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The value of bioassays as analytical methods for assessing the potency of particular stressors on live animal models depends on the precision of their results, which are greatly influenced by the choice of test subjects. The genetic makeup of experimental subjects varies, and, as such, so will their responses to the test environment. Genetic diversity of test populations may contribute to statistical variability; therefore, the use of genetically similar subjects may enhance the utility of bioassays. This study addresses the efficacy of using isogenic homozygous zebrafish (Danio rerio) as subjects for bioassays. Stress responses (acidic conditions) were compared during early development for gynogenetically produced isogenic homozygous line of zebrafish (C32) and wildtype (WT) zebrafish. Experiments evaluated early life stage milestones after exposure to low pH in water of a different electrolyte composition. Because the isogenic homozygous clonal (IHC) fish possessed far less genetic variability than the WT fish tested, it was predicted that the IHC fish would exhibit less variability in their response to stress. Although we found no significant differences in the variability between the responses of the IHC and WT fish, pH and water hardness level had a differential effect on the two groups. Simple strain differences may be the probable cause of the response differences to environmental stress. Factors that may affect stress response, such as heterogeneity, co-adapted gene complexes, and domestication, are discussed. Our findings and review of recent zebrafish literature stress the need for researchers to carefully consider breeding histories and trait characteristics for each potential test subject to maximize the sensitivity of the assay.

Abstract Background Metagenomics analyses can be negatively impacted by DNA contamination. While external sources of contamination such as DNA extraction kits have been widely reported and investigated, contamination originating within the study itself remains underreported. Results Here, we applied high-resolution strain-resolved analyses to identify contamination in two large-scale clinical metagenomics datasets. By mapping strain sharing to DNA extraction plates, we identified well-to-well contamination in both negative controls and biological samples in one dataset. Such contamination is more likely to occur among samples that are on the same or adjacent columns or rows of the extraction plate than samples that are far apart. Our strain-resolved workflow also reveals the presence of externally derived contamination, primarily in the other dataset. Overall, in both datasets, contamination is more significant in samples with lower biomass. Conclusion Our work demonstrates that genome-resolved strain tracking, with its essentially genome-wide nucleotide-level resolution, can be used to detect contamination in sequencing-based microbiome studies. Our results underscore the value of strain-specific methods to detect contamination and the critical importance of looking for contamination beyond negative and positive controls. Video Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant (AA), antibacterial, and antifungal activity of fresh and pre-treated apricot extracts, dried by microwave at different powers (200, 400, and 800 W), extracted by the cold soaking method, and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Biological activity (bacterial and fungal) was estimated by agar disk diffusion test against four bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus sp.), and two fungal strains (Candida spp. and Geotrichum capitatum). Methanolic extracts of apricot fruits: fresh, dried processed, and apricot dough extracted by cold soaking showed a higher AA ranging from 34.22 to 96 % than the other extracts extracted by UAE with values ranging from 14.37 to 66.88 %. The results of tested extracts from fruits (Prunus armeniaca L.) extracted by both extraction methods showed the highest inhibitory activity against most of the tested bacterial and fungal strains with inhibition zones ranging from 4 to 45 mm. The biological activity (antibacterial and antifungal activity) has been improved using different treatments and microwave powers for drying apricots. In addition, the results of the biological activity of the extracts obtained by UAE are the best compared to cold soaking. However, it was determined that the UAE extraction method of cold soaking and drying of apricot fruits was more appropriate for the food industry due to the obtaining of extracts with good antibacterial and antioxidant potential, and their incorporation in foods would increase their production and uses, thus leading to the development of superior biofunctional foods, and the use of bio-solvent, such as methanol, which is easily available in high purity, highly safe, and completely biodegradable.

The study of freshly isolated cultures is necessary to form an objective idea of the properties of plague microbe natural populations. The analysis of the levels of investigating the properties of strains has been carried out and the characteristics of Yersinia pestis in Kazakhstan are presented. The results of studying the phenotypic and genetic properties of plague microbe natural strains are provided. Following the epizootiological survey of natural plague foci, the museums of live cultures at plague control stations annually receive strains of plague pathogen, which are transferred to the National Collection of Microorganisms of the National Scientific Center of Particularly Dangerous Infections (NSCPDI). One of the main points of Y. pestis strains analysis is the determination of their typicality/atypicality. The study of strains begins at the moment of their isolation by anti-epidemic units. The primary identification of strains is carried out in laboratories of anti-epidemic units by morphology, sensitivity to plague and pseudotuberculosis bacteriophages, fermentation of glycerol, rhamnose and sucrose. In the laboratories of plague control stations and departments, fermentation of maltose and arabinose, denitrification, amino acid requirements, virulence, sensitivity to antibiotics are additionally investigated. Analysis of strains virulence includes determination of calcium dependence, the presence and amount of F1, pesticinogenicity and sensitivity to pesticin 1 and virulence for white mice. The assessment and preservation of the collected gene pool in the NSCPDI National Collection includes various activities, one of the main ones is an in-depth study of all features using standard microbiological methods, molecular methods for complete identification and creation of a data bank containing information about the genome of strains at different intensity of the epizootic process. The NSCPDI has a digital database on the registration and movement of strains, equipment for molecular research. The collection evaluates properties, systematizes information, and ensures the viability of plague pathogen strains for longterm storage.

The review presents the data on domestic and foreign phenotypic classifications of Yersinia pestis strains developed in the XX century; genetic classifications of the XXI century; as well as on the genealogy of ancient strains of the plague microbe, reconstructed using paleogenomic technologies. Since the discovery of the plague agent in 1894, many classifications were created that corresponded to the level of development of microbiology at that time. The intraspecific classification schemes of the XX century were based on three principles: phenotypic differences between strains, features of the species composition of carriers, and geographical affiliation. With the development of molecular microbiology early on in the XXI century, a genetic nomenclature of the branches of the pathogen evolution was developed and a number of classifications based on the analysis of the population structure of Y. pestis were created. Through the prism of the genetic diversity of Y. pestis strains from natural plague foci in Russia, near and far abroad countries, an improved classification with a division into seven subspecies has been developed: pestis, tibetica, caucasica, qinghaica, angolica, central asiatica, ulegeica, which allocates the subspecies according to the phylogenetic principle and epidemic significance. With the advancements in paleomicrobiology, prehistoric lineages of evolution have been included in the genealogy of Y. pestis, which expand the data on the intraspecific diversity of the plague microbe.

Large cement storage towers are commonly exposed to both quarry production blasting and the excitations from vibratory plant. Several seismographs were placed in the quarry to monitor blast-induced vibrations in the vicinity of the cement plant. Moreover, two ultra-sensitive vibration acquisition stations were installed respectively, at the bottom and at the top of the cement storage tower. Both stations were synchronized allowing them to be set on the same time scale. An advanced processing procedure was adopted in order to separate the effect of each excitation (i.e. blasting and vibratory machines). The wall displacements/strains were then estimated at both ends of the tower. The frequencies associated with the vibratory machines showed a noticeable dominance comparing to the waves linked to the blasting activities and eventually higher than the natural frequency of the structure. Ultra-high excitation frequencies led to the amplification of the vibrations induced from the vibratory machine for both events. Vibrations from the production shots as well as those from the vibratory machines has been found to have minor effect on the structural integrity of the tower, with induced strains fall below the critical thresholds that may cause cracking within the tower’s walls.

Background. Epidemiological and epizootological monitoring of natural plague foci requires an integrated approach to solving problems, taking into account the phenotypic and genetic variability of Y. pestis and zoning of natural plague foci. The introduction of a new molecular genetic methodology aimed at studying the genomic polymorphism of the plague pathogen provides reliable results for the differentiation of not only groups, but also individual strains.The aim. To determine the genotypes of the plague microbe from different autonomous foci of the Republic of Kazakhstan.Materials and methods. 105 strains of Y. pestis isolated from various natural plague foci of Kazakhstan in 1951–2015 were studied. The phenotypic properties of the strains were studied using standard microbiological methods. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect fragments of the cafl, pst and YPO2088 genes. Multilocus variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) was performed for 25 VNTR loci.Results. The phenotypic properties of the strains were preliminarily studied and the strains of the plague microbe were tested for specificity using the Pest-Quest test system (Kazakhstan). The PCR study confirmed the species-specific affiliation of Y. pestis strains. A variety of strains with typical phenotypic characteristics was revealed. MLVA for 25 key loci (MLVA25) revealed that the studied strains of the plague microbe are phylogenetically closest to the Mediaevalis biovar representatives. A phylogenetic tree of the studied strains has been obtained. It was found that 9 genotypes circulate on the territory of Kazakhstan, and their distribution in certain natural plague foci was determined.Conclusions. The resulting clustering indicates the relationship between the strain groups obtained on the dendrogram by the MLVA25 method and the territories of certain natural plague foci.

The paper attempts to answer the question about the role of contribution of the hydroisostasy to the stress-strain state of the Earth’s crust on the Island of Sakhalin. The hydroisostasy contribution was estimated by simulation by means of finite element method. The mesh grid for the calculation was constructed using the real values of the depth of the Moho discontinuity surface and the topography of Sakhalin Island with adjacent shelf areas. The calculation took into account the Central Sakhalin fault zone. Lateral displacements as a result of strain and lateral displacements combined with vertical ones were simulated separately. Comparison of the results of the stress-strain state simulation, taking lateral displacements and their combination with vertical ones into account, clearly demonstrates the significance of the hydroisostasy contribution to the stress-strain state of the Earth’s crust in the Sakhalin region.

In this work, acoustic emission and digital image correlation were applied to three different composites reinforced with treated (2% and 5% NaOH) and untreated luffa fibers during tensile testing, to follow the evolution of the different damage modes and determine strains and Poisson’s ratio. The tensile test results showed that alkaline treatment of 5% improved Young’s modulus and tensile strength. In comparison, the 2% treatment showed the most outstanding improvements in mechanical properties. The K-means clustering methodology identified four types of damage: matrix cracking, fiber pull-out, delamination, and fiber breaking. The 5% treated composite had lower cumulative energy and hits than the untreated and 2% treated composites, implying that the T5% composite suffered less damage. The DIC results showed that the longitudinal strains found by the extensometer are very approximate to those found by DIC, this technique also allows us to find the transverse strains of the composites UT (0.324), T2% (0.295), and T5% (0.207%). It is shown that the 5% alkaline treatment leads to the decrease of Poisson’s ratio (0.2378) compared to 2% treated (0.3113) and untreated (0.3120) composites. Based on AE, DIC results, and mechanical properties, the T5% composite is the most successful.

The purpose of the work was to analyze the phylogenetic relations and origin of Yersinia pestis strains isolated in different periods of epizootic activity of the Caspian sandy natural focus (CSNF) of plague in the XX–XXI centuries.Materials and methods. We used 40 Y. pestis strains from CSNF and adjacent plague foci, isolated in 1922–2015. Carried out was whole genome sequencing of 19 Y. pestis strains from CSNF. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using whole genome SNP analysis based on 1914 identified SNPs. The search for marker SNPs was conducted using the Snippy 4.6 software. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using the Maximum Likelihood algorithm, the GTR nucleotide substitution model.Results and discussion. The whole genome SNP analysis has revealed that Y. pestis strains of the medieval biovar from CSNF belong to 2.MED1 phylogenetic lineage and fall into two major branches. One of them circulated in the focus in the first half of the XX century, and the other – in the second half of the XX – early XXI centuries. It is shown that strains of the first branch were the cause of outbreaks and individual cases of plague in the CSNF in the first half of the XX century. They are closely related to strains from the Caspian North-Western steppe and Volga-Ural sandy natural plague foci, which caused numerous outbreaks with high mortality rate in the same period. Y. pestis strains from the CSNF of the second half of the XX and early XXI centuries belong to the second phylogenetic branch of the 2.MED1 line, at the node of which the strains from the Northern Aral Sea region of 1945 lay. The latter were the predecessors of all strains isolated in the CSNF after a long inter-epizootic period that occurred in the middle of the XX century. There can also be traced a genetic relation between the strains from CSNF and the Dagestan plain-foothill focus.

Background: Chloroquine (CQ) has been the preferred clinical treatment for vivax malaria in Yunnan Province since 1958, with over 300,000 patients. This study aimed to help make trend predictions regarding variations the in anti-malarial drug susceptibility of Plasmodium vivax distributed in Yunnan Province and effectively implement monitoring measures on the efficacy of anti-malarial drugs for vivax malaria. Methods: Blood samples collected from patients with mono-P. vivax infections were employed in this study based on the principle of cluster sampling. The whole gene of P. vivax multidrug resistance 1 protein gene (pvmdr1) was amplified by nested-PCR techniques and the PCR amplification produce were sequenced by Sanger bidirectional sequencing. The mutant loci and haplotypes of coding DNA sequence (CDS) were identified by comparison with the reference sequence (NC_009915.1) of the P. vivax Sal I isolate. Parameters such as Ka/Ks ratio were calculated using MEGA 5.04 software. Results: A total of 753 blood samples from patients infected with mono-P. vivax were collected, of which 624 blood samples yielded the full gene sequence (4392 bp) of the pvmdr1 gene, with 283, 140, 119, and 82 sequences from 2014, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. A total of 52 single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) loci were detected for the 624 CDSs, of which 92.3% (48/52), 34.6% (18/52), 42.3% (22/52), and 36.5% (19/52) SNPs were detected in 2014, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. All of 624 CDSs were defined for a total of 105 mutant haplotypes, with CDSs of 2014, 2020, 2021, and 2022 containing 88, 15, 21, and 13 haplotypes, respectively. Of the 105 haplotypes, the threefold mutant haplotype (Hap_87) was the starting point for stepwise evolution, and the most drastic tenfold mutations were Hap_14 and Hap_78, and the fivefold, sixfold, sevenfold, and eightfold mutations. Conclusions: In the majority of vivax malaria cases in Yunnan Province, most of them were infected with strains carrying demonstrating highly mutated in pvmdr1 genes. However, the dominant mutation strains types varied from year to year, which warrants further exploration in order to confirm the correlation between with phenotypic changes in P. vivax strains and their susceptibility to anti-malarial drugs such as chloroquine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to estimate growth parameters for commercial broiler chickens in Indonesia. The data was collected from July 2021 to June 2022. A total of 1,570 samples consisting of four strains of broiler chickens were collected from 74 houses. The samples were daily weighed from 0 to 7 days of age, and they were weekly weighed from 1 to 5 weeks of age. A nonlinear Gompertz growth model was fitted to the observed body weights (BW). The results for five growth parameters were as follows: the asymptotic value (A) of the mature live weight ranged from 3.733 to 5.044 kg; the turning point of growth (B) ranged from 4.499 to 4.561; the value growth rate constant (K) ranged from 0.049 to 0.059 kg/week; Inflection points in ranged from 25.292 - 30.970 days, and 1.373 - 1.855 kg for inflection age (IA) and inflection weight (IW), respectively. The model was an excellent fit for the growth data in the commercial broiler with a low Akaike information criterion (AIC), and high coefficient determination (R²). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unmatched seismic theoretical rotations from the experimental data led the researchers to develop the reduced micropolar theory in seismology. The study here mainly focuses on the finite-fault simulations for rotations and strains in the near-fault region for a causative strike-slip fault of the M w 6.5 event. Firstly, the parametric investigation is performed on additional material parameters, viz. micropolar couple modulus and microinertia density to the rotations and strains. Secondly, the seismic source parameters such as rupture velocity, slip velocity, burial fault depth, earthquake magnitude, hypocenter location and slip amplitude are varied to see the effect of these parameters on rotations and strains seismograms. The results in different scenarios are compared to the classical elastic medium and reduced micropolar medium. The rotations obtained using reduced micropolar theory are comparatively high to the rotations of classical elastic theory. Although, the obtained displacements in both theories are almost the same. The normal strains in both theories are equivalent, while the shear strains differ as the shear strains in reduced micropolar theory are asymmetric and rotation dependent. The increment in the value of microinertia density increases the rotations, however, the converse is true in the case of micropolar couple modulus. The parametric analysis results demonstrate that near-fault ground rotations and strains are highly sensitive to changes in the seismic source parameters. For instance, modelling the medium homogeneous decreases the amplitude and duration of seismograms sharply compared to layered media. Finally, peak ground contours of displacements, rotations and strains are presented for different hypocenter locations using grid point simulation, and it is found that a change of hypocenter location alters the spatial distribution of peak values of these quantities in the near-fault region of the surface plane. Nevertheless, the maximum limit of peak values over the entire ground surface is near equal for the different hypocentral locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of molecular-genetic approaches, the study of the biodiversity of the phytopathogenic fungus Pyricularia oryzae Cav. in the south of Russia and the classification of the morphological and culture characteristics of the pathogen is carried out. Between 2020 and 2022 monitoring was carried out and 24 strains of the pathogen were isolated from the affected herbarium material collected from the fields of five ecological rice growing zones of Krasnodar krai (Krasnoarmeisky, Kalininsky, Abinsky, Slavyansky districts, Krasnodar). Using the multiplex PCR system developed by us based on fragment analysis, five genotypes are identified among the studied Pyricularia oryzae Cav. strains over the entire period of the project, each of which is characterized by a unique genetic profile. Their DNA passports are compiled. The studied isolates of the causative agent of blast are characterized by morphological and culture characteristics. Six morphotypes of the pathogen are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—The efficiency of the barrier phases in the protective coatings created on the turbine blades of gas turbine engines is studied. The barriers are shown to be efficient for retarding the microcracks that appear in nickel aluminide—based coatings and for maintaining the stability of the structure and properties of coatings responsible for increasing the life of gas turbine blades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A finite element analysis of the stress-strain state of a steel ball stamping process from a cylindrical billet was performed under the conditions of a non-isothermal process in an axisymmetric formulation. Three options for stamping a ball from blanks with different height-to-diameter ratios are considered. Distribution of temperature, degree and deformation rate, average stress and stress intensity are given. It has been found that with an increase in the relative workpiece height, the degree of deformation over the ball volume increases. In this case, the temperature value in the ball volume increases. A metal cooldown zone on the periphery of billet ends was revealed. Stress state index assessment at the last stage of stamping made it possible to identify the workpiece dangerous zones from the point of failure. When considering the metal plasticity indicators, this makes it possible to predict the defectiveness of products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technological process for hot stamping of two-layer mandrels of a piercing mill has been developed. Technological process scheme is offered. By computer simulation in the QForm program, the influence of technological parameters on process force parameters, the stress-strain state and temperature forging fields, and the tool was studied by transitions. Die tooling design is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein Kinase C (PKC) and tubulin homologs are present in all eukaryotes and play significant role in growth, development and cell differentiation through phosphorylation and de-phosphorylation of other proteins. In this study, we have amplified PKC and beta tubulin homolog bml gene from six strains and F3 and F4 generations of Sordaria fimicola collected from the Evolution Canyon-1. Sequenced products of 464 bp of tubulin gene and 548 bp for PKC gene were aligned to observe the genetic variations between the eight parental strains of S. fimicola and reference sequence of S. fimicola. Total six polymorphic sites were observed in case of tubulin gene out of which 5 sites were common among strains isolated from the s-slope of Evolution Canyon (EC). Genetic variations in four nucleotides were observed for PKC gene i.e. C (150) T; C (186) A; C (429) G and T (521) A which were common for S1, S2 and S3 strains, while point mutation C (497) G was detected only in S2 and S3 strains. Post translational modifications (PTMs) of both proteins were predicted and compared with the reference sequences of Neurospora crassa and Sordaria macrospora by using different PTMs predictor servers. Phosphorylation and glycosylation in different species of Sordaria as well as N. crassa was calculated on Serine (S), Tyrosine (Y) and Threonine (T) residues by NetPhos and YinOYang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioremediation processes for the degradation of dyes from the textile industry have been of great interest, due to their capacity to decompose these contaminants without generating toxic products. Direct blue 71 contains three N=N azo groups and has an aromatic structure, making it a compound that is difficult to degrade. We evaluated the degradation potential of direct blue dye 71 by bacteria of the genus Bacillus. Bacteria isolated from sediments of hydrological basins were used, Gram staining and observation by scanning electron microscopy were performed. The kinetics of growth and biodegradation were performed in nutrient broth added with 100 mgL-1 of direct blue 71 incubating at 37°C and 200 rpm for 5 days, growth was determined by spectrophotometry at 600 nm and biodegradation at 575 nm. Phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial strains was carried out by amplifying the 16S rRNA gene. Two bacillary bacteria Gram positive were identified. Phylogenetic analysis identified strain ANCd110506 as Bacillus anthracis and strain ANHg310511 as Bacillus thuringensis, with a similarity index of 97.6 % and 100 %, respectively. Bacillus anthracis presented a biodegradation of 75.5 %, while the Bacillus thuringensis strain obtained a biodegradation of 67.9 % in 120 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H:Q) strength ratio is not an independent risk factor for either hamstrings or anterior cruciate ligament injury. • The association of H:Q ratio with injury does not differ between conventional and functional ratio types. • Methodological limitations and variations in the assessment protocols found in the literature often create erroneous conclusions regarding the value of H:Q strength ratio as an injury prediction tool. • Monitoring strength imbalances along with other modifiable factors during the entire competitive season may provide a better understanding of the association between the H:Q ratio and injury. For the past 30 years, the hamstring (H)-to-quadriceps (Q) (H:Q) torque ratio has been considered an important index of muscle strength imbalance around the knee joint. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the value of H:Q torque ratio as an independent risk factor for hamstring and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Database searches were performed to identify all relevant articles in PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Prospective studies evaluating the conventional (concentric H:Q), functional (eccentric H: concentric Q), and mixed (eccentric H at 30°/s: concentric Q at 240°/s) H:Q ratios as risk factors for occurrence of hamstring muscle strain or ACL injury were considered. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality In Prognosis Studies tool. Eighteen included studies reported 585 hamstrings injuries in 2945 participants, and 5 studies documented 128 ACL injuries in 2772 participants. Best evidence synthesis analysis indicated that there is very limited evidence that H:Q strength ratio is an independent risk factor for hamstring and ACL injury, and this was not different between various ratio types. Methodological limitations and limited evidence for ACL injuries and some ratio types might have influenced these results. The H:Q ratio has limited value for the prediction of ACL and hamstring injuries. Monitoring strength imbalances along with other modifiable factors during the entire competitive season may provide a better understanding of the association between H:Q ratio and injury. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The paper considers the visco-elastic response of the ice cover in a channel under an external load moving with constant speed along the center line. The channel has a rectangular cross-section with a finite depth and width. The fluid in the channel is inviscid and incompressible and its motion is potential. The fluid is covered by a thin sheet of ice frozen to the channel walls. The ice thickness varies linearly symmetrically across the channel, being lowest at the center of the channel and highest at the channel walls. Ice deflections and strains in the ice cover are independent of time in the coordinate system moving with the load. The problem is solved numerically using Fourier transform along the channel and the method of normal modes across the channel. The series coefficients for normal modes are determined by truncation for the resulting infinite systems of linear algebraic equations. The ice deflections and strains in the ice plate are investigated and compared to the case of constant mean ice thickness. It is shown that even a small variation of the ice thickness significantly changes the characteristics of the hydroelastic waves in the channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the high nutrients of oat and the demand of health-conscious consumers for value-added and functional foods, fermented oat beverages have great market prospects. This review summarizes the applicable strains, processing techniques and health benefits of fermented oat beverages. Firstly, the fermentation characteristics and conditions of the applicable strains are systematically described. Secondly, the advantages of pre-treatment processes such as enzymatic hydrolysis, germination, milling and drying are summarized. Furthermore, fermented oat beverages can increase the nutrient content and reduce the content of anti-nutritional factors, thereby reducing some risk factors related to many diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. This paper discusses the current research status of fermented oat beverages, which has academic significance for researchers interested in the application potential of oat. Future studies on fermenting oat beverages can focus on the development of special compound fermentation agents and the richness of their taste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the global contribution of aquaculture as an important pillar for food and nutritional security, its rapid growth has been hampered by inadequate and poor-quality seed due to inbreeding, hybridization of related stocks, and poor-quality broodstock. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Nile tilapia in natural water bodies of Uganda has been studied but research gaps remain on the morphometric characterization of farmed O. niloticus in Uganda, which hinders selective breeding initiatives. This study characterized O. niloticus from various farmers in Uganda's Southwestern Highland Agro-Ecological Zone using their morphometric traits. In this study, 8 morphometric traits were taken on each of the 258 fish samples collected with at least 30 samples sampled from each pond system in the zone. The morphometric data generated were analyzed using multivariate analysis. In order to delineate the populations from the different ponds, Discriminant Function analysis (DFA) was performed on the dataset and distribution plots generated to test on the purity of the strains. There were significant differences in the morphometric traits among the populations with the Victoria fish population having the highest standard length while the Kyoga population had the highest weight. Morphometric characterization grouped the fish into three clusters, indicative that fish farms in the zone possibly had different sources of fish seed. The condition factor, which is a measure of wellbeing of the fish, showed that all the populations displayed an isometric growth which is indicative of the fish growing in length as it is in weight. The results of this study provide evidence that local O. niloticus from different farms display differences in body shape as a result of using fish seed from different sources. This aspect can be applied in selective breeding programs after establishing the genetic structure of the farmed Nile tilapia stock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While much of what we know about the general principles of protein-based information transfer derives from studies of experimentally adapted rodent prions, these laboratory strains are limited in their ability to recapitulate features of human and animal prions and the diseases they produce. Here, we review how recent approaches using genetically modified mice have informed our understanding of naturally occurring prion diseases, their strain properties, and the factors controlling their transmission and evolution. In light of the increasing importance of chronic wasting disease, the application of mouse transgenesis to study this burgeoning and highly contagious prion disorder, in particular recent insights derived from gene-targeting approaches, will be a major focus of this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of misfolded proteins as amyloid fibrils in the brain is characteristic of most neurodegenerative disorders. These misfolded proteins are capable of self-amplifying through protein seeding mechanisms, leading to accumulation in the host. First shown for PrP prions and prion diseases, it is now recognized that self-propagating misfolded proteins occur broadly in neurodegenerative diseases and include amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD), tau in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Pick's disease (PiD), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and α-synuclein (α-syn) in Parkinson's disease (PD) and Lewy body dementias (LBD). Techniques able to directly measure these bioactive protein seeds include the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assays. Initially developed for the detection of PrP prions and subsequently for the detection of other misfolded protein seeds, these assays take advantage of the mechanism of protein-based self-propagation to result in exponential amplification of the initial protein seeds from biospecimens. Disease-specific "protein seeds" recruit and template the misfolding of native recombinant protein substrates to elongate amyloid fibrils. The amplification power of these assays allows for detection of minute amounts of disease-specific protein seeds to better support early and accurate diagnosis. In addition to the diagnostic capabilities, assay readouts have been shown to reveal biochemical, structural, and kinetic information of protein seed self-propagation. This review examines the various protein seed amplification assays currently available for distinct neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on RT-QuIC assays, along with the insights their readouts provide into protein seed structures and strain differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Much controversies have been associated with the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma hominis but little has been done to unravel the mystery behind the different views. This study aimed at investigating the genetic variants abounding within M. hominis and the distribution of the virulent genes among the variants. Methodology: Twenty (20) M. hominis isolates from high vaginal swabs of women (11 from pregnant women and 9 from women presenting with infertility) attending the Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria, were sequenced using 16S rRNA universal gene target for the purpose of phylogenetic analysis and epidemiological typing. The isolates were also screened for the presence of M. hominis variable adherence antigen (vaa) and p120 virulent genes using primer constructs from the respective genes in a conventional PCR protocol. Results: Of the 20 M. hominis vaginal isolates, 4 phylogenetic strains were detected; strain MHS43 constituted 10/20 (50.0%) [2/9 (22.2%) from infertile women and 8/11 (72.7%) from pregnant women]; strain MHBS constituted 3/20 (15%) [3/9 (33.3%) from infertile women and 0/11 (0%) from pregnant women]; strain MHSWP2 constituted 4/20 (20.0%) [3/9 (33.3%) from infertile women and 1/11 (9.1%) from pregnant women]; while strain MHKC87 constituted 3/20 (15%) [1/9 (11.1%) from infertile women and 2/11 (18.2%) from pregnant women]. Each of vaa and p120 genes was detected in 14 of 20 isolates, while 6 isolates did not carry the genes. A 2-way ANOVA test showed that none of the genes was significantly associated with a particular strain (p=0.8641). Conclusions: The different views regarding the pathogenicity of M. hominis may be linked to the heterogeneity within the species and lack of homogeneity in the virulent genes as witnessed both in the intra species and intra strain levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-neutral fuels (such as ethanol and butanol) have gradually drawn much attention in recent years, due to the ever-increasing perception of global warming and environmental protection. Among them, butanol can be expected to serve as one of the promising candidates for biofuels, such as less corrosive, higher octane number, lower solubility in water, and higher energy content, compared with ethanol. However, the high feedstock cost and low productivity can be still a challenge in the acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation, due to the product's (especially butanol) resistance or toxicity to the current butanol-producing strains. The overall economics of bio-butanol production can be enhanced using the abundant source, and low-price of materials (such as lignocellulose). Nevertheless, it must be appropriately pretreated, when these materials are used as the feedstock for the ABE fermentation. Various compounds can be formed during pretreatment. Moreover, the phenolic acids that are derived from lignin degradation can be the most toxicity inhibitor for the butanol-producing strains. In this study, some excellent strains were screened for the high tolerant phenolic acids stress and high butanol production. A multi-factor screening strategy was carried out to obtain the strain W6, in order to synthesize the sufficient reducing power and high tolerance to butanol. Furthermore, the strain W6 was then domesticated to further enhance the butanol tolerance via the appropriate concentration of butanol stress. As such, strain W6-1 was obtained, where the butanol and total solvent production were (8.22 ± 0.21) and (11.72 ± 0.26) g/L, respectively, which were 14.01% and 16.85% higher than that of strain W6. After that, strain W6-1 was treated to improve the production of butanol using UV mutagenesis combined with the multi-factor screening model. The high butanol production strain W6-2 was then selected after treatment. The butanol and total solvent production reached (9.51 ± 0.06) and (15.32 ± 0.11) g/L, resulting in an increase of 15.69% and 30.72%, respectively, compared with the strain W6-1. Finally, the high phenolic acid-tolerant strain W6-3 was achieved by the adaptive evolution strategy with phenolic acid stress condition. At the end of fermentation, the biomass increased by 50.00%, whereas, the butanol and solvent production of the mutant strain W6-3 increased by 18.17% and 17.49%, respectively, compared with the strain W6-2. When strain W6-3 was in the 0.5 g/L of phenol acid stress environment, the butanol production were 12.11% higher than that of strain W6-2, respectively. Once the phenolic acid stress concentration reached 1.0 g/L, there was no growth in the pre-domestication strain W6-2. However, the total solvent production of (3.42 ± 0.42) g/L was obtained for the mutant strain W6-3, indicating excellent phenol acid tolerance. Taking the puerariae slag hydrolysate as the fermentation feedstock, the production of butanol was (8.54 ± 0.31) g/L in the mutant strains W6-3, which was 26.71% higher than that of the strain W6-2. The phenolic acid tolerance and fermentation performance of the mutant strain were greatly improved after multiple rounds of mutagenesis and adaptive evolution. This finding can provide a reliable theoretical reference to rapidly screen the excellent producing trains, in order to fully meet the requirements of fermentation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella spp. are known as the most important salmonellae's appearance pathogens around the world. The aim of this research was to investigate the presence of Salmonella spp. in poultry for eggs production. The study was conducted in poultry and private farms in the region of Suhareka, Prizren and Dragash, Kosovo. 300 samples of feces, eggs (whitened, vitelus and eggshell), and organs (liver, spleen, intestines and cloaca) were examined with standard method for detection of Salmonella spp. We found that 27 of samples or 9% were confirmed to be Salmonella spp. total number of samples. The largest percentage of the total isolated strains was found in Prizeren region with 44.44%, 29.62%% in Suhareka, and 25.92% in Dragash. Regarding the type of sample and the total number of isolated strains in this study, the largest number of isolates was found in feces samples - 16 strains or 59.25%, while from the eggs were isolated 8 strains (29.62%), and from the organs 3 strains or 11.11%. Increasing the percentage of Salmonella spp. presence in poultry and their products is often associated with the outbreak of Salmonella epidemics in animals and humans, and poultry and poultry farms are the main reservoir of infections. Poultry farming in region of Suhareka, Prizeren, Dragash and wider in Kosovo is developing quickly, especially in the production of eggs and poultry meat. Although the similar results are also found in other researches that have been done in other countries of the world, constant control of salmonella spp. will give indices about their geographical distribution, and the epidemiological, economic and health consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proximal fifth metatarsal fractures are commonly treated surgically due to their poor healing capacity. While intramedullary screws may be the most popular operative treatment choice, newer fixation methods continue to develop. We present a case series utilizing a novel intramedullary fixation device for proximal fifth metatarsal fractures. To our knowledge, no other study in the literature has assessed the safety and efficacy of this fixation method. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 16 patients with proximal fifth metatarsal fractures who underwent fixation with the same novel intramedullary device. Patient charts were reviewed for fracture union, plantar fracture gapping, time to weight-bearing, refracture, perioperative complications, and secondary surgeries. Results: Sixteen patients with an average age of 43.3 years underwent fixation with this novel device from 2015 to 2020. Mean follow-up was 32.4 weeks. Fifteen of the 16 patients achieved radiographic union at a mean of 8.9 weeks. One patient suffered a nonunion. Mean time to full weight-bearing in, and out of, a walking boot was 6.4 and 9.8 weeks, respectively, for healed fractures. Mean plantar fracture gap improved from 1.22 mm to 0.88 mm following surgery. There were zero infections, refractures, or hardware complications. Three patients suffered iatrogenic fracture during implant insertion. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of early results for this novel intramedullary device. Excellent union rates, acceptable time to weight-bearing, and a low complication profile can be achieved. Based on our findings, we propose a safe and effective treatment option for proximal fifth metatarsal fractures. Levels of Evidence: Level IV: Clinical case series [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linear two-dimensional problem of interaction between an hydroelastic wave propagating along an elastic floating ice plate with built-in vertical rigid plate is studied. The fluid under the ice is inviscid and incompressible. The fluid depth is finite. The deflection of the ice plate is described by the linear theory of thin elastic plates. The flow under the ice is potential. The total velocity potential is decomposed into the potential of the incident wave, even potential caused by the vertical motion of the rigid plate, and an odd potential caused by the rotation of the rigid plate. The vertical mode method is used. The third potential is obtained by solving a mixed boundary-value problem numerically using Chebyshev polynomials. The solution is validated by analysis of its convergence. The first and second potentials, and the corresponding deflections and strains of the ice plate, are obtained analytically. The motions of the rigid plate, as well as deflection and strains in the floating plate, are numerically analyzed. It is shown that the rotation of the rigid plate due to the incident wave is the main factor of increasing strains in the ice plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In civil engineering, variations in material properties together with the application of different construction techniques and environmental conditions may not be fully considered in structural designs, which could lead to structural damages. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) makes it possible to follow the behavior of a structure, allowing the evaluation of its conditions and the investigation of its damages and need for interventions. However, SHM is not commonly applied yet due to its high instrumentation cost and the complexity of its procedures. Therefore, the present work aims the development of a low-cost strain measurement system for reinforced concrete structures composed of strain gages, amplifiers, signal converters, and microprocessors. Thus, an easy-to-use and low-cost data system composed of an AD620 amplifier module and an ADS1115 converter was built. Additionally, to facilitate field instrumentations, a steel plate with strain gages arranged in a full Wheatstone bridge was also built. The evaluation of the system was conducted by lab testing a column, four-point bending tests of four beams, and the field monitoring of two columns in a residential building during construction. The results showed that the proposed system performed satisfactorily, being able to accurately measure the strains in reinforced concrete structures.

IntroductionTeachers work in a job with specific demands that can strain individual coping capabilities and can pose a risk for the development of psychological problems. Prior studies showed that teachers – in comparison with other occupational groups – had high risks of job-related psychological exhaustion. In our study we compared teachers and other occupational groups on burnout, general life satisfaction and self-rated general health. In addition, we analyzed if sociodemographic and job-related factors were relevant predictors of these outcomes.MethodsWe analyzed data from a total of 1,500 subjects arising from the Gutenberg Health Study. Binary logistic regression models and descriptive statistics were calculated to determine potential differences between the occupational group membership and the predictive values of sociodemographic and job-related variables.ResultsThe occupational groups did not differ significantly in terms of burnout, self-rated general health and satisfaction with life. Logistic regression models showed which sociodemographic and job-related variables were associated with the outcomes. Female sex, part-time employment as well as work-privacy conflicts showed particular predictive relevance.DiscussionJob-related interventions for teachers should aim at specific strains, e.g., arising out of work-privacy conflicts where interventions should focus on support of female teachers.

Insoluble α-synuclein (αSyn) filaments in brain tissue are a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Multiple system atrophy (MSA), and for structural studies, they have for decades been extracted using the detergent sarkosyl. We asked if PD and MSA patient-derived αSyn filament strains display different stability to sarkosyl extraction as this may confound our interpretation of the landscape of structural strains present in patients’ tissue. We compared the stability of cerebrospinal fluid-derived strains from four PD and four MSA patients using sedimentation and immunoassays and tested the seeding competence and strain-specific characteristics of the sarkosyl-soluble fractions using a seed amplification assay (SAA) and Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence. We demonstrate that filaments from PD are less resistant to sarkosyl than from MSA after they have been subjected to freezing and sonication. An enhanced release of monomers from PD filaments was the major difference between PD and MSA, but the sarkosyl-soluble fraction released from both PD and MSA filaments contained aggregates that displayed aggregate-specific epitopes and seeding activity with preserved disease-specific strain characteristics. Our results demonstrate that sarkosyl differentially destabilizes patient derived αSyn filament strains, which may compromise our ability to fully appreciate the landscape of αSyn filament currently being uncovered by high resolution cryoEM analyses. This should motivate an effort to develop more gentle extraction protocols.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a monopartite DNA virus with a genome size of ~ 2,800 base pairs. The virus belongs to the genus Begomovirus within the family Geminiviridae. Extant TYLCV strains are differentiated based on an established threshold of 94% genome-wide pairwise nucleotide identity. The phylogenetic relationships, diversification mechanisms, including recombination, and extent of spread within and from the center of origin for TYLCV have been reported in previous studies. However, the evolutionary relationships among strains, strains’ distribution and genomic diversification, and genetic mechanisms shaping TYLCV strains’ evolution have not been re-evaluated to consider globally representative genome sequences in publicly available sequence database, including herein newly sequenced genomes from the U.S. and Middle East, respectively. In this study, full-length genome sequences for the extant strains and isolates of TYLCV (n=818) were downloaded from the GenBank database. All previously published genome sequences, and newly sequenced TYLCV genomes of TYLCV isolates from Kuwait and USA, determined herein (n=834), were subjected to recombination analysis. To remove the ‘phylogenetic noise’ imparted by interspecific recombination, the recombinant genomes were removed from the data set, and the remaining non-recombinant genome sequences (n=423) were subjected to population genetics and Bayesian analyses. Results of the phylogeographical analysis indicated that the type strain, TYLCV-Israel, and TYLCV-Mild strain, were globally distributed, spanning Africa, America, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, and New Caledonia, while the other TYLCV strains were prevalent only throughout the Middle East. The results of Bayesian evolutionary (ancestral) analysis predicted that TYLCV-Israel represents the oldest, most recent common ancestor (MRCA) (41,795 years), followed by TYLCV-Mild at 39,808 years. These were closely followed by two Iranian strains viz., TYLCV-Kerman and TYLCV-Iran at 37,529 and 36,420 years, respectively. In contrast, the most recently evolving strains were TYLCV-Kuwait and TYLCV-Kahnooj at 12,445 and 298 years, respectively. Results of the neutrality test indicated that TYLCV-Israel and TYLCV-Mild populations are undergoing purifying selection and/or population expansion, although statistically significant selection was documented for only TYLCV-Israel, based on positive selection acting on five codons.

The escalating use of plastic products alongside rising ambient temperatures has intensified concerns regarding their performance under diverse thermal conditions. This paper delves into the intricate relationship between plastic materials, ambient temperature fluctuations, and resulting stresses. Various grades of plastic materials are subjected to distinct ambient temperatures to elucidate stress generation—a pivotal aspect in plastic product design. Leveraging the finite element method, a comprehensive analysis is conducted to design and assess a plastic product under specified loads and ambient temperatures. The study encompasses the evaluation of equivalent stresses, normal and shear stresses, and deformations. Ultimately, the research culminates in the development and analysis of a thermally stable plastic product, offering valuable insights for robust design practices amidst evolving environmental conditions.

Prion diseases are rapidly progressive, incurable neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolded, aggregated proteins known as prions, which are uniquely infectious. Remarkably, these infectious proteins have been responsible for widespread disease epidemics, including kuru in humans, bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle, and chronic wasting disease in cervids, the latter of which has spread across North America and recently appeared in Norway and Finland. The hallmark histopathological features include widespread spongiform encephalopathy, neuronal loss, gliosis, and deposits of variably sized aggregated prion protein, ranging from small, soluble oligomers to long, thin, unbranched fibrils, depending on the disease. Here, we explore recent advances in prion disease research, from the function of the cellular prion protein to the dysfunction triggering neurotoxicity, as well as mechanisms underlying prion spread between cells. We also highlight key findings that have revealed new therapeutic targets and consider unanswered questions for future research.