The feasibility of allogenic implants of chondrocytes in alginate gels was tested for the reconstruction in vivo of artificially full-thickness-damaged articular rabbit cartilage.The suspensions of ...chondrocytes in alginate were gelled by the addition of calcium chloride solution directly into the defects giving in situ a construct perfectly inserted and adherent to the subchondral bone and to the walls of intact cartilage. The tissue repair was controlled at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months after the implant by NMR microscopy, synchrotron radiation induced X-ray emission to map the sulfur of glycosaminoglycans and by histochemistry. Practically a complete repair of the defect was observed 4–6 months from the implant of the chondrocytes with the recovery of a normal tissue structure. Controls in which Ca-alginate alone was implanted developed only a fibrous cartilage.
The current study investigated the olfactory sensitivity of the blackspot sea bream to amino acids, odorants associated with food detection in fish, and compared the efficacy of two different ...experimental methods: multi-unit recording from the olfactory nerve and the electro-olfactogram (EOG). Twenty essential amino acids plus
l
-DOPA evoked clear, concentration-dependent olfactory responses using both methods, with estimated thresholds of 10
−8.5
–10
−6.2
M (nerve recording) and 10
−7.5
–10
−4.8
M (EOG). The most potent amino acids were
l
-cysteine,
l
-methionine (both sulphur-containing),
l
-alanine,
l
-leucine (both neutral),
l
-glutamine (amide-containing) and
l
-serine (hydroxyl-containing). The least potent were
l
-proline (secondary α-amino group), the aromatic amino acids and glycine (simplest). Although the rank order of olfactory potency was similar for the two methods used, and the calculated thresholds given by the two methods were positively correlated, the sensitivity of the EOG was consistently lower than multi-unit recording by approximately one order of magnitude, presumably due to the electrical shunting effect of seawater. As in freshwater, the EOG could be a valid method for comparing olfactory potency of different odorants in stenohaline marine fish; however, for absolute ‘biological’ thresholds, a more invasive recording technique, such as multi-unit recording from the olfactory nerve, should be used.
The long-term inclusion of 10% seaweed meal (
Ulva rigida
and
Undaria pinnatifida
) was evaluated in diets for Senegalese sole (
Solea senegalensis
). Triplicate groups of fish with an initial body ...weight of 23 g were fed the experimental diets (ULVA and UNDARIA) and compared to fish fed a control diet with no seaweed included (CTRL), both in juvenile (after 5 months of feeding, up to 60 g) and on-growing stages (after 9 months of feeding, up to 160 g). In the early juvenile phase, the inclusion of seaweeds did not affect fish growth, but final body weight was significantly lower in on-growing fish fed the UNDARIA diet. Overall, growth performance was also reduced in fish fed the UNDARIA diet, with a significantly lower daily growth index. Whole-body composition and nutrient retention (% intake) remained unaffected by the dietary treatment, but by the end of the growth trial fish fed the UNDARIA diet had a significantly lower protein gain associated with significantly lower intestinal
villi
width. At the end of the experiment, fish fed the UNDARIA diet had a significantly higher iodine flesh content (375.7 μg kg
−1
) than those fed the CTRL (187.5 μg kg
−1
) or ULVA (199.3 μg kg
−1
) diets, whereas selenium content was similar in all groups of fish. In conclusion,
U. rigida
seems a valid ingredient for Senegalese sole diets without affecting fish growth or nutrient utilization.
U
ndaria
pinnatifida
was an effective way of naturally fortifying the nutritional value of sole fillets for human consumption, but resulted in growth impairment, so a lower inclusion level should be further evaluated.
Intellectual Disability is a common and heterogeneous disorder characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour, whose molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. ...Among the numerous genes found to be involved in the pathogenesis of intellectual disability, 10% are located on the X-chromosome. We identified a missense mutation (c.236 C > G; p.S79W) in the SYN1 gene coding for synapsin I in the MRX50 family, affected by non-syndromic X-linked intellectual disability. Synapsin I is a neuronal phosphoprotein involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release and neuronal development. Several mutations in SYN1 have been identified in patients affected by epilepsy and/or autism. The S79W mutation segregates with the disease in the MRX50 family and all affected members display intellectual disability as sole clinical manifestation. At the protein level, the S79W Synapsin I mutation is located in the region of the B-domain involved in recognition of highly curved membranes. Expression of human S79W Synapsin I in Syn1 knockout hippocampal neurons causes aberrant accumulation of small clear vesicles in the soma, increased clustering of synaptic vesicles at presynaptic terminals and increased frequency of excitatory spontaneous release events. In addition, the presence of S79W Synapsin I strongly reduces the mobility of synaptic vesicles, with possible implications for the regulation of neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. These results implicate SYN1 in the pathogenesis of non-syndromic intellectual disability, showing that alterations of synaptic vesicle trafficking are one possible cause of this disease, and suggest that distinct mutations in SYN1 may lead to distinct brain pathologies.
Resumen Los mecanismos de transporte de radiación ionizante en presencia de campos magnéticos pueden ser descritos mediante formulaciones basadas en la aplicación de la ecuación principal de ...Boltzmann. Sin embargo, cuando el transporte no es en vacío sino en medios materiales dispersores la dificultad en el cálculo analítico de la trayectoria de los electrones se incrementa considerablemente debido al carácter aleatorio de los procesos de interacción de la radiación con el medio dispersor. En este contexto, el presente trabajo propone y describe una metodología para caracterizar mediante técnicas numéricas, como la simulación Monte Carlo, el efecto de campos magnéticos intensos, presentes típicamente en los dispositivos de MRI-LINAC, sobre la trayectoria de partículas cargadas, propagándose en un medio material comúnmente presente en situaciones de radioterapia. Los resultados obtenidos para el aire como medio dispersor, indican que las variaciones de las trayectorias de los electrones dependen conjuntamente de la intensidad y dirección del campo magnético y de las interacciones por colisión con el medio material. El aumento de la intensidad de campo magnético incrementa la curvatura de las trayectorias y disminuye el desplazamiento, o corrimiento, en la dirección radial.
•This study provides a detailed description on novel polyamine plasmid DNA nanogels.•The biocompatible nanovectors exhibit a unique swelling behavior.•These gels are light photodegradable which opens ...the possibility to use them as delivery systems.•We provide a synthetic way for the development of tunable advanced biotechnological devices.
This study provides a detailed description on the synthesis and characterization of novel polyamine plasmid DNA nanogels. Ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether was used as cross-linker, in conjugation with polyamines to promote pDNA condensation. The biocompatible nanovectors exhibit a unique swelling behavior in water and salt solutions. These systems are light photodegradable allowing their use in a broad range of biotechnological applications. Different plasmids, pVAX1-LacZ and pcDNA3-FLAG-p53, and anticancer drugs were, thus, efficiently loaded in the nanogels and their controlled release was demonstrated. Furthermore, the dual delivery of pcDNA3-FLAG-p53 gene and anticancer drugs illustrates the possibility of the combination of chemical and gene therapies. This new versatile and easy method of nanohydrogels preparation provides a potential synthetic approach for the design of tunable systems which can display multiple functions, sensitivity to different stimuli and exhibit programmed responses as well.
The influence of partial composite action between concrete slab and steel beam and of partial-strength connections on the seismic response of composite frames is evaluated. To this end, experimental ...tests were carried out at the Laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens. The specimens, one-story one-bay moment-resisting frames with steel–concrete composite beams, were tested under base acceleration on the shaking table. Experimental results demonstrated that for different degrees of partial interaction between the slab and the beam the response of the specimens varied significantly. Specimens with intermediate and low shear connection degree showed the most favourable performance, in terms of ductile behavior and energy dissipation. The slip between the slab and the beam interface contributed to the energy dissipated by the system and the ductility demands decreased on other parts like the beam ends and the joints. Then, finite element models simulating the behavior of the tested specimens were developed and, after validation, extended parametric studies were carried out. The main objective is to investigate the influence of the partial interaction and the employment of partially restrained beam-to-column joints on the dissipative capacities of composite frames under strong ground motions. Numerical results confirmed the experimental conclusions and revealed that the use of intermediate and low shear connection degrees with partial-strength joints results in an advantageous seismic design.
Skeletal muscle growth and flesh quality were evaluated in Senegalese sole fed plant protein (PP) diets. A control fish meal-based diet (FM) was compared with three isonitrogenous (54%) and ...isolipidic (9%) diets with increasing levels of PP blends (50% PP50, 75% PP75 and 100% PP100). By the end of the experiment sole fed PP50 and PP75 had a body length similar to the CTR (25cm), but fish fed PP100 were significantly smaller (23cm). Total FM replacement (PP100) resulted in significantly smaller muscle cross sectional area mainly due to a decrease in the muscle fibre size as the total number of fibres did not vary significantly among treatments. The dietary incorporation of PP significantly reduced the expression of several key genes involved in myogenesis and muscle growth (mrf4, fgf6, myhc and mylc2). Fillet texture was affected by the total substitution of FM. Fish fed PP100 diet had a significantly higher modulus of elasticity (lower flesh stiffness) compared with the other groups. Muscle fibre size was moderately related (r=0.573) to the modulus of elasticity and positively correlated with the expression of lysyl oxidase (r=0.495). Muscle cellularity changes were not associated with the expression of texture-related genes (capn2, ctsb, ctsd), since no significant differences were observed among diets. The present results point towards a modulation of the expression of several muscle growth related genes by increasing levels of PP sources that alter muscle cellularity and textural properties of Senegalese sole when total FM is replaced by PP.
The biological basis through which sustainable and practical plant protein diets (PP) affect flesh texture determinants is extremely scarce so the present results will be valuable to the aquafeed industry, fish producers and final consumers. This study clearly shows that PP diets reduced expression of several key genes involved in myogenesis and muscle growth and can hence affect fish growth potential at long term. This study identifies useful markers that correlated well with muscle cellularity and muscle growth and can be further used to select the most appropriate diets for a fish species.
•Senegalese sole can effectively use diets with PP sources up to 75% of fish meal replacement.•Total FM substitution by PP (PP100) decreased final body size and muscle cross sectional area (CSA).•Smaller CSA in fish fed PP100 was associated with smaller fibre size.•PP diets reduced expression of several key genes involved in myogenesis and muscle growth.•Decreased stiffness (higher modulus of elasticity) in PP100 fillets was partially related with cell size reduction.
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