Waterjet Technology

Previously, we developed a novel, needle-free waterjet (WJ) technology capable of injecting viable cells by visual guided cystoscopy in the urethral sphincter. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of WJ technology on cell viability, surface markers, differentiation and attachment capabilities, and biomechanical features. Porcine adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (pADSCs) were isolated, expanded, and injected by WJ technology. Cell attachment assays were employed to investigate cell–matrix interactions. Cell surface molecules were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cells injected by Williams Needle (WN), normal cannula, or not injected cells served as controls. Biomechanical properties were assessed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). pADSCs injected by the WJ were viable (85.9%), proliferated well, and maintained their in vitro adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation capacities. The attachment of pADSCs was not affected by WJ injection and no major changes were noted for cell surface markers. AFM measurements yielded a significant reduction of cellular stiffness after WJ injections (p < 0.001). WJ cell delivery satisfies several key considerations required in a clinical context, including the fast, simple, and reproducible delivery of viable cells. However, the optimization of the WJ device may be necessary to further reduce the effects on the biomechanical properties of cells.     

The Antimicrobial Peptide Gad-1 Clears Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms under Cystic Fibrosis Conditions

Bacterial infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are an emerging health issue and lead to a premature death. CF is a hereditary disease that creates a thick mucus in the lungs that is prone to bacterial biofilm formation, specifically Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. These biofilms are very difficult to treat because many of them have antibiotic resistance that is worsened by the presence of extracellular DNA (eDNA). eDNA helps to stabilize biofilms and can bind antimicrobial compounds to lessen their effects. The metallo-antimicrobial peptide Gaduscidin-1 (Gad-1) eradicates established P. aeruginosa biofilms through a combination of modes of action that includes nuclease activity that can cleave eDNA in biofilms. In addition, Gad-1 exhibits synergistic activity when used with the antibiotics kanamycin and ciprofloxacin, thus making Gad-1 a new lead compound for the potential treatment of bacterial biofilms in CF patients.     

Effect of Heat Processing on the Texture Profile of Canned and Retort Pouch Packed Oil Sardine (Sardinella longiceps) in Oil Medium

ABSTRACT: Sardine in oil was canned at 3 different Lethality values (F₀ 5,7, and 9) in retort pouches and aluminum cans in stationary retort. Process time calculations were done mathematically to find out the actual process time. Sardine in oil processed in retort pouches had a lower process time compared with aluminum cans for each F₀ value. Instrumental texture analysis was done using a food texture analyzer to study the effect of thermal processing on the texture of thermally processed sardine in oil in aluminum cans and retort pouches. As the F₀ value and cook value increased in both the retort pouches and aluminum cans, the textural properties showed a decreasing trend. Hardness of the product canned in both aluminum cans and retort pouches decreased with increase in F₀ values.     

Bioactive glasses as carriers for bioactive molecules and therapeutic drugs: a review

Bioactive glasses (BG) show great promise for bone tissue engineering based on their key properties, e.g., biocompatibility, biodegradability, osteoconductivity as well as osteogenic and angiogenic potential, which make them excellent candidates for bone tissue scaffolds and bone substitute materials. Recent work has shown that dissolution products of bioactive glasses have the potential to induce angiogenesis in addition to their known effect of influencing gene expression and promoting osteoblastic differentiation. One of the most interesting features of BG is their ability to bond both to soft and hard tissues, depending on their composition. To intensify the positive impact of BG for medical applications, there are considerable research efforts on using bioactive glass based platforms as carriers for the encapsulation, delivery and controlled release of bioactive molecules and therapeutic drugs. Different types of bioactive glasses have been considered in combination with different therapeutic drugs, hormones, growth factors and peptides. Using bioactive glasses as drug delivery system combines thus the effectiveness of therapeutic drugs (or bioactive/signaling molecules) with the intrinsic advantages of this inorganic biomaterial. Considering research carried out in the last 15?years, this review presents the different chemical compositions and morphologies of bioactive glasses used as carrier for bioactive molecules and therapeutic drugs and discusses the expanding potential of BG with drug delivery capability focusing in the field of bone tissue engineering.     

Acceleration of autolysis during fish sauce fermentation by adding acid and reducing the salt content

Good quality fish sauce was produced from anchovies (Stolephorus spp.) that had been allowed to autolyse at pH 4 and low salt concentration. After an initial phase of rapid autolysis, the samples were neutralised, and salt was added to the normal level (250 g kg^?1) before the fish sauce was separated by suction. By this method fish sauce with acceptable flavour could be produced after 2 months, whereas the normal production time is more than 6 months. This rapidly-produced fish sauce had a lower level of volatile base and acid, and a better balanced composition of essential amino acids than a first grade commercial fish sauce.     

Physicochemical Characteristics,Functional Properties,and Nutritional Benefits of Peanut Oil: A Review

The legume Arachis hypogaea, commonly known as peanut or groundnut, is a very important food crop throughout the tropics and subtropics. Peanut is one of the most widely used legumes due to its nutrition and taste, and it occupies a rank of major oilseed crop in the world. It has been recognized as a functional food due to its role in a health promoting effect. Peanut oil contains a well-balanced fatty acid and antioxidant profile that provide protection against harmful substances especially free radicals. This paper gives an overview of scientific literature available on phytochemical and functional properties of peanut oil. Owing to its unique organoleptic properties associated with its cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, peanut oil has found, recently, its place on the highly competitive international edible oil market.     

Differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells on plasma-treated polyetheretherketone

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) generally exhibits physical and chemical characteristics that prevent osseointegration. To activate the PEEK surface, we applied oxygen and ammonia plasma treatments. These treatments resulted in surface modifications, leading to changes in nanostructure, contact angle, electrochemical properties and protein adhesion in a plasma power and process gas dependent way. To evaluate the effect of the plasma-induced PEEK modifications on stem cell adhesion and differentiation, adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (adMSC) were seeded on PEEK specimens. We demonstrated an increased adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of adMSC in contact to plasma-treated PEEK. In dependency on the process gas (oxygen or ammonia) and plasma power (between 10 and 200 W for 5 min), varying degrees of osteogenic differentiation were induced. When adMSC were grown on 10 and 50 W oxygen and ammonia plasma-treated PEEK substrates they exhibited a doubled mineralization degree relative to the original PEEK. Thus plasma treatment of PEEK specimens induced changes in surface chemistry and topography and supported osteogenic differentiation of adMSC in vitro. Therefore plasma treated PEEK holds perspective for contributing to osseointegration of dental and orthopedic load-bearing PEEK implants in vivo.