A single LC-MS/MS validated method for tulathromycin quantification in plasma, seminal plasma, and urine to be applied in a pharmacokinetic study in bull

Tulathromycin is a macrolide antibiotic generally used for the treatment of respiratory diseases in cattle and swine. This work proposes an improvement of a previously published LC-MS/MS method for tulathromycin determination in pig serum, here validated in three different bull matrices: plasma, seminal plasma, and urine. The approach is based on a quick protein precipitation with acetonitrile, filtration, and sample dilution before injection, allowing to rapidly process large batches of samples. Analytes separation was obtained using a BEH C18 (50 x 2.1 mm, 1.7 mu m) column, maintained at 40 degrees C with a chromatographic run of 5 min. The method was fully validated over concentration ranges suitable for field levels of tulathromycin found in each matrix (0.01-1 mu g/ml for plasma, 0.05-5 mu g/ml for seminal plasma, and 0.1-10 mu g/m1 for urine), showing good linearity during each day of testing (R-2 always >0.99). Accuracy and precision were within +/- 15% at all QC concentrations in all the three matrices. Furthermore, the use of tulathromycine-d7 as internal standard mitigated the potential impacts of matrix effect. The validated technique was successfully applied to samples collected during a pharmacokinetic study in bulls, allowing to monitor tulathromycin concentrations over time in the three matrices. To our knowledge, this is the first validated approach for LC-MS/MS quantification of tulathromycin in seminal plasma and urine

Tuning di cache NUCA way adaptable

Le memorie cache occupano attualmente un'importante ruolo nei microprocessori e per questo sono responsabili della maggior parte della potenza statica, critica per i microprocessori attuali e futuri. In questo lavoro si affronta l'analisi del meccanismo di way-adapting, applicato a cache L2 di tipo D-NUCA, e in particolare lo sviluppo di un algoritmo di tuning. I risultati ottenuti hanno dimostrato che, con determinate soglie, l'algoritmo consente un notevole risparmio energetico, senza pregiudicare le prestazioni

Effects of Two Different Cooling Devices for Testicles Transport on Stallion Epididymal Sperm Quality

This study evaluates the effects of two cooling devices and temperature for testicles storage on epididymal sperm quality after 24 hours; different levels of seminal plasma (0% and 10%) were evaluated on sperm after recovering. Testicles from six stallions were recovered immediately after castration (2) or at the slaughterhouse (4); of the same animal, one testicle was placed in Equitainer (+8\ub0C), the other in a styrofoam box with ice (+3\ub0C). After 24 hours, the temperature of parenchyma was measured, and testicles and epididymal were weighted. Sperm were flushed from the cauda epididymides with Kenney extender, total sperm number recorded and motility and viability evaluated immediately after flushing (T0) with or without 10% SP (G1 Eq 0%, G2 Eq 10%, G3 Ice 0%, G4 Ice 10%). Motility and viability were evaluated after 24 hours and 48 hours of storage at +4\ub0C. Temperature of the parenchyma was lower in testicles stored in ice compared to Equitainer (3.2 \ub1 0.6\ub0C and 8.6 \ub1 2.5\ub0C, respectively; P < .05). Motility and viability at T0 were similar (P > .05) in G1 and G3, whereas addition of SP after recovery significantly improved motility only in samples stored in Equitainer (G2). Viability was higher (P < .05) in G2 than in G4. At T24 and T48, no differences (P > .05) in sperm quality were found between storage methods or samples with or without SP. In conclusion, equine testicles can be safely stored either at lower (+3\ub0C) or higher (+8\ub0C) temperature than +5\ub0C. This can be useful, especially when testicles are shipped in a hot climate, where devices cannot guarantee optimal refrigeration conditions

Pediatric patients tolerance: a comparative study about using of Er:YAG laser and self-adhesive flowable composite for treatment of primary decayed teeth

Aim. To verify the tolerance of children aged between 3 and 8 years, having class I caries and treated with Er:YAG laser in association with a new self-adhesive flowable resin in comparison with a highspeed diamond bur and a conventional flowable resin treatment. Methods. A group of 80 healthy children (43 males and 37 females) ranging in age from 3 to 8 years, who had been diagnosed with at least one active occlusal non-cavitated superficial carious lesions in first or second deciduous molars, were selected for the present study. They were divided in 4 groups: group A: Class I occlusal cavities prepared using an Er: YAG laser and a self-adhesive flowable resin; Group B: Class I occlusal cavities prepared using an Er: YAG laser and a conventional flowable resin; Group C: Class I occlusal cavities prepared using a high-speed diamond bur and a self-adhesive flowable resin; Group D: Class I occlusal cavities prepared using a high-speed diamond bur and a conventional flowable resin. Before and after the treatments the patient tolerance was tested with the modified Wong-Baker pain level scale. Results. In the first group, the tolerance rate was 95% with 0 score (no hurt) for 19 patients; in Group D, the tolerance rate was 75%. Just one child of group D experienced hurting worst because of non cooperative patient. Conclusion. From these results it emerged that, although the limits of the study, Er:Yag laser in association with self-adhering composite, is very effective in pediatric dentistry and is a good treatment option especially for non cooperative patients

Effects of cryopreservation on the mitochondrial bioenergetics of bovine sperm

This study evaluated the bioenergetic map of mitochondria metabolism in cryopreserved bovine sperm. The detected oligomycin-sensitive basal respiration supported ATP production; frozen-thawed spermatozoa were found to have a coupling efficiency higher than 0.80. Cell respiration, however, was not stimulated by the protonophoric action of FCCP, as its titration with 1, 2, 4 and 6 mu M did not stimulate the uncoupling activity on oxidative phosphorylation as highlighted by unresponsive oxygen consumption. The unusual effect on the stimulation of maximal respiration was not related to fibronectin- or PDL-coated plates used for cellular metabolism analysis. Conversely, irradiation of frozen-thawed bovine sperm with the red light improved mitochondrial parameters. In effect, the maximal respiration of red-light-stimulated sperm in PDL-coated plates was higher than the non-irradiated. In spite of this, red-light irradiation had no impact on membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity evaluated by epifluorescence microscopy

Combined effects of resveratrol and epigallocatechin-3-gallate on post thaw boar sperm and IVF parameters

Frozen-thawed boar semen suffer a fertility decrease that negatively affects its widespread use. In recent years supplementing frozen-thawed boar sperm with different antioxidants gave interesting and promising results; the aim of the present work was to study the effect of supplementing boar sperm thawing medium for 1 h with combination of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG, 50 μM) and Resveratrol (R, 2 mM), on boar sperm motility (assessed by CASA), viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function, lipid peroxidation and DNA integrity (assessed by flow cytometry), protein tyrosine phosphorylation (assessed by immunofluorescence) and on in vitro fertilization (IVF). Our results demonstrate that sperm motility is negatively affected by R (alone or associated with EGCG, p < 0.05) in comparison to control and EGCG groups both at 1 h and 4 h; this effect is evident both in average motility parameters and in single cells kinematics, studied by cluster analysis, that showed the presence of a specific cell population with simil-hyperactivated features in R group (p < 0.01). Viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial functionality and lipid peroxidation are not influenced by the addition of the antioxidants; finally, DNA integrity is negatively influenced by R (both alone or associated with EGCG) both at 1 h and 4 h incubation (p < 0.05). Finally, tyrosine phosphorylated protein immunolocalization, used as capacitation parameter, is not affected by the different treatments. Penetration rate is strongly enhanced by R, both alone or associated with EGCG (p < 0.05); EGCG increases penetration rate as well but to a lower extent. Our findings demonstrate that the combination of R and EGCG could positively affect frozen-thawed boar sperm fertility in vitro; the effect is evident also in R groups, thus demonstrating that this antioxidant is predominant, and no synergic effect is present. Some insights are needed to understand if, in particular R (that showed the strongest effect) could be profitably used for artificial insemination in vivo, given the detrimental effect of this molecule on both sperm motility and DNA integrity

Control of silver-polymer aggregation mechanism by primary particle spatial correlations in dynamic fractal-like geometry

Silver nanocrystals have been prepared by reacting silver nitrate with ascorbic acid in aqueous solution containing a low concentration of a commercial polynaphtalene sulphonate polymer (Daxad 19). Various crystalline morphologies have been obtained simply by tuning the reaction temperature. We have investigated the nanoparticle formation mechanism at three different temperatures by in situ and time resolved Small Angle X ray Scattering measurements. By modeling the scattering intensity with interacting spherical particles in a fractal-like polymer-Ag matrix, we found signatures of nucleation, growth and assembly of primary particles of about 15-20 nm. We observed how the time evolution of both spatial correlations between primary particles and the dynamic fractal geometry of the polymer-Ag matrix could influence and determine both the aggregation mechanism and the morphology of forming nanostructures in solution

Morphostructural mapping of Borealis Planitia, Mercury

Orbital data from the MESSENGER spacecraft show that a significant portion of Mercury’s northern hemisphere is covered by smooth plains, which are interpreted to be flood volcanic material and/or impact melt. The smooth plains show pervasive tectonic structures and encompass a broad raised bulge of uncertain geophysical interpretation. In this work, we focus on the mapping of all the morphostructures within the northern smooth plains, aiming at providing a useful dataset for further studies about the mapped area. The structural map is obtained through a twofold process: first with an automatic mapping, using an algorithm to identify all the lineaments from a DEM; and second with a visual inspection and classification of the results of the algorithm in a GIS environment. The final maps are drafted at two different scales, 1:300,000 and 1:600,000. With this approach, we mapped and characterized more than fifty thousand lines marking scarps on the surface, creating a database with several morphometric attributes for each of the identified scarps (e.g. length, azimuth, and height), which can be used for geostatistical study of smooth plains tectonics. Our structural map reveals that: (i) the area is broadly dominated by wrinkle ridges, ghost crater assemblages of lineaments, and scarps related to impact crater processes (e.g. radial faults, secondary crater chains, ejecta emplacement) and that (ii) the amount of strain was not evenly accommodated throughout the northern smooth plains

The Diverticular Disease Registry (DDR Trial) by the Advanced International Mini-Invasive Surgery Academy Clinical Research Network: Protocol for a Multicenter, Prospective Observational Study

Diverticular disease is an increasingly common issue, with a variety of clinical presentations and treatment options. However, very few prospective cohort studies explore outcomes between the different presentations and treatments. The Diverticular Disease Registry (DDR Trial) is a multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study on behalf of the Advanced International Mini-Invasive Surgery (AIMS) academy clinical research network. The DDR Trial aims to investigate the short-term postoperative and long-term quality of life outcomes in patients undergoing surgery or medical treatments for diverticular disease. DDR Trial is open to participation by all tertiary-care hospitals. DDR Trial has been registered at ClinicalTriats.gou (NCT 04907383). Data collection will be recorded on Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) starting on June 1 , 2021 and will end after 5 years of recruitment. All adult patients with imaging-proven colonic diverticular disease (i.e., symptomatic colonic diverticulosis including diverticular bleeding, diverticulitis, and Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease) will be included. The primary outcome of DDR Trial is quality of life assessment at 12-month according to the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). The secondary outcome is 30-day postoperative outcomes according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. DDR Trial will significantly advance in identifying the optimal care for patients with diverticular disease by exploring outcomes of different presentations and treatments