A review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE (published articles) as well as World Wide Web (video material) to determine the frequency of anterior and posterior presentation of the elephant at birth. Of 46 identified cases, 12 were in anterior and 34 in posterior presentation. The Fisher exact test (p=0.682) did not show a statistically significant difference in the distribution of presentations between the Loxodonta africana (2 anterior and 10 posterior presentation) and Elephas maximus (10 anterior and 24 posterior presentation). The ratio between anterior and posterior presentation 6:29 (18.51% versus 81.49%) at birth without knowing dystocia, is significantly different from the distribution anterior and posterior presentation 6:3 (66.7% versus 33.3%) in cases with dystocia (Fisher exact test p = 0.012). Obtained data shows that posterior presentation at birth in elephants is more often present than anterior, while anterior presentation is more often associated with dystocia.

The Vostok ice core data cover 420,000 years indicating the natural regularity of Earth's surface temperature and climate. Here, we consider four major cycles of similar duration, ranging from 86,000 to 128,000 years, comprising 15% of periods for the warming interglacials compared to some 85% of cooling periods. Globally, we are near the peak of a rapid warming period. We perform a detailed frequency analysis of temperature and CO2 cycles, as a primary stage in building a logical Climate Prediction Engine (CPE), illustrated with specific harmonics. This analysis can be repeated for all harmonics and various cycle combinations. Our time correlation estimates the CO2 time lag for temperature at 400-2300 years, depending on the cycle, longer on average than previously concluded. We also perform Fast-Fourier transform analysis, identifying a full harmonic spectrum for each cycle, plus an energy analysis to identify each harmonic amplitude - to achieve further prediction analysis using a Kalman filter harmonic bank. For Vostok data we can use combinations of different cycles compared to the most recent for learning and then the current ongoing cycle for testing. Assuming causal time regularity, more cycles can be employed in training, hence reducing the prediction error for the next cycle. This results in prediction of climate data with both naturally occurring as well as human forced CO2 values. We perform this detailed time and frequency analysis as a basis for improving the quality of our climate prediction methodologies, with particular attention to testing alternative hypotheses of the possible causes of climate change. These include the effect on albedo of suspended dust and increasing water vapor with temperature in initiating interglacial warming, the effect of temperature and pH values of surface water on ambient level of CO2 in the atmosphere and finding a larger latent heat capacity in the atmosphere required to sustain its circulatory motions, leading to friction and turbulent release of heat in boundary layer. All these potentials can be examined in an effective CPE.

Objetivo: Realizar um levantamento bibliografico e relatorios do aumento de casos de Febre Amarela, Chickungunya, Dengue e Zika apos o rompimento das barragens de Mariana e Brumadinho (Minas Gerais). Metodologia: Foi feito um estudo bibliografico, epidemiologico com artigos, reportagens e busca em plataformas academicas e de boletins do Ministerio da Saude com o intuito de associar o aumento dos casos conforme sua localizacao de acordo com o periodo apos o rompimento. Resultados: Houve um aumento evidente nos casos de arboviroses logo apos o rompimento das barragens em areas afetadas com o impacto e proximidades. Isso pode ser resultado da movimentacao de pessoas e animais apos as tragedias, pois com a degradacao da area, pessoas foram afetadas de maneira direta e indireta, as que foram afetadas de maneira direta tiveram suas casas destruidas pela lama e as que foram afetadas de maneira indireta podem ter saido da cidade em busca de alternativas de melhora. Tambem ha uma alteracao na cadeia alimentar local, algumas populacoes elevam e outras diminuem, as populacoes de mosquitos elevam e migram para outras areas mais populosas em busca de alimento, assim sendo um fator da disseminacao de doencas. Conclusao: Observou-se ne que no periodo de 2015 a 2016 os casos de CHIKV foram os que mais cresceram no Brasil, tendo um aumento de quase 10x, de Febre Amarela e Dengue tendo um aumento de mais ou menos 3x. Os casos de Zika comecam a ser notificados em 2015, portanto nao e possivel determinar se houve um aumento significativo.

ABSTRACT Endangerment of fish habitats worldwide is a global problem. Breeding fish in restocking hatcheries is important for bioconservation of many fishes. Analysis of biochemical and hematological parameters provides important information on spawning performance and fish health. Variations of different serum biochemical constituents and increase in body length and mass of West Balkan trout were analyzed during spawning and postspawning. High body weight deviations of males were found in both periods. The body length and weight of males is higher compared to females. After spawning, higher growth was observed in males. Biochemical values are higher in females in relation to males. Low values of glucose, chloride, and potassium are present in the spawning phase. Decreases in protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, AST, sodium, and calcium levels were found in postspawning. Serum biochemical constituents of females vary significantly compared to males. Serum markers indicate a strong association with metabolic processes, which allows for better nutritional control and management of environmental factors, especially the presence of organic particles in the broodstock.

Background: Premature ovarian failure (POF) can be found in 1% of women at the age of 35-40, mostly due to unknown causes. PI3K-Akt signaling is associated with both ovarian function and growth of primordial follicles. In this study, we examined the effects of autologous in vitro ovarian activation with stem cells and autologous growth factors on reproductive and endocrine function in patients with ovarian impairment. Materials and Methods: The longitudinal prospective observational study included 50 patients (between 30 and 50 years) with a diagnosis of POF and infertility. This multicenter study was performed at Jevremova Special Hospital in Belgrade, Saint James Hospital (Malta), and Remedica Skoplje Hospital, between 2015 and 2018. All patients went through numerous laboratory testings, including hormonal status. The autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and growth factors were used in combination for activation of ovarian tissue before its re-transplantation. The software package SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analysis of the results. Results: Differences in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (PG) hormone concentrations before and after 3, 6, and 12 months post-transplantation were tested in correlation with the volume of transplanted ovarian tissue. A significant correlation (P=0.029) was found between the change in E2 level after 3 months and the volume of re-transplanted tissues. Also after re-transplantation, 64% of the patients had follicles resulting in aspiration of oocytes in 25% of positive women with follicles. Conclusion: The SEGOVA method could potentially solve many human reproductive problems in the future due to the large number of patients diagnosed with POF, as well as the possibility of delaying menopause, thus improving the quality of life and general health (Registration number: NCT04009473).

Abstract Revealing the mechanisms underlying the breathtaking morphological diversity observed in nature is a major challenge in Biology. It has been established that recurrent mutations in hotspot genes cause the repeated evolution of morphological traits, such as body pigmentation or the gain and loss of structures. To date, however, it remains elusive whether hotspot genes contribute to natural variation in the size and shape of organs. As natural variation in head morphology is pervasive in Drosophila, we studied the molecular and developmental basis of differences in compound eye size and head shape in two closely related Drosophila species. We show differences in the progression of retinal differentiation between species and we applied comparative transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility data to identify the GATA transcription factor Pannier (Pnr) as central factor associated with these differences. Although the genetic manipulation of Pnr affected multiple aspects of dorsal head development, the effect of natural variation is restricted to a subset of the phenotypic space. We present data suggesting that this developmental constraint is caused by the coevolution of expression of pnr and its cofactor u-shaped (ush). We propose that natural variation in expression or function of highly connected developmental regulators with pleiotropic functions is a major driver for morphological evolution and we discuss implications on gene regulatory network evolution. In comparison to previous findings, our data strongly suggest that evolutionary hotspots are not the only contributors to the repeated evolution of eye size and head shape in Drosophila.

In this paper, three complexes with 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) were synthesized, their spectral analysis was performed and the antimicrobial effect was examined in vitro. The stoichiometric ratio of the complex was determined conductometrically and spectrophotometrically. FTIR and UV/VIS spectroscopy were used for structural characterization. Antimicrobial activity was examined by diffusion technique on selected gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and C. albicans. Square planar and octahedral geometry complexes were synthesized by mixing in a molar ratio of 1:2 (M:L). Based on the spectral data, it is concluded that both oxygen and nitrogen atoms from 8-HQ are involved in the formation of the complex. The antimicrobial activity of the complexes is high, with zones of inhibition in the range of 15 - 28 mm. 8-HQ was shown to have a significantly higher ability to inhibit the growth of the tested microorganisms.

The hemibiotrophic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (Mo) is the causative agent of rice blast and can infect aerial and root tissues of a variety of Poaceae, including the model Brachypodium distachyon (Bd). To gain insight in gene regulation processes occurring at early disease stages, we comparatively analyzed fungal and plant mRNA and sRNA expression in leaves and roots. A total of 310 Mo genes were detected consistently and differentially expressed in both leaves and roots. Contrary to Mo, only minor overlaps were observed in plant differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 233 Bd-DEGs in infected leaves at 2 days post inoculation (DPI), compared to 4978 at 4 DPI, and 138 in infected roots. sRNA sequencing revealed a broad spectrum of Mo-sRNAs that accumulated in infected tissues, including candidates predicted to target Bd mRNAs. Conversely, we identified a subset of potential Bd-sRNAs directed against fungal cell wall components, virulence genes and transcription factors. We also show a requirement of operable RNAi genes from the DICER-like (DCL) and ARGONAUTE (AGO) families for fungal virulence. Overall, our work elucidates the extensive reprogramming of transcriptomes and sRNAs in both plant host (Bd) and fungal pathogen (Mo), further corroborating the critical role played by sRNA species in the establishment of the interaction and its outcome.

ABSTRACT In oral-cancer, the number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) associates with improved survival, yet the prognostic value of the cellular composition and localization of TILs is not defined. We quantified densities, localizations, and cellular networks of lymphocyte populations in 138 patients with T1-T2 primary oral-tongue squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgical resections without any perioperative (chemo)radiotherapy, and correlated outcomes to overall survival (OS). Multiplexed in-situ immunofluorescence was performed for DAPI, CD4, CD8, CD20, and pan-cytokeratin using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections, and spatial distributions of lymphocyte populations were assessed in the tumor and stroma compartments at the invasive margin (IM) as well as the center of tumors. We observed a high density of CD4, CD8, and CD20 cells in the stroma compartment at the IM, but neither lymphocyte densities nor networks as single parameters associated with OS. In contrast, assessment of two contextual parameters within the stroma IM region of tumors, i.e., the number of CD20 cells within 20 µm radii of CD20 and CD4 cells, termed the CD20 Cluster Score, yielded a highly significant association with OS (HR 0.38; p = .003). Notably, the CD20 Cluster Score significantly correlated with better OS and disease-free survival in multivariate analysis (HR 0.34 and 0.47; p = .001 and 0.019) as well as with lower local recurrence rate (OR: 0.13; p = .028). Taken together, our study showed that the presence of stromal B-cell clusters at IM, in the co-presence of CD4 T-cells, associates with good prognosis in early oral-tongue cancer patients.

Background: The human angiotensin I converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism is classified based on the presence or absence of a 287 bp Alu sequence. The ACE1 D allele is associated with higher ACE1 concentrations in tissues. Previous research has shown that susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is primarily determined by the affinity between the viral receptor-binding domain and the host human receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor. In the human genome, ACE2 is identified as a homolog to ACE1. Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize the ACE1 D allele distribution in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), so as to compare it to population data from other European countries and to investigate the potential correlation between D allele frequencies and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemiological findings in selected European populations. Methods: The ACE1 D allele frequencies in 18 selected European populations were analyzed and compared with COVID-19 prevalence, mortality, and severity using multivariate linear regression analysis. Results and Discussion: The ACE1 D allele distribution within the B&H population was similar to its distribution in other European populations. Regression analysis showed no significant correlation between the D allele frequency and the incidence of infections between the examined populations, nor with the rates of fatality and severe cases. Conclusion: There is no clear statistical evidence that the ACE1 D allele is associated with increased or decreased COVID-19 incidence, mortality, and case severity within the investigated populations.