Bioreactor production process of Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus biopesticide.

ABSTRACT - Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) is one of the most important maize pests in the world and the baculovirus Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV), a natural pathogen of this pest, has been used as a biopesticide for its control. At present, in vivo strategies at the commercial scale are employed by multiplying the virus in the host insect in biofactory facilities; however, in vitro large-scale production is an interesting alternative to overcome the limitations of baculoviruses massal production. This study aimed to develop the process of the SfMNPV in vitro production by evaluating the effects of different multiplicities of infection (MOI) and nutritional supplements, morphological and molecular analysis of the infection on the growth of Sf9 cells and virus production. The Bioreactor Stirred Tank Reactor (STR) approach with glutamine-supplemented Sf-900 III serum free culture medium, combined with the MOI of 1.0, showed the best viral production performance, with a specific productivity above 300 occlusion bodies (OBs)/cell and volumetric productivity of 9.0 x 10¹¹ OBs/L

Mindfulness, Compassion, and Self-Compassion as Moderator of Environmental Support on Competency in Mental Health Nursing

Abstract: This research explored the established relationship between environmental support and competency for Mental Health Nurses, intending to investigate whether the tendency to display higher levels of mindfulness, compassion, and self-compassion might buffer the effect of a poor environment on competency. One questionnaire was comprised of five pre-developed questionnaires, which included all items examining environmental support, competency, mindfulness, compassion, and self-compassion. Mental Health Nurses (n = 103) were recruited from online forums and social media group pages in the UK. The result showed environmental support related positively to competency. Furthermore, the positive relationship of competency with environmental support was moderated when controlling for compassion but did not with mindfulness and self-compassion, although subscales showed some further interactions. When poor environmental support influences the competency of mental health professionals, compassion and mindfulness-based interactions may have the potential to uphold competency

Fiscal Year 1995

Calcine dissolution studies were performed in FY-94,95 in order to extend the knowledge of dissolution and to obtain information necessary for scale-up design and operation. Experiments reported in this document were performed with non-radioactive and actual calcines to generate qualitative data regarding: (a) calcine dissolution rates, (b) undissolved solids settling characteristics, (c) undissolved solids heel formation, and (d) chemical treatments for undissolved solids heel dissolution. The goal of this work was to achieve complete calcine dissolution, or to determine conditions that would result in the maximum calcine dissolution. Small scale laboratory experiments (test-tube dissolutions) and a bench scale dissolver set-up were used in the effort. Results from this work show the bulk of the undissolved solids to settle at a rate of >9 inches per second when the baseline dissolution parameters are used. Baseline dissolution parameters were 100 grams of calcine being dissolved in 1 L of 5 M HNO{sub 3} at > 90 C while the solution is being vigorously and constantly mixed. This work also verified that dissolution is most complete when performed with aggressive mixing. Sequential dissolutions performed with non-radioactive and actual calcine indicate that little undissolved solids heel build-up is expected, and this small heel can be further dissolved by increasing the dissolution time or by adding fresh nitric acid

The effect of dissolved oxygen concentration control on cell growth and antibiotic retamycin production in Streptomyces olindensis So20 fermentations

Cell growth and retamycin production in Streptomyces olindensis So20 were studied at different dissolved oxygen levels during fermentation. The profiles for cell growth and retamycin production in an experiment with dissolved oxygen control at 5% air saturation during production were similar to those in an experiment without dissolved oxygen control. However, despite slower cell growth, a twofold increase in the final retamycin concentration was achieved when dissolved oxygen was controlled at 100% during the growth phase, compared to a base experiment (no DO control). Therefore, the results revealed that retamycin production was dependent on dissolved oxygen concentration during the growth phase, even with sufficient oxygen. On the other hand, a large oxygen supply during the production phase did not contribute to an improvement in retamycin production