Fabrication and characterization of cobalt- and copper-doped mesoporous borate bioactive glasses for potential applications in tissue engineering

Developing novel compositions of bioactive glasses (BGs) is key for accelerating tissue repair and regeneration. In this work, we developed a series of cobalt (Co)- and copper (Cu)-doped mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) based on borate 13-93B3 composition using nitrate precursors. We took benefit from data science algorithms to predict and assess the physico-chemical and biological properties of the samples. The results showed that the presence of the dopants (Co and Cu) in the MBGs could change the glass transition temperature (Tg) (from 773 to 539 °C), the zeta potential (from -12 to -43 mV), and surface area (from 54 to 194 m2/g). However, the presence of 2.5 mol% of dopants in the composition led to just a slight decrease in their bioactivity. In vitro biocompatibility assays confirmed that all the glass samples were biocompatible. Furthermore, the doped MBGs exhibited potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, these glasses could induce the mobility of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and enhance new blood vessel formation in ovo. According to the obtained data, it can be stated that this type of doped borate MBGs held great promise in tissue engineering applications

The percentage determination of Rutilus frisii kutum (200, 500 and 1000 mg) resistance to salinity, turbidity and decrease of oxygen by usage of the river water at the releasing meantime

The survey effect of salinity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen performed on Rutilus frisii Kutum juveniles with aim, which was determined about survival rate and histological changes in gill and kidney tissues. Juveniles provided from the Rajai's fish propagation center and then examined in Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center laboratory. The juveniles were investigated on three weight group (200-75%) had shown in 400-<600mg weight group with dissolve oxygen: 3.8±0.15SE mg/l. In addition, the lowest survival rates under turbidity stress (95.83%) had shown that in weight group less than 400 mg with turbidity 15600 FTU. Therefore, survival of juveniles was high. However, gill tissue of juveniles under turbidity and salinity stress became short (necrosis) and thick (edema and hyperplasia) in the end of experiments. The juveniles gill tissues were not changes in the river clear freshwater. Therefore, the factors of gill tissue deformation were salinity and suspended particles in the water. However, the structures of kidney in the different groups of juveniles were similar. Nevertheless, juveniles glomerular diameter increased with increasing weight (p<0.05, Duncan test). Furthermore, there was a increasing the internal cavity of the proximal and distal tubules and decreasing of glomeruli in diameter in the transfer of juveniles from freshwater to brackish water. Although the survival rate of juveniles is acceptable in this study, but there was abnormal changes in the structure of them gills. It appears that this change will cause a disruption in trend of juvenile's growth

Peptone production from marine and culture wastes by commercial enzymes for bacterial culture media

Thirty to 40% of total fish catch is converted to waste. Using different methods of hydrolysis of the protein can be recovered of fish waste and increase the amount of protein efficiency. In this study, the four enzymes Alcalase, protamex, pepsin and trypsin were used for hydrolysis of four fish species including common carp (Cyprinus carpio), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and the Big head (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis). The effects of pH, temperature and hydrolysis time on the rate of hydrolysis were studied on soluble proteins and degree of hydrolysis (phase I). In the second step, proximate factors of peptone been evaluated and eventually replace commercial peptone media MRS (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus delberuki, Lactobacillus casei, Streptococcus thermophilus) and TSB (Listeria monocytogenes, two species of Bacillus and Pseudomonas, Streptococcus faecium) and the optical density of bacteria at different times were compared with control samples. Results showed that the highest degree of hydrolysis and soluble proteins were referred to alcalase and protamex, pepsin and trypsin respectively. The highest value of hydrolysis, in all treatments, was attributed to grass carp and silver carp, common carp and big head respectively. The best pH and temperature for alcalase, protamex, pepsin and trypsin 8.5and 55, 7.5 and 55, 3.5, 37, 7 and 37 respectively. Best time to achieve the highest degree of hydrolysis and soluble protein was 90 minutes. Qualitative analysis showed that the highest and lowest amounts of protein and fat in the treatment of alcalase (about 70 % protein and less than 0.5 % fat) and protamex, pepsin and trypsin was then. The results of bacteria culture showed that the highest percentage growth of lactic acid bacteria was referred to Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus casei had the lowest rate of growth. In other bacteria, Pseudomonas and Bacillus species were the highest percentage of growth and Listeria monocytogenes and Streptococcus faecium respectively. In all treatments, alcalase had the best results and the peptone prepared from fish waste grass carp had the best condition for growth of used bacteria. It seems that the initial substrate , the parameters used such as temperature, pH, and enzyme hydrolysis time , have a significant effect on the quality of peptone and protein content in the final product is determined value of protein for culture of bacteria

Short communication. Impact of the amino acid proline on the cold hardiness of honey bee, Apis mellifera L.

Like many insects, honey bee can increase its cold tolerance through freeze avoidance, using antifreeze proteins (AFPs) to lower its supercooling point (SCP). Proline is the most dominant amino acid in honey bee hemolymph, which can be obtained by the insect through feeding. In the current study the antifreeze activity of this amino acid was evaluated on worker honey bees, immediately before the start of cold season. The experiment was established on four treatments including three different concentrations of proline (1%, 3% and 4.35%) diluted in 1:1 water sucrose syrup, and the syrup without proline (control). Newly emerged worker honey bees were fed on the mentioned diets for 2 weeks, under cage condition, and then 20 bees from each treatment (cage) were selected randomly for determination of cold hardiness inside a cooling bath. Using a CHY data logger, equipped with a K100 sensor attached to the bee’s gaster, the SCP, the amount of released heat and the rate of this release as measures of insect cold hardiness were recorded. Proline significantly reduced honey bees’ SCP. The lowest point, -7.67±0.2646°C, was observed in the concentration of 1% proline. The amount of released heat and the rate of this release were not significantly different across the treatments

Dual-Band Transceiver High Impedance Coil Array for Ultra-high Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A novel approach for designing an element of an arrayed radio frequency coil for ultrahigh field magnetic resonance imaging (UHF MRI) is presented. The purpose of this approach is to achieve the dual-band transceiver regime in a compact array of magnetic antennas. Our work qualitatively develops the concept of the so-called high-impedance coil (HIC), combined with the adequate interfacing circuitry, which offers the decoupling of the HICs in the array due to the very high self-impedance compared to the mutual impedance. This concept has not been previously thought applicable to dual-band transceiver arrays. We show that, by slightly modifying only the cable shield, we achieve a dual-band transceiver high-impedance coil (dual-band TRHIC). The needed modification implies two asymmetric gaps granting two useful eigenmodes to the cable loop. The resonant excitation of these modes will allow the magnetic resonant scanning of both hydrogen and Phosphorus in the 7 T dc magnetic field. To verify our ideas, we simulated and measured a single TRHIC in both transmitting and receiving regimes and similarly studied two linear arrays made of two and three proposed TRHICs. The method of asymmetric gaps, in our opinion, allows one to engineer the targeted multifrequency operation of arrayed TRHICs decoupled at these frequencies.Peer reviewe