The effect of genotype and sex on carcass characteristics and fatty acid profile of Pekin broiler ducks.

The aim of this study was to compare two different strains of Pekin duck and to answer one scientific hypothesis: 1) Strain and sex influence live body weight, hot and cold carcass weights and carcass portions weights and yields, fatty acid content, fatty acid total cholesterol and α-tocopherol contents of meat. The study used 50 individuals of each strain in comparison (Cherry Valley and Grimaud) equally divided between both sexes), raised in equal rearing and feeding conditions. The results show that, when raised in equal rearing and feeding conditions and slaughtered at matching age, the strain had no significant influence on live body weight at slaughter, warm and cold carcass weights.

How to determine hands' vibration perception thresholds - a systematic review.

The vibration perception threshold (VPT) is the minimum amplitude required for conscious vibration perception. VPT assessments are essential in medical diagnostics, safety, and human-machine interaction technologies. However, factors like age, health conditions, and external variables affect VPTs.

Reactivity of hypervalent iodine(III) reagents bearing a benzylamine with sulfenate salts.

The reactivity of our recently disclosed hypervalent iodine reagents (HIRs) bearing a benzylamine with in situ-generated sulfenate salts was investigated. Under the studied conditions sulfonamides have been obtained in up to 52% yield. This reaction has been extended to a variety of HIRs and sulfenate salts to explore the different reactivity of these new reagents.

Exploring glioma heterogeneity through omics networks: from gene network discovery to causal insights and patient stratification.

Gliomas are primary malignant brain tumors with a typically poor prognosis, exhibiting significant heterogeneity across different cancer types. Each glioma type possesses distinct molecular characteristics determining patient prognosis and therapeutic options. This study aims to explore the molecular complexity of gliomas at the transcriptome level, employing a comprehensive approach grounded in network discovery.

Integration of spectroscopic techniques and machine learning for optimizing Phaeodactylum tricornutum cell and fucoxanthin productivity.

The development of sustainable and controlled microalgae bioprocesses relies on robust and rapid monitoring tools that facilitate continuous process optimization, ensuring high productivity and minimizing response times. In this work, we analyse the influence of medium formulation on the growth and productivity of axenic Phaeodactylum tricornutumcultures and use the resulting data to develop machine learning (ML) models based on spectroscopy. Our culture assays produced a comprehensive dataset of 255 observations, enabling us to train 55 (24+31) robust models that predict cells or fucoxanthin directly from either absorbance or 2D-fluorescence spectroscopy.

Buzz pollination: A theoretical analysis via scaling invariance.

Nearly half of the bee species can perform a fascinating stereotyped behavior to collect pollen grains by vibrating flowers, known as buzz pollination. During the floral visit, these bees mechanically transfer the vibrations produced by their thoracic indirect flight muscles to the flower anther, inducing the movement of the pollen grains and leading them to be released through a small pore or slit placed at the tip of the anther in poricidal flowers. In such flowers, pollen release is affected by the vibrational behavior of buzzing bees, primarily their duration and velocity amplitude.

An Approach for Modeling and Simulation of Virtual Sensors in Automatic Control Systems Using Game Engines and Machine Learning.

We live in an era characterized by Society 4.0 and Industry 4.0 where successive innovations that are more or less disruptive are occurring.

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Flour: Effect of Drying Method and Variety on the Quality and Bioactivity.

Sweet potato ( (L.) Lam.) is a nutrient-dense crop rich in fibre, minerals, and antioxidant compounds, including carotenoids and phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins.

Biotechnological 2-Phenylethanol Production: Recent Developments.

2-Phenylethanol (2-PE) is a key flavor compound with a rose-like scent, used in the cosmetics, perfume, home care and food industries. This aroma compound can be obtained naturally from various flowers, however chemical synthesis is the most used route to meet market demand. The increasing interest in natural products has led to the development of more environmentally friendly alternatives for 2-PE production through biotechnological approaches.

Symmetry Breaking in the Lowest-Lying Excited-State of CCl: Valence Shell Spectroscopy in the 5.0-10.8 eV Photon Energy Range.

We report absolute high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoabsorption cross-sections of carbon tetrachloride (CCl) in the photon energy range 5.0-10.8 eV (248-115 nm).

Advancing Health and Sustainability: A Holistic Approach to Food Production and Dietary Habits.

Producing healthier food requires expertise in methods that yield significant benefits for human health, sustainability, economic growth, cultural heritage, and overall well-being. Investing in conscientious and sustainable food systems can improve individual and planetary quality of life by preventing diseases, delaying ageing, and enhancing well-being. While healthy eating habits begin at home, schools play a pivotal role in reinforcing them from an early age.

Evaluation of smartphone-based cough data in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as a potential predictor of functional disability.

Objectives: Cough dysfunction is a feature of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The cough sounds carry information about the respiratory system and bulbar involvement. Our goal was to explore the association between cough sound characteristics and the respiratory and bulbar functions in ALS.

Monitoring conformational changes in the human neurotransmitter transporter homologue LeuT with F-NMR spectroscopy.

Neurotransmitter:sodium symporters (NSS) reuptake neurotransmitter molecules from the synaptic space through Na-coupled transport. They are thought to work via the alternating access mechanism, exploring multiple configurations dictated by the binding of substrates and ions. Much of the current knowledge about these transporters has been derived from examining the structure of the Leucine Transporter (LeuT), a bacterial counterpart to human NSSs.

New insights in uranium bioremediation by cytochromes of the bacterium G. uraniireducens.

The bacterium Geotalea uraniireducens, commonly found in uranium-contaminated environments, plays a key role in bioremediation strategies by converting the soluble hexavalent form of uranium (U) into less soluble forms (e.g. U.

Uncovering layer by layer the risk of nanoplastics to the environment and human health.

Nanoplastics (NPs), defined as plastic particles with dimensions less than 100 nm, have emerged as a persistent environmental contaminant with potential risk to both environment and human health. Nanoplastics might translocate across biological barriers and accumulate in vital organs, leading to inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity, already reported in several organisms. Disruptions to cellular functions, hormonal balance, and immune responses were also linked to NPs exposure in assays.

Marine cosmetics and the blue bioeconomy: From sourcing to success stories.

As the global population continues to grow, so does the demand for longer, healthier lives and environmentally responsible choices. Consumers are increasingly drawn to naturally sourced products with proven health and wellbeing benefits. The marine environment presents a promising yet underexplored resource for the cosmetics industry, offering bioactive compounds with the potential for safe and biocompatible ingredients.

Tweaking the redox properties of PpcA from Geobacter metallireducens with protein engineering.

Geobacter's unique ability to perform extracellular electron transfer (EET) to electrodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) has sparked the implementation of sustainable production of electrical energy. However, the electrochemical performance of Geobacter's biofilms in MFCs remains challenging to implement industrially. Multiple approaches are being investigated to enhance MFC technologies.

Ecological quality assessment of estuarine macrobenthic communities using an integrative approach.

Macrobenthic communities play a crucial role in the functioning of estuarine ecosystems and serve as bioindicators of environmental quality. This study assessed the ecological quality of an estuarine system using the AMBI and M-AMBI indices. The following parameters were considered: (i) environmental factors (total organic matter, organic carbon, grain size, calcium carbonate), (ii) sediment trace metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Hg, Li, As), (iii) species composition (morphological and molecular identification), and (iv) anthropogenic activities.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA Presence in Outdoor Air of Public Spaces in Valladolid During Winter, 2021.

As SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve and herd immunity establishes, an increasing number of asymptomatic infections have been reported, increasing the risk of airborne spread of the virus. Most of the studies regarding SARS-CoV-2 RNA presence in air refer to indoor environments, with few studies having reported SARS-CoV-2 RNA in outdoor air. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA at two different settings, crowded outdoor versus empty outdoor environments in Valladolid, Spain, during winter 2021.

in Wildlife: Clonal Dynamics and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles, a Systematic Review.

spp. are a genus of Gram-negative, opportunistic bacteria frequently found in the flora of the mucosal membranes of healthy animals and humans, and in the environment. Species of this group can cause serious infections (meningitis, sepsis, bacteraemia, urinary tract infections, liver damage) and possible death in immunocompromised organisms (and even in immunocompetent ones in the case of hypervirulent ) that are exposed to them.

Wastewater Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Slovenia: Key Public Health Tool in Endemic Time of COVID-19.

With the reclassification of COVID-19 as an endemic disease and the relaxation of measures, Slovenia needed a complementary system for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infections. This article provides an overview of the epidemiological situation of SARS-CoV-2 in Slovenia using a wastewater surveillance system, demonstrating its usefulness as a complementary tool in epidemiological surveillance. This study found that estimated SARS-CoV-2 infections in Slovenia peaked in September 2022 and showed a declining trend with subsequent lower peaks in March-April and December 2023, mirroring the trends observed from clinical data.

Water Resistance of Compressed Earth Blocks Stabilised with Thermoactivated Recycled Cement.

Low water resistance is the main shortcoming of unfired earth materials, requiring chemical stabilisation for some durable applications. Ordinary Portland cement (PC) is an efficient stabiliser, but it goes against the ecological and sustainable nature of earth construction. This study explores the use of low-carbon thermoactivated recycled cement (RC) obtained from old cement waste as a new eco-efficient alternative to PC in the stabilisation of compressed earth blocks (CEBs).

Gla Rich Protein (GRP) Mediates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell (VSMC) Osteogenic Differentiation, Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Calcification Propensity, and Immunomodulatory Properties.

Vascular calcification (VC) is a complex process involving vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) osteogenic differentiation, inflammation, and extracellular vesicle (EV) calcification and communication networks. Gla rich protein (GRP) is a calcification inhibitor involved in most of these processes. However, the molecular mechanism of GRP in VC and the specific characteristics, cargo, and functionality of calcifying EVs require further elucidation.

Voice Assessment in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An Exploratory Study on Associations with Bulbar and Respiratory Function.

Background: Speech production is a possible way to monitor bulbar and respiratory functions in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Moreover, the emergence of smartphone-based data collection offers a promising approach to reduce frequent hospital visits and enhance patient outcomes. Here, we studied the relationship between bulbar and respiratory functions with voice characteristics of ALS patients, alongside a speech therapist's evaluation, at the convenience of using a simple smartphone.