Impact of acidity regulator and excipient nutrients on digestive solubility and intestinal transport of calcium from calcium phosphate and carbonate.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of an acidity regulator (SPORIX®), lactose, and vitamin D as excipient ingredients on digestive solubility and intestinal transport of calcium from four different calcium materials (tricalcium phosphate (TCP), fish bone (FB), nano-fish bone (NFB), and algae calcium (AC)) through an in vitro digestion model system combined with Caco-2 cells. The concentration of ionized calcium (Ca) in an aqueous fraction after in vitro digestion increased with the addition of SPORIX®, and it was further enhanced by adding SPORIX® + lactose + vitamin D into TCP, FB, NFB, and AC, respectively. In particular, FB with SPORIX® + lactose + vitamin D enhanced calcium ionization to 33.

Reduced Graphene Oxide-Wrapped Nickel-Rich Cathode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries.

The encapsulation of Ni-rich cathode materials (LiNiCoMnO) for lithium ion batteries in reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets is introduced to improve electrochemical performances. Using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, the active materials are completely wrapped with several rGO layers of ∼2 nm thickness. By virtue of the great electrical conductivity of graphene, the rGO-coated cathode materials exhibit much enhanced electrochemical performances of cycling property and rate capability.

Vitrification of mouse embryos using the thin plastic strip method.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare vitrification optimization of mouse embryos using electron microscopy (EM) grid, cryotop, and thin plastic strip (TPS) containers by evaluating developmental competence and apoptosis rates.

Methods: Mouse embryos were obtained from superovulated mice. Mouse cleavage-stage, expanded, hatching-stage, and hatched-stage embryos were cryopreserved in EM grid, cryotop, and TPS containers by vitrification in 15% ethylene glycol, 15% dimethylsulfoxide, 10 µg/mL Ficoll, and 0.