Biological aspects of Hypostomus affinis (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) in Brazilian coastal rivers

Aim Determine the length-weight relationship (LWR), the period of reproduction, and evaluate the variation of the condition factor (K) of Hypostomus affinis from two coastal drainages in southeastern Brazil, assessing the influence of the rainfall on these biological aspects. Methods fish were sampled quarterly between April 2008 and April 2010 in tributaries of the Doce River basin (DRB) and the Paraíba do Sul River basin (PSRB). Specimens were caught using gillnets. LWR parameters were assessed by location and sex through a t-test. We used the frequency of mature specimens (FM) to evaluate the breeding period. Both FM and K values were assessed by a sinusoidal equation. Results A total of 492 specimens was captured, of which 128 were from the Doce River basin (DRB) and 364 from the Paraíba do Sul River basin (PSRB). In both areas, specimens showed a negative allometric growth type. We collected mature specimens along the studied period in both drainages, with the highest frequency observed at the beginning of the rainy season. We found a positive correlation between the rate of matures and the local rainfall variation. The condition factor (K) was lower for specimens from DRB and did not show a cyclic trend. On the other hand, we observed a cyclic chance of the K values for the individual from the PSRB, peaking in the transitional dry-rainy period. However, it was not possible to correlate it to the rainfall variation. Conclusions LWR parameters of H. affinis were consistent with data already available in the literature. The rainfall may influence the FM but not the K values. In this case, biological characteristics such as reproduction and (or) feeding may be jointly driving a discrete variation of K values. The reduction in K values in the rainy periods suggests a remarkable energetic cost for the reproductive process. In short, our results help us to understand the life cycle of a fish species within a highly modified environment, especially by dams.

Analysis technology of a bank’s competitive position in the deposit market

The structurally balanced resource base of a bank determines its ability to achieve its goals and, as a result, its performance and has a decisive impact on the reproductive process in the economy by converting borrowed funds into investments. Despite a significant reduction in the number of banks over the past 10 years (from 175 to 73), the deposit market is a highly competitive environment. This necessitates the search for approaches to the formation of deposit resources that are adequate to modern conditions, aimed at their stabilization and sufficiency. The objective of the study is to develop a technology for analyzing a bank’s competitive position in the deposit market, which is the basis for choosing a strategy for managing the formation and use of the bank’s deposit resources. The technology of analysis of the bank’s competitive position in the deposit market consists of the following stages: building a system of indicators characterizing the formation and use of bank’s deposit resources, calculation and analysis of integrated taxonomic indicators of the formation and use of a bank’s deposit resources, developing the “formation of a bank’s deposit resources – use of a bank’s deposit resources” matrix, positioning of banks in this matrix, determining the strategies for the formation and use of a bank’s deposit resources, and making appropriate management decisions and their implementation. The proposed technology has been tested on the example of existing banks in Ukraine as of January 1, 2021. Its use allows determining the current competitive position of a bank in the deposit market and choosing a strategy for managing the formation and use of deposit resources from the proposed: preservation, activation, balancing, directed action, intensification, and aggressive strategy.

ZDHHC19 localizes to the cell membrane of spermatids and is involved in spermatogenesis

Sperm is the ultimate executor of male reproductive function. Normal morphology, quantity, and motility of sperm ensure the normal reproductive process. Palmitoylation is a posttranslational modification mediated by palmitoyltransferases whereby palmitoyl is added to proteins. Seven palmitoyltransferases have been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and 23 in humans (including ZDHHC1–9 and ZDHHC11–24), with corresponding homologs in mice. We identified two testis-specific palmitoyltransferases ZDHHC11 and ZDHHC19 in mice. The Zdhhc11 and Zdhhc19-knockout mouse models were constructed, and it was found that the Zdhhc11 knockout males were fertile, while Zdhhc19 knockout males were sterile. ZDHHC19 is located in the cell membrane of step 4–9 spermatids in the mouse testis, and phenotypic analysis showed that the testicular weight ratio in the Zdhhc19−/− mice decreased along with the number and motility of the sperm decreased, while sperm abnormalities increased, mainly due to the “folded” abnormal sperm caused by sperm membrane fusion, suggesting the involvement of ZDHHC19 in maintaining membrane stability in the male reproductive system. In addition, Zdhhc19−/− mice showed abnormal sperm morphologies and apoptosis during spermatogenesis, suggesting that spermatogenesis in the Zdhhc19−/− mice was abnormal. These results indicate that ZDHHC19 promotes membrane stability in male germ cells. Summary sentence: ZDHHC19 is located in the cell membrane of Step4–9 spermatids in mouse testis; Zdhhc19 knockout mice showed male infertility, abnormal spermatogenesis, sperm morphology and motility.

Roles of Noncoding RNA in Reproduction

The World Health Organization predicts that infertility will be the third major health threat after cancer and cardiovascular disease, and will become a hot topic in medical research. Studies have shown that epigenetic changes are an important component of gametogenesis and related reproductive diseases. Epigenetic regulation of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) is appropriate and is a research hotspot in the biomedical field; these include long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA). As vital members of the intracellular gene regulatory network, they affect various life activities of cells. LncRNA functions as a molecular bait, molecular signal and molecular scaffold in the body through molecular guidance. miRNAs are critical regulators of gene expression; they mainly control the stability or translation of their target mRNA after transcription. piRNA functions mainly through silencing genomic transposable elements and the post-transcriptional regulation of mRNAs in animal germ cells. Current studies have shown that these ncRNAs also play significant roles in the reproductive system and are involved in the regulation of essential cellular events in spermatogenesis and follicular development. The abnormal expression of ncRNA is closely linked to testicular germ cell tumors, poly cystic ovary syndrome and other diseases. This paper briefly presents the research on the reproductive process and reproductive diseases involving ncRNAs.

1D reconfigurable bistable photonic device composed of phase change material for detection of reproductive female hormones

In this manuscript one-dimensional (1D) photonic biosensor (PQ) N GDG(PQ) N composed of phase change material (PCM) germanium antimony telluride (GST) has been studied in visible region of electromagnetic spectrum. This design is capable of label free recognition of reproductive hormones of female which are significant during reproductive process such as menstruation and parturition. The proposed structure is composed of an air cavity separated by two buffer layers of GST material. The GST buffer layers have been used to improve the sensing performance of the structure. The modified cavity associated with buffer GST layers is sandwiched between two 1D photonic structures (PS) (PQ) N . Both 1D PS are consisted of alternate material layers of SiO2 and Si of period 5. The transmission spectra of proposed design have been obtained by using transfer matrix method and MATLAB software. In this work the performance of the devise has been investigated for normal and oblique incidence corresponding to TE wave only under the influence of change of phases of GST. The mainstay of this research is focused on the tunable performance of proposed bio-sensing design due to switching between amorphous phase (aGST) and crystalline phase (cGST) of GST. Moreover how the change in the thickness of cavity region as well as angle of incidence corresponding to TE wave affects the performance of the design has also been studied. The sensitivity, quality factor and figure of merit values of the design have also been studied to get deep insight about the sensing capabilities of the proposed design under the influence of crystalline and amorphous phases of GST. Thus due to simple architecture and excellent switchable and reconfigurable characteristics, our structure works efficiently in industrial and biomedical refractive index based sensing applications.

On the reproductive mechanisms of Gram-positive protocells

Bacterial protoplasts are believed to reproduce in a haphazard manner. Their unregulated method of reproduction is considered the simplest of all known forms of cell replication. In the present study, we attempted to understand the evolutionary significance and physiochemical mechanisms behind this process. Here we transformed a Gram-positive bacterium into sack of cytoplasm, incapable of regulating either its morphology or reproductive processes. As such primitive (proto)cells devoid of molecular biological processes could have been native to early Earth, we grew these cells under environmental conditions of early Earth. We then monitored these cells at regular intervals to understand if they can grow and reproduce under these conditions. In our incubations, cells exhibited a multi-stage reproductive cycle resulting in viable daughter cells. What was previously thought to be a chaotic reproductive process, could in fact be well explained from a physicochemical perspective. Both morphology and reproductive process of these cells were determined by chemical and self-assembling properties of their cell constituents rather than the information encoded in their genome. Despite its haphazard appearance, we propose that the reproductive process of bacterial protoplasts is better optimized for environmental conditions of early Earth and could be reminiscent of protocell reproductive processes.Abstract Figure

Anti-Crisis Stability of Break-Even Development Potential and its Resource Support in Agribusiness

The article considers the anti-crisis stability of the potential of break-even development and its resource support in agribusiness. The necessity of a synergetic approach to estimating the dynamic flow of resources capable of generating own sources of financing to activate the target parameters of crisis stability of break-even development potential and the development of an alternative scenario of self-financing of the production and financial cycle to stimulate economic growth of agribusiness is proved. The reproductive process of resource support of anti-crisis stability of the potential for safe development of agribusiness enterprises is substantiated. The model of estimation of target parameters of anti-crisis stability of potential of unprofitable development of agrarian business and a matrix of its point estimation at a choice of the alternative scenario of self-financing is presented. Scenarios of the flow of resource support of anti-crisis stability of the potential of unprofitable development of the agribusiness enterprise are developed. An indicator of the level of anti-crisis stability of the break-even development potential according to the determined target parameters of self-financing is offered. The dynamics of anti-crisis factor load on the stability of the potential of break-even development of agribusiness enterprises on average in one region of the Steppe zone of Ukraine by its territorial location is analyzed. Cluster analysis was used to assess the elements of the qualitative system-resource component of anti-crisis stability of the potential of break-even development with the separation of types of agribusiness enterprises in the regions of the Steppe zone of Ukraine with different structure of current assets. The forecast level of resource support according to the quantitative component of anti-crisis stability of the potential of break-even development on average in the regions of the Steppe zone of Ukraine and per one agribusiness enterprise of the region is determined. The forecast range of limits of target parameters of self-financing and their influence on the level of anti-crisis stability of potential of unprofitable development of agribusiness enterprises on the average on one region of the Steppe zone is presented

Reducing ecological risk from the impacts of introduced exotic species in forestry industry: Limiting the invasiveness through a management and biological practices in Acacias plantation in Indonesia

Balance benefit of ecological, economic, and social is a part of sustainable forest management. Industrial forest plantation is one of the ecological practices through increasing land cover to provide a good impact for economic and social. Introducing suitable species for industry from out of regions is commonly practiced in the plantation. In Indonesia, some Acacias species have been recognized as major plantation species to meet industrial requirements that are economically feasible, suited to major end-product, high productivity, and fast growth. However, some studies have classified the Acacias as exotic species which potentially show an invasive. Taking into account such invasiveness and anticipating ecological risk, this paper presents some considerations on plantation management and biological practices of the Acacias. Compromises among the reproductive system, growth, and rotation in the plantation management could limit the invasiveness. Besides high stand productivity, results from genetic and breeding could also provide a positive impact to diminish the reproductive process of trees that consequently reduce seeds in the Acacias plantation and limit its invasiveness. It concludes that some considerations and a good understanding of biological factors in plantation management practices could reduce ecological risk from the invasiveness of Acacias, and even it could be used for increasing plantation productivity.

Analysis of Expression Profiles of CircRNA and MiRNA in Oviduct during the Follicular and Luteal Phases of Sheep with Two Fecundity (FecB Gene) Genotypes

CircRNA and miRNA, as classes of non-coding RNA, have been found to play pivotal roles in sheep reproduction. There are many reports of circRNA and miRNA in the ovary and uterus, but few in the oviduct. In this study, RNA-Seq was performed to analyze the expression profile of circRNA and miRNA in the oviduct during the follicular phase and luteal phase of sheep with FecBBB and FecB++ genotypes. The results showed that a total of 3223 circRNAs and 148 miRNAs were identified. A total of 15 DE circRNAs and 40 DE miRNAs were found in the comparison between the follicular phase and luteal phase, and 1 DE circRNA and 18 DE miRNAs were found in the comparison between the FecBBB genotype and FecB++ genotype. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the host genes of DE circRNAs were mainly enriched in the Rap1 signaling pathway, PI3K–Akt signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand–receptor interactions. Novel_circ_0004065, novel_circ_0005109, novel_circ_0012086, novel_circ_0014274 and novel_circ_0001794 were found to be possibly involved in the oviductal reproduction process. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the target genes of DE miRNAs were mainly enriched in insulin secretion, the cAMP signaling pathway, the cGMP–PKG signaling pathway, the Rap1 signaling pathway and the TGF-β signaling pathway, and the target genes LPAR1, LPAR2, FGF18, TACR3, BMP6, SMAD4, INHBB, SKP1 and TGFBR2 were found to be associated with the reproductive process. Miranda software was used to identify 27 miRNAs that may bind to 13 DE circRNAs, including miR-22-3p (target to novel_circ_0004065), miR-127, miR-136 (target to novel_circ_0000417), miR-27a (target to novel_circ_0014274) and oar-miR-181a (target to novel_circ_ 0017815). The results of this study will help to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs and miRNAs in sheep reproduction. Our study, although not establishing direct causal relationships of the circRNA and miRNA changes, enriches the sheep circRNA and miRNA database and provides a basis for further studies on sheep reproduction.

Natural (natural resource) capital: development and essential content of the concept

The capital-forming function of natural resources is currently not questioned within the frame-work of various directions of economic thought. However, the process of realizing their role and place in the reproductive process has a rather long history. In this context, the article presents the author's view on the genesis and development of the concept of natural capital from the first attempts to identify the participation of natural resources in the process of value formation to modern approaches to postulating the essential content of this capital’s form and identifying its constituent elements.