Next step in Monachacantiana (Montagu, 1803) phylogeography: northern French and Dutch populations (Eupulmonata, Stylommatophora, Hygromiidae)

Features of shell and genitalia as well as nucleotide sequences of selected mitochondrial and nuclear genes of specimens of Monachacantiana from ten northern French and two Dutch populations were compared with the same features of British and Italian populations. They were found to be very similar to populations previously identified as belonging to the CAN-1 lineage of M.cantiana. This confirms previous suggestions that M.cantiana was introduced to western Europe (England, France and the Netherlands) in historical times.

Supplemental phosphorus can be completely replaced with microbial phytase in White Leghorn layer diets

1. A study was conducted to assess the possibility of totally replacing supplemental phosphorus sources in White Leghorn (WL) layer diets (aged 28 to 45 weeks of age) with microbial phytase supplementation. One thousand commercial layers (HyLine White) of 28 weeks of age were housed in California cages fitted in open-sided poultry shed at the rate of 20 layers in each replicate. Ten replicates were randomly allotted to each treatment, and the respective diet was fed from 28 to 45 weeks of age.2. A control diet (CD) containing the recommended levels of non-phytate phosphorus (3.6 g/kg NPP) and four other test diets (2-5) having sub-optimal levels of NPP (2.4, 2.0, 1.6 and 1.2 g/kg), but with supplemental microbial phytase (600 FTU/kg) were prepared and fed for the trial duration.3. The layers fed with lower levels of NPP with phytase had the same laying performance as the group fed the CD. Egg production, feed efficiency, egg mass, shell defects, egg density, shell weight, shell thickness, ash content and breaking strength of the tibia and sternum were not affected by feeding the lowest concentration of NPP (1.2 g/kg) plus microbial phytase.4. Phytase supplementation in diets with sub-optimal levels of NPP (2.4, 2 and 1.6 g/kg) significantly improved the Haugh unit score compared to those fed the CD.5. It was concluded that supplemental phosphorus can be completely replaced with microbial phytase (600 FTU/kg) in a diet without affecting egg production, shell quality or bone mineral variables in WL layers (28 to 45 weeks).

Systematics and Distributions of Upper Bathyal Species in Bathyancistrolepis, a Deep-Sea Whelk Genus Endemic to the Northwest Pacific (Gastropoda: Buccinidae)

The deep-sea buccinid snail genus Bathyancistrolepis is redefined based on the reconstruction of a molecular phylogeny and morphological examination of shell and radular characters. This genus is distinguished from other genera of the subfamily Parancistrolepidinae with a combination of shell traits, including (1) a low spire, (2) sharp, carinate spiral cords or keels and (3) a long, curved siphonal canal, but not with a difference in radular morphology as suggested by previous authors. Three allopatric or parapatric species are recognized in the upper bathyal (447-2057 m) waters around Japan and Taiwan: B. tokoyodaensis from off Hokkaido to Sagami Bay in the Northwest Pacific, B. trochoidea off Kumano-nada to Miyazaki in the Northwest Pacific and along Nansei Islands in the East China Sea, and B. taiwanensis sp. nov. in the South China Sea. These species bear large paucispiral protoconchs that are indicative of benthic early development without a pelagic larval period, and hence low dispersal capability. Seafloor topography seems to have acted as a barrier for their dispersal; the range of B. tokoyodaensis supports the previous finding that Izu Peninsula delimits westward distribution of bathyal gastropod species of boreal origins.

Multi-Objective Optimization of Thin-Walled Composite Axisymmetric Structures Using Neural Surrogate Models and Genetic Algorithms

Composite shells find diverse applications across industries due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and tailored properties. Optimizing parameters such as matrix-reinforcement ratio and orientation of the reinforcement is crucial for achieving the desired performance metrics. Stochastic optimization, specifically genetic algorithms, offer solutions, yet their computational intensity hinders widespread use. Surrogate models, employing neural networks, emerge as efficient alternatives by approximating objective functions and bypassing costly computations. This study investigates surrogate models in multi-objective optimization of composite shells. It incorporates deep neural networks to approximate relationships between input parameters and key metrics, enabling exploration of design possibilities. Incorporating mode shape identification enhances accuracy, especially in multi-criteria optimization. Employing network ensembles strengthens reliability by mitigating model weaknesses. Efficiency analysis assesses required computations, managing the trade-off between cost and accuracy. Considering complex input parameters and comparing against the Monte Carlo approach further demonstrates the methodology's efficacy. This work showcases the successful integration of network ensembles employed as surrogate models and mode shape identification, enhancing multi-objective optimization in engineering applications. The approach's efficiency in handling intricate designs and enhancing accuracy has broad implications for optimization methodologies.

The impact of lipid degradation on fingerprint quality on fired firearm cartridges

The recovery of identifiable fingerprints from fired cartridge cases is challenging. Therefore, the characterization of chemical modifications and their effects on fingerprint integrity post-firing is essential. In this study, the primary fingerprint lipids, including myristic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, squalene, and cholesterol in fired and unfired cartridges, were extracted with acetonitrile, followed by derivatization using N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with 1% trimethylchlorosilane (BSTFA/1%TMCS). Squalane was used as the internal standard, and all quantifications were performed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry using a triple-quadrupole mass filter. All lipids identified in the unfired cartridges were also detected in the fired cartridges, and statistical analysis using Student's t-test and F tests was performed with a 95% confidence level. The concentration of lipids in the unfired cartridges was found to be similar to that detected in the fired cartridges, except for squalene, the recovery of which was 28% lower in the fired cartridges.

Radiographic Measurements of Internal Organs in Rhode Island Red Hybrid Hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and Their Evolution During Egg Formation

Backyard poultry hens are becoming very popular as pets, and thus the demand for treating the individual chicken is increasing. Few basic diagnostic techniques commonly used in small animal practice have been evaluated in this species. At the moment, there is no study in backyard hens describing radiographic measurements of internal organs contrary to psittacine birds or birds of prey. Moreover, the effect of egg laying on these measurements has not been studied in avian species even though it could affect radiographic measurements depending on the stage of egg formation. This is of particular concern in laying hens since they are able to lay on a daily basis. Thirteen adult hens and 3 juvenile Rhode Island red hybrid hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were used to evaluate which organs can be reliably measured and to provide preliminary reference values for clinically healthy chickens. Additionally, whole body radiographs were collected every 2 hours over 24 hours in 5 adult hens to study the evolution of these measurements throughout egg formation. Organs that could be clearly delimitated on radiographs were measured, and the only organs that could be reliably measured were the heart and liver silhouettes. These measurements were significantly higher in adult compared to juvenile hens (P = 0.024). Among the different organ ratios, heart width: total liver width ratio was the only significantly different measurement and was higher in juvenile hens (P = 0.024). Hepatic silhouette measurements and ratios were found to increase over time (P < 0.02) but did not follow the progress of egg mineralization. Eggshell thickness was found to be a promising parameter to evaluate the stage of egg formation, and thus should be taken into account when trying to establish reference intervals for radiographic measurements of internal organs in laying hens.

A new species of a giant tortoise from Sandelzhausen (MN5, Burdigalian/Langhian boundary, Early/Middle Miocene, South Germany)

We describe a new species of a giant tortoise of the genus Titanochelon from the locality of Sandelzhausen in south Germany (MN5, Burdigalian/Langhian boundary, Early/Middle Miocene). The material comprises at least two different individuals, one of which is a male individual preserving large parts of the carapace and plastron and several appendicular elements. The second individual is quite fragmented, preserving parts of the bridge and the posterior rim of the carapace. The new species, Titanochelon schleichi sp. nov., is the first species of a giant tortoise named from Germany and allows reconstructing an important diversity and expansion of titanochelones in the Western Palaearctic during the earlier parts of the Neogene.

Easily Scalable Shell-Structured Copper Catalyst with High Activity and Durability for Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation

Inducing strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) has been a useful way to control the structure of surface active sites. The SMSI often causes the encapsulation of metal particles with an oxide layer. Herein, an amorphous ceria shell was formed on Cu nanoparticles under a mild gas condition with high activity and durability for surface reaction. Cu-Ce solid solution promoted the transfer of surface oxygen species, which induced the ceria shell formation on Cu nanoparticles. This catalyst was used for CO2 hydrogenation, selectively producing CO with high low-temperature activity and good durability for operation at high temperature. CO2 activation and H2 spillover could occur at low temperatures, enhancing the activity. The shell prevented the sintering, assuring durability. This catalyst was applied to a bench-scale reactor without loss in performance, resulting in high CO productivity in all temperature ranges.

Effect of relative humidity, storage days, and packaging on pecan kernel texture: Analyses and modeling

The studies expounding on the effects of storage conditions on texture changes are limited. The researchers have been proposing methods to measure pecan texture instrumentally. But current protocols and/or attributes fail to address huge variability during experimentation. Additionally, there are no predictive models to estimate changes in pecan texture during storage. This study addresses all the above concerns and investigates the effects of different relative humidity (RH, 30-90%) and packaging material (Polyethylene-Nylon [PEN], polypropylene [PP], low density polyethylene [LDPE], and metallic laminates [ML]) on pecan texture, introducing a rift ratio (F/H or fracturability to hardness ratio) to address variability in the data and predictive model to estimate changes in the textural attribute of pecans during storage. The textural analysis was conducted on pecan cores and intact pecans to measure the area under curve, fracturability, hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness, springiness, and rift ratio. It was observed that values for the rift ratio obtained using the intact pecan method had high R² (0.72) as compared to the rest of the textural attributes. A three-parameter logistic model was employed to predict pecan texture during storage. The pecans stored at 75, 80, and 90% reached the rift ratio (F/H) of 0.5 at approx. 115, 3, and 0.15 days (~ 4 hr), respectively. Similarly, pecans stored in LDPE, PP, and PEN packs at 80% reached rift ratio (F/H) of 0.5 at approx. 26, 57, and 78 days, respectively. The presence of any kind of package delayed fracturability loss by at least eight folds at 80% RH. The pecans stored in ML did not experience a significant change in textural attributes.

Shell Versus Core Architecture and Biology of Thrombi in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The presence of an outer shell has been recently described as a common feature of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) thrombi. We performed a systematic review of the current literature on shell genesis, structure, and clinical significance.

METHODS

Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies reporting the composition and structure of AIS thrombi and clot analogs. Identified studies were added to Covidence software for primary screening. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts followed by full-text screening.

RESULTS

From 1290 identified studies, 10 were included in this review. Studies using histology/immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence described fibrin, platelets, von Willebrand factor, and neutrophil extracellular traps as the main components of the shell. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated a dense, compact fibrin/platelet-rich shell, and a core rich in polyhedrocytes. Microfluidics studies identified highly activated P-selectin-positive platelets and fibrin forming the core while secondary agonists adenosine diphosphate and thromboxane, along with loosely packed P-selectin-negative platelets constituted the shell.

CONCLUSIONS

The composition, compaction, and integrity of the shell may impact thrombolysis and revascularization outcomes. The preponderance of studies supported this conclusion.

Valorisation of hazelnut by-products: current applications and future potential

Hazelnut is one of the most widely consumed nuts around the world. Considering the nutritional value of hazelnuts, a wide range of hazelnut-based food products are available in the market such as oil, chocolate, confectionery, etc. Nevertheless, the processing of hazelnuts generates a large number of by-products and waste. The most valuable by-products of the hazelnut industry are shell, skin, and meal. These by-products are rich in bioactive compounds, protein, dietary fibre, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, phytosterols, and squalene. The current utilisation of hazelnut by-products is mostly limited to animal feed supplementation of hazelnut meal and skin and use as a low-value heat source for the shells. However, disposing of these by-products or using them as a low-value heat source or animal feed supplementation results in significant waste of a natural resource rich in nutritional components. Consequently, valorising hazelnut by-products as bioactive ingredients in diverse fields such as food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics has stimulated interest among scientists, producers, and consumers. This review provides an overview of current scientific knowledge about the main and most valuable hazelnut by-products and their actual valorisation, with a focus on their chemical composition to inspire new applications of these valuable resources and fully exploit their potential.

Liquid Oil Trapped inside PVA Electrospun Microcapsules

Electrospinning makes it possible to obtain solid fibers, in addition to core-shell fibers, using coextrusion. However, an exhaustive control of parameters allows the core-shell fibers from emulsion electrospinning to be obtained. The solvent in the outer surface tends to evaporate and the polymer density increases, moving the emulsion drops towards the center, which in turn promotes coalescence, thus creating the core. The aim of this work was to avoid coalescence and obtain a net of nanofibers entrapping oil microcapsules. We obtained an emulsion oil in water (O/W), with polyvinyl alcohol (W) and two essential oils (O), sage and thyme. An electrospinning process was used to place the microcapsules of oil inside a net of nanofibers. The electrospun veil was characterized by organoleptic testing, SEM microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, DSC thermal analysis, and pressure tests. Organoleptic testing, FTIR spectroscopy, and DSC thermal analysis demonstrated the presence of the oil, which was retained in the spheres observed by SEM microscopy, while pressure tests revealed that the oil remained in a liquid state. Furthermore, we demonstrated a strong relationship between the emulsion size and the final microcapsules created, which are slightly larger due to the shell formation. The size of the emulsion determines whether the spheres will be independent or embedded in the nanofibers. Furthermore, the nanofiber diameter was considerably reduced compared to the nanofibers without the oil.

Gas-Permeable Iron-Doped Ceria Shell on Rh Nanoparticles with High Activity and Durability

Strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) is a promising strategy to control the structure of the supported metal catalyst. Especially, encapsulating metal nanoparticles through SMSI can enhance resistance against sintering but typically blocks the access of reactants onto the metal surface. Here, we report gas-permeable shells formed on Rh nanoparticles with enhanced activity and durability for the surface reaction. First, Fe species were doped into ceria, enhancing the transfer of surface oxygen species. When Rh was deposited onto the Fe-doped ceria (FC) and reduced, a shell was formed on Rh nanoparticles. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) results show that the shell is formed upon reduction and removed upon oxidation reversibly. CO adsorption on the Rh surface through the shell was confirmed by cryo-DRIFTS. The reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction (CO₂ + H₂ → CO + H₂O) occurred on the encapsulated Rh nanoparticles effectively with selective CO formation, whereas bare Rh nanoparticles deposited on ceria produced methane as well. The CO adsorption became much weaker on the encapsulated Rh nanoparticles, and H₂-spillover occurred more on the FC, resulting in high activity for RWGS. The exposed Rh nanoparticles deposited on ceria presented degradation at 400 °C after 150 h of RWGS, whereas the encapsulated Rh nanoparticles showed no degradation with superior durability. Enhancing surface oxygen transfer can be an efficient way to form gas-permeable overlayers on metal nanoparticles with high activity and durability.

Computational, Experimental, and Clinical Evidence of a Specific but Peculiar Evolutionary Nature of (COVID-19) SARS-CoV-2

The shell disorder models have predicted that SARS-CoV-2 is of a specific but peculiar evolutionary nature. All coronaviruses (CoVs) closely related to SARS-CoV-2 have been found to have the hardest outer shells (M protein) among CoVs. This hard shell (low M percentage of intrinsic disorder (PID)) is associated with burrowing animals, for example, pangolins, and is believed to be responsible for the high contagiousness of SARS-CoV-2 because it will be more resistant to antimicrobial enzymes found in saliva/mucus. Incoming clinical and experimental data do support this along with a prediction based on another aspect of the shell (N, inner shell) disorder models that SARS-CoV-1 is more virulent than SARS-CoV-2 because SARS-CoV-2 produces fewer virus copies in vital organs even if large amounts of infections particles are shed orally and nasally. A phylogenetic study using M reveals a closer relationship of SARS-CoV to pangolin-CoVs than the bat-RaTG13 found in Yunnan, China. Previous studies may have been confused by recombinations that were poorly handled. The shell disorder models suggest that a pangolin-CoV strain may have entered the human population in 2017 or before as an attenuated virus, which could explain why SARS-CoV is found to be highly adapted to humans.

A review of the genus Laeocathaica Möllendorff, 1899 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Camaenidae)

In this paper an overview of the Laeocathaica species is provided, and the intraspecific variability of several Laeocathaica species demonstrated on multiple shells. Laeocathaicahisanoi Páll-Gergely, sp. nov. and L.minwui Páll-Gergely, sp. nov. are described based on specimens found in museum collections. Five new synonyms are recognized: L.prionotropisalbocincta Möllendorff, 1899 is a new synonym of L.prionotropis Möllendorff, 1899, L.stenochone Möllendorff, 1899 is a new synonym of Laeocathaicacarinifera (H. Adams, 1870). Laeocathaicadistinguenda Möllendorff, 1899, L.tropidorhaphe Möllendorff, 1899, and L.dangchangensis Chen & Zhang, 2004 are moved to the synonymy of Laeocathaicaamdoana Möllendorff, 1899. Furthermore, photos of paratypes of Cathaicabizonalis Chen & Zhang, 2004 are published for the first time.

Development of a Procedure for the Determination of the Buckling Resistance of Steel Spherical Shells according to EC 1993-1-6

This paper presents the process of developing a new procedure for estimating the buckling capacity of spherical shells. This procedure is based entirely on the assumptions included in the standard mentioned, EN-1993-1-6 and also becomes a complement of EDR5th by unifying provisions included in them. This procedure is characterized by clarity and its algorithm is characterized by a low degree of complexity. While developing the procedure, no attempt was made to change the main postulates accompanying the dimensions of the spherical shells. The result is a simple engineering approach to the difficult problem of determining the buckling capacity of a spherical shell. In spite of the simple calculation algorithm for estimating the buckling capacity of spherical shells, the results obtained reflect extremely accurately the behavior of real spherical shells, regardless of their geometry and the material used to manufacture them.

Micro-CT image gallery visually presenting the effects of ocean warming and acidification on marine gastropod shells

Background

Digitisation of specimens (e.g. zoological, botanical) can provide access to advanced morphological and anatomical information and promote new research opportunities. The micro-CT technology may support the development of "virtual museums" or "virtual laboratories" where digital 3D imaging data are shared widely and freely. There is currently a lack of universal standards concerning the publication and curation of micro-CT datasets.

New information

The aim of the current project was to create a virtual gallery with micro-CT scans of individuals of the marine gastropod Hexaplextrunculus, which were maintained under a combination of increased temperature and low pH conditions, thus simulating future climate change scenarios. The 3D volume-rendering models created were used to visualise the structure properties of the gastropods shells. Finally, the 3D analysis performed on the micro-CT scans was used to investigate potential changes in the shell properties of the gastropods. The derived micro-CT 3D images were annotated with detailed metadata and can be interactively displayed and manipulated using online tools through the micro-CT virtual laboratory, which was developed under the LifeWatchGreece Research Infrastructure for the dissemination of virtual image galleries collection supporting the principles of FAIR data.

Detection of Material Degradation of a Composite Cylinder Using Mode Shapes and Convolutional Neural Networks

This paper presents a numerical study of the feasibility of using vibration mode shapes to identify material degradation in composite structures. The considered structure is a multilayer composite cylinder, while the material degradation zone is, for simplicity, considered a square section of the lateral surface of the cylinder. The material degradation zone size and location along the cylinder axis are identified using a deep learning approach (convolutional neural networks, CNNs, are applied) on the basis of previously identified vibration mode shapes. The different numbers and combinations of identified mode shapes used to assess the damaged zone size and location were analyzed in detail. The final selection of mode shapes considered in the identification procedure yielded high accuracy in the identification of the degradation zone.

Micro-CT protocols for scanning and 3D analysis of Hexaplextrunculus during its different life stages

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a high-resolution 3D-imaging technique which is now increasingly applied in biological studies focusing on taxonomy and functional morphology. The creation of virtual representations of specimens can increase availability of otherwise underexploited and inaccessible samples. The 3D model dataset can be also further processed through volume rendering and morphometric analysis. The success of micro-CT as a visualisation technique depends on several methodological manipulations, including the use of contrast enhancing staining agents, filters, scanning mediums, containers, exposure time and frame averaging. The aim of this study was to standardise a series of micro-CT scanning and 3D analysis protocols for a marine gastropod species, Hexaplextrunculus. The analytical protocols have followed all the developmental stages of this gastropod, from egg capsules and embryos to juveniles and adults.

Maximizing the Catalytic Performance of Pd@Aux Pd1-x Nanocubes in H2 O2 Production by Reducing Shell Thickness to Increase Compositional Stability

We report a simple route based upon seed-mediated growth to the synthesis of Pd@Au_x Pd_1-x (0.8≤x≤1) core-shell nanocubes. Benefiting from the well-defined {100} facets and an optimal Au/Pd ratio for the surface, the nanocubes bearing a shell made of Au_0.95 Pd_0.05 work as an efficient electrocatalyst toward H₂ O₂ production, with high selectivity of 93-100 % in the low-overpotential region of 0.4-0.7 V. When the Au_0.95 Pd_0.05 alloy is confined to a shell of only three atomic layers in thickness, the electrocatalyst is able to maintain its surface structure and elemental composition, endowing continuous and stable production of H₂ O₂ during oxygen reduction at a high rate of 1.62 mol g_(Pd+Au) ^-1  h^-1 . This work demonstrates a versatile route to the rational development of active and durable electrocatalysts based upon alloy nanocrystals.

Two new species of the Balkan genus Paladilhiopsis Pavlović, 1913 (Caenogastropoda, Moitessieriidae)

The Balkan Peninsula is inhabited by the worldwide most diverse subterranean gastropod fauna. This fauna is still poorly studied, since its habitats are not easily accessible, and its sampled populations are mostly not rich in specimens' numbers. Often only empty shells are known, but the shell is hardly useful, not only in phylogeny reconstruction, but even in species determination. The exclusively obligatory subterranean family Moitessieriidae is especially poorly studied. Representatives of the genus Paladilhiopsis Pavlović, 1913 (Moitessieriidae) collected at three localities, distributed in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, were studied. The pigmentation of their shells and soft parts, as well as the female and male reproductive organs in one taxon, are presented. The partial sequences of the molecular markers mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear histone 3 (H3) were used to infer their systematic status and phylogenetic relationships. Two species new to science are described. For one of them, also studied anatomically, 15 specimens were sequenced for COI, and all show the same haplotype.

Promising Chemoprevention of Colonic Aberrant Crypt Foci by Portunus segnis Muscle and Shell Extracts in Azoxymethane-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study subjected a rat model to the extracts of muscle and shell tissues from Portunus segnis to assess their therapeutic effects on the HT-29 colon cancer cells as well as on colonic Aberrant Crypt Foci (ACF) induced by Azoxymethane (AOM).

METHODS

The cell line was exposed to the extracts to compare the cytotoxicity of hexane, butanol, ethyl acetate, and water extract of muscle and ethanolic extract of the shell. Male rats (n=40) were assigned into control, positive, negative, and treatment groups. The animals were injected with AOM, except the control group, and then exposed to 250 and 500mg/kg of the crude extracts. Immunohistochemical localization of Bax and Bcl-2, as well as ACF and antioxidant enzymes, were evaluated in the rat colon.

RESULTS

The butanolic muscle extract and ethanolic shell one demonstrated an IC50 of 9.02±0.19μg/ml and 20.23±0.27μg/ml towards the cell line, respectively. Dietary exposure inhibited the ACF formation and crypt multiplicity in the colon compared to the cancer control group. The activity of SOD and CAT increased, while that of MDA decreased. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 increased and decreased, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the results show that both extractions were suggested to be suppressive to AOMinduced colon cancer.

Valorization of Almond (Prunus serotina) by Obtaining Bioactive Compounds

The Capulin almond is a seed of the Prunus serotina (var. capuli) that belongs to the Rosaceae family. In this study, the valorization of the Capulin almond was performed by extracting antioxidants contained in the shell, paste, and oil (extracted by manual cold pressing process) of Prunus serotina treated with methanol, ethanol, acetone, and acidified water (pH 4) in a ratio of 1:5 (w/v). Total phenols were performed using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE), antioxidant activity was determined by ABTS and DPPH methods and expressed as Trolox equivalents (TE). Finally, the total flavonoids were determined using a catechin calibration curve and reported as catechin equivalents (CE). The highest extraction of total phenols in shell was obtained with methanol (1.65 mg GAE/g sample) and the lowest using acidified water (0.97 mg GAE/g sample). However, extraction with acidified water favored this process in the paste (1.42 mg GAE/g sample), while the use of solvents did not influence it significantly (0.72 to 0.79 mg GAE/g sample). Regarding the total flavonoids, the values for the shell, paste, and oil were of 0.37, 0.78, and 0.34 mg CE/g sample, respectively, while that corresponding to the antioxidant activity evaluated with ABTS and DPPH were of 1527.78, 1229.17, 18894.44 μM TE/g, and, 568.45, 562.5 and 4369.05 mM TE/g sample, respectively. Finally, our results suggest that by-products such as the shell, paste, and oil obtained from Prunus serotina (var. capuli) represent a potential alternative for the recovery of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids.

Identification of Mode Shapes of a Composite Cylinder Using Convolutional Neural Networks

The aim of the following paper is to discuss a newly developed approach for the identification of vibration mode shapes of multilayer composite structures. To overcome the limitations of the approaches based on image analysis (two-dimensional structures, high spatial resolution of mode shapes description), convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are applied to create a three-dimensional mode shapes identification algorithm with a significantly reduced number of mode shape vector coordinates. The CNN-based procedure is accurate, effective, and robust to noisy input data. The appearance of local damage is not an obstacle. The change of the material and the occurrence of local material degradation do not affect the accuracy of the method. Moreover, the application of the proposed identification method allows identifying the material degradation occurrence.

Multi-Directional Universal Energy Harvesting Ball

This paper discusses the development of a multi-directional, universal, electromagnetic energy harvester. The device is a ball consisting of two parts: a rigid spherical core with internal tubes, coils and magnets, and a flexible silicone-based shell holding a carrier fluid. The multi-directional aspect of the design comes from the device’s spherical shape. The harvester generates energy when subject to compressive force, by moving fluid through a tube, pushing a permanently magnetized ball through a coil wound around the tube. A combination of 3-D printed PLA plastic and molded silicone was used to produce a prototype. The energy harvester can be utilized in applications where there is an oscillating compression and it is not limited to certain applications due to its universal ball shape. It was tested at five different frequencies between 4–15 Hz on its four different outer sides producing electricity at a range of 17 to 44 mV.

Shell Lesions Associated With Emydomyces testavorans Infection in Freshwater Aquatic Turtles

A newly described onygenalean fungus, Emydomyces testavorans, has been isolated from ulcerative shell and skin lesions of freshwater aquatic chelonians. To investigate the shell lesions associated with infection and determine if any lesional features were unique to E. testavorans, tissues from turtles housed in zoological institutions (n = 45) in the United States and free-living turtles (n = 5) submitted for diagnostic biopsy or necropsy were examined. Free-living turtles were from geographically distinct habitats in Florida (n = 1) and Washington (n = 4) at the time of sampling. Histologic shell sections were evaluated for the presence or absence of specific lesional features. Infection with E. testavorans was evaluated in all cases by screening GMS (Grocott-Gomori's methenamine silver)-stained histologic sections for the presence of morphologically consistent fungi and by quantitative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) on representative frozen tissue or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. Additionally, culture was performed for 15 cases with available fresh/frozen tissue. In total, there were 17 PCR-confirmed E. testavorans cases, 29 cases with morphologically consistent fungi on GMS-stained sections, and 21 cases of shell lesions without histologic or molecular evidence of E. testavorans infection. Epithelial inclusion cysts, defined as cystic structures within the dermis lined by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium and containing necrotic bone and keratin debris, were significantly (P < .01) associated with E. testavorans infection. Other significantly associated shell lesions included squamous metaplasia, hyperkeratosis, inflammation, and osteonecrosis (P < .05). This study identified characteristic shell lesions associated with E. testavorans infection. Further studies to prove causality are needed.

Intracellular Organization by Jumbo Bacteriophages

Since their discovery more than 100 years ago, the viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages) have been widely studied as model systems. Largely overlooked, however, have been "jumbo phages," with genome sizes ranging from 200 to 500 kbp. Jumbo phages generally have large virions with complex structures and a broad host spectrum. While the majority of jumbo phage genes are poorly functionally characterized, recent work has discovered many unique biological features, including a conserved tubulin homolog that coordinates a proteinaceous nucleus-like compartment that houses and segregates phage DNA. The tubulin spindle displays dynamic instability and centers the phage nucleus within the bacterial host during phage infection for optimal reproduction. The shell provides robust physical protection for the enclosed phage genomes against attack from DNA-targeting bacterial immune systems, thereby endowing jumbo phages with broad resistance. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge of the cytoskeletal elements and the specialized nuclear compartment derived from jumbo phages, and we highlight their importance in facilitating spatial and temporal organization over the viral life cycle. Additionally, we discuss the evolutionary relationships between jumbo phages and eukaryotic viruses, as well as the therapeutic potential and drawbacks of jumbo phages as antimicrobial agents in phage therapy.

Optimization of Dynamic and Buckling Behavior of Thin-Walled Composite Cylinder, Supported by Nature-Inspired Agorithms

The paper presents the optimization of stacking sequence (the lamination angles in subsequent composite layers) of the composite cylinder in order to simultaneously maximize the values of the first natural frequency f1 and the first buckling force Pcr. The optimization problem involves either two objective functions or one which combines both problems using a coefficient whose optimal value is also being searched for. The main idea of the paper is the application of two neural network metamodels which substitute very time- and resource-consuming Finite Element (FE) calculations. The metamodels are created separately through a novel iterative procedure, using examples obtained through Finite Element Method (FEM). The metamodels, once ready, are able to assess the values of f1 and Pcr instantly and thus enable the application of nature-inspired Genetic Algorithm (GA) minimization with reasonable calculation times. Obviously, the maxima of f1 and Pcr may be located in different points of the design parameters (i.e., lamination angles) space, the considered optimization task is to find a solution for which both f1 and Pcr simultaneously reach values as close to their maxima as possible. All the investigated optimization examples are repeated several times and basic statistical analysis of the results is presented.

Cell type- and layer-specific convergence in core and shell neurons of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

Over 40 distinct types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) generate parallel processing pathways in the visual system. In mice, two subdivisions of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), the core and the shell, organize distinct parallel channels to transmit visual information from the retina to the primary visual cortex (V1). To investigate how the dLGN core and shell differentially integrate visual information and other modalities, we mapped synaptic input sources to each dLGN subdivision at the cell-type level with G-deleted rabies viral vectors. The monosynaptic circuit tracing revealed that dLGN core neurons received inputs from alpha-RGCs, Layer 6 neurons of the V1, the superficial and intermediate layers of the superior colliculus (SC), the internal ventral LGN, the lower layer of the external ventral LGN (vLGNe), the intergeniculate leaf, the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), and the pretectal nucleus (PT). Conversely, shell neurons received inputs from alpha-RGCs and direction-selective ganglion cells of the retina, Layer 6 neurons of the V1, the superficial layer of the SC, the superficial and lower layers of the vLGNe, the TRN, the PT, and the parabigeminal nucleus. The present study provides anatomical evidence of the cell type- and layer-specific convergence in dLGN core and shell neurons. These findings suggest that dLGN core neurons integrate and process more multimodal information along with visual information than shell neurons and that LGN core and shell neurons integrate different types of information, send their own convergent information to discrete populations of the V1, and differentially contribute to visual perception and behavior.

A Novel Strategy for the Development of Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and Other Viruses Using AI and Viral Shell Disorder

A model that predicts levels of coronavirus (CoV) respiratory and fecal-oral transmission potentials based on the shell disorder has been built using neural network (artificial intelligence, AI) analysis of the percentage of disorder (PID) in the nucleocapsid, N, and membrane, M, proteins of the inner and outer viral shells, respectively. Using primarily the PID of N, SARS-CoV-2 is grouped as having intermediate levels of both respiratory and fecal-oral transmission potentials. Related studies, using similar methodologies, have found strong positive correlations between virulence and inner shell disorder among numerous viruses, including Nipah, Ebola, and Dengue viruses. There is some evidence that this is also true for SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, which have N PIDs of 48% and 50%, and case-fatality rates of 0.5-5% and 10.9%, respectively. The underlying relationship between virulence and respiratory potentials has to do with the viral loads of vital organs and body fluids, respectively. Viruses can spread by respiratory means only if the viral loads in saliva and mucus exceed certain minima. Similarly, a patient is likelier to die when the viral load overwhelms vital organs. Greater disorder in inner shell proteins has been known to play important roles in the rapid replication of viruses by enhancing the efficiency pertaining to protein-protein/DNA/RNA/lipid bindings. This paper suggests a novel strategy in attenuating viruses involving comparison of disorder patterns of inner shells (N) of related viruses to identify residues and regions that could be ideal for mutation. The M protein of SARS-CoV-2 has one of the lowest M PID values (6%) in its family, and therefore, this virus has one of the hardest outer shells, which makes it resistant to antimicrobial enzymes in body fluid. While this is likely responsible for its greater contagiousness, the risks of creating an attenuated virus with a more disordered M are discussed.

Shell Disorder Analysis Suggests That Pangolins Offered a Window for a Silent Spread of an Attenuated SARS-CoV-2 Precursor among Humans

A model to predict the relative levels of respiratory and fecal-oral transmission potentials of coronaviruses (CoVs) by measuring the percentage of protein intrinsic disorder (PID) of the M (Membrane) and N (Nucleoprotein) proteins in their outer and inner shells, respectively, was built before the MERS-CoV outbreak. With MPID = 8.6% and NPID = 50.2%, the 2003 SARS-CoV falls into group B, which consists of CoVs with intermediate levels of both fecal-oral and respiratory transmission potentials. Further validation of the model came with MERS-CoV (MPID = 9%, NPID = 44%) and SARS-CoV-2 (MPID = 5.5%, NPID = 48%) falling into the groups C and B, respectively. Group C contains CoVs with higher fecal-oral but lower respiratory transmission potentials. Unlike SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 with MPID = 5.5% has one of the hardest outer shells among CoVs. Because the hard shell is able to resist the antimicrobial enzymes in body fluids, the infected person is able to shed large quantities of viral particles via saliva and mucus, which could account for the higher contagiousness of SARS-COV-2. Further searches have found that high rigidity of the outer shell is characteristic for the CoVs of burrowing animals, such as rabbits (MPID = 5.6%) and pangolins (MPID = 5-6%), which are in contact with the buried feces. A closer inspection of pangolin-CoVs from 2017 to 2019 reveals that pangolins provided a unique window of opportunity for the entry of an attenuated SARS-CoV-2 precursor into the human population in 2017 or earlier, with the subsequent slow and silent spread as a mild cold that followed by its mutations into the current more virulent form. Evidence of this lies in both the genetic proximity of the pangolin-CoVs to SARS-CoV-2 (∼90%) and differences in N disorder. A 2017 pangolin-CoV strain shows evidence of higher levels of attenuation and higher fecal-oral transmission associated with lower human infectivity via having lower NPID (44.8%). Our shell disorder model predicts this to be a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine strain, as lower inner shell disorder is associated with the lesser virulence in a variety of viruses.

Activation of Infralimbic to Nucleus Accumbens Shell Pathway Suppresses Conditioned Aversion in Male But Not Female Rats

Hedonic processing plays an integral role in directing appropriate behavior, but disrupted hedonic processing is associated with psychiatric disorders such as depression. The infralimbic cortex (IL) is a key structure in affective processing in rodents and activation of its human homolog, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, has been implicated in suppressing aversive states. Here, we tested whether optogenetic activation of glutamatergic projections from the IL to the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) suppresses the aversive impact of sucrose devalued using the conditioned taste aversion paradigm in males and female rats. In naive rats, no significant differences in appetitive or aversive taste reactivity (TR) to sucrose was observed indicating that initial sucrose palatability was equivalent across sex. However, we found that optical activation of the IL-NAcSh pathway during intraoral infusion of devalued sucrose inhibited aversive TR in male but not female rats. Interestingly, when allowed to freely ingest water and sucrose in a two-bottle test both males and females with a history of IL-NAcSh stimulation exhibited greater preference for sucrose. Optical pathway activation failed to alter TR to innately bitter quinine in either sex. Finally, both sexes lever pressed to self-stimulate the IL-NAcSh pathway. These results indicate that the IL-NAcSh pathway plays an important role in suppressing learned aversive states selectively in males but spares hedonic processing of innately aversive tastants. Further, pathway activation is reinforcing in both sexes, indicating that suppression of conditioned aversive TR can be dissociable from the effects of unconditioned rewarding properties of IL-NAcSh pathway activation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Negative emotional states contribute to psychiatric disorders including depression and substance use disorders. In this study, we examined whether brain circuitry previously implicated in suppressing negative emotional states in humans can inhibit learned aversion in male and female rats. We found that optical activation of the infralimbic to nucleus accumbens shell pathway attenuates learned aversive responses in male but not female rats, indicating an important sex difference in the function of this brain pathway. Furthermore, we found that pathway stimulation was reinforcing in both sexes. Collectively, these findings support the role of the infralimbic cortex and its projection to the nucleus accumbens shell in suppressing learned negative emotional states and highlight an important sex-specific function of this pathway.

Characterization and Application of Gelatin Films with Pecan Walnut and Shell Extract (Carya illinoiensis)

Phenolic compounds that come from natural products are a good option for minimizing lipid oxidation. It should be noted that these are not only introduced directly into the food, but also incorporated into edible biofilms. In contact with food, they extend its useful life by avoiding contact with other surface and preventing deterioration air, one of the main objectives. In particular, gelatin is a biopolymer that has a great potential due to its abundance, low cost and good film-forming capacity. The aim of this study has been to design and analyse gelatin films that incorporate bioactive compounds that come from the walnut and a by-product, the walnut shell. The results showed that mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of the developed films varied depending on the concentration of the walnut, shell and synthetic antioxidant. With increasing walnut concentration (15%) the permeability to water vapor (0.414 g·mm/m2·day·Pascal, g·mm/m2·day·Pa) was significantly lower than the control (5.0368 g·mm/m2·day·Pa). Furthermore, in the new films the elongation at the break and Young's modulus decrease by six times with respect to the control. Films with pure gelatin cannot act as an antioxidant shield to prevent food oxidation, but adding pecan walnut (15% concentration) presents 30% inhibition of the DPPH stable radical. Furthermore, in the DSC, the addition of walnut (15 and 9% concentrations), showed the formation of big crystals; which could improve the thermal stability of gelatin films. The use of new gelatin films has shown good protection against the oxidation of beef patties, increasing the useful lifetime up to nine days, compared to the control (3-4 days), which opens up a big field to the commercialization of meat products with lower quantities of synthetic products.

Dorsoventral decoupling of Hox gene expression underpins the diversification of molluscs

In contrast to the Hox genes in arthropods and vertebrates, those in molluscs show diverse expression patterns with differences reported among lineages. Here, we investigate 2 phylogenetically distant molluscs, a gastropod and a polyplacophoran, and show that the Hox expression in both species can be divided into 2 categories. The Hox expression in the ventral ectoderm generally shows a canonical staggered pattern comparable to the patterns of other bilaterians and likely contributes to ventral patterning, such as neurogenesis. The other category of Hox expression on the dorsal side is strongly correlated with shell formation and exhibits lineage-specific characteristics in each class of mollusc. This generalized model of decoupled dorsoventral Hox expression is compatible with known Hox expression data from other molluscan lineages and may represent a key characteristic of molluscan Hox expression. These results support the concept of widespread staggered Hox expression in Mollusca and reveal aspects that may be related to the evolutionary diversification of molluscs. We propose that dorsoventral decoupling of Hox expression allowed lineage-specific dorsal and ventral patterning, which may have facilitated the evolution of diverse body plans in different molluscan lineages.

Manufacturing and Structural Features with Respect to the Modal Behavior of a Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Drum Shell

This work evaluates the use of structural aspects in the manufacture of drum shells based on their modal behavior. The drum shells are made of composite carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy (CFRE) due to the structural variables commonly used in the industry for the manufacture of these musical instruments. Musicians consider the shell of a membranophone to be responsible for the differences in timbre between different instruments. Normally, this variation focuses attention on the mechanical characteristics of the material and on the overall thickness of the cylinder that forms the shell. Some manufacturers, especially those that use metals and composites, resort to low thicknesses, below 2 mm, which forces them to use structural reinforcements at the edges of the cylindrical shell to avoid deformations due to the tension generated by the membranes. As shown in this research work, these structural elements have great relevance within the acoustic behavior of the drum shell. Comparisons are made among the frequencies obtained for the different vibrational modes by using finite element simulations, establishing the length of the structural solution previously mentioned and the number of plies of composite laminate as design variables, starting from the characteristics of a real case constructed with CFRE and concluding with experimental validation. The range of study is limited to the values of the frequencies generated by the membranes. The results demonstrate that the use of different manufacturing variables can lead to savings in production costs without compromising the modal behavior of the shell.

Effect of shell as natural testosterone boosters in Sprague Dawley rats

Aim:

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of shell supplementation on the regulation of male reproduction in rats

Materials and Methods:

The zinc (Zn) level of shell from blood clam (Anadara granosa), green mussel (Perna viridis), and conch shell (Telescopium telescopium) was analyzed. The highest Zn content shell was fed to male Sprague Dawley rats for 0, 9, 30, and 50 days at the dose of either 0.09 mg/200 g BW or 0.18 mg/200 g BW. To determine the testosterone levels, blood was collected through the infraorbitalis sinus just before the rat was sacrificed. Testicular and brain were also collected for Cyp19 aromatase receptor analysis.

Results:

The Zn level in the shell of blood clam, green mussel, and conch shell 61.55 mg/kg, 2.78 mg/kg, and 3.93 mg/kg, respectively. The testosterone level of T1 group receiving 0.18 mg/200 g BW for 0, 9, 30, and 50 days was 1.42±0.59, 2.15±1.58, 2.98±2.53, and 8.11±2.03 ng/mL, respectively. The testosterone level of T2 group receiving 0.09 mg/200 g BW for 0, 9, 30, and 50 days was 2.50±0.32, 1.25±0.60, 3.87±3.27, and 3.54±0.23 ng/mL, respectively. The T3 group receiving Na-CMC showed the level of testosterone at days 0, 9, 30, and 50 days was 0.77±0.22, 1.99±1.65, 4.12±0.07, and 2.19±1.30 ng/mL, respectively. Finally, the T4 group receiving Zn showed testosterone levels at days 0, 9, 30, and 50 days was 0.51±0.58, 2.24±3.16, 4.58±1.97, and 2.89±0.20 ng/mL, respectively. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the T1 group compared to the other groups. However, the absence of expression of Cyp19 aromatase both in Leydig cells and the brain indicated no conversion of testosterone to estradiol. To add, this finding showed the potential use of the shell to boost the testosterone level in male rats.

Conclusion:

Shell acted as an aromatase blocker to boost the testosterone level in male rats. This also indicates its promising application in birds to manipulate the quality of song and feather.

Three-dimensional structural evolution of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis shell from embryo to adult stages

The cuttlefish shell is an internal structure with a composition and general organization unique among molluscs. Its formation and the structure-function relation are explored during Sepia officinalis development, using computerized axial tomography scanning (CAT-scan) three-dimensional analyses coupled to physical measurements and modelling. In addition to the evolution of the overall form, modifications of the internal structure were identified from the last third embryonic stages to adult. Most of these changes can be correlated to life cycle stages and environmental constraints. Protected by the capsule during embryonic life, the first internal chambers are sustained by isolated pillars formed from the dorsal to the ventral septum. After hatching, the formation of pillars appears to be a progressive process from isolated points to interconnected pillars forming a wall-delineated labyrinthine structure. We analysed the interpillar space, the connectivity and the tortuosity of the labyrinth. The labyrinthine pillar network is complete just prior to the wintering migration, probably to sustain the need to adapt to high pressure and to allow buoyancy regulation. At that time, the connectivity in the pillar network is compensated by an increase in tortuosity, most probably to reduce liquid diffusion in the shell. Altogether these results suggest adjustment of internal calcified structure development to both external forces and physiological needs.

A prospective examination of mask anxiety during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and patient perceptions of management strategies

INTRODUCTION

Distress related to wearing an immobilisation mask for radiotherapy treatment (RT) is a common experience for the person undergoing RT for head and neck cancer (HNC). Described as 'mask anxiety', there is little known about the patterns of this distress through the course of the treatment or what strategies are being used by people to help alleviate mask anxiety.

METHODS

The study used a prospective cohort design to examine the patterns of patient-reported mask anxiety during the course of RT, using a modified Distress Thermometer (DT) and a survey to explore strategies patients used to assist their mask anxiety.

RESULTS

Thirty-five participants, who identified as experiencing mask anxiety, were followed throughout RT treatment. At baseline, females were more likely to experience higher mask anxiety (P = 0.03). Across the course of treatment, mask anxiety significantly (P < 0.001) reduced within the total cohort. In 72% of participants, the level of initial distress was found to reduce over time. Only 22% experienced mask anxiety that remained constant. Few (6%) experienced an increase in mask anxiety across the course of RT. Participants reported relying on intervention from health professionals, self-taught strategies, music, visualisation and medication to manage their mask anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to its high prevalence and variable patterns over time, it is recommended that routine screening for mask anxiety be implemented as standard care throughout the course of RT for HNC. Multiple, diverse strategies are being used by patients and studies are needed to develop effective interventions for managing mask anxiety.

Role of temperature and carbonate system variability on a host-parasite system: Implications for the gigantism hypothesis

Biological interactions and environmental constraints alter life-history traits, modifying organismal performances. Trematode parasites often impact their hosts by inducing parasitic castration, frequently correlated with increased body size in the host (i.e., gigantism hypothesis), which is postulated to reflect the re-allocation of energy released by the reduction in the reproductive process. In this study, we compared the effect of a trematode species on shell size and morphology in adult individuals of the intertidal mussels Perumytilus purpuratus (>20 mm) collected from two local populations of contrasting environmental regimes experienced in central-southern Chile. Our field data indicates that in both study locations, parasitized mussels evidenced higher body sizes (shell length, total weight and volume) as compared with non-parasitized. In addition, parasitized mussels from the southern location evidenced thinner shells than non-parasitized ones and those collected from central Chile, suggesting geographical variation in shell carbonate precipitation across intertidal habitats of the Chilean coast. In laboratory conditions, mussels collected from a local population in central Chile were exposed to two temperature treatments (12 and 18 °C). Parasitized mussels showed higher growth rates than non-parasitized, regardless of the seawater temperature treatments. However, the metabolic rate was not influenced by the parasite condition or the temperature treatments. Our field and laboratory results support the parasite-induced gigantism hypothesis, and suggest that both the thermal environment and geographic location explain only a portion of the increased body size, while the parasitic condition is the most plausible factor modulating the outcome of this host-parasite interaction.

Heterologous Microcompartment Assembly in Bacillaceae: Establishing the Components Necessary for Scaffold Formation

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are organelles that host specific biochemical reactions for both anabolic and catabolic functions. Engineered morphologically diverse BMCs bearing heterologous enzymatic pathways have shown enhanced productivity for commodity chemicals, which makes BMCs an important focus for metabolic engineering. Gaining control of BMC assembly and incorporation of a heterologous enzymatic cargo has yet to be achieved in thermophiles. Herein, we address this by first conducting a detailed bioinformatic analysis of the propanediol utilization (pdu) operon in the thermophile Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius. We then demonstrated, in vivo, the ability to assemble the native BMCs at an elevated temperature of 60 °C. Heterologous expression of Pdu shell proteins from P. thermoglucosidasius in Bacillus subtilis resulted in the assembly of a single tubular BMC with an average length of 1.4 μm; BMCs assembled after a 20 min induction of expression of the shell operons. Moreover, we show that it is possible to target the monomeric superfolder GFP (msfGFP) to the interior of the compartment by fusion of an N-terminal sequence of the propanediol utilization protein (PduP) of at least 24 amino acids. This study establishes the feasibility of constructing cell factories for small molecules in industrially important Bacillus and Geobacillus spp. by heterologous cargo-carrying BMC production and assembly. Additionally, the study provides experimental confirmation that BMCs are produced in thermophilic bacteria, which opens a path for future research on repurposing the native organelles to provide new functionality at elevated temperatures.

A review of Aulacospira Möllendorff, 1890 and Pseudostreptaxis Möllendorff, 1890 in the Philippines (Gastropoda, Pupilloidea, Hypselostomatidae)

The genera Aulacospira and Pseudostreptaxis of the Philippines are revised based on the collections of the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum (Frankfurt am Main, Germany), the Florida Museum of Natural History (USA), and recently collected material. Three new species are described: Aulacospiralens Páll-Gergely & Auffenberg, sp. n., Aulacospirakrobyloides Páll-Gergely & Schilthuizen, sp. n., Pseudostreptaxisharli Páll-Gergely & Schilthuizen, sp. n.

Growth and morphogenesis of the gastropod shell

Gastropod shell morphologies are famously diverse but generally share a common geometry, the logarithmic coil. Variations on this morphology have been modeled mathematically and computationally but the developmental biology of shell morphogenesis remains poorly understood. Here we characterize the organization and growth patterns of the shell-secreting epithelium of the larval shell of the basket whelk Tritia (also known as Ilyanassa). Despite the larval shell's relative simplicity, we find a surprisingly complex organization of the shell margin in terms of rows and zones of cells. We examined cell division patterns with EdU incorporation assays and found two growth zones within the shell margin. In the more anterior aperture growth zone, we find that inferred division angles are biased to lie parallel to the shell edge, and these divisions occur more on the margin's left side. In the more posterior mantle epithelium growth zone, inferred divisions are significantly biased to the right, relative to the anterior-posterior axis. These growth zones, and the left-right asymmetries in cleavage patterns they display, can explain the major modes of shell morphogenesis at the level of cellular behavior. In a gastropod with a different coiling geometry, Planorbella sp., we find similar shell margin organization and growth zones as Tritia, but different left-right asymmetries than we observed in the helically coiled shell of Tritia These results indicate that differential growth patterns in the mantle edge epithelium contribute to shell shape in gastropod shells and identify cellular mechanisms that may vary to generate shell diversity in evolution.

Nucleus Accumbens Shell Orexin-1 Receptors Are Critical Mediators of Binge Intake in Excessive-Drinking Individuals

Excessive, binge alcohol drinking is a potent and pernicious obstacle to treating alcohol use disorder (AUD), and heavy-drinking humans are responsible for much of the substantial costs and harms of AUD. Thus, identifying key mechanisms that drive intake in higher-drinking individuals may provide important, translationally useful therapeutic interventions. Orexin-1-receptors (Ox1Rs) promote states of high motivation, and studies with systemic Ox1R inhibition suggest a particular role in individuals with higher intake levels. However, little has been known about circuits where Ox1Rs promote pathological intake, especially excessive alcohol consumption. We previously discovered that binge alcohol drinking requires Ox1Rs in medial nucleus accumbens shell (Shell), using two-bottle-choice Drinking-in-the-Dark (2bc-DID) in adult, male C57BL/6 mice. Here, we show that Shell Ox1Rs promoted intake during intermittent-access alcohol drinking as well as 2bc-DID, and that Shell inhibition with muscimol/baclofen also suppressed 2bc-DID intake. Importantly, with this large data set, we were able to demonstrate that Shell Ox1Rs and overall activity were particularly important for driving alcohol consumption in higher-drinking individuals, with little overall impact in moderate drinkers. Shell inhibition results were compared with control data combined from drug treatments that did not reduce intake, including NMDAR or PKC inhibition in Shell, Ox1R inhibition in accumbens core, and systemic inhibition of dopamine-1 receptors; these were used to understand whether more specific Shell Ox1R contributions in higher drinkers might simply result from intrinsic variability in mouse drinking. Ineffectiveness of Shell inhibition in moderate-drinkers was not due to a floor effect, since systemic baclofen reduced alcohol drinking regardless of basal intake levels, without altering concurrent water intake or saccharin consumption. Finally, alcohol intake in the first exposure predicted consumption levels weeks later, suggesting that intake level may be a stable trait in each individual. Together, our studies indicate that Shell Ox1Rs are critical mediators of binge alcohol intake in higher-drinking individuals, with little net contribution to alcohol drinking in more moderate bingers, and that targeting Ox1Rs may substantially reduce AUD-related harms.

Effect of ice water pretreatment on the quality of Pacific White Shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Pacific White Shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) are an aquaculture species with global importance. For the purpose of this paper, the quality shelling process of Pacific White Shrimps, freshly harvested from farms and stored in a mixture ice water up to 24 hr, was investigated. Both the differences and correlations between the indexes such as peeling time, shrimp yield, chromatic aberration, texture, K value, TBA value, and microstructure were compared and analyzed. The optimal shell peeling time of Pacific White Shrimps was determined by ice water treatment for 8 hr. The shell peeling time was 1.77 min, the elasticity of the shrimp was 0.51 mm, the hardness was 2,124.58 g, K value was 1.33%, and TBA value was 0.004 mg/100 g. Both the smell and color of the shelled shrimp were normal. This study aims to endorse the mechanical shelling of Pacific White Shrimps.

Hygrothermal Analysis of Laminated Composite Skew Conoids

The present paper is the first study on the hygrothermal analysis (i.e., effect of temperature and moisture loadings) of laminated composite skew conoids with reasonable depth and thickness. In order to solve the hygrothermal problem of laminated composite skew conoids, the cubic variation in displacement field, along with cross curvature effects of the shell, were considered. In the present analysis, the shear correction factor is not needed due to the parabolic variation of transverse shear strain. The zero transverse shear stress conditions at the top and bottom of the shell were imposed in the mathematical model. The novelty of our model is reflected by the simultaneous addition of twist curvature in the strain field, as well as the curvature in the displacement field allowing the reasonably thick and deep laminated composite rhombic conoid. The conoid behavior differs from the usual shells, like cylindrical or spherical ones, due to its inherent twist curvature with the complex geometry and different location of maximum deflection. The finite element (FE) implementation of the present realistic mathematical model was carried out using a nine-noded curved isoparametric element with seven unknowns at each node. The C⁰ FE implementation of the present mathematical model was done and coded in FORTRAN. The present model results were compared and found in good agreement with other solutions published in the literature. Hygrothermal analysis was performed for skew conoids having a different skew angle, temperature, moisture concentration, curvatures, ply orientation, thickness ratio, and boundary conditions.

The natural history of Calyptraeaaurita (Reeve, 1859) from Southern Chile (Gastropoda, Calyptraeidae)

Hard bottom communities of the Reloncaví Estuary and adjacent areas, Region de los Lagos, Chile (42°S), were studied between 2008 and 2011. All hard substrates between the lower intertidal and 25 m depth were dominated by the calyptraeid gastropods, Crepipatelladilatata and C.fecunda. Epibenthic coverage of the hard bottoms markedly decreased further down with the exception of vertical cliffs. In a depth range between 26 to 48 m repeatedly dense patches of another calyptraeid species, Calyptraeaaurita (Reeve, 1859), were observed. Densities reached up to 1475 individuals m^-2 and covered up to 50 % of the rock surfaces. In shallower depths C.aurita was not present. However, despite its huge abundance, C.aurita has not been documented for more than 150 years in the southeastern Pacific, being described superficially by Reeve, through only shell characteristics. Here, we redescribe and compare it with other members of the family Calyptraeidae through characteristics of shell, radula, and soft parts, including also details of the egg mass and intracapsular development of their embryos. Males were mobile and females sessile. Shell size ranged from 6.6 to 12.4 mm for immature individuals, from 10.6 to 24.9 mm for males, 15.1 to 25.9 mm for intersex individuals, and from 21.0 to 39.6 mm for females. Up to three individuals stacked together were found, always presenting a female at the base with up to a maximum of two male individuals above. Laboratory studies demonstrated that C.aurita has an indirect larval development, liberating planktotrophic larvae with a bilobed ciliated velum into the water column. A transplantation experiment demonstrated that survival, growth, and reproduction of C.aurita is also possible in depths shallower than its normal distribution. The geographic distribution of C.aurita, was previously only known as being from Valparaíso (33°S) and is now extended down to the Reloncaví Sound (41°S).

Exploring the prevalence and experience of mask anxiety for the person with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy

INTRODUCTION

While use of a thermoplastic mask during radiotherapy (RT) treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC) is an essential component of safe patient care, there is little understanding of the extent to which this evokes anxiety (i.e. "mask anxiety") for the person undergoing treatment.

METHODS

A mixed method, convergent design was used to examine the prevalence and experience of mask anxiety using two clinical cohorts. In phase one, a cohort of 100 patients undergoing RT for HNC were assessed for self-perceived mask anxiety using a modified distress thermometer screening tool. In phase two, a separate cohort of 20 patients who identified as having mask anxiety participated in individual interpretative descriptive interviews to explore the nature of their experience.

RESULTS

In phase one, 26% of participants self-identified as being anxious about the use of a thermoplastic mask. In phase two thematic analysis of the interviews revealed two over-arching themes relating to the person's experience of mask anxiety: contributors to the mask anxiety (vulnerability, response to experience and expectations); and how the person was going to manage the mask anxiety during treatment (strategies and mindset).

CONCLUSIONS

Mask anxiety impacted a quarter of participants undergoing radiotherapy for HNC. In line with the themes elicited from the participants, implementation of routine screening to ensure early identification, and patient education to assist preparation for wearing the mask during RT are strategies that could improve current management of mask anxiety.

Laser imaging polarimetry of nacre

Nacre is a complex biomaterial made of aragonite-tablet bricks and organic mortar that is considerably resilient against breakage. Nacre has been studied with a wide range of laboratory techniques, leading to understanding key fundamentals and informing the creation of bio-inspired materials. In this article, we present an optical polarimetric technique to investigate nacre, taking advantage of the translucence and birefringence of its microcomponents. We focus our study on 3 classes of mollusks that have nacreous shells: bivalve (Pinctada fucata), gastropod (Haliotis asinina and Haliotis rufescens) and cephalopod (Nautilus pompilius). We sent polarized light from a laser through thin samples of nacre and did imaging polarimetry of the transmitted light. We observed clear distinctions between the structures of bivalve and gastropod, due to the spatial variation of their birefringence. The patterns for cephalopod were more similar to bivalve than gastropod. Bleaching of the samples disrupted the transmitted light. Subsequent refilling of the bivalve and gastropod nacre samples with oil produced optical patterns similar to those of unbleached samples. In cephalopod samples, we found that bleaching produced irreversible changes in the optical pattern.

Biotechnological Advances in Bacterial Microcompartment Technology

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) represent proteinaceous macromolecular nanobioreactors that are found in a broad range of bacteria, and which are associated with either anabolic or catabolic processes. They consist of a semipermeable outer shell that packages a central metabolic enzyme or pathway, providing both enhanced flux and protection against toxic intermediates. Recombinant production of BMCs has led to their repurposing with the incorporation of altogether new pathways. Deconstructing BMCs into their component parts has shown that some individual shell proteins self-associate into filaments that can be further modified into a cytoplasmic scaffold, or cytoscaffold, to which enzymes/proteins can be targeted. BMCs therefore represent a modular system that is highly suited for engineering biological systems for useful purposes.