Influence of cultivation parameters or supplement on product qualities and culture performances during perfusion

Perfusion processes have been developed with technological advances in single-use bioreactor and cell retention device. Perfusion has advantages such as high cell density culture in compact facilities and media change or culture parameter shifts for protein production with desired qualities. Single use bioreactor (200L or 1000L) with ATF System was used for the clinical production. For the process development, the scale-down model was established with lab-scale (2L) bioreactor with ATF2. A recombinant CHO cell line producing a fusion protein was cultivated using in-house serum-free media. Influence of insulin (0~3mg/L) on qualities was investigated in the established perfusion process using in-house serum-free medium and 2L scale-down model. The results showed that low concentration of insulin enhanced O-glycosylation and -2 charged N-glycan of fusion protein. Temperature (30~34oC) conditions, under no addition of insulin, were investigated to evaluate effect on qualities. High temperature enhanced O-glycosylation and -2 charged N-glycan of fusion protein. To evaluate interaction among culture parameters (Temperature, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen) in the perfusion process, Central Composite Inscribed (CCI) was selected as design of experiment. 20 perfusion cultures were carried out in the 2L scale-down model. The results showed each parameter and interactions among parameters had an effect on qualities and culture performances

Od pukog urbaniteta do urbanih bioetičkih standarda: poziv na širenje bioetike

An interest in research, deliberation, and reflection on urbanity has been present for a long time. Due to rapid urbanisation in the last few decades, such interest has intensified, attracting scholars from different disciplines and creating new platforms for discussion. The first indicators of a ‘bioethical’ interest in urban life are already present in Van Rensselaer Potter’s early papers (urban ethics. However, more extensive research into urban bioethics remained on hold until recently, mainly due to the dominance of the biomedical paradigm within modern mainstream bioethics. In 2017, the European Bioethics in Action project (funded by the Croatian Science Foundation) ended, resulting in a list of general bioethical standards related to animals, plants, and human health. The aim of this paper is to present the rationale for developing bioethical standards in a specific urban context.Interes za istraživanje, promišljanje i promišljanje urbanosti već je duže vrijeme prisutan. Posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća, zbog rapidne urbanizacije, taj se interes dodatno intenzivirao, privlačeći znanstvenike različitih disciplina i stvarajući nove platforme rasprave. Prvi pokazatelji „bioetičkog“ interesa za urbani život prisutni su već u ranim radovima Van Rensselaera Pottera (urbana etika), no iscrpnija istraživanja urbane bioetike sve su donedavno bila zanemarena, uglavnom kao posljedica dominacije biomedicinske paradigme unutar bioetike. Jedan od rezultata nedavno provedenog projekta „Europska bioetika na djelu EuroBioAct“ (koji je financirala Hrvatska zaklada za znanost, 2014. - 2017.), bila je lista općih bioetičkih standarda koji su definirali prihvatljiv odnos prema životinjama, biljkama i zdravlju ljudi. Nadovezujući se na spomenuto, cilj ovog rada je razrada uporišta za razvoj bioetičkih standarda u specifičnom urbanom kontekstu

Observation of Competing Order in a High-TcT_{c} Superconductor with Femtosecond Optical Pulses

We present studies of the photoexcited quasiparticle dynamics in Tl$_{2}$Ba$_{2}$Ca$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{y}$ (Tl-2223) using femtosecond optical techniques. Deep into the superconducting state (below 40 K), a dramatic change occurs in the temporal dynamics associated with photoexcited quasiparticles rejoining the condensate. This is suggestive of entry into a coexistence phase which, as our analysis reveals, opens a gap in the density of states (in addition to the superconducting gap), and furthermore, competes with superconductivity resulting in a depression of the superconducting gap.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Hippocampal sclerosis and encephalomalacia as prognostic factors of tuberculous meningitis-related and herpes simplex encephalitis-related epilepsy

AbstractBackgroundTuberculous meningitis (TBM) and herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) are common neurological diseases involving the brain parenchyma, and both can result in chronic epilepsy. Here, we identified possible variables affecting the prognosis of central nervous system (CNS) infection-related epilepsy.MethodsThe clinical seizure characteristics and demographic data of 20 TBM- and 55 HSE-related epilepsy patients were compared. Statistically significant prognostic variables were identified using multiple regression analysis.ResultsSex, age at infection, age at epilepsy onset, presence of seizures at the time of infection, latency period, and seizure characteristics between two groups were similar except for the pattern of brain lesions observed on the MRI and their overall prognosis. Patients with hippocampal sclerosis (HS) only comprised 30% and 52.7% of the TBM and HSE groups, respectively. Encephalomalacia had a positive effect in the HSE group while HS had a negative effect in this group, but no significant effects were found in the TBM group. Through a multiple regression analysis with a correction for group effects, HS was associated with a poor prognosis. However, encephalomalacia was concomitantly associated with a good prognosis. In addition, a short latency period, with a one-year interval, and being male were both associated with a good prognosis, while the age at the onset of epilepsy was associated with a poor prognosis.ConclusionsThis study suggests that HS and encephalomalacia could have mutual but contradictory effects on the prognosis of CNS infection-related epilepsy

Development of SCAR markers for the identification of Phytophthora katsurae causing chestnut ink disease in Korea

Sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers are one of the most effective and accurate tools for microbial identification. In this study, we applied SCAR markers for the rapid and accurate detection of Phytophthora katsurae, the casual agent of chestnut ink disease in Korea. In this study, we developed seven SCAR markers specific to P. katsurae using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and assessed the potential of the SCAR markers to serve as tools for identifying P. katsurae. Seven primer pairs (SOPC 1F/SOPC 1R, SOPC 1-1F/SOPC 1-1R, SOPC 3F/SOPC 3R, SOPC 4F/SOPC 4R, SOPC 4F/SOPC 4-1R, SOPD 9F/SOPD 9R, and SOPD 10F/SOPD 10R) from a sequence derived from RAPD fragments were designed for the analysis of the SCAR markers. To evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of the SCAR markers, the genomic DNA of P. katsurae was serially diluted 10-fold to final concentrations from 1 mg/mL to 1 pg/mL. The limit of detection using the SCAR markers ranged from 100 μg/mL to 100 ng/mL. To identify the limit for detecting P. katsurae zoospores, each suspension of zoospores was serially diluted 10-fold to final concentrations from 10 × 105 to 10 × 101 zoospores/mL, and then extracted. The limit of detection by SCAR markers was approximately 10 × 101 zoospores/mL. PCR detection with SCAR markers was specific for P. katsurae, and did not produce any P. katsurae-specific PCR amplicons from 16 other Phytophthora species used as controls. This study shows that SCAR markers are a useful tool for the rapid and effective detection of P. katsurae.This research was supported from a Forest Science and Technology Project (Project No. C1002315) provided through the Korea Forest Service.http://www.mycobiology.or.kr/am201

Investigation on the calibration for the membrane type heat flux sensor using micro heater

This paper presents the calibration accuracy of the membrane type heat flux sensor using micro heater. The directional heat flow rate into the thermal sensor is simulated with FEM to estimate the heat flux from micro heater for calibration. Thin film thermopile which is fabricated on the dielectric membrane directly converts the temperature difference between hot and cold junctions of thermopile into heat flux signal created by the thermoelectric effect. However, symmetric design of thermopile is restricted to only measure x-directional heat flow rate, when heat also propagates through y direction via heat conduction and z direction with convection. Therefore, it is highly needed to investigate how amount of heat from the micro heater contributes to the calibration of heat flux sensor. In the case of the calibration using micro heater, heat conduction through the membrane dominates heat flow. Thus, 97% of heat flow from micro heater propagates through the thermopile and generates 1.038 V/W of sensitivity that was estimated by the simulated model as 1.066 V/W. On the other hand, in case of water filled micro channel, 87% of heat flow reaches to thermopile and estimated 0.392 V/W of sensitivity. This heat loss leads to the inaccurate calibration as well as the lowered sensitivity.Papers presented to the 12th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Costa de Sol, Spain on 11-13 July 2016

Optical repumping of triplet PP-states enhances magneto-optical trapping of ytterbium atoms

Radiative decay from the excited $^1P_1$ state to metastable $^3P_2$ and $^3P_0$ states is expected to limit attainable trapped atomic population in a magneto-optic trap of ytterbium (Yb) atoms. In experiments we have carried out with optical repumping of $^3P_{0,2}$ states to $^3P_1$, we observe enhancement of trapped atoms yield in the excited $^1P_1$ state. The individual decay rate to each metastable state is measured and the results show an excellent agreement with the theoretical values.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure