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This paper reviews the nutritional quality and safety of edible farmed insects from the point of view of the Czech-Slovenian bilateral project: Quality, Safety and Authenticity of Insect Protein-based Food and Feed (INPROFF). Insects as a sustainable source of dietary protein for animal feed and even humans, when integrated into the European agrifood system, could offer a solution to Europe’s feed protein deficit and help alleviate environmental pressure from increasing protein demand, such as declining availability of land, water, marine and energy resources, the overuse of pesticides and reduced biodiversity. However, despite a growing interest in the European Union (EU) in farming edible insects, many economic, scientific, technological, and social barriers remain. In response, Slovenia, represented by the Jožef Stefan Institute, the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, and Jata Emona d.o.o. (the leading supplier of feedstuffs for the Slovenian market), a country with no history of insect rearing but an interest in alternative protein, joined with the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, representing the Czech Republic—a country with a history of insect rearing and research into edible insects—to establish INPROFF a three-year bilateral project that aims to close the knowledge gap regarding the quality and safety of insect-based products and boost the farmed insect food and feed value chain. Specifically, it comprises three thematic pillars: (P1) nutritional enhancement, (P2) safety and quality and (P3) authenticity, traceability, and consumer acceptance. The paper also discusses the gaps in the metrological challenges of analysing insects, which will be critical for ensuring safety, quality, and sustainability. The paper finds that although much work has been done, many exciting avenues remain for new research.

Aims: Primary fixation of cementless implants is achieved through press-fit. This study aimed to simulate the press-fit of pegs in bone analogue with finite element analysis (FEA) with as few parameters as possible, thereby providing a useful tool for the quick evaluation of potential device designs. Methods: Push-in and pull-out of smooth and porous pegs in plastic trabecular bone analogue (20 PCF, Sawbones) were modelled using a finite element approach. The model was validated by comparing the maximum push-in and pull-out forces from FEA to the corresponding peg push-in/pull-out testing in plastic bone. Results: The results from FEA agreed well with experiments for the smooth pegs at surgically-relevant interferences (0.6–0.9 mm). Error was under 18.4 % for maximum push-in forces and 6.9 % for maximum pull-out forces. When the same fracture strain value was used to simulate porous pegs, the errors were 9.4 % and 14.7 % for push-in and pull-out force, respectively. Conclusion: The proposed method of simulating peg press-fit required only two sets of input data: the uniaxial material curve of the plastic bone from which the fracture strain could also be derived, and the coefficient of friction between the plastic bone and the peg. The method can be applied to gain insight into the potential of new fixation component designs before progression to experimental testing.

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Abstract Reduced carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) is common after recovery from severe COVID‐19 pneumonitis. The extent to which this relates to alveolar membrane dysfunction as opposed to vascular injury is uncertain. Simultaneous measurement of nitric oxide diffusing capacity (DLNO) and DLCO can partition gas diffusion into its two components: alveolar–capillary membrane conductance (DmCO) and capillary blood volume (VC). We sought to evaluate DmCO and VC in the early and later recovery periods after severe COVID‐19. Patients attended for post‐COVID‐19 clinical review and lung function testing including DLNO/DLCO. Repeat testing occurred when indicated and comparisons made using t‐tests. Forty‐nine (eight female) subjects (mean ± SD age: 58 ± 13, BMI: 34 ± 8) who had severe COVID‐19 pneumonitis, WHO severity classification of 6 ± 1, and prolonged (21 ± 22 days) hospital stay, were assessed 2 months (61 ± 35 days) post discharge. DLCOadj (z‐score −1.70 ± 1.49, 25/49 LNN. DmCO improved (z‐score −2.05 ± 0.89 vs. −1.41 ± 0.78, p = 0.01) but VC was unchanged (z‐score −2.51 ± 0.55 vs. −2.29 ± 0.59, p = 0.16). Alveolar membrane conductance is abnormal in the earlier recovery phase following severe COVID‐19 but significantly improves. In contrast, reduced VC persists. These data raise the possibility that persisting effects of acute vascular injury may contribute to gas diffusion impairment long after severe COVID‐19 pneumonitis.

Abstract Today, tris‐s‐triazine based graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) is a new research hot topic. It has a unique electronic band structure, high physicochemical stability, large surface area, and is “earth‐abundant.” These and other properties have made it a highly researched material especially for visible light photocatalysis and photodegradation applications and as the starting material from which to develop novel electrochemical sensing platforms. In this review, the state‐of‐the‐art technologies utilizing tris‐s‐triazine graphitic carbon nitride as a tailorable signal‐transducing nanostructured material for sensing applications is presented in detail. Initially, the electronic structure of g‐C3N4, morphologies, doping, heterojunctions, its combination with other carbon materials, and defect formation, is described, which is followed by a discussion on its role in electrochemiluminescence, photoelectrochemical, fluorescence sensors and gas sensors as a signal transducer with appropriate examples. This review concludes with a discussion summarizing state‐of‐the‐art and both future perspectives and challenges at the cutting edge of this research.

Metabolic residue concentration data for two licit drugs (nicotine and alcohol), three medications of abuse (morphine, methadone and codeine) and six illicit drugs (cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and heroin) were obtained from raw wastewater samples collected from 44 Slovenian educational institutions are presented. Also, concentrations obtained at one secondary school during a preliminary study is provided. The wastewater samples were collected at the end of the 2018/2019 academic year using time proportional sampling and analysed for 16 drug residues, extracted using solid-phase extraction and analysed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Residues of nicotine and alcohol were determined by direct injection of filtered wastewater onto the UPLC. Concentrations data were studied based on educational level (primary, secondary and tertiary) and institution type (secondary schools: gymnasiums, vocational and technical schools, multi-programme schools; higher education institutions: natural sciences and social sciences), geographic location (municipalities) and degree of urbanisation (urban and non-urban areas). Due to the large number of different educational institutions included in the study, provided datasets are valuable for further studies on drug consumption patterns among young people. Drug presence and prevalence data for primary schools (6–15 years) offer an objective insight into drugs present in the early stage of a young person's development and help establish effective prevention programs. More details on the study can be found in [1].

Relational properties describe relationships that hold over multiple executions of one or more programs, such as functional equivalence. Conventional approaches for automatically verifying such properties typically rely on syntax-based, heuristic strategies for finding synchronization points among the input programs. These synchronization points are then annotated with appropriate relational invariants to complete the proof. However, when suboptimal synchronization points are chosen the required invariants can be complicated or even inexpressible in the target theory. In this work, we propose a novel approach to verifying relational properties. This approach searches for synchronization points and synthesizes relational invariants simultaneously. Specifically, the approach uses synthesized invariants as a guide for finding proper synchronization points that lead to a complete proof. We implemented our approach as a tool named PEQUOD, which targets Java Virtual Machine (JVM) bytecode. We evaluated PEQUOD by using it to solve verification challenges drawn from the from the research literature and by verifying properties of student-submitted solutions to online challenge problems. The results show that PEQUOD solve verification problems that cannot be addressed by current techniques.

Translators can, and do, manipulate translation processes for ideologically motivated reasons (Fawcett & Munday, 2011, pp. 137-141). Ideologically motivated “rewriting” (Bassnett & Lefevere, 1992, p. xi) in translation into Japanese of non-fiction texts about Japan can, at least when it takes the form of omission of ST passages, have a misleading impact on the way Japanese people believe people in other countries see them (Cherry, 1987, p. 14). This article proposes and tests a methodology for swift, simple identification and analysis of such rewriting-even in lengthy texts, e.g., books. The methodology draws on Barnard’s intensity-analysis technique (Barnard, 2000) and his concept of an “ideological filter” (Barnard, 2002, p. 149). The test source text (ST) is the opening chapter of the English-language book Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne (Hills, 2006). The test target text (TT) is the corresponding chapter of an unpublished Japanese translation (in the form of printer’s proofs) of the book by a Japanese publisher (Hills, 2007). The methodology proved effective for highlighting patterns of possibly ideologically motivated ST-TT semantic divergence. For instance, the results reveal systematic omission of ST content that undermines the image of the imperial family. Applying Barnard’s concept of an “ideological filter” (Barnard, 2002, p. 149) appears to be straightforward. The methodology offers great promise in enabling instances of apparently ideologically motivated rewriting in translation into Japanese of non-fiction English-language to be identified, tabulated, and further analysed. One of its chief merits is that it semi-automates the process of identification and tabulation.

Regenerative medicine requires better pre-clinical tools in order to increase the efficiency of novel therapies transitioning to the clinic. Current monolayer cell culture methods are suboptimal for effectively testing new therapies and live mouse models are expensive, time consuming and require invasive procedures. Fetal organ culture, organoids, microfluidics and culture of thick sections of adult organs all aim to fill the knowledge gap between monolayer culture and live mouse studies. Here we report on an ex vivo organ perfusion system that can support whole adult mouse organs. Ex vivo perfusion of healthy and diseased mouse organs allows for real-time analysis that provides immediate feedback and accurate data collection throughout the experiment. Having a suitable normothermic ex vivo perfusion system for mouse organs provides a tool that will help contribute to our understanding of kidney physiology and disease and can take advantage of the many mouse models of human disease that already exist. Furthermore, an ex vivo kidney perfusion system can be used for testing novel cell therapies, drug screening, drug validation and for the detection of nephrotoxic substances. Critical to the success of mouse ex vivo organ perfusion is having a suitable bioreactor to maintain the organ. Here we have focused on the mouse kidney and mathematically modeled, built and validated a bioreactor that can maintain a kidney for 7 days. The long duration of the ex vivo perfusion will help to advance studies on kidney disease and can rapidly test for new regenerative medicine therapies compared to whole animal studies.

Echinococcosis is a neglected zoonosis that uses dogs and sheep as its main hosts in Chile. The Eg95 vaccine against sheep infection has been included in some control programs. Here, we assess the efficacy of the vaccination program in the hyperendemic Alto Biobío commune after 3 years of execution. Fisher’s test and generalized linear models were used in the assessment. The program tried to offer a first dose at 2 months of age, a booster 1 month later, and yearly vaccination. Given logistic difficulties, important delays in vaccination occurred, and most animals did not receive the first booster. Dog deworming was not included in the program. Likely due to the aforementioned factors, the overall frequency of infection was not lower, but the proportion of large (>5 mm) cysts and fertile cysts was smaller after the program. The frequency of infection and/or the number of cysts were lower when the age at first dose was younger and the first booster was administered 1 month after the first dose. The results suggest that vaccination affects both cyst development after the larvae reach the target organs, as well as the development of the protoscolex once the cysts start developing.

Recursion-free Constrained Horn Clauses (CHCs) are logic-programming problems that can model safety properties of programs with bounded iteration and recursion. In addition, many CHC solvers reduce recursive systems to a series of recursion-free CHC systems that can each be solved efficiently. In this paper, we define a novel class of recursion-free systems, named Clause-Dependence Disjoint (CDD), that generalizes classes defined in previous work. The advantage of this class is that many CDD systems are smaller than systems which express the same constraints but are part of a different class. This advantage in size allows CDD systems to be solved more efficiently than their counterparts in other classes. We implemented a CHC solver named Shara. Shara solves arbitrary CHC systems by reducing the input to a series of CDD systems. Our evaluation indicates that Shara outperforms state-of-the-art implementations in many practical cases.

In this paper, we (a) explain how translators can benefit from creating their own glossaries; and (b) evaluate how easily a translation glossary can be created from Japanese source text using free software applications. As our study shows, a major hurdle arises from the fact that Japanese text does not include spaces; it must be segmented, i.e., broken into “usable chunks” (Fahey, 2016), before a concordancer (in our case, AntConc 3.2.4) can be used to analyze it for glossary creation. We segmented our Japanese text using an application (ChaSen 2.1) designed for this purpose. This application’s output was problematic, forcing us to devise workarounds that became labour-intensive and time-consuming. Our completed glossary (shown in Appendix 1) is fit for purpose, but the complications in the process of creating it call into question the feasibility of using free software to make translation glossaries from text written in Japanese.