Interspecies Reconstructed Embryonic Cell Interaction between Campbell Hamster (Phodopus campbelli) and Mice (Mus musculus)

Interspecies embryo transfer is a seldom-used method to increase the successful conservation of endangered species. The study aimed to determine the potential development of interspecies reconstructed embryos. The present study used two animal models, Campbell hamsters (Phodopus campbelli) and mice (Mus musculus). The isolated inner cell mass (ICM) of hamster embryos were injected into the mice embryos. The embryos were transferred to the pseudopregnant mice using non-surgery embryos transfer methods. The fetuses were collected at day 13.5 of gestation for morphometric measurement and cytochrome b (Cyt b) analysis which used to determine the species of obtained fetuses. The results showed that the viability, pregnancy rate, and embryonic implantation ability of the interpecies reconstructed embryos did not differ significantly (p>0.05) compared to non-reconstructed embryos. Morphometric measurement showed that the crown-rump (CR) and the weight of fetuses in the reconstructed group were significantly higher than non-reconstructed group (p<0.05). According to Cytb analysis, the species of obtained fetuses were mice, while the population of hamster cells were found only in the blighted ovum (resorption). Therefore, it can be concluded that interspecies reconstructed embryos are able to implant. However, the population of mice cells are only found to develop.

A field guide for aging passerine nestlings using growth data and predictive modeling

Background Accurate nestling age is valuable for studies on nesting strategies, productivity, and impacts on reproductive success. Most aging guides consist of descriptions and photographs that are time consuming to read and subjective to interpret. The Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) is a secondary cavity-nesting passerine that nests in coniferous and open deciduous forests. Nest box programs for cavity-nesting species have provided suitable nesting locations and opportunities for data collection on nestling growth and development. Methods We developed models for predicting the age of Western Bluebird nestlings from morphometric measurements using model training and validation. These were developed for mass, tarsus, and two different culmen measurements. Results Our models were accurate to within less than a day, and each model worked best for a specific age range. The mass and tarsus models can be used to estimate the ages of Western Bluebird nestlings 0–10 days old and were accurate to within 0.5 days for mass and 0.7 days for tarsus. The culmen models can be used to estimate ages of nestlings 0–15 days old and were also accurate to within less than a day. The daily mean, minimum, and maximum values of each morphometric measurement are provided and can be used in the field for accurate nestling age estimations in real time. Conclusions The model training and validation procedures used here demonstrate that this method can create aging models that are highly accurate. The methods can be applied to any passerine species provided sufficient nestling morphometric data are available.

A Repeatable and Reproducible Digital Method to Quantify the Cement Excess and Enamel Loss after Debonding Lingual Multibracket Appliance Therapy

The aim of the present study is to present a repeatable, reproductible, and accurate morphometric measurement method for measuring and quantifying the area and volume of cement that remains after fixed lingual multibracket appliance debonding, enamel loss after fixed lingual multibracket appliance debonding, and the volume of cement used to adhere fixed lingual multibracket appliances. Ten conventional lingual brackets were cemented in 10 extracted teeth embedded into an epoxy resin model simulating a dental arch. This model was scanned before and after bonding the lingual brackets, after debonding, and after polishing the surfaces. We also performed a Micro-Computed Tomography scan of the lingual brackets used. Afterward, the standard tessellation language (STL) digital file was aligned, each tooth was segmented individually, and the file was re-aligned using engineer morphometry software. Inter-operator and intra-operator comparative analyses were performed using the ANOVA test, and the repeatability and reproducibility of the morphometric measurement technique were analyzed using Gage R&R statistical analysis. Repeatability showed 0.07% and 0.16% variability associated with the area and volume measures, respectively, while reproducibility showed 0.00% variability associated with the area and volume measures, respectively. In conclusion, the morphometric measurement technique is a repeatable, reproductible, and accurate morphometric measurement method for quantifying the area and volume of cement that remains after fixed lingual multibracket appliance debonding, enamel loss after fixed lingual multibracket appliance debonding, and the volume of cement used to adhere fixed lingual multibracket appliances.

Data on morphometric analysis of anterior teeth from Hazaribag College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Jharkhand

It is of interest to document data on morphometric (measurement of external form) analysis of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth collected from a dental set up using mesio-distal (MD) dimension. The mesiodistal dimensions of all permanent anterior teeth (central incisor, lateral incisor and canine) of 25 males and 25 females patients were recorded using digital vernier calipers. Data were charted and statistical analysis was done using Mann Whitney U test. Data shows sexual dimorphism for every tooth between males and females. However, dimorphism was exhibited only in maxillary and mandibular canine, mandibular central incisors, and lateral incisor. Hence, odontometric parameters offer simple, reliable and cost-effective in forensic investigation for recording gender discrimination.

A Novel Digital Technique to Quantify the Area and Volume of Enamel Removal after Interproximal Enamel Reduction

The aim of this study was to show a novel and accurate digital measurement protocol by analyzing the area and volume for interproximal tooth enamel surface reduction. In total, 14 lower teeth from all dental sectors were embedded into an epoxy resin and distributed as the lower dental arch, keeping the contact points. The experimental model was submitted to an intraoral digital impression before and after interproximal tooth enamel surface reduction using air-rotor strips and then re-contouring and polishing the interproximal enamel surfaces. These steps helped obtain standard tessellation language (STL) digital files. Furthermore, each tooth in the preoperative and postoperative full-arch STL digital files was segmented individually and aligned to analyze the area and volume of the interproximal tooth enamel surface reduction using engineering morphometry software. Descriptive analysis of the area and volume of the interproximal tooth enamel surface reduction was performed using a Student t-test. Higher enamel reduction area (3.53 ± 3.08 mm2) and volume (0.32 ± 0.22 mm3) values were shown on the distal surface compared with the area (2.97 ± 3.05 mm2) and volume (0.22 ± 0.16 mm3) of the enamel reduction on the mesial surface measured using the morphometric measurement digital protocol. The morphometric measurement protocol is an accurate digital measurement protocol for analyzing the area and volume of interproximal enamel surface reduction.

TRsandflies: A Web-Based Software for the Morphometric Identification of Sand Flies in Turkey

Sand flies are vector of several diseases, mostly cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis (CL and VL). Also, 29 sand fly species have been identified in previous fauna studies carried out in 40 provinces of Turkey. Totally, 24 sand flies species belonging to Phlebotomus (Ph.) (Diptera: Psychodidae) genus have been proven or reported as possible vector species. This study aimed to develop a new software which could contribute to researchers’ decision making about the identification of sand flies with obtained data from entomological surveys conducted before in Turkey. Developed software called TRsandflies included 35 textbox created with parameters obtained from caught sand flies specimens by the above-mentioned surveys. It also contained 130 photos and distribution maps related to 24 sand flies species. In addition, C# language and MYSQL database were used in the program. TRsandflies had three different forms (pages) allowing the user to compare the specimens and known species. In the species identification trials with three repetitions carried out in the program, except for the specimens belonging to the Transphlebotomus Artemiev & Neronov, 1984 subgenus, morphometric data of all previously collected sand fly species specimens were included. The process of running the morphometric measurement results of predetermined specimens in the program provided us with an accurate prediction rate of 86.66% in male specimens and 71.66% in female specimens. We concluded that the web-based software developed could play an important role in reducing the rate of possible errors that might be encountered by conventional identification methods.

Vertebrae Morphometric Measurement and Ca/P Levels of Different Age European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The European seabass is one of the most important species of the Mediterranean, specifically Greece. Individuals with different numbers of vertebrae have been reported. This number ranges from 24 to 26 vertebrae. In this study a sample of 73 individual seabass were collected from fish farms and divided into three age groups. The first group included fingerling individuals, the second group, juvenile individuals and the third group, adult individuals. The number and the length of their vertebrae were measured by radiographs. The individuals were divided into subgroups according to their vertebrae number, and from each one the tenth vertebra was taken. Ca and P levels (%) of each tenth vertebra were measured by X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and the Ca/P ratio was determined. Vertebrae length, Ca and P levels and Ca/P ratio were compared among age groups and among individuals with different numbers of vertebrae. It was shown that the European seabass’s vertebral column can be divided to three sections—cervical, abdominal and caudal—following the striped bass (Morone saxatilis) model.

MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION BETWEEN HATCHERY AND WILD ANABAS TESTUDINEUS, BASED ON TRUSS NETWORK ANALYSIS

Several body measurement methods used to identify stock have recently been criticized because of inherent biases and weaknesses. As an alternative, a new system of morphometric measurement called the truss network has been increasingly used for stock identification. Therefore, the morphometric differentiations between wild and captive populations of Anabas testudineus were carried out throughout this study using a truss network. Truss measurements based on anchored at ten homologous landmarks with 19 distances of 120 specimens were measured. Discriminant analysis was performed to investigate distinctions and patterns of morphological variations between wild and captive populations of Anabas testudineus. The findings support the use of the truss network to study the morphological variation among populations as it provides interesting perspectives for the study of biodiversity patterns.