The Influence of Different Dietary Carbohydrate to Lipid Ratios on Some Qualitative Characteristics of Fillets of Beluga (Huso huso) During Refrigeration

In this study, juvenile beluga (Huso huso) were fed diets containing different carbohydrate to lipid ratios for 5 months. At the end of the culture period, proximate compositions of the fish carcasses (moisture, protein, fat, and ash) were measured. Then, qualitative changes in the fishes were evaluated during 24-days refrigeration (4°C), along with changes in their total volatile bases nitrogen (TVN), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), free fatty acids (FFA), pH, and muscle texture profile analysis. The results of proximate analysis of the carcasses showed that moisture, protein, and ash of the carcasses increased significantly (p < 0.05) with higher carbohydrate to lipid ratio, but fat content of the carcasses decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Further, during refrigeration, TVN, TBA, and FFA increased significantly in all the samples (p < 0.05), but these changes did not follow the same pattern in all the treatments. Tissue hardness decreased during preservation. Although pH changes in the fillets were low, they were significant and without a clear-cut pattern. The results showed that use of different carbohydrate to lipid ratios in diet does not lead to clear-cut changes in qualitative characteristics of beluga fillets during refrigeration.     

Ultrastructural changes of corpus luteum after ovarian stimulation at implantation period

Background: To achieve multiple oocytes for in vitro fertilization, ovulation induction is induced by gonadotropins; however, it has several effects on oocytes and embryo quality and endometrium receptivity. The aim of this study was to assess ultrastructural changes of corpus luteum after ovarian induction using human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) during luteal phase at implantation period. Methods: Female NMRI mice (6-8 weeks) were divided into control and stimulated groups. In the control group, the mice were rendered pseudopregnant and in the ovarian induction group, the mice were rendered pseudopregnant after the ovarian induction. The samples were obtained from the ovary in each group at the same time during luteal phase at implantation period. Ultrastructural changes were assessed using electron microscopy study. Results: Our results displayed some identifiable changes in ultrastructure of corpus luteum in ovarian induction group. These changes included enhancement of the apoptosis and intercellular space, whereas the angiogenesis was decreased. The findings indicated a decline in organelle density in the cytoplasm of ovarian induction, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and polyribosome. Furthermore, chromatin condensation of nuclei was observed in some cells. Conclusion: The ovarian induction using HMG and HCG resulted in some ultrastructural changes on the corpus luteum at implantation period, which could affect on the pregnancy rate.Key Words: Corpus luteum, Luteal phase, Ultrastructure, Ovarian induction     

The potential of visible-near infrared hyperspectral imaging to discriminate between casing soil, enzymatic browning and undamaged tissue on mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) surfaces

The potential of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in the visible-near infrared (445-945 nm) wavelength range to discriminate between casing soil, enzymatic browning and undamaged tissue on mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) surfaces was investigated. A calibration set of 108 damage free mushrooms, grown under controlled conditions in a research station, were first tested as undamaged class (U) and then were divided into 2 groups of 54 samples. The first group was smeared with casing soil and designated as casing soil class (C) and the second group was subjected to vibrational damage resulting in enzymatic browning and designated as damaged class (D). Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models were developed to classify mushroom tissue as one of the three classes investigated (U, C and D) using pixel spectra from each class. Prediction maps were obtained by applying the developed models to the hyperspectral images of candidate mushrooms. Percentages of pixels classified into each class were also calculated for the mushrooms studied in the calibration set. Results obtained showed that the developed models performed satisfactorily to discriminate between the 3 classes studied. Comparison of red-green-blue (RGB) and hyperspectral image analysis showed that HSI was better able to identify the regions containing casing soil. Model validation was performed using 3 different test sets of mushrooms obtained from a commercial producer. It was found that the developed PLS-DA models were satisfactorily capable of identifying undamaged regions, casing soil and enzymatic damaged areas on mushrooms from the validation sets.     

Biochar Application and Drought Stress Effects on Physiological Characteristics of Silybum marianum

Soil amending with biochar has been viewed as a sustainable way to improve soil moisture holding capacity. The potential of biochar application to improve water status of crops under drought stress has not been extensively evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the impact of biochar application (0%, 1%, and 2% w/w soil) on some important physiological traits of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn) under moderate and severe drought stress conditions in a controlled environment. Although, the application of biochar at the higher rate slightly improved soil moisture holding capacity, the magnitude of its effect was not sufficient to influence plant performance under drought stress. To get the positive effects of biochar application on milk thistle performance under drought stress, application with higher rates is probably necessary.     

Reference values for Schirmer tear tests I and II in clinically normal pigs

Objective To determine reference values for Schirmer tear tests I and II in clinically normal pigs. Animal studied Twenty clinically normal Landrace pigs (10 males and females) without ocular abnormalities were used in this study. Procedures In all pigs, Schirmer tear tests (STT) I and II were performed by using a sterile Schirmer tear test standardized strip (Schirmer‐Tränentest^®, Germany) placed in the lower conjunctival fornix for 1 min. Results For each test (STT I and STT II), no differences were observed between the right and left eyes (P ≥ 0.5). The mean ± SD STT I value was 15.6 ± 3.7 mm/min (range, 10–22 mm/min), while the mean STT II value was 12.4 ± 3.8 mm/minute (range, 5–18 mm/min). The mean STT II value was significantly lower than the STT I level (P < 0.001). Animal gender did not have a significant effect on STT I and II values (P = 0.52). The mean ± SD STT I/II values of 10 juvenile pigs were significantly lower than the mean ± SD STT I/II values of 10 adult pigs (P < 0.001). Conclusions This study of 20 Landrace pigs provided valuable information on normal STT I/II in this species. Knowledge of normal STT reference values in pigs enables the clinician to evaluate corneal pathology and diagnose tear deficiency syndromes with greater accuracy.     

Intraocular pressure and Schirmer tear test results in clinically normal Long-Eared Hedgehogs (Hemiechinus auritus): reference values

Objective The present study was undertaken to establish reference values for Schirmer tear test (STT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in the long‐eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus). Animals Fourteen healthy long‐eared hedgehogs (H. auritus) of either sex were studied. Procedures The hedgehogs were individually immobilized with an intramuscular injection of combined Ketamine (20 mg/kg) and Diazepam (0.5 mg/kg), and each animal underwent ophthalmic examinations including: STT, tonometry, biomicroscopy, and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Results No significant effects of animal gender, weight, side (right vs. left eye) were found in this study. Mean (SD) STT values for all eyes (n = 28) were 1.7 ± 1.2 mm/1 min with a range of 0–4 mm/1 min. Mean STT in male animals was 2.2 ± 1.2. Mean STT in female Hedgehogs was 1.3 ± 1.1. Mean (SD) IOP values by applanation tonometry were 20.1 ± 4.0 mmHg (range 11.5–26.5 mmHg). Mean (SD) IOP values by applanation tonometry were 18.2 ± 4.0 and 22.0 ± 3.2 mmHg for males and females, respectively. Conclusions This study reports STT and IOP findings in long‐eared hedgehogs (H. auritus).     

Gas Separation Polysulfone Membranes Modified by Cadmium-based Nanoparticles

This paper presents new mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) synthesized via incorporating hexamethylenetetramine dicyanamide cadmium nanoparticles, a metal organic framework (MOF), into the polysulfone (PSF) matrix. The MMMs are characterized using FTIR and SEM analyses, and their gas permeation properties are evaluated at different MOF loadings and various pressures. The results show that the nanoparticle is compatible with the polymer and distributes homogenously in the matrix. Compared to the pristine PSF membrane, the MMM with 2.5 wt. % of the MOF nanoparticles has lower CO₂, CH₄, N₂ and O₂ permeabilities but significantly higher CO₂/CH₄, CO₂/N₂ and O₂/N₂ gas pair selectivities (i.e., 41.66, 20.08 and 5.09, respectively, which are 42.6, 61.6 and 60.02 % higher). As the total pressure increases, the gas permeabilities of the pristine PSF membrane and the MMMs decrease, but their sieving abilities increase. These results suggest that gas selectivities of high free-volume polymers with poor sieving abilities can be improved by incorporating the MOF into the polymer.     

A New Approach to Predict Daily pH in Rivers Based on the “à trous” Redundant Wavelet Transform Algorithm

Prediction of pH is an important issue in managing water quality in surface waters (e.g., rivers, lakes) as well as drinking water. The capacity of artificial neural network (ANN), wavelet-artificial neural network (WANN), traditional multiple linear regression (MLR), and wavelet-multiple linear regression (WMLR) models to predict daily pH levels (1, 2, and 3 days ahead) at the Chattahoochee River gauging station (near Atlanta, GA, USA) was assessed. In the proposed WANN model, the original time series of pH and discharge (Q) were decomposed (after being split into training and testing series) into several sub-series by the the à trous (AT) wavelet transform algorithm. The wavelet coefficients were summed to obtain useful input time series for the ANN model to then develop the WANN model for pH prediction. The redundant à trous algorithm was used for data decomposition. Model implementation indicated the values of 1-day-ahead pH predicted by the WANN model closely matched the observed values (with a coefficient of determination, R²?=?0.956; Root Mean Square Error, RMSE?=?0.019; and Mean Absolute Error, MAE?=?0.015). It is therefore possible that the WANN model’s accuracy can be attributed to its better predictive ability (due to the use of the AT) to remove the noise caused by pH shifts (e.g., acid precipitation). Peak pH values predicted by the WANN model were also closer to observed values compared to the other machine learning models.