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The development of new methods for the early diagnosis of cartilage disease could offer significant improvement in patient care. Raman spectroscopy is an emerging biomedical technology with unique potential to recognize disease tissues, though difficulty in obtaining the samples needed to train a diagnostic and excessive signal noise could slow its development into a clinical tool. In the current report we detail the use of principal component analysis--linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) on spectra from pairs of materials modeling cartilage disease to create multiple spectral scoring metrics, which could limit the reliance on primary training data for identifying disease in low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) Raman spectra. Our proof-of-concept experiments show that combinations of these model-metrics has the potential to improve the classification of low-SNR Raman spectra from human normal and osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage over a single metric trained with spectra from the same healthy and OA tissues. Scatter plot showing the PCA-LDA derived human-disease-metric scores versus rat-model-metric scores for 7656 low signal-to-noise spectra from healthy (blue) and osteoarthritic (red) cartilage. Light vertical and horizontal lines represent the optimized single metric classification boundary. Dark diagonal line represents the classification of boundary resulting from the optimized combination of the two metrics.

This Letter examines the physical and chemical changes that occur at the interface of methyl-terminated alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) after exposure to cell culture media used to derive embryoid bodies (EBs) from pluripotent stem cells. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy analysis of the SAMs indicates that protein components within the EB cell culture medium preferentially adsorb at the hydrophobic interface. In addition, we examined the adsorption process using surface plasmon resonance and atomic force microscopy. These studies identify the formation of a porous, mat-like adsorbed protein film with an approximate thickness of 2.5 nm. Captive bubble contact angle analysis reveals a shift toward superhydrophilic wetting behavior at the cell culture interface due to adsorption of these proteins. These results show how EBs are able to remain in suspension when derived on hydrophobic materials, which carries implications for the rational design of suspension culture interfaces for lineage specific stem-cell differentiation.

Our program on capacitive energy storage is a comprehensive one that combines experimental and computational components to achieve a fundamental understanding of charge storage processes in redox-based materials, specifically transition metal oxides. Some of the highlights of this program are the identification of intercalation pseudocapacitance in Nb2O 5, which enables high energy density to be achieved at high rates, and the development of a new route for synthesizing mesoporous films in which preformed nanocrystal building blocks are used in combination with polymer templating. The resulting material architectures have large surface areas and enable electrolyte access to the redox active pore walls, while the interconnected mesoporous film provides good electronic conductivity. Select first-principles density-functional theory studies of prototypical pseudocapacitor materials are reviewed, providing insight into the key physical and chemical features involved in charge transfer and ion diffusion. Rigorous multiscale physical models and numerical tools have been developed and used to reproduce electrochemical properties of carbon-based electrochemical capacitors with the ultimate objective of facilitating the optimization of electrode design. For the organic photovoltaic (OPV) program, our focus has been ongoing beyond the trial-and-error Edisonian approaches that have been responsible for the increase in power conversion efficiency of blend-cast (BC) bulk heterojunction blends of polymers and fullerenes. Our first approach has been to use molecular self-assembly to create the ideal nanometer-scale architecture using thermodynamics rather than relying on the kinetics of spontaneous phase segregation. We have created fullerenes that self-assemble into one-dimensional stacks and have shown that use of these self-assembled fullerenes lead to dramatically enhanced OPV performance relative to fullerenes that do not assemble. We also have created self-assembling conjugated polymers that form gels based on electrically continuous cross-linked micelles in solution, opening the possibility for water-processable "green" production of OPVs based on these materials. Our second approach has been to avoid kinetic control over phase separation by using a sequential processing (SqP) technique to deposit the polymer and fullerene materials in separate deposition steps. The polymer layer is deposited first, using solvents and deposition conditions that optimize the polymer crystallinity for swelling and hole mobility. The fullerene layer is then deposited in a second step from a solvent that swells the polymer but does not dissolve it, allowing the fullerene to penetrate into the polymer underlayer to the desired degree. Careful comparison of composition- and thickness-matched BC and SqP devices shows that SqP not only produces more efficient devices but also leads to devices that behave more consistently. © 2014 American Chemical Society.

This document provides a summary of a special issue on the ornamental industry, which covers a wide range of topics related to plant propagation, defense mechanisms, tissue culture, genetics in urban planning, and emerging trends in the ornamental plant market. The research was conducted by authors from various countries, highlighting the global relevance of the industry. The authors hope that readers will find inspiration for further research in this field. The ornamental industry is a diverse and segmented industry that focuses on growing and marketing plants and cut flowers for decorative purposes. The global flower and ornamental plants market was valued at $27 billion in 2021 and is expected to increase in value by 2029. The industry faces challenges such as limited resources, climate change, sustainable pest and disease management, diversification of supply, and optimization of marketing and distribution. Breeding plays a crucial role in developing new cultivars, and advancements in genomics and gene editing have shown promise. Efficient systems for propagation, cultivation, and marketing are also important for the industry's success. [Extracted from the article]

The hatch rate of chick embryos cultured outside of the eggshell with 350 mg calcium l‐lactate hydrate (CaL) and 3.5 mL water is fourfold greater in cultures in which the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) surrounds the egg contents by incubation day 17.5 (E17.5) an event which occurs in ovo by E13. It was first investigated whether decreasing the volume of water added with 350 mg CaL would promote CAM expansion due to the smaller volume to enclose. When 350 mg CaL was present, the CAM did not surround the egg contents by E13. By E17.5, the CAM surrounded the egg contents in 53%–74% of cultures; however, CAM expansion was not significantly different when 0, 1, 2, or 3.5 mL water was present. The hatch rate with 2 or 3.5 mL water was greater than 50% but was not improved with less water. Second, it was investigated whether CaL or water inhibits CAM expansion. In the absence of CaL, the CAM surrounded the egg contents in up to two‐thirds of cultures by E13, whether 2 mL water was present or not. Thus CaL, but not water, inhibits expansion of the CAM by E13, even though CaL promotes hatching. Finally, it was investigated whether injection of aqueous CaL into the allantoic fluid, in conjunction with not adding CaL to culture hammocks, would promote CAM expansion. Allantoic injection of CaL starting at E13 did not promote CAM expansion at E17.5 but resulted in hatch rates of approximately 30%. Allantoic injection is a novel route for supplementation of calcium in cultured chick embryos. Research Highlights: Injection of calcium l‐lactate hydrate (100 mg/mL in H2O) at incubation days 13 and E17.5 into shell‐less chick cultures resulted in a hatch rate of over 30%.Allantoic injection is a novel route by which calcium can be added to cultured embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for soilless media, sustainability issues with peatmoss, and increasing cost of peatmoss have prompted studies of more environmentally friendly and less expensive substitutes. Biochar, a lightweight black carbon material produced by the pyrolysis of biomass, has gained popularity as a soilless media supplement. The objective of this study was to evaluate Eastern red cedar (ERC) biochar as a supplement to soilless media for the production of chrysanthemum and ornamental kale. Treatments included ERC biochar produced at three different temperature ranges of 300 to 350 °C, 400 to 450 °C, and 500 to 550 °C that were applied at 25%, 50%, and 75% v/v plus a control (100% v/v of standard commercial mix). Additionally, ERC bark was applied at the same rate as biochar. The 300 to 350 °C and 400 to 450°C temperature ranges increased the bulk density of the media, whereas total porosity was greatest with just bark. Regarding the physical properties of the media, in general, the 75% v/v supplementation rate of ERC bark or biochar at any temperature increased air porosity but decreased the water holding capacity, except for the water holding capacity at 500 to 550 °C. As the biochar production temperature increased, so did the pH and electrical conductivity (EC), whereas volatile matter decreased. Plant height, width, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, number of flowers (chrysanthemum only), flower diameter, and water use efficiency were greatest with the 100% v/v soilless media for both species. In general, chrysanthemum plants grown with 25% v/v biochar supplementation or bark had similar height, width, and shoot dry weight at any temperature compared with those grown with the 100% v/v soilless media. For ornamental kale, the 25% v/v 400 to 450 °C biochar supplementation showed plant height and water use efficiency similar to those of the 100% v/v soilless media. In general, 25% ERC bark performed similar to 25% v/v and 50% v/v biochar at any temperature for plant width, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, water use efficiency, and root-to-shoot ratio. The media nutrient content and EC were greater with 100% v/v soilless media and a lower rate (25% v/v) of ERC bark and biochar than with higher rates. The higher levels of biochar were harmful and reduced the ornamental kale growth and quality. These results suggest that supplemented soilless media with lower rates (25% v/v) of ERC biochar could be recommended for chrysanthemum, but that less than 25% v/v may be necessary for ornamental kale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of hydroponics is increasing because of its ability to be used for year round vegetable production using an environmentally sustainable system. Management of solution pH is an important challenge in hydroponics systems. Our objective was to quantify the effects of various pH modifiers on growth and nutrient uptake of leafy greens and stability of nutrient solution’s pH. Lettuce, basil, and Swiss chard were transplanted into an Ebb and flow system, and nutrient solution pH was maintained using three different pH modifiers (pH Down, lime juice, or vinegar). The nutrient solution’s pH was maintained between 5.5 and 6.5. pH Down resulted in the most stable solution pH and required the least amount of product used when compared to lime juice and vinegar. The cost of using phosphoric acid or lime juice was greater than that of using vinegar. Vinegar reduced the yield of all crops in comparison to pH Down. When compared to pH Down, lime juice reduced the yield of basil and Swiss chard but not that of lettuce. Therefore, growers can use lime juice as an alternative to pH Down in lettuce production but not for basil and Swiss chard, while vinegar would not be recommended for any of the crops studied.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a pleiotropic phospholipid present in the blood and certain tissues at high concentrations; its diverse effects are mediated through differential, tissue specific expression of LPA receptors. Our goal was to determine if LPA exerts lineage-specific effects during normal human hematopoiesis. In vitro stimulation of CD34+ human hematopoietic progenitors by LPA induced myeloid differentiation but had no effect on lymphoid differentiation. LPA receptors were expressed at significantly higher levels on Common Myeloid Progenitors (CMP) than either multipotent Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells (HSPC) or Common Lymphoid Progenitors (CLP) suggesting that LPA acts on committed myeloid progenitors. Functional studies demonstrated that LPA enhanced migration, induced cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis of isolated CMP, but had no effect on either HSPC or CLP. Analysis of adult and fetal human bone marrow sections showed that PPAP2A, (the enzyme which degrades LPA) was highly expressed in the osteoblastic niche but not in the perivascular regions, whereas Autotaxin (the enzyme that synthesizes LPA) was expressed in perivascular regions of the marrow. We propose that a gradient of LPA with the highest levels in peri-sinusoidal regions and lowest near the endosteal zone, regulates the localization, proliferation and differentiation of myeloid progenitors within the bone marrow marrow.

Sol–gel encapsulation has been used as the basis for detecting cortisol by an immunoassay approach. Previous research showed that antibodies immobilized in the pores of a sol–gel derived silica were able to bind cortisol and be used as an immunosensor. However, this approach was not effective when measuring cortisol levels in human serum because of interference from other fluorescence sources. The present paper describes a protocol which overcomes these limitations and enables sol–gel immunoassays to effectively measure cortisol in human serum over the physiological range of cortisol blood concentrations in an adult (2–28 μg/dL). The method involves a standard additions approach in which various amounts of cortisol are added to the serum. The cortisol concentration values obtained with our sol–gel immunoassay were typically within 10% of the values obtained by traditional analytical methods. The protocol presented here represents a significant contribution to sol–gel sensing and immunoassays in particular, because of the ability to detect an analyte in human serum. In addition, this work reports the first comparison between results from a sol–gel immunosensor and an alternative immuno-binding method for analyte detection.

The use of biochar in soilless media is becoming more common in greenhouse production. This study was conducted to evaluate Eastern red cedar biochar as a soilless-media supplement for the growth of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.) and petunia (Petunia sp. J.) as potted plants in greenhousese. Eastern red cedar biomass was produced at three different temperature ranges 300–350 °C, 400–450 °C, and 500–550 °C and applied at 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% v/v to a soilless media plus a control. Additionally, Eastern red cedar (ERC) bark was also applied at 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% v/v to a soilless media. The growth characteristics of the plants along with the physical and nutrient properties of the growth media were recorded. For physical properties, 100% soilless media had the greatest bulk density, 60% biochar at 400–450 °C showed the greatest total porosity, and 60% ERC bark showed the greatest air porosity. For geranium, 15% biochar at 500–550 °C showed the greatest height, water use efficiency, and shoot dry weight, while 15% biochar at 300–350 °C showed the greatest width. The greatest number of flowers was at 45% biochar at 500–550 °C. For petunia, 15% biochar at 300–350 °C showed the greatest height, and 15% biochar at 500–550 °C showed the greatest width. The greatest number of flowers and flower diameter was achieved with 100% soilless media. The 15% biochar at 500–550 °C had the greatest shoot dry weight and water use efficiency, and 60% biochar at 400–450 °C had the greatest root dry weight. Biochar treatment outperforms the ERC bark treatment for both species. Within biochar treatment, 15% biochar outperforms dry biomass, while for flowering, 100% soilless media performs best for petunia, and biochar performs best at less than 45% for geranium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sternbergia clusiana (SC) is a bulbous plant having an alluring ornamental flower, medicinal properties, and an endangered status due to climate-change ecology. However, the methods of propagation for conserving this notable species have been neglected. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on SC regeneration by virtue of a asexual propagation method, with the intention of preserving this endangered species from extinction. In this regard, having collected the bulbs from a wild habitat, bulbs were cut in accordance with the chipping technique. Thereafter, pieces were treated with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) at 250, 500, and 1000 mg·L−1, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 100, 250, and 500 mg·L−1, putrescine (PU) at 50, 100, and 200 mg·L−1, BAP and NAA combination, BAP and PU combination, and a control. Pieces were then transferred into primary and terminal growing media under laboratory and greenhouse conditions, respectively. Next, the number, length, width, and weight of bulbs were determined. The greatest bulb number (2.10 counts), bulb length (26.75 mm), bulb width (16.25 mm), and bulb weight (3.13 g) were observed in the PU treatments. In addition, the results showed that even though the treated bulbs with BAP and PU combinations had preferable performance generally, the results were inconsistent. Taken together, this research indicates that utilizing asexual propagation along with PGRs, in the proper dosage, can serve as a mechanism to protect the endangered geophyte from extinction in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]