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Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) and Lasioderma serricorne F. are destructive pre-harvest and post-harvest pests of many plants in the family Solanaceae, and stored foodstuffs and non-food items, respectively. In this study, some biochemical characteristics of cellulase in the larval digestive tract of these pests were studied. Endo-β-1, 4-glucanase activity was measured against the substrate carboxyl methyl cellulose. Maximum activity of the enzyme in L. decemlineata and L. serricorne occurred at pH 7.0 and pH 6.0, respectively. The enzymes from L. decemlineata and L. serricorne were maximally stable at pH 7.0 and pH 5-6, respectively. However, the enzyme extracted from L. serricorne is more stable than that of L. decemlineata. Cellulase activity was in the highest level at 50 °C in both species. EDTA and SDS reduced cellulase activity, while the Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺ ions had a significant increasing effect on cellulase activity. K⁺ did not have any significant effect on the enzyme activity. The values of Km and Vmax were 0.608 % and 0.0187 µmol min^-1 mg^-1 protein in L. decemlineata, and 0.99 %, and 0.0035 µmol min^-1 mg^-1 protein in L. serricorne, respectively. Zymogram studies revealed two bands of cellulase activity in the digestive tract of both species.  

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  Liver and kidney of Iranian water buffalo used to consume as protein sources. The aim of this study was to evaluate macro- and micro-elements content of liver and kidney of water buffalo. The samples were collected from both sexes of slaughtered buffalos (n=40) from two different age groups (mature and immature). A sequence of steps including drying, weighting, dry ashed and acid extract was used to determine mineral composition in liver and kidney. Analysis of the acid digested samples were measured by a atomic absorption apparatus calibrated with standard solutions of the minerals. The results indicated that Potassium is the uppermost mineral found in liver and kidney (326.4 and 212.69 mg/100gr fresh tissue, respectively). Sodium was the second highest mineral was found in liver and kidney (72.2 and 172.32 mg/100gr fresh tissue, respectively). There was no significant differences in mineral of liver and kidney between different sexes of the buffalos. No significant differences in mineral content of both organs were found between mature and immature buffalos.

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The human amniotic membrane (HAM) is one of the rare allograft tissues that are in use in clinical trials. Biocompatibility, antibacterial effect, low immunogenicity, and scar prevention are properties that have made HAM attractive for tissue engineering (TE) applications, for example, as a cell carrier, injectable hydrogel, and cell culture substrate. In this research, the effect of digestion time on the structure, gelation kinetics, rheological and biological properties of amniotic membrane-derived hydrogels was studied. The results determined that digestion with pepsin should be performed at least for 24 h.  Prolonging the digestion time to 72 h increased the shear modulus, fiber diameter, and gelation rate. Cytocompatibility assays with L929 fibroblast cells showed that the digestion time had no effect on the cell toxicity of the hydrogels. However, cell proliferation was improved due to preserved constitutive bioactive molecules. The results of this research can be used to develop amniotic membrane-derived hydrogels for TE applications.