Evaluation of procedures to quantify solvent retention in electrospun fibers and facilitate solvent removal

Electrospun fiber scaffolds crafted from polyesters are studied extensively for potential tissue engineering applications. For translation of electrospun fibers into the clinic, the FDA requires analysis and quantification of any organic solvent that may be retained in the fibers since many organic solvents can negatively affect cells and tissues. If a significant amount of solvent is retained, then developing procedures for efficient solvent removal may enhance the clinical potential of these materials. In this study we use fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to analyze solvent retention. A correlative analysis shows that both FTIR and TGA accurately predicted retention of two different solvents (HFP and chloroform) in our electrospun PLLA scaffolds, thus validating these procedures. We also assess the efficacy of various fiber treatment methods to facilitate organic solvent removal and conclude that submersion in 70 % ethanol and heat treatment at 100 °C were the most efficient methods of removing solvent from electrospun PLLA fibers.     

Organogenesis of exocrine pancreas in sharpsnout sea bream (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Diplodus puntazzo</Emphasis>) larvae: characterization of trypsin expression

The ontogeny and differentiation stages of digestive systems related with trypsin expression in larvae of sharpsnout sea bream, Diplodus puntazzo, were investigated from hatching to 40 DAH (days after hatching), and total lengths and weights of larvae were determined. Histologic and enzymatic techniques were used to explain the functional development of the pancreas including trypsin activity. The pancreas was identified as a compact structure located in the region slightly posterior to the liver. At 3 DAH, first anus and then mouth opened. Incipient pancreas secretion polyhedral cells could be first observed as zymogen granules. During larval metamorphosis, the pancreas became diffuse, spreading throughout the mesentery in proximity to the stomach, the anterior intestine and the pyloric caeca. The specific activity of trypsin (42.54 ± 6.8 mU/mg protein⁻¹) was found as early as after hatching at larvae size of 2.87 ± 0.34 mm at 0 DAH. Activity further increased until 10 DAH, especially after exogenous feeding. The highest trypsin activity was detected at 25 DAH as 119.26 ± 11.6 mU/mg protein⁻¹. It is concluded that exocrine pancreas organogenesis is the main critical step in the development of digestive system that results in zymogen granules accumulation and increased trypsin activity.     

Ultrasonographic and macroscopic comparison of the thickness of the capsule,corium, and soft tissues in bovine claws: an in vitro study

This study aimed to compare thickness of the capsule, corium, and soft tissues measured ultrasonographically and macroscopically in selected regions of bovine claws. A hundred and twenty claws (n = 120) of 15 healthy Holstein bovines were obtained. After cleaning the claws, ultrasonographic measurement of the capsule, corium, and soft tissues was performed while submerging the claws in a water bath. Macroscopic measurements were taken after cutting of the claws axially. These values were compared statistically. According to the macroscopic measurements, the mean thickness ± standard deviation (SD) of the capsule for dorsal wall and sole was 6.2 ± 0.1 and 9.5 ± 0.4 mm, respectively. The thickness of the corium and soft tissues for dorsal wall and sole was 4.5 ± 0.1 and 5.3 ± 0.1 mm, respectively. Ultrasonographically, the mean thickness ± SD of the capsule for dorsal wall and sole was 4.7 ± 0.1 and 7.8 ± 0.3 mm, respectively. The thickness of the corium and soft tissues for dorsal wall and sole was 4.3 ± 0.1 and 5.9 ± 0.2 mm, respectively. Findings demonstrated that ultrasonography can be reliably to measure of the thickness of the hoof capsule, corium, and soft tissue in bovine claw.     

Effects of different genders and hormones on stem cuttings of Salix anatolica

ABSTRACT

Salix anatolica Ziel. & D. Tomasz., belonging to Salicaceae family, is endemic to the East Mediterranean in Turkey. Its threat category has been assessed as vulnerable based on the red list criteria of IUCN. Therefore, it is necessary to protect and reproduce. Within the scope of this study, propagation of the species is carried out by cutting which is one of the vegetative propagation methods. Under greenhouse media conditions, effects of different concentrated doses of auxins were examined on rooting percentage (RP), number of roots (RN) per rooted cuttings, and root length (RL) related to male and female stem cuttings. At the end of this study, the highest RP in the cuttings taken from the female individuals was 100% in Control and IAA 1000 ppm treatments, this value was also obtained as 100% in Control + Wounding and IAA 1000 ppm treatments in the cuttings taken from the male individuals. While hormone applications were effective on the RP in male individuals, they were effective on the RN and RL in female individuals. In addition, wounding has had a positive effect on both male and female individuals.     

Comparison of conventional and organic management conditions on growth performance, carcass characteristics and haematological parameters in Karacabey Merino and Kivircik breeds

Growth performance, carcass characteristics, post-slaughtering and haematological parameters of Kivircik and Karacabey Merino male lambs in conventional and organic management systems were compared. The animals which were weaned at 7 weeks of age were divided into Kivircik conventional, Kivircik organic (KO), Karacabey Merino conventional and Karacabey Merino organic (MO) groups containing 12 lambs each. Fattening was ended when lambs attained 35 kg of live weight. The time to attain the determined fattening weight was significantly different among the groups, and Merino lambs having higher live weight gain were earlier than Kivircik lambs (p?相似文献   

Heart health peptides from macroalgae and their potential use in functional foods

Macroalgae have for centuries been consumed whole among the East Asian populations of China, Korea, and Japan. Due to the environment in which they grow, macroalgae produce unique and interesting biologically active compounds. Protein can account for up to 47% of the dry weight of macroalgae depending on species and time of cultivation and harvest. Peptides derived from marcoalgae are proven to have hypotensive effects in the human circulatory system. Hypertension is one of the major, yet controllable, risk factors in cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is the main cause of death in Europe, accounting for over 4.3 million deaths each year. In the United States it affects one in three individuals. Hypotensive peptides derived from marine and other sources have already been incorporated into functional foods such as beverages and soups. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential of heart health peptides from macroalgae and to discuss the feasibility of expanding the variety of foods these peptides may be used in.     

Spatiotemporal pattern of neural processing in the human auditory cortex

The principles that the auditory cortex uses to decipher a stream of acoustic information have remained elusive. Neural responses in the animal auditory cortex can be broadly classified into transient and sustained activity. We examined the existence of similar principles in the human brain. Sound-evoked, blood oxygen level-dependent signal response was decomposed temporally into independent transient and sustained constituents, which predominated in different portions-core and belt-of the auditory cortex. Converging with unit recordings, our data suggest that this spatiotemporal pattern in the auditory cortex may represent a fundamental principle of analyzing sound information.     

Coralligenous assemblages along their geographical distribution: Testing of concepts and implications for management

• 1. The coralligenous habitat was studied at the large Mediterranean scale, by applying a standardized, non‐destructive photo‐sampling protocol, developed in the framework of the CIGESMED project.
• 2. The results provided evidence to support the following statements: (a) the assemblage pattern is not homogeneously distributed across the four Mediterranean ecoregions studied (biotic gradients hypothesis); and (b) the assemblage pattern does not change significantly when the information is aggregated to higher taxonomic levels (taxonomic sufficiency hypothesis).
• 3. Surrogate taxonomic categories higher than species, such as genus and family, can be used to reveal the multivariate pattern of the coralligenous assemblages.
• 4. Although preliminary at the pan‐Mediterranean scale, these outcomes set the scene for future comparisons as more data sets become available but also for comparisons between taxonomic and functional patterns.

     

The effect of light intensity on early life development of common dentex Dentex dentex (L. 1758) larvae

The effects of different levels of illumination on common dentex Dentex dentex (L.) larvae have been examined. Illumination affected the relationships between total length and digestive tube length, total length and oil globule volume, and total length and yolk sac. The relationship between total length development and yolk sac utilization in dark and light conditions was found to be significant (P<0.05). However, it was determined that the relationship between digestive tube development and oil globule absorption was not significant (P>0.05). Besides, there is no effect of different light intensities on absorption of yolk sac and oil globule and digestive tube development (P>0.05). In addition, total length development was not significant (P>0.05). Survival rate was found to be not significantly different in dark conditions (P>0.05).