Standard Pellet Research Articles

Thermomechanical Treatment of SRF for Enhanced Fuel Properties

Solid recovered fuel (SRF) is highly suited for thermal treatment, but its low bulk density and other physical properties limit the number of compatible energy systems that can effectively process it. This study presents the findings on SRF energy utilisation, focusing on mechanical treatment and a novel approach to its small-scale co-combustion with certified softwood (SW) pellets and catalytic flue gas control. In this study, the processes of certified SRF feedstock characterisation and mechanical treatment were thoroughly examined. Unique SRF pellets of proper mechanical properties were experimentally prepared for real-scale experiments. Mechanical and chemical properties, such as mechanical resilience, toughness, moisture and heating value, were examined and compared with standard SW A1 class pellets. The prepared SRF pellets possessed an energy density of 30.5 MJ∙kg–1, meeting the strict requirements from multiple perspectives. The influence of pelletisation temperature on pellet quality was investigated. It was found that increased resilience and a water content of 1.59% were achieved at a process temperature equal to 75 °C. Moreover, the moisture resilience was found to be significantly better (0.5 vs. 14.23%) compared with commercial SW pellets, while the hardness and durability values were reasonably similar: 40.7 vs. 45.2 kg and 98.74 vs. 98.99%, respectively. This study demonstrates that SRF pellets, with their improved mechanical and energy properties, are a viable alternative fuel, from a technical standpoint, which can be fully utilised in existing combustion units.

Mice Born to Mothers Fed a Diet High in Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Low in Omega-3 Fatty Acids During Pregnancy Exhibit Various Behavioral Changes Including Impaired Social Behaviors and Enhanced Recognition Memory.

Modern dietary trends have led to an increase in foods that are relatively high in n-6 PUFAs and low in n-3 PUFAs. We previously reported that the offspring of mother mice that consumed a diet high in n-6 linoleic acid (LA) and low in n-3 α-linolenic acid (ALA), hereinafter called the LAhigh/ALAlow diet, exhibited behavioral abnormalities related to anxiety and feeding. We currently lack a comprehensive overview of the behavioral abnormalities in these offspring, which was investigated in this study. C57BL/6J virgin female mice at 11 wk of age were fed either a control diet or the LAhigh/ALAlow diet, mated at 13 wk of age, and maintained on their respective diet throughout gestation. At birth, the lactating mothers' diet was replaced with standard laboratory feed pellets. After weaning, the offspring continued to receive standard laboratory feed pellets, and both male and female offspring at 1-63 wk of age were analyzed using a comprehensive behavioral test battery (n = 6-14 offspring/group and offspring in each group were derived from ≥3 independent litters). Both male and female offspring exposed in utero to the LAhigh/ALAlow diet exhibited impaired social behaviors, including the lower number of contacts with novel mice in the social interaction test [diet, F(1,15) = 9.807, P = 0.007, 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)], and also showed enhanced recognition memory in the object location test (diet, F(1,36) = 6.779, P = 0.013, 2-way ANOVA) compared with offspring exposed in utero to the control diet. In addition, compared with sex-matched controls, female offspring displayed hyperactivity in the open field test (F(1,36) = 6.097, P = 0.018, simple main effect analysis). The maternal balance between dietary n-6 and n-3 PUFAs during pregnancy can have significant effects on the offspring's behaviors, lasting well into adulthood.

Effect of feeding biochar, oat hulls, yeast fermentate, and organic acids on reduction of Campylobacter in free-range broilers from hatching to slaughter.

The Campylobacter prevalence in free-ranging broiler flocks is usually higher than in conventional flocks, and effective interventions for this production type are needed. This study aimed to investigate the on-farm Campylobacter-reducing effect of feeding three feed additives or a water additive to broilers from hatching to slaughter. Newly hatched Ranger Gold broilers (n = 140) were randomly placed into five cages (n = 28/cage) within a flock of 6,000 broilers. The broilers had access to outdoor areas after day 36. Three groups received one of the following feed additives: 2 % (w/w) Biochar Charcoal Feed Granules for Poultry, 0.125 % Original XPC™ (Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentate), or 15 % oat hulls. One group received organic acids added to water (Selko®pH E 0.2 % (v/v)), and one group was fed standard feed pellets and water (control). Half of the broilers were sacrificed on day 36 and the rest on day 56 for enumeration and isolation of Campylobacter in cecal contents by culturing. Air samples were collected weekly, and water and boot sock samples were also collected on days 4, 36, and 59 and analyzed for Campylobacter. A selection of the obtained Campylobacter isolates (n = 43) was whole-genome-sequenced. For the three successive flocks tested, all broilers became Campylobacter-positive before access to the outdoors on day 36. Adding biochar in the feed resulted in 0.70 log10 CFU/g lower C. jejuni than the control group on day 59. The addition of organic acids in water resulted in 0.62 log10 CFU/g lower C. jejuni than the control group on day 36. There was a noticeable difference in dominant sequence types (ST) between day 36 (ST52 and ST475) and day 59 (ST45). STs were genetically similar across rotations, indicating transmission of isolates between successive flocks or from the outdoor environment. High variability was seen between calls for further testing to confirm the demonstrated effect.

Protective effects of Kaempferol on hepatic apoptosis via miR-26a-5p enhancement and regulation of TLR4/NF-κB and PKCδ in a rat model of nonalcoholic fatty liver.

This study aimed to evaluate kaempferol's, a dietary flavonoid widely present in plants, potential impact on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying mechanisms. In this study, 60 adult male rats were used and divided into a control group receiving a standard pellet diet, a kaempferol-treated group receiving kaempferol (250 mg/kg), a high-fat diet (HFD) group receiving HFD, and a kaempferol-treated HFD group. At the end of the experiment, the total lipid profile and liver enzymes were assayed in the serum. Additionally, oxidative stress (malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase), inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), apoptotic (caspase 3) markers, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) concentrations were assayed in the liver tissues. Furthermore, miR-26a and PKCδ gene expression and beclin 1 immunohistochemical expression were determined in liver tissues. Our findings revealed that kaempferol significantly protects against the development of NAFLD in rats as well as inflammatory, oxidative, and apoptotic changes in their liver tissues by inhibiting PKCδ and the TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway while enhancing autophagy (Beclin 1 expression) via upregulating miR-26a expression. Accordingly, kaempferol holds promise as a complementary medication for the prevention of NAFLD. Nonetheless, more research is needed to fully understand its additional effects on liver tissue and to develop novel medications that activate miR-26a. A link between lipid metabolic abnormalities and miRNAs was demonstrated as upregulating miR-26a-5p by kaempferol mitigates the inflammation, apoptosis, and disrupted autophagy via regulating TLR4/NF-κB pathway and PKC in NAFLD.

Matrigel-Encapsulated Articular cartilage derived fibronectin adhesion assay derived Chondroprogenitors for Enhanced Chondrogenic Differentiation: An In Vitro Evaluation

In cartilage research, three-dimensional (3D) culture models are pivotal for assessing chondrogenic differentiation potential. Standard pellet cultures, despite their utility, pose challenges like uneven differentiation and handling difficulties. This study explores the use of Matrigel, an extracellular matrix-based hydrogel, to encapsulate fibronectin adhesion assay-derived chondroprogenitors (FAA-CPs) and evaluate their chondrogenic differentiation potential. FAA-CPs, isolated from human articular cartilage and expanded to passage 2, were either polymerized in Matrigel or cultured as standard pellets. Both groups underwent chondrogenic differentiation for 28 days and osteogenic differentiation for 21 days. Comprehensive analyses included histological staining, gene expression (SOX-9, ACAN, COL2A1 for chondrogenesis; COL1A1, RUNX2, COL10A1 for osteogenesis), and biochemical assays for glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and Collagen type II. The results demonstrated that Matrigel-encapsulated FAA-CPs achieved greater GAG accumulation, as evidenced by enhanced Alcian Blue and Safranin O staining, compared to standard pellets. However, the Collagen type II deposition, both histologically and quantitatively, was reduced in Matrigel constructs. Gene expression analysis showed no significant differences in key chondrogenic and osteogenic markers between the two groups. Despite improved handling and GAG deposition, Matrigel did not enhance uniform chondrogenic differentiation nor offer significant benefits for osteogenic differentiation, showing comparable hypertrophic markers to the standard method. While Matrigel encapsulation offers advantages in handling and enhances GAG accumulation quantitatively, these benefits were not reflected in staining results. Furthermore, Matrigel did not significantly outperform standard pellet cultures in chondrogenic or osteogenic differentiation. These findings suggest a need for further refinement and in vivo validation.

A Comparative Effect of Different Herbal Products on Lipid Metabolism and Hepatic Tissue: An Experimental Study on a Rat Model.

Background Dysregulation of lipid metabolism can lead to conditions such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and hepatic steatosis. A high-fat diet (HFD) results in dysregulation of lipid metabolism and may primarily convert liver tissue to develop inflammation and fibrosis. Slimming pills, Japanese powder tea, and Shahana tea are common green teas that commercials have used for hyperlipidemia, obesity, and liver protection. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of these three teas on dyslipidemia and liver in a rat model. Method This is an experimental study carried out on 20 adult male albino rats of about 240 g and 12 weeks old. The rats were randomly divided into five groups: Group 1: fed the standard pellet diet for four weeks; Group 2: fed with the HFD for four weeks; Group 3: fed with the HFD for the first four weeks and received Shahana tea (1.5 g/kg body weight (BW)); Group 4: fed with the HFD for the first four weeks and received Japanese powder tea (1.5 g/kg BW); and Group 5: fed with the HFD for the first four weeks and received slimming pill (0.6 g/kg BW). Blood samples were collected to measure the lipid profile in the rats. The rats were scarified under anesthesia, and liver tissue was collected for histopathological testing. Result HFD could significantly induce dyslipidemia and liver pathological disorders in model rats. Slimming pills could significantly improve total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compared to Japanese powder tea and Shahana tea. In comparison to the Shahana tea, Japanese powder tea had a significant outcome on LDL but not on other lipid profiles. Slimming pills and Shahana tea could preserve the normal histological features of the liver. The central vein (CV) and sinusoidal (SN) Kupffer cells significantly remained normal compared to model rats. Conclusion Slimming pills and Shahana tea have significant positive effects on lipid metabolism regulation, dyslipidemia, and preserving the liver from injury and fat accumulation. The effects of the two products are mostly concerned with their main components, such as L-carnitine and Cassia angustifolia.

Bovine Lactoferrin Mitigates Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in CCL4 and High-fat Diet-induced NAFLD in C57BL/6 Mice

Background: Impacting approximately 20-30% of adults, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading contributor to liver dysfunction. This condition is characterized by the accumulation of more than 5% fat in the liver without the presence of concurrent chronic liver diseases or alcohol abuse. NAFLD manifests across a spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to more complex forms involving hepatic lesions, inflammation and fibrosis. This research aimed to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of Bovine Lactoferrin (BLF) in a model of NAFLD using male C57BL/6 mice. Methods: Adult male C57BL6 mice, with an average weight of 28 g, were obtained and maintained in a consistent environment at 22±2oC for 6 weeks, following a regulated 12-hour light-12-hour dark cycle. Control groups 1 and 3 were provided with a standard pellet feed, while model groups 2, 4, 5 and 6 were supplied with a high-fat diet. Induction of NAFLD included administering a high-fat diet (HFD) and CCl4 (0.5 mg/kg with olive oil) twice a week via intraperitoneal injection over 6 weeks. After the experimental procedures, an assessment of serum-biochemical parameters, inflammatory cytokines, anti-oxidant profile and liver histopathology were conducted. Result: The results revealed significant (p less than 0.05) alteration in sero-biochemical parameters, inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, TNF-α, NF-kB and TGF-β) anti-oxidant profile (nitric oxide assay, TBARS, SOD, GSH and Catalase) and histopathology of group 2 as compared to other groups. The groups 4, 5 and 6 showed significant improvement in all the parameters compared to disease control. The findings from this study suggest that BLF could potentially function as a therapeutic intervention for mitigating hepatic injury, inflammation and fibrosis in NAFLD by deactivating NF-kB pathway.

Comparative analysis of high-fat diets: Effects of mutton, beef, and vegetable fats on body weight, biochemical profiles, and liver histology in mice

BackgroundHigh-fat diets are associated with metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and liver disorders. Beef and mutton, both widely consumed meats, are significant sources of animal fat, while soybean oil, a commonly used cooking oil, is a prominent source of plant-derived fat. This study aimed to compare the effects of regular consumption of beef fat, mutton fat, and soybean oil in mice to assess potential health risks. MethodsSixty Swiss albino male mice were divided into four groups: a control group (Group A) fed a standard mice pellet, and three treatment groups (Groups B, C, D) receiving 10 % dietary fat from mutton, beef, and soybean oil, respectively. Parameters such as body weight, caloric intake, serum markers, and liver histopathology were studied. ResultsConsumption of mutton fat, beef fat, or soybean oil supplemented diet in groups B, C, and D led to higher caloric intake and body weight compared to control group A, which received a standard diet. These diets also caused elevated serum glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and increased triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-C, and reduced HDL-C. Elevated AST and ALT levels in the high-fat diet groups, indicated liver damage and fat accumulation. Histological analysis confirmed steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, and inflammation in all three high-fat diet groups, while the control group had normal liver histology. ConclusionHigh-fat diets, whether plant- or animal-based, led to weight gain in mice and resulted, poor glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, liver damage and steatohepatitis. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms behind these effects and improve understanding and management of high-fat diet consequences.

ALPHA-MANGOSTIN POTENCY TO IMPROVE RENAL FUNCTION AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL IMAGES IN HIGH-FAT DIET RATS

This study aimed to study whether alpha-mangostin could protect the kidneys of high-fat diet rats using the creatinine serum level and histopathological changes as parameters. The in vivo experimental study with a completely randomized design used 30 male Sprague Dawley rats. After 7 days of adaptation, they were randomly divided into six treatment groups, each with five replications. The study was done for four weeks: NC group (given standard pellet without treatment for four weeks), five other groups were given a high-fat diet for four weeks, and at the last two weeks were added with aquadest, corn oil, alpha-mangostin dose-1, alpha-mangostin dose-2, and simvastatin, namely PTL, CO, D1, D2, and Sim group. Creatinine level was examined at the end of week 2 and week 4; the difference percentage was analyzed using ANOVA/Kruskal Wallis (α=0.05) and continued with Duncan/Mann Whitney. It was shown that creatinine level decreased in D1/D2 = PTL mice (p>0,05); kidney histopathological image in D1 was better than PTL (p<0,05). It was concluded that the alpha-mangostin kidney protection effect was not yet visible according to creatinine level, but it was visible according to histopathological image; further studies are needed.

Histological and histochemical study of effect of dietary fibre in motility of stomach in male mice.

To investigate the relationship between dietary fibres and muscularis externa layer. The experimental study was conducted at the Anatomy Department of the College of Medicine, Al- Nahrain University, Iraq, from November 2020 to April 2021, and comprised adult healthy males. They were divided randomly into experimental group A and control group B. Group A was fed high-fibre diet, and group B was fed standard pellet diet. The tissue samples were harvested at day 30 post-surgery. The stomach samplings were placed in 10% neutral formalin for 24 hours to obtain paraffin sections for routine histological and immunohistochemical staining. The protein expression in stomach's smooth muscle of each group was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. Of the 20 mice, 10(50%) were in each of the two groups. Group A exhibited significant weight-gain compared to group B (p≤0.01). There was significant reduction in the thickness of the muscularis layer in group A compared to group B (p≤0.01). Anoctamin 1 expression in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (p≤0.01). The stress induced by an unstable fibre diet significantly affected the stomach by decreasing the muscularis layer thickness and Anoctamin 1 expression in interstitial cells of Cajal.

Effects of protein diet on expression of Anoctamin1 of Cajal cell in the nervous plexus of the stomach in male mice.

To determine the association between a protein-rich diet and the expression of anoctamin 1 in Interstitial cells of Cajal within the muscle layer of the stomach wall in male mice. The experimental study was conducted at the Anatomy Department of the College of Medicine, Al- Nahrain University, Iraq, from November 2020 to April 2021, and comprised male adult healthy male mice. They were divided randomly into two equal groups. Group A was fed a high protein diet, while control group B was fed a standard pellet diet. The tissue samples were harvested at day 30 post-surgery. The stomach samplings were placed in 10% neutral formalin for 24 hours to obtain paraffin sections for routine histological and immunohistochemical staining. The protein expression in stomach smooth muscle of each group was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. Of the 20 mice, 10(50%) were in each of the two groups. Group A exhibited significant weight-gain compared to group B (p≤ 0.05). There was significant elevation in muscle wall thickness in group A, compared to group B (p≤0.05). Tunica muscularis of the stomach in group A significantly thickened compared to group B (p≤0.05). The expression of anoctamin 1 was significantly more intense in group A compared to group B (p≤0.01). Unbalanced food had a significant impact on the stomach, affecting the thickness of the muscularis layer and the expression of anoctamin 1 in cajal cells in the muscularis externa.

Effects of Microplastic on the Gastrointestinal Tract and Gut microbiome of Sprague Dawley Rats

ABSTRACT Nowadays there is evidence that animals are exposed to microplastics (MPs) via food, however there is not much known about their effect on tissue of gastrointestinal tract and on gut microbiome. In this study, adult male rats were fed with polyethylene MPs, mixed with standard pellet food for 24 days at different concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 μg/day. At the end of experiment, rats were euthanized and histopathological investigation using light and electron microscopy and the gut microbiome was analyzed using MiSeq 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Microscopic analysis revealed significant impact of MPs on the intestine, including visible changes to the crypt area as well as reduction in mucus secretion. Autophagic vacuoles were observed in the livers of the rats fed with MPs at 100 µg/day. Oxidative stress was evident in rats fed with 1000 µg/day of MPs, as indicated by the presence of myeloid bodies in both intestinal and hepatic cells. The gut microbiome was also affected by MPs. Although, no distinct clusters were formed when the bacterial communities in the different treatments were ordinated by multidimensional scaling (NMDS), the diversity indices including operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness and Chao1 exhibited an increasing trend with increasing MPs concentration. Pearson correlations revealed a linear increase in the relative sequence abundance of Clostridia (R=0.036, P=0.003) with increasing MPs concentration, but not in the case of other bacterial groups,. Lactobacillus faecis was the most abundant OTU in the entire dataset, and its relative abundance decreased significantly with increasing MPs concentration. We conclude that exposure to MPs can disrupt cellular function and disturb microbiome balance, and in the event of prolonged exposure, organisms might experience unpredictable effects.

Effect of tarhana soup on serum lipid profile in BALB/c male mice fed a high-fat-diet

Aim: With industrialization, there has been an increase in chronic diseases due to continuous change of nutrition. Tarhana is a traditional grain-based product fermented by lactic acid bacteria in Turkish cuisine. This study aims to evaluate possible effects of tarhana on the impaired lipid profile parameters and serum glucose values in male BALB/c mice fed a high-fat diet. Materials and Methods: Male BALB/c mice were grouped into three different strain male mice groups: control group (n=10), high fat diet (HFD) (n=10) and high fat diet supplemented with tarhana (n=10). Standard pellet feed was given to the control group, high-fat feed with 60% fat content in the HFD group, high-fat feed and 0.3 mL (8-10mL/kg) of tarhana were given to the other group. Results: A significant difference was detected in epididymal fat weights, lipid profiles and serum glucose values between the groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: It may have beneficial effects in many metabolic diseases, especially coronary heart disease and diabetes with its positive effects on lipid profile, epididymal adipose tissue and glucose level.

Metabolism Capacity of Medium Chain Fatty Acids from Virgin Coconut Oil: an In Vivo Study

In this study, the types of fatty acids in the liver tissue of mice were evaluated under different diets. As a result, mice fed with a high-fat diet – including basic pellets mixed with eight percent (w/w) peanut oil, two percent (w/w) cholesterol, and 0.1% (w/w) calcium carbonate – showed the highest cholesterol content (1.5 ± 0.08 mg/100 g) compared to normal mice (0.23 ± 0.04 mg/100 g). Whereas the cholesterol content in the liver tissue of mice fed with basic pellets and orally treated with a free fatty acid fraction (FFA1) from virgin coconut oil, which was made up of the C8:0–C12:0 fraction (97.3%) was prepared did not differ from the control group (using only standard pellets). This demonstrated that MCFA (C8:0–C12:0) was directly consumed and converted to energy without accumulating cholesterol. The gas chromatography analysis result showed that the fat droplets in the liver tissues of treated mice were mostly saturated long-chain fatty acids (LCFA), in which C16:0 and C18:0 carbon chain length fatty acids were predominant in the liver tissue. The results confirmed the hypothesis that MCFA is preferentially absorbed and converted to energy while saturated LCFA has a tendency to induce fat accumulation in the metabolic pathway.

Effect of glycerol supplementation in early lactation on metabolic health, milking activity, and production of dairy cows in automated milking system herds

The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of supplementing early-lactation cows with a dry pure glycerol product, delivered through the automated milking system (AMS) concentrate, in the first 21 DIM on metabolic markers, milking behavior, and milk production. In 5 commercial AMS dairy herds, 389 dairy cows were randomly assigned, controlling for parity, 21 d before expected calving to 1 of 2 treatments, within farm: (1) the control group (CON) which received the standard AMS pellet (n = 213) from 1 to 150 DIM; or (2) the glycerol group (GLY), which received the treatment AMS pellet (n = 176) formulated to additionally deliver 250 as fed g/d of glycerol product from 1 to 21 DIM, followed by the standard AMS pellet from 22 to 150 DIM. Across all farms, cows were fed partial mixed rations that were similar in ingredient and nutrient composition. One prepartum blood sample and 5 postpartum blood samples were collected from each cow to determine serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), blood BHB, and blood glucose concentrations. Cow BCS was recorded every 21 d from -21 to 63 DIM. Data were collected and analyzed for the treatment period (1-21 DIM) and a follow-up period (22-150 DIM). We detected no treatment effect on serum NEFA concentrations in the first week of lactation. We detected a treatment by time interaction for blood BHB and blood glucose, where GLY cows tended to have increased BHB concentrations at 5 DIM and had decreased glucose concentrations at 9 and 12 DIM. We detected an interaction of BCS with treatment on the incidence of BHB ≥1.2 mmol/L, whereby over-conditioned CON cows (BCS ≥3.5) were 3.5 times more likely to have a high BHB test than CON cows with normal prepartum BCS. During the treatment period, GLY cows had 0.1 ± 0.05 more successful milkings per day, were delivered 0.27 ± 0.05 DM kg/d more AMS concentrate, and tended to yield 0.8 ± 0.47 kg/d more milk. During the follow-up period, GLY cows had 0.1 ± 0.04 more successful milkings per day, were delivered 0.18 ± 0.06 DM kg/d more AMS concentrate, and yielded 1.5 ± 0.53 kg/d more milk than CON cows. Glycerol supplementation allowed cows to maintain better BCS, as GLY cows lost less BCS from calving to 63 DIM than CON cows. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that supplementing pure glycerol through the AMS concentrate for the first 21 DIM can reduce BCS loss in early lactation, improve milking behavior, and increase milk yield to mid-lactation.

Study about environmental naturally fungi infection in pet animals with experimental study

The current study was designed to investigate Environmental and natural fungi infection in pet animals and then experimentally to study fungi effects on tissues. Naturally infectious samples were fifty swabs in different pet animals (dogs, cats, rats, pigeons, and chickens) from the veterinary hospital of Eden Square in January 202. The findings were Cladosporum spp at (16%) ; Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger at (14%); Rhizopus spp at (8%); Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, and Penicillium chrysogenum at (6%); Chrysosporium spp, and Cryptococcus neoformans at (4%); Aspergillus fumigatus , Aspergillus ustus and Fusarium spp at (2%) in percentage with other unknown fungi. In doge, only 9 (9/50) samples of fungi, mainly Aspergillus flavus at (33.3%) with cladogram spp.at (22.3%). In cats, also 9 (9/50), mainly Penicillium spp at (22.25 %). In wild rats, fifty cotton swabs showed 12 (12/50) mainly Aspergillus niger, besides Rhizopus spp. At (25%). While in pigeons, only 10 (10/50), mainly Aspergillus niger, Cladosporum spp., and Cryptococcus neoformans at (20%). In chicken, only 5 (5/50), mainly Aspergillus ochraceus at (40%). Fifty albino mice aged 6-8 weeks and 25± 3gm body weight. They were separated in plastic cages and kept for adaptation at 2-3 weeks in the Animal House of the College of Veterinary Medicine, and they were fed standard pellets and water. These animals were divided into 5 groups containing 10 mice each: 1st one: control group treated with normal saline; 2nd Group infected with 0.1ml of Aspergillus flatus intraperitoneally; 3rd group infected with Aspergillus ochraceus 0.1ml intraperitoneally (IP); 4th group infected with 0.1ml Aspergillu niger IP; 5th group mice infected with Cryptococcus neoformans 0.1ml IP at single dose. After 3 weeks animals were scarified. Histopathological examination, in general, reports high incidences of necrotic lesions with granuloma and severe destructive changes, mainly in areas containing fungi hyphae that appear very clearly enclosed to necrotic and inflammatory foci, lung tissues suffering from prominent interstitial pneumonia with thick exudation, mainly fibrinous type. Liver tissues show massive necrosis with Kupfer cells and other inflammatory cell proliferation and evidence of apoptosis. Kidney samples appear with heavy degenerative changes ranging from swelling tubules to necrosis associated with severe inflammation caused by pyelonephritis and phlebitis. also, we saw fungi in the affected area. Spleen shows severe depletion and megakaryocyte proliferation and necrotic lesion. Fungi naturally infects occurs in pet animals and can transmitted to other animals in different environmental; area and can causes severe pathological lesions.

Ultrasonic micro-injection moulding: characterisation of interfacial friction by varying feedstock shape and high-speed thermal imaging for microneedle feature replication

This study explores the interfacial friction in ultrasonic micro-injection moulding by using different polymer feedstock shapes, characterisation of micromoulding melts through thermal imaging and assessing microneedle feature replication. Industry standard polypropylene pellets and discs with different thicknesses were used for varying the amount of interfacial friction during sonication. High-speed thermal imaging and tooling containing sapphire windows were used to visualise the melt characteristics. Moulded products were characterised using laser-scanning confocal microscopy to quantify microneedle replication. The study demonstrates that (i) the interfacial area for the different feedstock shapes affects the heating in ultrasonic micro-injection moulding significantly, (ii) disc-shaped feedstocks result in initially higher flow front velocities and exhibit dominance of viscoelastic heating over interfacial friction and (iii) industrial pellet feedstocks provide a good combination interfacial friction and viscoelastic heating and more viscosity reduction in overall leading to better microreplication efficiency. The results presented could have a significant impact on the process development of ultrasonic micro-injection moulding where process repeatability can be improved by controlling the interfacial friction. The research provides an essential contribution to the development of this process, where interfacial frictional heating can be tailored specifically for miniature functional components, offering improved precision and reduced energy use when compared with conventional methods.

Effects of Methanol Extract of Celery (Apium graveolens) Leaf on Ethanol-Induced Left Ventricular Changes in Wistar Rats

Background: Alcohol consumption is associated with several cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, left ventricular hypertrophy, as well as with other disorders. This study was designed to determine the cardioprotective effect of celery (Apium graveolens) extract in attenuating perturbations arising from alcohol ingestion on left ventricular injury in adult Wistar rats.  Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats weighing 120g -160g were used for this study. The rats were divided into six (6) groups A, B, C, D, E &F five (5) rats each. The rats in group (A) served as control and received standard pellet, while groups B, C, D, E and F were administered orally with 8ml/kg b. w of ethanol and 100mg/kg, 150mg/kg, 200mg/kg of methanol extract of Apium graveolens (MEAG) were given to group C, D and E and 25mg of propranolol was given to group F orally. Group A and B were administered with 2ml/kg b. w distilled water.  Results: The relative heart weight, level of serum cardiac troponin I and left ventricular wall thickness of the ethanol-induced rats were significantly increase (F = 7.64; p = 0.002), (F = 22.66; p = 0.001) and (F = 85.29; p < 0.001) when compared with the control and across all experimental groups in this study. Group treated with MEAG also showed regular striations.Conclusion: This study indicates that MEAG has cardioprotective effects on these perturbations.

Histopathological and Biochemical Effects of Methanol and Aqueous Extracts of the Leaf of Irvingia Gabonensis (African wild mango) on the liver of Albino Wistar Rat

Background: The use of Irvingia gabonensis locally for different purposes from eating down to drinking its extracts and concoctions for treating various ailments has been a common practice over the ages. The liver is a very vital metabolic organ and the central site for food and drug metabolism and subsequent excretion. In that case, the understanding of the effects of these foods and drugs both orthodox and herbal is ever invaluable both to the clinicians and the patients. This research work aims to investigate the effects of its leaf extract on the liver using histological and biochemical parameters. Methods: The experimental rats (n=20) used were divided into five (5) groups of four (4) each. Group one served as control and received only water and standard pellets. Groups two and three were administered with the methanolic extract of 150 mg/ kg and 300 mg/kg respectively. Groups four and five were administered with the aqueous extract of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg respectively. The liver samples were harvested, fixed and processed in an automated tissue processor. The blood sample obtained through retro-orbital puncture was made to clot. The serum was then used to analyze the ALT, AST, ALP and Bilirubin content of the liver. Results were obtained and analyzed statistically, showing a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the AST and ALP levels in groups three (3) and five (5). The Serum bilirubin and ALT levels showed insignificant (p > 0.05) increases in all the groups. The photomicrograph indicates mild fibrosis and sinusoidal dilations and cellular infiltrations in groups three and five with no visual changes in the rest of the groups. Conclusion: The findings suggest that at high doses of both methanolic and aqueous extracts (300 and 500mg/kg respectively), the leaf extract is mildly toxic to the liver.

Evidence-based study of Hridayarnava Rasa: An Ayurvedic formulation in experimentally induced atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Abstract BACKGROUND: Ayurvedic medicine provides fundamental knowledge of the concepts and components involved in traditional medicine. Hridayarnava Rasa (H. Rasa) is an Ayurvedic formulation, composed of herbal constituents and metallo-mineral ingredients. Individual components of H. Rasa were reported to treat various ailments; however, very few evidence-based studies on the formulation were available in other aspects of H. Rasa. The present study was focused on the evidence-based assessment of the test of H. Rasa in experimentally induced atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). METHODS: A total of 24 male New Zealand rabbits were randomly distributed into six groups of four rabbits each. Group I rabbits were fed with a standard pellet diet; group II was induced with ASCVD; groups III, IV, and V were induced with ASCVD plus different doses of H. Rasa, and group VI was induced with ASCVD plus atorvastatin supplementation. RESULTS: Plasma lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), very LDLc, AST:ALT ratio, hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme reductase activity, collagen, and elastin were significantly increased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in ASCVD induced group. This was supported by CD68 levels of the aorta by immunohistochemistry. Changes were reversed in H. Rasa-treated groups of different doses of the drug. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a high-fat diet accelerates the development of ASCVD in a time-dependent manner, and H. Rasa protects the aorta by maintaining the lipids, lipoproteins, and marker enzymes in a dose-dependent manner similar to atorvastatin.