Dexamethasone for Inner Ear Therapy: Biocompatibility and Bio-Efficacy of Different Dexamethasone Formulations In Vitro

Dexamethasone is widely used in preclinical studies and clinical trials to treat inner ear disorders. The results of those studies vary widely, maybe due to the different dexamethasone formulations used. Laboratory (lab) and medical grade (med) dexamethasone (DEX, C22H29FO5) and dexamethasone dihydrogen phosphate-disodium (DPS, C22H28FNa2O8P) were investigated for biocompatibility and bio-efficacy in vitro. The biocompatibility of each dexamethasone formulation in concentrations from 0.03 to 10,000 µM was evaluated using an MTT assay. The concentrations resulting in the highest cell viability were selected to perform a bio-efficiency test using a TNFα-reduction assay. All dexamethasone formulations up to 900 µM are biocompatible in vitro. DPS-lab becomes toxic at 1000 µM and DPS-med at 2000 µM, while DEX-lab and DEX-med become toxic at 4000 µM. Bio-efficacy was evaluated for DEX-lab and DPS-med at 300 µM, for DEX-med at 60 µM, and DPS-lab at 150 µM, resulting in significantly reduced expression of TNFα, with DPS-lab having the highest effect. Different dexamethasone formulations need to be applied in different concentration ranges to be biocompatible. The concentration to be applied in future studies should carefully be chosen based on the respective dexamethasone form, application route and duration to ensure biocompatibility and bio-efficacy.

Anadolu-T Etlik Piliç Saf Hatlarının Gelişme ve Karkas Özellikleri

This study aimed to determine the growth and carcass traits of Anadolu-T broiler pure lines, which were kept breeding and selection over five generations from 2017 to 2021, in comparison with a commercial hybrid. After the selection process, pure lines (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2) and commercial hybrid (Ross-308) eggs were incubated and 120 female-male chicks were produced from each genotype in each generation. The broiler chickens were reared in broiler production standards for 6 weeks and carcass traits were determined by slaughtering at the end of this period. In this study, growth traits such as body weight (BW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and livability; breast and thigh meat ratio were considered as carcass traits. The highest average BW (2961.2 to 3481.2 g) and best FCR (1.43 to 1.60) at 6 weeks of age over the five generations occurred in Ross-308 commercial hybrids; followed by sire (BW: 2633.8 to 3180.2 g; FCR: 1.65 to 1.77), dam lines (BW: 2307.7 to 2698.5 g; FCR: 1.65 to 1.78), respectively. Although there were some numerical differences in livability between generations in pure lines, it was generally at a similar level (96-100%) with commercial hybrids. The breast ratio was lower than commercial hybrid in both dam and sire lines, but it was determined that the thigh ratio was higher in pure lines. The fact that pure lines have a short selection history of five generations does not allow for detailed evaluation. We expect that the use of individual feed efficiency test in dam and sire lines, and additionally using body weight and breast

New Facile One-Pot Synthesis of Isobutyl Thiocarbamate in Recycling Solvent Mixture

The specific objectives of the presented study were related to the optimization of the production process of N-alkyl-, N,N-dialkyl-, and N-cycloalkyl-O-isobutyl thiocarbamate; trial industrial production of N-ethyl-O-isobutyl thiocarbamate; and the evaluation of flotation efficiency of N-ethyl-O-isobutyl thiocarbamate using a real ore sample. The optimization of thiocarbamate syntheses were performed by varying the molar ratio of isobutyl alcohol, carbon disulfide, potassium hydroxide, reaction time, and reaction temperature. In the first step, one-pot reaction took place to produce alkyl xanthate and was followed with chlorination to give alkyl chloroformate (O-alkyl carbonochloridothioate); finally, thiocarbamates were obtained by the reaction with corresponding amines. N-alkyl-O-ethyl thiocarbamate was synthesized as a comparative flotation agent. The structure of the synthesized compounds was confirmed by IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and MS instrumental methods, and the purity was determined by gas chromatographic method and elemental analysis. The optimized methods gave high-purity products in a significant yield that was also confirmed by semi-industrial production of N-ethyl-O-isobutyl thiocarbamate. The optimized thiocarbamate synthesis, without isolation of intermediates, is of great importance from the aspect of green technologies. Flotation efficiency test results, using real copper and zinc ores, showed the highest activity of N-ethyl-O-isobutyl thiocarbamate. The optimal one-pot thiocarbamate synthesis provides a simple procedure with a high conversion degree, and, thus, offers valuable technology applicable at the industrial scale.

A Critical Analysis of Causation Rules in Marine Insurance

<div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><p class="AbstractText">The United Kingdom has regulated Marine Insurance in great detail in some laws and regulations, but these regulations do not seem to have been fully implemented. This study will discuss the Causation Rules in Marine Insurance. More specifically, this article has looked at the impact of the development of the causation rules in marine insurance after implementing MIA 1906. This study argues that the efficiency test is now be regarded as a historical precedent of the causation rules. What is clear is that the operation of the efficiency test alters the rule which previously relied on a question of law by looking at the latest cause of the loss to recognize a question of fact by measuring the most predominant cause of the loss. However, it does not mean that the newest cause of the loss is automatically disregarded. An immediate cause may be proximate if it has an efficient and predominant effect to cause the loss.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div>

Development of a New Application-Based Chewing Efficiency Test (Mini Dental Assessment) and Its Evaluation by Nursing Staff in Geriatric Care: A Pilot Study

The increasing average life expectancy worldwide results in an elderly population with significant health care needs. However, dental care is often not a focus of care. It is well known that oral and overall health are directly related. Therefore, the Mini Dental Assessment (MDA) was developed to provide a simple analysis of oral health status, although it is currently only available in paper form, with all associated drawbacks, from illegible writing to the inability to quickly search the collected forms. This study aimed to develop a digital application (app) for mobile devices that can overcome the problems associated with paper forms. After the digital MDA was developed, its usability was evaluated by nurses, a questionnaire was answered, and it was compared to the analog MDA with patients in a pilot study. The usability of the app (System Usability Scale) was 95.18 ± 4.26, representing a very high usability. Furthermore, this app showed good clinical applicability. The results also showed that the digital MDA was accepted by nurses in their daily routine and was preferred to the analog MDA. A follow-up study with a higher number of subjects is highly recommended.

Systematic experimental comparison of particle filtration efficiency test methods for commercial respirators and face masks

Respirators, medical masks, and barrier face coverings all filter airborne particles using similar physical principles. However, they are tested for certification using a variety of standardized test methods, creating challenges for the comparison of differently certified products. We have performed systematic experiments to quantify and understand the differences between standardized test methods for N95 respirators (NIOSH TEB-APR-STP-0059 under US 42 CFR 84), medical face masks (ASTM F2299/F2100), and COVID-19-related barrier face coverings (ASTM F3502-21). Our experiments demonstrate the role of face velocity, particle properties (mean size, size variability, electric charge, density, and shape), measurement techniques, and environmental preconditioning. The measured filtration efficiency was most sensitive to changes in face velocity and particle charge. Relative to the NIOSH method, users of the ASTM F2299/F2100 method have commonly used non-neutralized (highly charged) aerosols as well as smaller face velocities, each of which may result in approximately 10% higher measured filtration efficiencies. In the NIOSH method, environmental conditioning at elevated humidity increased filtration efficiency in some commercial samples while decreasing it in others, indicating that measurement should be performed both with and without conditioning. More generally, our results provide an experimental basis for the comparison of respirators certified under various international methods, including FFP2, KN95, P2, Korea 1st Class, and DS2.

Three-channel ion chromatograph for improved metabolic evaluation of urolithiasis

Background Urolithiasis is a multi-etiological disease resulting from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. One of the most challenging aspects of this disease is its high recurrence rate. For most patients, an in-depth metabolic evaluation may reveal the presence of urinary stones. The fact that different urinary stone-related compounds (USRCs) are measured by different methods renders the metabolic evaluation of urolithiasis quite tedious and complex. Methods A three-channel ion chromatograph (IC) that automatically measures the concentration of common metabolic indicators of urolithiasis in urine (i.e., oxalate, citrate, uric acid, calcium, and magnesium) was developed to improve the efficiency. To validate its precision and specificity, standard curves were prepared using working solution of these indicators. 100 standard solutions of these indicators were measured with our new IC and three other ICs as the control instruments; analyte concentrations in 100 24-h urine samples from volunteers and 135 calculi patients were also measured. Results All analytes had good linear relationships in concentration ranges of 0–10 mg/L. The precision experiments in the standard and urine samples showed that the measurement errors of the newly developed IC were all less than 5%. In urine, the recovery rate ranged from 99.6 to 100.4%, the coefficient of variation ranged from 1.39 to 2.99%, and the results matched between our newly developed IC and the control ICs. The results of the efficiency test showed that we can finish the analysis at the average number of 14 people per day with the new IC. While the average number in the control group is 3.85/day (p = 0.000). Conclusions Overall, this multi-channel system significantly improves the efficiency of metabolic evaluation while retaining accuracy and precision.

Demonstration of the Benefits of SAE 30 Stationary Gas Engine Oil in Full Scale Engine Tests

This paper evaluates the benefits of an SAE 30 monograde stationary gas engine oil (SGEO) in comparison with SAE 40 monograde SGEOs with the focus on two main areas. First, to demonstrate and quantify the positive impact of lower viscosity on the fuel consumption rate, and second to demonstrate the faster lubrication of hard to reach points in the engine during startup. The current industry recognized fuel efficiency test methods for passenger car and on-road diesel engine sectors are not suitable for evaluating the fuel efficiency performance of a gas engine oil because of the significant differences in fuel type, engine operating conditions, and oil formulations. This paper, therefore, describes comparative studies of three different gas engine oils in a modern MAN E3262 E302 gas engine that was carefully adapted and fully instrumented. The performance of each oil with respect to fuel efficiency was assessed in an extensive program comprising endurance testing, stationary tests on various load/speed points and dynamic tests running the engine fired as well as non-fired (motored). Another part of the test program explores the lubrication of hard to reach points in the engine, e.g. valve guide. The paper describes how the SAE 30 monograde oil results in faster lubrication of these parts during startup in comparison with the SAE 40 oils.

Microbial Air Samplers for Meaningful Cleanroom Environmental Monitoring

Airborne microbiological concentrations within pharmaceutical cleanrooms are determined by sampling and to maximise the detection of any airborne microbes, it is essential that the sampling is undertaken in locations where there is greatest contamination risk using air samplers that have a verified and appropriate performance. Sampler performance can be assessed by review of both the physical and biological collection efficiencies that are determined by testing. The physical collection efficiency is the ability to collect particles of various sizes and the biological collection efficiency assesses the collection of viable microbes that includes the losses caused by the physical collection efficiency and the detrimental effect that the sampling has on the viability of the captured microbes. Due to the limitations of the established biological collection efficiency test method, this efficiency is only determined for microbes of sub-micron size which are not representative of the larger microbe-carrying particles typically present with cleanrooms. Samplers with a low physical collection efficiency for sub-micron particles are likely to have a poor performance when this test method is utilised and in an attempt to remove this bias from the testing the ‘biological efficiency’, is often reported. This is a measure of the likelihood that any captured microbes would survive, but is often mistaken for the biological collection efficiency and samplers may be utilised in the false belief that they have an appropriate performance. This article provides information regarding air sampler performance testing and reviews the test results reported by the same independent specialist testing company, therefore negating issues resulting from different testing methods, for three different air samplers. The results that are used to determine the ‘biological efficiency’ are examined to provide information relating to the biological collection efficiency of each sampler and to also provide additional information relating to the physical collection efficiency. Improvements to enhance the air sampler testing procedures, to enable a better direct comparison of the performance of different samplers, are suggested.