Scaling of cellular proteome with ploidy

Ploidy changes are frequent in nature and contribute to evolution, functional specialization and tumorigenesis. Analysis of model organisms of different ploidies revealed that increased ploidy leads to an increase in cell and nuclear volume, reduced proliferation, metabolic changes, lower fitness, and increased genomic instability, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. To investigate how the gene expression changes with cellular ploidy, we analyzed isogenic series of budding yeasts from 1N to 4N. We show that mRNA and protein abundance scales allometrically with ploidy, with tetraploid cells showing only threefold increase in proteins compared to haploids. This ploidy-specific scaling occurs via decreased rRNA and ribosomal protein abundance and reduced translation. We demonstrate that the Tor1 activity is reduced with increasing ploidy, which leads to rRNA gene repression via a novel Tor1-Sch9-Tup1 signaling pathway. mTORC1 and S6K activity are also reduced in human tetraploid cells and the concomitant increase of the Tup1 homolog Tle1 downregulates the rDNA transcription. Our results revealed a novel conserved mTORC1-S6K-Tup1/Tle1 pathway that ensures proteome remodeling in response to increased ploidy.

Joint transmutation of stable Cs and Sr isotopes in microbiological systems and prospects for accelerated deactivation of liquid radioactive waste

It was found during the research that in the experimental and control bioreactors, which at the beginning of the experiments contained only cesium and strontium, by the end of the experiments, yttrium and barium were found. These isotopes are formed as a result of low-energy nuclear reactions involving protons. In addition, in experimental bioreactors with an optimal composition, a two to threefold increase in the concentration of yttrium was recorded in comparison with the control non-optimal experiments. Accumulation of strontium and cesium in biomass was registered, which is explained by the process of biosorption. It is known that biosorption is the first step towards nuclear transformation (biotransmutation). At the same time, one of the main conditions for the nuclear transformation of biomass elements is its maximum efficient growth. An unexpected fact discovered during the experiment is that yttrium and barium were also found in the control bioreactor, where no biomass was added before the experiment, but only deionized water, glucose, and the initial stable cesium and strontium salts. It is important to note that these elements were not detected in the analysis of the initial salts, substrates, and deionized water. Most likely, the presence of yttrium and barium is due to inoculation of the control fluid of the bioreactor (where no biomass pellets were added) with microorganisms from the experimental bioreactors during their periodic opening for taking current pH samples and adding glucose. Also, the work recorded a decrease in the content of cesium and strontium in the liquid by 20% and 55%, respectively, which goes beyond the statistical error.

Enhanced Pyroelectric Performance of Lead-Free Zn-Doped Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3-BaTiO3 Ceramics

Lead-free Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3-BaTiO3 (NBT-BT) has gained revived interest due to its exceptionally good high power properties in comparison to commercial lead-based piezoelectrics. Recently, Zn-modified NBT-BT-based materials as solid solution and composites have been reported to exhibit enhanced depolarization temperatures and a high mechanical quality factor. In this work, the pyroelectric properties of Zn-doped NBT-6mole%BT and NBT-9mole%BT ceramics are investigated. The doped compositions of NBT-6BT and NBT-9BT feature a relatively stable pyroelectric property in a wide temperature range of ~37 K (300–330 K) and 80 K (300–380 K), respectively. A threefold increase in detector figure of merit is noted for 0.01 mole Zn-doped NBT-6mole% BT at room temperature in comparison to undoped NBT-6mole%BT and this increase is higher than those of major lead-free materials. A broad range of the temperature-independent behavior for the figures of merit was noted (303–380 K) for Zn-doped NBT-6mole% BT, which is 30 K higher than the undoped material. The large pyroelectric figures of merit and good temperature stability renders Zn-doped NBT-BT an ideal candidate for pyroelectric detector and energy harvesting applications.

Over 20 Years of Machine Learning Applications on Dairy Farms: A Comprehensive Mapping Study

Machine learning applications are becoming more ubiquitous in dairy farming decision support applications in areas such as feeding, animal husbandry, healthcare, animal behavior, milking and resource management. Thus, the objective of this mapping study was to collate and assess studies published in journals and conference proceedings between 1999 and 2021, which applied machine learning algorithms to dairy farming-related problems to identify trends in the geographical origins of data, as well as the algorithms, features and evaluation metrics and methods used. This mapping study was carried out in line with PRISMA guidelines, with six pre-defined research questions (RQ) and a broad and unbiased search strategy that explored five databases. In total, 129 publications passed the pre-defined selection criteria, from which relevant data required to answer each RQ were extracted and analyzed. This study found that Europe (43% of studies) produced the largest number of publications (RQ1), while the largest number of articles were published in the Computers and Electronics in Agriculture journal (21%) (RQ2). The largest number of studies addressed problems related to the physiology and health of dairy cows (32%) (RQ3), while the most frequently employed feature data were derived from sensors (48%) (RQ4). The largest number of studies employed tree-based algorithms (54%) (RQ5), while RMSE (56%) (regression) and accuracy (77%) (classification) were the most frequently employed metrics used, and hold-out cross-validation (39%) was the most frequently employed evaluation method (RQ6). Since 2018, there has been more than a sevenfold increase in the number of studies that focused on the physiology and health of dairy cows, compared to almost a threefold increase in the overall number of publications, suggesting an increased focus on this subdomain. In addition, a fivefold increase in the number of publications that employed neural network algorithms was identified since 2018, in comparison to a threefold increase in the use of both tree-based algorithms and statistical regression algorithms, suggesting an increasing utilization of neural network-based algorithms.

The Costs of Complications and Unplanned Readmissions after Pancreatoduodenectomy for Pancreatic and Periampullary Tumors: Results from a Single Academic Center

Background/Objectives: Complications after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) lead to unplanned readmissions (UR), with a two- to threefold increase in admission costs. In this study, we aimed to create an understanding of the costs of complications and UR in this patient group. Furthermore, we aimed to generate a detailed cost overview that can be used to build a theoretical model to calculate the cost efficacy for prehabilitation. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using the Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Audit (DPCA) database of patients who underwent a PD at our institute between 2013 and 2017. The total costs of the index hospital admission and UR related to the PD were collected. Results: Of the 160 patients; 35 patients (22%) had an uncomplicated course; 87 patients (54%) had minor complications, and 38 patients (24%) had severe complications. Median costs for an uncomplicated course were EUR 25.682, and for a complicated course, EUR 32.958 (p = 0.001). The median costs for minor complications were EUR 30.316, and for major complications, EUR 42.664 (p = 0.001). Costs were related to the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). The median costs of patients with one or more UR were EUR 41.199. Conclusions: Complications after PD led to a EUR 4.634–EUR 16.982 (18–66%) increase in hospital costs. A UR led to a cost increase of EUR 12.567 (44%). Since hospital costs are directly related to the CCI, reduction in complications will lead to cost-effectiveness.

Retrospection of heatwave and heat index

The frequency and intensity of extreme events especially heat waves (HW) are growing all around the world which ultimately poses a serious threat to the health of individuals. To quantify the effects of extreme temperature, appropriate information, and the importance of HW and heat index (HI) are carefully discussed for different parts of the world. Varied definitions of the HW and HI formula proposed and used by different countries are carried out systematically continent-wise. Different studies highlighted the number of definitions of HW; however, mostly used Steadman’s formulae, which was developed in the late 1970s, for the calculation of HI that uses surface air temperature and relative humidity as climatic fields. Since then, dramatic changes in climatic conditions have been observed as evident from the ERA5 datasets which need to be addressed; likewise, the definition of HW, which is modified by the researchers as per the geographic conditions. It is evident from the ERA5 data that the temperature has increased by 1–2 °C as compared to the 1980s. There is a threefold increase in the number of heatwave days over most of the continents in the last 40 years. This study will help the researcher community to understand the importance of HW and HI. Furthermore, it opens the scope to develop an equation based on the present scenario keeping in mind the basics of an index as considered by Steadman.

Accelerated decline of genome heterogeneity in the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

In the brief time since the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, and despite its proofreading mechanism, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has accumulated a significant amount of genetic variability through recombination and mutation events. To test evolutionary trends that could inform us on the adaptive process of the virus to its human host, we summarize all this variability in the Sequence Compositional Complexity (SCC), a measure of genome heterogeneity that captures the mutational and recombinational changes accumulated by a nucleotide sequence along time. Despite the brief time elapsed, we detected many differences in the number and length of compositional domains, as well as in their nucleotide frequencies, in more than 12,000 high-quality coronavirus genomes from across the globe. These differences in SCC are phylogenetically structured, as revealed by significant phylogenetic signal. Phylogenetic ridge regression shows that SCC followed a generalized decreasing trend along the ongoing process of pathogen evolution. In contrast, SCC evolutionary rate increased with time, showing that it accelerates toward the present. In addition, a low rate set of genomes was detected in all the genome groups, suggesting the existence of a stepwise distribution of rates, a strong indication of selection in favor of different dominant strains. Coronavirus variants reveal an exacerbation of this trend: non-significant SCC regression, low phylogenetic signal and, concomitantly, a threefold increase in the evolutionary rate. Altogether, these results show an accelerated decline of genome heterogeneity along with the SARS CoV 2 pandemic expansion, a process that might be related to viral adaptation to the human host, perhaps paralleling the transformation of the current pandemic to epidemic.

Morphology and Anatomy of Branch–Branch Junctions in Opuntia ficus-indica and Cylindropuntia bigelovii: A Comparative Study Supported by Mechanical Tissue Quantification

The Opuntioideae include iconic cacti whose lateral branch–branch junctions are intriguing objects from a mechanical viewpoint. We have compared Opuntia ficus-indica, which has stable branch connections, with Cylindropuntia bigelovii, whose side branches abscise under slight mechanical stress. To determine the underlying structures and mechanical characteristics of these stable versus shedding cacti junctions, we conducted magnetic resonance imaging, morphometric and anatomical analyses of the branches and tensile tests of individual tissues. The comparison revealed differences in geometry, shape and material properties as follows: (i) a more pronounced tapering of the cross-sectional area towards the junctions supports the abscission of young branches of C. bigelovii. (ii) Older branches of O. ficus-indica form, initially around the branch–branch junctions, collar-shaped periderm tissue. This secondary coverage mechanically stiffens the dermal tissue, giving a threefold increase in strength and a tenfold increase in the elastic modulus compared with the epidermis. (iii) An approximately 200-fold higher elastic modulus of the vascular bundles of O. ficus-indica is a prerequisite for the stable junction of its young branches. Our results provide, for both biological and engineered materials systems, important insights into the geometric characteristics and mechanical properties of branching joints that are either stable or easily detachable.

Mathematical modeling of electricity production by a PV installation for the conditions of the Republic of Mari El

The authors built a mathematical model of the production of electricity by a PV installation with a grid inverter, intended for power supply of a rural residential building, for the conditions of the central part of the Republic of Mari El. Authors considered several options for the PV system: fixed-tilt PV panels, PV panels with a solar tracking system and a concentrator PV system. The most effective in terms of the electricity sold is the concentrator PV system. Compared to the version of the system with fixed-tilt PV panels, the use of concentrators provides a more than threefold increase (with a solar radiation concentration factor of 2) in the annual volume of electricity sold. For the variant of the system with PV panels with the solar tracking system (without concentrators), the analogous figure is 18.4%. The cost of electricity sold per year (at a price of 3.2 rubles / kWh) for three variants of the system will be: the system with fixed-tilt PV panels – 9140 rubles, the system with PV panels with the solar tracking system - 10820 rubles, the concentrator PV system - 30250 rubles. Keywords: PV INSTALLATION, MATHEMATICAL MODELING, VOLUME OF SOLD ELECTRICITY

Implications of captive breeding for the reintroduction of the Saker falcon (Falco cherrug) in Bulgaria

The Saker falcon (Falco cherrug) is a globally endangered species recovered in 2018 in Bulgaria. The only known active pair currently breeding in the wild in the country is made up of captive-bred and released birds, part of the first reintroduction programme for the species in Bulgaria and globally. As part of the project, sourced Saker falcons of known European origin are bred ex situ, the juveniles are parent-reared and released in the wild by means of the hacking method. The aim of this study was to evaluate the success and effectiveness of the captive breeding and rearing methods. The objective of the study was to investigate, compare and assess the results from fertilization, hatching, survival and hacking of captive bred Saker falcons registered over a 10-year period (2011-2021) at the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre (WRBC) Green Balkans, with a more detailed comparison of the breeding activities carried out in 2020 and 2021 (as the reintroduction programme was restarted in 2020). The results show more than threefold increase in output of laid eggs with the employment of the double clutching method in 2020 and 2021, and an overall 65% release rate of the hatched in the WRBC Saker falcons, for the investigated period.