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Pork belly is a meat cut valued for its rich flavour and texture, attributed to its high fat content, which also makes it susceptible to oxidation. Therefore, meat producers and processors must carefully select packaging options to maximise shelf life while meeting consumer preferences. This study aimed to develop customised packaging strategies for sliced pork belly with varying fat content to extend shelf life while minimizing environmental impact. The research compared three packaging solutions: modified atmosphere packaging (MAP1: 70:30% O 2 :CO 2 , MAP2: 30:40:30% O 2 :CO 2 :N 2 ) and vacuum skin packaging (VSP) for pork bellies with low (LF: 16.07 ± 1.87%), medium (MF: 37.39 ± 4.41%), and high fat content (HF: 57.57 ± 2.36%). Samples packaged in VSP exhibited the longest shelf life (13-14 days) with lower purge and reduced fat and colour oxidation compared to MAP-packaged samples for all studied belly types. Nonetheless, the impact of MAP on shelf life depended on the belly type. HF bellies, with lower proportions of unsaturated fatty acids, showed less purge, and greater colour and fat stability, resulting in a longer shelf life compared to LF and MF bellies. LF and MF bellies in MAP2 showed the shortest shelf life (around 6 days), followed by LF and MF in MAP1 (around 7-8 days). Life Cycle Assessment indicated VSP generally as the most environmentally favourable option for LF and MF bellies, whereas for HF bellies, the choice among the three packaging solutions depended on the specific impact category under consideration., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest associated with this research., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Drug repurposing has emerged as a effective and efficient strategy to identify new treatments for a variety of diseases. One of the most effective approaches for discovering potential new drug candidates involves the utilization of Knowledge Graphs (KGs). This review comprehensively explores some of the most prominent KGs, detailing their structure, data sources, and how they facilitate the repurposing of drugs. In addition to KGs, this paper delves into various artificial intelligence techniques that enhance the process of drug repurposing. These methods not only accelerate the identification of viable drug candidates but also improve the precision of predictions by leveraging complex datasets and advanced algorithms. Furthermore, the importance of explainability in drug repurposing is emphasized. Explainability methods are crucial as they provide insights into the reasoning behind AI-generated predictions, thereby increasing the trustworthiness and transparency of the repurposing process. We will discuss several techniques that can be employed to validate these predictions, ensuring that they are both reliable and understandable., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Chemical communication through olfaction is crucial for fish behaviours, mediating in socio-sexual behaviours as reproduction. Turbot, a flatfish with significant aquaculture production, possesses a well-developed olfactory system from early developmental stages. After metamorphosis, flatfish acquire their characteristic bilateral asymmetry with an ocular side facing the open water column, housing the dorsal olfactory rosette, and a blind side in contact with the sea bottom where the ventral rosette is located. This study aimed to address the existing gap in specific histological, ultrastructural, lectin-histochemical and immunohistochemical studies of the turbot olfactory rosettes and olfactory bulbs. We examined microdissected olfactory organs of adult turbots and premetamorphic larvae by using routine histological staining techniques, and a wide array of lectins and primary antibodies against G-proteins and calcium-binding proteins. We observed no discernible structural variations in the olfactory epithelium between rosettes, except for the dorsal rosette being larger in size compared to the ventral rosette. Additionally, the use of transmission electron microscopy significantly improved the characterization of the adult olfactory epithelium, exhibiting high cell density, small cell size, and a wide diversity of cell types. Moreover, specific immunopositivity in sensory and non-sensory cells provided us of essential information regarding their olfactory roles. The results obtained significantly enriched the scarce morphological and neurochemical information available on the turbot olfactory system, revealing a highly complex olfactory epithelium with distinct features compared to other teleost species, especially with regard to olfactory cell distribution and immunolabelling patterns., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Biostimulation aims to optimize reproductive parameters as part of animal management practices by modulating animal sensory systems. Chemical signals, mostly known as pheromones, have a great potential in this regard. This study was conducted to determine the influence of short-term male rabbit exposure to different biological secretions, potentially pheromone-mediated, on reproductive parameters of males. Four groups of 18 males each were exposed to A) doe urine, B) 2-phenoxyethanol, C) doe vaginal swab, and D) distilled water (control), three times over a 2.5h exposure window, just before semen collection. Semen volume, sperm concentration and motility, as well as subpopulation analysis of the spermatozoa were assessed for each condition. Additionally, testosterone levels in blood samples were monitored at five time points over the 2.5 h exposure window. We found a higher percentage of motile, progressive, fast progressive and mid-progressive spermatozoa in any of the three experimental groups compared to the control group. In contrast, the semen volume and the percentage of immotile and non-progressive spermatozoa was generally higher in the control group. We then identified a higher proportion of a subpopulation of fast and progressive spermatozoa in groups A, B, and C compared to group D. Our data indicates that sperm motility increases when animals are exposed to specific biological fluids potentially containing pheromones, and that an increase in sperm volume does not correlate with an increase in spermatozoa concentration, progressiveness, and speed. Finally, no differences in testosterone levels were found among comparisons, although males of groups A and C (exposed to natural female biological fluids) showed a tendency towards higher testosterone levels. In conclusion, our results indicate that rabbit sperm quality increases upon exposure to the biological secretions proposed, thereby supporting further investigation into their molecular identity. This exploration could eventually pave the way for implementing the use of pheromones in rabbit husbandry to enhance reproductive and productive parameters in farmed rabbits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author J. Gullón works for the company COGAL SA. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis that shows demyelination in the central nervous system and functional deficits, including olfactory impairment. However, the genes related to olfactory impairment in EAE are unknown. We evaluated hub genes of the olfactory bulb in EAE mice. Differentially expressed genes (cut-offs, fold change > 2 and adjusted p < 0.05) and their related pathways in olfactory bulbs were subjected to gene ontology (GO) pathway analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Protein-protein interactions with selected genes were evaluated using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins. Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) which were constructed at the post-transcriptional level, including the genes-transcription factors (TFs) and gene-microRNAs (miRNAs) interaction networks. Twelve hub genes were found, three of which (Ctss, Itgb2, and Tlr2) were validated by RT-qPCR to be related to GO pathways such as immune response and regulation of immune response. GSEA showed that neuron-related genes-including Atp6v1g2, Egr1, and Gap43-and their pathways were significantly downregulated. GRNs analysis of six genes (Ctss, Itgb2, Tlr2, Atp6v1g2, Egr1, and Gap43) revealed 37 TFs and 84 miRNAs were identified as potential regulators of six genes, indicating significant interaction among six genes, TFs, and miRNAs. Collectively, these results suggest that transcriptomic analysis of the olfactory bulb of EAE mice can provide insight into olfactory dysfunction and reveal therapeutic targets for olfactory impairment., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The fossorial water vole, Arvicola scherman, is an herbivorous rodent that causes significant agricultural damages. The application of cairomones and alarm pheromones emerges as a promising sustainable method to improve its integrated management. These chemical signals would induce stress responses that could interfere with the species regular reproductive cycles and induce aversive reactions, steering them away from farmlands and meadows. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the water vole vomeronasal system, both in its morphological foundations and its functionality, making it imperative to understand the same for the application of chemical communication in pest control. This study fills the existing gaps in knowledge through a morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of the fossorial water vole vomeronasal organ. The study is primarily microscopic, employing two approaches: histological, using serial sections stained with various dyes (hematoxylin-eosin, Periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, Nissl), and immunohistochemical, applying various markers that provide morphofunctional and structural information. These procedures have confirmed the presence of a functional vomeronasal system in fossorial water voles, characterized by a high degree of differentiation and a significant expression of cellular markers indicative of active chemical communication in this species., (© 2023 The Authors. The Anatomical Record published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association for Anatomy.)

The mammalian vomeronasal system enables the perception of chemical signals crucial for social communication via the receptor families V1R and V2R. These receptors are linked with the G-protein subunits, Gαi2 and Gαo, respectively. Exploring the evolutionary pathways of V1Rs and V2Rs across mammalian species remains a significant challenge, particularly when comparing genomic data with emerging immunohistochemical evidence. Recent studies have revealed the expression of Gαo in the vomeronasal neuroepithelium of wild canids, including wolves and foxes, contradicting predictions based on current genomic annotations. Our study provides detailed immunohistochemical evidence, mapping the expression of V2R receptors in the vomeronasal sensory epithelium, focusing particularly on wild canids, specifically wolves and foxes. An additional objective involves contrasting these findings with those from domestic species like dogs to highlight the evolutionary impacts of domestication on sensory systems. The employment of a specific antibody raised against the mouse V2R2, a member of the C-family of vomeronasal receptors, V2Rs, has confirmed the presence of V2R2-immunoreactivity (V2R2-ir) in the fox and wolf, but it has revealed the lack of expression in the dog. This may reflect the impact of domestication on the regression of the VNS in this species, in contrast to their wild counterparts, and it underscores the effects of artificial selection on sensory functions. Thus, these findings suggest a more refined chemical detection capability in wild species.

Wolves, akin to their fellow canids, extensively employ chemical signals for various aspects of communication, including territory maintenance, reproductive synchronisation and social hierarchy signalling. Pheromone-mediated chemical communication operates unconsciously among individuals, serving as an innate sensory modality that regulates both their physiology and behaviour. Despite its crucial role in the life of the wolf, there is a lacuna in comprehensive research on the neuroanatomical and physiological underpinnings of chemical communication within this species. This study investigates the vomeronasal system (VNS) of the Iberian wolf, simultaneously probing potential alterations brought about by dog domestication. Our findings demonstrate the presence of a fully functional VNS, vital for pheromone-mediated communication, in the Iberian wolf. While macroscopic similarities between the VNS of the wolf and the domestic dog are discernible, notable microscopic differences emerge. These distinctions include the presence of neuronal clusters associated with the sensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and a heightened degree of differentiation of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). Immunohistochemical analyses reveal the expression of the two primary families of vomeronasal receptors (V1R and V2R) within the VNO. However, only the V1R family is expressed in the AOB. These findings not only yield profound insights into the VNS of the wolf but also hint at how domestication might have altered neural configurations that underpin species-specific behaviours. This understanding holds implications for the development of innovative strategies, such as the application of semiochemicals for wolf population management, aligning with contemporary conservation goals., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Anatomy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Anatomical Society.)

The tourism industry, affected by COVID-19, must reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study evaluated the environmental impact of three hotels in coastal and mountainous regions of Spain and Portugal using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Data was gathered via surveys in the Greentour tool. Results indicate that the 2-star hotel (focused on cultural-urban tourism) has the highest impacts in most categories, except for CC, FRD, and POF indicators. The 3-star hotel (beach tourism) contributes the most to CC and FRD indicators, while the hostel (nature-religious tourism) has the highest value in the POF indicator. LCA findings reveal that diesel consumption in the hostel and electricity usage in both the 2-star and 3-star hotels are major contributors to environmental impacts across various categories. Overall, evidence suggests that fossil fuel and electricity usage significantly affect tourism activities environmentally. Interestingly, this study highlights that a 2-star hotel can have a higher carbon footprint (CC indicator) compared to a 3-star hotel, challenging the notion that higher star ratings imply lower environmental impact., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Little is known about the neuronal structure of the vomeronasal organ (VNO), a receptor organ responsible for pheromone perception, in the alpaca (Vicugna pacos). This study was performed to determine the localization of neuronal elements, including protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), a pan-neuronal marker, olfactory marker protein (OMP), a marker of mature olfactory receptor cells, and phospholipase C beta 2 (PLC-β2), a marker of solitary chemoreceptor cells (SCCs), in the VNO. OMP was identified in receptor cells of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium (VSE), while PGP 9.5 and PLC-β2 were localized in both the VSE and vomeronasal non-sensory epithelium. Collectively, these results suggested that the alpaca VNO possesses SCCs and olfactory receptor cells, which recognize both harmful substances and pheromones.

Nasopharyngeal myiasis in European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is a pathological condition caused by the larval stages of Cephenemyia stimulator , a fly from the Oestridae family. These larvae reside in the host's upper respiratory tract for months, inducing significant tissue damage and clinical symptoms. The lifecycle of Cephenemyia stimulator is complex, involving three larval stages before maturation into adult flies, with each stage contributing to the progressive pathology observed in the host. Despite their prevalence, the histopathological effects of these larvae in the nasal and nasopharyngeal cavities have been understudied. Our study fills this knowledge gap by providing a detailed histopathological analysis of the affected tissues, using various staining techniques to reveal the extent and nature of the damage caused by these parasitic larvae. This histopathological examination reveals significant alterations within the nasopharyngeal mucosa and nasal cavity, including erythematous changes, mucosal metaplasia, fibrosis, and tissue necrosis. Parasitic cysts and eosinophilic infiltration further characterize the impact of the infestation, compromising not only the mucosal integrity but also potentially the olfactory function of the affected animals. This research is crucial for understanding the impact of myiasis on both the health and olfactory capabilities of roe deer populations and could have significant implications for wildlife management and conservation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

The tourism sector after COVID-19 has raised different concerns that have lead to a development towards a more sustainable model of tourism. After the health crisis, the increase in environmental awareness of tourists has become evident. In this context, the great paradigm of 'small-scale' tourism has been developed as opposed to traditional tourism. The present work seeks to contribute to sustainable development in the Spanish tourism sector, comparing a hostel in Cantabria (considered as 'small scale' /religious tourism) and a hotel in Lloret de Mar (considered as a traditional tourism) one using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to verify advantages and disadvantages of both types of tourism. The functional unit (FU) used was 'per guest night with breakfast included'. The results have revealed similar results for both establishments in all impact categories, as can be seen in its contribution to Climate Change (4.41 kg CO 2 eq./FU caused by the hotel and 4.78 kg CO 2 eq./FU by the hostel). The electricity consumption and the impact of the breakfast in the hostel were identified as main contributors to environmental burdens (with 76.72 % of the hotel's impact to climate change and 77.36 % for the hostel); hence, improvement opportunities envisaged were focused on these critical points. On the one hand, a biomass boiler, a solar water-heating system and a hybrid solar/biomass heating are considered a more sustainable alternatives related to electricity. Natural gas and diesel Consumption, respectively. On the other hand, oatmeal, Greek yoghurt and berries are good options for a breakfast with a reduced environmental impact. It is also important to implement responsible and green practices in order to achieve more environmentally sustainable alternative and traditional accommodations. Therefore, it can be concluded by stating that LCA is a tool capable of identifying and studying the processes with the highest environmental impact in order to find out the most sustainable form of tourism., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Tourism has grown steadily in recent decades, becoming a strategic sector for the economy in many countries. However, the environmental impacts associated with tourism have also experienced an upward trend. In this sense, innovation is needed in the tourism sector, to move towards new models and strategies that integrate environmental sustainability with the social aspects of the sector. In this study, a holistic assessment of the environmental impact of tourism has been carried out using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, considering all stages of tourism activity: transportation from the place of origin to destination and back, accommodation, catering, and activities conducted. For this purpose, a case study has been carried out based on a typical trip made from Madrid to Rías Baixas (Galicia), considering a four-night stay and the performance of two activities (music festival and cultural museum) at the destination. Two alternative transportation scenarios (train or plane) have been defined to analyze the influence of the type of transportation on the overall impact. Other touristic activities such as visiting gardens or thermal baths instead of visiting a cultural museum or attending a music festival have been analyzed and it has been found that the thermal baths and the museum have the greatest environmental impacts. Transportation was the biggest contributor to most of the environmental impacts in the selected categories. On the other hand, the stay at the destination has stood out due to the impact of the consumption of food and energy used at the accommodation facility. The impact of the activities conducted at the destination is also worth highlighting. Finally, alternative scenarios for transportation have shown that the mode of transportation selected is key for lowering the overall environmental impact of the stay at the destination, highlighting the public transportation alternative, such as the train, as the most environmentally friendly option., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aquaculture plays an essential role in supplying animal-source food and protein worldwide, in this way contributing to several sustainable development goals. Notwithstanding this, the aquaculture sector's long-term environmental sustainability is a major concern due to overall environmental impacts. To date, and to the best of the authors' knowledge, assessments of aquaculture systems in Portugal from an environmental perspective, and the nexus between resource consumption and nutrition issues, are still lacking. This study bridges this gap by analysing an aquaculture system in Portugal in a comprehensive manner by applying and combining life cycle assessment and resources-protein nexus approaches. The overall results highlight feed as the main factor responsible for the total impact in all impact categories selected, ranging from 74 % to 98 %. Climate change impact results in 2.88 kg CO 2-eq per kg of medium-size fish (functional unit). The resources-protein nexus shows that 504.1 MJ ex is needed to obtain 1 kg of edible protein, with a high dependency on non-renewable resources (59 %), mainly oil by-product fuels used in feed production. After identifying environmental hotspots, potential strategies to be adopted such as resource consumption reduction, eco-certification and ecosystem-based management are suggested, in this way ensuring long-term aquaculture production and environmental sustainability., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dama gazelle is a threatened and rarely studied species found primarily in northern Africa. Human pressure has depleted the dama gazelle population from tens of thousands to a few hundred individuals. Since 1970, a founder population consisting of the last 17 surviving individuals in Western Sahara has been maintained in captivity, reproducing naturally. In preparation for the future implementation of assisted reproductive technology, certain aspects of dama gazelle reproductive biology have been established. However, the role played by semiochemical-mediated communications in the sexual behavior of dama gazelle remains unknown due partially to a lack of a neuroanatomical or morphofunctional characterization of the dama gazelle vomeronasal organ (VNO), which is the sensory organ responsible for pheromone processing. The present study characterized the dama gazelle VNO, which appears fully equipped to perform neurosensory functions, contributing to current understanding of interspecies VNO variability among ruminants. By employing histological, lectin-histochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques, we conducted a detailed morphofunctional evaluation of the dama gazelle VNO along its entire longitudinal axis. Our findings of significant structural and neurochemical transformation along the entire VNO suggest that future studies of the VNO should take a similar approach. The present study contributes to current understanding of dama gazelle VNO, providing a basis for future studies of semiochemical-mediated communications and reproductive management in this species. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: This exhaustive immunohistological study of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of the dama gazelle provides the first evidence of notable differences in the expression of neuronal markers along the rostrocaudal axis of the VNO. This provides a morphological basis for the implementation of pheromones in captive populations of dama gazelle., (© 2023 The Authors. Microscopy Research and Technique published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Indicators from life cycle assessment methodologies (i.e., footprints) have emerged as useful tools for identifying and communicating the environmental impacts of a system thanks to they are accessible and intuitive and easy to understand to non-expert public. However, the focus on a single environmental problem is one of their main drawbacks. From this idea arises the concept of Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus, with the aim of raising awareness of the connections between the universal rights to water supply, energy security and food provision. Regarding the latter, the fisheries sector stands out as a fundamental pillar in the fight against malnutrition. In this sense, the European project "blue growth" aims to ensure that the development of the marine sector is not linked to the degradation of its ecosystems. However, although producers and authorities are willing to communicate the sustainability of products, there is still no standard methodology for reporting it. With the purpose of remedying this current situation, this paper aims to provide technical guidance to calculate a single WEF nexus index for ecolabelling seafood products in the European framework (Atlantic area). Therefore, through this, it is expected to create a useful communication channel between producers and consumers through an easy-to-read ecolabel. Nonetheless, certain aspects, such as the footprints selected or the calculation procedures selected have to be reconsidered to refine the methodology proposed, apart from broadening the approach to other food sectors with the aim that the proposed eco-certification can be present in major supply and retail chains., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sex determination (SD) shows huge variation among fish and a high evolutionary rate, as illustrated by the Pleuronectiformes (flatfishes). This order is characterized by its adaptation to demersal life, compact genomes and diversity of SD mechanisms. Here, we assembled the Solea senegalensis genome, a flatfish of great commercial value, into 82 contigs (614 Mb) combining long- and short-read sequencing, which were next scaffolded using a highly dense genetic map (28,838 markers, 21 linkage groups), representing 98.9% of the assembly. Further, we established the correspondence between the assembly and the 21 chromosomes by using BAC-FISH. Whole genome resequencing of six males and six females enabled the identification of 41 single nucleotide polymorphism variants in the follicle stimulating hormone receptor (fshr) consistent with an XX/XY SD system. The observed sex association was validated in a broader independent sample, providing a novel molecular sexing tool. The fshr gene displayed differential expression between male and female gonads from 86 days post-fertilization, when the gonad is still an undifferentiated primordium, concomitant with the activation of amh and cyp19a1a, testis and ovary marker genes, respectively, in males and females. The Y-linked fshr allele, which included 24 nonsynonymous variants and showed a highly divergent 3D protein structure, was overexpressed in males compared to the X-linked allele at all stages of gonadal differentiation. We hypothesize a mechanism hampering the action of the follicle stimulating hormone driving the undifferentiated gonad toward testis., (© 2023 The Authors. Molecular Ecology Resources published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Packaging is essential to protect food, inform consumers, and avoid food waste, yet it can also contribute to the environmental footprint of products. Recycling waste treatment potentially provides more environmental benefits than other options (e.g., landfill), but only 66 % of packaging waste goes to recycling in the European Union. However, the prevention of packaging production with greater reuse, while extending the lifetime or improving packaging design should be firstly encouraged. This highlights the need to assess the willingness of consumers in reducing the environmental impact of seafood products from packaging. An online questionnaire was conducted in three countries (Portugal, Spain, and Ireland), composed of four sections: (i) seafood consumption, (ii) waste separation to be sent recycling, (iii) willingness to purchase seafood products with packaging designed to reduce environmental impact, and (iv) sociodemographic characteristics. Findings revealed that respondents from Spain and Portugal reported a slightly higher frequency of waste sent to recycle compared to Ireland. Irish respondents appear to have more difficulties about the type of plastic materials that can be sent to recycling due to Irish waste management capabilities; whereas Spanish and Portuguese respondents were not fully aware that packaging does not need to be washed prior to recycling. The most popular alternatives to improve the sustainability of seafood packaging were the use of reusable packaging, compostable packaging material, glass jars for canned seafood instead of cans, and intelligent packaging. Most respondents were willing to pay more for seafood products that use more sustainable packaging (62 % for Spain, 68 % for Ireland, 70 % for Portugal) and half of the respondents intimated that they avoid seafood products due to excessive packaging. With more detailed information on the waste management of packaging, seafood consumers could actively contribute with their attitudes where commensurate changes can improve environmental assessment of seafood., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The lockdown requirement, caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), led to people having to follow a work from home regime. This pandemic made workers more vulnerable, causing emotional disorders that impacted their work performance. This online survey aimed to identify the psychological and emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Brazilian workers, testing the predictive effect between physical and emotional fatigue factors, and expectations about their performance. The participants were 153 workers from different sectors or departments of the University of Brasilia following the work from home modality. To achieve the main aim of this study, the questionnaire 'Feeling Fatigue Scale' by Yoshitake, and the nine items of the 'Achievement' factor of the 'Well-being at Work' questionnaire by Paschoal and Tamayowere applied. Study data were collected between February and August 2020. Statistically significant differences were found between cognitive aspects (difficulties in attention to work, p = .001,) expectations regarding performance ( p = .035), and the impact of fatigue on the body ( p = .021) when comparing the profile of workers from the areas of exact sciences, health, and social and human sciences. Workers who reported more extreme difficulty in attention had lower expectations regarding the performance achieved in the exercise of their duties (R 2 adjusted = .271, p < .001). The results demonstrate the importance of planning public policies aimed at promoting mental and physical health at work.

Introduction: The olfactory system in most mammals is divided into several subsystems based on the anatomical locations of the neuroreceptor cells involved and the receptor families that are expressed. In addition to the main olfactory system and the vomeronasal system, a range of olfactory subsystems converge onto the transition zone located between the main olfactory bulb (MOB) and the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), which has been termed the olfactory limbus (OL). The OL contains specialized glomeruli that receive noncanonical sensory afferences and which interact with the MOB and AOB. Little is known regarding the olfactory subsystems of mammals other than laboratory rodents. Methods: We have focused on characterizing the OL in the red fox by performing general and specific histological stainings on serial sections, using both single and double immunohistochemical and lectin-histochemical labeling techniques. Results: As a result, we have been able to determine that the OL of the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) displays an uncommonly high degree of development and complexity. Discussion: This makes this species a novel mammalian model, the study of which could improve our understanding of the noncanonical pathways involved in the processing of chemosensory cues., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Ortiz-Leal, Torres, Vargas-Barroso, Fidalgo, López-Beceiro, Larriva-Sahd and Sánchez-Quinteiro.)

Carbon neutrality, sustainable development and reducing our impact on the environment is the top priority in future measures. The COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges to every sector at a global scale but can provide valuable insight to reach these goals. The main objective of this work is to provide an integrated analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on energy and its related aspects, i.e., environment and costs. Mainland Portugal was used as a case study and two years were analysed, one pre pandemic (2019) and another post pandemic (2020). In 2020, the majority of sectors - Transport, Services, Industry and Agriculture & Fisheries - show a reduction of energy consumption, atmospheric emissions, carbon footprint and related monetary and social costs. In contrast, the Domestic sector presents an overall increase, with maximums of 25.4% in electricity consumption (during Spring), 0.72% in the PM10 (particulate matter) and NOx (nitrogen dioxides) emissions (in Summer), and 2.9% in carbon footprint (in Spring). The integrated analysis proposed in this work was crucial to identify the paths to a post pandemic world focused on the different aspects of sustainability - new concepts of mobility and workplace, as well as increased investment in energy performance and renewable energy sources. This study showed that changing our energy consumption patterns could significantly affect future greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the economy, while maintaining good progress towards climate-neutral goals., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 Turkish National Committee for Air Pollution Research and Control. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Chemosensory cues are vital for social and sexual behaviours and are primarily detected and processed by the vomeronasal system (VNS), whose plastic capacity has been investigated in mice. However, studying chemosensory plasticity outside of laboratory conditions may give a more realistic picture of how the VNS adapts to a changing environment. Rabbits are a well-described model of chemocommunication since the discovery of the rabbit mammary pheromone and their vomeronasal organ (VNO) transcriptome was recently characterised, a first step to further study plasticity-mediated transcriptional changes. In this study, we assessed the plastic capacity of the rabbit male and female VNO under sex-separation vs. sex-combined scenarios, including adults and juveniles, to determine whether the rabbit VNO is plastic and, if so, whether such plasticity is already established at early stages of life. First, we characterised the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the VNO of rabbit male and female under sex-separation and compared it to sex-combined individuals, both in adults and juveniles, finding that differences between male and female were larger in a sex-separated scenario. Secondly, we analysed the number of DEGs between sex-separated and sex-combined scenarios, both in males and females. In adults, both sexes showed a high number of DEGs while in juveniles only females showed differences. Additionally, the vomeronasal receptor genes were strikingly downregulated in sex-separated adult females, whereas in juveniles upregulation was shown for the same condition, suggesting a role of VRs in puberty onset. Finally, we described the environment-modulated plastic capacity of genes involved in reproduction, immunity and VNO functional activity, including G-protein coupled receptors. Our results show that sex-separation induces sex- and stage-specific gene expression differences in the VNO of male and female rabbit, both in adults and juveniles. These results bring out for the first time the plastic capacity of the rabbit VNO, supporting its functional adaptation to specifically respond to a continuous changing environment. Finally, species-specific differences and individual variability should always be considered in VNO studies and overall chemocommunication research., Competing Interests: JG was employed by COGAL SL, Cuniculture Company, Rodeiro, Spain. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Villamayor, Gullón, Quintela, Sánchez-Quinteiro, Martínez and Robledo.)

The sense of smell plays a fundamental role in mammalian survival. There is a considerable amount of information available on the vomeronasal system of both domestic and wild canids. However, much less information is available on the canid main olfactory system, particularly at the level of the main olfactory bulb. Comparative study of the neuroanatomy of wild and domestic canids provides an excellent model for understanding the effects of selection pressure associated with domestication. A comprehensive histological (hematoxylin-eosin, Nissl, Tolivia and Gallego's Trichrome stains), lectin (UEA, LEA) and immunohistochemical (Gαo, Gαi2, calretinin, calbindin, olfactory marker protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, microtubule-associated protein 2) study of the olfactory bulbs of the dog, fox and wolf was performed. Our study found greater macroscopic development of the olfactory bulb in both the wolf and fox compared to the dog. At the microscopic level, all three species show a well-developed pattern of lamination and cellularity typical of a macrosmatic animal. However, greater development of cellularity in the periglomerular and mitral layers of wild canids is characteristic. Likewise, the immunohistochemical study shows comparable results between the three species, but with a noticeably higher expression of markers in wild canids. These results suggest that the reduction in encephalization experienced in dogs due to domestication also corresponds to a lower degree of morphological and neurochemical differentiation of the olfactory bulb.

The study of the α-subunit of Gi2 and Go proteins in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) was crucial for the identification of the two main families of vomeronasal receptors, V1R and V2R. Both families are expressed in the rodent and lagomorph AOBs, according to a segregated model characterized by topographical anteroposterior zonation. Many mammal species have suffered from the deterioration of the Gαo pathway and are categorized as belonging to the uniform model. This scenario has been complicated by characterization of the AOB in the tammar wallaby, Notamacropus eugenii, which appears to follow a third model of vomeronasal organization featuring exclusive Gαo protein expression, referred to as the intermediate model, which has not yet been replicated in any other species. Our morphofunctional study of the vomeronasal system (VNS) in Bennett's wallaby, Notamacropus rufogriseus, provides further information regarding this third model of vomeronasal transduction. A comprehensive histological, lectin, and immunohistochemical study of the Bennett's wallaby VNS was performed. Anti-Gαo and anti-Gαi2 antibodies were particularly useful because they labeled the transduction cascade of V2R and V1R receptors, respectively. Both G proteins showed canonical immunohistochemical labeling in the vomeronasal organ and the AOB, consistent with the anterior-posterior zonation of the segregated model. The lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin selectively labeled the anterior AOB, providing additional evidence for the segregation of vomeronasal information in the wallaby. Overall, the VNS of the Bennett's wallaby shows a degree of differentiation and histochemical and neurochemical diversity comparable to species with greater VNS development. The existence of the third intermediate type in vomeronasal information processing reported in Notamacropus eugenii is not supported by our lectin-histochemical and immunohistochemical findings in Notamacropus rufogriseus., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: The accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) is the first integrative center of the vomeronasal system (VNS), and the general macroscopic, microscopic, and neurochemical organizational patterns of the AOB differ fundamentally among species. Therefore, the low degree of differentiation observed for the dog AOB is surprising. As the artificial selection pressure exerted on domestic dogs has been suggested to play a key role in the involution of the dog VNS, a wild canid, such as the fox, represents a useful model for studying the hypothetical effects of domestication on the AOB morphology., Methods: A comprehensive histological, lectin-histochemical, and immunohistochemical study of the fox AOB was performed. Anti-Gαo and anti-Gαi2 antibodies were particularly useful, as they label the transduction cascade of the vomeronasal receptor types 1 (V1R) and 2 (V2R), respectively. Other employed antibodies included those against proteins such as microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2), tubulin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), olfactory marker protein (OMP), calbindin, and calretinin., Results: The cytoarchitecture of the fox AOB showed a clear lamination, with neatly differentiated layers; a highly developed glomerular layer, rich in periglomerular cells; and large inner cell and granular layers. The immunolabeling of Gαi2, OMP, and GAP-43 delineated the outer layers, whereas Gαo and MAP-2 immunolabeling defined the inner layers. MAP-2 characterized the somas of AOB principal cells and their dendritic trees. Anti-calbindin and anti-calretinin antibodies discriminated neural subpopulations in both the mitral-plexiform layer and the granular cell layer, and the lectin Ulex europeus agglutinin I (UEA-I) showed selectivity for the AOB and the vomeronasal nerves., Conclusion: The fox AOB presents unique characteristics and a higher degree of morphological development compared with the dog AOB. The comparatively complex neural basis for semiochemical information processing in the fox compared with that observed in dogs suggests loss of AOB anatomical complexity during the evolutionary history of dogs and opens a new avenue of research for studying the effects of domestication on brain structures., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Biostimulation is an animal management practice that helps improve reproductive parameters by modulating animal sensory systems. Chemical signals, mostly known as pheromones, have a great potential in this regard. This study was conducted to determine the influence of short-term female rabbit exposure to different conditions, mainly pheromone-mediated, on reproductive parameters of inseminated does. Groups of 60 females/each were exposed to (1) female urine, (2) male urine, (3) seminal plasma and (4) female-female (F-F) separated, just before artificial insemination, and compared to a 'golden method' female-female interaction. The following reproductive parameters were analyzed for each group: receptivity (vulvar color), fertility (kindling rate), prolificacy and number of born alive and dead kits/litter. Our results showed that the biostimulation methods employed in this experiment did not significantly improve any of the analyzed parameters. However, female doe exposure to urine, especially to male urine, showed no significant higher fertility values (95.4%) when compared to the rest of the experimental conditions (on average 92.4%). Female-female interaction before artificial insemination, which is a common practice in rabbit farms, showed similar results as not establishing social interaction (F-F separated), which suggests that F-F interaction could be replaced by F-F separated, therefore avoiding unnecessary animal management and time cost. On the other hand, fertility ranges were lower for animals with a pale vulvar color whereas no differences were noticed among the other three colors which measure receptivity (pink, red, purple), thus suggesting that these three colors could be grouped together. Future studies should aim at determining potential chemical cues/pheromones released through bodily secretions that influence reproduction in rabbits, therefore contributing to animal welfare and to a natural image of animal production.

We approached the study of the main (MOB) and accessory olfactory bulbs (AOB) of the meerkat ( Suricata suricatta ) aiming to fill important gaps in knowledge regarding the neuroanatomical basis of olfactory and pheromonal signal processing in this iconic species. Microdissection techniques were used to extract the olfactory bulbs. The samples were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl stains, histochemical ( Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Lycopersicon esculentum agglutinin) and immunohistochemical labelling (Gαo, Gαi2, calretinin, calbindin, olfactory marker protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, microtubule-associated protein 2, SMI-32, growth-associated protein 43). Microscopically, the meerkat AOB lamination pattern is more defined than the dog's, approaching that described in cats, with well-defined glomeruli and a wide mitral-plexiform layer, with scattered main cells and granular cells organized in clusters. The degree of lamination and development of the meerkat MOB suggests a macrosmatic mammalian species. Calcium-binding proteins allow for the discrimination of atypical glomerular subpopulations in the olfactory limbus between the MOB and AOB. Our observations support AOB functionality in the meerkat, indicating chemosensory specialization for the detection of pheromones, as identified by the characterization of the V1R vomeronasal receptor family and the apparent deterioration of the V2R receptor family.

This study integrates the job demands-resources model and authentic leadership theory to test the general hypothesis that authentic leadership is a job resource that enables flourishing and performance in healthcare teams. Furthermore, this article tests the hypothesis that the daily bed occupancy is a job demand that weakens this relationship. Participants were 106 nurses that were distributed across 33 teams from two hospitals. The results suggest that the authentic leadership of team leaders is positively related with subjective and objective team performance, but only when daily bed occupancy is low. Authentic leadership had no relationship with team flourishing, regardless of the daily bed occupancy. Our findings suggest that the extent to which authentic leadership is adequate to promote the performance of teams working in a hospital setting is sensitive to contextual boundary conditions. Leading authentically might only be effective under specific circumstances., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Marques-Quinteiro, Graça, Coelho and Martins.)

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a chemosensory organ specialized in pheromone detection that shows a broad morphofunctional and genomic diversity among mammals. However, its expression patterns have only been well-characterized in mice. Here, we provide the first comprehensive RNA sequencing study of the rabbit VNO across gender and sexual maturation stages. We characterized the VNO transcriptome, updating the number and expression of the two main vomeronasal receptor families, including 128 V1Rs and 67 V2Rs. Further, we defined the expression of formyl-peptide receptor and transient receptor potential channel families, both known to have specific roles in the VNO. Several sex hormone-related pathways were consistently enriched in the VNO, highlighting the relevance of this organ in reproduction. Moreover, whereas juvenile and adult VNOs showed significant transcriptome differences, male and female did not. Overall, these results contribute to understand the genomic basis of behavioural responses mediated by the VNO in a non-rodent model., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Biomass plays a fundamental role in numerous decarbonisation strategies that seek to mitigate the short- and long-term effects of climate change. Within this context, decision-makers' choices need to comprehensively consider potential sustainability effects associated with bioenergy systems. In particular, due to the lack of studies addressing the social sustainability of bioelectricity, the present work applies the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) methodology to compare the social performance of two biomass-to-electricity systems located in Portugal based on either fluidised-bed or grate furnace technology. S-LCA involves a comprehensive approach for holistic evaluation and data interpretation of social aspects. Six social indicators were benchmarked: child labour, forced labour, gender wage gap, women in the sectoral labour force, health expenditure, and contribution to economic development. The results show that the implementation of fluidised-bed furnaces as a more efficient conversion technology could reduce by 15-19% the selected negative social impacts, except women in the sectoral labour force. When enlarging the interpretation to a sustainability perspective, the general suitability of the fluidised-bed furnace system would be further emphasised under environmental aspects while jointly providing valuable insights for informed decision-making and sustainability reporting.

Fish chemosensory olfactory receptors allow them to detect a wide range of water-soluble chemicals, that mediate fundamental behaviours. Zebrafish possess a well-developed sense of smell which governs reproduction, appetite, and fear responses. The spatial organization of functional properties within the olfactory epithelium and bulb are comparable to those of mammals, making this species suitable for studies of olfactory differentiation and regeneration and neuronal representation of olfactory information. The advent of genomic techniques has been decisive for the discovery of specific olfactory cell types and the identification of cell populations expressing vomeronasal receptors. These advances have marched ahead of morphological and neurochemical studies. This study aims to fill the existing gap in specific histological, lectin-histochemical and immunohistochemical studies on the olfactory rosette and the olfactory bulb of the zebrafish. Tissue dissection and microdissection techniques were employed, followed by histological staining techniques, lectin-histochemical labelling (UEA, LEA, BSI-B 4 ) and immunohistochemistry using antibodies against G proteins subunits αo and αi2, growth-associated protein-43, calbindin, calretinin, glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein and luteinizing-hormone-releasing-hormone. The results obtained enrich the available information on the neurochemical patterns of the zebrafish olfactory system, pointing to a greater complexity than the one currently considered, especially when taking into account the peculiarities of the nonsensory epithelium.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been widely applied in many different sectors, but the marine products and seafood segment have received relatively little attention in the past. In recent decades, global fish production experienced sustained growth and peaked at about 179 million tonnes in 2018. Consequently, increased interest in the environmental implications of fishery products along the supply chain, namely from capture to end of life, was recently experienced by society, industry and policy-makers. This timely review aims to describe the current framework of LCA and its application to the seafood sector that mainly focused on fish extraction and processing, but it also encompassed the remaining stages. An excess of 60 studies conducted over the last decade, along with some additional publications, were comprehensively reviewed; these focused on the main LCA methodological choices, including but not limited to, functional unit, system boundaries allocation methods and environmental indicators. The review identifies key recommendations on the progression of LCA for this increasingly important sustaining seafood sector. Specifically, these recommendations include (i) the need for specific indicators for fish-related activities, (ii) the target species and their geographical origin, (iii) knowledge and technology transfer and, (iv) the application and implementation of key recommendations from LCA research that will improve the accuracy of LCA models in this sector. Furthermore, the review comprises a section addressing previous and current challenges of the seafood sector. Wastewater treatment, ghost fishing or climate change, are also the objects of discussion together with advocating support for the water-energy-food nexus as a valuable tool to minimize environmental negativities and to frame successful synergies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We build on Nonlinear Dynamic Systems (NDS) theory to examine if team performance change across a complete performance cycle is nonlinear, and if such change is related with team processes change over time. Participants were 214 teams enrolled in one management competition. The hypotheses were tested using nonlinear regressions and catastrophe modeling. The results of the nonlinear regression model support the hypothesis that change in team performance over time follows a cusp catastrophe distribution, R2Cusp = .93, F(5, 1065) = 16889.82, p < .001; and that team processes do function as asymmetry (transition and action processes) and bifurcation (interpersonal processes) factors. The results also suggest that the cusp catastrophe model (R2 = .68) explains team performance better than the linear (R2 = .05) and logistic models (R2 = .07). This study reiterates the importance of incorporating the NDS perspective within the teamwork literature to leverage our knowledge about the way teams perform over time.

The vomeronasal system (VNS) has been extensively studied within specific animal families, such as Rodentia. However, the study of the VNS in other families, such as Canidae, has long been neglected. Among canids, the vomeronasal organ (VNO) has only been studied in detail in the dog, and no studies have examined the morphofunctional or immunohistochemical characteristics of the VNS in wild canids, which is surprising, given the well-known importance of chemical senses for the dog and fox and the likelihood that the VNS plays roles in the socio-reproductive physiology and behaviours of these species. In addition, characterising the fox VNS could contribute to a better understanding of the domestication process that occurred in the dog, as the fox would represent the first wild canid to be studied in depth. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the fox VNO. Tissue dissection and microdissection techniques were employed, followed by general and specific histological staining techniques, including with immunohistochemical and lectin-histochemical labelling strategies, using antibodies against olfactory marker protein (OMP), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), α-tubulin, Gαo, and Gαi2 proteins, to highlight the specific features of the VNO in the fox. This study found significant differences in the VNS between the fox and the dog, particularly concerning the expression of Gαi2 and Gαo proteins, which were associated with the expression of the type 1 vomeronasal receptors (V1R) and type 2 vomeronasal receptors (V2R), respectively, in the vomeronasal epithelium. Both are immunopositive in foxes, as opposed to the dog, which only expresses Gαi2. This finding suggests that the fox possesses a well-developed VNO and supports the hypothesis that a profound transformation in the VNS is associated with domestication in the canid family. Furthermore, the unique features identified in the fox VNO confirm the necessity of studying the VNS system in different species to better comprehend specific phylogenetic aspects of the VNS., (© 2020 Anatomical Society.)

Recently, wood pellets have become a reliable and clean renewable fuel for residential heating, replacing fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Wood pellets are normally produced in industrial pellet plants (centralised production), but decentralised small-scale local production also occurs. This study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify and compare the environmental profile of one centralised and two decentralised alternatives for wood pellet production for residential heating in Portugal: (1) industrial wood pellets production (centralised), (2) wood pellets production at sawmills (decentralised) and (3) wood pellets production at households (decentralised). System boundaries include the stages of forest management, wood pellet production, wood pellet distribution and wood pellet energetic conversion. The impact results show that industrial pellet production ranks as the worst alternative, while pellet production at households has the best environmental profile for all the impact categories under study. However, the environmental impacts of pellet production at the sawmill do not differ greatly from those of the pellet production at households; they are 14 to 16% higher for global warming and fossil resources scarcity and 0.3 to 3% higher for the remaining impact categories. The worst environmental performance of the industrial pellet production alternative is mainly due to high electricity and diesel consumption during wood pellet production and the use of logging residues to generate heat for drying biomass feedstock. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of changing the distance travelled during the transport of packed pellets to stores and sawdust to households. The results show changes in the environmental performance ranking, highlighting that for short distances, both decentralised alternatives can be more sustainable from an environmental perspective than the centralised alternative, but for larger distances, the pellet production at households should be avoided., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The vomeronasal system (VNS) is responsible for the perception mainly of pheromones and kairomones. Primarily studied in laboratory rodents, it plays a crucial role in their socio-sexual behaviour. As a wild rodent, the capybara offers a more objective and representative perspective to understand the significance of the system in the Rodentia, avoiding the risk of extrapolating from laboratory rodent strains, exposed to high levels of artificial selection pressure. We have studied the main morphological and immunohistochemical features of the capybara vomeronasal organ (VNO) and accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). The study was done in newborn individuals to investigate the maturity of the system at this early stage. We used techniques such as histological stains, lectins-labelling and immunohistochemical characterization of a range of proteins, including G proteins (Gαi2, Gαo) and olfactory marking protein. As a result, we conclude that the VNS of the capybara at birth is capable of establishing the same function as that of the adult, and that it presents unique features as the high degree of differentiation of the AOB and the active cellular migration in the vomeronasal epithelium. All together makes the capybara a promising model for the study of chemical communication in the first days of life.

The increasing use of forest biomass as a fuel for power plants due to environmental concerns will certainly increase the amount of woody biomass ash produced. Because of the environmental problems derived from woody biomass ash disposal, an important aspect for the sustainable development of the energy sector is the implementation of effective ash management strategies. The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental impacts of woody biomass ash landfarming for soil amelioration through a Life Cycle Assessment. The baseline scenario corresponds to the current most common practice of woody biomass ash management (landfilling), and two different landfarming alternatives were assessed: liming and fertilisation. Credits were given to the system due to the substitution of three traditional liming products and five traditional fertilisers. Woody biomass ash landfarming presented satisfactory performance in five impact categories under study in comparison to landfilling. When woody biomass ash was used for liming, the environmental savings were more pronounced when substituting hydrated lime. For potassium supply, the substitution of potassium nitrate by woody biomass ash presented the best environmental performance, while for phosphorus supply, the environmental savings were more pronounced substituting single superphosphate. However, in four impact categories, the environmental impacts of ash landfarming exceeded the impacts of ash landfilling, due to the emission to soil of nutrients and trace elements to soil. But this does not necessarily imply increased risks for the environment, as the potential pollutants leaching depends on their bioavailability in the soil., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) is the first neural integrative centre of the vomeronasal system (VNS), which is associated primarily with the detection of semiochemicals. Although the rabbit is used as a model for the study of chemocommunication, these studies are hampered by the lack of knowledge regarding the topography, lamination, and neurochemical properties of the rabbit AOB. To fill this gap, we have employed histological stainings: lectin labelling with Ulex europaeus (UEA-I), Bandeiraea simplicifolia (BSI-B4), and Lycopersicon esculentum (LEA) agglutinins, and a range of immunohistochemical markers. Anti-G proteins Gαi2/Gαo, not previously studied in the rabbit AOB, are expressed following an antero-posterior zonal pattern. This places Lagomorpha among the small groups of mammals that conserve a double-path vomeronasal reception. Antibodies against olfactory marker protein (OMP), growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43), glutaminase (GLS), microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2), glial fibrillary-acidic protein (GFAP), calbindin (CB), and calretinin (CR) characterise the strata and the principal components of the BOA, demonstrating several singular features of the rabbit AOB. This diversity is accentuated by the presence of a unique organisation: four neuronal clusters in the accessory bulbar white matter, two of them not previously characterised in any species (the γ and δ groups). Our morphometric study of the AOB has found significant differences between sexes in the numerical density of principal cells, with larger values in females, a pattern completely opposite to that found in rats. In summary, the rabbit possesses a highly developed AOB, with many specific features that highlight the significant role played by chemocommunication among this species.

Wood-fuelled systems are commonly used all over the world for residential heating, and recently wood pellets have been replacing traditional firewood. This article presents an environmental life cycle assessment of five wood-based combustion systems for residential heating: i) a pellet stove using maritime pine pellets; a wood stove using ii) eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) and iii) maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) split logs; and a fireplace using iv) eucalyptus and v) maritime pine split logs. The functional unit is 1 MJ of thermal energy for residential heating. System boundaries include four stages: (1) forest management; (2) pellet and wood split log production; (3) distribution; and (4) thermal energy generation. Environmental impacts were calculated for seven impact categories from the ReCiPe 2016 midpoint method, and a sensitivity analysis was performed using the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) life cycle impact assessment method and modifying the distances travelled. Of the five heating systems analysed, the fireplace presents the worst performance for all the impact categories with the exception of freshwater eutrophication and marine eutrophication, when maritime pine split logs are burned in the fireplace. Comparing the pellet stove with the wood stove, neither system is better for all the impact categories analysed. Regarding sensitivity analysis, the use of an alternative characterisation method leads to similar trends in the results in comparison with those obtained from the ReCiPe method, while changes in transport distances do not affect the total impacts to a large extent., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The management of vineyards depends on the use of plant protection agents. Regardless of the numerous environmental impacts that these pesticides generate during their production, their dosage as pest control agents in vineyards causes an important toxic effect that must be monitored. Copper-based inorganic pesticides are the most widely used agents to control fungal diseases in humid wine-growing regions. It is, however, significant that the environmental analysis of their use through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology does not provide detailed information on the potential toxicity of this type of pesticides. Hence, most studies report average values for copper characterization factors (CFs), excluding local soil characteristics. The objective of the study was the spatial characterization of the ecotoxicity factors of copper soil emissions as a function of the chemical characteristics of vineyard soils located in Portugal and Galicia (NW Spain). A multiple linear regression model was applied to calculate the comparative toxic potential. Subsequently, CFs for copper were calculated based on spatial differentiation considering the variable properties of the soil within each wine appellation. The CFs obtained for the area evaluated ranged from 141 to 5937 PAF·m 3 ·day/kg Cu emitted , for fibric histosols (HSf) and dystic cambisols (CMd), respectively. Moreover, the average values obtained for Galician and Portuguese soils were 1145 and 2274 PAF·m 3 ·day/kg Cu emitted , respectively. The results obtained illustrate the high variability of CF values as a function of the chemical characteristics of each type of soil. For example, Cu soil mobility was linked to organic carbon content and pH. Finally, to validate the representativeness of the calculated CFs, these were applied to the results of 12 literature life cycle inventories of grape production in the area evaluated, revealing that impact scores associated with Cu emissions can considerably vary when spatially-differentiated CFs are implemented., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) is a tool to assess sustainability from a life cycle perspective, which has been receiving increased attention over the years. This work presents a systematic review of the current application of LCSA, presenting the foundations, main methods, current operationalization state, and major challenges to its broad implementation. The review protocol considered the search of keywords in Scopus and Web of Science databases. The search has considered the literature published or in the press until December 2018, resulting in the selection of 144 articles written in English. Of those, 71 articles operationalize LCSA in real case studies, while the remaining consist of review, viewpoint, and methodological development articles. This review demonstrates that the use of LCSA has been increasing in recent years. Today, the most applied approach is to consider LCSA as the sum of life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, and social life cycle assessment because it is built on the methodologies that already exist and are under continuous development. However, the lack of harmonization of the methodology is a central challenge to its operationalization. Therefore, LCSA still requires further improvement in, among others, definition of coherent system boundaries, the development of robust databases to allow the assessment of economic and social perspectives, definition of impact categories that allow comparability between studies, development of impact assessment methods, development of methods to carry out uncertainty analysis, and communication strategies. Besides, further case studies should be developed to support the improvement of the methodology and a better understanding of the interaction of the environmental, economic, and social aspects., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study examines teams as complex adaptive systems (tCAS) and uses latent growth curve modeling to test team cohesion as an initial condition conducive to team performance over time and the mediational effect of team coordination on this relationship. After analyzing 158 teams enrolled in a business game simulation over five consecutive weeks, we found that change in team coordination was best described by a continuous linear change model, while change in team performance was best described by a continuous nonlinear change model; and the mediation latent growth curve model revealed a negative indirect effect of team cohesion on the level of change in team performance over time, through the level of change in team coordination. This study contributes to the science of teams by combining the notions of initial conditions with co-evolving team dynamics, hence creating a more refined temporal approach to understanding team functioning.

The classic notion that humans are microsmatic animals was born from comparative anatomy studies showing the reduction in the size of both the olfactory bulbs and the limbic brain relative to the whole brain. However, the human olfactory system contains a number of neurons comparable to that of most other mammals, and humans have exquisite olfactory abilities. Major advances in molecular and genetic research have resulted in the identification of extremely large gene families that express receptors for sensing odors. Such advances have led to a renaissance of studies focused on both human and nonhuman aspects of olfactory physiology and function. Evidence that olfactory dysfunction is among the earliest signs of a number of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders has led to considerable interest in the use of olfactory epithelial biopsies for potentially identifying such disorders. Moreover, the unique features of the olfactory ensheathing cells have made the olfactory mucosa a promising and unexpected source of cells for treating spinal cord injuries and other neural injuries in which cell guidance is critical. The olfactory system of humans and other primates differs in many ways from that of other species. In this chapter we provide an overview of the anatomy of not only the human olfactory mucosa but of mucosae from a range of mammals from which more detailed information is available. Basic information regarding the general organization of the olfactory mucosa, including its receptor cells and the large number of other cell types critical for their maintenance and function, is provided. Cross-species comparisons are made when appropriate. The polemic issue of the human vomeronasal organ in both the adult and fetus is discussed, along with recent findings regarding olfactory subsystems within the nose of a number of mammals (e.g., the septal organ and Grüneberg ganglion)., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: While many examples have shown unsustainable use of freshwater resources, existing LCIA methods for water use do not comprehensively address impacts to natural resources for future generations. This framework aims to (1) define freshwater resource as an item to protect within the Area of Protection (AoP) natural resources, (2) identify relevant impact pathways affecting freshwater resources, and (3) outline methodological choices for impact characterization model development., Method: Considering the current scope of the AoP natural resources, the complex nature of freshwater resources and its important dimensions to safeguard safe future supply, a definition of freshwater resource is proposed, including water quality aspects. In order to clearly define what is to be protected, the freshwater resource is put in perspective through the lens of the three main safeguard subjects defined by Dewulf et al. (2015). In addition, an extensive literature review identifies a wide range of possible impact pathways to freshwater resources, establishing the link between different inventory elementary flows (water consumption, emissions and land use) and their potential to cause long-term freshwater depletion or degradation., Results and Discussion: Freshwater as a resource has a particular status in LCA resource assessment. First, it exists in the form of three types of resources: flow, fund, or stock. Then, in addition to being a resource for human economic activities (e.g. hydropower), it is above all a non-substitutable support for life that can be affected by both consumption (source function) and pollution (sink function). Therefore, both types of elementary flows (water consumption and emissions) should be linked to a damage indicator for freshwater as a resource. Land use is also identified as a potential stressor to freshwater resources by altering runoff, infiltration and erosion processes as well as evapotranspiration. It is suggested to use the concept of recovery period to operationalize this framework: when the recovery period lasts longer than a given period of time, impacts are considered to be irreversible and fall into the concern of freshwater resources protection (i.e. affecting future generations), while short-term impacts effect the AoP ecosystem quality and human health directly. It is shown that it is relevant to include this concept in the impact assessment stage in order to discriminate the long-term from the short-term impacts, as some dynamic fate models already do., Conclusion: This framework provides a solid basis for the consistent development of future LCIA methods for freshwater resources, thereby capturing the potential long-term impacts that could warn decision makers about potential safe water supply issues in the future.

The characterization of the rabbit mammary pheromone, which is sensed by the main olfactory system, has made this species a unique model for the study of pheromonal communication in mammals. This discovery has brought attention to the global understanding of chemosensory communication in this species. Chemocommunication is mediated by two distinct organs located in the nasal cavity, the main olfactory epithelium and the vomeronasal organ (VNO). However, there is a lack of knowledge about the vomeronasal system in rabbits. To understand the role of this system, an exhaustive anatomical and histological study of the rabbit VNO was performed. The rabbit VNO was studied macroscopically by light microscopy, and by histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. We employed specific histological staining techniques (periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, Gallego's trichrome), confocal autofluorescence, histochemical labelling with the lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA-I), and immunohistochemical studies of the expression of the Gαi2 and Gαo proteins and olfactory marker protein. The opening of the vomeronasal duct into the nasal cavity and its indirect communication with the oral cavity through a functional nasopalatine duct was demonstrated by classical dissection and microdissection. In a series of transverse histological sections, special attention was paid to the general distribution of the various soft-tissue components of this organ (duct, glands, connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves) and to the nature of the capsule of the organ. Among the main morphological features that distinguish the rabbit VNO, the presence of a double envelope, which is bony externally and cartilaginous internally, and highly developed venous sinuses stand out. This observation indicates the crucial role played in this species by the pumping mechanism that introduces chemical signals into the vomeronasal duct. The functional properties of the organ are also confirmed by the presence of a well-developed neuroepithelium and profuse glandular tissue that is positive for neutral mucopolysaccharides. The role of glycoconjugates was assessed by the identification of the α1-2 fucose glycan system in the neuroepithelium of the VNO employing UEA-I lectin. The pattern of labelling, which was concentrated around the commissures of the sensory epithelium and more diffuse in the central segments, is different from that found in most mammals studied. According to the expression of G-proteins, two pathways have been described in the VNOs of mammals: neuroreceptor cells expressing the Gαi2 protein (associated with vomeronasal receptor type 1); and cells expressing Gαo (associated with vomeronasal receptor type 2). The latter pathway is absent in most mammals studied. The expression of both G-protein families in the rabbit VNO places Lagomorpha together with rodents and insectivores in a small group of mammals belonging to the two-path model. These findings support the notion that the rabbit possesses a highly developed VNO, with many specific morphological features, which highlights the significance of chemocommunication in this species., (© 2018 Anatomical Society.)

The development of methods to assess the potential environmental impact of green water consumption in life cycle assessment has lagged behind those for blue water use, which are now routinely applied in industrial and policy-related studies. This represents a critical gap in the assessment of land-based production systems and the ability to inform policy related to the bio-economy. Combining satellite remote sensing and meteorological data sets, this study develops two new sets of spatially-differentiated and globally applicable characterisation factors (CFs) to assess the environmental impact of green water flows in LCA. One set of CFs addresses the impact of shifts in water vapour flow by evapotranspiration on blue water availability (CFWS) and the other set of CFs addresses moisture recycling within a basin (CFWA). Furthermore, as an additional and optional step, these two indicators are combined into an aggregated green water scarcity indicator, representing the global variability of green water scarcity. The values obtained for CFWA show that there are significant changes in green water flows that were returned to the atmosphere in Alaska (covered by open shrublands) and in some central regions of China (covered by grasslands and barren or sparsely vegetated land), where precipitation levels are lower than 10 mm/yr. The results obtained for CFWS indicate that severe perturbations in surface blue water production occur, particularly in central regions of China (covered by grasslands), the southeast of Australia (covered by evergreen broadleaf forest) and in some central regions of the USA (covered by grassland and evergreen needleleaf forest). The application of the green water scarcity CFs enables the evaluation of the potential environmental impact due to green water consumption by agricultural and forestry products, informing both technical and non-technical audiences and decision-makers for the purpose of strategic planning of land use and to identify green water protection measures., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recent theoretical contributions have suggested a theory of leadership that is grounded in complexity theory, hence regarding leadership as a complex process (i.e., nonlinear; emergent). This article tests if complexity leadership theory promotes efficiency in work groups. 40 groups of five participants each had to complete four decision making tasks using the city simulation game SimCity4. Before engaging in the four decision making tasks, participants received information regarding what sort of leadership behaviors were more adequate to help them perform better. Results suggest that if complexity leadership theory is applied, groups can achieve higher efficiency over time, when compared with other groups where complexity leadership is not applied. This study goes beyond traditional views of leadership as a centralized form of control, and presents new evidence suggesting that leadership is a collective and emergent phenomenon, anchored in simple rules of behavior., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

"Olfactory subsystems" is a relatively new terminology to refer to the different regions of the nasal cavity featuring olfactory sensory neurons. In mice, the olfactory chemical cues are detected in four well delimited areas: the main olfactory epithelium, the septal organ, Grüneberg's ganglion, and the sensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organ. Nevertheless, such distribution is by no means exhibited by all mammals. In microsmatic mammals -humans included- the only existing olfactory subsystem is the main olfactory epithelium. This raises the question of whether the lack of certain olfactory structures in those species implies that they are unable to identify certain olfactory signals, or on the contrary, their main olfactory epithelium assumes such role. It would be interesting to determine, in the context of biomedical research, if the sense of smell in humans is fully or partially endowed with the wide range of functions assigned to the vomeronasal system in mice. If it is not, presumptive implications of the lack of such functions should be addressed in human health and well-being. Anat Rec, 299:1488-1491, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)