Comparison of materials for rapid passive collection of environmental DNA

Passive collection is an emerging sampling method for environmental DNA (eDNA) in aquatic systems. Passive eDNA collection is inexpensive, efficient, and requires minimal equipment, making it suited to high density sampling and remote deployment. Here, we compare the effectiveness of nine membrane materials for passively collecting fish eDNA from a 3 million litre marine mesocosm. We submerged materials (cellulose, cellulose with 1% and 3% chitosan, cellulose overlayed with electrospun nanofibers and 1% chitosan, cotton fibres, hemp fibres and sponge with either zeolite or active carbon) for intervals between five and 1080 minutes. We show that for most materials, with as little as five minutes submersion, mitochondrial fish eDNA measured with qPCR, and fish species richness measured with metabarcoding, was comparable to that collected by conventional filtering. Furthermore, PCR template DNA concentrations and species richness were generally not improved significantly by longer submersion. Species richness detected for all materials ranged between 11 to 37 species, with a median of 27, which was comparable to the range for filtered eDNA (19-32). Using scanning electron microscopy, we visualised biological matter adhered to the surface of materials, rather than entrapped, with images also revealing a diversity in size and structure of putative eDNA particles. Environmental DNA can be collected rapidly from seawater with a passive approach and using a variety of materials. This will suit cost and time-sensitive biological surveys, and where access to equipment is limited.

Comparison of materials for rapid passive collection of environmental DNA

Passive collection is an emerging sampling method for environmental DNA (eDNA) in aquatic systems. Passive eDNA collection is inexpensive, efficient, and requires minimal equipment, making it suited to high density sampling and remote deployment. Here, we compare the effectiveness of nine membrane materials for passively collecting fish eDNA from a 3 million litre marine mesocosm. We submerged materials (cellulose, cellulose with 1% and 3% chitosan, cellulose overlayed with electrospun nanofibers and 1% chitosan, cotton fibres, hemp fibres and sponge with either zeolite or active carbon) for intervals between five and 1080 minutes. We show that for most materials, with as little as five minutes submersion, mitochondrial fish eDNA measured with qPCR, and fish species richness measured with metabarcoding, was comparable to that collected by conventional filtering. Furthermore, PCR template DNA concentrations and species richness were generally not improved significantly by longer submersion. Species richness detected for all materials ranged between 11 to 37 species, with a median of 27, which was comparable to the range for filtered eDNA (19-32). Using scanning electron microscopy, we visualised biological matter adhered to the surface of materials, rather than entrapped, with images also revealing a diversity in size and structure of putative eDNA particles. Environmental DNA can be collected rapidly from seawater with a passive approach and using a variety of materials. This will suit cost and time-sensitive biological surveys, and where access to equipment is limited.

ANALYSIS OF THE PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT WOVEN STRUCTURES WITH POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS IN THE HEALTHCARE AND HYGIENE SECTO

This study aimed at creating different woven textile fabrics with potential applications related to healthcare and hygiene by using textile yarns obtained from diverse fibre blends and by varying the structural parameters of the fabrics. Four different weave patterns were used to create the fabrics: warp rib, 2/2 twill, 2/2-pointed twill and hopsack. Cotton fibres were mostly used, but fibres made from regenerated cellulose with extra antibacterial properties (silver ions) and from ultra-high tenacity polyethylene (UHMWPE) were also used in different proportions. The choice and combination of these types of yarns, along with the rational design for making the fabrics contribute to supporting the sustainability of the textile field, improving the quality of life of people, especially those with special needs (the elderly, people with disabilities, or people with various diseases that limit their free movement) and also ensuring a longer usage time and manifestation of functionalities. A comparative analysis regarding the influence of structural parameters, but also the influence of fibre types on the physico-mechanical performance of the created fabrics was made.

EKSPLORASI ETNOMATEMATIKA PADA KAIN TENUN IKAT MASYARAKAT SIKKA

This research aims to find out; mathematical concepts on Sikka ikat woven fabric; Geometric shapes contained in the equipment of making Sikka ikat woven fabric. The type of research used is qualitative research with an ethnographic approach. The results showed the existence of geometric shapes on the motif of Sikka ikat is woven fabric and its manufacturing tools. Geometric form found in Sikka ikat woven fabric motif is Korosang Manu Walu motif in the form of two intersecting lines; Ekon Leben's motif is circular; Medeng motif in the form of a ketupat; Motifs in a square, triangular, and ketupat shaped motifs; Motif in hexagon-shaped plapat; the motif of the butuk shaped in the form of a straight line; Welan motif in the shape of a triangle. the geometric form is found in the equipment of making Sikka ikat woven fabric that is keho tool to separate seeds with cotton) in the form of two parallel lines; wetir (a tool to tann cotton fibres) in the form of two parallel lines; Jata (tool for spinning cotton) in the form of a circle; Another (tool for deciphering threads) in the form of line segments; Seler (a tool for rolling threads into clumps) in the form of two intersecting lines; Plapan Pete (thread stretching tool) rectangular in shape; Unu Tana (earth pot for cooking dye) in the form of balls; Plapan Stylist Motif (a tool to decipher threads that have been coloured) in the form of a rectangle; Legun (where the thread roll) is tube-shaped; Tu'un (tool for weavers leaning on the feet when weaving) in the form of beams.

ANALYSIS OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME HIGHTECH YARNS WITH DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS

We live in a knowledge-based society, which is facing an increasing impact of science and technology on all aspects of life through products, services and consumer needs. In the future, society will be oriented towards the individual and his needs, which will be more and more complex and varied. The present paper comparatively presents a series of variants of cotton fibre yarns: made of blended cotton fibres with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibres; yarns of cotton fibres blended with regenerated cellulose fibres, that were functionalized with Ag ions and yarns obtained from fibre blends of recycled organic cotton, virgin cotton with recovered cotton fibres in order to observe their mechanical potential. The built-in functionalities allow their use in areas such as healthcare and hygiene, sports and leisure activities. The recovery of textile waste in a circular approach and the transition to a circular economy is an important direction for research. The repercussions that the consumption of raw materials in the textile industry has, on the environment, as well as on sustainability, determine us to reason in a judicious way when we select the different materials that we use in making the products.

Heat Stress in Cotton: A Review on Predicted and Unpredicted Growth-Yield Anomalies and Mitigating Breeding Strategies

The demand for cotton fibres is increasing due to growing global population while its production is facing challenges from an unpredictable rise in temperature owing to rapidly changing climatic conditions. High temperature stress is a major stumbling block relative to agricultural production around the world. Therefore, the development of thermo-stable cotton cultivars is gaining popularity. Understanding the effects of heat stress on various stages of plant growth and development and its tolerance mechanism is a prerequisite for initiating cotton breeding programs to sustain lint yield without compromising its quality under high temperature stress conditions. Thus, cotton breeders should consider all possible options, such as developing superior cultivars through traditional breeding, utilizing molecular markers and transgenic technologies, or using genome editing techniques to obtain desired features. Therefore, this review article discusses the likely effects of heat stress on cotton plants, tolerance mechanisms, and possible breeding strategies.

Starokršćanske staklene svjetiljke

Glass lamps are important element of Early Christian material culture. They are almost inevitable part of liturgical furnishings of church interiors from the second half of the fourth century onwards. Their significance is attested by numerous historical sources and visual depictions. They are common find in the churches and necropolae where they can have simbolic meaning also. Their typology can be divided into five basic forms: cup/bowls (Uboldi I), conical lamps (Uboldi II), lamps with base knob (Uboldi III), funnel-shaped lamps (Uboldi IV), chalice-shaped lamps (Uboldi V), mostly dated from the end of the 4th century to the 8th century. Glass lamps consisted of glass vessels filled with water and oil layer with a floating wick which could be made of flax or cotton fibres or obtained from some other plant fibres. They represented a technological advancement in comparison to clay and metal oil lamps since oil and water, together with transparent vessel, enabled much stronger light with the same amount of used oil. In addition to glass parts, elements of lighting device also comprised wick holders and metal elements (monocandela and polycandela) that enabled suspension of lamps.