Hasil untuk "Zoology"

Kalpana Panati, Parasuraman Aiya Subramani, Venkata Ramireddy Narala

The therapeutic targeting of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) for type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains a double-edged sword: while thiazolidinediones are efficacious, their severe side effects necessitate the discovery of safer modulators. We propose a novel nutrient-centred hypothesis that thiamine (vitamin B1), an essential micronutrient, may act as a natural ligand for PPARγ. To investigate this, we adopted a translational approach. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations established that thiamine forms a stable, high-affinity interaction with the PPARγ ligand-binding domain. Functionally, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, thiamine induced adipogenesis and PPARγ-response element binding with a potency analogous to rosiglitazone, suggesting direct agonistic activity. Corroborating these mechanistic insights at the clinical level, a new meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials demonstrates that high-dose benfotiamine, a synthetic thiamine derivative, significantly improves neuropathic and vascular outcomes in T2D patients. While the contribution of thiamine’s established antioxidant effects to these clinical benefits cannot be ruled out, the synergy of computational, cellular, and human evidence provides a compelling foundation for our hypothesis. This study suggests that thiamine could act as a PPARγ ligand and serve as a safer treatment option for metabolic disorders, which needs to be tested in vivo.

Atta Ur Rahman, Yousef Alsenani, Adeel Zafar et al.

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the leading cause of more than 17 million mortalities worldwide. The early detection of heart failure with high accuracy is crucial for clinical trials and therapy. Patients will be categorized into various types of heart disease based on characteristics like blood pressure, cholesterol levels, heart rate, and other characteristics. With the use of an automatic system, we can provide early diagnoses for those who are prone to heart failure by analyzing their characteristics. In this work, we deploy a novel self-attention-based transformer model, that combines self-attention mechanisms and transformer networks to predict CVD risk. The self-attention layers capture contextual information and generate representations that effectively model complex patterns in the data. Self-attention mechanisms provide interpretability by giving each component of the input sequence a certain amount of attention weight. This includes adjusting the input and output layers, incorporating more layers, and modifying the attention processes to collect relevant information. This also makes it possible for physicians to comprehend which features of the data contributed to the model's predictions. The proposed model is tested on the Cleveland dataset, a benchmark dataset of the University of California Irvine (UCI) machine learning (ML) repository. Comparing the proposed model to several baseline approaches, we achieved the highest accuracy of 96.51%. Furthermore, the outcomes of our experiments demonstrate that the prediction rate of our model is higher than that of other cutting-edge approaches used for heart disease prediction.

Mura Francesco, Benedetti Francesca, Kratter Matilde et al.

Emilie A Paterson, Carly I O’Malley, Dawn M Abney et al.

Primates are important species for biomedical research and ensuring their good welfare is critical for research translatability and ethical responsibility. Systematic animal welfare assessments can support continuous programme improvements and build institutional awareness of areas requiring more attention. A multi-facility, collaborative project aimed to develop and implement a novel primate welfare assessment tool (PWAT) for use with research macaques. PWAT development involved: establishing an internal focus group of primate subject matter experts, identifying animal welfare categories and descriptors based on literature review, developing a preliminary tool, beta-testing the tool to ensure practicality and final consensus on descriptors, finalising the tool in a database with semi-automated data analysis, and delivering the tool to 13 sites across four countries. The tool uses input- and outcome-based measures from six categories: physical, behavioural, training, environmental, procedural, and culture of care. The final tool has 133 descriptors weighted based upon welfare impact, and is split into three forms for ease of use (room level, site level, and personnel interviews). The PWAT was trialled across facilities in March and September 2022 for benchmarking current macaque behavioural management programmes. The tool successfully distinguished strengths and challenges at the facility level and across sites. Following this benchmarking, the tool is being applied semi-annually to assess and monitor progress in behavioural management programmes. The development process of the PWAT demonstrates that evidence-based assessment tools can be developed through collaboration and consensus building, which are important for uptake and applicability, and ultimately for promoting global improvements in research macaque welfare.

José Guilherme Gonçalves-Sousa, Herivelto Faustino Oliveira, Robson Waldemar Avila

Phyllopezus periosus is the largest phyllodactilid in Brazil, with a relictual distribution in the Caatinga Domain. Herein, we investigated the autecology of P. periosus, describing activity patterns, microhabitat use (spatial niche dimension), foraging mode, body temperature, reproduction, diet (trophic niche dimension), and temperature. Also, we tested the influence of seasonality and ontogeny on these biological aspects. Geckos (n = 116, 54 females, 33 males, and 29 juveniles) were sampled from October 2013 to September 2014. Phyllopezus periosus has an unimodal activity pattern, with peak activity in the early hours of the night. Males are more robust than females, and forelimbs in females are longer than in males. The body temperatures of this thermoconformer gecko are higher in the dry season. The reproductive season begins in the early dry season, with a fixed clutch of two eggs. Although we did not find evidence of more than one clutch per year, the studied population of P. periosus reproduces for an extended period throughout the dry season, as highlighted by the presence of juveniles all year. Phyllopezus periosus is saxicolous and presents a generalist diet composed mainly of arthropods, also including vertebrates such as frogs and lizards.

Amany A. Sayed, Amel M. Soliman, Sohair R. Fahmy et al.

Abstract Background The present study assesses the role of polyherbal formula (LACTN) against sodium oxalate (NaOx)—stimulated urolithiasis prophylactic and curative. Forty-eight rats were separated into the following regimen’s groups: Groups I, II, III, and IV (prophylactic groups). Group I (control group) received saline as vehicle. Group II (urolithiatic group) received 70 mg NaOx / kg b.wt, i.p. Groups III and IV received LACTN and cystone prophylactic (500 and 750 mg/kg b.wt, respectively) from 1st day to 7th day of urolithiasis induction. Groups V, VI, VII, and VIII (curative groups): these were divided into the prophylactic regimes, but LACTN and cystone were administered from 7th day to 14th day of urolithiasis induction. Results Urolithiatic rats co-/post-treated with LACTN and cystone elevated the urinary volume significantly (P < 0.05). Also, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) was observed in the serum and urine calcium and phosphate concentrations beside the increased magnesium value in urolithiatic rats co-/post-treated with LACTN. LACTN significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorates serum and urine creatinine, urea, and uric acid concentration. Moreover, urolithiatic rats co-/post-treated with LACTN significantly (P < 0.05) diminished MDA and increased GSH, GST, SOD, and CAT compared with urolithiatic rats. Conclusions LACTN has anti-lithogenesis effect that may be due to its ability to remove the already presenting stone and/or to prevent the generation of extra calcium oxalate crystals. This action may be due to its components’ synergetic action that may provide encouraging combined formula to prevent/treat urolithiasis.

Ilya Buynevich

Zoogenic impact plays a critical role in stream processes, especially bank stability and resulting channel dynamics. This study focuses on bioturbation by groundhogs (Marmota monax) along the riparian zone of Mill Creek (Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA). Several complexes comprising at least 32 active burrows (average diameter: 25.9 cm) were geolocated, with morphometric measurements obtained at selected sites. Two networks were imaged using high-frequency 800 MHz ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and included: 1) a grid of parallel 3-m-long transects on the south bank, and 2) an 11-m-long profile on the north bank. Post-processed electromagnetic signal traces (A-scans) comprising 2D radargrams (B-scans) revealed voids as reverse-polarity anomalies (hollow inclined shafts and tunnels), allowing for a general assessment of burrow depth and orientation. At the southern cutbank site, a large burrow had an entrance diameter of 0.3 m and a westerly dip. A sloping tunnel section was detected at ~0.5 m depth, based on the geometry of point-source (transverse) hyperbolic diffractions corresponding to the roof and a floor ‘pull-up’. The second locality traversed three open burrow entrances adjacent to large tree roots. This survey along a tributary channel shows multiple hyperbolics below adjacent openings, with the latter showing the characteristic signal ‘breakout’. GPR data show hyperbolic signatures ~0.3–0.4 m below the ground surface. Along this transect, burrowing activity appears to increase with proximity to the northern bank of Mill Creek. An example of a depth slice (bedding-plane view) from a nearby riverbank demonstrates the potential for 3D visualization (C-scans) of burrow networks using a grid of closely spaced GPR profiles. Groundhog burrows constrain maximum long-term level of the groundwater table and serve as important zoogeomorphic structures in diverse ecotones, including developed landscapes. Abundant evidence of bank slumping, incision, and treefall suggests that burrowing activity likely weakens root systems and enhances groundwater flow, thereby initiating or accelerating geomorphic cascades leading to slope failure.

R. G. Harrison

S. Habib

1Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha 2Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Lahore Sargodha Campus 3Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University, Islamabad 4Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat-26000 5Department of Zoology, Government Post Graduate College, Bannu 6Department of Biotechnology, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi 7Department of Zoology, Government College University, Lahore Article Information Received 20 October 2020 Revised 23 November 2020 Accepted 15 December 2020 Available online 09 June 2021

Shun Zhou, Jing Dong, Yongtao Liu et al.

In this study, goldfish (<i>Carassius auratus</i>) were exposed to 0 (control group) and 0.81 mg/L TCCA for four consecutive days. The liver transcriptome, the molecular indices of oxidative stress, and gills histopathology were investigated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that energy metabolism-related pathways such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis were significantly enriched, suggesting their perturbation in the liver of goldfish. Additionally, TCCA exposure also caused pathological damage in gills, which compromised physiological function and decreased oxygen intake capacity of gills, thus leading to the enhancement of anaerobic metabolism. This finding was confirmed by the significant upregulation of lactate dehydrogenase in the liver of goldfish. Moreover, many phase I and phase II metabolic enzymes might be activated to alleviate TCCA-induced toxicity in goldfish, and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome P450s (CYPs) play a crucial role in the metabolism of TCCA in the liver of goldfish. Furthermore, the antioxidant enzyme analysis showed that TCCA exposure induced oxidative damage in the liver and partially impaired the antioxidant defense system of goldfish, evidenced by decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level. In summary, this study will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the TCCA-induced toxicity in goldfish.

Giselle Pacifico Sartori, Andréa da Costa, Fernanda Lúcio dos Santos Macarini et al.

Abstract Background Tetanus toxin blocks the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system and causes tetanus and its main form of prevention is through vaccination. The vaccine is produced by inactivation of tetanus toxin with formaldehyde, which may cause side effects. An alternative way is the use of ionizing radiation for inactivation of the toxin and also to improve the potential immunogenic response and to reduce the post-vaccination side effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the tetanus toxin structure after different doses of ionizing radiation of 60Co. Methods Irradiated and native tetanus toxin was characterized by SDS PAGE in reducing and non-reducing conditions and MALD-TOF. Enzymatic activity was measured by FRET substrate. Also, antigenic properties were assessed by ELISA and Western Blot data. Results Characterization analysis revealed gradual modification on the tetanus toxin structure according to doses increase. Also, fragmentation and possible aggregations of the protein fragments were observed in higher doses. In the analysis of peptide preservation by enzymatic digestion and mass spectrometry, there was a slight modification in the identification up to the dose of 4 kGy. At subsequent doses, peptide identification was minimal. The analysis of the enzymatic activity by fluorescence showed 35 % attenuation in the activity even at higher doses. In the antigenic evaluation, anti-tetanus toxin antibodies were detected against the irradiated toxins at the different doses, with a gradual decrease as the dose increased, but remaining at satisfactory levels. Conclusion Ionizing radiation promoted structural changes in the tetanus toxin such as fragmentation and/or aggregation and attenuation of enzymatic activity as the dose increased, but antigenic recognition of the toxin remained at good levels indicating its possible use as an immunogen. However, studies of enzymatic activity of tetanus toxin irradiated with doses above 8 kGy should be further analyzed.

Yu Xu, Yang Li, Zifeng Zhan et al.

Two new species of Chrysogorgia Duchassaing &amp;amp; Michelotti, 1864 collected from Kocebu Guyot in the Magellan seamounts of the Pacific Ocean are described and illustrated: Chrysogorgia ramificans sp. nov. collected from a depth of 1831 m and Chrysogorgia binata sp. nov. collected from a depth of 1669 m. Chrysogorgia ramificans sp. nov. belongs to the Chrysogorgia “group A, Spiculosae” with rods distributed in body wall and tentacles, and C. binata sp. nov. belongs to the “group C, Squamosae typicae” with rods and/or spindles not present but only scales. Chrysogorgia ramificans sp. nov. differs from congeners by its main stem with 2/5R branching sequence at the bottom forming two large bottlebrush-shaped branches with 1/3R branching sequence at the top. Chrysogorgia binata sp. nov. is similar to C. scintillans Bayer &amp;amp; Stefani, 1988, but differs by its larger polyps, larger sclerites in the body wall, and different scales in the upper part of polyps. The mtMutS genetic distances between C. ramificans sp. nov. and C. binata sp. nov. and congeners are in the range of 0.33%–2.28% and 0.33%–2.94%, respectively, while the intraspecific distances are in the range of 0–0.16%. Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that C. ramificans sp. nov. is clustered with C. monticola Cairns, 2007 and C. binata sp. nov. is clustered with C. chryseis Bayer &amp;amp; Stefani, 1988, both with high support indicating close relationships.

Suvarna S. Khadakkar, Ashish D. Tiple, Arun M. Khurad

Immature stages of Scaptodera rhadamistus (Fabricius) are described for the first time along with notes on nidification and biology.  The larvae differ from other Scarabaeinae species in the structure of raster on tenth sternum with two irregular bunches of serrations ventrally one on either half.  Pupae with pronotum transverse having rounded margins resemble adults, and consist of four lateral, single caudal and single pteronotal support projection.  Adult males and females differ in coloration, structure of pronotum, presence of spine like process on mesosternum and, in the structure of male and female genitalia.

Courtney A. C. Coon, L. García‐Longoria, Lynn B. Martin et al.

Drosou Foteini, Yang Enoch, Marinea Marina et al.

Pulsed electric fields (PEF) is a non-thermal processing technology that uses instantaneous, pulses of high voltage for a short period in the range of milliseconds to microseconds; the application of high intensity electric field on toasted wood chips leads to a quick diffusion of extractable molecules. Currently most PEF studies, in the field of oenology, have been focusing on the application of PEF as a pretreatment of grape musts by examining the microbial inactivation and the enhancement of polyphenol extraction. In this study a post-treatment of wine is introduced as method to enhance the wood flavor in the wine with a green noninvasive technology. Major phenolic aldehydes that have been identified as the characteristic compounds of oak volatile compounds were selected as markers and were analyzed instrumentally to compare the influence of PEF processing to non-treated samples. PEF treated samples brought about higher concentrations of the examined oak compounds in the samples treated with PEF, which may explain the advantages of its application. The modulation of the intensity of the electric field and the period of pulses influenced the concentrations of the volatile phenols that were leached out. Differences found between the assayed treatments indicate that PEF application could be a potential practice for a rapid extraction of volatile compounds from oak.

Hongbing Han, Yonghe Ma, Tao Wang et al.

11 Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement,College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China2 State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China3 State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

W. Fink, S. Weitzman

Bender Angelica, Costa Vagner Brasil, Caliari Vinícius et al.

This study aims to evaluate the evolution of the maturation of the “Chardonnay” grape variety for the preparation of juices and its adequacy to the current legislation. Grapes from the 2015 harvest from São Lourenço do Sul-RS were used. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial design, with the treatment factor being the maturation stages. The physicochemical analysis of titratable acidity, soluble solids, relative density, total sugar, alcohol content, volatile acidity and SS/TA ratio were carried out in EPAGRI – Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina, in the Videira Experimental Station (Videira SC/Brazil). Statistical analysis of the maturation stages was given by linear regression models. When comparing the maturation points of 17∘Brix and 19∘Brix to 15∘Brix, volatile acidity and alcohol content did not fit to the model, while the other tested variables fit properly. Elaborated juices had a decrease in titratable acidity and percentage increments for soluble solids, SS/TA ratio and total sugars for the harvest points at 17 and 19∘Brix. For 15∘Brix and 17∘Brix, nonconformity was observed with the identity and quality standards in relation to soluble solids and SS/TA ratio and relative density. At maturation point 19∘Brix all variables were found to be consistent.

M. Colloff, J. Ayres, F. Carswell et al.

B. Swedmark