Degradative characteristics were studied using specimens of three polyurethane-based elastomeric modules that were treated in solutions of varying acidity, oxygen content and temperature. After periods of 10 and 100 days, molecular weight distribution changes, mechanical property changes and elemental chemistry changes were studied using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), stress-relaxation testing and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. As determined through analyses of the molecular, mechanical, and elemental changes after treatment, the degradative mechanism was influenced by whether the polyurethane was polyester-based or polyether-based, and the degree of structural degradation was influenced by the type and duration of conditioning treatment. Degradation of the polyester-based materials after treatment was dominated by a chain scission mechanism; conversely, the degradation of the polyether-based material was dominated by a crosslinking mechanism. Among the conditioning treatments, the combined effects of an increase in acidity, oxygen content and temperature most influenced the degree of degradation with time, with the increase in temperature having the greatest effect of any of the single variables investigated.
An 11mm length of sciatic nerve was removed from 10 anesthetized adult rats and replaced by a biodegradable polyester Vicryl™ mesh sleeve which was then injected with the basement membrane gel, Matrigel™. It was noted that leg sensation and movement were much improved after 30 to 45 days and upon sacrifice nerve reconnection was noted in all animals. Epoxy sections of the repaired nerves were compared with those of the excised segments by the use of a variation of the PAS reaction, the PATS reaction, developed in our laboratories for light and electron microscopy. This microwave-accelerated technique employs periodic acid, thiocarbohydrazide and silver methenamine. It stains basement membrane or Type IV collagen brown and type III collagen (reticulin), axons, Schwann cells, endoneurium and perineurium black. Epoxy sections of repaired and excised nerves were also compared by toluidine blue (tb) staining. Comparison of the sections of control and repaired nerves was done by computer-assisted microscopic image analysis using an Olympus CUE-2 Image Analysis System.
Timed artificial insemination (TAI) of beef cows at a predetermined time is a management tool that reduces labor costs associated with conventional heat detection before insemination. Multiple research trials have examined timing of the individual components of the developed protocols associated with TAI. The 7-day CO-Synch + progesterone insert (controlled internal drug release; CIDR) protocol has been shown to initiate ovulation effectively in cycling and noncycling suckled beef cows, often producing pregnancy rates greater than 50% in beef cows. In the current research, we examined using two targeted insemination intervals depending on the occurrence of estrus. We hypothesized that by more closely synchronizing estrus and insemination that pregnancy rates would be increased. We further hypothesized that cows that do not demonstrate estrus and are subjected to a TAI protocol might benefit from an increased interval to insemination. Keywords Beef Cattle Research Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Using Estrus-Detection Patches to Vary Time of Insemination Improves Pregnancy Rates Compared with One Single Timed Insemination AbstractTimed artificial insemination (TAI) of beef cows at a predetermined time is a management tool that reduces labor costs associated with conventional heat detection before insemination. Multiple research trials have examined timing of the individual components of the developed protocols associated with TAI. The 7-day CO-Synch + progesterone insert (controlled internal drug release; CIDR) protocol has been shown to initiate ovulation effectively in cycling and noncycling suckled beef cows, often producing pregnancy rates greater than 50% in beef cows. In the current research, we examined using two targeted insemination intervals depending on the occurrence of estrus. We hypothesized that by more closely synchronizing estrus and insemination that pregnancy rates would be increased. We further hypothesized that cows that do not demonstrate estrus and are subjected to a TAI protocol might benefit from an increased interval to insemination.
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