Restructuring Electrolyte Solvation by a Versatile Diluent Toward Beyond 99.9% Coulombic Efficiency of Sodium Plating/Stripping at Ultralow Temperatures

The reversible and durable operation of sodium metal batteries at low temperatures (LT) is essential for cold-climate applications but is plagued by dendritic Na plating and unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI). Current Coulombic efficiencies of sodium plating/stripping at LT fall far below 99.9%, representing a significant performance gap yet to be filled. Here, the solvation structure of the conventional 1 m NaPF6 in diglyme electrolyte by facile cyclic ether (1,3-dioxolane, DOL) dilution is efficiently reconfigured. DOL diluents help shield the Na+-PF6 - Coulombic interaction and intermolecular forces of diglyme, leading to anomalously high Na+-ion conductivity. Besides, DOL participates in the solvation sheath and weakens the chelation of Na+ by diglyme for facilitated desolvation. More importantly, it promotes concentrated electron cloud distribution around PF6 - in the solvates and promotes their preferential decomposition. A desired inorganic-rich SEI is generated with compositional uniformity, high ionic conductivity, and high Young's modulus. Consequently, a record-high Coulombic efficiency over 99.9% is achieved at an ultralow temperature of -55 °C, and a 1 Ah capacity pouch cell of initial anode-free sodium metal battery retains 95% of the first discharge capacity over 100 cycles at -25 °C. This study thus provides new insights for formulating electrolytes toward increased Na reversibility at LT.

The Effect of Different Diluents and Curing Agents on the Performance of Epoxy Resin-Based Intumescent Flame-Retardant Coatings

The epoxy resin-based (ESB) intumescent flame-retardant coatings were modified with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (14BDDE) and butyl glycidyl ether (BGE) as diluents and T403 and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) as curing agents, respectively. The effects of different diluents and curing agents on the flame-retardant and mechanical properties, as well as the composition evolution of the coatings, were investigated by using large-plate combustion, the limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical combustion, a cone calorimeter, X-ray diffraction, FTIR analysis, a N2 adsorption and desorption test, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a tensile strength test, and a viscosity test. The results showed that the addition of 14BBDE and T403 promoted the oxidation of B4C and the formation of boron-containing glass or ceramics, increased the residual mass of char, densified the surface char layer, and increased the specific surface area of porous residual char. When their dosage was 30%, ESB-1T-3 coating exhibited the most excellent flame-retardant properties. During the 2 h large-plate combustion test, the backside temperature was only 138.72 °C, without any melting pits. In addition, the peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release rate (THR), total smoke production (TSP), and peak smoke production (PSPR) were reduced by 13.15%, 13.9%, 5.48%, and 17.45%, respectively, compared to the blank ESB coating. The LOI value reached 33.4%, and the vertical combustion grade was V-0. In addition, the tensile strength of the ESB-1T-3 sample was increased by 10.94% compared to ESB. In contrast, the addition of BGE and DDM promoted the combustion of the coating, affected the ceramic process of the coating, seriously affected the formation of borosilicate glass, and exhibited poor flame retardancy. The backside temperature reached 190.93 °C after 2 h combustion. A unified rule is that as the amount of diluent and curing agent increases, the flame retardancy improves while the mechanical properties decrease. This work provides data support for the preparation and process optimization of resin-based coatings.

Crystallinity, Rheology, and Mechanical Properties of Low-/High-Molecular-Weight PLA Blended Systems

As semi-crystalline polyester (lactic acid) (PLA) is combined with other reinforcing materials, challenges such as phase separation, environmental pollution, and manufacturing difficulties could hinder the benefits of PLA, including complete biodegradability and strong mechanical properties. In the present investigation, melt blending is utilized to establish a mixture of low- and high-molecular-weight polylactic acids (LPLA and HPLA). The crystallinity, rheology, and mechanical properties of the combination were analyzed using rotational rheometry, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, polarized optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and universal testing equipment. The results demonstrate compatibility between LPLA and HPLA. Moreover, an increase in LPLA concentration leads to a decrease in the crystallization rate, spherulite size, fractional crystallinity, and XRD peak intensity during isothermal crystallization. LPLA acts as a diluent during isothermal crystallization, whereas HPLA functions as a nucleating agent in the non-isothermal crystallization process, promoting the growth of LPLA crystals and leading to co-crystallization. The blended system with a 5% LPLA mass fraction exhibits the highest tensile strength and enhances rheological characteristics. By effectively leveraging the relationship between various molecular weights of PLA's mechanical, rheological, and crystallization behavior, this scrutiny improves the physical and mechanical characteristics of the material, opening up new opportunities.

Nanostructure of Locally Concentrated Ionic Liquids in the Bulk and at Graphite and Gold Electrodes

The physical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) have led to intense research interest, but for many applications, high viscosity is problematic. Mixing the IL with a diluent that lowers viscosity offers a solution if the favorable IL physical properties are not compromised. Here we show that mixing an IL or IL electrolyte (ILE, an IL with dissolved metal ions) with a nonsolvating fluorous diluent produces a low viscosity mixture in which the local ion arrangements, and therefore key physical properties, are retained or enhanced. The locally concentrated ionic liquids (LCILs) examined are 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (HMIM TFSI), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (HMIM FAP), or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (BMIM FAP) mixed with 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether (TFTFE) at 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 (w/w) IL:TFTFE, as well as the locally concentrated ILEs (LCILEs) formed from 2:1 (w/w) HMIM TFSI-TFTFE with 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 m lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). Rheology and conductivity measurements reveal that the added TFTFE significantly reduces viscosity and increases ionic conductivity, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) reveals minimal reductions in electrochemical windows on gold and carbon electrodes. This is explained by the small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (S/WAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) data, which show that the local ion nanostructures are largely retained in LCILs and LCILEs in bulk and at gold and graphite electrodes for all potentials investigated.

Role of Bio-Based and Fossil-Based Reactive Diluents in Epoxy Coatings with Amine and Phenalkamine Crosslinker

The properties of epoxy can be adapted depending on the selection of bio-based diluents and crosslinkers to balance the appropriate viscosity for processing and the resulting mechanical properties for coating applications. This work presents a comprehensive study on the structure-property relationships for epoxy coatings with various diluents of mono-, di-, and bio-based trifunctional glycidyl ethers or bio-based epoxidized soybean oil added in appropriate concentration ranges, in combination with a traditional fossil-based amine or bio-based phenalkamine crosslinker. The viscosity of epoxy resins was already reduced for diluents with simple linear molecular configurations at low concentrations, while higher concentrations of more complex multifunctional diluents were needed for a similar viscosity reduction. The curing kinetics were evaluated through the fitting of data from differential scanning calorimetry to an Arrhenius equation, yielding the lowest activation energies for difunctional diluents in parallel with a balance between viscosity and reactivity. While the variations in curing kinetics with a change in diluent were minor, the phenalkamine crosslinkers resulted in a stronger decrease in activation energy. For cured epoxy resins, the glass transition temperature was determined as an intrinsic parameter that was further related to the mechanical coating performance. Considerable effects of the diluents on coating properties were investigated, mostly showing a reduction in abrasive wear for trifunctional diluents in parallel with the variations in hardness and ductility. The high hydrophobicity for coatings with diluents remained after wear and provided good protection. In conclusion, the coating performance could be related to the intrinsic mechanical properties independently of the fossil- or bio-based origin of diluents and crosslinkers, while additional lubricating properties are presented for vegetable oil diluents.

Effects of Different Diluents on Semen Quality of Hu Ram Stored at 4 °C

This study aimed to investigate the effects of various diluents on the quality of Hu ram sperm stored at 4 °C. Semen samples were collected from three Hu rams and diluted with diluents A (Sodium citrate-Glucose-Egg yolk), B (Sodium citrate-Glucose), C (Fructose-Skimmed milk powder-Soy lecithin), and D (Tris-Fructose-Citric acid-Egg yolk). Total motility (TM), straight-line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity (VCL), average motion degree (MAD), acrosome integrity, membrane integrity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. The results showed that diluent D had better preservation in terms of the sperm TM, VSL, VCL, VAP, MAD, and membrane and acrosome integrity. On the third day of the storage, the sperm PM of diluent D was higher than that of other diluents (p < 0.05). The ROS level of diluent D was lower than that of other diluents on the fifth day (p < 0.05). On the seventh day of the storage, the sperm TM in diluent D reached 50%, which was the highest in all diluent groups. On the seventh day of the storage, the integrity of the sperm membrane and the integrity of the acrosome of the sperm in diluent D were the highest in all diluent groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these results indicated that diluent D improved the semen quality during storage at 4 °C. In this study, diluent D was the best diluent formula for Hu ram semen stored at 4 °C.

An optimized extraction and gas chromatography analysis method for the quantification of diluent hydrocarbons in froth treatment tailings

Froth treatment tailings are one type of waste stream generated during the extraction of surface-mined oil sands bitumen. To remove water and solids from bitumen froth recovered during the water-based extraction process, hydrocarbon diluent is added, and settling and/or centrifugation are applied to the diluted bitumen froth, producing diluted bitumen and froth treatment tailings. While recovery processes are in place to remove and recycle the diluent from froth treatment tailings, some residual diluent can remain. Since tailings are stored in outdoor ponds, the residual diluent can have implications for methanogenic microbial processes and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. This work presents a methodology to accurately extract and quantify diluent hydrocarbons from froth treatment tailings using gas chromatography. A cold-start temperature program is used to separate diluent hydrocarbons from any residual bitumen in the sample, and diluent is quantified using commercial standards as well as unprocessed diluent. A series of extraction parameters were tested and results from multiple conditions are shown with a rationale for the selected optimized parameters. Quantification of diluent in tailings samples is demonstrated from 60 to 5329 μg/g, and results from quality control standards show an average diluent recovery of 100 ± 10%.

Identification of storage conditions stabilizing extracellular vesicles preparations

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in many physiological and pathophysiological processes and hold great potential for therapeutic and diagnostic use. Despite significant advances within the last decade, the key issue of EV storage stability remains unresolved and under investigated. Here, we aimed to identify storage conditions stabilizing EVs and comprehensively compared the impact of various storage buffer formulations at different temperatures on EVs derived from different cellular sources for up to 2 years. EV features including concentration, diameter, surface protein profile and nucleic acid contents were assessed by complementary methods, and engineered EVs containing fluorophores or functionalized surface proteins were utilized to compare cellular uptake and ligand binding. We show that storing EVs in PBS over time leads to drastically reduced recovery particularly for pure EV samples at all temperatures tested, starting already within days. We further report that using PBS as diluent was found to result in severely reduced EV recovery rates already within minutes. Several of the tested new buffer conditions largely prevented the observed effects, the lead candidate being PBS supplemented with human albumin and trehalose (PBS-HAT). We report that PBS-HAT buffer facilitates clearly improved short-term and long-term EV preservation for samples stored at -80°C, stability throughout several freeze-thaw cycles, and drastically improved EV recovery when using a diluent for EV samples for downstream applications.

Development of a Sperm Cryopreservation Protocol for Critically Endangered Mohashol, Tor tor (Hamilton)

This study dealt with the development of a sperm cryopreservation protocol of Tor tor. Sperm was collected from hormone-induced males and the concentration and pH of sperm were estimated as 4.3 ± 0.1 × 10¹⁰ cells/mL and 8.6 ± 0.2, respectively. Activation of sperm motility was evaluated in different osmolalities of NaCl solution where motility of sperm decreased with increasing osmolality of extenders, and was completely inhibited at 319 mOsmol/kg. Similarly, the swimming duration of activated sperm was affected as the osmolality of the extender increased. The duration of initial motility of sperm was recorded as 8.4 ± 0.4 minutes at 48 mOsmol/kg, while the highest motility was recorded as 68.0 ± 7.2 minutes at 128 mOsmol/kg. To evaluate the toxicity of cryoprotectants, sperm was incubated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methanol at 5%, 10%, and 15% concentrations, respectively, for 5-45 minutes. Alsever's solution with 5% and 10% DMSO produced better motility during 5-10 minutes of incubation and 15% DMSO seemed toxic to sperm. For the cryopreservation of sperm, Alsever's solution, egg yolk citrate, and urea egg yolk were used as extenders with DMSO and methanol. Alsever's solution with 10% DMSO provided the highest equilibration (90.0% ± 3.5%) and post-thaw (80.0% ± 3.5%) motility followed by that of 87.0% ± 2.0% and 79.0% ± 1.9% with egg yolk citrate plus DMSO, and 82.0% ± 2.6% and 78.0% ± 2.0% with urea egg yolk plus DMSO, respectively. The sperm cryopreservation protocol developed through this study can be applied for long-term preservation of genetic materials of the critically endangered T. tor, and eventually, it will be an effective tool for protecting them from extinction.

Achieving High-Performance Li-S Batteries via Polysulfide Adjoining Interface Engineering

To realize lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries with high energy density, it is crucial to maximize the loading level of sulfur cathode and minimize the electrolyte content. However, excessive amounts of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) generated during the cycling limit the stable operation of Li-S batteries. In this study, a high-loading S cathode with a three-dimensional (3D) network structure is fabricated using a simple pelletizing method, and the exhausting overcharging phenomenon, which occurs in the high-loading Li-S cell, is successively prevented by pretreating the lithium metal anode. Moreover, adding a diluent to the electrolyte containing viscous LiPSs enables the facile conversion between S species during the cycling of high-loading Li-S cells under lean electrolyte conditions. Finally, a prototype Li-S pouch cell with high energy density (427 Wh kg^-1) was realized by combining a compacted 3D cathode with a high-loading, pretreated thin lithium metal and diluent-modified electrolyte. We believe that the results reported herein will be a good guideline to establish proper strategies to achieve high energy density Li-S batteries.

Effects of different ultrastructures of lecithin on cryosurvival of goat spermatozoa

This study was to evaluate the effects of two different ultrastructures of lecithin including nanoparticles (NPE mostly nanomicelles) and lecithin nanoliposome (NLE) with egg yolk extender (EYE) on goat sperm cryopreservation. Semen samples were collected from 6 goats, then pooled, diluted and then frozen. Motility and motion parameters, plasma membrane integrity and functionality, morphology, apoptosis status (Annexin V-PI), acrosome integrity, DNA fragmentation and in vitro fertilisation were assessed. Total motility and most motion parameters were higher in EYE (p < .05) compared with the two lecithin extenders, while there were no significant differences between NLE and NPE. NLE and NPE had higher values for viable spermatozoa (Annexin V-PI) (p < .05) compared with EYE. The highest value for dead spermatozoa was observed in EYE (p = .08). A higher percentage of DNA fragmentation (p < .05) was detected in EYE compared with NPE. Plasma membrane integrity and functionality, morphology, acrosome integrity and fertility of spermatozoa indicated no significant differences between extenders. Data suggested that ultrastructural changes of lecithin (micelles versus. liposome) could not improve the sperm cryosurvival of goat spermatozoa. Moreover, we cannot also claim that lecithin-based diluent supplies better protection compared with the egg yolk in goat.

A Deep Look into the Microbiology and Chemistry of Froth Treatment Tailings: A Review

In Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR), over 1.25 billion m³ of tailings waste from the bitumen extraction process are stored in tailings ponds. Fugitive emissions associated with residual hydrocarbons in tailings ponds pose an environmental concern and include greenhouse gases (GHGs), reduced sulphur compounds (RSCs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Froth treatment tailings (FTT) are a specific type of tailings waste stream from the bitumen froth treatment process that contains bioavailable diluent: either naphtha or paraffins. Tailings ponds that receive FTT are associated with the highest levels of biogenic gas production, as diverse microbial communities biodegrade the residual diluent. In this review, current literature regarding the composition, chemical analysis, and microbial degradation of FTT and its constituents is presented in order to provide a more complete understanding of the complex chemistry and biological processes related to fugitive emissions from tailings ponds receiving FTT. Characterizing the composition and biodegradation of FTT is important from an environmental perspective to better predict emissions from tailings ponds and guide tailings pond management decisions.

Evaluation of alternative diluents for clinical use of collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH-aaes)

Background

Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH‐aesthetic formulation [CCH‐aaes]; QWO™ [Endo Aesthetics, Malvern PA, USA] is approved as a subcutaneous injection for treatment of cellulite. In the aesthetic practice, dilution of marketed products is commonly employed to tailor treatments to individual patients or off‐label locations. Dilution beyond the 0.23 mg/ml achievable with the proprietary diluent supplied with the CCH‐aaes lyophilized powder requires diluents readily available in clinic.

Aim

To characterize the functionality and stability of CCH‐aaes when reconstituted and/or diluted with alternative diluents, including normal saline, bacteriostatic saline, and/or proprietary diluent.

Patients/Methods

Each dilution was assessed for purity using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE), activity using collagenase (AUX‐I) and gelatinase (AUX‐II) assays, and aggregation using size‐exclusion chromatography.

Results

When reconstituted with either saline or proprietary diluent, and diluted with proprietary diluent or saline, purity, activity, and stability of CCH‐aaes is maintained for up to 24 h at 5°C or 25°C. In contrast, use of bacteriostatic saline to reconstitute and/or dilute CCH‐aaes results in up to a 40% decrease in activity and aggregation of 5.3% of CCH‐aaes protein. Importantly, inclusion of 2% lidocaine and 1:200 000 epinephrine does not negatively impact CCH‐aaes purity, concentration, or activity for up to 24 h at 5°C or 25°C.

Conclusions

From an efficacy and safety perspective, CCH‐aaes must not be/should not be reconstituted and/or diluted with bacteriostatic saline to avoid injection of protein aggregates. Ideally, CCH‐aaes should be reconstituted in proprietary diluent: further dilution with normal saline and addition of lidocaine and epinephrine is acceptable.

Effects of fluorinated solvents on electrolyte solvation structures and electrode/electrolyte interphases for lithium metal batteries

Electrolyte is very critical to the performance of the high-voltage lithium (Li) metal battery (LMB), which is one of the most attractive candidates for the next-generation high-density energy-storage systems. Electrolyte formulation and structure determine the physical properties of the electrolytes and their interfacial chemistries on the electrode surfaces. Localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) outperform state-of-the-art carbonate electrolytes in many aspects in LMBs due to their unique solvation structures. Types of fluorinated cosolvents used in LHCEs are investigated here in searching for the most suitable diluent for high-concentration electrolytes (HCEs). Nonsolvating solvents (including fluorinated ethers, fluorinated borate, and fluorinated orthoformate) added in HCEs enable the formation of LHCEs with high-concentration solvation structures. However, low-solvating fluorinated carbonate will coordinate with Li⁺ ions and form a second solvation shell or a pseudo-LHCE which diminishes the benefits of LHCE. In addition, it is evident that the diluent has significant influence on the electrode/electrolyte interphases (EEIs) beyond retaining the high-concentration solvation structures. Diluent molecules surrounding the high-concentration clusters could accelerate or decelerate the anion decomposition through coparticipation of diluent decomposition in the EEI formation. The varied interphase features lead to significantly different battery performance. This study points out the importance of diluents and their synergetic effects with the conductive salt and the solvating solvent in designing LHCEs. These systematic comparisons and fundamental insights into LHCEs using different types of fluorinated solvents can guide further development of advanced electrolytes for high-voltage LMBs.

Use of Androcoll-ETM to Separate Frozen-Thawed Llama Sperm From Seminal Plasma and Diluent

It is not easy to separate frozen-thawed South American camelid sperm from seminal plasma (SP) and diluents to be used for in vitro embryo production. The objective of this study was to evaluate Androcoll-E™ (AE) efficiency to separate llama sperm from SP and freezing extender in frozen-thawed semen. A total of 22 ejaculates from five Lama glama males were collected using electroejaculation. After performing semen analysis (sperm motility, concentration, viability, membrane function, and acrosome integrity), samples were cryopreserved with a diluent containing lactose, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), egg yolk, and 7% dimethylformamide. After thawing, samples were divided in aliquots, one of which was used as a control and the others processed by AE. Experiment 1 (12 ejaculates): 100 μl of frozen-thawed semen was placed on top of 1,000 μl AE column and centrifuged at 800 g for 10 min. Experiment 2 (10 ejaculates): two samples of 100 μl of frozen-thawed semen were placed on two columns of 500 μl AE each, and both were centrifuged at 800 g for 10 and 20 min, respectively. Pellets were resuspended in Tyrode's albumin lactate pyruvate (TALP) medium, and sperm parameters were evaluated. A significant decrease in all sperm parameters was observed in thawed samples compared to raw semen. AE allowed the separation of frozen-thawed sperm from SP and freezing extender independently from the height of the column used and time of centrifugation assayed. Although no significant differences were found between AE columns, higher sperm recovery was observed with 500 μl of AE coupled with 20 min of centrifugation. Despite the significant decrease observed in sperm motility in AE samples, no changes in sperm viability, membrane function, and acrosome integrity were observed when comparing control thawed semen with the sperm recovered after AE (p > 0.05). The use of AE columns, either 500 or 1,000 μl, allows the separation of frozen-thawed llama sperm from SP and freezing extender, preserving the viability, membrane function, and acrosome integrity. Of the protocols studied, 800 g centrifugation during 20 min using a 500 μl column of AE would be the method of choice to process frozen-thawed llama semen destined for reproductive biotechnologies.

Defining the right diluent for intravenous infusion of therapeutic antibodies

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are commonly administered to patients through intravenous (IV) infusion, which involves diluting the medication into an infusion solution (e.g., saline and 5% dextrose). Using the wrong diluent can cause product aggregation, which may compromise patient safety. We and others have shown that Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and Avastin® (bevacizumab) undergo rapid aggregation upon mixing with dextrose and human plasma in vitro. In this study, we evaluated the compatibility of a panel of 11 therapeutic mAbs with dextrose or saline and human serum. These mAbs were randomly selected for their distinct formulations and IgG isotypes (IgG1, IgG2, IgG4, and Fc-fusion protein). All the mAbs appeared to be compatible with saline and human serum. However, mAbs that were formulated at acidic pH (≤ 6.5) exclusively formed insoluble aggregates upon mixing with dextrose and serum. Such aggregation was not detected for the mAbs that are at neutral pH (7.2–7.5) or in buffers containing sodium chloride. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that the insoluble aggregates were composed of mAb molecules and several serum proteins (e.g., complement proteins, apolipoprotein, fibronectin) that are characterized by an isoelectric point of pH 5.4–6.7. At proximate pH to the isoelectric point values, those abundant serum proteins appeared to undergo isoelectric precipitation with mAb molecules. Our observations highlight a potential risk of protein aggregation at the blood-IV interface if a diluent is incompatible with a specific mAb formulation. This information has implications in guiding the design of product formulations and the selection of the right diluent for intravenous infusion of therapeutic mAbs.

Abbreviations: ADC: antibody-drug conjugate; D5W: 5% dextrose in water; IM: intramuscular; IV: intravenous; LC-MS/MS: liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; mAb: monoclonal antibody; SC: subcutaneous; pI: isoelectric point

Effects of Cryoprotective Medium Composition, Dilution Ratio, and Freezing Rates on Spotted Halibut (Verasper variegatus) Sperm Cryopreservation

The spotted halibut is species that has a high potential market value in Korea, but the supply of seed is unstable because of the limited milt production of males. The objective of this research was to explore different aspects, such as CPAs, diluents, dilution ratio, and freezing rates, to develop an optimal sperm cryopreservation. The parameters assessed were movable sperm ratio, sperm activity index, survival rate, and DNA damage. The CPAs tested in this research were propylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol. Different diluents, including 300 mM sucrose, 300 mM glucose, Stain's solution, and Ringer's solution, were investigated. The previous experiment showed that the optimal CPA for cryopreservation was DMSO with a concentration of 15% with 300 mM as diluent. To determine the effect of the dilution ratio, sperm was diluted to 1:1, 1:2, 1:10, 1:100, and 1:1000 with 300 mM sucrose containing DMSO at a final concentration of 15%. Lastly, the optimal freezing rate of the sperm was evaluated with four different freezing rates (-1, -5, -10, and -20 °C/min). Post-thaw sperm motility was higher with a dilution ratio lower than 1:2, and the freezing rate was less than -5 °C/min. In conclusion, these findings represent the development of a cryopreservation protocol for spotted halibut.

Comparison of four matrixes for diluting insulin in routine clinical measurements

Objective

In our laboratory, 2.36% (6626/280765) samples obtained for insulin evaluation have serum insulin concentrations higher than 300 mU/L, resulting in curves outside the linear range in the insulin release test (IRT). Accordingly, using appropriate dilution protocols to determine insulin concentration accurately is important. Here, we compared the effectiveness and economy of four different solutions for diluting high‐insulin serum in routine clinical measurements.

Method

Residual serum samples with high‐insulin concentrations ranging from 200 to 300 mU/L were collected in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August to November 2017. Four different matrixes including a Siemens original diluent, pure water, 0.9% NaCl, and low‐insulin serum (labeled as A to D, respectively) were used to dilute the serum in the ratios of 1:2, 1:5, and 1:10.

Results

We found that the linear correlation coefficients of A to D were higher than 0.9. The recovery rates of A to D were 86.4%–104.0%, 73.2%–99.3%, 76.4%–101.3%, and 84.2%–99.7%, respectively. We conclude that the use of 0.9% NaCl, pure water, or low‐insulin serum to dilute high‐serum insulin (>300 mU/L) is feasible and cost‐effective.

Conclusion

We recommend a dilution factor of 1:5 on a Siemens ADVIA Centaur XP^® instrument. The clinically reported range was 0.5‐1500 mU/L. For specific samples (>1500 mU/L), we recommended using low‐insulin serum samples for dilution.

Cryopreservation of Ghagus chicken semen: Effect of cryoprotectants, diluents and thawing temperature

The present study evaluated the effects of cryoprotectants, semen diluents and thawing temperature during Ghagus chicken semen cryopreservation. Four different experiments were conducted; Experiment 1-semen was cryopreserved using 6% dimethylacetamide (DMA) and 2% dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) in Sasaki diluent (SD) and Lake and Ravie diluent (LR), Experiment 2 and 3-semen was cryopreserved using 8% ethylene glycol (EG) in SD, LRD and Red Fowl Extender (RFE), Experiment 4-semen was cryopreserved using 6% dimethylformamide (DMF) in SD, LR and Beltsville poultry semen extender (BPSE). Semen was cryopreserved in 0.5 ml French straws. Thawing was done at 5°C for 100 s in ice water in Experiments 1, 2 and 4, whereas in Experiment 3 thawing was done at 37°C for 30 s. The post-thaw sperm motility, viable sperm and acrosome-intact sperm were significantly (p < .05) lower in cryopreserved samples in all the experiments. No fertile eggs were obtained from cryopreserved samples in Experiments 1 and 2, except for 8% EG RFE treatment where the fertility was 0.83%. In Experiments 3 and 4, highest fertility was obtained in LR treatment 48.12 and 30.89%, respectively. In conclusion, using cryoprotectant EG (8%) and thawing at 37°C for 30 s, and DMF(6%) resulted in acceptable level of fertility in Ghagus chicken. Though the diluents influenced post-thaw in vitro semen parameters, the fertility was not affected. In addition, results indicated that thawing temperature may be a critical stage in the cryopreservation protocol.

Lactose monohydrate flow characterization using shear cell method

The flow properties of pharmaceutical powders have a great importance in the manufacturing of solid dosage forms. In order to ensure the performance in the production line this parameter must be determined. There are several methods described in European Pharmacopeia that are used to measure these properties. Some of them were used in this study and the results obtained from conventional methods (Conv) and shear cell using the powder flow tester (PFT) showed differences that were more evident in fractions with smaller particle size (F < 63) and for bulk powder (F_Total). The various powder behaviors showed to be related with the size of the particles. An increase of the ff_c (Flow Index) was observed with the increase of the particle size. It was also found for the different fractions that the ff_c always increases with increasing major principal consolidation stress (σ₁). This study shown to be predictive because it also allowed the behavior profiles of other LactMN fractions to be known by interpolation of the median size (Dv50) or σ₁ values ranged between the studied intervals. Furthermore, it was also observed that ff_c of the F_Total was similar to the F < 63, showing the same behavior under σ₁. The occurrence of caking was not observed.

A diluent containing coconut water, fructose, and chicken egg yolk increases rooster sperm quality at 5°C

Aim:

The present study was conducted to evaluate the quality of rooster sperm at 5°C after treatment with a diluent containing coconut water, fructose, and chicken egg yolk and stored the semen sample at 5°C.

Materials and Methods:

Ten semen samples from 10 healthy roosters were subjected to four different treatments. For the treatments, 0.2 ml fresh semen with a sperm concentration of 5.2×10⁹ cell/ml was mixed with T0 (no diluent), T1 (0.34 ml coconut water and 6 µl fructose), T2 (0.274 ml coconut water, 0.12 ml egg yolk, and 6 µl fructose), and T3 (0.34 ml egg yolk and 6 µl fructose) solutions. Each treated solution was stored at 5°C and evaluated both macroscopically and microscopically. Macroscopically, semen volume, pH, and sperm concentration were evaluated. The microscopic sperm characteristics examined included total motility (i.e., rapid, medium, or slow), progressive and non-progressive motility, viability, and spermatozoa abnormalities noted at different storage times. The results showed that spermatozoa motility was under 40%.

Results:

The results indicated that sperm viability significantly affected (p<0.05). The highest mean value of sperm viability on day 7 of storage was found after treatment with the T2 solution (46.100±0.5677%). Similarly, spermatozoa abnormalities were significantly lower after treatment with the T2 solution (6.680±1.702%).

Conclusion:

The addition of a diluent containing coconut water, egg yolk, and fructose helped in the better preservation spermatozoa motility, as well as viability for up to 7 days when the semen samples were stored at 5°C.

Locally Concentrated LiPF6 in a Carbonate-Based Electrolyte with Fluoroethylene Carbonate as a Diluent for Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries

Currently, concentrated electrolyte solutions are attracting special attention because of their unique characteristics such as unusually improved oxidative stability on both the cathode and anode sides, the absence of free solvent, the presence of more anion content, and the improved availability of Li⁺ ions. Most of the concentrated electrolytes reported are lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) salt with ether-based solvents because of the high solubility of salts in ether-based solvents. However, their poor anti-oxidation capability hindered their application especially with high potential cathode materials (>4.0 V). In addition, the salt is very costly, so it is not feasible from the cost analysis point of view. Therefore, here we report a locally concentrated electrolyte, 2 M LiPF₆, in ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (1:1 v/v ratio) diluted with fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), which is stable within a wide potential range (2.5-4.5 V). It shows significant improvement in cycling stability of lithium with an average Coulombic efficiency (ACE) of ∼98% and small voltage hysteresis (∼30 mV) with a current density of 0.2 mA/cm² for over 1066 h in Li||Cu cells. Furthermore, we ascertained the compatibility of the electrolyte for anode-free Li-metal batteries (AFLMBs) using Cu||LiNi_1/3Mn_1/3Co_1/3O₂ (NMC, ∼2 mA h/cm²) with a current density of 0.2 mA/cm². It shows stable cyclic performance with ACE of 97.8 and 40% retention capacity at the 50th cycle, which is the best result reported for carbonate-based solvents with AFLMBs. However, the commercial carbonate-based electrolyte has <90% ACE and even cannot proceed more than 15 cycles with retention capacity >40%. The enhanced cycle life and well retained in capacity of the locally concentrated electrolyte is mainly because of the synergetic effect of FEC as the diluent to increase the ionic conductivity and form stable anion-derived solid electrolyte interphase. The locally concentrated electrolyte also shows high robustness to the effect of upper limit cutoff voltage.

Comparison of the application parameters of coccidia vaccines by gel and spray

Coccidiosis is an economically significant enteric disease caused by Eimeria species. Control of the disease is achieved through various means, including chemical anticoccidial drugs, ionophore antibiotics, and vaccination. Differences between the vaccines include the number of oocysts per dose (varying by as much as tenfold between vaccines), attenuation status of the oocysts, and the species present within the vaccine. Coccidia vaccines are typically administered via spray cabinet to day old chicks; however, a new gel-based delivery system that claims to elongate preening time and increase oocyst ingestion has been introduced and is specifically recommended for certain low dose vaccines. The purpose of this trial was to compare the application properties between high and low oocyst dose vaccines administered via gel and spray delivery systems to determine if application systems could potentially affect application success. The vaccines were mixed into gel and spray diluents per manufacturer's instructions, and samples were taken to assess how well the oocysts remained in suspension. Gel and spray application patterns were assessed by measuring the size and number of droplets applied onto a plexiglass sheet in a chick basket. Different size droplets were collected and oocyst enumeration and speciation were performed. Results show that no settling occurred after mixing in either diluent. As expected, the number of oocysts per droplet increased as droplet size of the spray administration increased but stayed constant in the uniform droplet size of gel administration. There was also a consistent number of oocysts found in each of the sections across the plexiglass sheet. Taken together, these data will aid poultry producers in deciding which delivery system will provide the best application in their production system.

Influence of polyvinylpyrrolidone, microcrystalline cellulose and colloidal silicon dioxide on technological characteristics of a high-dose Petiveria alliacea tablet

PURPOSE

Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae) is a perennial shrub used by its immunomodulatory, anticancerogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. This study determined the influence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), colloidal silicon dioxide (CSD) and microcrystalline cellulose (MC) on the technological characteristic of a high-dose P. alliacea tablet prepared by the wet granulation method.

METHODOLOGY

The botanical and pharmacognostic analysis of the plant material was firstly performed, followed by a 2³ factorial design considering three factors at two levels: (a) the binder (PVP) incorporated in formulation at 10% and 15% (w/w); (b) the compacting agent (CSD) added at 10% and 15% (w/w) and; (c) the diluent (MC) included at 7.33% and 12.46% (w/w). The analysis of pharmaceutical performance and the accelerated and long-term stability of the best prototype were also completed.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The binder, compacting agent and the interaction binder/diluent had a significant impact on breaking force of high-dose P. alliacea tablet. The optimum formula was found to contain 15% (w/w) of CSD, 7.33% (w/w) of MC and 10% (w/w) of PVP. At these conditions, the tablet shows a breaking force of 77.96 N, a friability of 0.39%, a total phenol content of 1.30 mg/tablet and a maximum disintegration time of 6 min.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of adequate amounts of PVP, MC and CSD as per the factorial design allowed the preparation of a tablet suitable for administration, despite the inappropriate flow and compressibility properties of the P. alliacea powder.

Effect of different antioxidant additives in semen diluent on cryopreservability (-196°C) of buffalo semen

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different antioxidant additives in standard tris-fructose-egg yolk-glycerol (TFYG) extender on the cryopreservability of buffalo semen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Semen collection using artificial vagina, twice weekly for 5 weeks from three pedigreed health breeding bulls of Mehsani breed, aged between 6 and 8 years. Immediately after initial evaluation all 30 qualifying ejaculates (10/bull) were split into three aliquots and diluted at 34°C keeping the concentration of 100 million spermatozoa/ml with standard TFYG extender as control and TFYG having two antioxidant additives - Cysteine HCl at 1 mg/ml and ascorbic acid at 0.2 mg/ml to study their comparative performance. Semen filled in French Mini straws using IS-4 system and gradually cooled to 4°C and equilibrated for 4 h in cold handing cabinet. After completion of equilibration, straws were cryopreserved in LN2 by Programmable Bio-freezer. Semen was examined at post-dilution, post-equilibration, and post-thaw stages for sperm quality parameters, and at each stage plasma was separated for enzymatic analysis of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP).

RESULTS

The mean percentage of sperms in TFYG, TFYG + cysteine HCl and TFYG + ascorbic acid diluents at post-thaw stage in terms of progressive motility (52.83±0.52, 57.83±0.52, 57.83±0.52), livability (78.70±0.21, 82.33±0.23, 81.73±0.22), and abnormality (5.43±0.21, 5.03±0.17, 5.23±0.18) varied significantly (p<0.05) between control TFYG and TFYG having antioxidant additives. The mean U/L activities of AST (78.70±0.47, 72.80±0.48, 73.30±0.54), LDH (172.70±0.41, 155.78±0.42, 156.33±0.41), and AKP (103.61±0.34, 90.20±0.34, 91.03±0.34) in semen diluted with TFYG, TFYG + cysteine HCl and TFYG + ascorbic acid diluents at post-thaw stage, respectively, which showed significantly (p<0.05) higher leakage of enzymes in control TFYG than TFYG incorporated with additives.

CONCLUSION

Incorporation of antioxidant additives such as cysteine HCl and ascorbic acid in standard TFYG diluents improves sperm quality parameters, reduces enzyme leakage, and ultimately advances cryopreservability of buffalo semen.

Dextrose-mediated aggregation of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in human plasma: Implication of isoelectric precipitation of complement proteins

Many therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are clinically administered through intravenous infusion after mixing with a diluent, e.g., saline, 5% dextrose. Such a clinical setting increases the likelihood of interactions among mAb molecules, diluent, and plasma components, which may adversely affect product safety and efficacy. Avastin® (bevacizumab) and Herceptin® (trastuzumab), but not Remicade® (infliximab), were shown to undergo rapid aggregation upon dilution into 5% dextrose when mixed with human plasma in vitro; however, the biochemical pathways leading to the aggregation were not clearly defined. Here, we show that dextrose-mediated aggregation of Avastin or Herceptin in plasma involves isoelectric precipitation of complement proteins. Using mass spectrometry, we found that dextrose-induced insoluble aggregates were composed of mAb itself and multiple abundant plasma proteins, namely complement proteins C3, C4, factor H, fibronectin, and apolipoprotein. These plasma proteins, which are characterized by an isoelectronic point of 5.5–6.7, lost solubility at the resulting pH in the mixture with formulated Avastin (pH 6.2) and Herceptin (pH 6.0). Notably, switching formulation buffers for Avastin (pH 6.2) and Remicade (pH 7.2) reversed their aggregation profiles. Avastin formed little, if any, insoluble aggregates in dextrose-plasma upon raising the buffer pH to 7.2 or above. Furthermore, dextrose induced pH-dependent precipitation of plasma proteins, with massive insoluble aggregates being detected at pH 6.5–6.8. These data show that isoelectric precipitation of complement proteins is a prerequisite of dextrose-induced aggregation of mAb in human plasma. This finding highlights the importance of assessing the compatibility of a therapeutic mAb with diluent and human plasma during product development.

Bombus terrestris as pollinator-and-vector to suppress Botrytis cinerea in greenhouse strawberry

BACKGROUND

Bombus terrestris L. bumblebees are widely used as commercial pollinators, but they might also be of help in the battle against economically important crop diseases. This alternative control strategy is referred to as pollinator-and-vector technology. The present study was designed to investigate the capacity of B. terrestris to fulfil this role in greenhouse strawberry flowers, which were manually inoculated with a major plant pathogen, the grey mould Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Fr. A model microbiological control agent (MCA) product Prestop-Mix was loaded in a newly developed two-way bumblebee dispenser, and, in addition, the use of the diluent Maizena-Plus (corn starch) was tested.

RESULTS

Importantly, loading of the MCA caused no adverse effects on bumblebee workers, with no loss of survival or impairment of flight activity of the workers during the 4 week flowering period. Secondly, vectoring of Prestop-Mix by bumblebees resulted in a higher crop production, as 71% of the flowers developed into healthy red strawberries at picking (preharvest yield) as compared with 54% in the controls. In addition, these strawberries were better protected, as 79% of the picked berries remained free of B. cinerea after a 2 day incubation (post-harvest yield), while this percentage was only 43% in the control. Overall, the total yield (preharvest × post-harvest) was 2-2.5 times higher than the total yield in the controls (24%) in plants exposed to bumblebees vectoring Prestop-Mix. Thirdly, the addition of the diluent Maizena-Plus to Prestop-Mix at 1:1 (w/w) resulted in a similar yield to that of Prestop-Mix used alone, and in no negative effects on the bumblebees, flowers and berries.

CONCLUSIONS

This greenhouse study provides strong evidence that B. terrestris bumblebees can vector a MCA to reduce B. cinerea incidence in greenhouse strawberries, resulting in higher yields. Similar yields obtained in the treatments with Prestop-Mix and Prestop-Mix + Maizena-Plus suggest an equally efficient dissemination of the biocontrol agent into the flowers with only half the initial concentration of Prestop-Mix, which illustrates the importance of the diluent.

Design and development of hydrogel beads for targeted drug delivery to the colon

The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate a multiparticulate system of chitosan hydrogel beads exploiting pH-sensitive property and specific biodegradability for colon-targeted delivery of satranidazole. Chitosan hydrogel beads were prepared by the cross-linking method followed by enteric coating with Eudragit S100. All formulations were evaluated for particle size, encapsulation efficiency, swellability, and in vitro drug release. The size of the beads was found to range from 1.04 +/- 0.82 mm to 1.95 +/- 0.05 mm. The amount of the drug released after 24 hours from the formulation was found to be 97.67% +/- 1.25% in the presence of extracellular enzymes as compared with 64.71% +/- 1.91% and 96.52% +/- 1.81% release of drug after 3 and 6 days of enzyme induction, respectively, in the presence of 4% cecal content. Degradation of the chitosan hydrogel beads in the presence of extracellular enzymes as compared with rat cecal and colonic enzymes indicates the potential of this multiparticulate system to serve as a carrier to deliver macromolecules specifically to the colon and can be offered as a substitute in vitro system for performing degradation studies. Studies demonstrated that orally administered chitosan hydrogel beads can be used effectively for the delivery of drug to the colon.

Preparation of Reference Material 8504, Transformer Oil

A new reference material (RM), RM 8504, has been prepared for use as a diluent oil with Aroclors in transformer oil Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) 3075 to 3080 and SRM 3090 when developing and validating methods for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as Aroclors in transformer oil or similar matrices. SRMs 3075-3080 and SRM 3090 consist of individual Aroclors in the same transformer oil that was used to prepare RM 8504. A unit of RM 8504 consists of one bottle containing approximately 100 mL of transformer oil. No additional constituents have been added to the oil.