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Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024To address the safety problems posed by the transportation of boar semen using LN, this study was conducted on the short-term storage of frozen boar semen in dry ice...
To address the safety problems posed by the transportation of boar semen using LN, this study was conducted on the short-term storage of frozen boar semen in dry ice (-79 °C). Boar semen frozen in LN was transferred to dry ice, kept for 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, or 8 days, and then moved back to LN. The quality of frozen semen stored in LN or dry ice was determined to evaluate the feasibility of short-distance transportation with dry ice. The results showed that 60 °C for 8 s was the best condition for thawing frozen semen stored in dry ice. No significant differences in spermatozoa motility, plasma membrane integrity, or acrosome integrity were observed in semen after short-term storage in dry ice compared to LN ( > 0.05). There were no significant changes in antioxidant properties between storage groups either ( > 0.05). In conclusion, dry ice could be used as a cold source for the short-term transportation of frozen boar semen for at least 7 days, without affecting sperm motility, morphological integrity, or antioxidant indices.
PubMed: 38791640
DOI: 10.3390/ani14101422 -
Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science... Nov 2023The sensation of thirstiness is the desire to drink water. In certain situations, the ingestion of liquid water can be restricted. As a result, thirstiness is not... (Review)
Review
The sensation of thirstiness is the desire to drink water. In certain situations, the ingestion of liquid water can be restricted. As a result, thirstiness is not relieved, resulting in an uncomfortable and distressing situation. The present review describes thirstiness and hydration, the food products and beverages that cause thirstiness, and the beverages and food products currently available to quench thirstiness in individuals with restricted access to liquid ingestion. It also discusses how to measure the effectiveness of calming thirstiness. To diminish thirstiness distress, different alternatives to liquids are proposed. Individuals with swallowing disorders are given thickened water, individuals with restricted water ingestion are given ice cubes or ice popsicles of different flavors, and sportspeople are given energy gels. However, current beverage solutions seem not to relieve thirst fully, although some stimuli like iced water, flavors (especially lemon and mint), or acids seem to work better than plain stimuli and could be added to existing products. Therefore, there is still a need to incorporate these strategies into beverage and food formulations and to test their effectiveness.
Topics: Humans; Thirst; Ice; Sensation; Food; Water
PubMed: 37583300
DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.13229 -
Journal of Dairy Science Nov 2023The distribution of phospholipids (PL) within the fat and serum phase of ice cream manufacturing was evaluated through partition coefficients (K) after mixing,...
The distribution of phospholipids (PL) within the fat and serum phase of ice cream manufacturing was evaluated through partition coefficients (K) after mixing, pasteurization, freezing, and hardening. Ice creams containing about 40.41 ± 3.45 (± standard deviation; control formulation) and 112.29 ± 9.06 (enriched PL formulation) mg of PL per g of fat were formulated with nonfat dry milk and β-serum, respectively. Overall, the K were lower than 1, indicating that the PL were predominantly found in the fat phase, and only a small amount was left in the serum and sediment. Confocal micrographs visually confirmed this generalization. The addition of PL significantly increased the viscosity of the mixes between 4- and 9-fold, depending on the shear rate. Additionally, mixes containing high PL exhibited higher yield stress than those formulated with low PL (0.15 ± 0.09 and 0.016 ± 0.08 Pa, respectively). Ice creams with high PL delayed the onset of meltdown and exhibited a slower rate of a meltdown than low-PL ice creams (18.53 ± 0.57 and 14.83 ± 0.85 min, and 1.01 ± 0.05 and 0.71 ± 0.04% min, respectively). This study provides useful guidelines for manufacturing ice cream enriched in milk PL. Additionally, the use of β-serum, a byproduct stream, as a source of PL is illustrated. The development will require studying the sensorial description of the product as well as consumer acceptance.
PubMed: 37641266
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-23145 -
Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE Nov 2023This protocol describes how to obtain high-quality retinal cryosections in larger animals, such as rabbits. After enucleation, the eye is briefly immersed in the...
This protocol describes how to obtain high-quality retinal cryosections in larger animals, such as rabbits. After enucleation, the eye is briefly immersed in the fixative. Then, the cornea and iris are removed and the eye is left overnight for additional fixation at 4 °C. Following fixation, the lens is removed. The eye is then placed in a cryomold and filled with an embedding medium. By removing the lens, the embedding medium has better access to the vitreous and leads to better retinal stability. Importantly, the eye should be incubated in embedding medium overnight to allow complete infiltration throughout the vitreous. Following overnight incubation, the eye is frozen on dry ice and sectioned. Whole retinal sections may be obtained for use in immunohistochemistry. Standard staining protocols may be utilized to study the localization of antigens within the retinal tissue. Adherence to this protocol results in high-quality retinal cryosections that may be used in any experiment utilizing immunohistochemistry.
Topics: Animals; Rabbits; Eye; Retina; Lens, Crystalline; Cornea; Iris; Immunohistochemistry
PubMed: 38009731
DOI: 10.3791/66115 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023In Antarctica, ice-free areas can be found along the coast, on mountain peaks, and in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, where microorganisms well-adapted to harsh conditions can...
In Antarctica, ice-free areas can be found along the coast, on mountain peaks, and in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, where microorganisms well-adapted to harsh conditions can survive and reproduce. Metabolic analyses can shed light on the survival mechanisms of Antarctic soil communities from both coastal sites, under different plant coverage stages, and inner sites where slow-growing or dormant microorganisms, low water availability, salt accumulation, and a limited number of primary producers make metabolomic profiling difficult. Here, we report, for the first time, an efficient protocol for the extraction and the metabolic profiling of Antarctic soils based on the combination of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS). This approach was set up on samples harvested along different localities of Victoria Land, in continental Antarctica, devoid of or covered by differently developed biological crusts. NMR allowed for the identification of thirty metabolites (mainly sugars, amino acids, and organic acids) and the quantification of just over twenty of them. UPLC-MS analysis identified more than twenty other metabolites, in particular flavonoids, medium- and long-chain fatty acids, benzoic acid derivatives, anthracenes, and quinones. Our results highlighted the complementarity of the two analytical techniques. Moreover, we demonstrated that their combined use represents the "gold standard" for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of little-explored samples, such as those collected from Antarctic soils.
Topics: Soil; Antarctic Regions; Pilot Projects; Chromatography, Liquid; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Metabolomics
PubMed: 37569716
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512340 -
European Journal of Applied Physiology Oct 2023This study examined the thermoregulatory response and ergogenic effects of ice slurry (ICE) ingestion in hot environments with high and low relative humidity (RH).
PURPOSE
This study examined the thermoregulatory response and ergogenic effects of ice slurry (ICE) ingestion in hot environments with high and low relative humidity (RH).
METHODS
Eight males completed four trials in a crossover manner in dry (DRY: 34.7 ± 0.2 °C, 38 ± 2%RH) and humid heat (HUM: 34.8 °C ± 0.2 °C, 80 ± 1%RH). They ingested 8.0 g·kg of ICE (0.0 °C) or 37.5 °C water (CON) during 30 min before exercise, and three aliquots (3.2 g·kg) of ICE or CON during 45-min cycling at 50%[Formula: see text]O, followed by cycling to exhaustion at 80%[Formula: see text]O (TTE). Body core temperature (T), mean skin temperature (T), heart rate (HR), thermal comfort, thermal sensation and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured.
RESULTS
Relative to CON, ICE improved TTE by 76.5 ± 96.5% in HUM and 21.3 ± 44.9% in DRY (p = 0.044). End-exercise T was lower in ICE versus CON in DRY (37.8 ± 0.4 °C versus 38.1 ± 0.3 °C, p = 0.005) and HUM (38.8 ± 0.4 °C versus 39.3 ± 0.6 °C, p = 0.004). ICE decreased HR, heat storage and heat strain index only in DRY (p < 0.001-0.018). ICE improved thermal sensation and comfort in DRY and HUM (p < 0.001-0.011), attenuated RPE in HUM (p = 0.012) but not in DRY (p = 0.065).
CONCLUSION
ICE tended to benefit performance in humid heat more than in dry heat. This is likely due to the reduced extent of hyperthermia in dry heat and the relative importance of sensory inputs in mediating exercise capacity.
Topics: Male; Humans; Hot Temperature; Body Temperature Regulation; Skin Temperature; Exercise; Eating; Body Temperature
PubMed: 37256293
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-023-05235-y -
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial... 2023The process of decoverslipping is often required in a laboratory to review or examine an older slide which tends to fade over time, making it almost impossible to use it...
BACKGROUND
The process of decoverslipping is often required in a laboratory to review or examine an older slide which tends to fade over time, making it almost impossible to use it for research or study purposes. The sections then need to be re-stained which can only be done after removing the coverslip. The traditional method of decoverslipping using xylene is a time-consuming process. Various methods have been used in the past; however, none were found to be completely effective. Dry ice, the solid form of carbon dioxide, is an easily available, cheap cooling agent with a low freezing temperature (-78.5°C) which was evaluated for its efficacy in decoverslipping process, as an alternative to xylene.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
64 faded haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained histopathology slides were randomly selected and segregated, according to duration of year, into eight major groups. Each group was further divided into four subgroups according to the time that the slides were subjected for decoverslipping. The slides were placed on dry ice and the time was set. Once the coverslip was removed, the slides were placed in xylene to remove any residual mountant. The tissue sections were evaluated for physical disfigurement followed by re-staining with H&E to check for any change in tissue morphology.
RESULT
The mean time taken for removal of coverslip using dry ice was 35 seconds.
CONCLUSION
This technique is easy, fast, and effective, with no tissue loss or compromise in staining quality, thereby preventing xylene toxicity and its effect on the environment.
PubMed: 38033942
DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_332_22 -
International Journal of Circumpolar... Dec 2023A field study was conducted to examine the vulnerability of military divers to non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) during Arctic ice-diving operations. Participants were...
A field study was conducted to examine the vulnerability of military divers to non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) during Arctic ice-diving operations. Participants were instrumented with temperature sensors on the back of their hands and on the bottom of their big toe for each dive to measure cooling of their extremities. While NFCI was not diagnosed in any of the participants during this field study, the data indicate that the feet were particularly vulnerable during the dives given that they were mostly in a temperature zone that could cause pain and performance decrements. The data also show that for short term dives, the dry and wet suits with wet gloves in both configurations were thermally more comfortable for the hands than the dry suit with dry glove configuration; however, the latter would be more protective against potential NFCI during longer dives. Features such as hydrostatic pressure and repetitive diving that are unique to diving but not previously considered as risk factors for NFCI are examined herein and warrant deeper investigation given that symptoms of NFCI might be mistaken as decompression sickness.
Topics: Humans; Diving; Cold Temperature; Temperature; Arctic Regions; Extremities
PubMed: 36966493
DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2023.2190488 -
Cryobiology Dec 2023In order to make dry ice transportation of vitrified embryos practical, a near-equilibrium vitrification was developed using a cryoprotectant solution (EDFS10/10a), by...
In order to make dry ice transportation of vitrified embryos practical, a near-equilibrium vitrification was developed using a cryoprotectant solution (EDFS10/10a), by which mouse embryos at various stages were vitrified in a near-equilibrium environment. EDFS10/10a consisted of 10% (v/v) ethylene glycol, 10% (v/v) MeSO, 0.4 M sucrose and 24% (w/v) Ficoll PM70. This method exhibited the benefits of slow freezing and vitrification, with a low risk of osmotic injury. In this study, we investigated whether mouse oocytes are vitrifiable with EDFS10/10a in a highly dehydrated/concentrated state, and whether they can remain fertilizable and developing into embryos after vitrification. When mature mouse oocytes were vitrified in liquid nitrogen and after 4-28 days of storage at -80 °C, high survival rates were observed (88-99%). Vitrified and warmed oocytes were subjected to partial zona dissection and in vitro fertilized. The rate of 2-cell stage was 80-82%. Blastocyst formation rate was 55-70% which was similar to that of embryos derived from fresh oocytes. After the 2-cell embryos were transferred to recipient mice, the implantation and offspring rates did not differ significantly from those of embryos derived from fresh oocytes, indicating that vitrified oocytes retained the developmental ability. Therefore, it is possible to vitrify mouse oocytes in a near-equilibrium state using EDFS10/10a and conveniently transported using dry ice.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Vitrification; Cryopreservation; Dry Ice; Cryoprotective Agents; Oocytes; Blastocyst
PubMed: 37722470
DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2023.104586 -
Cryobiology Mar 2024Cryopreserved semen is routinely shipped in liquid nitrogen. Dry ice could serve as an alternative coolant, however, frozen storage above liquid nitrogen temperatures...
Cryopreserved semen is routinely shipped in liquid nitrogen. Dry ice could serve as an alternative coolant, however, frozen storage above liquid nitrogen temperatures (LN2, -196 °C) may negatively affect shelf-life and cryosurvival. In this study, we determined critical temperatures for storage of cryopreserved stallion sperm. We evaluated: (i) effects of cooling samples to different subzero temperatures (-10 °C to -80 °C) prior to storing in LN2, (ii) stability at different storage temperatures (i.e., in LN2, dry ice, -80 °C and -20 °C freezers, 5 °C refrigerator), and (iii) sperm cryosurvival during storage on dry ice (i.e., when kept below -70 °C and during warming). Furthermore, (iv) we analyzed if addition of synthetic polymers (PVP-40, Ficoll-70) modulates ice crystallization kinetics and improves stability of cryopreserved specimens. Sperm motility and membrane intactness were taken as measures of cryosurvival, and an artificial insemination trial was performed to confirm fertilizing capacity. We found that adding PVP-40 or Ficoll-70 to formulations containing glycerol reduced ice crystal sizes and growth during annealing. Post-thaw sperm viability data indicated that samples need to be cooled below -40 °C before they can be safely plunged and stored in LN2. No negative effects of relocating specimens from dry ice to LN2 and vice versa became apparent. However, sample warming above -50 °C during transport in dry ice should be avoided to ensure preservation of viability and fertility. Moreover, addition of PVP-40 or Ficoll-70 was found to increase sperm cryosurvival, especially under non-ideal storage conditions where ice recrystallization may occur.
Topics: Male; Animals; Horses; Cryopreservation; Semen; Dry Ice; Ice; Polymers; Crystallization; Ficoll; Semen Preservation; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Nitrogen; Povidone
PubMed: 38295927
DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104852