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Corrosion of metallic equipment is a critical issue across various industries, necessitating the development of advanced protective strategies. This study utilized dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) with Becke–Johnson D3(BJ) to examine the atomic-level adsorption of quinoxalinones on Fe(110) surfaces, focusing on optimizing substitution strategies to enhance corrosion inhibition. Three quinoxalinones, quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (QNO), 3-methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (QNOM), and 3,7-dimethylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (QNO2M), were investigated in various configurations and protonation states. Protonated quinoxalinones demonstrated a stronger surface affinity, primarily interacting through oxygen atoms and conjugated systems, with greater energetic stability compared to neutral molecules, driven by enhanced electrostatic interactions and charge transfer mechanisms. The parallel adsorption configuration was more stable than the perpendicular mode, which in some adsorption systems did not form bonds with the iron surface. Notably, the presence of methyl substitutions did not significantly enhance adsorption strength; QNO exhibited higher energetic stability due to reduced steric interference, which maintained its planarity. Projected density of states (PDOS), electron density difference (EDD), and electron localization function (ELF) analyses confirmed the importance of charge transfer between quinoxalinone active sites and the 3d orbitals of iron in stabilizing the adsorption of molecules. These findings underscore the importance of judicious quinoxalinone functionalization to preserve their efficacy as corrosion inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence and growth in antibiotic resistant bacteria is a critical public health problem exacerbated by the misuse of antibiotics. Children frequently succumb to illness and are often treated with antibiotic medicines which may be used improperly by the parent. There is limited evidence of the factors influencing parental decision-making about the use of antibiotics in low-resource contexts. The aim of this systematic review was to understand and describe how parents living in rural and remote locations make choices about their children's antibiotic use. Method: The CINAHL, Web of Science, Medline, Scopus and Academic Search Premier databases were systematically searched from 31 January until 28 June in 2023. No date restrictions were applied and additional search methods were utilised to identify further studies that met inclusion criteria. Eligibility criteria included studies which reported on factors contributing to parental decisions about their children's use of antibiotics in rural and remote settings. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists were employed to evaluate studies. Characteristics and findings were extracted from studies, and data was synthesised descriptively and presented in summary tables. Results: A total of 3827 articles were screened and 25 worldwide studies comprising of quantitative, qualitative and prospective designs were included in the review. Studies that reported the number of rural caregivers consisted of 12 143 participants. Data analysis produced six broad themes representing the mechanisms that influenced parents in their access and use of antibiotics: the child's symptoms; external advice and influences; parent-related determinants; barriers to healthcare; access to antibiotics; and socio-demographic characteristics. Conclusions: A number of factors that influence parents' prudent use of antibiotics in rural contexts were identified. In seeking to enhance appropriate use of antibiotics by parents in rural and remote settings, these determinants can serve to inform interventions. However, the identified studies all relied upon parental self-reports and not all studies reviewed reported survey validation. Further research incorporating validated measures and intervention strategies is required. Registration details: Should my child be given antibiotics? A systematic review of parental decision making in rural and remote locations; CRD42023382169; 29 January 2023 (date of registration). Available from PROSPERO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Genetika (0534-0012) is the property of Serbian Genetics Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Featured Application: Featured Application: This research offers a practical methodology for designing biogas plants, improving renewable energy production, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. This paper aims to enhance the efficiency of biogas plants for the production of electrical and thermal energy by optimizing substrate selection and digester heating techniques. The study presents a comprehensive project of a biogas plant, including all necessary installations and a detailed methodology for equipment selection. Specific substrates used include animal flour, corn silage, and molasses, each chosen for their high dry matter content and biogas production efficiency. The digester heating technique was analyzed to maintain optimal fermentation temperatures, ensuring a stable and efficient biogas production process. The projected daily biogas production is estimated to be 5688 m3. The analysis shows that maintaining a constant digester temperature significantly improves biogas yield. Seasonal variations in thermal energy requirements were identified, highlighting the need for effective insulation and heating mechanisms, particularly during colder months. Additionally, the implementation of advanced heating techniques demonstrated a reduction in overall energy consumption for maintaining the desired digester temperature. This research provides valuable insights for the design and operation of efficient biogas plants. By optimizing substrate mixtures and digester heating, the study contributes to sustainable energy production, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and enhanced biogas plant efficiency, supporting both environmental protection and economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entitled review aimed to assemble and highlight the synthetic approaches and biological aspects of heterocycles with pyridodipyrimidine motifs. The recent synthetic approaches were categorized according to the accomplishments of the approaches under catalyst or catalyst-free conditions. The topic involved the synthesis of substituted tricyclic systems and spirocyclic systems. The present study offered an overview of the recent literature in addition to a scope of the preceding literature. The proposed mechanisms of the varied target products were discussed. Pyridodipyrimidine displayed potential and privileged cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial performances. The competitions, challenges, and prospects are also deliberated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of unsymmetrical phenyl β-carbonyl selenides with o-amido function substituted on the nitrogen atom with chiral alkyl groups was obtained. The compounds form a series of enantiomeric and diastereomeric pairs and present the first examples of this type of chiral Se derivatives. All obtained selenides were further evaluated as antioxidants and anticancer agents to define the influence of the particular stereochemistry of the attached functional groups on the bioactivity of the molecules. The highest H2O2 reduction potential was observed for N-(cis-2-hydroxy-1-indanyl)-2-((2-oxopropyl)selanyl)benzamide, and the best radical scavenging properties for N-(-1-hydroxy-2-butanyl)-2-((2-oxopropyl)selanyl)benzamide. Also, both enantiomers of the N-(1-hydroxy-2-butanyl) selenide expressed the highest cytotoxic potential towards human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cell line with similar IC50 values 14.4 ± 0.5 and 16.2 ± 1.1 µM, respectively. On the other hand, breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was most sensitive to N-((R)-(-)-1-hydroxy-2-butanyl)- 2-((2-oxopropyl)selanyl)benzamide (IC50 of 35.7 ± 0.6 µM). The structure–activity dependence of the obtained Se derivatives was discussed, and the most potent compounds were selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although flower pollinator interactions are known to be mediated by floral traits, not enough attention has been paid to the research of secretory tissues and volatile components of sunflower disc florets as potentially important parameters in breeding programs. (1) To our knowledge, this is the first integrated study aimed at better understanding the attractiveness of sunflower capitula to insects. In the study, we have made a very detailed comparative analysis of secretory tissues and the characterization of the volatile components (VOCs) of disc florets in 10 wild perennial Helianthus species. (2) For anatomical analyses, cross-sections were obtained from the nectary zone of disc florets using a cryotechnique procedure. Micromorphological observation and morphological and anatomical analysis of disc florets were performed using light and scanning electron microscopy. For VOCs, we applied headspace, GC-FID, and GC/MS analyses. (3) The obtained results indicate that there is a difference between the analyzed traits among studied species. H. eggertii, H. hirsutus, H. mollis, H. resinosus, and H. tuberosus had high disc diameter values, a high cross-section area and disc floret corolla length, as well as the largest cross-section area and thickness of the disc florets nectary. In the analyzed VOCs, 30 different compounds were detected. The highest yield and quantity of α-Pinene was observed in H. mollis. (4) Inflorescence features, such as receptacle diameter, corolla and secretory tissue properties, and floret VOCs production and characterization, provided valuable information that can be used as guidelines in sunflower breeding programs to maximize pollinator attractiveness and increase seed yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Poor quality of biological information, such as age and growth parameters, could be a source of variability with a significant impact on stock assessment results. Concerning the ageing process, variability is frequently linked to differences in the interpretation of calcified structures. The evaluation of precision and accuracy therefore represents a keystone in the ageing procedure. The intercalibration of age readings represents a crucial step in the ageing procedure; the use of different sampling methods, structures, preparation techniques, and ageing criteria can significantly affect age and growth data. This study evaluated the precision and accuracy of ageing for the most important North Atlantic (NA) and Mediterranean (M) ray species, Raja clavata, Raja brachyura, Torpedo marmorata, and Dipturus oxyrinchus, through exchange exercises carried out by readers from different laboratories. In addition, growth parameters were estimated from the obtained data. A total of 663 individual batoids were analysed. R. clavata and R. brachyura samples were obtained from both the NA and the M, while vertebral centra of T. marmorata and D. oxyrinchus were only available for the M. High reading variability was observed for all four evaluated species in terms of CV, APE, and PA. D. oxyrinchus and T. marmorata showed relatively slow growth and the von Bertalanffy model with fixed t0 and Gompertz's model were, respectively, the most precise models for each of these species. In R. brachyura, females had a faster growth rate compared to combined sexes. The vbt0p proved the most precise model for describing growth in this species, and no statistical differences were found between the NO and the M. For R. clavata, the best-fitting model was the vbt0p for females and males in the NO and for females from the M, while the best-fitting model for males from the M and sexes combined for both areas was log.p. Distinct growth patterns were observed between the two study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Poor responses to medical care and the failure of pharmacological treatment for many high-frequency diseases, such as cancer and viral infections, have been widely documented. In this context, numerous metal-based substances, including cisplatin, auranofin, various gold metallodrugs, and ruthenium complexes, are under study as possible anticancer and antiviral agents. The two Ru(III) and Ru(II) complexes, namely, BOLD-100 and RAPTA-C, are presently being studied in a clinical trial and preclinical studies evaluation, respectively, as anticancer agents. Interestingly, BOLD-100 has also recently demonstrated antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last years, much effort has been dedicated to discovering new dual anticancer–antiviral agents. Ru-based complexes could be very suitable in this respect. Thus, this review focuses on the most recent studies regarding newly synthesized Ru(II) complexes for use as anticancer and/or antiviral agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Yearbook of the Faculty of Political Sciences / Godisnjak Fakultet Politickih Nauka Beograd is the property of University of Belgrade, Faculty of Political Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Advanced personal thermal management fabrics are being developed to realize improved human body thermal comfort and effectively regulate heat exchange between the human body and surroundings. Fiber‐based thermal management fabrics are directly worn on soft and curved multiple curvature human body. Herein, a flexible photothermal fiber based on copper fractal dendrites with abundant CuO nanowires is designed. Well‐aligned Cu fractal dendrite fiber is electrodeposited template freely via a low‐cost and scalable process in an aqueous solution. Then, flexible CuO@Cu fractal dendritic photothermal fiber is fabricated by direct in situ oxidation and calcination of Cu fractal dendrites. Furthermore, the CuO@Cu fractal dendritic photothermal fiber can be woven into photothermal fabric by the traditional jacquard embroidery process. The temperature of photothermal fabric can be adjusted within the range of 35–65 °C by adjusting the number of photothermal fibers, which can be achieved with comfortable wearing of human thermal management and hot compress of hyperthermia to relieve local pain. Therefore, the Cu fractal dendrites have shown considerable potential for promoting the photothermal conversion of flexible personal thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient multicomponent reaction was developed to synthesis of a novel series of (±)-7-methyl-4-aryl-4,6-dihydropyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidine-2,5(1H,3H)-dione/thione/imine from bio-based 4-hydroxy-6-methylpyridine-2-ones, aromatic aldehydes and urea/thiourea/guanidine in the presence of ZnCl2.2H2O in ethanol at 70 °C. Mild conditions as well as the operational simplicity, easy work up, environmentally friendly are the most advantages of this multicomponent for synthesis of potentially bioactive new products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presented study, eight novel Meldrum's acid derivatives containing various vanillic groups were synthesized. Vanillidene Meldrum's acid compounds were tested against different cancer cell lines and microbes. Out of nine, three showed very good biological activity against E. coli, and HeLa and A549 cell lines. It is shown that the O-alkyl substituted derivatives possessed better antimicrobial and anticancer activities in comparison with the O-acyl ones. The decyl substituted molecule (3i) has the highest activity against E. coli (MIC = 12.4 μM) and cancer cell lines (HeLa, A549, and LS174 = 15.7, 21.8, and 30.5 μM, respectively). The selectivity index of 3i is 4.8 (HeLa). The molecular docking study indicates that compound 3i showed good binding affinity to DNA, E. coli Gyrase B, and topoisomerase II beta. The covalent docking showed that 3i was a Michael acceptor for the nucleophiles Lys and Ser. The best Eb was noted for the topoisomerase II beta-LYS482-3i cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper looks briefly at conventional approaches and examines the intelligent means for fault diagnosis (FD) and condition monitoring (CM) of electrical drives in detail, especially the ones that are common in Industry 4.0. After giving an overview on fault statistics, standard methods for the FD and CM of rotating machines are first visited, and then its orientation towards intelligent approaches is discussed. Major diagnostic procedures are addressed in detail together with their advancements to date. In particular, the emphasis is given to motor current signature analysis (MCSA) and digital signal processing techniques (DSPTs) mostly used for feature engineering. Consequently, the statistical procedures and machine learning techniques (stemming from artificial intelligence—AI) are also visited to describe how FD is carried out in various systems. The effectiveness of the amalgamation of the model, signal, and data-based techniques for the FD and CM of inductions motors (IMs) is also highlighted in this review. It is worth mentioning that a variety of neural- and non-neural-based approaches are discussed concerning major faults in rotating machines. Finally, after a thorough survey of the diagnostic techniques based on specific faults for electrical drives, several open problems are identified and discussed. The paper concludes with important recommendations on where to divert the research focus considering the current advancements in the FD and CM of rotating machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acetophenone-based 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-thione was synthesized by the reaction of 4-methylpent-3-en-2-one (1), 4-acetyl aniline (2) and potassium thiocyanate. The spectroscopic analysis including: FTIR, 1H-NMR, and single crystal analysis proved the structure of synthesized compound (4), with the six-membered nonplanar ring in envelope conformation. In crystal structure, the intermolecular N–H ⋯ S and C–H ⋯ O hydrogen bonds link the molecule in a two-dimensional manner which is parallel to (010) the plane enclosing R22 (8) and R22 (10) ring motifs. After that, the Hirshfeld surfaces and their related two-dimensional fingerprint plots were used for thorough investigation of intermolecular interactions. According to Hirshfeld surface analysis, the most substantial contributions to the crystal packing are from H ⋯ H (59.5%), H ⋯ S/S ⋯ H (16.1%), and H ⋯ C/C ⋯ H (13.1%) interactions. The electronic properties and stability of the compound were investigated through density functional theory (DFT) studies using B3LYP functional and 6-31G* as a basis set. The compound 4 displayed the high chemical reactivity with chemical softness of 2.48. In comparison to the already reported known tyrosinase inhibitor, the newly synthesized derivatives exhibited almost seven-fold better inhibition of tyrosinase (IC50 = 1.97 μM), which was further supported by molecular docking studies. The compound 4 inside the active pocket of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) exhibited a binding energy of −19.68 kJ/mol, and with mammalian deoxy ribonucleic acid (DNA) it acts as an effective DNA groove binder with a binding energy of −21.32 kJ/mol. The results suggested further exploration of this compound at molecular level to synthesize more potential leads for the treatment of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Diels–Alder reaction (DAR) is found in myriad applications in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry for drug development, as it is the method of choice for the expedient synthesis of complex natural compounds and innovative materials including nanomaterials, graphene expanses, and polymeric nanofibers. Furthermore, the greatest focus of attention of DARs is on the consistent reaction procedure with stimulus yields by highly stereo- and regioselective mechanistic pathways. Therefore, the present review is intended to summarize conventional solvent-free (SF) DARs for the expedient synthesis of heterocyclic compounds and materials. In particular, this review deals with the DARs of mechanochemical grinding, catalysis (including stereoselective catalysts), thermal, and electromagnetic radiation (such as microwave [MW], infrared [IR], and ultraviolet [UV] irradiation) in SF procedures. Therefore, this comprehensive review validates the application of DARs to pharmaceutical innovations and biorenewable materials through consistent synthetic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic dehydrogenative coupling of thiols with amines to produce sulfenamides and disulfides is an important reaction in the industry. Classical synthesis of sulfenamides involves the reaction between amine nucleophiles and sulfonyl chlorides, which are not widely available, toxic and unstable, and the reaction requires a combination of oxidizing and chlorinating reagents. Here we decribe an environmentally benign protocol for the efficient electrochemical dehydrogenative coupling of thiols with amines or thiols to form compounds possessing S–N or S–S bonds. We used potassium iodide as electrocatalyst in methanol for a greener reaction. The reaction operates under ambient conditions in the absence of oxidants, acids/bases or toxic/explosive electrolytes. Results show that most produced sulfenamides and disulfides are generated in yields up to 99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on age and growth is essential to modern stock assessment and the development of management plans for fish resources. To provide quality otolith-based estimates of growth parameters, this study performed five types of analyses on the two important croakers that were under high fishing pressure in southwestern Taiwan: Pennahia macrocephalus (big-head pennah croaker) and Atrobucca nibe (blackmouth croaker): (1) Estimation of length–weight relationships (LWR) with discussion on the differences with previous studies; (2) validation of the periodicity of ring formation using edge analysis; (3) examination of three age determination methods (integral, quartile and back-calculation methods) and selection of the most appropriate one using a k-fold cross-validation simulation; (4) determination of the representative growth models from four candidate models using a multimodel inference approach; and, (5) compilation of growth parameters for all Pennahia and Atrobucca species published globally for reviewing the clusters of estimates using auximetric plots of logged growth parameters. The study observed that features of samples affected the LWR estimates. Edge analysis supported the growth rings were formed annually, and the cross-validation study supported the quartile method (age was determined as the number of opaque bands on otolith plus the quartile of the width of the marginal translucent band) provided more appropriate estimates of age. The multimodel inference approach suggested the von Bertalanffy growth model as the optimal model for P. macrocephalus and logistic growth model for A. nibe, with asymptotic lengths and relative growth rates of 18.0 cm TL and 0.789 year−1 and 55.21 cm, 0.374 year−1, respectively. Auximetric plots of global estimates showed a downward trend with clusters by species. Growth rates of the two species were higher than in previous studies using the same aging structure (otolith) and from similar locations conducted a decade ago, suggesting a possible effect of increased fishing pressure and the need to establish a management framework. This study adds updated information to the global literature and provides an overview of growth parameters for the two important croakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is now the most frequent and lethal cancer among women. Cuproptosis is a newly identified programmed cell death process that has been connected to tumor therapeutic sensitivity, patient outcomes, and the genesis of cancer. Cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) are involved in breast cancer, although their roles and potential mechanisms are still unclear. First, we examined the effect of gene mutations and copy number changes on overall survival in 1168 breast cancer samples. Breast cancer patients were split into two molecular categories as determined by the variation in CRG based on clinicopathological traits, overall survival, and cell-infiltrating traits in tumor microenvironments. In addition, we created and validated a CRG score to calculate breast cancer patients' OS. Finally, we created a comprehensive nomogram for the clinical use of the CRG score. Patients whose CRG scores were low showed increased odds of developing OS, a larger mutation load, and immunological activation than those with high CRG scores. The CRG score, the cancer stem cell index, and the responsiveness to chemotherapy or targeted therapies were also shown to be statistically significantly correlated. Our thorough examination of CRGs in breast cancer patients demonstrated that they may be useful predictors of prognosis, clinical characteristics, and tumor microenvironment. These findings provide fresh insight into CRGs in breast cancer and might inspire brand-new approaches to both diagnosing and treating patients there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated and compared hydrophilic retention mechanism (HILIC) of ten compounds (imidazoline and serotonin receptor ligands) in the thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) system and the high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system. The TLC and HPLC stationary phases were the chemically bonded amino (NH2) phases. In the TLC mode, the binary mobile phases were composed of acetonitrile (as the main component) and water or methanol (as the modifier). In the HPLC mode, the binary mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile (as the main component) and methanol (as the modifier). For each compound, we determined this region for which linear relationship between the retention and volume fraction of the mobile phase modifier was observed, and the retention behaviour was described by the linear solvent strength (LSS) model. With the obtained regression constant values (log k0, RM0) in mind, we selected molecular parameters influencing retention mechanism in the considered chromatographic systems. Lipophilicity plays an important role in the TLC mode with the acetonitrile‒methanol mobile phase, while geometrical characteristics of the test compounds (ring complexity, number of multiple bonds) play a predominant role in the TLC mode with the acetonitrile‒water mobile phase. It was also established that the hydrophilic mechanisms are different for the non-aqueous TLC vs. aqueous TLC systems and for the TLC vs. HPLC systems. As a result, different elution orders and separation performances can be expected for the imidazoline and serotonin receptor ligands, depending on the chromatographic system employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dihydrouracil presents a crucial intermediate in the catabolism of uracil. The vital importance of uracil and its nucleoside, uridine, encourages scientists to synthesize novel dihydrouracils. In this paper, we present an innovative, fast, and effective method for the synthesis of dihydrouracils. Hence, under mild conditions, 3-chloroperbenzoic acid was used to cleave the carbon–sulfur bond of the Biginelli hybrids 5,6-dihydropyrimidin-4(3H)-ones. This approach led to thirteen novel dihydrouracils synthesized in moderate-to-high yields (32–99%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smallest mature female wahoo had a FL of 72 cm and weighed 10.2 kg WW, while the smallest mature-active female wahoo weighed 15.1 kg WW and had a FL of 105 cm. The fork length at 50% maturity (L SB 50 sb ) for female wahoo estimated by the logistic regression was 89.6 cm (Fig. [72], with a sample size of 395 wahoo specimens, explained this high value by the fact that previous studies did not obtain small wahoo specimens and that ageing and modeling methods were unable to estimate growth at early life stages. Life history of wahoo, Acanthocybium solandri, in the Tropical Eastern Atlantic Ocean - the importance of applying a suite of methods for fisheries assessment in data-limited situations Keywords: data-poor fisheries; fisheries management; length-frequency analysis; sex ratio; maturity; mortality EN data-poor fisheries fisheries management length-frequency analysis sex ratio maturity mortality 115 132 18 04/28/22 20220301 NES 220301 1 Introduction Wahoo I Acanthocybium solandri i is a pelagic species of the Scombridae family, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical oceanic waters worldwide ([25]; [74]). [Extracted from the article]

Some of the factors that influence fish growth are intrinsic (e.g. genetic and physiological), while others are environmentally driven (e.g. temperature, food availability). Growth, therefore, has biological but also ecological implications, as it is influenced by the environment in terms of energy flow.In this study, the growth patterns of the striped red mullet, Mullus surmuletus, inside the buffer zone of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Torre Guaceto and in two locations (Monopoli and Molfetta) outside the MPA were investigated in the south Adriatic Sea (central Mediterranean).The growth parameters for the female population fraction were estimated using the otolith back‐calculation technique: predicted asymptotic length (infinity) (TL∞) = 313.781 mm, growth coefficient (K) = 0.236 year−1 and prenatal length (t0) = −1.255 year for Molfetta; TL∞ = 342.988 mm, K = 0.173 year−1 and t0 = −1.828 year for Monopoli; TL∞ = 404.394 mm, K = 0.199 year−1 and t0 = −1.037 year for Torre Guaceto MPA. The results showed a significantly higher growth rate of female specimens of M. surmuletus, particularly 2 years and older, obtained from inside the MPA compared to those taken at the two outside locations.These findings suggest that fishing restrictions in the buffer zone of the MPA (where fish are more abundant and bigger) could be a more powerful driver for boosting individual fish growth than the mere 'density effect', which would have suggested lower growth rates associated with higher population densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flux‐based fault diagnosis methods have attracted ever‐increasing attention from technical communities because of their potential diagnostic capabilities and ability to overcome weaknesses of the traditional methods such as motor current signature analysis (MCSA). This study reviews recent literature on these methods and addresses their strengths and limitations. Different types of flux sensors that can be used for fault diagnosis applications are also discussed. Flux‐based approaches are classified based on the type of utilised flux into internal (airgap flux) and external (stray flux) methods and compared with each other. The most common faults in both induction machines (IMs) and permanent magnet machines (PMMs), including inter‐turn short‐circuit (ITSC), airgap eccentricity (AGE), rotor broken bars (BRB), and irreversible demagnetisation (IDM) faults, are considered in this review. Finally, research gaps are identified, and some suggestions for future research in this area are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Antibiotic use and resistance represent a growing public health issue, with a specific risk of uncontrolled use of antibiotics in children. The aim of the study was to examine differences in parental knowledge, attitudes and practices about antibiotic use in children between urban and rural areas of the Republic of Srpska. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1459 parents of children under 6 years of age, out of which 1201 (82.3 %) lived in urban areas while 258 (17.7 %) lived in rural areas. The research is conducted among parents who brought their children to the selected primary healthcare centres and among parents of children in preschool institutions. Results: The majority of respondents (98.4 %) state that doctors are their main source of information. Only 61.2 % of respondents precisely know which drug is an antibiotic when offered different drugs and respondents from rural areas (54.3 %) more often (p = 0.012) gave more accurate answers when compared to respondents from urban areas (37.3 %). Among parents, 86 % agree with the statement that improper use of antibiotics reduces their effectiveness and leads to bacterial resistance, regardless of groups. More than a half of respondents (52.4 %) do not think that children with flu or common cold symptoms recover faster when they receive antibiotics, significantly more respondents from urban areas (p = 0.001). Respondents from rural areas significantly more often believe that antibiotics can produce harmful effects compared to respondents from urban areas (p = 0.049). Respondents from rural areas significantly more often think that antibiotic use can prevent complications caused by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (p = 0.006). Parents from rural areas give their children antibiotics without a paediatrician’s recommendation significantly more often (4.3 %) compared to respondents from urban areas (0.6 %) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There are differences in parental knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance among parents in rural and urban areas. There is need for additional education of parents and for greater engagement of paediatricians in providing guidance and explanations regarding the use of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin is widely used as one of the most effective anticancer agents in the treatment of some neoplasms. Reproductive toxicity is the most common outcome associated with cisplatin testicular damage. Alternative natural medicines for treating male testicular disorders and infertility have received extensive attention in research. Natural products, medicinal herbs, and their secondary metabolites have been shown as promising agents in the management of testicular damage induced by chemotherapy drugs. This study aimed to review the research related to natural substances that are promising in mitigation of the cisplatin‐induced toxicity in the reproductive system. PubMed and Scopus were searched for studies on various natural products for their potential protective property against reproductive toxicity induced by cisplatin from 2000 to 2020. Eligibility was checked based on selection criteria. Fifty‐nine articles were included in this review. Mainly in animal studies, several natural agents have positively affected cisplatin‐reproductive‐toxicity factors, including reactive oxygen species, inflammatory mediators, DNA damage, and activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Most of the natural agents were investigated in short‐term duration and high doses of cisplatin exposure, considering their antioxidant activity against oxidative stress. Considering antioxidant properties, various natural products might be effective for the management of cisplatin reproductive toxicity. However, long‐term recovery of spermatogenesis and management of low‐dose‐cisplatin toxicity should be considered as well as the bioavailability of these agents before and after treatment with cisplatin without affecting its anticancer activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is a medicinal and aromatic plant of the Lamiaceae family, a source of valuable secondary metabolites (monoterpenoids, rosmarinic acid, flavonoids). For this paper, flavonoid accumulation in an aseptic culture of summer savory was determined by using a colorimetric method. The organ specificity of flavonoid accumulation in aseptic plants was revealed: In leaves (8.35 ± 0.17 mg/g FW), flower buds (7.55 ± 0.29 mg/g FW), and calyx (5.27 ± 0.28 mg/g FW), flavonoids accumulated in significantly higher amounts than in stems (1.50 ± 0.22 mg/g FW) and corolla (0.78 ± 0.12 mg/g FW). We found that primary callus tissue formed from cotyledon and hypocotyl explants retains the ability to synthesize flavonoids at deficient levels (0.50 ± 0.09 mg/g FW and 0.44 ± 0.11 mg/g FW, respectively), that remained stable throughout six subcultures. Placing the callus tissue in monochrome lighting conditions with blue, green, and red light-emitting diode (LED) lamps leads to morphological changes in the tissue and decreased flavonoid accumulation compared to fluorescent lamps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Failure to effectively organize and manage learning time is an important factor influencing online learners' performance. Investigation of time‐investment patterns for online learning will provide educators with useful knowledge of how learners engage in and regulate their online learning and support them in tailoring online course design and teaching. However, understanding of how learners invest and manage their time during online learning remains limited. Objectives: This study aims to discover the typical time‐investment patterns of MOOC learners and their temporal‐learning characteristics based on a systematic time‐investment analysis framework and their relationship with learning performance. Methods: Based on a proposed time‐investment‐analysis framework, this study applied statistical, cluster and lag sequential analyses to investigate learners' time‐investment patterns and their relationships with learning performance, session time allocation, and learning sequences by analysing the learning data from 12,463 participants of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) in China. Results and Conclusions: Seven time‐investment patterns of MOOC learners were defined, and learning performance was found to differ among them. Further analysis shows that high performers invested time throughout the whole course and allocated time to multiple activities, exam‐takers performed better in time management and produced more behavioural sequences related to cognitive strategy and recourse use, and learners' motivation and prior knowledge affected the management and effectiveness of their time investment. Implications: The results support the recognition and evaluation of online learning time‐investment patterns and suggest relevant cues for improving MOOC design and teaching. Lay Description: What is currently known about the subject matter: Insufficient learning time affects learning persistence and effectiveness in open and online education programs.Learning time investment and management regarded as an element of self‐regulated learning is a predictor of learning performance.Some proxy behavioural variables or characteristics of online learning time management have been found in previous studies.Learning analysis can be used to dig the knowledge implicit in learning data for online teaching evaluation and improvement. What is paper adds to the subject: Based on a comprehensive analytic framework, seven time‐investment patterns of MOOC learners and their relationship with achievement are identified.Under different time frames, learners' time allocation and learning behaviour pattern are different.Learners performing better in time management across course learning allocate more time to multiple activities in session learning.Exam‐takers perform better in time management across MOOC learning, and produce more behaviour sequences related to cognitive strategy and course recourse use. The implications of study findings for practitioners: The recognition of time investment pattern can support online course design and teaching improvement.MOOC design and teaching need to consider the differences in learners' time resources and their ability of time management.MOOC design and teaching need to encourage learners lacking of performance motivation to engage in various learning activities instead of just watching videos.MOOC design need consider the differences in learners' prior knowledge, and offer personalized learning path based on assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization leads to dramatic changes in land use patterns, and the land use/cover change (LUCC) can reflect the spatial impact of urbanization on the ecological environment. Simulating the process of LUCC and predicting the ecological risk future changes can provide supports for urban ecological management. Taking the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA), China as the study area, four developmental scenarios were set on the basis of the land use data from 2005 to 2015. The temporal land use changes were predicted by the integration of the system dynamic and the future land use simulation (SD-FLUS) model, and the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model was used to identify the spatial heterogeneity and evolution characteristics between ecological risk index (ERI) and socio-economic driving forces. Results showed that: 1) From 2005 to 2015, the expansion of construction land (7670.24 km2) mainly came from the occupation of cultivated land (7854.22 km2). The Kappa coefficient of the SD-FLUS model was 0.886, indicating that this model could be used to predict the future land use changes in the YRDUA. 2) Gross domestic production (GDP) and population density (POP) showed a positive effect on the ERI, and the impact of POP exceeded that of GDP. The ERI showed the characteristics of zonal diffusion and a slight upward trend, and the high ecological risk region increased by 6.09%, with the largest increase. 3) Under different developmental scenarios, the land use and ecological risk patterns varied. The construction land is increased by 5.76%, 7.41%, 5.25% and 6.06%, respectively. And the high ecological risk region accounted for 12.71%, 15.06%, 11.89%, and 12.94%, correspondingly. In Scenario D, the structure of land use and ecological risk pattern was better compared with other scenarios considering the needs of rapid economic and ecological protection. This study is helpful to understand the spatio-temporal pattern and demand of land use types, grasp the ecological security pattern of large-scale areas, and provide scientific basis for the territory development of urban agglomeration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions in water as a safe and cheap solvent is a major goal of green chemistry. Actual synthesis of pyrido-dipyrimidine scaffold, named DNA-base hybrids, involves catalysis in hazardous solvents. Here we synthesised pyrido-dipyrimidines by one-pot heterocyclization of thiobarbituric acid, vanillic aldehydes and amines in water. Enamine and vanillidene are key intermediates of the Biginelli-like reaction mechanism. Our synthetic method displays several benefits such as the use of a green medium and various substrates, and yields up to 99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a strategy for stator inter‐turn faults diagnosis in induction motors (IMs) operating under time‐variable load and time‐variable speed conditions. The strategy consists in injecting a zero‐sequence high‐frequency signal in order to analyse variations in the stator inductances. Incipient stator inter‐turn faults are detected by a simple signal processing of the derivatives of the currents. A feature of the strategy is that the zero‐sequence high‐frequency signal is generated by the inverter that feeds the machine, without modifying the standard space vector modulation of the IM‐drive. Experimental results show that faults representing <1% of the stator winding can be detected, as well as the phase location of the fault, validating this proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sardinella aurita has become an important source of fish protein-intake in NW African countries, where one stock is considered from Morocco to south Senegal, performing seasonal reproductive migrations along the coast. Although data are limited for the fisheries involved and for life-history knowledge of the species in the area, a precautionary approach is recommended to avoid overexploitation. Commercial landings of round sardinella produced by the European freezer-pelagic trawlers operating in Mauritanian waters were analysed between May 2004 and February 2012. The length-weight relationships (LWRs) (N = 40,725) did not show significant differences between sexes. Ripening round sardinellas were present throughout the year, but spawning effort rose between June and December. The length at first maturity for males and females was estimated at 27.7 cm TL (2.1 years) and 28.1 cm TL (2.2 years), respectively. Ages were interpreted from otoliths, varying from 0 to 8 years. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters resulted in non-statistically significant differences between sexes (P = 0.28). Natural mortality was estimated at ~0.63 year–1. The results provide important biological information for fisheries assessment of a species that plays an important key role in the current climate change scenario and for the economies of the riparian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background Floral nectar is an important determinant of plant–pollinator interactions and an integral component of pollination syndromes, suggesting it is under pollinator-mediated selection. However, compared to floral display traits, we know little about the evolutionary ecology of nectar. Combining a literature review with a meta-analysis approach, we summarize the evidence for heritable variation in nectar traits and link this variation to pollinator response and plant fitness. We further review associations between nectar traits and floral signals and discuss them in the context of honest signalling and targets of selection. Scope Although nectar is strongly influenced by environmental factors, heritable variation in nectar production rate has been documented in several populations (mean h 2 = 0.31). Almost nothing is known about heritability of other nectar traits, such as sugar and amino acid concentrations. Only a handful of studies have quantified selection on nectar traits, and few find statistically significant selection. Pollinator responses to nectar traits indicate they may drive selection, but studies tying pollinator preferences to plant fitness are lacking. So far, only one study conclusively identified pollinators as selective agents on a nectar trait, and the role of microbes, herbivores, nectar robbers and abiotic factors in nectar evolution is largely hypothetical. Finally, there is a trend for positive correlations among floral cues and nectar traits, indicating honest signalling of rewards. Conclusions Important progress can be made by studies that quantify current selection on nectar in natural populations, as well as experimental approaches that identify the target traits and selective agents involved. Signal–reward associations suggest that correlational selection may shape evolution of nectar traits, and studies exploring these more complex forms of natural selection are needed. Many questions about nectar evolution remain unanswered, making this a field ripe for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild and managed bees are needed to move sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) pollen, both to create hybrid seed and to encourage high, consistent yields when those hybrids are subsequently grown. Among floral traits that influence bee preference, floret size may be critical, as the depth of the corolla affects the accessibility of nectar. Sampling and observation of inbred maintainer (HA) lines were used to assess variation in floret size, and to measure any effects of floret size on pollinator visitation. Among 100 inbreds sampled, there was significant variation among the lines, with floret lengths of 6.8–9.9 mm. Floret length, measured before anthesis, was closely related to corolla depth during anthesis and was consistent between 2 years (environments). Pollinator observations on 30 inbred lines showed floret size explained a majority (52%) of the variation in wild bee preference, with a reduction in floret length of 2 mm more than doubling pollinator activity. Though honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies were located ≈ 60 m from the plots, near-zero honey bee activity in the sunflowers precluded an assessment of how strongly this managed pollinator is affected by floret length. Production of inbreds and hybrids with smaller florets could enhance sunflower pollination, but genetic markers for floret size are needed to facilitate selection, and an understanding of potential trade-offs also is required. Information on variation and heritability of other traits, such as pollen and nectar rewards, could help explain residual variation in wild bee visitation to sunflowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Oilseeds & Fats, Crops & Lipids (OCL) is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Croatian National Monitoring Program revealed the presence of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxicity in Mediterranean blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from breeding farms in southern Adriatic Sea through January to June 2011. The mouse bioassay tests (MBA; at the time the official method for DSP toxins) were accompanied by atypical symptomatology in the animals and this caused doubts about the assay results. Consequently, in parallel studies reported here, the concentration of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in soft tissue of DSP positive and negative mussels samples was determined. Cd, Cr, Zn and Ni show higher values in approximately 75% of the DSP positive samples, whereas for Pb and Cr the values were 26% and 34%, respectively. This trend was unchanged during the whole observation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime transport and sustainable development require a recognizable global approach. The state, as the dominant structure in the world, enables the realization of sustainable maritime transport aims through its instruments. Therefore, it is very significant to consider the national maritime policies because the effective implementation of the global policy is impossible without considering the adequate mechanisms at the state level. The adopted Montenegrin strategic documents impact the institutional framework set-up of the Blue Economy (BE) sectors and potentials for ecologically sustainable maritime transport. Although there are no practical directions for the sustainable use of sea resources, Montenegro is affirmatively oriented to the BE concept. Knowing that Montenegro is in the process of the pre-accessing EU phase, it is of importance to be on the right road to creating a national maritime transport policy including environmental practices, to become part of the strategic implementation of the BE. The paper provides recommendations that can serve for the successful follow-up of the BE activities in Montenegro and the wider area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]