Intelligent aquaculture system for pisciculture simulation using deep learning algorithm

The project aims to develop an intelligent system for simulating pisciculture in Taal Lake in the Philippines through geographical information system and deep learning algorithm. Records of 2018-2020 from the database of Bureau of fisheries and aquatic resources IV-A-protected area management board (BFAR IVA-PAMB) was collected for model development. Deep learning algorithm model was developed and integrated to the system for time series analysis and simulation. Different technologies including tensorflow.js were used to successfully developed the intelligent system. It is found on this paper that recurrent neural network (RNN) is a good deep learning algorithm for predicting pisciculture in Taal lake. Further, it is also shown in the initial visualization of the system that barangay Sampaloc in Taal has highest rate of fish production in Taal while Tilapia nilotica sp. is the major product of the latter.

A Study of the Yield of Honey in Farms from North-Eastern Bulgaria

The aim is to study the prices, cost and profitability of honey from the Ruse region. A serious problem has been defined for honey, which is a major product of regional beekeeping, respectively its profitability - steadily declining prices do not cover the rising costs of production and sale. The study found that the average prices of the online segment of organic honey compared to the same offline segment in packages of 1 kg have a difference of almost 2 times, and in the smallest cuts 3 times. The gross profit (margin) of the regional honey of the B2B offline markets in the biological and conventional segment for 2020 is negative. The study found that own B2C online channels in the conventional segment achieve a net return of 48 BGN/year per beehive, and in the biological segment - 97.92 BGN/year per beehive. The latter provides 150 beehives with a net income of 1224 BGN/month, which is the yield on the sale of organic honey on the offline B2C markets with 950 beehives. Marketing strategies of beekeeping farms in the Ruse region are needed to achieve competitiveness and profitability at the sectoral and regional level.

Enzymatic Production of Biologically Active 3-Methoxycinnamoylated Lysophosphatidylcholine via Regioselctive Lipase-Catalyzed Acidolysis

Enzymatic acidolysis of egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) with 3-methoxycinnamic acid (3-OMe-CA) was investigated to produce biologically active 3-methoxycinnamoylated phospholipids. Four commercially available lipases were screened for their ability to incorporate 3-OMe-CA into PC. The results showed that Novozym 435 is the most effective biocatalyst for this process, while during the examination of organic solvents, heptane was found propriate reaction medium. The other reaction parameters including the substrate molar ratio, enzyme load and reaction time were designed using an experimental factorial design method. According to three-level-3-factor Box-Behnken model it was shown that all of studied parameters are crucial variables for the maximization of the synthesis of structured PLs. The optimum conditions derived via response surface methodology (RSM) were: 30% of lipase of the total weight of substrates, 1:15 molar ration of PC/3-OMe-CA and reaction time 4 days. The process of acidolysis performed on the increased scale at optimized parameters afforded two products. The major product, 3-methoxycinnamoylated lysophosphatidylcholine (3-OMe-CA-LPC) was isolated in high 48% yield, while 3-methoxycinnamoylated phosphatidylcholine (3-OMe-CA-PC) was produced in trace amount only in 1.2% yield. Obtained results indicate that presented biotechnological method of synthesis of 3-methoxycinnamoylated lysophosphatidylcholine is competitive to the previously reported chemical one.

Synthesis of small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of disease

<p>Three aspects of the protecting-group-free (PGF) synthesis of small molecules have been described in this thesis. In the first part, the PGF azasugar synthesis methodology was applied to 2-deoxy-D-glucose with the intention of selectively forming the six-membered azasugar 5-epi-fagomine. Surprisingly, four products were formed in the key I2-mediated carbamate annulation step, with a pyrrolidine being the major product after optimisation. This was formed in 15% yield. A mechanism that explains the formation of the four carbamates was proposed, which was supported by an investigation into related halocyclisation reactions. The next part of this thesis describes the development of a new PGF methodology for the synthesis of conduramines, another class of biologically interesting molecules. Conduramines are amino polyhydroxy cyclohexenes and some conduramines have glycosidase inhibitory activity. These molecules are also useful precursors to a variety of biologically useful molecules including aminocyclitols and azasugars. The key steps in the PGF synthesis of conduramines are a Vasella-Barbier amination, a reaction that forms new C-C and C-N bonds concomitantly, and a ring closing metathesis in the presence of free hydroxyl and amine groups. To this end, a 4-deoxy 3-conduramine was prepared in just four steps and in 27% yield. Finally, the preparation of an amine library and its biological testing for the identification of a new anti-tuberculosis drug is described. Two short syntheses were used to prepare alkenylamines and amines from the corresponding sugar, with various lipophilic groups attached to the amine. A 20-member amine library was prepared, and the compounds were tested for anti-mycobacterial activity in a mycobacterial growth inhibition assay. The most active compounds were subjected to further biological testing to determine their general cytotoxic properties. Two amines, arabinohexadecylamine and arabinohexadecylmethylamine, were identified as having the best potential for use as anti-tuberculosis drugs, and have been sent to Colorado State University for subsequent in vivo testing in a mouse model of tuberculosis.</p>

Synthesis of small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of disease

<p>Three aspects of the protecting-group-free (PGF) synthesis of small molecules have been described in this thesis. In the first part, the PGF azasugar synthesis methodology was applied to 2-deoxy-D-glucose with the intention of selectively forming the six-membered azasugar 5-epi-fagomine. Surprisingly, four products were formed in the key I2-mediated carbamate annulation step, with a pyrrolidine being the major product after optimisation. This was formed in 15% yield. A mechanism that explains the formation of the four carbamates was proposed, which was supported by an investigation into related halocyclisation reactions. The next part of this thesis describes the development of a new PGF methodology for the synthesis of conduramines, another class of biologically interesting molecules. Conduramines are amino polyhydroxy cyclohexenes and some conduramines have glycosidase inhibitory activity. These molecules are also useful precursors to a variety of biologically useful molecules including aminocyclitols and azasugars. The key steps in the PGF synthesis of conduramines are a Vasella-Barbier amination, a reaction that forms new C-C and C-N bonds concomitantly, and a ring closing metathesis in the presence of free hydroxyl and amine groups. To this end, a 4-deoxy 3-conduramine was prepared in just four steps and in 27% yield. Finally, the preparation of an amine library and its biological testing for the identification of a new anti-tuberculosis drug is described. Two short syntheses were used to prepare alkenylamines and amines from the corresponding sugar, with various lipophilic groups attached to the amine. A 20-member amine library was prepared, and the compounds were tested for anti-mycobacterial activity in a mycobacterial growth inhibition assay. The most active compounds were subjected to further biological testing to determine their general cytotoxic properties. Two amines, arabinohexadecylamine and arabinohexadecylmethylamine, were identified as having the best potential for use as anti-tuberculosis drugs, and have been sent to Colorado State University for subsequent in vivo testing in a mouse model of tuberculosis.</p>

Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Frequency of bla and qnr Genes in Salmonella enterica Isolated from Slaughtered Pigs

Salmonella enterica is known as one of the most common foodborne pathogens worldwide. While salmonellosis is usually self-limiting, severe infections may require antimicrobial therapy. However, increasing resistance of Salmonella to antimicrobials, particularly fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, is of utmost concern. The present study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of S. enterica isolated from pork, the major product in Philippine livestock production. Our results show that both the qnrS and the blaTEM antimicrobial resistance genes were present in 61.2% of the isolates. While qnrA (12.9%) and qnrB (39.3%) were found less frequently, co-carriage of blaTEM and one to three qnr subtypes was observed in 45.5% of the isolates. Co-carriage of blaTEM and blaCTX-M was also observed in 3.9% of the isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the majority of isolates were non-susceptible to ampicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and 13.5% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). MDR isolates belonged to either O:3,10, O:4, or an unidentified serogroup. High numbers of S. enterica carrying antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG), specifically the presence of isolates co-carrying resistance to both β-lactams and fluoroquinolones, raise a concern on antimicrobial use in the Philippine hog industry and on possible transmission of ARG to other bacteria.

Optimisation and Scope of a Palladium-Catalysed Allylic Alkylation Cascade

<p>The design and development of new chemical reactions is crucial for progress in organic synthesis research. Cascade reactions, involving two or more steps carried out in situ in a single pot, provide a step-efficient and atom-economic route to synthesise polycyclic ring systems. The synthesis of new heterocyclic ring systems provides valuable routes towards complex natural products. Previous work in the Harvey group led to the development of a regioselective palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation (Pd-AA) cascade. This research aims to expand the scope and utility of this existing Pd-AA cascade, by optimising the current reaction conditions and exploring a range of non-symmetric pyran-based bis-electrophiles and nitrogen and sulfur-based β-carbonyl bis-nucleophiles. Isomeric 2,3-unsaturated silyl glycosides based on D-glucose and D-galactose were successfully synthesised. These substrates were assessed as bis-electrophiles in the Pd-AA cascade. The yield of the cascade was successfully optimised with the glucose-derived substrate 4-hydroxy-6-methylpyran-2-one, using Pd₂(dba)₃ and Xantphos, to 87% from the previously reported 77% yield. However, the galactose-derived silyl glycoside formed an undesired pyranone as the major product. Additionally, a series of β-dicarbonyl compounds (4-hydroxy-6-methylpyran-2-one analogues) were assessed as bis-nucleophiles in the Pd-AA cascade, with all of the analogues forming complex mixtures of side products and a fully unsaturated pyranone as the major isolated product.</p>

Optimisation and Scope of a Palladium-Catalysed Allylic Alkylation Cascade

<p>The design and development of new chemical reactions is crucial for progress in organic synthesis research. Cascade reactions, involving two or more steps carried out in situ in a single pot, provide a step-efficient and atom-economic route to synthesise polycyclic ring systems. The synthesis of new heterocyclic ring systems provides valuable routes towards complex natural products. Previous work in the Harvey group led to the development of a regioselective palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation (Pd-AA) cascade. This research aims to expand the scope and utility of this existing Pd-AA cascade, by optimising the current reaction conditions and exploring a range of non-symmetric pyran-based bis-electrophiles and nitrogen and sulfur-based β-carbonyl bis-nucleophiles. Isomeric 2,3-unsaturated silyl glycosides based on D-glucose and D-galactose were successfully synthesised. These substrates were assessed as bis-electrophiles in the Pd-AA cascade. The yield of the cascade was successfully optimised with the glucose-derived substrate 4-hydroxy-6-methylpyran-2-one, using Pd₂(dba)₃ and Xantphos, to 87% from the previously reported 77% yield. However, the galactose-derived silyl glycoside formed an undesired pyranone as the major product. Additionally, a series of β-dicarbonyl compounds (4-hydroxy-6-methylpyran-2-one analogues) were assessed as bis-nucleophiles in the Pd-AA cascade, with all of the analogues forming complex mixtures of side products and a fully unsaturated pyranone as the major isolated product.</p>

The APPL1-Rab5 axis restricts NLRP3 inflammasome activation through early endosomal-dependent mitophagy in macrophages

Although mitophagy is known to restrict NLRP3 inflammasome activation, the underlying regulatory mechanism remains poorly characterized. Here we describe a type of early endosome-dependent mitophagy that limits NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Deletion of the endosomal adaptor protein APPL1 impairs mitophagy, leading to accumulation of damaged mitochondria producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidized cytosolic mitochondrial DNA, which in turn trigger NLRP3 inflammasome overactivation in macrophages. NLRP3 agonist causes APPL1 to translocate from early endosomes to mitochondria, where it interacts with Rab5 to facilitate endosomal-mediated mitophagy. Mice deficient for APPL1 specifically in hematopoietic cell are more sensitive to endotoxin-induced sepsis, obesity-induced inflammation and glucose dysregulation. These are associated with increased expression of systemic interleukin-1β, a major product of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our findings indicate that the early endosomal machinery is essential to repress NLRP3 inflammasome hyperactivation by promoting mitophagy in macrophages.

Deep Reaction Network Exploration at a Heterogeneous Catalytic Interface

Characterizing the reaction energies and reaction barriers of complex reaction networks is central to catalyst development and optimization. Nevertheless, heterogeneous catalytic surfaces pose several unique challenges to automatic reaction network characterization, including large system sizes and open-ended reactant lists, that make ad hoc network construction and characterization the current state-of-the-art. Here we show how automated algorithms for exploring and characterizing reaction networks can be adapted to the constraints of heterogeneous systems using ethylene oligomerization on silica-supported single site Ga3+ catalysts as a model system. Using only graph-based rules for exploring the network and elementary constraints based on activation energy and system size for identifying network terminations, a comprehensive reaction network was generated for this system and validated against standard methods. The automated algorithm (re)discovers the classic Cossee-Arlman mechanism for this system that is hypothesized to drive major product formation while remarkably also predicting several new pathways for producing alkanes and coke precursors. This demonstration represents the largest heterogeneous catalyst (more than 50 atoms, with an open-ended pool of reactants) to be characterized using a quantum chemistry-based automated reaction method.