Quantifying Phase Behaviour in Model Food Composites Using 3D Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

There is an increasing demand for the design of complex bio-composites with customized structural characteristics for use in processed food products. Phase behaviour of these mixtures determines textural properties, encouraging the pursue of a rapid technique that can accurately quantify it. The present work tests the efficacy of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) coupled with image analysis software (Imaris), for the quantification of phase behaviour in complex tertiary systems. In doing so, it develops phase separated gels of agarose and gelatin supporting inclusions of canola oil. The polysaccharide was replaced with whey protein isolate (WPI) and the topology of the tertiary dispersion with gelatin and canola oil was also examined. Reproducible phase volume estimates were obtained, including those of the lipid phase, which were a close match to the actual concentrations added to the hydrocolloid gel. The approach could offer an alternative to the rheological estimation, via theoretical blending law analysis, of phase volumes in bio-composites. Graphical Abstract

Design of Forage Hedge Tube Filament for Ferm Growth

Ferms are reproductive plants capable of budding on stems. Owing to the delicate plant structure are not prominent in windy regions. Forages are a type of vertically place hedges. These go around the stem structure. Scanning microscopy was used to reveal the fibron structure. To locate and design regions of the stem for support of the plant. The findings yielded a design of the forage hedges. Hences increase the growth span of the plant. The height of the forage had the most effect. The mesh size had a change on the Ferm growth and stability of the plant.

Detailed morphology of tentacular apparatus and central nervous system in Owenia borealis (Annelida, Oweniidae)

The Oweniidae are marine annelids with many unusual features of organ system, development, morphology, and ultrastructure. Together with magelonids, oweniids have been placed within the Palaeoannelida, a sister group to all remaining annelids. The study of this group may increase our understanding of the early evolution of annelids (including their radiation and diversification). In the current research, the morphology and ulta-anatomy of the head region of Owenia borealis is studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 3D reconstructions, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and whole-mount immunostaining with confocal laser scanning microscopy. According to SEM, the tentacle apparatus consists of 8–14 branched arms, which are covered by monociliary cells that form a ciliary groove extending along the oral side of the arm base. Each tentacle contains a coelomic cavity with a network of blood capillaries. Monociliary myoepithelial cells of the tentacle coelomic cavity form both the longitudinal and the transverse muscles. The structure of this myoepithelium is intermediate between a simple and pseudo-stratified myoepithelium. Overall, tentacles lack prominent zonality, i.e., co-localization of ciliary zones, neurite bundles, and muscles. This organization, which indicates a non-specialized tentacle crown in O. borealis and other oweniids with tentacles, may be ancestral for annelids. TEM, light, and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the head region contains the anterior nerve center comprising of outer and inner (=circumoral) nerve rings. Both nerve rings are organized as concentrated nerve plexus, which contains perikarya and neurites extending between basal projections of epithelial cells (radial glia). The outer nerve ring gives rise to several thick neurite bundles, which branch and extend along aboral side of each tentacle. Accordingly to their immunoreactivity, both rings of the anterior nerve center could be homologized with the dorsal roots of circumesophageal connectives of the typical annelids. Accordingly to its ultrastructure, the outer nerve ring of O. borealis and so-called brain of other oweniids can not be regarded as a typical brain, i.e. the most anterior ganglion, because it lacks ganglionic structure.