Sialography of sheep parotid and mandibular salivary glands

The anatomy of ovine salivary glands was studied on cadaver heads. The mandibular duct enters the oral cavity on the ventral surface of sublingual caruncles, which are located medial to the orifice of the ventral sublingual gland duct. The parotid gland duct enters the oral cavity on the cheek opposite the upper 2nd molar. Prior to applying sialography to live animals, the procedure was carried out on cadaver heads then the live animals were sedated, the mandibular and parotid ducts catheterized and contrast medium was injected into each gland. Lateral radiographs were made immediately after the injection. The normal sheep mandibular and parotid salivary glands have a multilobular appearance in cadaver heads, but in live animal only the ducts and their smaller branches could be identified. The mean diameter of mandibular and parotid duct were 1.4+/-0.3 mm and 3. 1+/-1.0 mm respectively. The monostomatic sublingular gland had a slender shape in the sialogram. In conclusion sialography of mandibular, parotid and sublingual salivary glands in sheep is practical and can be helpful in diagnosis of pathological conditions of these glands.     

Genetic and Genotype x Environment Interaction Effects for Appearance Quality of Rice

This study was conducted to generate genetic information in rice varieties based on a complete diallel crosses over two years. The results indicated that genotype effect was significant for all traits. Genotype × environment interaction effects were significant only for cooked grain length （CGL） and cooked grain shape （CGSH）. General combining ability （GCA） and specific combining ability （SCA） effects were significant for entire traits, which indicated the important roles of both additive and non-additive gene actions. GCA x environment interaction effects were significant for CGL, CGSH and grain elongation index （GEI）. In the controlling of the inheritance of milled grain shape （GSH）, milled grain width （MGW）, GEI, milled grain length （MGL）, CGSH and cooked grain width （CGW）, the additive gene effects were more important than non-additive one. The average degree of dominance was within the range of partial dominance for all of the traits. The narrow-sense heritability was ranged from 0.65 （GSH） to 0.36 （CGL）. GCA effects were significant for all of the parents in milled grain length and it was significant for some of the parents in other traits. The crosses of Deilmani × IRFAON-215 exhibited significant SCA for GEI. The positive mean of heterosis was observed for CGW. The highest maximum values of heterosis were revealed in GEI, flowed by GSH, MGW and CGW. GCA and MPV were significantly and positively correlated together for all traits.     

Genetic and Genotype × Environment Interaction Effects for Appearance Quality of Rice

This study was conducted to generate genetic information in rice varieties based on a complete diallel crosses over two years. The results indicated that genotype effect was significant for all traits. Genotype × environment interaction effects were significant only for cooked grain length (CGL) and cooked grain shape (CGSH). General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant for entire traits, which indicated the important roles of both additive and non-additive gene actions. GCA x environment interaction effects were significant for CGL, CGSH and grain elongation index (GEI). In the controlling of the inheritance of milled grain shape (GSH), milled grain width (MGW), GEI, milled grain length (MGL), CGSH and cooked grain width (CGW), the additive gene effects were more important than non-additive one.The average degree of dominance was within the range of partial dominance for all of the traits. The narrow-sense heritability was ranged from 0.65 (GSH) to 0.36 (CGL). GCA effects were significant for all of the parents in milled grain length and it was significant for some of the parents in other traits. The crosses of Deilmani × IRFAON-215 exhibited significant SCA for GEI. The positive mean of heterosis was observed for CGW. The highest maximum values of heterosis were revealed in GEI, flowed by GSH, MGW and CGW. GCA and MPV were significantly and positively correlated together for all traits.     

Perennial growth and salinity tolerance in wheat × wheatgrass amphiploids varying in the ratio of wheat to wheatgrass genomes

Since wheat and other annual cereal crops are often harvested for forage instead of grain in California, replacing them with perennial crops could save energy and reduce the release of heat-trapping gases. To assess the potential for perennial crops based on wheat, biomass yield and stand persistence were studied for nine wheat×wheatgrass amphiploids (8x to 14x) and five wheatgrass species (2x to 10x) over three seasons in the Central Valley, California. The 8x and 10x amphiploids died after one biomass harvest and a single summer period. In contrast, the 14x amphiploids, which were sterile, continued producing biomass over the entire period of the trial. They were also highly salt-stress tolerant with little decline in biomass production in response to an increase in salinity from 100 and 250 mM NaCl in a solution-culture study. The development of a salt-stress-tolerant perennial crop based on wheat for the California-type climate will require either a substantial improvement in perennial growth of low-ploidy (8x) amphiploids or the development of technology for efficient vegetative propagation of the sterile high-ploidy (14x) amphiploids.     

Synthesis of electrospun carbon nanofiber/WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> supported Pt,Pt/Pd and Pt/Ru catalysts for fuel cells

In the present study, nano-sized Pt/WO₃-carbon nanofiber, Pt-Pd/WO₃-carbon nanofiber and Pt-Ru/WO₃-carbon nanofiber electrocatalysts were synthesized and the performance of prepared catalysts were compared with catalysts coated carbon black for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The morphology and structure of prepared catalysts were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The SEM images showed that the catalyst nanoparticles were well dispersed on the both carbon nanofiber and carbon black supports. Electrochemical measurements including linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA) tests were applied to investigate the potential of the fabricated electrodes on the ORR. The results demonstrated that the catalysts based on carbon nanofibers showed a significant increase of activity toward the ORR. Also, the Pt/Pd coated carbon nanofibrous electrode showed the highest electrochemical activity.     

Does the Relief of Glucose Toxicity Act As a Mediator in Proliferative Actions of Vanadium on Pancreatic Islet Beta Cells in Streptozocin Diabetic Rats?

Background: Data shows vanadium protects pancreatic beta cells (BC) from diabetic animals. Whether this effect is direct or through the relief of glucose toxicity is not clear. This study evaluated the potential effect of oral vanadyl sulfate (vanadium) on glycemic status and pancreatic BC of normal and diabetic rats. Methods: Rats were divided into five groups of normal and diabetic. Diabetes was induced with streptozocin (40 mg/kg, i.v.). Normal rats used water (CN) or vanadium (1 mg/ml VOSO₄, VTN). Diabetic rats used water (CD), water plus daily neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin injection (80 U/kg, ITD) or vanadium (VTD). Blood samples were taken for blood glucose (BG, mg/dL) and insulin (ng/dL) measurements. After two months, the pancreata of sacrificed rats were prepared for islet staining. Results: Pre-treated normal BG was 88 ± 2, and diabetic BG was 395 ± 9. The final BG in CD, VTD, and ITD was 509 ± 22, 138 ± 14, and 141 ± 14, respectively. Insulin in VTN (0.75 ± 0.01) and VTD (0.78 ± 0.01) was similar, higher than CD (0.51 ± 0.07) but lower than CN (2.51 ± 0.02). VTN islets compared to CN had larger size and denser central core insulin immunoreactivity with plentiful BC. CD and ITD islets were atrophied and had scattered insulin immunoreactivity spots and low BC mass. VTD islets were almost similar to CN. Conclusion: Besides insulin-like activity, vanadium protected pancreatic islet BC, and the relief of glucose toxicity happening with vanadium had a little role in this action. Key Words: Vanadium, Rats, Diabetes, Protection, Beta cells     

SIALOGRAPHY IN CATTLE: TECHNIQUE AND NORMAL APPEARANCE

Sialography of the bovine mandibular and parotid salivary glands was performed by injecting iodinated, water soluble contrast medium into the respective ducts. The anatomy of the above mentioned salivary glands was studied on cadaver heads. The mandibular duct enters the oral cavity on the ventral surface of the sublingual caruncles, which are located medial to the orifice of the ventral sublingual gland duct. The parotid gland duct enters the oral cavity on the cheek opposite the upper 2nd molar (Sth cheek tooth). Prior to applying sialography to live animals, the technique of catheterization, injection and radiography had to be developed, which was carried out on cadaver heads. Subsequently the technique was applied to 5 live animals. The animals were sedated, the mandibular and parotid ducts catheterized, and contrast medium was injected into each gland. Latero-lateral radiographs were made immediately after the injection. The normal bovine mandibular and parotid glands, as depicted on sialograms, have a multilobutated appearance in cadaver heads, but in the live animal only the ducts and their smaller branches could be identified. The parotid duct leaves the deep surface of the rostral end of the gland and courses along the border of the masseter muscle before it enters the mouth. The mean diameter of the duct was 4.2 ± 0.3 mm. The mandibular duct is composed of a rostral and a caudal branch. The caudal branch describes a semi circular turn prior to joining the rostral branch. The mean diameter of the main duct was 2.8 ± 0.4 mm.