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Occupational health safety in aquaculture: A case study on semi-intensive shrimp farmers of Bangladesh

The study examined health safety issues among semi-intensive shrimp farmers in southwestern Bangladesh. The study assessed semi-intensive shrimp farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on health and safety during their farm activities. The KAP model examined working circumstances, exposures, health complaints, diseases, current health status, and job satisfaction. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 158 semi-intensive shrimp farmers from Bangladesh’s Khulna, Satkhira, and Bagerhat districts. Type-based data analysis was done. We used Spearman’s rank correlation and multiple linear regression. Only 35% of respondents said that they knew the health safety of chemicals and pesticides used in semi-intensive shrimp farms and that safety training is needed, and all farmers wanted to attend when available. At least 74% of farmers used masks when handling pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals. 40.50% of farmers used protective clothing, 91% cleansed their hands, legs, and face after each day’s work, and 94% felt that sanitization reduces pesticide, fertilizer, and chemical pollution. A significant positive correlation coefficient was established in KAP. Education significantly increased knowledge. Practices varied with health and safety training. Results suggest that attitudes determine practices, where knowledge is significantly associated with attitudes. A comprehensive health safety and hygiene training program for all shrimp farmers should be developed to raise awareness, reduce illness outbreaks, and preserve healthy living.

Mysterious neutrino barrels through deep waters near Sicily

Differential impact of divalent metals on native elongating transcript sequencing (NET-seq) protocols for RNA polymerases I and II

Throughout all domains of life, RNA polymerases (Pols) synthesize RNA from DNA templates, a process called transcription. During transcription, Pols require divalent metal cations for nucleotide addition and cleavage of the nascent RNA after misincorporation or polymerase stalling. Recently, several next-generation sequencing techniques have emerged to study transcription at single-nucleotide resolution in vivo. One such technique, native elongating transcript sequencing (NET-seq), allows for isolation of transcription elongation complexes associated with a specific Pol, defining polymerase occupancy on the DNA template. Originally developed to study RNA polymerase II (Pol II), NET-seq has been adapted for RNA polymerase I (Pol I) and bacterial RNA polymerase. We recently optimized Pol I NET-seq in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, however, we omitted nucleases and their metal cofactors, which are commonly used in Pol II NET-seq. Here, we investigated the effect of CaCl2 ± MNase and MnCl2 ± DNase I on Pol I occupancy. We found that exposure of Pol I to CaCl2 and MnCl2 during NET-seq caused a significant reduction in immunoprecipitation of nascent rRNA compared to the untreated control samples, with a more severe effect when incubated with MnCl2 vs. CaCl2. Surprisingly, in contrast to the Pol I results, we found that metal treatment during Pol II NET-seq did not have a significant effect on nascent transcript capture. Taken together, these observations reinforce the conclusion that transcription elongation complexes formed by Pols I and II have unique characteristics and emphasize the need to carefully consider experimental conditions deployed in all stages of nucleic acid library generation.

Age at release affects developmental physiology and sex-specific phenotypic diversity of hatchery steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Most steelhead trout hatcheries increase growth rate during rearing to produce and release yearling smolts for harvest augmentation, but natural steelhead exhibit variable age of smoltification, so this common rearing practice may not be ideal for programs focused on recovering imperiled wild stocks; therefore, it is important to investigate and compare alternative hatchery rearing methods that promote life history diversity. Over six consecutive years, the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery on the Methow River, WA reared and released paired groups of age-1 (S1) and age-2 (S2) steelhead smolts. To understand how the two rearing methods affected developmental ontogeny and life-history, fish were sampled prior to hatchery release for factors associated with smoltification (size, gill Na+/K+ ATPase activity, and a qualitative smolt phenotype) and sexual maturation (sex, pituitary and testis mRNA transcripts, gonadosomatic index, and plasma 11-ketotestosterone). Our objectives were to quantify levels of smoltification and male maturation during hatchery rearing, combine metrics to estimate residualism (failure to migrate upon release), and compare the treatments by sex. Overall, S2 rearing produced 7.8% more smolts and 44-fold (4.4 vs. 0.1%) more precociously mature males than S1 rearing. Conversely, S1 rearing produced 31.6% more residuals than S2 rearing. While the proportion of total male residuals was comparable between treatments, the S1 treatment produced approximately five-fold more female residuals (20.6 vs. 4.2%). Because residuals contribute minimally to adult returns and the number of returning adult females is critical to the success of salmonid supplementation efforts, developing rearing techniques that maximize migration in females is a management priority. Physiological assessments are useful for characterizing and quantifying the effects and risks of different hatchery rearing regimes on steelhead life-history, in addition to providing sex-specific guidance to inform and optimize conservation management goals in supplementation programs.

Prevalence and chemotherapy of Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in dairy cattle

This study aimed to isolate and characterize Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) from samples of mastitis milk taken from dairy cattle in Punjab’s Narowal District. 200 milk samples were collected aseptically from different dairy herds in the district, including clinical mastitis (CM) and sub-clinical mastitis (SCM) cows. Blood agar and mannitol salt agar were used for S. aureus isolation and identification. Selective media were then used for additional purification. Observations of morphological and biochemical traits verified the existence of S. aureus. Through questionnaire-based surveys, the prevalence of S. aureus mastitis was identified, and risk variables linked to its incidence were evaluated. The findings showed that S. aureus mastitis was prevalent in 42.5% of cases, with sub-clinical cases having a greater incidence (45.8%) than clinical cases (37.5%). Risk factors such as distance from dung pile to stall(m), source of water, dung removal per day, lactation period (weeks), parity, effect of milk yield (L), traumatic injury of udder, housing type, floor type, teat dipping, and bedding type was identified and their relationship to the occurrence of S. aureus mastitis was studied. Tests for antibiotic sensitivity revealed that S. aureus isolates were responsive to gentamycin, ceftiofur, tetracycline, enrofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin but extremely resistant to penicillin and amoxicillin. Additionally, the Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and California Mastitis Test (CMT) were used at different intervals to assess the effectiveness of the medication. Furthermore, compared to other treatment groups, a larger percentage of cure rates was seen in the groups receiving ceftiofur and enrofloxacin. Overall, this study contributes to the development of more effective management methods for S. aureus mastitis in dairy calves by offering insightful information about the condition’s prevalence, risk factors, antibiotic sensitivity, and effectiveness of treatment.

Exploring burnout, perfectionism, and moral injury among UK physiotherapists: A qualitative study on professional fulfilment and well-being

Background Burnout, perfectionism, and moral injury are prevalent issues among healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists. The demanding nature of the profession, compounded by high workloads, emotional and physical exhaustion, and systemic challenges, has significant implications for the well-being and professional satisfaction of physiotherapists. This study aimed to explore these issues, by providing a qualitative exploration of UK physiotherapists’ lived experiences. Objectives To explore the lived experiences of UK physiotherapists regarding burnout, perfectionism, and moral injury, and to develop a comprehensive understanding of the personal and professional impacts of these issues to inform the development of effective support systems and interventions. Methods This qualitative exploratory study involved semi-structured interviews with 12 UK physiotherapists. Framework approach was used to identify key themes and patterns in the data, providing a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by physiotherapists. Results Four primary themes emerged: (1) Physiotherapy Under Pressure: Workload, Burnout, and Perfectionism, (2) Interpersonal Dynamics and Support Systems, (3) Professional Fulfilment and Identity, and (4) Work-Life Balance and Well-being. Physiotherapists reported high levels of burnout and exhaustion due to relentless workloads, exacerbated by and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Perfectionism further contributed to emotional exhaustion and feelings of inadequacy. Inconsistent management support, bureaucratic challenges, and a lack of career progression opportunities were significant stressors. Effective team dynamics and support systems were crucial in mitigating stress, yet many faced interpersonal challenges such as criticism and bullying. Achieving work-life balance was a persistent struggle, highlighting the need for organisational changes to support flexibility and well-being. Conclusion Burnout, perfectionism, and moral injury significantly impact physiotherapists’ well-being and professional satisfaction. Addressing these issues requires systemic changes within healthcare organisations to provide robust support systems, flexible working conditions, and opportunities for professional development.

Why is mathematics education failing some of the world’s most talented children?

DAPE cloning with modified primers for producing designated lengths of 3’ single-stranded ends in PCR products

For in vitro DNA assembly, enzymes with exonuclease activities have been utilized to generate relatively long recessed ends on DNA fragments, which can anneal to other DNA fragments if they have complementary nucleotide sequences. The combined construct can be directly delivered to competent cells, where the gaps and nicks between the fragments are completely rectified. We introduce a versatile sequence- and ligation-independent cloning (SLIC) method called ’DNA Assembly with Phosphorothioate (PT) and T5 Exonuclease’ (DAPE), which generates precise lengths of 3’ overhangs at both ends of linearized DNA. In contrast to conventional SLIC techniques, which are not suitable for cloning DNA fragments smaller than 50 base pairs (bp) due to overzealous exonuclease activity, such as with gRNA and epitope tags, DAPE can efficiently and precisely assemble several fragments in a single reaction regardless of the size of the DNA. Thus, DAPE, as an advanced toolkit for DNA cloning and synthetic biology, may further expedite the construction of more elaborate multi-gene circuitry.

SugarViT—Multi-objective regression of UAV images with Vision Transformers and Deep Label Distribution Learning demonstrated on disease severity prediction in sugar beet

Remote sensing and artificial intelligence are pivotal technologies of precision agriculture nowadays. The efficient retrieval of large-scale field imagery combined with machine learning techniques shows success in various tasks like phenotyping, weeding, cropping, and disease control. This work will introduce a machine learning framework for automatized large-scale plant-specific trait annotation for the use case of disease severity scoring for CLS in sugar beet. With concepts of DLDL, special loss functions, and a tailored model architecture, we develop an efficient Vision Transformer based model for disease severity scoring called SugarViT. One novelty in this work is the combination of remote sensing data with environmental parameters of the experimental sites for disease severity prediction. Although the model is evaluated on this special use case, it is held as generic as possible to also be applicable to various image-based classification and regression tasks. With our framework, it is even possible to learn models on multi-objective problems, as we show by a pretraining on environmental metadata. Furthermore, we perform several comparison experiments with state-of-the-art methods and models to constitute our modeling and preprocessing choices.

Magnetic effects of thaumatin crystals; observation of crystal growth by magneto-Archimedes levitation and magnetic orientation

We examined the magnetic effect of thaumatin crystals, which are a well known model of protein crystals but which have hardly been studied for that effect. We succeeded in crystallizing thaumatin by magnetic levitation based on the magneto-Archimedes effect by the addition of the paramagnetic substance gadolinium chloride. We also carried out a chronological observation of the levitation process in a superconducting magnet, and visualized the magnetic orientation of the crystals by applying a magnetic field along the horizontal direction. In another major result, we carried out a diffraction experiment and performed a structural analysis of the crystals. We noticed from the results that no electron density from the gadolinium ion could be observed in the crystals. This suggests the possibility that the paramagnetic substance of the aqueous precipitant solution helps only to promote the crystals’ levitation, and has little effect on thaumatin crystallization.

The neuroimmune connectome in health and disease

Socioeconomic and academic consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on medical students from the University of Rwanda

Introduction Little is known about the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the life of university students in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the socioeconomic and academic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students studying at the University of Rwanda. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. An online survey using google form was sent to medical students in clinical training (year 3 till year 5) using convenience sampling followed by snowball sampling method. We collected data on participants’ demographics, general knowledge on the COVID-19 pandemic and perception on mitigation measures, and socio-economic and academic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics were used in excel 2015 software to calculate participants’ responses and categorical data were presented using frequencies and percentages. Results A total 187 participants completed the survey. Most participants described disruption in routine activities (72.7%), reduced travelling (69%), church closing (64.2%), and loss of freedom (57.2%) as examples of negative social consequences. While financial uncertainty (64.7%), decrease in income (49.7%), and increase in poverty rate (42.2%) were the main economic consequences. Issues with academic progress (95.7%), limited social life (56.1%), and repeating the year (42.8%) were examples of negative academic consequences. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the COVID-19 had a negative social, economic, and academic consequences on medical students at the University of Rwanda. These finding may guide the design of interventions to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19 and to protect medical students against future pandemics and crises.

Biomonitoring and Health Risk Assessment of Arsenic Contamination in Drinking Water among Rural Residents in Western Tehran

Arsenic is a widespread environmental contaminant that poses a significant threat to global health due to its toxicity and carcinogenicity. Given the high levels of arsenic found in the drinking water of western areas of Tehran, the objective of this study was to analyze levels of arsenic in multiple biological samples (blood, hair, and nails) collected from residents living in these areas. This cross-sectional study was conducted over three weeks in November 2022 in five villages. A total of 67 residents from these villages were included in the exposure group. Analysis of arsenic was carried out by using the Perkin Elmer Optima 8000 ICP-OES instrument coupled with the FIAS 100 flow injection module after sample digestion. The average concentration of arsenic in people’s blood was 4.19 μg/l, which exceeds the standard limit of ATSDR (1 μg/l) by about 4 times. Additionally, 47.8% of blood samples exceeded the standard, while for nail and hair samples, the percentages were 22.4% and 13.4%, respectively. Water samples showed the highest percentage above the standard, with 67.2%. There is no significant relationship between arsenic levels in drinking water, hair and blood. However, a significant positive correlation was observed between the concentration of arsenic in drinking water and nail samples. The mean of hazard quotient (HQ) and carcinogenic risk (CR) indices of arsenic in drinking water suggest that the daily intake levels of the examined arsenic in the study area exceeded the acceptable thresholds ((HQ < 1) and (CR < 1 × 10−4)). Although this study demonstrated elevated arsenic exposure among the population in western Tehran, our findings showed no significant correlation between arsenic concentrations in drinking water and biological samples. Therefore, further research is required to identify other potential exposure pathways and develop targeted intervention strategies. Additionally, remediation measures to improve water quality remain essential in this rural area.

X-ray telescope casts a sharper gaze on galaxy clusters

Effects of biobanding on training loads and technical performance of young football players

Background In adolescent sports, grouping by chronological age can advantage athletes born early in the year due to maturation differences. Early maturing athletes often achieve greater performance gains, are perceived as more talented, and receive more specialized training and workloads. This study aimed to assess the effects of biobanding on internal and external training loads, as well as technical performance during small-sided games (SSGs). Methods Twenty male footballers (11.8 ± 1.15 years) participated in this study. Athletes engaged in small-sided games (SSGs) under two conditions: (1) CA–teams formed based on chronological age; and (2) BIO–teams formed based on age relative to peak height velocity (pre-PHV = -2.5 to -1.5, and PHV = -1.5 to -0.5). External load (ETL) was quantified using the PlayerLoad method, while internal load (ITL) was measured using both training impulse (TRIMP) and session-RPE. Player involvement was determined by summing all technical actions performed during the SSGs, with involvement in the game assessed through video analysis of the sessions. Results BIO games significantly increased ETL for pre-PHV (EM = 415.5; 95%CI = 381.5–449.5 a.u.) compared to the CA games (EM = 388.8; 95% CI = 354.8–422.8 a.u.). PHV players had lower ETL (EM = 354.4; 95% CI = 320.4–388.4 a.u.) in BIO compared to CA games (EM = 366.0; 95% CI = 332.0–400.0 a.u.). No significant ITL differences were observed. BIO lowered steals among pre-PHV players vs. CA. Conclusion Biobanded games significantly increased external load (ETL) for pre-PHV players; however, this increase was not substantial enough to affect internal load (as measured by session-RPE and TRIMP) or player involvement.

Protective effects of Colla Corii Asini Collagen Peptides on D-galactose injection combined with UVB irradiation-induced aging in mice

Skin aging, autonomic mobility, memory function and physical deterioration are important features of aging, and effective anti-aging treatments are important in slowing down these processes. The objective of this research was to evaluate the protective effect of Colla Corii Asini (Ejiao) Collagen Peptides (CCACPs) on D-galactose (D-gal) injection combined with UV irradiation-induced senescence in mice. BY-HEALTH collagen oral solution (Bcos) was used as a positive control. Behavioural experiments showed that CCACPs significantly improved voluntary activity, learning memory and exercise endurance in aging mice. Elisa results showed that CCACPs reduced the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and MMP-3 in the skin, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the brain, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and azelaic aminotransferase (AST) in the liver of mice, while increasing the levels of collagen I in the skin and SOD in the brain. RT-qPCR revealed that CCACPs reduced the expression of p16, p19 and p21 genes in the liver and hippocampus, as well as the expression of IL-6 in the skin. Histological analysis of brain hippocampus, liver and skin confirmed the protective effects of CCACPs. The findings indicated that CCACPs may potentially slow the aging effects caused by D-galactose and UVB exposure in mice by reducing cellular senescence and oxidative stress levels. The results of this research provide the scientific basis for continuing to advance the extraction of collagen peptides from Colla Corii Asini as a potential anti-aging therapy.

Re-evaluation of the psychometric properties of ATE following changes in euthanasia regulations in Spain

Understanding healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward euthanasia, especially within teams assisting patients who request it, is essential for providing appropriate support throughout the process. The objectives of this study were to re-adapt and validate the Attitude Towards Euthanasia Scale for the Spanish context, to examine its dimensional structure, and to estimate its reliability, particularly in light of the 2021 regulation of euthanasia in Spain. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a non-probabilistic sample of 778 healthcare professionals from the Balearic Health Service. Data collection involved a self-reported sociodemographic questionnaire and the Attitude Towards Euthanasia Scale. The scale’s psychometric properties were assessed through reliability and validity tests, including confirmatory factor analysis. The Attitude Towards Euthanasia Scale demonstrated strong reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha of α = 0.889 and item homogeneity ranging from 0.66 to 0.78. Factor loadings were reported for four models, including a unidimensional model and models with two, three, and four factors. The two-factor model explained 64.51% of the variance, with a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of 0.873. Fit indices indicated good model fit: root mean square residual = 0.040, goodness-of-fit index = 0.960, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.927, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.069. After performing a Parallel Analysis, two loading factor were found. The adapted version of the Attitude Towards Euthanasia Scale, aligned with the current societal and legislative context, is a valid and reliable tool for assessing healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward euthanasia, with psychometric properties consistent with the original version.

The lost long tail of early bird evolution

Identification of Cocconeis neothumensis var. marina using a polyphasic approach including ultrastructure and gene annotation

Several microalgae, including marine diatoms, significantly contribute to the global primary production and play a vital role in the food webs of benthic and planktonic ecosystems. Diatoms of the genus Cocconeis frequently inhabit benthic substrates, including the leaves of seagrasses. They are seasonally dominant in the leaf epiphytic layer of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica L. Delile, and have been proposed as model organisms for chemical ecology studies. However, the genome of Cocconeis spp. has not been sequenced. Consequently, their low-level molecular identification is currently impossible, besides a few examples. To address this gap, a polyphasic identification of C. neothumensis has been employed, combining ultra-morphological data with DNA barcoding markers. A strain of diatoms was isolated from P. oceanica leaves. It has been cultured in the laboratory and examined under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The 18S ribosomal RNA gene (18S rRNA, nrDNA) and the ribulose 1,5-biphosphate carboxylase (rbcL, cpDNA) gene were analysed for DNA barcoding characterisation. Since ultra-morphology data unambiguously identified the isolated strain as C. neothumensis Krammer, 1991, the molecular sequences herein reported will facilitate its rapid and accurate identification. In addition, our comparative analyses will facilitate the evaluation of these molecular markers for identification of closely related benthic diatoms.

FORCETRACKER: A versatile tool for standardized assessment of tissue contractile properties in 3D Heart-on-Chip platforms

Engineered heart tissues (EHTs) have shown great potential in recapitulating tissue organization, functions, and cell-cell interactions of the human heart in vitro. Currently, multiple EHT platforms are used by both industry and academia for different applications, such as drug discovery, disease modelling, and fundamental research. The tissues’ contractile force, one of the main hallmarks of tissue function and maturation level of cardiomyocytes, can be read out from EHT platforms by optically tracking the movement of elastic pillars induced by the contractile tissues. However, existing optical tracking algorithms which focus on calculating the contractile force are customized and platform-specific, often not available to the broad research community, and thus hamper head-to-head comparison of the model output. Therefore, there is the need for robust, standardized and platform-independent software for tissues’ force assessment. To meet this need, we developed ForceTracker: a standalone and computationally efficient software for analyzing contractile properties of tissues in different EHT platforms. The software uses a shape-detection algorithm to single out and track the movement of pillars’ tips for the most common shapes of EHT platforms. In this way, we can obtain information about tissues’ contractile performance. ForceTracker is coded in Python and uses a multi-threading approach for time-efficient analysis of large data sets in multiple formats. The software efficiency to analyze circular and rectangular pillar shapes is successfully tested by analyzing different format videos from two EHT platforms, developed by different research groups. We demonstrate robust and reproducible performance of the software in the analysis of tissues over time and in various conditions. ForceTracker’s detection and tracking shows low sensitivity to common incidental defects, such as alteration of tissue shape or air bubbles. Detection accuracy is determined via comparison with manual measurements using the software ImageJ. We developed ForceTracker as a tool for standardized analysis of contractile performance in EHT platforms to facilitate research on disease modeling and drug discovery in academia and industry.