Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) -polypropylene (PP) composites and to investigate the spatial distribution of CNCs in extruded composite filaments. Three composites were made from two forms of nanocellulose (CNCs from wood pulp and the nano-scale fraction of microcrystalline cellulose) and two of the three composites investigated used maleated PP as a coupling agent. Raman maps, based on cellulose and PP bands at 1098 and 1460 cm(-1), respectively, obtained at 1 μm spatial resolution showed that the CNCs were aggregated to various degrees in the PP matrix. Of the three composites analyzed, two showed clear existence of phase-separated regions: Raman images with strong PP and absent/weak cellulose or vice versa. For the third composite, the situation was slightly improved but a clear transition interface between the PP-abundant and CNC-abundant regions was observed, indicating that the CNC remained poorly dispersed. The spectroscopic approach to investigating spatial distribution of the composite components was helpful in evaluating CNC dispersion in the composite at the microscopic level, which helped explain the relatively modest reinforcement of PP by the CNCs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1366/11-06563 | DOI Listing |
Appl Environ Microbiol
January 2025
Office of Applied Science, Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, Maryland, USA.
As a diverse and complex food matrix, the animal food microbiota and repertoire of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes remain to be better understood. In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics were applied to three types of animal food samples (cattle feed, dry dog food, and poultry feed). ZymoBIOMICS mock microbial community was used for workflow optimization including DNA extraction kits and bead-beating conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAppl Environ Microbiol
January 2025
School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, Delaware, USA.
Unlabelled: Fish gut microbial communities are important for the breakdown and energy harvesting of the host diet. Microbes within the fish gut are selected by environmental and evolutionary factors. To understand how fish gut microbial communities are shaped by diet, three tropical fish species (hawkfish, ; yellow tang, ; and triggerfish, ) were fed piscivorous (fish meal pellets), herbivorous (seaweed), and invertivorous (shrimp) diets, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Fish Biol
January 2025
Marine Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
The European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) exhibits a remarkable phenotypic plasticity by occupying both marine and freshwater habitats and transitional areas in between. Because these habitats are characterized by different food sources with different fatty acid compositions, it remains unclear how eels from different habitats obtain essential long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) to integrate in their lipids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Vet Sci
January 2025
Department for Clinical Diagnostics and Services, Section of Anaesthesiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the analgesic efficacy of perioperative electroacupuncture in fifty-six healthy female dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy as part of a catch-neuter-release project.
Materials And Methods: Ten minutes after sedation with 20 μg/kg medetomidine combined with 0.3 mg/kg butorphanol intramuscularly, the dogs were randomly allocated into two groups and received either electroacupuncture (EA, = 27) or sham acupuncture (C, = 29) treatment for 10 min (after sedation until the end of the surgery) at 6 different acupuncture points LI-4 (Large intestine 4), LIV-3 (Liver 3), ST-36 (Stomach 36), SP-6 (Spleen 6) bilateral.
J Tissue Eng
January 2025
Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
The field of three dimensional (3D) bioprinting has witnessed significant advancements, with bioinks playing a crucial role in enabling the fabrication of complex tissue constructs. This review explores the innovative bioinks that are currently shaping the future of 3D bioprinting, focusing on their composition, functionality, and potential for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. The development of bioinks, incorporating natural and synthetic materials, offers unprecedented opportunities for personalized medicine.
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