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In this study we describe a newly found frozen mummy of a young woolly rhinoceros (4–4.5 years old), dated to the Karginian Interstadial of the Late Neopleistocene (32 440 ± 140 years ago). The dimensional characteristics of this specimen are compared to those of 1- to 1.5-year-old juvenile, as well as adults, of Coelodonta antiquitatis found previously. Studies of the new find allowed to fill some of the information gaps concerning the features of the ontogenesis of the woolly rhinoceros, illustrate age-related changes in the color of its fur, and reveal a new anatomical peculiarity of C. antiquitatis—the presence of a fatty hump. Numerous remains of microscopic crustaceans were found in the wool, including representatives of the genus Moina (Cladocera: Moinidae), currently absent in the region. The latter were relatively common in Pleistocene temporary water bodies of Yakutia. The carcass of the rhinoceros was buried in a shallow (apparently temporary), fishless reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance and toughen the polymer resin with hollow glass microspheres (HGM), polyurethane coating modification was carried out on HGM. The paper aims to explore the conditions and formulas of the physical coating and chemical coating. The physical method is to dissolve thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer in solvent and add HGM to prepare samples. In chemical method, HGM, alcohol component, and isocyanate component are added into solvent, and polymerization reaction is carried out under appropriate conditions to obtain samples. The coating effects and whether there was adhesion between the microspheres were observed through an optical microscope. The results showed that the polyurethane concentration of 4% was suitable for physical method. The reaction temperature of 80 °C is suitable for chemical method. The product synthesized by infrared spectroscopy was polyurethane, and the reaction time was 120 min according to the observation results of optical microscope. The effects of glycerol and toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) dosage on the thickness of the coating layer were explored through thermogravimetric analysis and optical microscope. This study provides a reference for the preparation of polyurethane-coated HGM 'soft-coated hard' core-shell structure, so that it can be used as a modifier to improve the comprehensive properties of resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to characterize the phenotypic profile, through morphological and phaneroptic characters of the remnant of the Nordestina horse in the state of Paraíba, and to help in the process of updating the racial pattern with the Brazilian Association of Nordestina Horse Breeders (ABCCN). 200 animals were used at random, from 3 years of age (25 males, 69 castrated males and 106 females). The evaluation was done visually and the information was recorded in a notebook. Qualitative characteristics were evaluated, such as coat color, head and bevel profile, neck shape, croup inclination, tail insertion, chest width, eye shape, color and size of hooves. Thus, each character received a sequence of numbers, corresponding to each phenotypic class. In the distribution of the coat there is a diversity in the types of coats found, highlighting the gray (35.95%), chestnut (34.24%), followed by the sorrel (14.87%), were found coats bay, black and tobiana. The chamfer profile most frequently is the straight type 73.58%; 56.00% and 79.71% females, intact and castrated males, respectively, followed by the subconvex. The conformation of the croup showed a higher frequency of the slightly inclined type, and a lower frequency of the horizontal type. The evaluated animals have, in general, predominantly brown and gray fur, rectilinear and subconvex chamfer, pyramidal neck, small, dark or black hooves, slightly sloping rump and low insertion tail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of women's coats as active participants in various resistance movements across Central and Eastern Europe from 1935 to 1953, employing a posthumanist framework to reexamine issues of subjectivity. By integrating theories of material culture and new materialism, the research moves beyond traditional anthropocentric views to highlight the dynamic intra-actions between women and their coats within a resistance context. This approach demonstrates that the garments were not merely passive symbols of defiance but multifaceted tools that provided physical protection, facilitated the covert transmission of messages and materials and reinforced the wearers' resolve and solidarity. Through historical analyses, personal testimonies and cultural artifacts, this study demonstrates how coats functioned as co-agents in resistance activities, both shaping and being shaped by the social, cultural, and political landscapes of the time. The study underscores the importance of recognizing the agency of material objects in historical narratives, offering a nuanced understanding of women's resistance activities and the broader implications for posthumanist thinking on identity and subjectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) played a critical role in lethality and destruction as a vital military explosive in the world. Unfortunately, the current PBXs exhibit poor properties in safety performance and reliability for the weak interfacial surface, which cannot meet requirements of the high security and high reliability of weapons and ammunition in the harsh environment of modern battlefields. Herein, the neutral polymeric bonding agents (NPBAs) were successfully coated on the surface of 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane (HMX) and proved to enhance the mechanical performance and reliability of PBXs. The scanning electron microscopy images indicated a slight aggregation of NPBAs coated in the HMX surface, the XRD spectra of HMX@NPBAs had an analogous spectrum of HMX, and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectrum confirmed that the NPBAs played a role on the surface of HMX by coating. Furthermore, the HMX coated with NPBAs had more excellent safety performance, thermal stability, and mechanical properties. The strategy is helpful to strengthen the interaction between HMX and binder matrix, which provides a brilliant idea in modifying for the weak interfacial surface of energetic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The African Goat Improvement Network Image Collection Protocol (AGIN-ICP) is an accessible, easy to use, low-cost procedure to collect phenotypic data via digital images. The AGIN-ICP collects images to extract several phenotype measures including health status indicators (anemia status, age, and weight), body measurements, shapes, and coat color and pattern, from digital images taken with standard digital cameras or mobile devices. This strategy is to quickly survey, record, assess, analyze, and store these data for use in a wide variety of production and sampling conditions. Methods: The work was accomplished as part of the multinational African Goat Improvement Network (AGIN) collaborative and is presented here as a case study in the AGIN collaboration model and working directly with community-based breeding programs (CBBP). It was iteratively developed and tested over 3 years, in 12 countries with over 12,000 images taken. Results and discussion: The AGIN-ICP development is described, and field implementation and the quality of the resulting images for use in image analysis and phenotypic data extraction are iteratively assessed. Digital body measures were validated using the PreciseEdge Image Segmentation Algorithm (PE-ISA) and software showing strong manual to digital body measure Pearson correlation coefficients of height, length, and girth measures (0.931, 0.943, 0.893) respectively. It is critical to note that while none of the very detailed tasks in the AGIN-ICP described here is difficult, every single one of them is even easier to accidentally omit, and the impact of such a mistake could render a sample image, a sampling day's images, or even an entire sampling trip's images difficult or unusable for extracting digital phenotypes. Coupled with tissue sampling and genomic testing, it may be useful in the effort to identify and conserve important animal genetic resources and in CBBP genetic improvement programs by providing reliably measured phenotypes with modest cost. Potential users include farmers, animal husbandry officials, veterinarians, regional government or other public health officials, researchers, and others. Based on these results, a final AGINICP is presented, optimizing the costs, ease, and speed of field implementation of the collection method without compromising the quality of the image data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of the present study was to identify the adaptability of Normandy cows raised in a loose system to the climatic and technological conditions and to compare their adaptability with already acclimatized Simmental cows in one farm in Southwestern Bulgaria. Total of 20 cows at same age (II – IV lactation) and same body weight (630-660 kg) from both breeds were classified into 2 groups (each having 10 cows) and subjected to skin thickness measurement, fibers total weight determination and fiber categorization during the winter and summer season. The results have shown that during the winter season, the Normandy breed had significantly higher skin thickness at the elbow compared to the Simmental breed, whereas no differences were observed in the skin thickness between both breeds either at the neck or at the middle of the last rib. During the summer season, the differences on the skin thickness compared to the Simmental breed were observed at the neck (p0.05). During the winter seasons, the coat of Normandy cows contained more soft fibers in comparison to the Simmentals cows. Furthermore, the changes in the observed parameters, influenced by climatic conditions showed similar pattern in both breeds. It can be concluded that the two breeds have emphasized their genetic potential and have a good adaptability to the temperate continental climate of the region.

Critical / social realist writers of Turkish literature must have read the writers who had predecessors in Russian literature. In this article, which was written with this thought in mind, a comparative study will be made on the thematic structures and protagonists of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol's Overcoat and Orhan Kemal's Kirli Pardösü. Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is among the leading critical realist writers of Russian literature and Orhan Kemal is among the leading critical realists of Turkish literature. In his work, Gogol's Overcoat, he generally reflected the situation of a low-ranking official in 19th century Russia, and Orhan Kemal reflected the situation of a low-ranking official in Turkey at the beginning of the first half of the 20th century. It is known that there are autobiographical reflections from the lives of the authors in both works. In this study, it has been tried to explain the common aspects that have been determined to exist in the works, one of which was written in the genre of novalla, and the other, which was written in the type of story, called Kirli Pardösü. Determining the common and different aspects between the predecessor and the successor works, both of which were written to reflect the financial difficulties of the petty civil servant, was determined as the main issue of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the ultra-fast heating process of Cu-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles from an atomic-scale perspective, which is essential for laser manufacturing processes, such as laser cladding and selective laser melting. The behavior of high surface ratio nanoparticles during these processes is strongly influenced by their properties and the heating process, which is governed by atomic dynamics. Previous studies have mainly focused on the combination process in pure metallic nanoparticles under slow or isothermal heating, but this work demonstrates that the ultra-fast atomic dynamic process between bimetallic nanoparticles differs significantly. Specifically, in Cu-Pd nanoparticles, the combination process is primarily dependent on the surface atomic motion of the lower melting point particles rather than plastic deformation in the grain boundary between particles. Moreover, the ultra-fast heating process is size-dependent. For small nanoparticles, the atomic kinetics exhibit two different mechanisms depending on temperature: Low-temperature jointing is controlled by localized atomic rearrangement, while high-temperature coalition is governed by the atomic flow of surface atomic melting in the low-temperature melting particle. The combination mechanism is the same for large particles as it is for small particles at high temperatures. The findings of this study provide important insights into the behavior of bimetallic nanoparticles during ultra-fast heating and can inform the development of coat and lubricant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The African Goat Improvement Network Image Collection Protocol (AGIN-ICP) is an accessible, easy to use, low-cost procedure to collect phenotypic data via digital images. The AGIN-ICP collects images to extract several phenotype measures including health status indicators (anemia status, age, and weight), body measurements, shapes, and coat color and pattern, from digital images taken with standard digital cameras or mobile devices. This strategy is to quickly survey, record, assess, analyze, and store these data for use in a wide variety of production and sampling conditions.Methods: The work was accomplished as part of the multinational African Goat Improvement Network (AGIN) collaborative and is presented here as a case study in the AGIN collaboration model and working directly with community-based breeding programs (CBBP). It was iteratively developed and tested over 3 years, in 12 countries with over 12,000 images taken.Results and discussion: The AGIN-ICP development is described, and field implementation and the quality of the resulting images for use in image analysis and phenotypic data extraction are iteratively assessed. Digital body measures were validated using the PreciseEdge Image Segmentation Algorithm (PE-ISA) and software showing strong manual to digital body measure Pearson correlation coefficients of height, length, and girth measures (0.931, 0.943, 0.893) respectively. It is critical to note that while none of the very detailed tasks in the AGIN-ICP described here is difficult, every single one of them is even easier to accidentally omit, and the impact of such a mistake could render a sample image, a sampling day’s images, or even an entire sampling trip’s images difficult or unusable for extracting digital phenotypes. Coupled with tissue sampling and genomic testing, it may be useful in the effort to identify and conserve important animal genetic resources and in CBBP genetic improvement programs by providing reliably measured phenotypes with modest cost. Potential users include farmers, animal husbandry officials, veterinarians, regional government or other public health officials, researchers, and others. Based on these results, a final AGIN-ICP is presented, optimizing the costs, ease, and speed of field implementation of the collection method without compromising the quality of the image data collection.

The aim of the present study was to identify the adaptability of Normandy cows raised in a loose system to the climatic and technological conditions and to compare their adaptability with already acclimatized Simmental cows in one farm in Southwestern Bulgaria. Total of 20 cows at same age (II – IV lactation) and same body weight (630-660 kg) from both breeds were classified into 2 groups (each having 10 cows) and subjected to skin thickness measurement, fibers total weight determination and fiber categorization during the winter and summer season. The results have shown that during the winter season, the Normandy breed had significantly higher skin thickness at the elbow compared to the Simmental breed, whereas no differences were observed in the skin thickness between both breeds either at the neck or at the middle of the last rib. During the summer season, the differences on the skin thickness compared to the Simmental breed were observed at the neck (p<0.05), whilst at the elbow and at the middle of the last rib no differences were recorded (p>0.05). During the winter seasons, the coat of Normandy cows contained more soft fibers in comparison to the Simmentals cows. Furthermore, the changes in the observed parameters, influenced by climatic conditions showed similar pattern in both breeds. It can be concluded that the two breeds have emphasized their genetic potential and have a good adaptability to the temperate continental climate of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In the study of long-term hormonal changes, matrices such as hair/coat and nails/claws proved to be useful and collectable without invasiveness, respecting animal welfare. This study aims to verify the usefulness of coat, claws and dewclaws to measure the main sexual steroids 17-β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) concentrations in male and female postpubertal domestic cats during the breeding season. A total of 20 male and 18 female postpubertal domestic cats were enrolled and sexual steroids measured in coat and claws collected only once during the neutering/spaying procedures. Coat was collected from the forearm (ACOAT) and from the surgical area (SCOAT). Dewclaws (DCLAWS) were collected separately from the claws of all the other digits of the forearms (CLAWS). All the tissue materials were suitable for measuring both sexual steroids, with both ACOAT and SCOAT useful for distinguishing between males and females on the basis of T concentrations. Within each sex, E2 and T concentrations can be assessed on coat, but also on the dewclaws, providing an alternative, practical, matrix for sexual steroid measurement in postpubertal cats during the breeding season. In the recent past, tissue materials such as hair/coat and nails/claws have proved to be useful for the study of long-term hormonal changes in humans and animals and shown to be advantageous in terms of being collectable without invasiveness, with a benefit in terms of animal welfare. However, studies using these tissue materials in cats are scarce, especially on sexual hormone measurement. In this study, the concentrations of 17-β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) were assessed in 20 male and 18 female domestic postpubertal cats at the time of neutering/spaying during the breeding season. Hormones were measured in coat shaved from the forearm (ACOAT) and from the surgical area (SCOAT); claws were collected from the forearms (CLAWS) and the dewclaws (DCLAWS). Although all these tissue materials were shown to be useful for E2 and T long-term measurement, only T concentrations were higher (p < 0.001) in males from both ACOAT and SCOAT samples when compared to females and therefore useful for distinguishing between the two sexes. Within each sex, E2 and T concentrations can be assessed on coat, but also on the dewclaws, providing an alternative, practical, matrix for sexual steroid measurement in postpubertal cats during the breeding season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the exterior faults in selected Slovak breeds of rabbits of different colour varieties according to a current Book of Rabbit Standards. Of 336 rabbits from 9 exhibitions organized in the territory of the Slovak and Czech Republics, 2 national medium-sized breeds of Liptov Bold-Spotted Rabbit (270 pcs) and Nitra Rabbit (66 pcs) were selected. The qualities and exterior faults of typical breed traits were evaluated in seven positions including: weight, shape, type, coat, top colour (eventually markings), under-colour (eventually intermediate colour), condition and health. Our evaluations showed that the most common exterior faults in these categories were in the: positions, shape, type, coat, and top-colour. In the shape position there were found significant exterior faults, such as slightly protruding hips with slanting rump, and worse legs position with loose skin on the body. In the type position, the faults observed in all selected breeds included: narrow chest, body too lean or too long, more delicate head with ears too fine and longer. The coat was usually thick and less elastic with a lighter under-colour at the base of the skin and non-sharply defined intermediate colour. In the top colour position of evaluated breeds there were numerous deficiencies involving uneven, and incomplete colour, and significant faults in the drawing. The data obtained in this study were innovative, as they represented a new approach that may help to characterize the Slovak breeds of rabbits included in this study and to select individuals with the best exterior traits towards improving the quality of these breeds.

Although zinc (Zn) is one of the elements with the greatest potential for biodegradable uses, pure Zn does not have the ideal mechanical or degrading properties for orthopaedic applications. The current research aims at studying the microstructure and corrosion behaviour of pure Zn (used as a reference material) and Zn alloyed with 1.89 wt.% magnesium (Mg), both in their extruded states as well as after being coated with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The grafting-from approach was used to create a PMMA covering. The "grafting-from" method entails three steps: the alkali activation of the alloys, their functionalization with an initiator of polymerization through a phosphonate-attaching group, and the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerisation (SI-ATRP) to grow PMMA chains. Electrochemical and immersion corrosion tests were carried out in a simulated body fluid (SBF), and both confirmed the enhanced corrosion behaviour obtained after coating. The electrochemical test revealed a decrease in the degradation rate of the alloy from 0.37 ± 0.14 mm/y to 0.22 ± 0.01 mm/y. The immersion test showed the ability of complete protection for 240 h. After 720 h of immersion, the coated alloy displays minute crevice corrosion with very trivial pitting compared to the severe localized (galvanic and pitting) corrosion type that was detected in the bare alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In developing countries like Nigeria, postharvest loss of fruits and vegetables have been a serious problem as they become unavailable outside their peak seasons due to poor preservation techniques. Methods. This study evaluated the improvement of the storage-life and nutrient retention of tomato and eggplant fruits via the application of chitosan-starch edible coat. The dip coating method was used to coat the fruit samples while standard procedures (AOAC methods) were applied in determining the shelf-life and nutrient quality of the fruit samples. Results. The results of the shelf-life study showed that the coated fruits were still fresh at day 12 of storage. A significant change in protein, fiber and carbohydrate content was observed for coated tomato (5.34, 3.2 and 26.55%, respectively) compared to the uncoated tomato (24.8, 11.4 and 62.77% respectively). There was a significant difference between the change in ascorbic acid content in coated (6.28%) and uncoated (17.11%) eggplant. In tomato fruit, a significant difference existed in the ascorbic acid content of the coated (0.59%) and uncoated (7.46%) fruit, as well as the beta-carotene level (0.81 and 7.98%, respectively). Conclusion. It is therefore noteworthy that edible chitosan--starch composite coating may be instrumental in curbing the challenges of fruit deterioration with concomitant retention of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new biostimulant coating for soybean seeds. The aim of the study was to create a coating for Glycine max (L.) Merr. soybean seeds, using root infusion from Arctium lappa L. as a biostimulant component. The effectiveness of the produced coating was evaluated in a three-year field study. The analysis of the effectiveness of the developed coating was based on the evaluation of plant biometric traits and yield. The study showed that the designed and manufactured soybean seed coating based on the root infusion of Arctium lappa L. can be considered as a new agronomic strategy to improve the productivity of soybean Glicyne max (L.) Merr. under actual field conditions. The application of the biostimulant coating resulted in soybean plants with significantly increased biometric traits (plant height, height of the first pod set, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod) and productivity (yield improvement of more than 10%). Only a reduced weight of 1,000 seeds compared to control samples was noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorbents for whole blood apheresis need to be highly blood compatible to minimize the activation of blood cells on the biomaterial surface. Here, we developed blood-compatible matrices by surface modification with polyzwitterionic polysulfobetainic and polycarboxybetainic coatings. Photoreactive zwitterionic terpolymers were synthesized by free-radical polymerization of zwitterionic, photoreactive, and fluorescent monomers. Upon UV irradiation, the terpolymers were photodeposited and mutually crosslinked on the surface of hydrophobic polystyrene-co-divinylbenzene and hydrophilic polyacrylamide-co-polyacrylate (DALI) beads. Fluorescent microscopy revealed coatings with an average thickness of 5 µm, which were limited to the bead surface. Blood compatibility was assessed based on polymer-induced hemolysis, coagulation parameters, and in vitro tests. The maintenance of the adsorption capacity after coating was studied in human whole blood with cytokines for polystyrene beads (remained capacity 25–67%) and with low-density lipoprotein (remained capacity 80%) for polyacrylate beads. Coating enhanced the blood compatibility of hydrophobic, but not of hydrophilic adsorbents. The most prominent effect was observed on coagulation parameters (e.g., PT, aPTT, TT, and protein C) and neutrophil count. Polycarboxybetaine with a charge spacer of five carbons was the most promising polyzwitterion for the coating of adsorbents for whole blood apheresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to starvation, endospore-forming bacteria differentiate into stress-resistant spores that can remain dormant for years yet rapidly germinate and resume growth when nutrients become available. To identify uncharacterized factors involved in the exit from dormancy, we performed a transposon-sequencing screen taking advantage of the loss of spore heat resistance that accompanies germination. We reasoned that transposon insertions that impair but do not block germination will lose resistance more slowly than wild type after exposure to nutrients and will therefore survive heat treatment. Using this approach, we identified most of the known germination genes and several new ones. We report an initial characterization of 15 of these genes and a more detailed analysis of one ( ymaF ). Spores lacking ymaF (renamed gerY ) are impaired in germination in response to both L-alanine and L-asparagine, D-glucose, D-fructose, and K + . GerY is a soluble protein synthesized under σ control in the mother cell. A YFP-GerY fusion localizes around the developing and mature spore in a manner that depends on CotE and SafA, indicating that it is a component of the spore coat. Coat proteins encoded by the E control in the mother cell. A YFP-GerY fusion localizes around the developing and mature spore in a manner that depends on CotE and SafA, indicating that it is a component of the spore coat. Coat proteins encoded by the gerP are also required for efficient germination, and we show that spores lacking two or all three of these loci have more severe defects in the exit from dormancy. Our data are consistent with a model in which GerY, GerT, and the GerP proteins are required for efficient transit of nutrients through the coat to access the germination receptors, but each acts independently in this process.gerT are also required for efficient germination, and we show that spores lacking two or all three of these loci have more severe defects in the exit from dormancy. Our data are consistent with a model in which GerY, GerT, and the GerP proteins are required for efficient transit of nutrients through the coat to access the germination receptors, but each acts independently in this process., Importance: Pathogens in the orders Bacillales and Clostridiales resist sterilization by differentiating into stress-resistant spores. Spores are metabolically inactive and can remain dormant for decades, yet upon exposure to nutrients, they rapidly resume growth, causing food spoilage, food-borne illness, or life-threatening disease. The exit from dormancy, called germination, is a key target in combating these important pathogens. Here, we report a high-throughput genetic screen using transposon sequencing to identify novel germination factors that ensure the efficient exit from dormancy. We identify several new factors and characterize one in greater detail. This factor, renamed GerY, is part of the proteinaceous coat that encapsulates the dormant spore. Our data suggest that GerY enables efficient transit of nutrients through the coat to trigger germination., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

In the British feline breed a golden coat modification, called light‐gold, akita or copper, was reported by breeders during the 2010s. This modification restricted eumelanin to the tip of the tail and hairs showed a wideband modification. Pedigree analyses revealed an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. A single candidate region was identified using a genome‐wide association study. Within that region, we identified CORIN (Corin, serine peptidase) as the strongest candidate gene, since two CORIN variants have previously been identified in Siberian cats with a golden phenotype. A homozygous CORIN:c.2425C>T nonsense variant was identified in copper British cats. Segregation of the variant was consistent with recessive inheritance. This nonsense CORIN:c.2425C>T variant, located in CORIN exon 19, was predicted to produce a truncated CORIN protein – CORIN:p.(Arg809Ter) – that would lack part of the scavenger receptor domain and the trypsine‐like serine protease catalytic domain. All 30 copper cats were T/T homozygous for the variant, which was also found in 20 C/T heterozygous British control cats but was absent in 340 cats from the 99 Lives dataset. Finally, genotyping of 218 cats from 12 breeds failed to identify carriers in cats from other breeds. We propose that this third CORIN:c.2425C>T variant represents the wbBSH (British recessive wideband) allele in the domestic cat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild soybean (Glycine soja) is known for its high flavonoid contents, yet the distribution of flavonoids in the seeds is not well understood. Herein, we utilized matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) and metabolomics methods to systematically investigate flavonoid differences in the seed coats and embryos of G. soja and G. max. The results of flavonoid profiles and total flavonoid content analyses revealed that flavonoid diversity and abundance in G. soja seed coats were significantly higher than those in G. max whereas the levels were similar in embryos. Specifically, 23 unique flavonoids were identified in the seed coats of G. soja , including procyanidins, epicatechin derivatives, and isoflavones. Using MALDI-MSI, we further delineated the distribution of the important flavonoids in the cotyledons, hypocotyls, and radicles of the two species. These findings imply that G. soja holds considerable breeding potential to enhance the nutritional and stress resistance traits of G. max. • MALDI-MSI was used for the first time to reveal the distinct distribution patterns of flavonoids in the wild and cultivated soybean seeds. • Compared with cultivated soybeans, flavonoid diversity and abundance in wild soybean seed coats were significantly higher, but similar in embryos. • This study underscores the potential nutritional and breeding value of wild soybean as a reservoir of flavonoid-rich germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike many of Bernard Shaw's more prominent plays, Arms and the Man, his only play with a Bulgarian connection, remained untranslated into Bulgarian for more than a century. In this article, the author highlights his and his co-translator's experiences in translating the play into Bulgarian. The article focuses on the challenges of translating specific stylistic idiosyncrasies of the play, including cultural referents, unconventional syntax, and punctuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clothing plays an important role in the tragedy ‘König Ottokars Glück und Ende’ by the Austrian dramatist Franz Grillparzer – however, this role has not yet been adequately explored. Coats, jackets, helmets and garters are not mere props in the play; sometimes they are elevated to the level of symbols which can (and indeed must) be interpreted. Two types of garment play a particularly important symbolic role: Emperor Rudolf’s grey jacket (jerkin) and King Ottokar’s gold-embroidered coat. The King’s coat is a symbol of his power and authority, yet it also evokes his alienation from his Bohemian subjects. It can also be interpreted as an allusion to the French Emperor Napoleon, whose features are clearly transferred into the figure of Ottokar.

Generally, in recent times across the breeding spectrum, rabbits of giant, medium, small and dwarf breeds have been reared. The largest representation among breeders at most breeding exhibitions held in central European countries is amongst giant and medium breeds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the qualities and exterior faults in selected giant and medium rabbit breeds in different colour varieties according to a current book of rabbit standards. Of 1779 rabbits from 11 exhibitions held in the territory of the Czech and Slovak Republics, 646 giant rabbits weighing 5.5 kg and over and 1133 medium rabbits between 3.25 to 5.5 kg of different breeds and colour varieties were selected. Giant (large) breeds population included 210 of Giant, 187 of Giant Papillon and 249 of Lop. In the medium weight category, 308 of Big Light Silver, 184 of Chinchilla Giganta and 641 of Vienna group breeds were selected. The qualities and exterior faults of typical breed traits were evaluated in six positions: weight, shape, type, coat, top colour or markings and undercolour. The results of the work show that the most common exterior faults in these categories were in the shape, type and coat positions. In the shape position, significant exterior faults were found, such as slightly protruding hips with slanting rump, worse legs position with bowed or splayed limbs and loose skin on the body. Especially observed in the type position in all selected breeds were narrow chest, body too lean or too long and a more delicate head with finer structure of ears. The coat was usually thick and less elastic with the lighter undercolour at the base of the skin and non-sharply defined intermediate colour. The data obtained are ground-breaking, representing a new approach to assist in the characterisation of giant and medium rabbit breeds included in a study and to select individuals with the best exterior properties with a view to improving the breed quality.

The study presents an analysis of traditional forms of clothing serving for women’s veiling in Central Asia in the period from the second half of the 19th century to the 20th century, focusing on its occurrence and importance in both everyday and ceremonial practices. The study addresses particular types of veiling, their common features, and differences related to the manner of wearing, as well as the materials and the decorative designs used. An important part of the study is a catalogue representing individual types of clothing from the above determined period from the museum collections of the Russian Museum of Ethnography in St. Petersburg and the National Museum – the Náprstek Museum in Prague.

Adsorbents for whole blood apheresis need to be highly blood compatible to minimize the activation of blood cells on the biomaterial surface. Here, we developed blood-compatible matrices by surface modification with polyzwitterionic polysulfobetainic and polycarboxybetainic coatings. Photoreactive zwitterionic terpolymers were synthesized by free-radical polymerization of zwitterionic, photoreactive, and fluorescent monomers. Upon UV irradiation, the terpolymers were photodeposited and mutually crosslinked on the surface of hydrophobic polystyrene-co-divinylbenzene and hydrophilic polyacrylamide-co-polyacrylate (DALI) beads. Fluorescent microscopy revealed coatings with an average thickness of 5 µm, which were limited to the bead surface. Blood compatibility was assessed based on polymer-induced hemolysis, coagulation parameters, and in vitro tests. The maintenance of the adsorption capacity after coating was studied in human whole blood with cytokines for polystyrene beads (remained capacity 25–67%) and with low-density lipoprotein (remained capacity 80%) for polyacrylate beads. Coating enhanced the blood compatibility of hydrophobic, but not of hydrophilic adsorbents. The most prominent effect was observed on coagulation parameters (e.g., PT, aPTT, TT, and protein C) and neutrophil count. Polycarboxybetaine with a charge spacer of five carbons was the most promising polyzwitterion for the coating of adsorbents for whole blood apheresis.

Summary: Golden cats have been appreciated since the beginning of the cat fancy. Golden is a modification of the tabby coat. In the Siberian breed, a specific golden phenotype, named sunshine, has been described. Sunshine tabby cats exhibit a warm tone of tabby, a pink nose lacking the black lining and a large light cream area around the nose. Pedigree analyses revealed an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. A single candidate region was identified by genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and homozygosity mapping. Within that region, we identified CORIN (Corin, serine peptidase) as a strong candidate gene, since CORIN variants have been identified in mice and tigers with a golden phenotype and CORIN has been described as a modifier of the ASIP (Agouti Signaling Protein) pathway. A homozygous CORIN:c.2383C>T missense variant was identified in sunshine tabby cats. Segregation of the variant was consistent with recessive inheritance. The variant was also found in three Kurilian bobtail cats and in two ToyBob cats from the 99 Lives dataset but genotyping of 106 cats from 13 breeds failed to identify carriers in cats from other breeds. The CORIN:c.2383C>T variant was predicted to change an arginine to a cysteine at position 795 in the protein: CORIN:p.(Arg795Cys). Finally, hair observation in Siberian cats was consistent with elongated ASIP signaling as golden hair showed a large yellow band instead of the short subapical one usually observed in agouti hair. These results support an association of the Siberian sunshine modification with the CORIN:c.2383C>T variant. The Siberian cat has helped us to decipher one of the golden phenotypes observed in cats and we propose that the CORIN:c.2383C>T variant represents the wbSIB (Siberian recessive wideband) allele in the domestic cat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combustion efficiency of Al is usually not high due to the influence of alumina film and agglomeration. Therefore, finding ways to enhance the ignition and combustion performance of Al is important. Herein, a simple one-step recrystallization method was used to prepare the Al@ citric acid (CA) sample. The results showed that the one-step recrystallization method could well coat CA on the outer surface of Al particles and could etch Al particles uniformly. After modification by CA, Al was more prone to thermal oxidation. Compared with pure Al, the addition of CA resulted in shorter ignition delay time, longer combustion time, increased combustion intensity, and weakened agglomeration degree. Condensed combustion products (CCPs) showed that Al sintered significantly during combustion, forming a large agglomerate. The CCPs of Al@CA were more dispersed and had many hollow shell particles. Furthermore, the addition of CA led to a decrease in the active Al content and an increase in the α-Al 2 O 3 content in CCPs. The above phenomena indicated that CA could significantly improve the combustion efficiency of Al. At last, the possible mechanism of CA promoting the ignition and combustion of Al was proposed. Overall, the enhancement of Al combustion performance by CA is attributed to the etching and coating effects of CA. Hoping that this paper will provide a possible pathway for exploring ways to improve Al combustion efficiency. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cutaneous neoplasms in horses treated at the Center for the Development of Livestock at the Federal University of Bahia, as well as to correlate it with the coat color, breed, and age of the animal. For that, the attendance records for the last ten years were reviewed. When evaluating the files, 13 cases of cutaneous tumor in horses confirmed by histopathology and cytology were observed. The most prevalent skin tumors were sarcoid (38.5%), melanoma (23%), and fibrosarcoma (15.4%). Regarding the equine coat color, gray and sorrel horses were the most frequent with 30.7% and 23.1% of cases, respectively. As for the equine breed, the mangalarga marchador was the most prevalent (38.4%). Regarding age, 38.46% of the horses were up to 5 years old, 30.77% of the animals were between 4 and 10 years old, and 30.76% were between 11 and 16 years old. In the end, it can be concluded that sarcoid and melanoma were the most prevalent neoplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: agouti; ASIP; coat; CORIN; Felis catus; golden; hair; shaded; sunshine; wideband EN agouti ASIP coat CORIN Felis catus golden hair shaded sunshine wideband 543 545 3 07/11/22 20220801 NES 220801 Variants in the I CORIN i ( I Corin, Serine Peptidase i ) gene cause golden coat modifications in mice (Enshell-Seijffers et al., 2008), tigers (Xu et al., 2017), and cats (Beauvois et al., 2021), characterized by enlarged subapical pheomelanin bands in hairs and reduced dark tips (wideband phenotype). Among the nine extreme-sunshine cats, the three wild-type I C/C i homozygous cats for CORIN:c.2383C>T were I A/A i homozygous for the CORIN:c.839G>A variant and six CORIN:c.2383C>T heterozygous cats were also heterozygous for the CORIN:c.839G>A variant. (a) Extreme-sunshine phenotype in a black tabby A/A homozygous cat for the CORIN:C.839G>A variant and wild-type for the CORIN:C.2383C>T variant. [Extracted from the article]

The study presents an analysis of traditional forms of clothing serving for women’s veiling in Central Asia in the period from the second half of the 19th century to the 20th century, focusing on its occurrence and importance in both everyday and ceremonial practices. The study addresses particular types of veiling, their common features, and differences related to the manner of wearing, as well as the materials and the decorative designs used. An important part of the study is a catalogue representing individual types of clothing from the above determined period from the museum collections of the Russian Museum of Ethnography in St. Petersburg and the National Museum – the Náprstek Museum in Prague. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of the process of designing women’s garments of the coating and suiting assortment, made from different fabrics to determine the fabric properties effect on the parameters of shaping the volume-silhouette form of clothes. An expert evaluation of the signifi cance of material properties for the creation of tectonic forms of clothes was carried out and the most signifi cant properties were determined, i.e. rigidity, thickness, drapeability, mass per unit area, type of weave, raw material composition. An experimental study of physical and mechanical characteristics of overcoating fabrics was performed. To validate the research results, we made samples of women’s coats in different forms at a garment company. It was determined that the raw material composition of fabrics does not affect signifi cantly their physical and mechanical characteristics (drapeability, rigidity). The weave of fabrics which determines other indicators was considered to be more signifi cant. As a result, the relationships between the physical and mechanical properties of fabrics of the coat group and the shaping of women’s coats in different volume- silhouette forms were identifi ed. The latter can be used in the design of garments for an individual and mass production.

Currently, there is a great demand for aesthetic characteristics that are profitable in the pet market, evidenced by the increasing number of animals in the country, according to research. One of the desired racial patterns in dogs is the merle pattern, where it appears as a coat like marble, due to the influence of the M (merle) gene, this type of color being apparent in several breeds. Knowing this, the objective of this study is to carry out a review regarding the influence of the merle gene and the associated pathologies, and to compare it with other anomalies that have a genetic influence on the coat. Thinking about of these phenotypic characteristics, animals carrying this genetic offer the risk of generating animals with the greatest possibility of hearing loss, when compared to dogs of the same breed, but with other color patterns. In addition, as a result of the cross between two merle coat animals, there is the possibility of the generation of puppies with double merle syndrome, whose condition is associated with a series of concomitant pathologies such as deafness, blindness, sterility, among others, which can be incompatible with life. With this, it is extremely important to know about the possible risks and losses that can occur from a reproduction carried out irrationally. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the veterinarian to instruct on the commercial reproduction of the species, in order to promote the education of tutors and breeders, and the maintenance of the welfare of dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, in recent times across the breeding spectrum, rabbits of giant, medium, small and dwarf breeds have been reared. The largest representation among breeders at most breeding exhibitions held in central European countries is amongst giant and medium breeds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the qualities and exterior faults in selected giant and medium rabbit breeds in different colour varieties according to a current book of rabbit standards. Of 1779 rabbits from 11 exhibitions held in the territory of the Czech and Slovak Republics, 646 giant rabbits weighing 5.5 kg and over and 1133 medium rabbits between 3.25 to 5.5 kg of different breeds and colour varieties were selected. Giant (large) breeds population included 210 of Giant, 187 of Giant Papillon and 249 of Lop. In the medium weight category, 308 of Big Light Silver, 184 of Chinchilla Giganta and 641 of Vienna group breeds were selected. The qualities and exterior faults of typical breed traits were evaluated in six positions: weight, shape, type, coat, top colour or markings and undercolour. The results of the work show that the most common exterior faults in these categories were in the shape, type and coat positions. In the shape position, significant exterior faults were found, such as slightly protruding hips with slanting rump, worse legs position with bowed or splayed limbs and loose skin on the body. Especially observed in the type position in all selected breeds were narrow chest, body too lean or too long and a more delicate head with finer structure of ears. The coat was usually thick and less elastic with the lighter undercolour at the base of the skin and non-sharply defined intermediate colour. The data obtained are ground-breaking, representing a new approach to assist in the characterisation of giant and medium rabbit breeds included in a study and to select individuals with the best exterior properties with a view to improving the breed quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coated urea fertilizer is widely used to provide nutrient nitrogen for growing plants in agriculture industry. This type of slow-release fertilizer can effectively improve nitrogen utilization, particularly due to a large amount of dissolved nitrogen in conventional fertilizer lost along with surface runoff and leached water, thereby to cause severely environmental and ecological problems, such as water eutrophication. Biochar, a fine-grained porous material rich in carbon, shows excellent coating properties. Compared with organic-solvent-dissolvable polymers, biochar was cheap, renewable, and environmentally friendly non-toxic during production. Moreover, the presence of highly-porous structure and various functional groups can be expected to store more carbon, and thereby to reduce soil emission of greenhouse gases. Therefore, biochar coating can decrease nutrient leaching, further to improve soil quality and crop yield, via reduced irrigation and fertilizer requirements. At present, most previous studies focused on the combined use of biochar with other envelopment materials, or the extruded granulation with inorganic fertilizers. The slow-release behaviors of biochar coated fertilizer still remain unknown. In this study, a novel slow-release nitrogen fertilizer was developed by coating urea granules with different biochar powder, in order to explore the effect of biochar particle size in various coating layers on the slow-release behavior. Before coating, urea granules were sieved to obtain fertilizer particles with a diameter of 2.00~2.50 mm. Taking biochar powder as the coating materials, the coated urea fertilizers were prepared in a sugar-coating machine under the revolving speed of 40 rpm/min. Three slow-release fertilizers were produced: C1 (single coating layer, 100-mesh biochar powder coated in the single layer), C2 (two coating layers, 100-mesh in inner layer and 60-80-mesh in outer layer), and C3 (three coating layers, 100-mesh in inner layer, 60-80-mesh in middle layer and 40-60-mesh in outer layer). The obtained coated urea fertilizers were then characterized, including the distribution of particle size, microstructure, compressive strength, wearability, and water absorbency with different particle-size biochar powder. A leaching test of soil column was used to evaluate the nutrient release behaviors in soil. The results demonstrated that the particle size of three slow-release fertilizers distributed in 2.90~4.80 mm, increasing with the number of layers, indicating that the particle sizes of C2 and C3 were significantly higher than that of C1. The compressive strength of three slow-release fertilizers was in the range of 20.40~48.00 N, which meeting the demand of industrial production. Compared with C1 and C2, C3 showed the least water absorption ratio (1.69) in much smoother surface of particles, indicating that the dense layered microstructure with abundant pores was observed in the cross section of the C3 particles. The nitrogen concentration of C3 in leaching solution increased as the leaching time increased, while the urea concentrations of C1 and C2 were contrary to that of C3. In the treatment of C3, the water resistance and slow release effect of nitrogen were significantly better than those of C1 and C2. Therefore, it infers that controlling the particle-size of coating materials (biochar) and coating layers can significantly reduce the water infiltration and nutrients outflow, further to improve the slow-release behavior of fertilizer. The finding can provide a new technical path for the potential development and application of biochar coated slow-release fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 16th and 17th centuries, an extensive transformation of clothing habits took place in Central Europe. The era of the national styles of clothing had concluded and was replaced by widespread preference of the highly fashionable Spanish - and later French - clothing sets. New garments were fully accepted mainly by nobles and, over time, also among burghers. The question remains how and by whom they were passed on to the rural population. Our attention is focused mainly on urban tailors' guilds, which had a dominant position in the production of urban as well as rural clothing, due to regulations. Their creations are captured in several period depictions, and their abundance in towns as well as in the countryside is evidenced by inventories of estates and bequests to orphans. Clothing constructions are included in tailors' pattern books, which have been preserved in Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, and Germany. The comparison of the three mentioned source types in this study brings new information about the formation, types, and representation of individual components of men's clothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clothing plays an important role in the tragedy 'König Ottokars Glück und Ende' by the Austrian dramatist Franz Grillparzer - however, this role has not yet been adequately explored. Coats, jackets, helmets and garters are not mere props in the play; sometimes they are elevated to the level of symbols which can (and indeed must) be interpreted. Two types of garment play a particularly important symbolic role: Emperor Rudolf's grey jacket (jerkin) and King Ottokar's gold-embroidered coat. The King's coat is a symbol of his power and authority, yet it also evokes his alienation from his Bohemian subjects. It can also be interpreted as an allusion to the French Emperor Napoleon, whose features are clearly transferred into the figure of Ottokar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the domestication there was a concrete segregation made by the man, where each race of horse or pony presented inclination to develop a specific activity, like animals of load, transport, battles, amusement and sport competitions. Some of these animals followed with multifunctional characteristics, such as Pantaneiro and Creole. Others have developed specific functional characteristics, such as Breton used for traction. The morphological characteristics were determined by breed associations of each race, which determined racial patterns. An animal race is one where individuals possess specific characteristics and are transmissible to other generations. It is estimated that there are more than 80 breeds of horses. The knowledge of these races becomes necessary because of the great proximity between man and horse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to fabricate and assess the β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) bioactive ceramic coat layer on bioinert ceramic zirconia implants through the direct laser melting technique by applying a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser of 1064 nm. Surface morphologies, adherence, and structural change in the coatings were evaluated by optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, hardness, and x-ray diffractometer. The elastic modulus (EM) of the coating was also determined using the nanoindentation test. The quality of the coating was improved when the laser power was 90 W with a decrease in the scan speed to 4 mm s−1. The chemical composition of the coat was maintained after laser processing; also, the Energy Dispersive X-ray maps showed a good distribution of Ca and P particles with some agglomeration on the surface. The crystalline nature of the β-TCPs coat can be concluded from the sharp peaks in the x-ray diffraction patterns. EM was low near the top surface of the coat and increased gradually with the depth. The microhardness value of a coated substrate was lower than the hardness value of a control substrate. Unlike conventional deposition techniques, laser processes can be used to build a coat with optimum bonding and desirable mechanical properties, indicating that processing and coating seem to be attractive for bioinert ceramic zirconia implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Bacterial spores produced by the Bacillales are composed of concentric shells, each of which contributes to spore function. Spores from all species possess a cortex and coat, but spores from many species possess additional outer layers. The outermost layer of Bacillus anthracis spores, the exosporium, is separated from the coat by a gap known as the interspace. Exosporium and interspace assembly remains largely mysterious. As a result, we have a poor understanding of the overarching mechanisms driving the assembly of one of the most ubiquitous cell types in nature. To elucidate the mechanisms directing exosporium assembly, we generated strains bearing mutations in candidate exosporium-controlling genes and analyzed the effect on exosporium formation. Biochemical and cell biological analyses argue that CotE directs the assembly of CotO into the spore and that CotO might be located at or close to the interior side of the cap. Taken together with data showing that CotE and CotO interact directly in vitro, we propose a model in which CotE and CotO are important components of a protein interaction network that connects the exosporium to the forespore during cap formation and exosporium elongation. Our data also suggest that the cap interferes with coat assembly at one pole of the spore, altering the pattern of coat deposition compared to the model organism Bacillus subtilis. We propose that the difference in coat assembly patterns between these two species is due to an inherent flexibility in coat assembly, which may facilitate the evolution of spore outer layer complexity. IMPORTANCE This work dramatically improves our understanding of the assembly of the outermost layer of the B. anthracis spore, the exosporium, a layer that encases spores from many bacterial species and likely plays important roles in the spore’s interactions with the environment, including host tissues. Nonetheless, the mechanisms directing exosporium assembly into a shell surrounding the spore are still very poorly understood. In this study, we clarify these mechanisms by the identification of a novel protein interaction network that directs assembly to initiate at a specific subcellular location in the developing cell. Our results further suggest that the presence or absence of an exosporium has a major impact on the assembly of other more interior spore layers, thereby potentially explaining long-noted differences in spore assembly between B. anthracis and the model organism B. subtilis.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of fur length in the evaluation of knees temperature in healthy dogs, using infrared thermography. This is a non-invasive diagnosis that is able to assess the microcirculation of the internal skin. Changes in temperature reflect from inflammatory reactions and vascular infarction to neurological disorders. Knees of 30 healthy dogs were analyzed, with up to 11 pounds of weight, screened by clinical examination and radiographic examination. Group A, consisting of 13 dogs with short fur, with 26 knees evaluated in total. Group B included animals with long fur, consisting of 17 animals, with 29 knees evaluated in total. The average temperatures of the cranial, lateral, caudal and medial sides of knees were analyzed. A significant difference between the groups was observed, with group A temperature being greater than the group B in all four analyzed faces. Comparing the temperatures of the faces in the contralateral limb, in both groups, the statistical analysis revealed no significant difference. In group A it was observed that temperatures in the cranial and lateral sides were similar, but different from the others. In group B, the statistical analysis showed the cranial lateral and caudal faces was similar, but differed from the medial side. The thermographic examination proved to be sensitive in the evaluation of temperature of small dogs’ knees;however, the length of the fur influenced the result.