Quantitative Step-loading Block Test: A Substitute for Loaded-column Test

A new snowpack stability test, quantitative step-loading block test (QSLBT) has beendeveloped and used operationally by the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment during thewinter 2004-05 at Patsio Research Station in Great Himalayan range. This test is simple, takesless time in measurement, and effectively communicates the results. In this test, an isolated snowcolumn of area 13 cm x 18 cm (0.234 m2 or may be up to 0.30 m2) is cut out of the wall of a snowpit. A wooden block of known weight (0.21 kg) and of the dimension 13 cm x 18 cm is placedover the snow block and loaded in steps with iron weights of known quantity. On loading if theblock fails, the height of failure from ground and the load by which the failure of block has takenplace, are noted. While most of the stability tests in snow provide just an estimate of snowpackinstability, this test provides the quantity of load required to fail the snowpack. More than 40tests were carried out in Great Himalayan range during the winter 2004-05 and were comparedwith the shear strength of the failure plane. The results are in good agreement with shear frametest

Anticancer applications of nanostructured silica-based materials functionalized with titanocene derivatives: Induction of cell death mechanism through TNFR1 modulation

This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Biomedical ApplicationsA series of cytotoxic titanocene derivatives have been immobilized onto nanostructured silica-based materials using two different synthetic routes, namely, (i) a simple grafting protocol via protonolysis of the Ti-Cl bond; and (ii) a tethering method by elimination of ethanol using triethoxysilyl moieties of thiolato ligands attached to titanium. The resulting nanostructured systems have been characterized by different techniques such as XRD, XRF, DR-UV, BET, SEM, and TEM, observing the incorporation of the titanocene derivatives onto the nanostructured silica and slight changes in the textural features of the materials after functionalization with the metallodrugs. A complete biological study has been carried out using the synthesized materials exhibiting moderate cytotoxicity in vitro against three human hepatic carcinoma (HepG2, SK-Hep-1, Hep3B) and three human colon carcinomas (DLD-1, HT-29, COLO320) and very low cytotoxicity against normal cell lines. In addition, the cells' metabolic activity was modified by a 24-h exposure in a dose-dependent manner. Despite not having a significant effect on TNFalfa or the proinflammatory interleukin 1alfa secretion, the materials strongly modulated tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling, even at sub-cytotoxic concentrations. This is achieved mainly by upregulation of the TNFR1 receptor production, something which has not previously been observed for these systems.We gratefully acknowledge financial support from FEDER and the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain (grant no. CTQ2015-66164-R) and the Romanian UEFISCDI Exploratory Research Project PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0870, IMPRESS. We would also like to thank Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and Banco de Santander for supporting our Research Group of Excellence QUINANOAP. Finally, we thank D. Pérez for valuable discussion and S. Carralero and C. Forcé for their assistance with solid-state NMR experiments

Mineral biofortification and growth stimulation of lentil plants inoculated with trichoderma strains and metabolites

Biofortification of crops via agricultural interventions represents an excellent way to supply micronutrients in poor rural populations, who highly suffer from these deficiencies. Soil microbes can directly influence plant growth and productivity, e.g., by contrasting plant pathogens or facilitating micronutrient assimilation in harvested crop‐food products. Among these microbial communities, Trichoderma fungi are well‐known examples of plant symbionts widely used in agriculture as biofertilizers or biocontrol agents. In this work, eleven Trichoderma strains and/or their bioactive metabolites (BAMs) were applied to lentil plants to evaluate their effects on plant growth and mineral content in greenhouse or field experiments. Our results indicated that, depending upon the different combinations of fungal strain and/or BAM, the mode of treatment (seed and/or watering), as well as the supplementary watering with solutions of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), the mineral absorption was differentially affected in treated plants compared with the water controls. In greenhouse conditions, the largest increase in Fe and Zn contents occurred when the compounds were applied to the seeds and the strains (in particular, T. afroharzianum T22, T. harzianum TH1, and T. virens GV41) to the soil. In field experiments, Fe and Zn contents increased in plants treated with T. asperellum strain KV906 or the hydrophobin HYTLO1 compared with controls. Both selected fungal strains and BAMs applications improved seed germination and crop yield. This biotechnology may represent an important challenge for natural biofortification of crops, thus reducing the risk of nutrient deficiencies

Global Policy and Practice for Intrauterine Fetal Resuscitation During Fetal Surgery for Open Spina Bifida Repair

IMPORTANCE: Globally accepted recommendations suggest that a woman should be between 19 weeks and 25 weeks plus 6 days of pregnancy to be considered eligible for fetal closure of open spina bifida. A fetus requiring emergency delivery during surgery is therefore potentially considered viable and thus eligible for resuscitation. There is little evidence, however, to support how this scenario is addressed in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To explore current policy and practice for fetal resuscitation during fetal surgery for open spina bifida in centers undertaking fetal surgery. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: An online survey was designed to identify current policies and practices in place to support fetal surgery for open spina bifida, exploring experiences and management of emergency fetal delivery and fetal death during surgery. The survey was emailed to 47 fetal surgery centers in 11 countries where fetal spina bifida repair is currently performed. These centers were identified through the literature, the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis center repository, and an internet search. Centers were contacted between January 15 and May 31, 2021. Individuals volunteered participation through choosing to complete the survey. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The survey comprised 33 questions of mixed multiple choice, option selection, and open-ended formats. Questions explored policy and practice supporting fetal and neonatal resuscitation during fetal surgery for open spina bifida. RESULTS: esponses were obtained from 28 of 47 centers (60%) in 11 countries. Twenty cases of fetal resuscitation during fetal surgery during the last 5 years were reported across 10 centers. Four cases of emergency delivery during fetal surgery after maternal and/or fetal complications during the last 5 years were reported across 3 centers. Fewer than half the 28 centers (n = 12 [43%]) had policies in place to support practice in the event of either imminent fetal death (during or after fetal surgery) or the need for emergency fetal delivery during fetal surgery. Twenty of 24 centers (83%) reported preoperative parental counseling on the potential need for fetal resuscitation prior to fetal surgery. The gestational age at which centers would attempt neonatal resuscitation after emergency delivery varied from 22 weeks and 0 days to more than 28 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: In this global survey study of 28 fetal surgical centers, there was no standard practice about how fetal resuscitation or subsequent neonatal resuscitation was managed during open spina bifida repair. Further collaboration between professionals and parents is required to ensure sharing of information to support knowledge development in this area

SYNERGISTIC ACTION OF PENETRATION ENHANCERS IN TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY

Transdermal drug delivery system is a desirable form of drug delivery because of the obvious advantages over other routes of delivery. One promising challenge in designing transdermal drug delivery system is to overcome the natural transport barrier of the skin i.e. the stratum corneum which is the rate limiting step in percutaneous absorption of drugs. Various penetration enhancers are now being used alone or in combinations to enhance the penetration of the drug through the skin. The main objective of the present study is to review the synergistic action of various penetration enhancers on the efficacy and safety of the drug. It has been found from the literature study that systems employing synergistic mixtures of penetration enhancers offer superior skin permeation enhancement as compared to those employing single penetration enhancer. Various chemical, physical and carrier approaches have also been reviewed to increase skin permeation of the drug. Keywords: Transdermal, penetration enhancers, synergistic mixtures, permeation enhancement

Monitoring root rot in flat-leaf parsley via machine vision by unsupervised multivariate analysis of morphometric and spectral parameters

\ua9 The Author(s) 2024.Use of vertical farms is increasing rapidly as it enables year-round crop production, made possible by fully controlled growing environments situated within supply chains. However, intensive planting and high relative humidity make such systems ideal for the proliferation of fungal pathogens. Thus, despite the use of bio-fungicides and enhanced biosecurity measures, contamination of crops does happen, leading to extensive crop loss, necessitating the use of high-throughput monitoring for early detection of infected plants. In the present study, progression of foliar symptoms caused by Pythium irregulare-induced root rot was monitored for flat-leaf parsley grown in an experimental hydroponic vertical farming setup. Structural and spectral changes in plant canopy were recorded non-invasively at regular intervals using a 3D multispectral scanner. Five morphometric and nine spectral features were selected, and different combinations of these features were subjected to multivariate data analysis via principal component analysis to identify temporal trends for early segregation of healthy and infected samples. Combining morphometric and spectral features enabled a clear distinction between healthy and diseased plants at 4–7 days post inoculation (DPI), whereas use of only morphometric or spectral features allowed this at 7–9 DPI. Minimal datasets combining the six most effective features also resulted in effective grouping of healthy and diseased plants at 4–7 DPI. This suggests that selectively combining morphometric and spectral features can enable accurate early identification of infected plants, thus creating the scope for improving high-throughput crop monitoring in vertical farms

Medical Diagnostic Systems Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Algorithms : Principles and Perspectives

Funding Information: This work was supported in part by the National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korean Government, Ministry of Science and ICT, under Grant NRF-2020R1A2B5B02002478, and in part by Sejong University through its Faculty Research Program.Peer reviewe