C leds

Amblyomma hebraeum ticks were collected from livestock throughout all seasons between the years 2017 and 2018. Ticks were collected from cattle in the hairless parts of the animals, at the base of the tail and around the anus, axilla, sternum, belly, and groin. In small stock (sheep and goats), in addition to the above sites, they were also collected in interdigital spaces of hooves.
Ticks were removed from the host using forceps, and then placed in a suitable container and preserved with 70% alcohol until used. The specimens were morphologically identified using a tick identification literature of Walker [7 ] on a stereo microscope (Nikon, c-leds). An expert entomologist from the Agricultural Research Council–Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR) also confirmed the identity of the ticks. Genomic DNA pool samples were further amplified by PCR, sequenced, and compared to sequences in GenBank using BLASTn analysis to supplement morphological species identification.

To investigate whether the collected saproxylic cetonid larvae could degrade EPS MA into MP, we performed an experiment. Larvae were weighed using a digital balance (0.01 g precision) and photographed. Then, larvae were placed in an EPS box with a lid (length 27.0 cm, depth 17.5 cm, height 20.0 cm, thickness 1.50 cm) filled with substrate collected in the field. The substrate is a mixture of rotten wood, decaying vegetable matter, and soil. The rotten wood that constitutes the substrate in the box was of the same size and type as the ones that larvae may colonize in nature. For the EPS box, we bought EPS packaging used for food purposes. The boxes were left outdoor for 7 days and then checked. Outdoor temperatures were measured with a digital thermometer. Temperatures varied between 18.4°C and 28.6°C (mean 23.1°C).
The substrate and larvae were removed from the EPS box. The empty EPS box was checked to find tunnels and holes. When present, EPS fragments were gently removed from the holes with a small brush. To eventually find EPS fragments, the substrate from the EPS box was checked under a stereomicroscope (Nikon C‐LEDS) by zooming up from the minimum magnification (i.e., 0.7×) to the highest one (3.0×).

For this purpose, one model of a three-piece upper metal die (second premolar, first molar, and second molar) was fabricated from a beryllium-free nickel-chromium alloy (Wirona, Bego Bremer Goldschlägerei, Bermen, Germany), and a universal testing machine (Shimadzu AGS-X series Universal Testing Machine; Tokyo, Japan) was used for fracture load measurements. Specimens were fixed in a three-piece metal die (second premolar, upper first molar, and second molar). The fracture test was tested using a semi-clinical experimental design under ambient laboratory conditions. The test was performed using the load compression mode applied occlusally on the surface of the splint at a rate of 0.5 mm/min until failure occurred. The maximum limit of fracture toughness was recorded in newtons (N).
A compression load was applied by a semi-hemispherical indenter (D = 3 mm) with a speed of 0.5 mm/min on the occlusal surface until fracture occurred (Figure 3 and Figure 4). Failure was defined as the moment when the load fell 5% below its maximum value. A preload of 10 N was applied. Fracture surface analysis was performed with the aid of a high-resolution stereo microscope (Nikon C-LEDS, Melville, NY, USA) to identify the fracture mode (Figure 5).

Leaves treated by B. cinerea after 3 days were stained with 0.4% (w/v) Trypan Blue solution for 2 h at 37°C, and chlorophyll was eliminated with 95% ethanol. The samples were observed under a dissecting microscope (Nikon C-LEDS; Nikon, Tokyo, Japan).