Quaternized Amphiphilic Block Copolymers as Antimicrobial Agents

In this study, a novel polystyrene-block-quaternized polyisoprene amphipathic block copolymer (PS-b-PIN) is derived from anionic polymerization. Quaternized polymers are prepared through post-quaternization on a functionalized polymer side chain. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of quaternized polymers without red blood cell (RBCs) hemolysis can be controlled by block composition, side chain length, and polymer morphology. The solvent environment is highly related to the polymer morphology, forming micelles or other structures. The polymersome formation would decrease the hemolysis and increase the electron density or quaternized groups density as previous research and our experiment revealed. Herein, the PS-b-PIN with N,N-dimethyldodecylamine as side chain would form a polymersome structure in the aqueous solution to display the best inhibiting bacterial growth efficiency without hemolytic effect. Therefore, the different single-chain quaternized groups play an important role in the antibacterial action, and act as a controllable factor.

Growth of tench (Tinca tinca L., 1758) (Cyprinidae) in reservoirs of K. Satpayev canal

The reservoirs of the K. Satpayev canal are the important fishery water bodies in the Central Kazakhstan. Some of these reservoirs are inhabited by tench, a fish species relatively widely represented in other water systems of the region. In the reservoirs of the canal this species is not the main commercial one but it has a fairly high commercial value due to its popularity with consumers. As part of the research, the growth indicators of Tinca tinca from 4 reservoirs were evaluated, and the data on its growth from 3 more reservoirs were also provided. These samples differ in efficiency and growth rates. It has been found that there is no sexual or generation variability. Growth rates in successive fish generations strongly correlate with each other, which may indirectly indicate the stability of living conditions. The R. Lee’s phenomenon was not marked. In this regard, the calculation of variables of the von Bertalanffy growth equation was carried out without additional data processing. The highest rates of linear growth were characteristic of Tinca tinca from the reservoir of HS No. 9. However, the effectiveness of its growth scheme was the lowest. Population with a longer age range from the reservoir HS No. 3 did not have high linear growth rates, but its growth efficiency was higher. In this case, it is obvious that any assessment of growth will be relative and depend on the goals set for it. In the reservoirs of the canal there are more or less similar conditions for tench populations living due to the specifics of its functioning. The main limiting factor for the growth rate, in our opinion, will be abundance of the species in the reservoir and related trophic factors with a certain influence of withdrawal (fishing, predators).

The Price of Surviving on Adrenaline: Developmental Programming Responses to Chronic Fetal Hypercatecholaminemia Contribute to Poor Muscle Growth Capacity and Metabolic Dysfunction in IUGR-Born Offspring

Maternofetal stress induces fetal programming that restricts skeletal muscle growth capacity and metabolic function, resulting in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) of the fetus. This thrifty phenotype aids fetal survival but also yields reduced muscle mass and metabolic dysfunction after birth. Consequently, IUGR-born individuals are at greater lifelong risk for metabolic disorders that reduce quality of life. In livestock, IUGR-born animals exhibit poor growth efficiency and body composition, making these animals more costly and less valuable. Specifically, IUGR-associated programming causes a greater propensity for fat deposition and a reduced capacity for muscle accretion. This, combined with metabolic inefficiency, means that these animals produce less lean meat from greater feed input, require more time on feed to reach market weight, and produce carcasses that are of less quality. Despite the health and economic implications of IUGR pathologies in humans and food animals, knowledge regarding their specific underlying mechanisms is lacking. However, recent data indicate that adaptive programing of adrenergic sensitivity in multiple tissues is a contributing factor in a number of IUGR pathologies including reduced muscle mass, peripheral insulin resistance, and impaired glucose metabolism. This review highlights the findings that support the role for adrenergic programming and how it relates to the lifelong consequences of IUGR, as well as how dysfunctional adrenergic signaling pathways might be effective targets for improving outcomes in IUGR-born offspring.

South Africa and the Fourth Industrial Revolution

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is widely predicted to transform what have been manual-labour-dominated sectors in the production of goods and offering of services while driving wages down. South Africa is largely no exception, although we also note some unevenness and contradictory trends in this chapter. 4IR also presents numerous opportunities for the South African government, businesses, and consumers in terms of economic growth, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. We conduct a review of recent trends in the 4IR worldwide and focus on such trends in South Africa through wages, key sectors, corporate sentiment, as well as government expenditure in research and development. There is indication that the country has a mismatch in the skills being produced and those required by the 4IR, while its GERD is substantially below the global average for 4IR leadership and equitable participation. 4IR Commission recommendations propose reforms, but over them looms the slow rate of implementation due to past poor execution of other plans in the digital and communications spheres.

ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN INDICATORS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF ENTERPRISES PRODUCING TRUCKS ACCORDING TO ACCOUNTING DATA

The modern system of accounting and management accounting includes a set of methods for analysing and evaluating the analysis of the financial condition of an enterprise. A comprehensive analysis of economic activity is a system of special knowledge related to the study of economic processes that develop under the influence of objective economic laws and factors of an objective order. Comprehensive analysis is of great importance in strengthening the financial condition, increasing the liquidity of assets, their solvency, searching for reserves for economic growth, efficiency in the use of resources, and in general business processes. The transformation of accounting, which is being carried out as part of the restructuring of the economy to market track, has once again brought to life such an important element of analytical work as financial analysis. The effectiveness of enterprise management is largely determined by the degree of its organization and the quality of information support. Analysis of financial statements in the framework of a comprehensive analysis of economic activity consists in the application of analytical tools and methods to the indicators of financial documents in order to identify significant relationships and characteristics necessary for making any decision. It serves to transform data so numerous and varied in our computer age into necessary and always scarce information. The business analysis process is described differently depending on the task at hand. It can be used as a preliminary screening tool when choosing a direction for investment or possible options for a merger of enterprises. It can also act as a forecasting tool for future financial conditions and results. Comprehensive analysis is also applicable to identify problems in the management of production activities. It can serve to assess the performance of the company’s management. And most importantly, financial analysis allows you to rely less on guesses, premonitions and intuition, to reduce the inevitable uncertainty that is present in any decision-making process. Financial analysis does not eliminate the need for business sense but provides a solid and systematic foundation for its rational application. Reporting analysis in the process of a comprehensive analysis of the economic activity of an enterprise is a process that aims to assess the current and past financial condition and results of the enterprise, while the primary goal is to determine estimates and predictions regarding the future conditions and activities of the enterprise.

The Efficiency of The Tree Crown in The Expression of Growth For Pinus Brutia Ten Trees Growing in Atrush Region Northern Iraq

The study was conducted on Pinus brutia Ten. trees growing in Atrosh region northern Iraq, which are natural forests of different age. We have taken different measurements of (200) trees to estimate the growth efficiency in both basal area and volume depending on crown projection area of the tree as independent variable. Several linear and nonlinear equations have been obtained through which we can estimate growth and know the role of each of these elements in growth efficiency. For Crown efficiency depending on the basal area (CEBg) denoting the crown projection area (CPA) the nonlinear equation {CEBg=-0.9996+(CPA)-000009851} was chosen, as R2 (72.52) and SE (0.00002 ) and D-W (1.87). We also found The efficiency of the crown depending on the growth of base area (CEBg) denoting the of the crown projection area (CPA) and the height of the tree (H). Also the nonlinear equation was chosen depending on the scales used {CEBg=-1.99964+(CPA)-000009904 +(H)000001599} was the value of R2 (75.77), SE (0.00002) and D-W (1.81).For Crown efficiency depending on the growth in volume (CEVg) in terms of Crown projection area (CPA) the nonlinear equation{CEVg=-0.998015+(CPA)-0 0004362} was chosen as R2(70.11) and standard error SE (0.0001) ) and D-W (1.53), we also found Crown efficiency depending on the growth in volume depending on crown projection area and the height of the tree, the nonlinear equation{CEVg=- 1.9992+(CPA)-0 0005513+(H)00007631} was chosen which the value of R2 (69.44), SE (0.0001) and D-W ( 1.55 ).

The growth intra-group variability of perch Perca fluviatilis L., 1758 (Percidae) from Vyacheslavsky Reservoir

The dates on back calculation of perch growth from Vyacheslavsky (Astana) reservoir located in the Akmola oblast of the Republic of Kazakhstan are presented. We studied 2 samples, separated by a time interval approximately equal to duration of one generation. The growth rates of perch in this water body are slower in comparison with previously studied populations. The calculated length of perch have changed little for four years. Sexual and generational variability of growth is not observed. There is a fairly high level of correlation between calculated parameters of body length in adjacent generations, which indicates the stability or insignificant variability of the habitat conditions of perch in the reservoir. It can also show of the immutability of the main influencing factors and their vectors of impact. Taking into account the fact that these factors are a negative, the growth rates of perch in reservoir show a tendency to decrease. Von Bertalanffy’s growth equation performed better in the 2015 sample. This was reflected in the coefficient of Poly-Munro growth efficiency and calculated (theoretical) weight growth. The decrease in the “quality” of population biological parameters indicates beginning of degradation within the group, possibly. But, now observed differences are still at an unreliable level and are characterized only as tendencies. Based on the logical analysis, the main reason for decline in growth rate was termination of commercial fishing, which upset the existing balance in the perch population and caused the so-called “neglect of fishing”.

Single-cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Heterogeneity of Cultured Bovine Satellite Cells

Skeletal muscle from meat-producing livestock such as cattle is a major source of food for humans. To improve skeletal muscle growth efficiency or quality in cattle, it is necessary to understand the genetic and physiological mechanisms that govern skeletal muscle composition, development, and growth. Satellite cells are the myogenic progenitor cells in postnatal skeletal muscle. In this study we analyzed the composition of bovine satellite cells with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). We isolated satellite cells from a 2-week-old male calf, cultured them in growth medium for a week, and performed scRNA-seq using the 10x Genomics platform. Deep sequencing of two scRNA-seq libraries constructed from cultured bovine satellite cells yielded 860 million reads. Cell calling analyses revealed that these reads were sequenced from 19,096 individual cells. Clustering analyses indicated that these reads represented 15 cell clusters that differed in gene expression profile. Based on the enriched expression of markers of satellite cells (PAX7 and PAX3), markers of myoblasts (MYOD1, MYF5), and markers of differentiated myoblasts or myocytes (MYOG), three clusters were determined to be satellite cells, two clusters myoblasts, and two clusters myocytes. Gene ontology and trajectory inference analyses indicated that cells in these myogenic clusters differed in proliferation rate and differentiation stage. Two of the remaining clusters were enriched with PDGFRA, a marker of fibro-adipogenic (FAP) cells, the progenitor cells for intramuscular fat, and are therefore considered to be FAP cells. Gene ontology analyses indicated active lipogenesis in one of these two clusters. The identity of the remaining six clusters could not be defined. Overall, the results of this study support the hypothesis that bovine satellite cells are composed of subpopulations that differ in transcriptional and myogenic state. The results of this study also support the hypothesis that intramuscular fat in cattle originates from fibro-adipogenic cells.

Woody and Foliage Biomass, Foliage Traits and Growth Efficiency in Young Trees of Four Broadleaved Tree Species in a Temperate Forest

The main goal of this study is to analyse and interpret interspecific differences in foliage biomass/area and woody parts biomass as well as the ratio between quantities of foliage and woody components (i.e., branches, stem and roots). The study was principally aimed at determining basic biomass allocation patterns and growth efficiency (GE) of four broadleaved species, specifically common aspen (Populus tremula L.), European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) in young growth stages. We performed whole-tree sampling at 32 sites located in central and northern parts of Slovakia. We sampled over 700 trees and nearly 4900 leaves to quantify biomass of woody parts and foliage traits at leaf and tree levels. Moreover, we estimated specific leaf area in three parts of the crown, i.e., the upper, middle and lower thirds. We found that hornbeam had the largest foliage biomass and the lowest foliage area of all investigated species, while its biomass of woody parts did not differ from aspen and sycamore. Birch had the lowest biomass of woody parts, although its foliage properties were similar to those of aspen. Intraspecific differences of foliage were related to tree size and to leaf position along the vertical crown profile. Growth efficiency (GE), expressed as woody biomass production per foliage area unit, was evidently larger in hornbeam than in the other three broadleaves. We suggest that future GE modelling should utilize real values of stem diameter increment measured in a current year, bio–sociological position of trees and competition indicators as inputs. Such an approach would elucidate the role of stand structure and tree species mixture for ecological and production properties of forest stands.