3D Printed TCP-Based Scaffold Incorporating VEGF-Loaded PLGA Microspheres for Craniofacial Tissue Engineering

Objective Vascularization is a critical process during bone regeneration/repair and the lack of tissue vascularization is recognized as a major challenge in applying bone tissue engineeringmethods for cranial and maxillofacial surgeries. The aim of our study is to fabricate a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-loaded gelatin/alginate/β-TCP composite scaffold by 3D printing method using a computer-assisted design (CAD) model. Methods The paste, composed of (VEGF-loaded PLGA)-containing gelatin/alginate/β-TCP in water, was loaded into standard Nordson cartridges and promptly employed for printing the scaffolds. Rheological characterization of various gelatin/alginate/β-TCP formulations led to an optimized paste as a printable bioink at room temperature. Results The in vitro release kinetics of the loaded VEGF revealed that the designed scaffolds fulfill the bioavailability of VEGF required for vascularization in the early stages of tissue regeneration. The results were confirmed by two times increment of proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) seeded on the scaffolds after 10 days. The compressive modulus of the scaffolds, 98 ± 11 MPa, was found to be in the range of cancellous bone suggesting their potential application for craniofacial tissue engineering. Osteoblast culture on the scaffolds showed that the construct supports cell viability, adhesion and proliferation. It was found that the ALP activity increased over 50% using VEGF-loaded scaffolds after 2 weeks of culture. Significance The 3D printed gelatin/alginate/β-TCP scaffold with slow releasing of VEGF can be considered as a potential candidate for regeneration of craniofacial defects

Image Processing and Biometrical Investigations for Choosing the Most Ranked Rice Cultivars

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the vital food staples in our daily life, amongst the oldest cultivated crops worldwide, ranks as the most widely grown crop. It serves as a vital nutritional material to more than half of the world increasing crowd. This experiment was conducted for evaluation and selection of the most ranked rice cultivars: Kamfirooz, Yasouj, Dom Siah, Gharib, Dollar, Hassan saraei, 304, Lenjan, and Musa Tarom (MTA) as the well-known and prevalent varieties in the 'Fars' and 'Kogilouyeh-o-BoyreAhmad' provinces, Iran, along with other countries. Rough rice grains of the varieties were randomly selected and their principal dimensions were imaged using camera and a special box for light controlling and including Perimeter, Area, MajorAxis Length, MinorAxis Length, Solidity, Eccentricity, and Equiv Diameter, following with image analyzing by image processing software, in a labratroy experiment. The data were statistically analyzed and graphically plotted using SPSS v.17 and MINITAB v.16 software programs. The results of the image analysis indicated that there were significantly differences between most cultivars in the case of physical traits. The cluster categorization of the cultivars showed also that 9 cultivars clustered in 5 groups, i.e. Yasouj and Lenjan cultivars were located in different groups individually, where cultivars: Kamfirrooz, Dom Siah and Dollar in a unique cluster, but Gharib and 304 in the 4th group and MTA and Hassan Saraei in the 5th group. The results of this experiment showed the separateness of rice most recent cultivars according to agronomic and physical status, and leads to picking the most valuable cultivars for upcoming food nutritional values and also experiment

Electrochemical determination of the antipsychotic medication clozapine by a carbon paste electrode modified with a nanostructure prepared from titania nanoparticles and copper oxide

A nanostructure was prepared from titania nanoparticles and copper oxide (TiO2NP@CuO) and used to modify a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The modified CPE is shown to enable sensitive voltammetric determination of the drug clozapine (CLZ). The sensor was characterized by various techniques and some key parameters were optimized. Under the optimum conditions and at a working potential of 0.6 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), the modified CPE has two linear response ranges, one from 30 pmol L�1 to 4 nmol L�1 of CLZ, the other from 4 nmol L�1 to 10 μmol L�1. The detection limit is as low as 9 pM. The transfer coefficient (α) and catalytic rate constant (kcat) were calculated and the reliability of the sensor was estimated for CLZ sensing in real samples where it gave satisfactory results. Figure not available: see fulltext.. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature

Impacts of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (50-Hz) on growth performance and survival rate of common carp, Cyprinus carpio fingerlings

All organisms are probably exposed to different types of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). This study is an attempt to evaluate the effect of extremely low-frequency EMFs (50 Hz) on some growth parameters and survival rate of common carp fingerling. The fish (n = 120, averaged 16.76 ± 0.88 g in initial weight) was exposed to ELF-EMF at four intensities of 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2 mT only once for 2 h and then reared for 60 days. The obtained results revealed that all growth indices were significantly (p < 0.05) improved by increasing in the EMFs intensity. Two mT treatment indicated the highest final weight (43.95 ± 0.27 g), weight gain (6.83 ± 0.10 g), weight gain rate (20.94 ± 0.13 %), daily growth rate (0.38 ± 0.00 g day-1), specific growth rate (1.26 ± 0.01 % day-1) and the lowest food conversion ratio (p < 0.05). Survival rate significantly (p < 0.05) increased in all exposed treatments compared to the control group. In conclusion, ELF-EMF can enhance the growth indices and survival rate of common carp as one of the most commercially-important cultured fish species over the world

Comment on "Periodic Phase Synchronization in Coupled Chaotic Oscillators"

2 pages.-- PACS numbers: 05.45.Xt, 05.45.Pq.-- Final full-text version of the paper available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.73.038201.Kye et al. [Phys. Rev. E 68, 025201(R) (2003)] have recently claimed that, before the onset of Chaotic Phase Synchronization in coupled phase coherent oscillators, there exists a temporally coherent state called Periodic Phase Synchronization (PPS). Here we give evidence that some of their numerical calculations are flawed, while we provide theoretical arguments that indicate that PPS is not to be expected generically in this type of systems.This work was supported by MEC (Spain) and FEDER under Grant Nos. BFM2001-0341-C02-02, FIS2004-00953 (CONOCE2), and FIS2004-05073-C04-03.http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.73.03820

3D printed tissue engineered model for bone invasion of oral cancer

Recent advances in three-dimensional printing technology have led to a rapid expansion of its applications in tissue engineering. The present study was designed to develop and characterize an in vitro multi-layered human alveolar bone, based on a 3D printed scaffold, combined with tissue engineered oral mucosal model. The objective was to incorporate oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line spheroids to the 3D model at different anatomical levels to represent different stages of oral cancer. Histological evaluation of the 3D tissue model revealed a tri-layered structure consisting of distinct epithelial, connective tissue, and bone layers; replicating normal oral tissue architecture. The mucosal part showed a well-differentiated stratified oral squamous epithelium similar to that of the native tissue counterpart, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin 13 and 14. Histological assessment of the cancerous models demonstrated OSCC spheroids at three depths including supra-epithelial level, sub-epithelial level, and deep in the connective tissue-bone interface. The 3D tissue engineered composite model closely simulated the native oral hard and soft tissues and has the potential to be used as a valuable in vitro model for the investigation of bone invasion of oral cancer and for the evaluation of novel diagnostic or therapeutic approaches to manage OSCC in the future

Eco-efficiency measurement and material balance principle:an application in power plants Malmquist Luenberger Index

Incorporating Material Balance Principle (MBP) in industrial and agricultural performance measurement systems with pollutant factors has been on the rise in recent years. Many conventional methods of performance measurement have proven incompatible with the material flow conditions. This study will address the issue of eco-efficiency measurement adjusted for pollution, taking into account materials flow conditions and the MBP requirements, in order to provide ‘real’ measures of performance that can serve as guides when making policies. We develop a new approach by integrating slacks-based measure to enhance the Malmquist Luenberger Index by a material balance condition that reflects the conservation of matter. This model is compared with a similar model, which incorporates MBP using the trade-off approach to measure productivity and eco-efficiency trends of power plants. Results reveal similar findings for both models substantiating robustness and applicability of the proposed model in this paper