QbD Implementation in Biotechnological Product Development Studies

Biotechnological drug development is an extensive area still growing and coming into prominence day by day. Since biotechnological product manufacturing is irreversible, highly expensive, and contains so many critical parameters throughout the process, quality control tests applied to the finished product become inefficacious; therefore, maintaining predefined quality is crucial. Quality by Design (QbD), a systematic approach, is designing and optimizing of formulation and production processes in order to provide a predefined product quality by following a risk and scientific-based path. Determining the critical variables for biotechnological products and their manufacturing via risk assessment is the first and most vital stage of QbD approach, before exploring the multivariate relations among the independent and dependent critical variables by mathematical modeling with the assistive technologies. Response Surface Method (RSM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Genetic Algorithm (GA) are some of the assistive technologies used to perform mathematical modeling. After modeling, additional knowledge is vested and this provides the chance to find a range in which the product quality is always ensured, called as “Design space”. So, product quality is procured all along the process by keeping the critical variables under control with less effort, money, and mistakes

Geomorphological and sedimentary processes of the glacially influenced northwestern Iberian continental margin and abyssal plains

The offshore region of northwestern Iberia offers an opportunity to study the impacts of along-slope processes on the morphology of a glacially influenced continental margin, which has traditionally been conceptually characterised by predominant down-slope sedimentary processes. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry, acoustic backscatter and ultrahigh-resolution seismic reflection profile data are integrated and analysed to describe the present-day and recent geomorphological features and to interpret their associated sedimentary processes. Seventeen large-scale seafloor morphologies and sixteen individual echo types, interpreted as structural features (escarpments, marginal platforms and related fluid escape structures) and depositional and erosional bedforms developed either by the influence of bottom currents (moats, abraded surfaces, sediment waves, contourite drifts and ridges) or by gravitational features (gullies, canyons, slides, channel-levee complexes and submarine fans), are identified for the first time in the study area (spanning ~90,000 km2 and water depths of 300m to 5 km). Different types of slope failures and turbidity currents are mainly observed on the upper and lower slopes and along submarine canyons and deep-sea channels. The middle slope morphologies are mostly determined by the actions of bottom currents (North Atlantic Central Water, Mediterranean Outflow Water, Labrador Sea Water and North Atlantic Deep Water), which thereby define the margin morphologies and favour the reworking and deposition of sediments. The abyssal plains (Biscay and Iberian) are characterised by pelagic deposits and channel-lobe systems (the Cantabrian and Charcot), although several contourite features are also observed at the foot of the slope due to the influence of the deepest water masses (i.e., the North Atlantic Deep Water and Lower Deep Water). Thiswork shows that the study area is the result of Mesozoic to present-day tectonics (e.g. themarginal platforms and structural highs). Therefore, tectonism constitutes a long-term controlling factor, whereas the climate, sediment supply and bottom currents play key roles in the recent short-term architecture and dynamics. Moreover, the recent predominant along-slope sedimentary processes observed in the studied northwestern Iberian Margin represent snapshots of the progressive stages and mixed deep-water system developments of the marginal platforms on passive margins and may provide information for a predictive model of the evolution of other similar margins.Departamento de Investigación y Prospectiva Geocientífica, Unidad de Tres Cantos, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaDepartamento de Geología y Geoquímica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, EspañaDepartment of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Reino Unid

Genotypic variation in the response of tomato to salinity

In order to determine the predictive screening parameters that can be applied at early development stages of tomato plants, 18 tomato cultivars were grown in nutrient solution with 12 dS m-1 NaCl. Theresearch was conducted in a completely randomized design with tree replications. The relationships among the salinity and root, stem, leaf accumulation, K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ ratios and root-stem-leaf dryweights were investigated. At the end of treatment, regarding studied parameters morphologic and physiologic changes were determined depending on increasing NaCl concentrations. With increasingconcentrations, it was determined that all growth parameters were decreased. However, this decrease in salt tolerant cultivars was restricted as compared to salt sensitive cultivars. It was also determined that by increasing NaCl applications, the amount of Na+ was increased and, the amount of Ca2+ and K+ ions were decreased in salt tolerant cultivars same with growth parameters. Thus, it was concluded that, more K+ or Ca2+ absorbing plant with high K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ rations were more salt tolerant. At end of the study, it was determined that dry weights and K/Na+- Ca2+/Na+ ratios were very effective on the salt tolerance. Considering the cultivars, H-2710 was characterized as more salt tolerant under saline conditions

Identifying potential porphyry Cu mineralization at the Kirazli district in Biga Peninsula (NW Turkey): insights from the mapping hydrothermal alteration by using shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectrometry

The Kirazlı mineral district is located at the center of the Biga peninsula metallogenic province, in a geological setting characterized by an extensional tectonic environment. The district hosts a high-sulfidation (HS) ore body with a total reserve of 33.86 Mt @ 0.69 g/t Au and 9.42 g/t Ag within a large-scale hydrothermal alteration. Although the ideal magmatic-hydrothermal models present the spatial and temporal association of HS-epithermal and porphyry Cu deposits, the porphyry Cu potential at the Kirazlı has not been evaluated, yet. Therefore, the mineral-based alteration mapping with the help of SWIR reflectance spectroscopy was carried out. Our study demonstrates that nine different mineral zone have been distinguished and mapped: (1) Silicification, (2) Alunite, (3) Kaolinite, (4) Dickite, (5) Illite, (6) Pyrophyllite, (7) Chlorite, (8) Sericite, and (9) Montmorillonite zones. Collectively, these alterations exhibit a zoned pattern, from central massive silicification to residual silica, NW-SE oriented alunite, and marginal montmorillonite-illite zones within widespread kaolinite – dickite dominated alteration in Kirazlı main zone. The occurrence of pyrophyllite and sericite dominates at the SE of the Kirazlı district, which refers to relative temperature increase. Subsequent drilling confirms the potential for deep prospecting of porphyry Cu mineralization in the region.</p