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Assessing the toxicity of textile samples in terms of risks to human well-being and health is a significant issue. In this study, 11 textile materials were tested using two procedures: the sperm motility inhibition test using bull spermatozoa and the acute immobility test using Daphnia magna. A comparative analysis was carried out considering the advantages of each toxicity assessment method. The bull sperm test was shown to be less sensitive and more complicated to carry out than the Daphnia magna immobility test. In addition, the inclusion of both dyes and synthetic fibres significantly influenced textile toxicity, with aqueous extracts from dyed textiles showing higher toxicity levels when tested alongside undyed textiles. The toxicity index for dyed textiles ranged from 37% to 62% in the motility inhibition test, while the Daphnia magna test showed an acute immobility parameter of 100% with the uncontaminated control medium.

"In a rapidly changing world, preparing students for the challenges and opportunities this new world provides is crucial. This paper investigates the integration of futures-oriented education and the pedagogy of creativity as a comprehensive approach to equip students with the necessary skills and mindset for the 21st century and beyond. We emphasize the importance of translating theoretical frameworks into actionable strategies to foster adaptable, innovative, and forward-thinking individuals. Futures-oriented education aims to develop students' abilities to think critically, plan for the long term, and make decisions based on diverse scenarios. It focuses on nurturing an in-depth understanding of complex systems and global interdependencies, enabling students to navigate the uncertainties of an ever-evolving world. On the other hand, the pedagogy of creativity seeks to cultivate imagination, problem-solving, and innovation by encouraging students to explore new perspectives, ideas, and solutions. Drawing upon interdisciplinary research, pedagogical models, and best practices, we outline the fundamental principles and instructional strategies for effectively integrating futures-oriented education and the pedagogy of creativity. We also provide a practical toolkit for educators to design and implement innovative curricula that seamlessly blend these two approaches, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience for students. This paper highlights the significance of bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks and classroom practice to equip future generations with the skills and new attitudes required to tackle complex global challenges. By incorporating futures-oriented education and the pedagogy of creativity, we can cultivate a generation of leaders prepared to navigate and shape the world of tomorrow. "

Teacher well-being is a critical factor in the overall success of educational institutions and plays a significant role in student outcomes. This paper delves into the intersection of counseling and resilience pedagogy as a comprehensive approach to support and enhance teacher well-being. By fostering resilience and providing professional counseling, we can address educators' challenges and promote a healthier, more supportive working environment. The study examines teachers' unique stressors and challenges, including high workload, emotional demands, and the pressure to meet performance standards. We then explore the potential benefits of counselling to provide emotional support, promote self-awareness, and equip teachers with coping strategies to manage stress and prevent burnout. Resilience pedagogy, however, focuses on cultivating the ability to adapt to and recover from adversities. This paper investigates the application of resilience pedagogy in the context of teacher well-being, outlining methods for enhancing resilience through professional development, self-reflection, and the establishment of supportive networks. We provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating counseling and resilience pedagogy in educational settings by drawing on empirical research, best practices, and case studies. We also propose a practical framework for schools and policymakers to develop and implement targeted interventions to promote teacher well-being. In conclusion, this paper has emphasized the importance of a dual approach that combines counseling and resilience pedagogy to address the well-being of educators. Investing in teacher well-being can create a more supportive environment that ultimately leads to improved educational outcomes for students and the long-term success of the education system.

A new bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithm named the Pufferfish Optimization Algorithm (POA), that imitates the natural behavior of pufferfish in nature, is introduced in this paper. The fundamental inspiration of POA is adapted from the defense mechanism of pufferfish against predators. In this defense mechanism, by filling its elastic stomach with water, the pufferfish becomes a spherical ball with pointed spines, and as a result, the hungry predator escapes from this threat. The POA theory is stated and then mathematically modeled in two phases: (i) exploration based on the simulation of a predator’s attack on a pufferfish and (ii) exploitation based on the simulation of a predator’s escape from spiny spherical pufferfish. The performance of POA is evaluated in handling the CEC 2017 test suite for problem dimensions equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100. The optimization results show that POA has achieved an effective solution with the appropriate ability in exploration, exploitation, and the balance between them during the search process. The quality of POA in the optimization process is compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The simulation results show that POA provides superior performance by achieving better results in most of the benchmark functions in order to solve the CEC 2017 test suite compared to competitor algorithms. Also, the effectiveness of POA to handle optimization tasks in real-world applications is evaluated on twenty-two constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems. Simulation results show that POA provides effective performance in handling real-world applications by achieving better solutions compared to competitor algorithms.

In this paper, a new bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithm called Giant Armadillo Optimization (GAO) is introduced, which imitates the natural behavior of giant armadillo in the wild. The fundamental inspiration in the design of GAO is derived from the hunting strategy of giant armadillos in moving towards prey positions and digging termite mounds. The theory of GAO is expressed and mathematically modeled in two phases: (i) exploration based on simulating the movement of giant armadillos towards termite mounds, and (ii) exploitation based on simulating giant armadillos’ digging skills in order to prey on and rip open termite mounds. The performance of GAO in handling optimization tasks is evaluated in order to solve the CEC 2017 test suite for problem dimensions equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100. The optimization results show that GAO is able to achieve effective solutions for optimization problems by benefiting from its high abilities in exploration, exploitation, and balancing them during the search process. The quality of the results obtained from GAO is compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The simulation results show that GAO presents superior performance compared to competitor algorithms by providing better results for most of the benchmark functions. The statistical analysis of the Wilcoxon rank sum test confirms that GAO has a significant statistical superiority over competitor algorithms. The implementation of GAO on the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems show that the proposed approach has effective performance in dealing with real-world applications.

Abstract Background Triticum kiharae (AtAtGGDD, 2n = 42) is of interest for the improvement of bread wheat as a source of high grain protein and gluten content, as well as resistance to many diseases. The use of T. kiharae for the improvement of T. aestivum L. is complicated by the fact that the homology degree of their genomes is low and this leads to an unbalanced set of chromosomes in the gametes of its first generations and the elimination of some genotypes. The aim of this study was to analyze the nature of alien introgressions and their effect on the cytological stability of hybrids obtained from crossing of bread wheat varieties with T. kiharae. Results Using C-banding, the presence of entire chromosomes of T. kiharae in the karyotypes of hybrid lines (intergenomic substitution 2G/2B), chromosome arms (centric translocation Т2AtS:2AL) and large inserts in the form of terminal translocations involving chromosomes of 1st, 3rd and 5th homoeologous groups of B- and G-genomes were found. Molecular markers revealed short introgression of T. kiharae into the genome of common wheat varieties. The highest introgression frequency was shown for 1A, 1B, 2A, 5B, and 6A chromosomes, while no foreign chromatin was detected in 4A and 4B chromosomes. A high level of cytological stability (a meiotic index of 88.18–93.0%) was noted for the majority of introgression lines. An exception was found for the lines containing the structural reorganization of chromosome 5B, affecting the main genes of chromosome synapsis in terms of their functioning. Conclusions During the stabilization of hybrid karyotypes, the introgression of genetic material from T. kiharae into the genome of T. aestivum occurs in the form of short fragments detectable only by molecular markers and in the form of whole chromosomes (intergenomic substitution) and their large fragments (centric and terminal translocations). The level of cytological stability achieved in F10 by the majority of introgression lines ensures the formation of functional gametes sufficient for the successful reproduction of the obtained hybrids.

A central conundrum enshrouds biocognition: almost all such phenomena are inherently unstable and must be constantly controlled by external regulatory machinery to ensure proper function, in much the same sense that blood pressure and the ‘stream of consciousness’ require persistent delicate regulation for the survival of higher organisms. Here, we derive the Data Rate Theorem of control theory that characterizes such instability via the Rate Distortion Theorem of information theory for adiabatically stationary nonergodic systems. We then outline a novel approach to building new statistical tools for data analysis based on those theorems, focusing on groupoid symmetry-breaking phase transitions characterized by Fisher Zero analogs.

Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, is a serious foliar disease of wheat in Kazakhstan with reported yield losses as high as 50% during epidemic years. Here, we report the evaluation of a collection of 191 hexaploid spring and winter wheat lines for tan spot resistance and its underlying genetic architecture using genome-wide association study (GWAS). Our wheat collection comprised candidate varieties from Kazakhstan, Russia, and CIMMYT. It was genotyped using the DArTseq technology and phenotyped for resistance to tan spot at seedling and adult plant stages in Kazakhstan. DArTseq SNPs revealed high genetic diversity (average polymorphic information content = 0.33) in the panel and genome-wide linkage disequilibrium decay at 22 Mb (threshold r2 = 0.1). Principal component analysis revealed a clear separation of Eurasian germplasm from CIMMYT and IWWIP lines. GWAS identified 34 marker-trait associations (MTA) for resistance to tan spot and the amount of phenotypic variation explained by these MTA ranged from 4% to 13.7%. Our results suggest the existence of novel valuable resistant alleles on chromosomes 3BS, and 5DL and 6AL for resistance to Race 1 and Race 5, respectively, in addition to known genes tsn1 and tsc2. On chromosome 6AL, a genomic region spanning 3 Mb was identified conferring resistance to both Race 1 and Race 5. Epistatic interaction of associated loci was revealed on chromosomes 1B, 5B, 7B, 5A, and 6A contributing to additional variation of 3.2–11.7%. Twenty-five lines with the best allele combinations of SNPs associated with resistance to both races have been identified as candidates for future variety release and breeding. The results of the present study will be further validated in other independent genetic backgrounds to be able to use markers in breeding.

Heading time is an important agronomic trait affecting the adaptability and productivity of common wheat. In this study, 95 common wheat varieties from Russia and the late-maturing breeding line ‘Velut’ were tested for allelic diversity of genes having the strongest effect on heading. In this research, allelic variation at the Ppd-D1, Vrn-A1, Vrn-B1, Vrn-D1, and Vrn-B3 loci was tested. The Vrn-B1 and Vrn-B3 loci provided the largest contribution to genetic diversity. We found two novel allelic variants of the Vrn-B3 gene in the studied varieties. Ten varieties carried a 160 bp insertion in the promoter region, and the breeding line ‘Velut’ carried a 1617 bp insertion. These alleles were designated Vrn-B3e and Vrn-B3d, respectively. The analysis of the sequences showed the recent insertion of a retrotransposon homologous to the LTR retrotransposon (RLX_Hvul_Dacia_ RND-1) in the Vrn-B3d allele. Plants with the Vrn-B3e and the ‘Velut’ line with the Vrn-B3d allele headed later than the plants with the wild-type allele; among these plants, ‘Velut’ is the latest maturing wheat variety. Analysis of the gene expression of two groups of lines differing by the Vrn-B3 alleles (Vrn-B3d or vrn-B3) from the F2 population with ‘Velut’ as a parental line did not reveal a significant difference in the expression level between the groups. Additional research is required to study the reasons for the late maturation of the ‘Velut’ line. However, the studied wheat varieties could be used as a potential source of natural variation in genes controlling heading times.