scholarly journals Quantifying bite force in coexisting tayassuids and feral suids: a comparison between morphometric functional proxies and in vivo measurements

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11948
Author(s):  
Fernando L. Sicuro ◽  
Luiz Flamarion B. Oliveira ◽  
Carla D. Hendges ◽  
Carlos Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Bite Force ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Good Correspondence ◽  
Simple Task ◽  
Measuring Tube ◽  
Feral Hogs ◽  
Brazilian Pantanal

Background Measuring mammals’ bite force in laboratory conditions is not a simple task, let alone on wild medium-sized mammals in the field. Thus, morphometric-proxies are usually used to infer morphofunctional properties of musculoskeletal features. For instance, the study of bite force-indexes suggests that different capacities to crack food items reduce the competition between coexistent collared and white-lipped peccaries (Pecari tajacu and Tayassu pecari). The presence of exotic feral hogs (Sus scrofa) in peccaries’ endemic areas gives rise to new ecological interactions between them. An example is the Brazilian Pantanal wetland, where ecomorphological mechanisms may play a role in their ecological relations. Taking this scenario as a case of study, we aimed to verify if the morphometric-proxies are de facto reliable tools, by comparing bite forces-indexes with the in vivo bite forces of these species. Methods We captured 21 collared and white-lipped peccaries and feral hogs in the Brazilian Pantanal to assess their bite force at first molar. The Bite Force Measuring Tube (BiTu) is a robust and simple mechanical device designed to be used in field conditions. Only 11 individuals successfully bit the BiTu before being released. Their body measurements were compared and correlated with their bite force. The in vivo bite forces were compared with bite force-indexes of two papers based on independent morphometric methods and datasets: Sicuro & Oliveira (2002) used classic morphometrics to infer the bite forces of these three species in the Brazilian Pantanal, and Hendges et al. (2019) used geometric morphometrics to compare bite forces-indexes and feeding habits of the extant peccary species. The results of all species were standardized (Z-curves) according to each method. Doing so, we obtained comparable dimensionless comparable values but maintaining the differences between them. Results The morphometric-proxies-based studies presented similar results: collared peccaries present weaker bites than white-lipped peccaries and feral hogs, while these two species presented no significant differences in their bite force-indexes. The in vivo bite force results suggest the same relations predicted by the morphometric models, including the high variation among the feral hogs. We found a significant correlation between the individuals’ weight (kg) and their actual bite force (N) but no significant correlations with the head length. Conclusions The BiTu proved to be a functional and low-cost tool to measure bite force in field conditions. The in vivo results presented a good correspondence with the predictions based on morphometric-proxies by Sicuro & Oliveira (2002) and Hendges et al. (2019). The results denote that these studies succeed in capturing the biomechanical signal of the three species’ skull-jaw systems. This empirical validation confirms that these morphometric-proxies analyses are reliable methods to ecomorphological and evolutionary inferences.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Effect of Poplar Bud Extracts on Phytophthora infestans: A New Effective Biological Method in Potato Late Blight Control

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Botond Turóczi ◽  
József Bakonyi ◽  
Károly-Attila Szabó ◽  
János Bálint ◽  
István Máthé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Late Blight ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Biological Method ◽  
Environmentally Friendly Approach ◽  
Open Field Condition

The effect of populin extract from black poplar (Populus nigra) on seven different late blight strains was tested under laboratory and field conditions. The growth rate of hyphae was found to be significantly lower in vitro after 3 and 4 v/v% populin applications. Stain M16 was resistant to populin treatment under lab conditions, however. Both 5% and 10% concentration populin reduced the M16 strain’s severity on potato leaves under field conditions and proved to be even more effective than conventionally used fungicides Infinito 687 Sc and Valis M. Higher infection intensity at the 1% level was observed after 24 h using Valis M, and the same trend toward 10% infection remained after 48 and 72 h as well. Low, almost-no-infection intensity was detected after populin 5% and 10% treatment under an open field condition. Altogether, it can be concluded that populin extract can be a low-cost option for growers and an environmentally friendly approach in late blight control.

A technique for protecting delicate specimens during processing

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 982-983
Author(s):  
R.J. Mount ◽  
R.V. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Basilar Membrane ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Sensory Epithelium ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Air Drying ◽  
Specimen Handling ◽  
Two Component

The sensory end organ of the ear, the organ of Corti, rests on a thin basilar membrane which lies between the bone of the central modiolus and the bony wall of the cochlea. In vivo, the organ of Corti is protected by the bony wall which totally surrounds it. In order to examine the sensory epithelium by scanning electron microscopy it is necessary to dissect away the protective bone and expose the region of interest (Fig. 1). This leaves the fragile organ of Corti susceptible to physical damage during subsequent handling. In our laboratory cochlear specimens, after dissection, are routinely prepared by the O-T- O-T-O technique, critical point dried and then lightly sputter coated with gold. This processing involves considerable specimen handling including several hours on a rotator during which the organ of Corti is at risk of being physically damaged. The following procedure uses low cost, readily available materials to hold the specimen during processing ,preventing physical damage while allowing an unhindered exchange of fluids.Following fixation, the cochlea is dehydrated to 70% ethanol then dissected under ethanol to prevent air drying. The holder is prepared by punching a hole in the flexible snap cap of a Wheaton vial with a paper hole punch. A small amount of two component epoxy putty is well mixed then pushed through the hole in the cap. The putty on the inner cap is formed into a “cup” to hold the specimen (Fig. 2), the putty on the outside is smoothed into a “button” to give good attachment even when the cap is flexed during handling (Fig. 3). The cap is submerged in the 70% ethanol, the bone at the base of the cochlea is seated into the cup and the sides of the cup squeezed with forceps to grip it (Fig.4). Several types of epoxy putty have been tried, most are either soluble in ethanol to some degree or do not set in ethanol. The only putty we find successful is “DUROtm MASTERMENDtm Epoxy Extra Strength Ribbon” (Loctite Corp., Cleveland, Ohio), this is a blue and yellow ribbon which is kneaded to form a green putty, it is available at many hardware stores.

scholarly journals Organ-specific, multimodal, wireless optoelectronics for high-throughput phenotyping of peripheral neural pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Woo Seok Kim ◽  
Sungcheol Hong ◽  
Milenka Gamero ◽  
Vivekanand Jeevakumar ◽  
Clay M. Smithhart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Optoelectronic Device ◽  
Antenna System ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Organ Specific ◽  
Coil Antenna ◽  
Sensory Fibers

AbstractThe vagus nerve supports diverse autonomic functions and behaviors important for health and survival. To understand how specific components of the vagus contribute to behaviors and long-term physiological effects, it is critical to modulate their activity with anatomical specificity in awake, freely behaving conditions using reliable methods. Here, we introduce an organ-specific scalable, multimodal, wireless optoelectronic device for precise and chronic optogenetic manipulations in vivo. When combined with an advanced, coil-antenna system and a multiplexing strategy for powering 8 individual homecages using a single RF transmitter, the proposed wireless telemetry enables low cost, high-throughput, and precise functional mapping of peripheral neural circuits, including long-term behavioral and physiological measurements. Deployment of these technologies reveals an unexpected role for stomach, non-stretch vagal sensory fibers in suppressing appetite and demonstrates the durability of the miniature wireless device inside harsh gastric conditions.

An Interlaboratory Evaluation of Five Pairs of Teratogens and Non-teratogens in Post-implantation Rat Embryo Culture

1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-209
Author(s):  
Aldert H. Piersma ◽  
Rudolf Bechter ◽  
Nathalie Krafft ◽  
Beat P. Schmid ◽  
Jeanne Stadler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Culture ◽  
Developmental Toxicity ◽  
Culture Method ◽  
Rat Embryo ◽  
Good Correspondence ◽  
Substituted Pyridines ◽  
Phthalic Ester ◽  
Rat Embryo Culture ◽  
Post Implantation

The usefulness of the post-implantation rat embryo culture method in screening xenobiotic compounds for developmental toxicity was validated in four laboratories with five pairs of compounds. This approach was chosen to provide information on the interlaboratory reproducibility of the results and to compare the effects of chemical analogues in embryo culture. By testing analogous compounds which are known to have different embryotoxic potencies in vivo, the discriminating power of the embryo culture method for the compound classes under study could be optimally assessed. The classes selected for testing were triazole antifungals, phthalic ester metabolites, substituted pyridines, sulphonamides and methylated xanthines. In summary, it was possible to distinguish between the compounds in three of the pairs, it was not possible to discriminate between the compounds of one pair, and it was possible to discriminate between the compounds of the other pair at two out of the four laboratories. The embryo culture results generally show a good correspondence with the embryotoxic properties of the compounds tested in vivo, although the embryo culture method appeared to be able to discriminate between only some of the pairs of chemical analogues. Some discrepancies may have arisen among the laboratories, because of methodological differences. These results suggest that the post-implantation rat embryo culture method may be a useful tool for screening xenobiotics within classes of compounds known to interfere with embryogenesis during the period of development represented in culture.

scholarly journals Optimizing the Reaction Conditions for the Formation of Fumarate via Trans-Hydrogenation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Wienands ◽  
Franziska Theiß ◽  
James Eills ◽  
Lorenz Rösler ◽  
Stephan Knecht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solution ◽  
Thermal Equilibrium ◽  
Reaction Rate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Hydrogen Gas ◽  
Metabolic Imaging ◽  
Reaction Conditions ◽  
Precursor Molecule ◽  
Solution Preparation

AbstractParahydrogen-induced polarization is a hyperpolarization method for enhancing nuclear magnetic resonance signals by chemical reactions/interactions involving the para spin isomer of hydrogen gas. This method has allowed for biomolecules to be hyperpolarized to such a level that they can be used for real time in vivo metabolic imaging. One particularly promising example is fumarate, which can be rapidly and efficiently hyperpolarized at low cost by hydrogenating an acetylene dicarboxylate precursor molecule using parahydrogen. The reaction is relatively slow compared to the timescale on which the hyperpolarization relaxes back to thermal equilibrium, and an undesirable 2nd hydrogenation step can convert the fumarate into succinate. To date, the hydrogenation chemistry has not been thoroughly investigated, so previous work has been inconsistent in the chosen reaction conditions in the search for ever-higher reaction rate and yield. In this work we investigate the solution preparation protocols and the reaction conditions on the rate and yield of fumarate formation. We report conditions to reproducibly yield over 100 mM fumarate on a short timescale, and discuss aspects of the protocol that hinder the formation of fumarate or lead to irreproducible results. We also provide experimental procedures and recommendations for performing reproducible kinetics experiments in which hydrogen gas is repeatedly bubbled into an aqueous solution, overcoming challenges related to the viscosity and surface tension of the water.

scholarly journals Genome-wide integration site detection using Cas9 enriched amplification-free long-range sequencing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joost van Haasteren ◽  
Altar M Munis ◽  
Deborah R Gill ◽  
Stephen C Hyde
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Insertional Mutagenesis ◽  
Lentiviral Vector ◽  
Integration Site ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
Read Length ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract The gene and cell therapy fields are advancing rapidly, with a potential to treat and cure a wide range of diseases, and lentivirus-based gene transfer agents are the vector of choice for many investigators. Early cases of insertional mutagenesis caused by gammaretroviral vectors highlighted that integration site (IS) analysis was a major safety and quality control checkpoint for lentiviral applications. The methods established to detect lentiviral integrations using next-generation sequencing (NGS) are limited by short read length, inadvertent PCR bias, low yield, or lengthy protocols. Here, we describe a new method to sequence IS using Amplification-free Integration Site sequencing (AFIS-Seq). AFIS-Seq is based on amplification-free, Cas9-mediated enrichment of high-molecular-weight chromosomal DNA suitable for long-range Nanopore MinION sequencing. This accessible and low-cost approach generates long reads enabling IS mapping with high certainty within a single day. We demonstrate proof-of-concept by mapping IS of lentiviral vectors in a variety of cell models and report up to 1600-fold enrichment of the signal. This method can be further extended to sequencing of Cas9-mediated integration of genes and to in vivo analysis of IS. AFIS-Seq uses long-read sequencing to facilitate safety evaluation of preclinical lentiviral vector gene therapies by providing IS analysis with improved confidence.

scholarly journals Hydroxyapatite-incorporation improves bone formation on endosseous PEEK implant in canine tibia

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 228080002097517
Author(s):  
Yuan-ming Geng ◽  
Dong-ni Ren ◽  
Shu-yi Li ◽  
Zong-yi Li ◽  
Xiao-qing Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Formation ◽  
Dental Implants ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Low Elastic Modulus ◽  
Ether Ether Ketone ◽  
Poly Ether Ether Ketone ◽  
Alternative Material ◽  
Ct Analysis ◽  
Potential Alternative

Background: Poly Ether Ether Ketone (PEEK) has been considered as a potential alternative material for endosseous dental implants, for its low elastic modulus, biocompatibility, and low cost in customized device manufacture. Hydroxyapatite-incorporation is supposed to improve the poor osseointegration of PEEK. Methods: In the present study we analyzed the in vivo response of hydroxyapatite-incorporated PEEK (PEEK-HA) implants in canine tibia. PEEK-HA and PEEK implants were implanted and were examined 4 weeks and 12 weeks after implantation with radiology and histology. Commercial titanium dental implants served as controls. Results: The ratio of bone volume to tissue volume of PEEK-HA implants was higher than that of PEEK implants 4 weeks after implantation in the μ-CT analysis. The bone implant contact of PEEK and PEEK-HA implants showed no statistical difference in the histological examination, but newly-formed bone around PEEK-HA implants showed more signs of mineralization than that around PEEK implants. Conclusion: The study suggested that bone formation was improved with hydroxyapatite-incorporation in PEEK. Hydroxyapatite-incorporated PEEK implants may represent a potential material for endosseous dental implant.

scholarly journals Proanthocyanidins against Oxidative Stress: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Applications

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingyu Yang ◽  
Dehai Xian ◽  
Xia Xiong ◽  
Rui Lai ◽  
Jing Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Natural Agents ◽  
Molecular Damage ◽  
And Control

Proanthocyanidins (PCs) are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds abundant in many vegetables, plant skins (rind/bark), seeds, flowers, fruits, and nuts. Numerousin vitroandin vivostudies have demonstrated myriad effects potentially beneficial to human health, such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, immunomodulation, DNA repair, and antitumor activity. Accumulation of prooxidants such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeding cellular antioxidant capacity results in oxidative stress (OS), which can damage macromolecules (DNA, lipids, and proteins), organelles (membranes and mitochondria), and whole tissues. OS is implicated in the pathogenesis and exacerbation of many cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, dermatological, and metabolic diseases, both through direct molecular damage and secondary activation of stress-associated signaling pathways. PCs are promising natural agents to safely prevent acute damage and control chronic diseases at relatively low cost. In this review, we summarize the molecules and signaling pathways involved in OS and the corresponding therapeutic mechanisms of PCs.

Compact, low-cost Ti:Al_2O_3 laser for in vivo ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography

2003 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 905 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Unterhuber ◽  
B. Považay ◽  
B. Hermann ◽  
H. Sattmann ◽  
W. Drexler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Coherence Tomography ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Ultrahigh Resolution

Transfer and tissue-specific accumulation of components in embryos of Caenorhabditis elegans and dolichura: in vivo analysis with a low-cost signal

Development ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Bossinger ◽  
E. Schierenberg
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Tissue Specific ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Specific Accumulation ◽  
In Vivo Analysis

The pattern of autofluorescence in the two free-living namatodes Rhabditis dolichura and Caenorhabditis compared. In C. elegans, during later embryogenesis cells develop a typical bluish autofluorescence as illumination, while in Rh. dolichura a strong already present in the unfertilized egg. Using a new,

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