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Context: Spawning beaches are important for coastal horseshoe crabs, Tachypleus gigas (Müller, 1785), to sustain their population. Over time, T. gigas natural spawning area has gradually diminished owing to human and natural causes. T. gigas is being artificially bred in captivity to enhance its population. Aims: The study aims to determine the T. gigas spawning preference for three different sediment sizes. Methods: Spawning experiments were carried out in an indoor concrete tank representing an artificial spawning ground, consisting of three combinations of sediment sizes: coarse, medium and fine. The spawning of 45 pairs of T. gigas samples was observed within 3 h, the nests were marked and excavated on the next day. The number of eggs per nest was counted individually after being cleaned. Key results: The 45 pairs of T. gigas produced 27,266–30,859 eggs. Among these, on the basis of the number of nests produced, T. gigas prefers to spawn in medium to coarse sediment with a particle-size range of 0.25–1.00 mm. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that medium to coarse sediments are optimal for T. gigas spawning in artificial spawning grounds, because they could produce a high number of nests and eggs, increasing the number of juveniles released. Implications: These results could be used as a baseline for the conservation management of T. gigas in captivity. Tachypleus gigas is artificially bred to increase its population because of its diminishing natural spawning grounds. Spawning experiments were conducted in an artificial spawning ground to determine the spawning preference of T. gigas on three different sediment sizes. We suggest that medium to coarse sediments are optimal for T. gigas spawning in artificial spawning grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eyestalk ablation is a common technique to induce spawning in marine shrimps. Currently, little is known about how this technique affects nutritional preferences (energy sources) in response to stress induced by eyestalk ablation during reproduction and growth. Thus, this study investigated the physiological effects of eyestalk ablation on hemolymph nutrient (glucose and protein) utilization and plasma protein expression of the female giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). Sixty female M. rosenbergii prawns weighing 15.6 [+ or -] 0.3 g were divided into unablated (no eyestalk ablation, n = 30) and ablated (unilateral eyestalk ablation, n = 30) groups. The groups were then allowed to undergo reproductive and nonreproductive molting cycles. During normal molting, hemolymph protein (1,339.90 [+ or -] 95.08 mg/mL) concentrations decreased in the postmolt stage during the reproductive cycle, indicating that protein was used to attain full ovarian maturation, as evidenced by a large rise in the Gonadosomatic index value (8.47% [+ or -] 0.52%). The ablated group was vulnerable to stress, especially during the premolt (reproductive) stage, as indicated by a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in hemolymph protein concentrations, whereas no such stress-related effect was observed during the premolt (nonreproductive) stage. Interestingly, protein profiles were unaffected by eyestalk ablation, as shown by the similarity in profiles in both the unablated and ablated groups. Using a proteomic approach, fragment hemocyanin subunit 2, an immune-related protein, was identified in the ablated group. Overall, the results suggested that protein appeared to be the main nutritional source for reproduction and growth during short-term stress associated with eyestalk ablation, which led to stimulation of hemocyanin subunit 2.KEY WORDS: eyestalk ablation, glucose, hemolymph, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, molting, protein, reproduction, INTRODUCTIONThe removal of the X-organ sinus gland complex by means of eyestalk ablation is routine practice in marine shrimp farming. Its main use is to manipulate ovarian maturation in shrimps [...]

A key element in ensuring successful immunization is the efficient delivery of vaccines. However, poor immunogenicity and adverse inflammatory immunogenic reactions make the establishment of an efficient vaccine delivery method a challenging task. The delivery of vaccines has been performed via a variety of delivery methods, including natural-polymer-based carriers that are relatively biocompatible and have low toxicity. The incorporation of adjuvants or antigens into biomaterial-based immunizations has demonstrated better immune response than formulations that just contain the antigen. This system may enable antigen-mediated immunogenicity and shelter and transport the cargo vaccine or antigen to the appropriate target organ. In this regard, this work reviews the recent applications of natural polymer composites from different sources, such as animals, plants, and microbes, in vaccine delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural polymers have received a great deal of interest for their potential use in the encapsulation and transportation of pharmaceuticals and other bioactive compounds for disease treatment. In this perspective, the drug delivery systems (DDS) constructed by representative natural polymers from animals (gelatin and hyaluronic acid), plants (pectin and starch), and microbes (Xanthan gum and Dextran) are provided. In order to enhance the efficiency of polymers in DDS by delivering the medicine to the right location, reducing the medication's adverse effects on neighboring organs or tissues, and controlling the medication's release to stop the cycle of over- and under-dosing, the incorporation of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles with the polymers has engaged the most consideration due to their rare characteristics, such as easy separation, superparamagnetism, and high surface area. This review is designed to report the recent progress of natural polymeric Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles in drug delivery applications, based on different polymers' origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for almost one-third of all deaths. The risk factors for developing this disease include high levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), alongside low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Dietary linoleic acid has been suggested to reduce these risk factors. This study aims to determine the effects of linoleic acid on cholesterol levels, liver function tests, and structural changes in liver tissue in comparison with fenofibrate in a hypercholesterolemic rat model. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats (150–180 g) were divided into non-hypercholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic groups. Hypercholesterolemia was induced in the rats by feeding them with a high-fat diet for two weeks. After two weeks, the non-hypercholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic rats were equally divided into six groups (n = 6): control non-hypercholesterolemic rats, non-hypercholesterolemic rats treated with fenofibrate (60 mg/kg), non-hypercholesterolemic rats treated with linoleic acid (5 mg/kg), control hypercholesterolemic rats, hypercholesterolemic rats treated with fenofibrate (60 mg/kg), and hypercholesterolemic rats treated with linoleic acid (5 mg/kg). The changes in the rats' body weight, serum lipid profiles, atherogenic indices, and liver function test results were obtained. The rats' liver tissues were stained for histopathological analysis. The linoleic acid-treated hypercholesterolemic rats exhibited significantly reduced serum TC, TG, LDL, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels, as well as increased HDL levels compared with the control hypercholesterolemic rats. These linoleic acid effects were comparable to those in the fenofibrate-treated hypercholesterolemic rats. In conclusion, linoleic acid possesses early anti-hypercholesterolemic properties, which may be due to the reductions in serum cholesterol levels and mild early structural changes in the liver tissues of hypercholesterolemic rats. Therefore, continued studies on linoleic acid in atherosclerotic and/or obese animal models are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synbiotic ice cream offers sufficient viable probiotics and value‐added nutrients to satisfy health needs. This study aimed to formulate the optimum synbiotic ice cream incorporated with okara (1–3%) and the probiotic, Lactobacillus plantarum (ATCC 8014). Results showed a viscous texture was produced when more than 2% okara was added to ice cream. This formulation also minimally caused ice cream to melt for around 90 min at a melting rate of 19–76%. Furthermore, ice cream incorporated with okara had an increase in protein content (>5%) and a decrease in fat content (>13%) compared with the control (no okara), indicating that it is a low‐fat item. The addition of more than 2% okara increased the viability of L. plantarum on day 60. Overall, 1% okara addition showed significant acceptability for potential symbiotic ice cream formulation. Novelty impact statement: One of the greatest challenges in the ice cream manufacturing industry is the short shelf‐life and fast melting rate of milk‐based ice cream, as it lowers a storage period and affects the textural characteristic. To overcome the said problems, the use of soybean by‐product (okara), a potential prebiotic for dietary fiber source, was found to minimally caused ice cream to melt and was able to increase the viability of Lactobacillus plantarum. The function of dietary fiber is not only able to support the growth of probiotics, but also scientifically proven to strengthen the digestive system and reduce the possibility of developing diseases including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, constipation, and bowel cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correction notice addresses an error in a previously published article titled "The State of the Art of Natural Polymer Functionalized Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticle Composites for Drug Delivery Applications: A Review." The correction involves a wrongly cited reference, which has now been adjusted to the correct reference by Patel et al. The authors assure that this correction does not affect the scientific conclusions of the article. The correction was approved by the Academic Editor, and the original publication has been updated accordingly. [Extracted from the article]