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Scientific Data Mar 2022Most COVID-19 vaccines require temperature control for transportation and storage. Two types of vaccine have been developed by manufacturers (Pfizer and Moderna). Both...
Most COVID-19 vaccines require temperature control for transportation and storage. Two types of vaccine have been developed by manufacturers (Pfizer and Moderna). Both vaccines are based on mRNA and lipid nanoparticles requiring low temperature storage. The Pfizer vaccine requires ultra-low temperature storage (-80 °C to -60 °C), while the Moderna vaccine requires -30 °C storage. However, the last stage of distribution is quite challenging, especially for rural or suburban areas, where local towns, pharmacy chains and hospitals may not have the infrastructure required to store the vaccine at the required temperature. In addition, there is limited data available to address ancillary challenges of the distribution framework for both transportation and storage stages, including safety concerns due to human exposure to large amounts of CO from dry-ice sublimation, issues due to the pressure increase caused by dry-ice sublimation, and the potential issue caused by non-uniform cryogenic temperatures. As such, there is a need for test dataset to assist the development of a quick, effective, secure, and safe solution to mitigate the challenges faced by vaccine distribution logistics.
Topics: COVID-19 Vaccines; Ice; Refrigeration; Temperature
PubMed: 35236859
DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01167-y -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2022This article presents the results of a numerical experimental study on the simulation of the dry ice compaction process. The first part of the article presents a...
This article presents the results of a numerical experimental study on the simulation of the dry ice compaction process. The first part of the article presents a description of the material used, material models and the methodology of experimental research. In the second part, numerical and experimental study results are presented. For the purpose of comparison, a parametric method based on the residual sum of squares was used. The application of the indicated method fills the gap in the available literature as the authors are not aware of any existing data from previous studies on the method of comparing the results of numerical tests in terms of the obtained results and the change of the value of the tested parameter as a function of another variable. The results of this study can be useful in research work aimed at further development of the process of extrusion and compaction of dry ice using Drucker-Prager/Cap and modified Cam-Clay material models for instance for optimization of geometric parameters of parts and components of the main assembly of the machine used in the process of dry ice extrusion.
PubMed: 36013907
DOI: 10.3390/ma15165771 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2015The search for once-habitable locations on Mars is increasingly focused on environments dominated by fluvial and lacustrine processes, such as those investigated by the... (Review)
Review
The search for once-habitable locations on Mars is increasingly focused on environments dominated by fluvial and lacustrine processes, such as those investigated by the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover. The availability of liquid water coupled with the potential longevity of such systems renders these localities prime targets for the future exploration of Martian biosignatures. Fluvial-lacustrine environments associated with basaltic volcanism are highly relevant to Mars, but their terrestrial counterparts have been largely overlooked as a field analogue. Such environments are common in Iceland, where basaltic volcanism interacts with glacial ice and surface snow to produce large volumes of meltwater within an otherwise cold and dry environment. This meltwater can be stored to create subglacial, englacial, and proglacial lakes, or be released as catastrophic floods and proglacial fluvial systems. Sedimentary deposits produced by the resulting fluvial-lacustrine activity are extensive, with lithologies dominated by basaltic minerals, low-temperature alteration assemblages (e.g., smectite clays, calcite), and amorphous, poorly crystalline phases (basaltic glass, palagonite, nanophase iron oxides). This paper reviews examples of these environments, including their sedimentary deposits and microbiology, within the context of utilising these localities for future Mars analogue studies and instrument testing.
PubMed: 25692905
DOI: 10.3390/life5010568 -
Insects Jul 2022Traps for capturing mosquitoes and other blood-feeding arthropods are often baited with carbon dioxide (CO) as an attractant. Dry ice is popularly used as a CO source...
Traps for capturing mosquitoes and other blood-feeding arthropods are often baited with carbon dioxide (CO) as an attractant. Dry ice is popularly used as a CO source due to its high efficiency and ease of use. However, dry ice can be difficult to obtain in many rural and remote areas. The objective of this study was to develop a simple and inexpensive method that could continuously generate CO overnight (about 10 h) while being used with CDC light traps for sampling adult mosquitoes. In principle, CO was produced from the reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) (12% /) and limestone powder (mainly composed of calcium carbonate, CaCO). In laboratory experiments, an average of 256 mL of CO was produced from 1 g of limestone. For continuous production of CO, an intravenous drip infusion set, as commonly used in hospitals, was modified for dripping the acid solution (1 L in a normal saline bag) onto limestone powder (800 g in a 1.5 L bottle) at a flow rate of 30 drops/min (about 1.6 mL/min). With this procedure, an average of 55 mL of CO per min was obtained (approximately equivalent to the CO exhaled by two chickens). The performance of this CO generating system incorporated with CDC light traps for sampling mosquitoes was evaluated in three rural villages of Sanpatong District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Three trap sets were used, i.e., Set I, light trap alone; Set II, light trap with dry ice (1 kg); and Set III, light trap with limestone and acid. In each village, mosquitoes were collected at three fixed sites, each with one of the three trap sets. They were rotated daily for three rounds (9 nights per village and 27 nights in total). A total of 1620 mosquitoes (97.7% being females) consisting of , , , , and were captured across three different sampling sets from all villages. The predominant species collected were ( = 760, 46.91%), ( = 504, 31.11%) and ( = 157, 9.69%). Light traps alone (Set I) collected very low numbers of mosquitoes ( = 12) and species (6 spp.), whereas light traps with dry ice (Set II) collected the highest numbers of mosquitoes ( = 1341) and species (14 spp.). Although the light trap with limestone and acid (Set III) collected fewer mosquitoes ( = 267) and species (9 spp.) than the trap set with dry ice (Set II), it collected all common vector species in the study areas as collected by Set II. The presence of an acid solution had no bias in the collection of mosquitoes with different physiological ages as determined by the parous rate. The present study demonstrated that this CO generating system is reliable, simple and inexpensive, and could be an alternative to dry ice. The system can be modified to increase the amount of CO generated for higher efficacy of mosquito collection. This CO production method can be applied to collect other blood-sucking arthropods as well.
PubMed: 35886813
DOI: 10.3390/insects13070637 -
Nature Communications Apr 2023Ice-rich Pleistocene-age permafrost is particularly vulnerable to rapid thaw, which may quickly expose a large pool of sedimentary organic matter (OM) to microbial...
Ice-rich Pleistocene-age permafrost is particularly vulnerable to rapid thaw, which may quickly expose a large pool of sedimentary organic matter (OM) to microbial degradation and lead to emissions of climate-sensitive greenhouse gases. Protective physico-chemical mechanisms may, however, restrict microbial accessibility and reduce OM decomposition; mechanisms that may be influenced by changing environmental conditions during sediment deposition. Here we study different OM fractions in Siberian permafrost deposited during colder and warmer periods of the past 55,000 years. Among known stabilization mechanisms, the occlusion of OM in aggregates is of minor importance, while 33-74% of the organic carbon is associated with small, <6.3 µm mineral particles. Preservation of carbon in mineral-associated OM is enhanced by reactive iron minerals particularly during cold and dry climate, reflected by low microbial CO production in incubation experiments. Warmer and wetter conditions reduce OM stabilization, shown by more decomposed mineral-associated OM and up to 30% higher CO production. This shows that considering the stability and bioavailability of Pleistocene-age permafrost carbon is important for predicting future climate-carbon feedback.
PubMed: 37055417
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37766-5 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023The management of waste materials, particularly non-biodegradable substances such as plastics and composites, is an increasingly pressing issue. Energy efficiency in...
The management of waste materials, particularly non-biodegradable substances such as plastics and composites, is an increasingly pressing issue. Energy efficiency in industrial processes is crucial throughout their life cycle, including the handling of materials such as carbon dioxide (CO), which has a significant environmental impact. This study focuses on the conversion of solid CO into pellets using ram extrusion, a widely used technique. The length of the die land (DL) in this process plays a critical role in determining the maximum extrusion force and the density of dry ice pellets. However, the influence of DL length on the characteristics of dry ice snow, known as compressed carbon dioxide (CCD), remains understudied. To address this research gap, the authors conducted experimental trials using a customized ram extrusion setup, varying the DL length while keeping the other parameters constant. The results demonstrate a substantial correlation between DL length and both the maximum extrusion force and dry ice pellets density. Increasing the DL length leads to a decreased extrusion force and optimized pellet density. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the ram extrusion process of dry ice pellets and improving waste management, energy efficiency, and product quality in industries utilizing this technique.
PubMed: 37374466
DOI: 10.3390/ma16124281 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Mar 2016To establish a novel mouse constipation model.
AIM
To establish a novel mouse constipation model.
METHODS
Animals were randomly divided into three groups, and intragastrically administered 0-4 °C saline (ice-cold group) or 15-20 °C saline (saline control group) daily for 14 d, or were left untreated (blank control group). Stools were collected 3-24 h after treatment to record the wet and dry weights and the stool form. Intestinal propulsion experiments were carried out and defecation time was measured for six days continuously after suspending treatments. The expressions of PGP9.5 were detected by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
Based on the percentage of stool weight changes compared with baseline (before irritation) in 9-14 d, stool weight changes were classified into three levels. Each level shows a different body state, which is state I (no change: plus or minus 5%), state II (slightly decreased: 5%-15%) and state III (decreased: 15%-25%). In state III, between day 9-14, the stool weights decreased by 15%-25% compared with the baseline, and changed at a rate > 10% compared with blank control values, and the stools became small and dry. Additionally, intestinal functions degenerated in these animals, and PGP9.5-positive expression markedly decreased in jejunum, ileum and proximal colon myenteric plexus.
CONCLUSION
Irritation with ice-cold saline is a stable, repeatable method in building constipation model in mice for exploring the pathogenesis and treatment options of constipation, and the change of stool weight and size may serve as a useful tool to judge a constipation model success or not.
Topics: Animals; Cold Temperature; Constipation; Defecation; Disease Models, Animal; Feces; Gastrointestinal Motility; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Sodium Chloride; Time Factors; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
PubMed: 26973418
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i9.2799 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2018Despite the growth in knowledge about the effects of a warming Arctic on its cold-adapted species, the mechanisms by which these changes affect animal populations remain...
Despite the growth in knowledge about the effects of a warming Arctic on its cold-adapted species, the mechanisms by which these changes affect animal populations remain poorly understood. Increasing temperatures, declining sea ice and altered wind and precipitation patterns all may affect the fitness and abundance of species through multiple direct and indirect pathways. Here we demonstrate previously unknown effects of rain-on-snow (ROS) events, winter precipitation, and ice tidal surges on the Arctic's largest land mammal. Using novel field data across seven years and three Alaskan and Russian sites, we show arrested skeletal growth in juvenile muskoxen resulting from unusually dry winter conditions and gestational ROS events, with the inhibitory effects on growth from ROS events lasting up to three years post-partum. Further, we describe the simultaneous entombment of 52 muskoxen in ice during a Chukchi Sea winter tsunami (ivuniq in Iñupiat), and link rapid freezing to entrapment of Arctic whales and otters. Our results illustrate how once unusual, but increasingly frequent Arctic weather events affect some cold-adapted mammals, and suggest that an understanding of species responses to a changing Arctic can be enhanced by coalescing groundwork, rare events, and insights from local people.
Topics: Animals; Arctic Regions; Body Size; Climate Change; Cold Climate; Disasters; Female; History, 19th Century; History, 21st Century; Male; Otters; Rain; Ruminants; Snow; Tsunamis; Whales
PubMed: 29348632
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19416-9 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023The ice plant is a species that is grown mainly in the dry regions of the American West and contains various minerals and ingredients beneficial for human health, such...
The ice plant is a species that is grown mainly in the dry regions of the American West and contains various minerals and ingredients beneficial for human health, such as inositol and beta-carotene. With the growing trend towards healthy foods, pasta consumption has also increased. Pasta is a convenient and low-glycemic-index food that is composed mainly of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, dietary fiber, and trace amounts of minerals. The optimal mixing ratio was evaluated to produce pasta of the highest quality in terms of blood sugar elevation and antioxidant efficacy. The components and minerals of the ice plant, including D-pinitol and inositol, were analyzed, and 20 essential amino acids were identified. In this study, we also investigated the quality and characteristics of ice plant paste and eggs, as well as the quality, antioxidant activity, and formulation of raw materials mixed with ice plant at different ratios. Optimal conditions were found to be 46.73 g of ice plant paste in 100 g of durum wheat flour, 20.23 g of egg, and 2 g of salt, providing a way to develop fresh pasta that enhances the health benefits of ice plant paste without excessive moisture and other ingredients.
PubMed: 37444220
DOI: 10.3390/foods12132482 -
Brazilian Journal of Biology = Revista... 2022Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a medicinal, ornamental and aromatic plant, however, its size can be an obstacle to its commercialization as a potted ornamental plant....
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a medicinal, ornamental and aromatic plant, however, its size can be an obstacle to its commercialization as a potted ornamental plant. Paclobutrazol (PBZ) is a substance that can retard plant growth by inhibiting the synthesis of gibberellins. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of paclobutrazol on growth regulation and gas exchange of basil (var. Cinnamon). The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with five treatments (PBZ doses: 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mg L-1), with eight replicates. Growth (plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, leaf dry mass, stem dry mass, inflorescence dry mass, and total), growth rates (leaf mass ratio, stem mass ratio, inflorescence mass ratio, and robustness quotient), chlorophyll indices, gas exchange (gs, A, E, Ci, WUE, iWUE and iCE) were evaluated. Paclobutrazol reduced the growth of basil plants and increased the chlorophyll indices, A, gs, and WUE. Paclobutrazol can be used to regulate plant growth of basil plants var. Cinnamon, without altering its physiological and ornamental characteristics.
Topics: Chlorophyll; Ocimum basilicum; Plant Leaves; Triazoles
PubMed: 35857950
DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.262364