A novel nerve transection and repair method in mice: histomorphometric analysis of nerves, blood vessels, and muscles with functional recovery

Peripheral nerve transection is associated with permanent functional deficit even after advanced microsurgical repair. While it is difficult to investigate the reasons of poor functional outcomes of microsurgical repairs in humans, we developed a novel pre-clinical nerve transection method that allows reliable evaluation of nerve regeneration, neural angiogenesis, muscle atrophy, and functional recovery. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to four different types of sciatic nerve transection: Simple Transection (ST), Simple Transection & Glue (TG), Stepwise Transection and Sutures (SU), and Stepwise Transection and Glue (STG). Mice were followed for 28 days for sciatic function index (SFI), and sciatic nerves and hind limb muscles were harvested for histomorphological and cellular analyses. Immunohistochemistry revealed more directional nerve fiber growth in SU and STG groups compared with ST and TG groups. Compared to ST and TG groups, optimal neural vessel density and branching index in SU and STG groups were associated with significantly decreased muscle atrophy, increased myofiber diameter, and improved SFI. In conclusion, our novel STG method represents an easily reproducible and reliable model with close resemblance to the pathophysiological characteristics of SU model, and this can be easily reproduced by any lab.

Efek Panjang Gelombang Terhadap Pertumbuhan Propagul Pada Kultur Jaringan Eucheuma cottonii Doty, 1885 (Rhodophyceae; Solieracea)

The problem in cultivating Eucheuma cottonii is the procurement of seeds and techniques currently developed through tissue culture. The limiting factor in this technique is the use of optimal light for the growth of the seaweed. The aims of study was to optimize the wavelength of light on the growth of E cottonii propagules. The research method is laboratory experimental with the treatment of different wavelengths of light: red light wavelength (λ = 633.8 nm), green (λ = 515.8 nm), blue (λ = 455.7 nm), combined light on the lamp LED (λ = 456.6 nm, 515.8 nm and 632.9 nm), and fluorescent light in TL lamps (λ = 407 nm, 443 nm, 557 nm and 592 nm). The results showed that the wavelength had a significant effect (p ≤0.05) on the growth of E cottonii. The best treatment for blue light with absolute, relative and specific growth values of propagule weight of 155 ± 11.910 mg, 419 ± 70.849%, and 5.860 ± 0.501% / day. The absolute, relative and specific growth values for propagule diameter were 701 ± 123.1 mm, 63 ± 12% and 1.73 ± 0.27% / day. The percentage of branching growth and the branching index were 60.85 ± 9.16% and 27.77 ± 1.23. Blue light treatment is optimal radiation in the E. cottonii tissue culture Permasalahan dalam budidaya Eucheuma cottonii adalah pengadaan bibit dan teknik yang berkembang saat ini melalui kultur jaringan. Faktor pembatas dalam teknik ini adalah penggunaan cahaya yang optimal untuk pertumbuhan rumput laut. Penelitian bertujuan untuk melakukan optimasi panjang gelombang cahaya terhadap pertumbuhan propagul E cottonii. Metode penelitian secara experimental laboratoris dengan perlakuan perbedaan panjang gelombang cahaya : panjang gelombang lampu cahaya merah (λ = 633,8 nm), hijau (λ = 515,8 nm), biru (λ = 455,7 nm), cahaya gabungan pada lampu LED (λ = 456,6 nm, 515,8 nm dan 632,9 nm), dan cahaya flourescent pada lampu TL (λ = 407 nm, 443 nm, 557 nm dan 592 nm). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa panjang gelombang berpengaruh signifikan (p < 0,05) terhadap pertumbuhan E cottonii. Perlakuan terbaik pada cahaya biru dengan nilai pertumbuhan mutlak, relatif dan spesifik bobot propagul sebesar 155±11,910 mg, 419 ± 70,849 %, dan 5,860 ± 0,501 %/hari. Nilai pertumbuhan mutlak, relatif dan spesifik diameter propagul sebesar 701±123,1 mm, 63±12 % dan 1,73±0,27 %/hari. Persentase pertumbuhan percabangan dan indeks percabangan sebesar 60,85±9,16 % dan 27,77±1,23. Perlakuan sinar biru merupakan penyinaran optimal dalam kultur jaringan E. cottonii.

Study of relaxation behavior and processability of polybutadiene rubber composition

In this work, nickel-catalyzed high- cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubbers (PBR) with different molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and Mooney relaxation time have been solution blended at different ratios and their rheological, thermal, and physical properties were characterized. PBR blend compositions showed similar processability as pristine rubber grades at higher temperature, but their Mooney relaxation time and rheological branching index (BI) are distinctly different from both pristine PBR grades at low temperature. In addition, Mooney relaxation time and BI of the blends were found to be independent of blend compositions; however, glass transition temperature ( Tg), cis%, volatile% of the compositions remain similar to the raw rubbers.

PERFORMA RUMPUT LAUT, Gracilaria gigas, PADA SISTIM BUDIDAYA LAUT DAN TAMBAK

Gracilaria gigas is one of seaweed species the from red algae type (Rhodophyceae) producsy agarofit, G. gigas have the high fiber and good for health. The research aims to analyze the performance of production, yield and quality of G. gigas seaweed cultivated in the sea and in the ponds. The cultivation of G. gigas in ponds was held in Sekotong, west Lombok by broadcast method in 1500 m2planting area. While cultivation in the sea was held in Gerupuk Bay, Central Lombok by Long-line method the 1250 m2. Parameters measured include the performance of seaweed , and water quality . While water quality parameters measured are temperature , salinity , pH , NO3 - N , NO2 - N , NH3 - N , PO4 - P and brightness were taken on days 0 , 10 , 20 and 30. Based on the research results obtained performance parameters seaweed cultivation consisting of productivity of cultivation, the total number thalus ( JT ) , the number of thalus secondary ( JTS ) , the number of thalus tertiary ( AAC) and the index of branching ( IP ) from seaweed cultivated on two habitats different , namely marine and pond. The average productivity of Gracilaria . gigas were in cultivation in the sea that is 12.72 % , whereas in ponds with an average of 4.00% . Total thalus on Gracilaria gigas cultured in ponds is high ( 86.56 ) than in the sea ( 80.40 ). Branching index is closely related to the availability of nutrients and nutrient in the formation of new cells , in which the N content in ponds is higher than in the sea . In addition , the number of tertiary thalus

Branching and Blind Node Incidence in Interspecific Backcross Families of Peach

Tree size and branching control has gained importance as labor and pruning costs have increased. In addition, the occurrence of blind nodes is a critical factor that affects peach tree architecture and productivity in subtropical climates. Seven backcross families segregating for branching and blind nodes were developed using ‘Flordaguard’ peach × P. kansuensis or ‘Tardy Nonpareil’ almond F1s backcrossed to ‘AP00-30WBS’, ‘UFSharp’, or ‘UF97-47’ peach selections and evaluated for branching index and blind node frequency during the winters of 2010 and 2011. P. kansuensis backcrosses presented increased branching and lower blind node incidence, whereas almond backcrosses presented less branching and higher blind node incidence, resembling the P. kansuensis and almond F1 parents, respectively. There was also broad variability for branching and blind nodes within the P. kansuensis and ‘Tardy Nonpareil’ almond backcross families influenced by the peach parents that were used to generate the backcross populations. The moderate heritability and year-to-year correlation for these traits indicate that they are affected by the environment, but selection for reduced branching and lower blind node incidence is feasible.

ON FINITE BRANCHED UNIFORMIZATIONS OF THE PROJECTIVE PLANE

We give a brief survey of the so-called Fenchel's problem for the projective plane, that is the problem of existence of finite Galois coverings of the complex projective plane branched along a given divisor and prove the following result: Let p, q be two integers greater than 1 and C be an irreducible plane curve. If there is a surjection of the fundamental group of the complement of C into a free product of cyclic groups of orders p and q, then there is a finite Galois covering of the projective plane branched along C with any given branching index.

Development of a Branching Index for Evaluation of Peach Seedlings Using Interspecific Hybrids

Trees without excessive branching are desirable for the reduction of pruning costs. Genetic diversity for less twiggy genotypes exists in peach and a branching index was developed for evaluation and selection of genotypes with reduced branching. The index is based on the number of total first-order branches and the number of second-order, third-order, and fourth-order branches measured on three randomly selected first-order branches. Index values were highly correlated (r2 ≈0.7) with the total number of branches over two growing seasons and served as a good predictor of branching patterns observed in the third growing season. Thus, the developed branching index is a useful tool in peach breeding, allowing for the early selection of trees with more desirable tree architecture.

Classification of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus-1 sequences with the branching index

Classification of viral sequences should be fast, objective, accurate and reproducible. Most methods that classify sequences use either pair-wise distances or phylogenetic relations, but cannot discern when a sequence is unclassifiable. The branching index (BI) combines distance and phylogeny methods to compute a ratio that quantifies how closely a query sequence clusters with a subtype clade. In the hypothesis-testing framework of statistical inference, the BI is compared with a threshold to test whether sufficient evidence exists for the query sequence to be classified among known sequences. If above the threshold, the null hypothesis of no support for the subtype relation is rejected and the sequence is taken as belonging to the subtype clade with which it clusters on the tree. This study evaluates statistical properties of the BI for subtype classification in hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). Pairs of BI values with known positive- and negative-test results were computed from 10 000 random fragments of reference alignments. Sampled fragments were of sufficient length to contain phylogenetic signals that grouped reference sequences together properly into subtype clades. For HCV, a threshold BI of 0.71 yields 95.1 % agreement with reference subtypes, with equal false-positive and false-negative rates. For HIV-1, a threshold of 0.66 yields 93.5 % agreement. Higher thresholds can be used where lower false-positive rates are required. In synthetic recombinants, regions without breakpoints are recognized accurately; regions with breakpoints do not represent any known subtype uniquely. Web-based services for viral subtype classification with the BI are available online.