Dishing out mini-brains: Current progress and future prospects in brain organoid research

AbstractThe ability to model human brain development in vitro represents an important step in our study of developmental processes and neurological disorders. Protocols that utilize human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells can now generate organoids which faithfully recapitulate, on a cell-biological and gene expression level, the early period of human embryonic and fetal brain development. In combination with novel gene editing tools, such as CRISPR, these methods represent an unprecedented model system in the field of mammalian neural development. In this review, we focus on the similarities of current organoid methods to in vivo brain development, discuss their limitations and potential improvements, and explore the future venues of brain organoid research

Effect of breed and age on beef carcass quality, fatness and fatty acid composition

The aim of this research was to determine differences in beef carcass fatness and in the fatty acid composition of muscle and adipose tissue of three different breeds slaughtered at the age of 14 months and 19 months. The breed significantly affected the muscle fat content, carcass subcutaneous fat tissue thickness and fatty acid composition of the muscle and subcutaneous fat tissue. Different age at slaughter had no significant effect on analysed traits. The muscle tissue of the Herefords contained a higher (P < 0.05) percentage of C14 : 0 and C16 : 0 fatty acids and fewer long-chain fatty acids than the Simmentals and Charolais. The subcutaneous fat tissue of the Simmentals contained a higher (P < 0.05) percentage of PUFA, PUFA/SFA ratio and n-6 fatty acids. When fed with a high-energy diet, the Herefords proved to have the most fattened carcasses and the highest content of saturated fatty acids in the muscle. Changes in the diet of feedlot cattle should result in a more favourable fatty acid composition

Affective aspects of perceived loss of control and potential implications for brain-computer interfaces

© 2017 Grissmann, Zander, Faller, Brönstrup, Kelava, Gramann and Gerjets. Most brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) focus on detecting single aspects of user states (e.g., motor imagery) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) in order to use these aspects as control input for external systems. This communication can be effective, but unaccounted mental processes can interfere with signals used for classification and thereby introduce changes in the signal properties which could potentially impede BCI classification performance. To improve BCI performance, we propose deploying an approach that potentially allows to describe different mental states that could influence BCI performance. To test this approach, we analyzed neural signatures of potential affective states in data collected in a paradigm where the complex user state of perceived loss of control (LOC) was induced. In this article, source localization methods were used to identify brain dynamics with source located outside but affecting the signal of interest originating from the primary motor areas, pointing to interfering processes in the brain during natural human-machine interaction. In particular, we found affective correlates which were related to perceived LOC. We conclude that additional context information about the ongoing user state might help to improve the applicability of BCIs to real-world scenarios

UTJECAJ DUŽINE TRANSPORTA I MIJEŠANJA GRUPA NA KAKVOĆU JUNEĆIH TRUPOVA SIMENTALSKIH BIKOVA

In the last few years, beef producers have had great problems with beef distribution, related primarily to the frequent incidence of dark, firm, dry meat. Consumers are unlikely to buy and consume such meat. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of transport period and mixing of groups during rest period in lairage on the quality of beef carcasses. The study included 40 Simmental bulls aged from 18 to 20 months. Ultimate pH value and meat colour were measured 24 hours post mortem in m. longissimus dorsi and m. gracilis. Only 45% of carcasses were within the standard pHu range. Results of transport period did not show significant effect on beef quality. In contrast to transport period, mixing of groups during rest period in lairage had highly significant adverse effect on beef quality (p<0.001). The effect of mixing of bulls during the resting period of 18 hours, could however be regarded of being the main stress factor.Proizvođači junećega mesa proteklih godina imaju značajne probleme u plasmanu junetine, prvenstveno zbog učestalije pojave tamnog suhog i tvrdog mesa (DFD). Potrošači takvo meso nerado kupuju i konzumiraju. Cilj ovog istraživanja je utvrditi značajnost utjecaja dužine transporta i miješanja grupa bikova tijekom odmora u stočnom depou na kakvoću junećih trupova. Istraživanje je uključilo 40 simentalske junadi u dobi od 18 do 20 mjeseci. Mjerenje konačne pH vrijednosti i boje mesa vršena su 24 sata post mortem na m. longissimus dorsi i m. gracilis. Samo je 45% trupova imalo vrijednost kpH u poželjnom intervalu. Istraživanjem nije utvrđen značajan utjecaj dužine transporta na pokazatelje kakvoće junećih trupova. Miješanje grupa bikova tijekom odmora u stočnom depou ima značajan utjecaj na kakvoću junećih trupova (p<0.001). Utjecaj miješanja grupa bikova tijekom odmora u stočnom može se smatrati jednim od glavnih uzročnika stresa odgovornog za pojavu DFD junećega mesa

UTJECAJ DUŽINE TRANSPORTA I MIJEŠANJA GRUPA NA KAKVOĆU JUNEĆIH TRUPOVA SIMENTALSKIH BIKOVA

In the last few years, beef producers have had great problems with beef distribution, related primarily to the frequent incidence of dark, firm, dry meat. Consumers are unlikely to buy and consume such meat. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of transport period and mixing of groups during rest period in lairage on the quality of beef carcasses. The study included 40 Simmental bulls aged from 18 to 20 months. Ultimate pH value and meat colour were measured 24 hours post mortem in m. longissimus dorsi and m. gracilis. Only 45% of carcasses were within the standard pHu range. Results of transport period did not show significant effect on beef quality. In contrast to transport period, mixing of groups during rest period in lairage had highly significant adverse effect on beef quality (p<0.001). The effect of mixing of bulls during the resting period of 18 hours, could however be regarded of being the main stress factor.Proizvođači junećega mesa proteklih godina imaju značajne probleme u plasmanu junetine, prvenstveno zbog učestalije pojave tamnog suhog i tvrdog mesa (DFD). Potrošači takvo meso nerado kupuju i konzumiraju. Cilj ovog istraživanja je utvrditi značajnost utjecaja dužine transporta i miješanja grupa bikova tijekom odmora u stočnom depou na kakvoću junećih trupova. Istraživanje je uključilo 40 simentalske junadi u dobi od 18 do 20 mjeseci. Mjerenje konačne pH vrijednosti i boje mesa vršena su 24 sata post mortem na m. longissimus dorsi i m. gracilis. Samo je 45% trupova imalo vrijednost kpH u poželjnom intervalu. Istraživanjem nije utvrđen značajan utjecaj dužine transporta na pokazatelje kakvoće junećih trupova. Miješanje grupa bikova tijekom odmora u stočnom depou ima značajan utjecaj na kakvoću junećih trupova (p<0.001). Utjecaj miješanja grupa bikova tijekom odmora u stočnom može se smatrati jednim od glavnih uzročnika stresa odgovornog za pojavu DFD junećega mesa

Potential of Endangered Local Donkey Breeds in Meat and Milk Production

The problem of the erosion of animal genetic resources is evident in certain local donkey breeds, and their long-term sustainability can be achieved by economically repositioning them. To develop alternative and sustainable commercial programs, the meat and milk production characteristics of Istrian donkey and Littoral Dinaric donkey breeds were investigated. The meat production characteristics were examined in mature males, whose carcasses were dissected, and meat composition was determined using NIT spectrophotometry and gas chromatography. Milk yield and milk composition were determined in jennies in second or subsequent lactations by measuring milk volume and using infrared spectrometry and gas chromatography. Compared to the Littoral Dinaric donkey, the Istrian donkey has a higher carcass weight and dressing percentage (p < 0.001). The share of boneless meat in relation to live weight was 28.27% in the Istrian donkey and 26.18% in the Littoral Dinaric donkey. The absolute masses of primal cuts of meat in E, I, and II classes were significantly greater in Istrian donkeys than in Littoral Dinaric donkeys (p < 0.01), although the differences in the proportions of primal cuts were not significant. The breed did not have a significant impact on the color, pH, or meat composition. A significant influence of breed on milk yield, lactose, protein, and the fat content of milk was observed (p < 0.01). A significant influence of breed on the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA fatty acids in donkey milk was observed (p = 0.002). The values of the atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes were favorable, considering potential beneficial effects of donkey milk and meat on consumer health. The findings of this research suggest that local donkey breeds hold significant potential for meat and milk production, focusing on the uniqueness and quality of their products rather than the quantity of meat and milk they can produce

EFFECTS DIFFERENT TRANSPORT PERIOD AND MIXING OF GROUPS ON MEAT QUALITY OF SIMMENTAL BULLS

Summary In the last few years, beef producers have had great problems with beef distribution, related primarily to the frequent incidence of dark, firm, dry meat. Consumers are unlikely to buy and consume such meat. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of transport period and mixing of groups during rest period in lairage on the quality of beef carcasses. The study included 40 Simmental bulls aged from 18 to 20 months. Ultimate pH value and meat colour were measured 24 hours post mortem in m. longissimus dorsi and m. gracilis. Only 45% of carcasses were within the standard pHu range. Results of transport period did not show significant effect on beef quality. In contrast to transport period, mixing of groups during rest period in lairage had highly significant adverse effect on beef quality (p&lt;0.001). The effect of mixing of bulls during the resting period of 18 hours, could however be regarded of being the main stress factor