A macroscopic comparison study on main branches of arteria brachialis and arteria subscapularis in Southern Karaman and Hasak sheep breeds

Background: The Southern Karaman sheep, which is very fertile in terms of meat and milk production and is often preferred in livestock raising, is known as a domestic sheep breed. The Hasak sheep is a breed formed by the triple crossbreeding of the German Black-headed, Hampshire and Akkaraman breeds. Arterial feeding of the forelimb is provided by arteria axillaris, a continuation of arteria subclavia. In this study, it was aimed to examine the forelimb arteries in Southern Karaman and Hasak sheep breeds. Materials and methods: Totally, 8 Southern Karaman and 8 Hasak sheep were obtained from Konya Bahri Dagdas International Agricultural Institute. The sheep were anesthetised with xylazine and ketamine and extravasated by cutting the arteria carotis communis in the neck area of the sheep. The forelimbs of the sheep separated from the body were fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution and then dissections were made and the course and branching of the arteries were examined. Results: It was determined that the arteria brachialis was divided into two main branches as distal arteria brachialis and proximal arteria subscapularis at the articulatio humeri level of the arteria axillary. Arteria mediana, which is a continuation of arteria brachialis, was also examined in different parts of antebrachium and ended by splitting into branches. Conclusions: According to the findings of the Southern Karaman and Hasak sheep breeds, it was determined that the forelimb arteries had some anatomical differences but were similar in structure to many sheep breeds

A morphological, morphometrical and histological investigation of the interdigital gland in Hasmer and Hasak sheep

Background: The interdigital glands of sheep perform various functions including those pertaining to sexual behaviours. Morphological and histological structure of the gland demonstrates differences among species. The aim of this study is to examine the morphological and histological structure of Hasak and Hasmer sheep’s interdigital glands and to determine the differences with other sheep breeds.Materials and methods: For this research, we selected 7 Hasak and 7 Hasmer female sheep. After scarification, the feet were obtained and used for anatomical and histological examinations. For the histological examination, the interdigital gland tissues were stained with Crossman modified triple, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue (AB) staining.Results: The morphometric analysis results, mean values of weight, body length, body diameter, flexura, ductus length, ductus diameter, were observed as 0.80 mm, 14.61 mm, 5.98 mm, 5.62 mm, 26.58 mm, and 3.25 mm, respectively in Hasak and 0.8 mm, 15.46 mm, 6.37 mm, 5.70 mm, 24.52 mm, and 3.52 mm in Hasmer sheep. The histochemical staining revealed that the apocrine secretion of this gland was PAS positive and AB negative. Conclusions: The weight, body length, body diameter, flexura, ductus length and ductus diameter in the forefoot’s interdigital glands of both Hasak and Hasmer sheep were higher in a statistically significant manner than those of the hindfeet’s glands

A new approach to time-frequency localized signal design

A novel approach is presented for the design of signals in Wigner Domain. In this method, the desired signal features in the time-frequency domain are specified in two stages. First the user specifies the spine curve around which the energy of the desired signal is distributed in the time-frequency plane. Then, the user specifies the spread of the desired signal energy around the spine. In addition to this fundamentally new way of defining the time-frequency features of the desired signal, the actual synthesis of the signal is performed in a warped fractional Fourier transform approach [1]. After obtaining the designed signal, it is transformed back to the original time domain providing the final result of the new signal synthesis technique. In contrast to the conventional algorithms, the proposed method provides very good results even if the inner cross-term structure of the desired signal is not specified

Optomechanically-Induced Transparency in partiy-time-symmetric microresonators

Optomechanically-induced transparency (OMIT) and the associated slowing of light provide the basis for storing photons in nanoscale devices. Here we study OMIT in parity-time (PT)-symmetric microresonators with a tunable gain-to-loss ratio. This system features a reversed, non-amplifying transparency, i.e., an inverted-OMIT. When the gain-to-loss ratio is varied, the system exhibits a transition from a PT-symmetric phase to a broken-PT-symmetric phase. This PT-phase transition results in the reversal of the pump and gain dependence of the transmission rates. Moreover, we show that by tuning the pump power at a fixed gain-to-loss ratio, or the gain-to-loss ratio at a fixed pump power, one can switch from slow to fast light and vice versa. These findings provide new tools for controlling light propagation using nanofabricated phononic devices.Comment: 30 pages, 6 figures; to be published in Scientific Reports (2015

Učinak formulacijskih parametara na oslobađanje lijeka i svojstva dvoslojnih tableta koje plutaju u želucu

Floating dosage forms of acetylsalicylic acid, used for its antithrombotic effect, were developed to prolong gastric residence time and increase bioavailability. In the two-layer tablet formulation, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) of high viscosity and an effervescent mixture of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate formed the floating layer. The release layer contained the drug, direct tableting agent and different types of matrix-forming polymers such as HPMC of low viscosity, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and chitosan. Tablets were prepared using a direct compression technique. The effect of formulation variables on physicochemical and floating properties and the drug release from tablets were investigated. Floating ability was dependent on the amount of effervescent agent and gel-forming polymer of the floating layer. Drug release was prolonged to 8 hours by changing the type and viscosity of the matrix-forming polymer in the drug-loading layer and all formulations showed a diffusion release mechanism.U radu su opisane plutajuće tablete acetilsalicilne kiseline za antikoagulacijsku upotrebu s produljenim zadržavanjem u želucu i većom bioraspoloživošću. Plutajući dio tih dvoslojnih tableta sadržavao je hidroksipropil metilcelulozu (HPMC) visoke viskoznosti i efervescentnu smjesu limunske kiseline i natrijevog hidrogenkarbonata. Drugi sloj sadržavao je ljekovitu tvar, sredstvo za izravno tabletiranje i različite vrste matriksnog polimera poput HPMC niske viskoznosti, natrij-karboksimetilceluloze i kitozana. Tablete su pripravljene metodom izravne kompresije. Ispitivan je utjecaj formulacijskih varijabli na fizikokemijska i plutajuća svojstva, te oslobađanje ljekovite tvari. Plutajuća svojstva ovise o količini efervescentnih tvari i gelirajućeg polimera u plutajućem sloju. Promjenom vrste i viskoznosti polimera u matriksnom sloju s lijekom produljeno je oslobađanje ljekovite tvari na 8 sati. Iz svih formulacija ljekovita tvar oslobađala se difuzijom

Diagnostic value of combined serum biomarkers for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C infection: A multicenter, noninterventional, observational study

Background/Aims: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is important cause of chronic hepatitis. Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for assessment of fibrosis but this procedure is an invasive procedure. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of non-invasive serum biomarkers, separately and in combinations, on liver fibrosis in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and sixteen treatment-naive CHC patients were enrolled from 32 locations across Turkey in this open-labelled, non-interventional prospective observational study. FibroTest®, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI), aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4), Age-platelet(AP) index and Forns index were measured and compared with Metavir scores got from liver biopsies. Results: Data from 182 patients with baseline liver biopsy were suitable for analysis. One hundred and twenty patients (65.9%) had F0-F1 fibrosis and 62 patients (34.1%) had F2-F4 fibrosis. APRI 0.732 area under the curve(AUC) indicated advanced fibrosis with 69% sensitivity and 77% specificity. FIB-4 0.732 AUC and FibroTest 0.715 AUC indicated advanced fibrosis with 69% and 78.4% sensitivity, and 75% and 71.4% specificity, respectively. The combined use of tests also led to an increase in AUC and specificity. Combinations of FibroTest with APRI and/or FIB-4, and FIB-4 with APRI were optimal for the evaluation of liver fibrosis. Conclusion: Fibrotest, FIB-4, APRI, AP index and Forns index exhibit good diagnostic performance for determining liver fibrosis in CHC patients, and the use of at least two tests together will increase their diagnostic value still further. © Copyright 2018 by The Turkish Society of Gastroenterology

Antifungal screening and in silico mechanistic studies of an in-house azole library

Systemic Candida infections pose a serious public health problem with high morbidity and mortality. C. albicans is the major pathogen identified in candidiasis, however non-albicans Candida spp. with antifungal resistance are now more prevalent. Azoles are first-choice antifungal drugs for candidiasis, however they are ineffective for certain infections caused by the resistant strains. Azoles block ergosterol synthesis by inhibiting fungal CYP51, which leads to disruption of fungal membrane permeability. In this study, we screened for antifungal activity of an in-house azole library of 65 compounds to identify hit matter followed by a molecular modelling study for their CYP51 inhibition mechanism. Antifungal susceptibility tests against standard Candida spp. including C. albicans revealed derivatives 12 and 13 as highly active. Furthermore, they showed potent antibiofilm activity as well as neglectable cytotoxicity in a mouse fibroblast assay. According to molecular docking studies 12 and 13 have the necessary binding characteristics for effective inhibition of CYP51. Finally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the C. albicans CYP51 (CACYP51) homology model's catalytic site complexed with 13 was stable demonstrating excellent binding. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Semiconductor-cavity QED in high-Q regimes: Detuning effect

The non-resonant interaction between the high-density excitons in a quantum well and a single mode cavity field is investigated. An analytical expression for the physical spectrum of the excitons is obtained. The spectral properties of the excitons, which are initially prepared in the number states or the superposed states of the two different number states by the resonant femtosecond pulse pumping experiment, are studied. Numerical study of the physical spectrum is carried out and a discussion of the detuning effect is presented.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure