How does the use of agar affect the growth and viability of cells in culture?5 answersThe choice of agar preparation method significantly impacts cell growth and viability in culture. When agar and phosphate are autoclaved together to form solid growth media (PT medium), total colony counts are notably lower compared to when agar and phosphate are separately autoclaved and mixed before solidification (PS medium). This discrepancy is attributed to hydrogen peroxide in PT agar plates inhibiting growth, leading to reduced colony formation. In contrast, cells cultured on PS medium exhibit higher colony-forming units and better reflect the original community structure, fostering the growth of previously uncultivated microbes. Additionally, incorporating agarose gel with gold nanoparticles in a sensor platform enables label-free detection of bacterial viability based on metabolic activity, offering a sensitive and rapid method for monitoring cell viability in situ.
Why is 0.7 S/m used for mri phantoms?5 answersThe electrical conductivity of 0.7 S/m is commonly used for MRI phantoms due to its relevance in mimicking biological tissues. MRI phantoms are essential for quality control and performance evaluation of MRI systems, ensuring accurate and reliable imaging results. These phantoms help in assessing SAR values, spatial resolution, and image quality. The development of suitable phantoms allows for the validation of SAR values provided by MRI apparatus, especially crucial for patient safety and compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, MRI phantoms aid in optimizing imaging sequences, protocols, and hardware, contributing to advancements in MRI technology for both preclinical and clinical applications. The choice of 0.7 S/m conductivity in phantoms is instrumental in replicating tissue characteristics and enhancing the overall performance and safety of MRI systems.
How to prepare SSA agar?5 answersSSA agar can be prepared using different methods. One method involves fermenting a strain to obtain a fermentation broth containing S-ABA, then extracting and refining the broth to obtain an extract with S-ABA. The extract is then concentrated, recrystallized, and dried to obtain the SSA agar product with a purity of 95% or more. Another method involves sequentially adding water and agar to a reaction kettle, stirring, and heating until full dissolution. The agar solution is then cooled, and a food-grade acid is added, followed by insulation and stirring. A precipitating agent is slowly added to the reaction liquid, and the precipitated reaction liquid is filtered, washed with ethanol, and dried to obtain instant agar. Additionally, pretreating seaweed with alkali prior to extraction has been found to greatly improve the quality of agar. Another method involves dissolving agar raw materials into a weak alkali mixed solution, reacting with hydrogen peroxide, and adding acetic acid for further reaction. The solution is then filtered, frozen, dehydrated, and dried to obtain agar. Finally, agar can be prepared by dispersing agar and flux into water, boiling until fully dissolved, freezing, thawing, dehydrating, drying, and spraying flux on the surface.
What is blood agar?5 answersBlood agar is an enriched medium used for the growth and differentiation of bacteria based on their hemolytic properties. It is typically made by adding 5% blood to an agar base. Different types of agar bases, such as Brucella, Casman, and Columbia, have been used to support the growth of diverse organisms. Blood agar can be manufactured using defibrinated blood or blood powder as a cheaper alternative. The physical and microbiological characteristics of blood agar made with irradiated blood powder were found to be comparable to conventional blood agar, making it a more practical and economical option for large-scale production. The invention also provides variations of blood agar, such as fish blood agar, which can be used for the isolation and identification of aquatic pathogenic bacteria.
What is the thermal conductivity of agar?4 answersThe thermal conductivity of agar has been measured and studied in several papers. According to the research, the thermal conductivity of agar gel was found to be in the range of 0.0579–0.0826 W/mK. Agar was used as a gelling agent to prevent the formation of convection currents in low viscosity fluids, enabling accurate measurement of thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of water-agar gels was determined to be dependent on both concentration and temperature, decreasing with increasing concentration and increasing with temperature. Gelatin, a similar substance to agar, was also studied, and its intrinsic thermal conductivity was estimated to be 0.28–0.30 W/mK at 20°C. The thermal diffusivity of agar was measured using the photopyroelectric technique, but the specific thermal conductivity values were not mentioned.
What is the preparation for an MRI enterography?3 answersThe preparation for an MRI enterography involves optimal patient preparation and distension of the bowel using intraluminal contrast agents. The technique requires the oral ingestion of a large amount of neutral contrast to distend the small bowel before scanning. For achieving high-quality diagnostic images, protocols may vary in patient preparation, enteric contrast, and MRI acquisition sequences. The standard sequences for MRI enterography include steady-state free precession sequences, T2-weighted single-shot fast spin echo sequences, and three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient echo sequences with fat saturation after contrast administration. Prior to image acquisition, the optimal distension of the bowel is achieved by gradually ingesting a total of 1600 mL 2% Mannitol solution during the preparation time. Patient preparation and protocol optimization are essential to consistently obtain high-quality MR images of the bowel, especially in young children.