The effects of altered ultrasound parameters on the recovery of sciatic nerve injury

Background: Initial studies have shown that low-energy ultrasound stimulates living tissue cells to reduce regeneration or speed up their recovery. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of various ultrasound parameters on the speed of recovery in injured sciatic nerves NMRI.Methods: NMRI mice (n = 200) with injured left paw, caused by crushing their sciatic nerves, were randomly selected. The animals were exposed to ultrasound radiation with various frequencies, intensities, and exposure time. They were allocated into 20 groups (19 treatment and 1 control groups). Sciatic functional index (SFI) test was used to evaluate the difference between the groups with respect to functional efficiency of the sciatic nerve and its recovery. SFI ، (P=0.000).Results: The results of SFI test obtained from the 14^th day showed a significant difference among the groups (P<0.05). On the 14^th day after treatment, one of the groups (US11) recovered up to 90%..Conclusion: Altered ultrasound exposure parameters had more favorable outcomes compared with our previous work.Key Words: Sciatic nerve, Ultrasonic therapy, Regeneration     

Cottonseed oil as a complementary lipid source in diets for gilthead seabream Sparus aurata juveniles

The efficacy of using cottonseed oil (CSO) as a fish oil (FO) substitute in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles feed was evaluated. Fish (BW_i 4.0 ± 2.9 g) were fed one of four isoproteic (~48% CP) and isolipidic (~18% L) diets for 9 weeks. Added oil was either FO (control diet, CTRL) or CSO, replacing 50% (CSO50 diet), 60% (CSO60 diet) and 70% (CSO70 diet) of dietary FO. Results indicated that FO replacement by CSO up to 60% level had no detrimental effects on growth or nutritive utilization and composition in fish muscles. Higher CSO intake (CSO70 diet, 56 g kg^?1) led to a 16% reduction in weight gain, 14% in feed utilization (FCR) and 57% in muscle n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (lc PUFA) as compared with CTRL and to abundant accumulation of lipid within the hepatocytes. Use of CSO altered fatty acid (FA) profiles of muscle and liver. Data suggested utilization of linoleic acid (LOA) by fish and retain of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in muscles. Therefore, limits of CSO inclusion as the main source of supplementary dietary lipid, with no negative effects on fish performance or nutritive composition and utilization in muscles, are: 40–48 g kg^?1 feed for gilthead seabream juveniles.     

Biomarkers of bone development and oxidative stress in gilthead sea bream larvae fed microdiets with several levels of polar lipids and α‐tocopherol

Although dietary marine phospholipids are able to improve culture performance of marine fish larvae in a further extend than soybean lecithin, both types of phospholipids (PL) markedly increase oxidative risk. The inclusion of a fat‐soluble antioxidant such as the vitamin E α‐tocopherol could allow a better control of oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to determine the combined effect of graded levels of α‐tocopherol with different levels and sources of krill phospholipids (KPL) and soybean lecithin (SBL) on growth, survival, resistance to stress, oxidative status, bone metabolism‐related genes expression and biochemical composition of sea bream larvae. Sea bream larvae were completely weaned at 16 dph and fed for 30 days seven microdiets with three different levels of PL (0, 40 and 80 g kg^?1 diet) and two of α‐tocopherol 1500 and 3000 mg kg^?1 diet. Sea bream larvae fed diets without PL supplementation showed the lowest survival, growth and stress resistance, whereas increase in PL, particularly KPL, markedly promoted larval survival and growth. However, feeding SBL markedly increased TBARs and GPX gene expression increasing the peroxidation risk in the larvae. Besides, KPL inclusion improved incorporation of n‐3 HUFA and, particularly, EPA into larval tissues, these fatty acids being positively correlated with the expression of BMP‐4, RUNX 2, ALP, OC and OP genes and to bone mineralization for a given larval size class. The increase in dietary α‐tocopherol tends to improve growth in relation to the n‐3 HUFA levels in the diet, denoting the protective role of this vitamin against oxidation. Indeed, dietary α‐tocopherol decreased the oxidative stress in the larvae as denoted by the reduction in larval TBARs contents and gene expression of SOD and CAT, but not GPX. Thus, increase in dietary α‐tocopherol effectively prevented the formation of free radicals from HUFA, particularly EPA, but did not affect the incidence of bone anomalies or the expression of genes related to osteogenetic processes.     

Drought effects on C,N, and P nutrition and the antioxidative system of beech seedlings depend on geographic origin

In future, prolonged summer drought and heat will constitute a major risk for the cultivation of shallow‐rooting beech in Central Europe and will negatively affect the productivity of beech forests. In a pot experiment under controlled conditions, the influence of long‐term (28 d) water deprivation on nitrogen (N), carbon (C), phosphate (P_i), and ascorbate (ASC) concentrations was examined in leaves and fine roots of beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L.) from six provenances originating from Central Europe (Germany: Neidenstein and Illertissen, intermediate habitats), the Balkan peninsula (Croatia: Zagreb and Gospic, wet habitats), and Southeast Europe (Bulgaria: Kotel, Greece: Paikos; dry habitats). The goal of the study was to identify beech provenances well adapted to water limitation during summer drought events. Our results suggest that N might be involved in the alleviation of water scarcity, whereas P_i might become a limiting factor for forest growth during drought periods. Drought stress resulted in significant changes of ASC pools in leaves and fine roots and the ASC redox state. Under well‐watered and under drought conditions, ASC in leaves was the most important factor causing differences between the provenances examined. Finally, a link between P nutrition and the capacity of antioxidative stress defense by ascorbate could be highlighted. Based on observations from this study, beech seedlings from three origins (Paikos, Zagreb, and Neidenstein) might constitute beech provenances well adapted to water shortage in summer. This conclusion is drawn from the high potential of these provenances to alleviate oxidative stress during water shortage.     

Properties of flat-pressed wood plastic composites as a function of particle size and mixing ratio

This paper presents the effects of particle size and mixing ratio on the properties including physical, mechanical, and decay resistance of wood plastic composites (WPCs). In addition, it also presents the effects of immersion temperatures on water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) of the WPCs. WPCs with a thickness of 6 mm were fabricated from Albizia richardiana King & Prain wood particles and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by the flat-press method. To prepare the WPCs, two different wood particle sizes (0.5–1.0 and 1.01–2.0 mm) were used along with four different mixing ratios (w/w). Subsequently, the physical properties include density, moisture content, WA, and TS, and mechanical properties include modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) of the produced WPCs was evaluated. Furthermore, decay resistance was evaluated by the weight loss percentage method. Moreover, the effects of immersion temperatures on WA and TS of WPCs after 24 h of immersion in water at three different temperatures, i.e., 25, 50, and 75 °C were investigated. Results showed that the wood particle size had impact on WPC’s density (only 6% decreased with the increase of particle size); however, the density decreased by 29% when the wood particle content increased from 40 to 70%. The WA and TS gradually increased with the increase of particle content and decrease of particle size. In addition, WA and TS increased proportionately with increasing immersion temperature from 25 to 75 °C. Furthermore, the highest MOE (2570 N/mm²) was found for the WPCs fabricated from large wood particles having the ration of 50:50 (wood particle:PET). For decay resistance, WPCs consisted of larger particles and higher PET content showed greater resistance against decay. Therefore, it is comprehensible that fabrication of the WPCs from 50% large particles and 50% PET is technically feasible and further improvement of WPC performance like enhancement of MOE and reduction of density using coupling agent and agricultural waste fibers, respectively, in the WPC formulation is recommended.     

A Comparative Study Between the McGill #2 Laboratory Mill and Commercial Milling Systems

The degree of similarity between rice milled in a McGill #2 laboratory mill and commercial milling processes was evaluated using eight physical, physicochemical, and end‐use properties. There was no statistical difference between the two milling systems with respect to color parameters L* and a*, final viscosity, texture, and end‐use cooking properties (α = 0.05). Overall, the kernel dimensions of length, width, and thickness were less in the McGill #2 laboratory‐milled rice than the same rice milled commercially. The incidence of bran streaks and peak viscosity values were each higher when the rice sample was milled commercially in 27, and 28, respectively, of the 29 samples by means comparison. The decrease in kernel dimensions and incidence of bran streaks were attributed to the more aggressive nature of the single‐pass, batch milling system of the McGill #2 laboratory mill as compared with multipass, continuous milling systems that are used commercially. Finally, as surface lipid content (SLC) decreased, L* increased and a*, b*, and the incidence of bran streaks decreased for both milling systems.     

Effects of different high constant and alternating temperatures on the development and prey consumption of Dicyphus tamaninii Wagner (Heteroptera, Miridae) with Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera, Aphididae) as prey

The present work aimed to study the effects of high constant and alternating temperatures on the development and prey consumption by Dicyphus tamaninii Wagner (Het., Miridae) with Aphis gossypii Glover (Hom., Aphididae) as prey.Results showed that the predator was able to successfully develop and reach the adult stage, on average, after 20.1 () and 20.6 () days at a temperature of 30 ± 1 °C with A. gossypii as prey. On the other hand, it was not able to develop at 35 ± 1 °C, here all N₁ instars used at the beginning of the experiments had died even before moulting to N₂ instar. At alternating temperatures of 25/15 ± 1 °C, the predator reached the adult stage 23.7 () and 23.5 () days after egg hatching, whereas when the temperatures were increased to 35/22 ± 1 °C, it took a significantly shorter period: 20.6 () and 20.9 () days. In general, the highest mortality occurred during the first two nymphal instars. The total percentage mortality during development from N₁ to adult stage was 30 % and 100 % at the constant temperatures 30 ± 1 °C and 35 ± 1 °C, respectively. At the alternating temperatures of 25/15 ± 1 °C, it was lowest with 16.5 %, while at 35/22 ± 1 °C, it was 20 %.The results of the experiments on prey consumption showed that an individual D. tamaninii consumed during its development to adult stage at 30 ± 1 °C an average of 442.2 (), 433.6 () aphids. At the constant temperature of 35 ± 1 °C, the average daily prey consumption started with 4 aphids and decreased continuously till it approached nil on the 9th day, where all predatory nymphs died. At the alternating temperatures of 25/15 ± 1 °C, the total prey consumption during development was, on average, 359.3 () and 297.0 () aphids, while at 35/22 ± 1 °C it was 348.5 () and 334.0 () aphids. The effect of the four temperatures on the prey consumption by D. tamaninii during the first 10 days after emergence was also studied. At a constant temperature of 30 ± 1 °C, a total of 446.4 () and 372.0 () aphids were consumed, compared to 40.6 () and 39.0 () at 35 ± 1 °C. At alternating temperatures of 25/15 ± 1 °C, the predatory adult consumed, on average, a total of 267.0 () and 207.0 () aphids. Increasing the temperature to 35/22 ± 1 °C resulted in a higher prey consumption by the adult predator, reaching 351.5 () and 267.7 () aphids over the same period.In conclusion, results indicated that D. tamaninii is a promising predator of the melon aphid at a temperature spectrum ranging from 15 ± 1 °C up to 35 ± 1 °C.     

Analysis of the epitopes on staphylococcal enterotoxin A responsible for emetic activity

To identify which region of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is responsible for the emetic activity, twelve synthetic peptides corresponding to the entire SEA amino acid sequence and their respective anti-peptide antibodies were prepared and tested. The anti-peptide antibodies were tested for neutralization of SEA-induced emesis in Suncus murinus (Shrew mouse). The results indicate that SEA-induced emesis was neutralized by the mixture of three anti-peptide antibodies to A-7 (corresponding to amino acid residues 121-140), A-8 (141-160) and A-9 (160-180). These findings suggest that the regions corresponding to residues 121-180 may be the epitopes responsible for the emetic activity of SEA.