Generally, health level of high pressure heater (HPH) for coal fired unit (CFU) can be diagnosed with wellness value of terminal temperature difference (TTD, upper end difference) compared with site ...measured value. However, TTD wellness value for HPH is tremendously involved by CFU boundary parameters. Simultaneously influencing mechanism is extremely complex. Such factor has been proven to make it laborious to accurately determine TTD wellness value in real-time during operation. Regretfully, up to now, a deficiency of theoretical methods for TTD wellness value on influence of unit boundary conditions is still subsistent. Under helplessness, TTD design value of HPH is roughly recognized as an imaginary wellness value for operators. Unfortunately, such ludicrous manipulating has brought stupendous errors to diagnosis of HPH faults.
In this background, primarily calculation model for wellness of operating end difference of HPH is established on influence of boiler boundary conditions. Formidable coupling for boiler and turbine is cracked in model. Meanwhile, redistribution mechanism of heat transfer area for superheated condensation zone in HPH is firstly involved under variable conditions. Subsequently, variation pattern of main steam parameters and HPH extraction parameters were investigated on boundary parameters of boiler. Impact of such changing transmitted to HPH is captured. Therefore, influential mechanism from boiler boundary parameters on TTD health value of HPH was obtained. Exploration results indicate, a 1000 kJ/kg increment in coal calorific value as main influencing factor maximally dedicates 4 °C enhancement in TTD for HPH. Finally, diagnostic case of wellness status of HPH is provided. Proposed model can be employed to determine wellness value of HPH terminal difference in real-time online targeting changing in boundary conditions of CFU. The current situation of adopting design values of TTD as wellness values has been smashed. This research work, reputed as a fantastic theoretical foundation, make performance diagnosis of HPH a possibility especially real-time online diagnosis.
•Modeling for wellness value of end difference in high-pressure heater is executed.•Redistribution of actual heat transfer area of high-pressure heater is regarded.•Issue of real-time online determination of end difference health value is solved.•Influencing mechanism of boiler boundary conditions on end difference is investigated.•Diagnostic case of operating health status of high-pressure heater is provided.
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been heretofore implicated in the induction of osteoblast differentiation from uncommitted progenitors during embryonic skeletogenesis and fracture healing. We ...have tested the hypothesis that BMPs are also involved in the osteoblastogenesis that takes place in the bone marrow in postnatal life. To do this, we took advantage of the properties of noggin, a recently discovered protein that binds BMP‐2 and −4 and blocks their action. Addition of human recombinant noggin to bone marrow cell cultures from normal adult mice inhibited both osteoblast and osteoclast formation; these effects were reversed by exogenous BMP‐2. Consistent with these findings, BMP‐2 and −4 and BMP‐2/4 receptor transcripts and proteins were detected in these primary cultures, in a bone marrow–derived stromal/osteoblastic cell line, as well as in murine adult whole bone; noggin expression was also documented in all these preparations. Moreover, addition of antinoggin antibody caused an increase in osteoblast progenitor formation. These findings suggest that BMP‐2 and −4 are expressed in the bone marrow in postnatal life and serve to maintain the continuous supply of osteoblasts and osteoclasts; and that, in fact, BMP‐2/4‐induced commitment to the osteoblastic lineage is a prerequisite for osteoclast development. Hence, BMPs, perhaps in balance with noggin and possibly other antagonists, may provide the tonic baseline control of the rate of bone remodeling on which other inputs (e.g., hormonal, biomechanical, etc.) operate.
Bone marrow (BM) contains a rare population of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which have been characterized as nonhematopoietic skeletal progenitor cells with central importance for the ...hematopoietic microenvironment. Classically, MSCs are isolated by plastic adherence and subsequent culture. However, as cultured stromal cells differ from their in vivo progenitors, it is important to identify the phenotype of the primary MSCs to study these cells in more detail. In the past years, several surface markers have been reported to be suitable for effective enrichment of BM‐MSCs, and recent data indicate that the putative MSC stem/progenitor cell population in human adult BM is highly enriched in Lin− CD45− CD271+ CD140a (PDGFRα)low/− cells. Moreover, surface marker combinations have been described for the isolation of MSCs from murine BM. On the basis of these findings, the role of primary MSCs can now be studied in normal and, importantly, diseased BM. Furthermore, genetically engineered mouse models have been developed as powerful tools to investigate well‐defined BM stromal cell populations in vivo. Our discussion aims to provide a concise overview of the current state of the art in BM‐MSC isolation in humans and briefly present murine MSC isolation approaches and genetic models.
Currently, in the state of Colorado and all other states within the United States of America with legalized marijuana programs, testing is required for bacteria, yeast, and mold on marijuana ...products. The Code of Colorado Regulations, 1 CCR 212–1, considers a passing result when a 1 g sample contains <104 colony forming units (CFU) for the total yeast and mold count (TYMC). These measurements are usually obtained by manually counting colonies on petri-dishes or 3 M™ Petrifilms™, which is a time consuming and user subjective process. Therefore, an automated counting method utilizing ImageJ has been developed for CFU analysis of TYMC on Petrifilms. The performance of this colony counting method was demonstrated by comparing manual and automated counts from marijuana flower samples containing spikes of Candida albicans as well as samples that tested positive for the presence of yeast and mold. Fifteen images of Petrifilms showing various concentrations of colonies were studied by fifteen users at two institutions using both the automated and manual counting methods. All counts from the automated ImageJ procedure were within 12% of those obtained manually. In twelve out of fifteen Petrifilms, the average count of the automated method was statistically similar to the manual counts. The statistical differences of the other three samples were observed to be random and caused by user errors. The automated counting method could be used to quickly count numbers that are as high as 400 CFUs, reducing time of analysis with improved documentation because the images and the electronic colony counts can be saved on a computer or cloud for long term storage and data access.
•ImageJ was used to develop an automated counting method analysis for yeast and mold colony forming units (CFUs).•Too numerous to count colony concentrations can lead to yeast and mold counting errors.•The automated counting method proved to be successful in colony counting, including in samples that have high counts.•Automated plate counting may be advantageous over manual counting because it is more objective and could be time efficient.
Droplet microfluidics has been widely used to analyze chemicals and biological reactions at the single-molecule level. Microscopic systems are commonly used for imaging and analyzing droplets using ...high-magnification objective lenses. However, these systems are expensive, complex, and large, limiting the high-throughput characterization of droplets in reactions targeting disease-related biomarkers, including nucleic acids, proteins, and pathogens. Another concern is the time gap between droplet analysis within a microfluidic channel and imaging chamber, which can cause discrepancies in reaction time between droplets. To address this issue, we introduce the droplet analysis system for vast imaging and statistical tool (DropVIST)—a wide-field imaging system integrated with droplet microfluidics for rapid and accurate droplet analysis. DropVIST can detect eight differently colored droplets simultaneously using a wide-field imaging system and dFinder software, which can quantify the reacted droplets. The smallest droplet diameter for detection was 30 μm, and the maximum detection area was 201.84 cm2, suggesting that the system can theoretically analyze 3103,377 droplets in real-time. We validated the monitoring performance of DropVIST using clinical isolates of five types of living pathogenic bacteria and compared this with conventional approaches, including the microbroth dilution method and colony-forming unit assay. This platform provides a rapid, simple, and accurate tool for monitoring living bacteria at the single-cell level.
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•Integration of wide-field imaging with droplet microfluidics (DropVIST).•DropVIST was validated with clinically isolated bacteria.•Pathogenic living bacteria can be detected at single cell level within 6 hours.•DropVIST can theoretically analyze 3103,377 droplets in real-time.•Eight differently colored-droplets can be simultaneously analyzed in real-time.
BACKGROUND: Ex vivo expansion of cord blood (CB) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells increases cell dose and may reduce the severity and duration of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia after ...transplantation. This study's purpose was to establish a clinically applicable culture system by investigating the use of cytokines, serum‐free media, and autologous plasma for the expansion of CB cells and the engraftment of expanded product in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Enriched CB CD34+ cells were cultured in four media (Iscove's modified Dul‐becco's medium with FCS, Gibco; X‐Vivo‐10, BioWhittaker; QBSF‐60, Quality Biological; and StemSpan SFEM, Stem Cell Technologies) with four cytokine combinations (thrombopoietin TPO, SCF, Flt‐3 ligand FL with and without G–CSF, and/or IL‐6). The effect of autologous CB plasma was also investigated. The read‐out measures were evaluated on Days 8 and 12. After expansion at the optimized condition, cultured cells were transplanted into sublethally irradiated NOD/SCID mice. The engraftment of human CD45+ cells and subsets in the bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood was determined.
RESULTS: QBSF‐60 or StemSpan SFEM supported high yields of early progenitors (CD34+ cells, < 64.8‐fold; CD34+CD38– cells, 330‐fold; CFU–granulocyte erythroid macrophage megakaryocyte GEMM, 248‐fold) and CFUs of the myeloid (CFU–GM, 407‐fold) and erythroid (BFU/CFU–E, 144‐fold) lineages. The expansion of the megakaryocytic lineage was consistently higher in X‐Vivo‐10 (CFU–megakaryocyte, 684‐fold). Autologous plasma promoted colony formation but reduced CD34+ cells and CFU–GEMM. The addition of G–CSF or IL‐6 improved cell yields; G–CSF was more effective for committed progenitors. Expansion products from cultures in QBSF‐60 with the cytokines engrafted and differentiated into the myeloid and lymphoid lineages in NOD/SCID mice.
CONCLUSION: The data supported the strategy of expansion. The optimized condition may be applicable to clinical expansion for the abrogation or reduction of posttransplant cytopenia.
Iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies are two of the most common diseases in the childhood group. Deficiencies of iron and vitamin B12 affect many systems in the body. In this study, to discover the ...effects of iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies on the hematopoietic stem cells, we studied CFU assay from peripheral blood. One hundred and two children were included in our study and were evaluated in five categories: iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, iron and vitamin B12 deficiency, and controls. As a result of statistical analysis, no significant difference was detected between five groups in terms of CFU assays. The results of our study suggest that, in emergent situations, stem cell samples can be collected before treatment with B12 or iron which are common deficiencies in donors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We conclude that we could reach more accurate results by designing a study which contains more patients and includes in vivo results.
Background: Bio-fertilizers are the substances which contain living microorganisms, when applied to soil, seeds and plant root these fertilizers increases soil fertility and promote growth of the ...plant. Biofertilizers help plants to utilize important mineral resources, phosphorous and nitrogen. Microorganisms like Rhizobacteria, fungi and algae which provide nutrient to the soil and which are produced commercially are known as biofertilizers. The microorganisms which present in biofertilizers are Rhizobium species, Pseudomonas species and Azospirillum species etc. These biofertilizers have potential to replace conventional chemical fertilizers. The quality of biofertilizers is utmost important as they have to be used by farmers and should work well when applied to the soil. It should not form clumps after preparation. In this study, anticaking property provided by tricalcium phosphate (TCP) to individual biofertilizer containing Pseudomonas, Rhizobium and Azospirillum respectively (each separately) was studied. Methods: In our study, we have used serial dilution and direct count method (CFU) for checking viability of live microorganism for 15, 30 and 90 days duration in respective biofertilizers in our laboratory. Different percentage viz 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) was used in addition to aluminium silicate as an inert carrier.Conclusion: Our study has validated that all percentage (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) is reducing clump formation as compared to control with no TCP added. On the basis of plate count method (CFU result) 10% TCP is found to be optimum to be used as an anticaking agent for biofertilizer containing Pseudomonas, Rhizobium and Azospirillum respectively.
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•SP-SDS forms a simple tool for bacterial cfu estimation for samples with unknown cfu.•Prime recommendation of anchoring specimens to fixed initial OD or a standard base.•Six serial ...dilutions of 20μl each applied per 9-cm plate followed by manual counting.•Suits pure and mixed bacterial stocks, spores, yeasts and composite samples.•Superior to alternate techniques like track-dilution, drop-plating or drop-spotting.
We propose a simple technique for bacterial and yeast cfu estimations from diverse samples with no prior idea of viable counts, designated as single plate-serial dilution spotting (SP-SDS) with the prime recommendation of sample anchoring (100 stocks). For pure cultures, serial dilutions were prepared from 0.1OD (100) stock and 20μl aliquots of six dilutions (101–106) were applied as 10–15 micro-drops in six sectors over agar-gelled medium in 9-cm plates. For liquid samples 100–105 dilutions, and for colloidal suspensions and solid samples (10% w/v), 101–106 dilutions were used. Following incubation, at least one dilution level yielded 6–60cfu per sector comparable to the standard method involving 100μl samples. Tested on diverse bacteria, composite samples and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, SP-SDS offered wider applicability over alternative methods like drop-plating and track-dilution for cfu estimation, single colony isolation and culture purity testing, particularly suiting low resource settings.
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