Embryo cryopreservation is an indispensable technique in reproductive programs and in animal facilities where genetically modified mice are used extensively. Here we report the use of a vitrification spatula (VS) that can be readily homemade and has a large holding capacity to vitrify preimplantation mammalian embryos in a micro-drop employing ultra-rapid cooling in liquid nitrogen (LN2). Vitri...

We present a case of an iatrogenic double flap created during laser in situ keratomileusis using a femtosecond laser microkeratome that resulted in development of severe diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK). The DLK occurred mainly in the second interface, made by the spatula accidentally and not exposed to femtosecond or excimer lasers. Because of differences in the severity of the interface infla...

A total of 103 specimens of Hoplias intermedius (Günther, 1864) and 86 specimens of H. malabaricus (Bloch, 1794) from the upper São Francisco River, State of Minas Gerais were collected between April 2011 and August 2013, and their parasitic fauna were investigated. Four species of Digenea were found: metacercariae of Austrodiplostomum sp., and Ithyoclinostomum sp.; and adult specimens of Phyll...

Colony counting by spreading bacterial suspensions on plating media by various techniques is of general concern. Comparative studies between hand plating (Drigalski-spatula technique) for different time intervals and spiral plating resulted in significant differences in colony counts. Lower counts of Gram-negative bacteria were obtained by using hand plating for more than 10s, compared with sho...

This paper describes a method for surgery simulation, or more specifically a learning system of how to use a brain spatula. Improper use of brain spatulas can lead to brain tissue lesions such as tearing of brain tissue and ischemia. The idea is to provide surgeons with a tool which can teach them the correlation between deformation and applied force. The system includes a Finite Element based ...

Background: World wide, Cervical cancer comprises 12% of all cancers in women. In developed countries, routine cervical cytology tests resulted in a large decline in cervical cancer incidence. This study is a descriptive- analytical research to evaluate the order of cell sampling from exocervix and endocervix and compare final cytological diagnosis. Materials and methods: Totally, 1129 smears ...

Abstract A new long-legged, spatula-beaked, filter-feeding pterodactyloid pterosaur from Upper Jurassic plattenkalk limestones at Wattendorf, Bavaria, Southern Germany, is remarkable for its completeness, unusual dentition and hints of the preservation soft tissues, including wing membranes. The fully articulated specimen displays both jaws each side with over one hundred sub-parallel-sided tee...